Here’s what living in Center City affords you. Mrs. CCC and I went to the ball game on Tuesday night. We had the tickets well in advance, so it wasn’t hard to plan our night. It was a great game and great weather, so we really enjoyed ourselves.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Gotta Love Those Phillies!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
A New England wedding
Your Center City Correspondent and Mrs. CCC took a sojourn to Salem, Massachusetts this past weekend to attend the wedding of my buddy’s daughter, my goddaughter. She is a gem of a young lady, smart, pretty and respectful all at once. The real trifecta. Originally from Philadelphia, they moved to MA a number of years ago. She married a very nice guy, who unfortunately is a Boston fan, and he has turned her to the dark side of the Red Sox nation. I’m sure their home will be filled with pictures of Smoky Joe Wood and Ted Williams, and (ugh) Manny Ramirez. When she was a little girl, her father and I would sit around and talk about the kind of guy he would allow his daughter to date. We both agreed that in order to get his foot in the door (or to first base) the suitor would have to be a baseball fan. Now that would seem to be a very low hurdle for any young man, but if you know any true fan, there are two things that typify a fan, namely loyalty and commitment. Loyal to your team and committed to following them every day through thick and thin. And these are two great qualities for a new husband to possess, loyalty to his wife and committed to his marriage. So the next time you see a single guy rooting for his hometown team, chances are he’d make a good husband too. For those of you who dislike sentimentality, skip the next paragraph.
One of the stories we like to tell about the young lady is when she was just old enough to walk, her father and I would send her to the kitchen to fetch us some beers. Her mother and Mrs. CCC would berate us for doing this, but when she returned with them, her little face was full of joy. I saw that same look on her face on her wedding day. But as much joy as she may feel herself, it’s the amount of joy she brings to others that is her true nature. By the warmth of her hug, or the twinkle in her eye, or a hundred other things, she makes everyone she knows feel like they are special. And what more could you ask for from another human being. Thanks for letting the CCC’s be part of your special day and your lives.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Your CCC wraps himself in the flag
People ask your CCC where he likes to go for the 4th of July holiday. Now that has to be one of the silliest questions ever posed. Why would I want to go anywhere? People come from all over the world to come to Center City to celebrate America’s independence. For me, it’s just a short bus ride or walk to be part of all the activities. Besides, your CCC is a sucker for fireworks, and what better place to see them than right here in Center City Philadelphia. Once content to see the display at the Art Museum, the CCC’s have started journeying around the city to view them. They shoot them off over Penn’s Landing a couple of times during the 4th of July festivities, the Phillies always put on a good show, but the best of them is right here in my neighborhood, over the Art Museum, on the 4th of July after the concert on the Parkway. It’s the longest show around, going on for 20 minutes with a beautiful backdrop of the museum. If you ever come to see the show, leave your car at home and take a bus or the train. There is a ton of traffic in the area; locals argue which is more fun - sitting on their steps and watching the traffic before or after the event. I prefer afterwards, drinking a few cold ones, or eating an ice cream cone and watching the outlanders try to navigate the tiny, traffic-choked streets as they attempt to find the quickest way home. Like I tell them, if you lived in Fairmount you’d be home already. So get out and enjoy the fireworks in your neighborhood, it’s uplifting and patriotic all at once.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Road trip
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Half-price Philly
Spring has finally arrived here in Center City. It was a toss-up whether it would or not. Mrs. CCC and I have been enjoying all the great conveniences of living in town. We’ve been to a few Phillies games and a few shows at the local theaters. Being able to get to the ballpark via the subway or to the theaters either by bus or on foot makes it a lot more enjoyable when you don’t have to worry about parking.
We took in a Phillies game on a beautiful sun-kissed afternoon. Halladay pitched a complete game and the Phils beat the Mets 2-1 and we finished the day with a nice meal at our local with young CCC and some friends. As I’ve written before, Philadelphia has a number of small theater groups, one being 1812 Productions which performs comedies at the Plays and Players on Delancey Street. We get coupons from Funsavers which get us in at half-price which is just about the right price. We saw “Our Show of Shows” and “Laughter on the 23rd Floor”, both of them very funny and well-played. We also discovered that the Walnut Theater offers half-price tickets on the day of the show. We saw “The 39 Steps”, a theatrical comical adaptation of the Alfred Hitchcock movie. It was also a send-up of other Hitchcock movies. All in all, a nice night in the theater. What makes this show special to the CCC’s is that their apartment is on the third floor of the building, a whopping 39 steps from the ground floor. So we bought a poster and hung it in the stairwell.
So get out and enjoy all that Center City has to offer. And if you can do it at a bargain it makes it even more enjoyable.
We took in a Phillies game on a beautiful sun-kissed afternoon. Halladay pitched a complete game and the Phils beat the Mets 2-1 and we finished the day with a nice meal at our local with young CCC and some friends. As I’ve written before, Philadelphia has a number of small theater groups, one being 1812 Productions which performs comedies at the Plays and Players on Delancey Street. We get coupons from Funsavers which get us in at half-price which is just about the right price. We saw “Our Show of Shows” and “Laughter on the 23rd Floor”, both of them very funny and well-played. We also discovered that the Walnut Theater offers half-price tickets on the day of the show. We saw “The 39 Steps”, a theatrical comical adaptation of the Alfred Hitchcock movie. It was also a send-up of other Hitchcock movies. All in all, a nice night in the theater. What makes this show special to the CCC’s is that their apartment is on the third floor of the building, a whopping 39 steps from the ground floor. So we bought a poster and hung it in the stairwell.
So get out and enjoy all that Center City has to offer. And if you can do it at a bargain it makes it even more enjoyable.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Pack Mules... in Center City?
What’s more annoying? 27 inches of snow all at once, or spread over 5 or 6 storms? I’ll let you decide.
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a phenomenon here in Center City. There’s a whole team of pack mules roaming the streets. The mules I remember seeing as a kid on the westerns had four legs, but the modern version has only two legs, works in an urban setting but totes as much as the four-legged kind. I see them trampling over the snow banks, trudging down the street, waiting for buses, doing all the things normal human beings do, but they can’t be human, they are carrying too much stuff around. They must be beasts of burden hired by rich folks to carry their stuff around. The mules can’t be carrying all their own stuff, can they? They have a huge purse, a computer case or briefcase, and a bag of other unidentified stuff, like books or clothes or who knows what. They tote it to work with them, then turn around and tote it all home at night. Do they really need all that stuff to go to work for eight hours? I’ve gone away for weeks at a time and not carried as much stuff as they do, just to step out their front doors. And another thing I’ve noticed – all these mules are females! I think they are, it’s hard to tell sometimes, they are hidden under their bags. So if you see one of these mules waddling down the street, steer clear of them. I hear they can bite and their kick can be harmful. And if they drop one of their bags on your toes, you’ll be hobbling around for days.
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a phenomenon here in Center City. There’s a whole team of pack mules roaming the streets. The mules I remember seeing as a kid on the westerns had four legs, but the modern version has only two legs, works in an urban setting but totes as much as the four-legged kind. I see them trampling over the snow banks, trudging down the street, waiting for buses, doing all the things normal human beings do, but they can’t be human, they are carrying too much stuff around. They must be beasts of burden hired by rich folks to carry their stuff around. The mules can’t be carrying all their own stuff, can they? They have a huge purse, a computer case or briefcase, and a bag of other unidentified stuff, like books or clothes or who knows what. They tote it to work with them, then turn around and tote it all home at night. Do they really need all that stuff to go to work for eight hours? I’ve gone away for weeks at a time and not carried as much stuff as they do, just to step out their front doors. And another thing I’ve noticed – all these mules are females! I think they are, it’s hard to tell sometimes, they are hidden under their bags. So if you see one of these mules waddling down the street, steer clear of them. I hear they can bite and their kick can be harmful. And if they drop one of their bags on your toes, you’ll be hobbling around for days.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
School is always in session
As I’ve written before, I don’t make resolutions. What I did this year was take a “day off” each week, and not worry about life’s little travails. That has helped me improve my attitude about life and people and the world I live in. Even when I was enjoying my “pre-retirement” I would take one day and relax and not worry about things. And when I went back to work, I continued that practice and it’s helped my mental outlook immensely.
And although I don’t make resolutions, I do like to say that if I don’t learn something new every day, it’s a wasted day. So I wanted to write down some of the things I learned this past year. Some of them are mundane and some of them are uplifting, but at least I can say I’m not wasting my days.
1. Working for a living beats the alternative. I think it’s the feeling of being productive.
2. Not working beats the alternative. You get to do the things that you enjoy, you just don’t get paid.
3. I miss reading as a past-time. I used to do a lot more of it when I was commuting on the train, but I’d never go back to riding the train. What a unenjoyable experience that has become.
4. Living near friends and family is better than making a lot more money and living in a strange place.
5. Big snow storms no longer fascinate me.
6. Living close to where you work helps your mental outlook immensely.
7. Getting older is better than the alternative.
8. The Mummers parade is not as entertaining as it used to be. Maybe it’s because the city shortened their leash, or maybe because it’s gotten too outlandish and can’t even be held outdoors anymore, but the parade has lost its luster.
9. The Beatles were wrong: if you love the right person the love you take is ten times more than the love you make.
10. The Phillies are a class organization – from the way they treat their players, opponents, fans and employees to the terrific team they’ve assembled, they’re a top-drawer club.
11. Left to their own devices, sports fans will do and say stupid things. Sometimes having a watch dog around is necessary.
12. I’d rather spend 80 days at Citizens Bank Park than 80 days at Lincoln Financial Field. Maybe it’s a size thing, but CBP has a better feel about it than the Linc.
13. Not all young people are slackers. Some are honest, upright, hard-working, responsible people. I’m lucky to know a few.
14. One thing I’m still trying to figure out: why is it when you have the time, you don’t have the money, but when you have the money, you don’t have the time.
15. Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with people. It can also be a big waste of time. Once in a while you have to turn off your computer and go out and talk to real people.
16. Although I could never live in Florida, too many old people, ya know, I could spend the month of March there for spring training. Talk about an attitude adjustment - to go from freezing cold to warm climes and baseball. I’ll make that trade any day.
17. Soccer is a great sport, but it will never catch on in this country. In order for people to enjoy soccer they have to be emotionally engaged and passionate about a team. I saw non-fans rally around the US team during the World Cup matches, but after US got knocked out their attention moved elsewhere.
18. About twice a month we are treated to world-class sunsets here in Philadelphia. The best place to view them is behind the Art Museum.
19. Women have too many alternatives which is why they like to shop. Sometimes their heads are filled with so many details that they miss living their lives.
20. The trouble with men is they never grow up. The trouble with women is that they do.
21. A baseball stadium filled with like-minded fans cheering for their home town team is as close to heaven as we get here on earth.
22. I’ll never pay full price for a Broadway ticket again. There are so many half-price ticket opportunities both in NYC and here in town, that it’s silly to pay full price.
23. And speaking of New York, a well made Manhattan is something to be searched for.
24. I thought I was retired; then I realized I was just unemployed.
25. To paraphrase John Lennon: In front of every brilliant woman is a complete idiot.
That’s all for now. One week to go before the big day. If I don’t write again, have a Merry and Blessed Christmas and the happiest of New Years.
And although I don’t make resolutions, I do like to say that if I don’t learn something new every day, it’s a wasted day. So I wanted to write down some of the things I learned this past year. Some of them are mundane and some of them are uplifting, but at least I can say I’m not wasting my days.
1. Working for a living beats the alternative. I think it’s the feeling of being productive.
2. Not working beats the alternative. You get to do the things that you enjoy, you just don’t get paid.
3. I miss reading as a past-time. I used to do a lot more of it when I was commuting on the train, but I’d never go back to riding the train. What a unenjoyable experience that has become.
4. Living near friends and family is better than making a lot more money and living in a strange place.
5. Big snow storms no longer fascinate me.
6. Living close to where you work helps your mental outlook immensely.
7. Getting older is better than the alternative.
8. The Mummers parade is not as entertaining as it used to be. Maybe it’s because the city shortened their leash, or maybe because it’s gotten too outlandish and can’t even be held outdoors anymore, but the parade has lost its luster.
9. The Beatles were wrong: if you love the right person the love you take is ten times more than the love you make.
10. The Phillies are a class organization – from the way they treat their players, opponents, fans and employees to the terrific team they’ve assembled, they’re a top-drawer club.
11. Left to their own devices, sports fans will do and say stupid things. Sometimes having a watch dog around is necessary.
12. I’d rather spend 80 days at Citizens Bank Park than 80 days at Lincoln Financial Field. Maybe it’s a size thing, but CBP has a better feel about it than the Linc.
13. Not all young people are slackers. Some are honest, upright, hard-working, responsible people. I’m lucky to know a few.
14. One thing I’m still trying to figure out: why is it when you have the time, you don’t have the money, but when you have the money, you don’t have the time.
15. Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with people. It can also be a big waste of time. Once in a while you have to turn off your computer and go out and talk to real people.
16. Although I could never live in Florida, too many old people, ya know, I could spend the month of March there for spring training. Talk about an attitude adjustment - to go from freezing cold to warm climes and baseball. I’ll make that trade any day.
17. Soccer is a great sport, but it will never catch on in this country. In order for people to enjoy soccer they have to be emotionally engaged and passionate about a team. I saw non-fans rally around the US team during the World Cup matches, but after US got knocked out their attention moved elsewhere.
18. About twice a month we are treated to world-class sunsets here in Philadelphia. The best place to view them is behind the Art Museum.
19. Women have too many alternatives which is why they like to shop. Sometimes their heads are filled with so many details that they miss living their lives.
20. The trouble with men is they never grow up. The trouble with women is that they do.
21. A baseball stadium filled with like-minded fans cheering for their home town team is as close to heaven as we get here on earth.
22. I’ll never pay full price for a Broadway ticket again. There are so many half-price ticket opportunities both in NYC and here in town, that it’s silly to pay full price.
23. And speaking of New York, a well made Manhattan is something to be searched for.
24. I thought I was retired; then I realized I was just unemployed.
25. To paraphrase John Lennon: In front of every brilliant woman is a complete idiot.
That’s all for now. One week to go before the big day. If I don’t write again, have a Merry and Blessed Christmas and the happiest of New Years.
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