surfing lesson

There were a couple of  spots David and I mowed that had poison oak. David pointed it out to me. Some we just mowed over. There were a couple of spots on a hill I worked on. No problem with long pants, socks and shoes, but when I capsized the next day I took off my wet socks and I think there was still some oil on my shoes that rubbed off near my ankles. A couple of small red splotches showed up when I got home. I avoided irritating them and they've gone away. I read up on it and learned it is not contagious; it really requires contact with the plant oils.

This is a good year for baseball for both of the boys. I did hear many good things about Jackson's game pitching while I was gone.The coach said it was phenomenal, and then started him pitching again in the game this past Saturday. He pitched two innings. He's working on speed, and last night at home he tried more movement in his arm. But he has lots of accuracy, and the ball he throws is deceptive. He spends time before his throw, and gathers his focus and balance. His teammates chat him up with encouragement and back him up whenever there is a hit. Very few walks; no wild pitches. Several 1-3 outs. A really nice 6-3 play, and we're going to start seeing some nice double plays soon. His team won 12-0 against a team that was undefeated. There was some grumbling among parents and coaches on the other side of the field, but we had a great time on our side in the cool morning. Jackson had a couple of hits and a couple of strike outs, swinging. A nice bunt and some strong base running, even a couple of good slides. He played first the remainder of the game. (He needs a new glove!)

Rylee's team won 11-0 on Saturday. He played first again. I filled in as a field ump, so I got to see Ry play close-up. Early into the game, a hard hit came his way. The infield for this level is artificial turf, and the ball comes hard and fast. Rylee got in front of the ball, which came off the turf fast, off his glove and into his chest and cheek. Ry didn't miss a beat, scooped up the ball and ran to first for the out. Another hit was very wide off first and I watched Ry scoop it up and drive to first faster than I'd ever seen. I could see the determination in his face. The batter also was running hard to first. I called the runner safe, but I told Ry later that his coach thought he'd beaten the runner to the bag. Ry also scored several times, a nice slide into second, and a good hit into shallow right field, where the real grass, cut long, stops most hits. Both boys batted in the no. 2 spot.

By the last couple of  innings, the day had warmed considerably. I started thinking seriously about hydration for myself, and I noticed the players on both teams were getting worn down. By contrast, Jackson's game was in the early morning, still quite cool, and I watched him joking with the coaches about computers at the start of the game. Last night, as the boys played catch in the front yard, Jackson pitching, Rylee catching and calling balls and strikes, I wondered if this will be something they do in years to come. At one point in the morning, they just got pissed with each other and started fighting. Rylee got his feelings hurt, Jackson tried to make it right, and Rylee retaliated. After telling them they were both wrong, and both right, I made them shake  hands. They thought that was funny. We wrapped mom's birthday present and signed a card the boys' found, and later we baked a cake.

Rylee went to the school's spring fling on Friday evening. It was like a special two-hour recess for him. He played with his second-grade classmates, first on the inflated jumpers and slides and then on the regular playground. The kids were shouting "onomatopoeia". They knew what it meant, but I think they did it for the penultimate syllable. Lots of kids and parents. I waited in line for pizza slices for me and Ry, and then got him to join me in the faster line for the shaved ice.

 I'm ending with a few snapshots I took on my phone. The first is Ry's desk. It shows many of his Lego sets: buildings, ships, all sorts of cruisers and minifigures; some comic books and a book he's reading; and the two sea urchin shells. The second is Jack's desk, with the two monitors, and maybe you can make out the microphone and a small speaker and lots of plug ins coming off the side. Since the boys don't read this blog now, I'm pretty sure, I didn't think they'd mind this glimpse. And maybe it would be fun to see later. The third is a pic I didn't use from the White Sands trip but I think it may be interesting to post.

Today is cool with a mild breeze, a touch of dampness, that reminds me of my time near the ocean. Big white fluffy cumulus clouds lolling about in the sky above in all directions makes me think rain is coming.

surfing

I usually blog from the perspective, as much as I can gauge it, of our family, but I just returned from a trip on my own to my parents' home outside of Monterey and thought I'd spend some time describing my visit with Mom & Dad, David, Beth & Gary, and Lisa. David first suggested the trip, since he was going to help out around the house, and then Beth and Gary helped arrange my flights. As usual, Lisa was the point person for coordinating much of the time, and she and Mom must have figured out the meals together. There were lots of good eats, and a little wine. David grilled tri tip, ribs, and a roasted chicken, while Lisa cooked a stroganoff the last night. Lots of Lisa salads, and Beth made a potato salad that was different and amazing. Dad supplied ice cream, Beth blond brownies, with and without nuts, David Panamanian coffee, and Mom laid out breakfasts and lunches. All wonderful. Mom packed a lunch for my return flight.

Beth and Gary picked me up from the airport and we drove down to Salinas together that evening. David, Dad, Gary and I spent some hours on Saturday and Sunday cutting grass, with a tractor, a brush mower, a lawn mower, and a weed whacker on the hills, before breaking for meals. The land is about 6 acres and I finally figured that this was the cut after the growth season there and just before the Hawaii trip. Beth and I also visited Lisa at the pool she manages. Such a really lovely place, and I could tell immediately how she was a perfect fit. They must love her there. But with her teaching, it means never having a day off. She did say she was planning a trip with Sarah to visit Michael and his family.

Beth and Gary held over another night and left on Monday. David and I spent the better parts of Monday and Tuesday boating in the bay, rowing the boats he made and keeps stored down there just for these trips. Monday we rowed over to Wharf No. 2 from the Coast Guard launch, past the sea lions lounging under the wharf--and even on some of the boats moored outside the marina--and along side the seals and otters, and had a breakfast at loulou's. I really enjoyed this and wanted to return on Tuesday, but it's closed on Tuesdays, we discovered. (When I searched for the website address for the link, I also discovered that tripadvisor readers' rank it the no. 1 restaurant in Monterey.) We met one of the owners. The next day we ate at Lopez Taqueria, across the street from the wharf, and ate on a picnic table next to the beach, in the park where Terra and Karl had their rehearsal dinner. (I couldn't find a good web page, but I discovered it may have been formerly known as La Casa Bodega and may be now owned by a family that owns a restaurant nearby.) Good tacos and burritos.

We spent some time at the divers' beach near Cannery Row after rowing on Tuesday, and the day before we did go to the other, popular wharf and got a beer after the rowing. I got the boys some sea urchin shells there. When we were on the municipal beach the next day, David suggested collecting a couple of beach rocks for the boys, too. Rylee loved these gifts, and I let him think I picked them up in the tide pools, as well as on the beach. I don't know if Jackson was so impressed, but he certainly was glad to see me when I got home and we've spent more than the usual time together since.

I have to tell you how we came to be eating on the beach. We decided to row onto the beach and not dock. David went first, straight in, as he should. Then I rowed toward the beach. A half-second before I hit the surf, my boat turned and it rolled over the wave and capsized with me. Sopping wet, a sight I'm sure. David thought this made for a great adventure. Luckily, I had a dry fleece stored in David's boat to change into.

While I was gone, the boys had a couple of baseball games. I'm sure to hear from the parents how they did, 'cause Jackson reported he pitched one entire game, very unusual in his league, what with a stringent pitch count. His team won and the coach gave him the game ball. Meanwhile, Rylee got a break from first base and finally got to play catcher for a change, his long favorite position. His team won, too. He said he got one in the knees and "they let me walk it off" before resuming catching. He also told me about what might have been a pretty play where he ran in from first to get a hit ball and then tossed it to the pitcher who was running over to cover first. It sounded like he still got to first before the pitcher, but together they got the out. Cyndi reported that Rylee's teacher conference was full of praise for him, including marks for a good sense of humor and the teacher's go-to student to explain a new lesson to the rest of the class. Both boys looked to have grown a few inches while I was gone, and it was so good to be back with them.

I had a wonderful chat with Ariel as she was sitting on the plaza below her place in Manhattan. The weather sounded perfect, trees blossoming, that sort of thing. There was discussion in Monterey about all the kids, Jenni and Jacques' baby on the way, and a possible "reunion" for us all in Asilomar, instead of the Hawaii idea we bandied about a couple of months ago.