…while remembering it was just a week ago I was bulletproof and (nearly) fancy free, strolling through the shops and restaurants of lovely Carmel. A lot has happened since then….

Unlike last year, I missed posting on September 11 (just didn’t feel up to it). Besides holding all those who lives were snuffed out or forever impacted by that day’s events in my thoughts and prayers, nothing I could ever write could match the sentiment and simplicity of this. Indeed.

I’ll admit it: I just don’t get all this Koran-burning thing. But anyone who professes at being shocked – shocked, I tell ya! – in this day and age that there are any sacred cows left, in any culture, is dreaming. The one thing that makes so-called “civilized” nations civilized to begin with is a respect for its various heritages (historical, religious, cultural) and its rule of law. We’ve gone a long way towards losing the former, and one can only wonder when the fundamental respect for the latter won’t go away as well.

This is not a good time to be a Red Sox fan. The scary part is that they have suffered through injuries to key players like Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Kevin Youkilis, and, while none of these players had anywhere near career-threatening injuries, you never know how athletes will perform after they’ve been injured. That and the fact that no matter what happens, they’ll likely go into 2011 with question-marks in David Ortiz and J.D. Drew, both of whom are on the downside of their careers.

Lady Gaga no more than a laminated piece of ersatz rococo furniture? I love it.

President Obama says it’s the Republicans fault he hasn’t changed Washington. Personally, I don’t think he gives himself enough credit – which is why the highly-respected Jay Cost (formerly of Real Clear Politics) sees this coming. Now that’s change to be hoped for!

Bubba Watson can already do some amazing things with a golf club right-handed. But left-handed? As the saying goes, these guys are good.