A VISIT WITH RE-CAPPY I
Re-Cappy was a very delightful weekly experiment. Regretfully it had to end as a weekly offering. This will be a version of RC and from time to time it will appear on this site.
Because news items vanish as quickly as they pop up some of the content may seem stale or possibly of no interest. We are victims of instant information that may or may not be news items. After all it is entertainment and media outlets are only interested in ratings not enlightenment.
Stuff: Let’s play some football. One week away from Super Bowl XVLI and the books in Vegas are playing their ‘money game”. New England favored over the NY Giants anywhere from two and one half to three and one half points This is called the “line” All this means is, if you like the Giants you get those points added to your final score. The books do not care who wins they just care how much money is wagered because they get what is called the juice and for most books it is ten percent of each wager. Oh, I have forgotten! Hope you enjoy the game:-)
My team, yes they still are my team; the Pittsburgh Steelers are going through some major changes. Bruce Arians the offensive coordinator that helped lead them to two Super Bowls was let go. Big Ben is a little peeved about it. Art Rooney II, the owner is getting quite a bit more involved than the Rooney family has in the past. Do not know where all this will lead.
Baseball season almost here. Just seems like yesterday that the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series. Do not know how the loss of Albert Pujols to the Angels will affect them. Being a Card fan of course am optimistic of a repeat.
Odds and Ends: One of my favorite subjects; Starbucks will introduce alcohol (beer and wine) in selected locations in So. California. Beer Latte anyone? Terrible item; leprosy linked to Armadillos. All of a sudden, “going to the dogs” seems very attractive. and please don’t buy your jewelry at a pet shop. The Costa Concordia tragedy continues.What the heck was that Captain and his crew thinking (or....it rhymes)? To date all but thirty three of 3229 passengers and 1023 crew members have been accounted for.The problem now is how to salvage the 500,000 gallons of fuel.In order to fend off lawsuits the firm is offering each passenger $ 14,460 each! What?
Stuff plus: Blue Note. Actor Robert Hegyes (60) who played Juan Epstein, one of the “sweathogs” on that very entertaining sitcom of the 70’s. That is the show that introduced John Travolta to the adoring young ladies of the day. Etta James (73) one of the most prominent singers during the rise of the Rhythm and Blues era. She was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and was the recipient of four Grammy Awards. When she sang you understood the lyrics, something I cannot say for some contemporary vocalists. Once heard that the mark of a good singer was excellent diction. What happened to that criteria? Her rendition of “At Last “is a classic that will be a favorite of any generation.
One of the major news items of the past week was the passing of Penn State legendary football coach, Joe Paterno (85), endearingly called JoePa by all who followed his career. Most of you who are familiar with Re-Cappy are aware of my respect for the man.
The cause of his passing was listed as lung cancer diagnosed as recently as last October. Many, including me, feel he died of a “broken heart”
His passing was the subject of many articles in various publications and on-line. Although I respected the offerings of the authors which were of the highest order commemorating Mr. Paterno’s committed and generous life, there was one thread in most of them that annoyed me. In attempting to make it all complete, in essence they wrote, and I quote; “He was a great man, BUT….” “He was a good man, BUT…..” Why did they ruin their excellent complimentary remarks about him with a suggestion of wrongdoing with the jury still out?
We do not know all the facts and probably never will. Even the man that reported the incident to Joe has revised his recollection of what occurred. Place your self in Mr. Paterno’s shoes. He had worked in the same capacity for 46 years. Can you imagine what was reported to him all those years and how he handled each situation? He was not in a vacuum all that while, then something dire was relayed to him. He did what he normally would do, regardless of the subject; he reported it to his superiors. This all worked in the past and he had faith that his superiors would take care of the matter as they had for 46 years!
It is important to keep in mind some of the information given to Joe in certain circumstances would be merely judgmental or plain hearsay, as was the report concerning Jerry Sandusky. There really was no hard evidence of any kind offered to him, and the accuracy of that is now in question. Mr. Paterno followed procedure, something he may have done many times over the years. He reported it to the next level. It would then be up to those with investigative responsibilities to proceed with any action. That is where the system failed the university, and essentially Joe Paterno.
Thank goodness Phil Knight, co-founder, Chairman of Nike, and close friend of JoePa set it straight in his eulogy at the memorial services. His heartfelt eulogy, one of personal respect and love for Mr. Paterno ended with an indirect assertion and one with which I concur, that the Penn State Board of Trustees acted hastily in JoePa’s discharge. Mr. Knight’s quote; “what ever the details of the investigation are, this much is clear to me: there is a villain in this tragedy that lies in that investigation, not in Joe Paterno’s response to it”. Phil Knight received a very impressive standing ovation from the more than twelve thousand in attendance at the memorial. A very impressive showing of love for a great human being with NO BUTS about it!
Of course as you may have surmised I am somewhat biased in this whole terrible event. I do respect Joe for his lifetime body of work. We have ample evidence of that. Perhaps it is the preponderance of that work that leaves me with a sense of unfairness about it all. With out hearings or the revelation of more facts we are unfortunately left with a judgement situation. The old saying "life isn't fair" seems to fit, doesn't it?
I leave you with this quote: “It is not the number of friends you acquire through life; it is the quality of experiences you enjoy with your friends”. Soon
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
HUMMING A TUNE
I woke up this morning singing the song; “Laura”. You know, “the face in the misty light”. I wasn’t singing it out loud but sort of humming it. Why Laura? I do not know. Love the tune though.
This brought to mind, as you will notice in my scribblings there will be consistent reminders of the phrase; “brought to mind”. Anyway, many years ago someone told me that he never had a song on his mind. He knew no lyrics let alone a melody! How sad. I found this strange, but perhaps I am strange!
I’m a lover of the Great American Song Book. These were tunes penned in the early to mid twentieth century. Most were written for Broadway musicals, and movies. Certainly you are familiar with many of the composers and the songs they wrote.
Among my favorites are Jimmy Van Heusen’s work in collaboration with lyricists Johnny Burke and Sammy Cahn. Together they produced great songs such as; All the Way, Swinging on a Star and Come Fly with Me. Cole Porter definitely is my all time favorite. Why not, he is responsible for; Anything Goes, Just One of Those Things, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Night and Day. I could go on and on. He penned almost one thousand songs. What a prolific talent!
These songs in the pop and jazz worlds normally referred to as “standards” made up the musical repertoire of the big bands of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. They were recorded by the leading singers of the day, such as; Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, etc.
The beboppers (jazz musicians of a wonderful different kind) of that era quickly recognized the intrinsic musical possibilities of the chord changes of these compositions. They would improvise on the chords, and produce a dramatic, profound individual melody unlike the original sound. For example; Charlie Parker's “Ornithology” is based on How High the Moon chords, and Dizzy Gillespie’s Groovin High on “Whispering”
The freedom to explore and improvise was seized upon by all jazz musicians of the day. Many of these tunes became known as jazz standards, Played over and over by jazz influenced artists were tunes such as: Body and Soul, Round Midnight, After You’ve Gone, and Indiana.
Being the romantic led me to the fascination of love lyrics. Are there any other kind? Of course contemporary composers do appeal to the appropriate generation but I am attached to those that wrote the "Great American Songbook. Not only the lyrics but the accompanying musical scores. How can any tender heart not be aroused by Jerome Kern's; "All the Things You Are"? Just a few notes from Charlie Parker's improvisation of Kern's "Things" called; "Bird Of Paradise" should delight many music lovers from any generation.
Many people over the years have told me they like all kind of music.I guess they were informing me that their appreciation of music was more involved and broad in scope in contrast with my concentration on a specific genre. That's fine and understandable. Each decade has produced an identifiable popular musical style. My ears are in tune with those sounds experienced during my most impressionable years, those of my youth. I am certain that is the case with most followers of popular music.
There exists ample evidence; The Great American Songbook has endured the test of time!
By the way, I am not a musician, nor a music critic, just an aficionado. My appreciation and respect for those talents that create wonderful music regardless of genre is boundless!
This started with having a song on my mind. I could never imagine going through life void of the company of a song, as my friend of long ago sadly confessed he was. Here is hoping you are always; “humming a tune”. I know I am, like right now: "All or nothing at all, half a love never appealed to me." Soon!
I woke up this morning singing the song; “Laura”. You know, “the face in the misty light”. I wasn’t singing it out loud but sort of humming it. Why Laura? I do not know. Love the tune though.
This brought to mind, as you will notice in my scribblings there will be consistent reminders of the phrase; “brought to mind”. Anyway, many years ago someone told me that he never had a song on his mind. He knew no lyrics let alone a melody! How sad. I found this strange, but perhaps I am strange!
I’m a lover of the Great American Song Book. These were tunes penned in the early to mid twentieth century. Most were written for Broadway musicals, and movies. Certainly you are familiar with many of the composers and the songs they wrote.
Among my favorites are Jimmy Van Heusen’s work in collaboration with lyricists Johnny Burke and Sammy Cahn. Together they produced great songs such as; All the Way, Swinging on a Star and Come Fly with Me. Cole Porter definitely is my all time favorite. Why not, he is responsible for; Anything Goes, Just One of Those Things, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Night and Day. I could go on and on. He penned almost one thousand songs. What a prolific talent!
These songs in the pop and jazz worlds normally referred to as “standards” made up the musical repertoire of the big bands of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. They were recorded by the leading singers of the day, such as; Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, etc.
The beboppers (jazz musicians of a wonderful different kind) of that era quickly recognized the intrinsic musical possibilities of the chord changes of these compositions. They would improvise on the chords, and produce a dramatic, profound individual melody unlike the original sound. For example; Charlie Parker's “Ornithology” is based on How High the Moon chords, and Dizzy Gillespie’s Groovin High on “Whispering”
The freedom to explore and improvise was seized upon by all jazz musicians of the day. Many of these tunes became known as jazz standards, Played over and over by jazz influenced artists were tunes such as: Body and Soul, Round Midnight, After You’ve Gone, and Indiana.
Being the romantic led me to the fascination of love lyrics. Are there any other kind? Of course contemporary composers do appeal to the appropriate generation but I am attached to those that wrote the "Great American Songbook. Not only the lyrics but the accompanying musical scores. How can any tender heart not be aroused by Jerome Kern's; "All the Things You Are"? Just a few notes from Charlie Parker's improvisation of Kern's "Things" called; "Bird Of Paradise" should delight many music lovers from any generation.
Many people over the years have told me they like all kind of music.I guess they were informing me that their appreciation of music was more involved and broad in scope in contrast with my concentration on a specific genre. That's fine and understandable. Each decade has produced an identifiable popular musical style. My ears are in tune with those sounds experienced during my most impressionable years, those of my youth. I am certain that is the case with most followers of popular music.
There exists ample evidence; The Great American Songbook has endured the test of time!
By the way, I am not a musician, nor a music critic, just an aficionado. My appreciation and respect for those talents that create wonderful music regardless of genre is boundless!
This started with having a song on my mind. I could never imagine going through life void of the company of a song, as my friend of long ago sadly confessed he was. Here is hoping you are always; “humming a tune”. I know I am, like right now: "All or nothing at all, half a love never appealed to me." Soon!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
An Interesting Look Back
The media announcement regarding the increasing growth rate of poverty in America, currently estimated at 45 to 49 million, prompted me to recall an article I scribbled during the disastrous "Hurricane Katrina" event in 2005. The article has been gathering dust in my files for the past six plus years.
I invite you to peruse the following piece titled "Some Thoughts On Katrina and New Orleans", which I wrote during those terrible days. Reading it once again with the knowledge of an increase in poverty of ten million in the last nine years confirmed my deepest concerns. I'm curious as to your thoughts on what was so obvious then and the subsequent perpetuation of; increased poverty, wage stagnation, and the shrinking middle class.
Your comments are appreciated.
September 3, 2005
I invite you to peruse the following piece titled "Some Thoughts On Katrina and New Orleans", which I wrote during those terrible days. Reading it once again with the knowledge of an increase in poverty of ten million in the last nine years confirmed my deepest concerns. I'm curious as to your thoughts on what was so obvious then and the subsequent perpetuation of; increased poverty, wage stagnation, and the shrinking middle class.
Your comments are appreciated.
SOME THOUGHTS ON KATRINA AND NEW ORLEANS
PROLOGUE:
Was the outpouring of support and emotional response for the unfortunate victims of Katrina one of guilt or genuine compassion?
The ugly face of poverty long glossed over by the controlling political, business, and media factions of America has been revealed in a startling manner! “God works in mysterious ways was spectacularly evident the hours and days after the storm. Katrina, most will say was an “act of God”. Accepting this as fact then in reality what manifested following “The Act” indeed displayed His purpose.
RECONSTRUCTION AND EXPLOITATION
Yes, the sounds of Preservation Hall will be heard again, the street musicians and mimes will work the tourists, the trolley will clank its’ way along St. Charles Street, crawfish and Cajun delicacies will be devoured, and Mardi Gras may persist but will all of it be the same? Most likely not!
Engineering designers, architects, ambitious developers, and engaging entrepreneurs will rebuild the city and attempt to sell it as once again being a genuine part of American lore. Of course all the physical parts will be in place. Talented and ingenious workers will put in the replacement parts and restore the cherished landmarks. The “new” New Orleans will be designed and sold to give instant gratification but chances that it will provide lasting impressions are minimal!
How can you rebuild or re- capture the art and character of a city that took a significant period of time to evolve and grow from within? The “old” New Orleans was the result of a unique evolutionary process; a meld of Caribbean, French, Spanish, Anglo and African -American ethnicity. The process was allowed to flow freely and perpetuated by a fascination for life with very little restraint. Its’ woes and travails resulting from wars, corruption and exploitation were fully absorbed into the fabric of society to form a strength and vitality that sustained it for generations and respected throughout the world as a world class city with a flavorful taste of “la dolce vita”.
It would be an insult to the heritage of New Orleans to sell it as a commodity. The Crescent City was all about its’ people. The heart, soul and spirit of its’ inhabitants made New Orleans what it is. It should be revered and looked upon as a shining example of how diverse groups can contribute to a better society when free to do so. No Disneyland make-over can replace what evolved naturally for over two hundred fifty years. Re-build the city but please bar the hucksters and the carpetbaggers.
New Orleans earned its’ place among the world’s most venerable cities not only because it possesses unique cultural characteristics but essentially it maintained an identifiable attitude. However, the last part of the twentieth century was witness to an erosion of the “Big Easy” aura. The city, as the song about another renowned city goes,”was beginning to lose its’ charm” To use a parallel, just as Jazz in its’ evolutionary process had given way to the shallow and commercial forms of American music maybe New Orleans, long a vibrant city was following a similar path to a superficial form of what it once was, Perhaps this in itself was symptomatic of the fragility of its’ infrastructure, economic vulnerabilities and class disintegration.
Nevertheless, Katrina did expose for the world to see; the underbelly of our country on a grand scale, the existence of extreme poverty. The question posed to all, “could this probably be a microcosm of America”? You can be sure that these conditions came as a complete surprise to most Americans and shocked them beyond comprehension. They should not have been!
EPILOGUE
The American people must recognize that the problems we face, in addition to those caused by nature and foreign adversaries come from within. Greed, twisted ideologies, power struggles, arrogance and negligence are thriving in our little world and they affect each and every one of us.
Make no mistake the poverty exposed in Louisiana is not an aberration. These conditions exist in all of our cities large or small regardless of ethnicity.
Our country has remained steadfast for generations because we always had a large and confident middle class. The middle class shoulders the burden of securing the nation. It sustains the economy, ensures the order of society, protects the lower class, supports and empowers the government. This vital position in the hierarchy of societal structure, if maintained, prevents the emergence of a ruling and controlling class that has no constraints.
Amongst all of our checks and balances, the existence of a strong and viable middle class is imperative. To a free and independent people the middle class is of the utmost importance for national survival.
Alas, what has come to pass in recent years is the unfortunate deterioration of this all important segment of our economic existence. This condition is one of the main reasons for the rapidly increasing poverty levels. The process of a vanishing middle class is not a result of a certain set of occurrences that happened naturally. In fact it would be unnatural in a republic such as ours to not have a viable middle class. Perhaps it is one of design?
The gap is ever wider between the haves and have-not and threatens the quality of life for most Americans. The unfortunate victims of Katrina have been living with this fact for a long time and maybe, just maybe, their looks of anguish and voices of despair will awaken us all.
Note: There is no standard definition of “middle class”. According to the U.S. Census Bureau households of annual income between $25,000 and $75,000 occupy the middle half of income/population distribution levels. The year 2004 poverty level was 37million, up from 35.9 million in 2003. 2003 and 2004 experienced a combination of stagnant income and the fact that, while some middle class households moved to upper income groups, a much larger proportion moved down.
September 3, 2005
Monday, December 12, 2011
A Bit of Re-Cappy
Stuff: The big story of course in baseball was Albert Pujols changing uniforms from Cardinal to Angel. It hurt to hear him say he was glad to be an Angel but then what do you expect him to say to the tune of 25 million a year? Unfortunately, disappointment within the fan base and confusion with offers has led to some very negative reactions. One good thing; a generous portion of the money will go to his foundation and other charities he supports for challenged kids.
The Steelers beat their friendly rival Cleveland in one of the ugliest games seen in some time. Big Ben is a monster coming back after a high ankle sprain sent him to the locker room. That guy will play off a stretcher if need be. Fired coaches in the NFL: Todd Haley , Kansas City and Tony Sparano, Miami. Do not know how Haley's departure will affect Tyler Palko's future. Haley was a staunch supporter.
A Tebow commentary: He is one heck of an athlete. One thing for certain; it is well known by NFL running backs that accumulated punishment to the body shortens a career profoundly. Tim Tebow takes more hits than a quarterback with a poor offensive line. He definitely is enjoying success and deservedly so, but to quote Brian Urlacher of the Bears; "It's fairly simple once you know what the formation is and what runs they can do out of that formation". In short, opposing teams will devise game plans to limit his running capability. Tebow would have been more of a sensation in the 30's and 40's running the old single and double wing formations.
The NBA is a mess. Enough said!
Penn State having hearings this week which will be twittered, emailed and texted (is that correct?). As mentioned on a Re-Cappy it will be a long sad process. Contradictory and false statements add to the tragedy. A thought: after the Penn State story broke there was a series of similar reports concerning child sexual abuse involving men that work with children and young adults. How does this affect the careers of well intended others that choose this honorable line of work?
Brief stuff: Bad do it yourself story. A woman was spotted in a Walmart mixing chemicals to manufacture meth. She was at it for six hours before apprehended. Jodi Foster's estranged father(what does that mean?) eighty nine years old convicted of twenty one misdemeanor counts of grand theft. Quite a bit for an old dude. It may be in the wrong direction, but the man is still thinking! BTW, Jodi, one of my all time favorites. Texting while driving, an activity I abhor, has increased fifty percent in the last year. Fifty percent percent of what :-)
Make Note; This is 12-12 11. Brings to mind that next year 12-12-12 will be the last of these date oddities for another eleven years. Since 01-01-01 we have seen this every 13 months. The next one will be 2-2-22 and then only to come about every eleven years; 3-3-33, etc. It all reminds me of when I first became aware of this occurrence. It was 5-5-55. I was around for 4-4-44 but having too much fun dancing to notice. We will not go back further:-)Soon!
The Steelers beat their friendly rival Cleveland in one of the ugliest games seen in some time. Big Ben is a monster coming back after a high ankle sprain sent him to the locker room. That guy will play off a stretcher if need be. Fired coaches in the NFL: Todd Haley , Kansas City and Tony Sparano, Miami. Do not know how Haley's departure will affect Tyler Palko's future. Haley was a staunch supporter.
A Tebow commentary: He is one heck of an athlete. One thing for certain; it is well known by NFL running backs that accumulated punishment to the body shortens a career profoundly. Tim Tebow takes more hits than a quarterback with a poor offensive line. He definitely is enjoying success and deservedly so, but to quote Brian Urlacher of the Bears; "It's fairly simple once you know what the formation is and what runs they can do out of that formation". In short, opposing teams will devise game plans to limit his running capability. Tebow would have been more of a sensation in the 30's and 40's running the old single and double wing formations.
The NBA is a mess. Enough said!
Penn State having hearings this week which will be twittered, emailed and texted (is that correct?). As mentioned on a Re-Cappy it will be a long sad process. Contradictory and false statements add to the tragedy. A thought: after the Penn State story broke there was a series of similar reports concerning child sexual abuse involving men that work with children and young adults. How does this affect the careers of well intended others that choose this honorable line of work?
Brief stuff: Bad do it yourself story. A woman was spotted in a Walmart mixing chemicals to manufacture meth. She was at it for six hours before apprehended. Jodi Foster's estranged father(what does that mean?) eighty nine years old convicted of twenty one misdemeanor counts of grand theft. Quite a bit for an old dude. It may be in the wrong direction, but the man is still thinking! BTW, Jodi, one of my all time favorites. Texting while driving, an activity I abhor, has increased fifty percent in the last year. Fifty percent percent of what :-)
Make Note; This is 12-12 11. Brings to mind that next year 12-12-12 will be the last of these date oddities for another eleven years. Since 01-01-01 we have seen this every 13 months. The next one will be 2-2-22 and then only to come about every eleven years; 3-3-33, etc. It all reminds me of when I first became aware of this occurrence. It was 5-5-55. I was around for 4-4-44 but having too much fun dancing to notice. We will not go back further:-)Soon!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Eleven and Out
I have never been to St. Louis Missouri. Trips across the country on old Route 66, not a typo, and later I-70 had me skirting the town but regretfully never stopping for a cup of coffee. Somehow though I feel akin to the folks that live there. Perhaps it is because I have been a St Louis Cardinal fan since the age of eight or nine.
The baseball Gods have been kind to the Cardinal fans over the years. We have had our share of glory and disappointments but not as alarming as that of the departure of Albert Pujols. This news coming on the heels of a wonderful, dramatic World Series victory. Their eleventh by the way, second only to the very rich New York Yankees.
Mr. Pujols started his career as a Cardinal eleven years ago. Strange that the total coincides with the number of World Series wins. Sadly he no longer will wear the uniform with the birds on the bat. The numbers he put up are good enough to place him in the baseball Hall Of Fame. Quite an achievement for a career that may be only half through at the age of thirty two.
The Cardinal chat forums are filled with a mixture of relief, consolation and anger. Relief, because the ordeal of the decision process has finally ended. Consolation, because the amount of dollars and long term commitment may have been too much for the Cardinal organization to absorb. Anger, because Albert is on record saying he wanted to be a Cardinal for life. Most fans wanted it so!
Well it is business done. He is now an Anaheim Angel and this makes some of my family and friends very happy. I wish all the best for Albert and his family and thank him for making my prediction of eleven years ago come true. Very early in Mr. Pujol's career I got the sense he was special. It was over a beer at a bar with a friend on one of my visits with relatives in Imperial PA. He was an Alex Rodriguez fan. My friend laughed at me, claimed I was nuts when I said, "Albert will someday be talked about in the same breath as Arod!" Of course, Albert delivered!
Saying goodbye to Albert is going to be extremely difficult. I enjoyed his individual accomplishments along with each Cardinal win. I definitely will miss all the thrills he provided along the way. Thank you for the memories Albert. A Cardinal no more:-( Soon!
The baseball Gods have been kind to the Cardinal fans over the years. We have had our share of glory and disappointments but not as alarming as that of the departure of Albert Pujols. This news coming on the heels of a wonderful, dramatic World Series victory. Their eleventh by the way, second only to the very rich New York Yankees.
Mr. Pujols started his career as a Cardinal eleven years ago. Strange that the total coincides with the number of World Series wins. Sadly he no longer will wear the uniform with the birds on the bat. The numbers he put up are good enough to place him in the baseball Hall Of Fame. Quite an achievement for a career that may be only half through at the age of thirty two.
The Cardinal chat forums are filled with a mixture of relief, consolation and anger. Relief, because the ordeal of the decision process has finally ended. Consolation, because the amount of dollars and long term commitment may have been too much for the Cardinal organization to absorb. Anger, because Albert is on record saying he wanted to be a Cardinal for life. Most fans wanted it so!
Well it is business done. He is now an Anaheim Angel and this makes some of my family and friends very happy. I wish all the best for Albert and his family and thank him for making my prediction of eleven years ago come true. Very early in Mr. Pujol's career I got the sense he was special. It was over a beer at a bar with a friend on one of my visits with relatives in Imperial PA. He was an Alex Rodriguez fan. My friend laughed at me, claimed I was nuts when I said, "Albert will someday be talked about in the same breath as Arod!" Of course, Albert delivered!
Saying goodbye to Albert is going to be extremely difficult. I enjoyed his individual accomplishments along with each Cardinal win. I definitely will miss all the thrills he provided along the way. Thank you for the memories Albert. A Cardinal no more:-( Soon!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Italian Hot Sausage Sandwich
Not to divulge my age but I do qualify for senior discounts. They stopped carding me..oh, I have forgotten when. Does that give you a hint? That reminds me of something that happened when I turned twenty one, a long, long time ago. Strange how I can remember events of years past but at times do not recall what I did last week? Believe me this quirk of memory occasionally has its' benefits.
You see, where I lived my early life, and the period I am talking about; drinking establishments, yes watering holes, were not as closely scrutinized for under age drinking as they are today. I am sure there was a reason for that oversight:-)
At the age of eighteen or nineteen my favorite hangout was one of those under-supervised dens. It was a family owned local bar where yes, I'll say it; "everybody knew your name" Besides the bar there was a small kitchen, dance floor and a stage to accommodate entertainment. The only food item on the menu was a not so asked for; Italian hot sausage sandwich.
One of the owners, named Tony knew me very well and never questioned my age even though I still had not started shaving! He prepared the sausage sandwiches while still working the bar. which was located in a section apart from the kitchen. This became an annoying problem and led to my being asked if I wanted to work the kitchen. I had a daytime job but accepted because the kitchen was open only in the evening and also it would help pay my bar bill.
The sausage sandwiches at that time were a low volume business item. It was merely a throw-in for a few regulars with low expectations. The sausage, homemade and exceptional, unfortunately was getting a bad rap. Sadly, the sandwich was not in demand. Of course, as the cook I would occasionally sample the product. It did not take me long to realize something was missing. I thought about Mom's homemade bread and how much better the taste if I had her bread to go with it. In order to keep costs at a minimum Tony purchased inexpensive buns from a nearby store. This I could not understand because the family also owned a bakery.
I took the matter to the boss and asked him to try their own baked bread for awhile to see if it made a difference in the sales, I knew it would. He agreed and the rest of the story, you guessed it, sales soared. This also was accompanied by increased liquor and beer volume. The Italian hot sausage sandwich became the talk of the neighborhood! The real secret was the bread which to this day is well known.
Then it happened, as George Carlin would say; "I turned twenty one!" Most of my friends had the great idea to have a birthday party at the place I worked and sipped. The owner of course bought the idea because all he could think of was a full house. It also helped that Cappy knew many musicians who would entertain just for a chance to blow (jazz talk for that era). Not once was there any curiosity about my age?
During the festivities, and it was packed, everyone started shouting; twenty one, twenty one, how does it feel Cappy now that you can start drinking legally?
I do not for once think that my boss was so naive enough not to know my real age all this time but he did make an effort to show surprise and consternation. He approached me, looked me in the eye, and with a stern face blurted; "I have been serving you all these years while you were under age, you could have cost me my license!" He had the nerve to say this to me fully aware of the risk of all the questionable activities going on in his thriving business! I answered "Yeah Tony; but you have to admit I do fry up one helluva good sausage sandwich!" Soon:-)
You see, where I lived my early life, and the period I am talking about; drinking establishments, yes watering holes, were not as closely scrutinized for under age drinking as they are today. I am sure there was a reason for that oversight:-)
At the age of eighteen or nineteen my favorite hangout was one of those under-supervised dens. It was a family owned local bar where yes, I'll say it; "everybody knew your name" Besides the bar there was a small kitchen, dance floor and a stage to accommodate entertainment. The only food item on the menu was a not so asked for; Italian hot sausage sandwich.
One of the owners, named Tony knew me very well and never questioned my age even though I still had not started shaving! He prepared the sausage sandwiches while still working the bar. which was located in a section apart from the kitchen. This became an annoying problem and led to my being asked if I wanted to work the kitchen. I had a daytime job but accepted because the kitchen was open only in the evening and also it would help pay my bar bill.
The sausage sandwiches at that time were a low volume business item. It was merely a throw-in for a few regulars with low expectations. The sausage, homemade and exceptional, unfortunately was getting a bad rap. Sadly, the sandwich was not in demand. Of course, as the cook I would occasionally sample the product. It did not take me long to realize something was missing. I thought about Mom's homemade bread and how much better the taste if I had her bread to go with it. In order to keep costs at a minimum Tony purchased inexpensive buns from a nearby store. This I could not understand because the family also owned a bakery.
I took the matter to the boss and asked him to try their own baked bread for awhile to see if it made a difference in the sales, I knew it would. He agreed and the rest of the story, you guessed it, sales soared. This also was accompanied by increased liquor and beer volume. The Italian hot sausage sandwich became the talk of the neighborhood! The real secret was the bread which to this day is well known.
Then it happened, as George Carlin would say; "I turned twenty one!" Most of my friends had the great idea to have a birthday party at the place I worked and sipped. The owner of course bought the idea because all he could think of was a full house. It also helped that Cappy knew many musicians who would entertain just for a chance to blow (jazz talk for that era). Not once was there any curiosity about my age?
During the festivities, and it was packed, everyone started shouting; twenty one, twenty one, how does it feel Cappy now that you can start drinking legally?
I do not for once think that my boss was so naive enough not to know my real age all this time but he did make an effort to show surprise and consternation. He approached me, looked me in the eye, and with a stern face blurted; "I have been serving you all these years while you were under age, you could have cost me my license!" He had the nerve to say this to me fully aware of the risk of all the questionable activities going on in his thriving business! I answered "Yeah Tony; but you have to admit I do fry up one helluva good sausage sandwich!" Soon:-)
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Formerly Re-Cappy
This is my first attempt at posting a blog, or is it better stated as "blogging"? My birth name is Gennaro Caputo. Friends and some family call me Jim or Jimmy and some times James. I am also known to family members as; Dad, UNC and Grandpa. During my adolescence and early adult life, most acquaintances, friends, or even strangers knew me as Cappy.
With a last name of Caputo it was a sure thing that a nickname would be derived from those first three letters. There must have been thousands of kids with names such as; Capolla, Capaducci, Capacola or even Capotosta that were called Cappy. It was not uncommon, but to me it was unique. I wore the nickname proudly and when my sister tried to claim it for herself I reacted with proprietorship indignation. She had some talent for the arts and all of her renditions carried the name Cappi. She did not even know how to spell it! Anyway it did not get attached to her so her friends still called her Phyllis. I went for years with most everyone not knowing my real first name. Nicknames that stick; perhaps a thing of the past.
Prior to this venture I was emailing friends and family a weekly recap of news and sports items flavored with some attempt at humor. Although entertaining, it progressed into a form that was not email suitable. Some of the recipients thought a blog would be the perfect fit for my posts.They were being kind. It was their way of saying I talked too much and with a click I could be here or gone! So here I am:-)
For those of you that were followers of Monday Re-Cappy the format will change slightly. The feedback on the approach taken for the introduction of specific blurbs was all positive and I intend to retain those lead-ins and insert them when doable in subsequent blogs.
Cappyblog will consist of something I enthusiastically call stuff-plus. The stuff encompasses current news items with an injection of humor; some good and some so, so. Pop culture, music, and sports will be included. The plus: there are many decades in my rear view mirror so their will be reminisces of the past with a touch of personal bio. On occasion some news items and human interest topics will be addressed with a personal commentary. The intent is to inform with up-to-date news topics, nostalgically reminisce, converse about subjects that may arouse your interest and most important of all; entertain. Soon:-)
With a last name of Caputo it was a sure thing that a nickname would be derived from those first three letters. There must have been thousands of kids with names such as; Capolla, Capaducci, Capacola or even Capotosta that were called Cappy. It was not uncommon, but to me it was unique. I wore the nickname proudly and when my sister tried to claim it for herself I reacted with proprietorship indignation. She had some talent for the arts and all of her renditions carried the name Cappi. She did not even know how to spell it! Anyway it did not get attached to her so her friends still called her Phyllis. I went for years with most everyone not knowing my real first name. Nicknames that stick; perhaps a thing of the past.
Prior to this venture I was emailing friends and family a weekly recap of news and sports items flavored with some attempt at humor. Although entertaining, it progressed into a form that was not email suitable. Some of the recipients thought a blog would be the perfect fit for my posts.They were being kind. It was their way of saying I talked too much and with a click I could be here or gone! So here I am:-)
For those of you that were followers of Monday Re-Cappy the format will change slightly. The feedback on the approach taken for the introduction of specific blurbs was all positive and I intend to retain those lead-ins and insert them when doable in subsequent blogs.
Cappyblog will consist of something I enthusiastically call stuff-plus. The stuff encompasses current news items with an injection of humor; some good and some so, so. Pop culture, music, and sports will be included. The plus: there are many decades in my rear view mirror so their will be reminisces of the past with a touch of personal bio. On occasion some news items and human interest topics will be addressed with a personal commentary. The intent is to inform with up-to-date news topics, nostalgically reminisce, converse about subjects that may arouse your interest and most important of all; entertain. Soon:-)
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