more nonsense

80's Dance Music

2012-02-17T15:43:00.001-06:00

I was talking with someone at work about how they went to an 80’s dance party over the weekend one day and how fun much fun they had. I am sure it was. Having gone to some parties in the 80’s and having shaken my moneymaker a time or two, here is my list for the best 80’s songs to dance to.

Situation, Yaz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdV-5ivltkc – You couldn’t go to a dance in the 80’s without this one being played. It has it all, the synthesized hooks and the drum machine vibe to make it a perfect song to bust a move to.

Blue Monday, New Order http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82R23_lUMYI&feature=related – Again another staple for every dance I was at in the Wilkins gym back in the day.

Dancing with Myself, Billy Idol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG1NrQYXjLU – A not so subtle song about masturbation, I would hear this every time we went to Fields on 103^rd and Cicero for teen night. (Yes, I was lame.)

Billie Jean, Michael Jackson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_XLOBDo_Y&ob=av3e- I know I am breaking some rule by including this one, but say what you want about the “king of pop” he did know how to write songs that would get you off your ass.

The Humpty Dance, The Digital Underground http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj9_yW8tZxs - There wasn’t a white boy in the suburbs in the 80’s that was into rap that didn’t know all the words to this one.

My Prerogative, Bobby Brown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cDLZqe735k&ob=av2e I was known to “Travolta” on the dance floor to this one at a number of Kmart Xmas parties back in the day.

Whip It, Devo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbt30UnzRWw - This used to be my signature dance way back when. I retired it long ago, but I still love this song and band.

Bust a Move, Young MC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy4FXhkm6Nw - This barely makes it as it was released in 1989. But, again in the suburbs this was the rap we were exposed to. It wasn’t bad but man was it tame.

One Step Beyond, Madness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-uyWAe0NhQ - This was Ska in its infancy. But I swear to you I played this video at work and it got me moving. I don’t know what it is about this song. Wasn’t all that popular but I really dig it.

Bizarre Love Triangle, New Order http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmLerpRZKG0 – This is another 80’s prom special. If you went to a Queen of Peace mixer in 1986 you hard this song I guarantee it.

Baseball Vs. FootballI

2012-02-08T09:52:00.001-06:00

I was watching Pawn Stars (which if you don’t watch you should) the other night and a debate was started over what was the better sport baseball or football. Everyone has their own opinion on the matter and my motto is to each their own. However, in my mind this isn’t even close. Baseball is much better. So, I give you my top ten reasons why baseball is the far superior sport.

No clock to run out – Not just in football but in every other sport you can run out the clock. Not in baseball. How many times do you watch a football game and whatever team has the ball last wins. You run out the clock you take a knee whatever it is. You cannot do that in baseball. You have to get that elusive 27^th out. This year’s World Series was the perfect example of that. Twice the Rangers were one out from winning the thing. And twice they could not get that last out. To me that is what makes the game all the more exciting. And I don’t care what you say knowing you have to finish off the other team by getting that last out adds drama to any game.

The thinking man’s game – Baseball always has been the thinking man’s game. This may sound elitist as all hell but football is for Neanderthals. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of strategy in a football. But it does not compare to baseball. I love when people try to tell me baseball is boring. Football games take three hours and there is an average of eleven minutes in action. There are around 120 actual offensive plays ran in a game. In baseball there are on average 300 pitches per game. And on each pitch there is a strategy involved. Each player in the field must position themselves based on the count, what kind of hitter is batting which many a graph is studied to figure out. The situation, are there runners on base. If you are in the field you should be constantly thinking where do I throw the ball if it is hit to me. If you are catching or pitching you have to think about pitch selection and location. I am just reaching the tip of the iceberg here. I won’t bore everyone but if you really watch the game and know it there is so much going on that if you do fancy yourself someone who loves strategy then baseball has it in spades.

Hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports – This one is not even up for debate. Hitting a round baseball with a bat is the most difficult thing in all of sports to do. It’s a talent that few on this earth have. The hand eye coordination it takes is simply mind boggling. And to all those morons who think it doesn’t take guts to play baseball I guarantee they have never gotten in a batter’s box and faced a 90 MPH fastball. Then when you are geared up for that a pitcher can throw you an off speed pitch and make you look foolish. Even a .200 hitter in the bigs has an amazing ability.

Any person no matter their size can play – I grew up a small skinny kid. Football was out of the question growing up. I mean have you seen Lucas? Baseball however, I could still play. It does not matter how big you are. If you can play the game you can play. Or you can be an out of shape tub of goo and still be a stud. Babe Ruth is still for my money the single greatest baseball player of all time. He ate hot dogs by the case smoked Cuban cigars and drank booze like it was water. He was only in shape if you consider round a shape. Yet, he still had that ability to hit the baseball like certainly no one before him and few after him. Many will say the NFL has better athletes and that is fine. I much prefer a sport where I see normal sized people playing it.

You cannot substitute in and out of the game – Baseball is the only sport where once you are out of the game you are out. Thus, you have to choose when to pinch hit and run and when to take a pitcher out with much more caution. In football you run ten yards and you get substituted out for a play. You cannot take off plays in baseball. But I forgot football players are more rugged, spare me.

The Parks – People in the summer plan family vacations around visiting baseball stadiums. There is a reason for this. They are beautiful. Baseball is played in parks and football is played in stadiums. It’s played in the summer on with the exception of Toronto, on grass. The smell of a baseball park is one of the best that God has created. Football is a game best seen on TV. That is why it is so popular in that format. Baseball is fine on television but nothing compares to being at a game. The crack of the bat, the excitement of the crowd, the smell of steamy weenies on the grill, you cannot duplicate that. I have had some of the most miserable times of my life sitting at Solider Filed watching a Bears game. You could not pay me to go and watch a live football game in December.

It’s Unique – No two stadiums have the same dimensions. Think about that for one second. It is the only sport where you alter your game based on what park you are playing in. Is it is hitters park, is the wind blowing out. Is there a hill in centerfield? You have to alter your game based on conditions and location. Sure football has bad weather but each field is a hundred yards long. Baseball is also the only game where the defense has the ball. Also no other sport has the equivalent to hitting for the cycle or pitching a no hitter. To me nothing is more exciting than a pitcher throwing a no hitter. I’m a diehard Cub fan and I was rooting my ass off when Mark Buerhle pitched that perfect game a couple of years ago. I can’t think of any circumstance where I would ever root for the Packers in football.

You have to play offense and defense – I am going to limit this to the far superior brand of baseball they play in the National League where they don’t use that abortion of a rule called the designated hitter. You cannot hide a deficiency, you have to be able to not only hit but also be able to play the field. No one plays both sides of the ball in football anymore. You could be an awesome power hitter but if you have stone hands in the field you can’t be hidden you still have to go out there and play the field. I love that about the game. Conversely, you could be a wizard with the glove but if you can’t hit a lick you won’t be an everyday player. And since there again is no substituting in and out of the game you have to be somewhat adept at both parts of the game.

The pageantry and tradition – Simply put there is nothing like the tradition of baseball. The 7^th inning stretch with the singing in every park to take me out to the ball game tell me what the equivalent is in football? Baseball has revered announcers, Vin Scully, Jack Buck, Harry Cary, Jack Brickhouse, Mel Allen, the list goes on and differs on your home team and where you grew up. Listening to a baseball game on the radio on a summer night, seriously to me nothing like it. Name me one famous football announcer, John Madden would be the only one I would give you and he sucked. Opening Day in baseball, with the bunting and the pomp and the first pitch being thrown out by some dignitary, I get goose bumps just thinking about it.

The Numbers – No game uses statistical analysis more than baseball. Also in no sport is a mere number so important. Every baseball fan knows Joe DiMaggio had a 56 game hitting streak that still stands. Can you tell me the longest touchdown streak in football without looking it up? 3,000 hits, 500 homers, 300 wins, and 3000 strikeouts those numbers mean something in a career, what is the equivalent in football? Babe Ruth hit 714 homers everyone knows that. Roger Maris hit 61 homers in 1961 everyone knows that as well. Quick someone tell me how many TD’s Bret Favre threw or for that matter who had the record before he broke it? Then there is the new math and new metrics in baseball. I won’t bore you with statistical analysis and even if you don’t fully buy into the new school approach it is pretty cool that is it is there and available. You just can’t measure football that way.

Argo Alumni Night

2012-01-27T09:32:00.001-06:00

Tonight is the Argo Alumni Night and I will be attending. I look forward to it on many levels and on some others I really don’t. The reasons for this are somewhat complex. On the one hand I really love catching up with old friends, many of whom I have not talked to in forever. In particular I particularly enjoy catching up with my old peeps from my St. Fabian’s Teen Club days. It’s so much fun re-living those times and re-telling old war stories from that part of my youth. Even the friends I still hang with from those days I don’t hang with as much anymore.

Due to work and family life I don’t get a chance to talk and hang around with my old posse as much. Now when we want to get together we all have to check our calendars and make sure there is no conflict. It’s crazy when we want to go and get a beer on a Saturday we have to plan it like two months in advance. Back in the day, you would be bored so you would pick up the phone make a call and you would met your friends at the bar in a half hour.

Trust me I get it. Schedules are tighter and free time more limited. I don’t have kids of my own but trust me I understand that they take up a huge portion of a parent’s free time. We all have responsibilities and mortgages now. I try to hang with the old gang as much as I can but it is difficult sometimes. That is why tonight will be fun. It’s great to see everyone and I do feel good knowing that I’ve been friends with these people for twenty five years. We have shared experiences that form a bond. Talking about the retreat, the old haunted houses we worked, Dell throwing up at White Castle (that one will never get old) or driving aimlessly on a random fall evening in 1986 is priceless. I am not kidding when I say this I really feel blessed to have had those times and to have experienced them with an amazing group of people. It truly is great to see everyone.

On the other hand, being in a room with people I went to high school with brings up a lot of other stuff as well. I was a skinny, nerdy little kid when I started high school. I had friends but I also have some unpleasant memories of Argo as well. Let’s put it this way. My first two years of high school were not littered with many great memories. My Junior and Senior year I had a fricken blast. But those first two years were not fun.

In particular my sophomore year I really struggled. I felt picked on, nerdy, unpopular, and was a loaner. I never felt like I had much in common with my classmates. I was a fifteen year old kid who didn’t have a lot of confidence and while now I am not that person at all, being around certain people does drudge up those somewhat painful memories.

I don’t want it to sound like it was awful, and in the end I look back at my Argo days and smile. I made lifelong friends going to that school. However, a majority of my classmates and I just never hung out and that’s ok. I am not trying to put anyone down. Even when I was at Argo, I knew I wasn’t going to be hanging out with most of my fellow class of 87 graduates once school was over. At my ten year reunion, I wound up talking to Zar and Chuck for 85% of the evening. I just remember looking around and saying to myself, I just have nothing in common with most of these people mainly because I just was not part of their click.

And again, that’s ok. So, tonight while I really can’t wait to see the old gang I know a part will be trying to suppress that geeky fifteen year old teenager that is buried way deep down inside. I know I am not that kid anymore. I am in a good place in my life for the first time in a very long time. I have a good job and have very little to complain about. But being around certain fellow Argonauts will for whatever reason, stir up some shit inside me. But, fuck it I still am looking forward to it and I am sure even without drinking I will still have a lot of fun.

I'm Just a Girl

2011-12-30T14:10:00.002-06:00

10 things I like that make me a girl

500 Days of Summer – I guess I can relate to being totally in love with a girl and not getting that feeling back. It’s not your typical rom com and maybe that is why I like this film so much.

Hall and Oates – Ok I am just going to own to it. Rich Girl, Sara Smile, Maneater, Private Eyes, Family Man, I have to admit I dig. Sure, they are poppy 80’s nonsense but they wrote catchy songs that are fun and not to be taken seriously.

Cranberry and Vodka – This is my go to drink at weddings. I know these are the main ingredients in Cosmopolitans as well and despite hating Sex in the City with a mad fucking passion, I have to admit I dig this drink and hey I won’t get a urinary tract infection which is nice.

George Clooney – Ok, I have a non sexual man crush on Clooney. I think the guy is a good actor. Sure he has made some bad movies (The men who Stare at Goats anyone) but when he is on he’s really good. I first dug him in From Dusk til Dawn and then thought he was great in O’ Brother Where Art Thou. I love the Ocean’s series (ok the middle one was weak) and overall just think the guy epitomizes cool.

Clean Sheets – I never knew how much I liked sleeping in clean sheets until I started to. When I was a younger man I really didn’t give a shit. But, nowadays, I must say there is something about slipping under the covers to the smell of a clean bed sheet that I really dig.

John Hughes – I grew up in the 80’s living in the suburbs of Chicago watching his films. I have to own to digging almost of all his teen flicks. Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, hell even Pretty in Pink, if I am at home and one of them is on I put the remote down. This is very difficult to admit.

Last Dance by Donna Summer – I don’t know why but for whatever reason this song comes on at a wedding and I on the dance floor busting a move, shaking my money maker like a dancing fool. I have no reason or defense for this.

The Food Network – I don’t like all the shows but I know more than most men about them and the hosts of each. Ask me about Ellie Krieger, I dare you.

Fabric Softener – I never used it back in the day. Hell I would usually get the cheapest laundry detergent I could find and use that. But, now I wouldn’t think of doing a load without adding some Snuggle.

Early No Doubt – Gwen Stefani has gone off the rails big time. But, Tragic Kingdom era I am all over it. I wore that cd out back in the day. I would jam to I’m just a girl and have no reservations about it. Get a couple of beverages in me and I will wail out a mean karaoke version of Don’t Speak with very little prodding.

Good Xmas Music?

2011-12-07T09:05:00.001-06:00

My brother wrote a very funny piece on the five songs he hates at Christmas which you can read here, http://zombiedante.blogspot.com/2011/11/5-terrible-songs-for-xmas-season.html

I am a total Scrooge during the season and as such loath Christmas music. I go to the well often about my seven years of working retail during the holidays as having jaded me and even though the years have advanced I still cringe when I hear certain songs from the holidays. With that said I can appreciate music from any genre and that even includes Xmas tunes. Ninety percent of it is pure saccharine injected artificial bullshit that is ungenuinely trying to pull at the heart strings. But, still there are at least five jams I dig. Here they are.

Do They Know It’s Christmas, Band Aid – I’m a child of the 80’s. I will never apologize for that. So, with that said I will own to liking a lot of bad 80’s music simply because it will remind me of simpler times when I was young and was living it up. This song is an example of that. I won’t say it’s good but there is something about it that when I hear it always puts a smile on my face. My favorite line of course is Bono in all his Irish bravado butchering the Tonight thank God it’s them instead of you. Always puts a smile on my face.

Christmas in Hollis, Run DMC –I like Run DMC. Always have, always will. To a white boy growing up in the suburbs they were my introduction to the whole rap genre and showed me how good it could be. Christmas in Hollis is Run DMC at the height of their game. It’s not one of their best in any way shape or form but is still listenable which for a Christmas song is saying something.

A Holy Joly Chirstmas, Burl Ives – I really only like this one cause it is my go to during the holidays to add a little levity. The Francone Xmas Fest is massive with twenty conversations going on at once. It is as loud as an F16 taking off and inevitably at some point as much fun as we do have a small argument or disagreement may arise. It is at this point where I will go to my always reliable smile producer. I will when the moment is right bust out the line, and kiss her once for me and start singing the chorus to this Xmas classic. Usually any disagreement anyone might be having is quickly forgotten.

Frosty the Snowman, Leon Redbone and Dr. John – Growing up in a house with my step dad Lou every year around the holidays he would whip out the Leon Redbone Christmas album. You either like Redbone’s unique and unusual voice or you don’t. I like it so therefore I also happen to enjoy his swap land version of this Christmas classic.

Christmas, The Who – This is not necessarily a standard Christmas song, but it’s my list and I can do with it what I want. I’ve said it before and I will say it again. The Who might be the most important rock band ever. There was a time I listened to Tommy so much I could have played the lead character in a Broadway production of it and not needed to memorize one line.

The Weight

2011-11-17T12:30:00.001-06:00

When I was growing up I was super skinny. As a child I looked like I was malnourished. I could eat and eat whatever I wanted and never gain an ounce. All through my teens I would liberally be called underweight. My metabolism was so high that it just didn’t matter what I consumed. Unfortunately this led to just a shit load of bad eating habits. Habits that have been very difficult to break as the years have gone on.

As I got older and my metabolism slowed I started to gain weight. At first this was a good thing as I needed some pounds. I often joke that I was at my ideal weight for like ten minutes in 1993. When I was playing softball and being somewhat active in my twenties it wasn’t that big of a deal. Sure, I ate like shit and drank many a nights away but I was always doing something so, the weight gain I did have was gradual.

As I hit my thirties I started to slow down and I kept on eating and drinking whatever the hell I wanted. I had and still have a food addiction. There are worse things to be addicted to but pizza, burgers, fried rice, a good steak burrito, pasta I was and still am in love with the most fating foods on this planet. I got married and Joyce tried to get me to eat healthier. At dinner I would, but man at lunch when I was unsupervised I just went hog wild. Because of this as I got older I put on even more weight eventually hitting the dreaded two hundred pound level, something I swore I would never cross.

From there it only got worse. I started running at some point and that helped stem the tide a tad. I justified to myself that as long as I ran I could still eat like a pig and it would be fine. I wasn’t losing any weight but I wasn’t gaining any so, I thought it was all good. Then I had to have my appendix removed in June. Because of this I could not run for awhile. A month turned into two which turned into three.

Why I stopped running I don’t know, but I did. I also just kept on drinking Miller High Life and eating any crappy food I wanted. I was feeling very unhealthy and was afraid to step on a scale. I needed something to wake me up. One day I was looking at some old photos. One was from a camping trip a number of years ago. In it I looked so much lighter and happier that I burned the image into my head. I wanted to look and feel that way again. Then I went to Vancouver and stayed in a hotel. I got a look at my gut in a very unflattering mirror in the Hyatt bathroom and that was the last straw.

I got back from Canada and I made a pledge I was going to get back to a healthier weight. I looked into all the diet fads and weight watchers and all that stuff. But, I know me. I know I need to do things my own way. Nothing against any of those programs and diets, as I am sure they worked for many people. But me personally I needed to do things my own way.

So far I have lost twenty pounds. That has gotten me under two balloons for the first time in awhile. I feel so much better now than when I did three months ago. I would like to drop another ten to fifteen and then maintain that weight. Here is how I did it. Now, this worked for me, I am not saying it will work for everyone.

First, you have to be prepared to make a lifestyle change. I have found that fad diets do not work. Sure, you might lose the weight at first but it is much more difficult to keep it off once you go off of it. I downloaded an app on my IPhone called Lose It. In there I set up some goals. It then sets up a plan directing you to how many calories you can eat per day. The key is you have to add everything you eat into the app. If you cheat it won’t work. So now before I eat any meal I figure out how many calories are in each piece of food. It’s nice in that if you eat something from a store you can simply scan the bar code and it will add it in there for you. You can also add any exercises you do in a given day. The more you exercise the more you can eat.

I cannot stress this enough. It is basic common sense but I feel it needs to be said. You will not lose weight and keep it off if you just exercise or if you just diet. You need to do both. It is simple math. You need to burn 3500 calories to lose one pound. So, unless you want to completely starve yourself (and what fun is that) you will have to get off the couch and start exercising. I like running. Some people like hitting an elliptical or taking a spin class. The point is do something. Another piece of advice start slow and work your way up. Going from 0 to 60 is a guarantee you will get injured (in particular if you are like me and over 40.) Walk around your block then walk two blocks and then go from there. Doing something is better than sitting on your ass.

Okay, like I said I like food. So, I had to find some way for me to keep enjoying what I am eating, which means one thing portion control. Before, I would eat and keep on eating. Now, if I have a taste for a hamburger I get one but a small one. I don’t get the fries and coke that usually comes with it. I read that if you eat five small meals a day instead of three big ones it is much easier. So now I eat breakfast when I get to work. Usually a bowl of cereal (sorry Fruity Pebbles is out, try good old Cheerios or something low in calories) with sadly skim milk, which I used to hate but is growing on me. I knew lunch would be the most difficult challenge as I stated that was the meal I usually ate the worst of the worst fast food. I have to get out of the office for a half hour. I get stir crazy if I don’t get to see natural light and brown bagging it while it may be a money saver and calorie reducer is just not an option.

I have checked every single fast food establishment’s website to find the best combo and keep that meal in the 400-450 range. It is still my largest meal of the day but it beats the caloric intake I used to have. Like if I hit Culver’s (one of my guilty pleasures) I will get a single butter burger no cheese with a side of green beans. At first I would think that is not going to fill me but you will be surprised how quickly you will get full once you put your mind to not overeating. I have found I am much less likely to cheat if I can still enjoy the foods I want.

I then have a snack of some sort at around two. This depends on how much I have or plan to exercise that day. I usually get my sweet fix on by simply eating some fruit. Again stating the obvious but besides being good for you it tastes good. A big bowl of pineapple chunks has taken over my cravings for Twizzlers. Dinner usually consists of a Lean Cuisine. I have become a Lean Cuisine sommelier. They are relatively inexpensive (especially if you can get them on sale) and now find that they usually fill me. Some taste better than others but it is all personal preference. Then at eight I have one last snack. What I eat here is usually dictated by how many calories I have left in my day. I love popcorn. I have an air popper and if you don’t add all the butter and salt popcorn can be surprisingly healthy and low in calories. Plus you can eat a lot of it so it will fill you.

Lastly, on Sunday I reward myself. I eat just like I used to on Sundays. If I want a Fasanos Pizza I order one. If I want a Dukes Beef I wait until Sunday. I would not have made it this far without that reward day. Sure, I might have the lost the weight quicker but, this is not a race. I wanted to lose the weight didn’t matter how long it took.

The results so far are good. I look and feel better than I have in years. I now weigh less than I have in a long time. My clothes are starting to look big on me so, I may have to get some new stuff. I still have my gut, and my ultimate goal is to rid myself of it completely. I have started working with weights at the gym to alternate with my running and slowly but surely I can start to see some results. I am not there yet, but it feels good knowing I am on the right path after a lot of years of abuse.

The Fields Parties

2011-11-10T10:03:00.002-06:00

Back in my Kmart days there was a time each year that I looked forward to more than most. It was the 4^th of July and the reason I looked forward to our nation’s birthday was simply the Jim Fields parties. I have so many great memories of those galas, some of which I can actually remember. It is difficult to try to summarize those bashes. In a way you kind of just had to be there to experience it. But, I will try.

The parties were usually the night before the 4^th. The ritual included staying up all night consuming all sorts of booze and then without sleeping head to the golf course to be the first ones on and golfing eighteen holes while you were half in the bag. I did this more times than I can remember. The front nine you are golfing on adrenaline so you breeze through it. However, the back nine is usually a problem, but more on that later.

At the party itself, there would be music blaring in the garage and Jim would have his big screen setup in his living room showing flicks the whole time. He had a surround sound setup and it was almost like sitting in a movie theater. In the backyard the horseshoe pit would be set up and the grill would be loaded with food. Most years there would be a contest to see how many hot dogs Mr. White would consume.

Then there was the booze. One year in particular a store manager, Vic made some jungle juice. If you have never had the pleasure I don’t know if you should feel lucky or not. He made it in a twenty gallon Rubbermaid garbage can and it was stirred with a nine iron. I don’t know the exact ingredients but I can tell you it had a copious amount of grain alcohol. There was also a ton of watermelon, pineapple and cantaloupe cubes floating near the top of it. I didn’t have one glass of the mixture. But, I ate a lot of that fruit. That would be a mistake.

To put it simply I blacked out. I was out of my mind drunk. That year for whatever reason I was the first name called to tee off on the first hole out of our entire group. So everyone at River Oaks (where we usually golfed) had their eyes on me. I could barely stand straight let alone swing a golf club. I don’t like all eyes on me when I am teeing off sober let alone drunk off my ass. I tried to put on a brave front like everything was cool. However, my charade was soon discovered. I got to the tee box and that is when the trouble started. I was so wobbly and my motor skills were so shot that I simply could not place the ball onto the wooden tee. Instead of sympathy I got mocking and laughter which I totally deserved and would have done to any of my friends as well.

The rest of that day is a blur. Like I said the first nine most years were fine. But that back nine once the sun comes out and starts baking you is a whole other story. At a certain point you just want it to end. You are more trying to survive then golf. There was a hole on the back nine with a fence to your left as you teed off. I hit my ball and of course it goes in the woods. I line up another one same result. I don’t know why I didn’t just throw a ball on the course and take a penalty but at a certain point it was a matter of pride. I lost about six balls to the woods before I finally got one on the fairway.

The ride home was usually agony. With all the damage you have done and with a severe lack of sleep your body tends to just revolt. The short straw usually drove home and it was not fun. Every bodily extinct you have is to shut your eyes and sleep. As bad as I had it I never had it as bad as my friend Rob had it one year.

After going through all the drinking and golfing Rob was a mere mile or so from home and sleeping. However it was at this point when his car caught on fire. He pulled into the State Road plaza borrowed a fire extinguisher from a local merchant and then had to deal with the tow truck and all the rest while running on less then fumes. When he finally got home he slept for 26 hours. My favorite story is he got up and was mad thinking he only slept two hours. His mom then informed him that no he had lost an entire day.

One other little secret is that until later in life none of us were yet of the legal drinking age when these parties took place. Let’s put this in context though. It was the late 80’s. Things were much different. There wasn’t the mass hysteria there is today of protecting kids from any and all things fun and dangerous. I am not saying it was kosher for the adults we knew at the time to be providing us with booze. But, we all stayed in one place we policed ourselves and no one drove under in the influence. We had fun and if someone was over served we took care of the situation.

I have so many other memories from those days. The time Wally somehow while “dancing” was able to knee himself in the eye. Another Wally moment where he pulled out a camera and some dude we have no clue to this day who he was pulls a gun out and tells him to put the camera away. The time I was able to talk a certain K Mart girl into playing strip poker. (I won’t go into any more details then that.) I am sure I am missing a number of other great stories and memories but to be perfectly honest most years I was sober for about the first ten minutes I walked in the door and it was all downhill from there. Like most of my youth adventures at my time at Moraine and Kmart I look back with fondness and just a bit of amazement at what we did.

Nick's Top 10 Vocalists

2011-11-03T13:04:00.000-05:00

Awhile back I did a list of my favorite guitarists, bass players and drummers. I had every intention of including my top ten vocalists as well but never got around to it. Eventually it got to the point I completely forgot about it. Well, here at long last is my list. Again, these are my picks and no one has to agree or disagree with it. As they say live and let live.

10. Warren Zevon – I know most would say he doesn’t have a great singing voice. I think that should be amended to he doesn’t have a traditional voice. I prefer singing that is a tad rough around the edges. I find something beautiful in that. Zevon, was downright heroic in death and made some of the saddest yet inspiring music ever right before he died. Still, even before that I was a fan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5puAN1PGQw

9. Bob Dylan – Of all the names on this list I expect to get the most shit for including Dylan. And I admit his is a very unconventional voice that you have to kind of grow to love. Most will say he was a great song writer but can’t sing. To that I call bullshit. Again, the guy isn’t going to win America Idol but the uniqueness in his singing is what I cling to. And trust me after awhile you start to crave it. So go and listen to Mariah Carey and her perfect octave. I will take Bob any day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwSZvHqf9qM&ob=av3e

8. Bruce Springsteen – I get why a lot of people have given up on Bruce. I mean for the last 25 years for the most part he has put out mostly shit. But, there was a time back in the late 70’s and early 80’s that Springsteen was making some of the best music in rock and roll with lyrics that were poetry. I love the New Jersey accent that he can’t hide in his singing. At one time a true craftsman that eventually sold out and made Born in the USA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4JfkZ5mJs&feature=related

7. Chrissie Hynde – To me she is the best female vocalist of them all. There is something seductive in her singing that always hits me in the chest. Again not a classically trained singer but her voice while different also produces in my mind at least a wonderful sound. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtwX0hMVrIo&feature=related

6. Roger Daltrey – Now talk about a set of pipes. Daltrey just like the rest of the members of the greatest band of all time was the perfect fit. His voice was meant to sing along with Pete’s wind milling, Keith’s mania, and John’s precession. Even as he approaches 70 he still can belt them out. I don’t think I will get much of an argument here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJtbICbfjno&feature=related

5. Roy Orbison – Maybe the prettiest voice in rock and roll history. There are certain people put on this earth with a god given talent to sing and Roy was one of them. His voice was pure magic. He was a country and rock mix vocalist that turned his words into a pure delight. Sadly just as he was enjoying a resurgence he passed away suddenly. But he left behind a great legacy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geLAbyOTaZA&feature=related

4. Levon Helm – There are certain people I could listen to sing anything and be sated. Helm is one of them. I didn’t get into the Band until way later on in life. The one thing I was struck by immediately was the drummer whose voice was so unique and so powerful. No one sounds like Levon Helm. He lost his voice a number of years ago but is now back and he is as good as ever. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VShpcqd3zE

3. Neil Young – Now here comes a nuking. The thing is there is no middle ground with Neil Young. You either unabashedly love him and his voice or it is nails on a chalkboard to you. Count me in the love group. To me his voice is so different than anyone else’s and just off enough that it is one of the greatest of all time. Neil Young maybe has given more joy from his music then other single performer. A true music god and for those that don’t get him, I feel sorry for you. You’re missing out on beauty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVi0UvFu8Yo

2. Freddie Mercury – Freddie makes this list for two reasons. One he could flat out sing. The other, he may have been the best front man in rock and roll history. He was a true showman whose stage presence was simply mesmerizing. When he was up there you did not and could not look away. I’m not sure anyone commanded a show like he did. Sadly, I never got the chance to watch him live as he was taken away way too young. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXOOwNS2qk0

1. Van Morrison – Simply put Van Morrison could sing the phone book and I would pay to listen. If you haven’t at least once in your life made out to Moondance then you haven’t lived. I simply cannot put into words just how amazing I feel Van Morrison’s singing ability is, so I won’t even try. Just go YouTube him right now and you will be in a good mood in five minutes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpPSBzGEklE

Honorable Mention: Al Green, Bon Scott, Paul Carrick, Joe Cocker, Jeff Lynne, Corey Glover, Robert Plant, David Byrne, Stevie Wonder.

2011 Cub Grades

2011-10-05T08:33:00.001-05:00

This is my very amateurish grade and scouting report forevery player who appeared for the Cubs in 2011 and is still with the organizationin alphabetical order.

Pitchers

Justin Berg (D) Berg only made eight appearances for the clubbefore earning his demotion back to Iowa where he blew out his arm. So, it may be awhile before we see him backat Wrigley again. His stuff isn’t badbut he just cannot throw strikes on a consistent basis. His fastball has a natural sink to it andwhen he commands it he gets a lot of swings and misses. His future is not bright though with his walkproblems and now an arm surgery.

Chris Carpenter (B)Carpenter only made ten appearances so, I can only grade him on what I saw, andwhat I saw I liked. He has a goodfastball with movement. Carpenter alsohas a closers mentality. He developed armissues at Iowa so, that is something to keep an eye on, but if healthy the ceilingis high on this kid.

Andrew Cashner (I)Can’t honestly grade Cashner as he missed most of the season with a shoulder injury. But what I did see I did like. I thought coming into the season he wouldhave to work on cutting down on the walks and we will see if he does thatcoming into next year. Projected by theCubs as a starter and again the jury is out on that. He has the pitches to start and I love hismakeup. The two big questions will becan he stay healthy and will he be a consistent enough to be starter at the bigleague level.

Casey Coleman (F)– I may be being too harsh here but, if you saw Coleman pitch this year I don’tknow what else you could give him. Hisstuff is average at best and he needs to be almost perfect to get hittersout. If he maximizes all his talent hemight wind up a serviceable middle reliever.

Ryan Dempster (C-)I love Demp, but if you are being honest you have to admit his year wasn’t allthat spectacular. He started offbrutally and around mid-May got himself righted. He had a nice run for a bit but then revertedback down the stretch in September. Atthis point Depmster is nothing more than a third starter. He can give you an occasional great outingbut most of the time he is going to be just average. He has a huge contract option which he has threatenedto decline. Now, I know we don’t have alot of other alternatives but for the money he makes there has to be somethingbetter out there. I would bring him back but not at that 14 million price tagthat comes with him.

Rafael Dollis (I)– For some unknown reason he only made one appearance upon his call up by themental midget we had in the dugout. Heprojects as a closer and in AA he saved 17 games this year. I didn’t see enough of him personally to saywhat I feel he will become.

Matt Garza (B+)Garza just misses out on an A for his fielding miscues and a couple of roughstarts. But, overall I thought Garza wasbetter than advertised which says a lot as his billing was huge. He has an array of pitches but his plusfastball is his best. Natural movementand when he has his secondary pitches working he is literally unhittable. A guy who wants to win and the Cubs should doeverything in their power to lock him up for the long term.

John Gaub (I)Another guy we didn’t get a big look at so it is hard to grade. Has the potential to be a useful LOOGY in aMike Remlinger type model.

John Grabow (D)Grabow was the highest paid member of the bullpen this year which is all youneed to know about Jim Hendry. He isnothing more than a LOOGY and in that role would probably be ok. He held lefties to a .244 average. Sadly, Mike Quade had no idea how to use himand he got rocked often. He faced 80more right handed hitters then left. He will be gone next season and he won’tbe missed.

Rodrigo Lopez (C-)Lopez was about what I expected when he was brought over from Atlanta’s AAAteam. A junk baller who will give it hisall but at this point in his career is relying on moxie more than anything toget hitters out. He was good for aboutfive innings per start and then the wheels would usually fall off. Everyone knew this except our resident geniusQuade. Also, the fact that we had noother alternatives then to give Lopez and Doug Davis as many starts as we didspeaks volumes about the Cubs minor league system.

Scott Maine (F) Iliked what I saw of Maine at the end of last year. This year however, we didn’t see much of himand that is basically because when we did he was bad. He walks far too many hitters for myliking. He may the quintessential quadrupleA player, too good for the minors but not good enough to get hitters out at themajor league level.

Carlos Marmol (D-)No player frustrates me more than Marmol. Part of his issue may be Riggins not being able to get through tohim. Or it may be a case of him beingtoo hard headed. He depends way too muchon his slider. When his slider is on, itis spectacular but hitters have gotten the scouting report on him. He does not trust his fastball and hastrouble locating his slider. So, now noone swings unless they have two strikes. He blew ten saves and the Cubs finished twenty games under. I know we can’t expect perfection but, do themath. That is a .500 record if he closesthe games out. I am not sure he willever be able to duplicate his past greatness. I would trade him if I could and even if he does come back he should notbe guaranteed the closers role heading into camp.

Marcos Mateo (D)Mateo surprised by making the team out of camp and pitched okay for awhilebefore he blew up. He got sent down thengot called back up and then got hurt stupidly. I think he has a chance but his biggest obstacle seems to behimself. Gets flustered on the mound andwhen he starts getting hit does not know how to get out of jams. I like his arm, but I wonder about his head.

Ramon Ortiz (C-)Ortiz is another retread over the hill guy that was brought in to pitch mop upinnings. He can still retire righties asthey only hit .205 against him. But at this point in his career he does nothave the ability to retire lefties. Theyhit nearly .300 against him and slugged .574. He won’t be back next season unless something drastically goes wrong. (Like it did in 2011.)

James Russell (C)Russell has his role. It is as a LOOGY, nothingmore. Sadly the Cubs “brain trust” somehowgot it in their head that he could be a starter. We saw the results and they were horrifying. But, to his credit he never complained andtook the ball whenever it was asked of him. His numbers out of the bullpen were actually pretty good. But his five starts were so bad they kind ofskew his overall totals.

Jeff Samardzjia(A-) Well Cub fans be honest, raise your hands if you saw this coming from theshark this year. I sure didn’t. At long last Jeffo developed a secondarypitch. When he mixes in his off speedstuff his plus fastball becomes that much more effective. Walks too many hitters but, in the secondhalf really put a curb to that as well. Of course the Cubs are talking about moving him to the rotation nextyear which in my mind would be a huge mistake. Be happy what you have with him and don’t mess him up.

Jeff Stevens (D-)The only reason he didn’t get an F is because I really feel Quade messed himup. Stevens is nothing more than amiddle reliever with mediocre material to work with. He can be effective when he stays in thestrike zone but has to be almost perfect to get hitters out. Q-Balled did him no favors by asking him tothrow 3.1 innings in a game in April. Hewas doing okay before that but, after being overextended he gave it his all andhis reward was being cut.

Randy Wells (C-)I defended this guy last year when everyone kept saying sophomore slump. Well, this year, he was hard to defend. You wonder how much of his issues were relatedto his arm injury though. Wells patternis getting old. First innings just givehim fits. His first inning ERA was 7.04,which says it all. He would usually getin trouble in the first and then settle down and start pitching. His changeup that he developed later in theyear was an effective out pitch. If hecan get his early troubles fixed I still think the guy can be a solid numberthree in a good rotation. But, that is abig if.

Kerry Wood (B-)What is there really to say about Wood? You know what you are getting with him, a solid late inning reliever whoat some point will get injured. His developmentof the cutter has been a huge boost late in his career. Still has a plus fastball with movement. Had some first half wildness but reallysettled down to finish the year strong before, yes again getting hurt. Does not cost much so, why not bring himback.

Carlos Zambrano (C-)I know he is as good as gone and I also know he has no one to blame buthimself. But, I will miss Big Z. Sure, he stuff isn’t what it once was. But he still got hitters out. His issues were always the same year in yearout, between the ears. He would getflustered on the mound and would start rushing his pitches and then bad things wouldhappen. When he is on, it is still athing of beauty to watch. But, his beingon, was becoming rarer and rarer. I havea bad feeling he goes to Florida with Gullien and pitches well for him.

Hitters

Jeff Baker (C-)Baker is nice utility player, but that is all he is. He still hits lefties rather well, hitting.314 and slugging .463 against them. But,he is an automatic out verses righties as he reached base at only a .229 clip! Also damming is that he walked only ten timesall year. He can spot start at a numberof different positions and be a nice bat off the bench against a leftie butthat is all he is.

Darwin Barney (B-)Barney had a nice first half but then ran out of gas after the all starbreak. He wound up hitting only .276 (thanksto a .238 average post break) and worse yet only reached base at a .313clip. For a guy with no power and hitsecond an awful lot those are not good numbers. He does not strike out a ton, so you can count on him to put the ball inplay. Has good range at second and willprovide above average defense there. But,in the long run unless he learns some more plate discipline I don’t think he isthe long term answer at second base.

Marlon Byrd (D-)No one player angered me more than Byrd. His 35 RBi’s in 482 AB’s is embarrassing. For the year he slugged .395 that is ajoke. He drew a grand total 25 walksthis season. With 2 outs and RISP he hit.194. I could go on throwing atrocious numbersat you, but I think one gets the point. Hismain issue is he doesn’t get on base or have enough speed to hit at the top ofthe lineup and doesn’t drive in enough runners to hit in the middle. So, you are left with a guy who plays a belowaverage center field who can’t hit. Ifyou can get a used rosin bag for him, take it.

Tony Campana (C)Campana has speed not seen on the North side in my lifetime. For that reason and that reason alone hedeserves a look. However, he has tolearn some plate discipline if he is ever going to be a solid contributor atthe major league level. He reached baseat a .303 pace and that won’t cut it. Agood fastball blows him away. So, he hasto add a little muscle if he can and start learning to foul off goodpitches. A walk to him is a double. At best he can be a useful threat off thebench to pinch run but not sure he ever becomes an everyday player. Also has a squirt gun for an arm in theoutfield.

Wellington Castillo (I)Of all the indictments against the Quade-Hendry brain trust I could spew thefact that Castillo only got 13 at bats upon his call up when Soto got hurtcould be at the top of the list. Sotogot hurt and instead of plugging Castillo in there on a daily basis the clownsin charge gave us Koyie Hill every day. I could understand that if the team is in contention actually, no I can’t. We know what we have in Hill. Castillo at the big league level is still anunknown. The situation was made worsewhen he got hurt late in the year at Iowa and we didn’t even get to see him inSeptember. He put up decent enough numberson the farm and he has a cannon for an arm so, he should get a look in Mesa.

Starlin Castro (B+)He only misses an A because of his defense. From the offensive side there isn’t much to complain about. He could draw more walks but, I think in timethat will come. You hate to ruin his aggressiveapproach because it works for him. Isabout as consistent as they come and he started hitting for some pop in thesecond half which is truly scary. Stillneeds to cut down on the mental mistakes in the field. He makes the spectacular play but still madeway too many errors. It is scary tothink how many he would have had if Pena hadn’t bailed him out as much as hedid. You have to remember he is still ayoung kid and hopefully the defensive consistency comes because if it does thesky is the limit for him.

Steve Clevenger (I)It is hard to get a gage on a player who only started one game and who madefive plate appearances. He did have apretty good season between Tennessee and Iowa also, the fact that he is a lefthanded hitting catcher is a plus. But,obviously the jury is still out on him.

Tyler Colvin (F)I am not sure how you can give him any other grade then the F bomb. He looked completely lost at the plate thisyear. Breaking balls gave him fits asdid fastballs up around his eyes. He hasnever been a patient hitter and this year to say he regressed would be anunderstatement. I have never been high onColvin even after his 20 homer campaign last year. The league made an adjustment to him and hehas not adjusted back. I am not sure hewill ever be a useful full time player.

Blake Dewitt (C+)DeWitt seemed to make the best out of a bad situation. DeWitt’s issue is that he has a secondbaseman’s bat but his best defensive position is third. He is another guy that does not take walksand strikes out too much. (I thinkHendry cornered the market on those types of players.) Still he did have a couple of nice momentsduring the season. But, truthfully I don’tthink he will ever hit enough to be a full timer in the bigs.

Koyie Hill (D)Please let this be the last year of Frankenstein, I mean Koyie Hill. He seems like a nice enough guy but he cannothit a lick. I understand that is why heis a backup catcher but even his defense has become lackluster. He still calls a good game I guess but, hisbat is an automatic out. A .268 on base percentageis Nefi like. Again, if he is back nextyear I will revolt.

Reed Johnson (A-)Few guys get more out of their ability then Reed Johnson. He knows his role, accepts it, and excels atit. All good teams need guys likeJohnson on their bench. Can play allthree outfield positions and play them well. Hit over .300 with the occasionalblast. Reed is willing to do anything toget on base and is the anti- Marlon Byrd as he hit over .300 with two outs andRISP. All in all he had a good year and is always welcomein the Cubs clubhouse.

Brian LaHair (B+)It was a total indictment against the Cubs management that LaHair didn’t get acall up during the season as he was ripping it up at Iowa. I know he is a tad old to be considered aprospect but, this guy can hit. Andbetter yet, he knows how to take pitches and produce quality at bats. I know it was September but an .885 OPS isnot too shabby. Natural position is atfirst but didn’t embarrass himself in the outfield. Hopefully he will get a legitimate shot tomake the team next season in some capacity.

D.J. LeMahieu (C -)Lemahieu didn’t get a chance to play all that much. In the short time he did he didn’t exactlymake much of an impression. Still, Ithink he would be an upgrade over Barney over the course of a season. He hit over .300 in the minors this year andI think at some point once he fills out may add some pop to his bat. D.J. should at least be given a chance tocompete for the job in Mesa.

Luis Montanez (D) Montanez sadly will always be at least in my eyesviewed as the bust that he was. The 3^rdoverall pick of the draft never lived up to the hype. He is another of those inbetween players. He raked at Iowa to thetune of a .321 average. But when he cameup, did not do a whole bunch. Had acouple of hits here and there but is not a prospect and not a player the Cubsneed to keep on the 40 man roster.

Carlos Pena (C-)I am not as big a fan of Pena as the Cubs brass. He reaches base at a very good .357percentage hits for power and plays gold glove defense. However, he hit 4^th all year anddrove in only 80 runs. With 2 outs andRISP he hit an anemic .159. With RISP ingeneral he only hit .175. That just doesnot cut it. Verses lefties it is a joke. Pena hit a pitcher like .133 againstsouthpaws. (Yet for some reason Quadelet gave him 146 at bats against them.) He strikes out way too often for my liking and is not worth the cash hemade. Please, please don’t bring himback.

Aramis Ramirez (B)Say what you want about A-Ram but he is still the main RBI man on the Cubs andthey will be hard pressed to make up for his loss, if he does in factwalk. He started off slow, as he seemsto always do, and I cannot forget that start. However, from June 1^st on I am notsure there was a better hitter in the whole league. We seem to forget what a black hole the hotcorner was here all those years after Santo. Sure, I would like him to hustle a tad more and his defense is waning. But I am not sure who replaces him if he isnot brought back. If you make a mistaketo him he will still crush it.

Alfonso Soriano (C-)If Soriano is only 35 then I am 15. Heis the oldest looking and moving 35 year old on the planet. He will have the occasional hot streak butwhen he is cold he offers you nothing. He ran into 26 homers and did drive in 88 runs. Those numbers would not kill you if he wasn’tmaking 18 million. His defense is stillsubpar, and he can no longer run the bases. He strikes out too much and can really only hit a low fastball. I would love to think the Cubs shed hissalary someway, but I am not confident.

Geovany Soto (C)I personally think Soto wore down this year from playing so much in the beginningof the season. When you have Koyie asyour backup you want your starter to play as much as possible. Soto has in my opinion improved defensivelybut had a bad year with the bat. I canlive with the 17 bombs and 54 RBI. Iwill also that the .721 OPS which out of a catcher isn’t horrible. But, there are times where Soto looks lost atthe plate. I will say he does draw walksand still hammers lefties. In any otheryear I would suggest looking to upgrade but we have way more pressing andbigger holes to fill.

Brad Snyder (I)It is hard to remember Snyder got a brief June call up when the team was hitwith the injury bug. Snyder is a careerminor leaguer and with good reason. Hehas never shown the ability that made him a first round pick of the Indians in2003. Snyder has already filed for freeagency and needless to say won’t be missed.

MLB 2011 Awards

2011-09-23T09:16:00.001-05:00

Here are my picks for the 2011 baseball post season awards

AL MVP JustinVerlander Det. – It takes a lot in my eyes for a pitcher to get theMVP. But, this is one of thosesituations where all the stars have aligned. Verlander has been simply out of this world this year. A 24-5 record and ERA of 2.29 his whip isunder 1. You like the new metrics fine. Hehas a WAR of 8.5 an ERA+ of 177 and a FIP of 2.92. You could make a case of Granderson of theYankees but his .270 average is troubling for me. Adrian Gonzalez also has had a big year butthe power numbers I thought would be better. You could make a strong case for Jacoby Ellsbury and in any other year Iwould say he is the guy but I just think Verlander has been so dominant thisseason he gets it. Also, where would the Tigers be without him? They are not a postseason team that is forsure.

AL Cy Young JustinVerlander Det. – See above for the reasons. This has to be unanimous. Sabathia and Weaver have also had fine seasons but this is beyondobvious.

AL Rookie of the YearJeremey Hellickson TB – Quietly Hellickson has had quite a year. He has won 13 games and had an era belowthree. His year was a tad better thenPineda’s in Seattle and Walden’s in Anaheim.

AL Manager of theyear Joe Maddon TB – The Rays lost Crawford, Pena and Garza. All the experts had them taking a major stepback this year. Well, Maddon has willedthat team into contention. No ballclubtakes on the personality of its manager more the then Rays. Jim Leyland in Detroit would be my runner up.

NL MVP Ryan BraunMil – I think he is a punk but thereis no denying the type of year he has had. Braun has hit .330 with 31 bombs and driven in over 100. Plus he has stolen 31 bags. He has 6.9 WAR which I thought would behigher. Matt Kemp of the Dodgers ishaving an incredible season but sadly is doing so for a team that stinks so notmany are noticing. I give it to Braun ashe is leading his team to the postseason.

NL Cy Young ClaytonKershaw LA – Man is this a tough one. Basically it is a three horse fight between Kershaw, Halladay and CliffLee of the Phillies. I would not have anargument no matter who won as it is almost splitting hairs between thethree. I lean to Kershaw simply as hehas a 20-5 record for a team that is under .500. He has a better ERA then Halladay and Lee aswell. Halladay has a better WAR andagain if he gets it I would not be surprised. But, again I lean to Kershaw just a bit.

NL Rookie of the YearFreddie Freeman Atl – Craig Kimbrel also of the Braves will more than likelywin this and I don’t have a huge problem with that. He has had a great year saving as of now 45games. But I think Freeman’s year hasbeen better. Freeman has gotten betteras the year has progressed. An OPS over.800 for a rookie is quite impressive. Also, I have a bit of an issue giving an award to a guy who only pitchesone inning at a time as opposed to an everyday player. When the numbers are close I am always goingto go with the guy who plays the field.

NL Manager of theyear Kirk Gibson Ari – I was very skeptical of this hire when it wasmade. But, man was I wrong. Gibson has taken a cast of young players andcast offs and gotten them into the playoffs. He stresses fundamentals and while not a brilliant in game manager you cannotargue with the results.

Nick's 2011 NFL Predictions

2011-08-23T10:50:00.002-05:00

Here are my annual NFL predictions. Please try to contain your laughter.

AFC

East

1. New York

2. New England

3. Buffalo

4. Miami

I like the Jets to finally unseat New England in the East. Sanchez is entering year three and hopefully for his sake takes a step forward. This team wins with defense and running the ball and they should be good in both areas again. The Patriots are aging. I know everyone likes the Ochocinco and Haynesworth signings but, I am not 100% sold on either guy. The running game is also a question mark. I may be high, but I like a lot of what the Bills are doing. Watch for Thigpen take over at QB at some point. I think they are heading in the right direction. This very well could be a re-building year for the Dolphins. Reggie Bush is not an every down back. I see them taking a step back.

North

1. Baltimore

2. Pittsburgh

3. Cleveland

4. Cincinnati

I really like what the Ravens and Jim Harbaugh are building. The D is always good and they at long last look like they have some weapons on offense. I think they take over the North this year. The Steelers will as always be right in the thick of everything. They run the ball well and play good defense which is always a winning combination. The Browns are starting to show some promise. I like what Mike Holmgren is doing there. They still have a ways to go but in a year or two this team may start winning on a consistent basis. The Bengals are a mess. Palmer “retiring” kills any slim chance they had at competing. A look at the roster and you wonder how they will win any games.

South

1. Indianapolis

2. Houston

3. Tennessee

4. Jacksonville

It may be a rough year for the Colts if Manning is not 100%. But, this guy is a gamer and always seems to answer the bell. I am not enamored enough with anyone else to pick against them. The Texans have for the last couple of seasons looked like they were on the brink of making the playoffs. But that defense is so bad that it has killed any chances they might have had. This year they again look like an eight win team. They seem to be running in place. A lot of people are going to pick against the Titans and I understand why. If CJ holds out they are toast. But, I think eventually he plays and I like the Hasselback pick up as a stop gap. They may surprise some people this year. The Jaguars seem to be like a yo-yo one year good, the next bad. Last year they made a surprising run at the division but flamed out the last couple of weeks. I could be wrong but, I just don’t see this team competing week in week out with the better teams in the league.

West

1. San Diego

2. Oakland

3. Kansas City

4. Denver

How the Chargers did not win this division last year is beyond me. Top ranked offense and defense and only a 9-7 record to show for it. I see a bounce back year. The Raiders have talent but the QB position as always is a question. Why they got rid of their most effective passer in Gradkowski is beyond me. The Chiefs played over their heads last year and took advantage of an easy schedule. I can’t see them getting all those breaks once again. The Broncos are rid of Josh McDaniels that is a good thing. But they still have a ways to go to get back to respectability. Also, Tebow will never be an effective NFL QB.

NFC

East

1. Philadelphia

2. Dallas

3. New York

4. Washington

It is all on Mike Vick’s shoulders for the Eagles. If he plays like he did last year, they cruise to the division crown. But, if he takes a step back they could be in for a surprise. I still think they win out. Everyone is sleeping on the normally loud Cowboys. Once Romo went down they were toast and even when he was there they were not playing that great. I think they may be laying in the weeds a bit. They could challenge the Eagles for the crown. The Giants are a good team but, seem to always shoot themselves in the foot. They could make the playoffs if all the chips fall right, but somehow I doubt it. The Redskins are considering starting Rex Grossman. That is all I need to say about them.

North

1. Green Bay

2. Detroit

3. Chicago

4. Minnesota

The Packers are still sad to say the class of the North. They had a ton of injuries last year and still won the super bowl. That is scary. The Lions are a trendy playoff pick this year, but I still tend to think they are a year away. But, there is light at long last at the end of the tunnel. The Bears had every possible break go their way last season. That won’t happen again. That O-line is going to get Cutler killed. The Vikings are paying now for putting all their eggs in Favre’s basket. McNabb has little left in the tank. This could be a long year for them.

South

1. New Orleans

2. Atlanta

3. Tampa Bay

4. Carolina

Everyone forgets that the Saints are still a pretty good football team. I think Ingram will help the offense and they get back to their winning ways. Everyone is picking the Falcons and that team is still very good. But, I wonder sometimes about the makeup. They laid an egg in the playoffs last year. The Buccaneers made a run last year and I really like a lot of the parts of this team. They play in a tough division but I think they might sneak in to the playoffs. The Panthers are re-building. They can run the ball but Cam Newton to me has Jamarcus Russell written all over him.

West

1. Arizona

2. St. Louis

3. San Francisco

4. Seattle

I love the Kolb pickup for the Cardinals. With him leading the offense, I think they win a very weak division. A lot of the experts are picking the Rams. They snuck up on a lot of people last year and I wonder what will happen now that they have the expectations. They are still a young team. The 49’ers got rid of Singletary and brought in Harbaugh that was a good move. However, still pinning your hopes that Alex Smith will lead you is foolish. How many lives has this guy got? The Seahawks were the worst team to ever make the playoffs in my opinion. Tavaris Jackson is not the answer and they will take a huge step back this year.

Playoffs

AFC

Pittsburgh over Indianapolis

San Diego over New England

Baltimore over Pittsburgh

New York over San Diego

Baltimore over New York

NFC

Green Bay over Tampa Bay

Atlanta over Arizona

New Orleans over Atlanta

Green Bay over Philadelphia

New Orleans over Green Bay

Super Bowl

Baltimore over New Orleans

The Letter I Sent to Tom Ricketts

2011-08-17T09:42:00.002-05:00

Dear Mr. Ricketts,

I have been a Cubs fan all of my life. I am now 41 and have lived and died with this team on a day in day out basis. I am on the season ticket waiting list and have for the past number of years bought into some sort of ticket package be it the 13 game or 7 game plans. On top of that I usually go to about 5 – 10 more games throughout the year. I would say I average about 20 home dates a year.

I love going to Wrigley Field and I love watching the Cubs. However, I cannot with a clear conscience see a way to go back to Wrigley next year if you bring Jim Hendry back. This is not a personal attack as I don’t know the man personally. I am sure he is a nice guy and good person. But sports are a results driven business, and when you look at the results it is clear that Mr. Hendry, in his nine years at the helm has not been able to produce a consistent winner.

I know all about 07 and 08. What should be clear is that those seasons were nice flare ups. For the money the team puts into its payroll the Cubs should have by now built a consistent winner. That means we are in contention year in year out. All you need to look at is what the Cardinals do. Maybe they don’t make the playoffs every year but you don’t see them lose 90 in a season either.

The talent is not there and when the talent is not there you have to look at the person who is responsible for assembling that talent and then look at the people whose job it is to harness that talent. I could list numerous reasons for why Mr. Hendry should no longer be GM. But, all one needs to look at is the state of the organization. This isn’t about one bad signing or one bad trade. No GM has a golden touch, I understand that. But, when you look at the body of work Mr. Hendry has failed more then he has succeeded.

So, I can’t like I said justify spending the money that I spend on this team next year if Mr. Hendry comes back. To me that would be the ultimate betrayal of all loyal Cub fans out there. I will not go to any games until he is gone. I know my couple of grand that I spend on food, beer and tickets is nothing in the overall scheme of things, but at some point the fans have to take a stand.

I was very happy the day your family bought the team. I still am and I know you want to put a winner on the field. I know Rome was not built in a day. However, you have had two years now to look at this ballclub and I would think it is abundantly clear that this team has no direction and lacks the prospects to re-build any time soon. No one person can be blamed for the mess the team is now but, it all starts at the top and he needs to take responsibility for the mess that was made while he was in charge. Actions have consequences and by letting Jim Hendry continue to run this ballclub beyond this season would defy basic logic.

Sincerely,

Nick Francone

I am doing the IPod Shuffle

2011-07-29T09:27:00.001-05:00

As usual I have like five posts started that I either can’t seem to finish or I think are pretty weak (like that has ever stopped me before.) Sometimes just writing helps me unblock my blockage. (Does that make sense?) I do get something out of writing here. I use this blog here to get things off my chest, tell old war stories or create geeky lists.

So without further adieu I thought I would fall back to the old IPod trick where I hit shuffle and see what the next 25 songs that come up are. This usually gets my creative juices flowing again.

1. Cowboy Song, Thin Lizzy – Thin Lizzy will always remind of Bob Walker, a friend from my Peace Frog Days. He would always spew how great they were and really all I ever knew of the band was the Boys are Back in Town Again. One day, I’m not sure why I started listening more to them and he was right, they rocked.

2. Hells Bells, AC/DC – What is not to like? This is an opening track that reels you into to what is in my opinion AC/DC’s best record. Brian Johnson announces his presence upon the first bar he screams out. Sure, I am a Bon Scott guy but, man did they find the perfect replacement.

3. Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding – There have been numerous versions of this song out there. It was also lip synched perfectly by Duckie in Pretty in Pink. (Again, yes there is a 15 year old girl residing in me somewhere.) I have to say Redding’s version is probably the best out there. I also think the Commitments did a really good job covering it as well.

4. Fall Out, The Police – This was the first single ever released by probably my favorite band, The Police. It is also the only recording to feature their original guitarist Henry Padovani . It is the band in its infancy. The song is like two minutes long back when they were still trying to be punk.

5. Cheap Sunglasses, ZZ Top – This song will always remind of the Grove. The Grove like every other bar in the southwest suburbs of Chicago had the best of ZZ Top in its jukebox. After our softball games a lot of dollar bills would be entered into the box and inevitably this song would come on at some point during the evening.

6. Who Was in My Room, The Butthole Surfers – I am not nearly the Surfers fan that my brother is. At some point in the early 90’s by osmosis I became a fan of the album Impendent Worm Saloon that my bro cranked out often. Eighteen years later this song still is catchy as all hell and rocks.

7. Police and Thieves, The Clash – The Clash covered this reggae song back on their first record. I think I first discovered it from the movie The Royal Tenenbaums, back when I was still a novice with the band. Wes Anderson has always been very good at using music in his films.

8. Someday We’ll Go All the Way, Eddie Vedder – Yes, I am a Cubs fan. This tune is pretty hard to defend but, I have to admit I get a tad verklempt when I hear this one. Can you imagine how much I will wail when the Cubs actually do go all the way?

9. Hook, Blues Traveler – Liking an album has never gotten me so much shit as me digging this record. I know all the negatives so, please spare me. For what they do, Blues Traveler does it well. I am a harmonica fan and no one is going to tell me John Popper can’t play a mean harp. So, yes I will defend it but I get the negative reactions.

10. Dearest, Buddy Holly – I don’t know how you could dislike Buddy Holly and call yourself a fan of rock and roll. The story has been told of how he died tragically and way too young. This love song touches all the right cords and is in a word, pretty.

11. Dead Flowers, The Rolling Stones – I guess anyone in our posse will always associate this song with our friend Wally and the Christmas Parties. It was a highlight every year and one of these days we have to talk him into getting up on stage once again and belting it out.

12. Candy, Cameo – I am a product of bad 80’s music. I would drive to school in the mornings in Chris Dusza’s Bitchin’ Camaro with the radio tuned into B96 and this song was a hit at the time. That lead singers voice was in a word unique. Strawberry! Raspberry! All those good flavors.

13. Rainy Day Woman, Waylon Jennings – Much to my wife’s chagrin I have a soft spot in my heart for old school country. While I hate the new school Toby Keith and Keith Urban’s of the world there is something about a good Willie Nelson or Waylon Jennings song that gets the Urban Cowboy in me moving. I found this song in the underrated movie, Extract.

14. While My Guitar Gently Weeps, The Beatles – I have more Beatle songs on my IPod than any other band, which is kind of the way it should be. Here George recruited his friend Eric Clapton to play lead guitar. I have to assume this was before Clapton stole his wife from him.

15. Beginnings, Chicago – I am a sucker for a good horn section. Chicago has a killer one. It also helps that Terry Kath was on guitar. I have long stated my feelings on just how underrated I think Kath is. Playing in a band like Chicago he kind of gets lost in the discussion of great ax men. But trust me he was a true talent who also died way too young and tragically.

16. 99 Luftballons, Nena – This is one of my personal guilty pleasures. It is in my top five one hit wonders from the 80’s. Mind you, it has to be the version in German. There is something about Nena cranking this out in her native tongue with those synthesized keyboards behind her that just works for me. Also, if you say you don’t like this song you are lying.

17. Frankenstein, The Edgar Winter Group – First off a great instrumental. My favorite use of this song was a Simpsons episode from back in the day. Homer was trying to hang out with some dudes in the 70’s that had a van that was lovingly titled “The second base mobile” I believe. All the while this song is blaring out of the speakers of said van. You had to see it and if you did you laughed.

18. Wildfire, Michael Murphy – I swear this came up on the shuffle. I know very few people quite understand my love of this song. It is cheesy 70’s puss rock at its finest. But, for some reason this song connects with me. I get nuked for it, but I don’t care. I dig it and will own to it.

19. Bulls on Parade, Rage Against the Machine – What more needs to be said about one of the top five bands to come out of the 90’s? If upon hearing it if your first urge isn’t to dive head first into a mosh pit then you need to check your pulse because you might be dead.

20. Pump it Up, Elvis Costello – I can’t hate MTV. For no other reason than it introduced me to acts I never would have gotten into living in the burbs. I was never a huge Costello fan when he was in his prime, but I didn’t turn the channel when his videos came on. Then when I got to a certain age I really started listening to Elvis and really started digging his work.

21. I Believe in Love, Paula Cole – Hmm, what can I do or say to defend myself on this one. I am not a huge Paula Cole guy (not sure anyone is anymore) but I have to admit I dig her voice. I liked, Where have all the Cowboys Gone and I also dig this song. There are worse musical crimes.

22. Englishman in New York, Sting – I have stated my love for The Police. With that said I am often disappointed in Sting’s solo work. However, I do like his first two records. Nothing Like the Sun was his last record where he hadn’t completely jumped the shark. This song is one of my favorite if not my favorite solo song of his.

23. Cars, Gary Numan – Look I have a lot of questionable 80’s material on my IPod. I know this. However, when I hear songs like Cars with its electric infectious hooks it takes me back to my youth and reminds me of simpler times. There is nothing wrong with that.

24. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen – I am a fan of Freddie Mercury and Queen. This is not my favorite Queen tune and I think the whole Wayne’s World thing has kind of weakened this one in my world. With that said, judged on its own merit despite it being severely overplayed it still rocks.

25. Bad Influence, Robert Cray – To me this is Cray’s best album. I actually saw him live once as he opened for Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn. But thanks to some iced tea mixed with Everclear that I was ingesting on the way to Alpine Valley I passed out for his whole set. Not one of my finer moments.

If I had a Time Machine

2011-07-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

To quote the living legend Cher: “If I could turn back time.”

I would have followed up on a stolen kiss with a friend back in my college days.

Speaking of college, I would have not picked DePaul as my school of choice. Didn’t hate it there, but should have gone away to school. You only get one chance at that.

I would have listened to the wife and bought something in the city instead of the burbs. Been stuck waiting out the housing market. Plan was to live in the house 5 years and it has now been 7.

On October 14^th 2003, I would have bought a ticket for seat 113, row 8, section 4. And I would have let Alou catch that ball and saved poor Steve Bartman years of unnecessary scorn.

I would have been a better boyfriend. I tell Joyce if she had met me in my teens or early 20’s she would have hated me. I was a total self absorbed ass and I treated a couple of girls like complete shit and they really didn’t deserve that.

I would have started running in my 20’s instead of my late 30’s. Man it was so much tougher starting out at an older age.

I would have let a soft fly ball drop in a meaningless softball game instead of going all out for it and blowing out my right knee. It hasn’t been the same since.

I would completely re-live the year 1997. Man, what was I thinking?

I would not have been so quick to dismiss the Grateful Dead. In retrospect what I disliked where the “trust fund hippies” to steal a line from Patton Oswalt, that pretended to be Dead Heads to look cool. The band itself made some really good music but, I was too angry at the posers to notice.

I would have learned to swim and overcome my fears. Everybody has one irrational fear and mine is of water. I don’t know where it comes from and I know it is not too late. But to this day, my biggest fear and maybe my only phobia is that of water.

A Working Aniversary

2011-06-29T10:42:00.000-05:00

On June 30^th 1992 I started my career in information technology. That means for 19 years I have been slaving away for the man working full time. When I was “growing up” I would have never guessed this would be what I would be doing for a living. Let me state right up front, that I am very fortunate to have landed in a field where I have been able to stay employed for nineteen years. There have been many ups and downs. I have had great bosses and some brutal ones. I have seen this industry change right before my eyes.

My first day and “real” job was at IRI. It is where I would learn my craft and pay many a due. I have written many different times about my days at IRI. It was a wild place to work. It was a place where if you were thirty you were considered old. In retrospect it was a great first job. Sure, I didn’t make any money but I learned a hell of a lot and gained invaluable experience.

After IRI I put on my red pumps and short skirt and headed out on the corner and started consulting. I was a consultant for only two short years but it sure felt longer. I worked in four different offices in those two years. As someone who was never good at dealing with change, all that movement would wind up being extremely beneficial.

I finally landed a full time gig at Harris Bank. I owe a lot to Harris. I met my wife there. I met my current boss there as well. I spent nearly five years at the bank in total and I have to say all things considered it was probably my favorite spot of all the spots I have been at. I often said when I worked there that I was going to retire here. I would have if I hadn’t been outsourced to EDS. I worked for EDS for six months. They were six very long months. As much as I loved Harris Bank, once EDS took over it wasn’t the same. I had to move on. It wasn’t an easy decision but I could only take so much.

My next job was at Bank One. I was warned by my friend Chuck who got me the job. He told me friends don’t let friends work for Bank One. I should have listened. I was there three years and I was never really happy. I met some incredibly talented and super people. That is about the only nice thing I can say. The culture was negative. You never felt secure in your employment. The upper management of IT was the worst and laziest I have ever seen. It was all numbers which were easy to manipulate and in the end meant nothing. I supported the investment bankers who thought they were above everyone else in the world and treated the rest of society like shit. Bank One was bought out by JP Morgan Chase and that just ramped up the bullshit to the tenth power. After a year I started thinking of leaving. The fact that I made it three is really a minor miracle. There is no rule saying you have to love your job, but you have to be able to tolerate it and I really didn’t at Chase.

From Chase, I got lucky and had the exact opposite experience at my current job at CWT. I was hired at TQ3 Navigant by my old boss from my Harris days that I just happened to run into on lunch one day. We talked and from that conversation, in an alley in the Loop it led to my current job. I was at Navigant one whole solid month before we were bought out by Carlson. It hasn’t always been a bed of roses but, overall I like my job. I don’t dread going into the office.

I worked downtown with CWT until 2009 then the bomb was dropped that we were merging with our office in Downers Grove. About the only aspect of my job I dislike is the location. I miss terribly working in the loop. It should speak volumes about how much I like my current gig for as much as I hate the location. I miss taking the train, Venice Café, Perry’s Deli, walking to lunch in the summer, the hustle and bustle. But, in my five years here I haven’t really seriously thought about leaving. When we were first moving to the burbs I will admit to having some trepidation but after having worked for good management and poor management, I know that having a good boss trumps almost everything else. If you can’t stand the person you work for it affects everything else. So, that is why I stay here even if I have to make the trek to Blandsville, strip mall, USA, I mean Downers Grove.

A couple of things have got me through all these years with the moderate success I have had in this field. One is a lesson I learned from my Dad at a very young age. He was explaining to me and my brother that no matter what request a teacher had I should do it. I apply that to bosses. No matter how much I may disagree or think a request may be ludicrous, I do it. I may ask a question but, I would never undermine authority. Now privately I may wonder just what the hell a superior is thinking, but you won’t get anywhere in the world being openly rebellious. If you think your boss is that harebrained, change jobs or transfer to another department. I have had to do this on more than once occasion. Pleasing your direct superior is the best way to maintain job security.

Another trait that has helped me is focusing on the customer. I learned this from my Kmart years. Now, when I was at Kmart I have to admit I didn’t always practice the customer first philosophy. But, I was young and being so of course felt I was above any shopper who would choose to hit a Kmart. I didn’t know shit about shit of course but, at the time I felt I did and therefore spent most of my years there hitting on checkout girls and shooting the shit with my co-workers instead of what I was paid to do.

As I have gotten older though the focus on the customer mantra that was driven home to me by bosses like Mr. White has taken hold. You will never go wrong going out of your way to help a client. Sure, sometimes I get treated badly or I will be dealing with someone I just want to tell to take a flying jump. But, what good would that do? If I deem someone to be an asshole (and trust me at every job I have ever worked at I have had to deal with assholes, they are everywhere) I just make a mental note and put them from a priority standpoint down on my list. Or I will kill them with kindness and try to make them if they have a conscience feel like shit for treating me badly.

Lastly, you will never hear me say, that isn’t my job. At my current employment I have to wear a number of different hats, which I dig. Maybe from time to time I will have to do something that may be perceived as being beneath my education and training, but, so what? To me doing the supposed non IT functions are what breaks up the monotony of a day. If I was doing the same job function all the time, I would at a certain point want to hang myself out of boredom. So sometimes, I have to sweep up the server room or do some other manual labor. Big deal, last I checked it said CWT on the door and I was paid to work there. Maybe a certain task does not fall under my job description but what good would it be pointing that out? Just do the work, don’t complain about it and you will be surprised at the results.

I have had some real dumb asses for bosses and I have also had some of the best in the business. One thing I am not good at is being micromanaged. I thrive being able to do my job my way without having to explain every little detail. I work much better when I am on my own doing my own thing. You let me work this way you will get great results. I realize some people need to be given more direction. From my experience a good manager treats their employees on individual basis and molds to them and their personality. They don’t make everyone mold to their management philosophy. That is lazy and usually produces bad results.

I started at IRI as a wet behind the ears twenty three year old making $7 an hour in a PC Lab. This is how old I am, my job along with my co-workers was to ensure that every desk in the company had a computer on it. Most everyone was working on dumb terminals. It was before the internet and before e-mail if you can believe it. You could still smoke at your desk and company picnics and Christmas Parties were still prevalent. I remember walking out of my interviews and back to the train after being told I could start on Monday and realizing my life would never be the same. It was when I became a real adult, and that started real responsibilities. Sure, I fantasize like everyone does about going back in time and doing things differently. But, in the end I really don’t have much to bitch about. How many people can say that at forty two years old?

Vacation Recap

2011-06-24T09:02:00.000-05:00

Besides coming home with a slight cold (I always seem to get sick when I go to Vegas. Must be something in the air there) Joyce and I had a great time in Vegas and LA. Joyce liked it so much she was looking at job boards in Vegas and hinting she would possibly move there if I was so inclined. I love and I mean love Vegas but I am not sure I could do it 365.

I want to throw a shout out to my sister in law Anna and her fiancé Eric for putting us up for the weekend and giving us the tour of LA. I had never been to the city of angles before and after spending a couple of days there I must say I dug it. It has lots of good food and many a place to sight-see. Dodger stadium was nice but rather large and a pain in the ass to get in and out of. (Dodger Dogs I must say are rather good.)

Anyway, I want o focus this writing on my financial success and failures of each casino I visited. I do this so that next time I am in Sin City I can remember which places were good to me and which places kicked my ass. Here is a rundown of each casino I gambled in.

O’Shea’s – I have never in my life won at O’Shea’s. I don’t have any reason for going back but yet somehow on every trip I always seem to try my luck here. This time around the visit started off with a drunken moron getting into an argument with the entire security staff outside the entrance. I sat down at a poker machine inserted a $20 and lost it in record time. Upon walking out I told anyone that would listen that I was never going back to this rat hole again. This time I mean it.

Casino Royale – Continuing on in our saw dust tour on Sunday night our second stop was the Royale. The Royale is a toilet but, I have a small place in my heart for it. I got a couple of free drinks and played a on a poker machine for awhile. I wasn’t doing very well on it so, I moved to a video roulette wheel where I had a little better luck. I didn’t win here but, my losses were minimal and I drank for free so, it’s a win in my book.

The Rivera – We wanted to make the trek to the Riv simply because we were not sure how much longer the doors would be open in the place. We hoofed and it was sad. The place was a ghost town. No one and I mean no one was gambling here. At one time the Rivera was one of the nicer casinos in town, nowadays not so much. It was kind of sad and it would not shock me to hear they are closing their doors in the near future. In any event I found a blackjack table so, I plopped down $40 and started playing. I was doing the usual winning some and losing some. Eventually a new dealer came in and she cleaned my clock. I did get a free Coors Light. But all in all I took a bath here.

Circus Circus – I despise Circus Circus. It is old, dirty, has no character, and is an annoyingly loud place. There is no reason to ever gamble here. But, it was on our tour as again we were not sure just how much longer it would be around and we wanted to see it one last time. I played some video poker here for awhile and eventually bowed out down a couple of bucks. I usually get sad when an old casino closes. I will not shed a tear when this place gets imploded.

The Hacienda – On Monday a few of us departed to the Hoover Dam to see the new bridge that was built. On the way back we decided to hit a couple of casinos that are off the strip. Our first stop was The Hacienda. The place is small and way out of the way with nothing near it. I was able to get on a blackjack table. I started off slow but eventually turned my $40 investment into $50. I then took the ten bucks I won and blew it on a poker machine. After spending like 45 minutes there I was even which isn’t half bad.

The Eastside Cannery – We wanted to go here as they still had some slots that paid out in coins. I signed up for a player’s card and got $5 in free slot play. I sat down at a poker machine and eventually turned that $5 into $50 in winnings. I wanted to keep playing blackjack but with the luck I was having at the poker machines here I never got around to it.

Sam’s Town – I took my winnings from the Cannery and put them on a Blackjack table at Sam’s. I lost it rather quickly. I then went into my pocket and lost that as well. Eventually, I said this place sucks and walked around until it was time to leave. Sam’s actually is very nice and has a cool atrium. However for me personally this place bit the big one.

Paris – Monday night we had the family dinner so there was not a lot of gambling going on. After dinner on the way back to Bally’s I stopped in Paris to make my annual donation. I have never won at Paris. I have never come close to winning at Paris yet I always seem to think this time my luck will be different. I found a poker machine put in a twenty and lost it rather quickly. I will never learn.

Cosmopolitan – My cousin was staying at the Cosmo and all I can say is wow. This place is really nice. I did feel old walking through the place at night as it turns into a dance club in the evenings. I went back during the day on Tuesday and got a players card. They threw me $10 in free slot play for signing up. I sat down at a triple poker machine and parlayed that $10 into like when it was all said and done $57. The place is nice and I won there, I think I will be going back.

Aria – This is the other new casino that had opened that I had not seen yet so I wanted to check it out as well. Aria is also very swanky but I think I like the Cosmopolitan a little better. Anyway, I was with my cousin’s boyfriend John and my Uncle Randy. We bellied up to a bar at Aria and put some cabbage in some poker machines. The bartender then asks what I would like to drink. I could have ordered anything on the planet as it was on the house. I see they have PBR on tap so, guess what I ordered? I then proceeded to lose my $20 investment in a poker machine. We decided to get out of there, when I see a multiple blackjack video game. I always win on those. So, I throw my luck with that and get killed. At this point I am angry and want to leave. I have $2 left on a ticket so I go to cash it in. John has like $3. So instead we pool our money together and deicide to let it ride on one had of video blackjack. We win and feel like at least we saved some grace.

The Golden Nugget – We all hoped in the van that I rented and we headed downtown on Tuesday evening. I actually really like downtown Vegas. I know others don’t but I like that old Vegas feel that it still has. My favorite downtown casino is the Nugget. I actually think one trip we are going to stay there. I sat down at a blackjack table by myself. I put down $40. The first two hands I was dealt a blackjack. I had a feeling this could be a good ride and I wasn’t wrong. I am not sure how long I played but when I got up and cashed in my chips I had $145. I then sat down with Joyce at the bar and she won like $30. I should have just stayed there but we had to meet the family and get some grub. The Nugget would prove to me the most success I would have at any casino in town.

Binion’s – At Binion’s myself, Joyce, Leyna, and John found a $3 video blackjack machine. So we all sat down and played. I think I put in a $20 and when I cashed out I had like $17 plus I had a couple of beers so all in all I can not complain.

Fitzgerald’s – The first time I ever went to Fitzgerald’s I won. But each visit thereafter I have had to leave in a barrel. I was hot at blackjack so, I hit a table there and well my hot streak by this point was over. I only lost like $25 there but that was enough. I am going to try to avoid this place in the future.

Four Queens – The only time I have stayed downtown I stayed at the Queens. So, I have a soft spot for it in my heart even though it is kind if a pit. The tables were crazy crowded so, I just sat at the bar and played some video poker. I usually have pretty good luck at the Queens but this night would be different. After going up and down on a poker machine at the bar eventually I lost my $20 investment and moved on.

The Flamingo – We went back to the strip and some of the group decided to hit the Flamingo. I have never won here but figured I was due. So, I started playing some video poker. The machine I was on was killing me so, I moved to the other end of the casino and tried another machine. That “strategy” didn’t work. All told the Flamingo got me for $40. Not a huge loss but enough for me to curse the place again.

The Imperial Palace – The IP also has a spot in my heart in that in my early Vegas infancy Joyce and I stayed here. I would not suggest it but, for some reason I always go back. It was pretty late at this point and I had enjoyed a couple of adult beverages. My Uncle Dan and I sat at a couple of poker machines at a bar and bullshitted. I lost there but I think he wound up winning a couple of dollars.

Tuscany – Joyce had found a groupon for half off a massage at this place that is located about 2 blocks down from Bally’s. So, while she was getting her massage on, I got a players card and started gambling. I sat down at a blackjack table. The dealer was really talkative and engaging. Another older gentleman sat down and we both sat there winning some and losing some. All told when I at long last got up I was up about $20. I then cashed in my $10 in free slot play and after getting it up to almost $30 lost it all. Still with the blackjack winnings I walked out the door with more money then I started with.

Excalibur – Joyce and I farted around Chinatown and then bought some souvenirs. Eventually we met my Aunt at Excalibur. I put my winnings from earlier into a poker machine and lost it.

Bellagio – We decided to have one last big meal with everyone on our last night in town at for my money still the best buffet in Vegas at the Bellagio. I had walked over there on my first day in town and won $10 on a poker machine and after eating like a pig did a little more gambling. I actually played a normal penny slot something I never do and won a couple of bucks. I wanted to say I won at Bellagio so I cashed out ahead of the game.

Caesar’s Palace – Caesar’s still might be my all around favorite casino. It is huge and even though it is old has been renovated enough that it still looks marvelous. The dinner knocked a lot of the gang down for the count. So, Joyce and I strolled over to the bar to have a drink and do a little gambling. I eventually lost my $20 but I played and drank long enough that I really didn’t care.

Bally’s – We stayed at Bally’s so it is only natural that I did the majority of my gambling here. I can’t say I always win here but I usually do pretty well. This trip would be no different. I had two major winnings. My Uncle was having luck playing this penny slot with penguins on it so, I tried it myself and sure enough I hit a pretty good one as well. Then on Wednesday night sitting at the bar waiting for everyone to come down for dinner I hit four kings playing video poker. That was enough to make up for most of my losses at the other places. Bally’s as usual was good to me and that is why despite there being a lot newer and nicer places in town I always seem to find myself staying here.

The Appendix Situation

2011-06-09T09:52:00.002-05:00

As most who know me know, I had my appendix removed a week ago. I have had to tell this story about 1,000 times since then so, I might as well write about it in full detail so the memories remain as fresh as ever on the information superhighway (how come no one uses that term anymore?)

It was a typical morning for me. I got up, showered, got in the car and headed to work. I felt fine. I was driving to work, on I-88 about 2 minutes from my exit and out of nowhere, my stomach starting really cramping. I made it to the office and I was like WTF. I tired taking an antacid and it did nothing. I sipped on a coca cola (and old tried and true trick to cure an upset belly) and it if anything the pain was getting worse. Those two sips of Coke would be the only things I would ingest the entire day.

I was at my desk doubled over in a pain that felt like someone had stuck a shiv in my abdomen. I was getting no work done as I could not concentrate on anything else. I hadn’t left work early due to illness in well over a decade. But, I could not take it anymore. I told my boss, I wasn’t felling very well and I was going home.

Driving was not fun. I just praying the whole time that I wouldn’t have to stop quickly as I am not sure I could have reached the brake fast enough. I did eventually make it to the homestead and I threw on a pair of shorts and plopped right into bed. I tried to force the issue in the bathroom thinking if I could release the demon inside me I might start to feel alright. But, it wasn’t happening. At this point I knew I didn’t have food poisoning, even thought that is what I felt like I had. I’ve had food poisoning in the past and knew that was no fun. But with the pain I was in I was hoping that was all it was as at least that way I knew it eventually would go away. When you are wishing for food poisoning that says it all.

I laid in bed trying to sleep and hoping that when I awoke magically the pain would go away. But trying to sleep was a near impossibility. All I could do was try to ride out the agony I was in. Joyce eventually got home. She asked how I was feeling and I could do was grunt something in a language bordering on English. She asked if she could get me anything. I know she wanted to help but there was nothing she could do. She suggested I try to eat some soup but the thought was nauseating. I told her I just wanted to lie in bed and see what happened.

Joyce takes kickboxing every Thursday night. She told me she was going to take me to the emergency room as I didn’t look good. I told her that was nonsense, she should go and I did not need to go to the ER for a stomach ache. You see I won’t go to the hospital unless I have a limb missing. I was denying the pain I was in as if that somehow would make it better, if I didn’t acknowledge it. So, against her better judgment Joyce left and took her class.

About ten minutes after she left I knew I was in trouble. The pain which was excruciating before was now intensified to the 3^rd power. I called her cell but it was too late she was in the middle of kicking bags. I then said to myself the class is only an hour. I can wait an hour for her to get home. That was a lie, I couldn’t even make it ten more minutes. I googled the place she takes her kickboxing and called and had her pulled out of the class and basically told her I’m sorry but we need to go to the emergency room now.

Joyce left her class and flew home to get me. As I waited for her I threw on some sweatpants and my shoes (both of which were no easy tasks) and counted the seconds until I saw her car in the driveway. As soon as I saw it I was out the door telling her lets go to Palos Hospital.

A quick side bar. If you are ever in need of a visit to the Emergency Room, and you have the choice go to Palos over Christ hospital. I am sure the people who work at Christ are nice enough and qualified. However, every time I have had to go there I have waited an eternity. They gave a whole new meaning to the word inefficient.

We got to the hospital and Joyce dropped me off at the door and parked the car. I went inside and checked in. I sat in the waiting room about 20 minutes. Those would be a very long and painful 20 minutes. At long last they called my name. The admitting nurse got my vitals and asked the usual questions about the pain and whatnot. She then said kind of off the cuff “Hmm, sounds like you have appendicitis.” That was what I feared but didn’t want to admit to myself.

I sat back down and was quickly led to an admitting room. There the nurse asked if I would like some dilaudid for the pain I was in. My response was along the lines of umm, yes. She hooked me up to an IV and I was off with Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. I could have danced a jig once the meds did their thing. I was a tad loopy at this point. The doctor eventually came in gave me the once over and said “Well unless I have learned nothing in 30 years of medicine I think you are going to need to have your appendix removed tonight.” He ordered me a cat scan to make sure.

I got the cat scan and headed back to the admitting room. The results came in and confirmed what the ER doc had suspected. I needed to have my appendix removed that evening. He came in and told me what to expect. My biggest fear was I would not be able to go to Vegas in a week and a half but, he assured me I should be fine as long as there are no complications with the procedure. He told me that I was lucky that this didn’t happen ten years ago as back then it was a much more invasive procedure. Nowadays they do a laparoscopic surgery where you only have three small incisions.

After waiting awhile, I was assigned my recovery room. Once I was in there, I told Joyce to go home. There was nothing she could do and she had not eaten anything all night. She debated it but, the nurse assured her they had her number and would call her if she was needed. At this point it was like midnight I think but I was so high who really knows. I was told my surgery would happen sometime in the next couple of hours. The drugs should have knocked me out and they somewhat did but I kept waking up as the old man I shared the room with was snoring at a decibel level higher than at a Who concert.

Nurses kept coming in to check on me and eventually at like three in the morning they told me they were ready for me. I removed what little clothes I had on and went onto the gurney. They wheeled me into the OR. There I met my Anesthesiologist. He asked some questions but I was still in a state of other consciousness so, it is hard to remember what they were. I also at this time was first introduced to my surgeon. He gave me the rundown of what was going to take place and reassured me he has done this procedure countless times and yada, yada, yada.

They wheeled me in and got me on the operating table. The gas man hooked me up and the next thing I remember I was in the recovery area as a bunch of nurses looked on. They told me everything went well. I was in and out for the next little bit so again memory is hazy here at this point. They eventually wheeled me back to my room where I zonked out for a bit. I was able to text Joyce that I was out of surgery and back in my room.

I woke up and had to pee like a racehorse. I buzzed the nurse and she brought me a portable urinal. I gave it the old college try but it was not happening. Maybe it was not having urinated in a bed in over 35 years but, it was nothing doing. So, I took it upon myself to see if I was able to walk to the bathroom. I wheeled my IV fluids with me and made it. The nurse was not really happy that I took it upon myself to make such a bold move but, she said it was a good sign I was able to move around.

The next couple of hours were spent sitting in bed watching bad morning television. Joyce was on call so, I told her if she had to take care of stuff at work, to go in, I would be fine. She proceeded to take a half day so she would be home around 1ish which was the time it was estimated I would be sent home.

At around eleven however, my Mom and Lou surprised me with a visit. I wasn’t expecting anybody but was glad they came as I was bored off my ass. There I gave them the rundown of the proceedings of the night before and shot the shit. My nurse came back in and said I looked good and asked me if I was ready to go home to which my response was hell, yes. She then said she would run one more IV of antibiotics and get me some lunch.

That lunch consisted of the blandest soup on the planet, some Italian Ice, jello and a weak tea. But since I hadn’t eaten in two days I needed some nourishment. I ate as much of the food as I could but I was full pretty quickly. Since my Mom and Lou where there they told me they could drive me home which worked out as Metra delayed Joyce and she would get home almost an hour late.

I waited on a nurse to spring me and at long last she came and wheeled my ass out. I carefully entered Lou’s car and was driven home. Friday basically consisted of me sitting on the couch watching TV. My Dad was in town from Ohio and I wanted to head over to my Aunt’s House to bullshit with him and my family. But, I was still in some pain on Saturday so I just sat around on my ass again. My Dad, Aunt and Uncle did stop by for a quick visit and lent me my Grandmothers old cane to assist in getting up and sitting down.

On Sunday I was feeling like the walls were starting to cave in on me. I have the opposite of agoraphobia. If I am in the house to long I start to lose my shit. I have always been this way, I think I inherited it from my Grandfather. So, I had Joyce drive me to my Aunts and I sat on the couch and watched the Cub game with the old man. I was not 100% yet and was moving around rather slowly but I needed an escape.

Now as I sit here a week after the surgery I am feeling a lot better. I am still not at my normal Nick level. I have no idea how long it will be before I can run again. I was planning on running in the Race to the Taste but at this point that may not happen. I don’t want to push it as the last thing I want is to tear open a suture or something like that. I am back at work but am taking it easy. I am not lifting anything or doing anything strenuous. I do get a little tired at around twoish, but overall every day I feel myself getting back to normal, which is good because there is one thing I have learned from this whole experience, and that is I just suck at being sick.

That Clinches It

2011-05-20T10:29:00.002-05:00

I can remember where I was for each of these events. It is interesting to look back and remember where I was in my life in relation to when these sporting events took place. I will post them in chronological order going backwards.

Blackhawks Stanley Cup Clincher, June 9^th 2010 – I celebrated the only Hawks Cup in my lifetime at Tom’s Place in Lemont. We chose the place because my friend Chris had won tickets to a Cubs and Sox game and had to pick them up there. So, we decided to just have everyone watch the game at the bar. Chris got there early and basically reserved the back room for us and it wound up being a pretty good time and a great place to celebrate the Cup drinking Blatz.

Cubs 2008 NL Central Clincher, September 20^th 2008 – This was an interesting one. It was my wife’s birthday the day before. So, we had already planned on meeting Joyce’s family for an early lunch at a restaurant on the north side of the city. The Cubs played a day game. I knew their magic number was one. But, I have to be at that lunch and I can’t be in a hurry to leave. So, I had my phone and kept checking the score as we ate. I saw that the Cubs had a lead. We left the restaurant in the 8^th inning. I told Joyce, I have to see them clinch this so, we headed to the nearest bar we could find which would be the Independence Tap on Irving Park. We parked the car and we headed in and got to watch the final inning while I was enjoying a pint of PBR.

Cubs 2007 NL Central Clincher September 27^th 2007 – This one was very anticlimactic. The Cubs magic number going into the evening was 2. So a Cub win and a Brewer loss meant the division was ours. The only negative to this scenario meant that the Cubs would not be able to celebrate on the field as their game started an hour earlier than the Milwaukee game. Not knowing if it would be a clincher night or not, I was at home watching the game by myself in my basement. Sure enough the Cubs took care of business. So, I sat there watching the Brewers and Padres on ESPN. The Padres held a slim one read lead heading into the 8^th but then scored two insurance runs to put it away. So, as I said it was somewhat anticlimactic.

Cubs 2003 NL Central Clincher September 27^th 2003 – This one was memorable. It was my Aunt Joanne’s 50^th Birthday. My dad was in town to help celebrate the occasion and my Aunt had rented out a hall and everything. The Cubs had been rained out on Friday and their magic number stood at 2. Because of the rainout a double header was scheduled for the 27^th with the Pirates. Game 1 Mark Prior took care of business and the magic number was dwindled down to one. I ran home and got ready for the party between games. I made it back to my Aunts house for game 2 and I sat there in my suit and got to enjoy the celebration with my Dad as the Cubs crushed the Pirates for the clincher. We got to my Aunt’s party and for the only time in my life I did a shot with my old man to celebrate the division championship.

Cubs 1998 Wild Card Clincher September 28^th 1998 – The Cubs had to play an extra game on the 28^th to break a tie with the Giants. I remember more about the day before. The Cubs needed to win on Sunday and I was at a bar on the south side with my friends. The Cubs would lose that game and there was a table of asshole Sox fans next to mine rooting very passionately against the Cubs. (I have said it once and I will say it again, if another team’s failure gives you that much joy, that is the definition of a loser.) Anyway, the loss caused that one game playoff. I was still burned by the A-Hole Sox fans from the day before so, I chose to watch the game at my apartment in Chicago Ridge. It was a long hard fought game but the Cubs pulled it out.

Bulls Clinch 6^th title June 14^th 1998 – I was in a bad place in my life at this time. I had just broken up with my crazy nut job of a girlfriend and was still living in the apartment we used to share. She had just moved out at this point but, she was still driving me nuts, calling me and finding reasons to stop by unannounced. I was miserable but I had another month and half on the lease so, I could not move out yet. So, I sat alone in that apartment in Harwood Heights trying to enjoy the game even with the chaos all around me. It was weird.

Bulls Clinch 5^th title June 13^th 1997 – I was living in Elmwood Park at the time about to make the biggest mistake of my life and move in with my nut job ex. She came over with her son to watch the game. We made some popcorn and little did I know what utter madness the woman sitting next to me was about to cause me for the next year.

Bulls Clinch 4^th title June 16^th 1996 – It was Fathers Day. For some reason my Dad was in town for the occasion. So, that evening we all settled down to watch the game at my Aunt Joanne’s house. It was odd in that I think my friends and I watched every game of that magical season together but for the clincher I was surrounded by family. It was pretty cool.

Bulls Clinch 3^rd title June 20^th 1993 – For some reason my Mom and Lou went out somewhere to watch the game so, I had a ton of friends over to my house in Willow. I was dating Jenny and I remember her helping me get the house ready for my crew. I remember everybody myself included thinking that they were going to choke it away in the 4^th quarter. Then I remember Paxson hitting that jumper to win it. The noise from my house could have been heard in Phoenix.

Bulls Clinch 2^nd title June 14^th 1992 – Watched the game with my Mom, Lou, Uncle John, Aunt Kathy and Jenny at the house in Willow. I am sure others were there but I can’t remember the entire lineup. This game was memorable as the Bulls were losing the whole game. Then the bench players came in the 4^th quarter and got the Bulls the lead and MJ and company salted it away.

Bulls Clinch 1^st title June 12^th 1991 – Celebrated this one in Bedford Park at my Uncle John and Aunt Kathy’s house where they lived at the time. My Uncle John is probably the biggest influence on me as a sports fan. He is just as passionate and live and die with the teams he loves as I am. So, when a Chicago team has a chance to win a championship there are few others I would rather celebrate it with then him. Up to that point there wasn’t a whole lot to celebrate as a fan of the teams in the Windy City. That first Bulls championship will always be my favorite.

Cubs Clinch NL East Title September 26^th 1989 – I was working at Kmart. And like most weeknights I was scheduled to work that evening. The magic number was one. It had been a fun and crazy summer as the Cubs came out of nowhere to challenge for the division. This was back before cell phones and the internet. The only way for me to get updates on the score was to actually watch the contest. So, the game was on in the break room and it was on in the appliances section on the TV’s we had there. I was not going to miss them clinch it, if it was going to happen on this night. It was a close game and all night I was walking into appliances to catch the score and watch the action all without being caught slacking off my Mr. White the Kmart manager that evening, who was a great guy but a huge Sox fan and a huge Cub hater. The Cubs got a run in the 8^th to take a 3-2 lead. I was not going to miss the bottom of the ninth. To Mr. White’s credit he saw me in the break room at the start of the ninth and he never scolded me for being there watching it. As a matter of fact he was right next to me the whole time in the break room. The Expos would getting the tying run on 3^rd against our hair on fire closer Mitch Williams. But, the Wild Thing got the last hitter to strike out to win it. Mr. White shook my hand and offered me congratulations, with the stipulation, now get back to work. It was pretty funny.

Bears win Super Bowl January 26^th 1986 – I was 16. That 85 season was magical. In all honesty there has never been anything like it in Chicago from a sports perspective. Pretty much on a yearly basis my Mom and Lou threw a Super Bowl party regardless if he Bears were in it or not. This year would be no different. So, I was at my house on Sholer in Bridgeview watching it with the family. The game was over by halftime. I remember getting a call from Uncle John from a payphone at the Superdome as he was there in person. That was a call and celebration that I will always remember.

Cubs Clinch NL East September 24^th 1984 – This was a special one. The Cubs in my young adult life had never won a thing. On this evening I was at my Aunt Kathy and Uncle John’s house in Bridgeview watching the game with family and a lot of my Uncle’s friends from the White Hen he used to run. Sutcliffe was masterful that night and the outcome was really never in question. When they won it my Uncle popped some Champaign. I was a 15 year old kid and one of my favorite memories was having a bottle passed to me by an off duty Hickory Hills cop who was a friend of my Uncle’s and him urging me to enjoy some of the bubbly. With him telling me, kid this doesn’t happen often. It would be an utter joyful evening, in contrast to a couple of weeks later when they choked away a 2-0 lead in San Diego. When Durham booted that groundball, that was the exact moment I learned what it meant to be a Cubs fan.