Sunday 3/17/24
Woke up with a bad headache. This night guard isn't helping so far.
After I finished working last night, insofar as I ever really finish, I put on the BC/UConn men's Hockey East quarterfinals game from Chestnut Hill. UConn had scored three straight goals and tied it up in the third. BC went on to prevail, but this wasn't hugely encouraging as far as national title aspirations go. Then again, UConn has played BC tough this year for whatever reason, including at Kelley Rink. BC is without one of their top players, and that could be the difference between winning this Hockey East tournament and also the national title. You have a good group of teams at the Garden next Friday. UMass beat Providence, which was a mild surprise, and BC draws them, with Maine and BU in the other game. BC should be able to handle UMass. The other two teams are tough.
The Burins beat the Flyers yesterday, but I saw that once again Jeremy Swayman gave up quite a few goals on a not-very-high shot total. His save percentage is dismal of late. So Linus Ullmark is the guy again now? Here's how I think this works: Swayman is upset about his contract status, and because he's soft, that's affecting his play. Ullmark wasn't traded, and because he's soft, he's happy now and that means he can play better. Two soft goalies. Does not bode well for postseason success. I had thought Swayman would be the goalie in the playoffs, but now I think they're actually going to do this platoon thing and rotate games. I really do. So a guy can have a 2-0 shutout, and he'll be working the door on the bench the next game.
The Celtics play in D.C. tonight. Doesn't it seem like there should be a Celtics home matinee game when St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday? Why wouldn't the NBA schedule people make that happen?
Downloaded every single AC/DC soundboard with Bon Scott. Listened to Monteverdi: Masses from The Sixteen, led by Harry Christophers, a recording from 1987. Also downloaded the Daily Flash's The Legendary Recordings: 1965-1967 and the whole of the Grateful Dead's three-show run at the Ark in Boston from 4/21-23/69. These three shows ought to be assembled into a box set. The Ark was taken over by the Boston Tea Party, from which we have quintessential Led Zeppelin recordings from January 1969; a Velvet Underground bootleg covering several 1969 dates--one recording from March 15 being the so-called Guitar Amp Tapes--and one from the Who (a Tommy-era show from November 1969,) as well as the Dead on the last day of 1969. They were doing their thing in Boston, while Jimi Hendrix was a bit south at the Fillmore East doing his. What different times, when there was actually new musical art, readily available. Anyway, the Ark--and then the Tea Party--were on Landsdowne, and later became Avalon and Axis. In other words, where the House of Blues is today is where the Dead played these fantastic shows. That's kind of strange, isn't it? You could leave a Sox game, then walk across the street and hear some awesome music. I like the juxtaposition. The smell of sausages and peanuts and beer, and this whole other scene on the other side of the road. I would have loved to partake of both.
Today marks 2807 days, or 401 weeks, without a drink. Ran 3000 stairs, did 200 push-ups.
Worked more on "Why I Hate My Friends."