A wild few days for Winter '08 here in Chicagoland. We started the day yesterday fairly mild for this time of year. I don't typically sit at work and stare at the little weather bug icon on my PC, but I do remember seeing the temperature as high as 50 during the day. In the afternoon, the temp started dropping, and by 6:00 pm, we were down under 10 degrees, the wind was howling, and snow was blowing all over the place and making it very tough to navigate the streets.
I don't mind winter that much. Truthfully, I don't think you can appreciate one season as much without the season before it, and I don't really ever care to live somewhere where the change between the seasons amounts to hot gets hotter. But when you jump from unseasonably warm to bitter cold in the span of an hour or two, that's a bit much to take.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
A few more thoughts
A couple of things on my mind that didn't seem to fit the tone of my last post, but that I am an the mood to babble about.....
I recently finished reading a book by Jim Walsh that was an oral history of the rock band The Replacements. While I never had the good fortune (or misfortune?) of seeing the band live, their albums have been among my favorites and always take me back to high school and college. The music is great on a historic level, and I've always thought that if there were justice in the world that the Goo Goo Dolls would have to give at least 50% of every penny they made to Westerberg for stealing his stuff. Anyway, it was a great book and very interesting.
Second thing....I just downloaded the new album by New Zealand singer/songwriter Liam Finn. Another band that I latched onto in high school was Crowded House. They are another band that I don't think gets the due they deserve. Liam is the son of CH leader Neil Finn -- who in my mind is up there with Westerberg as one of the greatest songwriters of our times. His son seems to be a chip off the same block. His voice reminds you of dad, and while his sound will remind you of the older Finn's work, its not just a carbon copy. If you're a fan of Neil, check out Liam's album. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I recently finished reading a book by Jim Walsh that was an oral history of the rock band The Replacements. While I never had the good fortune (or misfortune?) of seeing the band live, their albums have been among my favorites and always take me back to high school and college. The music is great on a historic level, and I've always thought that if there were justice in the world that the Goo Goo Dolls would have to give at least 50% of every penny they made to Westerberg for stealing his stuff. Anyway, it was a great book and very interesting.
Second thing....I just downloaded the new album by New Zealand singer/songwriter Liam Finn. Another band that I latched onto in high school was Crowded House. They are another band that I don't think gets the due they deserve. Liam is the son of CH leader Neil Finn -- who in my mind is up there with Westerberg as one of the greatest songwriters of our times. His son seems to be a chip off the same block. His voice reminds you of dad, and while his sound will remind you of the older Finn's work, its not just a carbon copy. If you're a fan of Neil, check out Liam's album. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Not the way I intended to start off, but......
I didn't mean for so much time to pass since my last entry, but these things happen. Its been a weird start to 2008. First off, in my neck of the woods, the weather has been up and down. In the 3 weeks since New Year's, we've seen temps as high as 60 and as low as -10. That's a pretty wide gap, especially considering the reputation that "Chicago in winter" has.
We've also seen perhaps the most interesting political race that I can remember. I try hard not to subscribe to the thinkings of either party, but if pushed for an honest answer, I'd have to say I probably lean more towards the Democrats than to the Republican side of things. Obama/Clinton in particular is interesting to watch because you have the chance for a truly historic candidate with either person. I'm less enthused about the Republicans, but still interested in how it will all play out. Its about 1 year away that we'll be swearing in our new President, and I hope that all this "change" that is being talked about becomes reality.
Sports-wise, I have to brag for a moment and say I said to my wife during the last Patriots-Giants game that I had a funny feeling the Giants will make the Super Bowl. I'd be lying if I said I was 100% serious, but I did say it. I am not a Giants fan, but my sister is an Ole Miss grad, and as a result I have followed Eli's career, and have to say I am happy for him that he has this chance to silence some of his critics.
Another thing that is on my mind tonight is today's news that actor Heath Ledger was found dead. I really am still a bit in shock on this one, but I have to say that it is a shame that someone who is only 28 years old, has a young child and what seemed to be a world of talent is no longer with us. I have seen several of his movies, but I can't say that I've watched any of them because he is in them. I have been impressed with some of work, although I have not seen his most acclaimed performance (Brokeback Mountain). I've tried to watch it a time or two, but just can't make myself sit through it. I am a huge Batman fan -- have been since I was 4 or 5 -- and so I am somewhat ashamed to admit that one of my first thoughts was "Oh, I hope this doesn't affect 'The Dark Knight'." I have heard that his performance in the movie is pretty much incredible, so hopefully it will stand as a tribute to his work, and the movie will draw a few extra patrons that might not have taken the time otherwise.
We've also seen perhaps the most interesting political race that I can remember. I try hard not to subscribe to the thinkings of either party, but if pushed for an honest answer, I'd have to say I probably lean more towards the Democrats than to the Republican side of things. Obama/Clinton in particular is interesting to watch because you have the chance for a truly historic candidate with either person. I'm less enthused about the Republicans, but still interested in how it will all play out. Its about 1 year away that we'll be swearing in our new President, and I hope that all this "change" that is being talked about becomes reality.
Sports-wise, I have to brag for a moment and say I said to my wife during the last Patriots-Giants game that I had a funny feeling the Giants will make the Super Bowl. I'd be lying if I said I was 100% serious, but I did say it. I am not a Giants fan, but my sister is an Ole Miss grad, and as a result I have followed Eli's career, and have to say I am happy for him that he has this chance to silence some of his critics.
Another thing that is on my mind tonight is today's news that actor Heath Ledger was found dead. I really am still a bit in shock on this one, but I have to say that it is a shame that someone who is only 28 years old, has a young child and what seemed to be a world of talent is no longer with us. I have seen several of his movies, but I can't say that I've watched any of them because he is in them. I have been impressed with some of work, although I have not seen his most acclaimed performance (Brokeback Mountain). I've tried to watch it a time or two, but just can't make myself sit through it. I am a huge Batman fan -- have been since I was 4 or 5 -- and so I am somewhat ashamed to admit that one of my first thoughts was "Oh, I hope this doesn't affect 'The Dark Knight'." I have heard that his performance in the movie is pretty much incredible, so hopefully it will stand as a tribute to his work, and the movie will draw a few extra patrons that might not have taken the time otherwise.
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