New cars aren’t getting any cheaper. Even with a new car warranty, high payments easily offset the value. A reliable used car, especially if it’s one that you’ve done maintenance and servicing on, may be a good candidate for an engine rebuild. If your five to ten year old car is in excellent condition except […]
Dirty Diapers and Winter Driving
In 1968 we were hoping to outlast the snow. We were warm and toasty with enough food, but with a toddler and a baby, we ran out of diapers, washcloths, dish towels, bath towels, handkerchiefs, and scarves. As young marrieds, each week Peg would visit her family or my family to wash clothes. The winter […]
Deaf Ears Still Need Communication
Amanda had a hearing disabled worker to place for employment. She called a potential employer, and was rebuffed. Jack said, “We’ve already got a deaf worker and she’s just not working out.” Disabled workers are as different from each other as you and I. Some are hard workers . . . and some need a […]
Blithe Spirit – Tacoma Little Theatre Post-Review
It was the last performance of Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit in Tacoma Little Theatre’s 99th season . . . meaning that the dead can return as needed when “spirited” séances go wrong. Peggy and I met friends for dinner at the seriously crowded Spanky Burgers & Brew on Sixth and Pine. We chose Spanky’s because […]
Saving a Mountain Ash for My Wife
Suburban Times writer Joe Boyle wrote about hedges and other bushes drying up and turning brown all over Lakewood. He’s worried about fires starting and spreading. I loved his article and sent him a comment: “Joe, I think you should re-title your piece: The Planted Dead. I know exactly what you’re talking about and the […]
A Checked Past – Room for All
If you’ve never seen a Checker automobile, you’ve missed an American icon. Checker Motors Corporation in Kalamazoo, manufactured taxicabs used by Checker Taxi (the same company really. They stopped producing automobiles in 1982. During many years of production Checker would sell cars for personal use on special order, but the taxi cab was their main […]
Aunt Raini, Pacific Lutheran University & the Responsibility of Art
“Aunt Raini” has been playing at Jewish Theaters across the U.S. There are two different versions of the script. One production company combined the two, unsuccessfully. At Pacific Lutheran University Tom Smith recently had the West Coast debut of the play. Smith, play wright, director, Associate Professor, and Artistic Director of Theatre at P.L.U. used […]
My Bicycle Returns Home – (Packing a Bike for Shipping) A Travel Coda
Submitted by Richard Dorsett A week after I returned from my recent tour of Halifax, Nova Scotia to Buffalo, New York (1125 miles), my bicycle was delivered to my door. It was safely packed and in perfect condition. A challenge faced by every touring bicyclist is getting your bike to where you need it and […]
Speak No Evil 2 – So Many Questions
We parked out car on Broadway and withing minutes were hugging our friend. In had been years since we had talked in person to Antonio. It was so nice seeing his smiling face and listening to him laugh. A few weeks ago I wrote an article about the upcoming performance of former Tacoma Poet Laureate […]