Sept 7 2009 - End of Summer edition
The time has arrived. The summer of 2009 has come to an end. Astrologically it doesn't end until the position of the sun is exactly on the Equator (0° North/0° South Latitude). What it means is school begins the following day, although most areas had their school years begin one to two weeks earlier. LAUSD's school year officially begins tomorrow. Traffic of course will increase - meaning more cars will be on the Harbor Freeway than in the previous four months.
Its been a fun one - of course nothing will ever beat the Summer of 1983 for me - but this summer was filled with some opportunities that I am taking advantage of. Its sort of sad that it has to end with that horrible Station Fire which has destroyed more than 150,000 acres in the Angeles National Forest; right now its more than 50 percent contained. By next week full containment is expected - however, the reprecusions of this devastating fire may be felt if heavy rains occur in this area during the upcoming rain season.
That and the shocking death of Michael Jackson last June were the top headlines from Memorial Day up to now. I'm sure the Jacksons will find a way to move on after this tragedy. MJ was to pop music what David Von Erich was to pro wrestling, and what John F Kennedy was to politics. Three very important figures - all of whom who were able to change the world - all of whom taken away so soon.
$$
Time now for an 85 Silver moment. The 1984 football season started out promising - first game against Chaparral, we were beat. Merlin Olsen cleat gone - not to be seen again until 1991, the year we won the Nevada State football championship. Sherrill Stephens was the head football coach, as Mike Gutowski stepped down previously. Like him or hate him, Coach Stephens' track record has proven to produce positive results, both in football and basketball. The 84 squad went 3-6 last year; won some key games, and came very close to beating the Wildcats, but Vegas came back and won that game late in the 4th Quarter, which also ended our chance to go to the post season for the first time since 1978. Cary Mitchell, whom came in around 86 or so, proved to be better of course.
Girls Volleyball was inside the Sportatorium with Mrs. Bright as the head coach; Mike Mundt coached Tennis; and if I'm not mistaken, Cross Country meets were held at that time. Golf and Bowling was also a part of the fall season if I'm not mistaken.
The senior year started off great - for me, I was expecting a little bit more. In life, there is a reason things change; sometimes change is good. I was very disappointed that Shawn was not at Eldorado anymore, and a few others like Dan Bennett and Trish Green vacated the premises. And it did affect me in some way - if it was pro wrestling, I could've turned from babyface to a heel (a la Chris Adams during that time frame). I disappointed a few people for some things I've done and/or said that year - perhaps the pressure of that Government class got the best of me. One thing that I wasn't happy about was January 17, 1985. Shawn was in a car wreck that day; and I didn't know about this until seven months later. What's worse is - I drove by this accident on Boulder Highway as I was heading to Henderson to see the Wolves and the Sundevils battle it out in basketball. The good side of the coin is, Shawn's still with us - all is well, and everything turned out right for her. Dan of course came back after 5/22 and we hung out regularly - even Bart joined us for a few misadventures. I'll never forget the day I dived into three feet of water at Lake Mead - got scrapes as a lesson out of it.
Oh in superlatives, I was selected "Most Spirited" along with Britta Carlson. Ha ha - I actually took John Eckert's place in that category. Back in those days some of these yahoos called me "John Eckert's buddy". Ummmm. When I was rooting for the Sundevils, I was rooting for them as Robert Donahoo, not as John Eckert. He had his way of cheering the Devils on. My way was to let the songleaders and cheerleaders do their thing, and allow me to help out the football program with my encouragement and stats too.
There should be one other superlative: Best gang - that would be the HPD crew.
I still say Mr. Jerkdo is a goof. Him and his Commodore computers. At least when I took Data/Word Processing, we worked with Apple II - far better than Commodore.
$$
The first week of the L.A. County Fair had a good turnout, but I think the first two days didn't generate a huge turnout as it did last year. I don't go back to Pomona again until Friday - and will be there again tomorrow and Sunday; then for the last three weeks I'm there from Thursday through Sunday. So 15 more days to go.
$$
It is not yet official, but I am going to be coming to Las Vegas next month. The plans need to be drawn out of course, but I am planning to spend at least four, if not five days there in the middle of October. It was a toss-up between Las Vegas and San Francisco, and I decided to head to the place I used to call home. I do love to hook up with some of you when I'm there, so stay tuned as the details have not yet been finalized.
That's it for now. Dan Bennett, if you're out there and on FB, drop me a line. Love to hear from you.
RD
Its been a fun one - of course nothing will ever beat the Summer of 1983 for me - but this summer was filled with some opportunities that I am taking advantage of. Its sort of sad that it has to end with that horrible Station Fire which has destroyed more than 150,000 acres in the Angeles National Forest; right now its more than 50 percent contained. By next week full containment is expected - however, the reprecusions of this devastating fire may be felt if heavy rains occur in this area during the upcoming rain season.
That and the shocking death of Michael Jackson last June were the top headlines from Memorial Day up to now. I'm sure the Jacksons will find a way to move on after this tragedy. MJ was to pop music what David Von Erich was to pro wrestling, and what John F Kennedy was to politics. Three very important figures - all of whom who were able to change the world - all of whom taken away so soon.
$$
Time now for an 85 Silver moment. The 1984 football season started out promising - first game against Chaparral, we were beat. Merlin Olsen cleat gone - not to be seen again until 1991, the year we won the Nevada State football championship. Sherrill Stephens was the head football coach, as Mike Gutowski stepped down previously. Like him or hate him, Coach Stephens' track record has proven to produce positive results, both in football and basketball. The 84 squad went 3-6 last year; won some key games, and came very close to beating the Wildcats, but Vegas came back and won that game late in the 4th Quarter, which also ended our chance to go to the post season for the first time since 1978. Cary Mitchell, whom came in around 86 or so, proved to be better of course.
Girls Volleyball was inside the Sportatorium with Mrs. Bright as the head coach; Mike Mundt coached Tennis; and if I'm not mistaken, Cross Country meets were held at that time. Golf and Bowling was also a part of the fall season if I'm not mistaken.
The senior year started off great - for me, I was expecting a little bit more. In life, there is a reason things change; sometimes change is good. I was very disappointed that Shawn was not at Eldorado anymore, and a few others like Dan Bennett and Trish Green vacated the premises. And it did affect me in some way - if it was pro wrestling, I could've turned from babyface to a heel (a la Chris Adams during that time frame). I disappointed a few people for some things I've done and/or said that year - perhaps the pressure of that Government class got the best of me. One thing that I wasn't happy about was January 17, 1985. Shawn was in a car wreck that day; and I didn't know about this until seven months later. What's worse is - I drove by this accident on Boulder Highway as I was heading to Henderson to see the Wolves and the Sundevils battle it out in basketball. The good side of the coin is, Shawn's still with us - all is well, and everything turned out right for her. Dan of course came back after 5/22 and we hung out regularly - even Bart joined us for a few misadventures. I'll never forget the day I dived into three feet of water at Lake Mead - got scrapes as a lesson out of it.
Oh in superlatives, I was selected "Most Spirited" along with Britta Carlson. Ha ha - I actually took John Eckert's place in that category. Back in those days some of these yahoos called me "John Eckert's buddy". Ummmm. When I was rooting for the Sundevils, I was rooting for them as Robert Donahoo, not as John Eckert. He had his way of cheering the Devils on. My way was to let the songleaders and cheerleaders do their thing, and allow me to help out the football program with my encouragement and stats too.
There should be one other superlative: Best gang - that would be the HPD crew.
I still say Mr. Jerkdo is a goof. Him and his Commodore computers. At least when I took Data/Word Processing, we worked with Apple II - far better than Commodore.
$$
The first week of the L.A. County Fair had a good turnout, but I think the first two days didn't generate a huge turnout as it did last year. I don't go back to Pomona again until Friday - and will be there again tomorrow and Sunday; then for the last three weeks I'm there from Thursday through Sunday. So 15 more days to go.
$$
It is not yet official, but I am going to be coming to Las Vegas next month. The plans need to be drawn out of course, but I am planning to spend at least four, if not five days there in the middle of October. It was a toss-up between Las Vegas and San Francisco, and I decided to head to the place I used to call home. I do love to hook up with some of you when I'm there, so stay tuned as the details have not yet been finalized.
That's it for now. Dan Bennett, if you're out there and on FB, drop me a line. Love to hear from you.
RD
posted by Robert @ 7:00 PM
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