Blame it on Rio

Naturally, I was disappointed to see that Chicago lost their bid for the 2016 Olympics. I think what was shocking to a lot of people was that they were out in the very first round! I kind of thought it would come down to Chicago and Rio, with Rio winning. I was right on the second part! Well, we had already started saving for them, so we'll see if we head to Rio for the Games. I'm hesitant to be immersed in such a huge throng so far away from home, but we have plenty of time to think about it and plan.

Hard to believe that South America has never hosted the Games, and it is definitely their turn. I hope this brings Brazil good things! I appreciated Ziggy's comments about being a host city...I'm sure there are definite drawbacks to being one. I remember my Atlanta relatives talking about when the city was doing construction for their Olympics--the road construction was awful! At any rate, a hearty congratulations to Brazil!

Predictably, certain people are seeing this as a failure on President Obama's part. Get a grip, people. In the grand scheme of things, and in international politics, this is not that big of a deal. He tried, and the bid was unsuccessful. Riddle me this, Batman: if he had not gone to make a pitch, and Chicago lost the bid, would you be saying that it was his job to go, that it was his fault that Chicago didn't win? I'm guessing yes. He's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. What I find really pathetic is people gloating and crowing about this as if it was some huge failure on Obama's part, ignoring the fact that this meant a lot to a lot of people, and probably would have provided much-needed work for a whole lot of people in our area. Have people really become that petty? Never mind...that was a rhetorical question.

Last night, we headed downtown a little after six, so we could grab a bite at Buffalo Wild Wings. As we went to sit down, I heard someone say "Beth!" I looked over, and there was a small group from the lab! Greg, the two Erins, Aubrey, and a couple of people who didn't work there when I was there. In fact, it was a little going-away party for someone who wasn't there when I worked there! Time marches on, doesn't it? It was good to see everyone, and I mostly got to talk to Aubrey since we sat by her.

We weren't any too pleased with the service, though. Very disappointing. It took forever to even place our order, and we told the waiter that we had to be at the show at 8, and one of the Erins had to be at work at 8. When we finally got our food, there were all kinds of problems with everyone's orders, missing sauces, the wrong beer, what have you. Ken and I ordered two small beers, they didn't come for ages, so I practically had to chug mine, and then we got charged for two large ones. By that time, we were out of time, and couldn't even dispute the charge. I don't want to get anyone in trouble, but it was so bad that I think I'm going to have to write a letter. It really was unacceptable service, and surprising, because when we've been there before, it's been great. We'll probably go back, but if that guy is our waiter, we'll move.

We made it to the Morris with a mere five minutes to spare. Robin started right on time, and I'm afraid I wasn't able to take any pictures. I took a few of the Morris (isn't it pretty?), but a security guy came up to me right before the show started, and said, "No pictures once it starts." I was a good girl and abided by the rules.

I thought Robin did a great job, and everyone I know who went said they also loved it! He got a very warm welcome, and started off right by talking a little bit about Notre Dame, Touchdown Jesus, that sort of thing. Always a good thing to talk specifically about the area. He got surprisingly political in this red state, although our county leans Democratic. I forget what he said about Sarah Palin, but it got a "Woot!" from me! He talked about his heart surgery, and did a long bit about genitalia that was hilarious. It definitely was not kid-friendly!

I'm really glad we went--we both enjoyed it a lot, and Williams is still a great stand-up comedian. We got rained on, but so what? We had some great laughs!

Weapons of Self Destruction

Tonight we're heading downtown to the Morris to see Robin Williams on his Weapons of Self Destruction tour. This show was originally scheduled for April, but he "called in sick" due to some silly little heart problem. What a wimp. (Seriously, I'm very glad he's okay and back in action!)

It actually worked out better, because our original seats were in the third balcony. When the new date was announced, I got online right away and managed to get seats on the floor--I think we're in the ninth row, or something like that--and we returned the other ones. Score! I'll take my camera and maybe I'll get a couple of good shots. We're both looking forward to it. Neither of us have seen him live, but always enjoyed his stand-up specials. I cracked up when I found this clip in which Robin talks about how golf was invented. [Language warning]

Heeheee! I don't know if he'll do that bit tonight, but it's hilarious!

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The President is in Copenhagen today to make his case for the 2016 Olympics in Sweet Home Chicago. Good luck, Mr. President, and Mrs. Obama, too. We're pulling for Chicago, because we hope to get tickets for a couple of events (we've already started an Olympics fund). It comes as no surprise to hear that his haters think he shouldn't be doing this (despite the fact that it's not unusual for heads of state to lobby for their country's bids, as both Tony Blair and Vladimir Putin did), that he should stay here and focus on our problems (he's flying in today, making his pitch, and leaving...he's not even staying for the announcement tomorrow), and what's the big deal about getting the Olympics, anyway? One word: JOBS. One idiot (I think it was the Imbecile Beck) said something about how that's no big deal--we need jobs now, not in 2016. Just like Rome, you boob, Olympic facilities aren't built in a day. If we get the bid for the 2016 Olympics, they'll get to work almost immediately with plans, logistics, construction bids, and contracts. Everyone from engineers to lawyers will benefit, and once construction starts, there will be plenty of those kinds of jobs for thousands of out-of-work Chicagoans.

Not to mention the incredible amount of tourist dollars that would flow into the city and the state of Illinois. We might even get a little bit of "fallout" here in South Bend, as we have some excellent practice facilities. I read on Route 66 News today that towns all along Route 66 in Illinois would benefit from tourist dollars, from Chicago itself (the start of the Road) to small towns like Litchfield (home of the Ariston Cafe) to the capital city Springfield, with its historical sites including the Abraham Lincoln home and library. People from overseas love Route 66, and you can bet that plenty of them would find time to take in a few sites along its Illinois length.

This is what makes me crazy about short-sighted people like the Imbecile Beck. I'm not a supergenius by any means, but even I can see the long term and ripple effects of bringing the Olympics to Chicago. (Yes, many are good, but some are bad. It can be a hassle for those who live there, with all the construction going on, and there is always the question of what to do with the facilities after the Olympics are gone...Chicago's Olympic Stadium would be temporary, negating that problem.) These people who can only see issues and the world from within their own narrow point of view like to state things in simplistic terms, without bothering to go outside their limited field of vision and see beyond the here and now. I don't know if it's an inability to process complex ideas or thoughts, but they just can't seem to figure out how various actions can come together and have consequences other than the immediate. They have no vision.

Anyhoo, as I've said before, Obama could find a cure for cancer and certain people would find fault with him for doing so. So bring it home to Chicago, O-Team!

Speaking of the Obamas, did you all see this picture of their meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi? Berlusconi has a reputation as a...well, apparently he's kind of a lech, and he kept trying to get Michelle Obama to give him a hug, making that "c'mere...c'mon!" gesture with his hands. (I'm picturing Dr. Evil chasing Scott Evil around the conference table in his Evil Lair, trying to get a hug.) I tell ya, Michelle can straight-arm a lecherous Prime Minister better than any NFL player pushing off a defender! Nicely done, Mrs. Obama. I love all the expressions in this picture. The Prime Minister's look of innocence--"Come to Papa!" The President's look of "Don't even think about it, Silvio." And Michelle's diplomatic smile and arm held straight out, saying, "This is as close as you're getting, Signore." Isn't it amazing how a photograph can capture a moment?

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Happy October, and rabbit rabbit rabbit! Evil spirits begone from Nutwood!

You keep it copacetic, gotta learn to accept it

It was a beautiful, sunny day, filled with many good things, including hanging out with Mr. Lounge Chair, and a good conversation with my Mom and Dad. But there were some downsides, and I'll get those out of the way first.

I didn't spend a ton of time on the computer, and I should probably give fair warning that with the approach of nice weather, I don't think I'll be commenting as much. (I might not even post as much...! I know!) If I'm following you, I'm still reading, but I have a feeling that comments are going to go way down this summer. I would also like to remind people to put up the "followers" list on your page, because on the rare occasion that I've wished to stop following a blog, and that list isn't available, it's next to impossible to stop following. We've all stopped following various blogs at some point, so please make it possible for people to opt out if they choose!

For the past two days, I've been unable to get into Twitter. I'm still not sold on it, but I'm trying to work with it and give it a chance, and there definitely are some things I like about it. But I could not get into the site until I used a different browser. What the blankety blank blank?? I'd like to thank my pal Dan (Milwaukee Dan #2) for giving me some good advice and putting up with my profanity-laden emails. The bottom line comes down to what I've been feeling for a while now...time to get away from AOL and go with IE or maybe Chrome for my browser. I'll still keep my AOL email for now, but I'm not a happy girl when it comes to AOL lately. Ugh. It meant a couple of hours of major frustration this afternoon, and I'm not very forgiving of anyone or anything that irritates me that much. Tell me that thing about how irritation is what makes an oyster form a pearl. Go ahead. I dare you.

I was also very irritated to hear about a situation in which someone decided they didn't want something that was used...what was offered did not meet their requirements. I feel this is a situation where, as Queen said, "I want it all, I want it all...and I want it now!" What happened to the concept, and the sound fiscal plan, of saving up for something, and buying it when you have enough money? Or putting money away for a rainy day, putting money aside for life's inevitable emergencies, like when the furnace goes out or the roof needs replacing? I assure you, dear conservative readers (I know I still have a few!), that I am a firm believer in saving and planning for such things, and I am extremely frustrated when I see people that do not do so, and instead choose to borrow money from those who agree to loan it. I believe there is a broader lesson here, and I think we need classes in high school to teach money management and economics. I had an Econ class in high school, and a personal finance class in college. Heck, in sixth freakin' grade, we had a project in which we "bought" stocks, and followed them in the local paper. Is that no longer taught? Arrrr, I am SO irritated by what I heard today, and all I can say is don't come cryin' to me!

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts....

I bought a buttload of CDs from BMG today for ultra cheap, and about half of them were gifts! Some cool obscure stuff. It worked out to less than $6 per CD. Oh yeah, babe!

Robin Williams rescheduled for an October date at our local theater (after a delay because of his heart surgery), and I was able to get floor seats, about nine rows back, as opposed to our previous seats in the third balcony. I need to take those balcony tickets back for a refund. Hopefully news tomorrow on a kickass concert in August...!

For dinner tonight, I made Shrimp Fra Diavolo, and it was quite tasty. After my Ahi Tuna at Tippecanoe Place, I've had a craving for seafood. I got the shrimp on sale, and also bought some tuna steaks on sale. I'm looking forward to some blackened tuna soon.

I've become friends with a person who has been through a similar bad experience with a mutual someone in our past, and exchanging "war stories" has been very therapeutic. I'm happy this has happened, and perhaps we'll tip a few in the future!

One of Ken's coworkers, who got us Notre Dame basketball and hockey tickets, asked Ken today about what football games he'd like tickets to. SWEEEET! We're going to try for Michigan State, Washington, Boston College (grrrr), and Navy. We're hoping that Cousin Shane and my Dad can come with us to the Washington game, and we'll do some tailgating for every game we go to.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day.

Okay, let's look at the totals!

• Less time for comments 1
• Stupid AOL 1
• Lack of fiscal planning 1
• BAD total 3
• El Cheapo CDs 1
• Great seats for RW 1
• Shrimp Fra Diavolo 1
• A new friend 1
• ND football tickets 1
• A kickass sunny day 1
• GOOD total 6

There is no question! Despite the day's frustration, the grand total shows a net of 3+ good!