Byron Yankey's blog

What's happening...?

Sorry it has been so long since I have written a post.

What's happening with the blog?  SUMMER

A large family reunion, a parent's short hospital stay, a large Canyon County Democrats Political Picnic, work (yes,principals work during the summer) and countless projects around the house...that has been summer so far.

BUT,things will improve and I will be writing more on the blog.

Later this week, I leave at 5 am to go to Washington DC.  The group I will be with will visit each member of Idaho's Congressional delegation.  I will be reporting on the results of those meetings.

A brief plug for the Canyon County Democrats Political Picnic:
     Saturday evening 115 people showed up for this annual event.  I helped all day as a small crew prepared for the event.  Under the direction of our experienced host, 10 pork loins were barbecued over a homemade grill made from a salvaged steel basin formerly used as a wash basin at the former Armour's Meat Packing plant. Pigs all over Canyon County should be afraid each July.
     Congressman Minnick attended the picnic along with nearly every Democratic Legislators from Ada County.  In a demonstration of the importance of Canyon County in the next election the Minority Chairman Rushe and Executive Director Jim Hanson.  Three hours of eating and socializing allowed for great discussions and thoughtful insights.

I've done some good cooking this summer, so watch for recipes.
                                                KEEP CHECKING.....

Thursday PM Downtown Nampa

It is mid-afternoon on a Thursday and I'm sitting at the Flying M Coffee Garage.  The market spice iced tea is great and the place is busy.  What an interesting mix of college students in a study group, two women playing cards, young couples and young people (hoping to become couples). Ten laptops are in sight as their owners type and search,read and tweet.

The guy sitting at the next table is working on his resume and asked if " professionalist" was a real word. When I replied, "Not that I know of..." I ended up proof reading a paragraph describing his job goals.   I hope he gets a job.  He has been out of work for five months and his ex-wife and his current girl friend are both expecting.   Too much information!  See what unemployment can do...

Battle Lines Shaping Up: Transportation Taskforce

Near the end of a almost record breaking long legislative session a game of chicken emerged.  As the Governor signaled his resolve to find money for transportation, the veto stamp came out. From there a chasm was created between the House and the Senate as the "no taxes" and the "user fee" supporter postured for control of the final outcome. In a sincere effort to broker a solution, Governor Otter tried valiantly to use face to face meetings to turn dialog into solutions.  That unfortunately did not happen.
The result was the creation of a task force to find a way to deal with a $22 million shift.
This money funds $18 for the Idaho State Police and the remainder for the Department of Parks and Recreation.

It will come down to finding a compromise, something that does not seem any more likely now than it did during the legislative session.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

This is one of the easiest desserts you can make this time of the year.  Not everyone knows how to use rhubarb.  That is too bad, because its unique tart flavor is a real treat.  You can find rhubarb at produce stands and farmer's markets.  It is sold as long stalks that range from green to bright red.  To use the rhubarb, you will need to wash the stalks and cut into pieces about a half inch long.  As you cut, long strings of outer skin may come off.  If it does, remove it, if it doesn't, no problem.

Place equal parts rhubarb and frozen strawberries in a casserole pan.  I use frozen strawberries because the are cheap and using fresh strawberries seems a waste.  I also cut the strawberries, but this is optional.  About two or three cups of each makes a crisp 2 inches thick in a 9x13 pan.  You can add more if you want a deeper dessert. 

To the berries and rhubarb at a 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 1/4 cup tapioca, 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon and fresh grated nutmeg to taste.  (orange zest is also great)  Stir to mix completely.  Let sit while you make the topping. I use less sugar because I like a tart flavor.  For first time rhubarb tasters, you should start with the amount above.

This is my favorite topping for any kind of crisp.  Take about 1 1/2 cups of my favorite granola. I use granola from the bulk bins at Winco.  Melt about three tablespoons of margarine or butter. Add nuts is you like.  Then mix everything together.  Place of top of the fruit.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes. The fruit will be bubbly and the topping will be a golden brown. I often turn off the oven and pop the door open to let the crisp cool down slowly, but that is just me. You can take it out of the oven and cool on the counter if you wish.

Try this.  This a an old fashion treat you will love.

Weiser River Trail

Today there is a great article about riding the Weiser River Trail.  Make certain you watch the 3 minute video attached to this link.  A word of warning, the trail gets rougher as the summer goes on and in the lower sections "goat heads" or puncture weed  can be very prolific.  Make certain your tires are well prepared and an extra tube is always a good idea.

Commuters love/hate relationship with I-84

I-84 has been in the news a lot recently. Ground breaking for a new interchange,a transportation task force and temporary closures. Until the last week I had only a few hard feelings about that necessary artery between Nampa and Boise.

Driving the freeway between 5:30 and 6:30 in the morning during the school year has been quick and uneventful.  Sure there were those few commutes in the winter that took me nearly 90 minutes to get to work, but what the heck, it was winter and everyone was driving reasonably. And coming home at night between 5:30 and 6:30 is often like joining a parade, but for the most part the stop and go traffic allowed me the opportunity to decompress from work, play music louder than normal, listen to the news and yes; this is a confession, talk on the cellphone.

Over the last week, my feelings have changed.  First, there was the two nights I was coming home from Ada county after late night meetings.  I expected no traffic and a very easy drive,after all it was 10:30 at night. But no, that did not happen.  Instead the traffic was slow and go, stop and go as drivers were distracted by the huge trucks and equipment with enough flashing lights to be on The Strip in Las Vegas as construction crews working feverishly.

Next there was the two mornings I needed to be in Meridian at 9:00. Both mornings I was treated to a twenty minute wait as fender benders were cleared from the Garrity on ramp. Much of that wait time I debated, "Should I get off and take a secondary road?" or not. If I do, which one?  The four way stop on Franklin at the Cheese factory was backed up nearly to Walmart.  The secondary roads on the south side of the freeway have detours and construction that are unpredictable. So I waited on the freeway, contributing to the poor air quality with all the other drivers.

Traveling at a snail's pace allows you a glimpse into the lives of other commuters.  I've seen a young woman perform a complete make over; hair, eye make up, lipstick, blusher, change of ear rings all while texting someone.I saw a man change his shirt,(thank goodness he had on a t-shirt) and tye a tie.  Two teens opened their sunroof and took turns poking their heads up.  A number of vehicles vibrated from their mega sound systems.  And then there was the array of breakfast foods being eaten in between gulps of coffee. The last and truly amazing thing I saw was a man reading a magazine propped up on his steering wheel.

Such are the adventures of a commuter...  

Downtown Nampa Summer 2009

What a difference a year makes!!!  Last summer, downtown Nampa was busy.  Sidewalk tables,shops open,and people of all ages enjoying themselves. Saturdays were busy with foot traffic between coffee shops and the Farmer's Market.  It was something I had not seen in the 28 years I have lived in Nampa.

And now...stores are closed and empty and people on the street are few and far between.  The Idaho Statesman chronicles the demise of Market Limone.  I have great memories of "the Market".  Great conversations, good food, and Saturday cooking.  Thanks to Laurel MacKinnon, I had the opportunity to hold cooking demonstrations using produce from the Farmer's Market.  I learned a lot about Nampa, Canyon County and the people who live here. 

Downtown Nampa needs to come back. 

Father's Day

My Dad was a mechanic.  During most of his working life he wore white coveralls.(Not to be confused with overalls, those are for farmers and small children.) They say most of our early memories are triggered by our senses and emotions.  My earliest memory of Dad is...his huge, powerful,rough hands.  They swallowed up my hands.  They were strong and darkened by the years of grease and oil that were a huge part of his trade.  They were rough from his palm sized callouses and a toughness developed from exertion and gripping tools.

Anything mechanical he could take apart, he could fix and put back together. He had a strategy for everything.  Every tool and part had its place.  He put everything back in its place when he was done. To this day I remember,screwdrivers in the top right drawer, pliers in the middle long drawer, sockets on the very top..... He had coffee break at the same time each morning and each afternoon, but his workday was seldom only eight hours long.

As a timid child,I was often holding my Dad's hand. (My mom reports I went into convulsions at the sight of fishing worms.) There was a feeling of safety and comfort that came from that bear-like grip. Like all kids, there came a time when I out grew holding my Dad's hand.

The hand holding returned late in his life as Alzheimer's steadily stole Dad away from all of us. It was he who would reach out to hold hands for safety and comfort. Gone were the stains and callouses, replaced by a soften gentleness. But those hands still remained huge and powerful, something I will always miss.

Let the games begin....

State Representative Ken Roberts is challenger number two in the race for Republicans to face off with Walt Minnick in the 1st Congressional race. The field could become more crowded with Republican candidates as pointed out in a recent post from Kevin Richert.

"I would be a little surprised,[...]this shakes out into a simple two-way GOP primary between Roberts and Vaughn Ward, a former Marine and Senate aide to Dirk Kempthorne. Too many possible candidates still unaccounted for: Attorney General Lawrence Wasden; state Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell; state Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle; and former U.S. Rep. Bill Sali, who lost to Minnick seven months ago."

It will be an exciting summer as candidates and potential candidates race to get endorsements, and equally as important, campaign funds. So far each candidate has evoked the vampire like name of Nancy Pelosi as they scramble to tag on to RNC (Republican Nation Committee ) rhetoric. 

Here's and interesting post from Policito.  And here is one from the Spokesman Review .

I wonder, two reports list Vaughn Ward as a campaign worker for Senator John McCain's presidential race and the Statesman reports he is a former aid to Dirk Kempthorne , which is correct?

Oh, here is a story from the Idaho Press Tribune with another McCain campaign reference. I love this campaign promise made by Ward.

 "He promised he would not support Pelosi as Speaker of the House or switch parties."

Boy that part about not switching parties must make long time Republicans sleep better at night.

Here's a little crystal ball prediction from Rep. Brent Crane that made me giggle.

"You get a three or four person race and Bill Sali jumps in, all bets are off," Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, said about handicapping the GOP Primary election.

A primary race like that could go a long way to improving Idaho's economy what with the printing, the signs, the billboards,the mailings, the phone calls, the caterers, the paid volunteers, the....

Biking the Weiser River Trail

Saturday was a perfect day!  Several of my family members and I biked 15.2 miles along Weiser River Trial. (Unfortunately part of this site is under construction.)  This amazing trail is 84 miles long between Weiser and the Tamarack lumber mill, about 8 miles south of New Meadows. The trail is an abandoned rail line that for years transported lumber. A  nonprofit organization acquired the deed for the rail line in the 90's.  Volunteers maintain the trail throughout the year making it a true recreation assess for bike riders. 

There are many access points to the trail making a map of the route a  near necessity unless you know the area very well.  Smart bike riders begin at the northern most point of the trail section the choose.  That is because it is mostly down hill making for less work and more opportunities to enjoy the wildlife and the scenery.

Preparation is essential because the trail can be rocky at some points.  Choose a section that matches your time and your interests. Mountain bikes are desirable and canned air and extra tubes will prevent you from walking the trail instead of riding.  Some sections of the trail will become covers with "goat heads" later in the summer.  Tubes must be "slimed" to seal the minor punctures.

You can bike through forests along side the Weiser Rivers or through meadows of tall grass or through farm land.  What ever section you choose, you will find great enjoyment.  The section we rode on Saturday has a number of trestles. They added to the excitement by providing a visual challenge for this rider.  Each time I crossed one about in the middle I found myself headed to the edge of the railing.  Too much peripheral vision...

This is the second year I have ridden part of this trail. Hopefully, I can ride another section later this summer.