Kick in the Sachs

I've been watching the testimony from Blankenfein and the rest of the Goldman crew the way some folks watch shows about hoarders, people who are too fat or can't raise their own kids, or midgets trying to put together a grill.

I'm not sure I can say anything about the moral rectitude of these folks in front of Congress. I don't even think I care or can provide an intelligent answer as to whether or not their business dealings over the past several years are right or wrong or fair or whatever normative terminology some might want to apply to such stuff. I just watch with my damned, stupid mouth open when some Goldman Sack claims that the derivative (and what can only be described as their creative derivative gaming) market is the same thing as farmers trying to hedge against a loss for a year's work.

We want the farmer in that field. We need the farmer in that field. If there are a few bad breaks on prices or setbacks for their crop, he needs to know that within certain limits he can go back to work again...SO THERE IS MORE FUCKING FOOD! That is something that makes sense to me. (hope no one is mad that I made my theoretical farmer gender specific...regardless of my pronoun choice, know that reading about my gender specific theoretical farmer is still way better than listening to Ed Farmer on the radio)

What was being defended in the Senate hearings was a perversion of that.

It would be one thing if the only parties involved in these insurance scams...er, dealings, were lenders or investors in the mortgage firms and we want them to have some protection so they can help "grow" more houses in the future. Fine. But when billions are being won or lost by parties that don't seem to have a direct interest in the failure rate of these mortgages, and it's the volatility of these deals that led to the credit cramping of Oct 2008 and beyond...and there's no justification for it that I can see other than more people want to try and make billions by betting...

I just can't turn away. I think (without thinking I am any better, because my flaws are ugly and at least theirs have the potential to net them billions of dollars and/or a juicy lifestyle)...I think, "How can these people live like this? How can they defend their decrepitude? Maybe I should see if a midget is putting up a grill on another channel."

I don't know what all of this says about them or me. All I know is when these guys were testifying on tv, I couldn't turn away.

The Old C and Why it is Unforgettable

Played Oak Crest Retirement facility on Monday. One gal insisted on being wheeled in there first. As I set up my accordions and music she called out, "Do you know Nat King Cole?"

I said I did.

She said, "You know that song Unforgettable?"

I said I did.

She sighed loudly and told me, "I want you to play it tonight. It's my favorite song!"

Then she began singing it sweetly and la-la'd and da-da'd through the parts where she forgot the words.

"Do you like that song?"

I said I did.

"Nat King Cole is my favorite singer..." she paused for quite some time, sighed softly, looked down and said, "...he liked the weed though."

Didn't see that coming.

"He gave his life for it."

ummmm

Played the gig. The clapping died down as more ice cream floats were handed out. My new friend fell asleep during the first number.

The room cleared out and I was packing my gear. In true rock 'n roll fashion, the old gal who was the first to arrive was also the last to leave. She woke up and noticed I was still there. She asked, "Did you play my song?"

I said I did.

"How was it?"

And somewhere in the great beyond, Nat King Cole is smiling down on us.

...I think I know why he is smiling.

Saturday Morning Reading w/ Alex and Riley

Thanks and much love to TR for flying out with Riley and Shayla. We took a break from all the fun for family reading time Saturday morning. Then fun and mayhem ensued once again.

Extended Birthday, Family etc

Thanks and much love to TR for flying out from Seattle with Riley and Shayla for the boy's birthday. Much fun was had. Great to see the cousins together. Looking forward to seeing Kim and TR's cousin from SF next week and then getting together with my sister on the west coast at the end of next month.

Lots of traveling.

Lots of love.

Get This Truck Offa Me

Z to the pen? And he's not even the closer, he's the 8th inning guy? I know it is only baseball but I almost drove off the road when I heard the news. When Matt Thorton's agent hears that a big dork with a $90 million contract and so-so stuff is a set up guy, he's gonna want to renegotiate.

I wondered to myself what Sweet Lou's former mangager, the late, drunk Billy Martin would think of the ongoing opera that has defined Pinella's time on the northside.

Then I wondered if Billy Martin's last words were, "Get this pickup truck offa me!"

Then I almost drove off the road again.

Karma keeps creeping closer and closer to my dumb ass.

Love That Kid!

I know I've posted this on the blog before, but it was written as a reminder to me before the boy was born and I need to re-experience the anticipation, the feeling, the love and he fear of the day before he was born and changed my life for the better.

Thursday April 19, 2001

Alex, we’re waiting for you little buddy. I pray that your mom is healthy and will make it through this experience, and I pray the same for you. I pray that I will always remember the love and concern I have for your well-being as long as I know you. Son, I’m sure we’re going to have our problems as all families do. It’s my great hope that if and when I get angry with you that my anger will be tempered by the love and concern I feel for you now when you are so fragile. I also hope that when you are angry and frustrated with me, you know that your father is and will always be a man who loves you and cares for your well-being and humanity.

Your mother and I love you deeply son. Be safe, be healthy, be Alex.

Hot Water Hater

Lots of time spent outside this weekend. Free golf at the South Point til May so that's fun. Not sure if I am going to renew my pass at that dump.

Started the lawnmower on Sunday and it didn't explode.

That's a good sign.

Drove to Woodman's on Sunday and once the Tribe knocked Gavin Floyd out of the game I cranked up some Surfer Rosa under the open skies of Kesslinger Road.

Came back and found that our hot water heater wasn't making the water hot no more. Kim told me the news and I channeled my inner Hawk, "That's trouble."

Turned off the gas line. Waited five minutes. Reset the thing to "pilot" and held down the starter. Tried to get the pilot light going but no dice.

"I wish I could cuss right now."

Thank you inner Hawk.

Flash forward to Monday...

Had to take a half day on my favorite day of work to meet the guy from G'sR. Not Axl. I ain't lettin' that bitch anywhere near my pilot light. He couldn't even drive a car in the November Rain video.

What's with all the obviously bad grammar in this post? Normally I am more subtle with the bad-type writing.

No I'm not.

Well, I wasn't a total idiot because the G'sR dude couldn't relight the pilot light either. There was some corrosion on the end of the gas jet, I could feel it actually. My dad diagnosed the thing correctly over the phone. The problem with the corrosion, or where it was, was it was on a weak portion of the gas jet. I didn't try to scrape it because I was afraid of breaking off the nozzle.

NOT THAT YOU SICK BASTARDS!!!!

The dude cleaned it off and replaced one other component. A bill will come shortly. It could be worse.

Gonna be a busy week of work. I left stuff unfinished on Monday. It'll be there tomorrow eh.

Meanwhile the SOX are mercifully off my radar. I watched ten minutes of cub baseball. It was tied up. Then the Mets took a 6-1 lead. The last thing I saw was Marlon Byrd get hit in the head. I don't think the Met pitcher meant to do it.

The amazing thing? Byrd gets it right in the helmet. That loud pop cut right threw the game sound. The helmet fell off his head. Byrd didn't hit the deck. He shook it off, picked up his helmet, looked at it and ran down to first without giving the pitcher a second thought.

Marlon Byrd is a full on man. I'm no cub fan, but hats off to that guy.

No pun intended.

Stop killing the Bulls LeBron! You're crushing their gentle spirit.

Please join the Bulls next year LeBron. Then you may kill whomever you like.

Is it "whomever"? There's so much ill-scriblin' in this post I can't tell anymore.

Who's Afraid of Asdrubal Pujhols?

My beloved WhiteSOX are playing just good enough to get beat...by Asdrubal Cabrera. Meanwhile, even though the northsiders were just bested by Oswalt and the 'Stros yesterday, I still think they could win 87. Their lineup is good enough to rally against the bullpens they face. You can win a lot of games if you can figure out and take advantage of the other team's pen in a hurry. The cubs have done that and scored against the pen even in losses.

One note about the supposed greatness of WhiteSOX relievers this year...DON'T BELIEVE THE EARLY NUMBERS. The pen has been in a lot of cold games where the other team has had the lead and the SOX haven't been hitting. Yesterday's loss to Cleveland is a better example of what this bullpen is. Don't get me wrong, I love Matt Thorton, but in a 2-2 game where the SOX haven't been hitting much there is so much pressure on the guy that he gives up another run in the 8th and it's over. Peavy had a decent start for the SOX, but that wasn't 8 "strong" SOX fans saw out there. Both pitchers benefited from the nasty winds keeping balls in the park, and by the 8th, not even the wind would stand against the might of Asdrubal Cabrera.

I secretly hope that Asdrubal Cabrera is Albert Pujhols' best friend and that the two are so close Albert names a son after him. The world would be that much better for me, knowing there was an Asdrubal Pujhols in it.

Garbage Time

Legal council for the DeKalb County Board is recommending they ok Waste Management’s landfill expansion. Here’s hoping he’s a decent, snaky lawyer and sticks a provision in there that the landfill will accept garbage from new, outside sources, the site will be expanded…and all future DeKalb County Board Meetings will be held atop our ever-growing MegaDump.

Probably not going to happen but I can dream.

On the topic of expanding waste, congratulations to the Chicago Bulls for extending their season into the playoffs…let’s hope they don’t waste too much of Mr. James’ time in the first round.

Reminder

Dear Kim,

Know that your love has drawn me to a greater life that I could have ever imagined on my own. I read Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Ours does not match that love and it is something to aspire to reach. But even though we have a way to go, you helped me see love in its proper context. You help me see that it is only through God that our love is made perfect. There are times and ways I am still selfish, that I still lash out. Be patient with me, my love. Actually, I don’t have to even ask you to be patient with me. Instinctively, you always have been patient and waited for me to grow. I want to return your love to you, and show you that your patience and love is worth everything to me. I know we will never give up on each other. Consider this note a reminder that I will never forget to cherish this gift from God, this grace, everything that is you.

Love,
ed

Never Let the Old Man Choose the Ball

Played 30 some holes of golf this weekend and had enough energy to hoop it up with Alex and his friends...and even some older kids from the neighborhood came to play. The kids have to learn not to let me choose the game ball. I picked the flattest one for two reasons...1. My bank shots were more reliable than Indy Mac and 2.) the flatter roundball slowed eveyone down on the dribble (except for me because I can't be any slower off the dribble)

I'm a crafty, cheating piece of shit. I'm not proud of it.

Waitaminute

I am proud of it.

Mulligan Birdie from the Blues

I am probably too old to be proud of such a thing but I shot my first birdie from the blue tees ever...um, but I had to take a mulligan to do it. But it was the only mulligan I took today so it was about as legit as a mulligan gets.

That's me. Captain Rationalization. Oh yeah. Wait. Now I sound more like the Kool Aid Man. Oh no.

Sorry.

Fun time last night. Alex and Finn hung out at Willie's and a bunch of us went to Twins and the movies. When we came back to pick up the boys, Willie's dad had Schlitz. Whoo Hoo! Love me some end of the night schitz.

The previous sentence does not contain a typo even though my spell check suggests otherwise.

Not a Disaster, But Bad Enough

Had one of those moments this week where I didn’t think I was capable of doing the most important job in front of me…being a parent to Alex and a good husband to Kim. In my defense there were some pretty absurd, nigh impossible circumstances making my job far more difficult than usual. This is just a reminder that no matter how smart I think I am, I do not have life reigned in, nothing is in easily defined parameters and the best one can hope for is a measured response that matches the circumstances.

If there are others out there who have a better handle on this than I do, well bully for them.

I Silenced Them mit Romney

Some folks I should probably have more respect for were grumbling about health care reform over the weekend. I added this, “Yeah! The president and democrats in Congress are a bunch of socialists. Just like that damned Mitt Romney and his politburo that used to be the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

If the Hawk was at this party he'd say, "And this conversation is ovah!"

Play of the Year on Opening Day

Going to reserve any judgment on both baseball clubs until after the first month or so of the season. I'll still end up being wrong, but I feel better about doing it this way.

Great opening day for the team I love. Buehrle was phenomenal and made a play that I will remember when I am an old man. I don't know if it was the play of the year on opening day, but that guy’s provided so many great memories for SOX fans. I love #56. Two hits for Bacon and he swiped third. Quentin doubled, was on base for a good part of the game (mostly because the Indians tried to get him off the plate) Paulie went yard and even Rios had a decent game at the plate (he walked and hit a dinger) and ended the game with a beautiful play in center.

Watched most of the replay later in the evening in between watching the National Championship game with the boy. He had to go to bed early in the 2nd half. He really wanted the Bulldogs to win. Gonna have to break it to him gently this morning.

I love baseball’s opening day. I love that this year it was a Monday and during our office’s busiest day it is fun to have action and drama to check in on and enjoy. I pick on certain cubs and certain moves the team has made during the last ten years or so (especially under the fool Hendry) but make no mistake, I feel lucky to have both teams in the local viewing zone or whatever you want to call it. Exciting stuff happens good or bad and there is something compelling to watch, for dorks like me.

Speaking of exciting stuff for guys who can actually do things (and not just watch or write about said things)…now I hope it was the real Jason Heyward who posted on this blog a few weeks ago. That guy is amazing. You think he was ready to start his career? It only took one swing against Z to announce his presence with authority. Rumble young man, rumble!

Oh, back to me being so lucky to have the SOX and the Cubs on tv around me…not that affects the fate of the universe a single iota, but for the next 161 games I am almost guaranteed to catch some compelling on tv that isn’t about food or where to put a couch.

Thank the graces for that.

One last opening day note…our president threw out the first pitch at the Nats game and he managed to represent both Chicago baseball teams. He wore his WhiteSOX hat, and had the same sense of the strike zone as Carlos Zambrano.

How's the Weather?

Opening Day of the WhiteSOX season is one of those few days when I give a shit about the weather. I want the Chairman to make as much money as possible on big days like these. He and the SOX deserve whatever they can get. They already made me the happiest (although I still may be one of the stupidest) baseball fans ever when they won it all five seasons ago...but now it feels like they have taken a chance and built exactly the sort of thing I'd try to do.

This could be very bad for the SOX and all their fans....but now is not the time for questions. Now is the time for fun, and love and baseball!

Here's hoping they knock Westbrook all around the yard.