The Bears and the Pre-Season

“Close the city and the tell the people that something’s coming to call
Death and darkness are rushing forward to take a bite from the wall…”
--Black Sabbath from The Mob Rules, 1982.

I wanted to wait until after the second Pre-season game to comment on the Chicago Bears.

Same song, different page if you look at last year to a degree. The offense can be ineffective, the running game will eventually be their bread and butter, special teams were consistent and also tough, and the defense was tougher.

Opening series, Urlacher snags an interception for a touchdown on a beautiful play. The defense—first, second, third and lower—do not allow a touchdown from a very good San Diego Charger offense. The passing game from Grossman, although improved from week one; was harrowing at times—I predict Griese will be starting in four weeks.

The tools are here—no starting running backs as of yet; but they are there. The wide receivers are decent enough in Mohammed and Bradley and look out for Rasheed Davis! The kid can play.

The defensive line was tough with Wally (Don’t know how to spell his name) and Urlacher was a star at linebacker. Briggs put some hits on folks as did Harris. Hillenmeyer looked good when it came to speed. Not to be noticing, but they only had two starters from the secondary and NO ONE SCORED—not too shabby.

Special teams were special; Manning looked good; and the Bears should have a decent season.

I am breathing easier and if one watched the game, I would point out this about the quarterback—Griese is the best, Grossman is next; and Orton showed us why he is third string and why the defense won ten games last season in his run—not the play of the quarterback.

Sweetwood Predicts: 12 and 4 this season and a serious run at post-season play—they may not win it all; but in the words of Elvis (may my brother forgive me for stealing from ‘his’ guy): “it’s now or never.”

I'm Outta There....

“I’m free; I’m free
And freedom tastes of reality
I’m free; I’m free
And I’m waiting for you to follow me…”
--Pete Townshend from “I’m Free” from the album Tommy by THE WHO

I am done with Cardiac Rehab as of yesterday! Whoo-hoo!

To be honest, it is a mixed blessing. One, I actually enjoyed going. The nurses were awesome—all of them. They clown around with us. Stephanie was a positive girl who gave me some reassurances when I was nervous. Megan always smiles and would have fun in any job she chose. Rita laughed at my jokes—although less about my jokes and more about her kindness. Karen was always positive. Amanda was like a little sister who always laughed at me and then gave me one of those “should we act like that” looks.

Cheryl and Joanie knew me the best as they were the ones I remember the most from two years ago. Cheryl did all of my interviews and was always concerned about me personally, as she was constructive and helpful. She is also a Beatles fan. Joanie was a nurse who called my cardiologist for advice as to how to calm me down when blood pressures were going up and I was growing more frustrated, She took the time to care, She was awesome.

The mixed blessing part is that I am glad I am finished, but I will miss the good folks there. Hey, it is time to move on; and trust me, I am ready to do so.

I made sure to thank each of them, and I made them a promise. Here is where you, gentle reader, can help in that promise (sounds like an ad…)

On September 23, 2006 I will be participating in the American Heart Association’s Heartwalk. I will walk three miles. If you wish to offer a pledge or the like for me, go here: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=147826&lis=1&kntae147826=
A5506468B9954BD09897F9DDDA0BE458&supId=141815867

This is not a big ad, as I am really doing this to support the organization and give something back to the good folks who have helped me. The ladies signed me up as I was the second person on the list.

Oh and blood pressure Friday was 113 over 73. Pulse rate was in the 60s at rest. I also walked for six minutes and doubled my distance from when I entered—and when I entered my distance was not bad for someone who had just underwent heart surgery. Not too shabby!

I would hope they fixed it well this time, and I honestly think they did. Here are some studies about the valve: http://www.onxvalves.com/Med_Clinical_Issues.asp
I am convinced how positive this will end up being; and the least I can do is support the cause that has supported me so well.

Next Post: The Bears! Uhg-ly for the first team offense. That and having Freshman Orientation Day on Friday will shoot the old blood pressure up for sure.

Guinness is a Big Baby

“I don’t bother chasing mice around…Oh NO!
I slink down the alley; looking for a fight…”
Stray Cat Strut—Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats, 1984.

My friend Jim told me that Maine Coon’s were kind of “high strung,” but I had no idea how much so Guinness could be--he truly is a baby and Pam has dubbed him "Baby Guinness." When we were gone, Guinness was truly missing us. Owen, our cat caretaker when Pam and I were in LA, commented to me that “the big guy misses you," as he claimed Guinness was always looking over his shoulder to see if we were home yet.

Guinness likes to paw one’s neck and suffocate people. Seriously. You know that myth about cats sucking the air out of a baby’s lung? Guinness lays on our chest and if we recline, he smothers our mouth and nose with his body as he “hugs.” It really gives some credence—although not much—to the old wives tale.

The “big guy” has attached himself to me, and he is clearly “my cat”—so much so that Pam wants another.

So I have offered a picture of Guinness with his namesake. Before you bother me about the inhumane treatment I am giving my cat—I drank the beer. Yeah, like I would waste a beer? Please be real. The glass does fit him perfectly, does it not?

Guinness has been a Godsend and a blessing in my recovery process. He’s a good boy and a loyal cat. Now, if only he would quit the whining. When I return to work, Guinness will probably whine even more.

Sorry for the delay...

"Sing me a song, you're a singer;
Do me no wrong; you're a bringer of evil..."
Heaven and Hell--Ronnie James Dio--Black Sabbath from the Heaven And Hell LP, 1980.

Normally I choose something musically that relates to the post--not so today.

Sorry for the delay to the thousands of people who read my blog--uh...that's a lie (the "thousands" not the "sorry"). Pam and I have been doing all sorts of things lately and our lives have been busy--much more so than it has been in about four months for me.

I will post later this week on Guinness--new happenings with the world's most dependent cat. He will miss me in two and a half weeks--trust me--but more later this week.

Currently, I am sitting at Saturn while the fix my car to the tune of $350.00 and an hour and a half worth of labor. Sigh. Routine stuff--but they said I must be really rough on brakes. I think I am, too.

After that, I head to the school in which is foolish enough to employ me to "clean up" my room waiting for the kiddies to return. I have, however, moved my computer to the front and rearranged my room. Like Superman, I have a little fortress of solitude in the front.

Recently, I watched the Metal: The Story of Heavy Metal documentary on VH1 and enjoyed it. I scanned for some books on Amazon and bought Martin Popoff's The Top 500 heavy Metal Songs of All Time. Now some of his stuff is "metal" and I would safely argue some of his stuff is "hard rock." All of which is fine with me, as I prefer early Heavy Metal/Hard Rock over today's "death metal" screams about Satan and his minions. I used this book and a few others to burn some CDs for the car and came up with fifteen (about twenty hours) of burned CDs of hard rocking and metalesque music. Knowing full well I would not be allowed to play this stuff with the folks I ride to work with or my wife, I think I will regulate it to solo road trips. I emailed former roomie and fellow hard rock/early metal enthusist Keith and asked for his take--Jon and Dan who regularly read this, feel free to post some of your favorites--in fact, it would be appreciated. I want to go five more volumes.

In other news, Pamela and I recently attended her class reunion at our old high school. I saw some folks I have not seen in a few years including my next door neighbor as a kid, Drew, and an old eighth grade friend Tim. Considering I am four years older than Pam, I really did not know many people in her class, but I knew some, chatted a bit with Sue Mac (a great person who was part of a clique we named 'The Beautiful People' due to our stage pressence and the plays we performed), Monkey Boy Adam (a nice guy who was a 'beautiful person' as well), Mo (a former BP), Jamie (not a BP, but Pam's Maid of Honor in our wedding), and Kathy (a late edition BP). A picture of Pam and the lovely ladies will be forthcoming. The nice part of the reunion was a tour of our old high school to see the changes made. There is a certain pride the community has in their school; a pride I believe is being transferred to my place of employment.

I have also hit the road to speak as Pam and I went to lovely Hollywood, LA. The most important happening of note (other than finding an obscure guitar shop that let me hold a 1968 Stratocaster and putting my hand in Ian Anderson's hand print in the cement outside) was that we attended a taping of the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show. The guests were Allison Janey of West Wing; Morgan Spurloch of Supersize Me and 30 Days, and a hip-hop band Jurassic Five who performed for a half hour after the taping of the show. It was unique.

While there, I was waiting in line for our seats and we bumped into Derrick from the Real World/Road Rules Challenge. He was a pretty tough kid who competes all out (OK, I admit I watch this show). He noticed that I noticed him, shook my hand as I said, "You have guts and we appreciate your ability on the MTV show."

He said "Thank you, sir, I appreciate the kind words."

'Sir'???!!! I have never felt so damn old.

We also saw the place where they film Hell's Kitchen (best damn show on TV period--get it--Hell's Kitchen--"damn show"?). We went to Warner Brothers Studios and...well more on that in another post as well.

Since we have returned, I have spent most of my evenings training people at our new Humane Society building. I will continue the four or five training sessions a week for sixteen volunteers per session for the next two weeks. I have trained over a hundred new and old volunteers in the last three weeks and everyone MUST be re-trained. It has been very fun. While there, we met a new cat we wanted to take home for Guinness and Foggy--but he was taken. He was a great cat--another Maine Coon--that was nineteen pounds, a male, front paw declawed, and only a year old. HULK would have been a great name for him, but Pam says if we take in another cat (and we think it will also be a male and a bigger one like Guinness) we should name it Stout. How cool is my wife? That would be great!

Just a bit of a tomato paste and vinegar (TP + V = Ketchup--catch up--get it?) post. I will post again this weekend with a wonderful picture of Guinness and some new comments and observations of the gentle Maine Coon who now inhabits our dwelling.

Oh and for the comic readers out there, this week's 52 from DC was incredible and Civil War rocks! Make Mine Marvel!