Junior's Christmas 2009 Was Delicious!

Junior's Christmas 2009 was delicious! It was nice to spend a couple days with family and good food. Being able to enjoy the holiday locally made it a little easier as well.

A couple weeks have passed since I posted my last blog entry. Sorry about that. Various things, including a lack of spare time, a lack of energy and minor-ish health problems, have kept me away from updating Junior's Eyes as much as I would have liked. That's actually been the case for a few months now.

My having the occasional flare-up of eczema hasn't been sadistically entertaining enough for God. Over the summer, the Lord decided to add wheat to the list of things I'm allergic to. Oh yeah, that's a big one. You wouldn't believe how many things that means giving up!

Keeping the steroid cream on hand, well on both hands actually, is rather expensive. The selection of gluten-free items at the grocery store is probably getting better these days, but it all costs four times as much as the regular versions. The whole idea behind my eating more sandwiches, meatless pasta and other wheat filled food items, was to save some money. Well, that plan didn't work out too well. Anyway ......

I suppose the good part about not being able to eat normal bread, most cookies and cake is that I get to eat more candy. With that in mind, my younger sister Cherie and her family (husband Joe and the boys) included a case of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in the Christmas presents they brought up from Fairfax County, VA. I believe my exact words were "This is the best Christmas present I've ever gotten".

Kim is my other sister. She and her family (husband Steve and the girls), the Christmas hosts, live in Harford County, MD as our parents and I do. From that group, my daughter Chelsea and I were smothered in kisses. Get your mind out of the incestial gutter, thank you. Chocolate kisses, mounted on flourless peanut butter cookies. Oh yeah. I couldn't eat a lot of my favorite things, but it was still a tasty Christmas holiday.

Today's Tune: "Another World" By Brian May

Exoplanet image is from European Southern Observatory.

October 1st is an anniversary date for a couple major events in the history of Disney World, in Orlando, Florida, USA. The most popular amusement/theme park (Actually 4 theme parks and two water parks) and resort on the planet, Walt Disney's Disney World first opened to the public on October 1, 1971. The 1st of October became an important date again, when the Epcot theme park (Originally called EPCOT Center) area opened up on this day in 1982.

At the age of nine, I was lucky enough to visit the "Magic Kingdom" with my parents and two sisters a couple months after it opened up, during the Christmas holiday in December of 1971. I didn't make it back until I was grown up (At least physically) and had a daughter of my own. We were there to welcome the new Millennium. Now that was a special time. We of course spent time at Epcot during our stay, and it became my favorite place in Disney. It does give you enough atmosphere to almost make you feel like you are in the other countries that are represented there, even if you've actually been to those places before.

For this 'Today's Tune', we aren't going to match exactly the happy and playful feelings that would directly relate to memories of the subject matter above. We will have a song title that somewhat links to it though. I offer to you today, a song from within the solo works of Queen guitarist and songwriter Brian May. The tune is called "Another World".

Brian May - "Another World"
(Fan made video includes lyrics, part of another song.)

Today's Tune: "Money (That's What I Want)" By The Flying Lizards

Thanks to Cherie for passing along this photo.

When I look back into history at the things that happened on a September 14th, I see a theme for greed. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded on this day in 1960, and you know these days that they'll use any stupid little excuse to raise the price of oil. Every time you hear their name on the news, the price of gasoline goes up again. Another event that was very aggravating for baseball fans, and the people that depend on the sport to earn a living, was the 1994 Major League Baseball season being canceled because of a players strike. The first song that pops into my head, when thinking about these kind of historical events, is "Money (That's What I Want)". Though they weren't the first to have success with this 'Today's Tune', the band I remember is The Flying Lizards.

The Flying Lizards - "Money (That's What I Want)"
Homemade, but better than the band's low budget effort.

A Partnership That Works Well

Image provided by Cherie.

Today's Tune: "Cold As Ice" By Foreigner

Happy birthday to Dennis Elliott (59 years old), English drummer for the band Foreigner from 1976 to 1991. Elliott also played for and recorded albums with If and Ian Hunter. After retiring from the music business, he became a professional sculptor.

I remember running a snowball stand with my two sisters through the summer of 1977 and 1978. Naturally we had a radio playing during the work day. Foreigner released their first album 'Foreigner' just before the summer of '77. The second single from that album was titled "Cold As Ice", and must have been played a thousand times while we sweated our way through those two summers. I know listening to that song playing always cooled me off, so I thought it might help you cool off today. OK, that's a load of ol' ballocks in'it, but you can try it anyway. Maybe you'll have more luck.

Foreigner - "Cold As Ice"

The Best Current Investment Advice

A couple days ago, my younger sister passed along to me the best current investment advice. She no doubt received the following information from a very wise and experienced financial wizard, who is aware of the latest profit earning strategies.

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Photo by Justin Brandt - April 4, 2008

If you had purchased $1,000 of Delta Air Lines stock one year ago, you would have $49 left.

With Fannie Mae, you would have $2.50 left of the original $1,000.

With AIG, you would have less than $15 left.

But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drunk all of the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling REFUND, you would have $214 cash.

Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.

It's called the 401-Keg.

Photo from Converting Magazine - June 25, 2008

Freddie's Birthday Is September 5th

Farrokh Bulsara, better known as singer, songwriter and musician Freddie Mercury, was born on September 5th, 1946 in Stone Town on Zanzibar, near the coast of mainland Tanzania. He and his family, of Parsi heritage, moved to London, England in 1964 due to the Zanzibar Revolution. Freddie died November 24th, 1991, just one day after publicly announcing that he had AIDS.

I often think of Freddie, and like many of his fans and loved ones, wonder what what would have been if he were still alive. I'm sure he would have created and performed much more amazing music. I get very sad when I think of him being gone. But it's mostly the beauty, energy and truly honest feeling he put into every bit of his music and his life, that often brings a tear to my eyes when I watch his videos and listen to the music.

Memories of Freddie and his music, whether with Queen or any of his solo or collaborative ventures, also puts me in a good mood many times. He still is my favorite singer. He was lead singer for my all time favorite band, Queen. I had a blast at the concerts, along with good friends and family (sisters - Kim and Cherie). It's incredible how this one person, whom I've never actually met, has been with me for some of the saddest and most joyous times of my life.

Thank you Freddie Mercury!

Queen - "The Show Must Go On"

Queen - "Too Much Love Will Kill You"

Queen - "These Are The Days Of Our Lives"

Here Kitty...Kitty

One way or another, the Washington Capitals will know if they will be in the playoffs somewhere around 9:30 PM tonight. As long as they don't lose before the end of the third period, they're in. That's what it's come down to. The last second of the last game of the regular season.

Personally, I'm feeling pretty confident. I think our boys are too. They definitely have the determination to beat the Florida Panthers. Now they have to act on that.

See the following blogs for more:

For the basic requirements see Shmee's "A perfect opportunity" at Capital Addiction .

For the detailed breakdown see DMG's "Panthers/Capitals Preview" at Caps Blue Line .

For the short and sweet version CapsChick's "Destiny In Our Hand's" at A View From The Cheap Seats .

For the fans losing sleep see Aneesa's "It's 3:00 am" at Love The Game, Don't Like Puck Bunnies .

By the way, I don't wish actual harm to any cats. I actually like cats.......You know.....With the right sauce!

Thanks to Cherie for passing along another photo.

Lightning Hit Rock Bottom 2007-2008

This Poster shows how the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2007-2008 season is ending. How's the view from there Torts?

Thanks to Cherie for forwarding this poster from Linda.

'Canes Vs Cap's 02/08/2008 Alternate Review

Just to lighten the mood after last night's disappointing loss, I offer an abbreviated pictorial review as an alternate to the previously posted regular. You might call this sort of before (,during) and after pictures.

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Before:

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The Carolina Hurricanes about to hit the ice. .

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During:

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Our offence was almost completely covered the whole game, as the 'canes flooded the Cap's offensive zone with good defensive play.

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After:

Clearly unhappy Washington Capitals' fans wade through their disappointment as they leave the E Street parking lot after the game.

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Pictures provided by Cherie. Thanks sis.

Every Picture Tells A Story Prt 2

The following are some more of my favorite pictures from the collection I mentioned in my last post. Thanks again Cherie, for sending them.

After looking for another win last night, the Caps players
found they were just pissing in the wind.



We gotta get out of this last place.



Coach Hanlon took Backstrom & other players to Hooters for Lunch.
OR
"Locker" (Craig Laughlin) hits the Clubs!



Fleischmann puts a hit on Martin StLouis, then can't find him.



New Head Coach Bruce Boudreau makes yet another
adjustment to the "system", trying to spark his team.



Daniella Spier downs another bowl of gruel before the Flyers
were completely destroyed by the Washington Capitals.



Commissioner Betty admits the Shootout
is just like watermelon - completely tasteless.



Commissioner Betty removes his head from a place
far up his ass & admits the old Jerseys were better!

Every Picture Tells A Story.....Don't It?

My younger sister recently sent me the a collection of pictures. I added captions to represent how this season has gone so far for the Washington Capitals.

Most of the Capitals organization must have felt like this little girl,
Slip-sliding downward toward certain doom.



Coach Hanlon, Ovechkin or Kolzig trying to carry the Capitals to the Playoffs, and just getting pissed on by some of the players.



The Caps must have felt like this little boy (flying high)
after starting the season 3 & 0.



Player of your choice crying like a baby & just wanting to be held.



During his last game as Head Coach, Hanlon turned toward the booing/chanting crowd & yelled "Bite Me"!



That Ovechkin kid has Superstar written all over him.



Verizon Center crew member trying to find better ice.



... To be continued.