Merry Christmas to All... and on Earth Peace and Goodwill.

Go Chargers

It's coming down to the crunch for my Chargers. They lost last week in a heartbreaker to Miami. But joy of joys... they perfected the perfect and ecked out a 26-17 win over the elder Manning's Colts to spoil thier try for a perfect season.

- What a weekend. Went to the post office. Picked up two packages and mailed out one and it took nearly an hour.

- Went to Fry's for spome last minute shopping and also to Sears.

It stinks to be a Lions fan- they were pummeled again.

Merry Christmas to all and ... time to get the clothes out of the dryer!

Ho, Ho, Ho.

It's the season of Jesus' birth, happiness and good will to all men. I'm in...how about you? We have the tree decked out in the living room and the family "white Christmas tree" is up in the stair case. Soon... and I really do mean today... the outdoor lites will be up.

We went out for a drive last night down Kandy Kane Lane in Poway. Stopping off at Mike's 7-11 for hot chocolate we drove around with the windows down, covered in coats and blankets, singing Christmas Carols. We also drove through the old neighborhood and looked at our old house and the one we almost bought in Sycamore Creek. Neither had lights up...yet?

I was up and out at 7 a.m. Off to the fruit market (for fruits/veggies), Wal-Mart (for cat food & litter), Stater Bros (Food!!!) , Starbucks and then the bank to cash the rent check. Right now it's laundry and cleaning the kitchen.

Oh by the way... We had our clinic Holiday Party. At the Elks Lodge. A nice dinner, strong mixed drinks and a visit from Santa Claus. Then the "hated" Chinese gift exchange. For anyone that knows me... I usually come home with the dorkiest gifts- but for once I didn't get the boobie prize. I gave a pair of big "thing" punching hands and some crazy sunglasses. I came home with a mini-electric drill. The boobie prizes were the chia pet and a set of his & her matching toilet seats! I'll remember that idea for next year!

Time to go... for 4-5 loads of laundry and lunch for the kids.

Happy Holidays!

P.S. Sports Review-
1- How about them Chargers?
2- Glad the Lions fired Mariucci... but they still stink...the 50 year curse of Bobby Layne?
3- Padres re-sign free agents Brian Giles & Trevor Hoffman. Still might not win...but everyone likes these guys.
4- Go Red Wings!
5- MSU basketball looks like they woke up.
6- Tigers with a new manager get two old-timers in Todd Jones (Tiger re-tread) and Kenny Rogers (the lefty- not the singer).
7- Whats up with all the high profile WRs getting suspended in the NFL? (Owens-Eagles, Charles Rogers-Lions, Eric Moulds-Bills).
8- Almost a sport- we go to the mall for some shopping tomorrow.

The ride to Christmas

Well I got 25,000 words written for the book "Cloning Little Augustus" . A very good start and will flesh out the rest of it in the month of December.

Items of interest:

1- Festival of Lights @ W.A.P begins 9 December.
2- Put up outdoor lights tomorrow.
3- Decorate Christmas tree.
4- How about a trip to Ottawa?
5- An i-pod from Santa?
6- Christmas party on Dec 8.
7- Hello Italy!
8- Action PC Baseball rocks!
9- Yahoo- Lions fire their coach!
0- I retire on 1 Nov 06.

Na No Na No post #2

Well I am 15,043 words into this novel and have fallen slighty behind the pace needed to finish it in thirty days. But I'll keep plugging it out. Bottom line is 50,000 words by midnight on Nov 30th.

I'm thinking of buying the new 30Gb i-pod from Apple. two of the kids have it and they love it. Any other opinions out there?

A bad last few weeks for my MSU Spartans. They can't seem to beat anyone and look as though they will not get a bowl bid. They started so hot and now are so very cold. That's MSU football. Three rules regarding Spartan Football: 1- Don't ever count on them being good 2-Never bet on them either to win or to lose. 3- It's never a good season unless they beat U-M.

Glad to see my #2 favorite college team doing well. Notre Dame just keeps pounding their opponents- this time it was the Naval Academy 42-21.

Na No Na No

It's novel writinbg month and i've been busy writing a 50,000 word project. I am only 9,087 words into it--- behind but not out! I still have time to catch up this long vet's day weekend.


go here to see it:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/userinfo.php?uid=84440

Big News--- I submitted my retirement papers on 3 Nov. to get out of the USN on 1 Oct 06. The monkey is now off my back!

Other big news BMO and I are going to Italy in April! Yahoo- I get to practice my Italian, right kids !

Happy Halloween ! ( photos)

Home, Halloween and Family w/ NaNoWriMo around the corner

Well let's see:
1- Karen's home for a long weekend.
2- We're getting ready for Halloween and Conner's spending the night.
3- Cul-de-sac halloween picnic.
4- Last day at wild animal park.
5- National Novel Writers month starts on 1 Nov.

short and sweet- too busy for more!

Happy Halloween!

The Cursed Hard Drive Crash of October 14, 2005

Awful. Totally heart breaking. That's what it was like when I got the message that I should put my boot disk in my computer. "Hmmm," says I, "I thought the boot disk was my hard drive?" I tried to start it up several more times, to no avail. It was then that I had this ominous, sinking, gut wrenching, feeling that something bad had happened. Something very bad.

Thoughts ran through my head... When did I back this thing up last? Are all my pix and docs now toast? Who can help me?

I trucked the whole CPU and case into the CompUSA store and surrendered my charge card number to the technician to be pre-charged for an hour of his labor and left. The phone call came two days later, "sorry pal you're screwed. Your Hard drive arm is broken and we can't save the data. Unless you want to pay $200 an hour to someone to rebuild your wrecked hard drive to T-R-Y and salvage your data." Sounds pretty expensive. Hmmmm- I'm not independently wealthy and hey, I backed it up ...when?

I told him to put in a new HD and call it a day. I got it back and am loading my programs back on right now. I'll also put back the data that I had backed up. I'll also keep the old hard drive. Who knows... maybe I can get it done for cheap in the future and bring all the old stuff back to life !

LESSON LEARNED: Even though you think you're backing your data up often...it's never too often (or often enough).

Happy Birthday Karen

Happy birthday honey, wish you were here.

It was a long 3 hour drive from the stumps back to civilization for a meeting tomorrow. Whewww. I can't wait until I don't have to make that drive!

Happy Columbus Day and Halloween Double-Top Secret Plans

I'm enjoying Columbus Day off. It's sunny and warm. I cleaned up the yard, edged, trimmed and cut the grass. The Lions won a game yesterday...yes it was a good day. We are getting ready to watch the Chargers host the Steelers on MNF. Go Bolts!

If you have been following hockey...the Red Wings are 3-0, playing like they will win the Stanley Cup this year. Hope so, for many of them, Yzerman, Shannahan and Chelios it might be thier last time.

We are gathering our supplies and getting ready for the spookiest Halloween ever. I think we might even hit very scarey this year. Since this is so top secert that we even keep the garage closed I could never reveal it here on the internet. But rest assured We'll get plaenty of Pix and post some of them in this blog. Is anyone else out there doing something fun and scarey for Halloween? Click on this link if you need some on line haunting your house resources for supplies and ideas.

try here http://www.scaryguys.com/

here http://hauntedhouse.com/search/Marketplace_,045_Shopping/Props/

or here http://www.horrorseek.com/halloween/juggernaut/projects.html

Happy haunting and to muy Italian freinds Happy Columbus Day

Nanowrimo

Whatizit?

National Novel Writers month is November 2005. click on the title or here:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

I'll be working all month on my novel. Feel free to check in here over in November and see how I am doing! I'll try to keep you posted.

If you've got a creative bug and have the stomach (and persistence) to pound out a novel in 30 days, why not check out that website? I've never done anything like this before...until now. Wish me luck!

Another Day in Paradise...

You ever realize just how nice it is in San Diego? Here are ten reasons... today... that I love living here.

1- Sleep with the windows open in October.
2- N.L. Western Division Champs in Baseball.
3- Sunday football starts at 10:00 a.m.
4- Rain...what rain?
5- S-U-N-S-H-I-N-E.
6- Going out for coffee in the morning, taking a nice walk and it's quiet out.
7- Pretty mountains and hills.
8- Ocean only a short drive away.
9- A drive into the mountains.
10- 75 degrees- year round.

Climb to the Top

I made it to the top of Iron Mountain in Poway and even gave Karen a call when I got there. It was 6.5 miles to the summit and back. I could have reached out and touched a black hawk near the top he was sooooo close!

That's me up there... right below the X ! I wish I would have taken my camera (the view was fahntastic- according to Gov Ahnold) and some water too. I drank down nearly a half gallon of water when I got back home!

I didn't listen to the game- but heard the Padres got whupped 8-5. It's only game one! Hopefully they can come back and make a series of it. The Red Wings are getting ready to start the hockey season and the Lions/Chargers are giving me the Yin-Yang of football this year.

Who out there thinks President Bush's choice of Harriet Miers is a good one? Heck, let's just pick the sleazy lawyer, Lionel Hutz, from the Simpson's if you want someone with NO FRIGGING experience! Or maybe someone has a cousin or good old boy bubba they can recommend for the job. Did you talk to anyone (with a brain) and get some recommendations for this appointment or what ??? Come on W, put some thought into it!

Miramar air show is coming up soon. Who wants to go? Looks like the family does. Speaking of family- I just finished the "Godfather Returns..." and it was good. Remember keep your friends close- but your enemies closer!

Well it's back to the salt mines of 29 palms tonight. See y'all when I get home.

Tigers Fire Trammell as Manager

Turn out the lights- your misery is over. His time as manager of baseball's worst franchise over the last 12 years is finished. Alan Trammell, star SS for the 1984 World Champion Tigers got the broom yesterday as General Manager Dave Dombrowski took 3 seasons of bad, losing baseball out on his manager. Trammell, a San Diego native, couldn't be a tough enough disciplinarian to improve a terrible Tiger team, that has not had a winning season since 1993.

His first year they lost an American League record 119 times. His lineup in 2003 was littered with has-beens and never-wases. He could be given a pass for that sad season. But the last two years the owner and GM opened the coffers and brought in some quality players. (Rondell White, Mags Ordonez, Placido Polacio, Ivan Rodriguez, Carlos Guillen, Jason Johnson and Troy Percival).

But he failed on two big promises and lost control of his clubhouse. These failures got him fired.

Fundamentals and Enthusiasm were what he promised. Show me where either improved.

1. He took the job stressing fundamentals. Game after game his Tigers lollygagged the ball around, committing the same basic baseball mistakes as they did when Trammell signed on. Trammell never benched a guy for a bonehead game, never called him out for his mistakes, never held him accountable. A pity that his players never got the message about how to play this little boys game right. They kept on with their bumbling ways.

2. He promised that his players would play with the enthusiasm that he, Lou Whitaker and Kirk Gibson took out on the field. He could motivate them to play inspired baseball was the claim. Sadly not one listened- they were the same yawning Tigers. It was most noticeable during a critical August road trip that would seperate the contenders from the pretenders: his Tigers lost every game and fell out of the wild-card race for keeps. I think this was the moment Dombrowski decided to fire him.

When he really needed their best efforts to save his job at the end of 2005- they played flat and fundamental-less baseball and lost the last 5 games in a row.

So Tiger baseball embarks on a new era...another new era. It'll be the same story... again... but with a different manager. I think they have caught the Detroit Lions syndrome. Play good enough to fill the seats- but don't win too much or people will start expecting it. Where have you gone Sparky Anderson?

Best of luck Alan Trammell- you are a fine man and a hero to all who remember the 1984 season. But until you get a lot tougher you'll never manage in "the show" again.

Chargers Wup Up on Defending Champs 41-17

Another fine Sunday afternoon.

1- Chargers win again for the second week
in a row.
2- Fine Church service.
3- Nice lunch at China Fun.
4- Fine dinner Chicken Taqco salad.

Opps...something happened on the road to the Rose Bowl...

Losing in overtime to the Wolverines. Well let's face it... this game is a battleground and it came down to field goals. I though Hart might be back for this game and boy did he make a difference. Sparty needs to regroup and play hard the rest of the season.

Hope to see the Irish play well and beat Purdue today. I can only root against Notre Dame for one game a year.

At least it has cooled off today. The last several days were scorchers. Just ordered some books:

Universal Baseball Association
Get a Life
No Plot- No Problem
Life's Great Lessons
Another Shot

...and I am currently finishing up The God Father Returns (about halfway thru).It fills in the gaps between the Godfather Movies 1, 2, and 3. All I can say is Fredo...you sick man!

Other books that will be getting at least a quick read this Fall:

You and your Network
Getting Things Done
The Portable Coach
The Plot Thickens
Writing the Novel
The First Five Pages
Natural Cures
High Intensity Workout
Make Yourself a Millionaire

OBTW- Padres are N.L. Western Division Champs!

Not to slight the Padres but they clinched the Division while I was out in the desert. What a team. They are more hot and cold than the water in a cheap motel. Let's hope they get hot and stay hot in the playoffs! Who are they going to use as starters on the mound? My money is on Peavy, Astacio, Eaton and Williams. Pedro Astacio is hot, hot, hot right now and to bury him in the pen would be crazy. They'll use Lawrence and Park as long men out of the bullpen.

Go Padres bring home the Series !

Brad gets piped over the side

Well the dude got piped over the side and retired from the Navy. It was a packed house as many, many friends and family said fair winds and following seas to the good doctor. I was blessed to be chosen to give a short, humerous speech and I hope it was recieved well by all. A nice reception was held afterwards. It was very moving and well done ceremony- a fine topper to a fine military careeer. It makes me wonder again whether or not I will have a retirement ceremony next year when the time comes. John said that you don't have the ceremony for you- but for everyone else so you can get closure and to say thanks to everyone who supported you over the past 20+ years. Right now I'm leaning towards a quiet exit stage right... no fuss no muss just one day going from a military guy and the next day waking up as a civilian... but what John said is making me re-think things.

Aside from this bit of excitement nothing else is new. I looks like we'll go out to eat tonight. Perhaps the kids would like to go someplace special- maybe Red Lobster or some place like that.

Back in the Stumps

Well it was the usual 3 hour ride back to the desert. At least it wasn't raining this time. Well I sit hwere in my office trying to put out the buring fires that being away for two days will bring. It's only 0900 and already it is getting hot outside. They're expecting 100 degrees again today. Looking forward to attending a friends retirement ceremony this Friday. Only 368 days until I can join him!

walking the beach

Yesterday I was down at Pacific Beach to enjoy a long walk in the sunshine and salty air. I walked the length of the boardwalk south to the jetty and then back along the beach. It was empty for the most part. All the summer tourists are gone. Everyone else was at work or sleeping in!

I listened to Brain B's Sports talk show. It was a sad one regarding the untimely passing of a young Arizona basketball star.

Also for you travellers out there check out the Rick Steves website:

http://www.ricksteves.com/

You can download or listen to his weekly radio broadcast on-line. We used his guidebooks to travel in Europe (Lisbon, Obidos, Sintra, Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca, Munich, Rome, Florence, London, Greenwich, Bath, Blackpool, Edinburgh) and found it an excellent and compact guide to hitting the highlights. If you're flying over the pond to tour Europe you should check them out.

On another note. We're getting ready for Halloween. October first is the start date to get our "Black Ops Project". It is so top secret (cosmic) that it cannot be mentioned aloud. All the kids are sworn to secrecy. Stay tuned for some photos around that time.

Chargers win 45-23 !

What a nice way to top off a great football weekend. First the Spartans pound the Illini. Next Wisconsin upsets U-M. And to complete this Trifecta of football bliss, the Chargers stomp Eli Manning 45-23. All-in-all a great weekend !

Sunday Church @ 10:30 am...Chargers @ 5:30 pm!

Good Sunday services at the Maranatha Chapel w/ Pastor Bentley. Hope Marty Schottenheimer is as inspirational to the 0-2 Chargers ! We went out to the Soup Plantation for Lunch all four of us. It was good to get everyone together for the meal. Yesterday everyone, including JoJo, enjoyed a Papa Clemenzu's Spaghetti Dinner.

I'm thinknig Waaaaaaay ahead about the next car we buy. Choices include:
> Mazda Miata
> Scion xB
> An early model Mercedes Benz (read that as cheap!)
> Ford Mustang
> Chrysler PT Cruiser

Spartans Win- Wolverines Beaten!

Oh happy day!

Mich St roars to Another Win

Check out the family wrestler on the right. --->>>

Another fine MSU Sparty win. This time they dominated Illinois 61-14. A 4-0 start makes you think of Rose Bowl! They have played well this season with a high scoring offensive machine. Drew Stanton is quite the QB and has run a well oiled offense that seems to get great running performances from a different halfback each week.

Heres the recap:
"CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Drew Stanton set a school record with five touchdown passes and No. 17 Michigan State scored on six of eight first-half possessions in a 61-14 romp over Illinois in the Big Ten opener for both schools Saturday.
Michigan State (4-0, 1-0), which entered the game with the fourth-ranked offense in the nation, rolled up 705 yards. Illinois (2-2, 0-1) gave up 381 yards before halftime as Stanton did as he pleased during a 28-point second quarter.
Stanton tied the school record, held by seven others, by halftime and broke it with a 2-yard toss to Kellen Davis on the Spartans' first possession of the second half. Stanton's second pass of the day was a 75-yard TD strike to Kyle Brown, and he hit Dwayne Holmes, Jerramy Scott and Matt Trannon for scores in the second quarter. "

Can we beat the hated Michigan Wolverines? Sure hope so! Guess we'll find out soon.

Its terrible all those hurricanes on the gulf coast. It has been two huge windbags to blast them in a row. Pray for the Americans who live down there. We had a minor earthquake near Bakersfield on Friday, it was a 4.7 at WheelerRidge. I didn't feel it out in the desert- did you?

Senior Year

Well it's the fall and our daughter is entering her senior year. Erin has gotten her driver's license and about 300 letters from different colleges throughout the country. It's an exciting time of year for her and we're all very proud of her achievements. Have a great year kiddo!

View from monkeyland at the San Diego Zoo

Hope you can get out to the new monkeyland area of the San Diego Zoo. You're up close and personal with endangered primates from around our globe.

Hello

Welcome to Running the bases with Powayslugger- a daily/weekly/whenever account of whatever is interesting to write about. Hope you enjoy it