Bob Todd

So I was thinking I ought to actually sit down and blog again, and I spot the story about the Ventura wildfire that was sparked by "spontaneous combustion of manure" and wondered whether if it is really worth the risk.

I think we can all relate to the plight of Plaxico Burress, the former New York Giant diva/receiver who was sentenced to two years in prison for attempted criminal possession of a weapon (side note: Do lawyers just make this stuff up?) in a Manhattan nightclub.

Read more: Count me in

After every vacation - or at least the ones where I actually leave the
area - I'm always reminded that one of the great things about living in
the Eastern Sierra is the wide-open spaces. LADWP  owns the water and
the land, but we do have great places to walk our dogs. Taz approves.

 However, reading our fine sierrawave.net website, it's obvious we must
always respect the river, the mountains, the canals. Mother Nature can be
brutal; Father Time, as we all know,  is undefeated.

Read more: Todds and ends

A few thoughts while I fight through my tears as vacation comes to an end:

I knew I needed time off from work when a radio listener called and requested "What
a Wonderful World" and I screamed, "What's so wonderful about it, man!" This is only
a slight exaggeration.

An Angel winning streak that coincides with my vacation is my little slice of heaven.

I was floating down the Owens River - floating up takes way too much effort - and
life (blue sky, cold beverage, no worries, no cell phones) couldn't have been any more relaxing. This was right around the time Tiger
Woods was missing the cut at the British Open. So, at about 3:30, it was better to
be me than Tiger Woods. At 3:30 and three seconds, it was better to be Tiger Woods
again.

My buddy from Omaha enjoys our website. Seems there's a bit more crime in the
Eastern Sierra than in his part of Nebraska. He calls us - lovingly - "Sierra
(Crime) Wave".

Taz the Dog knows it when people he has met (OK, smelled) return to our home. Taz
really only barks at strangers. Yet, the sound of thunder makes him a blubbering
mess. Takes after his human, I guess.

Man, if I had a buck for everytime someone said I "acted stupidly."

The most "I told you so" people around these parts: The ones with "Beware the Green
Gestapo" bumperstickers.

A buddy visiting from SoCal asked what's the best thing about living here. We walked
out to my front yard, looked at the Sierra Nevada, and I said, "And that's about No.
10 on the list."

I'll be looking at the White Mountains when I return to "work" Wednesday morning.
Eat your heart out, Tiger.

Thoughts from an unwise white male:

What are members of the Senate Judiciary Committee having for dinner tonight?

Grilled Sonia Sotomayor!

President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court wasn't just answering questions, she was "getting grilled" by Congress. Abortion (seemed to sidestep the issue), reverse racial discrimination (wise Latina will really be grilled on that Thursday) and whether the Jessica Simpson breakup will hurt Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys (OK, I made that one up).

Read more: Chillin' and grillin'