They're still racing out at the Trestles,
But that blood it never burned in her veins,
Now I hear she's got a house up in Fairview,
And a style she's trying to maintain.
Well, if she wants to see me,
You can tell her that I'm easily found,
Tell her there's a spot out 'neath Abram's Bridge,
And tell her, there's a darkness on the edge of town.
Everybody's got a secret, Sonny,
Something that they just can't face,
Some folks spend their whole lives trying to keep it,
They carry it with them every step that they take.
Till some day they just cut it loose
Cut it loose or let it drag 'em down,
Where no one asks any questions,
or looks too long in your face,
In the darkness on the edge of town.
Some folks are born into a good life,
Other folks get it anyway, anyhow,
I lost my money and I lost my wife,
Them things don't seem to matter much to me now.
Tonight I'll be on that hill 'cause I can't stop,
I'll be on that hill with everything I got,
Lives on the line where dreams are found and lost,
I'll be there on time and I'll pay the cost,
For wanting things that can only be found
In the darkness on the edge of town.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
A list constantly being updated
Ways I am like Charlie:
- very grumpy in the morning
- slow to wake up
- fast eater
- stubborn
- sore most of the time
- very protective of Cass and Fielder
Ways Cass is like Fielder:
- adorable
- easily excited
- does a little dance when really excited
- easily distracted by birds
- very shy in large crowds
- very devoted to Charlie and I
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
Le Petit Prince
So I've had this post rolling around in my head for some time. There's quite a lot of other stuff going on in there too but this post has survived in the cage for a while now.
Prince Fielder is my favorite baseball player. I don't know when this happened, that is that he became my favorite. Prince Fielder happened on May 9, 1984 at least according to Wikipedia and our accepted definition of when someone's life begins. Prince became a Milwaukee Brewer in June of 2002, in the first round with the seventh overall pick. This pick would be somewhat important in the novel Moneyball, in that it set the stage for Billy Beane's Oakland Atheltics to select Nick Swisher. It's one of my favorite stories in the book, because the rest of the book is devoted to how the A's saw through conventional baseball analysis to select players based on their on field performance as opposed to their look. Then during the section on the draft when the Brewers take Fielder the book takes the time to ridicule his weight and speed. I'm not sure that Beane shared this view, he probably just thought he couldn't afford to keep Fielder (a correct assumption it turned out) and wanted Swisher instead. Still, Michael Lewis at the very least can suck on .282/.390/.540 lifetime. Fielder could be argued to be the best player in that draft class.
Honestly though his skill is only part of the reason I like Prince as much as I do. I have wrote love sonnets in my heart for the way the man attacks the ball at the plate. Baseballs grow up hearing scary stories about Prince Fielder. He also is way faster than he would seem and once he gets going it's an amazing sight. I've seen him lower his shoulder into Yadier Molina at the plate and then help him up and give a pat on the back when Yadi hung onto the ball. I've seen Fielder laughing and enjoying the game as often as I've seen him with an expressionless scowl as he steps in to take a swing.
The Milwaukee Brewers are my favorite baseball team. They are my hometown team and while that doesn't mean as much now as it used to in terms of exposure they still remain etched in my memories of childhood. I cheer for them when they lose and when they win. This past season was the best the Brewers have ever had and I cheered for them. This upcoming season could be their worst and I will cheer for them.
Prince Fielder is not a Milwaukee Brewer anymore. He signed a nine year $214 million contract to play for the Detroit Tigers. At the time most focused in on what an obscene amount of money that is, and it literally is obscene. If you hear about someone making $214 million the first word you think of is "F**K." I honestly didn't think about the money that much. I just thought about how I would miss seeing Prince in a Brewer uniform.
I knew this was coming. I knew that a team would offer a young All-Star (with pedigree even!) a ridiculous amount of money that a team like the Brewers couldn't dream of offering. I didn't know it would be the Tigers. Many reports had linked the Cubs as being in the running, and I was secretly excited. Unlike most sports fans I don't really ascribe to rivalries and hatred of everything under a teams banner. I don't like the Yankees. I like Curtis Granderson. I can keep these things separate. I don't like the Cubs (settle down, Dave). I like Prince Fielder. I live in Chicago. I can see the benefit in that setup.
Prince had prepared me for the eventuality anyway. Fielder's agent was Scott Boras for a reason. I knew this. He knew this. He had said during the season that it was in all likelihood his last in Milwaukee. It's not what he wanted necessarily, but as a young commodity he was going to cash in while he could. I can't really begrudge him for this. He is set for life, as are his loved ones.
I'd have loved for Prince to be a Brewer for life but he's not and that's how it is. Baseball is a game but it's a business. Anyone who can make money off of playing the game and doesn't is a fool and isn't really looking out for his own interests. People talk about how small the difference between contracts are but not making as much as you can while you can is just selling yourself short and letting others make money off of you.
I named my dog after Prince Fielder and she is the most wonderful little muppet in the entire world. I am happy with this decision.
Prince Fielder will be coming with the Detroit Tigers to Chicago to play the White Sox several times this season. I plan on being there to cheer for him. Prince may win the World Series with Detroit this year or the next or anytime in the future. I will cheer for him then. Prince may win an MVP trophy and break the single season record for home runs. I will cheer for him then. Prince may foul a ball off his foot on opening day, completely shattering his ankle and derailing his career. I will be cheering for him when he comes back.
Prince Fielder is my favorite baseball player.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Purrfect vacation
I submitted a review to TripAdvisor after our stay. I'm not sure I did it right.
Our resort.
My review is still pending. Let's see if it gets accepted. Here's the review :
I thought I should share my experiences at the Sunset Jamaica Grande since I can provide a somewhat unique perspective. I am one of the cats who lives here, you see, and I doubt many travelers get the chance to hear from us, since most of you are grungy and sketchy looking we tend to scurry when you come near.
I've been living on the grounds of this hotel for several months now. I venture into the island on occasion, usually out of necessity, very rarely to sight see. The town is covered in litter and while this provides ample hiding places it is not very picturesque. Many attractions are too touristy much of the time for my tastes, resulting primarily from the cruise ships that dock in the bay. I mention the ships to say that it would seem beneficial for guests of the resort to know when the cruise ships will be docking so that they may schedule some island trips for when things are less crowded. If Sunset Jamaica Grande provides such a schedule it has never been placed where I could see it.
On to the resort itself, the grounds truly are beautiful and that is part of the reason I stay. The south beach stretches far and a smaller cove to the north provides a secluded spot for activities or relaxation. The grounds during the day and night provide many alcoves and nooks for me to explore, and guests to find some privacy I suppose. It is amazing that a hotel of this size does afford some privacy but the careful layout does just that.
Ah, the size of the hotel. It is rather large, the largest in Ocho Rios to be sure. As such it accommodates a rather wide cross-section of people, much like a mid-level hotel. Don't expect an isolated, upper-class atmosphere here as everything from retirees, spring-breakers (whatever on earth that is), and families with sticky faced children who try to pet me come to stay. Honestly, parents, I am at best an island cat. I could be diseased, although I am fortunately quite healthy thank you. Regardless, show some concern and keep your kids' hands away from me.
Most of you white women have too many tattoos and are quite unattractive up close. Use some sunscreen, your skin is gross. And learn some restraint. It's noon, you should not be "five drinks deep." Ack. Sorry, that is my way of indicating I coughed up a hairball in disgust.
The rooms at the resort are also much like a mid-range hotel. It's decent accommodation with good balconies and views but not many amenities. I don't venture much into the cabana suites but several of those face into the back of utility buildings. I imagine that could be very aggravating for a guest who paid the extra fees. Also it's much easier for cats to get into these cabanas. Several of my friends highly recommend it.
Much like many of the human guests I have difficulty getting into the restaurants for dinner. I eat at the buffet most often and the food there is decent. Better than kibble at the very least. The system they have for dinner reservations for the guests is, even to my simple mind, moronic. Guests line up to be there at 830am to book reservations for the next night. And the line system is chaotic. Most guests could stand to be more civil, but the resort itself is responsible for the poor system. It seems like things book up far too quickly. Many times I suggest you follow my lead and simply try to walk in without reservations. The food in the Italian restaurant is quite good.
The staff is very friendly for the most part. They don't hesitate to provide the occasional bite of food when droppings become rare. Me and my friends do keep to ourselves mostly though, and are not like the riff raff you may find in other places. We consider ourselves a bit more proper. We would never jump up on the tables to steal food, even if left behind by an inconsiderate guest who desperately needs to get to the beach. The kitchen staff greatly prefers if I stay out of the kitchen areas. I'd imagine this goes for human guests as well.
For those interested I have in fact visited other hotels. Quite a few actually. I am originally from the southern end of the island and have made my way along the coast, stopping at the many resorts along the way for brief stays until my wanderlust awoke and pushed my furry legs to venture forward. Many times it is due to the bands at the resorts becoming unbearable. One can only hear so many Bob Marley covers. Play some Desmond Dekker you fools. Oh, but I digress. The point being I have seen many island resorts in my time and in truth plan on venturing onward quite soon from this location. I hope the next home I find is someplace a little less busy. I could use a change of pace and long for some more quiet evenings where the only sound is the soft purr of the ocean waves.
Irie mon,
Jameowca
UPDATE: My review got accepted somehow. As of 11:18AM CST one person has found it helpful.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147312-d567171-r127102829-Sunset_Jamaica_Grande_Resort-Ocho_Rios_Jamaica.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT
UPDATE: They took the review down. Last I saw it had 17 people who found it helpful. They didn't send any email or anything, they just removed it. Which is too bad because when I wrote it I was looking forward to an email that said "We don't believe you are actually a cat."
Our resort.
My review is still pending. Let's see if it gets accepted. Here's the review :
I thought I should share my experiences at the Sunset Jamaica Grande since I can provide a somewhat unique perspective. I am one of the cats who lives here, you see, and I doubt many travelers get the chance to hear from us, since most of you are grungy and sketchy looking we tend to scurry when you come near.
I've been living on the grounds of this hotel for several months now. I venture into the island on occasion, usually out of necessity, very rarely to sight see. The town is covered in litter and while this provides ample hiding places it is not very picturesque. Many attractions are too touristy much of the time for my tastes, resulting primarily from the cruise ships that dock in the bay. I mention the ships to say that it would seem beneficial for guests of the resort to know when the cruise ships will be docking so that they may schedule some island trips for when things are less crowded. If Sunset Jamaica Grande provides such a schedule it has never been placed where I could see it.
On to the resort itself, the grounds truly are beautiful and that is part of the reason I stay. The south beach stretches far and a smaller cove to the north provides a secluded spot for activities or relaxation. The grounds during the day and night provide many alcoves and nooks for me to explore, and guests to find some privacy I suppose. It is amazing that a hotel of this size does afford some privacy but the careful layout does just that.
Ah, the size of the hotel. It is rather large, the largest in Ocho Rios to be sure. As such it accommodates a rather wide cross-section of people, much like a mid-level hotel. Don't expect an isolated, upper-class atmosphere here as everything from retirees, spring-breakers (whatever on earth that is), and families with sticky faced children who try to pet me come to stay. Honestly, parents, I am at best an island cat. I could be diseased, although I am fortunately quite healthy thank you. Regardless, show some concern and keep your kids' hands away from me.
Most of you white women have too many tattoos and are quite unattractive up close. Use some sunscreen, your skin is gross. And learn some restraint. It's noon, you should not be "five drinks deep." Ack. Sorry, that is my way of indicating I coughed up a hairball in disgust.
The rooms at the resort are also much like a mid-range hotel. It's decent accommodation with good balconies and views but not many amenities. I don't venture much into the cabana suites but several of those face into the back of utility buildings. I imagine that could be very aggravating for a guest who paid the extra fees. Also it's much easier for cats to get into these cabanas. Several of my friends highly recommend it.
Much like many of the human guests I have difficulty getting into the restaurants for dinner. I eat at the buffet most often and the food there is decent. Better than kibble at the very least. The system they have for dinner reservations for the guests is, even to my simple mind, moronic. Guests line up to be there at 830am to book reservations for the next night. And the line system is chaotic. Most guests could stand to be more civil, but the resort itself is responsible for the poor system. It seems like things book up far too quickly. Many times I suggest you follow my lead and simply try to walk in without reservations. The food in the Italian restaurant is quite good.
The staff is very friendly for the most part. They don't hesitate to provide the occasional bite of food when droppings become rare. Me and my friends do keep to ourselves mostly though, and are not like the riff raff you may find in other places. We consider ourselves a bit more proper. We would never jump up on the tables to steal food, even if left behind by an inconsiderate guest who desperately needs to get to the beach. The kitchen staff greatly prefers if I stay out of the kitchen areas. I'd imagine this goes for human guests as well.
For those interested I have in fact visited other hotels. Quite a few actually. I am originally from the southern end of the island and have made my way along the coast, stopping at the many resorts along the way for brief stays until my wanderlust awoke and pushed my furry legs to venture forward. Many times it is due to the bands at the resorts becoming unbearable. One can only hear so many Bob Marley covers. Play some Desmond Dekker you fools. Oh, but I digress. The point being I have seen many island resorts in my time and in truth plan on venturing onward quite soon from this location. I hope the next home I find is someplace a little less busy. I could use a change of pace and long for some more quiet evenings where the only sound is the soft purr of the ocean waves.
Irie mon,
Jameowca
UPDATE: My review got accepted somehow. As of 11:18AM CST one person has found it helpful.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147312-d567171-r127102829-Sunset_Jamaica_Grande_Resort-Ocho_Rios_Jamaica.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT
UPDATE: They took the review down. Last I saw it had 17 people who found it helpful. They didn't send any email or anything, they just removed it. Which is too bad because when I wrote it I was looking forward to an email that said "We don't believe you are actually a cat."
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Everything aye ree or something
T-minus seven and a half hours or so until Cass and I go get our respective grooves back. I'm stoked.
I'm not crazy looking forward to some jerk on a cell phone ruining my sandcastle though.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
What day is today?
It's Cass's Birthday. What a day for a birthday. Let's all have some cake.
That will either make you happy or give you nightmares. Love you.
That will either make you happy or give you nightmares. Love you.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Baby making
Cass and I are watching Mad Men. It's very good, but when Duck Phillips is on all I can think is "man that guy looks like Charles Grodin and Mike Nelson had a baby."There might be some Bob Newhart in there too.
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