mstar1

a breeze on a summer evening fireflies on a July night an old chevy truck parked in the drive a big oak tree a love thats alive a song stuck in your mind a child learning nursery rhymes a fiddlers foot on the kitchen floor an old love song you've never heard before a freight train whistle in the night singing a like a mournful dove a boy leaving town without looking back a banjo playing the girl I love mom calling on the phone a dog run away-coming home in the bottom of the ninth a big homerun the love we have the morning sun

I dunno thats not that far out- I was more or less 'lost at sea in a tiny boat when I too found myself landing in the middle of nowhere and having that screaming banshee in my face...in real life. I did enjoy the boat ride going directly from the Atlantic to British Columbia--that mustve been some storm!

AHH ---the Belcher and the Screamer- sounds like a marriage and a love ordered in heaven <_< , as poetic as Romeo and Juliet and everything so carefully thought out too..sounds like pure wedded bliss awaits :blink: How long are you giving them?--is there a pool? Should be... Seriously--- I know they are your friends and Im sure they are very nice people-but the way you described it it doesnt sound like its destined to last too long..way too much chaos and too many issues. Good luck I hope it works for them, but goin on your description I'll put my 5 bucks on two years. and to answer your question--thankfully, no, Ive never been to a wedding like that, Ive been spared

I hardly ever post down here in doctrinal- as Im not big on discussing abstract beliefs-I am of the opinion personally that actions weigh much deeper and reflect the inner beliefs, the real beliefs, that people carry with them more than their words can express That being said, my town has an interfaith community that works very well together, but 'the dialogue' is primarily built around projects and things that we all DO together as opposed to just discussing, that bring us together. The homeless shelter and transitional housing program in town was completely built, funded and manned by volunteers from the interfaith community that found common ground in something that they all believed in and were able to do together. It forged lasting and deep friendships and fostered great respect among people of different faiths who if confined to just dialogue may not have been able to understand how close there actual beliefs really were despite the different spiritual languages that each may speak. From my own personal experience, this is one of the better things that i have done that allows me to connect with people of other spiritual backgrounds and histories without developing an adversarial type relationship that I wrestle with occasionally as a holdover from my waydaze. Your Hospice type work that you mentioned on another thread is bound to put you in a similar position. I think that faith people of any type have much more common ground than dissimilarities generally speaking. If you can find that common ground I think you'll pretty much be on good ground

That impresses me more than Bonds' HR- congratulations! You werent taking any enhancers when you took the test were you? Didnt think so someone remind me How many World Series Rings does Barry have? How many did Ruth have?

Gee Tom that was some snappy relief pitching last night- I think that Sully and Rocco from the Park League are available if you guys need an upgrade That must've been hard to watch

Im OK I live on high ground, although its screwing up a job Im doing--Rain is expected for 5 more days yet The eastern half of the state is flooded out pretty good ....Ive never seen anything like this -ever---At least the Sox got out of town and got a game in, which was a return to some sort of normalcy. Rain and no baseball had combined to make for a long dreary weekend. When I start finding articles like THIS, I know I have way too much time on my hands The History Of Booing Time is flying we are almost a quarter through the season already

I dont know if you want to see it Tom--Do you remeber the famous Joe Theismann injury from way back when where his leg bent in the wrong direction?-it was sort of like watching that with the wrist floppin all about-after he dove for a sinking line drive--It was one of those sickening moments of watching a body do something its not supposed to do. After the game Matsui apologized for injuring himself. You dont hear that one very often-I do like and admire him

Yea its a little heady, but its part of the cult chah over heah, more engrained than clam chowdah, with roots in the puritan past. ..Gees-i cant believe they make you wait for 2 or 3 innings--If you time it right at Fenway- they do pretty good-dash down between innings and you can get back before the next half inning has gone by, plus they have TV's down in the concourse to watch whats happening in case you have to make a quick exit. I have to hand it to the new owners, that (well except for the seating that for the most part is still in place from the 30's and faces who knows where) they have taken things in hand to make it fan friendly in alot of ways- well except for the prices that is.....but they do improvements, keep the flavor of it being "Fenway", and actually think about what people might want (like shorter lines), and try to do things about it.... It would be an interesting thing to take a trip to compare dogs in all the ballparks. Personally I dont think the Fenway Franks are as good as they were when I was younger, I liked them then and regularly ate a boatload- they boiled them them now they have them on the rollers, which I personally dont like as well. The fare is a bit more expanded now though so you can get pretty much what you want if you dont mind shelling out the $$ Glad Nomar is on, I think in someways(maybe I said this before) its acrucial year for him. ITs not that long ago where he was tagged as a sure fire Hall of Famer, now he has more or less dropped of the map except for what he was, not unlike the way... um someone like Clemens was for a short time. If he can get back on track and have some solid mid career years he may make it yet. I hope he does and makes for some exciting games out there. There was nothing like him his first few years he was like a young Joe Dimaggio-he wasa perpetual ball of exciting play. Sorry to here about Billy Ballgame--is it knees again? Its amazing to me he can still walk after the number of surgeries he has had-but he is still a real gamer.

Yea its f'in raining up here in biblical proportions-- its miserable-they should have never played that game on Friday night it was begging to get someone hurt,and Im glad no one did. We have another straight week of it to look forward to. I'll be busy getting the animals together-in sevens for the next few days I've been on the road for a few days-but I did see the Hideki Matsui broken wrist -that was sickening in a Joe Theissman sort of way-He is one Yankee I respect alot but after 1700 or so straight games between japan and NY, you have to wonder if he will ever be back after something as grotesque as that. ewww that was bad. Nomar after getting hit in the wrist has never been the same, and this looked much worse...How is Nomar doing over there in laid back Dodgerville anyway? Heres a little something I just found that has a few interesting points The Journal of Religion and Pop Culture

Boy thats a seriously tough call. At my age, after the seven trillion moves and finally finding a place I love, it would take something real tempting like that for me to uproot again, although I wouldn't mind finding somewhere warmer just for winter. It will be new and fun when you get there but might wear thin after that. Can you do some months in Texas, and some months in Alaska? Thats what I might shoot for if I were in your shoes, then adapt as things became more obvious, but I obviously dont know all the intricacies of your situation either. Good luck

Have I talked to the dead? Yea i did it yesterday, i was about 50 miles from home and passing by a cemetary where a very close friend who died in a sky diving accident is buried. I haven't been there in about 6 or 7 years. I stopped for a few minutes and had a few words with my friend Kip. I didnt pull a Jesus and say "come forth" but I spoke nonetheless, if just to say hi, I'm doing well, and I miss you. Its rare but it happens from time to time--Ive also spoken with my mother, some friends, teachers, my grandparents in the same manner. They are physically separated but what they gave to me and who they are is still alive in my memory and still has an effect on me. Im not going to let a thing like death keep us from being friends or family. That being said dont take it out of context i dont do it very much or get weird about it, it just seems to me to be a natural thing to respect,and occasionally remember and acknowledge those that came before

The question immediately reminded me of an old blues song by Blind Willie Johnson, that in its rhythms and lyrics begs the same question Soul of a Man Won't somebody tell me, answer if you can! Want somebody to tell me, what is the soul of a man? I'm going to ask the question, answer if you can If anybody here can tell me, what is the soul of a man? I've traveled in different countries, I've traveled foreign lands I've found nobody to tell me, what is the soul of a man I saw a crowd stand talking, I came up right on time Were hearing the doctor and the lawyer, say a man ain't nothing but his mind I read the bible often, I tries to read it right As far as I can understand, a man is more than his mind When Christ stood in the temple, the people all stood amazed Was showing the doctors and the lawyers, how to raise a man from the grave Won't somebody tell me, answer if you can! Want somebody to tell me, what is the soul of a man? I'm going to ask the question, answer if you can If anybody here can tell me, just what is the soul of a man? I have no answers-its much bigger than I thought or was taught

Its a metaphor--Its a metaphor- a metaphor -a metaphor did I say that? -- nobodies a devil-I know that-gimme a break-- but there was an undeniable very deep disappointment engrained in Bostonians consciousness that traces its way back to the 20's, that followed entire generations and ended in 04 is that hard to comprehend? 48-78-03 - alot more if i took the time to think about it, The red sox came to the precipous of hope only to come crashing down at the last moments many, many, many times. All those times it was those other guys from 4 hours south that ended the dream.. In the fifties there was (what was it a musical?) Damn Tankees, when they were in the business of ending everyones dreams. Its more in the vein of that, a lot of deep deep frustration that was always handed out by the Yankees. Its a metaphor, an analogy and it is not far off at all. Do you not remember that people actually believed and not too long ago that they were cursed? There has always been a fatalism to New Englanders that no matter what you never quite will get the gold ring but only heartbreak- believe or dont - it really doesnt matter -, alot of it can be traced to baseball--04 changed that. 100's of books have been written about its effect, which is very real. Some people get it, everyone hear doesnt need to get it they lioved it, Most Yankee fans turn off at a certain point, want to not deal with it , move on and prefer baseball have no meaning and effect but it does Whatever - moving on .........I heard something new today Eddie Gaedel has the highest career OBP in MLB history and never had an AB Baseball is an infinitely interesting game Salutes to the little man

Wow 36 Bucks for the Pope set-not bad HERE'S aplace that will ordain you for free, but you dont get the cool T-Shirt. I however have access to those cool funky big pope and bishop hats (the real deals)if you want/need one

yes, Iknow -"when I get honest* " in the heart of my heart --It was.... we would never have won without Gabe -------- or any of the other 24 either. It took em all. It took Pokey Reese too, I'd love to have him back..and Curtis Leskanic..and.... Someone circulated a picture a few years back of Kapler-the guy is built. He was given the name "The Worlds Most Perfectly Sculpted Jew". Schilling who has been around along time and says what he means all the time (sometime even to his detriment said in 18 years Kapler was the best teammate he had ever had. Somewhere I have apicture of Kapler and Damon together in the outfield in the ninth inning of game four of the WS and all youu can see are the numbers "19" "18" side by side smiling...1918-It was another of those strange moments that made that time surreal. and the thing about Damon, I dunno I cant explain it, I know he is following nhis career path and all that , but there is more to it from this end--maybe its the screwball Boston fans, he was a cult figure, he was like a saint or a God. If you ever view baseball as a metaphor, which alot of people do he was like a saviour or messiah who lead an entire group of people to the promised land after spending 86 years in purgatory and suffering. I know it sounds overblown but thats the way it felt here. He was idolized. He finally beat the bad guys, those devils who had kicked us down so many times- and then he went and joined them It would be like a devout christian waking up one morning and finding that Jesus had converted to Islam or Satanism or something. To him-he was following his career path, but he became more than that because of what he did here, he was alegend in the making, one day he would have had bridges and schools and parks named after him but probably not now that he has come back down to earth and become a normal person again, I suppose I dont blame him for moving on and maybe I would have done the same thing if I were in his shoes, but I do think that players and fans have a completely different perception of what the game means. Players are mechanics who come and go but the fans are the ones who pull meaning or project meaning into the games...for aminute we really thought he was one of us and understood all the complexities that he help guide us through, but he is not, he is still a good guy and I like him, but it was like a love realtionship that ends when your best girlfriend of all time leaves to go to the person you are in bitter rivalry with. You wish her well and wish it coulkd have been anyone else because that one reallystings. anyway thats my two cents--what else is happening out there-has Pujols hit number 50 yet? -Who's pitchin' tonight?

I bet they are, from what I gather their group is fracturing nearly as fast as the Episcopalians and in need of alot of new and fresh blood...uh souls.

Im definitely not a big fan of drunks at the ballpark, or anywhere for that matter- That is bad , I definitely agree with you there a small few or even a single one can put a bad stain on things.,like the uncalled for needle thrown at Bonds . I have no use for those people. The guy who last year leaned over the rail and touched brushed Sheffield as he ran by at Fenway during a game had his front row season tickets revoked. Its noisy and on the cruder side but I still think it has its place and a lot of it is fairly creative and humorous, its part of the cathartic carnival atmosphere that you dont normally get at home, the ofice or other places. It is part of the allure of the game. When Damon took the field, the CF fans threw real money on the field,and he was gretted to his position by a pile of cash, i though that was hilarious myself.it wasnt dangerous. It made the point Anyway with all the RedSox off season GM problems I still think they played their hand very well, passing on Damon and getting a young frontliner like Josh Beckett, who the Yankees could have certainly benefitted from given their pitching woes, and then got Coco Crisp at 10M/year cheaper than Damon. well...maybe we're idiots-I wont try to change your mind--but their my idiots -its like being part of some huge dysfunctional but really good and fun family for the most part ...if i was born in a different time and place I wouldve loved to have been a Brooklyn fan

Yea Wakefields personal catcher arrived at the ball park in uniform with a state trooper escort at 7:01 for a 7:05 game, Its good to see him back. I was sort of ticked when i heard the ESPN guys call him" just a backup catcher", he may be a specialist but he is also one helluva a well rounded player and a great clubhouse presence. I guess you dont get more specialized than being the only guy in the world who is really good at catching a knuckleball. Anyway Johnny has had his moment, It was standing and it sounded mixed to me, then it quickly turned back to business and he is being booed just like any other Yankee

.well I do too Tom-It would be good for the city, and the whole state.....i can understand your guys frustration about the networks BS -i would be upset too if they tried to shove something down my throat that really didnt concern me. Being from here its something that is natural --generations and generations of 100 years of history that these two teams have been tthrough together makes it somethinmg we look forward to from both sides...the networks just figured it out a few years back and having been trying to capitalize on it, which in some ways is just as obnoxious to us here as it would be to anyone anywhere else. As far as The Second Coming of Johnny Damon goes, I think it actually more likely that he gets a standing O tonightwith a smattering of boo's, Boston fans are passionate but not stupid either ( of course every place will have a handful of real idiots). People remember him sacrificing himself sprinting headlong into walls, making diving catches, and of course the two homeruns in game 7 of the ALCS. And Everyone knows he is forever "one of the 25". The initial shock has worn off, he'll get the standing O he deserves and has earned out of respect and then the same people will hope he goes 0-4 , me included ...I apprecite what he did and always will, but tonight I still want to win..that's baseball..A bigger ovation may be for Doug Mirabelli who was reacquired today and who was sorely missed. It will be interesting, for the most part even though the rivalry upclose is passionate, its 99% more goodnatured than it is given credit for, It appears rough because it brings out the wits of two cities that were never known for being genteel but I dont think that there are too many fans on either side who wouldnt walk through a fire to save someone from the other side. There is a mutual respect that goes along with all the bickering. I live in a cusp town, some of my best friends are Yankee fans, we'd do near anything for each other we carry on for hours in a goodnatured way.. I still hold out hope that they will come to the light, be converted and healed. Its mostly that way. o yea-- All Hail the first place Rangers! and Tom -If youve never been ---- You have to come up and see Cooperstown, case closed-- put it on your calendar somewhere edit:Damon Interview

I think they've known for awhile thats its just apart of the mythology but not really true. I know just recently ( within a year or two) that they found a document not far from me in Pittsfield MA, that is the earliest dated reference to 'base-ball'. Its from the 1780's or so and outlaws the playing of base-ball within 80 yards of the Meeting House. Presumably so windows which were a rare commodity wouldnt get broken. That was at least 50 years before Doubledays claims,, of course children have been playing with balls and sticks and running ever since there have been children. They had apicture of an Egyptian Frieze from 1460BC at the Hall that had two Egyptian Gods with a ball and a 'bat', I always thought so but now Im pretty sure the game was a gift from the Gods myself

I admit Im a home team guy, it was along journey to get here and part of it is just being in this region. When i am other places I am a much broader baseball fan, and i do enjoy just the beauty of the sport. If I lived someplace else i would still love the game and probably in a much wider sense The Red Sox enamored me when i was about 10 and i stayed that way for quite a few years. then years of traveling, different things to sink my head into (like a certain cult) and I lost a lot. When I moved back to Mass after being gone for about 25 years, the Red Sox were again rekindled in me and also a common ground of contact with just about anyone in the region. Its different than being a fan, its a passion at times and can become an all consuming passion. Thats not to say I dont appreciate whats going on in other places I just have hard time keeping up with it all, I catch the highlights most days on ESPN, but its not the same to me as the nuances you see up close that get you to know at least some of the intricacies ans strengths and weakness of the personalities. You've seen guys like Lowe up close now that with time and practice are easy to read. When he gives up a double, hangs his head, and walks around flustered for a moment before delivering his next pitch, you know its not only going to be along afternoon but could be 2 or 3 weeks before he finds himself again. Its little things like that and a million more that they dont show and dont pick up on that keeps me really fascinated. Like Mench's shoes that Tom mentioned. Of course i still love the parks and the feel and the game itself if I stop at any game anywhere, I just dont get to follow it as closely as i would like.... ..anyway i had the same thought yesterday about dusting off what rusty research skills I might ever have had and burying myself in the HOF fame archives and getting a little place by the lake, or renting out a store on Main Street and trading memorabilia. It is a nice little town. It must be a slice of heaven to be 10 minutes from the park, at this point I can only imagine it...those tv screen things on the deck facade are bad enough I'll be hoping McCourt can come to his senses before they totally ruin it

Damn Im saddened to hear about Howe.. thats really tough to take. I just now got back from Cooperstown after a whim trip at about 5 this AM. I forget what a place that is--- how many times in your life do you actually touch home plate from Ebbets Field, see the glove that Willie had when he made "the catch", Joe D's bat from game #56, or a million other things that are ingrained deeply in every baseball fans life. Its an amazing feeling walking through that little place---A lot to digest and then I hear about this--damn--- I never knew Howe all that well really, those west coast NL teams may as well play in another country most of the time for all that I see them, but I hate to see anyone die out of time I told you you'd like Bill Mueller---god he is a ballplayer....He is a joy to watch isnt he? hope his knees hold up ---all the others sound about right too, Ya never know with Lowe, flashes of brilliance but he gets rattled and distracted to easily . Its early yet with Grady give him time.... Im hoping that Nomar gets beyond where he is to where everyone knows he could be. Gomes plays for Tampa I think Dr. Strange, although i wouldn't mind having those 19 RBI Nobody is hitting on the Sox right now, They're about 2-5 on this road trip. Maybe they should have their shoe sizes checked what else? well of course it would have been great if Roger never left. Those who said he was on the tail end of his career 10 years ago are the ones who are all gone now--none of them are even in baseball anymore, except old GM Dan Duquette who runs the semi pro Pittsfield Dukes, who on a good night might get 30 people to come see them. Hows that for foot in your mouth. There are new owners and an entirely new group who knows what he means to baseball and what he means to Boston, who (hopefully) are willing to make the past foolishnesses right. ahhh -you guys should see all the No Hitter balls lined up, a display case about 25 feet long, and 4 feet high with ?hundreds of balls signed and dated in numerical order of pert near every one ever pitched---Ive never even seen one before but today --this very day ( to yom)I saw em all.....when I walked around the corner and saw them my heart leaped and for a few moments or maybe just one fleeting second I was 10 again. Its a pretty cool place

20 years ago today Roger K'd 20 at Fenway. thats 20 Twenty two-zero in a nine inning game ( Click on the video icon in the article to see highlights of "the young righthander from the University of Texas" ) It would be the perfect bookend and capoff to a legendary career for him to come back and end where he began.... please come back Rog, we're sorry we didnt mean it

Lets see --so he is on pace to have about 500RBI? Good idea to check your shoe size every once in a while. Sox desperately need someone to catch a knuckleball, Its Bards only job and he had 4 passed balls last night and already has 11 this year--I know its a tough job but its like watching a little league catcher out there. Papelbon is 9 for 9 in saves and hasnt given up a run yet. On a lost bet he cut his hair into a mohawk like the Charlie Sheen character in Major League--they're playin Wild Thing when he comes in now.