My Zazzle

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

31 Oct Ogre

Happy Hallowe'en, everybody!
I was driving along, and I realised, I once got married on this day. She's long since gone, but the anniversary remains. I have two wonderful sons as a result, Derek and Kevin. Respectable fellows, and sensitive chaps as well. Gals, take notice - both are eligible bachelors [and Kev even cooks - he's in culinary arts school].

The German Pantry. Wednesday is German Meatloaf special night, which I washed down with more draught hefeweissen. Comes with fried potatoes and green bean salad and I ordered red cabbage and spaetzle too [of course!]. Now I have lunch for the morrie, as well. Man, everyone is frendly there. It's on Virginia Beach Boulevard in Norfolk, not as far as I-64. Go! You won't regret it.

I forgot to have dessert first. Next time, Trina will remind me. She had wings and a halo tonight. What a nice gal, friendly and pretty. If I had a daughter, she'd be the prototype, for sure!

Monday, October 29, 2007

Who Mourns for Adonis?

I'll miss A-Rod's bat, and his glove, and his work with the young Yankees, especially Melky. We'll be okay without him, though. Joe Crede, Adrian Beltre, Mike Lowell, all could man third base for us [unless Boston puts A-Rod at short AND keeps Lowell at third]. Bronson Sardinha plays a little third, too, and Wilson Betemit...well, I WANT to like WilliBet, but he needs to give up that switch-hitting idea and tighten up his swing.

How do we replace A-Rod's bat? Offset it with better pitching, for one. More Duncan at first? Matsui more DH with Damon in left? If those two can remain healthy, and as Cano and Melky progress, the power shortfall will be erased. Especially if Abreu and Giambi get hot.

Here's a thought which just occurred to me: A-Rod revealed himself to be [in his mind], bigger than the team, bigger than baseball. He opted out. While the Yankees waited to announce anything on a new manager, A-Rod came right out and opted out, upstaging the Yanks and the World Series at one fell swoop. He was acclimatized to NY, he was slowly getting past the non-clutch post-season knock, he carried the team on his back and we made the playoffs, without him we would have seen a silent October. A plaque, a monument maybe, status as a True Yankee. All this and more was Alex's for the taking. He had to upstage the team and the game.

Perhaps he'll find a few more ducats; perhaps the Yankees will remain true to their word, and A-Rod will find the money less than he had imagined. I would laugh at the delicious irony; not to spite Alex, for I hold for him no ill will. The irony of it all, if he gives up all I have mentioned, for less money, less prestige, less lasting fame.

Now he has truly become shown as a mercenary, a wandering bat in search of no home, no connection, no ring, even. Only cold money, a poor companion on lonely winter nights when lacking the solace of affection or even affiliation really. He had the world; it was his oyster, but it was not enough. Ozymandias wept; Alex sold his soul. It will not fetch enough to fill the emptiness within him.

Big Losses?

Maybe. The New York Post is reporting that Alex Rodriguez is going to opt out of his contract, making him a free agent [according to his agent, Scott Boras].

This could just be posturing on the part of Boras. However, if it is true, I say the guy doesn't want to be in the Bronx. No team is bigger than one individual, no matter how mighty. We need a team that is greater than the sum of the parts. Better get Joe Girardi.

I'll check in tonight and see what has developed.

Big Victories

Evidently the Red Sox had a bag of Colorado Kryptonite, sweeping the Rockies in four games.
Rocktober, indeed. Congratulations are in order to Sox fans everywhere.

Now, on to really important stuff: will Don Mattingly, Joe Girardi, or Tony Pena replace Joe Torre as manager of the Yankees? Lots of personnel issues to resolve, including ten days for A-Rod to opt out of his contract or not. [My $$$ is on a contract extension, btw].

Happy Monday, everybody :-)

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Little Victories

Guess Georgia DID have a bag of Kryptonite, after all.
I'm going to say some things which some of you might view as excuses, and that's fine, if that's what you'd like to think. Let me start off by saying that Georgia found a way to harness their emotion, and they made fewer mistakes than we did. In short, they deserved to win more than we did. Today, the better team won.

Now, having said that, Tim Tebow was obviously not himself. Had he been able to be 75% of the offense again, the game would have had a different outcome. Percy Harvin got dinged-up, Cornelius Ingram was cold when we finally got the ball to him, and Kestahn Moore, well, let's just say he's going to be running steps at the stadium for a long, long time. Most of our defense from last year's championship team graduated or declared for the draft, and most of this year's defensive line is injured. Can someone explain to our DB's how to cover the long ball, yet not play 15 yards off the receiver?

Seriously speaking, we knew that this year was going to be a reloading year. We can still make it to the SEC Championship game, but we'll need some help to do so. Tennessee and SC only have 2 conference losses, and we have three now. Georgia also has only two, but they still have to play both Auburn and Kentucky. So, two things for Georgia fans: savour this victory over Florida. You'll need to. And, your team is still a bunch of showboating motherfuckers. You won't be playing for the national title this year, or any other year soon. We won the title last year, and we will, again. Good luck in the Independence Bowl.

Gators and Georgia

Today is the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, the Florida-Georgia game.
Georgia opened with a world of emotion, and they might as well. They don't like us, we don't like them. Let me put this as plainly as possible: Georgia, your team is a showboating pack of motherfuckers. Oh, I'd help any of them if they were getting mugged or robbed, but on the field, I can't stand their asses.

At the half, Georgia has a slight lead. Here's why: their emotion has pumped them up and has gotten our guys to beat themselves, allowing an uncovered long TD pass, fumbling and losing the ball on our opening drive, and fumbling to kill another would-be scoring drive. Oh, and Tim Tebow has been protecting his injured [non-throwing] shoulder.

In a nutshell, Georgia has played their game to perfection, and lead at the half, 21-17.
To come away with the victory, pretty much the same thing will have to occur in the second half. My money's on that not happening. For one thing, Tebow ran a quarterback draw play at the end of the first half. He's been keeping it in reserve, Dawg. Wait and see. Think y'all got a second dose of Kryptonite? Ya better. Go Gators!!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Topics to tie in

Lazy asses. Yep, I gotta quit with the lumbering about and actually POST, instead of hanging out at everyone else's place. I'm a nice neighbour, though ;-)

The sound of freedom. Did I mention that I live under one of the approaches to NAS Oceana?
Yep, at the ass end of I-264 in Virginia Beach. It's driving my blood pressure sky-high. That and the drinking.

Speaking of drinking, Max McGee passed away on the weekend. Max was a seldom-used wide receiver for the Packers. Prior to the first AFL-NFL Championship [back before it became known as The Super Bowl], he just knew he was not going to get into the game. He broke curfew and stayed out late, hitting the sauce. At the game, he told Boyd Dowler, the starter, not to get hurt because he had a ripping hangover. He also left his helmet in the locker room. During the second series of downs, Dowler WAS injured, though. Max had to borrow a helmet and run into the game. He caught the first touchdown in Super Bowl history. This weekend, Max was up on his roof, cleaning off leaves. He fell, and could not be revived. That is so sad :-(

Gators 45, Kentucky 37. We won, and Tim Tebow is a moose. Not a mussina, but a really tough hombre. Between Tim running the football and Tim throwing the ball to somebody else, that accounted for 70% of the Gator offense. 70%!!!! I celebrated with barbecue. In Gainesville it is customary to celebrate another Gator victory by dining at Sonny's Real Pit Barbecue. mmmmmm There s not a Sonny's this far North :-( So, I went to Beach Bully Barbecue. They were out of brisket, and no longer sell Miller Chill chelada style brew which I am drinking as I sit here typing. So, I had a huge pulled pork sammy with mustard sauce, plus sides of bbq beans and cole slaw. New tradition ;-) Go Gators.

Sunday, I had brunch at Abbey Road. It's okay, and I'll be back, but not for brunch. Nice Beatles memorabilia, and I want to like it, really I do. I'll keep y'all posted.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Joe Torre

Joe Torre began his career as a catcher. Later, he played third base and in 1971, hit .363 for Saint Louis. Had 137 RBI, too, and I especially remember that he had long sideburns in those days. Damn good player.

Before coming to manage the Yankees, Joe managed for each of the franchises he had played for: Braves, Cards, Mets. I remember him managing Atlanta, where he led them to a division title in the early '80's. Braves felt they could do better and gave him the axe. They were terribly mistaken. Sound familiar?

I am sad to see Mister Torre leave the Yankees, especially with hurt feelings. It's not easy being an Evil Empire - you always hurt the ones you love. We forced out Joe McCarthy after sixteen seasons and nearly 1400 victories, kicked him to the curb so hard he ended up in a Red Sock uniform. We forced out Casey Stengel after losing the World Series in 1960, he ended up with the Mets. Guess it'll be the Giants or the Dodgers for Joseph. [I'm kidding - although LA fans seem excited about the prospect]

You can say Joe deserved better than a contract he saw as insulting.
You can say good riddance. I say Joe was the right man for the job.
I hope I can say that about his successor.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Hmmm

Funny, I don't remember dying.....
My readers have all gone away.
Guess eclectic wasn't their style :-(

Friday, October 12, 2007

Factionalism - Warning: Language!

Well, another blast from my past. The language reflects a great hatred of some things which be, so be warned!! Like I've said before, I enjoy professional wrestling, and at some of the indy shows in Saint Louis, enjoy hanging out with the performers and chatting. One form of wrestling calling another to task for being different. Unbelievable!!! I enjoy wrestling. My family thinks I am a nerd for that. Guess again.


Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Factionalism Current mood: quixotic
Why is it that we polarize, factionalize even...? Damned if we as people can ever truly agree upon anything, but I suppose that is the beauty of differentiation... What I am referring to is how as wrestling fans we waste time and emotions trying to tear down what others esteem instead of tearing down walls.
I enjoy GCW, a local promotion. I have seen other promotions, and some of them I like, some I don't especially care for. I've posted my opinions, but other than to try and convince someone to see a local show and to decide for themselves, I do not belabour the point. If you don't care for GCW, fine; let it be. I don't particularly care for the South Broadway wrestling promotion because I feel it is not very stiff [although I DO like some of the workers there]. I am not going to deride anyone if they DO care for the show there, I will not belittle anyone, I will not berate anyone. In fact, as far as South Broadway is concerned, I will give them another chance [more on that later].
Why is it, though, that such factionalism perpetuates? I am thinking of one certain moron who comes onto the GCW forum to tell everyone how lame GCW is and how great he is [presumably for not liking GCW, but the reasoning has never been revealed - because there IS no reason involved]. My rant is not about J in particular, though. Dude has a severe, SEVERE inferiority complex, though [Think not? Check his signature sometime..... best wit, hottest touch, best fuck of anyone..... speak on, Brotha; far, far better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open yer mouth and remove all doubt]. Alas, I digress - this worm is only one example.
The overall point is that the wrestling scene in Saint Louis and Southern Illinois is very fragmented, very factionalized, and I feel that this is harming the sport.
Here's another thought - how many "purists" abhor "Backyard wrestling"? It's not real.... et cetera. Dude, professional wrestling ain't REAL either, not in the sense that the outcomes are predetermined.... here's my point: what does it matter? I have not seen backyard wrestling [no, I'm not talking about kids jumping off rooftops and maiming each other with outlandish trash weapons. I am particularly referring to the SPWO, the Saint Peters Wrestling Organization, which puts on a monthly show somewhere in Saint Peters in what would appear to be somebody's garage. I imagine I would catch a lot of crap if this information becomes widely known [meaning, crap from "serious wrestling fans"].
Think for a moment about the dichotomy, though. My own family, my friends, and my co-workers variously believe that I am a moron, a retard, emotionally disturbed, sophomoric, juvenile, imature, well, you get the picture. If you are reading this, I assure you that you are one of the few exceptions to the above statement. To everyone else, those who feel that I am whatever for enjoying professional wrestling, fuck you. Fuck you in every orifice which comes to mind. Fuck everyone who thinks poorly of me because I am expanding my horizon to include backyard wrestling. Fuck everyone who condemns me for liking a rival promotion - I intend to watch yours and enjoy it, too, if at all possible. People who stereotype - fuck all of you. People who are prejudicial - fuck you too. Bigots - may you be fucked up the ass by Ol' Nick himself, whilst smelling that burning brimstone.
Okay, good to get THAT off my chest. So, what's the plan? Well, for starters, we're going to invade South Broadway at their show on June 10th [that's right - Juneteenth. Look it up]. Depending on whether we enjoy the show, we might even get kicked out. There's a good precedent for that, really: back when my mom and her sister [my Aunt Pat] were young ladies living in Wichita [pretty sure this was post-war, '46 or '47, something like that - they woulda been in their early to mid twenties then] they went often to see pro wrestling. At one show, one of the guys knocked the false teeth out of another guy's mouth. One of the guys proceeded to pick up the dentures and chomped the other guy on the ass [personally, I think I'd enjoy seeing such a move]. Anyway, the gals began a cry of 'fake!' which got the crowd into such an uproar that they rioted and the cops got called in [our gals snuck out the side exit as the cops were arriving]. Maybe we'll even like the show. Krazy Kid Kurry is pretty cool, and Espy... Shaft, too, Angelo Impell and Trent Stone.... [even Johnny Courageous, although he jobbed to the Dirt Cheap Chicken :-( ].
Then, on July 17th, we are going to check out the SPWO. They don't announce the location, but [secret handshake] we are in the know.... ;-) Check them out at http://www.spwo.com/ I look at all of this as broadening my horizons a bit. Who knows - maybe I will have a good time [and maybe introduce a few folks to a broader experience than they otherwise woulda had, which to me is extremely good]. So, if you are reading this, yes, you are invited, and I sincerely hope that you will be able to attend. If you are reading this and for some ungodly reason feel that I was telling you to fuck off earlier, rest assured it is not so. There are a few people who actually accept me for who I am, who don't lord things over me or try to change me into God knows what [since most everyone who would change you is doing so out of a sense of failure on their own part; in other words, they fucked up and pissed away their life, so they will try to "save" yours by way of atonement]. So, to those few, you who 'get' me, my merry band of brothers, my immortals, know that I love you and truly appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for reading on [yes, I rambled a bit, combined a couple of topics which might have been excellent rants on their own merit]; thank you for being there. Let the revolution begin. Viva la revolucion`!!
Oh yeah. One more thing. I welcome your comments [as well as your presence]. "Thank you, o Lord, for the bright, white light. Thank you, o Lord, for the bright, white light......".

Thursday, October 11, 2007

If It's Thursday, This Must Be Norfolk

Gotta drive in traffic today :-(
Our main site is over in Norfolk and I am going over to meet my teammates there.
So far, so good. I like everyone and the job too. Good working with the Navy again.
Starting to like the area better and better, too.
It's a good day!
Just early.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday, Pam!!!
My 3rd sis, born right about time when Bobby Thomson hit that shot off Ralph Branca, and the Giants won the pennant over the hated Bums.

Happy Columbus Day, everyone. I know it is reviled in revisionist history, but we are what we are. The child is father to the man. If not CC, someone else - John Cabot? ;-)

Happy Navy Birthday!!
I can't say enough good words on this subject.
They say that eternal vigilance is the price of safety;
it is the price of freedom, as well. Amen.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Tuesday Afternoon

I just got connectivity restored. No cable TV yet either, so I missed last night's game.
It's too bad the Yanks came up short, but Cleveland has a good ballclub; to rip NYY
is to do the Indians a disservice.

I went to work today. It's been three months since my last contract ended, and a lot has happened since July. Packed up and moved all of my stuff to Virginia, signed on with my current team, made up with Pix, said our teary good-byes [for now and for who knows how long? Careers...]

Gosh, it is so good to be working with the Navy again!!! I love being on base again, and being by the ocean is splendid!! I really enjoy the gang - we get along great!!! One guy is a Red Sox fan, much to his upcoming chagrin. We all went to lunch at Uncle Al's Famous Hot Dogs and were watching ESPN [I knew he was a Sox fan because the show was mainly Yankees news, and I said something about it being the most important topic]... Anyway, I was looking at the screen at the back of the joint, and they were looking at the one to the front, when one guy goes "Look at the clown!!", so I said "It's just Buster Olney" but he persisted - an actual fookin' clown came in and ordered and sat and ate, accompanied by some guy in a Sox cap and shirt. So I said to the guy from Mass "Two guys come in. One's in a red noseand floppy shoes, the other one in Red Sock gear.... which one's the clown?" hahahahahaha sorry, Melanie ;-) [but true]

We work from 6:30 to three, so plenty of daylight after work. Right now spent on building furniture and unpacking boxes, but soon will get to enjoy it all. The ocean is 8/10 of a mile away, Harpoon Larry's Raw Bar less than that, and The Jewish Mother about a mile!!!

It's good. I like it here.
The Yanks lost, and so did the Gators.
On to glory, both teams.
It's not necessarily a sprint, but each will win more championships.
Roger that!!

Friday, October 5, 2007

MFY's

Hey!!! You were thinking this was going to be easy, weren't you?
"We're the mothafuckin' Yankees, we'll cakewalk through the playoffs."
Lemme tell ya, sunshine, it don't work that way.
We dinna just flash the creds and get 26 blings.
Yo, we're the mother-fucking Yankees.
Oedipus would be proud.
If he wasn't so Rexed.
We WON 26 World Series.

This Series against Cleveland is a microcosm of the entire season.
Start out rancid, gradually gain consistency until the cream rises
to the top. Vindication is at hand, bruthas and sistahs, one way or
another. Either we will go on to victory, or the season truly IS lost.
Time will tell.

I looked at my watch today.
It's digital, and I still keep it on military time.
Force of habit.
I looked at it a little after one o'clock.
Time read 13:13:13.

What does it mean?
Time will tell.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Seeing is Believing

Short one today - I am going over to pick up the U-Haul truck in a little while and will spend the day loading it up. Trailer on the back to ferry Lil' Casper along for the ride [one day, I'll blog about my two white pickup trucks, but another story for another day].

Just when you think things are bad and the walls seem to be closing in, get out and see our great country. Over the course of the past week I have driven out I-64 through Saint Louis, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia. Drove through Louisville, home of the Kentucky Derby. Drove through Huntington, WV, home of Marshall University [We Are Marshall!! was playing on HBO last night. I had seen it and really enjoyed it, but that was a bit eerie]. Rented a place in Virginia Beach less than a mile from the Atlantic Ocean. Man, this is a great land. Get out and see it some time. I know I will [I am driving off in the U-Haul tomorrow, bidding a fond farewell to Missouri and becoming just a little bit a Virginian].

Gotta scoot. Have a good one, everyone.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Seven and seven[teen]

Seven games up and 17 to play.
The Mets blew it; they choked and the Phillies caught them and then passed them on the last day of the regular season. Two teams headed in different directions.

How bad were the Phils? I could not believe that they hired Charlie Manuel as their manager; at times, he seemed pathetically clueless as the team was eternally stuck in the doldrums. Evidently, team management knew what they were doing... Charlie did not panic and neither did his team – wonderful qualities to possess when playing from behind. I do not agree with Jimmy Rollins regarding Philadelphia being the team to beat; both Atlanta and the Metros had far too much talent, far too much pedigree for Philly to have had that peculiar status. Seems young James was right after all. Seven games back and seventeen to play. The Phillies never said die, never gave up, never quit believing in themselves. Something fair-weather fans [of all teams] would do well to learn from.

How bad are the Mets? Physically, not bad although Carlos Delgado suffered a broken bone in his hand whilst being struck by a pitch on Sunday; Carlos has had a down year anyway and perhaps was in need of replacement regardless. Mentally, they are a Mess. I really feel badly for both the club and for Willie Randolph. I liked Willie as a young second-sacker fresh from Pittsburgh, I liked what he represented and what he brought with him to the Yankees, and he played an important role in the championships won by the vaunted Bombers of the late ‘70’s. I’ve liked the Mets for even longer, having cheered them on to victory in 1969 over the Orioles [I still abhor the O’s!!]. The Ol’ Perfesser was their first manager, too, and I still have a soft spot in my heart for them.

Now, having said all of that, I fear that Willie Randolph may be on the way out in Flushing Meadow. From the rumblings I have heard, it sounds as though he has lost the clubhouse. Can’t fire all the players, gotta fire somebody. Omar Minaya will not fire himself, so Willie is the logical scapegoat. Too bad. He’ll land somewhere, and mark my words: Willie Randolph WILL manage again. I’ve been impressed by the ballclub Minaya has assembled, and for the most part I think he has done a pretty good job. He’ll need to do so even more, for finding a good manager will be perhaps his most difficult task yet.

An ominous shadow darkens the horizon of the N.L. East, and no one seems to have noticed. The Braves have been sold [remember the Braves? 14 division titles in a row?]. New financing is being promised which should at least get them around $95 million a year in salary, and perhaps close to 100 mil. Dancing in the streets may be breaking out in Philadelphia, but my suspicion is that it will be short-lived. The only dance being performed at Shea is Danse Macabre`.