Nine/Eleven/Two Thousand One

In the past century...1921-2021...there have been significant blows to our country...that were so shocking and life changing...some I witnessed via the tele...some were from the history reels and books...and yet all had an extreme impact...almost the type that one could never imagine it would really happen...not sure if I should start with the most recent, or go back a 100 years from now...of course, there are debatable points in all of what I will list...some that probably should be added...

Actually kind of ended in 1921...the Spanish Influenza...reportedly KILLED somewhere between 20 to 40 million people...ie, in France, too...amazing photos of masses wearing masks have surfaced...we were not the beginners of this...

The stock market crashes in 1929...which led to the Great Depression...and the country starved itself to death...

Hitler comes to power in 1933 in Germany...the whole World was at its edge of terror...

Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...12/7/41...and we were back at war...my mom told us what the west coast was like during those times...

We dropped atomic bombs on Japan to end the war...nobody had an inkling to how powerful that could be...and the race was on for other nations to develop the bombs, too...

JFK was assassinated...1963...the US stopped in it's tracks...TV became the ultimate news source...as I have told you before, when we visited Dealey Plaza it was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had...such an eye opener...

More assassinations...MLK and RFK...my college days and totally devastating...

Vietnam war...such a worthless loss of lives...'Domino Theory'...the ploy of politicians...

and then things seemed like almost normal...until...

Nine/Eleven/Two Thousand One...the attack on the United States by AlQuida...the Twin Towers in NYC, gone...the Pentagon, hit...and the other, where the passengers fought the killers...and the plane hit the earth...

Today we memorialize the date...to honor all those who lost their lives in the horrific killings of the day...

Like the others, we shall never forget...there is this song that will grab you...by Alan Jackson...'Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)...

I wish this was the last...but now, the Covid 19 has hit us...654,598 deaths...think about that for a moment...this number is just us, kids...the deaths in the USA...thus far...

Get inoculated!...

Stay in Your Lane

Dang it all, if I didn't get this again...Stay in Your Lane...not sure what my lane is...but, when I figure it out, I will NOT stay there, that's for sure...must have been from a radical, out of control, conservative...who must show his or her rebellious side...not get inoculated for the Covid 19 virus...fuggit about wearing a mask...shouting that 'no one can make me do anything!'...determine that abortion is NOT the woman's choice, but his...or her, as the case may be...and has already got his or her, ticket to the DC extravaganza set for September the 18th...wear your cap, dude...or dudette...

How about that NFL opener!...the Bucs beat the Cowboys at the buzzer again...1:24 is just enough time for Tom Terrific to do his magic...listen, I thought it was a great game...the one thing I got the most out of it...that Dallas is going to be a force this season...how old is Brady anyway?...Snooki's age?...man, he is really something...a marvel...

Want to do some clarification...who knew what the Cowboys would be like...as the pre-season games mean ZERO!...Zach Prescott was right on...which begs the question, why 3?...go with one and get on with it...

Back in action in LA...the mighty Padres have yet another crucial series...hey, they all are from here on out...this time visiting the Bums at Chavez Ravine...you ever been there?...it truly is a marvelous ball yard, with every seat a goodun...

Sounds like I am staying in my lane...

Prez B has set his foot down on the anti-vaccers (vaxers?)...requiring more and more people to get the vaccines...'he has lost his patience with them'...this has been covered by most of my 23 sources...FOX might have been negligent on it...ha ha...

The date 9/11...which comes around again tomorrow...nobody I know will ever forget...we were in Sunriver...just awakened...saw the horrific things happening...called our son at college...to be safe...stunned...and watched the bizarre and unimaginable things unfold...on the tele...we were to go to Maui in the next week for our anniversary...canceled that, to stay off airplanes...and also...were we at war?...what just happened and by whom?...

Not totally sure how this happened...I must have ordered the 'Wine Spectator' magazine...don't recall doing it... arrived yesterday... is a nice addition to any reading I have...some really nice wines to be looking for...at least, according to their experts...I tried to commingle their list with what is at BevMo and got nuttin...maybe at Von's?...

Kentucky, laced with monster Covid cases in the past month...has rescinded their mask mandate rule...their Republican based Legislature has spoken...what kind of world are we living in?...

At 6:30 am...the city crew here in San Diego...started up their insidious machines to work on the road beneath our windows...6:30!...gosh, if they are making more bicycle lanes, I am gonna scream...we have so many of them, and two bicyclists...

Snooki, I trust has recovered from his birthday bash...sends us this R&B tune for us...'No Wories' (Remix) by Noel Gourdin...hmmm, spelled wories like that on purpose?...that's the way Ye would want it...man, is it just me, or is the super senior sitizen (sic) from Salem going Bosch on us?...

TSA will double the fines of anyone refusing to wear a mask on the airplanes...what is the original fine?...

3,000 Americans have died in the last 2 days from Covid RIGHT NOW...30,000 Americans died in August from Covid...are you HEARING ME people?...get inoculated...!!!...

The latest country awards noms are up...and forgive me for this...what a piece...the best gal singers did NOT include Carrie..lord...yea, right...

I may have found my lane...

Shaweet Sound of the Whistle

The NFL kicks off tonight, kids...with America's Team (them Cowboys) visiting the Tampa Bay Bucs...so fitting...the two states that apparently don't have much fear in the Covid 19...perhaps, have a bon fire prior...you know, mask burning...to show their own solidarity...throw intense, closely packed parties...and embrace their very own right to whatever moment...what's the problem?...it's pro football!...'we here, all live our lives the way we want to'...I do see there is another storm heading the panhandle way...'Mindi'...no problem, there are ways around this, too...and right...we together as one (Texas and Florida) unite to say that there is indeed no global warming...

Sarcasm is another way of life...

The Kabul airport is back open today...and about 200 more people are to be allowed to fly out of Afghanistan...amongst them, are some more Americans...we must have had quite the deal with the Taliban...

Another book to be released...about the Trump regime...this one could be a doozy...a top aide to both Melania and donny...Oct 5...word out on the streets...ha ha...from the board rooms...is that it rips apart the tandem...you KNOW stuff will be released early as a tease...

While my normal band of marauders were absent...like on a vacay...out at the golf course...this is...our group was affectionately named the 'outcasts'...I got invited to play in another group headed by Big Jim Thurmond...terrific guy and we had a great time trying to play golf...I thank him for the asking...

Now that I am dropping names...we went to Salvatore's last eve for din din...a block away and they do have a very interesting happy hour...we shall return...they are just starting up a brunch, that I think we shall try...on the weekend...

The mighty Padres scored a huge inning, and plated like 8...and rode that all the way to the finish line...and got the W...over the Angels...a day off, then...the series of series...as we travel up to LA to take on them Bums...show and tell...

So Derek Jeter got voted into the MLB Hall of Fame...some think he shouldn't have been...you know my feelings on this...it should not be writers, but former players and managers...who does the deciding...ya think a writer from LA knows what the NY Yankee player does on a regular basis?...and vice versa...

Snooki...sings out loud and clear his song of the day...'Birthday' by the Beatles...nice choice dude...as oddly enough, it is YOUR birthday, TOO...'you say it's your birthday, well, it's my birthday, too'...anyhoo...HBD, and now that you have yet again caught up to me...wait, is that past me?...I get confused on numbers...

Down here in Cali...we have this semi-emotional recall going on for the Guv...kind of messy, as some of the candidates of the other side are quite the group...odd, is the nicest way of putting them....anyhow, the game shall be up on Sept 20, I believe...pondering this...why couldn't the entire states have done that to trump when he first won?...to quote the song by Fleetwood Mac, it would have been a 'Landslide'...

When you, or I, cancel a trip...the process differs from company to company...some will refund your cash, some will try to take a bit out for the legwork, and some will put it into a fund that you can use again...within a certain period of time...ah ha...shenanigans...the latter is what Southwest Airlines does...thus, we have til June of next year to fly their airlines...with the stash we have 'saved'...or we lose it...

This is 9/9...so, bet the 9 in the 9th race...

Back to School?

Without a doubt, the toughest query for a parent right now...should I send my child back to school?...OK, might depend on where you live...and what the precautions are...right?...is the staff inoculated?...perhaps, the biggest concern...how safe is it?...I hear of the kids going on to college...a mere year ago, they were all online only...not anymore...man, I guess we are down to praying that all is OK...listen, I have no answers other than everyone should get the Covid 19 vaccine...tbat's my only one...got no other...

After reading my 23 sources this am...the thing I should probably do, is crawl back into bed...and never go out...OK, that depends on where you live, also...the path of some of these storms are downright scary to be at home, too...new viruses...people not getting vaccinated...masks, no masks...is it all just fruitless?...

Of course, I am precautionary...for the most part...vaccinated and cautious...we even have canceled our Vegas trip for next month...just to be safe...will wait for a better time...might just be any traveling we do, will be via Cosmo...we kinda can control that environment...

Good news!...Snooki is back!...sent out a groovy tune for us to find and boogie down to....by Earth Wind and Fire...'September'...thx, dude...hey, he is the ultimate Duck fan...follows the Quack attack like no other...well, there are others just like him...but no stronger...and the line for UO at Ohio St is +14...egads, it has grown...'they' say cuz the Ducks didn't maul Fresno St...the Buckeyes didn't exactly rip apart Minnesota either....2 things...if the Duck D can harass the QB, and, UO can run the FB...it may just be a Donnybrook...however, those are TWO big ifs...

Are you in a FF league this season?...yea, me neither...

We are in the very weird weather pattern for us now...it is our humid season...not going to lie to ya, or is that ye, we live in a very cool place...we have a pool to bask in...canoodle almost any time we want...bike whenever...hit the beach...and during this time of year, resembles Maui a whole lot...light winds...don't hate us...not too hot and not too cold...so why then do I often query about a move?...must be my Native blood...er, indigenous...whatever...

The New DWTS 'stars' were just announced...as per usual, I know very few of them...so much for being actual 'stars'...well, at least to moi...The Miz (?) and hoopster Iman Shumpert...the BXB guys are usually not good...oh well, Cheryl is back and we have that...looking at this list, who are these people?...

China is banning private tutors for giving online courses...ah, what?...what do they do, if they catch someone?...what does banning entail?...

My crypto stash has been taking a dive worse than any heavyweight boxer has ever done...$400>$300...

I crawled into bed last eve...and the Boss Lady was still watching the tele...she had on this most disgusting show of 'all time'...Housewives (former or never ever) of NYC...horrific human beings...acting out...cuz that's why they get paid, I imagine...I kept thinking, who could be with these gals?...hey, more importantly, why is she watching this crap?...

Richmond, Virginia...the statue of Gen Robert E Lee is to taken down there...a 'symbol' of slavery to those who deem it to be removed...I'm on the fence about this...can see both sides...

I recall back when...a student died during her high school years...there was a movement to plant a tree in her honor, on the school grounds...and it was rejected...as the comment was, 'if we did this for every student who died, we would have a graveyard type of thing'...words to that effect...what say you?...

And so it goes, this fine day...September 8, 2021...

First Impressions

This is kind of the touchy feely type of thing I have...my deep side...ah ha, this you did not know...the Horse does do a LOT of thinking...one of my many faults...analyzing too much...I reckon...and I try NOT to do much on the FIRST IMPRESSIONS I get on another human being...well, the obvious, wearing a MAGA cap has it's own way...I listen to what they have to say...the talk they have...if too much about themselves, it is a dead NO in my book...hey, I have no book...

I have this thing...those of you who know me well...it is a small circle of friends...like it that way...have been told to open up more often....ah, kind of do, with the Horse blog...thinking about that, it would appear to contradict the way I look at people, huh...listen to me babble on...but, it is different I say... in like the real world of direct communication with live people...

Example thereof...the Cocoon party. that was not like that at all...more of a meet and greet of peops that are newbies (to us) in the home...no noodling and canoodling in the pool...people of our age, do not take too much pride in showing skin in a 'kini or thong...well, not normally...I praised whom I thought was part of the organization, and was told bluntly, that the person in question was not part of it..."I'm on the board"...whoop de doo...I tried, I really did...but, was I asked anything ?...naw...strike one...

On the other hand, some really happy peops that were easy to talk to...that I queried...and get this...asked what I did!...to be sure, most of the people that I have met in the home...are not like this...could be my harsh exterior...or my first impression is lacking...ha ha...now the Boss Lady?...quite the opposite...she is lovely and bubbly...hey, wait a minute, this is all about moi...

Not sure what I really covered in the last 4 mini-paragraphs...but you do get me drift...FIRST IMPRESSIONS are one thing...the stuff behind the smile or whatever, is often quite different...

Other, much more meaningful(?)  thangs...

I just had to add this...it was too good to bypass...Caitlyn Jenner...yes her...running for Guv of Cali, if the present one is kicked out...said she is PRO-CHOICE and also, supports the Abortion ban in Texas...I kid you not...

Social media is a dangerous world...useful at times and yet, can be very devastating...case in point, the anti-Hosmer things that would make him not want to ever get on a baseball field ever again, if he read them...or the things people have sent out to the top lady tennis player...who said she has received countless death threats...cuz, she lost...due to bets on her?...I dunno...

My buddy who was the HC at a high school...would arrive at school on a Monday and have over 100 emails...not one had to do with any of the classes he taught...all had to do with the game he coached...parents complaining...he got used to the ploy and just deleted them before reading...

How did you take the comment of HC Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame football team?...the 'execution' joke, he said he said...?...bother you at all?...imagine the number of emails he got...

OK now, I think it is grand that there is playoff in golf...makes for a fantastic finish...but the winner gets $15 million?...what company has that type of dough to give away?...sorry, kids...but the price that most all pro athletes make is exorbitant...agree or disagree?...

Another storm about to hit the other coast...further up north...this warm water situation is extreme...not exactly sure what to do about it, now...is there anything?...

It has been said, that the Social Security might be kaput by the mid 30's...what are we doing wrong on this?...hopefully, not pulling money from it...as we ALL have paid into it, to help OURSELVES survive in our senior years...right?...

We kept the AC on all night...it was the best sleep I've had in a week...a correlation?...duh...

I have a confession to make...hear me out...before jousting moi...ha ha, that should have been 'judging ' ...autocorrect can be very funny...I am a glasses whore...wait, hoarder...ah, junkie...every few years I get newbies...I admit it...I do have a flaw...Boss Lady said that I had to cut back the number of drawers (3) that I have them stored in...the condo is but 1300 sq ft...I did so...and have narrowed down the ones that I like the best to...drum roll please...10...and about as many shades...I really should get rid of the rest, but then...she would win...and we don't want that...

This is another Horse truth...been asked that Snooki start back up and give some funky music to hear...that it inspires them everyday...I have asked him, but he has been so busy doing...wait, what does he do?...he is a super senior, so retired, that he sits in his living room, watching the replays of the Duck game over and over and over...I think his birthday is soon, thus, he will be a full year ahead of me again...c'mon dude, bring on some tunes...

It's 7 am...and across the way, there is a couple already in the hot tub...have they no shame?...eewww....

Will YOU accept my FIRST IMPRESSION ROSE?

Execution?

In the aftermath of the thoroughly enjoyable FB game that Notre Dame won in OT over Florida St...the interview of the ornery HC of the Irish, Brian Kelly, went to the bizarre state....in a hurry...asked about his team's execution...he responded with..."I'm in favor of execution.  Maybe our entire team needs to be executed after tonight..."...this will hit the airwaves more so than the rest of his statement...to be fair, he was trying to be funny...referring to a comment that was born by a '75 HC of the Tampa Bay Bucs, John McKay...who WAS funny...

Kelly is a fine coach, I reckon...at least he recruits well...and has went thru anger management for sure...he used to crucify his QB on Natty...not any more...his sideline is much more calm...he must be on meds, is what I am thinking...anyhow, I give him a pass on this latest statement...one more chance, dude...

I find the game of football near bizarre...these beefy humans beat up each other for 4 quarters, and then if tied...trot out this bloke who doesn't ever get hit...with a crisp new jersey on...with a helmet, too...and he kicks the winner or loser, points of the game...imagine in hoops, go to OT, and bring out a guy who hasn't played at all....and if he makes a FT you win...I have a plan...

That the kicker must be from your starting 22 players...must play at least one quarter...imagine the recruiting...asking a wide out, can you kick, too?...more...that no OT game can be won by a kick...TD's only...OR, if tied, that is the way it shall be...a tie...no kick...in essence, the battle that has been going on, on the field...shall be decided on the field...not by a 130 lb non-player...

The PGA final was won by Patty Ice...Patrick Cantlay...who is on his game big time...methodical brilliance...with a putter that can only be matched by the one and only, Tiger...he won $15 million?...doesn't seem right...too much dough...

The mighty Padres won on a walk off HR by Cronenworth...who had been in a deep slump for a couple of weeks...the Crone Zone had been shut down...somehow, we are 1/2 game UP on the final wild card spot...a long way to go, kids...

Labor Day...ah, in me working days...I would go out to the Fair and bet the ponies...knowing that the next day, there would not be a break until Thanksgiving...I'd have me a scone or two...and get on home, and iron my tie...pretty much the only time I would wear one was opening day...unless I was still coaching, when I would wear 'em at me games...other than that, nope...do I miss this?...yes I do...

Solheim Cup...close going into the finals...singles matches...the Euros lead 9-7...it will take some terrific play by the Americans to win this...the players from over the Pond are tough...and favored...

And finally...here at the home...there is to be a party of sorts in the lines of the famous flick 'Cocoon'...bring your fav potluck dish, and your noodles...we are bobbing and weaving in the pool, from 12-3...hope they turn the heat up a tad...and yes...the spaceship will start boarding promptly at 4...

See ya...

A Little Bewildered

Man oh man, I have mixed emotions today...as we watched countless sporting events yesterday...fun matches that were highly entertaining...all the while, huge crowds present...mostly all were maskless...and for sure, throwing caution to the wind...have we just given up?...or, are we all inoculated?...or?...seriously, the most surprising of all, was the distance thing used at the UO game...nobody else did that...

We are on the wait and see mode...where this takes us physically...with that, I say, we shall wait...but for now...I will give you my take on the games that I saw...and I watched a bundle of them...from my living room...albeit, it started rocky...as when I turned on the tele, everything was real dark...tried so many things to adjust...frustrating...shamelessly, switched to the bedroom to watch from there...and VOILA, something went off in me head...unplug the set and wait a minute and replug...duh...happens to computers...and yes, to this TV...so duh...

FresnO St at UO...fuggit about the 20 1/2 point fav...it took to the latter part of the 4th Q to get the Duck win....the Bulldogs were as good as the Ducks...their O was more versatile...and we had two of our better D guys go out early....it is a win...

OSU at Purdue...the line was that there was to be a lot of points scored....hmmm...2 evenly matched teams, where the home team prevailed...the Beavs have some quality players...not enough of them...but, they will win their share of games this season...

Clemson at Georgia...10-3...as the Dawgs won...two really good defenses, with NFL caliber blokes all over the field...found myself rooting against the Tigers...

LSU at UCLA...Chip is back...he's got his type of players now...they are fast...and are a real force in the Pac 12 to be...played at the Rose Bowl, and man, it looked packed...yes, the Bruins won...so far, all these home teams won...hmmm.

Some interesting scores of teams that I did not watch...Montana over Washington (!)...SDSU over New Mexico  (all the Aztecs scores in the 2nd half)...KSU over Stanford...Nevada beat Cal...BYU over Arizona....Utah St over WSU...not a good day for the Pac 12...

In the PGA, Patty Ice and JR, are joined by JT in the race for the crown of the Fed Ex...bad news for the Ryder Cup team, as Brooks hurt his left wrist and withdrew...enough of the monikers...Cantley, Rahm, and Thomas...

LPGA...Solheim Cup...the Euros are better than the team we have....our stars are too old to make the team, I guess...will not be close...

The mighty Padres had a big one over the Astros...3 monster homers by Manny, Wil, and Jr...decent pitching...in a 10-2 win...kind of what I thought this Friar squad would look like more often...

On the other hand...

Here's my concern...in a few weeks, there very well could be a rash of people sick with Covid...at the colleges...and around them...due to these monster crowds at the games...I do want to be wrong...fingers crossed...

And this...one of the things I do...read the old hometown periodical from Salem, Oregon...the Statesman Journal online...no longer produced in the capital city, but in Portland...shame...and the obits...I am at the age, that more and more of my school mates, and friends have been passing on...

I read about this one...Michael Jay Carter, 74...my age...wondered if it was the one I knew...played beisbol with...asked around and those in the know, say it was him...thus far, no info in the obituary...but, I do have a story about him I will share...mostly, it's about me...I may have told you this before...the preface...

It was the last game of the season...I was in CF, Michael was in LF...to be fair, I did not know that I needed glasses...and thought that seeing the baseball was one of the hardest things in the world to do...when a ball was hit, I would panic...the 2b and SS would point it out to moi, and then I could find it...imagine...well, the stud from the other team was up...John Rich...funny, I would recall that...somebody yelled it out to me....be aware, be very aware...and then BOOM!...I heard the crack of the bat...our players turned my direction and started to point...I had no idea where the ball was...Michael, not the fleetest of all players, came a running towards me...this is no lie, I probably moved two spaces...and suddenly he dove at my feet and caught the ball!...I helped him up, like a good teammate would do...jogged into the dugout, trying to hide behind him...as the fellow teammates glad handed him...game saver...unfortunately for moi, Coach Boatman, called me over...'you know Pete, I think that was your ball'...yes sir...

RIP  Michael Jay...

Of course the story does not end there...this is all about me...Coach continued a bit later on...as he gave me a ride to my home..."you know Pete, you are a good basketball player, a great player...but baseball?...not really your game"...it was the last time I ever played baseball...

A year later I got tested and got...glasses...