Monthly Archive: June 2004
2004 All-Tahoe Bocci Ball Invitational
2004 All-Tahoe Bocci Ball Invitational
Its that time of year again. The 2nd annual All-Tahoe World Bocci Ball Invitational is again being played at the beautiful Embassy Vacation Resort Lake Tahoe. The two day event, July 3rd and 4th, 
will include singles competition as well as team events. On the board and being played center court: Father-Daughter, Father-Son, and the singles championships. Being added to the card this year, the ever popular “husbands against the wives faceoff”. Returning as defending champions are Clan Flaherty. Returning for the second year, 5 time champion of the DeFranco Challenge, Team Shull, featuring Al “Yellow balls” Shull. Making their debut in international competition is Familia de Lewellyn. 10 time grand masters of the Holy Spirit choir picnic and Bocci ball tournament. Should be some great competition out there this year as Fremont Parish rivalries are once again being played at an international level.
LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!
Relay for Life
Kate and Kelly participated in the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” this weekend here in Fremont. The event was held on the Washington High School football field.
Relay For Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs of your American Cancer Society. During the event, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times. Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day, cancer will be eliminated.
We stopped by after sunset to watch and participate in the evening ceremony. During the day and into the evening, participants made paper bag “lanterns” decorated with the names of either cancer survivors or people who have been lost to cancer. Very moving experience as the entire track around the footbal field was lined with lit lanterns. The bleachers on the visitors side of the football field had lanterns lined up to spell “HOPE.” Barb even had a lantern out there since she is now a 10 year cancer free breast cancer survivor. When they turned off the lights, the thousands of bags around the field and in the stands was moving. They had a ceremony with words and music for people who had been lost to cancer and for people who have survived cancer. One lady had been a breast cancer survivor for 23 years. That’s great for us to hear! It was very cool and nicely done. After the ceremony, many cancer survivors led a candle light prosession around the track to the tune of some upbeat, inspirational music. GLoria Gaynor’s “I will survive” was a good one. It was both beautiful and haunting to see all these lights, knowing that many of them represented someone who was loved, now lost. We took off after that and let the girls get about their business of sitting around, visiting, and occasionally walk around the track. Here is the photo album with most photo credits given to Kelly
LOVE THE DRAKE
Mentioned earlier that we went to the 19th hole in Tres Pinos as part of our big day with the Champagne crew this last weekend. Big Al was picking some songs on the Jukebox when he came across a song on an “Irish Classics” CD named “Flaherty’s Drake”. Couldn’t hear the song too well at the bar, but did come home and search the net for the song and additional info. Found both. Poor old Nell Flaherty had a pet duck (a drake to be exact) that his dear old grandmum gave him. Some “dirty savage” murdered the poor duck and ate it with cabbage. The song goes on to tell of, not only his love for the drake, but what he hopes happens to the “the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty’s drake” Further research reveals that the song is an old Irish rebel song and actually a “code” song. ‘Nell Flaherty’ is a code name for Ireland, the `drake’ is Robert Emmett, hanged for leading an abortive uprising in 1803. Takes on a totally different meaning in that context. COOL! Either way its a great song and the message is clear. DON”T SCREW WITH THE FLAHERTY”S
Nell Flaherty’s Drake – Traditional Version
Oh my name it is Nell and the truth for to tell I come from Cootehill which I’ll never deny. I had a fine drake and I’d die for his sake That me grandmother left me and she goin’ to die. The dear little fellow his legs they were yellow He could fly like a swallow or swim like a hake. Till some dirty savage to grease his white cabbage Most wantonly murdered me beautiful drake Now his neck it was green almost fit to be seen He was fit for a queen of the highest degree His body was white, and it would you delight He was plump, fat, and heavy and brisk as a bee He was wholesome and sound, he would weigh twenty pound And the universe round I would roam for his sake Bad luck to the robber be he drunk or sober That murdered Nell Flaherty’s beautiful drake May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig May each hair in his wig be well trashed with the flail My his door never latch, may his roof have no thatch May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal May every old fairy from Cork to Dun Laoghaire Dip him snug and airy in river or lake That the eel and the trout they may dine on the snout Of the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty’s drake May his pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt May a ghost ever haunt him the dead of the night May his hens never lay, may his horse never neigh May his coat fly away like an old paper kite That the flies and the fleas may the wretch ever tease May the piercin’ March breeze make him shiver and shake May a lump of the stick raise the bumps fast and quick On the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty’s drake Well the only good news that I have to infuse Is that old Paddy Hughes and young Anthony Blake Also Johnny Dwyer and Corney Maguire They each have a grandson of my darlin’ drake May treasure have dozens of nephews and cousins And one I must get or me heart it will break For to set me mind easy or else I’ll run crazy So ends the whole song of Nell Flaherty’s drake
The link to download the song is at the bottom of this page
Happy Birthday Bro
Today is my brother John’s Birthday. Happy Birthday old man!!!!! Born on this day in 1953 in San Francisco California. YOU GO BRO!! ENJOY YOUR DAY!
Champagne Day – wrap up
Champagne Day – wrap up
I’m usually pretty good taking a self portrait with my little hp digital camera. This one however, after several “tastes” of wine and a couple of ice cold Heinekens, leaves a lot to be desired. Here is a drunken self portrait of me and Big Al with Carmen Electra and Angeline Jolie. Are they HOT or what?
Busy Busy Busy
Been real busy and not able to post. You and the other two people that read this weblog have told me they want an update so here goes……… Went out to dinner with the crew at LOPEZWERKS last friday night. You can read the details in Mando’s Fathers Day post on his weblog. We have fun going out with Armando and Claudia. Those young whippersnappers stay up clear past 9 o’clock on Friday nights!! We’ll have to take a longer afternoon nap next time so we can keep up. Fyi…dinner was great as usual at Resturante il Porcini. Again, the best Tirimisu ever! 
Saturday was swim meet day against the Warm Spring Gators at Warm Springs pool and several graduation parties for Kate and Kelly’s senior friends. Sunday, Fathers Day, was a morning hike up mission peak with the Lewellyn family (of Mother’s day hike fame.) Also along for the walk were Vickie and Steve Vandenbusch. Vickie is Barb’s running partner. The hike was nice because we actually packed a nice lunch to eat at the top. Including ice cold beer. It don’t get any better than that!! Nice BBQ at the Lewellyn’s followed. Makes being a father all worth while.
We’re sorry that we missed Brandon and Debbie’s wedding in Genoa Nevada on Sunday afternoon. We wish them all the best as they start their new life together . Great pic of the happy couple with the parents. Thats bro John on the left. Been a busy week shuttling kids to and from swim practice, dentist appointments, physical therapy, etc….. Even took Niya to the vet a couple of times. Trying to fit work into this summer schedule is getting difficult. Those 6am or 10pm “global” conference calls makes life even more interesting. I did get in a couple of bike rides this week. I’m approaching 500 miles on the new bike already! I also had my first blow out. Rear tire while riding down the Decoto underpass on the Alameda Creek Trail. Cost $32 for a new tube and tire!! Feel better now?
Biked it – Liked it
We are back home after our weekend in Tahoe and the ride around the lake. Everything went according to plan as outlined in my previous post. The drive around the lake on Saturday gave us a good idea what to expect from a biking perspective. The dinner that Diane made was wonderful. By the way, Diane stayed across the street from us at the Marriott Grand Residence Club @ Lake Tahoe very upscale place! We were up at 5:30am on Sunday, ride day, after a restless nights sleep. Met Diane and Ben on the corner outside the Stardust and took off around 6:45am. Although a bit on the chilly side, we were prepared and dressed accordingly. Kind of cool to be riding up highway 50 towards the “Y” and seeing the snow capped mountains in front of us. We were nice and warmed up as we made our way up to Emerld Bay. The climb up to Emerald Bay was fierce, legs burning and sucking wind big time to make it up and around the hair pin turns and up to the top. BUT, for each tough uphill, there is always a great downhill. The ride down to Vikingsholm Castle rest stop at mile 14 was exhilarating.
After a short break, little food and a photo op, it was another steady climb up the other side of Emerald bay. The ride up the west side of the lake was great. Million dollar views along the way. Nice rolling hills, nothing too strenous all the way to a rest stop at Homewood at mile 26 and then to lunch at Kings Beach at mile 42. 
The peaceful ride through the multi-million dollar homes in Incline Village was but a prelude to the 9 mile uphill climb to Spooner summit rest stop at mile 59. Definitly the toughest part of the ride. From the Spooner rest stop it was a GREAT (but windy) 5 mile downhill. What a rush! The last 7 miles back to Stateline and the finish at Horizon Casino was difficult. At the finish, and at spots along the most of the 72 miles around the Lake were people rooting us on. What an inspiration they were! 
Among the 3500 of us riders were 1900+ Riders from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, doing the ride as a charity event. Turns out this is one of their “destination events”, so teams from all over the country were in Tahoe for this ride. Their support group were the ones cheering us all on. It was inspiring for us and really helped us to finish. We always seemed to pedal a bit faster when we were coming up on a crowd of people ringing cow bells, blowing horns and cheering for us as we made our way around the 72 miles of Lake Tahoe. Stats: Total time from start to finish= 6h:45m. Total Bike time= 5h:17m After the ride it was back to the hotel for a well deserved hot tub soak and celebritory food (frozen Milky Way) and drink (Hieniken). Made some great bloody marys for Barb and Diane. Dinner later was Rib eye steak at the casino. All in all a great great day. Be sure to check out the rest of of ride pictures here. You can also read the Tahoe Tribune article on the ride here.
and away we go…….
Leaving for Tahoe and the big bike ride. Its going to be a busy weekend up there. Get up there tonight and check into the Stardust Tahoe. Take a car ride around the lake Saturday morning to get our bearings, then stand in line to pre-register for the ride. Plus we have to watch Smarty Jones in the Belmont. Diane is making sausage and meatballs for our carbo-load feast on Saturday night. YUMMY! Sunday start time is 7:00AM. We are planning on doing our normal average of 12mph. Plan on taking advantage of the formal rest stops and Lunch in Tahoe City. Should put us back at the Horizon Casino Resort around 3:00 for the post ride party. My ass hurts just thinking about spending 6 hours in the saddle!! Will probably spend Sunday night soaking in the hot tub at the Stardust and then get an early start back home Monday. See ya then!
