Do you have it? We do in our house. Of course, we had soccer fever even before this year’s World Cup, as both my step-daughter and step-son are soccer players. Watching the U.S. play on the world stage has, so far, been incredible. Watching the U.S. finally beat Ghana, as a result of a goal scored by a sub was amazing.

Over the years I have become much more of an optimist.  It has become much easier to see the cup as half full instead of half empty.  This may be as a result of retraining my brain, or maturing, or maybe not really caring about what I used to think was important and now I realize is not.  

I injured my right hand about three weeks ago which effectively stopped my exercise regimen and golf for awhile. I've had to learn how to do a lot of things lefty which is quite a challenge. When I reach for something like a cup of tea I automaticaly use my right but have stop myself.   Now that I'm using my left hand, I'm actually feeling different. I guess it's that left brain, right brain thing.  

Last week we had our semi annual Lefty Lunch (where, for once, we could sit and eat comfortably anywhere at the table) at the Friars Club. At the Lefty (handedness, not politics) Lunch we commiserated re being the last unrecognized downtrodden minority.I, for one, am passionate about having being left off the waves of our Nation's affirmative actions. It just stinks, always being unconsidered and forgotten. For example, too many lefties were abused in their early school days due to their use of their south paw.

Earlier this week, Fred shared an entry in his diary with me. It's from June 17, 1980 and reads as follows: “drove Benj to his parents' home in New Hyde Park and his dad is a pleasant eccentric little immigrant man with an accent who said I didn't look "Klein" (small) and offered me a half finished beer. His face showed concern when Benj told him of his boss's job loss."

There aren't many things in life where everyone can remember where they were when it happened.  I know that I had been bartending that night but it was slow so I went home.  Started watching it at the bar and when I got home, I was shuffling back and forth between coverage and the Knicks playoff game.   For the Kardashians, it sent their lives down a path of infamy.   Anybodu know whatever happened to Al Cowlings?  

I am not really a fan of Starbucks coffee. Maybe a Frappuccino on a hot day but for a regular cup of coffee I have other favorites. But today’s news definitely changed my allegiance.