Gentle on My MInd by Glen Campbell

A few weeks ago I ordered Glen Campbell's Greatest Hits from Amazon.com.  It finally arrived somewhat late since there was a big demand for it after he passed away.  Gentle On My Mind has to be one of my favorites.  I also like the John Hartford version.

Should the Houston Astros Play at Home this Weekend?

The Mets were scheduled to play at Houston this weekend.  It was announced today that there will be a day-night doubleheader played on Saturday followed by a day game on Sunday.  Is this advisable?  How much will the situation improve by Saturday?  So many people are displaced as many have likely permanently lost their homes.  Will people be able to travel to the ball park?  At this point in time, there are more important things in Houston than baseball.

Polling Readers of Bruce's Journal

I haven't done this in a while, but I'd like to get some feedback from the readers of my journal.  So if you have a few minutes, please take this short survey.

Thanks

Link to Survey

Best Wishes for the People in Houston During Tropical Storm Harvey

I really have to feel for the people of Houston and other parts of Houston who are suffering during Tropical Storm Harvey.  The area is really flooded by the storm which is expected to linger and for days and cause extensive flooding.  It could be worse than Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina which hit some years ago.

When you plan a vacation you always hope for good weather.  While we were in Houston from July 15-20 it was hot and humid was just a few showers.  There are likely travelers to Houston who could be stranded there for several days as the streets are like rivers.

Ov yey.

Yankees 6 Mariners 3

Even though I am a big Met fan, I don't root against the Yankees except during the Subway Series.  We usually go twice a season to see the Bronx Bombers play.  Today, Sonny Gray started and pitched seven innings.  He was helped by a three run homer by Jacoby Ellsbury.  Gary Sanchez was the designated hitter as he is appealing his suspension for fighting in the game against the Tigers.  Dellin Betances came in to pitch in the 9th inning and got the save.

Game recap

Disgraceful Actions at Yankee Tiger Game Today

I was at work today so I did not watch the Mets or Yankees who were playing in the afternoon.  There were three brawls at the Yankee-Tiger game after pitches were thrown at batters.  There are several issues involved here:

• Grown men who make millions of dollars a year should not act like children.  Youngsters who watch baseball idolize these players and often emulate them.
• A major league pitcher throws a ball at 95 miles an hour.  A player could be very seriously injured when hit by a pitch.  I'll never forget how that jerk Roger Clemens threw at Mike Piazza in 2000.
• One of the fights started out between Austin Romine and Miguel Cabrera.  But why must both benches and the bullpens come out and join the fight?  In the NHL there is a rule that states that the third man in a fight can be suspended.  Maybe a similar rule should be made n baseball to prevent these bench clearing brawls.
• From what I've heard, the umpires were not in control.  Maybe they need training on how to handle these situations.  Did the police at the stadium get involved?
• Several players on the Yankees will likely be suspended.  This can be devastating to a team in a pennant race.

Game Recap from ESPN

I donated to the New York City Coalition to the Homeless

 In June I reported in this journal about giving a homeless woman a dollar and she did not even thank me.  The photo in that entry said to say no to panhandlers and giving to a local organization.  Today, I found $2 on the subway and thought about handing it over to two homeless people.  I certainly pass by many on the street, the subway, and Penn Station.  The track 1 waiting room in Newark Penn Station is likely the homeless capital of New Jersey.  When you give money to an individual, you never know how they will use it.  Perhaps they use it to purchase drugs.  There is always the story that the person needs money for train fare.

Today, I gave a $50 donation to the New York City Coalition For the Homeless so I will know that the money will go to food, clothing, or shelter for the homeless.

Mets Lose to the Miami Marlins 6-4

Maybe I should stop going to Citifield as almost every time I have been there this season they have lost.  We usually go on Sunday afternoons when they usually lose.  There was no exception this afternoon as they lost 6-4.  The highlight of the game was a three-run homer by Giancarlo Stanton that increased his major league total to 45.  The Mets ace pitcher Jacob de Grom was the loser.  A Yoenis Cespedes home run in the first inning and a three-run rally in the 8th inning were not enough.

Game Recap

Visit to New York Transit Museum to See Exhibit on the #7 Train

If you ever read my companion commuting blog you will read about my many misadventures on the #7 train over the years.  Today we stopped by the annex of the New York Transit Museum at Grand Central Station to see an exhibit titled 7 Train: Minutes to Midtown.  It showed how the #7 train was constructed in the early 20th century and how the neighborhoods around it developed over the years.  The line was constructed through a rural area with the expectation that the train line would bring people and businesses.  It sure did!

Long Island City has really grown by leaps and bounds over the last 15 years.  Every time I pass by I observe a new building or one under construction.  Certainly, the ethnicities of the neighborhoods along the 7 line have changed as well.

Visit to the Guggenheim Museum Today

I just consulted this journal and determined that the last time that I visited the Guggenheim Museum was on December 30, 2015.  Since exhibits in museums change, I thought it was time for another trip there.  The names of the exhibits we saw today were:

Visionaries: Creating a Modern Guggenheim

Mystical Symbolism: The Salon de la Rose+Croix in Paris, 1892–1897

Thannhauser Collection

Brancusi Collection

Jackson Pollock: Exploring Alchemy

Lenka Clayton and Jon Rubin: . . . circle through New York.

The Management of the Mets Should Offer Rebates to Fans After Dumping Salaries

The Mets have made several player moves since late July as they have given up on this season.  They have traded:

• Addison Reed
• Lucas Duda
• Neil Walker
• Jay Bruce
• Curtis Granderson

All they have received in return are a few minor league players and a few other "players to be named later."  The result is a salary dump resulting in big savings to the Wilpons and others.

I think it would be a nice gesture if the management would give some financial relief to the loyal fans who have supported the team and are disappointed with the results this season.  They could do one of two things:

1. Fans could send in used tickets from games after July 31 and get $2 (an arbitrary figure) back for every ticket they send in.
2. Offer significant discounts on the food in the stadium that it already overpriced.

I really doubt if this would happen.

The Mets Lose The Last Game of the Subway Series 7-5

Since 1997 we have gone to one game of the Subway Series during most years.  The season has not gone well for the Mets as several players have been lost to injuries and four major players were traded in a salary dump.  Things have looked up for the Yankees with the emergence of Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and other "Baby Bombers".  The Yankees are ahead in the wild card race and are chasing the Red Sox for the AL East title.

The Mets lost the first 3 games of this year's series, but I will report on the game we attended last night.  Gary Sanchez hit a three run homer in the first inning while the Yankees rallied for 4 runs in the 4th inning against a struggling Steven Matz.  The Mets made it close in the 9th inning as Curtis Granderson hit a grand slam home run to make the score 7-5.  Dellin Betances came in and got the save.

I observed that there were more Yankee fans at Citifield.

Game Recap

Random Comments of the Day

Of course, today is the 40th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley.  There is no sense of what I wrote 6 years ago as I recalled what I was doing that day.

I took the car to Sparkles for an oil change and a car wash.  My 2000 Chevy Cavalier is doing well despite its age.  I only have 64,700 miles on it in 17+ years as most of my driving is local.

In the afternoon Karen and I went to Macy's to buy a couple of pairs of pants and a pair of shoes.  Macy's just doesn't have that good of a selection of shoes.  Years ago there was a terrific shoe store on Main Street and Northern Blvd., but it closed.  I am going to have to find a store that only sells shoes.

Right now I am reading Gould, J. (2017). Otis Redding: An unfinished life.  I actually check out the ebook for the Kindle from NYPL.

Back to watching the Subway Series on TV tonight.  I hope the Mets can win the two games at Citifield.  We will be at the game tomorrow.

Yearly Trip to the Whitney Museum

It seems to be a yearly ritual for Karen and me to visit the Whitney Museum during the summer.  The exhibits that we saw were:

• Calder: Hypermobility -featured the sculptures of Alexander Calder
• Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney's Collections, 1900-1960
• Helio Oiticica - To Organize Delirium
• Willa Nasatir
• Bunny Rogers: Brig Und Ladder

Since it was raining when we left the museum, we could not walk along the Highline to the end to pick up the #7 train at the Hudson Yards Station.

Starting My Last Staycation

 I must have reported on several staycations in this journal before.  Since I get 20 vacation days and 3 "personal days" every year, I should use them or else would lose them.  We can only carry over 175 hours on June 30.  I was told that I must use all of my vacation before I retire on December 31, 2017.  I have not yet made my official announcement, but will after I fill out the paperwork in the human resources department.  I will likely do that in early October.  I will discuss that later.

Meanwhile, I will relax at home not worrying about catching buses and trains.  I likely will take in a few museums while I am home.  I will certainly watch the Subway Series between the Mets and Yankees this week.  We are going to the game on Thursday.

Twyla Tharp Tries Dylan Again

In the Fall of 2006, Twyla Tharp choreographed "The Times They Are A'Changin" a show based on Bob Dylan songs.  As I reported in this Journal the show failed miserably as it closed after 28 performances.  It seems that there was an incongruity between the dance and the music.  Likely, dance fans were not into Dylan.

I found out by reading the British fanzine Isis that a show called "Dylan Love Songs" will premiere at the Joyce Theater in Manhattan for a limited run.  Hopefully, this show will have a story line that links the Dylan songs.  Many so called "jukebox musicals" have failed because there is no connection between the songs and the show.  I went ahead and bought tickets for Sunday afternoon, October 1.  Let's see what transpires.  If it is successful they can extend the road or move it to Broadway.

Gene Clark - The Byrd Who Flew Alone

Gene Clark has certainly appeared in Bruce's Journal before as I have been a fan of his as a member of the Byrds and as a solo artist since the 1960s.  I got hold of the video called The Byrd Who Flew Alone.  It was a good biography of him showing how his career developed before, after, and during his time with The Byrds.  It is really a shame that he never got the recognition that he deserved.  I checked my collection and found one record and two CDs with him as a solo artist.  After watching the video, I bought another CD of his playing with the Gosdin Brothers.

If Not For You by Glen Campbell

Today we received the sad news that Glen Campbell passed away at age 81 from complications of Alzheimer's Disease.  He certainly left us some musical legacy.  Above he is singing Dylan's If Not For You which I first heard on Dylan Country, a compilation of Dylan covers by country stars.  RIP Glen, and thanks for all the good music.

My First Visit to the Cooper Hewitt Museum - The Radio Exhibit

I have been to many museums in and out of New York, but I never visited the Cooper Hewitt Museum on 5th Avenue and 91st Street.  An exhibit on radios that was mentioned on Facebook attracted me there.  This display was not about radio programming, but about the radio as a device as it has progressed over the years.  Believe I have owned many, many radios in my life.  I still have the GE Superradio and Bose Wave radio that I bought in the 1990s.  At this museum, the patrons were given a code and a wand.  When you see an object you like, you press the wand on a bar code which stores the image.  At home, you can retrieve the images and download them.  Below, are the images of some of the radios I viewed.

The major exhibit was called The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.  It is a multi-media experience of more than 400 examples of interior design, industrial design, decorative art, jewelry, fashion, and architecture, as well as related music and film.

This radio looks like a record player

Remember these little transistor radios

Dodger 6 Mets 0 in a A Really Boring Game

We hadn't been to a Met game in about a month, but maybe we should have stayed away even further after last night's game.  We wanted to go to one Friday night game to get a free shirt.  They were giving Jacob de Grom jerseys as he started the game against Yu Darvish who was recently acquired at the trade deadline from the Texas Rangers.

Chris Taylor, the leadoff batter, hit a home run which essentially ended the game as the Mets could only muster 4 hits.  Yasiel Piug and Chase Utley also homered for the Dodgers.  Utley is still roundly booed by Mets fans who remember his slide into Reuben Tejada in the 2015 Division Series.

Before the game, as I walked on the Shea Bridge I encountered Jay Buckley who was obviously there with his tour group.  We chatted for a few minutes.

Game recap

Forest Hills HS 1967 Class Reunion Sunday October 8th 2 - 4 PM

Yes, there will be a 50^th reunion for the Forest Hills High School Class of 1967.  Here are the details:

Date: Sunday October 8, 2017, 2PM – 4 PM

Location:  Ben’s Deli 209 West 38^th Street, New York, NY – this is a kosher restaurant

The organizers, Bruce Slutsky and Mike Seidman, want this to be simple and without frills.  It is not necessary to pay in advance. The cost will be $17.00 which includes, a choice of sandwich, fries, and a soft drink. You will just pay your waiter at the end of the event.  There will be a fixed price so there will be no bickering about splitting the check.  I have worked with this restaurant before and have been quite pleased with the food and the service.  This Ben’s Deli (http://www.bensdeli.net) is not affiliated with the Ben’s Best on Queens Blvd. in Rego Park.  People are certainly welcome to go to a bar or other place after 4 PM.  We are publicizing through the Facebook Group, Forest Hills Alumni, 1960-75, but ask that only 1967 graduates attend as the space in this restaurant is limited.  Please extend the invitation to 1967 graduates who are not on Facebook. We are asking someone to publicize this on Classmates.  Please respond either on the Facebook page for this event or through a private e-mail so we can get a count for the restaurant.  We have no idea how many people will come.

For further information or to register you may contact:

Bruce Slutsky (bruces8852@aol.com) or

Mike Seidman (Ms808386@gmail.com)

A splendid time is guaranteed for all

Will Play the Jeopardy Card Game for the Next 6 Weeks

As I mentioned a few days ago Jeopardy is on hiatus for 6 weeks as they are airing reruns of tournaments played during the last season.  I found out that there was a Jeopardy card game that was available from Amazon.com.  I just had to buy it to fill in the craving for my favorite game show for the next 6 weeks.  There used to be an online Jeopardy game on Facebook, but it was taken away a few years ago.

The MLB Trading Deadline Has Passed

Let's talk about the Mets first.  Lucas Duda was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays, but top prospect Dominic Smith has not yet been recalled.  However, shortstop Amed Rosario will make his major league debut against the Colorado Rockies tonight.  Asrubel Cabrera was not traded at the deadline so there will be a crowded infield situation for the time being. Reliever Addison Reed was traded to the Red Sox, while A.J. Ramos was acquired from the Marlins.  Will Jeurys Familia be back by the end of the season?  Neither Curtis Granderson or Jay Bruce were traded.  I am guessing the high salary demands of both made them undesirable to other teams.  I hope the Mets will re-sign Jay Bruce, but I think Granderson's best days are behind them.  It is obvious that the Mets gave up on this season.

The Yankees acquired starting pitchers Sonny Gray and Jaime Garcia is trades involving minor leaguers.  In recent years starting pitching has been their weakness, so these moves help to solve a deficiency.  They also improved their bullpen by adding David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle.  It will be a tight race in the AL East between the Yankees and Red Sox.