Mon. to Mon., June 23-30, 2025
A short introductory note before we delve into the past week . . .
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
1859 - 1930
Doyle is of course famous for his series of 56 short stories and four novels about the Great Detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his partner in solving crimes, Dr. John Hamish Watson.
The first Holmes short story, A Study in Scarlet, was published in 1887. After publishing the first 23 of these short stories and two full novels about London's super-sleuth, Doyle grew tired of the character and decided to kill Holmes off in Switzerland as he and his arch rival, Dr. James Moriarty, drop to their deaths at Reichenbach Falls in the 1893 short story, The Final Problem.
The only problem with his plan was that the Holmes/Watson fans of Victorian England were incensed and hounded Doyle to somehow bring Holmes back to life.
Thus, in 1901, Holmes returned in the classic novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles.
In the 1903 short story, The Adventure of the Empty Nest, Doyle explains that Holmes faked his own death at Reichenbach Falls in order to avoid other dangerous enemies like the notorious Colonel Sebastian Moran. Doyle would add another 31 of these short stories to the fabulous Canon of Sherlock Holmes.
After receiving several harsh notes from this blog's followers this week about the long stretch between posts, I now know exactly how Doyle felt.
The week in review . . .
We started on Monday with dinner
at Sumo Sushi in Camarillo with the kids
It was the first time that we had gotten together since we returned from our road trip to Seattle.
We had quite the feast
Mary turned her Japanese dessert
into what looked like a chocolate
chip ice cream cone
She is quite the culinary artist when it comes right down to it.
A Catania cart ornament
We dined at the home of Brian and Koreen FitzGerald on Wednesday evening. While cleaning out his mother Shirley's home, Brian found this colorful part of a traditional Sicilian peasant's cart. That it said Catania made it an even better find in my opinion.
Laurie and I lived in Catania in 2008 and 2009 while coaching the hometown Elephants.
On Friday night, I offered to pick up long time friend and old colleague at Rio Mesa H.S., Martha Jimenez-Ito at LAX upon her return from her two week combo Mediterranean cruise and Spain road trip and bring her back to her home in Moorpark.
In return for my efforts, Martha graciously took me out to dinner at . . .
. . . Johnnie's Pastrami in Culver City
WHAT A SANDWICH!
I think that I came out way ahead in our deal.
On Saturday we received some sad news from Hässleholm, Sweden where we lived and coached the home town Hurricanes in 2010.
Our fun loving Defensive Lineman,
Frank Hilgers, had lost his battle
with cancer
Frank embodied everything that a coach wants in a player and teammate, and a family needs from a father and a husband.
When I first got to Sweden in March,
it was COLD!
To show me a bit of the surrounding countryside of my new home, Frank offered to let me tag along as he visited several of his customers.
He even said that he would take me to lunch.
Little did I know that he meant a picnic lunch near a snowy, foggy lake.
A great memory of what turned out to be a fun day.
Frank recreating his Wide Receiver
stance after a game
Yes, Frank played WR in just one game for just one play in order to deliver a great crack back block on a Sweep play that scored the Hurricanes a TD.
By today's standards that then perfectly executed, legal block would draw a 15 yard penalty and a $75,000 fine in the NFL.
I do remember one game on a fine Summer day when Frank told me that he could not suit out because his gout was acting up. I asked him about what he thought may have caused the flare up of his condition. He quickly responded, "Coach, it's grilling season, I just can't help myself."
As one plus sized man to another, I completely understood his wants and needs.
Frank with his wife Thérése and
daughters Sara and Anna
Rest in Peace my friend, you will be missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to have you in their lives.
Sunday was a lot more upbeat . . .
Mary's Dance Group was having
a recital at Rancho Campana H.S.
She did GREAT!
Flowers and a Teddy Bear after
her performance was de rigueur
Poppo and Gigi were proud of her
So were Jacob, Vanessa and Michael
The man in the middle played
Linebacker at Hueneme H.S. for
Michael years ago
His daughter was in the recital as well.
On Monday, Laurie and I headed up to Ventura to run a couple of errands.
After finishing our errands, we
stopped here for some needed caffeine
The Singing Sun had
"Time Tumbled Upcycled Garments"
for sale
Interesting title . . .
Maybe he could help my neck?
He was located just across the street from the Singing Sun.
Next stop was Ventura's Grant Park, high above the city.
It was our first time at this park
and this sign of greeting worried us
more than just a little bit
The Padre Serra Cross overlooking
the Buenaventura Mission that Serra
founded in 1782
The first wooden cross was placed on this sight in 1782 but the elements got to it and a new one was raised in on the same spot in the 1860s.
The third and current wooden cross that we see today was erected in 1912.
The cross has a great view of
the beach and downtown Ventura
Yes, it was windy up here today
Those white plastic sheets in the
distance cover a new area for
growing strawberries
113 years old and still going strong
Dinosaurs sighted on
North Ventura Avenue . . .
. . . and a classic oil well pump,
thanks to the dinosaurs
We decided to continue our drive up to artsy Ojai for lunch.
A purple Tesla in an Ojai
parking lot, GREAT color but
STILL AN UGLY CAR!
In Ojai's Rain's Department Store
As far as our cat, Toby is concerned it is 100% true.
The shade provided by Ojai's
iconic arcade was perfect on this
hot day
This arcade has been in place here since 1917.
Agave Marias got the call
for lunch today . . .
. . . a cool setting to both beat the
heat and enjoy great Mexican food
The warm Ojai climate is
perfect for growing these
agave plants
News from the net . . .
Italian Bowl XLIV was played
in Toledo, Ohio on Saturday
It was no contest as the Firenze Guelfi
dominated the Ancona Dolphins
for the DI crown
All of the 2025 DI Playoff Results
12-0 and on Top of the World
Next weekend, in Cecina, Italy,
the DII and DII Championship
games will be contested
Friday night's Nine Bowl XXV will settle this year's Italian DIII Championship between the Castelfranco Cavaliers (7-1) and the Bari Navy Seals (8-0).
On Saturday evening, the Catania Elephants (9-0) will face the Padova Saints (8-1) in Silver Bowl XXXI for the DII Italian crown.
The turmoil in the European
League of Football continued
Helevetic Mercenaries (0-5) fired
their Head Coach and . . .
did not have enough healthy players
to field a team for their game with
the Nordic Storm (5-0)
As it happens seemingly every week, not a good look for the ELF.
bad looking blowouts
On the other hand, three games decided by six points or less is encouraging.
still three teams looking for their
first wins of 2025
Three games of interest in the
ELF's Week 8 slate
Did you know that our friend
Mark Johnson once had a team
named after him?
The team based in Memphis, Tennessee was part of the Canadian Football League's abortive attempt to expand into the USA in the mid-1990s.
But how do you really feel
about your former coach, Johnny?
The final season of the Cuban Winter
Baseball League was 1961
We were always Almendares fans thanks to my grandfather Evaristo.
So true, especially if . . .
. . . you can get a seat on one of
these babies!
Siracusa, Sicily topped out
at 48.8°C = 119.8°F
MEGA-SCORCHING!
Spain calls our names daily, usually
after we watch the evening news
A new taste treat form Los Angeles'
premier Cuban bakery
YUM!
I really need to try them soon.
Birthday #78 is just a week away
Just saying . . .
Reading Is FUNdamental!
With this as a base thought . . .
. . . I knocked off two more of these
Paris based crime stories
Great fun
I may do this with my next
trip to the Camarillo Public Library
I spent a lot of time at a
University of Washington's Suzzalo
Library's card catalog just like this one
I'm ready July, BRING IT ON!
