Submitted by Don Doman For our twenty-fifth anniversary someone gave us a little silver set. It was really nice, but it didn’t mean anything to us. I don’t think we ever used it. While an earlier gift (wedding or anniversary) from my uncle who operated a gas station gave us a set of serrated steak […]
Working with People
Submitted by Don Doman Back when I was young and stupid . . . sorry. Let me rephrase that. Back when I was unaware of how human relationships worked and president of a community organization, I told one of my vice presidents that he was doing a bad job. This did not result in the […]
Location, Location, Location, Ivar’s and Lots of Clams
Submitted by Don Doman An almost killing blow was dealt to Seattle icon Ivar’s Fish Bar in early June, when it was announced that their lease would not be renewed by the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. If you don’t know the name Ivar, then you don’t know much about Seattle, the Pacific Northwest, and seafood. Here’s […]
Family Pets – Wild or Tame
Submitted by Don Doman As a boy I had a cocker spaniel, Cindy (she was as black as cinders), and a collie mix, Pal (had him since he was a few weeks old and he was my pal, my friend, my companion). They would wait by the front gate for me to return from school […]
Tough Times for Talent
Submitted by Don Doman Once upon a time people with talent were sought out and paid fees based on how good they were. This was before the proliferation of computer programs and a blurring of between good and bad. Dorothy Wilhelm, writer and professional speaker once said, “There is only one thing worse than not […]
Planting the Seeds of Success
Submitted by Don Doman One of my favorite TV shows is “Undercover Boss.” The premise is that the owner or someone in upper-management goes from a suit to wearing a fakey disguise and pretends to be checking out businesses for a reality show. The boss sees what is right and what’s wrong with his company. […]
On the Up and Up – Video & Photo Tips
Submitted by Don Doman I don’t know why people persist in recording vertical images with their cell phone cameras and expect to play them and view them in a horizontal format. A nice horizontal shot gives you a panoramic view, while a vertical shot gives you a narrow field. I’ve worked with attorneys and police […]
The Whole World On Fire and Saving Lives
Submitted by Don Doman Headlines of high-rise apartments burning from suspected terrorist or just ordinary circumstances can make it seem like the whole world is on fire. The news is scary: fire killed at least 80 people in the Grenfell Tower fire in London. In Honolulu a fire on the 26th floor of the 36 […]
Spit Valves, Underbellies, Marching and a Missing Sousaphone
Submitted by Don Doman I’ve always loved music. I began playing the baritone saxophone at Mann Junior High in Lakewood. I switched from alto to the larger, lower register instrument that no one had chosen to play in the ninth grade. Since the baritone was free for me from the school district and stood beautifully […]