--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! :)

--250 days. It's getting there, isn't it? :)

--The fire ants, they always win, don't they? My favorite quote: "So, imagine you're the poor person who decides not to evacuate: Your house will disintegrate around you. The best you'll be able to do is hang on to a light pole, and while you're hanging on, the fire ants from all the mounds -- of which there is two per yard on average -- will clamber up that same pole. And, eventually, the fire ants will win." See, Laz finds space and space exploration to be fascinating. I find meteorological happenings to be just as intriguing, fascinating, etc., particularly hurricanes. I grew up with my godmother/aunt in Texas always sending me the newspaper clippings from hurricanes and tropical storms and whatnot from there. And it's always been damned intriguing...tornadoes too, of course. As I've always said, had meteorology not been so damned mathematical and scientific to go into, I might have done it. :)

--For those of you keeping track, we lost another fish the other day. I had to euthanize it, because it was losing weight and swimming really oddly, though it was eating OK. I read up on it and I believe it had intestinal parasites. Those, apparently, can be contagious and are very, very tough to treat. So I opted to get the fish out, put it out of its misery and save the others. Meanwhile, while on our vacation to Springfield (which was great, by the way...) several of the plants in the tank died and were eaten by the fish. So now, the remaining, balanced plant load is thriving. So I'm done getting plants. We put the Oto and the 4th Cory cat in there, and they've done OK. Now, I need to find out how to trade in/sell back these stinkin' danios, since they're really pestering the hell out of my other fish--not stressing them, but certainly being a pain in the ass. I have 10 danios in there (counting the three babies, which have grown nicely), which is way, way too many for a non-schooling fish. I'll have to get rid of a few of them, at least, in order to balance the tank, because with the babies in there, once they grow to full-size, technically, I'll have too many fish.

--Oh, yeah, LAST weekend's vacation was cool. Though I did not get to see a Springfield Cardinals (the new Double-A ballclub down there) game. We hung out around town, saw some of the sights, went to Branson and just bummed around. Made sure to get some Andy's Frozen Custard, which is a fantastic local chain down there. The ice cream is just delectable...especially the Ozark Turtle Sundae, which is similar to Oberweiss' Turtle Sundae up here, but better. So it was nice...plenty has changed down there though...for example, when I left, there were no Springfield Cardinals team, the downtown park was only a plan of action, and there was no free-standing Starbucks. Now, all three exist. They also have a Cold Stone Creamery, and St. Louis Bread Company finally changed its name to Panera (it was one of the last St. Louis ones, I believe). But, much has remained the same...and, it was great to see my friends again, who I'm very happy to hear are doing quite well. So that's great! Plus, they're planning to be at the wedding, and possibly up for a week after to visit, which is cool. :)

--Speaking of the wedding, plans are going pretty well...we've decided on a handful of things over the weekend--favors, and the "theme" if you will, of the reception. But you'll all have to wait and be surprised by it. :) It's not a big deal, really... :)

--But now, I should get back to work...they do pay me, ya know? :)