GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE

Let's start on a light note and talk turkey.  The Boston Globe in its never ending committtment to publish a daily animal article outdid itself last week.  It gave up 4 columns and a byline (no wire services for something this important) to a "wild turkey invading a Brookline home".  Apparently, this mad bird flew through a window and began harassing the occupants.  To double its pleasure at this invasion, the Globe then added that the house cat went berserk.  Fortunately, the bird escaped alive.  Then I was in a car with a friend who listens to NPR (by the way I have two thoughts about NPR--first it is not much different than CNN and the other 24/7 news organizations--it voraciously searches for stories; second, I believe there is really only one man and one woman who are on the air.  They call themselves different names at different times but they all sound the same).  So, NPR is reporting from Samoa (and I have now learned that there are 2 Samoas--an American one and "another" which is its own country)--the Samoa that is its own country.  Guess what? They eat turkey butts--and they love them despite how fatty and unhealthy they are.  Problem is they cannot get enough and the government is limiting what they can get in order to support healthy lifestyles.  Terrific reporting if only it had been on Fox News and we could have seen pictures of turkey asses.

In a more serious note, if I hear McCain or Graham say one more thing about boots on the ground in Syria, I might explode.  The same guys who supported invading Iraq and going into Afghanistan want us to unilaterally go into Syria --by the way, my guess is that we are already in Syria is some limited Special Forces kind of way. In this case, I get even more irritated at the sound of Lindsey Graham's voice--I try to keep an open mind and consistently fail when it comes to those good ol boy southern accents.  Obama seems rightly cautious about Syria which feels just like another swamp.

On the other hand, he better get ahead of these domestic scandals which are rocking his second term.  The IRS stuff, the Associated Press stuff, and Ben Ghazi are all irritants to any progress he might be making.  In addition, they are stalling and sidetracking any conversations on immigration (Jeff Sessions, another one of those GOP stalwarts from the South with another one of those accents, might stop the bill just by himself).  The marathon bombers and how they got here does not help either.

Speaking of which, Fox News wanted to arrest the ex wife of the older brother for wearing her hajib in public.  They do get to the core of every issue very quickly.  And who were those fools who had a problem with the burial of the older brother--including our own Governor.  Kudos to that Funeral Director in Worcester who felt he had a professional responsibility to bury the man.  And did it take all of 5 minutes for the site of that "secret" cemetery where he was buried to be discovered.  How naive are we that we think no one will know.  Come on.

Does anyone really care about Jodi Arias and whatever she did--I mean beside Nancy Grace.

Charley Rose is in a competitive race with Chris Matthews to see who can interrupt their guest the most times in one interview.  I still think Matthews wins but Charley is just inches behind.  And smarter.

Worrying about Israel getting drawn into the Syrian mess more than just blowing up missiles headed for Lebanon.  Or Turkey finally having enough of all the refugees and deciding to "do" something.  Or Jordan whose refugee population is now the third largest city in the country.  And if you don't think we are in all those countries doing something, think again.

Two items about my youth:  Getting emails about my 50th H.S. reunion.  Can't wait to see some of those really cool football players and cheerleaders who have now decided in our doddering older years that we (the unwashed and uncool) can now be included.  And a question:  I have pictures of myself at 5 or 6 in a cabana suit made of some fluffy material--is that terry cloth or something else?  I do look fashionable.  Anyone else ever have a cabana outfit?

Finally, "The C Word" with Laura Linney is winding down and has left me in tears for the last 3 weeks.  First of all she is terrific.  But I have never seen a TV show deal with end of life issues as profoundly as this one.  Just mesmerizes me.

Enough/Am very excited to be seeing Anna this weekend/And Oliver and Lilli have convinced their parents that they wanted to move back and so they will--by the fall!!


SPORTS TALK

Ohio State University Assistant football coaches just got raises--they make $500,000 a year.  I am guessing there are at least 5 assistants if not more.  That is just ugly and likely replicated at all big programs including my Wolverines. 

The Celtics got old fast though I actually hope KG returns.  I could live without Paul Pierce.

Fair weather fan that I am, I gave up on the Bruins when they were down 4-1.  Only saw the rest on replay.  Quite a display though I think playing from behind will catch up with them sooner or later.

Terrific article on R.A. Dickey in last week's New Yorker.  Boy, does he seem interesting over and above his knuckles.



Sayonara