Chicago Olympics

Chicago recently unveiled its logo for the 2016 Olympics. The decision hasn't been made yet, but everyone in these parts is pretty excited and hopeful that the city will get them. We don't live in Chicago, but we're close by, close enough that there is speculation that some events could be held in our small city. Needless to say, we are very excited about that, and we'll do everything we can to get tickets if it happens.

We both still love to watch the Olympics, and I can only imagine what a feeling it must be to win a medal while representing your country. And how cool to watch them in person! And all the visitors we'd get from all over the world...oh my, what a neat thing that would be! I could do my tiny little part to be an ambassador of good will and international harmony. Okay, that's pretty corny, but one of the best things about the Olympics is that people really do seem to suspend their animosity. There are always exceptions, but for 2 weeks, it really does seem that we CAN all just get along. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Chicago to win the bid. Go Chi-town!

As for that logo, if I were wearing a hat, it would be off to whoever designed it. I can't imagine anything more perfect, and I think it's brilliant. The blue torch represents Lake Michigan, and the flame is the skyline. (See the Sears Tower antennas in there?) If they get the Olympics, let's see if they pick a decent mascot. Some of those recent mascots have been not only lame, they've been just plain weird. Who can forget the Izzy fiasco of Atlanta '96?

The Legend of Orange Double Zero

"love you!
shane
Comment from orangedoublezero - 10/26/06 9:42 AM"

I have copied the end of Cousin Shane's comment, and asked him if it was okay to tell the story behind Orange Double Zero. He was okay with that, so here you go. I'm not sure why this cracks me up, but it does.

Shane has a crazy friend at work, AnnMarie. She's crazy in a fun way, not a psycho way. Apparently AnnMarie likes to make up stories, and she told her boyfriend that one time she was driving by Shane's house and saw him through the picture window. He was sitting on the couch and watching TV, and wearing a cutoff orange football jersey with the number 00 on it. And thus was born Orange Double Zero.

Now, I guess you'd have to know Shane, but that is something he would totally NOT wear. He's more of a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy. That's what makes it so funny to me--it's just completely bizarre! I have to admire AnnMarie's storytelling abilities, and her level of detail is astounding. I'd like to have her over for a bonfire one night. I bet she could tell a helluva ghost story!

Good football weekend, by the way: Notre Dame won, Colts won, Bears won. All is right with the world.

Bar and Pub names

As I mentioned early on, the name of this journal comes from a Godfathers song. I've joined a newsgroup about the Godfathers, and not only have I been enjoying that, I've found out that Kris Dollimore, the original guitarist, has released a new CD in the UK. It's some very neat stuff, very bluesy and lean. Check out his website, and you can hear some of his music. I recommend it highly. I've got a CD on the way.

What got me to thinking was the listing of gigs he's played recently. London has some of the coolest bar names! Here are a few: The Cockroach Club, What's Cookin' Club, The Prince of Guinea, The Yew Tree Inn, Man of Kent Ale House, and my personal favorite, and where he's playing tonight, The Mucky Pup. Isn't that just the greatest? Makes me want to have a pint while I belly up to the bar.

Then I got to thinking about bar names in America. There are plenty of lame ones, but there are a lot of cool ones, too, and it reminded me of a song by X, "The Have Nots," in which they name various bars they've seen in their travels. Here you go: The Bar Nothing, The Hi-De-Hi, The Hula Gal, The Beehive Bar, Dexter's New Approach, and the Get Down Lounge. And last but not least, The Aorta Bar, Detroit's Main Vein. (I love that one!)

What do you think? Which is better, or should we even compare the two? They're all great in their own way. However, I think I have a hands-down winner, and it's a place we've actually been to, and got to hear one of the younger Marsalis brothers.

My Grand Prize goes to...The Funky Butt in New Orleans. Near Congo Square, it not only has a great name, it's crowded and intimate and dark, and everyone LOVES the music. But you can't beat that name!

Adopt-A-Kid

Jeez, I'm sick of hearing about this Madonna adoption thing. I have two things to say about this.

First, I don't think there's any doubt that the child will have a better and longer life in England, as the child of privileged parents. Is that even a question? In Africa, he's facing malaria and numerous other parasites and infections, not to mention just plain getting enough to eat. There is no question that this will give him a longer and healthier life.

Second, why isn't she adopting a parentless child? This kid still has a father, right? I can certainly understand the guy wanting his child to have a better life, but why didn't Madonna pick a kid with NO parents? Don't they have it bad, too?

Third--okay, I have THREE things to say about this. Three! Can the media just give this a rest? Please?

Fourth--okay, FOUR things to say. I know it's all noble to want to save babies and give them a good life. I have no quarrel with that. But aren't there plenty of babies and older kids right here that need a home? Isn't it awfully arrogant of us in the West to say that we know what is best for everyone else, and remove a child from their native home in order to give them what we deem a better life? For someone who has millions of dollars, wouldn't a significant monetary contribution to problem areas help hundreds or thousands of children, rather than just one?

Right now, I'm thinking of Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation. Regardless of what you think of the guy, he is using his money to make a true difference in thousands, perhaps millions, of lives. They are funding research to make diseases like malaria preventable, and eventually, a thing of the past. And then there is Warren Buffett, who gave millions of dollars to the Gates Foundation, rather than leaving it to his already privileged children.

Call me a geek if you will (you won't be the first), but to quote a line from Star Trek, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one." I think we can all learn a thing or two from Spock.  Live long and prosper.

Not Strep throat

Good deal. My throat started feeling better today, so since it's getting better on its own, it's a virus, not Strep throat. I officially clear myself to go back to work tomorrow. Still not 100%, but lots better, and hopefully no longer infectious.

I had my first visitor to my new site, my cousin Shane. He posted a comment on my first entry. He's such a peach, and we always have so much fun together. We don't have as much time as we used to, to do things like go to concerts or just hang out, but he'll always be one of my best buddies. We've seen some great shows together, including the B-52's (once in Indianapolis and once in Chicago), R.E.M., Blondie, and others that I can't even begin to remember.

I'm looking forward to the weekend, because Ken and I are big football fans, especially of Notre Dame. The Irish play Navy this weekend, and that's always a great game, with a fine tradition of good sportsmanship. I'm hoping for good things from my favorite player this year, Jeff Samardzija, AKA Shark.

Go Shark, Go Shark! He's so much fun to watch, and just seems like a natural. He's managed some pretty amazing catches. And no matter what some people think, I think he has cool hair!

We also like the NFL, but we may have a little problem there. I'm a Colts fan, and Ken is a Bears fan. Most of the time that isn't a problem. I cheer for the Bears when they're not playing the Colts, and vice versa for Ken, but since they're in different divisions, that rarely happens. But the buzz this year, despite months to go in the season, is that we're going to see a Colts/Bears Superbowl. I think it would be quite a game--one of the best offenses against one of the best defenses--but what would it do to our happy home?! Nah, we'd be fine. One of us would be happy for the other one, and then sob quietly into his or her pillow later that night. All a part of being a fan, right? Spoken like a true Cubs fan!

Sick day

I caught a stupid cold, although my throat hurts so bad, it could be Strep throat. I'm in the infectious stage right now, so I thought it best that I stay home. I just was reading about "presenteeism," when people go into work even when they're sick. It costs the company more in lost productivity than if you'd stayed home and taken a sick day. I can guarantee I would not have been productive today! Looks like a couch day--curl up with the book I'm reading (Harbingers by F. Paul Wilson, a Repairman Jack book) or watch a movie (I've had a hankering to watch "This Is Spinal Tap" for a while now).

See the picture above? I took it off our back deck one evening. I thought the colors of the sunset were just gorgeous. And the important thing is that I figured out how to add a picture without that big stupid white border! Told you I would. Well, I had some help. Thank you, Magic Blogger!

 

This is me

I think I figured out how to add a picture. Let's see if this works...this is me, by the way.

I HATE that big border around the picture. That just takes up way too much space! I'll get it figured out, though, trust me.

And if you want to add a comment, click on "Add Your Own."

Blog virgin

Thought I'd start a blog. Just seemed like the thing to do.

Actually, I used to have a web page, and several friends and family members have said that they miss it. I kind of do, too, and I think this will be an easy way to continue that, as well as keep in touch with people and let them know what is happening here.

I have to say that it dismays me a little bit to have AOL have these prompts for categories on here, although they don't show up if nothing is selected (so you can't see them--but believe me, they're there): mood, music I'm listening to, and I even had to place this blog into a particular category. It's not always that easy to define my mood or where I belong. I also notice that they don't have moods such as "surly" or  "passive-aggressive." Not that I often feel that way, but I think a list of 16 moods is terribly limiting. We're all much more complicated than that, don't you think?

The title of this journal comes from a song by the Godfathers, a great late '80's/early '90's band. The song is "STB," and one of the lines is "I have to hear your sweet voice, honey, breathing down the line." I love that. Makes me think of those late night phone calls to the one you love when you're apart. There usually ends up being a lapse in conversation, and all you can hear is each other's breathing. It can be a very nice moment.