Farewell Scooter!!

On Tuesday, August 14th, I heard that a piece of my childhood was gone! It was with great sadness that I was told about the passing of Phil Rizzuto. For most baseball fans, this news brought great sadness, but for Yankee fans, it was the loss of a family member. While I never personally knew Scooter, I felt like he was that long lost uncle that I wish I could have known and spent time with. I am too young to have remembered Phil in his prime as a baseball player -- he stopped playing baseball in 1956, ten years before my birth. By the time I was aware of Phil Rizzuto, he was the "Voice" of the Yankees that I heard daily in my household (although Mel Allen is still associated with that moniker). Having grown up in a household, in which the Yankees weren't just a team, but an obsession for my father, I remember many a summer night hearing those immortal words: "Holy cow!" and smiling joyfully at his enthusiasm for the game. Today, hearing replays of Phil Rizzuto's broadcasts brings to mind memories of ice cream trucks, playing "Hide and Seek" and "Marco Polo" and other innocent times from my youth.


While Scooter's passing is a sadness for many of us, we should also celebrate this man's spirit. No one could accuse Phil Rizzuto of not living life to the fullest and knowing how to squeeze out the most fun in everything he did. A lesson for all of us to learn.


Here's to you, Phil Rizzuto. You may be gone, but never forgotten. You will be missed!

"Uh-oh, deep to left-center, nobody's gonna get that one!
Holy cow, somebody got it!"

Same-Sex Marriage...

Okay, I may end up getting hate mail from some of my gay and lesbian friends. Last night, the Democratic candidates for President were put on the hot seat regarding issues that concern the gay and lesbian community. One of the big topics of discussion was gay marriage. Other than Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich, none of the other candidates support same-sex marriage, but a number of them support civil unions. I'm not sure they are entirely incorrect on this subject. My personal feelings are that marriage is a "religious" concept and that civil unions are a "legal" concept. Gays and lesbians should be trying to get same equal rights as straights have regardless on what it's called.


Most American do not support same-sex marriage, but do support civil unions. It's odd because they are both ultimately the same concept. Marriage has become equivalent to a religious ceremony and I believe that is where the fear factor come into it. Most organized religions still have the antiquated notion that gays are an abomination, therefore anything that comes close to blessing these partnerships by religious means is an anathema.


How can we solve this problem


Here is what I suggest: All couples (regardless of sexual identity) should have to have a civil ceremony to bind them legally. Then if so desired, go to your religious organization and have another "marriage" ceremony. But the civil unions are what should be recognized by law, thereby giving the same benefits to all couples regardless of their sexual identity. Harvard law professor, Alan Dershowitz wrote that: "such an arrangement would 'strengthen the wall of separation between church and state by placing a sacred institution entirely in the hands of the church while placing a secular institution under state control'." In my humble opinion, anything that strengthens the wall between church and state is a good thing. The less blurring of that line, the better it is for all of us. Okay, feel free to send your hate mail. :-)

A Boy Named "Superman" --- "4Real?!?!"

This morning I was perusing the Internet and came across a news article, in which a New Zealand couple plan to name their newborn son "Superman." This was their second choice for a name. Their original choice ("4Real") was not allowed by the New Zealand government registry.

Truly! What is wrong with these parents?? I get that you do not want your child to be a "Tom, Dick or Harry," but "Superman?!?!" Or worse yet "4Real?" Although, they still plan to use "4Real" as the child's nickname. What?! Did these parents not go through childhood? Do they not remember the torture that children can hurl upon other children for just being "different?"

It reminded me of that episode of Seinfeld where George Costanza wants to name his first child, "Seven." Jerry's hilarious response to that statement is: "Hmmm, 'Seven Costanza.' Yep, I can see it now: Seven periods of school per day, seven beatings a day, seven stitches per beating, followed by seven years to life." Instead of naming your children some ridiculous name that will cause them nothing but grief and heartache, why don't you instead instill in them a free spirit and encourage them to become the best person they can. I fully support nonconformity, but this is going a little too far overboard, even for me. As Crosby, Stills & Nash have sung: "Teach your children well."

Medical Coverage!

Can someone please explain to me how this country does not have universal health coverage?!?! Oh right, three letters - AMA! I just wrote a check out for COBRA coverage in the amount of $330. Now friends who cover themselves as a single person pay nearly $600 a month for their health coverage, so $330 is a bargain. But as an unemployed person (at the moment), this is a huge chunk out of my savings.

Instead of paying billions of dollars on a war of choice in Iraq, why doesn't the federal government do something about the rising healthcare costs? Right because you and I don't put obnoxious amounts of money in the coffers, like the special interest groups do. It's about time something was done about this. I am so tired of hearing about terrorists and war from these bumblers who are running for President. When will one of these candidates tackle the real issues that affect Americans; healthcare, education and economy? Is it because there is no money in these causes? It makes me furious.

There are more than 50 million people without medical coverage in this country! It's about time America got smart and demanded that something be done about the healthcare situation in this country! Go to: http://www.healthcare-now.org/ and get involved! It's about time we took back our country from the special interest groups!

Hello from New York City

Greetings one and all. It's Monday, August 6th, 2007 and this is my very first blog. I hope you all enjoy my rantings and ravings. I'll try to make them entertaining. Today, I just wanted to say "Hello." More to come....

Sandi