There is a choice of tunes in the car again. Bought one of those cassette adapters all the kids are using these days. The kids that have old vehicles with cassette decks in them that is. Took it out of the package right in the parking lot, popped it in the deck, plugged in the iPod and This Time Tomorrow by The Kinks started playing in the speakers. Nice.
Here's that year end meme that makes the round every year at this time.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Was the driver in a car accident.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Did I make any last year? Do I even want to look?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I was starting to know Jeff Abraxas.
5. What countries did you visit?
None!
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More time to travel. A son who is verbal and toilet trained.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 15th, the accident. Could have been so much worse.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
30 poems about autism in 30 days. That was April. Changed a tire on a cold, November night without wanting to hit anything with a tire iron.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to pull my son into our world
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
A bit of vertigo
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A 1993 Subaru, iPod baby. Bedroom floor.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My Scottish Wife.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Those who vote against their own interest
14. Where did most of your money go?
The mortgage, freaking car repairs.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My son when he decides to poop in the toilet.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Winter Winds - Mumford & Sons
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Not much different, and that has to change
iii. richer or poorer? Um, richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Getting in my son's face, writing
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Goofing off online
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my wife, saw Black Swan, then at Jim's watching Doctor Who
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Stayed
23. Did your heart break in 2010?
Nah.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Men of a Certain Age
25. Where were you when 2010 began?
At home, I was at Scott's but left early
26. Who were you with?
My wife, who was recovering from dental work
27. Where will you be when 2010 ends?
At home, but at Dave's before that
28. Who will you be with when 2010 ends?
With my wife and (hopefully) sleeping son
29. What was the best book you read?
Room - Emma Donaghue
30. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Drew Grow and the Pastors Wives
31. What did you want and get?
My wife to find a good job
32. What did you want and not get?
Published. To get on a slam team
33. What was your favorite film of this year?
Saw so few new ones. Toy Story 3
34. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I think I stayed at home and whined about the heat
35. How many different states did you travel to in 2010?
Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania. Blech
36. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
me
37. What kept you sane?
My job, my son, Emma.
38. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Readers of this blog already know the answer to that question.
39. What political issue stirred you the most?
Manufactured outrage
40. How many concerts did you see in 2010?
Mumford and Sons, Roger Waters
41. Did you have a favorite concert in 2010?
Mumford and Sons
42. Who was the best new person you met?
I'm not sure if I've met anyone who I can say is the best, really have not been close to anyone new to rate them
43. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
I do not think so
44. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2010?
Turning a two minute poem into one that went on for over three minutes
45. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Changing a tire on a cold November night is not that difficult as long as there is some lighting
46. What are your plans for 2011?
Travel more, to Long Island and Scotland. Write more. Lose some freaking weight
47. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I want to write a message to you every day at ten o'clock in the evening - Belle & Sebastian
2010 was not a bad year. I'm very lucky.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
2010, a Year in Poetry
Scott Woods encouraged others to do this so I'm going to take a stab at it.
While I think my work this year suffered due to a lack of writing discipline and distraction, I had a hell of a lot of fun with poetry. If you can't have fun with it, to me, it's not worth doing. This is in random bullet form.
Good memories of this year include the Decathlon Slam at CSCC. Doing the Dozens round against Izetta. Death by Fantasia.
Then there was the Decathlon Slam at Arts Fest. I captained a losing squad, but we kept our dignity by blasting the winning team (including Izetta) with Silly String.
It was an honor to be invited to the Face Off Slam at Writing Wrongs. I went head to head with Izetta, and lost again.
Anyone else detecting a pattern here?
There were some fine features at Writers Block this past year. A few memories are Adam Stone's "Robert Frost Checking his Netflix Queue" poem, Bill Campana's "When Love Met Love" and Jon Sands hitting the stage again and again.
Some nights after Writers' Block, you need a Silkwood Shower. Triggers include Mountain Love. Legs of Silk. Shake and Bake. Irene Cara's Raisinets.
Another honor was being included in the Language of the Art exhibit at the Columbus Metropolitan Library. My poem and Ed Elberfeld's photography together was a good combination we both learned from.
Creating the Uni with Beverly Wilkinson, hardware for the IWPS Champion. Had a lot of fun with that and hope to sustain a tradition.
Came in third place at the Upper Arlington Arts Festival Poetry Slam. Izetta was not there.
Thanks to Tyrone I wrote "Knocking You in the Bluetooth", a poem about cell phones going off during poetry readings.
I tried upping my game a bit with a trio of Persona poems, subjects that only I can come up with: An Obscene Phone Call from Mr. Potato Head. David's Rock, about, yes, that rock. Juan Valdez's Donkey Speaks.
The LeBron James slam. Ethan started the slam with a poem about the freshly departed basketball player. I followed with another. Joanna referenced him in one of her poems and I paid Louise a dollar to do the same.
A fun piece inspired by actual events was formed right before a staff meeting. Lincoln Tower, the Grassy Knoll - the poem about the Cows, thanks Henry.
Completed the exhausting task of writing 30 Autism poems in April. Autism Awareness Month and National Poetry Month gave my brain a workout and forced me to write in a few unfamiliar forms
I wrote two pantoums!
Featured at Cover Me! in January. Thanks Nick.
I'm sure I forgot something. The fine poetry that I witnessed at WoW, the establishment of the No Touching Party. 2011 is going to be nothing but a continuation of the journey. I'd like to thank my wife, and everyone at Writers' Block for all of their support, and to you for reading.
While I think my work this year suffered due to a lack of writing discipline and distraction, I had a hell of a lot of fun with poetry. If you can't have fun with it, to me, it's not worth doing. This is in random bullet form.
Good memories of this year include the Decathlon Slam at CSCC. Doing the Dozens round against Izetta. Death by Fantasia.
Then there was the Decathlon Slam at Arts Fest. I captained a losing squad, but we kept our dignity by blasting the winning team (including Izetta) with Silly String.
It was an honor to be invited to the Face Off Slam at Writing Wrongs. I went head to head with Izetta, and lost again.
Anyone else detecting a pattern here?
There were some fine features at Writers Block this past year. A few memories are Adam Stone's "Robert Frost Checking his Netflix Queue" poem, Bill Campana's "When Love Met Love" and Jon Sands hitting the stage again and again.
Some nights after Writers' Block, you need a Silkwood Shower. Triggers include Mountain Love. Legs of Silk. Shake and Bake. Irene Cara's Raisinets.
Another honor was being included in the Language of the Art exhibit at the Columbus Metropolitan Library. My poem and Ed Elberfeld's photography together was a good combination we both learned from.
Creating the Uni with Beverly Wilkinson, hardware for the IWPS Champion. Had a lot of fun with that and hope to sustain a tradition.
Came in third place at the Upper Arlington Arts Festival Poetry Slam. Izetta was not there.
Thanks to Tyrone I wrote "Knocking You in the Bluetooth", a poem about cell phones going off during poetry readings.
I tried upping my game a bit with a trio of Persona poems, subjects that only I can come up with: An Obscene Phone Call from Mr. Potato Head. David's Rock, about, yes, that rock. Juan Valdez's Donkey Speaks.
The LeBron James slam. Ethan started the slam with a poem about the freshly departed basketball player. I followed with another. Joanna referenced him in one of her poems and I paid Louise a dollar to do the same.
A fun piece inspired by actual events was formed right before a staff meeting. Lincoln Tower, the Grassy Knoll - the poem about the Cows, thanks Henry.
Completed the exhausting task of writing 30 Autism poems in April. Autism Awareness Month and National Poetry Month gave my brain a workout and forced me to write in a few unfamiliar forms
I wrote two pantoums!
Featured at Cover Me! in January. Thanks Nick.
I'm sure I forgot something. The fine poetry that I witnessed at WoW, the establishment of the No Touching Party. 2011 is going to be nothing but a continuation of the journey. I'd like to thank my wife, and everyone at Writers' Block for all of their support, and to you for reading.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame
I've enjoyed reading Scott Woods' recap of his year in poetry. Don't know if I can do a top ten, but I think I can go back and pull of few of the most memorable moments down. Give me a day or two.
Headed back to work after a six day vacation. The child goes back to school on Monday. Not a moment too soon. He was bouncing off the walls from about six yesterday morning to ten at night. At least he slept without interruption.
Here's a list of all the movies I saw this year. They're not ranked. If I hated any of them I would have mentioned that already. Ok, I hated Hamlet 2. A few might be missing due to the hard drive failure but most of them are here. It's a pathetic list, but I don't get out to see movies as much as I used to, and I suffer through a lot of Blue Jackets games. Time in which it could be said would be better spent watching a good film.
Film 2010
1) I've Loved You So Long
2) The Horse Boy
3) What's Up Doc?
4) How to Draw a Bunny
5) Slamnation
6) In the Loop
7) The Crowd (1928)
8) Midnight Cowboy
9) The Hangover
10) District 9
11) The Reader
12) Kill Bill Part One
13) Kill Bill Part 2
14) The A-Team
15) The Girl in the Dragon Tattoo
16) The Art of the Steal
17) Dumbo
18) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
19) Hot Fuzz
20) Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World
21) Matinee
22) Crazy Heart
23) Au hasard balthazar
24) Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne
25) Sherlock Jr.
26) Horse Feathers
27) Duck Soup
28) Second Chances
29) Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
30) Inception
31) This Mortal Coil
32) To Be or Not To Be
33) The Kinks: You Really Got Me
34) Black White + Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff + Robert Mapplethorpe
35) The Sting
36) The Kid
37) Anvil - The True Story of Anvil
38) The Girl Who Played With Fire
39) The Girl Who Kicked in the Hornet's Nest
40) Where the Wild Things Are
41) Hamlet 2
42) A State of Mind
43) The Great Santini
44) 101 Dalmations
45) Toy Story 3
46) Peter Pan (1953)
47) Black Swan
48) Red
Headed back to work after a six day vacation. The child goes back to school on Monday. Not a moment too soon. He was bouncing off the walls from about six yesterday morning to ten at night. At least he slept without interruption.
Here's a list of all the movies I saw this year. They're not ranked. If I hated any of them I would have mentioned that already. Ok, I hated Hamlet 2. A few might be missing due to the hard drive failure but most of them are here. It's a pathetic list, but I don't get out to see movies as much as I used to, and I suffer through a lot of Blue Jackets games. Time in which it could be said would be better spent watching a good film.
Film 2010
1) I've Loved You So Long
2) The Horse Boy
3) What's Up Doc?
4) How to Draw a Bunny
5) Slamnation
6) In the Loop
7) The Crowd (1928)
8) Midnight Cowboy
9) The Hangover
10) District 9
11) The Reader
12) Kill Bill Part One
13) Kill Bill Part 2
14) The A-Team
15) The Girl in the Dragon Tattoo
16) The Art of the Steal
17) Dumbo
18) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
19) Hot Fuzz
20) Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World
21) Matinee
22) Crazy Heart
23) Au hasard balthazar
24) Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne
25) Sherlock Jr.
26) Horse Feathers
27) Duck Soup
28) Second Chances
29) Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
30) Inception
31) This Mortal Coil
32) To Be or Not To Be
33) The Kinks: You Really Got Me
34) Black White + Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff + Robert Mapplethorpe
35) The Sting
36) The Kid
37) Anvil - The True Story of Anvil
38) The Girl Who Played With Fire
39) The Girl Who Kicked in the Hornet's Nest
40) Where the Wild Things Are
41) Hamlet 2
42) A State of Mind
43) The Great Santini
44) 101 Dalmations
45) Toy Story 3
46) Peter Pan (1953)
47) Black Swan
48) Red
Monday, December 27, 2010
It Could Have Been Worse
Spent a fair amount of time and money in three repair shops on Thursday and Today. When you buy a used car, cheap, it's going to be far from perfect. First I had the brakes fixed, this morning the exhaust and in the afternoon I had the thermostat replaced.
The car now stops, sounds quiet and has amazing heat. There are a few more things that need to be taken care of, but not yet. Probably after we return from our trip east in two weeks.
Hoping we have better weather than what's been going on the past couple of weekends. Long Island got socked with snow. Luckily one of my brothers and nephew helped dig my parents out. They're not getting younger, and my stepfather has a bad shoulder that prohibits him from a lot of physical activity. So I worry.
Tomorrow, my oldest brother turns fifty - and I'm right behind him.
Going to combine this entry with a list of the books I read this year. I did read a few more than this, but they were lost to bad memory and a failed hard drive. Not time to give lengthy reviews, but if you see three stars it means the book was very good. Four stars is a superior read. No stars means I got through it, but it was nothing special.
So here's the list of the books I read in 2010.
1) We're Going to See the Beatles. Garry Berman. 284 p.
2) Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend. Larry Tye. 392 p.
3) A Couple of Ways of Doing Something. Chuck Close, Bob Holman
4) No Poet's Corner in the Abbey - David Phillips. 222 p.
5) The Horse Boy - Rupert Isaacson.357 p. ***
6) Tooth and Nail. Ian Rankin. 290 p. ***
7) Words in Your Face. Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz. 371 p. ***
8) Open: An Autobiography. Andre Agassi. 385 p. ***
9) Corn Flakes with John Lennon. Robert Hilburn. 296 p.
10) Just Kids. Patti Smith. 278 p. ***
11) Sakura Park. Rachel Wetzteon. 115 p.
12) Marriage and Other Acts of Charity. Kate Braestrup. 217 p.
13) Au Revoir to All That: Food, Wine and the End of France. Michael Sternberger. 243 p.
14) Point Omega. Don Delillo. 117 p.
15) As it was Written. Sujatha Hampton. 370 p.
16) Me, the Mob and the Music. Tommy James with Martin Fitzpatrick. 227 p.
17) Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea. Barbara Demick. 314 p. ***
18) Marilyn Johnson - This Book is Overdue. How Libraries and Cybrarians Can Save Us All. 272 p.
19) The United States of Poetry. 176 p.
20) Secret Historian - The Life & Times of Samuel Steward. Justin Spring. 478 p. **** (best non-fiction)
21) The Half Life of Planets. Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin. 247 p. ***
22) You Lost Me There. Rosencrans Baldwin. 296 p. ***
23) Eaarth. Bill McKibben. 253 p. ***
24) Lay the Favorites - A Memoir of Gambling. Beth Rayner. 228 p.
25) Pat Conroy - My Reading History. 337 p. ***
26) Emma Donaguhe - Room. 321 p. **** (best fiction)
27) Keith Richards - Life. 564 p. ***
28) Patricia Smith - Big Towns, Big Talk. 114 p.
29) Maus Book 1. Art Spiegelman. 158 p. ****
30) Great House. Nicole Krauss. 289 p.
31) Gold Medal Killer. Diana Britt Franklin. 210 p.
32) Pat Benatar - Between a Rock and a Hard Place. 256 p. ***
33) The Passage - Justin Cronin. 784 p.
34) The Outside Boy - Jeanine Cummins. 384 p.
35) Willie Mays: The Life, the Legend - James S. Hirsch. 640 p. ***
36) The Autism Mom's Survival Guide (For Dad's Too) - Susan Senator. 208 p. ***
37) Ian Rankin - Strip Jack. 320 p. ***
38) This Body of Death - Elizabeth George. 692 p. ***
39) Tooth and Nail - Ian Rankin. 304 p.
40) A Good Hanging - Ian Rankin. 253 p.
41) Little Bee - Chris Cleave. 304 p.
42) The Emptiness of Our Hands: A Lent Lived on the Streets - Phyllis Cole-Dai & James Murray. 243 p. ***
43) The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron - Howard Bryant. 624 p. ***
44) Shutout - Brendan Halpin. 189 p.
45) Paul Murray - Skippy Dies. 672 p. ***
46) Super Sad True Love Story - Gary Shteynegert.. 352 p. ***
47) Medium Raw - Anthony Bourdain. 304 p.
48) Poisoner's Handbook - Deborah Blum. 336 p. ***
49) Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness Only More So - Mark Vonnegut. 203 p.
50) Wilson - Daniel Clowes - 77 p.
51) How to Read the Air - Dinaw Mengestu - 305 p.
52) Voices of Autism: The Healing Companion: Stories for Courage, Comfort and Strength. 243 p.
53) Solar - Ian McEwan. 304 p. 480 p.
54) Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Daniel Okrent.
55) An Object of Beauty - Steve Martin. 304 p. ***
56) Stephen King - Full Dark, No Stars. 368 p. ***
57) The Walking Dead Volume One - Robert Kirkham and Tony Moore
58) Jennifer Egan - A Visit from the Goon Squad. 288 p.
59) Ian Rankin - The Black Room. 336 p.
The car now stops, sounds quiet and has amazing heat. There are a few more things that need to be taken care of, but not yet. Probably after we return from our trip east in two weeks.
Hoping we have better weather than what's been going on the past couple of weekends. Long Island got socked with snow. Luckily one of my brothers and nephew helped dig my parents out. They're not getting younger, and my stepfather has a bad shoulder that prohibits him from a lot of physical activity. So I worry.
Tomorrow, my oldest brother turns fifty - and I'm right behind him.
Going to combine this entry with a list of the books I read this year. I did read a few more than this, but they were lost to bad memory and a failed hard drive. Not time to give lengthy reviews, but if you see three stars it means the book was very good. Four stars is a superior read. No stars means I got through it, but it was nothing special.
So here's the list of the books I read in 2010.
1) We're Going to See the Beatles. Garry Berman. 284 p.
2) Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend. Larry Tye. 392 p.
3) A Couple of Ways of Doing Something. Chuck Close, Bob Holman
4) No Poet's Corner in the Abbey - David Phillips. 222 p.
5) The Horse Boy - Rupert Isaacson.357 p. ***
6) Tooth and Nail. Ian Rankin. 290 p. ***
7) Words in Your Face. Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz. 371 p. ***
8) Open: An Autobiography. Andre Agassi. 385 p. ***
9) Corn Flakes with John Lennon. Robert Hilburn. 296 p.
10) Just Kids. Patti Smith. 278 p. ***
11) Sakura Park. Rachel Wetzteon. 115 p.
12) Marriage and Other Acts of Charity. Kate Braestrup. 217 p.
13) Au Revoir to All That: Food, Wine and the End of France. Michael Sternberger. 243 p.
14) Point Omega. Don Delillo. 117 p.
15) As it was Written. Sujatha Hampton. 370 p.
16) Me, the Mob and the Music. Tommy James with Martin Fitzpatrick. 227 p.
17) Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea. Barbara Demick. 314 p. ***
18) Marilyn Johnson - This Book is Overdue. How Libraries and Cybrarians Can Save Us All. 272 p.
19) The United States of Poetry. 176 p.
20) Secret Historian - The Life & Times of Samuel Steward. Justin Spring. 478 p. **** (best non-fiction)
21) The Half Life of Planets. Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin. 247 p. ***
22) You Lost Me There. Rosencrans Baldwin. 296 p. ***
23) Eaarth. Bill McKibben. 253 p. ***
24) Lay the Favorites - A Memoir of Gambling. Beth Rayner. 228 p.
25) Pat Conroy - My Reading History. 337 p. ***
26) Emma Donaguhe - Room. 321 p. **** (best fiction)
27) Keith Richards - Life. 564 p. ***
28) Patricia Smith - Big Towns, Big Talk. 114 p.
29) Maus Book 1. Art Spiegelman. 158 p. ****
30) Great House. Nicole Krauss. 289 p.
31) Gold Medal Killer. Diana Britt Franklin. 210 p.
32) Pat Benatar - Between a Rock and a Hard Place. 256 p. ***
33) The Passage - Justin Cronin. 784 p.
34) The Outside Boy - Jeanine Cummins. 384 p.
35) Willie Mays: The Life, the Legend - James S. Hirsch. 640 p. ***
36) The Autism Mom's Survival Guide (For Dad's Too) - Susan Senator. 208 p. ***
37) Ian Rankin - Strip Jack. 320 p. ***
38) This Body of Death - Elizabeth George. 692 p. ***
39) Tooth and Nail - Ian Rankin. 304 p.
40) A Good Hanging - Ian Rankin. 253 p.
41) Little Bee - Chris Cleave. 304 p.
42) The Emptiness of Our Hands: A Lent Lived on the Streets - Phyllis Cole-Dai & James Murray. 243 p. ***
43) The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron - Howard Bryant. 624 p. ***
44) Shutout - Brendan Halpin. 189 p.
45) Paul Murray - Skippy Dies. 672 p. ***
46) Super Sad True Love Story - Gary Shteynegert.. 352 p. ***
47) Medium Raw - Anthony Bourdain. 304 p.
48) Poisoner's Handbook - Deborah Blum. 336 p. ***
49) Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness Only More So - Mark Vonnegut. 203 p.
50) Wilson - Daniel Clowes - 77 p.
51) How to Read the Air - Dinaw Mengestu - 305 p.
52) Voices of Autism: The Healing Companion: Stories for Courage, Comfort and Strength. 243 p.
53) Solar - Ian McEwan. 304 p. 480 p.
54) Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Daniel Okrent.
55) An Object of Beauty - Steve Martin. 304 p. ***
56) Stephen King - Full Dark, No Stars. 368 p. ***
57) The Walking Dead Volume One - Robert Kirkham and Tony Moore
58) Jennifer Egan - A Visit from the Goon Squad. 288 p.
59) Ian Rankin - The Black Room. 336 p.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Thought I Knew it All Baby
Teena Marie died today at the age of 54. She was Madonna before Madonna. A white woman who was quite funky.
I always liked playing that one.
Just turned off the television after the Blackhawks went on top of the Blue Jackets 3-0. This team could not score in a bordello with pockets stuffed with $100 bills. Coach Arniel has to be scratching his head, a lot, wondering what he got himself into in his rookie season as a head coach in the NHL. A team that has little offense, no talent on defense and a goaltender who developed the hockey equivalent of Steve Blass Syndrome.
What to do about this team? No idea. Upper level management, above GM Scott Howson even, needs to be reassessed and possibly replaced, as does the scouting system. Does ownership really care about this team being in Columbus after John McConnell died? People are not paying to see this team play and can you blame them?
In the short term this team needs a shake up, one that can be started by replacing captain Rick Nash with R.J. Umberger. Nash needs to concentrate on scoring. Period. Umberger hates to lose and I think he has the ability to be accountable on the ice and make sure his teammates are as well.
There's very little in the farm system. A lot of bodies, undeveloped young talent, and little else. You can say a trade is needed, but the team has little to offer. It could be ten out of eleven seasons that the Blue Jackets do not make the playoffs, a sad display of a sadder franchise.
I always liked playing that one.
Just turned off the television after the Blackhawks went on top of the Blue Jackets 3-0. This team could not score in a bordello with pockets stuffed with $100 bills. Coach Arniel has to be scratching his head, a lot, wondering what he got himself into in his rookie season as a head coach in the NHL. A team that has little offense, no talent on defense and a goaltender who developed the hockey equivalent of Steve Blass Syndrome.
What to do about this team? No idea. Upper level management, above GM Scott Howson even, needs to be reassessed and possibly replaced, as does the scouting system. Does ownership really care about this team being in Columbus after John McConnell died? People are not paying to see this team play and can you blame them?
In the short term this team needs a shake up, one that can be started by replacing captain Rick Nash with R.J. Umberger. Nash needs to concentrate on scoring. Period. Umberger hates to lose and I think he has the ability to be accountable on the ice and make sure his teammates are as well.
There's very little in the farm system. A lot of bodies, undeveloped young talent, and little else. You can say a trade is needed, but the team has little to offer. It could be ten out of eleven seasons that the Blue Jackets do not make the playoffs, a sad display of a sadder franchise.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
That's Not My Blog Post!
I am now an owner of a 1993 Subaru Legacy Station Wagon. It looks like this, but a bit dingier.
It has low mileage, 133K. For a 17 year old car that averages out to about 8,000 miles a year. Has not been driven much. I've had the brake pads replaced and will have the exhaust fixed on Monday. The engine has more pep than expected.
My son joined me as I signed the paperwork, went to the exhaust repair shop for the sticker shock and got the oil changed. He behaved wonderfully.
Returned the rental, someone might need it. I was very impressed with the Hyundai Elantra. When I rented the Accent back in October, I was unimpressed with it because of it's highway boredom, small gas tank and poor gas economy.
The Elantra has a lot of zip, was very comfortable to be in. Wish I had it longer because it had a plug in for an iPod.
Also have to once again give props to the staff at Enterprise on West Broad Street. Very courteous people and they gave me a lift home.
My Scottish Wife suggested we go to an Indian restaurant. It's not my go to place, but she asks for so little in return for being so awesome I could not refuse.
After being seated sitting next to us were two servers from Zen Cha, a tea house my wife goes to (as do I, sometimes) so we had a nice talk with them too.
Then the server came up and said a co-worker told her that I was a "great poet" and that it was "An honor to serve me."
Recognition does happen, and it's humbling when it does. Unlike one poet, who told me she was recognized in a store dressing room, with her pants down - it's pretty cool when someone publicly gives you praise, outside of the venue.
Had a very good chicken curry. Got comped for nothing, not even naan. See what being a famous local poet gets you? Thought about putting a haiku on the receipt but did not.
Glad we decided to head to a friend's house for socializing instead of seeing a movie or not going out.
Played Apples to Apples Jr. and ended up being the winner. Yay me!
I'd never played Catch Phrase and have not laughed so hard in a long time. Had to take my glasses off because they were steaming. Trigger word - Doo Rag.
Today my son's coming over and will stay the night with us. He's at his mother's the rest of the weekend. I might get some last minute shopping in. Tonight we'll open his presents and have a quiet night with each other.
Life is good, Otis Redding is wishing me a White Christmas, and it looks like the snow is staying on the ground for the next few days.
May you Constant Readers have a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and a lovely holiday. Thank you all.
It has low mileage, 133K. For a 17 year old car that averages out to about 8,000 miles a year. Has not been driven much. I've had the brake pads replaced and will have the exhaust fixed on Monday. The engine has more pep than expected.
My son joined me as I signed the paperwork, went to the exhaust repair shop for the sticker shock and got the oil changed. He behaved wonderfully.
Returned the rental, someone might need it. I was very impressed with the Hyundai Elantra. When I rented the Accent back in October, I was unimpressed with it because of it's highway boredom, small gas tank and poor gas economy.
The Elantra has a lot of zip, was very comfortable to be in. Wish I had it longer because it had a plug in for an iPod.
Also have to once again give props to the staff at Enterprise on West Broad Street. Very courteous people and they gave me a lift home.
My Scottish Wife suggested we go to an Indian restaurant. It's not my go to place, but she asks for so little in return for being so awesome I could not refuse.
After being seated sitting next to us were two servers from Zen Cha, a tea house my wife goes to (as do I, sometimes) so we had a nice talk with them too.
Then the server came up and said a co-worker told her that I was a "great poet" and that it was "An honor to serve me."
Recognition does happen, and it's humbling when it does. Unlike one poet, who told me she was recognized in a store dressing room, with her pants down - it's pretty cool when someone publicly gives you praise, outside of the venue.
Had a very good chicken curry. Got comped for nothing, not even naan. See what being a famous local poet gets you? Thought about putting a haiku on the receipt but did not.
Glad we decided to head to a friend's house for socializing instead of seeing a movie or not going out.
Played Apples to Apples Jr. and ended up being the winner. Yay me!
I'd never played Catch Phrase and have not laughed so hard in a long time. Had to take my glasses off because they were steaming. Trigger word - Doo Rag.
Today my son's coming over and will stay the night with us. He's at his mother's the rest of the weekend. I might get some last minute shopping in. Tonight we'll open his presents and have a quiet night with each other.
Life is good, Otis Redding is wishing me a White Christmas, and it looks like the snow is staying on the ground for the next few days.
May you Constant Readers have a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and a lovely holiday. Thank you all.
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