Unsolicited Advice to Those Who'd Honor Our Troops

Pentagon is paying sports teams honoring the troops;

Patriots got $700,000.00...  Oops.

That's not very patriotic, if you're asking me,

(Even though, I've heard, they let the Navy in for free.)

Shouldn't we be paying them when troops show up to sing,

Or when they unfurl the flag or fly some massive thing

Over our sports stadiums before we play a game?

Charging for the privilege to honor them is lame.

NFL and MLB, NBA, NHL

Ought to donate all that money - and some more, as well -

Put it in to causes that will really honor vets...
 (Wonder if it's cheaper to get honored by the Jets.)

Not Taunting... Gloating

(Courtesy of Only In Boston)

P-A-T-S... Pats, Pats, Pats just won against the Jets;

Game was very close (New England didn't cover bets.)

But, despite a fifth of all his passes being dropped,

Brady's proved he's on a mission and will not be stopped.

I won't use the "U" word that's been bandied here-abouts,

I know - in regards to sports gods - people have their doubts

But I, still, remain convinced the sports gods DO exist

And that cockiness is on their Thou Shalt Not Do list.

I'll just count my blessings, with Tom Brady being first.

Thank them for Bill Belichick and pray I haven't cursed

Us before the Dolphins game we're playing Thursday night...

Careful not to boast or make predictions as I write.

Go ahead and call me superstitious if you want

But prior experience has taught me not to taunt.

Still, the sports gods can't begrudge Pats' fans the right to gloat;

Even they must recognize Tom Brady is the GOAT.

Not Feeling The Bern

I would love to "Feel the Bern" but fear that I'm too old

And great age has taught me, Sanders' platform's much too bold

For a country as divided as the U.S. is;

There's no way to implement these grand reforms of his. 

Does he think that President Obama hasn't tried,

Only compromising to appease the other side?

Bully pulpit doesn't guarantee a bargain's struck.

What makes Bernie Sanders think that he'll have better luck?

'though there's little Bernie's said with which I disagree

All my years confer (along with an arthritic knee)

Just enough experience in politics to know

You can vote for hope and change but that won't make it so.

Kitchen Reno - Day 83. Getting Cranky

 

In the reno process, what I've come to hate the most

Is not knowing, day to day, if you'll be playing host

To someone who says they're coming and - then - doesn't show,

Leaving you to wonder if you should or shouldn't go...

Wouldn't want to miss them if they're only running late;

If you do, who knows how long you're gonna have to wait

'til they get around to you again.  So there you sit

On a perfect Autumn day... But, you are missing it.

You could be out playing golf, or at a country fair,

If they'd only let you know, for sure, you wouldn't care.

Just a call or text to say if they'll be in to work

So you're not left sitting, waiting, feeling like a jerk.

Kitchen Renovation - Day 70

Hallelujah! Thank you God (and Bob)...  I have a sink.

Fridge is making ice and filtered water we can drink.

I've been washing all the dirty dishes we've accrued,

Testing out the under-mounted seal that Top Line glued.

I've used paper plates so much I must've killed a grove.

Next, although it's greedy, I am praying for a stove.

Cooking on an outdoor grill's begun to lose its charm;

 I've now reached the stage where I'm prepared to trade an arm

Just to cook a meal indoors and not out in the rain...

Sorry.  I am also sick of hearing me complain.

I will just be happy that my sink has been installed -

And try to be patient 'til the electrician's called.

Congratulations Mr. Speaker

(Image and lyrics/Courtesy of Disney's Song of the South)

With Pope Francis' audience, and all his sins absolved,

Plus his resignation, Speaker Boehner's problem's solved.

Good for him...  I worried when his nerves began to fray.

Now, perhaps, he'll dry his eyes and wipe his tears away.

GOP is self-destructing. Who would want his job:

Trying to pass legislation with an angry mob,

Catering to bigots - because they're the ones who vote?

His relief caused Boehner to start singing, and I quote;

"Oh, zip a dee doo dah...  What a wonderful day."

Judging by his jaunty step, I think he'll be okay.

Now that it's the far right-wing who will control the Floor,

It's the rest of us whom I've begun to worry for.

Pardon the Rant

 Top Line Granite stocks a lot of very pretty slabs

But, if your decision where to shop is up for grabs,

I'd suggest you find another granite store to use;

They are not the place that I would recommend you choose.

Top Line didn't keep in touch; they don't return your call,

Couldn't get the Ceasarstone they'd promised to install,

Didn't send the templater my builder asked them to...

He was here three weeks ago and these guys still aren't through.

Poor Tom Brady

If you've ever doubted or were sitting on the fence,

Unsure whether football injures brains, more evidence

Surfaced when Tom Brady said he'd vote for Donald Trump...

Sacks on my poor quarterback did worse than leave a lump.

Only explanation I can find is CTE:

Chronic and traumatic brain encephalopathy.

If Tom hadn't been concussed, thus damaging his brain,

He would not support the Donald, 'cause that's just insane.

Donald Trump would make a truly, awful President

(Guess we know where hot air from deflated footballs went.) 

We can't blame Tom Brady - still the greatest of all time -

But, what football does to players' brains should be a crime.

#IStandWithAhmed

Freshman, from MacArthur High in Texas, built a clock.

Showed it to his teachers who, to that poor freshman's shock,

Called police, believing that he'd brought a bomb to school.

Ahmed was interrogated, all because some fool

Couldn't tell a nerdy kid apart from terrorists.

So, in NASA tee-shirt and with hand-cuffs on his wrists,

Five cops took Ahmed Mohamed off to Juvie Hall

Where, at last, they let the kid give mom and dad a call.

He's still facing charges but he's home...  Not in a cell.

'though the school's suspended him, perhaps it's just as well;

Doesn't sound as if they've got a lot to offer him...

Faculty has demonstrated that they're rather dim.

Kitchen Renovation - Day 56

I think I've been patient but my patience just ran out...

Two months now without a sink and I've begun to doubt

That our kitchen renovation's ever getting done.

Trust me when I say this process isn't any fun.

No one but our great designer (God bless Lisa Green)

Seems to care how long it's been or how I'm gonna clean

Pots and pans and cutting boards in my small, bathroom sink...

With no stove, preparing meals is harder than you'd think.

Still, I've tried to make it work with paper cups and plates,

Tripping over boxes and appliances in crates,

Waiting for our countertops... Then, yesterday, I heard

They won't be arriving here until the 23rd.

"Just a couple days," they said.  Yet, that will make 19.

And, although I wanted to, I didn't make a scene...

But I'd recommend you undergo a change of heart

If you've been considering a renovation start.

All We Are Saying - The Iran Deal

(Courtesy of Steve Sack/www.cagle.com)

Watch for all the posturing that we are bound to see;

Congress members covering their butts politically

When a vote that's veto proof for dealing with Iran

Comes up, though not one of them has got a better plan.

They'll make lots of empty threats about what they would do

If they'd been negotiating, arguing, in lieu

Of agreement with the Russians, Chinese, Germans, Brits

They'd have made Iran comply or blown the place to bits.

I, for one, prefer that we should take a chance on peace

Hoping that, in 10 years time, Iran will choose to cease

Working towards a weapon but, until somebody tries,

We miss any chance to forge a lasting compromise.

The New England Patriots... Whatever.

Looks as if the secret's out on how the Pats prepare

For opposing football teams... Our strategy's unfair:

Make the other coaches paranoid enough they'll think

There's a reason why they got warm Gatorade to drink.

Keep them busy sweeping rooms in case we've planted bugs,

Certain that, if head-sets fail, it's 'cause we've yanked the plugs,

Worried when a fan is taping their team at a game...

Belichick's the Hooded One opponents dare not name.

Critics say New England cheats; they say we break the rules,

Claiming it's the reason why we make them look like fools.

Poor New England cannot win - except for on the field -

Since the haters hide behind the NFL's own shield...

Casting slings and arrows, rumors, allegations - mud

While football's Commissioner is pulling on his pud.

Go ahead.  Suspect us of a myriad of sins

But our crime is, mostly, that New England often wins. 

Shame On U.S.

 

I can't help but be ashamed we haven't done our part

Taking in more refugees from wars they didn't start.

People fleeing terrorism, bombings, drone-strikes - death.

U.S. should be helping more...  I wouldn't hold my breath.

Even though the chaos in the region can be traced

Back to wars we started, that's a fact we haven't faced.

We have a responsibility.  Don't like it? Tough.

Yes we send a lot of AID but that is not enough.

Less than fifteen hundred refugees accepted here.

Europe's seen 360,000 just this year.

U.S. must take its fair share of desperate people, too.

Short of war - again - it is the least that we can do.

Judge Berman for President

Fans can just ignore what all the haters have to say,

Patriots were vindicated...  Brady gets to play.

Judge has ruled the NFL's behavior wasn't fair,

Siding with New England and Tom Brady's case. So there!

His impartial ruling found that four games were too much

For some balls that might be slightly softer to the touch.

'though the NFL's appealed, appeals can take awhile;

Could be years before the case would even come to trial.

I hope Brady sues their ass for what they've put him through,

Making accusations as they robbed him of his due

Of the joy he should have felt, with all his heart and soul,

At New England's victory in last year's Super Bowl.

Unsolicited Advice for Kim Davis: Do Your Job

The Kentucky County clerk, Kim Davis, who refused

Same-sex couples marriage licenses must be confused.

She is newly born-again and may not know the rules;

Jesus preached of love and taught that bigotry's for fools.

Davis, who is thrice divorced - on marriage number four -

(Making her an expert, since she's had so many more)

May not know that Jesus said to love our fellow man;

Do our best to help them out in any way we can.

But, it doesn't matter 'cause Kim's office ain't a church...

Since her actions leave her fellow workers in the lurch,

If she will not do her job for fear she'd be disgraced,

Squeaky wheel should not get oil...  It ought'a be replaced.

The Lesser of Two Evils?

(Image/Courtesy of www.speakeasyfacilitators.co.za)

You might think Republicans - opposed to Hillary -

Should take time to think who their alternative could be.

Hillary conspiracies, the kind that FOX News panders,

Have resulted in a surge for Vermont's Bernie Sanders.

Do they really want a guy who claims he's Socialist

Or a seasoned politician who's a realist?

(FYI: Real Socialists say Bernie isn't one...

That he's more conservative than David Cameron.)

Shouldn't they be worried Mrs. Clinton's in a slump

While their leading candidate's an idiot like Trump?

He is unelectable. Because of him, they'll lose.

I'd think Hillary's the lesser evil they would choose.

Break Time's Over

Though the media declined to take my good advice

I've ignored most politics this summer...  It was nice.

Now that it's September 1st, I fear it's nearly time

To examine Presidential candidates in rhyme.

Sorry, I don't want to ruin anybody's day

But ignoring problems doesn't make them go away.

Just ask the Republicans who have to deal with Trump,

Such a pompous, rude, bombastic, narcissistic chump.

They cannot pretend the Donald isn't polling first;

They can only grin and bear it as he does his worst,

Blathering away without a modicum of tact

Driving off the voters they were hoping to attract.

Unsolicited Advice for Move-In Day

(Photo/Courtesy of The Boston Globe)

Move in day for college students - happening all week.

If a parking space in metro-Boston's what you seek,

Out-of-towners will discover what the natives know;

Do not pahk yah cah in Hahvud Yahd, for they will tow.

Kitchen Reno - Day 37

From the tunnel of our reno we can see a light;

We've begun to hope that everything will be alright.

Almost all the floors are laid, the cabinets installed,

Waiting on the counter-tops - the templater's been called.

After that, the new appliances should all arrive.

Kitchen renovation has kicked in to over-drive.

All those months of preparation, now the end's in sight...

Or else it's a train behind that fast approaching light. 

Kitchen Reno - Day 28

Hi...  I know it's been awhile and - no...  I haven't died

Renovations mean that there is no place left inside

That is not a cluttered mess... We need a Sherpa guide

Just to find our way upstairs (Okay.  Perhaps I lied.)

It could be the fumes from all the paint that we've applied

Or that workmen everywhere leave me nowhere to hide.
 Now the rhyming circuits in my brain are all but fried.

It's too loud to concentrate.  I haven't even tried.

If you came here looking for new rhymes and were denied,

Please forgive this interruption. Here, where I reside

Major renovations are a pretty bumpy ride;

There's been so much going on I've let my blogging slide.

Unsolicited Advice for the IOC from a Bostonian

A fresh coat of paint?  It could work. (Courtesy of/imagesdaily.blogspot.com)

Hopes for Boston 2024 have fallen through

Because local opposition to it only grew.

It became apparent that the city can't afford

Hosting the Olympic Games (despite claims from their Board.)

I believe the I.O.C. has got to reassess,

Sparing hosts, in future, from a huge financial mess.

Why not give the Games to Greece in perpetuity?

They could help to bolster up the Greek economy.

Winter Games on Mount Olympus* - Summers' on the isles...

Marathoners could retrace Pheidippides' long miles.

If the Games stayed in one place, a profit could be made

Which is not the case most times the modern Games are played.

*(Okay, not on Mount Olympus - but you get my point.)

Damage Done

(Graphic/Courtesy of FOX Business)

I still can't believe a little missing PSI

From a ball results in a suspension for a guy

That exceeds the one he'd get for beating up his wife,

Tarnishing a legacy he's worked for all his life.

Brady says he's innocent.  There's not a shred of proof

This was a conspiracy and not a harmless goof.

Pressure in the football didn't impact Brady's play;

NFL replaced the balls and he won anyway.

I'm glad Tom is fighting back but fear that it's too late...

Thanks to the Commissioner, the haters gonna hate.

Brady's reputation - even though it isn't fair -

Has been damaged by the NFL, beyond repair.

Unsolicited Advice for the Boston Red Sox

(Photo/Courtesy of Shanyn Kelly Walsh)

Boston Red Sox win their games when my sister attends;

They should give her tickets - free (plus extras for her friends.)

Don't know how she does it...  Could it be her Irish luck?

I just know that, when she's there, the Red Sox do not suck.

Iran - Give Peace a Chance

(Cartoon/Courtesy of  award winning artist Jimmy Margulies)

As Obama tries to sell this new, 6 Nation Plan,

Dealing with the problem of a nuclear Iran,

Members of the GOP - who want Obama's job -

Say that they could snap their fingers and their uncle's Bob.

They could make Iran obey our wishes, if they please...

Never mind the Russians, French, Brits, Germans, and Chinese.

Not one of the candidates who thinks the treaty's bad

Has a better plan than Secretary Kerry had.

They'd let petty politicking sabotage this deal

Proving that they shouldn't wield our Presidential Seal.

Given time to build some trust, plus diplomatic tact,

We could better influence the way Iran will act.

Oppenheimer's horse has left the barn and won't be back.

If Iran's determined, nothing - short of an attack -

Could dissuade them from a bomb but, maybe, this deal will

Help us solve our problems using diplomatic skill.

The Red Sox & The Bright Side of Reno

I don't plan to watch the Red Sox anymore this year;

It's no fun to see a team I've always held so dear

Flounder through a season - piling loss on top of loss -

Now, with renovations going, I don't give a toss.

Once I'd be depressed that Boston's season's shot to hell,

This year I don't have the time or energy to dwell.

Hopefully, by football season, all of this is done

And sports news is all about the games New England's won.