--309 days.

--I forgot to mention the other day the good news that Gina has gotten a new job. She was all worried, and I told her not to be. Fortunately, the district manager or whatever the hell they're called for C P S is the principal who originally hired her, and that manager is retiring. So they had this big retirement party, and there were all kinds of principals there. So Gina got to chat with them and had the entire support of the former principal and her staff members and everything...so she had a couple leads and got two interviews out of it. She went for the interviews, and after she got back from teh second, there was a message that the first wanted to hire her.

She accepted the job b/c now she'll be tenured, so they can't get rid of her unless she really, really messes up, repeatedly. Or something. So they wanted her in spite of that fact, which is good. She's happy because she'll be pre-K full-time and they want to start a fine arts program and asked if she'd help develop the thing. She'll be in L a k e v i e w too, so thank God, that's both close to here and not a bad situation. I told her that I didn't care where she took a job--city or suburbs--unless it was a chronically unsafe situation. I've heard enough stories and I worry enough about the other t e a c h e r I know to not want to have two to worry about.

So, she's happy, because even if it turns out to be not as good as advertised, she'll have the power to look for another gig without having to worry about losing hers.

--Other than that, I'm looking forward to a nice, relaxing weekend. I need it. Those of you who will be at the party, we'll most likely be there and we'll see ya then... :)

--310 days.

--Lots of death among this set of blogs lately. One of my Dad's best friends growing up (and through the years, though it's been distant, given that the guy lives in Laz's neck of the woods now), died of congestive heart failure the other day. He was one of those "uncles," you know, not related, but an uncle nonetheless. He grew up next door to my Dad (and the guy's sister is my Mom's best friend from high school on...that's more or less how my parents met), and they used to kick around the neighborhood together. My Dad still lives in the house, obviously, as does the sister, and my Dad's friend moved a few blocks away to start his family. We went to school with several of his kids until they all moved to a farm in NWI. So my parents are heading out there today for the wake and tomorrow for the funeral.

--All this death talk, and I figured I'd throw in my two cents about death. I would like for my family and friends to have the wake and funeral, because that's the time to cry and moan and let it all out, and it's important for those feelings to be let go...what better time to do it than a wake or funeral. Isn't it funny that the most acceptable place to cry is a wake or a funeral. Even the most hardened man or woman can cry and no one would think twice about it. Then, of course, the luncheon, to "warm up the crowd," and then, hopefully, there will be a gathering somewhere, where folks can catch up, relax, the kids (if there are any) can run around and play, and everyone can just start feeling happy again. Happy that they knew me or got to experience something stupid I did or fun or whatever. And of course, they'd serve White Castle. :) No, just kidding...but I too would like some fun after...but I do want to be buried, not cremated, only because there wouldn't be enough of me to spread everywhere I'd want to be spread. :) Plus, I don't think there's one single place that "sums up" my existence, other than the South Side of Chicago...and that's a big place.

--Speaking of the South Side...I get to go to J a y s today to tour the plant...this is another one of those cool things I get to do. I grew up eating their chips...we were a J a y s family as far as chips go. So it'll be really cool. I drive down there at lunch and then drive all the way back up here for my co. softball team's final regular-season game. Should be a blast...

--311 days.

--Gotdamn gross-ass Wrigley food. I should've known better, but I had no alternative but to eat "dinner" at Wrigley. So I stuffed down two hot dogs and had a Pepsi.

Well, today I don't feel right. And I know it's the hot dogs, because I can still taste them. I wouldn't have eaten a damn thing if I hadn't not eaten dinner before leaving for the game. But I had no time. Next time, I'll just starve myself. Wrigley Field has the worst food ever, and this only confirms it. Anyone who tells you they like Wrigley's food is insane. Period. I won't even argue whether the Cubs or Sox are the better team, but I'll tell you right now that Wrigley Field's food is abominable compared to The Cell's food. And Wrigley's food has long been terrible too. Ugh. Maybe "crack" will chase it away more quickly...

--So far, stunningly, no fish has died, despite a full dose of medication and no plants to suck up the nitrates or provide additional oxygen. Then again, the ich hasn't fully stopped appearing, which is not a good thing, because you have to medicate for about 2-3 weeks after the last spot disappears. Oh yeah, and our tank is dark, translucent blue. Our yellow fish look green, and the others look weird too. It's interesting, but it has to be kinda sucky for the fish, having to swim around in that all day. But it's for their own good, I guess.

--That's all I have for now, I guess.

--312 days.

--I laughed, I cried, I watched over and over.

--313 days.

--Well, I decided to stop at the pet shop today after work, to see if our guy was there (Mondays and Saturdays are his normal days). He was...so I asked him about our problem, told him that we talked to the one guy Saturday. He said that guy was trustworthy and whatnot. But then he suggested that we go all in. He said, first of all, his opinion was that we had to go full-on with the medication, even with the tetra and the cories in the tank. The meds and the other dude said to go half because of those fish. Our guy said, "That's very conservative, and what they will tell you if they don't know your situation. I know your situation pretty well, as of now, and I think you should put the full amount in." I asked about the plants, and he said, with the full amount in, they'll mostly die. So I decided that I was going to take the plants out...so I asked him where to put them, etc., etc. He said, actually, if I can find a shady spot outside, put them in a big Rubbermaid container outside, out of direct sunlight. So I put them on the balcony with two big boards leaning against the container to shade the sun away from it. I asked about the temperatures, and he said it wouldn't be a problem. Just circulate the water...well, I don't have the capability to keep it constantly moving, so I'll swish it around and refresh it a few times a day...that oughta do it.

Meanwhile, he said we were given the more toxic brand of Quick Cure, which actually depletes oxygen from the water...he said that aerating the water was a good idea, and that methylene blue would help the fish absorb and hold the oxygen better, but that it would turn the tank water dark blue. It did. It also, he said, would stain the silicone seals on the tank, but we'll see.

So our tank is plant-less, aside from the two fake ones we have, and is bare other than the gravel and decorations. The plants are outside...I just hope they don't get too deformed from floating, mostly, at the surface of the water. We shall see, I guess. At the very least, I now have an aquatic garden to go along with my actual garden, which is progressing very nicely. I should have bunches of tomatoes (lots of flowers) and the red and green pepper plants I have are doing well. I just sheared a bunch of thyme for Gina's mom (the plant needed a trim) and the rosemary is even doing well. As for the flowers, the purple coneflowers and coreopsis I transported from The Brook are blooming, as are the annuals I have in the windowboxes. So, really, I can't complain about my ability to grow and sustain life. :)

--In other news, I won a $20 Starbux gift card from my corp. offices after successfully answering 10 questions about our new corp. Web site. I was one of four randomly drawn winners. Yippee. That will last me a little while, anyway...

--Finally, I'm going to the Cubs game tomorrow evening...look for me behind one of the dugouts (forgot which one), if you happen to see the game. The funny thing? Here's my count for attendance this year: Sox 1 game, Cubs (soon to be) 1 game, Brewers (soon to be) 2 games. Wha?!