songbird's crazy world

 Last night the Mets’ pitching staff combined to throw a no hitter against the Phillies. Five pitchers threw for the Mets, and none of them allowed a single hit. They’re calling it a “Black Out” because they were wearing their black jerseys. It’s only the second time in franchise history that the Mets have had a no hitter.  The first was when Johan Santana threw a no hitter against the Cardinals on June 1, 2012. (And his career unraveled after that.) Yeah, with all the famous pitchers who have worn a Mets uniform, there have been only two no hitters.   Nolan Ryan pitched 7 no hitters, all of which came after he was traded by the Mets. Tom Seaver (the Franchise) lost out on a perfect game against the Cubs in 1969 (that season of miracles) and didn’t throw a perfect game until 1978, when he played for the Reds.   Doc Gooden waited until he was in a Yankees uniform before he threw a no hitter. So did David Cone. I remember Cone’s perfect game, at Yankee Stadium on July ...

 Somehow that loses a bit of impact when you work from home … But not totally …

How the world has changed. You know that scene in Fiddler on the Roof , where Tevye disowns his daughter Chava when she marries a Russian? When my father’s sister married a man who wasn’t Jewish, my grandparents sat shiva for her, it was as if she had died.  They reconciled, of course, and my aunt and uncle had a long life together, they raised six children. When I was growing up, “intermarriage” was almost a dirty word.  It was assumed that young Jewish men and women would choose Jewish partners.  When I got engaged to a guy who wasn’t Jewish, my grandmother urged me to break it off.  (I did, but religion had nothing to do with it.).   But now? Conservative and Reform synagogues are actively welcoming families where only one parent is Jewish.  There are two reasons for this.  Synagogues  are afflicted with the same problem as all organized religions;  millennials, and the generations that follow, are not choosing to affiliate with a church o...

 And I’m in the mood for Foreigner            

#skywatchfriday  

Of all the horrors we went through in the spring of 2020, one of the most emotionally wrenching was listening to my daughter Jen cry because the family couldn’t be together for the Passover Seder.  I wanted to cry, too, but I had to be the strong one and reassure her that the pandemic would come to an end eventually, and that we’d all be together again one day. Passover is the quintessential  Jewish holiday.  The Exodus from Egypt  and the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai are central to Jewish identity.  The traditions and observances surrounding the holiday focus on home and family.  Being cut off from all of that feels like being cut off from your core being. The last time my family was together for Passover was in 2019.  So it was with relief and joy that we gathered last weekend to read the Haggadah, to stuff ourselves with matzoh ball soup, brisket, gefilte fish, macaroons, and even chocolate covered matzoh. We had a chance to remember those who are...

 Operator error. That’s what the report says. The safety devices didn’t work because they had been manually altered. The harness that comes over the rider’s head does not physically connect to the seat.  Rather, there are proximity  sensors attached to the seat and the harness.   The ride will not operate unless the sensors are in the proper position. When the ride is operating properly, the rider pulls the harness over his/her head and shoulders until the harness clicks into place. The sensors engage, and the operator’s board lights up, allowing him to operate the ride. When the sensors are properly positioned, there is a 3 inch gap between the bottom of the harness and the seat.  You can see from the photo, the piece between the rider’s legs does not physically touch the overhead harness.      But on the Orlando ride, someone manually misadjusted the seat sensors on two seats, creating a significantly larger gap.  This was apparently done t...

 And todays theme is about pets. So let’s talk about buying a dog …    A dog named Boo …   But who let the dogs out?    But enough about dogs    Honky cat? I once had a cat named Mr. Mistoffeles And as an encore   

 Two of my favorite things, Six13 and Billy Joel …

 Today is Opening Day at Citi Field! Yes, the Mets opened their season on the road, and now they come home to NYC for the first time this season.  And they will unveil the newest monument…a statue of Tom Seaver.  Yes, “The Franchise” is finally getting his due.  A long-overdue honor. It’s also Jackie Robinson Day. All the players will wear #42 on their jerseys in his honor.   You may recall what’s in the main rotunda at Citi Field … But enough about the past … Did you hear about  Alyssa Nakken ? She is the first woman to coach a major league team on the field during a regular season game.  The helmet she wore on the field is headed to Cooperstown. The San Francisco Giants have made history. Then there’s  Rachel Balkovec .  The manager of the Tampa Tarpons, a farm team of the New York Yankees, she is the first woman to be the full-time manager of an affiliated team. And then there’s  Kelsie Whitmore . She signed a contract to play for the...

 Tomorrow night is the first night of Passover.  So naturally my sister is making me crazy.  She has me running to four different stores today to make sure we have everything we need for our Passover Seder.  Really.  I was in the supermarket when she sent me a text adding three more items to the shopping list.  It’s the usual insanity, we do this every holiday. Or rather, we used to to this … until COVID.  The last time my family gathered together for Passover was in 2019. And … my mother is 89.  I saw her Tuesday night, and her condition … her health is not good. So I am deliriously happy that my sister is making me crazy today.

 Morning rush hour, NYC subway system,  Brooklyn, NY.  Crowded Manhattan-bound express train.  So, so ordinary. Until… As the train enters the station, a smoke bomb explodes. And then the shooting starts.   The doors open, the conductor yells for everyone to get out.  Some passengers tend to the wounded on the station platform.  Some passengers run across the platform and jump onto the local train. Others flee the subway station.   I don’t work in the city anymore, I don’t commute on the subway.  But I can easily picture myself at the scene. It’s a scary world we live in.

 And it’s a “your choice” week. We saw Stevie Nicks at Jones Beach in 2012.  And the following year we returned to the beach to see Fleetwood Mac.  Two great concerts! So let’s play some great music from both shows. Dreams Go Your Own Way    You Make Loving Fun Rhiannon Never Going Back Again    Edge of 17    Stand Back      The Chain    Don’t Stop   

 So in 2020 we had COVID and a shortened season, where many players opted out, where there were no crowds in the stands, where broadcasters didn’t travel with the team, where everyone was wearing a mask. In 2021 the season was closer to normal, but not quite …lots of concern about vaccines and masks to distract from the game. With the lockout this winter I was afraid the 2022 season would be canceled.  Fortunately the parties settled their differences, so while we had an abbreviated spring training, we will have a normal season this year, We will have a normal season this year! It’s Opening Day, and my Mets are in Washington, DC, playing the Nationals.  Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling and Gary Cohen are in the broadcast booth. And for a few short hours, all is right with the world.

 Weight is something I’ve struggled with …well, not my whole life, but close enough.   I was already on an upward trend, regaining weight I’d worked so hard to lose, when the pandemic hit.  I started working from home, stopped taking long walks, stopped going to the gym.  And gained about 20 pounds over the last two years. It’s starting to affect my health.  You don’t want to hear the litany of complaints.  Suffice to say, there is a chorus of medical providers urging  me to lose weight. So I guess it’s time to get serious about it.  My favorite tools?  Fitbit, the My Fitness Pal app, my food scale, the bathroom scale, and my Planet Fitness membership. Wish me luck.

 And Alana has requested party songs and Led Zeppelin. Before we get into the theme, I want to share a video taken yesterday in Times Square.  Broadway United in support of Ukraine.    To satisfy Alana’s craving for Zeppelin, here’s “The Immigrant Song”    It’s a birthday party, or so I’m told. Here’s a song from Paul McCartney and Billy Joel.    It’s a celebration…    I’ve got a feeling …    Pink knows how to party    And let’s end with a classic

 Well, I can say it … the city is almost back to normal.  Almost. We saw Company  on Broadway last night.  If you love Sondheim, you’ll enjoy the show.  The plot?  It’s Bobbie’s 35th birthday and she’s a single woman surrounded by married couples, and wondering if she should be married, too.  Relationships are examined as Bobbie navigates the issues surrounding marriage and life choices.  What’s really interesting is that when the show was written, back in 1970, the main character was a man named Bobby.  The gender reversal works well in some scenes, but seems awkward in others.  In 1970 all four couples were straight, but in the current production we’re talking about a wedding with two grooms.  Overall a great production, with Patti LuPone in a supporting role for which she may win a Tony. Broadway theaters still require proof of vaccination to enter and all patrons must wear masks, but that may not last much longer. We usually hav...