MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2019

It's supposed to be 85 degrees today. Finally a sunny, warm day. Breaking news. I got a phone call last week from Kathy, the girlfriend of Michael's brother Curt. Wow, unexpected; contact with the Robinett family. It did feel good to talk about Michael with a family member. She told me Curt is so emotional that he can't talk. I get that since when I think about Michael I start to cry. She volunteered to call me and I do appreciate it. She said his computer was swiped clean. There go the Dwg. files. l have one more place to look, my old laptop that won't boot. Will have to take it someplace for file retrieval.

Politics. I am obsessed with the Mueller report and the outrageous attacks on womens' rights, i.e. Roe v. Wade. Last week a total stranger, a woman around my age spoke to me after I gave some money to a young woman looking for donations for Planned Parenthood. She told me she could not believe what has happened after fighting so hard for these rights in the '60's. Old, white, Republican men are looking to overturn Roe v. Wade by passing anti-abortion bills in their legislatures. They really do want their women to remain barefoot and pregnant. The hypocrisy is visceral. Where are those folks when unwanted babies are born ? Agencies designed to deal with unwanted children, foster care, etc. are woefully underfunded and those kids often end up on the street, doing drugs and finally prison. I hope more women run and get elected in state legislatures and then they can pass laws outlawing Viagra. Justice.

The Mueller Report. Gerry Nadler, Chair of the Judiciary Committee stated that Mueller does not want to testify in public, only behind closed doors so that he can remain apolitical and 'not part of a circus.' Our Democracy is hanging on by a thread due to the current autocrat, monarch who resides in the White House. Nancy Pelosi is dancing around the I word, Impeachment while her caucus is divided re. how to proceed. The calls for Impeachment are growing louder. The current 'monarch' has to go. He has committed 'high crimes and misdemeanors' and even Mueller stated "if he was not the president he would be indicted."

The Red Sox are beating the Astros right now, around 5:00 pm in Houston. They lost the first two games, trying to avoid a sweep. Last night David Price was taken out of the game in the first inning. The bull pen did pretty well even though we lost by one run. We are 7 games behind the Yankees who are in first place in the Eastern Division with Tampa Bay behind them. We're 3rd in the Division. Ok, that's May baseball. At least they played better than April/spring training baseball.

What's "easy cheese" ?  Ask Dennis 'Eck' Eckersley.

SPRING, RAIN AND BASEBALL

Spring finally has come to Boston, sort of. We have spring-green leaves on the trees, flowers and a riot of color although the temps have remained winter-like. I was wearing my down parka this week while hardier types dressed for the calendar and froze, I was warm and comfortable in mid-May. It has rained practically non-stop in April and in May. April showers bring May flowers and it did but it kept on raining every day this week and last week.

Watching the Sox play the Astros tonight. The three man booth with Jerry Remy, Dennis 'Eck' Eckersley and Dave O'Brian, announcer is working great, very entertaining. The Sox 'stunk' in April after being babied/rested in Spring Training. We all expected them to pick up where they left off after winning the World Series in November. They Did Not. Terrible baseball in April, last place, just awful. They are playing much better in May. Rick Porcello is pitching tonight. In the seventh inning the score is 0-0. And the Astros are really good.

Mother's Day, Barry's birthday and Michael's yahrtzeit on May 10th made for a tough weekend.  I went to Shabbat services at TBZ next door. I was with a group of people from my building, Gerry and his wife Ruth, another Gerry and Laurie. Gerry recently moved in. He recycles his New Yorkers and The Atlantic magazines to me. Interesting fellow. Worked for the AP in Russia, speaks Russian and also worked in Israel and Little Rock, Ark.

Happy Birthday to Ron of Ron and Pam of Willits, CA.