The New England Patriots.

Until this decade, the Patriots were pretty miserable. I have a tough time getting accustomed to the Patriots being good.

I trace the beginning of their good fortune to the 2001 Super Bowl. Of course, it was post 9/11 and the outrageous attack was still fresh. Paul McCartney was performing at half time and said, “wouldn’t it be ironic if a team called Patriots won?“

Now look @ it. Tom Brady several years ago met with Pope John Paul. Who would have thought? Read the following from USA Weekend.

Tom Brady, 28, quarterback for the New England Patriots, met Pope John Paul II last year at the Vatican.
I went to Catholic high school, so my faith was always important. The pope was someone we talked about in elementary school, in high school and through college. To have the opportunity to meet him was a very profound experience. I remember walking away feeling a sense of peace, that I had met one of the leaders of the free world. Obviously there were a lot of great things he accomplished, and I think everyone misses him dearly.

Still shaking my head.

Yerbie Caught on Fire and Got a Good Thumping

    Yerbie is a cat who needs more than nine lives.  On Christmas Day, he went by a candle on the counter and caught on fire.  Luckily, he jumped down and that put the fire out.

Just like when he was stung, by the wasp this past summer, his pride was hurt more than anything else.  Candles do make him stop and think though.

This morning, before I went to work, Yerbie decided he wanted to play.  I roughed him up, but was wearing a black shirt.  I got to work and all the girls cried, “you beat up your poor kitty!”  (His picture is in my cubicle.  So I was public enemy number one for the day.  Tonight, I sat and watched the Giants-Patriots game and he was in for more roughhousing.

He likes it.  Must be a guy thing.

It’s Freezing Here!

    Easterners do not believe me when I tell them it is cold in Tucson.  I explain this is the Sunbelt.  We promised you sunshine, not warmth.

There is always the top of Mount Lemmon if I want to see snow!  Looks really pretty up there.  To paraphrase Fiddler on the Roof.  May God bless and keep the snow, far away from me!

Why Roman Emperors Were Not Jewish.

Military Channel has a day long marathon about Ancient Rome.  Being Jewish I could not help but laugh and come up with a silly story.  Why there were no Jewish Roman Emperors.

Growing up in New York, the Jews left many neighborhoods that had changed.  I am trying to imagine the Emperor head in hands, bemoaning all the barbarian invaders.  Oy, first the Huns, than the Goths, why me.

Centurion Milos Glorious O’Dowd, looked at the Emperor and said “if you live in this neighborhood, you are gonna have problems.  Just that simple.”

“I need a Centurion, not a Philosopher.”

“Well move then.”

“Thanks a lot.”

The True Meaning of Christmas

Getting together with good friends and good food.  Celebrating what you have and realizing there are others who are having a rougher time.  So before you complain, be grateful.

More on Tucson Sudanese Lost Boys

Take a look at this website from the film Lost Boys of Sudan.

Progress on the book is being made.  Peter is turning into a really good writer.

More on Thinking Like Sherlock Holmes

Take a look @ this site, What Sherlock Holmes Can Teach You.

Michael Palin and Brooklyn?

I always check my search strategies here in wordpress, to see who is coming and why.

Michael Palin, and Brooklyn?  OK, make him take the D Train all the way to Coney Island.  He has to eat at Nathans.  Then work his way back through Brooklyn for the Brooklyn Museum, cheescake @ Juniors, Peter Luger’s in Williamsburg for dinner.  It could be Around Brooklyn in 8 hours?

Lots of Scots

I put this on Palins Travels, I could not resist the Dr. Seuss style silliness

I came over the hill and on to the plain.
Looking for somewhere to get out of the rain.
All of a sudden, I noticed the plain,
Had all sorts of dots.
I ventured closer and first saw pots.
Behind the pots, I saw the cots.
The cots were full of young tots,
I heard the voices, the tots were Scots!
There were lots of Scots,
round the cooking pots.

Volunteering for Public Television Fundraising.

    Growing up in New York, I used to make jokes about the trained panhandlers for the Public Broadcasting Station in New York.  Tonight, I was doing the trained panhandling for KUAT Tucson.

I was with two other members of the Tucson/Almaty Sister City Group, so we were able to publicize ourselves.

It was a good way to contribute 3  1/2 hours other than monetarily.

Also we can see programs we like.