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Last night was the first college basketball game I’ve attended since Tandy and I watched Memphis play at Southern Miss last year. The Pepperdine Waves and the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners aren’t in the same talent stratosphere as Memphis, but it was an entertaining evening nonetheless.
Pepperdine is in a rebuilding year – at least everyone hopes we are rebuilding. The administration brought back Coach Tom Asbury in hopes of recapturing the glory days of yesteryear. There won’t be any recapturing this year, but maybe it will come. The Waves have eight freshmen and four sophomores on their fifteen-man roster, and the three seniors that round out the team were all redshirted last year. The only player with any experience from last year is sophomore, Mychel Thompson, son of former NBA player and current Laker color commentator, Mychal Thompson.
The Waves are now 1-5 after last night’s loss, but they almost pulled off a victory against the Roadrunners. They had a big lead, blew it, then rallied to send the game into overtime. Then they fell apart in O.T.
But, hey, they have some talent, and they’re gaining lots of experience with each passing game. Patience is a virtue, and this is a year for Waves fans to keep developing patience.
I’ve got sort of a weird relationship with heights. I enjoy roller coasters, though I get sick at my stomach on the little fair rides that go ’round and ’round. I willingly fly in airplanes. I enjoy a ride to the top of the Gateway Arch. I’ve been up in Toronto’s CN Tower and even walked on its glass floor over 1100 feet above the earth (although, admittedly, that was a bit disconcerting).
But I’m kinda afraid of heights, and I think I know the common denominator: if I’m strapped in by a safety belt or tucked away indoors, I’m okay with it. But if nothing is between me and falling to my death except – well, me – that’s a different story.
So I was freaked out yesterday when I hiked with Jody and Hillary to a place called “Frog Face” just up the mountain from our apartment. Freaked out pretty bad. But my, was the view stunning anyway.
I did enjoy the view. I did enjoy snapping some pictures, including the one of above of my girls perched on Frog Face together. I was sorta bummed that it was an overcast day and not so hot for taking pictures.
Cuz I’m not going back. 
LORD, behold our family here assembled. We thank Thee for this place in which we dwell; for the love that unites us; for the peace accorded us this day; for the hope with which we expect the morrow; for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies, that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth, and our friendly helpers in this foreign isle. Let peace abound in our small company. Purge out of every heart the lurking grudge. Give us grace and strength to forbear and to persevere. Offenders, give us the grace to accept and to forgive offenders. Forgetful ourselves, help us to bear cheerfully the forgetfulness of others. Give us courage and gaiety and the quiet mind. Spare to us our friends, soften to us our enemies. Bless us, if it may be, in all our innocent endeavours. If it may not, give us the strength to encounter that which is to come, that we be brave in peril, constant in tribulation, temperate in wrath, and in all changes of fortune, and, down to the gates of death, loyal and loving one to another. As the clay to the potter, as the windmill to the wind, as children of their sire, we beseech of Thee this help and mercy for Christ’s sake.
- by Robert Louis Stevenson
Libby Perrin read this prayer before serving us a wonderful Thanksgiving meal yesterday afternoon. The food was yummy, and the company was great fun. In addition to Ken and Libby, we had the pleasure of getting to know their son, Steve, his wife, Laura, and their children, Max and Zoey.
Steve and I could have a lot of great conversations, I’m sure. In addition to being a huge basketball fan, he is a well-known NBA blogger. You’ll have to check out Clipper Steve’s blog at www.clipsnation.com and follow the lowly Clippers along with me now!
I’m thankful that the power went off in our apartment complex early yesterday afternon and stayed off until sometime in the middle of the night. Because we went out to eat as a family at Coogie’s in Malibu even though we shouldn’t spend the money and met a couple of local attorneys in the booth next to us. And then we took my laptop to the law school, checked out Legally Blonde, went into a classrom and watched it together as a family and had a blast.
And I’m thankful that the Dallas Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving Day.
And that Ken and Libby Perrin invited us over for a Thanksgiving meal even though we’re new around here.
And that I’m not going to study one bit today. Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
And that Jody doesn’t have to go to work again until next Monday. And the same for Hillary and school.
And that the horrible one-day sprinkle storm is moving out of Malibu, and the gorgeous Southern California blue skies have returned.
This is the short list of thankfulness for just this one little morning. Who knows what other good stuff is in store just around the corner?
#1: It is rainy in Malibu (for like the second time in the four months we’ve been here)
#2: I don’t have to go to class today (although I will still spend the day in the library!)
#3: I am looking for a summer job (how long has it been since I’ve had thoughts like that? don’t answer that question)
How To Be a Poet
by Wendell Berry
(to remind myself)
Make a place to sit down.
Sit down. Be quiet.
You must depend upon
affection, reading, knowledge,
skill—more of each
than you have—inspiration,
work, growing older, patience,
for patience joins time
to eternity. Any readers
who like your work,
doubt their judgment.
Breathe with unconditional breath
the unconditioned air.
Shun electric wire.
Communicate slowly. Live
a three-dimensioned life;
stay away from screens.
Stay away from anything
that obscures the place it is in.
There are no unsacred places;
there are only sacred places
and desecrated places.
Accept what comes from silence.
Make the best you can of it.
Of the little words that come
out of the silence, like prayers
prayed back to the one who prays,
make a poem that does not disturb
the silence from which it came.
from Given, 2005
If you missed Rex on 60 minutes last night, you can check out the entire 15 minute segment HERE. Very, very cool. He is also supposed to be performing live on The Early Show this morning. He told Hillary’s choir class last week that he would be in New York this morning.
Hillary wasn’t on the segment, but there were close-ups of her good buddies, Mia and Kaitlyn (right after the scene where Rex hugs Rachel – Mia is in the green shirt, and Kaitlyn is the blonde right after Mia!), as well as her choir teacher, Ms. Loch. And Hillary said she was just two people away at one point!
And the part with his teacher, Sara Banta, was filmed at Pepperdine. She is a music professor here.
The Stipanowiches graciously gave us their tickets to Pepperdine’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie last night. Having completed my first law school course just yesterday following two pretty rough weeks, it was so nice to go with my wife and daughter and just enjoy an evening. And as icing on the cake, the show was amazing!
(Oh, and don’t forget to watch 60 Minutes tonight!)
I recently noticed several flyers around the law school advertising for cast members for the television show, Beauty and the Geek. It struck me that they probably weren’t looking for beauties. I’m not sure if this is a compliment.
I have never been in such an intense study environment, and we haven’t even made it to the crazy season of finals yet. Go to the law school at almost any time of the day or night, and you’ll find living, breathing human beings spending their waking hours studying instead of hanging out on the Malibu beaches which are literally visible from the school. It’s crazy. Even more so that I am one of those people.
Memo week ends for we 1Ls today, and it will be a pleasure to turn it in. The memo is almost enough to make someone crazy all by itself.
The other day in Civ Pro our professor shared the following clip from the ’80s cult classic, “Real Genius.” The movie is about a bunch of brainy physicists in an intense study environment, and one who breaks free and learns how to enjoy life. You can fast forward to the 2:16 mark to see the part of the clip Professor Goodno especially wanted to share – more than simply being hilarious, it’s crazy that we all can relate – this very scene could play out in the library at any time, and the surrounding folks would have the same reaction!!!
Check out the link HERE to get a preview for must-see TV this Sunday evening. Rex will be featured on 60 Minutes, and in addition to a story that is simply amazing, there’s a chance that Hillary might be on camera sometime during the segment when they filmed Rex in her choir class., too!
And if anyone knows how to record such things “just in case,” feel free!
