DeAndre and his Grandfather - David.
Labor Day Weekend – A Study in Contrasts
Well, here we are with another week, and another double post. It sounds appropriate. Double post brings on images of Pau Gasol on the left side and Andrew Bynum on the right both ready and positioned to receive the ball from either Derrick Fisher or Lamar Odom. But, though I hate to digress, I must because this double post is not quite the same as the million dollar front court for the Lakers. This double post is the product of a holiday weekend and the weekend after. Perhaps if I could actually count correctly, I’d notice that there are, in fact, three posts here - two for the Labor Day weekend (Saturday and the Monday after); and the following weekend. Holiday weekends are great, I know that is not a profound statement, but one that is pretty obvious. But, one cannot deny that pleasure of having that extra day of tagged onto your weekend.
One day blistering with the sun and elevated temps; the other day, cool and laid back.
It was indeed a terrific weekend and there’s always a bit of a letdown the day after a weekend. But, after leaving a holiday weekend fading distant in the rear view mirror, a visit to the local head-shrinker is often in order to defeat that certain drudgery about returning to work the next day. Would you agree that the better the weekend the harder the work day that follows? I guess these days; one should count ones blessings that one has a job. But, still there’re those unavoidable doldrums. That’s the great thing about having a memory boost about the good times. Never fear minions, for here reside a few pictures of some of the good times you felt during that blessed break. Coupled with a little bit of questionable commentary and it’s like you’re back in the weekend again - sweating profusely and longing for a shower, aspirin and a good chiropractor (maybe I should I just speak for myself).
Saturday Sunshine and the Heat is On – September 4, 2010
This Heat has nothing to do with the Miami Heat, LeBron James or any “Decision” that I or others are about to make. I’m talking about real heat here, elevated temperatures, blazing sun, blistering feet and speedy youngsters. Of course and unfortunately, I was not one of the speedy youngsters to which I refer, but one of the over-heated, sweaty, aspirin lusting chiropractor patients disguising myself as a actual b-baller. But despite the heat, the turnout on Saturday was surprisingly robust. There were over twenty people that showed up. Most to play ball, but a few blessed souls came out to watch friends and family. We had the family groups show up; like Victor, Zach, Zach’s friend and the WBA mascot – Lilo; and then there was, Raphael, DeAndre, DeAndre’s brother and then Deandre’s granddad – David. Then there were the friend groups; Matt, Ike, Mike and Mike (this grouping may be a little contrived for poetic license); then, there were just the individual friends like: Bill (the Commish), Joe, Roy (the Judge), Tony, Jason, Tony, Scott, Ben, Steve, Shane, Kenny (aka Holiday), Sager and a few others. A little over twenty people braved the heated courts of the Chaparral. And, as we all know twenty folks equal two courts of play. So, there was more playing than sitting. But, I’m sure for many sitting in the shade may have been the preference after the temp on the court reached into the triple digits.
Being that it was a holiday weekend; the courts inspired our good friend Kenny to grace us with his presence and his “skills”. He is soon to be known as “Holiday”, cause when it’s a holiday weekend he magically appears. Somehow he doesn’t miss a beat even with the sporadic appearances. I guess that what it means when you’ve got – “skills”. DeAndre and his brother ran us all into the ground with speed and their boundless energy. Oh, those days of youth, I remember them well……..
Scott pulled or bruised his ankle and left in crutches, but will hopefully heal quickly and return.
One of our newcomers - Mike.Steve called it on Saturday. He gets the credit for being on top of the weather forecasts. I will be calling, or emailing him when there may be a doubt, and taking to his weather proclamations. Cause, he hit the nail right on the head with his Monday morning forecast. He said that there would be about a twenty degree swing in the temperature, and low and behold – it was true. There must have been a twenty degree shift in temperatures between Saturday and Monday mornings. It felt like dropping out of the desert into some sort of mountain range. Like stumbling into a entirely new season of cool breezes and cloudy skies. It reactivated my Pacific Northwest memory cells and re-invigorated me for the mornings activities. I couldn’t have played ball again if the temperature hadn’t shifted. But it did and I did. I had a great time with some of the best guys in Southern Cal.
However, as it is often with the second clip of the holiday weekend, the turnout was slow in coming on Monday morning. But, like the ball running down hill increases in speed as it gets close to the bottom, folks started to come out of everywhere after the first game got started. The first game was so sparse it started as a four on four venture. It was concluded with the more familiar five-on-five format.
Probably the biggest surprise of the day was that there was no Holiday. You may pause and exclaim with great verve, “No Holiday, what are you talking about?” Well, I mean Holiday didn’t show up. You know, “Holiday”. Okay for those of you that are bit slow witted, I mean Kenny didn’t show up. Now, this could be grounds for a citation form the Commissioner, but the problem was that the Commissioner didn’t show up either.
Danny'd daughter on Labor Day biking.....
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