Bronxie the Turtle

 

News just in that the NY Yankees end-of-season push for a wild card is not on the back of Stantonian home runs (over the Green Monster and out of the park) or the Kraken kracking one. But Gio Urshela's the most happy fella, (for more John Sterling-isms present and past see here and here) because a sweep of the BoSox at Fenway with just 6 more games to go means that there may be a post-season yet in 2021. And the reason it is all happening, according to Sam Borden at ESPN, is that the players have acquired a pet, one Bronxie the Turtle. For details, the article is here.

The power of mascots & superstition is not to be underestimated in sport. I know on occasion I have doomed my beloved team by wearing the wrong shirt or taking a different route to the stadium or watching them instead of going to synagogue.

Yankees veteran Brett Gardner said before the final game at Fenway, "Lucky charm, whatever you want to call it; I know a lot of guys believe there's a connection here. At the end of it, it would be great if we could go out and get him a little World Series ring."

Let's go Yankees!

100 Years Ago Today

One hundred years ago today my father's first cousin Ellen was born. Several years ago, when I visited her in LA, she shared some childhood photos with me, as well as her memories of my father's home in Berlin. I also loved hearing stories about her experiences on Hollywood sets, and remember how thrilled she was when her home was scouted as a location for a Coen Brothers movie.

This is what her family shared about her life in the Cottage Grove Sentinel in 2013:

"As a Jewish girl, Ellen had a scary adolescence under the Nazis. She and her parents barely managed to escape Germany, arriving in New York by ship on Aug. 11, 1939. (Her videotaped memories of Berlin, and of relatives who perished, ar din Steven Spielberg's Shoah project on Holocaust history.)

Ellen went to Reno and then Los Angeles, where she worked at a bank and married Ben Kilston on June 7, 1942. Ben passed away on June 12,1991.

Ellen realised a childhood dream of acting in the movies, meeting Cary Grant, Marlene Dietrich, Barbara Stanwyck and many other famous stars. She eventually got to return to school, earning her A.A. at Santa Monica College. She gave German lessons through Berlitz and was a receptionist. Ellen traveled extensively and loved parties and to sing and dance, with great spirit."

Chag Succot Sameach

Our windowsill is too small for a succah, although it is hosting a couple of hardy plants at the moment. And although we shall not therefore be able to eat our home meals in a succah, I can report that the rain that always arrives on this festival is heading our way. The dark night sky is being lit up by sheet lightning, and the thunder grows louder and closer to the flashes.

Here is a pic of ravaj in a succah, alongside ravah, Elizabeth Taylor and a.n.other. It is a rare occasion to be seen holding a doll (I think we later sacrificed her at the bottom of the garden). But behind us is a beautiful succah. Chag sameach, and may it not rain in your soup.

Battersea Power Station Station

In this archival photo from 19 years ago we see Piglet stranded on the north side of the river, yearning to visit Battersea Power Station.

Thanks to TfL, such situations are no longer a problem! The new Northern Line extension from Kennington to Nine Elms & Battersea Power Station opened today. The big question now of course is, since the name of the station is "Battersea Power Station", will we be referring to it as Battersea Power Station station?

Jimmy Greaves RIP

One of the less happy exports to Italy but certainly one of England's greatest ever forwards and goalscorer. Jimmy Greaves has died. His playing career came to an end just before I became interested in football as a child, and I got to know him through his work as a pundit and from various video clips. I may not always have agreed with his perspective, but I usually enjoyed his presentation. My condolences to his loved ones and friends, and may he rest in peace.

BBC obituary

Tottenham Hotspur tribute

Daily Mail report

the Times obit (subscription necessary)

Coverage in the Guardian includes:

a video obit

obituary

a life in pictures

a blog post by Richard Williams including this comment:  "No one ever came up with a better phrase to describe Greaves's dominant characteristic than the late football writer John Moynihan, after watching Tottenham Hotspur play Slovan Bratislava in the quarter-final of the old European Cup Winners' Cup under the White Hart Lane floodlights on a spring night in 1963. Spurs won 6-0, 6-2 on aggregate, and Greaves scores with what Moynihan described as 'devastating nonchalance'."

Patrick Ewing is Quite Tall

A final piece of seasonal procrastination:

Tall people do not run in my family. My father ran (he could do a mile in 4:30 in the early 1940's, and was a state champion of Mississippi  in longer distances), but he was only 5 ft 8 ins (176 cm) tall. I am the tallest woman in my family at 5 ft 5, although I suspect by now my niece has taken that crown. 

Once upon a time when I lived in Toronto, a kind congregant gave me courtside seats for the Knicks game. I was a little late getting there, and just as I was crossing the court, the national anthems were played and I had to stand still. I found myself standing right next to Patrick Ewing. I just looked it up and he is 7 ft tall (213 cm). I looked up at him and he was so tall. So very tall. I had never before been that close to someone that tall. I didn't yet know the words to the Canadian anthem, so  instead of singing along, I admired Patrick Ewing.

It would certainly be nice to be a bit taller, able to reach for things on the top shelves instead of looking for someone to help me in the supermarket (or trying by myself and ending up buried in a pile of boxes on the floor), able to see what's going on up front and, of course, reducing my BMI measurement. But hey, if I'd have any interest in them, I'm tall enough to be allowed on all the rides at the amusement park; and it's easier to get lost in a crowd if I'm on the run. Not that I am a runner. That is something of my father that passed me by. I prefer buses. Preferably old Routemasters.

Ok, ok, back to work. Go Knicks!

A Virtuous Circle?

How is it that I've known the phrase "a vicious circle" for as long as I can remember, yet it was only in the last week that the concept of "a virtuous circle" became known to me?

There I was, translating a business web page for an IT company, and I had to go look up the phrase, because it was so far from my consciousness that I couldn't even work it out for myself (I was missing the exponential element).

And then, being in the midst of the Yamim Noraim, it seemed no coincidence that this should appear to me now. What do I need to do to create virtuous circles this year? What actions will increase the beneficial effect on the next ones?

Wishing all those who will be fasting an easy one. G'mar chatimah tovah.

Nina Nina Nina

 

Nina Conti has a show on at the moment but since we are in a different country, we can't quite get there this time. I've been a fan for quite a while, and an Insta prompt for her latest presentation sent me in search of past memories. 

1. It turns out that this is how I first discovered her existence.

2. When I was unwell for a few weeks in Waltham, my flatmate got me a book on ventriloquism from the library, and I got to the end of chapter 1 before I had to give it back. I am still able to ventriloquize the sentence that I learned:  very few folk enjoy the view.

3. According to a chap called Ken Campbell, the perfect practice sentence for a ventriloquist is:  Who dared to put wet fruit bat poo in our dead mummy's bed; was that you, Verity?

4. This. (Warning - adult language from Monkey)

Emma Raducanu Wins!

Quite an evening for emotions and blood pressure. The main story was, of course, the 18-year-old Brit who came through the qualifying rounds to win a Grand Slam tennis tournament without even losing a set. Emma Raducanu's journey is incredible, but it happened. And it was a pretty good match as well.

And all this after my beloved R's came back from 1-3 down to grab a draw in injury time away to the Fake Hoops. What a great sporting day!

Final word, though, is for Emma, who is surely a shoo-in now for SPOTY. Brava!

Remembering 9/11 at the Pentagon and in PA Too

It is hard to believe it's already 20 years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I've been reading the stories of survivors and others who were present. Terrible memories of terrible days. As someone who was living in Virginia at that time, it always bugs me that most references to these events seem to focus solely on the Twin Towers. I just googled images of "What happened on 9/11?", and there were 175 photos before showing anywhere other than NYC. There was even an image of the last President before one of any place other than NYC (the field near Shanksville PA). Those who died at the Pentagon and the passengers & crew on board UA flight 93 deserve a greater share of the narrative. Their loved ones grieve no less than any others.

In loving memory of all the victims and responders who lost their lives, and sending love & strength to all who continue to mourn.

Shana Tova 5782!

Lior created this lovely image for our virtual card to celebrate the Jewish New Year of 5782. And I made bilingual versions in acknowledgement of my recent push to bring more Italian language into my mouth and mind.

In Need of Antacid Relief

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." This is a quote that has been popular for aeons. Many attribute it to Dale Carnegie, and apparently he credits someone called Julius Rosenwald for giving him the phrase. According to Wiki, it actually goes back to 1915 when it was used by Elbert Hubbard in an obituary not long before he went down with the Lusitania.

Whosoever coined the phrase, it is certainly a proactive response to difficult experiences. However, the cartoon shared here, which has gone viral in the circles that I inhabit, tells us that such a response only goes so far.

Sending sympathy and empathy to all who are overwhelmed. Wishing you the strength you need and, above all, hope.