Jake Ryan or Cherry Ride.

On Sunday nights LP hangs out with Cherry and the Aussie and watches bad TV on VH1. I'm really not into it, so I get to stay home and watch Sunday Night Baseball by myself. Well last night's game was cancelled due the death of one of the Cardinals' pitchers. Very sad. So I watched movies. While I was sitting on the couch watching a double feature of "Fever Pitch" and "Sixteen Candles" I was thinking about all of these subjects I could write about this week. Tons of things... my brain was going a million miles an hour yet I did not write any of them down. It was hard to pull my eyes away from two great movies that I have seen a trillion times.

On my walk to work this morning (without my iPod since it died) I was trying to figure out what topic I would be writing about today. Most of my ideas from last night were coming back to me... my brain is still working. This all led to me think about why I write this blog... I am sure I was talking to myself. I know the reasons why I write, but the reason I started a blog was because of Cherry Ride. He was My Nacho back then. Cherry's blog was the first blog I really got into. And it was Cherry who encouraged me to write more. And it was also Cherry who got us Liar's Clubbers together. There would be no 5 of 9er without Cherry (for good or bad).

Well, I just want to say I have missed the Cherry Ride these past few weeks. I understand people need to take a break from things in their lives. We all take breaks from our blogs since it helps us not burn out, or get fired from our jobs. But tomorrow is a new month and I hope this means a new entry from Cherry. I miss his blogs... they seem to make life a little bit better. Thanks Cherry getting me to start writing, I hope you start up again too.

Side note: Hope everyone noticed my new profile photo. The last one showed too much of my sensitive side. This one is more me.

Last Place Yankees and Cubbies.

One of the reason I write this blog is so I can look back on old entries and remember what I was doing, thinking, complaining about on a given day. Today is one of those entries that really is all about bookmarking a day in my life.

This is a baseball bookmark. Two of the teams that spent a ton of money to build the best possible team are both in last place in their divisions. Ha! Ha! Sure, the Yankees and the Cubs will most likely be in the playoffs at the end of the season (unlike my White Sox), so I am enjoying today. Both teams have spent so much money, the Yankees being the winner in the race... yet they are not winning games. The Cubs always fall back on the "curse"... sure, the curse of Wrigley Field. Since the Cubs started playing in Wrigley Field they have never won the World Series. And the Yankees have the curse of A-Rod since they have not won a World Series since bringing him to the team. Too funny.

There is an old baseball saying: "Good pitching will always beat good hitting." That is very true. The White Sox won the 2005 World Series on pitching alone. These are the days I really love baseball since anything can happen. It's a long long season and no team is out of it by the end of April.

Gliese 581.

What happened to planet names? Why do all new discoveries now have to have numbers in the name? At least this newest discovery has a name... Gliese, and it's not XRT581-Y. That would be the worst. Well the new planet is actually 581 C (I think that is right) and orbits the red dwarf star Gliese 581... but hopefully we can just call this new planet Gliese. We earthlings need to dream about people on other planets, that's just what we do. Right? The people who live on the new planet are Gliesians. But if they named the planet 581 C... would they be 581-Cians? How do you pronounce that?

To the people making these name decision, you may be all science-smart, but think about us normal folks out in the real world. Please name the new planets something fun and exciting. Pluto is a good name for a planet.

James.

My life is pretty good right now. The news that my favorite band in the whole wide world - James - is playing again is fantastic! You know me... I hate reunions, but James never broke up so it is not technically a reunion. Their singer (Tim Booth) left to make a solo record and the band decided to take a break.

Americans know the one hit James had in the States with a song called "Laid." But in the UK the band has had a slew of popular singles. I have been a fan through most of their existence... and a collector of their singles which makes me a certified music dork.

Hopefully the band will cross the Atlantic and come play here, but I am not holding my breath. I will hold my breath and hope this means a new record is coming out... not just this newest singles collection they are releasing next week. James has four great hits albums, I am not really sure why they need another. Oh well, it's good they are back! You should listen to them... they really are tops (unless you hate Brit-Pop... then you would not like them one bit).

Sun.

This photo pretty much sums up my weekend. Technically I was not on a beach, nor did I even see a palm tree this weekend, BUT there was sun. Plenty of sun and warmth. With temperatures in the low 80's I was recharged. It did my body well. I sat in the backyard and read the paper and my book (yep, still not done with The Devil Wears Prada - but getting close). I drank way too much with my neighbors. I took naps. The only problem with the weekend... it ended. Poop.

Bye Bye MySpace.

So long MySpace and all of your fake "friends". Good bye MySpace and all of your trampy women who want to be my friend. Goodbye MySpace and all your crappy bands that want me to listen to their crappy home recordings. Goodbye Myspace.

A few weeks ago I cancelled my MySpace page for a few reason reasons. I realized that I'm not right for MySpace. I am not using MySpace to meet people or find hot chicks. My MySpace email gets clogged with cyberporno emails from nasty chicks wanting to "meet me". Delete.

I kept wondering why I even had a MySpace page. I think once you hit 30 you should give up the MySpace... it's for young people that are in high school or college (or that still think their best years were in high school). I did get a few hellos from people I went to high school and college with... but that was it. We became "MySpace friends" and then... the end. There was a reason I did not keep in touch with them and was not sure why I was becoming (MySpace) friends with them all over again.

So I hit the delete profile button, and then the delete again on the next delete button, and then the delete again on the next button to make sure... yes I really was sure, so I had to click on another delete button... and then I got to go to a link on my email that MySpace sent just to make sure I really really wanted to delete my profile. It is really hard to get rid of your MySpace page.

Good bye MySpace. Good by slutty MySpace Women. I'm glad I left you all.

The Best Game Ever.

I know I geek out a little too much on baseball for some of you... but here I go again. Last night's White Sox game was the best game I have ever attended. Period. Mark Buehrle (my favorite Sox pitcher) threw a No Hitter against the Texas Rangers, and the excitement during the eighth and ninth innings was over the top.

So what made this the best game ever for me?
A few factors:
1. For those of you who do not know, a No Hitter is a rare thing in baseball. It does not even happen every season. 2006 there was one. 2005 there were none.
2. I hate doing things by myself. LP had to go to class and everyone I asked to go with me could not go. But I went by myself and had a great time.
3. Jermaine Dye had a Grand Slam in the same game.
4. Jim Thome had two Home Runs in the same game.
5. I ate TWO hot dogs.

Mark Buehrle needed that No Hitter to help jump start his pitching career again. The White Sox so needed that win since they are having a slow start. And I needed a great night a baseball to wash some of my blues away. Thank God for Baseball.

The Day The Music Died.

My iPod died. It has gone on to a better place. A place where it does not get slap around by me. A place where I don't belittle it for being an Apple Product. A place where it gets some rest from the constant use.

But what about me? What happens to me? I have been walking to work without music. I have started talking to myself (or singing) instead. The people I walk by in the morning think I'm a freak (I just touch my ear pretending I am on my mobile, which I am pretty sure does not work). I have never purchased an mp3 player for myself... this one was a gift. There are so many choices out there and I just have a hard time giving Apple my money. AND I don't really have the money right now to spend on a new mp3 player. Grrrrrr-animals. Sadness.

iPod Guy
December 2003 - April 2007

32 Reasons for Sadness.

VT students try to pull together and help each other.

F-Bombs... My Back Hurts!

This morning I woke up at 4:45 and I was wide awake. This is not normal for me. I went into the TV room and turned on the local news and kind of zoned out on boring news stories. Not sure how it happened... but all of a sudden my back started hurting. It felt like I pinched a nerve. I tried to stretch it out which kind of sort of seemed to help. Then I got in the shower and holy hell it just tightened up and hurt like a bitch. I could not lean over. I was in extreme pain... and there is no Advil, Aleve, not drugs at all in the house. Grrrrrrrr.

So I made it to work since I am scheduled to have a busy day. My ice pack is on. I forgot to bring my lunch. My back still hurts like a bitch. And I am in a cranky mood. Yea for Mondays. F-bombs.

Hope your Mondays are going better than mine...

Thanks Jackie.

I Want to be on Hwy 1.

For my last entry on my "I Want to be..." week I am choosing a roadway. Maybe this wintry weather has finally gotten to me (geee, you think?) - but I so want to be away from this crap ass weather. I assure you that this will be my last bitchy post about the weather... until late Summer when the heat kicks in.

I would love to go for a drive on California Highway 1 while listening to the Decemberists' "California One." A good long drive along the coast would do me some good right now. I am sure there are many great drives in this country, but for me Hwy 1 is my favorite and one I've done many times. It offers so many great views, and most importantly it offers a great escape (physically and mentally). I surely need a mental escape right now... I've been way too grumpy lately. For those of you on the Left Coast please go take a drive on Hwy 1 for me this weekend.

I Want to be a Brewers' Fan.

I've followed baseball all of my life... but as I get older I get more and more into the game and the history of the game. I grew up following the A's and Giants (since I grew up in Northern California) and also the Detroit Tigers (since my family roots are there - before Detroit became a big ass dump of a city). When living in Portland, OR I embraced the Tigers because they were so awful that I felt someone needed to cheer for them, and also Portland does not have a major league team. I also have always been a fan of the local team where I live... right now that is the White Sox.

Well, I am officially done cheering for the Tigers. Since they got to the World Series last year all of their "fans" came out of the woodwork and are giving them lots of support. Chicago is suddenly full of people wearing their Tiger's hats... which is fine - I hope these "fans" stick around. So is there room for me to follow another team? Well, not really. I cannot stand people who just become fans of a team just because (usually because the are popular: Red Sox, Cubs, Yankees)... especially people who live in a city, or near a city, with baseball. Baseball is so much about going to the ballpark and rallying around the home team.

BUT... there is always a but... if I could pick the team I cheered for it would have the be the Milwaukee Brewers. To me they are tops because:

- Their fans are actually into the game of baseball.
- They don't need a superstar player to follow their team.
- Miller Park is near perfect when it comes to new ballparks (so is PNC and AT&T).
- Beers and hot dogs at Miller park are affordable... and tasty.
- Bob Uecker is their radio announcer (he was their catcher from 1962-63).
- Yes, Bob Uecker is their radio announcer.
- Their old-school logo is by far the best baseball logo of all time.
- They are the only team to move from the AL to the NL.
- They have to deal with playing the Cubs and Cardinals all the time... which means they have to deal with Miller Park being filled with those fans quite often.
- Did I mention Bob Uecker?

Hopefully this year I'll make it to a few games in Milwaukee... because it seems to be about the game of baseball there, and Bob Uecker.

Bob Uecker on the left, Mr. Belvedere on the right.

I Want to be on a Beach.

I am so tired of this winter crap... it's pissing me off. This morning's walk to work was the worst. It was snowing and raining. The wind was blowing hard enough that is was impossible to use an umbrella. I had my jacket's hood on and the little cord on it would not stop swinging back and forth smacking my face over and over. My feet are soaked. My pants are soaked. My bag is soaked. I forgot my lunch... but if I would of brought it that too would be soaked. It is April 11th - not January 11th. Chicago could get up to three inches of snow today. WTF?

I want to be on a island beach far far far away from this. I do not just want to be somewhere warm... it needs to be an island beach. I want a large drink and a relaxing chair.

Calgon! Take me away!

I Want to be Stacy London.

I want to be Stacy London from TLC's What Not To Wear. No... I do not want to be a woman, but I would love to be all that Stacy London is. And she IS one hell of a kick-ass (such a junior high word that Stacy would not approve of) person. Now Clinton Kelly is a great part of the show, but he looks too much like Fred Schneider (B-52's) for me, and Nick Arrojo is grand, and Carmindy is fine... but for today, I want to be Stacy London.

What is great about Stacy London? If you ask that question it clearly shows that you have not watched TLC's What Not To Wear. Stacy has class, style, a wicked sense of humor, and she is always right. At the end of each show every guest agrees with her not matter what they thought going in to it. She gives her opinion (about fashion) and then will let each guest know that their opinion is just wrong. It's not a bitch thing, it is a confidence Stacy has that many do not. She is completely secure in herself and what she thinks/ believes/ knows that she comes across as a strong person.

What is wrong about Stacy London? Simple... nothing. But I will say that if I was Stacy London I would be the Stacy London without the white streak of hair. Shut Up!

I Want to be Welsh.

For about ten years I have wanted to be Welsh. I have never been to Wales... I've never even been to the UK - but in 1998 I heard a Catatonia song (a band from Wales) that got stuck in my head. The line that is stuck in my head is "Every day I wake up, I thank the Lord I'm Welsh." That got me thinking... I want to be Welsh. If being Welsh is so great that you write about it in a super catchy song - it must be fantastic. Right?

Here is what I know about Wales:
- It has hills, and lots of goats.
- It's part of the United Kingdom.
- Their flag has a dragon on it (very cool).
- Wales has three national parks... OK, I just looked that up.
- Some fantastic bands are from Wales (Super Furry Animals, Mclusky, Manic Street Preachers).
- When older Welsh women are widowed they grow pot and sell it to make ends meet (or maybe that was just in a movie).

What a wonderful, beautiful, and creative place. I need to move there and become Welsh. Now I just need to talk LP into it and we'll be moving. Any suggestions?

Tired.

Today I am too tired to write anything exciting. Yesterday my friend Jason and I went to the White Sox (against the Indians) afternoon game in 30 degree weather... which thankfully they won in the bottom of the 9th. Then we went to the Blackhawks game at the United Center... and yes, the Hawks beat the Red Wings. We were 2-0 for the day... But today I am just cooked.

And tonight is another White Sox game... in 30 degree weather.
11:38am Update: Tonight's White Sox's game has been cancelled due to the fact that it is freeeeeezing outside. Yea!

Clamhuskers, Fool?

A message was posted to the front page of the Cupertino High School website about the issue I wrote (bitched) about yesterday. Seems like Mr. Harry Bettencourt got enough heat for his terrible idea that he has made up some unbelievable story:

For Interested Tino Community Members: Well, it is time to “come clean”! Let me assure you that there will NOT be a change in our beloved Pioneer mascot! I placed this message on the website on April Fools Day to gauge the level of interaction from our students and parents on one of our main sources of communication! I decided that merely asking people if they used our website might not give me the results for which I was looking. So, in the spirit of that day, I decided to place a “hot button” topic to see how many people actually took notice of important information placed on the site. Needless to say, several did! I have had visits from students throughout the day and received several email messages from parents (some who are former CHS students). I had some great laughs today and several comments, e.g. “Boy, you sure got me”! I hope I did not offend you as that was certainly not my intent. Thank you for your continued passion for and support of Cupertino High School . . . and its Pioneer mascot! - Harry Bettencourt

Mr. Harry Bettencourt, you need to realize that when you play and April Fools joke on a group of people... you need to inform them the day of the prank, or even the day after. I do not buy your excuse (boy you sure didn't get me), and still firmly believe your intention to change the mascot was poorly thought out. Maybe you should think about stepping down.

This is the photo I found when searching for "clamhuskers."

A Clamhusker?

High School was a fine time for me. I had fun, and I was somewhat popular - but I left high school at high school. I could care less about the "good old days." I'd rather think that better days are always ahead... and that friends fade away for a reason.

Then yesterday my brother sent me an email about our high school alma mater (Cupertino High) and it got us both talking. The press release is below:

Interim Principal Harry Bettencourt has expressed concern about the dated concept of "Pioneer" as the Cupertino High School mascot. He believes that identification with the pioneer era causes the community to think and feel that Cupertino High School is a backward focusing school rather than being innovative and forward-thinking. Therefore, he is proposing to change the mascot from "Pioneer" to a more contemporary and exciting choice.
He has approved two possible mascots: The Clamhusker OR The Prairie Dogs.
The decision will be made by April 6, 2007 so that there is sufficient time to order new uniforms and other items that currently bear identification of "Pioneer".
Please feel free to provide input directly, in person, to Mr. Bettencourt
or to one of the Assistant Principals.

Mr. Harry Bettencourt... are you an idiot? Have you not looked up the definition of a Pioneer? How the hell is a Pioneer not forward thinking, yet a prairie dog or a clamhusker are? Hello? How is a prairie dog or clamhusker "exciting" or "contemporary?"

Pioneer: A person who is among those who first enter or settle a region, thus opening it for occupation and development by others. One who is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or progress: pioneers in cancer research.
Prairie Dog: A little furry rodent that eagles kill. A term used by children when they need to go to the bathroom ("Dad, stop the car, I'm prairie dogging!").
Clamhusker: A fish smelling loner. Something made up by a principle from the east coast who only cares about his Red Sox and clam chow-dare.

Again, Mr. Harry Bettencourt... you are an idiot. Please do not change the mascot of my old high school. Mr. Harry Bettencourt please reconsider. Mr. Harry Bettencourt you should spend your time doing more creative things, rather than changing the mascot at Cupertino High... and buying new uniforms.

So What, We Lost.

Opening day was fantastic... except for the ass kicking Cleveland gave the White Sox. It was really just the horrific outing Jose Contreras had, the rest of the Sox looked pretty good. But a 12-5 loss is never a good thing, especially when the team's ace is the one to get clobbered.
But did this spoil the day? No way. Opening day is much more than just winning... although winning makes the day so much better. The hot dog was fantastic. The peanuts were inhaled. LP and I got our faces on the jumbo tron! And it was good to see the people we sit around... all the same from last year. They are our summer family. Plus there are 161 more games and no team has ever lost all 162 - so a win is just around the corner. Plus, the Cubs lost their game too.

Go Sox!

Opening Day!

Today is my favorite day of the year! Better than my birthday or Christmas or Halloween... it's Opening Day! A day that should be a national holiday in this country since baseball is supposedly our national pastime.

Now, Opening Day is much better when you can actually attend a baseball game that day - but even without going to a game, it means baseball season is here. Every fan of every team hoping it's their team's year to win it all. It means Summer is just around the corner. It means hot dogs, beer, Cracker Jacks, and fantastic wins and tear filled losses are finally here. And for those of us who actually live through cold ass winters... it means being outside and enjoying time with friends and family.

Win or lose, baseball season is a good time (although winning is so much more fun). You might be a Giants fan, Rockies fan, Cards fan, Pirates fan, or even a Devil Rays fan - but we all have something in common, the love of the game of baseball.

Yea for Opening Day! Go Go White Sox!