When I was a kid growing up in a small town in Maine, Halloween was one of the best times of the year.  There were some community events, but for the most part, the fun was in the collection of candy.  Living in a small town, we knew everybody, and it would be my father’s job to drive us around and point us in the right direction.  As very young kids, we kind of needed the guidance, and as we progressed and got older we needed, rather we wanted less and less of the guidance.  We would go from house to house, and I know it was something we take for granted now, because we weren’t worried about getting abducted, or poisoned, like it seems you have to be today.  It was just fun.  We learned the tricks of trick or treating from the older kids, who quickly taught us that a pillow case holds a lot more candy than the plastic bags our parents wanted us to use.  We also learned that what kind of costume you wore really didn’t matter.  I can remember as a very young person, always wanting one of those store made costumes, that had the half mask made of plastic.  I do not remember all of the costumes that I wore, but I remember that as I grew, my costumes became more homemade and it was a lot more fun and memorable.  I know that one year I went as a football player, and it was probably the best costume ever.  As an adult I find sports costumes are the easiest and least embarrassing ones to wear.  But I digress.

The purpose of this story is to share my favorite Halloween things, because although the holiday itself is safely a part of our culture and heritage, there are many people who would do away with it, due to religious reasons.  It never ceases to frustrate me, to hear people claim that Halloween promotes the devil, and witchcraft and you better watch out for your soul.  I think that those people ought to watch out for their soul all the time, because if Halloween can turn your kids towards the devil, or make them a witch, you need a better religion.

The fact is that the holiday is about candy, being scared, costumes and candy again, and that is it.  Anyone who puts any more thought into it is just looking for trouble.   Halloween should be fun and should supply happy memories that will last a lifetime.  I know it did for me.  I can remember the feeling of running, literally to the next house to see what we would get.  I recall looking at my stash of candy and thinking that it would probably last until Christmas and then being amazed that it was always gone in a week or two.  I am sure that dentists love Halloween.  I remember carving pumpkins and trying to get the teeth just right, I am not sure that I ever did but I remember I loved doing it.  I remember going to watch scary movies at the school, and learning about Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Werewolf.  One of my favorite movies of that genre was The Creature From the Black Lagoon, I have no idea why, but I was borderline obsessed with that one.

Did I ever participate in mischief on Halloween?  Well the answer would be yes I did.  Nothing too destructive, because deep down I would feel too guilty to do anything really bad. One of  my earliest transgressions occurred when I was in the sixth grade, my friend Mike Martin and I had gotten a full pillow case each of candy, and we were pretty proud of ourselves.  It was still early when we got back to my house.  We had always heard about smashing pumpkins, and wanted to try it.  Now the art of smashing pumpkins was that you would sneak up to someone’s house and swipe their carved pumpkins off of their porch and then in the near by road, throw them as high in the air as you could and watch them smash on the pavement.  We carried out our mission all up and down our street.  We were not very smart kids, because it really didn’t take very long for people to figure out who was destroying their precious pumpkins on the pavement of Maple Street. Although I know that it was wrong, back then it was the most heart pumping adrenalin thing I had ever done.  Even the other day, I was traveling around with Mike when we came upon a very nice pumpkin display in front of a house.  He looked at me and said, “You can probably snatch one of those before anyone would see you.”, I laughed because it was so far fetched for us now at forty five years old to revert to pumpkin stealing. I think he would have done it if I didn’t stop him.

The Moosehead Haunted House

In Greenville Junction there was a house across the street which was then and still is haunted.  How do I know this?  I saw the ghosts that inhabit that place many years ago.  Today it is the home of the Moosehead Historical Society, and they are too proper to tell anyone about the ghosts that wander through that house and museum.  They are there, though and kids in town would do well to stay away from that house on Halloween, because it is on that night that the ghosts are most active.

Television from the 70’s and 80’s

There are few things that I enjoy as much as nostalgia from my youth.  Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s there are literally thousands of cultural icons, I can look to and truly appreciate as part of my experience of life.   Here are some of the examples, mostly from the classic TV shows we watched and talked about at school the next day.

Happy Days

Tuesday nights at 8, this was a must see for all kids in the 70’s.  We all wanted to be as cool as the Fonz, but were usually as awkward as Richie Cunningham.  Set in the midwestern city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the series revolves around teenager Richie Cunningham(Ron Howard) and his family: his father, Howard (Tom Bosley), who owns a hardware store; mother Marion (Marion Ross); younger sister Joanie (Erin Moran); and high school dropout, biker and suave ladies man Arthur “Fonzie or The Fonz” Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler), who would eventually become the Cunninghams’ upstairs tenant. The earlier episodes revolve around Richie and his friends, Warren “Potsie” Weber (Anson Williams),Ralph Malph (Donny Most) with Fonzarelli as a secondary character. As the series progressed, Fonzarelli proved to be a favorite with viewers and soon more story lines were written to reflect his growing popularity. Fonzie befriends Richie and the Cunningham family, and when ‘Richie’ (Ron Howard) left the series following his character’s

wedding to his long-time college sweetheart, Winkler’s Fonzie became the central figure of the show. In later seasons, other characters were introduced including Fonzie’s young cousin, Charles “Chachi” Arcola(Scott Baio), who (finally) became a love interest for Joanie Cunningham after Joanie initially resisted his charms.

Sha Na Na TV Show

Sha Na Na hosted the Sha Na Na syndicated variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981. It was among the most watched programs in syndication during its run.The show was produced by Pierre Cossette and originally distributed by LBS Communications.

The show featured the group performing hits from the 1950s and 1960s, along with comedy skits. The “tough guys” road act from their original road shows was adapted for TV and the group moved to a comedy and self-deprecating routine. The mainstay continued to be the 1950s song and dance routines. The show opened in a typical concert scene, and then moved through various street and ice cream parlor scenes where they and their guests performed several songs. That was followed by a comedy-oriented song (“Alley Oop”, “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah”) and closed with a slow song, again in their concert format.

Among the supporting members featured in the series were Avery Schreiber, Kenneth Mars and Phillp Roth (all of them in the first season); Pamela Myers and actress Jane Dulo (who played the crabby Lady in the Window, who watched over the street scenes from the window of her apartment with undisguised disdain) (Both throughout the show’s run), June Gable and Soupy Sales (Seasons 2 to 4); Michael Sklar (Season 2); and Karen Hartman (Season 4).

Guests included Jan & Dean, Fabian, Chubby Checker, the Ramones, Ethel Merman, Frank Gorshin, Billy Crystal, Danny and the Juniors, and others

The members of Sha Na Na during the TV series were Jon ‘Bowzer’ Bauman (vocals), Lennie Baker (sax), Johnny Contardo (vocals), Frederick ‘Dennis’ Greene (vocals), ‘Dirty Dan’ McBride (guitar) (left after third season), John ‘Jocko’ Marcellino (drums), Dave ‘Chico’ Ryan (bass), ‘Screamin’ Scott Simon’ (piano), Scott ‘Santini’ Powell (vocals), Donald ‘Donny’ York (vocals). Each was introduced only by his nickname or his first name in a voice-over by Myers at the beginning of each show.

Schoolhouse Rock!

An American series of animated musical educational short films that aired during the Saturday morning children’s programming on the U.S. television network ABC. The topics covered included grammar, science, economics, history, mathematics, and civics. The series’ original run lasted from 1973 to 1985, and was later revived with both old and new episodes airing from 1993 to 1999.  What better way to learn about Adverbs, counting, the Constitution, conjunctions or America?

The Six Million Dollar Man

The Six Million Dollar Man was an American television series about a former astronaut with bionic implants working for the OSI (which was usually referred to as the Office of Scientific Intelligence, the Office of Scientific Investigation or the Office of Strategic Intelligence. The show was based on the novel Cyborg by Martin Caidin, and during pre-production, that was the proposed title of the series. It aired on the ABC network as a regular series from 1974 to 1978, following three television movies aired in 1973. The title role of Steve Austin was played by Lee Majors, who subsequently became a pop culture icon of the 1970s. A spin-off of the show was produced, The Bionic Woman, as well as several television movies featuring both eponymous characters.  

“Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive.” Richard Anderson, in character as Oscar Goldman, then intones off-camera, “Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world’s first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better…stronger…faster.”

WKRP In Cincinnati

WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI (AM) in Atlanta. The ensemble cast consisted of Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman, Gordon Jump, Loni Anderson, Tim Reid, Jan Smithers, Richard Sanders andFrank Bonner.

WKRP premiered September 18, 1978, on the CBS television network and aired for four seasons and 88 episodes (90 in syndication) through September 20, 1982. During the third and fourth seasons, CBS repeatedly moved the show around its schedule, contributing to its eventual cancellation.

When WKRP went into syndication, it became an unexpected blockbuster. For the next decade, it was one of the most popular sitcoms in syndication, outperforming many much bigger prime time hits, including all the other MTM Enterprises sitcoms.

Baby, if you’ve ever wondered, Wondered whatever became of me,
I’m living on the air in Cincinnati, Cincinnati, WKRP.
Got kind of tired packing and unpacking,
Town to town and up and down the dial
Maybe you and me were never meant to be,
But baby think of me once in awhile.
I’m at WKRP in Cincinnati.

The Love Boat

The sitcom was usually set aboard a cruise liner called the Pacific Princess, whose passengers and crew had romantic and funny adventures every week. Other ships used were twin sister Island Princess, the Stella Solaris (for a Mediterranean cruise), Pearl of Scandinavia (for a Chinese cruise), the Royal Viking Sky (for European cruises) and the Royal Princess and Sun Princess (for Caribbean cruises). In 1981 P&O Cruises’ MV Sea Princess was also used for a special feature length episode called ‘Julie’s Wedding’, set in and around Australia, and guesting Lloyd Bridges, Katherine Helmond, Harry Morgan, Patrick Duffy and Anthony Andrews, among others.

Series stars MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, and Ted Lange are the only cast members to appear in every episode of the regular series, including the last three 2 hour made-for-TV movies, and stayed throughout the entire run. MacLeod was not the captain in the first two TV movies, however.

The long-running TV series was finally canceled in 1986, because of low ratings. After the show’s cancellation, the show became immensely-popular in reruns, both in syndication and on TV Land.

Love, exciting and new. Come Aboard. We’re expecting you. Love, life’s sweetest reward.
Let it flow, it floats back to you.   Love Boat soon will be making another run
The Love Boat promises something for everyone, Set a course for adventure,
Your mind on a new romance.   Love won’t hurt anymore
It’s an open smile on a friendly shore.
Yes LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! It’s LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! (hey-ah!)
Love Boat soon will be making another run.   The Love Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure, Your mind on a new romance.

Love won’t hurt anymore.  It’s an open smile on a friendly shore.
It’s LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! It’s LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! It’s
LOOOOOOOOOOOVE!      It’s the Love Boat-ah! It’s the Love Boat-ah!

Watch Boston Legal, You won’t Regret It

Like so many things in life I missed Boston Legal when it was on TV the first time.  Thanks to Netflix and my own obsessive compulsive tendencies, I started watching this series from the beginning and I have to say that it has become an unexpected treat.  The show evolves characters faster than you can say Denny Crane,  but the staples of the show have remained the same.  William Shatner as the clueless, Denny Crane, who is experiencing the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s but doesn’t want to admit it so he thinks he has “Mad Cow” disease.  James Spader as the individual thinking, sometimes despicable always likable Allen Shore .  He handled more issues than Oprah and did it in a much more interesting way.  Candice Bergen as the powerful, Shirley Schmidt, and Rene Auberjonois as the “bad guy” in the office, were all pretty much staples that allowed the show to get off on the right foot.  The rest of the characters changed from time to time, as the creators searched for the collection that made the most sense.

However, it is the continual insertion of new blood and characters that allowed Boston Legal to continually evolve and stay interesting to me.  Along with the ability to face down every conceivable social issue to face our society in the first decade of the 21st Century.  I will list some of my favorites later.  At the time of this writing I have finished three seasons of Boston Legal so please don’t spoil it for my by telling me what happens, but so far I have loved them all, they are funny, deal with issues, and provide great entertainment.

My favorite character on Boston Legal is Allen Shore, played by James Spader.  Spader has brought a character to life that is thoughtful, callous, caring, cold, and one great lawyer.  For three seasons he has only lost one court case and that was against his protege’ Jerry Espenson.  They will break character and show their humor as well.  They let you peek behind the curtain just enough to make it funny, and still keep you entertained. My favorite example of this was in season three when Jerry was trying to convince Shirley to let him come back to Crane, Poole and Schmidt.  “It makes me so happy that I hear a song in my head.”  Shirley convinces him that she wants to hear what that sounds like, and he blurts out the theme song along with the beginning of the show.  Maybe I was not really paying attention but I was surprised and it made me laugh out loud when I watched it!  There are not many things that make me do that so I know that this was exceedingly well done.  (watch below)

We’re Flamingos!

The Friendship between Denny Crane and Allen Shore is the glue that holds the show together.  They are two polar opposites politically, and at different points of their life, but the writers of BL do a great job of making this friendship believable and human.  One of the most enjoyable parts of the show.  They have deep talks, share their feelings, have sleep overs, where they make smores.  It is all pretty funny, and if you are older then you understand that friendship doesn’t come around all of the time.  I think everyone in their 40’s or older could use a confidant to share their “stuff” with.  It’s enjoyable  to watch.  If you doubt their dedication to each other, they would tell you that they are flamingos, from the first season when they dressed up as two flamingos for Halloween. Priceless.  

We Got Issues

The creators and writers of Boston Legal have rarely wasted time letting their feelings be known about a whole host of social issues that face our country I have put together a short list of the ones that I remember from the first three seasons. Again I just finished season three last night so season four and five are coming up.  The list of issues:

Racism in a production of Annie, sexual harassment, rich stealing for no reason, slumlords, transvestite Santa Clause, drug companies, matricide, creationism, FDA Drug approval, same sex relationships, anti red meat, of course Mad Cow disease, police brutality, censorship, the death penalty, murder, antisemitism, anti-war in Iraq, anti-war in Afghanistan, anti-war in Vietnam, basically anti-war, anti-gun, pro- gun, conservatism, liberalism,  Halloween, night terrors, plastic surgery, word salad, vigilantism, credit card debt, taxation, cancer treatments, Asperger’s, privacy rights, topless protests, smiling, emergency birth control, euthanasia, smoking, erotica, elder abuse, video game addiction, candy companies, racism, guns, Global Gag Rule, the paparazzi, prescription drug parties,  buying body parts, intimacy problems, online dating, cross dressing, dwarfism, cannibalism, Scientology, freedom of religion, white supremacists, Hurricane Katrina, no fly lists, animal testing, homosexuality, memory drugs, smuggling fat, U.F.O’s, Israeli Politics, The Secret,  pornographic dolls sold to children, HIV, Guantanamo Bay, illegal immigration and patricide. Whew that is the short list, and I am sure you could come up with a few more.

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Legend of Bagger Vance.  Directed by Robert Redford based on the novel by Stephen Pressfield and starring Matt Damon, Will Smith and Charlize Theron.  But above all of that, the core of this movie is about redemption and how you have to put some bad experiences behind you to move on and enjoy the future.   The Legend of Bagger Vance does this well, and it uses golf as the medium to do it.  This movie was never a run away success at the box office, and I admit the first time I saw it, many years ago, I thought it was O.K..

But now when I see it, having my own life colored by the brushes of more life experience, I am moved every time.  They did such a great job of capturing the feeling of finding your true self.  “your own unique swing”, that if everyone had the depth to truly understand this phrase, our world would be a much better place.

First you have to start with Hardy.  The narrater of the story who is just a kid at the time the story starts.  He is able to tell the story of Captain Rannulf Junah, the pride of Savannah, Georgia.  He was once the greatest golfer in the South, but he volunteered for the army in World War I and tragically every other person in his outfit, all from Savannah, were killed.  Junah was the only survivor and his feelings of guilt and remorse haunted him.

“Confused, broken… and unable to face a return to a hero’s welcome… Junuh just disappeared… Hopin to forget… and to be forgotton…” 

I have felt like this before and I am sure I am not the only one.   When something traumatic happens to you, one of your base instincts is to just hide.  That is what Captain Junah was doing.

They haunted him so badly that he even forsook his beautiful fiance’ Adele Invergordon, the daughter of a rich southern gentleman who sank all of his money into Crew Island, the premier golf resort in the south.  When the stock market crashed and it appeared like he would lose everything, Adele’s father committed suicide.  Leaving Adele to try to save Crew Island and her father’s legacy.  She comes up with a scheme to hold a golf match between Bobby Jones and Walter Hagan, at Crew Island for the sum of $10,000.  The local officials say there needs to be someone to stand up for Savannah, Hardy suggests Captain Junah, but nobody knows where he is.  Hardy does and he sets off to find Junah and drag him out of the past.

Hardy finds Captain Junah drinking and playing cards, and that is where the redemption begins.  It starts with the question, “How drunk is drunk enough.”  Junah explains: “That’s right Hardy. You see every drink of liquor you take kills a thousand brain cells. Now that doesn’t much matter ‘cos we got billions more. And first the sadness cells die so you smile real big. And then the quiet cells go so you just say everything real loud for no reason at all. That’ok, that’s ok because the stupid cells go next, so everything you say is real smart. And finally, come the memory cells. These are tough sons of bitches to kill. “

Junah is then visited by the townspeople who tell him he is playing in the tournament with Jones and Hagen and then he is visited by Adele herself to try to convince him.  He says he isn’t going to play.  He swears he has lost his swing.   However he gets out his clubs in the middle of the night and starts hitting balls by himself, in the dark,  trying to find his swing.

The rest of the story is all about redemption.  Junah begins the tournament by getting 12 strokes behind after the first round, but slowly chips away at the lead of Jones and Hagen.  Finally in the end it ends up a three way tie.  On the way, though, is the part of the story that I like, the meaning of it all.  You see, comparing golf to life is pretty simple to do.  As Bagger says, “Yeah the rythm of the game just like the rythm of life…” and “What I’m talkin about is a game… A game that can’t be won only played… “

The many ideas of redemption and comebacks allowed this movie to develop into more than it’s parts.  There is not great dialogue or character development, if that what you are looking for you need to look somewhere else.  What there is here, is a whole lot of meaning and understanding about the game of life.

Many people can and do criticize The Legend of Bagger Vance, but I think it just goes to show their own  shortsightedness.  If you have been feeling like life has taken a wrong turn for you and you are looking for the road that will lead you back to the light.  This movie is for you.

Quotes and thoughts:

This is the climatic conversation between Junah and Bagger where Junah finally faces his demons.

Bagger Vance: What I’m talkin about is a game… A game that can’t be won only played…
Rannulph Junuh: You don’t understand…
Bagger Vance: I don’t need to understand… Ain’t a soul on this entire earth ain’t got a burden to carry he don’t understand, you ain’t alone in that… But you been carryin’ this one long enough… Time to go on… lay it down…
Rannulph Junuh: I don’t know how…
Bagger Vance: You got a choice… You can stop… Or you can start…
Rannulph Junuh: Start?
Bagger Vance: Walkin…
Rannulph Junuh: Where?
Bagger Vance: Right back to wehre you always been… and then stand there… Still… real still… And remember…

Rannulph Junuh: It’s too long ago…
Bagger Vance: Oh no sir it was just a moment ago… Time for you to come on out the shadows Junuh… Time for you to choose…
Rannulph Junuh: I can’t…
Bagger Vance: Yes you can… but you ain’t alone… I”m right here with ya… I’ve been here all along… Now play the game… Your game… The one that only you was meant to play… The one that was given to you when you come into this world… You ready?… Stike that ball Junuh don’t hold nothin back give it everything… Now’s the time… Let yourself remember… Remember YOUR swing… That’s right Junuh, settle yourself… Let’s go… Now is the time, Junuh..

Conversation between Adele and Junah about why he left her.

Adele Invergordon: Ten years and not one single, solitary word from you? You don’t do that to someone you love! I deserve better, I deserve some correspondence of some indication of how you felt! Junuh, I don’t know what happened to you… but whatever it was… it couldn’t have been as unbearable as a woman waitin’ with no end in sight… Wonderin if she’s, remembered or forgotton by the man she loves… You never even said you were sorry… And now I’m supposed to just run into your arms and melt like butter on a hot muffin?
Rannulph Junuh: I’m sorry Adele… I am, truly sorry…
Adele Invergordon: It’s too late for ‘I’m sorry’ Junuh!
Rannulph Junuh: But – Then – Well, tell me what to say… It was too long ago…
Adele Invergordon: No it wasn’t… It was just a moment ago…

When Bagger and Junah met:

Rannulph Junuh: What were you doing out there? I could have killed you.
Bagger Vance: Nah, actually, I positioned myself right in front of you, ’cause from the way your swings were goin’, I figured that was the safest place.

Junah and Bagger during the first round of the tournament:

Rannulph Junuh: This is getting embarassing.
Bagger Vance: Oh no sir, this has been embarassing for quite some time.

Why you should Watch The Family Guy

I am sure there are a million reasons to watch the Family Guy, but I just don’t have time right now to write them all.  I had to choose five reasons why everyone should take some time out of their busy day to keep up with the Griffin family and their unique brand of humor and social satire it is all because of The Family Guy Characters.  Each one appeals to you in a different way.

Peter Griffin

 He’s fat, kinda lazy and is not afraid to attack any pop icon. From Michael Jackson, (when he was still alive) to Bill Clinton, Peter Griffin Attacks them all.   Peter will show you exactly how people from my generation think, yet would never say out loud.  Often times Peter is selfish, sometimes Peter is stupid, many times Peter is not politically correct.  All of the time Peter is funny.  He is the true voice of the show that really allows white guys over the age of thirty five to be able to relate.  Many of the things Peter loves, we love.  Beer, sex and music all stuff we like.  Sometimes Peter gets a little carried away with circumstances, just like normal people do.

Peter Griffin on Drugs:

Lois Griffin

She’s hot, sexy and kind of a bad mother, (at least to Meg) and everybody still loves Lois Griffin, Peter loves her deep down, even though they have had some problems over the years.  Stewie initially really wanted to kill her, but that seems to have died down over the years. Quagmire really likes her.  Lois has her character broach subjects like infidelity, sex, marriage and parenthood in a way that most couples have thought about but would never verbalize because that would be the end of the relationship right there.  Somehow her honesty about all things makes her more real than many people.  The video below is of the time when Peter takes a pledge of abstinence and Lois is getting frustrated. Ear sex anyone?

Stewart Gilligan Griffin

 I Like To Watch Scrubs

Scrubs is a comedy television series that ran from 2001 to 2008 on NBC, and from 2008 to 2010 on ABC. It was created by Bill Lawrence, who also co-createdSpin City.

For whatever reason I became a huge fan  of the TV show Scrubs.  I have seen every episode at least once.  Even the lame ones without the real cast they churned out at the end.  The original series and cast was classic and they really make me laugh.   It is in my opinion one of the best comedic drama series ever produced.

If you like intelligent, (for the most part), comedic moments with a touch of drama, Scrubs is the show for you.  I highly recomend seasons 1-7, after that………….kind of lost their way.

Scrubs Cast of Characters

John Dorian (J.D.)

Zach Braff portrays John Michael “J.D.” Dorian, the show’s protagonist and narrator. J.D. is a young attending physician, who begins the series as a staff intern. His voice-over to the series comes from his internal thoughts and often features surreal fantasies.   Many of his fantasies provide some of the funniest moments in the show.  We all have that alternate reality playing in our head, J.D. just shows his to the world.  He also hates the Janitor.

Christopher Duncan Turk

Donald Faison portrays Christopher Duncan Turk, J.D.’s best friend and a surgical attending physician and later Chief of Surgery. Turk roomed with J.D. at the College of William and Mary and at medical school, and the two have an extremely close relationship, which is best described in the season 6 episode My Musical as “Guy love”. He is married to Carla Espinosa.  Turk is the perfect foil for J.D. , he is everything that J.D. is not, cool, funny, and in his mind athletic.  Turk and J.D. have a stuffed dog named Rowdie, this is important for no reason other than I like Rowdie.

Elliot Reid

Sarah Chalke portrays Elliot Reid, another intern and later private practice physician. Her relationship with J.D. becomes romantic on several occasions. its an on again off again, type of relationship.  In the end they ended up getting married and all true Scrubs fans knew this is the way it should be.  Elliot is often neurotic and annoying but who isn’t at some point.  It is her ability to look at herself honestly and accept all of the freaky stuff that make her who she is.  Elliot Reid, moment killer, Elliot Reid, had her boyfriend attacked by a bear, it goes on and on.  Frick and Double Frick, I miss Elliot Reid.

Carla Espinosa-Turk

Judy Reyes portrays Carla Espinosa, the hospital’s head nurse, who acts as a mother figure to the interns, often hiding their mistakes from their attending doctor.  Turk and Carla have a relationship that lasted throughout the show.  Even though he can’t seem to get her heritage quite right.  She is Dominican, not Puerto Rican!  Their relationship is one of the backbones of the show.

Perry Cox

John C. McGinley portrays Perry Ulysses Cox, a senior attending physician at Sacred Heart and the hospital’s Residency Director before becoming the new Chief of Medicine in season eight. J.D. considers Cox his mentor despite the fact that Cox routinely criticizes and belittles him. Cox likes to call J.D. by a new girls name or another perceived derogatory comment in every show.  Deep down though you see that the Dr. Cox likes J.D. and wants him to be a success.  There is the moment he is talking to the board in season one when he relates to them how good J.D. is as a doctor.  Also in the episodes where three people die, The Cox-J.D. relationship shows it’s strength and development.  

Bob Kelso

Ken Jenkins portrays Robert “Bob” Kelso, formerly Sacred Heart’s Chief of Medicine. Kelso is cold, heartless and cruel, driven primarily by the hospital’s bottom line rather than the well-being of patients. However, it is occasionally suggested that he has a softer side, and that his cruelty is a means of coping with the years of hard decisions. It has been noted by other characters he was burdened by the job.  Kelso provides the foil of darkness and greed that Perry Cox and John Dorian are fighting against.  Never more clearly shown than when in season one they are all playing golf and fighting for J.D.’s soul.  Kelso loves muffins and was rewarded with a lifetime supply when the coffe shop moves in.  Kelso has a heart deep down inside.  

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Janitor

Neil Flynn portrays the hospital’s custodian known as ” Janitor” (in the last episode of season 8 he reveals his name “Glenn Matthews”… which may have been another lie, as another character immediately refers to him as “Tommy”). An incident in the pilot episode establishes an adversarial relationship between him and J.D., which persists throughout the series. This tends to take the form of the Janitor pulling mean-spirited pranks on J.D., although he gives J.D. a pass after his father dies.  Janitor spends many hours thinking of ways to bother J.D. .  Like many people, who have experienced a co-worker who just seems out to get them.  This relationship is clearly an exaggerated example of that dynamic.

The Janitor is also an organizer, from his various “Brain Trust” groups to an army of stuffed squirrels.  (who wouldn’t want a squirrel army?).  Janitor was a constantly evolving character that brought a lot to the show.  Everybody hates the Janitor.  Why did you put a penny in the door?  Why did you take it?  Come here we want to mess with you.  All classic Janitor lines.

In the ninth season premiere, Turk tells J.D. that the day after he left Sacred Heart, the Janitor asked when J.D. was returning, either oblivious to, or in denial of, J.D.’s departure, and upon coming to the realization that J.D. no longer worked at Sacred Heart, promptly walked off the job and quit.

Ted Buckland

Theodore “Ted” Buckland, played by Sam Lloyd, is Sacred Heart’s lawyer. Ted is the hospital’s “sad sack”, with pathetically low self-esteem and frequent suicidal tendencies. He is constantly degraded by Kelso, who has slowly but surely broken him down. It is implied that Ted has never won a case and it took him five tries to pass the Bar Exam due to stress induced dyslexia; he also states that he took the exam in Alaska, where it is much easier to pass. Ted attended Ithaca College.  Through a conversation with the Janitor in season three, it appears Ted speaks Korean.

Ted shows a character that almost everyone can relate to.  Most of us have had days where we feel like Teddy Buckland.  Ted finally gets a girl towards the end of the series. Her name is Gooch and she plays the ukelele in the hospital performing for kids.  It’s great to see the “sad sack” get the girl and something good can happen for everyone.  Kelso even told Ted that he always appreciated him at the end of his tenure.  

Todd Quinlan

Dr. Todd Quinlan, often called The Todd, played by Robert Maschio, is a surgeon at Sacred Heart who often delves into rampant sexual innuendo. Despite hisfrat boy personality, lack of common sense, and inability to spell, Todd is a skilled surgeon, being ranked the best surgical intern and second best surgical resident. He is a friend of Turk, even believing that he is Turk’s best friend, instead of J.D. Todd was not given an official surname until season five. In the Season 1 DVD Commentaries, Bill Lawrence explained that they never gave him one on purpose. “Quinlan” was picked up by a fan from a prop tag on Todd’s shirt once in the first season. It was merely a prop and not intended to be an actual name; however, the name eventually stuck.

Todd’s sexuality is never explicitly stated, although in “My Lucky Charm” he states that “The Todd appreciates hot regardless of gender.” He pretended to be gayin “My Lunch”, believing that “chicks dig gay dudes.” He constantly makes sexual comments towards men and women alike, even admitting that he would sleep with a 68-year-old syphilis patient and stating that he “accepts all applicants, regardless of age or disability.” After talking with Dr. Molly Clock, Todd explained that his view on women was due to an unhealthy relationship with his mother in which they made out. However, it is also revealed in “My Tormented Mentor” that Todd’s father also influenced him to look at women as sexual objects.

Throughout the series, The Todd often refers to himself in third-person and has a variety of high fives, made by taking a word or subject and adding “five” to the end, for example “Moving-on Five” or “Slide Five” normally accompanied by a sound effect. Todd is also a member of the Janitor’s second “Brain Trust,” a group composed of Todd, Ted and Doug. In “My Soul On Fire, Part 1,” it was revealed that Todd went to medical school in the Bahamas and learned the “high five” from his professor.

Songs About Rain

It is another rainy fall day, we need some sun!  I enjoy the rain in most cases, but there comes a point that you just want to see the sun.  I was thinking about all of the songs that talk about rain.  As my thoughts ran through the playlist of rain songs in my head, I wanted to put them down before they left my mind.  Here is a quick list of my favorite rain songs.

Rain

First song is from 2005 by Breaking Benjamin, it’s called Rain.  It has the sad yet hopeful vibe I think we all get on gloomy, rainy days.

No Rain

No Rain by Blind Melon is another song about rain, great lyrics, great rhythm and a memorable bee costume.  We have all been that Bee girl at some point in our life.  Anyway, it’s memorable enough for me on this rainy day.  I like watching the puddles gather rain…………..

Rainy Night In Georgia

This song is one of my all-time favorite songs about rain.   Sung by Brook Benton,   it makes me remember that everybody feels like it’s raining all over the world, sometimes.  Love lost and memories carried forever, that is the gist of this one.  If you have never heard it, you should listen, put it on your Ipod and think about the one that got away.

Rain King

Rain King is a little more upbeat song by Counting Crows from the 90’s that if you remember it, you will not be able to stop yourself from singing along.  I belong in the service of the queen, I belong anywhere but in between, she’s been crying and I been thinking and I am the Rain King.

Like The Rain

Clint Black contributes this one to the list because it captures the feeling that I sometimes have about the rain.  The sound of rain falling outside the window, while I remember a special moment, and remember a love that is lost and gone, much like the rain.  I never liked the rain until I walked through it with you……………..

The Rain

This one is by Oran “Juice” Jones, one of my favorites from the mid-eighties, I really haven’t heard this song in years but it’s worth a listen.  I saw you and him, walkin’ in the rain.  You were holding hands and I will never be the same.  Classic rant in a song, ever ending with this line: That’s right, Silly rabbit, tricks are made for kids, don’t you know
that. You without me is like corn flakes without the milk! This is my
world. You’re just a squirrel trying to get a nut! Now get on outta
here. Scat!

Kentucky Rain

Elvis was the King, and you can’t have a “rain song” list without him.  Kentucky Rain is about searching for the girl that got away.  Looking at this list it seems to be a common theme for many of these songs and probably why they mean so much to so many.   Don’t know why you’re gone, what your running to or from, all I know is that I want to bring you home…………..

Raining On Sunday

Keith Urban got this one right.  Even though today is Tuesday, I think the feeling of  “Raining on Sunday” always seems pretty good.  What ever comes Monday can take care of itself.  We’ve got better things to do.   Memories………….

If you have any you think I should add, just let me know.

Life long  Red Sox Fan

One of my major interests in life is following the day to day trials, tribulations and victories of the Boston Red Sox.

My grandfather is to blame for this affliction.  When I was about 10 years old, my grandfather took all of my family to a Red Sox Game.  It was the first time I went to Boston.  I still remember walking up the ramp which emerged into the grandstands at Fenway.   Back then you didn’t get to see the Red Sox play every game, actually looking at how green the Green Monster actually was, and the Sox home uniforms looked so white against the contrast of the greenest grass I had ever seen in my life.  Top it off with the fact that I was watching Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Carl Yastremski and Carleton Fisk get ready for the game and I was hooked.

The Red Sox also appealed to me because it always seemed like fate was against them.  It’s easy to love the front runners, but it is more of a deep bond when you feel that no matter how good it looked for Boston to win the world series, you just knew that somehow they were going to blow it.   They continued to have close calls and the relationship grew.

In 1986, I had just moved to a new apartment in South Portland, Maine.  I had three roommates who weren’t there yet, so I was sitting in a lawn chair, (no furniture had gotten there either), watching game 6 of the World Series by myself.  I remember thinking to myself, “Wow, I can’t

believe I’m going to actually see the Red Sox win the World Series.”  No sooner did I think that than things started to go wrong.  Bill Buckner,  we all know where that one ended.  I would see the Sox win the series………………. but not for another 18 years.

The Red Sox have been a unifying force throughout my family.  Many of us may be separated by age or by geography or whatever else divides people.  Almost all of my family on both sides can carry on a discussion about the Red Sox.  We have all followed the ups and downs of Red Sox Nation.   Even my mother who has never been into sports at all can tell you about the virtues of Big Papi and how great it is when the Sox win.  At the time of this writing the Sox are currently 2-10 to start the season.  Ouch.  the date is April 16, 2011, as most Sox fans probably believe, this is the day it starts to turn around.

My favorite Red Sox Player of all time was Dwight Evans.  It was close between Evans, Fred Lynn, Jim Rice and Carl Yaztremski.  I have always been partial to Dwight because he worked hard every day, gave it everything he had and seemed to always come up big in clutch situations.  He was one of the steadiest players for the Red Sox throughout the 1980’s and although he is not a Hall of Fame Caliber Player he is definitely an all-time great.

The Red Sox Finally Win!!!!!

As we all know the previously unthinkable happened in 2004, a group of “idiots” took Boston and their fans on one of the wildest rides in baseball history.  Most people remember what happened, so I won’t spend a lot of time on the details.  The Red Sox winning the World Series was a watershed moment in my life.  I was convinced that I never would see that day.  My grandfather was born in 1921 and died in 1993, loved the Red Sox and never,  thats NEVER saw them win it all.   I was sure that would be my fate as well, but then there they are beating the Yankees coming back from a 3-0 deficit, and then destroying the Cardinals in four games!  Up was suddenly down, cats were friendly with dogs, left was right.  What was happening to our world?  If the Boston Red Sox could win the World Series than wasn’t anything really possible?  It was because they did it again just three seasons later.   Now there is a young generation of fans who never know the angst of knowing, deep in your heart, that no matter how good it looks, it will probably end up in heartache and disappointment in the end.  I am happy that the Sox won and I wish my grandfather could have seen it.  I also now kind of look at Cubs fans with sympathy.