Archive for the ‘Hood Family Journal’ Category
Summer’s End
Photo by the Spokane Symphony
On the Saturday before Labor Day, the weather was ideal for outdoor activities. The Spokane Symphony, conducted by Eckart Preu, performed a free concert from 6-8 p.m. in the open-air ampitheater at Pavilion Park in Liberty Lake.
The annual celebration, which was also the 10th anniversary of the incorporation of Liberty Lake as a city, had something for everyone. Many people drove over from the nearby golf course and remained in their golf carts as an alternative form of seating. We also saw that a number of them used their golf carts for a sort of modified tailgate party and picnic. By evening, blankets and lawn chairs covered the grass.
The concert began by bringing everyone to their feet for the “Star-Spangled Banner.” This patriotic opening was followed by a wide variety of musical arrangements from the Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla to ragtime numbers and a “Symphonic Portrait of Irving Berlin.” The kids commented most on the arrangement of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Sandwiches and chips tasted even better than usual with such a melodious accompaniment and fresh community atmosphere. The city of Liberty Lake provided free slices of chocolate cake for dessert to everyone in attendance.
Pavilion Park is a truly wonderful retreat for the citizens of this lakeside suburb. Walkways wind through the shady trees encircling the open-air theater. A baseball diamond and soccer field are located above and back from the stage. Playground toys and restrooms are conveniently available in this idyllic park setting. This park is a community-building gift to the people of Liberty Lake. Throughout the summer, there are many events hosted at the park, including movies after dark. For a full list of these events, visit the Pavilion Park website at http://www.pavillionpark.org/.
Great classical music like that performed by the Spokane Symphony is not usually available to everyone in a community, so this was a fantastic opportunity for the general public to enjoy. This evening was a welcome and relaxing way to end the summer holiday. Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture brought a dramatic close to this outdoor celebration, and was very fitting for the end of summer and the beginning of the Spokane Symphony’s 2011 season.
Labor Day 2011
Labor Day 2011 had gorgeous weather and was a most relaxing day. As a family, we went to “Pig-Out in the Park” in Spokane’s Riverfront Park. This food fest is a popular 5-day event with lots of food and drink vendors in the south side of the park and retail vendors over the river, on the north side of the park. It is always held during Labor Day weekend.
To avoid dealing with the congestion of downtown parking on Labor Day, we parked our van in the Gonzaga Law School parking lot and walked on the Centennial Trail, along the Spokane River, back to Riverfront park. Spokane is extremely fortunate that past visionaries brought Expo ’74 to Spokane. Spokane is the smallest city ever to host a world’s fair. After the fair, the grounds, which before the fair was a rail yard for the railroad, were then converted to a beautiful central city park. Riverfront Park is not only a positive natural environmental getaway in urban Spokane but a great place for events like “Pig-Out in the Park”.
Likewise, the Centennial Trail, which passes through the center of Riverfront Park is a phenomenal gift to the people of Spokane and surrounding area. The majority of the work on Centennial Trail was done from 1989-1991 right after the Centennial celebrations for 100 years of Washington becoming a state. The trail is a 37 mile paved path from Nine Mile Falls to the Idaho State Line. Most of the trail runs alongside the Spokane River.
All in all, experiencing the Centennial Trail from Gonzaga to Riverfront Park was a most enjoyable experience this weekend. I’ve entered the Centennial Trail at different trail heads in the Valley, but never in the downtown areas, whether on a bicycle or jogging the trail is an enjoyable experience. Often, we believe we must travel hundreds of miles to have a vacation experience but often right under our noses are mini-vacations to cherish and enjoy.
Keep smiling!
Dr. James G. Hood
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Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S. Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients from Age 2 to 102! James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A. 507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1, Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414 Websites: www.drhood.com www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com, www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com |
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Mad will type (text must be 300 or more words), give to Dr. to edit, and email Beverly to post to all sites listed below. Beverly needs to use SEO scribe when posting. Date to Post: 9/6/11
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Labor Day 2011
Labor Day 2011 had gorgeous weather and was a most relaxing day. As a family, we went to “Pig-Out in the Park” in Spokane’s Riverfront Park. This food fest is a popular 5-day event with lots of food and drink vendors in the south side of the park and retail vendors over the river, on the north side of the park. To avoid dealing with the congestion of downtown parking, we parked our van in the Gonzaga Law School parking lot and walked on the Centennial Trail, along the Spokane River, back to Riverfront park. Spokane is extremely fortunate that past visionaries brought Expo ’74 to Spokane. Spokane is the smallest city ever to host a world’s fair. After the fair, the grounds, which before the fair was a rail yard for the railroad, were then converted to a beautiful central city park. Riverfront Park is not only a positive natural environmental getaway in urban Spokane but a great place for events like “Pig-Out in the Park”. Likewise, the Centennial Trail, which passes through the center of Riverfront Park is a phenomenal gift to the people of Spokane and surrounding area. The majority of the work on Centennial Trail was done from 1989-1991 right after the Centennial celebrations for 100 years of Washington becoming a state. The trail is a 37 mile paved path from Nine Mile Falls to the Idaho State Line. Most of the trail runs alongside the Spokane River. All in all, experiencing the Centennial Trail from Gonzaga to Riverfront Park was a most enjoyable experience this weekend. I’ve entered the Centennial Trail at different trail heads in the Valley, but never in the downtown areas, whether on a bicycle or jogging the trail is an enjoyable experience. Often, we believe we must travel hundreds of miles to have a vacation experience but often right under our noses are mini-vacations to cherish and enjoy.
Keep smiling!
Dr. James G. Hood
Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S. Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients from Age 2 to 102! James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A. 507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1, Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414 Email: drhood@drhood.com | Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com www.dentalnutritionblog.com www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.com www.sjogrensblog.com |
Happy Thanksgiving from the Hood Family!
Remember God’s bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor.
Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light!
Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude!
~Henry Ward Beecher
Here in the Hood Family, we love to celebrate Thanksgiving and we want to share some of that joy with you. We have so many things to be grateful for, and at this time of year we are particularly thankful for the warmth and love of family and our comfortable, welcoming home in beautiful Spokane Valley. We wish you all the best and brightest this Thanksgiving, and invite you to leave a comment sharing what you are thankful for this holiday. In the meantime, please enjoy the Thanksgiving trivia below, and have a blessed day!
Thanksgiving Trivia
- Contrary to popular belief, even though wild turkeys were around during the first Thanksgiving feast, they were not served. Instead, the Native American Indians and Plymouth colonists feasted on various seafood, deer, corn, eggs, squash, spices, popcorn and squashed cranberries.
- Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States. But it was Thomas Jefferson who opposed him. It is believed that Franklin then named the male turkey ‘Tom’ to spite Jefferson.
- Abraham Lincoln issued a ‘Thanksgiving Proclamation’ on third October 1863 and officially set aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving. Prior to this, the presidents made an annual proclamation to specify the day when Thanksgiving was to be held.
- The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days.
- Canada also celebrates Thanksgiving, but
- The beverage of choice at the first Thanksgiving (and on the Mayflower) was beer.
- From 1777 to 1783 all Thanksgivings were celebrated in December except for in the year 1782. In that year, it was celebrated on the 28th of November.
- On the West Coast of the U.S., Dungeness crab is a common alternate main dish instead of turkey. Other common main dishes across the country include goose and ham. Italian-American families typically serve a baked pasta dish like lasagna along with the turkey.
- The average American consumes about 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day.
- 91% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day.
Spokane Snow
by Karen Jean Matsko Hood
Dear Readers,
Today we woke up to more snow in Spokane, and it is simply beautiful! Of course, it is not such good news for drivers. There are always a lot of fender benders in this kind of weather, which is always worrisome, especially when there are young drivers on the road. The Weather Channel reports that a lot more snow is on the way over the next ten days, and temperatures will dip below zero on several days, creating icy driving conditions. So even as you enjoy all the fun opportunities the winter weather provides–whether you are skiing, sledding, or just frolicking in the snowbanks–do drive carefully, and be sure to check out the safety tips below!
Cheers,
Karen
Driving in Snow and Ice
Source: Weather.com
The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.
Don’t go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.
If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared (TIPS), and that you know how to handle road conditions.
It’s helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you’re familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner’s manual for tips specific to your vehicle.
Driving safely on icy roads
- Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
- Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
- Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
- Keep your lights and windshield clean.
- Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
- Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
- Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
- Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
- Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
If your rear wheels skid…
- Take your foot off the accelerator.
- Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right.
- If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
- If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
- If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.
If your front wheels skid…
- Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don’t try to steer immediately.
- As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.
If you get stuck…
- Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
- Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
- Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
- Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
- Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
- Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner’s manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you’re in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.
Happy Birthday, Kelsey Katrina!
Happy birthday Kelsey Katrina! My lovely daughter! It’s hard to believe you are twenty years old already, my…how time flies!
Enjoy your time at Gonzaga. We are so fortunate to have you so close. It is a wonderful time in your life and one that you will have fond memories for the rest of your life. Remember, dear daughter, this is just a springboard to launch you for the rest of your future.
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Kelsey loves Gonzaga University and it is now basketball season, which the local community supports.
Gonzaga University is a private Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington. Its official mascot is the Bulldog and the players are nicknamed the Zags. Gonzaga University is part of the NCAA Division I West Coast Conference. Its men’s basketball team, which did not make its first appearance in the NCAA tournament until 1995 (more than a decade after NBA Hall of Fame player and Gonzaga alumnus John Stockton graduated), has become nationally prominent since making the regional finals of the NCAA tournament (“Elite Eight”) in 1999, re-appearing in the tournament every year since.
Gonzaga University basketball games are held in the McCarthey Athletic Center, in which the men’s basketball team has won over 90 percent of its games. The men’s team often plays high-profile non-conference games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena near downtown Spokane, in addition to the annual Comcast Battle in Seattle game held at KeyArena in Seattle.
Two of Gonzaga’s most recent notable athletes are basketball players; former center Ronny Turiaf (now playing for the New York Knicks) and third overall 2006 NBA Draft pick and Los Angeles Laker Adam Morrison (who was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats), regarded for his likeness to Hall of Famer Larry Bird. Head coach Mark Few was the West Coast Conference coach of the year from 2001 to 2006, and again in 2008. Few became the head coach in the summer of 1999, following the departure of Dan Monson to Minnesota.
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