... With the baseball and other things filling our Saturday nights lately, Kates and I are making a habit of watching our recordings of Saturday Night Live on Sunday afternoon. We almost don't have a choice -- if we watch it any later, we're bound to hear all about it at the water coolers Monday morning ...
Thanks to Tina Fey, whose Sarah Palin impressions are becoming the stuff of legend ...
Last night she made her third -- third! -- appearance on SNL as Sarah, this time in a debate spoof with Jason Sudeikas, who played a pretty decent Joe Biden himself ... And Queen Latifah was called in to play Gwen Ifill! Genius!
Check it out ...
As usual the Tina-Fey-as-Sarah-Palin sketch drew the opening slot ... But for the first time this season, it was worth staying tuned to watch the rest of the show. With Anne Hathaway hosting, it showed what's possible when the SNL crew has some decent talent to work with ...
I especially liked the Mary Poppins bit. Ha-larious ...
10.05.2008
Sunday reading
... Some of the reading that caught my attention during the last week ...
Baseball ...
a After Yankees' 'insult,' Torre in a golden state with Dodgers
a Hey, Chicago, whaddaya say, let's fix 'Go Cubs Go' today ... I'm not totally agreeing, but he raises some good points.
a Fan embraces spud as chance to break curse
a Did the Cubs ever have a live mascot?
Politics ...
a The 3 A.M. Call
a Speak correctly, or build a big bunker ... Kathleen Parker's follow-up to her column last week.
a Who's to blame for the bailout's defeat?
a Palin picture packs 'em in
a If Obama wins presidency, then what?
a Lobbyist Hired by Freddie Mac to Work on McCain Is Now Senator's Aide
a Pitbull Palin Mauls McCain ... "2008 election is now an Obama-Palin race about 'the future,' and the only person who doesn’t seem to know it is Mr. Past, poor old John McCain."
a Bring on Tina Fey
a Report: 60 Million People You'd Never Talk To Voting For Other Guy ... From The Onion. I like the way the story is written without ever mentioning "the other guy."
Media ...
a With Brokaw as Elder Statesman, NBC Plans Future of ‘Meet the Press’
a Death of a Lively Newspaper
Entertainment ...
a Pitch-perfect take on a '60s oddity
a Jackson Browne is still running, but hardly on empty
a 'I'm pretty sane about my insanity': Carrie Fisher shares painful and funny stories about her stardom
a The movie before the movie ... Love the opening sequence in "Juno." The opening credits of "Catch Me If You Can" is a good sequence too.
a A Cappella Dreaming: 10 Voices, One Shot ... In case you missed it, this is the one that started it.
Travel ...
a D.C.'s Union Station celebrates 100 years of train travel
Baseball ...
a After Yankees' 'insult,' Torre in a golden state with Dodgers
a Hey, Chicago, whaddaya say, let's fix 'Go Cubs Go' today ... I'm not totally agreeing, but he raises some good points.
a Fan embraces spud as chance to break curse
a Did the Cubs ever have a live mascot?
Politics ...
a The 3 A.M. Call
a Speak correctly, or build a big bunker ... Kathleen Parker's follow-up to her column last week.
a Who's to blame for the bailout's defeat?
a Palin picture packs 'em in
a If Obama wins presidency, then what?
a Lobbyist Hired by Freddie Mac to Work on McCain Is Now Senator's Aide
a Pitbull Palin Mauls McCain ... "2008 election is now an Obama-Palin race about 'the future,' and the only person who doesn’t seem to know it is Mr. Past, poor old John McCain."
a Bring on Tina Fey
a Report: 60 Million People You'd Never Talk To Voting For Other Guy ... From The Onion. I like the way the story is written without ever mentioning "the other guy."
Media ...
a With Brokaw as Elder Statesman, NBC Plans Future of ‘Meet the Press’
a Death of a Lively Newspaper
Entertainment ...
a Pitch-perfect take on a '60s oddity
a Jackson Browne is still running, but hardly on empty
a 'I'm pretty sane about my insanity': Carrie Fisher shares painful and funny stories about her stardom
a The movie before the movie ... Love the opening sequence in "Juno." The opening credits of "Catch Me If You Can" is a good sequence too.
a A Cappella Dreaming: 10 Voices, One Shot ... In case you missed it, this is the one that started it.
Travel ...
a D.C.'s Union Station celebrates 100 years of train travel
10.04.2008
Saturday in the park
So today is our anniversary. Five years. I know. Crazy, right?
Jessi and Scott came down to stay with us for the weekend, and on a whim we went into the city with them today …
We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect fall day -- just like five years ago.
… Ok, almost perfect. We were late getting out of the house and missed our train heading out. But we didn’t sweat it; the driving was good and our day wasn’t hinged on a train schedule.
… We immediately headed for Millennium Park and soaked in the atmosphere. And Phoebe -- dressed in her pumpkin orange sweatshirt, brown pants and looking adorable as ever -- loved it too. It was her first trip to the city after all …
We caught a lunch at a Corner Bakery. I had the chicken pomodori panini, Kates had the Bavarian turkey sandwich, and Phoebe seemed to enjoy just watching us eat …
We walked Michigan Avenue and peaked inside some of the art shops …
And eventually hopped a bus to the Museum of Science & Industry. We had hoped to see the Smart Home exhibit, which costs an additional fee, but with barely 90 minutes to spare before the museum closed for the day we opted to get our money’s worth seeing the general exhibits instead. We saw the trains, the farm machinery, the airplanes …
And Phoebe made friends with the baby chicks in the genetics wing. I held her to the glass, she put her hands on the pane, and all the chicks came barreling toward her, pecking at the glass in front of her. Very cute.
By 4:30, we were on a crowded CTA bus and heading back to Millennium Park to retrieve our car. Once there, appropriately, we saw two wedding parties strolling through the park …
From there, we cut over to Ontario and ate at Ed’s -- Ed Debevic’s. The cheeseburger I ordered wasn’t nearly as good as I’d remembered, but the place was lively -- complete with the diner’s spunky wait staff and a slew of high schoolers streaming through in homecoming dance attire … Good eats. Great fun.
And don’t forget the dancing on the tables ...
This is what Pheebs thought of the scene …
Jessi and Scott came down to stay with us for the weekend, and on a whim we went into the city with them today …
We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect fall day -- just like five years ago.
… Ok, almost perfect. We were late getting out of the house and missed our train heading out. But we didn’t sweat it; the driving was good and our day wasn’t hinged on a train schedule.
… We immediately headed for Millennium Park and soaked in the atmosphere. And Phoebe -- dressed in her pumpkin orange sweatshirt, brown pants and looking adorable as ever -- loved it too. It was her first trip to the city after all …We caught a lunch at a Corner Bakery. I had the chicken pomodori panini, Kates had the Bavarian turkey sandwich, and Phoebe seemed to enjoy just watching us eat …
We walked Michigan Avenue and peaked inside some of the art shops …
And eventually hopped a bus to the Museum of Science & Industry. We had hoped to see the Smart Home exhibit, which costs an additional fee, but with barely 90 minutes to spare before the museum closed for the day we opted to get our money’s worth seeing the general exhibits instead. We saw the trains, the farm machinery, the airplanes …
And Phoebe made friends with the baby chicks in the genetics wing. I held her to the glass, she put her hands on the pane, and all the chicks came barreling toward her, pecking at the glass in front of her. Very cute.By 4:30, we were on a crowded CTA bus and heading back to Millennium Park to retrieve our car. Once there, appropriately, we saw two wedding parties strolling through the park …
From there, we cut over to Ontario and ate at Ed’s -- Ed Debevic’s. The cheeseburger I ordered wasn’t nearly as good as I’d remembered, but the place was lively -- complete with the diner’s spunky wait staff and a slew of high schoolers streaming through in homecoming dance attire … Good eats. Great fun.
And don’t forget the dancing on the tables ...
This is what Pheebs thought of the scene …
10.02.2008
Baseball time is here
... Oh, this is a good day.
October 1. The air is cool and crisp. The sky is cloud-covered. It felt as though it could snow at any moment today.
... I got a look today at perhaps one of the coolest, most fun museum exhibits I've ever seen. "Act/React" at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Stay tuned for a full review ...
... And the baseball post season is under way.
Predictions?
In the National League, I'm taking the Cubs over the Dodgers in five and the Phillies over the Brewers in four ... Although I'm reserving the right to be unsurprised if the Dodgers and Brewers knock off either team. The underdogs are riding some decent momentum into the post season (See: last year's Colorado Rockies) and frankly, I think the Dodgers are quite underrated.
In the American League, I'm taking the Angels over the Red Sox and the Devil Rays over the White Sox, both in four games. Contrary to the N.L., I will be surprised if either Sox team wins their series.
In the World Series, I say the Angels over the Cubs in six games ... Believe me, I hate saying that -- but the Angels are appearing almost unflappable.
Let's get on with it.
1:59 p.m. -- We flip on 620 AM to catch the start of the Brewers-Phillies game. Chills ran down my spine hearing Bob Uecker read the Brewers starting lineup, something he hasn't done for a postseason game since 1982.
3:23 p.m. -- I return to the office and load Gameday on my computer to keep tabs on the rest of the Brewers game.
4:40 p.m. -- Half of our office is crowded around the TV, and holding our breaths, as Prince Fielder, representing the tying run for the Brewers, bats in the bottom of the ninth ... He struck out and all of us retreated slowly and quietly to our desks. The Brewers lost, 3-1.
5:40 p.m. -- I arrive home and sit down to watch the Dodgers-Cubs game. Even better, I get to have Phoebe at my side ... I'm expecting a lot of memorable moments this postseason, but seeing the Cubs and Dodgers playing postseason baseball at Wrigley might be among the most beautiful ... The commentators are talking about how subdued the Wrigley crowd is tonight, like they're just waiting for something to go wrong. This is a Cubs game after all.
6:10 p.m. -- Mark DeRosa has hit a two-run home run to give the Cubs a lead ... I had to make it a pretty subdued celebration since Phoebe was sitting on my lap.
6:37 p.m. -- We're finally eating supper. Grilled ham and cheese with tomato soup. Mmm mmm good.
6:53 p.m. -- I have to step away from the TV. Phoebe's getting fussy and Kates and I have to get her ready for bed. Plus the sheets on her bed need to be changed ... Doh! ... And then it's my duty to clean up the kitchen ... Double doh!
7:12 p.m. -- I decided to take break from watching dishes -- just in time to see James Loney's grand slam. Yep, something has gone wrong.
7:32 p.m. -- I just realized we're missing the "Pushing Daisies" premiere and I forgot to set the DVR. Dang. We'll have to catch it online.
7:37 p.m. -- I've seen enough. I drag myself back to watching dishes.
7:46 p.m. -- I take another break to watch Jim Edmonds bat in the sixth inning. He grounds out but advances Aramis Ramirez from second to third ... It doesn't matter, Dodgers get out of the inning.
7:53 p.m. -- Manny Ramirez just hit a home run ... I'm feeling really conflicted about this.
8:13 p.m. -- Finally my night time chores are finished, and I'm free to watch baseball without interruption.
8:49 p.m. -- Believe it or not the Cubs are down one game to the Dodgers. They lost, 7-2. The commentators just noted it's the Cubs seventh straight loss in the post season. Bartman!
9:06 p.m. -- We’re underway in Anaheim, where it’s 83 degrees … Sweet sunshine, it’d be good to be there right now …
10:46 p.m. -- Jason Bay just crushed a two-run home run for the Red Sox ... Finally some action in this Red Sox-Angels game.
12:06 a.m. -- The Red Sox are tacking on runs in the ninth and the Angels are as good as done. This game is over ... Can I change my earlier prediction that the Red Sox didn't have a chance in this series?
Here's some good reads for the post season ...
a It’s been a long time comin’
a With the Cubs and Sox in the playoffs, it'll be tough to be neutral
a Chicago vs. Chicago?
a Live from (ad-filled) Wrigley Field
a 5 Cubs with Series rings know about playoff pressure-cooker
a Cubs fans lead Series pain parade, but others suffer, too
a For Red Sox owner Henry, the joy comes daily
a After Yankees' 'insult,' Torre in a golden state with Dodgers
a Hey, Chicago, whaddaya say, let's fix 'Go Cubs Go' today ... I'm not totally agreeing with this, but he raises some good points.
a Fan embraces spud as chance to break curse
a Did the Cubs ever have a live mascot?
October 1. The air is cool and crisp. The sky is cloud-covered. It felt as though it could snow at any moment today.
... I got a look today at perhaps one of the coolest, most fun museum exhibits I've ever seen. "Act/React" at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Stay tuned for a full review ...
... And the baseball post season is under way.
Predictions?
In the National League, I'm taking the Cubs over the Dodgers in five and the Phillies over the Brewers in four ... Although I'm reserving the right to be unsurprised if the Dodgers and Brewers knock off either team. The underdogs are riding some decent momentum into the post season (See: last year's Colorado Rockies) and frankly, I think the Dodgers are quite underrated.
In the American League, I'm taking the Angels over the Red Sox and the Devil Rays over the White Sox, both in four games. Contrary to the N.L., I will be surprised if either Sox team wins their series.
In the World Series, I say the Angels over the Cubs in six games ... Believe me, I hate saying that -- but the Angels are appearing almost unflappable.
Let's get on with it.
1:59 p.m. -- We flip on 620 AM to catch the start of the Brewers-Phillies game. Chills ran down my spine hearing Bob Uecker read the Brewers starting lineup, something he hasn't done for a postseason game since 1982.
3:23 p.m. -- I return to the office and load Gameday on my computer to keep tabs on the rest of the Brewers game.
4:40 p.m. -- Half of our office is crowded around the TV, and holding our breaths, as Prince Fielder, representing the tying run for the Brewers, bats in the bottom of the ninth ... He struck out and all of us retreated slowly and quietly to our desks. The Brewers lost, 3-1.
5:40 p.m. -- I arrive home and sit down to watch the Dodgers-Cubs game. Even better, I get to have Phoebe at my side ... I'm expecting a lot of memorable moments this postseason, but seeing the Cubs and Dodgers playing postseason baseball at Wrigley might be among the most beautiful ... The commentators are talking about how subdued the Wrigley crowd is tonight, like they're just waiting for something to go wrong. This is a Cubs game after all.
6:10 p.m. -- Mark DeRosa has hit a two-run home run to give the Cubs a lead ... I had to make it a pretty subdued celebration since Phoebe was sitting on my lap.
6:37 p.m. -- We're finally eating supper. Grilled ham and cheese with tomato soup. Mmm mmm good.
6:53 p.m. -- I have to step away from the TV. Phoebe's getting fussy and Kates and I have to get her ready for bed. Plus the sheets on her bed need to be changed ... Doh! ... And then it's my duty to clean up the kitchen ... Double doh!
7:12 p.m. -- I decided to take break from watching dishes -- just in time to see James Loney's grand slam. Yep, something has gone wrong.
7:32 p.m. -- I just realized we're missing the "Pushing Daisies" premiere and I forgot to set the DVR. Dang. We'll have to catch it online.
7:37 p.m. -- I've seen enough. I drag myself back to watching dishes.
7:46 p.m. -- I take another break to watch Jim Edmonds bat in the sixth inning. He grounds out but advances Aramis Ramirez from second to third ... It doesn't matter, Dodgers get out of the inning.
7:53 p.m. -- Manny Ramirez just hit a home run ... I'm feeling really conflicted about this.
8:13 p.m. -- Finally my night time chores are finished, and I'm free to watch baseball without interruption.
8:49 p.m. -- Believe it or not the Cubs are down one game to the Dodgers. They lost, 7-2. The commentators just noted it's the Cubs seventh straight loss in the post season. Bartman!
9:06 p.m. -- We’re underway in Anaheim, where it’s 83 degrees … Sweet sunshine, it’d be good to be there right now …
10:46 p.m. -- Jason Bay just crushed a two-run home run for the Red Sox ... Finally some action in this Red Sox-Angels game.
12:06 a.m. -- The Red Sox are tacking on runs in the ninth and the Angels are as good as done. This game is over ... Can I change my earlier prediction that the Red Sox didn't have a chance in this series?
Here's some good reads for the post season ...
a It’s been a long time comin’
a With the Cubs and Sox in the playoffs, it'll be tough to be neutral
a Chicago vs. Chicago?
a Live from (ad-filled) Wrigley Field
a 5 Cubs with Series rings know about playoff pressure-cooker
a Cubs fans lead Series pain parade, but others suffer, too
a For Red Sox owner Henry, the joy comes daily
a After Yankees' 'insult,' Torre in a golden state with Dodgers
a Hey, Chicago, whaddaya say, let's fix 'Go Cubs Go' today ... I'm not totally agreeing with this, but he raises some good points.
a Fan embraces spud as chance to break curse
a Did the Cubs ever have a live mascot?
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