Theo of Golden

Finishing up the novel Theo of Golden, about a famous Portuguese artist who spends the last year of his life undercover in a small South Georgia town, befriending the locals, and buying and gifting a local artist’s portraits so the subjects could have them. It’ll be one of the best books I’ll read this year.

This breakout hit of a novel had been originally self-published by Allen Levi, whose life bears a resemblance to more than one of his characters. The AJC recently profiled him, as did Katie Couric. Oprah quoted his book. Levi grew up in Columbus GA, spent a year at Mercer in Macon, and studied law at UGA. After working as a lawyer, he studied English in Scotland, and worked as a traveling musician before returning to Georgia to be with family.  

Just learned that the Yankees removed the white trim from their road uniforms - after Aaron Judge suggested the change. So now they look like the uniforms worn by Ruth and Gehrig. 

Tuesday after visiting Miller in the hospital, I left out for Chattanooga at 1 pm. Stopped at Buccees for a drink and pastry. Stopped in Dalton at Goodwill and Dollar Tree, then another thrift store in Chattanooga. I’d passed an interesting park with dozens of large, weird figures - animals, cartoon characters, all sorts of things. 

Made it to the new ballpark early. When gates opened I walked around before setting into my seat, in the perfect spot to watch the sun set behind the stadium and Lookout Mountain. Stopped by Whataburger on the way home.

Got an early start on Wednesday morning, doing a bunch of cleaning and straightening around the house. At 1230 pm I took 285 west down to the airport to pick up M. Came back through downtown and up 75 to drop him off at his place.

I stopped by McDonalds on the way back, then got my passport photo taken. Back home I blew the pollen off the driveway, which got me sneezing. 

Small group covered Genesis 48, where Jacob blessed Joseph’s two young sons. Finished up by 9 pm. After all my cleaning, the guys didn’t check out the renovations upstairs. 

I had a 9 am appointment over toward Kennesaw this morning. Grabbed a honey butter chicken biscuit from Whattaburger and stopped by two thrift stores. Found a sweet Free Fly hoodie for three bucks. 

Then two hours at the gym. Later I drove C over to A&C’s house. Took Goose back to them. I actually got to hold the baby for awhile.

Caleb was watching the Michael Jordan documentary from a couple of years ago, so I let him know what it was like to be a fan during that golden time. C asked who I liked best: MJ or LeBron. Dumb question!

LEFTY GROVE  [SABR Bio] was the last left-handed pitcher to win 30 games in a season. Grove’s record in 1931 was 31-4. MLB measured the first century of professional baseball from 1869 so in 1969. The Hardball Times published “Celebrating Baseball’s Centennial” where Grove was honored as the most outstanding lefty. He was elected to the town council in the city he grew up in and served as the town's police chief as well. Grove was a Lanaconing, Maryland native & was very active in community business & politics.

Denison: in American Dialogue: The Founders and Us, historian Joseph J. Ellis discusses what John Adams defined as the central problem of political science. According to Adams, "In every society known to man, an aristocracy has risen up in the course of time, consisting of a few rich and honorable families who have been united with each other against both the people and the first magistrate." Adams believed all societies eventually produce social and economic elites who, if left unchecked, achieve political dominance at the expense of everyone else.