fenwaydav's Blog

A long time worker from the Department of Conservation and Recreation has been suspended for 8 days for selling scrape metal from a Stoneham  labor yard.   This yard has been holding about 23 hundred feet of decorative cast iron which has been there while repairs to The Longfellow Bridge has been taken place.  Melted down, the metal would be worth about $10,000,  to replace it would cost upwards of   $750,000.  This un-named worker has admitted to selling some metal but has not yet confessed to the Longfellow batch.   Part of the money was used to have a party for fellow workers.  The cast iron in question, was cast almost 100 years ago.   This is one of Boston's most famous landmarks.  The bridge connects Boston to Cambridge  and is sometimes referred to as The Salt and Pepper Bridge because of it's towers.  If it was not this particular worker that stole this metal,  then a much bigger problem exist.   This would mean another theft is amongst the crowd.   My guess, if it wasn't such an important piece of property missing, we might never had known about the thievery that is taken place.   My feelings are that a complete investigation take place to try to find out how long such horrendous acts against the City has been going on.   This worker (or workers) need more than a 8 day suspension. 

As fresh in my mind as though it was yesterday,  the 7th anniversary of that horrific day is once again upon us.  So fresh, I don't need to see the video of the planes crashing into each of buildings.  So fresh in my mind I see the Towers fall one by one.  So fresh in my mind I still can see the people running from that ball of smoke racing down the streets of lower Manhattan.   So fresh in my mind I can still see those people jumping to their death knowing that would be better than to burn alive. 

I watched those towers being built from a hole in the ground.  There were no gates around the construction sight and when nearly complete I would go up to the Tower and press my body against it and look up to the Heavens.  When you drove in and around the City, somewhere they would be in your view.  It made me so proud to see those Two Towers at the very tip of the Island Of Manhattan.

On my resent trip into the area,  the one thing that stands out most is the emptiness of lower Manhattan.  With all the tall buildings in that space down town,  it looks so bear and empty.  The building of the New Freedom Tower is painstakingly slow.   The shame of the red tape and politics it takes to build is an embarrassment to the state of New York.   The People of the state just can't understand what's taking so long.   Someday, something will be built on the spot The World Trade Towers  stood,  no matter what is put there, I will always see Two Gleaming Towers......

The month of  Sept. brings many things.  The occasional  cool snap of Fall for one.  It's hard to believe kids are coming back to school and the boys of Summer are winding down.  The double parked moving trucks are all over.  The supermarket is crowded with mommy's and daddy's taking there college kids to fill the frig and cabinets.  In the cart you may even find the occasional cleaning product, even though it may never be used.  The Red Sox have a solid month to pull something out of the hat.  A solid month to get all these kids who are new to Boston behind the Red Sox so they can destroy the neighborhood again.  These nice young boys and girls from every state in the union and even the World  will learn in a month how to drink there way to alcoholism.  Know one to watch over them and scold them.   Yes another season is coming to an end and another season is just beginning.

The Republican Party is going to have their Convention starting on Monday, or are they?  The Convention which is to be held in St. Paul, may have to be put on hold.   John McCain said today that if Hurricane Gustav hits New Orleans on Monday, the convention should be delayed.  He doesn't feel it is right to celebrate in the wake of peoples sorrow.  I may agree with the principle, but I feel like it is still a bad idea.  Regular people are already in St. Paul waiting for the convention.  Unlike McCain these people just can't say let's do it another day.  Hotels, transportation and other  accommodations are already paid for.  Senator McCain is not being realistic to himself or his Party.  The show must go on.....

Talk about taking the wind out of Obama's sail's!  John McCain chooses Alaskan Governor as his running mate.   Sarah Palin who is 44, and that's 3 years younger than Obama.  She lives 30 miles north of Anchorage and if you think Hillary had a cold touch just watch out for this lady.  This is fresh of the presses so as soon as I can readjust my jaw that has dropped to my knees, I'm sure there will be more to say.  Sorry Mitt!  Not really.....

Why must we be kept reminded that on this big night for Barrack Obama that it is the anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I've got a Dream" speech?   Why also in the next sentence a J.F.K. comparison is mentioned?  We all know what happened to those 2 men and I feel like the press is trying to remind the people of the U.S. and the World.  There are alot of  nutty people out there that might feel like they could save the U.S. by doing something crazy, and what better night than the anniversary of a historic speech.  I truly hope it is my morbid mind making something out of nothing.

In this day and age to fly with a under-wire bra is asking for trouble.  A woman trying to fly from California to Massachusetts set the alarm off while going through security.   It seems the metal wire in her bra was the culprit.   When she refused to be patted down by female staff , she was asked to go to the ladies room and take the bra off.  This lady is outraged.   Now I ask why?  The machine did exactly what it was supposed to do, detect metal.  I do a fair amount of flying and I try not to wear anything that is going to make my trip harder.  I have even gone as far as to wear flip-flops so I don't have to untie and retie shoes.   Lazy?  Maybe, but anything that saves me time and make the process easier is a good thing.   It's also not the time for me to wear my souvenir Jason Varitek brass cup.  Why look for trouble?  This lady is now thinking about contacting her lawyer.   My advice to this gal is forget the lawyer.  The people at the Airport were only doing their job.  On your way home to California,  either wear a plain cotton bra or go commando. 

With adoring eyes Bill Clinton watched Hilary give one of the best speeches of her life.  I watched and only wished that it was a speech thanking her party for the nomination.   It wasn't.   It was a speech that if there were any doubts they should be laid to rest.  She wholeheartedly gave her support to Barack Obama and in turn asked those who supported her to now give that support to him.  It will be interesting to see if this actually helped Obama's campaign.  Like they've been bosom buddies for years.  The harsh words of the months before have been now turned into a absolute love fest.  In a very short time, I predict by November we will see the out come.  If Barack should lose (which I think he might) We will see Hilary in 4 years again run for President. 

I made a phone call today.  I called my mother.  "HELLO,  I CAN'T COME TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW.  LEAVE A MESSAGE AND I'LL CALL YOU BACK.  KEEP SMILING!   Mom would change her message several times a year, but always ended it with "keep smiling".  We laid my Mother to rest on Friday.  As I wrote to a few people out here that I keep in touch with via email,  her death was peaceful and calm.  After months of suffering with the pain of Cancer her final 2 days were spent in a hospice.   You should never need to go to hospice, but if you or a family member should become so sick that there is no hope and death is near, they will give you the dignity that the illness has robbed.  I was lucky to be in the room with her when her final breath was taken.   Days before she was thrashing in her bed, pulling at her clothing and calling for her "Momma" and all her family members who were long gone, including my father and brother.  She was also crying to go HOME.   My sister, brother and I were questioning where home was.   Was it Coney Island,  Florida,  New Jersey or Heaven?  When death came, it was without any real fanfare.  Like she waited for us to get there,  within 20 minutes of our arrival she went from a deep sleep without pain to death.  You could see death coming as each breath got more shallow.   We held her hand and stroked her hair and told her to give regards to all our family.  We told her they were waiting for her,  and I can envision the crowd.  

Ten years ago she asked a cousin if he would do the service.   He's a very religious man, but not a Rabbi.  He kept the promise he made years ago.   The service was grave side attended by about 75  friends and family.  Everything was just the way she wanted except for one thing.  She wanted a plain pine coffin.  We couldn't do that.  She deserved something better.   We went 2 notches up.  It was still pine!    My niece gave a beautiful eulogy and  reminded the crowd of several funny stories about my Mother. 

I flew into Boston this morning.  How wonderful it is to be home.   I called my sister to tell her I had gotten home safely and the same for my brother.  And yes I made that call to my Mother.  I needed to hear her voice one more time.   When the beep when off,  I said "Hi Mom, it's David,  I just wanted to say good-bye and that I love you" and deleted her number from my phone.

Oh please tell me it isn't so.  Today Mrs. Fields filed for chapter 11.  She's in bit of a bind and is strapped for cash.  I guess those millions I've spent over the years hasn't been enough.  Debbie Fields went public 15 years ago with one of the finest cookie around.  A bit on the small side it took half a dozen or so to satisfied my sweet tooth.  I was very dainty when I was dunken them into a ice cold class of milk.  (skim)  I hope this is what she needs to reorganize and pull through this problem.  If you want to help just go to your local store and buy a couple of dozen boxes.

From the time I was a little boy, my mother always said never buy pre-made tuna.  She had this thing about the mayo going bad.   Mayonnaise left out can be very dangerous.  I don't think this has been the problem with the recent tuna that's been recalled, but none the less bad is bad.  This follows weeks of bad tomato's that proved to be alright after all.  Go tell those farmers who's crops had to be destroyed.  Before that it was spinach and lettuce. 

This all proves to me how vulnerable our food supply is.  I always said that our enemies have more ways to kill us than just bombs.  Look at the situation in Pembroke with the water supply.   It's been almost a week and residents still have to boil the water to protect them against e-coil.  I'd stay out of Pembroke for awhile if I were you, those poor citizens can't even bathe with this water.  (PEW)  I buy bottled water  for when I go out.  Around the house I use one of those disposable filter systems.  I don't think the best filter can't stop certain bacteria from going through. 

Lets get back to the tuna if you please.  When at my local deli and standing in line I wonder how people can ask for anything from behind that case.  Cold cuts are one thing but those salads have been sitting there without a cover.  Sometimes the clerks don't even give it a stir to make it look edible.  I have been known to buy the deli ham salad.  I ask the clerk to get it for me from the back.  At least I know it's in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Once in a blue moon, I do like a tuna sandwich.  How lazy would it be to buy it pre-made?  What does it take to open a can and put a scope of mayo in it?  I even go one step further and add some celery and onion, and if I'm really bold I shake a bite of salt and pepper in.

John Kerry is being challenged for his bid for Senator for the first time in the 20 years he's served.  In his first commercial a Veteran states how Kerry helped get his Purple Heart awarded to him at Fenway Park.  He also threw out the first pitch.   Yes John Kerry has done wonderful things for Veterans, but what has he done for the rest of the State?

Over the past several weeks,  He's been in the news or should I say in front of the camera.  Who could forget his anorexicly thin body riding a bike in the Pan Mass Challenge.   Another wonderful cause to help raise money for Cancer.   If he was running for President, it would have been one of those Dukakis moments in a tank.  I have a rule, never vote for anyone in a helmet or spandex.  Am I the only one that has noticed his face is a little more young and vibrant?  That was also questioned during his bid for President.  Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with ironing out some of the wrinkles,  but it shouldn't be the reason we vote for a Senator or President.   If I had his Lurch like looks I would do everything I could to try to change them.

I am not saying that our 2 Senators should be replaced, but maybe it's time to look at other options.  It is very unlikely Kennedy will seek another term, so maybe it's time to start from scratch.  Lets give some new blood a chance and put a stop to these life long terms.   Are you listening Mayor Menino?

When I was in Jersey last week, my sister-in-law pulled out a album of my Bar Mitzvah pictures.  Bound in leather my mother made this day something I would always remember.  My father had a part in this by writing the checks.  This is the day in the Jewish faith that a boy becomes a man.  (he is 13)   If my math is right, this November will be 42 years ago.  As I turned the pages I was reminded of so many happy days.  These were the days before I discovered alcohol.   These were the days  before I discovered cocaine.  I don't remember for sure, but I don't even think I was stealing my mothers cigarettes yet.  My father and I wore blue dinner jackets.  I had so much fun looking at these pictures and my sister-in-law said I could have them.  I was so thrill to be given this piece of my history.  When I got this book home I cleaned over 40 years of  finger prints off.  I proudly display this book on my coffee table where it belongs.  I can't tell you how many times since I have it home that I have turned the pages.  The one sad thing in all of this, is the more I look at it I discover the more people that were in my life are no longer here.  40 + years have certainly taken it's toll.  I am now the age or older than some of those people I once thought were ancient.  My mother and father were so young.  I no longer have my father and lost a brother.  My mother lies dying in New Jersey and I fear that won't be long off.    I overcame the alchol and drugs and Sept 10th will be 3 years without a cigarette.  On the very first page of this album, I look at the picture of myself for any hints of what was coming and find none.  I was a normal gay 13 year old with a smile from ear to ear, and a pinky ring.

It just blew me away, when I read the news that Bernie Mac died at the age of 50 from complications to  Pneumonia.  He was in many movies, but I think I'll remember him best for  "The Bernie Mac Show". Controversy sometimes followed Mac, but none the less he was a very funny guy.   In this day and age for anyone to die so young is just shocking.  R.I.P.   Mr. Mac......

While we watched John Edwards standing by his wife Elizabeth's side who had been diagnosed with cancer, he was sleeping around with a staff member.  How dare he!  We the public deserve better than this.  This could have been our next President.  As far as I'm concerned he is washed up.  His spit polished good looks and 400 dollar haircuts are history.  Wheither or not he's the father of this love child is not relative.  The act of adultery is a forgivable act to some mere mortals, but he professed to be above that and I for one believed him.