We Have a Liftoff! Man on the Way to the Moon!

It was fifty years ago to the minute that Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, and Neil Armstrong began their historic journey to the moon and back.  I was a kid but I can't pull up any substantial memories of that day.  I can still watch in wonder at the videos, as many of you have been doing over the last weeks.

Blow Out the Candles -- October 31

Oriole great Dave Mcnally was born on this date in 1942.

1971 Topps #320

Dave was part of the great starting rotation for the Baltimore in the 60's and early 70's. He was 4-2 with a 2.34 ERA in 4 World Series. Lifetime, in 14 seasons he was 184-119 with a 3.24 ERA.

"Dave (McNally) was an unbelievable competitor. He did it with cunning and intelligence. He loved to set you up with a change, fool you with that tremendous curve and then throw the fastball by you. Plus, he was 100% gentleman. He was the kind of guy you wanted your son to be." - Hall of Famer Earl Weaver

McNally and Palmer in their classic Orioles uniforms.

Eric Nesterenko turns 78 today. He played 16 seasons for the Blackhawks and was a member of the  Stanley Cup Championship team in 1961.

2006/07 Parkhurst #81

 Eric getting a stick in the head courtesy of one Maurice "Rocket" Richard

Black eyed Nesterenko and the always excited Golden Jet.

Phil Goyette also turns 78 . He played 16 years in the NHL and was lucky enough to be on Stanley Cup winners with Montreal his first four.

1969-70 Topps #21

One of the more unflattering cards you'll see.  This being Halloween, add a few scars to his face and a couple of bolts to his neck and --- you get the picture.

Astronaut Michael Collins turns 81 today. Mr. Collins was the command module captain on the Apollo 11 mission which landed the first men on the moon. He's one of only 24 humans who have flown to the moon and back.

Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin

Comedian Brian-Doyle Murray is celebrating his 66th birthday today.

Brian is  the older brother of Bill Murray.

 Of his many roles I remember him best as the bubble boy's father on Seinfeld, and the Mayor of Punxsutawney in Groundhog Day.

Sphincter Boy



Wayne's World

— MOVIECLIPS.com

Lastly, folk singer/songwriter, Tom Paxton turns 74 today.

Blow Out the Candles Oct 26

1971 Topps #320

Oriole great Dave Mcnally was born on this date in 1942. Dave was part of the great starting rotation for the Baltimore in the 60's and early 70's. He was 4-2 with a 2.34 ERA in 4 World Series. Lifetime, in 14 seasons he was 184-119 with a 3.24 ERA.

2006/07 Parkhurst #81

Eric Nesterenko turns 76 today. He played 16 seasons for the Blackhawks and was on their last Stanley Cup Championship in 1961.

1969-70 Topps #21

Phil Goyette also turns 76. He played 16 years in the NHL and was lucky enough to be on Stanley Cup winners with Montreal his first four. I'll have more to say about this card in a future post.


Astronaut Michael Collins turns 79 today. Mr. Collins was the command module captain on the Apollo 11 mission which landed the first men on the moon. He's one of only 24 humans who have flown to the moon and back.

Comedian Brian-Doyle Murray is celebrating his 64th birthday today. He's the older brother of Bill Murray. Of his many roles I remember him best as the bubble boy's father on Seinfeld, and the Mayor of Punxsutawney in Groundhog Day.


English poet John Keats was born in London on this date in 1795.

Check out this video. It's a little creapy but interesting.

BRIGHT STAR, WOULD I WERE STEDFAST

By John Keats

Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art--- 

Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night 

And watching, with eternal lids apart, 

Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite, 

The moving waters at their priestlike task 

Of pure ablution round earth's human shores, 

Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask 

Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--- 

No---yet still stedfast, still unchangeable, 

Pillowed upon my fair love's ripening breast, 

To feel for ever its soft fall and swell, 

Awake for ever in a sweet unrest, 

Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath, 

And so live ever---or else swoon in death. 

1819

Lastly, folk singer/songwriter, Tom Paxton turns 72 today.

Buy a Gun for Your Son

Words and Music by Tom Paxton

Hallelujah, Dads and Mommies,
Cowboys, Rebels, Yanks and Commies
Buy yourselves som real red blooded fun.
If you want to make the grade,
You've got to have a hand grenade,
And a fully automatic G.I. Gun.

[Cho:]
Buy a gun for your son right away, Sir
Shake his hand like a man and let him play, Sir.
Let his little mind expand, Place a weapon in his hand,
For the skills he learns today will someday pay, Sir.

Pound that kid into submission
'Till he's mastered Nuclear Fission
Buy him plastic warheads by the score,
Once he's got the taste of blood,
He's gonna sneak up on his buddies
Starting his own thermo-nuclear war.
[Cho.]
Buy him khakis and fatigues,
And sign him up in little leagues,
Give him calisthenics as a rule.
Once you've banished fear and dread,
Then pat his seven year-old head,
And send him off to military school.
[Cho]
Once he's grown to be a man,
He might get tired of blasting Granny,
Then you'll see a crisis coming on.
Don't get worried, don't get nervous.
Send that kid into the service,
Let him rise into the Pentagon.
[Cho]
At the Pentagon he'll rise.
The President he will advise,
His reputation growing all the while.
With his picture on the wall,
He'll get that long-awaited call,
And press the firing buttons with a smile.
[Cho]