what Blog?

So yeah, lots been going on, and the blog has been suffering, not that it was ever used that often to begin with.

The MOVE:
Last week Diana and I moved up to Edgewater. This was the first neighborhood I lived in Chicago, and it has been a nice feeling returning to my transplanted roots. Much has changed in the old hood over the past 10 years (were did all these yuppies come from?), but for the most part it still has retained its charm. Its definately a change to walk out the backdoor and be swarmed by people walking briskly to the El. We have even had a chance to visit some of my old favorite places: Moody's, The Little Corner Restaurant, and late night trips to Dominicks.

CHELSEA:
As of now, there is one league game left for the men in blue and they still have a slim chance to win it all. A Chelsea win, combined with a ManUre draw or loss, and Chelsea win the Premiership once again! Sunday morning is going to be super exciting and tense. Both matchs are on at the same time so one eye will be watching Chelsea and the other will be hoping for a Wigan miracle.

After that CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL! Chelsea will be making their first appearance in the final against the dreaded ManUre. I have already taken the day off and will be cheering the lads on at the Globe. It would be a great birthday present to have them win.

FIRE:
ahh the Fire, finally back in season. A few glorious (and not so glorious) evenings and afternoons have already been spent watching the new and greatly improved Fire. Denis Hamlett is showing that he was clearly the best candidate for the head coach job. His draft picks and trades, with the help from Armas and Klopas, have proved to be amazing so far. Hopefully the Fire can continue their winning ways the rest of the season! It's amazing, but for once I have no complaints with the Fire.
p.s. bye bye Guppy

That about does it for now, hoepfully soon there will be an update on the job situation.

Holiday in the Sun

It took me long enough to get to this, but here is the first post about the trip to LONDON. Enjoy....

The trip began with a few tense moments. The blizzard like conditions had caused the first flight to be delayed 2 hours, and once everyone was aboard, cancelled. With a quick sprint down the jetway, and some muscle from Diana, we were book on another flight that was also delayed 2 hours at that point.

Once aboard the second flight, I relaxed a bit. Outside the window the de-icing machine was squirting us down. After 7 hours at O’Hare, we were finally on our way to London. Hopefully our flight would get in with enough time for us to check-in, shower, and be on our way to Stamford Bridge.

After all the sitting we had been doing, I decide that we should walk to the Bridge from our Kensington hotel. Looking on the map, it appeared to be a straight shot down two major roads, so there shouldn’t have been any problems. The walk down Gloucester Road was nice, except for the small confusion about the yellow bollards and which way to look while crossing the street.

Once we got to Fulham Road we started looking for an ATM. We surely didn’t want to pay the large ATM fees that Stamford Bridge was bound to have. We walked….and walked…..and finally came upon the gates of West Brompton Cemetary. Still no sign of Stamford Bridge anywhere..

Every once in a while we would see blue shirts, but they seemed to disappear once we decided to follow them. After a few sleep deprivation induced arguments we continue down Fulham Road. We cross a small bridge, and there it is…….STAMFORD BRIDGE.

We are set to meet up with Mick, and his wife Della, who have graciously purchased tickets for us in the third row lower Matthew Harding Stand. Diana spoke with Mick while I was getting ready, and we were to meet him at the hotel bar. After absorbing the pregame atmosphere of the huge complex, we make our way to the hotel bar.

Mick is easy to spot once we find the bar. He is sitting right were he said he’d be. We had a few beers with our new found friends, met a few people (including Chelsea legend Kerry Dixon!), had a laugh or two, bought our tickets from Mick and its SHOW TIME.

By this time the crowds were huge, electricity was in the chilled air. The walk to the Matthew Harding end plus the anticipation is pure excitement. We make our way through the tiny turnstiles and enter a sea of blue. I rush to the counter to get one last beer, but I miss by a few seconds. Unlike sporting events in the US, the beer stations are closed during the match…and forget about bringing any inside the seating area! (Luckily I had been warned about this before hand hahaha)

We make our way up the steps and here it is……… the holy pitch and immense space of Stamford Bridge. Singing is echoing from every direction, the bright blue of the building itself and vibrant green of the pitch is overwhelming. We make our way down to our seats, below pitch level. Then it begins…..The Liquidator…..The team emerges from the tunnel. The crowd goes mad.

Chelsea clearly dominates the match, not as much as I would like against lowly Reading, but nothing is getting past Petr the great. Stephen ‘Berkshire’ Hunt is booed all night, and after some great work by Joe Cole we get to hear “He’s here he’s there he’s every f@#king where, Joey Cole” which leads into “He’s here he’s there he’s shagging everywhere Ashley Cole” After a header by Ballack, Chelsea is up 1-0.

At the half I enjoy a scalding hot pie and a coffee, and its time to head back to the seats. Second half is more of the same, but all the traveling is starting to settle into my body. At the end of the match we walk around the Broadway Fulham area looking for the SoBar. After wandering aimlessly, we ask a friendly officer where the SoBar is….after getting strange looks (the whole accent thing) and some giggles, he points us on our way.

SoBar is packed and LOUD… at the time it was almost TOO much. We make our way through the crowd and to the tune of Que Sera Sera, order a few pints. Shortly after everyone clears out (pubs close EARLY in England) and we make our way to the Fulham Broadway tube station to get back to the hotel for some much needed sleep.

Time has come

I'm currently working my last 30 minutes before I leave for London.

The next 24 hours should be memorable.

Stay tuned...........

Christmas in October

Usually, I don't let advertising schemes or mass hysteria get to me, but this year it has been out of hand.

I've noticed this year that the big Christmas push began sometime mid-October, and to me that seems a little early. Whatever happened to the days of the Christmas season beginning AFTER Thanksgiving? The 24/7 Christmas Carols/Music/drival radio station began a few weeks ago....because nothing says All Hallows Eve like a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells.

I went shopping yesterday for some new shoes and you could see the effects of all this hype. Parents wandering around the stores, arms full of toys, grabbing at everything and anything. The gaggingly familiar cinnamon scent that wafts through the air. The store floors covered with discarded merchandise that the overtaxed staff do not have time to pick up.

I think its time to hermit down at least for a few week.........



A quick followup, after searching for an appropriate picture for this post, I have decided to blame this all on Tim Burton.

Rule Britannia

On January 29th I will begin my first trip "abroad" (not including Canadia when I was younger).

I was fortunate enough to find cheapish airfare to London....Ok, I didn't find it, but Diana found it for us. So plans are being made; football match tickets, hotel accommodations, museum visits, tube passes, money supposedly being saved, All for a brief 6 day stay.

Is 6 days going to be long enough? This is the city/country/island that am I am culturally, as well as by family descendants, rooted in. Thankfully, we will not be trying to squeeze in Ireland and Scotland, or other parts of England for that matter.

ok.......back to work...

The Rebirth of Slick

Little did I know yesterday when I started this blog, something of interest to me would happen overnight.

Hockey, thats right hockey, was one of my earliest childhood passions.

Attending Salt Lake Golden Eagles hockey games at the Salt Palace with
my parents are some of the first deeply imbedded memories that I have. Drunken fans yelling, fights and blood on the ice, smokey hallways (almost hard to believe now days), post-game traffic and celebrations. This is what i came to expect from a sporting event at an early age.


During my years in Colorado, I was able to welcome a new/moved franchise in the Colorado Avalanche and was even lucky enough to be in downtown Denver when they won Lord Stanley's Cup.


And then I moved to Chicago.......... the land of the almighty Blackhawks (or so I thought). Roenick, Chelios, Amonte, Hull, Belfour.... all names I associated with the hawks and watched while I was young. Little did I realize that I probably saw more of these players than the average Chicagoan did during that time period.


After many frustrating attempts at trying to watch games on TV I learned about Dollar Bill. In the process I also slowly learned why the Roenick's and Chelios's now played elsewhere in the NHL.


I for one will never celebrate death, but today there is reason for celebration. Hopefully new ownership and a new outlook will enter the Blackhawks camp....

Could today be....

anymore boring?

I have resorted to starting a blog.

more to come soon........