The Cubbies are playing Atlanta right now, and it’s great to see so many Cubs fans in the stands in Atlanta!

If you didn’t know, Dave’s a HUGE Cubs fan, and he gets really intense when he watches. Yesterday, he had to leave the room because he was so angry that the Bears were losing. Well, ok, he was sleepy. But still….

Anyway, I thought I’d give you a play by play of Cubs moments, in case you can’t watch the game…

So we’re at the bottom of the 3rd, no score, and Wood is pitching. Slammin’ Sammy had just struck out earlier, and Dave is still fuming. I tried to give him a comforting hug, but then he hissed ‘Don’t touch me!’ I look at him in shock. ‘I’m just kidding,’ he says. Uh, yeah…right…

Bottom of the 3rd - I catch Dave unconsciously doing the Brave’s tomahawk hand gesture with the music. I cry, ‘Hey! What are you doing?’ Dave looks at his hand in surprise, as if it had a mind of it’s own. Next batter up for the Braves, Marcus Giles, gets a homerun. Coincidence? I think not!

Top of the 4th - The Cubs have the bases loaded, no outs. Then the rest of the team blows it - they can’t get even one of these guys home. Dave’s yelling at the TV. After Wood has the final out, Dave needs a moment alone in the bathroom.

Bottom of the 5th - The announcers talk about Kerry Wood’s wedding in Hawaii. Close up on Mrs. Kerry Woods. She’s pretty cute. “Hey,” Dave says, “Kerry Wood did pretty good with that one!”

Top of the 6th - Bases loaded again for the Cubs. Dave growls, “If they don’t score on this one, they don’t DESERVE to win!” Then Paul Bako hits a single and brings home the tieing rin, Moises Alou. Then surprise! Kerry Wood hits a double and bring 2 more guys home. Dave’s jumping up and down and screaming “Fuck you!” to the Brave’s pitcher on TV. Then another single by Kenny Lofton brings Kerry home. They show Kerry’s wife, Sarah Wood on TV. Dave says, “Man, she’s hot! Mrs. Wood looks really good!” Then he laughs ath his incredible rhyming skills and puts his Cubs hat back on. Cubs up 4-1. The world is right again.

Top of the 8th - Kerry has been having a great pitching game. It seems like the Cubs fans in the crowd are louder than the Atlanta fans. They even show the Cubbie fans in blue mocking the tomahawk dance of the Braves. Go Cubs Go!

Bottom of the 8th - They have taken Kerry out. Braves have the bases loaded. We almost have a double play, but the ump says that the man on first is safe. Dave cries that this is an injustice, he is muttering ‘He was safe, fucker…’ all throughout the commercial break. Farnsworth is up, walks the batter so that once again, the Braves have the bases loaded. Dave, once again, is yelling at the TV. We’re both holding our breath with every pitch. Finally, a ground ball ends the inning. Whoo….exhale! Me and Dave hi-5 in relief.

Bottom of the 9th - The score is still 4-2 in favor of the Cubs. Borowski is pitching to the Braves. There’s one man on base. I ask Dave, “How do you feel?” He quickly says, “Ask me after this inning is done!” We’re holding our breath the whole time. It’s great to see the crowd behind the Cubs. Finally, the last strike. Cubs win! Cubs win! Me and Dave do our Sammy Sosa hand bump. Cubs win! Harry is smiling down on us!!!

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The Bears suck.

Not as bad as they could have sucked yesterday, but they sucked nonetheless.

It was the opening game in the new ugly spaceship-in-a-colosseum monstrosity known as Soldier Field, in front of tens of thousands of fans, not to mention being on Monday Night Football, and they tanked. They were losing by two touchdowns in the first 5 minutes of the game! Sure, they had a spark later on in the second half, but still. Come on Shoop! Let’s get some better offensive plays! And me and my sisters could have been a better offensive line.

But the truth of it all, is that the Bears lost because of Pledge Jones. In this case, his brother. He was at Soldier Field, watching the game, and the bad Pledge Jones mojo is in his blood. Damn that Pledge Jones!!!

This doesn’t bode well for Chicago.

I believe that his brother might have scored tickets to the Cubs playoff game.

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I didn’t mention that during the times that I WAS home last weekend, I was working. I talked to the company president on Thursday, and he told me that I had to finish testing and fixing up one of our sites. “This had to be done yesterday. I want you to work on it, and I don’t care if you forget the meaning of sleep, this needs to get done.”

Sleep? I’m sorry sir. That word wasn’t in my vocab in the first place, how can I forget what it means?

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Since Dave’s mom was here this weekend, it was pretty busy with going to visit relatives and going to family parties. Me and Dave never realized just how much family he has out there. There’s tons! We went to Glendale, Burbank, Rowland Heights and Anaheim this weekend, which for us, means a lot of driving and traffic. At least in Chicago the traffic stops on the weekend!

So we went to Dave’s uncle’s house for his cousin’s birthday yesterday in Anaheim, and they had the most gorgeous view:

I stopped out into the backyard and was like ‘Whoa!’. The view was amazing. We want a view like this! His uncle told me that property was pretty cheap around his place, starting at a mere $750,000, he said with a wink. Hmph. Yeah. I’ve got the downpayment in my sock. Or if they accept bellybutton lint that would even be better.

Afterwards, we went with our Long Beach crew (I’d like to think that we have a crew now, although this is the first time we’ve hung out, kinda) to go and see ‘The Rundown’ (see below). The movie was good, the preview for ‘Honey’ was hot (I found out that both Jessica Alba and Angelina Jolie are on Lanie’s ‘list’ too) and afterwards we went for ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s for some chatting. It was nice to hang out with people around our age that weren’t related to us!

So here’s a picture of a fountain. Rod the brown package of love (package? baggage?) asked why I was taking pictures of the theaters, and I replied, ‘Because I like to take pictures.’ Because I do. And you never know when you might need a picture of a fountain….

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Well, Dave wanted to watch a movie today, even though we’re on ‘a budget’. Hey, I won’t complain. I love watching movies.

There really wasn’t too much out in the theaters that I wanted to see, but a very good radio interview that The Rock did earlier this week got me intrigued. I enjoyed ‘The Scorpion King’, and the DJ was totally in love with ‘The Rundown’, so I thought it would be a good movie to see. Also, I’m a fan of The Rock. I’m a fan of any athlete that you would think is dumb as rocks (excuse the pun) but ends up being intelligent. I’ve seen the Rock talk, and he’s no dummy. He’s actually pretty smart, and definitely has a magnetic personalityu.

So the movie, yeah. I had no idea what I was getting into. Didn’t see too many commercials, knew nothing of the storyline other than it taking place in a forest. And there was an interesting monkey scene.

I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed the movie. It had some GREAT fight scenes, which made good use of beautiful fight choreography and matrix-style slow motion. It was the kind of fight scenes that made you cringe in your seat and say, ‘Ohhh, damn! Ouch!’ The storyline was also a bit different from your run of the mill action movie.

The Rock did very well in this movie, and is broadening his acting range (not like that takes a lot) and had great chemistry with Seann William Scott, who, sadly is stuck with the Stifler-esque roles. But like in American Pie, he excels at the smart ass big talker funny sidekick role. And damn, his body is pretty toned! But sorry, next to the Rock, he’s just a little girlie man. Rosario Dawson’s character was great, and she had some good emotional depth, and every time I see her, she gets prettier and prettier.

And damn, Ernie Reyes Jr. was in the movie. Remember him? Sidekicks? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? I’d have to say, he had the best moves in the movie. But I kept on thinking his name was Mojito, instead of Manito. Guess it’s been a while since I’ve had a drink. Anyway, it was great to see him in the movie, even though when him and his little rebel friends came on screen, we all looked around and said, ‘What are Filipinos doing in the jungles of Brazil?’ I guess we’re cheaper extras.

Speaking of appearances, for some reason, I always laugh when Christopher Walken shows up on screen. Just like Scott, Walken is kinda stuck in the same kind of role. But I love him. He’s just so quirky. And he plays a pretty good bad guy, though it’s hard for me to see him as a REALLY bad guy.

So all in all, I liked the movie a lot. It was a great action/comedy. I was surprised it was so good, and I feel that the Rock is going to have many more like this, and I don’t mind at all. He’s very nice to see on screen.

Notable Preview: Honey, starring Jessica Alba in what looks like a hip hop version of Flashdance. Sounds cheesy, but DAMN, Jessica looks HOT. Her body is more toned than it was in Dark Angel, if that’s even possible. And the dance scenes look awesome. You know I’m a sucker for a good dance routine.

Dave’s Review: Wow. That was a really good movie. I loved the midget. Let’s get it on DVD, ok?

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If I was in Chicago, I would be still sleeping, trying to get rid of a REALLY bad hangover from celebrating…

“The taste of victory was so sweet Sammy Sosa wanted to share it with his loyal followers in the right-field bleachers.

So, he sprayed them with celebratory champagne. ”
- By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer

“Are they still out there? Are they still on the corner of Clark and Addison, dancing in the streets? Are they still going wild from Oak Lawn to Oak Park to Oak Forest to Lake Forest to Park Forest to Forest Park to Schaumburg to Galesburg to Wheaton to Waukegan to Des Plaines and maybe even Des Moines?

Can it be true that Sept. 27, 2003, was the first time since Sept. 28, 1938 that the Cubs won a championship (division, league or World Series) on their home field? Could the Cubs actually end up playing the New York Yankees again at Wrigley Field, as they did this summer for the first time since 1938?”
- Mike Downey, Chicago Tribune

“It was a day for Chicago to collectively hold its breath for nearly six hours, and when the improbable happened and the Cubs won it, it was a night for a hoot and a holler and more than a few toasts to the champs.

“Hell’s about to freeze over,” said Shaun Calloway, 24, of Naperville as he steadied himself for the final outs in the Cubs’ doubleheader sweep at Wrigley Field, which propelled them into the playoffs.”
- By Brett McNeil and Jon Yates, Chicago Tribune

“So here were your tense, huddled masses at Wrigley yearning to breathe freely. Here they were roaring on every pitch from the eighth inning of the first game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates until the last pitch of the second game. This was 95 years of frustration talking, so cut it a little slack if it was hoarse.

More so than any team in baseball, the Cubs are their fans. This is a package deal, for better or worse, till death do them part. And fans have died about 1,000 deaths each with this club. If the Cubs somehow ever find a way to win a World Series, the fans are as much the story as the players. Maybe more of the story. And that’s why they came early and stayed late Saturday. They had this coming.”
- Rick Morrissey, Chicago Tribune

“Clark Street turned into Bourbon Street Saturday night as years of baseball frustration melted into delirium on the North Side.

Beyond the right field bleachers, a happy change came to a large sign that counts the years since the Cubs’ last division title, pennant and World Series crown. The division part of the rooftop sign was switched from “14″ to “0.”"
- Shamus Toomey and Ana Mandieta, Chicago Sun-Times

“They stood like frozen zombies, not sure whether to believe the moment was real, wondering if another saboteur was lurking as always. But as daylight slid into dusk in the haunted village of Wrigleyville, the most tormented fans in sports finally started to quiver and roar. For once in their lives, they weren’t being teased or bamboozled.

Next year is here.”
- Jay Mariotti, Chicago Sun-Times

all pics from the Chicago Tribune

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The Cubs are SO close!

So Houston must lose. Sorry Texans, it’s gotta happen for our beloved Cubbies to stand a chance!

Let’s go Cubbies, let’s go!

God, to be in Chicago right now, it must be buzzin’!

So for now, me and Dave will sit in the dugout and cheer for the team.

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Dave’s mom is here for several days, and yesterday we went out with his uncle and grandmother to a Filipino all-you-can-eat buffet up in Glendale.

I never understood the reasoning for going to a Filipino restaurant, since when I lived at home I got all the Filipino food I wanted. But since living here, we’ve been living on pasta, corned beef, salad and grilled chicken. So I’ve been missing the Filipino food a bit. I was hoping that when Dave’s mom got here, we’d get some home cooking, but hey, going to a buffet was 10 times better. I had 30 different things to choose from.

Standing there, looking at the food in the buffet line, I realized that Filipinos eat a LOT of fried foods. Fried chicken. Fried pork chops. Fried calamari. Fried pork rinds. A nightmare for my heart, but a celebration for my taste buds. But they didn’t have my favorite, kare-kare, peanut oxtail stew. It tastes a LOT better than it sounds. There was a compartment there, but they never refilled it. But I had a whole bunch of other tasty things, and I left full and sleepy, which gives this place high ratings.

Mom update: She’s still in the hospital. Claudine flew out to Chicago, so I’m the only one not home. Melanie and Marilyn are there with the family, and Fata had said that they’ve taken my place. That’s ok, it takes TWO of them for ONE of me! But I’m happy that she has so much support and love out there. I called the hospital today and asked Fata to give my mom a hug and put her head on my mommy’s shoulder for me. She wouldn’t wear the Christine mask, but she did it anyway. I also got to talk to my mom a little, and she’s pretty tired.

Me: How are you feeling?
Her: Very tired.
Me: How long are you going to be there?
Her: Who?
Me: Uh, you?
Her: Oh, I didn’t know if you were asking about me.
Me: Who else would I be asking about?

Yep, she’s pretty funny, that mommy of mine.

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She’s going to kill me for doing this, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENISE!

She’s one of the kindest, most selfless, sweetest and funniest people I know. Yes, you ARE funny. She has been such a wonderful friend and has been there for me during some tough times, and I just wanted to wish her a wonderful birthday, and many more to come.

So if you see her around, make sure to give her some birthday greetings!

Tags: Quickies by Yano
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So I was at my L.A. client again yesterday, hopefully for the last time in a long while, and the building was having ‘Hawaiian Day’ for it’s tenants. So everyone that came in, tenants, visitors, messengers, they all got this big, gaudy plastic Hawaiian lei’s. I got one when I came in, and wore it for a bit, until I realized that everyone else had taken theirs off and hidden them. I left the building for lunch and when I got back, the security at the door offered me another lei. ‘Uh, I have one upstairs already,’ I said. ‘Please….’ he said, as he looked desparately into my eyes. It was then that I realized, these people had a lei quota to fill. They HAD to give away all their lei’s. So I said sure, and got another one.

But I worked so hard today, I didn’t even get to enjoy the Hawaiian luau they had in the plaza. Thankfully, it was my last day, because I was starting to have dreams about working there. Not only that, but people around the office, who weren’t part of the project started recognizing me. And security gave me a tenant badge instead of a visitor badge. The sushi lady at the food court cried, ‘Oh, where have you been? I’ve been making spicy salmon rolls for you!’. But the biggest thing that send the red flag to my head that I’ve got to stop working there is once I hit the 12th hour of my workday there, I think to myself, ‘Ahh…it’s 7:30, I still got two hours in me!’ That’s when the other part of my brain yelled ‘What the hell! I don’t get paid overtime! I’m paid for 8 hours of work. Get outta here, fool!’

So yeah. I’m done!

As for my mom, she’s been moved to another unit of the hospital, and they’re doing tests, tests and more tests. She hasn’t had much of an appetite, I mean come on, even I have a hard time eating hospital food, so I told my sisters so sneak in some Krispy Kremes to fatten her up. She complained what I mentioned to her that she needs to eat more Krispy Kremes to gain weight, because it will affect her cholesterol. But hey, cholesterol is the least of her worries! My sisters have told me that my mom, though still pretty weak, is still pretty fiesty when she’s talking, so it’s a good sign.

Still pretty homesick, though, but it’s good to know that things are going better!

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