Just another young pup

New Idea Brewing

2008-04-16T09:51:00.003-05:00

I was watching a little TV the other night when an interesting idea came across my mind. I am trying to get things straightened out for what I hope to be some good reading. Hope to have more information up by the end of the week, just need to do some journalistic homework.

Anyone know how to get a book deal? I think this really could be an idea to start shopping to publishers.

The Bi-Partisan Economic Recovery Package

2008-01-25T06:54:00.000-06:00

I have to say that this is the best idea of why bi-partisan politics does not work....or it at least shows that both Republicans and Democrats are complete morons. You see, in my view of the federal government, the less they do, the better we are as a country. Working against each other provides us with the chance that nothing will get done. While it would be oh-so-nice if everyone played together and we could reduce the power/influence of the federal government, that won't happen, so I'm not going to press for that kind of change.

What I will complain about is this economic recovery talk. This stimulus package is full of garbage from first glance (but just wait until pork starts getting attached, then it'll really begin to smell). It smells for 2 reasons, the first being why is the government handing out funds when the Democrats that run Congress complain about the national debt, and second, we shouldn't be taxed enough in the first place where the government is in a position to give us money back.

So what if this was Bush's idea to begin with, and everyone has jumped on from there. The fact is while we are not in a recession yet, the media talks about this being the end of America as we know it, unless the masses get $300 each ( that will save us), we become a foot note along with Ancient Rome.

When you look at the facts, the amount of the rebate comes about to be the same amount of money that has been syphened out of this economy in gasoline expenditures - and that is the main part of this story that no one talks about. Does the government really believe that because gas has been so high that our economy is falling apart? I hope not because there is are far more larger problems than that:

- We buy products from other countries, so all of our consumer spending goes to other countries, where those places receive growth the way we did when Microsoft and Intel were hot in the 1990s.

- We are in a housing crisis because people can't afford what they borrow, and the market will not correct itself when the government intervenes.

- Our food is becoming more expensive because we are wasting our time on ethanol. Here is our saving grace from buying oil from terrorist countries, manufacturing ethanol that has a manufacturing cost of over a gallon of oil to make one gallon of the stuff. Prices are going up for crops, because there are less acres used to grow other products, and they are also going up for the animals that feed off of corn and soy beans (two products that the animals feed on), chickens, cows, pigs, etc.

- Lastly, no one is buying the dollar anymore. Our once world-standard currency has been by-passed by the Pound and the Euro, which means there is less demand for the dollar, and in turn more of a supply. Like designer dresses and the Motorolla Razor, the more supply you have of something, the less it is worth.

These are more the government fails to understand that throwing money, which I have already discussed as being worth less, at the problem and the less that the free-market has an opportunity to correct itself we are doomed as a country. Further, if closet socialists (i.e. Clinton and Obama), get their way then we are in bigger trouble because the government will come up with more hair-brained schemes to control more of the economy.

The best medicine for what ails us is to suck it up. The money that will come our way in kickbacks will not help anyone get out of debt, stay off of bankruptcy, create jobs, etc. What the government should do instead is to lower taxes, and take a back seat to the invisible hand to correct our inflation-ready economy.

Contruction-zone

2008-01-25T06:27:00.000-06:00

Part of the reasons for the lack of posts over 2007 was due to it being the worst year for me I have ever endured. Now that the calendars have turned let me re-introduce myself (my name is Hov...kidding).

I'm a 25 year old white man. Socially moderate, fiscally conservative. I attended the University of Minnesota, and I am awaiting my final grade so I can finally say that I am a college graduate. Currently I live in the Chicagoland area. I am trying to find my first real-world job in the world of Marketing/Advertising in Chicago, so far with little to no results.

As a huge sports guy my alliances are as follows; Chicago Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Navy Midshipmen. I encourage healthy debate in the comments sections, but I will not tolerate crap. If you have a point, make one, but I will not have any part in personal attacks and/or ignorance in general.

The Islamo-fascist movement

2006-02-22T03:09:00.000-06:00

A picture must be truly worth a 1,000 words...in the western world that is. In the world of make believe (i.e. the Islamo-fascist world), only one word is needed for anything...fatwa. "Honey, can you set the fatwa for me, I have a fatwa I need to be ready for in the morning."

Once again, the inconceivable...err...unexplainable world of the "Religion of Peace" has shown its true colors to the world. A simple swipe of the pen has created a real life canvas to experiment if the pen truly is mightier than the sword. A simple collection of cartoons from a brain-trust in Denmark has sparked an uproar, and I have finally gotten sick enough about it to speak my piece...Openly and publicly.

Let us make sure to get one thing straight before I go any future...these cartoons were published in SEPTEMBER...but it is only within the last month that the collective Islamo-fascists have begun to uprise against them. It wasn't a problem for Islamic extremists to praise Mohammed for the destruction of the Twin Towers/the Pentagon, the USS Cole, the Bali nightclubs, and so on. It isn't a problem to praise him for the killings of innocent people, American soldiers, and the like. So when does it become a problem when the Profit is depicted in cartoons that show the true face of the current Islamic religion? (I must point out that there are many Muslims that do renounce the violence in the name of their religion, and I should note that those should speak out publicly, otherwise they are just as guilty as the suicide bombers they share their mosques with.)

Hillary Clinton, liberal extordinaire, had no problem with free speech when there was a NYC museum that displayed a portait of the Virgin Mary made from cow dung, so why now? It was other liberals who saw nothing wrong with the Washington Post's freedom of speech when it made light of a amputeed soldier, so why now? Why now do many feel that these cartoons are wrong? I can't speak for those, because I cannot speak "Naive". What we are seeing here are a collective group of westerners who have the BALLS to finally say what should be said...the "Religion of Peace" is nothing more than a fraud! It is a fraud covered up to keep women down. It is a facade in which to keep populations in squander. It is the perfect excuse for someone to finally step up against the Big Bad Western World.

What have we done that was so harmful to Mr. Bin Ladin? We only gave him the municions and capabilities for him to destroy the "infidels" that was the USSR. We only give his homeland billions upon billions in oil revenues, as our country is handcuffed to oil consumption. He should be a dignitary for which this country should be proud of...instead, he's just another rich asshole that is no different than the ones seen on MTV's "Sweet Sixteen".

What have we done to instill such a hate in the Muslim world? What you say...we are backing Israel against the Palestinians? Oh, my...well that's a shame. What was the only democracy in the Middle Eastern region has flourished in the middle of a god-forsaken area, and how have they done it, by enabling everyone to have a say in a fair, free republic.

When it comes down to it, were the cartoons the best thing in the world, possibly not. Were the cartoons something that many (if not most in the clear-thinking western world) believe to be true, maybe. But that is what is so great about having the privilege of Free Speech, those who have a medium (like I using this blog), have the opportunity to say what we feel. For my brother Patrick, dear friend Amelious and others who happened to feel my facebook picture (which was the Profit Mohammed wearing the bomb/turban) was in bad taste, let me say this now that I have my pen out...fuck the Islamo-fascists. Fuck their new found way to speak out against the west...Oops, nope, they are still suicide bombing, and rioting instead of acting like human beings. You don't have to agree with the cartoons. Hell, you can think they are a immoral decision, but you cannot think for one moment that they aren't true.

Fact is, the cartoons were dead on. If you don't think so, look up the published reports post-9/11 when those in power in the Muslim countries praised Allah and Mohammed for the destruction he would have approved of.

Fuck the "Religion of Peace"...

Randomonium

2005-12-20T21:18:00.000-06:00

A few random thoughts during my last day of finals week....

* After being involved in scalping his Super Bowl tickets, Mike Tice at a Tuesday press conference voiced his displeasure at Vikings fans scalping thier tickets to Steelers fans. Not that Vikings fans are known for thier fair-weatheredness, but please, be happy that anyone is willing to watch a bandwagon franchise that would rather show thier machismo on a Sex Cruise, than by playing football on Sundays.

* The Cubs signed former Twin, Jacque Jones, today to a 3 year deal. Not saying Jones is the worst move the Cubs could have made, but at least Jeremy Burnitz comes to play. Jones the last few years likes to sit (on the DL).

*After watching some of the Ravens-Packers game on Monday Night Football, one can only wonder what is going on with Brett Favre (If you're name is pronounced differently than it is spelled, you might be a redneck...). Once again, he failed to show up to a post-game press-conference to talk about what he did out there (throwing 2 rediculous interceptions). He fails to show up after playoff losses to talk to the media, and he fails to address the media after such horrid performances. For a guy who is often talked as the class of the NFL, and a stand-up guy, seems like the only place he won't stand up is in front of the press.

*The Bears won in conviencing fashion in front of the home crowd Sunday night. Sexy Rexy Grossman came in after the 1st half to give the offense some sort of life for the first time in weeks. Christmas day, the Bears will feast on Green Bay for a season sweep, and a reason for Favre to seriously consider retirement.

That's all for now...got to study more. Better post coming later in the week!

Writer's corner

2005-11-22T17:55:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted in a while- sorry, but I am just so damned busy (and I have little to say). I did sumbit the following editorial to our school's newpaper, so read, enjoy, and we'll see if it gets submitted or not. Have a happy thanksgiving!

While Matt Anderson’s column Tuesday stole my thunder about not giving Gophers football coach, Glenn Mason, a contract extension following this season, after discussing this debate with a professor of mine, I cannot help but think that the University (unfortunately) just might be better off keeping him. Make no mistake, I’d like to see the Gophers head in a different direction than where the program is at, however, the fact remains that Mason must stay because of one question, “who else is out there?”

What are the facts regarding Mason? In The 10 years he has been at Minnesota he has 58 wins. He turned a horrible program into a perennial bowl team, and in those bowl games he has a 5-2 record. Even with such a turnaround in arguably the country’s toughest conference, it remains undeniable that the U has stagnated in its attempts to get over the hump, and become one of the premier teams in the conference.

When one looks at how competitive a team has been, the best way I have devised to show that is with a quick system of using quality wins. Quality wins for the intent of this exercise is any win over a .500 team, and of his 58 wins, Mason only has 7 wins against a winning team. 7 wins in 10 years over a team that has finished with a winning record? How does that give any coach a reason to think he is worth $1.5 million (which is the current rumored amount he would receive in an extension)? I’m afraid it does not.

But let’s not stop there; let us go deeper into Mason’s conference report. We’ll do him a favor by only using his efforts from 2000-2005. Since then, the Gophers have a sub-.500 record (21-27), as well as a ho-hum 14-10 record at the Metrodome. What really should show that a coach is of quality or not is a combination of two things, the first is his record on the road, and the accumulation of statement games. The Gophers record from the same 2000-05 time frame is a grizzly 7-17 away from the Dome, while the Gophers have no examples of games that have given the country reason to take notice. (Please note that I do not include the victory over then 2nd ranked and undefeated Penn State in 1999 because that game was a game that turned our program into what it is today. Since then, Mason has nothing to show as far as becoming one of the elite teams within the Big Ten).

I can’t say that Mason hasn’t done a wonderful job turning around this program, because he has. I can also say that the U boasts the best running attack in the country for the 2nd straight year. We have had three straight seasons with two backs gaining 1,000 yards, which is a NCAA first. We are also going to our 5th bowl game in 6 years. Finally, we have the best offensive line in the country year-in and year-out. However with that said, you would be hard pressed to ignore the stats provided as a team. Mason is a horrible game coach, who loses track of the game clock, does not get his team ready for games on the road, and who has not gotten our school in the upper echelon of the Big Ten.

Now, what do we do? Do we give Mason money he doesn’t deserve? If the answer is no, then the only question I have for you that I have yet to answer is who do we get to replace him? Mike Tice might be available, but on the list of quality candidates, there aren’t any to speak of. Mason did a good job by moving David Lockwood to the defensive coordinator, and the defense is a few guys away from becoming a strong unit. The offense is a quarterback away from being the class of the conference, and we continue to churn out offensive linemen and running backs like no other school in the nation. When everything is taken into consideration, whether you like it or not, Joel Maturi, the University’s Athletic Director should give Mason an extension, and continue on for a few more years to see whether or not this program can turn the corner. Besides, it’s not like we wouldn’t be able to conduct a search for a new coach later on when the benefit of recruiting with a new stadium and a load of school pride are available.

The Second City is Finally First!

2005-10-27T09:13:00.000-05:00

After all of the struggles, after all of the heartbreaks in 1984 (Cubs lose 3 straight to San Diego, after being 1 game away from the World Series), 1989 (Cubs get swept by San Francisco with a team of future Hall of Famers, Maddox, Palmerio, Sandberg, and Grace[soon]), 2000 (White Sox get swept by a wild card Seattle team, hitting only .185 after scoring tons of runs all year long), and who can forget 2003 (Cubs lose game 6 and 7 AT HOME with Mark Prior and Kerry Wood pitching to Florida.....BARTMAN!)

....AND THAT IS JUST IN MY LIFETIME!!!!!!!!!

Sure, it's my town, but part of what makes Chicago the best sports town in the world is that through it all we still stuck with our bunch of losers. Sure the White Sox don't out draw the Cubs, but that's what happens when over and over management doesn't give fans hope that they want to compete. The Sox not only competed all year long (never relenquishing first place), but who knew (no one) that the Sox would be able to do what they did with a marginal line-up, and a crew of pitching cast offs?

Before this season, everyone on the starting pitching staff had questions....
-Contreas, can he regain his form? (All he did was be the best pitcher in the 2nd half of the season)
-Burhle, is he really a star? Can he put together everything at one time?
-Garland, is this his last year in Chicago? (All he did was pitch under the radar all year, and was the best pitcher in the first half of the season).
-Hernandez, what happened to this guy?
-Garcia, a workhorse, but can he return to the dominating-self that he was in Seattle?

The Sox in the off-season got rid of Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Less, for a speedster (Podsednik), and a no-name reliever (Ordonoez was let go). The Cubs whined about not being able to replace the offense from losing Sosa and Alou, and what did the Sox do- go out and play (and...um...oh yeah- WIN!).

I rooted for the White Sox, because whether or not some like to admit it, they represent the city of Chicago. I am a Cubs fan, but the only Twins games I go to are when they play the Sox (I went to two Sox/Twins games this year). I couldn't be happier for a team that never got the publicity that the North Siders got, that New York or Boston got. Now...what happens from here?

-The White Sox need to show they are a changed franchise and pony up the money to re-sign Konerko, or go out and find a replacement (Carlos Delgado?).
-The Cubs, who will always have thier fans, need to spend on quality free agents. This year they aren't paying Sammy Sosa off, so they will have a lot more room in which to work, but as I've said, the best thing for Cubdom would be for the Sox to win first...
Either the Cubs move to win NOW(!) or trust me- the Cubs will fall off the map. I'm not saying the North Side faithful will leave, but certainly after the forgotten Sox have taken home a title (um...Dear Tribune Co., since you won last in 1908, your South Side rivals have one TWO titles!!).
-The Sox need to not only worry about first base, but they need to worry about finding a power hitter to take the place of Frank Thomas (immagine this team with Thomas in that lineup!!)

Let's enjoy this- hell I know I will! I'm heading to Chicago on Saturday, and I will come back with a few trinkets proving that this has not been a dream. Cubs fans rejoice! Sox fans rejoice! Chicago rejoice! It's been a long, long time, and now- it is us who everyone is looking up at- however I wonder if in a city of broad shoulders if anyone can see how high our heads are titled this morning.

School....interships

2005-09-15T13:06:00.000-05:00

Argh....I'm sooooooo far behind the curve y'all. I'm 23, with no assertainable goals besides, "finding a job that makes me money." The more and more that time goes by, I'm finally realizing what it means to be in college with course work, realizing that the "real world" isn't so far off, and everything else (I think it's called life) comes in between all of that.

That being said, I'm just on top of the world right now! Fact is that I was just naive to any timelines of what I was supposed to be doing (except for graduating- I've known that for some time now), but now that I know, I'm filled with a lot of gusto to get done what I need to. Step 1 is finally (FINALLY!!) getting a resume put together. My Marketing prof. is helping me regarding that. Another thing to do is to set some sort of time table for getting an intership, which (and whether it's wishful thinking or not, November 1st is the date I'd like to have something secured) is where I'd like to inquire for some help if at all possible.

Now my major is Recration and Leisure Studies, with an emphasis in Commercialism...however I'm really interested in the Sports Business enterprise. That being said, I'm looking for something to do with business in general (i.e. marketing, management). If any of you loyal readers happen to have any contacts in the cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chicago, Milwaukee, or Los Angeles who might have some openings for this summer, I would be more than thankful if once I get this resume finished if you might be able to pass it on thier way. It sounds like I have some networks in place, but I'd like to extend that net as far as I can.

I'm not desprately looking per se, but what I am doing is realizing what time it is, and that's time for me to become an adult (whether or not I only have those 4 chest hairs)....it's getting to be that time folks, so I look to you- my friends and family for your help..... :)

Other than that, I'm going to the Twins/White Sox game Saturday, and possible the Gophers next victory (vs. FAU) following the baseball game. Best bet to get ahold of me is to just call the cell.

UG- You're more of a help then you'll ever know. You're in my heart and always in my prayers, I can't thank you enough.

The ranting continues/reappears

2005-08-24T04:12:00.000-05:00

In a turn to try and inform my faithful readers about the world around us, yesturday Pat Robertson of 700 Club "fame" claimed that the US should use the effort of military Special Forces to "take out" the Venezualan president. Everyone (everyone on the left that is) is up in arms on his comments, and no wonder why, what we have on our hands here is just another crazy conservative, right?

Well possibly. The last time I checked Pat Robertson is a citizen of the United States of America, who is lawed by our Constiution. Amendment I: (paraphrasing) freedom of speech. Quit your bitching and let the man speak his piece. The Clintons, Boxers, Kennedys, Gores, Kerrys, etc of the world get to run thiers, the only difference I see in Robertson's comments is that he is not an elected official...so ok, if he is being told by the media to shut up, then Barbra Streisand, Susan Surrandon, Michael Moore, George Siros you must shut your mouths as well. All of these people I have named have one thing in common- all are public figures.

Let's break this down to the little people- i.e. you and I. I can't believe that any of you out there have not heard someone you know use something to the effect of, "We should just nuke [insert middle eastern, Muslim country here]!" While you agree or disagree with that statement doesn't matter. What does matter is that because we are all pions in the grand scheme of things, who more than likely will never see the oppertunity to get close enough to that RED PHONE that controls our nukes. When is the media going to get ahold of some kid in high school saying something similarly outrageous and subsequently push for that child's expulsion?

Fact is we have certain rights, and once again the the liberal media tries to help us forget that we have no rights- unless they tell us we do. Take for example a recent 20/20 commercial for a story on terrorist strikes on "small town USA" coming on this Thursday. Thier ending tag line is, "React, protect...(that's all I need to make my point)" Have we learned nothing from the failure of the Clinton Admin. that the Ostritch approach to terrorism doesn't work? You're telling your audience to react as an initial means...how horrible of a lesson is that?

We had OBL in our sights in 1998...we had the lesson of the Cole in 2000 (among other al Quada hints that they just plain don't like us, and in each instance we did....well we did nothing. In the new world- the one where terrorism is the new "Red Scare" reaction is what the losers do. We were losers on 9/11, we were losers with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and we are losers now because we're still chasing OBL when he could have been hit 7 years ago. You react to a situation dealt to you, you proact to prevent an unwanted situation to present itself.

Bringing me back to Pat Robertson. Do I agree with him, no, in fact we have bigger fish to fry (i.e. Annan, Chirac, OBL). But he does at least have the right outlook in the new world- strike first.

Quitting help?

2005-08-11T01:38:00.000-05:00

I recently ran into this web site today, and figured I would question y'all on it. After you check out the site let me know your take on whether to try it out or not.

Take care....sorry for the lack of posts, but I'm in the process of moving. I will be in my new place by Saturday. If you do not have my new address, please send me an e-mail and I will be happy to let you in on my secret city hidaway.

To kick the habit

2005-08-09T10:01:00.000-05:00

In trying to become a better, healthier person, I had come to a point where dipping is one thing that I want to actively try to curb, but recently I had set a quit date to once and for all end this habit. My initial quit date was 9/15, but has since been moved up to the 29th.

Here's to hoping I can go through with this my initial attempt to break the chewing habit....by then baseball will be over, and I will no longer have that playing atmosphere to fall into. In the past few months I have even quit the occasional cigarette at work, so I know I can break my habit in even the worst of environments.....we shall see. If I learned one thing from the fraternity it is persistance, and as much as much as I would think it be fun to do modeling, the last thing I want to model for is some dentistry text book.

Ahh the love

2005-08-04T17:36:00.000-05:00

My last post created some buzz around here, and I appreciate all that have taken time to read my thoughts. While I have swayed away from writing on sports comparred to what I did last summer (and I do in person), maybe I will have to write some more on athletics :).

Right now, I am gunning through the month of August working two jobs (although it seems I'm doing more complaining that working), but it will all be worth it come September. In less than a week now I will be moved into my new residence (e-mails forthcoming with my address change), and best of all Lauren will return in 25 days, which if I learned anything in 3rd grade, means that's almost 3 weeks.

School, school, school...it's coming up faster than I thought, but even still it's going to be quite a semester. Working at the bookstore's shipping dept. I realize just how long I've been here when it feels like every other box I open there is a book that I have bought in the last 4 years here for some class.

Other than that, my mind has just been jumping from thought to though, so I guess it's in sync with my life right now, 'cause I'm bouncing from one obligation to the other. Things are coming together, and I couldn't be much happier given the circumstances....this month is going to fly by, and that's just fine by me.

Take care.

Knabbing a Hall of Famer

2005-08-03T16:09:00.000-05:00

MLB's steriod testing policy hit paydirt on Monday when it was announced that Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for a substance called stanozolol, a powerful anabolic steroid that is not available in dietary supplements, according to a newspaper report. While he isn't the first to test positive, he is by far the biggest name to come down with suspendeditis...but more importantly he is the first ballplayer that testified before a congressional sub-commitee last March to test positive. In fact, when he did testify, I believe he said the words, "I have never used steroids. Period. I don't know to say it any more clearly than that. Never." (he was also waving a pointed finger at the panel). Too bad what he said in that quote could be correct, but go figure that he would start using only after almost 20 years in the bigs, and only after MLB had a brand new testing policy.

What is interesting about all of this is what came out today- that Palmeiro tested positive in May, not in the last month, not in the last two months, but May. It is part of the policy that once a test comes up positive, the player can appeal the ensuing suspention, and with a granted appeal, the news will never surface (the reasoning is that if someone tested positive for steroids and could correctly argue the terms of the test, then they won't be outted to the public for bad publicity). Knowing that however, recently Raffy got his 3,000th hit, putting him in exclusive company, and prior to this positive test making him a lock for the Hall of Fame...all of those fans who came to watch him in Baltimore on his chase for 3,000 and all of the fans who came to watch him in Seattle, when he finally got the hit were cheated, as unknowinly to them (but known to Palmeiro) that he was caught cheating. If I was a father taking my son, or heaven forbid my family to a ball game for just the chance to see such history, AND later found that it was under false pretenses...I would be seeking some legal action.

After all is said and done with whether or not Palmeiro is currently on the fast track to the Hall or not, this is a story that whether you like it or not isn't going away. Steroid testing was the right move for baseball in the long run, and for too long MLB turned a blind eye to a known situation for monetary gain. There are kids in high schools and colleges all across the country who for years have been taking anabolic steriods and/or growth horemones, because they knew it was possibly the only way to get into the "show".

For far too long baseball has failed it's once largest fan base, if they aren't changing the times of World Series and playoff games so that kids are unable to stay up to watch thier favorite team play in the greatest playoffs in sports, then they are avocating (by not having a policy to show how wrong choices will ruin your chance at fame/fourtune) the use of illegal substances. Shame on baseball, shame on Palmeiro, and shame, shame on Jose Canseco, for being all so right...for such a scumbag, it's sad to say that he might be a an angel in devil's clothing.

Forthcoming...

2005-08-02T13:55:00.000-05:00

....a post on the Rafeal Palmeiro steroid story....there is no way that I could pass up this gold mine without including my two cents.

What is it to be a man in the 21st Century

2005-07-31T21:44:00.000-05:00

Floating through google while waiting for Cubbies highlights (which turned out to be lowlights) I came across this PSA to all men. I figure each person has thier own definition on what it is to be a man, and a woman, so because it's my blog, I will present what this one person thinks, and then my thoughts on her choices.

...From Right Thinking Girl what it means to be a man.

* Eat meat. Real men eat meat; you need the protein and iron. It makes your muscles stronger and there's something very sexxxy and primative about watching a guy eat a steak. Agreed. I'm one who believes that humans were meants to eat meat, in fact we have incisors for a reason. On the primitiveness of it, I didn't kill it, I didn't freeze it, unless your a butcher, there is nothing barbaric about eating meat- it's just what our spieces was meants to do.

* Shave your face. We want to see your face and we can't see through the fuzz. Plus, it feels better when you kiss us. Since I can't grow facial hair (except for my chin scruff), I'll buy this one. That being said, if you like having facial hair, so long as it is trimmed, and kept, it shouldn't propose a problem.

* We secretly do want to control every aspect of your life. We don't want to admit it though, so maybe you could just keep pretending you don't know that. That's fine, but when it comes time for us men to get a little controlling/jealous, let us have our moment in the sun...otherwise, the next time you try to become controlling it's not going to go over so well. A partner should be just that, a partner, throughout the life of a relationship, everything should generally average out to be equal.

* Work out. A man doing pushups.... nothing sexier. NOTHING. Good call.

* We will expect you to defend us if someone breaks into our home. You may have to kill somebody. If you're not prepared for that, please tell us during the dating phase, before we sleep with you, so we can reject you and find someone else with better instincts. It's not about having to kill anyone...the decision to kill/maim someone to protect not only our safety but our woman's as well is just that, our decision. What a man's main focus should be is to make sure he can think well enough to take control of the situation and place all peoples in safe situations. When a safe situation becomes unsafe, then it is the job of that clear-thinking man to bring the two of you to a safe place.

* We know you like us to look nice enough that your friends are thinking "I'd do her". In order for us to know we're there, it wouldn't kill you to say we look nice. By doing so, it ensures you'll get some play later. Everybody wins. Fair enough. BTW- fellas, you really should make sure to share how physically attracted you are to your woman...they know we men are visual people, so this works in a means to say, I am happy that I am with you...if you can also talk about how fulfilling they are to your life because of thier mind- you are a hot commodity.

* You don't have to make more money than us, but it would be great if you're a genius with balancing the checkbook. In terms of a long-term commited relationship, the amount of money I agree should not be about the amount, however in said relationship the attempt should be made to make sure that the finacial burdens are seemingly equal.

* Know the directions. I'm not saying you have to stop and ask for directions. Lisa and I both agree it's very hot when a guy is lost and finds his way all by himself. We love logical brains. Don't let bitchy women bully you into asking for directions, or into doing anything else you don't want to do. Ok, I disagree. Not that I've ever been lost (not one word), but I would much rather stop and ask for directions when I am feeling that I have NO IDEA where I am at, or we are running late. Furthermore, I would much rather ask for directions and get laughed at for a little bit then to get bitched at for being late.

* Let us hit your biceps as much as we want. We're fascinated by them because no matter how much we work out, ours aren't going to be as big and sexy as yours. It's comforting to just ball up our fist and gently punch that really tight muscle. It reminds us how big and strong you are. Um....does that mean that for those women who talk all the time we get to punch you in the face (where your motor mouth muscle is)? I don't think so. If you are going to do it, just to do it....then don't. These arms are to hold you...not to double as a punching bag ladies.

* No male sarongs. It's just wrong. Don't wear skirts and don't carry purses (even by any other name, ie, the "European Carryall"). Men who have purses (or caryalls), well, get a briefcase. As a man you have already been programed to remember that traditional fashion for men is always in fashion. Wear a suit, carry a briefcase, or if you are slumming it, wear a t-shit and jeans and a sports bag....and what the hell is a sarong. Whatever it is, I'm sure that it would be so-rong for a man to wear one (HAHAHA, I'm a verbal genious).

* We snoop. Like dogs on a fresh warm kill, we snoop like the infowhores we are. Be a gentleman and remove anything that might offend us. Absolutely not!!! You want to snoop...then become a dectective. If you want to know ask. Point blank and period. Case and point, Sex and The City. What happened when Carrie was snooping through that wonderful guy's apt (in the Circus Freak episode)? She looked like a total insecure bitch, and she let a great man slip through her hands...take note.

* Own a gun. Or at least a baseball bat. Or be as big as Vin Diesel. We want to feel safe. Feeling safe is fine, however in return let us feel safe that we won't have to use them when finding you messing around on the side.

* Keep your hair short. It looks better (even Johnny Depp recently buzzed his) and it's much more masculine. Unless you can pull long hair off, listen to the ladies on this one. Guys with long hair who are you fooling? The rest of us guys know that you are plauged with horrible body hair anyway. Keep it short.

* Do not put up with nagging. From anyone. It's emasculating and it never accomplishes anything. (Ladies, either learn to live with it or shut up.) How about calling a spade a spade. If you want to nag- become a mother. Until you pop a bun out of the oven, remind yourselves that we are not your children (even though we act like children sometimes, in those cases, that still doesn't mean that you get to play the role of mother). If you want to nag us, call our moms and have them nag us. We want to love you, not fear you.

* Do not even get into a discussion about the toilet seat. What you do in the bathroom is your own private business. Guys should leave the seat down...'nuf said.

* Valentine's Day is a great time for flowers and stuff but we know you're doing it because of peer pressure. Better to bring the flowers on a really bad day to cheer us up, and then doing something else entirely for Valentine's Day. Men have conformed to Valentine's Day (and some have even conformed to Sweetest Day)...so enjoy what you get ladies. Men, do what you do. If you don't like the way your man treats you, say something or leave. Not all of us are made of money...grow us a flower garden so we can have a fresh lot to steal from.

* Be nice to other women but don't flirt. It makes us cranky and you can't get away with it because you're pretty much under global surveillance (yes, even you). You do it and we'll find out and it'll be a nasty evening. Just be a gentleman. Ladies, let's be real, we can't even look at other women, let alone talk to them without you on our backs. Knowing this, men don't ever talk to or look at another woman...nod and smile politely.

* Do not let your girl demand every spare minute you have. She might like it in the short run, but eventually she'll resent you for not having a life. Better yet, try to include each other into your social circles...sounds dumb, but I'd much rather have a relationship where there are no worries about who the other is with...opening up to who you hang out with breeds inclusion into your life. If you hide them, you're hiding part of yourself.

* Don't try to have sex with a girl before the third date, but make sure you let her know you want to. (She wants to feel wanted, respected and desired but not pressured). This is 2005...women control the sexual encounters.

* Play a sport. We want to be able to be really proud when you take off your shirt while playing soccer in the park. We like to see how sportsmanlike you really are. It's very cute watching you handle an unfair ruling of some kind, or even one you just don't agree with. Fair enough, but be supportive about it.

* We want every girl to want you, and only us to have you. Fair enough...guys, one good way to help this senario to happen is when you are out with the lady friend meeting her friends, speak softly, slowly, and only when spoken to.

* Don't be afraid of bugs. Sorry..no dice

* Help us with unweildly grocery bags, open the door for us (every single time), and say please and thank you. Manners are important. But be careful not to be her slave. You're a man, not a servant. You're supposed to protect us, love us, and care for us, but not be so worshipful that your body no longer produces testosterone. Agreed. Men, open every door- including the car door. Make a fucking effort, and show you aknowledge thier exsistence outside of the bedroom.

* Expect your girl to service you in the bedroom any time you want. Seriously. Sometimes you just have to grab her and tell her she's going to whether she wants to or not. But do it nicely. If she complains, remind her that she's so gorgeous that you can't help yourself. Eh, this is a toss up. Prior to entertaining a relationship, men are taught nowadays to be careful of what we do. In a relationship then, some of us are more careful about forcing anything. Love should be an equal expression. If you can't tell when your partner gives you "that look" fellas, you're going to be wondering why it's all quiet on the home front.

Me....with X's

2005-07-31T09:09:00.000-05:00

X=Yes, funny comments following the "..."

(x) I have a cell phone... if you are 22-24 and don't you probably still live at home
( ) I am an only child
(x) I have smoked a cigarette before
(x)I have smoked a black and mild before
( ) I do drugs regularly
(x) I smoke...but not because I HAVE to, and that is a wonderful feeling
( ) I am an alcoholic
( ) I love cold weather...once in a while it's not so bad
(x) I cannot live without the computer
( ) I have shot a gun before
(x) I can not live without music
(x)I have no tolerance for ignorant people...try to work 1 shift at my job and feel differently
(x) I have ridden on a motorcycle before
( ) I will be in this town forever...I certainly hope not
( ) I have been to 5 other countries
(x) I get annoyed easily...once again, you work my job and tell me you don't
(x) I eventually want kids
( ) I have neat handwriting
( ) I have more than a few horrible memories
( ) I am addicted to chocolate
( ) my parents are strict
(x) I love airplane rides...give me a ticket to anywhere, and I'm there
(x) I love taking pictures
(x) I hate people who are fake...but I love those who can shoot the shit
(x) I can be mean when I want to be...again- my job
(x) My parents care about my grades
(x) I am easy to talk to...at least I think so, I'm certainly getting better
( ) I hate when people are late...until I'm on time, I can't expect anything else
(x) I procrastinate...if you are in college and don't procrastinate, you're going to be dissapointed
(x) I love summer
(x) I have too many clothes for my closet/dresser...just wait until I hit the mall in September :)
(x) I love to sleep...I've turned it into a sport :)
(x) I wish I were smarter
( ) I am afraid of flying
( )I hate drama...though I've learned I can be over dramatic at times
(x) I bite my nails
(x) I have been on a 7 hour car ride or longer...almost every time I go home
( ) I never fight with my parents
(x) I love the beach...the actual beach....not a lake
(x) I have had the chicken pox
( ) I have had pneumonia
(x) I have gone out in public in my pajamas...part of the college experience is going to class at least once a semester in the ol' pjs
( ) I can not control my emotions
(x) I have a best friend...and I couldn't be more thankful for him
(x) I have moved more than once...I'm moving in 12 days. I guess I should really start packing more.
(x) I truly love my friends
(x) I love to write
(x) I have broken a bone...3
( ) I love my computer
(x) I am a happy person...well maybe mostly optimistic
( ) I love to dance...sorry
(x) I love to sing
(x) I love to act crazy and be funny...and I guess I'm loud too
( ) I love cleaning my room...I guess I am when I'm in the mood for it
(x) I tend to get jealous very easily
(x) I like night better than day
(x) I have been on the phone for over 5 hours at a time
(x) I study for tests...at least now I do
( ) I am too forgiving
( ) I have horrible sense in direction...not one word, anyone. Not one word :)
( ) I own an odd pet...I had two snakes for about 6 months
( ) I miss elementary school
(x) My eye color changes
( ) I become stressed easily...
(x) I hate liars
( ) I can play the piano
( ) I love to dance in the rain
(x) I love my family...with all of my heart
( ) I hate needles...what have they ever done to you? Give 'em a break :)
(x) I'm afraid of snakes...Yeah, I know
( ) I am a perfectionist
( ) I always wanted to learn to play the guitar or drums...wanted to learn how to balance on a drum chair though :)
(x) I hate the feeling of failure...not only do I hate it, I fear it
( ) I have friends in other countries
(x) I know how to cook...I do too! :)
(x) I can speak another language...in bits and pieces
(x) At times, I can be very selfish
(x) At times, I still act like a little kid...all too often
( ) I have allergies
(x) I love little kids...well, little kids that can't talk yet
(x) I love to read
(x) I wish I was more motivated for school...Amen!
(x) I like getting stuff in the mail...except junk mail
( ) I have problems with letting go of old feelings/memories
(x) I hate being alone...I can deal, but I'd rather not be
(x) I love myself...if you don't love yourself, then who can/will?
(x) I like fall...my favorite season
(x) I like weekends...I love monthends too :)
( ) I can type well with one hand...nope, I need both
( ) I live in a house...I wish
(x) I can swim...like a fish
( ) I go to church
(x) I sing in the shower...awfully, but it happens
( ) I have never been camping
( ) I hate cheerleaders...I suppose that I could, but that's only because they don't work at baseball games :)
( ) I usually get what I want
( ) I have been on stage before
(x) I love roller coasters...hehehe
(x) I am close with my family...much, much close
(x) I have been drunk before...HAHAHAHA
(x) I have been in a fist fight before...but thankfully not in a good long time
( ) I can read music...but I now have an interpriter :)

The new job...updated

2005-07-28T22:13:00.000-05:00

Reading over the comments from my last post, I felt I had to clear up some things...

First off, after two days, I can tell that this job is the first assembly line-type job I've ever had....we'll see how long I can take the mindless work. Knowing that, I was much happier today because I got to do my own thing, and listen to my iPod in the process. My job entails recieving shipments, tagging books (if necessary), and placing them on racks for the floor people to distribute. The only times I am on the sales floor is when I go to and off of my breaks- so that's nice. I just do my job, no customers...in a retail setting, I couldn't ask for more.

Since I haven't been one not to abuse my employee discounts in the past, I guess I can't start not doing it now. With that in mind, I don't know what kind of discount I get. Once I find that out, I will be sure to post on what it is.

With 2 shifts of 23 I plan on working in the books, the job doesn't seem to be too bad in itself, however with working overnights on the weekend (and as the month progresses, shifts sprinkled in during the week), and for the short-term, baseball still going on, it is going to be difficult to adjust in the short run. I just hope that I can stay somewhat alive through this 55+hour weeks, which have never been a problem in the past, but I will just have to adjust.

But you have to love the timing of life. Lauren returns from cell phone no-man's land Door County. It has been hard finding out just how good things have been over the summer thus far that we have been able to give each other so much time in communicating, however she returns on Friday, and other than Friday night (and what time I can give while working overnight shifts, it's going to be a difficult weekend. I have two overnight shifts, a 90 minute practice prior to my baseball game on Sunday, and then 2 hours after I get off of job #1 at the tow yard, I go to work 8 hours at the bookstore.

All I can do is the best that I am capable of right now, because this job for the whole 25 shifts I am going to work will do so much for my financial stability. To point out how much this is going to help, my savings account is going to rise by at least 650% by the time I hand in my resignation. It's just going to be a hard time getting through the month, but it'll be well worth it.

Update

2005-07-27T02:08:00.000-05:00

Well, I picked up a second job....I know work at the University Bookstore. Eh, it's not so fantastic, but it's extra money, and it'll be worth it- well hopefully. Other than that, there is nothing new to report.

In baseball, our conference playoffs begin on Sunday...and depedning on what comes quicker 3 wins or 2 losses, our season will continue or be finished. I'm obviously hoping for the former.

Otherwise, the countdown continues....

16 days until I move out
33 days until I move out

The month of August looks like one that will move along pretty quickly, which is awesome...I was ready to begin classes at the end of May...and here it is 2 months later, and....yep, I'm still ready for school to start.

A little insight on an important topic

2005-07-25T16:39:00.000-05:00

One of my key policy issues is far/equal treatment of all peoples- those people who work within the laws of the country, while not causing pain or creating harm towards others. I picked up a talking points info sheet from a group Amelious is closely involved with called Outfront Minnesota, whose goal with these info cards is to, "facilitate constructive discussion on a constitutional amendment to bar leagal recognition of same sex couples." I wanted to share what the card reads, because I believe in the availibility of same-sex marriage. Even if you do not agree, please take to heart these very valid points.

*Minnesota's Constitution was written to ensure equal treatment for all people. Niether the US nor the Minnesota Constitution has ever been amended to mandate discrimination. Appealing to voters to impose inequality is exactly the sort of abuse of democracy that constitutions were intended to prevent.

*Public opinion cannot be allowed to permanently enshrine discrimination into the Constitution. Less than four decades ago, laws banning interracial marriages were still on the books in most states. When the US Supreme Court struck down those laws, a Gallup poll found 72% of Americans believed interracial marriage was wrong and 48% believed it should be a punishable crime.

*Anti- marriage amendments do not protect families. These Amendments provide no benefits to families headed by different-sex couples, while significantly harming families headed by same-sex couples.

*Banning same-sex marriage will not make same-sex couples go away. GLBT Minnesotans will continue to form family bonds and have children, regardless of what is recognized by law. Banning same-sex marriage will only sanction discrimination by denying those couples the 1,138 federal rights and responsibilities addorded to married couples.

*Marriage is both a civil and religious institution in our society. Where spiritual meanin is derived for many from religious marriage, legal rights and responsibilities are derived from civil marriage. Just as the state should not interfere with religious ceremonies, religious organizations should not dictate which members of secular society should be granted a civil marriage license. Legalizing civil marriage would in no way change the right of different faiths to define marriage for themselves.

I hope these point help for you to understand the fight that is at hand. As I have stated before, this is a situation where two adults come together, and gay marriage is a totally different thing that extending to a liberal base. Next will not be marrying humans and animals, or adults and minors. It is strickly a union of two adults who love and respect each other. One can only begin to see the hypocracy in our laws when there the antagonists of gay marriage say they must save the "sanctity" of marriage. While divorce rates are on a slight decline, the point is that there is very little sanctity in marriage these days.....which is a shame. Hopefully those in future generations will wise up to see our current mistakes.

Good news

2005-07-25T16:22:00.000-05:00

From the powers that be at my work, they have just made my finantial problems a bit easier to deal with. Prior to my overnight shift Saturday, dispatchers were working on a dual pay scale. For the times when I was working I was paid my full wage, for times when I was sleeping, and/or not doing anything pertinent to work, I was paid a resting rate of $7.50 (it's on the honor system anyway, that being said, I only recored about 1/5 of the actual hours I was on resting time).

Anywho, the resting time rate is a thing of the past. Meaning that all of my hours will be on my full pay rate, where as in the past on average about 20% of my hours were taking money away from me. So that helps, but I'm still on the grind looking for some supplemental work. Tomorrow, I will get back on that track, as today I spent time catching up on some well needed sleep, and trying to gain back the weight I have lost over the weekend playing baseball.

Other than that, it's going to be a pretty uneventful week. I have no baseball, and I have no work scheduled, so I plan on getting a jump on packing up for my move, and I will look to find a second job, and/or just getting some extra hours at my current job (if I can get them).

Today's lesson: Speak after you know. Know what you speak.

In case I stray....

2005-07-23T03:25:00.000-05:00

As part of what I learned from Amelious' Leadership course I took last fall, I learned that when you have a vision, you need to set goals to reach that vision, and part of making goals is sharing them, so that you can be held accountable. In keeping with that accountability, I am sharing my goals for the upcoming term with you (well those 3 of you that actually paruse this interesting piece of internet refuse).

1. I want to get a 3.0 GPA or higher....it's been done before so I know it can be done again. This term I will be taking 16 credits, only 1 more than the 15 I took last fall, but I have a much more serious course load. With some perciverence, it'll work. Living with Amelious, I know that he will not let me stray.

2. I would like to find a way to seriously incorporate some savings from the money I make working. I am in the process of trying to pick up a second job, if at least just for the month of August. I believe that regardless of how many hours I work, should I keep a good mind on what I have in the ol' bank account- it can be done, yes even by me.

3. As I did last fall, and spring (well after The Sickness was finished), I would like to continue to keep myself in shape. Not by eating right, because as you all know I have provided enough to put so many managers of Burger Kings across the Metro kid's to go to college. I mean more so keeping a schedule of going to the gym, and making sure that as my body still matures, it will be able to in a way I can be proud of. I'm I doing this for just myself- yes sir I am, and that's why it's so important to keep on top of it.

4. Finally I would like to continue to make decisions in my life that are for the best intentions of my present and my future. As more and more I find myself alone at this University. I have to remind myself of what John Donne once said, "No man is an island", meaning that somewhere I am apart of something. If I fail to to remind myself that I will be living with a close personal friend, if I fail to remember that I have a wonderful, caring girlfriend, and/or I feel as though I feel I cannot look to my family...I certainly have not learned anything. In my deepest hours of fear and feelings of failure, I normaly look to those close to me, so the point to be made is to remember to keep the afforementioned in my thoughts and my prayers when life is treating me well.

It's going to be an interesting semester, and unlike any other I am ready to jump back on the Academic Express to get it get this journey on it's way towards it's final stop- I know we've all been waiting (extreamly patiently I might add). I know now that nothing is perfect, but with some work, it'll end up feeling as such.

Take care.

Wow, what a relief

2005-07-18T15:41:00.000-05:00

I couldn't be happier that the past weekend is over. Trying to find a subsidary job to help make some extra money before summer is over.

Heat exhaustion, oh how I have missed thee

2005-07-17T13:51:00.000-05:00

Back from a trip to Mankato, MN that was more trouble than it was worth, after a evening/early morning/afternoon sleep-a-thon to sleep off a bout of heat exhaustion, I am all ready to go out once again and play another game of baseball in the 90+ degree heat where again the heat index will be flirting with that 100* mark. For the record, I would still have the heat in place of the winter cold. Go figure.

The trip went like this...
-Mike (our first baseman) and I headed down from Bloomington to Makato. We picked up some beers, and checked into the hotel. If you want to scare the bejesus out of a high school desk staff, ask them something crazy and out of the blue, such as my question, "So what is your policy regarding drunk, naked clowns?" It was absoulutely hillarious to see the whites of thier eyes in a state of shock. Once they realized I was kidding, I felt better that this season's road trip could be just as fun as last year's....except I was going to be far, far less social than I was last year.

-Our first game was in New Ulm, and the park was circa 1960's, but everyone was really welcoming, and heaven's to Betsy- the field was actually pro-sized. 330+ down the lines, 405 to straight away center. Not that I have any plans of hitting a home run, but it always feels a bit more professional when you see the same numbers on the outfield wall as you do on TV (or in MLB parks). We won the game handily 7-1. I was awarded with the platinum sombraro for an 0-5 performance (3 strike outs, 1 fly out, 1 fielder's choice), and I had 3 errors at second base. Needless to say I played like absolute garbage.

-Ended up going out with the guys that night, instead of just staying in the hotel drinking like we intially planned. I was with 6 of my teammates, all but one who had a wife or a girlfriend, but my mind was in two different places- one part about 25 miles away still on the field, knowing that I am now longer able to play this game anymore, the other some 225 miles away. I was disgusted at some other guys doing their thing, but thankfully I was not the only one to remember what they have back at home.

-Woke up at 10am Sunday morning to quickly pack and to get going for our second game, which was in Essig. I felt like I should after a night of having more alcohol than I probably should, along with a huge amount of blood loss thanks to the swarms of mosquitos following our game the night before. The field was a former farm field, and it felt like a dessert...the air was dry, the field was dry, and the wind came and went in light flows. I was seeing double and triple, and I realized I should have been a little smarter in terms of keeping myself hydrated. I ended up blowing the scab off of my knee, and played half of the game with grey plants blotched with red. I made 1 error, but at least I got off of the schnide with an RBI single to tie the game at 1. It was my first hit in 6 games, which ended my 0-for streak at 23. We plated another run later in the game and we won 2-1. Feeling dejected, feeling older than my age, feeling less than anything positive, I was ready to call it a trip, and head home.

-I came back to realize that how inconsiderate I was of Lauren, and through e-mails I think we have patched things up. As much as I want to think that I am better than the best, I know I'm still only human.

It was a weekend worth it's weight in dog poop, and it's almost over. I have a 5pm game tonight in Oakdale. Hopefully I can do what I need to do to be anything but a liability for our team if I cannot start a hitting streak. There is one week left of the regular season, and then we have a week off until the conference playoffs begin. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend my Grandmother's birthday, but some money matters arose that I am still having trouble dealing with. Hopefully we can be 2 and done for the conference tournament, and the season can be over, and the summer can unofficially come to a close. If things were going a little bit better, it would be quite an experience to play in the state tournament, but with my play this season, I know I don't deserve to have any chance at winning a state title...let alone winning our conference tournament. It's been a long summer, an even longer season, and I cannot wait to begin the school year, because thats when I feel my best.

Every day is a holiday, and every meal is a feast. Things aren't that great right now, but they could be much, much worse, so for that I am thankful that things are only "not that great."

Take care y'all.

Questions and answers

2005-07-12T02:17:00.000-05:00

After watching the end of Mr. 3000, I couldn't bring myself to fall asleep right away...so I figure that I would try to write something, however I couldn't think of anything to write, so I figure I'd just search around and see what I could find to share about myself....here's what I got, enjoy.

How many times did you move as a child?
I don't know off the top of my head, so I'll just list them
Grand Prairie, TX
San Jose, CA
Oxnard, CA (two different homes there)
Elgin, IL
Kenosha, WI
Minneapolis, MN (Territorial Hall, Centennial Hall)
Kenosha, WI
Minneapolis, MN (Phi Gamma Delta)
Kenosha, WI (yes, again)
Minneapolis, MN (510 12th Ave SE, Dinnaken Properties, and soon, a condo in the Loring Park Nieghborhood)
...so that's a total of 14 times.

What jobs have you done?
Newspaper boy, Dishwasher, Games Attendant at Six Flags Great America, grocery bagger, Office Max(cashier, Copy Max Attendant, Furniture Sales, Cell Phone Sales), Big Dog Apperal sales assoc., Pizza delivery, Ralph Marlin & Co. sales assoc.(Kenosha, WI and Mall of America stores), Surcurity gaurd (Outlet mall, Menards, and tent sales), U of M parking attendant, Pizza cook, Ben & Jerry's server, Hat World sales assoc., and Towing dispatcher, along with about 2-4 others that I cannot seem to recal.

Well that's it.....nothing terribly exciting, but that's how it goes sometimes. Our team lost both games on Saturday and Sunday to drop 2.5 games back of the conference leader. We play a non-conference game Tuesday night in Dundas, MN, a conference double-header on Wednesday night, and we make a road trip to the New Ulm/Essig, MN area for two games over the weekend.

Other than baseball, workhours are thinning out, however I have been saving a project just for a time like this....even though I am not scheduled for another shift until Thursday (a 15 hour double shift) and an overnighter on Sunday, I will add about another 10-15 hours working on a job description manual- wow, saving that task was a smart play by me.

31 days until I move out
44 days until Lauren moves back
51 days until the Gophers open thier 2005 campaign (vs. Tulsa)
88 days until the Gophers season virtually ends (as it does every year it seems, and on the same weekend too) at. Michigan
227 days until I turn 24
41 years, 227 days until I can retire (hopefully with a nice pention, and a quiet place somewhere in the middle of nowhere)
41 years, 228 days until Armegedon :( oh well, I'll have 24 hours to relax I guess....heheeh

Pics, finally!

2005-07-11T15:06:00.000-05:00

Here are the four of us: (From left to right) Patty-Poo, his girlfriend Abby, Myself, and Lauren-

Lauren and I at dinner-

Finally, Lauren's birthday gift (while sitting at a CTA station, somewhere in the north metro-

Thanks to Dad and Jennifer for thier help in getting some visual goodies in this pile of internet gibberish.

Knocking on wood (not that kind of wood, sicko)

2005-07-09T15:59:00.000-05:00

Things have been going very well for me as of late, and hopefully it will keep going, with our game today. As of now, here are our conference standings:

Green Mill Brewers 6-2
Stockmen Irish(us) 5-2
Tri-City Shark 5-2

We play the Brewers this evening, and the Shark Sunday afternoon, so we have a chance to take over first outright for the first time this season. Personally, I've started the last 4 games we've played and I've been in the batting order in the last 5. In the last two games I am 3-5 with 2 walks, a sacrifice bunt, 1 run, and 2 k's....not too shabby. Now that I'm finally getting some regular PT, things are starting to come around for me. Hopefully it'll continue, but we'll see, I'm enjoying doing what I can to keep our team rolling, because I'm 99% sure this will be my last year for a while (if I don't just hang up the spikes for good).

My 4th of July trip was spectacular! I got to meet Lauren's family, all of whom were very nice and welcoming. Her mom had stumbled upon my blog here a few weeks ago, so I was waiting to be bombarded with questions about this and that, so I was fairly reserved. The next day, Patty-Poo, his girlfriend, Lauren and I all went out to dinner at Topo Gigio. As we got back to our hotel, Lauren's birthday gift (a baker's dozen rose boquet) we waiting in the room for her. The only bad thing about it was, the next day we walked around the city over to see Millennium Park, and the roses bloomed fully thanks to the wonderful weather. A few days later, we went to Great America with Mom, Robbie, and a certain lady of his, and all of us had a great time. We went on everything we wanted to except for one of the newer rides, but the wait in line was just as good, so I dubbed it the Line Ride.

Lastly, in 35 days I will be moving out of my apartment, and it really cannot come soon enough. I am so sick of coming home seeing how horrible our place has become since I seem to be the only one that lifts a finger around here. Once I get some time I am going to clean the hell out of our kitchen, and then stockpile all of my kitchen ware in my room (which will give me a jump on packing)....not that I hate cleaning, 'cause I don't, but good God almighty- the place is a dump....someone please tell me how to post picutres on this thing so I can share how horrible it is. It was one thing living in the fraternity, because our kitchen, which was always a mess, was in the basement....now, our kitchen is the first thing I see as I walk in.

That's all for now folks, take care.

meme continued

2005-07-07T12:35:00.000-05:00

Five snacks I enjoy
1.Cyclops doughnuts from Piaelli's bakery- Kenosha, WI
2.Pizza rolls
3.Reeses peanut butter cups
4.Cheese Curds
5.Chips and salsa

Five Songs I know the words to
1.Metallica- Mama Said
2.Frank Sinatra- It Had To Be You
3.Dierks Bentley- How Am I Doin'
4.Gary Allan- Right Where I Need To Be
5.Gary Allan- Sorry

Five things I would do with $100 million
1.Buy a condo in some Chicago high rise
2.Invest in real estate
3.take every one in my family for a cruise
4.take a road trip to every one of the 30 MLB ballparks
5.buy a Chevy SSR

Five locations I would like to runaway to
1.Chicago (again, and again, and again)
2.Dublin
3.Hamburg
4.London
5.Boston

Five bad habits I have
1.Dipping
2.biting my nails
3.Thinking too much on the ball field
4.money management
5.time management

Five things I like doing
1.talking
2.taking walks
3.anything related to baseball
4.Making others happy
5.eating good meals

Five things I would never wear(or let's hope not)
1.man capris
2.thongs
3.doo rags
4.fur coats
5.leather pants

Five TV shows I like
1.South Park
2.Aqua Teen Hunger Force
3.Curb Your Enthusiasim
4.Sopranos
5.Baseball Tonight

Five biggest joys of the moment
1.Memories of Chicago/Great America
2.Pictures from the weekend
3.Lauren
4.Going 2 for 3 last night
5.Only 6 weeks until I move

Five favorite toys
1.My truck (with a full tank of gas)
2.cell phone
3.laptop
4.Digital camera
5.iPod

Stolen thoughts and the best (personal) 4th of July ever

2005-07-07T01:28:00.000-05:00

Once I am able to gather my thoughts about my trip to the Milwaukee/Kenosha/Chicago area trip, I will do so, until then, another stolen meme idea, this time from Jennifer:

What I was doing 10 years agoSheesh, that puts me at....13, and in Elgin, IL. I was playing baseball, and enjoying the summer after 7th grade. Back then I could still hit better than my weight, and I played catcher and 2nd base with pitching stints here and there. That summer I was in my first lengthy relationship, in which I had my first kiss (awww), but I found out from my best friend that I was "cheated" on when she ended up making out with some other guy at the local fair

Five years ago I was 18, and celebrating graduating from high school. I thought I was ready to be out on my own, and to get away from Wisconsin (at least I was right about getting away from Wisconsin). I spent my days working at the ol' tie/boxer store. I was on my way to what I wanted- a big university where I could get lost in the shuffle, find my way, and get into a big city atmosphere- after knowing at 6 that I wanted that big college experience, I was excited. I failed to make the varsity baseball squad, so I played for a park team, and hit .400 leading the team in singles, doubles, hits, walks, stolen bases and runs....all while catching on two already worn down knees. That summer I suffered my first major injury when I slipped on some grass during a game and later found out I had a healing fracture in my throwing hand. I played through, and it was a great summer through the dissapointment (let alone shock) of not playing my senior summer for my high school- I just chalked it up as a nother reason to hate that school, that town.

One year ago What a turn around it has been in the past twelve months! Last summer I was geared up for the Bush re-election run, talking about politics like it was going out of style. More than anything else I was getting over my last relationship, which was one of the hardest things I've had to go through, but to see it now, I know I did everything right to get me to where I am today. I saw something wrong, I fixed it, and I've moved on. That summer was hard, but everything that I did was setting myself up for all of the happiness I am currently in.

YesturdayI had plans made with Lauren to go to Great America, and Robert (my baby brother), a lady friend of his along with my Mom joined us. We went on all of the rides I wanted to (minus a crazy spinny ride that was shut down when we were in line), we played some games, although in truth Lauren won me a stuffed animal while I was unable to win her one. Most importantly, Lauren and I talked about where things are going, and we became official, or some combination of going steady/committed/a couple/labeled/whatever the kids are calling it these days. It was a fantastic day to end a fantastic trip.

There is more, but I will continue it tomorrow. G'night

The summer, she drags on

2005-06-28T04:20:00.000-05:00

This summer is slowly passing away, and in Minneapolis, it's been nothing but humidity and showers as of late (which btw is perfect weather by me). By the end of the week, I will be on my way home, on my way to see Lauren, and on my way to Chicago and Great America.

Nothing interesting to write, as the Sox/Cubs series was on WGN Fri-Sun, and I was unable to watch just 1 inning of a great series.....UG, having WGN is great, but when I'm not home to watch it, it's like that tree falling over in the woods.

In a month and a half I will move to my 7th move since August of 2000, and this is the happiest I have been since moving to Mpls the first time. I got my parking situation settled so I won't have to worry about riding the bus to campus, and that makes me happy that I can leave on my own time, and not worry about schedules. Sometime in the next month or so I will sit and figure out how I can fit in work, workout times, and studying around my class schedule. One thing I will not have to worry about for the first semester since I've been here is taking a night class, which will be refreshing.

Right now I am just trying to get everything I need to get done for my trip home- cleaning my room, getting laundry ready to do for free at home, working on my budget for the month, etc. I have two road games this week (Eau Claire, WI and White Bear Township), and a shift Wednesday. I also took my car in to get looked at. There is a grinding sound while I accelerate while in gear. I am hoping that it's a quick fix, because I really don't want to have to deal with a rental vehicle, and all that hassle. I just want to go and have fun with Lauren, my family, and relax.

Until next time, take care.

Stolen, once again

2005-06-25T02:13:00.000-05:00

Another meme from my Dad I've decided to try my hand at..."Five Things Society At Large Enjoys, But That I, For The Most Part, Just Don't Get..."

1. Today's coddle before teaching atmosphere As a 23 year old, I was raised in a time where it was still ok to get swatted up the backside every now and then. It was a time where there was still at least a good portion of attempt made to keep the parents involved in thier children's upbringing. However now, now you have doctors, specialists, and who knows who all attempting to raise a child. This "it takes a village" aspect in raising a child has left us with those who feel sorrow for the two boys who masterminded the Columbine slayings, as well as those parents who would rather take thier kids to a shrink before taking them aside to instil some character, some morals, some dicipline, some boundaries. It takes a parent(s) to raise a child, and while granted it takes some dumb luck, but it's more a matter of setting a good foundation early on that will help in putting children on the right track.

2. The extra curricular following of celebrities Today we live in a time where celebrities are more than just what they attempt to do. Thier lives, thier stories, thier sucesses/failures are all paraded into a 24/7 movie for all of the public to see. For reasons not needed to mention I wish this would stop very quickly.

3. Sports fairness You want a socialist side of me? Here it goes (and Pops and I argue about this constantly)- sports need to be on an even keel if they are able to grow. This does not mean everything should be equal, but that within reason there needs to be a similar rule base for each team within a given sport/league/conference/division. Baseball for instance has teams that range in payroll from 200 million+ to less than 30 million. Without a salary cap (as well as a more important salary floor) we can continue to see the same teams come October. It becomes a dual sport when everyone is on the same page, because then the real action is played both on the field as well as the front offices- because then scouting, signings, etc., become a much larger part of the game. It is called professional because of the addition of the afforementioned parts, so why not make them just as important as the talent on the field?

4. Religion why not save the big two for last? The first of the bigguns is religion. There is a sign on a house in Dinkytown that used to (I have not been by to see if that sign is still present) that reads, "No one idea has caused more pain and destruction than religion." Wars, slaughter, everything that has ever been done has its ties to an organized religion (9/11 being an obvious example, but WW2, the Crusades, the founding of our country are just a few examples). Following a diety is fine, however the organized religions have over the years ruined everything with man-made rules, falicies, dogmas, etc.

5. The current state of American politics You have three to four sides...the liberal left, the middle left, (the middle right), and the religious right (just another way religion has fucked things up). Take your pick, everyone seems to have an opinion these days about policy, which is great in a democracy, but the fact that people think in terms of thier own perfect country is where I would like to draw the line. Everyone must understand that America is not a perfect democracy, and the one we have in place is the product of over 200 years of experimenting with a game that rules keep constantly changing- but we cannot go back to switch it. If you are going to talk politics #1- realize that this country was set up as a capitolist nation and #2 that you have to work with the words of the Constiution, not interpritations of today.

One good movie

2005-06-25T02:02:00.000-05:00

I just finished The Butterfly Effect, and I was very impressed. When a movie can make you question life/society/anything that to me is what makes a great film. The premise of the plot is that Even (Aston Kutcher) can go back into his past and change certain events, only to have those changes change the way his adult life has shaped out. For someone like myself who for a long time played the "what if" game, I am thankful that I was unable to get my wished granted. Much like Garth Brook's song, Unanswered Prayers life is a mysterious journey. Is it us who determines our own life pattern? Is it destiny, a plan that is already laid out by the hands of God himself? Is it a mixture of the two? Is it wrong already that I feel that I have found the so-called secret of life, or could it be a blessing that many do not figure out until thier days have passed them by?

In my opinion, the secret of life is that you must make the best of what you have for as long as you can. There is nothing you can do to change the events leading up to the situation you are currently in, the best you can do is to evolve from the present. The greatest part of all of this is that it is a personal power to choose to stay in the pattern of life that has been given to you, or do what you can to change the future.

If some higher power mapped my life out for me, or if it was the upbringing of my parents in addition to the choices I have made for myself to put me where I am today I am thankful either way. Could I have done things better, why yes indeed, is everything in my life perfect, I'm afraid not. With that being said, I don't think I could be happier right now to have what I do.

To burn or not to burn

2005-06-22T22:52:00.000-05:00

The Associated Press is reporting that the House moves to outlaw flag burning.....

.....It's about damned time! Whoever was at the helm when this country lost it's sense of mind, should be shot, baged, and thrown off of a ship. The flag is a symbol of our country, and for the cowards that are able to thumb thier nose at our country, hopefully thier time will end. Time will tell, and hopefully those crazy politicians finally get one thing right when our country is 50-50. I will be taking names once a vote goes down. Let's see how Hillary, and the two MA Senators vote......wanna guess they abstain?

Groosfraba

2005-06-22T12:27:00.000-05:00

Isn't it amazing/funny/agrrivating/awful when even though you see something as a given, life can still throw you a curve, and f-up all of your plans. You just have to roll with the punches, and get up and keep moving. Reset yourself, and start fresh again- good things will happen if you keep putting yourself in the right situation.

Last night, we played our league rivals down in Inver Grove Hieghts, and we squeaked by with a 1-0 score. This same team we played last night was the one that we cleared the benches with in a heated game, but luckily no punches were thrown. Last night's game was fueled by horrible umpiring behind the plate, and the other team's sqauking, but thankfully cooler heads prevailed, and we escaped with the victory. For the second game in a row I started and played the entire game at 2nd base. I went 0-1 with a strike out looking (at a ball that would have hit a left-handed batter....and which strike 1 was called when the ball was as high as my neck). My second at-bat I sacrificed bunted the eventual only score of the game over to second. In my third at-bat I went from having a 1-2 count to taking some pitches, and fouling off the bad ones to get a walk, but I was squandered at 2nd.

In the last two games I am a combined 1-4, but all of my at-bats have been productive, which is promising, and even more promising is that I was able to foul off some good pitches to wait for the ones I wanted (or in that instance, getting the walk I wanted), so I'm developing. We'll see what happens when I regular second basemen comes back from his fishing escapade in Canada to see where my PT revert to, but I hope I showed enough to warrent more playing time. Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday is our tournament, and once again the team I will most likely end up playing for in Chicago will be attending, so to see some of the same guys I played with while in Chicago a few years back will be pretty cool, because this time last year I took a hiatus from the team because of the lack of playing time I was recieving. Things will work themselves out I suppose.

Other than that, things are just rolling along. Pride weekend is almost here, and on Saturday morning I will be helping Pops set up for his party on Sunday. I will once again be in attendance, and thankfully I won't have to come straight (no pun intended) from an overnight shift at work, which has been the case every year I have gone. Good people, good snacks, and good drinks- it's going to be a hell of a good time.

The time table

2005-06-21T02:49:00.000-05:00

10 days until I leave for vacation
11 days until I get to see Lauren again (if she doesn't have to work, then make it 10 days :)).
14 days until Great America
53 until I move into my new place

I will write soon....but I am trying to collect my thoughts. I have read ignorant pieces lately, and I want to be sure to make sure my ideas are straight before I start pissing and moaning. 'Cause the next piece will be a rant, and seatbelts will be required.

Until then take care, and go Cubbies!

The book meme continues

2005-06-17T18:25:00.000-05:00

Once again, my Dad has borrowed an idea from someone else, so I borrow the idea from him....(please note that unless I kept the text book because I genuinely enjoyed it, I do not add them in this questionaire)

1. Total Number of Books I Own
Between my apartment in Minneapolis, and my parent's house, I have roughly 20-25. Since I got a late jump on reading for fun, I do not have as many as I'd like. I'm sure that when I move to Chicago (Proper for those who smirk at where exactly "my" Chicago is located) I'll need to purchase a solid bookcase to hold them all.
2. Last Book I Bought
Sometime over the winter months I purchased the sixth book in Harry Turtledove's "The Great War Series", American Empire:The Center Cannot Hold.
3. Last Book I Read
I most recently finished Turtledove's American Empire:Blood & Iron, but since that took about a year to finish, the last book that I read front to back, straight through was He's Just Not That Into You, which was more or less a self-help book targeted to women, but much like a guy can read a Cosmo and place the words "her" and "she" with "he" and "him", this book was read as such. The first couple of chapters were the only ones of interest, as I learned that girls are just as confused about us men as we are about them. It's always interesting for me to understand the other sides of thought processes, because since I already know my own, why not try to get a feel for how others think.
4. Five Books of Notable Influence to Me
Without even thinking much, hands down Takaki's A Different Mirror is first. My freshman year, I took Multi-Cultural Relations and it really opened up my eyes to the different histories of racism, etc, and it's one lesson that everyone should take into consideration, because whether it is the plight/struggle of Blacks, women or Gays our country's horrible history about learning lessons from our past only cycles through generations. Next is For Cubs Fans Only, which is more or less a Chicken Soup-type book for Cubs fans. Mitch Albom's Tuesday's With Morrie get the 3 spot, because it was what I thought was a horribly depressing story, only to see once I lost loved ones over the years that death should be looked at as a celebration for how a person throughout their life has been able to touch the lives of so many, instead of a fearful, taboo-ish topic. Rounding out the list are The Da Vinci Code....I cannot recall the book I am trying to think of, because it's located 400 miles south of here, but I will edit this post when I can get the title of it. All I can say is that it is a coming-of-age baseball book.

A Larry King post

2005-06-16T22:09:00.000-05:00

Going back to the old days where instead of filling space, here's a to the point post...

-Lauren left this afternoon to head back home after a few days stay in Minneapolis. Had a good time. With her help, I collected on a bet with her roommate (don't bet with me when it comes to baseball), and times were good.

-Country music is a good thing.

-Work in the summer time is a lot easier to deal with in the summer than it is during the school year. People are more laid back, and there is very little on my mind.

-The Cubbies head to NYC for thier first trip to Yankee Stadium in decades. I don't think they would have a problem taking 2 of 3 from the Damn Yanks, but they need a good push from thier starting rotation to get a streak going again. The Florida series sucked with scores of 9-1(L), 14-0(W), and 15-5(L). A lot of people are really high on the new call up from AA, a kid named Hill. I haven't seen him, but if half of the stuff they are saying about his is true, then his numbers shoud carry over to the big leagues. This kid could be another Woody or Prior, let's just hope that he doesn't end up with the injury history of those two. With Z, Woody, Prior, Mitre, Hill could round out a solid rotation for 2006.

-The top on the Sportage comes down tomorrow, as we are going to have a nice stretch of weather continuing up here in the Twin Cities....hopefully we end up having a drought like the one we did a couple of summers back, so I won't have to deal with it going off then on again...'cause it's a pain.

It's been a long week, and the parents are coming up for the Father's Day weekend. A trip to MOA is almost a certainty, and it will be nice to meet up with them and spend some time relaxing with the family.

Take care.

Ain't that a kick

2005-06-05T15:36:00.000-05:00

The summer continues to roll on through campus, and day-by-day I'm counting down until the time where I will no longer call the campus home. August 13th, I will no longer see the University from my windows, and after 4 years, it will be a welcomed change. The bright side of all of this is that I will still be in school without all of the fuss of dealing with the rest of the undergrad population. Don't get me wrong, my years here have been great, but now that I have outgrown most of the choatic ways of Thursday-Sunday nights, a change in senery will I'm sure only help with keeping me focused on what it is that I need to do to finally graduate.

The good things just keep rolling for me, and in a random check of classes, I was able to finally get into another section of my Marketing class. My official schedule for the fall semester looks like this:

Monday
0945-1100 Management
1220-1415 Rec-Research/Evaluation

Tuesday
1115-1230 Marketing
1430-1545 Commercial Rec/Tourism

Wednesday
0945-1100 Management
1220-1415 Rec-Research/Evaluation
1500-1730 Rec-Programming/Promotion

Thursday
1115-1230 Marketing
1430-1545 Commercial Rec/Tourism

I went downtown last night to hang out with Lisa and a bunch of her friends, and some of the roommates that will be sharing an apartment with Lauren in the fall, and one of the things I noticed was that there was plenty more traffic on the sidewalks than there was before. The reason for this I quickly observed was due to the smoking ban. Because no one can smoke inside the establishments, they smoke in front of all of the bars. What this has caused is a nightmare for anyone trying to walk on the sidewalk, or anyone "really" concerned about thier health. Way to think things through City of Minneapolis (I would include the City of St. Paul as well, but no one goes to downtown St. Paul- EVER!, so there is nothing to worry about there).

Other than that, there isn't much of anything to report. I'm within four weeks now of heading home for the 4th of July weekend. Until then I am just keeping busy with work and baseball....

....and speaking of baseball, how about those crazy Chicago squads? Going into today's action, the Cubs would clinch the wild card spot, and the White Sox were 4.5 games ahead of the Twins. I will recieve a pair of tickets on Tuesday for the Sox/Twins game on Septemeber 17th at the Dome, and if history is any indication, that will not only be a huge game, but the series will be one to watch as well (espicially if the standings hold true). If there is anyway the Cubs can stay healthy, who knows. The Sox will only go far if they are able to make a deal before the deadline for another bat, unless Frankie Thomas can give that lineup a boost. We'll see what happens, but if it ends up good for the boys on the North Side, then Dad you in fact called in when you hoped for a Cubs tanking effort early on in the season instead of at the end (ala last year's collapse).

Take care.

Time

2005-06-03T15:20:00.000-05:00

Years, hours, days, months, millenia....we as humans have a love/hate relationship with time. We want to grow older, but we don't want to grow too old where we have to worry about the rhelm of nevertime. We love when we hit anniversaries of great events, but we hate the waiting game to get to enjoy certain events. Time is a constant, and it's the only number never stops....it's just a given in the game of life.

I make this reference only because in looking at just the past school year there have been many times where I wished that time would do nothing but speed up. I wished for the calandar to switch over to a month where I was experiencing something great, but it wasn't until today that I ran across a few things where I realized it was the mundane times in which I set myself up for the good times that I am currently in. The funny thing about life is that if you set up a good foundation with good decisions (whether others really know what happened or not), you can build on that base, and feel comfortable in where you are during the good times.

What is great is that while over the past year or so, there have been plenty of times where I could have dipped into some things that were immoral/enethical, just because the situation was there, but I did not. There were times where I could have made decisions against my goals/vision, but I did not. The combination of those two lead ME to sleep well at night knowing that even though others assume that things have happened, the only person that does is myself. In this world of talk first, and maybe ask questions later I have found you can do one of two things: 1)explain the events as they happened or 2)appologize for what in fact did not happen only to hope to regain some sort of the past that might be in jepardy. That's life my friends, and over time, the truth will eventually be shown, and then the feelings of others will change now that thier ideas built around heresay and rumors have been replaced with truth and fact.

Wether it is intrapersonal relations, or the steriod issue in baseball, the truth itself might not set you free, but at least knowing the truth for yourself does more than making appologies for things you did not enter into.

So the summer begins

2005-05-30T15:48:00.000-05:00

Nothing like Memorial Day to tell you that it's summer time, and in the Twin Cities Metro, Mother Nature did her part yesturday, as the weather was almost perfect (damn late morning/early afternoon clouds). The smell of a grill is the one thing missing from today, but that's city/campus life for you (and yes it's still dead around these parts).

For what it's worth, all things considered I would love to have school just start right now, but I guess I can be happy with knowing that I really don't have much to do outside of baseball and work, even though that pretty much takes up all of my time. When my shift tonight is over, I will have logged in 41 hours for the week, and my first day off since coming back will be Tuesday. I have my work cut out for me, since I know this summer how to get enough hours to support myself around baseball, whereas last summer I didn't figure out a way to do it until mid-late June.

Baseball is now in full swing, and we are 5-2 and 1-0 in our conference. Once again playing time has become and issue, but it is remarkably better than it was last year (I'm sure that uping my game, and having some experience with the team helps some). I have a good feeling that next year (and possibly in 2007) I will take a break from playing so I can do my internship, and then leave for Chicago as early as I possibly can. Once I get to Chicago, I will then take up playing for the league I played for in 2002...so it's not like I don't know my oppertunities are winding down, but I do have to open up myself to make sure I do what I need to do to get out of here (without wearing myself too thin).

Not much to say other than that I'm counting down the days until I head back to the Chicago/Milwaukee area once again (31 days, btw). I'm beginning to plan out things for what to do down there. It's looking like a trip to Great America, and for sure a trip down to Chicago for dinner/drinks/dancing (maybe), so I'm getting very excited.

On this Memorial Day, please remember all of those who have put thier lifes on the line to make our country the great land that it is. If it were not for them then, and for our men and women in uniform and thier families now we wouldn't have the fantastic lives that we do now. We owe them everything.

I can't believe it....well no, I guess I can

2005-05-27T14:32:00.000-05:00

I am just about to write something in here, when I look at my TV to notice that Mark Prior was hit with a ball in the elbow in today's game....Whoever has some grudge against the Cubs up there certainly has close ties to Him(or Her). It's just rediculous...oh well, as Jack Brickhouse said, "Anyone can have a bad century."

On to things other than baseball....

On Sunday I got to see my Mom finally graduate!! It was a great sight to see her after 20+ years to have something to show for the dedication she has put into bettering herself. The whole weekend was a great time for me, and nothing made me happier than to watch her walk down the aisle with her degree and hand (let alone that she graduated with honors).

Also on my trip, Lauren and I were able to find a time to get together. Not having much money, or time, because it was late on Sunday night. We went down to Lake Michigan. Now that the lakeshore in Kenosha is finally presentable after years of letting it go to waste, and construction, it was magnificent. She got to meet the family, and I found out the next day that they all were impressed with her, so that was nice. Not really that anything too serious is going on with us yet, but it's always good to know that if it does that she has the family's Seal of Approval, because for me, it would be very hard (if I could do it at all) to date anyone who wasn't able to fit in with my family.

Before I left, my Mom, Lauren, and I met in Miwalwaukee for lunch, and there the two of them got a much better oppertunity to get to know each other, and they hit it off really well. Lauren was really happy that Mom was seemed very supportive of her going for a masters in music (because from what it sounds like, others haven't been), and Mom was right on target when her initial impressions were reaffirmed by this second meeting. I think my Mom was even happier when I told her that I think that Lauren will end up being around for a while.

All in all it was a very good trip...not long enough, but then again, they never are. I will be heading back to the Chicago area over the 4th of July weekend, where Lauren and I are trying to plan a trip to Great America, as well as a really nice night in Chicago....after beginning to make some plans for that, I am nothing short of excited. It's not the greatest thing in the world that she went home for the summer, and we are 300 miles away, but it isn't all bad either, because we do talk a lot and it has given us a chance to discover more about each other, which is huge.

With my schedule the way it is right now with baseball and work, thankfully I don't have much time to worry about how long it is until Lauren does come back, let alone when school will begin again (which given the oppertunity, I would start the fall semester tomorrow). As for now I have to begin to get ready for our first of three games this weekend.

It's officially summer time

2005-05-19T02:06:00.000-05:00

It is because pretty much everyone that I know is gone that it's officially summer time here at the U of MN. Thankfully this will be my last year of living on campus, and once next summer comes, I won't have to deal with the emptiness of this place. In all seriousness there are like 10 people I know living on campus, and one of those is moving to Chile in July.

Lauren moved back home for the summer herself today, and while it wasn't the happiest moment of my life, it certainly isn't cause for too much sorrow. It's kinda funny thinking that she is moving away, but when I think about it, I'll more than likely get to see her when I head home....although it doesn't feel like it's that soon. When Gretchen and I did the long-distance thing, it was about a month of waiting before we could see each other again, so I've been programmed to think that it's going to be an eternity of sorts before I get to see Lauren.

Before she left, she came to bring her car into my work, so I could check out the problem on one of her brakes. I'm sure every guy has one of these moments, but it's still fun when it happens. I know very little about cars, and even less on how to explain how things work, but when she brought the car in, to her I was Mr. Fix-it. Not having used our equiptment at work in about a year, coupled with the fact that I really had no idea where the tools were that I needed, and never having to deal with a hub cap instead of a rim, it took me a good hour plus to get the tire off, inspect it, and then put it back on (but again, I think she was none the wiser). The problem she was having was not one that couldn't wait until she got home and her dad and brother could look at it and fix it, which was nice. She's home now, and she only has a handful of hours before her job interview, so hopefully she does get enough sleep, and does well.

I leave for home myself on Saturday- I will finally touch down in Milwaukee at 10pm, but I do have a good hour layover at O'Hare, so that will be nice (I'm the kinda homesick Chicago guy that almost enjoys rush hour traffic on the Tri-State, so go figure I'd say that I like a layover). From there who knows how my schedule will pan out. I might just end up spending the night in the Milwaukee area, either hanging out with Lauren, or hanging out with some old fraternity guys. Sunday then is my Mom's graduation with a grilling party to celebrate afterwards. Sometime before I leave, I plan to visit my grandma and a friend who I haven't seen in over 5 years, so I will hopefully have enough time (and energy) in which to get to see everyone that I want to.

Our next game is Friday, and I am sure there will be nothing more fun than playing an 8:30pm game, only to drive back for 90 minutes, and then sleep just enough before I begin to head out to the airport. I have a good feeling that I'll get to see more PT than I did on Sunday, but we'll see when it happens.

Stealing the idea from Jennifer here this goes:
A - Age you got your first kiss: 13
B - Band listening to right now: Lucky Boys Confusion
C - Crush: Lauren
D - Dad's name: Guy
E - Easiest person to talk to: Amelious (Pops)
F - Favorite bands at the moment: Lucky Boys Confusion
G - Gummy worms or gummy bears?: worms
H - Hometown: Elgin, IL (or Grand Prairie, TX, depending on your interpritation of "home town"
I - Instruments: Baseball glove
J - Junior high: St. Mary's School, Elgin, IL
K - Kids: hopefully not, but someday
L - Longest car ride ever: A cross-country trip from LA to Chicago with the family
M - Mom's name: Judith
N - Nicknames: Scuba, Super Sochor, Socrates, FIB
O - One wish: For me to continue to live a happy productive life
P- Phobias: since we could be here all night discussing this one, let's just say being alone
Q - Quote: "Everything happens for a reason"
R - Reason to smile: I will be on my way home in a few days
S - Song you sang last: Mistakes by Godsmack
T - Time you woke up [today]: um....1130am?
U - Unknown fact about me: I am nowhere near as confident as people think I am
V - Vegetable you hate: how about we list the veggies I like- spinnach and carrots
W - Worst habit(s): Chewing tobacco
X - X-rays you've had: ooh, this should be fun, let's see if I can remember them all- my mouth, my nose, my shoulder, my hand, my fingers (on many occations), and I think that's it.
Y- Yummy food: pizza rolls
Z - Zodiac sign: Pices

Now I understand

2005-05-17T14:31:00.000-05:00

I understand now why I have been told to pick and choose those I associate with wisely. If you surround yourself with negative people then you will end up being dragged down with them, and last night was no exception, as I was unjustly charged with sleeping with a buddy's ex girlfriend. It is amazing how quickly you see how close those who you call your family do not even give you a chance when it comes to lies and betrayals, but I guess such is life.

The point of it all is is that you have to know who let into your life. For someone like myself, I am outgoing, social, and talkative, so I meet a lot of people. However it seems now that I must make a better attempt in which to exclude those who are overly negative, irregardless to who they are. As an adult, I have to understand that not everyone has positive motives, and I need to make sure that those who can do nothing but create a negative force need not be within my social circle.

It's a matter of choosing your loyalties wisely I guess it what I am trying to say. I have no time or desire to get into a war of words, so I am going to be judged unjustly without a chance to give my friend the correct side of the story. In keeping within my goals of staying as far away from drama as I have to, I cannot try to save my integrity with those who seemingly don't have enough, so I continue to press on with my life, and sometimes that is how life goes. People come into your life, and then they leave: growing up in the military taught me that. Am I dissapointed, oh you bet I am, but I let those who show thier true colors as unfavorable go, and I press on.

Take care, and to the addage that you must keep your enemies close, the means doesn't justify it's end. The cavat in all of this then would be when you don't know who your enemies are, what happens then?

"I feel your pins through my eyes, piercing me, all the time. Another time bomb." -Godsmack

Getting back on my feet

2005-05-15T22:00:00.000-05:00

As the grades are rolling in slowly, and so far they aren't great, but they don't need to be all that great. I did what I needed to do this semester and just pass all of my classes. The main thing is just to keep collecting credits and get the hell outta here. Next semester's lineup is set, but I have to try and switch the time of my Marketing section so I can have it at 0945 Tuesday/Thursday instead of the 0800 section I currently have.

We had our first game of the season today, and from the get-go it left much to be desired. After the 1st, we were down 4-0, and we ended up losing by a score of 6-0. I got in the game in the 9th and turned the 6-4-3 double play, and made the last out of the inning when I caught a pop fly. Our centerfielder must have called for it at the same time I did, because I never heard him, and he ended up running into my back. The game ended with me on deck, so I did not get a chance to hit. Our next game is down in wonderful(ly far) Austin, MN, about 90 minutes south of the Twin Cities. Hopefully this year if the game gets cancelled, we find out before driving all the way down there, but we'll see.

Last night, Lauren and her roommates through an "end of the year party" and I made it in after I got done with work. There is nothing like a few jello-shots, and drinks here and there mixed with people making amends and having a great time. On Wednesday, Lauren leaves for home for the summer, and we haven't really talked about what we are going to handle it when she does. It won't necessarily be a problem of communication, but just a matter of finding the time and the means in which to visit. Personally, I have 2-3 games a week from Friday-Sunday alone, and I'm sure that when she gets a job that she will have her own schedule to deal with. I'm heading home this weekend, and since she is only 45 minutes away from there, I'm sure that we might find a way to run into each other.

It's here, it's here, and on Sunday my Mom graduates from college!! I'll get to see the family, and take a well needed break from Minnesota in general. I can't wait.

Take care

The end of another semester

2005-05-10T01:52:00.000-05:00

It's finally over! This term is done for me, as I finished my last two finals today. Whether or not it was the right decision remains to be seen, but certainly if anything else my mental state will hopefully be returned sometime in the next handful of hours. The Political Science final was first, and it was rather easy for what it was worth, while the Public Health final seems just as difficult as the first 2 (in which I got a B- and a C+ respectfully).

With the semester over it is time for me to begin my schedule of baseball and work. I work 10 hours Tuesday, and another 11 hours on Wednesday. I am going hitting with some of the team on Tuesday evening, and I'm hitting at a batting cage in St. Paul on Thursday, as well as going to the gym for a toning-up session. Our first game is Friday, and I am slated to start either at shortstop or at second base.

Tomorrow night, after work and baseball, Lauren and I will head to the bar to celebrate the end of the semester, so I'm kinda glad I did not go out tonight, but that was mainly due to having so little sleep in the last 48 hours to even think about doing anything other than sleep.

The Cubs I have found don't really suck anymore....but it's just the Chicago La-T-Roy Hawkinses do. This guy is so pathetic. It's not just that I liked Kyle Farnsworth, but damn, I believe now I'm not the only one who would rather see him up there instead of Hawkins. The Cubs are now a sad 1-6 in May...it's over.

Scariest theme song of the last 20 years is the Unsolved Mysteries theme

The last two days of the semester

2005-05-08T10:57:00.000-05:00

So I've decided to "take it like a man" as the kids say, and just take my last two finals on Monday to just get this semester over with. I have my Political Science final at 1400 and my Public Health final at 1830. I'm so glad this semester is almost over. It was at the very least uneventful, although it did have its moments.

This weekend is almost over, and the only thing I am going to do from here until Monday is study, but prior to that, well at least Friday night was fun. Kevin and Vern (two old FIJIs) and I met up at what is becoming my bar of choice- Blarney's, and we were eventually joined by Lauren. Once we got our fill of bubble hockey (Lauren and I went 2-0), we headed to Sally's. We played darts where I got smoked like a turkey. Kinda dissapointed that the bars were relatively empty (unless you count the numberous amount of weirdos), we decided to grab the case of Miller Light at Lauren's place and play a game of caps.

For reasons not worth putting on here, we played out in the hallway of my apartment. Lauren and I teamed up again against Kev and Vern, and much like I thought we would, we cruised to a quick 1-0 lead. It wasn't soon there after that the two of us couldn't find the bottom of the cup to save our souls, and we got scored upon 8 straight times. At 8-1, we then scored 8 unanswered of our own to tie it up. At the point where we ran out of beer, the "next one to make it wins" rule came into effect, and we lost.

I am thinking of hosting a shindig similar to the one I tried to have last year to celebrate the ending of another school year, but I really don't think it is going to happen, because so many people are leaving soon. I am not a fan of staying on campus over the summer, because this place turns into a ghost town. Not that I have much free time with baseball and work (and this summer's travels), but even still.

So yes, the Cubs are just God awful. We have gone through the first full week of May, and the (not so)Loveable Losers are 0-7 for the month (I wonder if any team has gone through a month without winning a single game, even if it has happened, the sadist that I am kinda wants this team to tank, for nothing else other than everyone will jump off the bandwagon, so I can find some room to pass out and wait for next season). It's still early for what it is worth, I mean Houston(2004) and Florida(2003) has similar starts to thier playoff runs in the past two years, but we certainly don't have the bullpens that they did, so I have little hope.

As a true Cubs fan however it brings me a little smile when I can say without fail that they will blow the game, as was the case on Thursday (Lee's HR went to waste, and La-T-Roy made me look like Nostradomous). I love the Cubs, and I love baseball, but there is something familiar with them losing games left and right...it's like a walk through memory lane....then again at 23 I'm beginning to feel as though I might look back upon 2003 as the year that was our chance. There will be others, but with the mounting evidence that our team is cursed (or we have stupid/selfish fans, i.e. Bartman and Gianis). It is hard to argue with the results of 1954, 69, 84, (1989 to a degree), and 2003, however such is life, and along with this team of raggamuffins, I press on for sunnier days.

Take care, it's time to pass out from exhaustion, then study like it's going out of style.

Quote of the week: (From Amelious at Vern's graduation) "It's nice to be able to come to these and watch kids that I've known move on to bigger and better things....by the time you finally graduate, they will have to wheel me in with a wheelchair." Fuckin' funny man that he thinks he is :)....

I'm only unhappy when it rains

2005-05-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

Well, practice was cancelled today on account of rain- man I am glad I don't play football, so my plans for the day have changed. I will post something tonight when I'm at work.

Take care

P.S. The Cubs f'n suck!!! This has been my mantra of late, and to no avail, they keep proving it correct. La-T-Roy blew yet ANOTHER save, but I guess he's having fun with it, because he is finding new ways to screw us and the City of Chicago. He caught a line drive hit right at him, only then to throw the ball to try and get a double play to end the rally and the game. So he throws the ball TO 1st base. It hits the bag, bounces into the stands, and two runs score. Cubs 2-Philadelphia 4

...at least my dream is coming true about the Cubs sucking again so I can get opening day tickets....however Pat and I decided last month that it would be a better idea for the 2006 season to plan for a weekend trip and see 2 games and party over a weekend in the city. Oh well.

It's time

2005-05-03T20:19:00.000-05:00

It's time to begin not only finals week, but also it is time for me to begin getting ready for the opening weekend of our baseball season. I got word yesturday that I am slated to be the opening day starting catcher (a posistion I have not played since my junior year of high school). Last season as in any season, I told our management that I would be willing to do whatever it was I needed to do for the team, and for the season I was our bullpen catcher (the guy who warmed up the pitchers that we going to come in to relieve the current pitcher).

Over the off-season, we lost our back-up catcher to a team within our league, and just recently we lost our starting guy to the Northwoods League (an independant league in the northern 2/3 of Minnesota). Right now I am filled with nervousness, and questions of whether or not I can 1) do it or 2) if my body will hold up throughout the season. I know that as soon as I put on the pads for the first time, take the first pitch, and get a couple of throws off everything from my past experiences will boil to the surface, and I will revert to the cocky, agressive guy behind the dish that I was years ago.

Our season begins with a 2 game set over next weekend, so it will be a good test of how quickly my body can bounce back in between games. With a handful of weeks were we play 4-5 games a week, I need to make sure I stay in tip-top shape (which is an oxymoron for baseball players as it is :)).

On a personal note, things are going along well. I just need to get through finals week here, and baseball will take up the emotions of most of the people that I know leaving for home over the summer. It's not necessarily a fair trade, but baseball isn't a bad thing to be in my head 24/7.

Take care.

It's time

2005-05-02T00:51:00.000-05:00

It's a great thing when not only am I late for work because I overslept, but the ESPNews channel was on when I awoke only to at that point show Mark Prior get rubber-necked not once but twice by home runs (a grand slam and a 3-run shot disrespectfully).

I, SJS, solemly comfirm as of this date, May 1, 2005, that the Cubs are officially done. Everyone, "Wait 'Til Next Year." Finally, now we know it's over in May, and I don't have to worry about dragging my heart out through a sub-par season. I can now just watch and hope they don't get creamed day in and day out.

Another good weekend coming to a close, and that much closer to finals makes me a happy camper. I've documented my upcoming events already, I guess that's pretty much it.

Take care.

Whew...

2005-05-01T09:25:00.000-05:00

This just in...

According to our research, you'll be dead by

February 2061
at age 79

-Probable cause-
cancer

It's been 3 weeks since I've seen Chicago

2005-05-01T09:01:00.000-05:00

Another late night, and another crazy weekend, this time with 75% less drama, and 95% better decisions over last weekend's model. My buddy Kevin and I joined up with Lisa and Lauren to play a game of caps. Lauren and I won, but we never really finished, because the flow of beer got way too liberal (and it took me about 15-20 minutes to finish the king-sized Burger King cup of Miller Light that I was forced to intake (forced by rules of the game, not by anyone in particular). I would explain the rules of the game on here, but I do not will not make an effort to help anyone get ideas.

Afterwards we headed to the local Irish Pub on campus, and had a very productive visit, even though we only had 30 minutes before bar close. Hell, even Ann joined the four of us. We got two rounds down, and two games of bubble hockey (the only game I played, I lost in OT). We thought it was a good idea to toss eggs out the window before and after the bar, and looking upon the carnage, it was a pretty good idea :).

I pulled off two pretty good looking trades in my fantasy baseball league (at least they look good on paper), so I can't wait for them to go through the Yahoo staff.

Work last night was surprisingly slow. We picked up some 13 or 14 cars (anywhere from 7-10 is a normal Friday or Saturday night haul), but I learned that if I don't have to deal with a lot of people coming to pick up their cars, I am able to keep myself occupied chatting on IM, and studying. I got a double shift (1600-0700) tonight, but Sundays are notoriously slow, so I will actually have a chance for a rewarding 5 hour sleep.

The next two weeks will be interesting, and maybe fun(?), with 3 finals, and the first baseball games of my season (we play May 13th and May 15- both home games). Other than that really nothing much is going on. It was payday today, so that's a plus.

Take care.

The Cardiac Cubbies are back

2005-04-29T21:25:00.000-05:00

....to making things that much more difficult. To take some of my mind off of the game, I figured I would write. This game of Clemens vs. Maddox turned out to be quite the pitchers' duel (not so much as Wood/Clemens in 2003, but good nonetheless). I am beginning to like this team the way it is- the big stars produce, and the rest of the team does what is needed. It would be nice if we could find some cork guys to plug up the bullpen here and there, and don't be surprised if GM Supreme- Jim Hendry focuses on just that.

It's F-R-I-D-A-Y, night, and at 2130, I am STILL debating whether to call it a night (meaning I would stay in and clean this mess I call my room), or go out for a few drinks (maybe have some fun?).

*Update- I'm making phone calls as we speak.*

My schedule this weekend got changed just a bit, as I am working a double shift on Sunday, which will put me at 35 hours from today to Monday morning. I like doing it this way because instead of coming in 4-5 days a week, I can get the same amount of hours by just wasting a few days, AND I have my weekdays free for homework.

The semester is quickly coming to an end (thank GOD), and Monday will begin the last week of the regular semester. The finals schedule for me looks a little somethin' like this- hit it!:

Thursday- Rec and Leisure final 0945-1100
Friday- Public Health Study session 1330-1430
Monday (5/9)- Public Health:Drugs and Alcohol final 1830-2130
Wednesday (5/11?) Poli Sci final

(Yes Kristi, I know that the official final is on Monday night, but since I have another, I will be scheduling an alternate final :)).

I have been having a lot of dreams, and as in most cases many have been involving some pretty wierd senarios: nothing too crazy, but wierd nonetheless. The ones that haven't been weird were had in naps where I have to remember if certain things actually happened, or if they were apart of a dream. This pattern is nothing new, as every time I tend to stretch myself, my body adapts, and since it knows that it won't get much sleep, it begins to mix the first 4 hours of sleep (labeled "deep sleep", the part you NEED to have), and REM sleep (which is where the dreams come about). I can't immagine that this is part of Darwin's theory, but at the same time, if I can pull 20 hour days, and get the sleep requirements in means of deep and REM sleep, then all the better, right? (Dad, you had many a year where sleep was at a premium, did you ever find this evolution in your younger days?)

Last night's long night was of my own doing, but I had a chance to work on a project that I have had in my head for sometime now. The task at hand is to try and find the words to express to my Mom on her graduation day how much she has meant to me in my own search for institutional knowledge, but also as a parent, but more importantly as my friend. Sappy, maybe...but then again it is hard to put into words how strong my relationship has become with my Mom.

Ok, Cubs won 3-2...I can now begin to get ready.

A great gift at 3am

2005-04-29T03:03:00.000-05:00

From the almighty and all-knowing UG (thank you)...

Max Ehrmann's "Desiderata"

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

More fitting that fitting, and it is greatly appreciated.

The weekend cometh

2005-04-29T02:30:00.000-05:00

I began my weekend today in a sluggish fashion, however instead of wearing sweats like I would normally do when I wasn't all that worried about wearing something presentable, I wore decent clothes to class (it's amazing how looking good, or as close as I can get to it, makes me feel good). In my drugs and alcohol lecture, I was amazed to find a bit of humility in my quest of self-pity for being an "old man" on campus.

Our TA spoke in front of the class (about 75-150 students...I really don't want to even think of counting them), and gave us his story of becoming (and fighting) addicted to alcohol and drugs, and how he went through treatment. He is currently finishing up his masters in drug and alcohol rehabilitation studies (or something jargan-ish around that topic). It was amazing how he could pull himself out of a situtaion such as that (not that it wasn't his fault in the first place), and begin once again to contribute to society. It was a powerful, moving experience.

The rest of the day I had my nose in a book :(

This weekend will be a long one:
Friday- Work 0700-1600, workout, partying (well going out- I'm staying sober this weekend)

Saturday- Studying, work 2300-0800 Sunday morning

Sunday- Baseball practice 1100-1300, studying, then work again at 2300 to 0700 Monday

Wednesday was our last intramural softball game, in which we lost. It was the semi-finals of the Greek League, and we were facing a team that had beat us during the round-robin portion of the schedule. We came back from 15-7 to tie it at 15 going into the final half inning of the game. With no runners on and two down, the ball was hit in my area of left field. I made a charge on it, and I knew that the only catch I could make was a diving on that you see on SportsCenter all the time. I ran over, dived, and the ball popped out of my glove. I got the ball in, and the next batter hit a pop up that was just out of reach of our short outfielder (in softball, that is an actual posistion), and the runner who was running on contact scored easily. We lost 16-15.

I know I shouldn't care, because after all it's a fun game of softball, but I couldn't let it go that I had a line on the ball, I had the jump timed perfectly, and I had my glove in the right spot. I only could think of how I made a similar catch in a similar situation 3 years ago that saved the game. As I slid on the grass for that moment it was awful, but like a ball player I jumped to my feet, and through the ball in to keep him at 2nd. The whole thing lasted maybe 4-5 seconds, but the sheer magnitude of the situation, let alone that I was placed in the lead-off spot and went 3-5 with a walk....it was hugely dissapointing.

Was it the only play that caused us to lose? No, there were plenty of moments in which we had easy outs that slipped away from us. Knowing that as we collected our things and headed off, surprisingly I spoke to the team, "Not a damned thing to be ashamed of tonight guys. Not a damned thing." Where in the hell that came from, I don't know, but it came out, and if anything else it was cool to mean it whole heartedly, which picked me up as well. After all we did put up an 8-spot to keep the game going into the final half of the game.

There was a visitor we had on our bench, who was a pledge brother of mine. Gobind (G) has been in the Bahamas (Dominique) since September in med school, and that made me extreamly happy. It certainly made the results a little easier to swallow knowing that one of my boys was there, and we headed downtown. Not that I like doing that on a Wednesday night, but he was leaving to Chicago on Thursday, so it was then or never. We had a great time, and I was thankful that even he told me I should shut my mouth about still being in school.

It's all about your friends and family, and sometimes they know you better than you know yourself.

An update of sorts

2005-04-28T11:17:00.000-05:00

I'm in the middle of talking to the two of them, but more than anything else my deal now is making sure everyone is cool, which seems to already have been the case- not having any info come my way was the reasoning for my worriedness. I understand I didn't play my cards right, and in fact, I could have well been playing 7 card draw with only 4 cards, but in any case, nothing worked out....

....I wouldn't mind writing something along the lines of being full of self-pity, but I haven't decided yet. The fact of the matter is that right now, I don't feel that little bounce from being optimistic about things that I normally do. The sky is not falling, and I'm healthy and all of that, but...

....I'm just filled with a lot of pesimism right now after looking over the tribulations of this past semester. I would like to just say fuck it, and forget about it. In fact I just might, but as I have said over the past few months, the only girl that will fall into your lap is a stripper. I don't know so much if I want a relationship, in fact I'm leaning pretty heavily towards not wanting one, but I think more than anything I just need to extend my social circle....network even.

All in all, none of this will matter come September, because I will well be in a different situation, and as such I will have to become a different person. I will be living in a great situation with a great, great friend, in a comfortable setting conducive to studying, and that's where my focus has to be (not to say it hasn't been my focus this semester). By the way my schedule for the fall semester looks like this:

Marketing 3001- Intro to Marketing
Management 3001- Intro to Management
Rec 3281- Research/Evaluation in Rec, Park, and Leisure Studies
Rec 5631- Commercial Recreation/Tourism
Rec 5191- Programming/Promotion in Sport

I still haven't decided whether or not I'm going to add a 1 credit PE class onto that, but as it stands right now, I have 16 credits, and that would be the largest course load I have had on the college level. Taking into effect that the only other things I have in the fall are Gopher home games, working, and hitting the gym 3-4 times a week, it's not too shabby.

Class time....last one of the week. I'm out like a fat kid in dodge ball

More quiz releases....

2005-04-26T11:20:00.000-05:00

Kermit!
You scored 75 Mood and 65 Energy!

Kermit is the down-to-earth, regular everyman (or in this case
everyfrog). You're energetic, enthusiastic and everyone likes you!
Sometimes, you get frustrated with your friends and with life's little
irritations, but most of the time you are happy and ready to take on
the world.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 85% on Mood
You scored higher than 56% on Energy

Link: The Muppet Personality Test written by TheLadyEve on OkCupid Free Online Dating

Stede Bonnet
You are 51 %Treasurer, have 48% Seafairability, crave 33% Bloodlusting, and lust 34% in Wenchwanting!

Okay, so you're good with treasure, but that's not really enough to
call yourself a pirate. You commandeer a ship, not buy one. You force
your crew to sign a pledge of allegance, you don't pay them off. Just
because you're a rich plantation owner having a mid-life crisis,
doesn't mean you can suddenly go rogue pirate and expect people to take
you seriously. Being a pirate is about being a smelly, nasty, evil,
bloodthirsty, horny bastard. You just don't make the grade. You're the
equivilant of a Pirate Nerd!

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 29% on Treasurer
You scored higher than 8% on Seafairability
You scored higher than 16% on Bloodlusting
You scored higher than 9% on Wenchwanting

Link: The What Kind of PIRATE Are You Test written by JosephineGreen on OkCupid Free Online Dating

Got to love that....I guess that's why I'm a Cubs fan. I never was one for the Pirate life anyway....the whole vocab is kinda cool. But the outfits....let alone the 40 men crews. If Uncle Sam says, "Float on Sailor", I'll do it, but unless I get my money up front, I ain'ts going.

2 weeks and 1 day...

2005-04-26T09:56:00.000-05:00

...until my semeter is over. I can't wait, and I have been stockpiling on the readings and such, because well I failed to do them when they were assigned. I'll have everything read by the time my finals start, and it will only help (because the school doesn't have you buy books just to use them as door stops- though they work surpriingly well).

It's not so much I'm an idiot (although some would tend to dissagree), but at the very least I certainly make things very hard on myself. Before everyone who reads this says, "Hey, what about Ann?", here's how this all goes.

-When I met Ann, it was with her two roommate's (Lisa and Lauren), and the only person I knew prior to meeting them was Lauren. There was an interest in both Ann and Lisa, but I made the attempt to deal with Ann first.

-Not that Ann isn't a great girl, but for me, there was certainly a lot more in common with Lisa, so that's where we are now.

-Lisa chatted with Ann to make sure she wasn't going to step on any toes, or hurt and feelings, and apperantly that was met with a sign of approval.

So that is where I'm at now. It's not so much that anything went wrong, or things got out of hand, but I just like making sure everything is sqaured away thanks to my inability (and/or lack of empathy) for drama. It's also not so much that Lisa and I are going to just up and be together tomorrow, but she certainly presents a lot of qualities I am looking for, and that is all that matters right now. Nothing is going to happen in the nearest future anyway, because she is heading off to Chile from July-Nov/Dec.

All that matters is that everything worked out for everyone, and I'm a happy camper. As Pops said, well the lack thereof (all he did was shake his head, as to say, "Boy! I don't know about you.") I could have gone about things a bit smoother, but since I can't change the past, I can only try to do better in the present and future.

Hazyville

2005-04-25T06:07:00.000-05:00

In keeping with the precidence I've already set, I have decided not to post on Friday night's goings on, but there are a few things that will soon change in the life of this guy. Once I get a handle on them, you will know, nothing serious, just crazy times and the effects they have- such is life.

Not much to post, because of the lack of wanting to open up on here about what happened this weekend, but I can report that the White Sox are off to their best start in thier 104 year exsistance- too bad though that much like the Twins they really have yet to venture outside thier horribly weak division.

Today marks the last 2 weeks of the semester for me, and as such, I will find myself spending more and more late nights studying instead of sleeping and/or wasting time, which will be welcomed (and worth it once I can put away the text books until September).

The Cubbies are 6-3 in thier last 9, and they host Cincinnati for 3, beginning today when Mark Prior toes the rubber against Eric Milton.

Our softball team is in the playoffs, and we begin that Wednesday. In speaking with our "coach", the two of us did a good job of setting up our roster and lineup to give us the best chance to win against one of 2 teams that beat us during the "season." I'm looking forward to it, but I'm more looking forward to my first baseball game of the year- May 13th.

Take care.

I never seem to make things easy on myself

2005-04-24T00:39:00.000-05:00

Current mood- ready for bed
Currently listening to- Skin by Rascal Flatts

Not really wanting to talk about the happenings of last night anymore than I have to I taught Lauren and Lisa how to play caps- the greatest drinking game ever, and the two of them along with my friend Andre headed out to Sally's, where Lisa and I whooped the other two in a round of darts.

Today I pretty much just slept all day until I came to work at 4pm (and where I will be until 8am Sunday morning). I have baseball practice at 11pm, and then I get to finally sleep again.

It is amazing how your day can improve when you get to talk with a good friend.

My plan for the next week is to prepare myself for my finals (as of now they are May 7th and 9th), because I am going to need them to make my semester somewhat respectable. *Note- having a day-night-day-night class schedule is not good...My schedule for the Fall (which has yet to fully be finalized) looks like all of days will begin with class at 0945, and while that's early for me, I will do a lot better knowing that I will be on a constant schedule.

Patty-Poo is heading up to Steven's Point to visit his gf, and in chatting with her here and there, I am beginning to see that Pat is doing a great job at becoming a man- even, well much more so that I had. It's also nice (maybe even a little sappy, but nonetheless, nice) that I can tell him how proud of him I am and he can accept it. I just hope the youngest brother of mine will blossom just as well as we have.

Other than that, no much of anything new is going on, so it's back to "work" for this guy.

Peace.

Culturally-based sports mascots

2005-04-23T19:18:00.000-05:00

Ann's roommate Lisa is doing writing a hypological speech given by the University of North Dakota president at the St. Cloud(MN) Rotary Club, in which the UND President has to convey his reasons for backing the controversial mascot of that school- the Fighting Sioux. Lisa's assignment has to deal with the UND President putting a posistive spin on his decision, because it's a Public Relations class assignment. Upon learned about this speech she has to write I figured I would chime in with my own two cents before I proof-read her work.

In America, we have certain rights, and as businesses they have certain rights as well. They have the right to name thier corporation any name not yet taken by a current or former company. That being said, when a company has a name that does not rub a certain segment of thier marketed population the right way, they will find themselves in a potential bind. Bringing us to the University of North Dakota (Fighting Sioux), the University of Illinois (Fighting Illini), the Cleveland Indians (Chief Wahoo), and formerly Marquette University (currently nicknames the Golden Eagles, they were the Warriors).

In each case, each company (and yes, schools are just as big a business as they get), has the right to find a nickname in which they feel fills a certain amount of needs, the two I have in mind are popularity/marketability of the nickname and mascot, and the reverence for which the nickname has for the area it represents. When you look at any (if not all) of the recent expansion teams in the 4 major sports (baseball, basketball, football, and hockey) the choices for the nicknames of each team is a animal. Thankfully at least, teams are getting animal names that specifically reflect thier area (Ariz. Diamondbacks, Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Charlotte Bobcats, etc.). Other teams have decided to give thier teams names in which reflect certain aspect of thier area (Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rockies, Chicago Fire[Major League Soccer]etc.). Finally some teams have lost the idea of representing thier area all together- I do not include the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, because Anaheim is Diney country, and the movie beget the team's name- (San Jose Sharks, etc.)

If you notice, almost all of them involve animals (so how long before PETA steps in and says those names offend those specific spiecies?), which is fine, and some teams have taken on names that are adjectives or other humanistic titles (Nashville Predators, Tennessee Titans, etc.). In any case, to begin there are many ways in which a team can be named, coupled with a good design can both become extreamly profitable.

However in the modern era of sports business inparticular, there has been a trend towards lifting some nicknames for what some call inherant racist practics. Teams such as the Washington Redskins, among the others listed above, and colleges as well have come under scrutiny for parading around "stereotypical" interpritations of the people the namesakes come from. For instance, at Florida St. University, thier macot (a Seminole Indian) rides a white horse around the football stadium before kickoff with a lighted spear. The ride ends swiftly and forcefully with the crowd cheering the stabbing of the field with the spear-torch. Another example would be the infamous "Tomahawk Chop" marketed by the Atlanta Braves organization (and thereafter copied by most other teams with Indian monikers). In each case, Native Americans certainly have every right to call a spade a spade, and say if indeed so (andI have to tend to agree with them) that these current rituals paint a picture that I am sure no ethnic group wants to have associated with them- would a black person want to see a mascot gospel choir swaying and chanting a school's rouser? Would a white person want to see a hillbilly mascot kicking back moonshine and spitting tobacco prior to the halftime dance with his sister?). The fact of the matter is that perpetuate stereotypes that unless closely monitored and (if) mentored by the peoples that thier name represents in a negative fashion.

However, the University of North Dakota (a hockey rival of the University of Minnesota) and thier fans have shown a perfect sign of school/regional historical pride in reference to thier Fighting Sioux name. They do no "Tomahawk chop" and they do not have a macot to speak of. In this particular case, the gauntlet was thrown down by the school a few years ago when an alumni, Ralph Engelstad, donated $104 million dollars for the new hockey arena in 1998. Before completion there was a huge debate on whether or not to drop the nickname by the school itself, and upon hearing this Engelstad publicly stated that the Sioux name, if taken away would also take away his contribution, and the staduim would not to be finished. The UND president then decided to keep the name. Engelstad died in 2002, and I believe now that even in good spirits with the name, because of the repsect the students and alumni have shown towards the nickname, the "Ralph" Arena along with the Sioux moniker will remain, and SHOULD remain as is.

When it comes to the likes of Chief Wahoo, the logo and mascot for the Cleveland Indians, I can certainly see the point of those wishing for a change, however in the case of on University of North Dakota, I don't believe that there is anything that needs to be changed. As a person who has never ventured into either of the Dakotas (and realistically, who would want to), I have no say. However I would coincide with the argument that the fighting adjective might want to be looked into for omission. The Sioux......

......I once (well many times) was taught that knowledge is power, and I will certainly attain to that lesson here. I believe I might be wrong folks (I know, it happens from time to time). In doing research on the Sioux tribe, in short, I believe that those fighting (no pun intended) to have the name changed just might have a point. The term Sioux was given onto the tribe by thier enemies, and it's meaning "little snakes" certainly does present a great cause for having it changed.

Does that mean the University should change it? Does it have an legality to change it (I am unsure of the contract Engelstad, or his estate has with the University, or if at this point he or his estate have any say in the matter)? However since the institution is a state-run organization, much like the fight taking place in Illinois, I believe it becomes a matter for the state.

IMHO- it should (as should the case with any state-run business) fall at the hands of a public referendum. Your thoughts?

damn cymbal guy.....what a cymbal-ton (zing)

2005-04-22T19:01:00.000-05:00

The concert last night was great. Granted I have naked musical ears, but it was a great gig. I got there just in time, because I got a late start leaving from my side of campus. They played mostly recent stuff (1850s-1950s)- not that I would know 1880 from 1580, but even still. From what I heard, everything sounded great, except for the end when I began to drift off on how Hindemith wrote that particular piece (the part in question was how he decided to include the triangle instrument)....

"Hey, Hindemith....you almost finished with that piece?"

"Yeah, it's all done."

"Dude, you didn't give me a part. You so owe me. Can't you find anything for me to do?"

"Sure, let me sprinkle some in some traingle parts for you."

"You're such an ass."

Again, not that I know classical music anymore than I can tell you about the tear to Nomar's groin (don't feel too bad, at least he gets to come home to Mia Hamm), but even still. I sat there thinking that I wish I knew how to draw. Listening to the music last night, all I could think about is how I could draw Looney Tunes cartoons to what they were playing :). Also, one of the 3 conductors throughout the concert decided to give the audience a bit of music education (i.e. what to listen for), which was super cool for me, because to me, it's all professionally played great noise. However, at one point he asked the band/orchestra/whatever the group should be called to play the first 5 notes of a particilar piece in the...piece(?)...and knowing a little, I knew it wasn't going to last that long, but even still...it went *boomp* *boomp* *boomp*, and it maybe lasted two seconds. I thought, what a jip, that's like a pitcher putting the ball in his glove, and just putting his hands over his head for a pitch from the windup. Oh well...

My dream job now is to become a conductor, if for no other reason than because I would be the flashiest one there ever was. I want to lift my hands, and have music play, and when there was a little part for a clarinet or some other instrument, I would put the baton in a posistion to act as an impromtu tail, and waggle it to go along with that clarinet's part....I would be great, and fun.

In any instance, when the concert came to a close, I decided that not knowing how long Ann and her roommate were going to be cleaning up, I decided the best thing to do would be to head home. Once I got to the bus stop (it had gotten a little chilly to walk), I got a phone call, "You have two girls that are dressed up, and ready to go out. Where did you go?" So I went back, and we went to a local bar that I hadn't been to since I was under 21 (back in the glory days). As they headed home, I ended up going downtown with a friend of mine.

I can't wait until I move, because it will be so much easier to get around. Granted last night wasn't bad (the girls dropped me off at the fraternity house, where I met up with with Emmett, and he drove downtown), but it will be so nice driving to campus when I need to for stuff, and just grabbing a cab passing by instead of driving downtown.

Finally, the Cubbies got rained out today, and they rescheduled the game for July 14th, which now becomes a 4 game home series with the Pirates. Left on this current home stand are the Pirates for 2, and Cincinnati for 3. I don't like what happened to Nomar, but we must move on, and hope that we can plug a hole (one rumor going 'round is that they could make a move to bring back Alex Gonzalez- who currently is playing 3rd base for Tampa Bay), and move on.

In any case, tonight will be spent studying on my puke-green recliner, and maybe a beer or two somewheres.

G'night

Update

2005-04-21T15:08:00.000-05:00

For those of you who had not gotten a chance to read my post about Wednesday's events, let me appologize, but I did steal an idea from my Dad, and I felt it would be best to ask for drafting permission before I kept it up here any longer.

The Cubs lost today, 4-0...giving them a 4-3 record on thier 3 city road trip. Not too shabby, but really we should have one the first game in Pittsburgh, and the first game in Cincinnati (putting them at 6-1 on the trip). The team will return without Nomar who torn his groin (SUPER OUCH), and he won't be back until at least mid-August. Thankfully one thing we do have is a few guys who can play SS/2B, as Walker is still out because of the collision with Carlos Lee on 4/10.

Tonight, I am going to Ann's concert, and I'm looking forward to it. She surprised me when she came to watch our softball game last night, not so much that I didn't think she wanted to, but that with all of the getting ready things for the concert tonight, let alone she has a marathon of a school schedule. In any case she did, and it certainly made my day.

I have to find something to take up my time until I get ready to get "cultured" so take care.

A few things here and there

2005-04-20T14:10:00.000-05:00

**Courtesy of David Geiser and Al Yellon’s research at Bleed Cubbie Blue, the Cubs are now 5-0 on days new popes are elected…

08/09/1903 Pius X, beat Pirates 4-3
09/03/1914 Benedict XV, beat Reds 7-0
06/21/1963 Paul VI, beat Pirates 6-5
08/26/1978 John Paul II, beat Reds 8-6
04/19/2005 Benedict XVI, beat Reds 7-1

**My Dad has this to offer for those like Kerry who only use the Church in seeming like they are quality people. Once again, all it does for me when I see a liar like Clinton & Hillary, and the super abortionist John Kerry go to church is prove to me exactly how hypocrtical organized religion is. (We can talk for days about forgiveness of sins, but in short, don't you have to begin to give up your discressions to recieve forgiveness? That's all).

**Wisconsin, the northern South Carolina, is actually debating wild house cat hunting, because of the amount of strays rolling around in the back woods. Funny that the lack of people with brains would resort to thier non-Korean roots.

**Cubs head to St. Louis for a 2 game set with the red birds, while the Pale House swept the Twins, and head to Detroit. I would have loved to see how the Go-Go Sox would play against Chicago cast-offs Farnzie and Mag-Pipes, but I guess that Magglio is out with a myriad of injures, so there goes that. The Sox are in first, and the Cubs with a sweep can reclaim a spot in first place for the first time since the season opener.

That's it...enjoy the crazy world.

Interesting things...

2005-04-19T10:10:00.000-05:00

I think besides W, Lincoln had to be my fav. president (and since we are talking about things I need to do, I need to borrow all the books my mom has been reading about our Founding Fathers and presidents)- 1) He's from Illinois, 2) He freed the slaves, 3)He started the Civil War without declaring war (the act of closing off the south's harbors was seen by the international community as an Act of War, but no declairation was ever made to officially begin the civil war. Finally, even though it has taken a gay connotation on this campus...I consider myself a Log Cabin Republican (a capitolist searching for equality). When I found this quiz, and it came out correctly, it made my day-

Our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln

What President are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

also...

What is your level of maturity?

ADMIRABLE

Your Grade: B. You are almost there!

(I would have added the results of a purity test, but the test just kept going, and going, and after 400 questions- not to mention my purity rate dropping significantly, I came to the conclusion that the test was going to continue on until my purity percentage was 0. So I stopped)

Time to get going on the day- class, working out, and homework (and lots of it).

Spoken like a true Cubs fan...

2005-04-19T09:49:00.000-05:00

"They fuckin' suck!" I told my Uncle during a conversation last night, and the truth is that they do folks, the Cubs are the best marketed product ever. You think marketing smoking is hard, or alcohol....nah, at least those make you feel good. The Cubs have killed many people ("diagnosis doctor?" "Her heart was in a million pieces"...."must have been a Cubs fan- let's go get some lunch"), and while you get high from the other two.

It's a sickness, and I can't believe what is going on here, "but it's early" and "we're not really healthy yet", and "insert lame excuse here."

I am by no means worrying about popping up daisys tomorrow, but I had come up with a thought- at what point in a Cubs or White Sox fans mind do you begin to realize that you may never see a championship? 'Cause I think I've certainly hit that point. We don't spend like the Yankees, and we made baby steps last year, but in the offseason we didn't do anything outside of our team in 2004 to make this team valuable. Our bullpen is like watching a rooster lay an egg...you know he's going something wrong with him, you're just waiting for a Grade A to shoot out. Our starting pitching has also been erratic at best.

We NEED the next 3 games, because certainly St. Louis is just pulling the anchor in, and they are looking to set sail with the division like they did last year.

What have I gotten myself into?

2005-04-17T20:44:00.000-05:00

In an effort to prove my actions wrong, as well as to get an injection of the arts into me, Thursday I will be attending a wind concert at the U of M, in which Ann (and her roommate Lauren) will be playing in. It's not so much that I don't like the arts (even for as much as I make fun of them), but that my disposable income hasn't made it yet to be disposed of at art institutes, or orchestras, etc. It has never been my fortay, music, for instance....

I was in band during 4th grade, and I had missed a concert because of baseball, as did some of the other kids. The conductor/instructor/whatever you'd like to call him chewed us out, and said, "You have to make a commitment. With only 4 concerts a year, you have to change your schedules to conitnue on in music." After that "lesson" I learned that baseball was/IS my schedule, and I never went to another lesson- I quit.

Ever since, minus the special trips to an art museum and other museums I have faltered in appreciating art, but isn't that the great thing about art- that it will always be there? It could be a weekend seeing the Bears in the Super Bowl and then going to see the Mona Lisa because it's not like she's going anywhere, right? If I croak tomorrow, then sure, I'll be kicking myself for not seeing the sights to be seen, but little by little things like Thursday night (and maybe Saturday) are helping me to get into that stuff.

Yep- here's a baseball note- the Cubs are .500 after winning the series from Pittsburgh. Maddox like I said he would have to do pitched an effective game, and Derek Lee collected a couple of RBIs to total 14 for the season. This week Wood, Prior, and Zambrano will pitch back-to-back-to-back, as the Cubbies play two at Cincinnati, and 2 at St. Louis, before returning to the North Side to play Pittsburgh. It would be nice if they could win 3 of the 4, but they are the Cubs, so we'll see. It was nice to see Nomar get a key hit in that important 8th inning surge.

Take care- it's time for an overnight shift at the ol' tow yard.

Looking back I see that I never really got it right

2005-04-16T18:00:00.000-05:00

Nothing much to add here on a Saturday afternoon at work releasing cars we took in last night. This morning I finally came home as the sun was rising on a mild and humid morning. Nothing of much interest took place last night, but I did take in a beverage or two, and I compiled a 2-2 record in bubble hockey (1-0 in singles compedtition), but other than that nothing much of note. Tonday Ann is trying out to become the first female Drum Major in U of M history, so whether or not she wins, her roomates are planning to take her out to finally get her out into the social world....depending on how the night goes, I just might end up partying with them. First off however, I will be spending a second day in a row with Pops.

I made it official a few weeks ago that after my lease runs out in my current apt, I will no longer live in the Stadium Village Nieghborhood, but I hadn't decided on whether or not to move into the Loring Park Neighborhood or just north of campus. This past week I finally decided that I will be moving in with Pops in late August. I couldn't be more relieved to finally have that dilemma figured out, and now that I know that I will not have to worry about random roomates, and all the other college apartment problems, I really am happy about the upcoming move. Not only will I be able to have some pride in where I live, but I also know that it will be a great chance to spend more time with Pops. Normally we only get to catch up with each other here and there, and everything else aside, I know he will keep me on task academically. I'm just so excited.

Tonight Pops and I are going probably to a bar downtown to share a few drinks, and just chill...there are very few people here who understand me 100% of the time, and I'm so glad he is one of them. He might not like/agree with what I have to say, but he doesn't hold back, and doesn't hesitate to let me know when I am doing wrong, or when I slip and make choices that are not congruent with my values.

The Cubs are certainly sucking the perverbial ass right now, losing to a horrible Pittsburgh sqaud 8-5 in the series opener, putting them at 4-6 on the year. I could very well see the Cubs come through and win the series with a Sat-Sun sweep, but I also did make it a point that with Dempster and Maddox throwing next we could easily gt swept. We need some offensive production and Maddox to pitch a gem...Cincinnati and St. Louis, who are next on the Cubbies schedule will not be as soft as Pittsburgh is, so they need to get the ball rolling here, and soon.

That's about all for now, things are quiet, and I'm pretty quiet too right now, so let's finish this damn semester, and let the summer begin.

Is Webster's really that good?

2005-04-15T17:10:00.000-05:00

During a conversation I had the other night, I stumbled upon topics of what some words mean. So I present my interpritations of certain terms/concepts. (I am just going to save space here by saying these are all IMHO)

Love- Love (in a relationship sense) is a feeling that one cannot fully experince unless they know what it means to be on thier own in life. You cannot feel love unless you know what it means to first be alone. Subsequently it becomes my hypothesis that a person in high school is incappable of fully understanding the full power of love and being loved. One of the most magical things about the original "L" word are that a person truely understands your pains, your sorrows, your hopes, and your dreams. When your in high school (for almost all of the 18 and under crowd) your only pains are not getting to stay out past your curfew, and your only dream is to see the day when you can "get the hell out of this place." In short, espicially these days, high school is about relationships, but not love, sex, but not love. Sex can happen without love, and because movies, and music have done a better job growing up kids in my generation, they think that because you have passionate sex that equals love, however it does not. Sex is sex, is sex.

Sincerity- Interesting that such an emotional term begins with the word "sin." I believe that sincerity begins with a moment of weakness when one person looks to another for support, for strength, and/or comfort. Whether it is because of a past transgression, "I won't look down upon you for what you have done- I'll be there until the end" or because of a moment of failed expectations, "In any case, win or lose, we are a team" or in times of complete understanding sprinkled in with a pinch of empathy, "I know very much where you are coming from, and I feel for you." In sincerity we see a piece of interpersonality, when a person intakes projected feelings of the other. When one person hurts, you hurt, when they cry you cry, and when they are happy, you become happy. (I cannot remember the exact term so I danced around what I was looking for).

Sex- Sex is sex, is sex....I guess even in my own blog, sex is exploited :). Sex is an act of interaction where one probes the other. For those who argue that oral or anal sex isn't sex, then please tell me why the actual noun in those phrases is sex. 'Nuff said, if you want to see more sex topics, watch MTV.

Family- Being a city guy now (not to mention the hours of Sex and The City watching) I have for many years argued that family is more universal than just the Mom and Dad/brothers and sister sterotypical family. With all of the mixed families nowadays, and kids shunned to be on thier own (whether personal or forced out), a family lends itself to be interprited as person(s) who one looks to for love, support, and security. In the concrete jungle that is the Metro here, I can say that I have found a 3rd father, and a 4th brother, who would without hesitation know everything I am feeling with just a glance. It gets difficult to explain, but through space and the mysteries of life there are people who become apart of who we are, but yet at the same time add so much more meaning than normally could aquaintences or even close friends.

That's it for tonight. I'm going to try and at least taste a bit o' alcohol tonight (having fun might be an added plus), so we'll see how that goes. In thinking about it, I haven't had a sickness encounter in about a year, and I am by no means due for one. In all honesty there is nothing better than puking your brains out (*sarcasim alert*), but I have had my fair share of nights wishing some people would use Toliet Duck more often. I certainly know my limits, and even though for a small guy I can handle way too much.....I don't get out of hand. If I learned anything from my first two years in school it is how to drink comfortably, responsibly, and while being able to have a fun, repsonsible time.

Winston Churchill once said, "I have taken more out of the bottle than the bottle has of me." and I can certainly feel the Brit's meaning. Alcohol is a drug, meaning that there are restrictions on it for a reason. If you know you cant handle it- don't touch it...it's as simple as that.

Thanks- I'm out like out football team's chances for the Rose Bowl once we play Michigan (zinng)

Sober thoughts

2005-04-15T03:58:00.000-05:00

I went out tonight with some of the old fraternity guys, and needless to say, it's 4am, and I'm posting sober. That my friends= a bad night.

We began the night at Caitlin's sorority, which would have been nice if tonight wasn't the first time I've heard from her in the last 2 weeks. We proceeded to head to frat parties, which wasn't my cup of tea, because I have done the Frat Row thing since I was a sophomore- 3 DAMN YEARS AGO! We went from house to house, and when we came to our last one....only underagers who wouldn't even sell thier beer....sheesh.

One of the girls we were hanging around with began showing some interest in me, but I should have realized that it wasn't going anywhere. Moments later she went to pray to the porcelin god, and like a sucker (however moreso because none of her sorority sisters were taking much watch over her), I stayed with her for 2 hours making sure she was ok. Yeah I was there for someone, and yeah for me, I helped someone out....*explative deleted*

It's not that I'm totally cold and heartless, because I'm not, but I certainly don't enjoy making sure some poor girl is dispensing chunks while the rest of her sisters get thier party on.

I remianed sober, and once I finally was able to leave said sick girl, I was able to look to notice that it was past bar close, and was grumpy as shit the rest of the night. Yeah I was selfish tonight about wanting to go out, but as a single 23 year male, I can certainly get that feeling every once in a while.

Too much drama and garbage and trash going 'round people around me currently, and to cut loose for one night- tonight would certainly cure all the ills my brain matter. I've never said I was perfect by any means, but I certainly have a clear concise view which is based in logic and reason. I just want to get through this semester in one piece mentally and physically to make this summer worth my while.

The reason I believe I left the greek system was to save myself my sanity, as well as a few bucks....who knew.

Chapters 3 & 4 The ending

2005-04-14T11:43:00.000-05:00

Saturday, I drove Patty-Poo and I home from Chicago, and I can only immagine when I can make it back (the 4th of July weekend is looking pretty good). As promised I spent the entire day with my Mom, and we did the normal grocery shopping and clothes shopping thing, but we also went bowling with my youngest brother Robert later on. Robbie bowls in a league, and so he was ready to pull one over on his older brother, but I had some late game heroics to make him bow down to me once again.

In the first game I had to pull 2 strikes and a spare out of the sky to beat him, and I did. In the second game, I got just enough pins with my last ball to crush his hopes of victory over me. To negate everything though, Mom beat the two of us in both games....at least she's learning how to talk some trash, so that made it interesting :). Lesson learned- never underestimate my Mom

Early on Sunday morning, Jennifer (an anointed adopted sister of our family- we dated in high school, and we became honorary members of each other's family) and I went to grab some grub down by the lake. It's amazing how time changes people, and every time the two of us get to hang out, I think of that. I mean it was just 6 years ago that I thought I was in love, I thought that I had everything figured out. Now six years later, I realize that not only wasn't I in love (in the high school years, do you really know what love is?), and I know now that I will never have everything figured out.

Sunday afternoon I drove back to Minneapolis, and the Cubs game was certainly not the best thing to keep me sane while behind the wheel, but just before the signal from WGN's 50,000 watt tower was cutting out, they pulled out the victory to take the series from the Brewers. I had made plans with Ann (one of the three bar gals I had been hanging out with) to watch a movie. Plans got tossed around, but eventually we watched The Village while she worked on preparing her reeds (she plays alto sax for the U of M Marching Band)....not a bad time.

Currently I am in the mist of two very good days. The weather has been great, and I have been up and productive before 10am. I met with my new advisor yesturday, and on his desk was a picture of him and a friend in front of the Wrigley Field marquee....so I had to say something about being there just a few days prior. It turns out I will have him for a prof in the fall, and that I get to do a really cool project in lieu of a final, so I'm nothing less but stoked.

Our intramural softball team swept our double-header last night to go to 3-1. Once again the first game we were supposed to play, we won by forfeit, but the second game we won via the 10-run rule. I have to make a mental note to not do my leg workouts on Tuesdays anymore, because I had to move to third base due to my legs cramping up. I played a shitty game, but I was more worried about not pulling anything- hey, softball is softball, baseball is God....good.

I've been getting some more questions over the IMs so I figure I would just do a service, and just post them here, because I'm getting tired of answering them....

How did you end up coming to the University of Minnesota?
As a 6 year old little boy I knew I wanted to go to the University of Texas. For over a decade, I bled Texas Orange, and I couldn't wait to take the ACTs so I could finally get some dialouge with my home state (I was born in between Dallas/Fort Worth- the southern twin cities). However, I became dishearted when I had to beg for them to send me any information on thier school, so as a junior in high school, I gave up on UT. It was at that point that after having lived in the midwest for 8 years, that I figured the Big Ten would be the best choice for me, and since I wanted a large school, why not pick one from the best conference of schools in the country? I looked at Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Penn State. It was once I realized that by going to Minnesota that I could save thousands in tuition a year thanks to a reciprocity program WI and MN have.

What do you want to end up doing after graduation?
Make money....meet someone special...start a family. It's as simple as that. I would like to work in the sports or news industry, but anything where I can live comfortably (read- with enough money to go out and enjoy the weekends, not having everything under the sun), I will be happy. When the time comes, I want to look into everyone's eyes and say without hesitation that I got to do everything I wanted to.

Why have you been in college for so long?
In much the same way Rick James said, "Cocaine is a dangerous drug", partying, socializing, and everything else that doesn't include studying can be just as dangerous. I was not focused on school much, and only showing promise in the spring semester won't get you where you need to be. I lost my finantial aid after my first 2 years, and I went back home to attend Carthage College, a small private school on Lake Michigan in SE WI. It was there I realized that I do not want to have to live with my parents, and to get out on my own, I would have to make it on my own back at a large school- to in fact finish what I started. I looked at going to another school, but unfortunatly, my mind was on my then-relationship with my ex, and I came back up here for her moreso than the U. Now that we are done, I now only have the motivation to finish up, and move on from Minnesota.

That's all for now....I think it's about that time to finally clean up the pit that has become my room. Take care.

The results from the latest hell week

2005-04-13T00:13:00.000-05:00

Last week, I had a presentation, 2 papers, and a mid-term, and I have recently recieved all the results that I will, so here it goes....

Political Science Green Party canidate presentation- We won the election by a land slide, however it might have been because the voters were unsure of the conditions in which the balloting was done. The ACLU has not gotten involved as of this posting, but stay tuned :).

Political Science paper- B+

Public Health Mid-Term 2- I recieved a 31/40 good enough for a 78% (C+)

Recreation and Leisure Intro Paper- A+ 10/10

Not too shabby. Next year is going to produce weeks like the one above constantly. I won't post my courses until I figure out exactly when I'm done tweaking it. Right now I am going to take 17 credits, including two classes at the Carlson School of Management, which depending on who you talk to is a top 3 or top 5 business school in the country. I'll let you know the official Fall 2005 schedule when I know.

Until then, take care.

Chapter 2- Friday night in Chicago

2005-04-12T01:19:00.000-05:00

After the game, we went to meet up with Patty-Poo's girlfriend who was downtown for a school field trip I guess. She gave us the worst directions ever, and we ended up getting a great walk from State and Chicago to Lake Shore Drive. We finally got to the hotel, and we hung out there for a bit, with the great view of the building across the street that looked like a dresser for Paul Bunyon.

We tried to find a place to eat dinner, and find a place that was 18+ to party, and 21 to drink, but we only decided to go to the Hard Rock Cafe (even though I was pissed to learn there was a Chipoltle right across the street- I love that place). It turns out that we got the services of the owner to tell us that all of the 18+ places are either on the South Side (and who wants to go there?) or in the suburbs. So we were stuck trying to figure out how Pat and his gf could hang out, how the two friend's of Pat's could get back home, or not be disgusted with the two love birds, and I could stay in the city to go out to the bar. Eventually, Pat drove everyone back to Kenosha, and planned to come back in the morning to drive his gf back to her hotel, and give me a lift back across the border.

At 11:15 pm I was on the way to Belmont and to Boys Town to hang out with Travis, a good friend of mine who lives in the city. Thinking that this was the time to get my tatoo done, I decided that getting into the parlour only 30 minutes before they closed (and having them probably rush on it), I decided against it. I headed to a place called Roscoe's on Belmont and Roscoe, and preceded to drink the night away. I had about $80 worth of drinks for $5, because Travis knew the bartender. Thankfully Travis told his group that I don't partake in homosexual tendencies, so I only had to shake a few fellas off (it was a gay bar). Again, it was just great being in a nice place after a great day in Chicago. Afterwards we went about a block away to the bartender's $2,000 a month apt, and I crashed there.

Thankfully I have a good loud song for when my family calls, because hadn't it not been for the ringer, I would have missed Pat telling me that we was waiting for me at his gf's hotel for me. I took a cab ride down Lake Shore Drive, and the city looked picturesque as the skysrapers rubbed thier eyes on a new day. I met up with Pat, and the drive home was one I don't want to live again (I hate leaving the city). We made it home, and then I kept my word on letting Saturday be the day I hung out with my mom and brother....

Chapter 1- Cubs Home Opener

2005-04-11T14:10:00.000-05:00

It was going to be the most gorgeous home opener that I have been to 60+ degrees, light wind, just a beautiful day weather wise. Here's a look into the weather for the other openers I have been to:

2000- snow flurries
2003- The game was snowed out as 4 inches fell within 3 hours in the early AM. The game was rescheduled for the next day, and because of the blanket of snow, it was freezing, and of course, windy.
2004- It was sunny, but windy as all hell.

We got there in relatively quick fashion because we drove down the the park and ride at the Kimball stop of the Brown Line, instead of going to O'Hare or Skokie. After just over an hour of a car ride, it was 15 minutes, and we were on the North Side. We (Patty-Poo, his two friends from Kenosha, and I) learned quickly that in the sun, it was warm and cozy, but in the shade, it was windy and cold. We got to the ball park after a few block walk up from Belmont and Clark, and everyone was out, it was great. "Go Cubs" they all said. Optimism was everywhere.

We filed to our seats, which were in section 512, in the second to last row of the upper concourse. The seats were high, but we had a spectacular view of the park, and the Sheffield roof tops. The Cubs went down early 1-0, but quickly picked up Kerry Wood when Dubois got a two RBI single in the bottom of the inning. Kerry calmed down after that, and pitched 5 more innings, only giving up 1 run and he was in line for the win up 3-2.

The the bullpen came along, and La-T-Roy "I really, really don't want to close" Hawkins, walked in the tying run with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th. The game went 12, and in the top of the 12th, the Brewers got 3, and like the rest of the extra frames, the Cubs went empty in thier half of the inning. 4 hours plus later we had a reason to leave- the game was over.

Our seats were in the shade the entire game, but the group of people we were around certainly was an entertaining bunch. On a whole, the only thing wrong with the game was that the Cubs blew it (but for those who know what things were like from 1990-2002 know all about that). I am now 2-2 in home openers.

Like I told Pat later, I think that it would be best next season to think about doing a weekend in Chicago some time in August. That way we can go to 2 or 3 games, and just stay in the city, and enjoy the rest of Chicago. Normally, its go to the game, and head back home. This year was different though, and I will next post on the happenings after the Cubs horrific loss.

UG, from all of us, we thank you a bunch for the oppertunity to enjoy the game.

Take care.

The weekend that was...

2005-04-11T06:15:00.000-05:00

Because this was such a successful road trip, I think the best thing to do in fairness to all is instead of writing what could be a novel about the weekend, I'm going to break it down into small chapters.

Chapter 1- The Cubs Home Opener
Chapter 2- The evening and night, and morning that followed in Chicago
Chapter 3- The rest of the trip
Chapter 4- Sunday night

I don't know when I will get to it, but I certainly will. This weekend was just the thing to get more reasons why I will move to a major city. Everything worked out, except that to party anywhere in Chicago, you need to be 21, to Abby, Pat, Nicole, and Mich I'm sorry for that.

The Cubs picked up thier first series win of the season in yet another 12 inning game against the Brewers Sunday. I was lucky enough to listen to the game on WGN, and listening to Pat and Ron, I have been forced to purchase the radio capabilities from MLB.com. The Loveable Losers will host San Diego for 3 before they head off to Pittsburgh for 3, Cincinnati for 2, and St. Louis for 2 more. At 3-3, the Cubs need to get the bats working in a better fashion (espicially Nomar, who only had 1 hit in the series with the Brewers). Nothing is going to come easy, espicially in the highly compeditive National League, and let's hope that Dempster comes through Monday, and Prior does on Tuesday....we need this series.

Long day today, so I'm hitting the hey, but the weekend that was will be documented.

Take care.

Once upon a time...

2005-04-06T15:01:00.000-05:00

...the Cubs tore apart an overrated pitcher for 7 runs in the first two innings. Now that reality has set in, the Cubs are 1-1 still good for only a 1/2 game behind St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati. It's early, and granted, I couldn't watch the game in this market (unless you count watching MLB.com's Java updater watching- it's pretty sad that in 2005, I'm watching updates that are 2-5 minutes behind dying with each update).

The Cubs ended up losing thier first 1-run game of the year, however they did fight to make it a one run game, and much like Luther Head in the closing seconds against UNC Monday night, the Cubs certainly got thier oppertunity to pull ahead, however Ramierez struck out with 2 men on. Maddox, gave up 3 unanswered runs, and left the game (hopefully ashamed) losing 5-3. Maddox early on isn't much better than I on my best day. He (Maddox), early on is the key reason we need Prior and Woody.

On a personal note, I have certainly had a busy last 24 hours today, as I rang in Wednesday with a short 1-7am shift, had 2 meetings before noon, and met up with Caitlin before I headed into work. I am scheduled to work from 4pm tonight up to 7am in the morning, however I have a buddy coming in to work for me so I can play softball with the fraternity guys tonight. Yes, it's softball, but its about as close as it comes to getting out and playing some baseball.

The last time I played with the FIJIs was during Spring Jam, 2002. In 2001 when I was the softball chairman, we took a really strong team into compedtition, and ended up taking third place (to show our feelings for not making the championship game we not only beat down our opponent in the 3rd place game, but after we got our third place plaque, all of the houses in our pairing- another fraternity and a sorority, took sledge hammers to break the plaques). In 2002, we had a new crop of guys who had played ball throughout thier high school days, and we fielded a team that was unstoppable.

Our first game was a stinker, as we played a sub-par group, which included my then-girlfriend's house. The only time there was any compedtition was when I was up to bat and all of her sorority gals were trying to get into my head (things like, "If you get a hit, you're not going to get laid for a month" for example). Later in the game, Gretchen (the ex) came in to pitch, and everyone went nuts (I hit a modest double :). Our next game was also a stinker, as we cruised to victory.

In the semi-finals things got sticky, espicially for those who were around the year before. The game was close going into the later innings, and with a few people on the bases, I made a game saving catch to help close out the game. I had to work during the championship game, but after I was subbed-out, we were already well on our way to taking first place. Long story short, FIJI + softball= good stuff, and tonight I get a chance to relive just a bit of that.

In less than 24 hours from now, I will be on I-94 heading home for the weekend. There are very few things in college that beat going home for a weekend (a road trip might be one, but that's really the only thing I haven't done in my time here.....I've flown everywhere, no driving). The Cubbies home opener on Friday will be welcomed with open arms, as it means that baseball season TRUELY is underway. They can lose 100-0 (well, nevermind), and it would still be a great experience, as nothing can compete with the majesty of Wrigley on a sunny day (and they are reporting 60*+ and sunny). The last time I saw the Cubs at Wrigley on a warm, sunny day was in August of 2000, when I had seats with my high school geometry teacher behind home plate. Kerry Wood pitched that day, and he also picked up the win against the Astros.

I can't wait to see my family, see the dog and little Bear, and just spend some quality time with the group without the help of Verizon Wireless. Home is where I lay my head, but my heart is wherever my family is.

Take care.

P.S. Prediction for tonight- The Cubs bats wake up to give Dempster the win, 4-1. Personal prediction- I go 7-11 tonight with 4 RBIs and 5 runs scored, and we win at least one of the of the two games tonight.

The latest

2005-04-05T11:45:00.000-05:00

I got word today that I got into a major (and after all of the crap I've been through in the past 6 months, plus the now almost 5 years I've been in school, it's about time). I didn't get into Sports Studies, so I was admitted to Recreation, Park, and Leisure Studies. My emphasis is in commerical recreation (read- the section of this major that is capitolist). It might have been a clean break, but instead of graduating next spring with a Sports Studies major, I am not targeted to graduate following the spring of 2007 (which, if he is on point, Patty-Poo will graduate then as well).

I'm not all that happy, but I guess I can rest in knowing exactly WHEN I'm going to graduate. It's like making out with a girl, and realizing that it was a dream. It's not what I was hoping for, but again, it wasn't like I was a model student by any means my first two years, and I did go half-time at a local college for a year, so all in all it could be worse- I could be working at the towing company for the rest of my life. I'm going to graduate, it's just going to mean staying 'round here a bit longer.

....and now what you've all been waiting for....

THE CUBS ARE IN FIRST PLACE!!! With a huge 16-6 victory in a game that was never close, the Cubbies smashed former Yankee Javier Vasquez for 2 in the first, and 5 in the second. It took a few innings, but everyone in the starting line-up, including Carlos "I run like a bulldozer too" Zambrano. 1-7 the lineup yesturday did what they needed to do early as they moved along runners, sacrificing, and singling their way to a 7-0 lead. Then, THEN the big bats woke up as D-Lee, and Aramis hit 3 and 2- run home runs.

But the bad news.....
Carlos failed to make it past the 5th, not qualifying for the win after throwing 100+ pitches. That certainly isn't the way to start out the season. Furthermore, let's remember than the Diamondbacks are not the Marlins, Cardnials, Padres, Brewers, etc. This is a ball club that will struggle to win more than 80 games in a horse-poop division. A win, is a win, is a win, however and the Cubs are well on thier way to accumulating a 173-0 record en route to thier World Series title (162 regular season games, plus 11 wins in the playoffs/World Series).

Fearless predictions for 4/6 at Diamondbacks......
Pick to click- Jeremy Burnitz, who pops a HR to keep it close
The Clink to stink- Greg Maddox who gives up 5 runs, and doesn't make it past the 4th inning.

Cubs lose 7-5

Big news forthcoming....

2005-04-05T09:34:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned....something big is in the air.

Not a good omen

2005-04-04T03:53:00.000-05:00

The Red Sox fell the the Yankees last night to start thier title defense on a sub-par note. As Boston Bill plainly put it, "[Red Sox pitcher, David] Wells is throwing this game!", and I can't help but to agree with him, as Wells balked in a run with the bases loaded (yes, balked in a run). Here is an old verteran who has pitched with the Yankees for 2 stints over 4 seasons, and he balks a run in! Rediculous.

But that's baseball friends, and the season is underway. This game will rip your heart out, chew it up, and then wait for nature to take it's course, only to put it in a bag, stick in on your doorstep, light it on fire, and run away. However this cruel game is one that I love (but after that grand metaphor, I'm beginning to wonder why :)).

No Dad, the Cubs as of now are not in first place. The Cubs are n/a because they have yet to play. Being in first means you have to actually do something that counts, and all they have done so far is put guys on the DL. If they win tomorrow, then yes, they will be in first, but you have to do something on the field to garner a first place posistion. Hopefully they get 90+ wins, but we'll see how far we can go this year.

I was watching an ESPN special before the game tonight about the story of the 2004 Red Sox, and it got me teary-eyed thinking when in the hell it will be OUR turn to snub our nose at everyone. Peter Gammons has predicted that the Twins and Cubs will make the series, and for my present location, I would certainly pay top dollar to see the Cubs at the Dome, but more than likely, I'd be out on Addison drinking like the rest of the 4+ million people that would be there. As a young fan of the Loveable Losers, I naively claim that we change our slogan from "Wait 'til next year" to "when is it our turn" however that sounds too socialist, so I'll shut up. Now I know why I love this game- it's a metaphor for America. You have your haves (NY, Boston, etc.), and your havenots (Chicago, Pittsburgh, Oakland), and nothing is given to anyone. There is nothing more capitolist than baseball....it's great.

I spent the night at Blarney my new favorite bar now that I can walk to that side of campus without losing a body part walking through the cold. I met up with the ladies (Lauren, Lisa, and Ann- since I failed to mention them by name before), and while Boston Bill was going insane due to the outcome of the game, I was trying to explain how I might be acting the very same way when the Cubs play today, however I still don't think any of them really understood.

All in all it was a great Sunday, as I said before, I hit the shit of the ball during batting practice, and I'm finally comfortable with my new stance. The rest of the day and night (now Monday morning) was part of another lazy Sunday.

I am taking notes on which muscles hurt right now due to batting practice (my right forarm, left trunk, etc.), so I can spend a good deal of time on those areas this week, because those are the ones I'm going to need on a constant basis this summer. Monday I'm finally working on my mid-section, and Tuesday night it's the legs.

Finally, I have been recruited for two different intramural softball teams here on campus. The first is the College Republican sqaud, which will primarily be for fun, and the second is for my former fraternity. I'm more excited about the latter because they play double-headers on Wednesday nights, and I know all of the guys (and most of them still remember my game-saving dive in the championship game back in 2002). It's so much better when you are able to play with guys you know, and along with the fraternity sqaud, I am feeling much more comfortable with the Irish guys I play baseball with. I hope that continues to carry on into the season, because this year I want to shine when my time comes. If I am a bench guy, that's fine, so long as we win. Hopefully my offense will create a problem where they can't help but put me in the lineup as a DH or something, but I am continuing to do all that I can to put myself in that posistion.

Take care, and let's go Cubbies!!!! My prediction is Cubs 3-2 over Arizona. Zambrano picks up the win with 9 K's. Nomar goes 2-3 with an RBI double, and Ramierez hits a HR. Hawkins gives up a run late, but still picks up the save.....then the Cubs will be in first place (Dad) :).

Happy Opening Day!!!

2005-04-03T15:40:00.000-05:00

It's finally here, after months of off-season rhetoric, and Cubs injuries, the off-season is a memory, as New York plays host to Boston tonight (7pm CST, ESPN2). While I no longer feel an affinity for Boston, because well, they are winners now, I never pass up a chance to root against the Yankees.

Tomorrow and Tuesday the rest of the league gets underway. The Cubbies will begin thier run at a title on Monday (4pm CST, WGN/ESPN2) against Arizona). My favorite Cubbie Carlos Zambrano will take the hill, and hopefully the Cubs offense will continue to show just enough to get by (they beat Seattle 3-2 last night). Also on the MLB front. Alex Sanchez from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays was the first penalized under baseball's steriod policy.

On a personal baseball note, we had another one of our winter/spring workouts, and I hit the absolute crap out of the ball today!!! I think one of my problems has been that I was just pressing too hard. I dramatically changed my stance at the place in the fall, and like anything, it just takes time getting used to everything (i.e. getthing the feet right, getting a new look at the ball, etc.). To give you some indication of how much of a chance my swing/stance undertook in the off-season, my arms are about a foot or two higher than they used to be, when I used a crouched posistion, and my eyes are a foot higher. I went from batting like Jeff Bagwell to Alex Rodriguez. We'll see what happens in 2 weeks when I am next able to attend our workouts, but hopefully by then I'll get a chance to hit some live pitching, instead of the cage rutine we currently have.

Other than baseball, it's a beautiful day out here in the Twin Cities, and while I can say it's about damn time, the fact is it still could be much, much worse. Unless some crazy front moves through, we are done with winter up here for a good while. I'm heading out tonight before work to go cheer on the Red Sox with the group of gals I met up with Friday night, as well as Boston Bill. Tomorrow, I haven't decided if I am going to show up to Poli Sci or not (I will show up to at least half of it), because the Illini will play North Carolina for the national championship (and the Cubs game will only be 2 hours old by the time class begins). Go Illini, just one more game, and the dream season will commence with the first championship in Illinois since MJ left the Bulls. Furthermore, it would be the first non-Bulls title in Illinois since January 1986, and for those that don't know, every football analyst will remind you that was the last time that the Bears won the Super Bowl (in fact, the only time).

Only because Ryne Sandburg was running out of material did he say the White Sox were contenders for the AL Pennant, let alone a world series win. I think he's jockeying for a job somewhere in Chicago, because there is no way the Sox will win thier division, let alone represent the AL in the Series.

Take care.

P.S. Give me a break....this is rediculous!

DAMN IT! I'm an idiot

2005-04-02T13:24:00.000-06:00

Currently listening to LBC One To The Right
Current mood cotton mouthed and grogy

This makes it two weekends in a row where I had a long, long night, as I didn't make it home until 0530 this morning. Sheesh...I don't really know what it is, but certainly I just don't want to go home when the bars close. The guys and I headed to a bowling alley in the North Metro, and after I bowled 121 and 118 disrespectfully (hell, it's not bad enough I can't HIT my weight I can't BOWL my wait either), we decided that even the guy who had to get up at 7 this morning was going to go back to campus and find a bar to go to. We ended up at Blarney, the Irish Pub on campus.

The place was absolutely dead, and it was disturbingly quiet. After Kev and I compiled a 2-1 record in bubble hockey, we noticed that a table of cute girls on the second level, so we decided (well I did when I left the group) that we should join them. Turns out that I knew one of them (a buddy's ex from his high school days) and Smiley knew another one of them. I bought a round of JaggerBombs (Jagermiester and Monster energy drink), and we just hung out from there. Turns out that the smoking ban being lifted early Friday morning was an April Fools Joke, so I was pissed that I couldn't smoke in the bar, but the bar nicely had a tent set up outside in the back (not that it was all that cold last night anyway).

The guys ended up leaving, which wouldn't had been so bad if my car wasn't 8 miles away at a friends house, but not thinking straight, "Oh, it's no big deal, I can walk home from here." I had to make a call into work to have them tow my car in. After they left, my buddy from Boston and I continued to sit and chat with the ladies, and we certainly must have either bored them talking about baseball so much that they were frozen in thier chair, or we were entertainly interesting enough that they stayed to listen to Boston Bill and I sing Fly Me To The Moon. After bar close, I walked the ladies home and spent a few hours chatting with them, and headed onto my side of campus.

It turns out Iowans are people too....they are just living in the far, far western Chicago suburbs.

At any rate, I have work from 1600-2300 tonight, and who knows what after that, and baseball in the morning. Sunday night, I decided I am going to help cheer on the Red Sox against the Yankees before work, and from there it is just a few days until I head home (exactly 5 days from my writing this). I'm excited (duh), but now I have a dilemma....I don't know which interpritation of the 1907 Cubs logo to get tattooed on my arm. See the one I have on my cap has a little frown (which I'm sure is there from the subsequent century of futility), but the one I have on my 1907 jersey shows the bear with an open mouth (think a polar bear with a pac-man mouth)....I have to find a good one online, but with anything baseball it's an exercise in fun things.

Take care all.

Hit me, and knock me out, and let me go back to sleep

2005-04-01T18:39:00.000-06:00

Listening to The Used All That I've Got
Current Mood Loose and fancy free

For my unpresidented 4th post today, I wanted to tie up some loose ends, and I have found out that I need another medium in which to waste my time (as do you Kristi :)). I think I'll go a little retro and do this one Larry King style....old man, do your thing.

- Drinking Budweiser products are something unless absolutely forced to do, I won't do again. I drank the self-proclaimed "King of Beers" lighter cousin all last night, and awoke at 430am this morning to a damn nightmare about Freddy Kruger. Sheesh, it's not bad enough that I look like I'm 12, but to have the mental ability of one certainly didn't sit well this morning, as that old damned Kruger killed me before I got him.

- If he makes another visit in my dreams, he's a dead(er) man!

- My new favorite band that no one has heard of is (surprise) Lucky Boys Confusion.

- It makes me feel good when people look to me to help them with thier fantasy baseball needs.

- Knowing that I can wear Cubs jerseys on two consecutive days (my Nomar one yesturday and my 1907 one today) makes me ready for the season.

- When Prior and Wood and Zambrano pitch back-to-back-to back for the first time this season, I'll cry. It's like watching your kid graduate from pre-school. When they pitch back-to-back-to back shutouts, I'm buying rounds at the bar.

-Speaking of the bar, the smoking ban that took effect at midnight on 3/31 was subsequently lifted because of an appeal this morning. It's not so much that I want to smoke in a bar, but son of a bitch, the government can't change the rules on establishments in the middle of the game, let alone begin to further strickly regulate a leagl substance. Furthermore, there has NEVER been a case where someone died due to second-hand smoke (it might have been an accomplise in the death, but it has never been mentioned in any autopsy reports). I'd much rather continue to chew at the bar, and come home smelling somewhat clean, but I choose to go to the bar, where some people choose to smoke. What's next people- not being allowed to drive on dirt roads? I can't say whether the bans are unconstiutional, but to change the rules after hundreds of years in social precident is just wrong.

- Every day this weekend except for Sunday, the Cubs will be on national TV- bitchin'.

- Caitlin= White Sox fan

- When it is your birthday, be a pal and make sure your cell phone is on, so I can call you an old man. Todd (who turned 25 yesturday) doesn't read this, but it's good advice nonetheless.

- The fact that a lot of people are picking the Twins to get to the World Series is absolely fiction-based. Trust me, that front office won't do anything to help the team at the trading deadline, and they are filled with one too many young pups.

- My not so fearless predictions for 2005...
Playoff teams- Yankees, Red Sox(wild card), Indians, Angels, Marlins (read- the Braves), Cardnials, Marlins (wild card), and Padres. I don't believe anyone can pick anyone else but the Braves for the NL East champs, but it's fun to try. The Marlins will take the wc while the Braves take the NL East for the 14th straight season.
The Angels will lose to St. Louis in the October classic.

- My point for not picking the Cubs....they might (read will) reach the playoffs, but like 2003 the Cubby Bears need Dusty to do his magic, and that happens ad nausium when his teams are over-looked like they are this season. A healthy Prior, Wood, and Zambrano along with a winning Wood and a compitent Hawkins will have me planning to celebrate a World Series victory in Chicago with The UG (and yes my man, we're going to be there getting drunk...bring the Absynthe ;).

- I think I just got back to liking my job again.

- Finally, for all the Catholic church has done to push it's elitetest adgenda over the years, the Pope will do as a subpurb sacrifice for his sins as an accomplise to his part in the sinning of the Church....I mean this in all sincerity, but fuck him. Burn in hell you old bastard...

-Case and point...here. My step-dad has been a saint to my Mom and my brothers, and family as well. My Dad has been a saint in the same regards to his new family. So go and die already old ass bastard. Unfortunatly one day I might find myself in a posistion of second husband, or with a second wife, and if I can do what I need to do to keep my family happy then I'm going to do it. I hope the Devil is kind to you, and Hitler doesn't try to befriend you too much, you corrupt pompus sonofabitch. I wish to God he would let you live in pain for more months on end.

Ok, ok...I feel better, but one day in 1997, Patty-Poo and I were watchign CNN when news of his words came out, and our jaws dropped and hit the floor. We hadn't been very Catholic for many years at that point, and having that in my head was the main reason that I dennounced my catholicism in 2000. I respect the religion for what it is, and I don't hold grudges against anyone Catholic, but that's how I feel. It's like hating George Steinbrener (which I do), but respecting the Yankees. I mean every word, and I know this is world wide, and I know the Catholic mafia is watching this, and that's fine. The fact of the matter is that for centuries the Catholic Church has been the country club of religions, and I can't wait years from now the church takes it in the ass, and comes around on gays and gay marriage (no pun intended, although it was good placement if I did mean to). It will happen, you just watch.

Respect, peace, and love, because we all need it.

One more time though, because it feels good to say, John Paul II, go fuck yourself...ok, I'm better now.

Cubs preview

2005-04-01T06:06:00.000-06:00

For my third post of the morning, I ran across this from the Cub Reporter. Check it out, it's worth the read.

Sparks fly, I hit the ground runnin'

2005-04-01T05:28:00.000-06:00

Man-o-man, my week is finally over my friends! After a speech, a mid-term, 2 papers, and two consecutive all-nighters this damn week is over! It didn't end without drama, but sometimes people just get too caught up on shit, and don't ask before they react.

I was supposed to go to the Lucky Boys Confusion show with this friend of mine, however I heard last night that she was sick. I left a message after my mid-term, that I wasn't going to be able to make dinner prior to the show, let alone if I was even going to go (only having some 7 hours of sleep in the last 60, I didn't know if I was going to nap or just fall asleep for good last night). After being asleep for all of 25 minutes said friend came in, and I awoke to her, and she flipped out that I wasn't going out.

...Now like I said earlier tonight, it's moments like this that I give Gretchen some credit. There were times in which I was able to do a double shift at work, or even a triple shift (yes, that's 24 hours straight), and we would go out afterwards. However there were times when I just couldn't do it, and while she wouldn't be happy for a bit, she would understand that even making the attempt sometimes was proof enough that I would go out with her regardless of my physical/mental state. Unlike Gretchen though, this friend left in a huff, and decided to yell at one of my good friends (her ex) about how awful I was.

It turned out that this good guy friend of mine and I did end up going out to the show. As far as I was concerned in 3+ hours I was woken up 3 different times, so there was no way I was going to get rid of the adreniline I was on, so why not? The two of us had some Chipotle, and headed downtown. We were lucky enough to get both of us in, because the show was sold out, and at the time we arrived, there was only one ticket left. The band we came to see was of course, Lucky Boys Confusion, a favorite band of mine who is from Chicago. As I thought about the shows I have paid to see, a pattern came into view that they all had Chicago bands playing (Dynamite Hack, Disturbed/Chevelle, and LBC last night). Unknowingly, the band was floating around the venue, but I had no clue what they looked like, so when they came on stage, I was dissapointed that I didn't get a chance to chat with them for a bit.

They played for about an hour or so, and we had a spot on the side of the stage. It was a great show, and afterwards I did get to chat with their base player for a while. He said he wasn't sure if they were going to play next weekend, but that they would be in Chicago. If they are playing, I'd love to go see them again, but we'll see.

I don't have much more to say about the incident involving pissed off friend, so I won't. I had a great time, and it was what I needed to start off my weekend. This weekend is looking to be a Caitlin-free weekend (unless something pops up late Saturday night), and I have less than a week before I head home. One thing I don't like is when people flip out before they find out the facts. Had she asked why I wasn't awake, I would have said I worked got through two all-nighers in a row, then she could have made her emotions felt. However, as most kids my age unfourtunatly do, they act before they think.

When it comes down to it, I already put enough pressure on myself when it comes to things I should do/things that I'm scheduled to do. I have the mind of a female, in that my mind is going a thousand miles a minute, and one of the things that helps me function is that I don't have people around me who fill my life with drama. Life is tough enough without having to live in an OC-type of world, so why let that poison your life.

As I said it looks to be a Caitlin-free weekend, which is relatively sucky since I won't be here next weekend, but somehow things have a funny way of happening for a reason (last Saturday night immediately comes to mind). In a handful of weeks she'll be heading for D.C. to intern all summer, and in all honesty we weren't going to get married tomorrow. However, when you have those butterflies in your stomach, it's only natural to hang out with a gal you like.

That's all for now...be sure to check out the post previous this one, as Patty-Poo sent me a survey via e-mail. I have to work 1st shift for a change today, so I might just end up posting something new if I can get this damn hangover gone. In closing, lyrics from Of Course by Lucky Boys Confusion...

Stop, I know why you're running
Wait, I know what you're saying
We've been spinning around in circles going nowhere
Simple, if that's how you hide it
Complex, if that's how you see it
Just depends on where you stand and what you've walked through
Give me all your tired and angry
If the whole world is my enemy, I feel no remorse
Let anyone step, I'll match them eye to eye of course
Go, if you're staying to please me
Stand off; don't threaten to leave me
I wouldn't want to stay where I didn't feel welcome
I speak but you're not listening
Shout do you know what you're missing
Imagine where we'd be if you weren't so defensive
I chased it, I faced it, I couldn't erase it
The freedom I tasted, I couldn't replace it
I never questioned your suggestions
But your every action is my detection
Of your hesitation or lack of patience
To feel the elation, from your own creation
You won't offend me by staying behind
But how I unwind, is how I unwind
Loyalty coated honesty, half the time seems right to me
You want the truth could you have slept if you'd have known it
Loyalty coated honesty, at the time seemed right to me
Oh, was I wrong, I'd have left if I'd have known it

Yet another survey

2005-04-01T04:48:00.000-06:00

From Patty-Poo via e-mail...

1. First Name? Stephen
2. Were you named after anyone? I was given my name from my Dad's middle name. So if that counts, then yes.
3. Do you wish on stars? If I can see them, it never hurts to try.
4. When did you last cry? Early Friday morning
5. Do you like your handwriting? When I take the time to make it look legible, yes.
6. What is your favorite lunch meat? Smoked ham
7. What is your birth date? 2-25-1982
8. What is your most embarrassing CD? Sheesh, I have so many; the first two Britney Spears albums, Millenium by the Backstreet Boys, and the Ringy Ding Dong Song single I picked up in Germany- hey when you're drunk for 3 weeks, it's amazing what you think sounds good...although I still have no aliby for the Spears and Backstreet Boys CDs.
9. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? I would think so.
10. Are you a daredevil? Here and there
11. Have you ever told a secret you swore not to tell? yep, only because precidence took over
12. Do looks matter? initially
13. How do you release anger? How don't I release anger? I piss and moan, find a cig, or just piss and moan some more. Lately I have been working out, and that does the trick in a healthy manner, so I might stick with that.
14. Where is your second home? Chicago (were there any of you who didn't know that was coming?)
15. Do you trust others easily? Yes, all too easily.
16. What was your favorite toy as a child? Teddy Ruxpin, and my flipping, yapping dog.
17. What class in high school do you think was the most useless? You said "classes" right? :) sewing and geometry
18. Do you have a journal? yes
19. Do you use sarcasm a lot? NO ;)
20. Your nicknames? Scuba, Socrates, Super Sochor
21. Would you bungee jump? In a heart beat
22. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Sometimes
23. Do you think that you are strong? Mentally yes, physically- depends on my mood.
24. What's your favorite ice cream flavor? peanut butter cups
25. Shoe Size? 8.5-9
26. red/pink ? red
27. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? My ability to get into periods of disintrest
28. Who do you miss most? ALL of my family
29. Do you want everyone you send this to send it back? I didn't send it, so disregard.
30. What color pants and shoes are you wearing right now? no pants, no shoes- just blue shorts and naked feet
31.What are you listening to right now? wait...let me put on something good. Lucky Boys Confusion (Back Then...)
32. Last thing you ate? Chipotle
33. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? blue
34. What is the weather like right now? mild (for this far north)
35. Last person you talked to on the phone? D-lo
36. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Thier smile
37. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Patty-Poo all bullshit aside is the person I wish I was
38. If you were writing one of these quizzes, what question would you be sure to include? Your favorite memory- Getting accepted to the U of M
39. If you had to choose would you loose a HAND or a LEG? Hand- left one
40. Favorite Drink? Lemonade-flavored Gatorade
41. Favorite Sport? baseball
42. Hair color? brown
43. Eye Color? hazel
44. Do you wear contacts? nope
45. Favorite Food? Seafood & linguini
46. Last Movie You Watched? Intermission
47. Scary Movies Or Happy Endings? scary movies
48. Summer Or Winter? summer, summer, summer- give me 120 degrees and 80% humidity, and I'm feeling fine
49. Do you have any pets? Pepper (dog) and Bear (cat)
50. What Is Your Favorite Dessert? brownie sundays
51. Who Is Most Likely To Respond? n/a
52. Living Arrangements? apartment on campus
53. What Books Are You Reading? fucking text books *purge*
54. What's On Your Mouse Pad? I don't have one
55. What Did You Watch Last night on TV? Bulls highlights
56. Favorite Smells? The smell from an early summer day
57. Rolling Stones or Beatles? If I had to choose, Beatles, but I really couldn't care less either way
58. Do you believe in Evolution or Creation? Evolution
59. What's the furthest you've been from home? Germany

Tredging through the muck

2005-03-31T06:58:00.000-06:00

Ok, ok, after today, I will become free of bitching for at least the weekend and/or I leave for Chicago a week from today. My reason for all the bitchitude is just because I'm not on task right now, and I'm scrambling to get stuff done, and get it done right (I'm by no means a perfectionist, but if I put my name on it, it might as well have a little something special in it- hopefully talent).

I've been getting asked a lot of questions lately, so I will try to fire through them as best I can (com'mon brain don't fail me now).

Why Baseball?
It was just something to do as a kid; pick up games, watching in on those hot summer days, and playing in the the late spring/early summer. I cannot really pick a point in time when I became a super fan, but it has just always been there with me. As a tiny guy (my team's website has me listed at 5'8 130, on a good day I might crack 5'7 and a 1/2" at 125 lbs), baseball has proven you can be any size from John Kruck/Babe Ruth to Randy Johnson, to David Eckstien. It's a thinking man's game, so you have to be mentally tough, espicially when you play a grueling seemingly-never eneding schedule.

What's your favorite baseball moment?
It's by far opening day at Wrigley Field, as it's one of the few days that Chicagoans are optimistic about thier chances. Think about opening day in Chicago like this, it's the few brief seconds when people are holding thier PowerBall tickets just as they get the balls in motion. However, the rest of the season is more like the 2 seconds after you realized that some schmuck whose dog, bird, and cat pick the numbers for them won the pot- it's just tradgedy.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a normal, healthy, human being. I've got at least two of the three down at least, so I know I'm almost grown up :). I really don't know if I'll have a functioning career, but it would be nice to get into sports marketing, however at this point in my college days, I am just trying to graduate with a GPA on the good side of 2.75 so I can have a shot at working with my mom at Great Lakes Naval Base (she's a civilan contractor).

What's the deal with the stand up? You're not that funny.
I've been thinking of going on stage for some time now, and it could be a pretty big risk/reward type situation. No I'm not that funny, and now I'm not always the most elequent guy out there, but making people laugh is what I try to do to make people have something to smile about sometimes. Humor has gotten me out of a lot of pickles here and there, and with how crappy the world seems to be sometimes, a laugh here or there (whether it is from something dumb I have done or something dumb I have said) can hopefully try to make someone's day.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I'll be *gasp* 33. Living in the 'burbs with the wifey, a kid or two, and a job good enough to keep us all afloat. I'd still like to be in the Chicago Metro, but these days, who knows (let alone in the future). I'd like to be alive, and live anywhere away from neighborhoods like the one on Desperate Housewives (no, I do not watch the show, but I did once. 1) The show sucks, if I want to see infidelity, murder, back-stabbing and the like, I'll watch Fox News all day, 2)Yes, the girls are pretty, but when you get down to it, Desperate Housewives is trying to do something similar to what Sex and The City did, however the big difference is life of single NY women is a lot more interesting than married moms living in the burbs).

That's about it. If I don't go insane today (which like the weather today, anything in possible), my right and left hands will be filled with bottles of Miller Light. I work Friday morning from 0700-1600, and then I have the rest of the night off, so I'm getting my going out fix taken care of tonight. I really doubt I'm going to do anything this weekend but be a loaf and do some homework. Baseball practice on Sunday, and I'm just hoping to pull a groin or something, because after failing at the plate the last 3 workouts, I need an excuse for my suckitude.

Happy hitting, happy weekend, and happy Opening Day (Sunday night, Boston vs. New York, and the games will begin to count). Take Care.

Things that suck

2005-03-30T05:16:00.000-06:00

- School...sucks
- Having two days this week with two things due (Monday- speech/paper and Thursday- mid-term/paper)...sucks
- Meeting with my advisor no matter what the point...sucks
- Having it 60 degrees out...doesn't suck
- Dropping 30 degrees overnight...sucks
- Having hand cramps from writing all night...sucks
- Knowing that everyone I've talked to is sick of this semester, and knowing that U will not hear of just cancelling the semester on account of bordom...sucks
- Having baseball FINALLY start on Sunday...doesn't suck
- Not leaving for Chicago for another 15 1/2 days...super sucks
- Having a roomate who is home ALL THE DAMN TIME, and can't even lift a finger...doesn't suck- that just fuckin' blows
- Talking to grandma for the first time in a month...anti-suckitude
- Up at 0530, and seeing that Patty-Poo doesn't write in his on-line journal...sucky
- Furthermore knowing he gets to have dates in Chicago...extra sucky
- Not being able to trade Edgar Renteria for Nomar or Tejeda in any of my fantasy leagues...probably for the best.
- Waiting to find out if the old addage, "Nice guys finish last" is true...supercalisticexpialadosucky!

Take care, it's time for me to pass out from bordom/exhaustion, as I'm too bored/tired to figure out which one it is.

"I'm thinking about getting out of the game dawg." -Kanye West, Out The Game

Nothing is ever easy

2005-03-28T23:18:00.000-06:00

What a weekend my friends. Not even sure where to begin so I'll start from the bottom up. Since Friday night I logged in over 31 hours on two double shifts. In between, the Illini earned a trip to St. Louis completing a almost insurmountable lead by Arizona, and pushing the game into OT (BTW, this is the first NCAA tournament ever that 3 of the 4 regional finals went to OT, and two Big Ten teams are left standing). I had an interesting night Saturday night into Sunday morning, and tonight, I finished a paper in 1.25 hours, and also gave one hell of a speech for the same political science class as a Green Party candiate.

Things learned from this weekend...
- Girls know you like them nowadays when you try to make a move...who knew
- Some people just don't like to use thier phones...
- Sober cabbing people is cool
- Going home from a night out when the sun is out is a great thing
- Being able to sleep at work is the only thing that would have saved my sanity this weekend, however I couldn't just fall asleep (but somehow remained sane).
- Baseball finally begins this Sunday, and it's about damned time.

Including tonight's class I have 2 papers due, 1 exam, and lord knows what else do this week. Since it's within 2 weeks of my pilgramage to Wrigley, I gotta cram so I can go home without a book in mind. My iTunes is messed up and dropped about 15-20 songs from my computer when I had my computer problems last month, so that's about the only downer- eh, life's not perfect, I guess I'll just have to listen to more Sinatra (not too shabby) :).

Take care.

My manifesto of graditude

2005-03-26T16:47:00.000-06:00

For those who know me, my family comes first, last, and always. They might not be the collectively best looking, active, funny, smart bunch out there, but damn it we get by. If it weren't for my family to get me through the rough times, or continued support during the good times, it should be well-noted I wouldn't be here right now. Those who bear my last name have something special to bond us together, and this is my thank you. For the hours long bus ride to see an NFL exhibition game in the hot August sun (in which the Bears did win). The first trip to Wrigley, only to have it rain, and rain, then poor, then the collecting of two of every ethnic background, and then we went to McDonald's. The talks, including the ever subtle- "If you ever get a girl pregnant, I will hunt you down, and wish you hadn't" speech ;). Along with everything in between, I have come to understand it isn't such trips, or even super special moments that build bonds between two people, but that it is when you can feel like yourself at 23, and know that your family still respects you, that you know you have in deed made it.

Why do I write these things? Because I don't have a burden that some do at this age. When I came to college it was very interesting for me in a different way than anyone else. Not that it was anywhere near as dramatic, but my first semester here now that I look back on it, I remember feeling like after 18+ years, my family was comfortable feeding me to the wolves. I didn't understand how hard it was going to be living on my own, and I had to learn what it was all about, and for as much as I pissed and moaned about not having enough monetary help that first year (due to my folks fixing up our kitchen), I probably would have pissed it away. When I got home for the first time, it was an epiphany of understanding that I was on my own, a pseudo-adult, but I was always able to come home (and I found out just how true that was when I had to come back home after losing my financial aid). Through the tough, tight, and embarresing, my family was there.

For everything I didn't understand when I was younger; the dicipline, the push to do better than everyone else, and the lessons of respect, are the ones that carry me through to this day. For everyone here and watching from up above that took part in making me the polished adult that I am- I thank you. I appreciate teaching me about different people, different places, and things that I wasn't able to see for myself. If there is anyway I can come close to having the same sort of success you all had with me, then I know I will be able to keep our namesake on the right track.

For what it's worth, those come straight from the heart. For as much as we as a family laugh and BS together, this is a reminder that I think and pray for you all. Fittingly, here is Dierks Bentley's My Last Name...

I learned how to write it when I first started school.
Some bully didn't like it; he said it didn't sound too cool.
So I had to hit him, and all I said when the blood came:
"It's my last name."

Grandpa took of to Europe to fight the Germans in the war.
It came back on some dog tags nobody wears no more.
It's written on a headstone in the field where he was slain:
It's my last name.

Passed down from generations,
Too far back to trace.
I can see all my relations,
When I look into my face.
May never make it famous,
But I'll never bring it shame:
It's my last name.

Daddy always told me, far back as I recall:
"Son, you're part of somethin'. You represent us all.
"So keep it how you got it, as solid as it came:
"It's my last name."

Passed down from generations,
Too far back to trace.
I can see all my relations,
When I look into my face.
May never make it famous,
But I'll never bring it shame:
It's my last name.

So darlin', if you're wonderin' why I've got you here tonight,
I wanna be your husband, I want you to be my wife.
I ain't got much to give you but what I got means everything:
It's my last name.
Oh, it's my last name, yeah.

I learned how to write it when I first started school.

Finally, proving that I have too many MP3s, I heard this song today, as it came onto iTunes for the first time, and it's just as fitting. Keith Urban's Song For Dad...

Lately I've been noticing
I say the same things he used to say
And I even find myself acting the very same way
I tap my fingers on the table
To the rhythm in my soul
And I jingle the car keys
When I'm ready to go
When I look in the mirror
He's right there in my eyes
Starin' back at me and I realize

The older I get
The more I can see
How much he loved my mother and my brother and me
And he did the best that he could
And I only hope when I have my own family
That everyday I see
A little more of my father in me

There were times I thought he was bein'
Just a little bit hard on me
But now I understand he was makin' me
Become the man he knew that I could be
In everything he ever did
He always did with love
And I'm proud today to say I'm his son
When somebody says I hope I get to meet your dad
I just smile and say you already have

The older I get
The more I can see
How much he loved my mother and my brother and me
And he did the best that he could
And I only hope when I have my own family
That everyday I see
A little more of my father in me

He's in my eyes
My heart, my soul
My hands, my pride
And when I feel alone

And I think I can't go on
I hear him sayin' "Son you'll be alright"
Everything's gonna be alright"
Yes it is

The older I get
The more I can see
That he loved my mother and my brother and me
And he did the best that he could
And I only hope when I have my own family
That everyday I see
Oh I hope I see
I hope everyday I see
A little more of my father in me

A little more of my father in me
I hope everyday I see in me
In me
In me
I hope everyday I see

A little more of my father in me

My second attempt

2005-03-26T00:09:00.000-06:00

Roses are red, voliets are blue, some time I'm dumb, and don't think about what I write, and I realize that I should not let it sit on here. So anytime I feel that a privious post doesn't suit me anymore, it's gone. If you read it great, for those who didn't it was me bitching about work.

On to better things....Making it a fact that to assume makes an ass out of you and me, I was put on the schedule unknowingly, and I had to break my plans with Caitlin, so instead of a quiet night of a dinner and a movie, we will try to have a queit afternoon before I work the 4-11pm shift....fucking job.

With so much to do before hand, it will be a miracle if I can get through Saturday in one piece, because as soon as I get home at 0930, I have to clean my room, begin doing laundry for the week, and prepare to make lunch for the two of us. After our lunch date, I head to work for seven hours, and after that, it'll probably be time to have a few pitchers at the bar, because I know I will be too tired to sleep. Easter Sunday, since I don't celebrate it (unless my Mom or Grandma tells me to), I will spend a good part of the morning deciding whether to work out or study, and from there I will hopefully celebrate an Illini trip to the Final Four with some more studying, and then work from 2300 until 1200 Monday.

The more and more I think about it, I think it might be best for me to just stay on campus another year, instead of moving in with Pops. Part of the sacrifice I've had to make since coming back here was doing all of the things that will keep my mind focused on one thing and one thing only, and that is graduating. While I know Pops will keep me in line, and probably ensure that I get more studying done there than I do now, I believe that living on campus might just be the right thing for me to do. I have to work out some of the scheduling issues, so I really won't make up my mind until I figure out what kind of course schedule I get next semester. It should be known that Pops himself has some questions of his own about us living under the same roof- because we do argue a lot about politics and other things, he wants to make sure that we can coincide in the same house without killing each other. Which made me think about how other percieve me when I get into a heated discussion with them.

I usually take it as people understand (at least the people I know/love/respect) that even my harshest words (i.e. "That's dumb.") don't go any further once we get done talking about said topic, and we digress. I am one to normally hold a grudge, but to hold a grudge against someone just because they believe different that I goes against my beliefs, and the way I was brought up (it would have already cost me a good number of friends and a family member or two). So again, the two of us will get together and try to come to an understanding on what it is we both hope to accomplish with me moving in, in a few weeks....I just have to make sure it is the right decision for me right now.

Finally, the Illini did win last night over Wisc-Milwaukee in Illinois fashion. They ran a quick-paced game for the first 5-6 minutes, and UWM did the same. That had to be the best opening to any basketball game I have ever seen. However once Illinois opened up a 10 point lead after the half, anyone who knows this team knew the game was over. Saturday evening, while I am at work *sigh*, the top-seeded Illini will play host to Arizona in Rosemont, at the Rosemont Horizon (AKA the blue gem north of I-90), I'm sure if I'm not sleeping, I will be cheering the Orange on. Big Ten pride is certainly in effect as the Big Ten leads all conferences with 3 teams left in the final 8, as Wisconsin somehow slipped past NC State, and North Carolina brethern, Duke, lost to a deep Michigan State team. GO BIG TEN!

P.S. I e-mailed Acme comedy club concerning thier "Funiest Person in the Twin Cities" amateur contest, concerning dates to be availible. Because I play baseball (and this season, I'll be playing A LOT of it), I wanted to know if I would even be able to do it. Once I hear back from them, I'll shoot info on here regarding whether or not I can fit it in, because as we all know baseball- it has proven in the past to come before band, school, accepting a scholarship in person (it was senior skip day, I didn't know I was getting the award, I still got it, so it worked out ok; plus the Cubbies won), and a few girls who weren't worth the time. So putting baseball in front of a fledging (and poor) amatuer comedy career would have no trouble getting added to the "What's not more important than baseball, according to Stephen" list.

P.P.S Two questions...
1) Where did the phrase "Take it like a man" originate?
2) If the Bible was written by God himself, why do all Priests introduce the gospels by saying, "The gospel according to (insert name here)."?

Some notes

2005-03-24T02:41:00.000-06:00

Alrighty, only because I can't help myself, by way of Kristi from Poli Sci, my Green Party Campaign manager....it still pains me to say it, and it will for years to come- stupid class project. Anywho, here it is.

1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A SECOND HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD YOU BUILD IT.
- Since my first place would be in Chicago, I'm sure a second house would either be in the Chicago suburbs, or out in some remote place like Missouri or a desert in Texas.

2. FAVORITE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING?
- Nomar jersey and my Stockmen's Irish shorts

3. THE LAST CD YOU BOUGHT?
- The last time I bought a CD in person, it was Futures by Jimmy Eat World, my last CD that I bought on-line was Vanessa Carlton's Harmonium.

4. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
- Since I didn't have class, I woke up promptly at 11:15am

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE?
- The oven, otherwise my diet of pizza products would instead become veggies...eww

6. IF YOU COULD PLAY AN INSTRUMENT WHAT WOULD IT BE?
- Piano

7. FAVORITE COLOR(S)?
- Texas Orange and maroon

8. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SPORTS CAR OR SUV?
- Depends on how I feel...when I had my Eclipse, it was an SUV, now that I have my SUV, it's a sports car- go figure.

9. IF YOU COULD TELL ANYONE TO SHOVE IT, WHO WOULD IT BE?
- I can only pick one? I've never played by the rules before...
- Hillary
- The two MA Senators
- Every tree-hugging hippie on this campus
- My supervisor for cutting my hours
- Myself for not having another job, after bitching about my current one for so long
- Michael Moore
- Kofi
- Pope John Paul II

10. FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK?
- The Giving Tree by Silverstien

11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?
- Here's a shocker, fall

12. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
- I can't remember what X-Man had this one, but to use all of the force exerted against me to gain strength for myself.

13. IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT?
Ask me in a few weeks, and I'll tell you I have a 1907 Cubbies tattoo on my right arm

14. THE ONE PERSON/PEOPLE FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK AND TALK TO?
- Mr. Kirby, or the Hahami's (again, there I go breaking the rules)

16. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DAY?
- Thursday

17. WHAT'S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR/TRUCK?
- I don't really have a truck, but just junk, if there is anything back there.

18. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER?
- Hamburger

19. FROM THE PEOPLE YOU WILL EMAIL THIS TO, WHO'S MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?
- n/a

20. WHO'S LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
- n/a

21. WHO DID YOU RECEIVE THIS FROM?
- Kristi

22. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER?
- Purple Chlamaytis

23. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL?
- Rib tips (part of my $40 splurge when I get to Chicago)

24. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY?
- 2/25/82

25. DESCRIBE YOUR PJS
- The Labatt Blue baseball I tee I won a month ago, and my step-dad's pj pants that he swears aren't his (or maybe I bought them on a spending spree?)

26.DO YOU BELIEVE IN SOME TYPE OF AFTERLIFE?
- yep, it's Wrigley field, with Ronnie bouncing at third, Ernie playing short, and Harry and Jack sharing alcoholic beverages upstairs...oh yeah, and the Cubs are winning the world series for the millionth time in a row.

27. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GIFT TO RECEIVE FROM A FRIEND?
- their smile

28. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY?
- Currently bullshitting, but overall its baseball

29. DO YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS/FAMILY THAT LIVE IN DIFFERENT STATES? IF SO, WHERE?
- Yeppers, Wisconsin, Illinois, California, Arizona, Colorado, and from what I hear NY (North Carolina?)

30. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR YOU TO FILL THIS OUT?
- Not long enough, I have too much on my mind to head to bed.

I got to chat with Caitlin this evening, and because she was sick (her dad ended up taking her to the hospital), I did something I try to do, and I went out of my way to deliver her some soup to her sorority house. Well I didn't personally, that house is way too intimidating for this no longer Greek pup, so I had it delivered....it better be damn good soup too.

"If life is so bad then how come I'm still happy and alive?" -anonymous

My two cents

2005-03-22T20:49:00.000-06:00

I must say my piece on this horrifying story about Terry Shiavo, 1) because I feel I know enough of what it going on to do so, and 2) debate is always good, so long as it is an informed debate.

Before I make my case some points to clairify where I am coming from:
1) If I were in her state, I would hope that after a time when it would no longer become financially healthy for my family to keep me, then by all means, pull the plug. I do not want to have my family worrying about me, and if there is a huge chance I'm not going to make it, I hope they will respect that I wish to be in a better place, and that I don't want to become a burden (on finances and feelings).

2) I firmly believe in the legalization of euthenasia.

3) The family always holds precidence over a spouse (I'm sure that might chance in my future, but since I'm spouse-less, that's how I feel), espicially when in this case, Mr. Shiavo is looking very shady. However sice the family is not paying for her services, and the time of said vegitated state is over 15 years, they must understand the daughter they had is no more.

Now that those talking points are out of the way, I can begin to give my piece. Obviously after 15 years, there is little hope that she will ever pull through, or even will she provide to be more than a paitent. For that alone, the family must understand that UNFORTUNATLY the daughter they knew will never be again. Furthermore, the family's funds have run dry, and their medical bills are currently being paid by tax payers (I'm assuming Florida tax payers, but since I don't know for sure, I won't say federal or state), and that is something I don't like one bit...

....BTW for those questioning the ability of the state/federal government to get involved, the fact that taxes are paying for her to exsist are your answer.

As a grandson and step grandson who had to watch for my grandparents to slowly succum to cancer (emphzyma, and bone marrow), while one slowly became the shell of a man he once was, then past, while the second, my step-granddad after 3+ years of battling emphazyma, violently took his own life. I have had to watch people dying in front of my own eyes, and while not day-by-day, enough to know that living in a state that Terry is, leaves one little hope that she will EVER recover, again, let alone become any fraction of the woman she once was. I have now laid ground for my conclusion.

In conclusion, my belief is that Mrs. Shiavo must be given a welcomed end to her suffering (or lack thereof, depending on her TRUE state). While we as humans have already dispelled all of the dignity out of the situation, the only dignifying thing to do is to put her to rest as soon as possible. 15 years my friends is a LONG TIME, and we have to do what is best to let her and this situation die peacefully, and in a dignifying manner.

I know I'm going to get a swell of input so let it fly. It's cold hearted yes, even so cold hearted Hillary wouldn't have said it (however her, and the two Senators from MA did not even vote on the matter, so that shows how strongly they feel about her life), but given the premises of my thoughts presented earlier you can only deduce my conclusion.

The gaunlet has been dropped (by me)

2005-03-22T10:55:00.000-06:00

Currently listening to: Miles Davis' 'Round About Midnight
Current mood: pleasent
Much like I did prior to getting my tongue pierced, and much like I am doing with my Cubbies tatoo, once again if I aknowledge in full concert of my audience, this cat is going to do something this summer, I am glad I didn't do last summer...

...amatuer night at a comedy club.

That's right folks, I've finally decided it's something that is going to happen this summer. After many a night making people laugh for free, I figure I'll do it on a stage this time with a hopefully partisan crowd. I have material strung throughout my computer and my head, so we'll see what I can come up with. It's something I've wanted to do for a while, but understanding watching someone else doing stand-up makes it look easy, I know that if I can perform Sinatra in Milwaukee, I can do stand up (hopefully it's on a night where there is a 4 drink minimum.

Last night, I took on the largest speaking role in my political science presentation, which is a mock debate for the open seat that will become occupied when (thankfully) Sen. Dayton gives it up. Unfortunately, we didn't have a choice, and our group is backing me, a Green Party candidate. I took the spot of being our candidate, because I firmly believe that which forces you to debate for something you don't believe in (in this case, hippie politics) will only make you stronger. If not, I'm sure I can get a free spot of weed from thier party's headquarters, because I know I can do a better job of representing that lost party better than thier current spinsters.

....For as much bitching I did about selling Twins tickets for yet another team fundraiser, I did sell all of the ones I was disbursed. That made me feel somewhat competant, but it still doesn't help that I won't be able to attend. Granted it's only the White Sox and Twins, the fact is that it's baseball. I figure a night trip to The Loop that weekend will make up for it (or attending a Gopher game at the 'Dome before they play thier games outside might do it too).

Other than that, things are stagnant, which is fine for me, because then I go with the flow. It's amazing what I can do when my back is pushed against the wall. I got back my grades for the two mid-terms I took earlier the month (a two C+'s disrespectfully), and I thought about it, and when it comes down to it, I would rather have my course grades based 80% on my final alone, because when I have a hot coal poker pointed at me to get going....damn- just watch me get to work.

A few days ago, I got some fantastic news that a good friend of mine just got engaged to her boyfriend of about 3-4 years. Best wishes go out to the two kids on thier way to a hopefully long, rewarding life and true happiness- if anyone can do it, I know that they can.

The plans for the S-2 expressway have been changed

2005-03-21T15:03:00.000-06:00

When I was a new driver, one of the things I joked about was building a personal expressway from what ever place that was currently being discussed- either Madison, WI, Chicago, etc. This expressway would be tax payer funded, and only I or others with passes (I proposed the name the S-Pass) could drive on it. It was because driving to Madison meant for me having to travel through the Lake Geneva area or through Milwaukee, or travel to Chicago would have meant sitting in traffic.

However today, I am prosposing a change that will build the S-2 from my apt to South St. Paul, because this is the 2nd day in a row that I have to travel out there for semi-baseball related activities: a 3rd trip in just over 24 hours isn't fun when I'm not going to dress and play. Oh well such is life, and I sold all of the Twins fundraiser tickets that I was issued.

The next big thing, other than classes and baseball will come when I have to begin to look at a course schedule for next semester, which will include having to speak with my advisor.... *sorry, I just threw up in my mouth there a bit*. I have no idea how it will work out, because normally she has to sign off on my schedule, but because I won't be under her iron hand next semester, I really have a fear that she will still make me sign up for classes that won't have to deal with my Sports Management major, and those classes fill up a lot faster than the ones for the Rec and Leisure major. I can't worry too much right now about what might happen, but it doesn't leave a good taste in my mouth knowing that she has about how hard it will be to recieve a workable schedule if she leads me down the path that I can choose months afterwards.

Snugg Harbor put everything I feel (except the old, funny sounding names) into the fold, because it is time kiddies, it's time when little black urinal cakes, and funny brown balls take a backseat to a little white ball, parks, and players running home. Baseball season is almost open for business, and it couldn't come ANY sooner. Nice post Dad.

The fantastic dissapointment

2005-03-20T23:19:00.000-06:00

Do you ever have those moments when you have some exciting coming up later in the day, and you really just feel like going through with it. Well that was me later this evening as I woke up to begin preperations for my dinner date tonight. It isn't that I wasn't ready to have a great dinner with a seemingly great girl, but man, what a day today prior to that of just running around and cleaning- I was whooped. As I was waking up for a nap, I began to think that maybe making plans for dinner only an hour after Caitlin was getting off of her plane from NYC was a bad idea.

Shortly there after, we were talking on IM, and she said that the plane ride had been a horrible one, and that she was pooped. Understandably, a bad flight is never good, and she said it fair, straight, and plain when she informed me that she would just be a poor guest. So to say I'm dissapointed wouldn't fit, and to say that not wanting to play host, I was a little relieved, so it was a fair break.

My day, except for cleaning my room (and said dinner incident) wasn't great. Granted the only other thing I really did was have baseball practice, but for the 3rd week in a row, I SUCKED IT UP! In all honesty, I have been just having poor shitty showing after poor shitty showing, and now it's getting to me. I know that it is because 1) it's early on, and my arm isn't to wear it will be in a month from now, and 2) I am experimenting with a new stance at the plate, but good God, I just suck. I'm obviously not very happy about it, but once the 1st of the month rolls around I'll have some pocket change to visit a batting cage on the weekends, and I know that a few thousand balls will help me feel more comfortable at the plate.

....someone who is currently feeling comfortable at the plate is Mr. Garciapara, who lit up San Diego today, just like he did Milwaukee yesturday. I'm not saying it's because I now have his jersey, but it certainly isn't because there is a full moon.

School will begin again tomorrow, and there are only two months left, and hopefully the past week off of school helped to get the laziness out of me. Once surge down the stretch will once again bring good grades, and then it's summer time. Today it almost hit 40* up here, and more decent temps are on the way.

Take care.

I'm feeling poetic this morning

2005-03-19T13:56:00.000-06:00

Two things on my mind this afternoon- 1)I want to find a job as a secret shopper, but I'll take anything to get out of my current gig, and 2)as the title suggest I'm getting sentimental (or just mental) over the start of the upcoming baseball season.

Franklin Pierce Adams wrote a piece that forever immortalized one of the best double-play combos in the history of the game with his, "Baseball's Sad Lexicon." Here's how it goes:

These are the saddest of possible words:
"Tinker to Evers to Chance."
Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds,
Tinker and Evers and Chance.
Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble,
Making a Giant hit into a double-
Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble:
"Tinker to Evers to Chance."

Almost a century later, (and hopefully it will materialize this season), we have our own trio that will bring us a championship...or *sigh* just bring us back to the World Series. My humble task today is to try and match Adams' work with a piece of my own:

For nearly a century, the Cubbies have toiled and sqaundered
and the flag raised for L has certainly needs a vacation.
The years, the roll off of the tongue with such degradation:
"1954, 1969, 1984, 1989, 2003"
When will it become our turn?
When will our time be?

Fret not Cubs fans, our time will begin now,
and the phrase, "Wait 'til next year" will never come back 'round.
We have Prior, Wood, and Zabrano taking aim on the hill
who when then toe the rubber give us Wrigleyville faithful such a cheer.

Mark, with his mechanics so sure, Kerry with his Texan heat, and Carlos the loose cannon,
not a man can enter the box without the umpire becoming worn out.
For as quickly as the first pitch comes,
it's strike one, strike two, strike three- you're out.

Our boys of summer will not dissapoint, and the ghosts will be removed, and this summer will be for Harry, for Jack, for Ronnie, for Ryne, and for Sammy.
From the opening pitch to the final champaign shower, the fans will fall in love with winning, while forgiving all of the pain from losing.
Our little bears are back, and thier time is here.

But if not, all of us will smile when we say on an early fall day, "I guess this just wasn't our year. Dry your eyes, it's ok son, just wait 'til next year."

Stinky Bracket

2005-03-18T19:39:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I have 4 of my Sweet 16 teams (Alabama, Kansas, LSU, Syracuse) currently out, but my "sheet of integity" is looking pretty good.

The Cubs announced today that BOTH Prior and Wood will not pitch the opening series at Arizona. While Wood might pitch in the home-opener series against Milwaukee, Prior is out indefinetly. I won't cry, I won't bitch, but this feels about as right as a Strom Daschle/Cheney presidential ticket (ZING). More news to come, most likely as Prior checks himself onto the DL to start the season.

We have picked up about 5 inches of snow in the past 12 hours, but within a few days "spring" temps will melt it all away.

The Gophers lost today to a better-looking Iowa St. sqaud, but a good season is a good season. The Gophs were projected as a 10th or 11th place finisher in the Big Ten, and they ended up winning 10 conference games, 20 overall, and getting a 8th seed in the tourney- there should be no shame in GopherTown. The women got a number 3 seed in thier tournament, and both hockey teams are looking to make thier NCAA tournaments.

In trying to make smarter decisions, I have been thinking about trading in my car for something a bit more fuel efficient. In Minneapolis, gas is hovering around the national average, at 2.09/gallon, and once the "special blends" come out this summer it isn't going to get better, as I predict that we could see a record of 2.60/gallon. What pisses me off is that even though the bill to trill in Alaska has passed through the Senate (the House will vote on it next week), we won't even see any effect of it until maybe 2007 (if that oil 1) can even be used in motor vehicles and 2) if the government gives it out, or stores it in the national reserve). My theory to help myself out was to wait until a few months from now when I can turn a profit on my truck, and trade it in for something similar, but with better milage (either a Rav4 on the high end, or a PT Cruiser on the low end).....but Mom (aka, my finacial advisor) says no, but since she gave me the ok to move yesturday, I guess I can't get what I want all the time. I wonder what she is going to think when I move to Chicago, and I relize that I won't need a car....I'll wait until next year for that one.

Stinky bracket...already, and g'night.

BTW, college isn't much better than high school- information travels fast here.

If I wasn't so behind....

2005-03-17T14:01:00.000-06:00

By far, the best birthday gift this year just came into the mail today (not that there is a hierarchy of gift, but those who read this know me well enough), as I checked my mail before work, I had a package, which turned out to be gold...well gold in a clothing sense. My Dad picked me up a NOMAR jersey!!!!! THANKS DAD! IT'S FANTASTIC. It's a white, authentic jersey, with the crazy spelling, and that awesome new Cubbie logo (the one that is the centerpiece of thier alternate jerseys. Again, thank you Dad, it's awesome!

With only 3+ weeks until the opener at Wrigley, I will certainly wear my #5 jersey with pride, hopefully I'll be able to steal enough napkins to help not drown my new gift in tears :). The Cubs have no idea right now what thier initial rotation will be, but if Wood and Prior are healthy, the draw to start on Friday, April 8th will be my favorite of the bunch, Carlos Zambrano. Either way, I know it will be a much better day weather wise than it will be here on Saturday, where we are scheduled to recieve 6-10" of snow...sheesh (and shit too).

Sunday night, Caitlin returns from NYC, and we have made plans to have dinner at my place. It's been really cool that we have communicated in some form nearly every day of the week, which means there is some interest, and that my friends is reassuring. On Wednesday, the two of us will be attending a lunchen hosted my MN Senator Norm Coleman (who Caitlin will be interning for this summer- NO JOKES).

I finished He's Just Not That Into You, and for what its worth, it was a decent book, because it reveals to similarities between men and women- we are both scared to death of each other. Men on the one hand will show thier affection (or lack thereof) with actions (not calling, etc.), women will refer to thier fear in excuses for why he hasn't called, isn't into making love, etc. At the very least it was an interesting read to be reassured that much like the wild bear in the woods, "They are just as scared of you, as you are of it." The key to any relationship is communication, and that is the reason why. If you cannot express what types on considerations you need within a relationship, then do not expect to get them, however, both guys and girls should try and hold themselves to the same considerations that the other has.

For example...Caitlin and I talked early yesturday, however she was in a backery at the time. She called back a few hours later, to appologize for the craziness that was going on in the background and how her attention wasn't fully into the conversation. Now, if it were me, and let's say I was in Chicago, or LA, before yesturday, I would have never thought to call back if things were crazy on my end of the line. In fact, hell, I don't even know if I would have done much more than think about what plans we might be able to make until I were to come back from said trip. However, seeing that she has extended these considerations, I must remember to do the same, should things go on.

It's just the little things my friends, the little things are the ones we should pay the most attention to.

Lastly, I think I might be moving to a new place come August. While it is just in the thinking stages right now, Amelious (AKA- Pops) will have a free room in his condo when my pledge brother Kit moves out to Arizona in June. The rent would be a bit cheaper, and I would have to consider taking public transportation that doesn't run on rails (read- the bus, ewwww), but the main cog in my decision to move thier would hinder on my relationship with Pops, who has become a friend who I cannot help but hope that I can become half the man he is at his age. I know he will be a terrific influence on me, most specifically with school, because he was my academic advisor when I was in the fraternity, however I just have to make sure that everything that would come with a move will be worth it.

Two batchlor parties? Sweet!

2005-03-16T19:50:00.000-06:00

As warned before, this is a post dissenting the opinion of Snugg Harbor. While the Harbor is my dad, that doesn't mean that this pup can disagree here and there, and this just happens to be one of those times.

Marriage in intself is a ritual, something that is done today in mainly the same way it has been done throughout the history of the modern era. Once it was illegal for poor folk to get married, even more recent times, blacks were not allowed to marry, let alone marring outside of thier skin color. Today, the gates of marriage seem to stay locked still to some. They are not animals, minors, or illegals, they (the gay community) is as human as you and I, and it is my strong opinion that they not only should receive the same rights and priviliges that straight people receive, but also, if they choose to marry the same as any straight person can.

Marriage is definded as both the leagal union of a man and a woman, and a common law marriage, by The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Meaning whether we like it or not, the courts are the ones to fully register a marriage, not Father O'Toole, or Rabbi Silverman. It is the government that controls whether a marriage is "leagally binding" or not. If one were to look, yes one could argue (and many do) that marriage can only happen in the eyes of God, and those who argue such can read the Bible to find parts where it reads that God closes his eyes when you outside of a Church, Sinagouge, or Temple. God is all around us, even for the elite in this country that hold weddings outside of a church for athestetical reasons.

The government is the one that holds the power in marriages nowadays, and when the politicians as a collective say, "I do" to same-sex marriage, so too will many gay couples. The issue at hand is not how many there are in the vocal minority, but how fair it is to exclude humans, who are right mind, body, and age to the same rites and privliges that are granted to another majority of the population. What privilages are gay couples not recieving- the right to visit a partner in hospitals in some states, tax codes on the state and federal level, and there are countless others. Once the government opens up the laws to allow for gay marriage, I GARAUNTEE that the churches will follow, maybe not all, but all it will take is one, in some community, and thier appointments will be filled to the brim. It takes the government to allow for an "activity" for the public to open its doors for that to happen (ex. if guns were not legal, there we could not having gun clubs or shooting ranges).

In closing, gay marriage is a ritual that has found its way into of system of government, which was set up as a way to protect "We The People" from tyranny, or discrimination of the majority. We can argue six minutes from armagedon about the separation between church and state, but the arguement here is gay marriage, and left on its own, we have to admit that the oppertunity to become wedded by a justice of the peace legally allows for the Church not to become the end-all-be-all of this ritual. I look forward to your comments, retorts, or jeers, because that's what the internet is for :).

Should churches be forced to allow the ritual of marriage to anyone who walks through it's doors?
Absolutely not. Churches, outside of tax breaks provided to it by the states and the federal governments, are a private institution in their laws and practices. With that being said, should a church want to marry gay couples, it should have every right to.

What am I asking for?
I am asking for the government to treat the gay community in a fair manner as it allows to the straight population.

Is it fair to compare the plight of blacks and thier history when arguing about the plight of the gay population today?
To a point. I will not argue that this is a time of Gay Civil Rights, as the blacks had to fight for in the 60s, because blacks had always been discriminated before then, and even after then, as it still happens today. Gays however have had periods in time where they flourished and lived peacefully within thier communities. Today however, we are seeing the same discimination tatics agains gay peoples as were used against black peoples decades ago.

What's next? Will you support NAMBLA in hopes for thier world domination?
Absolutely not!!!! NAMBLA is an organization hell bent on finding, coercing, and kidnapping young boys for thier own sexual exploits. NAMBLA is strictly an illegal organization that involves minors being terrorized by sick, sick men. Gay marriage involves the sharing of love between two of age, consenting adults.

"Tonight on SportsCenter, why the Cubs season might be over before it starts."

2005-03-15T16:26:00.000-06:00

That is a direct quote from one Mike Greenberg, and it made my stomach turn so much, that I literally had to sit down. You want fair, ok I'll post something fair, but unfortunatly, I am feeling more and more like Chicago Sun-Times columnist, Jay Marrioti...read on.

The reason the Cubs won't win
The Cubs won't hoist any trophies this October because of two reasons, pitching, and pitching. This team is now built on the quality arms of Prior, Wood, Zambrano, Maddox, and Rusch, let alone the mass of quality arms they have placed in the bullpen. With Wood looking to come back to pitching this week, Prior is having some problems with his elbow now, the Cubs aren't looking like the favorites to represent the NL in the World Series. We need our work-horses to be just that, and Dusty is the perfect managers to work his horses, now we have to worry about babying our pitchers, and when you have a St. Louis team that picked up a #1 starter, and Matt Morris, is thier #5 starter, they will again present problems. Houston brought back a quality list of starting pitching, Milwaukee is one of the most-improved teams in all of baseball, Cincinnati (if healthy) could very well win the whole thing, and well...then there is Pittsburgh. The Cubs will only go so far as thier pitching.
But what about offense? Don't you have to score runs to win? Yes we have guys who pick up bats ever half innings, and yes, wins come from scoring runs. I can't help but wonder if our offense will resemble the 2003 team that was spectacular in 1-run game, or the strikeout ridden, home run happy 2004 edition. To come into this season without a captain who won't create a divide in the clubhouse is a start, but this group of guys 1-8 in the lineup won't scare many teams.
...and then there is the fact that we have 3 guys fighting for a closer spot, that all have questions circling them.

Why the Cubs will win.
The 2005 Cubs will win because 1-8 our lineup is versitile, and while the wind is blowing out, we can mash with the best of them in the NL. While the wind is blowing in (which happened more often than it blowing out last year) the Cubs were awful. This team is now better built for the 1-run battles that the playoffs will be. Also, the firing of 3rd base coach Bruce Kimm, will help, because now we won't have 35+ year old guys ending the inning because they are told to go home. The Cubs will win because of situational hitting, and without Sosa and Alou, who killed countless rallys via going for the long ball. We need a .600 winning percentage in 1-run games in 2005, and we need guys who aren't candidate for 200 stikeouts, I feel this team can do both.
Pitching is key, and depending on how long Wood and Prior are sidelined, the rest of the bunch is quality; Zabrano, Rusch, Guzman, Dempster, Borowski, and on down the line. We can pitch, even without Prior and Wood, but without having a captain, I believe this team will play much like Boston did the last few years, as a family. Last season the Sox lost Nomar, who was the face of the franchise, and this off-season we "lost" Sosa....can you say pattern?
....and the Cubs will win because last night I hit a goat with my truck

....then I went in reverse and hit it again

It's a long season, and I just ran out of tissues. To off-set the highs and lows of the season, when the Cubs are doing well, I'll call Grandma, who never has anything good to say until they "show her something worth cheering about (read- a title)", and when they are going poorly, I'll bitch some more. All I know it's a good thing they serve beer at Wrigley, because I might need a few to get started for this season.

The first of many

2005-03-14T19:34:00.000-06:00

Baseball season is great because it's like a roller coaster- that lasts for 6 months! Here is one of the first of what will be many over-reactions about Cubs news.....FUCK! Wood going to get his arm checked out wasn't enough, now Prior is off the shelf....God damn! I hate this team....next time I see a goat, man-o-man, I'm gonna make me some goat chops.

The UG, Dad...com'mon gripe with me, 2008 isn't all that far off.

Trying to call the Oakland A's to get a Barry Zito for Kerry Wood trade going, and later tonight, I will be calling the Brewers to get Ben Sheets for Mark Prior. This is the Cubs whiner signing off.

Reading about me, or everyone else?

2005-03-14T03:51:00.000-06:00

I am reading through, He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Hehrent and Liz Tucillo (two Sex and The City writers), and the first three chapters have certainly been an eye-opener into the world of the female psyche. If you're looking for a quick read give it a shot, if you're a girl or a guy, because either way you'll learn some interesting things about how the opposite sex opperates.

The fact of the matter is, and what Hehrent tries to explain to women is that the words, busy, among others have no place in a man's vocabulary if he were truely into a girl, and I can do nothing but agree with him. However, outside of New York, which I think might be the continued failings of this book (it thinks way too much like New York is the entire US), girls just don't dig that, or maybe the girls just haven't been that into me....as you can see the entire guessing game of dating is confusing, as I'm already on my second paragraph, and I've done confused myself.

The fact of the matter is, and thankfully I picked up on this just recently, that no one you are into is worth making excuses for, or wasting time over. If you find yourself defending said love interest, then who are you thier lover or thier lawyer? I have found myself in a few relationships where either to my family or my friends I was defending my choice to date that particular girl. It obviously turns out that they were right, because I am single. Your friends and family are the two groups of people who know you the best, and so 9 times out of 10, they probably have good reason for trying to talk you away from your current love interest. This is why it becomes so important to include each other's friends into the early stages of your relationships, because then you have a perfect oppertunity to campaign yourself, because you never date that person, you end up dating thier friends and family (think I'm wrong, then really think about it, then tell me I'm wrong- HA! You can't).

Dating, courting, relationships, and all that comes with it are fun, exciting, and one of life's great joys. Yes there are pains of pleasure involved, but nothing in life is free. Excuses are for losers, you never heard a Super Bowl champ, or the World Series MVP giving excuses as to why they didn't win by 100 points/runs do you? No. (before I go any further understand that there is a HUGE difference between excuses and explainations) The fact of the matter is that those who make excuses are either trying to present a loss sense of hope for themselves, "He's just too tied up with work right now to call." or they are used to manipulate, "Sorry hun, I just couldn't say no to the guys, you know how it is when you're challenged to drink a 6-pack in 6 minutes."

For men, we will do anything we can to make sure we show how interested we are, whether it is taking the time to explain misunderstood interations (MESSAGE!), whether it's a phone call in the middle of a shitty shift at work, or whether it is something a little more extravagant like and e-card, or flowers unexpectedly. You don't hear a girl who just got flowers make excuses for her man, because she's taking in all the jealousy from the other girls around her, wondering why she's looking at someone else being showered with gifts.

In closing....well I don't know necessarily remember why I wrote this, but I'm not perfect, so deal! Just know that when dealing with the opposite sex, things should be fun, or fulfilling, not filled with bull shit or drama. It has become one of my favorite lines, but learn how to understand when he or she is just not that into you.