Daily Archive: October 1, 2006

Uncategorized

Wide Open Spaces – Yes on K

Hpim0046_2Barb and I are voting early and voting often!    “YES on K”  will ensure that the last large parcel of land in Fremont will NOT be left to the whim and design of money hungry developers and big business. Hpim0032This measure is near and dear to our hearts, as the land in question is the 500+ acres that sits next to Coyote Hills Regional Park and San Francisco Bay. We were just out there on Sunday, amazed at the beauty and serenity of the area. To have 600 home replacing the farmlands would be shameful. 

holidaze

Trick or Treat!

Dsc05623_2   The annual Cabrillo neighborhood Halloween decorating contest is under way!   Ronnie and Norm (and kids!) proudly stand in front of the scariest house in the hood. They won’t have to buy much candy this year because most kids will be too scared to go to the door!

remodel

Swanson\’s Westlake Bowl

Westlake_bowl_2 I have many good memories of Westlake Bowl.  “The Bowl” was only about two blocks from our house on Fairlawn Ct. My parents had moved into the house when it was built in 1958. Westlake was a Daly City subdivision that sprouted out of the post WWII baby boom. My folks, living in San Francisco,  were outgrowing their rental and were able to afford the $28 a month house payment on the $12,000 house built by Henry Doelger. Westlake Bowl was a state-of-the-art family entertainment center.  52 lanes of action packed bowling. 26 lanes on each side with huge concourse down the middle. Cocktail Lounge, pool hall, snack bar, and later, full service fast food. It had to be one of the largest bowling alleys in Northern California at the time. Proprietor, John Swanson, had opened and run Mission Bowl in San Francisco years before and had the pleasure of kicking out all the Flaherty boys at one time or another over the years at Westlake Bowl. One of the cool things I remember about the bowl was that out front there was a huge (and I mean HUGE) mosaic depicting of a ball hitting a set of pins, created out of thousands of one inch tiles.

sports

Some things never change

We are milking the fine fine weather we are having. Yesterday after we did a Mission Peak Hike with team Vandenbusch, we decided to get a deli sandwich and go watch a soccer game at Central park.  The park was so crowded with both soccer and softball, that there was not a parking space to be had, so we ended up over at Hopkins Jr High to watch the little ( and I mean LITTLE)  kids play.  We pulled up our chairs, pulled out our sandwiches and watched the Lava Girls and the Panthers square off in under 7 girls action. Sure was cute watching these little ones play. At this age they play 5 on 5 on a very small field and small goal.  We had a great time. Brought back a lot of great memories. Noted how it is fun to watch without the pressure of having “our girls” playing, or not playing.  One thing that happened was both funny and sad. The (cute as a button) little girl that played goalie for the panthers in the first half where we were sitting,  played in the field during the second half.  Its then that we realized that “Haley” was not only the coach’s daughter, but also the “superstar” on the team.  In the first half, the coach seemed to be coaching everyone. In the second half it was all HALEY HALEY HALEY. Since Haley had the ball  a lot of the time, she was involved in all of the action, scoring at will most of the time. During one sprint down the field with the ball, she got tangled with another girl and tripped on her own feet. The mom-coach thought it was a push and yelled at the ref-dad wanting him to do something.  It wasn’t a push so there wasn’t much he could do.  It got a little nasty  and after some heated back and forth, the ref-dad ended up telling the coach-mom to  “SHUT UP”.   This only made mom-coach angrier. Anyway, Haley ended up coming out of the game later and the Lava Girls pulled away and won easily.  Parents never learn. Probably never will. This is the second game we have gone to in as many months and both times the parents get way too involved. We went to under 14  boys game last time and the ref had to suspend the game because the coaches were ready to go “fist city” after a non-call by the ref. Come on folks. Its about the kids, not you!

Uncategorized

remembering mode……

Im003577aa_1 Its been two years since Barb did the three day walk.   We were ALL about the walk at this time in 2004.    I still get choked up when I read this. And really bawl like a baby when I read this.

family

OLPH – DALY CITY

Jimmystar Back in Januray 2005  I posted about our old grammer school,  Our Lady of Perpetual Help, top of the hill, Daly city.  In that posting I asked whatever happend to the class of ’73.  Well, it looks like we are about to find out.  The OLPH alumni association that I mentioned in the 2005 posting  was created and gave a few of us 73’ers a chance to communicate.  We agreed that a reunion would be a great idea. One classmate created a contact list and I created a funky little reunion website. The plan is to get together next summer with the whole class. Should be fun…….STAY TUNED!

hike

Mission Peak Mountain Challenge

Dsc05570 Barb and I hiked Mission Peak for the last couple of Sundays.  We were thinking that we must have hiked to the peak around fifty times since we first did it in October of 2002.   The seven mile round trip usually takes us around three hours to complete, that includes rest time at the top and sometimes along the way. Sunday’s hike was typical and great. Overcast skies and cool temps are always good when doing this hike. The 2000+ foot climb from Ohlone College parking lot is not for the faint of heart. Once you get out of the parking lot and through the trail gate, you start climbing right away. Walking up chalk hill to the seasonal pond is maybe the toughest part of the whole hike. Constent and steady uphill for 30 minutes or so. Still gets me huffing and a puffing. The  arrival at the seasonal pond marks the end of the first part of the hike. The trail levels out a bit and gives me a chance to catch my breath.  The next part of the hike is my favorite.  Now on the back side of the peak, we make our way up shady tree covered single track trail. Dsc05571 Yesterday we saw a dozen wild turkeys grazing in the bush. Its so quiet over here. No wind. You feel very far away from civilization back there. The trail takes us by a HUGE tree that we call the whomping willow, then up and out of the trees and back onto the fire lane that will take us almost to the peak.  From here we are about halfway up with nothing but steady climbing ahead. After another 25 minutes we are at the spot where we leave the fire road and begin the final ascent.  Where everything up to now could be called walking, the final push to the top has to be called climbing. Very steep up hill , rocky climb. Not to where you have to use your hands or anything but again, a good uphill. Always a joy to get to the top. Yesterday it was windy. There were probably about 10-15 other people up there Dsc05576 and even a couple of mountain bikers who had come up from the southern route.  We enjoyed some trail mix and the million dollar views of the Bay Area and beyond. We cut short our stay on top and headed down the same way we came. Where the hike up is all lungs and legs, the hike down is all knees and feet.  We made our way down and were back at the car. After some stretching it was back in the car and back home.

friends

Mando takes the challenge

I’m  one month into phase II of the “Jim Flaherty Weight Loss Challenge.”   I mentioned in a previous post that I’ve lost 50 pounds on a plan that  included a healthy diet and increased exercise.  Along the way and before I started, it was others who  inspired me.  Other parents and friends who have taken the fat demons by the horn and tamed them. Most recently, Mr. Gygax, Kelly and Kate’s high school science teacher, swim coach, and our friend, is the latest example. Frank lost a lot of weight last year and really looks great.  He did it by taking up power walking and doing a modified South Beach diet. Darn guy!!  Making the rest of us fatties look bad!  Regardless, looking at someone who has hung in there and stuck to a plan for months and who is now reaping the rewards, made me realize that……… it was my time.

Now, its my turn to “pay it forward” and offer inspiration to others!

Dsc00566_1aa Along comes Mando, across the street neighbor and good friend, who not only has decided to take the challenge, he is putting it out there for all to see!  He and Claudia are three weeks down the road to a healthier lifestyle and are beginning to see some good results. Mando and Claudia have the “eye of the tiger” and are well on their way to slimandtrimdom.

Check out his post where he throws down the gauntlet over at the LOPEZWERKS. Good luck guys!

kate~n~kel

Make that 0-70

Scan0010_5 All year we’ve been meaning to go to see an American High water polo match. We tried twice before, showing up with dinner and gear in hand, only to find out that the games had been rescheduled or moved altogether. Finally, last night, the last game of the season, playing under the lights,  we got to see the Eagles play the Colts from Logan.  Being the last game of the season, there was actually hope that the Eagle girls would snap their 0-69 streak and finally put one in the win column.  Even though they had lost the previous match at Logan by a score of 19-6, most of the goals were scored by one girl. If the Eagle girls could stop one girl, they had a chance.   In the end, even though it seemed close for a while, the Logan girls pulled away and ended up winning 13-4.  It was fun for us. Kelly was even there in her Varsity jacket!

THE RECORD IS STILL INTACT!!!!! WOOHOO!!