More summer stuff

Signed up Mike the Allstar and the Chip the Judo Master to swimming classes today at the San Bruno Pool. The Allstar was enrolled in Level 2 and the Judo Master in Level 1. Level 2 entails having the ability to swim 5 yards and Level 1 is getting comfortable with waterl; basic strokes and stuff.
As I sat there watching them go through their paces, it took me back to my own experiences with swimming lessons; way back to that pool on the corner of Hahn and Visitacion in a City by a Bay. I could remember these teenagers, older kids from Wilson High and some from St Elizabeth on their summer jobs, who I believed could have cared less for me learning how to swim. All too busy ogling each other, hormones ablaze.
I went with my older brother, sister, cousin and a couple of other friends. We would take the 30 Express to Visitacion Valley. I was the youngest of the group, so none were in my class. I hated it because these teenagers would harass and make fun of you. At that time 30 years ago, before we were inundated with 24 news channels and every B-list celebrity having a talk show, shit like that was tolerated and either parents didn't know about or didn't care. Hell, my own brother and sister didn't do a damn thing about it. But I digress.
The final straw was when one kid picked me up and threw me into the pool where standing flat-footed meant my head was still submerged in water, which for a little guy like me was 4 ft. I realize that this some old school method of learning how to swim, however, I believe that there different strokes (no pun intended) for different folks, and the survive at all costs or "scare you shitless" method didn't work for me. While I made it back to dry land on my own, the old school method only cemented my hate for swimming.
Fast forward 30 years, I can see that Chip has the same discomfort for aquatics that I had. Fortunately, for him he doesn't have the same bitches and assholes that taught, and I say that loosely, swimming at the Visitacion Valley swimming pool. These instructors have their undivided attention and soon have him feeling at ease.
I think this time it's going to work.

Let's talk about something positive

Mike the Allstar played his fourth game with the Junior Giants yesterday, going 2-2. He plays for the Panthers, coached by Scott and Linda (sheesh, their last names escape me right now).
Junior Giants is cool because it's a little less competitive atmosphere than say, Pee Wee Baseball. It's paid for the by the San Francisco Giants, so there are no costs. It is run by Bob and Lorry Greenberg, who I believe are saints, because of the time they devote to Jr. Giants as well as the T-Ball program at Rollingwood.
In Pee Wee Baseball, the score is kept, there are won-loss records, playoffs and an eventual champion.
In Junior Giants, there is no official final score and won-loss records. The games are 1-1/2 each. with a 30 minute warm-up before each game, Personally, I'd like to see a 2 hour game, so the kids can get more at-bats, but who am I talk. The league caters to kids moving up from t-ball, so I guess 1-1/2 hours is good enough.
Because of his extensive experience, the Allstar is the best player on his team. Because of his quiet demeanor, he never shows anybody up on the team, instead choosing to help out the less experienced kids, which is pretty incredible for an 8 year old kid. That makes me proud.
.

Pirates 2, Giants 1

San Francisco Giants lose their 7th straight, 2-1 in ten innings.
They don't win a single game on this now concluded road trip.
What's worse, they lose to the Nationals and the Pirates.
We can't go lower than that can we?
I love the Giants, but I hate them right about now.

Why?

Why does Felipe Alou bother to send Barry Bonds out to bat in the top of the 10th with a runner on on second? You know the Pie-rates, managed by Jim Tracy, are just going to intentionally walk him.
Why waste his bat in an extra innings situation? You would think Felipe would know that by now.

You bastard!

As I type, the gas can, otherwise known as Armando Benitez, is personally taking the San Francisco Giants out of playoff contention by blowing his third straight save opportunity. Weren't the Giants in first place just a week ago?
Nice going 'Mando Burger!
When are Felipe Alou and Brian Sabean going to learn? How many saves does this ass-clown have to blow before they hand the closer role to somebody, anybody else? Why do they keep coddling this little baby who doesn't own up to his shortcomings, blaming everybody else but himself for these losses?
"Oh, poor 'Mando. We don't want to upset his fragile psyche..."
Give me a break!
At least try one of the young guys, Chulk, Sanchez, Hennessy, anybody!
It's become obvious that the Gas Can can't handle his role. Sit him down and let him stew and at least you can say you've exhausted all your options
I know, I know, it's a team loss. Where is the clutch hitting? Why is everybody going into this collective slump?
They're not paying 'Mando Burger 6mil to be blowing saves.
Where is Shooter Beck? I'll take that junkball artist anyday.
Stay tuned.

Played out

I guess for me, it takes about a month before this whole blogging thing gets played out. Since my last post, we've gone camping, the Genius finished his GATE program, and the Allstar started the Junior Giants thing, etc. All these events are definitely blog-worthy, but general laziness and not making the time has put this blog on hold.
In the past month since starting this blog, I've found that I've sent an inordinate amount of time composing material for this blog. That being said, I've given myself a 15 minute time limit to update then out. I've found that my most favorite blogs that I read on a regular basis are conscise and to the point, not long and rambling.
Also, when there has been time, I've spent that quality time with a rediscovered pastime, Nintendo Gameboy. It seems that Nintendo has released some of their classics, i.e. Super Mario, on the Gameboy SP format and the kids have some of those titles.
Anyway, my 15 minute limit is up, time for Zelda.

Should I bring the microwave?

Going on our annual camping trip to South Lake Tahoe, specifically the Tahoe Valley Campgrounds. As usual, we're super over-packing and it's going to take all morning. It didn't help that I just got the stupid washing machine working yesterday. Spent damn near the whole night washing that's been laying around for the good part of a week, a laundry digression. I would have like to have left around 9 or 10. Yeah right. At our pace right now we'll be leaving around 11, if not 12.
I will have the specs when I get back.