Aves Specta

Second annual pilgrimage to the Portland Expo for a D-League basketball game, this one with the added incentive of being Girl Scout day. Two brownies enjoyed what must be among the most exciting games played by the Maine Red Claws this season or ever.

The game was close at the start, but Texas pulled away by halftime. Sometime in the third quarter, a ho-hum crowd started to sense a shift and the atmosphere grew steadily more energetic, fueled by the reawakened Red Claws.

Regulation ended even and in overtime Maine capped a brilliant comeback with a win.

Now we're 2 and 0.

Texas - Maine
End of 1: 19 - 18
End of 2: 55 - 41
End of 3: 82 - 71
End of 4: 101 - 101
End of OT: 105 - 107

For the visitors, Justin Dentmon and Dominique Johnson caught my eye (though the former missed badly on the buzzer shot that would have won the game in the 4th).

For the home team, Mario West and DeShawn Sims drew attention, while Magnum Rolle left an impression.

I've always appreciated the TV meteorologists who keep an eye on the sky for something more than weather. A quick hint during the evening newscast about a planetary conjunction or lunar eclipse is always welcome here. And the weather man ought to know if it's worth looking up; no point seeking Venus beside a waning moon if it's nothing but clouds up there.

So tonight, when WCSH's Roger Griswold specified the start and end times for an overhead pass by the International Space Station, and added that it would be as bright as an "evening star," we made plans to step out into the clear night and crane our necks.

He said "southwest" so that's where I was looking. Fortunately A- had motile eyes and said "What's that?" to a solidly bright object racing toward us from the south-southwest. Instantly we were all on it, our first-time view of the ISS blazing in the sun. Boy, that thing cruises!

The host of A Celtic Sojourn on WGBH radio also hosted last night's event at the Berklee Performance Center. Quite an enjoyable evening with...

• Maura O'Connell (and her accompanists, John and...?)
• Masters of the Celtic Harp (Gráinne Hambly and Billy Jackson)
• Lóchrann (Diarmaid Ó hAlmhain, Caoilfhionn Ní Fhríghil, Aoife Greene, Eibhlin Healy, Pauric Stapleton, Brian Shinners; good luck in Philadelphia, Brian)
• Folk Arts Quartet (Ivonne Hernandez, Hannah Read, Julie Metcalf, Liz Davis Maxfield)
• Donnchadh Howard and...?
• Kieran Jordan and friends

First Place Youth in 2008 Holiday Parade!

I have watched Obama and McCain repeat themselves ad nauseum. They stay on message, churning out the same arguments, phrases, and misrepresentations of each other, regardless of the questions posed. One more chance next Wednesday to talk to those of us who have registered the message and want more depth, substance, and inspiration.