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August 31, 2004
World Con
Like so many of my peers, I will be at WorldCon in Boston this weekend. For those attending, here's my schedule. Please stop by and say hi at some point.
Friday, 3 p.m., SFF.net suite, Sheraton
Autographing
Saturday, 1 p.m., Trailer Park, Grand Ballroom
Substituting for Jeff Walker, I'll be on hand to introduce trailers and take questions on upcoming movies.
Saturday 2:30pm Remembering Julie Schwartz (0.5 hrs) H206
Bob Greenberger, Barry Short, Jerry Weist
Julie Schwartz was a well-known SF and comics personaliby who died over the last year. He had an interesting history, having published the "first" fanzine, and then was a literary agent for numerous SF authors. He created the "silver age" of comic book superheroes, and had a hand in the creation of comics fandom. Remember him.
Saturday 4:00pm Kaffeeklatsch ConSuite
Kaffeeklatsches are an opportunity for fans to relax and drink coffee (or tea) with their favorite SF personality. Spend an hour with your favorite author or artist…we don't promise that everybody will start off awake, but we'll supply the caffeine to get you going!
Kaffeeklatsches will take place in the ConSuite, and are by advance sign-up only. They'll run through the middle of the afternoon each day of the con.
Sunday 10:00 a H311:
Star Trek: A Reflection of Cultures?
How has each series reflected its time?
Bob Greenberger, Les Johnson, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Jim Mann (m)
Sunday, 6 p.m., SFF.net suite, Sheraton
Reading. I haven't done one of these before so right now I'm not sure what I will read from. I'll likely ask Keith DeCandido for a suggestion form either A Time to Love or A Time to Hate.
Monday 12:00 n H307:
Comics: Conventional Wisdom Was…
Superman could never be in a team book because he was way too powerful to be a team player. Fans held this notion for years (somewhat encouraged by DC editors). Yet Superman joined the Justice League and sales are through the roof. And take the Bizarro world: the conventional wisdom is that new stories can't be retold because they can't be funny and still politically correct. Is this true?
What are other bits of comics' conventional wisdom that may not be as true as we once thought?
Bob Greenberger, Steve Saffel, Barry Short (m)
Monday 1:00 p H301:
The Flash
There have been enough Flashes (and family members) that they'd practically be their own team book, if they appeared together enough and weren't separated by a thousand years or so. Now that Bart Allen has taken on the handle of Kid Flash, let's look back at the Flashes, from Jay to Barry to Wally to Bart, and all those peripheral characters. What would have happened if: Barry had not died to prevent the Crisis; if Wally hadn't matured from his young adult smart alec/lecher status; if the Tornado Twins hadn't died? (And why has there been so little about the Tornado Twins, anyway?) Just what is our fascination with people who can run really fast? And—is the Flash really better than Green Lantern(s)?
Steve Antczak, Tom Galloway (m), Bob Greenberger
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 10:07 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
August 30, 2004
Moving Day
It was not at all a relaxed weekend.
A mere four days after returning from a wonderful, relaxed vacation, the dreaded day finally came.
We were up at 5 a.m. and on the road at 5:47 since Kate had a check-in time of Noon. Since there was no knowing what construction or other traffic delays
might creep up, we had to make sure there was plenty of time.
Turns out, we sailed without interruption. Even with a quick stop for breakfast, we were on the other side of Baltimore at 9:45. This necessitated a longer stop to kill time and even with that, we arrived in front of Lafayette Hall at 11:30. They had it very well organized so we were given 15 minutes to unload and were then given directions to a parking garage where had three hours free. The unloading took all of three minutes. The wait then began since the building has a tiny elevator, barely big enough for four people. With her on the 5th floor, there was little we could carry up the stairs easily.
Finally, our turn arrived and began moving her in. Her room is a double, small by anyone’s standards. They provided her with bed, desk, closet, and dresser.
Her double and the next one share one bathroom. The room is equipped with air conditioner, cable, high-speed Internet access, a mini-fridge and a microwave.
Her roommate, Amy from Pittsburgh, had arrived earlier (so much for a Noon check-in) and she more or less equitably arranged matters, taking the bigger dresser but giving Kate the larger closet, and so on.
Before beginning the grueling eight-hour drive home (compared with the breezy five hour trip south), we had brunch with old friends. Our location put us near a fabric store so as Deb popped in there to browse, Robbie and I took advantage and hit Toys R Us. I found the first of the new Corgi releases of the diecast scale model Batman vehicles. This was a replica of the 1940s Batmobile and it’s cool. Considering I grew up loving the Corgi vehicles in the 1960s, it’s neat to see more of them after all this time. Can’t tell you the last time I bought a toy for myself.
So, has it sunk in yet? Not quite. Things have been so hectic for so long, we need a good week or normalcy before the empty room at the end of the hall becomes obvious.
Have we heard from her yet? No. Somewhere late in the afternoon, Rob (who is already missing her terribly), sent her a text message and the reply confirmed she was doing fine.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 10:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 27, 2004
Going for the Gold
Well, I’ve finished digging through e-mail, returned phone calls, and moved material from one stage to the next. Things are back in order and life at DC is good.
So of course it’s time to turn attention back to home.
Kate has been packing and cleaning, cleaning and packing, with only a little time given to visiting as the hours wind down. Saturday morning, at 6 a.m., we begin a new round of Beat the Clock as we race south down I-95, trying to arrive at GWU in time for the scheduled move in. Originally, people on her fifth floor could move in starting at 2 p.m. While we were away, they moved it to Noon, which we only learned on Thursday. We get only 15 minutes at curbside to unload the car and then go to park it before the wait for an elevator begins.
Since I’ve been mentioning a few things, I thought I’d do a quick update on life:
I found a sales rep at Cablevision to yell at, but got only stunned confusion as I pointed out the whole digital conversion is really in 2006, not 2005, and only if 85% of the populace had converted. We settled on my receiving the upgrade to their I/O Digital Gold package for the next 12 months at the current price I’m paying. I’m sure this is not an isolated incidence or a unique promotion so I don’t think I won any points. On the other hand, I get 12 months to sample the product so can make a rational decision next summer. We got the box on Wednesday and so far we’ve had little time to give it a true test.
That used car I test drove was pretty good. Also spent time on Wednesday having a trusted mechanic look it over. Turns out I was right in thinking it was pretty good and I am currently in the process of buying it so Robbie will have something to train on and subsequently drive.
While catching up on the comics web sites, I noticed the press release on The Spirit movie. I quickly sent an e-mail to Joann Jovinelly, my way cool editor on the Will Eisner biography for Rosen Books and was thrilled to find we have just enough time to adjust my sidebar on The Spirit in other media. Nothing like keeping my work current.
Speaking of my work, I want to endorse Peter David’s efforts to get all of you to read the Fallen Angel collection (or the monthly, your choice). As the editor of the collected edition (with stories by Peter and art by David Lopez and Fernando Blanco), I can speak well for how good a reading experience it is. The intro by Harlan ain’t too shabby either.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 03:21 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 26, 2004
And We're Back
It was wonderful.
It was relaxed, sunny, very warm, and nice. A great way to wind down the summer and spend some time with the entire family before Kate becomes a freshman. There’s a lot to be said for all-inclusive resorts.
We stayed near Playa del Carmen at one of the Iberostar chain’s locales. Being a European chain, we shared the beach with people from all around Europe so the plethora or languages and accents were nice. Quite often announcements, already being made in Spanish and English, mixed in Italian, French, and German.
During the day, we eschewed the activities, of which there were many choices, and stayed at the pool or the beach. We did make it into Playa del Carmen for a few hours of souvenir shopping and took a half-day trip to see the Mayan ruins at Tulum – very impressive.
Each night there was a 20-minute pre-show, a five-minute comedy break and then an hour’s main show. And each night was pretty cheesy. Most nights it involved bringing audience members onto the stage and finding fresh ways to embarrass them. Kate and I got selected the first night to participate, without being told what we’d be doing. Well, we were one of six couples asked to dance a sexy Merengue, not something either of us had trained in. I wanted to have some fun; Kate wanted to find a dark corner and hide. Still, we strutted our stuff and after a few minutes, the music ended and an audience member was invited to vote one couple off the stage. We managed to be the third couple voted off, not bad at all.
Anyway, Sunday night, Kate wanted to see their stage version of Aladdin so we agreed. When they got to the Genie’s arrival, it was pretty interesting. Aladdin and Genie sit and talk about the three wishes. Aladdin suddenly began talking about snow…and Christmas and they suddenly began dancing to a cover version of Wham’s “Last Christmas.” For his second wish, Aladdin wanted to see Michael Jackson perform and lo and behold, there was a guy in an MJ mask, moonwalking and everything. Thankfully, for the third wish, he wanted to be a prince and turned, not into the purple-clad sex symbol, but Prince Ali. Very, very odd.
On Monday, it was a salute to the movies in one theatre or a salute to musicals in the other. We were debating and as Robbie was purchasing something from a vendor, we heard the lush theme to the original Star Trek TV series. Sure enough, the chorus came out in Las Vegas style sequins and feathers and did a dance that resembled nothing from the 23rd century. It did, though, help us make a decision. The movie dancing was fun, the selections varied although leaning heavily on contemporary rap and songs from very familiar classics such as Dick Tracy, Wild, Wild West, and Austin Powers. The low point had to be another Michael Jackson number that came from no movie we recognized while the high point was a hysterical send-up of “My Heart Will Go On,” as a guy in Rose drag danced with a Leon-type.
Anyway, we had a ball. Weather screwed up our flights in both directions and we arrived home very early Wednesday morning. The rest of Wednesday was spent unpacking, doing laundry, sorting mail and e-mail, buying groceries and getting our lives back on track. After all, in just a few days, we hit the road again, this time taking Kate to George Washington University.
It was great to be away and it’s nice to be back into the rhythm of things.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 12:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 24, 2004
Don't Fear the Song
Milford is about twenty minutes north of us and every year they have their Oyster Festival. In addition to oysters by the ton, there's a load of other attractions. Headlining the music this year is the Blue Oyster Cult, veteran heavy metal band from the 1970s.
The BOC put on a great live show in the '70s, was one of the first bands to use lasers as part of the showmanship, had some great guitar riffs and solid songs. Why didn't they ever break out? I gather it had a lot to do with never cracking the Top 40 in New York City. Back then, Top 40 airplay drove record sales much more than it does today. When they're biggest hit, "Don't Fear the Reaper," was reaching the charts, AM powerhouse stations WNBC and WABC in NYC never played it.
The song, though, has become a standard on classic rock stations, usually alternating with "Burning for You" and "Godzilla" when they want their BOC quota for the week. Too bad, there's plenty of other greats to choose from.
(OK, I'm prejudiced. Their lead singer, Eric Bloom, is my uncle. I grew up with the band's music and shows.)
"Don't Fear the Reaper" was a hit circa 1976. It's been 28 years. Still, religious leaders in Milford have complained to the press that they feel the song glorifies suicide and the music (and by extension the band) is inappropriate for a family event.
In Wednesday's Connecticut Post, the Reverend Joe Mixie opined, "I don't think the band is representative of the Milford Community." A "moral activist" named Tom Huebner said, "It is a shock factor. It sells. Suicide is never a good option. It is a sin." Where was he when the theme to M*A*S*H gained popularity?
What I find interesting is the fact that the article does not take into account the 28 year old vintage of the music or the 30+ year vintage of the band. The song has never been blamed for someone taking their life. The band has rarely been at a concert where their anctics have caused local police problems (they have played too many multi-act all-day venues for me to absolve them of all such actions).
I remain amazed that people are making such a big deal out of one song, that is open to interpretation, and are ready to condemn the band without considering their current image. After all, the BOC members are mostly over, gasp, 50. They have wives and kids and unlike Ozzy Osborne, have never bitten the heads off chickens while performing.
I also suspect we have much larger things to worry about these days. November 2, for example.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 10:39 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
August 22, 2004
Sundays
Sunday night has been reserved as family night. The kids can’t go out, and every chore needs to be done by 6 p.m. Deb or I make a nice Sunday dinner and on most of those nights, we put our plates on our laps and catch up on television. For years we stockpiled shows such as Buffy, Angel, Joan of Arcadia, Gilmore Girls, Boston Public, or Alias and can work through 2-3 of these until that night’s new episode of Alias. By 10 the VCR was recording The Practice and we had cleaned up and repaired to bed, having shared a few hours together.
On other nights, we play cards or board games at the dinner table so it’s now always about the tube.
And when we’re caught up on episodic stuff, we watch movies. A few weeks back we showed the kids Bull Durham but we’re as apt to see a musical or drama.
This past Sunday, we let Kate pick the meal and the movie. After all, it was her last Sunday at home before going to college. We couldn’t repeat this ritual again until Semester break in December. She asked for lamb chops, roasted potatoes, broccoli and fruit pie. At Blockbuster, she went looking for 13 Going on 30 but came home instead with Fast Times at Ridgemont High. She read my copy of the book years ago and had heard much about the movie so it was now or never.
I had read Cameron Crowe’s book about his undercover journalistic experience when it came out in the 1980s. The movie was a pretty faithful adaptation and it performed quite well when it opened in 1982. For a movie made on a $4.5 million budget, it grossed over $27 million making it a solid success.
The movie didn’t gloss over the casualness of the sex, the various high school “types” and their oddly overlapping arcs, and the lifestyle of its time. It was a true glimpse of the Los Angeles valley lifestyle just ahead of the valley girl craze. Watching it, Deb squirmed a little as Jennifer Jason Leigh gets naked a few times and Judge Reinhold masturbated to the classic image of Phoebe Cates emerging from the pool. After all, Robbie is a young 16 and he usually doesn’t like watching sex scenes when the adults are around.
It’s incredibly well made and well cast. Director Amy Heckerling does a masterful job adapted Crowe’s script and had a magic touch with the cast. This is one of those movies where even the bit players grow up to be stars. If you look over the list, there’s Leigh and Cates, the emergence of Sean Penn, Reinhold and the bit guys like Forrest Whitaker, Eric Stoltz, Anthony Edwards and Nicholas Coppola (before changing the surname to Cage). Ray Walston revived his career Heart’s Nancy Wilson cameos and later married Crowe. And Crowe’s attention to the music is evident here, too.
And it looks really dated. Partly it’s the grainy film stock, but it’s also the hairstyles and fashion, the slang and the things that are deemed important. (Did anyone really use Led Zeppelin IV side one for seductive mood music?) After it ended, the kids liked it but Robbie was quick to assure us kids didn’t talk like that today nor did the girls practice oral sex on carrots during lunch. He also remarked he had heard of the scene when Walston visits Penn in his home to make up the time wasted in the classroom so now he knew what people had been talking about.
I like it when we can watch stuff and it leads to conversations. No doubt, today we will be having a meal and chatting about something goofy even though we’re not home playing cards or watching TV. It’s the way things are supposed to be. Sundays are going to be very different when Kate goes away.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:44 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 18, 2004
Dad
While I'm on vacation, I have a few posts put aside. Today, I'm going to tell you a bit about my father.
While everyone looks at the creative forces in my family, they start with my distant cousin, the great literary giant, Stanley Elkin. According to his place on the St. Louis walk of fame, "Since his first novel was published in 1964, Stanley Lawrence Elkin's literary stature has grown unabated. A New York Times reviewer said, "No serious funny writer in this country can match him." Elkin became an English instructor at Washington University in St. Louis in 1960 and a professor in 1969. A member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, he received Guggenheim and Rockefeller Foundation fellowships, the Longview Foundation Award, and the Paris Review Humor Prize. Elkin's novella, "The Bailbondsman," was made into a movie. In 1982 Stanley Elkin won the National Book Critics Circle Award."
I never made it through one of his novels but I gather from the reviews and notices in the years since his death, he was terribly good.
Or, we can look at Uncle Eric. Eric Bloom fronts the Blue Oyster Cult and as a high schooler in the 1970s, this brought a touch of fame. After all, you couldn't make it through the decade without hearing "Don't Fear the Reaper." Trust me, he's cool. You'd like him.
But, they're on my mom's side of the family.
On dad's side, there's well, dad. He graduated with a bachelor's from Dartmouth and a master's from Columbia and then went on to be one of IBM's better salesmen in New York City. But, one of the reasons why he always encouraged my writing is because he was a good writer himself. I gather he would have been happy working as a writer or editor but was urged by his parents to get into something more stable.
I knew he wrote and worked on various Dartmouth publications but never really saw any of them. That is, until he passed away. Mom, not a terrible sentimental person, started trashing everything in preparation of a move. I rescued a handful of odds and ends, regretting those items that were lost (such as the original mounted one-sheet for Gunga Din and his IBM sales awards). Among them were some of these publications.
I have before me photocopies of clippings from the Dartmouth Jack O'Lantern, a literary publication. He's listed as one of two managing editors. The very first item is a retelling of Dickens' A Christmas Carol in the patois of Damon Runyon.
An excerpt: "I am standing in front of Mindy's a while back when I am tapped rather brusquely across the back of my neck. I turn around to see who would perpetrate such a mean trick and find myself face to face with three characters from over Brooklyn way. Three such characters I would not like to meet in the daytime and it is now growing dark. I retract the original idea of bopping one of them in the snoot because I found out years back that it is by no means wise to be disrespectful to such citizens from Brooklyn." And it goes on from there with Scrooge the Bookie being visited by these three.
Dad also co-edited the Dartmouth Quarterly, his close friend and co-editor was a guy named Buck Zuckerman. He graduated, changed his last name to Henry and went on to fame and fortune. (Dad's roommate was Ken Roman, former CEO of Ogilvy & Mather -- so he had an accomplished circle of friends.)
He read a lot, proved to be a patient, solid editor and clearly loved the written word. I'm sorry I discovered his creative efforts late. I'm even sorrier he's not around.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:07 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
South of the Border
The Greenberger family will be away from home from Thursday through Tuesday. It's a final fling with the four of us before the dynamic permanently changes as Kate heads off to be a freshman.
Deb had been hoarding the frequent flyer miles, just in case we needed them for Kate's college of choice. Since Washington D.C. is more easily reached by Amtrak than airline, we had lots of mileage so it was time to splurge. She's always wanted us to go south, giving the kids a Caribbean vacation. However, based on the flights available, we'll be in Cancun.
Not too shabby, eh? We're at an all-inclusive resort that has received some terrific notices at on-line hotel review sites. Not only do we have the run of the resort, but it shares reciprocal visiting rights with other places nearby, expanding our range of options. For the kids, this means access to the disco that has received good notices for the teens.
We could all use the break, especially since otherwise we wouldn't have had any real vacation time together. Normally, during the last handful of summers, we'd pile in the car and go traveling. Despite the long hours, the kids really enjoyed our visits to Williamsburgh and Montreal among other locales. Not flying and dealing with those added complications have worked out for the best and we've had some terrific memories as a result.
It'll be nice, especially since it means I get to read and relax and unwind. But, it also means I won't be here to post. Fortunately, I stockpiled a few thoughts to share which our humble housemaster Glenn will post over the next few days.
I'll be back on Wednesday with a happy recap.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 10:59 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 17, 2004
Out Today
In case anyone's interested, today is the street date for You Did What? : Mad Plans and Great Historical Disasters . Edited by my old pal Bill Fawcett, it contains essays on disastrous decisions that probably made sense at the time. I have three essays in the book including the New Coke, the David Begelman scandal at Columbia Pictures, and the Iranian Hostage Rescue disaster. I'm joined in the book by a variety of people including colleagues Paul Kupperberg, Laura Ann Gilman, Keith DeCandido and Brian M. Thomsen. I'm getting my sole contributor's copy in a day or so and look forward to seeing how it all came together.
Also, I just got my page proofs for the Godzilla book from Rosen. At 6000 words, it's my shortest book for them, but the one that needs the most attention. The filmography runs over twice the allotted space given how many features the big guy's starred in. Also, the copy editor seems confused by the differing timelines employed by the film series, which I discuss in chapter three, so I need to be clearer. At least the pictures are fun. I'm also amused by the captions someone added as placeholders. The one under a picutre from the 1998 Tri-Star disastrous version of the legend read, "1998 Version that Sucks," which more or less sums it up.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 11:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
At Blog Speed
There are times I am amazed at how fast news travels. When I first posted, a mere few weeks back, I happily told a circle of firends I share a mailing list with. But, from there, it grew. Mark Evanier directed people my way, someone at the DC Comics message boards also announced its arrival and so on. Before I knew it, I was receiving e-mails and calls from people who made sure to mention that they had seen it. One benefit was it reconnected me with my old pal Diane Duane, who has, to my surprise, added me to her list of blog links.
So my original goal of staying connected with people between publishing appearances, seems to be working.
On the other hand, I am also reminded that these are not private notes and discussions with my pals. Anyone can type in the address and see what's on my mind. Yesterday I got some opinions and support for my frustration with Cablevision. However, had that been me bitching publicly about my job, DC would have every right to be pissed at me.
I'm reminded of all this by this interesting article in The Washington Post about Jessica Cutler. As portrayed here, she posted thinking only her gal pals would be reading about her sexual exploits on Capitol Hill. Instead, others found it and shared the link and suddenly she was fired. This unwanted celebrity has resulted in her posing for (who else) Playboy and a book contract. Still, there are other examples in the piece to remind us of the responsibility and yes, even risk, that comes with posting.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 11:16 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
August 16, 2004
Trapped in a Digital World
Earlier in this blog, I chatted a bit about Cable and my desire for ala carte programming. The lack of choice has kept me from upgrading to Digital Cable despite all the bells and whistles it has advertised (bells and whistles I will likely not need or desire).
On Friday, I came home to discover a letter from Cablevision saying my premium cable package is being phased out on September 28. The only way to get HBO and the others was to upgrade to Digital.
While prepping for the radio interview, I went to their web site, browsed their three package options, found them wanting and fired off the following e-mail to customer service:
I am furious at the notice I received in today's mail. After winnowing my cable options since December, you now intend to remove all the movie channels from my service. To continue to enjoy these channels, you are now insisting I upgrade to Digital.
However, you do not have a package that suits my needs. Please tell me how I can receive HBO, Cinemax, Starz, Showtime, Encore, and Flix without receiving the seventeen variations of each brand.
Without greater flexibility in your package options you're dangerously close to losing a longtime customer (me and my family can date our Cablevision service to 1976). I look forward to hearing from you in the immediate future.
This morning I found the following awaiting me in my inbox:
Mr. Greenberger,
Thank you for your email.
Every cable subscriber during this year has to upgrade to digital service as per FCC regulation.
Please call our sales department, as I am sure there is a package that you will enjoy.
Thank you for using Cablevision
Janet
Cablevision Shared Services
To which I replied:
Janet,
Thank you for your optimistic but useless reply.
I have already review the Gold and Silver packages and they DO NOT meet my needs. Unless you're hiding Bronze or Copper options or are ready to offer ala carte, then I am stuck.
And still furious.
Actually, maybe a little less furious since I may not have known that the Federal Government wants everyone upgraded to digital. The FCC is basically asking me to spend more money without providing me with regulations giving me the freedom of choice I have come to expect from this country. (Almost the reverse of those unfunded mandates like "No Child Left Behind.")
Deb figures we should merely get the minimal digital package, skipping all the movie channels. Rather than tape movies to watch at a later date of our choosing, the alternative would be to frequent the local video store which takes a lot of the spontaneity out of the thing. I'm thinking Netflix might be a better alternative since they don't have a short window to watch and return which helps should we be forced to rent DVDs in order to see The Sopranos, The L Word, Angels in America, Six Feet Under or even sample shows like Deadwood.
I'm feeling in a bit of a bind here. Satellite might be an option but I'm loath to lose the discount we get for subscribing to cable TV and a cable modem. I also don't like the satellite feed being subject to weather whims.
Grump.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:32 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
August 15, 2004
I Need a Vacation
Well, the last few days have been busy.
On Friday, DC felt like old home week. After completing work on reviewing proofs for my own books in addition to the Encyclopedia, I went to drop things off and up on 6, ran into Karen Chamberlain, a former co-worked. No sooner do we start chatting then I see Dan Mishkin. Dan and I have been friends since I met him in early 1984 but we see each other way too rarely. He accompanied me back to my office and there on the voice mail are calls from Christopher Priest and Danny Vozzo, people I’ve also know and worked with for nearly 20 years. It felt for a while there like the years were peeled back.
That evening we watched the Olympics opener. Very impressively done although any presentation that requires Bob Costas to tell me what I’m watching fails at communicating. The play ended and the hordes began arriving at 11. By 11:30, I was down at my desk and chatting with Howard Margolin for the radio program Destinies.
I have to compliment Howard. He made sure to read and annotate both Star: A Time to Love and Star Trek: A Time to Hate so he could ask specific questions. He also reviewed the two previous interviews we had done and came ready with questions about my career and the comics industry since that very first conversation in December 1984. As a result, the first 45 minutes or so flew by. It was a lot of fun, even if he asked me about two editing errors that interrupted the flow of the story in both books. Oh well, I copped to making mistakes and we moved on.
At 12:30, the next DJ had failed to arrive so Howard and I were forced to vamp and chat about everything under the sun until just after 1. I was feel tired and it was successful. Once I went upstairs, there were just a few people left, sacked out on the couch and watching The Birdcage on DVD. By the time they left and the clean-up was done it was well after 2. Now, for some of you that might be typical, but unless I’m at a con, it’s very atypical.
Saturday was scheduled to be a full day of errands as we prepped for our vacation and Kate’s impending relocation to GW University. I had barely gotten a few items crossed off the list when Kate called. She and three girlfriends were en route to the NY Renaissance Faire when the driver rear-ended another car. It needed towing and they needed rescuing--across the Tappan Zee bridge, in Spring Valley. It took me about 30 minutes to finish some things before I could safely head out. The girls made the most of the experience, going shopping and laying out a picnic lunch in the towing service’s waiting room, dressed in their finest Ren Faire attire. Still, they were deeply disappointed.
After returning to Fairfield, it was back to the errands which ended with test driving a used car we might buy to replace the Saturn, which Kate totaled back in March. I was dead on my feet but stayed awake not only through dinner but through the closing performance of Jekyll & Hyde. It showed tremendous improvement in just five performances and the kids had every right to be proud of their efforts.
Today is laundry, the normal desk nonsense and an attempt to work on the fantasy outline although just vegging on the couch sounds really good.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 01:59 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 13, 2004
This and That
A quick reminder that I'll be interviewed on the radio tonight at 11:30. Howard Margolin says it's been nearly 15 years so surely I've come up with something new to say. You can find it on line at Destinies.
Meantime, I've spent the better part of the last two days going over the final page proofs for the DC Comics Encyclopedia. Phil Jimenez, Ivan Cohen and I have been working our way through the pages, fixing some stylistic problems, correcting some typos and revising many final sentances to bring things as up to date as possible. Looks like we'll have some Identity Crisis and War Games facts in place so this should be in pretty reasonable shape in terms of reflecting the current line of titles.
Work has remained tremendously busy as a flurry of projects have arrived for various proofing from the designers, the color separators and the printer. Nice to see all these things come together, just wish they were spaced out a bit. I'm thrilled to see how nicely Batman in the Eighties is coming together considering we had to modify the format a bit to extensively cover all the stuff we couldn't possibly reprint -- things like Dark Knight and Batman: Year One. Lots of extra info from my pal John Wells as well as loads of covers.
I'll work a bit this weekend to add some missing info to the Bibliography in addition to adding the titles I've edited since there's been a request.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 12:46 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 11, 2004
Bibliography
BOOKS
Non-Fiction
As Xavier Einstein:
Trivia Mania: Comics & Cartoons / Zebra Books, 1984
As Robert Greenberger:
The DC Comics Encyclopedia (with Phil Jimenez, Scott Beatty and Dan Wallace) / DK Books, 2004
3 essays
You Did What? : Mad Plans and Great Historical Disasters Edited by Bill Fawcett / Perennial Currents, 2004
Young Adult Non-Fiction:
all published by Rosen Books
Baseball Hall of Famers: Lou Gehrig
Basketball Hall of Famers: Wilt Chamberlain
Cool Careers Without College for People Who Love to Drive
Famous Movie Monsters: Godzilla (2005)
Great Scientific Questions and the Scientists who Answered Them: The Nature of Energy
Gus Grissom: The Tragedy of Apollo 1
A Historical Atlas of Pakistan
Juan Ponce de Leon: The Exploration of Florida and the Search for the Fountain of Youth
The Library of Graphic Novelists: Will Eisner (2005)
Primary Sources of Revolutionary Scientific Discoveries and Theories: Darwin and the Theory of Evolution (2005)
Fiction – Novels
As David Evans:
Time Station Berlin
Ace Books, 1997
As Robert Greenberger:
Star Trek
#59: The Disinherited (with Michael Jan Friedman and Peter David)
Star Trek: The Next Generation
#12: Doomsday World (with Michael Jan Friedman, Peter David, and Carmen Carter)
#35: The Romulan Stratagem
Q’s Guide to the Universe (with Michael Jan Friedman)
Doors into Chaos (Gateways Book 3)
What Lay Beyond: “The Other Side” (Gateways Book 7)
A Time to Love
A Time to Hate
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
#20: Wrath of the Prophets (with Michael Jan Friedman and Peter David)
Star Trek: S.C.E.
#15: “Past Life” (also collected in the book Star Trek: SCE – No Surrender)
#32: “Buying Time” (to be collected in 2005’s Star Trek: SCE-Aftermath)
Star Trek Short Stories
“Hour of Fire” in Star Trek: Enterprise Logs
“Lefler’s Logs” in Star Trek: New Frontier – No Limits
“A Song Well Sung” in Star Trek: Tales of the Dominion War
Fiction – Short Stories
“Memories of Erin” in Bolos Book 4: Last Stand / Baen Books, 1997
“Solo” in Mob Magic / Daw Books, 1998
“A Matter of Faith” in Oceans of Space / Daw Books, 2002
Comic Books
“Tomorrow is Canceled” (with Barbara Randall)
Action Comics #574
"The Back-Up"
Batman Annual #11
DC Comics Presents #93 (with Barbara Randall)
Firestorm #80
“A Princess' Story”
Secret Origins #28
Star Trek #28
Suicide Squad #38
Articles, Introductions, Reviews, etc.
Amazing Heroes
The Comics Journal
Comics Scene
Cosmic Odyssey
Fangoria
Headliner
Heavy Metal
Justice League of America Archives Vol. 7
Starlog
Editorial Work
Starlog Press
Starlog, associate editor September 1980 - January 1984
Comics Scene, founding editor, first run, 11 issues November 1981 - Septmber 1983
Fangoria #9-17, managing editor
DC Comics
Editor
Action Comics Weekly #601-642
all covers, various features
Alien Nation movie adaptation
The Atlantis Chronicles mini-series
Blasters Special
DC Challenge #3-12
DC Focus
DC Sampler #3
DC Spotlight
Deadshot min-series
Doom Patrol #6-25
Doom Patrol/Suicide Squad Special co-edited with Mike Gold
Flash Gordon #1-9
The Hacker Files #1-12
Heroes Against Hunger
Lois Lane mini-series
Mask co-edited with Mike Gold #1-6; #7-9
Mister Miracle Special co-edited with Richard Bruning
The Phantom mini-series, #1-6
Power Girl mini-series
Secret Origins (modern day half) #4, 6-16, 20, 21
The Spectre #1-15, Annual #1
Starman #1-12
Star Trek #20-56, Annual #1-3, #1-31, Annual #1-2
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock adaptation
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home adaptation
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier adaptation
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country adaptation
Star Trek: The Next Generation mini-series, #1-31, Annual #1-2
Star Trek: The Modala Imperative mini-series
Suicide Squad #1-30, Annual #1
Teen Titans Spotlight #19
Time Masters mini-series
V #7-18
Warlord #109-131, Annual #6
Who's Who #13-26
Who's Who in Star Trek #1-2
Who's Who Update '87 #1-5
Wrath of the Spectre #1-4
Associate Editor
Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-12 (co-plotted #1)
History of the DC Universe#1-2 (coordinating editor)
Legends
Star Trek #9-19
V #1-6
Who's Who #1-12
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 08:59 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
The Memorial Recap
On most Wednesdays, I go downtown for lunch with friends. It’s a bit of a tradition and one I enjoy immensely.
Today, though, I skipped it and went to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. No, I haven’t suddenly found religion but I did go to honor the memory of Bob Murphy. As I mentioned the other day, Bob and his Mets broadcasts are part of the fabric of my life so his loss is keenly felt.
I wound up attending alongside DC’s ace librarian Allan Asherman and his wife, our diligent proofreader Arlene Lo. The usher at the door kept out the tourists, this was just for fans. The cathedral was packed, as it should be. As we waited for the service to begin, the organ began playing music. Within a few notes it was obvious we were listening to a uniquely arranged “Take me out to the Ballgame.”
Listening to the music, waiting for things to begin, I was reminded of the one time I saw Murph in person. It had to have been about a decade back; we were at Shea for a Sunday afternoon game with San Francisco. The kids were allowed to run the bases after the game and we entered through the Center Field fence and lined up against the padded wall. As we snaked forward, we got to the Mets’ bullpen and I noticed movement. Looking over, there was Murphy, still in his suit jacket, his collar open, heading to the parking lot. Others spotted him and we all joyously called and waved. He seemed genuinely stunned we’d notice and care. He gave us a short wave and hurried out the door. An unassuming, thorough pro.
Cardinal Egan opened things with some warm comments and the service was respectful and moved without delay. The recollections were limited to Mets owner Fred Wilpon and Murph’s broadcast partner since 1985, Gary Thorne. Wilpon said all the right things, with the right tone. Thorne, though, was animated, his booming voice clearly heard with or without the microphone. He told many anecdotes, about Murph and the game, his relationship with the 42-year Met veteran and more. It was rousing, letting us laugh amid the somber setting.
Given his Marine service in the 1950s, the 6th Battalion performed the traditional presentation of the Flag, to a recording of “Taps,” giving it to Bob’s widow, Joye Murphy.
And then, at promptly 3 p.m., it was over. The recessional music was an oddly improvisational version of the “Star-Spangled Banner” but fitting. We stood in our pew watching as players, ex-players, staff and others exited out a front side door. According to the one on-line news report I could find, those in attendance included manager Art Howe, current players Mike Piazza and Al Leiter and ex-Mets Keith Hernandez, Ed Charles and Bud Harrelson. Thorne was among a number of Murphy's broadcast partners who attended the service. Others included Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, Hernandez, Gary Cohen, Howie Rose and Fran Healy.
I’m glad I was there.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 08:59 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 10, 2004
Play by Play on the Radio
I’ve always supported fans in the media. Back in my early days at Starlog, I recall being invited to appear on a few different public access cable shows, produced by fans. The Chronic Rift hosted by Keith DeCandido and John Drew was certainly a delight and I was on more than once and a long-term friendship developed with Keith. Imagine how odd it was when he suddenly became my editor on Trek fiction…
(That is not to say John and I were not friendly. He moved out of the city and I saw him far less frequently.)
Anyway, one of the programs I’ve supported is a live radio interview show called Destinies-The Voice of Science Fiction, hosted by Howard Margolin. I’ve been on a few times, but not in a long stretch of years. At I-Con this past spring, Howard asked if I’d be on sometime this summer. I agreed, we set a date and I promptly forgot about it.
I'm used to the radio, not only having done this with Howard but with others. One memorable morning was when I represented DC, chatting live with Howard Stern. He had a hankering to chat about old time Mort Weisinger-era Superman stuff and contacted DC about talking with an expert. Well, since Mark Waid wasn't on staff, I got the nod. Stern was incredibly polite given this was a subject of interest to him. I had boned up on the lore of the era and wasn't caught off-guard. I even had prepared responses (long since forgotten) in case he wanted to veer into rude territory regarding Supergirl's days at the orphanage. It also taught me how popular his show was. I received calls and e-mails from people around the country over the next week telling me about hearing the discussion.
Anyway, this morning I received a reminder that the interview is set for this coming Friday. Yes, I will help wind down Friday the 13th by chatting about my Star Trek and comics work. Howard wants me to read something from one of the books, a tradition of the program. While I don’t mind doing dramatic readings, I dislike the sound of my voice and don’t feel in favor of doing this.
(While I do this, the main floor of the house will be overrun with hyped up performers as we host the cast of Jekyll & Hyde for a post-performance party. That could make for some interesting background noise.)
So, for those of you awake at 11:30 Friday night, check out Destinies-The Voice of Science Fiction, 90.1 FM, WUSB, Stony Brook. They also have a web feed for those out of the area.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:36 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 09, 2004
Progress
OK, the weekend started out cool and gloomy as noted in previous posts. The plays certainly brightened things.
We also did another two rounds of shopping with Kate, getting her ready for college. We reviewed the mundane (toothpaste) to essential (a really good surge protector). By the time we got to the staplers, she was seriously glazed over. "You mean there are colored staples now?" she exclaimed as she tried to make a wise choice between size, shape and durability.
While she and Deb were out buying even more stuff, I chose to remain behind. Mainly because the laundry needed attention and also to get back to an original fantasy outline. With nothing under contract for the first time in at least two years, I need to get back into the proposal business. A short story continues to formulate in my head but needs a satisfactory ending so while that compiles, I'm back to a proposal that hasn't been visited in about two years (coincidence? conspiracy?).
When Pocket Books was in the original science fiction and fantasy business, editor John Ordover solicited me for an idea. Within a few weeks, said idea developed and was presented. Interestingly, at much the same time, Keith DeCandido also presented them with a notion. Both were fantasies, both set in other places and times yet both used modern day elements. At one point we debated whether or not this would be a good thing for Pocket to market together or not.
Anyway, time passed. Keith, far swifter at this sort of thing, got his Dragon Precinct approved and contracted. It just came out last month and is well recommended.
John and his publisher said they liked my basic idea but wanted it inverted. A modern day, real world story with fantasy elements. I began reworking the idea, needing to entirely reinvent the story. By then, I was between jobs and was taking long walks with the puppy each day. While on these two-miles treks, the story slowly was reborn. And I began writing it up.
Then DC rehired me and the story remained undone. Until now. Yesterday I managed to finish the outline. I know it needs more work and some additional story elements but it's coming together and feeling good. On the other hand, Pocket has since gone out of the original science fiction and fantasy business (again) so I need to peddle it elsewhere...something I am unused to.
Fortunately, WorldCon is coming this Labor Day weekend and I will be there. Also fortunately, one editor at another company has already expressed a willingness to see the proposal when its ready. This is all a bit new to me and I'm very cautiously optimistic it will be good enough to find a home.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:36 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 08, 2004
Theatre notices
Been a weekend of sitting in theatres. On Friday night we were there for Opening Night of Fairfield Teen Theatre’s production of Jekyll & Hyde. Robbie is a featured ensemble player as Lord General George Glossip. FTT has gotten increasingly ambitious capped by last year’s amazing production of Les Miserables so they went for another similar production this year.
Now, I have never enjoyed Jekyll & Hyde. The music isn’t anywhere near as memorable as the best of Broadway nor is it a compelling story. In fact, I find it a bit thin on the character and exposition. All of Jekyll’s issues with his research with regards to his father’s condition is vague as is the reason Emma loves Jekyll since all we see is the obsession (a similar problem was encountered in last year’s Hulk movie—you never understood what Betty saw in Bruce).
Anyway, for a show I dislike, it was a very solid performance. Rob dies well in the opening of the second act. The duet between Emma and Lucy was a high point.
It was also the second year in a row I’m watching teenager girls strut the stage as prostitutes and it just felt…wrong. There was also the rousing “Bring on the Men” number where four different girls spend time caressing my son. I wasn’t sure if I was to be proud of his animal magnetism or what.
We’ll be back for closing night next weekend and Rob assures me they’re getting better with each performance.
On Saturday, we saw the Westport Playhouse production of Moliere’s School for Husbands which had been receiving rave notices. It was certainly played as a farce with some very funny performances. It also rocketed along so 75 minutes later, it was over. They sure did write shorter plays three hundred years ago.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 11:59 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 07, 2004
It's STILL the Economy, Stpuid
32,000 jobs were created last month. Sounds like good news, right? Not if you’re a highly paid economic analyst who just predicted 225,000 jobs would be created in the last month. So what happens? Because lots of someones guessed and guessed wrong, the Stock Market reacted badly and tanked over 150 points. The Dow Jones average is now 9815 and change, pretty low for a rebounding economy.
As August rapidly marches on, the economy will be yet again be the engine that will most likely drive the swing voters on November 2.
All John Kerry has to do is start asking people, sometime in October, is “Are you better off than you were four years ago?”
And voters will pause as they pump their $2+ gasoline en route to buy $4 a gallon milk with the remnants of their last unemployment check and the answer may be clear. Sure, that’s a dire scenario, but clearly confidence in the economy is lacking, salaries aren’t keeping up with inflation and terrorism remains scary white background noise.
Should American troops still be getting killed at current rates come November 2, the American Public will hopefully want a change in regime. If not, we’ll get we deserve and pay for it for years to come.
Welcome to the weekend.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:54 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
August 05, 2004
A Gray Day
Today was definitely one of those days that things got done, time passed and suddenly it’s time to go home. The gray sky all day certainly contributed to the mood.
Spent all morning working over proofs from the printer for Batman: War Drums. Discovered I goofed in one place, they goofed in one place and it’ll all be fine by the time readers see it. The neat thing is, in re-reading the material it does a better job than I initially thought acting as a prequel to the current War Crimes three-month event. Things people probably didn’t notice suddenly look more prominent. And it’s a sharp looking package, too.
Did tons of color copying for a 2005 collection only to discover I copied two stories I didn’t need but missed two others, one of which I think is missing from the Library. On the other hand, tracked down and verified credits for the material and prepped most of the text. Just need to think of a good person for the introduction. Fortunately I’m something like six months ahead of myself so have plenty of time to think about it.
Along the way, I got so caught up in color copying that I kind of forgot to eat lunch. Finally around three I ran out for coffee and a bagel just to have something. Now my packed lunch will serve for tomorrow and save me some time at home.
The Mets also won this afternoon. Victor Zambrano’s debut went pretty much as I expected. He gave up three runs in the first, settled down for several innings and in the sixth, tired, giving up three more runs, only two of which were earned. The bats, though, exploded and they won 11-6, which was satisfying. They took 2 out 3 from Milwaukee, which is nothing to be that proud of, but does given them some much-needed confidence. And rookie David Wright had a pair of doubles, some runs driven in and scored so he’s looking like the real deal (hence the trade of Wigginton).
And now to home.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 05:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 04, 2004
The Not So Happy Recap
Another touchstone to my youth has vanished. Mets broadcaster Bob Murphy died yesterday, less than a year after retiring from broadcasting.
Bob was no Red Barber or even a Vin Scully in terms of impact across America's consciousness, but his voice was one I grew up with, first hearing it as he called games on WOR, channel 9, and I watched Mets games with my Dad. As an adult, I knew spring was really here when I heard him call the first Spring Training game on WFAN. It made me smile, it gave me comfort and was one of the few constants in my life.
This past March, I was driving somewhere with Kate and I tuned in the game. Upon hearing his voice, she broke into a smile. For her too, Bob Murphy was a sign that brighter days were ahead.
In a world where things change regularly, Bob calling Mets games for 42 years is an impressive feat. His upbeat approach to the games, both the good and the incredibly bad (see 1962 Mets), kept you in a positive frame of mind. He spoke plainly, without a lot of colorful phrases and his trademark call at the end of games, "The Happy Recap," developed by accident. Even though he started on radio, he had come to embrace television and was unhappy when he was relegated solely to the radio booth in 1981. But he settled in, was a pro, and did his job without complaint. (And for those who don't know, it was his older brother Jack, for whom Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego was named.)
Over time, age caught up with him. In the past we used to chuckle at Ralph Kiner's malaprops but when Murph started the habit as well, you had to wince. In the final few seasons, his analysis was reduced to comments like, "You're right, Gary" and then repeat his partner Gary Cohen's thought.
But Murph called a good game, even when the analysis atrophied. His voice was steady, his tone unchanging. I thought it was very classy of the Milwaukee Brewers, hosting the Mets last night, to honor Bob with a moment of silence before the game. (The New York Times and Hollywood Reporter both had nice obits this morning.) And for Ed Coleman and Gary Thorne, there was a 12-3 win allowing them to have a Happy Recap with which to honor Bob's professionalism and commitment to the team.
Spring just won't have the same feeling anymore. Rest easy, Murph.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:02 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 03, 2004
Just the Facts
A buddy of mine asked this morning if I was going to promote the forthcoming DC Universe Encyclopedia coming this October from DK Books.
Since it's in the current Previews catalogue for order (heck, even cheaper through Amazon), now might be a good time to clue you in.
There were two different notions floating through the halls of DC, both trying to come up with a new edition of Who's Who, still a vital reference source to editors, writers, artists and even Hollywood despite the last edition being over a decade old. Since DK had done such a nice job with their Ultimate Guides to Superman, Batman, Catwoman, the JLA, and a bunch of Marvel heroes, it made sense for them to take a crack at the new edition. Chris Cerasi, the project editor, turned to me and Ivan Cohen to help assemble a list of characters for consideration. Our 1000+ names got whittled down to just under 1000 and then the fun began. We had to organize them into A-D priorities, which had more to do with word counts and page space than whether or not we loved these people.
To my surprise, I was invited, along with Scott Beatty, Phil Jimenez and Dan Wallace, to be one of the writers. So, I spent much of last fall through January, researching and writing my 250 or so entries. Along the way, Chris began researching graphics and as the comics themsevles evolved, we upgraded or downgraded entry sizes, dropped some, added others and so on. I had little say over which 250 I received so for every Lonar I got, I also got a Superman.
Once I stopped being a writer, I returned to consulting in my unofficial role as continuity maven. We all read each other's entries, good-naturedly nitpicking along the way and Ivan helped read them over as well. I was particularly concerned to make sure status quo changing events in current titles was reflected so the book wasn't immediately outdated upon publication. We were thrown for the occasional loop such as our discovery that John Byrne's Doom Patrol was a modern day retcon. I also pleaded with a few editors to share secrets from the War Games storyline in the Bat-titles and even the controversial Identity Crisis to make sure we were current. And keeping me honest was my long-distance buddy John Wells, who puts me, Kurt Busiek and Mark Waid to shame.
The book went to bed last week and I look forward to seeing the final proofs. Is it perfect? I doubt it. Is it 100% accurate? I'll settle for 98% given the way things change. Are there things in it I would have done differently? Sure. But for a 340 page encyclopedia with 1000 entires plus special features on Classic Battles, Classic Team-Ups, Alien Races, Romances, and so on, it's a bargain. I'm proud of it and with luck it'll remain in print long enough to collect gaffes from readers and fix them in subsequent editions.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 10:53 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
August 02, 2004
There's just no Pleasing Some People
Andrew Arnold over at Time.com just posted his review of the San Diego Comic Con. He comes from an indie point of view, which is fine. However, when he wrote about the Eisner Awards, he said, "The jaw-dropping lowlight had to have been the award for Best Graphic Album — Reprint, which industry voters passed over Jim Woodring, Chester Brown, Chris Ware and Gilbert Hernandez to give to an utterly outclassed collection of Batman Adventures stories."
OK, Woodring, Brown, Ware and Hernandez are all terrific talents. No doubt their works were pretty good, otherwise they wouldn't have been nominated. But as a reprint nominee, it means the work has been seen elsewhere. So, why did my collection win? Possibly because it was a better looking, more cost-effective package, or maybe it had extras to enhance the stories collected unlike the others. I dunno.
But just as mainstream readers sometimes look down their noses at anything beyond super-hero comics, Arnold's approach that only indie material is worth consideration is equally frustrating.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 02:57 PM | TrackBack
A 3 Day Weekend Gone
Bob Greenberger
Monday morning and back at work. We had Friday off as a company summer holiday--which was very nice.
Took Robbie to see Fahrenheit 9/11 on Friday. He prefers Bowling for Columbine but he was riveted regardless. And frankly, any 16 year old who wants to open his eyes to the political realities of our country should be encouraged.
Rather thank work on the original fantasy outline, as I had hoped, wound up shopping for a new dishwasher with Deb on Saturday (which also entailed lots of other stops because, you know, once you're at the mall...) and then on Sunday spent the day moving my brother-in-law Jim into his new home. Robbie and I were joined by other members of the family so the work got done but it took all day rather than the two hours Jim had expected. We actually spent more time emptying the house than moving from home to home. It was a wonderfully bright, hot, steamy day for such physical activity but it got done and wasn't too onerous.
And look, the Mets got swept, are 9 games back and suddenly those blockbuster moves on Friday don't look so smart.
On the other hand, the Final Frontiersmen are .5 points out of first place so I have little to complain about.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 10:16 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 01, 2004
The More Things Change...
If Victor Zambrano and Kris Benson were both available to start last night, why on Earth did the Mets go with Benson so he was facing Atlanta for the third time in a row? Clearly, they knew how to hit him, hence the 8-0 loss.
And even though the rotation is improved, the Mets still can't hit with runners in scoring position. Until they solve that problem, they will remain mired in mediocrity.
As for the other trades, well, the Expos and Final Frontiersmen bid farewell to Orlando Cabrera and the NL welcomes Nomar Garciaparra. Should be interesting to see how the change of scenary affect shis attitude and style of play.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 08:44 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack