I love the beach. I spent a couple of hours today just bumming along the beach; walking along the shore getting my feet wet. I stopped, laid my blanket down, and got about an hour's worth of sun in. Anyone who's seen me in the flesh knows that with my complexion, this is skin that's meant to be tanned (don't worry, I still use sunscreen).
Pasta Alfredo, as some would say, is just grownup macaroni and cheese. Fair point. Does not take away though from my love for it. Fat tastes good. It's just a known fact.
Facebook, LinkedIn and Wikipedia have combined over the last decade to make the age old question we used to ask ourselves of "What ever happened to...?" obsolete.
Bruins season ended sadly, but...who's in 1st in the AL East?...
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Procrastination
I've been a lifelong student, as well as something of an expert, at procrastination. The other day, I watched a podcast of an interview with a successful business owner. In it, he talks about it, and has an interesting theory which I have started applying. He says that the reason you procrastinate on something you'd rather not do is that the reward of putting it off is greater than what will be the outcome. Therefore, if you set a goal and make sure you are going to reward yourself once you accomplish it in a specified time, it becomes worth it to you to accomplish that task.
That is exactly what I'm doing right now for 2 particular tasks I need to get done (one next week and another the week after). The rewards on the line are: lunch at a place of my choice in Pico/Robertson and a day spent at a relaxing day spa.
Of course after my blog posting last night, I immediately went onto to YouTube and found the video for Charlie Sexton's "Beat's So Lonely". And then of course I had to Google Image him just to see what he looks like today. Thanks for the summer memories of '85, Charlie...
Shabbat Shalom
That is exactly what I'm doing right now for 2 particular tasks I need to get done (one next week and another the week after). The rewards on the line are: lunch at a place of my choice in Pico/Robertson and a day spent at a relaxing day spa.
Of course after my blog posting last night, I immediately went onto to YouTube and found the video for Charlie Sexton's "Beat's So Lonely". And then of course I had to Google Image him just to see what he looks like today. Thanks for the summer memories of '85, Charlie...
Shabbat Shalom
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Stuck in the 80's
My musical tastes are completely stuck in the 80's. My friends know this very well about me. I remember being a 20-something and ragging on baby boomers for their love of the 60's flower power music. Now, here I am at 45 still singing the praises of a-ha and posting Night Ranger videos on Facebook...
As Dick Clark once famously said - "Music is the soundtrack to your life". Could not be put any better. Remember the film "The Last Days of Disco"? Great film -- Kate Beckinsale and Chloe Sevigny at the absolute top of their game. In it, the characters lament the passing of the disco era. Roger Ebert, in his review of the film said that he realized watching it that it was not really the music the characters were lamenting the passing of, but rather youth. They were all growing up and beginning to face real world problems. The music simply provided the background soundtrack to their more carefree days.
Not that my teenage and early 20 years in the 80's were exactly carefree. But still, nothing like a little Charlie Sexton's "Beats So Lonely" to take me back to a time and place...
As Dick Clark once famously said - "Music is the soundtrack to your life". Could not be put any better. Remember the film "The Last Days of Disco"? Great film -- Kate Beckinsale and Chloe Sevigny at the absolute top of their game. In it, the characters lament the passing of the disco era. Roger Ebert, in his review of the film said that he realized watching it that it was not really the music the characters were lamenting the passing of, but rather youth. They were all growing up and beginning to face real world problems. The music simply provided the background soundtrack to their more carefree days.
Not that my teenage and early 20 years in the 80's were exactly carefree. But still, nothing like a little Charlie Sexton's "Beats So Lonely" to take me back to a time and place...
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Belief
Have you ever had the most incredible feeling inside you when you knew that somebody truly believed in you, and was behind you in your corner 150%?
For me, I never actually felt that until I was 23, maybe 24. Let me give you some background -- I practiced martial arts, primarily judo, off and on from the time I was 13 until I was 36 -- making it to mid-level brown belt somewhere in the middle. The time of my peek years was when I started it up again in Japan (with the Kansai Gaidai Judo Club) when I was 21, til I was 28 and moved to San Francisco.
When I moved to the Washington, D.C. area for the first time at 23, I had been practicing regularly for 2 years -- first in Japan, then with a small club in Newton, MA after I had graduated and had come home to live with my parents for a while. I then joined the Washington Judo Club, led by judo legend Jimmy Takemori. For anyone who ever tells me I never served in the military - let me tell you something. Those five years I spent in Jimmy's club more than made up for it.
Jimmy is a drill sergeant. No other way to describe him. He would yell at you, berate you, push you, push you, push you - until you felt like you really had nothing else to give. Even smack you around some. And boy did I give him reason to do plenty of that to me. Growing up, I was never a coordinated athlete, and by the time I was in my early 20's, that situation never really improved. I used to go into competitions, and really get my ass whooped. I did not win a single match my first six months as a competitive judoka.
But Jimmy kept after me. He knew I had the heart. And he didn't let up. Finally at a competition, I won my first match against somebody with a pin. I injured my knee in the process, and got up after winning, hobbling to the start line. I looked over at Jimmy who was watching at one of the side tables -- big grinning smile on his face ear to ear -- and he gave me the thumbs up sign. I was beaming right back at him, pointed to him, and gave him a big thumbs up sign.
After that, I still never was a great competitor, but I won my share of matches -- and am forever grateful to Jimmy Takemori -- the first person in my life who I can say truly believed in me.
For me, I never actually felt that until I was 23, maybe 24. Let me give you some background -- I practiced martial arts, primarily judo, off and on from the time I was 13 until I was 36 -- making it to mid-level brown belt somewhere in the middle. The time of my peek years was when I started it up again in Japan (with the Kansai Gaidai Judo Club) when I was 21, til I was 28 and moved to San Francisco.
When I moved to the Washington, D.C. area for the first time at 23, I had been practicing regularly for 2 years -- first in Japan, then with a small club in Newton, MA after I had graduated and had come home to live with my parents for a while. I then joined the Washington Judo Club, led by judo legend Jimmy Takemori. For anyone who ever tells me I never served in the military - let me tell you something. Those five years I spent in Jimmy's club more than made up for it.
Jimmy is a drill sergeant. No other way to describe him. He would yell at you, berate you, push you, push you, push you - until you felt like you really had nothing else to give. Even smack you around some. And boy did I give him reason to do plenty of that to me. Growing up, I was never a coordinated athlete, and by the time I was in my early 20's, that situation never really improved. I used to go into competitions, and really get my ass whooped. I did not win a single match my first six months as a competitive judoka.
But Jimmy kept after me. He knew I had the heart. And he didn't let up. Finally at a competition, I won my first match against somebody with a pin. I injured my knee in the process, and got up after winning, hobbling to the start line. I looked over at Jimmy who was watching at one of the side tables -- big grinning smile on his face ear to ear -- and he gave me the thumbs up sign. I was beaming right back at him, pointed to him, and gave him a big thumbs up sign.
After that, I still never was a great competitor, but I won my share of matches -- and am forever grateful to Jimmy Takemori -- the first person in my life who I can say truly believed in me.
Monday, June 24, 2013
The Jeffersons
Anyone remember (of course you do!) The Jeffersons? Sherman Helmsley (a.k.a. George Jefferson) and his wife Louise "movin' on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky".
One episode I think about from time to time is the one where George is alone at home, and gets an unexpected visit from a former girlfriend of his during his pre-Louise younger days. George thinks she is just "in the neighborhood" and wanted to pay him a friendly visit - until she pulls a gun on him in the apartment and says that she is going to kill him for "ruining her life".
George, as we know, is a successful business entrepreneur with his own chain of dry cleaning stores. He has a storybook life with his loving wife and grown-up son Lionel. George's visitor, on the other hand, tells him about the hard life she has led since her and George broke up. She tells him she has four children - "two in jail and two on drugs". As she continues keeping George at bay, who is desperately/comically trying to convince her not to kill him while she waves the gun at him, she says to him that he deprived her of the life she was meant to have, and that it should have been her deriving all the benefits of George's success.
Towards the end of the episode, George is finally able to disarm her of the weapon. As he empties the bullets out of the chamber and tells her he is going to send the police after her, he also says:
"You think this was the life meant for you? You're wrong, you know why? Because I never would have been able to accomplish all the things I did if it had been you by my side."
One episode I think about from time to time is the one where George is alone at home, and gets an unexpected visit from a former girlfriend of his during his pre-Louise younger days. George thinks she is just "in the neighborhood" and wanted to pay him a friendly visit - until she pulls a gun on him in the apartment and says that she is going to kill him for "ruining her life".
George, as we know, is a successful business entrepreneur with his own chain of dry cleaning stores. He has a storybook life with his loving wife and grown-up son Lionel. George's visitor, on the other hand, tells him about the hard life she has led since her and George broke up. She tells him she has four children - "two in jail and two on drugs". As she continues keeping George at bay, who is desperately/comically trying to convince her not to kill him while she waves the gun at him, she says to him that he deprived her of the life she was meant to have, and that it should have been her deriving all the benefits of George's success.
Towards the end of the episode, George is finally able to disarm her of the weapon. As he empties the bullets out of the chamber and tells her he is going to send the police after her, he also says:
"You think this was the life meant for you? You're wrong, you know why? Because I never would have been able to accomplish all the things I did if it had been you by my side."
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Rocky IV
Yes, the final fight scene from Rocky IV between Rocky and Ivan Drago inspires me. I think most hardcore Rocky fans would agree; Drago was Rocky's most formidable opponent in all of the six movies.
One interesting comment I remember reading on YouTube after watching the final fight scene from Rocky III between Rocky and Clubber Lang went something like this:
"This to me, was the best fight scene of all the Rocky movies, because it was the most realistic. Are you trying to tell me that in between Rocky III and IV, Rocky somehow grew an iron jaw and was able to withstand 15 rounds of the same punches by Drago that killed Apollo Creed in less than two rounds?"
Excellent point, but it still for me never takes away from the inspiration I get from watching Rocky take down the big Russian (especially when I'm in the midst of a bad stretch).
One interesting comment I remember reading on YouTube after watching the final fight scene from Rocky III between Rocky and Clubber Lang went something like this:
"This to me, was the best fight scene of all the Rocky movies, because it was the most realistic. Are you trying to tell me that in between Rocky III and IV, Rocky somehow grew an iron jaw and was able to withstand 15 rounds of the same punches by Drago that killed Apollo Creed in less than two rounds?"
Excellent point, but it still for me never takes away from the inspiration I get from watching Rocky take down the big Russian (especially when I'm in the midst of a bad stretch).
Thursday, June 20, 2013
U2
From about ages 16-40, I was a huge U2 fan. Between 1987 to 2001, I saw them perform live 17 times, on three entirely separate coasts (Atlantic East coast and both sides of the Pacific). Of course, when I heard Bono get up and say during their performance at Obama's first inauguration, "Free Palestine", that all changed. I still enjoy listening to their songs when I hear them on the radio, but have since you might say "amicably parted ways".
The reason I bring them up is something I remember Bono once saying in an interview years ago. Throughout the first half of the 1980's, before the big Joshua Tree breakthrough, U2, although popular around the world really by the time War came out, were never until then a mainstream Top 40 band. It seemed also as if both they and their fans preferred it that way.
Soon after The Joshua Tree was released in 1987, and both the album and first single ("With or Without You") began racing up the charts, Bono gave an interview -- basically I think the question that was asked was something along the lines of -- "You guys for years were thought of as the biggest alternative cult band in the world. Now you're experiencing true pop stardom. Is this what you were striving for all along, and is this what you really wanted?"
His answer to this question is something I've thought of quite often. Bono said "For sure, we always wanted to be the band with the big pop hits and our name mentioned in the mainstream. But in order to do that, we always said that it would have to be on our terms - not anybody else's."
I always liked that quote -- too bad that him and I are now combatants on the political spectrum (as one Facebook friend of mine said when I talked about what he said at Obama's inauguration - "he's Irish and is practically the godfather of Amnesty International...not at all surprised). But that's what is called sticking to a plan and sticking up for what you believe in.
The reason I bring them up is something I remember Bono once saying in an interview years ago. Throughout the first half of the 1980's, before the big Joshua Tree breakthrough, U2, although popular around the world really by the time War came out, were never until then a mainstream Top 40 band. It seemed also as if both they and their fans preferred it that way.
Soon after The Joshua Tree was released in 1987, and both the album and first single ("With or Without You") began racing up the charts, Bono gave an interview -- basically I think the question that was asked was something along the lines of -- "You guys for years were thought of as the biggest alternative cult band in the world. Now you're experiencing true pop stardom. Is this what you were striving for all along, and is this what you really wanted?"
His answer to this question is something I've thought of quite often. Bono said "For sure, we always wanted to be the band with the big pop hits and our name mentioned in the mainstream. But in order to do that, we always said that it would have to be on our terms - not anybody else's."
I always liked that quote -- too bad that him and I are now combatants on the political spectrum (as one Facebook friend of mine said when I talked about what he said at Obama's inauguration - "he's Irish and is practically the godfather of Amnesty International...not at all surprised). But that's what is called sticking to a plan and sticking up for what you believe in.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Plagiarism
A friend of mine once told me, after I started checking my blog spots and seeing a number of constant views from websites in the former Soviet republic, that more than one of them are probably plagiarizing my blog. She said she found out they were doing it to her, and had to go after them.
In case any of you are doing that to me, just so you know, I am on to you. Wish I were not so cynical or pessimistic about it -- but some of my experiences with your brethren in Israel confirmed who you really are. I don't wish to come down on an entire culture like that, but I have seen enough of your dark side to know what you are capable of. I will never forget when I took my government administered language exam for Hebrew there. The Russians in that testing room seemed to have no issue with texting each other answers all throughout the exam. I suppose it's like one American athlete on the US Olympic basketball team I remember was quoted as saying of the 1972 Summer Olympic basketball debacle -- "I guess it comes down to this: what's cheating to us is not cheating to them".
In case any of you are doing that to me, just so you know, I am on to you. Wish I were not so cynical or pessimistic about it -- but some of my experiences with your brethren in Israel confirmed who you really are. I don't wish to come down on an entire culture like that, but I have seen enough of your dark side to know what you are capable of. I will never forget when I took my government administered language exam for Hebrew there. The Russians in that testing room seemed to have no issue with texting each other answers all throughout the exam. I suppose it's like one American athlete on the US Olympic basketball team I remember was quoted as saying of the 1972 Summer Olympic basketball debacle -- "I guess it comes down to this: what's cheating to us is not cheating to them".
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Actors Who Play Evil Characters
One of the interesting things I've learned so far during my time here in LA is that quite often, the actors and actresses who play evil characters on film are in real life the sweetest, kindest, most big-hearted and gentle people you will find.
I have my own theory on this. Oftentimes in sports, great players after their retirement, take it upon themselves to become a coach, manager or a general manager of a team. And (albeit with a few exceptions), they're usually not altogether successful at it. Why?
I remember years ago reading The Hockey News, and a writer -- Frank Orr, once wrote a column of parables explaining the different kind of coaches who are hired and then later fired by NHL teams. One of his parables was of "Pete", a once great player who was hired behind the bench following his active career. After he was fired, this was Mr. Orr's explanation of what happened:
"Pete was gifted, natural athlete who never had to think to play the game well. He just did it. I'm sure he couldn't teach salmon how to swim upriver to spawn either."
The same thing is what I think happens in the realm of "good" versus "bad" people. A public defender once interviewed claimed that -- "Bad people don't know that they're bad. They've always got an excuse as to why it is they do the things that they do."
This is why "good" people are able to play "bad" people on TV and film. "Good" people have to actually "study" the art of being "bad", and are therefore able to portray it much better in front of a camera than would say a "bad" person.
I know in this day and age, we're not supposed to clump people into "good" and "bad" categories so easily (the more you get to know me, the more politically incorrect you'll find I am btw), but just another observation...
Happy Tuesday --
OH
I have my own theory on this. Oftentimes in sports, great players after their retirement, take it upon themselves to become a coach, manager or a general manager of a team. And (albeit with a few exceptions), they're usually not altogether successful at it. Why?
I remember years ago reading The Hockey News, and a writer -- Frank Orr, once wrote a column of parables explaining the different kind of coaches who are hired and then later fired by NHL teams. One of his parables was of "Pete", a once great player who was hired behind the bench following his active career. After he was fired, this was Mr. Orr's explanation of what happened:
"Pete was gifted, natural athlete who never had to think to play the game well. He just did it. I'm sure he couldn't teach salmon how to swim upriver to spawn either."
The same thing is what I think happens in the realm of "good" versus "bad" people. A public defender once interviewed claimed that -- "Bad people don't know that they're bad. They've always got an excuse as to why it is they do the things that they do."
This is why "good" people are able to play "bad" people on TV and film. "Good" people have to actually "study" the art of being "bad", and are therefore able to portray it much better in front of a camera than would say a "bad" person.
I know in this day and age, we're not supposed to clump people into "good" and "bad" categories so easily (the more you get to know me, the more politically incorrect you'll find I am btw), but just another observation...
Happy Tuesday --
OH
Monday, June 17, 2013
Intellivision
I remember growing up, some good friends of mine who lived done the road had the old Intellivision game console. One of the game cartridges for Boxing, was a hoot. What I remember most about that game was that there were three ways for your fighter to win the match. One was by a decision. The second (like the real thing) was a knockdown and then a 10 count. And the third way was to deliver a knockout punch that literally "knocked the other fighter's lights out". The game ended immediately, and the defeated boxer lay flat on his back, while seeing game console computer-generated "stars". That is exactly how I feel sometimes...as if somebody knocked me flat on my back with a knockout punch, and I am seeing the stars above me. Actually, when somebody used to really whomp me with a throw in judo, and I landed hard, I also clearly remember "seeing the stars".
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Favorite Movie of All-Time
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. Not because I am any kind of martial arts movie afficionado (though I might enjoy a good one every now and then), but rather this: Like Bruce Lee, I felt all my life as if I were caught between two or three different cultures, and all of the tensions/struggles associated with such an existence. I remember a quote once from the movie Selena, given by Edward James Olmos, who played Selena's father in the movie. Went something like: "The problem with being a Mexican-American is that when we interact with the Mexicans, we have to be even more Mexican than they are in order to be accepted. And when we interact with the Americans, we have to do the same in order to be accepted by them." Great line from that movie.
Great job (though I didn't get to see it) last night by the Bruins. They did exactly what I said they had to do in order to keep their hopes alive.
Great job (though I didn't get to see it) last night by the Bruins. They did exactly what I said they had to do in order to keep their hopes alive.
Friday, June 14, 2013
45 Today
Feel great. Made it a straight string of Monday-Friday hour long early morning runs this week, and went to shachrit. Spoke to my Mom this morning, got the car washed/waxed, and went for a nice walk; then returned/pick up a book from the library. Shabbat plans are set, and am treating myself to a nice lunch today.
Going to weigh-in in a little bit at Weight Watchers. I suspect that I'll be around the same weight I was last week. And I suspect that what I plan on eating between now and the end of Shabbat will not exactly be calorie or fat free...
As far as I am concerned, Saturday's game is really now pretty much a must-win game for the Bruins. This Black Hawks team is definitely not Vancouver of two years ago. They are not going to blow a 2-0 series lead.
Shabbat Shalom to all and have a wonderful weekend!
Ovadia
Going to weigh-in in a little bit at Weight Watchers. I suspect that I'll be around the same weight I was last week. And I suspect that what I plan on eating between now and the end of Shabbat will not exactly be calorie or fat free...
As far as I am concerned, Saturday's game is really now pretty much a must-win game for the Bruins. This Black Hawks team is definitely not Vancouver of two years ago. They are not going to blow a 2-0 series lead.
Shabbat Shalom to all and have a wonderful weekend!
Ovadia
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Took a dive
Took a nice dive this morning out on the pavement on my run. Nothing wrong except my left wrist. So far, it's been an ice and hot/ice ointment treatment morning...
So tonight starts the Stanley Cup Finals...Bruins were underdogs against Vancouver two years ago too.
Saw The Great Gatsby last night. Give it about 2 3/4 stars. Lock for an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design. Di Caprio is entirely typecast. Felt like I was watching the first part of J. Edgar, when he was playing Hoover as a young man.
So tonight starts the Stanley Cup Finals...Bruins were underdogs against Vancouver two years ago too.
Saw The Great Gatsby last night. Give it about 2 3/4 stars. Lock for an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design. Di Caprio is entirely typecast. Felt like I was watching the first part of J. Edgar, when he was playing Hoover as a young man.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Zen Master Joke
Joke told last night at Toastmasters 90210 meeting -- (source: http://www.thezensite.com/ZenEssays/Miscellaneous/Zen_Jokes.html)
A Zen master visiting New York City goes up to a hot dog vendor and says, "Make me one with everything."
The hot dog vendor fixes a hot dog and hands it to the Zen master, who pays with a $20 bill.
The vendor puts the bill in the cash box and closes it. "Excuse me, but where’s my change?" asks the Zen master.
The vendor responds, "Change must come from within."
Well, after another 1 hour jog this morning, I now tip the scale at 157 lbs. Still 11 lbs. from my goal weight -- and on the Weight Watchers scale, that would probably translate into 162 lbs. So still about 15 lbs. to go to get back to my goal weight. Shabbat meals do not exactly tend to help my weight loss goals.
Finally have got some curtains for my new apartment.
Looking to finish The Garden of Riches by the end of this week.
A Zen master visiting New York City goes up to a hot dog vendor and says, "Make me one with everything."
The hot dog vendor fixes a hot dog and hands it to the Zen master, who pays with a $20 bill.
The vendor puts the bill in the cash box and closes it. "Excuse me, but where’s my change?" asks the Zen master.
The vendor responds, "Change must come from within."
Well, after another 1 hour jog this morning, I now tip the scale at 157 lbs. Still 11 lbs. from my goal weight -- and on the Weight Watchers scale, that would probably translate into 162 lbs. So still about 15 lbs. to go to get back to my goal weight. Shabbat meals do not exactly tend to help my weight loss goals.
Finally have got some curtains for my new apartment.
Looking to finish The Garden of Riches by the end of this week.
Monday, June 10, 2013
True Wealth
A book I read about 10 years ago on gaining true wealth introduced a very interesting parable which I still think about from time to time.
Imagine a posh 5-star hotel somewhere in a major city. Now, imagine some people inside of the hotel right now. First, we have the rock/pop group who currently own the number 1 hit in the nation on Billboard's Hot 100 and are staying in the hotel's top penthouse suite. The second is a janitor who works for/inside the hotel. Which one of them do you think is garnering more true wealth and happiness? The janitor, who is happy to provide a sustainable income for him and his family? Or the stars in the penthouse suite, screaming on the phone at their high priced attorneys, trying to figure out why despite their enormous record sales, they owe the record company $20 million as opposed to the opposite?
Imagine a posh 5-star hotel somewhere in a major city. Now, imagine some people inside of the hotel right now. First, we have the rock/pop group who currently own the number 1 hit in the nation on Billboard's Hot 100 and are staying in the hotel's top penthouse suite. The second is a janitor who works for/inside the hotel. Which one of them do you think is garnering more true wealth and happiness? The janitor, who is happy to provide a sustainable income for him and his family? Or the stars in the penthouse suite, screaming on the phone at their high priced attorneys, trying to figure out why despite their enormous record sales, they owe the record company $20 million as opposed to the opposite?
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Sunday musings
So, is anybody actually reading this with any interest?
A walk down along the Santa Monica pier this morning, and a lot of stuff done today.
So, most everyone has played the game -- if you were up for execution, what would be your last meal? Mine's always been a slam dunk...all I could eat mac and cheese and apple pie.
Tonight is the 10th anniversary of my father Avraham ben Ovadia's z"tl yarzeith. Candle burning in the kitchen.
Well, I know for sure what I will be doing this Wednesday at 5:00PM...
A walk down along the Santa Monica pier this morning, and a lot of stuff done today.
So, most everyone has played the game -- if you were up for execution, what would be your last meal? Mine's always been a slam dunk...all I could eat mac and cheese and apple pie.
Tonight is the 10th anniversary of my father Avraham ben Ovadia's z"tl yarzeith. Candle burning in the kitchen.
Well, I know for sure what I will be doing this Wednesday at 5:00PM...
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Shavua Tov
Bruins are back in the Stanley Cup Finals.
I must say that growing up, as big of a baseball fan as I was, I was probably an even bigger hockey fan during the late 70's and early 80's. Let's face it, growing up in New England, hating the cold and the snow; something needed to sustain me. And those Bruins teams of Terry O'Reilly, Brad Park, Ray Bourque, Jean Ratelle, and Rick Middleton were just it.
So now, it's going to be an Original Six Cup Final against Chicago. They seemed to be the team to beat all year. Of course, how thoroughly we manhandled Pittsburgh in the Conference Final gives me some confidence.
Enjoying The Reluctant Communist by Charles Robert Jenkins. He survived 40 years in North Korea, and lived to escape and tell about it.
I must say that growing up, as big of a baseball fan as I was, I was probably an even bigger hockey fan during the late 70's and early 80's. Let's face it, growing up in New England, hating the cold and the snow; something needed to sustain me. And those Bruins teams of Terry O'Reilly, Brad Park, Ray Bourque, Jean Ratelle, and Rick Middleton were just it.
So now, it's going to be an Original Six Cup Final against Chicago. They seemed to be the team to beat all year. Of course, how thoroughly we manhandled Pittsburgh in the Conference Final gives me some confidence.
Enjoying The Reluctant Communist by Charles Robert Jenkins. He survived 40 years in North Korea, and lived to escape and tell about it.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Pre-Shabbat
Bruins are 12 minutes away from heading back to the Cup final.
Today, I got sanctioned by Facebook for posting the following comment: "Free Palestine=Kill the Jews".
Happy Birthday, Your Royal Purpleness. Thanks for the memories and the soundtrack to much of my adolescence.
Have started Charles Robert Jenkins's book on his 40-year sojourn into North Korea. If I am thankful for anything, it is to have not been born there.
Cleaned the bathroom and swept up/mopped up the kitchen.
+.4 lbs. this week at Weight Watchers
Shabbat Shalom!
Today, I got sanctioned by Facebook for posting the following comment: "Free Palestine=Kill the Jews".
Happy Birthday, Your Royal Purpleness. Thanks for the memories and the soundtrack to much of my adolescence.
Have started Charles Robert Jenkins's book on his 40-year sojourn into North Korea. If I am thankful for anything, it is to have not been born there.
Cleaned the bathroom and swept up/mopped up the kitchen.
+.4 lbs. this week at Weight Watchers
Shabbat Shalom!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Day 3
Just about ready to crawl into bed, and I realized I hadn't blogged anything yet today. Long interview today.
Looks like it is going to be the Bruins and the Black Hawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Went to another nice shiur this evening given by Rabbi Stern at LINK.
Ace Atkins seems to have picked up well where Robert Parker left off. His second Spenser novel I feel tends to drag a little more than the first. But he has successfully captured Parker's voice. 28 years since having read my first Spenser book, and still a fan.
Everything seemed to come together nicely for me today.
Finished The Go-Giver today.
Going to get a haircut tomorrow.
This is not exactly a smooth-flowing entry today, is it?
Good night. Talk to you all next week --
OH
Looks like it is going to be the Bruins and the Black Hawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Went to another nice shiur this evening given by Rabbi Stern at LINK.
Ace Atkins seems to have picked up well where Robert Parker left off. His second Spenser novel I feel tends to drag a little more than the first. But he has successfully captured Parker's voice. 28 years since having read my first Spenser book, and still a fan.
Everything seemed to come together nicely for me today.
Finished The Go-Giver today.
Going to get a haircut tomorrow.
This is not exactly a smooth-flowing entry today, is it?
Good night. Talk to you all next week --
OH
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Day 2 of My True Blog
OK, so what's the saying, it's not the first time you try something that's hard, it's the second? Well here we go, Day 2 of my True Blog. Reading The Go-Giver by Bob Burg -- much better in my opinion than The One Minute Manager.
Well, I really do enjoy living in LA/Southern California. I've lived in enough places, but I'm very, very happy here. Only took me the first 43 years of my life to finally get settled...
Meeting a friend this afternoon for lunch -- do not usually like to wait this long to eat -- have been trying to keep myself full on fruits -- apple and orange have been consumed, a banana looms on the horizon.
Barry Bonds was never anyone's role model, but let me tell you this -- in the 35+ years I have been following baseball (and had regular access to a TV), there are just two players I can name that, if I was doing something and just had the game on in the background, when they came to bat, I stopped whatever it was I was doing to watch them hit. The first was Jim Rice. Second, Bonds.
Well, I really do enjoy living in LA/Southern California. I've lived in enough places, but I'm very, very happy here. Only took me the first 43 years of my life to finally get settled...
Meeting a friend this afternoon for lunch -- do not usually like to wait this long to eat -- have been trying to keep myself full on fruits -- apple and orange have been consumed, a banana looms on the horizon.
Barry Bonds was never anyone's role model, but let me tell you this -- in the 35+ years I have been following baseball (and had regular access to a TV), there are just two players I can name that, if I was doing something and just had the game on in the background, when they came to bat, I stopped whatever it was I was doing to watch them hit. The first was Jim Rice. Second, Bonds.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Start of My True Blog
OK, after several years of posting mostly other people's quotes as my blog, I have decided to start truly blogging. Going to discipline myself, and go for at least 5 minutes/day of straight typing. I imagine much of this will be stream of consciousness, but that's OK.
As it goes right now, I seem to get an average of about 20 hits a day on my blog (glad you all like the quotes I am posting), and it will be interesting to see how many hits/responses I start to get from an actual blog.
Despite having spent ample time as an executive/director in the dot.com high tech world, I've always contended that I've got an Amish streak in me. I do not own (nor want to) a television, I have no internet connectivity on my phone, and am therefore still very much a stranger to the world of Twitter (though you can still follow me at #sabraredsoxfan).
I am a lifelong sports fan (grew up in Boston), and am thrilled to see my Bruins getting closer and closer to getting back to the Stanley Cup Finals after a year hiatus. Living in LA, I did wish for a Kings-Bruins final (if for nothing else than to perhaps have a chance to cheer on the B's at Staples Center), but the Kings do not appear to be holding up their end of the deal.
OK, c'est tout pour au jour d'hui. Comments/questions/suggestions welcome -- only took me about 8 years since someone first suggested I started blogging -- as I like to say...I may have been born the day before yesterday, but I definitely was not born yesterday --
Kol tuv,
Ovadia
As it goes right now, I seem to get an average of about 20 hits a day on my blog (glad you all like the quotes I am posting), and it will be interesting to see how many hits/responses I start to get from an actual blog.
Despite having spent ample time as an executive/director in the dot.com high tech world, I've always contended that I've got an Amish streak in me. I do not own (nor want to) a television, I have no internet connectivity on my phone, and am therefore still very much a stranger to the world of Twitter (though you can still follow me at #sabraredsoxfan).
I am a lifelong sports fan (grew up in Boston), and am thrilled to see my Bruins getting closer and closer to getting back to the Stanley Cup Finals after a year hiatus. Living in LA, I did wish for a Kings-Bruins final (if for nothing else than to perhaps have a chance to cheer on the B's at Staples Center), but the Kings do not appear to be holding up their end of the deal.
OK, c'est tout pour au jour d'hui. Comments/questions/suggestions welcome -- only took me about 8 years since someone first suggested I started blogging -- as I like to say...I may have been born the day before yesterday, but I definitely was not born yesterday --
Kol tuv,
Ovadia
Quote of the Day
"[Definition of] discipline: doing something even when there's no payoff." -- Hugh Culver
Monday, June 3, 2013
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