One week until my release

I only have to survive one more week of work and then I get to go home for the holidays. HOORAH! I'm not a big fan of finals week. First, there's the stress of bad grades coming back. Second, there's not a whole hell of a lot to do around the office. If my students haven't figured out how to pass their classes by now, there's not much I can do to help them at this late date. Third, every department decides to have a Christmas party, so there's a lot of forced bonding. I'm certainly not complaining that cookies are readily available; however, I don't think that I should have to socialize with total strangers in order to get my sugar fix. Anyway, I am definitely looking forward to spending some quality time with the fam. Christmas is my favorite time of year. Happy Holidays to all of my loyal readers out there! Hope you enjoy your break. Take care and best wishes in 2007. :)

Expressing my inner band geek

I just got back from the annual free holiday concert performed by different ensembles from the School of Music at the University of Memphis. It always puts me in a festive mood, but this year I have one complaint. How can you put on an entire concert without a single clarinet? Normally the orchestra performs, but this year they got the shaft. I had to sit through several brass ensembles, but with the exception of a few saxophones, the woodwinds were banned from the proceedings altogether. That is a serious oversight. However, I did enjoy the concert as a whole and the performance of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" by the soloist was Whitney Houston-esque. Hope you are enjoying the holiday season so far. Happy ho-ho-ho to you!

My Boys

Sorry for the long break-I had to get my pout on due to the unfortunate results of the World Series. However, I'm back and ready to talk baseball again. It looks like the execs at TBS have been tapping my phone because there is a new show on called "My Boys" which parallels my life (Tues. 9 pm Central). It's about this young lady named PJ who works at the Chicago Sun-Times as a sportswriter covering the Cubs. All of her best buds are guys and she loves to drink beer, play poker, and talk sports with them. The quote of the night was when she told this guy she was into, "You wanna see my baseball card collection? It's in my bedroom." How funny is that? And I just took the Guy's Girl or Girly Girl quiz on TBS.com and here's my result: Boy's Best Friend. You've got the full game package on satellite (check) and a fridge full of cold beers (check). Cleats are kind of like heels, right? They make you taller.

Holy cow-if someone isn't bugging my apartment, then there must be other ladies out there who are just like me. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with being true to yourself, even if that means you come across as a sports obsessed tomboy to the opposite sex. The problem is that often sassy singles such as myself get stuck in the friend zone, which can be compared to the Bermuda Triangle. If any of you ladies out there know how to escape this abyss, please clue me in. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy an ice cold Coors Light and a ballgame with my guy friends. One of these days, some man is finally going to "get" me and he will be in for a real treat. :)

You cut me to the core, Cardinals

I cannot believe that the St. Louis Cardinals are the 2006 World Champions. YUCK! How can a team that was 2 games over .500 (and got swept TWICE by the Cubs, I might add) win the ring? Hopefully it's not a sign of the apocalypse. The only explanation I can come up with is that the baseball gods are trying to motivate the Cubbies to win it all in 2007. Their two most hated rivals won the championship in back-to-back years, so maybe this was the only way that management would finally get the kick in the ass they need to put a winner on the field. This is how I rationalize the victory of evil over good so that I can sleep at night. If you don't hear from me for awhile, it is because I had to relocate to Canada due to the constant ribbing I'm sure to receive starting tomorrow. I like hockey, so maybe it will work out. They do have a great national anthem over there. "O Canada. Our home and native land. True patriot love in all thy sons command..."

Don't forget the Motor City...

I am so glad that my picks were totally off for the playoffs. I got every series wrong except the Mets beating the Dodgers, so I wouldn't ask for my advice the next time you're picking lottery numbers. This is it-the Fall Classic. The Detroit Tigers vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which team I want to win the ring. I don't want to live in a world where the Cards are the world champs, so I hope that the Tigers won't break my heart. Pudge and company-please get it done. I've never met a Tigers fan that I didn't like, but I sure as hell know plenty of Cardinals fans who could use a good bitchslap. And considering I'm living in enemy territory and haven't been quiet about my hatred for their ballclub, I would never hear the end of it should the unthinkable happen. Oh baseball gods, haven't us Cubs fans been through enough?!? Please give the loyal Detroit Tigers fans the title and I will promise to be an even better baseball fan in 2007.

(Can't) Wait 'til next year

As expected, Dusty Baker was relieved of his managerial duties today. This move was necessary as the Cubs have gotten progressively worse over the past 3 seasons. A 66-96 record should not get your contract renewed. In Dusty's defense, he did not have any control over the plethora of injuries that have befallen the North Siders over the last 2 years. However, the key is that he did not motivate his players to overcome adversity. More importantly, Dusty had no clue how to properly use the bullpen (in the immortal words of Kenny Rogers, you've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em). His management of the pitching staff was pitiful on a good day. In addition, the Cubs have not played fundamental baseball during his regime, especially with regards to properly running the bases and executing basic plays they should have learned in Little League...

I can only hope and pray that the new manager will lay down the law and bring a winning attitude to the franchise. Former Cub Joe Girardi is the right man at the right time. It would be in the best interests of the Tribune Company to hire the probable NL Manager of the Year and turn the Cubbies around. Will we need some new players? Hell yeah! Should we count on the services of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior in the rotation again without acquiring some top of the line starters? Hell no! Let's learn from the mistakes of the past 98 years and stop being "the doormat of the National League." Wouldn't it be nice to be a winner instead of a laughingstock? Can I get an amen?!? I'm already looking forward to next season because it can't get much worse than this one. We're closing in on a century of futility-let's reverse the curse! None of us are getting any younger, and I want to celebrate a World Series victory while I can still party like a rock star. GO CUBS IN '07!!!

My playoff predictions

Even though I have gypsy blood, I'm not usually the best at predicting the future. However, I'm going to look into my crystal ball anyway and reveal my picks for each postseason series:

American League Division Series

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers-I'd love to go with the sentimental favorite and say that the Tigers will win this series. But, with apologies to my friend Jessie from the Detroit area, I begrudgingly choose the Yankees. This pains me deeply as I absolutely despise the Bronx Bombers. However, considering the Tigers blew their division lead today and have been in a freefall for over a month, I think the Yankees will emerge victorious and advance to the World Series. YUCK!

Minnesota Twins vs. Oakland A's- To me, this series is pretty much a toss-up. The Twins are hot right now, but the A's have better starting pitching. I'm going to choose the Twins on a virtual coin flip. It would be a nice tribute to Kirby Puckett for Minnesota to win this series.

National League Division Series

New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers-On paper, this looks like the most exciting match-up. I have a feeling this series will last 5 games. Although I'm pulling for the Dodgers with former Cubbies Maddux and Garciaparra on their roster, I think the Mets are the better team. However, the fact that Pedro can't pitch will make this battle all the more intriguing. I'm going with the Mets, hoping that my dad and Ron Santo won't hate me for being disloyal to the '69 Cubs.

San Diego Padres vs. St. Louis Cardinals-Talk about a Cubs fan's worst postseason nightmare. BLECH! The Padres should sweep, considering the Cards almost blew it down the stretch. I can't stand either of these clubs and will probably not tune into this series out of pure bitterness.

My World Series prediction: Yankees over Mets in 6 (although I'd much rather see a Tigers-Dodgers match-up)

I'll be back tomorrow with much more baseball banter as the Cubs will announce the future of Dusty Baker/resignation of team president Andy MacPhail. This off-season is going to be interesting to say the least...

A nice little Saturday

Today has been a great day. I decided to spend some quality time with myself instead of suffering through the maddening traffic surrounding the Memphis-UT football game/Mid South Fair. What an excellent choice. First, I got my hair done, which is almost always a pleasant experience. Then, I ventured to the mall where I decided to update my fall wardrobe. I found a great pair of brown loafers on sale as well as a gift set of Miracle So Magic!, which included bath gel, lotion, and lip gloss for just a bit more than the perfume itself usually costs. Next, I scoured Macy's for pants and shirts that I can wear when the temperature actually dips below 90 degrees again. I found all kinds of bargains and saved an additional 20% because I used a one-day shopping pass. Sometimes it's good to be me. :) And I got home just in time to see my beloved alma mater Illinois actually win a Big Ten football game. GO ILLINI! Hope you are enjoying your weekend as much as I am. If you need another reason to smile, check out this adorable video of Michael Buble' and Tony Bennett singing "Just in Time" on the Today show this week: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3041478/. Isn't it precious?

Push for the pennant

As you are probably already aware, the Cubbies have pretty much been out of the race since May. However, I am still interested in the 2006 playoff contenders since I'm a huge fan of baseball in general. The happiest news I received today was that the White Sox are now officially eliminated from postseason play. Can I get an amen? :) I've had enough of the obnoxious South Siders' bragging. This year, there will be a new World Champion. We can only hope it won't be from one of the evil New York teams.

In case you haven't been keeping up with the standings, there are still some teams who haven't clinched their division or the Wild Card yet. The most exciting race in my humble opinion is that of the NL Wild Card. I'm rooting hard core for the Phillies since my friend Carol is a huge fan and because chicks dig the long ball (thanks, Ryan Howard). As for the NL Central, the Cards have been slipping as of late and actually have a chance to blow their division lead. For the rest of this week, it's root, root, root for the Astros. The AL and NL West are also not decided, but I don't know too many people who care. My hope is that the Dodgers somehow manage to win the division and the Padres collapse so that they won't make the playoffs at all. You may think that I am still bitter about the 1984 playoffs, and you would be right. I cannot and will not ever forgive the San Diego organization for causing me unbelievable heartache at such a tender age... Stay tuned next week for my playoff predictions after all of the spots have been decided.

Rock on!

Two weeks ago, I finally broke down and bought an iPod. At the time, it was the biggest one on the market. Then last week, Apple suddenly decided to release an 80 GB version for $50 cheaper. Not cool. However, I have embraced my beautiful, black 60 GB model named Willie Mays Hayes. I just didn't realize how much personal attention an iPod needs. It takes a lot of time to load all of my CD's onto this thing (I currently have 1800 songs in my library and it can hold a whopping 15,000). You also have to make sure your iPod is dressed and protected from the elements. Luckily, my mom and sister have had one for about a year, so they were able to guide me to the iFrogz website to design a custom case: http://ifrogz.com/ . Mine is blue and red with a baseball wheel cover (shocking, I know).

If it takes this much work to maintain a portable electronic device, then I certainly don't think having children is in the cards for me... However, I have enjoyed shopping for Pod gifts like TV shows and games (Pac-Man!). Apple has created a monster because they recently added movies to their iTunes store as well. It looks like I won't be bored the next time I get stuck in an airport. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking up one of these wonderful toys for yourself.

Never forget the lessons learned on 9/11

Here is a great article from Fox Sports regarding the changing role of sports in our lives after 9/11/01: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5953886

I used to be guilty of thinking that how the Cubs were playing was the most important thing in the world. Since that fateful day, I no longer allow a baseball game to carry so much significance in my life (with the exception of the 2003 playoffs, of course). Now, I always try to remember to tell people how much I care about them, just in case tomorrow never comes.

This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending the dedication of the new baseball field at St. Bonaventure University. This was one of the coolest events I have ever experienced. Words cannot describe the impact it had on me. It's not every day that you can see hundreds of people who shared a common experience reunite and reconnect with former teammates, coaches, and staff members. I truly cherish all of the friends that I made at Bona's, and hope that I will be able to attend Baseball Alumni Weekend for many years to come. The events of 9/11 had a tremendous impact on me personally, and I will never forget the lessons learned nor the bond I share with these special people in Western New York.

For Pete's sake, Red Sox-please win tomorrow!

Today was a great day for this baseball fan. First, the Cubbies came back to beat the Cardinals in the 10th inning 5-4. Second, the Reds won, so now they are only 2.5 games back. Awesome! Finally, I just read that Peter Gammons went to the Yankees-Red Sox game:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2554773

However, it cannot be good for his health to see his favorite team lose to the Evil Empire 13-5. Therefore, please pull off a victory tomorrow night, Boston. Baseball fans everywhere want our beloved Peter to get back to his old self again. Falling further out of the Wild Card race is not going to help his road to recovery. Thank you for your support, Big Papi and company. Good luck and God speed.

What kind of soul are you?

You Are a Newborn Soul

You are tolerant, accepting, and willing to give anyone a chance. On the flip side, you're easy to read and easily influenced by others. You have a fresh perspective on life, and you can be very creative. Noconformist and nontraditional, you've never met anyone who's like you. Inventive and artistic, you like to be a trendsetter. You have an upbeat spirit and you like almost everything. You make friends easily and often have long standing friendships. Implusive and trusting, you fall in love a little too easily. Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

If I Can Dream

There seems to be a misconception out there that the only two topics I care to discuss are baseball and pop culture. If you look at my blog description, I can understand why you might get that impression. However, I am in fact much deeper than that (please don't confuse my lighthearted nature with being shallow). One thing that deeply troubles me is the constant threat of terrorism against the citizens of the United States. Thank God the latest attempt was thwarted, but unlike many other Americans, I have not forgotten about the horrors of 9-11. As an eternal optimist, I would like to believe that someday conditions will improve and that eventually we will achieve world peace. The following song by Elvis Presley gives me hope and comfort during these trying times:

If I Can Dream-

Elvis Presley

There must be lights burning brighter somewhere

Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue

If I can dream of a better land

Where all my brothers walk hand in hand

Tell me why, oh why, oh why can't my dream come true

There must be peace and understanding sometime

Strong winds of promise that will blow away

All the doubt and fear

If I can dream of a warmer sun

Where hope keeps shining on everyone

Tell me why, oh why, oh why won't that sun appear

We're lost in a cloud

With too much rain

We're trapped in a world

That's troubled with pain

But as long as a man

Has the strength to dream

He can redeem his soul and fly

Deep in my heart there's a trembling question

Still I am sure that the answer gonna come somehow

Out there in the dark, there's a beckoning candle

And while I can think, while I can talk

While I can stand, while I can walk

While I can dream, please let my dream

Come true, right now

Let it come true right now

Oh yeah

My Five Factor Personality Profile

***Your Five Factor Personality Profile***

Extroversion:

You have high extroversion.
You are outgoing and engaging, with both strangers and friends.
You truly enjoy being with people and bring energy into any situation.
Enthusiastic and fun, you're the first to say "let's go!"

Conscientiousness:

You have medium conscientiousness.
You're generally good at balancing work and play.
When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done.
But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. (that's for sure)

Agreeableness:

You have high agreeableness.
You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly.
Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone.
You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance.

Neuroticism:

You have low neuroticism.
You are very emotionally stable and mentally together.
Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly.
Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure.

Openness to experience:

Your openness to new experiences is high.
In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas.
You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits.
A great connoisseur of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.


The Five Factor Personality Test:

http://www.blogthings.com/thefivefactorpersonalitytest/

Just for the taste of it, Diet Coke!

I bet this is what the new Pepsi vendors at work do just as soon as they get back to their trucks. Coke is the real thing! Perhaps I will eventually get over this change in beverage vendors, but today is not their lucky day...

Blogthings, you make my heart sing...

Like my buddy Maria, I too am addicted to Blogthings. Here are some of my favorite quiz results:

***Your 2006 Summer Anthem Is***

Hips Don't Lie by Shakira

"I'm on tonight
You know my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel it's right
All the attraction, the tension
Don't you see baby, this is perfection"

What's Your 2006 Summer Anthem?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyour2006summeranthemquiz/

***Your Personality Is Like Acid***

A bit wacky, you're very difficult to predict.
One moment you're in your own little happy universe...
And the next, you're on a bad trip to your own personal hell!

What Drug Is Your Personality Like?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatdrugisyourpersonalitylikequiz/

***Your Quirk Factor: 45%***

You're a pretty quirky person, but you're just normal enough to hide it.
Congratulations - you've fooled other people into thinking you're just like them!

How Quirky Are You?
http://www.blogthings.com/howquirkyareyouquiz/


***The Movie Of Your Life Is A Cult Classic***

Quirky, offbeat, and even a little campy - your life appeals to a select few.
But if someone's obsessed with you, look out! Your fans are downright freaky.

Your best movie matches: Office Space, Showgirls, The Big Lebowski

If Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?
http://www.blogthings.com/ifyourlifewasamoviewhatgenrewoulditbequiz/

Kelly, the inadvertent cleat-chaser

Last Thursday-Sunday, I ventured to Paris, Illinois for a quick trip home to visit the fam. I had a lot of fun doing lunch and reminiscing with my good friend, Nicole, and her new baby, Aynsley, in the Indianapolis area. My dad then picked me up in Terre Haute, where we did a little shopping and then headed home to eat dinner and watch the Cubbies. It was a great weekend not only because I got to spend some quality time with the V's, but also because we were all able to watch the Cubs sweep the Cardinals in a 4-game series at Wrigley (that hasn't happened since 1972, before I was born). The highlight of the trip, however, definitely occurred on Saturday night, when we went to the Danville Dans game...

I wanted to go to Danville to see 3 of my ballplayers from Memphis compete in the Central Illinois Collegiate League (http://www.ciclbaseball.com/ ). Now it's not real difficult convincing anyone in my family to go to a baseball game, and since we had a good time there last year, we all hopped in the car for a 45 minute road trip. The game was close and the beer was cold. Although the Dans lost 5-4, but we weren't too disappointed because they put in a solid effort. Since the players had an autograph session after the game, I yelled through the fence to my guys to let them know I was in the house. They asked me to hang around for awhile since there were a million kids waiting in line. My sister, Kelly, decided to wait with me while I sent my brother, Brian, and Dad to Royal Donut to pick up donuts for Sunday's breakfast.

Kelly and I stood in the autograph line for what seemed like an eternity until we finally reached one of my former athletes, who is an assistant coach for the Dans. He introduced me to a hottie assistant coach, for which I owe him a debt of gratitude. We then saw my other two guys, who were more than a little surprised to see me. Two of the three wanted to make changes to their Fall schedules, but I regretted to inform them that I do not carry Schedule Adjustment Forms in my back pocket. While I was chatting away with the boys, Kelly decided to have the whole team sign the poster they passed out at the gate so she could give it to me. When we reached the end of the line, we heard one of the ballplayers warning his teammate not to do "what he thought he was thinking of doing." I just figured they were lusting over my baby sister because she had the girls on display. However, when we got home, we noticed that one of the Dans had written his phone number across his picture instead of his signature (I won't tell you who gave his digits in order to protect the not-so-innocent)! It was pretty darn funny as Kelly is not exactly in the market for a 20-year old horndog after finishing law school. But I don't think she minded the attention one little bit. :)

Baseball Tonight is in shambles!

First, our beloved Peter Gammons has a brain aneurysm at the end of June. Good Lord willing he's going to be OK and will be able to come back and cover our national pastime again soon. Baseball Tonight has not been the same without him. Then this afternoon, Harold Reynolds is fired from ESPN totally out of the blue. None of the sports websites are saying why, but my friend Julie sent me the following website with allegations of sexual harrassment against HR: http://www.deadspin.com/sports/top/was-this-why-Harold-got-the-axe-189733.php

I am in shock. Can this show survive without its top 2 personalities? Don't get me wrong-I love Krukie and Ravie. However, Peter and Harold were the glue that kept Baseball Tonight together. I don't know who they're going to add to spice things up. Personally, I cannot stand former Mets GM/Mr. Know-it-all , Steve Phillips. Here's hoping they have Tim Kurkjian and Brian Kenny or Chris Berman on the program more frequently (and less random weekend fill-ins like Tino Martinez). Stay tuned. There's more drama on ESPN than the soaps right now...

HOLY COW!!!

In 2006, the Cubbies have found creative ways to lose. Tonight, after getting out to a nice 5-0 lead, they gave up TWO grand slams in the 6th en route to an 11-run inning. This season, I finally started following the good advice of my parents who have encouraged me for years to change the channel when it starts getting ugly. Well, I switched to Emeril Live after the 1st grand slam and the subsequent pitching change (anytime Novoa comes into the game, it's not a good sign), so luckily I did not have to witness this offensive explosion by the Mets. It has truly become embarrasing to be a Cubs fan. However, I will still wear my Believe bracelet with pride and will try not to throw my cell phone, remote controls, etc. in disgust...

Thank goodness for VH1, which has provided a welcome diversion from this maddening baseball season with some fun summer programming. All you pop culture nuts out there, don't miss The World Series of Pop Culture on Thursday nights at 9 pm CST . It is a blast playing along at home and seeing if you can answer more entertainment trivia questions correctly than the contestants. I think this is the one "sport" where I could become an all-star. I've also thoroughly enjoyed I Love The 70's Volume 2 because it was one crazy decade. Check them out if you need an escape from reality like I do.

What are the keys to your heart?

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to good manners and elegance. In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved. You'd like to your lover to think you are loyal and faithful... that you'll never change. You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please. Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage pessimistically. You don't think happy marriages exist anymore. (I don't necessarily agree with this result) In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily. What are the keys to YOUR heart? Take the quiz to find out: http://www.blogthings.com/keystoyourheartquiz/

81 down, 81 to go

Cubs fans, we have made it to the halfway point of the season. After Dumpster's blown save in the 9th yesterday, I didn't know if I could take it anymore. But the Cubbies came back today and beat the White Sox 15-11 to avoid a sweep. 30-51 is hardly a record to write home about, but at least we're not in the basement (thanks Pirates). I honestly don't think any of the Cubs are worthy of an All-Star selection this year. However, since MLB insists that each team must have at least one representative, then I guess we will have to put our hands together for Carlos Zambrano. If interleague play is any indication, the National League should get spanked pretty good by the American League in the Midsummer Classic once again . Take heart, Cubs fans/players/personnel-October will be here before we know it. Then we can all get some much-needed rest.

Song of the day: "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor

My kind of town Chicago is...

This weekend marks the second Cubs-White Sox series of the year. The first matchup featured fisticuffs and a bench-clearing brawl. Although Barrett cold-cocking Pierzynski was certainly the highlight of the season so far, the Cubs still lost 2 out of 3 games. I'd love to see the Cubbies even the score this time, especially since they're playing at Wrigley. If we're going to have a terrible team, the least we can do is beat up on the White Sox and Cardinals whenever we have the opportunity. GO CUBS!

On a totally unrelated note, I wanted to let all of my loyal readers know that I returned to my new hair salon today without incident (see my "I'm feeling like a criminal" post if you're confused). There were no sightings of policemen or rent-a-cops in the vicinity. Maybe I've been taken off the neighborhood watch list. ;)

Mama said knock you out

Michael Barrett's 10-game suspension for punching A.J. "The Instigator" Pierzynski was upheld by MLB today. While I will miss seeing our catcher's tight ass for the next week and a half, it's not like his absence will be a big loss to the team. This is because the Cubbies are absolutely pitiful this season. They are so far out of the race that it simply doesn't matter that their Silver Slugging, All-Star backstop is not in the lineup. Personally, I think a 10-game suspension is a small price to pay for knocking out a cocky White Sox player on Fox Saturday Baseball's Game of the Week. If you can't join 'em, beat 'em. ;)

It's time to hop on board the CWS bandwagon

If you want some good old-fashioned wholesome entertainment this week, then look no further than the College World Series: http://www.cwsomaha.com/html/home/index.asp

I don't understand why this NCAA tournament does not excite the majority of Americans. Last night, I was out on the town and was really curious about the Cal St. Fullerton-North Carolina baseball game, which was tied when I left my apartment. You would think that it would be easy to find the score on my cell phone since I have the following sports websites on Media Net: ESPN, CBS SportsLine, Yahoo Sports, & Sports Illustrated. But noooooooo-none of these sites even mentioned college baseball. Oh sure, I could have read a whole article about J.J. Redick's DWI or Ben Roethlisberger's careless motorcycle accident, but I couldn't get these vital stats. The top 8 college baseball teams in the nation are in Omaha fighting for a national championship, and no one seems to care. It's a shame, really. If you would like to watch a baseball game that is untainted by steroid use or skyrocketing salaries, then please tune in to the CWS on ESPN and ESPN 2. Get hip to aluminum bats. PING!!!

Soundtrack To Your Life

*WARNING-this entry is not my usual lighthearted fare. Sap alert!!!*

Do you ever hear a song on the radio that makes you think back to a certain time period or important event in your life? If so, you might enjoy these lyrics from "Soundtrack To Your Life" by Ashley Parker Angel:

Your life is a flashback
A question, a photograph
A statement, a story, a struggle
A chance to laugh
Cuz if you don't laugh you cry
A last crescendo when you die
So hit the rewind and listen
It's the playback
The soundtrack to your life

Wouldn't it be cool to make a mix of these songs and share them with your friends just to let them know you're thinking about them? Yesterday I heard "You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor while I was eating breakfast at a bakery in Charlotte. This song always makes me a little misty, especially when I look back on all of the great friends I have made over the years. To all of my buddies out there, whether I have known you for a long time or we have only recently met, this song is dedicated to you:

When you’re down and troubled
And you need a helping hand
And nothing, whoa nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest nights.

You just call out my name,
And you know whereever I am
I’ll come running, oh yeah baby
To see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall,
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You’ve got a friend.

Game shows, one of my guilty pleasures

I cannot tell a lie-I love game shows. When I was little, I dreamed of flying to California to be a contestant on Press Your Luck (big bucks, no whammies). To this day, I still think that I would make a great game show host. Come on, who could resist this charisma? ;) Well, needless to say when I was flipping through channels last night and saw a program on CBS called Game$how Marathon, my curiosity was piqued. If you want a little mindless entertainment, you've gotta check it out (Thursdays 7 pm CT). Celebrities play classic game shows like The Price is Right, Beat the Clock, and Let’s Make a Deal to win prizes for lucky television viewers and money for their favorite charity. The theme for tonight’s show is Press Your Luck, so you know I’m psyched. As an added bonus, they also show clips from the original series. What’s not to love?

Summer means FUN!!!

I have really enjoyed the summer so far. Some of you out there in cyberspace may be questioning my sanity since summer has not officially arrived according to the calendar. However, in my world, summer begins as soon as the spring semester is over. Thus, I have already experienced about a month of this glorious season and I am loving it! We recently hired a bunch of mid-twentysomethings at work and they have been kind enough to invite me out with them lately. Maybe it's because I don't act my age or perhaps it's because of my WOO (Winning Others Over, my #1 strength according to StrengthsQuest), but we have had a great time hanging out. The past 2 weekends, we have gone to Beale Street and I am happy to admit that I can still party like a rock star. Young Guns-thanks for the laughs. It's true; age is just a number and you're as young as you feel (I'm thinking a spry 27 sounds just about right).

This weekend, the fun will continue as I'm traveling to Charlotte for my college buddy Amy's wedding. I can't wait to see her because it's been far too long. We sure had some good times back in the day, didn't we, Schmoopie? :) I will also be getting together with some of my old baseball buddies from Bona's, so laughs are sure to ensue. Be young and have fun, everyone!

No Idol, no Cubbies...what's a girl to do?

This is a weird Tuesday. Idol is over, so there's nothing to vote for and critique this evening. The Cubs are blacked out in my area, so I can't watch the game. Granted, this isn't such a bad thing considering they have only won 6 games all month. However, I think it is ludicrous that Cincinnati, Atlanta, and St. Louis are considered Memphis' "local" teams. Since when is a city that is 6 hours away local? I can understand blacking out games if you live an hour away from a city and could technically hop in your car at a moment's notice to attend (i.e. blacking out Milwaukee games if you live in Chicago). In my opinion, this is just another dumb move by Major League Baseball that further alienates fans in a sport that probably ranks third in popularity right now behind the NFL and NBA (and maybe even NASCAR, as much as it pains me to say it). If true blue fans like me are willing to shell out the big bucks for the MLB Extra Innings package, we should get to watch our team whenever possible. OK, I will get off my soapbox now. Please keep the Chicago Cubs in your thoughts and prayers as they need all the help they can get.

America, you make me proud

I am so happy that the citizens of our wonderful nation chose wisely and voted in favor of Taylor Hicks as our new American Idol! There is nothing more American that dancing to the beat of your own drummer and beating overwhelming odds in order to accomplish your dream. Best of luck to the Silver Fox in his recording career. You can definitely count me in as a member of the Soul Patrol! :) Today's music industry lacks distinctive voices and styles, so in my opinion, we need an artist with the infectious personality of Taylor Hicks to make listening to the radio fun again. Can you imagine what his first video is going to look like? I'm smiling just thinking about it.

Now can I get an encore, do you want more?

This is it, Idol fans-the finale. Sorry I didn't write last week, but I think we all knew that Elliott would be the one to go (to quote Whitney, "it's not right, but it's okay"). Tonight, Katharine and Taylor recycled 2 songs and added a new one to the mix. Personally, I thought Kat performed her songs worse than she did previously on recent broadcasts ("Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" in particular). The judges' rave reviews of her "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" seemed rehearsed and I am STILL NOT impressed. Her last song, "My Destiny", was absolute drivel. My sister said it sounded like something you would hear at a county fair beauty pageant and I can't think of a better description. Taylor, on the other hand, rocked the house once again. I think he chose wisely by picking songs he had not sung in awhile. His "Living For The City" was awesome and I thought "Levon" was also very good. I think Randy was just trying to create some suspense by acting like Taylor didn't perform the second song that well (whatever-America isn't fooled). Finally, Taylor did a great job with the lame song he was given, "Do I Make You Proud". I don't know who writes this stuff for the finale but they should not quit their day job. Anyway, Simon said that Taylor's performance should make him the next American Idol. I sure hope he's right because I can't stomach a McPheever victory. So far, I have voted 20 times and there's still plenty of time left. Pick up those phones and call now: 1-866-436-5702 or 1-866-436-5704 or 1-866-436-5706. Thank you for your support. :) SOUL PATROL! SOUL PATROL! SOUL PATROL!

We can't go on together with suspicious minds...

America, you got it wrong. Chris should NOT have been the one voted off tonight. That dubious honor should have gone to Katharine. I am shocked and disappointed. However, I am glad that Taylor and Elliott were in the top 2 because they really deserved it. Chris will thrive and survive, but no thanks to those of you who didn't vote (or wasted your vote on that off-key, lyric-forgetting fashion violation).

On an unrelated note, please think positive thoughts for the Cubbies. They have lost 8 in a row and are in danger of being the team that gives up the home run that makes Bonds tie and/or go ahead of the Babe. I'm afraid to watch... Anyway, keep your fingers crossed that the Cubs can at least pull out a W when I am at Wrigley Field this Sunday. GO CUBS GO! LET'S GET SOME RUNS!

Elvis rocks!

Tonight's Idol was awesome! Taylor and Elliott performed the heck out of their numbers on Elvis theme night. Taylor sang "Jailhouse Rock" and it was entertaining and very fitting. However, Mr. Hicks really brought down the house with his soulful version of "In the Ghetto." Chris did a nice job with "Suspicious Minds", but I found his adaptation of "A Little Less Conversation" to be a little boring. But Chris gets props for saying he was trying to be "true to Elvis." Elliott probably had his best night ever by doing his own take on "If I Can Dream" as well as a stellar rendition of "Trouble." Finally, Katharine really had an off night which could signal the end of the road for her (sob, sob, sniff, sniff). How you can forget the words to a medley of "Hound Dog" and "All Shook Up" is beyond me. Facing away from the camera did not fool the audience nor the judges, sweetie. If she would have been singing "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (turn around bright eyes, turn around...) maybe that move would have worked. Anyway, Katharine ended with "Can't Help Falling In Love" which she butchered. That is one of my favorite songs and it was a screechy mess. Fox, I have the McPheever and the only prescription is more Advil. Ouch! Hopefully America gets it right and votes her off this week. Let's hear it for the boys-you did Elvis proud!

Beale Street Music Fest 2006

I was going to write a lengthy entry about how cool Music Fest was this past weekend, but my friend Carol already wrote a stellar recap. Check out her blog: http://cvarano.blogspot.com

All I can add is that Huey Lewis and the News totally ROCK! I have wanted to see them live since about 1985 and it was worth the wait. If you have an opportunity, definitely check them out. And don't forget to tune in to American Idol tomorrow night as the Fab Four will be singing Elvis songs. "Don't be cruel to a heart that's true..."

Soul Patrol!

I absolutely adore Taylor Hicks. No matter what Simon says, I think he is a great entertainer. Can you imagine what would happen if Taylor and I got together and had a child? That poor thing would be the most hyperactive kid on the planet! Anyway, if you did not watch Idol tonight, you missed one heck of a show. Each contestant had to perform 1 song from the year they were born and 1 song that is currently on the Billboard Charts. Taylor sang "Play That Funky Music" (go white boy, go!) and "Something" by the Beatles (because one of their albums is somehow currently #6). The first performance was spazzy but highly enjoyable. The second was breathtaking and I must admit gave me kind of a crush on the man-child.

The rest of the contestants were pretty good, but their performances were a little uneven. I felt like one of their songs was great but the other was just OK. Elliott sang "On Broadway" (nice but not earth-shattering) and "Home", which earns bonus points with me since it's a Michael Buble' song. Paris sang "Kiss" (it's hard to beat Prince's version) and "Be Without You" by Mary J. (which I thought was right up her alley). Katharine and Chris (or as I like to call them the judges' pets) each kind of bombed one of their songs, so it will be interesting to see who ends up in the bottom three tomorrow night. Stay tuned...

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains."

Those wise words are from the movie "Bull Durham", one of my all-time faves. My three favorite baseball teams each experienced one of those outcomes today. The St. Bonaventure Bonnies beat Xavier 9-2 at beautiful McGraw-Jennings Field and I was able to listen to the game on the internet. For only $6.95 a month, I can listen to my old ballclub beat up on their Atlantic 10 rivals. My favorite part of the game (besides Grini's grand slam) was the postgame show with Coach Sudbrook. Coach is one of my favorite people in the world due to his excellent sense of humor, extensive baseball knowledge, and big heart. He is the reason that I will always go back to Bona's for Baseball Alumni Weekend because he is one of the most entertaining personalities on the planet and a dear friend. I wish Coach and the Bonnies all the luck in the world.

The Chicago Cubs didn't just lose-they were demolished by the Brewers 16-2. When I turn off the game, you know there is no hope for a comeback... Jim and Dusty better put their heads together and come up with a better starter than Glendon Rusch because he is BRUTAL. Better luck tomorrow, boys.

The Memphis Tigers got rained out this evening. I was really looking forward to the game because I haven't seen them play in 10 days. That is way too long for me to go without seeing a live game-I'm getting the shakes. Anyway, the Tigers will play a doubleheader against Miss. Valley State at noon tomorrow which will hopefully get them back to their winning ways. GO TIGERS GO!

A tough week for my ballclubs

First and foremost, I want to give a shout out to the Memphis Tiger Baseball team. They have played their hearts out for the last 8 games and unfortunately have not won any of them. However, in the past 10 days they have faced #2 Rice, #15 Mississippi State, and top 25 Houston. Only two of the games vs. Rice (who is the best college baseball team I have ever seen live) were blowouts while the other 6 were all close. Today my poor boys lost 8-7 in 16 innings in a 4 hour and 45 minute game, which tied a Conference USA record. Now they have to endure a 10 hour bus ride back to Memphis and get up bright and early for class tomorrow (at least the advisor in me hopes they will attend). Hopefully this is the end of a tough stretch for the Tigers and this weekend they will bounce back and start a new winning streak. I give them all the credit in the world for their fighting spirit because after winning only 13 games last season, no one gave them much of a chance. GO TIGERS GO!

The Cubbies started their 9 game road trip by winning a series against the Pirates and then taking 2 of 3 from the Dodgers. However, on Wednesday night, Derrek Lee was plowed over by Rafael Furcal trying to hold the bag on an ill-advised throw by reliever, Scott Eyre. Cubs fans' worst fears were realized on Thursday morning when we found out that D-Lee's wrist was broken in two places. He will be out for a minimum of 2 months and possibly as many as 3 months. Baseball fans know that a wrist injury is very serious and can affect a player's hitting for a long time. We can only hope and pray that D-Lee is a quick healer and will be able to return to form by the second half of the season. I don't want to give up on this year just yet, but even an eternal optimist like me knows it doesn't look too good for the Cubbies right now. At least we were able to take one from the evil Cardinals today. Greg Maddux is a baseball god!

I'm feeling like a criminal

Today I experienced one of my infamous Memphis adventures that just has to be shared with all of my loyal blog readers. This morning I had a much needed appointment at my recently relocated hair salon. Because I was not exactly sure where it was, I got up early, printed out my trusty MapQuest directions, and called a cab an hour before I had to be there. Surprisingly, it only took me about 20 minutes to get picked up, so I arrived in the area a half hour early. My new salon is located in a ritzier neighborhood as part of a series of small shops. Most of them were not open until 10 am, so after popping in a luggage store which sold Vera Bradley bags, I headed to my appointment. Although my stylist was running a bit behind, I got a sassy haircut and then decided to have lunch at the Fox and Hound, an English pub. Since it's Saturday, I am dressed in my usual casual weekend attire-a Cubs jersey, jean shorts, and sneakers. I blended in just fine at the sports bar and had a nice chat with my server about the Cubbies and the Yankees. After finishing my cheeseburger and fries, I decided to stop in a couple more shops since they were now all open. After browsing in a few places and finding nothing, I went to a pet store called Wags & Whiskers and picked up a cute baseball dog toy for King's birthday. It was getting close to noon, so I decided to buy an ice cream cone and sit on a bench outside one of the shops to wait for my cab.

Since I have lived in Memphis for almost 4 years, I am well versed in the unpredictability of public transportation. Sometimes I can get a cab in 5 minutes; sometimes it takes over an hour. So after chilling for about 30 minutes, I call the cab company back and ask how much longer it will be until someone can pick me up. About 10 minutes after this call, a police car pulls up right next to the curb where I am sitting. I look around to see if any criminals are on the loose. Then I remember this guy in a purple shirt staring at me twice and running inside. It occurs to me that perhaps they think I am loitering since I have been in the area for about 3 hours at this point. As soon as I get in the cab, the police officer drives away. Apparently I looked dangerous and they felt the need to have someone keep an eye on the suspicious character in the Cubs jersey. The last time I checked, there was no crime against sitting outside on a nice day. All I can figure is that I did not fit the yuppie mold of the neighborhood and they determined by my attire that I was a damn Yankee. Anyway, I guess the next time I decide to get a hair cut, I better be dressed to the nines so no one calls the authorities...

Bye bye, Bucky

Last night, Bucky was finally (mercifully?) voted off of American Idol. In my opinion, this was several weeks overdue. However, the scary thing is that Bucky actually did not give the worst performance on Tuesday night. That dishonor goes to Ace, who sang the wussiest version of "We Will Rock You" in history. How does one manage to forget the words to this song? Drunken frat boys on a week long bender could have done a better job. Looks can only get you so far, Ace. Remember America-this is a SINGING competition. Let's get hip and quit putting Elliott in the bottom three. The boy can wail. Make sure you tune in next week as the Idols tackle the American songbook. I'd like to see Chris make a rock song out of one of the standards...

The land of Wrigley is in my soul...

Come on Cubbies let the good times roll! Today was the home opener for the Cubs. It was glorious as the boys in blue beat the evil Cardinals 5-1. Maybe this is just my early season optimism talking, but they actually looked good. And I was lucky enough to watch the game since we got to leave work early due to the threat of severe weather. I've gotta say that Memphians must have the thinnest skin ever because this is our 3rd weather related work stoppage of the semester. Granted, tornadoes aren't anything to mess around with, but when I left the office at 12:30, the sun was shining. However, I am certainly not going to complain, especially on a Friday. GO CUBS GO! Keep up the quality pitching, fielding, and hitting and we might even make it to the playoffs this year.

Speaking of awesome baseball, the Memphis Tigers have just won their 4th game in a row. I am so proud of their turnaround. All of you C-USA foes better take notice. GO TIGERS!

Mandisa had a bad day

I don't understand what's wrong with you, America. How could you not vote for Mandisa? Granted, it was not her best performance this week but she is definitely more talented than at least half of the remaining eight. Idol won't be as much fun without her around. I feel like Mandisa is this year's Jennifer Hudson-a fantastic singer who is going home much too soon. Hope you slackers enjoy watching Bucky and Kellie try to sing the songs of Queen next week (they'll probably be looking around for royalty). For those of you who didn't vote, I sentence you to one week of Hee-Haw reruns. That'll teach ya...

Name That Tune

Tonight's episode of American Idol was a huge disappointment. Songs of the 21st Century is not a bad theme, but half of the contestants chose songs that no one has ever even heard of. Only Taylor, Mandisa, and Paris earned my vote tonight. Here are my thoughts on this debacle:

Lisa & Ace-Singing a popular song worse than the original artist does not make voters happy. I predict a spot in the bottom three for each of you. Ace could have received a sympathy vote from me if he had taken off his shirt and given us all a closer look at that scar.

Kellie & Bucky-They have another competition for country singers called Nashville Star. Why don't you give them a call? If I wanted to go to Opryland, I'd buy a ticket.

Chris-Why would anyone want to hear a Creed song? You're testing my patience...

Elliott-That was the worst arrangement ever. You turned an awesome song into a mess. I really want to like you, too.

Katharine-Drew Barrymore called. She wants her wardrobe from "Ever After" back. You have a great voice but your fashion violations distract me.

Taylor-I really enjoyed your song even if I didn't know what it was. It was nice that you refrained from the spazzy gestures for once. Good job.

Mandisa-Simon was wrong. How can a song about God be self-indulgent?!? As always, I enjoyed your performance. You could sing the alphabet and I'd vote for you.

Paris-There is only one word for your performance tonight: SASSY! I knew Randy would say that you "worked it out." What a massive tool...

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

Chicken Little (a.k.a. Kevin Covais) was finally voted off of American Idol this week. Although I'm sure he's a sweet kid, he had worn out his welcome. This season, almost all of the Idol finalists can really sing so there's no need to let the less talented linger around too long out of sympathy. Hopefully Mandisa will keep up her stellar vocals because she is a true soul diva and my personal fave. I also really enjoy Taylor's performances and his refusal to dye his gray hair to please Hollywood. Just because you don't "look like a star" doesn't mean you aren't one. Usually I enjoy Chris Daughtery's alt rock vibe, but the fact that he didn't give credit where credit was due last week for his arrangement of "Walk the Line" didn't win him any bonus points with me.

In other earth shattering news, Memphis lost to UCLA last night so they are out of the NCAA Tournament. I'm sure everyone at work will be bummed tomorrow, but I choose to look at it in a positive way. Making it to the Elite Eight is something to be proud of, especially for such a young team. This is something to build on, not something to hang your head about. Way to go, Tigers! Congrats on an awesome season. :)

In case you haven't noticed-and judging by the attendance you haven't-Memphis Baseball is off to a great start. After winning only 13 games last year, they have already won 12 and it's only March 26. They even beat #14 Tulane on Friday night in a convincing 11-4 win. Could we win the rubber game this afternoon and take the series? Anything can happen in sports, which is why they're so great. Regardless of what happens today, I am really proud of my boys and hope they continue to play well.

Viva Torino!

Hope y'all have been enjoying the 2006 Winter Olympics from the city formerly known as Turin, Italy. I have been glued to the television as usual rooting for the U.S.A. However, this year I have a vested interest in the Americans winning medals thanks to my caffeine addiction. You may have heard of the contest Drink.Watch.Cheer.Win sponsored by Coca-Cola. All you have to do is buy 12 packs of Coke products, register on the Olympics.Coke.com website, and enter the code inside the box. If the Americans earn a medal in the event you're registered for, you win 5 2 liters of your favorite Coke product. Considering I can't make it through a day without drinking several Diet Cokes or watching sports, this is a win-win situation for me. Tonight the U.S.A. will win a silver medal in Ice Dancing and thus I will be soon be reaping the benefits. My next event is the Men's Speedskating 1500 m final and considering we have 4 former gold medalists competing, I'm feeling pretty lucky. GO U.S.A.!!!

My only complaints about this year's Olympics are the ADD-like coverage and the Bode Miller/Michelle Kwan overkill. Now I realize that sometimes I lack concentration or focus, but I think even I can handle watching a sporting event in its entirety (I know this because I can stay tuned to a baseball game that lasts 17 innings). Therefore, I find it quite annoying that NBC feels it necessary to jump from event to event every 15 minutes. Just when you get all wrapped up in ski jumping, it's time to switch over to speedskating. How about we finish what we've started? It's all pre-recorded and edited anyway for the most part. As for Bode Miller and Michelle Kwan, enough already. Their stories have been told. Let's learn about some of the other athletes. I'm sure some other people have compelling anecdotes or personal traumas to share. Despite these minor annoyances, I will continue to tune in to the 2006 Winter Olympics and hope that we bring home the gold!

Happy 2006!

I figured it was about time I got something up here in the new year. Not much is going on with me. This is my least favorite time of the year-after the holidays and before baseball begins. The one bright spot is that American Idol started last week. I'm looking forward to another exciting season. Hopefully they will start showing more people with talent soon because I'm not a fan of the total disasters. The William Hungs of the world can stay home and practice in front of their mirrors instead of wasting America's time. Anyway, best wishes for a happy, healthy 2006!