An appetizer for December...

Christmas:  The aftermath.

Hello.  How was your Christmas? 

I get great pleasure in trying to be the best Santa Claus ever.  I work really hard thinking of gifts, make sure that they are plentiful, and make sure that they are fun.  I don't know if I succeed, but trying it makes it a success in my book.

Last night I had a guitar lesson.  It was the first time I really didn't feel like a complete spaz.  My teacher just received an electric banjo for Christmas, so he and I jammed together on a Jerry Reed song.  I've never played opposite a banjo before, so that was a ton of fun.  It was nice just to play and not worry about technique, etc.  I even dropped a few "walks" in on him. 

I'm rambling.  I think. 

A couple of weeks ago I proposed doing a series of monthly reviews in 2011 on 12 of the best Chicago based steakhouses (admitting it is a list of 11 local places with a stop at Fogo de Chao - ALL YOU CAN EAT MEAT.  I'm not passing that place...), with a 13th thrown in during December 2010 as an "appetizer" (and since it wasn't local).  Today, I'm starting that series.

This first one is going to include photos from the interwebs, as I don't have any of my own.  Future installments will be photos of the food that we actually consume.  I will probably continue to use interwebs photos of the establishments, but I'm gonna be the guy who snaps pictures of his food at the restaurant.  You know, the douchebag.

A few things.  The links embedded in this and all future posts will open in a new window, so if you don't like that, sorry.  I don't like having to use the "back" button all the time.  I think I'm a funny guy, and a lot of the links will be photos that may make you laugh.  I've embedded a lot of links in here.  They're part of the writing.  Again, sorry. 

I'm not going to tell you about the subtleties in the steaks.  Maybe.  I'm not that refined.  Maybe. 

Look, I'm just a normal guy who likes his steak the way whatever God there is intended it.  I want to taste the meat.  And salt.  I accept salt as a garnish.  Also acceptable on a steak:  Butter (and I'll accept a flavored butter).  Try it.  Peter Luger's does it that way. 

You could just throw this on the grill, and I'm good.

I also like to eat a LOT of steak.  I generally will not order anything less than a 20 oz. steak on a menu.   I also used to be a guy who likes his steak more toward the well done side.  That has changed as I have gone to better and better establishments.  I now eat no more than a medium, and often have a medium rare.  Steak that was pink in the middle used to taste raw to me, but if I'm going out for steak now, I ain't going to Outback.  I get higher quality steaks that are delicious when cooked toward the rare side.  My tastes have become more sophisticated methinks.   

I also am not a fan of sour cream, chives, or anything else that you can put on a baked potato.  I like butter.  And salt.  Period.  I don't care for a salad with a bunch of crap in it, as cucumbers and tomatoes make me gag, and I like my desserts to have chocolate.  Mostly. 

I don't drink.  I can't comment on a wine list.  If I were to sample some wine, well....the list wouldn't suffice.  Some of you witnessed the way I drink.  It's just best that I don't.  After 22 years of not drinking...yeah...it's really best that I don't.  So, if you're looking for a recommendation on an after dinner cocktail, I can't help you.  Sorry.



A little bit of delicious in a great big city



So, what you're going to get is a picky eater's review of the thing he enjoys eating the most, along with any commentary my wife cares to add on her dishes.  The first steakhouse we're visiting is Keefer's on New Year's Eve....but as I promised an appetizer, I'm going to tell you about the wonder that is Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab.  (let the video play - you'll like it)  Here we go. 

I'm not absolutely certain what the event was we were attending - I want to say we had tickets to "Wicked" that evening, but I remember we decided upon Joe's for a very good reason.  Thanks to a vendor of mine, I had $100 worth of Lettuce Entertain You gift certificates that would help pay for wherever we went.  We had gone back and forth about Maggiano's, and finally decided that Joe's was worth trying. 

We made the right choice.

Joe's shares its name and heritage with a place in Miami.  There are only three locations in the United States, so I let this one slide as a Chicago place.  Sue me.  It's my blog.  I should also point out that we've been to Joe's several times.  It had become our "go to" restaurant in the city, replacing the twice (fool me once....) disappointing Smith & Wollensky.

Walking up to the door at Joe's, it doesn't
 feel like it's trying to impress you.  Yes, there is valet parking, but it's at Rush & Grand.  You try finding a spot around there.  My point is that although the exterior facade is nice, it's not really trying to make you think something you shouldn't.  The front of the place is windows on both sides of the corner, with a revolving door entrance.  The revolving door is a good thing, because as soon as you come through it, you are in the bar.  No anteroom.  No vestibule.  You are in the bar.  Awfully cold in there in winter without the revolving door.  It's dimly lit, but in a warm way, and there are several TV's around showing the stuff that bar TV's show (sports).  It's usually crowded, but not stuffed, so it has a very vibrant feel to it.  The wood is either a walnut or cherry, and it is plentiful.  As you scan the room, you can see a balcony that appears to be private seating to the west, the main dining room to the north, and the Maitre d' station immediately in front of it.  We've always been greeted by a warm smile and friendly banter upon our arrival.


Like I said, I don't drink, so I can't comment on the bar, other than passing observation.



Our booth was right there on the left. 



We were led into the restaurant immediately (I believe we even might have been a couple minutes late for our reservation), and seated in a very nice, romantic, candlelit booth off to the side.  There is white linen on the tables, off white walls with some wonderful photo mural work
 of the original Joe's in Miami, a bunch of wood trim (I'm thinking it's cherry, but I could be wrong), and a very impressive wine rack.  The place just feels classy.   It should also be noted that as vibrant as the bar was, the dining room was much quieter.  Again:  classy.  You can have a full voiced conversation, but it's not overwhelmingly loud, and you don't have to shout. 

We were in a bit of a rush that evening, as we had theatre tickets.  Our tuxedo wearing (always a nice touch) waiter was to our table very quickly, whereupon I informed him of our situation; and that we didn't want to rush, but we didn't have time to dally.  He was very receptive, and very attentive.  He informed us of the non-menu items, then gave us just a couple of minutes to peruse the menu.  In the meantime, a small basket of breads and homebaked crackers and some butter arrived.  There are no "doubles" in the bread basket.  There is one of every item.  I sampled as many as I could.  The best is the onion roll.  I'm a fan of onion flavor, but not of onions.  It's a texture thing.  The onion roll is tasty.  Very tasty. 



How could I not want to eat these?



Anyway, our waiter came back, and we had mostly decided upon our entrees (meaning she had, but I wasn't sure...).  The specialty of the house for seafood is the stone crab.  They are ve
 ry cool looking.  They also don't have to be killed in order to harvest the meat, since it is all in the claws.  They fish for them, take the claws, then throw them back to grow some new ones.  Sure, that renders them defenseless for a while, but I would imagine the survival rate is respectable.  They almost make me
  wish I liked shellfish, just to try them, but I don't.  They come in 4 sizes, and apparently size does matter.  It's all about how much meat you get for the effort of removing the shell.  There are several jokes in there methinks, but I'll leave you to make them yourselves.  I had encouraged Amy to try the stone crab, but we were told that it came chilled, and she didn't want that.  I believe she wound up having the bacon wrapped scallops, and I asked the waiter which steak I should eat.  Duh.   The bone-in filet.  Duh.  Look.  I love filet mignon.  Who doesn't?  To
  me, however, it has always served as a tasty dessert type item that I cut off my porterhouse when I'm done with the filling strip side.  I eat the filet last, all the while making the o-face.  I don't eat it as an entree, because it doesn't fill me up.  At the time I went to Joe's, I was a devout porterhouse guy.  There is no porterhouse on the menu.  Bummer.  The filet is also only 16 oz.  Bummer again.  I got over it.  I decided if I was out in a nice place, enjoying a nice evening, I could get out of my way and order what the waiter recommended.  It was a growth experience for this control freak.  I ordered the filet. 

Good choice.

Good God.  My mouth just watered.

My steak was fantastic. 

It was nicely charred on the outside, yet a nice medium to medium rare on the insi
 de.  It was a fine piece of filet, one that melts in your mouth.  It's all due to fat.  Sure, the restaurant would prefer you call it "marbling" but...it's fat.  Tasty, tasty fat.  I like the taste of so
 mething that is charred.  I like to find the blackened pretzels, seek out the piece of pizza with the black edges, and with beef brisket?  Don't bother with t
 he center meat.  Give me the piece with the crust on it.  Yum.  Joe's gets the char right on their steaks.  Meaning the whole surface of the steak tastes like that.  It's one of the things I don't seem to be able to duplicate at home, and I'm pretty skilled on the grill, but I just can't get the char right over the whole surface of a steak.  I settle for the criss-cross pattern.  I'm drifting.  Joe's knows what they're doing.  The steak had a silky texture and a very flavorful kick.  Adding to my enjoyment of the steak was the "bone-in" feature.  The meat right up against the bone never cooks as much as the rest, yet has a wonderful amount of fat (flavor) around it.  I could get more graphic about how much fun it is to get in there and get the meat out from right up against the bone, but this is not an adults only site.  Not yet, anyway.  It was the first time I'd had a bone in filet (I guess a porterhouse qualifies...maybe?), and I loved it. 

I was pleasantly surprised how full the 16 oz. steak made me.  I can't remember what sides I had, but I'm guessing it was a baked potato with butter and the broccoli.  I remember those were pretty good as well.  The broccoli has a garlic flavor to it, so it's a little askew of my "purist" tastes, but it was good.

Amy thoroughly enjoyed her scallops.  When asked to describe them by this reporter, she said, "You mean the melty softness with the salty goodness wrapped around it?"  You can make your own joke there as well.  Unfortunately, on this night, we didn't have time for dessert.  We had to run and watch some women Defy Gravity. 

Now your mouth may be watering.

Joe's service is impeccable.  The wait staff is knowledgeable, humorous (I can
 't help but riff with people when I go out), and very attentive.  We were very impressed by the place.  So much so that we decided that we would make Joe's a frequent stop while we were in the city.  We've since gone back twice (we really don't get to the city that much).  I've switched to the bone in ribeye.  Lordy, lordy it is tasty.  It's a little less silky piece of meat, but MAN does i
 t pack the flavor.  Amy had the John Dory (a non-menu fish) the second time we went, then broke down and tried the stone crab on our third visit.  I sampled the fish, and it was very good.  I have yet to be brave enough to try the crab, but Amy reports that you want to skip the small ones and go for the big ones.  Again, she seems to be making jokes as often as she can.  She says it is the sweetest crab she has ever eaten, and heartily recommends it. 



If heaven were the flavor of lime and
cut into slices, it might look like this.



The other thing we have had the pleasure of trying is the famous Key Lime Pie.  Like I said, my desserts generally need to include chocolate.  Not at Joe's.  That Key Lime Pie (to quote Adam Richman of "Man v. Food") is the gospel.  It is subtle at first, then slowly the lime takes over.  Often, Key Lime Pie gets up in your face with the sweet tartness, but Joe's version just kind of sneaks up on you.  Whoever came up with the recipe really deserves a medal or something.  It is the kind of thing that one could describe as "signature."  If you go to Joe's...save room.  I promise it's worth it. 

The nuts and bolts:  Joe's ain't cheap.  None of the places I'll be reviewing are.  Fine dining requires fine pricing.  There's no sense while you're there that anyone feels snobbish about anything.  They know they make a fine meal, and you know they appreciate your patronage.  As I said, the atmosphere is nice, bordering on romantic, and the wait staff really does a great job.  I always feel comfortable there. 

Do yourself and your tastebuds a favor.  Get to Joe's.  It's a great, great place. 

NEXT UP:  Keefer's Restaurant

I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT!

How to do links that pop up in new windows! 

YAHOO!!!!!

Booked.

I have tickets to Fenway Park for the May 21st game between the Cubs and the Red Sox. 

Wheeeeeeeee! 

Yippee!

The best laid plans.....



I will call you Stitchface. 
(Greatest Simpsons Episode EVER)



Well.  It was a busy weekend.  Mostly.  Barrett and I finished buying his Christmas presents for his brother and his mommy, then we went to celebrate my niece Allison's 13th birthday.  Today was Barrett's show for his acting class, followed by a little dessert at my folks' house.  Then, tonight, I was going to work on guitar and my review of Joe's Stone Crab. 

The best laid plans....

I went to the store to get some rolls for dinner, and while there, Brady decided to test and see how big an impact he could make on the coffee table with his forehead.  The answer was:  pretty big.  I came home to Barrett telling me that there was Brady's blood all over the place and to come downstairs right now.  There I found a very shaken up mommy, a very shaken up big brother, and a fairly quiet (for him) 16 month old.  He had put a sizeable gash in his forehead, and as Barrett had reported....there was a substantial bit of blood spread around. 

I wasted no time in announcing that we were going to the ER, and that I could not believe the ONE (and I do mean ONE) time I left the house without my phone is the time I needed it.  We live only a short distance from the hospital, so it was a quick drive.  I was a little taken aback when he was not admitted immediately.  A toddler with blood all over his head...and he has to wait?! 

Anyway, Brady got 3 stitches.  For those of you who have never had to deal with stitches in a forehead...it's traumatic.  I got stitches in my forehead when I was 3.  I still remember the doctor doing the work, holding me down, etc. etc.  I don't want to get too graphic, because I don't want my wife to know how much the little guy went through...but that is something I really don't want to ever repeat.  Ever. 

Everyone is home, and everyone is fine.  Barrett was a great big brother.  He cleaned up the blood on the floor in the kitchen, helped mommy stay as calm as she could, worried his little head off about his baby brother, and was just great.  I'm so proud of him. 

Brady was back to his normal daredevil self as soon as we got home.  He was teasing and smiling and doing all the things that make him so uniquely "Brady." 

I'll never be the same.  That's OK.  I was bored with that version of me anyway. 

I'll get to the review of Joe's before the week's out.  Tonight was the night for that.  I'll get there.   

You know....

I've been thinking a lot about steak today. 

I've come up with the list.  Over the next 12 months, at the rate of 1 per month, I will be reviewing the following Chicago Steakhouses:

1.  N9NE
2.  Gene & Georgetti
3.  Chicago Chop House
4.  Gibson's
5.  Morton's
6.  Keefer's
7.  Benny's Chop House
8.  Rosebud Steakhouse
9.  David Burke's Primhouse
10.  Wildfire (Lettuce Entertain You)
11.  Tramonto's
12.  Fogo De Chao
13.  BONUS APPETIZER REVIEW FOR DECEMBER - Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

Some qualifiers.  I really had a hard time making this list.  I tried to limit to 10.  I could get to 11 by limiting the list to only Chicago based (no Ruth's Chris, Palm, Smith & Wollensky's, Shula's, Captial Grille) places.  (And Harry Caray's got cut in that process)  I thought about eliminating Wildfire, but I decided I needed a more "chain-y" kinda place (Morton's is too - but I'll be damned if that place feels like a chain), and since Wildfire is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, it stayed. 

I was flummoxed.  I settled on a list of 12 with an appetizer.  I chose Fogo as the 12th restaurant, even though it did not originate anywhere near Chicago, and is a very big chain, because....they serve you meat until you tell them to stop.  I repeat.  They serve you meat until you TELL them to stop.  That's a must visit in my book. 

The 13th is an out of town chain, but it is a place we frequent downtown.  I decided to include it because there are only 3 locations nationwide.  Joe's made the list.  Plus, I can write that review without spending more money there.  Bam.  It's on the list. 

So it's decided.  My great expedition into the steakhouses of Chicago is set for 2011.

I look forward to this. 

Meat. 

A series I'm considering....

I'm opinionated.  I'm also a devout carnivore.  There is nothing I like better to eat than a good piece of steak.  Period.   I've been fortunate enough to eat at Peter Luger's in Brooklyn.  To me, it is the gold standard.  In Chicago, I've become a VIP at Morton's (great story I'll share when I review them). 



Peter Luger's Porterhouse.
Um. 
I just...salivated...that's it.....salivated. 



So, I thought perhaps I'd do a series on the great Chicago Steakhouses. My wife likes the idea, because it forces us to get out and enjoy some fine dining.  The economy likes the idea, because it could prove to be a stimulus all to its own.  I like the idea because well....it's fucking steak.  I really don't need more than that. 

 
I've done some googling, and I have come up with 2 lists. 

This list is great.  It's local (with a couple exceptions), it's thorough.  It doesn't include Morton's, Gene & Georgetti, and the Chicago Chop House, however.  I'm sorry.  Those three belong there, if by reputation alone.  Other than that, the list excites me. 

This list is also very thorough.  Most of the restaurants listed on it are not local, however.  If I want to go to the Palm, I think I want to go in New York.  Ruth's Chris is supposedly excellent, and I'm going there one of these days, but it doesn't seem like there's any local flavor to it - from what I can gather, but the Palm in New York is a historic place.  I'm rambling. 

I think I'm going with my own list - but I think it may wind up being longer than 10 (because I think I REALLY want to go to Fogo de Chao) culled from the two.  Since Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab is on my list...and since that is one of my "go to" restaurants in Chicago, sometime this weekend I'll post a review of that place. 

This should be a delicious topic.



VIP Membership has its privileges.  Morton's.



I've been in a music mood the last couple o' days....

Tonight I was driving home and "Space Oddity" by David Bowie came on the radio.  Definitely high up there in my list of songs I like. 

As I was driving and singing along, I thought of Jonathan Coulton's song "Space Doggity" which was written as an homage to Bowie's piece.



The face and torso of a genius.



Then, I thought - I have a blog.  There are potentially readers of my blog who haven't heard of Jonathan Coulton.  I must change this.  

So.  I'm changing it.  Go research him.  His music is widely available on YouTube.  He also provides all chord charts, lyrics and background information for his songs on his website, or through his (unofficial) Wiki site.

The man is a brilliant songwriter who is (as far as I can tell) about as down to Earth a dude as a brilliant songwriter can be.  He's amazingly funny, wonderfully lyric, has a great voice, etc. etc.  He wrote great comedy songs like "Re: Your Brains" and "Code Monkey."  Yet, surprisingly, from the same mind came the heartbreaking "When You Go" and the song that sums up fatherhood better than I've ever heard it anywhere..."You Ruined Everything."

OK.  That last link was kinda cheap.  But what a great song. 

I first found JoCo at the movie theatre of all places.  He was the special guest for Rifftrax's live closed circuit broadcast of "Plan 9 From Outer Space."  He performed "Re: Your Brains" and a hilarious song "The Future Soon."  I loved it.  Went home, researched him a bit through Google.  Found out the guy just wants to make music and share it.  How novel. 

Anyway - go research him.  He's the shit.

Since he never really died....

"See you soon Bitches!" 

I mean there was no death certificate, no one saw him, blah blah blah blah.  Perhaps this story will allow Jim Morrison to no longer be on the lam.  Could a return of The Lizard King be waiting in the wings?! 

No.  He's dead.  But.....

I love these forty year old sins being absolved.

It was thirty years ago today...

I published this a year ago.  I like it, so I'm republishing today. 

Thanks Dar, for pushing me to post.  I do need to get back to this. 

“With what person, living or dead, would you like to share dinner?”

An annoying, albeit telling question that is frequently used as a conversation starter, and one for which I have ALWAYS had the same answer.

John Lennon.

I’m not really certain why I’ve always gravitated to Mr. Lennon. The Beatles were broken up shortly after I was born, the song “Imagine” was released when I was 3 and by the time I was aware of his existence, he was not a “working class hero,” but a pampered, private, semi-retired rock and roll legend living in luxury on Central Park West. He had a wife and young son, and was about to release an album called “Double Fantasy.” Not much there to which an 11 year old Midwestern middle class kid growing up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois could relate. Yet something about his music touched me then, and continues to touch me now. I had seen “Beatlemania” at the Shubert Theatre when I was 11 and had developed a love for their music over the next year. Lennon songs I was familiar with were deep, personal works like “In My Life” and “Strawberry Fields,” trippy ramblings like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” and surprisingly profound pop numbers like “Help” and “Nowhere Man.” I didn’t know “Imagine” at that point, hadn’t heard “Instant Karma,” and certainly was not familiar with “God.” In other words, he was a Beatle. That’s all he was to me. That was good enough.

Subsequently, he released the album “Double Fantasy.” I’m sorry, but if you don’t appreciate how personal “Watching the Wheels” or “Starting Over” or “Woman” are, then you don’t appreciate personal music. I remember listening to WLS and waiting to hear these songs again and again. He was now speaking to me as a solo artist, and I was getting it. I was 12, but dammit, I was relating.

Then I woke up on December 9, 1980.

Iconic photo of an icon

I’m not really certain why I wasn’t watching Monday Night Football the night before when Howard Cosell broke the news of Lennon's murder to the world, but I was sick. That much I remember. I woke up and my mom told me to come into her room, where I watched the CBS Morning News coverage of Lennon’s death. I remember photo montage after photo montage, their soundtracks being “In My Life” or “Imagine” or “Watching the Wheels.” I remember one black and white photo of Lennon playing a Les Paul guitar wearing an army jacket. Further education has taught me that it was a Les Paul Jr. It was red, and that the photo was taken at Madison Square Garden during one of Lennon’s final full concert performances in August of 1972. 1972! A full 8 years before he died. I stayed home from school that day, and watched pretty much wall to wall Lennon coverage the entire day. I had a sense then that the world had lost something special, and seeing the crowds on TV confirmed that.

It is 30 years later today.

As I ponder the answer to the question about dinner companionship, I reflect on John Lennon, and why it is I would place him as the single person I would like to meet. Beyond being one of the biggest icons in music history, the man was probably the smartest, most talented person in the room anywhere he went. I’m sure that was the way Thomas Jefferson (my number 2) was as well, but something about Lennon was just so available. While John was shielded from the world, he was always willing to open himself up through his music, or through his interviews, or through his familial relationships. He was willing to be the clown prince for peace, willing to fight battles when it was time, and willing to lend his voice if it was needed. His final two concert performances were a benefit for the mentally ill for chrissakes.

Watch “A Hard Day's Night” (starts at :30 of this scene - but Grandfather's line just before it is one of the best in the movie)  The scene where the boys sneak out and go to the nightclub, which I believe is unscripted, all the other Beatles are goofing around, Ringo doing his crazy dance, Paul doing it with him, George is dancing as awkwardly as he can, and John is sitting in a corner, talking to a group of people. Engaging them is a better term. He was always above the Beatle thing, yet perfectly willing to embrace it where he could.

Ultimately today I am left to ponder what we missed. The Beatles had only been broken up for 10 years. Other classic rockers from that era (and after) reunited, some with success, others without success. I think the Beatles also would have been one of those that did reunite. The Universe would eventually have pulled them in that direction. “Free as a Bird” is a nice song, but imagine a true John Lennon piece, written at age 45 or so with those guys as the band. We missed that.

John was a tireless anti-war voice. Imagine him alive in 2003. For that matter, imagine his voice on

September 11, 2001. He would have spoken of love, peace, forgiveness and understanding. He would have led protests against the quagmire we entered in Iraq, and would probably have helped us avoid a second term of W. We missed that.

John was a visual artist. His drawings were simple, yet inspired. Who knows what he might have accomplished with a computer? We missed that.

John was a husband and a father. Yoko, Julian and Sean missed that. I think we did a little too.

Ultimately the man lived a good life. He touched millions, and continues to today. I sang “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)” to my newest son the night he was born, and Barrett jumps around singing “Hey Bulldog” with surprising fervor.

For those reasons alone, he’s my dinner companion.

I hope you have found peace Mr. Lennon.

We sure miss you here.

Me in front of the Dakota, right outside the entrance where John was killed.  I remember that guard booth from the photos in the paper.  Imagine. 

Not unlike this blog

Musician's Friend.com has a background image, over which the content loads. 

If you click this link, look at what they used for the background image. It will be there just a second, then be covered.

Awesome.

Call me a pig

But my 6 year old self just went into sexual awakening overdrive. 

I still have dreams like this.

I never would have guessed

I've been taking guitar lessons.  Prompting this was my purchase of an electric guitar last spring.  I bought myself a Squier Stratocaster, thinking that if this mid-life crisis thing fizzled, at least I wouldn't be out a ton of cash.  Squier Strats are made by Fender.  They are the Nissan to the Fender Infiniti.  They are OK, but they are definitely not up to Fender specs. 

Since I started taking lessons, learning more than I ever have, I've toyed with the idea of upgrading.  I'm not rushing into it, but I've been thinking about it.  Being a father of 2, and dealing with the downturn in the economy by taking a 20% pay cut 2 years ago, expendable cash is less readily available.  So, I've been looking at used guitars online. 

Holy crap. 

Basically, from my research on Craigslist and eBay, a Fender guitar, if properly cared for, is the equivalent of a diamond.  It never loses its value. 

Apparently, a recession proof investment.

So, it appears that if I decide at some point to actually invest in one of these things, and take reasonably good care of it, my kids should be able to sell it for its purchase price (if not more) when I'm dirt surfing. 

Who'da thunk it? 

Wanna make me laugh?

This'll do it. 

But not as hard as I laugh at this one. 

Talking babies.  Hee hee. 

Been a while

Amy got the flu last week, which left me in charge of...a lot more than usual.  We are truly partners, in that we both have different tasks that we handle, try to stay out of each other's way while handling them, and generally try not to step on each other's toes. 

Being daddy full time and trying to keep children away from mommy got to be a little much.  I confess that my patience level is diminishing right now, as winter closes in and work gets CRAZY, but I was just not prepared emotionally to deal with a tough weekend.  Got through it, and Amy got better pretty quickly, so no one should require therapy.  Maybe.  Maybe I do. 

In other news, Barrett starts his first acting class on Sunday.  He's taking lessons at the Noble Fool Theatre in St. Charles.  I'm really excited about it, because he seems really excited about it.  From the time he's been 2, we've tried to engage him in all sorts of activities, be it tap class, or gymnastics, or dance class, or T Ball.  T Ball went pretty well, and he seemed to enjoy gymnastics, but he seems genuinely excited about his acting class. 

The kid is already a better actor than I could ever hope to be, or hope to have been, and I thought I could hold my own with just about anyone. 

I'm rambling. 

Got to get back in the swing of posting here. 

In the meantime, I heard something last week that made the opening sequence in Jaws somehow more terrifying.  I must confess, I haven't checked on the veracity of this, (and I will) but apparently right before Chrissie Watkins is dragged under the last time, she starts muttering The Lord's Prayer.  Yeah.  I got the chills typing it.  I've never heard that before, and the scene is so screamy that I've never thought "Hey, listen to what she's saying." 


Yeah, like this shit needed to get scarier.  Or more human. 

 You can bet the next time, I will. 

Good to be back here.

Ugh.

I've been busy lately. 

This past weekend we went to Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Lodge in Utica, across the road from Starved Rock.  It was a nice enough place.  Kinda depressing to go to a seasonal resort out of season.  Not a whole lot of people there.  Not that I'm complaining about that, mind you, because I generally dislike crowds of people, but it always bugs me when things that should be crowded are not. 

I'm a sensitive soul. 

We took a brief hike in Starved Rock.  I was reminded just how out of shape I am when I had to carry Brady up and down the stairs that lead from the Lodge to the actual Starved Rock.  By the last staircase, I was carrying him in front of me, not on my hip, and just hoping I didn't drop dead on the spot. 

I've got to correct that.  Sooner than later. 

I just wish I didn't like food so damned much. 

Ah well. 

Oh, and congratulations to the San Francisco Giants.  They completed the World Series victory last night, and ended my misery when it comes to playoff prognositcations in 2010.  I don't think I had but 2 of the 7 series right the whole postseason.  That's not a real good average. 

So, as I said on Facebook, since I'm this cold...I predict the Cubs will suck to high heaven next year and not even come close to winning the division, let alone the World Series. 

There's religious overtones tied up in it...

But I'd like to think that when the time comes, I'm more Dutch than American. 

Look, I don't think that 16 year olds understand consequences.  I didn't. 

However. 

There are lots and lots of ways to not have consequences. 

My kids keeping things from me because of some shame that I place on them is not going to help me help them avoid consequences. 

Nope, it really doesn't matter

The line about the middle class and welfare checks is brilliant.

Here's a nice, neat summation of what's headed our way next week and for the next two years.

It's booked

Had some really wonderful conversations with people in Boston today. 

Oh yeah.  Earlier today, I booked a trip to Boston to watch the Cubs play the Red Sox in Fenway Park. 

As I've said more than a few times here, I'm going to go to every MLB park before I die.  The Cubs are playing the Red Sox in Boston for the first time since 1918 next May.  I'd decided as soon as I heard it that this was how I was going to see a game at Fenway. 

Today, I booked the hotel, the flights, and the reservation at the Chocolate Bar at the Langham Hotel.

As a little bit of background, Amy and I enjoy watching the Travel Channel's specials on all the great places to eat around the country.  I've been to a number of them as I make my way around the US on these ballpark trips.  Amy fell in love with the idea of the Chocolate Buffet.  I guess they even have chocolate soup.  It was brought up at that time that there was no way I was going to Boston without her.  So....

Amy and I are going to Boston.  Me for baseball, her for chocolate soup.  Oddly enough, we both get to enjoy the other's activity.  Win.  Win.  While we're there, we'll swing by and do the tour of Fenway, hit the Freedom Trail, and, after further discussion tonight, we're probably going to skip an additional day of work and just enjoy our time away from home one more day.  We haven't been away just the two of us in a while.  It will be nice. 

Week 2

I had a guitar lesson again last night.  It was rough.  I'm not allocating the time I need to to the pursuit of practice.  I know it's only week 2, and I'm pretty settled into routine, but I have got to find 20-30 minutes a night to do this.  On the plus side, the first lesson was a tad overwhelming, in that a lot of information got thrown at me very quickly.  After last night, I better understood some things I was doing, and when my teacher and I played a song together, using a bunch of chords I didn't know prior, it didn't sound half bad. 

I'll get there.  Gonna be a while, but I'll get there. 

Keeping up with this is hard

We've had some busy days in the office and at home.  I've been unable to post thoughts here.  It's very frustrating.

I do want to write a little something about the weather. 

All day on Facebook, the Chicago people have been complaining about the weather. 

There is a vital piece of advice I try to always remember when it comes to the weather.

Do you know what the Native Americans do when it rains?





They let it rain. 

Well how about that?

The Giants won the pennant. 

I'll say this:  if someone had come to me and said, "Pick your 2 World Series teams from the 4 teams playing in the respective League Championship Series.  If you get 1 right, we'll give you a thousand dollars.  If you get two right, we'll give you ten thousand dollars.  If you get none right, you owe five grand.  Take the bet?" 

I'd have taken that bet. 

And I'd have been out five grand. 

Congratulations to the Giants and the Rangers.  I'm looking forward to the World Series.  Of course, this means that a new fan base will get a championship in my lifetime.  That leaves 10 after this year.  There will only be 10 teams in the Major Leagues who have not won the World Series in my lifetime after this year. 

How come one of them has to be my team?

P'raps if the Cubs signed this 42 year old rookie phenom who can't throw and can't run to be their catcher - the curse would be over....

My family

Is gone until 5 tomorrow night. 

Methinks there's some baseball watching in my future.

My favorite film

The other night, I'm flipping through the channels and I notice that one of the HD movie channels is having a long night featuring a couple of movies.  Specifically, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II.  For the record, I think The Godfather III is terrible when compared to its brothers, but is a fairly entertaining film on its own.  It's just too damned bad Al Pacino forgot how to act before they made it. 



Tessio agrees.  That last 15 minutes is brutal.



Which kind of brings me to my point.  The Godfather is my favorite film.  I know, it's cliche.  Fine.  I don't think my reasons for it are.  It's a bad ass movie, no doubt.   BUT, it contains some of the finest moments of acting I've ever seen on screen, along with what has to be among the most chilling final 15 minutes of a movie, ever. 

Let's go right to it.  I could go on forever like everyone else has about the opening scene, the exposition that happens in it, the sheer lavishness of the wedding framing the small scenes inside the Don's office.  We get to meet all the major players, get to see what they're all about, and get a glimpse of what is to come....and it takes 25 minutes.  THAT'S the beauty of the opening scene.  Whenever I show the film to someone for the first time, I pause the film after the fadeout on the Don dancing with Connie and ask "How long do you think that took?"  The answer is, inevitably, "Around 10 minutes."  Nope.  It was 25.  About a third of the average film.  And you haven't had a single moment of action yet.  It grips you, it draws you in, and makes you want to watch the rest. 

Next, we have the whole business with Tom Hagen and Woltz.  The horsehead bit.  Not much to comment on there.  Great cinematography, and a whole lot of overacting, but you don't really get it.  There's nothing menacing.  You've got a lawyer talking to a movie studio chief. 

Until Khartoum's head winds up in the silk sheets.  That's what gets me.  Hagen is so detached, so professional.  There's nothing threatening about him in any way, shape, or form.  He's Irish, bald, educated, and calm.  Not exactly street style, thug "mafioso."  Then a freaking horse's head winds up in a bed. 

The next scene opens with the Don in his office.  A bouquet of flowers arrives.  The Don asks what they're about.  Hagen says, "They're from Johnny, he's starring in that new picture."   Brando doesn't even manage more than a grunt of acknowledgement.  This is the first moment that nearly makes me wet myself.  I'm an actor.  I wish just ONCE, just ONCE, I could have a moment even 1/100th as cool as that.  AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE BEST BRANDO MOMENT YET.  Brando's take, the nonchalance, everything about it is just so perfect.  It's business as usual to the Don.  BUT IT WAS A FREAKING HORSE'S HEAD THAT GOT YOU THE FLOWERS!!!   I know Brando was "method."  I also know he didn't memorize his lines.  Who the hell thinks to have that subtle a reaction?  Genius. 

Shortly thereafter we are introduced to Sollozzo.  The Turk.  This is the best Brando moment.  There's a moment where the Don says to Sollozzo, (I'm paraphrasing, I'm sure) "I brought you here because I hear you're a man to be treated with respect."  As he delivers this line, he gently brushes some lint, or a crumb off of Sollozzo's knee.  Again.  WHO THE HELL THINKS OF THAT?!  It was both respect and "Fuck you very much" all at once.  That moment gets frozen every time I watch the film  I back it up, and I watch it again.  It's so brilliant that the word "brilliant" doesn't do it.  "Brandolliant?"  Maybe.  Look, I'm no Brando junkie.  He was a great actor.  I'm not out watching all his films, and adoring at his altar.  I just am blown away by what he did in this film. 

I'm getting long winded here.  The film continues with lots and lots of good stuff happening.  We see Michael join the organization, we see Sonny get killed, we see the Don get shot.  We see Michael run away to Sicily.  We see lots of great action.  We see the Don die.  We see the iconic murder of Paulie with the Statue of Liberty in the shot, the "Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes" line.  The introduction of the term "bada bing" by James Caan.  We see Michael ascend to the throne.  We see him threaten Fredo.  It's just great film making. 

Then we get to the last 15 minutes.  Michael stands Godfather to his sister Connie and her husband Carlo's baby.  This is the same couple who was married at the start of the film.  Michael stands in the church, knowing that what is going on while he is there is the mass slaughter of the Dons of the "Five Families" and the bullet through the eye of Moe Green.  Michael, the cool, calculating war hero who was not supposed to be part of the family business, wipes out every one of his enemies in one fell swoop.  While he renounces sin and Satan in a church.  The transformation of Michael is complete.  He became his father.  Only WAY worse. 

Now, what I haven't gotten to yet are the two coldest moments in the film.  Tessio.  The Don's loyal captain since he first strarted building his organization, has realized that the Corleone family is perhaps yesterday's news.  He throws in with the chief antagonist/rival, Barzini.  Michael knows this.  Tessio arranges for a meeting, on his grounds, where Michael will be killed.  Just as they're leaving for the meeting, Tessio, walking with Tom Hagen, is told Michael will meet him there.  Hagen then says "I can't go either."  Tessio is surrounded by men at this point.  He knows what is coming.  Everyone does.  He looks at Hagen and says, "Tell Michael it was only business.  I always liked him."  Then he asks, "Can you get me off the hook Tom, for old-time's sake?"  "Can't do it Sally."  is the reply.  COLD.  Cold.  Cold.  How Abe Vigoda and Robert Duvall ever got through it is beyond me.  Tessio is shoved into the car with his killers, and Hagen watches his life long friend drive away.  For the last time.  Cold. 

Finally, we see Michael watch with steely resolve as the FATHER OF THE CHILD HE HAS JUST STOOD GODFATHER TO is killed in the driveway. 

Chilling.  We have thrown in with this guy, Michael.  He's the hero.  He's just killed his sister's husband.  The day of his child's baptism.  You can keep your horror icons like Freddie, Jason and the lot.  No one scares the crap out of me more than Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in the first two Godfather movies. 

I ramble. 

I liked watching The Godfather the other night.  I hope you find time to watch it some time.

Only 3 left

Now that it looks like the Rangers are going to win the ALCS and move on to the World Series...

that means the total number of teams I haven't seen play in the World Series is 3...the Nationals/Expos, the Mariners and the Cubs. 

And one of those is MY team. 

In 2005, it was all I could take to watch the Series.  Not because I'm anti-White Sox....but because neither team had played in the World Series in my lifetime.  One of them was guaranteed to win, and another fan base was going to be celebrating, while I had memories of 2003 fresh in my head. 

This year, if the Giants win...that means ANOTHER fan base is going to be happy this year.  Ugh. 

As depressing as the "3" is....at least there are still 11 teams that haven't won the Series in my lifetime.  They are:  the Rays; the Indians; the Rangers; the Mariners; the Nationals/Expos; the Brewers; the Astros; the Giants; the Rockies; the Padres and the Cubs. 

Still.  That "3" is just killing me. 

I used to wonder

How people dealt with attention-giving and having more than one child. 

I was told it would just sort of happen when the time came. 

I hate it when everybody else is right. 

It's amazing.  It's like a seventh sense (my sixth sense is when someone is bullshitting me). 

Last night, I came home, and the 14 month old greeted me at the bottom of the basement stairs with a baseball.  He and I play "catch" with it.  So, it was Brady time.  Barrett was busy on the Wii, didn't really need anything more than a "Hi Barrett" from me, and away we went.  A short while later, Barrett was clamoring for me and Brady was content.  So, now Barrett got the focus.  It was totally subconscious.  Then, a short while later, I was conscious.  I looked at myself (I live a pretty examined life) and said, "Hmmmph.  You've found time for both kids.  You haven't done anything conscious, yet here are both children, getting attention from their daddy.  How about that?  You've done something right, without even knowing it.  Just like EVERYBODY SAID YOU WOULD." 

Lesson learned. 

I don't care

What the backstory is.

This profanity laden tirade (you've been warned) still makes me laugh to no end. 

"We saw that Terry Crowley could sit on his (deleted for taste's sake) ass for eight innings and enjoy watching the baseball game just like any other fan, and has the ability to get up there and break one open in the (deleted for taste's sake) ninth."

Kills me.  Just kills me. 

In the future...I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be "deleting for taste's sake."  I'm using this as a warning shot. 

There's a magical time on Friday

When Elvis has left the building.

It's been a rough week at work.  I'm glad this one is behind me. 

My wife...

...is nicknamed "Little Bunter."  There's a reason for it. 

My wife is 5'1".  I'm a foot taller.  That's not the reason though. 

When Amy and I first started dating, I was talking about baseball or some such nonsense, and she talked about her own Little League career.  She exclaimed "I couldn't hit, but I was a great little bunter!" 

Something about the words "Little" and "Bunter" just seemed so perfect together to describe her, that I bestowed upon her the nickname right then and there.  Bunter sounds like some sort of British idiom, and it makes me laugh to no end.  It has stuck. 

We have two children.  Barrett - or "Littler Bunter" and Brady - or "Littlest Bunter."  There isn't going to be another Littler Bunter, so Brady gets the "est." 

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. 

That magical time

I know it drives my wife up the wall.  I LOVE having our 14 month old fall asleep on me. 

He's been in a phase where going in his crib makes him sad.  And by sad, I mean SCREAMING.  He's coming out of it, and the last 2 weeks have been better, but we took to taking him into our room, laying him on the bed next to us (me), giving him his bottle, and watching TV with him 'til he goes to sleep.  It takes about half an hour or so, and I really enjoy the time. 

Tonight, just as he was ready to nod off, Brady looks over at me and just starts smiling.  Then giggling.  I gently admonished him, then watched as he fell asleep.  My wife came up a short time later, and asked me to move him to his crib while she took a shower.  I didn't.  Know why? 

Because in about 3 years, there's no way a night like tonight will happen.  He'll be a big boy, and won't want to have much to do with looking at me and smiling.  For no reason. 

I just wanted to hold him.  Of course, I couldn't say that.  Instead, I had to sit there and look like I just didn't care about what she had asked me. 

He's in his crib now, and I'm here writing about it. 

Ah well.  At least we had that moment. 

Riiiiight...

I'm calling shenanigans on this story.

1.  It was 47 years ago.  It's possible this has been embellished. 
2.  I doubt VERY seriously that anyone says "Let me see your face, you bastard." in situations like that.
3.  The President of the United States, the day after the assassination of the last President skulks through his former house and the Secret Service Agent who is there doesn't know it's him, or even acknowledge he was informed he MIGHT be in the house?!  I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that there would have been a whole team of agents and supervisors there telling him - "Johnson's coming.  As a matter of protocol - please don't cock your gun and aim it at him." 
4.  If this guy was close enough to Kennedy to know that he didn't dally with Marilyn Monroe, explain to me how the day after Kennedy's death he was put on night patrol of an empty Vice President's house.  I'll wait.  Right over here.  In the corner.  I won't sneak up on you, though. 
5.  Bullshit.  Just bullshit.  47 years later and the Kennedy mystery can still make anyone even remotely associated with it some money.  Good on this guy for finally cashing in.  His story is still bullshit though.    

A tea party member

who is sane.

I've got to get off baseball soon...

But when is MLB going to do something about bats shattering?

Someone's going to die. 

Again. 

Someone is going to die. 

It has to be fixed. 

30 Stadia with only 6 days off work....

As I've discussed a bunch here, I'm a fan of baseball.  I love the statistics, I love the math, I love the game.

I am on a quest to see a game played in every Major League Stadium in my lifetime.  So far I've gotten to 11.  4 of them don't exist anymore, but I've been to both Old Comiskey and what is now US Cellular.  I have 22 more to get to.  That's a daunting task.  On the plus side, there are some geographical advantages to the layout of major cities in this country.  They tend to be bunched, and Chicago is right in the center of a bunch of them.  I'm at a clear advantage to seeing lots of places without taking long breaks from work.

There are lots of websites that can tell you how to get around in a month.   I can't afford a month away from work or family.  I'm sure most people can't. 

So, you ask, how does this work?  I'm doing this as a service to you and to myself.

1.  The following cities are within 8 hours drive time from Chicago.  You can go to these on a weekend, and you might not feel like you're wasting your life (provided you leave EARLY on Saturday morning). 
      A.  Minneapolis (Target Field)
      B.  Milwaukee  (Miller Park)
      C.  St. Louis  (Busch Stadium)
      D.  Kansas City  (Kauffman Stadium)
      E.  Detroit  (Comerica Park)
      F.  Cincinnati  (Great American Ballpark)
      G. Cleveland  (Progressive Field - formerly Jacobs Field)
      H.  Pittsburgh  (PNC Park)
       I.  Toronto (bring your passport)  (Rogers Centre - formerly SkyDome)
Throw in your 2 Chicago stadia, and you've got 11 within a relatively short distance.  That's more than a third of them. 

2.  Taking off a few from the above there is a trip that you can do that does 4 stadia in 4 days that is within driving distance of Chicago.  The following 4 cities are relatively close to each other, so the longest drives are out from Chicago and back.  I would suggest the best way is to start in Pittsburgh and end in Detroit. 
        A.  Detroit
        B.  Toronto
        C.  Cleveland
        D.  Pittsburgh

From here on out, these trips are assuming air travel.  This is where this gets pricey.  I'm fortunate in that my company has free air travel almost anywhere I want to go.  Your situation may differ.  If you're prudent, and deal with it correctly, you should be able to fly relatively cheap with a little planning. 

3.  The following cities are kind of "islands."  There's no other stadium within 5 hours drive time.  That prevents it from feeling like a good way to spend an efficient baseball weekend if you're from Chicago. 
        A.  Denver  (Coors Field)
        B.  Seattle  (Safeco Field)
        C.  Atlanta  (Turner Field)
Unfortunately, these trips will have to be solo trips if you want to avoid missing work. 

4.  "The West Coast Swing"  Did you know that there are 4 teams within a relative close distance in the southern portion of the west coast?  The following can be done in 4 days. 
        A.  LA Dodgers  (Dodger Stadium)
        B.  LA Angels  (Angel Stadium - "The Big A")
        C.  San Diego  (Petco Park)
        D.  Phoenix  (Chase Field)
I would recommend flying into or out of LA, then flying into or out of Phoenix. 

So, now we're up to 18 stadia in 7 "day trips," two 4 day trips and 3 weekends. 

5.  Now we get to the 2 stadia in the same city, or real close together.  These are:
         A.  San Francisco  (AT&T Park)/Oakland  (Oakland - Alameda Coliseum)
         B.  New York Yankees  (New Yankee Stadium)/New York Mets  (Citi Field)
I would also tack Boston  (Fenway Park) onto the New York trip.  It's 3 hours away.  You can do 3 stadia in 3 days that way.  I'm not doing it that way, because I've already been to New York once (Shea and Old Yankee) and my wife wants to go to Boston.  It's a solo trip for me.  The repeat of the New York swing will have to be another weekend for me.

Recapping - 23 stadia now, with 2 more weekends.  We've made it real efficient to do this.  You've seen 23 stadia, and if done over 2 day weekends, the MOST you've missed is 5 days of work.  Do it on 3 day weekends, and you could potentially have only missed 2 days of work.  Provided you can afford air travel, you've done pretty well for yourself and you've seen a whole lot of the U.S. 

6.  Now we come to the trip I just did.  This is a 3 day trip. 
       A.  Philadelphia  (Citizens Bank Park)
       B.  Baltimore  (Oriole Park at Camden Yards)
       C.  Washington D.C.  (Nationals Park)
I'm going to write a whole bunch about this trip soon.  Here's a quick tip.  Fly into/out of Baltimore.  Make Baltimore your home base.  There are nice hotels within walking distance of Camden Yards, and the inner harbor is cool.  Plus it's only 2 hours from Philly, and an hour from D.C. 

26 now.  You've missed 6 days of work on normal weekends.  Still at 2 if you can make 3 day weekends work. 

7.  Last 4.  These are in the same state.  They're a hike from each other, but they're driveable in a weekend. 
         A.  Tampa  (Tropicana Field)/Miami  (Sun Life Stadium)
         B.  Houston  (Minute Maid Park)/Arlington  (Rangers Ballpark in Arlington)

CAUTION.  The Marlins get a new stadium in 2012.  (Provided the Mayans were full of shit, that is)  If you want to see the Marlins in their old home, you've got next year.  There should be tickets available.  Thousands of them. 

There it is.  Now, all of this is dependent on scheduling.  You must take your time, look through each team's schedules, figure out how to squeeze driving time in, etc.  But, if you can.....

You've seen baseball in every Major League Stadium.  You've done it this way:
7 "day trips" from Chicago
2 Four day trips with 4 stadia
2 Three day trips with 3 stadia
3 Weekends with one stadium
3 Weekends with two stadia.

You've missed 6 days of work, or if you do it over 3 day weekends exclusively - TWO DAYS.  You've seen 8 of the top 10 cities in terms of population (if you consider Arlington close enough to Dallas).  You've been to our nation's capital, been where the nation was born, been to the city that never sleeps, been to the city by the bay (my personal favorite) and you've seen where the Revolution started. 

All because you love baseball. 

I'd love questions or commentary on this.

The New York Yankees...

are cooked.

She's right here.

Little Bunter and Littler Bunter.  Not pictured:  Littlest Bunter.

Since you asked. 

Well, that was fun...

Just returned from my first real guitar lesson. 

Holy crap. 

To enlighten you a bit...I'm no athlete, but I can play most sports at a reasonably competent level.  I can do choreography if instructed, I can read music and sing.  I can take a script and tear it apart pretty quickly and get to the meat of a character in relatively short order.  I trimmed my own house, can paint without masking...

Anyway - there aren't many things I do that I feel uncomfortable doing.  People generally view me as someone who is a capable person. 

Until tonight.  Ugh.  I've been playing the guitar for 24 years off and on.  I know BASIC chord structure, and can accompany myself while I sing. 

This is way cooler than I looked tonight.

Tonight I started to learn scales.  Two left thumbs isn't even close.  I'm not sure my pinky finger is attached to the rest of my left hand.  I tried to do things quickly....but wound up hitting strings I wasn't aiming at, going back and starting again, basically being a complete spaz. 

It didn't help that when my 42 year old frame walked in the door, the only other students at the music shop were brought by parents who were younger than ME. 

But you know what's great about it?  I didn't quit.  And I'm not going to.  And next week, I'll be better than I was today.  It was humiliating.  But, I see where it's leading.  I may never be David Gilmour.  In fact, I'm just going to go ahead and assert that I will NEVER be David Gilmour.  I will, however, be Randy who is slightly better at guitar. 

I can live with that.