big ups to nemo. i was lamenting my struggles making a tape and he said, bluntly (but helpfully), "nobody's going to hire you anyway." and it's true. so i decided to stop striving for perfection and, voila, i found a darn good game. july 9 which was, coincidentally, also one of the game's in which i was angriest.

some good stuff. lots of player background. "he's an athlete that the angels are trying to turn into a baseball player." "they were collegiate teammates, but never actually played next to each other until they became pros; x is converting from third base." "dives. spears it. from his chest. up to his haunches. fires to second. that'll do it."

so i should be able to get things out maybe monday morning, more likely tuesday morning. which will be a nice thing to be done with. here's 500 hours, boiled down to 20 minutes. enjoy.

i've actually put reasonably good effort into this; there are some promising openings, and i'll hope to make something happen. but it's important for me to remember to keep expectations reasonable. three previous offseasons, one sucker nibbled. the rest politely hung up on me.

- - - -

big weekend ahead. to champaign tomorrow. the boy's opened up the apartment to me. he'll be long since departed. hopefully some quality dave n' friends time on friday night. need to locate henderson for tickets saturday morning. hopefully a win for 7-4...

the boy tells me that, because it's break and because the illini are awful and because zook's a used car salesman and an idiot, the illinois ticket office is expecting a tiny crowd on saturday. very tiny. like, between 5,000 and 10,000 tiny. which just means that i'll be noticeable. or audible, anyway. i wonder if the band's coming...i hope so.

i need to get a few things done before departure on friday night. foremost among them, get directions. (take 74 and follow the signs, stupid.)

also:
- pick up suitcase 2 at borders. (i've decided i'll do this whether i receive the next $25 gift card or not. it'll be a great travel companion.)
- purchase gloves. i've been told target has a great sale. i somehow manage to lose my gloves every spring and summer.
- return a book to the library.
- shove my laundry in a suitcase. an actual suitcase. (trips home every three weeks=coming in under laundry budget)
- remember to pack my "formal" clothes

heading home after the game sometime saturday. no saturday commitments, nor a real desire for any. watch the biggest bears game of the season on sunday. high school friend's wedding sunday night. tending to oral hygeine monday. back to the port monday afternoon/night. (finishing up resume stuff at this point.) rat race tuesday and wednesday. thanksgiving on the farm, then back to the 'burbs for at least part of the weekend. no plans set for next weekend.

- - - - - - - -

football player as modern-day caveman:
"let's go shoot guns."
"okay, but first let's eat meat. i like meat."
"i like beer with my meat."
[later]
"mmmm...beer and meat."
"mmmmm."
"let me have another beer. six actually."
"good idea."
"you know what else is a good idea?"
"what?"
"let's go shoot guns."
"guns are fun."
[later]
[pow! pow! pow!]
[bam! bam! bam!]
"what did you say about my mother."
"mvredge."
"don't talk about my mother!"
"adfkle;lajk."
thwack!
pow!

- - - - - -

ladies and gentlemen, your chicago bears.

i like this story even better than the panthers cheerleader story. go bears!