Grutz says, "Hey, hey, it's spring. Holy cow!" or "I can run, but I can't hide."

It's opening day at Wrigley Field and April Fools can be damned!


And no, I did not get the announcer job at Wrigley.  But it's not for lack of trying and I'm now a youtube hit (by hit, I mean 30 odd views).  As I was saying, it's opening day here in Chicago.  Now, it's not as exciting as Cincinnati, where kids cut school and offices empty for the opening day parade, a tradition most befitting the oldest franchise in baseball.

The Reds Opening-Day Parade have been held for over 90 years!

Reds great Joe Morgan.

But back to the 2nd City, home of the Cubs and the White Sox.  So what does all this mean.  A long season of a game that involves very, very long periods of, well, nothing, followed, occasionally, with heart-stopping, fist-clenching, screams of joy or agony (depending on who you're rooting for).  It means spring is here, a little early this season, to avoid the fall classic not stretching into November (abomination).  The 96th opening day at Wrigley Field.  How 'bout that?  Now, every opening day is pretty important to any fan of any team, but for Cub fans, each season begins with the possibility, however remote, that the Cubs have chance to end the drought.  Now at 102 years. Plus a new coach and a lot of new faces, and some old, welcome back Kerry Wood!  Personally, this season will be a tough one.  As my wife and many you know, I spent many, many, many afternoons and evenings listening to 720 WGN radio over the years.  The joys of not having a TV for so many years.  As some you may or may not know, longtime Cubs broadcaster and legendary player Ron Santo (I won't even go into why he should been in the Hall of Fame, it's a joke that he's not.  It breaks my heart.) passed away in the off season.  No words can describe this loss.  It will be very, very hard not hearing the utterly-biased, randomly hilarious, exceptionally personal voice he shared with Cub fans. I get choked up just thinking about it.  As much as a successful season would be great, it would be bitter-sweet not having Ronnie around to celebrate.  This season is all about #10.  They're only flying his number today on all the flag posts at Wrigley.  Ok, I am tearing up, different topic. AS I POST THIS CUBS UP, 1-0 in the 1st!!!!!

Even across the pond, my past can still come back to taunt me.
I received a letter from the United Kingdom!  Oh joy!  AirMail no less.  Inside was a message from a very special friend of mine, Mr. Matthew Peckosh.  A message from my past.

This grainy photo from the Telegraph Herald has me on the left, with flag, greeting VP nominee John Edwards way back in the day.  Not included: the lovely word-bubble Matt drew professing my love for Ashton Kutcher. 

This goes way back our youth, specifically notes and Secret Santas at Wahlert High School.  The "correspondences" usually we're limited in topic to comical threats/witty questionable mockery.  I actually still have some these notes (I'm saving them to blackmail Matt.  Seriously).  This continued sporadically through our college years.  Of course we 'outgrew' this and I'm happy to say that it did NOT continue with the advent of electronic mail.  It just doesn't have that personal touch of iffy drawings, doctored clippings, and flat out lies scripted by our own hand.  But now the gauntlet has be thrown down!  It's on Peckosh!  So if any of you out there have any photos of MATTHEW PECKOSH, specifically from Nativity, Jones, or Wahlert get them to me ASAP!  Aston Kutcher indeed!

Lastly, what baby wants, baby gets.
In our brief time together as husband and wife wife and husband, I've learned a few things.  I can't say I've learned a lot, just a few things REALLY well.  Ok, one thing really, really well.  What ever makes Carleen happy, well, that's it.  If it makes her happy, that's what's going to happen.  Carleen wanted roasted veggies for dinner tonight, to which I reply, "Yes, dear."  Luckily, Carleen's request are all manageable and never violate any of my morals (such as making me do something silly* during Hawkeye football games).

Mmmmmmmmmmmm.  Carleen's wish is my command.

Infuse your IQ with some high-octane fuel!

To be added later........something came up!


Milan Kundera, born 1 April 1929, is a writer of Czech origin who has lived in exile in France since 1975, where he became a naturalized citizen in 1981. He is best known as the author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, and The Joke. Kundera has written in both Czech and French. He revises the French translations of all his books; these therefore are not considered translations but original works.


William Raymond Manchester (April 1, 1922 – June 1, 2004) was an American author and biographer, notable as the bestselling author of 18 books that have been translated into 20 languages. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal and the Abraham Lincoln Literary Award.

*Silly being just about anything involving me NOT watching the game.