Mom Stuff

Looking at this painting that my mom created and that my sister gave to me two or three years ago. I don't know if it would be considered as a quality piece of art, but even if not so, it holds great value to me. I think she probably painted this in her fifties or sixties. I wonder if she had an interest in painting in her youth that was put on hold to raise five children, one with special needs and requiring constant attention and extra care? I know that she loved playing the piano but don't recall being aware of an interest in painting until after all her kids were out of the house and on their own. 

The Anticipation

Remembering tonight, and feeling once again, the excitement first felt over fifty years ago .... maybe fifty-five even.

The night before the day of release, of an album I've been aware of and anticipating greatly for several months. 

Looking forward to the new sounds about to be heard.

And if somehow the initial impression isn't up to what I'm hoping for .... allowing the time needed to appreciate it for its own qualities and changing or alternate directions.

The anticipation is real.

For a record collector, the thrill of this moment is genuine.

Even all these years later, it apparently never fades away.

Lessened (slightly), only by waiting for the notification that it has arrived at your front door or in your snail mailbox as opposed to the drive to and from the record store. 

Broken In

A new warehouse is being built at work.

It's not even completely finished yet but it's already been "broken in."

Two people were caught in the act (allegedly) of doing the wild thing.

June Hoops

Somewhat listening to various talking faces on radio and television pontificating on the NBA finals.

And they rarely say anything but the most blatantly obvious.

And they always talk like whoever won the last game is in total control of the series.

But the fact is that what appears to be an advantage one day, often becomes a disadvantage the next because things like three-point shooting are far from being predictable and consistent and some players who makes 5/6 today may quite possibly make 1/7 the next day and vice versa with the other guy representing the other town and wearing a different jersey and in this age of hoops, that becomes a big part of the difference.

And these talking faces keep asking the same pointless questions and get the same meaningless responses from the appointed genius's and gurus and often others who have done far more talking than ever playing of the game and gaining an understanding of how these things really work where there are humans involved and not robots and there's ten billion different movements that occur in each ten second span between the ten players on the court and replicating the same exact steps you made the previous time and possessing the exact same physical and mental frame of mind, attitude and aggressiveness which resulted in success 30 seconds ago is next to impossible the next time up or down the court. 

And extending that mindset to two days later is often more difficult than it was when it was impossible so nothing remains the same and everything is constantly changing.  

        (And I guess that's true not only in basketball but for life in general.)

And when this series was made and everyone was saying OKC (Seattle) was the huge favorite to win and I was laughing, thinking that Indiana had just as good a chance as OKC (ummmm, I mean Seattle) ..... and I want so badly to say: "I told you so" but I can't do that because I never actually told anyone.

6/19 edit .... And now there's going to be a game seven. And after nearly all the talking faces were prognosticating a four-game sweep.

Losing Old Hurt

Spoke with my ex-wife yesterday.

It had been a while. 

Had to remind myself that we are not in our twenties anymore. 

I tend to revert back while in mid-conversation.

I mean, I can't explain that feeling. 

It's just a mental thing. You just go back to subconsciously being young again.

She's moved around a lot since we split up. 

Eventually finding her way back to Oregon a few years ago when we talked for the first time since we had split up .... over forty years ago. 

And just recently moved back to New Hampshire mentioning the cost of living in Oregon as a reason why.  

It's been nice to establish a friendship after so many years where it was assumed that we'd never have contact again.

It was needed, losing the hurt that was present for so long.

Sage Advice

If you are ever in the midst of a call to your banks automated teller to obtain current balance and activity information and sense a seasonal allergy fueled sneezing fit coming on .... hang up immediately.

Automated Teller: "What can I help you with?"

Me: "Savings account balance."

AT: "OK. Your savings account balance is ...."

Me: "Achoo! Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"

AT: "I don't understand your request"

Me: "Savings ....  ACHOO, ACHOO .... Account ....  ACHOO, ACHOO, ACHOO .... recent .... ACHOO .....

AT: "I don't understand your request"

Me: "ACHOO."

AT: "You want to see if a check has cleared?"

Me: "NO! ACHOO, damnit!!

AT: "I don't understand your request."

At about that point I uttered an f-bomb (I hope the automated teller understood that) and I hung up. 

Trending Towards Geek Status

Things I love that you'd likely not suspect ..... or little-known facts that no one else knows about me .....

Cards, buttons, pins, stickers, postage stamps, bookmarks, photos, magnets, etc

As long as there's an interesting image, artwork or thought displayed on such things. 

Don't believe me? Then go through the various drawers in desks and stands where I live. 

     ..... You'll find various spots where these objects have been accumulating. 

Probably of zero value to anyone but myself. 

I enjoy remembering the stories and events behind each.  

     ...... Where I found them. A song or memory that I'm reminded of. An emotion felt in the past .... or today.

Ripped Off

I feel so ripped off. I ordered a Ron Swoboda baseball card on eBay. In a Yankee uniform, from one of my favorite early 70's, Topps series and card styles (1971). ..... It arrived. I flipped to the backside of the card and it's blank. No tidbits, height, weight or baseball statistics. Those are as important to me as the image on the front of the card. 

Obviously not an original ..... unless it's one of those original errors I've read about before, making the card worth thousands of $$$. I have doubts though.

I guess I should have noticed the photo of the blank backside of the card on the eBay page that I ordered from. Upon a second look, it's right there for all to see. Feeling mislead though, I mean one just assumes some things. I don't think I'll be ordering the Ron Klimkowski or Fred Stanley cards.