You Can't Make This Stuff Up

As much as I wish I could, I can't seem to find the time to troll Youtube for  those videos that have gone viral. Essentially, the select videos I do get to see are sent to me by friends who seem to have more time to watch videos or from traditional and often dated sources like the Times. Yes, I admit to being behind the curve, when it comes to the new hot videos that everyone else is up on. However, thanks to the internet, I eventually get to see a few.

Warning: Quitting smoking
now greatly reduces
serious risks to your health.

One of the more recent videos to catch my attention was the one put out by the folks helping to elect Republican candidate Herman Cain. Upon viewing this Cain ad, two things came to mind: 1) The people running the campaign are asleep at the wheel or, 2) His people are absolute geniuses because they are well aware of the subtle notion that any attention, whether it's positive or negative, is good attention and naturally, everybody is talking about this ad.

I never listen to that guy!

The next video features these two engaging blabbering twin baby boys who are engaged in a five minute conversation. Most of the language they seem to use is based on a sophisticated series of "da-da-das". Early childhood language experts and those of you who have not seen this video will be delighted with what these two youngsters have to say. If you're like me,  you probably can't imagine or remember the last time you were so engaged in a conversation with anyone, no less one of your siblings!

Could this be the next big toilet idea?

Maybe it's a guy thing but nothing fascinates us more than electronics and toilets! Well, the fellas at the Times are brilliant and have done their best to combine these two manly passions! Yes, this is one expensive toilet, but if you're like me, you'll want to save up your pennies. A truly inspiring potty!

Still looks great!

Finally, I did manage to spend an entire two minutes on Youtube and came across this terrific new Beyoncé video. Besides the sociological and anthropological values that this video has, it also features cars, beautiful people and of course, dancing in the streets. I've come to the conclusion that this video represents a safe alternative, thus allowing us to escape our mundane lives....at least for two and a half minutes.

Enjoy and be good!

 

The Earth is Off Its Axis

It Don't Mean a Thing,
If You Ain't Got that Ring!

As I've mentioned in the past, when you're a Yankee fan, the expectation is not to get eliminated in the first round of the American League Championship Series. That's right, Yankee fans want nothing less than that championship ring!


Needless to say, I am disappointed but even Yankee fans have to move on. One of the few things that have taken my mind off the loss has been the meltdown in Boston. Like the Yankees, the Boston Red Sox are a terrific organization and if you're a true Yankee fan, you love seeing these two teams at their best and just going at each other, full swing. As a matter of fact, Yankee fans almost always expect to meet the Red Sox some time during the post season and there was no way any of us could have anticipated a Red Sox meltdown, at the end of the season. We do expect the Yanks to beat them down on the field but not a complete implosive meltdown! Well, for the past few weeks, Yankee fans have been scratching their heads in disbelief with what's going on in Red Sox nation. 

Pappi Yankee?
It Gets Even Crazier!

First, we learn that one of the best managers in baseball and the only man with enough "street cred" to bring Boston two championships in recent history is essentially being held accountable for the season flameout and is leaving. Soon after, we learn that Theo Epstein the wonder boy - G.M. also instrumental in assembling a viable Bosox teams worthy of bringing a nod of respect from Yankee fans, is leaving to become the Chicago Cubs G.M.! We then learn Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and John Lackey were drinking beer, eating fried chicken and playing video games in the clubhouse during games at the stadium. As soon as I climbed back on my chair, I then discovered that Mr. Red Sox himself, David Ortiz does not want to be with the Red Sox next year, then adds he would even consider playing for the Yankees! Wait, wait, it gets even crazier!  Bosox owner, John Henry does't like what he hears about the team's treatment of Terry Francona (The now former Red Sox manager) on a radio talk show and decides to pop in, just to clear the air. While he does deny being instrumental in a smear campaign involving Francona, he does acknowledge having been against the deal to sign outfielder, Carl Crawford. At this point, I have no idea who would want to manage the Red Sox next year but my understanding is that Moammar Gadhafi might be the man for the job! I also suggest they all take a time out, break bread and let the light shine on them at Mama Sushi! 

The Next Red Sox
Nation Manager?

My daughter Candice, is vehemently opposed to what I'm about to say but even though the Yankees are not in the playoffs, every single game has been exciting to watch.  This time around, I'm been cheering for the team with the lowest payroll to win!


Another item that has kept my mind off the Yankee loss has been what's going on at Zucotti Park. Essentially, the prevailing sentiment of these protests are that the common man is really pissed off at Wall Street execs. Naturally, these feelings of discontent have to do with the downward spiral of the economy, the rise of unemployment, top CEOs getting richer, inept CEOs getting richer and finally, the middle class coming face to face with the "new normal" The New York Times also puts a face on two opposing members of this battle, in The Soft Drink Summit.  Photo Booth Slide Show Portraits, from the New Yorker also provides us with a look at who the protesters are. Many people I speak to are unable to see what the expected outcomes are for the protesters, while the rest of us acknowledge that this form of action is absolutely necessary and vital. When we view events like these, we need to remember that no one major event in history can be attributed to a singular action. For example, the collapse of the Berlin wall did not occur because people on both sides of the wall decided one day to start knocking it down. No, that event was a culmination and series of situations that took years to develop itself into a movement and ultimately, led to the demise of the wall. With regards to the protesters, I believe this too is just a small part in the machine that will bring about larger change.  


Finally, we bid farewell to one of the most influential people of our time, Steve Jobs. As someone who has owned and raised his children on macs, ipods and itunes (They've also raised me!), all of us have been deeply affected by his loss and the impact he has made on our lives.

On Location, The Yanks Versus the Tigers - Game 1

El Cid drops the guitar & picks up his Mac!

I've had my hands into a whole lot of things lately. As busy as I think I am, my son Cid Alex seems to be even busier. At the age of 24, he already has three years of college under his belt, plays for two bands, plays in a number of softball leagues, plays ultimate frisbee and still manages to have some semblance of a social life. I recently discovered he was going to the ALDS game 1, between the Yanks and the Tigers. My jealousy turned to pride when he agreed to be, "The Man On Location." Here's what he has to say about the game: 

For different people, October can mean many different things. To some, October signifies the coming of Fall. Leaves begin turning, the temperature drops, apple picking becomes a weekend activity. Others start getting ready for Halloween. All those nifty Halloween costumes begin hatching in early October. For me and the other loyal fan-base of eight successful Major League Baseball franchises, it only means one thing: Postseason Baseball. 

Now for the past two years, I have attended my first and second playoff games at the New Yankee Stadium, and I can assure you; there is nothing else like it. The atmosphere is buzzing with excitement. Every cheer and jeer is amplified at least twenty times louder than a regular season game. The fans understand this playoff tradition as well as the players. 

This is my third playoff game in 3 years. I bought tickets ($65) for Game 1, which was supposed to be played Friday night. You hear the commotion, as soon as you get off the subway. My buddy Pooch and I could both hear the buzzing coming from inside of the stadium. We’re like moths heading towards the light. “Let’s Go Yankees!”

Once inside the stadium, Pooch  and I go straight to the standing room only section, behind home plate. This is our tradition. Unfortunately for us, after 1½ innings, the game is tied at 1-1, and a heavy downpour delays the game. We are now like wet moths, huddled on top of a burned out light, trying to stay warm and dry by consuming more $12 beer. 

After another hour and a half, the game is called and rescheduled for the next day. Pooch and I head home, all tied up and buzz-killed. 

Game 1, Take 2

With a new guest (Pooch is on a plane and on his way to Greece), I head to the stadium. Now, the game begins where it left off, with Jorge Posada leading off in the bottom of the 2nd inning. 

With the game underway, I could bore you with the play by play but baseball is about what goes on between pitches. So here are some of my observations during the ALDS, Game 1. 

You count 'em!

1. One of my favorite games to play at the New Yankee Stadium is counting the advertisements. I give up every time. 
2. Jeter is a fantastic player. He made a spectacular relay throw, putting Detroit catcher Alex Avila out at the plate. I’m pretty sure nobody saw it coming except El Capitan himself. 
3. Whenever the stadium cameras browse the stadium, there are a few standard reactions. Either:

1. the fan starts cheering (“I’m on the big screen!”).
2. Or, the person has no idea and continues to do something utterly embarrassing (pick their nose, make a face, scarf down some sort of ballpark food, etc.). 
3. Or, the person has no idea and the person sitting nearby tells them they're on the big screen (they usually wave or look away scared).
4. I personally would do the "Macaulay Culkin, Home Alone" scream, until they cut to somebody else.

The Entrance Music

Home teams get to decide what music comes on when they step up to the plate; these are at most 30-second clips. Some players have one song the entire season. Mark Texiera has had “I Wanna Rock “ played his entire career as a Yankee. Jeter usually plays whatever the hottest hip/hop song is at the moment. Brett Gardner seems to get pumped up to country music (I’m not sure who it is he listens to, but maybe it explains the .260 batting average). Some players like to change it up, each at bat; so they give a mix-tape to somebody and tell them when to play what song. 

I know you’re wondering, so here’s my entrance music playlist for my 5 times at bat. Of course, I would be the leadoff hitter for the New York Yankees.

1^st At Bat - Where Ya Going – Gomez – The first 20 seconds of this song pumps me up every time. 

2^nd At Bat - Axilla Part 2 – Phish - One of Phish’s heavier songs, one of my favorites. 

3^rd At Bat - Thunderstruck – AC/DC – Nothing gets a crowd going like AC/DC.

4^th At Bat - When The Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin - The intro would sound amazing on the Yankee Stadium sound system. Every time I hear this song, I want to turn up the Volume to 11, no matter how loud it already is! 

5^th At Bat - Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta - Geto Boys-  This song is the perfect song to play at the end of a long hard fought game. It's super mellow, and would keep me calm under the most high-pressure circumstances. 

In my mind, I just went 5 for 5 with a walk off home run! Go me!

Back to the Game

The "Ruthian" Cano at the plate

1. Robinson Cano hit a grand slam in the 6^th inning. He’s a beast! Check out this Ruthian picture I took, literally 30 seconds before the blast!
2. The YMCA Song - With Detroit trailing 8-1 going into the 7^th, I realize how utterly annoying it must be (for the losing team) to watch the entire stadium, and the grounds crew jamming out to the YMCA song. I, however, am amused. 



The "Cheese" Brothers

3. Finally, the "Say Cheese Brothers…." These two SOB’s were in front of us and decided that anytime something important in the game happened, they would stand up and take a picture, while it was happening. Now, all their friends and family would know, they weren’t watching the game in their $175 playoff game seats, featuring a cast of at least 10 future Hall of Famers. 

The Sandman puts them to bed!

So the Yankees pulled off a 9-3 victory, despite having to bring in Mariano to clean up Luis Ayala’s mess and get the final out. I had a great time buzzing, cheering, jeering, and standing for the whole game. I  didn’t even once throw my beer at the "Say Cheese Brothers." Believe me, it was tempting. 

 ~ CR

Thhhheee Yannnkeeeees win!

Legends Are Born In October

As someone who is new to blogging, I have to admit, there are times when I get stuck on what to write about. While most people have trouble because they can't come up with anything to write about, I usually have too many things to write about. Between what I have to do for work and during my leisure time, I  just don't have enough time to write about everything I really want to.

For example, a list of items I've wanted to write about include:

1. A review of two new cycling bib shorts I recently purchased 
2. How to read and get the most from the blog you're reading
3. A video on Mariano Rivera's pitches
4. Some of the sites I see during my bike rides 
5. My first group ride (About 3 years ago)
6. An article or two from The New Yorker

Needless to say, if I read  a good article or visit a place worth mentioning,  I usually write about it. Though, more often than not, many of the things I decide to write about are unplanned.

Case in point is a terrific New York Time's article about none other than the voice of the Yankees, John Sterling. If you're a Yankee fan or for that matter, a New Yorker, you already know that John Sterling has been a fixture for years on Yankee radio. Quite a few of you might disagree with me but one of my favorite ways of enjoying a game is by listening on the radio. One of the reasons baseball on the radio is so great to listen to are the announcers. They have the ability to create a  beautiful mental picture of what's happening in the game. Don't get me wrong, I still do enjoy watching the game on my bright HD television at home; however, these talented announcers are great at creating the fantastic HD picture in my mind.

Besides reading The Voice of Baseball Draws High Ratings and Several Critics, I've also included the John Sterling Soundboard which features a small sampling of his calls. By the way, the soundboard is free and all you have to do is click the sound you want to hear. Of course, if you want to download any of the phrases for your mobile phone, all you have to do is pay extra (Please, don't misconstrue the inclusion of this site as an endorsement).

Someone I do highly endorse and I will certainly miss when he leaves the game is Mariano Rivera.  My daughter Candice and I were watching the Yankee - Tigers ALDS game together last night (We were texting Alex who was at the stadium. Paulette was doing what she does at BU. Candice was also texting her good friend and loyal reader, SoFia about the game). At one point,  the Tigers were making a nuisance of themselves because they suddenly decided not to go down for the last out. Yankees manager Joe Girardi walked out to the mound, almost annoyed and called in, The Sandman! Well, Mariano came in and tossed strike one, strike two and then strike three! Yep, the Yankees won and we never get tired of seeing or hearing that phrase.

Anyway, Candice was still glowing over Mariano's amazing game 1 performance this morning. Therefore, I decided to attach a video from the Times that pretty much pinpoints why he is arguably the most effective reliever in history. I hope you enjoy How Mariano Rivera Dominates Hitters, whether or not you're a Yankee fan.

Take care and be good! Oh, enjoy the post season too!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Being a proud and lifelong Bronx resident, how could I not be a huge Yankees fan? Of course, there are the record number of championships but you have to admit, it's also about the rich Yankee history, the extensive Yankee tradition and of course, the new beautiful ball park.

Certainly, the haters insist the Yankees buy themselves a great team every year.  My response to this argument is, if in fact this were true, then why haven't we won a championship every single year? After all, the Yankees have historically had one of the highest payrolls in baseball but the fact remains,  they haven't won every year. As most Yankee fans will readily admit, having a huge payroll doesn't necessarily guarantee a pennant but it certainly does better the odds. To be quite  honest with you, I see nothing wrong with spending huge sums of money on a winning team! My rationale is there isn't a single major league team in America that isn't charging a fortune for tickets or forcing their fans to sneak food into the park because they can"t afford to pay $8.00 for a hot dog! There is a pleasure in knowing that at the home of the Yankees, fans will pay $12.00 for bleacher seats and $8.50 for a hot dog but at least, there is a sense of serenity in knowing that our hard earned money could positively affect the outcome of another championship!

Thankfully, I didn't have to pay for our fantastic seats along the first base line. My good fortune was attributed to the fact that my son Alex had wanted to take me out to the stadium for my birthday. He knew that as much as I loved the Yankees, I still hadn't been out to the new place. Along with Alex,  his long time friend Laura came with us. At one point, they were each busy sipping away at their warm $10.00 beers and I was chugging on my water filled plastic bottle and noshing on the Nutella sandwiches I brought in from home. Every so often, I looked over and wondered how they could afford their lifestyles! I suppose in their own special way, they were helping out Alex Rodriguez. They're such good kids!  My son also knew how apprehensive I had been about this new stadium. After all, tearing down the old stadium was the equivalent of demolishing a cathedral. I have to say, they did a fantastic job with the new place and it definitely is a suitable home for the Yankees. Alex and I were already talking about taking a tour of the stadium, some time during the close of the season and making the pilgrimage out to Cooperstown.

Being at the stadium is a different experience than watching the game at home. The most obvious differences are I don't have to stand on a long line to go to the bathroom and I can't fall asleep on the couch. However, I've also noticed that when I'm home, I seem to be more in tune with the game. Whereas, there are a thousand distractions at the stadium and in many ways, they aren't necessarily bad. Of course, you're checking out the boards, the people walking by, the fans yelling and the routine movements of being at the stadium. Despite the busy stadium environment, there is also a pace to the game that seemingly contradicts the hustle and bustle. I'm talking about the time between at bats or pitches.  This lull allows you to turn over and talk about what's going on in and outside of the game. Of course, there aren't any time restraints in baseball and the game will end when the innings are over. In the back of my mind, there is a pleasure in knowing this is essentially the same game I went to with my dad and there's a good chance the game will be the same for my grandchildren.


Despite the threat of rain and being down to the Tampa Bay Rays 2 - 0, the Yankees managed to come from behind and won, 4 - 2. Best of all, we were able to see Mariano Rivera (a.k.a.: The Sandman!) pitch his 163rd save of his career! Even though all Yankee wins are special, this game was significant because the win gave them the chance to clinch a playoff berth (As if we had any doubt!). What baseball fan could ask for more?

Catching Up With An Old Friend, The New Yorker

Before going to bed, I usually watch the monologue on The Late Show With David Letterman. The monologue isn't always funny but I'm always entertained by Letterman's  quirkiness and sharp wit. Besides the obvious entertainment value, I learn a great deal about the news from the monologue.

For example, Letterman mentioned an extremely well written article from the NewYorker called, Getting Bin Laden. Essentially, the article details the true life moments of the SEAL team that assassinated Osama Bin Laden. Even though the article is eighteen pages long, the story reads well and is informative, as well as engaging. At one point, I felt as if I was in the helicopter, ready to climb down the speed rope and take out Bin Laden!

If you're anything like me, you'll want to read through the short stories and of course, the award winning cartoons. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by a video on an amazing art project! This particular Dutch artist creates something that is beautiful, inspired and almost spooky. Let me know what you think of Beach Creatures.

Enjoy and be good.

The Kids Are Alright

After a month or so of starting this blog, the idea that I can actually create a blog is beginning to set in with my children, family and friends. Don't get me wrong, not all of them are regular readers but they all have been eager about giving me suggestions.  While I admit to being somewhat sensitive to change, many of their ideas have been constructive and I've tried my best to implement as many changes as possible. I also have to acknowledge my everlasting affection for Candice's good friend Sofia because she has enjoyed, laughed and loved every single one of my blogs. 

Well, now that there is acceptance, it appears they want me to do tricks. The trick this time, as suggested by my lovely daughter Candice, was for me to be a music/video critic. So, along with her own pick, she encouraged Alex, Paulette, Gabriela, Chris and Sofia to pick out songs and artists for me to review.

Deep down inside, I know Candice gave me this assignment with the intent of making me insane. After all, there wasn't one title or artist that I did not have a problem with. I either thought she was giving me more than the number of allowed songs or I thought the artist was the song and visa versa. However, after two days of back and forth, I was able to determine who sang what and most importantly, I didn't renege on our deal. 

The criteria I use to review these songs is not at all scientific and is subject to my biases and opinions but I'm sure that's what everybody wants anyway. 

Candice's Pick (a.k.a. Funchi): Check It Out by Nicki Minaj and Will.i.am - I absolutely enjoyed this video! There, I said it! Overall, the video was slick and well produced  and I found myself tapping the beat. Mind you, I have minimal recollection of what was actually said and the well-heeled Nicki Minaj does spew a few obscenities but I've heard saltier language from the Bleecher Creatures at Yankee Stadium. For better or worse, cursing seems to be the gateway to communicating and expression these days. What I did find more troubling was a few of Will.i.am's not so subtle and robotic machinations. The essential message I took away from the song was the walls that had to be built, in an effort to deal with people who are resentful and jealous of her. These same feelings seem to hold true for Will.i.am. As clear cut as this message seemed to be, the verbal message seems to be at odds with what is going on in the video. The clip is centered on the performers dancing and singing in front of an all female Japanese audience (The entire audience is dressed in black and are wearing sun glasses!).

In the words of Nicki, it's, "Da done done!"

Alex' Pick (a.k.a. Yippy): All I Need by Jay Z - The minute I heard the ominous thumping, the fifty something year old Riverdale resident in me ran for cover behind the sofa and every so often, peeked over at the gangsta' sitting and grinning in his place. I couldn't help but crank up the volume and hope I was disturbing my wife and neighbors. Cuz, I guess I got my swagger back! 

I've always been of the mind that Jay Z has an uncanny ability to plug into every male's inner gansta. His rhythms are hard and primal,  and his words scream alpha male! Yes, I envision myself driving a blacked out Chrysler 300M, "Like we underground kings, ridin' dirty!" Overall, this particular Jay Z ditty is long, and packed with nuance, as well as complexity.

After viewing Nicki's video, my only disappointment was there wasn't one featuring this Jay Z's song. Just imagine the visuals to the words, "I blow smoke in your face, burn rubber off the rim tires." Yeah, yeah, yeah... 

Gabriela's Pick (a.k.a. Bleee): Cheers (I'll Drink to That) by Rihanna Featuring Avril Lavigne - Much like Nicki's, the video to this song was well produced and reminded me of a perfume commercial. And similar to the Nicki Minaj song, her voice was mostly synthesized. However, the results gave this song a surreal and ghostly effect (Despite the fact the song was about partying and drinking). 

The first dreamlike segment features Rihanna inside of what appears to be a giant pink flower. The flower eventually pollinates and Rihanna, elegantly dressed in pink, walks along a maze of bushes or the "good" road. She then proceeds to enter the "bad" road maze of bushes by walking through a sheet of glass. Of course, this passage from good to bad is followed by a change in outfit - from pink to black. Once she transitions into the dark side of the garden maze, three sets of well manicured male hands cover her eyes and the focus proceeds downward to her hand where she is holding a black tinted bottle of perfume. From this point on, the video follows her taking the same steps, only backwards. The video ends where she began - inside of the flower. The beat and rhythm of the song are pleasant and catchy but I did have to strain to understand what was being said. Again, the title and verses of the song had little if anything to do with the video and appeared to be more of a vehicle for a new fragrance. 

Chris' Pick (a.k.a. Bubba): Taboo by Don Omar - All I could do was scratch my head when I viewed and listened to Chris' choice of video and song. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the video and song. After all, it was well edited,  action oriented and the pace was fast and furious. The vocals were again, synthesized  but pleasant and rhythmic. What I couldn't understand was why Chris chose this song. After all, I've never heard Chris speak a work of Spanish or Portuguese. I kept asking myself, "Really?"

The video opens above the head of the concrete Christ, standing over what I believe to be San Paulo, Brazil. The camera then shifts to the well dressed Don Omar, singing in Portuguese and eventually, Spanish. At some points of the song, the vocals are so heavily synthesized that the two languages are almost meshed together as one. Our focus is then drawn to a beautiful blond woman at a party who seems to have had a romantic past with Don Omar, who had just arrived to serve her and her male companion drinks. What ensues is a mix of the Fast and the Furious 5 (Fast Five) , carnival, the streets of San Paulo, discos and Capoeira. One thing I've leaned about Chris over the years is he's a wild man and this video and song seem to confirm that notion!

Sofia's Pick (a.k.a. soFia): Bottoms Up by Trey Songz - Of all the songs given to me to review, this is the only song that is closely linked in meaning to the video. Nope, there isn't much room for argument here; the song is about partying, drinking and of course, bottoms up - both literally and figuratively! Both the song and video are fun, catchy and easy to listen to. Nicki Manaj is also featured and adds to the quick pace of the video.   

Paulette's Pick (a.k.a. La Grilla): Mirror by Lil Wayne, featuring Bruno Mars - With the exception of the Jay Z song, Mirror is the only song with true to life vocals. In short, no voices are synthesized or overly produced and as a result,  the emotions are truly heartfelt and lasting. In a nutshell, he sings about what he sees in the mirror. We eventually learn that he doesn't seem to be too happy about about what he sees.

Overall, the experience of reviewing these songs has been both enlightening and interesting. Throughout the process, I did my best to maintain an open mind and I tried not to think about the music/videos as either their type of music or mine. After all, I understand these are different times and everybody in the video is young enough to be a son or daughter of mine but regardless, many of the themes, concerns and emotions are essentially the same. The most positive aspect about the current music/videos provided to me was how articulate the artists were about the burdens of fame.  

Hope you've enjoyed the blog and be good.  

From Mama Sushi to Doña Irene

8/26

Noemi and I started getting ready for Hurricane Irene in the early afternoon. We both swore up and down we weren’t going to buy much at the supermarket, since we already had tons of meat in the freezer. All we needed was bread, milk, pasta & ice cream. We ended up spending more than $50.00. So much for sticking to the budget!


After coming home, I decided to do a short bike ride. I got in a little more than 20 miles in the neighborhood and I managed to take some pics. I was surprised to see only one owner boarding up his house.

That evening, Alex called me to ask if I could take him to his job in Chappaqua the next day. I asked him how was he getting back because the MTA was shutting down subways, busses and commuter trains at noon? He quickly responded he would get someone to fill in for him. Naturally, I agreed that was the smart thing to do. 

I was a bit bored that evening, so I started taking pictures of my sneakers.

A little later on, Candice and I texted about the fact that NYC had never shut down the subways. I believe the last time the subways were shut down was during the 2003 blackout and of course, 9/11. I had heard it takes about 8 hours to start up the subway system, once they’ve been shut down. Apparently, the MTA has to pump out the water that accumulates below the tunnels on a daily basis, even when there isn't any rain. 

8/27

I got up early this morning and decided to put some gas in the car and buy  bagels. I also had to get some sugar, pancake mix and syrup. When I got to the gas station the attendant pointed out they ran out of regular gas and they only had premium. Before I managed to put on "the face," he quickly added, "I charge you the same". I softly responded, "cool". Then I decided to get some cash at the bank, even though I’m in the habit of using my debit card, wherever I go. 

On my way to Bagel Corner, I couldn’t believe that in a time of crisis, the Starbucks on Johnson Avenue was shut down! What if I suddenly had an insatiable craving for Yukon Blend! As soon as this "monsoon" I'll have to make it a point to drop an email to Howard Schultz! These are serious times! 

As soon as I got home, Noemi and I started bringing in the plants, as well as the chairs from the terrace. I also secured the grill with some of my old inner tubes. I knew I would use that bag of inner tubes one day! After bringing in everything, I decided to get a short ride in, before the rain. Noemi became annoyed.

I wound up doing a short ride of approximately 13 miles, in the neighborhood. I was surprised there was little, if any activity going on at the big homes on Fieldston or Palisades Avenues.  As a matter of fact, I noticed that a construction site had a dumpster filled to the top with uncovered debris. 

As soon as I returned, Candice and I started texting and updating each other on the anticipated rain and wind. She had also done some time on the treadmill that morning and had wanted to rollerblade. Regretfully, the park entrance was closed. She had a whole lot of school work to do, just the same.

Noemi wasn’t home when I returned from my ride. She decided to go to the supermarket and pick up a few things. She’d been obsessing about buying ground turkey to make tacos tonight. Against her good judgment, she took Paulette with her and wound up buying more than $50.00 in groceries. Over the years, we’ve both learned that it's a bad idea to bring Paulette food shopping because she tosses junk food into the shopping cart and before you know it, you"re spending beaucoup bucks! Just the same, we had pasta for dinner.

Maybe it’s too early but waiting for Irene was really boring! All I’ve done today is watch the news, eat food (Including a few handfuls of Paulette’s potato chips) and check hurricane updates on-line. I’d even thought about straightening out the hallway closet. I have to admit, the real reason I want to clean out the closet is because I can’t seem to find my DVD remote control anywhere and I want to watch the Godfather l and ll. Maybe, I should subscribe to Netflix. 

So far, the highlight of the evening was Noemi calling Paulette and me over to show us how much water she’s collected. She managed to fill up the bathtub and five buckets, as well as two large pots. She also announced that we were not to touch her bucket of water because she had taken special precautions to disinfect her water. Paulette and I couldn’t stop laughing because we were essentially being told that our immune systems would have to fend for themselves! 

8/28

I woke up at 4:00 am to the sound of the wind blowing and the trees shaking. I looked out the window and it was was as if God had grabbed the trunk of this huge tree behind our building and began shaking it like a dashboard hula dancer!

I then walked over to the living room to make sure everything was okay. I discovered the windows were leaking and last year’s brick pointing project was pointless because water was seeping in through the walls. I strategically placed a few chinese food containers to capture the water and went back to bed.


I woke up at about 9:00 am and decided to take a look outside, since the rain seemed to hold up a bit. Right outside of the building, I saw branches strewn all over the street and as I walked down the block, I saw that a tree had been uprooted and collapsed on top of an Acura SUV and a light pole.

I then decided this was a bit too much action for me to have without a cup of coffee inside of me. I went upstairs and made egg and grilled sausage with cheese on pita sandwiches for everyone. I don't normally eat sausages but I wanted to make good use of all of the meats my sister Ada had ordered for me from Omaha Steak. I have to admit, everything they shipped was great: The steak, salmon, chicken, pork chops, breakfast sausages and even the double chocolate cake (I "inhaled" that cake a long time ago!). After breakfast and of course, the coffee, we each went our separate ways to check up on friends and relatives; either by phone, text or email. Thankfully, everybody we knew was fine or at worse, had to deal with minor inconveniences. We finally had the long awaited tacos for lunch and I was getting antsy from being inside most of the day. I managed to convince Noemi to take a walk outside with me. We were surprised to see a significant amount of damage within a 4-6 block parameter.

Although this hurricane / tropical storm was not by any means catastrophic, as a lifelong New Yorker, certain things become apparent in difficult times. You begin to notice that you actually stop and converse with people you don't know. You also start asking your neighbors questions and most of all, you begin to listen to them. Soon enough, you begin to feel for those you don't know and who are going through difficulty. 
Again, our hopes and prayers go out to those who are going through difficult times.
Take care and be good.  

Aye Caramba, Mama Sushi!

Mama Sushi is the kind of place I really wanted to love. After all, Mama Sushi is located near the corner of Dyckman Street and Seaman, the throbbing hotspot section of Inwood, in upper Manhattan. And even though there's a lot to get used to: The fire engine sirens, the reggaeton blaring from open car windows and the "Tigeres" warmly embracing one another, I quickly felt at home and was eager to be seated. I was also anxious to  partake in what everyone describes as, "Dominican-Japanese Fusion." Yes, even though Mama Sushi is barely a five minute ride from Riverdale,  I was in Inwood tonight, and felt as if I was worlds away.

Maybe my expectations were too high but I was anticipating my fellow latinos to flawlessly fuse two of my favorite cuisines; Japanese and Dominican. In all of my years of eating both types of food, I was waiting to be skillfully bowled over by Mama Sushi and I wanted it to be done with a great deal of, "Orgullo y estilo!"  After all, Mama Sushi, is the sister restaurant of the hugely successful Mama Juana. Meanwhile, through the corner of my eyes, I could see the multi-colored lights shine on Mama Juana, just across the street. All of a sudden, I was left wondering why there wasn't a light that shined on Mama Sushi? The answer to my question soon became apparent.

Within five to ten minutes, our group of five was warmly greeted and the corner sidewalk table we were led to was ideal. We were given adequate time to gather and give Mama Sushi the "Once over." Most of the people there were young, friendly and well dressed. The indoor portion of the restaurant was small, simple and seemed tastefully decorated.

The waitress quickly came over and took our drink orders and within minutes, came out with our beverages which included two exotically flavored and powerful mojitos. Both mojitos were flavored with rum, fruits, juices and herbs and packed with "sabor" to the very last sip! We then placed our appetizer orders, as well as a number of plates of sushi. Within minutes of our order, the waitress dropped off two long dishes of their special sauces. One of the sauces seemed to be made of ketchup, mayonnaise and lemon juice. The other phantom menace was similar, except it was a shade darker and had a touch of either horseradish or wassabe. Both sauces were pleasant and not at all offensive. A good while later, we received our appetizers and just about then, my daughters Candice and Paulette pointed out that I had "The face." While I routinely deny wearing, "The face," I always seem to be the only one who doesn't seem to know it. According to all of those close to me, any form of frustration and/or anger is immediately registered on my face like a Motel 6 sign. Apparently, I have the ability to aim my displeasure at an oncoming offender and almost singlehandedly, belittle and make them crave to be in a fetal position. While I firmly deny that I have a "face" or any other inherent traumatizing abilities, both bowls of fried calamari arrived cold. Furthermore, the texture of the edimome was good but was also cold.

Soon enough, our sushi arrived and I soon understood that at Mama Sushi's, "Japanese-Dominican fusion" was just another word for bland and forgettable. At one point, I almost felt compelled to kneel and beg for a few drops of soy sauce. Warning: Don't even consider asking for anything more than a dab of wassabe. If you want taste, dip one of your thirty pieces of sushi into the scant serving of the phantom menace sauce! As for the sushi, the texture of the rice did not contain the sushi tightly enough and the fillings were tasteless. At one point, all of us had a debate on whether we were eating canned tuna or crab and this impassioned discussion continued on the drive home. We then ordered dessert and about twenty minutes later, the waitress announced that the delay of our dessert was attributed to the fact that our sweet fried plantains had been burned. Candice announced, "Oh, oh, the face, " while Paulette and my wife giggled.  Meanwhile, I noticed the waitress coming out of the corner bodega with a bag of plantains.

The check finally arrived and along with the blare of the last fire engine, the waitress curtsied and ended her lame excuses.  Despite the "faux-fusion," we laughed and joked and I finally realized that there was a light that shined on us. And the light is still shining.


     


Enjoy and be good!