This week’s menu: Some appetizers and a few hors d’oeuvres

Published 3:00 pm Friday, January 27, 2006

Today’s mail threw me a bit from my steady stream of Seahawks scenarios when I saw the envelope from Planned Parenthood, Federation of America, Inc. If my parents were surprised with round one, how did round two get on their mailing list?

Thanks to the many of you who have e-mailed or called with your opinions regarding our annual Island County Fair. This year the party starts on Thursday morning, Aug. 17. Four nights later, Sunday, Aug. 20, the last blast of cotton candy will be jettisoned across the Midway. Like Spring Training in the major leagues, the Island County Fair is quick to arrive and quick to go.

Next week’s column we can share some of the highlights of your responses. Along with that a discussion of my dual team dilemma as I face Feb. 5 as both a Steelers and a Seahawk fan. Another day of unmatched socks.

Last week we four neighbors got together to enjoy seafood and sunset at an off-isle eatery to discuss local gossip with a bit more ease and volume. Wouldn’t you know we paid the price when we thought we’d enjoy non-local fare. That’s what we get eating away from home. Not only did the guy across from our booth collapse as he walked toward the exit, my buddy the neighbor, a retired Freeland battalion fire chief, leapt from our booth like John Wilkes.

Forty-five seconds later our collapsed octodrinkwineagain was sitting up and responding to four handsome firemen/paramedics who arrived quicker than Clark Kent in an adult book store. Seems the gentleman was celebrating his birthday with a bit of a low blood sugar that got spiked by a delayed jalapeno

You’ll be reading more about my neighbor the hero when Breeana does a South Whidbey Record feature on his new business, Island Indoor Air Quality. He gave my caboose the thumbs up on moisture and mold assessment. No anti-microbial treatments were required or suggested. If you can’t wait for the article (remind me to suggest this to Breeana) and have a question about mold or your indoor air quality, residential, commercial or industrial, I invite you to give Kevin a call at 360-331-3511.

I was the proud recipient of the last of the first and hopefully not last 2006 Island Recycling Calendar.

This black-and-white classic calendar features the Island Recycling cast of cherished characters: Craig Youderian, Dawn Berenda, Dave and Jill Campbell, Joyce Way, Katrina Hude, Jason Campbell, Susie Williams, Stan Steplewski, Eric Rudd and Marvin Cook. All of the images are as unique as the individuals themselves. Thanks Dave and Jill for the addition to my caboose walls. With your calendar I can remind myself that you are open every day except Monday, the day I usually drive up with another load of National Geographics. To seek autographed copies of the calendar, contact Chief Interrogator Susie (September’s honoree) who will arrange a sitting between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., any day but Monday.

A sneak preview of next week’s remarks about the fair: One of our local responders suggested that she enjoyed the column as it was possibly the first one that she had ever understood. In light of her valued and respected opinion, my seven-week seminar on sarcasm has been postponed until I can come up with another theme.

Maybe I’ll ask Kevin if I can join him in mold remediation. That’s at least a valuable service, more so than weekly sarcasm.

You know, my law degree might just help here as I spent quite a bit of time remediating in the ‘70s. Boy, did we go through the incense.

Seahawks by 13. That’s pints, not points. You heard it here first.

Jim’s columns are archived @ cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/southwhidbeyrecord.