Saturday, November 12, 2016

Back From The Ledge

What can I say? Nobody expected the Election results from Tuesday night, not even Trump who expected to lose. Clinton did win the popular vote which really isn't a consolation prize and there is no second prize. I watched Trump at the White House. He looked scared to death. He never really wanted this job nor is prepared to do it. He better learn quick but I have no confidence in the man. Obama is handing him a much better off country than Bush handed Obama. He has a GOP fully controlled Congress so there are no excuses. Put up or shut up time.

I was clearly angry and upset the last few days but was reminded by a conversation I had with a horse racing buddy of mine who was an attorney that I worked with. The owners of the company weren't paying their bills and later went out of business and one to jail. My buddy told me to do my job and do it well and not worry about them because that's life sometimes. Garrison Keiler wrote a similar article this week. He basically said all Democrats should go out and really really enjoy their lives as we have absolutely no power at the present time. If Trump screws up things will take care of themselves.

So, I'm going on with my life and focusing on my writing projects and making plans for a fantastic 2017 with Krissy and Coco. I quit watching all the political shows already which is a huge start for me.

Coco has been sick all week and missed soccer last night. It's the first time in a long time that he's been this sick.

Tonight is a happy hour at the new Mangoes Cafe East then down to Harry's on Brady to watch Five Card Stud.

This afternoon we are breaking down the yard. The bamboo is coming off the fences, yard lights off the trees and tarps over all the lawn furniture. We are in the midst of the warmest November ever but we had our first frost last night. I can't wait until next summer. It's going to be the best one yet!

Later

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Election Predictions

It's almost a 60 degree Election Day in Milwaukee and lines were long already this morning. I waited for 40 minutes and had to take off to get Coco to school in time so I'm heading back in a few. Krissy managed to squeak in because the second half of the alphabet moved faster in their line. Go figure.

I'm getting sick of Donny Jr. This guy makes his old man look like a minor league con man. First he tweets about a fake assassination attempt on his father then this morning he was telling the morning shows that people whisper "good job" in his ear when he's at places like gas stations filling up. Yes, how much is gas in Manhattan Donny? I'm sure you drive yourself and fill up often right downtown. Speaking of gas, we are under 2 bucks a gallon in Wisconsin. Ole Donny predicted 6 dollar gas when Obama took over!

Anyways, here are my predictions for tonight. Clinton gets 352 electoral college votes and Trump gets 186. The Senate will be 53 Democrats and they also pick up 33 House seats!

These numbers might appear high to some people but I still have faith in people and in SANITY!!!

Go Vote!

Later

Sunday, November 6, 2016

The Warm November

What a great warm November so far with multiple days hitting 70 and the forecast looks terrific for the next 10 days. I don't remember anything like this in the Midwest. Usually a day at most but that's mostly in October.

Krissy was up North for the weekend and Coco and I went to watch the Wisconsin State Soccer Championship. Congrats to Whitefish Bay on their second consecutive title. They played without their leading scorer and still won. It looks like they have 4-5 Division One players on that team.

Coco started both his soccer clinic and his soccer league practice this week. Soccer three times a week and he loves it!

I'm still on cloud nine from the Cubs being the World Series Champions. Such a great team and I'm looking forward to spring training!

Later

Thursday, November 3, 2016

A Game For The Ages

Last night wasn't just a baseball game. It's been written before that the Cubs winning the World Series was the last great American sporting story of our lifetime. I believe that to be true. It's hard to put into words but it touched so many lives for the living and the dead. I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face all day.

I listened to the radio today hearing so many great stories. One man watched the game in a lawn chair next to his father's grave in an Indiana cemetery. His father always wanted to watch the Cubs win it all with his son. Unfortunately, he didn't live long enough but his son never forgot his father on the night the Cubs won it all.

Another man in hospice care was given a few more hours to live. What does he do? He's down to single digits in the hours of life and he has his family with him to watch the World Series. He passed away at 3:47am today knowing that his Cubs were the World Champions.

It's hard for us die-hard Cub fans to put into words exactly what this means to us individually and as a collective Cub nation. The owner of the Cubs met his wife in the left field bleachers and he's not into this for the money. It's an experience I guess. A lot of ups and downs and more downs in our lifetime than the occasional good team.

It was a brilliant game with clutch hits, excellent base running, home runs and mistakes on both sides with a rain delay and it went into extra innings. One thing I'm certain that it was not. It wasn't merely just a game for us.

Later

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

We Have A Game 7

A big game from the Cubs as they win 9-3 and go to a game 7 tomorrow in Cleveland. It doesn't get any better than that. I'm so into baseball and hanging on every pitch and talking to my homeboys back in Chicago that I haven't been following anything else. I'm so wrapped into this that the rest of the world could explode and I might not notice. When you've been waiting your entire life for an event and it's actually happening not much else seems too important. Go Cubs!

We had the last dog training class for Mango and she graduated. In fact, she did her trick in front of the class quite well and we were very pleased with her.

Coco is now signed up for an indoor soccer league on Sunday nights and twice a week training classes with a pro soccer coach. It's all soccer for him after the World Series which he watched with me tonight.

One more night for baseball and baseball being the center stage. I think it goes my way and we win the World Series. Here's to dreams coming true!

Later

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Back To Cleveland

A tough Saturday night followed by a great Sunday night as the Cubs go back to Cleveland for game 6. They played lousy last night and tonight's game was just a thriller with Aroldis Chapman pitching one of the best relief jobs that I've ever seen. Being down 3 games to 1 is tough enough then a game 5 win 3-2 keeps every fan on the edge. This team has so much heart. I'm still believing we win in 7!

Tonight we watched the game at home. Last night we went to Jack's Pub. The Guinness folks were there and I came away with a winter hat, a fantastic t-shirt and a free beer. The only disappointment was the Cubs playing lousy.

Tomorrow, Joe Maddon has his club all in costume suits for the trip to Cleveland. Keeping them loose and hopefully winning 2 more games and becoming World Champions!

Coco is back in town. He'll be here for the games this week. I'm not sure if he understands how big this event is for me personally or Cubs fans throughout the world. I can't even describe it myself. Hanging on every pitch watching the post game show for hours and just enjoying the moment. It's pretty damn special!

Later

Friday, October 28, 2016

Wind Blowing Out At Wrigley

Holy Cow! The wind is blowing out for the first World Series game in 71 years. That means a lot of home runs if the pitcher doesn't keep the ball down.

Coco called me from Nantucket. He liked Boston a lot better. He saw the Boston Garden and took a tour of Harvard where he bought a hat. Then, a tour of Boston College and bought a sweatshirt. He is flying back Sunday just in time to trick or treat with friends so he needs me to keep his scooter ready.

The GDP numbers came out today at a great 2.95% which is tge highest in two years. Unfortunately you'll have a hard time running into anybody tonight who wants to talk about that.

Exxon had record profits today but isn't making as much as they should they feel because of low oil prices. Therefore, the will layoff people and lower output in an effort to drive prices up. That's exactly why "drill baby drill" doesn't work and free market talkers are just that, fricking talkers. I hope the Saudi's dump a ton of oil on the market and cuts gas prices in half because of these greedy bastards!

Mango keeps begging me for food which I never give her. So today, I loaded up a nacho chip with spicy salsa and let her eat it. Yep, she loved it which I totally didn't expect!

Krissy is the best. She bought me Red Stripe for the game tonight. It's going to be a game for the ages folks, a game for the ages. Go Cubs!

Later