Play Ball!

6 years ago it was Sparky Anderson, Carlton Fisk and Tony Pérez for CBS broadcast. This year it was 94-year-old Buck O’Neil, the split-fingered fastball pitcher Bruce Sutter and one of the most gifted base runners in baseball, Lou Brock. A NBC affiliate Sports Reporter from St.Louis called yesterday and we were off and running bases at the Hall of Fame ceremony in Cooperstown, NY.

It was an especially memorable day for the families of 17 black players, posthumously recognised for their outstanding performance in the Negro Leagues. A woman by the name of Effa Manley also became the first woman elected to the Hall of Fame as a former Newark Eagles executive.

Percentages, averages, singles, doubles, triples, unfortunately it's always been the math in baseball that's struck me out. ERA's, RBI's, SLG's, all those complicated acronyms never helped either. Try as I might to become a fan of America's favorite past time, it's the location of the museum in Cooperstown, NY, that scores homeruns verses watching the game.

Cooperstown is stunning in the summer and offers world class opera, national art exhibitions, theater, and concerts. Sarge insists next year will be different when Mark McGwire (what steroid use?), Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. are eligible for Hall of Fame entry. I insist I'd rather work the event and enjoy the town with a fresh brew Pale Ale Slugger overlooking Otsego Lake from the back porch of a Victorian B&B. That's a winning inning in my travel log anyday.

C'mon Get Happy

Beginners luck is had by all at the Saratoga Horse Track. 83 year old Ursala got hooked following a win as small as $4.45. Mutti's been hooked since winning $160, 8 years ago. Despite the rain, Bob, MaryLou, even the Partridge Families cutest singer, David Cassidy get in on the act every summer. It's another season of winnings and in my case - losings - during opening week at one of the country's oldest horse tracks. Built in 1864, Saratoga Springs was once known as the Queen of Spas because of the popular bathhouses and health resorts. This has always been a place of high society, rich decadence and Victorian Gothic homes on the National Register of Historic Places. The food is wonderful, the parks are world renown, the downtown shops are always full and the music scene thriving. I visit Saratoga for all these reasons but those I bring along usually come to win big. Be it the Travers Stakes, the steeplechase or a sold-out Friday standing in the rain, once you win an exacta and trifecta the gambling attraction begins.

Iguassu Falls Online

Behold, another travel article is online at GoNOMAD.com. This time it's my recent trip in May to Iguassu Falls following my few days in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Check it out when you have time and don't forget that this is the best time to visit the Falls and the Dollar is still strong against the Peso.

Guten Appetit!

It's a night of Spaetzle, Braised red cabbage, perhaps a little Jagerschnitzel, sweet and tart Sauerbraten and Beef Rolladen, of course, followed by Apple Strudel. The house is smothered with Germans tonight cooking up old fashioned oompah treasures minus the accordion player dressed in a Tyrolean jacket and hat.

Mutti and her friend 83 year old Ursala, straight from the Faderland, are folk-dancing their way around my kitchen to the sounds of midi melodies. A friend of mine who got her Ph.D in Herborn, Germany, is also joining the ruckus in a few minutes. Mutti is a good cook but a miserable one in hot weather. Her mood turns sour when the sauerkraut burns and alarms sound off throughout the house. She panics and frantically pulls everything off the stove shrieking in foul German tongue. "That's the last time I cook German for you!" she warns. She always says that but later rescinds when I remind her how wonderful German Potatoe Salad tastes.

Deutch dinners are no 30-minute meals. They take hours and sometimes days to prepare. Konditionare, German pastries, specialties like Curry Wurst, Bratwurst and Kabobs; if you decide to visit Deutchland anytime soon just remember how difficult it is to cook cuisine there. So take your time, kick back with a bier and savor every bite.

Trumped by Tots

Are 11 year old boys and 7 year old girls suppose to be able to waterski better than a grown adult? Brian slaloms' and Casey weaves, jumps and waves back and forth out of the wake already in life. It's back to Schroon Lake in the Adirondacks and my inner child is envious that, unlike skiing on snow, I started waterskiing a little too late in life. Still, it's a joy and half to be yanked back and forth at 30mph atop a lake that's as warm as bathwater and smooth as silk.

It's About Oil Already

There's a democratically elected government in Iraq but that hasn't stopped the anarchy. American troops and Iraqi security forces are making efforts but the unrest keeps growing. Among many groups that have targeted occupying U.S. soldiers have been the Sunni insurgents. Now, a strange turn of events in going on. Sunnis are recognizing that the only force that can protect them from the growing Shiite Arabs and Hezbollah groups is the U.S. That's not to say that the Sunni leadership supports democracy in Iraq but with this new "Shia revival" in Lebanon, Iran and now Iraq, a civil war is imminent. The Sunni insurgents now want the American soldiers to stay a little longer and curb the violence.

Oh Brother, what a mess!

When Saddam Hussein (a Sunni) was in power, mixed neighborhoods of Christian, Muslim and other sects lived side-by-side in relative peace. Saddam's chilling evil surprisingly kept the peace in places with religious differences. Democracy today fails to do the same. This part of the world is so complicated, diverse and troubled, how in the world did President Bush think he could introduce freedom and all would embrace it? Anti-zionism, anti-democracy, anti-capitalism and anti-equality sediments among hundreds of militant groups will always prevail here. That's not pessimism or defeatism talking, it's the scary reality of the Middle East.

Why is it that whenever I mention President Bush or the Iraq War to someone who obviously voted Republican in the last two elections, they get all defensive and scream about President Clinton's moral shortcomings with Monica L? As if that equals or equates to a political cluster f**k where thousands of lives have ended and billions of tax dollars keep flowing!

Lights Out!

A temporary loss of electricity last night proved it was just what my sheltered suburban dwelling needed. On a hot sunny and muggy evening, just around dinner time, National Grid (once known as NIMO) pulled the plug on everyone's overworked air conditioning units, favorite television shows and most importantly office computers. All at once, the whole neighborhood, about 20 houses on my block, swung open their front doors and stood staring at one another; shocked more so that we all had the same reaction than troubled by the problem.

It was the first time I had seen my shy introverted Vietnamese neighbor in months, likewise with the Italian family down the street. Moreover, it gave me time to swap Indian recipe ideas with my India-born native right next door. And then there was the new guy who just moved in 3 doors down, cute as a button too - wonder if he's single?

What just happened? A crisis of unimaginable proportions for an electricity-dependent society brushed off the problem and were united under the light of candles, flashlights and lanterns. How beautiful! How powerful! How simple a concept! I say "thank you National Grid" for your shortcomings and apt timing on a Sunday evening. Nothing could have brought this time-strapped neighborhood to a standstill long enough to get to know each other, like your blunder. Might you need to save us some money next month, go right ahead!

"By Golly it's Ronnie!"

Can you believe this man hugging me from behind is THE Ronnie Schell, 75 years young and buff as a taut Swedish boy? Denise and I met up with him at some seedy little pizza joint following a day long camera shoot at PBS. Ronnie still runs the comedy circuit flying from city to city entertaining the masses who remember him as "Duke Slater" on the "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." show in the late 1960's. Today, he's the honorary mayor of Encino, California, living with his beautiful wife in their equally gorgeous home. Denise and I plied him with alcohol and picked his brain about his early days in television.

"Ronnie, do tell, do tell - who's a jerk in the industry and who's a bigger jerk"? "Well, not sure I can answer that" confesses Ronnie, "but I can tell you who's straight and who's not." "That will do too" we chime in. He pulls out a photo of him and George Clooney being buddy buddy together. "Just kidding" he smiles then delves into film nostalgia with big names like Goldie Hawn, Jim Nabors, Tim Conway and Marlo Thomas. But in minutes he looses interest in repeating his own history again (probably for the millionth time) and implores Denise and I to talk about our lives; very uncharacteristic for most celebrities. Ronnie Schell is the sweetest, kindest and most conversational, albeit ridiculously funny comedian alive, on stage, camera, or behind a booth chowing on Italian fare. Here's hoping I get the chance to do it all again when and if he ever makes it back to the East coast again.

Geography Before General Mills

Miss Morgan is going into 5th grade but doesn't know her north from her south, east or west. Shameful. Of course it's not her fault. For whatever reason her school has postponed learning geography until Junior High. That's where a week long visit to Aunt Sony's house comes in handy. Every morning, post breakfast, we break out the globe and daily newspaper and track down where international stories originate. She's reluctant for learning lessons before Apple Jacks but I insist it's 'good for the soul'.

"Italy just won the World Cup Soccer Match, please find Italy", I urge. "Hmmmm..." she canvasses my wobbly globe frustrated that it's falling apart from overuse. "I can't find it, I can't find it, I give up" she moans. "Can we eat now?" I drop a few hints and muster up her confidence. "It's located in Europe and shaped like a boot." Finally, with no help from Sarge whose derogatory remarks about Italians during war times do not amuse me, she finds the boot.

From there, it's onto the Middle East where my Stepbrother, her Uncle dodges bullets in the Iraq war. In a matter of a minutes, Miss Morgan graduates to Junior High, still fuzzy on why she knows the topography of places like China, Russia, Korea and Iran but eager to learn more, that is after her bowl of cereal.

Buy a globe and read the newspaper every morning, it'll be the most worthwhile purchase you ever make, for yourself and any hungry 10 year old cousins you may have around.

Responsible Benevolence

What would the world be like if all American couples were expected to adopt one child before having their own? They could pick and choose from hundreds of less fortunate international countries overflowing with children that need homes. Places like Korea, parts of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, the Ukraine, Vietnam, Columbia, Guatemala... and the list goes on. After all, a child is a child is a child and can be loved and bonded with no matter where they're from. Would it finally put an end to millions of children growing up without parents? In a country as rich and plentiful as ours why aren't more couples, fertile or not, supporting this move? Do they not realize that our growing population will exceed 9 billion in less than 50 years? That's an astronomical number with signifigant consequences. How will our shrinking world feed that many people and still continue to procreate? My friends are doing their part by adopting one child from Korea, another from China, another from the Ukraine, etc. I commend their responsible benevolence. The process may be difficult but sometimes it's much quicker than a 9-month pregnancy and just as fulfilling. And for all those naysayers who insist that they need their progeny to 'look' just like them, I say your selfish ego and narrow-mindedness is the last thing your child or this world needs.

Soap Wars

Little Miss Morgan is back in town and happily interrupting my everyday patterns. She's one of my youngest 10-year old cousins and also the most rambunctious. Keeping her from getting bored is a trying task. But she's also an impressionable young sponge who soaks up every word I say.

"Repeat after me Morgan, 'Oil bad, ethanal good, oil bad, fuel cell technology good." "Oil baddd, eth-a-nol good". Very good Morgan! Aunt Sony's environmentalist mantra is dutifully repeated along with memorizing the names of every flower, shrub and tree in the front yard. Following my Earth Day speech it's time to help Aunt Sony wash and vacuum her car. Not normally a 10-year old's favorite activity but add a garden hose, a bucket full of suds and a little girl who likes to horse around and officially 'Soap Wars' begin. When I'm not looking a yellow bucket full of water gets tossed over my head then she makes off with the garden hose holding me hostage as I beg for mercy. Eventually the car gets washed but not until the two of us are thoroughly soaked to the bone.

"Next up television!" my cartoon addict shouts. Not so fast Miss Morgan. Unless we watch Nova on PBS or black and white TCM classics, TV is a potentially pernicious and passive activity. "Potentially whatta?" she asks. Sorry but television and computer games are banned in the summer in the Stark household. Next up, canoeing the Adirondacks, swimming Victorian pool in Saratoga, a game of tag at the playground, roasting marshmallows on Aunt Sony's new Chiminea then finally prepping tags for her garage sale next weekend.

"Then can you read me a Harry Potter book before bedtime?" she pleads. "Harry Potter? I don't think so!" I counter. It's all about Ernest Hemingway this week starting with my favorite 'Old Man and the Sea'. "Old Man and the who?", she questions. "You'll find out my young impressionable protégé, you'll find out"!

A Plug for Non-Profits and Pines

I was first charmed by the idyllic little town of Lake Luzerne through a good friend of mine. A friend who's gone onto bigger and better things but still comes home to escape her celebrity status. You may love her, you may not, either way Ms. Rachael Ray of the Food Network knows a good thing when she see's it. Her cabin in the woods was one of the many locations where we shot 30 Minute Meal pieces for the local tv news. But those humble beginnings feel like ages ago and in its wake production work continues with my shooting video at the Double H Hole in the Woods Camp for children with disabilities. I've finally found my calling and it's not food or entertainment or news or comedy, it's non-profit production work.

Ages 7-17, the world's most generous little human beings visit the camp to do all those things normal kids take for granted, like swim, climb trees, play soccer, dance and go boating. Their infectous smiles and playful personalities mask a life of feeding tubes, wheelchairs and medical attention. For one week, and in the company of kids just like them, those differences disappear and they fall in love with living. It's heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Many times I just wanted to toss the camera aside and participate in the activities with them, like zip-line from tree-to-tree or fish for sunnies off the side of the pier or shout in cadence the camp motto during dinner in the dining area. The energy and commitment of the staff and counselors is unmatched by the most altruistic public figures. Despite the heavy soaking this week, all but one event, whitewater rafting, went according to schedule including a visit to Six Flags Great Escape Fun Park. With a few minor adjustments even rollercoasters and bumper cars were on the menu for them to enjoy.

Not to be remissed is my 5 day stay at Bobby's shabby chic Adirondack home-away-from-home. Set inside a patchwork of pine trees and log camps, Bobby's cabin is, what he likes to call, "his little slice of heaven". And as if the kids at camp didn't keep us busy enough, Bobby showcased his quaint hub of nature by canoeing me from location to location. Who knew that little Lake Luzerne was once a thriving vacation mecca for wealthy politicans like President U.S. Grant? But that too was ages ago and left behind are preserved bridges, historical signs and the footprints of many grand hotels.

Lake Luzerne, with or without a camera, with or without children, is worth spending a week or more basking in yesterdays glory days. And best do it now before private companies buy up all the lake front property and turn it over to developers. It's the one of the last remaining.