Italia

I'm on assignment this week in the Marche region of Italy, which is along the Adriatic. (Seriously, I am. Who knew this writing thing could be so fun...er...I mean grueling.)

I'll be here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

I'll be back this coming weekend.

Coming soon: An official announcement about my second novel. Until then, Ciao!

(P.S. That photo is not taken in Italy. It's at Elvis' grave at Graceland. It's the closest I could find to a religious picture--I'll be seeing lots of churches in Italy.)

This week at Just One Bad Century

I'm out of the country this week, but just because I'm gone, and the Cubs haven't shown up for months, doesn't mean that we aren't still going strong at Just One Bad Century.

We'll still have our weekly Cubs Hall of Famer: Bruce Sutter

We'll still have our weekly Great Nickname: The Rajah

We'll still have two Tales from a Bad Century: Bill Veeck Jr. and Norman Rockwell Nails the Cubs

We'll still feature Sights & Sounds

And of course, go back This Week in 1908, and This Week in 1945.

But even more importantly, our souvenir stand remains open, and wouldn't you like to buy one of our snazzy shirts or hats?

That's what I thought: Buy those here.

Father Knows Nothing

I'm posting this week's Father Knows Nothing a day early because I'm leaving the country tomorrow. In this week's column, I discover a new sleeping disorder.

You can read it here.

GM Hunt

Fox Sports analyzes the Cubs search for a big-name GM.

Sounds like they don't think any of them will be coming to Chicago.

Beer

My latest article is out in SHORE Magazine, and it was a grueling piece of reporting, let me tell you. I had to tour all of the microbrews in northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan.

You can read it here.

The Lone Ranger

It debuted on television on this day in 1949. I got hooked on it when I was a boy. WGN showed it on Sunday mornings, followed by the Cisco Kid. My son Johnny loved it when he was a boy too.

Why? I'm not sure I can explain it. There's just something about the Lone Ranger.

9/11 with Eddie Munster

I just posted my weekly Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. It's about my very strange memories of 9/11.

You can read it here.

Green White Soccer Club

My father was one of the founders of the Green White Soccer Club in Chicago in 1956. The current president of the club (my sister) has asked me to write the history of Green White, and I've agreed to do it.

But here's how I'm doing it. Every month I will feature another year in Green White history on a blog I've created just for this. If you are also a Green White member, or were once a member, please feel free to comment on each month's offering. It's like a group project. I was only born in 1963, so I haven't been around for all of this history. I need help. I've interviewed about a dozen of the old-timers already, but I need to interview a few more. I'm hoping at the end of five years (in time for the club's 60th anniversary), we'll have an actual book-worthy accumulation of stories and photos.

The first one (1956) has already been posted.

Smells like Teen Spirit

From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac this morning...

"September 13, 1991…Geffen Records threw a party to launch Nirvana's single "Smells Like Teen Spirit." The band was thrown out of their own party after starting a food fight."

It's still a good song, even if it's 20 years old today and I still can't understand most of the lyrics...

The Monkees

45 years ago today America was introduced to the Monkees. You may notice something slightly different about the opening theme song of that first show. It's sung by Boyce & Hart instead of the Monkees themselves...

Oktoberfest

Last night we had a mini-Oktoberfest at the Kaempfer house. I went the extra mile to present an authentic atmosphere. It's the first time I've worn the lederhosen anywhere other than on stage with Landecker and the Legends. And yes, that mini-keg of Spaten is long gone.

Father Knows Nothing

My latest Father Knows Nothing column has been posted at NWI Parent. This week's column is about my wedding rings. (Yes, that's plural)

You can read it here.

Star Trek

45 years ago today Star Trek began its five year mission to explore new worlds and civilizations. I was a big fan of the show, though not quite at the go-to-conventions level. I saved the extreme geekitude for things like baseball cards and the Beatles.

This song was put together for the Howard Stern show a few years ago, in honor of Howard's frequent guest George Takei. Pretty funny.

$everance

Between now and September 28th, my publisher ENC Press is doing a contest giveaway with my novel "$everance" at the Good Reads website.

If you'd like a chance to win the book, click here.

(At the very least, click on the Good Reads site and give me a nice review. You know I'd do it for you.)

Embarrassing Confession Time

My weekly contribution to the City Mom blog at Chicago Now is posted. It's called "Embarrassing Confession Time."

You can read it here.

Dylan Gardner

I've known this young lad since he was born. He's the son of Landecker and the Legends guitarist Mark Gardner, and he was born around the same time as my oldest son Tommy.

We used to go to Mark's house every year for a Legends Christmas party, and little Dylan would be playing the drums in their basement (I seem to remember him doing this at a ridiculous age like 3 or 4). Dylan has also appeared on stage with Landecker & the Legends, most recently in 2009 when he performed the Doors song "Roadhouse Blues" at the age of 13.

The Gardners moved out to Arizona shortly after that show, but it's obvious that Dylan's musical career is just getting started. He plays guitar, bass, and piano on the song. I'm very impressed with the youngster.

Happy Labor Day!

Father Knows Nothing

My Father Knows Nothing column for this week has been posted at NWI Parent. This week's column is called "Emerging from Hibernation."

You can read it here.

This week in 1908, 1945

Every weekend JOBC goes back in time to the last year the Cubs won the World Series (1908) and the NL Pennant (1945).

This week in 1908, the Wright Brothers take the world`s first one hour flight, Frank Chance celebrates his 31st birthday, and the Cubs are still in third place behind the Pirates and the Giants.

This week in 1945, Gen. MacArthur accepts Japan's official surrender, the Palmer Castle is razed in Chicago, and Cubs third baseman Stan Hack gets his 2000th career hit.

Feelin' Hot, Hot, Cold

Temperatures could reach 100 degrees in Chicago today.

In my house they vary. Upstairs in the bedrooms, it will be about 175 degrees. The curtains should be melting by noon. On the ground floor by the thermostat, it will be about 75 degrees. And in the basement, where you'll find me, I'll be lucky if it gets up to 40 degrees.

Yesterday I had to warm my hands on the dog's belly to get the feeling back in my fingertips. She's not a big fan of that, by the way.