Reflections

Greeting and Salutations to All!

It’s been a so-so week since we last met. Spring Training has started and the Yankees are off to a fine start. Mr. Damon hit a leadoff homerun and Mr. Giambi hit one in the 2nd. Looking mighty fine there Jason. The real star of the show was Mr. Wang. No not Charles Wang the owner of the New York Islanders. I’m taking about the man who finished 2nd in the AL Cy Young Award race last year - Chien-Ming Wang.

He was perfect in his 2 innings of work. Sharp, effective and again using only minimal amounts of pitches to retire batters. I believe he is/will be the opening day starter for the Yankees on April 2nd. Other than that we saw the first real work of Mr. Hughes. The highly touted prospect of the minors that the other 29 teams in MLB want. Not gonna happen! Anyway, a little sharp, a little sloppy, a so-so performance from Phillip. He did surrender the Twins only run for the game.

Enough Yankees – how about the Oscars – did it suck or what – too damn long. Too much BS and please someone show Ellen the door – she sucks too, and I don’t mean her GF either! Happy for Alan Arkin – he was great as the heroin using Grandfather and the act he taught the kid was priceless. I was upset that Abagail didn’t win, she lost to Jennifer Hudson. Someone told me that kids shouldn’t win. I said “Why Not? they’re actors too!” I reminded that person of wins by Tatum O’Neal for “Paper Moon” and Anna Paquin for “The Piano” – so take that in your pipe and smoke it. You know who you are! Kudos for Helen Mirren in “The Queen”! I heard she has a standing invitation to the palace to have tea with the “Real” Queen Elizabeth II.

Great win for Forrest Whitaker – always loved him as an actor. Stayed mostly away from the more mainstream roles for the more edgy, independent roles. Don’t get me wrong, loved him in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” but check him out in “Smoke”, “The Crying Game”, “Ghost Dog” and of course as Lt. Kavanaugh on “The Shield” on FX.

Speaking of “The Shield”, if you’re not watching it – there is something wrong with you!! One of the best TV shows of all time. Great acting, writing, direction, I can’t describe it anymore; you just have to watch it. Watch it on DVD or on FX ONLY!!
Do not watch the reruns on regular TV or on the Spike channel. They’re edited and do the show no justice.

Saw this article on Yahoo today:

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/millionaire/25132

Ways to increase your income by 20%. I think it’s a great article for those who need some extra cash. Who doesn’t? While the author has appeared and been endorsed by Oprah, no way do I endorse O. I just happen to find the article as Yahoo is my homepage.


I’m off to a mini-reunion this weekend at a local bar. An old classmate managed to track me down after 22 years. Yes for those who are counting and are in the know, that means Grammar school. While grammar school reunions are few and far between, I think it’s great. I spent 8 years with these people while only spending 4 years with the guys from HS. Looking forward to it, they’re will be plenty drinking, catching up, swapping of old tales, and partying into the wee hours of the morning. I will give full details next Thursday night.

Last and certainly not the least I want to devote this week’s entry to Tony Monteverdi. Tony is the father of “Big Al” – a trusting, warm, and caring friend of mine. As many of you know “Big Al” is actually a female – my friend Alice who is vertically challenged hence the moniker. I’ve met Tony several times over the last 15-20 years and he was very friendly and hospitable. Never was I allowed to call him “Mr. Monteverdi” or “Sir”, just Tony. His wife was the same way hence we called her “Jane”. Tony was always inviting you into his kitchen and offering you wine, beer, soda, a snack, whatever you wanted basically. He was so engaging that Alice would have to tell him “Leave Mick along, he came to see me!” We’ll miss you Tony – may you rest in peace.

Tonight's post brought to you by Guinness.
Tonight's post brought to you by the Letter G.
Nuff said!!!