Holy crap. So, I just remembered I never heard the song "Girl U Want" by Devo, a song that I know by heart because Soundgarden covered it back in the day. My God. What a good cover Soundgarden did, and BY THE WAY, what a fantastic style parody of Devo that "Weird" Al Yankovic did with "Dare to Be Stupid." I swear that song was based on "Girl U Want." Man...I was completely oblivious. :) I'm going to listen to it again.

Well, there went my hope that the Sox would simply get swept right up to the All-Star Break so that management would be forced yet again to do something to make this team better (i.e., fire Jerry Manuel) or worse (dump trades galore). But, sadly, they came back and beat the Indians only because the Indians played crappier than the Sox did. Well, they can still lose 3-of-4, which would take them to losing 8-of-9 into the break. That might help. I'm just tired of them being a tease. Either be good or be bad...not one one week and the other the next. I know I've said this before, but it's really bugging me. :)

I just wanted to share one thing I just read: OK, now I understand the others being on this list...they have a lot of saturated fat as well as trans fat. But now they're telling us breakfast cereal, particularly a very healthy breakfast cereal like Cracklin' Oat Bran (one of my favorites too), is no good.

This is why I eat whatever and don't give a crap about what these so-called experts say, because one day milk is good for you and the next day it's bad for you. No one has any idea that it doesn't really matter what you eat, so long as it's all in moderation. Dumbasses.

Oh yeah, and THIS is news? Jesus...

It's been a good sports week, for teams I play on at least. As previously posted, my volleyball team actually played like a volleyball team, instead of a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off, and won all three matches on Wednesday. I was pleased. Yesterday, my 16-inch softball team, which is now 3-6, played a 6-1 team, and took them to extra innings before eventually losing 4-3. Our defense was fantastic...partially because our usual third-basewoman was missing and none of our other girls can really make the throw, so they put me there. Now, in 16-inch softball, 3B is my natural position. It's where I grew up playing, on the street corner and in our first league we were in when we were younger. And I still got it. After a rusty start (a mean one hopper that skipped above my head and off my hands), I was like a vacuum over there. My arm isn't too strong and I don't have the quickest release, but not one person beat out any of my throws. I was really proud of the fact that we held this team completely in check. It's a good sign.

Today should be a nice, relatively relaxing day before I have to work tomorrow and start with the All-Star festivities. It should be a lot of fun, but I have to be careful with my money, because I'm sure there will be plenty of things worth buying, and I really don't have the cash to do it, especially since I'm going to owe the dentist $115 on Monday when I go to get a cavity filled and my teeth cleaned (it's an installment plan--one cavity and a cleaning doesn't cost that--but the other cavities and the crown I need add up). I'm psyched about Fan Fest on Monday, because I hear my main man Ozzie Smith is going to be signing autographs on Monday. If so, I will stand there the entire time I'm there, if need be, to get it. :) So we'll see.

For now, I'm going to just hang out. :)

Ah, yesterday was nice and relaxing. Except until I found out that there were no more rooms left at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for the Urban Therapy Wedding. That's what I get for waiting until the last second. But I kept forgetting and thought as long as I got in under the gun, I'd be OK. Alas...I was not. So now I have things to figure out. I may be making a plea to stay with someone unless I can arrange something else. We shall see.

Otherwise, I didn't do much except sit around last night watching TV and futzing around on the computer. Sounds like fun, I know, but it saves me money. :)

Yeah, so I worked hard today. I'm proud of that fact. I'll work a little less hard tomorrow, but it will be work nonetheless. I'm actually looking forward to going home and relaxing tonight, making a few phone calls and simply hanging out at my place for a change. Believe it or not, I enjoy staying home every now and then, particularly when my apartment is tidy. :)

On a different topic, most songs that get me amped are fast-paced, beat-your-ass songs. But, I forgot how much "Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz gets me going. I don't know why. Maybe it's the simplicity, the beat, the lyrics...I don't know. But damn, it's a good song.

Ah well, only a half hour or so of work and then I can escape.

All right. Now that's what I'm talking about. Yesterday in volleyball was the most fun I had playing the game all season, because we played well. By association, I played well too. We actually won all three games after losing all three in each of the past two weeks. So that was very good.

As I was driving to the game, on North Avenue, I was sitting at a stoplight, and a blind man was crossing the street with the help of his friend (or just some good samaritan, I don't know). They went to a little produce shop and the blind man sat outside. I had my music blaring with the windows down, I wondered the following: They say that blind people have super-heightened hearing. So I wondered, though I was a good 45 yards from him and his back was turned, if he was able to hear my music over the din of traffic from that distance. Then I wondered if he could hear parts of the music I couldn't because I took it for granted. Then I wondered if he liked Econonline Crush, which is what I was listening to. Probably not.

I went to Hawkeye's after volleyball, and met some German guy and some Russian guy. These guys are not "foreign exchange" students per se, but they are here going through brain surgeon school. That's right, they're brain surgeons. The German guy, Chris, really talked it up with me...we talked about sports in general. I told him where I worked and he just wanted to know everything about the upcoming football season. He wanted to know my thoughts on NFL Europe. For the most part, it was an interesting, but useless conversation. It's too bad Luis wasn't there, because he would have struck up such a conversation with these guys, on world politics and France vs. Germany vs. Russia vs. the U.S. And then I could have just sat there and ignored them or nodded my head. But I had to try to talk about international affairs at times. Man, if you want to see me really submit in conversation, talk about that stuff. That's way out of my realm, and I know it. And sadly, I learned nothing from the conversation...at least nothing I can remember at the moment.

Ah well, back to work I go.

Well, softball was rained out today, for obvious reasons. So now they'll make up the last game of the year against the worst team in the league next Tuesday without me, because I'll be at the All-Star Game. The good news is this: We had a game earlier this year that we won in our last at-bat against one of the better teams. Earlier in the game, there was an argument on a call by the ump by the other team. They, like babies, decided to protest. I mean, it's a recreational league, right? Who really cares that much?

So we looked back at the call they were protesting and counter-protested, saying their protest should be thrown out, because the call they were complaining about had no bearing on the final score (in fact, we didn't score a single run in that inning). Well, today we noticed their protest was overturned and the win was returned to us, creating a four-way tie for first place in the league at 6-3 with one game remaining. Thing is, only four teams make the playoffs, I guess (though I have my doubts...I'm going on what I've been told), so really, we're in. That's huge coming off year after year of shittiness.

Because of the rainout, I came home and relaxed a bit...cooked a meal and actually plan on taking the leftovers to work or having them for dinner one of these days. We'll see. I watched the Sox-Tigers game, thinking that maybe the Sox wouldn't let me down. What do you think happened? I really don't understand Jerry Manuel one bit (and, I did never call him a genius when the Sox beat the pants off the Cubs and Twins...he was still a moron, the players were just playing better). We get this guy Carl Everett, right? He's one of two All-Stars on the Sox (a veritable steal of an All-Star player, since he just joined the club), and he sits today. Yes, Aaron Rowand and Willie Harris have played well, but come freakin' on. I'm tired of Manuel juggling the lineup every damn day...you play your stars and they play all the time. Period. The other guys fill off-the-bench roles, and if they don't like it, hit the waiver wires. So, here's the solution: Trade Carlos Lee for another starting pitcher and put Everett in left field every day, with Rowand and Harris platooning in center. Those two are the only players who shouldn't be going every day, though a case could be made for a Jose Valentin-Tony Graffanino platoon. And don't give me this "Sox have tons of flexibility" argument...how can a player get into a rhythm at the plate and in the field when he's sitting one of every four?

Damn. Sorry...had to say it here...it's just killing me as a fan.

Anyway, I also piddled around the workshop a bit. Now I feel tired, so I'm going to maybe surf a little, shower (to get the sawdust off me) and then hit the sack. Again though, we'll see.

Hi. My name is Barry Bonds. I'm a jackass. Sosa I can somewhat understand, since he isn't even in the All-Star Game. But Bonds' excuse is lame and pathetic. He refers to Michael Jordan, who at least said he didn't do the slam-dunk competition because it was too taxing on him. As lame as that excuse is, it's better than Bonds' excuse. Jackass.

Oh, I forgot. I got this message from a reader today. Check the date on the story...

"Quote from:
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Columns/2002/hanacek123102.htm

6. The Browns will not follow the script they've used through the regular
season, as their playoff game vs. the Steelers will not come down to the
last play. Oh yeah, and Kelly Holcomb, the fans' man, will bomb vs. the
Steelers, causing the two-faced fans of Cleveland to boo him and chant some
college quarterback's name.

Boy you really know what your talking about (sarcasm) DUMBASS
Paul H. W."

Flak, flak, flak, flak...forage, forage, forage, forage. I feel weird...sorry.

You know what word is cool?
"flak"

The word "flak" is just cool. Along with "forage."

As in, I'm going to catch flak if I don't leave work in order to forage for 10-cent wings at Hawkeye's.

OK, that use of forage was a stretch, as Hawkeye's is not a forest floor. But you get my drift.

Just wanted to share...

Found this Onion "News in Brief" to be particularly funny. Don't know why...just enjoy.

Man Who Hasn't Moved In Six Hours Repeatedly Welcomed Back By TV
PADUCAH, KY—Despite not moving from his couch for more than six hours, Randy Kresge, 26, was repeatedly welcomed back by his television Monday. "Welcome back to Blind Date," said show host Roger Lodge, one of 12 different TV personalities to herald the return of the inert Kresge. "So glad you could join us." Kresge's obvious intention to remain seated did not keep the television from repeatedly urging him to "stick around."

I went to my cousins' house and was disappointed because I had to leave early. I stupidly did not pay attention and thought the get-together would be a small-scale thing. Sadly it was bigger than anticipated, and I had already agreed to go to the Taste with Donna later in the afternoon. Not that that was a bad thing, it's just that, had I known the get-together was a bigger deal, I wouldn't have agreed to go to the Taste. But, hey, all was good on both fronts, so that's cool. So, after some pool volleyball (after the first storm of the day passed just to the south of us) and general hanging out with my cousins, I drove to Berwyn and Donna and I went to the Taste. After we got off the train though, it started storming again. So we waited in the shadow of the Sears Tower, right behind the life-sized Mets bobblehead (that's this year's Cows on Parade, for those of you not in town). Then we headed over to Columbus for the Taste. I had a really bad headache and felt a bit nauseous, so we sat down for a while. Then, about 1.5 hours later, we headed back to Berwyn on the train.

Now, I'm tired. I have work tomorrow, like most folks do. I have to convince my coworkers to bust their asses this week so I can get out of work early Sunday and go to the All-Star festivities planned for that evening. Especially now that I know that Live is playing in between the celebrity softball and futures games...Live is one of my favorite bands, so that will be cool, I'm sure. But for now, I'm off to bed, thankfully early, given my late sleep times last few days.

I organized my desk yesterday and then called it quits on cleaning. All in all, a good day of straightening things up. I then rewarded myself by heading to our new favorite bar, Trippers. Trippers is the loving name for our friend Steve's basement bar. It's so retro '70s, it reminded the guys and gals of the bar Jack Tripper used to go to in "Three's Company," minus the shag carpeting on the floor and walls. They have orange barstools with the backrests, Christmas lights and the walls alternate strips of wood and mirrors. It's pretty damned funny the first time you see it, but it's damned cozy. And it's a sizable bar too. Plus they've got a 47-inch TV that they got basically thrown in with the house when they bought it. It's a really old TV, but the picture is crystal clear because the owner had just gotten the tube replaced.

So I hung out there and came back and went to bed. That was about it. Today I'm off to my cousins' barbecue, which was postponed on Friday because of the threat of rain. Otherwise, I'll be relaxing and enjoying my final "summer day off" what with training camps coming up. I gotta start organizing the camping trip I'm going on in August already. Jeez.