One Year Later: A Look Back

I like to reminiscence. So much, in fact, that my wife calls me "Time Capsule."

Well, it's been a little more than a year since I started this blog, so what better time than now to reminiscence on a year full of excitement and transition?

For starters, it's been about four months since we left the Lone Star State and landed in San Francisco, but with as much as we've done since April 22, it seems like years. We've settled in, yet there's so much to do and see every day - in the city and in the entire Bay Area - that we still feel like tourists. The neighborhoods, the food, the culture, and on and on.

The iconic cable cars of San Francisco

After my nearly yearlong break from work, it's been nice to return to the world of academic/health care public relations at the University of California, San Francisco, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. It's a fast-paced, exciting team environment, and I enjoy interacting not only with UCSF faculty, staff and students but also patients and the community.

The Laurel Heights campus of UCSF

Along with the weather (it's about 40 degrees cooler here right now in summer compared to Texas) and time zone difference, the biggest adjustment has been vehicles - or the lack thereof. It amazes me I haven't driven a car in almost four months, courtesy of public transit, ride sharing and my two feet. I'm really thankful that I began regular walks a year ago in the Brazos Valley, though there was no way it could have prepared me for all the hills and steep inclines. Up, up and away!

Erica and I bundled up for the Fourth of July at Golden Gate Park- Yes, Fourth of July

Living in the Bay Area also means following their sports teams. I must admit I've abandoned the Astros a little bit, what with it being almost a decade since their World Series appearance and now season after season of 100+ losses. I've grown to like the Giants and Athletics, and at one point, another "Battle of the Bay" World Series seemed possible (minus the earthquake, I hope). The Giants are doing their best to prevent that from happening, though, and now attention has started shifting to football.

This time last year, I made my football predictions for the upcoming season, so I'll do it again now. Looking back, I did OK, knowing the Miami Dolphins probably wouldn't make the playoffs and Texas A&M and Nebraska would have good, but not championship caliber, seasons. Alabama and Ohio State in the BCS title game? Yeesh!

The Dolphins are in line for another average season, and I really don't know what to do with 'em. Bullygate, steroid suspensions, injuries, a new offensive coordinator, an entirely new offensive line - it all adds up to trouble. With two chances to clinch a playoff spot last year, they choked, and I see the same this year: 7-9 or 8-8. Then what? Fire the head coach? Draft a new quarterback? Change entire offensive and defensive schemes? Been there, done that, and nothing's changed. Sigh.

No, I will not jump on the Niners bandwagon, though I'm sure my best friend will rib me about it every week. They have a strong shot for another NFC Championship, if not Super Bowl, with the Seattle Seahawks standing in the way. The AFC also could be a repeat of a season ago, with the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots leading the charge. No Super Bowl prediction from me, however. The Oakland Raiders? Yikes!

Though I lived in the Brazos Valley for eight years, I never became a Texas A&M Aggies fan, and I'm not now. I am curious how they'll do without "Johnny Football," with some pundits predicting them next to last in the SEC West. I see a Beck Bowl or Texas Bowl appearance, not the best place to be immediately after a $450 million renovation to Kyle Field.

Here, it's Pac-12 country with Stanford and Cal. They have nice stadiums, but that's all I know and care to know about the Cardinal and Golden Bears.

Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto

And Nebraska? Same as the year before, and the year before that, and... Bo Pelini is a good coach, but injuries, suspensions and a new quarterback don't exactly have me brimming with hope, especially with Michigan State, Wisconsin and Iowa on your schedule (all on the road). I see another showing in the Capital One Bowl, perhaps against LSU. I am curious to see their Sept. 13 night game against Fresno State, which is just 190 miles southeast of here. I'm not going, but the matchup has drawn a lot of interest.

Oh, national title? In this new playoff system, I'll go with Alabama over Florida State in the "College Football Championship Game" (sponsor pending), and let's see how wrong I am this year.

OK, it's another beautiful, cool day, and I'm here inside typing away on the keyboard. Time to get out before Karl the Fog makes his daily appearance. Boy, does he like to cover things up!

Just a typical sunset on Ocean Beach

Til the next time...