Yankees Win! Thhhheeeeeeeeee Yankees Win!

Those of you who have listened to radio broadcasts of Yankee victories will recognize that.  More to be written later, but I had a good time at The Stadium last night.  Naturally, the final score of NY 11, Baltimore 4 didn't hurt matters!

Going to The Stadium

All right!  The Yankees have won seven straight with last night's win over Baltimore.  My wife was able to get some tickets for tonight's game through her employer.  I was at the second game at the new Stadium, which proved to be the first win there.  

Some complain about the new Stadium, and I wasn't really sure why they decided to build one.  But now that it's here, I love it.  The legroom is so much better than at the old Stadium, and the sight lines are fantastic.  The whole layout is a lot better.

"Let's go, Yankees! clap clap clap clap clap"

head cold...egad!

I'm back in the office today for the first time since last Wednesday.  I had been congested but attributed it to the unusual abundance of pollen in NYC this spring.  By Wednesday night, I was achy, and Thursday morning felt as though I'd been hit by a bus.

Still not 100%, but much better...

Follow up note:  Still on the mend, but at least it isn't swine (h1n1) flu.  An assistant principal in Queens has fallen victim to it, and more schools are being closed just about daily.  A little bit scary.

lodge night

Tonight, I'll make a visit to another NYC lodge.  Mariners Lodge #67 meets on the eighth floor of the Grand Lodge of NY.  That Grand Lodge is one of the most impressive Masonic structures I've ever seen - surpassed only by the George Washington National Masonic Memorial and the House of the Temple of the Scottish Rite, in Washington, DC.  GLoNY underwent a huge restoration beginning back in the 80's, and I'm grateful to the brothers whose dedication has offered such an architectural treasure to us.

Lodge is interesting.  I've noted a few differences between the lodges up here and those back in NC.  Public impression of Masonry is even more interesting.  The ludicrous rantings of some of the fundamentalists are downright laughable.  And, no disrespect, but the perceived self-importance of some of the brethren is equally funny.

The reception I received at Washington Lodge was fair.  The brethren at Shakespeare Lodge were warmer.  One of the fellas I met that night is a member of Mariners 67.  That's one of the cool things about lodge in The City:  there are soooooooooo many, compared to my choices before.  

"On the level"...

lunchtime wisdom

I have the good fortune of working across the street from Riverside Park.  I often have lunch there.  Today, after sending my niece and her husband a congratulatory card and gift - they just announced they're having a baby - I walked over to the park on 112th.  Where it runs into Riverside Drive is a little section with some stone benches and a statue of Samuel J. Tilden.  Tilden was a governor of NY and was the Democratic nominee for president in 1876.  I had planned to read after eating, but there were so many birds and squirrels out.  The birds chirped beautifully, and this one squirrel came very close.  They have really long nails.  I suppose I would have concluded that had I ever really thought about it, but there was something about seeing it up close.

I don't know much about Tilden.  I vaguely remember the name from some US History class, but I was struck by a quote of his that was engraved on the statue's base:  "I trust the people."  For all of the stereotyping about NYC, New Yorkers really aren't that rude.  Sure, you can run into a jerk, but I ran into plenty of those when I lived in the South.  New Yorkers are people in a hurry, but not rude.  One aspect of the stereotype, though, is also a sense of not being able to trust anyone.  True, I have developed a good (or bad) sense of tunnel vision since I moved here.  (If you don't, you could easily give away every dime you own.)  Still, I remain a trusting person.  Thanks, Samuel Tilden.  I trust the people, too.

Happy (belated) Birthday!

Yesterday was George Gershwin's birthday.  It's tough to think of someone - with the possible exception of Irving Berlin - who has had such a lasting impact on American music.  Thank you, George & Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Billie Holliday, and others who give me pause in the middle of busy times to just enjoy.

Here are the lyrics to one of my Gershwin faves.  John Pizzarelli has a nice, smooth rendition of this one.  If you get a chance to listen to it, do so.

But Not For Me

They're writing songs of love, but not for me.
A lucky star's above, but not for me.
With love to lead the way
I've found more clouds of grey
than any Russain play could guarantee.
I was a fool to fall and get that way;
Heigh-ho! Alas! And also, lack-a-day!
Although I can't dismiss the mem'ry of his kiss,
I guess he's not for me.

He's knocking on a door, but not for me.
He'll plan a two by four, but not for me.
I know that love's a game;
I'm puzzled, just the same,
was I the moth or flame?
I'm all at sea.

It all began so well, but what an end!
This is the time a feller needs a friend,
when ev'ry happy plot ends with the marriage knot,
and there's no knot for me.

quiet time

My wife has gone to see the latest Star Trek movie with her father, and I just put my daughter to bed.  The television is off, the dishes are washed, and I have a moment of quiet time.  It's nice.  

This has been a beautiful day in NYC.  Soon, summer's oppressive heat and humidity will be with us like the insistent housecat who must rub against your leg when you're wearing dark trousers.  I'm a fan of late fall, winter, and early spring.  Today has been good.