Bye Mad Dog

Well once again you're leaving Wrigleyville for greener pastures. Someday we know you'll be back as a hall of fame inductee hopefully wearing Cub blue.

You Mean Like Democrats...

Memorable Quotes from

The Ghost Breakers (1940)

Geoff Montgomery: It's worse than horrible because a zombie has no will of his own. You see them sometimes walking around blindly with dead eyes, following orders, not knowing what they do, not caring.

Larry Lawrence: You mean like Democrats?

Obligatory Post

Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win! (note that's four wins in a row against the Cardinals)

Mighty MO

My home for 3 years during college is being renovated this year. It seems kind of weird to think that they're going to be putting kitchens and laundry on each floor and that it will be air conditioned. I mean kids these days just don't have it as tough as we did. http://reslife.truman.edu/facilities/moplanning.stm

Quote of the Day

It's like being drunk.

What's wrong with being drunk?

Ask a glass of water.

Marvin the Paranoid VCR???

I bought a copy of the original BBC miniseries version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on VHS at a garage sale awhile back. Tonight I decided to fire up my good old VCR (had to search everywhere for the remote) and watch it. Apparently the VCR knew I wanted it to work so of course it didn't. All I got was sound. Now of course this ticked me off so I started pulling cables and trying all sorts of things. The really crazy part is that it all of a sudden just started working. Like I said I think the VCR is part Marvin.

Error Messages for Dummies...

Pascal's Wager

God is, or He is not. But to which side shall we incline? Reason can decide nothing here. There is an infinite chaos which separated us. A game is being played at the extremity of this infinite distance where heads or tails will turn up...Which will you choose then? Let us see. Since you must choose, let us see which interests you least. You have two things to lose, the true and the good; and two things to stake, your reason and your will, your knowledge and your happiness; and your nature has two things to shun, error and misery. Your reason is no more shocked in choosing one rather than the other, since you must of necessity choose. This is one point settled. But your happiness? Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us estimate these two chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is. -- Blaise Pascal

Duct Tape... That'll Fix It

Apparently NASA is in worse budget shape than previously thought. According to an article on Fox News today, astronauts are asking if they can fix their jet pack with duct tape. In other news, the name of the astronaut is purported to be MacGyver, but this has not be substantiated.

Lyrical Thought #24

Can't Buy Me Love -- The Beatles


Can't buy me love, love
Can't buy me love

I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel alright
I'll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel alright
'Cause I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you love me too
I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love, everybody tells me so
Can't buy me love, no no no, no

Say you don't need no diamond rings and I'll be satisfied
Tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can't buy
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love, everybody tells me so
Can't buy me love, no no no, no

Say you don't need no diamond rings and I'll be satisfied
Tell me that you want the kind of things that money just can't buy
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love, love,
(Can't buy me) love

Lyrical Thought #23

"Unsent"
-Alanis Morissette

dear matthew I like you a lot I realize you're in a relationship
with someone right now and I respect
that I would like you to know that if you're ever single
in the future and you want to come visit me in california
I would be open to spending time with you and finding
out how old you were when you wrote your first song

dear jonathan I liked you too much I used to be attracted to boys
who would lie to me and think solely about themselves and you
were plenty self-destructive for my taste at the time I used to say
the more tragic the better the truth is whenever I think of the early 90's
your face comes up with a vengeance like it was yesterday

dear terrance I love you muchly you've been nothing
but open hearted and emotionally available and supportive
and nurturing and consummately there for me I kept drawing you in
and pushing you away I remember how beautiful it was to fall asleep
on your couch and cry in front of you for the first time you
were the best platform from which to jump beyond myself what
was wrong with me

dear marcus you rocked my world you had a charismatic way
about you with the women and you got me
seriously thinking about spirituality and you wouldn't let me get away
with kicking my own ass but I could never really feel relaxed and looked out
for around you though and that stopped us from going any further
than we did and it's kinda too bad becasue we could've had much more fun

dear lou we learned so much I realize we won't be able to talk for some time
and I understand that as I do you
the long distance thing was the hardest and we did as well as we could
we were together during a very tumultuous time
in our lives I will always have your back and be curious about you
about your career about your whereabouts

Tempus Fugit, Memento Mori

Having my friend die this week has really caused me to think about life and death. My first real experience with dealing with death was with my Grandma and Grandpa Viola. I was in 8th grade when Grandma died and a few years older when Grandpa died. I was sad for sure, but it really didn't hit me like some of my older cousins. Unfortunately I didn't really have the opportunity to know my Grandparents when they were more like the vibrant people that their friends and my older relatives tell me stories about them. Fortunately I have been able to get to know my Grandparents on the Story side much better. I can't fathom what it will be like when they pass on some day. I know that it will come, but I don't really want to think about it.

Since HS I have really had two people die that really affected me. The first was Dave Lescynski, my Newman director's husband. He was a mentor for me while in college. To have a man like him so strong and healthy just die suddenly was a big shock. Maybe I've gotten more emotional as I've grown older, but I definitely cried at his funeral.

Nathan's service today was very moving. I was glad the lights were dim in the theater as his theater mates took turns singing songs that he had chosen. Sitting between my mom and my grade school principal I was definitely loosing it. It's hard to think that someone my age is already dead. Like the title says, Time Flies, Remember Death.

Lyrical Thought #22 (In Memory of Nathan Cooke)

Nathan was a fan of all musicals and theater, but this song in particular was one of his favorites.

Music of the Night
-- Andrew Lloyd Webber

PHANTOM:

Night-time sharpens,
heightens each sensation . . .
Darkness stirs and
wakes imagination . . .
Silently the senses
abandon their defences . . .

Slowly, gently
night unfurls its splendour . . .
Grasp it, sense it -
tremulous and tender . . .
Turn your face away
from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away
from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to
the music of the night . . .

Close your eyes
and surrender to your
darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts
of the life
you knew before!
Close your eyes,
let your spirit
start to soar!
And you'll live
as you've never
lived before . . .

Softly, deftly,
music shall surround you . . .
Feel it, hear it,
closing in around you . . .
Open up your mind,
let your fantasies unwind,
in this darkness which
you know you cannot fight -
the darkness of
the music of the night . . .

Let your mind
start a journey through a
strange new world!
Leave all thoughts
of the world
you knew before!
Let your soul
Take you where you
long to be !
Only then
can you belong
to me . . .

Floating, falling,
sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me
savour each sensation!
Let the dream begin,
let your darker side give in
to the power of the music that I write -
the power of the music of the night . . .

Fireworks and the Loonies Trying to Ban Them

Interesting article on Fox News about fireworks and the efforts to ban them. You can read about it here.

Curious

I know for the most part who on LJ is reading my blog, but for those anonymous people out there, leave a comment and let me know who you are.

Nathan Cooke 1980-2006

I just read the online news paper and saw that my friend Nathan from high school passed away on Tuesday at Barnes Jewish in St. Louis. I knew he had been sick for some time with lymphoma, but it's still a very big shock. The last time I saw him he was a waiter at TGIF's and was his normal energetic self. This isn't the first high school classmate to die, but it's definitely the closest. It really makes you wonder why.

I remember back in grade school Nathan declaring to us that he was going to work for Disney and be an animator. After graduation he did end up going to Disney and got a job in security. Someone noticed how much fun he was having along a parade route as security and helped him get into being Prince Charming. Later he did get his shot as an animator intern. It's some comfort that he did get his life dream shot.



Published Saturday, July 01, 2006 in the State Journal Register

Nathan Cooke

SHERMAN - Nathan A. Cooke, 26, of Sherman died Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born March 16, 1980, in Springfield, the son of Louis and Karole Lehmann Cooke.

Mr. Cooke had been the artistic director and producer for Muni First Night shows for the past three years and was most recently employed as the artistic director and producer for the Miss Illinois Pageant. He appeared in Hoogland Center for the Arts, Muni Opera, Theatre in the Park and Jacksonville Theater Guild productions. He had been an artistic director, scenic designer, set artist and set assistant for several productions.

Survivors: mother, Karole (husband, Pat) Bell of Springfield; grandfather, Keith Lehmann of Springfield; two sisters, Rhonda (husband, Chris) Carter of Williamsville and Rachelle (husband, Bob) Bartnick of St. Charles, Mo.; brother, Nicholas (wife, Mavis) Cooke of Springfield; six nieces and nephews; stepmother, Kathy Cooke of Springfield; two stepbrothers, Van and Brad Bell, both of Springfield; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Cremation was accorded by Cremation Tribute Center.

Services: 5 p.m. Monday, Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.

Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.