Art can come in many different forms
June 19, 2013
Slim Randles
Columnist
It was Herb who first saw Janice Thomas, the art teacher, come in.
“She’s putting something up on the bulletin board,” Herb said.
“Wonder what it says,” said Doc.
“Might be something from school,” Herb said.
Steve is of a more practical way of thinking. “You ever thought about going over there and seeing what it is?”
Steve got up and walked over and read the poster. He came back.
“It’s an art show,” Steve said. “For anyone who wants to enter.”
“Haven’t had an art show here in a long time.”
“Those city guys who moved in the Johnson place, remember?”
“That was an art show?”
“Maybe.”
“You know,” Dud said, “there’s more than one way to do art. You take John Kennedy now. The way he can pick up a little stick with his backhoe. How many people can do that? I think that’s a kind of art.”
“You’re right, Dud,” said Herb. “You ever watch George when he’s fly-fishing?”
The members of the Mule Barn truck stop’s philosophy counter and world-dilemma think tank nodded in agreement.
“Poetry, that is,” said Doc.
“Dang near magic, to my mind,” said Steve.
“How about the cream gravy here at the Mule Barn?” said Dud. “I don’t know what they put in it, but you could eat a cardboard box if it had that gravy on it.”
“I’ve never had better.”
“Then there’s Steve,” said Doc.
“Me?” said the cowboy.
“You boys ever see anyone put a better rein on a horse than Steve?”
Steve blushed. “Now come on!”
“It’s true, Steve.”
“That,” said Doc, “is art, too. Maybe art, maybe something like ballet almost, the way a horse moves when Steve’s trained him.”
“I guess there’s more than one kind of art in the world,” said Herb, “and I guess I personally know some artists.”
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Most of us remember the excitement — and terror — that goes along with graduating from high school.
June 12, 2013
Since kindergarten, you schlepped books to and from school. You were expected to learn the basics: reading, writing and arithmetic. You hopefully learned how to share, how to make friends, and how to become part of a social and cultural group.
Perhaps you were fortunate enough to delve into extracurricular activities like art, choir, playing an instrument, drama, sports, debate or yearbook staff. Most importantly, you hopefully learned to be an individual in a sea of sameness, as well as how to be a critical thinker.
Lawn care, cutting has become a religion
June 12, 2013
Slim Randles
Columnist
It’s idolatry, pure and simple. Why else would millions of men spend billions of dollars each year on something that simply takes work and means time away from having fun with friends and family?
It’s worship. Worship of tiny little plants invading our yards. It’s lawn-o-mania.
Crime: Is it really a laughing matter?
June 12, 2013
If you were at the recent North Bend community meeting that was supposed to be an open forum but started off with an hour of Police Chief Mark Toner telling jokes and then proceed to tell the very concerned citizens of North Bend of how stupid we were for not locking our home windows or car doors then yes, it may seem comical.
Open government begins at election
June 5, 2013
Whatever reason prompted you to seek office – be it angry about the current direction of a board, a strong sense of civic duty to your community, or a love of long, boring meetings – there is a side to being an elected official you probably came to office without really being aware of…the need to speak with reporters.
School is safe
June 5, 2013
In response to your piece about North Bend Elementary playground hazards, the steps the school has taken to alleviate concerns were actually implemented before the community meeting that was held. The staff have regularly walked the playground before school for a long time. Those ladies do an exceptional job, and I, for one, have never felt my children are unsafe at that school, anywhere.
Business ideas come from a lot of places
June 5, 2013
Slim Randles
Columnist
“From the cow to the plow, Dewey,” Windy said, leaning on a shovel. Windy Wilson was on another of his “helper days” and today it was Dewey Decker’s turn to be helped.
“What do you mean, Windy?”
“You know … a slogan for the business. From the cow to the plow. Fertilizer. Farming.”
Well, don’t we have egg on our face?
May 29, 2013
We reported that a girl fell out of a two-story window May 10, that she was 4 or 5, that she fell out of a screenless window onto a van, that the mom was sleeping when it happened, and that the child was taken to Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, treated and released.
Turns out, pretty much everything was inaccurate about that story. A 3-year-old boy fell, the mom was in the kitchen cooking dinner, the window had a screen until the boy pushed it out, the boy may or may not have fallen onto the van, the boy was taken to a different hospital and was kept overnight for observation.
Letters
May 29, 2013
Why approve a superintendent who is planning to leave?
How to make a Golden Parachute?
First, a letter to the editor written by a former school board member asking for community unity for our schools.
The show comes with your cleaning
May 29, 2013
Slim Randles
Columnist
Those of us who call this little valley home have a unique blessing in the form of Perry, our dentist. Yes, when we go to get the fangs fixed up at O’Dontall Dental, down in the old brick building near the office of the Valley Weekly Miracle, the grinding and scraping and numbing and lip shaking is accompanied by … well … acting.
You see, Perry worked his way through dental school by treading the boards … acting onstage, that is.
