Blogrophenia: The Reverend Aton's Site

I am still breathing well and feeling good. It's a bit overcast down here in South Florida but otherwise nice. I am told it's a gorgeous day back in NYC.

We spotted what looked like a hawk on the beach today although I am going to have to research it further. The bird, whatever it was, was so huge that at first glance I thought it was a turkey. It wingspan was enormous and almost definitely exceeded three feet. I am going to have to look into this.

I visited the Cardinals camp again yesterday and watched the guys take some batting practice and do some warmups. I must say that I find Albert Pujols's work ethic to be very impressive. He's always there early and he's always eager to get in the cage. Yesterday, he was in the cage with old Cardinal Willie McGee working out before 9 AM. You know it's not a coincidence that the guy just signed a 100 million dollar contract.

So I think I have devised the ultimate day: Wake up 7 AM shower and have a breafast of eggs and this incredible bacon that I get down here. It's really thick and tasty. Then it's off to the intracoastal launch site of my favorite charter fishing boat. The first mate is kind of a dick, but I have used them a bunch of times and I like the boat. Then it's fishing until noon followed by a lunch at one of a few fun places on Las Olas. Perhaps, swordfish or dolphin.

After that it's off to Gulfstream for the races. Watch and bet on a ton of races and hopefully win a lot of money until let's say 4ish. At that point it's back home for a swim and maybe a walk on the beach. Then a nice dinner of steak and/or some kind seafood. Maybe lobster? Then it's off to the game. Ideally a Marlins game, but it can also be a Heat, Panthers or even Hurricanes. After the game it's out to the bars in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale for some cocktails.

Sounds like the ultimate to me. . .

And I know sometimes I must get out in the light,
Moe

Wellness Tip:

Try cutting up and swallowing a clove of garlic periodically. It will tone your immune system and thin your blood. Swallow it quickly and you won't smell.

Try having some fresh ginger twice a week. You can eat it plainly or make some ginger tea with it. It is tasty and improves your general health.

Both of these points are often championed by alternaitve medicine pioneer Dr. Weil. For more on him go to www.drweil.com.

My brother in law Van and I went diving about 400 yards offshore and explored the first coral reef (to my knowledge there are three) off Ft. Lauderdale. Very interesting sights. The coral reef is teeming with all sorts of marine life and is quite beautiful. The sunbeams shine through the water in a very stunning way with the grains of sand dancing through the spotlight that they provide and one the neatest things is looking straight up while standing on the reef for a hazy fish eye view of the world outside the ocean. To explore such a different part of the world is a reminder of the vastness of the Earth. I am reminded of Hamlet: "There are more things in this world than are dreamt of your philosophies"

Went to the Panthers game last night and watched them house the Maple Leafs 4-0. Roberto Luongo is an incredible young talent who I predict will be around for a very long time. The guy just flat stood on his head!!! He's a lot of fun to watch. I really hope that they don't contract the Panthers, I really enjoy going to their games and they actually have some really devoted fans. Although I must say, that the fans really come out for certain teams. There were a lot of Toronto fans there yesterday and last year when I saw Florida take on the Habs there were TONS of Montreal fans there too!! From what I hear the fans really show up for the Rangers and Islanders as well. At any rate it was really fun.

I met Miguel Tejada, David Segui and Melvin Mora earlier today they are all really nice guys and I wish them all well this year (even though they hardly have a snowball's). . .I am headed to the Florida Panthers game to see them take on the Maple Leafs, As I mentioned in an earlier blog it may be my last ever Panthers game if the NHL contracts. . . Fat Tuesday in Lauderdale is pretty big apparently. . . I am looking forward to seeing "The Passion" but i decided to stay away on opening day. . . I also found out today that Westminster High School (A-Rod's alma mater) is minutes from the Aton Compound South and actually in Fort Lauderdale not Miami. . .My mother made an interesting point today, she asked why Jeter was still playing SS if A-Rod is so much better, I responded "loyalty to Jeter" she said when did that start mattering with the Yankees??? Where was the loyalty to Tino she asked? My father made the argument that Nicole Kidman is hotter than Keira Knightly!! Absurd I say!!!

World's oldest man dies: http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/02/25/oldest.obit.ap/index.html

He was born while Nietzsche was still sane!!! And was 14 years OLDER than Lou Gehrig!!!!! Oh my God!!!

Final thought for the day: I noticed today that my niece doesn't seem to move around as much when she is in her little swing, but that it never fails to quiet her down when she is crying. Interesting! I think that babies move around a lot for a lot of reasons but almost certainly one of them is that it is a form of exercise. Interesting that in order to quiet her down (or anesthicize her in a sense) I put her in that chair but that that prevents her from exercising. . . It starts at birth folks. . . it starts at birth. . .

ART & Food

Song tip:

Check out this song:
KANYE WEST
Through The Wire

Fantastic song with a neat little sample of a song I am sure you remember. . .

Movie Tip:

Pirates of the Caribbean

Really really fun movie and Depp gives an incredible performance, just a really really fun movie. I realize it's been out for a hundred years, but i just saw it the other day.

Food tip:

7-11 hot dogs. Unfortunately for me they don't have 7-11's in Manhattan so I am only able to enjoy these delicious periodically, but everytime I do I am reminded of just what a tasty and affodable meal they are. The all you want nacho cheese and chili is just an added plus. Have them with a Slurpee for a delectable meal that's under $3. . .

Wellness Tip

When trying to avoid heartburn do not overindulge on super spicy New Orleans style crawfish on Fat Tuesday.

I am sleeping well and feeling good. Did very well at Gulfstream yesterday, it's really beautiful there. I even took my sister Louanda and brother in law Van with me. Even Louanda enjoyed it although she ended up losing money. Van and I both finished up and had a combined trifecta on the last race.

Today I went deep sea fishing with Van. It was fun although very choppy and we didn't do well. One guy caught a 2 foot king but in general the pickins were slim. The first mate remembered my bull shark from last year.

There's magic in my eyes,
Mo fish please. . .

Feeling good. Staying out of the sun today though. Headed to Gulfstream Park for some horseracing.

Also, I met Tony LaRussa, Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds at Cardinals camp yesterday. Tony and Jim are really nice guys and so is Pujols pretty much but I have serious doubts that he is only 24 years old. . .

More later. . .

Ever wonder why tanning is so in? Well, apparently, we have Coco Chanel to thank for tanning being trendy, consider:

To lots of people, summer means hanging out at the pool or the beach, soaking up rays. For years, teens have spent hours baking in the sun in pursuit of the perfect golden tan. Most Americans, including up to 80% of people under age 25, think they look better when they have a tan. But our infatuation with tanning only came about in the 20th century.

In the 19th century and earlier, being as pale as possible was desirable in certain countries, particularly the United States and some European nations. If you were tan, it meant you spent time outside doing manual labor, like farming. Only the wealthy could afford to have other people do that work for them. So the paler you were, the richer you seemed. Members of the 18th-century French royal court took the look one step further, powdering their faces stark white to look as light as possible.

All that changed in the 1920s, when the designer Coco Chanel returned from a vacation to the French Riviera with a deep tan and started a new fashion craze. Suddenly, tans were the badges of the rich.

Moses

ps this is what one does, when one is too burned to sit in the sun, I have never used suntan lotion and I never intend to. . .

Cubs could be really tough especially if Patterson gets back to where he was before he got hurt. I like their lineup and I love their starting staff. Cubs Yanks would be nice. Royals could very well win the Central by default. . . I feel bad for the ORioles who signed Tejada Palmeiro and got back Ponson and don't have a snowball's chance with the Sox and Yanks in their division. . . Looking forward to seeing The Passion, early word is it's really really gory. . . Interesting fact: the word alligator is a coruption of the Spanish el lagato meaning "the lizard" which is what they called the first alligators they saw. . . I am thinking of checking out the Florida Panthers this Wednesday, first I'd like to get a look at the first place Toronto Maple Leafs but also I realize with the state of the NHL where is right now it may very well be my last chance to ever see a Florida Panthers game, as they will be among the first to go if contraction happens in the NHL. . . I visited Gulfstream Park the other day, man is that a beautiful place, now I love Belmont but Gulfstream is just heavenly, I think if you live a good life eternity in Gulfstream would be a good reward, of course, for thousands of retired NYers that's exactly their reward for 40 or 50 years of working up north. . .
I need to get to Arizona one of these years for some Cactus League action. . .

Welness Tip:

Don't bet on Jai Alai. Don't fall asleep in the sun. Do not walk more than ten miles in one day if you are fat and usually sedentary.

Moses

"To be sung to the tune of the Who's 'Won't Get Fooled Again':

We'll be laughing in the streets
With this line-up at our feet
And the titles that they worship will still be ours
Theo and crew who spurred us on
Sit in judgment of what went wrong
Boy Wonder dropped the ball and the Bombers sing the song


I'll tip my hat to the new third baseman,
Take a bow for the man he's replacin'
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my bat and ball and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll sit in my box seat and pray


THEY JUST GOT BOONED AGAIN!


A-Rod had to come
We knew it all along
He's been liberated from baseball hell, that's all


And the Bronx looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause more banners, they'll be flown again next war


I'll tip my hat to the new third baseman,
Take a bow for the man he's replacin'
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my bat and ball and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll sit in my box seat and pray


THEY JUST GOT BOONED AGAIN!


He'll move his glove and his ego aside
If the Sox happen to be left half-alive
He'll get all his rings and ribbies and smile at the sky
Though I know that the Cursed never lie


Do YA??


There's nothing on Lansdowne Street,
Looks any different to me
And the excuses are replaced, by-the-bye


And The Monster's on the left
And Pesky Pole is on the right
And Curt Schilling's growing older overnight


I'll tip my hat to the new third baseman
Take a bow for the man he's replacin'
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my bat and ball and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get in my box seat and pray


THEY JUST GOT BOONED AGAIN!


Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeahhh!


Meet the new Boss
Just the same as the old Boss!"

ED. Note: THANKS SAKS!!

Visited the Baltimore Orioles camp today. Not much to see, just pitchers doing some very light throwing, word was that their new manager gave them a long talk earlier today. This Sunday they are holding a Charity Breakfast, that I think I will attend.

Quick story: A few years ago (2000ish?) I attended the Orioles Charity and was told that Cal Ripken couldn't make it because his ack was really giving him problems. Mind you he joined the a few hours later for workouts but his back was apparently, too sore to sign autographs and eat breakfast with his fans, to benefit charity. I didn't think that much of it, until later that evening when I attended the Miami Heat game. Guess who was there? Yup that's right Cal Ripken sitting in the front row and hitting wiffleballs at halftime thrown by the Heat's mascot. I always knew that guy was a jerk. . .

With Apple Cores and Mice Along,
Mo Better

I will confess I am (was) a big KFC fan. But after seeing this I am reconsidering, I suggest you take a look: http://www.kfccruelty.com

BTW folks Jeter now makes more than Bonds, Soriano, Nomar, Guerrerro and Pujols. Can anyone make the argument that he is not overpaid?

And for all you Duke haters out there. You know what? Three losses and having beat UNC @ UNC is not a bad place to be at this point in the year. Get a grip, Duke rocks this year!!

So a few days into my Florida vacation I decided to take a stroll. Cruising up and down Lauderdale by the Sea I was breathing easily and feeling good, in fact, I was feeling so good that I noticed that the ladies were beginning to notice. I smiled as I strolled past them and thought to myself that Yoko has no idea how lucky she is. As each passing lady took an extra long glance, I tugged at my shirt and shined my fingernails. After a few hours of this I headed home as I was about to take a shower I peered into the mirror and noticed that I was bright red. This was no usual sunburn though I mean I was Kansas City Chiefs red.

I still like to think that they were, at least, noticing the contrast of my lovely green eyes against my cardinal red skin. . . ah well. . . at least it's warm. . .

From afar they'll see me,
Lobster Moe

I am breathing easily and feeling good down here in sunny Florida. I hope all is well up there.

It's actually rather difficult to be thoughtful in this weather. First, the beach and weather makes it harder to find time to sit and reflect and secondly it's actually harder to think when sunburned.

I wonder if more writers come out of less favorable climates.

But her Mother said never mind your part...
Is to be what you'll be,
Moses

Well folks you won't be getting any more entries for a few days. As I write this it is Sunday late afternoon and I am out at the Aton Compound in Long Island. Resting up and feeling good. I hit the road tomorrow.

Good luck to you all and please check in to the blog later this week for some of my entries from sunny South Florida, home of your World Champion Florida Marlins.

The Sea Refuses No River,
Moses

The Number of the (newly acquired) Beast

So now that A-Rod is practically a Yankee, the question becomes:

What number will he wear? Here's the line:


#33 (Wells's old number it is the official Bomber tribute to #3 number) - odds 3-1

#12 (Sori's old number and the lowest available number since Sheff grabbed 11) - 5-1

#24 (Tino's old number and Sierra's current probably the best baseball number the Yanks haven't retired) - odds 6-1

#13 (The number Jeter always wanted and it still has A-Rod's old #3 in it) - odds 8-1

#18 (As a tribute to Boone who's bonehead injury got A-Rod here in the first place) - odds 10-1

#14 (Nice low infielder number, Sojo's and old A-Rod manager Sweet Lou's number with the Yanks) odds 20-1

#99 (In honor of the "other" Great One) odds 99-1

#3 (Yanks bring Babe's number out of retirement)
- odds $250 million to 1

On the Road,
Moses

Who's at Short?

With the Yankees monster aquisition of A-Rod the question arises: Who should play SS? So far the answer has been Jeter, with A-Rod making the magnanimous gesture of moving to SS out of deference to Jeter and his four rings and eight years of service to the franchise. So far Jeter has not commented and we can and ostensibly this issue appears actually to very much be a non-issue. It is a non-issue b/c
1. A-Rod has decided that he is willing to play 3B
2. Jeter is wildly overrated and lionized in NY
3. Torre is notorious for his loyalty and Jeter is his captain and #1 guy

In fact, though it might become an issue:

1. Jeter gets hurt for an extended and A-Rod is an impressive substitute.
2. Jeter struggles defensively and/or makes a big and costly (e.g. his error in Game 6 in 2004)
3. A-Rod begins to make noise.

I consider 1 and 2 to be much more likely than three at least for the first year or two that A-Rod is a Yankee. His track record shows that he can manage to remain effective and quiet even when very unhappy for a while (see year 1 and 2 in Texas).

However, A-Rod would not necessarily be out of line if he did decide to make some noise considering how much better of a SS he is that Jeter. In his impossible streak of good luck in life Jeter has lucked out once again here. Defense in baseball is very difficult to quantify, but even with that in mind everything bears out the undeniable fact that A-Rod is a vastly superior SS. Consider that he has won two gold gloves to Jeter's zero. Don't buy the whole gold glove thing? Well you may be right not to considering some past winners. Well, how about fielding percentage? A-Rod hold a .977 advantage to Jeter's .973. In zone rating A-rod holds a career .863 advantage to Jeter's .818 and LAST YEAR that gap went to A-Rod .859 and Jeter .791. And finally consider that A-Rod has one less error than Jeter - a statiscal wash until you consider that A-Rod has played in 63 MORE games!

By almost any standard it's clear that A-Rod should be the one at SS while Jeter makes the move.

Jeter has often made statements and been deified about his supposedly insatiable desire to win. Now, comes the true test, can teh captain put his team's welfare before his own?

We'll see. . .

The New York Yankees have aquired A-Rod. Just incredible!

Acquired
Kevin Brown (14-9, 2.39 ERA)
Tom Gordon (3.16 ERA, 12 SV)
Kenny Lofton (.296, 97 R, 30 SB)
Paul Quantrill (2-5, 1.75 ERA)
Alex Rodriguez (.298, 47 HR, 118 RBI)
Gary Sheffield (.330, 39 HR, 132 RBI)
Javier Vazquez (3.24 ERA, 241 SO)

Departed
Roger Clemens (17-9, 3.91 ERA)
Chris Hammond (3-2, 2.86 ERA)
Nick Johnson (.284, 14 HR, 47 RBI)
Jeff Nelson (4-2, 3.74 ERA)
Andy Pettitte (21-8, 4.02 ERA)
Alfonso Soriano (.290, 38 HR, 91 RBI)
David Wells (15-7, 4.14 ERA)

Well kiddies, I am leaving for vacation this week I will try to check in periodically.

I can see for miles,
Moses

Only two days until pitchers and catchers. This Saturday 2/14 the Tampa Bay Devil Rays begin reporting to St. Pete. . .

Test your rationality with regard to God.

http://www.philosophers.co.uk/god.htm

Looking for Meme-ing In Life
or
Virus Like Me

All of us, at one time or another, have experienced having a virus. We all have an idea of what a virus is, although few of us can define it this articulately: a virus is an extremely simple, ultramicroscopic, infectious microorganism that replicates itself within cells of living hosts. Which is to say in lay terms a virus gets into, say, your body and reproduces itself inside your bodies cells. Because we have been raised in a time when it is understood how this works, and because this explanation seems to correspond neatly with our experiences we all believe in viruses. Further, we are taught that this is not a matter of faith, but rather that the existence of viruses is something to be taken as an indisputable fact. That is to say, we all agree, with almost no exceptions, that viruses exist even though none of us have ever seen, smelled, heard, palpably touched or tasted a virus. We almost forget that less than a few hundred years ago expressing a belief in a nefarious microscopic agent was likely to get you a date at Salem's Lot.

But I tell you all this by way of background, today's blog is not about viruses so much, it is more about memes. While I am certain that you have heard the word virus, it is very possible that you have not heard the word meme. A meme is similar to virus except that instead of being an ultramicroscopic organism it is an idea. An idea that replicates itself and parasitizes itself in much the same way that a virus does. Think about it. A law professor has an idea, say, about a new constitutional amendment. He proposes that idea to his colleagues, to other judges, to lawyers, to his students. He writes a law review article, more and more people hear about it. If this meme is effective it begins to grow and spread in the brains of those listening. Now one can keep going back with memes, of course, which is to say that while that new constutional amendment was the result of a meme, so was the Constitution itself. For that matter so was law, so was society, so was language almost all the way back. Everything we learn, including all art, language to even behavior, to maybe even instinct on some level, is a meme.

Which leads to the next idea (meme): How can we find the meme-ing of life? Or stated otherwise: Can we find meaning in memes? Can it be that the secret of existence is to create an effective meme that will outlive us? Certainly, it is one way of reframing the old cliche "I want to remembered when I am gone" or "I want to make a difference." In fact, it seems that if you can create a meme that is effective enough that you may have succeeded in acheiving one or both of the aforementioned cliches.

Therefore, incredibly our search for meaning today leads us to point where, thought of in the light memes, perhaps the meaning of our existence can be summed up in our desire to parasitize the brains of all those around us and all those to come(!). Interestingly, the more people we can "infect" with these memes ours and the longer we can do it for the more actualized we feel as human beings.

I said in the beginning of this article that we, all of us, at one time or another, have experienced having a virus. But please, kind blog reader, let me rephrase: We ARE all viruses. Viruses of the mind.

So get out there kiddies and start meme-ing. . .

They call me The Seeker
I've been searching low and high,
Moses

Shane on Me

The case of Shane is an interesting one. Shane was an obnoxious, haughty and pretentious individual that I found immediately attractive and repellent as a human being. Because I didn't know how else to deal with him, I decided immediately that I would try to find the breaking point on his already massively inflated ego.

I first met Shane when I was looking for apartments immediately after graduating from law school. He lives with his wife across the hall from me and splits his time between South Jersey and NYC. So there I was in 1999 standing outside the apartment that I would end up taking and suddenly I heard this booming voice pretentiously agreeing with someone.

"Oh absolutely", he said followed by an obnoxious, deliberate and extremely slow nod. I turned to find a 50 something year old man standing about six four or five. He was dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. The polo shirt had a little Superman logo on it. He stood next to his diminutive but attractive blond wife. His hair was long and he wore a neatly trimmed beard.

"Hi", I said meekly averting my gaze slightly as he peered directly at me. Still not fully grasping how terrifically awful this human being was/is.

"Well, hello, Shane Kittredge, nice to make your acquaintance" he said loudly.

"Hi, uh. . .Moses. . . uh. . . Aton", I replied not accustomed to introducing myself James Bond style.

We continued our conversation for a few minutes. Ostensibly the conversation was about being a NY lawyer and health care in the U.S. Again, let me emphasize that I had just met this man and he didn't even know I was a lawyer yet. But he sure as hell wanted to let me know that he was. Anyway, I was unsure of what exactly his point was other than that it was clear he was interested in establishing:

1. That he was intelligent, educated worldly and probably moreso than me.
2. That he was he a world traveleler and that he was interested in obscure things, like rocks and natural herbal remedies.
3. That he was extremely liberal politically.

Now some people might be put off by this, but not Moses. Your dear blog narrator Moses loves pretension and posturing and tries only to feed it and to help it to grow. Like Hestia at the hearth I live to stoke the flames of pretension and self delusion and count some of the city's most empty talents and biggest egos among my friends. I usually can't get enough.

Now then, let's fast forward a few years (incidentally, how pedestrian is that comment? fast forward? bah. . . Shane would hate - nay, abhor it) and now Shane and I are friends. This came at no small expense by the way. It came only after hours and days and months of supplicating (ie kissing ass - I got this word from him by the by) myself to him. Typical conversation, joined appropriately pretentiously in mid-conversation:

"So Moses, this was years ago", said Shane as always using my name patronizingly.

"Well, God knows Shane you've certainly been around the block", I'd reply re-affirming Shane as an experienced trooper followed with the ultra over the top statement, "you may look thirty but I know you're older than that"

"Yeah", Shane would respond for once speechless. "anyway so my father, who was a genius. . ."

"Apple doesn't fall from the tree there buddy" I'd interrupt.

"No, it doesn't, Moses. Anyway, so my father who did blah blah blah", he'd then blather on. At this point i would tune out completely trying only to tune in periodically to suck up or to occasionally agree emphatically. Or even more rarely, I'd disagree only to rephrase in a light EVEN MORE flattering to Shane than his stories already were. For example perhaps:

Shane: "So you see Moses, he threatened to sue me not knowing I'm a lawyer"

Moses: "And not just any laywer, Shane, but a top flight litigator. . ."

Shane: "Right, Moses. . ."

Another favorite tactic of Shane is to hint at incredibly secretive things and imply to be complicit in them when clearly he wasn't. For example Shane might just be coming back from Iraq or Afghanistan lately. Saying something like, "I really shouldn't say much else, but there's a lot of interesting things going on over there." One might respond, "No shit dickhead, there's fucking war going on over there. I could read that anywhere. And you're dumb ass clearly wasn't over there since your space cadet wife just told me that you guys have been in South Jersey for the past month." See, one might say that. But not Moses, instead I find a well placed "We don't know the half of it do we Shane?" Works much better.

But actually, I didn't respond that way recently when he made that outlandish comment, You see I have actually concluded that there is no discernable limit to this man's pretention and insanity, so I stopped trying to see where it would end and decided to instead to try to match it. Instead I responded (he'd love this) thusly:

"You know Shane do you have a minute?"

He responded affirmatively (literally) and I then explained that I too had recently become involved in some secret activites that I wasn't at liberty to discuss but that they involved my being fluent in Arabic. He was interested but, also strangely looked uneasy for the first time since I had met him. I then dropped various hints and clues like that implied I was involved in some ultra secretive government program, occasionally saying things like: "I am sure you are familiar with the protocols" With him agreeing everytime.

Or "You, Shane, you of all people would understand the importance of secrecy on this matter."

"Absolutely, it's paramount. . ." he'd respond. But now finally having less to say and slightly deflated. It turns out he's not so bad now, when he isn't trying to convince you how smart he is, it turns out he can be pretty interesting. . .and smart. . .

I'm a Sensation,
Moe

I Don't Remember Dreaming.

I don't remember dreaming. I woke up, got out of bed when my alarm sounded, which I needed because I stayed up too late the night before. I went immediately to make some coffee since I wanted to be alert this morning and I needed some caffeine. I'm really overweight these days so I loaded it up with sweet and low since I didn't want the sugar but I like my coffee sweet. I tried to watch the news but I lost my concentration for a minute and missed it -- thank God for TiVo, I just rewound it. I thought I should take a shit before I started working so I wouldn't get disrupted, but I didn't have to shit. So I had a cigarette, which helped and then took a shit. Then I sat down to my computer to start working and remembered I was supposed to call someone. But I didn't want to call him, because I needed to tell him something but I didn't actually want to talk to him so I e-mailed him instead. I read something on the internet briefly then I lost my concerntration I worked for a little while and then I decided that it was time for lunch. I was hungry but I am fat, so I decided to have a Slim Fast shake for lunch. After I drank my shake I started getting a bit of a headache so I popped a few aspirins and sat back down to do some work. My eyes stung me from staring at the computer so I gave myself a few eyedrops and my eyes felt better. Around late afternoon I decided that maybe I should have a little something. I had an apple and orange, but I guess they were too acidic, so I had a tums and felt a lot better. At that moment I felt a tinge of loneliness and so I IM-ed a few friends. We chatted for a bit but then I became bored so I stopped. After that my day was over so I headed home but again I was lonely so I decided to stop for a few drinks. I don't like hangovers so I purchased some pills that would help me not have a hangover. Then I had a bunch a drinks and I felt better. But then I felt worse. I had a few more tums and a few cigarettes, but the cigarettes made me have a dry cough so when I got home I got in the shower to breathe some steamy air and I felt a lot better. Then I was tired but I couldn't get to sleep so I took a few sleeping pills and soon I was asleep. I don't remember dreaming.

I'm a really desperate man,
Moses

Poor Blue Trash always on the wrong side. It's Duke and the Yankees, Blue. Not the Heels and the Mets. . .

Lest any of you think that was a wanton attack on Blue, may I remind those of you who were there of his behavior during the KC Chiefs Indy game. . .

He only comes out when I drink my gin,
Mo Better Blue Devils

Why Why Why?

Fundamental injustices create some really cold frustration
Karmic bits steal outward all over God's creation
I read today that the end would come no sense of fairness there
I thought to myself that yesterday maybe I'd have cared

I couldn't fight the rage then
but felt better by the sip
I'm really trashed and talking shit and shooting from the lip
Little boy you never knew
You dreamed of things unreal
You'll fight and scream and shout all night and never do believe

It’s the time of your life
so why so bored I'd ask you once again
I'd sit you down and lecture long on virtue and on sin
Time speak time to move no longer time for rest
The sun is creeping rapidly over to the west

A sunset close
orange sky and memories abound
Remember every moment
You can turn it all around

My Dad couldn't stand on two feet
As he lectured about morality,
M

February Made Me Shiver

February is by far my least favorite month of the year. It's cold, the days are short and something about the month just feels cold. Even as a youngster I remember dreading February. It always seemed so far from summer. In my child mind last summer felt like ages ago and next summer felt so far away. Further, I am perhaps, not well suited to February at this latitude being that my family has been, most likely, in a much warmer climate for the better part of the last 4000 years, but it's more than that. Ten years ago this February, I lost one of my best friends.

As I mentioned in a recent blog, my best friend Mayhem and I left for college in the fall of 1992 and met Falstaff shortly thereafter. Never before or since have Mayhem and I met anyone that we, as a unit, were that close to. Falstaff was unlike anyone we ever met. He was genteel where we were boorish. Well mannered when were still rough around the edges and one of the smartest people that to this day I have ever met.

Upon first glance he was slight, awkward and looked like a proto nerd with his red hair and his glasses. But, as is often the case, looks were deceiving. He turned out to be one of the strongest and most powerful presences that I have ever had in my life. To this day I consult what I think of as the Falstaff blueprint. I sort of consult him on matters in my life and "get his opinion on things." His worldview was positive and strong. I can't sum it up, but somehow I know where he would stand on almost any problem or issue and I "consult" him often.

Also, strangely one of my closest friends, the Deertick was also his best friend. I remember hearing about the Deertick from Falstaff, he would speak of him so fondly. Often longing for his presence in some of the lonelier moments of homesickness that we all feel as college freshman. Sometimes Falstaff would say "There isn't anyone here who is like me. I miss the Deertick" he would say. Often adding "He is just like me". Years after Falstaff, the Deertick and I would begin a friendship that stands as one of my deepest friendships I have ever had.

February was the worst when I was a kid and summer seemed so long ago and so far, but I am not a kid anymore and time moves faster. Also, while I still dread February I see now that of every ending there is born a beginning. While I would do almost anything to see Falstaff just once more, I realize that that day ten years ago when we lost him is firmly a part of who I am that I would be a completely different person without the experience. And while I miss him everyday, I cherish the legacy of my friendship with him. That I am better for having known him and that he gave me the gift of another wonderful friend.

I guess I still think that February is the worst month, but now I think of it this way: It's only getting warmer from here on in, the days are getting longer and the month of March, spring training, and better days are on the way.

February just got a little warmer. . .

Listening to you, I get the music
Gazing at you, I get the heat,
Mama Moses

That last post was a Zen koan. If I post nothing can anyone read it?

The Last Last Samurai. . .

Last night I went to see The Last Samurai. TLS is the new Tom Cruise movie and I am a big TC fan. I think he gets a bad rap. Even though he has enjoyed wild commercial success and has made some very risky (dare I say: "artsty") films the last few years he is still though of as a sort of glorified action star by many critics. Anyway I think he's aces. And dreamy.

So sans Yoko, who surprisingly wasn't interested, I decided to go take in the new flick. It changed my life. The movie which is best summed up by fandango:

Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is an American military officer hired by the Emperor of Japan to train the country's first army in the art of modern warfare. As the government attempts to eradicate the ancient Samurai warrior class in preparation for more Westernized and trade-friendly policies, Algren finds himself unexpectedly affected by his encounters with the Samurai, which places him at the center of a struggle between two eras and two worlds.

Indeed! And the Captain wasn't the only one. I, Moses Aton, also found myself "unexpectedly affected by [my] encounters with the Samurai". In fact, so much that I immediately decided that I, in fact, wanted to be a Samurai. Right as the movie ended I closed my eyes and began picturing it. I could no longer fight my destiny. I headed immediately for Go Sushi to ponder my next steps.

Moses San: Salmon deluxe please.
GS Employee woman: $4.50 please, anything to drink?
Moses San: Although, I want a soda, I am a Samurai and must be disciplined (in bed).
GSEW: Excuse me?
Moses San: No, no thanks.
GSEW: Here you go.
Moses San: (stepping back and bowing deeply) ARIGATO!
GSEW: Your welcome. (dirty look)
Moses San: (muttering) The path of the Samurai is difficult (in bed).

After feasting on my salmon I sat and pondered my destiny. I was tempted to pick a copy of Field and Stream, but I resisted because the path of the Samurai is one forged of discipline and I had much to do. I mustn't waste my energy. The path of the Samurai requires strength of mind (in bed).

On my way home my stomach began to rumble as happens sometimes to me when I eat at Go Sushi. Quickly the situation became worse. I clamped my butt cheeks together and began waddling home. Oh no, it was coming. The path of the Samurai is treacherous (in bed). I headed up town towards my apt. quickly calculating whether there was any viable bathroom option. I realized there was none. I approached the doorman - he wasn't holding the door open -- precious seconds would be lost. I considered using the downstairs bathroom and decided to do it. I see the cutie from the 7th floor heading into the adjacent girls bathroom - she might hear me - stage fright could be fatal. To the Samurai only honor matters (in bed). I quickly opt to head upstairs. I may not make. If I didn't it would be not be a glorious end for me. I must restrain myself. My honor as a Samurai was at stake. Finally I made it back to the apartment and all was ok after some painful bathroom time.

I then pondered my next move. I decided that I must lose weight if I am going to be a Samurai and I read up on the Atkins diet on the internet. I was a good deal into it when I realized that I wasn't sure if Japan still had an Emperor or not. If Japan didn't have an Empereror who did I serve. [Note to self: look this up]. I then decided that I ought to begin practicing my swordsmanship. Not having a sword I decided to practice with some game used Jim Leyritz bats. This was a bad and I almost broke my computer screen.

I decided that I needed to still my mind. I was of "too many minds' I needed to meditate. So I meditated for probably about 10-15 minutes then I fell asleep. I woke up after midnight and couldn't ge tback to sleep. I hate that!! All of a sudden I began to lose my Samurai cool, so I tried to meditate again, but now I was just pissed.

So I tried to download some Japanese music off the internet, but I couldn't find anything good, so I put on my Dr. Weil tapes which I felt were sort of similar. Just then I realized I was up for the day. The way of the Samurai is tough path indeed and I would need to be more disciplined (in bed).

I can't be held responsible for blown behaviour,
Moses San

Why Moe Moe Can't be Killed

When I was a freshman in college all the boys on the first floor of Queens Court had a tacit open door policy. Although we were all from different backgrounds and going in different directions we were all very close a little less than a month after meeting.

In college time doesn't move at the same rate it does both before and after college. Time draws out slowly and moments linger. Encounters seems more significant and a deep and lifelong friendship is often just a long night away.

It's almost invariably one of the best times of one's life. The college student is often truly on his own for the first time in his life, meeting people new and different people, learning new and incredible things and best of all most of this comes along with no more responsibility than it takes to manage about four classes. It's truly a wonderful time and it certainly was for the boys on the first floor of Queens Court.

I lived with my best friend Mayhem from LI, across the hall from Duffer the Irishman from Derry City and his roommate Falstaff. Mayhem and I quickly befriended Falstaff and the Duffer and the four of us were inserperable and the cornerstone of the first floor of Queens Court. Later we would hook up with Verno the Connecticut weirdo, Rick the hip hopper from the Bronx and Jimbo from PA, et al. Eventually, were all very close friends, our friendship galvanized during the long hours that we would spend smoking cigs and drinking beers and discussing our classes, our female classmates and, more importantly, our backgrounds and dreams for the future. Because of the tight security in the building and our trust for each other we all eventually stoppped locking our doors.

It was great. Mayhem and I were the first to do it. Followed by Falstaff and Duff, eventually all the doors became unlocked. This meant we could scour our dormmates rooms for cigarettes, change, food, books or, in short, whatever we needed. In general we all felt it was fair. Granted Verno, began sleeping with cigarettes, but even he knew that on some level college Karma dictated that what went around would come around. For every last cigarette that, say Mayhem, would smoke of Verno's, Verno knew he'd get first dibs on Mama Mayhem's pork chops next time Mayhem brought them back from Long Island. It was beautiful. A form of primitive Marxism that actually worked.

Except for the day that I took my then girlfriend Cynthia to the Yankees Red Sox game (she was a red Sox fan - how did I think that was gonna work?). We left early that Saturday for the game. There actually was some remarkable controversy that day that allowed the Yankees to win. Basically some Yankee popped to ostensibly end the game with the Yankees behind. But unknown to most in the park, just before that Yankee popped up a fan ran on the field therefore play was suspended. Needless to say the out didn't count and the Yanks came back to win. Beautiful. I was thrilled Cynthia was bummed. Bitch.

Anyway, unbeknownist to me at some point during this game Verno and Mayhem (I think it was Mayhem may have been Falstaff and/or Duff) were fiddling around with a new Zippo that Verno had purchased. Finally at their wits end of trying to figure out how it worked, Verno and Mayhem decide to fill a cup up with lighter fluid. Now so far no big deal, right? Right, except fot that the cup they try to use is my favorite Yankees cup that I keep by my sink in the room. Now you should know that Mayhem and I shared a room that was about 13' by 10' there was no bathroom in the room but there was one little sink. On this sink was a little green plastic cup that held my and Mayhem's toothbrushes and on the other was my trusty Yankee cup. This cup was my cup. I loved this cup and used it everyday. I drank from it whenever I was thristy.

Now on this particular day I decided that after this most excellent Yankee victory that we should hit the Bronx bars and party a little. So I called everyone and we partied from the end of the Yankees game and well into the night. After about 10 hours of drinking, I stumbled home well after 2 or 3 in the morning and walked into the room and grabbed my cup. I drank about half the contents of my Yankees cup before sensing something was wrong. When I finally realized what happened all I could do was lumber around the room wondering what to do. Mayhem wasn't around and we were in much too much trouble with the RA to wake him up. Out of the corner of my eye I spied red white Zippo fluid can. On the label it clearly read: IF INGESTED DO NOT INDUCE VOMIT CALL PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY. Again, I couldn't call the RA and no one was around. So I did what any self respecting college kid in my position would do. I drank some water and went to bed thinking I would either wake up blind or dead or both.

The next day, I woke up, miraculously, without a hangover. The moral of the story? Moe Moe can't be killed. . .

Apple Scrumpy!
Moe

Wow, oops I hope no one took my advice and actually bet the Pats since they didn't cover. . .

But the over came in (and how!) so if you did take my advice at least you broke even, right?

Let me go on the record now saying that Carolina doesn't have a chance. Bet the Pats and bet them BIG!!!!! Pats will win and they will cover. . .