Incomplete

Strange

2007-03-11T19:46:00.000-04:00

Don't get me wrong, I know there are weird and crazy people in the city. I am not naive. But usually I am in my own world and no one bothers me. This lastest occurance happenned on Friday afternoon. I had just left work and I was speedwalking to the car so that I would not get to the parking lot after my Dad. On a short Friday things always get crazy 10 minutes before you want to leave and I had left late. Anyways, I was almost at the lot, I had my discman on, and I was slowing down because I saw the Don't Walk sign 100 feet away. Out of the corner of my eye I saw an older guy who was standing against the wall of a bar/restaurant start walking toward the street perpendicular to the way I was walking. I started to go around him when he stepped straight into my path, faced me, and put his arms out like he wanted a hug. I had no idea what to do I was so shocked I just stood there for a few seconds. Then I just walked away. I did not want to say anything or ackowledge him in any way so I waited until I had gotten past him until I made a disgusted face. It really weirded me out. Who do they think they are? It was to bad I was not walking with anyone from work because they probably would have beat him up. Oh well.

I was very confused when I realized they had moved up daylight savings time to this week. Strange. Supposedly they did it to save fuel, but then why not do it that way for the last 50+ years. Why start make the change now?

Let Down

2007-02-25T01:07:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry I have not been able to keep up my blog. I really miss it. I keep telling myself that I should keep at it, but once you stop blogging regularly it is hard to start up again. I get home at 10pm most nights and it easy to find an excuse to put it off another day, grab something to eat, prepare my stuff for the next day, shower, and fall into bed. It doesn't help that I cannot write what is really on my mind because there are people who discovered my blog and would not be happy to hear what I have to say about them. I could start another one, but I love this one. And then there are those things that no matter how much you want to talk about, you keep private because no one really understands. To them the answer just seems easy, but to you it is not that simple. Your heart doesn't always listen to what you order it to do.

Now for the topic I have been planning to write about for over a month, but do not know where to start. The incident is no longer as vivid or disturbing, but just as important. One morning while walking to work I was waiting to cross the street and as soon as the traffic light turned red and the walk sign turned green I was off. There was a taxi cab already stopped at the light, but all of a sudden almost out of nowhere a white commercial van stepped on the gas and came barreling to me. I am usually the first one off the sidewalk when the walk light goes on and the closest pedestrian was about 1 foot behind me. I, however was right in harms way. For a second I had that frozen deer in the headlights feeling and just stared in disbelief. But suddenly instint took over and I jumped back in the nick of time with the truck just barely missing me. I am not even sure how close it was. I cannot remember. All I know is that I said "Oh my G-d" and got really mad about how someone could do that. It wasn't like he sped up as the light turned red, which people always do in the city, but he ran the light about 30 seconds later. The pedestrians behind me were in shock and cursing the driver out. No one got his liscence plate. They were all to busy watching. No one even reached out to pull me back. I continued crossing the street after staring in disbelief like nothing happened. It had not hit me yet. As I turned down the street (the same street where my office was) a guy calls out to me, "That was a really close call, you know." I turned around, nodded, and continued walking. That was when it hit me and I started shaking all the way to my office. It took me a while to calm down, but I was ok. I knew I had to get back outside as soon as possible to walk because it really scares you. The whole thing scared me. I didn't know what it meant. I didn't know what I was supposed to take from it. I didn't know if it was supposed to be worse, but became a better person and that saved me. Or did I do a few extra good deeds? Or was that supposed to be a wakeup call for me to change. What I do know was that it added to my feelings of lonliness when I had no one to pull me back and no one to show they cared. They just acted like it was an everyday occurance and no big deal, that I should have known to be more careful because it was my fault.

It feels like I have been Let Down.
It has happened my whole life, but usually there is that one person who is there for you.
Now I feel like I have no one.
Let Down by friends...family...and the ones I love.
You work hard to be there for others, but there is no one there for you.
You reach out to lend a hand, but no one is there to extend that hand to you.
You are there to listen to everyone else's problems and tell them it will all work out ok, but no one is there to listen to you.
The one thing you want most you can't have. It lays just beyond your reach.

I am not depressed, just disappointed. Frustrated by people's selfishness and blindness to others. I just needed to vent and get it off my chest. I think I have unloaded enough for now. I'm back!

Quick Hello

2007-01-14T23:53:00.000-05:00

I never thought I would be too busy to find time to blog. I thought I could at least post over weekends. But lately I have not had much time. I will not blog from work or someone else's computer, and usually by the time I get home I fall into bed. This weekend I have been packing for a family trip to Israel and I will be gone for almost two weeks. I have so much to write about, but no time to write it.

Nevertheless, I decided to pop in for a quick hello and to tell over something that was slightly disturbing. A few weeks ago, on Friday afternoon I was walking, or rather speedwalking, to the bus stop from work. I was less than a block away when I spotted a sketchy looking middle aged man with a camera around his neck. He definitely did not look like a tourist and I was immedietely suspicious. So I kept my head down and tried to walk out of his line of site. But during holiday season the streets around Rockefeller Center are jammed and I was not having much luck. I decided to make a run for it as I saw the bus around the corner, and out of the corner of my eye I saw the man lift his camera. I had a bad feeling he was going to snap a picture. Sure eneough as soon as I got withing five feet he focused the camera on my face snapped a picture so fast I did not have time to react. I have no idea why he decided to pick me as his subject, but it really disturbed me. He looked like someone who was taking pictures of people for the wrong reasons. Gave me the creeps.

I hope I will get back to blogging regularly when I get back. There is so much on my mind and so many sports incidents I would have loved to analyze and comment on.

Homecoming

2006-12-10T22:56:00.000-05:00

I am sorry it took so long to get this post up (internet broke again thanks to my Dad, it's his latest talent). It has been in drafts for more than 2 weeks and has been in the planning stages since a cold winter morning in 2003 as I was driving to school in the city and heard the official announcement that Pettitte was signing with Houston. He had just won 20 games for the Yankees and got them into the World Series. He had done everything they could have asked for and more in 9 years. He was a true Yankee, a product of their farm system, and they did not want him back. I sat there in desbelief waiting for my Dad to pintch me, wake me up, and tell me I was having a bad dream. I still remember the song 1050 ESPN Radio played and how sad it made me. I know baseball is just a game, but Pettitte symbolized a lot to me. This day has been long time in coming, but it is finally here.

After a long and tiring week at work I was sitting down at the table Friday night before the meal, when my brother pipes up. "I have some news for you," he said (or something like that). Then came the dramatic pause. I had some idea of what the news might be, but I wasn't sure if I would like it. The papers had been discussing a possible Pettitte return. After deciding against retirement, free agent pitcher Andy Pettitte was only considering two teams, his hometown Houston Astros and the New York Yankees where he became a big time pitcher and fan favorite for 9 years. In 2003, when the Yankees ignored him he went home so that he could be closer to his family and supposedly he was still leaning toward returning to the Astros. The Yankees gave him a deadline of late December. I didn't think he would reach a decision that quickly so I didn't know what to expect. Would it be exhiliration or more disappointment?

Fortunately, it was the former. My brother told me that late Friday afternoon it was announced that Pettitte had made the decision to sign with the Yanks. I was speechless aside from a few shrieks as I jumped for joy. That whole weekend I had a silly smile on my face. I guess you can say it was for guy I had sorely missed. I truly think he can help bring back the Yankees' glory days. He will definitely anchor this aging pitching staff. The Yankees have spent more than three years and wasted millions of dollars (I would better over 100 million) trying to replace their star left hander. Steinbrenner spent an insane amount of money on the ancient Kevin Brown, Javier Vasquez of Toronto, the still injured Carl Pavano, and Jaret Wright, just to name a few. All were big time busts. Although I do not think it was Cashman who was adamant not to sign him, it is about time they came to their senses and corrected their mistake. Hey, better late than never, but they wasted some great years.

Pitching was one of the keys, if not the key reson, the Yankees have not won a championship in the last few years. Pettitte was one of the main anchors of, arguably, the best starting staff in the major leagues. He was great in the regular season, and even better in the post season. When the team was down in a big playoff series you knew Pettitte would pick the team back up. If I remember correctly, he was the MVP in the 2000 or 2001 ALCS. He was also my favorite pitcher, still is. He pitched the first baseball game I ever saw, which will always have a special place in my heart. Furthermore, he is real. Pettitte is an all-around great guy, family man, and role model to all kids.

I hope I will be at the first game he is back to pitch. If not I will definitely be watching. This year I will have something special to watch and cheer for, besides a championship. Now I can take my Pettitte jersey (that I bought on sale when he left) out of my closet, dust it off, and put it on for the first time. (Who knows, maybe Clemens will make his way back to NY too. His defection left a bitter taste in the mouths of most fans and a majority do not want him back. But, I would go for it. Let the fun and games begin.)

Number 46 is back, and I cannot wait for the season to start.

Memories

2006-12-03T20:25:00.000-05:00

Lost
in memories
Caught up
in the past
in dreams
in hopes
in regrets
in memories

thought i was over it
thought it was in the past
thought i'd moved on
but then
a snapshot of a face
from the past
brought the memories
flooding back
to haunt me

stop
i can't go back there
i can't do anything more
to change the ending
so stop
stop taunting me
i can't deal with those memories
i can't remember that past
i have to move on
it's over
that dream is dead

when i moved on
i only put
off the inevitable
was only boxed up
waiting for a chance
to escape
at the slightest provocation
any reminder
forcing me to
deal with the pain
all over again

time can dull the pain
but just seeing
a photograph
a snapshot
or catching a glimpse
can bring everything
rushing back

so unexpected
sudden
a flash
an image
uncertain
but then it clicked
focus
just something about your smile
that twists my heart

so unclear
so confused
don’t know what to do
can’t forget
memories chase me
can't run
can't hide
no escape
irreplaceable

getting stuck in the past
so caught up in what i had
happy memories
now cause pain
painful to remember
all that was within reach
wondering
if i'll ever
find that again
so clear...so sure
ready to take the leap
on a moments notice
trust so completely
so suddenly
all encompassing

why can’t someone knock
some sense into…
i’m lost
lost in my own world
with no one
who can understand
so alone
lonely
no one
to walk beside me
support me
unconditionally

With you
Felt so safe
Secure
Whole
Complete
Understood

stop
i can't go back there
i can't do anything more
to change the ending
so stop
stop taunting me
i can't deal with those memories
i can't remember that past
i have to move on
it's over
that dream is dead
leave me alone
go away
don’t bother me again
don’t make me shatter you to pieces
you can’t take action
so give up
I’m ready to fight
for my future
right now
you are not part of it
so take a hike

Thankgiving Weekend

2006-11-26T20:46:00.000-05:00

My Thanksgiving weekend did not live up to expectations. I had plans, most of which never materialized. I was going to catch up on sleep, get ahead on my work, and have some fun with my parents gone.

The weekend started off well. On Wednesday I went to Bryant Park for the Ranger event at the rink, thanks to a tip from my brother. I got there early, and it was fun to see all the Ranger fans let loose on the ice en masse. The rain let up and the fun began. I went by myself and made some long overdue phone calls while I waited for the Ranger players to show up. I saw the players make their grand entrance. As they went onto the ice I snapped some pictures (I always carry my camera with me because you never know what will be going on in the city and I love taking pictures) which I do not think came out. The players went to the center of the ice and were immedietely surrounded so I just hung out and waited until they came off to sign autographs an hour later. I did get bored during the wait, but a group of us made friends with the security guard. He told me where the Ranger employees were giving out their paraphernalia and I grabbed some for my brother and some for my room. The masks were pretty cool. Finally the players came off for their break (more photo ops for me). I guess dealing with so many fans swamping you can be very tiring, but they were only on the ice for about an hour. Twenty minutes later they came back out to sign autographs. Two players, Hall and Pruka, stayed in my area and the other two, Oartmeyer and I'm not sure who the other one was, went ot the other end of the rink (where you had to walk all the way around). I made sure not to mention to the players that I was a Devils fan as they patientely signed autographs and took pictures with me. Note to those out there, when someone gives you a camera to take a picture don't give the camera back before the flash goes off to take the picture. I had to ask Hall for another picture because the first one was never taken, and he was very nice about it. It's too bad I'm already a Devils fan because I had a lot of fun and the players there were very nice for the most part. Although when I went to try and grab autographs from the other two players they were taking off their jerseys and as they walked by me I asked for a quick picture, but they said they had to follow the schedule and keep moving. They gave me an apologetic smile and looked like they wanted to stop, but as the people directing them kept walking. Oh well. I was not happy, but even though it looked like they wanted to stop I was not going to chase after them. I just let it go and made my way to the bus because by them my toes were froezen and I could not feel them.

This time the bus home had heat. (That morning my toes had froze while waiting for the bus which came late and when I finally got on the bus it was as cold as outside. There was no heat and the bus was 45 degrees. The driver had turned on the heat, but it was onls only blowing cold air for the hour plus trip. My teeth were chattering as I got off early because there was traffic in the city and I couldn't sit still in the cold. My toes took about 2 hours to defrost.)

Over the weekend I did watch some movies, none of which were any good. Shocker. I did not get much sleep. Thursday was a little depressing both outside and in. I crashed at my friends house, where I am considered one of the family, which was a lot of fun. On Black Friday I decided to take my sister shopping and we had to be out of the house before 6:30. Not so much fun and now I have more returns. Saturday night I finally sat down to do some work and someone called who needed an emergency babysitter. I couldn't refuse and ended up watching the late Devils game through bleary eyes. Today, after a late night I refused to get out of bed until after 10 when I got a call from my friend to help with her essays due later that day. I have been working on them all day, but deadline is really tomorrow so the work goes on. Oh and there was no massive party, unfortunately. Maybe next time.

Sports summery: Three straight Giant losses does not make for a fun intro to being a football fan. I hope to get tickets to a Devils game asap because I have not been to one since that first game (I am embarrassed to admit). I am also impatientely waiting for the Yankees so sign more pitchers, my preferences are to bring back Pettitte and Lilly.

More poetry coming soon.

Busy Busy

2006-11-19T20:39:00.000-05:00

I apologize for not being as attentive as I should be to my blog in the last few weeks. My hours went from whatever I wanted to getting up at 5:30 in the morning and getting home at about 9PM. Weekends have also been a little crazy with family parties. So this post is just to tell you that I have not quit after my 50th post. This is just the beginning.

My parents are taking their first vacation without the kids. Finally! Although I did enjoy going to cool places. So now I have to go help them pack (to make sure they get there ;-) ). I will be back to posting regularly asap. And hopefully I will have that party I always imagined while they are gone. Can't wait. Also, there are some things that are on my mind that I have to decide whether or not to blog about and how to express myself.

Nothing major to blog about in sports yet. Maybe I will post on some of the deals being made and not made in baseball. One day last week I was walking to work along 5th Avenue and I noticed a female TV reporter with her crew. She was asking some men passing by a question, but did not ask me the same. As I was waiting at the corner I heard her asking the men walking if they were Yankee fans. Presumably she was asking about the bidding for the Japaneese pitcher. I was itching to go over to her and explain that I was a die hard Yankee fan and give my take, but I was stupid and talked myself out of it which I really regret. It really bothers me that they just assume that women can't be Yankee fans and just target the men, which I guess is understandable, but I have wanted to fight against that stereotype/assumption for a long time. That was my shot to help that cause and I failed by not stepping up and saying something and it really bothered me. I hope next time I will stand up and speak my mind and let my views be heard.

Looking Back and Moving Foward

2006-11-04T18:38:00.000-05:00

Because this is going to be my 50th post I waited until I had some breathing time to sit down and write it. It is a huge milestone for me because I just started my blog on a whim. I was sitting at home after graduating college and I was in the midst of deciding what path I wanted to take in life. As I made life altering decisions I decided to try blogging as a forum to express my feeling on these issues and many others in the hopes that it would help me sort things out. This blog also allowed be to do some writing on the Yankees, Devils, and any other sports topics that caught my fancy. I didn't have many people to talk sports with on a daily basis so my writing allowing me to express my opinions, elation, and disappointments.

During these last few months I have been through my share of tough times, trials, tears, and finding a new resolve. I have chosen to take the path less traveled and follow my dream instead of others' expectations. I am still on a mission to finding completion. I can now end my search for a sports job, thank G-d, because I have found my dream job and my path in life. I can tell you it is not easy, the road is long and hard, you get a lot of NOs and criticism, and you have to be willing to give on making money right away. I will always run into people, including my parents, who will trivialize what I do even now that I found a good job, but I love what I do and that's is what's most important.

Some random notes. Last week when walking back to my Dad's office I say three fire trucks blocking part of the street. As I got closer I realized they were at my Dad's building and I got very nervous. It turns out someone called them because the lobby smelled of kerosene/oil. When I realized that there was no danger it was fun to see 30 (mostly very hot) firefighters checking out every nook of the building. I should have taken pictures, but I didn't think of it at the time. I made my way upstairs and made a quick stop in the bathroom and as I was washing my hands I heard male voices and radios. They knocked on the door and moved on. When I came out there were five firfighters checking the top floor we exchanged hellos and they left. Also, earlier in the week I walked my Abercrombie again on my way into work and say the model once again standing just inside the enterance. This time he was wearing his trademark low rise jeans paired with an open puffer coat to reveal his bare chest.

Finally, I would like to thank all my readers for coming by. Most of all I thank all my commenters for their support, advice, and opinions. It has been fun and this blogged has helped me through some of the tough times. Here is to more good times still to come, overcoming the challenges that lay ahead, and doing more to help make a difference in the world.

Random note

2006-10-25T15:02:00.000-04:00

One day recently when I was walking in the city I decided to stop in Abercrombie after walking for 40 blocks. It was an unusually warm day outside and there were what looked like a few Abecrombie models hanging out outside the store. As I walked into the store there was another model standing in front of the Abercrombie larger than life photo of another model only dressed in jeans. A photographer was standing there and snapping pictures. This model was dressed to look like the photo. He was shirtless. Now don’t get me wrong, he had a very nice chest, but you don’t usually expect to came face to face with shirtless males in a store. I don’t know if he was taking pictures for an ad or with customers, but I had no plans on standing around to find out. Although that would have made one beautiful picture with his arm around my shoulder ;-).

Oh, and I decided to become a Giants fan so that I can start debating this popular sports topic online. I listened to my first game Monday night, which they won 36-22. It was fun to listen to the game on the radio, but I do not think I will ever get into it, the way I have with baseball and hockey, without being able to watch the games on TV.

No Time

2006-10-18T23:11:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the long delay between posts, but I have just started getting very busy. When I do have time I have no computer. When I have a computer I am working on things for my new job.

I was planning on analyzing the collapse of the Yankees and what I thought had gone wrong. However, after Lidle's tragic death none of it really seemed important anymore and that event put everything in perspective. All I have to say is that A-Rod better be back next year, but the criticism will never cease because once again he failed in the playoffs this season.

Over the hollidays my grandfather actaully gave me a deadline. One which I do not plan on reaching, know I will not reach, and I am happy to be missing this deadline. He told me I have to be engaged in two months. I told him no, not happening, sorry. So he decided to be "nice" and extend it to six months. At that point I was no longer listening as he went on his rant about how I have been fooling around and I have to get serious or I will never get married. I had to hold the phone away from my ear so that I wouldn't raise my voice. All of my other cousins over age 18 (except) one are all married and either have kids or are pregnant. You would think he would be satisfied with that, but no. All I have been hearing from him and most of my family for the past 4 years is why aren't I married yet. Hurry up they all tell me. I try to smile and say at the right time, but enough is enough. You don't really believe things will happen at the right time if you question why I am not married yet.

I do not feel the need to listen to the pressure family and society tries to place on me. I refuse to settle. I believe that when the right time comes things will fall into place. Until now I definitely was not ready for marriege. I am happy with my single life and I don't care what others think. I will do what's best for me and not what is best for everyone else or at least what they think is best. So they can "noo noo" all they want and drag over shadchanim to meet me, but I am going to do things my way and the sooner they realize that the better (although I don't think they will until I do get married). That wedding will definitely shock them. Have some faith in G-d that He will take care of things and they cannot rush it along. I do.

How...

2006-10-09T21:19:00.000-04:00

So much to talk about, but unfortunately the sports must come first. The comments will come later. The wound is still too fresh to give you my opinions on what I think went wrong. The one person who can make up for it is long gone.

This poem was inspired by the Yankee collapse. I know some of you will say it is just a game, but it was more than a game to me, way more. It was my escape when things were going bad. A comfort zone. Yankee baseball was almost like another friend who didn't tear me down verbally. This season I had had enough "waiting for next years" to last me a while.

waiting
hoping
wishing
dreaming
whatever it takes
to win
striving to be
the best
achieve greatness
yet
the ultimate
reamains
elusive

unreal
in denial
disbelief
can't be
impossible
how
can this happen
AGAIN

distraught
dejected
let down
frustrated
angry
disgusted
another
missed opportunity
best yet
painful

blurry vision
just need
to knock
some sense
into...
wake up
do something
you can't win
by doing nothing
show some emotion
show you care
show that
it means something
put up a fight

can't pretend
it didn't happen
the world
won't let me
forget
but
give me
some time
back off
let me lick
my wounds
let reality
sink in

obviously
meant to be
G-d wanted it
but
it doesn't mean
I have to
like it

ALDS Game 1

2006-10-05T01:17:00.000-04:00

I started this post this morning, but I didn't get very far before I had to abandon it for work. It's now 10pm and thanks to the rain which has canceled Game 2 I have time to finish, although it will be short, sweet, and to the point.

October baseball begins. I can't believe it is playoff time again. Let the battles begin.

Overall it was a great game. Wang pitched pretty well, he did not have his best stuff but he piched well enough to win decisively. So the question most people have is why did Torre take Wang out in the 7th with only 2 outs. He had only thrown 93 pitches and was on a roll having retired the last 6 Tigers. Why would Torre venture into a shaky bullpen if he didn't have to?

Torre went to Myers to face a lefty and try to get the last out in the 7th. But Myers has not looked good for most of August and September. He was on the verge of striking out Granderson, but a foul tip kept him alive. Then Granderson turned on a pitch and hit it out of the park. The only reason Myers is on the team is to get out lefties and last night he failed big time. So then in trots Proctor. Proctor was great in the regular season, but he had the most relief appearances in the major leagues. Lat night he was not as sharp a usual when he let the first 2 batters reach base. Even I started to get a little nervous, but he got the last out. On comes Farnsworth for the 9th. he is usually an all or nothing guy and it looked like a nothing night when he threw his first 6 pitches for balls. When he let the tying run come to the plate I was really squirming and waiting for Mo in the 9th. I knew the bullpen was tired, but I didn't think they would be this bad. Well at least farnsworth will get his night off (said sarcastically).

I was also very worried about Sheff. Sure he is a great athlete, but he has only played first base for a little more than a week. I thought there was a very real possibility of him making a big error (or being unable to complete a crucial DP)and costing us the game. So far things are looking good and I can't complain. he even made a spectacular (I thought) stretch for an inning ending DP and ending up in a split position.

Great offense. The lineup, dubbed Murderers Row and the Cano by the Tigers, was all that and more. They got 5 runs in the 3rd, had 6 straight hits, and it all started with a little infield single by Damon. Abreu went 2 for 4 with 4 big RBIs. A-Rod had great at bats. Jeet was his usual october self and then some when he went 5 for 5 with 2 singles, 2 doubles, a homer, and a curtain call. After his homer A-Rod was the first one up the dugout steps to greet him. 2 of Jeter's hits created rallies that changed the game.

Tino threw out the first pitch. I missed it :-( because I only got to my friend's house in the bottom of the first to watch the game. He is such a classy guy and my favorite Yankee. I really miss him.

One last side note. the Devils signed Brian Gionta to a 3 year $12 million deal. He had amazing numbers last season. Very happy they brought him back. Maybe this year I will finally get to go and catch a game.

End result: Yankees 8 Tigers 4

Quick Note

2006-10-03T16:17:00.000-04:00

I have submitted a short story to Elster's Storytellers. Check it out if you dare.
http://elstersstorytellers.blogspot.com/2006/10/not-quite-perfect-bellany.html
This is the first short story I have ever written and while I enjoyed the experiment it will not become my new career.

Also, be sure to check out this link on the Isreal Baseball League tryouts (a short summary shown on MLB.com).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng-vSve9VZQ

More updates to follow as the Yankees begin their playoff series against the Detroit Tigers. GO YANKEES!!

Shawn Green

2006-09-26T21:59:00.000-04:00

I was excited when Shawn Green came to the Mets. Even though I am not a Mets fan, I thought it would be fun to have a Jewish player on a New York baseball team. I was also proud of his decision not to play on Yom Kippur in L.A.. But I was dissappointed that he decided to play on Rosh Hashana. After all the Mets have already clinched so there is no pennant race and the games mean nothing. In New York it would be even more acceptable because we are home to the largest Jewish community in the U.S.. Furthermore, he will not have to miss any time for Yom Kippur because it comes right after the last regular season game and before the playoffs start.

Shawn was very excited to come to New York and get involved in the Jewish life here. He recognizes his role as a Jewish ballplayer even though he is not really observent at all. Do you think he should have played on Rosh Hashana in NY?

Magic Number 0

2006-09-21T20:07:00.000-04:00

It’s official. The New York Yankees have just clinched their 9th straight AL East division title. This title was wrapped up after the Yankees swept the five game series in Boston, but it was just a matter of finalizing the inevitable (there were some technicalities to dispose of first). Boston came through one last time for the Yankees and their fans as they lost to the Twins, enabling New York to clinch despite losing a close game 3-2 to Toronto. When Roy Halliday made an early exit last night I thought we might manage to pull off a win even though half of the regulars were missing from the lineup. Although they came up just short last night, the other two rookies left impressions after pitching well and sticking it out for the win.

This year was a special celebration. This season the Yankees blew out the division and did not back into the title. There was no race to the wire, but to clinch was just as gratifying. They fought hard, battled many injuries, worked through pitching problems, gave the fans a scare or two, and overcame deficits. There were times when it looked like this was just not there year as the injuries heaped up and as their game deteriorated. But, looking back over the course of the season they are arguably the best team going into the playoffs; not the hottest just the best. This celebration was different. It was more emotional and there was a giddiness due in part to the many “kids” on this younger and fresher Yankee team. The clincher last night certainly lifted my sagging spirits. (And even though they clinched in Toronto there were Yankee fans making themselves seen and heard throughout the ballpark. There were fans waving Yankee flags behind the dugout and others holding signs.)

Torre did a great job of managing this team. He rolled with the punches and found a way to win. Cashman, too, did a spectacular job of bringing people to the team out of nowhere. Bruney was an amazing find to bolster a tired bullpen. As for Abreu, he is the perfect fit, helped get the Yankees over the last hump, and will be an important contributor the rest of the time he is here. The only problem I have with Torre is that he once again mismanaged the bullpen and tired out key guys like Proctor and Villone. Mo absence has not helped matters and he did not have many good options in the bullpen much of the season, but you can only hope the bullpen will not fall apart from exhaustion.

I will not even begin to discuss the SI cover article on A-Rod now. Definitely interesting to hear about, but I have no patience to analyze it at the moment. Too much to say.

One of the Yankee radio broadcasters, Suzyn Waldman, is taking off because of the “Jewish holliday” (Rosh Hashanah). Nice to see. Tino Martinez will be joining John Sterling in her place. He is one of my all time Yankee favorites and I am not happy that I am missing it. Maybe this will become a more regular occurrence because after seven years I am beginning to tire of John Sterling and I never thought I would say that. I miss Michael Kay in the booth. He was so much more entertaining to listen to. Although I still listen to his espn show.

Mo is just rarin’ to go. Joe said to him, “We did it without you, but no more.” Reenter Sandman.

Finally, I would like to officially congratulate all the Mets fans out there who read my blog. I know there are quite a few of you. Good luck in the playoffs and maybe we'll meet again down the road. The best team in the AL vs the best team in the NL. New York vs New York. It could happen.

This is just the beginning. The best is yet to come.

Back Again

2006-09-13T12:17:00.000-04:00

Sorry for my infrequent posts. My internet was broken for another week and a half. This time my Dad was the culprit. He pulled out a wire and did not tell anyone. I had a whole post on A-Rod’s breakout week, but that is old news already. So this is going to be my first sports post in a while. Last night's game (Yanks won 12-4) raised a lot of questions even while answering others.

Matsui made his long awaited return from the DL last night. Despite being out since May 11, he went 4 for 4 as a DH. The rust did not show at all last night, but the Tampa Bay does not have top quality pitching. It was great to hear the standing ovations for him every time he came to the plate. Supposedly the Japaneese are having a "holiday" in honor of his return. (Because Matsui has now taken over as DH, Bernie will unfortunately lose almost all his playing time.)

Sheff is still MIA, but he took batting practice yesterday and should be back soon. But where would he play? Rightfield is taken, centerfield is taken, leftfield is taken, and DH is taken for now. One option being discussed is maybe having Sheff play first instead of Giambi. While Giambi is not a good defensive first baseman and tends to pull things while playing, would Sheff be an upgrade?

Another question that I do not know the answer to is what will happen to the chemistry of the time with the return of Sui and Sheff who were gone most of the year. The Yankees became a great team without them and are cruising along right now. As of now I would almost like to see the team as is in the playoffs (they deserve it), but if Sui and Sheff produce that is not going to happen.

Moos pitched a great game last night. It was only his second start after coming off the DL. He did not look good in his first start, but this time he pitched like the old Moos. Through 6 and 1/3 innings Moos gave up only 5 hits (2 were bloops), no walks, and pitched economically. If he continues pitching like that then the starting rotation will do fine in the playoffs. Moos, Johnson, and Wang can be dominant. Even Wright's last two starts have been great. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Jeter is still one of the top contenders for MVP and he is only 4 percentage points behind Mauer for the batting title (with almost 100 at-bats more). But before last night game he also had a 21 game hit streak going. A hit streak that Jeter plays down and Torre forgot about. Last night Jeter had 3 walks and was also hit by a pitch. Since the Yankees had a 12-0 lead, Torre took him out in the 7th for a pintch hitter. Torre felt so bad that he forgot and went over and apologized. Many thought that the streak had ended at 21, but it turns out that since he did not have an official at-bat the streak is still alive. Jeter also has 92 RBI and will most definitely reach 100. As a number 2 hitter that is a great stat and should help his bid for MVP.

Abreu was outstanding last night when he knocked in 7 runs. In the first inning alone he had 6 RBIs (supposedly the record is 9 for most RBIs in one inning) as the team scored 9 runs. He has been more than anyone could have asked for. Oh, and Cairo made his return from the DL too when he came in for Cano in the 7th. Finally, Cano has quietly been having a great sophmore year. His batting average is .335, but he doesn't have enough at-bats yet to qualify for the batting title, although he should accumulate enough before the season ends.

Fun times!

MEME

2006-08-30T23:06:00.000-04:00

Here is my long awaited MEME. There is a first time for everything.

Things I want to do before dying:
** find my soulmate…
make aliyah
get a job I love
touch the lives of others
travel
take photography courses
learn to play the drums (well ;-)
dance- ballroom, salsa, hip hop…
see the coming of Moshiach
have no regrets

Things I cannot do:
** say no
be pushy

Things I can do:
** dream
procrastinate
listen
talk sports
talk politics
have fun

Things I want in a mate:
** here’s a peek
someone outgoing to bring out my loud side
sensitivity
spontaneity
sense of humor
open minded
not judgmental
honesty
hopefully a best friend

Things I say most often:
** maybe yes maybe no
search me
Go Yankees J
no problem

Book I love:
** Exodus
Tom Clancy collection
select John Grisham books- especially The Firm
Three Nights in August
to name a few

Movies that I love:
** too many and a little of everything
TV shows- 24, prison Break, Grey’s Anatomy, YES, ESPN

I'm Back

2006-08-24T22:59:00.000-04:00

I'm back and boy does it feel great! So much to say. Verizon finally agreed to come to my house and fix the problem. It took more than a month of phone calls back and forth with Verizon saying everything will be up and running again the next day. They made about 20 automated calls saying that we had service and we would have to call them back. We went around in circles. Anyways, enough on the horror story.

I really missed blogging. I missed the trade deadline. I missed writing about my first Mets game (which I may recap). I missed putting up my poetry. I missed the routine. I missed the release, letting it all out. I missed the comments and the debates...

Oh and I missed being able to write a post on First Place. I will be the first one to tell you that "It Ain't Over Till It's Over," but things are looking mighty good in Yankeeland after the Yankees grueling five game sweep in Boston.

Since the computer is now in immediate demand I will post my MEME, as promised, tomorrow.

Far Too Long

2006-08-09T15:00:00.000-04:00

Well unfortunately the silence has gone on for far too long, totally unintentional that this was my last (but not final) post. The saga began 3 weeks ago when my dad wanted to cancel one of the land lines at home and DSL planned to switch its service to another line. But then after a week of trying to install the temporary dial-up Verizon realized that the DSL internet service would only work on the line they canceled. However, they still have not turned the service back on despite hours spent on the phone. Needless to say I am not a happy camper. Today is just a temporary break in the silence. I do not have internet service back. I am in the city using another computer. So many things have happened in the past few weeks, but many of the moments are now lost as I will not recapture them here.

I do not like blogging on my friend’s computer, but I will try to catch up and leave comments. Hopefully, I will be back on full time sometime in the near future. Thanks for the tag Scraps. I will get on it asap.

And I can’t end without a few words on the surging Yankees. First place feels awesome and the trade deadline acquisitions worked out perfectly. I will leave you with a song as I am slowly moving on.

"And how could we quit something we never even tried,
Well you still can't tell me why.

We built it up,
To watch it fall.
Like we meant nothing at all.
I gave and gave the best of me,
But couldn't give you what you need.
You walked away,
You stole my life,
Just to find what your looking for.
But no matter how I try,
I can't hate you anymore
....I can't hate you anymore.

Your not the person who you used to be,
The one I want who wanted me,
And that's a shame but,
There's only so many tears that you can cry.
Before it drains the light right from your eyes,
And I can't go on that way.
And so I'm letting of everything we were,
It doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. "
………………….

Silence

2006-07-19T13:06:00.000-04:00

Say something
Anything
I can’t stand the silence
Anymore
It’s eating away at me

I sit
I wait
I hope
But all that greets me
Day after day
Is silence
More of the same
Nothing changes

Unavailable
Just out of reach
Out of sight
Out of sound
Out of range
But not out of mind

The silence
Continues
Tears at me
Builds
To a crescendo
It’s all I hear

There’s no music
Just silence
With occasional flashes
Of light
That penetrate
My bubble
My world

Like a smile of joy
At a memory
But mostly wistful

It’s over
The silence
Yells
But I ignore it
Wait
Patiently
Impatiently
For the silence
To be
Broken

Ignore
The little voice
Inside
That tells me
The wait
Is in vain

Because
One sound
Still resonates
Loud and clear
Hope
Those last words:
I’ll
Talk
To
You
Later

So
I’ve waited
Long enough
It’s time
For you to
To come out
From hiding
And

Say something
Anything
I can’t stand the silence
Anymore
It’s eating away at me

Just Another Weekend

2006-07-17T12:17:00.000-04:00

Just another weekend gone by.

Late Friday afternoon, as I was cooking for shabbos, I accidentally cut my finger with a nail. It was not just any nail, but my own fingernail that turned against me. The cut was so deep that it took 3 hours of standing and sitting with my hand above my head and either applying pressure or wrapping it too tight to stop the bleeding. No swimming for me.

Saturday night I spent most of the time writing down all the thoughts that had been going on in my head. It was frustrating that I couldn’t write anything down, but I managed to remember most of it.

On Sunday we went to visit my sister in camp. My grandfather came with us in the car. Him and my Dad are always at odds and arguing over which way is best. So naturally most of the way they were arguing over which way was faster. My grandfather kept chiming in that the way we were going had more traffic and took at least 7 minutes longer and we would have made it faster his way. This only caused my Dad to speed (a little more than the usual 15 mph over the speed limit). There were 6 of us in a six-seater car and I was sitting in the middle seat of the back row with my grandfather next to me. He has a very high pitched voice and when he argues he tends to scream. Needless to say without my Discman to distract me, I was not happy.

Anyway, the weekend ended very well. The Yankees swept their huge 3 game series with the White Sox to begin their second half with a bang. They have quietly moved up in the standings and are only a half game behind the AL East leading Red Sox and only 3 games in back of the White Sox in the wild card race. Go Yankees!

Hope

2006-07-11T21:10:00.000-04:00

Hope
Sneaks into
My dreams
Can’t let it die
Haunting me
Maybe eventually
My dreams
Will come true
But how long will I have to wait
I can’t
Waste my life
Away
So I try
To file it away
To pick up
The pieces of
My heart
And move on

Trying
To put on
A brave front
But
Aching
Deep inside
The pain
That just won’t
Go away
Even with time
Scaring me
Because I can’t
Forget
Frustrated
That there’s something
Holding me back

Craving
What I can’t have
Despising the silence
When there’s nothing
More for me to say
And no word
From you
It’s not up to me
Anymore
But in
Someone else’s hands
Out of my control

But still I
Can’t lose hope
Can’t lose faith
Because without it
There would be
Nothing left
Who would I be
Without my
Hopes and dreams
I would fall apart

Let's Call it Even

2006-07-05T14:54:00.000-04:00

I meant to post earlier, but… Awesome subway series that ended with both teams going 3-3. Both teams were pretty evenly matched at the start of the season, but the Yankees were considered the underdogs (especially in 2nd round) due to injuries and standings. Bragging rights go to no one yet.

I was dying to watch the game, but because it didn’t start until 9:15 I couldn’t go to a friend’s house to watch it. So while I didn’t get maximum enjoyment from the game, it came pretty close. In the top of the second when the Mets took a 4-0 lead I thought the Yanks were in big trouble. Torre took Wright out and brought Villone (won the game Friday night when he took over for Moos after the rain delay) in before the inning had ended. The Yankee offense had been slumbering (Yankees were second in runs scored in May and second to last in runs scored in June) and it didn’t seem likely that the Mets would stop at 4. Posada hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second and in the 3rd the Yankees really had an offensive breakout. Nick Green gave life to the inning when he walked and stole second…fast forwarding to a few batters later… after Soler was slow in covering first I thought, “haha, here we come”… A-Rod up with the bases loaded no one out big clutch situation and he came though big time with a GRAND SLAM and the Yankees snatched the lead 6-4. When A-Rod reached home plate la Duca had some words for him. I didn’t see the grand slam so I can’t give my opinion of whether he was showing up the pitcher, but the Mets are a young and very emotional team. Are the Yankees, especially the beleaguered A-Rod, not allowed to let out their emotions? A-Rod was pushed out of the dugout for a curtain call by his teammates. He has had 3 homers in his last 4 games. In the 7th inning fans were even chanting his name throughout his at bat, but when he made out there were some boos, although I think they were sarcastic.

Anyways I won’t get into the rest of the details, but it was an awesome game.

Back to the present. After losing 2 games to Cleveland this was a game the Yankees had to win with Moos going. They did not disappoint. They had been scoring about 2 runs per game (excluding the subway series finale) so they manufactured runs. Every chance a Yankee player got, he would steal (6 of 6). Once they got started they didn’t stop. The bottom o the lineup really contributed tonight with Cabrera’s grand slam the biggest blow. Chris Wilson looked like a nice surprise as he made his Yankee day view and pitched 2 perfect innings of scoreless relief. Mo came in for the 9th in desperate need of some work and they won 11-3.

After Wright’s and Chacon’s latest disasters the Yanks desperately need another reliable pitcher if they are going to win with there depleted offense. What they wouldn’t give to have Andy Pettitte back. I knew they were really stupid for letting him go then and he was my favorite pitcher (he pitched in my first baseball game). Now they’ll have to give up just as much, if not more, just to rent a guy if they are going to make the playoffs.

In 83 games the Mets went 49-34 and are in first place by 10.5 games, and in 82 games the Yanks are 47-35 and 3 games in back of the Red Sox for first place. They have just about the same record. But their positions are totally different. Oh and the Devil Rays have just won 3 straight over Boston and the Yanks finally pick up a game in the standings.

Clutch

2006-06-28T17:37:00.000-04:00

Even more thrilling than the 4-3 win was A-Rod's statement to the fans. They want clutch, well he gave them clutch. The Yankees were losing the game 3-2 in the bottom of the 12th when A-Rod stepped to the plate. The game was close to a must win if they wanted to keep pace with the red hot Sox. Atlanta is a team they should beat. They were 7-7 in interleague against a weaker NL and fell behind the AL leaders. Basically, the Yankees were in trouble and needed to win the series. The pressure was on high.

This time A-Rod put a stop to all the boos as he hit a WALKOFF 2 run home run (and had 3 RBIs). Most of the fans in the stadium and on talk shows had been showering him with boos the whole season, and especially the past month, before, during, and after every at bat. It could not get any worse. After his MVP year and winning AL player of the month in May, he was having the worst month of his career. He was 2 for his last 20 (but he has been walking a lot and can get on base). But even though he was slumping the fans had no right to treat him so abominably. They went overboard. It is like they want to hate him. Fans have a right to boo a player, but use some judgement and moderation. As A-Rod said, "Boos don't help me, booing is part of the game but understand you're not helping." Fans should get rid of their short term memory and give the guy a chance. Don't go right back to booing him on Friday is he doesn't get that big homer or game winning base hit.

During this whole saga with A-Rod, he has become one of my favorite players. Not many players would put up with that kind of reception. A-Rod sucked it up even though he is very sensetive and the boos really hurt him. He keeps going out there and works harder than ever. He never makes excuses for himself and does not hide from the media. I have a lot of respect for him. I can't wait to see the highlight and the pure exhileration on his face as he flipped his helmet in the air.

A-Rod is one of the greatest players ever to play the game. He is a great all around player with offense, defense, speed, and a great arm. He came to New York knowing he would be switching positions even though he was an All-Star and Gold Glove shortstop. He made concessions to come here and win a championship and he will stay here until he does. Furthermore, I think fans should remember that he is a human being, a great guy, and a perfect role model for all kids. Yes he makes a lot of money (Jeter only makes 5 million less), but he gives so much back. A-Rod is someone kids can look up to. He plays the game the way it's supposed to be played, he doesn't take steroids, and he has good values ... A-Rod is not a player that just sits back and cruises now that he has his big contract. He goes out there and works harder than everyone else. There is never a lack of effort or not running out ground balls, but sometimes trying too hard hurts him.

Michael Kay had a great interview with A-Rod right after the game on 1050 ESPN radio (if they post it on the website I will give out the link). A-Rod really opened up and showed the fans the person behind the player. He also said straight out, "I've been pretty close to awful." During the interview his wife was there (because they were on their way home) and she said that she almost got into fights trying to tell people to "shut the hell up" and stop booing her husband. I felt so good for him that he finally shut the fans up temporarily. He doesn't deserve the treatment he gets from the fans and the media.

The only thing I'm going to say about the game is that Wang pitched great, Mo was Mo, and the bullpen was not so great but only gave up one run to Atlanta. So if the pitching and offense can work together and grit it out the Yankees can win. The starting pitching has been stellar with the exception of Chacon. They have enough talent to get through the injuries. But they do need a few people to step it up offensively, namely Giambi and A-Rod who are starting to pick up the team. The Yankees need A-Rod the most right now and he wants so desperately to help the team. Hopefully this will get him on his way, but fans can certainly help by getting behind him. Remember, he is on your team. You go A-Rod!

I am going out to buy an A-Rod jersey whether it is on sale or not!

Another Yankee Goes Down

2006-06-28T01:34:00.000-04:00

I really need a punching bag right now, but since I don't have one I'll take out my frustration on the keyboard. No, not because the Yankees lost. Even though I am a hardcore fan I do have my priorities in order.

Robbie Cano was just put on the 15 day DL (retroactive to Monday). He is the 3rd member of the Yankee starting lineup to be out for an extended period of time. Even though he will hopefully not be gone for more than 2 weeks, when you add this to the major gaps already there, it is a devestating blow. The Yankees are a totally different team. Cano was a .325 hitter this season and he will be replaced by Cairo, who is a great stand in player, but does not come close to Cano's offensive talent. I know this team has grit, but they have been struggling of late. How much bad news an bad breaks can a team handle (even a team like the Yankees)? That being said, the team has gotten a lot younger, which can be a good thing.

Last night, the depleted offense could not capitalize on a great start by Wright, who only gave up one run in 6 innings. The bullpen gave away 4 more runs and the offense only managed 2. (Now Chacon seems to be the only one who has to straighten things out on the starting rotation.) With all the injuries to star players the Yankees do not have any room for mistakes. If the pitchers hold up their end of the deal, then the offense must find a way to score enough runs to get by.

After Atlanta the Yankees have a huge weekend series against the Mets who definitely have the offense and pitching to sweep this Yankee team. The Mets weren't even able to take care of Boston (so far) for the Yankees so that they could have a little more room for error as they try to keep pace. I am rooting hard for the Mets to win the next 2 games against Boston.

Cashman said that Cano will not be able to play in the All-Star game. He was leading the ballot for American League second basemen, and he really deserved the honor after the great year he is having. So much for the AL roster of a Yankee infield (Cano, Jeter, A-Rod, and Giambi and Posada on reserves) vs. Red Sox outfield (Manny, Nixon and Crisp in running, Varitak catching, Ortiz at 1st, and Loretta and Lowell runners up for 2nd and 3rd). That would have been great to watch.

As of this morning the Yankees are 3.5 games behind Boston. The Yankees have gone 5-5 in their last 10 games while the Red Sox are cruising along as they ride a 10 game winning streak. The good news is, Boston can't keep up that pace forever. Too tired to continue to try to make some sense.

First Move

2006-06-21T19:17:00.000-04:00

Bold
Daring
Aggressive
Terrifying

Keep making the first move
Going after what I want

Conflicted
Trying to hold out
Waiting for you
To make the first move
Waiting tears me up inside
Holding back
Trying not to push
Can’t push you away
But you need a push

Indecision
Tiptoe
Tentative step
Big step
Or leap of faith
All the way

Fear
Afraid of chasing you away
But even more afraid to wait
Afraid with time
You’ll forget
And I’ll lose
My place

Terrified
To be rejected
Heartbroken
To lose all hope

Yet
Losing my pride
Beats
A lifetime
Of regret
Of what if

So
Time is up
Your turn is over
I can’t wait any longer
I’m not leaving
Anything to chance
I’m either going to
Break the door down
Or close it forever
I’m making my move

…what about you?

Yankee Thoughts

2006-06-20T22:39:00.000-04:00

This Yankees win was a long time in coming making it that much sweeter. Before tonight, they lost 3 in a row and 7 of their last 10. The Yankees had been playing really well despite being plagued by injuries. However, lately the injuries have been taking their toll. They cannot seem to beat the weaker teams: when they get the run support then the pitchers struggle and when they get great pitching and length there is no run support. The Yanks are losing games they should win and blowing the leads they do get. But, despite this bad stretch I am not down yet. Slowly the injured will start crawling back, players will come out of their slumps (although Wang and Johnson seem to have righted the wrong), and the Yankees will most definitely make some sort of deal in the near future either for an outfielder (because I think there is no way they resign Sheff after injuries will cause him to miss almost the whole season) or a starting pitcher, maybe both. Thus far, they are sticking it out with Boston in the battle for first. The Yankees will start winning again and there is more than half the season to play.

Moving on, A-Rod has struggled of late. Anyone can see that. But, enough with the boos. Sure he makes a lot of money, but if someone offered you that contract would you turn it down?? He is human just like the rest of us. Give him some space. You know he'll pull out of his slump. After all he did win the MVP last season. A-Rod plays his heart out and is his own harshest critic. If a majority of the fans at the games cheered and got behind him with standing ovations maybe they would get better results. A-Rod has being doing better of late. Stop pointing to every failed at bat and look at the at bats he excels, some of which have been overshadowed in the midst of the recent losses. For example, this week on Sunday he had an RBI double that gave the Yanks the lead at the time (lost after giving up a walkoff homer), some key walks in big situations, and one of the game tying RBI singles in tonight's game.

Moos pitched OK, but has not had a win in his last 3 starts (8-3). It is too bad he didn't stick around long enough to get one tonight. I would love for him to finally have a 20 win season this year. He gave up 5 runs on 2 homers to the same batter, Howard, who actually knocked in all 7 Philli runs. Otherwise I thought he was fine.

Bernie has been a lifesaver for the Yanks. He is batting .290 and was 5 for 5 tonight. If they hadn't resigned him they would be lost. All the yankee fans at the game were chanting his name after each big hit, just like they do at every home game.

One funny milestone, Mo had his first ever major league at bat after all his years in the majors. He struck out on 3 pitches. All the Yankees in the dugout were watching intently and laughing at him. When he walked back to the dugout the Yankee fans sitting behind the dugout were all high fiving him. Mo pretended to be disgusted with himself and laughed too. That's how it was described on radio. I wish I could have seen it. Priceless.

Overall it was a great game because they kept coming back to tie and eventually took the lead for good in the 8th after rallying for 4 runs. Mo came on to close out the game in the bottom of the 8th. They really needed this win. And of course there was a dramatic ending. There were 2 outs and 2 runners on on 2 pop fly typical Rivera hits and Howard was up (had knocked in all 7 runs). But, you just knew Mo would not let the team down, and sure enought he came through and got a groundout to end the game. Ballgame over. Yankees win. Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yaaaaaankeeeeeeeeeeees Win!! I couldn't resist that :-).

Daily Dose of Starbucks

2006-06-17T21:42:00.000-04:00

Part of NYC culture… no matter what time of day you can see someone walking around with a Starbucks cup… a quick double shot in the morning after a long night… a businessman/woman, white collar, blue collar, dress down, tourist, student, intern who gets the morning or afternoon coffee for everyone trying to balance it all and make sure they have everything right, anyone and everyone…so many choices, too many decisions, overwhelming at times… hot drinks, cold drinks, ice or no ice, tall, grande, vente, the customers who order the same thing every morning, the ones who like a little variation, those who take it black, those who take it without sugar, those who take it with milk, whole, fat free, or half and half, those who just get a regular or decaf “plain”, no Starbucks is plain, or the long fancy names with lots of flavors, low fat, choice or whipped cream, chock full of calories… your choice defines you for that moment, reveals your mood… just the coffee, with a piece of cake, a cookie, or bagel… getting a Starbucks because it is the chic thing to do… Starbucks card, cash, credit card, to stay and sit, or to go and on the run... the Starbucks in your building, around the corner, down the block, or even, gasp, 2 blocks down and one avenue over, every Starbucks blending with the surrounding, a Starbucks every 2 blocks, yet they all survive… it’s all still your daily dose of Starbucks… Love the notes on the side of the cup… some food for thought to start your day… I’m addicted

Starbucks…can’t remember life without it

Road Trip

2006-06-14T11:04:00.000-04:00

Unpredictable

Thunderstorms
Traffic
Tolls

EZPass
Go
Paid

Gas
Mileage
Time
Speed
Rush Hour

Stop
Go
Stop
Go

Directions
Getting lost
Turning around
Are we there yet

Noise
Laughter
Fun

Arguements
Stress

Silence
Sleep
Nap time

Gum
Cell phone
Camera
Music
Handy

Car partners
Make it
Or break it

On time
Nice try

The New and the Old

2006-06-07T21:52:00.000-04:00

With the rainout tonight, I have plenty of time on my hands to comment on last night's game. The Yankees pulled off a 2-1 win against their biggest rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in a game that featured a great blend of both the new and the old. Wang, a new sensation last year after coming to the big leagues, was shaky early. Unlike last season, he has been very inconsistent of late and it's hard to know which pitcher will take the mound on a given night. But, despite throwing almost 50 pitches in the first two innings, Wang battled to keep the Yankees in the game and pitched through the seventh. The only run he gave up was a monster solo shot to Ortiz. Farnsworth pitched a scoreless eighth. Then “Enter Sandman” blared as Mo came on to close out the game in the ninth. Mo was back to his reliable self after back pain sidelined him for a few games.

Jeter was out for his second game in a row so Cairo started at shortstop. Philips once again took his place at first base relegating Giambi to DH. Andy is a far superior defensive first baseman and because he has been hot of late he is “forcing” Torre to continue playing him. Bernie has been taking Sheffield’s place in right field and sometimes spelling Damon in center. Without Bernie I don’t know where the Yankees would be. He has saved the team from falling apart in the outfield and has really contributed with his bat. Sure enough, Bernie came through again with a solo homer to tie the game at one. The fans went crazy and chanted his name until he came out for a curtain call. I could hear the stadium shaking.

But, the night was not over yet. The Yankees managed to scratch out a run with two outs in the seventh. They started a rally on Cairo’s infield single (that rolled right below the glove of the pitcher), Johnny Damon singled, and Cabrera walked. That brought Giambi to the plate and, after what seemed like a really long at bat, he worked a walk to force home a run (the game winning run).

The game seemed to be winding down with two outs in the eighth as Farnsworth dug in to face Manny Ramirez. But, then the stadium became very quiet as Manny smacked a long fly ball that seemed destined to be a home run. The whole outfield had been playing him very deep and both Cabrera and Damon sprinted into action to try and chase the ball down. At the last second both players jumped, and Cabrera raised his glove over the wall to bring back Manny’s home run to save the game and preserve the Yankees’ ownership of first place. As he was coming down with the ball in his glove he hit with wall with enough force that he fell face first onto the field. Cabrera’s game saving catch to rob Manny of a game tying home run was unbelievable. Some even called it the turning point of the season. The celebration/jubilation on the field by the players was electrifying. They all knew it was something special. It was great to see the exuberance from a Yankee team that is usually all corporate and serious. Baseball is fun again. The players were jumping up and down like little kids. Damon had jumped the wall with Cabrera and when he landed he pumped his fists in the air and skipped backwards. Farnsworth was staring in disbelief (it looked like he was saying holy sh--) before he hugged A-Rod and then bear hugged Melky as they walked off the field. And Susan Waldman, a Yankee broadcaster, said that the Yankees were celebrating as they walked back to the clubhouse at the end of the game.

Finally, last night there were seven Yankees who originated in the Yankee farm system: Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Chien-Ming Wang, Robby Cano, Andy Phillips, and Melky Cabrera. For once, they are playing without superstars at every position. They are playing the game how it was meant to be played and not just relying on the long ball, and I am loving it.

Pinstripes in the Park

2006-06-04T22:27:00.000-04:00

Actual date: Wednesday May 31st

On Wednesday night I went to Bryant Park for the second annual Pinstripes in the Park. The event is sponsored by Continental Airlines (and of coarse the Yankees an YES Network) who set up a huge screen in tha park so that Yankee fans can watch an away game in a mini stadium type atmosphere, or at least they try to duplicate it. Fans pincic on the grass, socialize, watch the game on a grassy field, buy ballpark concessions, and hear from Yankee greats of the past. During commercial breaks Continental had a raffle every inning (every fan was given aboarding pass with a different 5 digit flight number) to give a way 2 round trip tickets to a destination f your choice anywhere in the U.S..

I entered the park as the pregame was wrapping up and sat down middle and center. I went alone as no one I knew in the city at the time could care less about the Yankees. So I put on my headphones and waited for the game to begin. I waited, and waited, and waited some more. The game was scheduled to begin at 7:05, but right before game time storm cluods passed right above the Detroit Tiger's stadium. Everything was set up to be a great game with Moos on the mound for the Yankees and one of the Tigers' best, Robertson. The Tigers held onto first place in the AL Central division while the Yankees were fighting with Boston for first in the AL East and came into the game in a tie. As the rain delay continued people began to trickle out. They weren't interested in watching the Yankeeographies. I felt bad for all the little kids who were not able to stay for the first pitch.

Finally, after a delay of a little over an hour and a half the game began. The Yankees quickly made 2 outs in the first, but scratched a run on a Posada hit. 1-0. Moos seemed a little shaky at first as he walked the first batter of the game for the Tigers, but Cairo quickly turned a double play on a ground ball hit by the following batter. In fact, after the walk, the next 6 batters hit the ball straight to Cairo who initiated the first 6 putouts of the game. Moos looked really good. The Yankees did not score another run until the 5th and it looked to be a great pitchers duel. I had to leave in the 7th to catch my ride home.

To make a long story short, the Yanks tacked on 4 runs in the last 2 innings. Moos pitched a complete game gem, which was a G-dsend because the bullpen had been exhausted in the last 2 games. The final score was 6-1 (Detroit scored an unearned run in the 9th) and the Yanks were playing without Jeter, Damon, Sheffield (and Matsui), which made the win even sweeter.

Pinstripes in the Park is a great idea, rain delay or not. It would be great if they hosted another event during the playoffs. Now that would be fun!

Baseball Talk

2006-05-24T16:52:00.000-04:00

I would like to congradulate the Mets (and their fans) on the series win last weekend. That said, there is still another 3 games to go before bragging right are decided. All 3 games were decided by one run. The Yankees could have won all 3 and just as easily lost all 3. In the last game they had a shot to put the game away a few times, but couldn't get the big hit. One note, Bernie still has it. I loved that pop up double in game 3.

Randy Johnson is a definite liability to the Yankees until he can get his pitching back on track and adjust to his "slower" fastball. Against the Mets he gave up 6 runs in 5 innings. Randy said, "I'm not a quiter," but on the mound it certainly appears as if he's given up. There's no fire, no mean streak, no confidence. I'm almost afraid to see what will happen against Boston tonight. On his agenda, hopefully he can remember to include payback for Manny after the display he put on at home plate when he hit that big home run off Proctor. That kind of showing up is just not allowed and should not be tolerated in baseball. When you hit a home run you can't just stand at home plate and watch it go, then stand there and point to the ball, and then as a final insult point to Proctor with both hands and stare him down before finally going to jog around the bases. The Yankees had better start playing tough and drill Manny, not in the head or anywhere close, but in the ribs where he can feel it and know that his behavior will not be tolerated. Enough of the class act and soft play. Sometimes you have to do what you gotta do. Class is good, but there are limits. They gotta step up and stand up for their players. And they have to stop letting Ortiz and Manny kill them every game. Don't give them a fastball down the middle on an 0-2 count.

As for Pavano, don't get me started. I wouldn't be shocked if he never recovers. Ok, maybe that's exagerating a little, but every time he's almost there he gets another injury. I know he's working hard to get back, but this is beyond crazy. He has a 40 million dollar contract for 4 years and he hasn't pitched since June 27th (only 100 innings in a Yankee uniform and went 4-6).

Oh, and those 2 shots by A-Rod against Boston were great. I don't know why he gets hot and cold (Mets series) this season, but I hope he gets more consistent.
That's all for now.

Oh, one final note, I just heard that Jorge Julio was traded for El Duque, what do you Mets fans think of that trade?

Tease

2006-05-19T18:47:00.000-04:00

Dangled
Before my eyes
Then put away
Maybe for later
For when
I do not know
I’m sure there’s a reason

First you showed me it all
Only to snatch it away
Faster than
The blink of an eye
Something to keep my hope alive
Only to have it die
Later that day

But I can’t take much more
Of these teases
I have a limit
And my dreams
Seem to be slipping away
Just beyond my reach
I’m scared to let go

What A Comeback

2006-05-17T00:03:00.000-04:00

Where do I even begin. Another emotional rollercoaster, baseball style. The Yankees seem to have nine lives. It is impossible to fully relate what an amazing game it was, truly unbelievable, but I will try to capture some of the highlights.

First things first, the Yankees were playing without three of their top offensive players: Matsui, Sheffield, and Giambi. Chacon did not have it from the start of the game. He was behind in every count and, as a result, could only use fastballs and not his offspeed and breaking pitches, which are what enable him to get batters out (his fastball is not fast enough to use by itself). In the first inning he gave up 2 runs and could not make it through the second. I think he left when it was 5-0. Small came on to try to stop the bleeding and save the bullpen, But...he immdeietely gave up a 3 run homer. Things did not look good and at the end of the (top of the) 2nd it was 9-0 Rangers. At this point, even I was not feeling to good about things. There is always a nagging voice in the back of my mind saying, "they can come back, you know they can, you say it done last season down about 9 runs." Yanks 2nd, 1 run. Well, it's a start, but the Rangers came right back with another run in the 3rd. However, then Small was able to shut the door and finally had a great outing of 4 and 1/3rd solid innings after the shaky beginning. Maybe the Small of old is around the corner. The Yankees can certainly hope. Maybe this gets him back on track. 3rd inn. the Yanks got another 2 runs. 10-3. The Yanks keep pushing and never give up. And then in the 6th inn. the Yanks let it all go. They scored 6 runs to reatke the lead 11-10. Unbelievable. Jeter hit a 3 run homer to really get things close at 10-8, Bernie chipped in with a Big hit. The players even added a bunch of sacrifices to get in many of the key runs. Abc ball is a must now as every run is more valuable with diminished offense (great sign). But, Texas was not done either and countered with a 2 run homer to retake the lead 12-11. Huge key play at the plate that nearly knocked out Posada who was very shaken up after managing to hold onto the ball after the nasty collision. In the bottom of the 7th, the Yanks tie the game back up with a sacrifice fly by Posada. Then in the top of the 9th with the game tied and runners on Mariano Rivera entered the game. You are thinking, "The Yanks can't lose this game, not after this comeback, not with Mo on." Mo will always be MO, but he has blown a few leads recently and he blew this one when he gave up a double and a run. 13-12 Rangers going to the bottom of the 9th. Last Licks. Damon got on with a single, he moved to 2nd on jeter's groundout, 1 on 1 out. A-Rod is up and his a bullet that was caught in centerfield, close, but no cigar. 1 on 2 out. And then up walks Jorge Posada. He worked the count to 3-1, I was only hoping for a game tying single, I was wishing I could take back Posada's homer from Sunday and insert it here, but I couldn't (it turns out it was done for me) and then came the pitch and Posada's bat connected with the ball, CracK..............Some games you know you just can't lose..........

BOTTOM of the NINTH 2 OUT 2 RUN WALKOFF HOME RUN. YANKEES WIN 14-13. THEEEEEEEEE YAAANKEEEEEEES WIIIIINNNNNN :-))))))))
This is a game to remember for the ages. Good things do happen. UNBELIEVABLE. Dramatic. You've never seen it all. How do you figure that. Great pick me up. Lifts Rivera and the team. The Yankees came back to overcome a 9 run deficit for only the 4th time in their storied history. Posada had a tremendous game and a great start this year. Imagine, so many people wanted him gone, traded, when he has only gotten better and better. He is invaluable to the team offensively, defensively, great with handling the pitchers, and a leader in the clubhouse. The veteran Yankee "old-timers" really made this night possible. it is always those guys who lead the charge. Jeter had an unbelievable night. He was on base 5 of 6 times, 4 hits and a walk, clutch 3 run homer that brough the Yanks back into the game only trailing by 2 runs, he always steps up and gets it started. (+Bernie's key hit) Can't forget that the bullpen came through to keep them in the game and allow for the comebcak when the team could have just given up. 17 hits and 14 runs. Anything is possible.

What an unbelievable night. Words cannot completely express it.

How can you ever wonder why a diamond is a girl's best friend?!

I had some champagne to celebrate ;-)
The only words are WOW. WOW

News Flash

2006-05-15T20:12:00.000-04:00

I was flipping through the Saturday Sports Section of the New York Times when I came across an article that made me smile. The title read, "Israel Dreams Big, As In Big League." After I read the article I was speechless. Larry Baras plans for the sport to debut sometime next year and for the country to participate in the 2009 WBC. All the American Jews playing in the major leagues can obtain citizenship and play for the Israeli team. The article lists 11 major laeguers who are Jewish and there are probably many more in the minor leagues.

G-d really does look out for you. When I was thinking about making aliyah one thing that really worried me was where I would find a job with only a BA in Political Science and no fluency in the language. (I know almost everyone speaks English there...) Now, I could pursue my dream of a job in the sports field, specifically in baseball. I have nothing to stop me from making aliyah when the time comes, no excuse not to go. It's like G-d keeps pushing me closer and sending messengers and signs to change my mind.

In truth, I was wondering why there was no baseball in Israel. There are many Americans who live there and would fully support the effort. The economy is great, technology very advanced, and the democracy is one of America's greatest allies. The entertainment already seems Americanized, so why not add baseball. I think the sport will attract a very large audience. Israel will need time to get baseball rolling, build larger stadiums, and improve the teams. But, in a few years they should be able to compete with the "big boys." I was recently discussing the idea of recruiting Jewish players from America to the current sports teams in Isreal, like basketball and soccer. But, baseball is my favorite sport and I really know the ins and outs so to be able to apply that idea would be even more fun.

I will try to find out more about this effort and how I can get involved.

Some other quick points:
The Devils lost to the Carolina Hurricanes 4 games to one. That 5-1 win in game 3 came out of nowhere, but it only prolonged the inevitable. I still think if it weren't for that devestating loss in game 2 the Devils could have won the series. But, what's done is done. It was a great season, and after that winning streak and the great Rangers series it's a shame it had to end. I was disapponted to say the least, but there's always next year :-/. I wonder who will coach next year, will they bring in someone new or keep Lou in there. I feel like they will get someone else, but the team played very well for him.

Rowand's catch- The Phillies outfielder ran into the fence and broke his nose as well as fractured some bones around his left eye in a game saving catch (the Phills won 2-0). Isn't it common sense not to have a metal fence in a baseball stadium. Outfielders run into the wall all the time to grab the ball, bring back a home run, or smack into when they can't put on the brakes fast enough after racing to make a catch.

A-Rod has really had a breakout in the last week with some pivotal game winning homers. What do all the A-Rod haters have to say now?

What a Night

2006-05-11T23:45:00.000-04:00

Where do I start? I was already down from the Devils devestating loss last night. Who knew that after 15 wins they would lose 3 straight. Anyways back to the Yankees. Leftfeilder, Hideki Matsui is out for possibly the rest of the season after trying to make a diving catch and breaking his wrist. Unfortunately, his streak of consecutive games is over: he played for 10 straight seasons in Japan and every game a s a Yankee. He was always there and his presence will definitely be missed. With Sheffield still out and now Hideki's injury, the Yankees are missing two of their key offensive players. Now more than ever the other players will have to step up, run more, sacrifice more, and get the runs home. Torre said that he will be out a minimum of 3 months. Not only does his wrist have to heal, but he will need extensive rehab. The Yankees always relied on him and now they will have to find a way to get through it. The clubhouse was really quiet and Damon called the loss "crushing."

Back to the game for now. Some positives and some negatives. Even though they lost 5-3 I thought they desreved to win. They played a great game so I'm not as diappointed. Throughout the game there were unbelievable defensive plays: Crosby stole a 2 run homer from Boston as well as Damon, Cano made some great plays to keep runners from moving up, and Jeter made a great play that didn't turn out so well... (he did make an error in the first, but it doesn't happen often). Besides for the defensive plays, Crosby had an awesome night offensively as well, including an almost homer turned triple, single, he stole second, and scored a run. He gave Torre a great audition for why he should be in the lineup to replace either Sui (my nickname for Matsui) or Sheff.

Bernie also had a great night. That double in the 8th with no one out could have started a big rally, but the negative here was that Posada could not move him up and the next 2 batters could not get him home either. That run would have tied the game again. Damon did not have a good night, except for the amazing catch, and he admitted that he better pick up his game to help the team. Chacon was all over the place tonight which does not give you a good feeling, but he has gut and grit. He kept the Yanks in the game and only gave up 2 runs. The bullpen was great! Sure they gave up the lead, but when they take over in the 5th you don't get perfection. Rivera did give up a run, but he is human. No complaints from me. He's the best in the game, and they still would have lost. Proctor, how good has he been!

Onto Jeter. Another awesome game from him, on base 3 of 5 times. He is one of the greatest clutch hitters in the game. He always seems to come through to pick the team up. In the 7th he made an great play, but when he threw from the air the throw was high to Cairo who tried to tag the runner while in the air (jumped up to grab the ball), but the ball dropped and 2 runners scored giving Boston the lead. I loved the double steal. Great running game tonight, team stole 5 bases in 5 tries. A great way to make runs happen.

As for A-Rod, almost all NYY fans have been bashing him at the Stadium (smother him with boos) and on the sports talk shows. No one gives him a chance. Fans expect him to get a hit every time at bat, but it doesn't work that way. He was the AL MVP last season and one of the best players ever in the game of baseball. He will break records in the years to come and possibly even surpass Bonds for homers. Back off him. He is a great guy, great role model for young kids (I'm not talking about religiously), has a great work ethic, and if anything pushes himself too hard. He too wants to be perfect, but no one is. He will never be Derek Jeter, but I'll take him any day. He is very sensetive (didn't come out last night for the curtain call, understandable, but not everyone was booing so I wish maybe he'd suck it up, but it was a good way to make a statement by not saying anything). I wish he weren't, but you can't do anything about that so fans better stop bashing him for no reason. Give him some breathing room and count yourselves lucky he is on your team. Give him the credit he desrves. As a caller said today, "no one will want to come to NY if that's the way fans treat one of the greatest players ever."

That's all for tonight. More tomorrow. whew

Reminiscing

2006-05-09T17:54:00.000-04:00

Last night I was walking past the FOX News studio and I saw the Hannity and Colmes show being filmed live. As passionate as I am about sports, I was also taken with politics. That all started in high school. On my commute home I used to listen to the Sean Hannity show, a conservative political talk show. I became a Hannity groupie and after growing up in a house of Democrats I realized that I identified most with the Republicans. I made sure to stay informed on all the issues and had long debates with my father, especially when I told him I was registering as a Republican.

When I got to college I decided to make politics my future career and really became active. I volunteered and interned on many campaigns during my summers and free time. In class I had daily debates with all my professors and many classmates. It was me against all the liberal Democrats, and believe me there were many. Slowly I began to find more Republicans to gang up with, which made class even more fun. But, because of all my work and my daily commute I began to listen less and less to political talk shows after the 2004 election was over and started listening to more music and more sports talk shows. Yet, I always followed current events and the main issues of the day.

Ultimately sports won out over politics, but last night reminded me that I have to get with the political program again. I miss those fiery debates even though I still have my sports debates. Politics is much more important than sports when it comes to its effect on our daily lives. I think it's past time I let it slide.

Emotional Rollercoaster, Sports Fashion

2006-05-08T22:58:00.000-04:00

A Message From The Author: I am overdramatizing a little for the sake of some humor. Although I am a die hard sports fan and a career in sports is my dream, I do have my priorities in order and I know it is just a game. Still I get very into it.

Yes, I am female, but my emotional rollercoasters usually occur during high pressure sports games. Tonight, was one of those nights. The Yankees are playing Boston tomorrow night so at least I only had to deal with hockey. The Devils began tonight down 1-0 in the series against Carolina (a 6-0 blowout on Shabbos which I'm thankful I missed), and game 2 was pivotal. Langenbrunner's early first period goal was a great sign and the Devils played very well early on. However, a one goal lead is very shaky and the game can change in a second so needless to say I was on my toes. Carolina scored late in the 2nd period to tie it up. It was turning out to be a great game, or so it seemed. Brodeur was great, and the Devils had the lead. But, the Devils were not taking enough shots and were not taking enough rebounds. They were not challenging Carolina's rookie goaltender (who had not played in back to back games). A little detour for a second, Brodeur, the Devil's goalie, and arguably one of the best goalie's ever, is Ward's idol, Carolina's goalie.

Anyways back to the action, with the minutes ticking away in the third period it certainly seemed that the game was going into overtime. 5 minutes left, 4 minutes left, 3, 2... All throughout the game the announcers keep reading off the time minutes and seconds and you can feel the suspense. It builds and builds. It was down to the final minute. The countdown in seconds began. Then suddenly the Devils took control of the puck and stormed into Carolina's defensive zone. Parise, my favorite player, (because he is my age so it's cool to follow his progress and maturity into a quality NHL player) passed the puck to Gomez who ultimately deflects it in. SCORE!!!!!!!!! With 20 seconds left in the game the Devils had the lead, 2-1. I was so excited. But, Carolina protested the goal so it was reviewed "upstairs." Oh the stress. But, the goal was ruled legitimate!!!! To me I thought the game was as good as over and the Devils had tied the series. But, no, that would be too easy. The Devils had control of the puck as the clock wound down 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 BUT with 3 seconds left a Hurricane player managed to deflect the puck behind Brodeur and the game was tied. I went from elation to shock, disgust, and letdown. How cruel? In a split second everything had changed. The game, the series, the playoffs, and the season. In sudden death overtime there are no second chances. The first person to score wins. Sure, we had the best goalie in the NHL in Brodeur, but I was not happy with the Devils offense. Sure enough three minutes in, after some good Devil opportunities, Carolina scored the winning goal. The air went out of the "balloon". After winning 15 straight before this series the Devils were now down 2-0 to a great hockey team who now had all the momentum. Yes, the Devils are going back home for games 3 and 4 where they have the opportunity to tie up the series, but in game 3 all the pressure is on the Devils because it is a must-win for them. Hopefully, they can get hot again because it would certainly be a shame to lose it now. To go on a real losing streak now. Bad timing. After that great second half comeback this season they "can't" lose now. I'm sure most of you have long since tuned out. For those who are still with me I hope you enjoyed the saga. Stay tuned as the emotional rollercoaster rolls on to game 3. Go Devils. Go Go Go Devils.

Tomorrow I will write the post I originally intended to before this devestating loss that just called for some emotional release. I am all tired out now so I think I'll catch some rest before tomorrow's Yankee Red Sox showdown, where once again it will be a battle for first place even as the Yankees lead a mere percentage points. One note on Johnson, I couldn't resist ;-), last year he dominated in Yankee Stadium and owned the Red Sox; however, this year he is definitely not the same pitcher he once was, so it remains to be seen which Randy will show up to pitch. That is the key to the game, in my humble opinion.

Now What...?

2006-05-06T21:32:00.000-04:00

I wrote this a few months ago and was unsure about whether to post it or not. But, here it goes.

You think you finally found it all…after all the waiting …and knowing you won’t settle for less...because you know it’s out there…and then you find it, or maybe it found you…the timing seems perfect...instant connection…not perfection, but awfully close…closer than you dreamed…even if it involves a little compromise and change…makes you want it all the more…but then all of a sudden it is out of reach and there is nothing you can do…it hurts all the more because although it’s nice to know you were right and it is out there and you found it your way…like it was sent straight to you from G-d…but now what…how do you continue…is anything else settling for less…was that the once in a lifetime…you can’t wait forever in case there is a change of heart but you don’t want to settle for less…everything else will now be compared to that one moment in time.

There is nothing I can do at the moment, but sit back and wait. Yet, it helps to get it out.

Meeting Jorge

2006-05-02T23:02:00.000-04:00

I was in the city last week and as I was passing Barnes and Noble I looked at the books that were just released. On one of the big carboard signs it said: Jorge Posada book signing Monday April 24th at 1pm. Just my luck it was April 24th. Posada is one of my favorite Yankees and a classy guy. So I went to get some lunch and then went back to Barnes and Noble. I bought the children's book he was signing for about 17 dollars. I was not dying to read the book, but it would be great to get my copy autographed for later. Barnes and Noble was expected a line down the street, but there were only about 20 people in line. Even so they did not allow any dilly dallying, pictures with Jorge, or personal autographs. I wanted to tell him, "Great game last night and good luck with the season," but I was told to continue on. So I just got to stand there while he signed my book, snap a quick picture, and grab another look before I was told to step away. Boy were they uptight there. But, it was still worth it. I can only hope I will meet him again under friendlier circumstances.

Fire Zone Do Not Block

2006-04-30T22:51:00.000-04:00

At the hotel on pesach there were three false (fire) alarms. Fire alarm number 2 went off on the second day of yom tov during lunch. It was right before desert and it took a minute for people to realize that the added noise was the alarm because of all the singing and talking. All of a sudden there was total silence (except for the continuous blaring of the fire alarm). No one knew if it was real or not. So the silence continued. Two minutes later the announcement came over the loudspeaker that it was indeed a false alarm and the firemen had to come to shut it off. ( By the end of yom tov they were NOT happy with us.)

But, here is the funny part of the incident. That morning the kiddish took place outside in between the showers. Because the only real outdoors that existed was the parking lot, the kiddish was set up in the fire zone. Now the hotel could get in big trouble if the firemen saw this when they pulled up. So hotel employees came running from every direction to go clear the fire zone of the tables and remaining food and drinks. By now it was raining. But, employees kept going outside. Some even went out into the rain in their suits (managers). They were probably not to happy with "Jews and their obsession with food."

Other Pesach highlights include playing a pickup game of Taboo with two random guys until 5am. That was the best night. I should do it more often. Personally, I think it is much more fun to play with girl/guy vs girl/guy teams.

Finally, I cannot forget my sports updates.

The Devils swept the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs (their 15 th win in a row). Go Devils.

As for the Yankees, after a 4-1 win today they are now tied with Boston for first place in the East. Stay tuned as the teams begin their first faceoff of the season tomorrow.

Priceless

2006-04-27T11:28:00.000-04:00

sweater...$50
skirt...$100
stilettos...$60
manicure and pedicure...$30
hair...$30

walking down the hall barefoot carrying one stiletto in each hand
........PRICELESS

inspired by my very tired sister while in a hotel for Pesach

Israel

2006-04-11T20:24:00.000-04:00

Israel has always meant something special to me. My first time there was the year I spent in Israel. I had an amazing year. I felt like I was part of something greater. I knew I belonged there, but I don't know if it ever felt like home. A big part of that is the environment I was raised in. I did not go to Tzioni schools that try to imbue a love for the country and the land. At home my parents always referred to it as "Eretz Yisroel" and thought of it as our home that we would return to only when Moshiach comes. They never thought of living there or their kids living there or even wished they could live there. They only went to visit when they had a child who was in Israel for the year.

When I came back from Israel I felt a love for Israel and a connection to the land. But, I never thought I could live there. I, regretfully, was too attached to America. I was too comfortable. So I took the easy way out and decided I just couldn't do it. When I was thinking about where I would want to live there wasn't really any one place that stood out. (except LA which I loved) I love the city, but I also don't know if I would want to live in NY. Many, no not all, NYers are very judgmental and only judge people by their externals whether it is what they wear, what they do, how they look... Many communities are very self-involved. People are just concerned about what others would think and based on that they determine how they should behave etc. I want to be myself and I don't care what others will think or what they think is appropriate for a "good Jewish girl", but for my kids I want something more.

A few months ago I met someone who inspired me. That someone (who already made Aliyah) showed me that if/when an opportunity came along I could do it. It may be hard, but it is certainly worthwhile I spent 2 days rethinking my opinion of living in Israel, and I decided I wanted to do it and I could do it. I knew it was the right thing, always had. I was excited about the possibility and all that could come with it. Many of my closest friends plan to make Aliyah and others have already. If I have a support system like that I can do it in a second. They are like family already. Finally, with the right person at your side anything is possible.

"I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you"
Hoobastank

The Yankees won their home opener in dramatic fashion when they came from behind with a 5 run 8th, which was capped off by a 3-run homer by the captain, Derek Jeter :-).

The Devils won their 8th straight to clinch a playoff spot.

I will be away for Pesach, but I'm sure I'll have some great stories when I get back.

What A Difference A Day Makes

2006-04-09T18:24:00.000-04:00

This morning (12:45) the Yankees had just lost their fourth straight after a great opening night (at least they were all away games). Things were not looking so hot (but 2 games they only lost by one run). The offense was pretty dormant due to a lack of timely hits and no small ball. Sure the hitters ran into bad luck, but that's part of the game. The defense was also making mistakes the team could not afford. New York could not even get the best closer in baseball into a game because they did not have a lead. The only bright spot was the starting pitching. This afternoon, the Yankees offense awoke from the dead. With 8 quick runs in the first three innings they knocked out the starter and cruised. Mussina pitched great and Rivera was brought in to pitch because he needed the work. Final score 10-1 and no errors.

Tonight the Devils, who have a 6 game winning streak going, will face their division leading Rangers. More great sports. And Yankee opening day is 2 days away :-).

Carpool

2006-04-06T22:14:00.000-04:00

Today my brother missed his bus home. Back in the days when teenagers didn't travel for high school it would not be a big deal. But, my brother goes to school in the city and we live about 35 minutes away. I was nominated to go do carpool and pick him and a neighbor up. In the end it wasn't so bad because there was no traffic, and I was able to go 70mph most of the way. That was the only spontaneous part of my day. Back to listening to stripped music and some Yellowcard. My nights are pretty dull when the Yankess have the night off ;-).

Snow?

2006-04-05T12:11:00.000-04:00

Snow in April? No I'm not talking about flurries, but what looks like a fullblown snowstorm going on outside my window. I don't think it will last long enough to do that much damage, but I was surprised to say the least.

The Yankees suffered their first loss of the season 4-3. Losses are part of the game, but are never fun, especially when you stay up for a game played on the west coast. The loss bothered me because there were so many missed opportunities that they didn't capitalize on. It worried me beause I want to see them play small ball more often and move runners. Oh well, today is another day. That's another great thing about baseball. You play every day (excluding days off).

That's pretty much it for now. Oh and snow has calmed down. But it is below freezing. argh. Bring back spring. I feel for anyone going out to see the Mets play in Shea Stadium today.

Opening Night

2006-04-04T21:30:00.000-04:00

After the long winter months of waiting, Yankee baseball is finally back. The Yankees hit the ground running, literally, and beat up Oakland 15-2. Maybe that energy was in part due to the T-shirts given out before the season. There were navy and grey, home and away, versions for each player that had the number 27 over the NY logo and read "One Team. One mission." Gotta love that. Since most of you reading this are not baseball fans I will save most of my game comments for the sports blogs. Maybe I will start a separate blog for my sports spew.

Just a side note on the Devils who have rebounded by winning 4 in a row and are in a great position to make the playoffs. Go Devils.

Back to the pregame for Game 2.

Towers Are Not Forever

2006-04-04T01:16:00.000-04:00

Still listening to the Yankee opener in Oakland. More on that tomorrow.

Someone told me of a man who pledged his love to his fiance on the top of the Twin Towers. He told her, "I will love you as long as these buildings are standing." Like most people, he thought the towers would be around forever. But, as we know they are not. Lesson to be learned: never rely on inanimate objects to last forever. The couple is still married, but I think the man was highly embarrassed.

Stuck on the GWB

2006-04-02T17:17:00.000-04:00

Construction is the curse of late night driving. Last night , or rather this morning, when I was driving home from NYC I was making great time until I hit the George Washington Bridge. Usually when I hit the road I make sure to listen to the traffic reports to try and avoid the major problems but at 1:30am, who thinks about traffic reports. There are barely enough cars on the road to keep you company. So I continued onto the upper level when I came to a complete standstill as I merged. So I stopped, turned on the music, and chatted with my sister as I waited to start moving. Five minutes later I realized the problem was construction in the left lane. Ok, so I figured once the cars merged into the remaining three lanes I would be on my way. But, we sat some more. Twenty minutes more (after merge 1). As the minutes ticked by I started getting tired and frustrated. I had no caffine with me. I rolled down the window instead trying to enjoy the beautiful 60-degree breeze. I had waitied a long time for this weather so why not enjoy it. (And for those of you that don't know, when you are at a standstill on a suspension bridge filled with cars you can feel the bridge shaking, not fun for a long period of time with no where to go). Then I began flipping through stations, but at that time of night there wasn't much on. So next I took out my phone and began flipping through names trying to figure out who would be up at 1/2am. I called my friend and spoke to her for about 5 minutes then miraculously the cars in front of me began to creep foward. Quickly, I said my goodbyes and hung up. I moved to about midpoint on the bridge then stopped again. Now what, I thought. If it's only construction , then after the merge we should move again. But, the I saw that another two lanes were closed right ahead of me. In total three lanes closed and only one open. that would seem to explain the backup so far, but this merge should put me past the traffic. Well it didn't work out that way. Slowly the traffic merged into two lanes. Ok, I though the worst was over. I could see the end of the bridge ahead. But, once again traffic stopped. This time I shut off my engine instead of burning more gas. By then I was thoroughly bored. There were no interesting people in cars to watch or talk to, no one up to call, no good music, my book in the trunk, no drinks, and no caffine. But, I did have most of my bag of chocolate and caramel popcorn from (Popcorn Indiana) left. So even though I was not in the mood, I munched for lack of anything better to do. I was in the front of the second lane right before the merge, but there was no whwre to go as the right lane was not budging. There must ahve been something else going on, but I'll never know what. My camera was also in the trunk so I could not document it for memory. More than twenty minutes later I turned on the car again as the traffic merged into one lane. After 50 minutes my imprisonment was over. But, then with less than 500 feet left to go traffic stopped yet again. Oh no, I thought, I would be here all night. At 1/2:25 (depending on whether you count by regular time or daylight savings which was already in effect) I finally got off the bridge after an hour of waiting and frustration. Crossing the bridge normally takes less than two minutes without traffic and usually no more than 15 even during horrendous rush hour. My ordeal lasted and hour. If only I had the foresight to take the lower level. My sister was already conked out in the front seat and I still had a ways to go. So I turned on the CD again with the volume loud enough so I could hear it and low enough so it would not wake my sister. I could not speed during the last leg of my journey because of the cops I had seen hiding by the trees with their lights off. After my long night I did not want to risk a ticket. But, because of the bag of sugar and chocolate coated popcorn I had consumed I felt extremely nauseous. I made it home at 2/3am without further incedent and an exausting two-hour trip. Construction is a curse to the unsuspectiong night driver. (The other side of the bridge had the same problem , but all the cars had to merge before they got on to the bridge making for a nasty backup, but no imprisonment on the bridge.)

Just some food for thought. During daylight savings time I bet most of us don't give much thought to changing the time on our watches or clocks. Sure it's something we must rememeber to do, and an hour less of sleep is no minor detail. But, what about stores that carry hundreds and thousands of watches? All their time pieces on display must have the accurate time. So all the employees get together and spend the day setting the time to an hour later. Sounds like fun, no?!

The Yankees opening day is tomorrow :-) :-).........

An "Interesting" Day

2006-03-30T11:24:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I went to the NJ Nets sports career fair in Continental Airlines Arena. It was definitely an "interesting" day/night. I don't know if any jobs will come out of it yet, but none of the "big boys" were really hiring at the moment. Anyways, nothing really interesting happened there except a lot of boring waits on long lines. A free Nets ticket was also offered as part of the package for the fair. When I went back to my car some of the guys who went to the fair, and had parked their car next to mine, were changing out of their suits and into Nets jerseys. They weren't doing it in their car but outside. Did they think I wanted a personal strip show? It seems there are no rules or seperations (of private and public) in this world.

Since my little brother has been dying to go to a Nets game I offered to go pick him up from school and then drive back to the arena for the game. You can't beat having a sports fan for a sister. This was my first basketball game (now I have to go to a football game to complete the big sports four). The constant music throughout the game was great. It was definitely fun and I have always liked the Nets, but it reinforced how much I really love baseball and hockey.

By the end of the game my section had pretty much empied out. As we stood up to leave there were four Jewish guys at the bottom of the section who were also leaving. On their way out of their row they turned around. All four stopped, pointed, and stared at me for a full two minutes. So what if you see other Jewish people, or girls, at a game. It is New Jersey. Were they waiting for me to wave, go down and give them my number, or do they just like looking? Well I just ignored them and continued with my victory dance :-).

Then, on our way out of the arena, a married Jewish guy (who was with some friends and their wives) wished me and my brother a mazal tov. For what, I do not know. We clealry look like siblings. I know that at times I look 15, but I was wearing makeup because of the career fair so I don't think I looked 15 then and my brother definitely doesn't look older than 15 (if even that old). It was very odd.

Finally, while me and my brother were speedwalking to the car, which was parked by Giants Stadium, we almost walked right into my cousin on a date. It was a good thing I recognized her from behind two seconds before we would have passed them. She's from Brooklyn and not the type you would expect to see at a Nets game, so I was surprised to say the least. I didn't think she would appreciate an interuption or introductions so I forced myself to slow down and stay about 100 ft. back. Those of you that know me know I cannot walk slowly. It truly takes a conscious effort. And dates tend to walk really slowly. Their car was parked at the opposite end from ours ( should I say oh shucks? ;-) ) I don't know why, but I have a knack for meeting my cousins while they are on dates.

That's the end of my stories from last night. More to come.

4 days and change until the Yankees season opener in Oakland

Single

2006-03-23T10:39:00.000-05:00

I recently came across this song from Natasha Bedingfield. This goes out to all those people who say, "Oh my gosh, your 21 and not married?" The answer is no I'm not, and I'm happy being single as long as it lasts. When I find the right guy I will get married, but for right now I am enjoying single life.

"Single"
Ah yeah that's right
All you single people out there
This is for you

I'm not waitin' around for a man to save me
(Cos I'm happy where I am)
Don't depend on a guy to validate me
(No no)
I don't need to be anyone's baby
(Is that so hard to understand?)
No I don't need another half to make me whole

Make your move if you want doesn't mean I will or won't
I'm free to make my mind up you either got it or you don't

This is my current single status
My declaration of independence
There's no way I'm tradin' places
Right now a star's in the ascendant

I'm single (Right now)
That's how I wanna be
I'm single (Right now)
That's how I wanna be

Ah yeah Uh Huh that's right

Don't need to be on somebody's arm to look good
(I like who I am)
I'm not saying I don't wanna fall in love 'cos I would
I'm not gonna get hooked up just 'cos you say I should
(Can't romance on demand)
I'm gonna wait so I'm sorry if you misunderstood

Everything in it's right time everything in it's right place
I know I'll settle down one day
But 'til then I like it this way it's my way
Eh I like it this way
Make your move if you want doesn't mean I will or won't
I'm free to make my mind up you either got it or you don't

'Til then I'm single
This is my current single status
My declaration of independence
There's no way I'm tradin' places
Right now a star's in the ascendant

WBC

2006-03-21T17:28:00.000-05:00

The WBC, otherwise known as the World Baseball Classic, is no longer a mystery. Here are my personal opinions. Overall, the tournament was a great idea. It really put baseball on the international stage. Also, there was only one major injury to a major league player out of the 150+ who played (a pitcher on the Nationals who is gone for the season). But that injury will hurt the Nationals. Beforehand possible injuries had been a major concern and the major criticism of those against the WBC.

Team USA's early exit helped point out many of the problems with the way the tournament was played.

pitchers were limited to 50 pitches: that isn't real baseball, if a pitcher is dominant over seven inning the a team can go strait to its best releivers to close out the game, but with this rule another starting pitcher can come in, stink, and cost them the game
March is too early for MLB players to compete at a playoff level after only a week on spring training: of the 2 teams that made it to the finals, japan and Cuba, there was only one major laegue player, Ichiro; most of the other teams in the tournament had been playing the whole winter or started spring training earlier
the weird formula for the tie-breaker that does not necessarily favor the better team
baseball cannot be played as a series of one game playoffs: anything can happen in one game and it does not prove who is the better team, the World Series is a best out of seven, a pitcher can have a bad day, players may not be able to hit a certain pitcher but clobber the others....

There is also no seemingly great time to play the WBC. March is hard for MLB players who are not ready, and pits the Classic against March Madness. A-Rod suggeted the time may work if Team USA and others could have their own spring training and start preparing in February. If the WBC took place in middle of the MLB season during a 2 week break, any injuries could ruin a team's stretch run. The final option would be in November, after the season is over and players are still performing near their peak.

Directions

2006-03-19T22:57:00.000-05:00

With all the technology out there, on the road nothing beats the GPS. I went to Lawrence for the weekend with my sisters, and before I left I printed out directions from MapQuest. Things were going fine ...until...I made that wrong turn. That's when the trusty cell phone came out as I tried to figure out where I was and how to correct my mistake. MapQuest was useless. After a few phone calls I was back on track. It makes you think how you ever used to get along without cell phones. But both my Mom and my Dad also have GPS systems in their cars and nothing beats it. Although the ever present voice seems to chime in every 2 minutes to remind you what road you are onthere have been improvements made so that you do not get bored of that same female or male voice. The driver can now choose from about 10 voices: female, male, British accent, southern accent.... Furthermore, at critical moments in your journey a famous person will chime in and say something about a wrong turn or how your wife actually got you to your destination. Technology today is quite amazing.

Appreciating the Present

2006-03-15T13:55:00.000-05:00

There is nothing like reading about your family's past to appreciate the present. During WWII my father's uncles formed a Russian partisan group and provided a safe haven to any Jew that made it to their hideout in the forest. The bigger the group got the more danger there was of being found by the Germans or Russians who were Nazi loyalists, but they never turned anyone away. If anything they tried to save as many Jews as they could reach. Life in the forests was not easy, but they were free. And as partisans the Jews were allowed to fight back against the Germans, kill as many as they could, destroy supply routes, raid ammunition sites, and do their best to try and drive the Germans out and save the Jews that were left. The only way to survive in the forests was for every person in the group to contribute in some form. Every one had to work together and remain united. There were arguments, jealousy, and rebellions within the group which jeopardized its survival. But those incidents just served to prove that if the Jews did not remain united then they had no hope of survival.

The group was fighting back against the "Haman" of their generation. About 1,200 Jews who were part of the Russian partisan group walked out of the forests when the war ended. The survival of the Jews showed that we won. But Haman was able to do a lot of damage, and there are many lessons to be learned by those in our generation.

Also, on a lighter note, I have been catching up on my Yankee history in my "free time". From the moment I walked into Yankee Stadium on my 15th birthday I was hooked on game of baseball and the Yankees. To be taken seriously as a fan I had to prove myself an equal so I learned all the ins and outs of the game. I knew all the statistics and numbers to back up my points. But, there was something missing in my baseball knowledge. I only had a vague notion of Yankee history and the teams that came before the 1998 world champion Yankees.

Thanks to the library, where I picked up 100 Years of the New York Yankees and quite a collection of baseball books, (a humble beginning) I have developed a greater appreciation for the Yankees of the present and past. And for all you "non-baseball fans", there are some inspirational stories even you can learn from and appreciate. For example, there was short segment on Jim Abbott, a man born with only one hand, who overcame all odds and made it to the majors as a very talented pitcher. He even went on to pitch a no-hitter for the Yankees, an exraordinary feat which is accomplished by few. In the history of the game (more than 100 years) there have only been about 250 no-hitters ever thrown.

expect more posts on baseball as the regular season approaches :-)

Older than I look

2006-03-09T23:20:00.000-05:00

No complaints from me. Sure sometimes it's annoying when strangers thinks I am still in high school, when the reality is I have already graduated from college. Sometimes I do want to be treated as an adult. But, looking fifteen definitely has it's advantages. As the cashier in the pizza store pointed out to me, "They always need people like you to act in movies/TV shows to play the high school age girls." :-D He was dead serious. For five minutes he went on about how it was my destiny, and when my pizza was ready I grabbed it, thanked him for the complement, and ran out of there because he was getting a little too persistent.

It is also a lot of fun to see people's reactions when I tell them I am 21. Their mouths drop open. Usually, if someone doesn't know me I try to make them guess my age and then tell them how off they were. A recent episode that sticks in my mind is when I was coming back from winter break in California. In the airport as I was getting in line for security checks I presented my ID to the man checking tickets. As I was handing him my ID he shook his head and told me I didn't need one because I was under 18. But I insisted that he check my license. His mouth dropped open in shock for I was not 15, but 21.

The best part of looking young, for now, is that I get to pretend I'm just a kid for a little longer. Pretend that I have all the time in the world.

Chasing a Dream

2006-03-07T23:18:00.000-05:00

Another day gone by. Applications are the worst thing after standarized tests. Learn to fear the LSDAS, otherwise known as the Law School Data Assembly Service. Give me a logic games any day. An MBA is starting to look more attractive as a means of finding my dream job. Because I will not settle. If that means I have to make less money and work longer hours, so be it. If I am not doing what I love I will be miserable. Well maybe not miserable, but not happy. I need to do something that I find exciting, stimulating, creative, and fun. So my senior year I decided to do a 360 and go from a political career to try to find a sports job or internship to get me started. Hopefully it's not too late to find a job. Anyways...stay tuned. A very frustrated, but determined, dream seeker.

Incomplete

2006-03-06T23:29:00.000-05:00

Finally. I figured this is a good way to let out some of my thoughts and feelings as well as bounce around a few ideas. As I get started on my future I have a goal. I know what I want. I am pursuing a dream, but there is something missing. I try to go on like nothing happened, nothing is missing, but I can't. So I am left feeling incomplete.