Last Words

Tomorrow Astro-Girl and I depart on our semi-annual mini-tour of the Gulf Coast: first, east to the tables in Lake Charles, Louisiana. From there, back west to Winnie, Texas, then south to High Island, a drive east along the gulf shore, then a ride on the ferry to Galveston. In Galveston, we'll crash in the lap of luxury at the Hotel Galvez, and supplement out succor with by a pig-out at Gaddo's and a tour of the Titanic remnants at Moody Gardens.

Okay, that last part is me. Geek that I am. (Q: Who was the man who, in real life, turned the lifeboat around and rescued Kate Winslet? A: Fifth-mate Lightoller. One caveat: Lightoller actually existed; Kate Winslet never did.) All is prelude to my leaving town right when all the fun starts. To wit:

1. The New York Yankees. So much fun has been the political season that I've disregarded the Yankee prospects this season, much to my regret. Blue, one of my most loyal readers (he knows what's wrong with every one of my postings) wondered a few weeks ago: Hillary? Obama? What about baseball? A fair point. My answer: In time.

It's scary, who thinks himself a sportswriter. Someone (I forget whom) recently wrote close to the following: in 1996 the Yankees let Spike Owen go to make room for Derek Jeter. And his reaction back then was the same as mine: Great, but who the hell is Derek Jeter? Twelve seasons, and one first-ballot Hall-of-Fame career later, now we know. Compare that to the Yankee pitching triumvriate of Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Joba Chamberlain--whom everyone seems to have an opinion of. The Yanks missed out on the statistically best pitcher in the majors over the past four years, in order to keep together the Big 3. Thank the internet. Will it work out? We'll see.

2. This Friday: the opening of Horton Hears a Who, a film co-written by my pal o' my heart Cinco Paul. Don't look for Cinco to get any love, but I'm thinking that many of the asides, many of the I-know-you're-a-parent-but-isn't-this-funny stuff will be traceable to him.

Is what I'm thinking. Horton. Check it out.

And until the weekend, I bid your farewell.