Spring Lake, New Jersey

all 2003, oil on canvas, 22x28in.

Down the shore, everything's all right. My wife and I went to Spring Lake back in 2003, the summer before our son was born, and we're all going back this year--our big little summer trip. I'm not sure I'll get any painting done this time, maybe some watercolors, but most of the time I'll be playing in the sand and surf, I'm sure. Last time, we had the latest Harry Potter to read, this time I think I'll be taking a book about Hollywood by Garson Kanin [started reading it in the doctor's office yesterday and am hooked], Jhumpa Lahiri short stories, maybe some Graham Greene. I know there's a lot of books sitting around work, home, and studio that I want to read. I really don't finish much reading I start lately, but we'll see. I read a lot more books when I rode the subway regularly. And of course we will be reading some Dr. Seuss, Richard Scarry, Mo Willems, etc.

Oil sketches, Spring Lake, NJ, 2003

both images are oil on paper, @7x11in.

Can't anybody here run this baseball team?

So willie’s done. Which is fine; one way or the other, it was time to make a decision, and I don’t know if it’ll make much difference this year, but jeez what a weird way to fire some guys.

Can’t we just watch some baseball, please? Is that too much to ask? Can’t anybody here run this baseball team?

What a crazy season. I wonder if Willie will still coach the all star game. If he does, what uni does he wear? Chico’s bail bonds?

Hair up

2005, pastel, @7x6in.

Readers in the park

Sunbather with book [black], 2005, pastel, @4x6in.

Sunbather with book [blue], 2005, pastel, @3x5in.

Sunbather

2005, pastel on paper, @8x6in.

First trip to Shea this year

Saturday was our first trip to Shea, and for a while it looked like the weather would not be kind to us. But we packed a bag of snacks, sandwiches, toys, and books and took that long ride on the 2 and 7. My four year-old son loved the view of Queens from the 7, which we figured must be how the world looks to you when you're a giant, or if you are Batman swinging above the rooftops on his Bat-rope.

I miss the bridge a little bit, but the exit from the subway also feels a little easier, and the new field looks impressive, right in your face as you come down the steps. We had seats behind home plate, but way up in the last rows of the upper deck [where I haven't sat since game 7 in 2006]. Overcast, nice breeze, and we took our seats in the top of the second. Met some nice families from Staten Island, including a sixteen year-old who was nice enough to put up with being my son's best friend for a couple hours.

It was a hard game to watch for seven and a half innings. The futility that marked last September was there, until, at the precise moment the sun broke through the clouds, bathing center and right field in golden sunlight, David Wright launched a double against the base of the right center wall in the bottom of the eighth. Then Carlos Beltran launched one against the base of the scoreboard with that quick lefthanded swing of his, and my son got to see what he was waiting for: the beautiful, funky, big red apple rising out of the top hat beyond the center field wall. A few batters latter and Fernando Tatis is a hero again with a grounder up the middle that scores the young Nick Evans, pinchrunning for Carlos Delgado. I swear Evans looked like he might stumble coming around third.

Just like that, and Billy Wagner is coming out to close the game. Almost felt too soon for the game to be over. Almost. [I was a little worried about the kid playing first base, but Billy took care of that, striking out the side.]

My son belted out 'Meet the Mets' and 'Take me out to the Ballgame' with gusto, enjoyed a slice and some ice cream, along with the variety of snacks we brought along. It was pretty much a perfect day at the park. He fell asleep on his mother's lap on the seven train [an express!], and I hauled him the rest of the way home on my shoulder. On Sunday, he asks me if we're seeing the Mets again that day.