Tonight turned out to be a lovely evening. Yes, the weather a good deal milder than yesterday, but that was only a small part of what made me so happy.
First of all, I went to see Toy Story 3, very excited as I had heard only rave reviews. And usually, that is a somewhat risky way to approach watching a movie, as it might simply not live up to the expectations you have created for it, even if it is still a solid product. And one could argue this is even more the case with sequels and sequels of sequels. However, tonight that was definitely not a concern at all - I was thoroughly impressed and delighted by the cleverness, bursting creativity and sheer fun that Pixar exhibited in this film. A lovely story about friendship and loyalty told with incredible flair and compassion. I walked out of the theater unable to contain my happiness, the smile on my face stretching virtually from ear to ear.
Afterward, I made my way back to the subway, still exuberant and listening to one of my favorite Counting Crows albums ("Hard Candy" - a lovely album, by the way). Once on the subway, I eventually took notice of a group of teenagers, one couple in particular. The guy seemed quite tired or otherwise troubled, and his (I presume) girlfriend was simply stroking his arm. They seemed so happy and at peace, and it reminded me of how the little things in life can be so comforting and refreshing - even a touch, a kind word or two often make the biggest difference. And unwittingly, they brightened my evening even more with that small, simple display of affection - and for that, I am very grateful.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Hot & Muggy
Both of us who are currently living in the apartment grew up in Miami, Florida, and yesterday it felt like we were back home - 80 degree weather and high humidity. Even down to the weather patterns - clear in the morning and early afternoon, followed by a powerful fit of rain in the late afternoon.
Well, there IS one major difference between Miami and Cambridge: in Miami, virtually every building has air-conditioning; in Cambridge, not so much. So usually, we like to keep the windows open to allow some cross-ventilation - but we had to close them for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon since otherwise the bathroom, kitchen, dining room and bedrooms (mine especially) would have gotten drenched in the downpour (as it was, all but the bedrooms did get a little wet). So we got a little extra "mug for our buck".
All in all, it was just one of those days where nobody feels like doing anything - if only I could have just hibernated and watched Wimbledon, the World Cup and baseball instead of working, I would have been a happy camper. But alas, I (along with most everyone else) had to peel myself out of the apartment and get some work done - even if it felt like it was happening in slow-motion.
Well, there IS one major difference between Miami and Cambridge: in Miami, virtually every building has air-conditioning; in Cambridge, not so much. So usually, we like to keep the windows open to allow some cross-ventilation - but we had to close them for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon since otherwise the bathroom, kitchen, dining room and bedrooms (mine especially) would have gotten drenched in the downpour (as it was, all but the bedrooms did get a little wet). So we got a little extra "mug for our buck".
All in all, it was just one of those days where nobody feels like doing anything - if only I could have just hibernated and watched Wimbledon, the World Cup and baseball instead of working, I would have been a happy camper. But alas, I (along with most everyone else) had to peel myself out of the apartment and get some work done - even if it felt like it was happening in slow-motion.
The Iron Men of Tennis & Sportsmanship
The talk of the sports world over the past few days has been a first-round match at Wimbledon, neither of whose participants even made it past the second round. What they did both accomplish, however, was providing nothing less than a jaw-dropping spectacle, breaking all kinds of records, enduring both physically and mentally almost beyond many people's comprehension.
But what impresses me the most is the manner in which they did so. In a match that ridiculous, grueling and emotional, it would have been easy for some to allow their frustration to boil over or to try to use under-handed tactics to gain an advantage. However, neither did. They played by the rules, slugging it out fair and square for over 11 hours until finally John Isner was able to put it away - after which they did not shake hands, as is customary after a match, but rather embraced each other after sharing such a momentous occasion with each other over the course of 3 consecutive days.
And afterward, it was clear to see the deep disappointment in Nicolas Mahut's demeanor (certainly understandable), holding his towel over his face for quite a while after he sat down. But amidst all the pomp and circumstance that succeeded the match (the likes of which are usually reserved only for after the finals), he was patient and gracious, never begrudging the media its special requests, and speaking generously about the match and his fellow warrior in the on-court interview.
Both he and Isner were excellent ambassadors of the game, and even more so than the amazing display of tennis and guts, THAT is what impressed me the most about those two, especially in what turned out to be such a high profile match.
So, bravo! Hats off to both John Isner and Nicolas Mahut!
But what impresses me the most is the manner in which they did so. In a match that ridiculous, grueling and emotional, it would have been easy for some to allow their frustration to boil over or to try to use under-handed tactics to gain an advantage. However, neither did. They played by the rules, slugging it out fair and square for over 11 hours until finally John Isner was able to put it away - after which they did not shake hands, as is customary after a match, but rather embraced each other after sharing such a momentous occasion with each other over the course of 3 consecutive days.
And afterward, it was clear to see the deep disappointment in Nicolas Mahut's demeanor (certainly understandable), holding his towel over his face for quite a while after he sat down. But amidst all the pomp and circumstance that succeeded the match (the likes of which are usually reserved only for after the finals), he was patient and gracious, never begrudging the media its special requests, and speaking generously about the match and his fellow warrior in the on-court interview.
Both he and Isner were excellent ambassadors of the game, and even more so than the amazing display of tennis and guts, THAT is what impressed me the most about those two, especially in what turned out to be such a high profile match.
So, bravo! Hats off to both John Isner and Nicolas Mahut!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Radio Radio
The video in the link below showcases Elvis Costello at his most primal and rebellious. It is well worth a watch - a punk classic!
http://rathausartprojects.com/blog/2009/12/08/music-archive-elvis-costellos-snl-performance-of-radio-radio-from-1977/
I would recommend reading the back story below the video first, in order to get the full impact of what happened. My dad, from whom I inherit my affinity for Elvis Costello's music, saw it happen live, and said that it was extremely exciting to watch.
I hope you enjoy!
http://rathausartprojects.com/blog/2009/12/08/music-archive-elvis-costellos-snl-performance-of-radio-radio-from-1977/
I would recommend reading the back story below the video first, in order to get the full impact of what happened. My dad, from whom I inherit my affinity for Elvis Costello's music, saw it happen live, and said that it was extremely exciting to watch.
I hope you enjoy!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Controversy #1
Those of you who know me are well aware that I'm a super-controversial person. Well, not really... But stirring up a little bit of friendly controversy every once in a while can be fun, so here goes:
Late Oasis is better than early Oasis. (If you haven't heard late Oasis, you should get on that. If you haven't heard early Oasis, where you been for the last 15 years?)
Discuss!
Late Oasis is better than early Oasis. (If you haven't heard late Oasis, you should get on that. If you haven't heard early Oasis, where you been for the last 15 years?)
Discuss!
Poetry - Installment #1
I will be posting my poetry, old and (hopefully) new, from time to time. I would love your feedback - a cornerstone of the writing process. Thanks!
Below is my first submission to the blogosphere. I might still have a video of me reciting this and one other poem - I will try to find it and will post the link if that search is successful. And now, without further adooo...
Fifty-Five Years
***
My grandfather was a stubborn man, and my grandmother, she
was the only one who could tell him that the story he was telling was
the same story, the same
story that we had all heard so many times before
and it makes me think, how do you stay married to someone who tells stories over and over again
it makes me think that she was just a bit stubborn herself
but I know exactly why he stayed married to her, you see,
I would watch baseball with him in the living room, and boy, did we argue– he was indignant every time I shushed him,
but damn it! I just wanted to hear what the announcers had to say about Chipper Jones–
but then, we would stop– stop watching, stop arguing, stop– and listen
to my grandmother
laughing
and even though I have no idea what was going on in those old movies she watched, I do know
that for all their unmitigated talent,
Cary Grant’s, Katherine Hepburn’s, Jimmy Stewart’s greatest accomplishment
was to make my grandmother laugh,
that laugh that echoed so joyously throughout the house, that made you forget why on Earth you were arguing in the first place!
That laugh that made you happy.
My grandfather was a stubborn man, and my grandmother, she
was the only one who could tell him that the story he was telling was
the same story, the same
story that we had all heard so many times before
and it makes me think, how do you stay married to someone who tells stories over and over again –
well, she let us see for ourselves after she passed away in 2001.
That Christmas brought the addition of a new family member, a kitten that I named Aiko – Japanese for “love” –
and while my grandfather was none too pleased, that little runaway needed a home,
so by God, I wasn’t taking “no” for an answer!
But he was the one who made her exercise, catching sunlight off his watch and laughing
as she prowled, hunting the reflections on the wall, he was the one who renamed her “Aiko Rosita”
and let her slumber in his bed all day long, unable to resist her cries for attention
And as he lay dreaming on his deathbed, she was “Aiko Rosita, savior of Coral Gables,”
the feline heroine who saved our town from the clutches of evil, but I think her real act of heroism was to show us
just how tender this old curmudgeon could be –
She was my grandmother reincarnated, I have no doubt, as beautiful as ever in her soft fur and cool amber tones,
showing us just why she did stay married to this man
for the last fifty-five years of her life.
Below is my first submission to the blogosphere. I might still have a video of me reciting this and one other poem - I will try to find it and will post the link if that search is successful. And now, without further adooo...
Fifty-Five Years
***
My grandfather was a stubborn man, and my grandmother, she
was the only one who could tell him that the story he was telling was
the same story, the same
story that we had all heard so many times before
and it makes me think, how do you stay married to someone who tells stories over and over again
it makes me think that she was just a bit stubborn herself
but I know exactly why he stayed married to her, you see,
I would watch baseball with him in the living room, and boy, did we argue– he was indignant every time I shushed him,
but damn it! I just wanted to hear what the announcers had to say about Chipper Jones–
but then, we would stop– stop watching, stop arguing, stop– and listen
to my grandmother
laughing
and even though I have no idea what was going on in those old movies she watched, I do know
that for all their unmitigated talent,
Cary Grant’s, Katherine Hepburn’s, Jimmy Stewart’s greatest accomplishment
was to make my grandmother laugh,
that laugh that echoed so joyously throughout the house, that made you forget why on Earth you were arguing in the first place!
That laugh that made you happy.
My grandfather was a stubborn man, and my grandmother, she
was the only one who could tell him that the story he was telling was
the same story, the same
story that we had all heard so many times before
and it makes me think, how do you stay married to someone who tells stories over and over again –
well, she let us see for ourselves after she passed away in 2001.
That Christmas brought the addition of a new family member, a kitten that I named Aiko – Japanese for “love” –
and while my grandfather was none too pleased, that little runaway needed a home,
so by God, I wasn’t taking “no” for an answer!
But he was the one who made her exercise, catching sunlight off his watch and laughing
as she prowled, hunting the reflections on the wall, he was the one who renamed her “Aiko Rosita”
and let her slumber in his bed all day long, unable to resist her cries for attention
And as he lay dreaming on his deathbed, she was “Aiko Rosita, savior of Coral Gables,”
the feline heroine who saved our town from the clutches of evil, but I think her real act of heroism was to show us
just how tender this old curmudgeon could be –
She was my grandmother reincarnated, I have no doubt, as beautiful as ever in her soft fur and cool amber tones,
showing us just why she did stay married to this man
for the last fifty-five years of her life.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Vote for Martin Prado!
Major League Baseball's annual All-Star Game is coming up, and I would like to ask everyone (baseball fan or not) to do me one small favor in the upcoming week and a half. Whoever else you vote for (or even if you don't vote for anybody else), please vote for Martin Prado as the National League's All-Star second baseman.
He is in second place behind Chase Utley - and I mean way behind. However, he is a very good player having an excellent season, and deserves a lot more love than he's getting - even if you really like Chase Utley.
So please, contribute your All-Star vote(s) to Martin Prado, and you will have my undying gratitude. Here's how to vote if you're not familiar:
1) Go to http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp.
2) Click on the link at the very top of the page that says "All-Star Game 2010: Vote".
3) Enter the appropriate information in the ballot that pops up (and uncheck the box that says, "I would like to receive commercial e-mails from my favorite clubs (below) and MLB.com." if you don't want to get e-mails).
4) Click on "Vote Now".
5) You will find Martin Prado in the NL (National League) Ballot, under Second Basemen.
6) When you are finished, click on "Submit Ballot". You will get one and only one thank-you e-mail from MLB.com for each voting session.
7) You can vote up to 25 times. I would encourage voting the maximum number of times (it's quite easy), but if you only have the time to vote once, that's perfectly fine.
8) Voting ends on July 1st at 11:59 pm.
I'll keep you posted as to Martin's progress (you can also track it here: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/allstar/voting), as well as discussing some related philosophical issues in my upcoming blog post titled "What Is An All-Star?".
Thanks so much!
He is in second place behind Chase Utley - and I mean way behind. However, he is a very good player having an excellent season, and deserves a lot more love than he's getting - even if you really like Chase Utley.
So please, contribute your All-Star vote(s) to Martin Prado, and you will have my undying gratitude. Here's how to vote if you're not familiar:
1) Go to http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp.
2) Click on the link at the very top of the page that says "All-Star Game 2010: Vote".
3) Enter the appropriate information in the ballot that pops up (and uncheck the box that says, "I would like to receive commercial e-mails from my favorite clubs (below) and MLB.com." if you don't want to get e-mails).
4) Click on "Vote Now".
5) You will find Martin Prado in the NL (National League) Ballot, under Second Basemen.
6) When you are finished, click on "Submit Ballot". You will get one and only one thank-you e-mail from MLB.com for each voting session.
7) You can vote up to 25 times. I would encourage voting the maximum number of times (it's quite easy), but if you only have the time to vote once, that's perfectly fine.
8) Voting ends on July 1st at 11:59 pm.
I'll keep you posted as to Martin's progress (you can also track it here: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/allstar/voting), as well as discussing some related philosophical issues in my upcoming blog post titled "What Is An All-Star?".
Thanks so much!
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