Those Aren't Pillows!

Actual security photo of us 

Yesterday was sure a very full day. My buddy Greg and I went to Chicago and most of it made Planes, Trains and Automobiles look like a training video. We started at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora. It used to be Walter Payton's Roundhouse but the Payton family pulled out awhile ago. We had lunch and had a couple of beers to start off our journey. We both had the fish tacos which were really good. One thing that I have never seen on fish tacos before and, I have had lots of fish tacos, were shredded radishes. I like radishes but I prefer cabbage on my fish tacos. The radishes weren't bad but red cabbage is better in this venue I feel. So, we got done with lunch and drove over to the train station. We were pushing the time a bit so I dropped Greg at the station so he could get the train tickets and I drove to the back of the parking lot to get one of the last parking spots in the lot. Greg called me and told me to bet the Cubs tickets he had left in the car. I heard him say "they are in the door." I parked and got the ticket to display on the dashboard and grabbed the tickets out of the door. It seemed like we were really pushing it so I ran the nearly quarter mile to the train. I made it and met Greg at the train. I handed him the tickets and he said "what are these?" We looked at the papers and they were orders for tests that my doctor had given me in November. I don't take his stupid useless tests because I know they just like soaking money out of me and my insurance company. So, we walked back to the car to get the papers that were near the center council in the 4Runner. Greg suggested maybe we drive to Naperville to catch up with the train. But, we decided to try to make it back to the train on a long shot. So we started jogging back to the train as all of the workers were getting on the train. One of the workers saw us chugging back and started yelling words of encouragement and singing the theme to Rocky. His inspiration helped us get onto the train. I felt good that he likened us more to Rocky and not to Forest Gump.

We got the whole train ride from Aurora to Union Station in Chicago to cool down for the next leg of our adventure.

We arrived in Chicago and wandered kind of aimlessly in the small city of Chicago to try to get to the El / Red Line (elevated train). We thought we knew where we were going but we got almost to the lake (Lake Michigan) before we decided that we were thirsty. What do you know - Miller's Pub on Wabash. We had a couple of beers there and decided to try to get to the Red Line (the thin red line) and head to Wrigleyville. We decided to use the GPS on my phone to get to the Red Line and found that were only about two blocks from it when he first got off of the train. Luckily I had some shower curtain rings to sell to keep funding our escapades. We finally got to Wrigley Field and realized how thirsty we were so we went to The Cubby Bear and had a few and then headed over to Slugger's for a couple more. I guess the game had already started because it was on the television in the bar. We missed the Angels scoring five runs in the first inning. We finally went to the game and grabbed the first seats we could find - it was a Wednesday night game so there were plenty of seats close that were vacant. We saw a lot of action (including a Pujols home run - I think Josh Hamilton had two or three dingers too). The final score ended up 13 -2. I wonder if I had the Angels in the thirteen run pool. My Cardinals are in town tonight. I hope the Cubs' bats are still tired.

So, we left the game early after arriving late because we were thirsty. By the way Greg - the beer that I bought you while you were in the washroom was an Old Style (full disclosure is important for future trust). Oh, I forgot - we (I will take half of the blame because we are a team) spilled a lady's $15 triple shot of Captain Morgan and Coke. That was after we stole her and her husband's seats though we gave them to them right when they arrived . Greg offered to buy her another one but she refused. I brought the souvenir cup home as a trophy to mount on my wall.

There is so much more to write even though this seems like a lot already. I am going to finish for today because you don't stop by here to read an encyclopedia. I will just make this a cliff-hanger so you will come back tomorrow to read the exciting conclusion of a hero, his sidekick (I am the sidekick) and their bumbling adventures.... stay tuned.

Also, we recorded the new Dirty Laundry Podcast and I have to get it edited but I have been too busy defiling Chicago and most of the western suburbs. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

The blog is short, fat and I'm proud of that.

Happy birthday to my very good friend of nearly forty years John Roehlk. Also, happy birthday to my non-friend of my whole life Tom Hanks. I like Tom Hanks but he doesn't know of me just so you don't think we are feuding.

We are supposed to record Dirty Laundry Podcast tonight but Cha Cha, just a moment ago, got a message that she has to get something done for work expeditiously. She is starting to use terms like Ethernet so it may be getting serious. I think we'll still record tonight. I want to work-out today too so maybe when I get done with this blog I'll work-out while she is finishing with her paying gig for today. Thankfully, tonight is my Saturday morning (right now is my Friday night (Frinight) because last night was my Friday) so I have some extra time today. Tomorrow is the Cubs game. The offer is still open to buy Greg and I some beers in Wrigleyville if you're gonna be down there tomorrow afternoon/night. I cannot believe people aren't jumping at this opportunity. I am not really rooting for either team tomorrow but I will be silently rooting for the Angels. I just want the Cardinals to win the National League Central so they can work their way back to the World Series and if all of the teams in that division lose except for the Cards that makes it easier for that to happen.

I have taken about a four hour break between that last paragraph and now and it is now time to start the podcast. I was working on the show prep most of that time and we went to lunch. I guess this may be one of the shortest blogs I will have written. I will probably not write tomorrow since I will be at the game. So have a nice 30+ plus without me. TA!

X-Rated Blog!

Happy Monday!!!! I love Mondays!

I am going to the Cubs' game in two days. I enjoy Wrigley Field and even though my Cardinals (yes, they are MY Cardinals) won't be there Albert Pujols will be there and he's a pretty good player. Also there will be Josh Hamilton. I have seen both of them play a couple of times but they were both in different uniforms then. I probably won't root for anyone. I will be there for the beer and the ambiance. I am going with my very good friend with benefits Greg Weindorf. Thankfully, sex is not one of the benefits. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Greg will be rooting for the Cubs. Not that there's not anything wrong with that. We are probably going to take the train. I have never taken the train to a Cubs' game before - seems very metropolitan to me (not a Mets reference though that seems trainy too though I tend to think more of the Yankees than the Mets when I think train). It's a night game and we are heading down early to do the whole Wrigleyville bar thing - another great reason not to drive. I may wear my Montreal Expos' cap. Let me know if you're gonna be down there and we'll let you buy us a couple of beers. You'll have great stories to tell your grandchildren.

The other night a guy got hit by a train in my MIDDLEwestern town (yes, it is MY town). People getting hit by trains in MY town happens much more often than you might think. What doesn't happen that often is that he lived and only received a fractured forearm. I hope they took some of his blood. I smell one of the X-Men here. If you know this dude have him get ahold of me. I'd love to have a dude who lived through being struck by a train on Dirty Laundry Podcast. Hey, if the episode stunk he could say he lived through two train wrecks. We are going to record the new podcast tomorrow night it appears. You're as lucky as a dude who lives through being hit by a train.

I heard that Mulder and Scully are going to be together at Comi-Con this year. That's pretty cool. I wish I were in San Diego. I doubt that I would go to Comi-Con - I just like San Diego. X-Men and X-Files - this has turned into an X-rated blog today.

You know what one week from today is don't you? Twinkies will be back on store shelves. Do you think this was just a huge marketing ploy? I don't think I have EVER seen this much hype for a snack cake. With the movement in the world, America at least, for healthy eating and good nutrition this could be a way to promote poor food and get A BUNCH of free media coverage. There are probably idiots all over the world reporting and blogging and talking about the sponge cakes' return. I am getting hungry for a Twinkie just writing this and I don't think I have had a Twinkie in maybe twenty years. And, who decided to make their mascot a cowboy?

I gotta get some stuff done before I head to work. Have a great Monnight. Thanks, as always, for stopping in. I will let you know when the podcast is ready. I am sure I will blog again tomorrow. Well, I am not SURE but I think I will. I am not 100% sure of very many things really. Maybe about twenty or thirty things but this is not one of them. TTTT...MITM (smiling for Monday) TA!

Not My First Producing Job!

The venue is booked (pictured above)

I have to be at work in a little over two hours so I can write a short blog.

Cha Cha and I went to The Hillside restaurant today to discuss the catering of the food for Splenda's wedding. We are kind of like general contractors and Splenda is our boss. A couple of weeks ago we booked the venue. Maybe general contractor is a poor analogy because we are the ones paying too. We are more like producers and Splenda is the star of our upcoming feature to be released in May. Cha Cha seems to be working around the clock on the wedding. At least while she is not sleeping and/or working. She's a great mom and and a task-master and wants this to be perfect for Splenda. Task-master is a compliment by the way.

After we met about the menu we were hungry so we went for lunch. On the way to eat we decided to stop at one of the local supermarkets in hopes that they had wine tasting; they usually have them most weekends. They did and so did we. Then we went to lunch. We went to Sycamore to Taxco Mexican restaurant. For some reason, while we were there, Cha Cha started asking me to say things in German. I think it started when the people at the table behind Cha Cha were speaking very loudly and she mentioned that I should teach her German so we could talk and nobody around us would know what we were talking about. There was a couple and a small child behind me and when they left, as the man was walking by our table to leave, he said to me in German have a nice day. I laughed and as he spoke and I said to him guten tag mein freundin to which he said danke shon and I said bitte shon. By the time he had reached the door we were both almost shouting and we were both laughing. I bet people don't come to a Mexican restaurant in Sycamore, Illinois and hear to guys speaking German too often. I knew six years of German would come in handy one day. This isn't exactly what I had imagined but it works.

Dirty Laundry Podcast goes back into production this week. I am happy with that. I really miss doing the show. Maybe it will be less aggravating with the new computer that will be used exclusively for the show. We had outgrown what we were doing and it probably won't be long before we outgrow this next phase too but we want to grow the show and there are pains with growth. There are going to be some changes with the show but nothing major. Stay tuned for more details.

Time flew and I have to get ready for work. Still no word on the boat. Three more days and it is my next move. Have a great Saturnight. I don't know if I will blog tomorrow but I am sure you will live without it. If not have a great rest of your weekend. Thanks, as always, for stopping in. TTT?...MITM (aus) YA!

Jerks and Racists! Intolerant of Intolerance.

I cannot even believe it's Tuesday already. I was kind of dreading work tonight for fear of boredom but things changed and I switched my assignment to one that will be a bit more exciting. Some people prefer boredom I think which was why I could switch. What's boring to one is not boring to another always. I am glad everyone is different because if everyone were like me I would be lonely; I am pretty sure that I would drive me crazy sometimes if I knew me. This is probably your Friday so congratulations to you! You may even have today off with your holiday yesterday. Even though I worked Cha Cha and I got to go out for dinner before I went in to work. It was nice because the rest of the country was sitting waiting for dark so they could see fire in the sky so it was a fairly quiet dinner. I had a great jerk chicken salad - we are what you eat. There was an Asian couple there and a Russian girl for sure - makes senses. We were the huddled Mattses.

Did you hear about that ding dong who is on Big Brother who got fired from her real job of five years because of her comments on the stupid show. The only time I have ever seen anything to do with Big Brother was when Jimmy Hughes was on the show on Yes, Dear. I wish reality television death soon. I do like Survivor for some reason. I believe it is my travelling heart and I love to see all of the locales, customs, people and animals... from other countries. I liked The Amazing Race for the same reason but I am done with that show because it is always pushed back by football and then the DVR records like 45 minutes (3/4) of 60 Minutes and then ten to fifteen minutes of The Amazing Race. Anyway, digression being done, GinaMarie Zimmerman (yes, GinaMarie is one word) is was a pageant coordinator for East Coast USA Pageants, Inc. until her racist comments from the show were heard by her bosses. She said that "welfare is just nigger insurance"among other things. I am sure she will be able to get a job at Southern USA Pageants, Inc. if there is such a thing. I bet Paula Dean could be a judge there. I would have said KKK Pageants, Inc. but it's hard to judge models when they are all covered in sheets. It always amazes me when I hear of racism like this still exists. Maybe "amazes" is the wrong word. Saddens me is more what I mean. I think I have friends from almost every: religion, race, sexual orientation, creed... on the planet and I just cannot wrap my head around this kind of ignorance and hatred.
I called to get our boat out of storage last week and the dude said that he would figure out what the storage fee was and give me a call back. I have not heard back from him. Should I be concerned? Maybe someone stole my boat or he had a fire or something. I will give him until Tuesday and then call him again or maybe just show up at his house a couple of towns over. He insists on cash for the storage so I am guessing he doesn't report it as income (that's between him and the Internal Revenue Service) so I always have that card up my sleeve if I need to play it. I am sure you know by now if you know me or listen to Dirty Laundry Podcast (returning very soon) or are a regular Matt In The Middle reader that I have an active imagination and ALWAYS over-think everything. Probably why I am on blood pressure meds. I have always tried to look three moves ahead in life like I do when playing chess. More on this later one way or another. Maybe he is just busy but the decent weather is now here and who knows how long it will last given the recent weather in the MIDDLEwest.

Thanks a lot for stopping by. I hope you have a great rest of your Friday and a super Frinight. I think I need to calm down; I got myself fired-up with those last two paragraphs. I am very intolerant of intolerance. Don't worry the irony is not lost on me. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Happy Blog of July!

               John Rzeznik Goo Gooing It Up 

What a great time last night. This was the first time I have been to Ravinia Music Festival and it is a great venue. It's kind of like a huge block party or a giant tailgate party with Matchbox Twenty and The Goo Goo Dolls sprinkled in there. And last night there were many sprinkles sprinkled in there but I have never sweated things like that; those are the things that add spice and flavor to the stories and memories for me. One of my best times I can remember in my adult life occurred in hard rain and it was just now two months shy of being twenty years ago. Not Matchbox Twenty years ago but calendar twenty years ago. It is not completely 100% accurate to say that I have never been there before because I was right across the street a couple of times and never even knew it. I have been to the Chicago Botanic Garden and Ravinia is hidden behind a bunch of houses almost directly across the street. Ravinia even uses CBG's parking lot for overflow parking for sold-out shows like last night's.

Today is The U.S. of America's birthday by most accounts. There, of course as there is with everything, debate on if this is really U.S.A.'s birthday but I am sure someone as old as America doesn't really care even if it remembers the exact birth date either just as long as we remember her once a year. Happy birthday youngster. 237 is pretty young as far as counties go in this world. We were given the option of taking tonight off without having to use a vacation day but I decided to work. I took the last holiday off when we got this option (Memorial Day). I will work tonight and also get paid for holiday pay. I wouldn't do anything else tonight anyway so may as well bank some coin. I cannot believe how hip I am after last night's concert. Do they still use words like hip or does using that word make me not hip - I think that was rhetorical.

We got home about 03:00 (I must be lonely) and I got up at 09:00. I will definitely have to take a nap in before work. I just hung up the second hammock and it's a pretty nice day but I am afraid the sounds of: lawnmowers, people splashing in the pool and screaming next door and the birds chirping all over our backyard would give me problems. I guess I could stick Roz in my ears? Decisions, decisions.

The sign wasn't really that clear to me

I added some photos of last night's concert on my Facebook page if you're interested. That sign that said "no cameras or audio/video equipment" didn't applied to me. I am uploading a video now too but it is taking a long time. I should have plugged into the Ethernet I suppose because the Wifi takes longer than it should sometimes. I have lots more photos and videos that I may post at another time but nobody else generally cares about too much of that sort of thing I have found. It's more so next week I can remember what I did last week.

I think I am going to get a few winks and then Cha Cha and I will get something to eat before I go to work. I bet our choices will be somewhat limited given the birthday festivities tonight. Enjoy the rest of you day and your fireworks tonight (either literal or figurative). Thanks a lot for stopping in. TTTT (most likely)...MITM (tea partying out) TA!

Nobody Remembers Cougar

I have to get dressed soon so this will be very quick. We are headed to Ravinia Music Festival to see Matchbox Twenty and The Goo Goo Dolls. I am going with two of my best GFF's; I am so metro-sexual (Mattro-sexual). It is kind of chilly and rainy but I'd rather that than 100 and humid! I know we are gonna have a great time.

It looks (sounds) like Dirty Laundry Podcast is going to be back soon. I think I was just like Cougar in Top Gun - I was "holding on too tight." Everybody always remembers Maverick but nobody ever remembers Cougar. Remember Maverick was #2 while Cougar was still around. Not sure if we are gonna air the one we recorded as a "lost episode" or just scratch it. The things we talked about are already dated even though it was like two weeks ago so we'll see what happens.

It just now started to rain again. Ravinia is almost two hours away and the concert starts in five hours so who knows what will happen. It does seem to be getting nipplier out too. Third of July and I am going to be wearing a sweatshirt and maybe a jacket. Still on the fence with the whole shorts/jeans thought though.

Time is out. I have to get cracking. How can I yell at Cha Cha for holding us up if I am part of the problem? It's the smaller things in life that make it fun! Have a great night and look for us if you're gonna be at the concert. I will be the one who looks like Bosley with Sabrina and Kelly (could use a blonde to play the role of Jill / Farrah Fawcett or Kris / Cheryl Ladd) if you're gonna be there. Why do I still remember the names of Charlie's Angels? Answer - puberty!

TTTT (probably)...MITM (call sign Cougar) TA!