THE UNION PACIFIC MEMORIAL IN WALLA WALLA

Union Pacific Memorial

(All images in this post are Hawaiian Odysseus photos.)

Just west of Jefferson Park in Walla Walla, Washington, adjacent to the 9th Avenue portion of Highway 11 which connects the aforementioned city with its Oregon sister approximately ten miles or so to the south--Milton-Freewater--you'll find this iconic iron giant from yesteryear resting in a cyclone fence-enclosed area.  

I happened to be walking past this railroad memorabilia this morning.  The temperature was menthol brisk, and I was comfortable in jeans and a light jacket over an aloha shirt. The sky--oh, that glorious panorama of azure!--had its celestial gates closed to members of the cloud family, and the sun was out in its brilliant promise to warm things up a bit.

Only a third of the way through visiting February, and yet we're blessed with a mid-spring day.

Good thing I brought my camera! I thought as I found a clean spot on the grass to lay my backpack down.  Unzipping my faithful blue and black accessory, I grabbed my simple yet invaluable Fuji digital and jockeyed around the cyclone fence to capture a few images.

In 1917, this Union Pacific #2357 locomotive was built for the Union Pacific subsidiary known as the Oregon Short Line.  It was donated to the City of Walla Walla in 1959. 

Established on April 14, 1881, the Oregon Short Line was the appropriate choice of name for the shortest route possible from Wyoming to Oregon. The construction of a standard gauge line from Granger, Wyoming through Idaho to a junction in Huntington, Oregon, was successfully administered by the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company.

This memorial has existed for over five decades adjacent to what could arguably described as Walla Walla's busiest thoroughfare.  Yet, as is the case with so many beautiful images, ojects, and--sadly--fellow sojourners of terra firma, we engage in this perpetual habit of neglecting to see what is right in front of us.

In my work on eBay and its close online cousins; in my views and life philosophy; in my spirituality; and especially in my interpersonal relationships,   I want to do my part and start seeing--really seeing--what I've been taking for granted.

LONEY'S HARVEST FOODS

 A Blogger's Paraphernalia

(Hawaiian Odysseus photo)

Today, I'm at Loney's Harvest Foods at 905 S. 2nd Avenue in Walla Walla, WA.  

My mission today is to work on a huge blog project commemorating the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Having learned about the free wi-fi service available at this popular hometown grocery store, I thought I'd park myself for a few hours here this morning and work on my post.

But, first, a little bit about Loney's.

Off and on, I've been shopping here for the past fourteen years.  It started as a small mom and pop grocery store and eventually linked up with the Harvest Foods organization comprised of more than thirty-two independent grocers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. 

In a local people's poll sponsored by the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Loney's has twice won the distinction of having the best meat department in the Walla Walla Valley.  Their deli department also has a great reputation for fine catering, often going the extra mile in utilizing valued customers' own favorite recipes.  Not to be undone, the bakery department takes pride in preparing all of their products from scratch.  In addition, there is a postal sub-station, a service that comes in handy during the busy holiday season.

The burgeoning vineyards and wineries in this southeast Washington town have helped put Walla Walla on the global radar.  Loney's contributes to the promotional effort by featuring a fine selection of both local and regional wines.

Loney's excellent management and customer service are longtime trademarks.  As you travel through the aisles and assess the quality and quantity of grocery items and the great values offered up on a daily basis, you can't help but come away with a sense of good, old-fashioned hometown familiarity punctuated with professional courtesy.

View from the Blogger's Corner

(Hawaiian Odysseus photo)

SMORGASBORD OF eBAY AND BLOGGER

MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME is a personal finance or entrepreneurial concept bandied about by the money gurus for quite some time now.  

And while I like the way those words roll off my tongue and my eyeballs go CHA-CHING! CHA-CHING! I have to admit, my own multiple streams have been more like muddy irrigation ditches where the only thing moving besides the water is an occasional crayfish.  

Anyway, a man can dream, can't he?  And if there's one ingredient I have, it is PERSISTENCE!

To that end, then, and as has been alluded to with the tongue-in-cheek "Words from our Sponsor" posts in this and our sister blog, Hawaiian Odysseus 2, Hawaiian Odysseus has at least a second life maintaining auctions and a store presence on the world's greatest marketplace--eBay!

Just for fun, I wanted to share with you a new listing I put up today.  What follows are three of the images I used and the verbatim text of my listing.  (For your convenience, the auction link is located at the bottom of this post.)

Suffice it to say that there's been enough gloom and doom news in the mainstream media these past few days.  It prompted me to get into a different space today--a spring cleaning, as it were, or perhaps more appropriately, a summer overhaul of my gray matter doldrums.

Here, then, is my most recent auction listing on eBay:

Metz #1 Magnum Grizzly Neck

(Hawaiian Odysseus photos)

METZ #1 MAGNUM 

GRIZZLY COCK NECK

New In Package

Okay, here's the thing...I truly don't understand this current hair extension trend, and I won't insult your intelligence by pretending to be an expert about a field I know absolutely nothing about (except for having seen Steven Tyler with some grizzly feathers hanging near his ear).  

All I can tell you is that a whole bunch of fly tyers and fly fishermen are pretty disgruntled because they can't get their hands on any kind of quality feathers because the craftspeople are gobbling them up like crazy.

And to compound the problem, you've got these narcissistic politicians in Congress showboating when they ought to be representing the people, the result of which is a band aid fix for a huge problem that could have been effectively resolved had they listened to the urgent pleas of their constituents years ago.

So, I'm not going to baffle you with falsehoods.  Here's what I will do instead.

I'm going to tell you the truth.  I'm going to take a huge chance and list what I consider to be some primo grizzly necks for auction, starting at a price that's more sensible than a lot of what I'm currently seeing on the major auction sites.  In fact, I'm going to make it fun for you by starting it up at the ridiculous price of a Lincoln penny.

I will not lie to you and tell you that I got some capes in today for a cheap price.  I paid an arm and a leg for them to a very respectable dealership in Oregon.  The sales rep told me I got the last of these, and I believe him.  So I'm taking a huge chance here.  

But I think we all deserve some light moments in our lives during these anxious times.  Hey, it'll be great fun--you bidding and competing with others, my wife and me watching to see how things go.

I will do this for at least the first of these capes.  If things go well, I'll do it again with a second.  If things go bad, I'll do what everyone else is doing and list it at a stupidly high price and watch as day 7 comes and goes without one nibble.  

But, folks, why do that?  Come on, let's bring the glory days of eBay back--at least for a little while, if at all possible--and truly have a great time competitively and recreationally passing the time.  

One more bit of honesty.  

My primary target group is comprised of my fellow fly tyers--though retired from that wonderful occupation, I will never forgot the spectrum of agony and ecstasy, of cussing and oohing, until each dozen flies was tied to perfection.  That said, if any of the hair extension and jewelry craftsmen participate in this auction, God bless you, too.  The more the merrier!

So, without further ado, I'll let the pictures above and your working knowledge of feathers drive this vehicle.  

One last thing...there will be no returns.  I cannot afford, given the current economy AND fashion trend, to get back grizzly capes that have been partially plucked and/or damaged.  I'm taking enough risk as it is to provide a good time for everyone.  

SO, PLEASE ASK ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.    

Thank you very much, everyone!  

Bid heartily, and have yourselves a blast!

Check out our other items!

Thank you for visiting our eBay store--

LORDS OF THE FLY

--the humble online shop with great expectations!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360385524291&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT#ht_3309wt_1185

A FORGOTTEN LEGEND

(Photo courtesy of Kele and Jennifer)

An Honorary Tribute to
Silas A. Aqui


HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!

KUHINA--the highest chief, second only to KAMEHAMEHA--diligently scanned the horizon from Pihea Peak. 

Perched high on the cliffs above Kalalau, he and his brethren ali'i, clad in malo, red and yellow cloaks, and brilliant feathered helmets, formed an awe-inspiring cadre.   With dark curls framing broad foreheads, ruggedly proud and handsome features, and strong, set jaws, the royal Polynesian aristocrats brooded collectively.

They were huge, statuesque men, averaging 6'4" and easily 250 pounds.  Their bulky, generously-muscled bodies provided an earthy complement to their colorful attire.  The native villagers below likened these impressive god-like men to mirrored images of the sun setting on the nether regions of the sea.

Where is MANO?  Kuhina whispered to himself.  

The slight yet steady tradewind, dancing with a current closely matching the pulse of the waves far below, carried Kuhina's sighs to his attentive men.

Yes, where indeed was MANO?

There had been an unforgivable violation to Hawaiian law.  Someone had trespassed a beach area that had been KAPU to all.  This virgin tract was used by sea turtles as a birthing ground.  With complete disregard for the well-being of fellow villagers and the magnificent yet gentle creatures of the Pacific depths, someone had selfishly and brutally clubbed a group of basking sea turtles to death.  The carcasses and entrails had been left to rot on the lava rocks.  Crabs and sea terns engorged on the rotting meat, and the foul smell had plagued the villagers for several days now.

MANO was furious!

The behemoth shark god had had enough of Man.  All the patience of Eternity would never be enough for the gods and mankind to coexist in the same universe.

Where indeed was MANO?

Many, many miles to the north--just an aggressive swim upstream for a raging shark god--MANO came to rest in a tranquil cove off the western coast of an immense land mass.  One of the original islands, as it were, that had once been part of the aged empire, ATLANTIS.

MANO was emotionally spent...and tired...so very tired.

He fell asleep.

The forever sleep that even the gods eventually succumb to overcame Akua MANO.

Today, all that remains is MANO's immense dorsal fin.  

In the sunset that heralds the blanket of night, you will see the memorial of MANO.

And if you and your loved ones are especially quiet and thoughtful, you will hear the whisper of KUHINA offering up a gentle lullaby to the departed shark god.  It pulsates in time with the alluring hula of the Pacific Northwest waves.

Hawaiian Odysseus.