Life is a Contact Sport

You see this Stanley, you see this. This is this. It ain't something else. It's this.

- Robert DeNiro, The Deer Hunter

It's raining Noah has an arc ready. It's raining in my personal life too. And it's going to get even stormier before the month is over. Fuck it. It is what it is. The company I work for is dying on the vine for numerous reasons. The overall issue is that my boss completely underestimated how different the US market is from the UK market. That and a dozen other mistakes. So, I will be moving on. It's a dead horse that just doesn't know enough to fall over.

I've always said that life was a contact sport. It's going to be a summer of heavy hitting.

In fun news, Carolyn and I saw Steven Wilson perform in NYC at the Best Buy Theater. It was an incredible show with an awesome band.

Natural Disasters, Personal Tragedies, Milestones, and FIFA

Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.
 -Dwight D. Eisenhower

I just learned that a friend from grammar school, John,  was in a motorcycle accident. He's going to need a back brace and a banged up ankle. He'll need a lot of physical therapy. So sad. I get why people dig riding motorcycles, but it's just too dangerous. Everyday, commuting to work, I see drivers do stupid things that could get people killed. People drive like crazy people, like there are no consequences for their actions.

The photos out of Houston and Austin are unbelievable. So much flooding! This is why it's always handy to own a kayak.

I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.
 -Stephen Hawking

The USA has indicted 14 FIFA officials on allegations of racketeering and accepting bribes. The allegations extendTo bidding on the S. Africa, Russia, and Qatar World Cups, as well as the FIFA presidential election in 2011.

From CNN; 
But the day's more definitive and, right now, damning action came out of the United States.

That's where the Justice Department announced the unsealing of a 47-count indictment in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York, that detailed charges against 14 people for racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. They include FIFA officials accused of taking bribes totaling more than $150 million and in return providing "lucrative media and marketing rights" to soccer tournaments as kickbacks over the past 24 years.

"The defendants fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for the biggest sport in the world," FBI Director James Comey said in a news release. "Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks and bribes became a way of doing business at FIFA."

FIFA sucks
- Doctor Wu

And lastly, the good Doctor turns six months old today! Happy 1/2 birthday Doctor Moses Wu! They tell me that I rescued you, but I'm not sure that's how it went down at all. 

We've got
We've got a perfect life
-Steven Wilson

The Incense Burns Away

The incense burned away
And the stench began to rise
Lovers now estranged
Avoided catching each others' eyes

And girls who lost their children
Cursed the men who fit the coil
And men not fit for marriage
Took their refuge in the oil

No one respects the flame
Quite like the fool who's badly burned
From all this you'd imagine
That there must be something learned

Slit skirts, Jeanie never wears those slit skirts
I don't ever wear no ripped shirts
Can't pretend that growing older never hurts

Knee pants, Jeanie never wears no knee pants
Have to be so drunk to try a new dance
So afraid of every new romance

-Pete Townshend
Back from the holiday weekend. Pat, Brendan and I barbecued some ribs on Saturday and that sat around the fire pit, as it was on the chilly side. Then Mum came over for lamb chops on Sunday. Also, another on of the hibiscus have started to bloom. This one is red with white stripes. Very pretty. And the greenhouse has been converted to the screen house. All hail summer. Don't ever leave us! Speaking of which, it will hit 87 degrees today in Farmington, only 82 in Ansonia (I like living close to the coast.) The birds are out in the yard in full force, the cardinals, blue jays, the black birds, etc. They eat an entire container of food a day! Gluttons.


Dr. Wu loves to sit in the open window. He listens and watches everything that goes down in the Valley. And next week it will be June and I will be a year older. Going to a concert in NYC with Caroline on Sat. Then the following weekend is my 25 year college reunion at Fairfield. 

I let my past go too fast
No time to pause
If I could slow it all down
Like some captain, whose ship runs aground
I can wait until the tide comes around

(Time stand still)
I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
-Rush

USA

It's going to hit 72F today, but go down to 43F tonight. Last night I lugged the Hibiscus back into the greenhouse to protect them from the cold. I need to get a wheelbarrow.  I trashed my work pants, but some Oxyclean and some Central American stain removing soap did the trick. Then the weather gets warmer and I'll switch the greenhouse to screens on Saturday. 

The greenhouse! I must be New England, old money! But no. I'm just a writer/teacher/salesman from Jersey, trying to make my way in this in this crazy world. But I do have a greenhouse. Fuck yeah!

I got into a big argument with my accountant when he said I could not declare the Doctor as a dependent. "Frank, he can't work! He has no money. He doesn't have oppossable thumbs, so he can't even hand you money. He depends on me for food, shelter, and medical. He's the friggin' definition of a dependent!"

"Blame Obama," said Frank.

I glared at him, took a deep breathe and said, "I may seem like a normal productive member of society, but if you ever say anything like that again, I will take a flame thrower to this place."

I received a $500 credit for a dependent on my taxes. 

I was born in the USA!
-Bruce Springsteen

The Opah

The Opah, the first ever warm blooded fish, was discovered off of the coast of California, near san Diego.  Plains All American Pipeline celebrated this scientific discovery by dumping 105,000 gallons of rude oil off the coast of Santa Barbara. Just in time for Memorial Day Weekend! Brilliant. The coastal area is a habitat for seals, sea lions and whales. 

(to Taylor) You are a menace. A walking pestilence.
- Dr. Zauis, Planet of the Apes

The Mets fell out of first place and back to earth. I can only hope it's a spot they will soon regain.

- - -

The Mets won today, so that are back in first by 1/2 a game. 

If you want to see something truly hilarious, put your cat in the bath tub and give them a ping pong ball. Doctor Wu was in the tub for hours. He loves it.

An Excitable Boy

Well, here we are. It's May 20th and the Mets have seen their 5 game lead dwindle down to nothing. Bummer. Let the battle begin!

Today in history (from History.com)
After 10 days and 10 bloody assaults, Hill 937 in South Vietnam is finally captured by U.S. and South Vietnamese troops. The Americans who fought there cynically dubbed Hill 937 “Hamburger Hill” because the battle and its high casualty rate reminded them of a meat grinder. 

The battle ended on June 5, 1969. I was one year old. The hill had little strategic value and was soon abandoned. It caused a watershed moment of public backlash about the Vietnam war. 

It's been beautiful weather; 60s and 70s. Should be a nice weekend. Hard to believe it's Memorial Day already. I'm still haunted by images of our Narnia-like winter. 

Dr. Wu is growing. He was chasing his favorite toy on a string (shaped like a Star Wars TIE fighter) and my bare leg got in the way. I was slashed three times. He would normally  never go so hard after me, but my leg just got in the way. So off to the bathroom to clean the scratches out with alcohol and bandages. Then once they stopped bleeding, I covered my leg in cortisone. And then I'm fine. My arms and legs look like Dr. Wu beats me. But that's not the case. He's just an excitable boy.

He took in the four a.m. show at the Clark
Excitable boy, they all said
And he bit the usherette’s leg in the dark
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy
-Warren Zevon

He talks all the time, usually a battle cry when he is playing. He's totally nuts. I love the little rat bastard.

I've been in sales for 23 years now. I've seen the strangest sides of human nature. Some people are just stranger than you could ever imagine. People say one thing and do another. They do one thing and say another. I don't let it frustrate me, because it is the nature of the beast, but being telepathic would really be handy in this business. 

“It can never, ever, ever get weird enough for me.” 
― James Spader

Inevitable

Top of the 14th. Mets 1 - Cardinals 1. It’s the Met’s first extra inning game of the year. St. Louis will bat their relief pitcher because they are out of position plays. The NL rules.

What’s disconcerting is that Washington is surging as the Mets are letting precious wins slip away. They had to know that the Nationals would eventually be coming for them, but it's only May, and the time is now. 

You are right, I have always known about man. From the evidence, I believe his wisdom must walk hand and hand with his idiocy. His emotions must rule his brain. He must be a warlike creature who gives battle to everything around him, even himself. All my life I've awaited your coming and dreaded it. The Forbidden Zone was once a paradise. Your breed made a desert of it, ages ago.

-Dr. Zaius, The Planet of the Apes

A Normal Life

May 8 was the 70th anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe. 70 years ago that the Greatest Generation saved the world as we knew it. A world controlled by Hitler and the NAZIS is something few of us wanted to see. 

Two rival biker gangs got into a shootout that killed 9 and left 18 wounded at a Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco (wacko,) Texas. Bail has been set at $1m for up to 170 people who all face murder charges. First their was the cult siege under David Koresh, now this. Just shut the town down or at least rename it. 170 people face murder charges! This is why it should not be so easy to get a carry permit.

It's nice here with a view of the trees
Eating with a spoon?
They don't give you knives?
'Spect you watch those trees
Blowing in the breeze
We want to see you lead a normal life
-Peter Gabriel

The Mets are still half a game in front of Washington. Maybe the Yankees can help a brother out by sweeping the Nationals over a two game series in Washington.

From the Gray to the Green

Caledonia
Caledonia
What makes your big head so hard?
-BB King

Good-bye to BB King, the King of the Blues. I saw him several times and he was great. Plus, he had amazing opening acts, like Koko Taylor and Joe Bonamassa. RIP, big man. You were well loved and an amazing performer.

The road to work has been so gray all winter. The snow doesn't stay white for very long and all the trees are bare. But now it's all lush and green. Spring has finally boarded the train. We've been nice and cool the past few days, 60s and 70s. We may even get some much needed rain on Sat.

The Mets get a shot at redemption as the team with the worst record in baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers, come into Queens for a 3 game series. That better make hay while they can, because then Cardinals come in for 4 games with the best record in baseball.

Collapse

Take a little trip back with father Tiresias,

Listen to the old one speak of all he has lived through.

I have crossed between the poles, for me there's no mystery.

-Genesis

The Caps blow a 3 - 1 series lead and lose to the Rangers in OT in game 7. That's the 3rd time in 4 years that the Rangers have ousted them. It's another epic collapse by a team that has specialized in it for 40 years. Coach, Barry Trotz, was brought in to change the culture. That he did, but a chance to play in the Conference Finals will have to wait for next year.

The Mets, on verge of being swept in a 4 game series with Chicago, have seen their NL East lead wane to 1.5 games. The Streaking Nationals are right on their tail.

When does football start?

Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow

The Golden Boy
Tom Brady and the Pats got bitch slapped by the NFL. They deserved it. The '85 Pats are the only Pats team to ever get to a Super Bowl without cheating. Everyone says Tom Brady is a wholesome, all American good guy. Would a good guy dump Bridget Moynahan, while she was pregnant with his son, for Giselle? Brady is a cheater. Belichick is a cheater. Kraft is a cheater. Brady did not cooperate with the investigation at all. So guess what, Tommy? You've been revealed for what you are; a fraud, a sham and a liar.

Don't go to bed, with no price on your head - No, no, don't do it.
Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time - Yeah, don't do it.
And keep your eye on the sparrow.
When the going gets narrow
-Sammy Davis Jr.

Pink Rain
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday was 86F. Right now it is 57F. Last night I was barbecuing lamb chops and I find myself engulfed in a pink blizzard. The cherry blossom tree is losing it's petals and it was windy as hell. I couldn't even see. I had pink petals in my nose and mouth. I was picking petals off of the lamb chops when I got inside. It was crazy. I could barely see.

The First Heat of the Summer

The Mets lost to the Cubbies and the Caps have to wait til tomorrow to play Game 7 at MSG. It's suppose to be 90F today, which is nuts. Noah Syndergaard, prized pitching prospect, makes his MLB debut tonight. Welcome to the big leagues. We hope you're as good as they say you are.

I cleaned the thick mat of dust off of the ceiling fans, so I can now use them to circulate some air when it's this warm. Even Dr. Wu feels the heat, as it's the first time I've seen him sprawl out on the cool kitchen tile. We even have a high pollen alert today (it is May, after all.) The pollen in Jersey was unreal. One day there and my car became yellow and sticky.

Another earthquake in Nepal. Over 50 dead and over 1,000 injured. I read that Real Madrid's Ronaldo gave $8m to the recovery effort. What an awesome thing to do. Those poor people. It's tragic. 

84 Miles to Jersey

Back in CT. Took 3.5 hours to get home. Traffic was bumper to bumper from the end of the Garden State Parkway to the end of the Tappan Zee Bridge. It was great to see Mom, Mully, Mel and Jan, Jan's family as well.

Dr. Wu is completely out of sorts around Mulligan. He won't give him the time of day. Mully tries, but Doctor just goes off on his own, exploring Gram's house. 

It's 84 today and will be 89 tomorrow. We went from Winter directly into summer. Some like it hot. But not me. Where's 70 degrees?! Give me back my Spring.

Mother's Day

Ah, Jersey. My home state. Mum and I went out for a great Italian dinner last night. Today we go to Mel's for a BBQ. Then the drive back to CT for the Cas game at 7.

Thanks for the mammaries!

-Mother's Day, traditional

Where the Rubber meets the Road

Washington can close out the Rangers tonight if they win, but it's at MSG, so it's going to be tough. It's been an awesome series, all decided by one goal. 

Then Doc and I head down to Jersey tomorrow for Mother's Day.  Doc seems to like the harness I bought him. This way I can put him on the leash in the car (instead attaching it to his collar, which could break free, and did.) I can shorten the leash so that he doesn't have to be in the carrier, but can't get in my way when I'm driving. 

Today is the beginning of Rush's last major tour because drummer Neil Peart has developed tendonitis in his arms from years of pounding away. Mel and I have have been going to Rush show's for over 30 years, and we'll be seeing them again in June in Newark

The Spicy and the Damned

An Ohio woman was arrested after she allegedly stabbed her boyfriend for eating all the salsa. Now that's one spicy bitch!

Game 4 tonight, Caps vs. Rangers. Washington has a chance to take a commanding 3 - 1 series lead.

Things are getting greener. The leaves are getting ready to pop. It's been in the 70's and I have opened the windows and transitioned to shorts. Happy days!

Dr. Wu and I head down to Jersey on Saturday for the Mother's Day festivities. I got him a harness for the car, so I think this trip will be even easier.

Spring (finally)

I am over a hundred pages into The Twelve, the 2nd book in Justin Cronin's Passage Trilogy. It's so sweeping in scope that it's amazing. It likens the vampire virus to the Noah and the Flood in the Bible. And dark? It's darker than Satan's bunghole. What's not to like?

Last night, Doctor jumped on my lap and was naked. He was sans collar. I later found it in the cushions of the couch. He seemed relieved to have it back on. I noticed that with my previous cats too. They grow to love their collars. 

I didn't feel lonely before I adopted Dr. Wu, but it's quite nice to have someone meet you at the door. 

___

I had 4 hibiscus plants shipped up from Florida. It was only slightly more expensive than buying them at Lowe's, but the colors are outrageous. But, I need another bag of dirt, so I only planted two. They are little saplings right now. But wait til summer! The hibiscus is the national flower of Jamaica, and all these 25 years later, they still remind me of being there. They are big exquisite flowers that only last a day. Imagine - all that time and work to be gorgeous just for one day. 

___

The hibiscus are all potted and ready to role. I cooked a rib-eye on the bbq and it was a lovely Spring day.

...And Run

Joe Ward scored with 1.3 seconds left on Thursday to give the Caps a 1-0 series lead over the Rangers at MSG. It was epic. Dr. Wu was like, Why are you jumping around?

SO happy it's Friday. The Caps play again mañana at 12:30 in the afternoon. I also have some planting to do, as well as the normal weekend chores. 

And it's Kentucky Derby Day. Perhaps a mint julep or two? 

It's supposed to be in the 70's for only the 2nd time this year. It's been a brutal winter and we have still been below our average temperatures, as we have all year. 

I'm gonna break
I'm gonna break my
I'm gonna break my rusty cage...
And run
-Soundgarden