REVIEW--Makoto Japanese Buffet

(Today's word will be in ALL CAPS, BOLD, ITALIC, and STRIKETHROUGH.)



By no means is my son a picky eater; he'll try just about anything at least once. The things he likes, he wants more of; the things he doesn't, he avoids at all costs.

To date, the only things he really despises are pickles. He also can't stand mustard, or avocados, but has conceded that in other food, (like potato salad with mustard), he can deal with them.

To me, these are basic foods that most people like, except my son. Yet, while he doesn't like these simple things, he loves to try all kinds of foods. Ostrich, emu, bear, elk, buffalo, alligator, I could go on and on about the different foods he's tried, and liked.

Sushi is another favorite of my son, which brings me to the real subject of this blog; Makoto Japanese Buffet, in Vancouver, Washington.

We first tried Makoto last August, on my son's birthday. Customers of the restaurant eat free on their birthday, when accompanied by a paying customer. Since my son had wanted to try the place, we went, and were not disappointed.

Unlike most Asian buffets in our area, Makoto has truly fresh food. Instead of leaving something to sit until it's gone, the chefs at Makoto replace items as needed, and if something has sat for too long, they replace it with fresh food.

I honestly didn't think I'd be a fan of sushi, having tried it before and only liking a bit of what I'd had. Makoto however had me trying all types of sushi. While unlike my son, I didn't eat anything with TENTACLES, I found other types of sushi that was delicious.

In addition to sushi, the restaurant has a variety of other foods, such as orange chicken, calamari, pepper steak, and one of my favorites, tempura red snapper.

Since we hadn't been to Makoto since August, we decided to go again a few weeks ago. The only difference in the experience we had this time, compared to the first, is the amount of people in attendance.

The first time, business was fairly slow; this time though, the place was packed, with people waiting for available seating. The food however was just as excellent as we'd had in August.

Why I haven't written about this place before now, I don't know. What made me think about it was an email I'd received from a co-worker, asking me the name and location of the restaurant. It was his wife's birthday, and he wanted to take her there for dinner.

Some may think the price is a bit steep; I know I did at first. However, if you really like sushi, and want all you can eat, you'll get your money's worth. Lunch is $8.99 a person, while dinner is $14.99 Monday through Thursday. Friday dinner, and all day Saturday and Sunday is $15.99. This doesn't include beverages, or tax.

Makoto isn't somewhere my budget will allow me to frequent regularly; though it's nice to know there's somewhere nearby I can go when I have something to celebrate, or just want to treat myself.

Makoto Japanese Buffet is located at 1119 163rd Place, Vancouver Washington. Their hours are 11am to 2:30pm & 4:30pm to 9:30pm, Monday through Friday; and 11:30am to 9:30pm Saturday and Sunday.

REVIEW--Casey James--"Casey James"

(Today's word will be in ALL CAPS, BOLD, ITALIC, and STRIKETHROUGH.)

It's been nearly two years since Casey James placed third on the ninth season of American Idol. Since then, James' stalwart fans have been anxiously awaiting the release of his debut CD. The wait ended March 20, 2012.

"Let's Don't Call It A Night", is the first single released from James' self-titled debut. It's been getting a lot of airplay on country radio, even with it's heavy blues influence. It's definitely one of the strongest songs on the CD.

Not to say that there are any weak tunes however, quite the contrary. While some of James' songs may sound similar in some aspects; and don't really stand out from the rest of the tracks, they're still decent and worth listening to.

A couple of stand outs, besides the debut single, are "Workin' On It", and "I Miss Your Fire".

"Workin' On It" is a playful, tongue in cheek song telling about all the things the singer doesn't have, but is working on getting. It's one of the most fun, upbeat tracks of the eleven offered on this CD.

"I Miss Your Fire", goes the opposite direction, with James singing soft, slow, and sultry.

The rest of the CD is a mix of tunes who's style fit somewhere between those two songs.

The best part about the CD is that it let's you hear Casey James' voice, and all the amazing ways he uses it in his songs. Sometimes artists are drowned out by the music; that's not the case this time.

If singing and playing weren't enough, James co-wrote nine of the eleven tracks, and also had a hand in co-producing one or two.

If you're looking for hardcore, down home country, you may be disappointed with Casey James' offering. However, if you like your country mixed with blues, and touches of various other genres, you're sure to find something you like on this CD. It's definitely a WINNER.

Switching Gears

(Today's word will be in ALL CAPS, BOLD, ITALIC, and STRIKETHROUGH.)


I originally started writing today's post about a subject I heard the KUPL morning team discussing a couple days ago; pack rats and collecting. However, in doing research, I came across something interesting, and have decided to wait on the more complex post until another day.

My "research" was looking for pictures to use in my post about collecting. I come from a family of collectors; and pack rats. As I was looking for pictures of nutcrackers, (one of my son's collections), I came across a photo of nutcrackers that both he and his late dad would appreciate: Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock.

Both love all the Star Trek shows, movies, etc.; so when I saw the photo, I knew I had to show my son. His reaction was exactly what I expected. Though he doesn't really collect nutcrackers anymore, (due to a lack of space), he said he'd definitely make room for these, if he could find them.

With his BIRTHDAY coming up, and me being the mom I am, I'm now in search of these nutcrackers, and any other Star Trek ones that may exist. Not sure I'll find them, or if I can afford them if I do; but it'll be fun to try.

If anyone reading this post knows about these nutcrackers, please leave a comment here. Thanks!

A Co-Worker & Friend

(Today's word will be in ALL CAPS, BOLD, ITALIC, and STRIKETHROUGH.)

The above photo is of my friend, Patty Pittman. We first met almost twelve years ago, when she started working for the same company I work for.

Everyone who knows Patty says the same thing, there's just something about her that makes people like her. She's a rare, UNIQUE person. She's had hard knocks in life, yet, has always been strong enough to get through even the toughest of times.

She's a very private person as well though, so I won't post her whole life story here.

The reason for this post is because Patty's kind of going through another rough patch; and yet has still kept her sanity.

A little over a month ago, my friend fell, which resulted in a compound fracture of her ankle. Patty had to have surgery on the ankle and has been ordered to stay off that foot for at least three months.

Now, we're talking about someone who doesn't sit still much, so you can imagine what that's like for her.

If that weren't enough, Patty lives on the third floor of her apartment complex, with no elevators. She's kind of stuck at home by no choice of her own.

That's where Patty's friends and family come in to the picture. Since the fall, Patty's daughter, Amanda, has made two trips out here from Chicago, and will be coming in for a third trip this week. In addition, Patty's cousin, and son have been helping care for her, as well as other friends.

As I said, Patty is the type of person people gravitate to. She's a strong person in so many ways, and is good at getting her message, (whatever it may be), through to even the most stubborn of people.

I know she'll get through this latest setback with flying colors. It'll take a few months, but I know she will.

"Nothing Personal" on the I.D. Channel

(Today's word will be in ALL CAPS, BOLD, ITALIC, and STRIKETHROUGH.)


I've mentioned before that I tend to watch reality TV as opposed to regular programs. Not "reality" like "Survivor", "The Amazing Race", etc. More "reality" in the sense of "true crime" shows: "Forensic Files", "Scorned", and the like.

One show I'd never seen before yesterday is "Nothing Personal", on the I.D. channel. The thing that caught my attention about the show was the commercial for the latest episode. It was promoted as being about a washed up "rock star" who wanted to be rid of his wife. Sounded intriguing, so I watched.

The program started out in Cottonwood, California, where a murder had taken place. Part way through, it switched to Portland, Oregon, a city I've known all my life.

My interest was peaked more by this fact, as I'm always curious about the local area and what's going on; or in this case, had gone on.

As it turns out, the episode was about a man, Todd Garton, who had been in a band called "Detente Touch", in Portland, from the mid to late 80's. I'd never heard of the band, but was interested in hearing what had happened, and how Garton had ended up in California.

I'm watching the show, and various people are recounting the past, about the band and other things surrounding the Portland area. Suddenly I see a face I recognize. I've never actually talked to this person more than a couple of minutes, but still, I recognize her immediately. It was Carol Batchelor, who used to be an air personality for KUPL.

Turns out, Batchelor was the lead singer for Detente Touch, so she knew Todd Garton, and the woman who was to become his wife, also named CAROL. Beyond the band however, Batchelor had no other connections with Garton.

I'm sure this type of thing happens all the time, where someone recognizes another person, etc. It's the first time it's ever happened to me though, and it took my by surprise.

Though what happened is in no way shape or form, cool; I did think it was a bit cool to have recognized someone on a national TV show. The circumstances were definitely sad though.

Blake Shelton's "Well Lit & Amplified" Tour--March 11, 2012

(Today's word will be in ALL CAPS, BOLD, ITALIC, and STRIKETHROUGH.)


Sunday, March 11, 2012 Blake Shelton brought his "Well Lit & Amplified" tour to the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon.

Dia Frampton, runner-up on season one of "The Voice", got the music started.

Frampton looked at ease, singing and roaming the stage barefoot. Though at times the music drowned her out, Dia's voice did shine through beautifully for the most part.

After a short break, Justin Moore was next up. It occurred to me that I've always thought Moore sounds quite a bit like Blake Shelton; and now I was seeing them both in the same evening.

Moore rolled out all his hits, as well as covers of others. Like Dia Frampton before him, there were times Moore's voice was overshadowed by the music. For the most part though, his performance was great.

Another short break, and it was time for headliner, Blake Shelton.

The first time I saw Blake Shelton was eleven years ago, at the Ponderosa Lounge in Portland, Oregon. He was a 25 year old kid, with long hair, beautiful blue eyes, and one hit, "Austin". At the time, Blake seemed a bit shy, though he was friendly to everyone who met him that night.

The next time I saw him, the venue was a bit bigger, the Tillamook County Fair, in Tillamook, Oregon. The hair was shorter, the eyes just as blue, and a few more hits under his belt. By then the shyness was mostly gone, but not the friendliness.

Now, there I was in the huge Rose Garden Arena, and the same man was onstage, taking full command of the show, with very little shyness, if any.

Shelton did joke around that he drinks when he's nervous; and proceeded to be "nervous" a lot throughout the concert.

The sound for Shelton's set was really good, whether the song was quiet, or a more rocking one. And Shelton did plenty of both types of music; all the while talking, joking and interacting with the audience. He, and his voice were in excellent form.

It was like having seen a bud come into full bloom. Sometimes artists don't make the transition from small venues to large ones very well; Shelton made it look easy.

From Dia Frampton, to Justin Moore, to Blake Shelton, there wasn't a dull moment from beginning to end. If these three artists weren't enough, the crowd in Portland got another surprise that night.

About half way through his performance, Blake started talking about his wife, Miranda Lambert, and how she and Blake have varying tastes in music. Blake then started singing Lambert's song, "Baggage Claim"; but before going too far, said his wife could do the song better than he could, so she should be the one to do it.

Blake then asked the crowd if they'd like to hear his wife do the song. Of course the entire arena went crazy, screaming and cheering. To be honest, I thought Blake was kidding around, since his set that night had opened with "Baggage Claim" being played over the speakers. Lo and behold though, amidst all the hubbub, who walked out on stage but MIRANDA!

Lambert was as on the spot with her singing as the others had been before her that evening. It was a cool surprise!

After Miranda was done, she left the stage and Blake continued with his songs. Both Dia Frampton and Justin Moore joined Shelton on stage at different times, to perform with him.

The "Well Lit & Amplified" tour is one of the best large venue shows I've seen in awhile. If there's one complaint, it's that Blake didn't do "The Baby", which is one of my favorites of his songs.

I'd say those attending the concert definitely got their money's worth; both in quality, and length. The concert had started at 7:30pm, and didn't end until after 11pm.

I'm fairly sure this post is a bit more rambling than it needs to be. I blame it on a lack of sleep. By the time the concert ended, and I made it home to bed, it was 1am, and I was up for work at 4am.

For anyone looking for a shorter version of what I thought of the concert that night, I'll leave you with the email I sent to Scott, Jolynn and Jake, Monday morning, after the show:

Dia Frampton--Great!
Justin Moore--Great!
Miranda Lambert--Cool!
Blake Shelton--AWESOME!!!
Three hours of sleep--WORTH IT!

Jaida Dreyer @ the Bing Lounge--3-9-12

Even though I'd heard the name, "Jaida Dreyer" more than a few times over the past couple years, I honestly didn't know anything about the singer/songwriter. So when I heard Jaida was going to be in the Bing Lounge March 9, 2012, I knew I had to go.

Jaida was born in Ontario, Canada, but raised in the U.S.; having lived in several states by the time she was in her teens.

During her early years, Jaida had a passion for showing horses. She became a world champion at age five, and by thirteen she was a professional.

It was a hard life for a young girl and her mom, but it's the life Jaida knew, and loved, before turning her interests to music.

This brings us to March 9, 2012, and the Bing Lounge. From the moment Jaida took the stage, she had the small crowd that gathered captivated with her stories, songs and charm.

She began her set with her soon to be released single, "Guy's Girl". At one point during the song, I thought, "wow, she kind of sounded like Dolly Parton for a moment". Turns out, I wasn't the only one who caught it, and thought the same thing.



Throughout the rest of her set, Jaida in turn sounded not only like Dolly, but at times Martina McBride, Loretta Lynn, and other notable female artists. Yet, despite the resemblances, Jaida honestly does have her own style of singing; thus not locking her into a "sounds like" status. She's been blessed with a beautiful voice, and an amazing songwriting ability for someone so young.

I'm really glad I was able to see Jaida Dreyer perform in the Bing Lounge; and I know I'm not the only new fan she gained that day. I see a bright future for this young lady in the music world.

So be on the lookout for Jaida Dreyer everyone, she's the real deal!

Of Life & Death

Today's post is in honor of two of my favorite recording artists. One is celebrating 70 years of life; the other, I'm remembering a life that ended seven years ago.

March 9, 1942, Mark Allen Lindsay was born in Idaho.

For those not familiar with the name, Mark was the original singer for Paul Revere & the Raiders. He was one of the biggest teen heartthrobs of the sixties.

I first saw Mark on TV one summer when I was nine years old. It was the show, "It's Happening", starring the Raiders. Even at nine, I was like many girls from that era, instantly taken with Mark's good looks and voice. I was further intrigued by the fact that the Raiders were from my home territory, the Pacific Northwest.

Over the years, because of the music, Mark and the local connection, I've been a loyal fan of the man and the band.

Happy 70th birthday Mark!

On a sadder note, it was seven years ago today that rodeo champion, and country singer Chris LeDoux passed away.

Known mostly for rodeo and singing, there were other facets to Chris' life that most didn't know. For instance, he was also an artist, working in metal sculpturing. His work was beautiful, and reflected his passions in life.

LeDoux was one country artist that both my son and I just had to see whenever he was playing nearby. Chris put on a show that was always excellent and worth seeing.

I remember when he first became ill, needing a liver transplant. Many automatically assumed Chris was a heavy drinker, and that's why the transplant was needed. In reality, he had a rare liver disease that had nothing to do with alcohol. Fortunately, a donor was found for LeDoux, and he was afforded a few more years on this earth.

The remission ended though, and on March 9, 2005, so did Chris LeDoux's fight for life.

I remember where I was, and how I found out Chris had died. Some friends and I were at the Ponderosa Lounge in Portland, Oregon, waiting to see David Lee Murphy. During the concert, David Lee mentioned that Chris had passed away that day, and told about Chris recording a song he'd written. He then sang the song, "Scatter the Ashes", in tribute to Chris.

I don't have a version of the song by David Lee Murphy, so I'll add Chris' version here, in tribute once again to a life ended too soon.

A Moment of Panic!

(Today's word will be in ALL CAPS, BOLD, ITALIC, and STRIKETHROUGH.)


This has been kind of an "off" week for me. First, I wasn't at work for two days. That meant Monday I almost forgot I needed a blog for Tuesday. Remembered in enough time to get one written, thank goodness!

Then, I was back at work on Wednesday, though it felt like a Monday. I at least remembered that I needed a blog for Thursday, so not a problem with that.

I get home from work, still thinking about what to write a post about. I actually had a couple ideas, just hadn't decided which one to do.

I go out to KUPL's website, as usual; go to click on the WATCH tab and it's not there! ACK!!! This changes everything! How can I have a post with a word for the day, if I don't have a blog?!

I click on the word "photo", no blog, just photos and videos. Where oh where has my blog gone?! Got a bit panicky for a moment, then I found it! My blog is now hiding under the "Extras" tab at the top of KUPL's website.

Whew! I thought I no longer had a blog and no one told me! I can breath again! And I have a post for today, and can save my other ones for another day. Yay!

Of Mid-Life And Menopause

(Today's word will be in ALL CAPS, BOLD, ITALIC, and STRIKETHROUGH.)


(Not being a meteorologist, or even a weather person, I'm left to my own conclusions about the current weather situations around the globe. That, and I have more fun making up my own stories!)


We all know the world has been around for eons. I'm thinking in universe age, our little planet might be in it's middle age years at the moment.

My reasoning is due to the odd weather most places have been experiencing lately. If Nature was male, it would be having a mid-life crisis. Next thing you know, our aging solar system would be served divorce papers, and good ol' Nature would be out looking for a younger galaxy to hang out with.

We all know however, Nature's full name is "MOTHER Nature", and therefore is a female.

In terms of the weather, this makes complete sense. After all, women going through menopause tend to have various symptoms, like hot flashes, cold sweats, mood swings, bloating and the like.

Now look at the weather throughout our world lately: Unusually warm, or cold; flooding; tornadoes; earthquakes, and the list goes on.

Does anyone else see the pattern I'm seeing? Sudden warmth is equal to hot flashes; and much colder weather can be the same as cold sweats. Flooding would be like bloating, and earthquakes and tornadoes definitely seem like Nature's version of mood swings.

As I've said, this is just my theory on the subject; my odd sense of seeing things differently than others. In no way however am I trying to make light of the devastation that's been happening lately. I definitely realize the enormity of what's happened to many over the last few days and weeks. Hopefully I haven't offended anyone. If I have, I do sincerely apologize.

Space For Rent

(Today's word will be in ALL CAPS, BOLD, ITALIC, and STRIKETHROUGH.)

I had a post planned for today. I knew exactly what it was going to be about, I knew there would be photos I could use; maybe even a video or two. All I had to do was be in a certain place at a certain time, watch, have fun, then come home and write about it. Unfortunately THAT didn't happen.

Mother Nature decided to give winter one last shot, dumping snow where I live once again. So instead of being at the Ponderosa Lounge enjoying the "$10 Hoot & Holler" show on February 29, 2012, I was stuck at home.

Instead of being able to tell you about the performances of Cloverdayle, The Farm, Marlee Scott, Craig Campbell, and Lee Brice, I'm left to fill this post with explanations of what should have been. Sigh...

For those who did make it to the show, I hope you had a wonderful time, and please, feel free to share the experience here. After all, there's plenty of room on this post!