My oral surgery was a success

On February 24th I went to the oral surgeon for a consultation. I had to wait to get approval from my dental insurance before I could have the procedure done. Well, today was the big day. I was somewhat anxious since I never had a tooth extracted. I left the apartment at 8:30 AM with Karen for a 9 AM appointment. The dental assistant took my blood pressure just before the surgeon came in. He gave me a local anesthetic. The minor operation took less than 15 minutes as the tooth came out. He prescribed vicodin, a pain killer, which I just didn't need. For a couple of hours I had to keep gauze in my mouth to absorb minor bleeding.

Fortunately, the tooth that was removed was in the back. It take a few months at least before the tooth can be replaced by an implant or a bridge. I am glad that it is over.

Package from Citifield Today

When I got home today Karen showed me a large package that we got from the New York Mets. We opened it up to find the tickets to our 15 game package in a booklet. We also recieve the New York Mets 2009 media guide and a cardboard model of Citifield. The first professional baseball game is this Friday April 3 against the Red Sox while the official opener is Monday April 13 against the San Diego Padres. Our first game is Saturday April 18th agains the Milwaukee Brewers.

Where I got my Idea for Spotlights

Regular readers of my journal know that from time to time I put a spotlight on various people like radio personalities, radio stations, recording artists, etc. I got the idea for this from the oldie Sweet Soul Music by Arthur Conley:

Do you like good music
That sweet soul music
Just as long as it's swingin
'Oh yeah, oh yeah

Out here on the floor now
We're going to a go go
Ah dancin to the music
Oh yeah, oh yeah

Spotlight on Lou Rawls y'all
Ah don't he look tall y'all
Singin' loves a hurtin' thing now
Oh yeah, oh yeah

Spotlight on Sam and Dave now
Ah don't they look boss y'all
Singin' hold on I'm comin'Oh yeah, oh yeah
Spotlight on Wilson Picket
tThat wicked picket Picket
tSingin Mustang Sally
Oh yeah, oh yeah

Spotlight on Otis Redding now
Singing fa fa fa fa fa fa fa faFa fa fa fa fa fa fa faOh yeah, oh yeah
Spotlight on James Brown nowHe's the king of them all, yeah
He's the king of them all, yeahOh yeah, oh yeah

Alan Berman a unique fan of the New York Mets

Today Alan Berman, known to readers of this journal as an extremely loyal listener of Saturday Night Oldies, went to the first sporting event at Citifield, a college baseball game between St. Johns and Georgetown. He told me that he also attended the first Met game played at Shea Stadium on April 17, 1964. The photo above was taken at the last game played at Shea on September 28, 2008. Alan tells me that he has tickets for the second game to be played in the new Yankee Stadium on April 17.

Alan informs me that he also attended the first Met home game ever April 13, 1962 at the Polo Grounds. I apologize for this omission.

Watchmen

It was rainy and dreary this morning so we walked over to the local multiplex and saw Watchmen. Rather than give a detailed review, I'll refer my readers to the entry in the Internet Movie Database. It was a very surreal movie with excellent special effects, but is obviously aimed at a much younger audience. I was quite impressed by Robert Wisden who played Richard Nixon. He didn't have much dialog but looked and sounded more like the real Nixon than Langella did in Frost/Nixon though the latter had a more significant role in his respective film. The Henry Kissinger played by Frank Novak also looked and sounded like the actual former Secretary of State. I was pleasantly suprised ot hear the following Bob Dylan songs:

The Times They are a Changin' - the original Dylan version from 1963
All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
Desolation Row - a heavy metal version played during the credits at the end.

Celebrating Lee's Birthday at the Beatle's Brunch at BB King

The photo above was taken at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Times Square a few years ago. Today we went to BB Kings right across the street to attend the Beatle's Brunch featuring a tribute band called Strawberry Fields. We met our old friend Roy Herschaft who hadn't seen Lee in about 2 /12 years and wanted to celebrate his 21st birthday with us. The group came out dressed like the moptops of 1964. After the first set the group came out dressed like Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. They finished the concert by playing songs from 1967-1970. It certainly was not possible for them to play every Beatles song. Lee was disappointed since they didn't sing his favorite "Here Comes the Sun." They also didn't play Birthday from the White album.

Spotlight on Harry Harrison

One thing that is still missing at WCBS-FM is the Harry Harrison birthday book. Every year I would send Lee's birthday to Harry who would announce it during his show. I do not have to talk about Harry's wonderful career to my radio friends who read my journal but for those not familiar with him there is a good Wikipedia article. I was disapointed that Harry was not on the WABC cruise in June 2007, but he has been interviewed several times by Mark Simone on SAturday Night Oldies. I certain wish Harry the best of happiness and health in his retirement.