1990: Music

I'm not saying that 1990 was the greatest year ever in music- 1958 probably was- but consider the following:

• Repeater- Fugazi
• Momma Said Knock You Out- L.L. Cool J
• Flood- They Might Be Giants
• Social Distortion- Social Distortion
• Sex Packets- Digital Underground
• I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got- Sinéad O'Connor
  
• Blue Sky Mining- Midnight Oil
  
• Bossanova- Pixies
• Hell's Ditch- The Pogues
  
• Fear of a Black Planet- Public Enemy
• Black Sheets of Rain- Bob Mould
• Bona Drag- Morrissey

Not bad at all.

Really?

One of the next superheroes to be featured in a "major motion picture" will be the Norse god of thunder, Thor, in 2011.

The only Scandinavian in the cast (which also includes Natalie Portmon, Rene Russo, Anthony Hopkins, and Samuel L. Jackson), Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard will play...an American.

I have no words.

C'mon people!

I'm only making an issue out of this because I've come across it multiple times in the last few days:

That beautiful island nation in the South Pacific that gave us, among others, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka is called Fiji. Once again, F-I-J-I.

There may actually be somewhere called "Figi" and it may indeed be inhabited by "Figians," but I suspect that it's actually a fictitious place created by the good people at Nabisco.

Seriously, you might not own a dictionary, but if you're reading this you own a computer that's connected to the interwebs.

Try harder.

February 14th

Dear Gram,

It's been four years.

I don't miss you any less.

Love,

Your Grandson

An Olympic Thought

As the games open today, keep this in mind about the Olympics and about elite level sports in general. I'll use an easy example:

When the games are over, look at the statistics for the US Men's Hockey team. See that guy who played the least minutes? The "worst" guy on the team? Think about this-

• He was the best player on his local youth team.
• He was the best player on his high school team.
• He was the best player on his college/minor league team.
• He was- at least- the best American player on his professional team.
• Just by making the Olympic team he is one of the best two dozen our so players in the country.

So, before you dismiss "him" as the weakest link or the bench warmer, remember that he's a better player than you, me, or anyone else we know.

IKEA!

Today I finally got around to using the IKEA gift card I received for Christmas.

Needless to say, it was a pretty good day- I got everything I intended to get and a few other things as well. Here's what I cam home with-

• 1 Kvart clip lamp and bulb

• 5 Grundtal pot hooks

• 2 Dralla flexible cutting boards

• 1 Aspekt knife sharpener

• 1 Leksvik wall-mounted coat rack

• 1 Magasin folding dish rack

• 2 Gosa Slan pillows

• 1 Myskmalva duvet cover/pillow case set

• 1 Vila fitted sheet

• 1 Malou duvet cover/pillow case set

Not bad at all.

I'm not going to say that any of this "transformed" my apartment, but I filled in a lot of holes and it certainly gives me a lot of different bedding options as well as some new toys in the kitchen.

If only I had room for more furniture...

My life in capsule form

Today I finally bought the two ink cartridges I need for my printer/copier/scanner. By "finally" I mean after close to a year without being able to print anything!

So, I took them out of the package, put them in, and pushed the "test" button to make sure it was working correctly after sitting idle for so long.

Out of paper.

Naturally.

An Update

One of my loyal followers has asked for a brief update on my family, so here it is!

• Mom: Hanging in there and holding everything together as usual. She could probably retire any time she wanted to, but for reasons that are well-understood, "work" is has been her refuge for quite a while and I don't think she's ready to let go of it- even if it means being retired.
• Dad: More often than not, he's doing well. And by "well," I mean that thanks to some changes in his treatment, we've been able to turn back the clock a bit. The situation is still extremely difficult for me to deal with. But, I've been really clear about what I can and cannot "handle" and everyone has been great about it.
• Brother: Well, he's been a dad for almost two years now and he couldn't be a better one. Not that I ever had any doubt about that, but his daughter is a very, very lucky little girl.
• Sister: She and her husband continue to try to get their house the way they want it- that process will never end, but with each improvement, it looks even better. The restaurant and all its associated businesses (two cruise boats, catering, etc.) are doing well, especially considering the economy.
• "Down Under" things are busy- babies being born, houses being purchased, etc. I think my sister is going there next summer for a visit.

In other news...

• For practical and financial reasons, Camp is now jointly owned by "the kids." Basically, if Dad can live at home for another five years, it can never be seized as an asset to help pay for his care. A permanent foundation is in the near future and there is some talk of putting in at least enough electricity to make it easier for Dad to be there. A new dock, and what form it will take, is under discussion.
• I drove by Gram's house on the way into Boston last fall and it was really odd to think of somebody else living there after 50 (60?) years, seeing their stuff on the porch and in the yard, etc.. Nicky's, on the other hand, is still the same and still DELICIOUS!

As for me: I'm here. More good days than bad- far more good ones if I'm honest about it. Work is fine, keeping the soccer website running is a lot of work but worth every minute of it, other than wishing I had somebody special to share all of this with, I can't complain.

I really hope this didn't sound like one of those typed out and photocopied "Year End" letters people send to their friends- I hate those!

Questions?

How did I not know this?

It turns out that for four years of my life I lived with in a twenty minute drive of the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Now I live two hours away.

Damn.

Seriously?!

If you know me at all, you know that in certain ways I can be completely oblivious to what is going on around me while, at the same time, not missing anything in other ways.

Okay, that was horribly worded, but I hope it made sense nevertheless.

Anyway, I know the following things about my blog.

1. I know there is one person who checks it regularly.
2. I know there is one person who checks it occasionally...or at least used to.
3. I know there is another person who used check it occasionally...and may still.

What these people have in common is that I have had some kind of relationship with them in the past/present.

What I did not know is that I have two "followers" of my blog! That's right, people I don't know who have chosen to follow my blog. Perhaps this will be enough of a boost to me to post here more frequently!

Oh, and to those two people- "HELLO!"

Dreams 2.0

What's even odder- to me at least- about having dreams about the same person over and over again is that even when said person isn't in my dreams, the dreams take place in the same setting.

I have no idea what to make of that. None at all.

Dreams

For the last month or so I've been having dreams much more frequently than usual.

That's fine.

The dreams have all (at least all of the ones I'm able to remember) been good ones- some "great" ones- been about the same person.

My question is, why?

What should I read into this? Anything? Nothing?

Things I wonder about...

• Will another movie I want to see ever be released?
• When and under what circumstances should "cash value" trump "sentimental value?"
• How do you "unfriend" somebody in the real world?
  
• Does she still have the key? Has she ever thought about using it?
• What should I do with my IRS refund when I get it?
• Will I ever not be tired?
• As I get older, shouldn't my attention span be getting longer?

There's more, I'm sure of it, I just kind of lost my train of thought...

The Christmas Betting Line Results

Well, let's see how I did:

George Foreman Grill with removable plates.

I struck out on this one last year, but this year my mother has all but told me outright that she's going to get it for me, so: 100%

Winner- I've already used it twice since Christmas Day!

A subscription to Consumer Reports

I know, it's a nerdy thing to ask for...it's not expensive, somewhat practical, and easy to pawn off on somebody outside my immediate family, so: 50%.

Winner- I'll be waiting by the mailbox for the first issue to show up!

Western Mass Pioneers Season Tickets

This is one of those things I was planning to buy for myself, so I thought there was no harm in asking...just in case. Still, there a bit pricey, can't be ordered online, etc., so: 1%

Winner- I think. I didn't think I'd get it, and I didn't.

FIFA 2010 for PS3

Last year I was certain that I wasn't going to get the 2009 version, but my brother and sister in-law came through, so I'll count on that again: 75%

Loser- I was pretty confident that I'd get this, and I didn't.

New York by Eduard Rutherfurd

It's a book. People like to buy me books, so: 100%

Push- I didn't get it as a gift, but I used one of the Amazon gift cards I received to purchase it.

Socks

What?! Why pay for them myself? I asked for a specific brand in a specific color, they're cheap and easy to get, so: 100%

Winner- it's always nice when I don't have to spend my money on "necessities."

Printer Cartridges

Expensive. Boring. Didn't want to buy them myself if I didn't need to. I'm not expecting them unless my brother can find a "deal" on them, so 5%

Winner- I didn't think I'd get them, and I didn't.

IKEA Gift Card

I don't even know if they have gift cards at IKEA, so 1%

Loser- this is one that I'm happy to lose. Unfortunately it means a two hour drive to the nearest IKEA as they sell only a few of their products on line.

Well, there we are, maybe my best year yet. 5 wins, 1 push, and 2 losses.

Other cool stuff I received:

• A coffee table book of film noir posters.
• A new digital watch
• A DVD of Blackboard Jungle
• A $25 iTunes gift card
• My Custom Van by Michael Ian Black
• A subscription to Outside magazine
  

I think I'm in love...

Imelda May

• Looks like a pin-up girl? Check.

• Sings rockabilly and blues music? Check.

• Delightful Irish accent? Check.

Jeepers.

I may already have said this...

...but it's worth repeating:

I really can't stand Meryl Streep.

The Christmas Betting Line

Welcome to the Third Annual Christmas Betting Line Spectacular!

I've done "okay" with my prognostications the first two times, but this year could be a bit more difficult. While I did make a list for my mom- as she requires- it was also farmed out to my siblings and other family members who are far less predictable than my beloved mother. Still, I will do my best.

The only change this year is that I'm going to express the chances of receiving the gifts in question in terms of percentages.

George Foreman Grill with removable plates.

I struck out on this one last year, but this year my mother has all but told me outright that she's going to get it for me, so: 100%

A subscription to Consumer Reports

I know, it's a nerdy thing to ask for...it's not expensive, somewhat practical, and easy to pawn off on somebody outside my immediate family, so: 50%.

Western Mass Pioneers Season Tickets

This is one of those things I was planning to buy for myself, so I thought there wa no harm in asking...just in case. Still, there a bit pricey, can't be ordered online, etc., so: 1%

FIFA 2010 for PS3

Last year I was certain that I wasn't going to get the 2009 version, but my brother and sister in-law came through, so I'll count on that again: 75%

New York by Eduard Rutherfurd

It's a book. People like to buy me books, so: 100%

Socks

What?! Why pay for them myself? I asked for a specific brand in a specific color, they're cheap and easy to get, so: 100%

Printer Cartridges

Expensive. Boring. Didn't want to buy them myself if I didn't need to. I'm not expecting them unless my brother can find a "deal" on them, so 5%

IKEA Gift Card

I don't even know if they have gift cards at IKEA, so 1%

I'll be back after Christmas to let you know how I did this year.

2009: A Partial Reading List

Here are the books I read during the past year and those I should have wrapped up before 2010.

Done

• Death on the Cheap: The Lost B Movies of Film Noir by Arthur Lyons
• The Film Noir Reader: Volume 2 edited by Alain Silver and James Ursini
  
• Newton and the Counterfeiter: The Unkown Detective Career of the World's Greatest Scientist by Thomas Levenson
• The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps edited by Otto Penzler
• Fright by Cornell Woolrich
• The Dead Man's Brother by Roger Zelanzy
• The Cutie by Donald E. Westlake
• House Dick by E. Howard Hunt
• Casino Moon by Peter Blauner
• Fake I.D. by Jason Starr
• The Criminal by Jim Thompson
• The Getaway by Jim Thompson
  
• Roughneck by Jim Thompson
• The Nothing Man by Jim Thompson
  
• Passport to Peril by Robert B. Parker
• Stop This Man by Peter Rabe
• Losers Live Longer by Russell Atwood
• Honey in His Mouth by Lester Dent
• Quarry in the Middle by Max Allan Collins
• The Galton Case by Ross MacDonald
• The Blue Hammer by Ross MacDonald
• The Way Some People Die by Ross MacDonald
• The Ivory Grin by Ross MacDonald
• The Doomsters by Ross MacDonald
• The Barbarous Coast by Ross MacDonald
• The Instant Enemy by Ross Mac Donald
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
  
• The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
  
• The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
  
• Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
• The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss
• Drood by Dan Simmons
• The Professional by W.C. Heinz
• Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer by Chris Salewicz
• Born Standing Up by Steve Martin
• The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain
  

In progress or about to be:

• Europe by Norman Davies
• 2066 by Roberto Bolano
  
• The Island of the Day Before by Umberto Eco
• Black Angel by Cornell Woolrich
• The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Corpse Wore Pasties by Jonny Porkpie
• The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

That's not everything, but it's probably pretty close- there are probably a few from late 2008 on here and there are certainly some from this year that I've forgotten. Not a bad year overall.

Items of note

Every once in a while I need to clear the decks, so here we go!

• Is my right knee becoming arthritic? Could be.
• I need to start writing again.
• Today's mail brought an issue of Rolling Stone that reviews the best albums, songs, etc. of the decade- it was worse than I thought. Yeesh.
  
• I dawned on me today (yesterday?) that every woman I've ever dated has been smart- very smart, some even smarter than me! I've always assumed that this was a good thing, but give my, um, history, I'm beginning to have second thoughts.
• I need a vacation. A long, far away vacation. I'm going to be going to Florida again in the spring, and I'll have fun, but it won't be long enough and it's not far away enough.
  
• I've said it once and I'll say it again, I HATE being sick. I'm not saying there's anybody who actually likes it, but I feel like it highlights every negative facet of my personality, and that's not good for anyone.
• I'm still not a fan of poetry, but Walt Whitman is growing on me. Don't tell my dad, though, I can't bear to see the look of self-satisfaction that will affix itself to his face.
• After a couple of years of failure, I have once again been able to complete all of my Christmas shopping from the comfort of my couch and without having to talk to anyone.
• In addition to the one book I'm reading, I have a stack of four more waiting for me and another one on the way to me from Amazon. Sweet.

Well, there's actually more, but I've got things to do...

Another reason to watch Crime Story

Pam Grier.