It’s nice to be home.

I’ve got my nose to the grindstone, hammering on a handful of cool things. Just the way I like it. Some projects are for the big leagues, some are for tee ball, some are for the bench. My apologies for the sports metaphors, but so you know, you are fuckin’ with a Chain-O-Lakes Summer Baseball All Star here. Couple summers in a row. 1982 and 1983 or something.

I have great memories of kicking ass around those bases as a youngster, cleats, itchy pants, sitting in the sun near death, dirt in the water cooler and dusty mitts. Good memories.

And then there was my “slump” period. After a couple years of doing good, I went through this slump thing. I think I was about 11. I remember my dad saying, “Keep yer eye on the ball,” as I was walking up to the plate, and then striking out over and over again. Hard times. Character building, if anything.

I played third base, and pulled a dirty maneuver this one time. I had a kid on my base, and the pitcher caught him leading out pretty far toward home base, so he tried to throw him out on third. The kid scurried back in time as I pulled my glove down to tag him. “Safe!” So here’s where I got dirty. As he was getting up, and upright, I faked as if I was throwing the ball back to the pitcher, paused, and he steps off the base to start his lead and I simply pulled the ball back in and tagged him, a couple steps off the base. “Out,” right? It was so quick, no one even caught it. I think that’s how it went. I remember being bummed because they didn’t call him out, and I had to throw it back to the pitcher. Rats. Summer memories.

This is the kind of stuff I think about when I’m back home. You gotta fight hard to remember what it was like to be a kid.

- - - -

BEST THING I’VE SEEN ALL WEEK, BESIDES MY MOM’S SMILING FACE: The renovation of Seattle’s Kolstrand Building, and suddenly, I love Seattle that much more. Man. I’m floored. So good. This is exactly what I want to do someday, and will. Mark my word.

Look at those beams. Those ghost signs. The grit. The wear, The tear. The dirt. Clean it up and populate it. A good lesson. Andy Simutis, you are a champion of Puget Sound, and I love ya. Thanks for sending that one down The Five to me.

- - - -

NO PREPARATION, WHATSOEVER: About Layer Tennis tomorrow: I’m ready as I’ll ever be. Bring it on.

- - - -

JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO GET ME THROUGH THE DAY: Ladies and Gentleman, step on up to the Food Shark and get yer lunch on. (Sent in by Jeff from Southern Skies Coffee. Thanks! Lunch is on me the next time we’re in Marfa.)

- - - -

KEEP CANADIANS WORKING: Here’s what the caption says, “Found on the back of the old 1970s console stereo that serves as my desk.” (This one was from David Gee, of Toronto, Ontario.)