Weekly Mail December 13, 2015

    Sorry about missing last week. I went out to dinner with some old friends when I usually do my writing.

**RESTAURANT REVIEW RESTAURANT REVIEW RESTAURANT REVIEW**

Restaurant: Abboccato 136 West 55 Street
With Padraigin Aine Fitzsimmons, Mary Byrnes, Lizzie Coogan and Maggie Coogan Murray.

        I hadn't seen this crew since Mary's wedding back in 2009. These gals are old friends of mine from Rockaway. Patti-Ann and Mary, were summer folks like myself, while Maggie and Lizzie are natives. We spent many a crazy night bar hopping in Rockaway, and of course there were the crazy nights on McLean Avenue in Yonkers (near Mary's apt) Nothing crazy happening here, just a lot of catching up and reminiscing.
        As for the food, it was delicious. I had the baked ziti, (after bragging to them about how I was following a strict diet) and it was really good. If I had one complaint, it was the portion size, but hey maybe that was God's way of telling me to watch it. The service was also top notch, the manager didn't put a rush on us to leave which is unheard of at this time of year. I got home around the time things would just be getting interesting with this crew about 15 years ago.

4.5 Patties.


NEWS ITEM: Terrorism in San Bernardino

       There are a million ways to approach this story. Once again it ignited the gun debate in this country. Also even before we knew who was responsible, the debate of whether or not it should be called a terrorist attack came up, many people assuming that it was some disgruntled worker going off on his co-workers. (Which in part it was).

        But the angle I found the most fascinating was the one in which many people took, getting their lead from the Daily News headline the next day,  GOD ISN'T FIXING THIS the headline read, with the readout continuing "cowards who could truly end the gun scourge continue to hide behind meaningless platitudes."

         And they have a point. How many of these politicians get up and offer their thoughts and prayers for the victims, without actually doing anything about it. Who knows if they even say a prayer. I know even in this space, I've used the term myself. And I usually do offer a prayer or two. Mainly, I pray that it never happens to me, if I'm being perfectly honest here.

          Politicians, are by their nature, full of $h-t, let's call a spade a spade. Yes there are exceptions. Congressman Joe Crowley was my first ever basketball coach, and I'd vote for him any day of the week. I know that Assemblyman Phil Goldfelder has done a lot in Rockaway. And there's a gentleman out here in Lynbrook who has been incredible. But by and large, they are full of it. Some to more degrees than others, but all to some degree.

           All these people running for President now are completely and utterly full of it. Trump, Hillary, Jeb, Venus Flytrap Carson, Rubio, Cruz, and even Bernie Sanders are all full of it. Obama too, and Bush before him. It's the nature of the beast.

           It's like when someone says, "If I offended anyone." Well obviously you did dip$hit, or you wouldn't be up here apologizing. These people say whatever they have to in order to keep the press at bay and their constituents happy. Is it a shame? It sure is, a real shame. But it's the reality.

             The News is right, there is common sense gun law that should be passed. I also happen to believe in the power of prayer. That may make me sound weird in some circles. That's fine. I'm not going to slam my beliefs down your throat, I just am hoping that people who sincerely do offer their prayers up for these innocent victims don't feel like they are doing so in vain. And I offer that while they are praying for the victims, maybe we can all pray that we get someone in office who really does care about something rather than their own political survival.


SPORTS: Jets defeat Giants

WEEKLY MAIL FLASHBACK  WEEKLY MAIL FLASHBACK  WEEKLY MAIL FLASHBACK

. They play the Giants on December 6th, so get ready to lose that one and hear about how the classy Giants have won 4 Super Bowls since the Jets last won theirs in 1969. -Weekly Mail November 15, 2015 

        So one thing you'll learn about me if you haven't already is that I am lousy at predicting the outcomes of sporting events. In a million years, I didn't think the Jets were going to beat the Giants, not with Darrelle Revis hurt and the Giants having the best wide receiver in the sport. It had been 22 years since the Jets beat the Giants in a regular season game. The Jets had played well against a bad Dolphin team, and I figured they were due for another stinker. Add to this that I was watching the game with a house full of Giants fans, and all the ingredients were there for a recepie for disaster. And early on both teams were making me look like a prophet. Odell Beckham Jr made a couple of unbelievable catches, the Jet offense was puttering to a series of 3 and outs, and as late as the 4 quarter the Giants were up by 10. But the Giants apparently have an issue with closing out games much the same way the Mets did in the World Series. And Jet QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, not exactly Canton-bound, but better than what they have had in recent years, led the team on a couple of steady drives to take he game to OT. The Jets won the coin toss and drove down the field, but were stopped by a supposedly weak Giant defense and settled for a field goal. (A TD would have ended it right there.) Of course all I could see was Eli Manning leading one of his patented ;ate game drives to win the game. Alas Eli got them as far as the Jet 31and their FG kicker missed and the Jets had an improbable victory. I'd like to think I've seen enough sports not to be shocked by anything, but this one shocked me to no end. Now I just hope they can beat either the Bills or the Patriots, I'm not expecting them to beat both. Who knows maybe I'll pray for it. 

Have a Great Week