WHY I LIVE WHERE I LIVE

I definitely stole this title from some column previously appearing in the Globe--I think. Or perhaps the National Geographic. Just not sure but I want to be sure I acknowledge the theft. The question arose for me as we arrived in Boston to temps in the 40's and ugly cold rain. This after a week in Key West where it was in the mid 80's and sunny for 7 straight days. Seven nights of wonderful meals; 7 days with a minimum of one serving of boiled shrimp daily; 4 days with Anna joining us; and some very good music in every bar we were in. Now I grew up 160 some odd miles north of there and would never think about why I don't live in Miami anymore--I know the answer to that. But, for me, the juxtaposition of leaving Key West and arriving in Boston was unpleasant. Of course there are a bunch of reasons we are here and have been here for more or less 45 plus years. Seasonal changes in weather is actually one of things I like. But let me tell you that after 7 days having "fun in the sun"--it makes me wonder.

Passover came--by the way happy Easter to those of you celebrating today. We had a very nice Seder at our place but there were no kids--which is not to diminish those in attendance but it was very different. On the one hand there were fewer distractions and much more attention to the process. But on the other hand, the Seders in my life has always had kids in attendance even when they were adult kids. But a 40 year old read the 4 questions since he was the youngest. Very odd and only heightened for me the absences of Jessica/Stefan/the grandchildren/Anna.

So that twerp Paul Ryan from Wisconsin (I know it is boring but I still have not figured out how both Wisconsin and Minnesota have moved so far right) gives us a budget. I will grant you he is bright and can add a column of figures but of course he wont tax the rich, wants to privatize Medicare but protect those of us already on it, and then make Medicaid a block grant under gubernatorial control. Now apart from the numbers, what he did very successfully was set the table for the discussion. He forced Obama to be reactive which seems to be his style. I dearly hope that as we get closer to 11/12, Obama will get more and more pro-active. But meanwhile, when he did respond, he did happen to kick the shit out of Ryan's plan and tried to appeal to the best in us. I just have many doubts about my fellow citizens.

If you missed both Colbert and Stewart getting all over Senator Kyl for his addition problems, they were terrific. Kyl was after Planned Parenthood and blatantly lied about the percentage of their budgets which fund abortions. They tore into him hilariously. I am going to have to find a serious alternative to them as we get closer to the election. Because that period of time will not be all fun and games.

John McCain goes to Libya, gets his picture taken with the rebels, and wants us to do more which I guess means put troops on the ground. Then when he gets back I guarantee he will be all over the Prez no matter what Obama does. McCain is a fool and I don't know who even let him go there.

Now to something much more important and serious--I learned this week that Rosemary had died. She was my right had woman for a long time when I worked at The Home. She was a friend, a confidant, a hand holder, and a bright articulate hyper-thoughtful woman who helped me (along with a bunch of others) survive as long as i did. I always apologized when I swore in her presence and she would pat me on the arm and tell me it was ok. She was "proper" in the best sense of the word. I missed her when she left, missed her when I left, and miss her now.


SPORTS TALK

The Celtics will advance but I believe at some point Shaq has to appear. I'm hoping that Doc knows he can beat the Knicks without him and the more rest he gets, the better. It is a hope.

I had given up on the Bruins--I pulled a "Dan Shaughnessy" and wrote them off after they fell behind two games to none. And now they might pull it off in spite of playing what I consider mediocre hockey. But my friend Danny called me on it and now I know better. Shaughnessy is a fool and I fell in with him--ugh.

So the Sox have been resurrected and the season is not over. Miracle of miracles.

That's about it.

Sayonara.