Oh well...

Didn't make the cut at FSN for the Sox open mic.

Probably because I didn't know what Jessica Simpson looked like.

Mike on the Mic?

I'm trying out for this tonight. There's no doubt in my mind that I'd be good at it, but the problem is that it's an open casting call, which means that all hell is probably going to be breaking loose at 350 N. Orleans tonight when I get there. I don't do so good with long waits.

At least I've got this article as reading material. The WashPost, which I tend to avoid due to it's way-lefty leanings, has been running a lot on DC baseball in light of the upcoming Expos transplantation, and much of it has been really interesting stuff. Bud Selig-lovers, beware...the one central theme in these pieces is that Selig runs MLB like a cartel..and his number one guy on the street is our very own Chairman Reinsdorf.

The makeshift shrine Kevin and I constructed Saturday to bring home a Sox winner. I no longer doubt the power of St. Jude. 

So here's my quick rundown on the Crosstown:

-went Saturday and Sunday. Lots more Chub fans in attendance Saturday than Sunday.

-Tailgated both days..brats on Saturday, teryaki chicken and Spiedes Sunday. Drank 6 beers before I even walked in the park Saturday, putting me in a feisty, Cub hating mood.

-Had some dumbass Chub fan Saturday tell me I was the most obnoxious fan in the park. I quickly pointed out the 21 year old Cubbie chick who could barely stand up and the 2 bulldykes in blue in the front row who kept holding their lameass "Finally Sold Out" sign up. He came back at me with the ultra-witty "I looked up obnoxious in the dictionary and saw your picture." What a drillrod, as Willsy would say.

-Ronnie Woo Woo was in the club level yesterday right over our section. If any Cub fans read this blog, will one of you please tell me WHAT THE HELL IS AMUSING about this guy?

-I'm shocked that Hollandsworth's XRays came back negative. He hit that ball off his shin and it was still a line drive.

-That blast Sosa hit on Sunday in the 2nd was big, seemed bigger than the one I saw him hit down Kenmore Avenue last year vs the Brewers. I guess when he DHes, he gets extra time to pop his special vitamins.

-Cliff Politte...bad, but no longer awful after decent stints both games keeping the Cubs at bay. When Shingo came on Saturday, the Cell was just about the loudest I've ever heard it. Zero is my hero!

-While I'll miss Miguel Olivo, I'm ready for Freddy!

I must have been out like a light last night, since I didn't feel the earth move.

Obsession of the week...

Zee delightful French game of petanque.

Eric the Frenchman here at work is going to start playing with some of his countrymen, and has asked me if I want to join sometime. I guess there's fine wine involved...woohooo!

Jack Ryan, we hardly knew thee.

Almost Friday...

While this has hardly been a week from hell, it sure has taken its sweet time in getting over with. Past couple days have just dragged...maybe because I worked different hours than normal. Weather has been pleasantly cool, and it looks like it'll keep up right through the weekend.

Gary Lind hosted a gathering of Sox email list geeks at the ballyard last night. Great to meet a few guys I've gone back and forth with via email but never actually met before, but not so great to watch the Pale Hose suck ass yet again. I'm starting to think that item 1a on Kenny Williams' shopping list better be middle relief, because Jackson and Politte just aren't getting it done, and even that dreamy Neal Cotts fellow needs to develop another pitch in order to be more effective. The team as a whole needs to get their collective ass in gear before the weekend...gotta beat the Cubs, even if it doesn't mean squat in the division race.

Work's been sporadically busy...but I'm getting a good chunk of testing done, finally! There's a big trade show here that we have a booth at, which I will probably go check out tomorrow, just to get some free stuff.

For the 3 people who haven't seen them yet...

Jack!'s really made the big time now...TSG has his divorce papers posted.

Jose Valentin? A month ago, I thought he was the juiciest piece of trade bait out there...but man, we need that stick in the clutch.

I prefer Scrabble, but...

...anyone up for a game of Kerryopoly?

Jack!'s kinky past...

Ryan papers contain charges he pressured wife for public sex

By Maura Kelly Lannan
The Associated Press
Published June 21, 2004, 8:03 PM CDT

Republican Senate candidate Jack Ryan pressured his wife, actress Jeri Lynn Ryan, to have sex in clubs while others watched, she charged in divorce documents released Monday.

Just as I predicted...see link for full story

I was reading a lot of stuff about SpaceShipOne today in light of their historic flight today and came across this kinda interesting blog.

I've always had a strange fascination with airports and aviation. Not sure why...kinda like my fascination with atlases. Maybe I should have been a geography major.

I didn't know this was a real place, I thought someplace just played it on TV.

Sox have to face CC Sabathia and his ill-fitting uniform tonight. I didn't realize this big lug has a 5-1 record against us. Could be trouble.

Back in the day when I was still a northside lemming, the Sox and Tribe used to have quite the rivalry before the Twins came along. I would have liked to have been at some of those games back when they still had Alomar, Ramirez, Justice and Lofton. The only really fond memories I have of Sox-Tribe games are the infamous "Here I Go Again" incidentback in 2002 at an April game where the temperature was like 90 degrees, and a game earlier this year which featured a drunk goombah named Jefferson.

Barry Bonds, how about a big ol'cup of shut the f*ck up?

I read the 9/11 commission's preliminary reports with a great deal of interest...and now William Safire says the whole thing was a premature ejacultaion. He's right about the headlines...all they did was scream that there was no link to al-Qaeda...and what bugs me most is they didn't mention how much worse things could have been that day.

Oh, and here's a list of just a few of the non-South Beach friendly things I ate this weekend:

-9 Old Styles Friday night
-Emergency McDonald's breakfast of steak, egg, cheese bagel/hash browns Saturday morning to ward off effects of 9 Old Styles so I could get out of the house
-Cheese fries with jalapenos at Ranalli's Saturday afternoon
-Fettucini alfredo with a ton of garlic bread last night.

Back on track today though, and I'm off about 6 pounds. Woohoo! I think a lot of that also has to do with the fact I'm working out on a regular basis instead of just Saturday mornings.

Boogity Boogity...

Watched a bit of a NASCAR race for the first time ever today at Russell's house. 5 things I learned about it:

1) Cars have these really cool flaps on the hoods that pop up when they spin out of control to keep them from going airborne. Kinda like the flaps that planes use when they hit the reverse thrusters right after landing.
2) Jeff Gordon owns 2 cars in addition to driving one.
3) When an engine blows, it's pretty spectacular. Lots of smoke.
4) Drivers warm up their tires by swerving side to side during their warmup lap. Apparently if they just starting driving full bore without doing this, they'd spin 'em out like mad.
5) Darrell Waltrip really does say "BOOGITY BOOGITY BOYS, LET'S GO RACING" at the start.

Apparently it's so popular that NBC and FOX each televise half a season of it.

Also watched Phil Mickelson struggle mightily down the stretch at Shinnecock.

Here's a big ol' oops...and another reason I'm glad I don't fly Northwest.

LOOT!

It's hangover Saturday! Ahhh...the combination of no dinner and 9 Old Styles makes for a delightful sensation the next day.

Went to Mark's 30th party last night. Raucous time with mariachis and tons of work people. Have I mentioned everyone in my office can drink? Hard? Stayed there until a little after midnight when both kegs were kicked and headed to Sedgwick's. Disappeared from there pretty quick though...Kris had a stomachache. I was kinda pissed, but oh well.

Rolled my ass out of bed this morning in time for the Sox garage sale. In spite of waiting forever in line to get in and to check out, still worth it just to check all the stuff out. Bought an Alomar game used bat for $35 (I find that I seem to end up collecting a lot of his stuff), pair of unused pants for $10 which I'll wear for softball next year and some media guides.

Now the shocker: WE DIDN'T GO TO THE CHUBS GAME! Decided that it's just too damned cold to sit in the shade, and the stench of hot dogs and urine at Wrigley would wreak havoc on my poor hungover self. Oh well...my seats weren't that good anyway, althought it would be cool to see Prior and Mulder duke it out in person.

FREE BEER FOR DEMOCRATS!

I'm embarassed to say this is in my hometown.

Traders gone bad...

Not surprised that a Merc member beat a guy to death over a parking spot. They're much bigger meatheads than Board of Trade types.

Day 4

Cottage cheese and turkey for breakfast
Leftover enchiladas for lunch
BBQ beef and beans for dinner

Gonna cheat a little...there's strawberry shortcake a brewing...

Too much time on their hands..but a great result

For Simpsons fans like myself, this is simplay amazing.

Got seasons 2,3,4 on DVD on Tuesday. Bought season 1 back in December and it's still in the box. Sometimes I think I get out too much.

And by the wayy..GOING TO VEGAS BABY!

Staying at the Luxor this time around. I let Rob take the lead on the package since he's coming from DC, and this is the one that makes the best economic sense.

Dream Job Indeed...

I didn't pay much attention to this series the first time around, but someone clipped a blurb out of the paper about their upcoming Chicago auditions today and put it on a piece of paper with a huge "ATTENTION: MIKE WILKINS" printed on it. Got a good laugh.

Day 3....

Cottage cheese and colby cheese for breakfast (I was in a hurry)
Turkey rollups with yet another kinda mustard for lunch
Enchiladas with lo-carb tortillas for dinner, sugar free Fudgsicle (that took 10 min to get the wrapper off) for dinner.

Where To Go, Where To Go...

So after a couple conversations this afternoon, it now looks like we have 4 different options for July 4th weekend, as follows:

1) My original only option: Vegas.
Pros: Guaranteed suntan. Unlimited fresh oxygen. Free drinks. Craps. Chance to show off expensive shirts. Outside shot at winning a bundle. Good eats. Roulette. Steak and eggs at Bally's at 6 am, mimosas at 8 am.

Cons:Strong possibility of losing a bundle. Hot weather makes me bitchy. Dehydration from all the free drinks. Not a lot of money in the kitty due to recent condo purchase. Red eye flight home and having to work Tuesday.

But man, airfare and 3 nights at the Paris for like $450? Hard to pass up. Our East Coast friends Rob and Renee may or may not be willing to fly out, which leads to option 2:

2) The all-of-a-sudden-I-thought-of-this option: DC

Pros:Get to hang out with my favorite HS chum. Microbrews galore. Bocce. BBQ. Croquet. POssible sailing excursion on Potomac. Free place to stay. Card games. Eggos and my prize-winning Bloody Marys. Fireworks on the mall! Cheap.

Cons:Humidity. Lots of gawking yokels. Suburban Maryland location forces us to choose a designated driver, and we all like to get our drink on.

Estimated cost of round trip airfare: $176 per person.

3) The Family Values option: Tampa

Pros:Always nice to see Dad. Good free home cooking. Mint awesome house with pool. Country club in backyard. Free place to stay. Fully stocked bar.

Cons:Stepmom's mother dying, leads to endless drama. Have to rent a car due to stepmom's paranoid policy about driving their rides (LS 430 and Vette, come on, I've driven way better). Humidity. Stepmom chain smokes.

Esimated cost of RT airfare: $233 per person.

4) The Boring Option: Stay here

Pros:Saves a ton of money. Good fireworks on July 3rd and big concert in Grant Park on July 4th.

Cons:WHO ARE YOU KIDDING, ILK? You'll jump right back on eBay and drop $300 on Cubs/Sox tickets for the series at Wrigley.

Advice? Anyone?

Hump Day...

Wednesday in Chicago, and just like almost every other day, thunderstorms are a lurkin. I swear, I can't remember the last time we had 3 rain-free days in a row. Rob took 2 of the guys from the group out sailing this afternoon, let's hope they don't get caught in this crap. Kinda wish I got the chance to go today, ned to work on the spinnaker jibes before racing really gets going in the next couple weeks.

Looks like the worst day in American history could have been even worse.

Another huge night for the Sox, and for the Panamanian Clipper, who waited all the way to the 10th inning to extend his streak and break the team record (he didn't break it Sunday, as I thought). He's really really starting to press and is swinging at just about everything hoping to punch it for a hit...but he's gotta realize he's not Juan Uribe and will never master the art of the ducksnort.

I like the fact you can never EVER count this team out late in a close game. Their clutch hitting this year has been unparalled. Last year, Frank Thomas was the master of popping up with the game on the line and ducks on the pond. This time around, it seems like he's constantly making contact.

Meanwhile, the ringmaster of the Northside circus finished his rehab up in typical Sneezin' Sammy fashion and will be back at Giggly on Friday. I've got tickets for the Saturday game, and what a surprise...forecast calls for rain!

Out for my walk/run this morning and I came back up Van Buren past the backside of the Board Of Trade. Normally I pay little heed to my old stomping grounds, but for some reason today I did...I tried to keep track of all the places that have changed since I left the floor in '99.

So, going from Clark Street west to Wells, here's what's still there, and what's not:

American Submarine: still there. Still skanky looking.

Sky Ride Tap: Still there. Still looks like a great place for screwdrivers and Heinies at 8 am to steady the hands.
Boni Vino: Still there, red tablecloths and all. I wonder if you can still drink there at 19 without getting carded.

Liberty Coffee and Tea: Still there. The place where I discovered on about 20 occasions that iced mochas and hangovers don't mix. The barista who used to call me "Ernie Banks" (knowing my contempt for the Northsiders) is gone it looks like.

McDonald's: Gone. Replaced by a Dunkin' Donuts and an Americash "Loan Canter."

KFC: Gone. They've managed to jam a joint called Trader's Dogs, a Radio Shack and a Tokyo Box sushi place into that little space.
Alcock's: Still there. Wonder if you can still get blow in the bathroom/get blown in the bathroom at the same time.

Cactus: Still there. Still put sharks in their maragritas. I need to get my ass over there one of these days.

Cal's: Still there. This is where I used to go to get a couple 6 packs of Bud before the Friday afternoon JFJ Traders pitch games. The attached barhas turned into a scruffy bike messenger hangout and now features live bands.

Burrito Buggy: Still there. Vastly overrated, Taco Fresco is far superior.

Sam and Joe's: Gone. Used to be my favorite place to go sit on Friday afternoons due to the $2 Coors Light bottles. Now a swanky place called the Crocodile Lounge.

That's about all I remember off the top of my head. Further details tomorrow if I notice anything more.

One more thing

Good bit from the Jayson Blair rag about our divided nation.

Day 2...

Scrambled eggs and cheese for breakfast
Turkey and cheese rollup for lunch (different mustard than yesterday)
Taco salad for dinner (hard not to crumble taco chips on it)

Not lightheaded like I was yesterday...woohooo!

Question the answers...(at your own risk)

Here's my replies to the questions from the Bridgeport Gazette I posted yesterday:

Tim,

Answers are below. Contact me if you want any elaboration.

1. Why do you think the Sox have lower attendance figures than many other big city baseball teams?

The Sox have the misfortune of being second class in the second city, mainly due to fact that the Cubs and their ballpark have had a media-created mystique thrown up around them...that Wrigley Field is a glorious baseball palace surrounded by wonderful, well behaved neighbors, while the Sox play in a supposedly sterile facility in a supposedly unsafe section of town.

2. What does Sox management and the 11th Ward need to do to attract more fans?

Sox management needs to prove they're committed to winning. Look at the attendance figures last year after the Alomar and Everett acquisitions when the Sox were leading the division. They soared, and there was a definite buzz among even some casual baseball fans, which led to increased ticket sales. People want to see a winner. The ward organization needs to make atracting fans secondary to attracting development in the neighborhood around the park. If you develop the area, people will come, and they'll stick around after the game and spend their dollars.

3. Do you as a Sox fan wish there were more businesses surrounding the park?

Yes. Bridgeport is a bustling, thriving neighborhood...but most of the businesses aren't located within "eyeshot" of the park. Put stuff that's close, and people are much more likely to know they exist.

4. If there were more businesses surrounding the park, do you think it would dramatically increase the long-term attendance figures?

Absolutely. Get people into the area, and let them nknow the ballpark is just one of many viable options for them to visit while there.

5. Would more sports bars near the park interfere with the family-friendly image the Sox are trying to project?

If it ends up looking like Wrigleyville or the French Quarter, sure it would...but a good police presence and strict enforcement of liquor regulations prove that family-friendly and "adult" fun-friendly elements can coexist.

6. If the Sox regularly compete in the post season (and maybe even win some playoff games!) will more fans come to the park?

You bet they will. Sox fans say over and over in conversations, on message boards, on sports talk radio that they want a team that wins. A winning team is the absolute best way to sprad "Sox Pride."

7. Do you think that having Sox legends like Ozzie Guillen and Harold Baines part of the organization will boost attendance figures?

I think it already has. The Guillen hiring seemed initially like a crazy experiment or a cheap nostalgia exercise, but it turned out that Ozzie can run the team very well. His passion and enthusiasm have passed on to the players, and made them an exciting bunch to come out and watch.

Must be the lack of carbs...

..because my God, did I have a wacked-out dream last night.

I was playing 12" softball on the driving range of the country club my family belonged to when we were growing up. Our manager? The Sox very own Ozzie Guillen, and he was wearing that damned pullover he always wears in the dugout. I didn't know who any of the guys on the team were, but I kept begging Ozzie to let me pitch. With our team down like 16-0, he finally let me in and I got shelled. I remember at one point his cell phone ringing and the name "Oney" (who is his oldest son) showed up on the caller ID.

But the really odd part is that there was a fridge right next to the dugout, and it was stocked with LaCroix water just like the fridge here at work. I somehow ended up using the bottles of water and a couple empty boxes to explain to Ozzie how the electoral college worked.

Some of this makes sense...

-We did just buy a new fridge at home which caused us a great deal of heartache when it didn't fit in the opening in the kitchen.
-I drink like 10 LaCroix waters a day
-A bunch of us at work were having a big discussion about how the electoral college works last week.

Media Mania...

Looks like I get to be a media whore once again...well, if you can call the Bridgeport Gazette mass media. Guy from there contacted one of the mods at WSI looking for people to talk about the 'hood surrounding Comiskular. So by tomorrow, I need to figure out answers to these pressing questions:

I am a regular reader of White Sox Interactive, and I like your articles Keep up the good work.

I am writing an article for a local newspaper called the Gazette, which covers most of southwest Chicago. The article is about business development in the neighborhoods surrounding U.S. Cellular Field. I am interviewing Sox fans, business owners and area residents to find out if they want more taverns, restaurants and souvenir shops near U.S. Cellular Field. Since you know a lot about the Sox organization, I would appreciate your input. Here are some questions I want to ask:

1. Why do you think the Sox have lower attendance figures than many other big city baseball teams?
2. What does Sox management and the 11th Ward need to do to attract more fans?
3. Do you as a Sox fan wish there were more businesses surrounding the park?
4. If there were more businesses surrounding the park, do you think it would dramatically increase the long-term attendance figures?
5. Would more sports bars near the park interfere with the family-friendly image the Sox are trying to project?
6. If the Sox regularly compete in the post season (and maybe even win some playoff games!) will more fans come to the park?
7. Do you think that having Sox legends like Ozzie Guillen and Harold Baines part of the organization will boost attendance figures?
8. Is there anything else you would like to add?

All Grown Up...

My, my...look at how goat-faced little Chelsea looks now!

Day One of Ilk's 3rd go-around on the South Beach Diet. The first time, I dropped 13 lbs on it, and the second time I did it for 3 days and gave up because I was jonesing for ice cream.

This time, I'm sticking to it for at least the next 4 weeks...but I may get a bit liberal with it (especially the no beer part) on weekends. At 235 right now and want to get to 220 by the end of summer.

So far today I've eaten scrambled eggs for breakfast doused in hot sauce with some celery and cream cheese on the side, washed down with a big ol'glass of V8. Lunch was a couple of turkey/lettuce/cheese rollups drowning in grey poupon (I can eat this every day for the next 2 weeks and not get sick of it at all)...anticipating chicken stirfry for dinner. Walked 3.5 miles today and will probably get on the bike tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, the Sox stay red-hot with a pasting of the Braves yesterday. Megaprops to the Panamanian Clipper, Carlos Lee, for breaking the franchise hit streak record.

3 against the Marlins this week followed by a trip to Montreal. Unlike most Sox fans who jumped on the Marlins bandwagon during the NLCS last year, I'm not torn about this one at all.

Weekend Update

Cliff's notes version of my weekend:

Friday: Sailing in the fog during the day, Sox game at night. Bad night for Schoeneweis. Alomost a bad night for Smoltz.

Saturday: Bike ride in AM. Vegetation on couch during the day...started reading "The Corrections." I think I'm gonna like this book even if it was Oprah-recommended. Sox game at night. Good night for Frank Thomas.

Has it been 10 years already? I remember watching the slow-speed chase on the couch of my parents' house in the burbs here...my grandmother was in town.

Rain rain go away...

Couple weeks ago I linked to the Weather Channel's new feature that provides forecasts for specific sporting events.

It looks like tonight's Phillies-Sox tilt has a misery index of 1...worst possible. Doh!

Let's hope Schoeneweis keeps the walks down if they get one in. He's the hardest throwing of the 3 hurlers we've trotted out to face the Phils this series...curious to see if it's still home run derby out there like it was the past 2 nights.

Freaky...

I've never claimed to have ESP, but every now and then little random stuff pops up in my head that manifests itself a short time later.

Last night I had the Elton John "classic" tune "Philadelphia Freedom" in my head, probably due to the free-swinging Sox unloading on the Phillies.

Anyhow, this morning I open up the WSJ to the editorial page, and sure enough the lead piece is called "Philadelphia Freedom." Go figure.

Chubs indeed...

Wonder what this guy woulda done for playoff tickets last year?

EDIT: The link is broken, but it was a link to a craigslistposting by a guy looking for another guy to accompany him to a Cubs game, saying that he gets turned on by all the "hot guys in pants", saying Kyle Farnsworth in particular gets him going.

This guy and Farnsworth obviously have something in common. They both blow.

Monday, Monday...

Hot one in Chicago today...85 and breezy. Is summer finally here for good?

I was 12.5% right on my Sopranos predictions. Tony B got whacked, yes, but it was done by the almighty Tony Soprano himself and not Chrissy, as I originally anticipated.

I was 100% wrong about the Sox last night. I thought they would walk away from Seattle with 2 out of 3 games, but once again, Billy Koch blew it. So naturally, Sox fans are buzzing about who to have as our closer going forward...Marte, Politte, or Takatsu?

Here's how I see it--Marte showed flashes of brilliance last year as part of the closer-by-committee strategy that Jerry Manuel used. But this year, I at least have my doubts he's going to be that unhittable again. The numbers on him are mixed...4 blown saves this early in the year is ugly, but OTOH he hasn't allowed a hit in his past 7 appearances.

Politte started out the season hot and is the most overpowering of the 3, but his appearances have been limited lately (one since May 29), leading me to thnk that he may be in Ozzie's dog house.

Takatsu has the sexiest numbers of the 3, but sooner or later hitters are going to figure out how to hit the frisbee, and it's probably going to be disastrous (see also, Hung-Kim, Byung).

Is Mike Jackson a wild card dark horse option? He sure is crafty...in fact, reminds me a lot of Flash Gordon. He's not getting a lot of work in this far this year though.

I'm hitting the game Thursday with some of my fellow Sox Listers, including the illustrious Kevin Dever, who tracks all the rumors and innuendo on 35th Street here. For the first time this year, I will NOT be at Pepsi Half-Price Tuesday.

Today's the MLB draft, which is where you get to read desriptions like this about future stars (some of this stuff sounds more like it should come from craigslist than scouting reports):

LARGE FRAME. MATURE BODY, HEAVY REAR & LEGS. BODY TYPE SIMILAR
TO LANCE BERKMAN. WIDE, SEMI-SQUAT STANCE. BAT PINCHED INTO CHEST.
STRENGTH IN SLIGHT UPPERCUT SWING W/ PWR POTENTIAL. ARM PLAYABLE, ACCURATE
THROWS. HANDS & DEFENSIVE ACTIONS SHOW PROPER TECHNIC. ALERT BASE
RUNNER. PHYSICALLY MATURE. STRENGTH IN SWING, BAT & PWR POTENTIAL.

I picked this guy's description since I have a heavy rear and legs too. : )

Made some tasty pepper steak last night, following this simple recipe. Tasted great over wild rice.

Friday is a market holiday in memory of the Gipper, but we still need to be here at work...our service bureau head says it'll be a "great day for testing." How are we supposed to test when there won't be any market data to test against? And they wonder why morale here is so low...

Fore!

Just got back from a round of golf at Jackson Park with Russell. It's a city course and not much of a challenge, but still not a bad way to spend 3.5 hours and $21 on a Sunday morning. Played so-so, my short game was awesome, but my drives were awful. I hit 3 tee shots out of bounds (and think I hit a car on one of them), but just getting out there to play felt good.

Russell and I spent most of the round talking about our mutual hero, Ronald Reagan. I studied him pretty extensively early on in college. I posted the closing of his farewell address in 1989 yesterday (see entry below), but thought today might be an appropriate day to post a link to his D-Day speech back in 1984. George F Will takes a moment off from rooting for the Cubs to write this.

Bobby Otter on my BTD list made an interesting point. Having the Germans attend today's D-Day ceremony is kinda like having the Packers attend an '85 Bears reunion, go figure.

In other exciting news, our new fridge was delivered yesterday. It's 32 5/8 inches wide, which looks like it's too wide for the 32 1/4 inch hole in the kitchen for it...we didn't bother to measure from the bottom of the cabinets...only from the top. Now it looks like we'll have a contractor in here this week to bump the wall out. GRRRRRRRRRRR!

Hung out here most of yesterday afternoon..watched the Belmont, talked to Dad about the great fridge debacle, drank a bunch of Goose Island Summertime Ale and then watched "Bend It Like Beckham." Cute movie, great soundtrack...and ohhh, those barely legal soccer girls. Kiera Knightley has replaced Scarlett Johannssen on my "hottest chick under 20" list.

It's 11:07, and I'm ready for a nap. That's the big downer to a 6:04 tee time.

RIP, Gipper...

...And that's about all I have to say tonight, except for one thing. The past few days when I've been at that window upstairs, I've thought a bit of the "shining city upon a hill." The phrase comes from John Winthrop, who wrote it to describe the America he imagined. What he imagined was important because he was an early Pilgrim, an early freedom man.

He journeyed here on what today we'd call a little wooden boat; and like the other Pilgrims, he was looking for a home that would be free. I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity.

And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still.

And how stands the city on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was eight years ago. But more than that: After 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.

We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for eight years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger, we made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all.

And so, goodbye, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

Wooo Hooo!

West Coast White Sox Winner!

New Definition Of Washington Insider...

Finally caught wind of this story via some posts on the Illinois Leader boards today. Not sure how big it's been in the mainstream press, but this was the first I have heard of it. Guess there are Sugar Daddies in the Beltway!

You can read Jessica Cutler's blog here.

Nothing too exciting this weekend. New fridge gets delivered tomorrow and I'm hoping it comes early so I can get out on the boat in the afternoon. Sopranos finale Sunday night, here's my fearless predictions:

Tony B gets whacked by Chrissy
Chrissy gets whacked by Johnny Sack or Walnuts
Johnny Sack gets whacked by someone
Someone fucks with one of Tony's kids.

As for the Belmont, gotta go with Eddington and Rock Hard Ten.

As for the Sox in Seattle, 2 out of 3 would be great. In a conondrum tonight with Freddy Garcia on the bump...do we want to light him up and turn everyone off to him, or do we play our best corpseball and make him look unhittable, thus jacking his trade value through the roof?

Tomorrow's a sad anniversary...one year since my Pomps passed away. Still think about him a lot. There was a memorial mass in Rochester for him today, but only a couple of the grandkids were able to make it due to short notice.

William Manchester Dead

William Manchester died today. Honestly, I had no clue that he was still alive, but apprently he'd been an invalid for quite a while.

He wrote a chronology of/reflection on the JFK assasination called Death Of A President, that is without a doubt one of the most fascinating books I ever read, due mainly to the incredible amount of details found in it. I actually stole a copy from my HS library when I was a sophomore which I subsequently lost, and then replaced at the Printer's Row Book Fair a few years ago.

The aforementioned book fair is coming up this weekend. One of my favorite events...what's better than beer and books?

One of my favorite things about Memorial Day is that there's almost non stop baseball on, even though the Sox inexplicably had the day off.

I say almost because for 3 hours yesterday, ESPN wasn't featuring baseball, instead showing the NCAA Women's Softball championship. UCLA beat Cal 3-1, but Cal definitely had the better looking chicks.

Russell and I sat on his back porch smoking cigars and watching yesterday. He's a
Vicky Galindo fan, while I'm partial to Jessica "The Pomeranian" Pamanian.