Back from Chicago

I made it back from Chicago. What an exciting week it was. I saw Jeanne and Jeff perform at Jeanne's 40th Birthday show. It was a great time. I have a couple of clips from the show. I'll try to post them in the next few days.

I saw another show, took in a White Sox game, and ate some great food. I think I managed to put on some pounds despite walking several miles a day.


The best part of the week, however, was getting off the train back in Springfield where a couple of girls ran up and embraced my legs.

Off to Chicago

Tomorrow, I 'm riding the rails. I'm off to Chicago for a week. My job puts me in Chicago, and the timing couldn't be better. I'm going to be attending Jeanne Arrigo's 40th birthday show at the Speakeasy Supper Club in Chicago. Opening for Jeanne will be some dude name Jeff.

If I don't forget my camera, I'll try to get some shots for the blog. Maybe I'll be able to catch a video clip as well. My digital camera is pretty cool.

If you're not doing anything tomorrow, hop a freight train to the Windy City. You won't regret it.

The Stories

Misti's comment on the last post prodded me to post this link. It is a link to an NPR project called StoryCorps. Not only are there stories from 9/11 families, but there are stories from Katrina victims and stories about the trials and tribulations of ordinary Americans.

Misti is right about these stories. They are more important than a movie casting blame. They make us realize how important it is to look at these events with an unjaundiced eye. When the politicians err, real people pay the price.

Interestingly, ABC has issue a statement about the movie in response to the criticism. It says the movie is not a documentary, but a docudrama with fictionalized scenes. Is there any good reason to produce a movie about 9/11 with fictionalized scenes? I think Misti is right about this movie. I'll be doing myself a big favor if I don't watch it.

ABC Pushes Right Wing Myths

The New ABC movie "The Truth About 9/11" is not going to be the truth at all. It is purportedly based on the Report of the 9/11 Commission. However, some of the scenes directly contradict the report.

Any doubt about the true goal of this piece is swept away when one considers the who received advanced copies. Former President Clinton was denied a copy. Obfuscator-in-Chief, Rush Limbaugh, however, received a copy.

A key scene of the movie points to the failings of the Clinton administration. Former Anti-Terrorism Chief Richard Clarke points out the scene is entirely fiction. In fact, the scene is based on a right-wing myth that the Clinton administration had the opportunity to kill Bin Laden and backed down.

Sandy Berger never said the things his character says in this movie. The instance alluded to in this scene was called off by the CIA Director George Tenet who was appointed before Clinton was President. They could not confirm the intelligence, so he called off the attack on Bin Laden. There is no way to know if this call was right in this instance or not, but shooting missiles based on single-source intelligence is not a good idea.

There are more errors in this movie: enough to make you question the motives of the folks who produced it.

A prime time television analysis of this important event needs to be free from partisan stain. To foist this fictionalized piece on the American people is more than a disservice. It is un-American. It will only serve to deepen the divides that have grown so wide under the Bush administration.

**most of the links above are from Thinkprogress.org
**if you follow these links you will find them well-sourced

Racing Around the Bases

Here are three cousins racing around the bases Sunday at the new Busch Stadium. Heading into second is Parke. Willa is behind him, and Ben is trailing the pack in the little Pujols shirt.

It was a great day for the kids to be at Busch. Earlier, Albert had trotted the same path three times with the crowd roaring.

Stubby's Announcement

If you haven't met our pooch, I believe most of you have heard David and I talk about our little dachshund, Stubby. Check him out!

Climbing High

One of the traditions we have on our annual summer trek north to the land of cheese and cherries, is the climbing of Eagle Tower. This 75-foot tower sits on a 180-foot bluff looking out over Green Bay (the bay, not the city). In this picture you may not be able to make out the folks in the picture. From left to right, Me, Isa (she's hard to see if you don't click on the picture and see the large version), and my nephew Kaanan. Willa is up there but not pictured. I carried Isa all the way up and all the way down. She loved every minute of it. Shelly plays her traditional role of grounded photographer.

Cards vs. Cubs 8/27

Since they changed the game on Sunday 8/27 from 1:15 to 7:05 RWP has decided not to take the boys. He has four free tickets available on a first come, first serve basis. Call or email RWP or me.

Joke of the Day

While waiting to hear about Paulie's date with his new, online Cinderella, I thought I'd post a joke sent to me by lawyerly sister. (I'll post some of our vacation pictures as soon as I get a new camera battery.)

A Doctor, an engineer and a lawyer were arguing over
whose profession was the oldest.

The doctor said, "On the sixth day, God took one
of Adam's ribs and created Eve. So that makes Him a
surgeon first."

"Please," replied the engineer. "Before that, God
created the world from chaos and confusion. So He
was first an engineer."

"Interesting," the lawyer retorted. "But who do
you think created the chaos and confusion?"

Win a date with an Asian

Loufest was a great time for everyone, I even carried my golf partner to victory and won many beers and logo balls, but it got me thinking about something. I think I'm the only active member of this blog that isn't married. Couple that with the fact that I turned 34 Saturday, and I realized that I needed to take charge and make something happen. So at the urging of my friend Aimee I decided to take a stab at the on-line dating scene. As some of you may know, quite some years ago I had a terrifying experience with a girl I met through a personal ad, and ever since then I have vowed never to attempt anything even remotely similar to that again, but drastic times take drastic measures. Anyway I have decided to let you married folk have a taste of what it's like in the on-line dating world.

I signed up Saturday on match.com (it had a picture of Doctor Phil so I figured it had to be respectable) and wrote a funny little profile to try and bag my internet babe. Well it's been two days in and I'm proud to say that I've already had someone showing some interest. In fact I'm so exited about it I'd like to share the e-mail she sent me: Her name/handle is pussymama1 (I'm not making this up) and her message is a follows:


Hello Dear

How are you doing i do love your profile and everything about you,you look so nice and am sure your way of living will be good enough to live and get together with.Well I'm Jennifer M. Sime.I'm pretty much outgoing person and Honest! unpretentious, low maintenance, easy going. I enjoy outdoor activities, skiing, swimming, trips to the beach..I'm from Calabasas Hills, CA.I have Degree in Business Adminstrator.I have a kind sense of humor,pretty much outgoing person and Honest! unpretentious, low maintenance, easy going. I enjoy outdoor activities, skiing, swimming, trips to the beach and love to laugh and to make that special someone laugh also. I am very sincere in finding true love for a life time and am a very loyal Lady . I am very easy going and have a great sense of humor. I am also a very deeply passionately romantic lady but can be with only that one in which I will share all life with.i like to do all the normal things that a human likes to do. I want to find my best friend and lover wrapped up into one. I guess best friend and lover wrapped up into one really doesn't describe it the way I would like. I want to meet that life partner that I can not wait to wake up in the morning to see or get home from work to share smiles, laughs and good conversation. I want to be able to pick up the phone at work and tell that special somebody what the goofy person in the next office over just did. I would like to meet that one person that will love me as much as I love them. And show each other the love in little special ways. Like a card for no reason or cook you some soup when you are feeling under the weather. .Am the only Daugther of my Late parent they died in an auto accident in the state on 20th of july 2004 since then i relocate to stay with my Uncle in Norfolk but he treated me bad and he even tried to rape me several time when he is drunk so i then ran away from him before he ruined my life .so i decide to travel to West Africa country to meet a bosom friend of mine in Nigeria which is the place am at right now but in getting here she fell ill of malaria and i have to rush her down to the Hospital for better treatment and help her financially by paying her bills and medication which makes me to get broke now.but the problem is that am owing the hotel i lodge into some money and the hotel manager seizes my passport and my return ticket that i must pay for the bill before i can get out of here. So I would like to help me out with some Money and even i don't if you could allow me to stay there with u for a bit when i get back to the states.because I don't want to stay with my uncle anymore.Tell me about you You sound nice.!!!.

Love Jennfer



So what do you think? I thought I would never find love, but now I've I got new hope thanks to pussymama1/Jennfer (Jennfer?). I'll keep you guys up to date on my new internet girlfriend, but right now I have to go clear a spot on my couch and in my bank account cause pussymama is coming to town.


Love Pal.. urr Paul



ps- is malaria contagious?

LOUFEST!

TOMORROW!

BE THERE!

Or we'll get drunk and curse you.

Cool Colette

I emailed Boz and family to inform them of the festivities at Lou's house on the 22nd. Boz replied with this lovely smile. Colette already has her daddy wound tightly around her pinkie finger.

I think we'd all like to see more pictures of the kids. It's been awhile. MD and family are sure to bring some great pictures back from Disney. It will be fun comparing the pictures of the kids with those already posted on the blog. So, everyone post more pictures of the kids!!!!

Hiatus

Some of you may have noticed the dearth of posts on the blog lately. I have been stretched thin over the past 4 - 6 weeks. In the interim, I made an enjoyable pilgrimage to Kansas City (Cerner-ville). While in KC, I visited several of our faithful readers. I saw the mighty T-Bones (best baseball team in KC) with Andy and his family. I watched DLS's daughter play some softball. I ate some wonderful ribs at Gates with Paulie.


I have also been working long hours and sleeping short ones since we've upgraded our software at work. Hopefully this will start to settle down, and I'll find some time and energy to blog.


This weekend the women have abandoned me. I planned to fill the void by playing lots of golf, but the weather was uncooperative. Instead I'll use the time to get going on the blog again.

I do want to plug Lou's party. He's planning a party on July 22nd. If the party is anything like last year, it'll be a blast. Jeff might skip the golf this year though. I only have one suggestion for Lou. Don't do all the food this year. It was delicious, but you guys don't need to do all that work. Just getting everyone together is hard enough. This year, I'm bringing the lyrics to "Two Hangmen."

One last thing I'd like to ask. Will you say some extra prayers for folks who have cancer? My Dad has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and there are lot of folks, young and old, out there fighting this difficult battle. Keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.

Joke of the Month

What do the Cardinals and Cubs have in common?

Neither have a won a World Series in their new stadium.

Calling All Kiss Fans.........

Or anyone interested in busting a gut. Watch tonight's rerun of last night's (damn I hate apostrophes - is that correct?) The Daily Show. There are some hard-hitting interviews with Kiss tribute bands that are not to be missed.

Fill in the blank

Via the good doctor, what word is missing from this CBS headline?

Run Don't Walk . . .

Don't be the last guy on your block to buy this. The word is out. This is his best effort since Graceland.

By the way, when the Graceland tour hit the Fox Theater in St. Louis, Howdy and I were in the very top row. It was awesome. The air up there, however, had a very strange odor. For some reason it reminded me of the bedroom JP shared with his brother during our high school days.

Joke of the Day

A Chicago family of Cubs fans heads out to shop for the youngest boy's
birthday. While in the sports shop, the son picks up a Cardinals
jersey and says to his older sister, "I've decided to become a Cardinals fan
and I would like this St. Louis jersey for my birthday."

His big sister is outraged by this and promptly whacks him upside his
head and says, "Go talk to Mother!"

"Mom?"

"Yes, son?"

"I've decided I'm going to be a Cardinals fan and would like this
jersey for my birthday."

The mother, outraged at this, promptly whacks
him and says, "Go talk to your father!"

Off he goes with the Cardinals jersey in hand and finds his father.

"Dad?"

"Yes, son?"

"I'm going to be a Cardinals fan and want this jersey for my birthday."

The father then proceeds to whack his son in the back of his head and
says, "No son of mine is ever going to be seen in THAT!"

Back in the car and heading home, the father turns to his son and says
"I hope you've learned something today."

The son says, "Yes, Dad, I have."

"Good, son, what is it?"

The son replies, "I've only been a Cardinals fan for an hour, and I
already hate you Cub bastards."

It could be. . . It might be . . .

Let's see if Andy's still reading this blog . . .


This man hit 14 home runs in April.





This team hit 14 home runs in April. I guess they're not getting many free Krispie Kreme doughnuts this year.

Another Saturday Night

If Robbie Fulks comes to a venue near you, do not miss it!! Roy, Shelly, and I went to the Underground City Tavern last night to see Robbie. He was unbelievable. In fact, the whole night was quite interesting. Before the music even started my wife was holding some woman's giant penis.

Springfield songwriter Tom Irwin opened the show. His folk tunes infused with stories and humor provided a nice start.

Robbie Fulks and his band were next. We knew we were in for a treat when Robbie, his bass player, and his lead guitarist warmed up with a jazzy version of "Sleigh Ride." The musicianship in the show was incredible. At one point, during a tribute to the great Buck Owens, they were taking request for Owens' songs. They started a request, "Act Naturally," and Robbie determined it was too low. He said, "Let's go to A." And without a pause the band jumped keys together and kept rolling.

Robbie is a fantastic singer with an amazing range. Even though his lead guitarist was excellent, Robbie was an even better guitar player. The bass player was excellent as well, displaying some obvious Jazz influences.

The music was a mash of Country, Rock, Bluegrass and Jazz. He also did a rap when he blew a string on his guitar. The band kept on playing the song while he rapped about changing the string. It was hilarious and impressive.

So go see Robbie! And take your wives! They will love it as much as you will.