"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.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
ANY DAY IS A GOOD ONE WHEN LEBRON LOSES
WARNING: This first paragraph is about sports. I never liked him, thought he was awfully overrated, and especially hated the "theatre" and drama surrounding his departure from Cleveland. He is the literal bull in the literal china shop. Also, the best player for the Heat was the third of their so called big three--that would be Chris Bosh. As predicted here first, he was an afterthought throughout the whole season and then presto he outplayed the other two in the finals. Lebron absolutely choked in every fourth quarter and his post game comments were offensive. Enough.
I think I mentioned back in the fall after we returned from Turkey that we went to a wine shop in a small village and immediately after we entered, a busload of Syrian women descended on the same store. A close drive our guide said. I thought of this recently as the Syrian government proceeded to murder its own citizens--survivors fleeing into Turkey. I almost can envision some of those border villages despite not having gone there. A close drive indeed.
Watching Charlie Rose last week after Netanyahu left was soooo depressing. Rose had 4talking heads from a range of political view points including an Israeli journalist. The only point of agreement: Sometime before the end of the calendar year, it will blow up into another intifada. Pains were made during the show to share the responsibility for that between the Israelis and the Palestinians. But there it was in its bleakest incarnation. Turned it off very fast.
We had a group os Sisters living here in JP who sued the Cardinal and the Archdiocese about some retirement benefits for their lay employees. Ultimately the Archdiocese caved and the employees got whatever they were looking for. But the Cardinal got the last laugh. The Sister in charge (there is a title for her but I cannot seem to remember it)was transferred to Rome permanently one day after the verdict. These guys never learn. HUH.
Then there was congress. Democrats were feeling pretty good after that election in upstate New york which turned on the Democratic candidate attacking her opponent for wanting to eliminate Medicare. A great boost for the Dems until Mr. Weiner exposed himself on line (got the right name for that!!). Oh my, do these guys have egos or what. I'm hoping he gets to room with Tiger down there in Mississippi when he goes for treatment to the place that seems to be the only one in the world for sex addicts. Assuming Tiger has a relapse or two.
And the Republicans kept pace. Michelle Bachman fancies that she and Barack are alike because they came from such humble backgrounds. Senator Shelby blocks Diamond's nomination to the Fed despite the fact that the guy is a Noble Laureate--and Diamond finally bailed this week. Please give us Sarah or Michelle or another nut case to run--I worry more about Mitt but hope the entire Right Wing of his party demolishes him for the one good thing he did here with Health care.
Been to two great restaurants. The first, Darryl's Corner, is owned by the guy who owns the Beehive in the South End which is also great. He had owned Bob the Chef's which is where Darryl's is sited. Great "down home" food and live jazz. And then right here in little JP, down the block from Martha's, is Tres Gatos. Tapas and very good ones. Loved them both.
NOW FOR MORE SPORTS:
I am writing this before the face off for game 6. I am not sure the Bruins will win the Cup but if they lose it tonight, I will be sorely disappointed. After all, they are at home and Thomas has stood on his head here to make saves. If they win tonight and then lose in Vancouver, I somehow will be less disappointed since that is just how the whole series played out and I actually think the Bruins have over achieved anyhow. The hit on Horton was sick--what was worse was watching him on the ice so obviously out of it and with movements that looked totally involuntary. I really thought there was something worse happening.
Good riddance to that god fearing Jim Tressel. Yes, he beat my Wolverines umpteen times in a row but so self righteous and pious praying with his players who then went out and sold stuff just to get more tattoos. Screw him and the other Division I cheats. And yes, I believe it happens all over the place.
It is not July 4th so no baseball chat though my boys are in deep doo doo with that crumbling pitching staff.
Off to Philadelphia tomorrow to see the new house and the folks who live in it. Training down and have missed them terribly.
Sayonara.
I think I mentioned back in the fall after we returned from Turkey that we went to a wine shop in a small village and immediately after we entered, a busload of Syrian women descended on the same store. A close drive our guide said. I thought of this recently as the Syrian government proceeded to murder its own citizens--survivors fleeing into Turkey. I almost can envision some of those border villages despite not having gone there. A close drive indeed.
Watching Charlie Rose last week after Netanyahu left was soooo depressing. Rose had 4talking heads from a range of political view points including an Israeli journalist. The only point of agreement: Sometime before the end of the calendar year, it will blow up into another intifada. Pains were made during the show to share the responsibility for that between the Israelis and the Palestinians. But there it was in its bleakest incarnation. Turned it off very fast.
We had a group os Sisters living here in JP who sued the Cardinal and the Archdiocese about some retirement benefits for their lay employees. Ultimately the Archdiocese caved and the employees got whatever they were looking for. But the Cardinal got the last laugh. The Sister in charge (there is a title for her but I cannot seem to remember it)was transferred to Rome permanently one day after the verdict. These guys never learn. HUH.
Then there was congress. Democrats were feeling pretty good after that election in upstate New york which turned on the Democratic candidate attacking her opponent for wanting to eliminate Medicare. A great boost for the Dems until Mr. Weiner exposed himself on line (got the right name for that!!). Oh my, do these guys have egos or what. I'm hoping he gets to room with Tiger down there in Mississippi when he goes for treatment to the place that seems to be the only one in the world for sex addicts. Assuming Tiger has a relapse or two.
And the Republicans kept pace. Michelle Bachman fancies that she and Barack are alike because they came from such humble backgrounds. Senator Shelby blocks Diamond's nomination to the Fed despite the fact that the guy is a Noble Laureate--and Diamond finally bailed this week. Please give us Sarah or Michelle or another nut case to run--I worry more about Mitt but hope the entire Right Wing of his party demolishes him for the one good thing he did here with Health care.
Been to two great restaurants. The first, Darryl's Corner, is owned by the guy who owns the Beehive in the South End which is also great. He had owned Bob the Chef's which is where Darryl's is sited. Great "down home" food and live jazz. And then right here in little JP, down the block from Martha's, is Tres Gatos. Tapas and very good ones. Loved them both.
NOW FOR MORE SPORTS:
I am writing this before the face off for game 6. I am not sure the Bruins will win the Cup but if they lose it tonight, I will be sorely disappointed. After all, they are at home and Thomas has stood on his head here to make saves. If they win tonight and then lose in Vancouver, I somehow will be less disappointed since that is just how the whole series played out and I actually think the Bruins have over achieved anyhow. The hit on Horton was sick--what was worse was watching him on the ice so obviously out of it and with movements that looked totally involuntary. I really thought there was something worse happening.
Good riddance to that god fearing Jim Tressel. Yes, he beat my Wolverines umpteen times in a row but so self righteous and pious praying with his players who then went out and sold stuff just to get more tattoos. Screw him and the other Division I cheats. And yes, I believe it happens all over the place.
It is not July 4th so no baseball chat though my boys are in deep doo doo with that crumbling pitching staff.
Off to Philadelphia tomorrow to see the new house and the folks who live in it. Training down and have missed them terribly.
Sayonara.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
I,M ALAN ONE OF THE COUNTY CORK O'BERNSTEINS
How great was it to see the Prez in Ireland lifting a Guinness in a small village pub. And then paying for it. Those scenes of him squeezing flesh made it seem as if people "over there" like him more than some of us here. Hope that Icelandic ash does not prevent him from getting more hand shakes and hugs from some of his other newly found relatives.
So how can you figure Scotty, our Senator. He opposes Paul Ryan's budget because of it Medicare impact. This after some more of his serious deliberations. Anytime the guy veers off from his Republican brethren, he needs to deliberate. Its like a sign to them that he is about to go off on his own. On the other hand, finding someone to run against him will not be easy because some of these issues are near and dear to us. So he gives us a few crumbs. I did see a tidbit on line that Elizabeth Warren is being pushed to run. Now I almost don't believe she could win; but I seriously would love to see her run. She is just wonderful and if you have ever seen her on Jon Stewart's show, you know how serious, smart, and funny she is.
So, "Common", a rapper, performed at the White House. Won two Grammys and appears in Gap ads. But the right wing crazies went after Michelle and him like piranhas. Karl Rove and Sara led the pack just shooting at anything that moved in an effort to paint this guy as a misogynist and a cop hater and a threat to our very lives. Hate to repeat myself, but Jon Stewart really got on their asses hysterically.
To further repeat myself (to begin a sentence with a preposition would send all my high school teachers over the edge)Stewart gleefully wished the other night that both Huckabee and Trump stayed in the race because they would give him so much material--especially Huckabees rock and roll relationship with Ted Nugent who basically believes you should be able to keep cannons in your house since it is your right to bear arms. Any of you buying his albums?
What to make of Cornel West and his criticism of Obama ("my dear brother") for not being "black" enough. Ironically, I have heard this in a sports context but cannot place it though it involved one player criticizing another for the same thing. I think it is a puddle I should not step in though today's Globe (the same paper which hates Larry Summers) praised Larry for his decision to let West go to Princeton and not grant him tenure. It does seem very ugly. Kind of like some of the pejoratives hurled around when some of us don't support everything about Israel politics.
Speaking of which, couldn't Netanyahu waited more than a day or perhaps until he went home to criticize Obama's proposal. We knew he would not agree but come on give the guy a break. To his credit, Obama then went in front of AIPAC (these are the big Machers of pro Israel advocacy and financial support) and did not back down. Guys like Kraft, Sumner Redstone, and Sheldon Adelson are probably falling over themselves to give big bucks to the Republicans immediately. I am nearly at the point of saying the Issraelis, like us, got what they voted for and if they don't like his policies, they can un-elect Netanyahu next time around. Almost, I said.
Along semi-similar lines, I read in the NY Times (or somewhere) that there is worry among French Jews that this disgusting sexual assault in NYC will cause anti-semitism to rear its head in France--apparently it lies very close to the surface and Strauss Kahn is unfortunately a member of my tribe.
SPORTS TALK
So anyone doubting that Tiger is officially a "head case"? Sure he has physical injuries but his head is so addled, I am surprised he can even utter a coherent sentence. He may need to return to the woods of Mississippi for more "treatment of his sex addiction". I think I have said this before but--does it strike anyone as weird that this is the state with the worst Health Care in America, with a Governor who blasts Obamacare at any opportunity, and it is the only place where you go when you are a famous "sex addict".
No baseball chat but I will say Adrian Gonzalez is a big time player for the red flops. On the other hand, I would be worried about both Beckett and Lackey. The Yanks look no better than a .500 team though I will take Cano over Pedroia any day.
The Celtics got old and tired looking very fast. And I don't know what to make of Rondo. I hope his total inconsistency (good one night and bad the next) was due to injury and not to pouting over the loss of his best bud Kendrick--who by the way has just been benched by the Thunder. I do think Jeff Green is a keeper though I would get rid of everyone else they can.
Tim Thomas stole another one last night and also has been tres (my French is so good) inconsistent--last night he was brilliant but prior to that he stunk up the joint. Ditto for Lucic. But I like their odds to get past Tampa--and anyhow, one of the original six should be in the finals.
That's it. Sayonara and good luck to all those folks in Joplin.
So how can you figure Scotty, our Senator. He opposes Paul Ryan's budget because of it Medicare impact. This after some more of his serious deliberations. Anytime the guy veers off from his Republican brethren, he needs to deliberate. Its like a sign to them that he is about to go off on his own. On the other hand, finding someone to run against him will not be easy because some of these issues are near and dear to us. So he gives us a few crumbs. I did see a tidbit on line that Elizabeth Warren is being pushed to run. Now I almost don't believe she could win; but I seriously would love to see her run. She is just wonderful and if you have ever seen her on Jon Stewart's show, you know how serious, smart, and funny she is.
So, "Common", a rapper, performed at the White House. Won two Grammys and appears in Gap ads. But the right wing crazies went after Michelle and him like piranhas. Karl Rove and Sara led the pack just shooting at anything that moved in an effort to paint this guy as a misogynist and a cop hater and a threat to our very lives. Hate to repeat myself, but Jon Stewart really got on their asses hysterically.
To further repeat myself (to begin a sentence with a preposition would send all my high school teachers over the edge)Stewart gleefully wished the other night that both Huckabee and Trump stayed in the race because they would give him so much material--especially Huckabees rock and roll relationship with Ted Nugent who basically believes you should be able to keep cannons in your house since it is your right to bear arms. Any of you buying his albums?
What to make of Cornel West and his criticism of Obama ("my dear brother") for not being "black" enough. Ironically, I have heard this in a sports context but cannot place it though it involved one player criticizing another for the same thing. I think it is a puddle I should not step in though today's Globe (the same paper which hates Larry Summers) praised Larry for his decision to let West go to Princeton and not grant him tenure. It does seem very ugly. Kind of like some of the pejoratives hurled around when some of us don't support everything about Israel politics.
Speaking of which, couldn't Netanyahu waited more than a day or perhaps until he went home to criticize Obama's proposal. We knew he would not agree but come on give the guy a break. To his credit, Obama then went in front of AIPAC (these are the big Machers of pro Israel advocacy and financial support) and did not back down. Guys like Kraft, Sumner Redstone, and Sheldon Adelson are probably falling over themselves to give big bucks to the Republicans immediately. I am nearly at the point of saying the Issraelis, like us, got what they voted for and if they don't like his policies, they can un-elect Netanyahu next time around. Almost, I said.
Along semi-similar lines, I read in the NY Times (or somewhere) that there is worry among French Jews that this disgusting sexual assault in NYC will cause anti-semitism to rear its head in France--apparently it lies very close to the surface and Strauss Kahn is unfortunately a member of my tribe.
SPORTS TALK
So anyone doubting that Tiger is officially a "head case"? Sure he has physical injuries but his head is so addled, I am surprised he can even utter a coherent sentence. He may need to return to the woods of Mississippi for more "treatment of his sex addiction". I think I have said this before but--does it strike anyone as weird that this is the state with the worst Health Care in America, with a Governor who blasts Obamacare at any opportunity, and it is the only place where you go when you are a famous "sex addict".
No baseball chat but I will say Adrian Gonzalez is a big time player for the red flops. On the other hand, I would be worried about both Beckett and Lackey. The Yanks look no better than a .500 team though I will take Cano over Pedroia any day.
The Celtics got old and tired looking very fast. And I don't know what to make of Rondo. I hope his total inconsistency (good one night and bad the next) was due to injury and not to pouting over the loss of his best bud Kendrick--who by the way has just been benched by the Thunder. I do think Jeff Green is a keeper though I would get rid of everyone else they can.
Tim Thomas stole another one last night and also has been tres (my French is so good) inconsistent--last night he was brilliant but prior to that he stunk up the joint. Ditto for Lucic. But I like their odds to get past Tampa--and anyhow, one of the original six should be in the finals.
That's it. Sayonara and good luck to all those folks in Joplin.
Monday, May 9, 2011
I TOLD YOU SO--MORE OR LESS
I semi-predicted that once the U.S. went into Libya with NATO and the UN and once the Republican support for that decision was a few days old, I opined that there would be partisan criticism of something. Sure enough, Lindsey Graham and old Joe Lieberman immediately decided we should find and then kill Qaddafi. Then the Trumpster spoke up and said we should go in just for the oil. Bright lights all of them. All of which was predictable and did not take a brain surgeon to anticipate--its all about getting at Obama no matter what he does.
Speaking of which, I have no qualms or second thoughts about Bin Laden's death and would have pissed my pants to have been in one of the helicopters landing in that compound. So kudos to those folks. On the other hand (don't you just love that!!), I was very uneasy about those crazed and probably drunk flag wavers in front of the White House the night it was announced. Like it was some big football game on a Saturday afternoon. And those TV folks just lapped it up as they awaited Obama's appearance. Something was off about that whole scene.
And now we should see the pictures just to make sure he really is dead and to make sure (I guess) that the President is not deceiving us. Palin and Graham (again) are leading that parade. After all, Sara can see Russia from her house and Lindsey can see what from South Carolina? Flags of the Confederacy on the state house?
They make me want to puke.
Speaking of the Trumpster--he gets the birth certificate and now wants to see academic records because how could someone like Obama go from Occidental to Columbia and then to Harvard. Bob Schieffer called it for what it was--a tacit racist request. I do hope he gets the nomination and, if not him, then Michelle Bachman. Both lunatics.
Saw Inside Job the other day on DVD. Very scary and personally very embarrassing since almost everyone of the villains is a member of my religious tribe.
A great white shark was cited off Cape Cod and made the front page of the Globe along with the usual front page articles about corrupt politicians and the Archdiocese. Now if the shark were on Commonwealth Avenue, I think that would be a front page story--but where the fuck is the shark supposed to be and what is the point? A warning so we don't swim there or something? I am so persnickety.
Let it be known far and wide that I hate groupons. Cannot even figure out the bill when it ultimately arrives.
This is semi-sports: Peter King writes a regular column on the Sports Illustrated website. Today, he quoted a second journalist (David White of the SF Chronicle) who is leaving the profession to become a minister. In his last column, White left his readers with a bunch of wishes. One of which was the following (not a perfect quote): he does not want to see any player who scores a touchdown or crosses home plate pointing to the sky unless they also point to the sky when they make an out, or fumble, or screw up in some other way. Seems fair to me and has always been something I wondered about.
NOW SOME SERIOUSER SPORTS
Watched Real Madrid and Barcelona in one of the 4 games they played against each other in the last month. Mostly great games--I love David Villa of Barcelona. However, the acting and the diving and the phony pain was unbearable--made the game almost a sideshow. I want blood or exposed bones or nothing. And why don't they have a diving penalty. These guys are flopping all over.
Any day the Lakers get swept is a better day in America. Kobe deserves anything bad that happens to him after that sexual assault in Colorado. and Bynum and Odom are no better. They acted like thugs at the end of yesterday's game.
The Bruins will have their hands full with Tampa--much like Montreal with a bunch of little guys zooming all over the place. Not very big but oh so fast and adept. The Bruins matched up much better with the Flyers. A note: watch the first game next year between the Bruins and the Flyers. That hit on Bergeron will not be forgotten even if it was clean and Giroux will likely be susceptible to revenge.
Very worried about the Celtics. They did come back Saturday but looked decrepit the first two games. Just don't know which team will show up tonight.
How long will we be talking about Jeter's age? Being a leader from the neck up is unrelated to age--he could bat .250 and he could be carrying the team. Mind you, I am not sure they have enough pitching to do much but lets not get him an AARP membership just yet.
Adios.
Speaking of which, I have no qualms or second thoughts about Bin Laden's death and would have pissed my pants to have been in one of the helicopters landing in that compound. So kudos to those folks. On the other hand (don't you just love that!!), I was very uneasy about those crazed and probably drunk flag wavers in front of the White House the night it was announced. Like it was some big football game on a Saturday afternoon. And those TV folks just lapped it up as they awaited Obama's appearance. Something was off about that whole scene.
And now we should see the pictures just to make sure he really is dead and to make sure (I guess) that the President is not deceiving us. Palin and Graham (again) are leading that parade. After all, Sara can see Russia from her house and Lindsey can see what from South Carolina? Flags of the Confederacy on the state house?
They make me want to puke.
Speaking of the Trumpster--he gets the birth certificate and now wants to see academic records because how could someone like Obama go from Occidental to Columbia and then to Harvard. Bob Schieffer called it for what it was--a tacit racist request. I do hope he gets the nomination and, if not him, then Michelle Bachman. Both lunatics.
Saw Inside Job the other day on DVD. Very scary and personally very embarrassing since almost everyone of the villains is a member of my religious tribe.
A great white shark was cited off Cape Cod and made the front page of the Globe along with the usual front page articles about corrupt politicians and the Archdiocese. Now if the shark were on Commonwealth Avenue, I think that would be a front page story--but where the fuck is the shark supposed to be and what is the point? A warning so we don't swim there or something? I am so persnickety.
Let it be known far and wide that I hate groupons. Cannot even figure out the bill when it ultimately arrives.
This is semi-sports: Peter King writes a regular column on the Sports Illustrated website. Today, he quoted a second journalist (David White of the SF Chronicle) who is leaving the profession to become a minister. In his last column, White left his readers with a bunch of wishes. One of which was the following (not a perfect quote): he does not want to see any player who scores a touchdown or crosses home plate pointing to the sky unless they also point to the sky when they make an out, or fumble, or screw up in some other way. Seems fair to me and has always been something I wondered about.
NOW SOME SERIOUSER SPORTS
Watched Real Madrid and Barcelona in one of the 4 games they played against each other in the last month. Mostly great games--I love David Villa of Barcelona. However, the acting and the diving and the phony pain was unbearable--made the game almost a sideshow. I want blood or exposed bones or nothing. And why don't they have a diving penalty. These guys are flopping all over.
Any day the Lakers get swept is a better day in America. Kobe deserves anything bad that happens to him after that sexual assault in Colorado. and Bynum and Odom are no better. They acted like thugs at the end of yesterday's game.
The Bruins will have their hands full with Tampa--much like Montreal with a bunch of little guys zooming all over the place. Not very big but oh so fast and adept. The Bruins matched up much better with the Flyers. A note: watch the first game next year between the Bruins and the Flyers. That hit on Bergeron will not be forgotten even if it was clean and Giroux will likely be susceptible to revenge.
Very worried about the Celtics. They did come back Saturday but looked decrepit the first two games. Just don't know which team will show up tonight.
How long will we be talking about Jeter's age? Being a leader from the neck up is unrelated to age--he could bat .250 and he could be carrying the team. Mind you, I am not sure they have enough pitching to do much but lets not get him an AARP membership just yet.
Adios.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
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.
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.
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