Yesterday was glorious in one sense, because I was all alone with no one to bother me. Since the boys have both been back home, that is a rarity. But The Boyfriend was working and the boys were off either at their own jobs or hanging out with friends.

I went grocery shopping and spent close to $150, but I think we’re covered on meals for the next two weeks. I also half cleaned out the refrigerator upstairs and reorganized the pantry (which is basically just a cabinet with two slide-out shelves) to see what we had on hand. I told The Boyfriend, “Do NOT buy any more cans of green beans until we get through the dozen that we already have!”

Turns out I also have a ton of tomato sauce. And kidney beans. Apparently, I think about making chili a lot, but never actually get around to it.

I came home and did some laundry. I had to wash my down comforter because the Mad Yakker cat threw up on it the other day. Yes, theoretically you’re not supposed to wash a down comforter, but guess what? I do. I throw it in the dryer with three tennis balls and dry it on low heat. When it’s all done, I have a very fresh-smelling unlumpy down comforter. So, there’s a household tip for ya.

As I was puttering around the house, picking up things here and there, I started really getting irritated with the boys. JM was told when he moved upstairs that he wasn’t allowed to take food up there because dishes have a tendency to disappear into his room and never resurface. For a while, he seemed to be listening to me. Then I realized he was just picking up frequently because his girlfriend would be stopping over. So, I really didn’t say anything, because at least the stuff was coming back downstairs. Well, he and his girlfriend have split and now I only have two plates.

I refuse to go upstairs to get the stuff.

When I went downstairs to do laundry, I started really getting annoyed because the floor is covered with laundry and it doesn’t seem as though anyone cares. My basement is not a nice place. It’s damp and occasionally leaks when we have lots of rain. And quite frankly, I’m sick of stepping over stuff to get to the washer and dryer. Occasionally, I will wash everything downstairs and fold it, and I’ll even bring it upstairs to have the boys either put it away or determine if it needs to go to Goodwill. Within a few weeks, however, I will find those same items, probably never worn, but in a pile (sometimes still partially folded!) on the floor, getting filthy again from being there. And then, I’m pissed because I’ve wasted my time and money on something that obviously isn’t that important to the boys.

But I think I’ve come up with a solution. Earlier, when I threw my last load into the dryer, I started another load and randomly started picking up laundry off the floor and tossing it in. When it’s done, I will dry it and fold it… as I have so many times before… but this time I’m putting all of it into a large plastic bin that I will keep in my room for now. And we’ll see how long it takes for the boys to start wondering where a particular article of clothing is. Anything that isn’t claimed in a few months is going to Goodwill, sight unseen by them. My laundry room will be cleaner, I won’t be wasting my time washing things that aren’t being worn and the boys will get to live a little longer. I like.

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Definitely have the Cubs on my brain tonight….

A few years back, I was visiting my friends Jeni and Steve in Arizona (my friend Michael was there as well), and one of the places they took me was Ho Ho Kam Park, where the Cubs hold spring training. One of my future goals is to get out there to see some games. That was also when I saw my first major league baseball game. We saw the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Florida Marlins. A few years later, after my favorite first baseman, Mark Grace, had left the Cubs and joined Arizona, I cheered the Diamondbacks on to victory in the 2001 World Series.

I really hate the Yankees, so it wasn’t a stretch.

Were it not for the strange bugs I encountered in Steve’s backyard when I was there, I’d consider living in Phoenix. The heat would be a bit much, but with so little humidity, I think I could get used to it. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t get used to those bugs, though. Because I am a big chicken.

That was a really cool trip, though. It was the second time I’d flown and the first time by myself. So, it definitely ranks up there on the list of “Brave Things Val Has Done.” Even better, it was storming when we flew in… and the lightning against the mountains looked incredible.

I need to go visit them again soon…

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Another post that I meant to publish last night, but I was too busy celebrating…

Because the Cubs clinched the National League Central Division last night!!

They beat the Reds down in Cincinnati, cutting the magic number down to one. Immediately afterward, every Cubs fan near a TV turned on ESPN to see what was happening in the Padres/Brewers game. During the Cubs game, every time the Padres took the lead and it was posted on the national scoreboard, you’d hear a collective cheer from Cubs fans.

The other day, while perusing more office furniture (I’m always on the hunt for a better desk, not that I have the room or cash at the moment), JM asked me if I’d be willing to spring for a flagpole for the outside of the house. You see, he has a “W” flag, which is the flag that Wrigley Field raises when the Cubs win. So, I did a search for flagpoles, and found one for a reasonable price. I even paid for 2nd day air shipping, just to get it in time.

The Boyfriend was supposed to attach the flagpole to the house on Thursday, but he must have been distracted by shinier things, because it was still in the living room when I came home from work. After the game last night, I made do it. And then I took this:

Isn’t it beautiful?

Coincidentally (or not), yesterday was also the day that my mom received notification of her commemorative brick order - the one with my husband’s name on it. Perfect timing. I should be getting the replica within 8 to 10 weeks. I will definitely post a photo here when I get it. And I will definitely be back at Wrigley next year to see the real thing in person.

And this time, I will NOT forget my camera…

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I meant to post this yesterday, but time got away from me. BlogHer has announced their locations for 2008. Yes, locations, as in plural! Not only are they doing the annual conference and repeating BlogHer Business, they are doing a tour of six cities next October, down the eastern seaboard and across the south.The annual conference is moving back to San Francisco, which I am ecstatic about. San Francisco is much like Chicago for me. I’ve been there two or three times, but never for more than a day and I was usually there for a specific purpose, such as a concert, or passing through on my way somewhere else. So, to get back there for a few days… well, I firmly resolve to get out and explore it further. I don’t plan to take The Boyfriend this time around, which hopefully means I’ll have more opportunities to interact with fellow BlogHers outside of the conference. As grateful as I was to have The Boyfriend there with me, I definitely think it prevented me from meeting more people.

As I mentioned, they’re also taking the BlogHer show on the road. I’m glad to see that they’re hitting Atlanta, as that was one of my top choices. The fact that they’ll be there in October is awesome, because the weather will be much nicer. Since they’re also hitting Nashville, I may choose to go to both, depending on the dates, and pop in on my friend Kimmers in B’ham while I’m within three hours.

I haven’t done something like that since I was following Train around on tour.

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When I went to BlogHer in July, I was so intimidated walking into the ballroom where the opening breakfast was held. It was my first conference, after all, and I had no idea what to expect. And I walked in alone, something I avoid doing whenever possible. But when I walked in and saw open laptops at various tables where women were sitting, I felt like I’d found my people.I had a similar reaction at Wrigley last week. Living in Ohio, I see the occasional Cubs hat or shirt, and I nearly always comment on it to the person wearing it. Being at Wrigley, surrounded by people wearing Cubs shirts and hats made me feel like I belonged there. After the game was over, The Boyfriend, his brother, sister-in-law and I walked through Wrigleyville and stopped in at a couple of places. Naturally, they were all filled with Cubs fans. At one point, “Go Cubs Go” started playing over the bar’s sound system and everyone was singing along - including me. It probably sounds silly, but I really enjoyed it.

Having been to Chicago six times now, and this visit having been the first time I was really able to get out and SEE Chicago… I have to say, I really like the city. I liked our hotel room a lot, even if I couldn’t afford it without my cousin’s wife’s Friends and Family discount. (Thanks, Dee! I hope my cousin appreciates what a good woman he married!) I liked the view of the brick and glass and steel buildings surrounding us. I’m not sure I could live in a high rise building, though. Directly across from our suite was an apartment that had amazing windows and I’m sure an even more amazing view, but you could see the entire living area. Considering how my living room looks right now? I’d be mortified if an entire hotel could see into it!

I liked the fact that Chicago doesn’t feel like New York. Don’t get me wrong, I love New York. But there is something incredibly lonely about it amidst all of the busy streets and people in motion. I understand why people think of Chicago as a big small town. You get the feeling that you can strike up a conversation with anyone, and we did on more than one occasion. We sat in an Irish pub on Thursday night for hours, people watching (and yes, drinking). There were several police officers hanging out on the block where we were, keeping things in check. I never once had the feeling that people resented them being there. Well, that guy who was arrested might have resented them, but it was his choice to be there. Being less than sober when we left, I actually went up to a couple of them and said hello afterward. They were very nice. (Most cops are unless you’re doing something stupid. )

Chicago definitely got me thinking. If I ever do get the courage to pack up and leave this place, there’s a very good chance I’ll end up just a few hours west of here.

Besides, given the similar climate? I’m pretty sure the bugs and other critters aren’t frighteningly different.

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My podcasts are not only earning me some great grades, they’re also scoring me some pretty nice compliments. We’re required to listen to podcasts created by classmates and make positive comments on them, but even my professor had some very nice things to say about my most recent episode.

It’s both easier and more difficult than I thought it would be. The easier part is the actual recording. I make out a script and I read from it, and if I screw up, I follow my professor’s advice of pausing for a few seconds and repeating the part I screwed up. Pausing makes it easier to find and edit the mistakes later. It’s simple! And brilliant!

The harder part is determining the topics. When I read that we had to create a series, I really got nervous. I think it’s pretty obvious that I have a hard time staying focused in a particular direction for any length of time. But there is one thing that’s always consistent in my life. Things piss me off.

Sometimes it’s something I’ve experienced firsthand. My first podcast talked about cell phones as one of my pet peeves. My experience at the Counting Crows concert helped nail that one down. Other times, it’s something I’ve read. When the Toledo Free Press covered the story of a local woman who was kicked out of a mall store after breastfeeding in public, the story itself made me made. The comments from people on Swamp Bubbles, however, pushed me over the edge.

I’ve mentioned before that I tend to watch my comments in certain places. But at times, the ignorance displayed makes me CRAZY. I’m not perfect by any means, but before I dash off a stream of consciousness opinion on something, I try to actually read what’s already been said. Is it too much to ask that others participating in such a forum do the same?

Don’t worry. I know the answer to that.

At any rate, it’s nice to know that someone thinks I’m doing a good job with my podcasts. I hope that I can continue to improve. As pleased as I was with the last one, I know I’ll be that much harder on myself if I don’t do as well or better.

And so the pressure begins….

Anyone want to piss me off?

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Well, we’re back in Toledo.
*sigh*

This was a good weekend. I needed this weekend. I slept yesterday morning until 11 a.m. Toledo time. On a bed that was as comfortable as puffy clouds.

It doesn’t matter that I forgot my camera and therefore couldn’t take any pictures of Wrigley Field. It only mattered that I was there. Yes, I cried a little. Not as much as I feared I would. The game itself was quite entertaining. The Pirates threatened in the first inning, getting a few base runners out there, but fortunately only scoring once. The Cubs responded emphatically in the bottom of the first, with a first pitch home run by leadoff man Alphonso Soriano. Oh yes. It was beautiful. Then Mark DeRosa was hit by a pitch and went to first. D-Lee came up with a base hit. Runners on first and second for Aramis Ramirez. Ohhhhh Aramis. A three-run homer that didn’t just leave the field. It left the park. I’m not sure, but it might have left Chicago entirely.

At the end of the first, it was Cubs 4, Pirates 1. Pittsburgh added another in the top of the second. The Cubs got it back in the bottom of the inning.

And then in the top of the third inning, all hell broke loose and suddenly the Pirates were ahead, 7-5. Amazingly, I wasn’t nervous. I knew that there was no way in hell the Cubs were losing. I’m not sure why I felt that way; after all they lost the game that JM saw. (However, JM left early and they WERE winning at the time.)

I wasn’t worried even though it was the Pirates and that the one game I distinctly recall watching with Mike was against the Pirates. That game, which admittedly wasn’t during a winning season, the Cubs got behind early and couldn’t get anything done. I remember that Mike and I were watching the game in a somewhat dejected silence. (It probably had something to do with the fact that a friend was a huge Pirates fan and we didn’t want to hear him gloating.) All of a sudden, things started happening. The bases were loaded. And someone - I can’t recall who but I’ll guess it was either Sandberg or Dawson - hit a grand slam. Mike and I jumped up from our seats, ran to each other and hugged! We were ecstatic! And then the Pirates answered back with their own grand slam the following inning.

That was the day when I learned the most important lesson there is to know about this game (and trust me - it came in handy with all the years of Little League I watched): In baseball, anything can happen.

But this time, even though it was the Pirates, I wasn’t worried. And I was right. The Cubs tied it back up in the bottom of the third and then things s-l-o-w-e-d down until the sixth. Nothing was going on. I almost got bored. Riiiight. Come on, I was at Wrigley Field! No way in HELL was I bored!

In the bottom of the 6th, my Cubbies opened fire on the Pirates, scoring another FIVE runs. And Aramis… ohhhhh Aramis… hit a second three-run long ball. Cubs 12, Pirates 7. The catcher, Geovany Soto, also hit a two-run shot. (There was a moment in the 8th when we all thought Aramis Ramirez might have hit a THIRD home run. But it was caught on the warning track.)

What took place in the 7th inning stretch might have been the coolest thing about being there on that particular day. Friday marked 10 years since Harry Caray’s last game leading the crowd in “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” In honor of that, his widow, Dutchie Caray, threw out the first pitch AND led the crowd. But starting things off was a tape of Harry during that last game. Way cool.

Final score: Cubs 13, Pirates 8. They won on Saturday, too. Today is their final home game. I just noticed that postseason tickets go on sale today, supposedly about 90 minutes ago, but I don’t even see a link. Sold out already? Not that I could go. But I’d be willing to try….

GO CUBS GO!

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Lots of posts coming up, some of them heartfelt, some of them sponsored. The Boyfriend and I are b-r-o-k-e right now. Spent way too much money in Chicago, but that’s the way it is, I’m afraid.

I took my computer to Chicago to take advantage of the free Internet access, but never really got around to doing anything but submitting a homework assignment and checking email. I noticed it’s taking a looooong time to boot up, but I’ve installed a bunch of stuff lately that I think is loading at startup. My desktop at home is REALLY slow. Might be time for a memory upgrade. One of these days, when I have free time, and I can kick JL off of it for a while, I’ll look things over. I don’t really use the desktop that much anymore, but that’s where all of my iTunes songs are, so I still need access to it! Especially with the aforementioned homework, which involves podcasting. I’ve been recording my podcasts on The Boyfriend’s iPod, then synching it on the desktop, saving the file onto my flash drive and editing it on my laptop.

I have to find an easier way to do this. I bought a microphone for my own iPod, but I noticed some noise from the iPod’s hard drive when I was recording and I couldn’t figure out how to get rid of it. Again, one of those things I’ll figure out as soon as I can stop to think. This semester is making my head spin and there’s really no reason for it.

More coming very soon… I’m finishing up a draft on the Cubs game we attended on Friday. GO CUBS GO!

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I haven’t posted anything in five days???  What’s wrong with me? L at work must be freaking out, seeing as she always says she lives vicariously through my blog.

This will be short and nothing much to read. I have 15 minutes before I *have* to get into the shower before work. The last few days have been spent working, making arrangements for our trip to Chicago (we leave tomorrow!), doing homework and celebrating a friend’s “birthday week.” Happy Birthday, MDFW!!

My first Cubs game is Friday, people. FRIDAY!!! I’m going to Wrigley Field!!

And in a couple of weeks, Michael will be both stateside AND in my part of the country and I finally get to “Meet Virginia.” Big, exciting things coming up! I haven’t seen Michael for almost six years!

Ok, that’s all for now. I now have seven minutes until shower time and it figures… The Boyfriend just jumped in there. Grrrr….

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Suzanne tagged me to do this book meme. I’ve always been a little shy about admitting what I read, probably because I’m afraid it won’t measure up to the high standards of some people I know. The more blogs I read, though, the more I decide my standards are just fine. The snobs can just go to hell. So, here goes…

Total number of books owned: Surprisingly, not very many, other than textbooks. This is for two reasons: 1) I’ve moved many times in my 41 years and for that reason, I streamlined several years ago and got rid of pretty much anything that had no sentimental attachment. 2) I work in a library. (And you know, just saying that reminds me that I have a fantastic job, even with all the stress lately.)

Last book bought: I just bought three textbooks for my Podcasting, Vodcasting and Blogging and Beginning Adobe Illustrator classes: Secrets of Podcasting, by Bart G. Farkas; Blogging: Genius Strategies for Instant Web Content by Biz Stone (based on the first few chapters, it’s horribly outdated and a poor choice for a textbook, IMO) and Adobe Illustrator CS3, Classroom in a Book. Pretty sad, eh?

Last book read: Other than textbooks, the last book I read was Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst. Jennifer Weiner mentioned  it recently on her blog and I like her stuff, so I thought it’d be interesting to see what one of my favorite authors likes to read. On the recommendation of Denise, however, I just picked up She’s Such a Geek and I’m enjoying it so far. I also have A Long Way Gone by Ismael Beah, but the first four chapters have already made me cry and I’m a little afraid of it.

Five Books that Mean a Lot to You:

As I was going through this list, I realized I have the same association with books that I do with music. The book itself isn’t always the important part; sometimes it’s who or what I remember when I read it that matters most to me. (And I am a HUGE re-reader.)

• Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster - my Dad gave me this book for Christmas when I was eight, the year he and my Mom split up. It is the one book that has gone with me through every move (and there have many) that I’ve made since then. And it’s in my bookcase at this moment, a mere 10 feet from where I’m sitting.
• The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury - I read this in high school and I still remember reading The House of Usher II out loud to my mom and just loving the way he wrote. I think it was the first time I really appreciated the way certain writers make their words flow.
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - I have a love/hate relationship with this book. I love it because it was the first book that I ever had to read for a college English class (when I was 32 years old) and so it’s a symbol of the greatest positive life change I’ve ever consciously made. I hate it because it was the beginning of four years of endless discussion and analysis of what the author was really saying. I don’t care what the author was really saying. I just want to lose myself in the story.
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell - My third grade teacher at Glann Elementary, Mrs. Kolbeck, read this book to our class. I read it on my own later and eventually owned a copy (it’s not on my bookshelf now, though… lost in a move, perhaps). I loved this book. It won a Newbury Medal.
• The Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore by Laura Lee Hope - Just about any Bobbsey Twins book that I’ve read would fit the bill here, but this is one that I actually still own. The copy that I have was reprinted in 1950, although it doesn’t seem to be a revised edition (the mode of transportation was still by buggy and train, and the characters of Sam and Dinah were definitely stereotypes from the era). As politically incorrect as they are, I love the early Bobbsey Twins books. I was so young when I read my first one that I can’t recall who gave it to me. They, along with my parents who are both avid readers, were instrumental in developing my love for reading. It’s only fitting that I ended up with my own set of twins years later.

Best Five Books You Read in the Last Year:

This will be tough, since I seem to do so little reading other than textbooks when I’m taking classes. This summer, I spent a lot of time with books on CSS, preparing for when I have time to build my own blog template. But there were a few non-educational books that I managed to work in. Let’s see if I can remember what they were:

• Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner - I love this book. I recommend this book. Go forth and read it.
• A Widow for One Year by John Irving - I picked this one up at work, intrigued by the title. It took me a couple months to pick it up and I didn’t really get into it at first. The majority of reviews I’ve read indicate people like the first half, but not much beyond that. I enjoyed the entire book.
• Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen - One of my favorite bloggers, Mir from WCS, mentioned this book in the comments of someone asking for reading suggestions and it was the first thing in a while that made me laugh out loud. This is why I love blogging. I’ve discovered a new favorite author as a result…
• Lucky You also by Carl Hiaasen - The characters are just so… you just have to read it, ok? Loved this one, too!
• Marley and Me by John Grogan - another recommendation from a blogger, but unfortunately I’ve lost track of this lady.

You’re tagged if you wish. A few people I’d like to tag don’t have blogs, so I’ll name them… and if they’re so inclined, they can email me:

• Dad
• Kat
• L at work

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