Thursday, February 16, 2006

Don't bet on it

My volleyball team played last night, as they do every Wednesday evening. I'm considering my team participation an additional workout every week and so far its been lots of fun, if not terribly successful (we kinda suck.)

Besides the usual banter on the court, there is usually at least a round of beer and pizza following the game (okay, sometimes BEFORE the game), so it's a nice addition to my somewhat limited social engagements.

My team is made up mostly of single people between the ages of 21-mid 40s and there are eight of us, including one married couple. Two of the single guys (40-somethings) often bemoan their unattached status, so the rest of us try to hook them up. So far, no luck.

One guy (I'll call him Lion King) is always very complimentary on the court ("nice shot") and he does a lot of volunteer work. A very nice guy. He recently broke up with an evil bitch who cheated on him with one of his friends. Surprisingly enough, he's not bitter about it and eager to meet someone new.

I know what you're thinking....why doesn't The Writer flirt with him a bit and see if he's interested??

Two reasons:

1) He smokes, and

2) He's a St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Last night, the post-game conversation turned to baseball and yours truly opened with comments about the Cubs' off-season acquisitions.

Juan Pierre: great.
Jacques Jones: not so much.

Lion King countered with praise for the rat-bastard Cardinals' moves. (okay, he didn't call them rat-bastard. I did.)

He offered to bet me that his team will finish with a better regular season record than my Cubs. Oh, now you're in trouble! Fine, you want to bet me?? Sure, I'll take that bet!

I'm thinking about how much money I would be willing to take from him without seeming greedy. I'm sure I could use an extra $25 or $50 come October.

Lion King says, "Let's bet dinner at a nice restaurant. Loser pays."

Um....what?

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Remodeling plan III: the destruction

I couldn't decide if I should look inside my bedroom while it's under construction, but since I really hate surprises, I had to peek.

Inside I saw a bare cement floor where once had been dingy gray carpeting. A long trench had been cut into the wall to hide the electrical line running from an outlet to my closet. (I still shake my head at my stupidity for allowing that cheap-ass electrician to leave the wire outside the wall, claiming that he couldn't get into the wall.)

The look I'm going for is "beach house." Wood floor and light walls make me think of summer, sun, ocean...all the things I don't have in winter in Chicago.

In three distinct blotches, I had painted varying hues of yellow named, curiously enough Confident, Decisive and Cheerful. The time was quickly approaching when I had to make my color choice.

Confident did not inspire confidence. It looked too much like mustard.

Decisive is nice, but I can't decide.

Cheerful caught my eye originally, but once I put it on the wall, it looked a bit orange. And "cheerful" isn't exactly the mood I want in a bedroom.

Does Sherwin Williams sell a color called "come-up-for-air-in-three-days sex?"

Speaking of my bed, it's become a queen-sized, pillow-topped island in the middle of my living room. Funny how a change in scenery can disrupt a relatively normal bodily function like sleep. I've had a lot of trouble sleeping there this week. Is there anything in the feng shui rules about having my bed face a 27-inch TV?

Monday, February 13, 2006

Respect...who gets it and who wants it

CNN has just broadcast the World Series champion White Sox team press conference with President Bush at the White House. Funny thing is, brand-new U.S. citizen and Sox manager Ozzie Guillen chose to stay on vacation with his family and not attend the ceremony.

Another player was on his honeymoon and a third was being feted in his native Japan. Apparently, only 23 of the invited 30 White Sox players chose to attend the festivities.

Respect.

Bush congratulated everyone from the trainers to the announcers (with a playful slam at Ed Farmer, announcer and former White sox pitcher) to Harold Baines, one of the Sox coaches and a former White Sox outfielder.

Bush thanked Harold Baines for always bringing class to the ballpark. Eventually, the president got around to congratulating the actual TEAM.

Respect.

Then CNN cut back to its announcer and she could not name a SINGLE White Sox player. After consulting with the 20 men in her control room, FINALLY her director named Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko.

Respect.

Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Wednesday!