Manny Garcias! Hope all is well out there in Tsunamiville.

I have a modest suggestion for promotion of Japan tourism.

"Come visit Japan!
Watch the tide come in, and the town go out!"

You could establish a chain of American fast food restaurants built on hillsides overlooking tsunami ravaged bays, from safe heights above, called Tsunami Burgers.

One entree could be The Trump; a burger thrown against a wall, and reassembled in haste, served on a gold tray.

52f and sunny.

Warning shots fired across bow of a charmed life? I spilled the beans. Actually a human bean. Now, a day and hours later, looking back, it was kinda fun.

Yesterday, Sunday morning, I went in two hours early to prep orchestra music for service. Lot was not plowed, but a few spaces by the building were cleared. I chose to park out in the parking lot as usual, saving the cleared spaces for elders and people with mobility issues. I always do that.

Walking carefully across the lot, planting each step. I came to a small mound of snow and ice. I stepped on top of it, tested it, and when footing seemed solid, stepped down onto clear pavement. Before I could blink, both feet went out from under me and I fell sideways and backwards onto the asphalt. I rolled and struck back of my head on the asphalt. My binder of music went flying, and so did the phone in my pocket; but I didn't realize that then. I tried to roll to my right to get up, but that direction rolled into snow and ice. No good. I rolled to my left and was able to roll onto some asphalt. But I could not get up. Did not yet know if I was hurt. My only options were to wait for someone, or crawl to the building about 50 feet away and use it for leverage to get up. I chose to do that. Made it to the building, used the wall for leverage, and got to my feet. Out in the lot was my music and phone, about ten feet from where I fell. Flying phone out of my pocket. I didn't seem injured, thank God, but vision was a bit blurry. Made way out to my music and phone, retrieved them, and slowly walked back to the door, which I unlocked and went in. The elevator wasn't working, so I had to climb the stairs. Usually not a problem, but I wasn't yet sure I could do that.

Got up to the chapel and from then on things seemed to calm down. Blurry vision cleared, but I had a dull headache. Was still able to focus OK, and when the other fellows got there, we rehearsed woll and were prepared for service. The sore began to set in from lots of hyperextended joints. Sore reached a peak last night.

It could have been SOOooo much worse! I dodged a bullet and know it! Still have a dull headache today. Saw doctor this morning. MRI on knees showed no new damage other than strain. Had I fallen another way, that would not be the case. Have a concussion, but thanks to my hat, that part of the fall was cushioned just enough to expose no brain, just stupidity.

I am on RICE therapy for the next eight days. Obviously didn't bowl last night, or this morning. Lucky Strikes continued winning, 3-1 over Lopez, so we're 19-1.

Officially we got 14 to 16 inches of snow. I underestimated that. There's still a foot of snow in the yard. It's a great snow, melting and percolating into the soil. I don't have to irrigate. It's also the kind of snow likely to persist well through winter, insulating and protecting. I know the yucca and palms are happy! Temperatures not that low either. 19F for the seasonal low.