Nobody 822

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Nobody # 822

Nobody Asked Me But:

Coach Wooden’s Hit Parade

Galway Bay

Crying In The Chapel

Paper Doll

I’ll Be Seeing You

Over The Rainbow

Wind Beneath My Wings

What A Wonderful World

And He Walks With Me

I Believe

Stardust

I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You

Honey

These songs were played prior to the wonderful memorial service for the great man yesterday at Pauley Pavilion. Among those we saw in the crowd were Jerry West, Lorenzo Romar, Mike Montgomery, Larry Farmer and Steve Lavin, and too many players, past and present, to include here.

The in-person tributes from Al Michaels, Ben Howland and Dan Guerrero were moving, and those from Jamal Wilkes and Keith Erickson brought tears to many eyes, including their own.

Vin Scully, via videotape was at his best, which means he was magnificent. And Dick Enberg, also on tape, gave, perhaps, the most fitting summary of Coach when he said: “His greatness was exceeded only by his goodness.”

(And isn’t it interesting that both Enberg and Al Michaels got their start broadcasting Bruin basketball?)

PHIL AND JEANIE AND LOVE AND PRACTICALLY

So Phil Jackson may retire and move away, and Jeanie Buss, who clearly loves him may put responsibility to her family and her Laker job first and stay behind. Or, from the opposite perspective, Phil may decide that living far away is more important than his love for Jeanie. Either way, love loses. At least my concept of love loses – the romantic kind that overcomes every obstacle and wins over all.

Obviously there are times when love should not win. These almost invariably involve an abusive partner. This abuse can take many forms – physical, mental, emotional. But short of abuse, I believe that “real love” wins. Does the person I love want me to follow them to Hell, (Michigan)? If my response is “hell, no, I won’t go,” then perhaps I had better be careful about proclaiming my love. If, on the other hand, my response is when shall I pack my bag, then I can say it loud and proud – I love you!<<<

DREAMS ARE WEIRD THINGS

I had the airport dream again Wednesday night. It has been years and yet everything was the same. I had to buy a ticket, (to Hawaii this time) and I was running late. It was exactly the same airport that always appears in my dreams. The only variation from the past was that I did not miss my plane. Naturally though, the dream shifted before I had a chance to enjoy my island paradise.<<<

FOOD

Hugh did an overnight in Bishop this past week and was kind enough to fill our order at Schat’s bakery. We have been into our loaf of sheepherder’s bread a couple of times and it is as delicious as always – fresh, flavorful and crusty. The pecan rolls, looking good enough for Julia Childs to steal, (if she were still alive) are in the freezer to be devoured after the bread is gone, and a slice the chocolate pound cake will be our dessert tonight. Thanks, Hugh!

After the Coach Wooden memorial we drove to Santa Monica to another incredible bakery. Huckleberry is expensive but worth it. Their strawberry breakfast pastry, which didn’t last until today’s breakfast was wonderful and their miniature honey buns are, in the immortal words of Jack Nicolson, “as good as it gets.”

While on the subject of Huckleberry and their prices, our next stop was at their new ice cream store, Sweet Rose, in the Brentwood Market. I had one of their ice cream sandwiches while Barb had their strawberry ice cream in a cone. Her dip was normal size, but, as for the size of their signature sandwich, let’s just says that their handwriting is quite small. The price for the two was $9, which should buy superb but only delivered pretty good. Still, we will return soon for their $8.75 malt. Surely P.T. Barnum has us in mind when he said, “There is one (sucker) born every minute.”

ACTION/REACTION

Action: Chimpanzees will kill to conquer territory, study finds.

Reaction: And some people still say we are not related.

Reaction # 2: If I had needed convincing, when I was younger, that evolution was a natural law and not a theory, seeing the great ape at the San Diego Zoo that was a dead ringer for President Eisenhower would have been the clincher.

Action: Dodger owner, Frank McCourt, adds to his team—of lawyers.

Reaction: I told you Frank was all about winning.

STUPID REMARK OF THE WEEK:

Arizona’s Governor Brewer: “Most illegal immigrants are ‘drug mules.’”

SIGNS OF THE TIMES:

When a 5.5 earthquake hit Eastern Canada Wednesday, the first reaction of many of those who felt it was - terrorist attack.

A parent’s brawl at a school graduation ceremony in Victorville, CA caused officials to lock down the campus. THIS WAS A KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION!<<<

It is a rare thing in modern America for a President to have a better second term than his first one. Lame-ducks and all that sort of stuff. But I believe that, if he gets the chance, President Obama will do just that. He has such great ability but still much learn how to command.

Or, as Al Capone once said, “You get much further with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone.”<<<

After “The Large Rush” paid $1M to Elton John to sing at his wedding someone posed the question: If money were no object, to whom would you pay that amount to play at your wedding?

Answer: My first choice would be my son Greg. Second would be Paul Simon.

MYSTERY OF THE WEEK

Question: Why did Meg Whitman, when she was CEO of EBay shove a subordinate, Young Mi Kim?

Answer: From what I hear, it was because Kim was trying to convince Meg to do her duty by actually voting in an election. (She failed.)

Question: Can we expect a governor Meg to treat legislative leaders this way?

Answer: God, I hope so.<<<

DON’T SAY SHE DIDN’T WARN YOU

“The nation is arming. What are they arming for if it isn’t that they are so distrustful of their government? They’re afraid they’ll have to fight for their liberty in more Second Amendment kinds of ways. That’s why I look at this as almost an imperative. If we don’t win at the ballot box, what will be the next step?”

VOTE REPUBLICAN – OR ELSE!

(I am Sharron Angle, Republican candidate for Senator for Nevada, and I approve this message.)

THE GREATEST MOVIE FUNNY ONE-LINERS – FIRST IN A SERIES

“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room.” - Peter Sellers, “Dr. Strangelove: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” (1964)

Nobody 821

Sunday, June 20, 2010
Nobody # 821

Nobody Asked Me But:

HAPPY DAY TO ALL FATHERS – FROM THE LUCKIEST DAD IN THE WORLD

ALSO, HAPPY 251 MONTH ANNIVERSARY TO MY WIFE

AND FINALLY, THE TULIPS ARE IN VANCOUVER

Pay no attention to that man behind the keyboard. He’s no wizard. He’s the charlatan who, in the third quarter, said that the Celtics were mentally tougher than the Lakers.

Yes, I am guilty as charged above, although mine is not a capital offense. The Lakers did play tight for 3 ½ quarters. They wanted it so much – almost too much. But down the stretch, when the game was on the line, and where mental toughness counted for everything, it was the Celtics who felt the tightness. If basketball is a staring contest, then in the fourth quarter, Boston blinked.

How does it feel to be a Laker fan this morning? In the immortal words of Jackie Gleason – “How sweet it is!”<<<

OTHER POST-GAME THOUGHTS

The Celtic’s Doc Rivers is an excellent coach and a class act.

Ron Artest is strange and my least favorite Laker, but today all I have to say is, “Thank you, Ron.”

You don’t believe he is strange? Then how about his post-game statement – "I want to thank my psychiatrist."

Those weren’t Laker fans rioting after the game. They were idiots grabbing an excuse to follow their id.

Should the Lakers pay the price to have Phil Jackson back? This is what Magic Johnson says: "I want to make sure of something. I want Phil back in the worst way. I will give the Buss family some money if I have to."

And how about this Laker tribute from long-time Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan: "Hate LA all you want. These guys can play.”<<<

Question # 1: When does a 760-page book become a sprint rather than a marathon?

Question # 2: When does a juxtaposition of apocalyptic and vampire become much closer to literature than schlock?

Answer to both questions: When the book is Justin Cronin’s “The Passage.”

I finished “The Passage” yesterday. Rarely have so many pages given me such consistent pleasure. There were no dead spots for me. (Plenty of dead people though) in this fascinating story about an army experiment gone so wrong that humanity’s only hope seems to lie in a young girl and the small band of people who both protect her and depend upon her for their survival.

I know that it sounds a little hokey and “done before,” but trust me. Rarely has it been done as well as by Cronin, who won the PEN/Hemingway Award and the Stephen Crane Prize for his first novel, “Mary and O’Neil.”

My recommendation: Buy it, head for your most comfortable chair or other favorite reading spot, take a few days off from all but your most pressing responsibilities and enjoy.<<<

In his recent book, “The End of the Free Market,” Ian Bremmer compares democratic capitalism (the U.S, Japan, Denmark, etc.) with state capitalism (Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela, etc.). The democratic variety comes out ahead. (It would with me also.) But his statement that “under state capitalism, market enterprises exist to earn money to finance the ruling class begs the question of - how is this different from democratic capitalism?<<<

ACTION/REACTION

Action: Texas scuttles PAC super conference by opting to remain in Big 12.

Reaction: I think the PAC dodged a bullet. Texas is too arrogant to be a satisfactory partner.

Reaction #2: If you need proof of the above, just look at the financial deal the UT demanded from its Big 12 partners as the price for staying in the conference.

Reaction #3: You can still see the lip prints of the other Big 12 schools all over UT ass. Yes, surprisingly, even the University of Oklahoma bestowed a quick kiss.

Action: With the addition of Colorado and Utah the PAC-10 becomes the PAC-12.

Reaction: Be still my pounding heart!

Reaction # 2: Yawn.

Action: Former USC coach Pete Carroll says that he ran a clean program.

Reaction: With his blond good looks and the ability to lie to the media, Carroll may have a bright future in politics.

Action: NY Times leadline: “Dog Spots Gator in Ohio That's Captured Barehanded.”

Reaction: Ohio was captured barehanded?

Action: “I only read when I have to.” Too many athletes (and others).

Reaction: I know it takes all kinds, but I cannot read something like this without my jaw dropping in amazement. Thanks, mom, for raising me as a reader.<<<

One of ex-Dodger Steve Garvey’s favorite movies is “The Quiet Man.” I’ll give him a home run for this.

The book Garvey is currently reading is “Bat Boy Days” by Steve Garvey. He gets a strike out for this one.<<<

If you like mystery and thriller novels, you should become acquainted with SYKM, (Stop, You’re Killing Me) a genre newsletter sent out twice a month. Their June 15 e-mail listed the nominees for several book awards given yearly by various groups – Edger, Anthony, Barry, Nero, Macavity, etc. This year, in addition to its regular yearly presentations, a Berry Award will be given to the Best Mystery/Crime Novel of the Decade. The six nominees are:

“The Guards” by Ken Bruen
“The Lincoln Lawyer” by Michael Connelly
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson
“Mystic River” by Dennis Lehane
“Still Life” by Louise Penny
“The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

I have read three of the six. As you know, I loved “Dragon Tattoo.” “The Lincoln Lawyer” was excellent, although I think Connelly’s “City of Bones” was even better. But Lehane’s “Mystic River” is superb, not simply the decade’s best, but an all-time classic.

Obviously I can’t evaluate the three I haven’t read, but it is difficult to understand why T. Jefferson Parker’s “California Girl” and “Silent Joe,” and George Pelecanos “The Night Gardner” did not make the cut. And it is impossible to justify the absence of a book by James Lee Burke, (“Jolle Blon’s Bounce” perhaps) whose every effort turns prose into poetry.

My choice for political cartoon of the week (below) is, as usual, by Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Constitution.

And finally, props to LA Times columnist Chris Erskine who salutes the innocence of first graders with this: “As with Champagne itself, first-graders have lots of bubbles and none of them has been burst — Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, corporate capitalism.”

Nobody 820

Sunday, June 13, 2010
Nobody # 820

Nobody Asked Me But:

LOYALTY - To yourself and all those dependent upon you. Keep your self- respect. John R. Wooden (from his Pyramid of Success)

Suppose Meg Whitman had promised Republicans that, if elected governor of California, she would:

1. Increase state spending by 177%.
2. Set a record by raising taxes by 30%.
3. Be an active environmentalist - (1) By protecting the spectacular John Muir Trail in the Sierra from highway builders and Central Valley business interests. (2) By blocking dam building on the Eel and Feather rivers. (3) By signing legislation to create the California Air Resources Board, which will lead to the nation's first tailpipe emissions standards.
4. Promote abortion rights and gay rights.
5. Support amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Would she have won last Tuesday? Fat chance. The hard conservatives and the Tea Party bunch would have hated her right out of the race, which would have been both ironic and weird considering that each of these were actions taken by the hero of the Right, Ronald Reagan, when he was governor.

Isn’t it time to replace Reagan’s picture on Far Right three-dollar bills with Rush or Glen Beck?<<< Jim’s Ice Cream Rule: Better to order too much than too little. Better to eat too little than too much.<<<

A TALE OF TWO HYPOCRITES

Hypocrite # 1: Let’s see now - Rush, the right-wing radio king, got married for the fourth time last week. So who did this gay-unfriendly guy who has opined that same-sex marriage would lead to people marrying dogs hire to sing at his reception? Formerly openly gay married Sir Elton John.

Hypocrite # 2: Why would John accept this gig? Because he had $1,000,000 reasons.<<<

The answer please: In the world of bailouts, why are banks and brokers too important to be allowed to fail while teachers and school districts are not?<<<

Action: In a recent television ad, Meg Whitman said that – “The human cost of unemployment is tragic.”

Reaction: Then why did you lay off so many people at eBay?

Action: At least 11 states have passed laws this year regulating or restricting abortion.

Reaction: Teens are not going to stop having sex. Women are not going to take unwanted pregnancies to term. By trying to legislate abortion morality, you only bring back closed doors and coat hangers and too often lose both the mother and the fetus.<<<

Integrate people, not gravy – Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson’s favorite meal comes with white gravy on his chicken fried steak and brown gravy on his mashed potatoes.

And, by the way, Johnson comes from a town that cannot possibly exist – Humble, Texas.<<<

I am: Tired! Tired! Tired – of hearing people being interviewed using the “Royal We.” It even sounds pompous when royalty (and presidents) use it. If you are talking about yourself say I.<<<

ALL ABOUT MOVIES

“The Karate Kid.” I am such a sentimental sap for “the bad shall fail, the good prevail” endings. I think that is why I liked the first “Karate Kid” so much. And the new version, which I saw Friday, is almost as good. Actually, almost may be selling it short, but it is hard to live up to, let alone exceed, good memories. One special thing going for this one is the spectacular Chinese setting.<<<

When I first saw advance clips of “The Hangover,” I muttered, “How stupid can a movie be?” But, surprisingly, the reviews were very favorable as were the opinions of several people I know. So, when it came to HBO, I recorded it. I watched it this past week and agreed with family, friends and critics. It was a funny movie and was worth my time. It was not “laugh out loud” for me, that’s probably reserved for younger minds and sensibilities, but I smiled often and enjoyed it.<<<

CLASSIC MOVIE REVIEWS

From About.com, while reviewing Eclipse: “When I watched the first Twilight movie, I thought it was probably one of the best comedies I'd ever seen. Then I found out it wasn’t meant to be a comedy.”

Kenneth Turan in the LA Times on “The A-Team:” “I pity the fool who mistakes this for genuine entertainment.”<<<

FYI: Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. (Ken's last name is Carson.)

SPORTS PAGE

Action: UCLA wins its 11th softball national championship; defeating archrival Arizona 6-5 and 15-9.

Reaction: I love the innocence and joy of women's softball. The participants give themselves permission to get excited and laugh and have fun.

Reaction # 2: I am amazed at the number of Californians playing on every team represented in the College Softball World Series.

Reaction # 3: Yes, there were a lot of home runs, but I didn’t mind. I hate the slap and run of “little ball.” But I am curious about how the great pitchers of the past like Lisa Fernandez and Jenny Finch would do today.<<<

Action: USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett, refusing to be contrite over the severe sanctions placed on his Trojans, had this to say: "As I read the decision by the NCAA," he told the group, "… I read between the lines and there was nothing but a lot of envy. They wish they all were Trojans."

Reaction: Surely Mark Twain was referring to Garrett when he said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”

Action: Celtics win game four.

Reaction: After another miserable performance from their bench, the Lakers should demand that the Celtics man up for a starters only game.

Reaction # 2: Shame on you Lakers. The Celtics wanted it more.

Action: Lakers and Celtics all even at two games apiece.

Reaction: UCLA stopped Glen “Big Baby” Davis in the 2006 Final Four. Why can’t the Lakers do the same?

Reaction # 2: Phil Jackson should use a 4-man offense with Ron Artest never touching the ball.

Reaction # 3: The Buss family should be found guilty of contempt of court (court – get it?) if they do not re-sign Derek Fisher who is an absolute class act in this championship series, no, make that in these playoffs, no, make that of this season, no make that for his entire career.

Reaction # 4: Should Fish have been awarded 6 free throws on that fourth quarter drive in game 3, where he was fouled by three different Celtics?

Reaction # 5: Lamar! Lamar! Are you still asleep?<<<

Explaining the pictures - from top to bottom:

#1 Sunset from our room in Lake Oswego, OR

#2 The grounds at Willows, our hotel in Woodinville, WA

#3 While driving south on Interstate 5 in Oregon, we passed a pickup with one black sheep in the back. By chance, we both stopped at the next roadstop, where I took this picture.

#4 Sunset from our room in Mill Valley.

Nobody 819

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Nobody 819

Nobody Asked Me But:

John Wooden died too young on Friday. He was

99.

Yet the word that he is gone sends a shock through the system of any Los Angeles sports fan. For almost all of us, the Wizard of Westwood was simply always here. He was as glorious a part of the landscape as the blue sky over the Rose Bowl, the Olympic flame above the Coliseum peristyle, the mountain view from the Santa Anita grandstand. Kevin Modesti

I could write pages about this great coach and greater man, but my words would fall short of those above, so I will leave you with these and tell you family tales, as I think Coach would have wanted.

My trip to Arizona last week to watch my granddaughter, Emily, go through her 8^th grade Transition (graduation) ceremony was both a thrill and a pleasure. My heart was filled with love and pride, just as it was two years ago when Ryan had his ceremony. Spending time with my children and grandchildren is one of the great joys in my life.

However, in one way my presence was a bit of a downer for Elizabeth, Ryan and Emily. I beat each of them in ping-pong. (Elizabeth twice, although in our second match I was down 20-17 and had to wage a great comeback to win in overtime.) And they are all PDG players.

Although Jimmy the B might disagree, while in college, I pretty much ruled the pp table at the Presbyterian Student Center, and it is good to know that some things never change.

And, yes, it is a long drive to Rio Rico, but not a difficult one, with two excellent audio books to listen to, treated to very good pizza when I got there and my wife’s tacos when I arrived home.<<<

Action: Gloria DiCenco was chatting amiably with a few Italian speakers at Tucson’s Beyond Bread on North Campbell Avenue on April 20 when armed men began coming in.

Reaction: When I fear for my life while picking up an order of maple-oatmeal scones for my wife, I know that Tucson has become a violence video game.

Reaction # 2: Does anyone want to play “The Wild, Wild West?”

Reaction # 3: No thanks. When I became a man I put away my childish things.

Action: As one answer to their budget crisis, Arizona’s version of that old song favorite, “Three Little Words” is: Rest Stop --- Closed.

Reaction: This, of course, can precipitate a crisis of another sort.

Action: Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon scoffed at calls for Israel to apologize, saying flotilla activists prompted the violence by attacking soldiers during the raid. "We do not need to apologize for defending ourselves."

Reaction: Actually you need two apologies – for being wrong and for being stupid.

Reaction # 2: Oh Israel, Israel! You make it so difficult.

Action: Ken Griffey Jr. retires.

Reaction: Griffey may be second only to Willie Mays as the most perfect player in Major League history.

Reaction # 2: Were it not for his many injuries, Griffey, not Bonds, would be baseball’s all-time home run leader.

Action: The Florida State League, in protesting the oil spill, will no longer take BP (batting practice). Instead they will take HR (hitting rehearsal).

Reaction: That’s cute!

Reaction # 2: It must be good, because it makes me smile.

Our journey home from the Northwest:

After a last minute ice cream stop at Mrs. Purdy’s, we headed back to the U.S. Our border crossing took about 30 minutes. Upon reaching the American side, my first act was to turn off the airplane mode on the iphone. It was great to be back on the Internet!

Our drive to the Willows Hotel, in the Seattle suburb of Woodinville, was short. This was our second stay at the Willows, and our good memories of the place were confirmed. At check-in, we were greeted with a glass of very good local wine. (Now that’s what I call civilized.) We each drank about half before heading out to explore.

After navigating a couple of new traffic rounders, our first stop was at the Minea Farm from where we brought home excellent applesauce on our last visit. We did so again, as well as a jar of cherry jam for me.

Moving on, and always vigilant for scenic must stops, I spotted a new ice cream store on the left. Deciding to check it out on the way back, we drove a couple of miles more into Redmond, as I intended to offer condolences to Microsoft for slipping to second behind Apple in tech company value. But not wanting to hurt their feelings or have them plant a virus in my Word program, I changed my mind. So back we went to what turned out to be a very popular ice cream shop stop. (Check out the clever sign.) My black raspberry and Barb’s fudge ripple were both delicious.

Our next pause was at the beautiful Chateau Ste. Michelle winery, across the street from our hotel, where my wife bought a couple of items for the kitchen. Then it was back to the Willows where I talked her into sharing a happy hour glass of wine and fries on their restaurant patio. It was a little cool but so nice that I could easily have lingered. After all, as the saying goes, “why limit happy to an hour?”

Adjacent to the hotel is the Red Hook Brewery where, on our last visit, we ate a nice meal on the patio. Not so on this very crowded Friday night, so we chose sitting at the bar over a long wait. Barb’s meatball sandwich was very good, as was my bowl of chili.

And, no, even though we received a clever warning card when we checked in, we were not serenaded that night by the Willows’ famous frogs.

Our three-day drive home from Woodinville was pleasant and fairly uneventful except for a huge traffic delay in Tacoma caused by highway construction. Our progress was so slow, (five miles took an hour) that it felt like another overnight stay – without a nice room or wine.

Over all, the trip was so good that our biggest complaint was that, with the exception of the Ashland Creek Inn, every place we ate breakfast had terrible toast.

But that’s life on the road.