Forgive Me Carol King

(11:48 AM)

I’m on the phone with a co-worker in another building. Suddenly, my building starts shaking and rumbling. Me: “Damn. An Earthquake.”

Him: “Wow. An Earthquake.”

Me: (after a few seconds) “I think it stopped.”

Him: “Not here! We’re still rolling over here.” (a few seconds later) “It stopped.”

(Silence)

Me: “So, was it good for you?”

Him: “Yeah, it was good for me, but it would have been better if we’d finished at the same time.”

Me: “Well, maybe next time.”

Him: “Isn’t that what you said the last time?”

Me: “Yup, never said I wasn’t selfish.”

For those who care: all are well including son who lives near the epicenter.

(Deep Sigh) – The San Diego Padres

Once a year for the last three years, I have written on the state of a very sad minor league baseball team that plays in the majors called the San Diego Padres.  Usually, I can point to one or two specific things that the team and management have failed to do that will guarantee them the opportunity to watch the World Series being played in someone else’s ball park. But this year is different.

This year’s team is so bad, that it is impossible to isolate the one or two things that keeps the team out of contention.  They can’t pitch, can’t come from behind to win a game, can’t run, can’t hold a lead and can’t close a game out. In short, if you play against this team, you have a 70% chance of winning before you even take the field.  Seventy percent!!!

This team often reminds its fans of what good baseball can be by showing us how bad it can be played.  This team, this year, is horrible and I’m not sure that I actually want to wait for next year’s offering. 

The War

It is mid-summer in Southern California. The morning coastal fog doesn’t burn off until about 10 AM. Comic-Con starts this week and there are no tickets available (not that I would go, but I digress).  This entry is about the war that has been going on for more than five years. It is a war that has taken a personal and financial toll on me. They are terrorists and I personally know the harm they can do. I do not care that they, as some of liberal bent might argue, are right to call me and mine, the terrorist. All I know is that they are dangerous and no expense will be spared to make them history.

They …they are the gophers in my backyard.

A Letter to a Fire Lord – The Avatar Finale

Last night, a fine and well written animated program, Avatar: The Last Airbender, came to a close. The finale did not disappoint. It was full of action and an outstanding musical score by the team of Zuckerman & Wynn, which in of itself was sufficient reason to watch the program. It wasn’t afraid to give fanservice and there was certainly a lot of that. But what I found absolutely fascinating was the fact that fifteen minutes into the finale I realized I was watching a different story than I thought I was going to watch.

Oh No – Hancock

Yesterday I went to see the movie, “Hancock.” Now, if you’ve been around me for any length of time, you know I am a fairly conservative man not taken to publicly commenting on politics or fandom, because my views are not your business – only my actions are. So other than the occasional movie recommendation for “Happy Feet” or “Enchanted,” I really don’t get riled about movies or TV programs. But “Hancock” rubbed me the wrong way for the wrong reason. If you haven’t seen “Hancock” and plan to, you should move on past this intersection of the internet because I am an unhappy man about this movie. This vent will assume you’ve seen the movie and contains spoilers, so you have been warned if you continue to read.