A Ufo? Quick Now, Call This Number

Hey Johnston: The other night I saw a bright object over Lake Sammamish. I don't know what it was, but I know it wasn't an airplane. I think it was a UFO. Is there someone I can report this sighting to? Someone who won't laugh at me?

Answer: We take it you are not reporting swamp gas or you got smacked on the head so hard that you are seeing stars. It could have been a meteor like the big one that zipped through our skies Dec. 16.

There are two local groups that take UFO reports. There is the National UFO Reporting Center in Seattle (722-3000) and UFO Reporting and Information Services on Mercer Island (721-5035).

The National UFO Reporting Center asks you to leave a brief message about what you saw. Leave your phone number because they may want to call you back.

UFO Reporting and Information Services will take the information over the phone, or you can write to them at P.O. Box 832, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

Dale Goudie said the organization tries to track down the object by using the Federal Aviation Administration and other government records.

Most UFO reports can be checked out, Goudie said, and they prove to be something that can be explained by earthly means. But about 10 percent go into the "unknown" file.

Goudie said the organization also has its own site in Computer Ozone Land. If you have a modem, you can get on it by calling (206) 776-0382. There is a bunch of UFO reports and information at the site. No charge.

How's Your Racket? Steve Doerrer of Bellevue's Robinswood Tennis Center is one of those Eastside do-gooders we run into occasionally who wants to help out people. Go figure.

His latest plan is to get people in wheelchairs, developmentally disabled and anyone who normally doesn't play tennis to get rackets in their hands.

But he needs rackets, so dig around in your closets and pull out those old rackets you never use and put them to a good cause. You can drop them off at the tennis center, 2400 151st Place S.E., Bellevue. Call 455-7690.

Steve asks that the rackets have all their strings because it is too expensive to have them restrung.

Hey Johnston: We just spent a day at Sea-Tac airport waiting for a relative's flight to take off. We parked at the two-hour meters, and we kept running out to put more money in our meter. Would it have been cheaper to just accept a ticket for parking there without paying? How do they keep track of how long parked cars have been there?

Answer: It depends on how lucky you feel about getting in and out of the airport. Metered parking costs $1 for 20 minutes, so if you know you are going to be there for a few minutes, this is the best bet.

Otherwise, you can feed the two-hour meter for $6. But as you discovered, planes don't arrive and leave on time, and you end up running out to plug the meter. Four hours at the meter would cost you $12 while parking in the lot is $8 for four hours.

Yes, they do keep track of your time. There is a 15-minute grace period, but after that you get a $15 ticket.

How to Just Ask Johnston: This column appears Mondays and Wednesdays in the Eastside edition. Leave your questions on Steve Johnston's voice mail at 464-8475. Or write: Just Ask Johnston, c/o The Seattle Times, 10777 Main St., Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98004. The e-mail address is east@seatimes.com