tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51242842011-07-07T17:52:14.100-05:00prototypeCleaner, but with a unique smellPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comBlogger1531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-10992063758058578522009-07-23T15:08:00.003-05:002009-07-23T15:15:02.251-05:00I endoed today for the first time, and nothing to show for it except a bent front rim. And, I guess, a bruise on the inside of my thigh, but it's not in a place I can really show off. Mid-grade bruises are not really sexy injuries, anyway.Here is a nice rule of thumb: while biking, do not adjust clothing while braking. Otherwise you may find yourself restricted to bipedal transportation in thePaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-9432712223604403052009-07-02T11:35:00.003-05:002009-07-02T11:48:07.938-05:00I've been spending a lot of time on the big chainring lately.One of the things I'm currently enjoying about biking is the variety of small technical challenges one can assign oneself. During several recent rides, I determined that success would be impossible unless all hills were surmounted on the largest chainring, and that freewheel coasting would need to be eliminated, or curtailed wherever Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-28626542914029132502009-06-15T12:55:00.002-05:002009-06-15T12:59:16.417-05:00I love to write, but never share anything with anyone. I love to think, but have always taken jobs that don't require me to do so.Here's to changing things.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1161307755929697862006-10-19T20:11:00.000-05:002006-10-19T20:29:15.940-05:002) Dennis Green. You have to love a guy who spends an entire half of football finding a way to lose a game he should have won by 30, then badmouths the opposing team during the postgame press conference before firing his offensive coordinator. Yeah, Dennis, it's your offensive coordinator's fault that your team turned in the worst rushing performance of all time. I think Edgerrin James may Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1161064593039547192006-10-17T00:39:00.000-05:002006-10-17T00:56:33.050-05:00As you can see I'm pretty much done with this weblog. I'm testing the waters tonight because I don't want to drink a bunch of vodka and I don't smoke weed, but I really need to blow of some steam after an amazing Bears victory has left me speechless and wired. The team was down 20 at half, 20 with 5 seconds left in the third quarter, 13 with five minutes left in the game, never scored an Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1146086797164713282006-04-26T16:26:00.000-05:002006-04-26T16:26:37.176-05:00Scored some free bleacher tickets to last night’s Cubs game, and here is what I saw:The new bleachers are fine. From the outside, it’s hard to miss the new, cantilevered concourse running along the perimeter, but this has a classy look that’s well-integrated with the overall Wrigley feel. On the inside, the extra capacity is scarcely noticeable; the park does not feel overcrowded or Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1143160957371337682006-03-23T18:22:00.000-06:002006-03-23T18:42:37.383-06:00Touche, Bill. But time has nothing to do with my blog profligracy lately...it's all about motivation, baby. And lately I'd rather say nothing than struggle to say something stupid. Having said that...A. Four Jobs I’ve Had:1. Daycare assistant2. Line cook3. Inside Salesman4. Facilities Summer Hire, MotorolaB. Four Movies I’ll Watch Over and Over:1. Anchorman2. Tron3. The Empire Strikes Back4. Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1135886401866961702005-12-29T12:37:00.000-06:002005-12-29T14:00:01.890-06:00I'm on vacation right now, as I have been for over a week, and I am watching ESPN's retrospective on the best games of 2005. Their coverage is wide-ranging and includes events that can't really be called games--a boxing match came in at No. 5, for example. But the best game I've seen recently has zero chance of making ESPN's highlight show, or even the local news, for that matter. That's Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1135278705420857132005-12-22T13:05:00.000-06:002005-12-22T13:14:35.750-06:00Time was I could write a blog post about my admiration for and trust in Jim Hendry, general manager of my beloved Chicago Cubs. Nowadays he's signing career .270 hitters to 3 year deals at 5M PLUS per, and rumors are swirling that Mark F****** Prior could be moved in the right deal for Miguel Tejada. Kiss my ass, Jim Hendry. You're just another idiot jiggling the handle on the flush sending my Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1131426460919626672005-11-07T23:06:00.000-06:002005-11-07T23:07:40.940-06:00There's weird, and then there's this article. Not sure which facet is most disturbing, but it's all quite entertaining. Arr, mateys!Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1131121648515256782005-11-04T10:17:00.000-06:002005-11-04T10:27:28.526-06:00There's some hilarious stuff on the internet right now. Here are some gems I found over the past week:"Why did the Celtics shell out $15 million for Brian Scalabrine and another $7.5 million for Dan Dickau?Here's my guess: They thought my column was slipping and decided that I needed some new material. Well, mission accomplished. After Wednesday night's opening win against the Knicks, my Dad Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1130892659526878772005-11-01T18:50:00.000-06:002005-11-01T18:50:59.563-06:00Top 5 Guitarists (in reverse order of preference)Andy Summers. I was going to put the lead guitarist for my "I'm Hip Band-of-the-Moment" current faves Bloc Party in this slot, but I obviously don't even respect him enough to look up his name for this article. Instead, I decided to replace him with the man who virtually invented the textured, ephemeral sound that I must regrettably admit helped Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1130608033767449282005-10-29T12:46:00.000-05:002005-10-29T12:47:13.776-05:00New pics are up on Flickr, click the link on the right side.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1130535173543351862005-10-28T16:32:00.000-05:002005-10-28T16:32:53.556-05:00Pork and I have a special relationship.Regrettably (but perhaps not), this is not the same special relationship that Pete has with pork, which is purely linguistic--Pete's ability to employ "pork" as a verb is unparalleled in my experience for its originality and vibrance. Rather, dead pigs and I get along well. Specifically, pork tenderloin and I understand one another, especially when the Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1128234908292645032005-10-02T01:32:00.000-05:002005-10-02T01:35:08.296-05:00Sorry, it's been awhile. Things are going quite well. Laura and I just hit our 1-year anniversary of being engaged to one another. We'll be married in less than a week. Amazing! Most everybody I love is going to be at this huge party that Laura and I are hosting...it's really amazing to think about. The days, if you couldn't tell, are going by so quickly. I will be much obliged to them Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1125590970537519382005-09-01T11:08:00.000-05:002005-09-01T11:09:30.543-05:00Here’s another groovy Top 5 for everyone’s enjoyment (this time in no particular order):1) Bloc Party, Silent Alarm: this band reminds me a ton of the Police, which is a very good thing. Their drummer has a Stewart Copeland-esque way of racheting up the tension with lightning-quick fills and hi-hat work, and their sound is atmospheric, achieved with a minimum of instrumentation. I Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1125086347113467082005-08-26T14:58:00.000-05:002005-08-26T14:59:07.116-05:00Our voices are ground down today from shouting at each other at close quarters last night. Music in bars is too often too loud. This does not negatively color my perception of the evening, though. A good time was had by all.I punched a sign, I think, and a large bruise has appeared on my right hand.Wine tastings are an absolute good. They are even better when the food pairings are as Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1124733543196386902005-08-22T12:45:00.000-05:002005-08-22T12:59:03.203-05:00The days of my life are flying by me right now. I am strongly reminded of Billy Crystal's quote from City Slickers, quoted here in its entirety mostly because it's hilarious:"Value this time in your life kids, because this is the time in your life when you still have your choices, and it goes by so quickly. When you're a teenager you think you can do anything, and you do. Your twenties are a Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1123270212065272712005-08-05T14:29:00.000-05:002005-08-05T14:30:12.070-05:00So several weeks without comment pretty much assures you, my faithful reader, A BRAND NEW TOP 5 LIST FOR THE MOST RECENT PERIOD!!! I can see you shuddering with anticipation, so without further gilding the lilly:1. Chipotle steak burrito. Oh my God. I've been having these for several months, but they never fail to fully satisfy. It's a meal in a tortilla, complete with rice, beans, meat, Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1121278539377654632005-07-13T13:14:00.000-05:002005-08-05T14:29:49.713-05:00Last year, I stated that I'd happily trade Sammy Sosa for a bag of baseballs. Turns out, that would have been a good deal (quote follows from Hardballtimes.com):Sammy Sosa Baltimore Orioles Right FieldAVG OBP SLG OPSSammy Sosa .225 .305 .383 .688Average MLB RF .270 .348 .453 .801Sammy Sosa's decline as a player has been one of the swiftest and most pronounced in recent memory, as he has Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1120757127761688462005-07-07T12:17:00.000-05:002005-07-07T12:25:27.766-05:00It's obviously far beyond my abilities to report the world news, and surely you are aware that London has today fallen victim to a coordinated attack on her wonderful and essential public transportation system. Four bombings, presumably coordinated, ground the Tube to a halt all day, an event unprecedented in London's history. 33 are confirmed dead; some reports estimate the wounded at over Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1120056562189264602005-06-29T09:49:00.000-05:002005-06-29T09:49:22.196-05:00This summer's bloggery has been blissfully free of baseball commentary, but today some notes are warranted based on the pleasantly surprising performance of the Chicago Cubs last night in a game I attended with my fiancee, aunt and two uncles, among some 39,500 others.There's nothing quite like unexpected bleacher seats at Wrigley, is there? After an afternoon email Monday led to UP and Red LinePaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1119641671380373672005-06-24T14:34:00.000-05:002005-06-24T14:35:39.103-05:00Last night I saw Batman Begins at the AMC Cantera 30 with Rick and Rob. I came away impressed, and very pleased about the prospect of more Batman movies with this same team onboard.Let me state at the outset that I am an inveterate Christian Bale fan. I actually saw Empire of the Sun as a youngster, and I remember liking him even then, which doesn't make much sense but is quite convenient for Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1119503289379133082005-06-23T00:01:00.000-05:002005-06-23T00:08:09.386-05:00Fat Christ, it's almost July 4th again. While I have always looked forward to the long weekend and big gatherings traditionally associated with this holiday, and while my memories of last July 4--1 day after Mark and Katie's wedding, at Madison Meadows next to my girlfriend and her family, smoking a cigar and basking in the glow of a Cubs sweep over the White Sox--are particularly sweet, the Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1118356610873555662005-06-09T17:20:00.000-05:002005-06-09T17:36:50.876-05:00Top 5 of the relatively recent past:1. My new Mac Mini. That's right, folks, I am an Apple convert, and a happy one. They have created a lot of cool stuff in OS X that Microsoft is sure to steal and make use of in Windows, which is good I suppose. But for the timebeing this OS is really much nicer than even Windows XP, and certainly better than 982E, which I was previously using. Hilarious. Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1118197362971857372005-06-07T21:08:00.000-05:002005-06-07T21:22:42.976-05:00Today marked my second day of long-running in obscene and punishing heat. It has been more oven-like and sweltering than actual straight-up blistering here in Naperville lately, but the fact remains that the past 2 days have seen afternoon temps in the 90s and my sweaty, disgusting, overweight ass dragging itself across the Great Heron and Bluebird trails, variously, in an attempt to show my Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1117684391133139872005-06-01T22:35:00.000-05:002005-06-01T22:53:11.136-05:00June has long been my favorite month of the year. Traditionally, school is about to end, and the pretty girlies (or guys, if you like) are busting out and out of their halter tops and racerbacks (or trousers, if you like). In Illinois, winter lasts long enough that you literally forget what warm weather feels like--so waking up beneath an azure dome of 70-degree goodness one fine morning feels Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1116958689958465532005-05-24T13:11:00.000-05:002005-05-24T13:18:09.963-05:00Jesus I'm bored with the Internet right now. In the spirit of that boredom, let me bring you a very plain post about the mundanities of my life at the moment.1. I thought that I was losing weight, and indeed I'm getting a bit more cut and have lost some (only discernible to me) width from my face, but I tried on this pair of pants yesterday that I was really expecting to be baggy and...uhh...Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1116545141414725502005-05-19T18:23:00.000-05:002005-05-19T18:25:41.420-05:00Before you do see Star Wars, please read this first. The writing here is absolutely phenomenal (and funny!), and added a great deal of depth to my interpretation of both Episode III and the entire series. Read from start to finish. I'm serious.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1116530254224663232005-05-19T14:14:00.000-05:002005-05-19T14:17:34.230-05:00So Revenge of the Sith is indeed watchable, and I'm excited and not a little relieved to report that it was actually quite good.I saw the movie at 12:01 last night with Rick and his future father- and brothers-in-law, in a crowded but not entirely full York Theater in Elmhurst. The previews stank, although the salacious thrill of a 20-foot-tall image of Angelina Jolie in lingerie remains nearly Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1115863470546555952005-05-11T21:04:00.000-05:002005-05-11T21:04:30.550-05:00I just made the best meal I've ever made. Pork is tasty.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1115170210187898292005-05-03T20:25:00.000-05:002005-05-03T20:30:10.190-05:00Straight from the horse's mouth:Quoth Kevin Smith, auteur of Clerks: "Revenge of the Sith [the final Star Wars Movie, Episode III] is so satisfyingly tragic, you'll think you're watching 'Othello' or 'Hamlet.' This is the 'Star Wars' prequel the haters have been bitching about since 'The Phantom Menace' came out...."I'll believe it when I see it, OK? If it's half as good as 'Star Wars,' I'll Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1115093933025413472005-05-02T23:07:00.000-05:002005-05-02T23:18:53.026-05:00Let's take a look at what's been going on lately at Chez Pablo:1. Bass playing. I think we're gonna play out in Rick's garage this summer, and we're gonna try our best not to embarass ourselves. I honestly think that we (meaning Rick, Rob and myself) have reached a point in our musicianship that we may actually have something worthwhile to offer an audience. I'm going to demand that we play Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1114808909463114122005-04-29T16:06:00.000-05:002005-04-29T16:08:29.466-05:00I just posted the below as a comment over at Jeff's site; he's sparking considered thought over there, as usual. I'm thinking about adding comments to my site, as well, but I like having my own forum.The most important part of this post, to my mind, is the idea that our economy would crumble if purchasing were driven by reason, rather than by desire. I completely agree with that assessment. Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1114733314565121752005-04-28T18:55:00.000-05:002005-04-28T19:08:34.566-05:00Top 5 songs for whenever the hell-whenever the hell1. Beck, "Hell Yes" I love every song I've ever heard titled "Hell Yes," so perhaps this was no surprise. This is a straight up rap (inasmuch as anything Beck does can be called "straight up") with robotic voices, an insouciantly '80s drum-machine beat, a sampled Japanese woman, and the following lyrics during the chorus:"Hell yes I'm movin Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1114016486315503732005-04-20T11:46:00.000-05:002005-04-20T12:01:26.316-05:00It's not often that you spot them before they spot you. Yesterday, under an ominous and low but dry cloudy sky, I was chugging along on a 2-mile run when I heard something in the brush, not 20 feet from the trail where I stopped short. At first, I panicked, figuring the twin white stripes and upturned tail to be a skunk, who usually don't take kindly to interlopers. I was confused for a few Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1113503712111173442005-04-14T13:26:00.000-05:002005-04-14T13:35:12.113-05:00Life in a TreehouseLast night I made some really delicious pasta. I had some penne lying around, as well as some tomato, basil and mozzarella from caprese with my folks on Monday, so I mixed it all up, poured on some olive oil, salt and pepper, and called it "dinner." This was at 8:30 at night.Living alone can be, well, lonely, but I am rapidly coming to like it. Not that I'm not looking Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1112895166364375122005-04-07T12:26:00.000-05:002005-04-07T12:32:46.366-05:00So Bobby Bloodyfangs-Flowerhair-Doublechins is counting "two," and his buddy Ernie Evileyes is at "one," and this is way too convoluted to adequately explain without pictures, which will follow when I get to them. The gargantuan feral infant of my middle twenties lurks less than 28 hours away, at which time I will be Officially Moving out. My room at my parents' house is a sty right now, which Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1111429382911139042005-03-21T12:18:00.000-06:002005-03-21T12:23:02.913-06:00Well it's several months on and I'm still listening to American Idiot almost every day, still eating pretzels for lunch, still doing bong rips all day long. That last one was a lie, by the way. Glad Pete doesn't read this, or I'd have to consider myself a tease.I'm moving out in 19 days. This fact is remarkable to me. I'm going to really have to start cleaning out my room, making sure there'sPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1109971559126467672005-03-04T15:11:00.000-06:002005-03-04T15:25:59.126-06:00Hon. Mention:"High Plains Drifter," the Beastie BoysIs it only the B-boys who could sing a song about a "kleptomaniac K-mart shoplifter" robbing and murdering his way across New York and make it sound appealing and listenable, even though it repeatedly samples a shotgun chambering a round and the garbled echo of a woman in the throes of sexual passion? Yes, I think it is.This is off the Paul's Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1109100003507818072005-02-22T13:00:00.000-06:002005-02-22T13:20:03.510-06:00I've discovered some astonishingly cool things in the past few weeks. Here's an abridged list:1. Flickr. If you visit this site and are like most people, you likely clicked on the irresistibly cute picture of Mia Villiard I posted last time. If so, you found yourself transported to my Flickr photostream, which is a continuously evolving photo weblog that's part of a whole collection of other Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1108707157344092702005-02-18T00:12:00.000-06:002005-02-18T00:12:37.343-06:00FlickrThis is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1108707112072086062005-02-18T00:11:00.000-06:002005-02-18T00:11:52.073-06:00mia_baconmia_bacon Originally uploaded by prototype.Flickr is neat! Here's Little Mia eating bacon!Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1108358457541633822005-02-13T23:10:00.000-06:002005-02-13T23:20:57.543-06:00I was wrong, all wrong: "The Day I Tried to Live" is, amazingly enough, in 15/4 time. For a great song on a major-label album, the use of such a time signature is absolutely astounding. It's impossible to describe why that is or even what 15/4 sounds like if you've never heard it before, but I urge you to seek this song out (legally, if possible: the rest of the album is damn good, as I've Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1107376281134137962005-02-02T14:30:00.000-06:002005-02-02T14:31:21.136-06:00Hon. Mention:
"The Day I Tried to Live," Soundgarden. I'm pretty sure it starts in 4/4 for one measure, then goes to 3/4 for two measures, goes to 5/4 for a measure, and then repeats. And then they shoehorn the opening riff into 4/4 for the choruses. I could be wrong, as I haven't played "serious music" for many years now. Their whole Superunknown album plays around with tempos in a way thatPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1107199365758501022005-01-31T13:09:00.000-06:002005-01-31T13:22:45.756-06:00The season's Top 5:
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I'm generally a latecomer to media of all kinds, which will be obvious enough reading this list. I've had this recommended to me by various sources, and I finally saw it this Saturday. I found it genuinely affecting, almost profound. That Charlie Kauffman!
2. American Idiot, Greenday. See above. I wouldn't say this is "Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1106330777807916172005-01-21T13:05:00.000-06:002005-01-21T12:06:17.806-06:00The Laws of Shadows:
1. A Shadow may not pass through an opaque object
2. If light does not fall on an object, a Shadow may not be cast by that object
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1106075729363857192005-01-18T13:11:00.000-06:002005-01-18T13:15:46.793-06:00And now, a list of some of my favorite words:
taco
vampire
juggernaut
abyss
labra-doodle
gemutlichkeit
journey
sputnik
fella
goatsmeat
smut
stallion
crurifragium
sturdy
Jewish
pookie
poultry
chiffonade
powerdrive
brilliant
cancer
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1105642405966752452005-01-13T13:36:00.000-06:002005-01-13T12:58:40.440-06:00Here's a poem for everybody:
I feel lucky to feel the way I do
And priveliged is not too strong a word
In fact, its strength dwarfs my weakness
And inadequacy to describe this thing
Called "the life of me"
In detail rich enough for others to truly savor
But the best we can do is all anyone can ask
My realizations are strong!
And make me feel that way, too
And they are unique, but not special
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1105292942536362522005-01-09T11:42:00.000-06:002005-01-09T11:49:02.536-06:00Look: it was December, there were holidays and birthdays and many cold, snowy days. And now I'm just starting to get back in the swing of things, so we're going to take baby steps.
1. Christmas was fun. My gifts were well-received, and I got a bunch of cool stuff, too. Mostly media, which is how I like it these days. I got enough data to keep me busy for months. Months, I tell you!
2. Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1102617204813796432004-12-09T13:08:00.000-06:002004-12-09T12:33:24.813-06:00Wolf vs Werewolf
Everybody seen "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?" Well, do yourself a favor and DO IT. I'm probably the last person from whom people expect to hear this, but I really loved this movie, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to children and adults of all ages.
It's fundamentally a coming-of-age story, but it's also a terrific fantasy film that gives us a thrilling view ofPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1102187909089464552004-12-04T13:31:00.000-06:002004-12-04T13:18:29.090-06:00My long absence can be attributed to the Jedi training which I have lately undertaken. Threats from other websites made during my absence will not be lightly regarded, and may be dealt with by use of special powers. What powers, you ask? How about the power to kill a yak from 200 feet away...with mind bullets!?! But that's a lesson for another time.
In all seriousness, certain issues in my Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1100747824502369892004-11-17T21:08:00.000-06:002004-11-17T21:17:20.070-06:00Despite rumors, TCS not...really doing much of anything.
It's not fair to single out Cash's blog, as my links bar has lately been doing its best impression of a black hole. Nobody posting but me, though, and today I have but a few observations:
1. I don't believe there's a more embittered group of people than stadium and club personnel. I went to see the Pixies last night at the Aragon, and Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1100024978213154102004-11-09T13:28:00.000-06:002004-11-09T12:29:38.213-06:00Is there anything better than the old "apocryphal allegation by a defamed accuser" routine? Maurice Clarett, one-time college football star turned jobless malingerer, now says hat Ohio State did him wrong, and that he's only bringing it up to clear his good name. That's good stuff. Read here and determine for yourself if it sounds like he might have ulterior motives. Football is so depressingPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1099597359307921282004-11-04T13:38:00.000-06:002004-11-04T13:42:39.306-06:00As a teacher by training, if not yet by trade, I will take it upon myself to offer more than a response to Jeff's arguments. I'd also like to examine the conclusions he is drawing about American jurisprudence and government, which examination--like it or not--is highly germane to anyone reading this. Without further ado:
Assertion 1: Supreme Court justices are retiring or dying off.
Respondeo:Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1099284420329158852004-10-31T22:37:00.000-06:002004-10-31T22:47:00.330-06:00Read Jeff's blog tonight, and I agree with him: I'm sick of hearing about how stupid one candidate is, and how great another candidate is; and although there is no way in hell I am voting for GW Bush, I like Jeff's explanation of why he is.
I never get sick, however, of debating and discussing issues in reasonable fashion with smart people. With this in mind, and also to see if Jeff reads my Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1098985897954270722004-10-28T13:50:00.000-05:002004-10-28T12:51:37.953-05:00Short of the victory that finally sends the Cubs to the World Series, I witnessed the most important baseball game of my life yesterday when the Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0, sweeping the series and ending 86 years of disappointment for their fans.
This game was important to me because it provided vital proof of something I’ve dared to believe for some time now, which is: Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1098732566816017112004-10-25T14:15:00.000-05:002004-10-25T14:29:26.816-05:00Good news: my fiancee and I have set a wedding date. We're to be wed October 8, 2005, at St. John's Lutheran Church. The reception will follow over in Naperville, at White Eagle Golf Club. It is appropriate that the two towns figuring most prominently in my upbringing (grew up in L-bard, have worked most of my life in Naperville) will co-host the most important day of my life. Should be Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1098051896695155462004-10-17T17:07:00.000-05:002004-10-17T17:24:56.696-05:00Wow it's basically been like 6 straight months of baseball posts. Unbelievable!
I did break the mold with my presidential debate post the other day, however, and I think if you go back to the first 3-4 posts I made on this sight, you'll find that they are all about politics and are all among the best writing I've done in this forum. With nary 3 weeks to go before the big Presidential electionPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1097716160714762532004-10-13T19:37:00.000-05:002004-10-13T20:09:20.713-05:00I am in the process of creating and posting my wish list of players the Cubs should do themselves a favor by acquiring this offseason. But the short version is that, if they do nothing else, the Northsiders should do everything they can to acquire Carlos Beltran, who has raised his asking price again tonight with a first-inning home run against the Cardinals. Why do I say this? It's pretty Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1096733706513588342004-10-02T11:01:00.000-05:002004-10-02T11:15:06.513-05:00I wish I could begin my bit about the "presidential debate" (of earlier this week) with a statement like "now for something more serious," but that would be a joke.
Watching Charlie Rose after work on Thursday, I could not help but think guest Jon Stewart (of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show") was absolutely dead-on when he described the debates as "a sort of dance...that both participants Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1096566518267041632004-09-30T13:47:00.000-05:002004-09-30T12:48:38.266-05:00A haiku dedicated to LaTroy Hawkins:
Up a run, he pours
g*dd*mn f****** gasoline
over everything
Edited because I'm posting from work.
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1096393048503340812004-09-28T13:36:00.000-05:002004-09-28T12:37:28.503-05:00Maybe the moon is made of cheese after all.
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1095961949767319732004-09-23T13:33:00.000-05:002004-09-23T12:52:29.766-05:00Let's take a few moments to discuss Sammy Sosa's catch in the 8th inning of last night's 1-0 Cubs victory over the Pirates, because it was truly a remarkable catch.
The Cubs have a lot more baseball to play, and this catch could wind up as nothing but an afterthought if they fail--as they well may--to reach this year's postseason. But if they somehow manage to win the NL wild card, this catch Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1095897770269471302004-09-22T18:55:00.000-05:002004-09-22T19:02:50.270-05:00Fantasy Football has again become the bane of my girlfriend's existence, and so I present you with the 2004 version of L-Bard Fantasy Football's "The Pony:"
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Jamal Lewis, Marshall Faulk, Quentin Griffin
WR: Darrell Jackson, Deion Branch, Terry Glenn, Michael Clayton, Anquan Boldin (IR)
TE: Todd Heap
K: who cares
DST: Seahawks
It's a decent lineup, although I may be this Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1095281823240364892004-09-15T15:35:00.000-05:002004-09-15T15:57:03.240-05:00Neifi Perez just hit a home run, followed by a Moises Alou triple to the ivy.
"And then the sun became as black as sack cloth, and the moon became as blood. The seas boiled and the skies fell. Judgment day."
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1094969536102229812004-09-12T01:59:00.000-05:002004-09-12T01:12:16.103-05:00I agree with Bill Jagnow on this one: Chris Rix sucks about as bad as a well-known quarterback at a major football university could possibly suck. I can't believe he's been starting at FSU for the past 4 years! This guy's got zero poise, a shitty arm, a ten-cent head, and a terrible delivery. It was his delivery that really blew my mind last night: I don't know if he thinks he's Bernie KosarPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1094579637136802482004-09-07T13:32:00.000-05:002004-09-07T12:53:57.136-05:00The much-anticipated TOTFBFFWBT did not come to pass this past Sunday, but a mini round-robin tournament was held in its place. Rick and I entered this two-on-two wiffleball extravaganza as the Mooninites, and the day was quite a success for us: we won all three games we played by a combined total of 33-0. Rick pitched the first two games and gave up 2 hits combined, walking none. I came in Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1093370665175081282004-08-24T12:30:00.000-05:002004-08-24T13:04:25.176-05:00A surprising number of people have an opinion about the whole Paul Hamm situation, despite the fact that very few of them actually seem to know what they are talking about. Here's the deal as I understand it:
Yang Tae Young, the South Korean gymnast who was awarded bronze in the men's all-around, has complained that his parallel bars routine was not given its appropriate start value. For thosePaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1092862926032327682004-08-18T15:50:00.000-05:002004-08-18T16:02:06.033-05:00NOT TO MENTION THE FACT that Alou has been doubled off from the outfield because he forgot how many outs there were AT LEAST 57 times this year. This guy runs the bases like a mentally handicapped 12-year old girl with 2 broken legs, falls into interminable slumps during which he couldn't hit with a tennis racket, gets himself tossed from games because he's too self-centered to realize you Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1092853768335637072004-08-18T13:02:00.000-05:002004-08-18T13:29:28.336-05:00Easily the most frustrating thing about this year's Cubs team--which is dead to me, by the way--is how unlikable it has been. Let's go around the diamond to investigate our cast of heroes:
P. Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Matt Clement, Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux. The starters are easily the most likable group on the team, but where's the leadership? Wood and Zambrano have been suspended for Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1092240884057587462004-08-11T10:24:00.000-05:002004-08-11T11:14:44.056-05:00You know who you never hear about anymore? Michael Keaton. What happened to that guy? He was in a lot of good movies: Johnny Dangerously, Mr. Mom, Beetlejuice, The Paper, Out of Sight, Gung Ho, Multiplicity, The Dream Team...this guy was Batman, for God's sake. And he's a good actor--he does comedy, drama, and soft-focus emotional stuff pretty well. I miss him.
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1091558071202465542004-08-03T13:02:00.000-05:002004-08-03T13:34:31.203-05:00Here's a fun stat: by some measures I happen to endorse very highly, the Cubs' record is 4 games worse than it should be. By this, I mean that Pythagoras (remember him?) would expect a team that has scored 489 runs and allowed only 405 to have won 62 games at this point in the season. At 62-43, the Cubs would not only lead the wild-card chase, they'd have the third-best record in the entire Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1091503670065798592004-08-02T21:54:00.000-05:002004-08-02T22:27:50.066-05:00I caught myself daydreaming about Nomar today. It's so awesome that he's on the Cubs. I feel really bad for Red Sox fans, who have to console themselves with the fact that Nomar was apparently a real a-hole in their clubhouse. Poor, poor tortured Red Sox fans.
In fairness to them, Nomar's saga has been truly bizarre--this is a guy who hit .372 less than 4 full seasons ago, who has never hit Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1091339916290206632004-08-01T00:40:00.000-05:002004-08-01T00:58:36.290-05:00IT'S NOMAR TIME!!
Laura's brothers pulled a fast one on me today, announcing that the Cubs had acquired Nomar Garciaparra from the Red Sox for Francis Beltran, Felix Pie, Todd Walker, Brendan Harris, Alex Gonzalez, and another guy. This was not complete bullshit, as the Cubs did give up Beltran, Harris, Gonzalez, and Justin Jones--a lefty prospect NOBODY was talking about but who apparently mayPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1090864565380051702004-07-26T12:48:00.000-05:002004-07-26T12:56:05.380-05:00One of the frustrating things about trying to follow baseball intelligently is the gap between the factual and the experiential. For instance, statistics I won't bore you with show that the Cubs bullpen has really not been all that bad this year. In fact, it's been pretty damn good.
Those are the facts, but I never would have guessed them. The Cubs bullpen makes me want to puke. There's noPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1090014666460224922004-07-16T16:47:00.000-05:002004-07-26T12:57:03.106-05:00This is the sound of me officially writing off the Cubs' season. I was optimistic about the second half, but it was based on the assumption that the entire team would be back for the duration. Now Prior should be shut down for the rest of the year, and it appears 2 weeks later that Aramis should have been DL'd with his groin injury. All the news I hear is that the Cubs aren't going to be Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1089828978998662892004-07-14T12:51:00.000-05:002004-07-14T13:16:18.996-05:00So it's Nomar to the Cubs for prospects, who the Red Sox will trade to Arizona for Randy Johnson. At least, that's according to...to whom, exactly? I'm pretty sure this is just a pipe dream, but it's a very pleasant pipe dream, is it not? And at least it's pervasive, and seemingly more substantial than it was yesterday, which is always a good sign. Of course, we also know how jumpy the Red Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1089386797339629332004-07-09T10:00:00.000-05:002004-07-09T10:26:37.340-05:00I achieved a Yahtzee score of 408 last night. It was my third-ever game of Yahtzee. I officially quit the sport, at the height of my dominance and splendor. I will not completely rule out the possibility of a comeback, however.
I leave in 1.5 hrs for St. Louis, where terrace box seats at Busch Stadium for a Friday afternoon game vs the Cubs are apparently just $25. I've never been there, Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1089309175534694492004-07-08T12:51:00.000-05:002004-07-08T12:52:55.536-05:00Oh, one other thing: BILL, WHERE THE HELL HAS YOUR BLOG GONE?? Also, you owe me a list of casted characters, per our discussion. Or I will call in an air strike on you.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1089309090628478862004-07-08T12:27:00.000-05:002004-07-08T12:51:30.630-05:00I will stand by everything I said regarding the Cardinals. I am going to the game on Friday, Maddux vs. Marquis. I like that matchup. For whatever reason, I am not scared of the Cardinals.
"They send us a toe, and we're supposed to shit ourselves with fear!"
In other news, wiffleball excitement is building with the prospect of an 8-team, double-elimination tournament at Rick Bach's house. Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1088483425361945902004-06-28T23:22:00.000-05:002004-06-28T23:30:25.360-05:00So now the Cardinals are the 10th best team IN THE WORLD IN ANY SPORT. Well, the Cubs officially have no chance. That's a joke: if the Cardinals win the Central this season, I will send Neil Miller a 5th of Jack Daniel's. He doesn't even read this website, either. Oh Christ, the Cardinals! I'm shaking with fear! Spare me.
Also spare me any talk that Terminator 3 was any kind of a good Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1087870642756059232004-06-21T20:57:00.000-05:002004-06-21T21:17:22.756-05:00I was allowed back into the country only after a stern warning from the Chicago National League ballclub, who were understandably upset to learn that I was bringing my distracting presence back to Chicago.
The Cubs went on a 6-game tear while I was away, and in general seem to play better when I'm not looking. Despite this, they have managed to win 2 straight games since I got back, and Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1087749830198142982004-06-20T11:39:00.000-05:002004-06-20T11:43:50.196-05:00Back from the Old World, where I saw a lot of amazing sights, took in a lot of beautiful sun, drank a lot of tasty wine, and laughed a lot of belly laughs. Cruising the Mediterranean in style is something I highly recommend, especially if you are a millionaire or are related to a millionaire and you can do it without worrying about the astronomical expense involved. I haven't the time or, Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1086746146368240502004-06-08T20:44:00.000-05:002004-06-20T11:38:44.713-05:00Leaving for Europe in just 2 days, meaning that tomorrow is my Friday. Are there many things better than a midweek Friday? If there are, their list is short.
I'm very pleased about this Europe trip; even if we were not going anywhere special, it is going to be hilarious to be on the road with my mother's entire family (12 siblings and their kinfolk, about 45 people in all). The fact that I'm Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1086412392686028312004-06-04T23:39:00.000-05:002004-06-05T00:13:12.686-05:00A cloudless and radiant early summer day today lent some of its clarity to the Cubs' situation. Mark Prior made his first start of the season this afternoon, and was welcomed jubilantly by a Wrigley crowd that included both Mike Bodnar and myself. He was brilliant, posting 6 strong innings of 2-hit, shutout ball, fanning eight while walking none.
Of course, he did not figure in the decision.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1085937223049398252004-05-30T11:54:00.000-05:002004-05-30T12:13:43.050-05:00Cubs right now = bad. Cubs Embargo = good. Try it, friends, at least until Nos. 21, 22, and 34 return. As Cubs fans, we take the good with the bad, but the bad is a lot easier to take when we don't pay too much attention to it. I still have faith, as should you.
I played a whole shitload of wiffleball yesterday. This was excellent. Part of the fun of backyard wiffleball is taking it way Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-108524818563907202004-05-22T12:38:00.000-05:002004-05-22T12:51:55.546-05:00The mini-blog below was published 2 seconds before Aramis put the Cubs up 1-0 with an opposite-way single. I had a premonition.
My other premonition, now that the Cubs have seized a 4-0 lead after D. Lee decided to actually hit a baseball, is that the game will be called on account of rain. No more runs, please! Let's get in 5 and put this game on the books.
A word on D. Lee: I still Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1085247465121967782004-05-22T12:36:00.000-05:002004-05-22T12:37:45.120-05:00Aramis Ramirez.
Aramis Ramirez.
1-1Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1085028423865113352004-05-19T23:32:00.000-05:002004-05-19T23:47:03.866-05:00That's how baseball goes. Clement goes eight strong innings last night, gets zero run support (literally) for the second straight game, and loses his second straight decision. Tonight, Zambrano plays with fire the entire game, actually records more flyball than groundball outs (which is a real bad sign for a sinkerballer), gives up a home run to Michael Tucker, and the Cubs win. I had a Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1084638527238086792004-05-15T10:41:00.000-05:002004-05-15T11:28:47.236-05:00I can't even fathom how screwed up I would be right now, if not for The Cubs Embargo. It's really a sad, sad commentary on my inability to put a lot of things in perspective. But it helps me to enjoy the Cubs, and this is an absolute good. We pursue that which recedes from us, and the converse is also true.
I am sure it's been mentioned elsewhere, but when I read "Moneyball," I didn't picturePaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1084238286816367592004-05-10T20:06:00.000-05:002004-05-10T20:18:06.816-05:00Wow blogger's got a horrible new interface. That's all I'm going to say about that.
Cubs not looking too bad right now. It would've been nice to, you know, totally dominate the Rockies and D-backs, but I am satisfied with the results they have thus far posted.
The Cubs Embargo has been excellent to me. I have come to the conclusion that I lack the ability to distinguish between important Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1084032069620334782004-05-08T11:01:00.000-05:002004-05-08T11:05:32.106-05:00I was at Wednesday's Cubs game (company tix, 7th row 3rd base side; nice), and it was terrible to watch. Wood was like Medium-strength Kerry Wood, and the Cubs starting 8 looked like a Triple-A team. I guess the only good thing is that, even on a night when he didn't have his best stuff, K-Rock still only gave up 2 runs on 3 hits in 7 IP. His Stat falls to 148, however.
Is it just that the Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1083692770687624772004-05-04T12:46:00.000-05:002004-05-04T12:49:54.966-05:00Digital instant-read thermometers are rad! I just got one a few weeks ago, and used it for the first time on some hoisin-bourbon glazed pork loins I grilled at Laura's last Sunday. Let me tell you that this invention is a miracle, that it makes cooking meat to the perfect doneness ridiculously easy, that I highly recommend laying out and purchasing one. I am normally not a proponent of pricey Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1083520730966055022004-05-02T12:58:00.000-05:002004-05-02T13:03:05.653-05:00In an effort to lower my bloodpressure and overall mood of crapulence, I am instituting The Cubs Embargo as of yesterday. TCE means trying to avoid watching any Cubs game from start to finish, the idea being that since my standards for the Cubs are so freaking high, it will be better if I can just see the results of their games, which objective reason tells me should largely be positive. If I Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1083198742648551542004-04-28T19:32:00.000-05:002004-04-28T19:36:31.950-05:00I don't know, you know? I just can't say? All I can think of is that 1) the first game featured an absolutely in-form Randy Johnson, and was never really in reach, and 2) yesterday featured another lopsided pitching matchup. Brandon Webb is really good, and Sergio, while damn good against the Pirates, is still just Sergio.
Still though, it borders on the inconceivable: the Cubs were Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1082818038087607602004-04-24T09:47:00.000-05:002004-04-24T09:51:21.390-05:00It's amazing the things you will consider rational after a lifetime of Cub-fandom. For example, I reported the results of the Cubs 2-game annihilation of the Pirates to my mother earlier this week, whereupon she rejoined: "They should save some runs for when it matters." Given the Cubs frustratingly inconsistent history, this statement seems to hold a lot of water for the perennial fan. You Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1082569630847015362004-04-21T12:47:00.000-05:002004-04-21T12:51:10.500-05:004/20: More of the same
Pythagorean buttwhippings like this are easy to get used to. So is seeing Carlos Z start like every batter out with a strike or two and then get them to beat the ball into the ground in the general direction of a middle infielder. 111 pitches, though, is again quite a few, especially with a 7-run lead after 6 innings. Look at the pitch-by-pitch to see how tired he was Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1082413437713294682004-04-19T17:23:00.000-05:002004-04-19T17:29:08.903-05:004/19: Turning Point Game. At least for me.
At 6-6 going into today's action, I really didn't want to have to think about a sub-500 Cubs team that was struggling to beat the Reds on a regular basis. What I needed from the Cubs was a convincing victory, replete with a strong starting pitching performance, the appearance of a non-LaTroy Hawkins reliever who could manage not to give up a gopher Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5124284.post-1082222087461834282004-04-17T12:14:00.000-05:002004-04-17T12:18:42.106-05:004/16's Cubs Game: No comment.
I take my final teacher's licensure test (in the state of Illinois) today. Pedagogy and curriculum; I'm a bit shaky on both of those. Wish I'd spent less time bitching about how crappy the School of Education was at IU (scroll down to 4/10) and more time actually reading my classroom management texts. Not that it would have helped anyway.
Downtown tonight, Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836939519356431818noreply@blogger.com