Summer 2007

Last band concert, June

My last junior high band concert was June 5, 2007. It was a really special evening.  After the Saunders family played a tribute song to Mr. B., the Jazz Ensemble performed. We played Send in the Clowns, and I got a lot of noise for my trumpet solo. We also played The Man I Love and Night of the Capricorn Moon. Mr. B. said we were the first jazz band he'd had in about ten years that was capable of playing the latter, and Jack and Claire did great solos.

Then the Concert and Symphonic bands played. They ended with Pomp and Circumstance while Mr. B. called out each 9th grade band member's name, and and he or she walked across the floor with a large-screen photo portrait projected behind. There were lots of screams and applause at this point, but nothing like when we did the same thing the next day in front of the student body (ow, my ears) .

Finally, it was time for all the parents to skedaddle, and we started having real fun (no offense, Mom). We danced till 11:00, and then a big group of us went X-bowling at Kenmore Lanes until about 1:30 in the morning. It was a blast.

End of Junior High, June

The last day of junior high was Monday, June 25th. It was supposed to have been earlier in June, but we lost so many days of school to snow over the year that we had to make up a few days at the end. I didn't want to go to school for a half-day on a Monday, but Mom and Dad made me. And, I admit, I was glad they did. We signed yearbooks, said lots of goodbyes, and goofed off big-time [right]. 

That night Dane hosted an end-of-the-year party for a lot of ninth graders at a neighborhood pool. It was pretty much freezing outside, but we still had a blast.

Here comes summer...

The day started with the annual Bothell Fourth of July parade. Mom gathered us all up, and we brought Brennan, too. Sofia really enjoyed it this year, which was fun to watch. My favorite part was when the Mustang club drove by revving their engines.  It's small-town, but they do throw out a lot of candy. I gave all the soft chewables to Sofia and still went home with a big bag-full.

Next we went to Dad's for a Richards' barbecue, even Mom and Jan. Brennan and Sofia played in the wading pool. Anita came over, and we played croquet and bongo balls. Taylor arrived from next door, and we lit small firecrackers in the cul-de-sac. Eventually there was quite a crowd and lots of good food. 

I didn't light that firecracker in my nose [left—just trying to freak out Mom], but I did light tons that night. (Our house is in unincorporated King County, where it's legal.) Claire, Alanna, and Emily also came over to enjoy the neighborhood bonanza. Every year, the guys across the street spend literally thousands of dollars on fireworks and load up multiple wooden pallets with mortar tubes. They lit these off four or five times, and somehow I thought to videotape one of them. You can see it here. Awesome!

First Paying Job, July

I started my first "real" (temporary) job on July 2nd. Mom arranged for me to work in her office up to 15 hours a week (going into the office with her on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays). I made $8 an hour for answering phones, sorting the mail, and running errands, as well as helping with a research project on pedestrian safety. For the research, I had the mind-numbing joy of sitting in a cubical [right] and watching digital video of an intersection in 1-hour clips (speeded up, of course, by the computer). Every time I saw a pedestrian cross, I had to enter specific data about the actions of the pedestrian and surrounding vehicles. I'm told that it's an important and worthwhile project... but now I know the true meaning of "bored to tears."  

Still, it wasn't all bad. Mark, the director, was really nice about letting me have three weeks of vacation in July and August. I liked running errands 'cause it was fun to walk around the UW campus. Mom took me out to lunch once in a while, and Kathy, my research supervisor, always put out candy or snacks to keep me awake. And, of course, there were the paychecks. I put them all in my savings account. Can you say, "Car Fund"?

Next, we set off for Yellowstone National Park. It was a very long drive, but I was able to read a book and a half on the way there. We arrived in the rain, and I got soaked while guiding Dad into the RV spot. In our week at Yellowstone we drove all over the park, seeing amazing geysers (Old Faithful is just one of many), hot springs, sulfur ponds, and viewpoints [left], as well as lots of elk, bison, and bighorn sheep. We even saw two black bears and a female grizzly bear with her cub (from a safe distance). I got a slight case of altitude sickness, but it didn't last too long. 

Next we traveled to our third destination, Silverwood Theme Park near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We spent two full days there and had a blast on the rides (more about those below). Then we headed back home with a few souvenirs and a great trip, one of the highlights of my summer, behind us.

Northern Idaho, August

In August Mom, Jan, Sofia, and I took a vacation in the RV to northern Idaho. The first night we stopped at Coulee City in eastern Washington and camped at the Coulee City Community Park on Banks Lake. The campsite wasn't great, but the lake had a nice view at sunset. The next day we continued east and arrived at Farragut State Park, Idaho, in the mid-afternoon. Mom and I biked to the park's WWII museum. It was interesting because it was housed in the only surviving building from the old fort, the brig. 

The third day we spent entirely at the park. With the morning too cold for swimming, we took a long, easy hike, by which time the sun began to emerge. After lunch we attempted a swim in the lake. It was windy, though, so it was still too cold. I rode my bike around for a while. Back at our campsite, Sofia entertained the neighbors by running behind my bike as I rode around the camping area.

On September 1st, family friend Rob Scheibe took me with him to Bremerton Raceway for a Porsche Club of America (PCA) Driver Skills Day. He picked me up at 6:15 AM and dropped me back home at 7:00 PM—a long day, but completely worth it. 

The event was all about teaching people how to drive their cars both aggressively and safely. Rob is a volunteer instructor there, which is why he was able to bring me along. 

I spent the day shagging (resetting) cones and watching beautiful cars [like the '60s vintage 911 at left] zip around cone obstacles in different skills-oriented sections. 

I am not able to drive in one of these events yet. However, Rob has said that once I turn 16 (a mere seven months away) and get my driver's license, he will bring me along again... in my own car.