Category: Uncategorized

  • Fight Through It

    It’s just a rainy day in New York. I would like to be reading a book on the couch right now, but I still have chores to do. Not a complaint, just the reality of being an adult.

    But speaking of acting like an adult; I seem to have stopped going to bed on time. I was doing pretty good for a while, getting to bed by 11:30pm. But for the past three days, I have returned to staying up late and watching TV. “Solar Opposites” seems to be my new obsession. I am able to watch about two episodes, but then I fall asleep.

    This has left me feeling very tired, and I think I need a nap.

    I need to fight through it.  

  • ODDS and ENDS: Premier League Shutdown, and The Dog

    ODDS and ENDS is my continuing series of random thoughts and follow ups…

    Oh, this is bad for the Premier League, and I think it could be a harbinger for all of sports. As I write this, there have been twelve canceled matches, and more could be on the way after testing happens today and tomorrow morning. It’s looking more and more like there could be a stoppage in play for the rest of the year due to outbreaks in clubs. I mean, I don’t want to see sports grind to a halt, but no one wants people to take risks that are not necessary. The English Premier League is the biggest sports league in the world, so if they are looking at shutting down, then I think it will have a domino effect on other sports. And if leagues start shutting down, then I think they are the carnie in the coal mine for the rest of us. I’m stealing this from Desus&Mero, as I don’t want to go back to watching two guys play video games on ESPN. Just, go get your shot people.

    The dog is back at the vet after a wee of having the cone of shame on. The sore spot under her eye hasn’t gotten any better, and I have a very bad feeling that the vet will want to operate. We may have to go get a second opinion on what is up with the dog. Even with the cone on, she was behaving normally, so, I have to wonder if the spot is actually anything of issue, other than looking really weird. Unfortunately, my experience with NYC vets is that they always wont to go with the most expensive procedure first, and that is surgery. I don’t want the dog to suffer, but I also don’t like feeling as if my pet is being held hostage.

  • ODDS and ENDS: William Holden Essay, Ted Lasso Season 2, and House in the Country

    “ODDS and ENDS” is my continuing series of random thoughts and follow ups…

    This morning when I was sitting in the car waiting for the street sweeper (No, this is not about parking in NYC) I read this really good essay in today’s NYTimes. It is called, “The Many Deaths of William Taught Me How To Be Anxious,” by Alexander Aciman. It made me laugh out loud, and I could identify with trying to raise a kid, and make her aware of the dangers around her, without trying to scare her. What it also reminded me of was, towards the end of summer, a particular awful thunderstorm rolled through the City. Hell, it might have been the one that caused all the flooding. Anyway, in the morning, I was walking the kid to the local park, and as we passed a row of trees, I heard this great crunching and crashing sound. I grabbed the kid’s hand, and we took off running, and what collapsed behind us was a huge tree branch, that I am sure if it landed on us would have caused serious injuries. I tried to explain the danger to the kid, but she just thought it was fun. So, I understand creating an avatar of many deaths.

    I have started watching Ted Lasso, Season 2. It started out uneven, but seems to have righted itself. I mean, nothing can be as magical as that first season, but I am enjoying the characters and what conflict and growth can be brought to them. I was supposed to wait for my wife, but I know full well I will watch it all over again. It’s like watching a Marvel Movie; each episode is packed full of little details that are fun to discover.

    I have set a few goals for myself. Some I have achieved, others I’m still a million miles from. Yesterday, I said one out loud, and I think I mean it. I want to buy an old farm house, in upstate New York. And I mean, like a real old farm house; three bedrooms, one bath, and a root cellar – that kind of thing. It’s the first time in three years that I said that I want to leave New York City. I mean, it has to be good for the kid, as there is no point in moving to the middle of the woods if the schools suck and she has no friends. But, I have no idea how to achieve this, but I don’t see why that’s a barrier.

  • I Bought Bitcoin

    Did you know that you can buy Bitcoin through Venmo? If you didn’t know, now you know. I thought it was a scam at first. I mean, Bitcoin sells for like $60k a share, and I clearly don’t have that much money to throw around. I also know that Venmo really isn’t selling shares. I think it’s more like renting shares.

    Anyway, I was checking on my Venmo account, which I rarely use. Before the pandemic, when I would go out with friends and have to split a check, that’s when I would use it. And for the fantasy football league that I play in. So, I was checking the account, and I saw that I had forgot that I have $35 in it.

    What to do?

    Now, I am not endorsing buying Bitcoin through Venmo, but I bought Bitcoin through Venmo. Currently, I have made three dollars.

    And it still feels like a scam. I do know how cryptocurrency works, so please don’t explain it to me. In a philosophical sense, anything can have value, and this is a thing, and people say it has value. Maybe it’s the Tulip Crazy all over again, or the Roaring Twenties, or whatever.

    I find it odd that I have purchased something that can make me money, but is not physical. I feel like I have purchased a belief in something. The Ethereal Value.

    It’s conceivable that in one year, I could have $300 of value. And then a year after that, $3,000 of value.

    And it’s also conceivable that someone could say, “It’s just a tulip,” and it all goes away.

    But as of right now, I can go and buy a good cup of coffee.  

  • Harry Kane Stays at Tottenham

    Have I mentioned that I know nothing about the Premier League?

    Let me reiterate; I know nothing about the Premier League.

    Except I think I can claim that I was right about Harry Kane and Tottenham Hotspur sticking together for this season.

    I am saying all of this because Harry Kane Tweeted today:

    I guess that settles that.

    Being that I don’t know or understand anything about the League, I don’t know what the correct interpretation of these events are. Did Kane blink? Did Man City lowball Kane’s value to Tottenham? Did Tottenham refuse to negotiate? Did Kane and Tottenham’s owners come to an agreement? Did Kane suck it up, and get back to being a player on the team? Who knows…

    What I do know is that this could be a fun season. Spurs have two wins in the Premier League, and are down a match in the playoff round of the Europa Conference League, but they did make some moves this summer to add players, and the big move was keeping Son. So, I’m looking forward to what Tottenham can do.

    Should be fun.