Don't Let Go the Blog

Pete Townsend and the PDawg have something in common. No, PDawg has not become a sad, self-parody. He still rocks.

Pete Townsend had a blogger blog and then nuked it. You can see the remnants here:

http://boywhoheardmusic.blogspot.com/

There’s a link to the official eelpie site and who would pretend to be Pete Townsend and put a link to that junk.

Just kidding. I love Pete Townsend. There’s a You Tube tribute flick to all the regular contributors to PT’s blog before he nuked it. Pretty sweet actually.

Just saw Greg Maddox saying good bye to the media. He wore a wild Bill Garver shirt. I think I want to remember him that way. Also good bye to my favorite Cub Todd Walker. That guy didn’t mince words. He is a “walker” from Texas that might’ve made a better president than say…

Walker Texas Ranger!

Oh please God, don’t let Chuck Norris kill me!

Like God would try to stop Chuck Norris.

The Inevitable

Sadly, Russrt spent too much time asking the Israeli ambassador about today’s bombings and radicalizing everyone in Lebanon. Sadly, it doesn’t matter if Hezbo’s support grows in the region or not. There will always be enough support and enough of a network to do what someone is going to do (probably from Lebanon) someday. Sadly a nuclear device will be produced (probably in Iran) delivered to a group in Lebanon with no real zip code – they may be a “party” like Hezbo, but is anyone going to argue that the real thrust of such groups is underground, and not on the floor of a legislative building…

Sadly, there will be those in Damascus who will retain connections/influence w/in Lebanon so all parties dedicated to the “disappearance” of Israel will have a way of delivering their weapon and Iran and Syria will have something of a buffer zone for their governments.

Doesn’t everyone see this?

I’m glad Russert had T Friedman on after his most recent column…

…although the beginning of the column made him sound like Dr. fucking Phil.

On the up side, he called g bushy radioactive.

I like Friedman’s image of the Sunni Syrians as riding in the back of a car driven by two Shi’a extremists (the leaders of Hez and Iran)…and the car has no brakes. He’s a great writer, and sounds like a great man but deep down he’s guided by a bullshit notion that Arab democracy in Lebanon needs special protection and if we could only show those on the Arab street that their real models ought to be prosperous Muslims in India rather than extremist leaders who continue to call for the elimination of Israel, stand up to the Israeli army and ultimately fail…

…if we could only do this, things would be better. We could do what one Syrian writer expressed to him, a desire to show his fellows how Arab culture can be mixed with modernity.

Maybe he can say: “At least I tried.”

Maybe the Israeli army, when this operation ends and enough of Hez is in tact (or another group takes it’s place) to continue planning to execute the nuclear option against an Israeli city, they can say: “At least we tried.”

Maybe the United States can say: “At least we tried to show the region we were serious in enforcing UN weapons agreements with our whatever we thought we were doing in Irock.”

Hez or some group like it will one day succeed in delivering a nuclear weapon or a dirty bomb to an Israeli city, but they will not accomplish their goal of making Israel disappear, and they will say “At least we tried.”

I think if all parties concerned thought about it in these terms they would see much of what I am saying here.

…and they still might go ahead with these things anyway.

That’s why it is called the inevitable.

O's No

OK, it wasn’t pretty. In fact the SOX game was so rough today it couldn’t even be called ugly. But a win’s a win’s a win.

Watched the game in the OF at the Taste of Pine Drive Pine Drive Block Party (not it’s official title) and there was fun to bad there. Al and Judi’s neighbors are swell and it seems like everybody’s kid is heading up to NIYou Know What. They (and their parents) wanted to get the skinny from my fat dumb ass. I left early and was a little sad because Trace and Riley will be going back to Seattle soon.

Accidentally blew off a friend’s ‘I’m leaving DeKalb Last Night of Drinking’ and I feel like total shit about it. This girl is crazy. She gave me a nice Christmas present (a frame for my favorite Alex pic at work) and I couldn’t make it out to Twins to raise a glass with her and some of the hhe crowd. I suck.

Ran a low grade fever yesterday. I think it was just because it was so hot outside my body compensated by giving me a fever.

Who needs a medical degree?

Aftergload

Just watched Ross Gload’s 9th inning heroics. Good woodwork son.

Fun time with TR and her beautiful daughter. We read a book about tow trucks. Rile’s wasn’t interested in Green Eggs ‘n Ham. She was more interested in watching what her Aunt Kim was doing. She calls Kim, Aunt KiKi.

I think I’m going to start calling Kim KiKi.

Thank You Herbert Hoover

Took Alex to Hanna M’s 5th b-day party. J-Moo put on a good time for all and it was nice to see the kids growing up and playing nice together. Is this going to be another ‘Ed is Flanders’ post?

No.

Actually, something happened at this party that was very humbling. It reminded me of how far I need to go as a man who claims to follow Christ. Fortunately, when I have these dark moments, confrontations with people I have injured (in the case of one person there, injured literally) I am near other people whose goodness reminds me of God’s love. My dear friend J-Moo was that person at this function. She worked hard to get where she is, and is a mom that loves her family and friends. She doesn’t pretend to know or be more than she is. She knows that what she is, is worth being. She doesn’t need the world to love her. She just needs to love her family.

I believe the Lord put me in contact with J-Moo to see that such love and such being is possible. For that I am grateful.

I am also grateful that I golfed and did some extra golf with my father-in-law today and got a free pass no matter how late we were for dinner. The father-in-law pass turns out to be even better than the golf pass. He helps provide extra time to play the golf that I am entitled to by virtue of having the golf pass.

Incidentally, I played like shit.

It doesn’t really matter. Had a good time just talking and drinking a few with Al. Came back to the fort, smoothed things over with the ladies, found out that the WhiteSOX won (thanks for the call Ms E) and put Alex to bed telling him stories about the presidents from Bush to Hoover.

Look how far we’ve come, from Hoover to Bush.

Crap.

I Said I Don't Want the Stringy Grilled Cheese!

From Can't Sleep to Can Dream

I can list a thousand reasons for me to call Bad Religion’s Kyoto Now a worthless piece of shit.

So why do I like this worthless piece of shit.

My family’s back and I’m happy about that.

Bad sleeping problems last night

I sort of snapped at somebody at work yesterday.

I’m trying to say no to junk food.

It’s not working.

What was/is working was my get together with the Old Dog tonight. He helped me pull and edit stuff from bD practice tapes and live shows from what I hope will be another free reissue of bigDrag Me Drive Car. I always had some whatever with the earlier versions we put out there. This may provide others with the chance to hate what I’ve cobbled together. I’m not attacking what’s been done in advance am I?

Forget attacking anything. The way I’m editing this whatever…is with the mindset that I love being in that band. The fact that at practice we can take some 12-bar piece of shit dooo diddly doo dooo and make it sound half-way decent…I’m pretty proud of that. Every once in awhile as we come in and out of breaks Chris drops the hammer and launches the rest of us like the frog launched by the Dark Squirrel at the Wisconsin State Fair all those years ago.

The Behind the Music is going to be pretty pathetic.

Good thing no one is thinking of making one.

G’night.

The Twins Can Bite My Bag

My family made it back safely and I am truly thankful.

On the baseball front let me say – I don’t have anything against the Tigers. I like how they are doing what the SOX did last year. I don’t hate the Cubs in spite of all the banter here. Since ’03 and what turned out to be the over hyping of Mark Prior I don’t really care all that much about them. I like to say things that stir up some crap up here and there. But I hate the Twins. I hate to see ‘em put it on the SOX like they have the past two nights.

The Twins should’ve been fucking contracted four years ago. What the fuck happened to that motherfucking plan! They could’ve been contracted and somehow brought the Brewers back to the AL where they belong. I have to tell myself that the SOX finally broke through and have actually beat out the Twins & Indians for the Division and got to, and won, the World Series – but the last two nights have just reminded me how that crapbag team that plays in a stadium with garbage bags wadded up over the empty seats – have handed to the SOX over the years.

What would Hawk say?

“That is total B.S.!”

Every time Joe Mauer comes to the plate the pitcher must go: “I didn’t know that Frankenstein was in the lineup tonight!”

I wish the cubs got Mauer and the stupid Twinkies got Broke Arm.

Ok, this little bout of pissiness has come full circle. I can leave with what little dignity I have left.

Yeah, fat chance of that happening.

My Family Flies Back Today

Lord,

Please watch over Kim and Alex as they fly back to Illinois. I am actually grateful for this time without them because missing them helps me realize how much I love my wife and son and how truly blessed I am.

Amen

- - - - -------------------- - - - - -------------- - - - -

I tried putting a link to Dev's blog on the side but only weird things happen. Go to his most recent post here:

Check out his Ginsbergesque (not an adjective) take on the days of our lives.

http://www.bigsoda.com/blog/

Good stuff. I second a lot of this.

One More Cup of Kofi

Sorry Bob Dylan.

Also sorry to see Mr. Widger go. Maybe if we have another hhe softball team we can get CW a job in shipping or something like that.

After Meet the Press I managed to stay away from the news on Sunday. Went golfing with the Old Dog and we had us a time. Had to buy lawn bags and almost accidentally stole from Trixie. What is my problem?

I picked up two bundles of lawn bags while I was shooting the shit with Trix. Some guys came in to the store and had questions about cutting some glass. I wanted to let Trix do this important business. I said, “I’ll see ya later tonight kid.”

As I walked to my car I looked at the two bundles of lawn bags and said “Oh my God! I’m stealing!”

The UN Secretary General’s term is almost up. All this talk of “regional rotation” is interesting. I know it is easy to sit around and poke fun of the UN and I am certainly not above doing that. But there are those arguing ‘We hear all this talk of regional rotation, what about gender rotation?’ In other words, couldn’t a “progressive institution” such as the UN find at least one qualified woman in 60 years?

Question: If someone rolled out the Secretary General job to Mrs. Clinton, would she take it?

Maybe they should offer it to Chris Widger. He’s looking for a job. He could also be the ringer on the UN softball team.

Those commie bastards probably don’t even have a softball team.

I bet they play kick ball.

Sorry soccer fans.

Also apologies to the Sultan - I responded to some of your WhiteSOX points but blogger crashed. Kinsler walked all weekend - IN FRONT OF MICHAEL FRIGGIN' YOUNG! - which gave me, to quote John Rooney "a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach" (I think it was Rooney who said that, or maybe Farmer was rejecting the kidney)...

...as far as Ozzie's blow up it was over as quickly as it started. I think he was ultimately glad that Garland didn't (or couldn't, probably didn't) hit the guy. Garland is so cool, he didn't seem phased by any of this junk. I'm happy he turned it around. Yeah some dumb stuff happened this weekend, but I was so glad to see the strong outing from SOX starting pitching and some decent defense.

Maybe I am becoming too much of a home-er(sp?) but these days, even a WhiteSOX loss is sort of relaxing.

With a laid-back, bullshit attitude like this, they just might make me UN Secretary General.

Dadsick

My son called me tonight to say even though he is having fun on his vacation, he really misses me. I heard Kim in the background saying that Alex was homesick. He said, “No Mommy. I’m Dadsick.”

Love you kid. Can’t wait to see you and Mom on Tuesday.

Sunshine on My Shoulder

Strangely, watching the WhiteSOX lose last night helped me take my mind off the invasion. Oh poor me, it’s not like Canada is invading DeKalb. I shouldn’t act like a dope who becomes sick of heart at the prospect of war – it probably doesn’t become me.

Went to Holy Mass 8am this morning. I thought I would be able to pray and put my thoughts in order re: the Iz troop movements. The first reading was from Jeremiah 23:1-6 (I am going to quote the King James, not LeBron, for reasons I have given elsewhere in this blog)

“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God is Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock and driven them away, and have not visited them, I will visit on you and the evil of your doings, saith the Lord. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries wither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them, which shall feed them and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking (“none shall be missing” was in the translation read at Newman this morning) saith the Lord. Behold the days shall come, saith the Lord, that I will rise unto David a righteous Branch, and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice on the earth.”

Needless to say my thoughts were wildly jerked out of place and I became greatly distracted. More signs of a disorganized mind. To make matters worse I haven’t kept up on my celebrity news.

Kim and Alex made it safely to San Francisco and they will be hooking up with her cousins, who are wonderful, and my sister and her daughter. Very exciting.

I need to cut some grass this morning and that might help me put two coherent thoughts together. I can’t cut the whole yard because I still have some of my (now dried out) wood chips taking up a corner of the yard. Aw hell, it doesn’t matter. I golfed 36 holes yesterday and buzz-text messaged a bunch of people during and after my adventures out there.

OK, Now I'm the Liar

I'm not going to be able to finish my fucked up defense of the fucked up war for now. Do two fucks make a right?

Aw hell yeah. I've got stuff that I have to get done today...

Great bigDrag practice last night. Worked on new songs and I want to add at least two more next week. Got to get my shit together today and do the following:

1. Pay the City for water, sewer and garbage (what a racket making me pay for garbage!)
2. Pay Snoopy so my home & cars continue to be underinsured (just kidding, Snoopy is so much better than the Allied Ins Gold plan, $500 of coverage for my stolen silverware…the thieves would be doing us a fucking favor, that silver polish is going to give everyone brain cancer
3. Make next deposit for home taxes, because I never made the last deposit but I have the $ to make all of it now
4. Pick up new deposit slip paperwork from my mailbox if I can get into Zu (the fucking communiversity is closed on Fridays – is that justice? Is that proper?)
5. Do more notes from Adams’ thoughts on govt
6. Clean more woodchips (even though they are pretty soggy now)
7. Call my mom

Much love Kimberly Jo – I got your e-mail. Thanks for thinking of me when you knew you couldn’t call me. Stupid work. I love you baby.

Liar, Bitch and Warlord II

OK the main conversation is happening over at the DC Liar’s blog there so g’wan over if you want the meat and stuff from a variety of different sides…and the good ole fashioned ranting of our friend from the District. Against my better judgment I’m going to say the most controversial thing I’ve said on the blog. More controversial than my SOX cubs blogs?

Yes.

I think this has been a good week for g bushy for all or most of the reasons DC says he’s a fucknut. I think I have lost five friends in one sentence. I’ve taken every opportunity to question and slam the administration for Operation Misadventures in Sunni-sitting in Iraq. I’ve called the administration liars (and not the good kind that send out cool mix tapes…those who haven’t got the latest What I’m Listening To, go get yourself some cuz I’m listening to it now). At the same time that I have been ripping all the fuckery in the foreign policy pursuits of the past few years…I’ve been desperately figuring out some way that this seemingly ridiculous war in Iraq makes sense. There seem to be two positions among my friends with good liberal credentials: 1.) g bushy maintains power, controls the agenda so long as he continues to be a wartime president and as he pursues this war in Iraq he divides the D’s and makes them appear weak…this is the more plausible of the two positions but I never completely bought into it; 2.) Dick and Bush just have had a hard on for Saddman since Day One…the reasons for me to reject this are legion

But we all have sort of agreed that the war in Iraq, the linkage with Sept Whatever and the weapons of ass destruction represents the ineptitude of g bushy at best and downright deception at its worst.

What if something like this is at bottom of the war in Irock:

1.) The long range security of the US rests in dismantling the Islamist movements.
2.) We will never catch them all…we can’t even catch the 6’7” septuagenarian with diabetes (a sign that I do not know how tall or old Ossssssssammma is)
3.) The Islamists will always view us as their enemy, their dogma asserts it and it will always be in their political interest to do so (see I think DC and I are still in total agreement here)
4.) We will not win hearts and minds of the Islamic world, or at least we will not win the hearts and minds of our ideological foes there…they will always reject blue jeans and MTV which the pinkos couldn’t wait to put on.
5.) We can’t nuke ‘em all because we’d have to nuke Europe now, and as tempting as that sounds on some days…uh sorry
6.) Why not turn the Islamists and those on the Arab street against each other?

Who is fighting who on a daily basis in Irock. If you answered insurgents and the Marines you are wrong and you know it. If you answered Sunni and Shi’a Muslims you get a prize.

I don’t know what the prize is but you’ll get it.

An IUD or something…uh, I mean IED, what was I thinking?

There should be a Contraceptives Through the Ages exhibit at the Museum of S and I. OK, I officially have no friends left and my wife is really pissed off at me in Seattle.

The most logical (and tragic outcome) for Irock is civil war…and once we pull out of there, sure the US will be blamed for starting all this shit – but give Sunni and Shi’a ten years of killing each other the way they are now, using the head of a teenage girl as a bomb, placing fake ads for jobs and when 50 people show up the only interview they get is with St. Peter…along with Iran and Syria jockeying for position and influence…Hezbollah’s activities dividing the Sunni power structure in places like Saudi, Jordan etc…you got yourself a bunch of people who now see each other as the enemy and if it gets bad enough they will not have time to even hate the Israelis as much as they used to, let alone carry out international operations against us.

I am not arguing that these thoughts were in Bush’s brain or Wolfies (how’s the world bank working out for you jerk asss?)

But DC Liar advocates a sort of kill ‘em all and let Allah shit on ‘em strategy…why can’t the seemingly stupid war in Irock be seen as a way to encourage sectarian violence to do our dirty work for us? If we can’t raze the joint, let someone else do it for us.

These are just the beginning of my thoughts on this score. Feel free to rip away…more on this and why the veto may have been the main reason this is a “good week” for bad ol g bushy will be coming from me tomorrow.

I know, I know, I hate myself just for posting this. Maybe I do these things because I am self-destructive or I want to stir shit up – but ask OD or bigSoda or anybody I’ve discussed the war with…as harsh as I have been on the administration I want to find a reason (even a Machiavellian one) that makes some fucking sense.

Could this be the beginning or have I become delusional.

Anyway, go to the main discussion at DC Liar’s page…and get a mix tape from him. Both activities are worth your time.

More later.

I miss you Kim and Alex, come home soon before Daddy’s insanity becomes irreversible.

The Liar, the Bitch and the Warlord

I’m the bitch.

No post today (uh, except for this one but as you shall soon see it won’t be much of a post) because I have been spending quality time on the blog that got me interested in this blogging crap in the first place. He saved me some time by blogging about two things that I could respond to rather than be wrong all by myself.

…all by myself

….that’s what friends are for.

Now I am watching Richard Engel talking about “spending time” with Hezbollah.

Had a fun time golfing with ChrisB last night. I miss Kim and Alex but Chris helped make this time more fun by going out drinking with me on a Tuesday night. Drinking on a Tuesday night tends to make things a little bit brighter.

Rock practice tomorrow night and I am excited to work on more new songs with the bigDrag boys. That is a start. I still need to solidify the live to tape recording for DC Liar’s arrival and make sure it doesn’t clash with the e-pissy reading date. I also need to have a sit down with my friend the PDawg to talk about recording Kish. Finally, I have to play Cousin Mike and Bill some of the fB tracks I put on CD.

There’s still some life left.

Get Yer Hezbollah Out of Yer Assyria

If I ever teach the Democracy in America class again, I am going to have to let the students know that the three branches of our government are the Legislative Branch, the Judicial Branch and the Explicative Branch.

What the fuck is wrong with these fucking fuckers and all their cussin’? We should’ve seen it coming. The guys are named Dick and Bush. That’s an invitation to all sorts of filthy-ass shit. All the way back on the campaign trail you heard this sweet nothing intoned between Bush and Dick about the New York Times reported: “Yeah, major asshole.”

Our beloved Veep is telling people that they can fuck themselves…and you can only imagine the shit that came out of his Veep hole when he shot that guy in the face.

But now this? Saying “shit” in front of the British? It’s like wiping your ass with one of your grandma’s doilies. You know the rest of the conversation between g bushy and the PM went like this…

(after Bush says shit and eats the last Danish…by the way they would’ve killed Klinton for that)
TonyB: “Mr. President!”
G bushy: “Wut? C’mon man, spit it the fuck out. What’s wrong?”
TonyB: “Well I never.”
G bushy: “Say what you want but I got a feeling all you Euros are over here doin’ it with each other. I’ve seen how Jack Straw looks at Chirac but whatever. You even named your money after yer unnatural act…the Gyro!”
TonyB: “That’s Euro. It’s short for European Union.”
G bushy: “Yeah, well like I said there’s probably a lot of unions goin’ on around here. Ya probably got yer own Brokeback Pyrenees er some shit like that.”
TonyB: “Well Mr. President, you are a complete vulgarian.”
G bushy: “I’m from Texas.”

Have a Safe Flight Kim and Alex - Daddy Loves You

I did the important things from my list…

1.) Actually had to pay the tree people $1025 (apparently living the thug Druid lifestyle ain’t cheap)
2.) Paid the plumber which was very important and we didn’t owe him as much as I thought – thanks and much love to Trix for hooking us up with this guy five years ago…he has been solid and helped us deal with any and all waste problems, solid and liquid
3.) Graded all my exams so that’s mercifully done

The most important thing is I spent every second I could with Kim and Alex before they left town. I could not get out of work to drop them off at the airport (and that makes me very sad) but I did all I could to help get them ready to go.

Dear Lord,

Please watch over Kim and Alex as they travel to Seattle. Next to faith itself, they are the two greatest gifts you have given to me. Their love has made this life more than bearable, it has made it brighter. Thank you for all the joy and love they share with me so freely.

Amen

Talking to God about the Weather

Lord,

The past two days I’ve gotten out of bed and the sun and the sky are as beautiful as they have ever been in my life. It’s been a little hot but that’s neither here nor there. There is something all around me, reminding me that this world is full of your love. I can’t explain this phenomenon. You’ve found a way to cut through all the noise and worse to show me that this world is made from love and for love. Help me to learn to love the world back.

Amen.

A Brighter Post Methinks

Sorry about the darkness on the edge of that last post.

.also, sorry about the Bruce Springsteen reference.

In order to lighten the mood here’s my STD for Sunday and Monday
(hopefully my genitals will be cured by then)

1. Put a G in KJ’s acct so we don’t bounce a check to the outside guys
2. Pay Mr. D for putting in a new trap for the washing machine and helping us with our other water related problems ($150 something, get the exact ammt I owe from KJ)
3. Find out the exact amount for the gutters and pay that off (get KJ to make an envelope for that and I’ll fill it with a check for God only knows how much)
4. If we haven’t completely used up our summer resources see how much is left for eye exam/glasses…we need less than $500 so that’s a good thing
5. Grade 15 or so of my HST final exams

Had a fun day, despite the depressing post at the beginning. Saw old family friends and had a wonderful time. This gal I’ve known since I was a baby just bought a new home and it seems like a great place to live. The trip home would’ve been complete for me if I could’ve found a way to attend Mass at St. Joe’s. Maybe next time.

Picked up Alex in Lockport and saw him riding on my late uncle’s Rascal thing with my dad. He said “Dad, can we get one of these things?”

I said: “Someday soon Daddy’s gonna need one of those.”

I’ll need a special hook for the colostomy bag.

Hey, I spelled colostomy right the first time, or so sayeth my spell check.

Did I spell sayeth right?

Methinks.

If When

Great date night with Kimberly Jo. Alex took a train trip with Grandpa to the Big City. Kim and I saw the new Superman movie. I don’t know if it was great or not.

No, I do know, it wasn’t great – but it brought back so many good memories of the original movies. When I was a kid, I was so geeked up to see Superman II that after I saw it, it felt like the summer was over. I can’t believe they got Brando to reprise his role of Jor-El. What does it take to get a guy to come back from the dead to do voiceovers in a movie? I wonder if Brando has Gene Kelly’s agent?

I miss the boy this weekend but I know that I tried to spend every minute I could this week – and I’m spending every minute I can with Kimberly Jo before she and Alex go on their summer trip. That’s all we can do in this life.

This has nothing to do with who is right or who is wrong in the IzRay-el HezBowlEra conflict - - bombing the airport seemed to be a disproportionate response, and the kidnappings seemed like an invitation to start a bunch of shit with a new administration – potentially moderate (or seemingly weak) leadership in IzRay-el is bad for business for a lot of political parties (with military wings) in that portion of the world. While we’re on this topic, let me just say – whatever problems we have with our two party system at least none of our parties have a military wing…as far as I know.

.oh, my sad attempt at a sad prediction – I hope it is not in my lifetime, but it will happen…

a nuclear weapon will be brought (maybe from Iran)
through Syria to somewhere
and will be fired by rocket into IzRay-el.

Like all those dopes say on the global killer asteroid shows, it’s not a matter of if it is a matter of when.

Crystal Meh

I usually do not whine and bitch on the blog because my life is pretty good. Shit has come up today that is making it impossible to practice tonight with bD. Cousin Mike has done a good job getting We’re Lost up on garageband but I haven’t solidified the stuff I need to to see if we can do a live to internets fB show. I have made 30 review copies of breather including information about this and the music blog (per the advice of an intern who sent me the nicest ‘we’re not interested nor will we probably ever be’ e-mail in history)…

…but I haven’t sent a single one of those out yet. Kim and Alex are leaving for the West Coast Monday and while we’ve had a bunch of fun family bike rides this week, we have not done all the fun family crap I’ve wanted to…

Haven’t watched Deadwood with Bill Garver in two weeks and we missed the seeing the best fight ever on tv together – Damn you The Captain Guy (not the rum Captain guy)

shit

So in my passive-aggressive fuck you weakly way of dealing with things this is what I’ve got to say:

Is there something I should know
Operation overload
Is this better off ignored
Information overlord

Is this New Hampshire Yes or No
Did I fuck up did I pass go
Is this New Hampshire Yes or No
Does it matter anymore

And Major Amberson died today
And all of his family
They have gone their separate ways
They all had to go in this life of change
We all have to die to live this way

That sky has always been above me
Half drunk the other half was apathy
Left here abandoned by memories
No one is ever coming back for me now

Storm clouds rolling up and into town
We’re safe here in the underground
No way anyone is leaving now
Grab your glass buck up and drink it down now

Run, run, run to your house
Right now, clouds are coming down
Run, run, run to your house
Right now, clouds are coming down


Sorry. It’s not really that bad. I can be sort of petulant when I don’t think I am getting my way. That’s modern life eh. Not so bad, not so great.

*meh

More to File Under WTF?

Down to their last out, the American League sends Paulie Walnuts to the plate. The rest is history. If the National League team that makes it to the World Series can just win a game this year, that'll be enough. The NL hasn't won a world series game since the JP and the Fish in'03.

How the hell does it come to pass that Joey Cora hits Z in his throwing elbow with a fungo bat?

Seriously this is bad for fans on both sides of town. Consider: I hope the SOX are major players when Z becomes a free agent. I know I've talked a bunch of trash about Z but he has done miraculous stuff this year with shit behind him. He could give the SOX a hometown discount - but not if Joey Cora keeps hurting him (accidentally or otherwise). If Z stays on the Cubs, he might have to learn to make nice with Cora. He is the best potential candidate that might actually take the job. And if Joey Cora wants success as a manager he needs to find a way to not hurt star players with a friggin' fungo bat!

the Idiot Prize

I'm bummed out about there being no bigDrag practice tonight. On the somewhat brighter side, Alex and I got in 6 holes at the Buena Vista tonight and we got Kim one of her anniversary presents. That girl's been married to me for 8 years (technically tomorrow) - I should get her an Astin Martin (or a bunch of Remy Martain) or something...she deserves more is my point. n The other part of the brighter side is I finished the Idiot Prize which I've been kicking around in a variety of forms since the You Know What's called it a day. This song has changed alot over the different attempts. This one is just "better enough" than the others to become something. It is probably the last song I will write for Kish unless something really stupid happens.


the Idiot Prize

Hey haymaker
Where’ve you been all of my life
Hi high roller
Where you goin’ later on tonight

Maybe we can see the rain together
If we can find the time
Maybe we can stay up all night
Just you and me and all this moonlight

And I can feel her love
Shine on me, shine on me
And I can feel her love
Shine on me, shine on me now

Let the bird of loudest lay
On the soul Arabian tree
Herald sad and trumpet be
To whose sound chaste wings obey

And I can feel her love
Shine on me, shine on me
And I can feel her love
Shine on me, shine on me now

Here she cried “We two are the same
True in heart and burning in name”
Building apart, a temple for her
Gentle eyes and sweet river pearls

If you hate the words to this song
You should go and write your own
If you think this song’s a good one
You should go and learn Italian

No way you can make the world believe
If you could it would be too easy
No way you can make the world behave
Are we born to burn and still be saved

Everybody wants to be like you
Savonarola

There getting high
While Nero fiddles
There getting high
While Nero fiddles now

Maybe we can see a brand new morning
If we survive the night
Maybe we can learn to love each other
If we can learn to love to fight

Still getting high
While Nero fiddles
Still getting high
While Nero fiddles now

I was a hi roller who’d gladly throw for
A diamond or a dime
Aw shit, I get the idiot prize

I was a new mama so hold on to your
Liquor and your lies
I quit, so stick your idiot prize

Half Way to Being Totally Wrong?

OK, we’re at the halfway point of the only perfect sport. Let’s look back at my Chicago baseball predictions and see how stupid I am.

1. Best Batting Avg. on WhiteSox: 15 Tadahito Iguchi
NOPE. It is AJ…although (without the minimum at bats) Pablo Ozuna is batting over .400 – take that Teddy Baseball.

2. Best Batting Avg. in Chicago (both sides): 25 Derrek Lee
NOPE. And in the category of you ain’t gonna believe this – there is a tie. Both AJ and Michael Barrett are batting .320. I wonder who has a better slugging percentage.

3. Most Saves in Chicago (both sides): 46 Neal Cotts
WHAT WAS I SMOKING???? I thought Baaaad Bobby Jenks came into spring training looking bad…fat, out of shape – sort of like me. I thought Bobby was a one year wonder. I am so glad that I was so wrong. You keep working and throwing hard Bobby. SOX fans will keep loving you for it.

4. Most stolen bases in Chicago: 9 Juan Pierre
WHOO HOOOO! I got one right. JP leads Podzilla by one SB. I shouldn’t brag too much. I picked the predictions and only got one right so far.

5. Most Homeruns on WhiteSox: 25 Jim Thome
Again, if Thome was healthy this was a no brainer. D-Lee may become the best hitter in Chicago, but even without injury I didn’t think he’d be able to repeat his all world numbers from the previous year…especially after being sighed. Lee has nothing to prove to anyone. He’s got a ring and he competed for the Triple Crown. He is All World. Thome is hungry and I’m glad he’s healthy enough to try to do something about it. And his ‘Aw shucks’ way of handling the media is great.

6. Most Homeruns in Chicago (both sides): 25 Jim Thome
ditto

7. Pitcher with the most wins in Chicago: 52 Jose Contreras
NOPE, it is Freddy Garcia. What is he smoking?

8.) Sox Record: 88-74. SORT OF WRONG ALTHOUGH IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL. My beloved SOX are on the way to winning 100. I’m not saying they are going to…but I really thought there would be a hangover. I thought teams would be gunning for them. Whatever is the case, the SOX keep winning. Sunday’s game was a great example of why I love the SOX. The Red Sox have been beating up on the good SOX all weekend. The good SOX refused to lose yesterday, refused to mail it in…they are so great. My favorite SOX games this year have been:

1.) Down to the last STRIKE against the Cubs, Ross Gload, Dye and the AJ Homer
2.) The Comeback Win against the Stros that I saw in person
3.) The Comeback only to lose against the Indians on Sunday Night baseball
4.) The Comeback only to lose against the Stros on Sunday Night Baseball
5.) Sunday’s 19 Inning WE AIN’T QUITTING! Win against a team that had been kicking the SOX around all weekend.

9.) Will the Sox Repeat?
Too early to tell…but if they make the playoffs two years in a row that will be enough. Remember, my original prediction was no they wouldn’t. With the better play of the Tigers, Indians and Twins if the SOX can get in again, even with the wildcard that would make this BY FAR the best era in Chicago baseball – including 2003 for the Cubs which was epic even in failure to nothing in 2004 but the icing on the cake being the SOX finally breaking through last year and if they can show that they are not one hit wonders – WHOOO HOOOO! The two teams have never done more so close together since the turn of the last century.

10.) Cubs Record 70-92.This is pretty close. They could win 70 some games. If they’re not careful they could lose 100. It looks like the team has found some pride and excepted its fate (without Wood and maybe Prior for awhile). I listened to Scott Eyre and others defend Dusty over the weekend. They look like they are going to play hard for their skipper and maybe save his job. Good luck men.

11.) Chicago Cubs Baseball Prediction Pulled out of My Ass: D-Lee will win the MVP
WRONG, but I couldn’t’ve known that the guy Jim H was trying so hard to sign would run over his superstar.

12.) Chicago WhiteSox Prediction Pulled out of My Ass: Kenny W. will acquire one MAJOR superstar for the Sox by the trade deadline this season (and no Santi he will not trade for Carl Everett for the 5th time) – NOT A STRETCH AND I’M NOT SURE IF THEY NEED TO DO THIS. They need a bullpen guy. Not too many big stars in middle relief or a get-you-through-the7th or 8th roles out there.

There it is. Halfway through the season and I am only slightly more than half stupid. That’s not all bad.

One non baseball question: Would the NYC Doctor technically be considered a suicide bomber?

Calling Bullshit on Myself

…but not right away. Fun dinner party with Kim’s friends from Brooks. Normally I am not a dinner party kinda guy. I am one sentence away from embarrassing myself and my family. I guess I am always one sentence away from doing that whether I’m at a dinner party, out with friends, blogging….

…or even at home by myself trying to pry a fireplace poker out of my ass after reenacting that famous fight in the First Congress (I think).

See, there was the sentence.

Part of the reason I had a good time at this dinner party was that I didn’t know it was a dinner party. Kim told me that the hosts were serving dinner after I had already stuffed my face with hot dogs and this spicy chicken dish from the other night. I thought we were just drinking which I am always in favor of…

The other reason I had a good time is everybody was laid back and I could just kind of be myself. Sometimes I pretend (and lie) and act like I am sooooo comfortable in my own skin. I think I said somewhere on this blog that I have never been more comfortable in my own skin (since turning 30). While that is true, it is a sort of deceptive truth since, for most of my life I have been soooo uncomfortable in my own skin I did things that made me see bugs on my skin and blah blah blah. This turned out to be the kind of crowd where I could be myself.

I had a minor dust up with one of the folks there as to whether or not the Catholic church bears primary responsibility for the decline of European art from the so-called Dark Ages to the Renaissance. The person I was arguing with had a good sense of humor and didn’t mind that I said “Do you think that bishops got up and said ‘The Lord wants us to paint like shit’.?!?! If God wanted perspective in art then he wouldn’t have made the world flat heathens!!!!’” The Dark Ages, if they were all that dark were that way because there were no centers of learning and art comparable to that of the ancient world…and high art and learning were on hold since the decline of the Roman empire because civilization was sort of on hold. While it is an oversimplification to argue that the Church held everything together neatly…it is a greater oversimplification to suggest that the Church suppressed development in learning and the arts…the decline and stagnation accompanied a variety of forces…and when the good shit returned (maybe) w/ the Borges (not Victor, sorry Dad) in Florence…its because the Florentines had the dough and the instability had more to do with external conflict and political assassinations (which made for a nice combo of opportunity and strife) helping to provide stability on one hand and maybe some inspiration on the other.

I don’t know and I am sort of calling bullshit on my analysis…but I still say bullshit to all sides of the argument. By the way, I would’ve taken the same damned position before I tried to be a serious Catholic. Maybe it’s the contrarian in me, maybe I’ve worked in university too long, but there is nothing more tiresome than listening to arguments that reduce the history of the West to following the $$ and the sins of the Catholic church. War, decline, invasion, corruption, disease all the ingredients of the so-called Dark Ages…they are legion, they are like the Hydra – they’ve got plenty of heads so there’s lots of blame to go around.

Oh, the dinner party right…yeah I ended up having a good time. K and K, our host and hostess are cool and I like hanging out with them. It’s funny, when we dropped Alex off at the PDawg’s (by the way thanks and much love to PDawg and Luke for hanging out with the boy) - - I was complaining about being a grown up. What is my problem? We all had fun. I think I told a few stories that I shouldn’t’ve’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘’ ‘

Hey, that made me feel like less than a grown up so I guess it is a good thing. One of the K’s told me about a Buddhist temple that was having a picnic to celebrate it’s new parking lot. That is pretty cool. He proposed a field trip. I wasn’t able to go (it was today) because I was golfing. Maybe I am more grown up and boring than I pretend to be.

What?

Tonight Alex and Luke are partying at our place. We watched the original King Kong. It was epic. The boys were both sad when Kong fell at the end. We all agreed that they should have just left him on Skull Island to fight the dinosaurs in peace.

I was going to call bullshit on myself for something else, but I have conveniently forgotten what it was.

Everything’s coming up Milhouse.

Dick Ed and Cub Girl

Thank you SOX fans and Cub players for punching AJ.

In an effort to demonstrate something like objectivity before I tell the story I’m about to tell, remember I was the one who told the story about AJ stepping on one of the Boone brothers as he rounded third last year. I will also admit that there has to be a reason why he is involved with all of these messes. I would still argue that nothing AJ has done is worse from a baseball perspective than Sammy’s hop or the kisses, especially when most of the homers he hit were when the Cubs were up 5 or down 8 (usually down 8). I will agree with part of what my dear friend bigSoda said that the guy is a prick. But I think intelligent Cubs fans (bigSoda and all of the Cub fan readers of this blog fit that category) will agree that the Sammy days are not thought of fondly…and in a way that guy might even be worse. He pretended to be cuddly and lubbie dubbie but he was even an unbearable prick to his teammates (see any interview by Gracie from the last 3 years).

Although I think Barrett is a bigger tool (and definitely a coward to sucker punch someone) and an inferior catcher, I can agree with Cubs fans who have posted that AJ is a burr in their saddle and there’s some reason for that.

Having said ALL that, I am giddy that for the second year in a row SOX fans have won the MLB write-in contest for the AllStar game. Don’t get me wrong, the more WhiteSOX that stay home and rest for the second half the better – but just that the passion has been their from the fan base for the past two years. And please, in the name of objectivity, resist posting comments that SOX fans are just assholes who like this big asshole because I would again point to the aggressive face puncher, the Hopper and the guy who does the John Travolta finger point up to heaven even when he strikes out the pitcher. Why doesn’t somebody punch him? He does that shit after every strike out? Why isn’t that worse than slapping the plate once?

Oh, it’s not just WhiteSOX getting all testosterone-y for AJ because we did the same thing for Podz last year – and that guy is a supermodel dating, Peter Pan looking, pitter-pattering weirdo. I love the enthusiasm among fans of my favorite franchise. As bitter and twisted as WE have been (brooding sulks compared to the warm ball of joy that has been Wrigley for most of my life) – SOX fans and marketing (thank you Brooks B.) have exhibited an unbridled sense of fun with these past two write-in campaigns, especially this one. It was good to see fans at the game last night, looking happy with their I PUNCHED AJ signs. By the way, I punched AJ 25 times each from 5 different computers under 5 different e-identities. SOX fan math, well I don’t know how many that adds up to since counting on all my fingers, toes and testicles I only get to 12. I’ll just say 12.

Even the beloved owner of the SOX (who for years wasn’t even beliked by me) wore his Punch AJ shirt proudly in the past few days. The Cubs are still the more popular team and more important culturally to Chicago. I won’t deny that. But the fact that SOX fans and the franchise can turn this shit with Barrett from something ugly to something joyful says a lot to me. In this spirit these will be my last negative comments about Blue Number 8…although the other day I told Alex that the Cubs catcher should be Number 0. But if a bunch of mullet wearing Alsip-ians can forgive and laugh and punch AJ (many of those people had to buy their first computer just to vote) I can laugh too, at the situation at fans on both sides of town, at AJ (because he teammates in interviews seem to take exceptional joy in saying they have punched AJ recently), and mostly just laugh and enjoy the fun of baseball. It has never been more fun being a fan of the SOX and quite frankly I don’t see how it can get any better on that front.

As much of a jerk that AJ might be, that’s how good of a guy Jim Thome seems to be. Even though the reality hit him that he couldn’t come back to play for his favorite team from childhood (the Cubs, JT is more effective as a DH than as an everyday 1st baseman) Thome has embraced playing for the SOX and from all reports he is one of the best things to ever happen to that clubhouse. Of course I would not be so naïve to think that NONE OF THAT WOULD MATTER if he wasn’t on pace to break a WhiteSOX single season home run record. By the way, wouldn’t it be great if somehow Thome could hit 67 and wipe out the juicy fraud Sosa for having the city record for homers. It would be cool to have a nice guy as the home run king around here. Oh well, whether he hits 67 or not, he is the home run king around here for now and that’s what counts. Massive grand slam last night! I miss Rowand but shit JT puts the spring in the SOX step and he his hungry for a title (after coming so close with the Indians).

I don’t miss Frank Thomas, but good woodwork out in Oakland man. In limited at bats, he’s got like 19 home runs or something like that. Wow.

I am the only SOX fan at hhe (as far as I know). There is one gal (nice kid) who wears a Todd Walker jersey and bleeds that blue smurf juice, loves her team etc…We engage in some playful banter (which of course will one day end in my grisly death). Here is the conversation that we had yesterday re why she should punch AJ. I am “Me” and she is “Cub Girl.”

Me: Have you punched AJ yet?
Cub Girl: “I would sure like to.”
Me: “I can help you do that.”
CG: “Wait a minute, what are you talking about?”
Me: “The SOX have an online campaign going. If you go to MLB dot com and punch AJ you can help him win the write-in vote for the AllStar Game.”
CG: “Why the hell would I want to do that?”

Quinking thickly I came up with the following argument.

Me: “You love the Cubs right?”
CG: “Yes, and you know I hate the SOX!”
Me: “Perfect, here’s why you should vote for AJ.”
CG: “I’m listening.”
Me: “Ok, if you vote for AJ the American League will have a better chance of winning the AllStar Game.”
CG: “Why would I want that to happen? I hate the American League.”
Me: “Hear me out. If the American League wins the AllStar Game, whatever American League team goes to the World Series will have home field advantage.”
CG: “That’s stupid. And why the hell would I want that to happen?”
Me: “I’m not finished. It might be tough, the Tigers and the Red Sox…and even Oakland could all possibly beat the SOX in the playoffs, but I still like the WhiteSOX chances to get to the World Series and if they win they will have home field advantage.”
CG: “Why the FUCK would I want that?”
Me: “Well, if the WhiteSOX can win the tough American League playoffs, they will certainly sweep the representative from the weaker National League. If the SOX have home field advantage, like last year, they will not be able to clinch the world championship in front of their home crowd. Ergo, voting for AJ will keep SOX fans from celebrating on the home field.”
Cub Girl: “I feel like punching you.”

And who doesn’t feel like that. GO SOX and beat the uh, other Sox!

Quik Hitz on Da Newz

Headline: NORTH KOREA TESTS MISSILE THAT CAN REACH ALASKA
Question: Are they targeting our oil reserves in Anwar?

Headline: PRESIDENTIAL RACE IN MEXICO TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Question: Will the loser sneak across the border and try to run for president here?

Please?

Headline: JONBENET’S MOTHER DIES
Question: Is someone trying to take out this family, one member at a time?

Headline: STAR JONES LEAVING THE VIEW
Question: Will she eat Rosie as revenge?

Not that you sick bastards.

…and I’m out.

It Was a Good Day

Much love was felt and much beer and meat was consumed at the Otrixervties on the 4^th. Disappointed that there was no ADF (Supersquirrelmarket to the World) sighting at the party. Several screech owls made an appearance, which led my dear friend MKS to ask: “If one owl is an omen, what do five mean?”

I hope some of you are enjoying the floatingBasement love (and by love I mean hate) on garageband.com. Cousin Mike did a good job making the track more suitable to a 21^st Century audience. Yes.

Finally, more plumbing issues at my house. What the hell? I figure if and when I am damned to eternal punishment in Hell, someone will put me in charge of the plumbing. Maybe if I work hard I can be one of the guys drinking coffee, standing knee deep in the shitwater…

“OK folks, coffee break is over everybody back to standing on your head.”

It Is a Great Day. It Is a Good Day.

I want to imagine that it is real. That John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only two signers of the Declaration of Independence to become president…they both died on the Fourth of July 50 years after the signing. The history books tell me that it is real. Accounts from those present, preserved in a variety of different places – delivered to us by the McCulloughs, Diggins and Ferlings of the world tell is it is so.

The story goes that Adams who was in and out of consciousness since the previous day was awakened and told it was the Fourth, to which he answered: “It is a great day. It is a good day.”

His son, John Quincy (a great man and mind in his own right) reflected on his father and, to some degree his other mentor (Jefferson) dying on the same day. He said that both giants of the American Revolution dying on the same day, and that the day was THAT day was “a visible and palpable manifestation of Divine favor.”

I don’t know about any of that. I love America, but think it is at least disingenuous if not out and out dangerous to think of this place as a product of divine intervention in human history. But I can forgive John Quincy and the nation for making myths regarding the deaths of these two great men.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson represented very different visions and hopes for America. They fought the revolution and later they fought each other. The election of 1800 saw partisanship (maybe) at it’s lowest in American history (I love you KO, but you are so wrong when you say the left and the right have never been further apart). Both men, dying so close together probably left the nation feel the same way John Quincy felt…

orphaned.

Linkage of a Different Kind

Cousin Mike and his beautiful family came out for a visit. Mike and I went golfing, Kim and Joan hung out and T & Alex pretended they were bank guards hell bent on a mission to bring justice to banking everywhere…

…which is more than I can say for Wolfowitzzzzzzzzz.

It was great seeing my Cousin. Bill Garver even took a break in preparing for his festivities to come by and yak. Nice.

Just got a copy of a few chapters of WTG’s book via e-mail. I’m geeked up about reading it. I talked to him about taking part in the reading jeanz, auftn, DC, the B’s and others have been planning.

I talk a good game (or a God game) but I need to do more of what I did on Sunday. Slow down, forget about my writing, projects, obsession with baseball (it was the only SOX Cubs game I didn’t watch)…I need to spend time with family and friends. I need to just chill. It’s not like my life is so hectic that I am in a constant state of motion. I can just be real selfish and not go out of my way to make time for others. A good way to see the Lord is to see him in others. The only way I can see Him in others is to actually spend time with others and not holed up in my basement office.

Last week I just sat and shot the shit in the backyard with the PDawg. That was nice. This Sunday I said to heck with everything, I am going to spend the afternoon with a guy I’ve known since I was born.

I have wasted much time and energy in the past trying to avoid small talk. Why? What do I have to say that is so big?

I’m really really really gonna try not to talk anymore junk about the Cubs. Kim asked me to explain why some of the people who posted comments seem to hate the SOX so much. I think part of the vitriol is a result of my snide-ass backhanded compliments and fronthanded backhands to all that is Cubdom. I’m not saying people wouldn’t hate AJ or the SOX if it wasn’t for me. That makes no sense.

Thanks to Ms. E for inviting the boy and I to another SOX game. Sorry we couldn’t make it. We’ve been on several missions for momma.

Sorry to ChrisB and the Supercush guys that I missed the show at the House (Friday). I totally spaced and had something else going. I hope it went well. I had a blast at the Otto’s show. I’ve got a put a link to the Supercush MySapce page because Less is More is quickly becoming my new favorite ADF related thing. How’s that for being obscure? Better than being obtuse.

Or a rhombus.

Final Thoughts on AJ from Yesterday

The AJ quotes were great from after the game. Someone asked him how it felt to be Public Enemy #1 for the Cubs...

AJ: "I thought that was the goat? Does this mean I'm the new Bartman? I don't know what I did to them. I didn't cost them the World Series or anything."

When he was asked about the garbage thrown on the field he gave the standard answer, but at the end he added "I'll probably get fined for inciting the crowd."

Finally, the best part of all this stuff is I got to teach Alex an important lesson about sports. He would always ask me why Michael Barrett punched AJ in the face. After we watched the replay of AJ hitting the home run, I got to use one of the best players from my favorite team to say: "This is how you get someone back in baseball. You don't throw the ball at them and you don't even have to punch back. AJ got back at Barrett by winning the game with a home run. That's better than fighting back, rushing the mound or anything that leads your fellow players to have to fight with you, get hurt and suspended. This home run hurts Barrett and the Cubs more than any punch in the face."

I think Alex got it, especially when we watched the Dempster interview (who talked alot of junk about AJ, the SOX, and even helped to get Joey Cora suspended after the first series) Alex said: "AJ must have hurt the Cubs. That guy looks like he's crying."

Crying in baseball?

"That's a lesson for another day son."

Should be a good game today. Z might be (for the moment) the best pitcher in town. Contreras hasn't lost a game in a year - but he's had a lot of help. Jose should NOT be the starting pitcher in the All Star Game. He needs some rest for his hip. That guy could be 50 years old for all we know. But Z is going up against #56, the coolest baseball player in recent Chicago memory. I used to think Gracie was the real life Bull Durham, plus he was a smoker. So cool. Then I found out what a clubhouse lawyer he was and throwing Sammy under the bus years after the fact. Grace is best left forgotten as well for doing that.

#56 may be overmatched stuffwise, but he's always capable of greatness. Isn't greatness greater than stuff? Down 7 runs against the twinkies...to be able to keep himself and his team in the game and come back and win - Phew. It would be awesome to see Brls stare down Zambranozilla today and come out with a win.

Great job by the baseball Zeus having Dusty on the show. MichaelK and other Cubs fans I've talked to are right about Dusty. He can be a classy guy (in spite of his who plays better when it is hot theory). Like Ozzie, it is sad that baseball men can become so insulated that they don't understand how their public statements can offend people.

Dusty took the heat this morning on the radio. He stood up. I felt sort of sorry for him. Part of me hopes that somehow he can survive all this.

Doesn't look like that's gonna happen.

AJ is OK

I'm not sure what team is the most dominant in Chicago history...the 85 Bears crushed everything.

The Bulls had two very different teams both qualify - the 72-10 team of course...I was shocked when they would lose in an 82 game schedule. I prefer the earlier Bulls with Horace just because I loved Horace/Scottie/Michael - and I hated Rodman...but Bulls fans are spoiled when we can argue which era of the Bulls was greater.

Now that I think of it, after this last accomplishment, Chicago sports fans have nothing to complain about. We've seen it all. Poor Cleveland. Those are some suffering fucking sports fans.

No question in my mind, there is no team in the history of Chicago sports that is more exciting to watch than these WhiteSOX.

Down to their last strike.

...last strike...

...Ross Gload's down to his last strike...

If he's not the last man on the SOX bench, he's the penultimate man on the SOX bench.

Hit (I was listening to the radio because I promised Kim I'd get some stuff before Holy Mass) - it went off Dumpster's glove I guess - I'll watch the recap ten thousand times on Komkast SportsNet

walk to Jermaine

I kept saying 'Just a single AJ, just a single'

Unbelievable.

I was driving, screaming like an idiot. At a stoplight there was a sweet looking old lady in her Cubs hat. I stopped pumping my fist like a fool (but I was still acting like a fool on the inside).

Don't get me wrong, I wanted the SOX to win, but MadDog got squeezed on some strike calls or balls that should've been strikes but were called balls...

Maybe I should stop writing about baseball on the blog because it is clear that I am bad at this.

I don't think anybody can complain about Dumpster getting bad calls. Who the hell is he? What has he done? He's sucked it up with disasterous consequences the past month or two.

I'm sort of sorry for calling Farmer an idiot earlier. Don't get me wrong, he's still an idiot. But his "This is gonna go..." for AJ's homer and "Light it up" - I got chills. It's just because I have so many great memories of these plays and the calls are mixed in with these memories.

I've watched a lot of Cubs games this year (for reasons that escape me). This is one of the best games I've seen them play. They shouldn't hang their heads. They didn't deserve to have garbage thrown at them either. Not today. Maybe Dumpster, the fans would have a built in excuse 'His name sounds like a garbage bin.'

The Cubs would've beaten any other team today (except maybe the Tigers and/or the Mets).

Thank you AJ and thank for Chicago WhiteSOX for giving the fans these thrills. These two seasons make up for a lifetime of frustration being a 2nd class baseball fan around here. If the SOX never win it all again, this will be enough.

Good Luck Z

Very interesting stuff from the baseball Zeus this morning. AJ, be nice to Z whenever you face him next. Do not imitate his finger up to heaven even if you hit another homer. He could be your teammate in 2 years.

Next year is Mr. Z’s walk year (every year is Kerry Wood’s walk year but that’s a different kind of walk). I am ready to completely revise my views on Z – and not just because he loves the baby Bulls even more than I do. He (Z) is a man among boys (and not just on the Cubs). I’ve seen at least four outings by the guy where he has looked like he has no hit stuff. Incroyable. Unfortunately he lost two of those games. Jim H better not be stupid and think that Carlos will give the Cubs a hometown discount when it comes to doing a new contract. If anything, with the piss poor run support, bad defense and bad bullpen behind him – Carlos should charge the Cubs more to stay in Chicago. If I were him, I’d make the Cubs significantly outbid the Yankees (who will be the hands down number one bidder no matter what CZ does next year and no matter what the Yankees do this year or next year). I know the Dodgers want him too. They could use his bat. Financially the Cubs should be able to compete with the Yankees and the Dodgers. Steinbrenner can’t make more than the Dim One, can he?

But don’t count the SOX out in the bidding war for Z. They have three things Z likes/needs/wants:

1. Ozzie, the word out there is Z & Ozzie are tight
2. Organizational approach to pitching and defense, Z knows that the SOX look at minor leaguers and free agents with a view to how they play their position (not just how they swing the bat and run the bases…J. Jones, J.P., Todd W., Phil N., Michael Barret, and to a lesser extent A-Ram…no one is going to argue that the first five excel at their positions on the field…and A-Ram might be a little better but he is not an All-Star fielder like D-Lee. In fact D-Lee might be the only Cubs player who is a star defensive player…Maddux is too but that doesn’t help Z).
3. The owner of the SOX can give Z all the free Bulls tickets he wants. In fact, he can just make Z a minority owner.

It would be a waste to see Z in the American league. He is one of the few pitchers in that joke of a league that is not a joke at the plate. Mike Hampton, where are you?!?!?

Seriously, where is Mike Hampton, did he retire? Sultan? Jeanz? Anyone….?