Musings of a Dead Parrot

Late this afternoon after work, I rode down Ocean Park to the beach then north on the bike path past the Santa Monica Pier, past the volleyball courts at Will Rogers Beach to the end of the path across from the Palisades Bowl trailer park. Random thoughts as I rode:

How did "reiterate" get to be a synonym of "iterate"? Isn't "reiterate" redundant? And if you were not redundant would you be dundant? What does that mean?

If "iterate" means to repeat, then does "literate" mean to give birth again?

Is it possible to have just one qualm?

You can be overwhelmed and underwhelmed. Can you be just whelmed?

I saw several reminders of the lyrics from Alejandro Escovedo's song Castanets - "I like the sun shining through her dress, I like her better when she walks away." Nothing like being on the bike path this time of day. I love LA! Well, Santa Monica at least.

I will be flying to New York on Monday. It will be September 11th. Because of the time that I spent in New York and all my flights on American Airlines 767 planes, September 11th elicits a lot of emotions for me. It a special day. A humbling day. A somber and sobering day. A reflective day. A life affirming day. A patriotic day. A day to tell stories of courage and bravery. A day to think of the ones you love. A day to think of ones who are no longer here. Yom Kippur is the holiest and most important day of the year for Jews, but I feel very spiritual and connected on September 11th. It is a good day to sing a song that makes me feel glad still to be alive. Of course, it is by Dave Carter.

Gentle Arms of Eden

on a sleepy endless ocean when the world lay in a dream
there was rhythm in the splash and roll, but not a voice to sing
so the moon shone on the breakers and the morning warmed the waves
till a single cell did jump and hum for joy as though to say

this is my home, this is my only home
this is the only sacred ground that i have ever known
and should i stray in the dark night alone
rock me goddess in the gentle arms of eden

then the day shone bright and rounder til the one turned into two
and the two into ten thousand things, and old things into new
and on some virgin beach head one lonesome critter crawled
and he looked about and shouted out in his most astonished drawl

this is my home ...

then all the sky was buzzin and the ground was carpet green
and the wary children of the wood went dancin in between
and the people sang rejoicing when the field was glad with grain
this song of celebration from their cities on the plain

this is my home ...

now there's smoke across the harbor, and there's factories on the shore
and the world is ill with greed and will and enterprise of war
but i will lay my burden in the cradle of your grace
and the shining beaches of your love and the sea of your embrace

this is my home ...

© 2000 Dave Carter / Dave Carter Music (BMI)

The Vinny Mini/Prince McJunkins Best Names in College Football Awards for 2006

(Vinny Mini and Prince McJunkins are in my All-Name Hall of Fame along with such notables as Fair Hooker, Hiawatha Francisco, Beano Cook and Alabama Glass)

http://therealests.blogspot.com/2006/07/college-football-all-name-team.html

Another list that only includes players who are new to their teams this year:

http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2006/Recruiting/Recruiting_AllName.htm
(note - beware of pop up ads with this link)

In honor of the start of the College Football season, a list of the most memorable games that I have seen in person. I do love college football. A fall Saturday afternoon or evening in a raucous stadium? Ethel, it doesn't get any better than this.

1. Stanford (20) at Cal (19 or 25), 1982. Not only The Play, but all the other weird officials calls including Mariet Ford's phantom TD right in front of us.
2. Stanford (27) at Cal (25), November 17, 1990. A great game in its own right and sweet revenge for 1982. Back and forth game. Glyn Milburn vs. Russell White. Stanford scores 9 points in the last 12 seconds. John Belli roughing the passer! Then John Hopkins's heroics. Thank you, Mike Harrison, for talking me into going to that game.
3. Michigan St (37) at Michigan (45) in 3OT, October 30, 2004. The greatest Michigan comeback in Michigan Stadium history. The longest game I have ever seen. The only game ever seen by seven May brothers.
4. Michigan State (31) at Iowa (35), October 5, 1985. Iowa was #1 but MSU was really talented. Michigan St had freshman WR Andre Rison and freshman RB Lorenzo White. Iowa had senior QB Chuck Long who would finish 2nd in the Heisman voting. The game went back and forth, back and forth. Long scored from the 2 yard line on a naked bootleg on 4th and 1 with 30 seconds left in the game. The entire state shook. (http://www.iowalum.com/magazine/football_history/1985.html#)
5. Stanford (9) vs. Wisconsin (17), Rose Bowl, 2000. A game I thought I would never see in my lifetime - Stanford in a Rose Bowl.
6. Michigan (21) vs. Washington State (16), Rose Bowl, 1998. Michigan wins its first national championship in 50 years.
7. Michigan (22) vs. USC (14), Rose Bowl, 1989; My first Rose Bowl. January 1 football feels much different from Fall ball in Pasadena. I felt like I was in a magical world. Bo finally beats USC in a bowl game.
8. UCLA (24) at Stanford (27), October 6, 1979; Ken Naber kicks a 54 yard FG on the last play of the game. My 2nd week at Stanford. I was hooked.
9. Stanford (31) at Oklahoma (14), September 27, 1980. Beat the #3 team in the country. Victory over the home town team was and still is sweet. One of the best games I saw Elway play.
10. Washington (31) at Stanford (43), October 30, 1982. The last time Stanford beat a #1 ranked team.
11. Stanford (28) at UCLA (23). November 8, 1986. Brad Muster vs. Gaston Green. I think each may have gained over 200 yards rushing that day. Was this my first game in the Rose Bowl or was I there in 1984 before I flew to London?
12. Stanford (24) at USC (21). October 19, 1991. First Stanford win vs. USC in 16 years. We outplayed them at their own game - smashmouth football. Denny Green and Bob Whitfield and Tommy Vardell - we sure need that attitude again.
13. USC (30) at Stanford (32). October 21, 2000. Chris Lewis to Jamien McCullum, 20 yards, TD on the last play of the game. Watched it with Tigger who was there for his reunion.
14. Kansas (23) at OU (3), November 8, 1975. KU broke OU's 37 game unbeaten streak. F irst loss since 1972. Did the Mays curse the Sooners?
15. Army (14) vs. East Carolina (33), October 2, 1999. Michie Stadium with the cadets overlooking the Hudson River. A classic, very underrated setting. The last time I saw my friend Tom Mangan.
16. Wisconsin (21) vs. UCLA (16), Rose Bowl, January 1, 1994. My first experience with the Wisconsin fans who are more fun than a keg of beer. Roll out the barrel, Bucky.