I finished reading:

"Chekhov" written by Henri Troyat.

-Richard

I finished reading The Bible Book of First Chronicles.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Gulag Archipelago" written by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. This is part one and two of his epic portrayal of the Soviet prison system.

-Richard

Last week we were back in the Bay Area of California. I had to go for meetings and Jenn decided to join me.

We got of the plane at San Fransisco Airport and literally went to The San Jose Earthquakes first game at their temporary gigs - Buck Shaw Stadium on the campus of Santa Clara Stadium. It was great seeing the team live again, something I really never thought would happen. It wasn't the best game in the world. and finished 0-0 against Dallas. On the way up to our hotel in Pleasant Hill we stopped the place we usually stopped at after games; In-and-Out Burger in San Ramon. It brought back many happy memories of the trip to and from San Jose. We also spend time visiting old friends, visiting old haunts. Sometimes it seems surreal that we actually used to live there. I don't think I could ever go back their to live, but, it is certainly somewhere we enjoy going back to.

We were, of course, reminded how bad the traffic was when we tried to get back to the airport on Sunday to pick up some people. The Bay Bridge was backed right up. We may complain of traffic in Raleigh, but, nothing is ever that bad.

On the way home we went via a new airport for me, Dallas - Fort Worth. There are not many major airports in the States that I have not been to.

The last track that I listened to on my IPOD was the third movement from Sir William Walton's Symphony No.1.

-Richard

I got irritated last night watching some of Hillary Clinton's victory speech in Charleston, West Virginia. I was not irritated that she won, it was a big win that keeps the race going and for a political geek like myself that means more fun. What I got irritated with was two points she made:

1. She was bragging about her great comeback victory in Indiana. Yes, she was down for a limited time in that State, but, for most of the campaign she was leading and the favourite and even the day before the poll she had up to an 8 point lead which in the final figures shrunk to just over 10,000 vote victory.
2. The main gripe I have is about Florida and Michigan. I do not know how she can get up there with a straight face and demand those States delegates be allowed to stand. I think a compromise should be worked out because it is not the individual voters fault that their state parties screwed up, but, that is beside the point. The point is that all candidate INCLUDING Clinton signed off on this. At the time it was done she looked like and thought she was going to win by a landslide so this disenfranchisement would not be noticed and would not have an affect. In fact it meant fewer delegates needed and therefore she would get to her target more quickly. Now it hasn't worked out this way she wants to right this great wrong!! Can you imagine what she would have been saying if it was been the other way around now? I don't know how people can listen to this and take it seriously. I never will. The only credit I will give her is leaving her name on the ballot in Michigan when everyone else took theirs off so the folks had no-one else to vote for (despite that she only took 60% of the vote - that must say something) and in Florida she happened to have a find raiser there. Smart, savvy, cut throated and totally hypocritical. Surely people will see through this facade?

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Rory and Ita" written by Roddy Doyle. It is the story of his parents growing up in Ireland.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was "Walk Forever by My Side" by The Alarm.

-Richard

Hartlepool United's 2007 - 2008 football season has finished in League 1. In some ways it was a very disappointing year as it started off promisingly and seemed to just dribble away. However, having said that as it was the first Season in a new league safety and not relegation had to be a priority. This was done easily with the team finishing in 15th place with a final record of 15 wins, 9 draws and 22 defeats for a total of 54 points.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was Veni. Veni. Emmanuel - VIII - Coda - Easter composed by James MacMillan and performed by Evelyn Glennie and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. This was track 972.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Doctor Dogbody's Leg" written by James Norman Hall.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was track #904, Thank You Lord performed by Don Moen.

-Richard

Yesterday was a very disappointing result in the Pennsylvania Primary with Hilary Clinton winning by 10 points. I do not understand some of the demographics who vote for her as she is much more a democratic elite than Obama, she is only in it for the power and at the end of the day she does not come across like she cares. I guess some people just want to stick with old, tired, tried and failed.

One thing that really irritates me is the way that she is using fear as a campaign strategy. She, her husband and lackeys decried this tactic in the last general election and I'm sure if McCain decides to that in November it will be the greatest crime ever. Her true colours and hypocrisy will come out again.

The good thing about the result was that Clinton was leading by over 2o% points only a few weeks ago so the fact that it was only 10% can be taken as a positive.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was "Synchronised Instant" composed by Eric Serra from the soundtrack of the Big Blue. It was track #865 on my IPOD.

-Richard

QUAKES WIN!!!

The San Jose Earthquakes won their first game back into Major League Soccer yesterday way with a 2-0 away win at Colorado Rapids. The Quakes played good football and deserved the win. One small step, but, the team is already playing in the style reminiscent of the "old" Quakes.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was the 5th Movement, Largo - Tranquillo from the String Quartet No.3 composed by Henryk Gorecki and performed by the Kronos Quartet. It is track # 853 on my IPOD

-Richard

CHAMPIONS!!!!

In all my love for sport and teams that I have a passion for there is one that is the number 1, the one I've watched more than any others by a mile, the one I wait every Saturday morning for the result to come through on the message boards. - West Hartlepool Rugby Club. I have told the story many times before about the demise of the team so I will not go there.

Today, however, the climb back up the league system again. A 22-17 win over arch rivals Hartlepool Rovers (for the 4th time this season - also condemning them to Relegation) clinched the North Two East Championship earning promotion to North 1. I am over the moon!!!


To explain how the league system in Rugby Works I will attempt to describe the pyramid. This National System was established in the late 80's West Started out in National Division Three before advancing to the heady levels of the Premiership before the decline set in. Below I will list the leagues in order and also mention some teams that I have seen West play in those leagues over the years.

The Premiership - (Gloucester, Bath, Harlequins, London Wasps, Sale, Saracens, London Irish, Bristol)
National League One - (Northampton, Exeter, Nottingham, Bedford, Coventry, London Welsh, Plymouth Albion, Moseley)
National League Two - (Otley, Manchester, Blackheath, Blaydon, Waterloo, Nuneaton, Halifax)
National League Three North and National League Three South - (Tynedale, Mowden Park, Fylde, Harrogate, Preston Grasshoppers, Bradford and Bingley, Rugby Lions, Morley, London Scottish, Lydney, Rosslyn Park, Clifton)
London One, North 1, Midlands 1 and South West 1 - (Richmond, Kendal, Huddersfield, Westoe, Birkenhead Park, Hull, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Liverpool St. Helens, Loughborough Students, Maidenhead)
Then breaks down further to where North-East Two is. Therefore West are currently in the 6th level of the pyramid about to be promoted to the 5th).

What is frustrating in reading the list of the teams all through the years when I watched West going back to 1979 we were a much better team and most them could not even be on the same field. However, we survived and are moving up again!!)

In honour of this I an going to change the colour of my blog background to Green...

Oh yes, did I mention:-

WEST HARTLEPOOL RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB - CHAMPIONS

-Richard

It's been a long time since I have posted the cats and kittens that we have fostered over the years so it's time I resumed where I left off!!

Cherub was the next little guy. A sweet boy. He came to us the week of April 4th 2006 and was adopted the week of May 16th.

-Richard

Galatians

"You fools" Paul says
To the Church in Galatia
To the Church today
And to me.
"You got confused
You got misled
Add your rules
And prejudices too."
"Listen to me" he says in anger
"Listen to Christ
Look at the Cross
You don't need laws
Just look in faith
And you'll be free."
In his anger he loves
In his frustration he hurts
As the Master he serves
Is disobeyed and ignored.
In love he says
"Live by The Spirit
And leave sin behind.
Be like trees
Grow and develop fruit.
Be Patient.
Be Kind.
Have love and joy.
Have peace and self-control.
Be gentle
And be faithful.
Be faithful
To the Christ you serve."
Finally he closes
After opening his heart.
"May the Grace of Jesus
Be with you evermore
For today and generations to come."

8th April 1996 - Skegness, Lincolnshire, England.

I finished reading:

"Fyodor Dostoyevsky - A Writer's Life" written by Geir Kjetsaa.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was The 2nd movement, Largo, Cantabile from the String Quartet No.3, Op.67 composed by Henrk Gorecki performed by the Kronos Quartet. This was track # 839 on my IPOD.

-Richard

I finished reading the Bible Book of 2 Kings.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Beneath the Wheel" written by Hermann Hesse and "The Last Days of Socrates" written by Plato.

I read these books on my latest trip which was to Fort Lauderdale.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Radetzky March" written by Joseph Roth. I actually started this book on my last trip a couple of weeks ago and nearly finished it on the way home. However, as I was already reading the book Lenin at home I went back to that. The reason for this is that I do not take Hardbacks when I fly as they take up too much space, so any hardbacks I am reading get left behind and continued when I get home.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was the first movement, Moderato alla breve, of Stravinsky's Symphony in C. This is track 775 on my IPOD.

-Richard

I listened to:

"Abba - Number Ones" performed by Abba.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Life and Death of Lenin" written by Robert Payne.

-Richard

Christ Died

As we walk down a street
What do we see?
A begger
A loser for all to see!
A black man
He'll probably mug some day!
A Gay man
He'll soon be dead from AIDS!
A business man,
He must be good!
A young mother pushing a pram
Should have been more careful!
What I see is people.
People for whom Christ Died.

7th April 1996 - Skegness, Lincolnshire, England.

I spent a lot of time wondering if I should actually post this, as perhaps some of the comments could be perceived as controversial. However, I decided to. Why? Because living in the States, and especially in this election year we hear a lot about Race, Prejudice's and bigotry etc.. It is so wrong. We all created by God as equals. We as humans do not have the right to judge ANYONE based on ANYTHING. Society, however, is different. Unfortunately. The really sad thing is a lot of these prejudices come not from the ordinary people but the leaders, be it political, cultural or religious. People who are educated and should know better. Just pay attention to comments made during this election on both sides. This is not a political comment just reality. It makes me sick. AGAIN everyone is created EQUALLY by God. HE ALONE has the right to judge. We are commanded to love everyone unconditionally. Christ Died for EVERYONE. If this message were truly understood we could really see a peaceful world. That is why I wrote this poem 12 years ago and that's why I decided to post it because things have not changed, in fact, and I hesitate to say this I think bias and prejudices are getting worse not better. This breaks my heart.

-Richard

Whilst watching the DC United vs Toronto FC Major League Soccer Game I was struck by an interesting fact. When Jamie Moreno entered the game at the beginning of the Second Half that made three players who used to play for the "big" three North-East of England football teams on an MLS field at the same time. The more remarkable thing is that there was one representing all of the teams:-

Jamie Moreno (DC United) - Middlesbrough
Carl Robinson (Toronto FC) - Sunderland
Laurent Robert (Toronto FC) - Newcastle United.

DC won the game 4-1 so I guess Teeside beats Wearside and Tyneside!!

-Richard

I listened to:

"The Best of The Alarm" performed by The Alarm.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was "She's Not the Cheating Kind" by Brooks and Dunn. It is track number 754 on my IPOD.


-Richard

I received my new San Jose Earthquake replica shirt yesterday. Ready for the Season to start at last. The first game is tomorrow against the evil, hated LA Galaxy.

The last thing I listened to on my IPOD was "The Seasons - Prelude III" composed by John Cage from the Album "Early Piano Music" performed by Herbert Henck. It was track 736.

-Richard

I listened to:

"The Seasons", "Metamorphosis", "In a Landscape". "Ophelia". "Two Pieces for Piano", "Quest" and "Two Pieces for Piano" all composed by John Cage and performed by Herbert Henck on the piano.

-Richard

I listened to:

"Violin Concerto N0.2 ", composed by George Tsontakis and performed by Steven Copes (Violin) and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Conducted by Douglas Boyd.
"Clair de Lune" and "The Past, The Passion" both composed by George Tsontakis and performed by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra conducted by Douglas Boyd.


-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Fallen Man" written by Tony Hillerman.

I read this book whilst on another business trip. This time I went to Pearl River, New York. To do this I flew in and out of the White Plains Airport, New York via Washington Reagan National Airport.

The last track I listened to on my IPOD was 4th Movement of Rimsky-Korsakov's Schehrezade Symphonic Suite. This is currently track 719.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Oak and the Calf - a Memoir" written by Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

-Richard

I listened to:

"See the Morning" performed by Chris Tomlin.

I am also going to post the last track I listened to on my IPOD, if I have listened to something since my last post. Obviously, this is not the only track I would have listened to during this period. So,

The last track I listened to on my IPOD, was track number 702 - Requiem for Adam. movement 2, Concerto Funebre en el Monte Diablo composed by Terry Riley and performed by the Kronos Quartet.

-Richard

Easter

I can see the sun rising
Over a clear easter sky
A new day dawning
Over the land.

I heard that The Son rose
From a stone encased tomb.
A new day dawning
Over the land.

I met the risen Son
As He shed light on my heart.
A new life dawning
Over my world.

7th April 1996 - Skegness, Lincolnshire, England.

-Richard

The Quakes win their first tournament since they came back. Alright, it was only a pre-season tournament, the Carolina Challenge Cup, but, they were unbeaten, in fact won all three games. Beating MLS teams Toronto 1-0 and New York 3-0 and the home USL Division 1 team Charleston 2-1. In places they looked very good and could do ok this season. However, the lack of depth could really hurt them.

The real MLS season starts next weekend and we are really looking forward to it. The Quakes first game is not until the Thursday after that against arch-rivals, the hated LA Galaxy in MLS's greatest rivalry. Game on!!!

-Richard

I listened to:

"Slippery When Wet" performed by Bon Jovi.

-Richard

I listened to:

"West Side Story" composed by Leonard Bernstein, with Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It was performed The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Nick Ingram.

-Richard

Another trip, this time to Randolph, MA for two days. During the trip I read:

"The Fly in the Wall" and "Coyote Waits". Both were written by Tony Hillerman.

-Richard

After a long wait of 2 1/2 years I finally got the chance to watch my San Jose Earthquakes to play yesterday, albeit, via a live web cast . It was the first match of the pre-Season Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, South Carolina. I was actually hoping to perhaps go down for one of the weekends, but, other events have made this not going to happen. The Quakes actually won this tournament their last season before being moved. It was also the first Championship that the Houston Dynamo won in their first year. From what I could see the team looked OK for an expansion team. Obviously there are lots of areas that need improvement, but,I think they could do alright this year, although will struggle for a play-off place. They won the game 1-0 of Toronto on a goal by defender Jason Hernandez after an ugly melee in the box after a corner.

The cool thing is that I am really looking for to the American Soccer Season for the first time since the Quakes moved. This also rubs of onto watching the USL an the Carolina RailHawks. Although I enjoyed last year my heart wasn't 100% in it is I was disillusioned with the American Soccer scene due to what happened with the Quakes. Although the Quakes are undoubtedly my top team, I think I will enjoy the RailHawks more this year because my passion for the sport over here is back. Infact, due, to what I went through with the Quakes, I think they may have even overtaken Hartlepool as my #1 football team. The only way to really know that would be if they play. What I do know is that my interest in the English Premier League is at an all time low and I have watched very few games this year. I think part of my problem with that is that "most" people over here follow the big teams and I get a bit sick of it. There are some exceptions and those people I really respect.

It's gonna to be a fun Season. Live games with the RailHawks. We are planing on going to DC to see a couple of games, there is a chance to we may get to see San Jose game there and possibly a Houston game in Houston. Also with Jenn sticking with the Houston Dynamo (the re-located team) as they also became her home town team and me staying with San Jose we should have some fun "Soccer Saturdays". At least we will be able to agree on the RailHawks!!

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Kidnapped" written by Robert Louis Stevenson.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Khrushchev Remembers" written by Nikita Khrushchev.

-Richard

I listened to:

"This Means War" performed by Petra.

-Richard

On my long trip to and from Puerto Rico I finished reading:

"Plays" written by Anton Chekhov. This book contained the plays - "Ivanov", "The Seagull", "Uncle Vania", "Three Sisters", "The Cherry Orchard", "The Bear", The Proposal" and "A Jubilee".

"A Hero of Our Time" written by Mikhail Yur'evich Lermontov

"The Garden of Eden" written by Ernest Hemingway.

"Treasure Island" written by Robert Louis Stevenson.

-Richard

The trip home from Puerto Rico was a wee bit of an adventure. I was supposed to go via Miami, but, because of weather problems in Florida that flight was going to be delayed to the point where I would have missed my connection and been stuck in Miami for the night. However, I was transferred to a flight via Boston. This was a four hour flight. Unfortunately, due to bad weather in Boston this flight was about 45 minutes landing meaning I landed at the same time my flight to Raleigh was supposed to leave. Fortunately because of the bad weather the flight home was also delayed to I managed to get on it and all in all I actually got home 20 minutes sooner than I was actually scheduled for. At least I got a lot of reading done. (see next post).

The photo posted here is one I took on the drive to the airport.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Peace Making 1919" written by Harold Nicholson. This was written about the peace process after World War One. The author was a British Diplomat involved in the process.

I actually finished this book before my trip to Puerto Rico and actually started in on my trip to New York the week before.

-Richard

Another road trip!! This time I have been on Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico for four days. Although it sounds like paradise it has been strictly business with some very long days. I have had the chance to see some of the island whilst driving around to visit some customers. It is very spectacular in places. From the tropical mountains in the interior to the like blue Caribbean Sea in the South to the Dark Blue Atlantic in the North. We did have the opportunity to go to Old San Juan last night for dinner. It is a very Colonial style and reminded my in many ways of walking around Spain.

I actually stayed in a town called Caguas which is about half and hour from the Capital, San Juan. The photograph is one I took from my hotel room window. Also, obviously San Juan marks a new airport that I've been to. I travelled there and back via Miami which is an airport that I've been to before.


-Richard

I finished reading the Bible Book of 1 Kings.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Perestroika - New Thinking for Our Country and the World" written by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987.

-Richard

On my trip to New York (below) I read two short books:

"The moon is Down" and "The Pearl", both written by John Steinbeck.

-Richard

A new airport. I had to go to New York yesterday and flew in and out of LaGuardia for the first time. Not to bad. Actually this is the first time I've actually been into New York City itself since I left JFK after my first summer in the States working in 1989. A lot has changed since then.

-Richard

I Listened to:

"Integrity's i Worship, A Total Worship Experience - NEXT" performed by Various Christian Artists.

-Richard

Over the last couple of weeks going back and forwards to Texas I finished reading three books:

"The Rainbow" written by D.H. Lawrence

"The Biography and Other Writings" written by Benjamin Franklin

"The Red Pony" written by John Steinbeck

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Magic Army" written by Leslie Thomas.

-Richard

The Texas Storm!! One the things from Texas I really miss is the storm. There is something special about the way they roll through over the flat lands with rain so heavy that you can hardly see and lightening dancing all around. It is different from elsewhere I've ever lived. We got one tonight and it was as spectacular as I'd remembered.

-Richard

I finished reading "The Tales from The Cherokee Hills" written by Jean Starr.

-Richard

I finished reading: "The Way - An anthology of American Indian Literature" edited by Shirley Will Witt and Stan Steiner.

This is a subject I am very interested in. Jenn is half American Indian, mostly Cherokee with some Creek and Choctaw. The way that the tribes have been treated and still are is criminal. We hear all the time about racism, sexism and all the other ism's as well as how America needs to "fix" the rest of the world. How about looking at their own history of murder and ethnic cleansing. What happens in the past needs to be acknowledged and put right now especially on the very poor, poverty stricken reservations. Coming from the country that is the prime cause of these atrocities makes me somewhat ashamed, embarrassed and very angry.

-Richard

Back in Houston!! We are back in Houston for a small vacation visiting with Jenn's family. Every time I come back it feels like home. There is something about Texas and Houston that I love. I definitely think that at some point in our future we will come back here. When, that will be I don't know as we are happy in Raleigh, but, I guess it just ain't Texas.

Ironically today is the day of the first game back of the "new" San Jose Earthquakes. Who, are they playing? The Houston Dynamo. Unfortunately the game is in San Jose not Houston.

-Richard

Praise Party

Dancing,
Singing,
Clapping
Worshiping,
Suffering?
Emotions fly
As souls sigh
Yet a rod
Hides the power of God
We want to feel good
We want The Spirit to flood.
But it's us!
But it's us!
What about those that need
Let's plant the seed
Let The Word shine
So God can say "The World is Mine".

6th April 1996 - Skegness, Lincolnshire, England.

-Richard

After another day of Primaries and Caucasus (whatever the plural is for that) Obama took all four democratics ones easily. In Nebraska he tool 68% of the vote to Clinton's 32%. In Washington he had the same comprehensive margin. Louisiana is closed, but Obama still won 56% - 37%. He also won the Caucus in the Virgin Islands. He now has the lead in pledged delegates, those won via election. However, with the "Superdelegates" i.e. those from the the party and Washington Aparati he is losing. It will be interesting to see what happens if Obama wins the voted delegates, but, loses because of the Superdelegates. I think that leaves the nomination very week and open to a very serious attack. As a political junky this is going to be fun!!!

-Richard