Thank you Cubbies

The Cubs got swept by the Mets in the NLCS series.  I feel bad that such an awesome set of guys had to lose the way they did, but what an amazing team!  It was so much fun watching them because they were having so much fun playing.  I look forward to the years to come with them.  Thank you for making baseball fun for me again!

Here is the a video of the  team going back out on the field after being eliminated. Classy group!
http://wgntv.com/2015/10/22/watch-cubs-return-to-field-after-loss-and-thank-fans-at-wrigley/

Chicago Sports

The Cubs are in the playoffs.  This first time since 2008.   I was extremely mad at the team when they were swept in both 2007 and 2008; mainly because the players looked like they just weren't trying. And the management acted like they didn't care. I was so upset that I vowed never to let myself get so emotionally involved with the Cubs ever again. Even though I am not quite as involved with this team as I was then, I am still excited.  But also nervous.  Regardless of how today's wildcard playoff game goes, I will be grateful to this team for making baseball exciting for me again.

The Blackhawks home opener is today with the Cup banner ceremony before. Luckily the banner ceremony is 1/2 hour before the Cubs game starts, so I can catch the ceremony and then watch the Cubs game.  Of course I will be flipping to the Hawks game as well.

Check this out.  Had seats on the glass for last Saturday's pre-season Hawks game. It was so awesome! Who cares that it was pre-season? It was still a once in a lifetime thing.   Hello Bicks!

The Martian (big time spoilers)

I just finished reading this book for the 2nd time.  It was just as wonderful the 2nd time as the 1st.  I knew how it would end and was still on the edge of my seat.  This is not even the type of book I would normally read.  Brian "Q" Quinn and Sal Vulcano, 2 of my favorite people in the world, have a podcast - "What Say you?"  Q highly recommended the book and I decided to give it a read.  I highly recommend it as well.

I took the day off yesterday to go see the movie.  I prefer to go in the afternoon on a weekday but it was still crowded!  gggrrrrrr...  I was very afraid that they would ruin it.  But they did a really good job. I was still on the edge of my seat even after reading the book twice!  It was actually a little creepy to see it "live" instead of just reading about it.

Here come the spoilers:
For the most part, they followed the book.  Of course there were details in the book that couldn't make it to the movie, but nothing vital. One problem I had with the movie was that they had Captain Lewis harnessed to Hermes to come and "catch" Mark when he jettisoned from the MAV.  I don't think it was necessary to do that. Seeing that process on the big screen looked a little preposterous, but it was still fun.  Also, instead of having a final log as was in the book, the end of the movie showed all the astronauts (including Mark) in the future and what they were doing now. I'm not sure I really liked that.  The final log was so touching in the book.  I liked that ending better.

But all in all, it was a terrific movie and I would recommend seeing it whether or not you read the book.  It is very enjoyable and Matt Damon is excellent.

Kitty scare

Well, Kougar managed to scare the crap out of me again last night.  He made that low rumbling meowing sound when he was out of my sight.  I thought he was having another "episode".  Turns out he was just complaining about something.  I found him on the bed just cleaning himself like everything was normal.  Dorky cat.  It's amazing how these creatures worm their ways into our hearts!  The fact that he is 17 and has arrhythmia doesn't help.  But all was fine.