Apropos of nothing, it's absolutely gorgeous outside here in Ottawa today, 23+ degrees, warmest place in Canada, and continuing to shatter record highs for March. Of course Saturday will be cold with mixed snow/rain precipitation.
Update: 3 hrs later, 4:30 it's 25 Celcius with Humidex of 29...I love it.
OK so 2012 has begun, so with that, here's a Top 5 list of what 2011 brought me:
1) Getting married. This should be no surprise, surrounded by friends and family (even though some were missing and we'd have loved to have seen them) it was a great day and more fun than I could have possibly expected. Having people make such an effort to be there for us meant so much, and making official my desire to spend the rest of the days with the girl I love was an unbeatable day. (It also featured a stellar soundtrack)
2) Cardinals win World Series #11 in 2011. This was the most improbable run to the Championship that I've ever seen, and in any other year, would be the #1 highlight of the year. Everyone knows the details by now, and if you don't, well then, I'm not going over it again. David Freese swung himself into legend, Tony LaRussa worked magic and fostered belief, and if we had to lose him, it was the best end for Pujols in Busch.
3) Seeing Robert Plant at Jazzfest/Soundgarden at Bluesfest. The greatness of Zep has never been in doubt, and having a chance to hear the voice live was something I wasn't about to pass up, and it surpassed expectations, especially with a number of Zeppelin tunes and a stellar, absolutely cracking back-up band. (The fantastically named Band of Joy). I rode the high of that show all the way until my next show...Soundgarden. Soundgarden was probably the closest thing we had to Led Zeppelin growing up, heavy, loud, and great. Whereas they were always lumped in with the grunge sound, they were always just that little bit more heavy than the rest. Seeing them live was a borderline unbelievable experience, hearing the heavy rotation from my high school and university days live in all its LOUD glory. They were a sonic force, and combined with the Robert Plant show barely 10 days before, was the greatest 1-2 punch of shows I'll ever see, at least for a while. (It will be hard pressed to beat, considering Soundgarden was broken up, and Robert Plant is Robert Plant.)
4) Meeting little Reena Mehta. Cutest 6lbs I've ever held. This was really the year where babies took over. This was the only one we met this year, but both my best men and their wives are expecting babies in the Spring, so I'm very excited for both of them. I look forward to enjoying watching friends grow into fatherhood and motherhood in the years to come. I might even join them sometime.
5) Spending my first Christmas with my wife in St. Louis with my dad's family, just as he spent his first Christmas with my mother in St. Louis 30+ yrs ago. It was fun to experience a midwest Christmas (50 degrees Farenheit on the 25th doesn't constitute cold, no matter what anyone says). I went to the Schwier Family Christmas Party on Christmas Eve, and got to hear stories about my dad as a kid, and to hear just how much he was missed there, even though he'd not lived in the country for over 40 years. Then Boxing Day was spent with the other half of dad's family, relaxing again and hearing lots of great family stories. Best of all was the time spent with my soon to be 88yr old grandmother, who's still sharp as a tack, but as my only remaining grandparent, one who I cherish still having a chance to spend time with and knowing that she enjoys it as much as I do.
So, it might not seem big or flashy, but those were the highlights of my 2011. All the best to everyone for 2012.
So you spent all your time talking about the STL tradition, how much you respect the Cardinals all the history, etc. You were poised to be the greatest Cardinal of all time...Saying how much you like the community...and then you bolt for the $$ and the AL so you can be a DH when you get into your late 30s...ANAHEIM??? Jesus, at least go to the Cubs so we still get to see you. The glowing baseball tradition of Disney's team...Ugh. Guess I don't have to worry about that Pujols jersey anymore.
Tim McCarver finally shows some lucidity: "How did this happen?" Joe Buck calling to echo his late great legendary father Jack's call of Kirby Puckett's Game 6 walkoff in 1991...what a Game...unbelievable...nearly a week later and I still have trouble believing that happened.
I've now had a few days to soak it all up, digest and reflect, and I've come to the conclusion: That was one of the greatest World Series' ever. The Cards and Rangers was supposed to be the Rangers power destroying the Cards, who were just supposed to be happy to have made it this far, and yet, it ended up being a very closely matched series. From the first 2 games being so tight, and leaving STL split, to Pujols' Game 3 performance for the ages, to Game 6 (of which I think people will write books)where the Cards were down to their last strike in the 9th and 10th innings, came back from behind 5 different times, and local boy Freese came through twice to break the Rangers' spirits and force the first Game 7 since 2002. Game 7 was nearly anti-climactic, except that it was an exciting game too, with Freese yet again coming up clutch to tie all but sealing his MVP performance, and a 5th inning where the Cards scored 2 runs on 3 walks and 2 hit-by-pitches to go up by 3. Of all the sports I watch, all the favourite teams, this is the team that is in my blood, and has been with me since I can remember. The Cards were in the World Series in 1982 (coincidentally against their now division-rival Brewers) and I was in St. Louis, visiting my grandparents, when according to them, I just became fascinated with the Series and the Cards, which no doubt thrilled my grandfather, who made sure to outfit me with Cards gear, including a 1982 Series Champs ballcap that I still have today, and a Stuffed Fredbird (the team mascot - who sat clutched in my hands for Game 6 and 7 this year - laugh if you want). Obviously I don't recall those days as I was 2, but I have clear recollection in 1987 of being in tears after Minnesota won Game 7, and suffering through the dry spell of the 90s with only 1996's NLCS loss to the Braves, coupled with Ozzie's retirement to make it worse. There was just something this year, with Wainwright being out for the season, Pujols missing time with a broken hand, that I just wrote the season off early. But then I started to pay attention in late August and the math said they still could do it. That drive to the wildcard was epic, culminating in the fantastic Game 162 night where baseball witnessed the most amazing night in a long time. After that night, watching with my friend Neil, he said to me, that's amazing, but I don't think you'll get by Philly. I had to be realistic and agree, it didn't seem likely to beat the best team in baseball in the DS. But lo and behold...it all came down to Game 5, a pitching duel for the ages, between best friends, Cy Young winners, ex-Blue Jays Carpenter and Halladay. What a game that was...the NLCS was a blur, and then the Series. But, here we are, Cards win World Series #11 in 2011, and I'm on such a high from it, the Rams could go 1-15 again this year and I wouldn't be phased; the Habs could miss the playoffs, I wouldn't worry. Because this year, the whole world got a dose of what I've been having for nearly 30 years : Cardinals Fever.
Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a music fan(atic). I'm the guy who can tell you who sang a song, what the song is, who was in the band, etc, etc. However, the joy of music, is that there's just so much of it, you're never done discovering it. Getting into music is really like pushing a snowball down a gigantic mountain, because it's just a little bit at the start, and as time goes on it just grows and grows and it amazes you what you've got from where you started.
Case in point: Talking Heads, the 80s New Wave band (I hate the term New Wave, but it seems apt here). I know them, I could name you a couple band members, some big songs and some albums. However, I definitely wouldn't say I was completely aware of their work. Last month, I was watching Bill Maher's Religulous, and a song came on over the closing credits, and I was just completely grabbed by it. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I went on IMDB, checked out, and found that the song was 'Road to Nowhere' by Talking Heads. It's been in my head ever since, so simple, yet so good at the same time. I love the song.
The great joy that I get from discovering this "new" (to me) song is exhilirating, like winning a prize, and it just reminds me why I love listening to music, and why I'll always be open to hearing new things.
To be honest, I cannot think of any time in my life that I've actually been affected/upset at the death of a politician. I think that speaks to Jack Layton's character, and that he was much more than a politician, which in my mind, had been a dirty word for nearly the last decade. I think it was that he came across very honestly, and more believeable than most in his field, and his convictions were strong. You sensed that he cared, even when he wasn't at work or there weren't media covering him.
Someone on the coverage today compared his 2011 campaign and fight with Cancer to another Canadian who we all celebrate every September: Terry Fox. He too made a courageous stand against the horrible disease, and Candians strive to uphold his wonderful example. I would venture that, maybe not today, but years from now, people will still be talking about Jack, and that he deserves a place amongst influential Canadian figures, who showed courage in the face of such a tough fight.
I don't want to speculate on the future of the NDP, but I have to echo Peter Mansbridge, who said that the NDP success this year really was because of Jack, and many voted for Jack, not necessarily the NDP. He was just such a likeable guy who seemed so sincere, and the positivity which he brought to the campaign this year made me so pleased, as opposed to the usual crap you have to deal with come election time.
My only Jack Layton story took place in the summer of 2008, I was working my first government contract in downtown Ottawa, and came in to work one morning, pushed the button for the elevator, waited, and when the doors popped open, who should walk out but Jack and a couple companions...he gave me a smile and kept on walking, but I remembered thinking at the time, how nice it was to get that smile, when I'm sure 99%of other people wouldn't have even noticed someone was there.
