Cunningham Park in Queens

 

On most Saturday mornings Lee and I like to walk around Cunningham Park in eastern Queens.  I found some information about the park:

• Website from the NYC Department of Parks
• History of Cunningham Park
• Wikipedia Entry

Random Thoughts of the Day August 13, 2026

 

• A neighbor who drives the Q44-SBS told me that about 70% of customers don't pay the fair.  People on SBS buses enter through the back doors that allows loading faster to hasten the trips.  But doesn't that defeat the purpose when so much money is lost to the MTA?
• I don't understand why people talk about their medical problems  through social media.  Some even post photos of themselves in hospital beds.These issues should be private.
• I don't know who is worse, the Dylan enthusiasts or the baseball superfans.  Two young ladies who do a Dylan podcast say they enjoyed the film Hearts of Fire.  I think it is just about the worst thing Dylan ever did.  Some of the baseball "nuts" will travel to all ends of the USA to see games over many years.  They often will see two games in a day.  They'll see the Mets in the day and the Brooklyn Cyclones at night.

Patches by Dickey Lee - Random Oldie of the Day

 

Random Thoughts of the Day - August 8, 2026

 

• Last night I had a dream about visiting the University of Rhode Island, where I was a graduate student from 1972-74.  I last visited the campus in 1978.  I still get snail and email from them asking for money.  Why does my dreams bring me into the past?
• Since the trading deadline, the Mets are now 4-0.  Are they going to do what the Red Sox are doing now, by getting hot?  I doubt it.  Nobody says anything about the human side of professional athletes.  Where do a player and his family live after they are traded in the middle of the season and not know how long the team will keep them? Likewise, many players move from the majors to the minors and back several times in a season.
• I still don't know what percentage of hits to this journal are from real people and how many are from bots.

I am Giving Dating Apps One Last Try

 

I have written about my disappointments with dating apps several times in this journal.  After Karen passed away in 2021, I didn't even want to think about dating for at least one year.  I always thought that it would be nice if I found someone, but it was OK if it didn't happen.  All those years ago, my parents brainwashed me so I wouldn't even think of dating a gentile girl.

I did try a Jewish dating site, but nothing worked out.  Many of the matches were from women who lived 200 or more miles away.  You can't travel so far for a first date.  A friend convinced me that if the intention is not marriage or cohabitation, the difference in religion is not that important.  At my age, I don't think I'll remarry.  At first, I thought I should only seek out widows.  Someone else convinced me that I should not be dismissive of divorced women since the mourning process after a divorce may be similar to mourning after a death.

Since Eharmony was rated the #1 dating app for older adults, I decided to sign up with them.  So far, the results have been the same.  There is a chatting relationship that dies out quickly.  Ghosted again.  I'll stick with it until my agreement with them concludes.  I will not renew and am not optimistic right now.

There are more important things in the world.

Is David Stearns Being Fair to the Loyal Fans of the New York Mets?

 It is part of MLB culture that, at the trading deadline, teams not in contention for a playoff spot get rid of players with expiring contracts.  In this way, the losing team gets prospects in exchange.  Here are the moves the Mets made:

Nobody knows how these prospects will work out in the long ron

This obviously created openings in the roster that were filled:

Dedniel Núñez (RHP) – Returning after pitching in the minors on a Tommy John surgery rehab assignment.

Jefry Yan (LHP) – Bullpen reinforcement brought up to fill vacated pitching spots.

Nate Lavender (LHP) – Left-handed reliever called up following bullpen departures.

Chayce McDermott (RHP) – Acquired from the Dodgers in the Ben Rortvedt trade and immediately brought up.

Xzavion Curry (RHP) – Recalled just days after being optioned back to Triple-A

Obviously, the team has been weakened for the rest of the 2026 season.  No team wanted Polanco, Robert, or Senga.  What moves will David Stearns make in the offseason?  With a lockout looming, we don't know waht will happen.

Here We Go Again Miami Marlins 2 Mets 0

 

I think David Stearns should have fired the hitting coaches instead of the manager, since the Mets managed only 5 hits today.  As usual, they could not hit with runners in scoring position as they left the bases loaded in the 7th inning.  Joe Mack homered, Xavier Edwards added an RBI single, and Sandy Alcantara tossed six-plus solid innings for the Marlins, who won the final three games of the four-game series.  Now it is off to Cleveland.

Box Score