Thanksgiving Report

The best part of the big meal for me is all the choices of vegetables- delicious mushy vegetables! Didn't really get to any turkey but a taste- a taste of the bird that Ria cooked this year. Otherwise, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, sweet potatoes (and marshmallows), carrots, pearl onions, stuffing, salad, cranberry sauces pretty much covered the plate fer me. And pies! Molly's apple, Ann's pumpkin, Mickey's red devil cake. I miss Christmas Eve with the Cupps and as those were special days, Thanksgiving on Ruby Street are times to treasure.
















49'ers lose the HarBowl (both teams coached by brothers Harbaugh) but still at 9-2 with a good reminder that the team needs to work on some deficiencies, not a bad place to be.

Hey! A lot of our family couldn't make it because they had to work- isn't Thanksgiving supposed to be for families to be together? Pretty stupid that companies are making their people work these crazy hours. If the effort behind the marketing of the so called Black Friday was put behind a real day of service, we could achieve great things, and not be seen to be such a wasteful place by the rest of the world.

Dexter got a head start on the weekend by going ice skating with Katie, while Oliver spent the day with me at work. The chilly (for SF) weather lends itself to welcome beds and lazy cats seeking our body warmth. Yes, they might actually like us, too. Family!

Friday a big time production (for the small Benecia Ballet group) of the Nutcracker at the Solano Community College Theater- a cast of over 100! The music played live with a 50 piece orchestra! Of course with a very limited budget, the dancers only had one walk through with the orchestra before the evening's show. Our friends, the Burckins are featured in the play. Maya, expressive and fluid as Clara, Colleen and Hale, Clara's parents in gallant attire danced off stage with only the orchestra playing for them, Eli, versatile in several parts as Mouse King and mischevious brother. Last scene: Clara runs to the arms of her father who brings her comfort, shelter and safety.

Saturday: Dexter continues cat sitting for Bobby and Meredyth and also watching a senior cat (19!) for one of Cai's classmates. A visit with Dad, a change of car oil ( I resisted every upsell) This morning, o'er came the Rhodys' from Chico by way of Santa Clara, on their way to Petaluma. Miles is five months older than Dexter, Maya is four months younger- Dexter bookmarked between them, he has two strong friendships that will endure. Wade, Mile's younger brother is stocky and strong with excellent hand-eye coordination. Wade is very capable with his brother's I-Pod and got a kick out of knocking my baseball caps off the wall. Wade's big brother is very kind big brother, and as happy as we are to see him, he is equally so with us. We've known Lisa and Robert a long time, and I've forgiven Robert for hiring people to hit me over the head with things, years ago.
















Sunday 11/27: The First Annual ChewBowl. Football Fiesta: Dexter&Maria v. Oliver&Brian at the Marina Green. O&B walk off with the victory 35-21. It was mightily contested, followed by dinner at On the Bridge, Japan Town.

just for the Thanksgiving record at Ann and John's 2011: Tim, Eileen and Woody, Tom and Jay (who played keep away with Oliver for hours), and us 4 Chempseys.

The Essence Of It All

This one is very short but it probably says more in two sentences than my ramblings about the Space Family Robinson.

Someday when I grow up I hope to be as truly cool as Dexter and enjoy every moment as Oliver does.



There's no time like now.

TV Parents

There's a point in every nerd's life when they imagine, before they realize how truly cool their parents are, other people as their parental ideal. I, not being a nerd of course was otherwise no different. A father who had heart to heart talks providing guidance and sense to a maddening world =and always with kindness and understanding. A mother who always sympathized, always understood, was protective and ready with love and a hug.

Some of the subtle differences between my real family and my TV ideal is that I always had the time frame of when my TV family would offer up these talks and hugs- once a week at 8pm on CBS. You could watch Batman instead but come on! And my TV parents always had real nice background music in their parental moments while my real parents usually turned the music off when they needed to speak to me.

My TV parents did tend to wear silver jumpers at first but soon comforted me in plush velour garb. I too would later proudly wear my two toned sweatshirt. It may still survive waaay back in a closet.

Professor John Robinson had played Zorro in his previous TV life so he never was far from protecting me and Will from giant plastic crabs and other threats. He did this with a mixture of pseudo karate and a dancing strand of hair. Later when the show became a goofy mockery of what it originally was- the fear of becoming Lost in Space with evil lurking in the guise of Dr.Smith- to a comedy show with giant carrot and lettuce people chasing a very flaming and delightful Dr. Smith as he shrieked and pleaded chewing up scenery as no one has since. I'm not sure if TV Dad/Professor Robinson knew quite how to approach his role when this type of nonsense circled around him. He seemed lost- should I be serious and heroic? should I make funny faces and pratfalls? He was probably relieved not to be on camera. I also can not remember TV Mom/Maureen Robinson ever hitting anyone/thing/carrot. TV Mom was probably stuck on ways to offer hugs in her caring way.

Will, Penny and especially Robot were my best friends at least for an hour a week. Those were good times together although they never showed up for any of my birthdays. One Christmas I received the best Robot toy, which ;ater survived a friends' toss down the stairs. Although the toy company feared that a gray robot wouldn't appeal to the masses so it is oddly bright red and blue. Perhaps my real parents were trying to connect with my TV parents- if so, this still stands as a magic Christmas. I still have him, Robot, 40 plus years later.

There was Major Don West who at one point probably saw this show as a fine oppotunity to become a dashing leading man but he too was lost in the big shadow of Dr. Zachary Smith. And Judy, she was the fairest of them all. Or at least equal to all my TV marriages (before you-know-who and before 1970) Judy (Lost In Space), Mrs. Peel (the Avengers), Elizabeth Montgomery (Bewitched). While a decade later, my fellow fellows followed Marcia (Brady Bunch) as she filmed a Streets of San Francisco- this was different from an 8, 9 years olds' TV marriage. Also, despite what my former comrades will say, Marcia (Maureen McCormick) waved to me.

After three years, my TV parents left me without really saying goodbye. They never made it home, never sent anyone to continue what we had begun together. I didn't see them too often after that- and only once that I can remember together on a Family Feud reunion show. Even then they really didn't speak to me.

But in those years my real parents were always near and if they didn't provide many warm heart to hearts, or hugs, I did know that they would be there to pick me up if I fell. Today even as one has left and the other struggles with weakened legs and uncertain balance, their reach and care for me is a love unspoken. Their legacy is the music I will always feel.



(just for a mark in time> SF has elected mayor in standing, Ed Lee although he is backed strongly and financially by old SF powers brokers-Willie Brown & Rose Pak. Occupy movements -lacking organization but heartfelt as an effort to protest the banks control over all of us and the deep root of this country/ the world's financial crisis. 49'ers are 8-1. Maria and I will meet with Dexter's teacher tomorrow who is unfairly picking on this fine young man. That needs to stop.

Trick or Treat, Circa 2011

Still a blast! Oliver, 7 approaches it as his most important day of work (increased metrics, better flow) and was stoked to get going. Dexter, was on the fence about going- he's feeling older (Dext, once you stop- you won't start again!) but fortunately the afternoon of, he was ready to go too. Dexter wanted to wear the bear outfit again (did two years ago) which is a crazy thing to walk around in, and he did. Although his Dad ended up carrying the head between houses. We went with Anne, Ben and Ellen (Ava was at an school overnight trip) and Sirina, Michael and Zachary. Sirina's first time (she had to work last year) and she decided to go get some candy herself.


This was a fun night for all of us. Dexter managed to wander suited for nearly 90 minutes before retiring for the evening while Oliver was undeterred in his mission. Except for one scary house and in particular a kid who stood frozen as a statue- then suddenly turned in front of Ollie and growled at him. Even in his Captain America outfit, Oliver was terribly frightened. Was it wrong for me to "accidentally" push this other kid over? I think perhaps.





There is a house on California Street between 30th and 31st Avenue where they put on a lively thematic celebration every year. This year they scaled down a bit in the production but the mariachi theme was fun and the music joyful. In year's past, there were more musicians and dancers. Last year was a big New Orleans brass band- and other years- Renaissance, Tango, Eastern Belly Dancers. Come and go as you please but it's a generous show from neighbors never known. I found out that last year was going to be the final year but they reconsidered, scaled down, and went ahead. Thankfully.



The Niners are 6-1. #2 in ESPN's power rankings- a huge surprise. Stanford football wins in triple overtime v. USC. The Cardinals win the World Series v. Texas (Texas loses again) in seven games, saving game six twice- down to their last strike. Incredible win ( with questionable fielding by Texas RF Cruz)! MVP is Freese who grew up in St.Louis. Lance Berkman delivered the tying 2 run hit in the 10th with 2 outs and 2 strikes said that as a child you imagine this situation playing in your backyard but with the pressure of letting down the fans and your teammates after getting a second strike, he felt huge pressure. Although he was able to relax and deliver the big clutch hit, Berkman cautions kids to "be careful for what you wish for".