A date that will live in Infamy..

No not that date, but July 31, 2004. I still remember driving with my sister on 128 past the Burlington Mall. Trade deadline in Baseball, thank god, no one we liked was traded. Oops MLB on XM radio announces Nomar Garciaparra is involved in a four-team deal and heading to the Chicago Cubs. WHAT???!!!! I turn to my sister and both of us in voices that we believe may have deafened dogs miles around yelled "They traded NOMAR????. I still cannot express the emotions that went through me that day. I was taught to love and cherish (and hate, yes hate them when they sucked) the Sox by my oldest brother since before I can remember pretty much anything else. My favorite player before Nomar was #24 Dwight Evans, and I was still bitter that his career didn't end here but in Baltimore. Now one year after Grady "Freakin" Little blew our chances to head to the World Series they were trading away what was one of the best players in baseball before injuries to his wrist, and what was pretty much the only attraction (along with Pedro Martinez) during the lean years of Sox teams?

Sure, some of you will say "Well the Sox won the Series that year without him, so what?" Sure, some will say "He got what he deserved being a cry baby with the media." Others will sight steroids as the cause of his downfall and injuries. He won't make it to the hall of fame etc. But you know what folks, he never ever treated us fans bad. He WAS the Red Sox and despite everything management did to try and make us fans hate Nomar, the majority of us love him, still do, and LOVED the fact that he retired as a member of the Sox. Did this mean I didn't cheer when the Sox won the Series in '04 and '07 hell no. Does this mean I never found another player to love? No way-hello Kevin Millar-(sigh). But it didn't stop me from missing him and wishing he was there on the field in St. Louis when we won the Series. It didn't stop me from missing him during the '04 ring ceremony that just happened to take place when we played the Yankees next opening day. Nomar will always be one of my favorite Sox players, no matter what anyone says. And that's the biggest lesson I think I learned that year. Statistics-and honestly-wins only count for so much in baseball. As so aptly put in "Damn Yankees"-You gotta have heart.... and Sox fans and Nomar wore their hearts on their sleeves and then some when he came back to Fenway.Thank you Nomar, for everything....

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.................

I'm giddy....really nothing else, just giddy. Oh and screw the long hair haters.

Henry VIII & Vampires....oh my

No no no, trust me, I'm not going to start talking about some new mash up novel like "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" (though that one was funny-but the rest oy-I had to stop when I saw one featuring Mozart and Vamps!). Anyway,on July 28th, 1540, Thomas Cromwell, the First Earl of Essex was executed by Henry VIII. Cromwell rose to power during "The King's Great Matter" a nice way of saying he helped Henry dump his first wife for #2 (if only Anne Boleyn knew what was coming), while collecting more money from the church putting it in the king's coffer,and helping to kick start The English Reformation.

But enough history. I mention Thomas Cromwell because of the date but more importantly because it lets me point out a fantastic actor who brought subtly and humanity to his portrayal of Cromwell-as opposed to the usual "rat w/ no conscience" approach that's usually taken. Now the portrayal was in the god awful Cable show "The Tudors" (I promise to explain my distaste for this show later really)by British actor James Frain. Frain has another tie to Tudor history via film, he played the Spanish ambassador in the watchable but again totally historically inaccurate Elizabeth (plus it had the yucky Fiennes brother in it-Joseph). Frain this year is featured in "True Blood" as the "psycho as all hell" Vamp Franklin Mott. Seeing this actor switch from all restrained Englishman, to "Crazy Ass to nth" power has been a hoot. So thank you James Frain for making history and vamp stories fun to watch!

Check it out if you don't believe me...Really....(note: strong language in clip)

Musical Theater Manna From Heaven....

Oh My God.... Today I just read the following on the TheaterMania website that a new Broadway musical based on the Pedro Almodovar movie Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is scheduled for previews this October. And why should this be of importance? I'll tell you why, its going to star F'ing Patti LuPone & Brian Stokes Mitchell that's who, along with other great folks such as Sherie Rene Scott and Danny Burstein. But I mean, La LuPone AND Stokes in one musical. My good lord I can't take it!

How can I write about Muse one day (well okay not really write, but reference) and Musical Theater the next? Well that's how crazy I am. I mix it all up baby! I'm so giddy with this news, I really can't relate more.

For those unfamiliar with Musical Theater let me just say this is like an Ali & Frazier fight bill! If you do not know the work of Stokes or Ms. LuPone, know that they are by far and above some of the best actor/singers on Broadway. Stokes can make the phone book sound good, and Patti, well she's plain electrifying in everything she does. I could go on about seeing Stokes' last performance in Kiss Me Kate (truly a "raise the hair on the back of you neck" moment) or LuPone's command of the stage in the revival of Cole Porter's Anything Goes but for now, I just want to bask in the wonder of this news, and figure out when I'm going to NYC in the fall.

Here are a few videos to explain my wonder:

Monday Morning Blues

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life

Berthold Auerbach....

Sometimes there's just no help for it. You think a day is going to be great, especially when the weather is lovely, but then it's one of those where you wish you hadn't gotten out of bed. In those instances Music is what gets me through the day. Over the years many artists and many music genres have worked to keep me sane, happy and off the 10 most wanted list. Maybe I'll think about making a list of my favorite music pick me ups through the years, but for today I'm just including a bit of what's currently rockin' (or keeping steady) my world. I'd write more, but Music is a funny thing. It can instantly create a bond between a huge amount of strangers or it can speak specifically to an individual in some way that really can't be described or explained, it just is. Today is a "no words day for me"....so here goes.... More about the music on another day definitely!

Any Given Sunday....

Ah Sunday..the day when one finishes up weekend chores, reads the NY Times and manages to attempt to complete its crossword puzzle, visit the family that's local, or just chill before heading back to work on Monday. But while you may be enjoying these particular pass times do you know what I'm doing? Waiting for football. No folks, not World Cup futbol-sorry despite the best efforts of the vuvuzela I still find soccer almost as boring a sport to watch as golf- I mean the "NFL where's Peyton Manning so I can boo his sorry arse off the field" football. ASIDE NOTE: Okay, Peyton Manning seems like he's a semi decent guy,his commercials are sometimes funny-though there are way too many, but as a Patriot's fan there's a genetic marker in me that makes me hate all thing Manning including Archie, Eli (don't get me started) even the bro who didn't make qb plus those bros do whine a lot. Anyway, I'm sitting here worrying about whether Wes Welker really should start training camp or be put on the reserved PUP list. I'm also concerned over the fact that sports radio guys are making fun of Tom Brady's hair cut. My thought, he's won 3 Super Bowls, you've won none, he can wear his hair anyway he likes. I'm also thinking get a contract signed with Tommy Mr. Kraft. I'm also praying that Laurence Maroney finds a set of you know what and runs his arse off this year. I guess part of it is that I'm not much of a summer person. I'm part of the 10% Italians who burn and not tan. My hair also grows the size of Texas in Humidity. Really, I can give Pam Grier's 1970 fro a run for the money! So while folks currently are enjoying walks on the beach and Ice Cream at Richardson's, I'm waiting to take out my Belichik hoodie, wrap myself in my Patriot's snuggie, and sit down for a good game!

You Ah a Big Fat LiAH...............................

Okay, I have to say it. Whoever said that going to they gym would invigorate you is a big fat LIAH......... I just came back from a 45 personal training session otherwise known as self-inflicted torture with a 20 year old with a 18 inch waist. She's the sweetest thing possible but considering that if I sneezed directly on her she'd probably be blown through the window like Leslie Neilsen was blown through the bridge when the wave hit the Poseidon, I continue to ask myself what the hell am I doing. I know I know, this is what one is suppose to do to live a healthy lifestyle. Yes, yes, I know I should feel better that I can walk longer, faster, without sweating like Don Johnson did in the TV mini series "The Long Hot Summer"...but honestly I just don't. You can wrap it with pretty paper, and tie a nice bow on the whole conversation but when it comes down to it, I hate the fact that I have to workout. I hate that I seem to be genetically blessed with no metabolism whatsoever. My sister and I joke that we'd be kicked off "Survivor" because other players would think that we were hoarding food as they all began losing weight while we somehow miraculously gained weight. We're also convinced that we would be the only ones to gain weight as well climbing Mt. Everest.

So what's the conclusion to my whining? Well, I'm not going to stop going to the gym because I've yet to see an attractive mumu, and that's where I'd be headed if I stopped going. I will continue to rage against my genetic make up that has given me Jason Varitek thighs, giving me the ability (most likely but I never tried) to climb mountains with goats for days. I will continue to quietly curse any and everyone I think is thin through no effort of their own. And I will smile sweetly at all ( but mentally be bashing heads) of those who wax poetic about the beauty and wonder of excercise. I just don't buy it. That said, in the immortal words of my zen Master Bill Belichick "it is what it is", which is why I just signed up for my next 7:45 training session.

And so it begins........

Well folks here we go. Where this blog will take me and you? Who knows? Okay, from that first line you can tell this will not be a blog about poetry since my rhyme schemes are almost as good as those of Charles Hart in "Phantom of the Opera", oops sorry. What this will be is a chatty site about all things that interest me!

You may ask, why should I care? Honestly maybe you won't. But I've got a bunch of likes that range the gamut: Three Stooges, English History, All things Sports (well except Basketball, soccer, golf..okay I like baseball, football & tennis, oh and ice skating of course. As well as music (opera, Muse, The Who, Duran Duran, U2, The Ring Cycle, Broadway Musicals, Josh Groban (I can't believe I just wrote that). Did I mention I like Muse? Did that up my cool factor? Anyway, you get the point, I'm a little scattered, a little eclectic. So in the immortal words of Margo Channing ""Fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy night" Well, hopefully not so bumpy, but fun, I hope you enjoy visiting now and then to see what's up!