Sports leagues have to keep finding hooks and gimmicks to get our attention as if the games itself were not enough. This year MLB is staging a number of "Spring Breakout" events that pit one team's rookie prospects against another. Luckily my Cincinnati Reds have plenty 'o prospects and are featured in two such events. … Continue reading Spring Breakout – Another Gimmick from MLB
Quick Ramble on Joey and Noelvi
Cincinnati Reds Spring Training rumbles on with two notable exceptions. Lifelong Reds Joey Votto's option was not picked up for the season and he has been forlornly missing Spring Training in a classic series of posts on social media. When it became clear he would not be invited by our management as a player this … Continue reading Quick Ramble on Joey and Noelvi
My script will get a reading in North Carolina in September!
The Parkway Playhouse of Burnsville, North Carolina has selected my script BLOODLETTING IN THESE HILLS to be part of their 2024 Appalachian Playwriting Festival in September. Three scripts will get a staged reading open to the public and one of those will be given a fully staged production in a following season. The Parkway Playhouse … Continue reading My script will get a reading in North Carolina in September!
An Artificial Intelligence Still Life
I know that I've gone a little overboard by assembling AI mash ups of National Days where I start with an animal and team it up with a couple of food National Days for a silly visual. It has been fun and a diversion but I tried something different lately. I realized that today was … Continue reading An Artificial Intelligence Still Life
National Dress in Blue Day and a minor mash up
The first Friday in March is National Dress in Blue Day which raises awareness about the causes and treatments for colon cancer. An important and serious day but not one I can't corrupt with an artificial intelligence mash up of other concurrent National Days. As it happens March first is also National Pig Day and … Continue reading National Dress in Blue Day and a minor mash up
Artificial Intelligence mangles three more National Days for our new series
In keeping with my new diversion I have found three unrelated National Days and asked Google Gemini (formerly Bard) to mash up an image of the three into one silly visual. Today is National Polar Bear Day, National Kahlua Day and National Strawberry Day. Shake them all together and you get... Yep, pretty silly, but … Continue reading Artificial Intelligence mangles three more National Days for our new series
Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Games start this afternoon
Fly the flag high and start the games. Spring Training games commence today as the Reds take on the Cleveland Guardians. Still a long while to season opening. But this is a necessary first step. Go Reds! Elly and company will be there. Joey Votto will not but it is my strong wish that he … Continue reading Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Games start this afternoon
Reflecting on my favorite Spring Training Kitty Cat
With the most hopeful Spring Training of recent Cincinnati Reds history I am reminded of their most illustrious feline fan. Yes, my favorite cat of all time, Macaroon. Celebrating him today on his birthday (litter day?) hmmm... Quick reminder of his back story. When my then wife's friend's cat had a litter we stopped by … Continue reading Reflecting on my favorite Spring Training Kitty Cat
I finally caught it…
By "it" I mean COVID -19 though I have lost count of all the variations. I had avoided it all this time, but must admit I have not gotten the latest booster which was not quite available when I got my flu shot. I should have. Can't be sure but the last mass gathering I … Continue reading I finally caught it…
Spring Training Gets Underway
Today is the date pitchers and catchers must report to the Cincinnati Reds Spring Training site in Arizona. The first workouts will commence tomorrow. Position players report next week and the first Spring Training game happens later this month. Thank goodness baseball season is here. The Reds acquired some good players this offseason and carry over one of the … Continue reading Spring Training Gets Underway
National Football Hangover Day
Well, the most recent Super Bowl is over. Today's National Day is partly based on the fact that an estimated 14 million Americans will call in sick on today, the Monday morning after the big game. Sounds a little suspicious but what ya gonna do? Another theory for the day is that the professional football season is over … Continue reading National Football Hangover Day
Happy Chinese (Lunar) New Year
The traditional Chinese New Year happens later than usual this year because it is based on a lunar calendar so I wondered if the timing had any insight into the winner of tomorrow's Super Bowl. Hmmmm, would a Dragon prefer a win by the 49's or the Chiefs? Not sure there is angle here. Okay, time for a … Continue reading Happy Chinese (Lunar) New Year
Yet Another A.I. National Day Mash-up
Just a quickie of me combining odd National Days and asking Google's Bard program to mash them together in an image. Today is National Frozen Yogurt Day, a product first introduced in 1970. Today is also National Chopsticks Day, a product first introduced in 1200 BCE. Not much in common here, but let's mash up the images. Your … Continue reading Yet Another A.I. National Day Mash-up
A “Happy Birthday, Leonard” Update
As I told you recently, my short play "Happy Birthday, Leonard" will receive a performance in central Connecticut on February 17. Just got some updated information and wanted to pass it along. Crappy Valentine's Day After the annual commercial push to buy chocolate and flowers in the name of a long-dead saint, join Theater Makers Lab … Continue reading A “Happy Birthday, Leonard” Update
An A.I. Visualization of several National Days
It's Groundhog Day. Again. I've done Groundhog Day posts on this blog twice before, in 2023 and in 2018. I even did a review of the Broadway musical "Groundhog Day" in 2017. You can find them if you are really interested by using the Search field on this page. I have nothing new to add this year. So what to do … Continue reading An A.I. Visualization of several National Days
How am I doing on my New Year’s Resolution?
A month into 2024 I took a look at my New Year Resolution to double down on my writing. I was unintentionally clever to make my promise on efforts and not results. Yes, I have doubled down on my writing. While I have increased my recent blog posts, they don't come everyday. I have such a back history of … Continue reading How am I doing on my New Year’s Resolution?
In Memoriam – Chita Rivera
The Broadway stage lost one of its greatest stars when Chita Rivera passed away at the age of 91. I was very fortunate to see her in a number of classic Broadway productions. The very first Broadway show I ever saw was the original production of the musical "Chicago" back in 1976 which featured Chita Rivera, Gwen … Continue reading In Memoriam – Chita Rivera
A Production of “Happy Birthday, Leonard” in Connecticut
I'm thrilled to announce that a production of my short play "Happy Birthday, Leonard" has been scheduled for a theatre in Middletown, Connecticut. On Saturday, February 17 the Theater Makers Lab will present an evening of short plays under the title of Crappy Valentine Festival. They are still putting together the production team and marketing for the … Continue reading A Production of “Happy Birthday, Leonard” in Connecticut
On this date – the Longest Shootout in FBI History…
On the shore of Lake Weir, in the small town of Oklawaha in Central Florida, near where I currently reside, is a most amazing house. This simple wood frame home was the site of the longest gun battle in FBI history on this date, January 16, 1935. It is remarkable because it is in much the same … Continue reading On this date – the Longest Shootout in FBI History…
Look Locally for National Pizza Week
Today is the start of National Pizza Week and you can find one of America's favorite meals in just about any combination you can imagine. To celebrate I strongly recommend you skip the big national chains and find a local family parlor of distinction. I'll start with a hyper-local recommendation. Mamma Mia Pizzeria advertises and faithfully provides … Continue reading Look Locally for National Pizza Week
Mixing Two Unrelated National Days
If you read this blog regularly you know I often recognize National Days and dive into what it means to me. Every day there are several different national days, often up to a dozen. After all there are only 365 (or this year 366) days each year and thousands of special days recognized each year. Sometimes a particular … Continue reading Mixing Two Unrelated National Days
A National Spaghetti Day Throwback Thursday
For the first Throwback Thursday of the new year, I harken back to one of the most infamous and celebrated stories of my youth. The exact date is lost to posterity but it would have been in the late 1960's or so and I would have been somewhere between 9 and 11 years of age or … Continue reading A National Spaghetti Day Throwback Thursday
Have you been to a Buc-Ee’s?
The first I heard of Buc-Ee's was in a New York Times article which introduced me to this Texas institution. It noted that it was soon planning to expand beyond its home state. Soon enough, two were added to I-95 in Florida (one in Daytona Beach, another near Jacksonville). You'll only find them on an Interstate Highway because … Continue reading Have you been to a Buc-Ee’s?
Dive into Delights: Celebrating National Cream Puff Day!
It is only the second day into my New Years Resolution and I am already cheating! The text below is from Google's BARD Artificial Intelligence Program and the photos are from the stock photo bank I subscribe to. At least I am honest about it! Enjoy! It's time to raise a (choux pastry) glass to a day dedicated … Continue reading Dive into Delights: Celebrating National Cream Puff Day!
Welcome to 2024 and a hopeful resolution
I'm Baaack! Yes, I have been away from the blog for a while. Went through some health issues and emerged on the other side pretty well, thank you. I thought it would might be auspicious to start a new year with renewed energy. My simple resolution is to double down on my writing. I am halfway through a new … Continue reading Welcome to 2024 and a hopeful resolution
Walter Thinnes 
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