Cruisin' and Bluesin'

Thank Zankou It's Friday!

"No, I will NOT light your barbecue grill with a fireball!"

Avast!

My best friend Skip and his wife set sail yesterday afternoon from Southampton, England on a cruise ship known as the Seven Seas Voyager.

It is a very nice boat, and definitely to be preferred over any airplane I've ever seen...

Saint-Malo

Their first port of call today is Saint-Malo, France. The city has
a rich and colorful history, and I look forward to hearing Skip's report.

"I've always wondered what French ants would taste like..."

Maybe you'll find out someday, old friend...never say never...

Welcome Back

"Boom!"

After six innings last night, my beloved Kansas City Royals led the Detroit Tigers 4-3 at Kauffman Stadium. Before they could get the last nine outs, however, the bullpen gave up seven runs, and the team's five-game winning streak ended with an ugly 10-4 blowout loss.
It also ended the team's nine-game winning streak at home.

The news wasn't all bad, though. Rookie LF Brett Eibner, just back from the DL, was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and hit his first major league home run.

"So they're starting a new winning streak tonight?"

Highly doubtful...the Tigers starter tonight has only given up one run in his last 34 1/3 innings...only allowed 13 total hits in his last five starts combined...

Just Say the Words, Mr. President

From the pen of Chip Bok, whose editorial cartoons you should read often, as I do.

Until Next Time...

On June 17, 1967 R&B artist Otis Redding closed the second day of the historic Monterey International Pop Festival with an incendiary set.

Mid-'80s VHS tape recording

Redding's performance was one of the highlights of the popular documentary film of the festival, and it really brought Otis to the attention of music fans outside the R&B market. It certainly made me a big fan once I had seen the movie as a high school sophomore in early 1969.

It is also especially poignant because Otis died in a plane crash less than six months later.




Today's send-off is Otis's heartfelt Monterey rendition of his first major Billboard Hot 100 hit, "I've Been Loving You Too Long." Enjoy...and think of what might have been...