An Outlander in the Scenic City

2 new favorite poems

2010-09-09T10:48:00.003-05:00

I know I haven't posted in ages - and I promise a report on my New England trip (the beach! Walk off Sox wins!). But I wanted to put two poems up here that I've recently found. I'm mainly putting them here for me - so that I don't have papers cluttering my desk.

Beachcomber by Robert Service

When I have come with happy heart to sixty years and ten,
I'll buy a boat and sail away upon a summer sea;
And in a little lonely isle that's far and far from men,
In peace and praise I'll spend the days the Gods allow to me.
For I am weary of a strife so pitiless and vain;
And in a far and fairy isle, bewilderingly bright,
I'll learn to know the leap and glow of rapture once again,
And welcome every living dawn with wonder and delight.

And there I'll build a swan-white house above the singing foam,
With brooding eaves, where joyously rich roses climb and cling;
With crotons in a double row, like wine and honeycomb,
And flame trees dripping golden rain, and palms pavilioning.
And there I'll let the wind and wave do what they will with me;
And I will dwell unto the end with loveliness and joy;
And drink from out the crystal spring, and eat from off the tree,
As simple as a savage is, as careless as a boy.

For I have come to think that Life's a lamentable tale,
And all we break our hearts to win is little worth our while;
For fame and fortune in the end are comfortless and stale,
And it is best to dream and rest upon a radiant isle.
So I'll blot out the bitter years of sufferance and scorn,
And I'll forget the fear and fret, the poverty and pain;
And in a shy and secret isle I'll be a man newborn,
And fashion life to heart's desire, and seek my soul again.

For when I come with happy heart to sixty years and ten,
I fondly hope the best of life will yet remain to me;
And so I'll burn my foolish books and break my futile pen,
And seek a tranced and tranquil isle, that dreams eternally.
I'll turn my back on all the world, I'll bid my friends adieu;
Unto the blink I'll leave behind what gold I have to give;
And in a jewelled solitude I'll mould my life anew,
And nestling close to Nature's heart, I'll learn at last . . . to live.

(Taken from a website called Plagiarst.com (!)
------
This poem was included in the program for the funeral of a friend's mother - I just think it's lovely!

The Lanyard - Billy Collins

The other day I was ricocheting slowly
off the blue walls of this room,
moving as if underwater from typewriter to piano,
from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,
when I found myself in the L section of the dictionary
where my eyes fell upon the word lanyard.

No cookie nibbled by a French novelist
could send one into the past more suddenly—
a past where I sat at a workbench at a camp
by a deep Adirondack lake
learning how to braid long thin plastic strips
into a lanyard, a gift for my mother.

I had never seen anyone use a lanyard
or wear one, if that’s what you did with them,
but that did not keep me from crossing
strand over strand again and again
until I had made a boxy
red and white lanyard for my mother.

She gave me life and milk from her breasts,
and I gave her a lanyard.
She nursed me in many a sick room,
lifted spoons of medicine to my lips,
laid cold face-cloths on my forehead,
and then led me out into the airy light

and taught me to walk and swim,
and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.
Here are thousands of meals, she said,
and here is clothing and a good education.
And here is your lanyard, I replied,
which I made with a little help from a counselor.

Here is a breathing body and a beating heart,
strong legs, bones and teeth,
and two clear eyes to read the world, she whispered,
and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at camp.
And here, I wish to say to her now,
is a smaller gift—not the worn truth

that you can never repay your mother,
but the rueful admission that when she took
the two-tone lanyard from my hand,
I was as sure as a boy could be
that this useless, worthless thing I wove
out of boredom would be enough to make us even.

Included in the FORTHCOMING book (OCT 2005), The Trouble with Poetry. (from Billy Collins' website )

An Outlander at AT&T Park, San Francisco

2010-07-16T19:05:00.003-05:00

After our three games in Denver, we hopped a plane headed west - to San Francisco to see the Red Sox play three games versus the San Francisco Giants. Our flight was delayed getting into SFO due to fog - so we barely had time to drop our bags at our friend Kate's apartment, and head to the Park. The gates were just opening, so we watched batting practice (Ortiz had his son with him, which was adorable). Then we grabbed some dinner at the California Grill - and I got my garlic fries. I swear the aroma of garlic permeates the Park, which isn't a bad thing. I was really impressed with the array of concessions at the Park - standard fare like hot dogs,sure, but also a Chinese food stand, Ghirardelli hot fudge sundaes, a California wine cart, real Irish coffees - there was even a farmer's market on the Club level!

Our seats were in the section right behind the Sox bullpen, which was fun. When someone was warming in the pen, as he tossed, the fans would make this "wooo" sound, on a rising note. Then when the ball was tossed back, the "woo" was on a descending note. As for the game, we lost - and we also lost Pedroia for 4-6 weeks. He fouled a ball off his foot and broke it. Imagine going from 3 home runs one night to the disabled list the next.

A sharp contrast in temperatures during that 24 hour period. Game time temperature in Denver on Thursday had been 92 degrees. Friday night in SF it was 59! Yikes! Now I know why there was a long line at the Irish Coffee cart.

Game 2 was broadcast on Fox, so that meant a 4pm start - not much time to do any sightseeing. So we took a cable car ride and wandered along the Embarcadaro to the Park. We had planned to find a place to watch the US in the World Cup soccer tournament, but we couldn't get in anyplace - everything was "at capacity." So we sat at a sidewalk restaurant, ate pizza and enjoyed the California sunshine.

Game 2 was special: they were retiring the number of Monte Irvin, a Negro League player who also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. All the Giants stars were there to honor him: Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda - very, very cool. It was a beautiful sunny day, which made the whole ceremony that much more spectacular.

We sat at the Club Level, again on the second tier. It was a nice spot, with access to all the Club Level extras (less crowded ladies' room, better concessions). We won 4-2, although we lost another player to injury: Buchholz left with a pulled hamstring.

We met our buddy Lydia for dinner at Joe DiMaggio's restaurant - a really nice spot in North Beach. We had a great meal - and a lot of laughs. And the trip back to the hotel was highlighted by a gorgeous full moon over the Transamerica Pyramid.

Day 3 - Sunday - was an interesting and fun day. It began with a stroll along the beginning of the route for the city's annual Gay Pride Parade. Yes, there were naked men and men dressed as women, but we also met some pit bill owners showing off their "babies" and librarians from the SF Public Library. It was a wonderful salute to human rights, the right for each person to be themselves. Very cool. Then on to the Park - our freebee today was a Panda mask, in honor of SF third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who is called Kung Fu Panda. My lunch today was the Crazy Crab sandwich, recommended by the NYTimes. Very good.

We sat on the Field Level, about a dozen rows behind the SF dugout. It was a really hot day - lots of sunblock was used - but the seats had their own concessions area below the stands. It was a handy spot to get out of the sun. As for the game, the billed star was two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum - who the Sox battered into submission by the third inning. Ortiz even hit a homer into McCovey Cove! The REAL star was on our side: Jon Lester threw a complete game, looking very strong. Who would have predicted that Giants pitchers would get 15 strikeouts - and lose 5-1? Bad note: we lost another player to injury - Victor Martinez left with a broken thumb!

After the game, we had dinner in Chinatown - yum! Then, it was time for me to pack up - I took the 1:30 am red eye back home. Ack.

Other notes on AT&T: at the end of the game, maybe within 10 minutes of the last out, the seagulls come swooping in. You can see them perching on the roof, on the giant glove in left field, waiting for the crowds to disperse so they can get their dinner. Very Hitchcock-esque! Great concessions - an incredible variety of food and drink. A gorgeous setting on the Bay - we were lucky to have such clear weather so we could enjoy it. They have a female public address announcer, who is excellent!

I'm now up to 12 major league parks. And already thinking about next summer. Pittsburgh? Philadelphia? Toronto? Maybe some of the midwest parks like Kansas City or Chicago? We'll see!

And photos!

An Outlander at Coors Field, Denver

2010-07-15T18:04:00.007-05:00

My second Red Sox road trip of 2010 began in Denver, for a three game series vs. the Colorado Rockies. This was the first trip to Denver for the Sox since the 2007 World Series - which the Sox won in 4 straight games. You got a sense almost immediately that the Rockies wanted to prove something - to show that they were capable of taking a few games from the Sox.

We got in Tuesday morning - I beat Kelly to the airport, and saw just-called-up-from-Pawtucket Josh Reddick arriving. We stayed at the Hampton Inn Downtown - nice, free breakfast, etc., but about a mile from Coors Field. Many RS fans there - well, there were many RS fans all over the city. Every game was a sell out, with more than 48,000 in attendance. I guess that makes sense. If you are a RS fan living in Idaho or South Dakota (and we met folks from both of those places), this was your only chance to have seen them play in three years.

We met up with our SG pal, John from New Zealand, at Wynkoop's, a local watering hole, where I ate some elk sausage. From there, we wandered towards Coors Field, and hit the Falling Rock Tap House. Wow! Over 80 beers on tap - and tons of Sox fans soaking them up (of course).

As for game 1: oh, well. We couldn't get any offense going, leaving the bases loaded twice. It was also very hot - I was surprised that the weather turned out to be so warm for the whole trip. We also discovered how easily you can become dehydrated at the mile high altitude. We quickly learned to drink a lot of water!

Day 2 was fun. We did the tour of Coors Field. Pretty standard stuff: dugout, special club dining areas, etc. One fun moment was when we were in the visitor's dugout. Terry Francona wandered out, clearly peeved that a bunch of tourists were milling around! Our seats for game 2 were on the Club Level, which is on the second tier. We also sat there for Game One, and felt too far away from the game action. So Kelly did her magic on Stub Hub, and quickly sold our tickets and bought two more down behind the RS dugout. Yeah!

Game 2 was a ♥ breaker. Colorado had their young ace Ubaldo Jiminez pitching, and he held the Sox scoreless thru the 6th. Then we went crazy and scored four runs to lead. Papelbon came in to close it out - and promptly gave up two home runs. I do not like that kind of drama! We lost - worse yet, one of the homers was a walk-off by our old nemesis Jason Giambi. Ugh.

Day 3 was a day of no plans that turned out fun. We discovered a Belgian pub called the Cheeky Monk, which we really enjoyed. We also visited the Great Divide Brewery - a great place for some pre-game libations. Yes, Denver is a city of beautiful vistas and wonderful beers!

Game 3 joins my "game-dropper" file. We had great seats behind home plate, thanks to my godfather who knew a season ticket holder who owed him a favor! The Sox scored early - the Rockies came back - the Sox went ahead again. The Sox used every player on the bench and every pitcher but one (this only confirmed my love of the DH) The Rockies tied it in the bottom of the ninth (again, Papelbon gave up 3 hits and 2 runs), but then the Laser Show arrived. Dustin Pedroia hit his THIRD homerun of the game, Papelbon came back and convincingly closed it out (a nice bit of redemption for him), and the Sox won 13-11. Phew!

A really fun trip (we continued on to San Francisco, but that's in the next installment). It was really hot the whole time (in the 90s), which was surprising. Denver has a free trolley that runs all the way down 16th Street - which has lots of restaurants. So we were able to ride from the hotel to close to Coors Field. Very handy. As for Coors Field, I would recommend not sitting on the first base side if you can help it - that side of the field gets the full afternoon sun, which can be brutal. They also placed their restaurant above the right field side - again, full afternoon sun would make a nice dinner there uncomfortable. I was impressed with the fans, though. They seemed very knowledgeable about baseball, and I saw many keeping score in their own scorebooks.

We also accumulated some "swag" at each game - I was surprised they offered giveaways at games that you could predict would be sell-outs. Tuesday night was hat night, and we got a really nice Rockies ball cap. Wednesday was player shirt night - we got a Carlos Gonzalez tshirt (which several fans waved in our faces as Giambi was circling the bases). But Thursday's gift was the best: a Coors Light cooler bag. Perfect for lunch!

Of course, tons of photos. Here are some of the best:

An Outlander at Progressive Field

2010-07-05T12:35:00.006-05:00

It's been a pretty busy month of June - two big Red Sox road trips, and an overall record of 5-4. Not bad!

Our first trip of the year was to Cleveland, to see the Red Sox take on the Cleveland Indians for three games (they actually played a fourth, but we only attended three). My erstwhile companions - Kelly & Steve T. Ferret - met me at the terminal in Cleveland on Tuesday morning, and we headed to our hotel. If you're going to see the Indians play, I highly recommend the hotel: the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown. It's kitty-corner to Progressive Field, and close to restaurants, watering holes, and only a mile to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We got the B&B package, which included a full, made-to-order breakfast each day - great!

We grabbed some lunch at a spot we would visit a couple of times: the Winking Lizard Tavern. A nice spot - close to Progressive Field - with good pub food. Everything I had for lunch had bacon on it: wedge salad, chicken club sandwich, fries smothered in cheese and, yes, bacon! No cholesterol counts on a Red Sox road trip!

We headed to Progressive and watched batting practice from the right field bleachers - Kelly even got bopped by a well-hit ball! For our first game, we had pretty good seats - behind the plate, up a bit, but a good perspective on the field. And the Sox won!

Day two was one of our best yet! Our morning was spent searching for the Great Lakes Brewing Company.Google maps showed it to be 1.3 miles away - however, due to some incorrect directions (thanks Barry & Erik from Boston), we went on the Bataan Death March II. Our hike included a walk over a wonderful bridge: the Hope Memorial Bridge, named in honor of Bob Hope's dad, a local stone mason. Very cool art deco sculptures called the "Guardians of Traffic,"
(Photo from wikipedia)
several of which were sporting LeBron headbands!

The early afternoon was spent on a tour of the field. I love touring the various parks and seeing some of the behind-the-scenes things. We saw several of the Sox getting in some extra work in the batting cages, Jerry Remy in the Press Box, but most interesting was the stop at the indoor batting cages, behind the 3rd base dugout. The Indians' "vision coach" was working with a young player, and he demonstrated some of the ways they help players sharpen their view of pitches at the plate. They had one machine that pitches tennis balls, all with colored numbers, and they ask the player to call out what type of pitch they've seen based on what color and number is on the ball. Oh, and it's being pitched at 100 mph or so. Wow.

The late afternoon was our splurge: we bought tickets for the "Ultimate Batting Practice Experience." We entered the park at 4:30 and were allowed down on the field, to stand behind the cages and watch both teams take batting practice. So, so cool - very close to the players! Victor Martinez (a former Indian) had his 5-year old son with him on this trip, and Victor Jr was all decked out in a complete RS away uniform. It was so fun to watch all the players playing with him - hitting him pop ups, playing catch, wrestling with him. Aww. But the absolute highlight was getting to talk to Justin Masterson! Justin was traded by the Sox to Cleveland last summer for Martinez, and Kelly had followed his career up thru the minors. The look of pure delight on his face when he saw her was so cool! He came over, hugged us, and talked to us for quite a while about the state of the Indians, the baby he has on the way... ♥ A special shout-out to Megan and Maggie for letting us hang around until the end of BP.

Oh, and the Sox took game 2 - we sat just beyond the screen on the first base side. We also discovered Strickland's Frozen Custard. Wow! And we got free Progressive umbrellas!

Day three! It was raining, but the hotel offered us a ride to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame via their courtesy van. Yeah! The building was designed by I.M. Pei - very recognizable! - and we spent three hours there. The special exhibit was on Bruce Springsteen, tracing the Boss' rise to R&R fame. We also enjoyed the permanent exhibit of artifacts from Hall inductees. Costumes from Fleetwood Mac, U2, Parliament Funkadelic! We also saw a very cool 12-minute multi-media/film presentation called "Video Killed the Radio Star," tracing the ever-increasing importance of video and MTV. In one section they highlighted four influential video artists. Two are no-brainers: Madonna and Michael Jackson. The third was Peter Gabriel - I guess you can argue that he did push the envelope. But the fourth made me scratch me head: Tom Petty. Now, I love Petty - have a bunch of his CDs - but I'm not sure I'd say his videos were "influential." I would argue that Duran Duran is a better choice: they learned early on how to use video to market themselves, and used it to make themselves a worldwide phenomenon.

Our last game! We had chatted with a season ticket holder at Wednesday's game, and he got us passes for the Terrace Club, the large restaurant and bar perched on the left field side of Progressive which is for season ticket holders only. We arrived early, and sat in the "pit" - a counter area overlooking the field. Quite a different vantage point for b.p.! For the game, we sat behind the Indians' dugout on the third base side - a perfect spot to watch Masterson pitch a 2-hit, complete game shut-out. The Indians won 11-0 (the 8th inning included a grand slam home run) - a bittersweet result. Sorry to see the Sox lose, but so proud of Justin.

So, a terrific trip! I really enjoyed seeing Progressive Field, and the other sites in Cleveland - and felt like such a VIP on Tuesday! Another Major League ball park ticked off my list!

Here's an album of some of my best shots from the trip.

Click on the corner to get a full-size version!

Recipe: Pound Cake Squares

2010-06-20T19:51:00.002-05:00

My friend Holly passed along this recipe - and I've included her notes. I made these this weekend for a meeting - and they were a BIG hit!

Pound Cake Squares

1 box pound cake mix (Betty Crocker)
4 eggs
1 stick butter, softened
1 box powdered sugar
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

1. Combine cake mix, butter & 2 eggs. Spread in greased and floured 13x9x2" pan

2. Combined powdered sugar (same some to sprinkle on top), cream cheese, 2 eggs, and vanilla. Pour over top of cake mixture. Sprinkle nuts on top.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. While still warm, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

NOTES: "They are incredible fresh from the oven; the melt in your mouth like a hot Krispy Kreme doughnut."

Wednesday Dine Out: Carrabba's Italian Grill

2010-05-26T19:17:00.004-05:00

One of the things we try to emphasize to our members in Weight Watchers is the importance of "taking care of yourself." I'm always amazed at the number of new members who tell me about having just taken care of a dying parent or spouse, of having spent several years as a stay-at-home parent, of having put everyone else's needs ahead of their own. It's difficult for many of us to say, hey, it's my turn - I need to concentrate on myself for a while. But it's an important first step on the road to living a healthier life.

As I say, although I deliver this message each week, I don't always "walk the walk." As a school employee as well as a WW leader, I find myself putting others first a lot. So one of the best decisions I've made in the past year in the category of "taking care of myself" was my decision to give up my Wednesday night WW class and devote that evening to me. Just allowing myself that one selfish evening in the middle of the working week has really helped my overall mental health!

Although I have been continuing my Wednesday nights out, I haven't been recording my dining experiences of late, mainly because I've been revisiting some I've already reported on - and enjoying them! Terminal Brew House, the Meeting Place, Niko's ...

But tonight I went someplace "new." I actually had eaten at Carrabba's when they first opened (which I was stunned to learn from my server was 7 years ago!) I hadn't been overwhelmed - it was kind of pricey for what I got, and the portions were superhuman sized. But our local paper recently profiled them in their Dining Out section, and I decided it was try to give them another go. So glad I did.

Carrabba's has built their restaurant around the open kitchen. You can see all the action wherever you sit, which is fun. But you can also sit practically IN the kitchen - as you can see above. And that's where I chose to dine tonight - I was actually sitting on that far left stool.

It was the perfect spot for a solo diner. It was very entertaining to watch all the action in the kitchen - the squabbling among the wait staff, the kitchen manager berating the lead cook for too much theatricality, the jockeying for position among the line cooks - nearly a reality show! I was there fairly early, so the kitchen wasn't too busy - but you could see the food prep - the mixing of the pastas and sauce, the chickens grilling, the mussels being heaped in a bowl. The chef even let me sample a few dishes!

I chose one of their signature dishes, the Chicken Bryan:

I had the 1/2 portion - so only a half chicken breast, which was perfect for me. It's covered in goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes - yum! - with a side of cavatappi amatriciana. Very nicely seasoned, and the two dishes really complemented each other well. I started with a tossed "Italian" salad, with freshly baked bread and dipping sauce. And I also sipped a "nice Chianti"(!). It was a really lovely meal!

I was glad I re-discovered Carrabba's. A fun place for a solo diner, a really nice meal that wasn't too much or too expensive. It will definitely not be another seven years before I visit again!

I'm such a delinquent

2010-05-23T18:42:00.003-05:00

I've been terrible about updating this blog of late. Part of it is laziness, part of it is my addiction to the other social networking sites. I've been spending a lot of time on Twitter and Facebook - and I can only spread myself so thin.

Today was graduation day. My 27th! It was another hot, humid day - uncomfortable despite the school's attempt to thwart it by scheduling the event at 8:30 am. Now, don't think I've become cynical or inured to the day - it was lovely. So many back stories - the boys who barely, barely made it. Those that I had never set eyes on nor even heard their name. Those who I'd spent more time with than their families. And realistically - you always think, Oh, I'll miss that one, or I hope that one stays in touch. But they move on - and so do we.

We march and sit in order of seniority - I'm on the front row now! - and I usually maneuver things so that I sit between two of my long-term colleagues. One teaches many of the seniors in his history electives, and has clear-eyed observations on them. The other is dean of students and, thus, knows most of them. I know almost all of the graduates, as most have to use the library at some point in their careers. But there are always a few that are total strangers to me. So it's fun to exchange remarks with these friends as the grads march across the stage to collect their diplomas. (Oh, you think we're just watching enraptured? Hardly!) Some of my favorite quips from today

"Oh, that kid totally sucks."
"He has a really hot mom. She's wearing a cheetah-print outfit today"
"Boy, he's so lucky to graduate. I mean, really really lucky"
"I find him quite intellectually arrogant"
"Why doesn't he have socks on?"
On a set of triplets: "Amazing. They got one brain split three ways"
"They ought to just label those two the "Lax Bros"

One of the most unusual highlights was the speech from our Board chair. He called his speech "Beer and Tequila shooters" - and was a caution about using fake i.d.s to purchase alcohol. He said he didn't support the 21-year-old limit on drinking, but it is the law, so don't use a fake id. His remarks included this gem: "Remember. Nothing good happens after midnight"

It did have an affect on me - I came home and made a pitcher of margaritas!

How to prevent mosquito bites

2010-05-01T13:42:00.001-05:00

So, I've often wondered why I don't get bitten by mosquitoes. No, I mean really - they will attack everyone around me, yet leave me untouched. I have been told it's because I'm not sweet (me??), but scientists have begun investigating just why mosquitoes are more attracted to some people. According to this report:

Some scientists suggest that certain characteristics attract mosquitoes, thereby leading us to have more bites than others. Some of the top candidates: the amount of carbon dioxide in the breath, pregnancy, body temperature, alcohol and odorant markers based on blood type.

But, I think I've found a more likely culprit: quinine. Quinine is used in the treatment of malaria (which is, of course, carried by mosquitoes.)In fact, legend has it that it was the British who first introduced quinine into tonic water during their period of occupancy in India in order to keep their soldiers healthy. And those wily Brits then invented the gin and tonic. Refreshing, alcoholic AND medicinal!

So, I was interested to come across this recent study:

Taste aversion to quinine in mosquitoes: The taste of human skin surely influences whether a mosquito will bite and take a blood meal, but little is known about the taste world of mosquitoes, the major carrier of malaria. Our study tested the taste response of mosquitoes to the bitter compound quinine. The researchers measured the amount of sugar water mosquitoes drank while taste receptors on their feet were stimulated with quinine. Quinine decreased the amount that the mosquitoes drank. Knowing what does not taste good to mosquitoes could help us inhibit the spread of malaria by finding ways to make human skin distasteful. Funded by the Gates Foundation GCE

Now, my friends know that I love my vodka tonics. Perhaps the quinine has built up in my system, and now my skin tastes like it to mosquitoes. Hence, I never get bit!

So, drink up! It will save you from mosquito bites!

I iz old and nostalgic

2010-04-29T20:53:00.004-05:00

Tonight I was invited to a celebration of the "Quarter Century Club" - those who have taught at my school for 25 years or more. I have been here 27 years. 27 years. Not many people can say they've been employed in the same place for 27 years. 27 years.

It seems like just the blink of an eye

It seems like forever.

When I took the job, I thought, hey, I'll do it for a year or two, then move on to something more lucrative, more challenging, more interesting.

Then that two year window passed. And nothing looked more lucrative, more challenging, more interesting.

Suddenly, the ten year window passed. And nothing looked more lucrative, more challenging, more interesting.

At the twenty year anniversary, something popped up that looked more lucrative, more challenging, more interesting. But they didn't want me.

So, now, at 27 years. Where do I stand? Where do I go?

At the celebration tonight, I sat next to a young man from the class of 1988. He had hung out in the library for all his high school years. He talked about how much I had mattered to him. How I had allowed him to display his Hank Aaron autographed baseball during Black History Month. How he'd gone on to graduate from Yale, has a great job, a wonderful wife who is an OB-GYN. He showed me pictures of his three beautiful children, the oldest of whom is almost old enough to come to our school. Now, he's on the Board of Trustees. And he promises me that they'll make sure we have the salaries we deserve, how they want us to have a great life in retirement. How they want to give back to us all that we gave them.

We look at the bricks and mortar every day. I look at how much more I could offer my students in a state of the art facility, with all the accompanying technological assets.

But it all comes down to the difference we make every day. When I introduce a boy to some fun fiction book, when I help that 9th grader find the perfect source for his world history paper, when I point out that burping in the library isn't quote appropriate - those are all building blocks in a boy's history, in a boy's development.

I hope I never lose sight of that huge responsibility. In the day to day busy-ness, of trying to maintain order and quiet, I hope I don't forget that one small remark can make such a difference.

An Outlander goes to Berlin

2010-04-09T19:14:00.008-05:00

So, most people go someplace warm for Spring Break. Cancun, Florida, the Caribbean. My buddy Susan and I like to buck the trend and head east - way east. We've hit many of the great cities of Europe, and decided that this year we would visit Berlin. Former capital of the Prussian and Austria-Hungarian Empires, and now capital of the reunited Germany.

We spent 6 days there, and what a great time! Everything went so smoothly - easy plane connections, a terrific (if bare bones) hotel, great food, great beer!, and great sites. Some of the highlights:

Everyone agrees that one of the "must-sees" is the newly renovated Reichstag. It was famously burned in 1933 and occupied by Soviet troops in 1945. It was right next to the Berlin Wall for all those years. But when Berlin was made the new capital in 1999, Germans knew they had to return to the Reichstag. My big tip on visiting: the Dome is one of the most popular sites in Berlin: there were over 200 people waiting in line at 11 am on Sunday morning. I wrote ahead, and got spaces on a guided tour in English at 10:30. We went thru the whole building - I learned a lot about German government - and at the end, we were put on a special elevator to the Dome, bypassing the crowds. The view was spectacular - we wished we'd done in the first day we were in the city.

Museum Island is awesome! All of the major museums are on this small island in the middle of the city, and one museum pass gets you into all of them. The Pergamon Museum is incredible - some really large scale pieces scavenged from ancient Greece and Rome (which makes me slightly uneasy). One of the highlights in the Egyptian Museum is the famous bust of Nefertiti

No photo I've ever seen does her justice. The bust is truly beautiful - a fully mature woman captured in the prime of life. Wow.

The Germans do not downplay the Holocaust and their part in it. In fact, they seem to have gone out of their way to celebrate those cultures that Hitler tried to eradicate. The Jewish Museum is phenomenal! You enter below ground, where the halls are tilted and curved - as disorienting as life was in Germany in the 30s. The same feeling is found at the Holocaust Memorial near the Brandenburg Gates. We also stumbled upon a memorial to the homosexuals murdered by Hitler. The irony is that Hitler tried so hard to eliminate all of these cultures - and now his city celebrates them.

We marveled at the seemingly old churches and palaces - all heavily damaged during the bombing of WWII and now reconstructed. Especially moving is the Kaiser Wilhelm Church, which the citizens elected to leave in its bombed state as a monument to WWII and to the hope for peace

Very moving.

Everywhere we went, everyone spoke English - or at least could understand us! Luckily, beer is the same in both languages. And I had some awesome beer. I love a wheat beer, not hoppy - and that seems to be a Berlin speciality. We also sampled the famous "currywurst" - which is basically chopped up wieners doused in a ketchup and curry sauce. Not as spicy as I would have guessed. There was a curry stand close to our hotel - they were at least 10 deep from the time it opened at 11ish until late into the night.

We loved out hotel, the Hotel Transit. Okay, I admit, I was a little scared when we arrived. It's in a dingy neighborhood in Kreuzberg (we later discovered that pretty much ALL of the neighborhoods are dingy in Berlin!) - and on the top two floors of a former factory. The rooms were tiny - picture a very small college dorm room - with no tv and no telephone. But the staff was incredible! So nice, helpful, fun. We ended most nights sitting in the lobby and enjoying a beer or tea, and chatting with them while we checked email. I celebrated my birthday while we were there - on my birthday, we returned to the room to find a bottle of champagne and a card wishing me a happy birthday from the hotel staff! Nice! And a terrific breakfast every morning. It was perfect for the traveler who isn't interested in spending much time in their hotel!

The only negative: I hate the Charles de Gaulle airport!! We had to change planes there on both legs of our trip. On the return, the wheels of our flight from Berlin touched down on the tarmac at 8:45am. We had a 10:40 flight to Atlanta. By the time we taxied in the plane, took a bus to the terminal, took another bus to the other terminal, went thru passport control 3 times as well as a full security check - we got to the gate area at 10:30! Then we had to stand in a chaotic mess (I can't call it a line) to have our boarding passes checked and to be given our immigration forms (which they could easily distribute on the plane)....We weren't on the plane until 10:45! (Luckily, they didn't dare close the door early or I would have hurt somebody). Needless to say, I took advantage of that drink cart when it passed by. I will make every effort to NOT fly thru de Gaulle again!

Two things I purchased for the trip more than paid for themselves. This Travel Rest pillow is fantastic - it was really comfortable to sleep on. And the Sennheiser Noise Canceling Headphones are AWESOME! I will never travel on an airplane without them. The emit a white noise that totally erases any sound - including the engine. When I took them off to hit the loo, I was assaulted by the noise. I slept so soundly on the trip over!! (And I did NOT pay this much for them - surf around the net for a better price)

So, loved Berlin! Where to next??

And here's an album of photos:

If you click on the logo in the lower right, it'll lead you to the full-sized album

Loss of a tradition

2010-04-09T06:50:00.000-05:00

Although I'm pretty fanatical about the Red Sox these days, there was a time when my sports obsession focused on golf. During the 80s, I was a total golf geek. Every weekend, I'd spend my afternoon plunked in front of the television, enjoying the ups and downs of all the players.. My favorites were Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Fred Couples, and, of course, my hometown "buddy" Brad Faxon. But I knew most of the Tour members by name, and most by sight.

Over time,I remained a casual fan, until the coming of Tiger. Although I thought he was a good player, I hated the way the golf press fawned over him. They took all the fun out of the game for me - you rarely saw those other favorites and the other competitors on the course faded from the public eye. I found no joy in watching Tiger, and slowly, I stopped watching.

Still, I was looking forward to catching some of the Masters Tournament this weekend. It's a much-loved rite of spring - seeing the azaleas blooming in Amen Corner, enjoying the pageantry, admiring the golfing prowess of the players. But, but, but. This is the time that Tiger has decided to return, hoping to overcome his problems of the past six months and triumph in Augusta.

Yawn.

I really can't muster any enthusiasm for the Tournament. Barely a glance at the leaderboard this morning, only to note that Fred Couples is in the lead. But you wouldn't know who was leading unless you looked at the scores. All of the news articles are focused on Tiger. Tiger humbled, Tiger excited about the response of the fans (who he has ignored his entire career), no one booing Tiger, blah blah blah.

So, PGA Tour and CBS, you've lost this once faithful viewer. I'll be watching baseball this weekend, or a movie, or enjoying the beautiful spring. Anything except watching you fawn over Mr. Woods.

Wednesday Night Dine Out: Sitar

2010-03-04T16:49:00.003-05:00

Even though I haven't written about my recent restaurant experiences, I am still enjoying my Wednesday night dining excursions. Lately, I've revisited a few spots - most notably 212 Market - and I've also hit a few chains (I know I said I'd try to avoid those, but...). Nothing too exciting at them - although I highly recommend you order the house Chianti at Macaroni Grill. They bring a huge bottle over and fill your glass to the rim right at the table - lovely!

Yesterday, however, I was feeling adventurous. I'd heard about two different ethnic restaurants that I wanted to try, and opted for the Sitar Indian Restaurant. I've only eaten Indian food once - on a trip to London six years ago, we ate at a terrible Indian restaurant. The experience was probably heightened by the fact that it was our first full day in the city - still jet-lagged - and that we felt overwhelmed by the menu choices. We felt we had just made bad choices. So I thought it was time to try again.

Sitar is in a bland strip mall close to my home, and had been favorably reviewed in our local online newspaper. I went early, because the Red Sox' spring training game was being broadcast at 6pm and I needed my fix! So I arrived at the restaurant at 5:15 or so - and the place was deserted. I was afraid they weren't open, but a waiter appeared and ushered me to a seat. I had studied the menu online, so I had some idea of what I wanted - I chose the House Specialty Combination plate. Here's how it is described:

Our mouthwatering house special dish. Chicken Tandoori, Lamb Rogan Josh, Vegetable Korma, Papadum, rice and Naan bread, soup.

Intriguing. I thought this would give me several different dishes to try. For the soup, I had Mulligatawny soup, which was warm and refreshing. The main course - well, the Chicken Tandoori was two spindly pieces of cooked-to-death-chicken, a drumstick and a wing. All dark meat - not my favorite. I have to admit, the lamb and vegetables looked - and tasted - identical. I had ordered it mild, thank heavens, because my mouth was burning from all the curry! They were tasty - and there was a ton of food, so I was very full.

However, it didn't make me a fan of Indian cuisine. I enjoyed the change of pace, but I don't think I'll go out of my way to eat there again. Or maybe I'll try the cuisine again in the company of someone who can help me figure out what to order!

Recipe: Bleu Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts

2010-02-27T18:42:00.002-05:00

Here's what I made for dinner tonight

It was ever so yummy - and very easy!

Ahh yes.

2010-02-22T17:15:00.000-05:00

Big Papi reports to Spring Training (photo from Boston.com)

Baseball's coming, baby!

Adventures in Cooking - Part 3

2010-02-15T20:42:00.000-05:00

Continuing with my cooking-fest, I've had this recipe for a while. A friend made it for a Christmas party I went to last December, and I've been itching to try it. So this past Sunday was rainy and oh-so-cold, and seemed a perfect time for some comfort food.

The recipe is for "Apricot-Glazed Pork Loin," and it was incredibly easy and good. You just put a rub on the pork, let it marinade for a while, then put it in a baking bag and roast for a while. I did make a few adaptations - I used a 1 1/2 pound tenderloin; I baked it for an extra 20 minutes to get it to the correct internal temperature.

The results? An easy, delicious entree - elegant, too, so it would be perfect for company.

And looking forward to a nice sandwich for lunch tomorrow!

Adventures in Cooking - Part 2

2010-02-15T18:34:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite cooking gurus is the Hungry Girl. Lisa Lillien runs a great site, full of tips for low-Points cooking, portion control, and just what to eat at various restaurants. For Valentine's Day, I decided to try her recipe for "Best of My Lava Chocolate Cake." It's basically a molten chocolate cake - one of those cakes that oozes out melted chocolate when you stick your fork in it. I'd watched "The Worst Cooks in America" tackle a recipe for it, with various degrees of success. I thought, if they could do it, so could I! The results:

You be the judge! (YUMMY!! and oh, so easy!)

Adventures in Cooking - Part 1

2010-02-15T16:13:00.006-05:00

I've been doing some experimenting in the kitchen of late. I'm not sure what has caused this - the cold, snowy weather; boredom with my usual repertoire; or repeated viewings of "Julie & Julia"! But on Super Bowl Sunday, I decided it was time to tackle Julia's famous Beef Bourguignon! I looked at several versions on the 'Net, but this one from "Good Morning America" seemed the most straightforward. So, after purchasing the ingredients which included a 1/2 lb of bacon

Three pounds of beef!

Tons of onions!

And an entire bottle of red wine.

(Seriously, how could anything that includes all of those things be bad!!)

It had to bake for 3-4 hours; towards the end, the house smelled divine - I couldn't wait to dig in!

The final step is sauteing some pearl onions, then adding them in.

Almost ready!

And voila!

Yes it took nearly all day - but it was Super Bowl Sunday, so what else was there to do. And, I must say, it was awesome! It also reheats really well - I even used the beef in a sandwich. I have two servings stashed in the freezer which I may use as a base for either Beef Pot Pie or Shepherd's Pie.

I'm always looking for something special for New Year's Eve dinner, and I think this is at the top of the list!

I love this town

2010-02-08T11:59:00.005-05:00

I know he's a Jersey boy, but Jon Bon Jovi could be singing about Boston as far as I'm concerned!

Exotic music and semi-exotic foods

2010-02-05T17:03:00.000-05:00

Last night, I had one of my periodical evenings of refreshing my spirit. I had a ticket to the Symphony, and so treated myself to a nice meal first. I chose Niko's Southside Grill. The Niko of the title is, in fact, one of my former students - Nick purchased the restaurant in 2007 when it was known as just the Southside Grill. I hadn't been to Niko's in a while, and the local paper carried a story about their evolving menu recently that intrigued me. They've just added a wood burning oven, and Nick is making the restaurant over into a more "Greek" atmosphere.

They've added a bunch of "small plates" (hasn't everybody??) - and a few sounded yummy. But, it was a cold rainy night, so the site of soup on the menu was welcome. I had their tomato bisque - spiced up with basil - and it was quite good. As I said, perfect for this evening. For my main course, I went back and forth over several options - finally deciding on a lamb burger cooked in that new oven. Yum! Really well flavored and cooked just right. Add in the "Greek fries" - and it was a great twist on the old burger and fry combo.

Feeling full and warm, it was time to head to the Tivoli Theatre for the evening's performance. The conductor has decided to retire, and so we have had a series of guest conductors this year who are auditioning for the job. Tonight's guest was Mei-Ann Chen

Wow!! What an incredible performance. She was energetic, athletic, charismatic - and conducted without a score in front of her, totally from memory. The first act featured Dvorak's Carnival Overture (which is really loud and boisterous) and Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphis on Themes of Weber (which I'd never heard - kind of fun). But the piece de resistence was the second half: Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. It was magical - she coaxed the orchestra to a viruoso performance. As the last note faded, there was about 30 seconds of silence in the theater - finally broken with a shouted "Bravo" from the balcony. Then the place exploded in applause.

I would say that the evening made Ms. Chen a favorite for the job!

ICK!

2010-02-05T07:17:00.000-05:00

Another gross, cold rainy day here. BUT - only one week until Truck Day!

In honor of both, here's a little crazy Papelbon magic - "Blame it on the Rain"

Now I know that summer will come

2010-02-01T21:48:00.000-05:00

When I opened my mailbox today, this is what I found. Ahhhh, it's coming. Red Sox, summer, fun....

Gimme summer!

2010-01-27T16:44:00.000-05:00

I'm started to get excited about the summer. I secured tickets to three games at Fenway today for the end of July, and we're starting to plan which away games to attend. Only 67 days until Opening Day!

In the meantime, here's the Baseball Project performing "Buckner's Bolero." It's a cut from their soon-to-be-released second CD - yeah!

RIP Pernell Roberts

2010-01-25T18:56:00.004-05:00

I was so sad to hear the news this evening that Pernell Roberts passed away. He was my favorite Cartwright brother on Bonanza - the smart one. He always managed to get the best of Hoss and Little Joe - although they often got him back. I can't tell you how many hours I spent watching that classic western, just for a glimpse of Adam.

He quit the show in a dispute with the producers over the quality of scripts, and had a "trouble-making" rep that kept him out of the limelight for a while. But he eventually bounced back in the title role in Trapper John, MD - although by that point I was more enamored of co-star Gregory Harrison. Still, he was a good looking "older man."

So all the Cartwright boys have gone to that great round-up in the sky....

Wonton Soup

2010-01-23T10:04:00.006-05:00

One of my cooking idols is the "Hungry Girl." Her daily email newsletter always has some great ideas for cutting the fat and calories in recipes, uncovering new products and exposing restaurant food with mega-Points. Her mailing yesterday had a neat looking recipe for Wonton Soup. Well, I've been craving some Chinese food and this intrigued me so I tried it last night. YUM! It was fairly easy - the hardest part was making the wontons and that was not hard at all. I used all low-sodium ingredients, so that really helped keep the sodium level down. I'll be interested to see how it reheats - but here's the recipe: (reprinted without permission but copyrighted by the Hungry Girl)

Wowowow! Wonton Soup

PER SERVING (1 cup with 2 wontons): 115 calories, 3g fat, 541mg sodium,
12g carbs, 1.5g fiber, 1g sugars, 9.5g protein -- POINTS® value 2*

Ingredients:

For Wontons
9 oz. raw lean ground turkey 
2 tsp. reduced-sodium/lite soy sauce 
2 tsp. dried minced onion 
1/2 tsp. garlic powder 
1/8 tsp. black pepper 
16 small square wonton wrappers (often stocked near the tofu in the fridge
section of the market)

For Soup
6 cups fat-free chicken broth 
2 cups dry broccoli cole slaw 
1/3 cup canned bamboo shoots, drained 
1/2 cup canned straw mushrooms, drained and roughly chopped 
1 tsp. chopped fresh ginger 
1 tsp. chopped garlic 
1/2 cup chopped scallions

Directions:
To make the wonton filling, combine all wonton ingredients except the
wrappers in a medium bowl. Mix by hand until evenly combined. Set aside
(and, duh, wash your hands).

In a large pot, combine all soup ingredients except scallions. Bring to a boil
on the stove. Reduce heat to low and allow soup to simmer for 10 minutes.

Lay three wonton wrappers flat on a clean, dry surface. Scoop a spoonful
(about 2 tsp.) of filling into the center of each wrapper. Moisten all wrapper
edges by dabbing with water. Fold the bottom left corner of each wrapper to
meet the top right corner, forming a triangle and enclosing the filling. Press
firmly on the edges to seal. Set aside, and repeat with remaining wrappers
and filling.

Stir scallions into the simmering soup. One at a time, carefully add wontons.
Make sure they're submerged, but don't stir. Simmer for 5 minutes, adjusting
temperature if soup begins to boil, until wonton centers are firm. (Don't
worry if the wontons fall apart a little. They'll still taste delicious!)

Carefully serve up wontons and broth. Slurp 'n chew, people!

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

A whirlwind of film-going!

2010-01-17T20:08:00.006-05:00

I've been such a slacker about updating the blog. We had a long Christmas Break, followed by a week shortened by snow - so my routine has been totally disrupted. However, over the vacation, I managed to see five movies - and here are my thoughts on them.

1. It's Complicated -
I'm a huge fan of the "romantic comedy." My personal DVD collection is filled with films like "Sleepless in Seattle," "Kate & Leopold," "When Harry Met Sally," and "Love Actually." So I was pretty excited to see this new film from Nancy Meyers (who was responsible for "The Holiday," "Something's Got to Give," and "The Parent Trap" remake), which portrays the story of a long-divorced couple (Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin - both superb) who rekindle their relationship. Complicating things is Streep's new romantic prospect, Steve Martin (low key in the role and quite nice!).

When we saw it, the audience was filled with women "of a certain age," who roared with laughter for the whole film - as did we. And I love that Meyers doesn't go for the expected ending - but one that really suits the characters and the story. And John Krasinksi as the son-in-law really steals his scenes - as do Streep's pals Mary Kay Place, Rita Wilson and Alexandra Wentworth. A really fun, light, comedy.

2. Sherlock Holmes
The very next day after seeing It's Complicated we saw Sherlock Holmes. I really like Robert Downey Jr., and must admit to having a "thing" for Jude Law (even though I know he's a total cad in real life). So I was kind of fired up to see this. Two weeks later, I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Director Guy Ritchie has taken the traditional story and turned it on its ear. He's preserved the friendship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and Holmes' deductive skills. But rather than a cerebral detective, we have an action hero. Holmes is seen bare-knuckle boxing, taking on physical challenges and shooting opponents. It makes for a wild ride; you can barely catch your breath. If I were to choose one adjective to describe the film, it would be BUSY. I almost feel like I need to see it again - things moved so fast and furious, that I know I missed a lot of dialogue and plot points.

Action fans will like it; RDJr fans will like it; Guy Ritchie fans will eat it up. But if you're looking for a traditional "Sherlock Holmes" film, go rent one of the Basil Rathbone versions.

3. Up in the Air
One dark, cloudy, cold Saturday afternoon, I was in the mood for a dark, cynical film - and this one totally filled the bill. George Clooney plays a man who is hired to go into companies and inform their staffs of lay-offs. His job is about to change thanks to technological innovations (his company wants to do lay-offs now via web-cams), and he takes a young staffer (Anna Kendrick) on the road to show her how he does his job. While they travel, he shares his philosophies of romance and business, all the while ignoring his own sensibilities and falling for another traveler (Vera Farmiga). Clooney is Clooney - his take on romance perfectly suited my dark mood. (Example: When Natalie - arguing in favor of marriage - gives the ultimate cliche ("you don't want to die alone, do you?") he counters with his realistic take ("everyone dies alone"). Clooney was terrific, and the scenes of real people reacting to the news that they've been laid off are gut-wrenching.

4. Avatar
THE most anticipated film of the holiday season, the one that has raked in the most box office bucks. I waited two weeks before I went to see it - not wanting to share my cinema time with screeching sci-fi fans. Smart move. I saw Avatar on a Sunday at 11 am - and was one of only 12 people in the theater. So I could sit middle center, which is apparently the best place to truly experience the Real3D effects. And WOW! Within minutes, I forgot the glasses and forgot that I was watching a 3D film - I was truly transported into the world of the planet Pandora, participating in the natives' fight for autonomy. You forget that you're watching computer generated characters - they come to life like "real" actors. I have to give James Cameron credit - this film is quite an achievement. I'm not sure I'm ready to see every film in 3D - it still seems a bit contrived to me - but I can see where it might work for some films. Especially blockbusters/epics like this.

Yes, the story is pretty cliched - the great white messiah comes to rescue the poor, helpless native people. We have to get back to our basic, natural roots -stop destroying our planet - save the planet or we will in turn be destroyed. But the visuals make it easier to swallow this and enjoy the film experience. Yes, it's long - nearly 3 hours - but I never felt like it stretched on - didn't find myself looking at my watch or longing for the ladies room. Definitely a film to see - and to see on the big screen.

5. The Young Victoria
I have friends who traveled to Paris in November, and saw this film on the plane. Strange, since it hadn't even been released in the US yet - but it was released nearly a year ago in Europe. My friends are not big movie goers, yet both raved about how much they enjoyed this. So I was pretty excited when it opened here in the Scenic City. I knew I probably need to see it the first weekend, because it probably wouldn't stay here long.

I loved it! I am a sucker for a period drama, and one with both historical and romantic leanings? Awesome! The film tells the story of the life of the young Queen Victoria, from the maneuvering that was behind her ascension to the throne through her romance and marriage to her cousin Prince Albert. The period detail is wonderful - the costumes alone are worth the price of admission - and the performance by Emily Blount is terrific. And although it's an epic film, it isn't epic in length (105 minutes). It easily is one of my favorites out of this bunch - and one of my favs for the year!

Soon...soon...soon

2010-01-02T06:16:00.001-05:00

Boston Globe photo

Prime 9: 2009

2009-12-31T11:33:00.012-05:00

In the spirit of the MLBN's "Prime 9" countdown shows, and because it's nearly New Year's, here are my top nine events of 2009:

1. Turning 50 in the Big Apple: I had a great milestone birthday in New York in March. The company - my three sisters, sister-in-law and two nieces - was outstanding. We had thousands of laughs, some great meals, too much wine, and just an all-around good time! I also managed a few hours at the Met, and a wonderful walk through Central Park. And then there was Madame Tussaud's...

2. May Megapalooza in Boston: I spent Memorial Day weekend in the Hub, meeting up with a bunch of insane people I met via the interwebs. Not one true psycho in the bunch - and we had so much fun! The RS split the two games I went to - I sat thru a hail storm at one - and I got to see the Boston Pops perform songs from their baseball-themed cd. Oh and this:
So now I've gotten photos with Bill Lee and Dwight Evans. My "holy grail" photo is still Carlton Fisk. Maybe in 2010.

3. Two memorable stops on our tour of the major league parks. Red Sox v. Nationals: My first visit to the new Nationals Park in Washington DC. It's a terrific place to watch a game, but two things made it extry-special. We got to see AB, our dear friend who passed away later in the year - which made the meet-up even more special. Kelly also got us absolutely fantasmic seats - right behind home plate. Awesome!

Red Sox v. Braves: We followed up the VIP treatment in DC with the opportunity to watch the RS take batting practice at Turner Field - standing right on the field with them. Jason Bay could have spit sunflower seeds on us.It made up for the un-godly heat we experienced!

4. The Baseball Project concert in Atlanta: What a great little adventure. A quick drive down to Atlanta to see the four-person band called the Baseball Project. A terrific show - and I can't wait for their second album, which should be out in '10.

5. Food tours: While in NYC, we took a food tour of Greenwich Village - and it was really, really interesting and fun. It opened up a new way of seeing a city for me - and I took a similar tour of the North End when I was in Boston in July. I think I will try to add such a tour to each of my itineraries in the future - you get some great ideas for restaurants to try. And speaking of eating...

6. Embracing the good life: My resolution to try out some hometown restaurants has been so much fun. I've had some wonderful meals, and it makes me feel quite special and pampered to treat myself to a night out. And the evenings that I've combined the meal with the Chattanooga Symphony have been especially entertaining. More in '10, definitely!

7. RS v. Detroit: I loved seeing Comerica, but another highlight was getting to see some buddies from my U of M days. We had a great reunion - it took me back 25 years!

8. A renewed, more positive attitude about work: I resolved that this school year, I would have a more positive attitude, that I'd try to reconnect with my students, be less negative with them. And it's really been great. I feel like I've gotten to know them better - and vice versa. I look forward to each day - although not without SOME trepidation.

9. MLB Network: OMG! How did I ever live without this station?! It has revolutionized the way I watch baseball, tv, sports... No more wading through boring football and hockey news on ESPN - I can get the information I want! It's been fun to watch some of their classic games in the off-season, to see Bob Costas interviewing legends of the game. And now that they've added Peter Gammons - woot!

Dine Out: Rain Forest Cafe

2009-12-21T17:33:00.003-05:00

When I go out of town, I always try to find someplace different to eat. So, while in central Connecticut, I headed out for lunch, looking for something. I ended up at the West Farms Mall, driving around the exterior first for ideas. All the usuals: Olive Garden, Red Robin, Chili's, Ruby Tuesdays... So I went inside the mall, knowing that I could always hit Cafe Nordstrom for something tasty. Perusing the mall directory, I spotted the Rainforest Cafe. I'd never been to one, and figured, what the heck.

It's really an entertainment venue as much as a restaurant. There are all kinds of animatronic animals: an elephant that trumpets, gorillas that dance, a thunder storm that rolls in every 30 minutes. Kind of fun - but you can clearly see that the under 12 set is their target audience. The menu itself is pretty standard for mall places: pricey entrees, sandwiches, appetizers. They do have a lunch menu from 11-3, which I took advantage of. I had a large chopped salad - which helped calm the craving I had for something green - and I had the Planet Earth Pasta (ziti and Italian sausage with marinara sauce). I had to send the pasta back as it was cold. I guess they figure that most parents will have to spend time getting their kids settled into their meals and don't need to worry that their meals are served hot. Even after it was "heated up," it still wasn't exactly hot, more lukewarm.

It would be a fun place to go if you were a kid or were trying to entertain a kid on a long mall trip. For an adult, I think I'd pick something else!

Wednesday Dine Out: Big River Grille

2009-12-17T16:22:00.001-05:00

When I first moved to the Scenic City, the downtown area was an embarrassment. Where once there had been elegant shops and restaurants were now empty store fronts and seedy shops. But in the early 90s, a group of forward thinking residents got together and produced a plan to renew the area. The keystone would be the Tennessee Aquarium, now the largest freshwater aquarium in the world. It was located right on the Tennessee River, and merchants and entrepreneurs began flocking to the surrounding area. The result has been tremendous, giving us a downtown of which to be proud.

One of the first tenants in the area was the Big River Grille. Three locals were ahead of the trend of microbreweries when the opened just a block from the Aquarium in an old trolley barn, and it quickly caught on as a great spot for dinner or beer. They've expanded over the years to include outlets in Disney World and Nashville, and have become part of the Gordon-Biersch group. They also have a second location in Chattanooga near Hamilton Place Mall, and that was my destination this week.

Of course, the drawing card is the beer. And it's terrific! In the past, I've often gotten the five beer sampler, allowing you to taste all their beers. But usually I gravitate toward a wheaty beer, and have enjoyed their Vienna Lager, so that's what I opted for. Yum!

The food is an interesting mix of pub food and entrees. They have great burgers and pizzas, but their meatloaf is awesome! But I was feeling adventurous, and studied the menu for quite a while before choosing the Blue Crab Stuffed Chicken Breast. It was stuffed with blue crab and artichokes, lightly breaded and fried. Wow! The server had told me it was her favorite item on the menu (side note: I read recently that servers are told to always say whatever the person orders is their favorite!), and I agree. It was a huge breast with rice on the side. I also had a salad.

It's an interesting time of the year to dine out. There were several large parties around me, people in festive holiday clothes and exchanging small gifts. Office or church groups, I guessed. Next to me were four women who I think considered themselves the local version of the Sex in the City gals - one had a lemon drop martini, the rest ordered water or iced tea! And the restaurant is definitely loud - which for the single diner means you can eat and not have to shout at someone the whole time!

It was a nice meal, a convenient location, and did I mention the good beer?

Wednesday Dine Out: Provino's

2009-12-10T17:22:00.001-05:00

During my first years here, I had a roommate who had grown up locally and still had family living here. About once a month, her parents would take us out to dinner - and their idea of a splurge meal was to go to Provino's. I don't think I've been back there in over 15 years, but as I was out and about earlier this week, I noticed it and thought, hey, why not. So this Wednesday evening, I ventured into it.

It hasn't changed a bit. Same kind of cheezy decor - fake ivy hanging from fake trellises, red and white checkered plastic tablecloths. They actually have crammed quite a bit of seating into their small storefront. I had scoped out the menu online (being surprised to discover they have nine other locations in Georgia), and had decided on an entree already.

Provino's offers quite a lot of value - which I think is why my roommie's folks took us there. All their entrees include a big salad, and endless bowl of garlic rolls. The salad was superior to Olive Garden - lettuce, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, chick peas and (surprise) beets. A nice light vinegar and oil dressing, too. And the rolls are just as I remember - soaked in butter with tons of garlic on top. In my pre-Weight Watcher days, I really went to town on them - and last night, well, I still had three or four!

I had decided on a chicken entree called Chicken Francese. The menu's description made it sound like Chicken Piccata, a favorite of mine. However, instead of being lightly bathed in a lemon sauce, this breaded chicken breast came in a pool of sauce. I thought for a moment they had brought me soup! In retrospect, I should have asked them to pour some off - or just poured it off into my salad bowl myself. The chicken itself seemed to have the skin intact, so I didn't care for that. It was served with a small bowl of spaghetti and meat sauce - which was unexciting. I accompanied it with a glass of Chianti, which was not memorable. And in a attempt to salvage the meal, I did try the tiramisu, which was not great. It was served in a parfait glass with too much whipped cream and chocolate chips sprinkled over it; I barely could find the coffee-flavored lady fingers.

Before there were too many other dining options here in town, Provino's was considered by many to be a "traditional" Italian restaurant. Having grown up in RI with its huge number of Italians, I know this to not be the case. This is someone's Southernized version of an ethnic restaurant. The food was pedestrian, well, actually, not that good. Many of the items - like the salad and dessert - had clearly been made up well ahead of time, and merely shuttled out to the diner. The one plus is the price: for under $25, I had an entree, salad, rolls, dessert and a glass of wine, as well as a pleasant conversation with my server - a Yankee fan - about the upcoming year in the AL East. However, in this case, the bargain wasn't a particularly good one.

It will definitely be another 15 years before I go back. If I get a hankering for Italian again, I think it'll be the Olive Garden for me!

Tiger Rex

2009-12-03T06:47:00.000-05:00

Two things about me: I love team sports, and I really don't like "dominating" players.

One of the things I love about sports is the drama. The underdog who comes back, the team that puts in that Herculean effort in the bottom of the 9th or in the fourth quarter, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. I don't watch a game or a match because I know the outcome, or can predict it. It's one of the reasons I have trouble watching a recorded game after the fact - once I know the outcome, the fun is done. Part of the drama is often generated because it's a team effort; it's difficult for one player to truly dominate a baseball game, for example. Yes, you could argue that Rivera dominates when he comes into a game in the 9th to close out a victory. But the other members of the team had to get through eight innings to allow him to take the ball. Think of Harvey Haddix, who pitched 12 no-hit innings but was ultimately let down because his team couldn't score any runs.

I also like my favorite athletes to be human. I must admit, there's part of me that likes to see them fail. When a golfer hits a drive onto an adjacent fairway, I love it. Maybe because it makes me feel like I'm not that bad of a golfer - but it also allows me to "relate" to them on some level. I found little enjoyment in watching Borg or Lendl dissect an opponent; I much preferred watching Connors or McEnroe struggle and triumph. I'd rather watch Larry Bird with a bad back struggling to participate, than watch Michael Jordan kick another team's butt for four quarters.

So it's probably not a surprise that I have never been a Tiger Woods fan. To me, he's just one small step away from being a robot. When he's on the course, the outcome feels inevitable. You know he'll dominate on Friday and Saturday, making the Sunday final round a reason for an afternoon nap. Some of this may come from frustration. I've followed the PGA Tour for years - mainly because I'm a fan of Brad Faxon. Brad's from my hometown in Rhode Island, a great putter and an even greater guy. Every week, he was out on the course, often in recent years struggling with injury and struggling to make cuts. Yet the cameras rarely focused on him because of the klieg lights focused on Tiger. I have a lot of irritation with those who only watch a tournament when Tiger's in it, who only go out and walk the course at a tournament to follow Tiger. There is some fantastic golf being played away from him on every hole.

Which brings me to Tiger's "fall of grace." I've followed this story pretty closely - but not with malice or glee. It was refreshing to me to see a human side of Tiger Woods. Stripped of his PR team, his inner cadre of protectors, he suddenly looked quite vulnerable. The world suddenly had a glimpse beneath the cybornetic skin, beyond the carefully cultivated image. I'm not judging him. There's none of us who could stand up to such media scrutiny. But I'm also not sorry to see him taken down a notch or two.

The Greeks called it "hubris," and made an industry out of the tragic fall of heroes. Now it seems, TMZ has taken the place of Sophocles. The outcome, however, is the same.

Sunday Supper at the Public House

2009-11-23T10:47:00.008-05:00

Just a few years ago, the city finally repealed the "Blue Laws" which prohibited businesses from opening before 12noon on Sundays. It caused quite a controversy here in the "Buckle of the Bible Belt." Ardent churchgoers felt this made it difficult for workers to attend church on Sunday morning, as they'd have to be at work instead. (My response? Convert to Catholicism, and have variety in your mass time choices!) It was ironic to me that folks would have this reaction, as they are the first ones in line at the local restaurants for supper after they get out of their 10 o'clock services. They clearly weren't considering the souls of the wait staff.

I write this as a background on how deeply Sunday suppers are embedded in the local mindset. Whether it's going to grandma's or to the Piccadilly Cafeteria, folks here like to have a meal after their soul-cleansing. One of the newer - and pricier - restaurants here has picked up on this, and is offering their own version of Sunday Suppers.

The Public House opened this year in a vacant space in the Warehouse Row development downtown. The owner is Nathan Lindley, whose brother owns several of the restaurants I've previously reviewed (Alleia, the Meeting Place and the St. John's). Their regular menu is based on the "small plates" concept - you can order several smaller plates as opposed to a large entree (although you can get regular entrees as well).

Sunday Supper is different. It's served just on Sunday, from 12n to 8pm. You can choose from one of four meats, and then all sides are served at your table family style. We started with a large salad, described as "Garden Patch Salad with heirloom beans, tomato, cucumber, spiced pecans, blue cheese, herb vinaigrette." It came in a large bowl, and all four of us had two servings plus some left over. Along with the salad was a basket of rolls - both regular yeast dinner rolls and some very yummy cheddar muffins (we had to get extras of the latter), served with home-made Chow Chow, a relish that is a Southern favorite.

Next came the main course. We had a choice of four items:

Public House Fried Chicken
Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon
Sugar-Cured Roast Pork Loin, Sweet onion gravy
Wagyu Beef Meatloaf with Tomato-Basil Gravy

One friend got the pork loin, and let us all sample it. It was so tender! There were two large slices - she ended up taking one home. Another got the fried chicken. It looked very flaky and tender. I got the meatloaf - wow! It was wonderfully seasoned and the meat wasn't all mushy. I brought half home - and can't wait for what I consider the perfect lunch: a leftover meatloaf sandwich.

With the entrees came three side dishes: roasted squash, macaroni and cheese, and green beans. Each came in a large serving bowl that we passed among ourselves. All were terrific - and enough for several extra servings. When we were finished, the wait staff asked if we wanted to take anything home. So we all refilled our plates with the extra sides, and they were nicely boxed up for us and handed to us in a shopping bag as we got ready to leave.

And, yes, there was a dessert course (although we were all ready to unbutton our pants!) - a warm apple cobbler served with two scoops of ice cream and locally produced honey over the top. Wow. And I guess that's an accurate description of the whole meal: over-the-top-fantastic!

My one disappointment was that I couldn't get my friends to enjoy a pitcher of sangria or mimosas - they stuck with hot tea. Oh, well. They also need to invest in some serving spoons. As this menu is a recent addition, they don't seem to as yet have anything larger than a soup spoon for serving.

The bill for all that was just $20 per person. A great deal and a great meal! I had been dying to try this, but had been reluctant to go alone, knowing how much food was involved. However, I did note a single diner at a nearby table who was served a single portion of each side with his meal. So if I have a hankering to go again, I won't have to worry about getting together a posse! And in how many restaurants does the owner not only come by to ask about your meal, but also delivers some the courses himself?!

CAN. NOT. WAIT

2009-11-23T10:46:00.002-05:00

Congratulations Jordan!

2009-11-22T11:11:00.004-05:00

Photo by John Shearer
Congratulations to Jordan Thomas, who was among the top 10 vote-getters in the CNN Heroes Award. He's one of my former students, and we've all been voting for him like crazy. He won $25,000 for his foundation, which helps fund prosthetics for children.

And he also got to meet NPH!!

Iron Tom

2009-11-18T16:12:00.000-05:00

Or should I say, Iron, Tom?!

Football? Well, maybe

2009-11-17T07:31:00.000-05:00

Did I claim to be a one-sport woman? Well, Tommy could make me change my mind...

An easy evening

2009-11-13T12:26:00.004-05:00

I had a ticket for the Symphony Thursday night, so I put off my Wednesday Dine Out until then. And it was a night that was so good for my soul!

I decided to have dinner at the Easy Bistro & Bar. It's located in downtown Chattanooga, right across the street from the Tennessee Aquarium. It was opened by some folks from New Orleans, and the menu reflects that heritage. It's a pretty place - as you can see above - very "New York." Lots of black, with huge purple orchids at most tables. Big windows looking out on Broad Street, so you can watch the pedestrian and vehicular traffic go by.

They have a lovely menu, and I was determined to step outside my comfort zone and try some different things, So I started with a twist on the Southern favorite, fried green tomatoes. The Easy version was served with bits of crawfish and black-eyed peas. Yum! For my main course, again trying to be different, I opted for the fish special: a pan-roasted triggerfish, with crushed Yukon Potatoes, almonds & tomato-shallot confit. Wow! They fly their fish in daily, so it's quite fresh. I'm a sucker for carmelized onions/shallots, and they were a fantastic accompaniment to the fish and potatoes. Wonderful.

At this point, I wasn't sure I had hit the $50 mark yet - I had a gift card for that amount! So when asked about dessert, I said, why yes, of course. I chose the bourbon bread pudding - and what a feast my mouth had! A wonderful finish to a wonderful meal.

(And to my readers - I've realized that it must seem that I have very un-discriminating taste. I rave about every meal I have! But I've been quite selective in the restaurants I've chosen so far - ones I've either been to before or that my friends have raved about - and ones that I know will serve a blog-worthy meal!)

After my dinner, I headed to the Tivoli Theater for a performance by the Chattanooga Symphony. Earlier this year, our Musical Director and conductor, Bob Bernhardt, announced that he was stepping down as conductor. So each performance this year has featured one of the candidates for the position. This week, they showcased a young man from Australia who has been working in Germany for the past few years, Tobias Foskett. His remarks to the audience were witty and thoughtful, and his conducting of the orchestra was masterful. They performed three "German" pieces - a Wagner overture, a Brahms "variation," and Beethoven's 7th Symphony. A really terrific performance - and my seat in the upper balcony (thanks to my dear friend Bill) was a fun way to watch over the whole performance. I love to watch the percussionists in particular - the cymbalist who sits the whole symphonic performance to leap to his feet for two cymbal crashes at the end; or the player of the triangle who has such an important role!

These evenings of classical music and fine food are becoming important to me. So relaxing and stimulating. They just make me feel so refreshed and appreciative of my life!

The best team money could buy - Joe Posnanski - SI.com

2009-11-06T07:55:00.000-05:00

The best team money could buy - Joe Posnanski - SI.com

Joe says it better than I ever could!

Bloated Payroll

2009-11-05T05:31:00.005-05:00

I have a couple of friends (and you know who you are!) who love to taunt me that the Sox have been just as guilty as the Yankees of trying to buy a championship. The next time they start in on that, I'm going to wave this at them. It's from Cot's Baseball Contracts:


.	2009-13 PAYROLLS
.	Figures include annual salaries, plus signing bonuses pro-rated over life of the contract.
.	Figures do not include deferrals or performance, award or signing bonuses.
.	Figures are unofficial.
.			2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
.	1	NY YANKEES	$206,811,689	$166.307	$118.084	$99.634	$95.384
.	2	NY METS	$139,102,235	$92.113	$86.738	$39.250	$26.500
.	3	CHICAGO CUBS	$137,945,612	$119.958	$96.300	$54.000	$19.000
.	4	DETROIT	$129,598,000	$84.588	$41.250	$31.000	$23.000
.	5	PHILADELPHIA	$127,957,380	$96.286	$76.036	$27.286	$16.786
.	6	BOSTON	$122,624,689	$76.183	$43.483	$30.833	$11.500
.	7	LA ANGELS	$116,709,000	$59.950	$42.150	$29.700	$1.000
.	8	LA DODGERS	$109,176,603	$60.933	$25.750	$1.250	$0.000
.	9	HOUSTON	$105,035,000	$54.250	$37.000	$21.000	$0.000
.	10	SEATTLE	$99,346,926	$44.125	$46.875	$22.250	$0.000
.	11	CHICAGO WHITE SOX	$98,268,500	$45.075	$27.975	$10.250	$0.000
.	12	ATLANTA	$97,692,834	$44.117	$32.392	$23.917	$15.500
.	13	SAINT LOUIS	$93,612,500	$50.339	$44.189	$13.938	$0.000
.	14	SAN FRANCISCO	$88,777,106	$51.100	$32.600	$32.600	$20.000
.	15	CLEVELAND	$81,325,900	$49.955	$27.205	$13.500	$2.750


.	16	TORONTO	$80,493,657	$81.168	$43.643	$36.643	$37.143
.	17	MILWAUKEE	$80,280,861	$38.813	$7.038	$6.288	$8.788
.	18	BALTIMORE	$77,169,792	$29.568	$21.468	$22.350	$25.350
.	19	TEXAS	$76,239,840	$38.950	$22.200	$23.200	$16.500
.	20	KANSAS CITY	$76,021,243	$49.100	$30.500	$13.750	$0.000
.	21	COLORADO	$74,730,533	$40.558	$29.683	$5.100	$0.000
.	22	ARIZONA	$72,475,000	$32.117	$23.700	$26.700	$12.750
.	23	CINCINNATI	$71,858,500	$59.888	$28.313	$3.400	$0.000
.	24	MINNESOTA	$67,899,267	$59.364	$33.100	$23.500	$15.000
.	25	TAMPA BAY	$65,126,368	$39.183	$21.708	$11.430	$6.000
.	26	OAKLAND	$61,896,066	$19.250	$3.500	$0.000	$0.000
.	27	WASHINGTON	$61,455,049	$22.500	$0.000	$0.000	$0.000
.	28	PITTSBURGH	$52,643,000	$22.975	$20.000	$3.950	$0.000
.	29	SAN DIEGO	$42,746,653	$26.250	$16.000	$17.000	$4.000
.	30	FLORIDA	$35,483,951	$7.950	$11.000	$15.000	$15.500

Heck, the Red Sox don't even make the top five! (Thanks to Kelly for pointing out this site)

Wednesday Dine Out: Bonefish Grill

2009-11-02T20:43:00.000-05:00

When I started on this culinary journey, I made a decision to try to avoid any chains. I mean, every Applebees and Olive Garden is the same, no matter what city or country you're in. And there are tons of dining options here in the Scenic City, but really, the crowds flock to the chains.

So, I eased up a bit, and tried the Bonefish Grill. Bonefish is an "upscale" chain, with most of their locations in the Southeast and along the Northeast Coast. The first one opened in 2000 in St. Petersburg, and Florida is still the home to most of their units. I'd been there ages ago, when it first opened, so a return trip was long overdue.

Over the past weeks, one thing I'd noticed at my restaurant picks was the lack of early diners. I like to eat early - like 5:30 or 6pm - and the downtown restaurants I've tried really just seemed to be getting some business as I was leaving. Not so with Bonefish - when I got there at 6pm, that place was hopping! It turns out they have extended happy hours until 10pm on Wednesday - with some good specials, like half price on "premium" liquors. I had a 25 minute wait just to get a table! So I took advantage of the HH and sat at the bar. It may be because Bonefish is in the "burbs," on the way home for folks working downtown, but for whatever reason, there was a large crowd hanging out there. It made for a much more fun dining experience - there was all kinds of activity to observe. Much more interesting than my book.

Although they have a varied menu, grilled fish is their signature item. You can choose from six or seven different types, and then you choose one of four different sauces. I opted for the tilapia, with a warm mango salsa. Yum! With it, I had the house salad, which was good, and a nice glass (or two!) of the house red sangria. A really nice meal.

The other special on Wednesdays is their Bang Bang Shrimp. I'm not a great lover of shrimp, so I passed on that, but it seemed like just about everyone in there was ordering it. So it must be good!

When it comes time to start revisiting some of these restaurants, Bonefish Grill will definitely be in the rotation!

Bon appetit!

As seen at the Reading Market Terminal

2009-11-02T16:40:00.000-05:00

Via twitter from Amelie Benjamin

Let's hope it's true

2009-10-28T06:47:00.001-05:00

(Thanks to Cyn for pointing this one out!)

ETA: A great update on the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox

Wednesday Dine Out: 212 Market

2009-10-21T17:03:00.001-05:00

Last week was our Fall Break Weekend. We had a half day on Thursday and then off until Tuesday - a wonderful, well-needed break for both students and faculty. I celebrated by having my dine out night on Thursday - and my meal was delightful.

I went to 212 Market, which bills itself as "Tennessee's First Green Restaurant." They were certified thru the "Green Restaurant Association," and they were graded based on things like water efficiency, having sustainable food and furnishing, having a full-scale recycling program, and being Styrofoam free. And here I thought they just served a good meal!

As you can see above, it's a pretty restaurant - right across the street from the world famous Tennessee Aquarium. I had scoped out the menu beforehand, and had eaten there numerous times, so I had pretty much decided on my meal when I arrived. There was a pretty good crowd there - several groups of what looked like business associates, and a few "dates." (There was a group of 7 sitting next to me - isn't it funny how there is always one person whose voice carries? So that you hear their every comment, but none of their companions' rejoinders?)

I had a spinach salad. I know, this seems to be my go-to first course, but I really do like it - and theirs had a nice vinaigrette, sliced apples, Gorgonzola and bacon. Mmm. For my main course, I went with something off the appetizer menu: a petite filet mignon, on a "bleu cheese-olive cream & pecorino-white truffle sauce. Wow! The filet was so tender - just the right size, maybe 3 oz. - and the sauce was an incredible accompaniment. Since I'd done so well by having the smaller meal, I of course had to have dessert - a peanut butter mousse pie. I felt like my membership in Weight Watchers should be rescinded! The nicest surprise came at the end: my server asked if I was headed to the Chattanooga Symphony (which I was); they give a 10% discount to Symphony patrons.

The Symphony was really wonderful. They featured Tchaikovsky, performing his Symphony #5. However, the real treat was in the first section: Piano Concerto #1, featuring guest artist Michael Chertock. The Concerto is, of course, a real showpiece. It can show off an artist's talents (and weaknesses), but Chertock was totally up to the challenge. I had chills listening to him run through the piece - and his performance elicited a long, standing ovation. After that, the Symphony was a little bit of a let-down, although still enjoyable. (I must admit that after that big, lovely dinner, I was a little drowsy thru the second act!)

This is the first year I've regularly attended the symphony, and I'm really, really enjoying it. It makes for an elegant night on the town, makes me feel special and "cultured." As a way to treat myself well and to take care of myself, these little excursions have really been beneficial.

Bon appetit!

Perspective

2009-10-14T07:09:00.002-05:00

“Red Smith used to say he loved ‘the music of the game,’ ” the late Ned Martin, the voice of the Sox for 32 seasons, once reflected. “What a great line. There is a music to it! There’s an orderliness to it as well. Yet you can still see something in almost every game that you’ve never seen before. That’s the beauty of baseball; it’s never predictable, even though it never changes.”

Wednesday Dine Out: The Terminal Brewhouse

2009-10-13T20:05:00.000-05:00

I realized that I forgot one Wednesday Dining write up! Two weeks ago, I went to the Terminal Brewhouse, a new micro-brewery downtown. It's right next door to the famous Chattanooga Choo Choo; in fact, the building in which it was housed was once a hotel, and also housed one of the first Black-owned businesses in the city.

The pub opened last spring. I actually had lunch there once before, but this time was meeting a bunch of my friends for a birthday celebration. We had hoped to sit outside in the Biergarten - but it was a rare cool evening here, so we opted to move inside when we were ready to eat.

The food is pretty good. I had their wood grilled pizza - way too much for one meal, so I had leftovers (which reheated pretty well). Some of the other entrees looked good - especially the vegetable lasagna. On my previous visit, I'd had the buffalo burger and sweet potato fries - both were awesome (and I kind of wish I'd gotten them again, although I wanted to try something a little different).

The main feature is, of course, their beer! Last time, I had as my appetizer the beer sampler - which isn't on the menu! I decided my three favorites were the Maibock, the Belgian White, and the Oatmeal Stout. So this time, I had the first two. On the second try, I decided that I really preferred the White. It has some fruitiness to it - almost similar to my current favorite by Leinenkugels, Sunset Wheat. I wanted to go with the Stout for dessert, but... I am not a dark beer drinker, but this had some incredible chocolate and caramel undertones. If the weather had been cooler...

It's a fun spot. They have three levels around an open middle. The first floor is the bar and casual dining. The second floor is for real dining, and leads out to the deck. The third floor is reserved for parties - the night we were there, there was a lingerie part going on, so you can imagine the hooting and hollering coming from up there! Wild!

I would definitely go back, though maybe for a happy hour rather than a meal. And I have to go back for that Oatmeal Stout as the weather gets cooler!

"Snap out of it!"

2009-10-13T17:22:00.001-05:00

Okay, I've allowed myself one full day to wallow in my post-Red Sox season depression. It's funny, I don't remember feeling this down last year - but that may have been because of the way they exhausted me during the playoffs. Nearly losing to Cleveland, then the epic comebacks against the Rays. Phew.

But this year we're three and done. Swept. In some ways, the playoffs reflected the regular season. I love this team, and loved watching almost every game. But I really wasn't sure we had what we needed to go deep in the playoffs. Certainly, my angst was multiplied by watching that Yankee Juggernaut. They look like a steamroller - and we certainly didn't do well against them in our last few outings. I'm afraid we would have been toast in the ALCS. Now it's up to the Angels to call on whatever emotional vibes they've been using and knock out the Yanks. Still, it would have been nice to go further into the playoffs - or to have at least played all five games of the ALDS.

But you must admit, this decade has been a good one for the Red Sox and its fans. And I like to think we're on a three year cycle. Won in 2004. Swept in ALDS in 2005. No post-season in 2006. Won in 2007. Lost in ALCS in 2008. Lost in ALDS in 2009. Ergo => another World Series Championship in 2010.

In the meantime, one of my favorite recent photos by my pal Kelly:
If I were a catcher and this freight train was approaching, I'd be cowering by the backstop!

When does Spring Training start?

2009-10-12T07:01:00.000-05:00

This illustrates how I feel this morning: deflated.... Oh, well, time to heat up the Hot Stove!

Enough Said!

2009-10-09T15:07:00.001-05:00

Wally and I agree!

Wednesday Dine Out: Table 2

2009-10-08T16:30:00.001-05:00

One of our local radio stations runs a promotion they call "50/50 Fridays." You can go online at 9am on any Friday, and purchase a gift certificate for half-price. Sometimes it's for a restaurant - which is how I acquired a $50 gift certificate for Table 2. I bought it back in the spring, then set it aside for a "special occasion." My friend Jackie reminded me about it a few weeks ago, and suggested I look at the expiration date. Lo and behold, it expired on October 10th - so I decided that I best use it this week for my Wednesday dining out night. And what an excellent decision that was! It was undoubtedly the best meal I've had so far on this journey.

I really did try to get to the restaurant later - didn't arrive until nearly 6pm. There were two tables occupied on the outside patio, and one inside. So I had my pick of them. The decor is cool, as you can see from the photo above from their website. When you enter, you pass thru a long drapery, and all of the booths are draped (although I've never seen them closed!) I actually sat at the second table to the left in the above photo.

They were offering a five course "tasting" menu for $60 - but I decided that was too much food for me. So I ordered a simple spinach salad and one of the night's specials: Kobe Flatiron Steak, Warm German Potato Salad, Mustard Aioli, Asparagus, Port Demi Glace.

As I was enjoying a cocktail and awaiting the first course, I had a great visit with one of my former students who is now a chef at Table 2. He's had a great career so far at several local restaurants, and is getting ready to go to France in February for a year to cook. He said, oh, let me send you a little something special, and slipped off to the kitchen. So after my salad, the waiter brought over an appetizer for me to try - some grilled duck, sliced and placed on a bed of veggies. Yum! And then came the main course. Oh, my! The steak simply melted in my mouth; the demi glace sauce was wow; and the potato salad and asparagus were perfect accompaniments. And with a glass of red wine...it was wonderful.

These Wednesday dinners have also proven wonderful for my soul. After a stressful few days, how great it is to relax with a wonderful meal and a wonderful glass of wine. It's a signal to my body that it can start to wind down for the weekend.

So, this Friday, those half price coupons will be offered again - and I'll be online quickly to pick up a couple. I can't wait to go back, although if I go solo again, I think I'll sit at the chef's table right by the kitchen. It would be a great spot to watch all the action in the kitchen!

What a game!

2009-10-07T07:11:00.005-05:00

First, let me correct an error on the last post. The Red Sox are only playing two in Anaheim. My gut feeling: we split the games out on the West Coast, and come home to Fenway only needing to win 2 out of 3. And winning two in a row at Fenway? Well, how many times have we done that this year?

Meanwhile - what a game in Minneapolis last night!

AP Photo via Yahoo Sports

It had to be one of the most exciting games ever! Although I don't agree with Orlando Cabrera, who called it the best game he'd ever played in. Weren't you there for Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, OCab? I'll chalk that up to heat of the moment. Still, to have them finish tied at the end of the regular season, tied at the end of nine innings, tied until the bottom of the 12th...Wow!

Anyone who says "baseball is boring" should be required to watch that game. Now, let's hope the Twins can ride that momentum train into New York for tonight's game vs. the Yankees. If the Twins could pull out a win tonight....

Time to rest and recharge those batteries

2009-10-05T06:51:00.000-05:00

Just a few short days to rest and get ready for the playoffs. The first three games are in Anaheim - which could mean some late nights! GO SOX!

My hero

2009-10-03T18:47:00.003-05:00

When I go off on my various Red Sox road trips, my erstwhile companion is my Boston-based buddy Kelly, she of the awesome photos. But the fact is, we have a third companion. His name is Steve T. Ferret. In many ways, he's an ideal companion - he's quiet; he doesn't take up much space; he never complains about a lumpy bed or getting squished in an overhead compartment; and he's always game for a photo.

He also has become one of the RS Players' favorite photo companions. On Friday, Big Papi jumped at the opportunity to be photographed with the ferret who is becoming a legend.

Classic! (and it goes without saying: Photo by SittingStill!)

The Baseball Project Live!

2009-10-02T17:41:00.005-05:00

One of my favorite albums - er, CDs - for over a year now has been by a group called The Baseball Project. It's made up of four great "indie-rock" artists: Steve Winn, Scott McCaughey, Linda Pitmon, and Peter Buck. Legend has it that McCaughey and Winn met when the night REM was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Scott is the "unofficial" 5th member of REM). They began chatting about their mutual love of baseball and how each had considered recording some baseball-themed songs. The result was "Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails," released in the summer of 2008.

I have almost worn out the CD. It's filled with great baseball stories - Harvey Haddix, Curt Flood, Black Jack McDowell. Songs with poignancy and depth.

So, I was so excited to discover they were playing in Atlanta on their tour this fall. I got a ticket, debated whether it was wise to go to a dive bar in East Atlanta on a Sunday night....And threw caution to the wind and headed south.

And it was awesome! They played at a tiny neighborhood club called The Earl. A small crowd - probably only 100 or less in the audience.

Here's Peter Buck - better known as lead guitarist for REM. When I told him that I loved the CD - some of the best stuff he's ever done - he looked at me as if to say, Dude, don't you know I'm in another band?
Scott McCaughey has played and recorded with REM since 1994. Really cool. When I told him that I had nearly worn out their CD, he grinned and said, You do realize that CDs don't actually wear out?

Steve Wynn is all kinds of cool. I wasn't familiar with his recordings with Miracle 5, but I am definitely going to! He has a really cool travel diary that he emails to his fans - but instead of describing their gigs, he seems to spend a lot of bandwidth on what they're eating! I told him that his diary always makes me hungry. His response? Really? Well wait until you read tomorrow's installment!

This is drummer Linda Pitmon. I have a major girl crush on her - women rock drummers are just so cool!

The group came out and mingled with the crowd during their break - and I got their autographs. Total fan girl!

It was such a fun show - and well worth the less than 4 hours sleep I got to start the week. Their cd is simply awesome - and they have just been laying down tracks for the second. It includes songs about Ichiro, Tony Conigliaro and Bill Buckner!

And if you're interested in hearing some of their music, this site has a downloadable version of their show in Chapel Hill, NC

The night after their Atlanta show, the Baseball Project played in one of their "hometowns," Athens, GA. They were joined on stage by two surprise guests from REM: Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry, who retired from the group and hasn't played with them since 07. Not being greedy - but that would have been cool!

I love this town!

2009-10-01T17:01:00.000-05:00

Every time I hear this song on my iPod, I visualize Boston. It really sums up how I feel about the Hub!

Clinched!

2009-09-30T07:16:00.003-05:00

Copyrighted photo by Kelly O (sittingstill.net)

So we weren't able to celebrate on the field. And in some ways, it feels like we backed into the playoffs. But, still, WE WON THE WILD CARD! ON TO THE DIVISION PLAYOFFS!

In honor of the clinch, I give you the Crazy Closer! Dance, Pap, Dance!

Magic Number 1

2009-09-29T05:02:00.001-05:00

That legendary wearer of the #1, Bobby Doerr, comes by to wish the Red Sox good luck tonight as they try to clinch that Wild Card berth!

Down to 2

2009-09-28T07:28:00.000-05:00

With our magic number now at 2, I give you one of the most beloved bearers of that number: Jerry Remy. We'll be back at Fenway tonight, with Remdawg in the broadcast booth. How can we NOT clinch?!

(I was going to post a photo of one of my other favorites to wear #2 - Doug Griffin. He was the fulltime second baseman, until the Sox acquired Denny Doyle in mid-1975. After that, his playing time was minimal. But he was awfully cute!)

Still 3

2009-09-26T19:01:00.004-05:00

Awaiting the outcome of the Rangers game tonight, the Sox' magic number is still 3. And, yes, the RS lost, but I like to ponder some of the positives from today's game. Matsuzaka had 7 good innings - 6 hits, 1 run - who would have thought that this game would be a pitcher's duel? Victor Martinez extended his hitting streak to 25! The only other bright spot in today's game was the appearance of the newest Supreme Court Justice throwing out the first pitch:
Ignore that she's wearing that hated jersey!

And still a chance to salvage one game tomorrow. Here's hoping for the Yom Kippur mojo for tomorrow!

An evening of sex and violins

2009-09-25T12:41:00.005-05:00

Not so much sex as sexiness!

Last night, I used one of my free tickets to the Chattanooga Symphony. They featured Brahms' 2nd Symphony, and Beethoven's Violin Concerto. The guest artist was Alexandre da Costa, whom I knew to be a well-reviewed solo artist.

Little did I realize that not only is he extremely talented, he is also a real hottie! He and his Strad took the theater captive and didn't release us until after an encore!

Since I had missed my Wednesday night dine out this week ( I was subbing at a WW meeting), I took myself out for a pre-theatre meal. I tried out Hennen's in downtown Chattanooga, right across the street from the Tennesseee Aquarium. I had eaten there once before, when it had first opened almost two years ago.

My one complaint about the many wonderful restaurants in our downtown is the lack of parking. You either opt for on-street parking (if you can find it) or suck it up and pay $5. I lucked into a spot not far from the restaurant - yay! And there seemed to be a growing crowd as I arrived, which was good.

They specialize in martinis, so I indulged in a Lemon Drop. Yum! For my meal, I had a "BLT salad" (a basic Iceberg wedge with bleu cheese and bacon bits), and the Feta Chicken (chicken breast stuffed with Feta and sun dried tomatoes). A very rich dinner - but all was well prepared and very nice. They score extra points for my entree arriving piping hot.

I was also happy to see a large crowd there. I'm not sure if this is due to a later eating time, or to the fact that the restaurant is situated in the middle of a high traffic area. Whatever the reason, I always feel better about our economy when I see folks out eating!

So, a lovely meal, followed by a nite of culchah - great! What I love about our Symphony is the varied crowd. You see the stereotypical redneck (in well-worn cargo shorts and ball cap) next to the retired lady bussed in from the local retirement center in her sparkly top. The creme de la creme, mixing with those trying to become the creme, mixed with those who don't care. So refreshing.

As the lights dimmed, I was struck by the many ironies of my life. Thursday I'm out for a lovely, pricey meal and a night at the symphony. Sunday, I'll be a the "best dive bar in Atlanta" to see the Baseball Project play. What a contrast! But it's what makes my life so fun and fulfilling.

Down to 3

2009-09-25T07:14:00.001-05:00

There have been many wearers of the number 3 through the years. Jimmie Foxx, Rick Miller, Jody Reed, Pokey Reese, David Wells, Grady Little... So instead of choosing, I share with you instead one of my all-time favorite photos - from Boston.com. Mark Loretta with the walk off homer. The expressions on his teammates faces are priceless!

3 more! And on to the Yankee Stadt

Down to 5

2009-09-24T07:18:00.003-05:00

Boston.com photo
My fellow Rhode Islander, Rocco Baldelli, shows what our "magic number" stands at now.

(I know others will comment that their favorite #5 is Nomar, but I have to go with sentiment and say Rocco is my fav!)

One more game tonight against KC - here's hoping Buchholz can help us split the series. Then on to the Bronx!

Six!

2009-09-23T20:47:00.003-05:00

In honor of our Magic Number now at 6, I give you a glorious six-pack from Gabe Kapler!

Jennifer Garner is cool

2009-09-22T14:57:00.003-05:00

I stole this from Surviving Grady. I know Ben Afleck is pooh-poohed by a lot of hard core Sox fans, but I've always liked him. And it's great to see what a positive impact he's had on his wife! Check out her reaction to the Jeter picture!

And the number now is...

2009-09-20T16:00:00.003-05:00

The Red Sox beat the Orioles this afternoon - and finish the season 16-2 against them. Poor Os

Meanwhile, the Rangers were beat by the Angels. And the Yankees are playing in Seatlle - right now they're losing 7-0 (Chamberlain has 50 pitches in 2 innings!)

So, maybe the Division IS in reach. That would be cool - especially if it's due to a Yankee meltdown. But no matter how we get there, I'll be happy to see us in the PostSeason!

NINE!

2009-09-19T17:44:00.003-05:00

Magic Number down to 9!

Magic time

2009-09-18T18:56:00.005-05:00

Yes, we've gotten to that magical time of year - the countdown to the playoffs. Prior to tonight's games, the magic number for the Sox is eleven. Any combination of RS wins and Rangers losses that equal eleven mean the Sox have the Wild Card. I think our chances are good!

Meanwhile, we've landed in Baltimore for three games - the start of the last regular season road trip. We've not played as well on the road as we have at Fenway -we need to get that straightened out before the playoffs. And our pitching? Looking very solid now - more so than at any other point in the season.

I like our chances!

That Girl 21st Century Style

2009-09-16T18:37:00.004-05:00

Today was one of those days when I felt as though I'd stepped into the 2009 version of "That Girl." You remember the show with Marlo Thomas - the first tv series about a single woman, living (and making it) pretty much on her own. Sure, she had the requisite handsome boyfriend ("Oh, Donald"), but her independence is what made an impression on a younger me. She had her own apartment in New York City, she was chasing her dream to be an actress, she wore cool clothes, and she had tons of kooky adventures!

In the Beth version, here's what TV Guide would have said about tonight's episode: After a busy, fulfilling day at work, the cool, independent chick takes herself out for a lovely meal at a hip and hot restaurant.

Continuing my Wednesday night Dine Outs, tonight I made a return visit to Alleia. It just opened in the spring, and is part of a restaurant group that includes the Meeting Place (where I ate two weeks ago). This part of the empire has zeroed in on a nouveau Italian cuisine - wood grilled pizzas as well as pasta dishes with a little twist.

I have actually eaten there before, at the beginning of the summer with friends. They all kept going on and on about much they loved it - and they've all been back several times since - but I was not impressed. I thought it was beautiful inside, but my food was, well, just ordinary. But since they all loved it, I was determined to give it another try, and to choose something a little more exciting than the pasta bolognese I'd had the last time.

I started with the arancini. I had tried this dish for the first time when I was in NYC in March, and I'd been trying to find a recipe to replicate it at home. Well, I don't need to look any more -I'll just go here! Arancini are deep fried rice balls - traditionally, risotto from the previous night is used. It's shaped into balls, a hunk of mozzarella is inserted, they're breaded and deep fried. Yum!! I followed those bites of heaven with a simple salad of field greens, apples and Gorgonzola. For my main course, I decided to go with one of their specialties: pizza cooked in their wood fired stove. I opted for the arugula, smoked mozzarella and prosciutto - their prosciutto is smoked on the premises, and was so good! A really large thin pizza - too much for me. I would have put a little less arugula on it, but...

It was a wonderful meal, I was so glad I tried Alleia again. The one thing that bothered me, though, was the absolute lack of other diners. I arrived at 5:30 - they had opened at 5 pm - and I was the only person in there besides the wait staff. A little before 6, two women came in and sat in the bar area; a little after 6, two businessmen came in and sat in the dining area. But by the time I left around 6:40, there were only 4 tables occupied. I hope this isn't a typical evening for them, because they surely won't last. Admittedly, it was a little early - but, on a weeknight I presume most people eat earlier than a weekend. One of the features of Alleia is their "community table." It bisects the dining room, a long table that seats 32. It would seem the perfect spot for a single diner to sit - you could meet and chat with other lovers of good food. As I sometimes worry about being a solo diner, imagine if I'd planned to dine at the community table - me and 31 empty seats!

When I left, I ran by the grocery store to pick up a few things for lunch. Being the new Ann Marie, I of course grabbed a bunch of flowers for myself. I like to think I was the envy of all the other shoppers - the cool chick treating herself to something pretty. Ahh...

And he did!

2009-09-16T16:45:00.002-05:00

Wow! I didn't expect THAT! I mean, I hoped Daisuke Matsuzaka would have a good comeback last night. I hoped he wouldn't be too rusty. I hoped we could get four or five innings out of him.

But - 6 shut-out innings? A performance that makes our pitching staff look awesome again? A game that got me even more fired up over the possibility of post-season (and deep post-season) play?

Just do it indeed!

The Softer Side of Pap

2009-09-14T20:14:00.001-05:00

I don't have much to say - but I had to get that picture of Jeter pushed down farther!

So to cleanse the palate, I offer this absolutely adorable picture of RS closer Jonathan Papelbon and his daughter, Parker. Aww.

Day off today - the last off-day of the regular season. Which means the season is winding down, which I find both hard to believe and depressing. BUT, we do have a 4 game lead in the Wild Card Race - so hopefully the Sox will be playing deep into October.

Jeter.....but maybe not

2009-09-11T18:02:00.003-05:00

Okay, I REALLY had the intention of posting something positive about **shudder** Derek Jeter today. My hatred of all things Yankee - and, especially, of Derek Jeter - is well documented. But, his achievement Wednesday night - tying Gehrig's record for most hits ever by a Yankee - is really something. I planned to give a shout-out to an admirable adversary, a true competitor, one of the great players of this era, someone you begrudgingly admire.

But, that was Wednesday. Today is Friday. Good feelings quickly fade...especially after I saw a Prime 9 special on the MLB Network this morning while working out. The 9 greatest comebacks in MLB history. Number 1? Of course - 2004, RS come back and kick some Yankee behinds.

How quickly my benevolent feelings dissipated.

And I began to think about the 2009 edition of the RS. Do you see some deja vu? The Rockies are charging thru the NL - on an incredible tear. 2007? The Yankees have dominated the AL East, and it seems that the Sox might clinch the Wild Card. 2004? Our bullpen looks poised to be pretty damned unhittable in the post-season. 2004? Our offense seems to be awakening from their nap. 2004?

So, screw Jeter and screw the Yankees. I really, really, really want to see Mike Lowell holding up that WS trophy again this year. I want to see that dancing fool, Papelbon, performing. I want to see how Victor Martinez reacts to his first WS ring. I want to sit, mesmerized, in front of my tv, ignoring McCarver & Buck, tears streaming down my face, while I watch MY team, MY Boston Red Sox be triumphant.

Tonight, the march to October begins.

Wednesday Dine Out: The Acropolis Grill

2009-09-09T18:14:00.003-05:00

My second Wednesday Dine Out Night plans were adjusted and re-adjusted several times. Several weeks ago, I had made plans for tonight with a group of "gal pals." We try to go out to celebrate each person's birthday month, and three of our group have September birthdays. So, we planned to try out the new microbrewery in town, the Terminal Brewhouse. However, late Tuesday, two of the three birthday girls had to cancel due to work commitments. So we rescheduled for later this month, still at the Brewhouse.

I was kind of bummed out. I'd been dreaming about that beer sampler I had the last time - yum. But, since I'll be going there in two weeks, I didn't want to go tonight, too. So, I ran thru my list of restaurants. Hmm. Mexican? Italian? Chain? Local?

I finally decided on the Acropolis. (Actually, I decided on it, changed my mind, then ended up back at that choice!). It's run by a local family of Greek immigrants, and has been around for decades. Their boys all went to my school, so we feel a connection to it - although I haven't been there in over five years. Time for a return visit!

The menu represents three cuisines: Greek, Italian and American. I opted for all Greek, of course. Spanikopita, Greek salad, and Greek Lemon Chicken. Yummy! Maybe not the best waistline choices - lots of Feta cheese, and the chicken was breaded and fried. But...

One thing I really liked about the Acropolis was their "Waist Watchers" menu. They had a special insert which had lo-cal options, all with the Weight Watchers points estimates listed. A really nice feature. (Although in the interest of full disclosure I must admit that I ordered nothing from that menu. But it was nice to know I could!) They also have an incredible array of desserts displayed as you enter the restaurant - but, again, I resisted!

One thing that struck me tonight. I tend to eat dinner early - I eat lunch early, so by 5:00, I'm hungry. So I feel like I'm going at the early end of the dinner rush - little or no crowds thus far. One of my dearest friends is a late eater. He usually heads out right after Jeopardy at 8:00 - and often remarks how few diners are still lingering. I hope that there is more business during those in-between times at these local eateries.

I'm loving this new Wednesday night tradition. I got to school last Thursday with such a positive attitude - it made the rest of the week so much more pleasant. I sense the same this week.

Last weekend of the summer

2009-09-07T14:37:00.003-05:00

Sad, but true. Labor Day Weekend always meant the end of summer to me. Last chance to spend mindless days at the beach, that last hamburger eaten at the beach cookout. Sigh.

Of course, "back in the olden days," it meant school was starting the next day. Not now. We've already been back in school for two weeks! Not that I'm complaining about a four-day week or three-day weekend!

The start of September also means the impending end to baseball season. Sigh. Although there's still plenty to go in the season - we're only a few games ahead in the Wild Card Race, which seems to be our only option for post-season play at this point - it's still sad to look at the schedule and see the number of game dwindling.

However, we have had an" interesting" weekend of baseball in Chicago. Friday night was a disaster - a complete blow out. I have to admit to not seeing the worst of it. I stretched out on the floor to cuddle with my kitty - and fell sound asleep. So I was spared that. Saturday's game was telecast on Fox - and my local affiliate chose to broadcast the National League game. However, I did get to watch - on the Fox Sports En Espana! It was actually kind of fun - I had no idea what the announcers were saying, but they still were more entertaining and informative than McCarver & Buck.

Sunday, we won!! Yeah!! Jon Lester seems to be making the case that HE is our ace, capitalizing on Beckett's struggles of late. A nice victory. Today I'm watching Buerhle out deal our supposed ace Beckett. Okay, Beckett looking pretty good - but our offense is squandering opportunity after opportunity. I hope they get this out of their system soon - we need those bats if we have any hope of getting into the Divisional playoffs.

And finally, I have to do a little political rant. In an absolutely unbelievable move, the right wing fringe is protesting President Obama's plan to address the nation's school children tomorrow. They claim that he will use the opportunity to "push his socialist agenda" on unsuspecting innocents.

I'm sorry, but no matter how bitter you are that a black Democrat beat your boy, get over it! He is our President, our leader, until you can come up with a better candidate. The last time a President addressed schools was in 1991, when the old Bush did it. My question is not why is President Obama speaking to kids, my question is why did it take 18 years for a President to do it again??

Instead of operating in ignorance, read his address - and tell me what is so subversive about it. Stay in school, listen to your parents, study hard... Wow, radical stuff

/end rant

The new Betty Ford Clinic?

2009-09-03T21:44:00.000-05:00

John Smoltz and Brad Penny. Both aging, both injured, both trying to come back -- and both pulled out of the recycling bin by Theo Epstein in the off-season. Both committed themselves to doing everything they could to return, so they signed on for the Red Sox Rehab Program. Mike Reinold has developed an incredible rehab program for pitchers - and Penny himself said he thought it had saved his arm.

Unfortunately, our reclamation projects had little success with the Sox. They were continually knocked around by American League hitters, and the Sox eventually released them both. Well, they did offer them the chance to continue in the bullpen, but both declined.

As noted previously, Smoltz was picked up by the Cardinals, and has twice pitched well. (Today not so much - 6 innings so far, 4 earned runs, including a 2-run homer). The Cards claim that Smoltz was "tipping his pitches," meaning he was giving off some clues in his delivery that gave away what pitch was coming. I don't buy that - with all the high-tech gadgetry the Sox have, someone would have picked up on that. Wouldn't they?

Penny pitched for the first time last night for the SF Giants, his new team. He pitched EIGHT innings - he never went more than six for the Sox. No earned runs. Of course, only 2 strike-outs, so he had some good defense behind him.

What is going on?? Are these aging arms using the Sox' expertise on shoulder issues to come back, then tanking so they can move on to something more lucrative? Are the Sox not giving these guys enough time to come back, enough time to pay off on our investment?

Or is that the National League is a far inferior league? These two got battered all over the place by AL hitters, yet seem to be stupifying the NLers.

Of course, they both have a lot to prove. They're professional athletes and, therefore, proud. They clearly want to continue to compete at the highest level, so they've come out strong, come out with everything. They both put a great deal into the starts with their new teams. Time will tell if they can keep it up over the next few weeks, the last of the season, as both of their new teams seem headed to post-season play.

It's unfortunate that the two teams don't meet again in the regular season. I would love to see them head to head. I guess it would be too much to hope for that both of their arms might fall off.....

A New Journey

2009-09-02T18:58:00.004-05:00

For over six years, I've had a set routine on Wednesday nights. I leave work at 4:15, and drive across town to the Weight Watchers Center north of the river. There, I facilitate the 5:30 pm meeting each week. Weigh-in, meeting, new member orientation, home around 7:15.

This was the very first meeting I ever led. Just finished my training, I took over from a woman who had led the group for several years and was much loved. I was incredibly nervous taking over, but within a few weeks, the group and I realized we were a good match. I let the vocal long-time members contribute, but also encouraged the newer ones. We saw each other through a lot - one member had two pregnancies during the time, one lost over 100 pounds, another has struggled to almost reaching her goal this month. They've been great!

But over the summer, I began to consider the possibility of letting someone new take over. The Center is on the complete opposite side of town from where I live and work, and since I also facilitate a meeting on Tuesday, it kind of kills the middle of the week. And, frankly, the numbers in the class had dropped enough that I was just about breaking even on gas. I talked to another leader who was happy to have a regular class, and the change was made.

So this week was my first free Wednesday in a long time! The only Wednesdays I've had off, I've been on vacation and out of town. What a luxury! What would I do??

One of the things I love about traveling is the opportunity to try new restaurants, to really treat myself to some pricey meals. When I go to Boston annually, I spend hours researching the hot new restaurants in the Hub, and manage to have several really fine meals. Being out of town, I don't feel intimidated about dining alone - I feel like the sophisticated woman of the world.

Yet here in the Scenic City, I don't eat out very often. Maybe only once a month, when I can free up some friends from other responsibilities. And it would never occur to me eat out alone. Why? I guess that on some level I'm afraid that I'll run into someone I know - and they'll think I'm a loser for being stag! I know....stupid.

Hence my new resolution. I am going to use my Wednesday nights to try out some new (and old) restaurants here in the Scenic City. Weds seem a perfect night - mid-week, crowds are smaller, and I can enjoy a meal before any baseball starts!

I began my journey tonight with a visit to the Meeting Place Restaurant. I actually ate there with friends two weeks ago, but I wanted to go on a Wednesday night to enjoy their evening special: macaroni and cheese with chorizio sausage. I had tried it over a year ago, and it really made an impression on me. And the memory was clear and true - it was OMG awesome!! So rich, cheesy, creamy. Wow! When you're solo, you're tempted to eat quickly, so I forced myself to slow down, enjoy each bite. I admit I cheated and brought a book - it's so easy to feel invisible as a solo diner when you can disappear into a book and not meet questioning looks from your fellow diners. And I did read it - only because there were few other diners to watch. (Plus the book I brought was Dustin Pedroia's autobiography - which is awesome!)

A lovely meal - and a great start to my "single gal's tour of some of the Scenic City's finest restaurants." Next week: the Terminal Brewhouse, a new micro-brewery that just opened next to the famed Chattanooga Choo Choo. OOO, I predict the beer sampler!

[And, no, the irony does not escape me that while my class was weighing in and discussing weight loss, I was out blowing the week's points bank!]

Recipe: Boeuf Bourguignon

2009-08-29T20:24:00.002-05:00

I shared this recipe on my Facebook page, but for those of you who aren't on FB....

This was in the New York Times this week - and it's really terrific. After seeing Julie & Julia the other week, I had a real hankering for BB. But the recipe in my Julia cookbook looked long and somewhat complicated. I had decided to wait until the cold weather, on a weekend day when I felt like spending time in the kitchen, and then I saw this recipe. It appears in a cookbook that the Times refers to as "the French Joy of Cooking," and has only 5 steps. It was yummy!

Boeuf Bourguignon

Adapted from “I Know How to Cook” by Ginette Mathiot

Time: About 3 hours

1 tablespoon oil

3 ounces onions or shallots, chopped

3 1/2 ounces thick-cut bacon, diced

1 1/2 pounds stewing beef, cut into 1 1/2 -inch pieces, patted dry

Scant 1/4 cup flour

1 1/4 cups any type of stock, hot

1 1/4 cups red wine

1 bouquet garni (1 bay leaf, 3 sprigs fresh thyme and 3 sprigs parsley, tied together)

Black pepper

3 1/2 ounces mushrooms, diced

Salt.

1. In a heavy pan over medium heat, heat oil. Add onions and bacon and cook, stirring, until browned. Remove them and set aside; leave fat in pan.

2. Add beef and brown on all sides (work in two batches if needed to avoid crowding).

3. Sprinkle browned beef with flour, stir until browned and add stock. Stir, scraping bottom of pan, then add reserved bacon and onions, the wine and bouquet garni. Season with pepper.

4. Simmer very gently for 2 hours.

5. Add mushrooms and cook 30 minutes more. Season with salt and serve. Or, even better, reheat and serve the next day.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

WW Points: 8 if only 4 servings; 6 for 6 servings

**6 servings would be very tiny ones. I opted for the 4, and served it with noodles. I also used the listed spices rather than making the bouquet garni.

Nick Green, Team Player

2009-08-28T16:00:00.000-05:00

Last night's totally awful game was saved in the 8th inning. No, we didn't mount an incredible comeback. No, we didn't batter the White Sox into submission. No, we were instead treated to one of the most entertaining moments of the season.

With the bullpen tired and needing rest, and with the need to not use any of the big guns on a pretty hopeless 9-0 game, Francona decided to get creative. He chose reserve infielder Nick Green as the next reliever out of the pen! I was stunned when Orsillo announced that Green was warming - I had to rewind the DVR to see the evidence with my own eyes! Sure enough, there he was - much to the evident amusement of the crew out there.

But, amazingly, Green pitched two scoreless innings. Sure, he had three walks, but he managed to get six outs. Two of those outs even came on his own fielding efforts!

To me, he is the epitome of the team player. He knew he could have been humiliated. He knew he could have given up a ton of runs - or hit a batter. Yet he sucked it up, and headed out to the bullpen. I suppose he didn't have much choice - when your boss tells you you're going to have to do something, you can complain - but you do it if you want to stay employed.

Still, I can't help but believe that his performance lifted the spirits of a despondent team. It certainly allowed the Fenway Faithful to leave with smiles on their faces.

I just hope we don't have to see him pitch again!

Grandstand Manager's Day

2009-08-27T15:17:00.005-05:00

On August 24, 1952, showman/franchise owner Bill Veeck staged a brilliant stunt. His St. Louis Browns (at the time 38-81) were playing the Philadelphia Athletics, and he announced that the game would be played as "Grandstand Manager's Day." Fans found a ballot in the local newspaper, voted on the starting lineup, and mailed in their ballot. Each person who voted received a free ticket to the game. As they entered the game, the fans were given giant placards, with YES on one side and NO on the other. The Browns' publicity manager held up cards (like above) asking fans to vote on what move the team should make.

Here's how Veeck himself described the scene in his memoir Veeck as in Wreck

The fans were brilliant. To begin with, they had made two changes to our regular lineup, putting Sherm Lollar behind the plate and Hand Arft at first base. Lollar collected three of our nine hits, scored three runs and drove in three including the game-winning home run....

As for our regular manager, Zack Taylor, he reclined in a rocking chair on top of the dugout, in civilian clothes and bedroom slippers, and just leaned back and puffed a long, curved pipe. Summers [the chief umpire] told him he had to get off the field, not because of the rocking chair or the pipe but because he wasn't in uniform. So we moved Zack, the rocking chair and the pipe into a box just beside our dugout....

...the game took just over two hours, despite all the tabulating...

We won the game 5-3 to end a four-game losing streak. I retired all my amateur managers with honors, went back to my professional, and lost five of the next six games.

[Thanks to the MLB Network for showcasing this game this morning on Quick Pitch.]

It got me to thinking. Red Sox fans are the greatest armchair managers going. They are all sure they could play a better OF than Drew, or hit the ball harder than Ortiz, or manage better than Francona. Wouldn't it be great to try something like this? Let Tito sit in his smoking jacket and watch - and I suspect he'd have the last laugh.

[You can read in more detail about Grandstand Manager's Day here]

Sometimes your heart is broken

2009-08-24T19:53:00.002-05:00

I don't think I've been as excited about a signing as I was when the Sox signed John Smoltz in the off-season. I'd followed his career for years - the Scenic City is nearly a suburb of Atlanta, so all Atlanta sports get top billing on the local news. Folks around here couldn't believe that the Braves cut Smoltzy lose - and most were interested to see how he'd perform in the AL and as he recovered from shoulder surgery.

I followed his progress all spring and into early summer. I just knew his experience would make him an important figure in the clubhouse, and I witnessed some of his leadership in Detroit in June. Before each game, there would be Smoltz out in left field with Jonathan Papelbon, talking, discussing, coaching. Sometimes they were joined by pitching coach John Farrell, or one of the other veteran pitchers like Wakefield. But you had a sense Smoltz was giving Paps the benefit of his experience as a closer, advice that the brash young closer needs to hear.

Then, suddenly, it looked like he was really going to pitch for the Sox. And - miraculously - his first start was scheduled for a game I was going to be attending. Not only attending, but sitting in a seat right behind home plate. I order my shirt from the Yawkey Way store, charged the camera batteries, and waited to see him in action.

Smoltzy got shelled early in that first start in DC, but then settled in nicely. He ended his outing by striking out the side. My heart soared. This looked good. But then came his other starts. He'd give us a few good innings, then fall apart for one inning. After getting shelled by the Yankees, the Sox had to take a step back and reassess. It looked like the bullpen might be the best place for him, and they offered him that option.

But Smoltz had other ideas. He felt he still had it in him to start. And he found a team willing to take that gamble: the St Louis Cardinals. He started his first game for them this weekend - and set a new Card record for consecutive strike outs, getting the win.

I'm happy (somewhat) for him, but his performance raises a ton of questions. It's too early to say "He's back," certainly. But what does this say about the state of the National League? If the corpse of John Smoltz can beat your team, wow. And it again shows the supremacy of the hitting in the American League. Pitchers of a certain age would do well to watch this as well - it looks like their agents need to start negotiation with the Senior Circuit.

Time will tell how this plays out. We need to see him in another game, because I suspect adrenalin and pride played huge roles in this performance. Plus, they were playing the Padres! And was he really tipping his pitches, as some were suggesting today. If so - why didn't the Sox and John Farrell pick up on this? I can't imagine that such a quick fix was all he needed.

Meanwhile, for me, the feel-good story of the season didn't end the way I had hoped and planned - with Smoltz pitching for the Red Sox in the World Series. But perhaps we will face him there - and kick his butt back into retirement!

Review: (500) Days of Summer

2009-08-20T20:53:00.003-05:00

(I actually saw this last week, but I keep forgetting to review it!)

This is the hot movie of the summer - and for good reason. It's a bittersweet love story - or an almost love story. I'm not giving anything away there: the movie begins by saying it's NOT a love story.

Tom and Summer are co-workers at a greeting card firm, and Tom falls hard for her almost immediately. She warns him that she doesn't believe in love, doesn't want to get serious, but he asks her out anyway. They seem to be moving towards a serious relationship, but something goes awry. I won't say any more! But we all have a Summer somewhere in our past - someone that we were sure was THE one, but they seem to have other ideas. We can all relate to the journey that Tom is on.

I thought it was a charming movie. I've admired the work of the two leads for years, and they have terrific chemistry. You might remember Joseph Gordon-Levitt from his costarring role on the tv show "Third Rock From the Sun" - and it's great to see how he's matured as an actor. He seems to be a rare success story - an adolescent actor who's made the transition to adult parts. Zooey Deschanel is always playing a kookie, off-beat character - she played Will Farell's girlfriend in "Elf" and her sister Emily stars in "Bones." The two actors have apparently been friends for years and finally found this film in which to co-star - excellent choice.

The action of the film follows the relationship as it builds, ebbs, and flows over the 500 days. But it's not chronological, which makes the story richer. You see the origin of one in-joke on one of their first dates, then see how thin it has worn by the 300th day. For the most part, the story is told from Tom's viewpoint, which colors our view of the relationship. Yet, when the end comes and the puzzle pieces are linked, we see how it fits.

This is a great summer "romance" film. It is a romantic film, but one that turns the convention on its ear. It's sweet, funny, poignant, charming. Not sure if it's a date film, but my solo girlfriends and I really liked it!

Quick Corn on the Cob

2009-08-17T06:06:00.001-05:00

I got this cooking suggestion from one of my Weight Watchers members, and it's a great and easy way to prepare corn on the cob (which is oh-so-good and fresh right now). After you've husked the corn, give it a quick spritz of "spray butter." Put the ear in a Ziplock steamer bag (I love them!), and microwave for 3 minutes. Let it sit for a minute - then enjoy!

The corn is tender, and you don't need to add additional butter! Yum!

An Outlander at Gwinnett Stadium

2009-08-16T14:12:00.004-05:00

When it was announced in the middle of last week that Tim Wakefield would be making a rehab start for the Pawtucket Red Sox Saturday night at the Gwinnett Braves, I somehow knew I would find myself making the drive down. And, sure enough, there I was Saturday afternoon on my way to the Atlanta area. It was actually a lot farther than I thought - nearly 140 miles each way, because you have to go almost to Atlanta, and then east on 285 and another 20 miles north on 85. Phew.

Gwinnett Stadium was just opened in April, and it's the home of the Atlanta Braves' AAA team. It's a nice park - very open, which allows you to catch a rare August breeze. There are some similarities to the Ted: plenty of the Tomahawk chop, "everybody clap their hands" (aargh), and a nice selection of local drafts (including my favorite from the Ted, Tomahawk Ale). In addition, there was one concession that had all fried things: funnel cakes, fried pickles, fried twinkies, and fried Oreos! Yes, I had to try the oreos. They were covered in funnel cake batter and then deep fried. It made the cookie kind of soft - but, really, you mostly tasted the funnel cake.

I got there in time for batting practice, which was fun. I recognized most of the PawSox guys either from their time with the big club, or from Kelly's photos. There was a great moment, when a young fan who had been soliciting autographs from everyone got manager Ron Johnson's attention. RJ came over, and the boy handed him a baseball card. RJ looked at it, chuckled, and I heard him say, "No that's not me. That's that guy over there" - and he pointed at another coach. Then he stuck out his hand to the boy and said, "Hi, I'm Ron Johnson and I'm the manager." Very cute.

Wake pitched three and 2/3 innings, with 2 runs, 3 hits and 3 Ks. Today's reports say that he was still limping as he left the mound - but I didn't notice it. He had one fielding opportunity, in the 3rd when Timmons hit a comebacker at him. Wake grabbed it and got the runner at 1st - part of a 1-2-3, 10 pitch inning. He finished his day with a strikeout.

From my vantage point, it didn't seem like he threw a lot of knuckleballs - or it wasn't "dancing." Instead he seemed to be tossing fastballs - which would make sense. If they are concerned about his leg/calf, they would certainly want him to test it as much as possible.

I stayed until the bottom of the 6th, when the PawSox defense imploded. In the blink of an eye, the Braves had scored 6 runs! I had already decided to leave by 9pm, so I didn't have to witness that in person. And I was glad I left when I did for other reasons: it was raining heavily and thundering as I hit 285 and 75. Luckily, I drove through it quickly, and made it home in good time. (I can't believe those Atlanta drivers: going 75-80mph in the freakin' rain??)

So, it was a fun little lark. A lot of fellow Red Sox fans in attendance! There were two guys behind me who had some pretty imaginative chants. Like, every time Chris Duncan came up, they cheered for "Donuts." (as in Dunkin...). And of course, for Aaron Bates, "Go Master"!

And here are a few photos:

The Name Game

2009-08-12T10:20:00.007-05:00

After covering 10 states and 2300 miles in a little over two weeks, it's taking me some time to get back into a routine. The fact that the Sox did not play well last week is another contributing factor to my lack of posting as well. But I'm trying to get back to normal...

So instead of lamenting the state of the AL East, I'm going to share something that I've been pondering of late.

One of my must-reads in the daily paper (after the sports section!) is the obituary column. I not only read the one in my local paper, but I usually read those in the Providence Journal and the New York Times as well. It's not that I'm morbid, but I find these little slices of someone else's life fascinating to read. You see a young person (the term "young" keeps advancing depending on my age) and wonder, what happened? You read of a person who died at a ripe old age and think, good for you. It's interesting to see what's emphasized - their military career, if they're of a certain age; their jobs; their families; their religious affiliation, which is always included locally; and even their hobbies. Our local paper rarely puts the cause of death, so that can also lead to some speculation.

But something that I've really noticed of late are the names themselves. There seems to be a whole generation of first names that are expiring as well. Today, there was a Nellie, a Hector, and an Alberta. You rarely hear of a baby today named Alberta. I think of my grandmother, Harriet - another rarity. Even Barbara is fading. And you can probably list countless others. George. Wilhelmina. Rita. Howard. Shirley. Martha. Pearl. Eleanor.

I realize that baby names are in constant flux. 100 years from now, some future blogger may be lamenting the lack of Britneys, Mileys, and Jakes. (Although I doubt there will be anger over the lack of Apples, Pilot Inspektors, or Fifi Trixibelles) Certainly, first names are a reflection of their era - whether pop culture influences or historic figures. So future anthropologists can also use these obits as a research tool. And names cycle through. Before too long we'll see some Ruths, Willards, Marians, and Hermans.

But in the meantime, it's with a certain wistfulness that I look at those names each morning.

Bon Voyage & Good Luck, Justin

2009-08-09T08:56:00.006-05:00

The trade deadline came and went while I was on Block Island, but thanks to the Internet and DirecTV, I was tuned into the whole ordeal. Only time will tell how our trade for Victor Martinez will work out, but I am sad to see Justin Masterson go off to Cleveland. Don't get me wrong, I think this might make him a star - he got his first start last night, althoughhad no decision. He's got a real opportunity to carve a niche for himself on a team that's rebuilding.

And I'm not the only one who will miss him:

“He would give me a hug, and I would feel good about myself.’’
--Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen, in the Globe, on recently traded friend Justin Masterson

So Good Luck! We'll miss you, Justin

Review: Julie & Julia

2009-08-07T18:12:00.005-05:00

I have been waiting for this film all summer. I mean, food, Meryl Streep, cooking, Nora Ephron - it's got all-time favorite written all over it! And I wasn't disappointed.

Nora Ephron - she of "When Harry Met Sally," "Sleepless in Seattle," and "You've Got Mail" - has taken two memoirs and successfully blended them into one narrative. Based on Julia Child's "My Life in Paris" and Julie Powell's "Julie & Julia," this dual narrative relates the story of Julia Child's journey from being the wife of a civil servant to being a foodie icon, juxtaposed against the story of writer Julie Powell's challenge to herself to cook every recipe in "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year - and blog about her progress. Just as Julia blossoms as she taps into her love of food, so does Julie blossom as she channels Julia.

It's a terrific story. The older I get, and the more I see a broader spectrum of films, the more I appreciate Meryl Streep's talent. When I look at the roles she's had in the past year - "Doubt," "Mamma Mia" and now this - I am astounded at her range. She becomes Child in this film - giddy, larger than life, funny, animated. I absolutely love her chemistry with Stanley Tucci as husband Paul Child - they are adoring and sweet, spot on. Amy Adams is one of my favorite young actresses - and she doesn't disappoint here. I did find her half of the film a bit disappointing, however; it just doesn't measure up to the Julia part of the film.

My biggest recommendation if you go see this film: don't go hungry! The food is one of the stars - it all looks so yummy. I had to come home and dig out my own Child cookbook, and I may have to make the famous Boeuf Bourgignon this weekend - my heavens, it looked awesome!!

This is probably Ephron's first non-conventional romantic comedy, but she still shines through. A wonderful cast, a lovely story, beautiful food.... It all adds up to a wonderful film. She even includes Dan Ackroyd's classic SNL skit as Julia - it still makes me laugh so hard I cry!

PS - Look for my high school classmate, Marceline Hugot - she plays Julia's French tutor! Appropriate, since Marceline's dad is French and her mom was our HS French teacher!

Sigh...

2009-08-02T19:22:00.004-05:00

The sun sets on my summer vacation...it's hard to believe a whole week has passed here on Block Island, and another week before that. Tomorrow, I'm scheduled on the 8am ferry back to the mainland - and reality. I promise to post pictures from Fenway, Boston, the Block - I got some good stuff! Until next time - when I'll be be posting back in the Scenic City!

Abundanza!

2009-07-24T14:37:00.004-05:00

When I went to NYC for my birthday back in March, my sisters and I went on a food/walking tour of Greenwich Village. It was really, really terrific! A great way to see the historical neighborhood, sample some great food, and find some restaurants. The funniest part was that we ended the tour with reservations in four or five different restaurants for that evening - then ended up using NONE!

So, when I began planning my Boston trip, I looked around for something similar. Boy, did I hit the jackpot! My sister Meg and I went on the North End Market Tour offered by Michele Topor's Food Tours of Boston this morning, and it was really terrific. The tour was led by Jim, a former chef, and we visited some interesting markets and food sites. We sampled pastries at Maria's Pastry Shop - I had to go back and get a few to take back to the hotel. Amaretti, Totos. Biscotti. Yum. We also visited some Italian markets and butchers, as well as a terrific wine shop. And our guide was a font of information on Italian cooking. I mean, did you know that there are male and female eggplants - and that the male is much sweeter, preferred by most chefs?

If you're in Boston, love food, and are looking for a terrific way to learn about the North End, definitely check out Michele's tours. I am planning to do the Chinatown tour on my next visit!

I've shipped up to Boston

2009-07-23T20:09:00.005-05:00

A little report from my great New England Trip of 2009. I had a great couple of days in Connecticut with my sister and her clan. The "little boys" are no longer that - they've become "young men." yikes!

I headed to Boston this morning. Checked at my hotel - not surprisingly, my room wasn't ready quite yet. So I headed out for a day of fun! I had seen this place on my last trip to Boston. Great place for a salad! They make it to order - very fresh.

Then I headed to the Museum of Fine Arts. If I lived in Boston, I think I would go here once a week, just to look at the Sargents. They've got a special exhibit on right now called "Titian,
Tinteretto, and Veronese: Rivals in Renaissance Venice." So, I adore Venice. I adore Renaissance art. You know I'm going to say this was fantastic. And it was! I always get the audio guide to these exhibits - they add so much to the tour. It also reminded me of an awesome site in Venice: the Scuolo Grande di San Rocco - a spot decorated by Tinteretto. Very cool.

I was headed back to my hotel, walking through the Prudential Center arcade. I knew that Dustin Pedroia was due to sign copies of his new book at the Barnes & Noble at 5 pm, but was stunned to see that the line was already forming at 2:30! So, what the heck, I jumped in. Had to stand and wait for quite a while, but the time was quickly passed chatting with others in the line.

Finally, 5 pm arrived. DP was actually ten minutes late - but there was a lot of excitement when we spotted George Kottaras and Nick Green hanging out in the bookstore. They were there to "support" Dustin, I'm sure! The mix of people in the line was really interesting - from the teenage girls who screamed when they spotted DP, to the mom and teenage boy behind me! When he finally started signing, the line moved VERY quickly - I was thru b 5:30! He wouldn't personalize anything - so he couldn't sign it "from the miniature badass" - but he did laugh when I suggested it.

Back to the hotel. Unpacked, and headed back out for dinner at Sonsie. I've wanted to eat there for several years, but never got around to it. Outstanding meal. And a good place for a single diner - because it's loud and hopping! Yum!

Now kicking back. I'm going on a walking tour of the North End tomorrow morning - yum!

On the road again

2009-07-20T17:44:00.005-05:00

Just checking in - via my beloved netbook.

On the road again- this time en route to visit my family in New England. Of course, this will include 3 games at Fenway over the weekend - the three game series vs. the Orioles. I hope we see the return of Cla Meredith - that would make Kelly very happy!

The long drive today - 614 miles! - was eased by listening to audio books. They really make the miles fly by. I listened to a Jim Dale reading of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Dale is an amazing reader of audio books - his Harry Potters are fantastic, as is his reading of "A Christmas Carol." Wow, I'd forgotten how absurd Carroll's work is! But the best part of the trip was the last 2 1/2 hours - I got out David Halberstam's "The Teammates." It's the story of the lifelong friendship of four Red Sox teammates: Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, Dom DiMaggio and Ted Williams. I read the book several years ago - and loved it! This reading - by Tate Donovan, who will forever by Jennifer Anniston's ex, to me! - is wonderful. Perfect for the last leg - when I was really running out of energy and needed a caffeinated boost - it went by so fast. I had a smile on my face and tiny tear in my eye. Such a wonderful story - and the author so captures these four wonderful men.

Good time to revisit this photo:

On to New England tomorrow!

An Outlander returns to Turner Field

2009-07-17T18:26:00.005-05:00

So, continuing our second Red Sox road trip. We flew from DC to Atlanta, and were hit by a massive heat wave. The game time temperatures on Saturday and Sunday were in the mid-90s, quite a shock to the system for my Boston-based buddy! We were so glad that we were staying in a hotel that was literally steps away from Turner Field - we went back after each game and threw away our clothes! :)

Friday, we had another awesome experience. We purchased tickets for a new adventure that the Braves are offering, something they call the "VIP Batting Practice Experience." Kelly and I (and 48 of our closest friends) met up with a guide at 5:15. We were led down onto the field, and we were able to stand behind the batting cages while the teams took batting practice! Several players came over and signed autographs, although we were much more interested in photographing our boys. It was ssssoo cool! We were able to stay down there for over an hour, snapping away.

Our tickets for the game were, as described by Kelly, "in the Park." In the second tier - really too far to take pictures. But we had a fun time - we could just relax and enjoy the Red Sox victory, 4-1. David Ortiz hit a home run, which is always good, and Beckett had 6 Ks over 7 innings. Did I mention that it was hot?

We started the day Saturday at a regional Red Sox Nation gathering, hosted by the Georgia "Governor." Fun to meet folks from all over the south - South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia. The game had been picked up by Fox, so that meant a 4:00 start - yes, not high noon, but still 95 degrees! Yikes! It was a pitchers' duel - Wake vs. Vazquez - and Sox won 1-0. Did I mention that it was hot?

Sunday's game was a 1:35 start, with Tommy Hanson facing Brad Penny. Game time temp was 91 degrees, so we waited as along as possible to get into our seats. We were seated in the "Hank Aaron Seats," which allowed us entrance into the 755 Club. A very nice (cool) spot to literally chill before the game. It was so hot, that I didn't even take my camera out! The Sox came out on the losing end that day, 2-1. And did I mention that it was freakin' hot? Thanks heavens for Nutragena Sunblock SPF85!!

This was my third Red Sox-Braves series at the Ted, so I'm beginning to feel like an old hand. Even on three hot days, there was a nice breeze when you strolled the concourses, which was a great break. I love their Tomahawk Ale - I think it's Bud, but... My only complaint is that there's nothing around the park. We stay right there, but that means you have to have a car and head to downtown or further for something to eat. I guess we get spoiled with how Fenway is set-up with Yawkey Way - but, for me, that is one of the nicest situations.

Here are the pictures!

Remember, if you click on the Picasa icon in the lower right, it'll lead you to the entire album. Enjoy!

An Outlander at Nationals Park

2009-07-17T17:35:00.004-05:00

My second Red Sox road trip of 2009 took me to Washington DC, to see Interleague play between the Red Sox and the Washington Nationals. The game took place at the one-year-old park that the Nationals call home, Nationals Park. It's a beautiful place! Lots of those open concourses, enabling you to watch the game and still enjoy the concessions. They have a great spot in center called the Red Porch - it opens a half hour before the regular beer concessions, so we became quite familiar with it! And it has cool, circular signage on top. Also fun is the Race of the Presidents! Poor Teddy Roosevelt always finds a way to lose.

We went to two of the three games. The Sox had won Tuesday night, and Wednesday's game was another victory, 6-4. Lester pitched well, and even laid down a sac bunt. Nick Green was nearly killed by a flying broken bat - he actually had to fend off the bat, which ended up, jagged end down, next to him. Scary. Hitting Coach Dave Magadan was tossed out of the game for arguing balls and strikes, and then coming out of the dugout onto the field. Exciting! And it beat the record-setting attendance of the night before, with a paid attendance of 41,530 - a new record.

Thursday, we did the Park tour. This is one of my favorite things to do when I'm on the road. You get to see all the places a "regular" fan doesn't see -- the Press Box, the dugout, the ritzy party suites. Invariably, when we do one, the tour is packed with Red Sox fans -- and this was true in DC. As for the Park itself, it was opened in 2008 - but there is a long-standing tradition of baseball in Washington. But because they were without a team for so long, many of the locals have shifted their allegiance to the Baltimore Orioles. The Nationals have a great venue, and hopefully, the fans will start to come.

After the tour, we wandered past the White House - so we DID see a non-baseball site! As we walked back to our hotel (the Red Roof in Chinatown - good location near a Metro), we stumbled onto this oasis for a short break: the Capital City Brewing Company. Traveling with Kelly is a beer education!

The Thursday night game was absolutely awesome! The Nationals had handled the sales for this game via a lottery - you registered for the opportunity to buy the tickets. We missed out - but when they did a second wave of ticket sales, we got in. The pairs were sparse - but Kelly managed to score two in the President's Section. We were in the first row behind home plate!! Our tickets also allowed us to have a "free" dinner in the Lexus Presidents' Club, of which we took full advantage. We spent part of our pre-game time enjoying an incredible buffet: prime rib, pork tenderloin, awesome vegetables, a huge cheese tray, desserts... Enjoyed while seated in an air-conditioned dining room, cloth napkins and all!

The game itself? Well, it was John Smoltz' debut as a Red Sox pitcher! I had been waiting for months for it - and it didn't disappoint. Oh, I know, Smoltz gave up four runs in the first inning. But he settled down after that - striking out the side in the 5th. Unfortunately, the offense was absent - even Rocco's homer in the 9th couldn't save us. Oh, well, if you can take 2 out of 3 in a road game series = good!

After the game, the President's Club was open for over an hour. Which was great, since the crowd of 41,985 (a new record) was all headed to the Metro at the same time! We sat and had some refreshments, and were able to watch the post-game press conferences through a window in the Club! Cool! And then head to a much less crowded subway.

A fantastic road trip - but it didn't end there. Friday morning Kelly and I hopped planes for Atlanta - and three games against the Braves!

Here are some photos:

Note: If you click on the picasa icon in lower right of frame, you can go to the full-sized album.

An Outlander at Comerica Park, Detroit

2009-07-16T15:24:00.003-05:00

I've tried to be productive during the All Star Break - and finally got around to downloading a ton of pictures from several trips. I realized that I had never posted on any of my trips in summer 2008 - so look for those shortly. In the meantime, here's a little bit about my trip to see the Sox play the Detroit Tigers June 2-4, 2009

I actually went up to Detroit a day early, and met some old friends from my days at the U of Michigan. We went over into Greektown for dinner - it was yummy and we had a lot of laughs. Then my wonderful travel buddy, Kelly, arrived on Tuesday. We were staying at the Hilton Garden Inn, just a few blocks from the park - a great spot that I recommend. Kelly and I ended up having lunch at Hockeytown - the Stanley Cup finals were going on then, so you can imagine that a hockey bar would be a hot spot!

We had great seats for all three games. Tuesday night, we were 4 rows behind the Red Sox dugout - the perfect vantage point to watch a crazed squirrel roaming the outfield during two different innings. The climax occurred when the Grounds Crew chased it into the RS dugout - you should have heard and seen the mad scramble among the players and photographers! NESN had some great video of it - but it seems to have been removed now. Oh well.

As for the game, Daisuke got his first victory - only pitched five innings, however. Papelbon nearly had a meltdown in the 9th - gave up three singles before striking out the side. Gasp! Final score: 5-1

Wednesday, we literally stumbled upon a great little spot for breakfast - crazily enough called the Detroit Breakfast House! It was on a forlorn block of Woodward - really the only thing that seemed open. Detroit has been hard hit by the economic slump, and it's really sad to look around at all the empty storefronts and out of work folks on the streets. But we had a great breakfast - as did Manny DelCarmen and his family, sitting at the next table! We explored the downtown a bit - rode the People Mover, which takes you on a circuit of the area. We actually saw a bunch of the players on their way to the park, which was very cool. On our way back, we stopped in at a place we found post-game the night before, the Detroit Beer Company. Great micro brewery - one that we managed to visit every day!

We discovered that if you purchase a game ticket for over $59, you can get early admission to Comerica through the Beer Garden or the Tiger Den - they open a half hour early for refreshments, then you enter when the gates open. So we took advantage of that!

The Wednesday game was terrific. We sat on the opposite side from the previous night, this time behind the home dugout. Beckett was very strong - had a no-hitter going through 6 2/3 innings. I had to go the bathroom from about the 3rd, but I refused to disturb the mojo! Youk got run over by a base runner in the 8th and had to come out - but was okay. And Lowell got tossed in the 9th - very rare for him. The 8th wasn't pretty - the Tigers scored 5 runs. But the Sox managed to hold on and won, 10-5 And we got a text in the early innings to say that our buddies had seen us on NESN!

Thursday was "get-away" day - meaning an afternoon game so that both the Sox and Tigers could head out afterwards for their next road game. We hit the Tiger Den for "breakfast" = a chili dog and beer! Not staying the WW program, obviously! We had great seats again - right behind the Tiger dugout. And it was another gorgeous day for baseball! The game marked the return from the DL for Dontrelle Willis - but it wasn't a great outing for him - only 2 1/3 innings and 5 earned runs. For us, Wakefield had another strong outing - the second time I've seen him pitch this summer! The Sox won, 6-3!

After having a beer at the Detroit Beer Works ($1 drafts with your Tigers' ticket!), we were steered to a great pub by the bartender, Foran's Irish Pub. A whole array of craft beers, and nice Irish fare.

I really liked Comerica - it's another in the retro line of ball parks. Kind of an old-fashioned feel, but with plenty of amenities to make it comfortable. Wide open concourses, so you never have to miss any of the action. Some cool things for kids to enjoy - the tiger carousel and a little Ferris wheel with baseball shaped carts. Celebrations of their past - statues of the great players like Kaline in the outfield. I was amazed when I first saw it, because it is shoehorned into a city block next to Ford Field, home of the football Lions. But once inside, it doesn't feel crowded.

Here are a few photos from another great road trip!

St Louis bound!

2009-07-11T12:03:00.001-05:00

Globe Photo by Barry Chin
Last night, the 6 Red Sox All-Stars were saluted - and received their jerseys. Look at the grin on Wake's face. Yay!

Always Good Seats Available Here!

2009-07-09T08:07:00.006-05:00

For me, going to a live Major League baseball game is the ultimate in entertainment. It can be, in turns, fun, funny, scary, stressful, depressing, tragic. Perhaps I appreciate it all the more because I don't have a major league team here in town. Yes, we have the Dodgers' AA team, and it's entertaining to go see them play occasionally, but it's not the Majors. And it's not the Red Sox!

If I had a team in town, I feel certain I would go frequently. I think that's part of the reason I don't move to Boston, because I suspect that my entire life would revolve around getting to a game.

So I get a little ticked when I watch the morning baseball highlights (thank you MLB Network!), and see a half-full stadium. I forgive the local fans somewhat if it's a middle of the week day game. And I am sometimes forgiving if the team is scuffling (I'm looking at you, Washington Nationals!). But when a game is between two contenders in the powerful American League East, I'm scornful.

Such was the case last night in Tampa. The Rays were playing the Toronto Blue Jays. In case you've forgotten(!), the Rays are the defending American League Champions and went to the World Series last year. I had hopes that this would boost their attendance, which has always lagged. Last night, they played a thriller of a game, which ended with a walk-off hit by All-Star Ben Zobrist. Yet, it looked like a small crowd at Tropicana Field. A glance at this morning's box score shows the attendance at 15,252

Now, I've been to the Trop, and it's my least favorite park thus far in my tour of the stadiums. It's not near the population center, and there's not much around it to attract pre- and post-game fans. It's like watching a game in a hockey arena, the field itself looks awful, there are those catwalks to contend with, and it's filled by all those cowbell-wielding carpet-baggers. Still, on a hot, humid Florida night, what better escape from the heat?

So, while I had the box scores at hand, I took a spin around the two leagues, to see how some of the other teams are faring in attracting crowds. The economic news has been full of gloom, and many predicted low attendance figures for the teams. So how did they do on a middle of the week game?

American League
Baltimore Orioles at Seattle Mariners: 27,040
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers: 29,104
Cleveland Indians at Chicago White Sox: 26,772
Oakland Athletics at Boston Red Sox: 37,981
New York Yankees at Minnesota Twins: 38,115
Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays: 15,252

National League
Pittsburgh Pirates at Houston Astros: 29,243
Cincinnati Reds at Philadelphia Phillies: 44,179
Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs: 40,531
Florida Marlins at San Francisco Giants: 34,157
San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks: 20,791
Washington Nationals at Colorado Rockies: 23,098
Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets: 40,027

Do you see what I see? The lowest attendance - aside from the Rays - was at the Diamondbacks game - and they still drew over 20,000. Even the Washington Nationals attracted a large crowd to the Rockies' game.

So what is wrong with the people in Tampa? How can they ignore their exciting young CHAMPIONSHIP team? Some claim that a new stadium will attract more crowds. Perhaps - but the folks down there need to build their fan base, fill the stadium, show the people with the purse strings that their money will be well spent. I, for one, hope this happens!

In the meantime

2009-07-09T06:06:00.002-05:00

I'm trying to find some of the more recent photos - I think they're stored on two different computers. In the meantime, SKATING BABIES!

I'm a dope

2009-07-08T18:54:00.001-05:00

So, I got cleaning out files last night - and decided to clean up my Picassa account. I deleted the photo file for this blog - thinking the photos were all saved on Blogger. Uh, well, no.

So sorry for the blank spaces....I'm a doofus

Tim Wakefield, All Star

2009-07-06T09:59:00.002-05:00

'Nuff said. Yeah Wake!

Our Captain America

2009-07-05T09:04:00.003-05:00

I was able to write-off Friday night's loss to the Mariners. The team was just back from a long road trip, the M's were coming off a big series against the Yankees... But yesterday's loss was a lot harder to handle. The Sox offense never seemed to get it together - not able to capitalize any time there were men on base. Add to that the fact that I was unable to watch the game - thanks to that deal that Fox made with Bud Selig, NESN couldn't broadcast the game nationally. Although it was fun to listen to the radio broadcast via mlb.com's Gameday Audio service, I missed seeing the sight above: Jason Varitek in his "Captain America/4th of July" catching gear. This was the only photo I could find of it - but it was pretty breathtaking. Add to that his terrific offensive output (his 12th homer of the season after only hitting 13 for all of last season!) - and, well, Tek seemed willing to carry the team himself.

So, hoping for better performances all the way around today, as the Sox close out the series with Seattle.

A perfect antidote

2009-07-04T18:00:00.004-05:00

Yes, the past two games have been teh suck. Losing two - at home - to the Seattle Mariners is hard to swallow. Especially since we had MANY opportunities to score and to win - opportunities that we couldn't seem to cash in on. And the idea of being swept by the M's AT HOME???

But I found the perfect antidote. In cleaning out some of the stuff I've saved on my dvr, I came across that glorious day in April 2008, when the 2007 World Champions were saluted at Fenway Park. To see our boys collecting their second - or first! - World Series ring = awesome! To see Bill Buckner's reception at Fenway after years of being made the scapegoat = priceless!

It reminds me to keep the faith!

Citizen Bay

2009-07-02T22:02:00.005-05:00

AP Photo (Eric Shelton)

Congratulations to the newest American citizen: Jason Bay. He took his oath of citizenship this afternoon in Boston, although he'll retain dual Canadian citizenship. I wonder if they'll recognize this during the games this weekend? Would be timely, with the Fourth of July.

Meanwhile - the Yankees lose!

Another perspective

2009-07-02T09:56:00.004-05:00

Here's a screen capture from the RS-Nats' game of June 25th. Check out the redheads in the upper right corner! Cool!