My father taught me how to drive a car. On a huge, abandoned slab of concrete I maneuvered the car through a course defined by the weeds which grew in the many cracks. There was nothing to hit that would damage the car – or dent an ego, either. “Just keep your hands at ten […]
60+ restaurants with covered, heated outdoor dining in the Tacoma area
Traditionally around here, just after Thanksgiving, we all start thinking about al fresco dining season. Ugh. Not really. Out of necessity, and by state order, only outdoor dining is allowed right now. It’s super not fun being outdoors with the sideways rain and all, but sometimes your will to dine at a restaurant muscles out […]
Letter: Severely Restricting Religious Freedom During COVID-19 Is Not An Intolerable Act
Seeking repeal of the so-called “Intolerable Acts” of 1775, the first Continental Congress sent Britain’s King George III a petition for redress of grievances which in turn led to Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” speech. But severely restricting any of our freedoms, including religious freedom, during COVID-19 is not an intolerable act. Pushing religious liberty […]
Doing the Right Thing with Steve McQueen at The Mangrove
The American King of Cool, Steve McQueen died over forty years ago. There is another Steve McQueen, however. This one was born in West London. His heritage is Grenadian and Trinidadian. This Steve McQueen was the first Black director to take home an Oscar for best picture (2013’s 12 Years a Slave). Peg and I […]
A meatball restaurant is what 2020 needs. Manic Meatballs coming soon
Just in time for end-of-this-miserable-year stress eating there’s hope: A meatball restaurant is opening. If all goes as planned, Manic Meatballs will open in December in Lakewood’s Tillicum neighborhood just outside JBLM. “We have a Swedish American menu anchored with the Swedish meatball,” explained owner Carrie Stalder. The restaurant will specialize in fast take-out food […]
Letter: Frogs In A Kettle, Sheep In His Pasture
What’s the difference? And how is the church today being led astray? Apart from the obvious – frogs hop between lily pads, sheep wander between pastures – as to metaphors there’s not a lot of difference. A frog, so the experiment goes, will jump out of a pot of boiling water but if placed in […]
Dolly Parton – One for the Books . . . and COVID:19
The first time I really paid attention to Dolly Parton was when she appeared on the Johnny Carson Show. She just reached behind the couch and pulled out a guitar and sang. No tricks, no boost, just her voice and the guitar. That’s talent. I like when she talks and jokes about her family. She […]
Condensed Anything and An Addendum
On November 25, 1884, Henri Nestlé registered the Nestlé trademark for condensed milk. I don’t care. I don’t like condensed milk. I never liked the Readers Digest condensed books, either. If authors wanted to write shorter books, they would have written them with fewer words or pages. Do people ever go into a restaurant and […]
Letter: When To Say “No”
Just before midnight this Thanksgiving Eve, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 blocking New York Governor Cuomo’s restrictions on religious services. LifeSiteNews is hailing the decision as a victory for First Amendment rights. I disagree. Ironically, the One Year Bible reading for this Thanksgiving Day includes the account of Daniel and friends who refused […]