A Very Happy Family Friend

Connie was quite happy yesterday.  She was a bit irritated that Miss Jill and Mister John started the UCLA/U$C game two hours late due to sick children they were putting to sleep.  But the game itself was splendid for her.  Lots of touchdowns and lots of sacks by her favorite Bruin, linebacker Anthony Barr.  Everyone else is on the Myles Jack bandwagon.  Not Connie!  At least not until next year when Barr turns pro and Jack is still around sacking, intercepting, and running for short TDs.

The Sea and the Sand

 Mary Jane and Betsy went to the beach on Friday afternoon for a brief sojourn while Daddy talked to some of his old UCLA work friends.  Initially, they were both hesitant of the sand as it can just get into everything.  Yes, nothing like raisin dropped in sand (ew, more fiber?).

But they had quite the time there.  The most difficult thing about the beach has always been just getting there.  Luckily it was a weekday afternoon and Daddy has always been quite keen about finding parking spaces adjacent to the ocean.  Hopefully they'll be back to the beach again soon.

Paul wanted to go but stayed in the car.  He was afraid of sharks. He refused any further comments about it.  I guess every week is shark week.  That's what Sharkey says.

Raisins... before the Sand

Flopped on the Sand

Bunnies Not Amused by Basketball Tournament

The only March Madness that Ruby Jane wishes for is a huge bucket of carrots.  That is all.  Rabbit Independence Day is coming...

Bruins Win... Another Season of UCLA Home Games Is Done

 Mister John happily completed another season of tickets for UCLA basketball as he and Mr. Shane watched UCLA beat Arizona by five points.  It should have been more but that's an argument for another day.

Mister John also posed next to John Wooden's statue.  He didn't want to fold his arms and look like Coach.  He'd rather be himself.

New UCLA Jersey: What the Heck?

I was just reading an article in Time.com (yes, I read articles on-line that don't involve sports) but then I saw this sports related article that dealt with UCLA basketball.  I looked at this picture and almost went Boomchair (when Mary Jane falls out of her high chair, she then calls it a Boomchair).  We represent tradition, eleven titles, honor, John Wooden... not surfer dude.  Sure, maybe Bill Walton would have loved these unis back in the day of touring with the Dead but I don't think that even he would approve.  The link is below.





http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2013/02/28/march-sadness-adidas-unveils-unsightly-new-college-hoops-uniforms/

Hurts So Good

Yes, the game might have taken place over a week ago but this Bruin still feels proud over UCLA finally defeating their archrival, 38-28.  In the picture on the right, linebacker Anthony Barr (from Loyola High, thank you very much) smashed Matt Barkley and knocked him out of the game (and the Notre Dame game as well).   While UCLA lost their next game to Stanford (way too many penalties), they still advanced to the Pac-12 title game against Stanford (odd quirk in the schedule).  The winner goes to the Rose Bowl.  Wow, Mister John hasn't been to the Rose Bowl since 1999... yes, the Cade McNown era. 

Be True to Your School

The girls are looking quite collegial this afternoon. Mary Jane and Betsy Jo are sporting their UCLA and Oregon gear, respectively.

Let's get back to the Final Four

Zone Defense?

I finally made it back to a UCLA home game over at the Sports Arena.  Yeah, that's a bit of a drive and most of the home games coincided with baby functions.  Gee, didn't have those issues most of my first 15 years of having season tickets.  Wow, have I become one of those old, grizzled season ticket holders who complains about everything?  I hope not... I only complain about poor game performance, coaching errors, and overpriced food at the concession stands.

I might drag either Betsy or Mary Jane to one of these games.  There is absolutely no one there so I might just go to the upper deck and sing a few lines of "Wheels on the Bus" between dunks, free throws, and Josh Smith fouls.  Or hunt down Joe Bruin get a picture taken with him.

I'll bust out Mary Jane's UCLA cheerleader outfit.  She looks soooo darn cute in that.  That will get us on the Jumbotron.  That's what life is all about: getting your mug on the big screen.  Oh, don't deny it.  You probably proposed hoping that the pressure of the thousands of people would coerce your significant other to make the optimal choice.

Anyway, enough of my meandering words for the evening.

We Lost? Big Deal!

Mary Jane doesn't care about wins and losses. She cares about looking cute. And I think she can score a touchdown or two just with her smile.

Mary Jane's First Visit to UCLA

As accidentally mentioned in Miss Jill's blog, I took Mary Jane on a tour of UCLA this afternoon with two former Mary Star students of mine. I tell my sophomores every year that if they get accepted to UCLA and plan to attend there, I will give them the tour myself. And I did that today will Mary Jane tagging along.

Boy, she was tired by the end of the day. So am I... nap time here as well.

Bruin It Up!

Mary Jane and Daddy were sporting the colors this morning. Watch out when they start dressing up the same. Mommy needs to get some LMU gear ready for her precious little girl. Meanwhile the little Bruin outfit for her is almost getting too small. It may be time to drive over to UCLA and get some new apparel!

Root Beer Float Didn't Mean to Go Potty on Mister John Twice Today

Currently Root Beer Float is trapped in a cage in the bedroom after going potty on Mister John for the second time in 90 minutes. He picked her up from her cage earlier as he was going to get some food for her and her sister Ruby Jane. Alas, the potty train started rolling.

Later in the afternoon, Mister John unwisely brought her indoors while Miss Jill was watching Gilmore Girls. She went potty on the cover and his UCLA t-shirt (2009-10 Den shirt). Two shirts in one day. Miss Jill thinks that Mister John needs practice in case he wants to be a dad. That means if a child of his goes on him, he'll lock the child in a cage for a few hours with a cage and a bowl of water. Sounds like something the parenting books might not agree with.

Ancient Picture Resurfaces from John's Past

Going through the archives of scanned photographs, Mister John found one of his Loyola '89 buddies. Raffi Kartalian is to the left, Chris Grunewald is to the right, and Siddhartha Olmedo is crouched below. Sidd and Raffi both went to UCLA while Chris graduated from UCSD. Not pictured is Alfredo Forero who may or may not have been leading a KIIS-FM insurrection against his home country of Colombia.

Mister John seems quite thin. This must be right before the ten year reunion in 1999. Yikes, the 20-year reunion has also passed. Raffi and John went to that one. Less people, and they were all older. Well, yeah.

Do note Connie was in deep hibernation in another room at this point. She first followed Mister John home back in 1991. So long ago. But she never talks about her age.

Cool Connie Hibernates for the Summer

Connie has officially started her hibernation for the summer. After UCLA lost to South Carolina in the College World Series, she put on her trademark shades and said that she was going to sleep for a bit. Miss Jill, Mister John, and the Animals are all giving her wide berth not wanting to awaken her, lest she start rasslin' anyone or anything that moves. Cherry Bugg has already started avoiding her. Instead she bites Miss Jill on the arm at 3am wanting carrots. Oops.

Not to worry, Connie, UCLA football will start soon enough. Mister John will awaken you in time for the first game.

Phillip Watches the Second Half with the Animals

This afternoon Phillip, Mister John, and the Animals sat on the bed and watched the second half of the Spain/Paraguay soccer match. Phillip was quite happy with the result as Spain won, 1-0, but not without some scary moments. When the Spanish team fouled a Paraguayan in the penalty box, he thumped loudly which scared the Animals. TV Turtle almost snapped at Papa Bugg do to that surprise. Clifford silently rooted for Paraguay because they wore red but was happy to see Phillip bounce about after the game ended.

Phillip rarely spends time in the bedroom as he tends to be more of a solitary individual. But Mister John wants to make sure that he, still a widower of eight months, mingles with other animals. He does get along well enough with Root Beer Float and Ruby Jane.

Luckily Connie has retired into hibernation. I have a good feeling when UCLA football starts in September, Connie will be back in full growl ready to rassle anyone.

As for Phillip, he shall sleep well tonight. At least until the semifinal against Germany.

Phillip Prepares for World Cup Quarterfinal

As to be expected, Prince Phillip is ecstatic about his Spanish soccer team advancing to the quarterfinals. He fully expects them to take down the lowly peasants of Paraguay.

He was initially upset that Sports Illustrated picked Spain to win the World Cup this year. He learned from Mister John that any time SI picks you for anything, you're destined to fail. Do note that back in 1995, SI did pick UCLA to win the basketball title that year and they did.

Phillip was a bit peeved last summer when Spain lost to the U.S. (of all teams!) in a tournament. He was ridiculed by the rest of the rabbits in the backyard even though they know nothing about soccer (other than it's on a tasty green pitch). His dear beloved Jane consoled him though. She was always there for him. Such a great princess.

Needless to say, Phillip (who is usually quite a hand's off sort of guy) will be sitting inside with Mister John during the quarterfinal game on Saturday morning.

Cherry Bugg Only Gets Half a Day

Cherry Bugg is infuriated that she only gets out for two hours on a Saturday morning due to Miss Jill and Mister John going to a wedding. "THUMP," she says, "who needs a wedding anyway?"

Meanwhile Phillip will have his TV on loud to watch the soccer game this afternoon.

Conversely, Connie will have ESPN2 on in the bedroom and will watch the UCLA baseball game. Such a busy household today.

Meanwhile, Mister John and Miss Jill dress up and look quite sharp.

Connie Watches UCLA Softball, Baseball; Wants to Wrestle

Connie, who has been hiding in Mr. John's old bedroom for over a decade, has come out of hibernation lately and has been proudly growling for her UCLA Bruins. She followed Mister John home after a bowling tournament so long ago. She's apt to hibernate especially during fall when UCLA football does not do as well. But now it's springtime and UCLA softball won a title and now baseball is in the World Series for the first time in over a decade.

Unfortunately for Miss Jill, Connie is not only a growling bear but she is also a wrestling one too. She often bops about the house and challenges people or stuffed animals to "rassling." Yes, she does love to rassle as many bears do. I cannot say I can blame.

As for Mister John, he too has been watching the Bruin sports machine crank it up over the past few weeks. Now if only basketball can get their act together.

Connie and Mister John have both been smiling over the recent miseries of the trOJans across the town. Connie gave Mister John a giant bear hug which almost put him out of commission for a few days.

Mister John, seen to the left representing his Bruin ski cap while in Ireland, has been noted to whistle the Bruin fight song more often lately. Ah, nothing puts an extra pace to his step than a Bruin win. That whole Pac-10 expansion thang will be commented upon at a later date.

Half a Lifetime Ago

Thanks to Bowler Bob who shot a picture my way of me when I was 19 and still wearing a watch. Wow, I think I gave up watches when I turned 21 or so (I know I stopped wearing them while at UCLA). Of course this is the ever-wonderful Bombshelter Deli and Burger Bar which no longer exists on the campus. That's ok, I'll get by with my sentimentality.

Anyway, nice legs and arm. Put a sword in my hand and I'd be Captain Morgan. Or at least Cap'n Crunch.

The Butler Did It!

Mister John and Miss Jill are currently celebrating in Arizona. Nothing like a non-major conference team get into the Final Four. Our bunnies would also be proud but they're too busy chilling for the weekend.