Byrdman

Senator Robert Byrd, dead at the age of 92. Damn. Now I'll never get to ask him, "Is that a copy of the Constitution in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

Maybe the best way for a guy like me to sum up a powerful and complicated political legend is with that dopey joke. This is a guy who managed to secure a Coast Guard facility for his home state, West Virginia.

West Virginia is landlocked.

There is no coast to guard.

Now that's power, kiddies.

- - - - - -

Does MLB needs a version of the "Physically Unable to Perform" list for the Zambranos and Bradley's of the world, perhaps "Mentally Unable to Perform" or "Unstable and Unable to Perform"?

At the very least the Cubs should consider some form of testing for prospects, suspects and free agents. The NFL has the Wonderlic, at the very least, Cubs should administer Rorschach tests to their baseballers.

But if team psychiatric evaluation is anything like their advance scouting, it probably won't help at all.

Sorry cubbies

This Streak Goes to Eleven

What a great run by the WhiteSOX. This team looked dead, absolutely dead...then, to win eleven in a row and climb right back into the AL Central race - that's why I cheer for these guys. Certainly it is not because I am the master predictor or they are the master, uh, knowers-and-players of baseball...

but damn, this has been fun to watch

Being the partially superstitious baseball guy (possibly meatball) that I am, I didn't really want to blog about a winning streak until it was over. See, it's not my fault.

I'm an idiot.

That is my fault.

Not that anyone cares, but my take on Zambrano going bat shit crazy on Friday - - - he pulled a Mike Tyson. He knew he had nothing so he got himself thrown out. He was pitching in the low-90's with no movement. That's tailor made for a 4 run first inning with more to come.

He did his team a favor by getting the heave ho. Maybe the only way that guy can help anyone is by being a total ass. In his defense, he's pretty good at it.

But fuck that garbage, the WhiteSOX have gotten themselves back in the AL Central race. More good news, the Tigers and Twins are playing each other so the SOX can possibly gain ground on one of the teams ahead of them.

The bad news, the SOX have to go back and play against American League competition.

Fun weekend. I got my pool pass. Alex and I went out to Hopkins on Saturday. We met Mr. Puente (the first owner of our house). He and our neighbor from across the street (that's still a neighbor, right?) they came over later for beers, to talk about Cuba under Bautista, and how much both men love what Kim has done with the kitchen.

Sunday we went to St. Joe's park. Nice time with my P's, saw Cousin Mike and his crew, Nancy S along with her mom, my dad's cousins, many of my grandmother's neighbors (that are still alive) and a bunch of people I haven't seen in forever. Even saw a kid wearing the "home" jersey for the Slovenia national soccer team. Me and Alex want to get the green "away" jerseys.

We'll see. They look cool.

Outside

Golfed and worked and played outside a lot this week...probably more than I should. My dear friend's mom passed away. Whenever someone I knew dies, even if I just knew them a little, my instinct is to go outside, to get in the sun, to look at the sky.

There's a part of me that thinks, 'they don't get to do this anymore (as far as I know) so I better enjoy it while I can'

Is that a selfish reaction to death?

Maybe.

Nobody knows, or can describe to me what comes next. Sure, I have my faith, but there is nothing in the teachings (as I understand them) that tell me what sensation is like with whatever comes next. I really enjoy it here. Does it make me a materialist? Does it make me a sensualist?

I dunno

I'm just a guy who likes to feel the sun on my face.

Maybe one day I'll die of face cancer.

But I'm going to enjoy the beauty of what is here while I am living in the midst of it all.

McChrystal Clear

Gen. Stanley McCrystal, leader of US Forces in "Operation Is it Time to Go Yet?" returned for a meeting/bitch-out session with the President and top advisers. Senior White House officials have intimated that the President is concerned over harsh statements the general made in a yet to be published Rolling Stone interview.

I told the general he should have only answered questions about the Jonas Brothers...

...or maybe impersonated Billy Crystal's impersonation of the "you look marvelous" guy...

...or stole Jann Wenner's fire extinguisher, sprayed every nook and cranny of the offices with foam and then spend the rest of the afternoon drinking Scotch...

But did he listen to me?

Nooooooooo

Now we'll see where that gets him.

I Am Not Henry Kissinger

or...Children of the Neighborhood, Stop Being a Pain in the Metternich

Children of the neighborhood - I am not Henry friggin' Kissinger. If you had any idea of the ham-fisted, bull in a china shop way I have conducted my personal affairs, you would not seek my counsel. Develop resolutions for these petty squabbles amongst yourselves. I have every confidence you can do as good or better job than most adults I know.

P.S. Get off my lawn

Last Minute Recap of Last Week

Fuck.

Forgot to blog this week

Tuesday June 15 - Al and Judi drove Alex back to DK in time for another Scrappers victory. I drove to Sugar Grove for the rock

Wed June 16 - Drove Alex to my P's cuz Kim has more summer class stuff, meetings & such and it's good for the boy to spend time with his grandparents

Thursday June 17 - Picked up Alex from Lockport and got him back in time for another Scrappers winner! He made a decent stop at third, then threw the ball straight up at the moon. But at least it didn't get past him

Friday June 18 - Inevitable, but still sad news at work. Someone I liked a ton is leaving. I will just hope it is on to bigger and better things and leave it at that. Star Trek Family Movie Night - Alex kept laughing at the title, "Booby Trap" Yeah, he's definitely my kid

Saturday June 19 - Family Monopoly and Son of Svengoolie "It Came from Beneath the Sea"

Father's Day - Saw both sets of grandparents and the day was good until I heard some sad news about a friend and their family.

All in all, it was a week. I will remember to keep my friend and his mom in my prayers...more importantly Kim will pray for them.

She's probably got a better chance of getting the Big G's ear than I do these days.

I'm kind of a schmuck

No One Shot Back

Finished golfing at my new favorite golf course somewhere in the greater DeKalb metropolitan area and had the following conversation with the owner...

Ron: "Hey ed. How'd ya shoot out there tonight?"
Me: "Well Ron, let's just say no one shot back."
Ron: "I think your game's improving."

He may be right.

Nothing is Meaningless

What?

Did a bunch of writing/organizational crap early on Sat. Got a walk in, even with the big rains...this is what I like about being more walker than golfer these days.

What?

Helped Kim work at Brooks, picked up my check from Uncle Joe, took care of some bills etc...and called my p's.

Happy that the WhiteSOX took the first two games against the cubs. Most people are saying these games are meaningless. For a real SOX fan, there are no meaningless wins. A.) wins have been pretty hard to come by - B.) they are only 7.5 games back, I don't believe this team can win the division but stringing wins together and challenging for something leads to attendance. If they keep sucking or get worse than before then the whole thing bottoms out...

Wins = revenue/butts in seats for the SOX

It's part of why I love being a fan of that franchise. Winning is fun, fun is winning, but more importantly - any sort of success the team enjoys is directly tied to winning.

I'm looking forward to the pitching match up for the Sunday Night Game. Lily is probably still my favorite cub pitcher (crafty left hander that he is) and I am still hopeful Gavin Floyd will turn things around.

Blackhawk Up

Wed was a very special night for my little crew. Dropped mom off at a party. Alex and I did some yard work, walked and just moved around a bunch before the game. Picked up mom and went to Twins for the first period and all you can eat pasta. I usually don't get mixed drinks at Twins cuz they can be a bit weak for my taste...but I've been getting the Bloody Mary's there before pasta night....Two reasons - 1) they are still weak, but spicy enough which is ok with me...I'm not going there to tie one on - 2) they serve the tasty Bloody Mary in a pint glass.

That's a lot of blood.

Watched the two remaining periods at home and learned we can remove a tick from our dog as we cheer on the Blackhawks. Alex discovered the tick. It wasn't fully attached. It was the first noncommittal tick I have ever encountered. Maybe Cookie is as gross on the inside as she is on the outside. I find that highly unlikely, but still possible.

Poor Kim...from the moment the Flyers tied it in the 3rd, she couldn't watch the game. Alex and I saw Kaner start to jump around and throw off his gloves 4 min and 6 sec into the 1st overtime...Eddie O said it would be over quick and he was right. It may have been a soft goal...Kaner was parallel with the pipe...but what the hell. I am so happy for those kids, Hossa, Coach Q and all the long-time, long-suffering hockey fans in this town. I was never one but I know a good time when I see it.

Busted my ass at work on Thursday so I could take the boy to the parade on Friday. He said he'd rather go to that than the Tigers v. SOX. He wasn't old enough to go to the SOX parade in 05...and quite frankly I think he likes hockey more than baseball...which is fine with me. It's just sports. They are fun because it is something we can share...memories and trips and such.

We were both up before 6am on Friday to catch the 7:10am from Elburn. Had plenty of time to take a sneaky route...avoiding the wall-to-wall people on Washington and Michigan jockeying for parade positions...we took Canal to Randolf to State to Wacker and were able to get pretty close to the corner of Wacker and Michigan for the rally @ the end of the parade route. Super hot in that crowd. People were nice to us. When good fans see a father and son wearing sweaters in the 90 degree heat, they make room and are very cool...I mean their collective body heat still had a devestating effect but they were groovy nonetheless.

Got back in time to chill on the couch, watch the SOX spank the Cubs late Friday afternoon...then boogied over to Sycamore for the Tallgrass Captns release party. Great time hanging with Bill and others of the swell set.

Perfect end to the Hawks' hockey season and a great start to our weekend. Let's see what happens next.

Worked Up for Wed

...that's my funday

Lots of people out on the first Monday after Memorial Day. I love it when we are short-staffed on Mondays. It forces me to do twice as much work in the same amount of time which makes the day feel 1/4 as long as say a slow Thursday.

I think I've correctly applied my limited understanding of fractions to my even more limited understanding of the time-space continuum as it applies to my job.

Got outta work at 3:30, stopped at home to see KJ and Alex, then got in a quick nine at the Prairie of Pines. Picked up Alex, dropped off a movie at B-buster and we scored a copy of the first Rocky what for the burnin'

Drove to ChrisB to pick up some bigDrag DVDs. Stopped at a historic aviation museum on 30 just before Sugar Grove. Alex loved seeing the WWII planes and Vietnam era helicopters.

Cookie and Cowboy hung out while we chilled with ChrisB. He told us about his exploits in the City of Angels. I'd like to think that half of bigDrag had all over California covered in the last two weeks.

Now I'm really testing the limits of my knowledge of fractions and how big Cali actually is.

But what care I? Me and Alex had a nice talk with Chris while we were treated to an old fashioned dog jamberoo.

Tuesday did bills and stuff...cleared off the deck so our family can have an unfettered Wed evening what for hockey watchin' and who knows what follows Game Six in Philly.

Don' Toews Me Bro!

Good luck you Hawks.

Dinner and Drinks

So proud of Kim. Another school year is in the books and my lady worked her beautiful ass off. Alex and I said special prayers for her this week as she made her way to the beginning of summer vacation.

No family movie night Friday. The boy and I were designated drivers so we dropped mom off at her staff party. We cruised back and watched the Hawks get behind in the first. Things were tough. There is a lot of pressure on these kids. Not from me. I just love hockey simply for the spectacle. I hope they can win it all for my friends who are die hard hockey crazies...and it is probably a great thing for the sport in the long run if a young, seemingly great offensive team wins the biggest trophy and gets the most exposure next year on national games.

We will see

I know Saturday was a great day because I got rained on during both of my walks, and in the middle of shootin' nine @ River Heights and I still managed to enjoy myself. Thanks and much love to Grandma Marge and Grandpa Ed for taking Alex on Saturday night. I did some editing on new stuff later in the afternoon. Kim went to a baby shower on the South Side (actually I think it was farther south than the South Side...it might not be incorrect to call it the Deep South Side...but then again, it might be) she came back around 9 and we went out for a late dinner and drinks. Great talk and great time with my girl.

Sunday - Met Alex and my mom at St. Joe's in Joliet. Saw Cousin Mike and his crew there. Great to see them. Got to get my stuff together and organize the get-together at my place for the end of July or something like that. Got home, did a bunch of writing and going over the shit I already went over on Saturday. We'll see where that gets me. HAWKS KICK THE ASS OF THE FLYERS AND PRONGER WAS A MINUS FIVE!

Even the WhiteSOX won...although they looked terrible doing it. I love the SOX. Man they are awful. Oh well, at least these kids on the Hawks are giving all Chicago sports fans something to cheer about, even those fans like me who don't know jack crap about hockey.

Big Fat Stupid Jerk

I was a big, fat stupid jerk yesterday. I rushed around like I didn't have time for anyone. Where am I going that's so damned important? I am not writing this to beat myself up or elicit sympathy from anybody. I just note it as part of the official record.

On Friday June 4 2010 I acted like an ass on multiple occasions.

Let's try and change that starting Saturday June 5.

Last Day of Third Grade

Alex's last day of school is today. He's getting so grown up. We hung out a bunch last night so mom could get her stuff together for the end of the year.

Cut grass together, ran errands, grabbed my laptop from Uncle Joe, got dinner for Kim and Penny...

Didn't have much time to sit down but when we did we had a nice talk over grilled cheese sandwiches and a dog from the Cat and Mouse.

In other news, we are dog-sitting my in-laws dog Carly. I think Cookie is eating Carly's poop.

That is all, and that is enough.

Yuck

Stealth and Thievery

Alex drew a walk and stole second in his first AB last night. As early as last year he said, "Dad, when I am in Mustangs I am going to steal a base the first game I play in that league."

He said he was going to do something and he did it.

Never was a father more proud of a young man for stealth and thievery.

...ok, he did it on a passed ball, but why ruin the event with details.

Love that boy and love baseball!!!