The Once-in-a-While

Daily News

1  First, a huge congratulation to the entire Dub nation. What a game, and what a finish!

2  Still spinning.

3  I have this pho restaurant I enjoy up here in Sac, and the guy who works there is a huge Warriors' fan. Every now and again I like going in and boushitting with him. 

4  It's funny, because Sacramento pho places open and close at odd times. This one opens at 11 a.m. Some close at like 2:30 in the afternoon. 

5  If you get in a little after 11, you get a hot, fatty broth that is to die for. To me, it was the perfect landing for a post-game
morning. While enjoying my pho, I read an article by Anthony Slater of the the Merc News about Kevin Durant's first three hours as a world champion. 

6  Evidently, every Warrior player was given a bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne as they walked off the court. Slater then shadowed KD for the next three hours, gathering names of who he was talking to. He reported that Durant got pretty blitzed, and then kept getting moved from one area of the Arena to the next. Kind of a lousy gig for a sports' reporter.

7  By the time I began writing this, I didn't have much other news, except to say that night was magical, and a lot of fun for all of us. Thanks Dubs, we love it!!!

8  I began this piece on Monday, which meant I had to start on item 7 above. I left lots of room for all the stories that were sure to pour in on the Warriors. Never really happened. Got busy, and it all just sort of stopped. So my breaking story is that there IS no breaking story. Oh. They might not visit the White House. I hope the guy with the long red tie doesn't see that as a snub. Does anybody care?

9  Moving On, Part One: It's funny how we are all time-traveling these days.

10  Facebook does that. It has stuff like "Six Years Ago Today" tempting you to post. So you DO, but you might be commenting on something someone said six years ago, right?

11  A few days ago we had some movie on that was starting from how it ended and moved backward. I had a GREAT walking day, so I didn't pay too much attention; I was more interested in walking around and gathering mileage. In the process, I learned the fine art of recognizing backshadowing. 

12  Never had to teach that one. 

13  Moving On, Part Two: We've been having a bit of landscape work going on for a while now, so when I woke up Monday morning and saw nobody here, I was a bit confused. I had some guy coming out to put up an espalier. I'm not really sure what that is. I think it's some sort of plant rack that they don't want to call a plant rack because "plant rack" doesn't sound as sexy as "espalier."

14  Ever notice that anything you buy that sounds remotely French can get marked up 50 percent?

15  I never took French, so I easily got suckered into that one.

16  I thought of calling the guy and asking, "Hey, Pierre, when's my plant rack goin' up?"

17  I wonder what he'd say?

18  No matter. It turned out to be a piece of lattice with an apple tree planted in front of it. I haven't looked yet, but he probably charged me six hundred bucks for it. The guy is crooked as the day is long. I'm one Yelp piece away from exposing his operation. The guy is clueless. I'll stop short here. Too nice a day, even with the Giants getting their booties kicked. 

19  Moving On, Part Two: We helped Nicole clear out her classroom last week. I kind of enjoyed it. Her classroom is really similar to my classroom at Evergreen Valley, with the sliding whiteboard, the drawers (her paper drawer was in the same exact location mine was), the Expo markers, and all the rest. 

20  I had moments when I got nostalgic about the dumpster. I missed all my custodian friends. Most people don't realize that I would rather go to the dumps than I would Disneyland. I always loved the dumps when I was a kid. As an older fellow, I get great pleasure out of cleaning stuff up and unloading clutter. So I got nostalgic for those last days of school before summer, and tossing everything out. 

21  Then I thought of my upcoming trip to Shasta and it all vanished away. 

22  So much for nostalgia. 

23  I'm going to visit my friends John and Effie, who have a nice little house in Shasta. It has a huge yard, and if you walk outside you see the majesty of Mt. Shasta, almost spiritual in its magnificence.

24  We plan on hiking to a place called Heart Lake. Here is a picture:

25

Heart Lake

26  Looking forward to it.

27  Moving On, Part the Thoid: I love the Brandon/Brandon Summer of Love commercials. Just thought I'd mention that before it all slips past.

28  Moving On, Part Four: Speaking of the Warriors, you might want to record the Warriors championship parade tomorrow morning at 9 on NBC. Better still, cut work and go to the parade. It's a parade. Can't miss. 

29  Can you tell it's been a slow news day? I'm probably going to cut this short. Grammarly must have some new workers who seem to think that every other word I write needs some form of correction. Frankly, I just don't care that much. 

30  Rookies.

31  Moving On, Part Five: I'm sure I've said this before, but it bears repeating. Isn't social media weird? I don't think that the Creator of the Universe ever saw this coming. To me, it isn't normal to be friends with nearly everybody you ever met, because by the time you are my age, you have met more people than you'll ever need. 

32  As a retired teacher, that includes a LOT of former students. Don't get me wrong; I love being in touch with lots of people, and even enjoy jokes, or lighting up smokes.

33  Ah, I guess it is what it is. 

34  So.

35  I get the entire house to myself the next coupla days. Helene is helping Nicole load up her stuff for her upcoming move to Sacramento. It's a pretty emotional thing. I remember helping her get her room ready when she first moved into it. She and her good friend Denise had adjoining rooms, and they worked as a super team. Denise is retiring, so that corner of the school will never be the same. Nicole's room looked out on the school garden, so it was a room with a sort of pretty backyard. 

Capri Garden out Coley's window.

36  Peaceful. 

37  Well.

38  Even though there doesn't appear to be a lot here today, this piece took me forever to finally publish.

39  I might start next week's now.

40  And work on my backshadowing.

41  Anybody lookin'?

42  Gottago.

43  See you again.

44  Have a GREAT rest-of-the day.

46  Live life.

47  Love life.

48  Peace.

fin.