THAT'S Why We Put Up With the Rain

...because it's so beautiful here when the sun comes out!

I had breakfast on the deck this morning with Gregg and Latte. Then we took a walk on that beach, for several miles.

We saw
Mt. Rainier, 

bald eagles,

starfish, 

the largest Portuguese Man O'War (jellyfish) I've ever seen,
lots of boats and

many of our neighbors

sitting in the sun,

putting their kayak in the water and 

walking on the beach.

After we came home, Gregg mowed the lawn, while I pruned salal and rugosa roses.

Though rain-damaged, they are still beautiful and smell wonderful.

I cleared some of the new (over)growth from the path to the beach.

Admired the view from there.

Returned to enjoy some quiet time while the guys went golfing.

When the sun shines, there isn't a place more lovely than the Puget Sound, to me.

*Local Political Brouhaha: School Board Debacle Update:*

The superintendent of our school district went to our high school yesterday to meet with a group of 10 students and a parent. When this parent attempted to join the discussion, he was rebuffed - and stopped - by the superintendent of the school district. 

The superintendent spoke to the students, and answered some of their questions (regarding the issue of the French teacher being allowed to interview for the position again this year). David was present at that meeting; I was not, but heard about it from him and another. Some of the information given conflicted with what was said at the school board meeting. It was revealed to the superintendent during this visit that, after the other evening's school board meeting debacle, a school board member approached a student speaker who had been ejected and personally insulted him. There were witnesses to this, and the superintendent apparently has apologized on the board's behalf.

FYI: It is not allowed to refer to specific personnel by name in a school board meeting, and the students knew this when they attended. They wanted to discuss the issue, receive some answers and give their opinions; they were polite and prepared, and many parents were also present. Since the school board meeting is not the place for discussing this issue (specifically as it regards the French teacher), it is my opinion that the school board and administration need to offer an alternative time and place where they can listen, and speak, to the students. This issue still hasn't been PUBLICLY, openly discussed yet; answers are still lacking.