Interleague Blues

I realize I am in the minority but I hate inter-league play. I always have and I always will. I don’t care how much MLB tries to shove it down our throat, it was never needed and it is a gimmick. For every Cubs-White Sox matchup there is a Devil Rays – Nationals blockbuster.

Baseball survived over a hundred years without inter-league play. Not playing the other league is what made baseball unique. It is what separated it from the other sports. But the morons who run baseball back in 1997 decided it was time to end that tradition and start inter-league play. It was a bad idea then and it is a bad idea now.

First off, the two leagues play with different rules. Until the DH debate is settled we should stop having these games. The DH argument is for another writing. For so many reasons this is a rule that’s time has passed. So, start letting the AL pitchers bat. Until then in my opinion the AL has an unfair advantage. Now, I know the knee jerk baseball pundits will tell you otherwise. They will say the NL teams have the advantage because their pitchers hit all year. It is bullshit. All AL teams carry on their roster a player whose main job it is to DH. When an NL team goes into an American league city their DH is usually a backup. Meaning this guy isn’t good enough to start but he has to during inter-league play. Basically, the AL gets an extra hitter in thier lineups during inter-league play in AL parks.

Another reason I hate inter-league play is it has caused the decades old rivalries to cease. Geography has nothing to do with rivalries. It can, but it is rarely the only factor. I remember the 1980’s. It could be argued the Cub’s two biggest rivalries were against the Mets and the Philles. The Mets thing goes back to 1969 and the nauseating miracle Mets crap. In 1984 the Cubs got some vengeance by beating the Mets out to win the division. The Cubs and Phillies while always one sided was still a rivalry. Mike Schmidt is probably the biggest Cub killer in history. I think we single handily put that guy in the hall of fame. We routinely got our ass kicked by Philadelphia, so when we did beat them it was huge. Now, we play both teams six times. It is a joke. Since we have to have 18 games with the Pirates and all those inter-league games we don’t face our longtime rivals anymore and that is a shame.

Still one more reason I hate it, is that baseball didn’t need inter-league play. In 1993 the last season before there was a strike, MLB set an all-time attendance record. Baseball was starting to come back in 1996 even without this nonsense. The game, despite the boobs who run it will always have fans. It is the best game played and people have shown they love the sport. But, the powers that be needed a quick fix. So, they wrapped up Inter-league play and sold it to us as the cure all. What a load of bullshit.

They play the games in the summer. Right as school gets out. So, of course there is an attendance spike. Baseball loves to give you the line that attendance spikes during these games. The truth is attendance always increases as the weather is better and kids are out of school. Also, certain opponents will always increase attendance. The Yankees will draw on the road in Tampa. So is it no wonder they sell out in national league stadiums as well?

Lastly and this is from a personal point of view, the Cubs – Sox games brings out the worst in both sides of town. I have been to a lot of the games and it is down right embarrassing. The ugly and thuggish behavior that these matchups bring out in people is sad. It is just baseball but it seems too many shallow individuals it is all that they have got. As a Cub fan at the Cell I have been called things and hade obscene gestures hurled in my direction for no reason other then I had a Cubs hat on. I am sure it goes the same way at Wrigley. The Cubs and Sox used to share this town and good natured ribbing was welcomed. Sadly, thanks to inter-league games, that ribbing has turned real ugly.

Mercifully inter-league baseball wraps up this week. I know I am fighting a losing battle. It is not going away and it seems like a lot of casual baseball fans like it. Still, I miss playing the Mets. Things change and baseball no matter what is still a great game. I just wish the dolts who run the sport had the best interest in the game in mind when making decisions instead of how much money can they suck out of the product.

The Mind of "Joe"

I would like to point everyone (all five of you) who stops here to read this site of vanity back to a post I wrote called, Are we really this stupid? Somebody who anonymously goes as Joe disagrees with my feelings on the subject of gay marriage. As of this point “Joe” has other then name calling failed to post anything resembling a lucid valid point.

I am sure no one else looks back at my previous posts to look at comments but I just couldn’t let Joe’s well thought out words of wisdom go unread. I want to spread Joe’s talents to the world. Not just this little blog but let’s help Joe become the new Roeper with grassroots support. With such well thought out arguments as “You’re a freaking moron.” Joe, if that is this pussy’s real name, has etched his name with the great debaters of all time. So, please look back at that post and read Joe, the poet’s well thought out arguments.

Vacation

To the three people who come here, sorry for my absence as I was on vacation last week. Here is a brief rundown of how I spent my days.

Friday 6/16 – My friend Chris was getting married on Saturday at Starved Rock so, Joyce and I got up, packed, and took the hour and a half drive down there. We checked into our room and got situated. We took an exploratory walk down some trails and eventually met up with our group in the bar at the lodge. There was a casual reception near the pool for everyone which featured an open bar. So, I proceeded to enjoy that and catch up with some friends I hadn’t seen in awhile. After the reception was over, the wife went up to the room but I stayed downstairs and hit the lounge for those last two beers that I didn’t need before I eventually stumbled back to our room.

Saturday 6/17 – I slept in as I didn’t get in until almost 3 AM. I eventually woke up and Joyce and I explored beautiful Utica, Il. We farted around until it was time to hit the wedding. The ceremony was nice and short and we were soon whisked away to the reception. I must say the hall at Starved Rock is pretty cool and we had a good old time at the reception, dancing to Sweet Caroline, enjoying the open bar and telling war stories. Once the reception was over we headed to the lounge again to have some more pointless drinks. Eventually, I realized that I am too old to be drinking this late at night and headed upstairs somewhere around 3ish.

Sunday 6/18 - It was time to check out and head home. As we drove home and I had to listen to Mark Prior implode on the radio. We were both hung-over and tired so not much got done. It was basically a re-boot. I watched Entourage that night and headed to bed as my body eventually just shut down.

Monday 6/19 – I ate a big lunch from Peppo’s as I knew that I was going to the dentist for a filling later that day and I might not be eating much that night. I went to the dentist and sat there forever waiting before eventually getting in and getting orally probed. I headed home and waited for the novocain to wear off. Joyce was nice enough to cook some pasta and we enjoyed that. I eventually popped in the Exorcism of Emily Rose, which I got from Netflix. The move was alright for a horror movie. I eventually fell asleep watching bad cable.

Tuesday 6/20 – My Uncle Dan was also on vacation so he stopped by in the morning. I shat the shit with him for awhile before starting my day. I had planned to stain my deck but it rained so I had to put that plan on hold. Instead, I pulled some weeds and did some other outdoor activates. I eventually grabbed a salad for lunch and also hit Home Depot and Menards. Neither I nor Joyce felt like cooking so we ate at a Mexican joint near our house for dinner. I ran some more errands and hit the golf range that night making it home in time to catch Rescue Me. I then popped in Go, which when it came out I avoided but was recommended to me by a friend. I actually kind of liked it. After that viewing I again fell asleep in a wash of bad cable.

Wednesday 6/21 – It rained again so, I was again out of luck in trying to stain the deck. So, I headed to my Uncle Dan’s to fix my Aunt and Uncle’s computer. After arguing with Microsoft for awhile I eventually got it running. I bullshited with my Uncle and Grandmother for awhile and then headed home with lunch from Jewel. The rain ruined a lot of my plans so, I was stuck doing menial tasks in the garage. I eventually ran to Kmart to pick up some staples and that night I once again hit the golf range. I headed home just in time to watch the Cubs lose. Again, I ended the night on the couch asleep after bad cable.

Thursday 6/22 – I got up and took our cat to the vet in the morning to get some shots. After doing that I got home and ran to grab a sub for lunch. Joyce went shopping with her sister so, I farted around until my doctor’s appointment later that afternoon. I had to see my allergist and get a prescription. On the way home my car started to overheat, so I had to throw the heater on and pray I made it home, which I did. I immediately called my friend Kevin who is a mechanic and he told me to bring in the car in the morning. So, I got home and waited for Joyce to get back as I was now car-less. Since I had nothing to do, I made stuffed peppers for dinner, which I must humbly say were great. I again hit the golf range that night. When I got home I popped in Bob Roberts which I had not seen in forever. It still holds up after all this time. After that I once again let cable lull me to sleep.

Friday 6/23 – It was my birthday. I got up and Joyce followed me to Kevin’s garage so I could drop off my truck. After dropping it off Joyce and I went to breakfast at Georgio’s in Burbank. After breakfast, I found out my friend Dell was off so, I made golf reservations at Palos. I was pretty happy with the way I shot as all the practice at the range came in handy. I eventually got home and Kevin called and told me my car was ready. So, after Joyce dragged me to the Hobby Lobby, we went and picked up the truck. We got home and then headed out to dinner at Café Salsa, one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. After dinner, I went to Borders so I could spend the gift certificate that Joyce gave me. After buying some books, we then went to Trader Joe’s and the pet store. Finally we made it home and I threw in a great documentary called Wal-Mart, the high cost of low prices. I urge anyone that shops there to view it.

Saturday 6/24 – I got up and met Dell, his brother John and Paul Hunger at Palos Country Club to shoot eighteen. I royally screwed up the front nine but recovered nicely on the back, to somewhat save the day. After golfing I went home and met Joyce. We then went to my Mom’s as we were meeting my brother, My Aunt Kathy and Uncle John and my cousin Kristie at Rosebud’s in Little Italy. We got to Rosebud’s and let me tell you that food rocked. After dinner we grabbed an Italian ice and Mario’s. We eventually headed home for the evening.

Sunday 6/25 – I woke up kind of late as I knew it was my last day of vacation and I wanted to get in some extra sack time. I then grabbed lunch at Arby’s (yuck) and then hoped the rain would hold off so I could at last stain that deck. Sadly, the rain again came so, it looks like I will be staining next Saturday. I sat back and like the masochist that I am, watched the Cubs put up a pathetic performance in route to getting swept by the Twins. After the rain, I took out the garbage and did some other outdoor work. After re-heating my pasta from the night before, I settled in to catch Family Guy and Entourage before hitting the sack and a reasonable hour.

The Moraine Years

I often reflect back on a period of time that I consider to be the best years of my life and I usually remember the era between 1989-1991. During that two year span I had a ton of fun. The biggest question wasn’t, is there a party tonight, it was which one are we going to go to. I was working at Kmart and really other then car insurance didn’t have any bills. One major factor in my happiness at the time was my enrollment in the higher learning institution known as Moraine Valley.

Moraine Valley was for slackers and I fit in nicely with that moniker. When I graduated high school I had no idea what the hell I wanted to do. In high school I had other priorities so, I put in the minimal effort to get by and graduated with no chance of getting into any good college. So, my options were limited to Moraine or a trade school. At first I didn’t really like the place. I perceived it to be for losers or rich kids who didn’t want to have to work.

It wasn’t until my second semester there that I started to warm to the place. My friend Chuck started out at Devry and didn’t like it so he moved on to Moraine. Each day Chuck and I would eat our lunch at the McDonalds that was on campus. There in the student center were a couple of pool tables. I played many a game of eight ball and started having some fun there. However, it wasn’t until the next year that I really started enjoying myself.

First off, a lot of my friends from Kmart starting hitting Moraine. Plus, my brother and his crew were there. We all had a break in our schedules and we had a table where everyone met up at in the McDonalds. We would usually bullshit about important topics like music or movies and yucked it up.

On top of all that we knew how to work the system. I knew so many people at Moraine, that I had a line on what teachers to take and which ones to avoid and there were many of them that were memorable, such as,

Mr. Posner, Business Law. He was a short older man who would give you the questions and answers to each test. All you had to do was study the answers go to the testing center and regurgitate the answers. I called his classes the GPA booster.

Mrs. Frugenthal, Psychology. Her husband also taught there and I think she is still at Moraine. She ran a fun class and graded on a severely sliding curve.

Mr. Boadway, Sociology. An older gentleman with a very dry and hidden sense of humor. A great story-teller and a genuinely nice man, you never had to buy the book for his class as all he did was lecture.

Mr. Sothard, English. – Southard was just a great guy. I took his technical writing class and to this day I am thankful I did. I remember having to write a paper on a crescent wrench. All he asked was you turn in your papers. We had class once a month. It was great.

Mr. Hendron, Humanities. Hendron allowed you to tape his class and his tests were open book. I mean you couldn’t get any easier. Hendron was a little light in the loafers, if you catch my drift but was another great story teller and he sure loved his gladiator movies.

Mr. Kolsiniak, Economics. Another teacher who loved the grading curve. He took everything and equated it to beer. If you failed his class you simply weren’t even trying.

Mr. Mathwig, Environmental Science. I hated this subject and the easiest way to get that science credit at Moraine was to take environmental science. Mathwig was an Alex Trabeck look alike who had a dry and sarcastic sense of humor. I remember him taking us on a field trip to the little red school house and he was pointing out birds like they were colors in a rainbow. He would stand back and point with his binoculars, “there is a red crested south American dove.” He was as stitch.

On top of all the teachers I had there, I have so many great stories from my time at Moraine. Like the time I sold out my brother. It was the first day of class and my brother, myself and Chuck all had this computer science class. The classroom was full and there were no seats anywhere to be found.

Well, the first day of class you needed your ID to prove you were who you said you were. I was sitting at a table with my brother on one side and Chuck on the other. Vince forgot his ID in his car and had to get it in the middle of class. As my brother was in transit to his car in walked in this real looker. She had dark hair and was an eighteen year old knockout. As soon as she walked in, she started looking for an open chair in the crowded classroom. Chuck and I then stood up and feverishly started pointing to my brother’s vacated seat like we were carnival barkers. She sat down and when my brother returned he was left to I believe stand for the remainder of the class. (By the way Chuck and I had here in another class as well. After having us in two classes she decided to I beleive quit school, as we never sqw her afther the first week, rahter then be continually hit on for an entire sememster.)

Another story took place in the same class. The teacher was this old military prick named Mr. Kolasar. He was humorless and had the people skills of a whale. He was out and we had a substitute who was equally as humorless. Well, Chuck had a thing for this Greek girl who sat in front of him and he was always talking to her. Well, this substitute got it in his head that it was Vince not Chuck talking to this girl. This caused the substitute to give the entire lecture basically to my brother. He kept eye contact with him the entire time and was staring him down like Mr. T starred down Stallone in Rocky III.

Eventually, the class had a break and we headed out to the lounge to stretch our legs. So of course we start giving my brother shit about the teacher as we took it eye-fucking him. We were studying the cobal language at the time and Chuck makes a joke to my brother to the effect of “maybe he wanted your co-balls.,” just as the teacher was directly standing in back of him. The rest of the class was a ton of fun with that guy.

I have a million other stories I could tell about my time there, but I don’t want to turn this into a book. If I wasn’t working at Kmart I would head to the Moraine library every night to do homework or hit on this hot Indian girl that was always there. When I went away to DePaul it wasn’t the same. It is sad really that I have so many great stories about my Junior college days and so few during my DePaul days. But, I wouldn’t trade that time or those events for anything.

Non-Chicago Teams

Everyone knows my love for the Cubs and most other Chicago sports teams. (With the obvious exception of the White Sox.) Still there are some other teams I also root for and some more that I just can’t stand. Here is my list of non-Chicago teams I like and ones that I hate.

Top 5

Oakland Raiders – I am almost as big of a Raider fan as I am Bears. I said almost. I love the whole bad guy image. No one likes the Raiders and that is the exact reason I like them. The silver and black are currently in a funk but unless they are playing the Bears I am rooting for them.

Cleveland Indians – I’ve often viewed the Tribe as the American league version of the Cubs. They haven’t won in forever (of course at least they have been to a World Series in recent history.) The added bonus of me liking Cleveland and them being a thorn to the White Sox has led me to embrace them.

Indianapolis Colts – I admit that I am more a Peyton Manning fan then I am a Colts fan. I am so sick of hearing the Tom Brady love. Manning is a great QB and one day he will lead this sad sack of a team to a title, which would be quite an accomplishment.

Dallas Mavericks – I guess I am more of a Mark Cuban fan then a Mav’s fan. I mean I usually hate anything associated with the state of Texas. However, Cuban and his rebellious, win at all costs attitude make me a fan. I am salivating of the prospect of him buying the Cubs.

Oakland A’s – Reading Moneyball made me into an A’s fan. I love when someone thinks outside the box and has the balls to run with it which clearly Beane has. Give him this, year in year out the A’s are a solid club and right in the middle of the pennant race.

Most Hated

Green Bay Packers – The worst most ill-bred obnoxious morons in all of sports. What do you expect from the great state of Wisconsin? Ugly ass uniforms and that over rated Favre at QB. I hate this team and everything about them.

St. Louis Cardinals – Do I need to even go into why I hate them? The Cubs main rivals, Cardinals fans are almost and I said almost as obnoxious as Sox fans. Tony Larussa can kiss my ass and Budweiser sucks.

Pittsburgh Steelers – I have always hated this team. From their boring offense to their hyper alpha male coach, the Steelers are just one of those teams I always rooted against and Terry Bradshaw being an alumnus doesn’t help.

New York Mets – This one steams from my Dad and Uncles. I don’t think any of them will ever get over 1969. I was introduced to the Met bullshit in 86 with that Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter team. Still with all that said they still hold the record for worst team ever.

Los Angeles Lakers – I actually used to like them in the days of Kareem and Magic. However when they got Kobe and Shaq I turned. I hate Kobe Bryant and anyone who even thinks he could hold MJ’s jock is out of their mind.

Cohen Brothers

I find the Cohen Brothers to be the best out there making films. In my humble opinion they have yet to make a bad movie. Considering how many they have made that is saying something. So, here is my list in order from my favorite to my least favorite (which I still enjoyed.)

1. Miller’s Crossing – Might just be the perfect film. An amazing cast and script. Gabriel Byrne, John Turturio, Albert Finney all shine in this story about an Irish mobster. Forever brought the term high hat into my vocabulary. That scene with Finney and the machine gun still makes me wet my pants.

Favorite Line: Verna: “Leo’s got the right idea. I like him he’s honest and has a good heart.” Tom: “Then it’s true what they say, opposites attract.”

2. Barton Fink – Turturio’s best performance and that is saying something as I think he is a really gifted actor. The story just sucks you in and grabs you. An ending that causes so many different ways of looking at it.

Favorite Line: Geisler: “You look confused. You need guidance? Talk to another writer. Barton: “Who?” Geisler: “Jesus throw a rock in here you’ll hit one. And do me a favor Fink, throw it hard.”

3. Raising Arizona – The frantic comedy that is just as great today as it was when I first saw it. Nicholas Cage does a great job bringing life to that character. I also believe that no one uses John Goodman correctly other then the Cohen’s and here is just one more example of that.

Favorite Line: HI: And make it quick, I’m in Dutch with the wife.

4. The Big Lebowski – Jeff Bridges will forever be the Dude to me. No matter what else he does in his career he is now the Dude. Another great script and great performances all around. I know a lot of Cohen snobs scoff at this one but trust me it is a gem.

Favorite Line: The Dude: Do you find them much, these stolen cars? Young Officer: Sometimes. I wouldn’t hold out much hope though for the tape deck. Older Cop: Or the Creedence.

5. O Brother Where Art Thou – Another great story. Cohen’s as usual get a great performance out of an actor. This time it is Clooney. The movie is somewhat a modern take on the Odyssey and is done with a sense of humor and creativity.

Favorite Line: Everett: Well it didn’t look like a two horse town but try finding a decent hair jelly.

6. Fargo – Probably, the most commercially successful film by the boys. An Oscar winning performance by Francis McDermont and a story that had a lot of things going on in it. Every time I go to Minnesota, I just think about that accent.

Favorite Line: Carl: You stay away from me, man! Hey, smoke a fuckin’ peace pipe.

7. Blood Simple – The first low budget film the brothers made, had a great performance by one of the best character actors working in M. Emmet Walsh. A spurned lover murder mystery with a bunch of plot twists. A newly restored version of the movie was released on the big screen a couple of years ago and I got to see it on the big screen.

Favorite Line: Marty: I got a job for you. Detective Visser: Uh, well if the pays right and it’s legal, I’ll do it. Marty: It’s not strictly legal. Detective Visser: Well if the pay’s right, I’ll do it.

8. The Man Who Wasn’t There – Another film with a great script. Billy Bob Thorton plays this role perfect and why he didn’t garner more acclaim for his performance I will never know. Not a perfect movie but still better then most Hollywood crap.

Favorite Line: Ed: Was that a Pass? Creighton: Maybe. Ed: Well your way out of line Mister.

9. Intolerable Cruelty – A comedy in which George Clooney does it again for the Cohen’s. Snappy and witty dialogue pepper this story about modern day divorce. Not their best effort but it is still a pretty good watch all in all.

Favorite Line: Miles: I told you she had dogs. Gus: You didn’t tell me they had a hard on for Anus Africanus.

10. The Hudsucker Proxy – The more I see this movie the more I like it. Tim Robbins, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Paul Newman all do great work with a good story. It took me awhile to warm up to this one but, after several viewings I have become fond of it.

Favorite Line: Amy: That’s a face only a mother could love. On pay day.

11. The Ladykillers – I didn’t hate this movie and I didn’t love it either. This is the only Cohen brother’s movie I am luke warm about. I give them an A for effort but it didn’t really do it for me.

Favorite Line: Gawian: You brought your bitch to the Waffle House.

Are We Really This Stupid?

Oftentimes I am ashamed to be an American. With all the real and dangerous problems facing this country, the senate is taking time to argue the merits of a gay marriage ban which everyone including the politicians in favor of it all know has no chance of passing. Is this what American politics has come to. Are these Republican jag-offs this scarred of being voted out of office that they have to stoop to this level?

My biggest outrage is held for the morons who fall for this bullshit. Can’t you see past this heaping pile of fecal matter? You see they can’t run on their record. They know that Bush’s approval ratings are in the Nixon range. They know the economy sucks and gas costs three bucks a gallon. So, they want to push a hot button item to get the religious zealots out there and voting for them. You see they believe they are protecting the sanctity of marriage, to which I say what sanctity?

We heterosexuals have already sullied the institution of marriage. With quickie divorces and the Elvis Chapel how can anyone sit there and say that the institution of marriage is still sacred ground? I just don’t understand how someone can take the bible and Jesus’ message and use it to defend their bias and hate. Is it that they feel threatened somehow? I mean I don’t get why anyone gets so pissed and so adamant about something that has absolutely no bearing on their day to day life.

But, sadly in George Bush’s America hatred and intolerance is what rules. You see the Karl Roves of the world know this. They are betting on the voting public to ignore everything they fucked up and impassion them with their hatred. This is the ugliest form of political shenanigans that I have ever laid witness to. Like I said it makes me sad and I am ashamed of my country right now.

We should be better and smarter than this. Didn’t they pull this shit two years ago? Abortion and Gay marriage are just diversions that they give you so that the voters ignore the very real problems facing us. They say fool me once, blame on you, fool me twice, blame on me. They used this shit once to fool us and now they are trying it again. I mean can’t they come up with some other form of hatred or bias to push their agenda. They have controlled the White House, the Senate, and Congress for the better part of six years and abortion is still legal and gays are still living among us. At what point are these zombies going to wake up and realize that voting Republican is not going to instantly over-turn Roe v. Wade?

To these Republican pricks I ask, is being voted out really that bad? I mean Al Gore has flourished in the private sector. As a politician I was never a fan of Big Al. However, over the last couple of years since he stopped giving a shit and started speaking his mind he has been a new man. Now, he comes across as a decent and honest person who is no longer willing to sell his soul to the devil to get elected. In the private sector you can still be an asshole and hate monger if that is what you choose.

So, as I sit here today I again start to get sad when I think about the state of American politics. Trust me as much as I hate the GOP, we Democrats are just as much to blame for letting them get away with this nonsense and not putting our own agenda out there. If I have been saying this and I will continue to say it, stop trying to pretend that you are Republicans. We have a right and decent message that will resonate with people. We don’t need to pander to people who will never vote for us anyway. We should be focusing on the non-voters out there and energize the apathetic and get them out to the polls. We should be trying to win new voters and come up with a platform that clearly distinguishes our beliefs from theirs. Until then we are going to continue to get our ass kicked by these pricks and we owe it to this once great country to not let them get away with this bullshit.

Our House in the Middle the Street

It has been exactly two years to the day that the wife and I moved into our luxurious house. OK, it is not that luxurious. In that time I have made numerous trips to Menards and I have begun new rituals that only the joy of home ownership can bring. Such as, now every Sunday night I become the garbage man. I go around the house emptying the thirty garbage cans, Joyce has around the house. I condense them all and take everything out to the curb for Monday pickup. Still, as much as it might be a pain in the ass as far as the upkeep and what not I still wouldn’t trade it for anything.

There is nothing like owning your own house. Well, technically Washington Mutual owns my pad but still. After years of flushing my money away paying rent, it is nice to be able to go home to something that is yours. As much as I complain about cutting the grass or cleaning the gutters, it is in the end rewarding. They are my gutters, so I want them clean. It is my lawn so I want it to look nice.

Owning a house has also taught me a lot. I know now about sub pumps and the torque difference between a cordless and electric drill. I walk into Menards and there are about fifty things I look at and say, boy I could use that. The upkeep on a house is never ending and it seems there is always some task or something that needs to be looked at.

In our two years in the house we have put our own personal touches on it here and there but there are still a lot of things we would like to do. The question comes in at how long do we plan to lice in this place. My villa is the classic starter home. It has sold and re-sold a number of times in the last fifteen years. Still, I really like my house. I like how we get a nice breeze with the windows open and I love the shade the trees provide.

So, I guess that in the next two years Joyce and I would like to re-do the upstairs bathroom, get a new roof, update the kitchen and get a shed for the back. In the two years that we have been there we have painted the family room and spare bedroom, replaced the refrigerator, bought a nice new king size bed, (I couldn’t feel any better or I’d be sick.) put up some cork board and shelves in the garage and planted a lot of bushes. We also recently added a new cat to our domicile, that I am calling Maddux for now. (However with one more bad start we may have to re-think that name.)

All in all, the two years have flown by and I look forward to fixing up the rest of the house. I don’t really look forward to paying for all of the improvements but, that sense of satisfaction I will get taking a dump in my new bathroom is as they say, priceless.

Nick's All Star Ballott

With two months of the season gone, it is time to vote for the all-stars. So here is Nick’s al-star ballot.

American League

1B Paul Konerko, White Sox – Really isn’t much of a debate. Konerko is hitting over .300 and has 15 homers. Shelton in Detroit is close but I have to give it to the Sox slugger.

2B Jose Lopez, Mariners – Lopez is quietly having a breakout year up in the Pacific Northwest. He has driven in 40 with 8 homers. No one else is really in his realm. Iguchi of the Sox and Cano of the Yankees are having nice seasons but no where near what Lopez is doing.

SS Miguel Tejada Orioles – Tejada is having an MVP type year in Baltimore. Hitting .323 with 13 homers and doing it in an inept Oriole lineup. Jeter is the only other candidate in the AL and Tejada is the more worthy choice.

3B Hank Blaylock, Rangers – This is a tough one as there are about four guys having all star years at third in the AL. I give the nod to Blaylock as he has been the most consistent of them all. Still Crede of the White Sox, Lowell of Boston and A-Rod of the Yankees could all get consideration.

C Joe Mauer, Twins – Catching every day, hitting third his average is in the .340’s. This guy is going to be an all star for years to come. Hernandez of Baltimore and Posada are also having nice years but Mauer has been all-world for the first two months.

OF Casey Blake, Indians – Blake is having a nice season in a potent Tribe lineup. Hitting at .329 with 9 homers. This is a guy starting to come into his own.

OF Vladimir Guerreo, Angels – Another standard all star year for Guerrero. Hitting .326 with 13 homers this guy year in year out puts up great numbers in what is turning out to be a hall of fame career.

OF Vernon Wells, Blue Jays – Always has been a solid ballplayer this year Wells has turned it up a notch. He is hitting .316 with 12 homers and 39 RBI’s. Wells narrowly edges out Ordonez in Detroit as the last outfielder in the AL.

National League

1B Albert Pujos, Cardinals – A blowout. No one is on the same planet as Pujos. He is only hitting .314 with 25 homers and 61 RBI’s. Not a bad two months. No one else is even worthy of mention with Pujos.

2B Chase Utley, Phillies – Another obvious choice. Utley is hitting at a .323 clip with 9 homers. Only real competition comes from of all people Uggla in Florida who has quietly putting together a nice run and could be in the rookie of the year in the NL.

SS Edgar Renteria, Braves – Renteria is back in the NL and loving it so far. He is hitting .333 with 5 homers. Ramirez of Florida and Vizquel of San Francisco also are having nice years but Renteria is the choice.

3B Miguel Cabrera, Marlins – Just a special player. Playing his natural position has made this already great hitter even better. Hitting .343 with 8 homers playing for the woeful Marlins. Wright of the Mets is also having a good season.

C Johnnie Estrada, Diamond Backs – A tough call. McCann of Atlanta is having a great season but he looks like he is going to miss most of June with a knee injury. That means Estrada is the choice. He is hitting .306 with 4 homers and 33 knocked in. Good numbers for a backstop.

OF Jason Bay, Pirates – The best player you’ve never heard of Bay is a legitimate all star. After a slow start he is hitting .306 with 16 homers and 44 RBI’s. He also has 5 steals. If he was in New York he would be a house hold name.

OF Matt Holiday Rockies – Holliday is hitting .335 with 12 homers with 39 RBI’s. Thin air or not this guy has been hitting all year and deserves to be recognized for it.

OF Alphonsio Soriano, Nationals – Remember all that talk in spring training about him not wanting to play the OF, well it hasn’t hurt his bat. He is hitting .300 with 18 homers and 38 RBI’s playing in a pitchers park. In two months he has more homers then any player in the majors at RFK Stadium. Shawn Green and Arizona and Hawpe of the Rockies are also having good years.