By Daniel Hooker This article series started off as a local Vashon-Maury Island piece, then I had a thought, wait a minute! We are all doing this – helping others – in many cities, towns, and island communities. I started interviewing food banks around Western Washington about what they offer as vital services for our…
August 2025, Entertainment, Llaughing Llamas
Llaughing Llamas – August
By Daniel Hooker From Evelyn at Thriftway: Q. What do you call a waffle on the beach? A. A San Di-Eggo. ~ I can’t help being funny. I was born wit’ two humorous bones. ~ Q. At the Strawberry Festival, what did one strawberry say to the other? A. You got us into this jam….
Entertainment, July 2025, Llaughing Llamas
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles
By Daniel Hooker This joke comes from Bob at Ace Hardware: A customer is at the checkout stand, and the cashier asks, “Paper or plastic?” The customer answers, “You choose.” The cashier replies, “Baggers can’t be choosers.” ~ At the Olympics I saw a guy carrying a long stick. I asked, “Are you a pole…
Island Voices, June 2025
There’s No Place Like Home, Part 2
By Daniel Hooker Olga and I met at our Vashon Library, to complete the second part of her story (“There’s No Place Like Home.”) I listen to Olga and the details of her intensive caring for two raccoon cubs. From the after-meal belly massages (feeding being done with a small eye dropper of a bottle),…
Entertainment, June 2025, Llaughing Llamas
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles
By Daniel Hooker Q: What do you call a lazy opossum? A: A pouch potato. Editor’s note: This is a correction of this joke printed in the May issue. ~ Q: What events do spiders like to attend? A: Webinars. ~ Q: What type of bat loves doorbells? A: Ding bats. ~ Q: How did…
Island Voices, May 2025
There’s No Place Like Home – A Ukrainian Woman’s Journey
Raccoons and All, Part 1 By Daniel Hooker I met Olga as I walked into Island Lumber here on Vashon Island (a place I’ve called home for many years). Olga’s bright smile and courteous questions immediately caught my attention. As I walked on, the faint accent registered. I turned and asked Olga where she was…
Entertainment, Llaughing Llamas, May 2025
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles
By Daniel Hooker One of the worst critics of my joke column passed away; I went to his funeral and I stared into his coffin: “You’re dead wrong. Thinking outside of the box is better.” ~ Someone asked me where my grandmother and grandfather lived. I replied, “Alaska.” “Never mind,” he replied, “I’ll ask her…
April 2025, Entertainment, Llaughing Llamas
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles
By Daniel Hooker Did you know that Atheism is a non-prophet organization? It should be investigated by DOGE, Congress, and the WHO for taxation without representation. ~ I have a new response to people’s questions about why I’m walking on crutches: “I’m avoiding a Cane Mutiny and a Staff Infection.” ~ An original from my…
Entertainment, Llaughing Llamas, March 2025
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles
By Daniel Hooker Q: What do you get when you cross a GPS with an alligator? A: A navigator. ~ I have a contact lens problem. I have no solution. ~ I want to tell you about this woman that I know who only eats plants. I know you never heard of her-bavore. ~ I…
Entertainment, February 2025, Llaughing Llamas
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles – February
By Daniel Hooker Q. What do you call a man who has been digging all day? A. Dug. Q. What do you call a man who hasn’t been digging all day? A. Dug-less. ~ Q. What do you call a cow with a twitch? A. Beef jerky. ~ I injured myself last month playing with…