Washington’s only Reptile Man will slither into Des Moines on Saturday, Feb. 18, for a show at the Des Moines Activity Center.

The Reptile Man, aka Scott Petersen, has performed for more than 800 schools in the Northwest. Corporations such as Microsoft, Boeing, and Eddie Bauer have found this program to be exciting for all ages. He has been seen on Bill Nye The Science Guy, Evening Magazine, Northwest Afternoon, Town Meeting, Q13 Kids Club, and Watch This.

Scott is fully insured and has teaching credentials. He has a teachers State Patrol Certification on file with the State Superintendent of Public Education. This program will create an interest in the natural sciences and teach students about the importance of all animals in the balance of nature.

The program starts at 10:30 a.m. The Des Moines Activity Center is at 2045 S. 216th St., Des Moines.

Tickets are $3 in advance and $5 at the door, or $10 and $15 for families.

Advance tickets are available through the Des Moines Parks & Recreation Department at 206-870-6527.

For more information on The Reptile Man, visit www.reptileman.com/home.html.

Upcoming shows include:

• Harmonica Pocket Get Loose with Seuss, March 17, also at 10:30 a.m.

For more information on the Des Moines Arts Commission, visit www.desmoinesartscommission.com.

Here are some videos of the Reptile Man in action:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

UPDATE 1/20/12 11:50 a.m.: Saturday night’s ‘Moonlight Beach Walk’ has been canceled, “due to weather, unsafe roads, and the condition of Seahurst Park,” according to an email from our friends at the Environmental Science Center (ESC).

“ESC hopes to reschedule the event during the spring or summer,” the email adds. “Keep updated by checking the website: www.EnvScienceCenter.org.”

For more information about this event, contact Jennifer Dumlao at outreach@envsciencecenter.org.

Here’s more from a previous press release:

The Environmental Science Center (ESC) would like to remind our Readers about their free and family-friendly Moonlight Beach Walk, which will take place this Saturday, Jan. 21st from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Local naturalists are volunteering their time to help guide visitors in discovering the unique marine life that lives in the intertidal zone.  Considered a marine reserve, the rock strewn beach provides vital habitat for creatures such as purple sea stars, burrowing sea cucumbers, Dungeness crabs, moon snails, and aggregating sea anemones plus an abundance of seaweeds.  These walks are a unique opportunity to see Seahurst’s beach at low tide and in the dark. When the tide goes out during the day most of the creatures on the beach go with it or burrow under something.  But at night, they stay on the beach.  Visitors should bring reliable flashlights to explore the nooks and crannies of the large rocks.  Remember that you’re in their house, so tread gently. The goal is to Do No Harm.

This year’s walk promises a new treat to returning beach explorers- a brand new warm building!  Our new center is at Seahurst beach: 2400 SW 140th Street in Burien.  Park in the lower or upper lot and walk along the trail that runs north from the turning circle at the lower parking lot.  Visitors should check-in at the center for some pre-beach activities and cider, hot chocolate or coffee.  Activities include a Matisse themed art project on sea life and a microscope lab with plankton to identify.

Please make sure to dress warmly with hats, gloves, and warm coats.  Also, wear rubber shoes so that you can wade out into the ankle-deep water around the tide pools.  And please practice beach etiquette:

1. DO NO HARM
2. Be extra careful where you step so you don’t step on animals or their homes.
3. When you want to look more closely at a creature, bend over and look rather than picking it up. Leave animals where you find them. Don’t move them to a new home!
4. Touch plants and animals gently with one wet finger. Animals living on the beach and in the water are cold and wet, your fingers are warm and dry. Simply touching a plant or animal may be enough to injure or kill it.
5. If you want to look under a rock, be gentle. Turning over a rock can be like someone turning on a bright light in your bedroom in the middle of the night. Lift it slowly and gently. When you’re done the rock needs to be gently returned to its original position.
6. SAVE THE CHILDREN ?Leave all shells and animals on the beach rather than taking them home. Shells and rocks need to be left on the beach because they provide a home for the next generation, an animal’s children, to live on.

For more information about the Environmental Science Center visit: www.envsciencecenter.org

by Dave Markwell

After a 14 hour travel day, I am too brain-fried to trust the column I have written. I can’t tell if it’s good or if it sucks. When this happens I will pull something from my quiver and hope it strikes a target. This piece was written as a “speech” for my friends, Eric and Michelle’s, wedding last summer. It felt good to write and felt good for me to read it again. Happy Feel Good Friday!!! -Dave

While preparing for today’s presentation, I looked around a bit to see what others have had to say about marriage. I looked to the sages and philosophers from the ages and discovered many beautiful, gushing, flowing and important words; Words that inspired and affected and sang to me. Words that made me want to marry my wife over and over again every day. As impressive as some of these words were, they in large part lacked a fundamental element important to me when saying something: they lacked truth. They were not necessarily untrue. Their words simply didn’t tell the whole story and they were, I think, likely written by people who had never actually been married and understood that a real marriage is not all candlelit kisses and longing looks. Real marriages, invariably, involves bad moods and bad breath and at some point bringing the other person a new roll of toilet paper as they sit needing more toilet paper. I think these experiences are more common than the sentiments expressed by the smart people. A real marriage is more complicated. A real marriage involves varying amounts of conflict and frustration and concession. As human beings we are all flawed and we carry these flaws to a marriage. On a daily basis, our own goofy baggage muddies the waters and raises eyebrows and sometimes the voice of our spouse, who tries to make sense of the senseless. A real marriage is not a clean and tidy business. It can get messy.

In evaluating the countless ways I have made messes in my own marriage, I have come to understand that while my messes may not be avoidable, the impact of these things can be somewhat offset by doing good things, too. Being flawed individuals, we are going to make messes. We are going to say and do some profoundly stupid things. However, these things need not completely undermine an otherwise good relation. By consciously involving our better demons on a daily basis, we can, on some level, shave the sharp edges off of our bad choices. These involve deliberate and intentional effort, but they are worth it, every time. Things we can do include sharing, giving, understanding and doing, even and maybe especially, when you don’t feel like it. I’ve found that doing something when you don’t really feel like it, is perhaps the most important time to do anything.

First, share: share ideas and hopes and dreams and the last piece of bacon. Share the parts of yourself that are awkward and uncomfortable. Share your fears and concerns. Share a true laugh and a true tear. A certain emotional nudity is vital to creating a marriage of substance. When we strip ourselves bare and trust that the other will not point and laugh, a deeper connection is built and a foundation is laid for a relationship of meaning. This relationship makes both people better.

Next, give: Give what you have. An element of service exists in a good marriage. From doing the dishes to mowing the lawn to putting away your shoes to putting the toilet seat up-or down-whichever the case requires, marriage involves doing things that prevent tension. We don’t always want to do these things, but that doesn’t matter. Doing things we don’t want to do is called giving. And doing these things says “I love you” better than the words can.

Closely tied to giving is understanding. Understanding what to give involves understanding where the other person places value. What matters to them are the things we need to be aware of: How do they like their coffee? What’s their favorite flower? What do they think about and care about? Understanding these things makes appropriate giving possible and appropriate giving makes a happy day possible.

To have understanding is very simple: one must PAY ATTENTION. People are subtle. Preferences and trends involve nuance. Being tuned into the other’s heartbeat is the cornerstone of a successful marriage. What’s important is, unfortunately, rarely obvious, thusly, we must pay attention to the gentle shifts in a look or a tone of voice to direct us. Being distinctly different animals, men and women struggle for this understanding, but by watching and learning and caring to understand, an imperfect balance can be attained.

After the “I dos” come the “I wills” and married life begins. Here lies the challenge of carrying on the wedding day bliss. Beyond the “I do” come other words that are just as valuable. Words like “Thank you” “You look nice” “Can I help?” “What do you need” and maybe most importantly the words, “I’m sorry” and “It’s OK.” Forgiveness is necessary. Given our aforementioned flaws, mistakes will be made and forgiving and moving on is the only way to have a marriage that can sustain the inevitable bonehead moves.

We live a life of days. Each day consists of moments. Some are breath-taking and some are eye-rolling and these moments make a life. Any life and certainly a married life is the sum of the moments we create. Life is not a single event. It is an anthology of moments. We have absolute control over these moments. With these moments, we humanize and encourage and support each other. With these moments, we make the other person feel good and we become better. These seemingly innocuous, anonymous little moments, a delicate touch on the back of her neck when passing in the kitchen, an unrequested, but very welcome snack, a head on the shoulder while sitting on the couch watching bad TV, these moments set the stage and a tone. Acknowledging and recognizing that these small moments matter and indeed may be the biggest moments there are, is elemental. The gentle, yet vital moments of loving being in a moment with the person you love changes us. They connect us and bind us and are the place where our truest smiles live. They are important in the ways they shape a life together. All of the beauty and magic of a married life live here. Having, making and enjoying a life of moments is the surest way to having, making and enjoying a married life together. As the sun rises and sets in a brief moment, so does life, and nothing is more majestic, powerful, or important to a good day and a good life than appreciating the significance of a single moment. Nothing matters more than a simple and fleeting moment.

So Eric and Michelle, I wish you both a life filled with a vast and wonderful collection of these simple, loving moments that will enrich you and enliven you and make it all worthwhile.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here. Or work out with him at his new exercise company Waterland CrossFit!]

by Dave Markwell

I love going to the mailbox this time of year. Normally, I am shamelessly indifferent about receiving mail. Bills and junk mail have lost their allure for me. In fact, I usually outsource this duty to my eight year old daughter who still enjoys the little surprises hidden in our black box. As such, she can have this job…except during the holiday season. I love getting Christmas cards. I love seeing old friends growing older. I love seeing their kids, whom I don’t see often enough, getting bigger and growing up, too. I love creative “photo shop” efforts and solemn family poses. I love pictures of my friends and family standing in the snow or by the beach with their smiles and dogs.

While I love receiving each and every computer-generated or hand-written Christmas card, I am shamefully neglectful in sending them. Every year, I say it will be different next year. I will get my family together and shape a perfect card. It will be funny and resonant and important. I will send this masterpiece to all the people I care about and they will really understand how much they mean to me. Unfortunately, also every year, I don’t do this. My good intentions have paved a nice, sturdy, four-laner heading straight south. My wife gets mad at me. My kids get mad at me. And likely some of my friends who send the cool cards wonder, “WTF, Markwell”. I’m sure these people are as interested in seeing my kids and dogs as I am in seeing theirs. They would probably enjoy a card from me. Well, this is my failure and mine alone.

Through the years, my wife has suggested some decent cards to send. I vetoed them, because they were not awesome enough. I have high expectations for my Christmas cards and instead of sending something less-than-spectacular, I send nothing. I use this as my lousy excuse every year and every year my wife shakes her head and says, “You are lame.” I cannot argue with her, I kind of am. This is my curse, lameness.

Like every thing else in life, technology has changed even Christmas cards and I enjoy “e-cards” very much, too. Dancing heads make me smile. My friends’ joyful faces planted on an animated reindeer shaking its rear end, makes me happy. While I am critical about what I send…or rather don’t send…I am not picky about what I get. I do not critique other’s cards. I love them all and though it was not “technically” a Christmas card, couple of days ago, I received a fantastic note in my “inbox” that was as meaningful as any card I have received in recent memory. This note was certainly inspired by the spirit of this season.

Twenty years ago this week, my buddy, JK, was commissioned as a naval officer at a small ceremony in Moscow, Idaho. I was home for break from college at the time but, to support my pal, I loaded a compromised collection of jokers into my Dad’s jeep and made the 300 mile trek across the state to witness JK’s milestone. He was to become a Navy aviator and as a long-time friend, his milestone was ours, too. In his recent e-mail, he expressed appreciation for our efforts so many years ago and attached a photo of us taken at the grand event. We were all skinnier and had more hair. Some of us had A LOT more hair. (You know who you are.) It was a great moment for all of us.

In his note, JK reminded me of my regular closing to our phone conversations during this time. I always ended our chats with “Don’t crash.” As morbid as this may sound, at the time, and maybe still, it was important for me to say this. Understanding that military service is, by nature, dangerous, I wanted him to be careful and in some slightly gruesome way understand that he was important to me. He always replied that he would “try not to”. This was strangely comforting to me and, at the close of his note this week, JK said he is still trying not to crash…and I was still comforted.

While I have rarely subscribed to conventional forms of expression, I do possess a deep understanding that life is always short, and in some sad instances, the sands’ ceaseless trek through our hour glass will shatter the bottom with its pace.

With this in mind, very few people in my life are completely unaware of my feelings about them. And even if they don’t get a Christmas card from me this year, (which they won’t) they are my what I treasure most and they can all rest assured that NEXT YEAR will be THE year for the most epic card ever!! It will sing and pull heartstrings and inspire. They will feel the piece of my heart that beats for them. My art will speak everything that I feel and sometimes don’t say. Next year, for sure, they will all know, with certainty, how much I don’t want them to crash.

For this year, I still wish for EVERYONE: An abundance of abundance and a lack of lack. A smile and a song. Peace and health and hope and love for this season and all seasons. Merry Christmas to ALL!!!

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here. Or work out with him at his new exercise company Waterland CrossFit!]

Imagine having photos with Santa without waiting in line at the mall or downtown in bad weather. This year it’s happening right here in Burien at Photography by Steven.

You can call it a “virtual” line, as all you have to do is click here to schedule your completely private photo session for your kids or family.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are stopping by for four weekend days at Photography by Steven’s Burien studio at 243 SW 152nd Street:

• Saturday December 3rd – Sunday December 4th
• Friday December 9th – Sunday December 11th

Packages start at $20 and Christmas cards are available.

Steve and Ann have been providing professional photography in the Highline area for over 10 years. They specialize in high school seniors, babies, family and wedding photography.

With their state-of-the-art digital studio they also offer immediate viewing. Yes, you’ll get to see your picture of your special time with Santa and the family right then and there!

No lines… no malls… photos… cards… all starting at $20.

Remember your Santa photos are just a click away.

Complete package pricing is online.

For more information call us at 206-433-0988.

Discover Burien’s annual ‘Boo In Burien’ will be held around town from Noon – 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29th, and this year The B-Town Blog is Sponsoring the Wiener Dog Races, which will be held in Olde Burien at 3:30 p.m.

Got a Wiener Dog? Well then you’d best register it to race now – download a PDF Registration Form here!

We can’t wait to see who the wiener is of this year’s Wiener Dog Race.

Remember last year, when we Sponsored ‘Waldo,’ the differently-abled Wiener dog with a wheelchair? That was Waldo’s first race, and his first loss (he came in dead last!).

Here’s what his Human, Dr. Yael Kantor said about his condition:

He came to me as a patient in 2003. He was just a couple months old. The vet brought him in – he had been injured either by being dropped or stood on. The result was a spinal cord injury. He was paralyzed from the mid-back down and could not go to the bathroom by himself so he was probably on his way to being euthanized.

Well, we fell in love with him. I adjusted him and got some sensation back in his tail which he ended up chewing and the vet had to dock.it. But after a slew of adjustments, acupuncture, hydrotherapy we did not get the movement back in his legs but we did get him a little wheelchair.

He is a trooper and full of spunk. He lives with two other bigger dogs and is incredible with the kids. He hops around the house and has developed a large chest and big front paws. He is just full of life and you would never know he is disabled. He is amazing and adds so much to our lives.

Also included this year will be

• Hayrides: Noon – 3:30 p.m.
• Trick or Treating: Noon until the Candy is gone
• Haunted House at Moss Chiropractic: 1 – 4 p.m.
• Pumpkin Bowling at Elliott Bay Brewery: 1 – 3 p.m.
• Paint Pumpkins at Grocery Outlet: Noon until pumpkins gone
• Scary Story Telling
• Kids Crafts at Collins Chiropractic
• Children’s Costume Parade
• Costume Dog Parade: Noon registration – Parade starts at 3:15 pm in Olde Burien
• The B-Town Blog Wiener Dog Races: 3:30 pm in Olde Burien.

For more information, contact Debra George at (206) 941-7199.

Here are some pics from last year’s event:

The annual ‘Night of the Pumpkin’ will haunt the Burien Community Center from 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday night, Oct. 21st, with a bonfire, face painting, Thriller dance, carnival games, music, lanterns, puppet theater, Day of the Dead festivities, and much more!

“Spend the evening strolling through the tree-lit Dottie Harper Park, enjoy a warm bonfire while listening to music or visit the mystical tent for a tarot card reading,” reads an announcement. “Plenty of goodies await from local food vendors. Sound like a lot? Wait, there’s more! Follow the lantern-lit pathway into the Community Center for puppet theatre, the Thriller Dance, arts & crafts, Day of the Dead Alters, pumpkin carvers, carnival games for kids (with purchase of $4 wristband), photo opts, and visit the Creepy Critter room to hold a tarantula or scorpion! You won’t want to miss out on this spooktacular evening!”

Carnival game wrist bands will cost $4 per child, and can be purchased at the door.

The Burien Community Center is located at 14700 6th Ave SW, next to Dottie Harper Park.

For more information call (206) 988-3700 or visit burienparks.net.

A local group called the ‘Southend Gamers‘ wants our Readers to know that they’re looking for more people to well…play around with.

The group, which meets every Saturday, has been active for over seven years, and currently has 60 members – a 60/30 mix of men and women, with the average age of 32.

“We have over 190 games to choose from – classics, party and Eurogames,” reads an email we received. “We do NOT play wargames nor do we play card games (as in poker or Hearts).  There is no fee or charge for gaming.”

Here’s more from Organizer Dave Christensen:

We hold sessions every week on Saturdays at my home with sessions occasionally hosted by other members at their homes. Members can arrive anytime after NOON and may stay till midnight should they choose to. You are never obligated to attend any session tho I ask that you come to a game session at least once every six months to maintain a membership. Our average group size is about eight with a limit of twenty.  The group newsletter that I occasionally produce contains photos of each session that has new members and a brief synopsis of the events and players attending to help members get to know one another better.

In 2006, Southend gamers introduced dayhikes, offroad exploration, picnics and potluck barbecues that include indoor and outdoor games that have been popular. Outdoor games include Bocce ball, Croquet, Lawn darts (original!), Badminton, Bean bag baseball, Snake ball and Washerboard.

We are participating members of the Millionminute organization (which promotes game play within families) and finished in 4th place Nationwide last year.

We try to host an annual potluck barbecue in July that includes both indoor and outdoor games that have been very popular. We try to host other smaller picnics as weather permits during the summer.

If you are allergic to cats, be warned – I have two.  My home is no smoking ‘cept outside.

If you’d like to stop in for a visit to see what’s up first, feel free to do so, game night or not. Just email and arrange a meeting.

– Dave
Host/Moderator
keel131@comcast.net

Have you registered yet to run/walk (or sponsor someone) in the upcoming Oct. 9th Burien Brat Trot? (we’re Sponsors) Well you’d better hurry, as discount deadlines will expire soon.

The Brat Trot is a true community celebration – one that brings out the fun in all of us – and it also raises critical funds for two local non-profits:

Safe Kids King County South and Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence.

Please note a couple of important things:

• The deadline for the Brat Trot Family Registration has been extended! If you register four runners from the same household, you get $20 off your total, making each registration $25 instead of $30. Big family and want to register more than four? Any additional family members from the same household can register for only $10 each! Valid through 9/30 only! Race day is October 9th! Register here.
• Company Registration Contest going on now–win your business a holiday party at the Tin Theater! When you register–you will be asked to “please enter your business affiliation.” Simply type in your company’s name , Brat Trot staff will track the entries–and the company with the most entries wins a free holiday party at the Tin Theater in Olde Burien!
• Don’t forget to enter to win two FREE tickets for two to anywhere Sponsor Alaska Airlines flies (except Hawaii and Mexico), and to enter, all you have to do is Text BRAT to 44227 for a chance to win (message and data rates may apply)!

To register quickly and easily just click here to be re-directed to the Registration page, which includes these choices:

5k Solo Race
The 5K race begins @ 1:00 PM (at the corner of 10th and 152nd)
» $35.00 registration (through 10/7 at 11:59 PM US/Pacific)
» $40.00 day of registration (available at the race only)

Short Course Race (about 1 mile)
The short course race begins @ 1:40 PM (at Lake Burien Park)
» $30.00 registration (through 10/7 at 11:59 PM US/Pacific)
» $35.00 day of registration (available at the race only)

Family Registration (4 or More People, Same Household)
Family rate available through 9/30.
Family Registration opportunities exist for both the 5K and short course races.
» $100.00 for 4 family members, $10.00 each after fourth

Team Registration (10 or More People)
Team code required.
»$15.00 each, (add $10 for a t-shirt) (through 10/7 at 11:59 PM US/Pacific)

Be an “Angel” Donor and Sponsor a Child (Sign up and Pay Now)
Each year during our school competitions we encounter families with children who would love to run but cannot afford the registration fee or do not have adequate shoes to run in. The Angel Donor funds will be matched with kids – either partial or full.
» $30 to sponsor a child; $20 to sponsor running shoes for a child (through 10/7 at 11:59 PM US/Pacific

BRAT TROT RACE COURSE MAP REVEALED!
We’ve got the first peek at the Brat Trot course map (download a PDF of it here):

Click image to see larger version.

BRAT TROT PUB CRAWL IS FRIDAY, OCT. 7th!
Join the Brat Trot Pub Crawl the Friday night before the race (Oct. 7th)! The Pub Crawl starts at the Tin Room at 6:30 p.m. Bibs can be purchased at 5 p.m.

• Qualify for door prizes by collecting pub stamps.
• $10 gets you an official pub-crawl bib # making you eligible for door prizes!
• Registration for the pub crawl is at the door on Friday night at The Tin Room (no pre-registration).

FINAL HASH IS THIS SUNDAY, SEPT. 25th!
The 4th and FINAL Hash of the year will be held this coming Sunday, Sept. 25th! You know the drill…meet at 11 a.m. at the Masonic Building at 10th SW and SW 152nd in Olde Burien and after walking around the lake stop at The Tin Room Bar & Theater to restore those electrolytes!

THANKS TO THE 2011 BRAT TROT SPONSORS: