winners around

You get a perfect shot of an exceptional save from yesterday's Caps win over Pittsburgh. The Caps goalie is 21-year-old Semyon Varlamov* of Russia (playing his 13th NHL game) and he came back across the crease to stick block what appeared to be an open-net goal by Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby. At the time, the game was tied 2-2. Some have called it luck, some have called it skill. Either way, you make both, don't you?

There's nothing but rain and cool weather here on a Sunday morning.

We all headed to church this afternoon - don't get carried away - for the boy's spring Suzuki piano recital. The kids ranged in age from five to maybe thirteen and everyone played (and some sang) quite well. Certainly better than I did in my recital days. Unfortunately, I now have Go Tell Aunt Rhody, Twinkle Twinkle, Row Your Boat, and the French Children's Song rattling around in my head.

I've been reading the book Outliers which simply confirmed the stuff that bangs around when you hear stories about "people lifting themselves up by their bootstraps". Does it happen? Sort of. Is it all as it appears in the soft music and soft lit 'behind the scenes' stories? Nope. One of the most interesting pieces of the book concerns Jewish immigrants and Jewish-founded law firms in Manhattan. It's strange to see - and think - that the end result of some sorts of discrimination end in success. It's hard to explain and my very limited storytelling doesn't convey the facts. If you have time and enjoy a good read, give it a whirl. How's that for a recommendation? Priceless, no doubt.

*If you want an enlightening piece on the pronunciation of names for the Caps' herd of Russian-borne players, here you go.