Spain would surely still have won the 2008 and 2012 Euros and the 2010 World Cup. But they fell off the cliff after that the next four tournaments, you have to think he’d have led them to at least one more.
Plus think of how much the constant travel to South America took out of him. The years he was scoring 50-60 goals, he could’ve scored 5-10 more and FC Barcelona would’ve been that much more dominant.
Messi also would have stayed rather than transfer to PSG. He probably still moves to MLS.
Do you agree? Are there other sliding doors footballers?
The Block, a home renovation/construction competition TV show from Australia, is for my money the most compelling reality series.
It’s full of melodrama and obviously over the top behavior from the contestants but because there are so many episodes (generally at least 45 and often 60+) per season you get so much more of the actual construction work. Compare to American (HGTV) shows where the house is done in one hour or at most 7 for something like Rock the Block (divided among four teams).
Plus the rules are pretty ruthless. Shower niche 3mm out of true? No inspection approval for you. So much of this!
Construction drama is broken up with challenges that can yield big prizes: $5/10k, room-specific shopping or upgrades, and the like. Given how tight budgets are on The Block winning rooms and challenges are crucial for finishing.
While the week’s rooms are judged by three pros, the overall winner is decided by which house makes the biggest profit (plus a $100,000 prize). But every team gets to keep the profit if any from their house.
Each season is a new set of five homes in a different part of Melbourne. So also five teams of two contestants. Generally married or longtime partners, siblings, parent and child, or good friends.
For visas we need FBI background checks and to get that you need to submit fingerprints.
You can do digital or old fashioned inked card but inked card takes 3-4 weeks longer for the report.
In most of America you can get the scans at a post office but of course not here on the Big Island. We had to go to a UPS store an hour drive away. The only place to get this done on the entire island.
We went last Thursday and the scanner is so difficult it took over 40 minutes to get mine. Viv tried for an hour but never got close.
So we read up and learned that using a certain type of lotion and wearing gloves while sleeping might heal her finger tips, so she did this for three nights and we went back Monday.
Still took over an hour and almost broke Viv’s spirits but we got a good enough scan and got her background check.
Are you a big Springsteen fan like me? Then you already know this bootleg—heck I had a vinyl copy 45 years ago. If not, I can tell you this is a clean recording of a classic ‘75 show that took place a few months before Born to Run was released.
One of the interesting aspects is that since this was fairly early in the recording process several of the new songs are quite different from the record versions.
One, Thunder Road, even has a different title: Wings for Wheels. Another, She’s The One, has lyrics that wound up in Backstreets on the album. Jungeland is missing the plaintive wailing over the closing stanzas.
This was late enough that Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg were already part of the E Street Band. No Miami Steve van Zandt though Suki Lahav did feature on violin.
All in all 2.5 hours of E Street sugar. Absolutely worth a listen.
I want to capture my thoughts around this experience…
First, I know living on an island is a different experience than, say, the mainland but having to drive to Hilo for the surgeries and also drive home to Kona right after the second one is pretty annoying since Viv isn’t capable of doing the driving. Anyway…
We drove to Hilo on July 4 because I needed to be at the surgery center at 7 am on the 6th. Our hotel SCP Hilo was nice but just that. The restaurant, Coconut Grill, was good.
I of course got about zero sleep, thanks anxiety. But showered and arrived on time. Being the first patient of the day is nice.
I was honestly terrified and the anesthesiologist was a pal and loaded me with Benzodiazepine.
The actual operation only lasted ten minutes but I barely noticed the time (thanks drugs). Stare at the bright light the whole time. Visual effects were kind of kaleidoscopic and psychedelic. Trippy purples and oranges.
Around 9:30 I was done and we got breakfast. I left with an eye shield over my left eye, which I had to wear until returning at noon for a follow up exam.
We basically had a lazy weekend so I binged Star Trek: Prodigy. Recommended!! Did get to have breakfast at the famous Ken’s Pancake House.
Sunday night I slept better, with a good understanding of what was coming Monday.
Checked out and at the center at 10. My surgeon said not to be surprised if things seemed different from the first operation as the drugs do funny things to your memory, and he was right. I took a lot less happy juice, though possibly I should’ve taken a little more than I did as during the surgery I got a bit tense.
Still, all went well again and I was out just after noon. We grabbed a light lunch and headed home. Switched the eye shield for old folks sunglasses (free from the doctor).
Driving from Hilo to Kona will surprise those unfamiliar with the Big Island. It’s about 95 miles of beautiful mountain road and almost nothing else. As you leave Hilo on the Upper Saddle Road you climb. And climb.
The entrance to Mauna Kea and an Army training base are somewhere in the middle, as is the only place to stop. A rec area with (clean) bathrooms and picnic tables. No stores, no gas stations, no houses for 50 miles.
The view up hill from the rec area
Home around 4:00. Happy to collapse in my own bed!
While I don’t have to wear them during the day—just sunglasses when outside—I do need to wear both eye shields while sleeping for the rest of this week. Definitely weird as it means sleeping sitting up.
Let me say, though, that 24 hours after I’m totally happy. Feels like being high! After 55 years I can watch TV, drive, walk around WITHOUT GLASSES!!
At today’s follow up the surgeon said my corneas are a little swollen still and as that goes down I’ll need reading glasses. If so that’s fine.
My surgeon was Dr. Ryan Steck, happy to recommend him.
We’ve had some fun with growing a bit of food in our small yards. Oranges, lemons, and pineapples have come through nicely, and we planted a mango tree a few months back but it will take a year or years to start producing.
We also planted tomatoes from seeds I got at the library–on the Big Island all library branches have a seed library maintained by a local gardeners association. It took a few months but a few weeks back we saw a couple of tomatoes starting to bud. Yay!
But then they were gone! The cause, or even that it happened, was unclear, and then two weeks ago we saw some new babies. They were coming along, one was starting to turn red, and then BOOM!
This morning they were just gone. No trace or paw prints, like you would expect if an animal had got to them, so it must have been a person. We have some kids in the street who’ve played pranks before and this is my best guess as to who.
Viv and I were both really upset. I realize there are a lot of worse things going on in the world but you can’t help your emotional reaction. The plants are okay so hopefully next ones that grow, whoever did this will leave them be.
So the day before we left on our vacation to New Zealand last month, a guy who was not being careful rear ended use on Queen K highway stopping at a red light. He was almost stopped so there wasn’t much damage and no one was hurt.
When we got home we followed up and he had indeed filed a claim with his insurance and I used that to get an authorized repair shop for the work. After getting the estimate, and getting it approved, we had the normal couple of weeks wait for parts to arrive on a cargo ship. Honestly I’m surprised it was so fast except the rear bumper is probably a very common part to replace and so kept on hand in the warehouse.
Just now we got a call that the parts have arrived and could we bring our car in Monday for the work to be done. Three or four days so of course we need a rental. I reached out to the guy’s insurance company (AllState) through their webchat–in less than five minutes he had the order in their system to the local Enterprise, and someone from Enterprise called me to settle the details.
If you want an overview of how things are in Lahaina four months after the fire, check out Jesse Wald’s video. TL;DR: The EPA just completed the hazardous materials removal project and now the main debris removal will start and take about a year.
The devastation is just so visible now, makes me so sad. So many people’s homes and businesses just gone and I imagine the rebuild will take years. Not just because of the number of buildings destroyed–over 2,000–but also because the labor and supplies constraints for a small island. Maui population is what, 60-70,000?
Okay, that’s a cutesy title but this (fairly quiet) blog is now posting to the Fediverse at billsaysthis.com@billsaysthis.com. Follow, or not, all good.
Over on the Fediverse, a fellow LFC supporter posted a link to a song from the Concert for George film, which is one of my favorites. George Harrison was such a quiet, positive, loving man and this tribute shows how much he was loved!
Another of my favorites is The Song Remains the Same, Led Zeppelin’s 1976 masterpiece. The music is, of course, the centerpiece but the episodes for each member are mostly cool. However, what gets this on my list is more about the circumstances.
I did see the movie in New Jersey when it was released. Then, the following summer I took a trip to Scandinavia with my parents and a pal, a fellow Zep fan. We found ourselves in Oslo free on a Saturday night and TSRTS was playing at this huge pre-multiplex cinema so my friend and I had to go. The theater was pack with a crowd wearing jeans and leather jackets and we had a blast!
Update 8/10/2023: The death of Robbie Robertson reminded me I completely missed The Last Waltz, which unquestionably belongs on this list. The music and the members of The Band dominate but the huge range of musical guests push this far past any normal concert film. Ana amazing evening!
I try not to make much of my exercise efforts because honestly there’s not much to make.
But I am proud that for the last year I’ve made it to the gym three times a week (with four weeks at two). I don’t do multi-hour workouts but I try and get sweaty and a little achy.
I also try to close the Move Ring on my Apple Watch every day, and to increase the level every month or two. Today my close streak hit 200 days! 🎉🎉
Today’s prompt is What is your favorite genre of music? Which fits amazingly well with what I came here to write. Almost too well. Of course the answer is Classic Rock, headlined by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
I’d seen that Wings for Wheels, the documentary about the making of Born to Run, was available to stream (on Paramount+), perfect Sunday morning watching. I can say that even if you’re not a fan of Bruce’s you’ll probably still enjoy it for the stories behind the scenes and the insights into how a complex record gets made in a highly pressurized environment.
Today everyone takes for granted that Bruce is a huge star and icon. But in 1974 and early ’75 as he was writing and then recording that wasn’t at all the case. In fact based on how poorly The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle had done this album was either going to be a hit or the end of his Columbia recording contract.
Aside: Wings for Wheels was the original title of the song that became Thunder Road.
I don’t know if this was fortunate or common practice at the time but Bruce’s manager Mike Appell had a film crew in the studio pretty much the entire time they recorded so this documentary includes a lot of footage from then as well as interviews with the band members, plus Appell, producer Jon Landau, Jimmy Iovine (Born to Run was one of his first industry gigs as recording engineer), and Nils Lofgren and Patti Scialfa.
This summer because circumstances we couldn’t fly off island and decided to have a staycation. We did drive up and spent Tuesday night in Waimea (can recommend Waimea Country Lodge as a modest, inexpensive place to stay). We also drove over to Hilo Friday for lunch and a little exploring.
Honestly though our focus has really been on food. There are so many good food places here!
We started by doing some home cooking. Viv always takes care of us with good food but I kicked in with a mushroom and beef dish. Mushrooms from a local source, big and muscular, and some Big Island raised ground beef with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and herbs.
Monday we hit up Caffe Florian in Captain Cook for breakfast, I had a tasty breakfast panini featuring eggs, ham, spinach, and Gouda on thin garlic bread, Viv had a breakfast sandwich, and we split a chocolate banana muffin.
Me and Viv at Caffe Florian
Tuesday started with a visit to Hapuna Beach, justifiably considered one of the best beaches anywhere. Then onto Waimea. We’d hoped to lunch at Moa Kitchen but it was way full so we had Chinese at Jade Palace. Nice but nothing special. Left room for very enjoyable dessert from Sandwich Isle Bread Company, a strawberry shortcake for Viv and a chocolate obsession for moi.
Dinner though was ono! “Ono” is a Hawaiian term for delicious and what we had at Pueo’s Osteria was outstanding, most certainly ono. Started with the crudo special, Ahi in a sweet garlic sauce. Then Viv had the Hamakua Mushroom Pizza, with a white garlic sauce. I went for the Melanzana alla Parmigiana. Huge portions that we enjoyed over the next couple of days. If only they opened for lunch we would eat there a lot. Too much!
Wednesday breakfast was Hawaiian Style Cafe, sadly the loco moko didn’t meet expectations. Friendly staff though. After checkout we hit the midweek farmers market at Parker Ranch. Decent selections, we got some Blood Orange Rose Petal Cabernet Sauvignon jam from our favorite supplier Akaka Falls Farm plus some fresh shortbread cookies for later. Highly recommend the Akaka Falls Farm jams, preserves, and honey, and definitely the chocolate butters if you want a treat shipped from the Big Island!
Thursday we went back to Captain Cook for Randy’s Huli Chicken. This is a hugely popular roadside BBQ stand,. So popular they can manage only being open Thursday and Friday lunchtime, and now every other Wednesday.
Friday, as mentioned, we drove the 90 miles over the saddle road to Hilo. Picked up a fresh Challah and chocolate chip cookies from Papa’a Palaoa Bakery to bring home. Snuck a couple of the cookies on the (loooong) ride home, very nice.
Lunch was at Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine, most certainly ono! We shared a (non-alcoholic) Big Island Punch, smooth and fruity. Viv had the swordfish fish and chips while I had the Local Plate featuring BBQ Kailua pork and teriyaki Kalbi beef.
Before heading home we stopped at the Prince Kuhio Plaza. This is possibly the only indoor mall on the whole island. For sure the only one we’ve been inside in the nearly two years we’ve lived here. Apparently not something I miss 🤣🤣
Saturday was simple. Breakfast was French toast which Viv made from that challah, topped with some of that sweet jam. So good we had the same again Sunday. Both accompanied by fresh orange juice squeezed from oranges grown in our yard.
One last meal out on Monday, breakfast at Holuakoa Coffee Shack. Tasty! We both had the breakfast burrito with Portuguese sausage and split a lovely chocolate topped donut (from, I suspect, Paradise Hawaiian Bakery). One thing to be careful about is parking, always tricky up there.
Donut at Holuakoa Coffee Shack
All in all definitely an Eatcation, eh? But a lot of walking and a few gym visits mixed in and worth all the calories. Next year we’re hoping to get off island for our vacation but certainly to a place with lots of good eats!
Side note: Loco Moko
One of my hobbies since we moved here is to try every restaurant’s loco moko. Loko moko is a Hawaiian dish, for those unaware, with rice, hamburger patty (or frequently two patties), brown gravy, and topped with two eggs. Lots of places let you change the meat to spam, Portuguese sausage, and so on.
This is apparently harder to make well than you’d expect. Far too many restaurants fail for one of these reasons:
This was apparently today’s question of the day. My answer is anxiety.
Anxiety takes time from me all too frequently. It costs me a good nights sleep often. All through the day I waste time arguing with myself internally. Counting things, estimating time left or percentages.
Tres a cero against Mexico, losing Dest, McKennie, and Richardson Two-nil over a very strong Canada in the final.
Pulisic was possibly the top US performer across the two games, closely followed by Chris Richards and Tim “Timo” Weah. Defense so tough that Matt Turner barely had to make a save. Gio Reyna showed real grit, constantly getting stuck in on defense and making both goals in the final with lovely passes.
Joe Scally shutting down Canada’s top attacker Alphonso Davies with an overall smart, physical game at right back in place of Dest. (Dest is too emotional on his best days, the red card against Mexico being a prime example.)
A great debut for Folarin Balogun, the goal today was just lovely. Between him and Ricardo Pepe the US are strong at center forward for the first time in maybe a decade.
BJ Callaghan made some very smart moves in both games. He isn’t getting the US job full time but, especially if he leads the US to the Gold Cup, is clearly ready for an MLS head coaching position.
Because we’re hosting the 2026 World Cup we won’t play any qualifiers and so I’m really looking forward to seeing these guys make a strong run in the Copa America and the World Cup!!
Happy to find Aussie Rules Football, or Footy, available on Fox Sports. Last time I looked, a year or two back, it was missing, I guess ESPN had given up the rights. Games are still at pretty inconvenient times but looks like plenty are available on demand. Yay!
Saw #GotG3 today and definitely recommend. Fun movie, finally see Rocket’s origin story, and sweet but not treacly ending. Disappointing that Badlands was over the end-end credits and not in the movie proper though.
BillSaysThis 