With apologies to James Pierpont, I give you my rendition of Shopping Malls, a 21st century update of his Jingle Bells.
Shopping Malls
Dashing through the aisles
Looking for a bargain
O’er the stores we go
Shopping all the way
Bells on registers ring
Making wallets light
Oh what fun it is to shop
In a shopping mall tonight.
Oh, shopping malls, shopping malls
Shopping night and day
Oh what fun it is to shop
In a shopping mall today! Hay!
Shopping malls, shopping malls!
Shopping night and day
Oh what fun it is to shop
In a shopping mall today.
A day or two to go
I thought I’d get a start
Made my Christmas list
Checked it over twice
Horns in parking lots
Stores were packed so tight
Could hardly find a gift today
I’ll have to return tonight.
Oh, shopping malls, shopping malls
Shopping night and day
Oh what fun it is to shop
In a shopping mall today! Hay!
Shopping malls, shopping malls!
Shopping night and day
Oh what fun it is to shop
In a shopping mall today.
Made it back that night
Found a parking spot
Hiked a half a mile
The mall was locked up tight!
The only place to go
Was the all-night convenience store
That’s why ev’rybody on my list
Got lottery tickets as gifts.
Oh, shopping malls, shopping malls
I can’t stand those places
It’s no fun to shop all day
With a zillion other faces!
Shopping malls, shopping malls
Burn those places down
Next year I’ll just stay at home
And do my shopping in town.
Your Center City Correspondent hopes you had a Merry Christmas and have a wonderful New Year. See you at the parade.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Snow? What snow?
What a delight this past weekend was. Your Center City Correspondent was safe and warm at home during the storm and watched the center city buildings disappear from view as the storm settled in. My neighbors and I double-teamed the sidewalk and kept it clear all day so it hardly felt like 23 inches of snow. Many thanks to them. Everything we needed was within walking distance, supermarket, restaurants and local bars and churches were all open. Then on Sunday I walked over to the subway and rode it down to the Linc. Gangs of shovelers had been working all night to get the stadium and lots cleared for the game. At one point in the second half, the normally reserved fans in the lower section had what can’t be called a snowball fight, but rather a snow toss. Hundreds of people tossed snow in the air and watched it settle back down. From above, it looked like white fireworks. But then they turned their attention to the owners’ box and started pelting them with snowballs. Then they turned around and aimed their white missiles at the cheerleaders (!) until an announcement was made and the snowballs stopped. Oh, yeah, the Eagles won so it was an enjoyable day all around.
So it looks like we are going to have a white Christmas this year. I hope everyone has an enjoyable holiday season and that Santa brings you everything on your list. Our son is coming home for a few days from Florida, so that’s making Mrs CCC very happy. Maybe he can take some of the snow with him when he leaves. But do yourself a favor this week. For those so inclined, go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas day and thank the Lord for your blessings and the health of your loved ones. It should only take about an hour, but will benefit you for a long time.
God bless us and Merry Christmas to all.
So it looks like we are going to have a white Christmas this year. I hope everyone has an enjoyable holiday season and that Santa brings you everything on your list. Our son is coming home for a few days from Florida, so that’s making Mrs CCC very happy. Maybe he can take some of the snow with him when he leaves. But do yourself a favor this week. For those so inclined, go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas day and thank the Lord for your blessings and the health of your loved ones. It should only take about an hour, but will benefit you for a long time.
God bless us and Merry Christmas to all.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Army/Navy game 2009
Your Center City Correspondent was an usher at Lincoln Financial Field for the Army/Navy game this past Saturday. Having attended the game in the past as a spectator, I knew that the crowd is pretty mellow and exceedingly respectful. So I expected pretty much the same thing this year. However, my assignment was between two sections of midshipmen from the Naval Academy, approximately 1000 of them.
And I learned something – although they go to one of the premier schools in the country, they are still college kids. They have the same percentage of knuckleheads that Temple does - standing in the aisle, standing on their seats, jumping over railings, stopping in mid-stride to place a call with 10 people waiting behind them. The only saving grace is that they are not allowed to drink at the game.
And they are not allowed to have civilians sit with them during the game, they had to come to the top of the section for a visit. So I got to see some touching scenes between middies and their family and friends. And these people came from all over the country, as close as Lancaster and as far away as Spokane just to see their sons and daughters for a few brief hours. There was one young lady, could not have been more than 19, with these big brown eyes, waiting. I asked her if she was waiting for one in particular or would any one do. Another lady had ridden a bus for two days from Midland, Texas just to see her daughter for about 10 minutes. Hopefully they all got to visit some more after the game, won handily by Navy 17-3.
The highlight of the day for me was shaking hands with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Admiral Mullen. When I was in the service, the man in that role was like a god to us, and here I am welcoming him to Philadelphia. I told him I liked his hat, and would’ve asked if we could swap hats given a few more seconds with him.
We are fortunate to have the game played right here in Philadelphia most years. If you’ve never attended the game, you should make a point to do so. Maybe it’s not the best football game, but definitely the best spectacle in college football.
All for now. Off to do some Christmas shopping. Maybe I’ll catch the light show again.
And I learned something – although they go to one of the premier schools in the country, they are still college kids. They have the same percentage of knuckleheads that Temple does - standing in the aisle, standing on their seats, jumping over railings, stopping in mid-stride to place a call with 10 people waiting behind them. The only saving grace is that they are not allowed to drink at the game.
And they are not allowed to have civilians sit with them during the game, they had to come to the top of the section for a visit. So I got to see some touching scenes between middies and their family and friends. And these people came from all over the country, as close as Lancaster and as far away as Spokane just to see their sons and daughters for a few brief hours. There was one young lady, could not have been more than 19, with these big brown eyes, waiting. I asked her if she was waiting for one in particular or would any one do. Another lady had ridden a bus for two days from Midland, Texas just to see her daughter for about 10 minutes. Hopefully they all got to visit some more after the game, won handily by Navy 17-3.
The highlight of the day for me was shaking hands with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Admiral Mullen. When I was in the service, the man in that role was like a god to us, and here I am welcoming him to Philadelphia. I told him I liked his hat, and would’ve asked if we could swap hats given a few more seconds with him.
We are fortunate to have the game played right here in Philadelphia most years. If you’ve never attended the game, you should make a point to do so. Maybe it’s not the best football game, but definitely the best spectacle in college football.
All for now. Off to do some Christmas shopping. Maybe I’ll catch the light show again.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Center City jewels
One of the joys of living in town is the number of churches nearby. Your Center City Correspondent has visited many of them, whether just to stop in and say hello or for Mass. The main thing in their favor is that they are old, with beautiful architecture, including the statues and altars. Two of my favorites are Old St. Joseph’s at 4th and Walnut and St. Patrick’s at 20th and Spruce. OSJ was founded by the Jesuits, in fact, the same men who started the university of the same name out on City Avenue. It has a beautiful mural behind the altar and there is a balcony that wraps around three-quarters of the church. It sits in a little courtyard off Willings Alley, which enhances the beauty and experience. St. Patrick’s is a big church, as big as some cathedrals. The highlights for me are the statue of St. Patrick which sits up by the altar and the open-backed pews, something you don’t see any more. Make sure you see the main church and not the downstairs chapel. Nothing cookie-cutter about these two; they don’t make churches like these anymore.
But the crown jewel in town has to be the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul that sits at 18th and Race or the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It took them about 15 years to build it back in the middle of the 19th century (pretty quick by European standards), and was expanded in the mid 1950’s. With its vaulted ceilings, large dome, main and side altars, statuary and stained glass, I always feel a little closer to heaven when I walk in. The word awesome is overused these days, but a walk inside is just that and inspirational all at once. Words and pictures don’t begin to describe it, only a visit will do. I’m pleased that my family will be coming to the Cathedral for a wedding in a few months and I’ll be able to show off my parish, but you shouldn’t wait. Come see it while it’s decorated for Christmas, it enhances the experience. Hope to see you there.
http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/parishes/8305.htm
http://www.oldstjoseph.org/
http://home.catholicweb.com/sspeterpaulcathedral/index.cfm
But the crown jewel in town has to be the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul that sits at 18th and Race or the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It took them about 15 years to build it back in the middle of the 19th century (pretty quick by European standards), and was expanded in the mid 1950’s. With its vaulted ceilings, large dome, main and side altars, statuary and stained glass, I always feel a little closer to heaven when I walk in. The word awesome is overused these days, but a walk inside is just that and inspirational all at once. Words and pictures don’t begin to describe it, only a visit will do. I’m pleased that my family will be coming to the Cathedral for a wedding in a few months and I’ll be able to show off my parish, but you shouldn’t wait. Come see it while it’s decorated for Christmas, it enhances the experience. Hope to see you there.
http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/parishes/8305.htm
http://www.oldstjoseph.org/
http://home.catholicweb.com/sspeterpaulcathedral/index.cfm
Monday, December 7, 2009
Feeling young again
Your Center City Correspondent had a very pleasant Thanksgiving weekend, thanks for asking. Mrs. CCC cooks a wonderful turkey with all the trimmings and makes my mom’s sausage stuffing which is worth the price of admission itself. As tight as the parking can be on Green St., Thanksgiving brings a welcome relief when all the college kids go home and people travel to the hinterlands for their holiday. There are more parking spots on the street than there are parked cars. It gives an open, airy feel to the street, but as one fellow says, makes it a bit eerie, like was there an order to evacuate and we didn’t get it.
Thanksgiving is the start of the Christmas shopping season. I’m of the opinion that it gets started way too early. Do retailers really need to be open at 4 AM that Friday? What does that tell us about ourselves, when the need to spend money eclipses rational behavior? People say, but I saved $200 on a 97-inch TV! The banker in me says, no you didn’t save anything, you spent $1,000. Saving is when you put the money in the bank or under the mattress, not take it out and spend it. People don’t like to talk to me when I say things like that. What I really want to tell them is that they should focus on the first syllable of Christmas, and give thanks that we live in a world where a benevolent God will show us mercy for our failings, like our materialism that has replaced spiritualism as our guiding force.
But I must confess that Mrs. CCC and I went to Macy’s on that Friday to do a little shopping ourselves. We needed new bar glasses – we were tired of drinking wine from old jelly jars. And while we were there I stopped and watched the light show. You might remember it as the Wanamaker’s light show. It always brings back old memories, of going there as a kid with my parents and family. And then later on, bringing my own son there when he was young. I hope to be there when he brings his kids. It is a wonderful treat that will warm even the crustiest of hearts, as it did mine. So get down there and see it while you can. It will make you feel young again. And we can all give thanks for that feeling.
All for now. Enjoy your week.
Thanksgiving is the start of the Christmas shopping season. I’m of the opinion that it gets started way too early. Do retailers really need to be open at 4 AM that Friday? What does that tell us about ourselves, when the need to spend money eclipses rational behavior? People say, but I saved $200 on a 97-inch TV! The banker in me says, no you didn’t save anything, you spent $1,000. Saving is when you put the money in the bank or under the mattress, not take it out and spend it. People don’t like to talk to me when I say things like that. What I really want to tell them is that they should focus on the first syllable of Christmas, and give thanks that we live in a world where a benevolent God will show us mercy for our failings, like our materialism that has replaced spiritualism as our guiding force.
But I must confess that Mrs. CCC and I went to Macy’s on that Friday to do a little shopping ourselves. We needed new bar glasses – we were tired of drinking wine from old jelly jars. And while we were there I stopped and watched the light show. You might remember it as the Wanamaker’s light show. It always brings back old memories, of going there as a kid with my parents and family. And then later on, bringing my own son there when he was young. I hope to be there when he brings his kids. It is a wonderful treat that will warm even the crustiest of hearts, as it did mine. So get down there and see it while you can. It will make you feel young again. And we can all give thanks for that feeling.
All for now. Enjoy your week.
Measuring greatness
It’s no secret that your Center City Correspondent is a fan of Abraham Lincoln. (Is he on Facebook?) Mrs. CCC and I have traveled to Gettysburg a number of times and each time we start at the national cemetery and I am in deep awe of Mr. Lincoln’s address dedicating the cemetery. Learned scholars have written that that one speech has changed the way we govern ourselves, that the Declaration of Independence which he references in his speech, is now the pre-eminent document, eclipsing even the Constitution. That may be debatable, but they make a good case. I bring this up because today (Nov 19) is the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, 146 years ago. It is undoubtedly the best American speech ever, maybe one of the top 5 in the English language, and still stirring today. Check out the link below.
A current-day politician recently in the news campaigned on the platform that she was “an average American” and that she should be given the opportunity to govern because of her ordinariness. I’m of the mind that we don’t want ordinary people to govern us, rather extraordinary people, like Mr. Lincoln. Is it unfair to compare the two? Maybe. But it’s not unfair to use greatness as a yardstick to measure others against. We deserve the best.
http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm
A current-day politician recently in the news campaigned on the platform that she was “an average American” and that she should be given the opportunity to govern because of her ordinariness. I’m of the mind that we don’t want ordinary people to govern us, rather extraordinary people, like Mr. Lincoln. Is it unfair to compare the two? Maybe. But it’s not unfair to use greatness as a yardstick to measure others against. We deserve the best.
http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm
Peaches and Cream
Your Center City Correspondent wants you to know that living in town is not all peaches and cream. One of the tradeoffs you make is the parking situation. We got a District 6 sticker when we moved in which lets you park in a legal spot anywhere in the district, regardless of the 2-hour limit on most streets in the neighborhood. The sticker doesn’t guarantee you a spot on your street, just that you’re allowed to park in the zone.
I apologize to those of you who might have already heard this story, but others might want to hear it now that the final chapter has been written. Back in August, we parked the car in a legal spot on our block. Two days later without any advance warning, somebody slapped up a Temporary No-Parking sign right where the car was parked and moments later the car was ticketed and towed to a lot in southwest Philadelphia. In the car’s place on the street was a mobile storage unit for someone who was moving that week. I wish the rest of the city government was as efficient as the Parking Authority. For the most part, I applaud their work, and anytime I’ve spoken to them, they’ve been cooperative and occasionally helpful. Later that same day, my neighbor gave me a lift to the lot so I could bail out my car, to the tune of $180. Ouch. I can tell you at the time that Mrs. CCC and I were ready to bite the heads off nails we were so mad and frustrated. We took our venom out on a few pints at the local bar and gave those poor people an earful. And to add insult, the ticket was for $50 on top of the tow charge.
So I requested a hearing from the parking authority and yesterday (Nov 12) I had my day in court. It was a damp, drizzly, cool day matching my mood. It took place at 9th and Filbert, right behind the Gallery and down the street from the bus terminal. I went loaded for bear, with pictures and statements, but it was pretty anti-climatic. I related a condensed version to the hearing officer and she immediately “dismissed the ticket.” I walked out feeling like something resembling justice had just occurred, but all I kept thinking was the question I used to ask our son, “Can you afford to keep that car?” I’m still trying to figure out that answer for myself. Like I said, not all peaches and cream.
All for now. Enjoy your weekend.
I apologize to those of you who might have already heard this story, but others might want to hear it now that the final chapter has been written. Back in August, we parked the car in a legal spot on our block. Two days later without any advance warning, somebody slapped up a Temporary No-Parking sign right where the car was parked and moments later the car was ticketed and towed to a lot in southwest Philadelphia. In the car’s place on the street was a mobile storage unit for someone who was moving that week. I wish the rest of the city government was as efficient as the Parking Authority. For the most part, I applaud their work, and anytime I’ve spoken to them, they’ve been cooperative and occasionally helpful. Later that same day, my neighbor gave me a lift to the lot so I could bail out my car, to the tune of $180. Ouch. I can tell you at the time that Mrs. CCC and I were ready to bite the heads off nails we were so mad and frustrated. We took our venom out on a few pints at the local bar and gave those poor people an earful. And to add insult, the ticket was for $50 on top of the tow charge.
So I requested a hearing from the parking authority and yesterday (Nov 12) I had my day in court. It was a damp, drizzly, cool day matching my mood. It took place at 9th and Filbert, right behind the Gallery and down the street from the bus terminal. I went loaded for bear, with pictures and statements, but it was pretty anti-climatic. I related a condensed version to the hearing officer and she immediately “dismissed the ticket.” I walked out feeling like something resembling justice had just occurred, but all I kept thinking was the question I used to ask our son, “Can you afford to keep that car?” I’m still trying to figure out that answer for myself. Like I said, not all peaches and cream.
All for now. Enjoy your weekend.
Veterans Day
Your Center City Correspondent wants to remind you that tomorrow (Nov. 11) is Veterans Day. Take a moment and say a prayer for those men and women who served in the Armed Forces. In some countries it’s called Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. It was originally set up to commemorate the end of World War I, but in this country it has evolved to honor veterans, current-day servicemen and women, and those who have died in battle. In England, they remember the soldiers who died in the trenches at Verdun and the Somme, among others. At all the soccer games around the country this past weekend they had a moment of silence for those fallen heroes from the ‘war to end all wars’. If only that were true. It is an emotional moment for all involved. Even at the bars, men take off their caps and put their beers down for a moment.
Every year about this time, I am reminded of the poem ‘In Flanders Field’ which came out of the first World War. When I first learned this poem as a boy, it did not make that much of an impression on me. Having known a few young men who died in the service of our country, it makes a lot more sense to me now. It’s only 15 lines long but it contains a lot of emotion and passion. You can find it at the link below.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm
Every year about this time, I am reminded of the poem ‘In Flanders Field’ which came out of the first World War. When I first learned this poem as a boy, it did not make that much of an impression on me. Having known a few young men who died in the service of our country, it makes a lot more sense to me now. It’s only 15 lines long but it contains a lot of emotion and passion. You can find it at the link below.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm
High Hopes
Your Center City Correspondent is feeling very anxious this morning (Nov 4). It’s the day after Election Day, and the World Series still isn’t decided. By this time last year, we were just about recovered from the post-parade hangover, and Septa was trying to figure out what’s wrong with the transit system. Well, some things don’t change. My anxiety stems from a mixture of optimism and fear – I’m optimistic that the Phillies will win tonight, but fearful that I’ll have to feel like this for another day.
For some reason, this year’s postseason has attracted a new set of fans. I guess they thought last year’s playoffs were a fluke, or they were distracted by the presidential election (which reminds me, the Phils win the Series about as often as we elect a black man President). This year these new fans are buying into the fact that the Phils are for real and deserve to be playing for the World Championship. Be careful, folks – it’s easy to get sucked in to the karma of a winning team. For instance, Mrs. CCC became a fan a few years ago, and I overheard her talking to someone in a bar the other day and she was saying how “Charlie Manuel has messed up his whole rotation for the Series.” That is so surprising on three levels: 1) she has an opinion about baseball (other than “These games are too long.”); 2) she knows who the manager is; and, 3) she has an idea what a rotation is. So you new fans be careful, it’s a slippery slope, that once you’re on it’s hard to stop rooting for the Phils like the rest of us troubled, anxious souls.
Sing after me, “He had High Hopes. . . “
For some reason, this year’s postseason has attracted a new set of fans. I guess they thought last year’s playoffs were a fluke, or they were distracted by the presidential election (which reminds me, the Phils win the Series about as often as we elect a black man President). This year these new fans are buying into the fact that the Phils are for real and deserve to be playing for the World Championship. Be careful, folks – it’s easy to get sucked in to the karma of a winning team. For instance, Mrs. CCC became a fan a few years ago, and I overheard her talking to someone in a bar the other day and she was saying how “Charlie Manuel has messed up his whole rotation for the Series.” That is so surprising on three levels: 1) she has an opinion about baseball (other than “These games are too long.”); 2) she knows who the manager is; and, 3) she has an idea what a rotation is. So you new fans be careful, it’s a slippery slope, that once you’re on it’s hard to stop rooting for the Phils like the rest of us troubled, anxious souls.
Sing after me, “He had High Hopes. . . “
The Boss Part II
Whew! Your Center City Correspondent is exhausted today (Oct 20). We finally finished the painting and the place looks great. I’d love to invite you all over, but then I’d have to repaint. No more until Spring when we’ll tackle the bathroom and bedroom.
The Lord can come and take me away. Mrs CCC and I went to the Bruce Springsteen show last night at the Spectrum and he performed the Born to Run album from beginning to end. That’s from Thunder Road to Jungleland. As I wrote before, that’s the first time I’ve seen him do Jungleland, so now I can die a happy man. It might be the best rock and roll song ever made. It contains everything a good rock and roll song should, including piercing guitars, tremendous drums, and a sax solo in the middle, along with indecipherable lyrics and a boxcar full of pretension. Isn’t all rock and roll pretentious? Later on he took requests and sang All Shook Up and had a guest appearance from the King himself! Who know Elvis was alive in Philadelphia? Then as were walking home from the subway, the bars start emptying out with revelers celebrating the Phillies latest miracle win. Great night to be in Philadelphia!!!
The Lord can come and take me away. Mrs CCC and I went to the Bruce Springsteen show last night at the Spectrum and he performed the Born to Run album from beginning to end. That’s from Thunder Road to Jungleland. As I wrote before, that’s the first time I’ve seen him do Jungleland, so now I can die a happy man. It might be the best rock and roll song ever made. It contains everything a good rock and roll song should, including piercing guitars, tremendous drums, and a sax solo in the middle, along with indecipherable lyrics and a boxcar full of pretension. Isn’t all rock and roll pretentious? Later on he took requests and sang All Shook Up and had a guest appearance from the King himself! Who know Elvis was alive in Philadelphia? Then as were walking home from the subway, the bars start emptying out with revelers celebrating the Phillies latest miracle win. Great night to be in Philadelphia!!!
The Boss
Your Center city Correspondent wants to thank all the people who have inquired about the painting project. Phase I was completed successfully and tomorrow we start on Phase II (of III). So wish us luck that our marriage survives this.
A quick note about the Phillies – I’m starting to get the same feeling about this team that I did with the great Yankees teams of my youth. That feeling is that these guys know how to win and will find a way to do so, no matter what the score or situation. As long as they have one out left, or one strike, they will play to win which is a lot different than playing not to lose. Good luck against the stinkin’ Dodgers – Go Phils!!
Mrs. CCC and I went to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at the Spectrum last night (Oct 14). It’s hard to put into words a Bruce concert. It’s part concert, part revival, part fountain of youth. He puts you on his shoulders and carries you to the “Promised Land” where “guys come home and wash up and go racing in the streets” but where those streets are littered with people “with the eyes of one who hates for just being born.” It is a cathartic experience where you lose your sins, your cares, and your years, at least for a little while. When I walk out of one of his concerts, I feel like I’m 25 – and I’ll pay money for that feeling. If you are any kind of fan and you’ve never been to his concert, please go see him. But be careful, once you’ve seen him the first time, you’ll want to see him every time he comes to town, addictive, you know. We’re going again on Monday night to hear him play the album “Born to Run” from start to finish (along with about 25 other songs), and I’ll hear him play “Jungleland” for the first time. I’ll be able to die a happy man.
All for now. God bless Bruce . . . and the Phillies!
A quick note about the Phillies – I’m starting to get the same feeling about this team that I did with the great Yankees teams of my youth. That feeling is that these guys know how to win and will find a way to do so, no matter what the score or situation. As long as they have one out left, or one strike, they will play to win which is a lot different than playing not to lose. Good luck against the stinkin’ Dodgers – Go Phils!!
Mrs. CCC and I went to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at the Spectrum last night (Oct 14). It’s hard to put into words a Bruce concert. It’s part concert, part revival, part fountain of youth. He puts you on his shoulders and carries you to the “Promised Land” where “guys come home and wash up and go racing in the streets” but where those streets are littered with people “with the eyes of one who hates for just being born.” It is a cathartic experience where you lose your sins, your cares, and your years, at least for a little while. When I walk out of one of his concerts, I feel like I’m 25 – and I’ll pay money for that feeling. If you are any kind of fan and you’ve never been to his concert, please go see him. But be careful, once you’ve seen him the first time, you’ll want to see him every time he comes to town, addictive, you know. We’re going again on Monday night to hear him play the album “Born to Run” from start to finish (along with about 25 other songs), and I’ll hear him play “Jungleland” for the first time. I’ll be able to die a happy man.
All for now. God bless Bruce . . . and the Phillies!
Dilemma
Your Center City Correspondent is in the middle of a project that he thought he would never be doing again – painting the house. The interior. I thought we’d be hiring a painter to do the work, but now that I’ve got time on my hands, I thought I’d give it a go. We decided to do the living room and the foyer in neutral colors, or as our son calls it “Jones beige.” In our younger days, we’d start in the morning and continue working until the room was done. Then it took us a weekend to do a room. This time we started on the living room on Monday, and here it is Thursday morning and it’s still not done. There’s just so many times in a day these old bones can go up and down on a ladder. I figure we’ll finish the living room today, and work on the foyer this weekend. But there is another reason why it’s taking so long.
Just as I was setting up to finish the room on Wednesday, the phone rang and it was Mrs. CCC telling me that she had two tickets to the Phillies playoff game #1at 2:30 and asked if I wanted to go!* Let’s review the choices, paint or Phillies game. So off we were to the game and what a delight it was. The Phils won 5-1 in a complete game performance by Cliff Lee. And what a great atmosphere it was, with 46,000 towel-waving fanatics. I heard the 2:30 start time was going to be a problem for fans – I guess not. Sure it was breezy, I thought I saw Miss Gulch fly by the upper deck on her bike. Call it a win-dy.
Alas, it was only a one day reprieve, so it’s back to the paint can today. Go Phils!!
*When I relayed my good fortune to a buddy of mine, he responded, “I don’t want to burst your bubble, but she asked me first!” I’m still laughing at that one.
Just as I was setting up to finish the room on Wednesday, the phone rang and it was Mrs. CCC telling me that she had two tickets to the Phillies playoff game #1at 2:30 and asked if I wanted to go!* Let’s review the choices, paint or Phillies game. So off we were to the game and what a delight it was. The Phils won 5-1 in a complete game performance by Cliff Lee. And what a great atmosphere it was, with 46,000 towel-waving fanatics. I heard the 2:30 start time was going to be a problem for fans – I guess not. Sure it was breezy, I thought I saw Miss Gulch fly by the upper deck on her bike. Call it a win-dy.
Alas, it was only a one day reprieve, so it’s back to the paint can today. Go Phils!!
*When I relayed my good fortune to a buddy of mine, he responded, “I don’t want to burst your bubble, but she asked me first!” I’m still laughing at that one.
A night at the theater
Your Center City Correspondent went on a date with Mrs. CCC last night, using the half-price tickets we got thru Groupon.com, which I told you about a few weeks ago. We saw a comedy at 1812 Productions entitled “The First Day of School.” With a title like that you’d think that this would be about kids. Quite the opposite. It’s about what happens with the parents after they drop their kids off on the title day. It’s subtitled “A Soccermom Sex Farce” so you can imagine what it’s about. If you enjoy small acting groups, you should check it out. Afterwards, a quick stop at the local for some drinks. A nice, tidy little night out. (read that as saying “no hangovers.”)
One reason we moved to Center City was to enjoy the theater that abounds in Philadelphia. But for the first few years we were here, we were disappointed with the shows the big houses were producing. How many times can you see Cats or Wicked? It wasn’t until the tail end of last season that I found the smaller theaters, like the Arden and the Adrienne and Plays and Players. These smaller theaters are a rich vein of local talent who put on good shows at reasonable prices. So if you’re looking for a pleasant night out, give the small theaters a try.
All for now. Enjoy your weekend, and Go Phils!!
One reason we moved to Center City was to enjoy the theater that abounds in Philadelphia. But for the first few years we were here, we were disappointed with the shows the big houses were producing. How many times can you see Cats or Wicked? It wasn’t until the tail end of last season that I found the smaller theaters, like the Arden and the Adrienne and Plays and Players. These smaller theaters are a rich vein of local talent who put on good shows at reasonable prices. So if you’re looking for a pleasant night out, give the small theaters a try.
All for now. Enjoy your weekend, and Go Phils!!
Phillies
Your Center City Correspondent wants to take a moment to congratulate the Philadelphia Phillies for wrapping up their third straight National League Eastern Division title last night. After 158 games they’ve proven that they are the best team in the division. This is only the beginning. After their experience last year, these guys know how to win the whole thing. Making the playoffs is no longer their goal, winning the World Series is. But in typical Phillies fashion, nothing is ever easy, and they made us sweat for the past week or so, waiting an extra four or five days to wrap it up.
If you want to know how far the Phils will go in the playoffs, I’ll give you the answer that answers every baseball question: it all depends on their pitching. Last year entering the playoffs, their starters and bullpen were in great shape, but this year, their ace has been erratic and their closer is proving himself to be human. But with a little tinkering here and there, and not panicking, along with some timely hitting, they will go deep into the playoffs. If you hear some knucklehead announcer talk about how poorly the Phils hit with “runners in scoring position”, remember this: the Phillies lead the league in runs scored with over 800 runs this year. So their offense knows how to plate runs.
Let’s hope this year’s parade eclipses last year’s, if that’s possible. Go Phils.
If you want to know how far the Phils will go in the playoffs, I’ll give you the answer that answers every baseball question: it all depends on their pitching. Last year entering the playoffs, their starters and bullpen were in great shape, but this year, their ace has been erratic and their closer is proving himself to be human. But with a little tinkering here and there, and not panicking, along with some timely hitting, they will go deep into the playoffs. If you hear some knucklehead announcer talk about how poorly the Phils hit with “runners in scoring position”, remember this: the Phillies lead the league in runs scored with over 800 runs this year. So their offense knows how to plate runs.
Let’s hope this year’s parade eclipses last year’s, if that’s possible. Go Phils.
Groupon
Your Center City Correspondent stumbled across this site a few weeks ago and thought he'd pass it on to you. Groupon.com solicits businesses for discounts and then offers them to their subscribers on a daily business. The catch is that they need to get a certain number of people to sign up for the deal for anyone to get the deal. They email you the current day's offering. Last week they were offering deals on gourmet cookies, fancy tea times, massages, etc. Today I signed up for a stage show at 1812 Productions. Hopefully more people will sign up so we all get the deal. Groupon has been in business in a few other large cities, and is just getting started here in Philadelphia. Give it a look.
E.A.G.L.E.S. EAGLES!!!
Here’s something some of you may not know. Your Center City Correspondent is working as an usher at Lincoln Financial Field for Eagles games, concerts, etc. And before you ask, no I can’t get you tickets. Last Sunday was my first regular season Eagles game against the New Orleans Saints. The less said about the final score the better. Eagles fans have a reputation for being a tough crowd, loud, boisterous, and obnoxious. But what I saw was something different. They cheer their team when they do something good, and express their displeasure in the normal Philadelphia manner. They are for the most part responsible fans, without a lot of drunkenness, foul language, etc. They are a cross section of Philadelphians, young-old, men-women, black-white. I try to engage them in quick conversations as they enter the section, and then during each break in play, I stroll up the steps, checking to make sure that everything’s copasetic. Luckily the section I worked only had about 20 rows, so I wasn’t walking up too many steps. And the weather was positively beautiful. I’d be happy to get 7 more games like that with a much better result. All for now. Go Birds!!!!
Your CCC may be switching to a blog environment shortly. I’ll let you know how that works out.
Your CCC may be switching to a blog environment shortly. I’ll let you know how that works out.
Gettysburg
Your Center City Correspondent and Mrs. CCC took a quick trip to Gettysburg this week to see the sights and visit the new museum that opened last year. We took our niece’s 12-year old boy, Z, along too. Gettysburg is one of your correspondent’s five favorite places in the world. It is steeped in history, and the dedication, commitment, and sacrifice that the soldiers on both sides displayed just oozes from the rocks and fields and monuments. If you’ve never been there, please take a few days and go – it is educational and humbling all at once.
For those of you who have visited Gettysburg in the past, be ready to be impressed by the new museum. The old museum looked like somebody’s attic, but the new one is state-of-the-art, interactive and very informative. There’s a movie detailing the lead-up to the battle, the 3-day battle and the Gettysburg Address. Then you view the cyclorama, which is a blast from the past. It is a painting of the climactic Pickett’s Charge, and is 42 feet high and 377 long in circumference. Cycloramas used to be a big thing, but this is the last of its kind. It was painted in the 1880’s and is constantly in a state of repair. The current restoration looks spectacular. I’ve been going to Gettysburg for 50 years and this is only the 2nd time I’ve seen it.
Anytime I walk around the battlefield, I get the same feeling as when I walk into a church, like I’m standing on hallowed ground. We cannot imagine what it must have been like for the soldiers, fighting in choking smoke and dust, with your enemy only paces away. But that’s how wars were fought back then.
Gettysburg is only about 2.5 hour ride away from Philadelphia, but it’s more like stepping back 150 years into the past. It’s well worth the trip. If you need any tips on how to visit there, just ask.
For those of you who have visited Gettysburg in the past, be ready to be impressed by the new museum. The old museum looked like somebody’s attic, but the new one is state-of-the-art, interactive and very informative. There’s a movie detailing the lead-up to the battle, the 3-day battle and the Gettysburg Address. Then you view the cyclorama, which is a blast from the past. It is a painting of the climactic Pickett’s Charge, and is 42 feet high and 377 long in circumference. Cycloramas used to be a big thing, but this is the last of its kind. It was painted in the 1880’s and is constantly in a state of repair. The current restoration looks spectacular. I’ve been going to Gettysburg for 50 years and this is only the 2nd time I’ve seen it.
Anytime I walk around the battlefield, I get the same feeling as when I walk into a church, like I’m standing on hallowed ground. We cannot imagine what it must have been like for the soldiers, fighting in choking smoke and dust, with your enemy only paces away. But that’s how wars were fought back then.
Gettysburg is only about 2.5 hour ride away from Philadelphia, but it’s more like stepping back 150 years into the past. It’s well worth the trip. If you need any tips on how to visit there, just ask.
Hollywood Comes to Green St.
Your Center City Correspondent (CCC) had an interesting couple of days. Hollywood came to Green Street. They filmed a scene for an upcoming movie in my neighbor M’s first floor unit of our building yesterday. The movie is untitled right now, but stars Jack Nicholson, Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, and Paul Rudd, and is being filmed in locations all over town. They started prepping M’s unit last week, taking out all her furniture, painting it “movie white” and bringing in new furniture, that if the price tags are believed, the movie company got ripped off. They had to shroud the windows of her place, because they were filming a nighttime scene during the day which gave the place the look of a building being fumigated.
These movie companies don’t travel light, showing up yesterday morning with about 12 semi-trailers of equipment, taking up all the parking spots in a two-block radius which I’m sure endeared them to the whole neighborhood. Dozens of crew members invaded the sidewalk outside my place as well as the courtyard, and most of the day they spent hanging around in “hurry up and wait” mode. With that list of names, I thought there’d be some big time actors floating around the place, but it was only a scene involving Paul Rudd and another young actress. The only thing I can remember Mr. Rudd being in is Friends, he was Phoebe’s husband. They started rehearsals around 8 AM yesterday, and worked all day till about 9 PM to film a 3 minute scene! M and her mother P were outside all day wondering if her place would be in one piece when the crew was done filming. They were originally scheduled to film for two days but worked to get it all done yesterday. So the trucks and crew have almost all departed, to descend on another neighborhood. There’s some clean-up work that’s going on outside my window right now.
Needless to say, all this activity drew a crowd of onlookers across the street. So one crowd of people doing nothing looked at a crowd across the street doing next to nothing. The size of the gawkers fluctuated between 10 and 50 during different times of day. At least they were gathering for something peaceful.
Two highlights of the day for me. About noontime I looked down on the courtyard and there was a crewmember sitting down there reading a newspaper wearing a T-shirt with “Fishtown University” on it. That gave me a great laugh. Another highlight was that electricians ran power from 19th Street to M’s unit through the small alley between our homes and the homes in the back. This alley has been overgrown and with no incentive to clean it out has remained that way for the time I’ve lived here. Well the electricians did a great job cleaning it out. That must’ve been quite a chore, as if they were chopping their way thru the African jungle. That might have been worth a movie in itself.
So I expect Green St. to be cleaned and clear this morning, so all the hubbub will be just a memory, and your CCC can go back to tending his fish and enjoying the beautiful weather. Madame CCC decamped to Levittown for the duration of the filming so she can come home. I’ll have to get busy cleaning the place up.
All for now. Watch this space for more news on Center City living.
PS. Didn’t Cole Hamels pitch a gem last night? A complete game 2-hit shutout against a team we may meet in the playoffs. Maybe “Hollywood” Hamels is back in time for the pennant chase
These movie companies don’t travel light, showing up yesterday morning with about 12 semi-trailers of equipment, taking up all the parking spots in a two-block radius which I’m sure endeared them to the whole neighborhood. Dozens of crew members invaded the sidewalk outside my place as well as the courtyard, and most of the day they spent hanging around in “hurry up and wait” mode. With that list of names, I thought there’d be some big time actors floating around the place, but it was only a scene involving Paul Rudd and another young actress. The only thing I can remember Mr. Rudd being in is Friends, he was Phoebe’s husband. They started rehearsals around 8 AM yesterday, and worked all day till about 9 PM to film a 3 minute scene! M and her mother P were outside all day wondering if her place would be in one piece when the crew was done filming. They were originally scheduled to film for two days but worked to get it all done yesterday. So the trucks and crew have almost all departed, to descend on another neighborhood. There’s some clean-up work that’s going on outside my window right now.
Needless to say, all this activity drew a crowd of onlookers across the street. So one crowd of people doing nothing looked at a crowd across the street doing next to nothing. The size of the gawkers fluctuated between 10 and 50 during different times of day. At least they were gathering for something peaceful.
Two highlights of the day for me. About noontime I looked down on the courtyard and there was a crewmember sitting down there reading a newspaper wearing a T-shirt with “Fishtown University” on it. That gave me a great laugh. Another highlight was that electricians ran power from 19th Street to M’s unit through the small alley between our homes and the homes in the back. This alley has been overgrown and with no incentive to clean it out has remained that way for the time I’ve lived here. Well the electricians did a great job cleaning it out. That must’ve been quite a chore, as if they were chopping their way thru the African jungle. That might have been worth a movie in itself.
So I expect Green St. to be cleaned and clear this morning, so all the hubbub will be just a memory, and your CCC can go back to tending his fish and enjoying the beautiful weather. Madame CCC decamped to Levittown for the duration of the filming so she can come home. I’ll have to get busy cleaning the place up.
All for now. Watch this space for more news on Center City living.
PS. Didn’t Cole Hamels pitch a gem last night? A complete game 2-hit shutout against a team we may meet in the playoffs. Maybe “Hollywood” Hamels is back in time for the pennant chase
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