Between the Ears: Think, but don't think so much

It's been about 60 days since I left Seattle and the past two months have let me slow down a bit, enjoy time with family and friends, and do some things I've wanted to do but didn't have the time, interest, or access to prior to the move. The blog is one of those things, since writing is something I've always enjoyed, and its kind of fun to have the freedom to write about whatever I feel like.

To my surprise, there's been interest in the blog from friends (and a few randoms) here in Chicago and elsewhere, which means I'm either selling the hell out of myself (and the blog) or folks are finding whatever I'm putting together reasonably interesting. The interviews with friends will continue, but I figured I'd spend today with a field trip between my ears to let you know what I'm thinking about.

I've mentioned my plan for life several times, so I'm not going to revisit the whole thing (you can read about it here if you want), but one of the things I wanted to push myself with was reading more in 2009. My older sister has always been a huge reader, and when I mentioned I was looking for some fiction to read she suggested Blindness by Jose Saramago. The story was turned in to a film a few years ago, which I am not going to watch until I'm done with the book, but its essentially a story about a contagious epidemic of blindness.

As you can imagine, the story gets chaotic quickly as individuals who are accustomed to having vision have to adapt to life without the ability to see. The story is compelling, and its given me an appreciation for my ability to see things, but there was a quote from the book that I found fitting given the choices I've made throughout life. Gramattically, Mr Saramago doesn't believe in punctuation, but I think you'll get the jist of it:

"if, before every action, we were to begin by weighing up the consequences, thinking about them in earnest, first the immediate consequences, then the probable, then the possible, the the imaginable ones, we should never move beyond the point where our first thought brought us to a hault."

Looking back on the past 32 years, it wouldn't have hurt if I thought through some of the consequences before making a few of my decisions, but ultimately I'm glad I'm more comfortable taking risk than the alternative of being overly cautious. All of my choices haven't played out the way I hoped, and it'd be easy to play the shoulda-coulda-woulda game on many of them, but the quote from the book was a nice way to capture my philsophy in a few sentences.

Maybe its because I've experienced a few of those decisions turn out not so well and found that the "worst case scenario" isn't so bad after all. Or maybe its because I've had a few of them work out better than I could have anticipated. Or better yet, there's probably something in my brain (or soul, or psyche, or gut) that likes the unpredictability that comes with taking chances. I'm sure there's an amateur (or professional) psychologist out there with a more scientific explanation for why I've turned out this way, but that's me in a nutshell.

I know everyone can't or doesn't have that same tolerance for risk, and if we all did, the world would probably turn to chaos like the fictional city in Blindness. But we can all take risks in our daily lives, and I've learned through experience that the more I think about every possible negative outcome the less likely I am to do anything. Overthinking usually ends up with me sitting still, which ultimately doesn't do well for life between the ears.

Today's risk involves going to an informational session this evening, sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. The Trib (like all other newspapers) is struggling with subscription/advertising, and have begun a section in the Thursday editions of the paper filled with articles written by "everyday citizens" about events, observations, and activities in local communities. Maybe it'll help solve their problem, but my guess is it probably won't save the newspaper.

I'm not sure they'll be thrilled about my Dear Highland Park entry from a few weeks ago on the blog, but I figure its not going to hurt for me to at least explore the idea of writing for a broader audience than whoever checks in here from time to time.

Hopefully today's entry inspires you to take on some risk you've been thinking about for a while and I always like to hear stories about folks taking chances. Friends and family members can help if you're nervous on taking risk on your own, but give it a shot, even if its something small. Off the top of my head, here's a few ideas if you're interested in pushing yourself today or sometime soon....:

• Introduce yourself to a stranger. Try your local barista, mail carrier, or a neighbor.
• Eat at a restuarant you've never been to, even if it means driving a little farther than you're used to.
• Read an article or watch a television program about something you know nothing about.
• Try a physical activity you've never done before or haven't tried in a while.
• Explore a neighborhood
• Make a plan for the weekend that invovles doing something "off the grid" or away from your usual surroundings
• Create something; whether its art, music, writing, or a home improvement project, do something with your hands or brain
  
• Check out a random concert, even if you've never heard of the band
  
• Pick up the phone (or email) an old friend you haven't been in touch with for a long time
  

And drop me a line if you try something new to let me know how it goes....you might give me some ideas for cool things to do as well....

Featured Friend: Roger Daltrey

There are people I've met in life who strike me as folks who "get it." Getting it doesn't necessarily make these people smarter, more charismatic, funnier or successful, but grounded in what is most important in life and treating people well.

I originally met this week's featured friend while coaching Junior High basketball in 2001, and although I knew very little about him I could sense he "got it." Over time, Roger Daltrey (name changed to protect his anonymity...but not really) and I became close friends and I began to understand why he was so grounded. He and his family lost their first child to a brain tumor a few years before we met, a tragic event I could never wrap my head around. Yet Roger was always upbeat, gracious, and humble, when it would have been easy to hang his head and walk around with a chip on his shoulder.

His perspective and outlook has helped guide me through some of my own challenging moments, but our friendship isn't just a series of deep, philosophical discussions. He's a great guy to play pick up basketball with (he was the man behind the famous MJ pick up game), talk about music/movies, and he's got some great stories about his life that can make any meal entertaining. He is also the toughest competitor I know in just about anything; believe me when I say you'd much rather be playing with him than against him in anything.

We sat down for a few hours this past weekend to chat about just about everything...so here's the General (in abbreviated format).

Growing Up

City of Birth: Chicago, Edgewater Hospital

DOB: 4/20/61

Father’s Occupation: Attorney and later in life Sales

Mother’s Occupation: Teaching

What was the best thing about batting where you were in the birth order of your family?

Having an older sister made it easier, especially when I went to college. She was a more intense student and helped me focus, but I was a horrible student.

Favorite Meal Your Mom or Dad Cooked:

Dad: Meatloaf or Shrimp DeJonge

Mom: Lasagna or Beaf Stroggonof

High School: Niles North; Skokie, IL

Best friend before age 18: Mike Mike (name kept anonymous); we got to know each other in junior high. He was a little bit of everything; loyal, athletic, troublemaker, selfless and still is to this day.

How would you describe your group of friends? Jocks? Troublemakers?

Jocks and troublemakers, not so much in terms of trouble with the law but things like egging houses, getting in fights, that kinda stuff. Well one time, we egged a house of a coworker and they got my plates off my car which involved the cops. The cops came to my house and we had a story that somehow stacked up, but I didn’t tell my parents the truth about it until recently. That may have been the closest I ever got to getting in real trouble.

Fondest memory of your home growing up:

We lived in a split-level home and the family room was where we had a huge couch where the TV was. That was also the same couch I watched the Bears lose in Week 13 to the Dolphins during the '85 season.

Sport you wish you played in high school if you could do it over again:

Basketball. I didn’t really play until college and post college and I was really in to gymnastics growing up. I’d go to overnight camp for gymnastics up in Traverse City during summers and it was a 12 month commitment. I was strong on the rings and did really well leading up to the state finals, but wasn’t ready to go when it came to it.

Your Family

How, when, and where did you and your wife meet?

It was during our first semester freshman year at U of I and it was sometime in early October. She was wearing an SDT sweater but I had never seen her and she didn’t live in my dorm. I was doing a Psych project with my roommate at the library and she showed up and immediately we started talking for about an hour about anything. I turned to my roommate at that time and told him “I’m going to marry her.”

Our first date didn’t happen until Thanksgiving break a few weeks later, but she had a few other guys in the mix for a while and we even broke up at some point. We ran in to each other at a summer party a few months later and there was an immediate connection once again, we dated, then headed back to school only to break up again. The following summer we stayed in touch and eventually she reached back out to me and then we continued to date until getting engaged two years out of college. Maybe we should have waited a little bit longer, but ultimately got married on June 16, 1985.

You and I have been through our fair of “shit” which is probably part of why we relate well to each other. Some of our challenges related to health issues that were out of our control, which can be a frustrating experience. A lot of folks mentioned to me that “everything happens for a reason” to help me get through tough times, and it wasn’t until recently that I began thinking more about that statement. In your opinion, does everything happen for a reason?

My perspective (and our family's perspective) is that with every individual it is not whether or not they face adversity but when. It’s inevitable. There are two types of people; those who allow the adversity to define them and those who respond and handle the adversity. When Rory was diagnosed we knew he didn’t have a good chance to make it. We never had to explicitly say it, but we committed to living each day to its fullest.

One of our most memorable vacations was when we went to New York and stayed the weekend at the Plaza Hotel and did all the tourists shit. A buggy ride in Central Park, a ferry to the Statue of Liberty, Wall street, Serendipity, a Mets game, etc.

In terms of everything happening for a reason, I don’t agree with it. I think it’s a self fulfilling statement, and a way of justifying anything. I’m having lunch with you right now, is that a “reason”?

Rory’s death still makes no sense, and still fucking sucks. I’m still with it every day. He was a little bit like Romeo (oldest son, name changed), and Rory was the kind of kid who was always looking out for others. It was stuff you couldn’t teach, as well as a personality and curiosity that was amazing; especially with planets and astronomy. He loved gallileo, could tell you the flag of any country, and was a great “old soul.”

(Editor's Note: I never had a chance to meet Rory, but his spirit lives on as part of a Foundation set up to support research for other children with similar tumors. For those on Facebook, make sure to join the group by clicking here)

What is the best thing about raising a family in Highland Park?

Schools and the community. Despite all the shit people say about it, there is a ton of support for building a community which is indescrible.

What would you change to make Highland Park a better place for you and others in the town?

I joke with friends from Skokie or other places that sometimes folks in Highland Park aren’t grounded. I just wish folks judged each other by things other than address, car, or income and some of those things start at home, so I’m not sure what could be done about that.

What is your favorite thing to do as a family?

There’s a few, but my favorite thing is spending time with them in Florida. We are all together with no friends, no school, activities, just us. We spend time with movies, dinners, swimming, fishing, etc. Playing “Name the Movie” with the family in the hot tub is also hilarious…I’m really the inventor of “Scene It”, and if I were smart I would have created the game.

Give me your top breakfast, lunch, and dinner spots in or around Chicago that everyone should go to at least once in their life.

Breakfast: Jack’s Cozy Café in Kenosha is excellent. It’s a special place and a bit of a drive, but its great. Sarkis is also excellent.

Lunch: Superdawg

Dinner: Probably Gibson’s for the people watching factor

Education/Career

Why did you choose to attend Illinois? Were there other schools you applied to or considered? What did you study there?

I went to Illinois because my sister went there. I looked at Northen Illinois and Indiana, but I just went wherever. I studied Finance because I was an accounting major and I moved to finance.

Are you still close with any of the guys you were in a fraternity with?

I was a ZBT, but wasn’t really in to the whole thing, and haven’t stayed in touch with many of them. My best friends are the guys I knew from elementary school, high school, growing up. It’s a Skokie thing.

What is your fondest memory of your freshman year of college?

Meeting my wife.

How would you describe yourself as a student? Were you strong in math? English? Science? Shop?

I was strong at doing the least amount of work to get the greatest possible result. I took full advantage of being in college. I was a cheerleader, and I don’t readily admit to that because of the present connotations, but it was part of my gymnastics background and love of sports. I was on the field for Bear Bryant’s last game, got to meet John Wooden, I was in Salt Lake City to see Illinois-Kansas State, even Dean Smith, who I saw smoking in the tunnel pre game.

What do you remember most about your first year out of college, working as a trader?

I met a guy through softball who hired me as a runner for $99 a week for Chicago Grain at the Mercantile Exchange. Then became a phone clerk for First Options, and I went to the CBOT for ’85 and ’86 and came to a crossroads and gave myself six months to see how it played out. By April of 1987 it started to click but I was freaked out and intimidated at first on the floor. I had no idea what was going on, but really grew while I was at the Merc.

What do you miss the most since leaving the trading floor on a daily basis?

I miss the guys. I miss the competition. It was truly a “Kill or be Killed” environment. I never had ‘career defining’ days (good or bad) and had discipline to how I traded. But that took me a while. I was not the kind of guy to take breaks or go easy on it; I was addicted to the market and trading, which wasn’t always good. I would be on the phone while on vacations with kids in Disneyworld trading and looking back I think, “what the fuck was I doing?”

When Rory got sick, things changed and I instantly pulled back and got off the floor. I was in a position where I could spend every waking hour with him every day and it took me a while to get back on the floor but my outlook was never the same. I haven’t spent a day on the floor since January of 2002, I left the floor that day and have not been back since. And I never see myself going back.

People ask what the best decision I ever made, which was my understanding of how the industry changed with electronic trading and my decision to NOT try and replicate what I did on a computer.

What makes a good trader?

In my era it was competitiveness, intuition, and balls. While a lot of folks are spending time analyzing there is something to be said for a competitive spirit.

If you had to do it all over again and trading was NOT an option, what three professions could you see yourself doing?

1. Marketing/Sales in some capacity

2. Teaching

3. Banking

As someone who lived and breathed financial services, were you surprised by how quickly the country fell in to its current economic state?

I did have some concerns about some of the funds that involved some intricate tactics. But none of us probably saw all of this happening. My sister drilled in to me at a very young age the importance of having a mindset of having a conservative fashion, especially when it came to taxes and my own finances.

What advice will you give your eldest son when it comes time to decide on a career path?

I’m going to tell him to follow his heart. We will direct him educationally in terms of the importance of furthering his education, but its up to him and his passion. I might see him teaching or coaching on some way, just because of how the younger kids greet and respond to him. He’s a natural with young kids that there’s no reason to think that won’t continue as he gets older.

Entertainment

You and your wife watch almost as many movies as my mom. Name three movies you’ve seen in the past year that everyone should see:

1 In Bruges

2 Tell No One

3 Religulous

Who would play you if they made a movie of your life?

James Caan resembled me in my earlier more intense days. (Editor’s Note: Jeremy Piven would be my choice)

What was your first rock show? Where was it at?

1977 at the Ampitheater it was Rick Derringer opening for Kansas. I was about 15 years old and it was my first time exposed to people getting stoned/smoking pot.

What band do you wish you had seen in concert but never had the chance?

The Who with Keith Moon on the drums. The Beatles would be cool, but that’d be more of a notch in the belt. The Band is another one, especially after seeing the last Waltz 4,000 times.

What is your favorite venue for a concert in the Chicago area?

Depends who we’re seeing, but I like so many places. One of the best Chicago experience shows was in ’95 or ’94 seeing Joe Grisheky and the house rockers at the Park West and Bruce Springsteen showed up.

Give me three artists/albums/songs you’ve purchased on iTunes within the past year.

I still try to support my friend who owns a record store so I still like to buy the actual CD. Jackson Browne’s new release, Springsteen’s Working on a Dream, and Pete Yorn’s new one.

Sports

If I gave you a $10,000 gift certificate for tickets to any sporting event(s), what would you choose? Why?

The Masters would probably be one. The British Open. Wimbeldon. The Olympics.

You’re a huge fan of Duke Basketball and have a strong relationship with Coach K. Describe what makes him such a strong leader on the court. What about off the court?

On the court: beyond pure Xs and Ox its his ability to recognize and deal with his individuals strengths; to enhance and bring out the best in them individually and collectively.

Off the floor: probably the same kinds of things, but his honesty, loyalty and integrity are greater than anyone I’ve ever met.

We coached 11 and 12 year old kids together for about three years, without a ton of wins. Why do you think we were so unsuccessful?

Bad players

It has been a while but what was my biggest strength as a coach?

Wit, a good knowledge of the game

What could I have been better at?

Getting in to it with opposing coaches.

You’re closely involved with High School basketball as an assistant coach and have seen some great players. Who is the best high school player you have coached against? What made him so great?

Hands down Jon Scheyer is the best I’ve coached against. His talents are obvious, but his intangibles like instinct, court sense, will make him tough to compete against.

You were the man behind the MJ pick up game, which I recently wrote about. What is your favorite memory of that evening?

Walking in to the gym and seeing the looks on yours and Ben’s faces, and Ben saying, “is that who I think it is?” And for a random Tuesday night pickup game, it was great seeing his competitive juices come out.

You give me lots of shit about my love for DePaul basketball, which is completely justified given how awful they have been. But if you were asked to provide advice on returning the program to relevance, what would be your suggestion(s)?

I’d say tapping in to the local talent.

We both watched the Bulls dominate in the 90’s, which was a dream for a basketball nut. Describe for me the most memorable game you were present for during one of the bulls championship runs? Why was it so memorable?

I think it was Game 2 of the ’98 playoffs I was on the floor with Rory and we watched the bulls hold down Utah to like 60 points.

You also sat on the floor at the United Center, just a few rows in front of where my dad has his tickets. Who was the most entertaining player to chat with while sitting on the floor? Did you ever get the impulse to coach from your seat like you do when you’re on the bench?

Iverson. Partially because I knew him, but he was always entertaining. Reggie Miller was funny as well. I coach a lot though, I’m calling out screens, talking to officials, etc. And I have/had a good relationships with a lot of them, Joey Crawford, Steve Javie, and Danny Crawford all were willing to chat and talk about calls.

List your dream starting 5 of current NBA players.

PG: Chris Paul

SG LeBron

SF Kobe
PF Dwight Howard

C: Chris Bosh or Carmelo. I know they aren’t true 5’s but we’ll figure it out.

List your dream starting 5 of all time.

PG Magc

SG MJ

SF: Dr J

PF: Bird

C: Walton

We’re both Cub fans, whether we like it or not and that means we’ve had our fair share of gut wrenching losses. Does it get easier with age to handle the losing?

No, it doesn’t get easier. My theory on the Cubs is it has become a culture of losing and Wrigley Field has become more of a destination than the team. Win or Lose, everyone is at Wrigley having a great time and people don’t seem to care as much. Fans demand a winner elsewhere, and we need to demand the same thing here. I’d love to see people stop going.

What is your favorite part of Wrigley from a visual or experiential standpoint?

I used to love the ivy without ads, but mostly it’s the beauty and proximity of seats relative to the field.

Completing marathons has to be a great feeling, and you’ve been handed shitty weather each time you ran in Chicago. Weather aside, what was the best moment for you running in your marathon(s)?

The training was great with my wife and best friends. I’m still waiting to complete one without having an injury or crawling to the finish line.

Featured Friend of the Week: Juliet Mike

This week's featured friend is a buddy I've known for about 20 years, since we attended Edgewood Middle School. Juliet Mike (name changed to protect his anonymity...sort of) and I have been through the full range of what life has to offer, including a little bit of trouble and a lot of laughs. If you've got anything going on, you want Juliet Mike there--he's inch for inch and pound for pound the most restless guy in Chicago which means there's never a dull moment. I've seen (with witnesses) the guy order from a Skymall Magazine before, which paints an accurate picture for how well he sits still for long periods. And I would never dream of going to Vegas or the state of Wisconsin without at least asking if he'd go--there's really not a funnier guy to travel with.

The picture above was one of the funnier nights; Halloween in Madison during our Freshman year of college. I returned from the University of Tampa with bleach blonde, and he joined the fray by attempting to bleach his thick, black hair as well. This picture is taken in the common area in his dorm at UW-Madison, we're probably watching the World Series between the Braves and Indians (don't ask how or why I remember that). We all look ridiculously stupid and young, I'm looking a bit stupider than the others.

Juliet Mike has a great family with his wife Sierra, including two daughters Bravo and Tango. He's a very successful lawyer who recently started up his own practice. If you or a family member ever need family law consultation, I would have no reservations trusting him with my life.

Juliet Mike spoke (actually wrote) about a number of topics below, and for the record, I have only edited minor portions of his responses. His response to me did come in All-Caps; which also gives you a sense for what Julie Mike's personality is like. This is a wild ass guess, but I doubt JM is a huge fan of the "inside voice", break pedals, or yoga.

Family Stuff

Tell me one thing you (or your wife) do as a parent that reminds you of your mom and one thing that reminds you of your dad.

I CAN'T REALLY PINPOINT A SPECIFIC THING BUT I THINK I HAVE A LAID BACK PARENTING STYLE THAT I LEARNED FROM BEING RAISED BY MY PARENTS. THEY WERE NEVER STRICT AND RARELY EVER HAD TO DISCIPLINE ME OR MY SISTER. OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE TIMES I MADE BAD CHOICES, AND MY PARENTS WERE SURE TO LET ME KNOW, BUT OVERALL THEY NEVER REALLY HAD TO PUNISH ME OR JAIME. JAIME AND I BOTH TURNED OUT OK, SO I HOPE THAT MY KIDS WILL LIVE AND LEARN BY EXAMPLE AND GROW UP TO BE GOOD PEOPLE.

What was your favorite meal growing up?

HARD SHELL TACOS AND MAKING OMELETTES FOR MY FRIENDS.

You guys never had pets growing up, would you ever have one as an adult? If not, how come?

NEVER. TOO MUCH WORK. TOO MESSY. IT'S ENOUGH WORK RAISING THE ANIMALS COMMONLY KNOWN AS CHILDREN...NO NEED IN MY MIND TO RAISE OTHER ANIMALS. AND WHO NEEDS PETS WHEN YOU HAVE THE WEBER FAMILY ZOO NEARBY?

You and your wife have two very young girls, what are you going to tell them to look for in a man when it comes time to date? What questions are you going to ask any guys who take your daughters out?

MY GIRLS WILL NOT BE DATING

Your family has a strong allegiance to the White Sox and I respect your loyalty. Despite growing up around mainly cub fans you've never wavered on it and I respect that. Would you be OK if a child dated/married a cub fan?

IF SOME DAY, 50 OR 60 YEARS FROM NOW, I SOMEHOW ALLOWED MY GIRLS TO DATE OR EVEN MARRY, IT WOULD BE OK TO DATE OR MARRY A CUB FAN, AS LONG AS THEY SIGNED A PRENUP ACKNOWLEDGING THAT ALL CHILDREN WOULD BE RAISED AS SOX FANS.

Career/Education

You and I began our professional sales careers together at age 15, selling shoes at Lebo's Shoe Outlet. My funniest memory has to be playing basketball in the store while customers were looking for shoes. What is yours?

I JUST REMEMBER THAT MANAGER (FORGOT HIS NAME). HE WAS OUR PARENT'S AGE. KINDA FELT BAD FOR HIM. I JUST REMEMBER YOU AND I REALLY PISSING HIM OFF ON A DAILY BASIS. I ALWAYS PICTURED HIM THINKING "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS MY LIFE!'

(Editor's Note: If you can, visually picture Richard Dreyfus from 'What About Bob' with the personality of your high school chemistry teacher. Then throw two fifteen year olds who could give two sh*ts about selling shoes into his store. Calamity ensues.)

Who was your favorite High School teacher? Why?

DON'T THINK I REALLY HAD A FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER. AND THINKING ABOUT IT, I CAN'T REALLY REMEMBER THAT MANY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS ASIDE FROM GOLF LIMA (WHO ACTUALLY CALLED MY PARENTS TO COMPLAIN THAT I WAS BEING DISRUPTIVE IN CLASS). FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, GOLF IS THE MOTHER OF ONE OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS, ROMEO. AS FOR MY FAVORITE TEACHER, THAT WOULD BE MR. BRAVO FROM 5TH GRADE. HE WAS THE GENIUS BEHIND "BOX HOUSES". BASICALLY GROUPS OF STUDENTS WERE ALLOWED TO USE REFRIGERATOR BOXES TO CREATE A HOUSE-LIKE STRUCTURE THAT CONTAINED THE DESKS OF THE STUDENTS. MY HOUSE WAS CALLED THE SPORTSCENTER WITH A FEW OTHER GUYS, INCLUDING JULIET BRAVO.

Other than UW-Madison, what other colleges did you explore/apply to?

NEVER REALLY WANTED TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT MY PARENTS MADE ME APPLY TO A FEW OTHER SCHOOLS JUST IN CASE I DIDN'T GET INTO MADISON. I THINK I APPLIED TO ILLINOIS AND INDIANA.

What was your favorite year at Madison? Why?

HONESTLY, EVERY YEAR WAS AMAZING BUT THE MOST MEMORABLE PROBABLY WAS FRESHMAN YEAR JUST BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS AWAY FROM HOME. ALSO WAS THE YEAR I MET ALL OF MY CLOSE COLLEGE FRIENDS, WHO I REMAIN CLOSE WITH TODAY.

Name 3 things someone should do if they have 24 hours in Madison:

1. GO TO A FOOTBALL GAME AT CAMP RANDALL STADIUM

2. GO OUT DRINKING ON STATE STREET AND HANG OUT ON STATE STREET AT BAR TIME

3. DRINK AT THE UNION TERRACE ON A NICE SUMMER DAY

Why did you choose to practice law? What other careers paths did you consider?

REALLY CHOSE LAW BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE OF WHAT ELSE I WANTED TO DO. I OBVIOUSLY AM GLAD I CHOSE THE PROFESSION AND LOVE WHAT I DO, BUT I MOST LIKELY ENDED UP A LAWYER BECAUSE MY DAD WAS A LAWYER AND I FIGURED WHY NOT FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.

The big textbooks you see in law offices, do those things really get used any more, or do you use the web to research prior cases?

THOSE BIG TEXTBOOKS ARE NEVER USED. AT LEAST AT MY LAW OFFICES. THESE DAYS, ALL LEGAL RESEARCH CAN BE DONE ONLINE.

You've started your own family law practice, which includes handling divorce cases. I'm sure you've heard many reasons for why couples are getting divorced, what would you say the top three reasons are? Why do you think those issues are so common?

TOP REASONS FOR DIVORCE USUALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, CONCERN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER):

1. INFIDELITY

2. MONEY

3. GROWING APART OVER THE YEARS (FOR WHATEVER REASON)

Every industry has problems. Sports has the steroid issue. Politics has corruption. Healthcare has the competing interests. What are the biggest problems in our judicial system these days?

IN COOK COUNTY, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS OVERLOADED, SLOW, AND SIMPLY WITHOUT THE RESOURCES TO RUN SMOOTHLY, EFFECTIVELY, AND IN A TIMELY MANNER. NOT SURE WHOSE FAULT THAT IS.

You and Chad served as campaign managers during my bid to become secretary of 6th grade at Edgewood school. We were not successful in the campaign, potentially due to a smear campaign against me. What should we have done differently?

WE SHOULD HAVE STOLEN THE BALLOT BOX.

The DFL

(Degenerate Fantasy League--the Fantasy football league with me and 20+ other friends)

You've served as the Comissioner of the Degenerate Fanatsy League, which is now entering its 9th season. Having served as a comissioner myself (in other leagues) I know it can be a thankless job. What do you like most about it? What do you dislike about it?

I LIKE BEING IN CHARGE OF THINGS AND NOT HAVING TO WAIT ON OTHERS TO GET THINGS DONE. CALL ME SELFISH, CALL ME FIDEL, I'D RATHER JUST GET STUFF DONE MYSELF THAN WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT LATER ON AND IN A WAY I PROBABLY DON'T LIKE.

The league has changed a lot since its original year, what do you remember about year one?

WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A CLUE ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING BUT I THINK IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR NONETHELESS. THE DFL HAS GROWN IN SO MANY WAYS IN THE PAST 9 YEARS, IT BRINGS A TEAR TO MY EYE THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH MY BABY HAS GROWN UP AND MATURED.

With kids and a growing law practice, do you ever envision a day when you don't have time to handle your duties as comissioner?

WHEN I'M DEAD.

You have a staff of Officers (other owners in the league); what makes our treasurer, Sierra Charlie so good at what he does?

HE IS THE BEST ASSET A FANTASY LEAGUE COMMISSIONER COULD EVER HAVE. HE MAKES THE DFL THE BEST FANTASY LEAGUE OF ALL TIME. HIS WORK AND EFFORT IS INVALUABLE AND THIS LEAGUE WOULD NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT HIM.

How about the keeper general?

A VERY UNDERRATED PART OF THE DFL. IT'S NOT EASY KEEPING TRACK OF EVERY TRANSACTION THAT GOES ON AND ECHO KEEPS TRACK OF IT ALL. GREAT PERSON TO HAVE IN THE FRONT OFFICE AS A CONSULTANT TO ME AND AS THE GENERAL HIMSELF.

Describe for me an ideal Sunday during football season. I want to know what you're eating, who you're with, what you're watching, etc.

ON MY COUCH.

FRIENDS OVER.

NFL PACKAGE ON MULTIPLE TV'S.

CHIPS AND SALSA.

SOME SORT OF FRIED FOOD.

LAPTOP COMPUTER OPEN DFL SITE WITH LIVE SCORING.

Chicago

You've lived in several apartments/condos in the city but my favorite place of yours had to be Belden/Clark. You had booger mix in the corner, an upstairs bedroom, plenty of food nearby, etc. What was your favorite place and why?

IT MAY HAVE TO BE THAT APARTMENT AT THE OLD TOWER RECORDS BUILDING ON BELDEN AND CLARK. THAT PLACE WAS THE ULTIMATE BACHELOR PAD AND I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT I HAD TO SHARE A BATHROOM WITH DELTA SIERRA. IT WAS THE SITE OF MANY GREAT PARTIES AND MUCH DEBAUCHERY, WHICH IS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY OF COURSE. I THINK YOU ACTUALLY MADE YOUR MARK ON THAT PLACE BY THROWING SOME SORT OF COOKING OIL OR OTHER SUBSTANCE ALL OVER THE WALL. THAT WAS AWESOME. THANKS FOR CONTRIBUTING TO US BEING SUED OVER THE CONDITION OF THE PLACE WHEN WE LEFT. DON'T WORRY...THE CASE WAS THROWN OUT.

(Editor's Note: My bad)

If Mayor Daley came to you and offered free tickets to any Olympic event in 2016 for you and your family, what would you choose?

SKEET SHOOTING - PROBABLY BECAUSE I WOULD LIKELY NEVER WITNESS A SKEET SHOOTING COMPETITION OTHERWISE.

You and I enjoyed numerous lunches during my time at the CBOT and I know you've got your finger on the pulse of Chicago lunch. What is your favorite lunch spot in the loop? Where do you go most often?

IT'S NOT IN THE LOOP, BUT MANNY'S IS CLEARLY MY FAVORITE SPOT FOR LUNCH. IT'S NOT A QUICK LUNCH BECAUSE YOU CAN'T WALK THERE, BUT I TRY TO MAKE IT THERE AT LEAST A FEW TIMES PER MONTH. TOO GOOD TO PASS UP.

If you had a dinner and had to invite three athletes who spent part or all of their careers in chicago who would you eat with and where would you take them? Make sure they're living.

OZZIE GUILLEN

MIKE DITKA

DENNIS RODMAN

NOT SURE WHERE I WOULD TAKE THEM BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A MEMORABLE MEAL WHEREVER WE ATE.

I know the Bears are run like a piss poor organization, but you seem to genuinely dislike them. Is that an accurate statement? Why are you so annoyed with them?

SINCE THE SUPER BOWL, THERE REALLY IS NOTHING GOOD I CAN SAY ABOUT THE BEARS. OF COURSE I LIKE THEM SOMEWHAT AS THEY ARE THE TEAM OF MY HOMETOWN. HOWEVER, AS AN ORGANIZATION, THEY ARE ABOUT AS BORING AS IT GETS. IF NOT FOR THEIR DECENT DEFENSES FROM TIME TO TIME, THEY MIGHT BE THE WORST NFL FRANCHISE OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS. NOTHING EXCITING ABOUT THEM AT ALL.

What is your favorite White Sox uniform of all time? Would you be open to them returning to the blue/red/white colors?

I THINK THE 1983 SOX JERSEY IS THE SINGLE BEST UNIFORM EVER WORN BY A SPORTS TEAM (ASIDE FROM SPREAD EAGLE'S PREP LEAGUE JERSEYS)

Which White Sox player had the best name? I like Dan Pasqua.

RON KARKOVICE. THAT DUDE WAS AS WEIRD AS HIS NAME.

A Yearly Reminder of One of Life's Cooler Moments

Tonight is the MLB All Star game, and its a yearly reminder of one of the coolest days of my life. Since I've handled most of what needed to be done today, I figured I'd share the story. Besides, there's nothing on TV tonight and this might be a welcome distraction.

I grew up a basketball nut, continue to be a basketball nut, and love the game. I grew up going with my father and brother to Bulls games beginning around 1982, and my father continues to trudge down to the United Center 25+ times a year for Bulls games. You don't need to be a basketball historian to know that the prime of my childhood included the Bulls dominance, and watching my favorite team win six titles was a dream. I realize there are other sports dynasties out there, but the Bulls in the late 80's and 90's were the coolest team on the planet.

I spent hours on my parents' driveway, re-enacting great plays and dreaming up scenarios in which I played the role of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and other favorites. In hindsight, neighbors (and family members) must have thought I was crazy as I played simulated games against imaginery players, but maybe that's what young kids are supposed to do.

During high school, I played competitively for my first two years, but decided around age 15 that I lost my love for playing and was interested in "other things." I don't regret that decision--I was never more than a scrappy small forward and probably didn't have much of a future as a player. I continued to follow the game, and after college I began coaching Junior High and other youth basketball and gradually got back in to playing "serious" basketball with some of my fellow coaches on Tuesday nights.

Most pickup games are a chance for guys to take crappy jump shots, play lazy defense, and use it as a way to get some exercise. But Tuesday nights were different. These games were intense, with guys playing legitimate defense, taking good shots, and sharing the basketball. It is the way the game is meant to be played, and for a group of coaches it was a dream to be part of them.

On July 9, 2002, I was working at the CBOT and had a meeting at DePaul that evening that was in direct conflict with our game. I called "The General" (the ringleader of Tuesday night hoops) in the morning to let him know I wasn't going to be able to make it, and his response was something to the effect of, "You cannot miss tonight. Whatever you have going on, you need to cancel it."

I mentioned something about a Board meeting at DePaul, when he told me, "I'm playing golf with MJ this afternoon and he'll be there tonight. You cannot tell the other guys, you cannot tell your family or friends, but trust me, he'll be there. I just don't want anyone showing up who isn't playing."

Originally stunned, I thought this was a cruel joke to make sure there were 10 guys at the game, but The General does not mince words, and I knew he and Michael Jordan had some connection from Jordan's Flight School Camp in Las Vegas. I hung up the phone, laughed to myself, and despite the General's warning immediately called my brother and dad to let them know. After telling them, I told all of my co-workers, and frantically watched the lower right portion of my computer screen until it was time to head home and get ready for Tuesday night hoops. I did keep my word and didn't tell the other "regular" guys who played on Tuesday nights, but was chuckling inside at the thought of sharing a basketball court with Michael Jordan.

It was a steaming hot day in the middle of the summer, and the gym we played in (the former Karger Recreation Center) was about 20 miles north of Chicago in Highland Park. As I walked in to the gym, I noticed guys doing their usual routine--stretching, shooting, and BSing about what had been going on since last Tuesday. I chit chatted with Brian and Ben (two guys close to my age), and it was clear they had no idea what was going on. As the clock approached 7 PM, I saw a red Ferrari pull up to the parking lot outside the gym and my heart began to race. Brian and Ben (and all of the others) didn't pay attention to it, but I knew what was coming.

A few moments later, the General walked in to the gym with Michael Jordan and the reaction in the gym was priceless. Every eyeball in the gym watched the two of them (in golf clothes) head in to the gym to get ready for a night we'd never forget. All of us had sh*t-eating grins on our faces, and I was legitimately nervous that I'd be sharing a basketball with the greatest player in the history of the game.

Jordan undressed (and dressed) in front of everyone, and a few guys made their way over to introduce themselves to him. I had obviously watched him in person and on television thousands of times, but it was really bizarre to see him in the flesh just a few feet away. I had no idea what to call the guy...do I call him Michael? MJ? Mr. Jordan? and decided that I'd call him what I call anyone I don't know, "Dude." Besides, this was our game he was joining and I shouldn't treat him different than any other random guy who occasionally joined the fray.

As he was stretching, I walked over to him, extended my hand and mumbled, "Hey dude, my name's Dan, its good to meet you." I have no idea what he said to me, but I said something about coaching against his son (he attended school nearby), and I went back to shooting around and getting loose.

Splitting up teams was something the General took care of, and given the range of ages, he decided we'd go Old Guys vs. Young Guys. As a 25 year old, I qualified as a "young guy" and since MJ was closer to 40, he was an old guy.

The game itself was a bit of a blur, but there are some details I remember. As was our regular practice, the game went to 120, counting 2's and 3's with halftime at 60 for guys to rest a little bit. I remember our team (the young guys) dominating the first 60 points, and despite our nerves we hit some shots and thought we had MJ held under wraps. Jordan was highly competitive, but did not shoot much during that first 60. He was very hard on his teammates, many who missed some easy shots, and hearing him swear was very bizarre. I do remember him slapping my ass at some point after I made a rare outside shot, which was also kinda funny.

But sometime in the second half of the game, the switch flipped and the real Michael Jordan joined us. All of the moves I saw for years were unfolding in front of us, and there was nothing any of us could do to stop them. The two dribble power attack to the basket from the top of the key, the fadeaway from the baseline, the jump shot over the outstretched hand, these were all shots the best defenders in the NBA couldn't stop and a bunch of undersized, slow kids had no chance. At one point, I remember him backing me down to the post to set up his fadeaway jump shot and I thought to myself, "Who the fu*k am I kidding right now?"

Eventually the old guys caught up to us, and beat us, but the score was completely irrelevant. Afterwards, we all shook hands, invited him back to join us again, and soaked up hanging in a gym with the greatest player of all time. There were no pictures, no autograph requests, no awkward ga-ga moments, and I think that is what was most special for me. In fact, this is the first time I've put in to words what happened that night.

I left the gym on a high that lasted for about two months, and regardless of what life holds for me it is one of the best evenings I will ever have. After my surgery, I retired from basketball (pick up or otherwise), but I truly can say I've done everything I ever wanted to do on a basketball court, and the evening with MJ was, and will forever be, the greatest highlight of my marginal basketball career.

Featured Friend of the Week: Tony Cogan

As I started a few weeks ago, today I'm continuing with the Featured Friend Interview. Tony Cogan and I attended elementary, middle, and high school together and he's had an interesting 33 years, including the past 12 as a professional baseball player. I asked him a variety of questions on family life, baseball, and other random things, so here's Tony...

Family/Growing up

I know you and your brother are very close and enjoy a lot of the same hobbies. How have you two managed to stay so close over the years?

We have certainly grown close over the years. I would have to say that
sharing interests like fishing, traveling and baseball have played a
huge part in our relationship. We have had our fair share of rough
moments as well, but what siblings haven't? We always pull through one
way or another.

Tell me one thing your dad taught you growing up that you still think about regularly? One thing that stands out is being on time. We would always be at the
airport super early or if we were going to a party we would be early.
At the time I thought he was out of his mind, but now it seems I have
adopted his behavior. It's probably not the most important thing he
taught me (focus, drive, discipline, etc.), but it stayed with me.

What about your mom? My mom is one of, if not the toughest person I know. Without getting into details, she has been through the ringer... a few times over...and always comes out of it. She never ceases to amaze me with her mentality towards life and her ability to overcome adversity.

And Danny, your brother?

This may not qualify for a lesson but he has always been there to support me in my career. Whether it was catching my bullpens in the off season, coming to any game he can or just his willingness to talk it out. In fact, I credit him with steering me towards pitching at a
young age when he would force me to throw to him while he mimicked Carlton Fisk (his all time favorite player). If I were to apply this to a life lesson its probably the importance of support for friends and family. It has meant so much to me to have had his support along
the way.

When you guys were young you went on one of the coolest vacations: the NFL pro bowl in Hawaii. Somehow you or Danny won a contest and ended up going out there and meeting a ton of NFL players and I'm still jealous to this day you guys did that. Who do you remember meeting on that trip? If you could go back and talk to anyone you saw that weekend, who would it be and what would you ask them?

I was only nine years old so I don't remember too many encounters with players, but there are a few that stand out. Jim Covert, Boomer Esiason, and Mean Joe Green (at some party). That's all I remember off the top of my head, but I do remember waiting for Walter Payton to show
up to this party for what seemed like and eternity...he didn't show. I just wanted an autograph and to say I met him.

Baseball questions:

You've made a living as a baseball player and have probably had several moments when you've said to yourself "Is this really happening?" What would be three examples of times when you've been struck by the coolness of the moment or someone you met? Why do you think those were such memorable/important experiences?

Two of my top three moments were when I returned to Chicago to play the Sox and Cubs. It wasn't just having grown up in the area and watching these teams, but having all my family and friends come and watch was surreal. I always threw well in Chicago so coming out of the game,
looking up in the stands and seeing so many familiar faces there to
support me (many cheering against their teams) is an indescribable
feeling. I still think to those days as some of my best memories. I
would have to say a close third is a game you attended (I know you
were at some Chicago games too). Opening day at Yankee Stadium after being told I had made the roster two days earlier. Going from half
filled minor league stadiums to playing the defending World Series champs in front of 52,000 rabid Yankee fans was quite a shock. We had a practice the day before in an empty stadium and that in itself was pretty cool. I've had many other great experiences in the game but those are surely at the top.

Your favorite uniform number is 21. What is the significance behind it? Did it bother you when you couldn't wear it for the Royals?

My birthday is the 21st of December, so that must be where it came
from. I don't remember any other reason why it would be my favorite. I was fine with whatever number I got from the Royals. 55 was my spring training number and I just kept it. I think I had the attitude that I had to earn the right to a number of my choice.

What do you like better, working as a starting pitcher or a guy out of the bullpen? Why?

That's a really tough question. I have never been able to give a definitive answer to that one. I like them both for different reasons. Starting is nice because of the schedule and ability to
prepare from start to start (or work on mechanical issues). Its nice to know when you are pitching. On the other hand being in a closer or in a setup roll is nice because you get to come to the park almost everyday with the chance of playing. That's the short answer.

What makes a good manager? Pitching coach?

I think the best coaches and managers always treat their players as individuals. Every player is unique to some extent and it takes different methods to reach them. The best coaches seem to make connections with their players, not to say you can't be a hard ass and
be a great manager or coach. Also, I have always said that catchers make the best managers because they know how to handle a pitching staff. That is probably the most difficult job a manager has... on the field.

Your first stint in the major leagues came during the steroid era. How would you feel if Walner (or some other class action attorney) approached you about a class action lawsuit against the hitters on behalf of all pitchers? How do you feel looking back on it, knowing that some of the runs and hits you gave up were the result of guys taking shortcuts?

Funny question. I am really not the suing type, but it would
certainly make for an interesting case(and maybe one that could be
won). It would have to be on behalf of all non-PED users (there were
plenty of pitchers using also). The numbers from that era and probably
still today to some extent are certainly skewed, but the fact of the
matter is I was injured the following year and have never been the
same. Maybe my numbers would have been a little better, but I don't
think my career would have been any different.

If Bud Selig or someone from MLB came to you and asked how we'd get steroids and PEDs out of sports, what would you suggest?

I would suggest regular blood tests or whatever the international
standard is. I don't see why MLB can't adopt the IOC testing methods.
They claim to be cleaning up the game, but there are and will always
be guys using performance enhancing drugs as long as they can get away
with it. Bottom line... the testing needs to be more effective and
more often.

Which major league stadium was your favorite to play in? Sorry Sox fans... Wrigley was my favorite. Shitty clubhouse, but once
I was on the field it was electric. I had been to so many games there
as a fan so it meant a lot to me to play there.

Which minor league stadium? If I had to pick one its probably Round Rock outside of Austin, Tx. I love playing in the Steelyard(Gary) though. Its up there with the
best that I have played in.

Which college stadium? Easy... Sunken Diamond, Stanford

What is the funniest or most random thing a fan has ever asked you?

I have been solicited to sign various body parts; arms, legs, and a
kids forehead once (with mom's permission). A few fans throughout my
career have noticed that I sign with my right hand. I always am
surprised when that happens.

What was the funniest thing ever said during a conference on the mound (this could be at any level)?

This isn't something that was said but I was pitching in the Metrodome and my pitching coach Brent Strom came out for a visit to see how I was doing. He must have been a lot more nervous than me because his lips were crusted over bright pink with what must have been a handful of pepto bismol. He left the mound and my catcher and I had a good laugh. The pitching staff was struggling to say the least so I don't
blame Strommy for be so high strung.

What was the worst/most embarassing thing you had to do as a rookie? I was pretty lucky as a rookie. didn't have to do too many embarassing things. Actually I can't think of any.

You were a huge Cardinal fan growing up; did you still follow them as anadult? If so, how did it feel playing against them as a Royal?

I still am a fan, but not as enthusiastic as I used to be. Playing against them was a highlight for sure. Actually, Tony La Russa came out to argue a call when I was on the mound and I had a moment of..."Wow, that's Tony La Russa."

Then I got back to reality and struck out Fernando Vina on three pitches.

We were together the evening of the infamous Steve Bartman game and we decided to walk to Wrigley a short time before the infamous 8th inning. Were we to blame for the Cub kibosh?

Could be, but we can leave that one to the philosophers.

On a scale of 1 - 10, with 10 being extremely superstitious, how would you rate your level of superstition? If you had a no hitter going, would you want to talk to your teammates or have them leave you alone?

I am probably in the middle somewhere. I have become less and less over the years. As for the no hitter I would probably want my teammates to act normal towards me, but probably wouldn't want them to mention the nono.

How many REGULAR season baseball games do you think you watch in a year? What are you looking for when you watch? Entertainment? Are you watching pitch sequence/hitting?

Including my own a lot. Not as many complete MLB games as you would
think because we play so many of our own. There is usually a game on
in the clubhouse though. I like to watch for entertainment, but at
the same time I like to see what is going on strategically. I guess
even when I am watching for entertainment I'm trying to see how the
pitcher and catcher are approaching the hitters. There is a lot to
look for.

Fun other topics:

My older sister was your APF advisor during your freshman year at Highland Park High School. What exactly did an APF advisor do? Did she help or hinder your performance in the classroom?

Haha. That was a long time ago, but she must have been a great help because I made it though with no problems

We had a man named Mike Lazar as our gym teacher in elementary school who taught us burpies. I always thought they were the dumbest exercise ever. Do you think burpees helped you in any way, shape, or form become a professional ball player? Better yet, did anything from gym class ever help you? Maybe dodgeball?

Not so sure burpees contributed to me reaching MLB, although it
wouldn't hurt the fat ass kids today to shut down the XBOX for a
minute and do some. I think playing all those other games, dodgeball
included, contributed in some way to me becoming a professional
athlete. The more often we are out there as kids playing sports helps
develop our athletic skills and sense of competitiveness.

Who was your favorite teacher in elementary school? Why?

Mr Birdsall. He actually taught my two older cousins and my brother. Also, he used to sit for my me and my brother when my parents would go out of town.

If I gave you unlimited cash and you could pick three bands to play a one-night concert, who are the bands you'd select and which venue would they play at?

Led Zeppelin, Marley and Hendrix. I made the assumption they didn't have to be living. The Metro would be sweet, but I could see that act anywhere.

You've dabbled with the guitar at times; what band would you like to watch in the studio? Who would you like to be on stage with?

I don't think I'm stage ready, but I would love to be in the studio for any band just to see the process.

You and I are dedicated members of the Degenerate Fantasy League, our annual fantasy football league. What do you think makes a good General Manager in professional sports? What about in fantasy sports?

First and foremost, as with any profession, to put it bluntly you have to know your shit. Know your team(players and coaches), and know the rest of the league. The draft and development of players is key as well. You can only rely so much on signing the best free agents. Take the Cardinals or Red Sox for instance. They do a great job with free agents when available, but seem to always have a superstar or more in the system. There are a lot of people below the GM who
deserve credit as well.

You've got a ton of time to kill while you're on the road, give our readers one magazine, one movie, one band, and one book you've enjoyed over the year that everyone should check out.

Interesting article on Zach Grenke in Sports Illustrated, The Hangover was hilarious
(we get bootleg movies from this guy in Gary; Kramer style), Outliers
(pretty interesting, but not amazing). Check out the band Omega y su
mambo violente. Awesome band from the Dominican Republic. They were
always playing in the clubhouse and I started to love them.

If I gave you a table for dinner anywhere in Chicago with five seats that had to be filled by local Chicagoans, who would you invite and where would you eat?

Not including friends and family I would have to say Obama, MJ, John
Hughes, and Mayor Daley. That would make for an interesting evening.
I'd have Daley pick his favorite random restaurant that I wouldn't
know about. Otherwise Erie Cafe would be a great setting.

You blogged your experience in Puerto Rico during winter ball. What advice do you have for me as an aspiring blogger?

Best advice I can give is do more than one. Sorry to anyone who
expected more from me.

Mid Season Review Time

Sometime in January of this year, I got down on paper what it was that I believed would translate to peace of mind. I asked myself, "what are the things that give me peace of mind?" and I put everything on paper that was of importance. I ended up lumping these "things" in to buckets with similar themes and ended up with five key areas of life:

-My career
-My finances
-My health
-My social life/family
-My hobbies/fun

Underneath each of these areas I drilled down in to specific, quantifiable activities so that I'd be able to easily tell whether I did the things I enjoyed or valued the most. I know, this probably sounds a little OCD, and it probably is, but it was a way for me to get organized around having some balance in life. If you want some more background I wrote about this when I started this whole blog experiment.

I review where I'm at around the start of each month to see how I'm doing in relation to the plan for the year and figured I'd share some of it on here since we're now halfway through the year. Its also close to the midway point of the baseball season, so I've got my mind on mid-year review stuff.

Maybe it'll spark something in a few of you to do the things that matter most, or maybe it'll reinforce how crazy I am. I'll give a very abbreviated version under the big 5 areas, along with a midseason grade, since we've just passed the halfway point of the year. And I'll send you the original electronically if you want it, but some details will be left out.

My Career
Mid Season Grade: B-

When I left Seattle in May without a job in Chicago I knew there was risk involved with the decision. My key criteria for the next step in my career was to be in a job that allowed me to add value to the place I work, help patients, and be creative. Additionally, I want to continue working in some capacity using Lean, a management system used by Toyota to deliver what the customer wants in the most consistent, reliable, cost-effective way.

There are jobs doing Lean consulting in health care here in the Chicago area, and I have an interview on July 22 with a large healthcare organization in the area doing exactly what I did out in Seattle. Of course, its not Group Health (who was featured on the front page of the New York Times yesterday) but it'd be a cool opportunity. And if you're wondering why health care is a mess, the article in the NY Times gives you a sense for why I'm such a fan of my former employer. It was bittersweet seeing that article on the NY Times, and I'm proud of those folks for being so progressive in the approach to healthcare.

I'm continuing to apply for work elsewhere and stay sharp with Lean through reading books, articles, and web-based content.

Obviously this grade will improve if I had a full time job, which I'm hopeful will happen soon.

My Health
Mid Season Grade: A-

I have goals on my personal plan to gain some weight (I know, that sounds bizarre), get some long walks in, and stay organized (that's mainly for mental health). Thus far I'm staying on top of the key activities under my health, and it is really nice not to have health be an issue. I know I've said that before on here, but it bears repeating for me, at least to keep some perspective on things. Annie helps with the walking, and we've found a few walks in the area where we can both get some exercise in as long as we're loaded up on bug spray.

My finances
Mid Season Grade: C+

I saved up a decent amount of cash before making the move, and am really trying to be responsible about where and how I spend money. I do have some opportunities for work if I need to bring in some cash flow, but I'm doing well in this department. My sister has been gracious enough to let me live 'rent free' and my only significant expenses (car payment, insurance, etc) are covered.

My social life/family
Mid Year Grade: A-

This has been the best part about being back in Chicago, and I'm still in a bit of that honeymoon period where its great to be around family and friends without having to hurry. My goal at the start of the year was to interact with my family at least 60 minutes a week and I've obviously blown that out of the water living near them. My sister, niece and nephew are a blast to be around, and my nephew is now calling me "Dango." My niece makes me laugh a few times a day with her wit, and my sister and I are enjoying living together as adults. Obviously its great being back around my folks and brother's family as well, and living in the suburbs has pros (great parks, golf, etc.) and cons (about 20 miles from the city, mosquitos, etc.) but all's well out in the land of SUVs.

I've seen my friends a bunch since being back, and there are many more people I'd like to see now that I'm settling in, so much fun on the horizon from a friend/social standpoint.

In the dating world, I've been dipping my toe back in the water here in Chicago, but I think it'd be best if I keep that stuff out of the public domain. Unless there's a funny story to share, which there isn't. Yet.

My hobbies
Mid Season grade: B

At the start of the year I put a goal on paper for the number of fun activities I wanted to do this year. I have a number of rounds of golf I want to play, sporting events to attend, movies I want to see, books to read, etc., and thus far I'm on track or ahead of where I wanted to be with my hobbies.

I've played 14 rounds of golf this year and my goal was 15, so you can tell where I'm spending some of my free time. My golf game is about the same as it was when I was 18 years old, and although you'd think I've gotten smarter on the golf course I'm still an irrational teenager most of the time. Although I did break 80 on Monday, which felt good.

Today's my first cubs game since I've been back, and although they frustrate the hell out of me it'll be great to be in Wrigley once again. A buddy's company was invited as a guest and my calendar isn't exactly jam packed these days. I'll make sure to post pics later tonight.

I'm reading Blindness, per my sister's recommendation. It's written by Jose Saramgo, and I think ended up as a movie. Its one part sci-fi, one part social commentary and although grammatically its a bit of a nightmare I'm enjoying it thus far. It'll be my 4th book of the year and my goal was 6 so all is good in that department.

Movies and concerts I could use some improvement. I saw Public Enemy, which was filmed in chicago and chronicles the last few years of John Dillinger's life. I'm not in the business of movie reviews, but I will say John Dillinger was more interesting than the script led him on to be. I took a history of Chicago class at DePaul as an undergrad, and the guy was friggin Robin Hood; not a criminal with no rhyme or reason to robbing banks (as you'd think of from the movie). Sure, his methods weren't exactly family friendly, but he did help folks out during and after the depression.

I haven't been to a rock concert since coming up in Chicago, but with plenty of acts heading through town I'm sure I'll catch up in terms of my goal. And if you're interested in checking out something new, Wilco has a new album which came out last week. Its not the best Wilco album I've heard, but a few songs on there I dig. One of my favorite bands, and based here in Chicago.