Free $everance?

Until Nov. 15, my $everance publisher ENC Press is offering a free download of $everance as an e-book (PDF). For details, visit their page - www.facebook.com/ENCPress - and click on the Welcome tab under their profile pic.

Steve Bartman Night?

Looks like the "Catching Hell" special on ESPN is having repercussions in the hockey world too. A minor league hockey team in Fort Wayne is having a Steve Bartman night. They're leaving a ticket for him at the gate, and anyone who dresses like Bartman (from that infamous night) will get in free.

Somehow, I don't think Bartman would approve.

Details are here.

Theo Is "Very Interested"

That's Theo Epstein, the general manager that brought the Boston Red Sox two World Series championships in the past seven years after they had ZERO for the previous 86 years. And the thing he's allegedly "very interested" in is the Cubs general manager job.

Sign him up now. I'm serious.

I have friends that live in the Boston area and they've soured on Theo, and blame him for the demise of the team this past year, but it seems to me that they've got a ridiculously short memory in Boston. They've already fired the manager of those two championship teams, and now they're ready for the GM to leave too.

We'll take them both off your hands.

We already know what Francona would look like wearing a Cubs hat...

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This week's column is called "Hand-Me-Downs".

You can read it here.

Final picture from Italy

This is the last picture I'm going to post from my Italy trip. (I'm saving a half dozen or so for the magazine articles I'm writing).

This is Pesaro's fountain at night. We left six hours after this picture was taken.

The Streets of Italy

The thing that I really found interesting in this part of Italy was how narrow the streets were. This one was in Urbino...

The Streets of Italy

The thing that I really found interesting in this part of Italy was how narrow the streets were. This one was in Fano...

The Streets of Italy

The thing that I really found interesting in this part of Italy was how narrow the streets were. This one was in Loreto.

The Streets of Italy

The thing that I really found interesting in this part of Italy was how narrow the streets were. This one was in Pesaro.

The Ceilings of Italy

After spending time in Italy, I realized that I've been wasting all the ceiling space in my home by painting them plain white.

This might be another way to go...

The Cubs on Catalina Island

From 1921-1951, the Cubs had their spring training on Catalina Island...

The Ceilings of Italy

After spending time in Italy, I realized that I've been wasting all the ceiling space in my home by painting them plain white.

This might be another way to go...

The Ceilings of Italy

After spending time in Italy, I realized that I've been wasting all the ceiling space in my home by painting them plain white.

This might be another way to go...

The Ceilings of Italy

After spending time in Italy, I realized that I've been wasting all the ceiling space in my home by painting them plain white.

This might be another way to go...

The Ceilings of Italy

After spending time in Italy, I realized that I've been wasting all the ceiling space in my home by painting them plain white.

This might be another way to go...

Legless Torso Book Promotion

I just posted my weekly Suburban Dad contribution to Kim Strickland's City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. This week's column is about the unique way I handled the challenges of book promotion when my first novel came out.

You can read it here.

Bridget in Italy

In Pesaro at night, with her husband.

Bridget in Italy

At the old Roman wall in Fano...

Bridget in Italy

On one of Pesaro's wide streets. Yes, cars did drive here...

Bridget in Italy

Overlooking the Adriatic...