Grrrrrr....

Yes indeed, it's that time of year again, when Suldog calls upon us to remember there is plenty of time, after we finish giving thanks for what we have, to prepare for Christmas.

If you are so inclined, steal this image and send it worldwide (if they don't celebrate Thanksgiving, they should).
I would have had this post up much sooner, but we had to get through the World Series, which was slightly more significant this year than most. I thought it would be just a bit presumptuous to to start a World Series Comes First campaign. Then again, considering that holiday stuff's been out since just after Back to School, maybe that isn't so far off. But Suldog, and the followers who've joined in, are right. As important a holiday as Christmas is, it can wait until after Thanksgiving.

On another note:
I've heard from all of my close friends and family members in the Northeast who were in the path of Sandy. It appears they came through it unscathed.
There's something to give thanks for.

GS has her final dental check at noon. Then the referral back to the surgeon for scheduling.

don't forget Veterans Day

I won a bet

It cost me a few bucks, but it is worth it, knowing my brother in law will be wearing a Giants World Series Champions t-shirt in at least three public places in the Detroit area. Had I been thinking ahead, I might have stipulated where he would don this garment when he challenged me. The top of the list would have been Hockytown (because by nature I am truly an a**h*** and a sadist).
What is so unusual about my winning this bet is not that the Giants are the better team, or the tigers in anyway an inferior team. I am not a betting man. I can't remember the last time I placed a wager on a sporting event ...and I really don't care for casinos (even when the house provides 'free' money). The closest thing to a bet I've made in the past 20 years is playing the weekend NFL pool at work. I wasn't very good at picking because I only follow one team (guess who!). I would invariably pick the home team in each game. I was right more than half of the time ...and back then the Niners were pretty darn good at covering, too.
Back to this bet I won. I accepted it because, first, it wasn't about bragging rights so much as about loyalty and, second (but just as important), Tom, my brother in law, is a class act, who I respect and admire.
A little story about Tom... he is from a family with very strong Hungarian roots. He is married to a sweet Irish girl. When they married he converted to her religion and he became Irish, too. He knows about every Irish ballad and the patriotic songs, as well. About the only thing that hasn't happened is he won't root for Notre Dame.

the shirt was sent yesterday  

Yes

The win by the Giants didn't just give them a sweep and the Championship. It also prevented a minor dilemma. Had the Tigers won there'd have been another game tonight. That would have meant we'd have had to choose between watching the 49ers vs the Arizona Cardinals and the baseball game.
Thank you, Giants, for resolving that issue.

everyone should have such problems

Living the Dream

There's a story behind this picture. (click on the image)

literally

The early morning sunlight creates some special effects on the green trees.
It pays to look out the window sometimes.

it would really pay to have
the camera handy sooner

GS had another another appointment with the dentist yesterday. It appears those issues are clearing up nicely. We'll go back in at noon today for him to have a look see, then again next Wednesday for him to give final clearance.

I think I mentioned the weather.
It rained.
Some of you even saw some of it on TV Monday night.
That was the part of the storm that was 200 miles away.
Anyway that's done for now and it's supposed to be in the mid 70s today and maybe reach the 80s over the weekend. Then there's a chance of rain by Halloween.

Speaking of Halloween, the BP gives his views over here. I think I'll remain on the sidelines in this dispute.

I actually found this train standing still long enough for a photograph about a quarter-mile from our house. One of these days the opportunity for a video may present itself when one of these puppies comes charging through at 70mph 55mph.

No, I have nothing to say about Game 2.


Oh, heck, yes I do. It's been pretty quiet. I have heard nothing from my Brother-in-Law in Detroit since before Game One.

that's it

That's one

Pablo Sandoval proved that his triple in the All Star game was no fluke. If he keeps circling the bases like that, he may take off some of those extra pounds folks seem to be concerned about?

I have to admit I didn't see the entire game. I had another place to be so I left the house at the end of the 3rd inning. I returned in time to see the final our. In between times I had to settle for updates by others.

 Tonight it will be more of the same, only earlier. I wish they played day games. Oh well, unless they speed the game up somehow, I will get to see more of the final innings tonight.

Go Giants!

It is not nearly as calm here as this post may make it appear. I watched way too many games this season and watched the team scratch and claw, at times, their way to the top of the Western Division. I know better than to base the outcome of this series on the basis of the score from one game. The Tigers are a fine team who also had to fight their way to the top of their division.

somebody's going to win it all

Did I overdo it?

I guess I was fairly excited about how the Giants have come back from the brink of elimination...

 ...twice!!!

You might think, from reading this blog, I am one of their greatest fans. I will grant that I am a pretty big fan. But not nearly as big a fan as my friend Marty Bossetti. Three constants about Marty: cribbage, fishing, and the Giants. The Giants are at the top. You could tell because he always wore his Giants hat (unless he had his 49er hat). The best thing to ever happen for Marty was the 2010 Giants season, when they won the whole shebang. Marty wasn't just a fan during baseball season. He was a year-round fan. Marty had a stroke and died last summer. The church was filled at his memorial service.

He played and coached youth baseball in this area for years. I can't help but think, at some moments during these last two playoff series, Marty's been helping out his favorite team.

There are several other friends who think the same.

we miss ya Marty

Here we go

The 1960 SF Giants were called the Cardiac Kids, partly because it was uphill from the parking lot, but mostly because of the way they would rally to win at the end of ball games They have nothing on this year's team. This year the team has taken it to a different level.
I'm not sure what's more satisfying as a fan... winning the Division Series and League Series after being one game away from elimination, or running away from the Dodgers at the end of the regular season.
Oh, wait... yes I do. Beating the Dodgers tops just about everything. 
This year has been a whole lot more fun than 2010 because I have watched about 90% of the games (not to mention being able to attend two of them). Two years ago I didn't see much of the playoffs or the World Series because we were away from home a good portion of the time and access to a television wasn't always available. But I was no less excited.
Sitting in the recliner last night watching it rain all over everyone was almost as uncomfortable as being there.

Now it's on to the World Series and the Detroit Tigers. We play the first two games at home, but face a pretty darn good, well rested pitching staff.

What makes it even more interesting is I have a bet with my brother-in-law that whoever loses has to wear the championship t-shirt from the winning team in public and post pictures to prove it. This is not something I ordinarily do... bet, I mean. I wear t-shirts all of the time. I'm not even sure what it says on most of them.

Then there's Marco "Blockbuster" Scutaro!

A real class act.

Believe!

The debate we're watching

What is that stuff?

There's been no rain here for like six months
Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but not by much
The NWS says there's be a trace since June 30, just 12 inches since the beginning of the year
Right now it is raining cats and dogs
Cats for sure, because I just saw the first cat in months strolling stalking across my deck
It's cold, too
Until Friday it has been in the upper 80s or above since the last rain
Right now it's 50 ...even colder in the mountains, where they've been told to expect snow

There's been no rain here for like six months
Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but not by much
The NWS says there's be a trace since June 30, just 12 inches since the beginning of the year
Right now it is raining cats and dogs
Cats for sure, because I just saw the first cat in months strolling stalking across my deck
It's cold, too
Until Friday it has been in the upper 80s or above since the last rain
Right now it's 50 ...even colder in the mountains, where they've been told to expect snow
it's more like a spring storm

I received an email from a friend in Yuba City that they've had some tornados and golf ball size hailstones little while ago.

Pardon me while I exhale slowly

One more time the team from San Francisco showed they have what it takes when the chips are down. This time Vogelsong pitched a masterful game for seven innings before turning it over to the bullpen.
Son now the Giants have won five straight elimination games (3 in Cincinnati, 1 in St Louis and, now, 1 at home). Tonight they go for number six with the Horse (Matt Cain) on the mound.

 

Sergio Romo

More torture.

love it!

You'll have to take my word for it

The other day Craig reminded me of half an adage...  

Red sky at night, sailor's delight.

The other half is...

Red sky at morning, sailor take warning

There has been much excitement for almost a week now at the local TV stations because their fancy computers are telling them it's going to rain either tonight or tomorrow, and maybe on Tuesday and Wednesday.

What you'll have to take my word for is that I actually took the photo this morning.

beats hearing about the politicians

I was prepared to write a post about the great run the Giants have had this year ...or at least how they dodged one to get another chance at home. But Barry Zito pretty much dominated the Cards for the seven and two-thirds innings he pitched and the Giants played a perfect game behind him while taking full advantage of the one mistake on the part of St Louis.
He said it was his "best game ever." I have to go along with that assessment.

I was also prepared to go looking for a Tigers cap I have somewhere in the garage. It'll keep.

glad they play the games one at a time

Some catching up

More like goofing off...

I missed an opportunity to capture the high for the day. When's this stuff gonna end?

Yesterday was a repeat.

This kid is pretty darn sharp

In our town V

[click to enlarge] 

The last of the memorial.

didn't skip IV, just didn't title it

Monday evening I stepped out to move the garden hose and was greeted by this image.

That's about as close to rain as we've had lately.

draggin' In Our Town out

More on reading

Yesterday I referred to the current book I am reading ...and have been reading for over a month. That should tell you something about it already. It's not exactly a page turner. I really like 1491. 1493 not so much, but I will finish it. The reference to Atlas Shrugged gives that away to those who've been following for awhile. I guess I want to read something that will hold my interest. The details of scientific research just bore me. The results I can handle. So if the author tells me at the end of this book that Christopher Columbus is responsible for global warming, I will probably have to accept it.

As most of you know, I don't comment much on what I'm reading. GS will tell you I read almost anything ...even junk mail [that's true]. Some books, even non-fiction, I can almost inhale. Others, I might not even pick up for a day or so... even when there's not much else to occupy my interest [and there are pictures]. What you read above ...in the first paragraph ...is about as close to a book review as you will get from me. That said, don't think for a minute that what's presented in 1493 is uninteresting. That's not the case. There's just too much to absorb.

There are still some more shots from the Memorial in out town:

magic tree remover

This & That

I will admit to setting up posts as much as weeks in advance using the the handy scheduler provided by Blogger.
What's irritating is when something I've included in one of those posts disappears before the post is available to followers (ie., the deer crossing video in Saturday's post).

Craig wrote about keeping up with technology yesterday. I was going to comment, then realized I had nothing to add... other than he and Suldog are younger than I. I'm not sure what that has anything to do with anything.

Speaking of Suldog...

The Brighton Pensioner and Mrs Pebbles have returned from France, where he filled his boots with wine [there's no need to correct my interpretation of what you posted, Brian. I know exactly what you meant. The chain is fully yanked].

The weather around here can't quite manage the changeover from summer... or maybe it has and I just don't remember it being this warm. OTOH, it's been cooling down nicely in the evenings.

I've been reading 1493, a sequel to 1491. I am enjoying it almost as much as I enjoyed reading Atlas Shrugged ...yawn.

Nothing has changed on the GS issue. That's a good thing. We're still on schedule for surgery "sometime after November 1."

sports on TV sucked yesterday

In our town III

Opposite the Wall of Honor is a general memorial wall  and some benches for those who wish to meditate.

Guess what?

 Friday the 13th is on Saturday this month.

it's been awhile, huh?

In our town II

One of the first things you notice in the memorial is the Wall of Honor.

It honors all veterans, both living and dead.

there are only a few spots left

I was kinda swetting it on Sunday night

...and I still had some doubts on Tuesday.
But, as the song goes, "I'm a believer."

In our town

Once upon a time there was a pizza parlor here. It burned and the empty shell was a blight. Slowly... ever so slowly the street is being upgraded. A couple of years ago one of the members of the City Council had an idea, formed a committee, acquired the property, and got permission to create a permanent memorial.

 more tomorrow

Missed it by this much

I looked out and saw how the sunrise was treating the clouds. Then I realized the camera was behind the seat in the car. By the time I grabbed the camera the opportunity was gone.

oh crap

About time

Makes it a let easier to lie in, particularly when it's still dark.

This 'n that

So... this morning I did sleep in... almost to 7:15am.
Is it ironic that there was a time when it would have seemed an impossibility for me to be up at that time ...unless I hadn't been to bed yet?
In any event, I slept about a half hour longer than usual and almost two hours later than yesterday.

Speaking of yesterday, there was a really good turnout for the breakfast. But there were times when it seemed like time had stood still and the morning would never end.

The BP and Suldong are off on holiday.
The BP  (Brighton Pensioner) is wine shopping in France from his headquarters at a wide spot in the road somewhere in the Loire Valley. Another blogger has decided it best to call BP's wife Mrs. Pebbles, rather than refer to her by the moniker BP uses. I might just follow suit.
Who knows where Sully went with HIS WIFE.
I bring this up because I know it means a slight adjustment to how I interact with the Blogosphere. Sully won't have any posts until he returns and the BP is recycling some other posts so I won't necessarily comment on his posts unless someone else says something that stirs the pot.

it takes little to stir the pot

Guess what

Today is the first Sunday so it's time for the monthly breakfast at the Frontier Senior Center.

wish I was sleeping in

Somebody pushed RESET

Yesterday we were all set to drive to Sacramento on Tuesday to have GS admitted to the hospital for surgery on Wednesday.

That was pending the outcome of a comprehensive dental exam and some follow-up lab tests. The lab tests were at noon, dental exam at 3:30. No problem. Oh wait, the dentist office received a phone call for GS, telling her to go for a CT scan up at the hospital (it's on a hill) when finished at the dentist. The lab tests detected a lowered red blood count. Meanwhile the dentist is determining that there is much to do before it is safe to risk having surgery. The dental work will require a number of visits so the surgeon's office has delayed the surgery until November 1st at the earliest.

The dental visit finished sometime near 6pm. Yeah, late. By this time I had joined GS and her daughter and we traipsed over the river and up the hill to be met by a mountain of paperwork to be completed before we'd get anywhere near the CT scan. Even before that there was a brief wait. Then there was a wait at radiology while some emergency was handled. The scan itself didn't take too long. But then there was another wait while the information was analyzed by an outside consultant the hospital uses when their own docs aren't available. Finally a tech came out and told us, unofficially, that no abnormalities had been detected. He also said we would probably hear this officially from our own doc before the evening was over. Then there was more paperwork, an offer of a disk of the images (if we wanted), and we left a little bit after 8pm. We we got home the light on the answering machine was blinking. There were two messages. The first was inconsequential compared to the second from the cardiologist in Sacramento. He said there was nothing to be concerned about and that we would probably hear from the surgeon next week.

sheesh

Potpourri

We have a plant in the front of the house.

It has one flower.

I think it's called a butterfly bush?

There's finally been a break in the temperatures. Yesterday it was only 86 and rumor has it that we won't get out of the 70s today. I think we can live with that. I went for some lab tests this morning and was almost sorry I wore shorts and a t-shirt (key word almost).

Those were routine lab tests. I have to have them every time I ask for a prescription renewal. Most times it only takes a couple of minutes. This morning it took longer because the system the lab uses was having printer difficulties because of a recent software update. I had to wait an hour and a half before I had my first cup of coffee.

hate it when that happens

One more thing ...or two

I posted all of the pictures I took at the reunion we went to last week the link is here. It's also well down the left sidebar.

Also on the left sidebar is a link to May's Meanderings. I don't know how one man can do so much ...unless he's better organized than I. And he's a good read, too.

I'm sure you've been waiting for this

Watch this for awhile. Then, maybe you may get an inkling of what's in my head right now.

 

http://xkcd.com/1116/

Don't jump to any conclusions, please.

All of the tests went well ...maybe even better than expected. But the fact remains there will still have to be a major surgery and it will be sooner rather than later. Next week, if everything remains as scheduled we will drive down to Sac on Tuesday (again!) for admitting and prep and the surgery will be on Wednesday. It will be followed by a week to ten days in the hospital and a long recovery at home. If anyone was to ask me, I would tell them that I don't really think it is a coincidence that GS's oldest daughter has moved in with us this summer. It's a blessing ...and she even washes my car.

Are you watching those lights?

yeah it's really not a fun time

Boat pr0n

Only don't call them boats because boats are submarines.

As we were having lunch at a place in Coronado, the USS Boxer motored by. The shipmate who made all of the arrangements for this year's reunion told us it only cost him $47,000 to arrange it (HSWHTPFIHC).

screen capture of a video he made

Off to Sac this morning. Will update if possible.