Da blog boss .. Da blog!!!!

There is only one thing in the world which has proven more difficult to find than Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 ... and that is my blog!!! Alas I have returned from the Bermuda Triangle, negotiated the Congo River Valley and trudged through the Everglades - all the while escaping radar detection because I disabled the GPS on my iPhone. Unplugged, my blog and I were undetectable despite multiple searches on Google and the many sorrowful lamentations of my fans. Well fear not faithful followers!!! I am not in Crimea or at the bottom of the Indian Ocean ... I am back on a semi-regular basis to enlighten and entertain and foster some happy discussion. Consider it my gift to you on St. Patrick's Day!!!

Now ... when will Tattoo ring the bell and come sprinting down the dock (well at least sprinting for short legs!) shouting "Da plane, da plane!!" Few things have transfixed my attention over such a long period of time - anything longer than 3 minutes is pretty long for my ADHD riddled mind - as the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. In the modern 24/7 continuously monitored teched-up world, a 200 foot long by 200 foot wide airplane vanished like a fart in the wind. Either Edward Snowden lied about the snooping technology which exists (he didn't!) or there are serious gaps in the ability of radar and satellites to monitor flying machines. Where, oh where has Flight 370 gone? At this point pretty much every nefarious comic book situation is in play - unless the plane is already on the bottom of the Indian Ocean. Just in case I had my Superman suit dry cleaned over the weekend to prevent widespread disaster Unfortunately it fits like Mr. Incredible pre-workout regimen. Give me a few weeks okay?!?! The fit will improve as the weather gets warmer. Flight 370 disappearance also speaks to the ineptitude of the leadership in that part of the world. Malaysian military radar tracked an unknown plane for two hours without concern or notifying anyone for a couple days. The Chinese, Indians, Indonesians, Pakistanis and several other countries who claim to have sophisticated weapons systems never picked the plane up at all. The only hints to the plane's whereabouts where crude, periodic transmissions from the plane's essential systems to a satellite. Could anything like this happen in or around the United States? I mean it's not like airliners have been used to attack skyscrapers or anything ...  right? How many times would a Flight 370 situation have to happen before people just stop flying commercially? Two? Three? Will CBS make a new TV series about Flight 370 this fall? Or is this just an Alex Jones conspiracy by the New World Order to allow us to use cellphones on planes since we know the NSA can track cellphones. Hey .. I want to use my cellphone during flight as much as anybody so bring on texting while flying!!! Until Flight 370 is found I will follow it like I follow the the rest of the cases in my Aviation Mysteries Hall of Fame (which BTW has a top five of Amelia Earhart's disappearance, Flight 19, the Hindenburg disaster, my dad on a pontoon plane and Snoopy being shot down by the Red Baron).

Speaking of my Dad, he passed away from complications related to Alzheimer's Disease just before Thanksgiving 2013. Alzheimer's is a terrible disease - well pretty much all diseases are terrible - but it definitely seems more terrible when it is your Dad who is afflicted. I find there isn't a day that passes where I don't have a fleeting thought about him in the same way everyday something makes me remember my grandparents. Age has given me many things - house, cars, a nice salary, extra pounds, aches and pains, two wonderful sons - but it has exacted an enormous mental toll on me. Younger Scott wondered how the elderly could say they were at peace with death - Older Scott understands where the elderly were coming from. One day I'll see my Dad and grandparents again and I can see why that will hold a level of comfort and joy for me. Until then I'll enjoy my time on Earth with my family and loved ones as much as I can because of what life has taught me. If I could freeze time I would have .. years ago .. but not even Superman could stop time.

The Reds are trudging through the Arizona desert getting ready for a Goodyear .. at least that's what I hope. The ballclub has changed faster than the climate and I - much like Al Gore - am concerned!! Bryan Let's Hope the Price is Right takes over in the dugout while Billy the Jet has landed in centerfield. Joey Vottomatic has become a real-life tell-all book on the Big One - which is good I think! DatDude has morphed into DarthDude, fueling up on every snub - real, imaginary or perceived - for a monster season. Question of the Day: What material is super strong - maybe the strongest material known to man - but dangerously fragile? Answer: The elbow and shoulder muscles in Mat Latos, Johnny Be Good Cueto, David D. 'Homer' Bailey, Mike Leake and Tony Cingrani. Doc Hollywood has wielded his knife far too often already this season - which means there will be several injury relapses the Reds will have to overcome probably by the end of April! Jonathon BrOXton and Sean Marshall are still recovering from surgeries last season and may/may not be available for the season's start. The regulars will have to produce above last season's level for the Reds to rule the Central. No Spring skips it's turn - delayed as it may be - and hope Springs eternal. There's a message wrapped up in a riddle in there and it translates to 'Go Reds!!!'.

More manana ... it's good to be back!!