Odie gave me this one the other day. I don’t know what happens if you call that number, but the web page, scottyiseri.com, is for a Chicago based comedy rock act, which seems similar to Liam Lynch.
Jim Dandy and I met this guy in the Berkeley hills while scoping out a record-laden yard sale. JD bought a car from him, and his wife gave me a Coke for the road. As you can tell from the card, he’s a real character.
If we have learned anything from Weis after 14 games, it’s that the man hates to punt. … Weis likes field-goal tries about as much as punts.
I’m not sure what this means for my life in a practical sense, but I think I’m a “maven.”
If anyone can tell me how to use this for some personal benefit, I’d appreciate it.
Oh, there’s going to be a big trip to Wisconsin Dells next year. That’s the world’s capital for water parks, although nobody knows why. Everyone’s invited.
I’ve never been so proud of Odie as when he related this story of his trip to Wrigley to watch his beloved Pittsburgh ‘Irates take on the Cubbies.
Scene: Odie, wearing his #18 Jason Kendall Pirates jersey, and Jack are in the bleachers
Odie: Jack, even though the Pirates are losing, I’m sure glad to be at the game.
Heckler #1: Hey Kendall, why not wear a good #18 from Pirates history?
Odie: Wow, that’s a good heckle. Andy van Slyke was number 18 before Kendall, and he was much better. I’m going to let that go.
Heckler #2: Hey Kendall, where’s Barbie?
Heckler #3: Yeah, where’s Barbie?
Odie: Well, that’s not really a good heckle, but they’re Cubs fans, so they don’t really have much to cheer about.
Heckler #2: Come on Kendall, where’s Barbie?
Heckler #3: Did you guys break up?
Odie: Well, this is getting annoying, but maybe some good will come of this.
A few minutes pass, then Heckler #2 approaches Odie with a hot dog.
Heckler #2: Hey, since you don’t have Barbie anymore, we bought you this hot dog.
Odie: Um, ok, I’ll eat it.
Heckler #2: Yeah you will!
Heckler #2 returns to his seat.
Odie: You know Jack, I don’t like the cut of their jib. [yelling] Hey Hecklers, who has the highest batting average on the Cubs? Real fans, please don’t answer!
Hecklers: [silence]
A minute passes.
Heckler #3: Hey, give that hot dog back!
Two more minutes pass, then they finally answer the question.
Heckler #2: Barrett!
Odie: Well, it’s actually Jacque Jones, but at least you could name a Cub!
Heckler #3: I know how we can show him. Let’s get the wave going!
And that’s how Cubs fans lost their last shred of dignity.
I’ve frequently mentioned the radio show Morning Becomes Eclectic from KCRW, the NPR station out of Santa Monica, as a way to listen to new music. The typical format of the show is a 15 minute set, a 15 minute interview, and then another 15 minute set of music. What I didn’t realize is that they have quite an extensive archive of their past shows. The number of bands that have stopped in is pretty remarkable, including Eels, Cake, Elvis Costello, White Stripes, Beck, Flaming Lips (also Beck with the Flaming Lips), Radiohead, the Shins, the Decemberists, Broken Social Scene, and the Arcade Fire, amonst others.
Pizza stone: $19.99
Whole wheat dough: $1.09
Pizza sauce: $2.49
The knowledge that at least one good thing will happen on Monday: Priceless
![[Pizza Monday]](http://www.realmofthewombat.com/images/misc/pizzamonday.jpg)
As soon as I found out about this show, I knew we were going. Who could resist seeing a life sized version of the board game Mouse Trap? The show started with a performance by the Oakland based gothic jazz act Knees and Elbows, which Melissa thoroughly enjoyed, and I thought was a lounge act from hell. Then it was time for the main event. One member of the Mouse Trap team was running around in a pink bunny suit with an army hat on telling everyone, “It will never work!” in a German accent. There was some worry that he would be right, but the contraption worked like a charm, definitely better than the small version. This goes down with the Mystery Spot as $5 well spent.
![[Click for a larger picture of the Life Sized Mouse Trap]](http://www.realmofthewombat.com/images/mousetrap/mousetrap1.jpg "[Click for a larger picture of the Life Size Mouse Trap]")
![[Click for a larger picture of the Life Size Mouse Trap]](http://www.realmofthewombat.com/images/mousetrap/mousetrap2.jpg "[Click for a larger picture of the Life Sized Mouse Trap]")
More pictures can be found at Laughing Squid’s flickr page and there’s a video from a previous performance at the official site. This most certainly belongs on Roadside America, but sadly it seems like there may not be any more shows.
![[New York Metropolitans]](http://realmofthewombat.com/images/misc/mets.jpg)
Looking at the standings with 5% of the season completed, who’s the best team in baseball? This season is the most excited I’ve been for Mets baseball since the ’99 campaign, when New York sported the best defensive infield (ever?) and ended an 11 year postseason drought.
Despite questions about personnel (Julio over Bell? Hernandez over Keppinger?) and lineup construction (couldn’t we drop LoDuca to 7?), this team will go as far as the starting pitching takes them. The offense should score runs in bunches. Beltran, Delgado, Wright, and Floyd comprise the most dangerous string of hitters in the NL, and Reyes, LoDuca, and Nady are fine complementary pieces. The bullpen is reasonably solid from back to front with Wagner, Heilman, Sanchez, and Bradford. But there are concerns at all five spots in the rotation:
It would be a huge advantage if Julio or Bell developed into a reliable option in relief, so that Heilman could be moved into the rotation, if necessary, with no ill-effects on the ‘pen. However, even with these potential problems, the Mets are a serious playoff contender. The NL is quite weak outside of St. Louis, and their offense should provide enough run support to get through a rough patch here and there by the rotation.
Before the season started, I said the Mets were the best team in the league on paper, and they’re backing it up on the field. If Cliff Floyd is right that “Ain’t nothing about this phony,” then it’s going to be a great summer.
Although some people disagree, I think daylight savings time is a great thing. It’s pointless to have an hour of daylight wasted before I wake up in the morning when I could enjoy it later in the day. Apparently Congress agrees with me, as they voted to extend the duration of daylight savings. Finally some legislation I believe in.
But now it’s time to go a step further. In the late spring/early summer, I’m still sleeping through an hour of sunlight. How will we get that hour back? Spring ahead again. That’s right, we’ll go two hours ahead of standard time. How great would that be? There will be sunlight until almost 10pm at the deepest part of summer. It wouldn’t get dark at a “night” baseball game until the seventh inning. It’s time for America to assert its status as a world leader by being the first to enact daylight super savings!
Add this to my platform for when I run for benevolent dictator of the world. It’s not as ridiculous as my plot to never spring ahead, only fall back.
![[Jer's cereal shelf]](http://www.realmofthewombat.com/images/misc/cereal.jpg)
“I like the idea of eating and drinking with one hand without looking.”
– Jerry Seinfeld on his favorite food.
Cereal occupies a special place in my family’s history: it was the cause of one of my parents first arguments. After pouring a bowl of Cheerios, mom bunched up the inner bag, and closed the cardboard box. However, my dad is very particular about his cereal storage, and yelled at her for not folding and refolding the opening of the bag. Apparently it wasn’t a deal breaker (on either side), and mom learned how to properly keep the Cheerios fresh.
