My Beautiful CPAP

Back when I used to go to movies, a single and aimless young man, I caught a flick called My Beautiful Launderette. I recall enjoying it. The details escape me but that title has always stuck with me. Gosh, I hope that clears things up somewhat.

Tuesday night I had my first decent night's sleep in several days. I came home from a trip to Portland Friday 7/9 and left the CPAP in The Banker's car when he dropped me at PDX. He caught the error and called me, but I was half way through the security line and blew it off since my wife would be able to pick it up in Seattle. Never again! I've arrived at the age that requires medical devices to be hooked up to me on a daily basis. I could drop 20 lbs., get my tonsils removed and stop drinking, but that seems radical. When I got home, I sent a note out to my village friends because I thought there was a loaner CPAP floating around Foster City, but I found out #2 has adopted it as his own.

I was in Portland for The End of the Trail tournament with my daughter. This is the fourth straight, and final, year we attended this event. She played hoops and I watched. A lot of college coaches were there. They even got their own special section to sit in. I had a good time hanging out with the parents, i.e. The Banker, Maverick and The Iceman. You'll have to reference my 7/13/08 blog to find those last two characters. However, as with all great literature, re-reading my past posts is highly recommended.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites so we had a free breakfast and a free happy hour daily. I saw a few folks help themselves to about a pound of bacon and/or sausage to go with their cheese omelets before waddling back to their table. I love bacon, like any red-blooded American, but restrained myself admirably, taking two or three slices. The happy hour was pretty good. You couldn't get the top shelf booze I'm accustomed to, but it sufficed. The trail mix was OK but I still cannot fathom why anyone touches that molten,canned cheese product that goes on alleged nachos. I think it could be better used as spackle.

Alright, enough about the food. I rode with The Banker to and from most of the games. Since the rental car was equipped with satellite radio, we got into a game of Name That Tune. Actually it was Name That Artist. Each decade had its own channel so we went from the 50's through the 90's. I did pretty well, pulling Oingo Boingo out at the last minute. I'm proudest of naming the Royal Guardsmen, maker of a few Snoopy hits in the 60s. Obscure and useless information is my specialty.

We saw some excellent basketball. The girls took their bracket and then beat another bracket winner. They entered the last game 6-0, before finally falling to a stacked So Cal team. The stands were loaded with coaches for that game, with many eyes on the opponent's guard. Our girls never gave up. They played solid team basketball and all of them stepped up with their best effort. I think we'll be seeing them on the court long after high school.