SD Derby Dolls

On Saturday night I did what any loving husband would do for his 4 and half month pregnant wife...I took her to her first roller derby bout. 

I first learned about the Derby Dolls last Fall when I did a story on them for Channel 4, so while this wasn't my first experience with the girls, it was my first time seeing them in action. They did not disappoint.

They skate up in Del Mar every month or so (except during the summer) and the next match is in May. If you've never been to a bout, do yourself a favor and check it out. If nothing else the people watching is worth the price of admission...which for the record was only $8.

Filippi's

Filippi's Pizza Grotto is one of the best pizza dinning experiences you'll find in San Diego and a big reason why is tradition. Originally opened in 1950 as a deli grocery in what is now known as Little Italy, Filippi's boasts 13 restaurant locations today...and all of them have the same family feel as the first shop.

One of the best traditions they have is letting you sign your Chianti bottle and then hanging from the rafters in their restaurants. A kind of ever changing homage to the patrons and the restaurant. Megan and I went there this weekend, and though we didn't share a bottle of Chianti, we did try to find one of our old bottles.

Unfortunately the restaurant was pretty full and it started to get kind of awkward with me leaning over people's lasagna and garlic bread so I had to settle for a picture of these random bottles. Next time.

Opening Day

After 10 years of covering the Padres for Channel 4 today felt kind of weird. Nothing against my comfy couch or vibrant HD TV, it's just wasn't the same, you know? I didn't even have a hotdog today!

At least the Padres did their best to restore a sense of normalcy to the day...3 errors, 2 bases loaded walks and now they're in last place. Of course, unlike the Chargers we don't have to wait a week to see if the team can bounce back. That's the best part of baseball, you can always go get'em tomorrow.

Good advice, actually.

Auf der Alm

My parents moved a week or so ago, and part of the process of switching houses was to purge some of their stuff. That is precisely how this beer stein (along with 4 others) came to be in my possession. Despite the very German last name of Weisbarth, as far as I know this is not a family heirloom. Instead, it's just something my Dad picked up along the way...probably in a Sears catalog or something.

Of course that's not the story my unborn child is going to hear. I really like this stein, as well as the others, and as far as I am concerned now they are family heirlooms. Of course that means I now have to come up with a back story...damn.

Pay the Piper

One of the universal unwritten rules of slow pitch softball is that if you strike out, you're buying beers the following week. Unfortunately for the "Brew Crew" there has been no shortage of refreshments this season.

At this point I fear it's turned into a vicious cycle. Someone strikes out one week, they bring a 30 pack the next week, the guys enjoy a few pops before the game, someone else strikes out, and there is more beer the following week.

At least we're living up to our team name.

Mr. Padre

Less then 2 months ago Tony Gwynn  underwent his second surgery in the last year and half to remove a cancerous tumor from his cheek. This time the doctor had to remove a nerve in Tony's face and replace it with a nerve from his shoulder, in a procedure that took 14 hours to complete.

In other words, this was no root canal...this was some serious stuff.

I'm happy to report that while he is still recovering, Tony is doing really well. I sat down with him for a two part interview on Monday to talk baseball, cancer and what the future holds for Mr. Padre. If you want to see the interviews you can check them out on The MTN Sports Network next week.

Walk in the Park

It rained in LA this weekend.

So when we woke up on Sunday and the sun was out, it was a pretty easy decision to go for a light after breakfast hike. You see, after the rain all the smog is gone and we get to see what Southern California  looked like 200 years ago...minus all the buildings and roads and people wearing LuLu Lemon.

Our friends Greg and Tonya live in Clairemont (the one in LA, not San Diego) and for 2 outdoorsy people like them it's probably the best city in LA. Lot's of parks, a good farmers market and plenty of trails.

Luckily this hike was pretty chill because neither Megan nor I packed any hiking gear...but at least I had shoes. Megan only had flip-flops and ballet shoes, so she opted for rainbow fleece socks and Tonya's 3-sizes too big Toms.

Thanks for the ammo honey. Now the next time I wear black socks and shorts I can pull out this photo.