tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1633902552400697022024-02-18T19:38:40.285-08:00Beutelin BoardBeutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-79944059875320241972023-06-16T20:15:00.002-07:002023-06-16T20:16:13.183-07:002023 MLB All-Stars First Look<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Can't believe the All-Star Game is a month from tomorrow.</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Time to scour the stat pages and give a look at the most-deserving rosters. Will re-visit if need be....<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div><u><span style="font-size: x-small;">NATIONAL LEAGUE</span></u></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> C - Sean Murphy<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">1B - Freddie Freeman</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">2B - Luis Arraez<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">3B - Nolan Arenado<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">SS - Geraldo Perdomo<br /></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">OF - Ronald Acuna Jr<br />OF - Corbin Carroll</span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">OF - Mookie Betts<br /></span></div><div><u><span style="font-size: x-small;">DH - Jorge Soler<br /></span></u></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>SP - Marcus Stroman</b><br />SP - Clayton Kershaw</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">SP - Logan Webb<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">SP - Bryce Elder</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>SP</u> - Justin Steele</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">RP - David Bednar<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">RP - Alexis Diaz<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">RP - Devin Williams<br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><div><u><span style="font-size: x-small;">AMERICAN LEAGUE</span></u></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> C - Salvador Perez<br />1B - Yandy Diaz<br />2B - Marcus Semien<br />SS - Bo Bichette<br />3B - Josh Jung<br />OF - Aaron Judge<br />OF - Randy Arozarena<br />OF - Yordan Alvarez<br /><u>DH - Shohei Ohtani</u><br /><b>SP - Shane McClanahan </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">SP - Gerrit Cole</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">SP - Nathan Eovaldi<br />SP - Jon Gray</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>SP</u> - Framber Valdez</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">RP - Carlos Estevez</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">RP - Felix Bautista<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">RP - Jordan Romano</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnWYTu9W1oFmiSXq9D9sTbG_Y3p1f0hxzD4-gf9ecMbuDxeWoJ78SPLy-pY_hsc-iKUrfj_Q7vgQn05pJ71RjMoQWfEfaExWDDTVEyLOizwDynio27NUD8JpPlCl7ztu-BEUtCPh1oJSYUZl4q-AIeuGhah1PCwgaC8SuAtqHzCkXBXjorQlov20T/s553/Seattle23.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="417" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnWYTu9W1oFmiSXq9D9sTbG_Y3p1f0hxzD4-gf9ecMbuDxeWoJ78SPLy-pY_hsc-iKUrfj_Q7vgQn05pJ71RjMoQWfEfaExWDDTVEyLOizwDynio27NUD8JpPlCl7ztu-BEUtCPh1oJSYUZl4q-AIeuGhah1PCwgaC8SuAtqHzCkXBXjorQlov20T/s320/Seattle23.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div>Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-85042561622534282282022-06-20T17:33:00.002-07:002022-06-20T17:33:30.282-07:002022 MLB All-Stars First Look<p>Can't believe the All-Star Game is a month from tomorrow.</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Time to scour the stat pages and give a look at the most-deserving rosters. Will re-visit if need be....<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><u>NATIONAL LEAGUE</u></div><div>C - Willson <span class="gmail-il">Contreras</span></div><div>1B - Paul Goldschmidt</div><div>2B - Jazz Chisholm</div><div>3B - Manny Machado</div><div>SS - Trea Turner</div><div>OF - Bryce Harper</div><div>OF - Mookie Betts</div><div>OF - Kyle Schwarber</div><div><u>DH - Pete Alonso</u></div><b>SP - Joe Musgrove</b><br />SP - Sandy Alcantara</div><div>SP - Max Fried</div><div>SP - Tony Gonsolin<br /><div><u>SP</u> - Tyler Anderson<br /></div>RP - Taylor Rogers </div><div>RP - David Bednar<br /><div>RP - Josh Hader<br /></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><u>AMERICAN LEAGUE</u></div> C - Alejandro Kirk<br />1B - Anthony Rizzo<br />2B - Jose Altuve<br />SS - Xander Bogaerts<br />3B - Jose Ramirez<br />OF - Aaron Judge<br />OF - Mike Trout<br />OF - Yordan Alvarez<br /><u>DH - Rafael Devers</u><br /><b>SP - Shane McClanahan</b><br />SP - Alek Manoah<br />SP - Justin Verlander<br />SP - Paul Blackburn<br /><div><u>SP</u> - Nestor Cortez<br /></div>RP - Clay Holmes<br /><div>RP - Emmanuel Clase<br /></div>RP - Jordan Romano</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx9YN7id-tGy-Z-HynQfsNmU8QJ3Gy0Ubvc_ymmMVMppibTcKJ3cnW_Ycr_kysd5CMoCx0AsICmdWtOADzu1R4QShhZvy63r-p-cNGxuL7MLC84kLtHRlmlw_L7jdByaPWOJ5wxOR-n3nmf9jsJVcfypdP9Uw5JOusp_M7GoG9XDSKnY2GsqgZ1vw/s1024/b8n68yyza03whcu0ifua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxx9YN7id-tGy-Z-HynQfsNmU8QJ3Gy0Ubvc_ymmMVMppibTcKJ3cnW_Ycr_kysd5CMoCx0AsICmdWtOADzu1R4QShhZvy63r-p-cNGxuL7MLC84kLtHRlmlw_L7jdByaPWOJ5wxOR-n3nmf9jsJVcfypdP9Uw5JOusp_M7GoG9XDSKnY2GsqgZ1vw/s320/b8n68yyza03whcu0ifua.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="gmail-yj6qo"></div><div class="gmail-adL"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div></div></div>Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-54395939185673227192021-06-14T10:21:00.001-07:002021-06-14T10:21:12.369-07:002021 MLB All-Stars First Look<p> </p><p>Can't believe the All-Star Game is a month from tomorrow.<br /></p><div><div><br /></div><div>Time to scour the stat pages and give a look at the
most-deserving rosters. Will re-visit if need be....<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>
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<u>NATIONAL LEAGUE</u></div>
C - Buster Posey<span></span><br />1B - Jesus Aguilar<br />2B - Max Muncy<br />SS - Fernando Tatis Jr.
<br />3B - Kris Bryant<br />OF - Ronald Acuna Jr.<br />OF - Nicholas Castellanos <br />OF - Jesse Winker<u><br />DH - Tyler O'Neill</u><br /><b>SP - Jacob deGrom</b><br />SP - Brandon Woodruff</div><div>
SP - Kevin Gausman
</div><div>SP - Zack Wheeler<br /><div>
<u>SP</u> - Trevor Rogers<span></span><br /></div>
RP - Craig Kimbrel<br /><div>
RP - Josh Hader<br /></div>
RP - Mark Melancon<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div>
<u>AMERICAN LEAGUE</u></div>
C - Salvador Perez<br />1B - Vladimir Guererro Jr<br />2B - Marcus Semien<br />SS - Xander Bogaerts<br />3B - Rafael Devers<br />OF - JD Martinez<br />OF - Cedric Mullins<br />OF - Aaron Judge<span></span> <br /><u>DH - Shohei Ohtani</u><br /><b>SP - Lance Lynn</b><br />SP - Gerrit Cole<br />SP - Kyle Gibson<br />SP - John Means<br /><div>
<u>SP</u> - Carlos Rodon<br /></div>
RP - Matt Barnes<span></span><br /><div>
RP - Aroldis Chapman<br /></div>
RP - Liam Hendriks </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE31fVuywTIYFSBpBTF-rr1uE-SuDNFGt5WH7d370OS21Mln9_rqwJXQIv80fGkxqi46WlwabU6N5vnn1uQ3VSWVnsifzAbUbo83YoDnAU-yl10Yq9lfxe1tfB1hzTp6CLcddAD7rUe70/s1536/ro6qj7vb9vkl96d1mq3c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE31fVuywTIYFSBpBTF-rr1uE-SuDNFGt5WH7d370OS21Mln9_rqwJXQIv80fGkxqi46WlwabU6N5vnn1uQ3VSWVnsifzAbUbo83YoDnAU-yl10Yq9lfxe1tfB1hzTp6CLcddAD7rUe70/s320/ro6qj7vb9vkl96d1mq3c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> </div></div></div>Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-33358337959188963622020-09-01T08:59:00.003-07:002020-09-01T08:59:38.016-07:002020 MLB All-Stars First Look<p> </p><div>No All-Star Game this year...</div><div><br /></div><div>But we're a little more than halfway through. So let's say the game would have been tonight. Sounds about right.<br /></div><p>Time to scour the stat pages and give a look at the
most-deserving rosters.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4RA4spe1nYKTVmnZp0G7PpM8CK9fWwVg_0tkfuoCKnxYvHPCJGoGHDOxaq44a6BxDrEcswMHGKWH-ovj_VPW2T3_wuQwGK8wQFxkwQ7q6zxBAd78iWlcf_AVM1he6Q8JqrH5b4sxf4E/s220/220px-2020_Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4RA4spe1nYKTVmnZp0G7PpM8CK9fWwVg_0tkfuoCKnxYvHPCJGoGHDOxaq44a6BxDrEcswMHGKWH-ovj_VPW2T3_wuQwGK8wQFxkwQ7q6zxBAd78iWlcf_AVM1he6Q8JqrH5b4sxf4E/s0/220px-2020_Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game_logo.png" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>
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<u>NATIONAL LEAGUE</u></div>
C - JT Realmuto<br />1B - Freddie Freeman<br />2B - Robinson Cano<br />SS - Fernando Tatis Jr.
<br />3B - Manny Machado<br />OF - Juan Soto<br />OF - Mookie Betts<br />OF - Jesse Winker<u><br />DH - Trea Turner</u><br /><b>SP - Yu Darvish</b><br />SP - Jacob deGrom<br />SP - Max Fried<b><br /></b></div><div>
SP - Clayton Kershaw
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<u>SP</u> - Zac Gallen<span></span><br /></div>
RP - Kenley Jansen<br /><div>
RP - Josh Hader<br /></div>
RP - Mark Melancon<br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div>
<u>AMERICAN LEAGUE</u></div>
C - Austin Nola (traded)<br />1B - Jose Abreu<br />2B - Brandon Lowe<br />SS - Tim Anderson<br />3B - Anthony Rendon<br />OF - Kyle Lewis<br />OF - Teoscar Hernandez<br />OF - Mike <span>Trout</span> <br /><u>DH - Nelson Cruz</u><br /><b>SP - Shane Bieber</b><br />SP - Kenta Maeda<br />SP - Lance Lynn<br />SP - Zach Greinke<br /><div>
<u>SP</u> - Dylan Bundy<br /></div>
RP - Liam Hendriks<span></span><br /><div>
RP - Alex Colome<br /></div>
RP - Zack BrittonBeutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-86869014509036828682019-06-11T15:02:00.000-07:002019-06-11T15:02:16.418-07:002019 MLB All-Stars First Look<br />
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Can't believe the All-Star Game is a month from tonight.<br /><br />Time to scour the stat pages and give an early look at the most-deserving rosters. As always, reserving the right to revisit this if things change in the next three weeks or so. </div>
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<u>NATIONAL LEAGUE</u></div>
C - Willson Contreras<br />1B - Josh Bell<br />2B - Howie Kendrick<br />SS - Javier Baez<br />3B - Nolan Arenado<br />OF - Christian Yelich<br />OF - Ronald Acuna Jr.<br />OF - Cody Bellinger<u><br />DH - Anthony Rendon</u><br /><b>SP - Hyun-Jin Ryu </b><br />SP - Luis Castillo<br />SP - Zach Greinke <b><br /></b></div>
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SP - Mike Soroka<div>
<u>SP</u> - Max Scherzer</div>
RP - Kirby Yates<br /><div>
RP - Josh Hader</div>
RP - Will Smith<br /><br /><div>
<u>AMERICAN LEAGUE</u></div>
C - Gary Sanchez<br />1B - Carlos Santana<br />2B - Brandon Lowe<br />SS - Jorge Polanco<br />3B - Alex Bregman<br />OF - Austin Meadows<br />OF - George Springer<br />OF - Mike Trout<br /><u>DH - Joey Gallo</u><br /><b>SP - Jake Odorizzi</b><br />SP - Lucas Giolito<br />SP - Charlie Morton<br />SP - Justin Verlander<br /><div>
<u>SP</u> - Mike Minor</div>
RP - Brad Hand<span class="m_5167675444067116240gmail-il"></span><br /><div>
RP - Shane Greene</div>
RP - Aroldis Chapman</div>
Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-44264750500500501682018-06-11T17:41:00.002-07:002018-06-11T17:42:37.234-07:002018 MLB All-Stars First Look<br />
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Can't believe the All-Star Game is a month from tomorrow night.<br />
<br />
Time to scour the stat pages and give an early look at the most-deserving rosters. As always, reserving the right to revisit this if things change in the next three weeks or so.<br />
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<u>NATIONAL LEAGUE</u></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> C - Francisco Cervelli </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1B - Freddie Freeman</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2B - Scooter Gennett</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">SS - Brandon Crawford</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3B - Eugenio Suarez</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">OF - Nick Markakis</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">OF - Charlie Blackmon </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">OF - Matt Kemp</span><u style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />DH - Nolan Arenado</u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />SP - Max Scherzer</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">SP - Jacob deGrom</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
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SP - Miles Mikolas<br />
SP - Aaron Nola<br />
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<u>SP</u> - Jon Lester</div>
RP - Sean Doolittle<br />
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RP - Brandon Morrow</div>
RP - Brad Hand<br />
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<u>AMERICAN LEAGUE</u></div>
C - Wilson Ramos<br />
1B - Jose Abreu<br />
2B - Jose Altuve<br />
SS - Manny Machado<br />
3B - Jose Ramirez<br />
OF - Mookie Betts<br />
OF - JD Martinez<br />
OF - Mike Trout<br />
<u>DH - Aaron Judge</u><br />
<b>SP - Justin Verlander</b><br />
SP - Corey Kluber<br />
SP - Gerrit Cole<br />
SP - Luis Severino<br />
<div>
<u>SP</u> - Blake Snell</div>
RP - Aroldis Chapman<br />
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RP - Kelvin Herrera</div>
RP - Craig Kimbrel</div>
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(American League will roll...)</div>
Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-64754523125973751332018-05-07T07:52:00.002-07:002018-05-07T07:57:41.581-07:00The BIG C little c Podcast - Ep1 (Biker Blessing Bash)<br />
Welcome to the official podcast of Current Church in Franklin, Indiana.<br />
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In this episode, Gene Feasel and John Feasel stop by to give us an update on the 2018 Biker Blessing Bash. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://archive.org/download/bigclittlec/BIG%20C%20little%20c%20-%20Ep1%20-%20Biker%20Blessing%20Bash.mp3">Our first episode!</a>Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-18828447672924748522017-06-12T11:29:00.002-07:002017-06-12T11:29:10.253-07:002017 MLB All-Stars First Look<div>
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Can't believe the All-Star Game is a month from last night.<br />
<br />
Time
to scour the stat pages and give an early look at the most-deserving
rosters. As always, I reserve the right to revisit this if things change
in the next three weeks or so.<br /><br /><br /></div>
<div>
<u>NATIONAL LEAGUE</u></div>
C - Buster Posey</div>
1B - Paul Goldschmidt</div>
2B - Daniel Murphy</div>
SS - Zack Cozart</div>
3B - Jake Lamb</div>
OF - Bryce Harper</div>
OF - Charlie Blackmon</div>
OF - Marcell Ozuna</div>
<u>DH - Ryan Zimmerman</u></div>
<b>SP - Clayton Kershaw</b></div>
SP - Robbie Ray</div>
SP - Max Scherzer</div>
SP - Ivan Nova</div>
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<u>SP</u> - Mike Leake</div>
RP - Greg Holland</div>
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RP - Kenley Jansen</div>
RP - Wade Davis</div>
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<u>AMERICAN LEAGUE</u></div>
C - Salvador Perez<br />1B - Yonder Alonso<br />2B - Jose Altuve<br />SS - Carlos Correa<br />3B - Miguel Sano<br />OF - Aaron Hicks<br />OF - Aaron Judge<br />OF - Mike Trout (replaced by Avisail Garcia)<br /><u>DH - Corey Dickerson</u><br /><b>SP - Dallas Keuchel</b><br />SP - Jason Vargas<br />SP - Ervin Santana<br />SP - Chris Sale<br /><div>
<u>SP</u> - Luis Severino</div>
RP - Craig Kimbrel<br /><div>
RP - Cody Allen</div>
RP - Alex ColomeBeutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-82952812708121946882016-06-13T16:00:00.003-07:002016-06-13T16:00:55.939-07:002016 MLB All-Stars First Look<div style="text-align: center;">
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<img data-bm="68" src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=OIP.Mbbb214a7493eaca4337476a02a7238ddo0&w=292&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0&r=0" /></div>
<br />
Can't believe the All-Star Game is a month from last night.<br />
<br />
Time
to scour the stat pages and give an early look at the most-deserving
rosters. As always, I reserve the right to revisit this if things change
in the next three weeks or so.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>NATIONAL LEAGUE</u><br />
C - Jonathan Lucroy<br />1B - Anthony Rizzo<br />2B - Daniel Murphy<br />SS - Trevor Story<br />3B - Nolan Arenado<br />OF - Yoenis Cespedes<br />OF - Bryce Harper<br />OF - Carlos Gonzalez<br />
<u>DH - Starling Marte </u><br />
<b>P - Clayton Kershaw</b><br />
<div>
P - Jake Arrieta</div>
P - Jon Lester<br />
P - Madison Bumgarner<br />
<u>P </u>- Noah Syndergaard<br />
<div>
RP Mark Melancon</div>
<div>
RP AJ Ramos</div>
<div>
RP Jeremy Jeffress</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u>AMERICAN LEAGUE</u></div>
C - Salvador Perez<br />1B - Eric Hosmer<br />2B - Jose Altuve<br />SS - Xander Bogaerts<br />3B - Josh Donaldson<br />OF - Mike Trout<br />OF - Mookie Betts<br />OF - Mark Trumbo<br />
<u>DH - David Ortiz </u><br />
<b>P - Chris Sale</b><br />
P - Danny Salazar<br />
P - Steven Wright<br />P - Rich Hill<br />
<u>P </u>- Marco Estrada<br />RP Zach Britton<br />RP Alex Colome<br />RP Wade DavisBeutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-74309968180490117062015-07-15T08:14:00.000-07:002015-07-15T08:17:51.738-07:00Ten Years Later: Wedding Crashers<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Wedding Crashers (Vince Vaughn,
Owen Wilson) was released ten years ago tonight. It was an extremely
defining movie for me. Whatever that means... But it was definitely the only movie I've
ever seen in the theater three times. It was the hardest I've ever
laughed at a movie. It was the most I ever cared about a comedy. It was
the most camaraderie I've ever found with others over a film...it was a
uniting factor for myself and two friends that summer. It was the
ultimate summer movie--ever. And it just reeks of summer 2005 for me to this
day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPx6NB3GnnRm2AE9iNSUfS5Zp-qpGCkjALrFgjxlPXx5LqU2XNpfYW-wpqaDNP7au2IGDqZKpvOteD3jBzXoq00o8DSjRA4U_cGvL4Lex1PscwaODh_bE93jMOQn13d1e6Wk24DcEwbzQ/s1600/Rachel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPx6NB3GnnRm2AE9iNSUfS5Zp-qpGCkjALrFgjxlPXx5LqU2XNpfYW-wpqaDNP7au2IGDqZKpvOteD3jBzXoq00o8DSjRA4U_cGvL4Lex1PscwaODh_bE93jMOQn13d1e6Wk24DcEwbzQ/s320/Rachel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have a weird nostalgic gene. I can be going along--not even consciously aware
of something, but I'll get a twinge and a memory. A flash. A hunch. And then I'll go check
the date of it and realize it's the anniversary...or approaching the time of year
of a particular happening or experience. It's weird, and no one I've ever told about it
has said "Yeah, me too." <br />
<br />
That happened last week...I just
got this weird Wedding Crashersish feeling over me, and checked and sure
enough, we were approaching the ten year mark.<br />
<br />
The
summer of 2005. Life was pretty simple back then. Single. Care free.
Largely void of a ton of responsibility. Still living a college-esque
life, despite being a couple months removed from graduating with my
Masters.<br />
<br />
Or maybe not. I found a blog recently that I wrote back then called the The Summer That Never Started or some such. In it I detailed such a tale of woe, that perhaps I'm thankful for my current set of life trials. Or maybe not. Either way, I found earthly refuge in a little summer comedy with a couple of my favorite actors at their best.<br />
<br />
I don't think Vince and Owen have come close since. I've enjoyed some of their stuff. Fred Claus is still one of my must-watches every December, and I'll probably eventually pick up The Internship if I see it in a $2 bin someday. But I think WC was their peak. In fact I know it was.<br />
<br />
And the scenes. The imagery. Vivid colors. The soundtrack. Wedding Crashers had it all. And I couldn't get enough. Every time we'd go back to the theater we'd catch a new, understated Christoper Walken line we hadn't previously noticed.<br />
<br />
Ten years can do a lot to a guy. I plan on popping in my DVD tonight and getting transported to the summer of 2005. We'll see--since I've matured spiritually SO much--if it falls flat. As Matt Drudge called it at the time, there's no getting around the fact that it's a "movie packed with raunchy moments and bare-breasted beauties." But we always looked away during that part. no really, we did.<br />
<br />
But for me, I have to scratch that itch. It's a movie I have to watch every summer. But I can't watch it anytime but the summer. And I'll probably long for the days when I was living steps from a college campus, working a 12-6p job (what?), and no inherited school loans, 3am emergency work calls, or family crises. I'll never be not sentimental. I'll never not have my ridiculous traditions. And for me, it's as much recalling friendships and memories as anything else.<br />
<br />
And then I'll get up in the morning and thank God for the life I have now. And see what I can make of the day. <br />
<br />
<br />Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-26634976912642922942015-06-16T08:18:00.000-07:002015-06-16T08:18:44.513-07:00MLB All-Stars 2015. First Look.<br />
Can't believe the All-Star Game is a month from tonight.<br />
<br />
Time to scour the stat pages and give an early look at the most-deserving rosters. As always, I reserve the right to revisit this if things change in the next three weeks or so.<br />
<br />
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<div>
<u>NATIONAL LEAGUE</u></div>
<div>
C - Buster Posey</div>
1B - Paul Goldschmidt<br />2B - Joe Panik<br /><div>
SS - Jhonny Peralta</div>
<div>
3B - Todd Frazier</div>
OF - Bryce Harper<br />OF - Giancarlo Stanton<br /><u>OF - Justin Upton</u><br /><b>P - Gerrit Cole</b><br />P - Max Scherzer<br />P - Zach Greinke<br />P - Shelby Miller<br />P - Jacob DeGrom<br /><u>P </u>- A.J. Burnett<br />RP - Trevor Rosenthal<br />RP - Mark Melancon<br />RP - Drew Storen<br />RP - Jeurys Familia<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>AMERICAN LEAGUE</u><br />
<div>
C - Stephen Vogt</div>
<div>
1B - Miguel Cabrera</div>
<div>
2B - Jason Kipnis</div>
<div>
SS - Xander Bogaerts</div>
<div>
3B - Josh Donaldson</div>
<div>
OF - Nelson Cruz</div>
<div>
OF - Mike Trout</div>
<div>
<u>OF - Josh Reddick</u></div>
<div>
<b>P - Dallas Keuchel</b></div>
<div>
P - Sonny Gray</div>
<div>
P - Chris Archer</div>
<div>
P - Chris Sale</div>
<div>
P - Jake Odorizzi</div>
<div>
<u>P </u>- Felix Hernandez</div>
RP - Glen Perkins<br />RP - Andrew Miller<br />RP - Zach Britton<br />RP - Dellin Betances<br />
<br />Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-27908382776989389132014-10-29T16:08:00.000-07:002014-10-29T16:08:01.026-07:00Game Seven.Baseball is still the best. Having a for-sure final game of the year renders
me absolutely melancholy. A baseball season is such a constant companion<br />
<br />
Starting with the countdown to pitchers & catchers. Then that first
Spring Training game on the radio. Taking off work for an Opening Day party.<br />
<br />
The grind of fantasy baseball. Daily box scores and the roller coaster of thrilling wins and all-too-long losing streaks.<br />
<br />
Meaningless All-Star Game voting. The rush of the trading deadline. Magic numbers. September callups.<br />
<br />
And then the sudden realization of how weird it looks to see long
shadows in the middle of the afternoon watching a game on TV in late September.<br />
<br />
And October baseball feels like a different sport altogether. Players in
hoodies. Seeing pitchers' breath on the mound. That weird MLB on FOX ambient sound...<br />
<br />
...from Valentine's day to Halloween, baseball doesn't leave you.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow another countdown begins. Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-70167381521573362752014-07-21T13:31:00.003-07:002014-07-22T12:01:19.345-07:00REVIEW: Colony House - When I Was Younger<img class="mainImage" src="http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/pics/covers/colony-house---when-i-was-younger.jpg" style="background-color: white; height: 408px; width: 400px;" /><br />
<br />
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>COLONY HOUSE - When I Was Younger (Descendant Records)</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Count this reviewer among the
skeptics. The Chapman boys have a band? Sure they do... You mean the
same guys who were touring with their dad--on stage--as teenagers? The
ones who were thrown onto a VeggieTales soundtrack some ten years ago?
Of course they have a band.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
But then they did something unexpected. They took it slowly.
Honed their craft. They hit the road. They built a social media
following (over 30K on Facebook). They methodically released a
faithful stream of EPs--never biting off more than they could
chew--each one sounding a bit more "like them" than the last. By the time
they changed their name and released their first EP as Colony House
earlier this year, they had accomplished something quite profound. They
had created an appetite and an anticipation for a <i>debut </i>release--literally years in the making--that not a lot of bands have the luxury of doing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Several songs (literally half the album) had been
released (or leaked) in recent months. But to now sit down and finally
ingest the collection as a whole--each track sitting in its own assigned
seat, complimenting the one before and the one after--reveals what I've
long now suspected about these guys as artists. I'll admit my
expectations were sky high. And like a great meal at a fine
establishment, When I Was Younger hits the spot. In all the right spots.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
It's not too early to call this a masterpiece. Let alone debut
albums, this is the best album--period--that I've heard all year (and
maybe <i>in</i> years). A fellow listener put it best: "It sounds like a
fourth or fifth album from an established, veteran band." It will be
impossible here to overstate the blend of lyrical depth, musical
maturity, and artistic tact. The instrumentation almost always elevates
the lyric, and that is a rare find indeed in modern music. Each song is
extremely comfortable in its own skin. Not one cut feels forced or like
filler. Everything fits, but every song is distinct in personality.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A colleague asked me the other day what my favorite CH
song was. It stopped me in my tracks. This is so unlike me. I have a
favorite of everything. But it had never even occurred to me to pick a
favorite off this record. And I realized it was because I couldn't begin
to. Nor do I need to. I love "2:20" for its rowdy, surf-rock
sensiblity. I'm still partial to "Keep On Keeping On" for its ability to
take a cliche, and turn it into a profound, motivating rock song.
"Roll With The Punches" will scratch your retro itch. "Moving Forward" would fit nicely on any of Coldplay's last three
albums, and reaches incredible anthemic heights. What a profound declaration. And the underrated
"Glorious" is among the most practical and unique takes on heaven ever
captured in music.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
WIWY is marked by layer after layer
of production and nuance, all the while avoiding overkill.
Thematically, it does a wonderful job of portraying the hope of the
Gospel without ever once giving a sermon. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Will Chapman's
never-sit-still drumming married with Caleb's singer/songwriter tunes
make for a fairly unique brand of rock and roll. And the latter utilizes his falsetto as deftly as anyone you'll hear in modern music. To say it's "Keane
meets Killers" is too easy. Tennessee-flavored Brit-Rock doesn't quite do it
justice either. As the album ages toward its end, it becomes increasingly
difficult to believe that these lyrics, concepts and arrangements came from
a rookie band comprised of twenty-somethings. It listens like a
greatest hits of sorts, but is conceptually too airtight to be so.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
WIWY ends with "Lose Control." The song's primary hook is an all-too perfect summary for this collection of music: "We can't keep fighting for a steady life, so I'll ride the wind like a feather toward home." If most of us could have only learned that truth in <i>our </i>early 20s, how much wasted mental energy and frustration could have been saved...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
I found myself looking ahead the other day. Can't wait til
these guys release the follow up. I quickly caught myself... Their debut
album isn't even out yet. But that's what this band will do to you.
This record was a long time in the making, and the finished product is
every bit as thorough as the process must have been. If CH has the
ability to equal this collection both in quality and concept with
future releases, they will eventually take their rightful place among
the greats. In the meantime, take a long drive and absorb this one for
what it is.<br />
<br />
***** out of 5 stars <br />
<br />
<br />
<img class="mainImage" src="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2014/05/21/colonyhouse_press_307-1d6d66a04c01a3fa5b21af6c7394e2753176d2fd.jpg" style="background-color: white; height: 472px; width: 629px;" />
<br />
<br />Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-64475051263597955142014-07-06T05:00:00.003-07:002014-07-06T05:01:03.552-07:002014 MLB All-Stars First LookUsually get them in a little sooner than this. Let the record show I did actually cast my vote(s) before the MLB-mandated deadline though. Again--as in most years--most of these selections were pretty clear cut. Just a couple of them (like NL 2B) didn't have an obvious choice. That said, I have to feel pretty good about my work here...<br />
<br />
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
NL</div>
C - Jonathan LuCroy</div>
1B - Paul Goldschmidt</div>
2B - Scooter Gennett</div>
SS - Troy Tulowitski</div>
3B - Todd Frazier</div>
OF - Yasiel Puig</div>
OF - Andrew McCutchen</div>
OF - Giancarlo Stanton</div>
DH - Adam Laroche</div>
<div>
<u><b>SP - Clayton Kershaw</b></u></div>
<div>
SP - Adam Wainwright</div>
SP - Johnny Cueto<br />
SP - Julio Teheran</div>
SP - Josh Beckett</div>
RP - Huston Street</div>
RP - Francisco Rodriguez<br />
RP - Rafael Soriano</div>
RP - Jonathan Papelbon<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
AL</div>
C - Salvador Perez</div>
1B - Edwin Encarnacion</div>
2B - Ian Kinsler</div>
SS - Alexei Ramirez</div>
3B - Josh Donaldson</div>
OF - Nelson Cruz</div>
OF - Mike Trout</div>
OF - Jose Bautista</div>
DH - Victor Martinez</div>
<div>
<u><b>SP - Masahiro Tanaka</b></u></div>
<div>
SP - Felix Hernandez<br />
SP - Yu Darvish<br />
SP - Mark Buehrle<br />
SP - Chris Sale<br />
RP - Koji Uehara<br />
RP - Greg Holland<br />
RP - Fernando Rodney<br />
RP - David Robertson</div>
RP - Casey JanssenBeutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-51546942335196933002013-06-27T11:56:00.004-07:002013-06-27T11:56:39.548-07:002013 MLB All-Stars First Look<span></span><br />
Not much time left to get my All-Star votes in. I love it when
there's a no-brainer at almost every spot. Here are the obvious
choices for this year's Midsummer Classic. (<em>Brandon Phillips gets in despite his horrific slump and Matt Carpenter's emergence</em>.)<br />
<br />
Nine position players a side, and nine pitchers (five starters and four relievers).<br />
<br />
<span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="fbUnderline"> <u>NATIONAL LEAGUE</u></span><br />
C - Yadier Molina<br />
1B - Paul Goldschmidt<br />
2B - Brandon Phillips<br />
SS - Troy Tulowitzki (if injured, Jean Segura)<br />
3B - David Wright<br />
LF - Carlos Gonzalez<br />
CF - Carlos Gomez<br />
RF - Carlos Beltran<br />
<u><span class="fbUnderline">DH - Michael Cuddyer</span></u><br />
<strong>P - Matt Harvey</strong><br />
P - Clayton Kershaw<br />
P - Jeff Locke<br />
P - Patrick Corbin<br />
<u><span class="fbUnderline">P</span> </u> - Jordan Zimmerman<br />
RP - Jason Grilli<br />
RP - Craig Kimbrel<br />
RP - Edward Mujica<br />
RP - Kevin Gregg<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><span class="fbUnderline">AMERICAN LEAGUE</span></u><br />
<br />
C - Joe Mauer<br />
1B - Chris Davis<br />
2B - Jason Kipnis<br />
SS - J.J. Hardy<br />
3B - Miguel Cabrera<br />
LF - Alex Gordon<br />
CF - Mike Trout<br />
RF - Nelston Cruz<br />
<u><span class="fbUnderline">DH - David Ortiz</span></u><br />
<strong>P - Clay Buchholz</strong><br />
P - Hisashi Iwakuma<br />
P - Felix Hernandez<br />
P - Chris Sale<br />
<u><span class="fbUnderline">P</span> </u> - Max Scherzer<br />
RP - Mariano Rivera<br />
RP - Joe Nathan<br />
RP - Grant Balfour<br />
RP - Casey Jannsen<br />
Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-15083897255123163202011-06-22T13:30:00.000-07:002011-06-22T13:33:35.191-07:002011 MLB ALL STARSNot much time left to get my All-Star votes in. I pruned it a couple of times over the past week or so, and I'm left with the following obvious choices. It seemed like there were a lot more no-brainers this time around...<br /><br /><br />NATIONAL LEAGUE<br /><br /> C - Brian McCann<br />1B - Prince Fielder<br />2B - Ricky Weeks<br />SS - Jose Reyes<br />3B - Placido Polanco<br />OF - Ryan Braun<br />OF - Matt Kemp<br />OF - Lance Berkman<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">P - Jair Jurrjens</span><br /> P - Roy Halladay<br /> P - Tommy Hanson<br /> P - Cole Hamels<br /> P - Jhoulys Chacin<br />RP - Joel Hanrahan<br />RP - Heath Bell<br />RP - J.J. Putz<br />RP - Drew Storen<br /><br /><br />AMERICAN LEAGUE<br /><br /> C - Alex Avila<br />1B - Adrian Gonzalez<br />2B - Robinson Cano<br />SS - Asdrubal Cabrera<br />3B - Alex Rodriguez<br />OF - Jacoby Ellsbury<br />OF - Curtis Granderson<br />OF - Jose Bautista<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">P - Jared Weaver</span><br /> P - Josh Beckett<br /> P - Justin Verlander<br /> P - James Shields<br /> P - Alexi Ogando<br />RP - Chris Perez<br />RP - Jose Valverde<br />RP - Mariano Rivera<br />RP - Kyle FarnsworthBeutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-11525482978564424542010-06-02T12:35:00.001-07:002010-06-02T12:35:25.404-07:00Niemi in NetDoesn't it seem like the Huet/Niemi debate is like three years old now? I mean...Antti has so seized the goalie one spot in the past two months that it erases almost all traces of the consternation of this winter past. <br /> <br />And Niemi has been the best minder in every series so far. And that's hard to believe when you're talking about names like Nabokov and Luongo. He hasn't had the better game every single night necessarily, but big picture-wise he has out-minded his counterpart every step of the way.<br /> <br />Here's a stat for the Antti-doubters. Four GAA in playoff third periods. Total. Four! That is mind-boggling. The onslaught he survived in the final 11 minutes on Monday was the stuff of legend. Tell me he didn't look like a number one goaltender down the stretch. He made the average saves. And those spectacular. He gave no rebounds. He dazzled. His .919 SV% in the playoffs are up .07 from the regular season. <br /> <br />But let's not forget that he was 27-6-4 in that regular season. Why was there a netminder controversy again!? <br /> <br />And does Brian Campbell need to do anything else to prove his worth? Sure the 8 / 7.1 per seemed large at the time. And his offensive totals have trended downward. But his absence told you all you need to know. Look at the D now. The puck movement and overall flow have vastly transformed since his return. And Niemi has noticed too, methinks.<br /><br />The City was abuzz last weekend when we were up there. I don't mind the support. Just don't wear a red 'Hawks t-shirt to a Cubs/Cardinals game. That's a no. And not to tout loyalty or anything... But I'm hoping the Eric Daze shirt I wore for the past decade renders my new Jonathan Toews jersey acceptable.Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-69561747387147092572010-02-06T07:13:00.000-08:002010-02-06T07:30:10.520-08:0019 SUPER BOWL THINGS-The Saints once had their own #18 QB. The following is my earliest (remembered) mental image of New Orleans Saint football: https://www.beckett.com/images/pgitems/335150201.jpg<br /> <br />-This game in the simplest of terms: The Colts are 16-0 when they try to win at football.<br /><br />-I'd rather eat jambalaya than pork tenderloin or whatever it is.<br /><br />-According to my (rather significant) sample, Colts' fans think they will roll. Then again, this is the same team that beat an 8-8 49er team at home by 4. And a 7-9 Jacksonville team at home by 2.<br /><br />-Did you know that Peyton Manning's father played for the Saints? I think someone told me that once.<br /> <br />-The Saints actually attempted to go 16-0. And then still lost to Tampa Bay at home. <br /><br />-Yes, the Colts have made it look easy in the playoffs, but in 7 games this year they had to come back from 4th quarter deficits. (None of those games were with the Saints' offense on the other sideline).<br /><br />-Reggie Wayne grew up idolizing Eric Martin. I remember I had a Topps "1,000-yard receiver" card of Eric Martin, and in my mind he was so monumental.<br /><br />-The Colts have beaten two 9-7 Wild Card teams at home to get to this point (a Jets team that was at one time 4-6, and the Ravens who started 6-6).<br /><br />-I like it when the clear season-long two best teams meet in the Super Bowl. It hasn't happened since Colts Bears.<br /><br />-The Colts are the first team to reach the Super Bowl without having to beat one division winner since the '05 Seahawks, and the first AFC representative to ever do so in the history of the NFL.<br /><br />-If this comes down to the kicker...Stover is 42 years old with 1,157 career attempts. Garrett Hartley is 23, with 22 total tries (including extra points).<br /><br />-The Colts still haven't played a team with fewer than six losses this season. That is hard to fathom.<br /><br />-The Saints are BY FAR the best opponent on the Colts schedule this season. By a long shot.<br /><br />-Since the NFL went to a 12-team playoff and started seeding both conferences 1-6 in 1990, no team in either conference had made it to the Super Bowl without beating at least one team that won 10 or more games in the regular season.<br /><br />-The Saints defense is not rated very highly. Then again, they had huge leads all year. And teams dropped back and passed it all over the place late against a non-aggressive defensive approach.<br /><br />-Common opponents: Five. Both teams played the Patriots and Cardinals. New Orleans beat them 38-17 and 45-14, respectively. Indy? 35-34 and 31-10.<br /><br />-The lack of respect for the Saints around here is astounding. The Colts are favored and should be, but I'm shocked people don't recognize how good the Saints were this year.<br /><br />-The Super Bowl Final score? 31-30.Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-54559298368047251232010-01-28T19:36:00.000-08:002010-01-28T19:37:49.642-08:002008 In ReviewTime for my year-end lists... The entries are in no particular order within the categories.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TOP BOOK READ</span><br />Rhinoceros Success - Scott Alexander<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TOP 5 MOVIES IN THEATER</span><br />A Christmas Carol (12.7)<br /> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">DINING EXPERIENCES</span><br />The Melting Pot (1.3)<br />Piper's (4.20)<br />Bonefish Grill (5.29)<br />Don Pablos (9.12)<br />The Melting Pot (10.26)<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Adobo [8.13])</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SPORTING HIGHLIGHTS</span><br />Blackhawks host game at Wrigley (1.1)<br />The Bears trade for Jay Cutler (4.2)<br />Chris Roberts' 3/4-court shot in CIT (3-23)<br />Blackhawks advance to the Western Conference Finals (5.11)<br />Bradley beats Illinois (11.28)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SONGS OF THE YEAR</span><br />Scenic Route - Jars of Clay<br />Faithful One - Bryce Daniel<br />Moment of Surrender - U2<br />Name - Joel Hanson<br />Free - Switchfoot<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(How He Loves - David Crowder Band)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">ALBUMS RELEASED</span><br />The Long Fall Back To Earth - Jars of Clay (4.21)<br />Hello Hurricane - Switchfoot (11.10)<br />The Great American Midrange - The Elms (9.15)<br />Armistice - Mute Math (8.18)<br />No Line On The Horizon - U2 (3.3)<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(What If It Is - Joel Hanson [10.29])<br />(Church Music - David Crowder Band [9.22])</span><br /><br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">MOST LISTENED-TO CDs</span><br />The Long Fall Back To Earth - Jars of Clay<br />The Great American Midrange - The Elms<br />Hello Hurricane - Switchfoot<br />Armistice - Mute Math<br />No Line On The Horizon - U2 <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Broken - Joel Hanson)<br />(City of Black and White - Mat Kearney)</span><br /> <br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">RANDOM PEOPLE I TALKED TO THROUGH MY JOB</span><br />Tom Cavanagh<br />Jay Cutler<br />Danica Patrick<br />Kerri Walsh<br />Don Mattingly<br /> <br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TOP 5 BLACKHAWKS</span><br />Jonathan Toews<br />Dustin Byfuglien<br />Adam Burish<br />Brian Campbell<br />Kris Versteeg<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />MUST-HAVE PRODUCT DISCOVERY</span><br />Umcka immune-boosting syrup<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">LATE NIGHT JOGGING MUST-LISTEN DISCOVERY</span><br />Extended Blackhawks Postgame until midnight EST.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">VERSE OF THE YEAR</span><br />1 Chronicles 28:20<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">LYRIC</span><br />"We’re just sitting like novels we’ve picked up but never read through / You think you know my ending, I think I know yours, too" - Jars of Clay ("Scenic Route")<br /> <br />"Hallelujah. I'm caving in. Hallelujah. I'm in love again. Hallelujah. I'm a wretched man. Hallelujah. Every breath is a second change." - Switchfoot ("Always")<br /> <br />"I was born to sing for you / I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up / And sing whatever song you wanted me to / I give you back my voice / From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise." - U2 ("Magnificent")<br /> <br />"If there's one thing that I know to be true / Is that I'm in love with you, is that I'm in love with you / And I don't care if everyone knows what we're going through / 'Cause all the roads lead back to you." - Mat Kearney ("On and On")<br /> <br />"I've dropped anchor in Your promises and I am holding on, 'cause You are faithful." - Steven Curtis Chapman ("Faithful")<br /> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">QUOTE</span><br />"I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing. ." -- Stubb (Moby Dick).<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />MOST DREADED PHRASE OF THE YEAR</span><br />"Please advise..."<br /> <br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">NEWEST PET PEEVE</span><br />"Sorry for interrupting..."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">OTHER MAIN HIGHLIGHTS</span><br />Cincinnati date with Megan.<br />Ridding my left thumb of it's huge growth/boil/blister/wart.<br />Trafalgar night with Meg.<br />New Year's Eve prayer with Megan at church.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />HUGE DISAPPOINTMENTS</span><br />Crash of laptop.<br />Locksmith night.<br />Choking on my proposal speech.<br />Module failure at 5 in the morning the day of Randy's wedding.Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-64419340662489911852010-01-23T19:01:00.000-08:002010-01-23T19:49:29.272-08:00MY 2009 IN PICTURESHere's a brief and sporadic pictorial of my 2008. It's hit and miss, and purposefully non-conclusive. If a key happening is found to be left out, it's not intentional...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/138/l_e7db3d0163634104a0cab57440215136.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 228px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/138/l_e7db3d0163634104a0cab57440215136.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />1.1.9 - Winter Classic<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/131/l_5d3f1b980f0d48ae89e78e9a3bcd4098.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/131/l_5d3f1b980f0d48ae89e78e9a3bcd4098.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />1.1.9 - Downtown with Meg.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/150/l_acab877f24f24f2daaa930a1c33bad57.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/150/l_acab877f24f24f2daaa930a1c33bad57.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />1.2.9 - Promotion<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/123/l_21d0ce0bf5194149bcf7d8b417309dee.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/123/l_21d0ce0bf5194149bcf7d8b417309dee.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />1.3.9 - Girlfriend.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/136/l_3bda24202a694d93be94d563d8f057f4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/136/l_3bda24202a694d93be94d563d8f057f4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />1.28.9 - Snow Day at Work.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/143/l_4d45de7ceb9a432b9c89dcf1ff3c8033.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/143/l_4d45de7ceb9a432b9c89dcf1ff3c8033.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />2.1.9 - Super Bowl Party.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/141/l_5217409bda9d4c9790d8d21c151924a3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/141/l_5217409bda9d4c9790d8d21c151924a3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />2.14.9 - Valentine's Day.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/121/l_9aa162e9490d406abcd153d4a648aa21.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/121/l_9aa162e9490d406abcd153d4a648aa21.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />2.22.9 - Bulls Up Close.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/117/l_175d743a12064d09bb48aa560d743129.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 223px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/117/l_175d743a12064d09bb48aa560d743129.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />3.5.9 - Driving to Arch Madness.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/152/l_3ec628af16784b52848e0a16c7811868.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 336px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/152/l_3ec628af16784b52848e0a16c7811868.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />3.9.9 - Big Ten Burgers at Work.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/133/l_06220827fa03469f8715d8e51dff337a.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/133/l_06220827fa03469f8715d8e51dff337a.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />3.13.9 - In the Tunnel with the Illini.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/149/l_6379f4734e6c42248c5fba5fa7f2ec08.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 224px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/149/l_6379f4734e6c42248c5fba5fa7f2ec08.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />3.14.9 - Grainger at the Ice.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/128/l_c8696659d00b4d85bb529d74da17f749.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 225px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/128/l_c8696659d00b4d85bb529d74da17f749.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />3.23.9 - Chris Roberts' 3/4-court Shot in the CIT.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/135/l_c785214025a14209b51dad4c01d682b3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 224px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/135/l_c785214025a14209b51dad4c01d682b3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />4.2.9 - Jay Cutler a Bear.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/138/l_b498a25e66044e2b8b9d40062466d124.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 224px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/138/l_b498a25e66044e2b8b9d40062466d124.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />4.9.9 - Indians' Opening Night.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/113/l_81dfcc345a224c85a096211c054b740f.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/113/l_81dfcc345a224c85a096211c054b740f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />4.15.9 - New Car.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/147/l_3bd92e2d6ca743c4b344775be5be8a31.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/147/l_3bd92e2d6ca743c4b344775be5be8a31.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />4.21.9 - The Long Fall Back To Earth.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/117/l_e26269083ba54c83b31a31ee1e70a7fa.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/117/l_e26269083ba54c83b31a31ee1e70a7fa.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />4.30.9 - Bulls 128 Celtics 127 in Game Six.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/121/l_75c78b209ca845faaffb82a72e09a112.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/121/l_75c78b209ca845faaffb82a72e09a112.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />April - Playoff Beard.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/118/l_3146e847c14947109e63046e745c533f.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 224px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/118/l_3146e847c14947109e63046e745c533f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />5.11.9 - Blackhawks Advance to the Western Conference Finals.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/123/l_ddba141001f747c883783b4bfbb48cdc.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/123/l_ddba141001f747c883783b4bfbb48cdc.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />5.24.9 - Dan's Best Man.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/126/l_3663a52e6c8c496db98d4f42d3a2c0d0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 224px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/126/l_3663a52e6c8c496db98d4f42d3a2c0d0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />6.5.9 - 30th Birthday Party.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/114/l_64ed263e01cf42a3a16aad052b284314.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/114/l_64ed263e01cf42a3a16aad052b284314.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />6.6.9 - Snow Cones with Savannah.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/147/l_d8747c329b6f4d5d8d43bb8af8c293e4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/147/l_d8747c329b6f4d5d8d43bb8af8c293e4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />7.3.9 - Six Months.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/143/l_51e91c995f7049a6ae1f85c9ebb4e55f.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/143/l_51e91c995f7049a6ae1f85c9ebb4e55f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />7.5.9 - The Music Man and Fireworks on the Hill.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/127/l_d0c0a2959efc499ab47150744781855e.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/127/l_d0c0a2959efc499ab47150744781855e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />7.19.9 - Louisville Trip for Bats Game with the Skinners.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/141/l_b5acb5a70e154b0080c16d90bc40ec24.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/141/l_b5acb5a70e154b0080c16d90bc40ec24.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />7.29.9 - Tractor Pulls are Fine.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/114/l_50c33833d8ce4bef8e2d9119ab2a0642.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/114/l_50c33833d8ce4bef8e2d9119ab2a0642.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />8.1.9 - Scene of Proposal Scouting Trip.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/121/l_145a4de970b6432787c2e41847c8743b.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/121/l_145a4de970b6432787c2e41847c8743b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />8.3.9 - First ESPN Appearance.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/135/l_385fe06d97b347ffba822c7ace5b6321.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/135/l_385fe06d97b347ffba822c7ace5b6321.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />8.13.9 - Propose.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/113/l_1591e7d5180841f48ff2a5d1c1b60584.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/113/l_1591e7d5180841f48ff2a5d1c1b60584.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />8.15.9 - At Bryce and Jana's Wedding.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/128/l_a287a0de7a00483b821d333f16473374.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/128/l_a287a0de7a00483b821d333f16473374.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />8.22.9 - State Fair.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/142/l_139230a9852b452ea267ca547bf33ecd.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/142/l_139230a9852b452ea267ca547bf33ecd.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />8.30.9 - Starry Night in Trafalgar. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/146/l_f6baf367658b490c8d4e86d17ee5c2ec.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/146/l_f6baf367658b490c8d4e86d17ee5c2ec.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />9.5.9 - Full Circle. Indians' Finale.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/131/l_c1fd4def33a84798a9c9e867f6a10e43.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/131/l_c1fd4def33a84798a9c9e867f6a10e43.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />9.6.9 - Our Symphony On The Prairie Debut.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/145/l_f91d48b24dfa40f5ba1bf65d714b7058.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/145/l_f91d48b24dfa40f5ba1bf65d714b7058.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />9.12.9 - Engagement Party at Don Pablos.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/116/l_ba274801bdb34a8a92eec0d27bdb992a.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/116/l_ba274801bdb34a8a92eec0d27bdb992a.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />10.4.9 - At Wrigley for the Season Finale.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/119/l_96e5df2627974c0a909ee5690921b2a6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 224px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/119/l_96e5df2627974c0a909ee5690921b2a6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />10.14.9 - In Nashville for Dave Ramsey's Affiliate Executive Counsel.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/147/l_61099a50e8a84111b230ca050cb702e2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/147/l_61099a50e8a84111b230ca050cb702e2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />10.26.9 - The Melting Pot.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/133/l_15461c67565c470a82e5209748c2f102.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/133/l_15461c67565c470a82e5209748c2f102.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />10.30.9 - Autumnal Party.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/144/l_7f0e3cfa3613465b9ca64597561cb8fd.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 336px; height: 226px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/144/l_7f0e3cfa3613465b9ca64597561cb8fd.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />11.2.9 - Engagement Photo Shoot.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/138/l_0e9bb0d1724244bdb595aa8a00793eb2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 336px; height: 226px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/138/l_0e9bb0d1724244bdb595aa8a00793eb2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />11.10.9 - Hello Hurricane.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/120/l_1301f9881f8142a4aa936c756a07fa96.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 336px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/120/l_1301f9881f8142a4aa936c756a07fa96.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />11.13.9 - First Brunswick Stew Since Moving to Indiana.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/120/l_95773f77f457409a9855cf8bb33ef547.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/120/l_95773f77f457409a9855cf8bb33ef547.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />11.26.9 - Thanksgiving.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/125/l_d1896c17db1a4a918068cc03be70dab7.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/125/l_d1896c17db1a4a918068cc03be70dab7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />12.4.9 - Candles and Carols.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/128/l_efd8db49d04a4287be6ceff11d6ecb8e.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/128/l_efd8db49d04a4287be6ceff11d6ecb8e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />12.10.9 - Sell Oldsmobile.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/133/l_1827f29266d8470098643821f3cd16a6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/133/l_1827f29266d8470098643821f3cd16a6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />12.13.9 - Christmas At The Zoo.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/121/l_ea2625df5aca4886b2a90b2a4c9ab15c.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/121/l_ea2625df5aca4886b2a90b2a4c9ab15c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />12.24.9 - Christmas Eve Picture.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/150/l_cf8eeb83065947989fa4617db14513e4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/150/l_cf8eeb83065947989fa4617db14513e4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />12.25.9 - Christmas Day.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/121/l_7174761115504f7f98f8d3e04874ec3b.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 225px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/121/l_7174761115504f7f98f8d3e04874ec3b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />12.31.9 - New Years Eve Prayer.Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-66665590219670543712009-07-05T04:16:00.000-07:002009-07-05T04:18:34.067-07:002009 MLB All StarsHere's how the rosters should look. These are the most deserving...<br /><br /><br />C Brian McCann<br />1B Albert Pujols<br />2B Chase Utley<br />3B Mark Reynolds<br />SS Hanley Ramirez<br />OF Raul Ibanez<br />OF Ryan Braun<br />OF Adam Dunn<br /><br /><br /><strong>Tim Lincecum</strong><br />Dan Haren<br />Matt Cain<br />Jason Marquis<br />Chad Billingsley<br />Johan Santana<br />Josh Johnson<br />Heath Bell<br />Francisco Rodriguez<br />Francisco Cordero<br />Jonathan Broxton<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />C Joe Mauer <br />1B Miguel Cabrera<br />2B Aaron Hill<br />3B Evan Longoria<br />SS Derek Jeter<br />OF Ichiro Suzuki<br />OF Carl Crawford<br />OF Torri Hunter<br /><br /><br /><strong>Roy Halladay</strong><br />Zach Greinke<br />Edwin Jackson<br />Kevin Millwood<br />Felix Hernandez<br />Jered Weaver<br />Mark Buehrle<br />Joe Nathan<br />Mariano Rivera<br />Jonathan Papelbon<br />George SherrillBeutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-76637576305455656042009-07-05T03:37:00.000-07:002009-07-05T04:14:58.082-07:00MY 2008 IN REVIEWHere's a brief and sporadic pictorial of my 2008. It's hit and miss, and purposefully non-conclusive. If someone feels a key happening was left out, it'll be alright...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/72/l_7e2dd8823b1d418292328aa33fcbd1d3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/72/l_7e2dd8823b1d418292328aa33fcbd1d3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Downtown with Meg.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/82/l_fb16b6523b244a3992867e1d4c2e2b38.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 224px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/82/l_fb16b6523b244a3992867e1d4c2e2b38.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Drive to Peoria and Bradley game with Joey.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/90/l_fb0c29c1535b4b1298db3215de2edf2f.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/90/l_fb0c29c1535b4b1298db3215de2edf2f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Drive to Bloomington to see Walk Hard.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/86/l_16ccf01a085a40d3a6496018c7150133.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 222px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/86/l_16ccf01a085a40d3a6496018c7150133.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Eat at Gray's for first time since moving back.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/104/l_34fad6d95f874f0b960fa0822b9d4f98.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 224px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/104/l_34fad6d95f874f0b960fa0822b9d4f98.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Mustache March.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/105/l_ecc80fe88c0d4c9fa9e38b35a924c1a4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/105/l_ecc80fe88c0d4c9fa9e38b35a924c1a4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Fly to Albuquerque. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/93/l_8ed2cb1f5b62424aa3220d0c81d07e0f.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/93/l_8ed2cb1f5b62424aa3220d0c81d07e0f.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Drove to Arch Madness.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/103/l_20c1bfbfea824ad48a4fbe1ac1e11135.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/103/l_20c1bfbfea824ad48a4fbe1ac1e11135.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Wrigley Opening Day with Dad.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/91/l_4ef14c5cc98f455e8fa67b292cc1b87d.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/91/l_4ef14c5cc98f455e8fa67b292cc1b87d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />First of many Indians' Opening Nights with Meg.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/85/l_4d2ba3515c884b6ab18214bf75d7d314.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/85/l_4d2ba3515c884b6ab18214bf75d7d314.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Earthquake in Indiana.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/106/l_5b5147b797024aa3af780fca8d6e8159.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 224px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/106/l_5b5147b797024aa3af780fca8d6e8159.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Drive to Wrigley with Joey.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/76/l_ebf972809c824d26a759c86d3eef10c3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 224px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/76/l_ebf972809c824d26a759c86d3eef10c3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Mighty Flood of June.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/70/l_8283d143f713481f87c83aae35db9025.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/70/l_8283d143f713481f87c83aae35db9025.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Hanging it up at Grainger.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/70/l_6a3ec750939a486384be7341a8ee4d05.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/70/l_6a3ec750939a486384be7341a8ee4d05.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Reunion show with Jason.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/82/l_b1e69f166f8a4a908d4659e8a09af220.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/82/l_b1e69f166f8a4a908d4659e8a09af220.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Cubs trade for Rich Harden.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/109/l_d7f03ba3323e4627b872b6142f164e10.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/109/l_d7f03ba3323e4627b872b6142f164e10.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Tractor pulls are cool, right?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/109/l_21b35988cea84b37bc95aad570377045.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/109/l_21b35988cea84b37bc95aad570377045.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Meg and I drive to Peoria. See Ryno for first time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/89/l_fd9e1bf5b2064116bfefeb40f186c5ae.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/89/l_fd9e1bf5b2064116bfefeb40f186c5ae.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Olympics.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/85/l_2fef5963fad34015acf7a3ba73129799.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/85/l_2fef5963fad34015acf7a3ba73129799.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Jamie, Jackie, and I drive back to Illinois.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/85/l_de49ad77ecea4349bcfc772d12f2cab7.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/85/l_de49ad77ecea4349bcfc772d12f2cab7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Cubs game in Cincy with Meg.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/67/l_c1e13e676cd5478d8c0d7d121f11546b.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/67/l_c1e13e676cd5478d8c0d7d121f11546b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Bears over Colts in Lucas Oil opener.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/101/l_412b7332633d48479919c2dd18ed7b9a.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/101/l_412b7332633d48479919c2dd18ed7b9a.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Full circle. Indians finale.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/95/l_7ce00ae14e0943d3b48779a90d140061.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 224px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/95/l_7ce00ae14e0943d3b48779a90d140061.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Welcome To Autumn party.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/68/l_20b66e43b76a4d88b49da46ec74f3ca6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 223px;" src="http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/68/l_20b66e43b76a4d88b49da46ec74f3ca6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Finally a trip to Smokey Bones.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/101/l_f57b561877614cf79b2612e91415503b.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 223px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/101/l_f57b561877614cf79b2612e91415503b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Ping-pong with Savannah.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/66/l_e0069f2587dd42449f32e68935dc69a1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 223px;" src="http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/66/l_e0069f2587dd42449f32e68935dc69a1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />A real neat guy gets President.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/71/l_87da0d02301947df9b4d408c6d8b91b4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 223px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/71/l_87da0d02301947df9b4d408c6d8b91b4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Candles and Carols with Megan. 19 degrees that night.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/111/l_9571482ff5a24709a33717ecaab9ff74.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 223px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/111/l_9571482ff5a24709a33717ecaab9ff74.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />Drive to Nashville with Megan for no reason.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/85/l_36cf7d306deb4c2095ac4dcf15b3d468.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 223px;" src="http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/85/l_36cf7d306deb4c2095ac4dcf15b3d468.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Christmas Eve.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/107/l_49f256a4ffd04202b2ad2ae62740f4ab.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 223px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/107/l_49f256a4ffd04202b2ad2ae62740f4ab.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> <br />The waning moments. I thought it'd never end.Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-74155700140196487412009-06-29T18:20:00.000-07:002009-06-29T18:22:14.280-07:002008 In ReviewTime for my year-end lists... The entries might not be in any particular order within the categories.<br /><br /><br />TOP BOOK READ<br />Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey<br /><br /><br />MOVIES IN THEATER<br />Semi Pro<br />Leatherheads<br />U2 3D<br />Four Christmases<br />Madagascar II<br /><br /><br />DINING EXPERIENCES<br />The Cheesecake Factory (2.13)<br />Pipers Cafe and Grand Manor (4.16)<br />Fujiyama (5.31)<br />Pappadeaux (9.6)<br />The Polo Club (12.24)<br /><br /><br />SPORTING HIGHLIGHTS<br />Attend Cubs Opening Day with Dad (3.31)<br />Bulls win draft lottery (5.20)<br />Cubs trade for Rich Harden (7.8)<br />See Ryne Sandberg in person at Chiefs' game (8.2)<br />Bears ruin Lucas Oil Stadium opener (9.7)<br /><br /><br />SONGS OF THE YEAR<br />"Kingdom of Comfort" - Deliriou5?<br />"Equally Skilled" - Jon Foreman"<br />"Missing Something" - Autovaughn<br />"Falling For You" - Leeland<br />"Yours" (with new verse) - Steven Curtis Chapman<br /><br /><br />ALBUMS RELEASED<br />Kingdom of Comfort - Delirou5?<br />Viva la Vida - Coldplay<br />Day & Age - The Killers<br />Jon Foreman - Spring and Summer<br />Opposite Way - Leeland<br /><br /><br />MOST LISTENED-TO CDs DURING THE YEAR<br />Kingdom of Comfort - Delirou5?<br />Viva la Vida - Coldplay<br />Opposite Way - Leeland<br />Sam's Town - The Killers <br />Never Going Back to OK - The Afters<br /><br /> <br />TOP RANDOM PEOPLE I TALKED TO THROUGH MY JOB<br />Frank Caliendo<br />Dan Patrick<br />Eric Gordon<br />Helio Castronevez<br />Marty Brennaman<br /><br /><br />MUST-HAVE PRODUCT DISCOVERY<br />ACT Restoring Mouth Wash<br /><br /><br />VERSE OF THE YEAR<br />1 Peter 5:10<br /><br /><br />LYRIC<br />"Don't let anyone say that it's just a game / For I've seen other teams and it's never the same / When you're born in Chicago you're blessed and you're healed / The first time you walk in to Wrigley Field." - Eddie Vedder ("All The Way")<br /> <br />"I will be patient as the Lord / Punishes me for the wrongs I've done against Him / After that He'll take my case / Bringing me to light and to justice / For all I have suffered / And both of His hands are equally skilled at ruining evil / Equally skilled / At judging the judges / Equally skilled / At administering justice..." - Jon Foreman ("Equally Skilled")<br /> <br />"I've walked the valley of death's shadow / So deep and dark that I could barely breathe / I've had to let go of more than I could bear / And questioned everything that I believe / But still even here / in this great darkness / A comfort and hope come breaking through / As I can say in life or death / God we belong to you." - Steven Curtis Chapman ("Yours" [Maria version])<br /><br />"You could stay awhile longer / We could stay up and talk about last summer / We could go down to the water / Watch the sunset going under... / You've got nothing I could ever hold against you / I got fatal flaws to call my own / Please don't go, please don't leave me alone / A mirror is so much harder to hold / I met a man who's looking for perfection / Sad he never met a girl who's good enough / His eyes are getting old, like they'd love to love again / Such a lonely man, such a lonely man..." - Jon Foreman ("A Mirror Is Harder To Hold")<br /><br /><br />QUOTE<br />"The people who want to make money get paid for what they know. ...if you don't embrace the rate of change by growing your brain, you're going to be left standing on a dusty road with no money in your pocket. You are going to have to be a reader to win. You will be lower income if you're not a reader, if you just used to be a reader...I don't care if you got your Master's degree."-- Dave Ramsey.<br /><br /><br />MOST DREADED PHRASE OF THE YEAR<br />"In the new environment..."<br /><br /><br />OTHER MAIN HIGHLIGHTS<br />New Year's Eve prayer with Megan at church.<br />Driving to Bloomington late at night in the snow with Megan.<br />Walking into Wrigley Field for the first time with Dad.<br />Playing a reuninon show with Jason.<br />Sitting on our corner hill--watching a lightning show and listening to the Cubs with Dad.<br /> <br /><br />HUGE DISAPPOINTMENTS<br />Cubs swept in playoffs.<br />Chris one-on-one.<br />Flooding at the station on June 7th.<br />Election day.<br />Scrape up Dad's family van in downtown parking garage.<br />(Busted water pipe at transmitter on December 7th.)<br />(Kyle Orton hurt; Bears' season derailed.)<br />(My PEX review at Grainger.)Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-30206047057476296902008-11-01T21:55:00.000-07:002008-11-02T07:17:42.667-08:00LORD HELP US ALL (PRE-ELECTION THOUGHTS)I keep expecting to wake up from this bad dream. Surely I don’t actually live in a country that is considering putting Barack Obama in the White House. I keep waiting for someone to tell me that this was all just a social experiment, and that the real Presidential candidates will be unveiled soon. <br /><br />I am waiting for Barack to finally admit that yes, even he realizes he’s horribly inadequate for the job—and that this whole thing was just a study being performed by someone who wanted to see how the nation would react to a complete hack candidate for President. <br /><br />Because this can’t be real. <br /><br />I am in awe at the number of people refusing to open their eyes to what a dangerous man this is. <br /><br />Here’s the thing I find the funniest of all: The sheep-like mentality of the Obama followers. I was raised in a sheltered home, I’ll admit. When I went off to grad school, I found that those of us who were conservative were looked down upon and made to feel inferior because we were still “clinging” to the core values with which we were raised. Those in the learning community who had “broken free” and had taught themselves how to think for themselves naturally ended up on the other side of the fence.<br /><br />Because it was impossible to actually be a bright mind, and still be a conservative. You can’t be enlightened. You can’t be a forward thinker. You can’t truly decide for yourself, and still end up holding to the same strong values with which you were raised. <br /><br />Those who were still practicing conservatives were simpletons, naïve, couldn’t think for themselves, and were just spoon-fed. <br /><br />So…imagine my surprise to see just how willfully and blindly all of those brilliant minds are bowing down at the feet of the most unqualified candidate in history. If there’s one quality that can be found common amongst Obama supporters, it is their refusal to actually think about the situation. Simply put, his name isn’t Bush, and that’s good enough for them.<br /><br />And so the herd falls in line behind Obama. No matter how unelectable he proves himself to be. No matter how many scary and dangerous realities emerge about this guy. No matter how many scarring things he says about the American people. No matter how many radical ideas he spews. No matter how many times he flat out lies about his past… No matter how many times he flip flops and contradicts himself. He’s not Bush and that’s reason enough for these people to turn their country over to him.<br /><br />Suddenly all these people who had supposedly taught themselves to think outside the box, are just closing their eyes and running mindlessly into the popular crowd. <br /><br />And as McCain said of Obama in the second debate; that’s not only naïve, that’s downright dangerous.<br /><br />And so the tables have turned. <br /><br /><br /><br />A few years ago if you had told me that the most liberal member of the Senate…with just days in office under his belt, with an extremely shady background and no leadership experience would even have a prayer of getting elected here, I would say Lord help us all. <br /><br />And that’s what I’m saying now. If you are a believer in fasting and prayer, and are not doing both in earnest at this time, that is irresponsible in my mind. At first I just didn’t like the guy because he was grossly liberal. But now when I consider the vulnerable state in which a guy with ideas like his might put our country, my dislike turns to genuine concern. This is historic stuff. Dangerous doesn’t even begin to do this guy justice. <br /><br />You might hate George W. Bush (and most everyone does by now), but if there’s one thing that can be said for him to this day…our enemies know where he stands. The same could be said for John McCain. Barack? Now that’s a crapshoot. That’s a big guessing game. This is not the day and age for such a risk. Anything but.<br /><br />I am not a good political mind. I've never claimed to be. But when someone else gives voice to what I wish I could say eloquently, I can recognize that. I am good at that. So I will be quoting several people here.<br /><br />Derek and I were chatting online one night about how perplexed we both were that this guy even had a shot. Otherwise clear-thinking people…even well-intentioned Christian people—some people I look up to, just refusing to be rational about this man. This was his theory:<br /><br />“… do you believe that Obama supporters have a 'faith' in Barack that far surpasses the normal support of candidates we've seen in our lifetimes? Here's my thought: there's several groups of people (particularly those in higher education, African-Americans, and guilt-ridden white people) who have anticipated a viable black candidate for a long time. There's also a group of people (particularly college students and younger Democrats who came of age under Bush) who want desperately to be a part of the generation who affects major change.<br /><br />These forces have combined to turn the candidacy of Obama into a Messiah-like coronation that borders on cultish. And Obama is smart. He knows how to talk to them. There's a synergism to it all that bothers me.”<br /><br />And I couldn’t agree more. There’s something at work here. Here’s a young politician who has risen to power quickly on the strength of a couple powerful speeches. He has incredible power over people. He claims to be a Christian but has very questionable character and practices. He’s a smooth talker. He says a lot of nothing. A lot of pie in the sky ideas. And people are falling all over themselves for him.<br /><br />How many more scenes do you want to see of people downright weeping at his events? Thousands of Germans bowing down before him? A children’s choir singing songs of worship to him? A youth group’s creepy chantings about a better day with Barack? How many more of these chilling scenes do people need to see before they come to their senses? There’s something fishy going on here. He’s got a grip on people, and it’s anything but healthy. <br /><br />At the Saddleback forum he stuttered, he stammered, he refused to answer questions directly because it cut against him politically.<br /><br />And the fact that Obama survived the Reverend Wright fiasco says it all. The media made a MUCH bigger deal about Sarah Palin’s wardrobe than the maniac who fed Obama’s spiritual brain for 20 years. The fact that I live in a country that is willing to turn a blind eye to a guy who sat under that kind of “ministry” is enough to make me want to puke. <br /><br />And as Derek emailed to me: “True or false: Friends of Barack Obama's late mother, who Obama claims shaped his political philosophy, say that she harbored Communist sympathies… True or false: Obama's father was a Muslim, his mother an atheist/agnostic, and his sister is married to a Buddhist.” (The answer to Derek’s “true or false” game is always true, by the way…)<br /><br />Oh but there is one. I have found one person willing to think this through. One of the biggest democrats I met at Baylor recently wrote this on his facebook page: “(I fear) the coming defenseless, socialist, abortion-on-demand society.” Another day he wrote, “(I refuse) to be complicit as a taxpayer in a taxpayer funded abortion procedure, which would be the case if Obama wins and passes the Freedom of Choice Act.” <br /><br />This guys gets it.<br /><br />Another guy I knew at Baylor wrote: “I have never heard someone talk so well and much and never say anything at all.”<br /> <br />And you know what I fear on a personal level? The return of this stinkin’ “Fairness” Doctrine. As someone who makes my living in radio, the Fairness Doctrine would flat out destroy my radio station. There’s a reason why people like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin are insanely popular. And there’s a reason why Al Franken was exposed for the hack he is and went off the air. Because conservative talk radio works. Obama and Pelosi could easily destroy the large amount of momentum that our radio station has right now with their attempt at “fairness.” Makes me sick This country could turn into something very very ugly. Something that doesn’t even resemble itself. <br /><br />Oh my Obama complaints are many. I thought initially I would try to document all the reasons this guy is completely unelectable. But the list has grown so extensively in recent days that I’m just exhausted. But the sing-songy condescending tone of voice he uses...his absolute inability to speak off teleprompter... I heard someone say that Obama's a piece of art and not an actual presidential candidate. Well put. <br /><br />Even if ONE of these (well-documented) character issues is even close to being accurate, that should be enough said. The fact that there are dozens and that they keep piling on, well... You tell me. <br /><br />The truth is, the media hand-picked this guy. They picked him over Hillary and they got their wish. Now they’ve already decided he’s beaten McCain, and I’ve already seen that it’s crushing the spirits of some conservatives. <br /><br />If these poll projections keep people from the voting booth, that is brutal. The media would have you to think it is a done deal. It is anything but. And I’m sure the exit polls will show an Obama landslide early Tuesday as well. Just like they did for John Kerry in 2004. Let not your heart be troubled. Vote. A thousand times I say, vote. The media has decided this race. The American people have not. Yet. <br /><br />With all that said, I’ll leave you with this paragraph I found: <br /><br />“Obama/Biden is a very dangerous choice for our country...he is a very attractive candidate and a lot of people have fallen for the hype...his stances are obviously VERY liberal which isn't the most awful thing in the world, but it when it comes to moral issues, he seems to be light years away from where I am...I could never vote for someone like that. He is a big government guy, which I have never been a fan of, and he is all about raising taxes, which is not the answer to most economical issues...including our current economic state. I hope people are educated enough to know the candidates for who they really are and not how good of a show they can put on. 75k people in a stadium is a pretty amazing thing for a politician...but it absolutely does not mean that he is the right person to lead our country during some of its toughest times. At the end of the day, God knows and His plan will come to pass...I am not one to over-spiritualize anything, but we need God's will for this election...now more than ever.”<br /><br />------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Oh...and because I couldn't have said it any better myself, please see this email exchange between two of my friends from undergrad:<br /><br />"Am I the only one befuddled by what I'm seeing around me? Has there ever been a groundswell of stupidity in the history of our country that could even come close to rivaling this one? I have grown weary of the sentiments expressed (in an Obama video), but I am perhaps more exasperated by the otherwise sane people I know that each day add to those already lined up with palm branches ready. Colin Powell? Christian leaders, including Anderson University's current Spiritual Emphasis Week speaker? Some of my very good, and otherwise analytically sound friends?<br /><br />The hope and joy in these peoples' eyes are the marks of those who believe themselves to be, in some way, on the cusp of redemption. I believe there is no more fundamental common denominator in the human experience than the longing for redemption; it spans cultures and historical epochs. It drives people to do things both good and bad, and has been wielded as a weapon more than 'religion' or perhaps even 'fear'. Barack Obama, and any human for that matter, is completely incapable of providing the kind of significant redemption each of us is searching for. To believe otherwise is not simply an abandonment of logic, but also the stubborn expression of infantile faith in something far more fanciful than the Creator of the universe being born in a manger to a virgin...<br /><br />Are any of you feeling even a tenth of the frustration I am right now?"<br /><br />------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />And the reply...<br /><br />"I agree with your assessment and frustration. To the best of my knowledge, America has never had a candidate with the ability to turn the minds of so many to such mush and who has such control over so many. If that is cult-like language, so be it. Here's what worries me if Obama gets elected. If he screws up, will it even be acknowledged? Are the viewpoints of people like us going to be marginalized by the voices we'll be hearing? Will a "fairness doctrine" be re-enacted since many liberal opinion voices can't fairly succeed in an arena that requires large numbers of viewers and/or listeners? One of the New Mexico senators brought it up just today. The reaction to Obama has turned NBC, CBS, ABC, and CNN into the closest thing I've ever seen to state TV in America. We thought the media was biased in the past. As it turns out, we hadn't seen anything. In my most worried moments, I wonder what happens if such a doctrine silences some dissenting voices, while the pro-left voices shape the conversation for a next political generation..."Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163390255240069702.post-29743904832733379672008-09-21T20:33:00.001-07:002008-09-21T20:35:22.665-07:00Count Me Out<div>Sunday, September 21, 2008 <br /><br />Count me out of the group of Cub fans who thought this season was going to be handed to them. Count me out of the group who thought that September would simply be a victory lap. Count me out of those who weren't greatly concerned about some aspects of this team--even when they were 35 games over. Count me out of the guys who got all excited when the Cubs had built up an eye-popping record at the end of a home game-heavy first couple of months.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>I've always prided myself in being an even-keel Cub fan. And I think that has come particularly in handy this year. Sure those gaudy records atop the MLB standings all season long have been nice. But not comfortable. Never comfortable.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>And while you're at it, count me out of the woe-is-us Cub fan crowd. No I don't believe in curses. No I don't believe in wait 'til next year. And no I don't believe in "this is our year." I just like Cubs baseball. It's that simple. Some people stop following their baseball teams once they're eliminated or if they're not having a winning season. Those aren't baseball fans. Baseball fans care 162 times. They don't take a day off. Even meaningless games in September. When the Cubs were a 60-win team...I listened/watched to the end. If the Cubs were to clinch the division early this year, I'll watch the meaningless games before the playoffs begin.<br /><br />Count me out of the group waiting for the other shoe to drop. The national media is talking of this antsy, paranoid Cub fan--apparently half-covering his eyes, afraid to look. Who is this guy? I just like to watch the games and root for them. Count me out of those who think a choke is waiting to happen. And count me out of those wondering how they'll let us down this year. I'm only in my 20s. I don't know a hundred years of suffering. I don't even know decades of suffering for that matter. I don't know Leon Durham. I don't know 1969. I know no goat. All I know is that Dad raised me to enjoy Cubs baseball. All I know is a franchise that hasn't won it all, but has been reasonably successful since I've been alive. A playoff appearance this season would mean three in the last six years. I know a lot of teams who would take that in a second. So no...I'm not apprehensive about what's around the corner. If they lose, they lose. But this is the '08 team. Its own roster. What does Steve Bartman have to do with Ryan Theriot? How does Geovany's Soto success or failure relate at all to Alex Gonzalez? It doesn't. This is this group. This season.<br /><br />A Reds' TV announcer said the other that this run to the playoffs might not be the cakewalk that all Cub fans thought it would be. Is the guy insane? (Well...I know he is because earlier he had called the fans who had taken the time to travel to Cincinnati for the weekend "fairweather fans." I know this...if there's one fan base in the entire scope of sport that can NEVER be called fairweather, it would be Cub fans.) But anyway...any Cub fan I talked to who actually knew anything about baseball knew this thing might come down to the final week.<br /><br />Anyone who actually glanced at this September schedule knew that--the Cubs had no choice but to get out to that outrageous start! September was FULL of games on the road against teams with winning records. So no, I didn't get ahead of myself when the Cubs went out and did what they absolutely had to do...win almost all of their home games early. I've been dreading the September series at Shea Stadium all year. I'm the guy who's said you better have at least a three game lead over Milwaukee heading to Miller park the final weekend of the season. Just to be safe.<br /><br />But also...with the Cubs' recent slide and offensive woes...how is it a surprise? This is a team that has flirted with the best record all season long--without guys having good seasons. Carlos Zambrano has been hurt. Twice. Alfonso Soriano has been hurt. Twice. And his numbers are way down this year. Aramis Ramirez' production is not nearly what it should be. Derrek Lee is going for the world record in hitting into double plays and only has 19 HRs. Jim Edmonds is hitting in the .230s. Kosuke Fukudome is so bad he can't even stay in the lineup. Anybody who is just now starting to get concerned about the holes in this roster hasn't been paying much attention.<br /><br />So...provided that the Cubs make it to the playoffs, I won't be surprised at anything. I do think they're better than in 2007, so hopefully they don't get swept again. When they got swept out of the playoffs 3-0 by Arizona last year everyone was beside themselves. How could they choke like that?!?!? Really? Choke? That was only an 85-win team last year! They had a lot of three game losings streaks during the course of the year. In fact, the Marlins (the 66-90 Marlins, by the way) swept them in the final week of the season--games the Cubs felt like they had to win!!! So why wouldn't the division-winning Diamondbacks be able to do the same?<br /><br />Someone remarked to me the other day--discussing the Cubs good season so far. "I just hope they don't choke in the playoffs." I was like...well good teams beat good teams every year in the playoffs. Baseball is a weird game. The playoffs are always a crapshoot. Every year there are seven good teams that get sent packing from the postseason. Who's to say? It's baseball. Anyone can beat anyone. The Mariners even beat the Angels this year. It's baseball. Especially in a best of five.<br /><br />You just want to get to the postseason. That's the tough part. Just get there. After that, you gotta hope the ball bounces your way a few times here and there. But once you reset those records at 0-0, nothing's guaranteed. I'll take my chances with Ryan Dempster and Geovany soto and Mark DeRosa and Carlos Marmol. But win or lose, this group has accomplished a ton of special things during the course of a grueling baseball season. <br /> </div>Beutelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12171704866709496755noreply@blogger.com0