No, this is not a tribute to Dale or Sean. Sorry fellas, maybe some other time. This is a tribute to the greatest person I've ever known in my life, who three years ago last Sunday left this world leaving what could very well be the biggest impact anyone's ever left on me. This person was my grandfather.
He was just a fun guy, everything he did. The kind of guy everyone knew, even if he didn't know them. I remember one day when I was really little, he and I went to a Wal-Mart to pick up some lawn care supplies, and he ran into this woman who he had a discussion with for a half hour. When I asked him who that was, his simple answer to me was "I wish I knew!" It was something he and I always would laugh about, even just casually bring up from left field.
He used to have a job for a couple years at TCF Bank on Archer, after he retired from trucking, and I always remember casual Wednesdays when he would wear these Hawaiian shirts. He used to try and do some kinda hula dance with it, and it always made my young six year old self laugh about it. After he retired, he and his friend Roger, who used to help mow my lawn in Chicago would just chill at the bank, and almost every day in the summer of 2003 and 2004 we'd go down there and talk sports. It was nice because I learned a LOT about the past history of football and baseball, things that to this day I remember, and really have a good use for knowing.
He was the biggest Cubs fan I'd ever known. He'd randomly spit out facts about this team hardly anyone would know, and the thing is, he wasn't making them up. He's what got me into baseball, insisting he watch the Cubs game before I got to watch Aladdin one day when I was five. That day got me hooked on the sport forever, and until the day he went he and I were talking baseball. Sometimes we'd go out for lunch, stay in the place for hours after we ate because we always talked so passionately about it, and sometimes pissed off casual eaters with our volume. I remember the last day I saw him on this earth, he was watching the Braves / Reds game on TBS, I think it was Father's Day 2005. He and I watched it together, since the Cubs were on in the evening and we couldn't watch that. The outcome wasn't the desired one, but nevertheless, it's a game I will never forget.
I spazz out when the Cubs screw something up, yes. I have a short fuse with this team. But I got that from him. He endured seventy-five years of losing, and his anger towards a loss, a bad trade, a poor performance by a player clearly rubbed off on me. I scream, I get pissed when things go wrong. But I do it because I got it from him, the passion, the love of the game. I remember in '98 when Brant Brown dropped the routine fly ball in left to prevent our Wild Card berth. I was doing basic first grade homework at the time next to him, and we both stood up and just flipped out. It was a BAD scene. We'd end up ranting about how awful the bullpen was (all the time), how big of a mistake Nomar Garciaparra was, how much Alex Gonzalez ruined our chances in the 2003 postseason (screw Bartman, it was Gonzo's fault).
Sox fans, don't give me too much flack for being a Cubs fan. Because of this, I take it on a very personal level.
He taught me everything I needed to know about the game, both historically and playing it as well. He taught me how to hit, catch, all that stuff. Every day we'd go into the backyard and play catch, sometimes go to Vitumn Park and hit. And for a guy in his seventies, he could HIT, and he had an arm on him, and he didn't go easy on me because I was ten years old. Let's face it, the guy was a monster.
Summer 2004 was a tremendous memory. My parents would work, so he'd come and pick up my sister and I (who at the time only lived three miles away), he'd drop off my sister with my grandma, and he and I would go to Dunkin' Donuts and the bank just to hang out and talk sports. After that, we'd go home, read the paper (all I'd read is the sports section), go get lunch, come back, and typically watch a Cubs game the rest of the afternoon, ranting and raving, depending on what was happening, of course.
Man did this guy have a sense of humor. He'd always tell strange jokes, always watch comedy shows, even questioned everyone's comedic ability on "Whose Line is it Anyway?" which was my favorite show at the time. He thought it was scripted. Certainly was a straight-shooter and told it like it was. And that's just a small example. He'd do politics, sports, television, anything. And it got humorous after awhile. He was definitely as old school as it got, but somehow managed to conform to modern society well enough to allow me to enjoy myself when I was with him. I remember one day he was having a fight with my grandma and left for awhile. He came home and when I asked where he was, he said he was "just getting a haircut." Funniest thing is, he DID get a haircut. Even though he was pissed and left the house for a few hours.
Funny thing is, according to my grandmother, he wasn't always like this. He drank, he got into arguments, stuff of that nature. He changed when I was born, which says a whole lot about what I've done for him. Shit, he smoked, but because of my asthma condition, he always had the courtesy to step outside, until he went cold turkey in 2000. Unlike some "grandparents" of mine who GAVE me my asthma condition. He did a lot for me, sometimes I regret that I could never fully return the favor for him, because I end up feeling as if I somehow took advantage of his kindness. That sense of remorse usually comes after the death of a loved one, right? He knows I'd have made up for all of that if I had the chance. If he just had a few more years on this earth, I'd have probably done things for him to return the favor. Sadly, I never had that chance.
I've been having dreams about him lately. He just randomly shows up in them, and the most bizarre thing is I KNOW he's passed on, even in the dream, but he's there, and I often wonder what he was doing there. In one dream, it was Christmas and the family was together, and I marveled at the fact that he was in my prescence but had no clue WHY he was there. It was a nice dream, because there were conversations just like old times. But it was just strange. Last night I had a dream I was watching the Cubs game in his kitchen with him, feeling the same sense of confusion as I did before. We were watching the Rangers (for whatever reason) beat the Cubs 14-1 in the third inning, and Ted Lilly get rocked (due to recent events in Cubs games, should I really be surprised?). He and I were screaming at how bad it was. Just like old times. Then I woke up, wondering why I'm having these dreams.
It's simple. I miss the guy. When my dad wasn't there for me in the past, who was? My grandfather. Since his passing three years ago, my uncle took over his role. No, you can NEVER fill that guy's shoes, no matter who it is. But he's doing better than anyone could doing so. We go places, we do fun stuff, we just get out and enjoy ourselves, something I can't do around here. Shit, he and I are going up to Milwaukee later in July to see the Brewers. That's just a tiny example of what he's done for me these past three years, and I couldn't be more thankful that he's done that.
But my grandfather was the ultimate, and he's really missed. But, it's the cycle of life, these things happen. I get mellow around this time of the year because I remember what happened three years ago. If he just had a few more years on this earth, we'd be able to talk about the Cubs in first, the latest Cubs losses, the Presidential race (I'm more into politics than I was in 2004), how corrupt Chicago and Illinois government is, stuff like that. And I'd be able to return the favor of the things he'd done for me. Regardless, he knows I would have, and that's all that matters. A few of my friends who knew him will tell you how outstanding of a guy he was, and know I'm not just talkin' bullshit here.
I'll see him again someday, definitely. I just hope it's later rather than sooner. I want to get the most out of my life while I have it and make the same impact on any children I have that he had on me. He always supported my decision to want to be a sports journalist and always wanted me to take advantage of it, which is why I intend on living that dream. For him. And he'll get a special nod from me someday in an article in the future.
Grandpa's probably having a Budweiser with Harry Caray right now, watching me as I type this. If that's the case, here's to ya! I miss you, and we'll meet again someday, whether it be in my dreams or in the big house in the sky. I just know it'll be a moment I'll always remember.
RIP Dan Biskoski (June 14, 1930 - June 22, 2005). We love you and miss you down here!
-Zach
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
"Fireworks and Lightning in Bizarro World" - June 21, 2008
Fireworks and lightning, to me, are very thought-provoking. Mystical, majestic explosions of light in the evening sky. How does that not make you think about things? It should make one think about life, love, good times, the future, among other lesser important things. People are afraid of lightning, I find it to be stunning, like art unfolding right in front of your very eyes. Which may explain why I have such an appreciation for each. I'm always very "zoned in," if you will, during a display of each.
It's been a month and a few days since I last gave a full update on life, and wow, it's been a roller coaster since then. For a change, mostly positive things. I mean, how can one complain? School's finished, summer's here, my Cubs are STILL winning, I've accomplished a lot. Things have just been solid lately. Might as well start from the beginning, which as I reflect, seems like SO long ago!
On May 24th, my father and I took a trip to Peoria to see the Chiefs (Cubs A affiliate). Nice little metropolitan town, no doubt. The hotel we stayed in was shit, though, very poor decision. The game was fun, nice stadium, can't complain. Except security (typical Cubs security) who, as always, wouldn't seem to follow their own rules with getting a Ryne Sandberg autograph, thus causing disappointment in many fans there, including myself. Ah well, shit happens, right?
Regardless of that, the game was cool, nice weather, no complaints. Nice win by the team and a cool fireworks display at the end. Next day we came home, and I guess the breakfast at the hotel gave me food poisoning. Sweet, right? I was sick all night (Marcella would know, since I was on the phone with her). It was just miserable. Tried to sleep, didn't get much of it. Luckily, next day was Memorial Day and I had off of school, so I had a day to recover. But it was just an awful night.
So we did the last couple days of school (see my blog reflecting Sophomore year for highlights), and it was such a relief on the 28th to just get the hell out of there and relax for a change. On that weekend, I went to Laura's 16th birthday party, which was a lot of fun and a very nice getaway for an evening. Then my sister's graduation dinner was the next day, and I actually got a nice surprise from my uncle that day. He gave me baseball tickets to the Cubs game on June 10th, Brewers games on July 25th and 26th, and to the Chiefs / Cougars game at Wrigley on July 29th. Definitely excited for all of those.
The next week was more of a relaxing period for me. Spent a lot of time sleeping, playing video games, stuff that calmed me down. And stuff that I needed, no less. I was basically free to rest until that Saturday (June 7th), and I took advantage of that time, 100%.
On that Saturday, the weather was nuts. Rainy, tornado warnings all over Fox (missed Seinfeld, thanks a lot, Mark Strehl). Though surprisingly, Lockport didn't seem to be a huge target for that. Regardless, it was strange, but this was the day I'd leave for Dale's and spend a week in Chicago! So after some Burger King and some Simpsons on DVD, I waited outside for about a half hour and was finally picked up. Dale, his family, and I listened to the Sox destroy Minnesota on the radio and pulled up into his house. A stay I had planned for five months had finally arrived!
That night, we didn't do much. He was exhausted, as was I, it was hot as Hell in his house. Not much inspiration to do much. We basically unpacked, watched Family Guy, and went to sleep. The next day, I woke up early because Dale was sleeping like a sick horse, moving around and making noises and all that crazy bullshit. I was up at 6:30, he wouldn't get up until 9. So I went on his computer awhile. We filmed breakfast (which we'd been dying to do for a long time, don't ask why), made some thrusting videos, went to Arby's and came back. Speaking of Bizarro World, funny thing happened on the way back. We were walking down Archer, and the first old friend of mine I run into to is, ironically, Lauren Cross, who just so happens to go to Lockport, for those who don't know. Of all the people I end up seeing, it's someone who doesn't even live there anymore, casually walking into Obbie's. Funny, and strange. Bizarre.
Later that evening we would see Marcella (who was so nice to see after such a long time), had Obbie's for dinner (another ironic, bizarre coincidence), sat outside and listened to Rush's A Show of Hands album amidst the lightning of the evening, went inside and Dale tells me he had to go to bed early because of band at 6:30 in the morning. So that left the house all to myself, and considering it isn't even mine, I was clutching at straws to find something to do. I found myself playing Nintendo 64 and watching a Rush DVD before I finally called it a night.
The next day, June 9th, was the day of the Rush concert with Ray! It was FINALLY here, after nine months of waiting. That day was interesting, I was able to sleep until 10:30 because the sick horse had to wake up early and wasn't home to keep me up (haha). I ate pancakes for breakfast, played Super Mario 64 for about an hour until he got home. From there, we walked to Burger King in the rain (or approaching rain, whatever), which was a shit-ton of fun. After that, we returned to his house, the rain picked up, but we did some yardwork and mowed the lawn in the rain. Fun stuff, actually. From there, all we had to do was sit and wait for Ray to come get us and we were on our way to the Rush show!
There's a blog on the show itself, I'm not gonna rehash everything. I will say, however, that it was the best show I'd ever seen in my life. Bar none. Want to know more? Read the other damn blog :)
The trip home was fun, crankin' Different Stages out, windows open, singing all the songs as loud as we could on the outskirts of a dangerous Chicago neighborhood. Fun stuff! Regardless, we returned home at 11:45, I had a cool shirt and a program, said goodbye to Ray, went back in the house, Band Boy had to go to sleep at 1, so I spent about an hour and a half on the phone with Emma that night while I was alone, which was nice. I went to sleep about 3 in the morning, ending possibly the best day of the whole damn week, perhaps the whole year so far.
Next morning I woke up at 10:30 again, went on the computer, typed my Rush blog, packed. Dale came home, and sadly we just had a little time for goodbyes because I left at 2, was going to the Cubs game later that evening with Sean and my uncle. So my stay at Dale's ended at 2:00 on June 10th, and it was awesome! After a quick stop at my uncle's house, us three were on our way to Wrigley Field.
The game was outstanding, Cubs won over the Braves 10-5. Ted Lilly pitched well (only mistake was a three-run homer in the first off former White Sox Third Baseman Greg Norton, which was so laughable). The Cubs offense touched up Tom Glavine early, and he left due to a shoulder injury. Bob Howry almost blew a 6-3 Cubs lead in the 8th by allowing two runs to bring Atlanta within one. The booing on him was outstanding! But nothing to worry about, as the next inning Geovany Soto hit a three-run shot into left field to put us ahead 10-5, and it was up to the bullpen to hold it down. What a game that was, the atmosphere there is absolutely unreal. I took a South Side Sox fan to the game and even HE was getting caught up in it. So much fun. I even bought one of those badass "Horry Kow!" shirts with Fukudome's name on the back. That'll be worth something in a few years!
Anyway, we returned back home around midnight, I showered and slept like a baby that night. My uncle woke me up at 8:30 the next morning, which is the norm from him, and we did breakfast followed by some yardwork (which gave me some nice pay in the end). Then we went out, did some stuff, and would return home for dinner, which would be Obbie's (again), then we'd watch the Cubs game and relax the rest of the evening. I went to sleep, woke up the next morning after one of the strangest dreams I'd ever had along with a splitting headache. I got over that, watched the Cubs throwback game with my grandma, just kinda relaxed the rest of the evening. When my uncle got home we watched Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which my Lakers pathetically lost. I went to bed, and the next morning was another transitional day.
After packing, I got Genesis' new "When In Rome" DVD finally, which I had a chance to watch Sunday and is absolutely brilliant. I made a few phone calls, and some Law & Order, Sean picked me up, as I would spend the weekend there. I dropped stuff off at his casa, we chilled, and got tickets to the Sox game against the Rockies that evening. The Sox ended up pulling out a victory, though the atmosphere was totally different. The same excitement just wasn't there, it was very different. And the booing of Scott Podsednik as a pinch runner was disgraceful, I thought. It's not like he WANTED to leave. Ah well, can't change people. Regardless, they won, Jenks closed it out, and there was a cool fireworks show at the end of the game. Very nice evening. When we returned back to his place, we played some Mario Kart 64 and basically went straight into bed, though spoke about life and such for about three hours before actually getting sleep.
The next day was relaxing, basically just watching baseball and playing Nintendo all day, just like old times. Though we did get up early to help a family friend of their's take off the tarp on their pool, and played some beastly basketball on one of those kiddie hoops. That was awesome. When we got back to his house we did some swimming in his pool, very refreshing. Then we played the N64, some Goldeneye, NBA Courtside (he owned me, Brent Barry, at the time of the Heat had 42 points at half time, haha), I owned him in some All Star Baseball 2000 (Cubs were winning over the Sox 14-6 after 3 innings, Gary Gaetti had three homers :D), and then we dominated as Argentina in FIFA World Cup Soccer '98. Just like old times. We'd have a beastly dinner, go upstairs and play MLB 2K8 on his PS3, and then we went to sleep.
Next day (June 15th) would be my last. We woke up at 9:30, I started to pack whilst playing FIFA again (one of the most addicting sports games ever), we went downstairs, I had a donut, I showered, and before you knew it, my uncle had picked me up. After a quick handshake with Sean, we said goodbye and I moved on to my uncle's for a couple hours, watching the Cubs beat the Blue Jays in Toronto, very nice game. Around 2 we left for my house, and when we got there, it marked and end to what very well could be considered one of the best weeks of my life. Bar none.
So, how have things been since? Topsy-turvey if you will (if that's how it's even spelled!). I've been forced to wake up at six in the morning for behind the wheel, and I feel like I'm wasting my time because it's so damn easy! What a joke. Too lazy to handle it during the year so they ruin two weeks of mine and other's summers with this bullshit. So my sleep schedule has been screwy because of that. I've also been sick, still recovering. Should've gone to a bonfire tonight but still wanted to have the house to myself and have time to totally get better. Smart choice, I think.
So that's that, however there are other broader subjects that need to be handled, one that always interests people is seemingly my love life. Well, I'm confused as shit, to be honest. Has not bee going well lately and I've just been in the dark. I know what I like and they (most) know who they are. I'm just not getting anywhere with any of them, and it gets frustrating at times. But, what can ya do? Outside my love life, I've also been working on getting a personal domain for blogs, and other things I do with my life. Definitely looking forward to that. I also got back to messing around with my baseball cards again, organizing them and such, then doing inventory. I only have half my cards in books, and that totals about 4,000 of them. Some of the cards are worth hundreds of dollars, so I probably have about $7,000 worth of baseball cards, if my estimate is correct. And like I said, that's not even HALF of what I have. I still have a shit-ton of old ones that need to be archived, probably more valuable than what I've got now. It's fun stuff! Plus, half the ones I have archived are probably Cubs and Sox cards, anyways :D
So what's next for Zach? I have no idea. I have zero plans. I'd KILL to go to one of the next four Cubs / Sox games coming up, but I need a miracle on that one. I've been writing and may end up recording with a friend of mine soon, if he wants too, of course. I have hardly any plans lined up, so if you want to book Zach for a day, just give him a jingle. OH! I got tickets to Cruefest on the 16th of July! Seventh row from the stage, center, how beastly is that! It's gonna be a fucking blast! Then there's the trip with my uncle to Milwaukee in late July. But before July 16th I have absolutely no plans. Ah well, gotta roll with whatever happens.
Anyway, wow, I like this blog. Turned out pretty well, depicts my life since May 18th pretty solidly, I'd say. Whew, was a pain in the ass to type though, took me some time. Regardless, I'm happy with it. I don't know what kind of filler blogs I have coming up, but those just come to me. So we'll see what happens, but for now, I'll say goodbye. Next life update comes sometime in July, so be ready!
-Zach
It's been a month and a few days since I last gave a full update on life, and wow, it's been a roller coaster since then. For a change, mostly positive things. I mean, how can one complain? School's finished, summer's here, my Cubs are STILL winning, I've accomplished a lot. Things have just been solid lately. Might as well start from the beginning, which as I reflect, seems like SO long ago!
On May 24th, my father and I took a trip to Peoria to see the Chiefs (Cubs A affiliate). Nice little metropolitan town, no doubt. The hotel we stayed in was shit, though, very poor decision. The game was fun, nice stadium, can't complain. Except security (typical Cubs security) who, as always, wouldn't seem to follow their own rules with getting a Ryne Sandberg autograph, thus causing disappointment in many fans there, including myself. Ah well, shit happens, right?
Regardless of that, the game was cool, nice weather, no complaints. Nice win by the team and a cool fireworks display at the end. Next day we came home, and I guess the breakfast at the hotel gave me food poisoning. Sweet, right? I was sick all night (Marcella would know, since I was on the phone with her). It was just miserable. Tried to sleep, didn't get much of it. Luckily, next day was Memorial Day and I had off of school, so I had a day to recover. But it was just an awful night.
So we did the last couple days of school (see my blog reflecting Sophomore year for highlights), and it was such a relief on the 28th to just get the hell out of there and relax for a change. On that weekend, I went to Laura's 16th birthday party, which was a lot of fun and a very nice getaway for an evening. Then my sister's graduation dinner was the next day, and I actually got a nice surprise from my uncle that day. He gave me baseball tickets to the Cubs game on June 10th, Brewers games on July 25th and 26th, and to the Chiefs / Cougars game at Wrigley on July 29th. Definitely excited for all of those.
The next week was more of a relaxing period for me. Spent a lot of time sleeping, playing video games, stuff that calmed me down. And stuff that I needed, no less. I was basically free to rest until that Saturday (June 7th), and I took advantage of that time, 100%.
On that Saturday, the weather was nuts. Rainy, tornado warnings all over Fox (missed Seinfeld, thanks a lot, Mark Strehl). Though surprisingly, Lockport didn't seem to be a huge target for that. Regardless, it was strange, but this was the day I'd leave for Dale's and spend a week in Chicago! So after some Burger King and some Simpsons on DVD, I waited outside for about a half hour and was finally picked up. Dale, his family, and I listened to the Sox destroy Minnesota on the radio and pulled up into his house. A stay I had planned for five months had finally arrived!
That night, we didn't do much. He was exhausted, as was I, it was hot as Hell in his house. Not much inspiration to do much. We basically unpacked, watched Family Guy, and went to sleep. The next day, I woke up early because Dale was sleeping like a sick horse, moving around and making noises and all that crazy bullshit. I was up at 6:30, he wouldn't get up until 9. So I went on his computer awhile. We filmed breakfast (which we'd been dying to do for a long time, don't ask why), made some thrusting videos, went to Arby's and came back. Speaking of Bizarro World, funny thing happened on the way back. We were walking down Archer, and the first old friend of mine I run into to is, ironically, Lauren Cross, who just so happens to go to Lockport, for those who don't know. Of all the people I end up seeing, it's someone who doesn't even live there anymore, casually walking into Obbie's. Funny, and strange. Bizarre.
Later that evening we would see Marcella (who was so nice to see after such a long time), had Obbie's for dinner (another ironic, bizarre coincidence), sat outside and listened to Rush's A Show of Hands album amidst the lightning of the evening, went inside and Dale tells me he had to go to bed early because of band at 6:30 in the morning. So that left the house all to myself, and considering it isn't even mine, I was clutching at straws to find something to do. I found myself playing Nintendo 64 and watching a Rush DVD before I finally called it a night.
The next day, June 9th, was the day of the Rush concert with Ray! It was FINALLY here, after nine months of waiting. That day was interesting, I was able to sleep until 10:30 because the sick horse had to wake up early and wasn't home to keep me up (haha). I ate pancakes for breakfast, played Super Mario 64 for about an hour until he got home. From there, we walked to Burger King in the rain (or approaching rain, whatever), which was a shit-ton of fun. After that, we returned to his house, the rain picked up, but we did some yardwork and mowed the lawn in the rain. Fun stuff, actually. From there, all we had to do was sit and wait for Ray to come get us and we were on our way to the Rush show!
There's a blog on the show itself, I'm not gonna rehash everything. I will say, however, that it was the best show I'd ever seen in my life. Bar none. Want to know more? Read the other damn blog :)
The trip home was fun, crankin' Different Stages out, windows open, singing all the songs as loud as we could on the outskirts of a dangerous Chicago neighborhood. Fun stuff! Regardless, we returned home at 11:45, I had a cool shirt and a program, said goodbye to Ray, went back in the house, Band Boy had to go to sleep at 1, so I spent about an hour and a half on the phone with Emma that night while I was alone, which was nice. I went to sleep about 3 in the morning, ending possibly the best day of the whole damn week, perhaps the whole year so far.
Next morning I woke up at 10:30 again, went on the computer, typed my Rush blog, packed. Dale came home, and sadly we just had a little time for goodbyes because I left at 2, was going to the Cubs game later that evening with Sean and my uncle. So my stay at Dale's ended at 2:00 on June 10th, and it was awesome! After a quick stop at my uncle's house, us three were on our way to Wrigley Field.
The game was outstanding, Cubs won over the Braves 10-5. Ted Lilly pitched well (only mistake was a three-run homer in the first off former White Sox Third Baseman Greg Norton, which was so laughable). The Cubs offense touched up Tom Glavine early, and he left due to a shoulder injury. Bob Howry almost blew a 6-3 Cubs lead in the 8th by allowing two runs to bring Atlanta within one. The booing on him was outstanding! But nothing to worry about, as the next inning Geovany Soto hit a three-run shot into left field to put us ahead 10-5, and it was up to the bullpen to hold it down. What a game that was, the atmosphere there is absolutely unreal. I took a South Side Sox fan to the game and even HE was getting caught up in it. So much fun. I even bought one of those badass "Horry Kow!" shirts with Fukudome's name on the back. That'll be worth something in a few years!
Anyway, we returned back home around midnight, I showered and slept like a baby that night. My uncle woke me up at 8:30 the next morning, which is the norm from him, and we did breakfast followed by some yardwork (which gave me some nice pay in the end). Then we went out, did some stuff, and would return home for dinner, which would be Obbie's (again), then we'd watch the Cubs game and relax the rest of the evening. I went to sleep, woke up the next morning after one of the strangest dreams I'd ever had along with a splitting headache. I got over that, watched the Cubs throwback game with my grandma, just kinda relaxed the rest of the evening. When my uncle got home we watched Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which my Lakers pathetically lost. I went to bed, and the next morning was another transitional day.
After packing, I got Genesis' new "When In Rome" DVD finally, which I had a chance to watch Sunday and is absolutely brilliant. I made a few phone calls, and some Law & Order, Sean picked me up, as I would spend the weekend there. I dropped stuff off at his casa, we chilled, and got tickets to the Sox game against the Rockies that evening. The Sox ended up pulling out a victory, though the atmosphere was totally different. The same excitement just wasn't there, it was very different. And the booing of Scott Podsednik as a pinch runner was disgraceful, I thought. It's not like he WANTED to leave. Ah well, can't change people. Regardless, they won, Jenks closed it out, and there was a cool fireworks show at the end of the game. Very nice evening. When we returned back to his place, we played some Mario Kart 64 and basically went straight into bed, though spoke about life and such for about three hours before actually getting sleep.
The next day was relaxing, basically just watching baseball and playing Nintendo all day, just like old times. Though we did get up early to help a family friend of their's take off the tarp on their pool, and played some beastly basketball on one of those kiddie hoops. That was awesome. When we got back to his house we did some swimming in his pool, very refreshing. Then we played the N64, some Goldeneye, NBA Courtside (he owned me, Brent Barry, at the time of the Heat had 42 points at half time, haha), I owned him in some All Star Baseball 2000 (Cubs were winning over the Sox 14-6 after 3 innings, Gary Gaetti had three homers :D), and then we dominated as Argentina in FIFA World Cup Soccer '98. Just like old times. We'd have a beastly dinner, go upstairs and play MLB 2K8 on his PS3, and then we went to sleep.
Next day (June 15th) would be my last. We woke up at 9:30, I started to pack whilst playing FIFA again (one of the most addicting sports games ever), we went downstairs, I had a donut, I showered, and before you knew it, my uncle had picked me up. After a quick handshake with Sean, we said goodbye and I moved on to my uncle's for a couple hours, watching the Cubs beat the Blue Jays in Toronto, very nice game. Around 2 we left for my house, and when we got there, it marked and end to what very well could be considered one of the best weeks of my life. Bar none.
So, how have things been since? Topsy-turvey if you will (if that's how it's even spelled!). I've been forced to wake up at six in the morning for behind the wheel, and I feel like I'm wasting my time because it's so damn easy! What a joke. Too lazy to handle it during the year so they ruin two weeks of mine and other's summers with this bullshit. So my sleep schedule has been screwy because of that. I've also been sick, still recovering. Should've gone to a bonfire tonight but still wanted to have the house to myself and have time to totally get better. Smart choice, I think.
So that's that, however there are other broader subjects that need to be handled, one that always interests people is seemingly my love life. Well, I'm confused as shit, to be honest. Has not bee going well lately and I've just been in the dark. I know what I like and they (most) know who they are. I'm just not getting anywhere with any of them, and it gets frustrating at times. But, what can ya do? Outside my love life, I've also been working on getting a personal domain for blogs, and other things I do with my life. Definitely looking forward to that. I also got back to messing around with my baseball cards again, organizing them and such, then doing inventory. I only have half my cards in books, and that totals about 4,000 of them. Some of the cards are worth hundreds of dollars, so I probably have about $7,000 worth of baseball cards, if my estimate is correct. And like I said, that's not even HALF of what I have. I still have a shit-ton of old ones that need to be archived, probably more valuable than what I've got now. It's fun stuff! Plus, half the ones I have archived are probably Cubs and Sox cards, anyways :D
So what's next for Zach? I have no idea. I have zero plans. I'd KILL to go to one of the next four Cubs / Sox games coming up, but I need a miracle on that one. I've been writing and may end up recording with a friend of mine soon, if he wants too, of course. I have hardly any plans lined up, so if you want to book Zach for a day, just give him a jingle. OH! I got tickets to Cruefest on the 16th of July! Seventh row from the stage, center, how beastly is that! It's gonna be a fucking blast! Then there's the trip with my uncle to Milwaukee in late July. But before July 16th I have absolutely no plans. Ah well, gotta roll with whatever happens.
Anyway, wow, I like this blog. Turned out pretty well, depicts my life since May 18th pretty solidly, I'd say. Whew, was a pain in the ass to type though, took me some time. Regardless, I'm happy with it. I don't know what kind of filler blogs I have coming up, but those just come to me. So we'll see what happens, but for now, I'll say goodbye. Next life update comes sometime in July, so be ready!
-Zach
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
An Evening With Rush: Take Two! Review of June 9, 2008
Last night was the Rush show, and let me first say, there's a world of a difference between the last time I saw them (September 2007) to now. For the Tinley show last year, Dale and I had just started our Sophomore year and were already about three weeks in, it was sunny, late summer, gorgeous weather, seeing Rush for the first time at an outdoor venue. This time, Dale and I had just gotten out of school, it was cloudy and rainy, late spring, seeing Rush for the second time at an indoor venue. So, two very different scenarios should call for two very different evenings, eh?
Anywho, Dale and I brought our pal Ray along, huge Rush fan who was also kind enough to provide a ride. We stopped at a place called Moretti's near the venue for dinner, and at about 6:50 we arrived at the United Center. We scoped out our seats and after we found them, hustled to the swag lines so I could buy a shirt and a program. It was about 7:25 when all was said and done, and I ran to the bathroom to change my shirt and got back to the seats at exactly 7:30, when the band was supposed to come on.
The lights eventually went down at 7:45, with the adrenaline of a concert rushing through our veins like no one could ever believe. The intro video was the same, and it helped me realize how much I dislike "greatest hits fans." The whole video, the guys behind us kept saying "Start the damn show!" and "What are they a fuckin' comedy act now?" Annoyed the hell out of me. In the vid, Alex Lifeson says he has a dream about snakes, he calls for "honey" so he can talk to them about it, and Neil Peart wakes up next to him, thus instigating a scream of horrifying surprise. Following that, Geddy Lee is sitting in a room and Harry Satchel (also played by Geddy) and basically tells him to get off his ass and get on stage.
And they did. First song of the evening was the classic "Limelight," which was an immediate crowd pleaser. The band seemed very energetic as did the fans, and the sound was simply great where we were. It's an awesome way to start off a Rush show, no doubt. Second song was, as everyone by now should know my personal favorite Rush tune, "Digital Man." This one smoked, only this time I think I had a much greater appreciation for it than last time. The guys seemed to have a lot of fun with this one, and who could blame 'em? The crowd was lovin' it, and Rush has seemed like a band who enjoys playing deep cuts. It was also a serious highlight for me. Third song was "Ghost of a Chance," which seemed to me like somewhat of a momentum killer. I was anticipating it live, sadly it didn't really deliver. "Entre Nous," which was replaced by GOAC for this leg of the tour, seemed to be the better fit for that spot in the set.
Geddy would take a moment to say hello and introduce the next song, which would be a very emotional performance of "Mission," and after this would be the classic "Freewill." That song was a definite crowd pleaser, especially in Alex's shredding guitar solo when you seemingly couldn't calm the crowd down, and who can blame him? The guy has to be mid-50s, and the fact that he could still shred so gracefully, to me, is remarkable. Following this, Ged would introduce the next two songs as "new" ones, and the annoying fans behind us were saying "Well, time for ME to go take a shit!" laughing their asses off, while Dale, Ray, and I were stoked to hear these songs again. First one was "The Main Monkey Business," which was SO much better the second time around for some reason. Following that would be "The Larger Bowl," which also seemed to click better live in the environment it was in.
After a small string of Snakes & Arrows tracks, Geddy said we'd move on to some classics, and he wasn't lying. The first one was "Red Barchetta," which I will say right now was probably the best song of the night. So much energy in the band and the crowd, it was just outstanding. Such a perfect atmosphere for that song, and Neil even caught the stick on the toss, which made the crowd more rabid. Definitely better for the set than "Secret Touch" was last year. The next tune would be another new addition to the set, "The Trees," which replaced "Circumstances" from last year. This was a real momentum killer, and if I were the band I'd have alternated "Barchetta" and "Trees" around. Cool to hear live, but it didn't click with me. Following this would be two of my favorite songs from last year and probably this year, too. "Between the Wheels" was the first, a song which I really was hoping would be dropped because lately I've had a hard time getting into it. It didn't disappoint though, it was probably one of the most solid performances of the night. Just awesome. After this would be "Dreamline," with the stunning laser show and enormous energy by the band and fans. Following the song, Geddy would announce that they are no longer "spring chickens" and need to take a break, thus beginning the intermission.
In this contest, I believe it's safe to say that Chicago was the clear winner of the first set.
We would then set out at intermission, where I would go use the bathroom (which had probably the quickest line I've ever been in waiting), and Dale and Ray would go to a concession stand to buy some beverages. When I returned to the seats, they both were already there, both saying that so far, this show was better than Tinley. And I agreed. So we looked at the program, and before you know it, the lights go down again. Seemed to be a much shorter intermission from last time.
The intro video to the second set was different. Instead of Alex's "Plane of Dharma" video, we got a new one called "What's That Smell?" It featured Harry Satchel again, driving a truck and picking up Alex's Barbie dolls (which he humorously has as his "fan club" on stage), and then finding a guy with some chicken (a play on the chicken roasters Ged uses as amps). In the end, Jerry Stiller makes an appearance, which was nice to see due to the R30 vid.
After this, the band would break into "Far Cry," which seemed to translate so much better live this time around (seemingly all the S&A songs did). It was a nice way to say "Alright, we're back in business!" especially with the shot of pyro before the second chorus. After this would be "Workin' Them Angels," which is such an uplifting tune in concert, given a great place in the setlist. It was an awesome way to start off the second half of the show.
The string of Snakes & Arrows tunes would continue, same as Tinley, with "Armor & Sword," which seemed to work out so much better this time around. The band seemed so into the song, and while the fans didn't take so kindly to it, the guys and I really enjoyed it. Smokin' performance of the song. Following that would be the dreaded "Spindrift," which I really was not looking forward to and as I reflect, I still think it should've been dropped. Better than Tinley, but still nothing really enjoyable. Next would be "The Way the Wind Blows," which was pretty good, nice way to end the string of S&A songs. Powerful performance.
We now approach the Big Three, if you will, from this tour. The band explosively breaks into "Subdivisions," a crowd favorite that definitely got a positive reaction this time around (and featured Dale and I humorously shouting "SUBDIVISIONS!" at each other when that part came up). Next would be "Natural Science," a song I can garner so much more respect for this time around, and they delivered. What an awesome performance, they really delivered the goods. Following that would be "Witch Hunt," with the outstanding laser display and a generally solid performance. After this would be "Malignant Narcissism," which really didn't click for me. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MalNar, but being familiar with the set, you KNEW what was coming next, which spoils the fun, somewhat.
What's next you ask? Neil Peart's drum solo! And my God this guy does not disappoint. His solo was basically the same as Tinley, only the electronic part seemed to lack a little bit of energy. Regardless, what this guy is capable of doing is mind-blowing, and it was impressive. Of course the assholes behind us kept saying "I think he needs to turn back around" during the electric part, and saying "Eh, it was alright" at the end. I mean come on, this guy put on a godly display of musicianship, as usual. Following that was the most emotional version of "Hope" I'd ever seen, a beautiful acoustic piece by Mr. Alex Lifeson.
Now we move back to the songs, starting off the last third of the show with "The Spirit of Radio," clearly a crowd pleaser. Everyone was on their feet, clapping, singing, clearly enjoying this classic being performed in front of them. Next would be "2112: Overture / Temples of Syrinx," which replaced "Summertime Blues" from last year. The Overture was played with a ton of energy, the fans singing certain parts and shouting "hey!" towards the end everytime there was a break in the music. Then, after a pyro explosion, the lights dim to a mere spotlight on Geddy, and a haunting chorus of 18,000 fans sang "And the meek shall inherit the earth..." along with Ged. It was a staggeringly good performance by the guys, glad it was added. After that was the funny South Park intro with them playing "Tom Sawyer," which would lead up to...you guessed it, "Tom Sawyer." Very nice performance, something about this one dominated the last show's. Nice way to end the regular set.
Enocre time! The first song is "One Little Victory," a song I like but to me doesn't belong as the first encore song. Regardless, pretty good performance, better than Tinley's because to me it sounded a bit slowed down, which it needed because it sounded sloppy in Tinley. Next would be "A Passage to Bangkok," which was SO much better this time around. I couldn't get into it at Tinley like I did last night. After this would be the last song of the evening, the fan favorite instrumental, "YYZ." This ended the night in grand fashion, and after it was over, the band left and fans began filing out, although a video at the end captured Al's "Plane of Dharma" character saying goodbye instead of Harry Satchel like last year. It also featured a cameo by Jerry Stiller and a funny appearance by Neil.
Overall, the better show was Chicago, and I'm not saying that off the high of last night's show. Do I miss "Entre Nous" and "Circumstances?" Yes. But I like two of the new inclusions as well so it cancels out. The band seemed to have a lot more energy last night than they did at Tinley, and it's proof that Rush is an indoor band rather than outdoor. Worked very well last night. I went in saying it couldn't get better than Tinley. To my surprise, it was.
Sadly, until Rush tours again, I won't be seeing them for awhile. No more stops nearby. Oh well, I'm sure the next tour will be just as good, if not better (Ged's "hope to see you again sometime!" at the end provides some nice hope as a fan). But two shows on the Snakes & Arrows 2007/2008 World Tour with my best friend? I can't complain, that's very satisfying to me.
So we left the venue and basically walked back to the lot where our car was parked. People shouting "RUSH!" all over the place was definitely exciting, and the one guy who said "Bangkok! Pulling into Khatmandu, smoke rings fill the air!" was quite humorous. We left blasting Disc 2 of "Different Stages," jammin' to "Natural Science" in the lot, and cranking and singing "Test For Echo," "The Analog Kid," and "Freewill" as loud as possible on the way home, getting some interesting looks from pedestrians. At 11:45, Dale and I said goodbye to Ray, he drove off, and we went back in the house, ending our evening.
And a great evening it was, one which I documented very well on video and also on pictures, if you will. Great fuckin' show, guys. And to show the excitement of other fans, I think this quote speaks volumes:
"Witch Hunt. They played fuckin' Witch Hunt!"
Yes they sure did. And it was but one of the many highlights of the evening. Anyway, I'll have a full blog on my entire week here sometime next week, but for now, goodbye!
Rush N' Roll!
-Zach
Anywho, Dale and I brought our pal Ray along, huge Rush fan who was also kind enough to provide a ride. We stopped at a place called Moretti's near the venue for dinner, and at about 6:50 we arrived at the United Center. We scoped out our seats and after we found them, hustled to the swag lines so I could buy a shirt and a program. It was about 7:25 when all was said and done, and I ran to the bathroom to change my shirt and got back to the seats at exactly 7:30, when the band was supposed to come on.
The lights eventually went down at 7:45, with the adrenaline of a concert rushing through our veins like no one could ever believe. The intro video was the same, and it helped me realize how much I dislike "greatest hits fans." The whole video, the guys behind us kept saying "Start the damn show!" and "What are they a fuckin' comedy act now?" Annoyed the hell out of me. In the vid, Alex Lifeson says he has a dream about snakes, he calls for "honey" so he can talk to them about it, and Neil Peart wakes up next to him, thus instigating a scream of horrifying surprise. Following that, Geddy Lee is sitting in a room and Harry Satchel (also played by Geddy) and basically tells him to get off his ass and get on stage.
And they did. First song of the evening was the classic "Limelight," which was an immediate crowd pleaser. The band seemed very energetic as did the fans, and the sound was simply great where we were. It's an awesome way to start off a Rush show, no doubt. Second song was, as everyone by now should know my personal favorite Rush tune, "Digital Man." This one smoked, only this time I think I had a much greater appreciation for it than last time. The guys seemed to have a lot of fun with this one, and who could blame 'em? The crowd was lovin' it, and Rush has seemed like a band who enjoys playing deep cuts. It was also a serious highlight for me. Third song was "Ghost of a Chance," which seemed to me like somewhat of a momentum killer. I was anticipating it live, sadly it didn't really deliver. "Entre Nous," which was replaced by GOAC for this leg of the tour, seemed to be the better fit for that spot in the set.
Geddy would take a moment to say hello and introduce the next song, which would be a very emotional performance of "Mission," and after this would be the classic "Freewill." That song was a definite crowd pleaser, especially in Alex's shredding guitar solo when you seemingly couldn't calm the crowd down, and who can blame him? The guy has to be mid-50s, and the fact that he could still shred so gracefully, to me, is remarkable. Following this, Ged would introduce the next two songs as "new" ones, and the annoying fans behind us were saying "Well, time for ME to go take a shit!" laughing their asses off, while Dale, Ray, and I were stoked to hear these songs again. First one was "The Main Monkey Business," which was SO much better the second time around for some reason. Following that would be "The Larger Bowl," which also seemed to click better live in the environment it was in.
After a small string of Snakes & Arrows tracks, Geddy said we'd move on to some classics, and he wasn't lying. The first one was "Red Barchetta," which I will say right now was probably the best song of the night. So much energy in the band and the crowd, it was just outstanding. Such a perfect atmosphere for that song, and Neil even caught the stick on the toss, which made the crowd more rabid. Definitely better for the set than "Secret Touch" was last year. The next tune would be another new addition to the set, "The Trees," which replaced "Circumstances" from last year. This was a real momentum killer, and if I were the band I'd have alternated "Barchetta" and "Trees" around. Cool to hear live, but it didn't click with me. Following this would be two of my favorite songs from last year and probably this year, too. "Between the Wheels" was the first, a song which I really was hoping would be dropped because lately I've had a hard time getting into it. It didn't disappoint though, it was probably one of the most solid performances of the night. Just awesome. After this would be "Dreamline," with the stunning laser show and enormous energy by the band and fans. Following the song, Geddy would announce that they are no longer "spring chickens" and need to take a break, thus beginning the intermission.
In this contest, I believe it's safe to say that Chicago was the clear winner of the first set.
We would then set out at intermission, where I would go use the bathroom (which had probably the quickest line I've ever been in waiting), and Dale and Ray would go to a concession stand to buy some beverages. When I returned to the seats, they both were already there, both saying that so far, this show was better than Tinley. And I agreed. So we looked at the program, and before you know it, the lights go down again. Seemed to be a much shorter intermission from last time.
The intro video to the second set was different. Instead of Alex's "Plane of Dharma" video, we got a new one called "What's That Smell?" It featured Harry Satchel again, driving a truck and picking up Alex's Barbie dolls (which he humorously has as his "fan club" on stage), and then finding a guy with some chicken (a play on the chicken roasters Ged uses as amps). In the end, Jerry Stiller makes an appearance, which was nice to see due to the R30 vid.
After this, the band would break into "Far Cry," which seemed to translate so much better live this time around (seemingly all the S&A songs did). It was a nice way to say "Alright, we're back in business!" especially with the shot of pyro before the second chorus. After this would be "Workin' Them Angels," which is such an uplifting tune in concert, given a great place in the setlist. It was an awesome way to start off the second half of the show.
The string of Snakes & Arrows tunes would continue, same as Tinley, with "Armor & Sword," which seemed to work out so much better this time around. The band seemed so into the song, and while the fans didn't take so kindly to it, the guys and I really enjoyed it. Smokin' performance of the song. Following that would be the dreaded "Spindrift," which I really was not looking forward to and as I reflect, I still think it should've been dropped. Better than Tinley, but still nothing really enjoyable. Next would be "The Way the Wind Blows," which was pretty good, nice way to end the string of S&A songs. Powerful performance.
We now approach the Big Three, if you will, from this tour. The band explosively breaks into "Subdivisions," a crowd favorite that definitely got a positive reaction this time around (and featured Dale and I humorously shouting "SUBDIVISIONS!" at each other when that part came up). Next would be "Natural Science," a song I can garner so much more respect for this time around, and they delivered. What an awesome performance, they really delivered the goods. Following that would be "Witch Hunt," with the outstanding laser display and a generally solid performance. After this would be "Malignant Narcissism," which really didn't click for me. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MalNar, but being familiar with the set, you KNEW what was coming next, which spoils the fun, somewhat.
What's next you ask? Neil Peart's drum solo! And my God this guy does not disappoint. His solo was basically the same as Tinley, only the electronic part seemed to lack a little bit of energy. Regardless, what this guy is capable of doing is mind-blowing, and it was impressive. Of course the assholes behind us kept saying "I think he needs to turn back around" during the electric part, and saying "Eh, it was alright" at the end. I mean come on, this guy put on a godly display of musicianship, as usual. Following that was the most emotional version of "Hope" I'd ever seen, a beautiful acoustic piece by Mr. Alex Lifeson.
Now we move back to the songs, starting off the last third of the show with "The Spirit of Radio," clearly a crowd pleaser. Everyone was on their feet, clapping, singing, clearly enjoying this classic being performed in front of them. Next would be "2112: Overture / Temples of Syrinx," which replaced "Summertime Blues" from last year. The Overture was played with a ton of energy, the fans singing certain parts and shouting "hey!" towards the end everytime there was a break in the music. Then, after a pyro explosion, the lights dim to a mere spotlight on Geddy, and a haunting chorus of 18,000 fans sang "And the meek shall inherit the earth..." along with Ged. It was a staggeringly good performance by the guys, glad it was added. After that was the funny South Park intro with them playing "Tom Sawyer," which would lead up to...you guessed it, "Tom Sawyer." Very nice performance, something about this one dominated the last show's. Nice way to end the regular set.
Enocre time! The first song is "One Little Victory," a song I like but to me doesn't belong as the first encore song. Regardless, pretty good performance, better than Tinley's because to me it sounded a bit slowed down, which it needed because it sounded sloppy in Tinley. Next would be "A Passage to Bangkok," which was SO much better this time around. I couldn't get into it at Tinley like I did last night. After this would be the last song of the evening, the fan favorite instrumental, "YYZ." This ended the night in grand fashion, and after it was over, the band left and fans began filing out, although a video at the end captured Al's "Plane of Dharma" character saying goodbye instead of Harry Satchel like last year. It also featured a cameo by Jerry Stiller and a funny appearance by Neil.
Overall, the better show was Chicago, and I'm not saying that off the high of last night's show. Do I miss "Entre Nous" and "Circumstances?" Yes. But I like two of the new inclusions as well so it cancels out. The band seemed to have a lot more energy last night than they did at Tinley, and it's proof that Rush is an indoor band rather than outdoor. Worked very well last night. I went in saying it couldn't get better than Tinley. To my surprise, it was.
Sadly, until Rush tours again, I won't be seeing them for awhile. No more stops nearby. Oh well, I'm sure the next tour will be just as good, if not better (Ged's "hope to see you again sometime!" at the end provides some nice hope as a fan). But two shows on the Snakes & Arrows 2007/2008 World Tour with my best friend? I can't complain, that's very satisfying to me.
So we left the venue and basically walked back to the lot where our car was parked. People shouting "RUSH!" all over the place was definitely exciting, and the one guy who said "Bangkok! Pulling into Khatmandu, smoke rings fill the air!" was quite humorous. We left blasting Disc 2 of "Different Stages," jammin' to "Natural Science" in the lot, and cranking and singing "Test For Echo," "The Analog Kid," and "Freewill" as loud as possible on the way home, getting some interesting looks from pedestrians. At 11:45, Dale and I said goodbye to Ray, he drove off, and we went back in the house, ending our evening.
And a great evening it was, one which I documented very well on video and also on pictures, if you will. Great fuckin' show, guys. And to show the excitement of other fans, I think this quote speaks volumes:
"Witch Hunt. They played fuckin' Witch Hunt!"
Yes they sure did. And it was but one of the many highlights of the evening. Anyway, I'll have a full blog on my entire week here sometime next week, but for now, goodbye!
Rush N' Roll!
-Zach
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