Hoop Fest 2009

Every year Spokane shuts down the city for a massive 3 on 3 basketball competition, which is pretty cool, actually. And I don't even like basketball all that much.

The Calm Before the Storm

This picture was taken at about 5:45 a.m. Later there will be over 7000 competitors filling the streets plus all the spectators.

And where you find such a great concentration of athletic young men, you are also sure to find...

RECRUITERS!!

Showing a heavy presence in Spokane today.

Setup at the Recruiter's Booth

I thought I'd chat with them for a bit. James, here, was a Marine for eight years before he transferred to the Army. He is from South Texas and served two tours in Iraq.

Back out into the country

Hey, a great big dandelion!

Let me blow it out for luck!!

That's one gnarly dandelion. So much for luck.

Coeur d'Alene

Plummer, ID

Jill, my host, and Sally interview me and A.J. for their Sunday radio program.

A.J.

A.J. is a former Marine and Vietnam veteran. He served with Force Recon and had some pretty harrowing stories to tell. He spent 15 years in the Corps and got out as a Gunnery Sergeant. He also showed me an incredibly long list of specialized training that he'd been through during his military years...everything from HALO jumping to scuba-diving and underwater demolition to helo-casting and SERE. Everything they show in the posters and the pamphlets; everything every young Marine wants to try, though very few ever get the chance. Ironically, A.J. received every last bit of this training AFTER he came home from the war.

with Jill and Sally

Departing Plummer

This was such a common image out here, I felt compelled to capture it at least once.

Sunday Morning in the Great Chapel

Home on the Range

At Bookpeople

Dinner with Moscow locals

My hosts, Mary Jo and Joel, invited community members to share food and ideas after the reading.

Dinner w/ my hosts Mary Jo and Joel