I just had a really cool, inter-active art experience at The Red Hot Art Fair in Stevens Square unlike one I've never had the pleasure. The whole event was a great way to spend the early part of a Saturday: some good noisy experimental jazz, some very good jerk chicken and plaintain and I was also finally called for a new ring so loudly that I came back with two: one was made from the shell casing from an old Howitzer shell, the other from a metal ruler (blue and "13 inches").

But what really made it for me and for my friend Mary was Round 13 of the Box Art War between Billy & Matt. Hopefully I have successfully figured out how to add the two photographs I took and won't have to explain it all. But here's the rub- there were 2 artists housed in five by five foot wood boxes with holes for eyes. Mind you- it was a very hot and humid day and the boxes were directly in the sun. It wasn't terribly comfortable on a blanket in the shade, it must be awful in the boxes, but they carried on.

Here's the deal: Billy and Matt are in the boxes painting pictures. Every 15 minutes the boxes would get up and move a short distance in the grass (usually around 10 feet) and when they moved from their spot, they would leave the just-completed, still-wet painting. The first person to grab it is the winner - although they are asked to put "ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY" through the eye holes; the winner of Round 13 is whomever collects the most money; the money all going to charity.

I am glad that not only we put the blanket close enough to the sign that I was motivated to read it, share it with Mary and play by their rules. We each got a painting from Box #1 and from Box #3 (our personal tastes were more toward #3, but #1 is no slouch by any means) as well as informing some of the other people in the park of the "rules." I had beaten a girl to the 1st painting (by #3), but Mary gave up the one from #1 and I delivered it to the girl. By the way, this painting also contained a lock of hair, seemingly from the artist. It must have been hot as blazes in there and an impromptu haircut probably seemed like a good idea at the time-- at least it wasn't an ear!

At some point, along with his painting #3 left some compost and a note. I'd scan the note and include it here too, but it's freaking hot upstairs and that's where my scanner is so I will just include the copy from the hand-written note. I may also attach the paintings to a future blog, but as for now: a. it's hot upstairs and b. they may still be a little wet and I don't really need any paint on my scanner glass but trust me-- they're good work.

The note read: "Please find a spot for this banana peel. It's starting to smell. Also I would love some water. Love, Box #3." Of course we disposed of the peel properly and I delivered the requested refreshment.

So, should you see these boxes and rules in passing, stop and watch and get a painting and give to charity at the same time. I think this was a really fantastically original (albeit also some great suffering for the boxed artists even if #1 didn't cut off his ear) method to deliver art.

Cheers,

Brian

Well, since the Yankees haven't made a move as the trade deadline looms and since I don't really want to talk about yesterday's ugly loss to the Mariners (they were due for a W; Seattle had lost 18 straight) I'll talk about That Thing in The Desert: Burning Man.

And while I am really not at liberty to discuss certain facts and details surrounding this week's developments, but in the 10 years that I've been going, this is the first time it sold out. There are maximum capacities numbers of participants as dictated by the terms of the agreement with the BLM (Burning Man occurs in property owned and operated by the US government's Bureau of Land Management and this year - as people were warned - the event sold out a month before it begins.

The only real bad part of certain people being shut out is that there could be a difficult to manage cluster-fart at the gate should people without tickets show up in mass despite being told that tickets will not be available and that they should not do so. Hippies don't think this means them! But getting in a few days before the event opens officially at least I won't have to see it.

And again, I am "doing my own thing" after camping with the same large group for many years; I broke off a few years back, nearly got pulled back into a smaller camp, but such is not the case. I may have a few friends in my proximity but all people who will not cause any camp drama-- especially hard when there is NO camp! That's the best way to avoid camp drama in my less than humble opinion.

And for possibly the first time ever, I will be hitting the playa with the same person I hit it with last year. See? Some things do change for the better... And although it seems to be "poor planning" I have come to believe that I have this thing down. No expectations other than it will be hot (but after this heat and humidity seemingly not as big a bother) and it will be dusty and that parts of it will suck and that so much of it will be beautiful. I do go out there to suffer some (and I do- trust me) but this year I have taken some preliminary steps to correct some of my issues from last year (broken down gear, too much time all by myself, etc.) but I am sure new challenges will present themselves. That, I do sort of expect since it is Burning Man after all and it's SUPPOSED to.

Cheers,
Brian

I was asked this morning if I were worried about the Yankees yet. And "worry" as a real Yankee fan is a different animal. Am I worried that the team won't make the playoffs like 2008? No, I have very little doubt that when post-season play begins that New York will be represented and not by the Mets. But having grown up in the Steinbrenner-era (and I am sure it was like it back in the day when "rooting for the Yankees was like rooting for US Steel") we really don't settle for anything less than winning it all, putting up another championship flag, hoisting another trophy and celebrating down the Canyon of Heroes.

In that, we are very alone as fans and it's not as easy as some of you may think.

Yes, the Yanks would make the playoffs should they start today, but they would be hard-pressed to take the whole thing. But, it is still July and my calendar isn't marked for the post-season until October. So what has to happen between now and then?

* A-Rod needs to come back off the DL next month looking like a man who has 600 home-runs and not like the world's most overpaid singles and double hitter.
* Jeter needs to put away the distractions and the naysayers and continue to hit (a .333 clip give or take) like he has since coming off the DL.
* Phil Hughes needs to figure it out and soon. Nova is waiting in the AAA wings (where he really doesn't belong and everyone is aware of that) but he is not post-season-seasoned and is not the answer.
* The bullpen cannot get so worn down that they don't have anything left for the playoffs.

Obviously, injuries as well as how guys (Chavez is really needed now; the jury still out on Soriano) come back and fit in. I have a lot of confidence in Bartolo Colon and will continue to do so until what time he proves I shouldn't ie breaks down from too many innings pitched. There are some major league arms down in Scranton and other miracles and trades are not to be discounted.

Swisher has finally started to heat up along with Gardner and both of them are proven spark-plugs for this team, but Texeira has become something of an all or nothing slugger, Granderson, who is having a great year, still strikes out way too much and Posada still isn't comfortable in his DH role. Yet, the Yankee lineup is one of, if not the most formidable in baseball, but the old adage of good pitching beating good hitting often bears out.

That's my just past mid-season update. Optimistic for sure, but not confident that this team has all the pieces firing on the cylinders that they need to for that 28th World Championship. And yes, I am aware that I didn't mention AJ Burnett (until just now) or Freddy Garcia (ibid); CC, on the other hand, is as rock-solid and trusted a #1 starter as they come...

Game on,
Brian

So, the Yankees split a 4-game series with the Rays who are really so much better than they should be. They lost most of their offensive oomph as well as their entire bullpen and although they are not breathing down either the Yanks' or the Sox' necks, manager Joe Maddon has them playing above their heads. But playing them in that stupid dome - which Granderson in centerfield had so much trouble with that he pretty much handed one of the games to the home team - it's hard to tell if the Yanks pitching was as great as it looked, or if the Yanks bats were as bad as they seemed: the Rays can really pitch, but they can't hit a lick...

Speaking of the Rays pitching here's an interesting tidbit gleaned from the YES broadcast (a broadcast free of the ever-babbling Michael Kay to the delight of my ears and my brain): the Rays have now played 700 straight games started by a pitcher under 30 years of age. Night and day from the Yankee staff.

It's 10 days until the July 31st trading deadline and there's not much out there. Clearly the Mets are going to move Beltran; they have to, but I am hoping he doesn't go to either the Bosox or the Phils; the Giants could really, really use that big bat in the outfield and probably have the pitching prospects (I mean, really, Brian Sabean has to be taken seriously as a great developer of young arms; see: Lincecum, Cain, Baumgartner, et al) to potentially overwhelm Sandy Alderson and the Mets.

I am, of course, biased here. I don't think the Yankees will pursue the good-hitting outfielder unless it's to keep him away from the Sox who really don't *need* any more bats. C'mon give JD Drew another chance...

Watch this spot for upcoming information on the writers/poets salon I am starting soon. It's to be called "Batting for Punto: A Salon" and mark September 22 in your calendar as I do believe that will be the maiden voyage. Keep me to that if you have a mind to.

Thanks
Brian

I am still a legal resident of the state of California. I still pay taxes to CA; I maintain both a business and a residential address there, too (although I do also have my so-called business incorporated in the NV for some other tax issues) even if I have been spending time away from that residence and the state. The word for today is "stress" and I am stressing both that first "s" as well as the elongated "s" sound at the end of the word; it's a pretty *great* onomatopoeia when you say and hear it like that...

The Yankees gave the game back that they took from the Rays the previous night. Colon, perhaps pitching for his pinstriped future threw a heck of a game. He seemed to loosen up as the game went on, his fastball (his primary pitch) gaining in MPH as the contest progressed; he was getting strikeouts and looked like he could move around and off the mound better than he had in the last few starts following his hamstring strain. But, the Yankee defense -- which had let him down early in his last start -- gave his well-pitched game away.

One of the biggest blows which technically wasn't an error - Granderson lost an easy fly ball in center to the stupid white domed roof of the Trop' - but it set up Boone Logan's error on a bouncer to the mound that should have at least cut the tying run off at the plate and, at best, been turned into a 1-2-3 double-play that would have gotten the team out of the 7th and perhaps preserved a win with how effective the tandem of Roberston and Mo have been coming out of the bullpen in the 8th and 9th innings respectively. Could have picked up a game on the Sox too as they finally lost to the O's.

But you do usually need to score more than 2 runs to win a game in the AL East so the bats (although they did hit their first longball - an impressive opposite-field blast off Cano's bat - in 4 games) are to blame as well. And tonight they face David Price, so no walk in the woods by any stretch of the imagination.

Twins are playing this afternoon in what will be more like Bikram Yoga than America's Past-time...

Okay, back to my regular scheduled stress... Hope I have good news to report next time...

Cheers,
Brian

Well, all my fears about being hacked to pieces by either my ride from a stranger or the Chicago hostess who I did not know never materialized; I am back and still one with the living. And for finding a ride off of Craigslist I actually couldn't have done much better. Amy was a little bit of a slow driver, but she got us to Chicago (2 hours late which was a non-issue for me) and back to the 612 in time for last call at Grumpy's NE -- and that was even with the beer & cheese pit-stop in Wisconsin which I think is required to be able to re-enter Minnesota.

I got a little bit of the scenic/tourist Chicago when a friend of the Ranger with whom I was staying drove me down Lakeshore Drive (they call it "LSD") at night and then back through the city on the way back toward Evanston. I always knew Chicago was a major city, but was pleasantly surprised to see how legitimate it really is; outside of New York, Chicago really is the only other major city in this country.

The plan for Saturday afternoon was my 1st visit to Wrigley Field and I can't say the place disappointed. An amazingly charming small field right smack in the middle of a bustling neighborhood, you don't come close to getting it until you get to experience it. The over-loaded stands atop all the buildings across the street really are a sight to behold. Chicagoans really love their Cubbies even if there is no actual reason to do so other than they're all they got. On the Southside, the White Sox (despite being a far better ballclub) are an after-thought and something to be mocked.

Sitting in the last row of the upper deck still afforded me a great view of the field. The Wrigley staff and fans are actually more than just mid-west nice. My only real complaint about Wrigley is the beer selection: I searched the entire lower deck for a "real" beer and didn't see a single one on offer. I ate my 1st Chicago "dawg" with everything as I looked, but finally had to settle for a PBR near my upper deck seat. The choices from the beer-men were Bud/Bud light and Old Style; I clearly went with the latter but wasn't really "happy" about it; a second, longer search did net me a Guinnesss.

On the field the Cubbies did their thing. What should have been a pitching match-up that strongly favored the home town team (their best starter Carlos Zambrano vs. quite possibly the worst starter in MLB- Javier Vazquez) didn't quite go the Cubs way. Zambrano gave up 3 in the 1st en route to a 13-3 drubbing, but the fans mostly stayed... mostly.

I got myself pretty freakin' lost downtown after a little pub crawl around Wrigleyville following the last out which with the heat & humidity took its toll on me; I wound up not having any famous deep-dish so I guess I'll have to go back some time...

As for the real purpose of the trip - my Black Rock City Ranger (re)training - was yesterday afternoon. As a 3rd year returning Ranger all that was necessary of me was to show up for the shorter, 2nd half of the training, but since I was there I made myself available to support the trainer. Odd to me, I wound up being one of the most senior Rangers there and assisted the trainer all day long. I sure hope this news doesn't make it back to the powers-that-be who know me; could lead to expectations and/or "promotion" and I'm not really ready or willing to give up the nice and mellow anonymity of being "nothing" more than a dirt Ranger, which is where I feel I still belong.

Long trip home but pleasant company and a pit-stop for good, unavailable in MN beer from WI, as well as some bacon/cheddar cheese and making last call at Grumpy's NE on arrival back in the Twin Cities made for a pretty complete weekend even if it wasn't the one I was "expecting" which is really good practice for That Thing in The Desert.

Okay, time to beat the heat & humidity with a trek down to the ManKave for the Twins game on the telly.

Cheers, Brian

Mid-Western Weekend Travel Parts I & II

Last Sunday I was zipped off to Wisconsin with a new friend aptly named Sunshine- she's full of the stuff - for a wedding her band her band was playing. I'm nearly always up for a roadtrip on a sun-streaked Sunday morning and considering that one can purchase beer in Wisconsin that's a win-win. As soon as you hit the border there are signs reading "Wisconsin: Open for Business." Take that Minnesota!

Glaurus brewing makes fantastic beers that do taste even better on Sundays. My previous WI-beer run netted me their Double IPA; this time we had some of the Spotted Cow and another ale whose name escapes me.

Somehow wound up on a CSA farm (yeah, I didn't know what that was either) surrounded by kale and broccoli, I spent most of the day sitting on hay bales or the grass as Sunshine's band played, drinking Summit EPA from the keg and feeling the very odd sensation of being at a wedding that I didn't know anyone at. I know if you work weddings that's a given and a norm, but I felt like something of a crasher, I was almost expecting to have to tell someone that, "I'm with the band."

I know I am getting this weird, local "legend" rapper-DJ-singer's name wrong but it's something like Harmar Superstar and I guess I have to say, "only in the Mid-West" (but I sincerely mean that kindly) but picture a sweatier, shorter version of Ron Jeremy singing Madonna songs and you've just started to scratch the surface.

As the affair was winding down the light show was only getting started. The farm was rocked by thunder and crashed by a very serious lightening storm. We got drenched to the skin during the short run to the car. It made no sense to drive off into the storm just yet, so we did not...

Now that I have ticked off WI, Illinois is up next; more specifically Chicago. I have changed planes at O'hare a few times and I once had a ticket to visit a friend in the Windy City, but as the fortunes have it, this will be my first trip to Chicago. I'm travelling in much different fashion than I normally do, but I'm doing it on the cheap and the quick. I think this will be my first Craigslist ride-share and if I were smart I'd put the girl's name & number here in case this is the last anyone ever hears from me; that info would give the FBI someplace to start but I'll take my chances.

I'm going down for Black Rock Ranger training and I'm being housed by the local Ranger who is having the session at her house so that should be easy... famous last words. I especially got my interest piqued to go to Wrigley Field when watching those games against the Yankees a month or so ago and I'm actually very excited to go the fabled park this Saturday afternoon for a Cubs game.

Looking forward to a Chicago hotdog and deep-dish pizza. You can look forward to a report on Monday. Have a good weekend,

Brian

Derek Jeter shut up all the doubters and nay-sayers on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the new big ballpark in the Bronx. Needing 2 hits with 2 games to play before the All-Star break we are currently suffering through (actually, I may go see live, local theatre tonight as there is no real baseball game on) the Captain did it with more style and boom than anyone other than he could have expected. There has often been a "I'll show you" to his game that he does on the field and the day he got his vaunted 3,000th hit was no exception.

Jeet singled in the first after a lengthy at-bat and then two innings later following another battle with top-notch starter David Price (who gave up his 1st HR in his career to Jeter) Derek took him over the wall and into the hands of a fan in the left-field bleachers for a loud punctuation to the historic event. That the long-ball (his 1st in almost a full year at Yankee Stadium) tied the game was probably of a lot of consequence to the "team-first" player that he is.

And then the day just got silly because if I had written this into a screenplay no one would have believed it; Derek Jeter then got 3 more hits -- just winding up a triple short of hitting for the cycle -- including a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 8th. Had Jeter gotten his hit during a game that the Yankees lost, I doubt he would have celebrated it like he - and Yankee fans everywhere - got to after the great 5-4 win. And my thoughts of an AJ Burnett shaving cream pie in the face were not that far off; had Jeter's 5th hit come an inning later, that is exactly what we would have seen. Maybe for #4,000.

Minka Kelly, looking amazing in a black tanktop, jeans and her hair pulled back, cried when Jeter achieved history.

Dick Groch, the scout who signed the Yankee legend also got some great screen time. Groch, who had started scouting Derek when he was a HS sophomore in Michigan had really pushed for the Yanks to sign the skinny kid. When there was some thought that Jeter wouldn't sign, that he was going to attend Michigan State University, Groch told the Yankee brass that this kid who only wanted to be the Yankee short-stop from the time he was in the 4th grade "wasn't going anyplace but Cooperstown." It's rare that a scout is so dead-right about a player, but there it is.

Of course, the Yankee beat writers, one day after applauding and lauding were back to their old questions about the age and vitality about the Yankee Captain. Even Jeter joked that his respite lasted but one day. What can you do?

What made the day even a little more special and memorable is what happened to the ball Jeter hit into the stands for 3000. I immediately had my own Facebook status update indicate that had I caught that ball, I would give it to the Captain. In a great fairy-tale subplot, that's exactly all the 23 year old kid wanted to do with the ball: give it to Jeter, saying "he earned it," and that he "wasn't the person to keep it from Jeter." Some estimates had the auction price of that $10 baseball at anywhere between $250-$400K which is indeed quite a chunk of change even if the seat had cost the kid's girlfriend $65 on StubHub.

Giving up the ball and asking for nothing in return netted the catcher a pretty nice assortment of appreciative gifts from the Yankee brass. He was given 4 great seats for yesterday's game, 4 suite-level seats for every home game into the playoffs as well as what was called a collection of signed memorabilia. Even more special, I would have to imagine, was getting to meet Derek Jeter on his impressive and history-making day to hand over the ball marked "J1."

Enjoy the All-Star break; see you in a few days.

Brian

Man plans and God laughs came to Yankee Stadium last night. Needing but 2 hits over the 3 games seemed none too taxing a job for Derek Jeter, but then the rain's came and with it 1 of those games remaining before the All-Star break and an extended road trip following that. The Yankees claim they did everything possible to get the game played during this series with the Rays (well, outside of scheduling a real double-header because, well, that would have cost them quite a bit of money and baseball is a business, y'know) but the visitors were not having it. And since this is supposed to be all for the fans, even if the Yanks had been willing to forego the receipts from a sold-out game so that they could "play two," fans holding tickets for last night's washed out contest would still be out of luck...

So today - soon as a matter of fact - The Captain gets to face David Price and it would be so good for all involved to just get it over and done with today. I still am itching to see what would happen should Jeter's 3000th hit be of the walk-off variety. I would like to think that AJ Burnett would hit him in the face with a shaving cream pie -- it would make a great ending for the doc' that is being shot about his quest -- but I don't think Jeet's had a walk-off since that new tradition started...

A-Rod may need surgery on a tear in his knee, Jeter nursing the calf (really) and Mo wanting some extra rest for his bicep soreness have all dropped out of the Mid-Season Classic which is fine by me. Cano will compete in the Homerun Derby after being asked not to last year.

Spent some time at Hidden Beach yesterday afternoon with a new friend and a large gaggle of hippies and hipsters; it's almost hard to tell the difference here: they seem to co-mingle quite a bit. I am not saying that is a bad thing... Tattoos, dreadlocks and bikinis all make fine bedfellows.

Had a conflict schedule-wise, but I will be visiting the Windy City next weekend for the first time ever. I once had a ticket to visit a friend there, but had to cancel at the last minute. The Ranger training on Sunday is the reason I am going and will also permit me to "write off" the whole trip. That's my excuse and I am sticking with it... I'm hoping that a few friends from here make the road trip with me.

Okay, it's time to get the hotdogs grilling: first pitch is in about 10 minutes. Here's hoping Derek Jeter becomes the 28th baseball player - and the first Yankee - to reach the magical plateau of 3000 hits TODAY!

Brian

Maybe the NY beat writers are trying to motivate Derek Jeter as he returns from the DL. He has always had something of a "I'll prove you wrong" angle to his performance in later years and he does that with his bat and his glove. But everyday in the papers, it's all about how done he is, how Nunez, the shortstop of the future should have his future now, but the very important fact remains: there are very few guys in the history of the game who have had Jeter's amazing ability to rise to the situation. Sure, there are players who appear on highlight shows day in and day out making amazing catches, but Jeter has done it now for 15+ seasons under the brightest of microscopes and on the biggest stages- the post-season. Sure there are a million Torii Hunter circus catches that you could watch, but when Jeter makes those sort of plays there is more often than not, bunting hanging in the Stadium. The "flip?" Playoff game. The "bloody dive in the seats?" Playoff game. I am not saying he's not slowed, I am not saying he's not stubborn in his refusal or inability to change some of what he does in the field. Yes, he clearly believes his skills are still there and I don't think the opinion of sportswriters or Michael Kay will ever sway that; I doubt the Captain reads any of the papers.

With Hughes about to come off the DL and pitch this week, there were some great stories that were much better reading in the NY papers. There is an unwritten, but strictly enforced policy, that players re-habbing from injuries in the minor leagues, buy the spread after the game for their temporary teammates, who are sometimes accustomed to cold cuts (if they're lucky). Apparently Outback Steakhouse is the #1 choice. If I were the kind of blogger who links to other people's stories this would be a great opportunity to do so, but since I don't actually blog, you are on your own...

4th of July BBQ highlight (that you won't see on ESPN): I had been playing and rough-housing and chasing and giving airplane spins to a friend's near-feral (I do mean this as a compliment for the record) young son. At some point in the afternoon I asked him how old he was. He told me "two and a half." When I asked him how old he thought I was, he looked at me and said, "two and a half."

Wish me luck. I am going to attend my 1st mid-western hippie-fest next weekend. And while I have been attending Burning Man for a decade, I've been making fun of rainbowunicornpatchoulli-gatherings for far longer than that. But for you, my trusted readers, I will venture forth and report back. If I am not back by August 1st though, please call Cartman and have him come save me from hippie-doom.

Thanks. I'll hold you to that...

Brian

Happy Independence Day! Don't you feel independent? Especially as you get in your car filled with gas that came from someplace else to explode extra pollutants into our air that came from someplace else too... Okay, sorry to start this off on the wrong foot, but I guess I am not such a big fan of celebrating by accentuating the bombs bursting as opposed to enjoying freedom. But as a friend in Los Angeles works on a short film to bring to light some of the issues faced by soldiers (and other people) who suffer in the lack of silence from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and I have vivid memories of an awful loud and frightening fireworks night with someone I loved I guess I am not seeing much of the upside of the whole tradition.

Here's a link to Kyle' movie about PTSD; read up on it, donate to his cause if you would like to and can:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_214295401944279

Today is also George M. Steinbrenner's birthday. If you come to this blog still expecting me to tell you everything you missed from the previous Yankee game(s) and/or what else struck my fancy around MLB and find yourself disappointed because I am going on about my books or the turkeys wandering the 'hood (I actually think that one of our wild turkeys is missing) may I take this opportunity to suggest following my tweets as the ghost of the famed Yankee principal owner @GeorgesGhost

But today is a great day to barbeque so I do have a bunch of chicken wings marinating in what passes for jerk here in the upper Mid-West and I'll also do some grilled romaine lettuce, too because we are also that very health conscious (editor's note: tongue somewhat in cheek). I am glad that the ongoing pain issues in my mouth from the oral surgeries is finally subsiding enough to permit me to eat something that requires teeth, chewing, etc....

I just found someone on Craigslist locally who wants to get into creating book cover art and copy and I just may hit them up and get this stranger on the Rose cover. Remember that book? It's the one that I said would be in your grubby little hands by now, but clearly is not. But as the summer heats up and the house comes back into array (after months of disarray) I am finally looking forward to putting ass in chair, activating some Sitz Fleisch and getting some words down that are more than this disposable sort of writing.

(Today's blog apparently being brought to you by italics...)

Go out and be safe and eat something good and remember why we shoot bombs into the air and what that actually means.

Climbing off his soapbox and firing up the grill (and wondering if one can buy beer today),

Brian

Derek Jeter is nearly set to come off the DL and resume his quest for 3000 hits. And although the question never really is "will he do it or not?" there has been this aspect of "will he do it at home?" And although all involved in Yankee-land would like to see that for the obvious reasons, it did raise an interesting scenario in my mind: Derek Jeter gets that epic 3000th base-hit at Yankee Stadium and he does it in his own dramatic fashion: the hit is of the walk-off variety.

So picture this: the Captain drives in that winning run with one of his patented inside-out liners into short right field. His teammates mob him, the fans give him a standing "O," the bleacher creatures chant his name over and over; even the rival team stands at the edge of their dugout and applaud. And then after the fervor dies down a little and Jeter is being interviewed on the field about his very notable achievement, does AJ Burnett have the cajones to get and make one of his patented shaving and/or whipped cream pies and deliver it to the face of Jeet in front of 45,000 fans as well as a TV viewership of millions and millions? He's got to, right? That is what I want to see...

Have I mentioned that I don't care much for the city of Los Angeles? Perhaps I have; seems like I often need reminders, even still. Got one by being there earlier this week and then another in watching a fairly lovely little movie Netflix brought me entitled, "HappyThankYouMorePlease." A character in this little wise movie nails LA (and its "connection" to New York) in a rather amusing and accurate way. It's a little of a recommend. And while I am at it, should you add both "Bunny and the Bear" and "Dante's Inferno" to your instant queue, you will be happy you have done so.

I received an interesting proposal that could impact my Winter's worth of hibernation and production yesterday afternoon and I am still chewing on it. I very well may be the only person here who has - despite the recent heat & humid wave - been looking forward to the onslaught of the Winter season, but there I am. Give me a cow in the freezer, beer brewing in the basement, someone cuddly (working on that angle too) beside me and something to keep me busy thinking on and writing out and Winter smells good to me. So there; don't tell anyone...

Cheers,

Brian