Bellingham Undressed

Wise Buys Local Bellingham Thrift Store

Remember those great little thrift stores we used to go to? When you could find a great pair of worn jeans for a dollar?  If you long for the great buy and the possibility of treasure, you must check out Wise Buys!  They used to be on Holly St. but have moved to 1224 North State Street, just down from the YMCA on the same side of the street. Wise Buys profits go directly to Lydia Place, a local, nonprofit, community-based agency serving homeless women and their children.

Wise Buys will gladly take your gently used things. Please take your donations of gently used clothing, shoes, house hold goods, furniture, etc. You can call ahead (734-0202) to see if they will take certain items. The new location is much larger and can take much more inventory. Open Monday thru Saturday 10am to 4:30pm.

Treat your self to a visit and see what treasures await! It’s so fun to do.

Bonne chance!

Just Head East

Blue skies and an open road...

 What ever happened to the classic Sunday drives?  As a child growing up on the Olympic Peninsula, I remember hopping in the car with my family, singing songs and ending up at all different types of places. Like Port Townsend, where we’d enjoy some window shopping, grab some lunch and go explore the barracks at Fort Warden.

 Other times we’d pack a picnic basket full of goodies, travel to La Push and play in the mighty Pacific Ocean. Once in a while, we’d venture to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympics and enjoy the beauty of the mountains.

 I now have a family of my own and we recently picked up where my parents left off.  Sure, we sing different songs and the landscape has changed, but the bonding is the same.  We talk about school, life, family and friends.  Our son fades in and out as he gazes out the window at the passing world as my wife and I discuss upcoming family trips, our businesses and whatever else is on our minds. 

So welcome back Sunday drives, I’m glad we decided to once again explore the beauty that surrounds us here in our own back yard.

Bellingham Sanctuary City…I don’t have to move!

When I first heard about the notion that the City of Bellingham was looking at being a sanctuary city for AWOL service persons…I wigged.  I thought wow, another “romantic” idea that the city is pursuing…stupid romantic idea that would keep our police from arresting military personnel who were AWOL.  Breaking military law.  Federal offense.

I had heard about it on KISM, came home and googled all I could about it.  At the time, I found nothing that would make me think the City Counsel was actually going to support the notion.  Thank God!  I didn’t want to move to another city.  But I would have! Right after I gave the counsel a piece of my mind.  Why would we give a hall pass to someone who broke federal law by refusing to fulfill the commitment they signed on for?  And how much federal funding would we lose for this ridiculous idea?

I agree that something needs to be done about the contract. Should the Government be able to  “call-up” those that have fulfilled their 4,6,8 years?  Perhaps these WWU students should spend their time on that issue?

I do not agree that any City funds were paid for the meeting these students requested.  Here is a link to read about that meeting.  I for one am proud of Bellingham residents.  We won’t take this one sitting down.

As a side note:  Apparently WWU students need some balance and a reality check.   I guess when you take away a fleet of football players, and pep rallies, football games…there is a shift in the make up of the school. hmmmmm  Something to think about!

Save WWU Viking Football

You could only imagine my surprise when I approached the WWU Viking Football booth at Ski to Sea.

I very naively asked if the blue brochure was their schedule.  I was informed, “No, it is a brochure explaining why we have no schedule.  There is no Viking Football.”  My quick reply was “what the heck?”  The 3 buff gentlemen standing behind the booth chuckled and gave me a brief explanation as to why in the heck there was no football. 

I puffed up and said, “Well, we’ll see about that!”  Yes, in that moment I thought for sure I could come up with some solution to the problem…I was quite indignant and felt very determined in that moment!  My husband just shook his head, and said God help the President of WWU! 

I mean seriously, this is America.  Who cuts FOOTBALL from the school athletic program?  I love football.  Everyone loves football…or they should! Why?  It is the game of life. Get knocked down, get up again. Stay focused on the prize (ball), win some, ya lose some…oh I could go on and on.  But this blog is about VIKING FOOTBALL…or the lack there of.

Now I know some of you are thinking, geez Elaine, this news came out in January.  I don’t read the sports section of the paper…and I am sure this info was buried in the sports section. It should have been front page news.  It should be the talk of the town.  It should be a banner in every store front that says SAVE WWU FOOTBALL.

So, now that I know.  What do I think I can do about it?  Now that you know, what can you do about it?
Let me back up and tell you what has already been done. Over $1,000,000 has been raised to pay for the team.  That amount of money will last about 2 years.  The Alumni Association has started an endowment fund to raise 10,000,000 to cover the cost of the future football program.  The President of WWU, still says NO! 

I have read all the Western Front articles, Bellingham Herald articles, the info on SaveWWUFootball.com and NO WHERE does President Shepard state “In order to reinstate WWU Football, this and this must happen.” NO WHERE!  So, my first order of business is to find out why there is no such information, and then get an answer to the burning question “What needs to be done to get Viking Football reinstated?”

I also sent off a request to help sponsor the SAVE WWU FOOTBALL website.  I am talking to a few of my Realtor buddies about how we can raise awareness and raise cash.

You however, can go to the official website and dig around, find ways to support the cause.

And when we get done with this, how about we petition the Commissioner and have the pass interference rule taken out of the rule book.  It has always been my opinion that it’s the D’s job to get the ball back…they are supposed to interfere with the darn pass…and yes, my husband David is shaking his head again!

Like the Ump says…Play Ball!

Our son has been involved in team sports with the Bellingham Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA going on 4 years.  This has been a great opportunity for him to learn the importance of team work and commitment. It’s also a treat for us parents, too. 

We have been having so much fun this baseball season with our team! Hiro, our head coach, is a sheer breath of fresh air. Joe and all the coaches really get across to all the guys. It’s super fun to be on a team that can really play.  This is a bunch of really nice boys; with great team spirit… it has been so cool to be a part of. Thank you to the Sudden Valley families who invited us to be on the team!

As I stated earlier, our boy is learning the importance of being part of something bigger. From the joy of team sports, embracing kids from other walks of life, and the thrill of a win, this little collection of athletes with a common goal is very powerful.  Our little sluggers are turning into young men and women. Wow…

It’s not only the kids who are exposed to new surroundings and faces; we adults also have the opportunity to expand.  Together we support our children and get to know each other and by the end of the season, we have made some new friends and strengthened others. It’s great.

Organized sports play an important role in our lives.  Our kids gain knowledge of sportsmanship and teamwork.  They learn about being coached and taking constructive criticism.  They are taught respect and learn to encourage each other.  Come to think of it, so do we parents.

So regardless of your age, never stop playing!