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Phish's Diamond Anniversary

When I was a kid, I remember the 25th Anniversary season of the Dallas Cowboys (we lived in Dallas at the time) and how they had diamonds on their shoulder pad logo.

I'm not expecting Fishman to don some cruelty-free studs on his dress when the band returns in March, but in honor of the band's diamond anniversary, Relix posted their original review of Phish on its Web site. Check it out here.

Mixed pheelings*

Earlier this week Phish announced that they will play three shows in Virginia’s legendary bush-league arena known as Hampton Coliseum come March 6, 7 and 8, 2009. These will be the first concerts by the band since the ‘farewell’ at Coventry, Vt., in August 2004.

From 1993 to 2004, I had the distinct pleasure of seeing this quartet over 140 times in places throughout the Northern Hemisphere – from Washington State to across the pond for a European tour in ’97. I lived and breathed Phish when they were on tour. I knew all the songs, all the words and all the jams. I knew all the inside jokes between the band and its audience. I was clued to Internet after shows to read the setlists. I knew what to expect and what not to expect.

I also knew how work the scene. I knew the shortcuts to the parking lots. I knew how to get good seats. I knew how to score a room at the close hotels. This list goes on…

And perhaps it’s this closeness—borderline obsession—that leaves me with mixed feelings about Phish’s return. No longer will I be able to see Phish through the lens of a recent college graduate with no girlfriend, a crappy job and no idea what he wants to do with his life. And no longer can I place the costs of seeing multiple shows as a priority.

Back in 1998, my idea of a vacation was sharing a dingy hotel room with a dozen friends at the Hampton Inn in the middle of November for two shows at Hampton. I spent vacations freezing my rear off in places like Boston and Worcester, Mass. waiting for friends to meet other friends. Now, my idea of a vacation is a tropical beach with my beautiful wife, day trips through rainforests, surfing lessons, etc.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, “I’ve done that.”

Don’t get me wrong, I still love Phish. I love Phish music – it’s my favorite and I’m pretty sure it always will be. I love reliving shows that I’ve seen when I listen to a live show recording.

I miss seeing good live music—music that makes we boogie like a wild man. I miss the reunion of friends as we converged in memorable settings like the Gorge, Red Rocks, Alpine, Deer Creek and MSG.

But on the other hand, I don’t miss the wasted kidz on tour, the Phishier-than-thou tourhead who demands their space in your seat, the clapping fratboy and puking teenager at his ‘first show.’ Yes, there are many, many more good people at Phish shows than bad. Unfortunately, I have a hard time tuning out the bad.

I also have reached a point in my life where I’m not very excited to applaud and pay money to a group of guys that I don’t really respect how they’ve lived their lives. The heavy drug use is well documented. The failed marriages, the ‘open’ marriages, the infidelity, the drunkenness, the arrests, the arrogance, etc. Call me a goody-goody if you like, but I’m trying to think of anyone I know besides a rock star who can call themselves successful in life and who has the reputation of some members of Phish (note: Mike Gordon seems to have been the straightest of the four despite his oddities and I really have no problems with him that I’m aware of).

I was one who rarely left a Phish show disappointed, but maybe I was partying just as hard as the rest of the scene and was too out of it to notice the flubs, missed transitions and botched solos. I listen to some shows from the 2000-2004 era and I don’t hear things worth paying to see. I’m confident that Phish will come back as sharp and rehearsed as ever. They know full well that they can’t take the stage and sound like crap.

So, I won’t go so far as to say “I won’t” see or do this or that, but I won’t be reliving my 20s on the lot or at some abandoned air force base. But I will hope for local shows and multi-night runs. I will try to go to New Year’s shows because frankly, all other New Year’s plans suck. I will relish the rendezvous of friends who are spread over the country.

Who knows? I must just go to Hampton anyway. I placed my ticket request on Thursday.

Here’s to a 3, 4 or 5-night run at Deer Creek this summer!!!

* I’ve always hated the use of “PH” for “F” but I had to do it.

Sarah, Meet Hamid.

And now, here is the actual conversation the media were not allowed access to between Gov. Sarah Palin and Afghani President Hamid Karzai.

Palin: "Wow, so you're right next to Russia too?!? It's like we're kindred spirits! What's it like to have so much foreign policy experience?"

Karzai: "Forget about that. Let's talk about you. I like your glasses. Where did you get them? Have you seen my fancy hats?"

Staffer: "OK Governor Palin, your 30 seconds are up. It's time to go flirt with Mr. Kissinger."

Does Palin wear 'mom jeans' ?

When I first heard about the Republican Party, er John McCain, giving the VP nod to Sarah Palin, I thought it was a silly tactic to lure women voters who have supported Hillary. I thought that sounded about as strategic as the Guiliani campaign. However, the more I learn about her, it appears that she has been selected mostly to appeal to the hard-core conservatives. It is a shrewd, strategeric move. It's a move to get conservatives to visit the polls in November who would otherwise stay home because McCain is too moderate for their tastes.

She is there to appeal to the "right to bear arms" crowd, the pro-lifers, abstinence-only sex education backers and the drill-for-more-oil-because-global-warming-doesn't-exist folks. You know, the people who think the real problems in this country are for them to be able to carry a gun, not access to health care, the economy, the environment, war, etc. The same people who believe they have the right to decide their morals for you. The same people who want you to butt out of Bristol Palin's life but were happy to make a national fiasco out of the life of Terry Schiavo a few years ago.

"She's a breath of fresh air," is a common phrase heard from convention floor. Yeah, that's because she doesn't wear mom jeans. She's a breath of fresh air for one reason and one reason only - because she's a woman. Can anyone honestly believe this would be the VP pick if the credentials were identical but she was a man?

But in the spirit of open-mindedness I can't wait to hear her speak tonight. I can't wait for the former Miss Wasilla to put her oratory skills on display and read the teleprompter like she's reporting hockey scores during her local sportscaster days!

Remember, Country First (isn't that a failed tag line for a country/western radio station?)

Quayle 2.0

John McCain has got to be kidding me. By choosing a relatively unknown VP running mate and definitely a candidate very short on experience, I'd give him negative points for his choice of Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin.

This choice smacks of picking a candidate solely to appear to certain voters segments and not as an adviser to the president. (By the way, to anyone who says the VP isn't important and is virtually powerless, let me remind you a guy named Dick Cheney.) Frankly, I'm offended the McCain campaign thinks it can win over conservative Democrat women who pulled for Hillary Clinton simply by picking a woman.

More troubling is that one of the main arguments McCain and others have used against Obama is his short experience--that he is untested and not fit to run the United States. Palin is beyond short on experience. She has been governor for approximately 20 months in one of the most backwards states of the union.

I've been saying this for a long time, but at 72-years-old, McCain's age worries me. He is one more temper-tantrum away from a heart attack and if he's elected, the former small-town beauty queen will be the President of the United States. In my opinion, this is a huge reason not to vote for the McCain/Palin ticket.

In the photo above, Palin does her best Katie Couric impersonation seated on a grizzly sofa.
(Photo by Stephen Nowers/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)

two races

OK, OK.... so my blog has once again been ignored. I've been poked at by some friends for not posting anything recently. It's sad and pathetic.

I know several people who have blogs about their families, political views, culinary adventures, religion, cupcakes, favorite sports teams, etc. They make regular posts. The honest truth is, sometimes nothing is happening on the lot. Sometimes nobody's on tour. Sometimes you just don't have time. Sometimes you just don't have anything to say.

Well I've got something to say. There is something happening on the lot. These days I'm following two things very closely: 1) The Presidential Race and 2) The Pennant Race. (I will watch the sausage race at the Milwaukee Brewers games too.)

In the Pennant Race, I'm clearly for the Chicago Cubs. With only a month left in the regular season, the Cubs have a great chance to take the best record in the National League into the post-season and make something special happen. As I have been doing all season long, I'll follow this team by watching and listening and I may comment about it here.

In the Presidential Race, I'm definitely in favorite of one candidate over the other. However, I want to hear everything they have to say. And I would love to hear it without the opposing views demonizing the other. I hear friends and family tell me things that they can't back up. I hear friends and family recite a part of a candidate's statement, but leave out the rest of the sentence.

I hear people say Barack Obama is arrogant -- I think these people mistake confidence for arrogance. To me arrogance is defined as somebody who thinks more of themselves than any other being, person or cause. Part of arrogance is ignorance. Ignoring what contrarians are saying, ignoring historical lessons, ignoring the facts and pressing on toward's their own cause above all else. Our current president is arrogant. I think deep down, George W. Bush loves this country more than anybody else who visits the lot, but his arrogance has misguided him. I believe he is a good person, but he has not listened to the contrarians, only his selfish family friends and advisers.

John McCain has consistently been labeled as a centrist during his 26 years in the Senate, a maverick, somebody willing to do things differently. But to win his nomination, he has been forced to abandon that centrist view to appease a very large voter base. This voter base puts social issues that are decided by one's own morals before everyone's well-being. This voter base is unwilling to give out a hand-out to somebody who needs help. They don't want their hard-earned money to be used to benefit anybody but themselves. Yet they support the notion that if you feed the wealthy, the benefits will trickle down to the needy.

I have watched a few of the speeches from the Democratic National Convention and I will watch the keynote speeches from Minnesota next week. I am currently replaying the 1-on-1 interviews of the candidates with Mark Warner of the Saddleback congregation on Youtube. I plan to watch the debates. I plan to listen to the candidates and not the pundits. I plan to listen to the plans and not the propaganda. I plan to do some real listening and observing, lest I be labeled arrogant myself.

eat a peach

I like fruit, all kinds really, but I definitely have my favorites. Every summer, around mid-July I'm reminded why a perfect peach is my absolute favorite. The soft, fuzzy skin. The intoxicating sweet aroma. The rich, orange flesh ready to melt like butter once you take a bite.

Did you know that the peach is derived from the rose? That's why when it's at its peak, it's sweet aroma is a tip that the juicy, soft flesh is ready. Yes, you should go by feel too and the peach should yield slightly to pressure, but aroma is my true test. (I put on my Whole Foods hat for that one when I used to write about fruits and vegetables all the time for sales flyer.)

Today, I enjoyed one of the finest peaches I've had this summer. It was so good, I had to write a bit about it.

On a related note, in addition to Shannen Doherty returning as Brenda Walsh on the CW Television Network's spin off update of Beverly Hills 90210, Joe E. Tata will reprise his role as Nat Bussichio, the sagely and fatherly owner of the local hangout - The Peach Pit.

p.s. - the Mackanaw peach from Seinfeld does not exist.

i'm yours

Sometimes, even I fall victim to the cheesiest and catchiest tunes on the radio. This liddle ditty by Jason Mraz has "song of the summer" written all over it. If you haven't heard it too, check out the video below.

All-Star Recap

So last night's MLB All-Star Game turned out to be a marathon. The game was a marathon at 15 innings with the American League outlasting the National League 4-3. That stinks because the winning league gets home field advantage in the World Series and obviously I'm hoping the Cubs can make it all the way to promised land. This was the longest (time-wise) Midsummer Classic and tied for the most innings played in an All-Star Game.

Couple of comments...
1. Fuggla - Florida Marlin Dan Uggla put on a fuggly display at second base for the NL. He had three errors!!! That's right. Three. He also went 0-4 at the plate including a few strikeouts. Thanks for helping out the NL Danny. I'm sorry, but if you are an All-Star, you DO NOT commit three errors.

2. Overkill - I'm pretty sure that when I go to church and sing about heaven, they don't have a jumbotron, a short porch or thousands of disrespecting Yankees fans beyond the real pearly gates. However, if you had to listen to Joe Buck yak about Yankee Stadium for hours, you would have thought God had given the engineers of the stadium instructions for building the ballpark like he did for Noah and the ark. I get it that dozens of legends have played there. I get it that its a landmark. I get it that it's a special place to many. But oh my goodness, shut up Joe!!! He kept going on, and on, and on... If the place is such a Cathedral, then why are they building a new one? (Answer: So they can increase capacity by almost 50% and make even more money.) I think my most intolerable moment was when Buck said, "And she won't let it go," referring to another extra inning. That prompted me to adjust my volume to zero.

3. False advertising - Dear Fox Sports, please do not say the game starts at 8:00 p.m. if there are going to be ridiculously long opening ceremonies for 45 minutes. Thank you, Joe Lotstar.

4. Opening ceremonies - OK, so seeing all the Hall of Famers get introduced before the game was cool, but why for this game? It's the 79th All-Star Game - not exactly a landmark number. Oh yeah, this is Yankee Stadium. Pardon my sacrilege.

5. Rudeness - Yankee fans proved their classlessness once again while booing every Red Sox player (plus AL/Red Sox manager Terry Francona) at nearly every opportunity. Funny how they didn't boo Francona for giving A-Rod and Jeter a special moment in the limelight by subbing for them in such a way that they'd get a standing ovation. Very classy move by Francona. On top of that, Red Sox pitcher Jonathon Papelbon apparently had a very bad taste in his mouth about his All-Star experience because of the pre-game parade down 6th Avenue. Yankee fans boo'd him and threw stuff at him and his pregnant wife. Give it a rest people, you're on the same team this week. Very classless moves by the fans.

6. Eat Crow - Sheryl Crow's version of The Star-Spangled Banner was one of the worst I've heard since Roseanne Barr. Was anybody in the stands singing along? No. Because even Yankee fans don't sing that off-key. If you'd like to hear how it should be done go here. (This is Carrie Underwood singing at the NFL playoffs a few years ago and among the best performances of the national anthem I've ever heard.)

7. Go Cubs Go - While the Cubs batters didn't fare so well at the plate (not many players did over the first 7 inningsagainst magnificent pitching from the AL staff), the Cubs pitchers delivered. Zambrano pitched shutout baseball in the 3rd and 4th innings including a pick-off. Ryan Dempster struck out the side in the 9th and reminiscent of his best closer performances. And Carlos Marmol delivered in the 13th with a couple of strikeouts. Hello, rest of the league - we also have Kerry Wood, Bob Howry and Rich Harden plus some other solid guys named Lilly, Eyre and Marquis.

Anyway, on to the second half of the season. Go Cubs!

Powerful lip fur

Hello my thirsty friends. Sorry it has been awhile since my last post. More on that another time...

The merits of one's hair as the source of one's uncanny talents go all the way back to Biblical times when the judge Samson killed about a 1,000 Philistines in the book of Judges. The source of his strength? His long hair. (One must wonder what the super-hairy Esau's special gift must have been. We can all blame Cain for murdering him and thwarting the proliferation of follicle lore.)

In baseball, facial hair goes hand-in-hand with player superstition. If a player starts growing a beard and gets hot, the beard stays. The latest major leaguer to reconfirm the performance-enhacing merits of hair is New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi. These days, Mr. Giambi is putting up solid power numbers (18 HR, .532 SLG) and just missed being named to the final roster spot for the 2008 All-Star Game. The source of his strength: A mustache. A very bushy mustache. A very 70s-era porn star mustache.

Perhaps the best explanation of Giambi's strength comes from the American Mustache Institute (AMI). Aaron Perlut, executive director of the AMI notes that "... Giambi's powerful lip fur ... signifies great intellect, good looks, and the ability to stare down the most power of martial arts gurus." Also, check out this fabulous interview with Mr. Perlut from ESPN2.

And while we're at it, let's hear it for Walt Frazier and Keith Hernandez for helping out Emmit Smith with Just For Men hair color. Though his 'stache' WAS trash - he's now 'back in the game.' Could his Dancing With the Stars win be connected to his facial hair? Didn't fellow Dancing champ Apollo Anton Ono have a little soul patch too? There must be something to it.

white soul man meets master of catchy choruses

Check out this article from the LA Times. I have Hall & Oates on my iPod, do you?



One could argue their success would not have been as widespread if Oates had never sported his famed 'stache.

stay thirsty my friends

primary concern

the funny pages

It's difficult for me to decide which of the following stories made me laugh most today in The Indianapolis Star.

Here are the contestants:
1. Andre Carson holds 'news conference' about the tax stimulus checks. A news conference to talk about something that was implemented when he wasn't even in office. In fact, his late grandmother wasn't even around to vote on it either. When asked what his constituents should do with the stimulus he said, "I'm not a financial advisor." If you can vote in Indiana's 7th congressional district on May 6 - PLEASE vote for somebody other than Carson.

2. Bill Clinton speaks to Carmel High School, noting that "'Hillary believes America should look the way you look today,' he said. 'Despite race, gender, age, religion, we are all here together.' Diversity and the chance for new opportunities are what make Carmel High School so exceptional, he said."

One funny part of this is the picture of all the white kids clapping with a few Asian-American students thrown in for 'diversity.' Perhaps the funniest part is an online comment from a poster who writes (and I'm paraphrasing) "...the only time the words Carmel and diverse should be used in the same sentence is when the phrase is not is sandwiched in between."

3. And finally, from the Lifestyle section is about a letter to Annie's Mailbox from a mother who wonders if she should tell her husband that their daughter got a boob job. Dad is paying for daughter's wedding because she 'has no money.' Mom is afraid Dad will be mad and embarrassed when the buxum bride shows up in her strapless wedding gown in which 'everything is on display.' Man, where are the Wedding Crashers when you need them?

dan rather, eat your heart out

So I'm minding my own business at Hubbard & Cravens coffee shop today and all of the sudden a crew from CBS News shows up to do some interviews about Indiana's upcoming primary election on May 6. Yes, Joe Lotstar might be on the evening news broadcasting nationwide. They interviewed me and a few other patrons.

I've done enough media relations to realize that I may not make the program and that what I have to say may consist of 10-15 seconds of babble. But who knows ... can't you just see Katie Couric and I on camera together?

So set the TiVo and actually witness how people who watch the 6:30 evening news get their information. Pretend you're 80 years old, go to the cafeteria for the early bird discount, nestle into your evening slippers, and keep an eye out for my 15 seconds of fame.

POW-17

I find it interesting that two movies came out today about 'prisoners of war' related to the existing conflict against terrorism. One is a documentary of sorts titled Standard Operating Procedure. This documentary of the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib should not be confused with journalism, reminds Mahnohla Dargis of The New York Times in her review. The scenes from the prison are (sensationalized) reenactments -- plus, the interviews with the players, such as the infamous Lynndie England, still don't reflect the entirety of the story.

What's really makes things interesting, no humorous, is that the other movie is Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay. After reading A.O. Scott's Times review, I'm definitely interested in this stupid humor comedy. Guantanamo Bay is so famous it's infamous for purported torture techniques, yet with excellent medical benefits according to Michael Moore's Sicko.



I never went to White Castle with Harold and Kumar. However, if I had the opportunity over some sliders, the topic of conversation would be how strange yet wonderful it is to live in a country where we can freely watch movies that expose, mock, mimic, criticize, and/or support serious issues affecting our country and terrorism. Even more mind-boggling is being able to do so while it's still happening.

el dia del mundo

I personally believe you have to live under a rock to not know that using compact florescent lighting is more cost-effective and uses less energy than incandescent bulbs. So when the newspapers, blogs and web sites list that practice among their green tips for Earth Day, pardon my scoff. Duh?!

Today the Indianapolis Star talks about a couple major construction projects in the area and how eco-friendly they are/are not. The article says the the design of Lucas Oil Stadium doesn't incorporate many green practices because the "...design was drawn up in 2004, before earth-friendly features drew much attention here."

Wrong answer - they didn't incorporate it because they don't care and don't want to deal with any upfront cost. The reality is the green building movement has been gaining momentum since the early 1980s. I know, I've researched it and written about it here.

There is no amount of renewable, wind-driven energy spouting out their mouths that can convince me that professional architects, engineers and construction managers didn't know enough about building green in 2004 and they decided not to do it because Hoosiers were not attune to it. They must be living under the same rock as the people who buy incandescent bulbs for $0.63 and replace them every few weeks and marvel at their electric bill.

This is all about initial costs to the taxpayer and their inability to sell benefits. Instead, this $715 million project will cost millions more to operate per year than if green practices had been considered back in the stone ages of 2004.

Since there are too many idiots out there making the wrong decisions, my only advice is to do what you can personally change to live more green, conserve energy and protect the planet. You know what those things are. I know you do because I've been to your house and it's not a rock.

By the way - Happy Earth Day!

sue city

Surely you were expecting the obligatory 420 post yesterday here on the Lot, but alas there were no real celebrations worth noting except another sweep of the Pirates by the hot-hitting Cubbies. However, 420 has become an easy way for me to remember my Aunt Sue's birthday which is today on 4/21.

My Aunt Sue turns 66 today. She is the second of four children to Grandma and Grandpa Puckett (my dad is the youngest and only boy). Aunt Sue has always been the best of the aunts to everybody in the family and its never more evident than on Christmas day when she rakes it in from every cousin, 1st, 2nd, nephew, niece, etc.

Aunt Sue (my dad calls her Sue Sue City Sue City Sue Sue) loves IU basketball and I remember when she drove me to Bob Knight basketball camp after my 8th grade year. She loves to read and works a second job as housekeeper at our church building, picking up all the dropped candy and wrappers of toddlers. She prefers Dancing With the Stars to American Idol and she recently took some fencing classes, kicking off a new found love of exercising. She's famous for her peanut butter cookies and has been a vegetarian long before it was cool.

Here's to Aunt Sue - happy birthday!

undisturbed

Apparently there was an 5.2 magnitude earthquake around 5:30 this morning in southern Illinois. The quake could be felt 450 miles away including here in Indy. However, my dog and I slept right through it... undisturbed. Puddy and I are bachelors this weekend as Cupcake Gal is in Tennessee with a gaggle of women preying on the outlet mall and the fried food delicacies of the Smokey Mountains.

When I was thinking of a title for this post I wanted to use Sleep Through the Static by Jack Johnson. If you like his music, I highly recommend his new album - take a listen. I simply love the lyrics as they are partly about supporting peace and criticizing the war in Iraq. The second half of the song seems to ridicule those who ignore the impact environmental stewardship can have on people around the world. I love lyrics like "wool sunglasses" in exchange for the expression "pulling the wool over your eyes." My other favorite line: "Who needs please when we've got guns?"

playoffs! playoffs?!?

The NBA wrapped up its regular season last night and the playoffs begin in a few days. For those of you who aren't aware, 16 teams make the playoffs out of 30 NBA teams - 8 from the East and 8 from the West.

What's annoying to me is that teams like the Atlanta Hawks in the East have a 37-45 record. In other words, they are losers. Meanwhile, winning teams like the Golden State Warriors in the West have a 48-34 record and since they are the 9th best team in the West, they are out of the playoffs.

My idea is this: Pit the teams with losing records in one conference for a one-game playoff against winning teams from the other conference. We'll use Atlanta and Golden State as examples. Atlanta and Golden State have to play a one-game playoff in Atlanta. If Atlanta wins, then its business as usual and they start their series against the Celtics (the East's #1 seed). If the Warriors beat Atlanta, they take Atlanta's spot and face the Celts in Round 1.

What a novel concept: winning teams making the playoffs!?!? Come on people, this isn't 1st grade T-ball. Everybody doesn't get a cheap trophy and a Capri Sun. Win or go home.

sore-ree-attic arthritis (part 2)

Previously on The Lot... anyway I decided to look for natural solutions as well. My first stop was Dr. Young Ki Park, an osteopath at Westview Medical Center. (I just visited him again on Monday and that served as the impetus for blogging about all this).

Dr. Park recommended some radical approaches. He wanted me to started a gluten-free and nearly dairy-free diet (yogurt ok). I was to avoid sugar, alcohol, soda, and coffee too. My first thought was, "What about pie?!?" with Thanksgiving lurking in the coming months. His response was, "If you want pie, have pie, but just one bite." Yeah right.

I followed the diet pretty strictly for awhile and also started taking some supplements he prescribed. These days, I limit all of the don'ts as best I can but definitely indulge - I just really monitor the intake.

But the other thing Dr. Park wanted to do was cupping. This is old skool medicine, kind of like bloodletting. Basically, to reduce the inflammation in problem areas, Dr. Park pricks me in areas like my upper back with a lancet about 20 times, then he uses a suction technique with these special glass cups and draws blood from the inflamed area. He did it once on my knee and has never had to do it again.

Admittedly, it kind of hurts and it looks nasty for a few days. But hey, its the in thing to do - I'm so like Gwenyth.

I went back for a follow-up with Dr. Batt and he stuck his nose up at Dr. Park's strategies and after a few more (expensive) tests he suggested that the pain was all in my head. So I dropped him like a bad habit.

Since Dr. Park's techniques only treat the symptoms of my disease. I needed a new rheumatologist and found a good one in Dr. Elizabeth Le. She was attentive, did a thorough exam, ran more tests, etc. She also diagnosed my condition as psoriatic arthritis and stepped things up by having me try a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) called methotrexate with folic acid to prevent side effects. This treatment took effect within a few weeks and combined with Dr. Park's tactics and getting back to regular exercise (especially swimming), I feel pretty normal.

Sorry if I alarmed any of you. This has been a major deal for me over the past year and I'm happy to report that things are pretty stabilized. I haven't been able to fill all of you in on this, so I thought this blog would be a good way to share my story.

I'll still be able to play bocce ball, but I'll be limited in what I can do from time to time. I passed a big test a few weeks ago when I helped move the swingset/fort for the Cesljarevs.

At the prime age of 35, it really stinks to have a form of arthritis. It can make you feel old and cricked. If anything changes, you'll hear about it on The Lot. Thanks for reading.

sore-ree-attic arthritis (part 1)

About 11 months ago, I started feeling pain in my left oblique. I thought, "Wow, I'm just like Ryan Dempster! I need to go on the DL." But the pain wouldn't subside. I had trouble turning from one side to another in my sleep. At first I thought I had injured myself with a mean game of bocce ball (a true sign that I'm getting older) in the backyard.

Then I tightened up on the left side of my neck. I could barely turn to the left and definitely couldn't look over my shoulder. I then started experiencing pain in my mid-back. It was like I had been in a car accident and just couldn't loosen up. I would cramp up in my back. On one horrible day, I drove up to Chicago to meet Cupcake Gal and could barely walk to the hotel room from the parking lot to meet her.

I went to a sports medicine doctor thinking I must be injured in some way. His solution was physical therapy. The PT was ok, but the pains (except the one in the neck) just wouldn't go away. After lots of wasted money and time, PT sent me back to the doc and he ran x-rays and blood tests. By this point, I also started started to notice swelling in my right index finger and knuckle. I also had a little inflammation in my left index finger near the fingernail.

After a few weeks, the doc said my SED and ANA rates were a little high and he wanted me to see a rheumatologist (these are the doctors that deal with arthritis patients and diseases like lupus). So I went to Dr. Batt, a top rheumatologist in Indy at Methodist Hospital and he was horrible. He rushed me through an examination and informed me that he thought I had psoriatic arthritis. He poo-poo'd any natural approaches, things to eat/avoid, etc. He handed me a pamphlet on the disease, prescribed an anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAID) and said to come back in a month.

I started reading about psoriatic arthritis and started to panic. The worst-case scenarios are pretty grim and I feared the worst. But the good news was that we had caught this very early and treatment could help/prevent the worst from happening.

to be continued.

down and (not completely) out

In recent weeks, many political pundits and politicians themselves have called for Hillary Clinton to drop out of the Democratic nomination race. They claim this drawn out fight is bad for the party and will make it difficult to defeat McCain in the presidential election this fall. I disagree.

First of all, I can't stand Hillary, but I think she should stay in the race as long as she thinks she has a chance. (You don't see the Pacers not showing up for games in the waning days of the regular season even though their playoff chances are minimal - and undeserving I might ad.)

In fact, I think the prolonged nomination race gives more Americans a chance to learn the Democratic candidates. I think this knowledge only helps their cause in attracting independents for the real election in November. I'm enjoying all the coverage of Obama and Clinton in my home state of Indiana. With our late primary, we typically wouldn't get a whiff from these candidates. In fact, I doubt they'd campaign here at all for the presidential race if the nomination was already wrapped up.

I'm looking forward to voting in our primary on Tuesday, May 6. It will be an educated and enthusiastic vote.

monkey see

Some of you may be surprised to know that I have a monkey collection. Yes, I have a shelf in the home office full of stuffed animal monkeys, plastic toy monkeys, a barrel of monkeys and more. I have pens, puppets and necklaces too. Here's a photo excerpt I took earlier today.

Most of my monkeys are from Cupcake Gal who buys them at airports and trinket shops. I also have some from our friend Des and I received a great "Wind Up" monkey in a box from my Secret Santa in 2006. I even have a monkey-themed framed picture of me from my visit to Monkey Jungle (Where the humans are caged and the monkeys run wild!!!!) outside of Miami, Fla.

If you ever want to check out the collection, the price of admission is 2 bananas.

iOverload

Yesterday I attended a luncheon on social media optimization and similar strategies. It's amazing what's out there for communications professionals like myself, but its even more amazing to me that people do all this STUFF just for fun. These people are typically younger (from teens to mid-20s) or work in the tech field. Like this annoying, but kinda funny gal.

But it's a wonder to me how they get anything done besides update their myspace page, chat within facebook, podcast thy selves, twitter their friends, live a second life, text text text text text, make sure their linked in, broadcast themselves, digg on each other, flicker their photos, and oh yeah I forgot - check their email. Like, how does simply attending SXSW constitute as a job?

There's another world out there - log in.

a less than full can of garbage

I can't help but notice on garbage collection day in my neighborhood that my house is one of the few with only one garbage can on the corner. If you were to look inside, you'd also see it's not even full. Why? Because Cupcake Gal and I recycle just about everything we can.

Next door, my neighbor to the north usually has 2 full cans of garbage, yet he lives alone.

At our house, the process is somewhat "complex" but we recycle #1 & #2 plastics, aluminum, office paper, newspaper and glass at the corner on collection day (also, one of few in the neighborhood). We put all other plastics, such as #3, 4, 5 & 6 plastics, bottle caps, plastic pull tabs, and newspaper wraps in a bag that we eventually take to the Indianapolis Recycled Fiber drop-off at Kessler & Parker. We put all paperboard, cardboard, delivery envelopes, and shopping bags in other bag and again, take it to the IRF drop-off.

I consider it somewhat of a badge of honor to have the least amount of trash on the block. I'd love to start composting our food scraps soon and reduce the garbage even further but as you can understand, things are already cramped in the kitchen by doing the right thing.

I'll hope to post some other environmental comments occasionally. Please post your comments and eco-tips if you feel like sharing.

torch-gate

After a few days away from the Lot, it's time for Joe Lotstar to get a little serious for a moment. Yesterday in Paris, protesters scaled the Eiffel Tower in protest of China's human rights record and sabotaged the Olympic torch relay through the French capital. The vehement crowd tried to snuff the torch's flame and grabbed at the torch as if to run in their own direction and right the wrongs of years of Chinese oppression with a silly prank.

Today the torch will relay through San Francisco and reports indicate that major measures are in place to ensure a peaceful relay.

It's sad to me that protesters have resorted to plaguing a proud moment for a selected torch runner to make their statement. Most of these select torch bearers have dedicated their life to their sport or their community (or paid lots of money). Today, their proud moment will be reduced to playing defense and running in fear. In a city full of Chinese Americans, it's equally sad that celebration of the games in their homeland is plagued.

Please do not misconstrue -- I firmly believe that the Chinese government has done the citizens of Tibet wrong and committed several errors in human rights. However, isn't there a way to make your statement without ruining somebody else's moment in the sun?

I think the answer is yes.

"The right to swing my fist ends where another man's nose begins."
-Oliver Wendall Holmes

green is whore-ish

In one episode of 'The Office', the ladies of Dunder Mifflin are instructed to prepare an impromptu party. Gathered around the planning table, they begin throwing out color theme suggestions. I believe Phyllis suggests green to which Angela retorts: "Green is whore-ish."

Today, my lawn is green. Bright green. Healthy green. Parts of it even need to be mowed already.

Could it be the Scott's product my dad provided, laden with stuff I can't pronounce and with warnings to keep pets and children off for 24 hours. I feel like I've sold out and plan to try all-natural corn gluten weed preventer and fertilizer in the future.

It's sad that doing the right thing costs so much more money. A bag of corn gluten weed prevent/fertilizer costs $26ish and Scott's costs around $13, plus the Scott's bag is HUGE and I need to buy 3-4 of the natural stuff just to feed my postage-stamp sized lawn.

So when you see my rich green lawn - remember, she's just trying to make it in this tough world anyway she can, even if she is a bit "whore-ish."

the cache of coach crean

There is C.C. Sabathia, C.C. DeVille, C.C. Rider and CiCi's Pizza (barf) and now there is a new C.C. in town -- Coach Crean (otherwise known as Tom Crean & Crimson), the newly appointed head coach of men's basketball at Indiana University in Bloomington. The pundits are thrilled for IU (scroll to the bottom) and that makes me feel pretty good. And after listening to several sound bites and interview snippets with Coach Crean, I'm thrilled for IU too.

His enthusiasm is obvious and his resume is solid. If CC can do for IU what his buddy Tom Izzo has done for Michigan State, perhaps we'll finally have somebody worth naming a gymnasium after some day. I look for IU to compete for the Big 10 title within the next 3 years and be competitive every time the Hoosiers take the floor.

Go Big Red and welcome CC!

rollin' around

In the words of the immortal David Lee Roth, "I don't feel tardy." But alas, not only was I tardy leaving the house today, but I was so tardy I decided to stay home until my next appointment. I was excited for my dog Puddy though because I also intended to take him to Tender Loving Pets Doggy Daycare today (and I highly recommend them). Oh well, he just got a walk and Cupcake Gal will let him bask in the sun and roll around in the grass like this:

turning japanese

Is this a scene from Cloverfield or does Fukudome have the fans at Wrigley "turning Japanese-ah?!?!?!"



OK, so the Cubs lost a heartbreaker yesterday, but Kosuke's 3-run, bottom-of-the-9th shot to right center is my new personal opening day highlight. Instead of a having a pitcher's duel and losing out in the ninth, I look at yesterday's game as a pitcher's duel and a comeback that fell short in 10 innings - much more palatable.

Maybe Marmol should be closing - his stuff looked light lightning in the storm-ridden sky.

opening day

I'll let this video speak for me today. I'll be busy from 2:20 until about 5:30 when Kerry earns his first save.

kerry the closer

The Cubs wrapped up spring training today and I decided to watch from the comforts of the couch in my guest bedroom (that means I watched the first inning and then fell asleep until the tail end of the eighth). My impeccable timing allowed me to witness Kerry Wood as the new Cubs closer.

Although he got himself into a little potential trouble with runners on 1st and 2nd, he barehanded a bouncer up the center and launched to 2nd to start a 1-6-3 double play and then proceeded to strike out the final batter. Let me just say that I love the confidence and I'm excited to see how Woody handles the regular season.

Opening day is Monday, till then I'm cheering on Davidson in the NCAA tourney to give my hopes of winning my bracket the chance I've been waiting for all my life since I filled out a my first bracket in middle school.

newsflash

INDY ATTRACTS NEW ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT STEAKHOUSE CHAIN TO DOWNTOWN

Gastronomically challenged citizens and visitors of Indianapolis will now how a new place to enjoy the five food groups of meat: beef, pork, chicken, lamb and moose. Fogo de Chao will open up at the Zipper Building on Washington Street just in time for race fans.

"We figured the month of May would be a great time to open a chain restaurant in Indianapolis since most people will be too plowed to appreciate how overpriced everything is," said general manager and annoying CBS college basketball analyst Billy Packer. "Plus since there is probably a Fogo de Chao in their hometown, they'll feel like they never left the suburbs of Anytown, USA, while enjoying an authentic Brazilian Steakhouse experience!"

Learn more here.

theme park music

So last night, I'm rocking out with a little Guitar Hero and in between songs, My Favorite Serbian keeps singing that uber-cheezer song performed by David Archuleta on this week's Idol. Here's David's inspiration:






If this is where that little twerp gets his inspiration (including the oiled-up dude in the ripped tank top and red bandanna playing guitar) then he's destined for a gig at Six Flags just like Simon suggested, with dancing cartoon characters prancing around him in glee.

However, I think this makes a great campaign song for an anti-war presidential candidate. It seems too cheesy for Barack and not diva enough for Hillary. Too bad Edwards in gone - this song goes perfectly with his quaffed hairdo.

I hope this song gets stuck in your head and makes you laugh and not miserable. Watch the video, its got that 80's production value and editing that's sure to make you giggle.

playground heaven

we weren't sure we could do it, but four of us including My Favorite Serbian (MFS), Col. Forbin and I took apart this swingset from a home in Carmel, put in on a truck and reassembled it in Val's backyard.

I think MFS's kidsill enjoy it for years to come.

I wasn't much help. At one point I felt like the lame person on 'Survivor' who can't help build a shelter b/c they have not idea what they are doing.

chances

The cubs made a trade today. See official news here.

In summary, the cubs got a good, versatile outfielder who can split time with Pie and maybe Ronny Cedeno if he makes the roster. Cedeno could also platoon with Theriot at shortshop. The one year deal makes him a one-and-done type of player. The Cubs will be some type of champion this year - wild card, divisional, league or world, whatever.

parnell as garth

a classic scene from Anchorman and one of my favorites ... enjoy and watch your poop mouth.

hoop dreams

the tournament can do killer things to a guy. I think I may have developed my very first ulcer during the 1st/2nd rounds of this year's tourney. I took a little risk with Gtown in my Final Four, I got burned -- yet just as burned as those who took a risk with Pittsburgh in the F4.

I feel Memphis and UCLA received the necessary challenge of a hard-fought win that could help them push through to the F4.

My Final Four is: UNC vs. Georgetown, UCLA vs. Memphis; UNC vs. UCLA; UCLA winner.

I still have a chance in my pools if everything else goes as I've planned.