Church of the Graveyard Saints (2019) by C. Joseph (Chuck) Greaves

This is a book by former Hahn & Hahn lawyer, Chuck Greaves.

It is about gas extraction in the four corners region.  A kid on a ranch comes out to UCLA, and then returns with her professor to try to a put a stop to it.

Lots of interesting information and good description of places-- the beauty and solitude of southwest Coloardo, and good old Pasadena/ Altadena.

Read it!

Piety & Power: Mike Pence and the Taking of the White House (2019)

This is one hot of the presses by investigative reporter Tom LoBianco, who had been covering Pence since his Indiana days.

It's a good story of a guy who, although no one but him knows for sure, may have traded his soul for power.  He certainly sacrificed some dignity.

The Indiana background part is interesting, too.

The First Christmas by Marcus Borg and Dominic Crossan (2007)

This is a book about Christmas by my favorite theologians, Borg and Crossan. I've read this 2 or 3 times.  They really get to the meaning of Christmas and don't bother much with whether and what parts are factual.  No matter how long you study it, there's always something new to learn about Christmas.  It's good v. evil, underdog v. the power, light v darkness.  Read this one.

Being the Change: How to Live Well and Spark a Climate Revolution by Peter Kalmus (2017)

This is a book written by JPL/ Cal Tech Professor and Altadena resident, Peter Kalmus. It is mostly about his personal efforts to combat climate change, which include composting, bicycling, and driving an old mercedes fueled by vegetable oil.

It is interesting to get a local perspective on it. I don't know for sure, but it seems he lives about a mile to the west. It is also interesting to me to see the similarities between his take on things and efforts and frugal living and various strains of Catholicism.

The Education of Brett Kavanaugh, an Investigation by Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly (2019)

Brett Kavanaugh is the Supreme Court Justice who was nominated in 2018 on a close party line vote after a contentious hearing in which a woman accused him of assaulting when he was in high school.  At the hearing, he did not admit the accusation but say it was when he was a kid. He did not say he couldn't remember or he may have blacked out. Instead, he denied it categorically.

I think it was that denial that gave investigative journalists the motivation to search out the truth.  This is the first such book out. 

It's not enitrely clear, as you might expect with an accusation of conduct dating back more than 30 years.  But I came away thinking it's more probable than not that he did it.  And the corollary is he probably lied when he denied it last year.  Also, he no longer conducts himself in a boorish manner. And finally, he is a very ambitious person who will do what it takes to get what he wants, which is a seat on the Supreme Court.

It's a good bit of work and interesting to see how they put it all together.

Legacy 10U Fall Ball Season Finale

James hit an inside the parker on the left side in his championship game in the Fall Pony 10U season. He led off the game by getting on top of a pitch

and bounced it up the middle that the shortstop almost but didn't quite stop with his face (and I was happy for both James and him)

and it rolled past the centerfielder

and went with the slope all the way to the wall,

But then the umpire came walking out, and I had worried he would call interference on me and take my son's home run because I had just evacuated the very spot where the ball came to rest...

But fortunately he just came out for a look and said nothing and a split second later my son crossed the plate

and then his teammates came out to mob him...

and for good measure he drove a pitch into left field his second time up for a single...

The team lost, but when a 10U team plays a team that is (or looks like) a 12U team, there's not much you can do.

After the game, the umpire came up to us to let us know he talked to James during the game. He told him that he needs to not be so cocky, as he's still learning and doesn't know much. James is a darn good ball player, he told us, but needs to be teachable to improve.

Roger Maris: Baseball's Reluctant Hero Paperback 2011 by Tom Clavin (Author), Danny Peary

This is the biography of Yankee Slugger, Roger Maris, one half of the M&M boys.  His claim to fame is hitting 61 home runs in '61.  The story focuses on his battles with the press during that year and after. 

the book helped me to build up my database on mid 20th Century pro baseball, which my son is really into. I can educate and prod him a little.

The SUBstiution Order by Martin Clark (2019)

This is a legal thriller by a judge in Virginia.  Writing is more interesting than Grisham but the end is unsatisfying, a little shallow.  This judge has potential.

The Meritocracy Trap by Daniel Markovitz (2019)

Yale Law Professor Daniel Markovitz breaks down on Meritocracy, which is the successor to the old Aristocracy.  It sounds better, but it's just as bad-- a small group of people controlling the rest.  His writing is a bit dense and he tends to repeat himself but it's an important subject and worth the read.

Mickey Mantle: America's Prodigal Son by Tony Castro 2002

This is a biography of the great Yankees switch hitting slugger. It tells something of the times he played and afterward but mostly it is about the great game of baseball and one of the best to have ever played the sport.

The MVP Machine: How Baseball's New Nonconformists Are Using Data to Build Better Players by Travis Sawchik, Ben Lindbergh 2019

This is another great bit of sports journalist. These authors take on the subject of latest trends in player development in baseball. There's lots of good info here I can use to help the youngster, and this book really helps to explain what's going on in Major League Baseball. More home runs, more strike outs, better players, and a more boring game.  What makes sense for a team is bad for the sport generally.

Losing Earth: A Recent History by Nathaniel Rich 2018

This is a good bit of reporting about the politics of climate change from 1979-1989.  There was an awareness of the problem then that is just as clear as now.  It seemed the US was about the address the issue, and then the oil and gas people confused people on the science.

Looking back to 1979 provides an interesting perspective on the thing.  It may be that people don't respond to an emergency until they're nearly dead.

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham (2007)

This is novel about American football in Italy by legal thriller author, John Grisham.  This author is really branching out on this one.  Good for him.  It's a well told story in Grisham style about an un-Grisham like subject.  Read it!

The Grind: Inside Baseball's Endless Season by Barry Svrluga (2015)

A look at the routines of players, management, scouts and others in the Washington Nationals throughout the 2014 season.  Major League Baseball is a traveling show.  There's always something new to learn about baseball.

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World Book by David Epstein (2019)

In this book, sports and science journalist David Epstein explores how people become excellent. There's the Tiger Woods model of a guy who got in 10,000 hours of great practice by age 20. But that's the exception.  What usually happens is people experiment, meander, and then, if they do specialize, specialize late.  Late bloomers rule!

It's a well written and inspiring book.

The Free State of Jones: Mississippi's Longest Civil War (Fred W. Morrison Series in Southern Studies) by Victoria E. Bynum 2001

Story of the Southern Yankees in Mississippi in the Civil War and the mixed race descendants of their leader, Newt Knight. It's an interesting read and says a lot about the Southern mentality.

Operation Yao Ming: The Chinese Sports Empire, American Big Business, and the Making of an NBA Superstar by Brook Larmer 2005

This is a great book about 7'5" Yao Ming's journey from the sports camp in Shanghai to the NBA. It's a fascinating read about how Red China did sports back in the day.  I got in lots of extra detail from the Taoster, whose cousin was a ping pong sports camp in the 1980's.  Read it.

Walk off at All Star Tournament

We had the most exciting youth baseball experience at our League tonight and, although details may fade, I believe James will remember the feeling forever. 

The story starts last Monday when, during fielding practice, James took a bad hop to the right eye.  We were sufficiently concerned that we took him to Urgent Care to get checked out.  No fractured bones, no concussion, no damage to the eye, but he did have a shiner. He was back the next day in batting practice hitting soft toss.  Then the day following he was hitting the machine.  Then the day after that he was back to flyballs and infield workouts. It says something when you're back at it so soon after you're in Urgent Care.

So his team played his first tournament game yesterday and were blown out.  They were relegated to the losers bracket and played their first elimination game tonight.

Tonight, his team was down 6-1 after the first inning and scratched and clawed their way back into the game.  James came up in the fourth inning and hit a sharp grounder to second that kicked off the fielders' glove and brought in two runs.  That tied the game and put his team ahead by a run. 

The game see-sawed into the last inning (6th) when James came up in the bottom half of the inning  with no outs and runner on second.  He swung and missed and then took two balls, and then hit a scorcher down the right field line that was at most 12 inches foul.  So, with the count to 2-2, he went the other way and roped a line drive into left field to drive home the winning run.

His coach picked him up and threw him in the air and caught him. The League President picked up Taoster.  I hugged the safety officer and called him "big boy" and hugged other people I've known for years but not well.  Overall he was 3-3 tonight with a walk.

I've captured what I think is the walk off but it came out really blurry.  Maybe someone else has a better picture.

Here's the game changer write up...

H.'s Walk-off Seals the Deal in Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars Victory Over East Altadena All-Stars

Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars seized victory in dramatic walk-off fashion, thanks to a walk-off double at the end of the game to topple East Altadena All-Stars.  The game was tied at 11 with Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars batting in the bottom of the sixth when James H doubled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run.

Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars earned the victory despite allowing East Altadena All-Stars to score six runs in the first inning.  The offensive onslaught by East Altadena All-Stars was led by #21, #35,  #10, and #9, all sending runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning.

East Altadena All-Stars got on the board in the first inning.  #21 singled on a 1-1 count, scoring two runs.

After East Altadena All-Stars scored one run in the top of the second, Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars answered with one of their own.  East Altadena All-Stars scored when #12 doubled on a 3-1 count, scoring one run.  Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars then answered when Tanner S grounded out, scoring one run.

Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars tallied five runs in the fourth inning.  The offensive onslaught came from singles by Christian Z, Chase B, and James,  by Tanner, and a double by Rocco S.

Henry R led things off on the mound for Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars. He went one inning, allowing six runs on six hits and striking out two.

#21 was on the mound for East Altadena All-Stars. He lasted two innings, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out three.  #10 and #12 entered the game from the bullpen, throwing one and two-thirds innings and one and one-third innings respectively.

Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars scattered 11 hits in the game.  James, Chase, and Rocco each managed multiple hits for Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars.  James led Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars with three hits in three at bats.  Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars tore up the base paths, as five players stole at least two bases. Henry led the way with three.  Central Altadena LL Coast All Stars didn't commit a single error in the field. Eric S had the most chances in the field with seven.

East Altadena All-Stars racked up 12 hits.  #21 and #9 all had multiple hits for East Altadena All-Stars.  #21 went 4-for-4 at the plate to lead East Altadena All-Stars in hits.  #21 led East Altadena All-Stars with three stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with ten stolen bases.

The sports gene : inside the science of extraordinary athletic performance / by Epstein, David J 2013

Good piece of sports journalism by Sports Illustrated writer, David Epstein. Do you want to know what makes good athletes so good?  Read up.  It's good writing on a good subject.

driveway shade project

So we're doing it, no more melting in the driveway.

The plan is to make arches with PVC pipes across the driveway then put on a shade or tarp.  Then maybe do something exotic like grow vines out of bags to crawl up the poles and hten spread out on the top.

Pipes and cinderblock and concrete cost:  $238.00.

We put in a pole across the top today.

Here is the completed project wtih the skeleton and the shade.

 Total is $242 + an additional $8 for miscellaneous for $250.00 for the skeleton + $80 for 2 shades.

The Korean Woman by John Altman (2019)

This is a spy thriller about a North Korean plant in the US.  But it is also an adventure escape story, which is the most interesting part of it. It was a quick read and recommended for the summer, maybe on a beach, maybe after a long bike ride at a Starbucks.

The Incomplete Book of Running (2018) by Peter Sagal

This is a book by the host of NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. It is about the importance of running in his life, as exercise and self-esteem and more.  It is told in an interesting way and is inspiring and thought provoking.

The Fifth Risk (2018) by Michael Lewis

This is good nonfiction. The theme is the impact of the Trump presidential victory on various government agencies and departments. Politics is in, expertise is out.  It's better than the usual current events political book.  There's an in depth look at various scientists with NOAA, USDA etc which makes it worth reading.

grass in the middle yard oak tree circle

There was once an oak tree in the middle yard.

Then in about April 2016 we got a permit to remove it. It was breaking the foundation of the storage room.

We've decided we want grass.  Taoster put in drip irrigation and ordered 80 sq ft of St. Augustine and it's a little more than half installed.

Now, first day of summer, the grass is coming in thick  and lush green and is pretty well established...

Odds Against Tomrrow by Nathaniel Rich (2013)

Novel about a neurotic smart guy who predicts disasters, and how a disaster changed him. It was okay.  It was easy, but not too meaty.  I wish I liked it more.

Say Nothing: A True Story ofMurder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe (2019)

You ever wonder how a legit freedom fighting outfit devolved into bankrobbing gangsters? This book may point you in the right direction. It explores the Time of Troubles in Northern Ireland by focusing on one murder of a mother of 10 during that time.  You follow the spoke from the wheel to the hub-- i.e. Gerry Adams.

This is an interesting, original way to study an important subject.  This is a great read.

Coach: Lessons on the Game of Life by Michael Lewis (2005)

This is a very short book by author and journalist, Michael Lewis, about his high school baseball coach.  We all have those adults in our lives who taught us about life.  For Michael Lewis, it was his coach who taught him how to overcome fear and failure and how to tough it out.  Now parents are trying to get rid of that same coach for teaching those hard lessons. 

Though short, it's an interesting and provocative book. 

Go coaches!

Golden State: A Novel by Ben H. Winter (2019)

This is an interesting premise for a sci-fi story.  California is now its own country called the Golden State. It is a state based upon truth.  Lies can land one in jail.  The writing is good and the plot is interesting until the end, when the story just wilts.

computer room setup with Herman Miller

We've been fixing up the computer room because I'm working there more now. Last weekend checked Craigslist for a Herman Miller. We met a guy who had a bunch of them at a storage facility in San Gabriel and bought a used one (we think manufactured in 2008) for $375.  We also got our printer, a brother MFC J985DW, this week.

So 2 of 3 desks and the chair are used.

The work continues.

Paper Gods: A Novel of Money, Race, and Politics by Goldie Taylor (2018)

This is in essence a murder mystery set involving the mayor of Atlanta and other political figures.  It gets at some of the more interesting truths in the world--every cop's a criminal and all the sinners saints-- but was not a very interesting read. It felt thrown together.

Wall of Fame

Spring means spring cleaning and baseball.  We took James' gazillion hats and made a wall of fame for him. In his life he's played now on 6 spring teams, 1 All Star team, 2 fall ball teams (1 was a half season) and he's been in 3 summer camps.

shoes-- Nike Hurricane

Yesterday we bought a pair of 5.5 kids' size running shoes for James from Kids Footlocker at the Arcadia Mall.  They cost $93+ with tax.  Let's see how long they last.

James will be running with me, except on baseball game days.

oak tree circle

We had some grass left over from the cage project.  We're not sure but we think it's possible it's not dead yet.  So we put as much as was left in the oak tree circle. 

We Cast a Shadow (2018) Maurice Carlos Ruffin

Story set in the near future in Louisiana about an African American attorney, married to a white woman, who worries his son is too black.  Louisiana in the future is more racist than the present and so he tries to make his son white through surgical procedures.  The Dad is a mixed character. You think he's doing the best you can, and then you question it.

It's an interesting story told from an interesting perspective.

cage update

Today is the first day that we've been in to use the cage for baseball since we installed the grass.  First, Taoster and I smoothed over some of the rough spots. We put in the soil under the grass where it was popped up.  Then I wiffleballed with James for about an hour.  He did wear his cleats but mostly went straight through to the batter's box.  We hope to bring in the machine next week.

James has been drafted by the Central Altadena Coast Dodgers and had his first practice today.

Spring training has started and we are in full on baseball mode.

A Place of My Own (1997) Michael Pollan

This is an account of foodie journalist/ author Michael Pollan's construction of a studio on his property.  It is an interesting take on carpentry and architecture and encouraging to know that overly educated people can build things too.

Run Forever (2018) Amby Burfoot

This is basically a "how to run" book written by a former marathoner and former editor of Runner's World.  He's very good practical suggestions that boil down to: don't get discouraged; count the minutes but don't look at the clock; don't worry about your speed; think long term.  The reason I have a minutes chart now is because of him.   This is a good read.

Installation of grass in the cage

When we moved into our house, it had a nice green lawn.  Nice as it was, we were philosophically opposed to the very concept of lawns.  So we killed it and planted vegetables and fruit trees.  We went from suburbia to a cross between Little House on the Prairie and Gilligan's Island.

But we carved out an area for our very talented son to practice batting and ordered a cage on amazon and built it up.  We could not put in vegetables, nor fruit trees, and were still against grass.  So we had a dirt and weed cage....

It's not that we're against dirt.  We love dirt.  But we don't love it on our clothes and in our home, which is where it ended up all too frequently.

So a couple weeks ago we went out to a wholesaler in Camarillo and ordered 580 sq.ft. of Bermuda (baseball) sod and an installation kit.  To meet some of our objections to grass, we got a good drought tolerant blend and decided to water with drip irrigation.  Drip irrigation is installed under the grass and uses a lot less water than sprinklers.

After a good rain, Taoster and I got out all the weeds and clovers (my bright idea to plant clovers as a substitute to grass) and smoothed out the dirt as best we can.  Then she planned out the irrigation system, got the pipes, connected them and put them in. So in the picture below, which was taken a day or two before installation, you can see the black pipes running the length of the cage which are spaced about 13" apart...

The company delivered the sod and soil prep at 6:45am Friday morning, 02/01/2019  The guy brought it on a big truck and couldn't find a parking spot by our home.  So he parked far away and brought it over on a forklift, and put it in our driveway.  The stuff came with instructions to install that day or it will likely be damaged. 

It had rained the day before delivery day, so the ground was good wet, as we needed to be.  Taoster and I spent the better part of the morning and early afternoon moving to the backyard and then installing.  I did the unskilled work of moving it back and Taoster cut the pieces, if necessary, and placed them in neat rows in the cage.


So this is the cage post-installation....

Today, 02/02/2019, the day after installation, we've gotten a good drenching, about 3-4 inches of rain.  Nature has, so far, kept our soil squishy, which is how it needs be for 10 days for it to become established. 

more work on cage

We got driplines today.  we spent $281.  It was about $120 for 250 feet. The driplines irrigate the grass and will go below it.

We also went through the dirt with a fine tooth comb, picking out rocks and weeds and clovers and sweet potatoes.

We will probably need another coil of the drip line. WE have 12 that go 39 feet, and will probably need one more.

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan (2018)

Michael Pollan, the foodie journalist and monster explainer, takes on psychedelics.  He goes over the history and reoprts on his personal experiences with 'shrooms, LSD and others.  It's interesting but I get the sense he thinks he's received a secret knowledge. 

Is it possible to cure an addiction to a mind altering substance (alcohol) with another (psylosibin)?  I don't think so. 

But it is an interesting book and was worth the read.

Hippie Food: How Back-to-the-Landers, Longhairs and Revolutionaries Changed the Way We Eat, Jonathan Kauffman's (2018*

This is a book on the history and philosophy behind granola and brown rice and raw vegetables.  It makes you feel clean and healthy just reading it.   Go for it.

cage project update

Purchased 48x12=580sq ft sod hybrid dark Bermuda Sod at Pacific Sod in Camarillo with starter kit for $462.00 (includes delivery costs).  we started weeding the cage after a big 4 day rain. It's to be delivered on 02/01/2019.