Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Beautiful Boy (1980)

This song was chosen in honor of Father's Day. Hear it here.

1) Paul McCartney has said that "Beautiful Boy" is one of his favorite John Lennon solo songs. What's yours? (This link will take you to his greatest hits.) I'll go with "Watching the Wheels." It's a very wise song. BTW, June 18 is Sir Paul's 81st birthday.

2) Lennon wrote this for his son, Sean. Father and son share an October 9 birthday. Does anyone in your life share your birthday? Nope.

3) John asks Sean to take his hand before they cross the street. Name another song that references holding hands. Since I'm (always and forever) in a Beatles mood ...

 

4) Today Sean Lennon is in his late 40s. He lives in Greenwich Village, creating art and music from his elaborate home-based music and film studio. Are you into the latest in electronics? Nope.

5) In Thailand, Father's Day is observed on the birthday of the current King. Are you celebrating any birthdays this month? Just his.

They say it's your birthday ...

 6) Crazy Sam vividly remembers her long-ago high school days when her father gave her driving lessons. Do you consider yourself a good driver? I don't drive. (I'm really quite boring this week, aren't I?)

7) Sam's dad is a stickler about car maintenance and reminds Sam to change her air filter regularly so her a/c and heater can run efficiently. Share a car maintenance tip. When it comes to oil changes, don't DIY. Let a pro handle it. It's not that expensive and they'll completely drain the oil receptacle (harder than it looks), dispose of the old oil in an environmentally sound and legal way (harder and messier than you anticipate) and refill with the right weight oil (more important than you may realize).

 
8) When he fills up the car, Sam's father also stocks up on his favorite candy: Life Savers. He always has a bag in the glove compartment. What's something you don't leave home without? My keys.

9) Random Question: How long can you go without checking your phone? If I'm not out and about, just hanging around the house, I only check it in the morning and at night. Unless the Cubs and Yankees are playing at the same time. Then I watch the Cubs on TV with the sound off and listen to the Yankees on my phone through the app. (And I get annoyed if anyone calls or texts and interrupts the audio.)

 

Shake Shack with Elaine

Shake Shack is my friend's favorite burger place and so that's where we met for dinner tonight. 

I was happy to get her out of her own head a little. She's on the verge of losing her job and it's really bothering her. She came out of retirement to take this assignment on a freelance basis. She enjoyed it so much that, when they offered her a permanent position, she took it happily. Then the waters got rough. 

They put her on a 60-day probation, giving her specific goals to meet. If she doesn't accomplish them, FWAP! Off with her head. 

I don't know much about the company she works for, but I do know corporate America. It doesn't matter what Elaine does, she's toast. I'd bet anything her boss decided she's outta here and this probation is a charade to appease HR because Elaine is a non-white woman of a certain age.

I'd love to be wrong about this, but I don't think I am. 

But I enjoy riding the rails into the city, and with my senior discount, my ticket is only $2. Shake Shack is good food at a reasonable price. It was a lovely summer evening. I distracted Elaine from her problems. So in all, it was a good night. Or a good enough night. 

In Baseball News ...

The Cubs swept the first-place Pirates! Yes, the Pirates are in first place in the MLB's shittiest division, but they're in first place nevertheless and my guys won three of three. Just when I think this season is going to be a wrenching, soul crushing waste of my time, magic happens. That's why I love baseball.

Meanwhile, in New York: My favorite-most ballplayer was injured in a collision at first base on May 28. He missed a few games with a sore neck and now that he's back, he's off somehow. His glove work is still exceptional, so I don't think the trouble is with his vision. But his timing at the plate is messed up, and nothing has seemed to go right for him on the basepads.*

Here's a photo of him in the dugout after another strike out. It breaks my heart. I wish the Yankees had officially put him on the IL so he could go down to AAA for a rehab stint and face minor league pitching for a few days. You know, like a lab to get his swing back. But with Aaron Judge injured and a rookie shortstop, I guess they need his maturity and steady glove on the field. And so he struggles.

But then there's Kevin. His dachshund is still a fan!

*Though it must be said he has never been a fast runner and has always looked graceless and silly when he tries. (But he does try!)