Vote Early and Vote Often

I have always been a SF Giants fan. I started going to games when I was around three years old and I hit my peak about 5 years ago when I went to as many as 40 to 50 home games per year (including playoffs, a seemingly distant memory).

In recent years my interest in going to see the games has waned somewhat but I always try to catch a few innings here and there every night or so. This year has been a horrible year for the team. The best game that I saw in person was the All Star Game. This year’s team is so bad that they may even lose 90 games before it’s all over.

So here is my proposition:

Do you (all one reader of mine) believe that the Giants are capable of losing 90 games this season? They are currently 67-83 with 12 games left to play. In a nutshell that means that the team has to go 7-5 for the remaining games on their schedule. I predict that they will lose a total of 91 games this year, finishing up with a 4-8 record for the last week and a half. What do you say? Make your prediction.

If you haven’t been there already, go to www.vote756.com and cast your vote to decide the fate of Barry Bonds’ 756th home run ball. I voted for the first option; what did you vote for?

Go Giants.

The Barber Shop Chronicles p1

Two consecutive bad haircuts made me give up on Kevin. Now mind you, Kevin didn’t actually cut my hair those two times, but I still quit on him.

When I moved from the City of Good Living, San Carlos, two years ago, down south to the Jewel of the South Bay, Sunnyvale, I was forced, by necessity and extreme inconvenience, to stop going to my new favorite barber shop, Guy’s Barber Shop in San Carlos. Before I found that shop, I was all about Clyde’s in Burlingame. New building zoning ended that relationship. I suppose the point I’m trying to make is that when I find a good barber shop I stick with it. As long as I have hair. Which won’t be much longer. Some would even argue that ended a few years ago. Anyway…

When I moved to the ‘Vale, I suffered through one horrendous haircut that left several bald spots on my increasingly balding dome so I vowed then to find another keeper barber asap. I usually steer clear of salons (too pricey and too ostentatious for my meager tastes).  I know that I’ve found the right spot when all the magazines are over 5 years old.

When the time for my next haircut was overdue by about a month I drove my truck down El Camino with nary a plan but a distinct goal to find my new barber shop. I did notice a strip mall kind of place off the El and as I turned towards it, I spied across the street a sign for Juno Salon. Now I know that I have already professed my deep unlike for Salons but I also noticed that the parking lot in front of it was relatively empty. I parked and walked in and I was seated immediately by a black haired with blonde highlights Vietnamese dude named Kevin. The price was right  ($8 for men’s cuts) and his clipping technique was awesome and my haircut looked fantastic. I left the Juno Salon knowing that I had found my new barber shop, err, salon.

Fast forward one and a half years of great haircuts with Kevin, including the all important wedding haircut. I enter the salon one day and I notice that Kevin is not there. I ask one of the women present where he is and they tell me that he is on vacation in Vietnam. They ask me if I would like a haircut and, of course I am at least a month overdue, so I say sure and take a seat. Well, fifteen minutes later and I am the proud owner of the second worst haircut I have ever had. I pay them (the price went up to $12 for men’s cuts) and I leave, hoping that the next time I show up, Kevin will be there.

As it is apt to do, the hair grows and I drive myself to Juno and cross my fingers. I enter the salon and I ask where Kevin is and the woman tells me he is still on vacation in Vietnam and if I would like a haircut. Now I didn’t want to be rude and press the issue but by my calculations, Kevin had been on holiday now for at least 6 months so I’m thinking that the Kev is not coming back. Oh, woe is me.

Because I am a nice guy (or a sucker), I sit in the chair and hope for the best. Unfortunately I get the worst. Bad haircut number three. I pay and I leave Juno Salon forever.

Kevin, if you are reading this, I’m sorry I had to bail on your shop, but my remaining days with hair are waaaaaayyyyy fewer than the days I’ve had hair on my head so I’ve got to cut my losses and  find a new salon, err, barber shop. So long and happy vacation, wherever you are.

Next time: So begins the quest. Again.

Best Week Ever

The week that was the first week of school. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Read and enjoy.

Monday was the First Day of School. It should be a national holiday. Personally, I enjoy this day because it feels so good to get back to something you have done for a long time (in my case, eight years) that you haven’t done in a long time (I last taught in summer school, six or so weeks ago). I also like this day because after I spend about 15 or so minutes going through rules and procedures, I launch right into my first teaching lecture of the year and when I’m done, I even assign homework. I love the First Day of School.

Four days after the giddy excitement of the First Day of School came the nervous excitement of Parent Information Night (aka PIN nite). Imagine standing in a room, let’s say the library at school, and having the opportunity to talk for 15 minutes straight about yourself and your algebra program. I personally enjoy the rush and I try my best to entertain the audience while imparting relevant and important information regarding what their children will be learning in my algebra class this year. As I mentioned before, I do enjoy the rush, thank goodness PIN only happens once per year.

Last Friday evening, my Fantasy Football league held its annual draft. Being chosen with the number 2 pick overall, I picked Steven Jackson (over Shaun Alexander). My backfield rounds out with Rudi Johnson, Jamal Lewis, and Marshawn Lynch. My wideouts are Lee Evans, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, and Vincent Jackson, and my QBs are Jon Kitna and Philip Rivers. I traditionally finish one game out of the playoffs every year so I am hoping that this year will be my year to win it all.

Our softball team, the Gatos, got pounded into to slaughter rule submission Monday night. I made three errors in left field. Ouch. Bad game for me.

I got to drive a U-Haul from San Leandro to Sacramento yesterday. We (Ms Khan and most of her family) helped move her sister up to Sac-town. It’s pretty fun driving a big truck like that; a few times I caught myself going over the 70 mph speed limit and I had to slow my roll down. All in all, a 13+ hour day was actually pretty fun, but really hot (I do NOT miss living in the Sacramento Valley).

Last but not least, I had to say goodbye to my beloved Elmo Overhead Projector, as it burned it’s last replaceable light bulb during 4th period on Friday. I am so lucky that Ms Campbell had an extra overhead in her room that I could put to use, the only class that had to suffer my writing on the whiteboard was 5th period. So long Elmo; you served me well with distinction and honor these past 7 years.

So that was the week that was. Have a great rest of the weekend and I’ll see you on Tuesday.