If you have never read French Laundry at Home treat yourself. It is an exemplary foodie blog. This post is enough to hook the casual reader . . . Conversing with those who practice verbal diarrhea is a waste of time. I know better . . . Happiness is the smell of chili is wafting through the house . . . Strange things I remember: It’s Ricky Barab’s birthday. I haven’t seen this guy in more than 20 years, but I remember his birthday. Go figure . . . Congratulations to the Boston Celtics. It’s been a long time since they had a championship. I have fond memories of the old Boston Garden. Of course, the best moment at the Garden was in ‘82 . . . Wordle is fun . . . Thomas Sowell is a smart man. He writes well too. Usually I agree with him . . . A somewhat stream f conscious piece, but my mother pointed me to a Slate article (When’s the last time I visited there? I suspect when Kinsley first went to work for them, but he has moved multiple times since.) about catch phrases. I really thought It is what it is was a phrase made famous on the first season of Top Chef . . . One of the better Deviant Art animations I have seen . . . Wish lists work. I received a book (But Didn’t We Have Fun?) for my birthday because I had it listed on my wish list. Feel free to pick off a few treasures from it, if you are so inclined . . .
Ah, a trip down memory lane. I’ve been playing with Google Street View and was able to come up with a few of the residences that way. One thing I noticed is that I lived in only one dorm at prep school and only one dorm at college and both created quads.
The ol’ homestead has changed since I lived there. It looks odd raised the eight feet it has been. We lived much closer to the ground, which allowed the Atlantic Ocean to visit us five times. The joys of living at the beach. (more…)
Ah, the joys of living in Boston. I used to love Patriots’ Day (aka Boston Marathon Monday). Boston is on holiday today. One wakes up very early. If you are one of the “good” people, you head out to Hopkinton to start the race. If you are one of the “regular” folks, you begin drinking. We liked Heartbreak Hill, but one year I worked on Boyleston about a block away from the finish line. What a scene!
After the marathon, one heads immediately to Kenmore Square for the Red Sox game. More partying. Good stuff. And if one is still going, he heads into town after the early game to finish off the day.
I will say Patriots’ Day in Boston is unlike any Monday in any other city.
Drew over at Ace of Spades posted the following video. How humiliating.
My wonderful wife purchased me an iPod Nano for Christmas. I’ve gone back and forth on wanting one for some time. There are a lot of podcasts that I would welcome being able to listen to as I am on the move. Having some tunes with me is always welcomed too.
So, this evening I have been playing. I have downloaded a few live shows to get things going. I have loaded my first Grateful Dead show, a Jerry Garcia Band show I attended, and another Garcia show from ‘91 (I loved that tour).
I’ve also been arranging my podcasts and getting those in order.
And finally, I took a step back into time and pretended I was in high school. One of my favorite pastimes back then was making mix tapes. I fancied myself a DJ of sorts, I suppose. This is the first mix I have put together in some time. I’ll have to see how it plays out . . .
Feelin’ Alright Joe Cocker With A Little Help From My Friends
Mozambique Bob Dylan Desire
Sailing Shoes/Hey Julia/Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley Robert Palmer Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley
Let It Rock Jerry Garcia Compliments
Two Princes Spin Doctors Pocket Full of Kryptonite
Motorcycle Mama Neil Young Road Rock, Vol. 1: Friends & Relatives
Walk On Neil Young On The Beach
Midnight Special Paul McCartney Choba B Cccp
Dixie Chicken Little Feat Dixie Chicken
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Paul Simon Still Crazy After All These Years
Rock And Roll All Nite Kiss Unplugged [Live]
Bertha Los Lobos Deadicated
Tuesday’s Gone Lynyrd Skynyrd Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
Burn Down The Mission Elton John Tumbleweed Connection
Bitch Meredith Brooks Bitch [Single]
Houses Of The Holy Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti [Disc 1]
Shattered The Rolling Stones Some Girls
All these songs have a special significance to me. It would take too long to document them all tonight, but Shattered reminds of five months at the end of 1988 and the beginning of 1989 when I ran a restaurant and bar on Boyleston Street in Boston. Being the new manager in this place, one of the shifts I was given was Sunday evening shift. Students from Northeastern were a large part of our clientele. On Sunday evenings, the students remained home (presumably to study) and the bar had a unique set of regulars, including Steven Wright.
Last call on Sundays was more raucous than any other evening. We closed the blinds, guarded the doors, and cranked the tunes. The pretty girls joined the bartenders atop the bar for Shattered. Drinks flowed and the money poured in. Unless I become senile, I suspect I will never separate this song from last call.
When I lived in Boston, I read a lot of John Irving. I think I had read all of his books save Setting Free the Bears. I have not read a one since. Hmmm . . .
Anyhow, without question my favorite of his books was A Prayer for Owen Meany. It was very spiritual and so well-written. I have recommended to many people over the years.
So here I am 17 years removed from Irving, after midnight, flipping through On Demand to find something to watch. I came across a title that I decided to read the description. It sure did sound familiar, yet the title was not the same. A quick check of IMDB and sure enough, the movie Simon Birch is the film version of Owen Meany. Who woulda thunk it?
That this is nine years old and stars Jim Carrey, I hold no hopes of it being any good, but what the heck, I’ll give it a try.
