Red Devils Return to Pacifica #8 -- June 26, 2014

Pacifica is one of the two cities on the San Francisco peninsula that allow the sale of fireworks. I was in the other city, San Bruno, on Wednesday and say a stand in a parking lot.  When I got back to Pacifica, I saw more stands.  I took a photo of this one in the parking lot at Pedro Point on 25-June-2014.  We had just eaten dinner at La Playa. 

Saturday after mass we drove down to Half Moon Bay and had dinner at Cameron's Pub and Inn, which is located in a former bordello with two double-decker buses parked outside. They serve as smoking rooms. I had shepherd's pie and my wife had bangers and mash. All good. 

In order to get to Half Moon Bay, we had to pass through the new Highway One detour.  They are replacing the bridge over San :Pedro Creek.  The road is coned off on the south side of Linda Mar Boulevard.  Traffic on One can turn left onto Linda Mar Boulevard, or right onto the road to Pedro Point and over the city's bridge.  Exits from the Pedro Point parking lot are blocked.  There is one entrance to the parking lot.  Near the Ace Hardware, there is a stoplight, where traffic can turn right to Pedro Point or slightly left to connect to Highway One.  The only exit from the parking lot is on Pedro Point road.  Traffic is going to be detoured for two years while they replace the bridge and remediate the creek bed.  It should reduce flooding. 

Yesterday, Tim Lincecum pitched his second no hitter for the Giants, his second against the Padres.  The only other Giants pitcher to have two no hitters was Christy Mathewson. 

Giants 2013 -- September 29, 2013

The Giants defeated the Padres today in a game with a wild finish, to secure third place in the National League West.  The Giants finished with a record of 76 and 86.  Barry Zito pitched to one batter, in what was probably his last appearance as a Giant, and perhaps the last in his career.  The Giants signed Hunter Pence, but have not yet signed Tim Lincecum. 

It was an interesting season.  There were a lot of injuries.  The one to Angel Pagan especially hurt the team.  They have played much better since he returned.  Tim Lincecum threw a no-hitter and Yusmeiro Petit almost threw a perfect game. 

I took the photo on 01-July-2007. It shows Tim Lincecum on the mound, with second baseman Ray Durham and first baseman Ryan Klesko.

Little Brown Church -- September 27, 2013

This plaque, placed by E Clampus Vitus, stands in front of the Little Brown Church in Pacifica.  The church was built by the Presbyterians in 1910, to serve the area's growing population after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire.  It served as Pacifica's police station from 1983 to 2003.  Now the Pacifica Historical Society is raising funds to make it into a city museum.

Tim Lincecum beat the Dodgers last night, in what may have been his last start as a Giant.

Tonight I was happy to see Hunter Pence win the 2013 Willie McCovey Award. 

1930 Bucciali TAV 8 Roadster -- September 26, 2013

We visited the Blackhawk Museum in June to drool over their collection of classic autos.  This 1930 Bucciali TAV (Traction Avant/Front Wheel Drive) 8 Roadster may be the only surviving Bucciali.  Brothers Paul-Albert and Angelo built only 36 cars, but built each to a very high standard.  The red streaks visible along the sides of the engine compartment are storks, inspired by Paul's flying in the French Escadrille les Cigognes (Storks) during World War One.

Last night Barry Zito pitched his last game for the Giants and got the win against the Dodgers.  Some time after the game, a Dodgers fan got stabbed to death at Third and Harrison.  That is terrible.  We stopped going to Dodgers games while the Giants were still at Candlestick.  There are too many amateurs.

Tonight Tim Lincecum may be pitching his last game for the Giants. 

Building America -- UP 150 -- July 22, 2013

Because we had to cut short our Disneyland trip, we decided to spend two nights in Sacramento.  Traffic was good on the drive up. 

We walked through Old Sacramento and had lunch at Johnny Rockets in the K Street Mall.  Then we went to the state railroad museum.  The upstairs gallery had "Building America: Abraham Lincoln, California, and the Union Pacific Railroad," a touring exhibit  in honor of UP's 150th anniversary.  It included documents, artifacts, histories of some of UP's acquisitions, and many advertising posters.  We watched an Amtrack locomotive get pulled out the roundhouse doors. 

We checked into the Governor's Inn, which we had not visited for years.  It was nice, and was very quiet. 

The next day we had planned to go to the state fair, but it was too hot.  We drove to Folsom and visited the outlets, then back to Sacramento and went to the California State Museum.  My wife thinks it would be a great place to take a field trip.  We had not visited since the Lincoln Bicentennial.  There was a small exhibit on the missions and one on Charles and Ray Eames.  Many visitors headed straight for the Eames.  My wife didn't remember them till she saw the chairs.  The exhibit on Japanese-American relocation made me tear up. 

Then we visited the K Street Mall.

The next day we drove home, with a stop at the Nut Tree.  Traffic was clear till we got to the Berkley city limits. 

While we in Southern California, Tim Lincecum pitched a no-hitter.  The National League lost the All Star Game. 

Firehouse #66 -- April 4, 2013

I worked across the street from Station One on Howard Street for almost 20 years.  During that time it became the busiest firehouse in San Francisco, and one of the busiest in the country.  The Museum of Modern Art wants to expand, so they built a new firehouse for Station One on Folsom between Fifth and Sixth Streets.  The Alley Cats moved in March.  I walked by Monday and the old station was closed, with all exterior signs removed.  A truck left the new station right after I walked by. 

Last night the Giants beat the Dodgers, taking two of the three games at Dodger Stadium.  Lincecum managed to go five innings and got the win.  

International Orange -- October 27, 2012

Today we went to Fort Point.  Traffic was horrible in the Presidio, especially on the road to the fort.  The International Orange art exhibit will close tomorrow.  16 artists created installations to honor the 75th birthday of the bridge.  The bunting in the casemates is Alison Smith's Fort Point Bunting.  On the back of each bunting is a photo and a quote from a veteran.  Other exhibits included a camera obscura, video, photos and a mock store that included only International Orange items.

Up on the barbette tier, we were shocked to find that it was warm and windless.  I don't think I have ever been that warm at Fort Point.

We went to Laurel Village, had lunch at AG Ferrari, and visited Books Inc.  At mass my wife and I took the October census again.  After mass we went to Rockin Robs for dinner.

The Giants beat the Tigers 2-0 in Detroit in the third game of the World Series, the second shutout in a row.  Ryan Vogelsong started and pitched well.  Tim Lincecum and  Sergio Romo relieved.  I'm happy. 

Alley #35 -- October 10, 2012

Looking down Maiden Lane on 12-January-2009, toward Union Square and the Dewey Monument, topped with a statue of Alma de Bretteville, later Alma Spreckels. Before the 18-April-1906 Earthquake and Fire, this was Morton Street, a red light district.  Now it is lined with genteel restaurants and art galleries.  Beyond the Dewey Monument is the Saint Francis Hotel. 

The Giants beat the Reds in Cincinnati. The series is tied at 2.  Barry Zito started but didn't go very far.  Tim Lincecum relieved and did great.  

Scow Schooner Alma -- July 25, 2012

We went to the Giants game today.  We parked at Colma BART and took a train to the Embarcadero.  We took an N train to Red's Java House.  We walked to the stadium and found our seats in the far left field edge of the Club Level.  Tim Lincecum got into trouble early and the game dragged along.  I was distracted when the scow schooner Alma, from the Hyde Street Pier, sailed into McCovey Cove.  The Giants made a comeback in the 8th, but lost 6-3.  We took an L train back to the Embarcadero, and caught a BART train. 

Giants vs Diamondbacks -- September 3, 2011

Today we parked at Fifth and Mission and caught an N Judah at Powell. They threw us off at Embarcadero. I forgot the N got cut back on weekends. Muni should change the signs. We crammed onto a T and got off to have dinner at Red's Java House. I had a double cheese dog and french fries. Very good.

It got cold at the ball game. Tim Lincecum struggled and the Giants lost 7-2.

We caught an L back. It was very crowded. It got stopped before going into the tunnel and sat for a long time.

Orlando Cepeda -- October 27, 2010

Before game one of the World Series, the Giants brought out a group of Hall of Famers including Orlando Cepeda, whose statue is here in a photo I took on 10-September-2008, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, and Monte Irvin. Irvin threw out the first pitch. Willie Mays wasn't feeling well and had to stay home.

John Legend sang a great a capella "Star Spangled Banner." He enunciated every word. Tony Bennett sang "I Left my Heart" and "God Bless America."

The Giants beat the Rangers 11-7 in the first game of the World Series. It was not the Cliff Lee-Tim Lincecum pitching duel that everyone predicted. It wasn't pretty, but I'll take it.

Beat the Phillies -- October 21, 2010

Tuesday I had a half day off and I went over to Bay and Taylor to take some photos. I found car 28 with its windows painted with various exhortations. This one exhorts the Giants to beat the Phillies.

At 10:21 this morning, there was a city-wide earthquake drill. The sirens went off and there was an inaudible announcement. I got under my desk for a while. No one told us how long to stay there.

When I left work, it started to rain lightly. There were lots of people heading down Third toward the ballpark.

Tonight the Giants lost 4-2. They came close.

Alley #12 -- October 7, 2010

Looking up Ambrose Bierce, formerly Aldrich, Alley. On the left is the former Call Building. Bierce wrote for the San Francisco Call. Visible at the end of the alley are the California Historical Society and the Jukebox Marriott.

Bierce served with distinction in the Civil War. He worked for many years as a journalist. He wrote short stories, many influenced by his terrible experiences in the war, but my favorite work is his Devil's Dictionary, a collection of cynical definitions. In late 1913, he went to Mexico, which was torn by a revolution, and eventually disappeared. No one has been able to determine what happened to him.

The Blue Angels were practicing this afternoon.

The Giants won the first game of the playoff against Atlanta 1-0. Lincecum pitched a wonderful game. Posey stole a base and hit a triple.

Gigantes vs Cerveceros -- September 19, 2010

Yesterday we went to the 2010 Fiesta Gigantes, where the Gigantes were playing the Milwaukee Cerveceros. We parked at Daly City and got on a four-car train which picked up many people dressed in orange and black. We got off at Embarcadero Station and found that the new fare machines and gates were working. We bought three Muni tickets, each for $2.25 ($2.00 fare, $0.25 insurance). There was a Muni person standing by the gates explaining how to use the Clipper card.

When we got to the top of the escalator, we saw that the platform was jammed. If we hadn't paid, we would have walked. A Muni person told my wife that she was amazed there were so many people. Being in first place will do that. We managed to get on the first S-Shuttle, but it was tightly packed.

At the ballpark, we walked all the way around the outfield, then bought dinner at one of the stands near the bleachers.

Carlos Santana got an award before the game and plugged his new album.

The weather was muggy throughout the game. I dressed too warmly. Lincecum had problems again, but pitched well. Unfortunately, the Giants lost 2-1. I was surprised that a boat spent several innings behind the flags in right field. It was flying a large US flag and had a banner that said "Free Johannes Mehserle."

Coming home, we got on an N-Judah pretty quickly, and then caught a 10-car BART train. We were able to get a seat on BART.

I took the photo yesterday.

Today they won and the Padres lost, so they are back in first place.

Lincecum Wow #3 -- May 15, 2010

We went to see the Giants play the Astros. We parked at Fifth and Mission and then took Muni Metro to Folsom. A crane was doing some work on a fireboat. We had lunch at Red's Java Hut. Before the game, the weather was cold and foggy. Then it got warm and sunny.

Today was Till There's a Cure Day. A bunch of people with balloons formed a ribbon on the field, then let them go.

Lincecum won 2-1, but Brian Wilson made things exciting in the 9th by walking a bunch of people.

We stopped at Good Shepherd on the way home and went to mass.

Lincecum Wow #2 -- April 24, 2010

Yesterday we went to see the Giants play the Cardinals. Tim Lincecum was not himself in the second and third, but he pitched cleverly and won the game. The Giants also decided to start hitting again, so they won 4-1. It was cold. I worked from home. We drove to Fifth and Mission and took Muni Metro both ways. They ran out of the blankets they were giving away just as we arrived. Lots of people were upset.

Lincecum Cy Young Award #2 -- November 19, 2009

Tim Lincecum won the National League Cy Young award for the second straight year. Good job, Timmy. I'm happy he admits that he made a mistake driving with marijuana in the car.

I took the photo on 01-July-2007. It shows Lincecum on the mound, with second baseman Ray Durham and first baseman Ryan Klesko.

Goodbye Aurilia -- October 1, 2009

Today at work they treated us to the Giants' last home game. It was very warm and sunny. The Giants won 7-3. Lincecum pitched seven shutout innings. Randy Johnson pitched the ninth, in what may be his last appearance for the Giants. It was Rich Aurilia's last home game, and perhaps his last game as a Giant. Each time he came to the plate, he got nice applause. Boche let him go out to first base at the start of the ninth, then took him out. The crowd gave him a standing ovation. He has had a good career, especially for the Giants.

I took the photo today of Rich Aurilia's last at-bat.

The Giants are giving both Boche and Brian Sabean new contracts. I think they have earned them.

Signs of the Times #24 -- December 23, 2008

I walked by the ballpark yesterday after I went to Borders and saw this sign. Good job, Timmy.

It rained some yesterday. Not today.

Happy Veterans' Day #2 -- November 11, 2008

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans out there. Thank you for your service to our country.

This is the 90th anniversary of Armistice Day. France moved its ceremony to Verdun. France and Germany lost their last vets this year. Britain has three or four left. We have one.

Tim Lincecum won the National League Cy Young Award. He is only the second Giant to win it. Wow.