Thursday, February 27, 2014

When will it be spring?



Nature continues to pull cold air into our space and will not let it go easily. Soon, the eggs will stand on their edges, the equinox will be here and there will be much rejoicing and shedding of clothing.

Today though, nothing but sickness. A malaise that all of the juice, cold medications and Girl Scout Cookies cannot cure.

It stays dark, even as the days brighten longer.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

When this old world starts getting me down...

We knew buying the house 11 years ago that the roof was serviceable, not old or new. The past few years, especially after a summer wind storm more and more shingles were being blown off. Never a good sign.

After the tree was pruned in the fall you could really notice the green spots in sections. No, there should not be algae on a roof.

There was some money for me after my Mom died and well, she's still keeping a roof over our heads.

The roofers were supposed to show up last Wednesday to do the install. As evidenced by the footprints in the snow all over my yard, they did, but decided there was still too much ice and snow to do the job. This was fine, I do not want anyone hurt.

It rained all day Thursday so no one showed up.

Friday morning at about 7:45, right after my son got off the bus I heard noises in the yard. The roofers had arrived. It was still a bit windy but they went to work, as did I. Stressed out at work all day and waiting for a call that would tell me they had to replace the boarding under the shingles, but that never happened!

When I got home, they were still going. The main roof was finished but the back porch was not done. I was told there were three layers of shingles on the main part of the roof, which was a lot of extra work, and an incredible mess.

They finished up on Saturday, and did a terrific job. They did a great job cleaning up and even fixed the back gate, which they knocked off kilter a little bit when they moved equipment back and forth. They left a few things looking better than when they got to it, very impressive work by Able Roofers.



So now we have nice, shiny shingles that should last a couple of decades. It also made us realize how badly the house needs a pressure wash. Next!

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Now if there really was a Swear Jar millions would be made

I was on stage at Kafe Kerouac reading a poem. It had a few very naughty words in it. Mid-poem Rachel R. got up, came on stage, looked around and asked, "Where's the Swear Jar?"

Not quite sure what happened after that, but it threw me off. Lost the second page of the poem and was not happy about it. At all.

You know, I could picture her doing something like that. Heck, I could picture several people doing that.

There's your fund raising event. Swear Jar night at Writers' Block.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Everything is awesome

It was a holiday yesterday so my son was off school. I took the day off to look after him and decided that we would have a father/son outing. It's been grey and cold here, with more snow than usual so I chose a movie. The Lego Movie.

A lot of people had the same idea as mine, the theater was packed with kids, which was fine as I had one, too. It's always hard to decide what to expose your son to, what does he know? What will he get out of it?

He did well but was not really interested in the happenings on screen. He watched, then looked around the theater, babbled a bit. Who knows if he had a good time? When the movie was over and the credits started he was instantly out of his seat and wanted out of the theater. I thought that he would be interested in the credits as he always watches them intently at home. Not the case.

The film itself was a visual freak out of nostalgia. Certainly entertaining, though I'm not sure who the target audience is. Having read no reviews I had no idea what to expect, or who did the voices so there were pleasant surprises for me.

Later that evening TCM had a premiere of a little seen film of Jackie Gleason's. Gigot was made in 1962 and to my knowledge is not available on home video in any form. It's also directed by Gene Kelly. It's set in Paris and Gleason plays a mute who works as a janitor. He's picked on and ridiculed by people in the neighborhood regularly and with great cruelty. Then he meets a prostitute and her daughter and finds a friend in the kind daughter.

I wanted to root for this film, but some of the sentimentality and pathos was so over the top it's hard to take Gigot seriously. Reviews were mixed, and remain so. Was Gleason trying to be Chaplin in the Kid, or Tati? His ego was all over the opening credits as his name appeared several times in very large font. Still, it's quite the ambitious film and the effort is certainly there, even with execution that is deeply flawed.

Monday, February 17, 2014

lyudstrawbery@gmail.com and faithful realtions

Hi... I would like to to get acquainted with you. If you don't refuse
certainly? I hope we are similar?
Tell, if it is not difficult, what's your real name? and by the way what
are you doing now?
Forgive me I have forgot to tell you full name.Call me Lyudmila. Mainly I I
am search my soulmate here, I want to have faithful relations. You agree
with me?. If you think for the same it will be very good!
With impatience I wait to hearing from you soon..
I wait your warm message. Lyudmila.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

One long pair of eyes to see you

Yesterday I went in for my first eye exam in three years. This one went better than last time, when I had an ultrasound done on my right eye. Did get to see the picture again, it was in my chart. My right eye is weakening, but I guess that's what happens with age as the eyes are still healthy, and unusually long, and have some weird pigmentation to them in there.

The student/physician who did my exam was easy on the eyes too, even after dilation.

Took a good six hours after dilation for my eyes to get back to some form of normal. I hate losing control of my eyes like that, they're bad enough without my glasses. Did not drive to the exam, but got a day pass from COTA, who got me where I needed to go with no real difficulty or delay. Even with my shades, the glare from the snow was irritating.

Before my exam, I went into the optometry room where the glasses are sold, and picked out a new pair. This was easier than doing it after the exam, a recommended tip.

Ended up going under budget on the new frames and lenses and gave an online site a try for prescription sunglasses. One site was unable to fill my strong prescription so I tried another. Never did this before and hope I'm not going to be disappointed. I'll know for sure in two to three weeks when both sets of glasses arrive.

Monday, February 10, 2014

At night the stars put on a show for free

When you live in a 85 year old house and find shingles on the ground from your roof after a summer storm you know it's not going to last much longer. Already knew there were two, maybe three layers of shingles up there. Having come into a modest amount of money, the time to get the roof replaced is now, while there are no major holes or leaks to worry about.

It was a tough check to write, but an investment that will be to our advantage when we do put the house on the market - whenever that will be.

After the rep left, my wife said it was wine time, and we toasted my Mom, who is again putting a roof over our heads. Thanks Mom.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

An old one who will be missed, and a new one that is more than welcome

One of the major voices of my life died this week. Ralph Kiner was one of the trio, which included Lindsey Nelson and Bob Murphy, who announced Mets baseball games during my formative years. Kiner was there from the team's inception of 1962 until 2006. Being away from New York television for over thirty years did not diminish Kiner's impact on my love and knowledge of the game. He was an outstanding hitter whose career was cut short by a back injury and a class announcer with a penchant for some whoppers of malapropisms. "It's Father's Day so to all you fathers out there, happy birthday."

Ralph Kiner was 91.

After a long time of waiting, Dirty Franks West finally opened on Monday. I commend the Columbus Food League for taking a chance on the west side and making the commitment. It's a similar menu to the spot on 4th Street, but the space is almost double the size. There's even a small stage.



There is also some more great artwork by Tim Lessner on the walls. The space is divided in two. There's the bar half with some seating, and a dining area with plenty of tables.



Lessner did not, to my knowledge, create this work - which is what guys look at while facing the urinal.



The expansion of Dirty Franks is a fine asset to the west side, a part of town that is very under served. I hope this is the start of more business setting up shop here so we do not have to drive all over town for say, a coffee shop.



After 11 years of living here I may finally have a local. 2836 West Broad.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Keep madly waiting, and I will not ask for a naked photo

Hello
How are you?
My name is Ekaterina.
I from Russia, I hope it not a problem for our dialogue.
I am from city Bugulma.
To me 34 years old.
I would like to get acquainted with you, to learn you more close.
This is not my first meeting in the Internet. do not ask me to send you a
naked photo.
So I seriously concern it.
If you are really interested in getting acquainted with me, and a further
meeting, I will wait for your answer.
I will madly wait
I will send to you my photo.
Have a good day
Ekaterina

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

No mug on youtube

I do not announce every submission or rejection I receive. Both are rare to me. There are a lot of poets who are quite prolific, get published often, and deserve the acclaim. I do not have enough poems or confidence to achieve, let alone announce all that.

But I do have to say there's a poem of mine in the new issue of Uppagus. So click on the link, and check out some of the other work on the site, it's good stuff.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Wide right in one case, the crossbar in the other

Got to the Schott today to see the Ohio State Hockey team take on Penn State. It was also an afternoon in which the program celebrated 50 years of Ohio State Hockey, which has been operating my whole life now it seems.

Before the game, the team honored a couple of dozen of former players by bringing them out to center ice. It was cool to see them all, but hard to hear all the names due to the muffled sound system. In a perfect world, it would have helped to have the player named, then the years they were in the program, for additional historical context, but that may have taken more time.

It was very nostalgic to see former players Ryan Jestadt, Craig Patterson, Lee Spector, Jeff Maund, and a few other players from the mid-nineties represent. This was the time I started following the sport.

Between the first and second period the All Buckeye Team was named. On the team are goalie Jeff Maund, defensemen Greg Kostenko and Jim Witherspoon and forwards Hugo Boisvert, Paul Pooley and Paul Tilley.

Most of these players were a bit before my time in Columbus but not Maund and Boisvert. Those two were an key part of the Buckeyes only Frozen Four appearance in 1998. I have Hugo's game-worn jersey from that year and wore it today.



The game itself had Penn State jump out to a 2-0 lead after the first period. There must have been some words said in the locker room since the Buckeyes scored two quick power play goals early in the second period and added a late period goal to take the lead for the rest of the game. Final score was 5-2.

In other nostalgic Hall of Fame news it was great to see Andre Reed finally selected to the Football Hall of Fame. Reed was one of the best wide receivers of his era for the Buffalo Bills as he helped his team to that four in a row Super Bowl run in the early nineties. He would have been in sooner if they won, just one.

That brought back a flood of memories on a day in which was filled with bittersweet things. Back to a time when the Bills were probably just a little too important. Which was followed by a time where college hockey was also a little too important.

How are you my new friend?

She wants to find the flame of love! Let's trow in the best and get that flame sparked up, eh? No picture attached.

Hi! ! ! I don't know as to commence because it is my first experiment of
acquaintance in the Internet. But I write you this letter that will get make
the acquaintance of with you. I didn't get pick up on the Internet never and
thence I don't know what to write. But I choose to tell that I was tired of
loneliness and I want to find the flame of love and to start the serious
relations. And I will be g
lad if you write to me and you will desire to get acquainted with me. I
don't know why I write to you, but in you there is something like that
attracts me. I won't write about myself most, whether because I don't know
you will become interested in acquaintance to me. But after all it is the
Internet and if you don't write to me, I will find out you. But I will trust
that I will get your writing and I will write to you more about myself in
the next writing. And now, I will write about myself in a nutshell. My name
is Olya. And I am from Russian Federation. I am 30 years old. If you want to
learn about me larger, compose to me about yourself in larger detail. But I
desire to tell you at once that I refer acquaintanceship very seriously and
I desire from you same. Because I heard that on the Internet there are
people who write for entertainment cheerfully to spend time and to whom
money is necessary. And me it doesn't interest. But it seems to me that you
are very serious and I want like to know you more. Certainly I can be
mistaken but if we know each other more, time will show everething. Do you
agree? For me it is the premier step and
it very difficult, but I trow in the best and the next ensuing step for
you. I will wait very much for your answer. Olya.
OlgaLG1980@yandex.ru