The end of a good Fathers Day. The afternoon found Greer and I down by the Portland waterfront, where we walked the esplanade and talked. We discussed my need to lose weight and get back into shape. Since Greer has been very dedicated to getting in shape this summer, he was dialed into creating exercise solutions that would help me out - almost like a trainer. Two hours later, we'd walked almost five miles and gotten a decent work out. Came back home to a beef roast and mashed potatoes which I partook of lightly - followed by a trip to the Clackamas Towne Center for a screening of John Wick 3 - which Greer paid for personally.
Jun 16, 2019
Alex is upstairs putting together brunch after a quick tour of our usual eateries turned up with waiting lines full of fathers. Actually glad we're coming home instead. The crowds would not have been worth it. After returning from our brunch attempt, I took the dog for a walk to help de-stress a bit. Really need to more exercise like this on a regular basis...even if it's just taking Milo for a stroll.
Reconnecting on Fathers Day
After some fiddling, I've finally reconnected with my blog. Time to start writing again.
It's Fathers Day 2019 and I'm sitting in my basement thinking of things to do with Greer. Got a lot on my plate these days, but it's important to take time to celebrate the moments that make life enjoyable. I'm hoping for a walk on the waterfront with G will help move my mind from the weight of being without regular work and wrestling with the usual things.
Grateful for my Dad - today and every day. He and Mom are off to the coast for a week starting today, and Greer and I are hoping to visit on Wednesday to catch a breath of sea-air.
It's Fathers Day 2019 and I'm sitting in my basement thinking of things to do with Greer. Got a lot on my plate these days, but it's important to take time to celebrate the moments that make life enjoyable. I'm hoping for a walk on the waterfront with G will help move my mind from the weight of being without regular work and wrestling with the usual things.
Grateful for my Dad - today and every day. He and Mom are off to the coast for a week starting today, and Greer and I are hoping to visit on Wednesday to catch a breath of sea-air.
Jun 10, 2019
I will say that writing on this blog again is strangely liberating. The last nine years saw my communication habits drift over to Facebook, where I have been posting since 2008. Gone were the long paragraphs and diary entires - replaced by short sentences and shared links. Perhaps it's time to revert back, for the sake of my writing and personal focus.
More to come?
I hope so.
Nov 9, 2010
Stories from Frank and Nate
During yesterday's public memorial service for Maurice Lucas, there arose a few choice stories about the man.
When former NBA big man Frank Brickowski got to the podium, he talked of his rookie season with the Seattle Sonics. He mentioned a time when he was sitting down for dinner with the team - and the veteran Maurice sat next to him. Frank admitted being intimidated by Luke, but the thing that came next made it even more interesting. Maurice had brought a friend. On Frank's other side sat Magic Johnson...a guest of Maurice for the dinner. Maurice turned to Frank. "Do you talk, rook?" Frank froze. After a moment, he decided to feign deafness - and turned to Magic to make conversation. Before he could speak, Magic turned and said, "The man ASKED you if you talk." After the initial hazing, the two became close friends.
Later, when Maurice was sick in the hosptial, Frank would come to visit - more often than Maurice could bear. On one evening, Frank had showed up just to sit and read in the corner. Maurice wanted him to go, but Frank persisted - wanting to be near. He later fell asleep reading his book. In the morning, Frank awoke to the feeling of something on his face. He opened his eyes to find little balled up pieces of paper on him and around him on the floor. He had fallen asleep with his mouth open....and Maurice had decided to practice his shot, with little balls of Kleenex.
Finally, a remembrance from Nate McMillan...
When Nate was a rookie with the Sonics, he had a defining moment with Luke. One day, Nate was warming up for a practice. Across from him sat veteran center George Johnson, leaning on a soda vending machine. "Hey rook....why don't you get me a soda?" Johnson barked. Nate leaned forward. "You're sitting next to the pop machine. Why don't you get one?" Johnson frowned..."I said...why don't you get me a soda. Rook?" Again, Nate offered logic as a solution. Johnson stood up and walked over to McMillan, who was streching on floor. Just then, Maurice walked in carrying his game shoes. "What up, George? There a problem?" George told Maurice that the rookie wasn't following the protocol, which included a few sundry chores for the vets. Maurice dropped his shoes. "Don't mess with my rook, George. McMillan is mine."
Great memories...
When former NBA big man Frank Brickowski got to the podium, he talked of his rookie season with the Seattle Sonics. He mentioned a time when he was sitting down for dinner with the team - and the veteran Maurice sat next to him. Frank admitted being intimidated by Luke, but the thing that came next made it even more interesting. Maurice had brought a friend. On Frank's other side sat Magic Johnson...a guest of Maurice for the dinner. Maurice turned to Frank. "Do you talk, rook?" Frank froze. After a moment, he decided to feign deafness - and turned to Magic to make conversation. Before he could speak, Magic turned and said, "The man ASKED you if you talk." After the initial hazing, the two became close friends.
Later, when Maurice was sick in the hosptial, Frank would come to visit - more often than Maurice could bear. On one evening, Frank had showed up just to sit and read in the corner. Maurice wanted him to go, but Frank persisted - wanting to be near. He later fell asleep reading his book. In the morning, Frank awoke to the feeling of something on his face. He opened his eyes to find little balled up pieces of paper on him and around him on the floor. He had fallen asleep with his mouth open....and Maurice had decided to practice his shot, with little balls of Kleenex.
Finally, a remembrance from Nate McMillan...
When Nate was a rookie with the Sonics, he had a defining moment with Luke. One day, Nate was warming up for a practice. Across from him sat veteran center George Johnson, leaning on a soda vending machine. "Hey rook....why don't you get me a soda?" Johnson barked. Nate leaned forward. "You're sitting next to the pop machine. Why don't you get one?" Johnson frowned..."I said...why don't you get me a soda. Rook?" Again, Nate offered logic as a solution. Johnson stood up and walked over to McMillan, who was streching on floor. Just then, Maurice walked in carrying his game shoes. "What up, George? There a problem?" George told Maurice that the rookie wasn't following the protocol, which included a few sundry chores for the vets. Maurice dropped his shoes. "Don't mess with my rook, George. McMillan is mine."
Great memories...
Nov 8, 2010
Farewell Maurice Lucas
My son and I had the privilege of meeting Maurice at an in-store event in October 2007. When I walked in and saw him, I was taken aback. There were no lines to meet him. It was fairly quiet. He was just sitting at a table, talking up some of the event staff and a few employees. Walking up to him, I introduced myself and my son and we talked for a while.
I passed him a DVD copy of the 1978 Trailblazer documentary Fast Break - and asked him about it. He said he'd seen it when it was shown in Portland theaters back in 1978. I told him he should show the film to the team - so they could better understand the Trailblazers legacy. He took the DVD and said he'd watch it again during his next plane flight.
Luke was the first real basketball player my son had met. He posed with us for photos and signed autographs for Greer. It was wonderful to meet him and he was very kind to my son. When Greer heard about Luke's battle with cancer, he drew up a couple of get-well cards. He found the autographed team photo Maurice gave him and recreated the photo on the card. Hopefully, they reached him - and helped cheer him up for a moment.
After having seen Fast Break, and read Larry Colton's IDOL TIME and David Halberstam's THE BREAKS OF THE GAME, I have an even better respect for him. He was a great basketball player, and an even greater man.
Godspeed Maurice...we'll miss you.
I passed him a DVD copy of the 1978 Trailblazer documentary Fast Break - and asked him about it. He said he'd seen it when it was shown in Portland theaters back in 1978. I told him he should show the film to the team - so they could better understand the Trailblazers legacy. He took the DVD and said he'd watch it again during his next plane flight.
Luke was the first real basketball player my son had met. He posed with us for photos and signed autographs for Greer. It was wonderful to meet him and he was very kind to my son. When Greer heard about Luke's battle with cancer, he drew up a couple of get-well cards. He found the autographed team photo Maurice gave him and recreated the photo on the card. Hopefully, they reached him - and helped cheer him up for a moment.
After having seen Fast Break, and read Larry Colton's IDOL TIME and David Halberstam's THE BREAKS OF THE GAME, I have an even better respect for him. He was a great basketball player, and an even greater man.
Godspeed Maurice...we'll miss you.
May 1, 2010
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