as promised

July 2, 2008 – 10:05:46

Admittedly, I had to run to go get my sugar free mocha before I started this post. I might actually have to get a little catty and whiny here, and I’d like it to be a coherent oh let’s see, idea and suggestion session.

Last night, yes, I was in attendance at the 26th dems meeting. Sick as I was, I needed to be there. I needed to meet with some people, make sure my vote was counted, and introduce you to some people who are highly interesting and need some exposure. You can see my collection of photos and information here. I even did a bit of homework for you and added their websites for additional information about these great people. I figure that pictures alone don’t do justice. Please take a moment and read what they have to say. When August rolls around (state primary) and then November (the big kahuna election), I’d like to say that you’ve had the opportunity to be a well informed voter. Not a voter yet? What are you waiting for? Get out there, get registered, and make your voice heard. Granted, you may not agree with me politically, and you may even dislike who I support and what I believe in. Great! Isn’t it great that you and I live in a country where we can agree to disagree? Indeed it is. So if you’re not a registered voter, I hope that I’ve at least inspired you to get out there and register and be counted.

Speaking of “agree to disagree”, I have a couple comments. In my pictures, you’ll see a young man speaking about his experiences in learning more about the political process. His family and him are in attendance at every meeting…well, not necessarily him because he’s doing much work. But here he is, sharing his story, and what he’s learned, and I’ll be darned if he doesn’t get his hand slapped mid-speech. (Long story short, he was speaking to the homeless of different areas of Washington, and was reminded that yes, there’s homeless in the 26th district as well).

I admire this young man because instead of spending his summer out at the beach, working on a tan, or going to see movies or whatever it is teenagers do for fun and excitement these days, he’s learning and doing things politically. He represents our future. To undercut him in a public forum, in a public place while he’s trying to state what he’s been doing and how he’s been making his difference, I’m having a problem. Here’s why.

As a parent, I can speak to how hard it is to get your children thinking about our political future, or what’s on the horizon. My son, he loves to hear how things are going, what’s the latest news, and where our country is headed. He does not donate time to the cause, but he likes to stay informed. My daughter, on the other hand, got highly offended when the Young Democrats approached her and asked her if she’d like to get involved. It’s not that they’re Democrats, but it’s that she’s sat through enough meetings and rallies that she finds it all highly boring. I watch county commissioner meetings and city council meetings on cable and she rolls her eyes in disgust. Believe me, I’ve tried. But no, she doesn’t want anything to do with it, except that she’s a great judge and critic when it comes to my blog layout and design. So many children are bored and disenfranchised and just don’t care.

If there’s a part of the message that needs correcting or clarification, then that’s when you pull him aside for a moment and say “Hey, enjoyed the speech, but I think you missed this, or that could have been added.” Our young democrats need good guidance and suggestions, but not again, like I said, in a public forum in front of everyone. Write it down, approach, and offer the information and guidance in a private setting. Keep in mind that it’s still a learning process and encourage these people. No one is perfect, and even I have received my criticism and lumps of disdain. I’m older though. I know where and what I believe in. I appreciate every comment (good or bad) that I’ve received, because at least I know you’re reading, and it’s making you think. Don’t let our hard-working young dems fall by the wayside. Treasure every last one of them, because they *are* our future.

We’re hearing from candidates, and endorsements are being sought, and sure enough, we get to Pierce County executive. Now, I live in Kitsap County, so this is not a race that I can cast a vote for or against one way or the other. Calvin Goings gets up and speaks, and of course there’s great discussion on “sole” endorsements of candidates. Although again, I don’t live in Pierce County, but I visit lots, I know that Pat McCarthy is also running for the same position. Two great candidates in their own right, oh you bet. However, Pat herself was not present to seek an endorsement. She had sent along a member of her staff as she had a prior function she had committed to months ago. A couple of months ago, she had come and spoken to the 26th. I want to mention one more time, two great candidates, two great messages, but where do you put your endorsement? (This also brings up my need to read Robert’s Rules of Order. Sorry Derek, I swear I’ll get to the Obama book, I will, I really will.)

I’m snapping pictures and I have Pat McCarthy’s rep standing right next to me. An individual wearing an orange headband of some sort is directly in front of me, and makes the snide little comment about “Where’s Pat?” I could no longer hold back. I couldn’t help it. “Oh well you know Pat was here two meetings ago…” I mention (words to that effect). It just cheeses me off that people can get catty like that, even if we’re all supposed to be on the same team. Guy I’ve offended moves. However, later he’s out in the parking lot going on about how he “must have really pissed off that photographer girl” and on and on. Little did he know he was standing right next to my mother as he was extolling his great love for me.

So I’ll offer this up. Remember that part of the meeting where it was suggested that not only could we donate monetarily, but each one of us should make the challenge/commitment to put some hours towards campaigns? I challenge you, orange headband guy, to make that same commitment, not only to the 26th’s monthly meetings (to warn you, I might be out of commission for a few months due to major surgery…this is slated for September, so I might not be able to totally meet the same challenge here) but also to your favorite candidates. Honestly, I’m glad that I offended you, and that you took the time to speak to how obnoxious you thought I was. It inspires me to work harder to make sure that not only is my information factual and timely, but that I work harder for the causes I believe in. Also, it garnered me one of the biggest and perhaps meaningful compliments to my cause and my writing, and it came from my own mother. I salute you orange headband guy. I do. With that, I’d like to share one of my new mottos with you and the rest of the world.


great motto!

Now, let’s get a little more positive and uplifting. I had an opportunity to actually meet Steven Gardner, whom you’ll know as writer of “Kitsap Caucus” which is Kitsap Sun’s political blog. So to those of you who have made the comment in the past that he’s not impartial and is only out to make the republicans, oh crud, I meant to say GOP…look bad, guess what? Not saying here that he makes dems look bad as well, but he’s there and reporting. I shook his hand myself. You’ll note that I linked directly to his entry from last night’s meeting. Although I have pictures, the videos are even funnier. Take a moment to watch those if you can. Then, please refer to Chris Henry’s story about the same meeting. Yes, the “hannie” you see in comments is me. I usually won’t comment to stories in the Sun. But you know what, it’s high time we called “fair is fair” around here. I was highly compelled. I couldn’t help myself.

Both Chris and Steven bring up a very interesting point. There was no official “sole” endorsement made for the SK commissioner race. And yes, Monty Mahan sure as can be got up and stated he wasn’t looking for one. Charlotte Garrido had other commitments, so her husband Ray got up and spoke on her behalf. But no endorsement was made one way or the other. Why is that? I honestly can’t say. Tell you what, I’ll go with my own endorsement in the meanwhile. Although I really do like Monty, my endorsement goes to Charlotte, and it’s not only for her long standing work with our local area, but it’s on a personal note too. It all goes back to Hurricane Katrina, and how Mom flew the kids and I out of Little Rock (after we escaped ground zero….literally, the eyewall of Katrina hit land 20 miles from my house). When we first arrived, we pretty much had nothing. There’s a long list of people I can thank, and I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again, but Charlotte was one of the very first people on the phone with me, who had done her work and found me, and offered my family and me assistance and whatever else we might need. She didn’t have to, I mean, I was just lucky that yes, my kids and I escaped Katrina (literally, as we were driving up Highway 49 out of Gulfport MS, the sky was pitch black. It was coming, and coming fast…) and my parents had the ways and means to get the kids and I home to Kitsap County and safe. But Charlotte was one of the first people who sought us out, and offered us a helping hand. I could hug her a million times over for that kindness she showed us.

Last but not least, when you go through my collection of pictures here, you’ll see a few people who are not running for public office, but are regular people like you and me. We already covered my favorite young democrat. But there’s one person there that is my inspiration and I admire her. I’ve read her posts/writing for a while, but I had a chance to hear her speak. I mention it here. What an incredible person she is, and the daily struggles she goes through, yet she still makes time to ensure her voice is heard and fight for causes she believes in. I’m blessed to know someone of her caliber. I am.

Enough blabbing. I’ve got lots of work to get done today, and I’m not feeling exactly wonderful. I always seem to have miles to go before I sleep these days.

By hannie | Posted in daily dribble, kitsap-topia | Comments (0)

a reminder of sorts

July 2, 2008 – 08:17:44

this is a baby seal who didn’t make it

Why are you staring at a picture of a baby seal lying dead on the beach? Because you know, this is our reality. I wish it wasn’t. But it is, and here’s my thought to go with this picture. This summer, when you’re out and about with your powerboats and jetskis (deep down inside, oh yes, I would LOVE one of those) please be mindful and respectful of our marine mammals out there. Please, even take a look at it this way…you’re sharing their home whether or not they like it. Be a responsible boater, enjoy our waters, but keep an eye out for our marine friends too if you could.

I wanted to shut up right here, but no, I have one more thing I’d like to add. It’s great that we’re all excited about Hood Canal, and we’re doing studies and funneling money to help the Canal. I spent many summers on Hood Canal at Girl Scout camp. I earned my lifeguard certification there. I sailed back and forth across the canal. And I’d like to think that I made a difference in some girls’ lives through my involvement with Girl Scouts when I was younger. So yes, I do have a personal vested interest and I think it’s great and anything we can do to preserve and maintain our waterways, I’m all for it. But I think that there’s a bigger picture at stake here.

Ever sit on a beach and watch helplessly as dead birds wash up ashore, day in and day out? I have. And who is it that you report this to? It’s reported to the Department of Fish and Wildlife…just to let you know. Now here’s a group of people who deserve some more money added to their budget. It’s great that we want to research and find out where we’re going wrong with our waterways, I’m not knocking that in the least, but I think those that we entrust to keep watch over our waters to ensure safety for all should get a little more money. Just as I enjoyed Washington state beaches as a youngster, as did my relatives who can be traced back to pre-statehood, I’d like to know that my children and grandchildren can be able to enjoy those same beaches without fear of pollutants and toxins and such.

By hannie | Posted in daily dribble, kitsap-topia | Comments (0)

happy birthday! (late night edit)

July 1, 2008 – 04:56:15

From my friend Karen, please take the time to enjoy this cool site . And of course, it’s my birthday, so YAY!

most excellent birthday present, thank you!

By hannie | Posted in daily dribble | Comments (0)

you *HAVE* a choice, you do!

June 28, 2008 – 12:31:03

So yes, out with another great caucus story. I’m hanging out at the table minding my own business, and this fresh faced young teenager type all dressed up in a nice shirt and tie and slacks runs up to me. Breathlessly, he announces to me that “Norm Dicks is coming!!!” and I simply MUST put this sticker on to support his arrival. First, no teenager is going to tell me what I’m going to do and not do. Second, I’m on credentials committee, hi stupid, I am in a non-partisan position. Take stickers and move along. Third, you want me to be overly exuberant about WHO showing up? Please, I think you should be a little excited that you’ve had the pleasure to be in MY company, not the other way around. It reminded me of years ago, when Norm had his offices on 6th(6th street-Bremerton), and we’d find ways to um, appropriately fix his signs to read a little more of what we thought of his agenda. Admittedly, I felt bad that in fact, it could be construed as assisting the republicans, but then again, it was more about getting the word out there that please, yes, someone realize that he’s NOT the great uber-congressman of Washington that he’d like you to believe. Sorry Norm. Even though yes, you grace the pages of my gallery, and it’s only because yes, you are an elected official and people need to know who you are because you hold that office, I smell winds of change. I do.

(moment for everyone to grab tissues and sniffle with me, please) At last,as a grown adult, I feel so very honored, so privileged to be an American. And this election year, I’d like to say you have a choice and you have a vote and you can make a difference. I know you’re thinking that gee, hannie sounds almost smacking of sarcasm twinged with democratic rhetoric. The first sentence, yes, go ahead and call it that. I’ve always been proud to be American and live in a land where I’m free to say how I feel, worship how I want, and have that right not only as an American but as a female as well. Before you say that I’m not supportive of our troops, even though I spent 15 years in a military marriage where I was treated like crap, I would like you to know that I have always been very supportive of the military themselves, the people who make up the military. In fact, there’s a few people that literally, I owe my very existance to. I whole-heartedly support the military themselves, the men and women who day in and day out serve and protect our country. That war crap, I don’t support that one bit. My thought, bring our troops home, and let’s talk about helping our country out. Just my thought, you can love it, hate it, whatever. But let’s get our country back on its feet again, and DO NOT tell me that it’s whiny liberals like me who brought it to its knees. If we’re taking count, and we are for just a moment, it was more along the lines of whiny republicans who brought it down, and who left our gulf coast just sorta gee whiz whatever after Katrina. Our country, and we let us down. (I am fully qualified to make that comment, being a Katrina survivor myself thank you)

Okay yea yea, enough of that. Break out the proof! Do it now. I submit for your viewing pleasure, this video. Now, keep in mind, you might be questioning the antics of some of the people in said video, but what I really want you to watch is the responses that they get from the Dicks crew. They’re not even responses. I call it “canned crap”. How much longer can we, as constituents, deal with “canned crap” for a response? It shames me to even watch their behavior. But you watch, and you weigh in for yourself.

Dicks, Dicks, Dicks…

Now, let’s bring this post home with a resounding “Yes, you have a choice!” His name is Paul Richmond, and you’ll even see him in aforementioned video. Please take a moment to visit his site here I’ve had a few opportunities to talk with him, and yes, hannie and her musings fully support him in his run for congress. He’s a great individual, I tell you what, and please take some time to read over his thoughts and ideas. If you have a chance to hear him speak, please go and hear what he has to say. You’ll find a whole new approach to that “canned crap” we’ve been getting for a while now. Of course, I can’t finish this without reminding you to please, if you’re not registered to vote, go and register already. Sure it’s a beautiful sunny day. Take five minutes, run into a library or spend those minutes online registering to vote. Then resume fun happy sunshine activities.

Dems meeting, my birthday, all Tuesday. And so I hope to have great stories to share with you. :)

By hannie | Posted in daily dribble | Comments (0)

slow week

June 28, 2008 – 09:40:53

I’ve been overworked and far far underpaid, which is a common complaint of many of us..I know. So I’ve been neglecting things here and there, but it’s all good. Tuesday’s my birthday, and I will be spending it with some of the finest dems of Kitsap and Pierce County. I couldn’t ask for a better crowd to hang with…except for maybe friends and family. In the meanwhile though, you’ve been itching to have something fun to read. And here I submit to you, for your approval, this latest news flash. Enjoy. :) And if you happen to be one of those pesky Kitsap republican types who are going to attempt to have their way with me, please feel free to at least wish me a great birthday before you let it fly.

For immediate release:

The George W Bush Presidential Library is now in the planning stages. The
Library will include:

The Hurricane Katrina Room ,which is still under construction.

The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won’t be able to remember anything.

The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don’t even have to show up.

The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don’t let you in.

The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don’t let you out.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.

The National Debt room which is huge and has no ceiling.

The ‘Tax Cut’ Room with entry only to the wealthy.

The ‘Economy Room’ which is in the toilet.

The Iraq War Room. After you complete your first tour, they make you to go
back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth tour.

The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with
shotgun gallery.

The Environmental Conservation Room, still empty.

The Supremes Gift Shop, where you can buy an election.

The Airport Men’s Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican
Senators.

The ‘Decider Room’ complete with dart board, magic 8-ball, Ouija board,
dice, coins, and straws.

The museum will have an electron microscope to help you locate the
President’s accomplishments.

-30-

(oh now don’t EVEN tell me you thought this was real…hah. We can ALL whip up an “official” looking press release filled with whatever we want, whenever we want, can’t we?)

By hannie | Posted in geekstuff | Comments (0)

welcome MySpace visitors!

June 25, 2008 – 04:00:58

If you’ve managed to arrive here courtesy of my great self made publicity machine over at MySpace hey thanks for taking the time to be curious and nosy. I love new visitors, I do. For those of you who have no clue what I am talking about, MySpace is one of those nifty social networking sites. In some instances they can really work to your favor. Haven’t heard from that wayward child of yours for a couple days? Oh yes, hit up his MySpace account. Need to know what your daughter *really* thinks of you this week? MySpace to the rescue.

Neither of my children will throw up the “invasion of privacy” act argument to me any longer. I point out the TOS (terms of service) to them and remind them that Tom is being nice enough to let them be creative on his server space and time and yes, Mommy can and will view from time to time. I’ve offered them their own personal server accounts and the responsibilities that go with it, from learning to securely transfer files to making directories and keeping count of them and writing the code to make their own sites happen. Both have turned me down (This makes me sad, but hey, some kids don’t geek out like their parents do, it happens.) telling me that it’s too much work and boring and it’s geekstuff that only *I’d* like. For the most part, they’re right. But I think that the little darlings have untapped creativity just dying to be set free, and don’t know it yet. You know what? Most of the time, I don’t even need to go behind their backs and read up on their lives, because they’re right here with me, telling me their lives, and living them with me. Drew granted, is a little worse about this because well, he’s busy. He’s got his beautiful wife Jenn and their awesome baby Hunter. Couldn’t be prouder of the three of them together, I tell you what. I thought those mother-daughter in law relationships were supposed to be evil things, and that’s only because the example I had to go by was my own mother in law who lied to my face, bold faced lied to me all the time and thought nothing of it. She would say I was sweet as pie while I was in the room and the moment I either left or wasn’t looking tell people I was that “stupid yankee bitch and her son could have done SO SO SO much better.” I was always scared of my kids getting married. I didn’t want their significant other feeling like that or feeling like they didn’t belong with us. If Drew or Manda says you’re good enough, you’re good enough. That’s what matters most. Okay, long way to make a point, but the point was, he has a family of his own he’s taking care of right now. Not as available as before to pester or generally annoy. I love you Drewbear…..forever and for always.

Then there’s Manda. Cool thing about Manda, and I had this as well with Drew for the most part, is the amount of honesty. They like something, they tell me. They don’t like something, they tell me. I’ve always told them that I’m not Miss Cleo and I don’t have a magic ball going on, I can’t help them unless they tell me what it is I need to be helping them with. Of the two, Manda is a little more stubborn about spitting things out. But she’s Manda, and she’s stubborn and strong willed but has this caring and concern to her like no other. In the face of adversity, many kids her age would be like “uh, oh well, so what…bla bla” Manda’d stand right up, walk over to whomever was in charge and whisper “what is it that I can do to help, sir?” She’s so brave and courageous, and although many would look at her and say “bah, she’s just an average teenager who’s bored all the time and just doesn’t care…” oh boy they have her all wrong. There’s so many more facets to that gem called Manda Manda that people often overlook.

(This is the part where I say, I have awesome kids, daughter in law and grandson. I do. But don’t let me stop here, because they’re not the only ones passing the word on hannie.org)

Cassie is one of my biggest publicity machines. She’s Manda’s best friend and well, even though I didn’t give birth to her, I swear she’s part of my family somewhere. Have people like that in your family? We do too, and we love each and every one of them no matter how nuts they make us. Cassie included. But here’s the thing about Cassie. She loves to learn. When you sit back and talk to her and she starts laughing, that is one of the best sounds ever. You know she’s truly happy. She’s Manda’s biggest “rah rah” section. And when Cassie’s with us, our only requirement is that she be her, and in return we’ll give her love, respect and all the understanding we can. Because she’s worth it. Every drop of it. We love you Cassie.

You’ll see Dusty in there too. Could you group him under “friend”? Yes. Could you group him under “family”? Yes. Long long ago, Dusty and I dated. (Long bad part of story that makes Johanna look really bad and she was really bad deleted here) I always wanted Dusty to forgive me. I never meant to hurt him, but I knew I did. Sure I knew he went on with his life whatever, but I made it my life’s mission to tell him how sorry I really was. (At former place of work, you say sorry enough times, and it means nothing. This time, I wanted sorry to mean everything and then some) Dusty was a great boyfriend. Some of my most interesting and oddest adventures I’ve ever had in my lifetime were with him. I cherished that. Missed it, hm, I don’t know.

I write him this email. The first one I got back was pretty scathing, and rightfully so. I broke his heart and stomped on it. I will whole heartedly admit I cried my eyes out about it although I knew that I deserved it. If I recall it right, I let it go for a few years. So go with bla bla bla, bla bla bla, somehow I’m standing in this park with Dusty and he’s telling me about geocaching. Fascinating as hell. Tell me more…I’m sopping this up like a sponge and going into geek spasms at the same time. (I kid you not, I am such a geek) And he’s right there in front of me, and you know it, I told him to his face. I told him I was sorry, and that I was wrong, and I knew I had hurt him, and that honestly, it was the one regret in my life that I held is that I hadn’t gotten an opportunity to tell him just how sorry I was, because he never ever deserved any of it. (I’ll leave it at that.) But I told him. After something like almost 18 years, he knew how sorry I was, and it wasn’t even via paper or email or a stupid cellphone glued to my face. I looked him right in the eye and I told him. And that’s why Dusty will remain one of my best friends to this day, because he forgave me. He sure up did.

Sparky is a name in there too. I think I’ll just leave his name as Sparky and go with that aura of mysterious. I’ve known him for about two years now. Did we date? Yea, but it didn’t work out, I didn’t want to see him ever again, realized I missed him and have not been without him ever since. Platonically that is. My phone rings on and off all day, it’s him, wanting to make sure I’m doing alright, and how is my pain, and have I eaten…and if my texting was working right now, he’d be all over that and it would be him every two seconds. Never mind he has an outdoor job landscaping stuff. (I ask him to take pictures of him outside because he looks so cute, and he has once or twice, still have them on my phone I think! hehe!) My parents love him to death. My kids adore the beans out of him. He is our family. I know if something came up, for whatever reason, and I needed him, he’d be here any way he could. One day I got trapped in the floods in Gorst. He was in Bremerton with his dad. I called him to see if he could get through to get me (he couldn’t, it was all still flooded). But he called me every 10-15 minutes to make sure I was okay, and apologize again for not being able to get me. No biggie. Bethel Towing finally got a truck to me around 6 pm or so, and Bill joked me about being all late. (Yea Bill, I’ll put the rushing floods of Calcutta on hold, Karen gets the picture, we sell our story to the National Enquirer and we’re instant millionaires. I’ll get right on that!) People will literally have fits over the amount of times my phone will be ringing and it’s Sparky. “Do you get a moment’s rest from any of that?” Nope. Not really. And I wouldn’t have it any other way either, even if I do sound a little bitchy sometimes. Remember how I told you that Cassie was Manda’s cheering section? Well, you could say that Sparky is mine. He’ll sit around and tell you how stupid and dumb and all that he is, but he’s taught me volumes and volumes of stuff I wouldn’t have known had it not been for him. He’s irreplaceable in my life like that. As for that “what sort of relationship do you REALLY have with him” question, you know, I don’t know. He’s confusing like that. I don’t have time to figure him out at the moment, as I have parents to help and houses to fix and surgeries to have. But when I’m done with that list, we’ll revisit that question again and see what he has to say about it.

I think I’ve pretty much covered anyone on my MySpace “own your friends” application. Personally, I think the app is stupid as hell. Go back and read what I’ve just written. Can you honestly put money or any sort of monetary value on friendship like that? Hell no you can’t, and to act like you can, or even imagine you can is just stupid. But I’ll be just as hypocritical and say boy, that game is a great promotional tool for making people promote my domain, and it’s free advertising too. Heck yea. More people have more of an opportunity to read my writing and figure out that I’m some 38 (almost 39, that’s July 1st and I expect birthday cards from ALL of you) year old from Washington state who has awesome friends and a blessed life and is lucky as hell to even be alive. And just think, we’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg of people in my world who have made an impact on me or affected me or moved me. If you’d like, sign below. My only request is that you keep it clean. Profanity, exception being my own, will be removed. :) Thanks again for stopping by.

By hannie | Posted in family, geekstuff | Comments (0)

oh yea yea yea (inbox time)

June 17, 2008 – 09:46:58

I’ve been taking this incredible hiatus, and meaning to post this and that and just was lacking in the motivation department. But in the inbox, courtesy of Fred Chang, who you’ll know as Port Orchard City Councilman and I know as “incredibly nice and intriguing person to talk to” was a copy of the upcoming schedule for Orchard Theater. You’ll know Orchard Theater as the little movie theater on Bay Street in Port Orchard, formerly known as Plaza Twin with the super burnt popcorn. Popcorn lover I was as a wee one, but I knew not to purchase at Plaza Twin, or depending on outdoor smell at the Egyptian up on Broadway in Seattle. I’m picky about popcorn. I can’t help it. Oh enough. You’re wanting to know what’s coming. Thanks again to Fred to passing this along.

Opening June 20th

Then She Found Me

“Helen Hunt stars in, directed and co-wrote Then She Found Me, and she handles each chore beautifully.” - Christian Toto , Washington Times

View The Trailer Here

Blade Runner – The Directors Cut

“Blade Runner is the Citizen Kane of sci-fi movies.”– John J. Puccio , DVDTown.com

View The Trailer Here

Opening June 27th

PricelessB

“This wispy romantic comedy offers droll and charming proof of love conquering materialism.” – Michael Sagrow, Baltimore Sun

View The Trailer Here

Opening July 5th

2 chances to see an American Classic!! Saturday and Sunday!!

John Wayne in The Searchers (1956)

A classic Western regarded by many as the best of the genre, John Ford’s THE SEARCHERS has been acknowledged by several directors who came into their own in the 1970s, including Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Paul Schrader, and George Lucas, as a powerful influence on their work.

View The Trailer Here

Opening July 11th

Flight of the Red Balloon

“Plenty of well-meaning filmmakers advertise emotion without contextualizing it. Hou’s latest film feels to me like a masterpiece responding intuitively to a masterpiece”. – Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

View The Trailer Here

Opening July 18th

Mongol

“Arguably Bodrov’s biggest, most accomplished film, Mongol is everything that Oliver Stone’s Alexander was not: sumptuously mounted, beautifully acted, and illuminating in historical yet accessible terms the tumultuous life of the legendary warrior.” - Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

View The Trailer Here

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Director John Badham’s hit film propelled John Travolta to stardom, made white polyester suits an instant fashion craze, and garnered praise for its portrayal of blue-collar life.

View The Trailer Here

Opening August 7th

In celebration of Port Orchard’s Annual Classic Car Show- The Cruz!
Sponsored and hosted each year by The Saints Car Club!

American Graffiti (1973)

Where were you in ’62?

Set in 1962; Produced and released in 1973. AMERICAN GRAFFITI presents a powerful collage of youth on the brink of maturity just before the assassination of J.F.K.

View The Trailer Here

Opening August 15th

Pee Wee’s Big Adventure

I know you are but what am I? (Interesting fact about this movie, Damon Martin who actually grew up in Port Orchard and was on swim team for SK with me, is in this movie.)

View The Trailer Here

Visit us on the web at www.orchardtheater.com.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL THEATER! (I totally agree!)

By hannie | Posted in daily dribble, friends, kitsap-topia | Comments (0)

the people I see

June 17, 2008 – 09:27:00

Saturday morning I had this wild urge to go visit Borders bookstore in Gig Harbor. I love the entire complex there. I have yet to try Panera and Jamba Juice, but I saw a movie at the new Galaxy theater and wow, I’m impressed. Best place there, hands down, Borders. I love the written word. Deep down inside, I am a bookworm. I just lost it somewhere along the way and am trying to reclaim it. But it’s there somewhere, it is.

I arrive at Borders, pick up what I need, and pay for it along with a peppermint latte. But before I do this, I meet this great group who are raising funds for a playground in Gig Harbor for children with disabilities. Please, please, check out this awesome project here . I’m so excited for a chance for children to be able to play in a special playground. Absolutely. Even though this park is being built in Pierce County, and I’m *Kitsap* County’s star reporter, I think some space should be dedicated to this. If you have an opportunity to donate, please do. The children thank you, and I thank you as well.

Back to story. Mom calls me, and I tell her that yes, I’m in Gig Harbor and I’ll come back to Port Orchard. I’m maybe halfway out the door, and I look down an aisle, and yes, there he stands. It’s none other than Derek Kilmer, state senator for the 26th himself. And here he comes…smiling and waving.

He asks if I’ve met with the group at the front of the store (the aforementioned playground people) and I tell him that I have, and that I’m really fascinated with the idea of a playground for disabled children. Matter of fact, it needs to be covered in my blog even though I mainly cover Kitsap County material (we laugh together). We talk about the different children’s events going on at Borders, and how his daughter is going to be enjoying some storytelling (I’ve known her since she was born, Derek and I sometimes talk about how quickly kids grow up…and yes, yes they do).

I have to stop right here for a second. Growing up, I used to have this thought that local legislators and politicians were unaccessible to me, and that they didn’t really care about representing the people or listening to what you had to say. Why I thought this way, I don’t really know. But it’s how I thought. I thought that making your voice heard and writing to what you believed in didn’t really matter and that voting didn’t matter. I didn’t get it, I didn’t.

I think it was high school and sitting in class listening to a speech given by Karen Flynn (who was Kitsap County Auditor at the time) really made a difference to me. I can’t remember what exactly it was she said. But I remember being really impressed, and thinking that if she can hold a public office and get the word out about how important voting is even to young people, well then I need to look into all this political stuff and make my vote count the way I want it to and make sure to vote and encourage others to do the same. (I think someone would have a fit for my abundant usage of run on and compound sentences).

Here’s the thing about Derek. I’ve known him for a few years personally now, ever since I returned hom e after Katrina. He’s always been incredibly helpful, answered every question I’ve thrown at him, and has always answered every concern I’ve had as a constituent of the 26th. Oh yes. If I see something that concerns me, and I think it’s something he needs to hear, or another legislator needs to hear, I’m firing off an email. He’s very good about writing back and yes, if we disagree, he’ll fully explain his stance to me. It’s not some canned response that thanks me for writing and have a great (insert holiday here). And he’s very involved with the community and local people. In fact, he asked me why Mom and I weren’t at the last 26th meeting and if we were doing okay. That speaks volumes to me right there, that he doesn’t just sit behind a desk in Olympia and that’s it. No, there’s much more to your local legislators than that.

To finish up this story, Derek asks me how I’m feeling about Obama these days. To be honest, I’m still extremely fond of John Edwards and know that the angels are going to drop him from the sky and he will rejoin the presidential race (okay, we can all dream. We can!) We laughed, and he recommended “The Audacity of Hope” by Barack Obama to me. I told him I had thought about reading the book, but that I had seen it in hardcover only. Sure enough, he comes up with a softcover copy, and tells me how much the book had really inspired him. I’m still trying to get back to bookworm status so I ask him if he’ll autograph it for me if I read it and like it. He looks at me weird, but I figure if I read it, and I’m that inspired and motivated to change my mind on things, then I’d want Derek to sign it to remind me that yea, one can be swayed if the information is presented in the right way and don’t be dissuaded just because you’re stubborn and obnoxious all the time. That and it would be cool to have something autographed by Derek himself…although, politically speaking, I think it’s cooler to be able to say that my 13 year old has personally met the representatives for this area, from local to national level. She says that’s stupid and makes her seem boring and nerdy. I tell her it makes her well informed, and when she’s older, she’ll have that advantage of being able to associate political process with people.

Anyways, please do check out the site about the new playground. I have a few things going on, but when I’m done reading about Barack, I’ll tell you what I think. If you’ve already read the book, please go ahead and post your review here as well. I’d love to know what you think.

By hannie | Posted in daily dribble | Comments (0)

my official book review

June 1, 2008 – 22:09:57

Okay, so for a long time I’ve wanted to read this book. I have this yen for local history, I do, in a big way. I think the best speaker I’ve ever heard during my high school years was Fredi Perry, who is an awesome historian and author. Anyways, to go on….here’s how this all went down.

I had heard about the book somehow….can’t remember exactly. I don’t really remember the story being told in my youth, but then again, I lived in South Colby, not Olalla, so basically, yes, we had our own circus freaks. But nothing like what went down in Olalla….way back when.

I was at the library, talking to this person, and he mentions the whole Dr Hazzard event, and Gregg Olsen, who wrote the book. He tells me that many people think that Gregg Olsen is full of it, that Dr Hazzard was well thought of around here and that the book is nonsense. So you know, more reason to read it. A speck of controversy? Oh, I’m on it.

I actually checked the book out, because I wanted to hear what he had to say. It was a fascinating read, that’s for sure. At first, I almost considered it the precursor to “gastric bypass hell” because here were people who were wanting to be healthy and happy, but they ended up either worse off or dead. I don’t know, I could really identify in a sense with the people who the doctor “treated”. I identified in that these were people who had one malady or the other, and thought that this was a great path or magical cure. And somehow, it wasn’t for many. Sure, you have those who say “hey yea, fasting for however long and doing enemas and having someone beat the heck out of you three times a day” really worked for me. (You know, I read that and I thought gastric bypass was scary. Just not a cool way to do things, in my opinion. Starvation is NEVER the answer.) But there were others who didn’t fare as well. And this is what the book really writes to, are the people who met with dismal results, and the escape of a brave patient, and the prosecution of the doctor.

Interestingly enough, the same story I heard from the man at the library was included in Gregg Olsen’s book. I read the story and was like, oh yes, I’ve heard this. It was great to see the amount of extensive research he did on this story, and the interviews and such. Intertwined between the research, he told the story rather eloquently. I was really drawn to his writing style, in that it was almost as if you were there in Olalla yourself, watching this horrible piece of history go down. Incredible writing, for sure. I’m glad I didn’t take the advice from the man at the library to not read the book.

One sort of funny thing about the book, and it sort of illustrates how journalism sort of evolved, if you will…is the writing style of the reports back then. Writers used what I commonly refer to as “three dollar words” meaning that the vocabulary was rather upper echelon. It sort of made me laugh, because I remember days at OC where we’d never get away writing that way. We wrote like we had a sense…purpose…mission but I kid you not, one day the phone rang. And darn if I wasn’t the editor at the time and had to answer it. It was a call from Disability Services telling us that we had to “dumb” the paper down. We were simply writing too formal and too intelligently for the average college student. So I asked her what her suggestion was to rectify this situation, while trying not to cry. “Oh, ” I was told, “You need to write to a sixth grade level, perhaps lower.” I politely thanked her for her suggestion and told her I’d see what I could do, and hung up the phone in disbelief. (I probably write to about a fifth grade level at the current moment, but oh well) I guess what I’m really trying to say is, the verbiage in any given newspaper from say 1915 to current day is vastly different. That’s so fascinating to me. Of course, I’ve been known to be completely thrilled over the simplest of things, so thanks for your understanding on that.

Loved the book, I did. I read it cover to cover. Mom picked up his latest book and encouraged me to read it when she’s done. I might have to take her up on that.

Oh oh oh, another local book/author I’d recommend, hands down (Sorry Gregg if you’re reading, but I adore this person as well.) is here. Funny thing about this book, I found out about it because of the “every now and again” book banning jerks of South Kitsap. I wanted to see where they thought it should be banned for high school student reading. I loved the book. Book banning jerks of South Kitsap, hear me out. Every time you present a new list of what *you* think is morally wrong to be reading, trust me, it’s become my new reading list. I can bet good money I’m not the only person like that, either.

By hannie | Posted in daily dribble | Comments (3)

a turn for the different

May 29, 2008 – 17:20:19

I have an XM radio. I do. I really like it. Yes, I miss local radio, but this is quite fun with all the different channels to choose from. However, the kids are not really pleased with this. I started out by listening to “XM Thriller” which yes, was 24 hour Michael Jackson tunes. I’m running around the house singing MJ tunes, rather horribly at that, and the kids look like they’re going to turn various shades of green.

No more “XM Thriller”. XM took it off their station lineup, and the kids are thankful for this. But I’ve discovered something even better, which is “XM Cafe”, the Starbucks station. It’s so nice and calm and soothing. The kids are for certain that I’ve lost my mind. More than once I’ve heard “Mom, you’ve got the worst collection of Starbucks things, you’re an admitted latte junkie, isn’t this a bit much? This station is horrible too.”

Now, which of these stations would be truly worse? You tell me :)

By hannie | Posted in daily dribble, drew, geekstuff, manda | Comments (0)