Your Center City Correspondent spent the weekend either at the pool, or watching the sporting events on TV, or at church. Between the Phillies, the British Open and the Tour de France, there was enough sports for everybody. Let’s hope the Phillies start playing better than they have so that we have a pennant race this fall. The British Open was won by an unknown (and unpronounceable) name, but St. Andrews is always a treat to see. And the Tour de France is heating up, with the riders traveling over the Pyrenees and into the last week of the race where it finishes in Paris next Sunday.
Mrs. CCC and I were invited to attend the installation of our new pastor at the Cathedral on Saturday evening. This is a highly ritualized ceremony that takes place in the middle of Mass. Cardinal Rigali celebrates the Mass and performs the installation. I can imagine that it is quite a burden on the new pastor, Msgr. Rogers; not only is he responsible for our immortal souls, he is also the caretaker of the Cathedral building which requires a lot of work and attention. God bless him. Afterwards we attended a reception held at the Rooftop ballroom of the Sheraton across the street from the Cathedral and of course, our crew closed the place down.
So what happened to our old pastor, you ask? He got transferred to St. Matthias parish in Bala Cynwyd, and we were invited to that installation also, on Sunday afternoon. Because of his new role, as both pastor of the parish and Vicar of Montgomery County, dozens of priests from all over Montco also attended this installation. More pomp and ceremony, a lot of it similar to the night before, but different enough to keep it interesting. This was followed by another reception, and I had the opportunity to say hello to Cardinal Rigali. I’ve been in his company a few times, but this is the first I actually said hello. He’s a nice enough guy, but kinda intimidating – he’s one step below the Pope, ya know, who is only one step below God! So you don’t mess around when you’re talking to him.
Afterwards, we adjourned to the local for some refreshments and food, then home to watch the Phils drop another one to the Cubs. I hope all the fans who made the trek to Chicago this weekend enjoyed themselves despite the outcome of the games. Chicago is a great town with plenty of things to do.
A note about two young men who serve our country and community. Kevin Livewell, the brother of a friend of mine, is a Philadelphia cop who was shot in the leg on Thursday night. I wish him well, and hope that he’s back on his feet quickly. Like I told my buddy, Kevin must have gotten the looks in the family. Another young man, Nick Lumi, a lieutenant in the US Navy is being deployed overseas to a combat zone this week. He’s my cousin’s boy, and I know that he has made his mother and father very proud and now apprehensive. I wish Nick well and am confident that he will return home safe and sound to his wife and family. God bless both these men.
All for now. Enjoy your week.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
World Cup Sunday
On Sunday afternoon, Mrs. CCC and I strolled down to the local bar to watch the final of the month-long World Cup soccer tournament. Spain and Holland were the two survivors. Neither team has ever won the tournament before, so there were high hopes on both sides. After both England and the US had been beaten in the first knockout phase, the WC took on more of an academic feel for me; I really didn’t care who won, as long as we were treated to good games. The final game wasn’t pretty, neither team got into a real good rhythm, and the game went into extra time tied at 0-0. Spain broke through with a goal with about 5 minutes to go, and held on to win the championship. I’m sure there was celebrating throughout the country that night, culminating in a huge parade in Madrid on Tuesday. Well done to the Spanish boys. Now we have to wait four more years for the next WC tournament to be held in Brazil.
The patrons at the bar were equally split, not between Holland and Spain, but between the soccer game on one TV and the Phillies game on the other. Cole Hamels was sharp and the Phils held on for a 1-0 win to sweep the Reds heading into the All-Star game break. (Isn’t it odd that both games ended 1-0? I’ve always enjoyed low-scoring baseball games because every at-bat, hit and pitch are meaningful. Maybe that’s one reason I like soccer – every score is meaningful.) The Phils are in third place in the NL East, 4.5 games behind the Braves. Let’s hope everybody gets and stays healthy, and the Phillies have the success they’ve enjoyed in the second half over the past three seasons to play their way back to the playoffs.
For those who’ve asked, my leg and knee are coming along fine via therapy and exercise. I expect to go back to work with the Phillies on 7/23, barring any other misfortunes. Thanks for asking.
The patrons at the bar were equally split, not between Holland and Spain, but between the soccer game on one TV and the Phillies game on the other. Cole Hamels was sharp and the Phils held on for a 1-0 win to sweep the Reds heading into the All-Star game break. (Isn’t it odd that both games ended 1-0? I’ve always enjoyed low-scoring baseball games because every at-bat, hit and pitch are meaningful. Maybe that’s one reason I like soccer – every score is meaningful.) The Phils are in third place in the NL East, 4.5 games behind the Braves. Let’s hope everybody gets and stays healthy, and the Phillies have the success they’ve enjoyed in the second half over the past three seasons to play their way back to the playoffs.
For those who’ve asked, my leg and knee are coming along fine via therapy and exercise. I expect to go back to work with the Phillies on 7/23, barring any other misfortunes. Thanks for asking.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The World Comes to Philadelphia
People ask me where I’m going for the 4th of July. Going? Why would anyone want to leave Philadelphia, the place where it all started, the place where people travel to from all over the country and the world, the place where the best celebration is held?
Your Center City Correspondent can tell you from first-hand experience that people clamor to come to Philadelphia for the 4th, and that a lot of them come right to my neighborhood for the parade, the exhibitions, the concert and the fireworks show. Walking around the neighborhood on Sunday afternoon, I can tell you that there was not an open (legal) parking spot between Green St. and Brown St. A tip of the cap to the nice couple who invited us to their party on Brown St., nice home, interesting people and good food – and all just a stroll away.
Later on Mrs. CCC and I walked over to Pennsylvania Avenue for the fireworks – the city puts on a great display after the concert at the Art Museum. The streets were jammed with pedestrians and cars. There were a lot more people at the show this year than last. All of us were craning our necks to see the show, and we were not disappointed. After the fireworks, the show continues as they all try to drive home – thousands of cars on roads designed for horses and buggy traffic. I sit on my front step nursing a cold one and once again thanking my lucky stars that I live right here in Center City.
The final of the World Cup soccer tournament is this Sunday. Holland and Spain, probably the two best teams coming into the tournament, meet to decide the world champion for the next 4 years. They both employ an attacking style of play, so I doubt that it will be a 0-0 snoozefest. It’s on ABC, so give it a try.
All for now.
Your Center City Correspondent can tell you from first-hand experience that people clamor to come to Philadelphia for the 4th, and that a lot of them come right to my neighborhood for the parade, the exhibitions, the concert and the fireworks show. Walking around the neighborhood on Sunday afternoon, I can tell you that there was not an open (legal) parking spot between Green St. and Brown St. A tip of the cap to the nice couple who invited us to their party on Brown St., nice home, interesting people and good food – and all just a stroll away.
Later on Mrs. CCC and I walked over to Pennsylvania Avenue for the fireworks – the city puts on a great display after the concert at the Art Museum. The streets were jammed with pedestrians and cars. There were a lot more people at the show this year than last. All of us were craning our necks to see the show, and we were not disappointed. After the fireworks, the show continues as they all try to drive home – thousands of cars on roads designed for horses and buggy traffic. I sit on my front step nursing a cold one and once again thanking my lucky stars that I live right here in Center City.
The final of the World Cup soccer tournament is this Sunday. Holland and Spain, probably the two best teams coming into the tournament, meet to decide the world champion for the next 4 years. They both employ an attacking style of play, so I doubt that it will be a 0-0 snoozefest. It’s on ABC, so give it a try.
All for now.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The Sun Also Sets
Your Center City Correspondent is a sucker for redheads, big churches and sunsets. The less said about redheads the better, I’ve already written about churches, so this must be about sunsets. Mrs. CCC and I have traveled the globe to witness sunsets; two of our favorites we’ve seen are from the Eiffel Tower and at the beach in Naples, FL. But let me clue you in to the best-kept secret in Philadelphia – we have beautiful sunsets here too. I guess it’s an Acres of Diamonds thing. The best place to view the sun going down is at the Water Works behind the Art Museum. The sun sets downriver, behind Fairmount Park, and with the Waterworks in the foreground and Boathouse row off to the right, it’s a real pleasure on a summer evening. Give it a try some night.
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