First View: Bud Black

This season, for the first time in 11 years or so, the Padres have a new manager. Bruce Bochy -- the manager for the Padres for over a decade left to manage the Giants, leaving the position open on the Padres. After searching and considering various candidates, the Padres management decided on Bud Black, the pitching coach for the Angels.

Tonight was the pre-season meeting for Season ticket holders to talk baseball with the management, and an opportunity to meet Bud. This shot of Bud is when he did his turn at the podium, as other members of the front office for the Padres had. I was most interested in what he said, since I'd heard the other folks' rhetoric before. He sounded good, but let's see what happens this season before I give the final OKEY DOKEY.

At least one thing doesn't have to change -- the initials on the manager's door: Bruce Bochy, Bud Black, Base Ball. Coincidence? It makes sense to me.

Personal Best

Caroline and I went to Disneyland for a while today -- just a stop on the way while bringing her home from Azusa for the Holiday. Of course we had to do Astro Blasters and I set my new high -- 14th highest for the day. Not too bad there, even if I do say so myself.

We also stopped by the Princess Faire so Caroline could see what that was all about and to see if Andrea was there, but alas she was off today.

Astro Blasters are Awesome

Astro Blasters has become my very favorite Disneyland ride. It combines a video game with a Disneyland "Experience." I am "up north" to do a little work, but got out in time to venture over to Disneyland for the evening. I specifically went there to buy some badge holders for some friends and to try my new tricks at Astro Blasters. My first pass I only got 134,000, but on pass two, I managed to set my personal record of 423,300. Disneyland is all decorated for Christmas and it is a special time to go, if you have the opportunity.

Fish Creek Wash

My photo club's monthly event this month was to tour Fish Creek Wash in the Anza-Borrego Desert. Fish Creek had been advertised as a "geological wonderland." After visiting the site on Saturday, it was easy for all of us to see why. Fish Creek is a wash that is dry most of the year. When it rains, though, a creek comes storming down it - strong enough to wear away the center of a mountain. In fact, it cuts right through Split Mountain in the Anza Borrego Desert. When it's dry, like it was on Saturday, we could drive right on the creek bed. The rocky terrain made it impossible to drive unless you had a vehicle with high clearance. We also used only4 wheel drive vehicles, just in case, and had a shovel and carpet, too, for an emergency.

The colorful and bizarrely twisted and holey strata along either side of Fish Creek was fascinating. Rocks and cliffs formed faces to our eyes. We climbed through the holes at Wind Caves, along Fish Creek, and were treated to an outstanding view of elephant knees, far in the distance.

It was a full day affair as we kicked off the trip by stopping for breakfast at Dudley's, picnicked for lunch on the creek bed, and ended with a late afternoon stop for apple pie at Mom's in Julian.

Nice Sunset

After the fog ruined our opportunity to see the launch of a missile from Vandenberg yesterday, at least we got this very nice sunset to watch tonight. Sometimes the weather can be pretty -- sometimes it just gets in your way. This view is from our deck.

Missile Launch?

There was supposed to be a missile launch from Vandenberg AFB early this morning, so we got up and went out on the deck to see if we could see anything. Sadly, it was all fogged in. Checking later, I found out the launch went on schedule, but we just didn't see anything. We got up early on a Saturday and went out on a cold deck so see, well, this and nothing else.