Return of The Whirly

 ( the missing cat, Mike's B/d, of Pumpkins,Bluegrass spiders,turtles, a Rose and a Beach Boy)

3 months without a Wurlitzer! The jukebox was our first piece of  ?furniture in our house before Past Perfect took it away to clean and get it to working order again.  I didn't realize nor did they provide an estimate that the jukebox would be gone that long. As the only place to fix jukeboxes, what can you do? Wait, and hope, and wait.  The day it came back 10/3/14  Lightning our boy cat slipped out the back gate. My guess is that curious, he was near the opening, and was spooked when the guy from Past Perfect lumbered the jukebox in). Lightning would be gone for 3 days.

    Once I realized that Lightning was out of the house for the first time and not hiding inside (the jukebox makes a lot of mechanical hissing and switching sounds, the speakers are near the ground, with the bass rumbling off the floors), I went searching for him. By foot, by bike. The usual lure of shaking food bags, or opening a can of food did not bring him in.  Was he hurt? Did he- with fright of a passing car, take errant shelter falling into a storm drain?.  I felt ill and saw the jukebox as symbol of this horrible turn. Since we moved into this home, Lightning had become extremely affectionate and now on my watch, he was gone.  This great day off to welcome the Whirly before heading out to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass was now not such a good day.

Lightning's sister, Thunder makes a friend

dopey sweet boy

neighbor's nice pumpkin work. we miss our old Halloween ritual and our crowd of friends. It wasn't until the night before Halloween did we decide to spend it in Alameda. Our apologies is we left anyone waiting on us!

Thunder as rabbit

Lou and 2 friends

Mike's Birthday (and Kevin's too) 11/8 on Hibbard  Thanks for visiting! It was great to have Mike, Hingee (bro,sis) and Kevin (nephew) out to spend a day. The warm sun  was with us too, as well as the discovery of  a whole lot of white flies in the back yard.!

King of the Dorks

Proud of our writer. In her element. 'nuff said.

Oliver and I spent a day at the beach, by way of bicycles. It's easy riding on this island., yeah. 

Dr. Ralph Stanley and Band

Emmylou to close

 Although I missed all of Friday, we went to HSB  both Saturday and Sunday; Saturday morning we took turns searching for Lightning- without any positive results  Maria posted Lost signs. Our listening path was not very ambitious this year; just wanting the music to carry us forward and to lift our spirits.  Dexter, working at Sota met us later in the afternoon.  It's a real sweet deal, this Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.  People are kind and friendly and although some places are very crowded, you can find a place to listen and to relax.

  Sunday night when we came back home- around 9:30, Dext and I headed to the back yard. More hopeful, than probable. What else could we do?  Something bolted out from the shadows onto our back porch and as his figure crossed into the path of a streetlight; it was him!   Lightning returns! Maria and Oliver didn't believe me when i ran inside but when they saw the very thirsty, very hungry cat- we four were a sappy sight.  I was expecting to feel a happiness on Friday and that didn't happen but here it was Sunday night, and everything I wanted that I could have, was all around me.

the return of Lightning

Maria with her uke, and our temporary? house guest, Minnie Meow

I have a program to make the song strips for the jukebox and it's easy to use,  It's fun switching out records and looking through 45's in record stores. Although I thought Jack's Record Cellar was long closed, it's still open on Saturdays!  It took about 2 weeks before we started using the jukebox- just keeping the house quiet until all the cats had calmed down  The total bill was about $440 for the old Whirly, $400 for the deposit (work, pick up) and another $400 for the rest of the work and it's return.  

Aint That Peculiar

     The Giants just won their third World Series, in five years. This of course is very fresh in all of our collective memories, just two days removed from the parade and rally at City Hall.  I am completely puzzled as this team that I grew up with, hoping to witness one World Series win before my expiration date has turned into +2.  Really? Really?  Absolutely giddy.  When at work and my energy seems to wane or my irritation increases, my co-worker leans over and reminds, "the Giants just won the World Series" and I feel better, fortified, willing to forgive. I want to dance. I want to sing.

     Just for memories sake, the Giants ran through Pittsburgh in a one game Wild Card elimination, heartily crushing the Pirates 9-0 (Bumgarner, Brandon Crawford grand slam) while the A's lost a heartbreaker after entering the 8th inning with a 7-3 lead behind their ace- to the Royals, a team that barely made it to the playoffs but a team we would find to never give up.

     Moving on to play the top ranked Washington Nationals, led by former Giant Matt Williams in his first year as skipper, the Giants succeeded by their pitching Jake Peavy, MadBum, Ryan Vogelsong, Tim Hudson, all pitched well and especially the entire bullpen, notably Yusmeiro Petit who came into a tied, stressful extra inning game and threw 6 shutout innings in an 18 inning game. This was the longest game ever for a playoff and the Giants were down to their last out losing 1-0 with two outs in the top of the ninth inning.  Joe Panik coaxed a tough walk and Jordan Zimmerman was pulled from the game. Buster Posey greeted the reliever with a single and Pablo Sandoval scorched a double driving in Panik and nearly Posey, who was out at home.  Then the tension built for another nine innings until Brandon Belt homered in the 18th and Hunter Strickland survived the bottom of the 18th.  This might have been the game that the Giants could look to, as evidence that they could overcome any obstacles to in their path.

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
T Hudson	7.1	7	1	1	0	8	0	97-69	1.23
J Machi	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	7-5	0.00
J Lopez	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	3-2	0.00
S Romo	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	12-8	0.00
J Affeldt	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	15-8	0.00
S Casilla	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	11-6	0.00
Y Petit (W, 1-0)	6.0	1	0	0	3	7	0	80-46	0.00
H Strickland (S, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	29-18	9.00
Totals	18.0	9	1	1	4	20	0	254-162

I'm not sure who the hitting stars of this series were:  Buster had some timely singles but the Giants scored many runs (it seemed) through various unique methods of tiny, small ball (ground outs, walks, errors, sacrifice flies, grounders, double plays).

Game 5 was a narrow 3-2 victory (shades of Game 7 of the World Series!) with Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla closing out the 8th and 9th innings.

On to the favored St.Louis Cardinals, who have appeared in the last 4? NLCS, and 2 of the last 3 World Series.  The Royals in the meantime swept the #1 Angels in 4 games, and would also sweep the Baltimore Orioles as well.

The Giants win this series in five games in very grand fashion with Travis Ishikawa, our left fielder? crushing a three run home run at AT&T Park in the bottom of the 9th, a game where we needed a pinch hit HR by Michael Morse to tie this in the 8th inning. See here:  Glorious Ending To A Great Series And then the Royals, to 7 games.  Each team seeming to take the momentum, similar teams, and a well played series the way baseball should be played.  It's rare with sport full of so many great athletes when you witness one player who is clearly playing better than anyone on the field and in this series, this was Madison Bumgarner.  His performance will always be a point of reference for anyone who pitches in the World Series and then there is this article: Bum Horse   This series was so close, it at times felt that the Giants could lose.  After all the Royals played the game right and were fighters.  We needed to know so after game 2, Oliver did the pop up test. That is, I threw a ball about as high as I could- if it was caught, the Giants would win this World Series.  A nervous amount of time as the ball seemed to stay airborne for much too long ended up in our hands.  To be sure we tossed a second ball, and if this was dropped, Royals would lose a close series.  This ball met the hard pavement after a valiant effort by young Valiant.  Well, you got to believe in something.! After Bumgarner, Jeremy Affeldt, Panda, Pence, the Giants won with defense and tremendous  bullpen work (although Strickland gave up a record # of home runs).  Nods to a great DP by Panik, Crawford and Belt in game 7. I was nervous and without doubt, this would effect my year, my life and goodwill. That's not right but it's truthful.  Because Dexter was working on the Wall at Sota, and Maria wanted to be around to pick him up, the only games we were able to enjoy together was the clincher vs. St. Louis (huddled around a radio) and game five v. the Royals (Bumgarner's complete game shut out).  Oliver and I watched and listened (radio is about 5-10 seconds faster) with Maria before Ri took off to get Dext.  Game 7 was incredibly tense.  I promise to enjoy the game from more of a distance next year.  However, what a great team and Thank you Giants!! Bumgarner rode in a large pick up truck Bruce Bochy's family bus

TOM

  

Hootenanny!  A party that left us satisfied and happy occurred around these parts October 12 when nephew Tom married his dear Samantha. Seemingly a busload of little kids and many of our family were present to celebrate this grand event.  The once goofy little guy who would wander along the street in his own little world of Star Trek, wrestlers, and who knows what is ready to be the ultimate partner.   It's reassuring to know that now he can still go into his own world but now not alone with Sam who may join (or not) but with their two little ones who will surely participate. The Captain has his crew.

     Jeremiah, everyone's best man, delivered his role admirably with stories about his brother and the importance of our family in Tommy and now Samantha's lives.  Jay relayed a memory of  Maria's of when Tom was about 8 and came to visit us in San Francisco. After departing a Bart Station on Market Street, Tom was impressed at how great San Francisco because " there are movies for only 25 cents!!  We have to go there".  That's our guy.

      Tom is a survivor. 10? years ago a big truck ran him over and the banged the boy very seriously. His own rock solid recovery proved that it takes more than a truck to stop Tom's determination and we are so glad he stuck around.  Additionally heartened that Dexter was asked to be part of the wedding party as usher, which Dext performed his task well. 22 years ago Tom was in our wedding party; rolling a carpet that Kathy made, along with young Bob. To invite Dexter participate in Tom and Samantha's big day made us even happier.

      I am reassured when i see these faces as I have known them all these years as beautiful people, and I am proud to see them grow and mature, making their own decisions and following/ finding their own paths. There is great pride I feel for all and this day most of all it was for Tommy.  You are a good man, Tom Dempsey.

      The Giants were a part of the wedding with score updates, an exciting game (even though they lost to the Cardinals).  As this was the only game lost in the series, Tom can take solace (and humor) that this was that game,in a winning year. Makes his day stand out even more; not the norm. Unique.