OK, if SF and Caen can do it, so can we.  I’m good enough, I’m smart enough and doggone it, people like me. Onward…

At a recent meeting of the very exclusive Tahoe Sipping Club, many of its senior members, who are rapidly approaching 60 or looking back upon it with fond memories, begat a conversation about age. Seems we “younger” members, those of us preparing to bid farewell to our 30’s, are lamenting our lost youth more than our elders, one of which exclaims with much zeal that “40’s are considered the new 30’s”. Not sure what that means but if it means another 10 years of newborns, low pay and RIF's, I’ll take the old 40’s thank you very much.

At the risk of putting myself in jeopardy of spreading false rumors, a little Rockin’ Robin tells me that a classic rocker from my 80’s heyday has recently taken up residence in our cozy hamlet. Perhaps Clayton will become known as a Rock n’ Roll retirement community with myriad ex-rockers hollering at each other to “turn down that damn music.” Ah, those glorious tunes from my misspent youth. I wish they still wrote ‘em like that, but alas, they just don’t. If the rumor mill is on target and should said rocker care to contact said writer the latter would love to discuss doing a profile piece. I’d also like to give your pool a test dive. Enough said.

Speaking of misspent youth, be it known that Wolverine season officially began on September 4 when the Bellevue Washington Wolverines sunk their teeth into the De La Salle Spartan’s 151 game winning streak and came away with an un-sated taste for blood that left De La Salle nursing a 19 point loss, their first in 13 years. Kidding aside, while I sympathize with the kids under whose watch it occurred, it had to happen sometime. Exciting as it was, each game had become a sort of gridiron Russian roulette—will this game be the one?—with “The Streak” becoming more the focus than the game.  Now that the pressure's off, let them go back to being high school kids playing football and not the defenders of a legacy. It’s been one hell of a run and I tip my hat to my alma mater; Bob Ladouceur, Terry Eidson and all who give of their time, talent and love to the kids. And to the Wolverines let me just say congratulations and enjoy your 15 minutes because DLS WILL be back. Like death and taxes, it is one of the few assurances in this world.

School tales continued…Luckiest School Award goes to Sun Terrace Elementary in Concord for their incredible good fortune in hiring my wife, Lisa, as one of their 1^st Grade teachers. They have no idea just how fortunate they are. A truer calling to the Teacher-hood I have yet to encounter. I wish her much luck and love.

Medieval Botany…Soccer season is upon us once again and soon the multitudes of Sharks, Gators and Mini-Hulks will be mobbing up and down the field. On this subject, I believe I’m safe in awarding The Medieval Pumpkins the Most Interesting and lets face it, Disturbing Name Award. There’s GOT to be a story behind the creation of that one. If you know it, pass it on please.  Also, some how I got roped into being a referee for the Under 7 league. At this level, in addition to learning the basics of the game you’re also given “Emotional Safety” training. This would be of the “sticks and stones” variety. I understand the upper level refs also receive hand-to-hand combat training and a crash course in offensive whistle blowing tactics.  I’m hoping to get a dishonorable discharge before my kid ascends through the ranks.

So what’s all this talk about some sort of election in November? Has anyone else heard about this? It seems I am accosted at every turn by the faithful legions of Georgie and Johnny. Many are very angry. Perhaps they are all those disgruntled OB-GYNs whom Georgie claims are unable to “practice their love of woman all across this country.” (see link) http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=6168625

When will they learn not to let him speak anymore? Does my fun poking make me a Johnny Jump Up? Maybe, maybe not. I try to limit my political opinions to the voting booth. It’s safer in there. But I will tell you this, I’m not voting for that skinny rat faced guy.

On a lighter note, in my attempt to feel Caen-ish, conduct a bit of research and check the pulse of the local community by way of throwing back a few,  (oh hell whom are we kidding. It was an excuse to throw back a few) I dropped into Linguini’s the other night where Paul was treading the planks. While Paulie claims to still have the Chronicle issue with Herb’s last column (I think that’s what he said; the A’s and the Rangers were playing on the screen behind him) he was unfamiliar with my request for a Vitamin V.  I explained the ingredients: Stoli, rocks and soda in a wineglass topped with a slice of orange. Paul only had a tangelo behind the bar. Fortunately, while never a Boy Scout, I came prepared with my own orange and Paul proceeded. I was a little self-conscience being the only one at the bar with out a beer in front of him (not to mention fruit in his glass) However, my verdict: not bad but I can see that this will require additional research. I left a copy of young Caen’s column, explaining the birth of the Vitamin V, on the bar as a quasi calling card and headed out into the warm Clayton evening.

Take that Caen…