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Meeting the Boys
Thursday May 27, 2004 - Link to Entry
For those of you who check this site regularly you probably will note that this entry has been backdated to the relevant date. While this action perhaps challenges my internet posting moral integrity, it emphasizes my desire to keep my life's moments in chronological order. So deal with it! Moving on...
"Tonight" I had an opportunity like never before in my life. Sure I'd been to spring training and I'd seen and met athletes in the past, but this was something above and beyond all of those moments in time. Sandye, my wonderful "Love Mom", was at a philanthropic event for Gilda's Club, an organization that raises money for cancer research in honor of the late great Gilda Radner. At this event there was a silent auction that included several Chicago Sports packages. One such package was VIP Sox Tickets with Batting Practice Field Passes. She made a bid that wasn't beaten and a few months later Adam, Wayne, Becky and I were at the Cell (Comiskey Park II) for batting practice.
We arrived at 4:30pm. There was a threat of rain but the clouds seemed to be sweeping away. Armed with coat and sweater just in case, there was no way I was going to let any weather rain on this parade. Luckily as we made our way out onto the field from behind home plate we could see the sun peak its way out of the clouds and there it would remain until nightfall. Time suddenly stood still. Here I was standing on the field of my dreams, the home of The White Sox. And there they were just mere inches away taking batting practice, fielding practice, and even though I didn't see it, perhaps taking Viagra (see Rafael Palmero). There we were, the four of us, in complete awe, not moving, not speaking, just absorbing the moment.
We spent a little over an hour watching and meeting the players, owner, manager, coaches, and staff of the team I have grown to call the Whizzle Stix. In that hour I shook hands and got the autograph of the amazing Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez as well as pretty much everyone else on the roster.
For some this doesn't sound all that special. But for me it was like standing with movie stars. I follow the squad as if my brother was on the team and I live and die by their every game. It was truly something special and would set the tone for an amazing and incredibly whirlwind weekend in Chicago.
Though I do not want to brag about their current standing, in case you are curious, they wreaked havoc on the Rangers that evening, 9-0. Also in case you are wondering Eric Young, or EY as he is known to the fans, gave Becky a baseball during batting practice and when she returned it to him for an autograph she not only got his name, but his number as well. So if the Rangers sneak their way into the post season look forward to his digits being posted here so that we can "congratulate" him frequently on his team's accomplishments.
Ill and off to chicago
Tuesday May 25, 2004 - Link to Entry
Well my body just isn't getting well quickly. Today I woke up with what seems like a cold. For a majority of the day I have also suffered from what can best be described as nerve pain throughout my lower back and both legs. This discomfort creates numbness and tingling throughout these regions similar in feeling to electrical shocks. Blech!
Hopefully some home cooking will turn that around. Tomorrow bright and early I leave on ATA (pray for me) to go to Chicago for the marriage of Joey and Brad. I am very much looking forward to seeing friends and family and of course celebrating this wonderful occassion.
Perhaps I will update from the windy city. If not keep it real and I'll be back soon.
Peace
Telling it like it is...
Sunday May 23, 2004 - Link to Entry
This is an excellent article.
It well articulates many thoughts I have had as an educator these past two years. Instead of reading my daily banter enjoy a well written piece that takes you down a political and relevant thought trail for the day.
But be sure to come back for more banter tomorrow.
Eggs over My-Hammy
Thursday May 20, 2004 - Link to Entry
Yes its the not so clever name of a dish most often found in 24 hour casino diners. Yes this post will be focused mostly around the injury to my right hamstring. No, eggs will not really have a purpose in today's entry.
What in the world inspired me to run so hard to first on a pitifully hit ball to he pitcher that I pulled my right hamstring? The world will never know. Still 5 days later here I am still sore and not just physically. The fact remains that after a lifetime of running around and taking stupid bodily risks like say playing High School Football, this muscle pull remains the most debilitating injury I have ever endured.
Setting - Golden Gate Park. Event - Kickball Game 3. Before the game I listed myself as day to day but not officially on the DL. The doctor gave me the clearance to play if the muscle felt normal. Before game time it felt a little funny but the best it had since it had been incurred. I volunteered for the last batting slot and to only play catcher. Playing catcher was just my speed. No sudden movements necessary, no real need for speed. But then I was up to bat. I suddenly found myself in the same situation as only a mere few days ago when the injury occurred. My choices were bunt and run, or kick it as hard as possible and take my time. But choices were swimming in flaws. Option one involved me using speed to get down to first. Well on pitch one I bunted and I took one quick step towards first and could barely walk. Ouch! So now barely able to walk I decided to go with option 2. This however involves strength and flexibility, neither of which were in abundance at the moment of the pitch. So at the last second I decided to kick lefty as hard as possible. I popped out to center and lowered my season average to .250....pitiful. And I was more in pain to boot. (no pun intended!)
Well a big weekend of work lies ahead with two DJ events tonight and Saturday. I think I will have almost paid for my vegas trip by the time I get home from the wedding Saturday night. I now know what adding insult to injury really means.
On the plus side I sold a record the other day and the students have been hounding me for copies so I'm giving them out. They like them autographed too. Its a nice ego boost.
The real scoop
Monday May 17, 2004 - Link to Entry
Like the press release? I want you all to hold me to that. No more table games! They've murdered me.
So I just want to run down the losses for the weekend and then we can focus on the positive. The following things were lost to me this past weekend in Las Vegas: Alot of money, sleep, my right hamstring, my love of the action. Now I shall explain. Money: well duh, I got my ass kicked. Sleep: Earliest evening ended at 3:30am, latest ended a little before 7am. Hamstring: So Brad, the bachelor for which we were partying, is a softball fanatic and entered us in a double-elimination tournament for Saturday. Now mind you I played 4 years of highschool football and my most serious injuries were a broken finger and shin splints. Well in attempting to run out a poorly hit ball I severely aggrivated my hammy on the way to first base. Yes I was safe by fielder's choice but no I couldn't run for myself. Hell for a couple hours I could barely walk. I spent a lot of saturday taking care of said injury with ice, heat, stretching, etc. My love of the action: Somewhere between the dim and the dark I found that I no longer had the desire and love of the table game. I know eventually I'll miss the action but don't expect this addiction succeptible cowboy to hop up at the tables again for anything more than a $5 hand. The retirement will stick.
Now with the bad there is of course the good!! Poker, my new love! I sat down at a competitive 3/6 limit table and not only hung for 5 hours or so but was one of the more successful players at the table. I made only a few small errors which can be expected of a newbie and I walked away after all that gaming only down a couple bucks. I feel confident that not only can I play poker for hours on end without losing much, but that in the future I may even be able to earn a bit. I just like the fact that you can throw away bad hands for at the most a $3 cost. A lot better than when you have a 16 against an ace with $100 on the table. Informed betting. I know I sound like a junkie trying to convince themself that another substance is less dangerous, but trust me I like the recreation of the poker game versus the table game where not only did I enjoy the action but I expected to make copius amounts of money. Foolish.
Also good...Amazing hotel, food, company, and adventures. We ate, slept, lived like kings. This weekend I tried Kobe Beef, Lobster, and tons of new beverages. We saw tons of live music and enjoyed many hours of pool time and outdoor recreation. And the celebrities were out to play. I saw Magic Johnson, Maurice Claurette(sp?), and the woman who plays Tony Soprano's mistress (and damn is she tall!).
All and all a very clean and above the belt Bachelor's party, just wish I hadn't donated so much to Vegas's cause and hurt my leg. And yes I know you are all very eager to find out how this will effect my budding kickball career. Well as of now I am listed as day to day but if it flares up I will be posted to the 15 day DL retroactively to last wednesday evening.
Time to go enjoy my retirement from the game. Bye Blackjack, you dog you.
Round Retires
Sunday May 16, 2004 - Link to Entry
AP Press Release
Las Vegas, NV -- 3 minutes ago: After just under 3 years in the game Jeremy Round, 23, says he's ready to call it quits. An avid fan of casino gaming and a hardcore player himself, Round felt it was time to, "Hang it up and move along." He went on to say, "There's no outsmarting luck. It has come to the point where I just need to cut my losses."
Early in his gaming career Round found that he was quite the gambler. Whenever down on his luck a big hand would strike that would put him way ahead. After several trips to casinos that fattened his pockets he began to put more and more on the line. This is of course when the luck ran out. "The problem was that I believed I was better than the system. My luck was so unreal that I actually began to enterain the idea that it was skill. Plus I love the action."
After his most recent trip to Vegas, Round is no longer interested in playing against the house. "All table games are out. Blackjack, Let it ride (which he affectionately nicknamed Let it Bleed), Roulette, War, and yes my friends even Pai Gow. From now on I am solely a Poker, Keno, Sports book man. Whats different about these three? Informed betting my friends."
Though not immediately available for comment several of Round's partners were terrified and shocked by this announcement. A gentleman wishing to remain unnamed stated, "He was always singing at the tables, cracking jokes. Though sometimes an embarrasement, he had a way of keeping the mood light and everyone was smiling."
Round's number, 17, as well as his jersey and lucky underwear are being retired at the Excalibur Hall of Fame. "Excalibur is where it all started and its just an honor to be invited into that elite group of retired gamers," Round said.
Along with the retired artifacts a gambling history of this famed player will be on display as well. Some highlights include: hitting a roulette number with $10 on ($350 pay out -- first big victory), $300 on red victory, a full house on let it ride (11 to 1 odds plus bonus), a keno selection of 16 out of 20 numbers ($121), 4322 hands of Black Jack played-- 2873 victories, 1449 losses. Total purse: -$1700.
Yes it seems this gambling great just doesn't know when to bet big. Everytime he tried to make a move and put more money on the line he got hit with a big loss. His career really took a dive on the senior year spring break cruise, and though there were hints or resurgance, his gaming pretty much faded into oblivion. He hopes that his future sans table gaming will not only protect his pockets but also allow him to save his money to making informed "investments."
Good luck Jeremy.
Vegas
Thursday May 13, 2004 - Link to Entry
I'm off to Vegas....We lost kickball last night due to bad umpiring and a lack of runs... More upon return. Poker!
The Weekend in Review
Monday May 10, 2004 - Link to Entry
So, its been awhile...I know...my bad. Let's get you all up to speed shall we?
Friday. Friday played host to my second ever Sabela performance. Situated in a small beautiful chapel in Marin country, Sabela sang for a non-profit organization which is the perfect type of audience for our style of World/Spiritual music. This show also marked my reunion with Wavy Gravy, the famous flower child (aka hippee). I first met Mr. Gravy at Woodstock '99 while walking back from the mainstage to our makeshift home (newly purchased tent since Ed's was infesting with earwigs). This meeting had very little in common with that hot summer day in Rome, NY except that I believe he may have been under the influence of some substance during both interactions. But JRo.com is for the fans, not about the fans....so I digress. Friday was certainly not the greatest vocal performance of my career. This was for a few reasons. First and foremost is that I had been screaming quite a bit at work that day and as a result I had fried my chords and my ears were a bit shot as well (vocalist lingo -- you dig?). Well not having my ears and full capacity was a bit damaging in this venue for its sound was incredibly live and the bass vocals shot away quickly and were very hard to hear. On top of my inability to distinguish my only vocals from that of the other performers, drums were entered into the mix. Well with a ccapella being a ccapella I really was unexperienced when it came to singing along side a percussionist. The tonal bandwidth of the drums seemed to dance right in where most of the bass vocals sat and really did a number on my ears which were straining simply to hear myself and the other basses to make sure I was singing the right part and singing in tune. Anyway, I think I made some errors here and there and probably botched tuning quite a bit, but the audience was happy, the venue was great, and the whole show was fun. You win some, you lose some. The funny thing though was that singing along side the drums I found myself feeling more like a bass player than a vocalist. I was trying to grove my vocals just as I would my bass with the rhythm.
Moving along...The Bar Mitzvah that wouldn't end...Saturday morning, 9am. I wake up on Eric's couch where I decided to crash after our viewing of Survivor late Friday night. I have two hours to get home, get into my suit, get up to marin for my gear, and get back to the Presidio to set up for part one of the B-Mitz, the Luncheon. This all goes to plan until on my way to the venue I get terribly lost. The directions I was given are subpar and my boss's explination, though helpful in the end, didn't quite get me there either. Just dumb luck and my recognition of the universal Jew colored balloons (blue and white) guided my way. So with only a half an hour to set up an inordinate amount of gear (video screen, projector, plus full DJ rig) I scrambled and sweat my way to being set up about 15 minutes late which was fine because the client was still no where to be seen at that time. After all of that early morning stress following a full week of work and a very long friday with the Sabela concert, I was exhausted, grouchy, and starving, which turned out to be a horrible combination for this Mega B-Mitz. My purpose at the luncheon was important but once I was set up I was really only there to babysit the equipment. The client had hired a guitar player who played through the DJ rig throughout the lunch and she needed the microphone for one toast and the projector for one image. So there I was, stuck, in a suit, doing absolutely nothing, grouchy, hungry, and tired. By the time I got out of there for my 3 hour break before the night's party began I was bitter and unenthusiastic about my return to the venue.
But...something happened. Perhaps it was that the twin boys who had become "men" early in the day were so great. Perhaps it was that my boss, Mark, had come down to check out the new DVD player and cheer me up. Perhaps it was the nap I had when I got home. Whatever the reason, I was ready to rock when I got back. And Rock I did. Never in the history of DJing have I felt more in the zone and had more fun. Throughout the event I alternated between music videos on our DVD player and preselected music from our collection. The kids loved the videos and the music never missed. The dance floor was packed for a solid four hour block and the kids just kept on having fun. For the first time ever I wasn't counting down the minutes at the end of the event, I was happy to keep playing. The kids did love good music so that helped of course. I mean how often to Bar Mitzvah kids request artists like Nirvana, REM, Van Halen, and the Who, or ask for songs like Scat Man, Stairway, Plush, and the like. Plus we got to watch the Britney Spears "Toxic" video twice.
4 days 'til Vegas. I'm sharpening my Poker skills. Wish me luck.
ESPN Power Rankings are BS!
Wednesday May 5, 2004 - Link to Entry
All I know is one week ago the White Sox were in 7th and they some how slipped to 11th after a week with only two losses. Now we clearly are not the most dominant club in the league, but we have sole possesion of 1st place and one of the best records in all of Baseball. If the season ended today we'd be hosting a post season series. We may be winning ugly, but we're winning and well above the .500 ranking ESPN has given us. But fine, this way we'll float below the radar and suprise our opponents. All I know is you better watch out!
Cinqo de Mayo - A Price is Right Extraveganza!
Wednesday May 5, 2004 - Link to Entry
So today is the big day...The Price is Right finally airs from three weeks ago. Though, as stated in a previous entry, they totally played with my head and made me think I had a future on contestant's row, I still have a large amount of interest in seeing the show. Why? Well for starters we were front and center so we probably got some screen time. Also everytime the volume level dropped down in the sound stage I took that opportunity to yell out whatever came to mind. Things like, "Bob's a big ol' Pimp," or "American cars Suck." Things like that.
So grab a corona ($1.95), a plate of nachos ($2.25), and your remote control (priceless) and turn me on.
Oh and you can watch for these other reasons:
5 out of 6 contestants win
two spinners hit $1.00 ($1,000) and both those spinners also hit a $5,000 bonus.
those Barker Beauties...damn!
Plinko
Hole-in-one
Two vehicles successfully won
If that won't motivate you, I don't know what will.
Happy 5th of May all!
Too Much Information...
Sunday May 2, 2004 - Link to Entry
Welcome to the age of Information. Whether you mean to or not you are absorbing tons of information stimuli everyday. Everywhere you look you are instantly overwhelmed by advertisements, marketing, news, gossip, truths, lies, assumptions, and other forms of information. After a weekend spent with Sam, a man who claims to have his finger on the pulse of the world via the internet, and Gabe, a man who claims nothing more than having the bravery to stop a ceiling fan with his own dome, I have come to realize that perhaps we are receiving Too Much Information.
The wedding I worked at this past weekend is a perfect example. While setting up I was accosted by a verbal nusance who seemingly did not understand two things: 1) I was busy and did not have time to chit chat and 2) I had little to no interest in talking with her anyway. Despite my almost complete disregard of her presence, this unwanted interaction continued to persist through her one-sided banter. Within minutes, perhaps seconds, I knew how old this woman was, where she was from, why she moved to San Francisco, and how her sex life was going. Too Much Information! I didn't even ask the woman a single question and yet fact after fact was being rambled off as if I were taking Annoying Woman 200 as my elective for the semester. Why? Why did she feel the need to give me such details? Is she part of some cult that does confessionals via DJ's and other night entertainment gurus instead of religious heads? Was this better than talking to herself even though I gave her almost no acknowledgement whatsoever? Who can really be certain? Gabe unfortunately took over the post of listening to the ramblings of this poor old wretch once he arrived at this very strange event. And while he took earfull after earfull of useless, disturbing, and worthless information, the toasts at this wedding began. 1.5 hours later the entire guest list of this shotgun wedding costumed in late 17th English garb had had too much information.
Yesterday at the grocery I was feeling a bit saucy. I've actually being feeling quite sassy lately. Must be the weather. Anyway, while checking out I realized the clerk and the bagger had rhyming names, Paul and Saul. As I said I've been feeling a bit sassy so I simply said, "Hey Paul, do you always choose baggers based on their names?" Now perhaps I can be blamed for this scenario since I did infact solicit information with my inquiry. But you never would have seen this response coming, not in a million years. He responded, "I'm impressed you knew the biblical reference." I attempted to explain that I didn't and was simply amused by the rhyming nature of their names, but he continued on, "I didn't know anything about Paul and Saul and still wouldn't to this day if I hadn't..." A moment of panic. I try to make a stupid joke and now I'm stuck with once again, Too Much INFORMATION. He continued, "If I hadn't studied to become a priest." Phew, I thought. A man who studied with the desire to be a priest but instead chose a life without restrictions, a life with....He continued, "I was ex-communicated for being Gay. The cardinal was homosexual, flamming in fact, and he pushed me out for my sexuality." I'm now desperately trying to get my credit card to ring through the system faster to end this conversation. I respond while waiting for my receipt to print, "That's really a damn shame. People who want to help others being pushed out of something they love because of predjudice." And I meant every word of it. But was this conversation necessary? I was just trying to buy some oranges, string cheese, and lunch meats. A bad joke gone wrong results in all this information.
So people, I'm begging you, let's slow down with all the information. A simple dose of sportscenter, email, phone calls with your friends, and of course JeremyRound.com should suffice. Don't tell strangers your life story. They don't want to hear it. Dave Matthews once said, "So much to say." And my response is, "Don't say it."