I Know, I Suck

So much for posting every day.

I'm a slacker. As some of you realize, I was sick a while back and last week I was quite busy with my job. "Something" unexpected happened, and this week was crazy. Bananas, really.

My alleged friends have ridiculed me, calling me a slacker, which is unfortunate. Guess the truth hurts.

Don't know if you've heard, but the Midwest is becoming the new East. I just learned my boy Luke (or Dookie, as he's known) is moving from Boston to Des Moines to work for the Associated Press. He is possibly the last person I thought would up and leave the Northeast, and I'm not certain he has any idea what he's in for.

I recently spent some time in Iowa.

Good luck, Dookie - it's no Wichita.

Last note - how about my BU Terriers? Losing to Duke in Cameron by 17? I'll take it, especially after watching Seton Hall get spanked two nights later by the Blue Devils. I love this team. Nice juco point guard (Brian Macon), nice perimeter shooting (freshman Corey Hassan) and some inside athleticism (Ibrahim Konate, a 6-7 kid from Mali - he reminds of a poor, poor man;'s version of Hakim Warrick). I didn't think they'd win the AmEast, but now I think it's a lock. They play Michigan Tuesday night at Agganis Arena. No joke: BU has a two-game winning streak against the Wolverines. Plus, UVM lost its season opener, which is always good news. Our family friend who shall remain nameless unless he taunts me was probably at the game; can't wait for the report on the post-Brennan Catamounts. (This stream of consciousness thing is tiring) Brennan, in case people didn't hear, is announcing games (color commentating) for ESPN.

Guess he's not as big of a buffoon as I thought.

Why Is It Called A Cold?

I don't feel cold, but I'm getting one. Sniffles, slight irritation in the throat, a little rundown - all unmistakable signs.

Has to be related to the weather changes here, I think. Two weeks ago, you were crazy if you weren't wearing a jacket or coat. But the past few days have eclipsed 75 degrees. My body doesn't know what to think.

I know, this isn't exactly riveting material. And the vow I made to post something every day? I broke that already, and this blog is barely four days old. No willpower, I swear.

Mom would tell me to get some rest. Dad would tell me to drink some orange juice. I'll do both.

Venting, Vol. I

I've never been a fan of those "notes" columns, but it does make a little sense. Sometimes you've got a lot on your mind. And this morning, I do:

- I'm real close to retiring my Red Sox cap. I'm still a fan - pains me to see Theo leave - but I'm tired of seeing it EVERYWHERE. Here in Wichita, I can't go anywhere without seeing one. I was in Ames, Iowa over the weekend - please, don't ask why - and I counted, unofficially, 43. I was there for less than 48 hours. It used to be you could bank on seeing Yankees caps wherever you were. During college, it was the South Carolina caps - you know the ones, with the "COCKS" across the front; those were clever, weren't they? Now, sadly, it's become the Sox.

- Speaking of caps, remember when the White Sox caps came out and people Sharpie-d out part of the "O" to make it look like an "E"? You know, so the cap would read "SEX" instead of "SOX"? Man, we were lame kids.

- It's supposed to be a high of 76 today in the 'Ta, followed by a high of 85 tomorrow. But get this - on Wednesday, the high is expected to be 59. Huh? This place is odd.

- Just heard Ray J is going to be performing in the 'Ta some time this month. He's Brandy's little brother. By the way, the marriage between Brandy and New York Knicks swingman Quintin Richardson has dissolved. Ain't that a bitch? If they can't make it, who can?

- Who Dey? How about those Cincinnati Bengals? Yes, I'm fired up. A 7-2 record at this point exceeded all expectations. I thought if they could somehow eke out 6-3 at the bye, they'd be in good shape. I thought 5-4 was realistic. Never thought 7-2 would happen. Next game is against Indianapolis, a game that - get this - has home-field advantage implications. Could you imagine? In the Jungle? It's way too early to be this pumped up.

- Check this out - http://18winslowadd.blogspot.com. It's my adorable three nephews, a blog created by their father, my brother Phil. Let him know what you think. I'm biased, but I think they're the cutest kids on the planet.

- One last thing - I'm in love with dashes. I've got a real problem with them.

Kinda handsome, right?

Yep, that's me.

Hello from Wichita

People are always amazed I've ended up in Wichita. There are still Pennsylvania license plates on the Jeep, and while I was filling up the other day, some Wichitan - yep, that's what the natives are called here - glanced at the plates and asked, "Man, what brought you here?"

A great job, for starters. I've been given a lot of freedom, unlike the last place. One of my former colleagues, a lovely lady named Monica, labeled our old workplace "The Place We Do Not Speak Of," an homage to M. Night Shyamalan's much-panned "The Village." They appreciate me here, for which I'm grateful. And the people in the Midwest - say it with me if you've spent any time here - are so nice. Too nice, in fact. Enough so that my suspicious East Coast senses are always on alert.

It's flat. It's slow. It's Nov. 6, and it's 70 degrees. But for now, it's home. And that's OK.

It Was Inevitable

Of course I was going to have my own blog. If my own nephew, not even a month old, has one, why shouldn't I?