Creator of Quality Apps
Oh My! This Blog Can Be:
Listen to Some Matt Jokes
Preview My Next Record
CAT | Sport
On the morning of Oct. 24th, I ran in the 24th Annual Palm Springs Tram Road Run. It’s a steep climb, rising 2000 feet in 3.7 miles. The final 100 meters is the most steep, which might explain why I lack grace and charm in the finishing photo. I earned a little trophy for finishing 26th overall (463); 3rd out of my age/gender division (which numbered 24). Whoo-hoo!
My cousin Chet finished 5th overall, first in division. My aunt finished first in her division. We hitchhiked down the mountain after the awards ceremony (rather than wait on the shuttle bus). Our driver was first in her division as well. A carload of winners!! I felt so out of place..
The Angels have hurt the Red Sox, winning the first two games of their 5 game series out in California. Today is an off-day as the teams will next meet in Boston Sunday. During this break, the Sox and their fans will try to conjure up the usual gimmicks to imply that they are the ‘proper’ team to advance in the playoffs:
WEATHER
It will be cold, so when the camera scans the crowd, you’ll see folks bundled up and stirring about to stay warm. The implication is that autumn should be cold; Boston is cold; therefore, Boston deserves to play in autumn.
TRADITIONAL COSTUMES
The Red Sox have been around for more than a century, and they have the uniforms to prove it. For all the talk of Yankee pinstripes, the Red Sox also have a storied home uniform. And within Boston, Brahmins are not alone in giving a disproportionate weight to looks and lineage. Everyone in Boston is a snob who instinctively identifies with the BoSox home uniform, especially when the stirrups are worn in the old knee-high style—the fans eat it up and it fuels their confidence. But it’s just a big sock worn by a jerk jock.
BEN AFFLECK
Actor Ben Affleck will be spotted in the stands, probably in a very good seat. He might be interviewed by TBS. Plus, he might be with an actor friend such as Matt Damon. To Boston fans, this is proof that the Lord is smiling on the Sox—the Angels would be wise to hop on the next plane. But Affleck’s presence is even more superficial than uniforms and overcoats. There is nothing daunting about it.
YANKEES’ ONLY TRUE FOE
According to Sox and Yankees fans, the best rivalry in sports is between the … Yankees and Red Sox. An Angel victory would prevent that ‘ideal’ match-up, so the Angels must be prevented from winning. In case the Angels themselves don’t get this, Sox fans will be petitioning all Americans to in turn petition the Angels to quit, as the best thing for the country.
But all of the above is hogwash with nothing to do with pure baseball talent and fielding a team. The Angels have a superb and superior ball club. They will prevail. It might take a fourth game, but the Angels will advance to play the Yankees.
I re-joined a running group, the Hash Harriers. And I sketched a picture with chalk on the sidewalk of last night’s “On In” location. The gist of “hashing” is to stay on trail to find the end-point (“on in”).
Above is my first repel, when canyoneering or ‘canyoning’ Dec 13th, 2008 with my cousins in San Gabriel Mountains.
My second repel was easier (above).
Canyoning is fun. One of the things that’s interesting about descending canyons is that you can often believe your feet are the first to transverse some ground. I don’t think the technology was available to the ancients. Unless someone was already somewhere, they wouldn’t get there unless they could. Or really needed something.
The next 3 repels were into water or through water. My guides weren’t expecting the wet conditions. So, on the final repel, they lowered me: a guy up top controlled the rope. I just had to navigate the waterfall.
Famous Sunset Boulevard continues west from Hollywood all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Take a left on Pacific Coast Highway (famous as “PCH”) and you can park on the side of the road to view the surf or go into the surf and surf.
There are big rocks that descend to the the beach. The really big ones can be sat upon. As you get closer to the beach, the rocks get smaller, but remain sturdy and regular–offering steady and fast access to the water (no wobbly wobbly skip and stop). At lower tide, there’s always more exposed rocks. But low tide is good. It means the waves won’t smash you into the rocks unless you’re really trying. Even at lower tides, the waves break pretty darn close to shore, making it a shore break. Only because the waves break as “rights” parallel to the shore line is the spot surfable.
I’m goofy footed, which means I put my right foot first. I’m a “righty”and I think goofy is consistent with being righty. Dominant hand or feet should go in front. For the same reason, I shoot pool as a lefty, because it’s natural to put right hand towards the cue tip. Anyway, since I’m really a righty, as a goofy foot, I prefer rights, even though it means I’m going “backside” – as I ride the wave my back faces the wave. Usually people prefer going frontside.
You can surf Sunset at night time. There’s no law against it; only a no-parking after 10pm rule. There are nights when the moon and the lights from the PCH provide enough visibility to chase waves. I recommend doing so when the waves make it worth your while. Check surfline.com for forecasts. Because the waves tend to be mushy, you want to see word of a swell and sizes of at least 4 feet.
I spoke to a guy there, and he mentioned the possibility of a 400 yard long right starting out way out to sea. He said a Japanese guy does it regularly because he “pumps hard” to get through the initial slow downs…
My cousin and I surfed it on a night a few weeks ago. It was just us two, and few people watching from the road. I was a bit worried about being ambushed coming up the path, but it didn’t happen. The water was and remains filthy. But a strong half moon brought us light and some fun sets of waves. Nearby Topanga Beach has stronger waves and no threat of crashing into rocks (unless you try REALLY hard). But if you go to Sunset after sunset, then you can tell people you are hip to Sunset after Sunset. And that Route 66 aka Sunset Blvd goes all the way to the PCH aka Route 1.
