Category: flashbacks

  We pulled down the Halloween costume trunk this week. Kelly went through and came out to model a costume that she wore 15 years ago. It still fits!!! HaHa!!

Jasmine went back to her original owner today : (

She spent her first night here sleeping on Kate’s bed, and spent her last night here sleeping on our bed. In between it was the good life. Chicken livers, fresh tennis balls, walks on the creek trail, snacks galore, and new collar! Even a bath!

That lady better treat her right because Jasmine knows where we live and is probably smart enough to find her way back.

She will be missed.

Got in 60 miles of riding over the three day weekend.  Friday, Saturday, Monday.  The latter two with Vandenbusch.  On the way back from this mornings ride, we were riding along,  talking about Steve’s great Aunt Betty. We passed a couple of walkers and I went to get a sip of water. I was going too fast with one hand on the wheel trying to get back in formation when I almost clipped Steve’s back tire. I hit the front break a little too hard and….. JIMMY’S  DOWN!!!!

Happened real fast. The bike stopped but I didn’t.  Went right over the handle bars. Suffered some road rash on both arms, both elbows and both knees. And my pinky finger on both hands.  From the looks of me and the looks of my bike,  I must’ve held on until the handle bars hit the pavement. The visor on my helmet had snapped off.  I couldn’t believe that I didn’t scrape up my face. My glasses stayed on somehow.  When I went to get up I realized that the handle bar must’ve hit my chest when I went down because it felt a little tender.  Other than that I was good to go.  Between Steve and I we scraped together enough band-aids and even a medicated wipe.  Bandaged up and back on the trail and on to coffee. 

Reminds me of Barb when she went ass over tea kettle

Got our chimney swept last week by fellow and former Avantek guy Steve Lewis. Steve left years ago to start his own business.  Since the chimney cleaning  service is local, we use him. Steve is great. Professional, fair and friendly.  Always nice catching up and remembering the good old days. THANKS STEVE!

Found this vintage soccer pic while poking around our old photo albums.  The 1999 FYSL Blue Angels is like a friendship circle of today. We have a Flaherty, a Sturm, a Camello, and even a Vandenbusch thrown in for good luck.  Many other familiar faces (hey, its Garrido!) among this crowd. Not to mention coach Kahuna. 

I MISS SOCCER!!!!!

Barb and I completed the 100k Tierra Bella yesterday.  With morning showers in the forecast we woke up at 5am to clear skies and hopes that we would have a dry ride. All packed up and on the road to Gilroy by 6:20. Pulled into the start point at Gavilan College and were checked in and on our bikes by 7:30. With 62 miles ahead of us we tried to keep an even pace. In what earlier in the week looked like bad weather for the ride, turned out to be just right. Clear and sunny in the morning with increasing clouds in the afternoon.   We passed the spot around the 5 mile mark where Barb had a fall two years ago.  At mile 7 I got a flat. Rear tire. Hate the rear tire flat! Having planned on this but hoping we wouldn’t need it, I packed two tubes and one tire along with the patch kit and tools. Took only 10 minutes or so and we were back on our bikes. Took a break at Uvas reservoir and fueled up. Excellent banana bread ( Barb liked the blueberry),  pb&j on wheat, yummy!

After that we were back on the road, cruising the MOST beautiful parts of the greater Gilroy area. Next rest stop was at mile 24. More fuel and restroom break, then the long haul to lunch at Gilroy hotsprings. A 21 mile stretch that took us over highway 101, across the farmlands of Gilroy. At around mile 35 I got a second flat!!! Just my luck and couldn’t believe it!. Whipped out the other spare tube and did another rear tire roadside change. Upon extreme close inspection of the tire, I found a piece of glass imbedded in the tire. Since I had a spare tire in my bag I decided to go ahead and change that too. OK, back on the bikes and ready for the hardest part of the ride. After 40 miles we begin the 4 mile up hill to Gilroy hot springs (and lunch!). They had changed the route since we did this two years ago so the first part of the uphill was new to us. Steep at the beginning and cutbacks up the hill made it slow going for Barb and I. We picked up where we were two years ago at the most difficult section of the climb. The final mile, STRAIGHT UP! Well, its feels like it anyway. At the top we cruised a nice down hill into the back side of the mountains. Streams running full and everything so so green. This is the reason to ride. Absolutely beautiful. The lunch stop at mile 44 is the best. You’ve just done 40 miles then a 4 mile climb, and you only have 18 or so to go. With a great downhill to boot!

Anyway, We hung out at the lunch stop for a while. Love the potatoes they serve. SO good!  Walking back from the restroom as we were getting ready to go, Barb greets me with the news, “I HAVE A FLAT!”. What Luck for us!. Barb’s front tire picked up a piece of glass and finally deflated as we were eating our lunch. No more spares so it was repair time for Barb’s tire. Put on the patch, said a prayer and we were off. Another 5 miles of rolling hills brought us to the top of the crest and a 4 mile downhill. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Like last ride, the most difficult is the last 10 miles. Pretty good head and cross wind greeted us as we came back down into the valley. Back over 101 and through Gilroy and FINALLY back to Gavilan College. 62.5 miles later. SWEETNESS.  A great feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. A great ride for Barb and I (our first organized ride where it was just us). We talked all day about how lucky we were to have a great weather day amidst a rainy rainy early spring.

Halloween night on Fairlawn Ct.  Johnny Rezzonico clowning around in his living room as Santa Jimmy looks on.   I do have some memories of this night. Maybe seeing Johnny  in a clown outfit was what  stuck in my mind. I’m giving him a long hard look in this picture. I still have the Santa Suit.

The back of this picture has my Father’s handwriting:

“Jim Flaherty about 9 years old. Taken about 1966, developed 1980. Film developed 8/4/80”

Me outside our house on Fairlawn Ct. getting ready to get into the old Ford Fairlane for what looks like my first boy scout meeting. Note that I have ZERO awards or patches or anything. Not that I received that many anyway. I guess my dad forgot when I was born because if this really was 1966 then I would be 7 years old, not 9. Plus, the film sat in the junk drawer in the kitchen for 15 years before anyone bothered to develope it. Thanks Dad!! I love it!

We left the coast before noon and headed home. On the way we planned to stop at Mission San Miguel. We did a drive by since the Mission is closed for renovations after the big earthquake that rocked the area a couple of years ago.  We were back on Highway 101 north when we saw the sign for Mission San Antonio. We decided to go for it. We traveled 20 miles into the valley of the oaks to see the mission that was faithfully restored by William Randolph Hearst. We actually had to stop for the Military Police so Tim could show ID.  The mission now rests on US government property as part of Hunter Liggett Army base.  A great end to a great trip!