Santo Recovering…

From cubs.com

Ron Santo was recuperating Wednesday following a six-hour operation to remove his bladder. Doctors had discovered cancerous tumors on Santo’s bladder during a routine physical in late September.

Santo’s son Jeff said Tuesday’s surgery, done at a Scottsdale, Ariz., hospital, went well.

“Right now, they told us everything looks clean,” Jeff Santo said.

Santo, 63, the WGN Radio color commentator and former Chicago Cubs third baseman, was expected to stay in the hospital for at least a week.

Santo has had his share of setbacks, yet always rallied. He has had both legs amputated below the knee because of complications from diabetes, survived two heart attacks and undergone bypass surgery.

“He’s the toughest person I’ve ever known,” said Pat Hughes, Santo’s broadcast partner on WGN Radio.

I’m so glad to hear this. Maybe next year (the Cubs fan motto) Ron can see the Cubs make it to the World Series…

Maybe.

Gnome, Gnome, Ohm, Gnome

These poor gnomes must be reunited with their owners. It’s only right!

Only a trickle of people showed up for Monday’s “gnome return day” at the police station in Saint-Die-des-Vosges, near the eastern city of Strasbourg, and only one person was reunited with their stolen gnome, police said.

Crash!

Long day today, as my computer at work would not start up. I tried everything possible, and finally (with much hesitation) I had to reformat and reinstall everything!

Before I did, I booted into my OS 9 partition and copied everthing I thought I might need off my OS X partition. After about 3 hours everything was up and running fine. The clean install of Panther took about half the time my previous upgrade took.

One problem. I keep my emails in order by month. When one month ends, I copy all of the messages to a new mailbox titled (for example) Oct 2003. Well, my inbox, which contained all of my emails for this month, was gone. Nowhere to be found! It’s easy enough to archive these things, since all of the files are kept in my user folder > Library > Mail. Well, everything else was there, but no inbox! I lost a month of emails! Roughly 400 emails, gone. I have no choice but to write it off and move on, but damn that’s annoying!

I still don’t know what caused the crash. I know my OS X partition was kind of small, and I was quickly running out of space, but I don’t think that could have been the culprit. I’d been wanting to reformat anyway, just not under these circumstances.

The current problem is, I can’t boot into OS 9 anymore. I very, very rarely need to do this, but now I can’t. It starts up, and just sits there… All the extensions load, then boom. Nothing. My Classic mode seems to be working fine (I still have to run Quark and PageMaker, unfortunately), so I guess there’s no real problem.

I’m looking forward to the day when there’s no classic anything on my computer. When I’m working in OS 9 I feel like I’m on a Windows machine. It seems so foreign now, after using X for so long.

So, that’s the good news of the day. I hope tomorrow holds some real good news, and not this bogus kind.

Also, Halloween on Friday, and I really couldn’t care less.

Comics 10.29.2003

Catwoman #24
Hulk Gray #2 (Of 6)
Queen & Country #19

Not much to it. Queen & Country has been great lately, really looking forward to that one. Catwoman is probably one of my favorite titles as of late…. and Hulk Gray, what can I say about that… I love Tim Sale’s art.

Get out your magnifying glass…

It’s the (maybe?) world’s smallest Pac Man game.

Poor Dogs…

I feel these dog’s pain.

10.3 is running…

… and that’s about all I have to say about it for now. I’m going to get some eats.

Word.

Bigfoot

I get at least one visitor a day searching for “Is Bigfoot real?” via either Google or Yahoo…

I’m glad to see that the legend of Bigfoot is still going strong. Earlier this month I wrote something about the beauty of keeping such beliefs alive… Holding on to them with whatever will we have left. Everything is becoming so plastic here in the U.S., it’s becoming harder to believe in anything that doesn’t come with a barcode or shrink wrapped for our protection.

I’m going to believe in life on other planets, visitors from other worlds, Bigfoot(s), Loch Ness Monsters, Chubpacabras… even the First Source and Center, The Uncaused Cause, the Nothing and the Something… I’m going to believe in these things because I think that life needs the mystery of these beliefs. Life becomes more interesting. Stories become more than just fantasy. Dreams become more than just imagination.

But in the end, I’ll probably be let down by all of these beliefs… but really, if they make life more entertaining, then what’s the problem?

I’m off to find a ghost.

Grocery store oddities…

On the way in to work today I stopped at the store to pick up a couple items. I noticed an older couple I saw at the same store a couple days ago. They were wearing the same clothes as the last time I saw them. Matching “Daisy Duke” style denim shorts and matching t-shirts that had some sort of touristy-type image on them.

Each time I saw them they seemed like they were on some sort of scavenger hunt, racing through the store, looking for something they must surely need.

Sometimes I get tired of living in a town small enough that I see the same people over and over…

Comics 10.22.2003

Batman #620
Amazing Spider-Man #500 (#59)
Punisher #34

Nice, small week. My wallet thanks the publishers.

Tooth Paste Explosion…

I bought this fancy new Aqua Fresh tooth paste called Extreme Clean (I think). The first time I used it, I put a little too much on the brush. Well, this stuff foams up when you use it, and by the time I was done brushing my teeth, I had foam all over the place… it was a mess.

Moral: Nothing, just thought this information should be out there for the benefit of those that might use this new tooth paste.

The rise of cloudshift.net…

… and the fall of something else…

What does it really matter? When you sit back, and you think about it, who really cares? Hell, even I don’t care right now… but that’s not saying much.

The dude that lives behind me called the city and I was the proud recipient of a “warning”. I have to trim the little bit of trees that impinge on my neighbor’s rear lot line. How petty can you get? I reminded him that he got overspray on MY fence when he painted HIS fence white. Did I complain to him? No. I told him of the other, more important things, going on in my life right now… Did he care? No.

So who cares?

Well, me and not me.

His fence is about 6 inches on MY property. 6 inches. I’m tempted to make him move his fence just to prove a point. That point? Be a dick, and so will I. This guy is on disability, but he’s constantly working in his yard, doing various things around the exterior of his home. Disability? I’m certain he could hold down a job of some form, why the hell isn’t he? He looks able enough to me.

Who do I call to rat this asshole out? I think it was Ren from N.W.A. that put it best, “F@$k with me, I’ll put a foot in yo ass.”

But actually, behind all my knee-jerk anger, I feel sorry for the guy. I know that I would never make him move his fence, I know that I wouldn’t rat him out to whoever the hell I should rat him out to (though I really should do that). No, I feel sorry for him because he’s obviously going crazy. Seriously.

The amount of tree that is hanging over onto to “his” property is miniscule. The amount of debris that might come off this beautiful tree is nothing. I’m convinced he’s actually gone mad. Being home every day, day in and day out. He walks around his yard and puts ant killer on ant piles. He waters grass that barely passes for weed. He paints the trim of his house pink. Yes, I think he’s lost it.

I thought briefly about writing him a letter, apologizing for my behavior over at his place yesterday (I did yell a bit, and the word f@$k was probably used once, or ten times). I don’t normally act out like that. I’m normally pretty cool about these things, and keep to myself. But yesterday, I don’t know what it was. That letter stuck in my door somehow bothered me. Anyway, I thought I would write him and apoligize and let him know that he’s turning into a grumpy old man before his time. He really needs to look at what’s really important in this life, and I don’t know about you, but tree trimming is nowhere near the top of my list.

Maybe he just needs someone to tell him this. Maybe I should be that person.

De Niro

Here’s to wishing Robert De Niro a speedy recovery from his current bout with prostate cancer. He’s an American icon in film, and he’s got more great roles in him.

American actor Robert De Niro has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his publicist has announced.

However, his chances of beating the disease are reported to be good.

After reading a bit about the prognosis for prostate cancer patients, it appears as though the key for survival is early discovery of the cancer, specifically while it’s localised within the prostatic capsule.

I don’t get regular checkups, mostly because I don’t dig the medicate/operate mentality… but maybe I should give the Dr. a visit a little more often.

Good luck De Niro.

Sleep…

“If the fish aren’t biting, you eat the worm.”

“Hold up your own pants, said the belt, as it lashed off looking for a child.”

“Sleep is a virtue for dreamers.”

-Jack Brewer

Alou!

from cubs.com

It’s no surprise, but Moises Alou will be back with the Chicago Cubs in 2004.

Alou exercised his option to renew his contract with the team, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry confirmed Monday.

Alou, 37, rebounded from a disappointing 2002 and batted .280 with the Cubs this year, hitting 22 home runs with 91 RBIs in 151 games, the second-highest games-played total of his career.

Chicago Cubs Issue Statement

From cubs.com

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs issued the following statement on Thursday regarding the 2003 season and their fans.

“The Chicago Cubs would like to thank our fans for their tremendous outpouring of support this year. We are very grateful.

“We would also like to remind everyone that games are decided by what happens on the playing field — not in the stands. It is inaccurate and unfair to suggest that an individual fan is responsible for the events that transpired in Game 6. He did what every fan who comes to the ballpark tries to do — catch a foul ball in the stands. That’s one of the things that makes baseball the special sport that it is.

“This was an exciting season and we’re looking forward to working towards an extended run of October baseball at Wrigley Field.”

I have to say, I knew this was coming. This whole thing regarding the fan (Bartman) getting in the way of the ball is getting way too much publicity. It needs to go away… far away.

Here’s the cold, hard fact: If the guy wouldn’t have been in the way, Alou would have caught the ball, there would have been 2 outs in the inning. The next play could very well have ended the inning, there’s no telling. The Cubs could be in the World Series right now.

But! That’s not how it worked out. I’m just as sad as anyone about this (except maybe Kerry Wood), but it’s time to move on and focus on next season.

In regards to this fan. Well, most people don’t have their wits about them when a ball is coming their way. It would have been great if everyone in that general area would have stepped back to let Alou catch the ball, but there’s so much excitement, and things happen in the blink of an eye.

So, the Bartman is to blame and Bartman is not to blame. That’s it. There is certainly no reason to threaten violence against the guy. I’m certain he didn’t try to blow the game. He appeared to be quite a fan, with his headphones on, listening to (I assume) the game on WGN Radio… He probably feels horrible about this whole thing. Think about it. His life has been turned upside down. But, I’m not siding with him at all. I wish like hell he (and everyone else over there) would have gotten out of the way and let Alou catch the ball, but it didn’t happen.

Sad, but there’s nothing that can be done about it now.

I think next year will be a great year. Nothing can prepare a team more than playing October baseball. The weaknesses are amplified. The Cubs know (better) where they need to make some changes, and what will have to be done to have a go at post season baseball next year.

As a Cubs fan all my life, I’m very close to next year… and next year is on it’s way.

iTunes for Windoze

All you Windoze users should really check out iTunes for Windows.

iTunes is most certainly the best app out there for dealing with music, and now that there’s a windoze version, you all can see what I mean.

Sigh ®

Another season comes to an end. Being a Cubs fan all my life, I’m used to losing. I have no real problem with it. This year, it’s hit me… I truly thought they were going all the way. Now I have to listen to comparisions to 1984 and just watch it all happen without the Cubs.

The Marlins played great, the Cubs came up short. That’s it. I don’t know if I’ll bother watching anymore baseball games this post season. Mostly because I can’t stand the FOX announcers, partly because I just can’t.

Thanks for a great season Cubbies… as always, wait till next year.

The drive…

The drive home from work has lost it’s charm for me lately… I think it’s about time I should be able to teleport to and from work. It is, after all, the 21st century.

Tonight brings with it more tension… I know I shouldn’t let a game get to me like this, but damn it! It’s the Cubs!

Searching for the Chicago Cubs…

There’s been a rise in the amount of people finding my site via a search for the Chicago Cubs. I think that’s great… I especially want to thank the person that searched for “pictures of the Chicago Cubs and how bad they really suck”, that put a smile on my face. Thanks.