One of the more exasporating affects of all this rain is my Wednesday night golf league matches are canceled.  That has been the case for the past four weeks.   Some people get cranky if they don’t have their morning coffee, some folks are unbearable without their daily chocolate fix.  Me, it’s golf.  Even though I don’t play the latest and greatest in equipment,  I do not have a membership to a club, public or private, and I don’t take the annual golf trip to Myrtle Beach or Florida, I get a great deal of pleasure in just hitting shots and not keeping score.   One of my favorite things is to go out after dusk and play a few hole by myself.  Sometimes this entails sneaking onto the course after the pro shop closes, which adds to the sense of satisfaction.  Forget the steroetypes, golf is a fun game to play.  My late grandfather got me started with a cut-down wodden shafted putter.  I’d use his electric putting game for hours.  I used to sit with him while he watched tournaments on TV.  His advice on good tempo, “slow down, you swing that club like a baseball bat.”  On days I play alone, I often think of him and wish we could have played a few rounds together before he died.  I imagine he would be pleased that I have passed the game on to my son.

I believe in value, and I my optiions for affordable golf are limited.  After expenses, I barely have enough for nine holes.  I can play the municipal course in the town where my kids live.  I actually like playing there.  The course is the former sight of a private club, which relocated after their clubhouse burned down back in the 1910’s.  It’s a nine-holer and very quirky.  The layout for some of the holes looks straight-forward, but there are some hidded surprises.  The greens are small, which means there isn’t much room to play your approaches. You need some creativity and the gift of abstract thought, because you may have to make up shots as you go.  The best part is the parks and rec department maintains the course, so it’s in great shape.  Except the bunkers, which have small rocks in the sand that ding up your clubface.   The place is a cash cow because all the bluehairs play there for its cheap greens fees.  There are no memberships, so you can play as many holes as you want for $13.  The most I’ve played is 27, but I could easily squeeze in another nine.

On the other side of the coin, there’s the course where my league plays.  Again, it’s a nine-holer but it has seen better days.  It has poor drainage so any puddles  can, potentially, still be found several days after a shower.  The greens also hold excess water, so they can be slow.  But the layout is alright.  Some holes aren’t particularly challenging , but there’s lots of room if your shots go offline.  When I play here, I pay the league price, which is also $13.   I’ll take my son here because he’s starting to take the game seriously and he doesn’t get too discouraged when his shots fall short or offline.

The night now is ripe with possibilities and endless options.  Maybe I’ll make a stir fry tonight (yes, I can cook and quite well). Maybe I’ll go to the movies tonight.  I want to see Public Enemy with Johnny Depp.  My daughter LOVES Johnny Depp, as did my ex-girlfriend.  I think he’s an exceptional actor.  I hope everyone has a pleasant and dry evening.

Again with the rain.  This time, it’s not a sprinkle or passing shower.  We’re talking rain, straight down and in biblical proportions.  If we get 2 inches, I won’t be surprised.  The Coast Guard has set up an inland station…just in case.  What’s it gonna take to get three consecutive days of sunshine?  Money, burnt sacrifice, first born child?  For all of you in a dry place, enjoy it while you can.

Today is Michael Jackson’s funeral.  I do not intend to be disrespectful in this post, nor do I wish to anger any fans.   I have been a distant, casual observer to this three-ring circus, and I can honestly say, “ENOUGH!” This is just getting ridiculous.   What is more entertaining than the story and all the sidebars, is the frenzy that the media has created.  They are falling all over each other for “exclusives”.  They are taking every scrap they find and shove it down our throats. Even the always dignified (sic) CNN is participating in this feeding frenzy.  Any real sense of remorse or sense of loss is missing.  Come on, folks! This is a sad story.  Actually, it’s pathetic and indicative of how pop culture is portrayed.  And the public are like jackals circling a helpless buffalo.  They can smell the blood and are ready for the kill.  They want more, and soon they shall have it. The Franklin Mint, Time Life, and all the other hawkers of collectables will have their bits.  It’ll all be on QVC, just wait.  I’m waiting for the exclusive funeral and memorial DVD.  You don’t think so?  If Billy Mays was still alive, he’d pitch it.  He’ll probably do it from the grave.  It’s all just disgusting.

I have a good friend who is absolutelty beyond consolation over this, as are many of Michael’s fans.  I felt the same way when both Marvin Gaye and Mel Blanc died.  Well, maybe I was just melancolly for a week. But not like my friend.  Michael Jackson, in her mind, was bigger than Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Madonna rolled into one.  She and I have gone toe-to-toe on this and, although I think his contribution to popular music transcends pop music, I can’t see him at the top of the mountain.  Feel free to disagree with me. I have some good memories of Michael’s music.  I played alot of pick-up basketball in college.  One of the gym rats had this huge boombox, and he played nothing but R&B and disco while shooting hoops.  This was about the time that Off The Wall was huge and it was on everyone’s turntable.  We couldn’t walk through the dorm without hearing it at any time of the day.  Anyway, it was the soundtrack of those pick-up games.  We played for hours with nonstop music, turned up full volume.  It was a good thing we chose a court at the far end of the fieldhouse because we got some strange looks from the podunks from The County.   I own Off The Wall and Thriller.  The later was a gift for my 21st birthday, from a girl I was dating at the time.  I haven’t played them in years, soI’ve enjoyed the music local radio stations have been playing.  Although I know, having worked in commercial broadcasting, that the tightly restricted formats by most oldies stations will abandon the music as soon as the hoopla quiets down.  Too bad-there is some great music there and people should hear it.

I hope he gets to rest in peace.  I hope that the untold bits of his life will remain untold.  Because he can no longer defend himself, and anyone who dredges up all the juicy bits to print in a tell-all book has no conscience and lacks moral fiber.  Leave the Neverland Ranch as it is.  Don’t pimp it as a west coast Graceland, with a gift shop filled with useless, pointles merchandise.  But I know that won’t happen.  Pretty soon, we might find little Michael Jackson figures in Happy Meals.  Ooooh, wouldn’t that be ironic.

Rest in peace, Michael.

 

It’s like anything in this pop culture mad world; you build ‘em up just to see them fall.  And that isn’t how life should be.  I ignored all the miasma that surrounded his career.  All the bits and pieces that made Entertainment Tonight, all the weirdness of his life away from music, the way he was transformed from a beautiful black man to a pale oddity–it was all the stuff you couldn’t ignore because it was all rammed down our throats.  And people couldn’t get enough of it.

Attention shoppers!  It’s big fun at the big city hospital.  We had a water main break on the 9th floor, and it’s one big mess.  Lots and lots of water, patients gettting moved around, contractors scurrying everywhere.  I’d hate to be the plumber who didn’t seat that joint properly.  “Go sit on the bench, son.  We’ll let you know when we need ya.”

So how does this affect my department?  Good question.  How do I, Storeroom Grunt, make this situation better?   Well, according to the powers that be, they’ll let me know.  It’s a typical hurry-up-and-wait mentality.  If they do need anything, it will be medical supplies.

I hope you all had a good 4th of July.  I had the pleasure of spending it with my son, watching the firework along the Back Cove.  We had a great view, but were too far away to get the full effect of the “boom”.  The next day, the kids were with the ex’s family, so I had the day to myself.  It wasn’t what I was expected and it wasn’t what I hoped for.  Since my breakup with the woman I was seeing for the past 20 months, it been a challenge spending time alone.  I don’t mind being by myself.  I take myself to the movies every Tuesday.  But, being alone in my apartment is sometimes a lonely experience.  My mother, who is wiser than my Dad gives her credit, told me that men want to be with someone.  I guess it’s the residual of our prehistoric ancestors, who traveled in clans and lived communally.  Since I’m not a woman and can’t relate their experiences, I can only say that for myself, I like having another person in my life.  It doesn’t have to be someone who shares living space.  It could a cat.  I know that it’s challenging for myself being the only being in my apartment.  As I continue my journey, it will be something I shall ponder.

That’s not really a quicky…

Here I am, warts and all!

My son, Daniel took this photo.. I figured it was time to show my face to you.  I still haven’t figured out how to make this my avatar.  Maybe someone can help me.

The photo is better than the one I posted on Yahoo Personals back in ‘07.  That was taken with a fixed lens digital camera.  It didn’t help matters that I took the photo while standing in the shade, giving my appeareance a bluish tint.  I looked like a smurf.  This photo above is much better.

It is Fourth of July weekend, and here in the northeast we have sloshing about in the rain and fog.  For the entire month of June.  Yes, with the exception of the Saturday before Father’s Day and a couple other days thrown in, we have experienced the wettest month in 138 YEARS!!!  Over 8 inches of rain has fallen, over five more inches than usual. We have gone about our business in a fog.  Literally. When it hasn’t been raining, a blanket of fog has decended upon my coastal community, slowly driving everyone to the brink of insanity.  But today, things have changed.  The weather gods have been kind and the fog has lifted.  It’s not just a flat grey sky anymore.  We can see breaks in the clouds. I say, “Bring on the blue skies!!”  It’s a good thing, too because I was ready to either slit my throat or commit a crime against humanity.  I like cooler weather.  My limit is 75 degrees with 40 per cent humidity.  Once the temperature starts to creep above that, then I need to find a cool body of water.  Fast.  I truely believe that I lived in the British Isles in another life.  I heard that London had temperatures into the upper 80s today.  I’ll pass.

The tourists started pouring into the state yesterday.  They were here in June, but the weather drove them to the mall.  I saw more license plates from New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, so I guess summer has finally arrived.  Locals get riled up when the tourist come into the state.  Their attitude is ” welcome to our state. Please  spend all your cash, then get the hell outta here”. But I’m glad they are here.  The outta statahs pump a good deal of cash into the economy.  Just go up to Freeport on any weekend throughout the year and watch the disposable income stolling up and down Maine Street, walking in and out of outlet stores.  They will even show up in February, but they’re usually on their way to the mountains to ski.  But they are fun to watch.  Sure, they get a little pompous.  They still think we’re a bucnh of backwards hicks up here with no concept of the outside world.That’s when we get the last chuckle.  It’s easier if you stay one step ahead.  The one thing we don;t like dealing with is the manner in which they drive.  Stay off the roads when they’re out because they bring their bad driving habits with them and it makes for a frustrating mess.  If I could give them any piece of advice, I’d tell them to put down the cellphone when you drive.  Some of those banks on either side of the road are a pain in the butt.  Take your eye off the road if you drop the Blackberry and it’s not a pretty sight.  Just ask any towtruck driver.  Also, I really don’t care about your SUV, so don’t drive like you own the road.  Remember:  kharma is a bitch.  Just have your toll money ready and use the blinkers when you change lanes.  Everyone will be much happier for it.

Otherwise, I’ve got beer in the fridge and burgers on the grill.  I expect to hear firecrackers and am occasional M80.  I will walk down to Hadlock Field tonight and watch the fireworks after the Sea Dogs game.  Tomorrow night is the big display off the Eastern Prom.  I don’t mind the boom.  But I’m there for the light and color.  So if I watch them from aways back, it’s no big deal.

Enjoy your Fourth of July celebration, no matter where you are.

My, my…I didn’t think this forum was still here.  I thought it had been eradicated, but it’s still here and I’ve returned to blog again.  It’s good to write again.  I hope the folks who poked around this site before will return.  I would like to get to know some of you a bit better, considering I have no social life.  If you’ve been here before, thanks for returning.  If it’s your first time, thanks for stopping by and seeing what’s here.

Here’s a quick overview of events:  my middle aged mind is now 48 and I still live alone in my hole in the ground.  I don’t think I was there when I last blogged.  It’s a cool place, temperature wise, but I would hope it would be cool since it’s located in the basement.  .  Fortunately for me, the building sits on high ground and the granite foundation goes 9 ft. down.  It’s rather dark though.  The building next door is so close it prevents the sunshine from filling the room.  I only have two windows and the top of the window frame is only 3 feet above the pavement, so I don’t worry about peeping toms.  Other than that, my electric-gas-heat are all included, which is a steal.  Too bad they didn’t throw in the cable or internet.  I have access to most of the local digital channels, but I can’t watch the Red Sox or Bruins, I can’t watch BBC America or Discovery, and forget about ESPN, NESN or National Geographic.  But that’s only a minor detail.  I still have my books and music.  Otherwise, I take advantage of the 5-dollar special on Tuesdays at the Nickelodeon:  all movies all day 5 bucks.  Such a deal!  But they get you on the popcorn and drinks, so it’s not really a cheap night out.  Now that it’s summer, I’ll be taking in Sea Dogs games at Hadlock Field.  I can sit in the cheap seats for 6 bucks and enjoy baseball on a warm summer night.  My son and I have already enjoyed a couple games together.

My divorce was final one year ago June 24.  ever since then it’s been a challenge adjusting to life as a single man.  Alot of the emotional stuff has been worked out, but every once and awhile, something rears its ugly head and makes me stop and regroup.  For example, I just ended an extended relationship with a wonderful woman.  It was her choice, not mine.  Initially, it devistated me.  We so in synch on so many levels, and our communication strategy was honest and open, something I didn’t have in my marriage.  I thought that this was the one:  that one true love that transcends all other.  But the giddiness of infatuation wore off after our first argument, and reality can be a real mood buster.  In hindsight, the loving gifts she gave me have helped me in adjusting to my single life. She, unfortunately, couldn’t see me in her future.  SHe had gotten beyond having those “can’t live without him for more than one day” feelings, and she wanted to.  She said she couldn’t give me everything I deserved, that I deserved to be loved so completely as I loved her.  I still the the twinges of pain in my stomach.  Sometimes my soul feels like there’s a huge void.  Nothing like the feelings I had when my marriage dissolved.  It’s been difficult for me.  In my head, I know I should be getting on with my life.  But I was still in the process of getting my life together while I was with her.  I can hear you all shouting at your screens, “you should’ve working on that BEFORE you met her!!”   Yes, you are right.  One of the lessons I learned was that, despite all the wonderful, loving, tender moments whe shared, it was also a sheild from the pain from my broken family.  I should’ve had that house in order long before that.  She was the place I hid from the pain.  It was probably for the best that relationship ended.  It enable me to see clearly what I needed to work on.  It allowed to recognize my shortcomings and gave me an opportunity to turn them into strengths. 

I have realized that this blog should’ve been the forum to work out the kinks.  I realize it is necessary for me to have an outlet for my emotions and this is the perfect outlet.

If a Red Sox fan needs a reason to rejoice, it would be any time the Yankees take the gas pipe and cough up a loss. First, let me say this: I do not hate the Yankees. My Dad is a Yankee fan. He grew up in northern Maine during the golden era of Yankee teams. He was drawn to DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, Ford and the other great teams of the 40s and 50s. But I was fan of the Red Sox after the Impossible Dream team of 1967. I was not aware of that team during that time, but learned about that team, and baseball history as I was drawn deeper into baseball. I always respected the Yankees but experienced the angst that all Red Sox fans experience when the Yankees always seem to get the breaks, and the Red Sox had all the bad luck. So seeing the Yankees post season misfortunes of the past 7 years have given me hope that the tide is turning, especially after the World Series win in ‘04. So when I saw the Yankee score from last night, a 2-1 loss to Cleveland in 13 innings, it made the Red Sox win over the Angels all the more sweeter. The problem I have with Yankee fans is that there is the notion that the Yankees are entitled and should win it all every year. Even if you have the most successful of franchises, there has to by a natural cycle of things. There has to be a period of frustration and failure, even with a successful sports franchise. There is a difference between pride and entitlement. The Yankees are old; their starting pitching is ancient, their starting lineup has a few young bucks, but their rely on established but fading stars for their offense. They have a few young, rising stars that will make them a better team. Right now, though, they can only get by on experience. I will look forward to the next couple of days. I am hoping that the Red Sox win their next game in California, and that the Yankees lose their third at Yankee Stadium. That would be so sweet to see the Yankees lose at home, to deny them another chance at a World Series win.

My roommate is out for the night, so I am enjoying a quiet night at home. But I’m not sure about how quiet it will stay because I’m watching Game 1 of the ALDS with the Red Sox and California/Anaheim/ Los Angeles Angels. My first major league game was in 1975 with these two teams at Fenway Park in Boston. I’ve been hearing the smack from the loudmouthed Yankee fan at work.  He has been bad mouthing the Sox out of ignorance. It’s one thing to have blind passion for your team, but when a Yankee fan still thinks his team is the best in baseball, and that the pitching staff is the best, surely they are living in a fantasy world.  The guy doesn’t think and he’s easy to get going.  Drop a line about the Yankees not winning the division or the Yankee pitching staf giving up at least 20 runs to Baltimore, and he is off and running.  It’s fun to get him going. Granted, the exchange is heated but it’s friendly.

The menu tonight was a chicken sausage with apple, and red beans and rice. Please, no healthy eating diatribes. You should have seen the size of the salad I consumed last night. It all evens out in the end. Add to it a cold hefeweizen and it’s a meal made in heaven, or New Orleans..it’s all the same.

I thought I would drop a quick post, just to get things on track. I like to be home around 5pm, make some dinner and relax. Last night I visited some friends on the coast and that was great. A relaxing night by the ocean, can’t get better.

Back to the game I go. As of this post: bottom of the 7th Boston 4 Angels 0. GO SOX!!