Happy Halloween

We haven't had trick-or-treaters in years, went to a Halloween party two weeks ago, attended a  haunting last weekend. In some ways it feels as if Halloween is already over.

But at least there are still scary TV shows and movies to watch, including a Dark Shadows marathon. I watched a few episodes yesterday around the Cubs-Indians game and recorded a few more.

A Halloween surprise for me: I saw Snoopy walking down Prospect Avenue. I assume the woman was visiting someone in the hospital. (When my mother was there two years ago, I visited her dressed as Carmen Miranda.) The woman was carrying a pocketbook and had her Snoopy head perched on the top of her head.

Quite the sight.

Another October Surprise

I share many thoughts of the author and commenters of this article.

Thanks TCM

I love classic horror movies: recent movies are too gory, too torture-y for me. I searched Netflix, Amazon, Crackle and pay-per-view lists; I only found  one film that interested me: the sub-titled version of The Vampire's Coffin, a sequel to The Vampire. I first saw these films on a late night chiller theater type show out of Philadelphia, probably on Channel 48. 

The Vampire is the better film of the two, though I haven't seen it in awhile. The Vampire's Coffin has a good scene with the Count stalking a young woman, shot mostly in shadows. I also liked the setting of the museum of torture devices--of course someone meets s a gruesome death there.

Last night TCM set things right with a a roster of classic horror.

We recorded several films, watched Boris Karloff in The Mummy last night and Bela Lugosi as Dracula today. Six more to go.

Congratulations Curtis Granderson

Last night MLB announced that Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson won the Roberto Clemente Award.  This award recognizes the player who best represents baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions on and off the field. Other Mets winners are Gary Carter, Al Leiter, and Carlos Delgado.

Thank you Curtis for everything you do.

The World Series Returns to Wrigley Field

I can only imagine the excitement at Wrigley tonight. I've never been able to afford to attend a World Series game at Shea Stadium or Citi Field. For a Cubs fan, it's basically a once-in-a-lifetime (so far for the youngsters) opportunity. Maybe it will be worth all the money. Maybe not, I heard today that the cheapest standing-room-only ticket was $1600.

I loved watching the older fans and multiple generations of family fans looking forward to this series.

 In 2003, I fantasized that the Cubs would meet the Red Sox in the World Series. (After all, I couldn't root for the 66-95 Mets in the playoffs.)  But that was the year of Steve Bartman. The Florida Marlins went on to beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.

The following year the Red Sox overcame their curse, came back from 0 and 3 to beat their enemy, the New York  Yankees, and then swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win it all.

Is this the Cubs' year?

Word Play: Spelling Bee

When I was in law school, I heard that law students were into crossword puzzles. I wasn't one of them. I'll do an occasional crossword puzzle, but don't seek them out. A former co-worker used to do The New York Times crossword each day. He'd often leave them on my desk when he needed help with the film or television questions.

I'm more of a trivia fan (guess that's why I try to get on Jeopardy) and word search games like Boggle. I'm also a big fan of (the non-word game) Yahtzee.

My new favorite game is Frank Longo's Spelling Bee in The New York Times Magazine. It took me a few tries to warm up, but I now look forward to it every Saturday. It's something that I do over a number of days. My results have been classified as genius for the past few month or so.

I've been enjoying that.

World Series: 2016

Game One: Cubs at Indians. It's a magic night in Cleveland as the Cavaliers raise their championship banner to celebrate the city's first title in 54 years.

This is not the match-up I was hoping for.

As the 2016 baseball season began, I had high hopes. The 2015 Mets had exceeded (all but one of) my wildest dreams. If the Kansas City Royals could make a World Series appearance and then return the following year to win, surely the Mets could as well.

We started 2016 with four young guns (and Bartolo Colon) in the starting rotation with Zach Wheeler preparing to return sometime in June. We had our closer Jeurys Familia. Our Captain was back, and we had Yoenis Cespedes for the entire season.

But things fell apart. Too many injuries to list. The original four young guns were down to one, along with the ageless Bartolo. Our captain was done for the year.

Inexplicable series losses to the Braves, Diamondbacks and Rockies (some sweeps) crushed us; with another nine wins, we would have won the East. Sigh.

Still I have to salute the new young guns of Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman and the leadership of Asdrubal Cabrera.

It wasn't enough. We made it the post season, for only one game.

Tonight I watch Cubs v. Indians, and. I remember a magic night thirty years ago.