Feeling The Funk.

So how to get rid of the funk? I'm not depressed... just disappointed. I don't want to curl up into a ball and bawl... I am just stuck thinking over and over about how I could done something better, or what I could of done wrong, or who could of been better than me.

Besides movies and music... a three day weekend could do the body and mind well. And skating to work seems to help my spirit too. Yep, I took that photo this morning on my way to work. Something about skating down the middle of the street early in the morning takes a lot off my mind... maybe because I am just waking up and need my brain functions to help me not fall on my face. It makes me feel young... which I still am (thirtysomething is young). I love seeing all of the people in suits staring at me like I am homeless or broke, just because I can wear jeans and skateboard to work.

I need a good three day weekend to get rid of the funk. No more writing about the funk next week. No more complaining about coming in second (or third). Medeski, Martin & Wood are playing for free tonight in the park so that might do some good... I can go spinning with a bunch of stinky hippies. Enjoy your weekends... I will.

This is the Brown Line L going over me this morning... really.

Funk. Sights. Sounds.

The the Aussie got me a gift the other night... Music & Lyrics DVD! I stayed up late (after midnight is late for me) last night watching it, which help me forget about my funk. Sure, it did not get rid of it but it did cheer me up. I love the sappy romantic comedies. Thanks Aussie!

I've also been listening to the Cocteau Twins a lot the past couple days... and mostly just listening to their "Heaven or Las Vegas" album. Not really sure why this has been my music of choice, or need lately, since I have not listened to the Cocteau Twins in probably ten years. But it seems to do me well... I think.

The funny thing about the "Heaven or Las Vegas" album... I went to see them on that tour (way back in 1990). Mazzy Star opened. I was really really sick, I had a fever of 103, but I wanted to go so bad. The girl sitting behind me was trying to sing along, although not very well... since most of the songs are not in English (she probably did not know that) so she was just making sounds. It was so annoying... even with out burning fever. I turned around and told her to go f herself, then got up, went to the bathroom and threw up.

These are the sounds and sights of my funk. I won't let it go on too much longer... and I am hoping better things are a head. Everyone keeps telling me it will get better, and you guys aren't liars... are you?

Batting .000

There are times in life when things just don't go your way... ok, go my way. I try really hard and work at something to improve my life and just seem to run up against failure after failure. Through all of these efforts there are small glimmers of hope, which bring on excitement... but sadly they just come up short.

What do I do? I get sad. I get frustrated. I take it personally. I feel stuck. I spend way too much time feeling sorry for myself believing the idea that there is no one out there to help me reach my goals. People in my life tell me very supportive things, that this will be the one... but then would they really shoot me down? No.

Without the right network of people in your life, sometimes certain goals are unachievable. Right?

I'm just stuck, and I hate being stuck and unhappy.

FredSox: Last Game.

The longest softball season is finally coming to an end tonight. The FredSox are playing our last game of the season... the season that started May 22, and the season that was supposed to be over with on July 10. It is now August 28 and we are playing game number seven. Yep, seven. Over a three month span we have played seven games. What a headache. Now the problems we are facing:

1. It is too dark to play. By the time our game is half over you cannot see the ball which is really scary.
2. Our team is quiting. We had 17 on the roster, but we are down to ten, and you need ten to play... so hopefully everyone shows tonight.

After the season is over we have playoffs... which by our record (3-2-1) we will make the cut, but I really don't want to play anymore. The league is lifeless and just kind of an all around bummer. When team members start quitting that kind of pops the balloon.

Oh well, there is always next summer.

UPDATED: 12:53pm... the team we are playing called in a forfeit so we win. But we don't get to play. Crap!

Idea: Top 100.

About six months ago Cherry was telling me about this idea of a top 100 list (it was cold outside and we were in a smokey bar)... the top 100 albums of all time. This would be completely my opinion, but there are a couple limitations:

1. Only one album per band. So the Beatles cannot have ten albums in the list (which I would never do anyway).
2. No best of compilations. That's a cheater's way out.

So this is what I am going to get working on. Due date? Not sure. My goal is to have it done by the end of the year... and maybe give an update here or there. It gives me something to get brain working on something completely meaningless, frustrating, and fun.

But I guarantee it will be better than this guy's top Albums list.

...Now Where Is Niner?

Here's a hint of what I am up to this week.
I'll be back writing next week... I think.

Roller Coasters.

I love roller coasters. Always have, and I am pretty sure I always will. I have not been on one for a few years now... OK it's been a long time, and both my body and my mind need a fix. Living in the Northwest for a few years was a major bummer because there are no roller coasters there. None. Zip. Zero. Another reason the northwest blows.

My love of roller coasters started when I was a kid... just tall enough to get on the rides. There was a Great America (now Paramount, then Marriott) in Santa Clara, CA that I would frequently spend the entire summer day at. The coasters at the time where the Demond (which was the Turn Of The Century), the Willard's Wizzer (yes, Wizzer), and the Tidal Wave (just one loop, that's it - now gone). Later came the Edge and the Grizzly... and then a slew of others in the mid-90's.

The funny part of this affection of the coaster is that I hate heights, and hating flying. I am pretty much a big baby when it comes to either... but get me on a coaster and I am a happy camper. Maybe it's that fact that I am convinced that I am still bolted to the ground, or that I am so strapped in to the seat that I am totally safe. Not sure what it is, but I mainly get on them for the thrill of being scared shitless for a few minutes and enjoying every second, and being a tiny bit thankful when it's all over (since I am safe and sound). Then I get right back in line and do it all over again.

My favorites have to be the wooden coasters... they just always feel like they are going to fall apart so it makes them even more scary / fun. Plus it's the drops that are the best part of coasters. The dips make your stomach do flips to the point you almost hork, and some hork and spew. Not me. My top two coasters (both wooden) are the Cyclone at Coney Island (Brooklyn, NY) and the Giant Dipper at The Beach Boardwalk (Santa Cruz, CA)... the same beach boardwalk that The Lost Boys was filmed. Classic!

Now living only thirty minutes aways from roller coasters... I need to get my butt in gear and get on some rides. Who's with me?!

Rain.

I hate to write about the weather... it makes me sound like an old fart. But today I am going to be an old fart or maybe a new fart. Mmmmmm... new fart smell.

Yesterday during my walk home from work we got hit with a huge thunderstorm. We received just over three inches in less that an hour. My walk home takes about thirty minutes and during my entire trip it was coming down in buckets (not technically buckets, that would of hurt). My umbrella was pretty much useless, especially since it was so hot I was sweating like I had just ran a marathon. My entire body was soaked. My shoes will probably take a week to dry out. I think I have chafing.

And... I had a blast. I felt like a little kid. When I realized my shoes were waterlogged I just started walking through all of the huge puddles. I was listening to the new Feist album and was pleasantly surprised on what a perfect album it is to walk in the rain to. I highly recommend it.

Hey Niner, Where Have You Been?

My two nieces from California have been in town... they came for a four day weekend. It was their first trip to Chicago and I think they had a blast. It made me feel grown up in a strange way. Hearing two girls saying over and over "Uncle Niner this... Uncle Niner that..." It just reminds me when I was eight years old saying the very same things to my uncles and aunts. Boy, I must of drove those family members up the wall.

So what did we do... lots. Here is just a sampling:
1. American Girls Place. And not just once, but twice. Most little girls go absolutely ape-shit over this emporium of over priced crap, but it is trip to see them have fun with some money in their hands and how they spend it. The biggest complaint about the place is all of the spoiled little children getting everything they want.
2. Ratatouille. I was surprised how much I like the movie, and the nieces loved it too. I actually enjoyed the short before the movie called Lifted a little more.
3. Johnny Rockets. Sure it's not a Chicago place, but what little kids don't like messy burgers and big shakes. Wish we had taken photos.
4. The L. The girls loved the L... I even took them on the Brown Line, since I won that battle. They've been on BART in San Francisco, but they liked the elevated tracks.
5. Walks. I think the girls walked more in four days than they have all year. They are totally in shape / active kids, but they are just not use to so much walking. They thought my neighborhood was a lot like San Francisco.
6. The Bean. They LOVED the Bean in Millennium Park. They could of spent the entire day staring at their reflections.
7. 'Burbs. We went to the 'burbs to see their mom's (my sister) old college friends. It was a first time for me and LP to go to Naperville and Evanston. Yipee. Check those off the list. I'm so glad I live in the City.

I had to drive them to the airport at 5:00am yesterday... so I spent the rest of the day in a sleepy haze. It was a good time.

756.

Brown Line Stalker, Updated.

Update time. Since I posted about the CTA's Southbound Brown Line stalking me every morning... I have some news - It has stopped. Really.

I took the situation in my own hands and brought these issues out into the public (via this internet thing that Al Gore so unselfishly gave the world). I am sure the heads of CTA figured out who they were messing with, and they pulled the plug before anyone got hurt.

So let this be a lesson to all of you... when you have a problem with your public transportation system stalking you - blog about it.

Bonds 99 Problems.

Sure most people are tired of the Barry Bonds story... and most Giants fans want to see him break the record so the team can move on (maybe start winning). But this new T-shirt is AWESOME. Designed by Upper Playground in SF.

Slap Bet.

My (T1) friend Sara pointed out to me that one our favorite shows is going to be bringing back one of it's best story lines. If you have never watch How I Met Your Mother (CBS) you need to start watching and catch up before the Fall season begins. HIMYM (that's how us people in the know write it) is one of the few television shows that makes me laugh out loud. It is a riot. The slap bet was between Marsh and Barney, and the winner (Marshall) can use the slaps he won any time he wants, with no warning. Classic television.

To hype the next episode with the slap bet, CBS has posted a Slap Clock.