I love you, Apryl!
Thanks everyone! And a very special thanks to Brett!
March 19, 2009
March 13, 2009
March 12, 2009
Sears Tower = Willis Tower?
For those who are planning on visiting us in the near future, you may be shocked to discover that there no longer is a Sears Tower in Chicago. It seems that the London based insurance broker firm, Willis Group Holdings, have bought the naming rights to the thirty-six year old scraper, and the new name will go into effect this summer. Of course, trying to get anyone around here to actually refer to the structural icon by any other name than Sears Tower, might be a bit of challenge. Rightly, so.
More info here.
March 5, 2009
Cohen Revisited
After a bit of speculation, it is now official, Leonard Cohen has added a second date at the Chicago Theatre. So this time, we bought our tickets during the fan presale. And, we were successful! Our tickets are in the front section of the first balcony row, dead center. Basically, the 50 yard line, so we’ll have a great view.
Even though I was looking forward to visiting Detroit, it was going to be pricey with gas and hotel bills. Unlike the unsavory ticket scalper, we plan to sale our Detroit ticket at face value. Take that!
Sox vs. Cubs – Spring Training Telecast
Since this game was played in Las Vegas, the game didn’t end until midnight!
March 3, 2009
The Skating Fools
After talking about it forever, Apryl and I finally decided to go skating downtown at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park. Neither of us had been skating in years, but I figured it was a bit like riding a bike. Well, not quite. It took some time before I felt comfortable enough skating away from the rails. Even then, it was without any rhythm. On top of that, the skates were digging into my leg, causing a thin layer of skin to scrape off. Apryl also got an ugly blister on her foot. Oh well, we gave it a shot!
I have a feeling Apryl’s thinking, “How does he do that?”
I’m off the rails!
Our injuries, starting with Apryl:
Off the ice and making room for the Zamboni:
And, finally, a short video of me skating poorly and nearly crashing into a fellow skater:
March 2, 2009
I’m going!
I’ve got my tickets to see Leonard Cohen… in Detroit! Why am I not seeing him at the Chicago Theatre? Let’s just say that Ticketmaster is pure evil. And, if for some reason you didn’t know this, check this out. Oh well, I’ve always wanted to see the Motor City. And Cohen, I’ve wanted to see him for years!
February 25, 2009
Play ball!
It’s hard to imagine, especially as I write this post with cracked, dry knuckles, that preseason baseball is really here. The White Sox, along with 13 other teams, play exhibition games in the Arizona heat, rounding out what is known as the Cactus League. And while exhibition games are notorious for being snore fests, they do signal us that warmer days are ahead, particularly for those like us in Chicago who are still having to deal with the occasional single digit morning temps. Today, the Sox take on the Los Angeles Angels, a game that will be broadcast on Sox radio 670 The Score.
Interesting tidbit about the Angels, did you know that the Angels played their first season as a baseball team in Wrigley Field? No, not the Friendly Confines stadium, but the original Wrigley Field, in Los Angeles! Yes, you read that correctly. The original Wrigley Field was built in 1925 for the Los Angeles Angels when they were a mere minor league baseball team. OK, so Wrigley Field in Chicago was built before the one in L.A. You got me there. However, the park in Chicago was at that time called Cubs Park while the one in L.A. opened up with the name Wrigley Field. So, technically, the park out in L.A. is the first park with the Wrigley Field moniker. Since the park was so close to Hollywood, the park was used a lot for television and the movies. Take a look at this great ad:
My favorite use for the park was for the Home Run Derby program. Check out this episode of Hank Aaron vs. Duke Snider! Host Mark Scott even asks Snider what he feels about the Dodgers moving from Brooklyn to Los Angles. Does he really want to know the answer to that question? Speaking of home run derby, this is also pretty awesome.
Back to the White Sox. The South Siders have moved their spring training from Tucson to Glendale, Arizona. The new stadium, Camelback Ranch, is the largest in the league with a 13,000 seating capacity. Along with the Sox, the L.A. Dodgers will also be called Camelback home until the first of April. I have to say, it sure looks nice:
Okay, one last word about baseball. Not only am I planning on watching baseball this season, but I’m also challenging myself to reading one baseball book for each month of the duration of the season, including two months for the preseason and one for postseason. Interestingly, my first book starts off with the White Sox in spring training during the 60’s. Total, there are nine (get it) books I plan to have read by October. Here is my planned reading schedule:
Inning 1: The Summer Game by Roger Angell
Inning 2: The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn
Inning 3:Ball Four by Jim Bouton
Inning 4: Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella
Inning 5: City Baseball Magic by Phillip Bess
Inning 6: Veeck as in Wreck by Bill Veeck
Inning 7: The Natural by Bernard Malamud
Inning 8: Eight Men Out by Eliot Asinof
Inning 9: Autumn Glory by Louis P. Masur
Since I haven’t been reading regularly this might prove to be quite the on taking. Play ball!
February 21, 2009
February 15, 2009
Hank Hill visits Memphis!
For those not in the know, one of my favorite shows is King of the Hill. Unbelievably, the show has been on air for 13 seasons. Even more amazing is that it’s still as funny as it was when it came on air back in 1997. At least, I think so. So tonight, you can be sure that I’ll be in front of the television watching episode #244, titled “What Happens at the National Propane Gas Convention in Memphis Stays at the National Propane Gas Convention in Memphis.” I can’t wait!
If you are reading this after the fact, check it out here.