The Man with the Golden Gun

Continuing my quest to watch all of the Bond films in order, we watched The Man with the Golden Gun. Released in 1974, this is the ninth spy film of the British James Bond series and the second to star Roger Moore as the British secret agent James Bond.

Filmed during the 1973 oil crisis, the film features a plot about solar lasers and circuitry. An adaptation of Ian Fleming's novel of same name, the film has Bond sent after the Solex Agitator, a device which can harness the power of the sun. He teams up with agent Mary Goodnight against Francisco Scaramanga – The Man with the Golden Gun. The action culminates in a duel between them.

The film was shot on location in Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok, and Phuket. The scenes featuring the island hideout of Scaramanga are pretty spectacular and were filmed in Phang Nga Province in Thailand. The wreck of the RMS Queen Elizabeth in the Hong Kong harbor is also used as a location.

In addition to Roger Moore as James Bond, the cast includes Christopher Lee as Francisco Scaramanga (an assassin), Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight (Bond's assistant in the Far East), Maud Adams as Andrea Anders (Scaramanga's mistress), and Hervé Villechaize as Nick Nack (Scaramanga's servant).

Jack's 10th Birthday Party

In the past few years, we have often held a birthday party for Jack after his actual birthday. Last year, we did not have a party until October! With his birthday falling this year on the Saturday of the Labor Day weekend, we got organized and had a birthday party on the actual day of his birth.

We took Jack and five other boys (Michael, Malcolm, Cody, Johnny and Timmy) to the Raging Waters Water Park. The boys had a great time on slides, playing in the wave pool and floating on the river.

After getting all of the boys home, the three of us finished the night with a birthday cake and presents.

 

Back to Bronxville

Drew took Morgan to the San Jose Airport on Thursday for a flight back to New York. Morgan is starting her senior year at Sarah Lawrence College.

NBA Summer Forecast

ESPN asked 25 writers, editors and contributors for their take on the upcoming NBA season. They ranked the Sacramento Kings as 12th in the 15 team Western Conference, ahead of only Minnesota, Memphis and Oklahoma City. Additionally, they believe that the Kings will only win 34 games this coming season, down from 38 last year.

ESPN - Summer Forecast: Which way is the West going? - NBA:

Ron Artest is gone, and this is Kevin Martin's team now. His uncanny talent for high-efficiency scoring will be enough on some nights, but to really make noise the Kings need extraordinary contributions from ordinary players like Udrih, Salmons, Garcia, Moore and Miller. Good luck.

John McCain's great granddaughter?!?

I'm confused. John McCain's great granddaughter, Sarah Palin, is the presumptive Republican Vice President nominee?

2008 Fall Baseball Game 11

Jack played in his eleventh game of the 2008 fall baseball season. The Yankees played a team with red baseball shirts for the second time.

With the temperature over a 100 degrees at the start of the game and most of the kids starting back to school this week, the team was very lethargic.

At the plate, Jack was 1 for 1 with a walk. He walked in his first plate appearance. In his second at-bat, Jack hit a grounder down the third base line. The grass was the longest I have ever seen it at Rau (they must cut it on Friday!). The ball died in the long grass. By the time the third baseman got to the ball and made the throw to first, Jack was safe. He stole second and third. Sliding under the tag from the pitcher, Jack came home to score on a passed ball.

In the field, Jack played one inning each at first, shortstop, third and center. He made a nice tag on a throw from the catcher to get a runner trying to steal second.

The Yankees won by a score of 7 to 2. Their record for the season is 11 wins and 0 losses.

California Historical Landmark #455

I stopped at these waymarks in Concord briefly on my way home from the EHR workflow walkthrough last week.

Don Fernando Pacheco Adobe
California State Historical Landmark #455
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps

The plaque was located at the northeast corner of Grant and Solano Way, Concord, California. There are 14 other California State Historical Landmarks in Contra Costa County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 37° 59.366 W 122° 02.462.

You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.

 

 

Although it looks like it was there as recently as two years ago, the plaque originally placed July 19, 1958 is now missing from the monument. When it was there, the plaque read:

One-quarter mile north of this spot is the site of the adobe house constructed in 1843 by Don Fernando Pacheco. Reconstructed in 1941, it is preserved as a memento of the historic past of Contra Costa County.

The adobe itself serves as the Contra Costa Horseman's Association and is located at 3119 Grant Street, Concord, California. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 37° 59' 46.46" W 122° 2' 35.85".

See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps

 

 

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Ersi Arvizi - El Arbol

The list of Starbucks iTunes picks of the week is here!

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Ersi Arvizi - El Arbol, originally uploaded by heringermr.

2008 Fall Baseball Game 10

 

Jack played in his tenth game of the 2008 fall baseball season. The Yankees played the A's for the second time. The Murphy's youngest son was on the other team.

Jack was 2 for 2 at the plate. He loves to swing at the first pitch. In his first at-bat, Jack hit the first pitch to the shortstop's left and was safe at first to drive in a run. He eventually came around to score. In his second plate appearance, he probably did his best piece of hitting of the season. Behind 0 and 2 in the count, Jack shortened up his swing and blooped one over the first baseman.

In a slow five inning game with a lot of walks, Jack played two innings at first and two innings at third. At third, with the runner trying to steal, he took a high throw from the catcher and made a nice sweeping tag to get the runner out. Playing off the line, one grounder right over the top of third got by him. At first, Jack made a nice stretch on a throw from the catcher to get the out.

The Yankees won a close game by a score of 12 to 11. Their record for the season is now 10 wins and 0 losses.

The Yiddish Policemen's Union

I just finished reading The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. I picked this book up because it won the 2007 Nebula Award and 2008 Hugo Award for best novel. At the time, I did not realize that the author had also won the 2001 Pultizer Prize for Fiction for his book The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.

Generally, I prefer hard science fiction; The Yiddish Policemen's Union is not hard science fiction. The book essentially is an alternate history for the last seventy years. Instead of settling in Palestine after World War II, the Jews end up in Sitka, Alaska. Interestingly, this idea is based on a historical footnote. Promoted by then Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, Congress actually rejected a proposal [The King-Havenner Bill of 1940] to open Alaska to Jewish emigration.

I did not realize that the book was set in Alaska when I bought it. Although we did not get to Sitka on our recent Alaskan Cruise and Land Tour, we were very close. There are some aspects of the book that ring true due to travels through that part of the world.

At its roots, the book is a detective novel. It uses a murder investigation to explore parts of the Jewish culture in this alternative history. For example, the idea of boundaries talked about in an article in today's Sacramento Bee play a part in the story.

Another plot point includes a red heifer. Oddly, one of the other science fiction books that I read this year, Spin by Robert Charles Wilson, also included a red heifer in the story.

Without giving away the plot, the Alaskan Jews of this alternative timeline do not want to be in Alaska. They want to be in Palestine.

This is a very different book, but definitely one that I would recommend.

Kevin's going back to College Party

After the baseball scrimmage finished, Jack and I headed to Sharon's brother's house. They had a small get together as a send off for Kevin going back to college. He starts his junior year at Gonzaga in the next week.

Gunner's Scrimmage

Jack and I spent most of the day (more than 6 1/2 hours!) at a scrimmage for the Gunner's tournament baseball team. Jack's team played against a younger tournament team. They played two five inning practice games.

Jack played three innings in right field and two innings in center field. He was 2 for 3 at the plate. He popped out in his first plate appearance. In his second at-bat, he hit one very hard through the left side of the infield. He eventually stole home on a throw to second. Jack hit another hard line drive to the left side in his third plate appearance. The ball was just off the glove of the leaping shortstop. He eventually came around to score again.

Jack was very upset with how little he got up to bat. The rotation that the coaches used seemed odd. I hope that this is not an indication of things come when we play in the tournaments this fall.

Malcolm's birthday party

After the baseball game was over, I took Jack to Malcolm's birthday party at Country Club Lanes. The boys bowled, played laser tag and spent some time in the arcade.

2008 Fall Baseball Game 9

 

Jack played in his 9th game of the fall baseball season. The Yankees played the Braves for the second time.

At the plate, Jack was 1 for 2 with walk. In his first at-bat, he struck out swinging. In his second plate appearance, Jack drove a 1 -1 pitch into left center for triple; he drove in two runs. I get a kick out of watching him stretch what should be a double into a triple. Jack walked on five pitches in his third at-bat.

In the field, he played three innings at shortstop, one inning in center field and 1/3 of an inning at first base (the first baseman had to run to the bathroom!).

The Yankees won the game by a score of 14 to 8. Their record for the fall baseball season is 9 wins and 0 losses.

The Paradise Sessions Album Cover

The Paradise Sessions

From: Andrew Heringer [AndrewHeringer at gmail dot com]
Subject: The Paradise Sessions now available on itunes & Amazon Mp3

the new album "the paradise sessions" is now available on itunes & amazon Mp3.

itunes:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=286693439&s=143441

amazon Mp3:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001DOLTRU/heringer-20

physical CDs for sale soon.

-A

ps. - check out some new recordings by a new "side project" at myspace.com/etchasketchers

Pony Express River Steamer New World

I stopped here briefly on my way back from a meeting in Concord.

Pony Express
River Steamer New World
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps
This landmark is located Located on the riverfront at the foot of Main Street in Rio Vista, California. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 38° 09.314 W 121° 41.388.

A list of Pony Express Waymarks that I have visited can be found here. You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.

In 1860-1861 Rio Vista was located 17 miles north of here. The Pony Express mail was usually carried both ways between the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento via Steamboat Slough by the California Steam Navigation Company's river steamers. They would make stops at Benicia and Rio Vista.

The first eastbound river steamer to carry the Pony Express mail was either the "New World" or the "Antelope" and left from San Francisco on April 3, 1860 at 4:00 PM with 56 Pony Express letters. It arrived here around 10:30 p.m. The first Pony Express westbound river steamer was the "Antelope." It left from Sacramento on April 13, 1860 at 5:45 PM and arrived at Rio Vista around 7:50 PM.

The last Pony Express mail was carried to San Francisco on November 20, 1861 by the river steamer "Chrysopolis."

Pony Express Stations and Monuments

Pony Express Stations, Monuments and Waymarks
{GPS Coordinates of Site Location}

Flickr Yahoo Map of Waymarks Visited
Google Map of Waymarks Visited

California

* Western Headquarters - [map] - {37.79505,-122.40318}
* Pony Express Ferry - [map] - {37.798867,-122.39775}
* Ferry Oakland - [map] - {37.79442,-122.27734}
* Morgan House - [map] - {38.01775,-122.13559}
* Ferry Carquinez [map] - {38.0194,-122.13725}
* Solano Hotel - [map] - {38.04829,-122.15978}
* River Steamer New World - [map] - {38.155233,-121.6898}
* Mangels Ranch Adobe - [map] - {38.23,-122.13167}
* Rockville House - [map] - {38.244333,-122.122167}
* Halfway House - [map] - {38.461,-121.858333}
Gillespie's Store {38.35658,-121.98782}
Solano House {38.53158,-121.75706}
* Bridge - [map] - {38.583333,-121.50883}
* River Steamer Antelope - [map] - {38.58243,-121.50627}
* B.F. Hastings Building - [map] - {38.5831,-121.50418}
Old Sacramento Monument {38.58317,-121.50394}
* St George Hotel - [map] - {38.58228,-121.50135}
* Pony Express Trail Association Five Mile House - [map] - {38.550333,-121.4135}
* California Historical Landmark Five Mile House - [map] - {38.56156,-121.42221}
* Rancho Cordova Trail Marker - [map] - {38.5865,-121.3085}
* Fifteen Mile House - [map] - {38.58985,-121.26187}
* Folsom Terminus - [map] - {38.67645,-121.17855}
* Mormon Tavern - [map] - {38.65616,-121.05959}
* Pleasant Grove House - [map] - {38.69793,-121.02041}
* Duroc House - [map] - {38.65317,-120.96333}
El Dorado (Mud Springs)
* Diamond Springs - [map] - {38.69407,-120.81722}
* Placerville Terminus - [map] - {38.72786,-120.80327}
* Sportsman's Hall - [map] - {38.75015,-120.61121}
* Moore's (Riverton) - [map] - {38.77118,-120.44914}
* Webster's (Sugar Loaf House) - [map] - {38.77007,-120.31257}
* Strawberry Valley House - [map] - {38.79533,-120.14833}
* Yank's Station - [map] - {38.85595,-120.0128}
* Woodruffs - [map] - {38.776576,-119.822809}

Nevada

Harrah's Stateline Monument {38.96016,-119.94083}
* Friday's Station {38.96407,-119.93905}
* Kingsbury Grade - [map] - {38.9655,-119.839833}
* Pony Express Trail Association Genoa - [map] - {39.00452,-119.84605}
* Genoa Monument - [map] - {39.00488,-119.84582}
* Carson City - [map] - {39.162667,-119.767167}
* Carson City Monument - [map] - {39.16738 -119.76712}
* Hall's Station - [map] - {39.235812,-119.592469}
* Nevada - [map] - {39.23626,-119.59074}
* Dayton Centennial Marker - [map] - {39.236186,-119.589309}
* Pony Express Trail Marker - [map] - {39.292933,-119.27805}
* Fort Churchill Post Headquarters - [map] - {39.29333,-119.2697}
* Buckland's Station - [map] - {39.29423,-119.25177}

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Chris Bathgate

The list of Starbucks iTunes picks of the week is here!

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Chris Bathgate, originally uploaded by heringermr.

First Day of Fifth Grade

First Day of Fifth Grade


First Day of Fourth Grade

 

First Day of Third Grade


First Day of Second Grade


First Day of First Grade


First Day of Kindergarten

At the EHR Workflow Walkthrough

At the EHR Workflow Walkthrough, originally uploaded by heringermr.

California Historical Landmark #602

Updated 9/9/2014 - I revisited this landmark in September of 2014. The site looks a lot different than it did when it visited it in 2008.

Ebner's Hotel
California State Historical Landmark #602
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps
This landmark is located at 116 1/2 K Street, Old Sacramento, California. There are 57 other California State Historical Landmarks in Sacramento County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 38° 34.929 W 121° 30.308.

You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.

This hotel was built by Charles Ebner in 1856. It is said that Captain Sutter was a frequent visitor here.

The city tried to save the Ebner Hotel, but with its crumbling walls and unsafe foundation, the city eventually had to tear down its hulking shell in 2003 to keep it from collapsing onto neighboring buildings.

Plans are being put through the city for a new building on the site, a re-creation of the historic Ebner and Empire hotels. The new building will look like the originals, with balconies over K Street, and all the flourishes of the old structures.

More Iron Horse Regional Trail

After the second day of the EHR Workflow Walkthrough, I ran 8.50 miles in one hour and 22 minutes along the Iron Horse Regional Trail. I am interested in putting together a couple of maps from this run when I get back home.

2008 Fall Baseball Game 8

Jack played in his eighth game of the 2008 Fall Baseball season. I was traveling for work and missed the game; it is always interesting to try and get an accurate summary of the game from Jack and Sharon when I am not there.

Jack has been struggling at the plate the last three games. He was 0 for 3 with a walk. With the bases loaded, Jack grounded to the third baseman for a fielder's choice. A runner scored and the third baseman made the force play at third. Jack struck out looking in his second at bat. He said that the called third strike low and outside. Jack struck out swinging in his third plate appearance. He said it was the same low and outside pitch that got him in his second at-bat. Jack walked in his last at-bat.

In the field, Jack played two innings at shortstop, two innings at first, one inning at third and an inning in center field.

The Yankees won by a score of 13 to 0. Their record for the fall baseball season is 8 wins and 0 losses.

Iron Horse Regional Trail

After the first day of the EHR Workflow Walkthrough, I ran 6.51 miles in 60 minutes along the Iron Horse Regional Trail. This trail currently runs for more than 24 miles between the cities of Concord and Dublin; it follows the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way established in 1891 and abandoned in 1977.

Updated Reading List

I posted an updated version of my reading list. My goal is to read at least one book a month; I have reached this target every month since I started the list more than 16 years ago.

Although I have done it selectively over the years, I am going to start posting a weblog entry for every book that I read with some comments and observations.

At the Cunningham's

A very busy day... After a four baseball practice for the tournament team and the Back to School Social, we finished the day at the Cunningham's. We spent some time in the pool and the hot tub. I think that the boys probably spent almost four hours in the water! Deborah made a great dinner of fish tacos.

2008 Back to School Ice Cream Social

We spent part of the afternoon at a back to school ice cream social at Jack's school. It gave us a chance to meet his new teacher, check out the new classroom and find his desk. Jack ran around with his classmates, while we visited with a few parents.

More Baseball

When Drew stopped by on Thursday, he asked what we have been up to; I answered baseball. In addition to playing three games of fall baseball a week since we came back from Almanor, Jack has been practicing twice a week with a tournament team.

Jack spent four hours Sunday morning practicing with the tournament team. I think he is going to get a rude awakening in his first tournament. The quality of the pitching is going to be unlike anything that he has faced before.

2008 Flag Football Player Clinic

I am frankly not sure yet what sport Jack is going to play in September and October. Last year, Jack played flag football during September and October. I signed him up for the same league again this year. At the same time, he has been invited to play on a tournament baseball team that may play one or two tournaments a month through the rest of the year. The tournament team is coached by the same coaches from the Laguna U9 all star team. Depending on how the tournament team pans out, Jack may end up dropping the flag football.

After Jack's baseball game, I took him to the flag football player clinic. The coaches run the kids in groups of 20 through a number of drills to evaluate their skill levels. After the clinic, the coaches will get together and draft the kids on to teams.

2008 Fall Baseball Game 7

Jack played in his seventh game of the 2008 fall baseball season. The Yankees played the Crushers.

With some help from the scorekeeper, Jack was 2 for 4 at the plate. In his first at-bat, Jack struck out on five pitches. He hit a very high pop-up behind second base in his second plate appearance. The second baseman was unable to make the play and the ball "dropped for a hit." Jack eventually came around to score. With the bases loaded in his third at-bat, Jack hit one down the third base line. The third baseman threw the ball home for the out and a fielder's choice. In his fourth plate appearance, Jack hit a triple in deep left center to drive in two runs; the ball bounced to the fence on one hop.

Jack played two innings at shortstop, one inning at third base, one inning at first base and 1/3 of an inning in left field. He had his most active game of the season in the field. At first, he stretched nicely for a throw from the shortstop for an out. Jack also made a nice catch on a soft line drive hit in front of him; gloving the ball just above the grass. At shortstop, he handled two grounders and made throws to first and second for the outs. They just barely missed turning a double play.

The Yankees won by a score of 15 to 0. Their record for the fall baseball season is 7 wins and 0 losses.

Elevation Graphs

I have added the elevation graphs shown below to the entries for the Bizz Johnson Trail Bike Ride and the Lake Almanor Recreational Trail Bike Ride.

At the time, I said that I felt that the ride on the Lake Almanor Recreational Trail was harder. You can see why from the graphs. On the Bizz Johnson Trail, there was a steady climb up 250 feet over the course of 5 plus miles. On the Lake Almanor Recreational Trail, we climbed 250 feet in less than 2 miles on the way out. After dropping sharply down, we turned around and climbed almost 200 feet in a little more than a mile on the way back.

Bizz Johnson Trail Bike Ride


Lake Almanor Recreational Trail Bike Ride

Stealing Third

2008 Fall Baseball Game 6

Jack played in his sixth game of the 2008 Fall Baseball season. The Yankees played the Riverc@ts.

At the plate, Jack was 0 for 1. In his first at-bat, he swung at a couple of high pitches, ran the count to 3 and 2 and finally walked. Jack stole a couple of bases and then scored on a passed ball. Jack was hit by a pitch in his second plate appearance. He eventually came around to score. Jack hit a hard grounder to the left of the shortstop in his third at-bat. The runner was forced out at second for a fielder's choice.

In the field, Jack played one inning at third, one inning at first and two innings in center field. Other than running down a ball hit into right field, he did not get any opportunities to handle the ball.

The Yankees fell behind 7 to 5 after two innings, but rallied to win by a score of 17 to 7. Their record for fall baseball is 6 wins and 0 losses.

Marin County Landmarks

California State Historical Landmarks in Marin County
{GPS Coordinates of Site Location}
NO. 207 FIRST SAWMILL IN MARIN COUNTY
NO. 210 OLDEST HOUSE NORTH OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY
NO. 220 MISSION SAN RAFAEL ARCÁNGEL
NO. 221 SITE OF THE LIGHTER WHARF AT BOLINAS
NO. 222 LIME KILNS
*NO. 529 Angel Island - [map] - {37.866767,-122.434883}
NO. 552 PIONEER PAPER MILL
NO. 630 ST. VINCENT'S SCHOOL FOR BOYS
NO. 679 HOME OF LORD CHARLES SNOWDEN FAIRFAX
NO. 917 GREEN BRAE BRICK KILN
NO. 922 OUTDOOR ART CLUB
*NO. 924 China Camp - [map] - {38.001917,-122.462667}
*NO. 974 Golden Gate Bridge - [map] - {37.832369,-122.479636}
*NO. 999 Marin County Civic Center - [map] - {37.99691,-122.53039}

List of California Counties

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Ledisi

The list of Starbucks iTunes picks of the week is here!

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Ledisi, originally uploaded by heringermr.

California Historical Landmark #515

I stopped at this waymark briefly on my way home from a meeting at the nearby Concord Hilton. The building has served as a restaurant and a bank. It is currently used by Metro One Credit Union.

Don Salvio Pacheco Adobe
California State Historical Landmark #515
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps

This landmark is located at 1870 Adobe Street, Concord, California. There are 14 other California State Historical Landmarks in Contra Costa County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 37° 58.583 W 122° 02.250.

You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.

 

 

In 1834 Don Salvio Pacheco was awarded a grant called Monte del Diablo and on June 24, 1835 completed this two-story adobe, the first building to be erected in this valley. Don Salvio gave the land surrounding this adobe to the refugees of the earthquake-flood of 1868, and the community became known as Concord.

2008 Fall Baseball Game 5

 

 

Jack played in his fifth game of the 2008 Fall Baseball season. The Yankees played the Twins.

At the plate, Jack was 2 for 2 with a walk, three stolen bases, three runs scored and two RBIs. In his first at-bat, Jack hit a high fly ball into center field for a double to drive in two runs. He promptly stole third and then came home on a passed ball. Jack sliced one down the third base line in his second plate appearance. He eventually came around to score. In his third at-bat, Jack chased a couple of high pitches, ran the count to 3 and 2 and then walked. He stole second and scored on Cole's line drive into left field.

In the field, Jack played two innings in center field, one inning at third, one inning at shortstop and one inning at first. While playing shortstop, he took a nice throw from the catcher to tag out a runner trying to steal second.

The Yankees won by a score of 17 to 4. Their record is now 5 wins and 0 losses.

Song for 1962

As a kid, I remember watching the Alvin Show. This was the first animated series to feature Alvin and the Chipmunks. It ran on CBS in prime time from 1961 to 1962 and then in syndication for years.

The song for 1962 is The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late).

More than 18 months ago, I started a project to build a soundtrack for my life. This project was suggested and funded by Brun and Kim as a birthday present. This song fills out the series of 50 songs for 50 years. I planning to add several more honorable mention songs to 1975. There are at least three more songs for 1975 that I have carried in my head since my freshman year in college.

You can find the work in progress Soundtrack for My Life here!

Lake Almanor Recreational Trail Bike Ride

On Thursday at Lake Almanor, Jack and I rode 12 miles on our bikes along the Lake Almanor Recreational Trail. Here is a google map and a topo map of the ride.


View Larger Map

BJ's Restaurant

With Jack at Cody's birthday party, Sharon and I went to dinner at BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse.

2008 Fall Baseball Game 4

Jack played in his fourth game of the 2008 fall baseball season. The Yankees played another A's team.

In his first at-bat, he hit a slow roller on the right side of the infield. The grass in the infield at Rau Park is thick and long. The ball took an odd bounce and died. The first baseman fielded the ball and looked up to see Jack charging up the line; Jack got a good jump out of the box. When the first baseman looked up at Jack, he froze for a second before starting for first. Jack and the first baseman got to the bag at about the same time and the umpire called Jack safe. I was standing against the fence behind the first base coach and I think that Jack was probably out. It is a little bit of poetic justice since he got called out on Thursday on a close play at first where he was clearly safe. Jack stole second, third and home to score a run.

Jack hit a looping line drive to right center in his second plate appearance. He ended the game 2 for 2 at the plate.

In field, Jack played 1 inning at third, 1 inning at first, 2/3s of inning at shorstop and 2 1/3 innings in center field. He made a couple of nice plays. At third, he handled a grounder down the line and threw the runner out at first. At first, Jack went far to his right to get a sharp grounder. Running towards second base, he made a great throw off his back foot to the pitcher who was covering first.

The Yankees won the game by a score of 11 to 2. Their fall baseball record is now 4 wins and 0 losses.

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis

The list of Starbucks iTunes picks of the week is here!

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis, originally uploaded by heringermr.

Bizz Johnson Trail Bike Ride

Using data from my Garmin Forerunner 205, I put together the google map, topo map and google earth images shown below of Jack and my mountain bike ride on the Bizz Johnson Trail.

Five years ago in 2003, we hiked from Devil's Corral to the tunnels.

Three years ago in 2005, we hike a short section at the western end of the Bizz Johnson Trail.

Looking at the maps, I am very interested next year in mountain biking on the section of the trail west of Devil's Corral.


View Larger Map

California Historical Landmark #565

After our bike ride on the Bizz Johnson Trail, Jack and I drove out to Peter Lassen's grave. Afterwards, we stopped at Lassen Memorial Park in Susanville which contains Roop's Fort and a marker for the Noble Emigrant Trail.

Peter Lassen Grave
California State Historical Landmark #565
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps

This landmark is located at 2550 Wingfield Road, 5 miles southeast of Susanville, California. There are 6 other California State Historical Landmarks in Lassen County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 40° 21.060 W 120° 38.389.

You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.



In memory of Peter Lassen, the pioneer who was killed by the Indians April 27, 1859, at 66 years of age.

On June 14, 1862, the local Masonic Lodge placed a ten-foot tall stone marker on Lassen’s grave. By the early 1900s, a portion of that monument had deteriorated. In 1917, after a year and half long campaign to raise funds, a new Lassen monument was erected next to the old one.

2008 Fall Baseball Game 3

Jack played in his third game of the 2008 fall baseball season. The Yankees played a team with eight players (we gave them one) and red "baseball" shirts.

Jack was one for three at the plate. With the count 0 and 2, he fouled off a pitch in the dirt. The next pitch he hit over the left fielder for a stand-up triple and drove in the first run of the game. In his second plate appearance, Jack hit one down the third base line and was called out on a fielder's choice. I was standing behind the umpire at home plate and it looked like Jack was safe by more than half a step. With the Yankee's leading 7 to 0 at that point, it looked like the ump was giving the other team a break. As Jack trotted back to home plate to pick up the bat, the umpire actually said to him that it was close. Jack chased a high pitch and struck out in his third at-bat.

Jack played four innings in center field and one inning at third base. He made a couple of nice plays. At third, Jack took a relay on a ball hit into left center to tag out a runner trying to go from first to third. In center, he handled an overthrow of second and gunned down a runner trying to go to third.

In fall ball, there is no formal scorekeeper. The Yankees won by what I think was a final score of 11 to 7; six of their runs were scored in one inning off the Yankee's youngest pitcher. The Yankee's record for fall ball is now 3 wins and 0 losses.

California Historical Landmark #76

After our bike ride on the Bizz Johnson Trail, Jack and I stopped at Lassen Memorial Park in Susanville which contains this waymark and a marker for the Noble Emigrant Trail. We also drove out to Peter Lassen's grave.

Roop's Fort
California State Historical Landmark #76
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps

This landmark is located in Lassen Memorial Park at the intersection of North Weatherlow and Nevada Street, Susanville, California. There are 6 other California State Historical Landmarks in Lassen County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 40° 25.121 W 120° 39.432.

You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.

 

Built in July 1854 by Isaac N. Roop, Roop House was a stopping place for emigrant trains. It was the locale of the 'sagebrush war' fought in 1863 between the citizens of Plumas County and Lassen County.

 

 

California Historical Landmark #675

After our bike ride on the Bizz Johnson Trail, Jack and I stopped at Lassen Memorial Park in Susanville which contains this waymark and Roop's Fort. We also drove out to Peter Lassen's grave.

Noble Emigrant Trail, Susanville
California State Historical Landmark #675
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps

This landmark is located in Lassen Memorial Park on the south side of Adaline and North Streets, Susanville, California. There are 6 other California State Historical Landmarks in Lassen County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 40° 25.090 W 120° 39.313.

You can log your visit to this landmark at waymark.com.



This meadow, now a city park, was a welcome stopping place on the Noble Emigrant Trail, pioneered by William H. Nobles in 1851 and first used in 1852. Here, emigrants en route to the Northern California mines were able to rest, refresh their stock, and obtain needed provisions at Isaac Roop's establishment, from which grew the city of Susanville.

At the Batting Cage