Blue Skis, Too Many Lies, Et. Al.

Blue skies all day yesterday, and they say it will be even prettier today. 

One of the weather forecasters last night even suggested that people may not want to go to work today because it will be that pleasant.

This morning the sky is blue.  The landscape is frost-covered and the air is alive with cawing and honking and sweet twiddle-dee-dees.  

I have been out for walks three times and have enjoyed every step taken, whether it's across the hay field and over frozen pockets of water in the swale or even down the road where Monday morning traffic, including yellow school buses, have passed by on the way to coffee klatches, offices or classrooms. 

It's a March morning where much is still dormant but there's enough live action to feel invigorated. 

Ahhh, March!  

Hardly any signs of lions so far; more like lambs on these gorgeous early days of the month. 

 

High school basketball has ended and March Madness is about to begin with conference tournaments and a growing excitement as we hear that brackets are not far off. 

In the meantime, life will be changing from the winter slow mode to the spring hurry-up and "get it done and move on to the next project." 

Yesterday I did some clean-up here in my computer room after Terry signed off on the ceiling repair.  It's back to looking the way it did before the limb tore open a hole. 

We are pleased that one third of the repair projects has been completed.  Now, on to the hole in the roof and other repair work on the deck roof. 

On Saturday, Bill used his chainsaw to remove two big shrubs from the deck garden.  They had died. 

So, when plant season comes along, I'll purchase some replacements. 

Lots to do around here and definitely no time for being bored ever during March Madness. 

On another topic that is truly maddening, I saw the sentence below this morning and felt it was worth mentioning.

 Older Americans are losing billions of 

dollars to financial exploitation.

I copied and pasted this sentence from the New York Times Morning bulletin and thought about the incident mentioned below as well as knowing, from family and friends' experiences, that this hideous, mind-boggling activity is not at all limited to older Americans. 

Last week I did read a post about a friend's 90-year-old parent who was almost scammed out of $5,000, thanks to a computer screen message allegedly coming from Microsoft.  

He followed up on making the call and was told that $10,000 had been removed from his bank account.  

During the course of his trying to follow instructions from the scammer, he was also told not to use his phone because supposedly it had been infected. 

Fortunately family members had already been alerted and were desperately trying to get ahold of him as he had also been instructed to go to Lowe's and purchase a $5,000 gift card. 

Fortunately, his lack of tech knowledge at the self check-out prevented him from purchasing the card. 

The advice from the friend after telling this story:  PLEASE TALK TO YOUR ELDERLY PARENTS ABOUT SCAMS. MAKE THEM WATCH VIDEOS WITH YOU SO THEY ARE AWARE OF HOW THESE CRIMINALS WORK.

There are older people who are victimized as well as every day ordinary people of all ages, many of whom are tech savvy and fully in control of their faculties. 

And, there are also public entities, like the City of Clark Fork and now the nearby City of Newport, Wash, who have lost big bucks. 

https://hagadonenewsnetwork.com/news/2026/feb/26/newport-loses-330k-in-fraudulent-web-scheme/

I have personally been aware of several instances among family members and friends, including myself. A couple of years ago, I received an email telling me that I owed more than $300 for a computer virus program.  

That situation involved calling a number and then a lot of yelling at the guy demanding to have my bank account information. 

I even pounded on my desk with frustration while talking to him and later turned over the phone to Bill who also tried to reason with him.  

When we both decided that reasoning was not going to happen, Bill said we were hanging up, to which the creepy scammer said, "Thanks a lot for wasting my time." 

I don't know what we do to prevent these situations from happening because the scammers keep perfecting their strategies, and, as they say with AI, the scammers have gained an added advantage. 

We are living in a world where day by day we encounter sources of information which are invalid and outright fabrications. 

Recently, I've noticed this in dramatic fashion on Twitter aka X, where realistic news headlines suggest that something dramatic has just happened to a major figure when it's really all just made up. 

It's taken me a few embarrassing moments to learn to avoid being sucked into these headlines.  

I used to have a writing project in my English classes where I'd read to my students a few outrageous stories from the World Wide Weekly News or the Enquirer. 

We would all laugh and talk about how outlandish they were.  Then, for fun, the students would be assigned to write their own news report for either of the publications. 

They came up with some fun stuff, but we all knew it was made up.  Sadly, we now live in the real world of World Wide Weekly News or National Enquirer. 

Times have changed, and because lying by people who should know better has become so rampant, generally we can all fall victims to outright lies. 

Sadly, it's affecting us all on a wide variety of fronts and, even more sadly, our news outlets have been infiltrated and are gradually being controlled by those with personal selfish missions and motives straying far off from what's good for the general population. 

It's a scary world out there, and even with vigilance, we can be fooled into embarrassment, personal losses and even the devastatingly sad loss of our belief system. 

I guess the tried and true answer is to rid ourselves of all the wires and devices that connect us to the outside world. 

These days, that is hardly realistic. 

Still, at this point, disciplined vigilance and remaining extremely skeptical of everything you hear over the phone or what you see on your computer screen seems to be the best antidotes available. 

There are scammers at virtually every level these days, and we must be constantly watching for them. 

  Not the most upbeat Monday morning topic, but since it's such a pretty March day out there, at least it maybe be palatable. 

Happy Monday. 

Hello, March

Turning the calendars for the third time this year says  days are moving by quickly. 

Weren't we just celebrating Christmas and New Year's?  

Is it age that makes time seems to fly faster than ever?

I don't know that answer, but I do know that we're already in to March. 

February didn't end as well as we had hoped.  

We're in a war, and two Bulldog teams had great starts yesterday only to meet defeat in the end. 

I'm sure it's the same with Gonzaga, but with our Sandpoint Bulldogs, the final score did not tell the whole story. 

Sandpoint's team members played their hearts out against Vallivue.  Vallivue did the same. 

When the final buzzer went off in a game where a faulty clock hampering the flow of the game, played a role, Vallivue had grabbed the lead. 

Debbie and I went to yesterday's game in Grangeville yesterday.  It's a town about halfway down the State of Idaho. 

We saw the effort and we saw the emotions as the season for a group of talented, passionate players ended on a sad note.  

The experience was poignant, to say the least. 

There were side stories to this game too.  

We bought freeze-dried treats from a young man who was working on his senior project at Grangeville High School, also home of the Bulldogs. 

But, then we forgot and left the treats on the bleachers.  

We also bought beverages at another concession run by the school choir which presented one of the most pure and beautiful a cappella renditions of the "National Anthem"  I've ever heard. 

I found a You Tube video link to another of their performances, sung in a different venue, and will share it to demonstrate why we were so impressed.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=306149675578818

 

I loved the beautiful springlike day because it involved another fun road trip with Debbie.  We have always enjoyed a great time on these trips. 

Our noses detected at precisely the same moment the "smell" above Lewiston and its paper mills. 

It had been several years since I'd experienced that smell, but its sulfurous familiarity gave me no doubt where we were. 

We enjoyed the green fields of the Palouse with dustings of white snow.  

We also agreed that the coffee at the Winchester convenience store was among the best convenience-store brands we had ever tasted. 

That place had a couple of other distinctions:  "No Firearms" signs on the doors to the restrooms and no door on one of the stalls in the women's room.

I've never seen a "No Firearms" sign on restroom doors. 

I have seen a lot of restroom stall doors that don't latch but can't remember too many doorless stalls.  

Brave Debbie opted for that one, and I warned a lady in line that someone was in the stall with no door. 

Speaking of restroom stall doors, the folks at Grangeville have done a masterful job of sharing inspiring thoughts to at least the girls at their school. 

All the doors were there and they latched AND each had an attractive and nice message. 

I also enjoyed yesterday's opportunity to meet a few more of the players' parents---all nice people with great stories.  All are thoughtful, supportive, gracious and definitely devoted to their kids. 

Debbie and I topped off our day trip by stopping for dinner at Sweet Lou's in Athol. 

While munching on barbecued chicken sandwiches, we sat in a booth and watched the first half of the Gonzaga game against Saint Maries.  

We were feeling pretty good that first half just like we had during the first half of the SHS Bulldogs game in Grangeville. 

We all know this morning that it didn't end well for the ZAGS last night----a great boon for the third time in 31 games this season for armchair quarterbacks to share their coaching expertise. 

Being associated with a team and knowing all the variables that go into every single game played, I have learned that there are several not-so-obvious layers involved in any one game. 

Spectators see action and the final scores but not the other forces that determine how any situation will turn out. 

In their loss and their sadness yesterday, I saw so many positive dimensions to the Sandpoint High Bulldog players which made me proud and happy to be associated with them, their parents and their staff.

Who said that line about how it's not whether you win or lose but it's how you play the game. 

These young men provided a smorgasboard of exciting basketball for the fans through most of their games this year, but more importantly,  off the court, they are remarkable and fine young men. 

That's what counts in the game of life.  

An annual and fun benefit for the Bonner Community Food Bank. 

More beautiful, one-of-a-kind bowls coming your way for our Empty Bowls Fundraiser.

Join us March 6, 2026 at 12:30 PM at Marigold Bistro.  

$20 suggested donation at the door.

Come choose your bowl, enjoy handcrafted soup, and help feed our neighbors.

Mom Love and Debbie Love on an excellent road-tripping adventure. 

I visited with the Meekers from Bonners Ferry yesterday.  Their Bonners Ferry Badgers played in the second game of the afternoon.  

I heard from a good source that the Badgers defeated Weiser and earned a trip to State.  

It was a day of disappointments, yes, but like any day those moments are blended with some amazing stories, events, people or scenes. 

And, that's the spice of life. 

Happy Sunday and welcome, March. 

Saturday Slight

 

Who needs AI art help when you can go to the carwash???

I drove the car through the HWY 95 Carwash yesterday, captured a few photos and nothing broke. 

I still have a little PTSD from the first time I tried the Gas and Go Carwash way back when and almost destroyed it. 

Mike Williams was directing me through the new facility in town, and, for some unknown reason, I didn't completely believe his hand signals.  

He may have signaled me to go left, and I went right instead OR maybe it was the other way around. 

All I know is that Mike's facial expressions suddenly took on a slightly fearful look, while, inside, the car felt like I'd maybe run over a boulder. 

Somehow, Mike worked me through the dilemma without any severe damage to my car or to the the brand new carwash track. 

Yesterday when they said to put it in neutral and keep my foot off the brake, I had a difficult time believing everything was gonna turn out okay, especially when I couldn't see anything in front of me, thanks the the busy brush and all those suds. 

It did turn out, and I have a nice clean bright blue Equinox, which Debbie will drive to Grangeville this morning while I ride shotgun. 

Speaking of shotguns, what a nice Saturday morning surprise to find out that we have a war!   

Never a dull moment in our lives these days. 

If you're not showing how tough your are and picking on people in your own playground, why not try someone else's!!! 

Toughness!

It keeps us all on our toes.   

Gasp! Groan!

Debbie and I will try to forget that little news tidbit and concentrate on what's currently important in our lives:  a win for the Bulldogs in Grangeville.  

It would be so nice for Coach Love and his team and for the Sandpoint faithful. 

As you can see in the promotion below, the game starts at 1 p.m.  

Willie says it's available on the NFHS network. Others say that you might find it on You Tube. 

Hoping for a great outcome.  

All that aside, it's supposed to be a beautiful day for a drive, and to go south, where it may even look and feel like springtime, will be a treat.

Happy Saturday.  

At Friday night dinner last night, Debbie tried the Restaurant Week three-course menu at Sweet Lou's.  

Besides oxtail stew and spring rolls, she topped off her meal with teramacu dessert. 

She enjoyed her choices. 

Another big Bulldog day:   Sandpoint's Bulldogs and Gonzaga's Bulldogs both have crucial games to win.  

In their final West Coast Conference league game, the visiting  ZAGS tip-off against Saint Mary's at 7:30 p.m. PST.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN. 

Good Luck to all Bulldogs.  

GO, SANDPOINT!!! 

GO, ZAGS!!!

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

Happy Times at Sandpoint High

 

J.D. McElroy, SHS resource officer extraordinaire. 

It was, indeed, a happy and fun-filled night at Sandpoint High School last night as the final, final home men's basketball game of the season ended with a solid victory over the Moscow Bears.

That win means that the Bulldogs will get up early on a Saturday morning tomorrow to board a bus bound for Grangeville.  It will be a five-hour drive both ways.  

In between those rides, the Bulldogs will seal their fate on going to State one way or the other as they take on a strong Vallivue team (18-7) from Southern Idaho at 1 p.m. 

This will be either the final final game for the 12-12 Bulldogs or it will signal the beginning of at least, two more games at next week's State Tournament in Boise. 

Naturally, they'd love to play three more games at Boise (the championship). 

Fingers crossed that the bus ride home will be a happy one.  If so, I'm sure they won't mind another bus ride to Boise about twice as long.  

There was the game with its fast action, highlighted by some dramatic dunks and "new kids on the bench" getting a chance to play and even score a point or two. 

And, then there was all the other ingredients that make going to the game fun---the band, the cheerleaders, the fans, the floor sweeper, statisticians and best of all, the big smile on the face of school resource officer J.D. McElroy.

All contributed to the total enjoyment of a high stakes high school basketball game. 

After the game, old-home week surrounded me at the door. 

First, I saw one of the Gunter triplets I'd written about almost 15 years ago. They're now freshmen at SHS, and this particular triplet, the only boy, knows Mr. Love and says he loves Mr. Love. 

That made Mama Love proud. 

Then, came some late '60s-'70s grads, and that erupted into some lively and good-natured banter.  

I told John Scott that I still have my student teaching grade book with his grade average in it.  

He was a student in my first-period English class that year, and he's the same John Scott who likes to needle people, and, of course, expects it back. 

Then, there was Pat Gunter, tricycle-riding star of one of the Drill Team variety shows and always a cyclist.

 He has the distinction of riding his motorcycle up the stairs or the old Donkey Jaw or someplace near that downtown bar.  

Who cares about facts these days----I just know that Pat went where no one had ever gone before on that motorcycle. 

I hear he has slowed down a bit, but I'll believe that when I see it. Monica keeps him in tow, I think. 

Dwayne and Karla told me they had moved to town just before Christmas, and they're excited to be able take walks around town. 

Jim Nieman, who proudly watched his grandson Asher, a bench newcomer, get some playing time. 

It was a nostalgic and feel-good few minutes, filled with laughs. 

I went to the game by myself and actually drove at night for the first time in a number of years because Bill had gone to the Gonzaga women's final home game---those Bulldogs won their game too. 

It was pretty neat to learn during the drive home that my cataract surgery a couple of years ago did the trick on making driving in the dark not bad at all. 

So, a good evening all the way around and lots of precious memory snippets to tuck away for later reflection.

Best of luck to the Bulldogs tomorrow. 

Happy Friday.   

from Max Preps:  

There's no place like home for Sandpoint, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Tuesday. They blew past the Moscow Bears, posting a 72-44 win. 

The victory continues a trend for the Bulldogs in their matchups with the Bears: they've now won seven in a row.

Debbie always lures her professional friends and food bank volunteers to the games.  

Some keep coming back, so they must enjoy themselves. 

Mike, Jamie, Debbie and Mandy (Better Together Animal Alliance). 

Last night marked the last time for this season for me to snap a photo of scorekeeper Bob and his grandson as I walk by the desk. 

More photos of Bob next season. 

It's a family affair with this young man, his folks and his two sisters.  

Mom is the team trainer and Dad sweeps the gym floor at halftime, with help Little Sis.

Nice family. 

Retired educator and former colleague Terry Iverson spent part of the afternoon at our house working on the ceiling repair.  

Then, he and his wife Edna headed to the game. 

"Signs you are a Sandpoint Kid" came to mind as I spent some fun moments with these folks after last night's game. 

I taught some of them A LONG TIME AGO. 

Monica Travers Gunter, Pat Gunter, Dwayne Sheffler, Karla Stilwell Sheffler, Jim Nieman and John Scott. 

Fun folks and all definitely true blue Sandpoint kids.