Have to imagine Mary Travers singing that line. We head out to Monterrey tomorrow--that would be in the Berkshires not Mexico. I missed it mucho last summer and was determined to return. Turns out , a number of others agreed and so a cast of thousands (ok, perhaps a handful) will re-assemble to play games, eat too much, and get a big dose of a varied cultural menu. In advance of that, I have some assorted (but highly relevant and crucial) information to share.
Determined as I am to use local resources and in spite of Thalia's departure (you remember her, right?), I returned to the JP post office to check on something. Was third in a very short line when I got there. In no short order, the line extended nearly to the door and was occupied by the usual eclectic blend of JP residents. I was then 4th having given up my spot (being you know that great humanitarian--the same one who gave the kid a foul ball)to a woman who proceeded to yak my ear off about the debt business. Then lo and behold, the only clerk disappears and does not reappear . A second clerk arrives and the first person to go up has a HUGE PROBLEM which can only be solved by the second clerk's disappearance. Now, no one is there and every so often the youngish manager sticks her head around the corner to see whats up. Clearly not enough for her to help out at the counter because she disappears. I leave.
Go to get my car looked at in advance of the trip west. My man at the station (in JP) is off the charts angry because a older guy he knows (older than me for god's sake) is worried about not getting his social security check--yup, like the woman in the post office, we are back on the debt issue. But this is where it gets interesting. He starts off expressing outrage that someone who has worked his whole life will miss a check. Then, without skipping a beat, he is off on what we "give" to immigrants who are here illegally. Now I have to say this guy has been here awhile but is not native born. Then that light bulb goes off and I realize this is who the tea party appeals to--angry angry people who want simple answers and see no contradiction in yelling about the checks not coming and then moving onto "illegal immigrants". Oh my, he did a great job on my car but my head was baked--it was one of those ugly hot days as well.
Two fine women, Elizabeth Warren and Sheila Bair, have lost their battles not just with Congress over re-nominations but also with Geithner who is starting to look like a twerp/bully if you can be both. They did great jobs and Obama let them go rather than fight which is starting to become a theme. I worry very much about Warren running for Senate here and losing but I would work for her in any case. Anyone hear from Senator Scottie on anything lately. I think he is hiding.
One of my out of state readers (there are multitudes of them) believes the passage of the same sex marriage law in NY is more important than what happened in Mass. despite us being first (Hello there NYC--we did go first) because NY is so much more important in terms of the rest of the country--point taken and accepted.
Felt awful about Myra Kraft (and I am still not sure why it hit me that way) though hearing about Mr. Kraft taking a "break" from sitting shiva was kind of dopey. You don't take breaks from that. Some screwball from the Boston Herald was at her funeral and tweeting updates about who he saw. yuk.
Ditto about Norway's massacre--and I do believe the right wing over there in Europe is getting more and more out of hand.
The cemetery visit was on the short side though important. Its been 25 years and obviously the acute sadness has passed--I was just 40 when my mother died. She is buried with her sibs and lies a short distance away from her mother--my grandmother who I never knew. It was good to be there with Babs. Ane yup we loved the lobsters.
A really bad sign that Boehner (He who has a perpetual tan) could not get the votes he needed because of the right wingers in his party.
SPORTS
Big debate rages among readers (or at least one reader) about Cano vs. Pedroia. But how can anyone whose nickname is "Pedey" be better. What a pathetic nickname--compared to "Big Papi"? Not even close. Those first 3 red flop batters are just wonderful hitters. Gonzalez reminds me of Mattingly. Pitching wise, CC Sabbathia is just overwhelming despite looking a tad overweight.
Belichik must be brighter than the rest of us. Taking on two head cases like chad and albert makes me think he is fully confident in the positive locker room culture of the team and, second, that if either crosses some imaginary line, they are gone. The talking heads believe he is a genius and has nothing to lose. We shall see.
Sayonara--and as the song says--"See You in September".
Friday, July 29, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
THALIA, THALIA, WHERE ART THOU THALIA?
So Centre street runs from the heart of Jamaica Plain through the heart of West Roxbury--or at least the commercial hearts of both. Each neighborhood contains a large Post Office. The one in JP is like the United Nations. A lot of customers do not speak English and very few if any of the clerks speak any language other than
English. Unfortunately, this creates major back ups on all runways especially when only one clerk is even there. But Thalia was a special clerk. Though she speaks only English, she acted almost like a hostess--taking care of each "guest's" problems calmly and soothingly. Even when language was a barrier, she was able to bridge that with her demeanor. Having said all that, the place was nuts. And then one day Thalia was gone. So, in the process of renewing my passport(don't worry this story is almost over), I decide to avoid the JP post office because of its chaos and go to West Roxbury. VOILA!! My hostess re-appeared. Thalia had transferred out and was now hostessing in West Roxbury. I felt such relief and familiarity and she took good care of me. Now my big issue is whether to abandon my neighborhood post office altogether and follow Thalia. What a dilemma.
These next two anecdotes seem like they are about sports but read on you avoiders of all things sportish. Watching the Women's World Cup, one of the differences between the Northern Europeans and the Central Europeans was quite evident. The Norwegian and Swedish women were all blond blue eyed stereotypical Norsewomen. The Germans, English, and French had players of color and players with names that obviously were not French/German/English in origin. If those countries ever change to more restrictive immigration laws, I am not sure what their soccer teams will do.
Second sportish anecdote: Barbara and I made our annual summer excursion to a low level minor league baseball game. Saw the Brockton Rox of the Can Am League. This is a league which is independent. That means they have no affiliation with any major league team and the players have no contracts with any of those teams. $7.50 for a seat in the first row just beyond first base. A beautiful little field on the campus of Brockton High whose teams play there. Maybe 200 people there. Miracle of miracles--I got my first foul ball ever. One hop and into my hands without me having to push any kid aside. I did, however, being a great humanitarian, give it to the first kid I saw. A great night.
So Eric Cantor (he who is a member of my tribe) was disturbed at how the President treated him at one of those debt meetings. He is lucky the Prez did not kick his ass out. Eric needs to get a grip and quit whining. I happen to believe he is also mis reading people about revenue especially tax breaks for the wealthy. Be that as it may, it is beyond me how these guys get away with such disrespect of the President. I have seen disagreements before; but this borders on malice and in my deep dark paranoid recesses, I am convinced the issue of skin color is right below the surface.
I happen not to understand this debt shit anyhow though the end of the world as we know it apparently is tied up in resolving it. I get social Security but don't rely on it as a primary source of income. Some people do and that is probably the only reason I believe this will get resolved--no one wants to run for re-election having made a bunch of poor retirees miss a check. Or at least I hope that is true.
OK, we have the return of great white sharks off the Cape. Panic set in just like last year and it's the fault of those damn seals. If they would just stop reproducing and then lolling around with their kids just off shore, then the sharks would go bye bye. Some people have suggested the resolution is to shoot the seals. People are so needy for the simple. You say things are complicated and the glaze settles in over their eyeballs.
I did it again: I love most of Neil Young's song especially his acoustic stuff. On "Prairie Wind" which is one of my favorite discs, there is a song called "I'm Here for You". Its about a child (in his case his daughter) who is leaving home. And what I did again in the car as I listened was start to cry. I mean I love the song but it hits me on so many levels. I can almost predict these outbursts.
SPORTS TALK
So the American women played great but did not lose because of the penalty kicks. They lost because of the same reason many teams lose--they could not hold a late lead. That is primarily due to the part of the game played from the neck up. And Solo was not as strong as any of the talking heads had us believing.
ARod and Jeter, though elected, had no business playing in that all star game and I am glad they missed it. On the other hand, forget the home run contest, but Mr. Cano is the best second baseman in the game. And as I have said before, Dustin is not in the same boat as Cano and it is not close.
What is also not close is that the Yanks pitching sucks and I have seen Mariano look way too normal. Papelbon is not much better but if the red flops ever get Bucholz and Lester back, its theirs to lose. Lackey and Burnett cancel each other out since each is horrid. CC is the best of the bunch but can only go out every 5th day and that's not enough. My boys will have trouble being the wild card.
Great nickname: Ryan Braun is a member of my tribe as well as an outfielder with the Milwaukee Brewers though I cannot for the life of me imagine Jewish people naming their son Ryan but that's for another day. His teammates have nicknamed him "(He)Brewer". Is that great or what?
Off to Maine Wednesday to the old stomping grounds including a visit to my mother's grave--its been 27 years. Will say a memorial prayer/visit a few other relatives buried there and have some lobster on the return. My mother loved lobster.
Sayonara.
English. Unfortunately, this creates major back ups on all runways especially when only one clerk is even there. But Thalia was a special clerk. Though she speaks only English, she acted almost like a hostess--taking care of each "guest's" problems calmly and soothingly. Even when language was a barrier, she was able to bridge that with her demeanor. Having said all that, the place was nuts. And then one day Thalia was gone. So, in the process of renewing my passport(don't worry this story is almost over), I decide to avoid the JP post office because of its chaos and go to West Roxbury. VOILA!! My hostess re-appeared. Thalia had transferred out and was now hostessing in West Roxbury. I felt such relief and familiarity and she took good care of me. Now my big issue is whether to abandon my neighborhood post office altogether and follow Thalia. What a dilemma.
These next two anecdotes seem like they are about sports but read on you avoiders of all things sportish. Watching the Women's World Cup, one of the differences between the Northern Europeans and the Central Europeans was quite evident. The Norwegian and Swedish women were all blond blue eyed stereotypical Norsewomen. The Germans, English, and French had players of color and players with names that obviously were not French/German/English in origin. If those countries ever change to more restrictive immigration laws, I am not sure what their soccer teams will do.
Second sportish anecdote: Barbara and I made our annual summer excursion to a low level minor league baseball game. Saw the Brockton Rox of the Can Am League. This is a league which is independent. That means they have no affiliation with any major league team and the players have no contracts with any of those teams. $7.50 for a seat in the first row just beyond first base. A beautiful little field on the campus of Brockton High whose teams play there. Maybe 200 people there. Miracle of miracles--I got my first foul ball ever. One hop and into my hands without me having to push any kid aside. I did, however, being a great humanitarian, give it to the first kid I saw. A great night.
So Eric Cantor (he who is a member of my tribe) was disturbed at how the President treated him at one of those debt meetings. He is lucky the Prez did not kick his ass out. Eric needs to get a grip and quit whining. I happen to believe he is also mis reading people about revenue especially tax breaks for the wealthy. Be that as it may, it is beyond me how these guys get away with such disrespect of the President. I have seen disagreements before; but this borders on malice and in my deep dark paranoid recesses, I am convinced the issue of skin color is right below the surface.
I happen not to understand this debt shit anyhow though the end of the world as we know it apparently is tied up in resolving it. I get social Security but don't rely on it as a primary source of income. Some people do and that is probably the only reason I believe this will get resolved--no one wants to run for re-election having made a bunch of poor retirees miss a check. Or at least I hope that is true.
OK, we have the return of great white sharks off the Cape. Panic set in just like last year and it's the fault of those damn seals. If they would just stop reproducing and then lolling around with their kids just off shore, then the sharks would go bye bye. Some people have suggested the resolution is to shoot the seals. People are so needy for the simple. You say things are complicated and the glaze settles in over their eyeballs.
I did it again: I love most of Neil Young's song especially his acoustic stuff. On "Prairie Wind" which is one of my favorite discs, there is a song called "I'm Here for You". Its about a child (in his case his daughter) who is leaving home. And what I did again in the car as I listened was start to cry. I mean I love the song but it hits me on so many levels. I can almost predict these outbursts.
SPORTS TALK
So the American women played great but did not lose because of the penalty kicks. They lost because of the same reason many teams lose--they could not hold a late lead. That is primarily due to the part of the game played from the neck up. And Solo was not as strong as any of the talking heads had us believing.
ARod and Jeter, though elected, had no business playing in that all star game and I am glad they missed it. On the other hand, forget the home run contest, but Mr. Cano is the best second baseman in the game. And as I have said before, Dustin is not in the same boat as Cano and it is not close.
What is also not close is that the Yanks pitching sucks and I have seen Mariano look way too normal. Papelbon is not much better but if the red flops ever get Bucholz and Lester back, its theirs to lose. Lackey and Burnett cancel each other out since each is horrid. CC is the best of the bunch but can only go out every 5th day and that's not enough. My boys will have trouble being the wild card.
Great nickname: Ryan Braun is a member of my tribe as well as an outfielder with the Milwaukee Brewers though I cannot for the life of me imagine Jewish people naming their son Ryan but that's for another day. His teammates have nicknamed him "(He)Brewer". Is that great or what?
Off to Maine Wednesday to the old stomping grounds including a visit to my mother's grave--its been 27 years. Will say a memorial prayer/visit a few other relatives buried there and have some lobster on the return. My mother loved lobster.
Sayonara.
Friday, July 1, 2011
"TENTH AVENUE FREEZE OUT"
"Changes were made uptown and the Big Man joined the band". I don't have a clue if Clarence Clemons was a good sax player or not. I do know, having seen the E Street Band a few times, that he and Bruce had fun up there. I also believe that this was no ebony and ivory (tickling the keys) kind of thing--these two were like brothers on the stage. They were in the foxhole together and made wonderful music while there. A major loss to the Band, his friends/family, and those of us who love the music of the E Street Band.
I might be one of only a few people who was hoping Whitey would never get caught. I do understand that the families of his victims care deeply and have that right. But come on he is 81, walked into Tijuana to get his meds (one of which I take with a prescription and it costs a bit more), had $800,000 in that one apartment, and assorted guns. Probably had some other places to live too and he paid our fine city a few visits during his little escapade. And did you see the bios of his victims? 90%were thugs just like him. Now he takes a helicopter up from Plymouth and he gets lawyers at our expense. Bizarro.
My man Jon Stewart took on Chris Wallace a couple of weeks ago and the clips I saw were grand. Apart from the fact that he is a great comedian, he is extraordinarily bright and was more than a match for Mr. Wallace who must embarrass his father daily. I get the news from Stewart now and, as I have said, I can barely tolerate any other talking heads--even in sports. Stewart got Wallace to admit on air that Fox believes its mission is to present the "other side" because the rest of the media is so liberal. Oh my.
And yet I happened to catch Charley Rose a week or so ago--heavyweight panel of Tom Friedman, David Brooks, Roger Cohen,and Dave Leonhardt. All from the NY Times and all down on Obama not so much for his decisions but for his lack of leadership. The four sit on different points of the political spectrum and disagreed about some substantive stuff--but on leadership they were united. I have to say I am with them on that one.
So Eric Cantor (he who is a member of my tribe) walked out of the negotiations on the debt ceiling. Took the coward,s way out and showed no leadership. Now it takes a mad scientist to even understand this issue though it does seem to get a bunch of folks all worked up--but if he is a leader, shouldn't he lead and not run back to Richmond?
I continue to root for Michelle Bachman since I fear Romney as a much more worthy opponent for Obama. She will, if we are all patient, start saying stuff that will confirm her need for some serious medication.
And Mr. Weiner (to be fair, he is also a member of my tribe) resigned. No surprise nor is it a surprise that political men act so badly when their egos are as big as this room. Party affiliation has nothing to do with it--just more men acting badly.
SPORTS TALK
I remember, but not perfectly, a quote from Larry Bird which went something like this--I want the pea at the end of the game. Pea meaning the ball. Lebron wanted it anywhere but in his hands and absolutely choked. If the NBA ever plays another game (and as I said about the NFL, I don't care), someone down on South Beach will be looking for work and I'm betting it will be Chris Bosh who proved his worth but must feel like the odd man out--I predicted this folks so pat me right on the back. Wade on the other hand played up to his potential.
Ah, the Bruins bringing the Cup back home. Another prediction: If the Canucks and Bruins play against each other during the next regular season, there will be a brawl. There was no retaliation for the ugly (and I mean ugly, scary, and my eyes were closed) hit on Horton. But they won,t forget and someone will instigate something. All four lines played above their skill levels but Bergeron's line with that pest Marchand was just special. And then there was Thomas. Watched it and enjoyed it with Steffen down there in the South!! By the way, for better or worse, the NBA owners are looking jealousy at the NHL hard cap situation and love it.
The Vancouver riots. At first, I was ready to blame alcohol and youth. But then I read some more (Imagine) and realized Vancouver has had these things before (and not just about sports) and people in the crowd were prepared with gasoline and rags to burn things. So it was a fore thought. Given the history, it was a symbolically combustible event which good city leadership might have predicted. Not to belabor it, but on the night the Bruins won, the mayor ordered all bars locked and all patio furniture brought in and sent out gobs of cops. Even the patrons inside the bars had to stop drinking. That,s thinking ahead. Without leadership of some sort, then the alcohol and the energy of the young lit the place up. That's the most I can make of it.
No baseball comments since it is not quite 7/4 but I will say Sabbathia is a horse and the Yanks are exceeding expectations with an elderly corps of starters.
Enjoy the 4th.
Sayonara.
I might be one of only a few people who was hoping Whitey would never get caught. I do understand that the families of his victims care deeply and have that right. But come on he is 81, walked into Tijuana to get his meds (one of which I take with a prescription and it costs a bit more), had $800,000 in that one apartment, and assorted guns. Probably had some other places to live too and he paid our fine city a few visits during his little escapade. And did you see the bios of his victims? 90%were thugs just like him. Now he takes a helicopter up from Plymouth and he gets lawyers at our expense. Bizarro.
My man Jon Stewart took on Chris Wallace a couple of weeks ago and the clips I saw were grand. Apart from the fact that he is a great comedian, he is extraordinarily bright and was more than a match for Mr. Wallace who must embarrass his father daily. I get the news from Stewart now and, as I have said, I can barely tolerate any other talking heads--even in sports. Stewart got Wallace to admit on air that Fox believes its mission is to present the "other side" because the rest of the media is so liberal. Oh my.
And yet I happened to catch Charley Rose a week or so ago--heavyweight panel of Tom Friedman, David Brooks, Roger Cohen,and Dave Leonhardt. All from the NY Times and all down on Obama not so much for his decisions but for his lack of leadership. The four sit on different points of the political spectrum and disagreed about some substantive stuff--but on leadership they were united. I have to say I am with them on that one.
So Eric Cantor (he who is a member of my tribe) walked out of the negotiations on the debt ceiling. Took the coward,s way out and showed no leadership. Now it takes a mad scientist to even understand this issue though it does seem to get a bunch of folks all worked up--but if he is a leader, shouldn't he lead and not run back to Richmond?
I continue to root for Michelle Bachman since I fear Romney as a much more worthy opponent for Obama. She will, if we are all patient, start saying stuff that will confirm her need for some serious medication.
And Mr. Weiner (to be fair, he is also a member of my tribe) resigned. No surprise nor is it a surprise that political men act so badly when their egos are as big as this room. Party affiliation has nothing to do with it--just more men acting badly.
SPORTS TALK
I remember, but not perfectly, a quote from Larry Bird which went something like this--I want the pea at the end of the game. Pea meaning the ball. Lebron wanted it anywhere but in his hands and absolutely choked. If the NBA ever plays another game (and as I said about the NFL, I don't care), someone down on South Beach will be looking for work and I'm betting it will be Chris Bosh who proved his worth but must feel like the odd man out--I predicted this folks so pat me right on the back. Wade on the other hand played up to his potential.
Ah, the Bruins bringing the Cup back home. Another prediction: If the Canucks and Bruins play against each other during the next regular season, there will be a brawl. There was no retaliation for the ugly (and I mean ugly, scary, and my eyes were closed) hit on Horton. But they won,t forget and someone will instigate something. All four lines played above their skill levels but Bergeron's line with that pest Marchand was just special. And then there was Thomas. Watched it and enjoyed it with Steffen down there in the South!! By the way, for better or worse, the NBA owners are looking jealousy at the NHL hard cap situation and love it.
The Vancouver riots. At first, I was ready to blame alcohol and youth. But then I read some more (Imagine) and realized Vancouver has had these things before (and not just about sports) and people in the crowd were prepared with gasoline and rags to burn things. So it was a fore thought. Given the history, it was a symbolically combustible event which good city leadership might have predicted. Not to belabor it, but on the night the Bruins won, the mayor ordered all bars locked and all patio furniture brought in and sent out gobs of cops. Even the patrons inside the bars had to stop drinking. That,s thinking ahead. Without leadership of some sort, then the alcohol and the energy of the young lit the place up. That's the most I can make of it.
No baseball comments since it is not quite 7/4 but I will say Sabbathia is a horse and the Yanks are exceeding expectations with an elderly corps of starters.
Enjoy the 4th.
Sayonara.
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