Mom

I got home like 6.40, ran about, and was back out the door for the Fire- America game @ toyota park immediately. They were getting beat @ halftime - although they had the run of play - when I got the calls to go home because Mom had a fall. She was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital (where we were all born) and after a long wait, it turned out she needed a cast on her shoulder. She is in good shape, but its rough ever to see Mom @ 88 in a hospital bed.

She'd let Bolo out in the yard, and then disc. that she'd locked the back door behind her. When she tried to go around the front, she fell in the gangway and hurt herself. Neighbourhood kids saw her and dialed 911. It was her slippers, we believe - that were to blame.

Really I wished I could stay @ home today - sister.4 is, and sister.3 is coming over - but I had way monumental stuff to get done (See yesterday's post - still not fixed) and couldn't skip the day. It's soccer stuff too - if only what I had asked yesterday was done yesterday - ............ but no.

She's fine. It's not good, broken nbones @ any age - but 88 is worrisome. But, again, she's fine. Little bitt of pain, and bed ridden. Worried only about her comfort right now. So, it's ok.

chesnuts

Potentially i couldda wrecked it all - well, fucked myself up rightly. Seems - as I just discovered last nite - that i missed ghe deadline to put my team in the state playoffs. Ooops. There was a way to get into it late - but Im so late on the uptake that it really seemed that I'd blown up something rather large.

However, several calls, petitions, a $100 fine, faxes, emails, etc etc etc that the process to get us qualified has started. Not a done deal, but basically a done deal.

I almost really fucked up - it waoulda been deeply emnarrassing to not have the team in State. But, people of goodwill helped my in all the steps.

Phew. I've messsed up every other step - I also have worked very hard - so im glad the lite @ the end of the tunnel is green.

The Black Cat

As to what I've been reading lately.

Football au printemps: practica

Well, well, well, whose that finally having a fun successful practice? One of the worst aspects of my coaching is still conducting practices. Generally, practice is a time to work on whats wrong w/ the team - along w/ keep in shape, keep in soccer fitness, and try new thiings. SO, because we gave up goals in the last 3m in three of the last four games, one of the thinggs we did was a defensive scheme in the later minutes. The idea is that in the last few minutes of - if we are leadingonce a gain by a goal - we'll try and crowd the soace in front of the midfielders on the other team so they will not get the sort of booming shot from distance that goes over the head of our goalie.

And we worked on it well. We had three on three w/ three neutral players - the offense were directed to shoot on goal rite away - one touch maximun - and no passing to their teamates. The girls got into the spirit of the exercise, and it was a fun day. We also had passing drills ending in shooting - I donned the goalie gloves - and ended practice w/ a scrimmige.

I thern sent them home. 3.30- 5.15, for a 1.45h practice. I want to get them into this rythm so during practice they run from exercice to exercise, then go homw rite @ 5.15. If they know the rythm of practice - quick - then they weill translate that in the game. Little trixx to push us vorwarts.

Then - I'm done?? Nah - another 45, w/ the sophmores - again donning the goalie gloves - and home finally after 6pm. Soon it will end. I'll be much better rested and Gf will be happy - but also .....

frenz

Hung w/ the Young Guard on Saturday nite. Smoky Treats had a birthday, so it was to quenchers we went. A bit of a problem - Quenchers has a $5 suggested cover charge for bands we don't watch. Really - do we have to gather @ this place ? Can't we go back to Lincoln Tap? I know, $5, but really ... $5.

It was a good nite. We got there @ 9 or so, and it was a good showing. Not quite like the gathering there 2m ago - we crowded the place (and our $5's). Tis time there were about 15 of us.

Snuck out w/ the b-day boy, yknow.

Served me mixed 1/3-2/3's Guiders, or Black Velvets, or ... they were ok.

Pulled out real late - Gf , who hates late nites, and I left 'round 1.30am. LAte as hell these days.

/good lay

still it was a good lay

football au printemps: empates y carne asada

Two games, two late leads, two enemy goals in the last three minutes to take away our three points in the standings and saddle us instead with but one point. We have been playing well - very well, indeed - but the above scanario wass done to us double this past week, and it puts our team in serious straits this season.

All my brave talk earlier was centered around winning our conference and being promoted to the top conference in the city. Now it seems thta instead of being promoted to the top flite (The Premier Conference), it seems that we have a serious chance to be relagated from the First Divisin to the Second. Under my watch. Great.

But, the girls were happy. We played three games this past week, and lost once and the two ties. If we'd just won these games - or one of them - we'd be in healthy shape. But now we need a win in our last game, a bit of help in the other games, and then a win in a 'relagation' game I'd hoped to avoid. This is our reality now.

I'd also had a good time on Saturday during our sophomore games. Boy, I'd wanted to sleep late on Saturday - but up @ 0700h to make sure I could get to the bus w/ the girls. The day was fun. We had two games (These are the sophmore teams that only play on Saturday, not the varsity team I talked of above). W ehad our first game @ 10am, and then our second game @ 3pm. Because we can only afford one bus, the girls have to leave @ 8.45am and leave the stadium @ 4.10pm. A long 4h wait between games. SO, I got the brite idea to stage a cookout - and it went well. The girls - both teams - love being part of a team and are always happy - gnerally - and the whole day was a party for them. They brought up all sorts of MExican cookout stuff, so we ate well as hell. Seems that since the 9 may Saturday is also a 4h wait - we mite do it again. But therew as tonens of meat, veggies, drink, and kids playing around. The weather held, though we had to sit through maybe 2 5m drizzles. I'd brought up my little grill, but the bottles I'd gotten the nite before really didn't fit the screws on the grill - so I had to wander from the stadium and get new bottles. They worked, but we had so much meat I had to go get some temp. throwawayable grills to go along w/ my mini grill. We got all people fed in the end. Plus - i got to take some meat and tostadas home. Hope we do it again.

football au printemps

I'd dissapeared from here for awhile, and this was why.

from a few weeks ago securityout

one year on

Nice article on Eliot Spitzer in Newsweek, i think - but my problem is that they did not have nay kool snaps of Ashley Dupree alongside the article. What is this world coming to ??

SO yes, this is an old snap. And yes, she is not the most wonderous of wonderous. But ... Still, whatever, a bity of a fascination for me.

Yes the weather

So, we have makeup game @ Marquette Park today @ %pm, and it's 80 out. So, lots of watre for the girls. No shorts for me - just the blue blue jeans from levis - the one and only choise of kool guys (NOT GIRLS!!) for many a year.

Those girls?? I heard that they have different shaped bodies, and that those hips need different types of clothing to feel good. well, @ least a main mind maker for me in my life ==that's be Q== clued me into that. She also clued me into the "One day my prince will come" deal that is a womens fetter in life (one of, yes). And she also opened me up to many other things ... -yeah, that and .... that ... and ..... whatever else .... oh, yeah, her love of the Replacements made me also love, inparticular, 'valentine' and "alex chilton"

Because i remember that one nite, in her dorm, when we jaxxed it and thraxxed it and listen to tunes - only selfish me finally allowed her free and .... UNFETTERED control of the turntable - so she could play what she wanted.

No Stones, then. Though she liked the group a lot (and saw them, indeed). And my head in her lap - it felt fearful toi let her control, but also good. We were young and in Love. Where did that all go??

I guess it went the way of it all. Funnyfunny though about Das Afrika Korps girl - she of the breaking hilts heart variety - where did that all go. Months (MONTHS) of all that - but several years later, well, "I can smile about it now.....".

And so, here today is my favourite day of the year - not Good Friday, not Opening day, not the thursday of the NCAA's - but ..... well, they also are my favourite days of the eyar, but - that first warm day of the year, when the women dress up in their summer cloths.

I have to turn my head until the darkness goes......

Hiltler News

Dis ist der new news unt der feurher dat vas varwarts to minen unt now ist fer youinzine.

J&B Gossip

written by Lazers
names edited by Hils
J&B made its second foray to The Castle for Benkowski trivia night, and the night was filled with unanswered questions: who is ranked #1 on Stix’s “Players on J&B I Hate the Most” list? What J&Ber was the recipient of a most vicious rookie hazing? Is it possible for a J&Ber to injure their leg while pleasuring themselves? In the biggest scandal since the 1919 Black Sox, did a J&Ber actually give an answer to another team while at the bar? And just what does “Gorgeous Whores” have to with the J&B name?

Castle trivia featured two mini-games. That basically meant each half of a regular Benkowski game was a game itself (but only the second mini-game had the final question element). The entry was twice as much…but that meant J&B could win twice as much victory cash.

J&B represented by: Chemical Man, Stix, Hilts, Dragon, Chem’s friend Trivia, and Lazers

The competition: Hawks, Swingers, Reds, and Porches (featuring at least one player we’ve battled elsewhere)

Mini-game #1: Movies/Sports Section/Ad Lib Music

For the music category, the team selected got to choose the decade from which they wanted their question (limited back to the 1960s). Nice twist. Art nailed some tough answers for this one.

’02- Catherine Zeta Jones- Best Supporting Actress- what movie?
1960s- sang “Glad All Over”?
’01- Ron Howard- Best Director- what movie?
’92- sang “Jump”?
’99- “Cider House Rules”- Best Supporting Actor?


Stix to Chem: “Don’t make me revisit my list of ‘Players on J&B I Hate the Most’ again.”

Stix to Chem’s friend trivia: “You still have an ‘R’ next to your name for ‘Rookie’.”

Nice addition by the bar: halftimes and end of game drink specials- $1 shots! (although the bartender was not up for the $3 kisses idea tossed out by Benkowski)

Final Scores for mini-game #1: J&B 1450 Porches 720 Hawks 560 Swingers 490

Reds 480

J&B is halfway to its projected sweep!



Mini-game #2: TV/News/Chicago Sports Year of Birth

Celebrity couple got tons of media attention at recent Coachella Music Festival?
Star of “Veronica’s Closet”?
When did Larry King’s show begin on CNN?
'98- Susanne Somers co-hosted a show that originally started in 1948?
Who plays Frasier Crane’s father?

Scores going into Final Question: J&B 1360 Reds 840 Hawks 690 Porches 620

Swingers 340


Choice of Final Category: US Facts or Playboy Jokes. All teams select US Facts.

Two of three wins wager. All three wins 3000 bonus points. J&B wagers the classic.

US Facts:

Capital of Alaska?
State tree of Wisconsin- the Sugar ______ ?
Year Kentucky became a state (within 10 years)?


The trivia is coming fast and hard now….

written by Paul / in my head

Yesterday it was the old peter and gordon song "Please/ Lock me away...". Today it is that horrid even in 1970 song "Those were the days/my friend"...

Wait - maybe the latter wasn't wqritten by Paul.

Football au printemps:losses

So different has this season been from what i expected. Somethings I have done rite so far - and other things show just how inexperienced I am. A work in progress.

So, we played a top team that we had tied last year - but we lost this year. It was only 1-0, and we had our chances - but the other team was the better team. We weren't dominated - but it was a fair result. We are now 4-4, but more importantly, we are 1-3 in conference. We have only three more games left, and have to get results in them or else we may be 'relegated' if we finish in the bottom three of the eight team conference. And to think - I had pompously put first place in our sites to start the season - and now we have to fite to stay afloat.

Injuries have been a reason. We are w/ out our left mid and right forward. We got a shot in the arm w/ a replacement for the right forward - but our bench is now whisper thin. To flesh out the squad yesterday, I had to promote a JV player to varsity so we could have subs.

But injuries are only a part of the story. I didn't take control enough @ the beginning of the season - part of my learning process - and that has hindered us. Plus the inescapable fact is that other programs have had their staffs in place for years - and this is the first year for our staff. So - my wondrous plans for 'taking over the entire world' w/ y team - well, , again, it's a process.

Yesterday - there was the question of whether we'd get the game in. I knew that we'd do it - but everyone else was scared. So, inevitably we got word the game was on - so we trundled up to the north side to play. Beautiful lush grass in the stadium - mud by the end of the games - but happy to play.

So - what went wrong inthis game? Kinda, just outplayed by, kinda, a better team. I'd said before that we'd tied them last year - and this year we lost. They have a great staff - and I get the feeling that in context, we went backwards a bit - blame the coach. But the other team just had better passing, cornerkicks, and of course a lone goal that went in over the goalies head (too short). So, we lose again - and again, by one goal.

So, since my team was happy enough after the game, I was ok. But this coaching thing ... is very frustrating.

J and B Dirty Sock / April 2009

written by Lazers

Names edited by Hilts

It was J&B’s second scheduled infiltration of trivia at the Dirty Sock. Art arrived and entered the team, promising Benkowski that the rest of J&B would appear. As the minutes ticked past, disqualification was threatened, based upon the well-known rule that trivia teams must consist of more than one person (even though I’m pretty certain Cheyenne Sunrise was allowed to play as a one-person team the last time we were at the Dirty Sock). Panicked, Stix sent out the Bat Signal, with Sue acting as Chief O’Hara. By the end of the first quarter, Lazers finally arrived. Chemical Man turned up a bit thereafter.

J&B represented by: Stix, Chemical man and Lazers (Stix receives lead billing by virtue of being the only timely member of the team this week)

The competition: Cheyenne Sunrise, Green Hawks, Team America, Window Lickers, and Fat Chuckie

First Half: TV/Celebrity Birth Years/Who’s Who in Baseball


Lou Piniella’s 3-word nickname for Mike Fontenot?
Other than White Sox, the other 3 teams for whom Carlos Lee has played?
#1 TV show in the US 1964-65-66-67?

Guy at the bar: “Only a real man like Burt Reynolds can watch a man be raped in the woods and be cool with it.”

Scores at the half: America 1080 Cheyenne 650 Hawks 640 J&B 610 Lickers 530 Chuckie 460



Second Half: Movies/White Sox/Scrambly Wambly Music Mix

Yep…the title of the music category is not a misprint.

’82- who sang “Valley Girl”?
’08 playoffs- only Sox pitcher to beat the Rays?
’05 postseason- this Sox player drove in 15 runs in 12 games?

J Dye recently reached a milestone at bat (ends in “000”)?

Since ’01, Pierzynski leads catchers in this offensive category?

The trend of the second half:

Art points out that J&B has throws left
J&B gets a White Sox question
Despite uncertainty, J&B takes guess (sometimes wild) at Sox question
J&B answer is incorrect
Art points out that J&B has throws left

Scores after two halves: America 2150 Cheyenne 1490 Window 1400 J&B 1180 Fat Chuckie 930 Hawks 790

Choice of final category: Bulls/Celtics Playoff or Celebrity Birth Years or ’89 Prime Time Network TV or ’79 Prime Time Network TV

J&B selects ’79 TV and wagers it all.


Note: nobody selects the Bulls/Celtics category. After the game, a player from Window Lickers asked Benkowski for the questions. Benkowski: “I haven’t written them yet.”


Two of three wins wager. All three correct wins 3000 bonus points.
’79 Prime Time TV: The top 3 rated sitcoms all were on ABC- name them.
’89 Prime Time TV: Of the top 3 rated sitcoms, 2 were on NBC and 1 on ABC- name them.

Bulls/Celtics and Celebrity Birth- thanks for making yourselves available.

Gentlemen…

Part II

J&B guesses Three’s Company, Laverne & Shirley, and Happy Days.

First half answers:
Little Babe Ruth
Brewers, Rangers, Astros
Bonanza

Second half answers:
Moon Unit Zappa
John Danks
Paul Konerko
6000 AB
doubles

Final Question:

Green Hawks- ’79 TV- 790- guess: Three’s Company (correct), Charlie’s Angels (no), and Dynasty (no)- the team unclear on the concept of “sitcom” wagered it all- thanks for playing.

Fat Chuckie- ’89 TV- 930- guess: Cosby (correct), Cheers (no), and Roseanne (correct)- wagered 230- up to 1160.

J&B- ’79 TV- 1180- guess: Three’s Company (correct), Laverne & Shirley (correct), and Happy Days (no)- wagered 1180- up to 2360 and the lead.

Window Lickers- ’89 TV- 1400- guess: Cheers (no), Cosby (correct), and Roseanne (correct)- wagered 1400- up to 2800 and the new leader.

Cheyenne Sunrise- ’89 TV- 1490- guess: Cheers (no), Hill Street Blues (no), and LA Law (no)- and the other team unclear on the concept of “sitcom” wagered 17- down to 1473.

Team America- ’89 TV- 2150- guess: Cosby (correct), Roseanne (correct), and A Different World (correct)- wagered 2150 plus bonus- finish with 7300 points and the victory.

Missing answer to ’79: Mork & Mindy (considered but not guessed)

The next trivia night on the J&B schedule is this coming Wednesday at The Castle. I believe start time is 7:00. If someone has the address, please add that to the mix.

J&B also is discussing the possibility of entering the next Dirty Sock cumulative league, which I think starts the first Sunday in May. Note: both Stix and Lazers know of at least one Sunday in May that each would miss- not sure how much of a concern that would be.

River Weddding

Enjoyed my cousins wedding on Friday. Was good. Poeple in from all over - you know, Ireland, Norther Ireland, England, Wales - no Scotland - and even a visitor from Montana (That'd be MA my cousin). The wedding itself had a little bit of a back story - apparently she was to marry somene elsse - I got the preinvite two years ago - but @ the more or less last minute (or 'last month' 'd be e better tag) she backed out - and I think it was for this gent. Small scandel, and hopefully she got it right.

I had a soccer scrimmage w/ the girls- I had so much fun playing I never wanted to quit - and arrived a bit late to Gf's to collect her. Hustled downtown, Gf of course nervous as she is before any sort of social gathering, and parked in a parking garage. A first for me. I thought the price'd be $23, but punchpleased that it was actually only $8.

Unfortunatley I was I shutdown mode - I wasn't jaggered out, but was in a 'mood'. Actually, I'm normally in a 'mood'. So, lots of lots of familt smateredd all about - and here I am shuttered down. Lots of family, kool family, and I barely talked to anyone besides basics. Everyone was happy. Except some...

My sister.4.... who recently departed w/ her boyfriend (i think), couldn't figger out how to get to the city center unnervously - so she took a flyer. She should have gone, and the whole weeked @ my house had to deal w/ her distemper @ missing her boyfriend/wedding.

Gf....as she was w/ moody me.

The original groom ... but thats only guessing.

Dansed? Yes. Not enough, but a bit. It was Gf who got me into Lady Ga G - but when "Pokerface " was played, she sat. Too tired.

Saw especially close cousin MA and less close cousin "MyName".

Went home late. Was originally gonna stay @ BCD's condo in adjoining building - but Gf didn't want to 'ruff' it so we went all the way home.

A fun nite, but I dragged it too much. I wish I had been more communitive. Such a fun wedding. If I couod do it again ......

sometimes...

So, on or about the nite of 26 March, I fell pretty badly - metaphorically - and went through a total crisis - think Hitler, January 1945 - and then recovered. Lent went, more of that nature went on, battles fought - all lost, though i never lost the war - and through it all, I think I kinda reemerged agaion.

Still, just off Spring break - a full week off - and I'm exhausted. maybe it was because of the number and viciousness of the numerous battles I fought this past fortnite. Really - what happpened? I thought I was beyond it all - but then the klank of the tank trackx of the enemy armour, and all again, though i never thought again, there was I again, fighting off Tigers and Panthers and Mark IV's - with my M-1 and my M-1 only.

Again, it was a ruff fortnite. Immediately (again to reuse the internal rhyme) went Lent - that nite it was off, only 9 days short of full success (last year it ended on Holy Thursday- this year, a week before Holy Thursday). I'm sure the next nite went ..... well, whatever went next. But it went, a week after the above day. That'd be a week before Good Friday. And it continued dureing that week. I think it was five full battles- not the epic "Battle of Nations" scale say of spring 2001, but battle in the full - that I had to struggle through - but again, here I am.

And the responsibility. Let it all go. Not Mom, Gf, the kids, frenz, soccer team - fuck it all. Could care less, as long as I could secretly live.

But the funny thing is, the responsibility molded it all. I had these responsibilities to all these people. So, I recovered. It was my failure as a soccer coach - temporary, or work in progress, as I am yet Willy Roy or Sir Alex - that set it off, and it was my responsibility as a coach that brought my back. Again, to quote Drax from Belgium - its a progression. And I have to remember that.

But, sometimes to progress, one has to make the leap. No other way but this. So, yes, I'm - metaphorically - killing myself to die upon a kiss - wait, stop qouting shakespeare when it has nothing to do w/ what yr writing - leaping in one arena of my life (soccer arena, don't get that excited) and hoping .... well, the rest tambien por ahorra.

Most I won't explain - except the soccer. That's coming.

J & B again in action

written by Lazer

names edited by Hilts

J&B made its debut at The Dirty Sock on south Roberts Road tonight, and what I most learned tonight is that I don’t know how to get to 93rd and Roberts Road without directions. The pre-game had already begun when I arrived, as Benkowski was surveying the crowd to vote on the categories for the first half. To my dismay, he already culled opinions for “Baseball 2009”, which received only a lukewarm response. C’mon people- it’s Opening Day (at least in Philadelphia)!

Benkowski has a nice setup at The Dirty Sock- a large grease board, on which he had listing space for 12 teams, and a large pegboard, on which we learned trivia was sponsored by Budweiser (I think…although that didn’t mean any prizes were being handed out). The Dirty Sock features league play, and one team had accumulated around 16,000 points already. Hmmm…how many weeks would it take J&B to catch them?

The only tricks were of the “throw the ball” variety. A small basketball hoop was set up for throws in both the second and fourth quarters (with the classic box handling the other two quarters).

J&B represented by: Chemical Man, Stix, Hilts, Gf and Lazers

The Competition: league players Team America, Window Lickers, and Fat Chuckies. There was one “at large” team in addition to J&B- Cheyenne Sunrise (featuring one older guy who once commented that he shouldn’t have smoked so much dope before trivia).

First half: Music ’64-‘01/News/Chicago Area

7600 W Touhy- in which town are you?
2000- sang “Kryptonite”?
1979- disco queen sang “No More Tears” with Barbra Streisand?
1976- sang “Dream Weaver”?
1967- sang “Happy Together”?
1964- sang “Mr. Lonely”?
2001- sang “When It’s Over”?
(that last song had points awarded when a gal from another team sang 10 seconds of it)

A “Ladies Only Roll the Ball” challenge results in the Cheyenne Smoker recruiting the waitress to roll on his behalf. As she crouched down to roll, the half of the bar behind her was exposed to plumber’s crack. Now why couldn’t Newbie ever have done that for us?

Benkowski also spent some time during the game trying to get the tall girl from Window Lickers to take off her coat. He must have read the Las Vegas trip summary from 2003 (or was that 2002?).

Scores at the half: J&B 1080 Window 1080 America 540 Chuckies 510 Cheyenne 480

No voting for the remainder of the categories.

Second half: Celebrity Birth Years/Musical Terms/Genesis

That latter category would encompass the Bible, the band, and the gaming system.

The year the band Genesis formed?
What is the distance in pitch between two notes called?
Genesis’ only #1 hit in the US- 1986- 2 words?
Names of Adams and Eve’s two sons?

Scores after two halves: J&B 2110 Window 2030 Chuckies 1480 America 950 Cheyenne 870

Choice of final category: Baseball 2009, Fast Food in America, or Celebrity Birth Years

To pacify my early tantrum over baseball not being a first half category, J&B selects Baseball 2009. After briefly weighing the effects of three teams wagering with league ramifications in mind, J&B still bets the classic.

Final Questions-

Baseball 2009- The Sports Illustrated 2009 season preview issue lists projected starting lineups for each team. What player is expected to start:
Toronto shortstop?
Texas 3rd baseman?
Houston 3rd baseman?

Fast Food-
In 1970, which fast food restaurant was the first to have a drive-thru window?
What was the first year for the Big Mac in the US?
How many herbs & spices in the secret blend of Kentucky Fried Chicken?

Celebrity Birth Years-
Elle MacPherson?
Warren Beatty?
Teri Hatcher?

While Peppys nails at least one of the celebrities (or at least her birth year), let’s see how well prepared Moho and Nevin are for their rotisserie leagues. Gentlemen?

i would go out to-nite/ but i haven't got a stitch to wear

not mine, but from todays dcs