--247 days.

--I have a fine sunburn from sitting through yesterday's Cubs game on a left-field rooftop. An advertiser called up and asked if I could get out of work to join them, and that wasn't tough at all. I even told the woman I was a Sox fan, but also a born-and-raised Chicagoan, and I believe that somewhere in the tomes of what it means to be a Chicagoan there is an entry about seeing a ballgame at Wrigley from a rooftop party, regardless of team affiliation. Hell, as a baseball fan, it's something that should be taken advantage of at any opportunity. So I did, and it was sweet. All you can eat. All you can drink. They had a bar, grill, washrooms and bleachers up there, as well as picnic tables to sit and eat on. And the breeze off the lake made it beautifully perfect weather. Otherwise it might've been too hot in the unfettered sun. I spent $5 on tips, not counting bus fare. That's all I spent. And I got to see my first one-hitter ever--in all the baseball games I've ever been to, I don't believe I've seen a "milestone" game like that. At least not from a semi-legit pitcher (Derek Lowe--as opposed to some flash-in-the-pan callup of the Tigers or Royals or something) anyway. I saw Charlie Hough's 200th win or something like that, and maybe a one-hitter by a lame-o Tigers pitcher vs. the Sox a couple years ago (Loaiza was pitching and the Sox lost 1-0--super shitty game). But that's about it. So that was pretty cool. But I'm burned pretty badly on my forehead and nose because of it.

--Also, the other day I sold back 6 of the 10 danios, because I couldn't catch one of them and I decided to keep the three babies. I got $5 for six fish, which I think ain't bad at all. I was thinking I'd get, like, 33 cents each or worse, but I got a little more than 75 cents per. Not bad. I went shopping for "replacement" fish, and bought a 2nd otocinclus to give our first oto some company...after 2-4 weeks of quarantine, of course. I can get 2 more fish, and I'm thinking of getting two platies. Right now, we have 2 female Coral Platies (the one male I had died). I want to get another male Coral Platy, but the store I bought them from doesn't have them in stock and hasn't for a while. I'm hoping they get more...for now, though, I'll probably get a female Platy of some sort...don't know which kind, but we'll see.

--Meanwhile, New Orleans, of course, is intriguing as ever. So damned interesting. It really is. But gas sucks. I'm taking the train tomorrow and maybe until further notice, since I paid $3.41/gallon for gas (mid-grade...my car requires it...stupid V-6) at lunch today. This after breaking the $40 mark filling the tank a couple weeks ago for the first time ever. I hate the oil companies and the government for patronizing us with phony support of the consumer.

--In other news, Labor Day is upon us. And that's good. Lots to do, little rest. Boy, sounds great. :) Seriously, with the infrequent postings I've had lately, have a good Labor Day weekend, stay safe and have fun! And maybe I'll see some of you somewhere! :)