songbird's crazy world

 And we are asked to use an acrostic to spell out “Memorial Day” This will no doubt produce a great variety of music among the responses. There’s no rhyme or reason to this playlist except that they’re songs I like.                         

 This loyal Mets fan wants to salute the NY Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays.  During Thursday night’s game, the teams used their social media to discuss the horrifying effects of gun violence instead of the usual commentary about the game. Last night Drew and I went to a Ducks game, the first time this season.  The national anthem was sung by a middle school chorus, and there were several school groups, little league teams, etc. on the field.   Part of me cried for those children, growing up in a country that values its guns more than their lives … You’re supposed to go to a baseball game to escape from reality.  The healing power of sports and all that. But sometimes you just can’t. Though we did have an enjoyable evening, even though the Honey Hunters won the game.   Total non sequiter.  The Beth page Air Show  is at Jones Beach this weekend.  It’s an annual tradition, paused for COVID but finally back again.  It’s an amazing displ...

 

 And it’s a “your choice” week. So how about … The Turtles!  Led by Howard Kaylan and Mark  Volman …also known as Flo and Eddie … I had the pleasure of seeing them perform live many times, most recently as part of The Happy Together Tour.  But also there was a lunchtime concert at the old World Trade Center in the 1990’s. Some of their best. It Ain’t Me Babe    She’d Rather Be With Me    They recorded Eve of Destruction before Barry McGuire …      Elenore     And who could forget Happy Together?      Howard hasn’t toured recently, but Mark is still doing the annual show.  And here’s howeach Happy Together tour ends …

  Gee, where were we today? Another hint.    Great day for a walk on the boardwalk.    No lifeguards on duty, so no one was swimming, but otherwise it looked and felt like summer. And I got to see the ecology sculpture.    We had a nice walk, the first of many this season.

Internet friends are real friends. You can’t convince me otherwise. We met on a message board 20 years ago, a group of Disney fans who love traveling to Florida for fun-filled vacations.   Back then the group would meet up, sometimes in Florida, sometimes closer to where many of us live.  It was nice to put a face to a name. Now we all keep in touch via Facebook.  The post I saw on Facebook today has me weeping for my friend.  Her husband  passed away unexpectedly.  She didn’t go into detail, but it sounded like there had been an accident.   They have a seven year old daughter.  Several members of the group are already arranging to send “something” to our friend.  Flowers for the funeral maybe, or perhaps a few meals so she and her daughter don’t have to worry about cooking.

 And John asks us for songs about cars and racing, in honor of the Indy 500. But it’s also horse racing season, with the Kentucky Derby earlier this month, the Preakness this coming Saturday, and the Belmont Stakes … and I live about 15 miles from Belmont Park.   So let’s start with “Run for the Roses”    Now let’s turn our attention to cars.  Or rather, “Cars”    How about a Pink Cadillac!    And where do we drive that pretty pink car?    Can I drive?   

 Happy birthday Billy Joel It’s still rock…    Moving’ Out    He sings this one every time New York has a tragedy    With the great Tony Bennett Italian food anyone?    And when he puts on the harmonica we all know what’s coming. Happy birthday Billy!

 Cold, wet, rainy weekend here.  Are we even sure it’s actually May?

 The Amazing Mets!  The Miracle Mets! The combined no hitter is just part of it. April 27, in a game against the Cardinals.  Top of the 9th, they’re down 2-0…two outs …and they score 5 runs.  Diaz pitches the bottom of the 9th …and the Mets win the game. Last night in Philadelphia.  Going into the top of the 9th they’re down 7-1.  And  then…a rally.  They score 7 runs!  The looks on the faces of the Phillies and their fans … Diaz pitches the bottom of the 9th …and the Mets win 8-7.  As Gary Cohen said, “a win for the ages.” Wow.  Just wow.

 Every now and then, a special teacher comes along.  A teacher who inspires his/her students.  Someone remarkable. I just saw a post on LinkedIn, one of my law school professors has announced his retirement. I graduated from law school in 1984 (yes, I am old), and yet I remember Professor F’s class so well. Professor F is an expert in Constitutional Law, more specifically, the First Amendment.  All second year law students were required to take a full year of Constitutional Law, and I was lucky enough to land in Professor F’s class.   (That was also the year I was first introduced to the writings of Laurence Tribe, who teaches Constitutional Law at Harvard.  Professor Tribe taught Barack Obama, Ted Cruz, and John Roberts, among others.  These days I follow Tribe on Twitter. Read his tweets on the Alito abomination …) There was a famous Supreme Court case,  FCC v Pacifica Foundation , 438 US 726 (1978), in which the Supreme Court ruled that the FC...

The Mets have the best record of any team in the National League. The Yankees have the best record in the American League. And I am already dreaming of a Subway Series in October. The #4, the B and the D trains go to the Bronx, but I much prefer the #7 to Citi Field.

 And today we are asked to play “work songs”. Hmmm…. Well, since it’s Monday, let’s start with something from the Bangles.  Something I used to hear in the radio while I was getting dressed for work. Donna Summer told us about someone who works hard.   And Dire straits envied rock stars who didn’t have to work,    Rose Royce told us about working at the car wash And (saving the best for last) Dolly Parton told us about working 9 to 5.