Dogging you

Since the surf has been flat for the last seven days, I have been trying to figure out other ways to exercise. During the times I went down to Newport to check the surf, I would bring a pair of running shoes just in case. Well, during the last week I had to use those shoes because of the flatness of the surf. I tell you I'd much rather surf in cold water than run, because running is harsh on my old body. I had back pains a few days after my initial run, which lasted a whole 30 minutes. So I found alternatives in biking around the neighborhood and just plain walking.

On my walk this morning around the neighborhood, I was accosted by a chocolate lab. He didn't bite or anything, but he kept on charging at me then he'd drop back. A few times he came up to me to sniff me out but he was still doing that charging thing. So I kept walking and he'd follow me then fall back. Just when I was getting a bit frustrated, a dog catcher pulls up. I walk toward his truck and then walk away. He finally comes out, and says, is that your dog? I tell him no. He then proceeds to come out of his truck. The dog sees him, stops, growls a bit and then takes off running, as if he knew what the dog catcher was all about. I don't know if he caught the dog or not, but it was a relief that he showed up at the time he did. Somebody must have called to complain about the dog.

I am hoping that the surf picks up next week because without surfing, my whole balance gets out of whack. Masungit, irritable, just a pain in the butt attitude. Everything suffers when there is no surf.

More and more soccer

In Jeremy's first season playing soccer, his region team came in 1st place and he was selected for the Gold all star team after the season ended. The gold all star team won the area championships and went to the Sectionals at UC Irvine. The team was just two victories away from going to the state championships but they lost to a mexican team from Wilmington. They posted a 2 wins 1 loss record at the sectionals. And Wilmington was defeated by San Juan Capistrano. The image below shows Jeremy's budding skills. He is a stopper on defense. Other players parents called him the wall during the regular season because he was like a brick wall, with opponents ending up on their back when they challenged him. Now he will continue to Spring soccer, so that means about 9 months of soccer at his first go around playing organized sports. Hopefully he will stick with it and continue to excel at the sport.

February 15th

Yesterday, valentine's day was such a surreal day. I mean, after spending time in front of the computer, and then going out, I didn't realize how big a deal this day was. I am terrible on days such as this. I usually don't get flowers for my wife, nor candies or anything of the sort. For the first 10 years or so of our marriage, I might have given flowers on valentine's day perhaps just once. And a card? forget it. But the last 5 or six years have been different. I have given flowers, took her out to dinner and the like. Before I just didn't get into it too much. Now i do. And I get lucky too.

Which brings me to yesterday. Driving to pick up josh from school, I noticed a boy on his bike, iPod blaring, carrying a bunch of roses in one hand. I wondered who was the lucky girl. As I passed one of the middle schools, I noticed a lot of the girls had balloons and gifts from their amors. Passing La Quinta high School, on theb electronic billboard, there was a note. Happy Valentine's Day Trang. I love you." Now that was sweet for all to see. Even at the market, when I was looking for a nice dozen roses, other guys were looking too. At the gas station, a flower vendor set up shop, and there were people lined up to get some roses. A woman at the bus stop with a valentine basket, I saw so much valentine love on the streets of Santa Ana. So I guess it still is a romantic day. It doesn't get old.

Today, the waves were blown out, so I decided to run the beach at Newport instead. I needed to get some exercise to clear my head before work, and besides, I had to burn some of the calories from the dinner the night before. Lamb and potatoes and green beans, topped off with a slice of Boston Creme Pie. I ain't dead yet, but that was a cholesterol, calorie buster right there.

So anyway at the beach, as I ran, I finally figured out where all those valentines balloons go. I picked up several deflated balloons and threw then in the trash. But I also saw a lot of other junk, water bottles, wrappers,and trhe most hideous things, those feminie things that women insert when they are menstruating, I forgot the name, but I saw several used plastic applicators on the sand. Really sad, but not surprising when you live in an area with two million other people.

Curious George

I just picked up the soundtrack to Curious George because one of my fave singer/songwriters wrote the soundtrack for the movie. Jack Johnson is a localboy who's music is so uplifting it is almost unbelievable that he's not some Christian singer. His stuff really reflects the spirit of Hawaii, where he is from. He has three albums out in addition to Curious George and Friends, In Between Dreams, Brushfire Fairytales, and On and On. All of it is good. Not a stinker in the lot. My sister turned me onto his wavelength about three years ago, and I've been hooked. His singing is pure as the hawaiian rains, and his guitar work sings a lovely melody. His songs remind me of the times in hawaii. And did I mention he is a north shore surfer too?

laters brah