Sports is like a religion in Philly

Philadelphia got an early "Cliffmas" gift. Shall we all sing Carlos?

I'm a Phanatic.

Fly! Eagles, Fly!

I work with three women who live in New Jersey. Two have lived there all their lives, one grew up in Philly, and now lives there. Only one of the lifers is a Giants fan, the other two: Eagles Fans. I (appreciatively) call the Giants' fan "hard-boiled." And I still think it's funny that no one in our office has given her an grief over the Giants' loss to the Eagles last weekend. In fact, no one has even mentioned it in more than hushed tones. [Everyone remembers that I work in a silent office, right?]

Anyways, last weekend's game reminded me of a discussion I got into with a Red Sox fan over New Years. See, he grew up in Worcester, and I grew up outside of Hartford, CT. I know he thinks less of me now, because of my former baseball allegiance (Yankees), but, you people need to understand how it is growing up right smack dab in the middle of Major Sports Rivalries. I'm not gonna cry you a river, I'm just saying. So, I will lay my soul bare, and show you who I supported THEN, and who I support NOW, and I will feel better. You all can do with this information what you will.

THEN:
Baseball: Yankees (Lou Pinella & Reggie Jackson* were my idols - I was an outfielder in softball)
Hockey: Whalers
Basketball: UConn
Football: I didn't watch much back then, but I guess the Pats, though legend has it that my granddad was a Packers fan...

NOW:
Baseball: Phillies
Hockey: Flyers
Basketball: Sixers
Football: Eagles; The founder of the team named them after FDR's "Blue Eagle" program (National Recovery Act - not that other NRA).

It sorta makes it easier when you live in a huge sports market. And when we get our yet-to-be-named professional Soccer team, I will support it AND continue to ogle all the hot soccer players from around the world, an excellent fringe benefit of watching that particular sport.


Well, now we're moving on in the Playoffs, and I'm just hoping we can get past the Cardinals. I worry about the Eagles a lot. I couldn't actually stay IN the room while the game was on last weekend. Only at half time did I go in and watch the highlights from the first half. And then again, at the 2 minute warning in the second half, I felt it was OK to watch. I guess I'm superstitious like that.

"Fly Eagles Fly" EAGLES Fight Song

Fly Eagles Fly, On The Road To Victory.
Fight Eagles Fight, Score A Touchdown 1-2-3.

Hit 'Em Low.
Hit 'Em High.
And We'll Watch Our Eagles Fly.

Fly Eagles Fly, On The Road To Victory.

E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!!!

* TANGENT: Speaking of Reggie Jackson, I know many people remember him for his career in Oakland, playing for the A's. Now, this is another team I have a sentimental attachment to. The A's started out in Philadelphia, as the Athletics, based in Connie Mack stadium, from what I gather. And then they moved to Oakland, via Kansas City. Oakland is also a port town, and I just love ports: cranes, water, logistics, and sailors(!) When Angie lived out there, she really got into the A's and her enthusiasm sort of swept over to me.

And then, there's the Raiders fans. [sigh] I LOVE the Raiders fans or "Raider Nation". They remind me of Eagles fans, but MORE-SO. They are So Over the Top that you just gotta love them. And the whole "Chucky" riff - made me laugh!

Hunter S. Thompson, a Raider fan in the last years of his life, wrote,

"The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled."

Brief Round Up - Happy Thanksgiving!

An excellent image of my favorite female saint, Mary Magdalene, from Idle Speculations.

"I'm not One of Those Christians," one more reason you gotta love the Onion.

And in case you missed it, the spontaneous Obama love in West Philly the night of the election.

Josiah and I got to meet the Finnish Flyers last night, including Ossi Vaananen (he's so cute!). The Finnish Ambassador was there, AND the Flyers won! So cool!

Hallelujah! Obama might nix Daylight Savings Time!!! Wohoo!

Green house design via Huff Po

Linguistic diversity matters just as much as biodiversity.

A great idea! Solar panels on cemetery in Spain.

So, in the spirit of thanksgiving, I will say, thank you for reading, and visiting my blog. And thank you, God, for all the blessings of this life. I'll share my favorite (easy to remember!) table grace with you all:

God is Great
God is Good
Let us Thank God for our food, Amen.

Election Day Survival Tools - GO VOTE!

One way to make it through Election night: watch the map -



PLUS - some info if you need it:

Election 2008 Voting Information

Today, November 4th, is Election Day! Remember to vote—not just for Barack Obama, but for Congressional, state, and local candidates as well.
Where and when do I vote?

Find your polling place, voting times, and other important information by checking out these sites and the hotline below. These resources are good, but not perfect. To be doubly sure, you can also contact your local elections office.

* Obama's VoteForChange site: voteforchange.com
* League of Women Voters' site: vote411.org/pollfinder.php
* Obama's voter hotline: 877-US4-OBAMA (877-874-6226)

What should I do before I go?

* After you've entered your address on either Vote For Change or Vote411, read the voting instructions and special rules for your state.
* Voting ID laws vary from state to state, but if you have ID, bring it.
* Check out all the voting myths and misinformation to look out for: http://truth.voteforchange.com/

What if something goes wrong?

* Not on the voter list? Make sure you're at the right polling place, then demand a provisional ballot.
* If you're voting on an electronic machine with a paper record, verify that the record is accurate.
* Need legal help? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
* Try to get video of the problem and submit it to VideoTheVote.org

Want to do more?

* Text all of your friends: "Vote Obama today! Pass it on!"
* Volunteer at your local Obama office. Find an office here or here.

Now everybody go vote!!!

There's an article in the NYT about Angie's polling place - Prospect Heights. We're doing this, people.

And back here in Philly, last night, Jimmy Rollins was stumping for Obama-Biden, check it out:



And then from Gawker, we have a great election/fashion themed article, complete with video from the interview (click through). Pants up? There's HOPE! "Youth to Pull Up Pants for Obama!

Barack Obama did an interview with yesterday with Sway, MTV's official friendly ambassador from the land of hip hop. A viewer asked him about towns that try to pass laws banning baggy pants. First Obama said those laws are a "waste of time." But then he added, "brothers should pull up your pants!" Is Barack Obama a fashion icon, or your grumpy old dad—or is he both?!?! [UPDATE: Clip of the interview here]:

Weekly Blog Round-Up

WAY TO GO PHILLIES!!!!! World Series Champs!

Water rights, and the Atlas of Hidden water, from bldgblog.

How to get through the next few days w/out losing my mind from 23/6.

Whoa. Sarah Palin's nightmare has already arrived under Bush, from Boing Boing.

And Emerging Pensees sums up my feelings about the stock market/mortgage dominance from the past few years:

I also especially liked Zachary Karabell's article about the end of the "ownership society", which reminds us that homeownership alone will not create a healthier society - we also have to make sure we're protecting workers. For instance, he says:

In the United States, the shift away from corporate pensions to 401(k) Individual Retirement Accounts plunged millions more into the equity markets and loosened the traditional connection between companies and workers, which was one element of that 1950s dream that conservatives such as Bush conveniently forgot. The ownership society of the 1950s was anchored by a labor movement that made sure that workers received something resembling their share—remember Truman's Fair Deal? The deal for the past eight years has been fair to merchants of capital, and then some, but to the tens of millions on the receiving rather than originating end of those mortgages, fairness has been in short supply.
from:

"Incursions" into Syria. This isn't good. From the CSM. Is this the October Surprise?

BEAUTIFUL paintings of Native Americans, from Art Blog by Bob.

Sarah Palin's use of language painting a dangerous portrait of Obama that is just plain WRONG, from Boing Boing.

A GREAT New Yorker article about the differing views of pre-marital sex between "red staters and blue staters."

Gotta love David Sedaris on the "Undecideds," again, from the New Yorker.

This chaplain article, from the NYT, along with my recent experience with my grandmother in the nursing home, is increasing my interest in becoming a chaplain. I have more investigating to do.

Sam the Scab's comments on Obama's support of Israel, and SURPRISE, a Fox "News" reporter doing the right thing! from the Huffington Post.

Colin Powell busts a move. How did I miss this??

YAY Phillies! FINALLY!

Way to go, Phillies! We love you. Josiah is going to the parade!

Weekly Blog Round-Up

In case you live under a rock, or NOT in Philadelphia, the Phillies are going to the World Series! Yay Phils! We love you!

Here's an open letter to incoming President on US food policy by Michael Pollan (9 pages!). It's long, but so important!

Just watched Shanghai Noon again last night. I hope Owen Wilson is feeling better. He is such a great comedian. In a related vein, I also hope Heather Locklear feels better too. All in all, depression SUCKS.

More great religious art at Idle Speculations. Thanks, Terry!

Check out this rolling ball of fish - it's a new concept in fish farming and looks pretty cool too

How cool is your congregation?? You could win $5,000!

Sarah Palin's White House. Better with sound ON.

Finally - calling fear-mongering by its name!

Amazing - and creepy photo of McCain that has made the rounds.

A million photos of British Isles. Found on Boing Boing.

A v. moving post about what we are voting for - right on! - from Sirens Chronicles.


Joe.My.God linked to this NYT story, and commented that as a kid he wished he could have gone on the QE2. As a kid, I DID go on the it, and maybe it was because I was 6, and too young to appreciate it, but, the experience was lost on me. There really wasn't anything for kids to do. The funnest part for me and my sister was to press the steward/stewardess buzzers when my parents went out to dinner at night. By the time they got back, all the stews were hanging out in our room. Angie was freaked out by the porthole.

I love Aboriginal Art.

And have I mentioned how much I ALSO love, Rob Brezsny?? My horoscope this week:

In medieval Europe, more resources and human ingenuity were lavished upon cathedrals and churches than on any other buildings. In the last hundred years, the emphasis has been different, having switched to the towering structures that house institutions dedicated to commerce. By that measure, Money is a far more important God than God. During the next few weeks, Pisces, I invite you to buck the modern trend. As an experiment, see if you can devote at least one more percent of your energy and intelligence to matters of the spirit and soul than to the demands of the material realm. I suspect you'll find, ironically, that this will lead to an increase of your mastery over the material realm.

Saturday Night's Flyers' Game

So, what should the Flyers fans do? Answer the poll (on the right) and tell me what you think!

This is making lots of news here in Philly, and pretty much everyone agrees it's a dicey proposition on the part of her campaign. We'll see. I mean, we are the "Home of the Boo-Birds!"

Incommunicado

Sorry folks, needed to take a brief hiatus, but I hope to be back on the blogging track now. Some events in my life contributing to my lack of blog posts:

1) I just created a "Women For Obama" fundraising site! Please go check it out.
2) I became a Godmother to beautiful William, new son of Lakshmi and Sam. I am THRILLED!
3) A friend of mine just signed up for the National Guard and I am terrified that he will be shipped overseas, but I'm trying to be supportive. I gave him a milagro for protection - I certainly hope it works. Maybe when he's done with his service, he can leave it in a shrine somewhere.
4) My granny had a stroke and is now in a nursing home. I went to visit her in Minneapolis (during State Fair time, so I swung by for some roasted corn, a corn dog, and a milkshake from the dairy barn. Dag, they aren't kidding about how awesome the food is there!) She's doing OK, but it's a little shocking to see someone who has always acted like someone 2/3 her age, acting 98, finally.
5) I interviewed yesterday...
6) The girls won us over and we got a cat - they named her Grace, and she's beautiful. We got her from PAWS.
7) And then there's the Phillies....

So that's what's going on for me. I haven't even been checking my bloglines recently to be able to comment on all the excellent religious art that has been passing me by... If you see something you think I'd like, please let me know!

Ciao

US Men's Water Polo! Woo Hoo!

Awesome! The US Men's Water Polo team is going to play for gold! I am so stoked!

P.S. I still think the coach looks like Will Ferrell.

Life in the City

I just love Gustave Caillebotte! I saw this image on Bob's Art Blog - Thanks Bob! - and just had to share.

It's hard to keep up with blogging, life, the Olympics and a sick granny (please send her good thoughts!). So, I'll post when I can.

Ciao, folks!

'Nuff Said

[disclaimer: I h@te Tom Friedman]

But this is a good article. Maybe someone else will notice.

Olympics!!! WooHoo

This photo took me a while to understand. Weird eh?

I am totally enthralled by the Olympics right now... and the Track & Field events haven't even started yet!

Back into the Tour

I'm back from vacation. We went camping and hiking and swimming and cherry-picking. Just fantastic.

We left on the day of the Euro Cup final (still don't know who won!) [OK! now I do!] and came back to the beginning of the Tour de France. Last night Versus showed the end of Stage 3 pulling into Nantes, which was exciting. I stayed up to watch the end! P.S. Bob Roll is awesome.

This photo (from the BBC) reminds me of the scene in Amelie when she finds the boy's secret box of stuff and there's a flash back to him playing with a little set of riders just like this one. It must be v. popular in France. I wish I could be there. The images from Brittany were amazing - rain and all!

Nice to be back blogging.

The Answer

He was back in town last night. And watching him give his press conference made me realize how much I missed him. He was so great for Philadelphia. And I'm glad our rambunctious fans are as explicit in showing their love as they are in their disgust. I thought it was a great coincidence too that the Nuggets' uniforms were the old-school Philadelphia "blue & gold." It gave me a nice warm feeling. Thanks, AI. We love you!

Go Phillies!

I'm wearing red today! The school kids in Philadelphia had a relaxed uniform today so they could wear red & white to school.

It's amazing, because those are the same colors of the Welsh Rugby team. When I was in Kindergarten in Lampeter, Wales, all the kids wore red and white when they were in, AND WON the championship game. It was pandemonium!

Here in Philly, we're hoping for a trip to the World Series. It's a city full of optimistic dreamers, and we're used to being let down.... But maybe, just maybe, this time, we can pull it off! I just hope Jimmy Rollins' SI cover won't be the jinx that does it.