What could I possibly have to say that would span 894 posts? I did a word cloud from just my last five, and it’s definitely indicative of what I talk about most:

Ha — ya think?

Fink, off to SCHOOL, sheesh

Yeah, I think you do.

Is it July 1st yet?

Pretty tune, that. I love the renditions by Oleta Adams, Quincy Jones, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, George Benson…just a wonderful, sad song, worth covering (ya got that, BoomR? — I’d love to hear you do it). And while today’s post isn’t about the song “Everything Must Change,” its lyrics ring especially true in this particular case.

I read last night about yet another American legend meeting its maker. The iconic Tavern on the Green restaurant in New York City’s Central Park was officially turned into a trinket shop over the weekend, all its innards auctioned off to the highest bidder earlier in the year.

Actually, “trinket shop” isn’t very kind. To be fair, it’s a “visitor center” now. But I have to be honest — it makes me sad to see the façade now overrun with food trucks and the wonderfully over-the-top-gaudy Crystal Room gone forever.

John Lennon loved the place, and often celebrated his birthday there. It’s been featured in several movies and TV shows, and was the single highest grossing independent restaurant in the US for many of the last 30+ years. Still, crushing debt swallowed the Manhattan eatery, and the owners (the LeRoy family of Wizard of Oz fame) couldn’t raise enough cash to save the ship.

I visited TotG back in the early 90s, when it was just showing signs of getting tired. I’d heard that the food wasn’t good anymore, and that the place was becoming a leftover dinosaur in the sunset of its life. Still, it was a thrill to see all the Tiffany glass, the kooky statuary and shrubbery, and the oh-my-goodness opulence of the place at night:

But yeah. Everything must change. I just wish “everything” didn’t include Tavern on the Green.

So, are you going to school today? I am not. That is to say I’m not going to school during the school day. But I’ll so be there for rehearsal tonight. Yay for Monkdays. You enjoy yours.

FO

Images: Associated Press, Tavern on the Green

What a week, eh? Looking at my previous four posts, you’d think I was stuck in a rut, disillusioned, sad and unmotivated. Oh, wait…

But I’m better now, and today is a good day, despite it being a teacher inservice at a school 45 minutes away, where I get to “brainstorm” in meetings with other directors, almost all of whom are about half my age. Yippity. OK, I said today is a good day, right? Right.

I’m going to try like heck to squeeze in a visit with Jake and Justin today/tonight. I hope I can work that out in between school and the Homecoming game. Maybe I’ll be able to take Mavis out for coffee or something tonight if she’s not busy. Then it’s the big day in Detroit when I get to see Suzanne and her handsome Harold. Yaaaaay! How long’s it been, Suze? Fourteen years?

I hope you have something fun planned this weekend, my fiends. If so, share.

Bando — when’s Seany’s birthday party?

Fink, to the showers, the road, and that other school out there in the middle of nowhere

Why am I sad today? It’s Thurmsday, after all, and there’s no school tomorrow (well, there’s no school for students, anyway…ugh). I should be dancing on the ceiling, because I get to see Suzanne on Sunday in Detroit. I have a meeting in Fremont on Monday, so I won’t be at school that day, either. Hmmm. Long weekend, no school Monday…what’s to boo-hoo about?

Plenty.

1. Sure wish I had about ten rehearsals this weekend. We definitely need it. Alas, it’s Homecoming, so the kids need to have that time to actually be kids and enjoy the game and dance. Let go already.
2. Haven’t clapped eyes on Mavis all week, and I’ll be gone all weekend.
3. Ditto on the grandsons, and all my chillins as well.
4. I miss Kay.
5. I reduced a student to tears at rehearsal last night. Felt like a big old meanyhead. (I apologized afterwards, and she was very gracious.)
6. I’m having one of those weeks when everything just kind of bites.

Can anyone relate?

I know, I know. I should follow the above with a list of six things I’m really fortunate to have and for which I’m thankful. There’d be a lot more than six items on that list, as I am one of the most blessed people I know. But for today, I say je suis triste.

And I want that mood lighting in my car like BoomR has. Yeep, there goes the tenth Commandment. Now I’m a religious felon as well. Nice.

Fink, bucking up