Morning musings

Morning musings: I just got to work and for some reason gave some thought to what living in these times allowed as a morning’s entertainment – well often background entertainment.

I woke to the Goldberg Variation - did my sit-ups to the weather channel and sports center – rode the stationary bike while reading a great Alice Munro story - read the Globe comics, sports and editorial page over my cereal - read the Times Arts, Business and Sports on the bus listening to the Kronos Quartet play Bill Evans – switched to a Bach The Art of the Fugue on the train – while I read Modern Liberty by Charles Fried – listened to Lucinda Williams new CD while I walked to the office….. all before 9:00.

These activities were not possible even in one week not too long ago. TV, i-pods, alarm clock CD players, easy access to multiple newspapers, newly published books and CDs are all relatively new possibilities. I’ve probably listened to more of Bach that all the people who heard him in his life time.

Deep Ellem

No not the hip neighborhood in Dallas, this Deep Ellem is a new beer joint in Boston woth the trip.

Sandwich Joint

Sometimes you have to take time out from bitching about the bush administraion and its determination to murder innocent civilians, waste tax money , destroy our reputation in the world and carry on total disregard for our constitution and the rule of law and have a ...sandwich.

If you live in the greater Boston/Cambridge area you can go to the

All Star Sandwich Bar

This place lives up to its reputation. Go there.

Beer

This past weekend I attended two sessions of BeerAdvocate's Extreme Beer Fest in Boston.

The Friday evening wood barrel aged and the regular Saturday session. So why does a 60 something makeshift poet want to brave the truly winter elements two days in a row to drink two ounces sample of beers and ales with alcohol contents as high as 25% with 1,500 other people?

Because the beers were superb. The brewers have raised the level of taste and nuance way beyond my palate but still a worthy endeavour.

My Friend Roger English Died Last Night

I saw Rog in action before I knew him. He was trying to bring order (via Robert’s Rules of Order) to an unruly meeting of a fledgling lobbying effort – GSA drapery contractors VS FPI - in Washington. As you would expect he stood his ground.

I didn’t meet him until several years later when I joined ADM and of course our first meeting was over a “greasy spoon” breakfast the first of many shared meals. To say that Rog was the best thing about those five years would be true understatement. Not only did I learn a great deal that I will always value while sharing an office with him but he “had my back” always.

Rog defined the label “legendary trencherman”. I can (and will some day) fill pages with stories: the night in Houston after eating everything on the menu at Copeland’s, we stopped for a bag of hot dogs (4 for a dollar), unable to decide between pulled pork and brisket at a Chicago BBQ joint, he orders both with fries and the Milwaukee Ave. Polish deli’s “all you can eat” lunch (which in tribute started charging by the pound after Rog retired)

That Rog loved Joan, his children, grandchildren and cared about everybody will be my greatest remembrance. Knowing Roger English has been one of the pleasures of my life and I was proud to say of my years at ADM that my job was “to drive Roger English to lunch”.

Molly Ivins 1945 - 2007

On her treatment for breast cancer: “First they mutilate you; then they poison you; then they burn you,” she wrote. “I have been on blind dates better than that.”

On Texas: "I dearly love the state of Texas, but I consider that a harmless perversion on my part, and discuss it only with consenting adults."

Counsel: "Keep fighting for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't forget to have fun doin' it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce."