Random Thoughts on New Years Eve

2018 was a peaceful time for me as it was my first year in retirement.  The best thing is not having to cope with bosses who flex their managerial muscles by imposing their professional interests on you.  I stayed on the same job too long, but I had the satisfaction of leaving on my terms.  I certainly don't miss my miserable commute as I have read about numerous delays on New Jersey Transit over the past year.  I am doing well financially as I did a good job of saving for the future.

I believe strongly in moving on and letting go of the past.  I am trying to forget about the bad experiences of the past.  There is much pleasure in visiting museums, going to movies, reading good books and enjoying life.

This will be entry #250 in Bruce's Journal in 2018 meaning that I post about two times every three days.  There have been over 3700 entries since I started this blog in October 2005.  I never know who is reading it and if it has an impact on anyone.

Since it is New Year's Eve, I remember that it was 50 years ago today that my date got sick and had to cancel.  When one has a good memory, there are just too many bad incidents of the past that stay in my mind.

I wish all readers of Bruce's Journal a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2019.

Two Museums in One Afternoon - The Museum of Arts and Design and The Folk Arts Museum

A sample of Art Work from The

Museum of Arts and Design

I looked at a listing of museums looking for one that I never visited and found The Museum of Arts and Design  (MAD) located in Columbus Circle.  This museum recognizes artists working in the studio using fiber, clay, wood, glass, and metals to design their works.  Almost all the works that I viewed today were done recently.  The exhibitions there today were:

• Sterling Ruby: Ceramics
• The Burke Prize 2018 - This exhibit displays works of finalists for this prize that is open to artists under the age of forty.
• MAD Collects - a sample of the museum's recent acquisitions
• The Eye Level - Uses heavyweight thread to build a luminescent field
• Fake News and True Love - examines jewelry as a document of popular cultural history

The museum was somewhat small and since it only took about 1 1/2 hours to see, we decided to walk over to the American Folk Art Museum at Columbus Avenue and 66th Street.  We were there earlier this year and thought the exhibits had changed over several months.  This museum is devoted to the expression of self-taught artists of yesterday and today.  The two exhibits today were:

• John Dunkley: Neither Day nor Night - Dunkley (1891-1947) is a significant artist from Jamaica.
• Paa Joe: Gates of No Return - He is a contemporary artist from Accra known for his figurative coffins that draw from a traditional Ghanaian custom.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt by John Dunkley

Voting for My Top Hits

For many years radio stations ask their listeners to vote for their favorite hits. It is very hard to pinpoint 10 songs as my favorite.  Did I like the melody, lyrics, or did the song have an impact on me?  Many songs that affected me are "deep tracks" and are rarely played on the radio.  I picked songs by my favorite artists that are likely to make the survey.

Mike Riccio, Tom Natoli, and others over the years have taken great time and effort to compile and honest listener poll of their favorite hits. I thank them for their efforts. Many polls by radio stations are adjusted to eliminate songs that don't fit their format.   The Top 100 its voted this year may be found at  https://www.musicradio77.com/voting2018.html.  Links to results from other years may be found on the Oldies Board.

Here are the songs that I voted for.  If I voted for 10 Dylan songs, I am sure my submission would be disqualified.  Like a Rolling Stone is not my favorite Dylan song, but it is the one most likely to make the survey.  It was #21 is this year's poll.  I included The Mighty Quinn and Blowin' in the Wind which are covers of Dylan songs.

Song/Artist 1: Like A Rolling Stone  - Bob Dylan (1965)

Song/Artist 2: Mrs Robinson  - Simon and Garfunkel (1968)

Song/Artist 3: Turn Turn Turn (To Everything There Is A Season)  - Byrds (1965)

Song/Artist 4: Mellow Yellow  - Donovan (1966)

Song/Artist 5: The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)  - Manfred Mann (1968)

Song/Artist 6: Blowin' In The Wind  - Peter, Paul and Mary (1963)

Song/Artist 7: Light My Fire  - Doors (1967)

Song/Artist 8: Get Back  - Beatles (1969)

Song/Artist 9: Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard  - Paul Simon (1972)

Song/Artist 10: You Can't Always Get What You Want  - Rolling Stones (1969)

Random Thoughts on Christmas Day

For several years in the 1970s and 80s, I would go to a Knick game at Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day.  I checked out the prices for today's game and was shocked to see that the cost of a ticket in the 200 level was over $130.  At that price, I think I will take a pass.  The Knicks lost to the Milwaukee Bucks as their record dropped to 9-26.

Instead, we went to the local multiplex to see Holmes and Watson.  It was a silly movie, but it got us out of the house for a few hours.

I think I will purchase a newer car in early 2019.  I have a 2000 Chevy Cavalier with only 69,000 miles.  My of my driving has been short trips which put more wear and tear on a car than highway driving.

I am organizing a meeting for the local chapter of SABR (Society of American Baseball Research).  I will post more information later.

Yesterday's Visit to the Museum of the Moving Image

In January of this year,  the Museum of the Moving Image was the first museum I visited by myself as a retiree.  Since museums always change exhibits, I thought this was a good time for a return visit with Karen and Lee this time.  The Jim Henson Exhibition was the feature yesterday.  He is obviously best known for Sesame Street and the Muppets, but his works including TV appearances in the 1950s and 60s were shown.

Listings of other exhibitions at the museum may be found at http://www.movingimage.us/exhibitions/

I guess I'll revisit this museum in about a year as old exhibits will be removed and new ones will be installed.

Reflections on My First Year of Retirement

It is exactly one year since I left my job in the Garden State, so I think it is time to write some reflections on my first year of retirement.  I did pick the right time to retire since I am entitled to some good benefits after completing 25 years of service.  I was also burned out after being in the same position for so long.  It was extraordinarily frustrating to do good work and never being rewarded with a promotion.

I have spent my time pursuing interests that I have enjoyed for years and developing new interests.  Before retirement, I had time for one museum every month, but now I can visit places at least once a week.  Likewise, I was limited to seeing movies at the local multiplex whose offerings were limited to the mass appeal films aimed at a younger audience.  Now, I often make trips to Manhattan to see independent films that are more suited for senior citizens.  I spend more time with SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) as I am the coordinator of fact-checking for the Games Project and have worked for The Baseball Index.  I certainly saw plenty of games at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium.

I have become a more voracious reader as I have read numerous books and magazines over the past year  I visited the New York Public Library and Queens Library to do “recreational research” on baseball and music.  Now, I am using the skills I have a research librarian for my own investigations.

I certainly don’t miss commuting to Newark.  I have seen umpteen delays on New Jersey Transit over the past year and am relieved that I no longer have to cope with them. There is no longer a need to be such a clock watcher as I used to be.  I do ride the New York City Subway, not nearly as often as I did while I was working.  I have confronted just a few delays over the past year as I rarely ride in the rush hour.

It is safe to say that I enjoyed my first year of retirement.

Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour Will Continue in 2019

I hope my readers can see this JPG file which lists the tour dates for early 2019.  The concerts will be held in Europe. Since Dylan will be 78 years old in May, I expect that there will be fewer shows in the forthcoming year.  Hopefully, there will be NYC dates later in the year.  May he stay Forever Young.