Nonetheless, we will have Mass

…at 12:10, at St. Joseph’s, as usual. And I will not be wearing headphones.

Soccer: USA!

Diego Maradona and Argentina won

First, I would like to go on record that the first World Cup tournament I enjoyed took place in 1986.

I had the pleasure of spending that summer in Spain with some of my schoolmates. We sat in the rooming-house lobby with a festive group of middle-aged Valencians, after our delicious octopus dinners, and watched the matches on a grainy black and white tv. (They were late nights: Altea, Spain is five hours ahead of Mexico time.) To this day, I do not understand how Spain got knocked out in a tie game in late June.

(PS. That World-Cup tournament made “the wave” a thing to do in stadiums.)

But I must say: This evening’s USA victory is the most exciting thing since the Spurs beat the Heat in the NBA Finals. Go USA!

Double McTwist 1260

Check out American gold-medalist Shaun White:

Vodpod videos no longer available.

…Nine days with the sailboat cufflinks. Still a long way from 70 degrees…

…What can we say about the Wizards? All our old homeboys are gone now. We need a fresh start of course, but this is extreme…

…Perhaps you recall that on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, when there was very little snow on the ground, the Hoyas got themselves whupped by Syracuse.

The re-match is tonight at the Verizon Center. For Lent, we are giving up losing in the Big East.

Goodbye! says the windswept house

Sicut Transit Gloria Mundi

Perhaps, dear reader, you remember that we have touched on our love for Michael Jackson before.

The album “Thriller” was fun in just about every way–all the songs were good, the videos were delightful, the Vincent-Price cameo was priceless.

“Human Nature” is on my iPod perennially. I liked the album “Bad,” too. “Man in the Mirror” was a great song.

Also, let’s not forget that M.J. was acquitted of all charges.

May the King of Pop rest in peace.

Speaking of death, today I drove past the one small piece of real estate I own.

It is only a few square feet.

But it will be more than big enough, when the time comes.

Act V, Scene 1 of Hamlet opens with two gravediggers joking with each other.

The one asks the other, “What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?”

The other replies, “The gallows-maker; for that frame outlives a thousand tenants.”

The other replies:

I like thy wit well, in good faith: the gallows
does well; but how does it well? it does well to
those that do ill: now thou dost ill to say the
gallows is built stronger than the church: argal,
the gallows may do well to thee. To’t again, come.

The second one can’t come up with another witty reply, so the first one says:

Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull
ass will not mend his pace with beating; and, when
you are asked this question next, say ‘a
grave-maker:’ the houses that he makes last till
doomsday.

The entire scene is very long. Here is the second part of it, worthily done by Kenneth Branaugh and our old buddy Billy Crystal, from the 1996 movie version.

Then, later on in the scene, my favorite phrase from all of Shakespeare makes its appearance. Laertes is bickering with the priest. Laertes thinks his sister Ophelia’s funeral has been too short.

Laertes. What ceremony else?

Priest. Her obsequies have been as far enlarg’d
As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful;
And, but that great command o’ersways the order,
She should in ground unsanctified have lodg’d
Till the last trumpet. For charitable prayers,
Shards, flints, and pebbles should be thrown on her.
Yet here she is allow’d her virgin rites,
Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home
Of bell and burial.

Laertes. Must there no more be done?

Priest. No more be done.
We should profane the service of the dead
To sing a requiem and such rest to her
As to peace-parted souls.

Laertes. Lay her i’ th’ earth;
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh
May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,
A minist’ring angel shall my sister be
When thou liest howling.

“Churlish priest!” Maybe, after this Year of the Priest is over, we can have a Year of the Churlish Priest, and I will be the poster-child.

…P.S. How about our soccer team!

And the Natinals just shellacked the Red Sox! (Not that I am in favor of inter-league play.)