Mike O'Connell

I don’t know what I was thinking Monday with my post about Japan, that somehow I wouldn’t be able to update the site so many miles from home.

Japan is like, land of Internet and Wi-fi and all things electronic… of course I’d be able to blog. For what it’s worth I can also e-mail and text and call my neighbors like I never left home. (Can’t feed the cats though–had to have someone else handle that one for us.)

Saying we’re having a good time in Japan is like saying Babe Ruth was a pretty good baseball player. Full updates will follow, naturally, but for now know that, yeah, we made it, and, if you have the opportunity some day–it took me 43 years–see this place in person.

You’ll be able to use your phone, don’t worry.

Today on Math and Musings Franklin and I discuss our recent trip to Coney Island, among other things home of the famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest… happening TODAY!

Yeah, we weren’t/aren’t there for the contest. Just doing some advance work I suppose.

If you’re in New York City today, head to Coney Island. But if you’re in the D.C. area (and you’re reading this today before 10:30 a.m.), come on out to Claude Moore Park in Sterling, Virginia, to celebrate Fourth Fest! I’ll be reciting the text of the Declaration of Independence, a tradition of mine going back more than 20 years.

I hear they’re also selling hot dogs.

This weekend I was traveling with my son in New York City, visiting lower Manhattan and parts east, basically the sections of New York we didn’t hit last time (Broadway show and Yankee game). There are these whole other sections of the city and its vicinity I never went to as a kid, when “all” I did was go to Broadway shows and Yankee games.

More than observing the culture and pizza of Brooklyn and Long Island I enjoyed seeing some long-time friends. (I say long-time friends, not old friends, as none of us is “old.”) It had been quite a number of years since we had been together and it was long overdue. Getting to share the experience with my own child made it that much sweeter (we all have kids now), as I do enjoy introducing my “new” friend around. (Eleven isn’t exactly new, but compared to most of my other friends my son and I just met yesterday.)

Over the next few weeks on Math and Musings you’ll hear about some of the exploits my son and I endeavored and yes, they were oftentimes amusing, but it’s always about the people, isn’t it?

Neil Peart once said something like when he was young he thought life was great but people sucked, then when he got older he realized life sucks but people can be great. I’ve made that transition in thought as well, and sometimes like to think that both life and people can be great.

And while we’re at it? Do everything, see everyone, go everywhere, be anything.

Not everything works out perfectly but you do your best, right?

I’d like to think everyone else is doing this too.

Or isn’t it pretty to think so?

I usually pride myself on giving fresh takes on matters, often providing contrarian views to the norm, etc.

Today I’m saying the same thing everyone else is.

It’s hot.

Like, really hot.

Everywhere.

That is all.

The Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants (that would be the Richmond Flying Squirrels) play in a stadium 2,872 miles from Oracle Park. That’s the greatest distance between an affiliate and its parent club in all of organized baseball.

This is one of the many facts my son and I forgot to mention on today’s episode of Math and Musings, “recorded live,” from the road, in Richmond, Virginia, after we witnessed the Flying Squirrels host my hometown’s Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

For a complete description of what we did discuss, check out today’s episode.