Events

...but only because I got to watch it from inside my apartment. A major squall drove through Chicago this evening with 90 km/h winds (including two small tornadoes) and dime-size hail reported. My neighbors across the street have lost power, too. We didn't, but the Inner Drive Technology International Data Center battery backups complained loudly through the worst of the storm. It's gone now, which makes Parker happy for two reasons: he didn't enjoy the storm itself, and he really, really wanted to go...

Via friend RU, a blog about...well, really hideous cakes.

Yes, we still have to wait almost 169 days and 3 hours until he's sworn in. That aside, today is Barack Obama's birthday.

The four-park sprint (and seeing some really great—and really patient—friends along the way) has ended. I'm off in a few minutes to restock my fridge and, at 4pm on the nose, to pick up Parker.

B&N, Raleigh, NC

Sweeping Milwaukee into Lake Michigan? Does anyone, any longer, doubt the Cubs are the real thing this year?

B&N, Raleigh, NC

My four-game sprint through part of the 30-Park Geas ended last night, with another home-team loss. Here's what that looked like at 9:40 (yes, the game was that short): Mid-game, instead of the customary sausage race, they had a president's race. Apparently Teddy hasn't won yet—possibly because of things like this, where he's being sacked by Screech the Eagle: Obligatory home-plate shot of the star player: And, finally, obligatory shot of the main gate, but this time from a different angle than usual:

Apparently, I'm anathema to home teams. I've just attended another home-team loss, this time the Phillies beating the Nationals 2-1. I will say, however, that when it's 2-1 at the top of the 8th, it looks really bad for the park to empty out. Yes, the 8th: guys, one run in the 9th is not unheard of. Sheesh. With fans like that, it's hard to feel sympathy. Photos tomorrow morning (probably). Quick update: The Cubs are 7-0 over the Brewers in the top of the 9th at this writing, which more than makes up...