50th Anniversary party - big group

 The big family group at our 50th anniversary party last month.  Behind us is the water of the Sailish Sea.  I'm in the navy dress; Dennis in the tie.  Our four children with their spouses and their children.  My 4 grandchildren.  My oldest granddaughter is at the very left in the sea green dress.  Also including my brother and sister.

It's a group all right.  I was feeding many of these people most all the week.  There was hardly any room in the garbage can because of all the paper plates.

Having a large family means that you can generate a big picture like this.  Certainly I am grateful.

The S family

 Here is my daughter's family.  Taken during their recent trip here.  They went on a separate trip to the Olympic peninsula.  Taken in Sequim maybe.  They had a very good time and saw a lot of things.

Three grandchildren!

Just coming off of approx two weeks of visiting and parties.  Crazy number of parties I participated in, hosted bunches of them.  I wondered if *I* could get through it.  But I did.  So I'll share some pictures.  This shows three of my 4 grandchildren.  Frank, Simon and Scout.  The cousins love to see each other.  They're playing in Suzie and Megan's yard that has everything in it.  Shortly after this, they all had popsicles because, of course, we all have popsicles.  Frankie and Simon stayed with use along with their parents Ilana and Matt for, I don't know, 12 days?  And we all made it!!!

 

Frank graduates!

 Frank graduated from preschool yesterday.  He's planning to attend kindergarten in August.  All signed up and everything.  On the Friday before he participated in a fund-raising event for the local homeless shelter.  He and Ilana camped outside in a tent in solidarity.  Frank made it all night.  He and Ilana raised $1400.  He had his own event and worked; he raised a lot of that himself.  Takes after his mom Ilana who really likes to raise money.

Spring birthday beach

 Some weeks ago, we had a picnic at the beach for our family for the spring birthdays.  At Edmonds Beach, our go to beach.  First nice day in the spring and EVERYBODY was there.  Left to right: Scoutie, Megan, Suzie, Naomi, Stephen Jessica, Danny.  Puppy Millie in Danny's lap.  The water is the Salish Sea (or Puget Sound)  n the distance: Whidbey Island.  We had a reconstruction of the Civic Club Special and Stephen made a chocolate bundt cake.

It's nearly June.  We have Danny's birthday in June, also Scoutie.  We have our anniversary party and Melina's graduation, it never stops.

CBS

How can I influence them?  About the cancellation of Stephen Colbert and other CBS news issues.  I took CBS Radio News for granted.  I got an idea from one of the Substack based pundits I listen to.  Take a page from the Disney/Kimmel controversy.  Get them where it hurts, their advertisers.

So I watched 20 minutes or so from my local CBS affiliate (middle of the afternoon) and wrote down the advertisers.  I'm sending this letter:

Dear Power Swabs,

I saw your advertisement on KIRO 7 Seattle (A CBS affiliate) around 2:30 pm on May 22, 2026. 

I do not support CBS cancelling the Stephen Colbert show.  Nor do I support the changes made at 60 Minutes.

The best way to get through to the network is to notify the advertisers.

I will not purchase your product because you are advertising on CBS.

Sincerely,

------

Just putting it out into the universe

Save my van service!!

Save my van service!

I have been a loyal satisfied user of the Metro Flex fan service. I depend on it to get to the bus stop to get to the University of Washington.  Several times/week. In the Northshore area pictured above.  Especially notice the red 'Removed Areas'  That's where I live!  They are taking away my van service.  Starting next week.

The western boundary is 40th NE.  I would like them to change it to 35th NE.  Near me.  You cannot walk to 40th NE.  There's a big huge ridge between the streets.  None of the streets go through.

I've been complaining loud to Metro and to Lake Forest Park.

Help if you can!

 

Old ring/New ring

 

 I've been wearing this ring for over 50 years.  It's from Dennis' family but I don't know who (why not?).  Slightly before I got married I replaced some lapis with some jade.  Worn it ever since.  But lately I saw that the gold around the stone was wearing out and catching on things.  My jewelry person pointed out that the jade was cracked.  So time for something new given that it's our 50th anniversary.  Here's my new stone.  It's malachite with some striping.  I like it!

Our seder

 Bowen knows that the table is set real fancy.  He hopes that means that we will have company.  He LOVES company!  Especially family.  He is very fond of matzah and often there is plenty of matzah for dogs.  He doesn't know it but Melina has made a special cake just for him.

He's right!  Company comes!  I know, I know, the haggadot are not consistent and this causes a lot of merriment and confusion.  From far left around the table -- Melina, Chris, Dennis, Naomi (holding the seder plate), Stephen (the engineer, why doesn't this make sense?), Megan (obscured), Scoutie (age 3) and Suzie.  Scout finds the afikommen and then later had to hide it again and again for us to find.

Suzie and Megan make the matza ball soup, Stephen and Naomi make the hard boiled eggs and charoses.  Melina brings the dessert (including the dog cake).  We skip the main meal this year and nobody noticed.

Glad to do it.  I'm doing it for Scoutie...