Another Injury for David Wright

David Wright has missed most of the past two seasons with major injuries and medical conditions including spinal stenosis.  Today he was diagnosed with an infringement of his right shoulder and is being sent to New York for medical treatment.  For most athletes, this would be a minor setback, but there seems to be a cumulative effect with the other conditions.

Could this be a career ending injury?  Like anything else, we have to take this situation one day a time and hope for the best.  It is possible that David could be moved to first base where he wouldn't have to throw as much.  The Mets must still pay him $67 million over the next 4 years.  There is nothing we can do but wait.

Report in the New York Daily News.

Brian Matthew Does His Last Sounds of the 60s Show for BBC2

Brian Matthew has certainly been a legend in British Broadcasting since the 1960s.  On yesterday's Breakfast with the Beatles  Dennis Mitchell featured his interviewing George Harrison.  For 27 years Brian has hosted Sounds of the 60s on BBC2.  Over the past 7 years or so I have listened to the podcast every Sunday morning.

About 3 months ago Brian suffered a fall at home and could not narrate the show.  This weekend he is doing his last show as he presents a compilation of his favorite moments from his time behind the mike.  From what I have read Brian wanted to continue, but the "powers that be" at BBC felt he should retire.  Brian will return for special shows in the future.

I suggest everyone listen to his final regular show which will be archived for 28 days.

Light My Fire by the Doors - I Must Hear the Long Version

Back in the late 1960s I just hated it when AM radio stations played the short 45 RPM of Light My Fire.  I always preferred the long album version with the instrumental solos.

More Financial Planning Today

Since I have worked for universities of over 25 years most of my pension money is in TIAA.  I have some other funds "squirreled away" in smaller IRAs.  Karen and I met with a financial adviser to start to think about strategies for my cashing in my pension money once I retire in 2018.  He felt that I did a good job in saving money over the years,

There is a saying "People don't plan to fail, but they fail to plan."  I think I have done a reasonably good job in planning for the future.

Afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

I can not remember the last time that I visited this wonderful museum on 5th Avenue and 82nd Street.  It was actually the Burdick Collection of Baseball Cards that was the motivating factor in bringing me there today.  Mr. Burdick had donated over 30,000  baseball cards to the museum, but only a few hundred were on display.  We took about 20 minutes to look at this display, but there were umpteen other exhibits in the museum.  The current exhibitions are listed at http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/current-exhibitions

There were many other permanent exhibitions that spread out over this enormous museum.  I think I put plenty of mileage on my feet today.

Thank You Tim Rice for a Job Well Done on Sounds of the 60s

Sir Tim Rice, best known a lyricist and librettist in the UK has admirably filled in for Brian Matthew on Sounds of the Sixties for the last 3 months.  There is a lengthy biography of him in the Internet Movie Database.  Brian had fallen at his home and Tim was selected to fill in.  It seems that Brian wanted to return, but the powers that be at the BBC didn't want him back.  He will come back for one more show on Saturday, February 27.  It will be a compilation of his favorite moments of hosting the show.

He did play two requests of mine:

• Nikki Hoeky - PJ Proby
• I Couldn't Live Without Your Love - Petula Clark

The show is heard live on BBC2 very early Saturday mornings, but I hear the podcast on Sunday.  I believe the podcast is archived for 28 days.

Check it out at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08fw43f

UNCW 83 Hofstra 76

We took a ride over to the Hofstra campus to see the Men's basketball team.  We have been there many times over the years as it is a nice arena with reasonably priced tickets.  I was disappointed to see so few of their students at the game.  I assume that most of their students are from Long Island and go home for the weekend.

The game was pretty much even at the start but UNCW pulled away late in the first half.  Hofstra came close a few times but fell short.  Justin Wright-Foreman led Hofstra with 26 points, but it wasn't enough.

Game summary

The Eggplant that Ate Chicago - Novelty Song of the Day

Since 2017 is the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Group Chicago, songs somehow related to the Windy City was the 4th-hour theme.  He played The Eggplant That Ate Chicago by Dr, West's Junk Band and Medicine show.  I hadn't heard that one in many years.

I Never Know Who Reads Bruce's Journal

Bruce's Journal has been around since October 2005 with over 3300 entries. There are some autobiographical posts while mostly I discuss hobby related activities such as music, radio broadcasting, movies and ball games. Nobody needs to reveal their identity when reading it, so I rarely know who reads it.  It is linked to my Facebook page so I know much of the audience is from there.

There is a tool called Google Analytics which tell where a hit is from.  There is someone in Monroe Township, NJ who reads it regularly. but I don't know who he/she is.  Are there any other regular readers out there?  Perhaps some former friends are cyber stalking me.

Does it have any impact on anyone?  I get a report of the number of hits, but I assume many of them just look at the entry  and move on to something else on the web.

I'll get writing, but it is frustrating not knowing who reads it or if it has an impact on anyone.

Guess Who I Saw at Newark Penn Station Today?

It was a normal commute today as I got off the train and Newark Penn Station.  I started to walk toward the stairs to get to the Light Rail and who do I see?  Governor Chris Cristie.  He seemed to be having a casual conversation with two women,  There was no crowd around him.  I just found this article from CBS News stating that the Governor was going to Washington to see President Trump.  He was likely waiting for an Amtrak train to Washington.

I sincerely hope that the Governor encountered a major train delay on Amtrak so he'll know how we feel.  Many of the NJ Transit delays on the Northeast corridor are caused by Amtrak.

Rare Oldie of the Day - 2120 South Michigan Avenue by the Rolling Stones

It is unusual when I group noted for its vocals has an instrumental track.  The Rolling Stones named this song after the address of Chess Records in Chicago.  It obviously appeared on the album 12X5 which I bought in 1965.

St. Johns 78 Seton Hall 70 in Big East Basketball at MSG

We may as well enjoy college basketball before the post-season tournaments begin.  It was easy to get tickets at Madison Square to see a Big East matchup between St. Johns and Seton Hall.

The Red Storm got off to a slow start but took a 10 point lead at halftime.  They seem to be improving in the Chris Mullin's second year of coaching.  Toward the end of the game, legendary coach Lou Carnesecca was shown on the big screen.  I think he is about 90 years old.

Game recap

Snow Day Activities

I obviously did not venture outside today, but we received the announcement that NJIT will be open tomorrow.  No train delays, please.  Anyway, here is what I did today:

As usual, I spent some time surfing the web.  This is nothing new.

I did some reading:

Genovese, G., & Taylor, D. (2015). A Scout's report: My 70 years in baseball. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.

I watched a rerun of Sports Jeopardy where Vinny won his 4th game.  I wish they would show some new episodes.

I listened to my police band radio

I played Wheel of Fortune with Lee

Random Comments of the Day

"Bob Dylan Wins The Nobel Prize" was one of the puzzles on The Wheel of Fortune tonight.

Today the temperature exceeded 60 degrees, but a big snowstorm is predicted for tomorrow.  At about 4:30 NJIT announced it would be closed tomorrow.  It is unusual that the announcement was made so far in advance.  Likewise at about 6:30 PM the mayor's office announced that the New York City school system would be closed.  It is nice to have a snow day once in a while.

Right now I am listening to Cousin Brucie as I usually do on Wednesday nights.  He doesn't get older, he gets better.  It is worth the subscription to SiriusXM just to listen to him.

Crazy Dreams

Everybody has dreams during rapid eye movement sleep.  Fortunately, most of the time we forget our dreams when we wake up in the morning.  Last night I had a dream about a train delay on New Jersey Transit.  Believe me, this is a dream that has come true many times over the years.  At least when I retire, I will not have to ride on New Jersey Transit again.  I'll have to ride on the New York City subways, but much less often.

Testimony - An Autobiography of Robbie Robertson That Ends Too Soon

This is an autobiography of one of the founding members of the Band.  The others are:

• Levon Helm
• Garth Hudson
• Richard Manual
• Rick Danko

Robbie and Garth are the only members of the group still living.

The book is very readable as it does not include many irrelevant details.  He talks about his family in Canada and how he met the other members of the groups as they became The Hawks who backed up Ronnie Hawkins.  The group broke off from Hawkins and toured with Bob Dylan in 1966 and 1974.

 

The final chapter covered the Last Waltz which was their final concert in San Francisco in November 1976.  But it ends 40 years too early!  What has Robbie done since then?

In the 1980s the Band reformed without Robbie Robertson.  I heard that he had a big fight with Levon Helm who was his biggest friend in the 1970s.  Robbie wrote some musical scores for Martin Scorcese and made several solo recordings.  This was not at all in this autobiography.  Why did he stop at 1976?

Ben's Deli, Ben's Best and The Comedian (Movie)

Although the Carnegie Deli closed there is still Ben's Best Deli in Rego Park and Ben's Deli with locations in Bayside, Long Island, and Manhattan.  The later is the restaurant where we hold the annual oldies meet and greet in November.  There has always been some confusion between the two.  Ben's Best with just one location has been in Rego Park since 1945.  While growing up, my mother would send me there on Sundays to get cold cuts and hot dogs for dinner.  I remember Ben, the original owner who passed away,  His son Jay Parker now runs it.   I believe the Ben's Deli of oldies meet and greet fame didn't open until the early 1990s.

Anyway, today we went to the Kew Gardens Cinema to see The Comedian starring Robert DeNiro.  He played an aging insult comedian named Jack Burke.  His brother played by Danny DeVito and sister-in-law played by Patty Lupone managed the deli.  Jay Parker appeared in a cameo role.  I highly recommend seeing this movie.

February 3, 1959 - The Day the Music Died

I almost forgot that today is the 58th anniversary of the airplane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper.  It is also known at the Day The Music Died.  With that thought in mind, here is I'm Gonna Love You Too by Buddy Holly.

Interviews of Herb Oscar Anderson on WPAT AM with Teddy Smith (Parts 1 and 2)