Sunday night I watched Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don’t Come Back!!) and its follow-up animated special, What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown. Given the subject matter and the time (Veterans Day weekend), it seemed appropriate. In the movie and the special, Charlie Brown and three of his friends (Linus, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie) travelContinue reading “Does Charlie Brown Have a Secret Cousin?”
Scenes from the Nationals World Series Parade
Washington DC shut down yesterday for the Washington Nationals’ World Series parade down Constitution Avenue. One month ago I was in the hospital, in the Intensive care ward. I thought there was a real chance I was going to be mostly blind for the rest of my life. Yesterday, I was at the a WorldContinue reading “Scenes from the Nationals World Series Parade”
A Gatsby Party
Since it’s a rainy, gross morning in Pennsylvania, I’ve spent the morning going through photographs on my phone, culling them. And that brings me to this photo. This is a painting that hung in my room in the intensive care ward at St. Joseph’s earlier this month. It’s an autumn painting, a blanket of leavesContinue reading “A Gatsby Party”
Washington’s Other Baseball Team, the Grays
Last night, the Washington Nationals played in the franchise’s first World Series game — and Washington, DC’s first World Series game since 1933. The Nationals lost to the Astros, 4-1, and now have a 2-1 lead in the best of 7 series. In the last few days, Washington media outlets have taken pains to noteContinue reading “Washington’s Other Baseball Team, the Grays”
Finish the Fight
The World Series begins tonight — the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros. On Friday, Game 3, the World Series returns to the nation’s capital for the first time in eighty-six years. Charlie Brown and Sally know what’s up. So does my collection of plush Doctors. And, despite the presence of three Doctors, none ofContinue reading “Finish the Fight”
Saving Minor League Baseball: A Manifesto and a Crusade
Last week Baseball America broke the news that MLB is proposing a radical reconfiguration of the minor leagues, eliminating the lower levels of the minors (Short Season and down), replacing them with a quasi-independent league for undrafted players or encouraging contracted teams to reform as college summer wooden bat teams, and realigning the leagues, classifications (ie,Continue reading “Saving Minor League Baseball: A Manifesto and a Crusade”
After the Storm
We had some powerful rain and wind, which put a crimp in my need to go to the grocery store; I didn’t want to go out in the rain. After the rain, however, there were fantastic clouds. I settled on making chili for dinner. Seemed appropriate.
The New Optical Adventure
My optic nerves are angy! Stan Lee would have written this line unironically, circa 1965, in an issue of The Incredible Hulk or Avengers with a cover burst that screamed, “Tremble before the rage of the monster’s eyes!” It also happens to describe what’s happening inside my own eyes. I spent almost a week inContinue reading “The New Optical Adventure”
Out and About on a Dreary Sunday
I went to church this morning. Not from any religious conviction, but because I spent the last week in the hospital (that story to come) and my sister said to me yesterday that, after a week of being surrounded by doctors and nurses, I must be lonely at home by myself. And where can oneContinue reading “Out and About on a Dreary Sunday”
Building the LEGO National Cathedral
Earlier this year, the Washington National Cathedral announced plans to build a replica of the cathedral in LEGO in order to raise funds for the repair of the cathedral due to damage from the 2011 earthquake. I bought some bricks online early on, which went into construction of the Bethlehem Chapel, but I wanted toContinue reading “Building the LEGO National Cathedral”