tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66929091799100411662011-10-24T09:19:35.378-05:00Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.comBlogger841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-76541419855075463292010-10-27T16:27:00.000-05:002010-10-27T16:27:02.806-05:00

Hi, folks. I was posting a bunch of stuff for class, and then I wasn't posting anything at all, but I sure want to talk about all the craziness that will surely be starting up tonight. A few things: 1.) Our household was filled with joy when the Yankees lost. The cats fled from my screeching. Whatever happens in this series will pretty much be icing on the cake for me. 2.) I've favored this

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-20967452549823776542009-11-18T13:41:00.001-06:002009-11-18T14:12:36.825-06:00

This week I am taking a look at Coogan’s overview of attempts to put an accurate date on the Exodus. In terms of the text of the Bible itself, 1 Kings states that the Exodus took place 480 years before Solomon built the Temple. Most scholars put that date at around 965 BCE, so the Exodus would fall during the mid-fifteenth century. This is not as straightforward as it sounds, however, since

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-64248322954593405552009-11-10T19:18:00.001-06:002009-11-10T19:32:36.661-06:00

This week I would like to outline some characteristics of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as drawn from both the biblical texts and our readings. Abraham is the model patriarch, the most idealized of the three. His faithfulness to God is his most vaunted quality, and it is constant and unchanging. Coogan writes that this faithfulness often manifests itself in what appears to a

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-66380094601068718792009-11-04T13:35:00.001-06:002009-11-04T13:59:04.894-06:00

This is just a brief overview of my understanding of the Documentary Hypothesis from Coogan, the NRSV notes, and our lectures, more for my own future reference than anything else. I know that many of Wellhausen’s conclusions are not considered iron-clad anymore, especially since we now have a better understanding of his anti-Semitism, but the essential theory, which says that a number of strands

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-10700415179310922262009-10-28T14:17:00.003-05:002009-10-28T14:53:16.286-05:00

In Chapter 17, Coogan includes a section about women in the books of Kings. Most of the women mentioned are part of the royal families, and here we can see an interesting piece of evidence of the Judean perspective under which these books were written. While only one mother of a king of the northern kingdom, Israel, is named, the mother of almost every king of the southern kingdom, Judah, is

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-17465469475629265332009-10-21T14:04:00.002-05:002009-10-21T14:25:38.241-05:00

This is an attempt at a brief overview of the Judean royal theology/ideology, as presented in Brooke’s lecture, Coogan, and the Harper-Collins NRSV. P. Kyle McCarter, writing on First and Second Samuel in the NRSV, notes that 2 Sam 7: 1-17 is “the royal theology of the Davidic dynasty in oracular form. Because of the thematic centrality of Davidic kingship to ancient Israelite religion, the

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-42252258946143875812009-10-14T13:23:00.001-05:002009-10-14T13:38:29.596-05:00

In our reading of Joshua and Judges for this week, I found myself especially intrigued by the character of Deborah, who first appears in Judges 4: “At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment.” I had certainly heard about

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-30969897139195720872009-10-07T13:51:00.003-05:002009-10-07T14:29:58.483-05:00

I am writing this to try to make sure I understand some of the differences between Second and Third Isaiah, as presented by Coogan and our HarperCollins NRSV notes. First of all, we separate Second Isaiah from First Isaiah because it addresses the problem of the Babylonians, rather than the Assyrians as in First Isaiah. Second Isaiah also does not name its author or specify any details about

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-46822142029820065672009-10-02T14:20:00.002-05:002009-10-02T14:26:58.590-05:00

As a temporary Denverite and solid-ish fan of my black-and-purple B team, let me say: GO ROCKIES. As I've mentioned here before, my feelings for them are very different than my feelings for the Cubs, almost entirely maternal (stay warm out there, little guys!) but still rather passionate.Also, somewhat unsurprisingly: I hate the Dodgers.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-64826288329219209862009-09-30T13:15:00.003-05:002009-09-30T13:44:52.534-05:00

THOU art indeed just, Lord, if I contend With thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just. Why do sinners’ ways prosper? and why must Disappointment all I endeavour end? Wert thou my enemy, O thou my friend, How wouldst thou worse, I wonder, than thou dost Defeat, thwart me? Oh, the sots and thralls of lust Do in spare hours more thrive than I that spend, Sir, life upon thy cause. See, banks

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-9811550079890883362009-09-23T13:34:00.003-05:002009-09-23T16:23:39.480-05:00

The most well-known element of the book of Hosea is certainly Hosea’s marriage to the prostitute Gomer and the subsequent birth of their three symbolically-named children:When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.” 3So he went and took Gomer

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-43454974660561072462009-09-16T13:32:00.004-05:002009-09-16T13:48:03.297-05:00

(Note to readers: we've been instructed to do some blogging for one of my classes this semester, and I figured, hey, I already have a nerdy baseball blog set up, might as well do it there. You are welcome to ignore these posts unless you too are interested in the literature of ancient Israel.)One of the problems that readers of the book of Daniel may face is a sense of overfamiliarity. Coogan

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-83420384541157341472009-04-01T22:13:00.002-05:002009-04-01T22:18:39.206-05:00

At this moment, I am trying to memorize the difference between: 1.) the "ordinary magisterium," 2.) the "extraordinary magisterium," and 3.) the "ordinary universal magisterium." My reading has a diagram to help me with this. Never go to Jesus School.Also, my mother told me the following story last week: "We [she and her sister and brother-in-law] used to go watch the river rats near the fire

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-90214927367607269502009-03-21T19:15:00.004-05:002009-03-21T19:22:04.949-05:00

Via Bleed Cubbie Blue, this item about Mike Fontenot's "star turn" on the sitcom My Boys is certainly the best thing I've heard all week:Fontenot, a natural ham, was perfect for the part. He said he has seven lines overall and already has learned them..."I've been standing in front of the mirror rehearsing," [he said].I don't know about all of you, but I'm prepared to be amazed.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-62431719846973353662009-03-01T14:19:00.002-06:002009-03-01T14:28:17.888-06:00

I am slightly behind on everything Cubs-related because of midterms, but this is probably the best thing I have seen in 2009 so far, and I'm not really exaggerating.  I find it indescribably wonderful that they needed to put out a big Slip-n-Slide-looking thing so they could teach grown men how to fall on their faces without hurting themselves.  That is why baseball is America's pastime.In other

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-84163162459213992132009-02-25T13:56:00.005-06:002009-02-25T14:08:02.613-06:00

Man, I'm hungry.  I'm not very good at fasting.  I did get to hear a really extraordinary sermon this afternoon, though.  The priest said that "Ash Wednesday seems almost superfluous this year," which is undeniable.  He talked about our special responsibility to do good work in these bad times when the entire world seems to be degenerating into ashes and eventually concluded that we are not, in

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-18648333153120807192009-02-22T13:37:00.006-06:002009-02-22T15:31:16.904-06:00

Lots of interesting stuff today.  The Tribune tells us that Z threw his first batting-practice session yesterday, then "bypassed the media and stomped out of the clubhouse shouting 'beat it' in Spanish."  Well, that's dispiriting, isn't it?  I hope we're not looking at a repeat of the second half of last season (I'd take a repeat of the no-hitter, of course, but mostly not the rest of it).On a

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-44345470566338206052009-02-17T21:39:00.002-06:002009-02-17T21:43:43.137-06:00

More from the Sun-Times: I spent most of the long, cold winter pining away for articles like this one. Cubs manager Lou Piniella does seem to take exception, though, to seeing the President wearing that old, worn Sox hat he does so often. "We got to get him a Cub hat over there," Piniella said. "We can sneak Chief Wahoo over there." Huh? "Who is it?" Piniella said, grasping for the right

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-36335978288347635482009-02-17T15:10:00.003-06:002009-02-17T15:26:51.301-06:00

According to the Sun-Times' Cubs Twitter feed and various other sources:With the arrival of Rami, D. Lee, and Soriano today, everyone is present and accounted for.  Man, that's exciting.  Jim Hendry doesn't know if Obama will pay a visit when he's in Mesa on Wednesday.  I hope so - maybe he could promote some inter-team goodwill.Lou has told everybody to quit making predictions about, you know,

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-12483075482265774942009-02-13T14:59:00.004-06:002009-02-17T15:34:51.041-06:00

Via the official Cubs site:Ladies and gentlemen, we are back.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-43280295988540065722009-01-12T20:24:00.003-06:002009-01-12T20:29:36.336-06:00

I should have posted this several days ago, but:I have nothing to add. (Except that the photo is from the Sun-Times.)

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-23813113810001301842009-01-07T19:11:00.003-06:002009-09-02T14:08:41.082-05:00

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-57518244678403841642008-11-18T17:21:00.002-06:002008-11-18T17:31:01.300-06:00

Okay, I'm pretty sure no one finds the Randy Johnson thing as hilarious as I do, but, good Lord, that man is terrifying.  According to his MLB profile, he is 6'10 (true) and 73 years old (probably not true).  When I opened his profile in order to look for some more things to make fun of, I could only look at it for one second before I screamed and started hitting the back button.  Horrible.  

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-55576968624298787982008-11-15T01:15:00.003-06:002008-11-15T01:28:40.878-06:00

If Kerry Wood couldn't get the contract he deserved here, it's more than fair to let him go get it somewhere else.  It sounds like it was the best thing for him and, I hope, for the team.  Besides, I am, in fact, aware that people get traded in baseball and that nobody sticks around forever.I understand all that, but: I have hardly any Cubs-related memories (good or bad) that don't involve Kerry

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-19091322097757400722008-11-10T14:09:00.003-06:002008-11-10T14:11:15.389-06:00

Geo wins NL Rookie of the Year, and certainly deserves it.  I hope he'll be a Cub for a long, long time.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-66832391317492660942008-11-07T23:33:00.004-06:002009-09-02T13:36:28.248-05:00

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-44010963494159038622008-10-28T00:09:00.018-05:002008-10-28T00:56:27.435-05:00

So, following up on my last post, I was inspired to see what kinds of Cubs rookie cards are floating around out there.  And, man oh man, happy birthday to ME.  This is some high-quality stuff.  I didn't include all of them - by which I mean, I didn't include the ones that aren't hilarious - but I think this is a pretty good selection.The pitchers:Hello, young man.Awwwwwwwwwww.This one's for you,

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-77028986140936879162008-10-27T20:46:00.006-05:002008-10-27T20:57:50.695-05:00

I just came across a picture in my psych textbook of two super-old Japanese people and a little boy.  The caption reads, "These Japanese grandparents, who are avid baseball fans, are very proud of what their grandson can accomplish."  Grandma is full-on crouched behind home plate with a catcher's mitt, even though she's 95 years old.  That child is under a lot of pressure.For the public good,

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-314353483218960232008-10-26T23:50:00.005-05:002008-10-27T00:12:43.655-05:00

The downside of being a member of a church as awesome as St. Withburga's?  Trying to find anything 1/10th as awesome once you move to another state.  I sure miss them.  I've tried a few Episcopal churches here in Chicago, and recently found one I liked quite a bit.  It's kind of far away, out in the suburbs, but seems to be worth the trip.  But today I hung out with my parents in the morning and

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-60195526444724102922008-10-22T14:18:00.003-05:002009-09-02T13:37:08.022-05:00

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-40337989606187272502008-10-11T01:32:00.003-05:002008-10-13T17:48:57.359-05:00

1.) I don't think I can do this again.  Cubs fandom is, as my mother mentioned frequently this weekend, part of my heritage, and I've dealt with the disappointment that goes along with that many times, not to mention the Rockies last year.  This was the worst loss I can remember, though, because this year's team was (as you may have noticed) my favorite.  I just can't go through another season

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-80275777966975347292008-10-01T23:05:00.004-05:002009-09-02T13:37:41.643-05:00

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-70475065140263124052008-09-29T22:40:00.002-05:002008-09-29T22:43:38.904-05:00

I'm guessing most Cubs fans have already seen this, but there it is, just in case.  When Mike Fontenot appeared I started fangirling so loudly that I'm pretty sure my roommate is going to come over and tell me to be quiet.  Also: Geo.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-23122497088648097252008-09-28T23:50:00.004-05:002009-09-02T13:38:19.807-05:00

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-63640429933453347142008-09-19T23:29:00.006-05:002008-09-20T00:28:16.691-05:00

It may be bad form to post happily about yesterday's game after today's unpleasant loss.  But I was fortunate enough to be there yesterday, and I want to describe it all so I don't forget.My friend D. was my game partner for the day.  Our seats weren't bad, in the upper deck, but right near third base, so we got to watch the players do absurd-looking stretches before the game started.  I was

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-71471659386250594232008-09-16T22:37:00.005-05:002008-09-17T01:48:47.404-05:00

So I'm going to lay this out carefully, without mentioning specific possible outcomes, because I want to avoid any chance of cursing anybody.  But:The Cubs beat the Brewers tonight; that means our magic number is 4.  We're playing the Brewers again tomorrow, of course, and then again on Thursday.  And Thursday is the game I'm going to.Well, there it is.  I don't mind if it doesn't happen that way

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-37234590570347728402008-09-15T23:41:00.005-05:002008-09-15T23:49:26.349-05:00

I have a wealth of hilarious and/or exciting baseball links to share after last night and today, but for now I just need to mention this: the headline on Yahoo!Sports after today's game (in which Ted Lilly pitched almost seven scoreless innings, leading the Cubs to a 6-1 win) said, "No no-no, but not bad."Oh, Theodore Roosevelt.  This is not helping your inferiority complex at all, is it?

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-55120215051779337052008-09-14T22:47:00.006-05:002008-09-14T23:15:51.370-05:00

I just threw on some clothes over my pajamas, including my Geo t-shirt, and RAN across the street to the library so I could watch that last inning again and again and again (my laptop is ancient and slow and has trouble with videos.)Before that, I called my parents and begged them to TiVo any and all post-game coverage. "What did he do? How did he react? What was it like?" I said. "He fell on

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-36796166256849831072008-09-09T01:23:00.003-05:002009-09-02T13:39:44.730-05:00

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-18819835638362802732008-09-08T00:48:00.005-05:002008-09-08T01:20:17.461-05:00

Well, as you may be able to tell from the last post, I feel like my mental health has suffered a minor nosedive along with the Cubs' collapse. I'm going to try for a little emotional distance here: more Jesus, less baseball. But I do have to share this glorious item, which I already emailed to about 50 of you last night, but which needs to be analyzed further here.A summary definitely wouldn't

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-75771157575942409222008-09-07T16:07:00.005-05:002008-09-07T16:27:47.389-05:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about this guy my mom works with. He was your classic over-the-top Cubs fan - I'm sure you all know the type. Then in 2003, when...well, you either already know what happened with the Cubs in 2003 or don't care. Anyway, the day after what my family still refers to as "that incident," everyone at her workplace wondered nervously what this man would say when he

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-39388088172585525542008-09-03T15:07:00.004-05:002009-09-02T13:40:49.979-05:00

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-2534608795486127132008-09-02T00:07:00.005-05:002008-09-02T00:25:54.211-05:00

I'm going to ignore whatever terrible thing is going on with the Cubs at the moment (okay, just briefly: PLEASE START HITTING, GUYS. JESUS WANTS YOU TO) and instead talk about the minor-league game I went to this weekend. As I mentioned before, the teams in question were the Schaumburg Flyers vs. - prepare yourself for this - the Gary South Shore (or possibly South Side) Railcats. With a name

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-31594062939485666082008-08-29T19:28:00.003-05:002008-08-29T19:37:39.463-05:00

"ALLISON," three or four people have said to me this week, "how can you not see that Carlos Marmol looks exactly like Barack Obama?"  "I just don't see it," I said.  But now it's like that optical illusion with the vase and two faces: I can't stop seeing it.  It's all about the ears.Another issue that concerns me: has anyone else noticed that Ronny Cedeno's uniform always looks too big for him?  

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-80589470887912245712008-08-27T19:42:00.004-05:002009-09-02T13:41:59.236-05:00

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-20776847060750225622008-08-25T12:43:00.003-05:002008-08-25T12:49:53.870-05:00

1.) Jesus School is selling $10 Cubs/Astros tickets, but it's on a night I have class. That is HORRIBLE news. Why, God?2.) I just read this in one of Rick Telander's columns:So in the Cubs' locker room, Harden pondered this [his pitch count]. ''Highway to Hell'' blared over the music speakers, Mark DeRosa tried to explain how he has hit home runs in four consecutive games (''It's definitely

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-56137779457530910492008-08-21T20:17:00.004-05:002008-08-21T20:27:47.924-05:00

It may be because I'm tired and overly excited in a little-kid way about my Jesus School orientation, my new neighborhood, and other such things, but this MLB article made me laugh so much.  Let's take a look:Carlos Zambrano has come out of games because he's thrown too many pitches, because he's given up too many runs, and even because of cramps caused by either too much time on the computer [

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-84084954826303769332008-08-19T23:07:00.004-05:002008-08-19T23:24:40.149-05:00

I wish I could have somehow recorded and shared my mother's running commentary during tonight's game.  It went something like this: "Look at how that pitcher [Cueto] is wearing his hat.  That is so strange, isn't it?  He looks crazy.  What kind of angle is that?  He's making me nervous.  He's hitting batters, almost hitting batters, and his hat is crazy.  Oh, here comes the infield.  Somebody

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-89005335649125307372008-08-17T20:06:00.004-05:002008-08-17T20:15:04.485-05:00

I am mostly moved in; my bedroom is a teeny tiny box, but at least Jesus School has provided nice furniture, and we have an okay-sized kitchen/living room area.  Not to mention the location, which is really too awesome.  You can see the lake from my window.I've gotten a couple of my syllabi, and they're very exciting.  Lots of readings from the Bible, if you can believe that, and assignments

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-76252505397804133322008-08-15T11:05:00.002-05:002008-08-15T11:07:49.982-05:00

Going up to Wisconsin for the weekend, and then MOVING TO JESUS SCHOOL on Sunday.  Please wish me luck, because I'm sure I'll desperately need it.  My orientation isn't until the following Saturday, so I'll probably be in and out of my parents' house until then, but I'm not sure how reliable my Internet will be at school.  I'll update as soon as I can.  Go Cubs!

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-29443107713006181912008-08-15T00:12:00.005-05:002008-08-17T16:43:49.867-05:00

I'm very happy about sweeping the Braves, and also happy that a fight didn't break out tonight, even though the benches cleared after Teddy's incident with Yunel Escobar.  Escobar then, our announcers explained, "spent the commercial break staring menacingly into the Cubs dugout."  Brrrr.  I'm also glad Aramis seems to be okay - it looked like he was really in pain after that slide.  I hope he'll

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-88304721199883029242008-08-14T01:01:00.002-05:002008-08-14T01:04:17.851-05:00

My aunt got me one of these, because of how awesome she is.  I'm planning to hang it over my bed at Jesus School.That is all.  Oh, except: Z and Fontenot's dugout antics during tonight's game were too much for my heart to take.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-60856720341697512422008-08-12T18:08:00.005-05:002009-09-02T13:44:50.086-05:00

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-17410803345708983822008-08-11T16:31:00.002-05:002008-08-11T16:40:39.505-05:00

Ryan Theriot has a special guest column in the Tribune this week.  It's pretty entertaining; as you may have guessed by now, I always love the camaraderie this team seems to have.  A few highlights include:1.)"pocket rocket" 2.) Q: Knowing your teammates as well as you do and considering you're filling in for beat writer Paul Sullivan, can you put on your reporter hat for us and give us the best

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-63472809835714359192008-08-09T00:14:00.007-05:002008-08-09T11:23:54.248-05:00

1.) Today's win against the Cardinals satisfied me deep inside my soul.  I Tivo'd it so I could watch the team celebrating with hero-of-the-day Blanco over and over again.2.) We watched the Olympics opening ceremonies on my aunt and uncle's enormous TV, cheering for the Polish athletes (many of my friends have described my family as the Polish version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which is quite

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-11179728161954327072008-08-07T20:59:00.005-05:002008-08-07T21:09:22.331-05:00

Sometimes when I'm feeling especially angsty, I cure myself with "the Muppet picture," as I have come to think of it.  This always cheers me up beyond anything.  I was just thinking about this picture contentedly when I realized I'd never posted it here.  So, for your entertainment and delight, here is the Muppetiest picture I have ever seen of a professional athlete, or perhaps anyone:I'm so

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-22930237776056173522008-08-05T17:28:00.004-05:002008-11-12T19:36:54.090-06:00

Remember how I said wild stuff was happening at last night's game?  Um:Photo from the Chicago Sun-Times.  I'm just glad everybody's okay.  This article has more, including a clip of players sprinting off the field seeking shelter and the answer to the question on everyone's mind: What did Mike Fontenot make of all this?"I'm thinking I'm not the tallest guy on the field, so I probably wouldn't get

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-41144520584212478272008-08-05T12:13:00.003-05:002008-08-05T12:18:13.251-05:00

Allison Middlename Lastname, if you touch that header one more time I will feed you to the wolverines.  You have changed the picture 15 times in the past four days.  STOP IT.My mother recently admitted that she is crushing on Aramis Ramirez because, she explained, "I like when they wear the tall socks."  Totally with you there, Mom.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-62951399671590841262008-08-04T22:31:00.004-05:002008-08-04T22:45:00.998-05:00

First of all, I hope everybody's okay out there (we had just some crazy weather blow through the area, for non-Midwesterners).  As most of you know, I go into fits of irrational terror at even the weakest hint of a thunderstorm, so I won't even discuss the scenes that took place in my house tonight.  I cannot believe they're actually finishing this game.  As this article explains, tornado sirens

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-87949458767647835902008-08-03T17:12:00.003-05:002008-08-03T17:29:22.679-05:00

I just paid the bill for my fall term at Jesus School. I was starting to think they'd have to pry the check out of my twitching hands while I wept inconsolably.  I hate acting like this because that money has always been intended for div school, or at least some form of grad school, but it was really hard to part with.  God?  I'm spending a lot of money to hang out with you for the next couple

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-31474972619629244982008-08-02T21:17:00.002-05:002008-08-02T21:17:57.791-05:00

Also: I think I just published a weird, unfinished version of the previous post.  It is now fixed - sorry about that.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-68377519187568229062008-08-02T21:08:00.004-05:002008-08-02T21:16:38.102-05:00

I'm surprised to see I haven't said much about Ted Lilly here.  As I've mentioned to several of you, I believe Ted is basically the visible embodiment of my soul.  He always looks so anxious and distressed, no matter how he's pitching, and he says things in his postgame press conferences that make you want to cry and then hug him.  Here are some words from Ted on today's game against the Pirates,

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-92089766504160530752008-08-01T00:26:00.005-05:002008-08-01T00:32:16.047-05:00

Today I was on the phone with my friend R., the Red Sox fan.  She said in this really thoughtful way, "If baseball players were dinosaurs, Big Papi would be a brontosaurus.  But Zambrano would be that thing they discovered - you know, the craziest dinosaur of all.  What is it called?  The Megasaurus?  I think they named it something stupid like that."I'm not sure what she was thinking of (

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-44919752606818687622008-07-31T23:29:00.003-05:002008-07-31T23:37:20.190-05:00

I thought I was all done fixing fonts and colors and layout stuff, but then a kind person told me how to add pictures.  That was many hours ago.  I'm almost satisfied now, but although I love this rainbow-and-tarp picture very much, of course I really wanted the Z-piggybacking-Fontenot shot to be my header forever.  I just couldn't get the blog title any color that would actually show up well,

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-26695950600412564932008-07-30T19:18:00.006-05:002008-11-12T19:36:54.278-06:00

All my reasons for starting this blog, all my reasons for loving the Cubs, all my reasons for believing in the basic goodness of people and God and all that kind of stuff are expressed in the following image:Yeah.  Oh, yeah.  (Seen in several places, but I think originally from here.)

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-41562462013825907942008-07-29T14:29:00.006-05:002008-07-30T19:18:12.691-05:00

As you may have noticed from my previous post, I'm back and mostly recovered from the wedding; my college classmates and I all disgraced ourselves pretty thoroughly.  I was welcomed home with some excellent Cubs victories yesterday and Sunday.  It seems, though, that I missed an amazing moment before the game.  I've been informed that Mike Fontenot and Z have developed a new little routine in

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-69873379511305025282008-07-27T18:47:00.003-05:002008-07-27T19:07:41.061-05:00

OH NO LOOK AT THIS RIGHT NOWMichael Fontenot, who are you?  How are you possible?  Where did you come from?  Are we for-real married in that land?  Because if so, I will find a way to live there forever.  

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-13817628107701737592008-07-24T15:28:00.004-05:002008-07-30T23:46:07.893-05:00

Technically I'm still taking a baseball break, but thank you, Lord, for Reed Johnson.  As a few different sources have informed me, while Mighty Mike congratulated Reed after his grand slam last night, our announcers made up a little conversation they might be having.  Len suggested that Mike was saying, "That's right, us little guys can hit them out of the park too!"  I like to imagine Fontenot

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-1297921130492271472008-07-23T00:11:00.003-05:002008-07-23T00:27:33.036-05:00

As you may imagine, everything I just witnessed made my baseball life feel even more like a Philip Larkin poem.  Even with the ongoing Black Despair, though, I was marginally cheered up by Mark DeRosa's interview with Ryan Dempster in his blog.  If I were in a better mood, it would probably have made my whole week, especially the card game part.  

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-50480918704692766502008-07-21T22:50:00.003-05:002008-07-21T23:46:45.277-05:00

I've entered a period of melancholy over the Cubs.  I'm acting fitful, nervous, and generally unpleasant to be around.  More than usually superstitious, also; I actually believe that my watching the games is negatively affecting their performance.  From time to time I'll come out of my room and dart through the living room, glancing at the score without turning my head.  It's deeply absurd.  

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-66845549224204629322008-07-17T23:03:00.002-05:002008-07-17T23:14:37.396-05:00

This morning I woke up from a dream involving Geovany Soto, just as I requested.  But now I have a new question: why can I not remember a single detail about this dream, other than the fact of his presence, and maybe something about us...playing soccer? I think? while at the same time, I remember with much greater clarity the dream where I was married to Mike Fontenot?Now, as I said before, I

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-22320999435423141422008-07-16T23:02:00.006-05:002008-07-16T23:14:10.468-05:00

Here are the games I've gone to, or will be going to if all goes according to plan, this summer:1.) White Sox/Rockies on Father's Day.  I mostly went to see the Rockies, who I will probably always have massive affection for even when they play poorly.  They won.  I cheered for them, but only inside my head, because the fans on either side looked very hostile and I didn't want anyone to hit me.  I

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-1779123584877918222008-07-16T20:54:00.005-05:002008-07-16T22:48:04.380-05:00

Well, I would say a good time was had by all last night.  It was really nice to see everybody relatively relaxed and having fun, except for Terry Francona, who I thought might actually start ripping his hair out by the end of the game while Clint Hurdle continued blowing bubbles with his gum.  The dugout kind of looked like a clown car, with about a hundred players in there, and the cheerful

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-28685598467550867202008-07-15T00:09:00.009-05:002008-07-16T16:01:07.699-05:00

Last night I was looking through one of Phyllis Tickle's prayer books, and the reading for vespers was the text of the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," which is probably my second-favorite hymn (second only to "St. Patrick's Breastplate") and makes me cry every time I sing it, especially "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love."  I actually forgot the tune to

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-8730620563318183442008-07-14T20:54:00.003-05:002008-07-14T23:55:06.691-05:00

Some of my favorite recent baseball things:1.) Pictures of Ryan Dempster and Kosuke Fukudome with their small children at the Home Run Derby.  2.) "Look, Mom!  The whole gang is going to the All-Star Game!"A major YAY for our seven Cubs All-Stars, and I hope everybody enjoys the game tomorrow.  I'm pretty sure I will.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-79696477514049079062008-07-14T16:55:00.004-05:002008-07-14T20:38:42.645-05:00

This just in: I'll be getting a way more significant scholarship to Jesus School than I thought, bless them.   This is such a huge relief.Also: I noticed the phrase "Cubsessed" in comments on Cubby Blue today and will be working it into 100% of my conversations from now on.  That is all.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-68640979344161229552008-07-13T11:45:00.002-05:002008-07-13T11:48:15.260-05:00

I'm off to the Old Town School of Folk Music to watch some potentially ridiculous performances, but in the meantime - well, I've been trying to embed the video of Mark DeRosa literally leaping into Ryan Theriot's arms after scoring the game-winning run yesterday, but it's eluding me.  Anyway, it's on the front page of cubs.com and will hopefully be here when I get home later, because it is full

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-52786044393770750422008-07-12T07:02:00.005-05:002008-07-25T01:12:37.044-05:00

The state of my life: when thunderstorms woke me up this morning, I was dreaming about Mike Fontenot.  He giving some kind of press conference, talking, I would assume, about his grown-man strength, but sadly I can't really remember that part.  I'm almost sure we were married in this dream.  Perhaps I should stop thinking about him so much, but what can you do, really?Also: subconscious, next

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-28047550008145782952008-07-10T22:28:00.005-05:002008-07-10T22:37:20.118-05:00

Let's not talk too much about today's game, which was just weird.  Instead, let's enjoy the greatest picture I've seen yet of Mike Fontenot: he really is Mighty Mike!  According to the wisdom of Ryan "The Riot" Theriot, quoted in a recent MLB news article, "[Fontenot]'s always been able to hit the ball out of the park.  It might have something to do with his arms being shorter than anybody else's

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-29700488810186346372008-07-10T00:10:00.029-05:002008-07-10T01:30:30.913-05:00

Although I'm a born-and-bred Chicagoan, I've lived in Denver for the past two years, the first time I've ever lived in a different state.  I just came home last month and am currently hanging out at my parents' house until I start Jesus School in August, at which time I'll be living in their grad-student housing.For the most part, I was glad to leave Denver.  I'm one of those Chicagoans that

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-34599956228500129972008-07-09T17:07:00.005-05:002008-07-09T17:18:45.165-05:00

Quite a while ago, my friend R. showed me this hilarious picture from Out in Center Field of Manny Ramirez in front of the terrifying A's Victory Van.  As one of the commenters points out, "It looks like the van is hitting him."  This image apparently lodged in my subconscious, because my first reaction on hearing about the Harden/Gaudin deal was a confused image of the players from Oakland

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-13138842722346812622008-07-08T22:56:00.003-05:002008-07-09T17:19:02.865-05:00

A big day for the Cubs, of course, aside from winning tonight's game against the Reds (more on that shortly), as they picked up Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the A's.  Do any of you fans of teams from the AL know anything about Harden?  His stats look great, so I just hope he stays healthy.  I hate to lose Sean Gallagher, though, who I have a terrible soft spot for, partly because of his

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-30450663722416647802008-07-07T15:32:00.008-05:002008-07-09T17:19:54.767-05:00

Well, I promised myself when I started this blog that I would not refer to enormous grown men as "adorable," so all I will say is that this article is very endearing: Bond between Cubs' pitchers is strong.  The best part is probably the following, from relief pitcher Scott Eyre: "We look out for each other," Eyre said of the pitchers. "Like [Saturday] night, it was a tough loss for [Wood]. You

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6692909179910041166.post-35201046719123826912008-07-02T16:25:00.010-05:002008-07-07T01:33:51.044-05:00

Hello!  I'm your blog owner.  The sidebar already says some of this, but: I'm a fairly newly-minted Episcopalian (baptized last Easter) who's about to start an M.A. in Pastoral Studies at a Catholic university (I'm not entirely sure how that happened).  I'm also quite fond of baseball.  I've had a livejournal for about a hundred years, but most of the friends I have made there are not

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13944675098827582500noreply@blogger.com0