Let's play two today

I loved Ernie Banks

     I didn't know him  Only had a brief autograph encounter once, years ago.
     But I loved him.  (If you haven't heard, Ernie died late Friday night.  He was 83.)
     He taught me a lot.
     As a young kid, I watched him play shortstop on the North Side.  I remember the year he won MVP on a sixth place team.  And again the following year, when he won MVP again, on a closer to last than first team.
     He had 512 home runs, 1,636 runs batted in.
     Yet, it wasn't his baseball ability so much as it was him.
     He seemed to be an eternal optimist.  The friendly confines, let's play two, I think were said in dark days of losses and frustration.
     You never say him argue a call.  I don't think he ever questioned a strike call.
     He played for the same team, even during the free agency years when he could have gone to a better ball club that would gladly have paid him more money.
     He came to the park, day after day, game after game.  Uncomplaining.  Performing his best.  Sore bones, aching arms, nothing prevented him from taking the field.
     And when they moved him to left, he tried.  He really did.  But he was a terrible left fielder.  The move to first extended his career, I think, and he developed into a good first baseman.
     A black ball player in 1953 may not have had the same experience a black ball player today does.  Restaurants still discriminated, even in the north.  Hotels discriminated, even in the north.  Yet he never complained, never used that as an excuse...he just showed up and played his best, proving the bigots wrong.
     The 1969 Cubs will always be my favorite team.  Ron Santo and Ernie were cornerstones, as were Billy Williams and Fergie Jenkins.
     At the recent Cubs convention I had hoped to get a glimpse of him, maybe an autograph.  But he was suffering from a minor health issue, according to the announcement at the convention.
     I always thought I would write him a letter, telling him how much I appreciated his contributions to the Cubs, on the field and off.
     I just wish he had a chance to see his Cubbies in the World Series.
     And I wish I had taken the time to tell him, "Well done, Mr. Cub.  Well done."

holy cow.......

I think I am sick

     I asked Jackie if I felt hot today, she did not think so.  But I took my temp, and it was 100.2.  My head is stuffy, my joints ache and I am tired.
      I am not a good sick person.  I whine.  I moan.  I complain.  I eat constantly.
      I can never remember:  Starve a cold and feed a fever or vice versa?  So I eat like crazy.
      I also drink hot liquids....like Tang.   I put some honey in it and it soothes my throat.
      I also have Vick's VapoRub to slather all over my tender body.  It is actually kinkier sounding than it really is.
     So I am going to bed.
     Hopefully, I will sleep all night and be better in the morning.
     If not, then I guess I'll be going to urgent care tomorrow night!

april showers bring.....

I was once entitled

     No, not Lord, Duke or Viceroy, but FHA 235 entitled.
     When Jackie and I were first married, I was working at the newspaper.  Tilton Homes, also the owner of the paper, was building some bi levels on Southview Drive....I believe 6 of them.  They were being built as part of the 235 program to put low income people into their own home.
     Working at the newspaper full time, I qualified.
     We paid $95 a month for the house, the government kicked in another couple of hundred.  As our income rose, so did our share of the payment.
     The bi level had two bedrooms, living room, kitchen and bathroom on the upper level, and an unfinished basement.  Eventually, we finished four of the rooms, never getting to the basement bathroom, which should have been a priority.
     Anyway, we had a bathroom upstairs.  And it had a tub.
     Jackie was pregnant with Emily and getting up out of the tub was hard work.
     One weekend, I encouraged her to visit her parents.  And I got to work.
     I hired a plumber to put in a shower.  Then I bought a shower enclosure kit from my favorite retailer at the time.
     These were melamine panels that glued onto the wall.  Then you caulked it and voila!  A shower!
     All went well until I cut the melamine panel to fit around the window.  I had the front panel up, and the back panel up.  But I cut the opening about 1 inch too short.
     So I had to go back to the store for a second kit.  It had to be ordered.
     When Jackie came home, I believe she was really surprised.
     Of course, she could not use the shower for another two weeks, but it served its purpose.
     I think it was my first do it yourself project.
     We sold the house six years later.  It still had the melamine panels.
     I always wondered if they ever  leaked......  or got replaced.

Cubs Convention....part three

I ate historic fare while in Chicago

     Dan and Linda pointed out that while the Palmer House in downtown Chicago is an opulent, throw back hotel, it also has a place in culinary history.
     In 1893, the World's Fair was held in Chicago.  Bertha Palmer's husband owned the hotel, and she asked the pastry chef to create a dessert that was cake like in nature, but in a small piece  which could easily be eaten out of a box lunch.  She realized the fair would draw thousands of people to the newly rebuilt city, and they would be hungry.
     The chef came up with the brownie, and history was made.  The original creation was covered by an apricot glaze and walnuts.  Dan and I sat at the bar and had a brownie on Friday night.  Today it is served  as originally created, but with a small scoop of ice cream and a dollop of chocolate mousse.   It was very good.
     Of course, we sat at the back of the bar....figured we were not up to Palmer House standards to sit in the front section, where you can be seen.  But it was a classy experience.  A lady next to us sounded like one of the munchkins....she had the most irritating voice!  I know why she was there....but a couple of A listers like us??  Go figure!
     I had a warm apple cider with brandy, mainly because I was a little chilled.  That was powerful!
     Back to the convention.
     Some 7,000 tickets were sold.  Famous players, players yet to be famous, fans, vendors, a whole bunch of people.
     It was my first experience at a Cubs Convention.  It may not be my last one.
     I am just sorry I waited so long.

My brownie and drink at the Palmer House bar

Jon Lester....can't walk on water, yet

This man was sitting on the can.  Literally.  We saw several people with these, and I asked a guy where he got it and what was in in.  He carried water, snacks, autograph material and who knows what else so that when he waited in line, he had a place to sit and all the stuff he needed to bide his time.  This gent has been to every Cub Convention....all 30.  This year he also brought his grand daughter, whom I believe he said was six or seven months.

Can you say Ronnie Woo Woo??   Really him, not a statue, the real Ronnie Wickers

Crowd waiting to get into bingo

My kind of town, Chicago is.

Cubs convention....part two

I did not get any autographs last weekend

    I didn't even try.
    I figured, I have so much stuff in my house now, a few autographs could be the point of tipping the house over or leaving it upright.  I chose upright.
     There were plenty of autographs to get.  Some you had to pay for.  A $20 donation was asked for autographs in the Fergie Jenkins area.  The money goes to a foundation, which I understand exists to support players in need from the olden days, before TV deals and mega contracts.
     You could also opt to meet and greet.  Dan wanted to get Billy Williams autograph.  There was a meet and greet for Billy.  Fans could pay $150 and meet Billy, get him to autograph something, and then chit chat as time allowed.  Each person could bring one person.  There were 15 slots available for the 30 minute meet and greet time period.  That means, if everyone brought a guest, there would be about 1 minute to say hi, ask for an autograph, talk about the team, ask about his career.....you get the picture.  I offered to be Dan's guest, and thank heavens he did not take me up on it!
     Other current players were on hand at specific times to sign.  If they were scheduled for 30 minutes, they signed for 30 minutes.  If you were the next person in line after that time limit, you just might be out of luck.
     So, no autographs.
     It was kind of a thrill to be there and say hi to Hall of Famers like Fergie Jenkins, Rollie Fingers and Lee Smith.....who should be in the Hall if he isn't.  And seeing other Cubs up close was pretty cool.  The team was introduced and walked down a runway and John, Dan and I  sat right next to it, so you could actually see them sweat.  (The players, not John and Dan.)
     When I was a kid, I used to hang around Wrigley after games and ask for autographs.  I know I have Ed Bouchee, George Altman, Ernie Banks.....but I can't find the book with all the names.
      I must have waited an hour when Ernie finally came out and got in his car.  I kind of remember it being a baby blue Cadillac, but that might not be right.  I went up to him as he was getting ready to drive off and asked him to sign my book....and he did.
     Another time I saw a man come out of the players entrance and I asked him for his autograph.  He gladly gave it.  To this day, I have no idea what his name was or who he was....I could not read anything he wrote.
     But I can't find the book.
     I had hoped to see Ernie and Pat Hughes, but both had minor medical issues and could not be a the convention.
     Maybe next year.
     Tomorrow:  How we ate a piece of history.

Fergie Jenkins

Lee Smithy

You could buy lots of pins to keep or trade

Clark drew a crowd....why doesn't he have pants??

It was actually made of fiberglass

Koozie Girls, where are you??

I really enjoyed the Cubs Convention

     I met a lot of interesting people, who I will never see again.  I saw ball players past and present, sat in on some fun sessions, and made quite an impression on some youngsters.
     Dan and I were hanging around waiting for Cubs Bingo to start.  A young lady asked if we wanted a koozie to wrap around our Buds.  It was funny, because we did not have any Buds and no use for more koozies.
     But she was young.  And attractive.
     Minutes later, they had multiplied.  There were now five of them.  Some guy asked if he could get his picture taken with them and they said yes.
     I waited, when they were done I asked them if I could get my picture with them.
     They giggled and said sure.
     I reminded them I was an old guy with at least one heart attack, so they had better be prepared.   We stood in a half circle and they smiled, I smiled, they giggled, I giggled, and Dan took the picture.       During this one of them asked my name, and I told them.  A couple of them said , "Hi, Terry."
     Dan was next, and he was even luckier than me because now there were six!
     I might add,  the girls were all quite young and quite attractive.
     So Dan and I waited for Cubs Bingo to open.  And we waited.  And we waited.  There was a bunch of people waiting.
      The door opens and out come the Koozie Girls.  They walk right past us and I jump in front and say,  "Hey Koozie Girls, remember me?"  They stop, look, and I hear:  "Garry, no Jerry," and finally, "Terry!"  I laughed with them and they went on their way.
     This young guy looks over at me and said, "How did you do that?"  I smiled and said nothing.
     So we go into the hall and sit at a table.  The young guy was in a party of three and we sat with them.  Pretty soon, here come a couple of Koozie Girls passing out koozies.
     They come by the table and I look at her and say, "Koozie Girl, who am I?"
      She looks, laughs, and says, "Terry."
      I thought the young kid was going to have a heart attack.  He called to her, but she ignored him.
     She passed again, and this time said, "Hello, Terry," when she saw me.
It made an old man feel pretty darn good.  I wonder if they missed me when I left...again, in my world they did.
     Yes, I saw other people.  But, this is fodder for a couple of days of blogs, so for now, just some samplings.

The Bud Koozie Girls and their favorite old guy, at least in my world.

Rollie Fingers still has the handle bar moustache

Glenn Beckert and Bobby Dernier

What a weekend

I just came home from the Cubs Convention

Ok, it is a little after 1 a.m......and I am a bit tired.
So here's a summary of the convention:  Good times.  The Cozi Girls.  Chicago Cubs.  Historic brownies.  Good friends.  Bingo busts.
So, there you have it.
And yes, more to come....when I am awake and fully functioning.