What's happening in this world

1) The NHL draft party was a very fun experience. For free, I got to take my picture with the Stanley Cup, the best trophy in sports. I also did a combine, where I tested my jumping ability, puck handling, slap shot power, shooting accuracy, and passing. The centennial museum truck was pretty cool with videos, classic sticks, jerseys, and other memorabilia. Inside the United Center, I got to try on the new Adidas jerseys and have my own Upper Decker hockey card made. The only annoying thing was every line was 45 minutes to an hour.

2) These parades this weekend are really embarrassing. So many people have no idea what love is. It's not having perverted feelings and acting on selfish desires. It's about sacrifice and deciding to value someone more than one values themselves. And the funny part is that those people who support these actions become the most hateful people in America when anyone disagrees with them. The very definite of hypocrisy.

3) I have been advised of being petty negative about my teams. My response is what else can I do? But no team has ever let me down like the Mets of this season. I wanted a championship this season. After the hell of the last two years, this was the time. They had the team to do it. Between the injuries, bad fundamental playing, burying their best prospects in the minors, more injuries, bizarre lineup decisions, and even more injuries, the season died in the middle of June. Though I can say with confidence I knew by late May that it was over. The fact that I want the disgusting Jets to start soon is just pathetic.

4) I was at the Elgin ribfest last Sunday night. I went alone, as I usually do. I sat down in the tent to chow on some ribs from Smokin Joe's in Ohio. A guy sat across from me, and soon, his girlfriend or wife joined. She looked at me inquisitively and eventually realized she'd cut my hair at SportClips. Within a few minutes, she tried to hook me up with her cousin. I haven't met her yet, but from the description I got, I'm thinking she's obese. Plus she has cats and loves comic books. Let's just say I'm not overly optimistic about this.

5) I'm convinced there is not one good single woman in the entire Midwest. Convinced.

6) I finally watched "The Big Lebowski." That was just weird. I don't see what the fuss was.

Leave him the dust too.

Five years isn't enough to get over getting a heart broken. I want it to be over. And I'm very willing to move on. But that girl, the way she abandoned me for no reason. Damn it, I feel like I'm over her walking with no words and no warning. Yet as soon as I find out she's with another guy, all I can think to myself is "You fucking moron. She's gonna fuck you over like she did to me." I hope this latest clown gets suckered in like I did. So I left a message and blocked his stupid self. I know better. He does not.

Hit it on a weekend

Definitely some catching up to do.

1) Pittsburgh is a fine city to visit, if you're planning on being there for 2 days. There just isn't a whole heck of a lot going on. It's one of those places where people don't move there, but people rarely move away from there.

2) PNC Park is probably now the best or second best baseball stadium I've ever been to. The sightlines, the atmosphere, the prices, the food, the intimacy. It all comes together incredibly well.

3) Sometimes I wish there had been another Master's program I had interest in besides HR management. Because the HR rep in my company in an absolute embarrassment. It's apparently a rite of passage that HR can recommend counseling for someone that they've known for 5 minutes.

4) I don't have a problem with friends having different beliefs than I do. What I have a tremendous problem with is people who send me unsolicited messages that are judging and opposing my beliefs. They don't want to have a conversation, they just want to spread their propaganda. That isn't a friend, that is a jerk.

5) It was so good to have Burt's pizza for the first time in two years. I thought that when they went out of business and then Burt Katz passed away that it would never come back. But they have returned and the pizzas are pretty much as good as I remember. Fresh produce, well seasoned meets, light airy crust, rich tomato sauce. And major props for having Brickstone APA on draft!

6) The Chicago Blues fest was a fun experience; it was the first time I'd seen a show in Millenium Park. The only issue I had with the Jay Pritzker Pavilion was that it was very hard to understand the lyrics. Without the words, there's no song. William Bell is an awesome classic soul singer. "This Is Where I Live" is his first studio album in 30 years and I only wish I could have heard more than two songs from that record.

7) This Audible audiobook service is working out decently. The simple truth is I have to really be into the subject. The Daniel Bryan book was excellent, the Lee Strobel book "The Case for Christ" is great. I'm such a big John Ortberg fan that any book he releases I'm going to be a fan. But even though "The Game" by Ken Dryden is considered one of the best hockey books of all time, it felt like a chore trying to get through it. The whole book is 14 hours of audio and by the fourth hour, I had given up.

8) Someone asked me what my bucket list concert would be. Who would the one artist be that I would see if it was up to me. I'd probably say Springsteen, I just hope he doesn't go into a bunch of political crap.

9) I'm switching phone carriers for the first time ever today. It's not my preference, but I'm going from Verizon to Sprint. I'll be interested to see if anything changes besides the strength of my coverage. I would just like a freaking phone that doesn't die after three hours.

10) How is that one pillow doesn't give me enough support, but two pillows stacked together put too much strain on my neck?