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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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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Michael, you’re reading this, right? I hope so, because you were on my mind a lot tonight!

I was hesitant to mention again that I was going to see Counting Crows tonight, mostly because I had the horrible thought that the person who was supposed to put us on the guest list would forget. Shame on me for not having faith.  And the seats? Ninth row, center! Much more than I expected.

I’ve seen Counting Crows four times now, and I could be wrong, but I’m not sure I’d ever heard them play “Anna Begins” until tonight.  As soon as I heard that familiar drum beat, I started to cry and I mean… I. started. to. cry. I love that song. And the mandolin solo… *shiver*

They’re releasing a deluxe version of August and Everything After on September 18th. I will be all over that and their new album, Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings, which comes out on November 6. They played quite a bit from it tonight and I liked what I heard.

Adam Duritz (seen above in the incredibly bad cellphone photo I took tonight) was quite chatty this evening, which I enjoyed. Unfortunately, not everyone did, apparently. In the middle of a story about their song, “Miami,” the guy behind me yelled, “Just sing the fuckin’ song!” A little while later, he proceeded to critique Adam’s singing during an intro to what turned into “A Long December.” And that’s when Annoying Cell Phone Girl surfaced. Also right behind me, she was carrying on a conversation that went like this:

“I’m at the Counting Crows concert!”

(holds cell phone up in air)

“Are you listening?”

(louder)

“I’m at the Counting Crows concert!!”

(pause)

“They’re playing “My December.”

That does it. Anyone who wants, buys or is given tickets within the first 20 rows of a concert must now prove they are fans of the band and own all or most of said band’s CDs. I don’t care if you don’t know the lyrics. Knowing the titles, however, is mandatory.

Stupid freaking people. I hate them as much as I hate those morons who think it’s necessary to scream things like “I love you!!!” during a quiet song. Because screaming that ALWAYS leads to marriage between the screamer and the screamee on stage. Always.

Technorati Tags: Counting Crows, concerts, Toledo Zoo Amphitheater

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Life has been, quite frankly, a bitch. Stressful circumstances bring out the worst - and the best - in people. Much as I’d like to say that I’m in the latter category, that would only be true part of the time. I’m grateful for that part, at least.  It’s the only thing that keeps me going some days.

I realized something last night, during the six hours that I had between getting home from work and needing to get up for work today. I have a lot of things swirling in my mind and some of them scare me. I want to write about them, and yet I don’t. Writing about them might make them too real.

On the other hand, yesterday L and J and I were talking about irrational fears. Most people have at least one. I have one that I’ve never written about, but it still exists: If I see a spider (or other creepy bug) in the house, I can’t kill it. Not because I have a great love for all things in nature, but because I’m afraid I’ll miss and it will come back for revenge.

Writing about it didn’t change anything. A bug is no more likely to come back for revenge than it was before I stated how I felt. (I hope.)

I need to be more honest with myself about the things in my head and less concerned with what might happen if I actually brought them into the light.

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So, the vacation that was supposed to be like an episode of While You Were Out, only with more time and me being the only one working, ended up a total wash. Once I read what all needs to be done to solve the calcimine issue, I knew the time I’d allotted wouldn’t be enough. Because first the paint has to be scraped, and for best results? That means ALL of the paint, not just the stuff that’s loose right now. Because what isn’t loose now will only loosen later. And then the walls have to be scrubbed thoroughly to remove all of the calcimine. After a few days of letting them sit, we need to test some spots to make sure we got it all; if not? More scrubbing. Only then can we fix any bad spots in the plaster and seal it with an oil-based primer. And THEN… we can paint!

Ok, if you haven’t figured me out yet? There’s no way in HELL I’m gonna get all that done in five days, especially when you factor in the shoulder injury from hauling my laptop all over Chicago… the same shoulder injury I re-aggravated over the weekend when I was scraping paint.

So, I know you’re all jealous of this fantastic vacation I’ve been having thus far, right?

By Sunday afternoon, I was in enough pain that I hit the couch and didn’t move. By Sunday night, I was ready to go to the ER. Monday morning was somewhat better and aside from a trip to the grocery store with JM, I didn’t budge from the couch all day. I almost went to work today, to save the vacation day, but I was up at 3 a.m. watching one hell of a lightning display and I decided to sleep in late.

All in all, it’s been quite the uneventful vacation.

But not tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day that I finally get to meet Laurel Rose! My ex-stepsister is coming into town for a visit and we’re going to hang out tomorrow afternoon. I’m so excited! The last photos Kat sent to me showed that Laurel is gaining weight quite nicely. She has little baby rolls on her arms and legs - she looks very healthy. I can’t wait to see her live and in person!

Yes, the digital camera is coming with me, and hopefully Kat won’t mind if I post one little photo. Seriously, I’m so excited I don’t know if I can sleep tonight!

Technorati Tags: babies, premature births, nieces, ex-stepsisters

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So, Counting Crows are coming to Toledo in September.
I *heart* Counting Crows.

I also am cash poor at the moment, thanks to my Chicago trip to BlogHer ‘07.  So, I emailed my friend Rob, who was college roomies with a certain guitarist in CC… and long story short? The Boyfriend and I are going to see Counting Crows!

Woooooooohooooooooo!

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Greetings from Chicago!

Amazingly, even though we set out later than originally intended, and even though we encountered PITA traffic and construction on more than one occasion, The Boyfriend’s magical sense of direction managed to get us to US Cellular Field well before the White Sox took the field.

I wish I could say it was a good game. Frankly, as baseball games go, it was on the boring side - until the last inning, when the Tigers quite literally threw it away and lost. *sigh*

But on the plus side, the majority of White Sox fans are nice people. Well, except for those few who were chanting, “Detroit sucks!” as they were leaving the stadium. Um… guys? Detroit is in first place. The White Sox? Yeah, 14.5 games back. Who sucks, exactly?

The Dan Ryan Freeway is under massive construction, so The Boyfriend opted to drive through town to get to our hotel. It was a little slow going, but considering it was rush hour, we found it quite easily. I’ll admit that I was a bit concerned about how slovenly we looked coming into the lobby, but there were plenty of other travel-weary guests checking in at the same time.

We’re on the 19th floor and the view isn’t so bad. There’s high speed internet access for free with our room, and free WiFi down in the lobby. And did I mention there’s air conditioning? I looooove air conditioning, truly. Especially after sitting out at a hot ballgame. I mean, this is the Windy City, but there was very little breeze in the stadium.

Now I’m off to shower so we can grab some dinner and explore the city a bit. But it’ll be an early evening for me. The first shuttle for the BlogHer conference leaves at 7:45 a.m. and I’d like to be somewhere near it!

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Here’s hoping The Boyfriend remembered to drop his car off at the mechanic’s this morning before heading off to Pittsburgh Steelers training camp with our friend Dusty. Never mind that he had a month’s lead time to get his air conditioner recharged, but instead chooses to wait until his last day off before we leave for Chicago.

The funny part was when he emailed me last night, hinting about someone picking it up.

Nope.  Not biting on that hook. I love ya, babe, but this is your issue to take care of - not mine.

So, he found someone else to do it, which is great because I don’t have time. I’m too busy doing laundry and making a list of what I need to take with me to BlogHer.

Incidentally, they launched their new site design this morning and let me just say that it is fan-tab-u-lous! You should definitely check it out, if you haven’t already. Seriously. And, you know, join. Because it’s free. So, I’m looking at you, Andrea, Kare and Stacie, because I didn’t see any of you listed in the blogroll over there. I suppose it’s possible that I missed you, since I am still listed under “I Think About.” I need to find out how to change that.

Anyway…

I need to go to Target before I leave, for sunglasses and a new camera case since my old one inexplicably disappeared while in the bag carrying Blue Streaks stuff. The Boyfriend swears he hasn’t seen it. I’m sure it’ll turn up as soon as I spend money on a new one.

GAH! Only two more days until we leave!!!!!!!

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I’m back! Did ya notice I was gone? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

The Boyfriend whisked me off to the Motor City for not one, but TWO Tigers games vs. the Boston Red Sox. SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP! (Check out my Flickr account for some of the photos I took)

Last night, we had excellent seats. Only one problem: we were separated by four sections. My seat was in section 131 and his was in 135. He wanted to get me up close at a game as a birthday present, but he couldn’t get two tickets together. Fortunately, we were able to let the usher know and he ended up seating The Boyfriend right next to me. The view was awesome and all was well, other than the Red Sox fan who tossed her bag into The Boyfriend’s seat when we got up to get a burger - and then acted completely offended when he picked it up and handed it back to her so he could sit down again. We were having a great time until the bottom of the 7th inning, when the morons who had the remaining seats in that row (including The Boyfriend’s) decided to show up.

WHO WAITS UNTIL THE BOTTOM OF THE 7TH INNING TO SHOW UP AT A SOLD OUT GAME??

We wandered around for a bit and finally I told him to go to his seat and I’d go back to mine. Truthfully, I was a little ticked about the situation. I would have gladly sat further back if it meant I was able to sit with him. I had no desire to go back to my seat and be stuck with the idiots in our row. When I headed back down, one of them made some kind of smart remark to me which I ignored.

If you happened to be watching the game that night, you already know that it ended up going into extra innings. Since I couldn’t talk to The Boyfriend, I was text-messaging JM, who was watching it at home. By the 10th inning, several seats in front of me and to the right of me had cleared out and they were almost immediately filled up by a family that I got a kick out of. I started having fun again and then Moron Guys all left. Woohoo! Somehow, The Boyfriend managed to catch my eye and I motioned for him to get back over to me. He did and we spent another inning happily hanging out… when Moron Guys came BACK.

*sigh*

There was a seat at the end of the row in front of us, so he slid into it, only to have the woman behind it start berating him for sitting there because “Now I’m not going to be able to see past your big head!”

WTF????

Get over yourself, woman! I spent the better part of the first nine innings dodging the head of the guy in front of me.

I would be less upset if The Boyfriend had jumped into the section having paid for a much less expensive ticket. But he paid the same price everyone else seated there did and he was merely trying to hang out with me during a game that was his birthday present to me. Is that so wrong? Sheesh!

Fortunately, the same usher who helped us out before found him a place two rows in front of me and it wasn’t long after that the Tigers finally wrapped things up in the 13th inning. After high-fiving all the members of the family in front of me (seriously, I loved those guys), I jumped down to where The Boyfriend was and we enjoyed the post-game fireworks together.

On our way out the gate, after bidding goodnight to the kindly older gentlemen who work there, one of them nodded toward me and said to The Boyfriend, “She brought us luck tonight.”* Awwwwww….

We stayed at the Milner Hotel, which is within walking distance of the park. If you look at the Milner’s ratings on some of the travel sites, you will see that it has a wide variety of ratings. So, I’ll just say right now that if old and shabby is an issue for you? Stay away. But if you’ve had apartments or houses in old neighborhoods and you’re not afraid of things that look like they’ve been around for a while, the Milner is an inexpensive place to crash when you want to catch a couple of baseball games without driving an hour each way in between.

Our room had a nice view and it was clean. (We paid more than twice as much for a smaller room in Manhattan and the view was an office building, complete with people working at their desks. Woohoo.) The mattress at the Milner wasn’t too comfortable for me, but I was tired enough to drift off. And except for the strange noise that both of us heard just as we were falling asleep - a noise that neither of us could identify but it sounded like it was coming from the ceiling - it was an uneventful stay.

We were up and at ‘em early this morning and our first stop was at the Harmonie Cafe for breakfast. It, like the Milner, was small and shabby, but the food was AMAZING. It just goes to show you that appearances are quite deceiving.

The forecast called for temperatures close to 95 by 3 p.m. While it didn’t get that hot at the ballpark (it was only 89 at 3:30), sitting in the sun took it’s toll on both of us. We lasted until the 7th inning before heading up into some shade. Thankfully, there was a gorgeous breeze blowing for the majority of the game.

After watching the Tigers win for the second time, we hung out over at the Elwood Grill for a little while until traffic let up a bit, and then blissfully embraced the air conditioning in my car for the trip home. And boy am I glad we left The Boyfriend’s air conditioning-less car at home this time!

*The Boyfriend grossly misheard the kindly old gentleman’s remark. For some reason, he thought the guy was telling him that I was quite the slut tonight. I think he needs to get his ears cleaned out…

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I am definitely keeping my eye on my Chicago Cubs these days… they are looking more and more like a team they should be lately. They lost yesterday, but my hopes are not yet dashed. The season is only half over and they are still in it.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers aren’t slowing down either. I have told many people that the Cubs are my team but that I am permitted to follow an AL team as well. If it ever came down to the two of them in the championship, I would definitely try to get world series tickets and I would definitely root for Chicago.

While I wish I could be celebrating my birthday with a couple of Cubs games this weekend, I’m not sad that I’ll be watching the Tigers instead. But make no mistake… the Cubs are my team. Always and forever.

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