Just Suck Like Everybody Else - What's the Point?

Coulda just sucked like many I have worked with 

It's Monday - sorry. I slept pretty well last night because I took a sleeping pill (following doctors' orders as I do 73% of the time). As when I have been sleeping I dreamt (though Spell-Check doesn't recognize "dreamt" as a word). Maybe Spell-Check knows that I mainly have nightmares and wants me to be more forthright. My nightmares last night were work-related. I think that is because my work (more specifically the parent company - The State of Illinois) is screwing me on my medical benefits that I have paid in since the beginning of my newest career. Come to think of it I have worked in the state of Illinois since the day that I began working back in the 1970's. Now I work FOR the state for the last six or seven years. Over ten years if you count my part-time work there too. I know the state is supposedly financial broken and the interest they made off of all my money (I imagine they used money markets and stocks and bonds and various other investments) should be enough to help. Instead, they pay people who work for the state their weekly pay (who they will screw out of their benefits later) to find ways to stone-wall me from getting my earned benefits. My latest battle (today) is with State Universities Retirement Systems of Illinois (SURS). Maybe if it were called MADAMS or MA'AMS is it would work properly.

The first barricade they place in my road (over a month ago) was to say that my doctors did not go back far enough on the dates of all of my doctor visits so I had to contact all of the doctors to have them send everything they have on my looniness AGAIN! Apparently that was fixed and now I get a letter from SURS that states that these benefit are based on age; therefor, under tha ACT governing the system, it is necessary that we verify the age of each participant who may qualify for benefits... We have reviewed your record and cannot find verification of your birth date..." Seriously? You have been money out of my checks for my retirement twice a month since I started and you have no idea if I am a legal citizen of age to work for the state of Illinois? Jeez, I wonder why Illinois is financially broke as it is crying. SO, today I will walk to the post office and mail a copy of my birth certificate an agency who has been taking my money and doing blog knows what with. I will use the pre-paid envelope tehy provided that came out of the money they have been taking from me that they cannot use to fund my benefits. Jeez, I wonder why I am sad and depressed most of the time!

I like the blog better for talking about things like the previous two paragraphs because I usually edit the blog before it is presented to anyone else. Often times I am too passionate when I speak and things escape past my lips before I can perform the editing process and it is too late. Maybe that is why people rarely hate deaf people - they have to think before they sign things.

I just turned on the Jim Croce station on Pandora and the first song came on was You Don't Mess Around with Matt Jim. Irony? Fate? Coincidence? Foreshadowing?

This past weekend I was cheered-up as Splenda and Andy (her dude) came up to this part of the state that is out to get me for a wedding of one of her high school friends. Even though we didn't see them too much, because of the wedding, it always does my heart good to see Splenda. I was really tired most of the weekend (because I am slowly losing my charge and I my dance-card was pretty full) but we went to lunch with them yesterday (even Fabio went) which was really nice. It is pretty rare that we can get all four of us together with works and schools and miles... It makes me smile just to know we don't hate each other yet. I also talked to my mom and dad yesterday so, I guess, other than my brother who lives in Hawaii, I talked to a great deal of my family. He has Hawaii - he is doing just fine!

It was also nice spending the weekend with some good friends. Friends and family are what it is supposed to be about I think. There are so many obstacles that get in the way of that but, maybe why that is why those times are so nice. They say that we appreciate the things more that we have to work for.

If I ever want to be famous - just before I die I am going to find a celebrity who is out of town and drown in their pool, I know it is very sad that Demi Moore's assistant had a party at her house while she was out of the country and a guy, who didn't know how to swim, drowned in her pool but why is that news? I know the answer is because celebrity reporters are whores and just mentioning a celebrity (even if they have nothing at all to do with the story) makes it news to some idiots and bloggers. We are so sensationalistically driven and we have the 24-hour news and entertainment cycle and billions of computers to fill with gossip.

I had better get some of my errands and chores done before that tired feeling starts to fog over me as it does. I opened up the fire-proof safe thingy to get out my birth certificate and I am going to send them: a copy of my United States of America Passport, my Department of State Certification of Birth, my Certificate of Citizenship and my Report of Child Born Abroad of American Parents. Hey, I was 2'11" and weighed 32 pounds when I was born. I was the Shaquille O'Neal of the baby part of the Army hospital!

Thanks for letting me get a few things off of my chest and onto my blog. I feel a little better after venting - if you're required to do community service or you get credit for doing that sort of thing I would say you can count this. If you need me to sign-off on it I will be happy to do that. I hope you have a great day - you deserve it! TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

These Blogs Are Making Me Thirsty!

 I will just go back to sleep for a bit - no problem 

It is 03:02 on Sunday morning and I have been in one of the scariest places I know for roughly the past hour-and-a-half or so - alone in my own mind. I think I am going to get ahold of Stephen King to see if I can check into his head for a few hours so I have some happier thoughts and maybe be able to get some sleep. I have a couple of different kinds of pills that they have given me to help me sleep but I thought I was tired enough to make it through the night; imagine me being wrong. I wonder if this is how King became the master of terror or horror or whatever it is that they call him. Maybe his novels are just outlets for his unsavory thoughts and nightmares? "Unsavory" isn't the right word - perhaps just "unpleasant." My eyes feel heavy so maybe I need to take one of those pills so my eyes can grow heavy and I can stop for the night (though it is closer to day than night almost). 3 AM - 4 AM is supposed to be "The witching hour" so I am right near the MIDDLE of that as it is now 03:24. It didn't really take me 22 minutes to write this so far; I went downstairs to get some water as I am parched. Perhaps that is my real problem; maybe I am just thirsty? This blog is making me thirsty! I am not sure why 3 - 4 is the witching hour but that is when ghouls and demons and witches and ghosts and bloggers... are supposed to be able to wander freely and are at their peak of nastiness. How do time zones effect that? Will we have to get used to an entirely different witching hour in Europe? Some believe that Midnight to 1 AM is the witching hour. Why can't we agree on even one thing as simple as this? I remember, when I first started blogging many moons ago, I used to write about this topic a lot. Maybe there is a book in there somewhere for me? Maybe that is where this has been leading all along? Do books still exist? I see people reading books on their tablets and such quite often - same thing just different incarnation I suppose.

Speaking of writing, I have been entertaining trying to get a writing job for a magazine. I am not sure what topic appeals to me the most. I like music. I like movies (saw two yesterday). I like people (quite a few anyway). Pretty much all aspects of entertainment appeal to me. "Entertainment" can encompass almost anything. I like sports. It should always be a dream of people to get paid for what they enjoy doing. I guess it should only be that dream until it becomes a reality. I am gonna work on this one I think. Cha Cha suggests I start with writing short stories. Perhaps. Maybe I should be an entertainment reviewer? This weekend I ate at a few restaurants, saw two movies and went to a concert. I don;t take much credence in reviews because we all have different tastes and just because I like it does not mean that you will like it and then you will think, "man, he has crappy taste so I will never read his reviews again" when, in fact, we may have just disagreed with the one thing I wrote and then you will never read any of my other reviews.Short stories that will be bought

This has pretty much been my life-long mantra 

It is now 03:49 so I will try to sleep away the last quarter of the witching hour. Here's a video to entertain you until I get back - don't worry it is not scary. I remember (I think) that I used to play this song a lot when I blogged before I worked nights and would be working right through the witching hour. I wonder how that chapter of my life will play-out? Life is so intriguing and mysterious isn't it? Maybe this song is kind of the Matt In The Middle anthem? I have now watched the video three times (coincidence) and now it is 04:00 (I am officially out of the witching hour) and I think I am still alive. I am going to sleep now that the demons have released me.

Is it just me or are George H. W. Bush and Robin Williams now doppelgangers? Now I am really going to try to sleep. Really!

It is now 07:37 and Cha Cha and I are sitting in the Tiki Room. I, obviously, am blogging again now. While I was sleeping again I actually had a dream (pretty rare for me though occurring more of late). I guess it was really a nightmare involving bullet-proof vests and someone complaining about me. I do not mind nightmares. I like stories of all kinds and, if I am having nightmares, that means that I am sleeping. Bring on the nightmares.

I had to run (I walked really) outside and check and fix the exterior garage lights. When Cha Cha tells me something wrong I have to go and fix it right away because, if I don't, I will forget and it will never get fixed. That one was, as it turned-out, relatively simple though I like to wrongly believe that I am just brilliant. Maybe Cha Cha has slipped me a mickey to make me seem like I have lost memory capacity and recall in order to remedy my terrible procrastination problem. That, I would say, has always been one of my biggest faults. That and, of course, my ruggedly handsome looks that intimidate others. Other than those, I am perfect.

I am tired of the rich and powerful keeping the rest of us down. Isn't that how revolutions and revolts begin? I am not calling for a coup or a revolt I am merely wondering why we, the people, let these rich and powerful a-holes get away with everything they get away with. I have fed into this when I worked for a bunch of rich a-holes. I am happy I am out of that situation. Thank you housing-market crash!

I am going to wrap-up for today. I think I will blog tomorrow. If you're looking for something to do to stay out of the heat I would suggest seeing Train Wreck in a nice cool theater. Don't go if you are easily offended with unsavory language and/or nudity. I think LeBron James was one of the funniest parts of the film. Of course, Amy Schumer is really good as always and was the best part of the movie. Thank you for stopping by. Try to stay cool today. I appreciate you coming by. Maybe, once my short stories are made into films, you will say, "hey, I used to read this idiots blogs a few years ago." TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Short and Sweet (tooth)

I cannot believe that is is already 14:08. I said I would blog today so I am gonna blog.

Last night Cha Cha and I and our buddy Greg and our great friend MADYM and a few others went to dinner and to see that Eagles' tribute band (One Of These Nights) that I was telling you about. The band was pretty good I have to say. I was very impressed how the singers sounded like the real Eagles band members. I was totally unimpressed with the lead singer until toward the end of the show when they did some of the songs that Joe Walsh was the singer on; he sounded a great deal like Walsh. He redeemed himself with me at the end. I would recommend seeing them if they are around. It was nice that is was only $3.00 per person, parking was free, it never rained and the company was we were with was the best.

Fabio and I just got back from seeing Ant-Man. It was pretty good if you like the Marvel films. Later Cha Cha and I are going to see Train Wreck. They really do try to keep my dance-card full. And I wonder why I am tired all the time. Jill says it's my medication but now I know the truth.

I had so many great things I had thought about that I was going to write about in the blog but I didn't write any of them down in one of my dozens of little notebooks that I carry and, now, I have forgotten them. So, I have to have some thoughts about what to write.

It is funny how I have brushed my teeth five to six times a day since my dentist appointment. Before the appointment I would brush them once in the morning and then once before bed. I wonder how long before I am back to brushing twice again, I imagine I will keep pretending like a good boy until my cleaning at the end of the month, I can understand the brushing after each meal thing - that makes perfect sense to me, Maybe I will brush every time after I eat and, being as lazy as I am with brushing, I will just eat less and lose weight. I should probably patent that weight-loss program.

I may blog again tomorrow because I feel like I am selling myself and the blog is short today (TWSS). I am not making any promises about blogging tomorrow. Splenda and Andy are here for the weekend (they are up for a wedding) so I don't want to lose any time with Splenda. TTTT (maybe)...MITM (out) TA!

If I Blog About Hair and Plugs is this a Hair Plug?

Yesterday I started the day off in a crabby mood and karma used her sense of humor, once again, to show me why I should not take things so seriously; she does that quite often to me as it turns out. I was using my little battery-powered nose hair trimmer to do what it was designed to do and, when I finished, I took it out of my nose as I am supposed to do according to the directions that I have never read (because I am a dude and dudes usually don't read the directions until the thing breaks). The part that was, just milliseconds before, inside my left nostril dropped straight into my mouth. Nobody can say that I am not doing my part with recycling. You're welcome environment and America! And, yes I am aware that was a very long (TWSS) run-on sentence a couple of sentences ago but I imagine karma will pay me back for that later too.

Tomorrow night Cha Cha is dragging me out to see some Eagles' cover band (One Of These Nights) at RiverEdge Park in Aurora. Cha Cha thinks I need mental stimulation all the time because my brain is aging faster than I am so she keeps me busy. I guess the story was really more like: our college buddy Greg asked if we'd be interested in going and we said "yes" because we like Greg and we like The Eagles but, I have more fun playing the victim. If the night ends-up sucking I am going to stick with the first story though so I have no blame in the MATTer. We may eat at Walter Payton's Roundhouse & America's Brewpub first.

The dentist (his name is Crentist) appointment was no fun yesterday. I wrote that previous sentence yesterday about three hours before the appointment with the knowledge that going to the dentist always is NO FUN! They kill your self-esteem with all of the things that you're doing wrong. Has anyone ever come away from the dentist with ALL good news and/or feedback? By your silence I am assuming the answer is, "NO!" It is today now (tomorrow from those previous sentences) and I had one cavity that is no longer a cavity and I am going back at the end of the month to get one of those cleanings that hurt like Hell. I like how they numb your gums up enough that you won't feel any pain at all until about an hour or two after you have been home. They don't want all of we victims patients scaring and upsetting the next victims patients in the waiting room. It pretty much hurt all night long so I took one of the sleeping pills that I am supposed to be taking every night but no voodoo doctor is gonna tell me what to do!

I should probably stop mentioning specific places and showing photos of items with their brand names to be seen by all who read the blog. Who is ever going to pay me to blog if I keep plugging all of their stuff, by name and likeness, for free? Maybe Cha Cha and my team of neurologists are right about my brain (or "left about my brain" - not sure).

At 04:11 I had two very distinct knocks (like on a wooden door) in my right ear. Did someone die? I think that is three knocks, right? Maybe it was Dawn and Tony Orlando didn't get his knock in? It was really creepy no MATTer what it was.

I think I am going to grow a beard before we go to Europe - starting today. I know it will be hotter and I see that, over the last few months while I have been battling with my brain, my brain has used the weapon of graying my hair as a mental tactic (which I kind of like - but don't tell my brain) so I am sure I will have that distinguished salt-and-pepper look when the beard arrives. I got the idea for growing the beard after watching the premier episode of The Jim Gaffigan Show last night (see - another free plug). It's a good show if you in my opinion. I would say that Gaffigan and I are about the same girth (though I believe he is taller than I am so it is a girth-to-height ratio thing) and his beard masks his double chin pretty well. I have darker hair so I may even have a better beard beard (that is my new term for a beard that hides your double chin). Beard beard comes from the term "beard"  from when a homosexual person has a heterosexual person as his/her "boyfriend or girlfriend." To me that is one of the most special relationships one can have. Kind of like Nell Harper Lee and Truman Capote had, hypothetically. Hey, her new book (Go Set a Watchman) comes out very soon (free plug). That might be great trans-continental travel fodder. Hey, if I grow a beard I can retire the nose hair trimmers.

Thank you for coming by; I hope I make you smile as much as you make me smile when you stop-by. Have a great day. I am curious if I will be able to blog when I am in Europe - I should probably find-out if I need something special to do that. They probably have cyber lounges and bars there, right? I will work it out. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

TV Sucks, Read Blogs (this one at least)

I really hate the commercials talking about the about animal cruelty that show us the cruelty. I realize that some people need to see it to believe that it is true but I think most of us know that animal cruelty exists. The newest one is with Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting from one of the worst shows in television history (The Big Bang Theory) showing baby seals being clubbed. There's also that one with Sarah McLachlan singing "Heart of an Angel" with the videos of sad and abused animals. We know that this stuff is going on - just tell us and sing or whatever. I don't need extra convincing - in fact, that is when I change the station (that word used to be channel). I just had to get that off of my chest. I am actually more of a DVR guy who doesn't watch commercials anyway.

I am going to take my own advise  - thank you blog!

While many were watching the baseball all-star game Cha Cha and I watched a couple of episodes of Happy Days on ME-TV. Television was so much better back then when we only had three networks. They had to actually try to make good shows. Today there are so many channels and nearly all of them are on all the time that they just put whatever crap they have and it is up to us to create our own networks by switching the channels all the time to find something worth watching. I bet more than 50% of the time people are watching crap that they never even really have interests in. I spend a lot more time these days with the television off - especially since True Detective sucks this season. The sophomore suck? I guess that is what blogging is for, huh?  It seems odd that someone who says he doesn't watch much television started today railing about commercials, baseball all-star games and how crappy programming is. And sometimes, when television is pretty good, it is being made by someone who is not who we think they are. Sometimes it is made by someone who is drugging and raping women who trust him and look-up to him (hypothetically).

I am going to try to turn the blog around because I think my despondence and border-line depression are coming-out in my writing this morning. I have always found that, if we don't like our attitudes, it is our responsibility to change them. I know so many people who cannot realize that they have poor attitudes. I am not sure if it is a blessing or a curse to be able to realize that you are becoming snarky. I think, at one time, I was snarkily-challenged. Maybe I am just dreading the dentist today?

It's odd how taking a few moments to pet a dog can change one's mood. Maybe I should blog about politics? No, that will never end well.

My Twitter Account is officially closed folks!

I am about 70% certain that I will delete my Twitter account today. I rarely use it and, all I get lately, are people "following" me who are trying to sell me stuff. If people are going to troll beneath my bridge I think maybe it is time to tear down the bridge and just stay on my side of the gully. I am 100% now since I took about 15 minutes figuring out how to and deleting my account. They make it a bit confusing because they want us all Tweeting - not me anymore!

I must be in a cleaning mood lately. Yesterday I did the yearly deleting of many Facebook "friends." Most of the time it is just because they are people that I rarely interact with on Facebook; I hope nobody takes it personally. If you want to remove me from your Facebook list I would be fine with that. Actually, I would be surprised that you hadn't done it sooner.

I am gonna end now. I am still tired and you're not supposed to blog when you are tried or crabby. Maybe that is something else, not blogging? I am sure the dentist will cure my attitude. Thank you for letting me vent today; I really needed you it appears. I hope you have a fantastic day. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

Like Pete Rose, I Am Still Around

I cannot believe I have not blogged for five days. I am not been feeling very well and we have had lots going on and insert another excuse here and add another lame reason here... I cannot believe how many things there are to do in life and then, throw in work, there's no time to breath. Seriously, there has been a lot going on but I could have found time to blog but I seriously have not been feeling really well again (please don't tell Cha Cha - it's not serious enough to worry her pretty little head about it - she has plenty on her plate without having to contend with worrying even more about me - I promise that if it were really serious, or becomes seemingly serious, I would/will tell her).

It's all ball bearings these days!

Our air conditioner has been out for about a week or so. We did not realize it until pretty recently because it has been cool enough where the windows just being open was very pleasant and we didn't need the air. So, I called the dude last Friday and he came out Saturday. He looked it over and said it was the flex capacitor or the fetzer valve or something (actually, I believe the word may have been condenser). He did not have one with him as he had two but the two calls before us needed them. It didn't really MATTer, as it turned out because they were each 1/6th horsepower and we are 1/4 horsepower so they would not have worked anyway. He got the part in yesterday and came out at 1600 and got it going. It was pretty hot here yesterday but, due to a storm passing in the early morning, the power was out in much of our neighborhood. So, even if he had gotten here before 4PM we wouldn't have known if it worked anyway because would not have been able to power it up. So, he got it done and I cranked the air down to 55 degrees (55 to stay alive) so it would be good and chilly by the time Cha Cha got home from work. It is now at a very cool 71 degrees.

I had my sleep study done (with the breathing apparatus) two weeks ago last night and I have still not heard back from anyone about getting my machine and/or mask deally. I called the sleep study place this morning and they told me that it is my doctor that should call me. I am not sure which doctor set that up for me. I think it was one of the neurologists but it could be my primary dude. I have a folder that I keep all of my medical papers in and there are A LOT lately. I think I may have to get several folders and separate them by doctor of which affliction they are related to or something.

I really haven't even been taking to many notes for the blog so I don't even remember what all I was going to blog about. I never realized how good my mind was until it started to vanish. I mist say that there is a lot less pressure not having to be the guy to remember everything. I didn't have to be the person to remember everything but, since I HAD a great memory it just made more sense I suppose. I am sure age is playing a role in all of this too so, combined with the brain problems, it just seems more pronounced to me.

I used this photo instead because it doesn't promote hatred

It is officially less than a month before I head back to the Motherland. Maybe it is the Fatherland? When do you use the one and when do you use the other? Okay, I found out the the United States is my homeland (because that is where I call home at this point in my life), Ireland is probably my Motherland because that is where my mother's family seems to be predominantly from and I guess Germany is my Fatherland because that seems to be my namesake (Father's) country. It is where the name Helser (from Holzer) was originated; it roughly means "woodworker" or "carpenter" - I am probably a direct descendant of that Jesus fella - wasn't he a carpenter? Searching for a photo of "fatherland" many of the pictures included a swastika in it because of a book about Nazi Germany entitled Fatherland. Perhaps I will stick with Motherland so as not to get lumped-in with that group of haters. I sure do get distracted these days - I am worse than Jeff (our dog). I went to a site called WikiTree and registered to try to find family stuff and got stuck there for a but registering and entering family stuff. It's free but I am sure my spam filter will fill-up greatly (even more) over the next several years of my life because of this.

I will be right back - the dryer is sounding it's bell and I need to fold the clothes before they wrinkle. That was one nice thing about the power being out - I didn't have to do laundry yesterday. BRB Okay, I am back. While folding the clothes I saw that I just washed Titanic Swim Team shirt. That probably wouldn't be a good shirt to take to Europe would it? Especially for the river cruise portion of the trip. Our first stop is Heathrow airport in London so even on the plane ride over and getting off in England it would probably be gauche, huh? Maybe I could wear in in Paris where we fly home from since gauche is a French word and I would be leaving anyway. No, I will probably leave that shirt here.

I am torn on the Major League Baseball All-Star game tonight. I hate award shows and all-star games... I did like these things as a kid and  maybe that is what they are mainly for. Like giving us a gateway drug so we become addicted for a lifetime? If I were in the major leagues I think I would find a way to opt-out of things like this. I would try to strain a muscle or pull a hammy right before the All-Star break or something if I made the team. The reason I am torn this year is that I was a huge fan of Pete Rose as a kid and he is part of the festivities (as an announcer) for the first time after being thrown-out of baseball. I know he broke rules but I feel he has paid his dues. But, they have found new evidence that he lied even more; he should have just come 100% clean at the beginning and (maybe) it would be over by now - probably not though. Aren't we taught forgiveness? He has said that if he had killed three people he would have been out of prison by now. I imagine a lot of that forgiveness stuff, like many things, is just jibber jabber. Just like monetarily wealthy people and politicians having different rules than the rest of us.

This famous "collision" occurred during the 1970 all-star game

I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. I haven't been to the dentist in quite some time so it will probably be an exciting visit. Is it just me or do a lot of dentists and dental assistants (and the other people running around those offices) seem like, no MATTer what you do, you cannot take well-enough care of your teeth to suit them? It is probably easy for them working there. It's like how a mechanic never seems to have car problems - they know all the secrets and have the special stuff that we regular people with cars and teeth don't have access to - I am a conspiracy theorist I suppose. It is one of the ways I entertain myself.

I am getting frustrated with my mind so I am going to stop now. I am trying to remember a few things and sort some of my medical things out and and am having difficulties with my mental hard drive. It would be nice if we could get brain / memory transplants the same way as we can upgrade our computers or get a new hard drive with more memory. Maybe I just need a memory stick to put in my ear - that's why they call it a memory STICK (stick it in my ear). Thanks a lot for stopping-in. Sorry I was gone for so long - I cannot promise that won;t happen again. I plan on being back here tomorrow morning though (my dentist appointment isn't until the afternoon). TTTT...MITM (out). TA!

Matt About Town (The Evanston, IL Edition)

That goes for blogging too I am afraid

I just realized that I have not blogged yet today. It is only 07:02 so I don't know why I thought that I had? Obviously, I still have days of slight to moderate confusion. I had quite a big day yesterday so maybe all the stimuli will take me awhile to completely process and file-away before I am ready to move-on to new things? Maybe if I could just let my mind rest for awhile it would get back to normal. This has always been the reason that I don't sleep well too I believe; I cannot shut my brain off. Perhaps it is overheating? One would think that I would be smarter that I am after 24/7 for over 51 years. I guess that comes back to the saying that "it isn't how hard you work rather how efficiently..."  I do realize that nobody's brains ever completely turn-off until death so maybe I should be careful for what I wish for, huh? I would just like to while away the hours conferring with the flowers once in awhile though.

I know this may come from The Department of Redundancy Department but I am really having a difficult time remembering things this morning - more so than usual. Maybe I will lie down again after I get done writing this. One of my dearest friends, Greg, is coming over this afternoon so we can go to lunch. Greg and I are alike in many ways and very different in many ways - I like him for both of those halves. I am really happy that the Cubs - Cardinals game ended the way that it did last night as I would have had to endure quite a subtle ribbing had the Cubs won three out of four of the games they just got done playing. There are only three games left before the all-star break and now the Cardinals meet the second-place Pirates. No MATTer what happen with the Cubs and the Bucks and the Cards - the second half of the season in the National League Central will be interesting and entertaining. These three teams are all playing lights-out baseball right now.

I always carry a pad of paper with me but maybe I will start carting my little digital micro recorder around with me too (or instead). I do like writing things down for some reason. Maybe I am just a traditionalist journalist?

Maybe something similar to this would be nice?

Evanston, IL is a really nice town. It is very vibrant and busy. It is right on Lake Michigan and, I imagine, it has something for just abut everyone. The yards are about the same size as our yard but I think they take a lot less time to mow (though I think they have somebody doing it for them). The houses take-up almost the entire lots. You could, literally, reach out of your window and shake hands with your neighbor reaching out of their window. Most of the homes near the lake, not surprisingly, are beautiful. I figure they must be very expensive and the taxes are probably more than most of us would want to try to afford. I realized it the houses must be very expensive when I saw a lot of the real estate signs showing the realtor as Sotheby's. I assume it is the same Sotheby's that does all of those hoidy-toidy art, jewelry, celebrity, collectible... auctions. I think I would prefer a small house on a lake in Wisconsin or somewhere quiet. Maybe on Golden Pond?

Walking around town yesterday I realized that I would be much better looking had windows never been invented. I suppose I would still see my reflection in water occasionally even if there was no glass. Maybe a lake house would not be such a great idea after all? I am not going to even get started with my disdain for mirrors. Maybe I should invent Disdained Glass Windows (patent/trademark/copyright... pending). I have decided to drop a few several LBs (that's how we hipsters say pounds) before the trip. I know I how to do it and I have before but I always end-up gaining then pounds back. I realize it is my fault because I jump off the wagon but I will lose twenty pounds faster than Jack Robinson.

Our big trip begins is 34 days. I called all of the credit card companies and our cell phone company a couple of days ago and told them that we will be out of the country next month so that we would not have issues with calling and/or getting our money. I told them the dates and they asked which countries we would be visiting and I got so excited every time I listed the five countries to the people on the other end of the calls.

I have some things I need to get done before my chariot arrives to whisk me away to lunch (probably salad for me). I hope you have a great day and are having the nice weather we are having in this part of the MIDDLEwest. Thank you, so much, for stopping by. Thank you, also, for coming back as often as you do and for the kind and thoughtful words. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!