Jake by Alfred Slote

Taking a break from reading the third volume of A Life of Picasso, I read Jake by Alfred Slote. This book and author were featured in one of the first 30 for 30 Shorts.

Jake is a kid's baseball book that was written in 1971. The protagonist is a eleven year old boy who lives with his uncle. Jake's uncle is a musician who is gone rehearsing and playing music most nights and sleeps until noon. The book follows Jake as he struggles in school and tries to keep his Michigan little league baseball team from being disbanded.

It is not a great book for adults. It is interesting in the context of Bill Simmons, Grantland and the ESPN 30 for 30 shorts. Bill wrote a article about what the author and the book meant to him when the short film was published. His article, the first two chapters of book and the short film are here on Grantland.

Just as a footnote, I am really struggling with third volume of the life of Picasso. I had forgot how much of a burden it was to get through the second volume. It has been more than 20 years since I started reading something and then gave up. The third volume of the life of Picasso could be the first one.

Celebrating Jack's 15th Birthday

Sharon, Jack and I went to Mikuni's on Fair Oaks to celebrate Jack's 15th birthday.

Celebrating Jack's 14th Birthday

Celebrating Jack's 13th Birthday

Celebrating Jack's 12th Birthday

Celebrating Jack's 11th Birthday and a party

Celebrating Jack's 10th Birthday

Celebrating Jack's 9th Birthday and a belated party

Celebrating Jack's 8th Birthday plus a party and a photo album

Celebrating Jack's 7th Birthday plus a party and a photo album

Celebrating Jack's 6th Birthday plus a party and a photo album

Celebrating Jack's 5th Birthday plus a photo album

Celebrating Jack's 4th Birthday and a party

Celebrating Jack's 1st Birthday Party

ESPN Films 30 for 30 Shorts: Arthur & Johnnie

Grantland and ESPN Films have released the twelfth film in their 30 for 30 documentary short series.

30 for 30 Shorts: Arthur & Johnnie

The latest film, from television and film veteran Tate Donovan, tells the story of a brother's love and how it changed tennis history

You can find Arthur & Johnnie on the ESPN web site at http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9584328.

More about the film at: http://espn.go.com/30for30/film?page=arthurandjohnnie

2013 Jesuit Sophomore Parent Dinner

Sharon and I went to the Sophomore Parent Dinner at Jesuit High School. After last year's Freshman parent dinner, we had a much better idea of the agenda for the evening...

California Historical Landmark #807

Drew, Jack and I stopped at this waymark on the way home from Almanor.

Oregon City
California State Historical Landmark #807
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps
This landmark is located on Diggins Drive between Oroville and Cherokee, California in Butte County. There are 10 other California State Historical Landmarks in Butte County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 39° 35.552 W 121° 31.732.

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

Entering California over the Applegate and Lassen Trails, a party of Oregonians arrived here in autumn of 1848 to establish Oregon City. Little more than a year later their captain, Peter H. Burnett, became the first civil Governor of California. For a time, Oregon City prospered as a gold mining and supply center - then it declined into virtual oblivion.

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Sago Mini Doodlecast

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



Code Expiration: November 19, 2013

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Disney Fish Hooks

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



Code Expiration: November 19, 2013

Virtually Biking Across America - Day 65

On day 65, I rode 23.0 miles east across Nebraska. Starting the ride on Interstate 80 [41° 7' 1.01", 101° 32' 33.08"], I rode along Interstate 80 until reaching Road 51C. I followed the road into Paxton and then turned right on Highway 30 (Lincoln Highway). I traveled twelve miles into Sutherland and stopped at the corner of Highway 30 and Park Street.

This was another very fast downhill ride. I averaged 21.3 miles per hour.

The trip log for Virtually Biking Across America is here.

Milo Greene's 1957 playing in a hotel in China!?!

So apparently @MiloGreene is catching on in China, cause 1957 was just playing in my hotel lobby. Try and keep up America...

— Parker Loudermilk (@QuietJuice) August 20, 2013

Jesuit High School's 50th Anniversary Bash

Sharon, Jack and I went to the Jesuit High School 50th Anniversary Bash with Phil, Marlene and Tim. Tim will be a freshman at Jesuit this year. The Sanborns stopped at house for a drink and hor d'oeuvres before we headed to Jesuit.

With 2,000 people attending, the Anniversary Bash included music, food, drinks and fireworks. They had five food stations set up around the campus representing the five different decades. The band Wonder Bread 5 played for a couple of hours. The night finished with a nice fireworks show.

Geselbracht was there. He was in town for his 40th high school reunion. Phil and Geselbracht were at Jesuit together. Although Phil and I have talked about Geselbracht ever since my 50th birthday, this is the first time that they have seen each other since high school.

ESPN Films - Nine for IX - No Limits

Sharon and I watched No Limits. This is the fourth film in a new series from ESPN films. Called Nine for IX (as in Title IX), the series includes films about women made by women.

Bills Simmons said recently during a podcast that EPSN has done more than 75 documentaries over the last couple of years. I have seen most of these films, but I don't think I have ever seen anything quite like this story.

The film is the story of Audrey Mestre, Pipin Ferreras and the world of competitive no limits free diving. No-Limits Apnea is an extreme sport that allows the athlete to use any means to dive and return to the surface as long as a guideline is used to measure the distance. Most divers use a weighted sled to dive down and use an inflatable bag to return to the surface.

While the film relies on some interviews, the majority of the footage is of the actual people and the actual events. This makes the film particularly powerful.

This was a difficult film for me to watch. It was like watching a car crash in super slow motion...

No Limits is available on iTunes.

ESPN Films

• 30 for 30 - Volume I
• my rankings

• ESPN Films - Fall 2011

• 30 for 30 - Volume 2

• 30 for 30 - Volume 3

• 30 for 30 Shorts

• Nine for IX

• Nine for IX Shorts

• SEC Storied

• SportsCentury

• 30 for 30: Soccer Stories

• Inside: U.S. Soccer's March to Brazil

• FiveThirtyEight Signals

• It's Not Crazy, It's Sports

First Day of Tenth Grade

First Day of Tenth Grade (High School Sophomore)


First Day of Ninth Grade (High School Freshman)


First Day of Eighth Grade

First Day of Seventh Grade

First Day of Sixth 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

California Historical Landmark #337

Rich Bar
California State Historical Landmark #337
See this location on Yahoo Maps in Flickr
See this location on Google Maps
This landmark is located on State Highway 70, 4 miles southeast of Belden, 23.6 miles northwest of Quincy in Plumas County. There are 12 other California State Historical Landmarks in Plumas County. The GPS coordinates for this location are N 40° 00.550 W 121° 11.460.

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

Gold was first found here in July 1850 by miners coming over the mountains from the Yuba Diggins, and there was much production during early 1850s along this east branch of the Feather River's north fork. Here 'Dame Shirley' (Louise Amelia Knapp Smith Clappe) wrote her Letters From the California Mines, one of the classics of the gold rush.

ESPN Films 30 for 30 Shorts: Wilt Chamberlain: Borscht Belt Bellhop

Grantland and ESPN Films have released the eleventh film in their 30 for 30 documentary short series.

30 for 30 Shorts: Wilt Chamberlain: Borscht Belt Bellhop

The latest film, from Caroline Laskow and Ian Rosenberg, tells the story of the most important summer job in basketball history. In 1954, before his senior year of high school, Wilt Chamberlain took a summer job as a bellhop at Kutsher's Country Club, a Jewish resort in the Catskill Mountains.

You can find Wilt Chamberlain: Borscht Belt Bellhop on the ESPN web site at http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9532912.

More about the film at: http://espn.go.com/30for30/film?page=wiltchamberlain-borscht-belt-bellhop

Starbuck iTunes Pick of the Week - Sara Bareilles - I Choose You

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



Code Expiration: November 12, 2013

Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week - Haze

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



Code Expiration: November 12, 2013

Jesuit Soccer Try-outs

Over the last sixteen months, Jack has talked more and more about soccer. He lamented not making a select team and even mused about trying out for soccer at Jesuit.

Jack played four very successful years of soccer, including 2004, 2005, 2006 and indoor in early 2007.

After failing to make a select team in March of 2007, Jack started playing flag football in fall of 2007.

After playing freshman football at Jesuit last year, Jack has decided to try-out for soccer this year! He went to the freshman and sophomore try-outs this afternoon. There are about 70 freshman and sophomore boys vying for 40 spots on two teams.

Brunch at Roxy

Sharon, Jack and I met Drew and Niki for brunch at Roxy. Niki flew up from Southern California on Friday night and went to the Sugarloaf fundraiser dinner with Drew on Saturday night. It has been great to see Drew over the last few days and it was nice to finally meet Niki.

Dinner at the Riverside Clubhouse

Friday night after we drove back from Lake Almanor, Sharon and I went to dinner at the Riverside Clubhouse with the Wackmans, Borjas and Renterias. Our sons have played together on the Gunners and Outlaws baseball teams since fall of 2008. It was very nice to see everyone. Sharon and several others had the salmon special, while I had chicken enchiladas.

At this point, Cooper is at Jesuit with Jack, Jeremy is at Christian Brothers and Breyton is at Elk Grove High. I am hopeful that Jack will be playing with Cooper next spring and that they will get a chance to play against Jeremy and Breyton!