Saturday, April 15, 2017

Of Las Vegas, Easter Week, the Caribbean and Ever More Nordic Noir


Wwere quite busy the last few weeks with even more travel on the horizon . . .

First stop, Las Vegas to visit Jenn, Andy and Kevin.

As it turned out, we met up with some other dear friends by accident while visiting Sin City.

Kevin marveling at Laurie's
breakfast at Hash House a-Go-Go

 I just ordered a simple apple cinnamon
pancake with eggs and bacon

We had a delightful time as we were joined by UW college roommates Loren and Sandy Brucker, who were with Sandy's sister Luci and husband Bob, who were taking in more than a few shows on the Vegas Strip.

Lots of fun seeing them all even if I forgot to get a group photo amidst all the fun chit chat.

Next up, Kevin's soccer practice!

 Kevin, the "Darth Vader"
of Vegas soccer

 Coach Andy setting the
pre-practice tone

 Jenn helping get Drill #1
get started for the team

 KEVIN SHOOTS . . .

. . . and almost scores

While Coach Jenn helps out yet again, our hero was not daunted in the least by this miss.

On Tuesday night after we left, he scored three goals in the clubs next game!

 Nothing like some EXCELLENT
BBQ after a grueling practice!

 In the evening, I met up with
Jason Johnson near the MGM

Jason was our great QB with Sicily's Catania Elephants back in 2008 and just an all-around good guy.

He was in town to film the Pro Football Arm Wrestling Tournament. The NFL would angrily announce the next day that this tournament was extremely bogus in their opinion.

Oh well.

Heading home after a great four
days in Las Vegas

Kevin had to stay in Nevada.

EXCELLENT croissants
as we left town

Easter Week was upon us and Mike had the week off, so he decided to toil . . .

. . . building the kids a playhouse

Mary liked it!

I did too!

 Well done Mike!

 The Easter Egg Hunt
was a success

We did it on Friday as we are scheduled to be out of Camarillo on Easter Sunday.

Jacob loved the
easter Eggs

Peeps (YUCK!) were part
of Laurie's dessert

But NOT part of Mike's or mine to be sure!

Mary enjoyed her Easter Basket

 Erik, Leslie and Ty Peterson

This morning we joined the Peterson's for a fun breakfast at Camarillo's Eggs and Things. Erik was an excellent defensive lineman for us at Westlake H.S. back in the 1980s and currently coaches at Yosemite H.S.

They were in town to tour the Cal State University-Channel Islands campus as Ty is a Junior in high school and is beginning to prepare for his eventual choice a year from now.

Even though EuroBall Adventure IX in Sweden doesn't start for another two weeks, I just agreed to EuroBall Adventure X in Mexico City!
Coach Jesús Sanchez of the Osos Rivas club in Madrid, that I helped back in October-November, is going to be the Head Coach of the Europe Warriors All-Star team.  They will travel to Mexico City this coming August to play a game against the Pumas UNAM university team who is celebrating their 90th season of playing American football.

Jesús asked me to be his Special Teams Coach with the club and I instantly said "YES!"

Our two months working and living together with Jesús and his family in Madrid led us to two conclusions. First, he is a hard working, knowledgable coach. Second, Laurie and I both trust and respect him as a person.

Saying yes to him was a done deal or as the saying goes, "He had me at hello!"

For more info on the Europe Warriors, go to:
and/or

Next up . . .

 A Trip to the Mother Country

While it will be Laurie's first excursion the the previously forbidden island, I've been there more than a few times, mostly as a child.

We'll be traveling with our friends Mark and Susie Johnson and their two daughters Sophie and Mallory.

Should be a Cuban hoot in weird weather.

Reading Is FUNdamental
Nordic Noir Edition

Great Read!

Enjoyable as well

My obsession with the dark, twisted musings of Camilla Läckberg are due to friends Aiki Parts and Lotta Douhan of the greater Uplands-Väsby megalopolis who first gave me one of Läckberg's books to read .

It is like crack cocaine to this mystery/crime book lover!

Fortunately for me, the Camarillo Public Library has many of her books. I have now consumed five of them with great interest.

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