New England Pilgrims in the 20th Century v. Hurricane Irene.

Nature, more particularly Hurricane Irene, spent the weekend under the belief that she could best a couple of misfits known as my parents, and I personally found the results to be hilarious.

For those who don't know them, my parents are not completely out of place people who don't know how to operate in this world.  Between them they do own a cell phone (one) and at one point they had a satellite dish - they have traveled the world and made it back to Kingston USA in one piece, and they are not incapable or subjects of anyone's pity.  They just bought kayaks, and they'll explore that Jones River for the next few dozen years like they are a couple of Lewis & Clark's, except they won't bring the President back a few Grizzly Bears (L&C really did that! They lived caged on the White House lawn for Jefferson's enjoyment).

But as "in the now" as they are, there is an equal part of them that wishes for a world of no electricity, an existence that offers as much challenge and consequence as one that offers reclining chairs and the internet.  They don't long for the good old days like the 1960's, they long for the good old days of the 1690's, and it's one thing that gave my sister and I a great deal of comfort when they remained powerless and out of touch for a few days.

If any 2 people took Irene's punches and never hit the mat, it's them, and the below email from my mom today is living proof of that.

Keep punching, Irene, Katia, or whoever you may send next.  My parents won't hit back, but they won't go down easy, either.


From the words of Paula Fisher:


Electricity came on during the night.  This is what we learned while experiencing the inconveniences of Irene:

• We’re old enough to know how to light a gas stove with a match.
• E-Garage doors can be opened manually (but that may mean an electrician will be needed to make it an e-door again.)
• Rain Barrels with the lid not on could (and did) cause a squirrel death in the Ahdeenah section of Kingston L
• When there are no street lights there are more than just Orion’s Belt, and the Big & Little Dippers visible in the night sky
• We actually have ambulatory neighbors (We had thought perhaps they were disabled and could only get from one place to another in cars)
• Neighborhood generators make for an annoying mosquito-like hum/buzz if you don’t have one
• I can go without coffee for two days and not even realize I have
• Rules to games like rummy and gin rummy are not like riding a bicycle, you don’t remember, but as long as you agree to make them up as you go along it’s OK.
• Houses look really warm and inviting from the outside when lit with candlelight
• Since hurricanes usually happen in the summer and Masterpiece (Theatre, Mystery, Classic) are all repeats it’s OK if you miss one
• Having an unexpected day off cuz your company has no power is a really cool surprise and can be very productive
• And finally, it’s worth getting your yard raked, and decorative accouterments back in place even though Katia may be on her way next week

The First Time Sports Have Ever Been Played!

This is a headline from ESPN.com today, in regards to the US Women's Soccer team heroics.

Call it Team Destiny. After Sunday's theater, it's hard to see the U.S. not winning it all

Um. What?

I don't really feel like any thinking person needs a rationale why that's insane, but I submit to you the 2001 World Series, a series in which basically the entire country was rooting for the Yankees. The heroics of Jeter & Brosius were insanely storybook, and BH Kim did all he could to script an emotional story, resulting in WS rings for the Yankees, but that little thing called reality got in the way.

Why is the American press acting as if nobody has ever played sports before? As if no single game has ever been amazing, followed up by a disappointing loss?

Another example - the Celtics win game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the greatest comeback in NBA Playoff history.  With game 4, at home, on the horizon, they're poised to take a 3-1 lead in the series at home v. New Jersey, and head to the Finals against the Lakers - a series we had to wait 6 years for, but a series we all wanted.

But guess what? It didn't happen. Kidd & Martin destroyed the C's in 3 consecutive games, and it ended in 6.

Listen, I'm thrilled the US Women's team had a victory that was neat, and I like Soccer and want it to succeed in this country purely b/c the other sports are becoming too much to bear from a financial perspective, but I think part of the reason we hate on soccer a bit in this country is because we almost refuse to get to know it, to take the time to massage the relationship and understand nuances of the game.

Last night Tony DiCicco, former US coach and current ESPN analyst, was calling the victory yesterday a "Triumph of the American Spirit".  That leads to so many questions, like:
1. If they lose, did the American spirit fail?  Or can this only be a positive thing?
2. Doesn't that inherently downplay the athleticism of a victory like that?
3. Could the win simply have been great execution down the stretch?

Simply put, what we saw yesterday was sports at its finest - nothing more nothing less. It wasn't World War II, no fascist regime was toppled, and it wasn't the next introduction of Women's Soccer as the National Sport of the future. It was a (miracle?) victory over a Brazilian team that executed poorly. There is no script, there is no destiny, there is just sports - and nobody knows what will happen.

Cars 2

I was watching Cars 2 tonight, which I pretty much didn't like at all, and I couldn't help but think the scene when they first get to Japan and your eyeballs are popping out of your skull b/c there is so much going on, and there is complete overload and you're trying to figure out how it all fits and and it's just so much stuff...

I've never had that feeling before with a Pixar movie, and it's disappointing to me, as a person who has enjoyed the Pixar run more than anyone I know, that no matter what this rakes in in the box office, an extended "Larry the Cable Guy" act isn't something I will forget anytime soon, and I'm disappointed.

Big hopes for Brave to get Pixar back on track.

SLRHS

I think it is incredible that I still feel very strong feelings of friendship for a lot of people I went to High School with, even if we don't see each other much.  Basically, if you're one of those guys (or girls) I hung out with a lot from 92-95, then a bit less from 95-99, then a bit less than that from 99-Present, I still think you're awesome, and I still really appreciate how you helped make me, me.