Richard Carl McKinnon, longtime resident of Olympia, passed early on the evening of May 7th at Capital Medical Center. Rick is survived by his beautiful wife, Susan Christian, sons Mark McKinnon, Joel Martell, Rick McKinnon and George Wauchope, and daughters Marla Canning and Melissa Mercer. He was also father to Ian Patrick McKinnon, who preceded him into the hereafter in 1990. Rick is also survived by nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Rick often welcomed people into his home who didn’t have a safe place to go. Thus, he has a large extended family of people that have lived with him at some point in their lives.

Rick was born in Johnson City, NY during the depression, and grew up in Niagara Falls and upstate New York. He served in the Marine Corps from 1952-54, and while he did not enjoy his time in the Corps, he loved this country passionately and encouraged everyone to participate in the democratic process. He took great pride in his education, earning a BA from the Evergreen State College, and an MA from the Leadership Institute of Seattle. He was also immensely proud of his sons Joel and Rick S. for completing their Ph.D.s.

Rick moved his family to Olympia in 1972 in order to find a new way to live. He loved the natural beauty of this area, and lived for the last 29 years on Totten Inlet in a renovated oyster factory. Rick considered his most valuable contribution to the Olympia community to be co-founding the Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties with his previous wife Kathy Jordan.

Rick liked to go fast and retired from racing motorcycles at the age of 71, building and rebuilding (and rebuilding and rebuilding) every component on his racing bike. He was known to suddenly disappear on his motorcycle, taking marathon trips to California. Rick was a craftsman who was drawn to many media, especially metal and wood. This work gave him great joy.

Aptly nicknamed “Old Gnarly Rick” by his family, he was a man of powerful, complex emotions. A gentle person by preference, he was friendly to strangers and fiercely loyal to his friends; all babies trusted and loved him. He was known for his ferocity in confronting impoliteness, disrespect or injustice.

He was a defender of the defenseless and unhesitant in challenging oppression - often at high volume and with much cursing. He was curmudgeonly, generous and kind. As he edged into his later years, we saw the sweetness become his defining characteristic. He died too soon, the victim of a lifetime addiction to smoking. Do not smoke; do not allow your children to smoke. May our darling rest in peace.

I have a sci-fi blog that I am working on, I am attepting to create a universe there. Something very unique. If anyone is really intrested they can follow the stories development at:
http://tomorrowlander.wordpress.com/ 

I am a visual artist and semi-literate science fiction writer. I may have an art show at Artisan's Cafe, plans are still tentative.

It's that time of year again! So mark your calendars for the 16th & 17th at 7:30pm and the 18th at 2:30pm. We're at the North Thurston Performing Arts Center which is located on the campus of North Thurston HS in Lacey. Admission is free although as always donations are gratefully accepted. The doors open a half an hour before the show. There is no reserved seating.

This concert contains a variety of music. From Bach to Hey, Jude and everything in between. There will be several solos that you will not want to miss! Including the first duet EVER sung by Operagirl and her OperaMan in ten years of marriage! We'll also be giving away three scholarships to local HS Seniors. I hope to see you there! www.olympiachoral.org

The public defender blog Arbitrary and Capricious has a new post with updates on Olympia May Day, plus a great point is made, go forth and read: The activist's passive voice: 'rocks were thrown'

(comments closed here so as to encourage comments there)

Update: read Emmett's What's with the quote marks comrade?

The Kitsap Blue Jackets of the West Coast Collegiate League will play the Olympia Athletics (an affiliate team of the BlueJackets) at St. Martins baseball field.

More information here.

Kitsap BlueJackets

Olympia Athletics

The Kitsap Blue Jackets of the West Coast Collegiate League will play the Olympia Athletics (an affiliate team of the BlueJackets) at Tumwater High School baseball field.

More information here.

Kitsap BlueJackets

Olympia Athletics

For a closer view Mouse-click the individual posters. Sometimes there are mouseovers, so check...if you're into that sort of thing. If you're interested in movie or Theater times their posters are hyperlinked to their respective schedules.

If your event is not on here I apologize. I do not always see every flyer and sometimes the pictures fuzz up and are illegible.

Friday:




Saturday:







Sunday:

Fall of Electricity
Piko Panda (puyallup)
The Outfits (puyallup)
The Headbangers (tacoma)

7:00 pm ish @ the artisan's cafe (4th and capitol)

please bring donation for out of town bands

Come see new work by The Cloudeaters and friends at The Voyeur this Saturday May 10, starting at 3pm. Large panels painted with acrylic, no spray paint this time.