Happy B-earth-day!

I'm Still Here

A friend e-mailed me today and asked where my blog postings had gone. (I hadn't posted since the 15th, which was Tuesday.) I told him that sometimes one just has to take a break.

Another reason is just not having anything to say. I read a number of blogs and have noted that this reason does not stop some others from blogging.

But, be that as it may.

You may note that I have not posted anything on politics for quite awhile. That is because I just grew (as Barry Goldwater used to say) "sick and tired" of this year's campaign and the way the television media has reported and misrepresented it. In spite of being a political junkie for decades I have quit watching most television coverage of the campaign. This bothers the hell out of SWMBO, also a political junkie. She thinks I'm just bitter because my candidate isn't winning.

So, who is my candidate? Well, I may have a new one. Former representative Bob Barr is the new favorite for the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party. After reading a column by George Will saying that Barr could be to John McCain what Ralph Nader was to Al Gore and John Kerry, I began thinking that a vote for Barr might not be a bad idea.

To another subject. I have several friends living in Juneau, Alaska. A recent avalanche about 40 miles from Juneau wiped out several transmission towers linking a hydoelectric plant to the capitol. Emergency generators have been thrown into use to keep power coming to Juneau. But the electricity generated is vastly more expensive to produce. That means Juneau residents may see an increase in their electric rates of 500 to 600 percent. Imagine. Your monthly bill has been $200. Suddenly it's $1,000 or higher. Residents are looking for state or federal help.

I guess that's about it for today.

Number 42

Jackie Robinson was a great athlete who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he was hired to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers 61 years ago today. After a successful 10 year career, he retired.

His uniform number 42 was retired by the Dodgers in 1972 and in 1997 all of Major League baseball retired the number. A waiver allows the number to be worn by players on this date in honor of Robinson.

I was a Dodger fan for many years including Jackie's playing days.

He was a great man.

Get well, Mike!

Sorry, guys. I started early.

RENEWAL!!!

I think I've mentioned our poor worn front patio before. The one where the stain has worn off the concrete.


SWMBO and I cleaned it a few days ago. Today, the BRD painted it.

I had to take this close-up to show you how stylish our painter is.

The entire patio was painted, thanks to a roller, in a little over an hour.

Bravo! A new patio!

Meantime, some spring flowers are waiting patiently to be planted.

Let's all drink for Mike!

As some of you may know, our buddy Mike is in the hospital up in Michigan today having his left kidney removed.

So send good vibes his way and, since Mike apparently will be off the sauce for good, you might want to have a drink (or two or three or four or more) for him this afternoon. His pal Thomas has organized a virtual party for everyone to join in.

Toast!

Beisbol!!!!!

A couple of years ago my old pal, Steve, became a fanatic. About baseball. Specifically, about the Arizona Diamondbacks who are from his town, Phoenix.

This year, he ended up with season tickets for every home game. So, from time to time, I get a call from him to come down for a game.

The day always starts at an outside-the-park vendor who sells two bottles of water and a large bag of peanuts for five bucks.

Today, I had my camera with me so we had to take a few "touristy" pictures. For instance, this one with some big bats outside the park.

The view from our seats. They're a section over toward home plate from last year's seats so they're a bit better.

There's a huge new scoreboard and video screen - 14 million bucks worth of high density from what the Diamondbacks tell us. Even with the roof open today, it was crystal clear.

Steve probably isn't going to like this one but I had to show him getting into a Kraut Dog. (For the politically correct crowd, that's Kraut as in Sauerkraut.)

After the game, a picture of your conquering hero outside the park. (The Diamondbacks won 10 to 3. A good day. They also gave everyone entering the park a nice new black baseball cap to mark the 10th anniversary of the team.

And finally the Dynamic Duo, sporting their new caps.

Now, one addendum. Steve recently shaved off his beard. For the first time in 30 years, he is clean-shaven. He has a wife or two, step-kids, grandkids, co-workers and many, many friends who had never seen his face this way.

Funny, though.

I didn't notice.