Return to the grind

Because Mrs. Sports Lounge simply doesn’t like to take time off from work — she thinks the place will fall apart without her — I was pretty much on my own last week. Not completely alone as this was a “staycation,” and I would see her most nights for dinner.

I didn’t do a whole lot during my time away: got plenty of practice and playing time on my guitar as well as eight hours of sleep for the last several days. First time in months that I’ve gotten that much consistent sleep.

But I did find some things to do to keep me occupied. I didn’t spend the entire time at home, I spent the first weekend in the Reno area to visit my brother. My vacation started with a 5:30 a.m. alarm followed by being on the road by 7 a.m. for an 11:30 tee time at Wolf Run Golf Club about 10 miles south of downtown Reno.

Figured I needed to do something as I waited for my brother to finish work Friday afternoon, so golf it was. Nestled in a tony area of south Reno, the course was nice — maybe a little better than my local muni — but I followed a morning tournament, so the greens looked the pock-marked face of the moon with so many unrepaired ball marks.

I could have shot a better round, but I psyched myself out when the starter, and the guy I was playing with, warned me of their “fast” greens. I left so many putts short.

I finished my round and headed to my brother’s house, with him making the turn into his neighborhood just ahead of me.

Talk about perfect timing.

We grabbed some dinner then spent a few hours playing blackjack at a local casino. We went back the following night, as well, and I ended up winning 100 bucks.

Before Saturday night’s blackjack session, we spent the morning and afternoon returning to my roots. My dad was a big hunter and a fan of shooting and I did a lot of both growing up. I kind of grew out of that, but my brother is still a big hunter and avid shooter so we jumped in his off-round utility vehicle and headed out into the desert behind his house to sight in his new hunting rifle.

After plinking around for a couple hours, he decided he wanted to try and get rid of one his seldom-used hunting rifles. Luckily, there was a gun show in town.

If you’ve never been to a gun show, it is surreal: thousands of guns and millions of rounds of ammo. As we were walking into the convention center, there was an older gentleman walking out with a rifle slung over his shoulder like a baseball player carry a bat.

I would imagine in most cities in California, that would be cause to call the police. In Reno, it’s just Saturday.

I headed back to the Bay Area early Sunday and spent the rest of that day, along with Monday, just resting and doing laundry. I also used it as an opportunity to gain the upper hand on my Grizzly Adams beard by giving it the biggest trim in years. Now, it’s nice and neat.

Tuesday I helped Aragon athletic director Steve Sell check something off his bucket list when I invited him for a round of golf at Moraga Country Club. My wife has worked there for several years now and one of her benefits is a handful of free rounds of golf. Since she doesn’t play, I take advantage of the perk.

Even better? I can bring a guest.

Sell is a Saint Mary’s College graduate and said he has driven past the golf course hundreds of times over the years — the club is around the corner and up the street from the college — but had never had a chance to play.

Tuesday was the day and it was a beautiful day for golf. We played decently. Sell beat me by a handful of strokes, but it wasn’t about the score. It was about playing a really nice course where pace of play is seldom a problem. We played 18 holes in about three-and-a-half hours.

Wednesday morning, I decided to catch the final game of the Pirates-Giants series at Oracle Park. I got a decent ticket, 27 rows behind home plate, and with Logan Webb pitching, I thought the Giants would snap their slide.

Turns out I was wrong. Webb pitched well, but the one run the Giants scored wasn’t enough. Webb got a no-decision, the game went to extra innings and the Giants lost 2-1.

Oh well.

Thursday was my weekly guitar lesson and, other than that, I didn’t do much that day. As Friday rolled around, I was entering the final few days of my break and wanted to do something. I found a driving simulation center about 20 minutes from my house, so I figured, “Why not?”

It was relatively inexpensive, 30 dollars for 30 minutes, which turns out is more than enough time. Using a fully articulated driving rig that simulated every bump on the track, it was a workout. Fun, but tiring.

This past weekend was like a normal weekend. My wife ended up working both days, so I didn’t do a whole lot other than my normal weekend routine.

That led to yesterday and back to work with my column.

Nathan Mollat has been covering high school sports in San Mateo County for the San Mateo Daily Journal since 2001. He can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com.