If Wishes were Bagels

It's a groggy Monday for me. I got up at 5:00 a.m. and could never properly get back to sleep. At that hour, I looked over at my dog and she was dreaming of something, that I believe involved running. Her paws were moving back and forth and there were murmurs. I get dreams like that as well but dreamland ended too soon this fine morning.

It's been a string of fine mornings, if you enjoy warm weather. The fog seems to be playing hide and seek with everybody but mostly hiding. We are in the midst of a mini heat wave. We get these here, they never last very long because you never bet against the fog. The fog always wins. It's the Rocky from the second movie.

We were out Sunday in the warmth that was the marina district, playing softball in the last couple of games of the season. We split a double header and ended up going 10-4 for the season and coming in second place, which is a pretty good place to be for this young team. As one of the 2 older players on the team, I've enjoyed watching this group improve. They've got more to go but they can hit and they pick each other up and are generally positive, even when something flops.

My day went well on the field, even after jamming my hand into second base. I was able to play thru some pain, get my hits. At home it was the ice and ibuprofen cocktail. The right wrist is still smarting with a little swelling. I'm hoping for a quick heal as tournament season begins July 4th weekend. Wish me luck. Yes softball retirement is all the rage.

Monday is the universally understood blech day of the week (If you're working it). It's sunny and 75 degrees out there. The San Francisco fog's hide and seek routine, the last couple of days has inspired residents to sport shorts and tees. The thought of laying on a beach somewhere was an attractive concept. It is days like these, that the memory of being unemployed for a chunk of time, helps kick your body into gear, a gear that's shifted once again after coffee.

It was a nice weekend. I took advantage of cool weather Saturday and watched a movie: Green Lantern. Being a reader of this particular funny book, when I was a kid, I was particularly disappointed that they got the Hal Jordon character DEAD WRONG. All that money, that went into all that CGI and it's the main character interpretation, essentially words on the page, that sunk this movie. It's yet another movie, that does not need to be seen in 3-D; what I like to call 3-Don't these days. Please make my movies in wonderful 2-D with an A plus story and script. Jordan was never meant to be a big wuss. When the writer or director or both, made that choice...they decided to make a few things lighter, possibly exploring, what's funny to them about this story. Bad choice folks. "I pledge allegiance to a Lantern that I got from a dieing purple alien," Ryan Reynolds says, when checking out his new toys...ugh.

While the film was 3-D, all the other characters were 1-D as in one dimensional. Some potentially good characters in the Green Lantern corps such as Sinestro were minor parts. Angela Bassett is in a walk-on part as Amanda Waller. She is in 2 or 3 scenes and the only thing the audience knows is that she works for the government, while comic-book folks knows that Waller is an administrator for the Suicide Squad.
There is some good CGI work in Green Lantern but will you not remember any of it 10 minutes after you've left the theater? I think not. In retrospect, what the makers of the Thor movie did right was stay true to the main character and use aspects of the character (arrogance) to fuel part of the story. Here the story wasn't great but you're with him early on and the few comedic moments that happen feel natural. You want to show me fireworks? Fine but give me something with it; a side order of story and character, please.

Sunday's warmer weather played well for our last regular softball game of the year. We had a 10:15 a.m. match against the Penguins. We got up early for a light hitting practice. in fact, my alarm got me up at 6 a.m., I cursed the gods of softball but later apologized, after all there was a game to win. Admittedly, I always like to beat the Penguins, they are our old rivals from the rec division, plus I remember more than a few nasty rating meetings, when I would go toe to toe with their manager; a self-professed bitch queen from hell. He actually announces that at the first meeting...so there are no misconceptions. However, I figure most of their players don't know the history. It's been so many years. Who really cares? I know there manager cares. My team knows I care; when I say silly stuff like: I want you to keep scoring runs, like every inning. I want Penguin meat, it tastes great with salt. My guys had a real good game to the tune of 21-3.

The North Beach festival was happening right outside my doorstep Saturday and Sunday. Really, what is it about the smell of anything frying that makes me stop and take notice? I snacked on occasion, on one particular time, I bought one of those gigantic turkey legs, it was a real Fred Flinstone moment. The fair could definitely use more seating for folks eating and drinking. I would buy stuff and go right back up to my apartment because the sidewalks didn't look comfortable. The fair was busy not unlike myself all-weekend, catching up with buddies, seeing bad CGI movies and softballing. And now it's back to the work week at my fortress of solitude.

It's great being back on a semi-regular gym routine, especially with my crazy new sleeping / awake hours. My theory continues to be, work out (especially cardio), vitamins, and get enough sleep to make a difference and my body will still be alright during the wee hours of the morning, when I am awake. Stay tuned.

It's weird being a creature of the night in a city that does shut down to a great extent by 2 a.m.. And the few cast of characters that are out and about do not necessarily give one the warm fuzzies. San Francisco has a few 24 hour diners / eateries and of course the 24 hour fitness places. It's ironic that I call my work, the Fortress of Solitude but there is actually some life in there because it is a 24 business, the real solitude is outside, when I've got some time off. This is weird for me to admit because I do enjoy being alone (to some degree) and I've grown used to it. But, it's different when it's not a choice or actually, the only choice. San Francisco is NOT a 24 hour city...really. My friends are in bed, when I go to the gym or have a meal at 3:00 a.m., I am leaving work, when they are going to work, the social situations are limited (to all my friends who are not working, this is not a complaint, it's an observation, I am rooting for all of us).

While, I can come off this nutty schedule on the weekend, I have to be careful about it. I find myself doing a similar schedule so as not to be screwed on my first day back. Maybe, I'll stay up until 7 a.m. and power nap until midday....yadda...yadda..yadda.

I was reminded how tough it is to stay awake, when having a glass of wine and watching a mediocre movie. Last night, I watched Vince Vaughn's Couples Retreat and other than a few funny moments, it was a real yawnfest.

Switching gears, it's weird how the Academy has reverted back to 10 nominations for best film. Are there really more choices? I'm looking at their selections this year and have to wonder. Would Sandra Bullock's The Blind Side be nominated, if they stayed with the top 5?

Growing up in New York City, I've enjoyed marking the differences between San Francisco/ California and the east coast. I've blogged about the Pizzas (or was that whining), the bagels...the Jewish deli...sigh.

My current kick is trying to put 10 days together, without hearing or seeing the word organic. Recently, I got as high as three days without encountering the word in question. It is really difficult to do in California. Even if you've got a few days where nothing is happening and you lock yourself away at home with a book, the "O" word is on TV, radio, and online. See if you can do 10 days without encountering that word. Good luck.

Yesterday, I stopped at the local public library for a replacement card. It is so fast and easy to do these days; they look you up, scan a ready made card, slap a few stickers on it and boom. You get to pick from a bunch of designs. There were six cards to choose from and the one that stuck out for me was a colorful circular design with the word "Read" on it, done by, according to the card, a 4th grader. I happily chose this card. There was a woman behind me that saw my choice. She tapped me on the shoulder, "Card number 6 is made from corn." "Oh, " I said. The librarian hadn't told me, the options would include cards made by other means. I looked at card number 6, with it's bland light green stripe and the word eco-card printed on it and quite frankly, it didn't move me like it should.

I do like corn. I envisioned a scene a couple of weeks later returning to the library and asking for a new card. The librarian staring at me curious can't help but say, "Didn't we already give you a new card?" "Yes, " I would answer, "but I got hungry and ate the card, do you have a card made of meatballs?" A woman would once again tap me from behind to say that card #7 is made from organic meatballs and I would envision happy cows relaxing in the steam room.

I realize that there is a good and a bad time to make a point but sometimes in this foggy little city, it can be a challenge knowing when to throw down the gauntlet and when to keep moving. Does it all come down to principle? Am I unhappy because of the lameness of it?

My current assignment has decided 'cause of the bay bridge closing (Next weekend) that they will move next weeks' Thursday to this Sunday (rather last second). Their regular employees are stunned. Sunday spells OT for me and my fellow contractors, as Friday will make 40 hours. The catch is, no one wants to pay us that overtime, not the agency or the outfit. I'm thinking the Department of Labor would have an interesting comment on that (especially since the outfit works for the federal government).

I called the agency yesterday to get the scoop. I was told that the OT was a negative so we are not to work it. My manager on site has told us that Sunday is mandatory.

Don't get me wrong. I'm thankful to be busy...VERY THANKFUL but getting screwed is getting screwed. We sat through a meeting where the manager spoke about the extra money the regular employees would get. The contractors looked at each other like: WTF? We're being put in a strange position but there is some solidarity as none of us have the heart to come in Sunday. The agency will get a few more calls today, including my call...I'm going to continue stressing communication. Otherwise, yes the gauntlet is down.

To Jack...qbear

For awhile there my friend Mike in London went on a scanning frenzy of old pictures. The purpose was apparently, to upload them to Facebook and tag everyone, who might remember the picture or event or even to comment on someones outfit. Well, Mike got me good on the below shot. I guess, it's only, your very sweet friends that make you feel old and nostalgic; all at the same time. Geez, I was in my late twenties (yeah, I pretty much had facial hair when I turned 17), it was New Year's Eve and we were on a boat, going around Manhattan.

With an early close from my gig on Thursday, I accepted an offer from a friend to hit the beach. It's really hard to say no, when the temperatures in and out of town were warmer then usual.

Mike was loving his new car and driving it, every chance he got and I was certainly benefiting from it.

We spread a blanked out, stripped and sun bathed. It was great. I got so comfortable, I almost fell asleep. The sound of the water splashing on the beach was soothing. Some would think you can get lost in thoughts here but for me it all shuts down and this is a very good thing.

Tanned and back in the city, the fog roles in and I am comfortably at home, in my small North Beach digs, that's when I let my mind wander. Lately, it's been flying me back to early November and New York City.

Sunny skies were all over San Francisco this weekend and so were the Sisters or Perpetual Indulgence. It was their 30th Anniversary and they flocked in from near and far to celebrate, with a whole line up of events.


Saturday afternoon, I decided to hit the Castro for some java time. It was around 12:30 in the afternoon and the sisters were laying flat on the street in the intersection on 18th and Castro, stopping traffic for about 15 minutes. This was a planned stoppage, worked out with the police, so when the police did show up, they were taking pictures with their cell-phones. They were protesting the Pope's evil ways. Everyone seemed happy about it, with the exception of the two bus drivers being held up. They had sour looks on their face. You know, sometimes, you can't make everybody happy.

On Easter Sunday, it was the church of Softball. The sisters would be at Delores Park for the Hunky Jesus contest. Unfortunately their Dolores Park festivities are something I miss every year because of Softball games, that are scheduled.

We played a very good hitting veteran team. We new we had our work cut out for us. It would be an uphill battle. They scored eight runs early, another eight, the inning after, we chalked up a couple of doughnut holes in our frames and it was looking bleak. When they were up, about 17 runs, the news came back to me, that they were rubbing it in. When another couple of my guys confirmed this, I addressed it, in-house, "listen, that's going to happen with some teams, with some teams, it's part of their game, they want to get you out of your game or they want to rub it in. Answer it, at bat and on the field. Don't verbalize to them about it because frankly, win or lose, I want to be the classiest team on the field."

No, this was not one of those victory sparking speeches. My guys did make it a game, scoring 15 runs in two innings. The C-MEN were as close as 2 runs away. We were not able to contain their offense late in the game and that was the game. A player mentioned the "rubbing it in" thing again. I listened. Ultimately, it's really about how we play, poor sportsmanship is going to happen but he needed to vent so I understand. Sometimes, you can't make everybody happy. And really, there are other ways to express your displeasure with a team, we don't actually have to go to their fundraiser.

We had a fun team brunch at the Firewood in the Castro. We laughed, rehashed the games a bit and brought up some future team trips. Minneapolis? Russian River? This is without a doubt, the nicest bunch of players we've had on this ballclub, the new additions to the squad have blended right in; like they were always there.

Happy Easter all!