Celebrations

Thank Shangdi It's Friday!

"Bitch about the weather all you want, I don't give a damn!"

Landmarks

The second leg of Pope Francis's historic visit to the United States continues today in New York City.

Francis gave a speech to the United Nations General Assembly today, and although some of us had hoped that his delivering it in Spanish meant he would be more blunt with this gaggle of autocrats and tyrants than he has been in the past, the speech was a fairly tepid laundry list of platitudes.

It was the first time the flag of the Vatican was raised alongside the rest of the 193 member countries (Vatican City has "observer" status only).

Having wasted his time speaking to the pushmi-pullyu arguing society that is the United Nations, Francis will visit some local landmarks in the city, and conclude his stay by celebrating a Mass at Madison Square Garden.




As I noted yesterday, I fully expect the polarized media coverage of Francis's visit to continue unabated. There has even been a suggestion (from the left, of course) that House Speaker John Boehner's announcement of his retirement today was sparked by guilt feelings he experienced while listening to Francis's address to Congress yesterday.
I kid you not...

Things That Make Me Happy: Championship Edition

For the first time since 1985, my beloved Kansas City Royals are a Division Champion! Last night's 10-4 cruise over the Seattle Mariners at Kauffman Stadium gave the Royals the American League Central Division title. It is their first Central Division title since the league went to three divisions in 1994. Their most recent division championship prior to last night was the AL West Division pennant in 1985. They won they World Series that year, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Savor the moment...

"To hell with that 'Wild Card' shit. Division Champions, baby!"

Starter Johnny Cueto turned in a second straight solid start, wiggling and shimmying his way to his first win for the Royals since August 15. Johnny is now 10-12, 3.45 ERA. After all of his struggles, it must have been especially gratifying for him to be the winning pitcher in the title-clincher...

"Hay más de donde éste vino!"

And now that the weather is turning colder, perhaps my wardrobe could use a new hoodie...

"Sweet! Do you think they make them in my size?"

It seems unlikely, but I'll check for you if I wind up ordering one for myself...

For Those Not Paying Close Attention...

Until Next Time...

One of the things you get used to if you're from Kansas City (or, like me, consider it your adopted hometown) is the penchant for those in the media to connect every positive development in the city that makes the news with "Kansas City," the famous and frequently-recorded rhythm & blues hit by the legendary songwriting team of Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. I flat-out guarantee that the song will be featured at least once on a telecast of a Royals playoff game. There is an excellent chance that we will also be subjected to multiple playings of "Kansas City" from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!

There is no point in resisting such nonsense, of course, so for today's send-off celebrating the Royals I have chosen to steer into the skid with one of my favorite recordings of the Lieber/Stoller song, an instrumental version recorded live 25 years ago by saxophonist Ace Cannon, one of my dad's favorite artists (miss you, dad). Enjoy...