Yes, that's me.
I haven't posted for a few days. Nothing's been wrong. Okay, the weather has been Winter-style nasty. But that, by itself, wouldn't be enough to stop me. I haven't had computer issues, either, like I did during the moving process in December.
I just haven't had a good reason to post anything, what with the Super Bowl being over, baseball season yet to begin, the Devils having been forced into another days-long COVID-forced layoff (although they resumed last night, and beat the Bruins in Boston), and my interest in the NBA still being lukewarm at best.
As the old-time newspaper columnist Paul Gallico said, when asked why he quit writing about sports, "February." This was in 1938, before basketball took off, in his book Farewell to Sport. But he did return to sportswriting: His book about Lou Gehrig, The Pride of the Yankees, became the basis for the movie starring Gary Cooper.
But today is an important anniversary -- but most of you don't know about it. Or, perhaps, you did, but forgot about it. That's okay. I don't mind.
February 19, 2020, 1 year ago: After being told I needed it 35 years earlier, I finally got my right hip replaced, at St. Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
So, "Hippy Anniversary" to me.
The COVID shutdown ended my physical therapy sooner than it should have. By the time it resumed, it wasn't enough. The muscles still haven't gotten back to where they were before. But the most important thing is that the pain is gone.
Less pain, so much gain. Getting it done was the best decision I've ever made.
Unfortunately, the left hip is now nearly as bad as the right one was before. And the real reason that I started the process, that it was giving me a bad back, remains, although that's also not as bad as it was before.
This past December, I moved across town. There is no way I would have been able to do all that heavy lifting on two bad hips and a bad back. It was hard enough with one bad hip and a bad back. It also led to more running than I'd been able to do since the previous mid-February.
With the one new hip, and the move to a better place, I am considerably better off than I was a year ago -- above and beyond having replaced Donald Trump as President with Joe Biden.
I was told that the other hip would have to get replaced eventually. It now looks as though it might happen in the next month or two. Meaning I should be back on my feet by the Summer.
Now, if we can just get enough people vaccinated for COVID, so that we can actually have a real Summer...
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The details of this countdown are dependent on COVID restrictions:
Days until the next Arsenal game: 2, this Sunday, at 11:30 AM New York time, home to Premier League leaders and likely winners Manchester City. Yesterday, in Europa League Round of 32 action, Arsenal drew 1-1 with Lisbon, Portugal team Benfica, getting an away goal.
Days until the New Jersey Devils again play a local rival: 13, on Thursday, March 4, against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Days until the next North London Derby: 22, on Saturday, March 13, at 10:00 AM New York time, at the Emirates Stadium. A little over 3 weeks. The British TV networks may have the time and/or the date changed in order to get better ratings, or so they believe.
Days until the next game of the U.S. National Soccer Team: 37, on Sunday, March 28, an international friendly against Northern Ireland, at Windsor Park in Belfast. A little over 5 weeks. The women's team beat Canada last night, 1-0 in Orlando.
Days until the New York Yankees open the 2021 season: 41, on Thursday, 1:00 PM, home to the Toronto Blue Jays. Under 6 weeks.
Days until the next New York Red Bulls game: 43, on Saturday, April 3, opponent and location as yet unknown. MLS has only announced when the season will open.
Days until the Red Bulls again play a local rival: See the previous answer.
Days until the next Yankees series against the Boston Red Sox begins: 105, on Friday, June 4, at 7:00 PM, at Yankee Stadium II. That's 15 weeks.
Days until the COVID-delayed Euro 2020 opens: 127, on Friday, June 26. A little over 4 months. Games will be played all over Europe, with the Semifinals and the Final at the new Wembley Stadium in London.
Days until the COVID-delayed 2020 Olympics open in Tokyo, Japan: 154, on Friday, July 23. A little over 5 months.
Days until the next East Brunswick High School football game: 196, on Friday, September 3, at 7:00 PM, home to arch-rival Old Bridge. Under 7 months.
Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge football game: See the previous answer.
Days until the next Rutgers University football game: 197, on Saturday, September 4, at 12:00 noon, home to Temple University.
Days until the next election for Governor of New Jersey and Mayor of New York City: 256, on Tuesday, November 2. A little over 8 months.
Days until the next Rutgers-Penn State football game: 281, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 27, at 12:00 noon, at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. A little over 9 months.
Days until the 1st Baseball Hall of Fame election for which Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz will be eligible, and we will know for sure whether steroid use keeps a player out, or if it's only perception that does: 340, on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. A little over 11 months.
Days until the next Winter Olympics open in Beijing, China: 350, on Friday, February 4, 2022. Under 12 months.
Days until the next elections for Congress and for Governor of most States, including New York and Pennsylvania: 627, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Under 2 years, or under 21 months.
Days until the next World Cup opens: 640, on Friday, November 21, 2022, in Doha, Qatar. Under 2 years, or just over 21 months.
Days until the next Women's World Cup opens: 871, on Friday, July 10, 2023, jointly held in the neighboring nations of Australia and New Zealand. Under 2 and a half years, or under 29 months.
Days until the next Presidential election: 1,355, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Under 4 years, or under 45 months.