I have a new blog-crush*! It used to be dooce, and I still adore her-- and subscribe to her RSS feed and read her the second I am notified of her post. However, I have found the dooce of the farm! Her name is Pioneer Woman, she has a huge following, and she is my new hero! Go check her out. She puts my writing to shame, so hopefully you'll be back after reading her.
*Blog-Crush defined (courtesy of Sizzle)
So, I've been asked what technically IS a Blog Crush? It'd likely include some, if not all, of the following:
A) You can't wait to read what they post next.
B) You want to be friends with them.
C) You think they are the cat's meow. Meow!
D) You might find them attractive- physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, whatever floats your boat.
E) If you met them in person, blushing might occur.
I've been reading, reading, reading her archives. I can't think that I would find her attractive, but I do love her writing. And I would not blush if I met her in person. But I'd offer to take her to lunch just to listen to some of her crazy tales!
She was a presenter at the BlogHer convention this past weekend in Chicago, which I wanted to attend, but life (and goats) got in the way. Maybe next time.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
I hear banjos...
You might be a redneck if...
... you haul your goat to the show in the back of your SUV.
... you don't have your sportscar parked in your garage because your chickens are housed inside (the garage, not the sportscar!)
... you have a clawfoot bathtub in your backyard.
... you have had livestock in your home.
... your son can play a pretty mean tune on the jaw harp.
... your animals' groceries cost more than your family's.
... your spouse has shooed away children or dogs in his underwear (with or without a weapon).
... someone has paid you for services with livestock.
... your technical term "rotational grazing" really consists of you moving fences to ensure that you don't have to mow your lawn.
I am screwed.
... you haul your goat to the show in the back of your SUV.
... you don't have your sportscar parked in your garage because your chickens are housed inside (the garage, not the sportscar!)
... you have a clawfoot bathtub in your backyard.
... you have had livestock in your home.
... your son can play a pretty mean tune on the jaw harp.
... your animals' groceries cost more than your family's.
... your spouse has shooed away children or dogs in his underwear (with or without a weapon).
... someone has paid you for services with livestock.
... your technical term "rotational grazing" really consists of you moving fences to ensure that you don't have to mow your lawn.
I am screwed.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
"Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss" or If You Were a Fly on Our Wall
B: (as he takes out a DVD that I have rented from Netflix) Oh, look! A movie about GAY people! That's novel!
Me: What do you have against gay people?
B: What do YOU have against STRAIGHT people?
(I like to rent movies that are recommended to me from Netflix, and many of the arty flicks have gay people in them.)
Well, we've been watching the flick for all of 10 seconds, and the first line is "I am a homosexual."
For the record, I have nothing against straight people.
Me: What do you have against gay people?
B: What do YOU have against STRAIGHT people?
(I like to rent movies that are recommended to me from Netflix, and many of the arty flicks have gay people in them.)
Well, we've been watching the flick for all of 10 seconds, and the first line is "I am a homosexual."
For the record, I have nothing against straight people.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
an exasperatin' day!!
Well, it was one of those crazy days. Goats needed to be checked in by 10. Piece of cake, right? Well, normally, but when you stay up too late and oversleep, it becomes difficult. I NEVER oversleep. Well, until it’s a big day—on which I don’t want to let my son down. So I roared out of bed at 8:00, in an attempt to get him to the fair by 9:30. Chores, packing, showers, and we were there by about 9:53. Before 10.
We stuffed our supplies and goat in the back of my SUV and headed down there like the Klampetts. Total newbies at this.
The superintendent was nice, and told him how to go about doing things, and he listened and acted accordingly. Cindi was behaving, and looked great, actually.
The judge must have thought so too, as she came away with the first blue ribbon and trophy: senior doe, first lactation. He noted that she was a bit on the overconditioned side (That means fat. Nobody in my barn or house is starving.). She is not fat at all, but she is too conditioned for a dairy goat. She looks skinny to me next to the boers.
So he thought she was great, and only remarked about her condition. OH, and the fact that her udder was soft. DUH! The boy’s STUPID MOTHER told him to milk her before the show!!! DUH DUH DUH! His mother should be beaten with a 2x4. I have no idea what I was thinking. So she shows up with a soft udder and the judge thinks she looks great, but wonders why she doesn’t have much milk. No problem, she still steals the blue.
Second show was the grand champion drive, where they show all of the 1-2 place goats in their respective classes. She took grand champion senior doe, beating all does in milk. That was phenomenal, as there were several large Saanens there that were in heavy milk. Some are reputed to give 4 gallons a day!!
Third class was “grand champion goat” and it was basically a class of all the winning goats. Basically a grand champion drive of all the grand champions. She walked away with that trophy and purple ribbon also!
Then it was on to junior showmanship. I was convinced that L would not do well, as he has not practiced showing much. He does spend a lot of time with his goat, and she trusts and adores him, but he does not work with her enough. I was proven wrong when he again took the purple ribbon and the trophy.
Lastly he had to participate in “master showman” which was basically the grand champion drive of showmanship. He just could not outshow the older kids—some 17 & 18 years old. But I was proud of him, as the judge gave him some pointers in the previous class, and he put all of them to use in this class. So it sank in.
So, he came home with 5 trophies, 3 purple ribbons and a blue ribbon. Woo hoo!
The greatest thing of all? He is always shocked that he wins. He looks like Miss America out there when he wins! He always looks at me with his mouth open, like he can’t believe it, and then he ALWAYS hugs his goat. : )
Tomorrow we go back for the milking competition. Once again, I think we may not win, but hell, I have been proven wrong this entire day. Go Cindi!
We stuffed our supplies and goat in the back of my SUV and headed down there like the Klampetts. Total newbies at this.
The superintendent was nice, and told him how to go about doing things, and he listened and acted accordingly. Cindi was behaving, and looked great, actually.
The judge must have thought so too, as she came away with the first blue ribbon and trophy: senior doe, first lactation. He noted that she was a bit on the overconditioned side (That means fat. Nobody in my barn or house is starving.). She is not fat at all, but she is too conditioned for a dairy goat. She looks skinny to me next to the boers.
So he thought she was great, and only remarked about her condition. OH, and the fact that her udder was soft. DUH! The boy’s STUPID MOTHER told him to milk her before the show!!! DUH DUH DUH! His mother should be beaten with a 2x4. I have no idea what I was thinking. So she shows up with a soft udder and the judge thinks she looks great, but wonders why she doesn’t have much milk. No problem, she still steals the blue.
Second show was the grand champion drive, where they show all of the 1-2 place goats in their respective classes. She took grand champion senior doe, beating all does in milk. That was phenomenal, as there were several large Saanens there that were in heavy milk. Some are reputed to give 4 gallons a day!!
Third class was “grand champion goat” and it was basically a class of all the winning goats. Basically a grand champion drive of all the grand champions. She walked away with that trophy and purple ribbon also!
Then it was on to junior showmanship. I was convinced that L would not do well, as he has not practiced showing much. He does spend a lot of time with his goat, and she trusts and adores him, but he does not work with her enough. I was proven wrong when he again took the purple ribbon and the trophy.
Lastly he had to participate in “master showman” which was basically the grand champion drive of showmanship. He just could not outshow the older kids—some 17 & 18 years old. But I was proud of him, as the judge gave him some pointers in the previous class, and he put all of them to use in this class. So it sank in.
So, he came home with 5 trophies, 3 purple ribbons and a blue ribbon. Woo hoo!
The greatest thing of all? He is always shocked that he wins. He looks like Miss America out there when he wins! He always looks at me with his mouth open, like he can’t believe it, and then he ALWAYS hugs his goat. : )
Tomorrow we go back for the milking competition. Once again, I think we may not win, but hell, I have been proven wrong this entire day. Go Cindi!
Monday, July 16, 2007
lazy
I must have a hearing problem. All of my life I have heard (what I thought was) folks referring to the “lazy days of summer.” You know, the Country Time Lemonade commercials with people sitting on their front porches in a swing with a glass of icy lemonade?
Well, it ain’t happening here. I think that I must have misheard. The expression is actually the “CRAZY days of summer.”
Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE summer. I adore the birds singing me awake every morning (even if it is a bit too early for my tastes). I love not having to take 5 minutes to dress myself before going out to do chores. I LIVE for spending breezy nights on the hammock.
However, the to-do lists become much longer in the summer, just because the days are longer and the weather is more cooperative. Pens need to be built, fences need to be shored up, there is much cleaning to do. Plus, there is the preparation for winter—baling hay and weatherproofing the barn.
Of course, there is still the inside work, even though we try and take it outside if we can. B built me a great clothesline, and we have enjoyed our line-dried clothes immensely (and our $50 electric bills!). But that does require more work. Not a huge amount more, but still more than popping it “next door” to the washer into the dryer and pushing the button.
And there are the paying jobs, which do not cease.
And the invitations to picnics, cookouts, zoos and attractions that are much more fun in the summer than in the winter.
For goats, it is show season, which not only means spending your weekends at the shows (which seem to always require hours of travel and overnight stays), but the weekends that you are not showing involve preparation for shows—hoof trimming, bathing, clipping, training to lead, etc. And there is the insane obsession with your goat’s condition, of course. For what it’s worth, we have decided not to show this year, with the exception of L showing his goat at the county 4H fair. Which happens to be coming up this Wednesday. So guess what we did this past weekend?
My days start at 5:30, except for the weekends, which (though they should actually start EARLIER so I could cram everything in) start at about 8:00, if I am staying home. Each morning I usually check my email and my calendar for the day, dress and head out to the barn at 6:00. I spend about 45 minutes in the barn, feeding, milking Cindi (nobody else is up that early to help), feeding, moving animals to the correct outside pens. We have the goats, of course, still have Joe Llama, and the horse and cats and geese. We now have the 2 Maremma dogs that we are training, and we are working them and ensuring that they are bonded with the goats, so we place goats accordingly. We also have the chickens, which need food and water 2x a day.
I finish that at about 6:45am, and hit the shower. Truthfully, I try to be on the road by 7:05 and most days do pretty well. No earrings or much makeup for me! No time! I am to work by 7:45, though I am supposed to be in by 7:30. I work until 3:00, or a little later in the summer. During the school year I leave promptly so I can be home to catch the bus when it gets here.
I get home about 3:45 or 4:00, and usually finish up any work that I brought home from work. Sometimes it’s a little or none, sometimes it takes me the entire evening. By 5:00, B and I are planning supper, and I try to take some time to tidy up the house. It doesn’t always get done, but this is the plan anyway.
He comes home with supper, and we fix it and eat, and are done by 7:00. Time to clean up from supper, and do anything else that needs doing—laundry or dishes or vaccuming.
We go out to the barn about 7:30 or 8:00, and usually take more time in the evenings. We love on the animals, discuss plans for moving pens, put our hands on them to make sure that they are healthy and sound, etc. We spend about an hour outside, usually. The kids help milk and also love on the animals.
We come in and the kids go to bed, and I am usually back to work in some way. Lately I have been working on websites for other people, so that consumes time. For whatever rreason, we seem to not be able to get to bed before 11:30.
Then it’s get up and do it all again.
However, it seems as though every day is some type of deviation from this. Today B worked late, and it’s 8:15 and he is just now coming home with supper. We’ve been collecting our things for the show, so nothing has been done around the house this afternoon. The kids and I spent some quality mom/kid time in the hammock. It was worth pushing everything back!
A good way to spend a Monday. Not a lazy day, but a few lazy moments.
Well, it ain’t happening here. I think that I must have misheard. The expression is actually the “CRAZY days of summer.”
Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE summer. I adore the birds singing me awake every morning (even if it is a bit too early for my tastes). I love not having to take 5 minutes to dress myself before going out to do chores. I LIVE for spending breezy nights on the hammock.
However, the to-do lists become much longer in the summer, just because the days are longer and the weather is more cooperative. Pens need to be built, fences need to be shored up, there is much cleaning to do. Plus, there is the preparation for winter—baling hay and weatherproofing the barn.
Of course, there is still the inside work, even though we try and take it outside if we can. B built me a great clothesline, and we have enjoyed our line-dried clothes immensely (and our $50 electric bills!). But that does require more work. Not a huge amount more, but still more than popping it “next door” to the washer into the dryer and pushing the button.
And there are the paying jobs, which do not cease.
And the invitations to picnics, cookouts, zoos and attractions that are much more fun in the summer than in the winter.
For goats, it is show season, which not only means spending your weekends at the shows (which seem to always require hours of travel and overnight stays), but the weekends that you are not showing involve preparation for shows—hoof trimming, bathing, clipping, training to lead, etc. And there is the insane obsession with your goat’s condition, of course. For what it’s worth, we have decided not to show this year, with the exception of L showing his goat at the county 4H fair. Which happens to be coming up this Wednesday. So guess what we did this past weekend?
My days start at 5:30, except for the weekends, which (though they should actually start EARLIER so I could cram everything in) start at about 8:00, if I am staying home. Each morning I usually check my email and my calendar for the day, dress and head out to the barn at 6:00. I spend about 45 minutes in the barn, feeding, milking Cindi (nobody else is up that early to help), feeding, moving animals to the correct outside pens. We have the goats, of course, still have Joe Llama, and the horse and cats and geese. We now have the 2 Maremma dogs that we are training, and we are working them and ensuring that they are bonded with the goats, so we place goats accordingly. We also have the chickens, which need food and water 2x a day.
I finish that at about 6:45am, and hit the shower. Truthfully, I try to be on the road by 7:05 and most days do pretty well. No earrings or much makeup for me! No time! I am to work by 7:45, though I am supposed to be in by 7:30. I work until 3:00, or a little later in the summer. During the school year I leave promptly so I can be home to catch the bus when it gets here.
I get home about 3:45 or 4:00, and usually finish up any work that I brought home from work. Sometimes it’s a little or none, sometimes it takes me the entire evening. By 5:00, B and I are planning supper, and I try to take some time to tidy up the house. It doesn’t always get done, but this is the plan anyway.
He comes home with supper, and we fix it and eat, and are done by 7:00. Time to clean up from supper, and do anything else that needs doing—laundry or dishes or vaccuming.
We go out to the barn about 7:30 or 8:00, and usually take more time in the evenings. We love on the animals, discuss plans for moving pens, put our hands on them to make sure that they are healthy and sound, etc. We spend about an hour outside, usually. The kids help milk and also love on the animals.
We come in and the kids go to bed, and I am usually back to work in some way. Lately I have been working on websites for other people, so that consumes time. For whatever rreason, we seem to not be able to get to bed before 11:30.
Then it’s get up and do it all again.
However, it seems as though every day is some type of deviation from this. Today B worked late, and it’s 8:15 and he is just now coming home with supper. We’ve been collecting our things for the show, so nothing has been done around the house this afternoon. The kids and I spent some quality mom/kid time in the hammock. It was worth pushing everything back!
A good way to spend a Monday. Not a lazy day, but a few lazy moments.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Don't Piss Off the Goat!
B and I lived in Chicago for years, and have eaten at the Billy Goat Tavern. We were more Sox fans than Cubs fans, but we knew about the curse. However, I had never heard the entire story until I read it on the restaurant's website:
(from http://www.billygoattavern.com)
The Curse of the Billy Goat
The Cubs were born the Chicago White Stockings in 1876, one of eight inaugural teams. The team would go on to win the first National league Championship and would become one of sports first dynasties by winning six of the first eleven championship titles (1876, 1880-82, 1885-86). The modern day "Cubs" would come into existence in 1903, and continue their success posting a record in wins in 1906 with 116 games won. This would also be their first pennant win as the "Cubs." The World Series title would be lost to their cross town rivals, the White Sox.
The following year, after a repeat pennant, they would go on to win their first World Series title in 1907. They returned the following year to win their second (and last) World Series becoming the first team in baseball to win back to back World Series Titles.
The Cubs continued their success capturing pennants in 1910, 1918 and an astounding four pennants in a ten year span (1929, 1932, 1935, 1938). The Cubs would play in the World Series in each of those years. Their final pennant would come in 1945, the year the Cubs faced the Detroit Tigers and a local Chicago saloon owner named William "Billy Goat" Sianis with his goat, Murphy.
From 1876 to 1945, The Chicago Cubs were one of the most successful baseball teams in the country. They would post a 5475-4324 (.559) record, with 51 winning seasons, 16 first place finishes, and 16 pennants and World Series appearances. They would win two World Series titles and six Championship titles in that span. This would come to a screeching halt in game four of the 1945 World Series. 1945- "Who Stinks Now?"
October 6th, a sad day in Cubs history. The Cubs entered game four of the World Series leading the Detroit Tigers 2 games to 1, and needing to win only two of the next four games played at Wrigley Field. A local Greek, William "Billy Goat" Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern and a Cubs fan, bought two tickets to Game four. Hoping to bring his team good luck he took his pet goat, Murphy, with him to the game. At the entrance to the park, the Andy Fran ushers stopped Billy Goat from entering saying that no animals are allowed in the park. Billy Goat, frustrated, appealed to the owner of the Cubs, P.K. Wrigley. Wrigley replied, "Let Billy in, but not the goat." Billy Goat asked, "Why not the goat?" Wrigley answered, "Because the goat stinks." According to legend, the goat and Billy were upset, so then Billy threw up his arms and exclaimed, "The Cubs ain't gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field." The Cubs were officially cursed. Subsequently, the Cubs lost game four, and the remaining series getting swept at home and from the World Series. Billy Goat promptly sent a telegram to P.K. Wrigley, stating, "Who stinks now?" For the next twenty years, throughout the remainder of Billy Goat's life the Cubs would finish each season at 5th place or lower, establishing a pattern that would reverse the Cubs luck and term the team "The Lovable Losers." The World Series would become a dream, and "wait 'til next year" would become the team's motto. From 1946 to 2003, the Cubs would post a 4250-4874 (.466) record, have only 15 winning seasons, finish in first place a mere 3 times, have no pennants, no World Series appearances let alone wins, with only four post season experiences (1984, 1989, 1998, 2003) resulting in a complete reversal of their fortunes. The Cubs were and are a cursed franchise.
1969- "Miracle" Mets or "Cursed" Cubs
In 1969, a year before he passed away, "Billy Goat" Sianis finally felt satisfied and claimed the curse is lifted, but the goat still was bitter. The Cubs began the season winning and coasted throughout the season into mid-August with a commanding first place lead. By the end of the season a surging "Miracle" Mets overtook the struggling "Cursed" Cubs to claim first place and knock the Cubs out of contention. This would become a pattern over the years.
1973- One limo, a red carpet, and a goat denied once again
In 1973, Billy Goat's nephew, Sam Sianis, with the help of Tribune columnist, Dave Condon, brought the goat to Wrigley in an attempt to lift the curse. The goat was escorted to Wrigley in a white limousine, and given a red carpet entrance to the park with a sign saying, "All is forgiven. Let me lead the Cubs to the pennant." The ushers at the entrance denied the goat "Socrates," a descendant of Murphy, yet again. The Cubs saw their mid-season first place lead whither away to another unsuccessful season.
1984- Eight outs away
The Tribune Company, new owners of the Cubs, finally invited the goat to opening day at Wrigley Field in an attempt to lift the curse. Sam Sianis and his goat finally walked the grass of Wrigley Field, and in an effort to lift the curse Sam raised his hat and said, "The curse is lifted." The Cubs won and won and won their way to their first post season game and division title in almost forty years. They continued their winning taking the first two games of the National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres. They just needed to win one of the next three games at San Diego to finally reach the World Series. Sam and his goat waited for the call to go along with the team and ensure the victory, only to be left behind in Chicago.
After losing games three and four in San Diego, the Cubs were leading the Padres 3-2 in the seventh inning, with only eight outs needed to win the game and the ace pitcher Rick Sutcliffe at the helm. An eerie chain of events would ensue. A routine ground ball was hit to first baseman, Leon Durham, which dribbled through his legs allowing the tying run to score. An overworked Rick Sutcliffe, who dominated game one, yielded the remaining three runs. The Padres swept the Cubs in San Diego, and swept the Cubs out of the series. The Cubs were still cursed.
1989- So Close, So Far
Hoping for a repeat of 1984, Sam Sianis and his goat again walked the field of Wrigley on opening day. The Cubs again won their way to first place and their second division title in five years. But the goat was left behind once again in the post season, where the Cubs lost to the San Francisco Giants four games to one.
1994- "Let the Goat in!"
The Cubs started the 1994 season horribly, losing twelve home games in a row. Their worst home start in history. In an effort to end this streak, Sam Sianis and his goat went to Wrigley Field only to be denied entrance yet again. Amidst the chant of "Let the Goat in!" amongst the Wrigley crowd, Hall of Famer, Ernie Banks helped by escorting Sam and his goat into Wrigley. The Cubs won the game 5-2, ending their worst home start ever. A lesson learned?
1998- Bring in the Wild Card
In 1998, the Cubs finished the season with 89 wins, tied with the San Francisco Giants for the Wild Card. During the Tiebreaking game on Sept. 28th, the Cubs brought in their Wild Card, Sam and his goat. The Cubs would go on to win the game 5-3 and went into the post season as a Wild Card. But once again Sam and his goat were left behind in Chicago, while the Cubs got swept in Atlanta, and swept out of the post season.
2003- Five outs away
The Cubs ended the 2003 season in a tight race with the Houston Astros. When the goat was sent to Houston in an effort to reverse the curse, Houston lost while the Cubs won their first division title in fourteen years. The Cubs were on a roll. They would go on to beat the Atlanta Braves, winning their first post season series in almost 100 years. In the National League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins, the Cubs took a quick 3 game lead needing only one more victory to go to the World Series for the first time in almost sixty years. In game six of the series, with the ace Mark Prior at the helm, the Cubs entered the eighth inning leading 3-0. Once again the goat was left behind, and an eerie chain of events would ensue. With only five outs needed to secure a victory, a pop foul seemingly in play was interfered with by a fan taking away a sure out. That was followed by the next play, when a routine ground ball was hit to the sure handed Alex Gonzalez only to be bobbled, taking away an inning ending double play. Ace pitcher, Mark Prior, overworked, yielded the tying and leading runs, until the Marlins left the eighth leading 8-3. The Marlins ended up winning the game, then swept the Cubs at home and swept them out of the playoffs yet again.
What does the future hold in store for the Cubs? Many attempts have been made to lift the curse, yet the goat still has not seen his baseball game. One moment in time, one horrible mistake in game four of the 1945 World Series, has yielded years of pain and anguish for Cubs fans abroad. The Chicago Cubs prior to the curse were one of the best teams in baseball, and after the curse have become the "Lovable Losers." If the Cubs are ever again in a situation, where they are outs away from the World Series, will the goat get the call? For the sake of the Cubs, "LET THE GOAT IN!"
(from http://www.billygoattavern.com)
The Curse of the Billy Goat
The Cubs were born the Chicago White Stockings in 1876, one of eight inaugural teams. The team would go on to win the first National league Championship and would become one of sports first dynasties by winning six of the first eleven championship titles (1876, 1880-82, 1885-86). The modern day "Cubs" would come into existence in 1903, and continue their success posting a record in wins in 1906 with 116 games won. This would also be their first pennant win as the "Cubs." The World Series title would be lost to their cross town rivals, the White Sox.
The following year, after a repeat pennant, they would go on to win their first World Series title in 1907. They returned the following year to win their second (and last) World Series becoming the first team in baseball to win back to back World Series Titles.
The Cubs continued their success capturing pennants in 1910, 1918 and an astounding four pennants in a ten year span (1929, 1932, 1935, 1938). The Cubs would play in the World Series in each of those years. Their final pennant would come in 1945, the year the Cubs faced the Detroit Tigers and a local Chicago saloon owner named William "Billy Goat" Sianis with his goat, Murphy.
From 1876 to 1945, The Chicago Cubs were one of the most successful baseball teams in the country. They would post a 5475-4324 (.559) record, with 51 winning seasons, 16 first place finishes, and 16 pennants and World Series appearances. They would win two World Series titles and six Championship titles in that span. This would come to a screeching halt in game four of the 1945 World Series. 1945- "Who Stinks Now?"
October 6th, a sad day in Cubs history. The Cubs entered game four of the World Series leading the Detroit Tigers 2 games to 1, and needing to win only two of the next four games played at Wrigley Field. A local Greek, William "Billy Goat" Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern and a Cubs fan, bought two tickets to Game four. Hoping to bring his team good luck he took his pet goat, Murphy, with him to the game. At the entrance to the park, the Andy Fran ushers stopped Billy Goat from entering saying that no animals are allowed in the park. Billy Goat, frustrated, appealed to the owner of the Cubs, P.K. Wrigley. Wrigley replied, "Let Billy in, but not the goat." Billy Goat asked, "Why not the goat?" Wrigley answered, "Because the goat stinks." According to legend, the goat and Billy were upset, so then Billy threw up his arms and exclaimed, "The Cubs ain't gonna win no more. The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field." The Cubs were officially cursed. Subsequently, the Cubs lost game four, and the remaining series getting swept at home and from the World Series. Billy Goat promptly sent a telegram to P.K. Wrigley, stating, "Who stinks now?" For the next twenty years, throughout the remainder of Billy Goat's life the Cubs would finish each season at 5th place or lower, establishing a pattern that would reverse the Cubs luck and term the team "The Lovable Losers." The World Series would become a dream, and "wait 'til next year" would become the team's motto. From 1946 to 2003, the Cubs would post a 4250-4874 (.466) record, have only 15 winning seasons, finish in first place a mere 3 times, have no pennants, no World Series appearances let alone wins, with only four post season experiences (1984, 1989, 1998, 2003) resulting in a complete reversal of their fortunes. The Cubs were and are a cursed franchise.
1969- "Miracle" Mets or "Cursed" Cubs
In 1969, a year before he passed away, "Billy Goat" Sianis finally felt satisfied and claimed the curse is lifted, but the goat still was bitter. The Cubs began the season winning and coasted throughout the season into mid-August with a commanding first place lead. By the end of the season a surging "Miracle" Mets overtook the struggling "Cursed" Cubs to claim first place and knock the Cubs out of contention. This would become a pattern over the years.
1973- One limo, a red carpet, and a goat denied once again
In 1973, Billy Goat's nephew, Sam Sianis, with the help of Tribune columnist, Dave Condon, brought the goat to Wrigley in an attempt to lift the curse. The goat was escorted to Wrigley in a white limousine, and given a red carpet entrance to the park with a sign saying, "All is forgiven. Let me lead the Cubs to the pennant." The ushers at the entrance denied the goat "Socrates," a descendant of Murphy, yet again. The Cubs saw their mid-season first place lead whither away to another unsuccessful season.
1984- Eight outs away
The Tribune Company, new owners of the Cubs, finally invited the goat to opening day at Wrigley Field in an attempt to lift the curse. Sam Sianis and his goat finally walked the grass of Wrigley Field, and in an effort to lift the curse Sam raised his hat and said, "The curse is lifted." The Cubs won and won and won their way to their first post season game and division title in almost forty years. They continued their winning taking the first two games of the National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres. They just needed to win one of the next three games at San Diego to finally reach the World Series. Sam and his goat waited for the call to go along with the team and ensure the victory, only to be left behind in Chicago.
After losing games three and four in San Diego, the Cubs were leading the Padres 3-2 in the seventh inning, with only eight outs needed to win the game and the ace pitcher Rick Sutcliffe at the helm. An eerie chain of events would ensue. A routine ground ball was hit to first baseman, Leon Durham, which dribbled through his legs allowing the tying run to score. An overworked Rick Sutcliffe, who dominated game one, yielded the remaining three runs. The Padres swept the Cubs in San Diego, and swept the Cubs out of the series. The Cubs were still cursed.
1989- So Close, So Far
Hoping for a repeat of 1984, Sam Sianis and his goat again walked the field of Wrigley on opening day. The Cubs again won their way to first place and their second division title in five years. But the goat was left behind once again in the post season, where the Cubs lost to the San Francisco Giants four games to one.
1994- "Let the Goat in!"
The Cubs started the 1994 season horribly, losing twelve home games in a row. Their worst home start in history. In an effort to end this streak, Sam Sianis and his goat went to Wrigley Field only to be denied entrance yet again. Amidst the chant of "Let the Goat in!" amongst the Wrigley crowd, Hall of Famer, Ernie Banks helped by escorting Sam and his goat into Wrigley. The Cubs won the game 5-2, ending their worst home start ever. A lesson learned?
1998- Bring in the Wild Card
In 1998, the Cubs finished the season with 89 wins, tied with the San Francisco Giants for the Wild Card. During the Tiebreaking game on Sept. 28th, the Cubs brought in their Wild Card, Sam and his goat. The Cubs would go on to win the game 5-3 and went into the post season as a Wild Card. But once again Sam and his goat were left behind in Chicago, while the Cubs got swept in Atlanta, and swept out of the post season.
2003- Five outs away
The Cubs ended the 2003 season in a tight race with the Houston Astros. When the goat was sent to Houston in an effort to reverse the curse, Houston lost while the Cubs won their first division title in fourteen years. The Cubs were on a roll. They would go on to beat the Atlanta Braves, winning their first post season series in almost 100 years. In the National League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins, the Cubs took a quick 3 game lead needing only one more victory to go to the World Series for the first time in almost sixty years. In game six of the series, with the ace Mark Prior at the helm, the Cubs entered the eighth inning leading 3-0. Once again the goat was left behind, and an eerie chain of events would ensue. With only five outs needed to secure a victory, a pop foul seemingly in play was interfered with by a fan taking away a sure out. That was followed by the next play, when a routine ground ball was hit to the sure handed Alex Gonzalez only to be bobbled, taking away an inning ending double play. Ace pitcher, Mark Prior, overworked, yielded the tying and leading runs, until the Marlins left the eighth leading 8-3. The Marlins ended up winning the game, then swept the Cubs at home and swept them out of the playoffs yet again.
What does the future hold in store for the Cubs? Many attempts have been made to lift the curse, yet the goat still has not seen his baseball game. One moment in time, one horrible mistake in game four of the 1945 World Series, has yielded years of pain and anguish for Cubs fans abroad. The Chicago Cubs prior to the curse were one of the best teams in baseball, and after the curse have become the "Lovable Losers." If the Cubs are ever again in a situation, where they are outs away from the World Series, will the goat get the call? For the sake of the Cubs, "LET THE GOAT IN!"
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
MK's Meme
In order for the black magic spell not to be cast upon MK, I am helping him out by playing along with his meme. His answers will be infinitely better than mine.
Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
Eight Facts:
1. Three of my friends in college (two of them suitemates) are on television. One is a relatively famous actress, and the other two are reporters/anchorwomen. I have some good blackmail on the actress... ; )
2. Once upon a time I had my nose pierced.
3. I used to teach English as a second language.
4. I was detained (but not arrested) by the police as a teenager for "parking."
5. I had my tonsils out when I was 18, and I brought them to school in a jar of formaldehyde.
6. I was a baton twirler for years, and used to lead the parades every holiday in my hometown.
7. I like snakes (not for pets, but just in general). I used to catch salamanders all the time when I was a child.
8. My first car was a 1967 Camaro. My dad hopped it up for me and put a corvette engine in it. It was fun! (My children will be getting Yugos or Fiats when they drive!)
Tag, you're it.
Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
Eight Facts:
1. Three of my friends in college (two of them suitemates) are on television. One is a relatively famous actress, and the other two are reporters/anchorwomen. I have some good blackmail on the actress... ; )
2. Once upon a time I had my nose pierced.
3. I used to teach English as a second language.
4. I was detained (but not arrested) by the police as a teenager for "parking."
5. I had my tonsils out when I was 18, and I brought them to school in a jar of formaldehyde.
6. I was a baton twirler for years, and used to lead the parades every holiday in my hometown.
7. I like snakes (not for pets, but just in general). I used to catch salamanders all the time when I was a child.
8. My first car was a 1967 Camaro. My dad hopped it up for me and put a corvette engine in it. It was fun! (My children will be getting Yugos or Fiats when they drive!)
Tag, you're it.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
some good news!
B went for a walk down by the creek this morning, and he said that the water was running crystal clear, and there was a small, clear pool in one section, and there were fish in it! That is fantastic news. We have seen crayfish and tadpoles there before, but it's great to know that even with all the farmland around us, that the pesticides are very minimal and life is good in the creek.
We worry about that, you know...
No haying today, still not cut. B says it's not as thick and tall as in previous years. While we are dreading the work, we'll dread it more if we're paying through the nose this winter for hay. So we need 2 cuttings. Cross your fingers.
We worry about that, you know...
No haying today, still not cut. B says it's not as thick and tall as in previous years. While we are dreading the work, we'll dread it more if we're paying through the nose this winter for hay. So we need 2 cuttings. Cross your fingers.
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