Northern California is on FIRE!

A few months ago it was Southern Cal, now the fires have started up north here. Video from KCRA Local News: http://www.kcra.com/video/16683995/

With the particulate matter measurement at 155, a person could be seriously harming themselves running, biking or walking outside here in the Sacramento Valley. According the "Spare the Air" chart, Orange 100-150 PM/ Red 151-200 PM. Yep, the air quality has been deemed "unhealthy" by the officials. Who are they? Is that my friend Laura? Was that YOU!? :)

They say the air will continue to be bad for the next few days! WHAT!?? Someone doesn't understand that this is my week for VACATION!

I decided to suit up, put a handkerchief over my mouth and get on Ruby, my road bike. In about an hour and a half, I rode about 25 miles. I didn't die, I didn't even cough. Not once. Just had a lot of fun taking in all of nature. It is so sad that the hills are on fire, and I pray they can contain the fires, so no one is forced from their homes.

Here in Folsom, this is what I captured on my camera phone. You can't even tell it was so smokey. This is the "new" bridge which is right next to the old "Rainbow Bridge." The American River is just so beautiful. And to think this is all in my back yard. I love my home!

I figure that if I was going to die, skin cancer would get me first for all those summer days I laid out slathered in baby oil paying no mind to the damaging rays of the sun. And I mean YEARS of summer days!

Čau Praha!

I just can't wait for September to roll around. That is when my dear friend Kristina and I are heading to the Czech Republic. This has been a life-long dream. I've been to the UK/ Ireland, and all over Western Europe, but never made it to Prague. Many friends of mine have been and have given tips on where we should go, what we should see. Will there be enough time? We'll be there for a week and then get to hop down to Vienna and Salzburg.

One of the most architecturally rich cities in the world, Prague was one of the only Eastern cities left untouched during Nazi rule.

Some 1939 exerpts from "The Guardian UK" newspaper:

"...Prague, a sorrowing Prague, yesterday had its first day of German rule - a day in which the Czechs learned of the details of their subjection to Germany, and in which the Germans began their measures against the Jews and against those people who have "opened their mouths too wide."
Prague's streets were jammed with silent pedestrians wandering about, looking out of the corners of their eyes at German soldiers carrying guns, at armoured cars, and at other military precautions. Some Czechs were seen turning up their noses at the Germans.
Germans were everywhere. Bridges were occupied by troops and each bridge-head had a heavy machine-gun mounted on a tripod and pointing to the sky. Every twenty yards along the pavement two machine-guns were mounted facing each other..."

"...Herr Hitler left Prague yesterday, guarded by armoured cars, after a stay of 22 hours, during which he did not emerge from Hradcany Castle, which has been turned into a fortress. People in the streets through which he passed hardly knew he was there. He has had almost no contact with the Czech people..."

Oh how thankful I am that Hitler left Prague as he found it. Beautiful. There is just so much to see!

The beautiful churches and sights in the Vinohrady District....

Walk acoss the Charles Bridge....

and, of course tour the Prague Castle....

But... lest we think all the beauty of Prague is to be found in old, lifeless architecture, Kristina has pointed out that we should also be on the lookout for the "living art" with which God blessed the Czech Republic...

the Earth's #1 athlete Czech decathalete: Roman Sebrle!

Oh, yes. He is every bit as picture-worthy as anything! Here's to "bumping into" Mr. Sebrle. Mmmm, mmm, mmm!

McLaren = McLove

No kidding, I saw a McLaren yesterday! So, for those of you who believe that Sacramento is a poor cow town -- let that be a lesson to you! An older gentlemen pulled up beside me on Folsom-Auburn Boulevard. (I think he must be used to folks staring -- my gawking didn't really seem to effect him.) I had been staring in the rear view mirror for some time as it drove up. I continued to admire through the 2 minute light. WOW is all I can say! And then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone. It's not fair being teased like that. "Please Sir, would you take me for a little ride?"

Here's some interesting research on the most beautiful car I've ever seen:
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is an Anglo-German sports car jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive, built in Portsmouth and the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. Daimler AG, owner of Mercedes-Benz, also owns 40% of the McLaren Group.

It is the fastest automatic transmission car in the world. Due to the presence of the automatic gear box, front mid-engined arrangement and its driving characteristics lead some commentators to classify the SLR McLaren as a GT whose rivals can be considered to be the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish and Ferrari 599 GTB.

[Note: SLR stands for "Sport, Leicht, Rennsport" (sport, light, racing)] Mercedes-Benz has stated that they will build 3500 SLRs in a span of 7 years, with an annual production of only 500 cars.

The car uses carbon fibre for its entire body construction in an attempt to keep the weight low. Despite CFRP materials the total curb weight is 1768 kg (3898 lb).The following tests have proven that the SLR can achieve a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 360 km/h (224 mph) .

Car and Driver achieved a 0-60 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.75 seconds. C&D suggests the times may be even lower if temperatures were lower. Car and Driver achieved top gear acceleration 30-50 mph and 50-70 mph times of 1.7 and 2.4 seconds, which are the fastest ever recorded by the magazine in a production car.


So maybe you are wondering what will this Chariot of the Gods set you back? The car's base price is GB£300,000 (approx. US$495,000 or €475,000.)

Maybe I should focus on a buying and paying off a home here in Cali first, right? :)

Get Smart America!

Looks like Vespa is sending a message to all Americans: "Get Smart!" I went and saw the 60's movie re-make with Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway. Hilarious. In one of their get-away scenes, instead of hopping in the typical V8 Bond car, the two of them jump on a silver LX 150. I just had to grin...

...because about a month ago, I decided that I was sick and tired of paying $75 at the pump each week to fill my gas-guzzler. So... I made a life-long dream a reality! I bought "Bella." She is oh, so beautiful -- a pretty Portofino green with suede leather seat and shiny chrome. I love her because not only can I honor my Italian heritage, and pretend I'm buzzing in front of the Tivoli Fountain as Audrey did in Roman Holiday, but I can "get smart and do my part" in this whole gasoline mess! I'm happy to report she gets 80-85 miles to the gallon. If I ever have to pay in cash at the station and I slap a 10-spot on the counter and mention to the cashier that I'll be back for change, they give me the best looks! (ha ha) Then again, so does everyone else as I drive by. At first it was cute, but now I have people stopping me at the traffic lights wanting to have a conversation about where I bought it, how much it costs, etc, etc...

Go on, admit it. You like her, don't you? So... what are you waiting for!? Have a look for yourself: http://www.vespausa.com/Products/LX.cfm

If you come visit me, I'll even let you have a test drive. You'll fall in love!

Moving Targets

Target on the Job
Oh, man. I think I've been called the b-word in at least 7 or 8 languages now, by both students and parents. Being the bad guy -- the one who testifies for the school in expulsion hearings, I have found, paints a big, red target on your back. Maybe it's just because I'm tired, but today's verbal attack in the hallway, after the discipline hearing, brought me to tears. (Of course, I made it to the bathroom before letting anyone see.) It's so hard when you give so much of yourself to help a kid and they (along with their parents) repay you by attacking you. Question: Is it really true what they say about moving targets? If that is, in fact, true, I gotta make sure I'm never in one place that long. Maybe last one to the meeting, and first one out?

Target in Dating
As long as we're already going with the target metaphor, would the same concept be true for dating? If it's difficult to hit a moving target, would that NOT appeal to the "hunter" in a man? It's been long-time common knowledge that women who are "too available" or who give themselves over without a chase of any kind, can quickly lose the interest of men. If this is true, then are women not best suited to present themselves as attractive "prey" and then "dash out of the thicket" as quickly and gracefully as possible? Example: Critical entrance to a party, not focusing on any man for too long, etc, etc. The only problem I have experienced here is: the prey doesn't actually get to pick hunter, and, after all, dating is "open-season." Question: What to do when you are shot by the wrong one? Or, the one YOU like hasn't re-loaded his gun or, worse, due to prior dating injury, is gun-shy? Even better question: What would dating be like if the the prey and the hunter swaped roles?

God Bless the Cops

I love COPS. Or better stated, peace officers. Although, today, this is a lesser-used moniker. It's very true that, among other public servants, they are certainly underappreciated. If you ask me, that's a sad commentary on America.

I work with the cops everyday. They make my life a WHOLE lot easier. I'd say we have a mutually beneficial working relationship. I boot the kids off campus for breaking the law under the Education Code, and my cops help to either: 1) bring them back safely in one piece, or
2) pass'em on down the line to Juvy for violating some other part of the law. Yes, you might say we work in concert.

Given my relationship with said law enforcement, I'm still not to be exempted from the long-arm reach of the law. You should know that I regularly travel down the Rancho end of the Folsom Blvd. corridor every morning at increased speeds to avoid the traffic of the 50 Highway. On my way, I pass either Officer de la Cruz, or Officer Limpach who just smile and shake their heads.

As a joke, my officers left this sitting on my desk the other morning. They must really love me, don't you think? Ahh, the benefits of being a public servant...

The Dangerous Book for Boys

I don't know if you've heard about this wonderful book. It's been on the best-seller list in the UK and USA for a long while now. I managed to score it @ Costco this weekend for a mere $13.50 a copy (hard-bound.) My father is a bit of a Renaissance Man, and, I can't think a guy who'd love this book more, so I bought a copy for him. In addition, I'm having a rocket kit mailed to accompany the book for several more hours of fun! *grin* (Afterall, mom needs just one more reason to get upset with dad, who, much to mother's dismay, loves to fly his remote-controlled helicopters in the family room downstairs.)

Any birthdays or special occasion coming up for the men in your life? Honestly, you've got to check out this book

Some chapter headings:
-Making a Bow-and-Arrow
-The Five Knots Every Boy Should Know
-Understanding Grammar (Parts I, II, and III)
-Famous Battles (Waterloo, The Alamo, Gettysburg, etc. complete with field maps)
-A Simple Electromagnet
-Making a Battery
-Building a Rocket
-The Declaration of the Independence
-The Moon
-Marbling Paper and Grinding an Italic Nib
-Intro to Shakespeare
-Girls
-Timers and Tripwires
-Latin Phrases Every Boy Should Know
-The Game of Chess
-Seven Wonders of the World
-How to Cook a Rabbit
-How to Play Poker
...the list goes on and on.


When one opens the cover of the book, one encounters this quote:
"Don't worry about genius and don't worry about not being clever. Trust rather to hard work, perserverance and determination. The best motto for a long march is 'Don't grumble, plug on.' You hold your future in your own hands. Never waiver in this belief. Don't swagger. The boy who swaggers -- like the man who swaggers -- has little else that he can do. He is a cheap Jack, crying his own paltry wares. It is the empty tin that rattles most. Be honest. Be loyal. Be kind. Remember that the hardest thing to acquire is the faculty of being unselfish. As a quality, it is one of the finest attributes of manliness."

--Sir Frederick Treves Sgt. in Ordinary to HM the King