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David Mitchell

To my way of thinking, Religion and Politics can make for a dangerous mix.

What disturbs me (acually, scares the livin' bejesus out of me) is when American Christians, or may I call them "psuedo-christians", (there is a difference - read; self righteous, holier-than-thou, finger pointing) zealots attach a level of divinity to political figures - or any popular social figures for that matter.

We all know people in the public eye (and I know some personally in my church) who refer to certain figures as "God -sent", or  "on a mission from God".  We sure heard it in these last four years - Franklin Graham, Pat Roberson, Robert Jeffress, and Paula White, one of those "Prosperity Theology" preachers who, I believe are as far off base as anything I have heard in my life time. 

And we've long done this in the Catholic church. Remember those 5th grade Baltimore Catechism questions about the Cathoilic Church being "the one true church". (back when we spoke abput some of us having non-Catholic parents)

So easy to get lost in traditon, philosophy, dogma, and ceremony - even Theology. Who's right and who's wrong? Who knows better? Who has the correct answer?

But I don't worship a philospohy, a history, a set of rules - and certainly not a Pope, or a bishop, or a priest. And I don't worship a "religion". I think all that misses the point. 

I am one of those who believes that Christ came to free us from "religion". His message is about Hope, Renewal, Forgiveness, and Love - not about winning.

We can argue politics all day long (and I obviously love to). And yes, we should apply some moral standards to the candidates and issues. But placing a mantle of divinity around our politicians shoulders is very frightening.  

We needn't worry that Jesus never ran in a primary, or never attended a single fund raiser. But we should never forget that when they came to get Him, he never raised a finger to stop them.

David Mitchell

Joe,

Though I loved his comedy, you and I would take umbrage with the great W.C. Fields, who once said, "A man who hates dogs and babies can't be all bad."

The trouble with dogs is that we fall in love with them.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Time for a Visual Break

Snowing again today with more expected tonight. 

I love snow.

I love some dogs.

I don't mind shoveling snow.

I do mind shoveling after dogs.

That's why I don't have a dog.

I love icicles as the snow melts. 

Dog poop doesn't melt.

Icicles photograph well.

Enough said.

Jim

Michael McLeod

Beautifully written Jim. I had no idea you could be so eloquent. The lyrical rhythms. The universal theme.

Michael McLeod

Joe. My memory is fuzzy. Did you live on East North Broadway?

David Mitchell

Jim,

I remember those CYC nights at Jet Stadium. I think we did several of those as a group from OLP. Tickets were something like fifty cents, I think. I always wanted to see someone like Johhny Powers hit one through that hole and win the $100,000. But Johnny Powers was always hitting them to the far right. He stood there in the batter's box with his wide-open stance - almost litteraly facing at the pitcher instead of sideways, trying to pull every pitch to that short right field fence, which if I recall correctly was only about 305 feet from home plate.

We got to see a lot of big league talent come through that stadium on their way up to the "bigs". I saw Richie (Dick) Allen hit 4 home runs against us while he played for the Little Rock "Travelers" on his way up to Philadelphia. And I mentioned "Boog" Powell - ther must have been many others lost to my memory. We had Don Clendennon, Al McBean, and Gene Alley (later to become the Yankees GM), And long tall Tom Cheney who spent a short time in Columbus and later struck out a record 21 batters in a nine inning major league game with the Washington Senators. And there was as I mentioed above, Willie Stragell - perhaps the most notable "Jet" of all.

I beleive the stadium was first named "Red Bird Stadium" - home of the "Red Birds" - farm club to the  St. Louis Cardinals. It did not become Jet Stadium until later when they became the Pittsburgh AAA affiliate. The name came from the detachment of Air Force Jets stationed at Lockbourne AFB sometime in the fifties or sixties. I remember hearing former catcher (and long time announcer) Joe Garagiola describing his renting a basement room with a family in Columbus, while he played for the Red Birds in his early years before reaching the Majors.

I also recall hundreds of days and nights listening to the voice of the Jets, Joe Hill, broadcasting the games on WMNI. A neighbor of ours was a program manager up at WMNI and he sort of burst my bubble when he explained to me that Joe was not atually at those "away" games, but rather, he was reading a tele-type feed as it came over the wire. He read the results as if he were announcing a live game and actually played a feint background recording of some crowd noise. And he could raise and lower the volume to add a sense of reality. Listening to the "away" games was never the same for me after that. At times you could hear the clicking of the tele-type in the background. 

Joe had a long-time reationship with many of the regular fans at Jet stadium. Does anyone remember his frequent mention of a lady named "Aunt Mary Longmier, who would boil a big pot of spaghetti for fans as they tailgated in the parking lot. And when someone hit a deep home run out into the parking lot, Joe would yell "Spaghetti water Mary"

(kinda reminds me of hearing Jimmy Crum yell "Katie bar the door" )

For those of you who may have been away from Columbus for a long time, the City has a very nice "new" (maybe 12 years now) minor league baseball stadium, located right off downtown in the  "Arena District" just a block or two from the "Blue Jackets" ice arena - almsot exactly where the "Old Pen" (penitentiary) used to be. I have wanted to go to a "Clippers" game for some time now at "Huntngton Park". It seats about 10,000 and I beleive it also has some open seating in outfiled "picknick" areas. And they are no longer a Yankee franchise. They are now the Cleveland Indians AAA affilliate. 

David Mitchell

This baseball talk just brought another intriguing "Jets" memory to mind. 

I remember a Jets game or two with the Havanna "Sugar Kings". But sometime in mid season of 1960, they suddenly became the New Jersey "Jerseys". It was a mystery to me (at th time), and I did not get a full understaading until years later.

The Sugar Kings had an "International League" AAA franchise from about 1956 to this time in July of 1960. Castro had taken over Cuba and there was talk of promising the Cubans a major league franchise in the future.

But the situation was fragile politically, and on the night of a game in July of 1960, the Rochester Red Birds were in Havanna for a series. It was a date of celebration for the "revolution" and a special short exhibition game was to preceed the real game. The first 2-inning game featured all political and military figures and the crowd began celebrating wildly. Gunfire erupted both inside and outside the stadium. A falling bullet landed on the Red Birds manager and one other player. The manager immedaitely pulled his team off the field and the team flew home to Rochester the next day.  The next thing I knew was that the Cuban team had left Cuba, and they had reconstituted tthe franchise to be called the "Jersey City Jerseys". I recall at the time I was sort of confused, but finally got a better understanding years later.

(NOTE: I think it was not long after that we had a new classmate at OLP - about 5th grade.  Her name was Elena Colunga, one of the most interesting and inspiring people I have ever met. I wish I could go back and visit with her now about those early days moving to America and living with the Seidel family.) 

Oh, by the way, the pitcher for the "Government team" in that short exibition game was the guy on the left;

Joseph D. McCarthy

No Mike your mind isn't fuzzy, it just needs to be processed through a wringer once and a while.

DISCLAIMER:   I don't think they would have allowed me near East North Broadway.  

And NO, although I visited East North Broadway a bit, I grew up in the (former) St. Christopher parish.  Lived on Virginia Avenue by the Kingswood School until 1964 when we moved into a place in Grandview near Summit Chase.  We were indirectly Neighbors of John Glen.

Joe

Michael McLeod

Ok.

I think we did have a McCarthy family on our block.

But obviously they were the high-end McCarthy family.

Not the felonious, drunken, institutionalized, shanty-Irish McCarthy family. 

Joseph D. McCarthy

Dear Mr. McLeod,

Before you start teaching and writing you should have spent at least a few years as a Reporter.  They are the ones who dig for the facts before doing a story.  Instead you just made assumptions.

I am Ukranian.  My Mother's parents were both born in the Ukranine and came to the states approximately 100 years ago (ERGO 50% Ukranian).  My Mother was born in Detroit, MI; as were I and my two brothers.

My Father was born in Canada, the Son of an Irish-American (New York City) Father (my grandfather) and an English-Canadian Mother.  Ergo again, I am 25% English and 25% a a former stumbling drunk low class person.

So there you scullywag.

Your's Truly,

Joe

P.S.  If we can't have fun what good is it being locked up. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Joe, 

Excellent point! Having fun is of utmost importance when we are all pretty much staying at home. That is a good topic for us to discuss. What are we doing to have fun?

We are running out of Netflix and Hallmark movies and the sitcoms of today are insipid! I await the mail daily as if something other than mattress ads was going to arrive. It came late today and as I walked out to retrieve it I was met by three adult does playing in the snow under the watchful eye of a well antlered buck. I talked with them for a few minutes but received no intelligent answers. I looked through the New England Journal of Medicine... surprise!, more on COVID! I shoveled more snow after it stopped falling, got the walk and driveway all cleared. Sat down with some coffee, looked out and it was snowing again. Good! Something to do tomorrow!

Have fun, 

Jim 

David Mitchell

Hey Guys,

Don't forget Amazon's Disease.

It's more fun than just throwing your money away. And then you get an excuse to get out of the house when you have to take it back to your nearest Amazon return center. The guys at my local UPS Store just love seeing me every week.

Search - click once - click twice - wait on the front porch. 

Repeat.

(you would never believe how many varieties of small canvas tool bags there are - or custom made left-handed garden trowels, or egg warmers with pictures of giraffes on them - life is beautiful?) 

Michael McLeod

Joe:

My apologies.

I will now apply my well honed journalistic skill to digging up some Ukranian-themed ethnic slurs, insults, and jokes in very poor taste I can use to attack and entertain you. I could go the Canadian route but that's too easy.

Here's one for starters:

 Did you hear about the Ukrainian who wore two jackets when she painted the house? The instructions on the can said: “Put on two coats.”

Michael McLeod

I'll also have a go on Jim's suggestion that we weigh in on how we are having fun during this time of being mandated shut-ins.

I read online newspapers and magazines voraciously; watch movies on netflix and hulu on my laptop (I don't have a television in my house - haven't for years); teach a writing class on line; write stories for three local publications; have dinner every sunday with my girlfriend and her lovely, brilliant daughter; walk out into my backyard to watch the Florida sun set, tinker with my flowers and trees, and clean the pool; watch my girlfriend paint and redecorate the guest bedroom because she believed she would do a much better job than I would and she is right; go to her house every evening to massage her back and neck and console her for working long long long extra hours, pretty much 12 hour days six days a week because of how complicated it is to teach grade school children on line and she is far too dedicated to cut back on quality so she drives herself mercilessly (her Christmas tree is still up - that's how harried she is and how long the hours are); and visit with my son, who is a server at a very nice restaurant down here. Some of that is work but even the work has a fun side to it.  Basically I am staying very busy while in close contact with only three other people, all of whom are as meticulous as I am about wearing masks and keeping safe. We never go out. When I visit with my son it is outdoors and with masks on because he is in a high-contact job. Pretty sure, just judging by his symptoms, that he has already had covid; he recovered in about a week.

All this sounds more hectic than it is. I sleep late. When I awake I lie in bed just feeling -- ok this is going to sound creepy but it's not -- I lie in bed just feeling my body. Whatever that hormone is that overtakes you when you sleep, it's good shit. If you don't move and just lie there, it's a kind of a soothing high or more like a a natural sedative, which I guess in fact it is, in every square inch of your torso. A little like the buzz you get from pot, not that I remember those days very clearly. And I don't know about you but I swear I never paid any attention to this natural phenomenon when I was preoccupied with responsibilities and popping up to an alarm clock to rush off to work. I really felt a sense of discovery the first time I woke up and just lay there, not worrying about what I had to do that day but just thinking: "ooh. This is nice. Think I'll just stay here for a while. "

David Mitchell

Mike and Jim,

For fun,,,,,,,,,,I read this doggone Forum - - every - - damn - - -day! 

Man is that ever fun?

And I watch a bit of PBS - especially Masterpiece Theater  - and especially the new "All Creatures Great and Small"

I pretend to be a woodworker and fiddle with a few woodworking ideas. Moslty just spend time walking the aisles at Lowe's and Home Depot. And nights watching YouTube videos about woodworking, or cooking, or sailing, or photography. 

But Mike, if you need a break, I will be happy to come over and rub your girlfriend's back for you. I'm only about 5 hours away. 

Michael McLeod

sorry you didn't get a chance to meet her when you visited me dave. you mighta had the chance to learn a couple things you obviously missed in grade school.

Joseph D. McCarthy

Mr. McLeod,  may I give you the first warning.  My Grandfather (Irish) was a sparing partner with John L. Sullivan.   But first a little story from out west.

There was a rancher from Coloradot who had just picked up a new hired hand and were travelig in a carriage to the rancher's ranch in a snow storm.  After about a half hour the horse stumbled and went down.  The rancher quickly got down and helped the horse back on it's feet.  Then said, Thats one.  They continued on their way and after another twenty minutes the horse stumbled and fell down again.  The rancher quickly jumped down and again helped the horse to it's feet.  The hired hand heard him say that's Two to the horse before he got back in the carriage.  The hired hand thought to himself that the rancher was a terrific person for how he helped the horse.  Just as they were getting to the ranch the horse stumbled and went down.  The rancher got outof the carriage, walked to the horse.  Pulled out his gun and shot the horse; and said, that was Three.  The new hired hand looked amazed and said "why'd you do that?"  To which the rancher said "THAT'S ONE."

Joe

John Schaeufele

For fun I have been cleaning out old files and organizing things I want to keep.  Here's something I found from 8th grade graduation at OLP.  A classmate insisted that I share.  I recognize most of the names except for one character who signed as "Mave Ditchell."  Can anyone help unravel this?  Sorry I did not get more names.

David Mitchell

Busted!

Mary Clare Hummer (Bauer)

A+ handwriting, all you Peace boys. You can tell your penmanship classes were efforts in perfection. (And taught by nuns!!!) 

Clare 
 

David Barbour

Joe McCarthy, sir, did you order your Pliny the Younger yet?  If not, too late, they sold out in 5 minutes!

Maybe next year.  ( per SFGate)

DB

David Mitchell

Clare,

I don't think anybody on that list would have made it through Medical School. Once they realized you wrote legibly they'd kick you out.  

I think our Dominican Sisters used the "Palmer Method" - or was it the "Zaner-Bloser Method"?

It actually saddens me that my grandkids will never learn to "write" right. Does anybody know if that is a copout by the teachers unions or is there some other reason? 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Clare,

 The nuns did do a great job not only teaching penmanship but also the basics of sentence structure in the English language. By the way, did you notice all the upper case "D's" in those autographs were perfect and virtually identical?

 Dave,

 Those with good penmanship did get into medical school. The truth is that in many cases, mine included, med school RUINED penmanship. At least in the pre-computer and tablet days. (If needed I'll explain.)

Jim 

Michael McLeod

A customer asks, "In what aisle will I find the Ukrainian sausage?"

The clerk asks, "Are you Ukrainian?"

The guy says, "Yes I am. But if I had asked for Italian sausage, would you ask me if I was Italian? Or if I had asked for German Bratwurst, would you ask me if I was German? Or if I asked for a kosher hot dog would you ask me if I was Jewish? Or if I had asked for a Taco, would you ask if I was Mexican?"

The clerk says, "No, I probably wouldn't."

The guy says, "So why did you ask me if I’m Ukrainian?"

The clerk says, "You're in Home Depot."

John Jackson

My favorite ethnic joke:

A (choose one - Mick, Polack, Kraut, Ukrainian, etc) is walking down the street and a sketchy guy approaches him and whispers “Would you like to buy some pornography?”  To which the Mick, Polack, etc replies “Won’t do me any good – I don’t even own a pornograph!”