Thursday, April 28, 2011

Hopefully I get back to Yankee Stadium again this year. Although the weather cooperated better than fore-casted and the group of family & friends with whom I attended was stellar and AJ Burnett pitched more like CC Sabathia than Javy Vazquez, the Yankee bats could do so little against Humber, who started for the Chisox, that I very nearly saw the home team get no-hit. 2-0 loss, but that's baseball.

I'm waiting for the first "Gone Fishin'" sign to get posted, hoping that it coincides with a Yankee home-stand, whilst secretly hoping that I don't leave a manifested hotel room; that's what archived games on my MLB package are for, right? Right...

It was snowing at last night's Twins game. Throw in the fact that the Rays took the home-team apart in the midst of it and it couldn't have been a great night for the hearty locals. The broadcasters did tell the viewers about the 108 new heaters installed at Target in the hope that someone would show up for the day-night split double-header today. I considered going to the day game until I woke up (late!) this morning and looked out the window. This is a much better day spent watching the TV broadcast from the safety of the stationary bike; don't tell Paul...

"... And, sometimes, the past comes back and kisses you on the lips."

The Subway Inn is far less skeevy that it probably was when it opened in the 1930's, but it was still the ideal locale. Man plans and God laughs, but this time I was "in" on the joke.

There's going to be a 45-party tonight, but not this tonight, but soon...

Going to see the lovely and delightful Mary Mack be all funny and stuff tonight.

Sometimes one needs to break that ol' "don't talk to strangers" adage especially when the stranger initiates...

Thurman was happy to see me home after a week gone, but he did let me know that he doesn't "need" me by continuing to sleep with Paul the night of my return. Point made cat, point made...

Off to the mine,
Brian

Monday, April 25, 2011

No Rain!

Pissing now and thunderstorms in the forecast which would make for a good day in NYC to eat pastrami and drink Brooklyn Brown 'cept for those "pesky" Yankee tickets for tonight's game. Get the message? You'd better... But no matter what happens or doesn't in the Bronx tonight, we most likely will not be hearing "Enter Sandman" what with Mo throwing 33 pitches last night in Baltimore to get 4 outs and cough up the lead. Ah, maybe AJ Burnett surprises us all and goes 9. But if you're a betting man? Dot, dot, dot.

It's taken a few weeks, but the standings in the AL East appear now as they should come the end of the season: Yankees, Rays, Bosox, Jays, O's. Speaking of the Orioles, Buck Showalter keeps liking to prove that he is one of the bigger asses to sit in the managerial seat. Yes, he puts together winners; that point is made, but you have to wonder why he never gets to stay in one place long enough to enjoy it. Then again, maybe you don't...

But my warm-up at the Subway Inn beforehand promises to be interesting. Yes, there's another dot, dot, dot there, too.

And I should get my ass in gear right now and figure out what I am bringing home with me and how I am getting it there. The records have become top priority, the Hippo stuff second and the clothing pulling up the rear.

Need to check pizza and pastrami off the list and then I can return to the 612 and get some sleep ... and stuff. Looking forward to home again, home again.

Friday, April 22, 2011

I am covered in dust and will be schlepping home far more pieces of precious & cherish vinyl from my parents basement where it's been for over a decade. I thought I would be bringing back three and only three (there was one item that I imagined I had two copies of and was more than a little pleasantly surprised to find that I was right-- that I DO have two copies (out of a scant 2000 issued) of the coolest piece of vinyl - not only in my collection, but in my mind and oh so humble opinion, the coolest piece of vinyl EVER. More on that as soon as I free myself from these here parentheticals).

For the record (get it?) I was only going to bring back my copy of the 1st Ramones' LP signed by each & every one of them. RIP Joey, Johnny & DeeDee. My copy of the Cramps' "Songs the Lord Taught Us" signed by the late, great Lux Interior as well as Poison Ivy and Nick Knox. The very special treat on that one is the fact that Kid Powers crossed out Bryan Gregory's face and signed: Kid lives here now beside it on the back.

And then there is Pink Slip Daddy's "LSD" EP. What makes this the coolest piece of vinyl ever? Figure in the fact that it is a 10" gateway fold-out and the band re-do the Stones' Beggars Banquet photo inside, but the real amazingly delightful thing is the vinyl itself. Pink vinyl, sure, but get this: one side has 1 track at 45RPM that plays from the label to the outer edge of the vinyl; the other side has 2 tracks cut at 33RPM but the 2 songs are cut concentrically. What? Here's the deal: you put the needle down (kids ask your grandpaboy what that means) at the normal spot and it plays one song all the way to the label. Then you put the needle down again at the start point and IT PLAYS THE OTHER SONG! If anyone has anything cooler than that, I will give you a copy (maybe; I'll probably welch but I seriously doubt anyone or any record could top that!) as I do have TWO!!

In a future blog after I get them home, I will talk about some of the cool, 7" 45's that I found down there. As to not get too crazy, I refrained from even opening the large Army duffel bag containing cassette tapes (again: kids ask your grandpaboy what that means).

LONG LIVE VINYL RECORDS!

Missive from the basement. I cannot wait to get these home and on the turntables!

Cheers, Brian

Monday, April 18, 2011

Well, had you come to this blog over the weekend hoping to read something new & sparkly (okay, I wasn't expecting *that*) perhaps you were as surprised as I to find the blog deleted. It wasn't me that deleted it, but it was gone, daddy-o. I actually refrained from freaking out: unless not posting as oft as you say you will is in violation of the terms of service, I hadn't done anything technically wrong. So it was some relief when it just magically re-appeared.

But on this Monday morning -- tax deadline in case you need this last minute reminder - I had committed to sitting back down in the (new to me) chair at the (new to me) desk. Thurman has found the space between the back of the laptop and the (new to me) windows, so that all feels about right. So, for better or worse, as I get back to the edit on the Live Fast! novel there will be more of these posts.

And since baseball season is now well and fully underway (except in Boston) I will even have something to write about. And I know it's only April and there really are no "must win" games (except in Boston) it felt pretty big to take the rubber game vs. Texas last night. Not only was it a national broadcast, but there was that "need" to show the best team in the AL (only so far) and last year's champs, that the Yankees can beat them: two weeks into the season, in 1st place by a few games feels all right.

Good Pesach to any member of the Tribe who happens across this blog. I attended what felt like my first seder in years and I have another one upcoming.

Okay, at this point I think I am just procrastinating getting back to the book. February seems so far away now, but I am sure I can get back into the head space for it -- when I open up the file.

That's it...

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Dodger fans (and Angelenos, to a lesser extent) should be ashamed of themselves. Consider Yankee fans the best in the business - or the worst - and nothing holds a candle to what occurred at Chavez Ravine on opening day.

After a game that the Dodgers actually won, a Giants fan was beaten so badly in the parking lot that he remains in a coma, suffering serious brain damage. The team and the city can distance themselves from it - say it was "thugs" and not "fans" - but in LA there is now obviously no difference. To me it is very sadly rather indicative to the dog eat dog, anyone but yourself is fair game kind of mentality that has befallen that city.

Listen: Yankee fans are no angels. Even Red Sox fans who I hold in utter disdain, wouldn't take it to a level like that. Did we spit on Cliff Lee's wife during the ALCS last year? If she said so then it probably happened. I am sure some pretty awful things were said to her long before someone expectorated at her (that means "spit" to you Philly fans; the ONLY town that I refrained from wearing my teams colors at an away game: Giants at Eagles some years ago, all by myself. I am devout, but not insane. I also wouldn't put it past Phillies fans spitting on her themselves if he loses a World Series game) and that is gross. But a hankie took care of it; not an emergency room.

It seems like the US Government went to an awful lot of time and EXPENSE to land one charge against Barry Bonds. It will probably be more of the same with the upcoming Clemens' trial. Really? Don't we have anything else to spend all of that on? (Looks around). Nope. All is perfect here; carry on the witch-hunt.

I will not gloat that the Red Sox are 2-9 when those 2 wins came at the Yankees' expense, but you know I would like to.

You almost feel bad for the Mets. Almost.

Buck Showalter does make the O's interesting even if he can't make them a playoff team despite their goods early showing.

********

Pretty psyched to finally go to Minneapolis' famed First Avenue next month to see Tommy Stinson. And if Westerberg winds up showing, playing raise that level of psych a couple of dozen notches.

Celebrated my 1st birthday in Minneapolis hanging with friends at the Twins/Royals game yesterday afternoon. Recovering from some oral surgery, it was beer and chili for me- no peanuts, popcorn or CrackerJacks alas. Home team got spanked, 10-5 by KC.

Up for a re-write on a thriller-script. The gig would come in handy right now. The money would be good obviously, but I am looking to get back in gear writing and nothing -- nothing -- does that better than a legitimate deadline.

Speaking of deadlines, I'll treat this blog as if I have one more often. Expect more posts and I will try to pepper them with stuff other than baseball.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Four days in the 2011 baseball season and not a peep out of me on here? Blame the wisdom teeth-- I am, but they are ALL coming out on Friday morning. That means a weekend of percocet hazed MLB viewing, but I doubt I'll be taking notes.

But three up and one down for the Yankees is a very nice start. Not quite calling to break up the undefeated O's, but relishing the winless Bosox and the poor start for the Rays, too.

The Yank bats especially A-Rod, Tex and Jorge, have done the job to cover up some decent to mediocre starting pitching. But the bullpen has been lights out; one could really get used to 6 inning, pen-shortened ball games all season long.

I really intend to have this be my last week of more slacking than working. Hoping for a fairly quick recovery, but I have never been put under, never had any kind of surgery in my life, so the jury is still out on that. I do know I will make damn sure that I am up for the Twins day game and whatever other shenanagans my birthday has in store for me next week.

Yeah- next week. This blog will have to take on a little more life; I'll be getting back to the Live Fast! book so I'll post some of that in addition to the baseball stuff you probably have little interest in reading.

Thanks
Brian