When last I mentioned the Cubs in June, they had just crossed the .500 mark and were slowly creeping up on the division dominating Brewers. As a superstitious Cubs fan, even mentioning that little positive moment ran the risk of derailing the rest of the season and plunging them into dead last (knock on wood, pinch of salt over the shoulder). But, those bolts from baseball heaven never materialized and confident that my words carry no jinxes, I am happy to announce that the Chicago Cubs clinched the NL Central Division today. With a regular season record of 85-77, the Cubs finished 2 games ahead of the afore-mentioned Brewers in the lowest rated division of the 2007 season. But who cares about that because, ladies and gentlemen, we have a postseason. On Wednesday, the Cubs will head off to Arizona to begin their best of five game series against the Diamondbacks. I should say, may the best team win but, screw that... Go Cubbies!

Posted by Thom at 10:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today, with the signing of paperwork, my mother sold the house that she has called home for over 30 years. With this final act in a long process, she is now the proud owner of a new home northeast of Cincinnati in the town of West Chester. The last time I wrote about this subject, the rumor was that mom was looking to move to Indianapolis for a change of scenery and to be closer to her family. But time passes and minds change. She decided to stay close to the town she now knows a little better.

I'm not going to engage the gory details here, but I will say that has been a very stressful and trying few months for my mother. I'm not over exaggerating when I say that her home buying/selling experience has been far from typical (her realtor said as much). Add in the fact that she has undertaken this dramatic change all on her own, and I have to admire her accomplishment. Now looking ahead, I hope her life will settle down a bit and she can enjoy her new house. Can't wait to see the place. Welcome home, mom.

Posted by Thom at 9:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This bundle of cuteness, energy and sharp, pointy teeth that you see to your left is a 5-month-old chocolate Labrador Retriever named Cleopatra (Cleo for short). Cleo is the recently added family member of my good friend and colleague, Steve, and follows in the long and prestigious line of Labs before her. With plans to head out of town for the long holiday weekend, Steve asked us to puppy-sit for Cleo. We had looked after Steve's older dogs — the late Boomer and Pepper — several years ago and, it had been the easiest all-expenses paid stay in the city we've ever had. So the prospect of another four nights in a Soho loft, chillin' with a dog, drinking Steve's beer and enjoying city living sounded like a great idea to us. It was a win-win situation. We agreed.

And how did things go? Well, let's just say that we were foolish to think that taking care of a puppy is anything like taking care of even two older dogs. After four days, Beth and I are cover with puncture wounds from that mouth full of pointy teeth and we are exhausted from the 5AM wake-up-it's-time-to-play barking sessions. I don't expect any sympathy from my readers (especial the parents among you), but I will say that we were caught just a bit off guard by Cleo's needs. Nevertheless, we kept our cool, accepted the drool on our clothing and mopped up her accidents with little complaint. That's why God makes them cute, right? — so we don't want to kill them.

Posted by Thom at 3:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)