Mazama

Mazama and Aeneas Valley have some things in common, first of which is mispronunciation of their names. Muh-zaa-muh (not muh-zah-muh). EE-knee-iss (not ay-nuhs). These two unincorporated Okanogan County communities are in company with numerous Washington cities, towns and communities that even fellow Washingtonians and newcomers, especially, struggle to pronounce correctly: Swinomish, Puyallup, Wahkiakum, Naches, Colville, […]

Ice is a cagey character — sometimes friend, sometimes foe. The clink of ice cubes in a glass is a welcome sound when you want a refreshing drink. There’s a reason grocery stores post “Need ice?” signs on the checkout counter and exit doors. It’s easy to forget the essential bag until the big blue […]

If you have a weather app on your phone and follow different cities, you no doubt have at least one city that consistently shows a bright yellow sun on more days than not — maybe Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, or Sacramento. No surprise that these cities are among the top 25 sunniest cities in the […]

Socializing is good for your mind and body, so researchers have concluded. In fact, not only does socialization help lighten your mood and reduce loneliness, but there is evidence that connecting with people boosts brain health, lowers the risk of dementia, and promotes a stronger immune system. During the dark days and nights of winter, […]

I learned a new word this week. It has a cool sound to it, but if it’s used to describe this column, I’ll know now that it’s not a compliment. Jejune (ji-joon): without interest or significance; dull; insipid (first of four adjective definitions). Each week I contemplate what will be stimulating to readers with an […]

We’re a liability to insurance companies out here in the outback. We love to hate insurance companies, in general. When I used to tell people that I worked for attorneys, some huffed in disgust as they lumped all attorneys together in a pot of “deplorables.” My response was always, “When you need a lawyer for […]

“Was the world black and white when you were a kid?” asked my young son after seeing my childhood photos. All our early family photos were black and white (with very tiny subjects) until Polaroid introduced Polacolor, an instant color film camera, in 1963. The film for instant photos was relatively more expensive (and many […]

Some towns are authentic, maintaining the same character as when they were first populated. Other towns are theme based for the purpose of attracting tourists to bolster an economy that withered with the demise of a natural resource-based economy. Some are a combination of both. Many years ago, Solvang, California, was a must-see attraction for […]

My mom loved to watch Art Linkletter’s “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” She wasn’t the only one. The show ran for 14 years on national television and was watched by millions each week. I thought of the show because I heard this comment made by a youngster, “It’s too cold to think.” That’s how I’ve […]

“Still worth a king’s ransom.” So sang the workhouse boys in the Broadway musical “Oliver!” while dreaming and fantasizing about food as they trudged to collect their gruel. Lyrics were written by Lionel Bart for which he won the Tony Award for “Best Original Score” in 1963. The 1968 film version won six Academy Awards […]