Day 120 - Z is for Zambrano

Zambrano: Kick a$$ Cubs pitcher - Lynn

Recently I went to the Cubs first night game of the season and caught this picture of Zambrano warming up. I thought it was a pretty cool pic, and would share it for my "Z" day!

Day 119 - Y is for Youth

"Youth is wasted on the young." - George Bernard Shaw

I never understood this quote til now.

Day 118 - X is for Lazy

X: The 24th letter of the alphabet

Does it bother anyone but me, that people type, "thx" versus thank you in either an instant message chat, or a text? I figure if I've done something that garners a thank you, that you should at least put the effort into typing out the 6 letter word of "thanks", or better yet, "thank you". When I see "thx", I can't help but interpret it as you're too lazy to thank me properly. I'm sure no one actually thinx they are being insincere when they type those three little letters, but well, I do. It's impersonal.

To add insult to injury I can't stand the decapitation of the Christmas holiday to "X-mas". I don't call your day of birth an X-day, and we don't celebrate the X-ster bunny, and we don't eat turkey on X-giving, so why does Christmas get shortened to "X-mas"? Again, I feel you take any sincerity, personalization or real meaning out of the holiday by truncating it to a one letter name. But again, that's just my opinion.

Along with Christmas, I randomly see the name Christine and Christina shortened to X-stine, or X-stina. Really? I wonder if X-topher Columbus Day should be re-named, I'm sure he wouldn't mind? Also, I ponder if Winnie the Pooh will ever stop asking X-topher Robbins for honey - give it up already Pooh-Bear! (Sounds pretty silly, huh?)

Another x-ample of the depersonalization of X is sports. We have walking shoes, tennis shoes, running shoes, and basketball shoes, and then we have X-trainers. What sport is "X"? I've never played X. I wonder if it's anything like baseball? Have you ever had to X-reference something? (I can't stand that either.)

I'm not sure how one lonely little letter has managed to depersonalize our society, but as for me, I will continue to type out my "nks" ending words, as well as my "Christ" prefixed words, and I'm pretty sure I'll always use the word "cross" in the term cross-train, cross trainer, or cross reference. I mean, if you wouldn't say it out loud, "Hello my dear EX-Stina, I bought you a pair of EX-trainer shoes today" - then why type it? Is it really that hard to type out a few accompanying letters in a word, instead of just the letter X?

Any defenders of the letter X out there? Go ahead, opinions welcome. (Be gentle!)

Day 117 - W is for Wrigley

Wrigley Field is one of my all time favorite places on Earth, and host to the Chicago north side team, the Cubs. I don't get wrapped up in statistics of games won or lost (although I prefer to see the white "W" flag flown) but rather, I relish in the nostalgia of a place nearing the age of one hundred years old.

I think of how the spectators have changed, from men in suits to the fans of today, and I often think of how the field itself has changed and grown. (I won't bore you with those details, but if you want more information check out: History of Wrigley Field). I think of all the greats who have graced the field and marvel at the talent that once this way came. I relish knowing that the Great Bambino called his famous shot here, at Wrigley (yep that's right New York fans!) and I think I can still hear Harry Carey leaning out of the announcers booth to sing the 7th inning stretch. Occassionally Harry's infamous, "Holy Cow!" calls still echo the friendly confines. I appreciate the red bricks and green ivy that adorn the building and I love being able to hear the crowds cheer from my apartment. I love knowing that even if I attend a game alone, I end up amongst friends.

Wrigley has stood the test of time for decades and offered millions a place to go and share a weekend game perhaps between father and son, or a week night date between loved ones. Wrigley has housed more talent then most stages, and I hope will continue to evolve and remain a Chicago mainstay for another hundred years to come. I love Wrigley, and am thankful I get to be a part of it's history.

Day 116 - V is for Vacation

Vacation: a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation - Merriam Webster

I was once told my life energy is like a pitcher of Kool-Aid. Like a childhood Kool-Aid or Lemonade stand, I dole out my Kool-Aid (advice, time, emotional and physical energy and efforts, etc) to others and watch my pitcher grow more and more empty each day. At one point, a girlfriend and I had an on-going catch phrase that it was "time to replenish the Kool-Aid". This meant that we needed to take a step back from our lives (or the people, problems or things in it), and take time for ourselves to refill our proverbial pitcher of self energy, or Kool-Aid. One of my favorite, and usually most expensive ways to replenish the Kool-Aid is to take a vacation! Some of my best Kool-Aid seeking trips have been...

London - the most educational trip and due to all the walking and touring, I lost one pant size!

Paris - The shortest trip, less than 8 hours

Disney Cruise/Bahamas - The most peaceful and relaxing trip...also the most scariest thing (swimming with stingrays!)

Ireland: The friendliest and funnest place, partly due to large consumption levels of Bulmer's Cider (me at Blarney Castle kissing the Blarney Stone)



Antigua: The most beautiful paradise I've seen to date

Graceland, Memphis Tennessee: The best road trip, was to the home of the King, Elvis Presley - picture of "The Jungle Room" inside Graceland

How do you refill your Kool-Aid?

Day 115 - U is for Umbrella

Umbrella: a collapsible shade for protection against weather consisting of fabric stretched over hinged ribs radiating from a central pole; especially : a small one for carrying in the hand - Merriam Webster

Ok, I have to brag. I have the coolest umbrella ever. Granted, I can't stand the reason as to why I actually have to use it (because that means it's raining) but the Mary Poppin's parrot head umbrella makes a rainy day a bit more tolerable. Also, as the parrot head handle is quite heavy, I feel protected from any evil doers as it can serve as a nice piece of hardware to knock someone out with! I think every one should have one.

Day 114 - Leapin' Lizards

Today I put my fears aside and put my hand in this "thing's" aquarium in order to give it fresh water. Of course, said "thing" did not want to move out of it's water dish so I could actually give it fresh water. Because I was afraid of it, I actually inserted a whole roll of paper towels into said aquarium to try to push the lizard out of it's water dish. He wasn't impressed and moved slowly.

Of course, said lizard didn't feel the need to let me work alone, instead he sat next to the water dish as I put my hand inside his home to remove it. He looked on with careful supervision. Once removed, I rinsed the bowl and filled it with water. Of course, said lizard still had not moved from his inspection point when it came time for me to replace my hand and the water dish back into the aquarium. I quickly settled the water filled bowl back amongst the wood chips in the lizard's dwelling place and he looked on with approval. That's when I became bold enough to actually pet him. Scaly little thing. Reptile fear conquered, until the next time!