The problem with doing things worth writing about is that it gives me less time to write. Sunday’s plans didn’t allow me to write about Saturday’s Met game. I’m going to do something today I used to do often, tell the stories visually. I’m also going to do something that I’ve only done of late, write while using a cat as a pillow. She doesn’t understand that I can’t type and pet her at the same time, this is our compromise.
I generally just take whatever game Alan offers me, but I specifically asked for Saturday night as the Mets retired the number of one of the heroes of 1969, Jerry Koosman. I hope everyone remembers his number, of not here’s a reminder.
I had two friends sitting nearby that I totally missed. I knew that John was supposed to be there, but I couldn’t find him. When I was sitting my view of him was blocked. When I stood up to look all I saw was the back of a baseball cap. Gene was sitting just four rows behind me. I found that out when he posted pictures that I could see were from almost the same angle as mine. As for the Mighty Mets, they won! The beat the Nats 5-3. They had their ace on the mound, Marcus Stroman, he was supposed to be their #4 pitcher, but deGrom and Syndergaard are injured, as was Carrasco until recently. Carrasco is only now pitching himself into shape. It’s not a wonder that the Mets are not living up to expectations.
Yesterday was Katherine and Deb’s joint birthday party. I have gone to that every year since I met Katherine. There’s a lot of overlap in our social circles including three sets of friends I met independently of Katherine, Mark & Beth, Carolann, Mark, and Felix, and Elisa and Jon. I also spent time with friends I met at the parties, Dottie, Glenn, and Howard and made new friends. As most of them are musicians, that’s how I know them, there was jamming. That’s what all my pictures and video are of.
Fortunately, I got there early, thanks to a bike race Katherine and Deb couldn’t get the car near Brooklyn Bridge Park where the party was. I got a call from Katherine who knew I’d be early, and I was able to meet them away from the park and help them bring all the supplies over and help set up while Deb parked the car. Other early arrivers helped set up too. I think that ads to the pleasure.
I was culinarily adventurous, Jon and Elisa brought mochi, that’s a Japanese dessert that’s made of beans. I generally wouldn’t try something like that, but I tried a vegan spread that Beth made last time I saw them and liked it, so I decided to take the chance. It was delicious. This old dog is learning new tricks. It’s never too late to change, even the habits of a lifetime. I used to get nauseated when I ate foods I didn’t like which made me very wary of trying new things. I have always been willing to try new combinations of ingredients I like. I’m willing to eat rabbit and gator. But if it’s green I’m still wary. Seafood is the worst.
After the party a bunch of us stayed to help clean up and then I helped getting things back to the car. Other people took home the leftover vegan chocolate cake and wonderful chocolate chip cookies, but guess which leftovers I took; yes, the mochi.
I usually record Gord’s Gold on Sunday for Thursday’s show. This week I didn’t have time. When I got home from the party, I took care of my Hudson West Festival Songwriters Contest judging. I watched videos from seven artists and rated them in various categories. I then made a spreadsheet and submitted them to the festival. This morning when I got to Wise Madness, I saw that I had already programmed 51 minutes of music. I just had to add two more songs. Today I have to sequence them and record my introductions. Before that I’ll eat my breakfast. I think it’s a basic hameggandcheese on an English Muffin sort of day.
Wise Madness 