Caveat Emptor--this one is quite personal and if that makes you squirmy, you will find a few odd tidbits way down at the bottom. Otherwise, we go on. I have returned from my reunion and have the following thoughts.
Abe and Esther saved my life--it is as simple and as complicated as that. And I don't care if that sounds melodramatic--it is true as far as my memory can recall. Married not to each other but to other partners and with other children in their homes, they were the parents of two of my peers. They were fixtures throughout my childhood and adolescence. Abe was a surrogate father--taking me and his son to baseball games, giving me rides to places, helping my mother out, and, in general, filling a major paternal void. Esther, my first grade teacher (and later the principal of my elementary school and the first Jewish principal in Dade County), was enormously supportive especially to my mother as she (my mother) struggled with being a single parent with a full time job. Esther was the the voice of professional reason/advice when my mother did not know how to parent a boy. Together, they attempted to compensate for how different my life was from the lives of those around me.
Their children were at the reunion. I have know them both for 60 plus years though I have been in close contact with Abe's son for most of that time. I re-united with Esther's daughter at the reunion. The comfort of a shared history is not to be under estimated. Like their parents before them, these two peers symbolically and literally took my hand and emotionally helped me get through the weekend. Having them at my side at the evening events made the events both tolerable and less anxiety provoking. There were easier conversations and even when a third party would barge in (who I either did not know or did not remember), I was included. On Saturday, Esther's daughter and I took a long tour of Miami and visited sights along our respective memory lanes. Each of us struggled as we saw things that brought up both the good and bad of our childhood and young adulthood. It was very difficult for us both but so important--and I never would have done it without her. Even had lunch at a restaurant in a building that used to be Wolfie's which is of course gone. I will say this for Miamah--it makes Boston look like palookaville. Not that I would move there but oh my is it big, tall, glitzy, and a true bi-cultural place.
Now to the most difficult part for me--brief though it is. I am frequently criticized by certain people for using my history as an excuse for current behavior. I get it. But this visit confirmed for me that the power of that history has really integrated itself in my life, in what I chose to be employed at, at how I function as a parent, at how I function as a partner, and is just here everyday. Factoids: I am the only one I knew who had no car; the only one I knew whose parents were divorced; the only one I knew whose mother worked; and the only one I knew who lived in an apartment. As I visited the places I used to live I was struck by their smallness and now their squalor. For god's sake, my mother slept on a couch in the "florida" room.
I want to thank Abe and Esther for helping me get through a very rough time and thank their children for getting me through this reunion. Them's the trees and the apples.
A FEW ITEMS OF NOTE
--This guy Crosby has totally fucked up our casino process. I am now convinced I will be driving to Springfield if I want to gamble.
--A female Texas judge sentenced a rapist to 45 days in jail.
--Our Child Welfare agency has a new Commissioner. A person with a background in transporataion--go figure.
--Colbert (on SI.Com) had a terrific piece on Michael Sam kissing his partner after getting drafted.
--What to do about those Nigerian girls--how do I wrap my mind around it? I am thinking I never want to visit Africa.
--A shout out to Tess and Jake. Bon voyage and Shalom. Have a great trip and be nice to each other.
SPORTS TALK
--
All I have to say is Seguin and Kessel--they actually put pucks in the net.
See you in a month.
Sayonara
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
"BUT IS HE REALLY AN AMERICAN"
The weather on Marathon Day was gorgeous--warm and sunny as if the powers that be were paying us back for last year's awful bombing. I watched the ending and admit to taking some serious pride as an American won the race and held off those terrific African runners from both Ethiopia and Kenya. Then I settled in to do my exercise which is way less than "marathonic" in length. I surf the tube when I do this and usually end up watching a game or horse racing. Less frequently I end up watching and listening to talking heads as they discuss sports. So on Marathon Day, I caught a piece of one of these talking heads wondering out loud if Meb was a real American. This guy has a name ending in a vowel--I would bet either his parents or his grandparents came from the old country and were not invited to be on the Mayflower. It was totally pathetic, embarrassing, and repugnant. These idiots are bad enough when they stir up the sports pot--but for them to discuss issues of citizenship is really beyond the pale. Meb's father walked from the Sudan to Ethiopia (or Eritrea, I forget and it does not matter since it was 600 miles in any case), got to Italy, and then to America as a legal entrant to this fine country--and we are being asked if this man's child is really an American.
Now bear with me as I move on to a lengthy list of ends and odds.
--Let's start with anti-semitism which seems like a smooth if not sensitive transition. The shooter in Overland, Kansas tried to kill Jews but missed and killed other innocent people; but he picked Jewish venues and his history clearly shows us all what he stands for. Then, locally, we have all sorts of anti semitic graffiti appearing in the schools of Burlington, Ma. In both elementary and secondary schools. Leaders are doing all the right things--but really more of this shit? Finally, in a place that I am not surprised to find it, leaflets in Ukraine urge Jews to register themselves with their city/town--just like you know who as a prelude to the death camps. And no I do not consider myself paranoid. Just fucking angry.
--But then my tribe has to absorb the message of one of our members named Donald Sterling, the NBA owner, who is flat out a racist pig.
--Speaking of smooth transitions, it is quite eerie watching the TV show "The Americans" and watching the news involving the Ukraine. Putin really is taking us back except there are nukes all over the fucking place and a lunatic like Putin has some of them--as do the Europeans and us upstanding Americans.. And no I do not consider this paranoia either.
--I think our new Mayor is doing a fine job but he is mucking around in the casino business and insuring that we may never see a casino in the eastern part of the state. Meanwhile, he is silent on the new $30 lottery ticket which apparently is different than gambling.
--And yet another terrific transition this time to politics. I guess we just kicked Scotty to the curb in the Granite state--not to the curb permanently. He is now a New Hampshire home boy running against Jeanne Shaheen--who had the audacity to support Obamacare. He has picked another woman to do battle with who is smarter than he is. I just hope Jeanne puts her brass knuckles on and kicks the shit out of him.
--Our child welfare agency is truly on the ropes with yet more children dying. Their oversight of cases seems totally inconsistent and they actually have the gall to say that if they respond to an "emergency" within 24 hours, they have met a standard of care. Ask a fireman/woman what would happen to a house fire if that were their definition of an emergency response. Why would anyone want that job and if someone does want it, they better be taking a lot of meds.
--Have no words to offer in terms of that South Korean ferry sinking. Too many people keep dying all over the place. Some words from Iris Dement: "I'm older now and have no time to cry".
--Georgia (the state not the country) has legalized possession of guns in churches. But what about synagogues--after all fair is fair.
--I will not stop for jaywalkers carrying yoga pads. Seems a bit incongruent, no?
--The big silver bird is warming up to take me South to my 50th HS reunion--I remain petrified. Will I need a translator for conversations with some of the good old boys and girls who have never left the South?
SPORTS TALK
--I think the folks who go to the Master's and/or the Kentucky Derby just have a bucket list of places they want to go to and want to get drunk in the sun. Why are they mostly white? Sometimes it seems like they are watching NASCAR.
--The good news is that NBC is sending Tara and Johnny from their Olympic coverage team to Louisville to cover the Derby. They are way cool.
--The Red Wings had me worried but the Bruins inhaled them after Game 1.
Sayonara
Now bear with me as I move on to a lengthy list of ends and odds.
--Let's start with anti-semitism which seems like a smooth if not sensitive transition. The shooter in Overland, Kansas tried to kill Jews but missed and killed other innocent people; but he picked Jewish venues and his history clearly shows us all what he stands for. Then, locally, we have all sorts of anti semitic graffiti appearing in the schools of Burlington, Ma. In both elementary and secondary schools. Leaders are doing all the right things--but really more of this shit? Finally, in a place that I am not surprised to find it, leaflets in Ukraine urge Jews to register themselves with their city/town--just like you know who as a prelude to the death camps. And no I do not consider myself paranoid. Just fucking angry.
--But then my tribe has to absorb the message of one of our members named Donald Sterling, the NBA owner, who is flat out a racist pig.
--Speaking of smooth transitions, it is quite eerie watching the TV show "The Americans" and watching the news involving the Ukraine. Putin really is taking us back except there are nukes all over the fucking place and a lunatic like Putin has some of them--as do the Europeans and us upstanding Americans.. And no I do not consider this paranoia either.
--I think our new Mayor is doing a fine job but he is mucking around in the casino business and insuring that we may never see a casino in the eastern part of the state. Meanwhile, he is silent on the new $30 lottery ticket which apparently is different than gambling.
--And yet another terrific transition this time to politics. I guess we just kicked Scotty to the curb in the Granite state--not to the curb permanently. He is now a New Hampshire home boy running against Jeanne Shaheen--who had the audacity to support Obamacare. He has picked another woman to do battle with who is smarter than he is. I just hope Jeanne puts her brass knuckles on and kicks the shit out of him.
--Our child welfare agency is truly on the ropes with yet more children dying. Their oversight of cases seems totally inconsistent and they actually have the gall to say that if they respond to an "emergency" within 24 hours, they have met a standard of care. Ask a fireman/woman what would happen to a house fire if that were their definition of an emergency response. Why would anyone want that job and if someone does want it, they better be taking a lot of meds.
--Have no words to offer in terms of that South Korean ferry sinking. Too many people keep dying all over the place. Some words from Iris Dement: "I'm older now and have no time to cry".
--Georgia (the state not the country) has legalized possession of guns in churches. But what about synagogues--after all fair is fair.
--I will not stop for jaywalkers carrying yoga pads. Seems a bit incongruent, no?
--The big silver bird is warming up to take me South to my 50th HS reunion--I remain petrified. Will I need a translator for conversations with some of the good old boys and girls who have never left the South?
SPORTS TALK
--I think the folks who go to the Master's and/or the Kentucky Derby just have a bucket list of places they want to go to and want to get drunk in the sun. Why are they mostly white? Sometimes it seems like they are watching NASCAR.
--The good news is that NBC is sending Tara and Johnny from their Olympic coverage team to Louisville to cover the Derby. They are way cool.
--The Red Wings had me worried but the Bruins inhaled them after Game 1.
Sayonara
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
YOU PIERCED WHAT?
So, one of those big silver birds delivered us to Turks and Caicos for a week of fun and sun. I was neither the oldest nor the chubbiest guy on the beach--though it was close on the chubby spectrum. One of the least comfortable questions consistently asked of me is: "if you are retired, what do you need a vacation for". It really leaves me itchy and scratchy and feeling as if I have to explain something which is kind of indefensible. But the truth is that it is different when you are out of your house, sitting on your ass, having a cocktail at 11 in the morning, and not having one fucking errand to run. So tough; but still uncomfy. Oh, about the piercings: one woman had an eyelid pierced and another had the space between her breasts pierced. No offense, but the first one was especially gross. We had a great time. Moving on.
The Globe had a terrific and lengthy story about the Richards family early this week--not so coincidentally, the paper got a Pulitzer for its 2013 Marathon coverage. The Richards were at that Marathon and one of their sons died; their daughter lost a leg; the mother lost an eye; the father lost hearing in one ear; and while the remaining son was virtually uninjured, god only knows what it has done to his mental health. The article had us in tears. Yesterday's paper came wrapped with a two page picture of the survivors. Overwhelming.
But then there is this from the same paper. Their religion writer (who has yet to write one word about religions other than Catholic) had a lot to say about Lent. And the Globe also had a "feature" about ravens. I look forward to the return of the great white sharks and their front page pictures.
Those of you who read every word of this screed know my driveway empties onto a one way street. I have gotten very good about anticipating bike riders coming right at me as they ride the wrong way (being that I am a great and flexible human being). So imagine my surprise to see a SUV coming right at me just like the bike riders--and not even pretending to be on the right side of the road but coming right down the middle. I pull over and slow down. As he passes me I give him THE EVIL EYE. He flips the me his middle finger and motors on. I remain beyond speechless in the "what the fuck" category.
Other items:
--The mess in the Ukraine is getting messier and messier and I have no clue.
--In Errol Morris' recent film which I have not seen, both Rumsfeld and Cheyney appear and continue to deny any culpability about their lies. We are very lucky both are gone especially Cheyney who is very scary.
--Republicans, bless their heart, are still fighting the Affordable Care Act. They also blocked the equal pay bill and the extension of unemployment benefits. I hope this continues right up to the fall elections.
--Saw two members of the Pussy Riot group on TV. We just don't know what political bravery is in this country and it is not Rush Limbaugh. These women are heroines. Plus parents!!
--Oklahoma passed a state law denying municipalities the right to raise the minimum wage--really who would want to live there.
--Is there any reason adults continue to be called either Butchy or Junior?
--10 days until my reunion--I am loading up on my meds as we speak. What if one of these unrepentant Southerners wants to discuss Marc Rubio?
--Be strong, Norma.
SPORTS TALK
--Glad the Bruins finished first overall but the Red Wings have me worried. I was thinking anyone but them. Any day Jerry York and his hockey team loses is a good day for Boston and America--bye bye you Eagles. However, the "double" performed by UConn was very special and to think they have done it twice recently. I don't suppose anyone wants me to summarize the stats of Seguin, Kessel, and Thornton--huh?
Sayonara.
The Globe had a terrific and lengthy story about the Richards family early this week--not so coincidentally, the paper got a Pulitzer for its 2013 Marathon coverage. The Richards were at that Marathon and one of their sons died; their daughter lost a leg; the mother lost an eye; the father lost hearing in one ear; and while the remaining son was virtually uninjured, god only knows what it has done to his mental health. The article had us in tears. Yesterday's paper came wrapped with a two page picture of the survivors. Overwhelming.
But then there is this from the same paper. Their religion writer (who has yet to write one word about religions other than Catholic) had a lot to say about Lent. And the Globe also had a "feature" about ravens. I look forward to the return of the great white sharks and their front page pictures.
Those of you who read every word of this screed know my driveway empties onto a one way street. I have gotten very good about anticipating bike riders coming right at me as they ride the wrong way (being that I am a great and flexible human being). So imagine my surprise to see a SUV coming right at me just like the bike riders--and not even pretending to be on the right side of the road but coming right down the middle. I pull over and slow down. As he passes me I give him THE EVIL EYE. He flips the me his middle finger and motors on. I remain beyond speechless in the "what the fuck" category.
Other items:
--The mess in the Ukraine is getting messier and messier and I have no clue.
--In Errol Morris' recent film which I have not seen, both Rumsfeld and Cheyney appear and continue to deny any culpability about their lies. We are very lucky both are gone especially Cheyney who is very scary.
--Republicans, bless their heart, are still fighting the Affordable Care Act. They also blocked the equal pay bill and the extension of unemployment benefits. I hope this continues right up to the fall elections.
--Saw two members of the Pussy Riot group on TV. We just don't know what political bravery is in this country and it is not Rush Limbaugh. These women are heroines. Plus parents!!
--Oklahoma passed a state law denying municipalities the right to raise the minimum wage--really who would want to live there.
--Is there any reason adults continue to be called either Butchy or Junior?
--10 days until my reunion--I am loading up on my meds as we speak. What if one of these unrepentant Southerners wants to discuss Marc Rubio?
--Be strong, Norma.
SPORTS TALK
--Glad the Bruins finished first overall but the Red Wings have me worried. I was thinking anyone but them. Any day Jerry York and his hockey team loses is a good day for Boston and America--bye bye you Eagles. However, the "double" performed by UConn was very special and to think they have done it twice recently. I don't suppose anyone wants me to summarize the stats of Seguin, Kessel, and Thornton--huh?
Sayonara.
Friday, March 28, 2014
AND IT FADED AWAY QUIETLY INTO THE NIGH
I have been retired for a bit more than 9 years. During the first 7 of those years, I did some consulting--not a lot but enough to bring in some extra money and to keep at least some of my toes in the waters of Human Services. Nicely enough, at tax time, I was also able to declare certain things as expenses--like a home office. But the fat lady has sung and those days are officially over. At a recent meeting with our accountant, it was clear that my consulting "business" (which had already been on life support) was no longer. I actually am ok about that though on some level it does seem I have to now tell folks over cocktails that I am retired--and not that I do "consulting". That feels very weird.
I love my bank. It had been a branch of a small banking company called Wainwright which we loved. When they got bought out by Eastern bank, we were very worried about these big guys and how they would invariably muck up our personalized banking experience. Lo and behold, all the personnel stayed the same. They are as diverse as the neighborhood and greet me by name the minute that door opens. Yesterday, I was waiting in line when one of them said: "Mr. Berns, I am going to open up this window for you; come on over". Are you kidding? I'm there, bro.
Ends and odds:
--The basketball coach at the University of Florida (a state school) has a contract with $187 thousand dollars just in incentives. Priorities, right?
--Romney, McCain, and Graham (a la Mo, Larry, and Curly) would have had us in WW III if they had been President and responded to the Russians taking over Crimea. The Europeans have first call on this and working through them is the only alternative. Those three stooges have no clue. The alternatives all suck though sanctions against the oligarchs seems like a great option--like the guy who owns the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.
--Nate Silver (he of the 538 blog) is back with his new group--now a division of ESPN. In his first post, he is predicting that the Dems will lose the Senate. Two big problems are the Democratic women Senators from North Carolina and Louisiana. He thinks they are both going to get stomped. Big problem, folks. Though having Nate back is great--get it all you parents? Nate the Great.
--For some reason, the latest news of former Mayor Menino's recurrence of cancer has really bothered me.
--A terrific HBO documentary about the photojournalist Tim Hetherington. He frequently wanted to be ahead of the soldiers as they moved into certain areas so he could take video of the civilians as the soldiers approached. He died in combat in Libya. Go see "Restrepo". Nominated for an Oscar, it is about an Army unit in Afghanistan. He did the video.
--This is not s sports item despite its beginning. We have up here an announcer for the Red Sox whose name is Jerry Remy. His son, Jared, is in jail for murdering (allegedly) the mother of his child. For more than 10 years, judges basically gave him a pass when it came to all his brushes with the law--the majority of which involved domestic violence. I do not have enough words in my vocabulary to tell you what I think of the judiciary by their inaction. It is pathetic that the focus in the media has been on whether the father should stay on the job. My thoughts are that these judges should be kicked to the curb. The son is a steroid freak who hopefully will not get away with murder.
--Could not pay me enough to be a fireman, cop, or soldier. Too scary. Two firefighters died here this week and both ironically worked in a firehouse about 200 yards from where the marathon bombings occurred.
--The big silver bird is getting ready to take us to a very warm place tomorrow. Miss y'all.
--Be strong, Norma.
SPORTS TALK
--Critics be damned: Kessel has 36 goals; Seguin has 32 goals; and Thornton has 60 assists. No Bruin has more than 60 points total. And yes, I know how good the Bruins are but nobody has yet to tell me why highly skilled offensive players never fit in.
--Are you all proud that the Pats proposal to lengthen the height of the goal posts has passed. Whew--and I was so worried. Are our teams good or what.
--Don't expect me to say anything about baseball until July 4th. I bet you are already poised for that
conversation, huh?
--Miami is a pretend city kind of like Dallas or Houston. So now they are getting an MLS franchise so they can pretend a bit more that they really matter. They actually don't. Matter that is.
Sayonara.
I love my bank. It had been a branch of a small banking company called Wainwright which we loved. When they got bought out by Eastern bank, we were very worried about these big guys and how they would invariably muck up our personalized banking experience. Lo and behold, all the personnel stayed the same. They are as diverse as the neighborhood and greet me by name the minute that door opens. Yesterday, I was waiting in line when one of them said: "Mr. Berns, I am going to open up this window for you; come on over". Are you kidding? I'm there, bro.
Ends and odds:
--The basketball coach at the University of Florida (a state school) has a contract with $187 thousand dollars just in incentives. Priorities, right?
--Romney, McCain, and Graham (a la Mo, Larry, and Curly) would have had us in WW III if they had been President and responded to the Russians taking over Crimea. The Europeans have first call on this and working through them is the only alternative. Those three stooges have no clue. The alternatives all suck though sanctions against the oligarchs seems like a great option--like the guy who owns the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.
--Nate Silver (he of the 538 blog) is back with his new group--now a division of ESPN. In his first post, he is predicting that the Dems will lose the Senate. Two big problems are the Democratic women Senators from North Carolina and Louisiana. He thinks they are both going to get stomped. Big problem, folks. Though having Nate back is great--get it all you parents? Nate the Great.
--For some reason, the latest news of former Mayor Menino's recurrence of cancer has really bothered me.
--A terrific HBO documentary about the photojournalist Tim Hetherington. He frequently wanted to be ahead of the soldiers as they moved into certain areas so he could take video of the civilians as the soldiers approached. He died in combat in Libya. Go see "Restrepo". Nominated for an Oscar, it is about an Army unit in Afghanistan. He did the video.
--This is not s sports item despite its beginning. We have up here an announcer for the Red Sox whose name is Jerry Remy. His son, Jared, is in jail for murdering (allegedly) the mother of his child. For more than 10 years, judges basically gave him a pass when it came to all his brushes with the law--the majority of which involved domestic violence. I do not have enough words in my vocabulary to tell you what I think of the judiciary by their inaction. It is pathetic that the focus in the media has been on whether the father should stay on the job. My thoughts are that these judges should be kicked to the curb. The son is a steroid freak who hopefully will not get away with murder.
--Could not pay me enough to be a fireman, cop, or soldier. Too scary. Two firefighters died here this week and both ironically worked in a firehouse about 200 yards from where the marathon bombings occurred.
--The big silver bird is getting ready to take us to a very warm place tomorrow. Miss y'all.
--Be strong, Norma.
SPORTS TALK
--Critics be damned: Kessel has 36 goals; Seguin has 32 goals; and Thornton has 60 assists. No Bruin has more than 60 points total. And yes, I know how good the Bruins are but nobody has yet to tell me why highly skilled offensive players never fit in.
--Are you all proud that the Pats proposal to lengthen the height of the goal posts has passed. Whew--and I was so worried. Are our teams good or what.
--Don't expect me to say anything about baseball until July 4th. I bet you are already poised for that
conversation, huh?
--Miami is a pretend city kind of like Dallas or Houston. So now they are getting an MLS franchise so they can pretend a bit more that they really matter. They actually don't. Matter that is.
Sayonara.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
I-KRAINE, YOU-KRAINE, WE-KRAINE, LET'S ALL KRAINE FOR THE UKRAINE
Ugh--had just read an article in the New Yorker (Maybe I mentioned this in my last blog???) about how Putin detests Gorbachev for allowing the dismantling of the "old" USSR. Putin is a regular tyrant and, with his Olympic showcase over, his truer colors are emerging. He is revving up the Russians who live in the Crimea and assuredly they will approve seceding from the Ukraine tomorrow. And now a report that Russian troops have moved into a portion of the Ukraine itself. The Euros have to lead on this along with NATO. I had a very ugly day dream of a localized war breaking out over this incursion--yuk. There are all sorts of implications for them none the least of which are both security and energy. Plus those nice little trio of Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) must be shivering in their boots. Here in the old US of A we have that foolish loser John McCain calling for military intervention and/or aid--within five minutes of Obama charting a course of diplomacy. He was joined by his evil twin from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham who speaks with a nearly unintelligible southern accent. Jon Stewart has started mimicking him perfectly.
Then of course there was the convention of Conservatives led by all the usual suspects including the NRA who deem no place safe unless you have weapons and lots of them and damn that government anyhow. Plus none of them like the Affordable Care Act despite its growing numbers. And, oh my, there are actually gay people in the South. What to do? It has gotten so bad, Rand Paul has begun to sound semi rational. Obama did a terrific piece on Between the Ferns". It is an online show hosted by Zach Galifinakis who more or less was interviewing the Prez who was really just pushing Affordable Care and enticing especially young folks. It was hilarious.
Meanwhile, our Governor has already got one foot out the door and his administration seems like it is totally in chaos. The awarding of medical marijuana clinic licenses was botched when a former Congressman surprisingly (?) ended up with multiple contracts. The casino implementation is taking next to forever and then there will be court action slowing it even further. The state child welfare agency continues to "lose" kids but it is not a management issue and "I fully support the Commissioner" says the Gov. He cannot get out fast enough.
The St. Patty's day parade tomorrow in South Boston (led by, get this, someone whose nickname is Wacko--I kid you not) will not allow any gay groups to march. So not sane politician will be in the parade and both Sam Adams and Heineken are pulling out of sponsorship. South Boston by the way is chock full of gen xers many of whom, yup, are gay. Wacko indeed.
Finally:
--Orthodox Jews in both Jerusalem and Brooklyn (the black Hats!!) continue to fight against serving in the Army. After all they have to pray especially for more settlements which they apparently have no problem fighting for. And they have to study all day every day. Busy men.
--Obama's budget has about as much chance of being approved as I would have fitting into a speedo (close your eyes and imagine that!!)
I have taken the plunge and will attend my 50th High School reunion. I have at most 3 people to talk with but one is my close friend from Canada--really from kindergarten just about 62 years ago. Very nervous about keeping my mouth shut and not engaging in too many socio-political conversations. Lots of folks from below the Mason Dixon line in attendance. And they will be different and that's a fact, Jack.
Thankfully, Anna was no where near that drunk driver in Austin and is fine.
SPORTS TALK
Too many talking heads talking too much shit about what the Pats should or should not do well in advance of any news--and now they have had 3 major signings in the last 48 hours and those folks still won,t shut up--just moving onto the next problem to be addressed. The Bruins are very hot and at a very good time. Have a shot at finishing first in the conference and perhaps in the league. No one wants more info on Seguin, Kessel, and Thornton, I guess--but trust me, we got nobody with their offensive skills.
Sayonara.
Then of course there was the convention of Conservatives led by all the usual suspects including the NRA who deem no place safe unless you have weapons and lots of them and damn that government anyhow. Plus none of them like the Affordable Care Act despite its growing numbers. And, oh my, there are actually gay people in the South. What to do? It has gotten so bad, Rand Paul has begun to sound semi rational. Obama did a terrific piece on Between the Ferns". It is an online show hosted by Zach Galifinakis who more or less was interviewing the Prez who was really just pushing Affordable Care and enticing especially young folks. It was hilarious.
Meanwhile, our Governor has already got one foot out the door and his administration seems like it is totally in chaos. The awarding of medical marijuana clinic licenses was botched when a former Congressman surprisingly (?) ended up with multiple contracts. The casino implementation is taking next to forever and then there will be court action slowing it even further. The state child welfare agency continues to "lose" kids but it is not a management issue and "I fully support the Commissioner" says the Gov. He cannot get out fast enough.
The St. Patty's day parade tomorrow in South Boston (led by, get this, someone whose nickname is Wacko--I kid you not) will not allow any gay groups to march. So not sane politician will be in the parade and both Sam Adams and Heineken are pulling out of sponsorship. South Boston by the way is chock full of gen xers many of whom, yup, are gay. Wacko indeed.
Finally:
--Orthodox Jews in both Jerusalem and Brooklyn (the black Hats!!) continue to fight against serving in the Army. After all they have to pray especially for more settlements which they apparently have no problem fighting for. And they have to study all day every day. Busy men.
--Obama's budget has about as much chance of being approved as I would have fitting into a speedo (close your eyes and imagine that!!)
I have taken the plunge and will attend my 50th High School reunion. I have at most 3 people to talk with but one is my close friend from Canada--really from kindergarten just about 62 years ago. Very nervous about keeping my mouth shut and not engaging in too many socio-political conversations. Lots of folks from below the Mason Dixon line in attendance. And they will be different and that's a fact, Jack.
Thankfully, Anna was no where near that drunk driver in Austin and is fine.
SPORTS TALK
Too many talking heads talking too much shit about what the Pats should or should not do well in advance of any news--and now they have had 3 major signings in the last 48 hours and those folks still won,t shut up--just moving onto the next problem to be addressed. The Bruins are very hot and at a very good time. Have a shot at finishing first in the conference and perhaps in the league. No one wants more info on Seguin, Kessel, and Thornton, I guess--but trust me, we got nobody with their offensive skills.
Sayonara.
Friday, February 28, 2014
"O CANADA, TERRE DE NOS AIEUZ; TON FRONT EST CEINT DE FLEURONS GLORIEUX"
For those mono-linguists among you (as opposed to moi) those are the first two lines of the French version of the Canadian national anthem. The English translation is: "O Canada, our home and native land; true patriot love in all thy sons command". Which is my way of saying that all I cared about in terms of the Olympics (and this is not about sports!!!) was ice hockey--both men and women. And of course our brethren from north of the border took gold in both. I happen to believe the men were lucky (just squeaking by Latvia) but those women were very very good. Moving south of the border.....
Maybe Georgia should secede once they formally approve their new license plates which display the confederate flag. Ditto for Mississippi where students at Ole Miss hung a noose on the neck of the campus statue of James Meredith. Both those states just seem to yearn for the good old days. And Arizona whose Governor vetoed that horrific law which would have allowed businesses to refuse to serve gay and/or lesbian customers. Not that she did it because it was morally right to do it--no, she did it because it was bad for business. They would have lost the upcoming Super Bowl for one thing. My favorite talking sports head happens to be Jewish and he said something along the following lines--"how will those stores know who is gay or lesbian? My people have been through something like that when we had to wear yellow stars". Really it all makes you wonder what century we live in.
Odds and ends:
-Bruce is playing at Mohegan Sun Casino. Such a disappointment for me. Seems like the wrong place for The Boss.
-Partners Health Care got its ass justifiably handed to it as it tried to buy yet another hospital. Their argument, more or less, is that bigger is better--better for service and more financially efficient. Which ain't necessarily so. But some sort of health review panel said nope--go back to first year calculus and show us the money.
-I do not believe for a second that the mess of bullying in the Dolphin locker room is isolated. It happens in other places where macho men do their work.
-Children are dying all over the world and I am just not sure how to wrap my mind around it let alone what to do.
--Ukraine, Syria, Iraq,Thailand--all in some sort of major upheavals with all sorts of people dying. At least Obama is sticking to his guns (so far) and getting us out of Afghanistan. Now if he could just reach across those 90 miles to Havana.
-Ted Nugent is a big fat asshole who no longer is even a good musician.
-Are there any tailors left in the former Eastern bloc countries? I mean those suits worn by the male coaches were so nasty, I could do better with a needle and thread.
-Roger Angell, age 93, has written for the New Yorker for nearly 70 years. He had a very small piece last week about aging and how it feels--other than requiring him to have a daily evening scotch!!
-Go visit Austin but skip the Ric Perry part of the tour. Go to the great restaurants, the food trucks, the natural sites and tell Anna we sent you. Hah.
SPORTS TALK
-Can anyone really tell the difference between ice dancing and pairs skating. The women in all the ice skating events looked like they had on breakable masks and plastered on smiles. Yuk.
-Bode Miller, Shani Davis, Shaun White--all over rated and way too hyped by the media in America.
--The $60 million dollar stadium for the Allen High School team is closed indefinitely due to structural cracks--they probably will play in the Cowboys stadium now. Hope it falls apart with no one inside.
Be strong Norma.
Sayonara
Maybe Georgia should secede once they formally approve their new license plates which display the confederate flag. Ditto for Mississippi where students at Ole Miss hung a noose on the neck of the campus statue of James Meredith. Both those states just seem to yearn for the good old days. And Arizona whose Governor vetoed that horrific law which would have allowed businesses to refuse to serve gay and/or lesbian customers. Not that she did it because it was morally right to do it--no, she did it because it was bad for business. They would have lost the upcoming Super Bowl for one thing. My favorite talking sports head happens to be Jewish and he said something along the following lines--"how will those stores know who is gay or lesbian? My people have been through something like that when we had to wear yellow stars". Really it all makes you wonder what century we live in.
Odds and ends:
-Bruce is playing at Mohegan Sun Casino. Such a disappointment for me. Seems like the wrong place for The Boss.
-Partners Health Care got its ass justifiably handed to it as it tried to buy yet another hospital. Their argument, more or less, is that bigger is better--better for service and more financially efficient. Which ain't necessarily so. But some sort of health review panel said nope--go back to first year calculus and show us the money.
-I do not believe for a second that the mess of bullying in the Dolphin locker room is isolated. It happens in other places where macho men do their work.
-Children are dying all over the world and I am just not sure how to wrap my mind around it let alone what to do.
--Ukraine, Syria, Iraq,Thailand--all in some sort of major upheavals with all sorts of people dying. At least Obama is sticking to his guns (so far) and getting us out of Afghanistan. Now if he could just reach across those 90 miles to Havana.
-Ted Nugent is a big fat asshole who no longer is even a good musician.
-Are there any tailors left in the former Eastern bloc countries? I mean those suits worn by the male coaches were so nasty, I could do better with a needle and thread.
-Roger Angell, age 93, has written for the New Yorker for nearly 70 years. He had a very small piece last week about aging and how it feels--other than requiring him to have a daily evening scotch!!
-Go visit Austin but skip the Ric Perry part of the tour. Go to the great restaurants, the food trucks, the natural sites and tell Anna we sent you. Hah.
SPORTS TALK
-Can anyone really tell the difference between ice dancing and pairs skating. The women in all the ice skating events looked like they had on breakable masks and plastered on smiles. Yuk.
-Bode Miller, Shani Davis, Shaun White--all over rated and way too hyped by the media in America.
--The $60 million dollar stadium for the Allen High School team is closed indefinitely due to structural cracks--they probably will play in the Cowboys stadium now. Hope it falls apart with no one inside.
Be strong Norma.
Sayonara
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
I KNOW, I KNOW, IT'S NOT THE 15TH
You probably had 2/15 circled in your calendar in anticipation of receiving these words. But, alas and alack, here I am in all my written glory and 3 days early. Seems I am going to be in Rick Perry's neck of the woods for a few days making sure all is well in the South.
Now, one of my favorite whiniest/complainingest readers has insisted I lead with the following. A Rod is an asshole and that is not a sports story. He deserves the suspension and I deserve (as do most of you) not to hear his name for another year. So the squeakiest wheel did get the grease.
Another item which seems like sports but which is really a spectacle is Sochi. Can we stop raggin on the Russians and how they did or did not prepare for this? While, meanwhile, down there in Brazil, entire favelas are being plowed under as they prepare for the World Cup. So Sochi has palm trees and is a winter venue on the shores of a gigantic salt water sea. And the water is orange and cannot be drunk nor can you use it on your face. And the locks do not work. But, as far as I know, unlike Salt Lake City, there are no Mormons--pick your poison, I say.
And yet a third sports item but not really. Michael Sam has come out of the closet though in fact he outed himself to his Missouri coaches and teammates last summer. He wanted to "own" his own narrative. Good for him. Now enter the clowns especially the anonymous ones. Attributable quotes have all been positive except for one (more on that later). Anonymous ones all involve men showering--hello I thought it was about football. These are the same guys who drive drunk, use guns, and sometimes are charged with murder. The one attributable quote (unfortunately) belongs to the kid's father who decided he would not want to play football with his son. Terrific support there, pop.
Three experiences/observations from the hood (that would be Centre Street): In a second hand store waiting patiently. A guy rushes up to the corner holding a book with stains on it he calls blood. He wants verification because he does not want to catch hepatitis. The book has probably been there for 50 years and the clerk does not look to me like an epidemiologist--and for sure she has no microscope or white coat; she does have a mess of piercings and tattoos. Second, again very patiently, I wait in line at a bakery while the guy in front of me and the clerk discuss flushing out your colon which this guy has just done and together they are deciding which bread would be best now that he is "cleansed". And, finally, never get behind a person sending some nasty looking vial to some nasty third world country who is trying (again patiently) to explain its properties to clerks who actually look like they would like to run and hide. All true, I swear.
Our great Congress people cannot pass an immigration but did pass a farm bill which cuts food stamps and it gets signed. Eric Cantor (he who is a member of my tribe) broke his silence with an attack on Obamacare which he claims will cost us 2 million jobs. He apparently skimmed a gigantic analysis from the Congressional Budget Office. Obviously he skipped the good parts because Paul Krugman in the Times did not skim and promptly ran over Eric. The good news is that Doonesbury has one of his characters working for Elizabeth Warren.
Saw a picture of some Ultra Orthodox black hatted men (of course, not a woman among them) fighting with Israeli soldiers (who do include women). Not over some more settlements they would like to build in some Palestinian's back yard but because they do not want to serve in the Army and Israel is going to make them do just that. Love to see them in helmets and flak jackets.
Spectacular Chevy ads during what little I have seen of the Olympics. Referring to their cars as "family" cars, they proceed to show us families. Guess what--some are White, some Hispanic, some African American, some with a single parent and (TA Da) some with two male parents and some with two female parents. My mouth fell open.
Dogs with sweaters and feet pads have to go. Maybe they could be sent to Miami Beach.
SPORTS TALK
Seguin has 24 goals, Kessel has 31 goals, and Thornton has 48 assists. Balanced scoring is wonderful unless you need a really big goal and Chris Kelly is out there patrolling the wing.
Very powerful message for the Bruins allowing Chara to miss two games so he could carry his country's flag in Sochi. Bruins said he has done a lot for the team and this was important. Whoa. Sends a great message to free agents and those now on the team.
Did not watch one play of the super bowl. I hear smilin Pete and his boys won. Too bad Wes
Sayonara
Now, one of my favorite whiniest/complainingest readers has insisted I lead with the following. A Rod is an asshole and that is not a sports story. He deserves the suspension and I deserve (as do most of you) not to hear his name for another year. So the squeakiest wheel did get the grease.
Another item which seems like sports but which is really a spectacle is Sochi. Can we stop raggin on the Russians and how they did or did not prepare for this? While, meanwhile, down there in Brazil, entire favelas are being plowed under as they prepare for the World Cup. So Sochi has palm trees and is a winter venue on the shores of a gigantic salt water sea. And the water is orange and cannot be drunk nor can you use it on your face. And the locks do not work. But, as far as I know, unlike Salt Lake City, there are no Mormons--pick your poison, I say.
And yet a third sports item but not really. Michael Sam has come out of the closet though in fact he outed himself to his Missouri coaches and teammates last summer. He wanted to "own" his own narrative. Good for him. Now enter the clowns especially the anonymous ones. Attributable quotes have all been positive except for one (more on that later). Anonymous ones all involve men showering--hello I thought it was about football. These are the same guys who drive drunk, use guns, and sometimes are charged with murder. The one attributable quote (unfortunately) belongs to the kid's father who decided he would not want to play football with his son. Terrific support there, pop.
Three experiences/observations from the hood (that would be Centre Street): In a second hand store waiting patiently. A guy rushes up to the corner holding a book with stains on it he calls blood. He wants verification because he does not want to catch hepatitis. The book has probably been there for 50 years and the clerk does not look to me like an epidemiologist--and for sure she has no microscope or white coat; she does have a mess of piercings and tattoos. Second, again very patiently, I wait in line at a bakery while the guy in front of me and the clerk discuss flushing out your colon which this guy has just done and together they are deciding which bread would be best now that he is "cleansed". And, finally, never get behind a person sending some nasty looking vial to some nasty third world country who is trying (again patiently) to explain its properties to clerks who actually look like they would like to run and hide. All true, I swear.
Our great Congress people cannot pass an immigration but did pass a farm bill which cuts food stamps and it gets signed. Eric Cantor (he who is a member of my tribe) broke his silence with an attack on Obamacare which he claims will cost us 2 million jobs. He apparently skimmed a gigantic analysis from the Congressional Budget Office. Obviously he skipped the good parts because Paul Krugman in the Times did not skim and promptly ran over Eric. The good news is that Doonesbury has one of his characters working for Elizabeth Warren.
Saw a picture of some Ultra Orthodox black hatted men (of course, not a woman among them) fighting with Israeli soldiers (who do include women). Not over some more settlements they would like to build in some Palestinian's back yard but because they do not want to serve in the Army and Israel is going to make them do just that. Love to see them in helmets and flak jackets.
Spectacular Chevy ads during what little I have seen of the Olympics. Referring to their cars as "family" cars, they proceed to show us families. Guess what--some are White, some Hispanic, some African American, some with a single parent and (TA Da) some with two male parents and some with two female parents. My mouth fell open.
Dogs with sweaters and feet pads have to go. Maybe they could be sent to Miami Beach.
SPORTS TALK
Seguin has 24 goals, Kessel has 31 goals, and Thornton has 48 assists. Balanced scoring is wonderful unless you need a really big goal and Chris Kelly is out there patrolling the wing.
Very powerful message for the Bruins allowing Chara to miss two games so he could carry his country's flag in Sochi. Bruins said he has done a lot for the team and this was important. Whoa. Sends a great message to free agents and those now on the team.
Did not watch one play of the super bowl. I hear smilin Pete and his boys won. Too bad Wes
Sayonara
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