Whoever Draws The Short Carrot

Yesterday I headed to STL for our annual trip to the Busch Braggin' Rights game, Illinois vs. Mizzou. I will get to the basketball in a separate post, but I first wanted to share a bit about the part that is more important than basketball. I know, you my reading public are shocked and amazed there is something more important than the basketball! I love Bruce Weber, Jerrance Howard and Brian Randle, but that kind of love simply pales in comparison to the love I have for Nikki, Karen and Sarah J. These lovely ladies have been my Braggin' Rights buddies for a number of years and each of us looks forward to our holiday basketball trip every year. Sarah J gets special kudos in this blog because she schleps all the way from Vicksburg, Mississippi (an 8 hour drive) for approximately 16 hours of basketball and girl talk.

We arrived in STL late in the afternoon on Saturday, just in time to get settled in our room and relax a bit before it was time to hit the FREE Happy Hour in the lobby of our hotel, the Drury Plaza. I had the idea of doing an ornament exchange to get us revved up for the holidays, but was woefully unclear on the directions, so Nik showed up with an ornament for each of us, while the rest of us had more of a "grab bag" (bring an ornament, leave with an ornament) thing in mind. Nik just gave each of us her ornaments, but then that meant when we proceeded to "exchange" either Sarah J, Karen or I would give, but not get, so that Nik wouldn't leave emptied handed. Gee how should we decide who was "out"... well that is easy, whoever draws the short carrot. After two beers, and a tequila sunrise (yes we sang the song) brilliant ideas such as the now infamous "short carrot" just don't stop.

After knocking back free drinks and snacks we made the walk to the arena, arriving just in time to spot Nik's Dad and our friend Nathan each sitting in separate box seats and wave heartily at them. Okay, so they each got their tix for free and had free food and drinks, but our seats were far better. We were just off the corner of the court near the Illinois bench, in the first two rows of permanent seats, just across the aisle from where the Illinois team enters the locker room. The game was awesome, like I said more on that another post, and afterwards we opted to bypass the bar scene in favor of some real food (happy hour snacks were just not going to cut it) at Friday's. At Friday's we managed to have half of their staff wait on us, but particularly enjoyed Ray, our flamingly gay waiter that talked us into the fried green beans... yummy! Ray scored way big with me, besides joking that cocaine is what made the fried green beans to addicting, he separate our checks without us having to ask, and even split to the green beans that we shared among the four checks.

Back at the hotel we stayed up far too late... giggling like school girls. We discovered you can see me in the game program, sitting in our seats last year. We discussed the fact that Nik's slightly creepy downstairs neighbor brought her soup this week when she was sick. Nice of him I guess if he wasn't trying to use the soup to get her to date him. She hasn't eat the soup yet... and we joked that hopefully it isn't Chicken Rufies Soup!

After free hot breakfast the hotel this morning we hit the road. Sarah J back to MS, and the rest of us to Central Illinois. It was great to hang with the girls, remember good times at the Hall, and of course keep our perfect Braggin' Rights record in tact. I can't wait for next year.

JIMMMAAAYYY!!!!

Today the Cardinals announced that they are trading Jim Edmonds, my baseball boyfriend for the past seven plus years, to the San Diego Padres. Oh Jimmy, Jimmy... how I hate to see you go, we have shared some wonderful times... but they say it is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.

The Jimmy moments over the past seven years have been countless, but I will attempt to describe what exactly James Patrick Edmonds has meant to me. First of all, Jimmy is not an easy man to love. He strikes out a lot... but when he doesn't, oh my, he has been fun to watch. His nickname is "Hollywood", a reference to his So Cal roots, as well as his movie star "hey look at me" attitude. That by itself makes Jimmy an unconventional choice for me, typically I gravitate towards more of the "No-nonsense, buckle down, don't look at me, it is all about the team" kind of guy. Jimmy does everything with flair, and he has just totally sucked me in. Besides the monster home runs or the most dramatic and amazing catches in center field, which you expect to have flair, Jimmy strikes out, jumps out of the way of a pitch, fidgets in the outfield, talks to the media and gets injured with flair. Again, I am not one who usually goes for the dramatic type, but somehow it works for Jimmy, and for me.

It is bittersweet to see Jimmy go, he has brought me so many fond memories, but if trading Jimmy frees up some cash for pitching I have to go with what is best for the team. It saddens me a bit that Jimmy won't retire as a Cardinal, but as a So Cal guy, spending his final year(s)? in baseball close to family and friends makes sense, but he will always be a Cardinal to me. It probably is best for the team, dumping some of his outrageous salary and giving them more flexibility. Jimmy is my age, one of my "Boys of '70 (born in 1970 same as me), and that is relatively old in baseball terms. His bat just isn't what it used to be, and various injuries in recent years have kept him from taking the field everyday.

Many Cards fans will remember the classic Jimmy moments, and I too will never forget; the walk-off homer in Game 6 of the 2004 NLCS to take it to Game 7, "The Catch" in Game 7 of that same NLCS, the amazing over the wall catches against the Reds, and the one running up Tal's Hill at Minute Maid Park, or jumping on the couch in locker room in San Diego after Game 1 of the Division Series in 2006 giving away the "game ball", stepping up as the team veteran to rally the troops to the unforgettable 2006 World Series Championship run. But the three most special Jimmy moments I have were far more personal. First, was in a game against the Cubs when the Cards were getting killed. It was so bad Nikki left during play to get a drink... Nik never leaves during play if she can help it. Jimmy was up to bat and I said to Karen "You know, if Jimmy loves me... he will go yard." I no sooner had the words out of my mouth, when Jimmy belted an HR. He was a bright shiny moment, on an otherwise crappy day. Jimmy does love me. The next Jimmy moment was before a game when Jimmy and another "Boy of '70", Mark Grudzielanek aka "Grudzie", the man with the most amazing blues eyes ever to take the field, were warming up. They were lined up along the first baseline ready to run out to the field and back, and Nikki and I were watching them, noticing they were chatting with each other. I leaned over to Nikki and said that I knew what Jimmy was saying to Grudzie, and they were about ready to take off running... "Okay Grudz, on your mark, get set, go... the winner gets Jane's heart!". Needless to say it was a tie, and they had to race again, and Nikki doubled over in laughter. And of course the best Jimmy moment was when I met him and got his autograph at Winter Warm Up a few years ago. I had dressed up as Jimmy for Halloween that year, with my co-worker Linds as my heckling Cub fan holding a sign "Jimmy Throws Like a Girl!", and gave Jimmy a picture of said Halloween. He was so nice, kind, and genuinely amused by my touching tribute... certainly no Hollywood attitude with me.

So it is with mixed emotions that I say good-bye to Jimmy. I will miss you so, but wish you only the best in San Diego. It is an end to an era, alas I say good-bye to another Cardinal boyfriend. I have only had a few Cardinal boyfriends over the years, Tommy Herr when I was 12, and Andy VanSlyke when I was 16, and now Jimmy in my 30's. I am sure I will love again, but who will my next boy be? I am headed to spring training in March, so maybe some new sparks will fly at Roger Dean Stadium. Who knows?

Farewell James Patrick Edmonds... a part of me will always love you! For one last time let me passionately yell.... "JIMMMAAAYYY!!!!!"

Editors Note: Here are couple of links to various things Jimmy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxnDc1N-PBE&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKWqYQBXmCE&NR=1

Happy Birthday to my Favorite Domer... D^2

So today is another birthday blog. I don't know if any of my readers enjoy the birthday blogs, but I sure do. So today is Don Dahl's birthday. Happy Birthday D^2 (that's D Squared)

Don was one of my Busey Bank co-workers for about 4 years... he was there for most of the Chris Phillips and Lindsey years. Working with Don truly was a joy. I have never met anyone so positive, and just wonderful to be around. If Don was having a bad day you never knew it... I can't say the same for myself... many times when I am having a bad day the world knows because I sure to tell them. The ability to not complain, is one the things I admire most about Don, that and his faith. I don't think that it is any small coincidence that after working with Don for four years I made a point to find a church and a faith community. For that I will never be able to repay Don.

Don is also one of the funniest and fun people I know. He doesn't realize he is this funny and fun, that is why he is so funny and fun. Don lived in a house with six or seven other guys, their house was known as "The Dome". Several of his house mates took to writing funny things on Don's lunch bag (he packed his lunch the night before, and the wrote on it after he went to bed). They wrote things like "Don Juan DeMarco Dahl"... or my personal favorite "Hi Jane!". Keep in mind that at this point I had not met any of them, although later Roach and Frank and became my buds, and I would often write back to them via post-it notes sent home with Don.

Don was my absolute favorite participant in Secret Santa at the office. We don't do Secret Santa anymore, and actually I am relieved... it just isn't the same without Don and Linds. Christmas in the office was great with Don because he would anxiously await for the Christmas music that was piped in to play "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by the Jackson 5... he totally rocked out to that song... I miss that.

Don just got married last Saturday. I was in Chicago so I missed the wedding. I am sure it was beautiful. I haven't met Mrs. Don yet, but I can't wait. I am sure she is rather fabulous, and I don't doubt that she realizes how lucky she is to have caught D^2.

Anyway, Happy Birthday Don Dahl. Don't tell Roach and Frank but you will ALWAYS be my favorite Domer!

Do You Have An Elephant In Yours?

So I am back in C-U and tuckered out from the weekend in Chicago visiting Nathan, and going to the Illini game at the United Center. So, the much anticipated bathroom story from our evening of pizza and beer drinking at Piece Friday night. So we all made a trip to the restroom before leaving Piece... we had several drinks and it was very cold outside. Anyway, as we were in the ladies room I hear Nik ask from the next stall... "Do you have an elephant in yours?"... what are you talking about, well Nikki shows me the artwork adorning the hook on the door, this cute little elephant.

Bathroom graffiti I can endorse. So we wanted to show Nathan, but draggin him into the ladies room not really appropriate, so I got out my camera, and then got a few looks from the women coming into the bathroom as I was packing up my camera. Needless to say giggles ensued, and then Nathan was wondering what was up when we caught up with him at the front door, doublin over in laughter.

So the game at the United Center didn't really go so well, the Illini lost, but the CTA bus we took was filled with rather entertaining Illini fans... a regular party bus... and we were sitting about 10 rows below Michael Jordan at the UC. I seriously would have thought he would have better seats at the UC, his statue is out front and it is referred to as "The house that Michael built", but he was far from center court, slightly beyond one of the baskets. Actually, beside the fact they were not in a box, our seats were actually better than Michael's. Nathan's buddy Scott joined us at the game and he quickly gained points by thinking that Nik and I were still in college since we were from Champaign, and I don't think he had been drinking. Later Scott said to me "Oh, so you are the one who leaves all the comments on Nate's blog." To which Nik said "Yep, this is the Jano Fabulous."

After the game we took the bus downtown to check out the lights and do a little shopping. Nathan completely outshopped us girls, another reason we like him so much. We stopped at Starbucks for a warm beverage, Nik got a tall, Nathan a grande, and I was in serious need of caffeine so I opted for a venti. The put them on the counter at the same time, and I commented that it was like baby, mama, and papa bear. Later when shopping Nik thought I said something and I said no she heard the two guys coming out of the store we were passing instead. Nathan said "Wow, what does that say about your voice, Nik mistook men's voices for you!" I simply replied in a very gravely voice, "Well I am Papa Bear!"

After running away from the ridiculous waits at Cheesecake Factory and Weber Grill, we went to dinner at Rock Bottom Brewery. We had to wait there as well, and were all getting very droopy, tired and cranky but perked up a lot when we got to sit down and eat. The food was great, and the company even better. We headed back to the Blue line after dinner, and went back to Nathan's. It had been a long day, and we had done a fair amount of walking so we got comfy, and settled in front of the TV for a bit before we all pretty much crashed. Sunday we got up, grabbed a quick lunch, and then Nathan drove us to the train station.

It was such a good weekend, and we all had a great time. We decided that we really need to visit more often and plan to go back up to see Wicked, go to Wrigley, and take the Architecture cruise on the river. I am thinking it will take several trips.

On the way home Nik and I were talking about how we had such a good time just hanging out, and not really doing all that much. I said that is a sign of good friends... you don't have to entertain each other with activities, you just entertain each other with fellowship.

So that was my weekend. A good time, and a nice getaway.

Piece Out!

Live from Chicago, its Saturday morning! Nik and I parked the car at the University Park Metra station, and arrived downtown at about 5 p.m. last night. We met Nathan a block up the street and then the three of us headed to Nathan's to drop off our bags. Nathan's condo is very nice, and is just a short walk from the Logan Square El stop on the Blue Line.

Last night Nathan took us to Piece, a couple of El stops away, for dinner. We had some great pizza, and Nathan and I had several great beers. They brew their own beer at Piece, and darn it was good. I started out with their seasonal beer "Festivus"... it was porter/stoutish with cloves etc. It was oh so tasty, and I liken it to beer version of the Gingerbread latte at Starbucks. My next beer was one of the best I have ever had "Dark & Curvy" a great German dark wheat beer aka dunkel hefeweisen. Nathan had the "Worryin' Ale" and some other beer I can't recall at the time. It was great to try some new beers with Nathan, and there is a bathroom story from Piece that I will share later... it is pretty funny.

We headed back to Nathan's after pizza and beer and just hung out for a couple of hours. We were talking about various C-U tv broadcasters and sports directors etc. when out of the blue Nathan asked "Have you seen Hilary Duff lately? Do you know if she got a boob job?" Completely random and so completely Nathan... Lordy I have missed that boy! :) After a brief internet search Nathan found the picture of Hilary that lead to said question... yep, I am thinking she did.

Okay, off to the United Center for the game. Go Illini

Livin' the High Life: Happy Birthday Christopher!

Another birthday blog... these really are my favorite posts. Today is Chris Phillips' birthday.

Happy Birthday Chris!

Chris used to work with me at Busey Bank a number of years ago. He is a native of the greater Detroit area, but was in C-U for a few years when his now wife, then girlfriend/fiance, Megan was getting her masters degree at the University of Illinois. The picture to the right was taken at Chris and Megan's wedding with Lindsey.

Anywho, I really loved working with Chris. He and Lindsey used to fight like brother and sister all of the time, launching paper clips and rubber bands over the wall they shared and I was usually "the Mom" and had to mediate their fights and tell them to settle down.

Chris and I hung out a lot when Megan moved to California for her job a couple of months ahead of Chris. Chris is a big hockey fan, and since that was one sport Nikki and I really knew nothing about he volunteered to go with us to an Illini hockey game and teach us the basics of hockey. We learned about the blue line, icing etc. I am still no hockey expert, but everything I do know I owe to Chris.

Chris also was my Crane Alley Happy Hour buddy and agreed to try everything they had on draft, a new one ever week, until we worked our way all the way down the tappers. He moved after about four different beers, but I loved that Chris was game and just as excited to have Miller High Life as he was Sierra Nevada. Chris introduced me to Bell's, a beer from his home state of Michigan. We can't get it here anymore and it just kind of sad... Bell's Oberon was kind of like a Blue Moon but better. Another drinking story involving Chris was when he went out with Nik and Karen and I several of our napkins would stick to the bottom of our glass/bottle when we picked it up to take a drink... for whatever reason we were all rather fascinated with this phenomenon and to this day when the napkin sticks you "Haven't lost your drink chee"... it sounds so stupid now, but it was great at the time.

Chris and Megan moved back to Michigan a little over a year ago, after living near Oakland, California for a few years after their time in C-U. They welcomed baby Stella in March and although I have yet to meet her in person, from pictures I can see she is just the cutest, sweetest little baby ever. I always thought they were the cutest couple ever, and now they are the cutest family.

Oh another random Chris thing... I was talking about having a lilac bush to which he responded... "I love lilacs, they are just so fragrant!" It was such a girly comment... it was just enjoyable to hear something so girly come out of the mouth of hockey player... I like it when someone has layers like that :)

I miss having Chris around. Happy Birthday Christopher... your Wolverines may have beat us this year, but look who is in the Rose Bowl! :)

Everything is Coming up Roses

Congrats to the Illini football team on their bid to the Rose Bowl! The last time the Illini were in Pasadena I was sporting the female mullet, Madonna was new on the scene, and I was too young to drive. Best of luck to Coach Zook and the team in sunny California. Go Illini!!!!