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Artificial Turf is Safe(r) in Weehawken NJ

I am exhausted from the local school debates over turf or no turf.  The arguments against usually center on health issues.  Turf is toxic.  Well, not in Weehawken NJ.

I saw it clear as day.  As we entered the inbound Lincoln Tunnel Sunday night at around 5pm - there it was.  On the right.  Very impressive.  Actually, a beautiful turf football field in kelly green grass tones, chalk white lines and cherry red accents (with a hint of black) for the home team, the Weehawken Indians.  Deluxe bleachers to boot.  Even looked like a special box for the cheerleaders.  Nice stuff.  Oh yeah, even the Lincoln Tunnel exhaust fans were environmental and aesthetically designed into the turf field. 

So that is the secret to getting turf approved these days! Use turf to cover up the Lincoln Tunnel entrance!  Genius.  And a great marketing tool for advocating turf.  Easy recipe:   Take a polluted brownfield that couldn't possibly sustain real green grass, put a pretty turf field on top of it, paint it so everyone entering the tunnel sees it, force trapped and unhappy motorists to confront their demons and say, "you see, even the crazies in Weehawken have a turf field, how bad can it be  - I guess they must have a really good football team." 

Reality check - The Indians went 1-9-0 for the 08/09 season.  Home record of 00.10% wins. 

So - does turf make the team or does exhaust exhaust?

   

Harrison Ford, Can You Hear Me?

My friend Faith is a movie producer - and a very successful one at that. We had lunch about a week ago at one of our favorites - Gramercy Tavern, at the bar.

As I was getting ready to go into the City, my 7 year old was giving me the usual interrogation of who was I going to be with, what was I doing, for what purpose and what does my friend Faith do for a living. She does not think I am having an affair - she is afraid I am trying to get a job and will be back to work soon and therefore not available to take her for ice cream everyday after school. No worries, my dear.

Just a good ole lunch fest with a great friend.

I tell my daughter that Faith makes movies. Daughter says with lots of enthusiam and hope, "does she know Zac Efron?" (p.s. if I have to explain who that is, the story is not funny).

I said, no, I did not think so. "What about Vanessa Hudgins?" she continues. I said, no, I don't think she know her either. Daughter says, "so, she does adult films then." I said, " well, not yet."

Another idea - does she know Harrison Ford? I said she just might, I will ask her.

As I am having lunch with Faith, it turns out my daughter is telling her friends at school that her Mommy's friend makes movies and knows Harrison Ford. Daughter starts taking orders for Mr. Ford's autographs. (2nd graders are re-discovering Indiana Jones movies with a passion.)

As it turns out, Faith does know Mr. Ford's partner (or maybe wife, got to stay current on my "People" patrol.) Faith at one time convinced Calista to at least try out for Ally McBeal. As they say, the rest is history.

And I still have 11 kids bugging me for Mr. Ford's autograph.

And a date for lunch with Faith.

If I Taught at UC Berkeley, My Summer Reading List Would Include

I always wanted to be a Professor at UC Berkeley.  More than that, I always wanted to create the summer reading list for incoming freshmen.  But even more than that, I always wanted to have tacit and indirect control of the thinking process by which Berkeley freshmen are indoctrinated, schooled, educated and then sent out into the world to make it a better place for us all.    Take a look at previous summer reading lists at http://reading.berkeley.edu and you will understand my point.  Then, consider my reading list.

Mandatory Summer Reading List 

1. New York Post, especially Sunday edition (for the pix)

2. People Magazine (come on, you knew this was gonna show up!)

3. The Art of Color by Johannes Itten (a classic)

4. Chris Cillizza's The Fix on Washingtonpost.com (I love this guy)

5. Jane Eyre  (got to have some discipline)

A mix of empathy, human struggle, intellectualism, excellent sports round-up, lowest common denominator, high-brow camoflauged as working class schtick and love.  Come on!

8 year old Girl Races 60 mph in pink and black car

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/sports/autoracing/04racer.html?_r=1&ref=sports

A great story about an 8 year old girl who races a 30 horsepower racecar going up to 60 mph.

The most positive aspect is the girl, Macy Causey, loves to race and it is her passion and her dedication - her parents support her and encourage her.  Not an inexpensive hobby for sure.  But hobby is probably too casual a characterization for her "drive."   

Best part  - her idols.  Asked about Danica Patrick, she says, "who"? Her grandmother (the first female Nascar winner) and motorcyclist Larry Bird (famous for world record of 5.793 seconds in 1/4 mile - you try it!) are her bona fide idols.  Love this kid!

I am not a fan of car racing - but I may need to evolve.  

Magnum PI

Should we have the Pax 2000 or 2001 Lauterbach Hill?  2001 it is.  

Smooth with fruity linger, a little northern Rhone familiarity but with a California

edge.  Nice.  Magnum? Why not.  Love Pax.  The wine, not the kid. 

Introducing...........Lisa's Small Things Considered

Observing life's smaller pleasures and thoughts.