As I stood on the ballfield at the Gotham picnic/softball game a few weeks ago, I had a feeling that brought me back decades to the ballfields of my youth. Being in the group between the two "captains" who are picking sides. I remembered the thoughts that went through my head when I was a kid. Whose team did I want to be on? When would I be chosen? Would I be one of the first to be picked or down on the list? I watched as the choices were made.

Yesterday I posted the above photo of the Williams sisters saying Williams will win last night's US Open match between them. Of course one of them had to win, but I had divided loyalty.  In the end younger sister Serena prevailed in 3 sets against Venus, her greatest adversary and best friend. There were so many emotional sub texts.  It was amazing.  Now I hope Serena goes on to win her Grand Slam. Althea Gibson would be proud.

  I saw a news report that I thought was interesting.

  Don was feeling groovy yesterday. Today, I’m feeling relaxed.  

Sometimes songs just pop into my head, coming out of nowhere.  "What's New Pussycat" is one of those.  Here is another, a good happy song.  Do you know it?  

A man who tried to sell a backpack of dirty socks as marijuana has been sentenced to at least one year in a Michigan prison.   Michael Suarez was sentenced Thursday for committing fraud through false pretenses.   Police say Suarez was pursuing a marijuana deal in July when he showed up at a home in Lenawee County's Raisin Township. But instead of carrying pot, he had a backpack stuffed with dirty socks.   So although he didn't have the illegal substance he was sentenced for committing fraud ?!?  

I was on such a roll: not having had a cold for over 2 years and then I came down with a dreaded Summer cold in mid July. At this writing it has settled in my chest and I have lost my voice. The mistake I made, according to Joanne, was that I didn't dial it back and give Nature a chance to cure me.  Rather, I continued to push my every day swimming streak, played crucial softball Playoff games every other day, frequented Gotham lunches and events, slavishly continuied with my trainer and went on and on with my grinding and denial.

A few days before leaving for our annual visit to Martha’s Vineyard last week, I received a voice message from Steve and Kim.