Jet Fuel Dumped Over Bainbridge

I’ll start off by saying this afternoon I heard what sounded like an unusually slow jet fly over the island from the northwest to the southeast. Usually I would instantly be at the window, but I’m learning to cope with my hyper vigilance from a previous bout of quasi-ptsd. About twenty minutes later I could smell rich fuel. It reminded me of JP5 from the hanger but also smelled like motorcycle exhaust. Shortly thereafter I turned on the news for no particular reason and saw that a Boeing 777 had made an emergency landing after take off at Sea-Tac. My curiosity was affirmed when the talking head described the flight path circling the Puget Sound and Elliott bay, dumping fuel along the way. The footage showed the plane safely arrived at the terminal. My first thoughts were, “Oh boy I can’t wait to hear about this on Island Moms.”

Sure enough our community has not let me down!

Kirsten H. commented:

Someone should call Seatac/FAA, get some answers and make sure that they know what we have experienced here. The plane was supposed to dump in the Sound (which I imagine would be hard to get just right given all the land masses around here) and supposed to dump over 2000 feet to achieve evaporation. Obviously this didn’t happen. I’d call but I have a meeting shortly.

Guess we will all be hitting the soap pretty hard tonight!

Kathy M. commented:

That’s disturbing! Apparently fuel was dumped in Edmonds, the Puget Sound and on our island. I’d like to know why fuel was dumped on occupied areas AND what cleanup if any will be done and how. Does the fuel just dissipate in a few hours or does it contaminate the soil and water? I’m happy the plane didn’t crash and people didn’t die but what the heck!?

Now I could go into the obvious retorts to such comments as “I’m happy the plane didn’t crash and people didn’t die but what the heck!?” or “make sure that they know what we’re experiencing.”

The comments were posted almost immediately as the breaking news coverage continued. At first I thought it was a way for people to find drama in their lives, or somehow vicariously live through other peoples struggle, much like the swarm of people wearing NYFD hats after 911. Then I let it go…

In times like these I am always always always reminded of by far my favorite Douglas Coupland quote after all these years…

“You see, when you’re middle class, you have to live with the fact that history will ignore you. You have to live with the fact that history can never champion your causes and that history will never feel sorry for you. It is the price that is paid for day-to-day comfort and silence. And because of this price, all happinesses are sterile; all sadnesses go unpitied.”

-Generation X (1991)

Local Family Lost Everything in Fire

My mother’s next door neighbor in Port Madison lost everything in a house fire, roads were too small and from what I have been told they could only fit 1 truck down to fight the fire, but I am trying to get things set up with the fire department or Helpline or something for people to send donations of all kinds for the family. If you would like to help or donate please contact me and I will get you hooked up with the right people. I believe the couple is an older couple with 3 grown kids who live off island, but any help they can get I am sure would be greatly appreciated. Emily

Emily the here-say that spreads like panicked wildfire on your forums drives me nuts. The lane’s were only big enough for one truck? It seems to me in order for a street to be a street it would need to be able to support a few engines, or “trucks” as you put it. Let’s see what the Bainbridge Island Review says about the incident.

Eighteen firefighters arrived to find the house 40 percent engulfed in flame. Power lines at the property were also exposed and sparking, limiting some access routes to the fire.

18 firefighters arrived. I know that our fire department is largely volunteer based but eighteen firefighters sounds like a bit more than one truck. While this event is tragic, our willingness to believe everything we hear on the island never ceases to amaze me.

Hit and Run

Hi there,
Our van (grey Honda Odyssey) was hit this morning in the Safeway parking lot, resulting in a fair amount of damage. We were parked in the center aisle, with the nose facing Rite Aid, about three spaces past the cart barn. The other vehicle left red and maroon paint on ours, and left without leaving a note.

If you witnessed this, or if you happen to notice a red/maroon vehicle with damage to the front left or right rear, I’d appreciate hearing about it (license plate number and state would be helpful). The BIPD has a case open and I’ll pass any leads to them.

Alternately, if someone owns up and pays for the damages in the next day or two, I will not press charges.

Thank you for your help,
Ben

After reading this post I was going go on about how though unfortunate your car was hit and someone didn’t leave a note you’re delusions of the police department having a case open and you choosing whether or not to press charges amused me. I was also going to write about how I’m sure an officer came out and took an accident report that will no doubt be filed away somewhere as a service to the insurance companies rather than on the desk of a gum shoe ready to solve his next caper. Then you posted the following and I don’t think there is much more I could say.

Well…never mind.

I woke up at 3AM this morning with realization that I had backed into some bushes at the farm the day before yesterday (darn the subconscious anyway!). Went and had a look just now, and sure enough, the other “vehicle” was a small pump handle tucked into those bushes. K then noticed the damage when she came out of Safeway yesterday.

Boy do I feel dumb…

Happy new year to all,
b

Happy new year. I’m looking forward to more of the island mom posts. When we first moved here everyone in their welcomes would always ask, “have you gotten on island moms yet?” Our neighbor was the only one who warned us of how ridiculous it gets. When we asked her for more detail she only added, “oh you’ll see.” Six months later after some initial frustration it’s all still very amusing. Here’s hoping your mild bouts of tragedy and struggle make you feel alive all through the year.

~cheers

How are the roads?

Disclaimer: I grew up in Michigan. I learned to drive in February’s inclement weather and find it terribly amusing/annoying to watch the region shut down for a few inches and seeing everyone lose their minds.

OK – Sat. morning – how are the roads into town? We NEED to go in and get food and get prepared. I haven’t left the house since Wed. I live near Battlepoint Park and will need to take Arrowpoint to Miller or Battlepoint all the way down to Miller or perhaps Tolo as I think Battlepoint was still closed yesterday, but I’m wondering how in the world Tolo could be better than Battlepoint? Please help! Thanks!

Carrissa

Just wondering if anyone has heard how the roads
are in town. My husband tried to get to the ferry
from Stetson Ridge and after sliding through 2
intersections, he came home. Has anyone been out
and about?

It seems to me that you don’t NEED to go in and get prepared. First it’s too late, sure there is another storm coming and the national weather service has issued a blizzard warning, but you can’t get prepared three days into snow fall and road closures. Second, if you really NEEDed to go in you already would have, the buses have been running all over the island this entire time. I’ve driven my Sonata around the island for days now, I only got stuck on a back road off of a back road, but you know what? I pushed my self out, it wasn’t that difficult and it took less than five minutes. Third, if you have an internet connection and the ability to post ridiculous cried of volunteer victimism then you’re probably fairing pretty well.

What happened that we suddenly became unable to take care of ourselves? After seeing terrorist attacks, massive black outs, martial law educing hurricanes, and crippling regional winter storms how is it that you still find yourself so adequately unprepared and unwilling to do anything about it other than post message-board topics from the comfort of your home?

A few months ago I met someone who expressed concern over the island’s ability to endure a major natural disaster. She was concerned the class gap has forced emergency personnel off the island. She wondered if the city didn’t pay their fire and police enough to live on the island who would be left to respond to emergencies? If the working class has disappeared from the island who is left to man the volunteer fire department? She was concerned the upper middle class could not protect itself. As long as posts like this continue I’m afraid she may be right.

Snow Day: Everybody panic.

Disclaimer: I grew up in Michigan. I learned to drive in February’s inclement weather and find it terribly amusing/annoying to watch the region shut down for a few inches and seeing everyone lose their minds.

That being said, to the guy idling his eighty thousand dollar mercedes 4WD SUV with new chains on all four tires into the parking lot near Pegasus… you are a jack ass. If you’re going to make a spectacle of walking on the treacherous parking lot ice and slowly make your way through the island’s thoroughfares you should have just stayed home. I suppose in someway this might be our collective struggle against nature in an over comfortable post industrial lifestyle, something to remind us all that we’re still alive. In the end though, it’s just snow. It isn’t news worthy. It happens every year.
When people such as yourself make a grand spectacle of overcoming the slightest setback nature has to offer, you remind me of the ridiculous hipsters that walked the streets of San Diego during the wild fires a few years ago. When I lived in San Diego it wasn’t uncommon to see the thirty somethings getting out of their Lexus sports cars donning respirators in an effort to show the world that they couldn’t be held back, and that nothing was going to get in their way.

One more thing Mr. Guy who idled into the parking lot with his overcompensating ride, you put the tabs on your plate on wrong, you’re not supposed to put this years sticker over last year’s month. It makes me wonder how you’ve managed this far in life being either too self absorbed or lacking such an apparent attention to detail and yet you are the pinnacle of upper middle class.

Running out of ideas here! What are you doing today w/kids?

When my daughter was younger and we were housebound, we would have an opposite day. So, on a snowy day we would have beach day. I would spread a tablecloth on the floor and she would wear her bathing suit with flip flops/cover up. We would have our meal as a picnic. After we had our picnic, we would have “sand” time where we would put several cups of rice or cornmeal into a large tupperware container and she would play measuring it into smaller cups/bowls and place her small toys into it. (I put a small plastic tablecloth under it – easy to wash afterwards.) Then we would have swimming time where she would paint sunny scenes on her body with non-toxic paint (I have quite a number of hilarious pictures that she has asked never to share with anyone!) and then she would take a warm bath. We did occasionally receive funny looks when she told people that she loved for it to snow so she could have a picnic/beach day.

Lydia

Post By: Carrissa

So far today we’ve baked brownies, made a fort, watched a movie, played in
the cardboard house, gotten the paints out and painted a wooden butterfly, and
played a couple of games on the computer not to mention all the other chores.
It’s only 3:30 and we’re house bound. I’m waiting on one kid’s
coat to dry and then we’ll go outside, but would love some more ideas here!

Carrissa

You remind me that I have a button box…something I played with a lot as a kid at my aunt’s house. She had a huge one! Endless fun sorting by size, color, making designs…

Also when desperate…let the kids play with some of your jewelry. Also cut paper into strips and make paper chains…can add to the holiday decor. We actually have a Hanukkah tradition of making blue and white chains…plan to make some more tomorrow.

Carol

Ok wait. Am I missing something here? What’s wrong with going outside and playing in the snow on snow days? I went sledding yesterday. I also went grocery shopping, so I’m not exactly sure what you mean by homebound. Your words invoke images of rescuing a writer in a winter storm and forcing him to finish his final novel. I’m also wondering if you take your family sledding down the dirt hills in the middle of a heat wave in summer? How is it that you have kids and don’t know how spend time with them? Are they so overstimulated with a multitude of events and outings that everyone sits at home and blankly stares at the wall?

Snow Car

Help! We are going into Seattle today and our “snow car” (i.e., Volvo station wagon) has a window that is stuck OPEN on the driver’s side.

Does anyone know any tricks for getting a stuck window back up? Or is there a car shop open on the Island that we could go to that would help us.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Anne

flickr

Anne,
When I think of “snow car” I picture something with tank tread like out of The Shining, or at least something with a plow perhaps. Your Volvo station wagon is not a snow car, it is just as it’s name implies a station wagon and there are many like it on the road. As for your window being stuck OPEN in all caps as you insisted you could always try typing “Bainbridge Island Auto Repair” into google and choose from one of the handful of mechanics on the island. You could also remove the inside door panel to put the window back on it’s track, but you don’t strike me as the DIY type. Have you considered duct tape and a plastic bag? I imagine such an atrocity is a major faux pax here on the island so I suppose the best thing to do would be to forget about your ridiculous “snow car” idea, take your “fair weather” car into the city and stop buying into the media’s hype. It’s just snow it happens every year we live just below the 49 parallel. This morning I actually heard the anchor man say this was “the largest amount of snow we’ve seen in about a year.” About a year? You don’t say! That would have been, oh I don’t know about last winter ago.

Holiday light displays to see?

Hello parents! My 6 year old and 2 year old have decided that they are REALLY into the holiday lights this year. In an effort to reduce our pollution levels from driving all over the place in search of spectacular displays, could anyone tell me where some really good (meaning lots of lights) displays are? We know of one cul de sac near the high school and also the grouping off 305 near Seabold. Any others you might recommend for the young and young at heart? Thanks so much and have a wonderful season with your families!

Let me get this straight, in an effort to reduce pollution levels by driving around you’re asking where the best and brightest Christmas displays are? Never mind that the bigger light displays waste more electricity forcing an increased cole consumption from our power plants. The island is only 27 square miles, most of which are forested area. Stop being lazy and take a drive down the handful of main streets we have her and stop passing this pretense off as being environmentally conscious. You’re not fooling anyone.

We would love any breast milk donations!

We have been given temporary custody of 9 day old twins. Currently, they’re in the hospital on infamil, but when we get them home, we’d love to give them breast milk.

Anyone know how to best thaw breast milk?

flickr:warrior mommy

Ok this is just fucking gross. If you’re unable to see the absurdity of requesting breast milk from random people you might be surprised to find that other people might deem you unfit parents. I can understand the social pressure of jumping on the breast feeding bandwagon but is your social status as an organic patron of the earth worth the risk of spreading disease? I could go on a tangent about this, but I feel my opening sentence pretty much sums it up.

Coyote taking cats near Ferncliff and High School Road.

artbeco

Actually seen off Byron. A friend of mine who lives on Byron let her cat out into her backyard in the morning, and sat down to drink her tea, looked out and saw a coyote run across her yard with her cat in its mouth. She dashed out and screamed thinking she could startle it into dropping the cat, but the coyote just kept going. Later she heard that coyotes do kill immediately when they pick an animal up. This was a beloved kitty (I think about 5 years old, so not old, slow or sick), who will be much missed. So, if you live in that area, think twice about letting your cats be outside at all.

It’s interesting to me how in the same month, the island can support a dog spa that advocates, “Every pet is a unique individual who deserves to look their best” yet we can’t afford this same right to the native animals, even if it does mean letting them feast on a few cats here and there. Here’s an idea. Keep your cats inside. There’s a reason animal shelters request keeping indoor cats after you rescue or adopt them. We don’t need a cat infestation here, thats disgusting. Luckily there are coyotes out there for population control. You should be proud that you and your pet are doing their part to sustain the island’s natural ecosystem by feeding these important keystone species. I also don’t think that you could consider a five year old cat a kitten. But I like how you tried to cover your bases for all of the other self absorbed out there who would think “My cat is not old, sick, or slow so surely this doesn’t pertain to me and as such I couldn’t possibly be affected by it.”