Episode LXXXI: California

I traveled home to California for a week and a half in June. Here were at least three good reasons to do so:

First and foremost, I came back to help the Lakers win another championship. They were on the ropes, down 2-3 to the rival Boston Celtics. I came to the rescue, flying in to Los Angeles hours before Game 6, in which they demolished the Celtics. And the rest is history, as they say. The 2010 Lakers went undefeated in the playoffs as long as I was in SoCal.

Second, my dad happened to be celebrating Father’s Day while I was out there. Here he is doing one of his favorite activities, shopping for sweets in the bakery section of the grocery store!

Third, there was this campout going on up in the Sierras (upon which I have formerly reported) which is a lot of fun. This year was no exception. Here are some of the unique aspects of this campout.

First of all, I forgot to bring a pillow. That, plus the fact that I was sleeping on the cold hard ground, and the fact that I played volleyball with the Norrises every day of the week, made for the sorest shoulder I have ever experienced. For a while it was hard to breathe even. But don’t worry: it’s all better!

Kyle and I played in the traditional Shaver Lake horseshoes tournament. Neither one of us expected to be particularly good, but due to a combination of good luck and budding talent, we won the tournament, upsetting the clear #1 seeds and former champions, The Filippis.

And of course there was the lake. I swam in it, I gazed out at it, and I rode upon it.

This trip had one major difference from years past, in that Alicia and Brian decided they had something “better” to do than go camping with us. Which meant I had room to bring my guitar (Yesss! Thanks Brian and Alicia!) We had a few good camp song sessions, including this one, where I learned some traditional Mexican tunes.

I also came home with the official Ironfoot award, for playing volleyball barefoot even though the court was surrounded by forest filled with pine needles, rocks and other various assorted hazards. I’m sure you will be grateful to learn that I will not be displaying a picture of my sap-riddled feet, but will instead close with a picture of the award.

Part II of my vacation will be my next post. Stay tuned.