I got invited by this lady from the Indian Meetup Group in Atlanta to a trip to Gatlinburg for Labor Day Weekend. I went to her apartment and went with a group of four, including me, packed in the small Mazda with a hatchback. We left about 8 p.m. from Atlanta and got there about 11 p.m. but we sort of got creeped out by the mountside and the cabin we were supposed to stay at. It was mountainous and not exactly paved. One of the meetup members knew somebody who owned the cabin and rented it out to him for the weekend. 114 dollars for each individual. There ended up being about 7 or 8 people at the cabin. Remote but had showers, washer & dryers, satellite TV, and a land line phone. There were about 4 bedrooms with a kitchen, living room, beds, and other luxury necessities. Soap for body and clothes cleaning were provided as well as refrigeration. Outdoor deck looking straight at the Smokies.
The group was great. Lot of teasing and jabs as well as great friendship. I liked the board game competitiveness from that Saturday night! Though, I got scared a bit. LOL. Great cooking from the group with burgers , other meat, veggies, and the coffee/tea. Great job guys because I couldn't cook. But I did help clean, somewhat. Restaurants were good in Gatlinburg. Unfortunately, the traffic was a bit much due to the Labor Day Weekend. Cars came from so many other states than Tennessee.
I got to ride in a helicopter for the first time with these rides that service for a minute, 4 minutes, 8 minutes and so on. We paid 32 dollars each for an 8 to 12 minute ride. Did the skylift. I love the people and the strangers. Very kind folks. Did the Bumper cars. Thanks for the bump, dude? LOL. But most involved deep conversations that stays in the cabin. Finally, learned the basics of chess from a seven year old. Thank you for breaking me out that shell. AJC Chess club will be happy.
Leaving Gatlinburg was fun too. The day before, we went to the streams at this national Park. That was cool. But traveling with the original four and adding another was something else. The cars was stuffed with bags and suitcases. I barely could move. The car was going on the left side off I-40 going 90 before getting on I-85. But the drive was fun. Felt like clowns in a Volkswagen Beetle. Cracker Barrel near Asheville, North Carolina was great but the service reminded me of the movie, Bhaji on the Beach particularly where we were placed after waiting for 15 minutes. But the attendants at the gift shop were wonderful. This lady went out of her way and I bought some things. Sorry, mom, dad, and the whole family. But, hey it's a vacation.
Nothing to conclude which I like because I hope this trip never ends for me except for my wallet. Ha, ah, ha!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Competitive Morality
As a young boy, I was a bit of brat until girls didn't like it so I became nice. Then I realized something. I can be a moralist and judge people. He is a sissy because he eats vanilla ice-cream and I don't. Or he touches girls. He is a nerd or he talks back to the teacher. Man, all sorts of things. When I look at facebook, I see that from me. People putting down sayings and quotes. However, when it hits you. I get competitive. I wonder if they do the same thing.
For example. One guy put about not giving excuses to your condition. Here is my response: "Look at the WNBA, Atlanta Dream. You have a coach who is asked to be a GM and a coach for the same price. Has to keep the roster to 11. When she started coaching, she not only coached her basketball team but taught 9 classes of physical education at her college. The players are amazing, they shake hands with other teams despite losses. Sign autographs despite getting beaten at home. They don't make much and always in danger of folding. They get to the Finals but not much talk."
The point is do people appreciate others who overcome circumstances and go beyond expectations. No. Unless its me. But if you ask them, do you appreciate what that team has done. Back-hand compliments but no inspiration when there should be. Aw, I'm not interested in women's basketball. Which gets me to the next point. Parks Helms.
Parks Helms is a lawyer in Charlotte. He is known for his service as a County Commissioner chairman for Mecklenburg County. Born and bred in Charlotte, he attended UNC and their law school. He has been involved in Charlotte politics since 1972, involved with various boards and appointments. Likewise, he has been a deacon of Park Road Baptist church. Finally, he served in the North Carolina legislature for many years.
After he resigned from the County Commission, he became a board member for the N.C. Alcohol Beverage Control system in Mecklenburg. He had to resign because he attended a luncheon which cost about 9,000 dollars, paid by a liquor company in London. He ended up paying one grand back while other ABC members footed the bill. The rule is you can't accept gifts for more than 300 dollars each person. However, the one that got me was his board spending 11 million government dollars for that liquor company to sell their products. Likewise, Parks's statement that his opponents were practicing "competitive morality" with him.
I personally called his law office, giving my support to him. He responded in kind saying that he remember me and wished me well.
For example. One guy put about not giving excuses to your condition. Here is my response: "Look at the WNBA, Atlanta Dream. You have a coach who is asked to be a GM and a coach for the same price. Has to keep the roster to 11. When she started coaching, she not only coached her basketball team but taught 9 classes of physical education at her college. The players are amazing, they shake hands with other teams despite losses. Sign autographs despite getting beaten at home. They don't make much and always in danger of folding. They get to the Finals but not much talk."
The point is do people appreciate others who overcome circumstances and go beyond expectations. No. Unless its me. But if you ask them, do you appreciate what that team has done. Back-hand compliments but no inspiration when there should be. Aw, I'm not interested in women's basketball. Which gets me to the next point. Parks Helms.
Parks Helms is a lawyer in Charlotte. He is known for his service as a County Commissioner chairman for Mecklenburg County. Born and bred in Charlotte, he attended UNC and their law school. He has been involved in Charlotte politics since 1972, involved with various boards and appointments. Likewise, he has been a deacon of Park Road Baptist church. Finally, he served in the North Carolina legislature for many years.
After he resigned from the County Commission, he became a board member for the N.C. Alcohol Beverage Control system in Mecklenburg. He had to resign because he attended a luncheon which cost about 9,000 dollars, paid by a liquor company in London. He ended up paying one grand back while other ABC members footed the bill. The rule is you can't accept gifts for more than 300 dollars each person. However, the one that got me was his board spending 11 million government dollars for that liquor company to sell their products. Likewise, Parks's statement that his opponents were practicing "competitive morality" with him.
I personally called his law office, giving my support to him. He responded in kind saying that he remember me and wished me well.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Fannie Flagg's (Standing in the Rainbow)
Fannie Flagg, I had a crush on big time. I loved her figure but her personality and charisma made med adore. She was the mother I never had during my early elementary school years when the Match Game show was about to come to an end. In that she appeared to be nurturing, fun, loving, and full of energy. Likewise, she seemed to be understanding and pleasing. But something in schizoid mind told me that it wasn't all it seems though I wish it would be.
Now to the book "Standing in the Rainbow", I read as if she was conversing with me. There were times I wanted her to hurry up and get to the point quickly but most times, I clung to every word she said. All I could get in my head was her reading to me with me cuddled up in her lap, hoping she would lean toward the back of my head. I didn't want to get perverse with her because she always seemed to be respectful and I wanted to respond in kind. But... oh, just this once.
Anyway, what made me read the whole book instead of a few pages, was her knowledge of of the state of Missouri's history concerning the St. Louis Browns baseball team from 1944. I felt like she was there and a fan of team even though she was born and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. Likewise, she genuinely understood characters of both men and women in fluid motion concerning their roles in society, occupation, and family. Therefore, she was able to move from church, political & social arena, and time periods while marinating the depth of the characters.
Simplicity with complicity. I thought it was cute when she added for Elvis as a friend for Minnie Oatman when she asked me to support her daughter, Betty Raye or Harry Truman endorsing Hamm Sparks. I like the story concerning Bobby Smith and he grew from a mischievous kid to a man. Sister, Anna Lee looking for Mr. Right. Tot Wooten and the hard luck life as a hairdresser with an alcoholic husband and children going nowhere. Macky and Norma Warren as the happy couple who worried alot. Beatrice, the blind boarder who could sing. Finally, Mrs. Dorothy Smith as a cook and a radio social commentator for her town while her husband was the town druggist.
The bottom line was being about getting that man no matter how strong the women were. The impression you got was women were strong due to circumstances. Only a few were naturally strong. Vice Versa too for the guys in small town America. In return, the folks were very giving to those in need like Mrs. Smith taking care of Beatrice and Betty Raye without nothing in return. But you had to get married unless you were Cecil or Mrs. Vita Green. That was the 50's and early 60's of America. Fanny definitely lived it.
However when the book goes to the 80s'and 90's, it loses its steam concerning its candor but its more of a reflection of decline in small town America concerning the economy and its values. Fanny mentions about Tot's son being incarcerated on drugs but doesn't tell the devastating effects of meth in southern Missouri during the 90's and now. You wondered about Macky's and Norma's daughter Linda who moved to San Francisco, build her own career, and adopted a Chinese girl without a father. Something seemed edited. Yeah, early in her career, she paid for her boyfriend's law school but then got divorced when she miscarried a baby. Of course, it talks about him being weak and a deadbeat. Lack of candor concerning this period.
I thought she should have stopped in the mid-70's with a reunion at the nedbut it doesn't kill the book. I think she felt obligated to write due to the promise of a young Bobby to his best friend Monroe in 1946 of both making it to the year 2000. Unfortunately, Monroe doesn't make it as he died of a massive heart-attack in the 80's. The book ends with Bobby telling his story from 1946 to the present for "Readers Digest" starting with his mother.
As for me, this is one story I would be proud to have, fiction or non-fiction. She gives those value pointers for people who are given vs. those who aren't given. For instance, Hamm Sparks had to work for what he got which got him to the govenor's office but didn't feel comfortable with people on a social level because they were given so much from their parents. Yet, Hamm was idolized from the people he envied. In short, the grass is always greener from the other side. Same way that I love Fanny Flagg and always will.
Now to the book "Standing in the Rainbow", I read as if she was conversing with me. There were times I wanted her to hurry up and get to the point quickly but most times, I clung to every word she said. All I could get in my head was her reading to me with me cuddled up in her lap, hoping she would lean toward the back of my head. I didn't want to get perverse with her because she always seemed to be respectful and I wanted to respond in kind. But... oh, just this once.
Anyway, what made me read the whole book instead of a few pages, was her knowledge of of the state of Missouri's history concerning the St. Louis Browns baseball team from 1944. I felt like she was there and a fan of team even though she was born and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. Likewise, she genuinely understood characters of both men and women in fluid motion concerning their roles in society, occupation, and family. Therefore, she was able to move from church, political & social arena, and time periods while marinating the depth of the characters.
Simplicity with complicity. I thought it was cute when she added for Elvis as a friend for Minnie Oatman when she asked me to support her daughter, Betty Raye or Harry Truman endorsing Hamm Sparks. I like the story concerning Bobby Smith and he grew from a mischievous kid to a man. Sister, Anna Lee looking for Mr. Right. Tot Wooten and the hard luck life as a hairdresser with an alcoholic husband and children going nowhere. Macky and Norma Warren as the happy couple who worried alot. Beatrice, the blind boarder who could sing. Finally, Mrs. Dorothy Smith as a cook and a radio social commentator for her town while her husband was the town druggist.
The bottom line was being about getting that man no matter how strong the women were. The impression you got was women were strong due to circumstances. Only a few were naturally strong. Vice Versa too for the guys in small town America. In return, the folks were very giving to those in need like Mrs. Smith taking care of Beatrice and Betty Raye without nothing in return. But you had to get married unless you were Cecil or Mrs. Vita Green. That was the 50's and early 60's of America. Fanny definitely lived it.
However when the book goes to the 80s'and 90's, it loses its steam concerning its candor but its more of a reflection of decline in small town America concerning the economy and its values. Fanny mentions about Tot's son being incarcerated on drugs but doesn't tell the devastating effects of meth in southern Missouri during the 90's and now. You wondered about Macky's and Norma's daughter Linda who moved to San Francisco, build her own career, and adopted a Chinese girl without a father. Something seemed edited. Yeah, early in her career, she paid for her boyfriend's law school but then got divorced when she miscarried a baby. Of course, it talks about him being weak and a deadbeat. Lack of candor concerning this period.
I thought she should have stopped in the mid-70's with a reunion at the nedbut it doesn't kill the book. I think she felt obligated to write due to the promise of a young Bobby to his best friend Monroe in 1946 of both making it to the year 2000. Unfortunately, Monroe doesn't make it as he died of a massive heart-attack in the 80's. The book ends with Bobby telling his story from 1946 to the present for "Readers Digest" starting with his mother.
As for me, this is one story I would be proud to have, fiction or non-fiction. She gives those value pointers for people who are given vs. those who aren't given. For instance, Hamm Sparks had to work for what he got which got him to the govenor's office but didn't feel comfortable with people on a social level because they were given so much from their parents. Yet, Hamm was idolized from the people he envied. In short, the grass is always greener from the other side. Same way that I love Fanny Flagg and always will.
Baltimore Like Atlanta?
I don't go to Maryland that often. Yet, it feels home for me. I live in Atlanta. My sister, Kamini, who is from Dumfries, VA says Baltimore is a little bit too much like Atlanta. I don't know, I'm still looking for that harbor at Chattahoochee. LOL. Anyway, I feel comfortable there when I visit. Of course, the last time I visited Baltimore was at Paru's sister's, Julie's wedding some fifteen years back. That wedding was more relief to me than anything. For some reason, I felt scared and I wasn't even in it. But, Paru's wedding was very relaxing even though my parents told me to prim and proper like I was going to prom.
There is always a weird surprise element that occurs when you visit the Gurusamys' for anything. Let me see, the movie theater at Ocean City forcing us to see Rocky III instead of ET; then some time later at Ocean City, gas attendants giving us Super-sized cups of Coke for no reason; the weird neighbors at Timonium (Bree has to come home and eat cheese, what? and hanging clothes off the window to dry?) ; and the weird stories about personally knowing someone jumping off the Chesapeake.
This time they didn't know but before the wedding, a hotel attendant at the front desk said that Morris Day of the Time was outside. I told him that "are you kidding." I look outside and it was some old dude with a shaved head and clean shaven face. Man, I was upset, told what I saw and for him to look outside. So he gets outside the door with me and I point to the man. He said "naw, that ain't him, he is in there inside the Holiday Inn van." So, I look inside the van and sure enough, it was Morris Day with his neatly trimmed, slick back afro hair with that bushy mustache. I waived hi to him while he was surrouned by a bodyguard and a couple of fans asking for autographs. Somehow, that relaxed me and got ready for the wedding.
The wedding was plain and simple. I loved that TV screen outside the temple parking lot. Inside, it was pretty cool and formal. Lenghty but not too long. What was good about, you could go outside and not miss the wedding. Food was being served the whole time of Idli's, chappathi's, coorima, and others. I like that mango drink that the kid attendants were giving me. Then another weird thing happened. I was outside when the wedding was about to end. A puff of black smoke appeared cloud like on the wooded tree side of the temple. Behind the forest, is a neighborhood with some streets paved. Someone said, it was a car accident or something else but you could hear sirens of police, fire trucks, and a ambulance. The puff of smoke was like an omen something you see in Hindu paintings or that song, Light My Fire.
The later event was the reception. This Dr. Dude kept telling me that I can do when I was sitting at this table next to my sister Rathi's friend, Ananathi. Food was great but too uptight with old people. But the show moved well. To the Groom: "You won't see an Indian pitch for the Yankees but you may with the Orioles." Funny highlight before that was my two nephews were running around the hotel and dancing. Nephew, Loghan passed out on the chair and carrying him was funny. Velan dancing and still having energy when it was passed midnight. I come back and start dancing. Julie apologizes for playing YMCA. I said they should have played "Living After Midnight" by Judas Priest. It was a party at the reception building and at the hotel.
Another weird element, you had Redskins fans at a Baltimore suburb hotel, cheering hardcore for a pre-season game against the Patriots. I went swimming on cold at the hotel pool. Finally, on Sunday we went to this restaurant, the whole family and my sister's family. I had the seafood platter. Then I took off from the Thurgood Marshall Airport hugging my nephews, an my sister saying those words about Atlanta and Baltimore.
Thanks Dad for the hotel rooms, Yogesh for your hard work. Mom with Velan/Loghan. Rathi great job of braving the knee. Vadivan for being very supportive. Remy hope you had the great Murugan experience. I love Greenbelt, MD so much. I wrote to the mayor telling her so and she said if I come back to email her so she can tell me the places to go and when those tours starts. She also said that she was born in Atlanta.
There is always a weird surprise element that occurs when you visit the Gurusamys' for anything. Let me see, the movie theater at Ocean City forcing us to see Rocky III instead of ET; then some time later at Ocean City, gas attendants giving us Super-sized cups of Coke for no reason; the weird neighbors at Timonium (Bree has to come home and eat cheese, what? and hanging clothes off the window to dry?) ; and the weird stories about personally knowing someone jumping off the Chesapeake.
This time they didn't know but before the wedding, a hotel attendant at the front desk said that Morris Day of the Time was outside. I told him that "are you kidding." I look outside and it was some old dude with a shaved head and clean shaven face. Man, I was upset, told what I saw and for him to look outside. So he gets outside the door with me and I point to the man. He said "naw, that ain't him, he is in there inside the Holiday Inn van." So, I look inside the van and sure enough, it was Morris Day with his neatly trimmed, slick back afro hair with that bushy mustache. I waived hi to him while he was surrouned by a bodyguard and a couple of fans asking for autographs. Somehow, that relaxed me and got ready for the wedding.
The wedding was plain and simple. I loved that TV screen outside the temple parking lot. Inside, it was pretty cool and formal. Lenghty but not too long. What was good about, you could go outside and not miss the wedding. Food was being served the whole time of Idli's, chappathi's, coorima, and others. I like that mango drink that the kid attendants were giving me. Then another weird thing happened. I was outside when the wedding was about to end. A puff of black smoke appeared cloud like on the wooded tree side of the temple. Behind the forest, is a neighborhood with some streets paved. Someone said, it was a car accident or something else but you could hear sirens of police, fire trucks, and a ambulance. The puff of smoke was like an omen something you see in Hindu paintings or that song, Light My Fire.
The later event was the reception. This Dr. Dude kept telling me that I can do when I was sitting at this table next to my sister Rathi's friend, Ananathi. Food was great but too uptight with old people. But the show moved well. To the Groom: "You won't see an Indian pitch for the Yankees but you may with the Orioles." Funny highlight before that was my two nephews were running around the hotel and dancing. Nephew, Loghan passed out on the chair and carrying him was funny. Velan dancing and still having energy when it was passed midnight. I come back and start dancing. Julie apologizes for playing YMCA. I said they should have played "Living After Midnight" by Judas Priest. It was a party at the reception building and at the hotel.
Another weird element, you had Redskins fans at a Baltimore suburb hotel, cheering hardcore for a pre-season game against the Patriots. I went swimming on cold at the hotel pool. Finally, on Sunday we went to this restaurant, the whole family and my sister's family. I had the seafood platter. Then I took off from the Thurgood Marshall Airport hugging my nephews, an my sister saying those words about Atlanta and Baltimore.
Thanks Dad for the hotel rooms, Yogesh for your hard work. Mom with Velan/Loghan. Rathi great job of braving the knee. Vadivan for being very supportive. Remy hope you had the great Murugan experience. I love Greenbelt, MD so much. I wrote to the mayor telling her so and she said if I come back to email her so she can tell me the places to go and when those tours starts. She also said that she was born in Atlanta.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
What you see is what you get
One of the perks of going to broadcasting school like I did at CSB is that I got to go to basketball games when the Hornets were in town. I held the cable wire from the camera guy under the basket and during timeouts. Unlike the fans, I had to be there two or three hours before game time. The guy in charge was man named Lou. He is the middle man for everything involved Charlotte sports. You didn't want to mess up or end up being where I'm at. I did okay but mistakes were made. Anyway.
You got to see players work with coaches. I saw assistant coach Lee Rose working with Hornets player, George Zidek. It wasn't just one time. Ever game, he did this. Footwook on offense from the the catch to post moves as well feet shuffle on defense. Mostly, I remember offensive moves. Later on, Tony Delk was wearing a parachute suit with strings attached to his waist and shoulders. Lee would hold and stretch the string portion to the free throw line while Tony was jumping underneath the basket. He had to jump and land with perfect balance. If he leaned just a little bit on one side of the body or favored a shoulder, foot, hip, knee or any body part, he had to do it again.
Most of the Hornet players particular the starters would show up later on, 45 minutes before game time. The camera crew, ticker ushers, coaches, trainers, and ball boys would start appearing as well as fans who had ties to the players. They would go into their character mode, go over plays, camera angles, lighting, scripts, ifb's, commercials, player interviews, product promotion while out of breaks or during action, and makeup. Before a game is just as busy as game action. Preparation to the game is where the the real money is made. Therefore, these folks are not easy people to talk to. They can Rasheed Wallace on you in a hurry if you tick them off.
Announcers go into character mode when the camera is on and than change when the camera is off. Sometimes, they change from bad to good but mostly its good to bad. They are just as bad as players to fans when it comes to interactions. They don't want to do nothing with you and some are just assholes. Its not like the fans ask for their autographs. I know I didn't. Most times, I just said hi but they would brush off and be their prima donna self. You talk about Bill Russell not signing autographs, announcers are worse.
What you see is what get from Bill Raftery. On camera, he is very enthusiastic and hyper with all those phrases. Before I met him, I thought he was annoying. Somebody who worked too hard to please like a girl on a date. I met him off camera after he interviewed Kendall Gill for the New Jersey Nets during a game in Charlotte. I was holding cable for a camera man. Usually, we only broadcast or videotape the Charlotte Hornets team. However, something went wrong with the Nets camera or they decided that they would use the Hornets camera guy. The interview with Kendall went well, surprising, considering that Bill got on him for not hustling during that year and Kendall had some choice words but Bill spoke to him positively and patted him on the back as if to say "go get em, kid. I'm behind you."
After he finished the interview, I introduced myself told him about one of the games that he did. The game involved UNC-Charlotte during the flu or measles epidemic at a college in the Northeast where no fans showed up. He related something to Charlotte concerning the late coach, Al McGuire. Talked about Al coaching at at a small Catholic school, Belmont Abbey near Charlotte. Mentioned that Al would get New York players by placing a picture of the Duke campus on the Belmont Abbey's brochure. I made a mention of this and he looked at me, smiled and said, "Good memory" and told me that I was very knowledgeable.
He was very enthusiastic about what I had to say because of personality of wanting to make everyone happy. Unlike some announcers when the camera is off, they want to leave or move on the next segment. Mind you, I'm not saying anything but, "Hi" but like the movie "Bull Durham" where the bat boy tells Crash Davis to get a hit, he tells him to shut-up. Therefore, when you hear an announcer criticize a player for not relating to fans or giving autographs most likely the announcer is the player unless he is Bill Raftery. From Bill, "What you see is what you get."
You got to see players work with coaches. I saw assistant coach Lee Rose working with Hornets player, George Zidek. It wasn't just one time. Ever game, he did this. Footwook on offense from the the catch to post moves as well feet shuffle on defense. Mostly, I remember offensive moves. Later on, Tony Delk was wearing a parachute suit with strings attached to his waist and shoulders. Lee would hold and stretch the string portion to the free throw line while Tony was jumping underneath the basket. He had to jump and land with perfect balance. If he leaned just a little bit on one side of the body or favored a shoulder, foot, hip, knee or any body part, he had to do it again.
Most of the Hornet players particular the starters would show up later on, 45 minutes before game time. The camera crew, ticker ushers, coaches, trainers, and ball boys would start appearing as well as fans who had ties to the players. They would go into their character mode, go over plays, camera angles, lighting, scripts, ifb's, commercials, player interviews, product promotion while out of breaks or during action, and makeup. Before a game is just as busy as game action. Preparation to the game is where the the real money is made. Therefore, these folks are not easy people to talk to. They can Rasheed Wallace on you in a hurry if you tick them off.
Announcers go into character mode when the camera is on and than change when the camera is off. Sometimes, they change from bad to good but mostly its good to bad. They are just as bad as players to fans when it comes to interactions. They don't want to do nothing with you and some are just assholes. Its not like the fans ask for their autographs. I know I didn't. Most times, I just said hi but they would brush off and be their prima donna self. You talk about Bill Russell not signing autographs, announcers are worse.
What you see is what get from Bill Raftery. On camera, he is very enthusiastic and hyper with all those phrases. Before I met him, I thought he was annoying. Somebody who worked too hard to please like a girl on a date. I met him off camera after he interviewed Kendall Gill for the New Jersey Nets during a game in Charlotte. I was holding cable for a camera man. Usually, we only broadcast or videotape the Charlotte Hornets team. However, something went wrong with the Nets camera or they decided that they would use the Hornets camera guy. The interview with Kendall went well, surprising, considering that Bill got on him for not hustling during that year and Kendall had some choice words but Bill spoke to him positively and patted him on the back as if to say "go get em, kid. I'm behind you."
After he finished the interview, I introduced myself told him about one of the games that he did. The game involved UNC-Charlotte during the flu or measles epidemic at a college in the Northeast where no fans showed up. He related something to Charlotte concerning the late coach, Al McGuire. Talked about Al coaching at at a small Catholic school, Belmont Abbey near Charlotte. Mentioned that Al would get New York players by placing a picture of the Duke campus on the Belmont Abbey's brochure. I made a mention of this and he looked at me, smiled and said, "Good memory" and told me that I was very knowledgeable.
He was very enthusiastic about what I had to say because of personality of wanting to make everyone happy. Unlike some announcers when the camera is off, they want to leave or move on the next segment. Mind you, I'm not saying anything but, "Hi" but like the movie "Bull Durham" where the bat boy tells Crash Davis to get a hit, he tells him to shut-up. Therefore, when you hear an announcer criticize a player for not relating to fans or giving autographs most likely the announcer is the player unless he is Bill Raftery. From Bill, "What you see is what you get."
Friday, July 4, 2008
Charlotte Dreams
I always have Dreams about Charlotte, NC (of course, when I'm in Charlotte, I have dreams about Atlanta). Just mundane random stuff. My favorite is driving over this overpass overlooking a park with kids playing, weather being chilly and wet, and the sky scrappers just around the corner. Sometimes, I have time flash backs where it is Christmas in 1958 and a couple with young kids are celebrating with friends. Yeah, I'm influenced by shows or events that happened there as well.
My favorite is where in the midst of a party of a supposed happy family, you see tension but you don't know why? I go to this room and see a older teen-age boy stoned quiet with his younger sister whimpering. The year is around the early 1960's. My mind is like what is going on here but it never gives me the answer. That is what many of these scenarios do for me. Slyvia Plath and Anne Sexton images hit me when it comes to those times. I remember a sentence from Betty Feezor's book about her kids wanting her to stop yelling and she felt that she didn't but promised to follow their advice.
When I lived there, I walk by graves and read about them from newspaper microfilms. Highways that ruined neighborhoods in Charlotte. I think of a couple: one from Central and the other from First Ward meeting secretly in the early 40's. A Greek family living in the late 19th century to the late 20th century. Charlotte's own version of Geisha girls who weren't allowed to go to temple, churches, businesses, or other functions but always served the men behind close doors at all times in all decades.
Children failing in classrooms in the 00's, 10's, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and 00's. Some Parents understanding but worried. Others impatient and abusive. Most angry and resentful. Scholars and successful types. Cliques and groups. Laziness and ambitiousness. Jealousy and resentments washed away as new wave of people come in. Gossip and churches. Kids wanting to rebel and develop racial views to fit their peers or push their family anger towards others. Dorothy Counts comes to mind.
I think about loneliness a lot. Family working behind the scenes of the city to feed their family and paying bills while maintaining a calm frontier front. Domestic arguments and violence. Women not wanting to go to work in the 50's because she wanted to fit the 50's housewife stereotype but her man had trouble with booze and left the family (Most claim that the husband died or left). Children is all they can help so say the social worker. Some are truly happy no matter what, they got each other and that is all they need, no front needed.
What do I know? Just images that flash in my head. Nobody lives where they grew up except for visit. Some tell me that nothing has changed. One thing bothered me: Betty criticized other families in how they raised their kids but did they criticize in how she raised their's? My point why can't get you work together instead of constantly proving yourself to each other since you claim to be "God's children." But religious people are not exactly saints either. TV doesn't help either. The point is: you are boxed in like everybody else with little time to spare. When your contribution is done, no one remembers you but the building and its time for you to save.
My favorite is where in the midst of a party of a supposed happy family, you see tension but you don't know why? I go to this room and see a older teen-age boy stoned quiet with his younger sister whimpering. The year is around the early 1960's. My mind is like what is going on here but it never gives me the answer. That is what many of these scenarios do for me. Slyvia Plath and Anne Sexton images hit me when it comes to those times. I remember a sentence from Betty Feezor's book about her kids wanting her to stop yelling and she felt that she didn't but promised to follow their advice.
When I lived there, I walk by graves and read about them from newspaper microfilms. Highways that ruined neighborhoods in Charlotte. I think of a couple: one from Central and the other from First Ward meeting secretly in the early 40's. A Greek family living in the late 19th century to the late 20th century. Charlotte's own version of Geisha girls who weren't allowed to go to temple, churches, businesses, or other functions but always served the men behind close doors at all times in all decades.
Children failing in classrooms in the 00's, 10's, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and 00's. Some Parents understanding but worried. Others impatient and abusive. Most angry and resentful. Scholars and successful types. Cliques and groups. Laziness and ambitiousness. Jealousy and resentments washed away as new wave of people come in. Gossip and churches. Kids wanting to rebel and develop racial views to fit their peers or push their family anger towards others. Dorothy Counts comes to mind.
I think about loneliness a lot. Family working behind the scenes of the city to feed their family and paying bills while maintaining a calm frontier front. Domestic arguments and violence. Women not wanting to go to work in the 50's because she wanted to fit the 50's housewife stereotype but her man had trouble with booze and left the family (Most claim that the husband died or left). Children is all they can help so say the social worker. Some are truly happy no matter what, they got each other and that is all they need, no front needed.
What do I know? Just images that flash in my head. Nobody lives where they grew up except for visit. Some tell me that nothing has changed. One thing bothered me: Betty criticized other families in how they raised their kids but did they criticize in how she raised their's? My point why can't get you work together instead of constantly proving yourself to each other since you claim to be "God's children." But religious people are not exactly saints either. TV doesn't help either. The point is: you are boxed in like everybody else with little time to spare. When your contribution is done, no one remembers you but the building and its time for you to save.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Gus Roberts
This is a poem inspired about a student who integrated the Charlotte, NC public school system. It isn't necessarily about him.
GUYS LIKE GUS?
Central High: slipping the through cracks
Lost in intensity: the city’s bleached wax
It was 1957: wanted to play pool
Daddy Mommy; wanted me at school
Carolina Tar Heel: struck me in the ass
Sit in the back: away from the class
“Wait then scream rape” Girls, say: I’m boring:
“Bait or see Jail” Guys, say: I’m nothing
Football team and Principal protect me from herd
Went to prom on a separate cord with some curd
Graduated on time: no fare to roam
Family to friends: no place to hum
Guys like Gus, flies & tries
Guys like Gus, mourn & worn
Guys like Gus, pitied and witted on X-mas
Central High: living through tracks
Hovering the intensity: at the city’s beat tax
It was 1992: can’t play the fool
Mommy & daddy; kept me at school
Carolina Blue; is all over my ass
Lying in front: away from the past
“Wait and scream rape” Girls, say: sorry
“Bait and see jail” Guys, say: lordy
Visitors and gatekeepers protected me from harm
Went to Rom on a constructed card with no charm
Reincarnated on-line; my faire to roam
Brothers to sisters; my place to bum
Guys like Gus, tries & dies;
Guys like Gus, worn & scorn;
Guys like Gus, witted and kidded on X-mas
© 2006 by Davan S. Mani
GUYS LIKE GUS?
Central High: slipping the through cracks
Lost in intensity: the city’s bleached wax
It was 1957: wanted to play pool
Daddy Mommy; wanted me at school
Carolina Tar Heel: struck me in the ass
Sit in the back: away from the class
“Wait then scream rape” Girls, say: I’m boring:
“Bait or see Jail” Guys, say: I’m nothing
Football team and Principal protect me from herd
Went to prom on a separate cord with some curd
Graduated on time: no fare to roam
Family to friends: no place to hum
Guys like Gus, flies & tries
Guys like Gus, mourn & worn
Guys like Gus, pitied and witted on X-mas
Central High: living through tracks
Hovering the intensity: at the city’s beat tax
It was 1992: can’t play the fool
Mommy & daddy; kept me at school
Carolina Blue; is all over my ass
Lying in front: away from the past
“Wait and scream rape” Girls, say: sorry
“Bait and see jail” Guys, say: lordy
Visitors and gatekeepers protected me from harm
Went to Rom on a constructed card with no charm
Reincarnated on-line; my faire to roam
Brothers to sisters; my place to bum
Guys like Gus, tries & dies;
Guys like Gus, worn & scorn;
Guys like Gus, witted and kidded on X-mas
© 2006 by Davan S. Mani
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