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Hangin’ at Starbucks

I sit in the Redlands Starbucks on Stuart Street. Everybody is on their cellphones. There is a couple to my left and the lady is talking/yelling as if her companion is at the bottom of a deep canyon. Starbucks is my place during football season. A vente coffee, large cup of ice water, and bagelContinue reading “Hangin’ at Starbucks”

How Warmer rolled

By John Murphy I was surprised recently when Cris Warmerdam tracked me down at a newspaper in Southern California. The news was not good. His father, Bill, has died. Bill Warmerdam, the iconic coach of the Aptos High Mariners in the 1980s and early 1990s, is gone. I covered a lot of his games backContinue reading “How Warmer rolled”

I-5 fever

Four hundred miles. Springsteen. Coffee. Wind, rain, fog, and traffic. Yep, it’s good to be home.

Four days in Dallas

Not even a worldwide pandemic that delayed her wedding by a year nor a mid-reception medical emergency could prevent this determined young woman and marathoner from getting to the finish line.

Good-bye, Adrian

More than a decade hence, I gaze at Adrian’s photo and I see a young man who was wise beyond his years. An old soul. Someone even an old guy like me could vent to and he’d listen. Empathetically. No judgments. But you knew that behind that poker face, he was sizing things up and forming his own conclusions. He was just too polite to call anybody on their own shit.

Clear eyes, full heart

Been an interesting week. A highlight was hitting U of R football practice. Way fun. More on the Bulldogs later in the weekly. Pics, stories. A bonanza. Earlier in the day, I had a mishap. Tried to use eye drops and found a small box in the medicine cabinet. It said “drops” — preceded byContinue reading “Clear eyes, full heart”

Once a Padre …

Last year my beloved San Francisco 49ers made the big game but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. This year the Tampa Bay Buccaneers led by quarterback Tom Brady meet the Chiefs. Brady attended my high school, Serra High in San Mateo, so I’ll pull heavily for the Bucs.

Miya the Wonder Dog

Walks are a major deal. Miya is convinced that whenever I put on my black New Balance shoes or when she hears the jingle of my keys that she is about to go for a walk. She then sprints around the house like a loon until I put the leash on her and open the front door.

Regarding the albatross and hummingbird

My beloved sister, Anne, who has always been there for me. By John Murphy Wednesday night in true pandemic version we gather on Zoom to celebrate one of the world’s newest septuagenarians – my sister, Sr. Anne Murphy. Yes, Anne turns the Big 7-0. I had to look up septuagenarian because I’m not yetContinue reading “Regarding the albatross and hummingbird”

Back in the saddle

The sky is red and blue behind the old Smith house on Olive Avenue. By John Murphy Dog walking interrupted my bicycling for a while, but Saturday I got back on track with a trek from Highland to Redlands. My breathing was a little heavier than usual as I have not put in many milesContinue reading “Back in the saddle”