Back to Basics...(Or, Borrowing the 9th Step!)

Smack-dab in the middle...of the Wedding and Senior Portrait seasons, both DJP and Sac Senior Portraits have been hit with a tsunami of workflow the last two and a half months. So much so, we woke up this morning to find ourselves awash in wasteful habits and mindless, reactionary activity. And more important, letting the truly important things in life.fall by the wayside. So today, here, now, we get back to basics: and that always starts with family and friends...

I had a great chat...with my mom, Merle Schauer,  on the phone the other day. Those are way too few and far between. And of course, buried in the maelstrom on work-related activities, I had to cut it short, ending the conversation with "I'll give you a call tomorrow, when I have some time and we can catch up". Which, of course, never happened. WTF does that mean, "When I have some time?"  When should we ever not have time for our relatives, most especially our mothers? Like many (and perhaps more than most), my mom and I have had our patches of road filled with potholes. But there was never a time when she wasn't there for any of us, doing beyond what most might find feasible given her circumstances, and there is not a man on this Earth more grateful for that biggest blessing, my mom. I hope she isn't off on one of her adventures with her "twin sistah from the greatest mistah", as I will be calling her today to remind her of that very fact. But in case you're not home when I call, thanks, Mom...And speaking of my Aunt, Mary Sgheiza...my phone rang a few days ago, with the name "Mary", well there is only one of those on my phone, and I was caught in a moment of happiness that she was calling, and sheer terror because, she never does, and this couldn't be a good thing. Funny (not really) how we allow ourselves to do that to ourselves as we get older. Turns out a friend of a friend of hers (or at least as I understood it) had a son or daughter getting married and, being in need of a last minute photog change, called Mary to see if I might still be available. I checked my calendar and oddly enough had that date free. And while I was truly looking forward to spending the rare off-day couch-bound with Jenn and my Giants, I was equally excited to be able to help out my aunt, who has done so much for me over the years. Well, turns out the mother-in-law from the other side of the nuptials had taken matters into her own hands and hired another local yokel and my services were no longer required. Which is fine, as further research found my spot on the couch had not yet been resold and my day off is back in full force. However, I failed to send a note of thanks to my beloved Aunt for passing the referral on, or for any of the countless avenues of support she extended to me over the past half-century, most notably those first couple of years after I returned to California. And so, Mary, if you and Mom are out scoping through the discount bins at Hobby Lobby or enjoying another lovely afternoon at sorority tea (Alpha Pi Master ROCKS!)...thank you. For everything...


    *M&M...Best of the best!*

Jenn and the kids...are rockin', the former itching to get back to her class, the latter dreading the coming school year. My brother and nephews closed out the summer with an awesome rafting trip through Yosemite, and my youngest step-son is into the second of his two-year church mission in Brazil, where he is most decidedly not enjoying the Olympics. A cousin and his lovely wife excitedly expecting their first, and the oldest of my three younger brothers celebrates his fifteenth anni on Thursday. Yeah, we be blessed...

Old friends...As I am walking into the grocer's yesterday, I see a familiar form getting into a car in front of me. "Mick Jones!", I blurt out, as if I were yelling to his FOS position at the Greek 35 years ago. I first met Mick nearly 40 years ago when he joined the ranks of endlessly blessed at Bill Graham Presents, and had not seen him since Bill's Memorial at the Polo Grounds at GG Park, in November of '91. But as is the case with true friends, Little League teammates, and members of your rock and roll crew, we picked up like it had been three days, instead of decades. Mick is one of only three former BGP mates who continue to man a post at the SF Live Nation affiliate which grew from the old haunts: Ron Bergman,who (I think) oversees the productions out of the home base, Steve Paine, who, following years as GM at the Concord Pavilion (dating myself much?), how runs the "House of Paine", formerly known as Shoreline Amphitheater, and Mick, stagehand stalwart and a good man to have on any crew. Mick is the only human to have worked for the BGP production entity and it's offspring, for forty years. Longer than even Bill himself. Come to find out he has been living about a mile and a half from The Northern Fortress for nearly two years. We caught up on the basics in about ten minutes, with stated intentions to finish the task over coffee or a meal, soon. These are the meetings we can't miss, and need to schedule more of. SO great to see ya, Mick Flaire. And we'll be talking atcha, soon...

Amidst the heated fol-der-ol and all-too vitriolic back-and-forth regarding this year's election for the top spot in the room with the rounded corners, I am atop the heap of those who often lost perspective for just exactly what was at stake. This election is not about race or poverty, guns or budgets, Supreme Court nominees or who pees in which restroom. This election is, quite simply, about who cares about others and who cares about only themselves. Now, because this election is all but decided, and I have had time to reflect, it is clear that, regardless of how one feels about this topic, that one has an opinion and is willing to stand for it, by definition means they care about something, and if we are ever going to find common ground and room to work, all opinions must be respected, heard, and considered. My apologies to all on whom a clear perspective by me in this matter, was lost during our discussions. Oh, and to Marty Greenwood, especially, I am still looking forward to that big honkin' dinner, on you, at Dave Wong's in November...

Procrastination Part Deux...While I only worked with him a half dozen times or so, former Doobie Bros Field General and current Supreme Commander Allied Forces for Frampton's Third Army, John Procaciccini, is a friend with whom I am hoping to join on some very honorable non-profit work in the future, and was really hoping to get to see him at the upcoming Frampton / Skynard show at Ironstone. But, as they say in the trades, if you don't write it down it never happened, and I completely forgot to secure tix for the big date. ( understandably, as from every indication, this show rocks to roof!). I just hate it when a plan doesn't come together, but for those of you who were lucky to lay your hands on ducats, enjoy. Neither of these acts ever disappoint. And Grinda...hopefully we'll get some time in Sonoma. And on a related topic, General Procaccini is also the logistic genius behind the Sonoma Music Festival, for a quarter-century known as the BR Cohn Fall Music Festival. Clearly one of the top festivals in the region for the season, if you like top shelf tunage with casual and comfy surroundings, at reasonable prices and all nestled within the friendly confines of Downtown Sonoma, you do not want to pass this one by. John runs the best ship going, and you want to get on board while tix are still available. http://www.sonomamusicfestival.com/ ...
    *BR Cohn Fall Music Festival, 2013*

Friends Finale...Since Opening Day, I have been beyond remiss in letting numerous birthday and health wishes, visits or calls to the ill, and assistance to those who have needed it, but I simply didn't make the time. Those who know me know, that's not me, and never has been. I ask your forgiveness and can only pray that each of you know, truly, how much you mean to me and that, if there is anything I can ever do to be of help, you will not hesitate to call...

On deck and hitting clean up...music and sports...thinking about the upcoming Frampton / Skynyrd shows at Ironstone got me thinking back to the DOG days. I always had a soft spot in my heart for Fleetwood Mac during that time. To a person, nice folk, and always a good show. In honor of those days, and those wonderful shows, I'd like to throw up this amazing (actually the original demo version) version of the Mac hit, "Dreams".  People talk about Janis and Grace and Anne, and so many other hot rockin' women of my generation, but, from beltin' out a rocker to melting your heart with a tender ballad, there will always be only one Stevie...


    *Chris McVie, Fleetwooid Mac, DOG, 1976*

And, on a Hummm Baby note, last night's Giant's 14-inning bender may well be the turning point of the season. With Skipper Bruce Boche in a local Miami hospital and starter Johnny Cueto giving up two bad pitches in an otherwise stellar five inning performance, the G-men battled back from a 5-1 deficit, took the lead, lost it,and then reclaimed the top spot for a 
5.5 hour marathon, 8-7 win. Leading the charge, Pleasanton's own Brandon Crawford gave his brothers-in-arms an all-time franchise record seven-hit, three ribbie night, including the go ahead smack in the final frame. Skip in the hospital, multiple losses of the lead, and still they battle back. Cain is back throwing well, and the bats are showing the life they had in the first half. Now, they just need to - do it. Hummm Baby. Let's go, fellas...

    *Crawdaddy*

The Real America...

Running the risk...of being lumped in with the nattering na-bobs of our second-rate national media, whose top priority is now raising ad dollars by delivering nothing but sensationalism and horse manure, this November's election will, in fact, have the greatest influence on the health, well-being, and future of our nation, in my (or your) lifetime.

The outcome, very much, matters.

And while we will delve more deeply into this conundrum following this month's national party conventions, today, as I sit with my first cup, the dulcet tones of the live Tour de' France feed emanating from the boob tube, and preparing to celebrate our nation's 240th birthday, my thoughts are drawn to what we, as American citizens, can do today to help save a nation so desperately in distress.

An acquaintance from high school, Rick Sanders, posted the following on his FB timeline, yesterday...

"Have had this rolling in my head the last couple days and interested in other's feedback ...

I appreciate and respect the freedoms we have in this country to practice our religions. But I was left feeling really uncomfortable when I encountered I am assuming was a woman in full Burka, only thing visible were her eyes. She was in full stride with a purpose. Her frame rather large and I thought to myself, that could easily be a man under there.

I've tried to look at it from her religious rights but still am not comfortable. 🤔

If you were standing in line at the bank, supermarket or even BART, would your comfort level decrease if someone walked up in full Burka?"

For a number of reasons, this may be the single most cogent, productive, and truly "pro-American" question I have seen asked, anywhere, on the general topic. Cogent; because it opens up a dialogue about what actually, factually, regarding our nation security needs to be fixed. Not what we're hearing, but what is actually happening here that needs to be addressed. Productive, because it gets us to ask ourselves what tangible actions will result in the greatest good. What can we do that will actually fix the problems we defined in our first question. And, "pro-American", because it asks, quite plainly, what each of us can do, within the confines of our daily lives; in our homes, our communities, and just every day inter-action with our fellow citizens, and visitors, to make our country the best we want it to be. What can we do to help point our country in the direction we grew up believing it had always resided., and where we would like it to be headed now?

Our National Security...has got to be the single greatest increase in ad revenue for cable news since Linda Tripp ratted out her buddy Monica for performing in the Oral Office. But a look at the facts shows us the following are absolute, proven, fact:

   * The number of American citizens killed on American soil by foreign terrorists in the last decade is...24. The number of Americans killed by toddlers using a handgun in the past 12 months...26. The number of Americans killed in violence-related gun deaths in the last decade...280,024.

   * In 1995, American citizen and member of a radical, right-wing, Christian survival group from Michigan, killed 168 and severely wounded more than 300 in an explosion of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, using a homemade bomb made of diesel fuel and fertilizer. Since that time, restrictions on the amount of fertilizer an individual may purchase have been enacted into law by the US Congress, and strict accounting of the stocking of such material is required by retail stores. In December of 2001, while flying to Detroit, British ex-pat Richard Reid tried to explode a makeshift bomb he had tried to stuff in his shoe. Since then, American citizens are required, by law, to remove their shoes (and often, more) via a TSA inspection). In 2013 (a reliable average year for the last two decades, as per the CDC) firearms were used in 73,505 nonfatal injuries (23.23 per 100,000 U.S. citizens) and 11,208 deaths by homicide (3.5 per 100,000), 21,175 by suicide with a firearm, 505 deaths due to accidental discharge of a firearm, and 281 deaths due to firearms-use with "undetermined intent" for a total of 33,636 deaths due to "Injury by firearms. During that same period of time, the United States Congress has passed zero federal laws to help restrict the sale of guns to felons or the mentally ill, or of accessories that make the number of human deaths higher, or to increase the responsibility and accountability of citizens to adequately store their firearms, to prevent the obscene number of child-related deaths due to gun use. Zero.

They have done nothing.

National Security should focus on...wait for it...the security of our nation. Not the profit margins of Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, or General Dynamics, by way of the campaign coffers of our elected officials. And while we are endlessly inundated by unprovable warnings and claims by orange-haired morons, the number of deaths (or crimes, for that matter) by illegal immigrants into this country is so far below the number committed by "legal" Americans, as to be laughable. Sadly, when discussing the greatest, truest threat to our "national security", will be found in the mirror. We need to fix ourselves, people.

What can we do?...is the next, best question in need of an answer. 

First, let us reassure the chicken-little, over-zealous gun nuts...no one wants your guns. Unless, of course, you are a convicted felon (or have been convicted of a domestic violence crime - excellent work, Mr. President!) or have been deemed mentally unfit to own a firearm, or are suspected of being a terrorist.

Then, let us accept the unassailable fact that every right afforded us in the Constitution has limitations. You can't yell fire in a crowded theater unless one (a fire) exists). Law enforcement may conduct a search without a warrant, if they have probable cause. And while we are afforded freedom of religion, no religion may be espoused or portion thereof included in a public school, where children are required by law, to attend. The Second Amendment is no different. Add to this fact, that no where in the 2nd does it state that every citizen is afforded the right to own a gun for self defense.
And finally, let us move forward; not to restrict law abiding citizens from owning and bearing common sense weapons for reasonable, lawful intent and use, but to enact common sense, reasonable, guidelines of accountability for both ownership and safety.

Let us keep guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, the mentally ill, and suspected terrorists, and let us hold accountable those who aid those persons in violating that restriction. Let us further hold accountable legal owners who, through lack of effort or consideration, allow firearms they are legally responsible for to be used in the commission, legal or accidental, of an injury, death, or crime. And let us, finally, hold responsible the gun manufacturers, to make all firearms incapable of being converted to automatic capabilities, by prohibiting them from manufacturing "tally-enhancing" accessories whose only objective is to take as many human lives as possible, and for no longer being able to make weapons originally designed for military use, available to the public.

Another valuable suggestion might to be stop watching cable news. 99% of it is ideology-based (pick a network), with 100% of it being advertiser-driven (ever wonder why not one network reports, much less focuses on campaign finance reform? If you want to find the root cause of a problem or what is causing that problem from being fixed, find out to profits from it). People I once respected are now deep into their respective network's bandwagon, concerned more about how sensational and controversial their broadcast can be, to up their ratings and hence, ad dollars.

We can look at the facts and accept that we are not at war with Islam. We are at war with a small, radical group who is using the most wrongly interpreted passages from a faith in the most corrupted manner possible to entice followers. Don't believe that? Then refer to the Ku Klux Klan as Radical Christian Terrorists and see how far you get. The only difference between the two are ISIS wears scarves, and our American cowards wore hoods.

This leads us to...the "Pro-American" portion of our show. Since its inception, our nation has always been one, of the people. Until the 1980's, every movement, every c-change, every societal development has been instituted from the ground up. The Declaration of Independence, defeating the secession of the Southern States, Women's Rights, Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Marriage Equality...all these and more came to fruition because of the voice of the people. Now too, we can take small but significant actions to be better Americans; to create a better America. And there's even a little something in here for those of you who do recognize and love God...

Love they Neighbor...be they legal residents or, sadly, hiding in the shadows, everyone who is within our borders is your neighbor. So, we have a choice, embrace them, welcome them, and help them to help make this nation more than it is, or continue to live a life a futile anger and unproductive angst...

Help to Heal the Sick...or, otherwise put, learn basic math. The ACA, for those states which participated, is a raging success. Millions more of your neighbors have access to quality healthcare, the average annual increase to healthcare and insurance costs is lower than it has been in sixty years, and every single American is now blessed with never having insurance denied them for pre-existing conditions, having their insurance cancelled for actually using it, or having coverage stopped because you reached your annual "cap", and NO American will ever again need to file bankruptcy or lose their life savings because of high medical bills. Game over...

Give Aid to the Poor (Learn to add, Pt. Deux)...If you make $50K/yr, less than $9 of your annual federal taxes go toward all forms of public assistance combined. This includes, but is not limited to, cash assistance, food stamps, subsidized housing, and medicaid. And please note that more than 64% of all recipients are either women, children, seniors, or disables (many of those being veterans) and more than 92% of all public assistance goes to a family with at least one full-time employed income. From that very same tax income you generously give each year, more than $4,000 goes, in direct cash subsidies, to corporations in the energy, tobacco, pharmaceutical, agricultural,and insurance industries that post BILLIONS (with a "B") in PROFITS, every year. Question: Do you really think you're angry at the wrong people, or just feeling foolish because you've been led by the nose to believe otherwise by the people for whom you are a happy punch line for their bank accounts?...

Always Pray In Private...Jesus never said a single word about homosexuals. Not one. He never called the poor lazy, and never suggested that people who made bad choices could not go on to make good, productive lives. He never counted how many times a person went to church, or to which, or church, or if you went at all.

But he did suggest we could be better people through sacrifice and compassion, and that any judgement about people who thought differently that we, or who carried a different faith was, by definition, blasphemous, as regardless of name, all are God's children, and every faith should carry equal respect. And, perhaps for that very reason, he commanded us to always pray in private.

For as it states in the first amendment of the Constitution, our faith should be intimate and personal, and should have no place in the running of our society, or the make-up of our government. We should not judge our neighbors by it, nor should it define who we ourselves are. But instead it should guide our individual principles and choices, and through them, and those of our neighbors, we might find common, conciliatory ground, and continue to, day by day, make this a decidedly more perfect union.
So, in answer to my friend Rick Sanders' original question...

"If you were standing in line at the bank, supermarket or even BART, would your comfort level decrease if someone walked up in full Burka?"
No, Rick, not one bit. I would like to believe that I would see this person as just another neighbor. I would feel for them (at this time of year) because of the heat, and want to say something of comfort. But that would be like telling on old catholic woman how sad I feel for her for having to walk around with ash on her forehead one day every year, and my thoughts of pity would turn to those of respect, for her choosing to adhere to her tradition of faith, regardless of the sacrifice. I would remember the Muslim faith is one of interminable peace which, like my own, has early scriptures of horrid declarations and obscene violence. And I would remember that, statistically speaking, I am more likely to be hit by lightening, or shot by an American four-year old, than to be killed by a foreign terrorist.

No Rick. The world is not against us. It is not against me. Or you. And so, to live the best life I can, and to do the most important thing I can, to be a good person, and good man, and a better American, I would offer them the opportunity to move ahead of me in line, so that, just maybe, they might get home faster and be able to seek relief from the heat.

And just maybe, this person would appreciate the gesture, and find a way to move it forward, to someone they meet, one day.

Maybe...you.  ;)

Happy Fourth of July to Rick, his husband David, and to anyone who reads this.

And please...share this on your Timeline. Rick asked a great question. One I hope we all have the opportunity to ask ourselves...


Cheers!
-Dennis

The Fall and Rise of Summer...

What's Due is Due...Yeah, Bogut was out of Game 7, and yeah, the Green Machine should not have had to miss Game 5. But last weeks historic collapse by our beloved Dubs was due to the following...on offense, too many of our boys couldn't hit water if they'd fallen out of a boat; Harrison Barnes was allowed on the floor, but mostly, because the Cavs came to take the title, and did so, playing some of the most inspired Finals ball since the Lakers/Celtics battles of the 80's. I think too many Dubbies became so used to one of them stepping up and producing, they collectively were waiting for that to happen. But it was a fabulous season, they should be immensely proud. Bay Area Sports Rock!!!...




Did I miss something...I wake up this morning, and with my first cup, I scan the news (?) shows for the latest from the Center Ring of the Circus. Everyone seems to be losing their respective minds over the fact the Cheetoh Jesus Campaign is out of money and the Big Donors are not interested in donating to his sinking ship. But wasn't his big boast during the primaries that he was the only candidate who was self funding, and therefore,if elected, would be beholden to no special interests? Or does that just get tossed into the ever expanding file of bogus comments by the Lying Donald?...

The Human MOMA?...Last night brought the first sunset of the summer and the skies were emblazoned in red and pinks and oranges from the left coast to the Rockies. Held to duty in front of the laptop, I felt compelled to share this magnificent display of the creativity and resources of the Higher Power of your choice. No folks, ya just can't make this stuff up. If you can look at these and really think this just...happens, you are in my prayers...

                                                 Photos courtesy of Instagram/SFGate

Going Global...Beginning in July, DJP will be teaching a live, on-line course, Building Your Business, geared toward photographers just starting their on-line or brick & mortar studios. As of this morning, this interactive, affordable summer class which starts July 15th, has gone global, with students signing up from as far away as Stellenbosch, South Africa. Who'da thunk?...On a Related Note: DJP's "seniors" arm, Sacramento Senior Portraits, yesterday began their annual Summer Seniors Program. Seniors who book and have their personal Senior Portraits photographed before Labor Day, receive an automatic 20% discount on any of the very reasonably priced packages available. If you have or know of a Class of 2017 student who is looking for their Senior Photographer, pop into www.sacseniorpics.com and have a peek. You'll be glad you did, and so will we...





Dress Rehearsal...Next year marks the 50th anni of the "Summer of Love". And while the hanging-on hippies have been making a huge fuss over it for a year already, I am thinking now is as good a time as any for everyone to use this pseudo-social event to all act a little nicer, be a little kinder, and make an effort to share a little of that iconic love. Would it really be that much of a sacrifice to smile a little more? Hold a door open, or help a senior with his/her groceries to their car? Would it be a huge inconvenience to put just one flower in someone's hair?

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to share our blog with friends and family. Seeeeeeeee ya!...

Alas, Poor King James...

Today is the day...when all the planets align, Draymond returns to the starting line-up, and the best possible gift to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Warriors winning their first NBA title in forty years, on the floor of the Cleveland Cavaliers; the boys in blue will repeat the feat! There was so much unnecessary bitching and whining about the horribly wrong and incredibly unjust, suspect suspension of the Dub wing man. Everything happens for a reason, and had NBA hierarchy not wanted to prolong the Finals one more game to grab onto a little more ad/ticket/swag revenue, the series would already be over. But thanks to the greed of the suits sitting up in the deluxe suites high above the hardwood, the Cavs get to take yet another series-ending butt whoopin' on their home floor, from the guys they said last year, were a fluke. Savor the moment folks. It may not happen again for another year...

Thinking back...Depsite the constant, growing irritation to many, myself included, of the societal-interuptus internet platform Facebook, it turns out that is does have a worthwhile purpose. Quite by accident, I am certain, I have been reminded over the past few days of the following...

The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series, Ronald Reagan was President, and the Windows platform, the cell phone, smart phone, iPod, iPad, Facebook, MySpace, Hip-hop, contemporary country music, Direct TV and the Marvel movie series has yet to be conceived, much less created. Only one of the top ten offensive players in Major League Baseball had been born, and twenty three of MLB stadiums in operation at the time are no longer existing structures. Donald Trump has only filed for bankruptcy once.

I am also reminded, there are still many intelligent questions that need to be answered...

MANY questions...

and sometimes it's not a question, but simply a sad shakingof the head and wondering when will the stupid end?..

.

Five days left...of Spring, and all told, it's been a great one. The G-men lead the West, have the third best record in the Majors (most of that time without a starting pitcher and two of their starting day outfielders), the Dubs will close out their second consecutive NBA title tonight, the kids finished up another fab year at CMP (thanks, as always, to the amazing (and to all) teachers there, and a sad but eternally grateful farewell to the stellar ones who are moving on to other opportunities. Never has there been a more accurate example of the fish stinking from the head down, and never will the heart and soul of this particular big fish, be so deeply missed. Looking forward to a busy, exciting summer...

Four!...years ago today, the 2012 US Open at Olympic in San Francisco began. It was five days (one day of practice rounds) inside the ropes at the history-making course with the world's best golfers,and those soon to be, that I will never forget. Truly gave me a reinvigorated appreciation for the game, the way these men play it. Bobby Jones once said, after watching Jack Nicklaus win the '65 Open, "He plays a game with which I am not familiar". As I drove home after the first day of play, four years ago this day, I knew exactly how he felt. I spent the following day tracking Jordan Speith, a young kid just out of U of Texas at the time, he was kind and engaging and stopped to talk a few times during the round and a couple years later, I look up and he's the best player in the world. Who knew? So here's wishing good rounds and a few magical shots from the linksters, and some great watching from those of you watching from home. Tee 'em high and let 'em fly...Oh, I still have a few images from that Open up in the Retail Prints section of my website. Pop in and take a look. http://www.dennisjonesphotography.com/#!blank-4/w233f  USGA Executive Director and golf course guru Mike Davis really did a wonderful job with the course that year. The old gal had never looked more beautiful...

  

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And just when you think...you've heard enough from any politician, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy pulls a fast one and does the right, or at least a good, thing. Going old-school when no one was looking, he stands up, is recognized to speak on the floor of the Senate, and begins an old fashioned filibuster. The reason...he wants an up or down vote on a bill making it illegal for anyone on the FBI's "No fly" terrorist watch list, from buying a weapon of any kind, in these United States. Yes, this is the same bill the House voted down just weeks ago, in a straight party vote. I don't need to tell you which party voted to allow suspected terrorists to keep buying more guns. Do I?  The filibuster ended after fourteen hours and there will be a vote on the bill, today, and not a few up-for-re-election Republicans are now all being very vocal in their support for the bill...that they unanimously rejected just weeks ago. It's all about motivation. Hang in there folks, there is hope...And on a related note: For those of you who truly, honestly, and respectfully believe that having a gun in your home, or on your person will make you a "good guy with a gun" keep you safe from "the bad guys with a gun", remember this...on the day Ronald Reagan was shot, by a first-time gun user with absolutely zero training or experience owning, handling, or shooting his revolver that he bought at a gun show not long before the incident, he (the President) was completely surrounded by 28 of the most heavily armed, well trained security professionals --- on the planet...

'Till next time...

Cheers!
Dennis

Goodbye, Champ...

I cried yesterday.

We all lose people. Family. Friends. People in the public eye that we admire. But when I heard several days ago that Muhammad Ali had passed, it was something more. The loss was tangible. It was real. And like him or not, care that he is no longer living or not, his passing is a true and real loss for every inhabitant of this planet.

When I was a kid and boxing was still a revered and respected sport, with champions of the recently passed and present like Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Max Schmelling, Rocky Grazianno; Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ken Norton, etc., Ali stood tall above them all. I remember walking through the Weinstock's department store with my parents the night of the first Ali/Frazier fight, sneaking over to the stereo/tv department every chance I got, because they were playing the fight on the radio. But I remember more, the interview just a few weeks prior, with Howard Cosell on ABC's Wide World of Sports, and at the end, being in awe of this twenty-something young man who had stood before the world and said what so many at the time felt, "This war was wrong, and I will not go across the world to kill other people who were poor like me, people I have no quarrel with." At the time, I was eleven, and it was the first time a hero-athlete of mine had ever taken a stand for anything more important than whether lite beer tasted great or was less filling.

As years passed after the Champ had retired, we all saw Ali, now involved in civil rights and humanitarian causes; here in the States and all around the world. From feeding and sheltering the homeless, visiting schools to encourage children to read and obey their parents, and Senior Centers to let the elderly know they were appreciated, to small, war torn villages in long-forgotten lands, where he brought hope, and food, and medicine, to the halls of kings and despots, where he stood tall and eye-to-eye with them, convincing them their actions were inhumane, and in many cases, shaming them into releasing hostages, ending slaughter, and helping those without hope to live again.

Listening to the many speakers, known and not, during yesterday's service, people who knew and whose life's were a part of Ali's, one could not escape the conclusion that, aside from his incredible physical talents and stellar achievements, without his humorous, infectious personality, without the world-wide fame and acclaim, Cassius Marcelleas Clay, aka Muhammad Ali, was, quite simply, a very, very, very good, decent, and caring man. But as he was with virtually everything he did in his life, Ali was not just a good man, and his purpose of this Earth was for far more than pummeling his opponents into submission.

As I listened to President Clinton offer the final eulogy, all the words spoken previously, all the actions and speeches and writings of the Champ's I had heard and read over the years, everything that he did and believed and was throughout the decades; the purpose of all of it became calmly and abundantly clear; like that empowering instant you gain control of a bicycle for the first time, balance and speed and progress, the concepts all come together into one immense understanding, and you wonder why you hadn't been able to do this your entire life. The purpose of the life of Muhammad Ali now made perfect, reasonable, give-yourself-a-V8 forehead slap-sense.

The Champ was our example. He was our model. Muhammad Ali was what the very best us of could be.

In fact, early on in the service, Rabbi Michael Lerner said it most succinctly, asking those in attendance, "Did you ever hear him speak maliciously toward anyone? Even those in the government who took away everything he had for standing in prescription to his spiritual and religious principles, did he once speak angrily to or of them? Did any of you who knew Muhammad personally, ever see him turn away from a difficult situation, ignore someone in need or distress? Did anyone, ever, know this man to even once, look upon any man, woman or child as someone who was less deserving or important than himself?"

The rabbi went on to suggest that, in the final analysis, while Ali may have physically left this Earth, his spirit, the truest, best essence of who and what Muhammad Ali was will never completely leave humanity; because, in each of us is Ali. "We are Ali. I am Ali", he stated, matter of factly.

And the rabbi was right. So long as even one of us remembers one of the Champ's favorite sayings..."Service to others is what we pay, for our time here on Earth."... Muhammad Ali will live on and serve humanity and the world, as he always has.

And that was what made him, The Greatest of All Time.  Thanks, Champ. You rest easy, now.

We got this...

THE CHAOS AND THE CALM...

AND THEY'RE OFF...as long expected to be the participants, the field is now set for this nation's GEC (General Election Circus), and it'll be HRC vs. The Hair. I am not particularly looking forward to it, however, if the next month follow in the footsteps of the last two weeks, talk-show-host-turned-racist-whackjob, Donald J Trump won't last until the trading deadline. I'd suggest the Goofy Old Party look at Panda as a mid-campaign replacement, but he'd never sit still for a strictly rubber-chicken dinner at the numerous fund raising dinners he'd have to attend...

SING IT ALICE...as of 12:01PM yesterday, for the kids, school IS out for summer (Jenn still has five weeks of ESY). They're growing up so fast, and from the looks of things, this summer will accelerate their respective processes, exponentially. I've tried to fight it, but have come to the conclusion that, indeed, resistance is futile. Batten down the hatches, folks...the summer of hormoneageddon has begun...On a related note, let me express my annual and continuous gratitude and admiration for everyone in the teaching profession. You are the last, best defense for this world's future, and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise...

HUMMM BABY...once again, the dreaded "June Swoon", the hardball harbinger from my prolonged youth spent at the venerable Candlestick Park, is no longer in effect during another summer of my much content. As a life-long fans of the Gints, this is the best time of my life, but not solely because we own the world every other (and even) year. From the guys at the top (President/CEO Larry Baer), head of BB Ops, Brian Sabean, and GM Bobby "The Kid" Evans, to Skip and his dugout louies (Rags, and Bam-Bam, Wotus and Billy and Roberto and Gards and all the rest, to the boys in the field who go to battle every day, and the men and women up in the press box (Kruk, Kuip, Dave, Jon,and Amy G) who describe it to us every day, my Giants are "the" organization, the staff and the team, every ten year old dreams about. No drugs, no wife beaters, no divas whining about money (at least that aren't traded or let go). There is loyalty, and respect, and reverence to the history of this great game. The San Francisco Giants are everything that professional baseball should be about. The front office signs players of talent AND character, and have created unique and inventive ways to make it financially possible for a family to actually afford to attend a game and experience Giants' baseball at The Yard (Dynamic pricing @$8 a tix and the ability to bring your own food/snacks to the game are strokes of genius and have, over the last couple of years, been picked up by more than half of the other MLB franchises). I am reminded every day that none of us are getting any younger, and that puts front and center my level of appreciation for the wondrous blessings that are afforded me. And so, my eternal thanks to the men and women of San Francisco Giants Baseball, Inc. That bright and warm orange that fills my every sunset, is all about you, And every morning when I raise out of bed, from Valentine's Day through Halloween, the first thing I ask is, to paraphrase the Reverend Hunter Pence, "that I get one more day with you". Truly, a wonderful part of the very best days of my life. Thanks, fellahs...

HUMMM MAYBE...Ok, so the Dubs took a night off in Cleveland. Not worried at all, except maybe that Steph's "issue(s)", whatever they may be, are more than Coach K is letting on. But, we're nothing if not deep, and our heart has been proven on more than on occasion, and truth be told, I wouldn't mind seeing it go seven. I love watching these boys play. #dubnation...The once hot Sharks however, are playing more like frozen tuna, and as I am not a follower of the sport, I can only hope the pride of the faithful having their team reach the SCF will suffice until they lace 'em up again next October...

MOSCOW ON THE AMERICAN...last Friday, I received a phone call from a member of my Client Family, asking if I was available the next day. A friend of hers was getting married and their photographer backed out. I had a morning Senior Session, but was able to fill in for the 1:30PM ceremony. I share this because the blessed event was of the Russian Orthodox variety and took place in the most amazing church. Slightly larger than the living room area here at the Northern Fortress, the fresco-like canvas ceilings and ornate appointments were simply breathtaking, and the ceremony, done entirely in what I refer to as "speed Russian", was a monumental experience. My thanks to Svetlana for the referral and to Yrena and Pavel for allowing me to experience their moving, momentous day. And the blessings continue...

REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR ONE-A-DAY...as the heat rises, the days get longer (for two more weeks anyway), and our schedules move ones of recreation and leisure, let us not forget the many who are struggling. Parents hard pressed for affordable day care now that school is on vaca, seniors deciding which to spend their few dollars on - medicine or food, or the far too many families wondering which park or parking lot they will live in tonight? Which trash bin behind the local Mickey D's will provide their children's next meal? So, here's just a quick suggestion. If you're in a snit because you don't think you'll get to join your friends in Tahoe, or you just can't afford tix to Outside Lands or Aftershock and you think life is just not treating you fair, try this -- the next time you see an unkempt woman sitting outside a grocery store with her children, holding a sign, begging for scraps or change, walk inside, forego that half-cap, half-non-fat, latte with no foam and a hint of cinnamon, and buy them a few sandwiches. Maybe a bag or two of chips and a quart of milk. It'll cost you $10, maybe even a whole fifteen bucks.  But it will make you feel real, and human and a good, productive, worthwhile part of this little community we call Planet Earth in a way you haven't felt in a really, really long time. Maybe ever. And that, you simply can't put a price on.

Here's begging pardon for the typos, and wishing everyone a fine, fine day. And may God bless us all, every one...

The Best (birth) Day Ever...

"Until you've seen this trash can dream come true

 You stand at the edge while people run you through

 And I thank the Lord

 There's people out there like you

 I thank the Lord there's people out there like you

 While Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters

 Sons of bankers, sons of lawyers

 Turn around and say good morning to the night

 For unless they see the sky

 But they can't and that is why

 They know not if it's dark outside or light"

 -  Elton, John - Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters

There was no new car...and I didn't hit the lotto. No trips to a sandy beach locale, new camera, or a big flat screen. No, on this birthday of Friday last, I received four awesome gifts. Gifts of true and lasting value. Wonderful, meaningful gifts that mattered. Anyone who's known me more than five minutes knows there are only four things in my life that truly matter to me. My music, my Giants, my friends, and my family. If I lose anything else, I can pick up, dust off, and move on. But these are the things which sustain me. The fuel for my fire. And on this day of celebration of my fifty-six trips around the sun, I was treated to a fabulous gift from each...

Make Me Smile...after 49 years of groundbreaking music (and especially during the first ten years), in their twenty-second year of eligibility, the "rock band with horns", CHICAGO, was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. As a dedicated fans of that music for 47 of those years, to have the boys finally take their rightful and respected place among the all-time greats on my birthday seemed not only fitting, but somehow, cosmically just. Congrats to RL, Terry, Lee, Walt, James, and Danny. To Peter, congrats as well, but you are still the ass you've always been, for not showing up. And to Rolling Stone publisher and Rock Hall over-lord Jann Wenner, who was virtually solely responsible for this band having to wait more than two decades for this honor, well, you're just still an ass...

A Humm Baby Birthday...for Christmas, Jenn gave us tix to Friday night's game. And while the rain-soaked transport from the Northern Fortress to the friendly confines of AT&T and back were perhaps not quite celebratory, to curl up under a blanket in a light rain, dining on garlic fries and hot cocoa as we watched perhaps the most bizarre, exciting, and triumphant installment of the Giant/Dodger rivalry since 1982 (when Joe Morgan knocked these same Dodgers out of the playoffs with a walk-off home run), was indeed, giftus majorus. Topped off by having P-town homeboy Brandon Crawford reprise the Morgan roll by going deep in the 10th for a walk-off G-men victory. Humm Baby, indeed...Belated congrats to friends and fellow AVHS alums Eric Otis Nostrand and his lovely wife, Julie Dolan Nostrand, who were also at The Yard, celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary. I am guessing, without their two beautiful hummm babies...Placed on the top of my Gyros B-day cake (sadly "not" made by our own Anne "The Cake Lady" Scheibli (nee Connolly) who was busy creating her first-ever cake for a gay wedding!), fellow birthday celebrator, Giants' President and CEO Larry Baer signed Giants' first-bagger Brandon "The Giraffe" Belt to a six-year contract extension. Our homegrown infield (the league's best!) will be locked up until the middle of Hillary's second term, by which time, da Bums will still be looking for their first Series title since the end of the Reagan administration...

My Giant Roster...I must give the extra props today to Mr. FB, Mark Zuckerberg. Regardless of what you think about him or the $50 billion toy he built in his Harvard dorm room, his mental meltdown machine allows us to keep up and in touch with family and friends, and to me, that just rocks! Maybe never as much as yesterday, hearing from (through FB, e-mails, texts, and a couple of awesome phone calls!) all of the family I correspond with and receiving well wishes and birthday greetings from all over the planet. Sitting in the stadium that night with Jenn's head on my shoulder, surveying the 40,000 strong who had come to join in my celebration, reading the thoughtful messages between innings, how could anyone not be moved. A couple of times to the point of tears. Thanks gang. I hope you all know I love ya more 'n my luggage...

Alpha and Omega...right where it all starts and ends, with the family. The day began with the most special of gifts, our tweeners (Miss Riley, 11 and Sir Zachary of Me, 13) being so incredibly pleasant and engaging and helpful and giving, I was about to start looking in the back yard for pods. Laughter and great conversation from breakfast through the 8 minute drive to the school drop-off loop was warm and loving and continuous and if you've raised tweeners, you know it's nothing short of Valhalla. A morning filled with joyous work and over-prepping for our trip to the Yard, was followed by nine hours of soul-joined bliss, as Jenn and I focused on nothing but ourselves and our beloved ball club (well, she does have a bit of a thing for second baseman, Joe Panik, but I am nothing if not understanding). Throughout the day, I chatted with and read messages from family, and as Jenn and I made our way across the Altamont, heading back to The Northern Fortress, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of blessed gratitude and riches that had somehow made their way to me.

I read once that a man is not truly wealthy until he has something that can not be bought. And to paraphrase baseball immortal Lou Gehrig, "On Friday past, and for everyday hereafter, I will consider myself, the richest man on the face of the Earth".
My eternal gratitude and most heartfelt love, to each of you, for donating to the fund...

What Better Day Than Today?

It has been almost five years...since I've penned a blog. I missed writing them more than I realized, but as I opened the studio and then as it expanded, I let it kid of slip away. Now, things are a little more settled, the expansion is just about completed, and I've decided I want to get this part of my life back. And what better day to reboot my writing chops than on Opening Day, in an even numbered year, for the Major League Baseball "Team of the Decade", my San Francisco Giants?

As with the old "lounge" I'll be writing about any and everything, from trips to AT&T to the adventures of our two kids traversing through tweendom, to the ever comedic escapades that are our national political landscape. And everything in between. Some of it will be fun, some funny (maybe), and some, hopefully a little thought provoking. And while I won't be responding to comments in a "dialogue" format, I sure hope to hear your thoughts. Please just remember to keep them polite and respectful (suitable for anyone to read). Those that aren't will be removed. Other than that, I hope to hear from you.

Leading off...If you had any doubts that God's great light shines down upon the G-men, think again. By His grace only, former Gyros' 3-bagger Pablo Sandoval chose to accept a 5 year, $95mil offer, rejecting the larger $100mil offer for the same number of years. As we begin the second year of Panda's stint with his new ball club, he entered camp for the second year in a row more than 30#'s over weight and last week became the most expensive bench warmer in major league history, as he was benched for a rookie. In the meantime, we have the #2 vote-getter in last year's ROTY tally securing the hot corner, carrying a hotter bat (avg around .300 since he took the position) and a nearly flawless glove for the grand salary total of $537.000. What did we do with the "panda money"? Signed two top-level starters to fill our #2&3 slots in the rotation,for the next five-plus years.

He Hits it High...He Hits It Deep...Read a bittersweet story this morning, about a man in Utah. Immediately following the catastrophic loss of his entire family, he walked into a Denny's, asked for a table "with a waitress who is a single mom". One of the waitresses tells the story in an open letter she wrote to the man...

“Today I met an angel. You came into a Denny’s I work at in Utah. You asked me, ‘Can I have a waitress who is a single mother?’ I thought it was very odd, but I sat you in Crystal’s section. You sat there for 2 hours just watching people. 7 families came in and ate while you were there and you paid every one of their bills, over $1,000 you paid for people you didn’t even know. I asked, ‘Why did you do that?’ You simply said, ‘Family is everything, I’ve lost all mine.’ Looking into your eyes while you said that made me tear up (It’s why I walked away so quickly) as soon as I got in the back I broke down in tears because your eyes had so much pain in them. I just wanted to let you know, the waitress Crystal that you requested was living in a shelter with her son until she was able to save up enough to get a place. Your bill was $21.34 and you left her a $1,500 tip, because of you she gets her new place next week, because of you 7 families ate for free. Crystal told me she prayed the night before for a miracle and God sent you. You left before any of us could say thank you, I hope you read this because you’re truly an amazing person and you stole the hearts of every one of us here. Thank you.”

Talk about turning a major negative into a living, breathing positive. May God bless this good, dear man. And now while we all have our example for the day...

Box Score...It's a beautiful day, Jenn and the kids and our extended families are happy and relatively healthy, we're two days away from the big expansion re-boot of the studio, and the Giants, with perhaps the best 1-25 roster they have had, maybe in my lifetime, prepare to go after their fourth Series title in seven years, continuing their "every even year season" routine.

HUMMM BABY!