Blog

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Stars on Ice at Key Arena with the Family

Stars on Ice Tour Poster 2018I planned to spend my entertainment dollars for May on tickets to NW Terrorfest. But my daughter’s heroes were on tour, so instead, the whole family got to go to Stars on Ice. The things we do for our kids. I’ve never really been a figure skating fan, but ever since we watched the anime Yuri!!! On Ice (it is a really great show), my daughter has been obsessed. This year I watched the Olympics with her, and for the first time since the 80’s, that meant figure skating instead of half pipe. In spite of myself, I got kind of into it. Not enough that I would have bought tickets for myself, but I admit, I was a little excited to see Adam Rippon, Mirai Nagasu, Nathan Chen and the Shibutanis skate in person.

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Constitutional Dog Whistle – Article 1 §9.1

ConstitutionWhoa. After the interminable list of powers of Congress, we get two doozy clauses in a row. Last week I barely hit the main points for the Necessary and Proper Clause. This week I’m looking at Article 1 §9.1, which is about immigration on the surface, and the importation of slaves in reality. I’m not sure I’m ready for this. Read More

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Music I Liked – Allman Brothers, Amorphis, and Red Fang

Amorphis Queen of Time album coverLast week I liked listening to the music of the Allman Brothers (new and old), some old Red Fang, and the new album from Amorphis, Queen of Time. It looks like last week was all about the classic rock.

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Plum Blossoms

plum blossomsMy freshman year in high school, I had to read the book The Gossamer Years. I think I was the only person in my class who actually finished the diary of a lady of Heian Japan. It was a hard read, but I was fascinated by the world it described; it seemed stranger than anything out of science fiction. I think that book was the first time I heard of the New Year being connected to plum blossoms.

Growing up on the desert, plum blossoms were an exotic concept to begin with. I didn’t know about lunar calendars then, either, so I imagined these magical flowers blooming in January. I was so excited when, nearly 15 years later, I bought a house with a plum tree by the kitchen door.

For most people, cherry blossoms are the important Asian flower obsession. But for me, the new year begins with the plum blossoms.

ByGD

Kaleidoscope 101

Last Saturday was all about dance. In the afternoon I went Pacific Northwest Ballet’s final Ballet 101 presentation of the season. That evening I finally got to see Kaleidoscope Dance perform their annual spring concert in the Broadway Performance Hall. Pairing the two events worked out very well.

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