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Raymond, Washington

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Raymond Theatre
Raymond, Washington

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Topnotch Tavern and Willis Motel
Raymond, Washington

The story I've been told is that the Topnotch was founded by my grandfather's twin brother, London Willis, in the 1930s or 1940s. London was an old moonshiner/bootlegger in the 1920s who apparently attempted to drive to Japan and had a little trouble once his vehicle hit the salt water. It is safe to say alcohol was involved.

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Charlie, Dreamer, and Buster stand ready to explain why they lost their mittens

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The Boys heard a can opener and came to investigate

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Now that is one fancy postal vehicle.

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A mudpuddle so large someone should contact the Board of Geographic Names

Hoquaim, Washington

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A view of Grays Harbor from the Hoquiam truck route

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A view of Grays Harbor from the Hoquiam truck route

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Fanciness

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Ocean Shores, Washington

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Dilapidated boardwalk
Ocean Shores, Washington

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Crypt
Fern Hill Cemetery
Aberdeen, Washington

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Hey! Some local troublemaker saw this tiny vest draped over a fire hydrant here in McCleary, Washington and decided to complete the image! Most curious.

Washington State Cartoonist Laureate

This announcement was sent yesterday to my email. One of Washington State's last ditch efforts to keep culture alive as we all slide into the New Dark Ages:

POET LAUREATE APPLICATIONS SOUGHT

Applications are now being accepted for the 2012 – 2014 Washington State Poet Laureate position. The Poet Laureate serves to build awareness and appreciation of poetry – including the state’s legacy of poetry – through public readings, workshops, lectures, and presentations in communities, schools, colleges and universities, and other public settings across the state. The selected Poet Laureate will develop a two-year plan of activities, in consultation with the Washington State Arts Commission and Humanities Washington.

Qualified applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

· Be a current resident of the state of Washington;

· Have had at least one full-length book of poetry published by an established press;

· Be engaged in the poetry community;

· Be willing and able to promote poetry and the legacy of poetry throughout Washington State for a two-year period.

Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 5:00 p.m. PST on November 30, 2011. For more information about the Washington State Poet Laureate program, including application criteria and guidelines, or to submit an application, visit www.washingtonpoetlaureate.org or contact Julie Ziegler, Executive Director, Humanities Washington, at julie@humanities.org, 206.682.1770 x 110; or Kris Tucker, Executive Director, Washington State Arts Commission, at kris.tucker@arts.wa.gov, 360.753.3860.

OK, so I am providing this news release both as announcement for the few poets who read this blog and an opportunity to promote the idea of a Washington State Cartoonist Laureate.

In modifying the above guidelines to fit the world of cartooning, my nomination for Washington State Cartoonist Laureate would be the legendary Bob Cram, cartooning weatherman.

In the early 1960s, when he replaced cartooning weatherman Bob Hale on KING-TV in Seattle, Bob instantly became one of my cartoon heroes. In that early, primitive era of live local TV, Bob was second only to J.P. Patches in influencing us budding Boomer cartoonists in Puget Sound.

I loved the way he made cartooning seem so easy and improvisational as he enhanced the weather report with his comic illustrations. He actually flew as he drew. I'm sure I am not the only local comix artist Bob influenced. And he's a long time Washingtonian and part of our cultural history.

I nominate Bob Cram for Washington State Cartoonist Laureate!

[Update: Just had a nice phone conversation with Bob Cram. It is fitting that I had already put out the flag on my front porch honoring vets and was able to thank him for his WWII service. Bob is still cartooning to this day! Go Bob, very inspirational!]

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Occupy Olympia tent city at dusk in the shadow of the Legislative Building
Olympia, Washington

This is the same area where Olympia's "Little Hollywood" once floated, before the Fetid Lake of Doom was created.

This scene brings to mind the era of the early 1930s and how Olympia became a rallying point back then. The story of Fred E. Walker is particularly engaging.

Bil Keane 1922-2011

The guy was a class act and true Zen Master

We'll miss you, Bil.

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Charlie and Dreamer wonder what happened to summer