Friday, June 30, 2006

Bayview Craze

Here we are at last. This Saturday will usher in the 4th of July activities in Bayview. Festivities start at 11:00 AM, beginning with the street parade. If you aren't in town before 10:30 AM you will be subjected to a wait, while the parade goes by.

We have stocked up on your favorite beverages, and expect the usual unbelievable crowd. After an afternoon of food and beverages, take in the very good fireworks display that will take place around 10:00 PM.

I'll be at the Captain's Wheel. I hope those of you that attend our celebration, stop by to say hi to me.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Bachelors Rebel

The recent ad for single ladies, seen in the Nickle's Worth has everyone talking here in Bayview, Idaho. Mostly it's the female population that is all agog with curiosity.

The burning question of the day is, "who placed the ad, and who are the Batchelors of Bayview. As to the author, I am sworn to secrecy. I might possibly be a spokesperson for the group, except we never have meetings, don't have a clear idea of who is one, and don't have officers to appoint a spokesperson.

In the eleven years I have lived here, many conversations have hinged on the lack of single adult women here in Bayview. It seems that the choice is, move to Bayview and remain without a partner, or stay in town where they hang out. We like it here in Paradise. We go without. Now, with this grass roots rebellion, it is clear that at least some bachelors are unwilling to have this continue.

The core group seems to hang out at the Captain's Wheel Restaurant, but they can be found all over town, from well off business people, to blue collar workers, and of course we single retirees.

The new motto it seems is, "We are damn mad and we aren't going to take it anymore."

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Bachelors of Bayview

Today's issue of the Nickle's Worth, included a rather different plea than the ordinary ad.

In today's issue, a plea for single ladies, rang out over the land. It seems that where we have many very fine ladies that come up to this spa on the lake, most are unfortunately accompanied by a male partner.

The anonymous author of this ad cries out for all of the ladies, that feel left out, neglected, or otherwise ignored. We want you right here in Bayview.

With the upcoming Bayview Daze celebration prior to the fourth happening the weekend of the 1st, it is apparent that the Bayview Batchelors are tired of being ignored. In a recent interview, one such replied, "sure were Rednecks, but were friendly."

My view of this whole affair, is that the adventuresome, fun-loving ladies, just don't know we are here.

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Bayview Daze

Most normal communities celebrate the fourth of July on, of course the fourth. Bayview is different. Tradition in Bayview, is to have fireworks and the major celebration on whatever Saturday falls nearest to the fourth. This year, it is Saturday the 1st of July.

This is a great bonus. It allows you to experience two 4th of July celebrations, and two sets of fireworks. Our fireworks here in Bayview rival any other venue, and you don't have to give up the traditional 4th, since Coeur d'Alene has there's on the 4th.

From Saturday morning, the 1st, at around 10:30 am, (watch the clock if you are driving into town...You will be stopped at road blocks on both sides of town. You will sit there until the street parade breaks up, about an hour later. One can either fume at the delay, as some out of towners do, or dismount, and enjoy one of the last traditional small town fourths.

Following the street parade, we have craft booths galore, three restaurant/bars to lubricate the dry throats that always seem to sprout up. I'll be at the Captain's Wheel, ready to welcome you all. If you do stop in, be sure to ask your server to find me. I will stop and greet you.

Toward evening, around 9:00 PM, we will have a lighted boat parade, followed by fireworks at around 10:00. (Subject to the degree of darkness)

By the 4th of July, hopefully, we here in Bayview will return to what passes as normal, whatever that is...

For parade information, call Liz @ 683-4108...

Friday, June 16, 2006

Guantanamo

I recently re-read the constitution of the United States. I paused at length when I read the Thirteenth amendment, section 1, which I will record here.

"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

The last seven words of this article seems to me to be very clear. Guantanamo is subject to our jurisdiction. We are holding prisoners there that are not convicted of a crime, or war crime. We have not given them prisoner of war status.

If one turned the situation around, it turns out that right or wrong, most of these people would tell us that they were defending their country from invasion. From their standpoint, that makes them patriots, not criminals.

I believe that the time is overdue to separate the true criminals from those that were simply captured in combat. Try the guilty in a tribunal such as was conducted at Nurenburg, and send the rest home.

We cannot scrap the constitution just because it is more convenient. It's there in writing for all to see. We must obey.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Verizon Rains..Er, Reigns

You all may wonder where I disappeared to. Well my phone has been out of order. Since I use dial-up, so has my computer. Yesterday, I called from the Captain's Wheel. 1-800-483-1000.

I get this nice lady who starts asking me questions. It soon became apparent that instead of a nice lady, I was having a conversation with a computer. This is not easy. (I wonder if they have an area at Hewlett-Packard that manufactures nice ladies for the phone company?) Well, I digress... This is what took place.

Q: Are you calling from the phone that you are having trouble with?
A: No! If the damned thing worked well enough to call you on it, I wouldn't have bothered you.

Q: I did not understand your answer. Please answer yes or no.
A: No.

Q: Do you have a dial tone?
A: No.

Q: If we have scheduling problems, can we reach you at this number?
A: No, I told you It's broke.

Q: We will have someone out to fix it tomorrow between 8:00 AM and 12:00 NOON. If it is our wiring it will cost you nothing. If it is yours, the first :30 will cost you $91.00.
A: Say What??

Q: I'm sorry, I didn't understand your answer. Please answer yes or no.
A: OK, fine, thank you...

Obvious to me are two things. One, a computer has more patience than I, and is much more polite. It was their wiring, and I was not charged.

The fact that the outage was coincidental to my try-out of the new weed eater I bought was not brought up. Anyway, I'm back...

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Weather, Whether Or Not

Is it me or have we had more intense Thunder Storms this Spring than usual. Last week-end, we had a short but intense rain storm that was of tropical dimensions.

Last night we have a fantastic light show. More flashes and booms are forecast for our immediate future. What I'm seeing though, is more intensity. Down blasts and tornados that were very rare, are coming more commonly.

Is it time to build an Ark? Is this going to be the pattern all Summer? If so, our fire season will be interesting.

Friday, June 02, 2006

Free, Free, Free at Last!

It probably isn't a secret that I thoroughly enjoy working at the Captain's Wheel Restaurant, here in Bayview, Idaho. What many don't know, was that I became more and more disenchanted with my new job at Silverwood. Two things happened that changed everything.

One, The management at the Captain's Wheel showed appreciation for the work that I have done with the salad bar, and other duties. Two that appreciation took the form of offering me more shifts, more chances to make even more potato salad.

I grabbed that like a drowning man. I quickly resigned my position at Silverwood, and am now preparing even more gastronomical delights, which will be available on week-ends. No longer will you have to go out for dinner on a week-night to experience these wonders. Herb's salad bar will be available all the time.

Your cup doth runneth over, I know. Hold back, take a deep breath, and come on down...

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Blog Power

As this area's bloggers churned the bits & bytes out over the lame duck county commissioners ban of Huckleberries, and we honored our country's fallen, peace fell over the area...Until Tuesday, when the bloggers and blurkers of our area, inundated the County Courthouse with indignation.

By Thursday morning, it was all over. Two of the commissioners saw the light, or perhaps the political darkness that their actions were creating.

On a lighter note, I had a visitor during the week-end. Green Libertarian was in town, and stopped by for conversation and a brew or three. We had a great time, and decided that people of different political persuasions would probably get along with each other better, if they could meet from time to time, face to face. I appreciated the visit. More of you should come up. It's a great place to spend a day or so.