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...