Post-vacation edition

Well, it's all over. My 9-day off time has come to an end, and it's back to business tomorrow in Pasadena. My next off-time will occur on Thanksgiving week - which is 8 1/2 weeks away. Those weeks usually gets here pretty quick, so I'm looking forward to another 5-day off period. I am planning to head up north for Thanksgiving - my first trip up there for Turkey Day since 2003.

This vacation time was not really worth writing about - I was looking forward to joining you people up north for the homecoming festivities. Vehicle issues prevented me from doing that; and the varsity team went down in defeat at the hands of Desert Pines.

I did see by the pictures that a handful of the legends of the Sunrise Mountain area were at PT's Pub for the after-game festivities. Good to see - and another get-together is planned this weekend for Jimmy's birthday.

The Cavalier is all set and ready for takeoff for that festivity - so nothing will stop me from going there I hope.

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I am now promoting myself more these days, and hopefully this will be the right vehicle for bigger and better things for me. It is apparent that I am not going anywhere where I'm at now, and that is usually the indication that it's time to move on. I am eying two areas of interest where I will go next, and that is in Southern California and in Las Vegas. I have also considered Kingman AZ as a possible place to live and work - and if the price is right, I may make the move to Kingman. A bit strange going from the second largest city in the United States to a smaller town, but these days - my playing days are pretty much over.

Plus, with the bridge opening up soon - the drive between Kingman and Las Vegas will be cut significantly. Crossing Hoover Dam these days has been a challenge due to the construction.

We'll see. I may end up back in Las Vegas - initially in Henderson, and as time progresses, I'll relocate to the far western portion of the valley; where it's about 10 degrees cooler than the valley floor and it rains more on that side than it does elsewhere.

Anyway, that will be my main focus. Pat Geary returned to the valley almost two years ago - and I will be the next one to return. Stay tuned...

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Today is the 20-year anniversary of the heartbreak of 1990. I won't go into details about it - but let's just say that an individual from Duchesne, UT whom I will leave nameless, who I had strong feelings for back in 1989 did me wrong - and I discovered this person was preggo with the guy she dissed me for. This is probably where my life changed. Now everybody knows the hotties I've been associated with during the old Sunrise Mountain days - and this one was a knockout too. As they say, she was a devil in disguise...

Blah - ancient history. I'm better off now than I was in 1990.

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I will in all probability take a breather from the online world for a while and join Cheryl Cross in the real world - however, I will be with you Thursday to run all the football lowdown your way - as the first true Battle of Sunrise Mountain looms Friday night at the new stadium.

The Miners and The Sundevils. This should be nooooo problem at all. I'm not sure if there will be a prize possession up for grabs - had there been one, I probably could've donated my International Scout to the team who wins the game and owns the Scout for a year - or maybe my British shirt I wore from 1983-89. Oh well... :-\

OK folks - have a safe week, and reach for the stars. Talk to you Thursday. :)

Robert Donahoo

prelude to tomorrow's big day, homecoming memories and more

A somewhat busy day on tap for me today as I begin preparations for my return home. If all goes well, I will be departing early in the morning, and hope to arrive in Las Vegas before noon. I'll tell you, these five-hour long treks will wear you out, even moreso after you've traveled the same road over and over and over. I estimated that I've taken the I-15 between Las Vegas and Southern California at least 50 times since my initial trip over 22 years ago.

A lot has changed - in 1988, the Maximum Speed was 65 MPH in the open areas, 55 MPH elsewhere, as the law that Tricky Dick put into effect back in 1974 was not fully repealed. As you might expect, I was prepared.

Today, the I-15 is mostly three-lanes each direction, except between Barstow and the Nevada State Line, where it is two lanes with a truck lane on an as-needed basis. The Maximum Speed is 70 MPH now, except 65 coming out of the Cajon Pass heading south.

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Well, as Jim Perry used to say on television, we're going down to the wire with the final two days of homecoming week. I'm not sure what the theme for today is - back in our days there, we had some interesting themed days, including one in which the girls were dressed up as guys - too funny. Anybody that was there who remembers those wacky days, please let me know. And of course, per tradition, on Fridays it was Maroon & Gold day. That's the granddaddy of them all as everyone starts the countdown to the big show at Sundevil Stadium, preceded of course by a pep rally inside the Sportatorium.

Not sure how that will go tomorrow, as I unfortunately will not partake in the festivities inside the old barn - but, I will be there for the big show and hopefully join my old comrades on the track for the halftime festivities which will also include the selection of the king and queen for 2011.

I sort of wish my experience with the 84-85 homecoming was different - first off, my partner in crime bailed before the start of the year, so I was riding solo. Second, the hotties whom I was looking to take Shawn's place were already spoken for - so there goes my selection for homecoming king. And third, the team got beat by bleeping Las Vegas High School on a field goal towards the end of the game - a great homecoming that turned into a unfortunate defeat, and knocking us out of the post-season. Britta and Jason evidently was chosen as the queen and king for 1985 - I had my vote for Britta; not sure who I voted for in the king category.

I also helped coordinate some of the festivities for the day - why I didn't realize the potential that I had back then to be a promoter - that is beyond me. At the age of 17 - my life was going different directions. At 43 - it's a little different.

I'm not sure if we ever won a homecoming game in my four years I was there. We certainly didn't in 1981 - and that was a rare daytime game between Eldorado and Rancho. Not sure about 1982 though - 1983 i think we played against the Wildcats and we beat them.

That year - 1983 - was a great year. It was also my first year going to the games as I was not well known to be there in '81 or '82. I do remember Michele Pope one time inviting me to join them for one of their games back in '82 - and that was the day when a big thunderstorm rolled in, and I had to get outta there and get home, which I did in time. Days later, I came down with a serious illness that sidelined me for a week.

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Here's the lineups for the "original ten". For those who don't know, the original ten are the ten schools that were around in the 1980s.

BASIC - vs Silverado

BONANZA - vs Western

CHAPARRAL - at Rancho

CLARK - at Sierra Vista

ELDORADO - vs Desert Pines

GORMAN - at De La Salle (Concord, CA) - Saturday

LAS VEGAS - vs Valley

RANCHO - vs Chaparral

VALLEY - at Las Vegas

WESTERN - at Bonanza

Eldorado is currently ranked #32 in the MaxPreps rankings for Nevada.

Hammonton's Blue Devils, who are 2-0, will be at home against Oakcrest. In El Paso, Andress (2-1) plays host to Burges, who are 1-2. Parkland will be at Canutillo, and Irvin (1-3) plays Chapin tonight.

I will not be able to provide all the coverage of the games tomorrow as I will be at Eldorado covering their game against Desert Pines. For the first time, I will be reporting the game on FB live as it happens, so you want to be tuned to that.

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That's all for now. Have a safe Thursday, everyone.

Rob returns - Sept 22, 2010

Hello everyone - as most of you know, I have been posting blogs on Facebook - and evidently I will be migrating those postings over here once I figure out how to do that.

I am taking a breather from work (much needed too) for a week, and I am halfway through it. Back home in Las Vegas, Eldorado High School will be saluting the Class of 1985 - which to me is the most famous of all classes to grace this great school. There have been many others, including the Charter Classes of 1974-78, but overall - of the 37 graduating classes, I think we are number one. This group had a handful of creative minds, spirited, caring and sensational individuals - each and every one of them whom I've known since day one.

It is going to be a great night Friday night - it will be my first appearance there since 1996...right about the time a young man by the name of Steven Jackson, began his legendary tenure here. Of course you know where he is now.

Looks like I will be heading out to Las Vegas on a regular basis between now and the next six months. Would love to do that at least once every two months between now and the time things warm up over there. I am not a fan of the summer heat there, and these days the nights have been very warm because of the island effect. At this point in time I am making changes for the better. There's an old saying - when it starts getting old, its time to move on to something else.

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I am thinking of starting up my own company - titled Robert Donahoo Productions. The emphasis of Robert Donahoo Productions at this point in time is photography, road travel, passing on my experiences to the youth of today, and so on. I go a lot of directions here, folks - I don't stay one one subject.

My first project with Robert Donahoo Productions has been a success, and that was coordinating the class reunion for the Eldorado Class of 1985. I was mostly the voice to pass the word out to everyone, while Jimmy, Sean, Pat, Gina and Suey took care of the rest. The event occurred on May 22, 2010 - and believe me, I've had many people commend me for bringing this group together. Keep in mind that there was no 20-year reunion, and if there was no 25-year event, that would occur over my dead body. I was not going to let that happen. Part two will take place over the weekend, and hopefully there will be a part three before the 86 group takes over.

As a matter of fact, I feel that it isn't about the 85 class - I think the adjacent classes that we with us during that time from 1982-88 is considered one big group, just like the charter classes of 74-78. I consider a few from the 86 class, specifically Brenda Mills, as an honorary '85er.

I am sure that between now and 2015 we will gather again. I am planning an event in January to commemorate the 30th anniversary of my Las Vegas debut.

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Very disappointed with the Dodgers - what a mess that organization is, both on the field and off the field. I hope come next year that things will be better for them. The Padres are doing whatever they can to turn on the afterburners and push themselves to the post-season. The Angels, they will have to wait till next year unfortunately.

Looking forward to the Kings hockey season - I think they have a good chance to make it to the Stanley Cup.

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I just read the other day that CalTrans is proposing a freeway that will link Victorville with the Antelope Valley. I think this may work, but to be honest, there should be a link between Barstow and Bakersfield as well. It will take several years for that to happen, hopefully when it's done, it will improve traffic flow between SoCal and Las Vegas - along with the new high-speed rail.

The bridge that will cross the Colorado River will be opening up in November - hopefully that will improve things in terms of traveling between Las Vegas and Kingman - and perhaps start a growth in Kingman.

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A special shout out to certain people, most notably Lydia Cornell, Lori Weckhorst and Sandy Hollowinski. You three are very special and dear friends - and are survivors too, with a positive outlook in life mixed with a good sense of humor. I think everyone in this world should have that.

More from me tomorrow - I will be preparing for my return to Las Vegas - 2nd time out there this year. When was the last time I said that???

Enjoy your Wednesday, everyone.