Sooo Close!

This evening, Richard and I attended the Sound Tigers playoff game against the Connecticut Whale in Hartford. The Tigers had lost the first 2 games (of 5) in Bridgeport, so this was a do or die game for them. In fact, the Tigers had been shut out in both games.

We arrived at the XL Center early enough to watch the teams warm up. We got $5 seats which turned out to be pretty decent.

I was hoping that the Tigers would win 3-2 like they during the previous 2 games we attended this season. But I got a foreshadowing of the ending when I discovered that my cell phone (& camera) was suffering a dead battery (I hope that was all it was).

The game turned out to be a real nail biter. The Whale scored first and the thought occurred that the Tigers could be swept in 3 games and shut out in all. But it was not to be as the Tigers finally scored a goal. Then they actually took the lead 2-1 but the Whale tied it up. With 15 minutes to go in the 3rd period, the Whale went ahead 3-2, but the Tigers tied it up and regulation time ended with a tie.

So the game went into sudden death overtime (after a regular 20-minute intermission). Now we were really chewing our nails. About 10 minutes into the period, the Whale prevailed and the game and the series was over. Although it was a thrilling game, we went home tired and disappointed that the Tigers had come sooo close but not close enough.

But I take comfort in my Cleveland heritage that there is always next year!

Saturday Meanderings

With the Soh Daiko concert over and a gorgeous sunny, warmishly cool day blessing us, it was hard to just drive (55 miles) back home. Richard had a taste for an Oreo Blizzard at DQ but didn't feel like waiting in line at the Fairfield store and I didn't feel like returning to the one around the corner from my old apartment. So we continued on.

We weren't especially hungry because we had lunch at a Taco Bell on the way to the concert. I had two 'Fresco' soft beef tacos and a Sierra Mist soda. Richard had a Grilled Steak Burrito (or something like that) and a soda. This location was newly remodeled and in good shape. (After lunch we continued on and just made it to the concert on time.)

As we drove, we reminisced about the good times we had visiting Sikorsky Airport in Stratford and watching the blimps. A few years ago, the WWII Corsair fighter plane was removed from the concrete pedestal at the entrance in order to restore it and it's been a few years since the blimps have visited the airport.

Being curious, we meandered over there but the pedestal was empty and no sign of any blimps. However, we did catch a glimpse of the ferry boat heading toward Bridgeport.

As we drove to the other side of the airport, we passed through the Lordship section of town. I was delighted to spot a couple large nests of the green Monk Parakeets. A few years ago, the local utility company was killing them because the birds built huge nests on the poles. Richard and I have fond memories of a movie we saw a few years ago about similar birds: The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. We also recall a humorous incident a few years ago when I saw the green birds in Milford Center. As I gazed up at them I felt a soft warm splosh on my shoulder: a gift from the gods. My favorite orange polo shirt was ruined (although I still have it and wear it despite the stain on the shoulder).

We drove past Marnick's by the seawall and meandered through the backroads of Lordship admiring the expensive houses that look out over the Sound. Since we were in the area, we drove down the deadend road to the Stratford Lighthouse.

Once, when Richard was small, we stopped by the lighthouse and were greeted by the new keepers and invited in for a tour. We got to go up to the top and see the light. But in more recent times, the occupants chase visitors away. Today, the lighthouse was still working.

Continuing our trek, we drove through the nearby Short Beach park. We were disappointed to see that the mini-golf course had been abandoned; however, the skateboard park was still there. Richard thought the playground set looked new.

The other side of the airport is right across the street from Short Beach. We drove over there to check out the old hangers. We used to stop there and look for Morgan Kaolian, a former radio traffic reporter/pilot. He had a couple planes parked there and once we got to check out a biplane he had. I think Richard got to sit in the open cockpit. But today, all we saw was the decaying (historic) hanger that Morgan is trying to save. Apparently he is still in business taking aerial pictures and giving rides.

As we drove along, Richard mentioned that his English teacher is (still) planning to have them read something from Shakespeare before the school year ends. That lead us to drive around the Shakespeare Theater in Stratford. It has been closed for decades and is literally falling down. A couple years ago, Richard and I visited the grounds to view a production of "The Tempest" performed outside. We left after the first act because we couldn't even follow the script. Shakespeare is like a foreign language to me.

While driving away from the Shakespeare Theater, Richard spotted a sign about a carnival. We quickly found the Coleman Brothers carnival at a nearby shopping center. We drove around it looking at the rides, Richard wondering if anyone he used to know was working (and if they would remember him). Richard is a big fan of carnival rides. Lynn used to take him to many of these (including Stewart Amusements). He especially enjoyed watching them set up or take down the rides.

Then we continued on our way and ended up in Milford for ice ice cream.

Ice Cream Harbor

On our way home from the Soh Daiko concert, Richard and I stopped in Milford Center to get some ice cream at a place right by the harbor, Scoopy Doo's. I had a small sugar cone with vanilla frozen yogart. Richard had a "Shiver" ( vanilla soft serve with your choice of candy blended together-Richard picked Oreos).

As we ate our ice cream, we watched a fishing boat arrive at Milford Landing and an orange speed boat get launched from the ramp (see below) and head out to the Long Island Sound.

The weather was beautiful: sunny and warmish with a pleasant breeze.

Soh Daiko

This afternoon, Richard and I drove to Southport for a (free) Music for Youth concert. It was the last of the season. We saw a Japanese taiko ensemble, Soh Daiko. The concert was held across the street from the Southport Pequot Library at Trinity Church. As usual, we sat in the upper balcony by the altar (stage) so we were able to have a bird's eye view. The performance lasted about 50 minutes and included audience participation.
Let me tell you: this wasn't a boring performance and you could not doze off. For a sample of what their performance is like see the clip below (1:28 minute). Note the dance-like graceful movements.

Taiko: the Japanese word for drum. Developing out of ancient agricultural rites and the music of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, the beat of the taiko resounds throughout Japanese culture. Traditionally, taiko was used for ritual entertainments and festivals to summon gods and spirits, drive away evil forces, and give strength and courage to warriors. In the past 50 years, the word taiko has become a contemporary performing art, representing a new tradition of mass drumming that has spread across the globe.

The group has a varied repertoire including traditional compositions from Shinto music tradition,  existing taiko compositions, and original arrangements by its own members. In addition to drums, the group incorporates accessories such as bamboo flutes, brass bells, conch shells, gongs, African shekere, and Tahitian toere (wooden slit drum). Much more than mere percussion, Soh Daiko’s presentation also features the visual element of movement and choreography, requiring physical strength, endurance, and energy that makes taiko such an exciting performance experience.

An afternoon with Sound Tigers

Richard and I spent a nice afternoon on Sunday (April 15th) watching the AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers play their last regular game of the season. They won 3-2 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (who beat them 3-2 the night before in PA). Now it's on to the playoffs.

This was our 2nd game of the season; guess what the score was for the first game we attended?

Although the official attendance was over 4,000 there looked like only half of that. We sat in Section 104 instead of Section 100. It is behind the announcers and penalty boxes (and opposite the visitor's bench).

On the way home from the game, we stopped for an ice cream cone at the Cone Zone in Milford, CT. This was one of our favorite ice cream places when we lived at the shore.

Richard had Oreo ice cream in a regular cone; I had Orange-Pineapple in a sugar cone. Yumm.

MOOYAH

This Saturday (April 14th) Richard and I had lunch at a new burger joint in town (see picture above): MooYah. It sort of reminds me of "5 Guys" or "Jake's Wayback."

One of its novelties is that you get to choose the makeup of your burger (see menu below).

Their burger is actually two patties. Richard had a M-burger with bacon, lettuce, and mayo. I had a T-burger (single patty) with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. We shared an order of small fries (more than enough). With 2 regular drinks, the bill was ~$18. Pretty steep for lunch but this is a step up from fast food and slightly below the premium burger joints (Plan B, Max Burger).

We just beat the lunch crowd and got a decent spot to watch the big screen TVs. Since the place it new, it got crowded quickly. We'll probably go back a few more times, especially since it's closer than 5 Guys, less expensive than Plan B, and tastier than McDonald's (across the street). Want to try the sweet potato fries, veggie burger, and shakes.

A brilliant scholar

We received Richard's studet report card (i.e., progress report) yesterday for the 3rd quarter. We are all very pleased, delighted, and excited because he earned all As!!!

American Government: A, "A pleasure to have in class. Citizenship - Above Average."

Fundamentals of Algebra II: A+, "A pleasure to have in class."

Issue-Centered English: A+

Marine Science with Lab: A

Physical Education: A-

Stagecraft/Technical Theater: A+. "Work quality is excellent. Participates positively."

That is a 4.000 gpa for the quarter; Maximum Honors. Well done, Richard!!

Moved to (the) Asia

The Asia

I have been absent from my blog for the past several weeks because I have been moving. I "finished" my move on Easter from the apartment that/which (I have yet to master how to decide between those two words) was my residence for 11 years. I relocated about 55 miles north to a place that is about a mile from my son, Richard, and my former wife, Lynn.

My new apartment is in a building called "Asia" (see picture above). It is a couple blocks from the town center. I have "downsized" from a 2-bedroom apartment to one bedroom. Because of all the "stuff" that has accumulated over the years, it will be some time before I am actually "finished" with my move. In reality, I never finished moving into my former residence: I had 4 boxes in my bedroom that I never got around to unpacking until the last day (now they are condensed into 2 boxes); plus I had a whole storage unit in the basement filled with boxes of stuff (my "Fabs" collection and other "treasures"). As I was moving this stuff (funny how it gets heavier as one gets older), I remarked that what was once thought of as gold is now really just lead (weight).

During the move, I got rid of a lot of my "stuff" (see George Carlin's monologue about stuff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac ). But I still have a lot to winnow: books, movies, music, work files, job search records. Lynn says she could solve this dilemma very quickly, that it's my choice to drag this out. And she's right (of course!).  But such drastic action confronts the issue of identity: if I dispose of all my stuff, then who am I (because one is a reflection of one's stuff)? This is the gist of one of life's eternal conundrums: who am I? what does my life mean? where am I headed?

Jesus addresses this issue in the well known pericope about the rich [young] man (Mt 19:16-26; Mk 10:17-27; Lk 18:18-27). His answer is similar to Lynn's: "Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor."

Back to my move. I am still employed, still have my same job as a fire and life safety engineer. But now the office is 85 miles away. Obviously, a new job closer to home would be better.

The contact info I emailed on March 12th is (still) valid. If you lost it or can't find it, contact me (ha ha).

A New Beginning

Richard started a new session of roller hockey. He's on a new team, the Warthogs. They have purple and white jerseys. The coach was a coach on Richard's ice hockey team a few years past. The coach's son, Jimmy, also played ice hockey with Richard and was on one of Richard's roller hockey teams a few sessions ago.

Although the Warthogs are still looking for their first win, they are getting better. Yesterday, Jimmy scored a dramatic goal with 2 seconds left that/which tied the score and forced the game into overtime. While they did not prevail this time, their improvement bodes well. Hopefully, they will win enough going forward in order to qualify for the playoffs.