Like Lawrence Brown, Oliver's Band Concert

 
      Oliver's band concert led by his instructor, Mr. Reiss was kind of nice. These shows can be painful filled with out of tune violin strings  searching for one note for a long time, but not here. Adding the theme from Jurassic Park in the program was an appealing touch.  Oliver's progression with his trombone playing, as unlikely as a chosen instrument considering its bulk, is admirable. I write this even though he ignored my pre-concert encouragement to yell "solo" and then play for 20 minutes.

    Academically the boys are in a good place with really good grades, better now than ever. I even tried to talk down some of Oliver's teachers at his parent-teacher open conferences asking if a line of citizenship grades (S,O,S) was code for help or in one case if "O" stood for "ouch".  Although we may not have chosen to place one of those bumper stickers that seem to imply we have a honor student, you do not, we were happy that he was proud to have earned one and without asking, immediately placing it on the car.  I told him that I would alter the word "honor" to "horror".
     
         

Can you find Oliver? last row of players, second from the back..don't look up.

watching the bigger kids play their set and sitting with his buddy. they were being silly most of the time

And from public file photo: Harbor seals that we have in Alameda. They like to sit at an abandoned pier and when its sunny and warm, of which it hasn't been for some time, there are dozens. Harbor seals are smaller, rounder, cuter than their sleeker sea lion cousins. The next photos are where the harbors congregate and one curious fellow who swam up to near where we were to check us out, craning it's head to look at Maria and Dexter, then back to me.

Alameda

Hi!



Took Oliver to see the Harlem Globetrotters and he had a lot of fun. I can see how the Trotters could conceivably lose a game once in awhile; that to allow them the energies of their shenanigans they do not play defense at all. The other team that plays them does try to make their own shots, and seem to be allowed to rebound once (after that the ball must go back to the Globetrotters).  If the Globetrotters miss their fancy shots (which they did to a large extent at this game) and some ill will is generated (not likely as teams do not block shots) the other team might might refuse to participate when they receive the cue to turn the ball over and play the buffoon.  Still, as a 90 year tradition and pure fun for the kids, it still works.

Dexter's disco room

Oliver refers to me as "Chub-O" or "Chub Chub". I call him "Chub Chub Jr."

Shoes on the ground

 Dear Dexter and Oliver,

I hope you guys never take Dr. King and the Civil Right movement for granted; as recently that in my lifetime it was illegal for interracial marriage in some of our United States (California struck down this law in 1948)- all the way up until 1967.  In other ways that some citizens are treated are separate and unequal was an accepted  practice, and still exists today.

    It's not just about about a dream, but more specifically a vision of what could be, what should be and honestly, what isn't.  So many good people,of different nationalities and gender placed their feet on the ground and walked to places they were not welcome, but had every right to visit- and many paid a bitter price for doing so.  I can't imagine resisting peacefully while hate filled folks struck you and those you cared for with pipes, spat on you, yelled at you.  This no longer will be or can be the way of today.  That was the decade of the pass; in that we will suffer from your blows in our nonviolent protest until it awakens the conscience of the country we share to bring us to a greater good.  If these lessons have not been learned, the future response will not be nonviolent.

     Our United States did learn from the Civil Rights movement but now as rogue police continually kill defenseless citizens and either are released from responsibility or with only minimal punishment, mistrust and divisions are created in our communities.  There is no better than a good police officer but nothing worse than a bad one.

     Some of the great leaders of the movement still exist among us and we can remember their courage and honor their sacrifices; Congressman John Lewis, Diane Nash are two individuals that continue to inspire. Dr. King died much too young, and I feel a little unsettled when his memory is simplified as just a dream and a holiday.  The call for days of service, movies like Selma are worthwhile efforts if we embrace them their meaning.  Some people strive for these values everyday and I am grateful for knowing them.  I hope too that you guys will seek to do the right thing, not just what benefits yourselves. When you see injustice, you will find a way to make it right. Be smart; protect yourselves and your family but don't look the other way. Be empathetic, care, and act.  I have confidence that you will.

Love,
Dad

Loose Ends

Project that the boys made for me. Note the craft, precision and design with Dexter's. And the crushing humor of Oliver's.  

public photo of Buster Posey among Penguins!!

           

Ken of U-Lee, our old favorite restaurant on Hyde/Jackson (nod to the Bell Tower)

the big purple chair at the Bell 

Demo: dork playing with Dexter's laser light

a photo Oliver took that he wanted to share

big 'ol mug

old pics with Dexter

cat on a ladder

brother and sister mid day snooze

Tule Elk

    Late last year enjoying the beauty of Limantour Beach at night, I was surprised (and frightened) by the majestic appearance of two Tule Elk that appeared out the mist and darkness onto the trail before me. They too were alarmed by presence. A stare down, although as I recall, mine was prefaced with an "oh shit!", as I thought that the sounds I was hearing from the surrounding bush were rabbits. The elk much more formidable than I weren't too threatened by my cowering (my head could see the back of my ankles) and as quickly as they had darted in, they were, with gallant leaps, gone.

   The population of the elk had nearly disappeared from 500,000 in California to just 28- not 28,000 but 28 by the late 1800's. Today, the once nearly extinct population has repopulated to 4,300, spread throughout California to 25 herds. Point Reyes benefited by an addition of a small herd from San Luis Obispo in 1978. These elk took well to their new protected surroundings (Point Reyes is the only national park with tule elk) and their numbers grew to over 500.  Unfortunately since 2012, the population has decreased to just under 300, due to poor water management/drought and property lines claimed by the farmers reducing the available water supplies to the elk.

    In the area near Pierce Point Ranch, freely roaming elk can be found within the 4.5 mile trek (mostly uphill).  We found them within 2 miles of the misty, lovely vistas and impressive was this sightly. Both lovely and serene. I wondered where the big males were and Dexter later said that they were near me (near as a relative term but we weren't close enough to startle or threaten the elk. If the elk move away from you, then this is when you should know that you are too close), beneath the hill that I was standing.  Dexter counted about 35.  It is interesting to note that the distance between Pierce Point and Limantour Beach is nearly 9 miles. Tule Elk live only in Califronia.

public file photo

 

It's The End Of The Middle

   Holidays were nice. I had time to shop. A lot of time really. A great stress reducer. Awesome. Always some concern about not getting the boys enough/getting them too much/what the hell to get them??. That worked out too. Always admired the Cupps Christmas, and so we just want to follow their lead, leading with love and backing this with stuff. In a small house, it's difficult finding places to hide big things. Maria's desk in Oliver's closet. Dexter's desk tucked way under Oliver's bed (necessitating lifting the bed with a sleeping Oliver in it on Christmas eve to drag the item out) and Oliver's WiiU was fortunately easy to hide.

   And we stayed home for the first time making for a very relaxed lazy day.  Missed roommate/ neighbor/ niece Cailin! A visit by Sis, Traci and Kevin, and Ryland made for a good break in the middle of the day.
Brother Mike made it out later the next evening.

   New Years (30th/31st) we went to Santa Cruz, staying at the now expensive (but still fun at least) Beach Street Inn where we had a cool view of the beach, a kitchen and a bathroom where the boys and I could create the death scene of Spock from the second Star Trek movie. Have to say that as good as Dexter was as Kirk, Ollie as cameraman, that guy that played Spock...really aced the gig.  They only agreed to do it if we did the bit in one take, although we had to do two because they messed up the first one.

   A friendly family of seemingly ten were in the next room to us, and they had a great time, were too considerate of us for we spent 12/31 inside. I couldn't roost the family out of the room- at least we were able to wake up Maria!  Time at the arcade, in the water day and night and observing with great admiration the sea lions along the pier.

   Subsequently the rains have been somewhat heavy and it's been cold at night, and the energy bills...well, it's always good to have something to work on.  Over the break we were able to catch up with various friends and family and for this I am always grateful.  Also watched a Doctor Who Christmas episode, "Last Christmas".  Best wishes for a solid 2016 everybody!

tug of war with Ryland

kooky by catnip

Maria wanting NO part in Dexter's creative gift wrapping for his brother

Brother's reaction,  This is very inappropriate.

 

And dolphins! (maybe Orcas)

Will the kidding ever cease?

Wearing my Hero / Zero t-shirt on Christmas Day