Queens. Quarterbacks. Quiet.

Rodeo Queens- Beauty n' Boots

Eight girls in snowcone-colored Wranglers and matching cowboy boots gallop full-tilt around a rodeo arena, one hand on their horses' reins, the other raised in the open-palmed salute of a beauty queen on parade. Clots of mud arc and burst in a horse's thundering wake, and a saucer-size golden belt buckle glitters in the sun.

At first, it seems a strange marriage of cultures: Rough-riding cowgirl and glitzy beauty queen, one in the same? But it's not. It's just the nostalgic carnival of Western rodeo at its best.

Welcome to the Miss Rodeo Washington Pageant 2008, the 45th annual horsemanship and beauty competition, during which both Miss Rodeo Washington and Miss Teen Rodeo Washington will be chosen and crowned.

To read more of Miss Haley Edward's article:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2003882708_rodeoqueens160.html













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During a break between lunch and dinner— Rana, a kitchen helper, Sabi S. Dhoat, one of the owners of the Tandoor Restaurant, and Balginder Singh, second cook— talk inside of the University District business. The restaurant, which specializes in North Indian cuisine, has been open since 1986. The Dhoat family has owned the Tandoor Restaurant for the last 12 years. Dhoat and Rana— originally from India’s Punjab region— said they lived in nearby towns and used to ride motorcycles and pick mangos together as boys. Singh is the uncle of Dhoat’s wife.


A Tsimshian Haayuuk dancer dresses to perform for Honor Day. There is not a federally-recognized holiday honoring the contributions of Native Americans. But there is a movement for that to change. (http://honorday.org)


Harry Jefferson, 34, hugs his daughter Zenobia Jefferson, 2, outside of his apartment in Skyway. Jefferson credits the Clean Dreams Project— a small social service agency based in Rainier Valley— with helping him get on his feet after prison and start on a pathway towards a college.

WSU V. SDS
((Thank you Rod))








early sunny morning


dunes.


lady ashley.


dude.

August Update

Ellensburg, WA


Mike Moore, of Kankakee, Illinois, competes in PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour Saturday evening at the Ellensburg Rodeo. The Kittias County Fair and the Ellensburg Rodeo, featuring Posse Night in the Arena Sunday evening and Ellensburg Rodeo Finals Monday, will continue through Labor Day weekend.


Lucas Martinez, 25, is the father of Diosely, 5, Juan Carlos, 4 and Abigail, 7, who are pictured inside their home at migrant farm worker camp in Burlington. Martinez is a seasonal worker from the small village of San Martin-Itunyoso in the western mountains of Oaxaca. More than half of the village's 4,000 residents leave every year to work, according to a Mexican census.


Teenager From St. John the Evangelist Church carry Our Lady of Guadalupe during a procession before mass.


Rafael Francisco, 4, bundles up for a nap after lunch in a preschool classroom at the Washington State Migrant Council Kulshan Center in Mount Vernon. Francisco and other children at the center have parents who are migrant and seasonal farm workers— many them from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. The majority of children speak the indigenous languages, such as Triqui and Mixteco, as their first language. The preschoolers in the class are learning Spanish, English and other skills while their parents work in the Skagit Valley’s fields. During the summer, Youth Migrant Project volunteers help out at the Kulshan Center and other organizations that aid farm workers.


Rafael Francisco, 4, bundles up for a nap after lunch in a preschool classroom at the Washington State Migrant Council Kulshan Center in Mount Vernon. Francisco and other children at the center have parents who are migrant and seasonal farm workers— many them from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. The majority of children speak the indigenous languages, such as Triqui and Mixteco, as their first language. The preschoolers in the class are learning Spanish, English and other skills while their parents work in the Skagit Valley’s fields. During the summer, Youth Migrant Project volunteers help out at the Kulshan Center and other organizations that aid farm workers.


Contestants wait during a national casting call for CW's America's Next Top Model in Lynnwood.


Participants wait in line next to a poster of Tyra Banks, the creator of America’s Next Top Model, during a casting call Tuesday at the Alderwood Mall.


Salimah Tucker, 24,


Keena Haynes, a Cypress Farm trainer, watches Carly Nicefaro practice with “Gone with the Wind” before Wednesday’s level one jumpers competition at the Evergreen Classic Horse Show outside of Carnation, Washington.


Amanda Davidson (cq) releases her dachshund "Cleo" during the preliminary matches of the "Kent and Alan Wiener Dog Races at Emerald Downs" Thursday at the Seattle Center. Five heats of dogs raced at the North Fountain Lawn to get a chance to compete in the Emerald Downs Wiener Dog Championship Races on Friday, August 17th at Emerald Downs.


Sydney Campbell, 4


Nalini, left, helps her student Gigi secure her veil before performing at the Dance for Peace and Social Harmony concert at Alki Beach Park.


Mallory Fry, 20, styles Jeremiah Swagger’s hair Monday afternoon at Rudy’s Barbershop in University District. Swagger said his last cut was nine months ago. Fry trimmed off a few inches, to ready Swagger for his new job hunt. Rudy’s Barbershop operates in seven locations in Seattle and Bellevue. The first store opened in January 1993 on Pine Street in Capital Hill. Stores are also located in Portland and Los Angles.


Dan Lewis, 71, has lived with three other roommates in the Whispering Hills Apartments in Federal Way for the last 15 years. At the end of August, Lewis and his friends— two of whom are over the age of 60— will be evicted from their home. Their apartment complex is being turned into condominiums. A portrait of Lewis is captured in his living room last week.



Dan Lewis, 71, helps his roommate Robin Kissel, 61, carry packages up to their apartment after she returns from her job as a shuttle driver at the airport. At the end of August— Lewis, Kissel and their two roommates will be evicted. Their apartment building will be turned into condominiums. Lewis said, although they have the money for monthly rent and utilities, they lack the financial resources to cover moving expenses, a deposit and a credit check. They also need help moving their belongings, and cannot afford a professional moving company.


Dan Lewis owns an iguana named "Spike."


Dan Lewis walks down the hallway in his Federal Way apartment. Lewis and his three roommates will be evicted from their home in the Whispering Hills Apartments at the end of August. Their building will be turned into condominiums. Lewis believes that local elected officials have turned their backs to senior citizens, as well as the disabled and low-income populations, by not supporting a bill that would have increased the amount of relocation assistance cities could require developers to pay low income tenants facing condo conversions.


Robin Kissel, 61, rests in bed after getting home from her job as a shuttle driver at the airport. Kissel gets up for work at around midnight, and returns to her Federal Way apartment in the afternoon. Kissel and her roommates are facing an August 31 eviction from their apartment complex, and are unsure how they will acquire a new home with limited financial resources.

To read Cara Solomon's article:
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=seniorrenters13m&date=20070813&query=dan+lewis

Wedding of Edward Le and Kayly Nguyen

Edward Le, 32, clutched a bouquet of white stephanotis early in the morning, while walking with his family to the home of his fiancée Kayly Nguyen, 25.
At the beginning a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony, the groom and his family bear an assortment of gifts, covered in red cloth, which are offered in a procession to the bride’s family at their home.
Le’s family presented a cooked pig, and trays of sticky rice, tea, wine, cookies, liquor and cakes.
Firecrackers exploded at Nguyen’s doorway, initiating the early morning ceremony. The bride’s family granted their future in-laws permission to enter the home and greet the bride. Both set of relatives gathered inside the Nguyen’s dining room.
The bride, wearing a traditional Áo dài and headdress, followed her bridesmaids down her stairs. She met her groom in front of both families. The couple paid respects to their ancestors, and served tea to their bride’s family in hierarchical order. The bride’s kin offered advice, blessings and gifts to the newlyweds.
After a light breakfast, Nguyen left for her groom’s household— which signified her departure from her parent’s home. There, similar ceremonies were repeated at Le’s parent’s home.
Both families are first generation immigrants, who mainly follow Catholicism, the second most practiced religion in Vietnam. Because of their faith, they also exchanged vows and prayers at St. Thomas Church.
Le and Nguyen ended their festivities with a reception at the China Harbor Restaurant on Lake Union. The last hours of their all-day celebration included a live Vietnamese band and karaoke.