The August Newsflash

The past few months have been great, and frankly, writing on the blog isn't at the top of the list of things to do. While I enjoy hopping on here to blast out the occasional update or social commentary, I've spent my time and energy elsewhere. But I'm in one of those moods where I'm feeling the need to put down on paper (or the web) what's going on, so here's the August update/news flash/public journal for those interested in hearing what's what.

Back in July, my little sister got married out in Colorado, giving myself, my girlfriend, and family an excuse to head west for some rest and relaxation. My sister's wedding was full of fun and great reminders about the importance of family and how lucky I've been to be able to spend quality time with the people who matter most since leaving Seattle. After the wedding, Romeo and I got lost in the Rocky Mountains for a week and it was a much-needed break from the pace of life. No schedules, no meeting requests, no emails, no events to attend; just the two of us, a piece of crap rental car, and the amazing state of Colorado. It reminded me of my trip eastward from Seattle several years ago; and no offense to Annie (my dog), but Romeo is a way better travel companion. We did the usual Colorado things--hiking in mountains, riding bikes, enjoying scenery, etc., and it gave both of us a chance to turn off the work side of our brains and appreciate each other, where we're at in life, and the great things we're able to enjoy together.

For me, the break came at an ideal time. I had been feeling uneasy at work--not in the sense that my job was in jeopardy, but that I wasn't entirely sure the fit was there. I'm paid to help teams and leaders improve how their work is done, but that relationship can be delicate. For the system to improve, it requires a shared acknowledgment that something isn't working well in the eyes of the customer and better ways of working are essential. This isn't to say the work wasn't effective--I worked with a number of leaders and teams that were enthusiastic about 'getting better' and had some great results to boot. But I had been feeling a bit squeamish about my effectiveness in helping us get better.

So Colorado gave me a chance to step back from it all, take a deep breath, and gain some perspective on things. A few weeks after returning from Colorado I was approached about a similar position to what I do now with an organization that provides outpatient medical care. There's kind of a funny story behind how they knew I existed, which I'll tell another day. Let's just say it involved quite possibly the most embarrassing thing I've ever had to do in front of an audience. Anyhow, back to the job--they do everything from primary care to advanced specialty care, and provide the range of services you and I experience when we're not feeling well. The work would involve advancing quality improvement in both familiar areas (lab) as well as some not-so-familiar ones (surgery center). The opportunity for learning would be great, and I'd be closer to the work that 'touches' patients on their journey from illness to health (and preventive care too). But the work was only part of the equation, and I knew from prior experience that the setting needed to be right if I was going to consider a switch.

I went out to visit with their leaders to learn a bit more about them, as well as help them learn a bit about me, and the more I heard the more I felt inspired and upbeat about joining a group with similar enthusiasm, curiosity, and discipline related to quality. By no means are they a 'perfect' company (i'm not sure one exists), but for my kind of work there is strong commitment, infrastructure, and leadership to make a difference in the care we provide patients. This is what I experienced working out in Seattle, and is something that is hard to quantify, but it matters. My work gets far easier when there's a unified team supporting it, and I'm confident I'll have what's needed to make a difference.

There were a few other variables to weigh, but ultimately I decided to accept the job, which will start the Tuesday after Labor Day. It'll be a challenge, and it'll push me in new ways, but I'm optimistic that I'll learn while making a difference. As folks at my current job have found out about my decision, the conversations have been enlightening. It's been humbling to see and hear many of the compliments, and I am grateful for the relationships I've built and learning I've acquired over the past year. Most folks understand my passion for improving healthcare and why its important to me, and after they hear about the work I'm doing most have wished me well. And those that haven't said much or been lukewarm, well, you can't make 'em all happy. And I can understand how my quick stint may not be seen by all as something good for the company.

But ultimately, I own my career and how I choose to make a living. And I'm comfortable with the decisions I've made, how I've handled myself, and where I'm heading, which is ultimately what matters. I'll have a few weeks in between jobs to clear the head a bit and catch up with people I don't see enough, ramble on my blog, hit the golf course, exercise, and recharge the batteries.

So stay tuned, and wherever you are, enjoy the summer while we've got it!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Being a Fan

As a kid, I was irate when sports teams I followed closely lost important games. I have no idea why I got so fired up, but whether it was the Bulls, Bears, Cubs, Hawks, or Blue Demons (and a sprinkle of Miami football) I got really fired up when teams I liked lost. I'd get violent (literally throwing/breaking stuff), pouty, and couldn't stomach my Eggo's while I checked out the Tribune sports page, painfully pouring over the carnage from the night before. Over time, I got a little less emotional and dramatic about sports, and learned some important lessons about being a fan--like avoiding the internet/TV/radio sports content after losses. But at the end of the day, I like it when the teams I follow do well and put on my grumpypants when things go south.

So after last night's bulls loss, it really got me thinking about the impact of sports on my mood. Part of my job entails asking people 'Why' problems exist, and with my mood somewhere between grumpy and shitty this past 96 hours I turned the mirror on myself to ask: 'Why Delta, Why do you care so much about the outcome of a sporting event?'

The short answers as why I think I'm impacted so much by sports comes down to:

-I enjoy the sense of Shared Community Interest/Pride

-Sports allow me to spend time (both in person and via email/text) with the people I'd like to be around (family/friends)

-I'm pretty shallow when it comes down to what entertains me and sports teams are just as dramatic as any soap opera, sitcom, or reality show you follow on TV. Its not the only thing I do for entertainment, just tends to pre-occupy my time more than other activities when teams are doing well.

One of sports' upside (for me) is the Human Contact it encourages. Its a great feeling to leap on your feet as part of a crowd that erupts at a big moment in a game. Although you have no idea who the other 23,000 screaming idiots are, you've all shared that moment and acknowledged it together--something that doesn't happen very often in your daily life. That experience of being part of a shared public event is something I thrive on--whether its a concert, a sporting event, or a party...I'm a guy who likes to be around others. (An ENFP if you're familiar with Myers Briggs Personality Profiles). And I enjoy those events even better when I share it with someone I know--my father, brother, cousin, niece/nephew or friend (even girlfriend this past week) who enjoy the Bulls like I do. Make no mistake about it, the bulls give me an outlet to spend time with all of those people, and sad as it sounds, it binds us together. Maybe not with my girlfriend, but you get the idea.

And on the flipside of those highs are the devastating lows after a tough loss. I've lived through a bunch of them in my lifetime. The Bears in multiple playoff runs, the Cubs in every series they've ever played, the Bulls in the late 80s before they got their legs underneath them (and this week), Depaul choking a game when they began to get a shred of credibility from folks other than the 19 loyal fans...You get the idea, I've been let down as a fan of Chicago teams I spend my spare time following. I think part of the reason I get so angry is the feeling that I had invested all of that emotional energy, time, cash, and brainpower only to result in a crappy outcome. (As an interesting aside, I just loosely defined waste, a concept I use to help folks examine how they do their work to deliver a consistent service/outcome). In addition to the feeling that it was a waste of time to care in the first place, there's also a sense of inadequacy that comes with supporting a losing team. Almost as if it that loss reflects back on me and makes me a loser. Yes, I realize that sounds ridiculous, but why else would people feel so pissed about a random 12 people losing in a sporting event?!?

As far as this year's Bulls team goes, I've written ad nauseum about my appreciation for what they've done, even took time to thank them. I tend to be a pretty "glass half full" kinda guy about things--sports included, so when I step back from the table and look at the glass from this season it is close to the brim. Last July, I was one of many Bulls faithful wallowing at the thought of another mediocre Bulls season after they lost out on Lebron James and other free agents. But over the past 12 months the Bulls have proved me and every other fan into believers wrong by playing basketball in its purest form--relentless effort, discipline, teamwork, and defense. And although the outcome wasn't what I hoped for, I can't get too down on them--I'm proud to be a fan of a team that plays together, works hard, and genuinely wants to continuously improve. But the Bulls success is only half the reason why the cup is nearly full--I had nearly 8 months of great entertainment, abundant time with family and friends, and that sense of community I enjoy...

The NBA Column (No Basketball Allowed)

In recent weeks I've used the blog to spew nonsense to anyone who would read about the Bulls, the NBA, and watching a bunch of grown men run around in tank tops grabbing each other. To change it up, I figured I'd use tonight's column to share some random musings about life outside of the hardwood. Tonight's column will serve as a public service announcement for reading (including gift recommendations for the reader in your life), so if this doesn't interest you please check back later this week for Heat-Bulls coverage.

Believe it or not, I actually do read things other than columns and twitter feeds written by sportswriters. Its not always the "headiest" kind of literature, but it helps me sleep at night and my mom always told me good readers make good writers. So if I really plan to write a book someday I should probably read a few. Having said all of that, I don't read a TON, but normally will read a few pages of a book (actually Kindle) before bed to knock me out. At most I'll read 20 pages a night, sometimes as few as 2. But a few of the books I've read have been really good, so I figured I'd spread the gospel in case you're looking for something to read or know someone in your life who is.

In Fifty Year's We'll All Be Chicks - by Adam Carolla. When I lived in Seattle, Aceman was my wingman on the way to work. Each day I'd listen to him nasally wax-on about the world's problems and just about any topic under the sun, often saying exactly what I think about issues. He's got an engineer's mind and a crass, sarcastic sense of humor that I love, and his presence in the car on the way to work or school is something I miss. He's not much of a writer, but this book is an excellent summary of Adam's life, along with some spot-on observation of the utterly dumb things you and I observe on a regular basis. My only criticism of the book was that I wished he named this something different, mainly because so much of the book would be great for a female audience as well. This would be a perfect book for the "guy who doesn't read much" in your life or anyone who regularly reads Bill Simmons on ESPN.

The Lincoln Lawyer - by Michael Connely. Yes, this is the same book as the movie with the same title starring that guy from Dazed and Confused (I know his name, just can't spell it). The book is a page-turner and profiles a typical "who dun it" legal story about a suspected murder involving a rich douchebag from LA. The writing isn't anything that'll blow you away, but you'll like the action as we uncover the twists and turns from the perspective of a sleaze-bag defense attorney. This book would make a great gift for the serious reader in your life who needs to read something not-so-serious. Also good for folks heading on vacation. Which is exactly what Romeo Sierra and I read on our vacation to/from Seattle. We thought it'd be kinda fun if we read the same book at the same time, you know, like in high school. We didn't have book club or pop quizes but it was kinda interesting to read the same book, even if it was trashy fiction.

Scorecasting - I like to sprinkle some non-fiction in to the rotation, and this book got off to a solid start but faded towards the stretch. After reading Michael Lewis' Moneyball, I became fascinated with Sports Analytics and how numbers, statistics, and measurement can be used to out smart the opponent. As a former coach and athlete, Moneyball made complete sense to me, and bordered on a work-related book as I thumbed through Billy Beane's adventures with the Oakland A's and performance improvement. Since Moneyball, there have been literally hundreds of authors out on the web, in books, and elsewhere who sift through piles of data to tell us something interesting or unique about sports but most of them fall short of talking about how those teams, coaches, or players actually do something with all of that data. Scorecasting is one of these books, and although the book does an excellent job explaining some of the common fallacies in sports (Defense doesn't always win championships, Icing the kicker doesn't work, the Cubs suck because of their fans), I found some of the writing rambled long after the point had been made. Worth picking up for a sports/numbers junkie, but make sure they've read Moneyball first.

The Imperfectionists - recently, I ran out of books to read and went to Facebook to ask for suggestions. Although a few folks responded, I didn't see anything that caught my eye until I stumbled on this book, which I intend to go read after I finish this post. For a first-time author, the writing is outstanding and the plot moves along at a great clip--its essentially a fictional tale of a journalist working for an english-speaking newsroom in Rome. The writing is unlike anything I have read before, and is so good I've actually forced my girlfriend to read passages I found insightful and well-written. This is probably the kind of book you'd give someone who majored in English or a Fine Art in college who also traveled to Europe at some point.

The Time Machine: April 18, 2006

I spend a lot of my blog space rambling about current work stuff, travel, sports, and life in general, but I don't share a ton about the past. I'm in a reflective mood (not sure if reflective is actually a mood or an adjective for a running jacket), so I figured I'd write about the happenings of five years ago this coming monday.

The morning of my surgery was a scary one. For months I had been battling a pretty severe 'flare up' of Crohn's Disease that had me in and out of the hospital, on and off crazy treatment plans (including both eastern and western varieties), out of school, and feeling like shit. My weight pre-surgery was 112 pounds and my complexion was a shade of grey--not exactly what I pictured myself to look like at 29 years old. I had been diagnosed with my gut 'issues' at age 12 so hospitals were nothing new, but this was by far the worst I had felt. On top of the physical ailment, my illness took its toll on my outlook, optimism, and spirit for living.

And although I was confident my current health issues would be resolved with the surgery, I was freaking out about the future. I was to have my intestine removed, with the very real possibility that I'd never make a #2 like most folks for a very long time (if not indefinitely). Its not as if I enjoyed it that much (pooping), it just felt so awkward to know that I would be physically different in some way from other folks. Although when ill I was tethered to a toilet, I was also an athlete, a handsome guy, and very fit, and I felt as if Delta Whiskey as I knew him (or thought I knew him) would never return once my colon was removed.

I have some faded memories of saying good bye to my girlfriend (at the time) and my mom, before I was wheeled down the hall to the operating room with my dad at my side. He couldn't come in to the pre-op prep area, but walked with us until the doors; when I gave him a hug and entered the trusting hands of an operating room team of nurses, doctors, and other folks. The anesthesiologist gave me something he called a "pre flight cocktail" which probably helped ease my nerves and I have vague memories of rock music in the operating room. (Side note: if hospitals wanted to give patients a unique experience they should give 'em the choice of what to listen to before they get conked out. Its a minor thing, but might help ease some nerves and give the patient some "control" before people start cutting them open...this would also make for an interesting itunes "essentials" category for "Pre-Surgery")

I woke up sometime later that day and have very little recollection of the next week. My dad warned me how exhausted and spent I'd feel after the anesthesia wore off, but I was probably zonked for most of the first few days after surgery. Gradually I got used to the new "apparatus" located a few inches to the right and below my belly button. Slowly I regained an appetite, and after a week or so I was sent home from the hospital to adjust to my new life.

My family was amazing; all of my siblings made their way out during some stage of my surgery and/or recovery, and although we were 2,000 miles from Chicago it was great to have familiar faces encourage me, feed me, help me, and make me smile. But eventually they returned to Chicago, and shortly after their departure I began to feel like ass. I was lethargic, had an intense pain in my shoulder, and wet the bed with sweat on a nightly basis.

My girlfriend and I made our way to a party of some grad school friends (my first public activity), and all night I felt off. We went to bed, only to find the sheets covered in green slime that made its way out of my incision. It turns out my abdomen was chock full of post-op infections, and one of the abscesses below my scar had enough and wanted OUT. The weeks to follow were painful, as interventional radiologists, surgeons, and gastroenterologists worked to rid my body of these infections by any means necessary. It was not pleasant; as many of these masses had to be drained--which meant stents were stuck into my abdomen and chest to collect the crap from inside my body. The original surgery sucked, but this REALLY sucked!

Things finally stabilized and I began returning to some of the more 'normal' daily activities. I could stuff my face with all sorts of high calorie foods (Dick's Burgers!), could make it around the block without a rest, and could travel. I returned to Chicago to see family and friends for a buddy's wedding (Sierra Echo), and it was the first time most of my friends had seen me since the drama of the previous winter. Shortly after Chicago, I headed to DC for a short vacation and returned to Seattle feeling as if my health was beginning to stabilize.

I picked up a golf club, hopped on the bike, did a little running, and began to get back to being myself. Plans for returning to school fell into place, and I had the summer in Seattle to get my health back and reflect on everything that took place. I may have been a bit eager to get back to many of those activities; and eventually developed a hernia in my abdomen that would need surgery to be repaired. The ongoing discomfort became really uncomfortable so I returned to the hospital a few months for my surgery, only to have a sponge "left behind" following the procedure.

Needless to say, I was a tad frustrated with my experience in our health care system as I experienced all of the delays, mistakes, communication gaps, unclear instructions, horse-sh*t billing practices, and nonsense that patients live with every day in our nation's health care system. Gradually I began to turn some of that energy into a desire to make health care better; which may be part of why I like my profession and the curriculum in school.

But beyond the professional focus the experience provided, I learned a lot about myself, those around me, and my ability to adapt to change. There's a cheesy saying to the effect of, "its always darkest before sunrise" and the metaphor is probably a good description of the events before, during, and after that surgery 5 years ago. Today I'm a different man in many ways--I've learned how to enjoy life, love another person, participate in activities (some which I thought there was never a chance), and feel comfortable in my own skin. All of that nonsense also gave me some much-needed perspective on what really is important in life--health, family, smiling, and giving.

Reflections after 78 Games (not a basketball column)

I sit here on Romeo Sierra's couch (she's been on the road all week), with Annie at my side while we watch the bulls put the wraps on win # 59 this year. And while I realize I haven't been a regular contributor I figured it would be a nice time to hop on y ole' blog and take it for a spin. Besides, I don't have a computer to blog on and Romeo has a fancy schmancy mac.

Before I go any further, I need to give Romeo a shout out for the SINGLE GREATEST prediction of the NBA season. As my loyal readers recall, I began the NBA season with a "season preview" column, which included predictions from a number of family members and friends on the upcoming season. If you'd like to go back to read these predictions click here. But before you do, I swear on my life I have not altered the original article....I'll wait for you to go and check.

....go ahead....

....can you believe that?!?! The only one to pick Derrick Rose to be the league's MVP! I'm proud of her for believing in him, even when my cynical mind wouldn't entertain the idea at the start of the season. Once it became clear D-Rose would be the MVP I started bragging on her behalf, although she takes it in stride (just like D-Rose does) and doesn't really seem as interested in the bulls as I am. Maybe she's just waiting until the playoffs to get dialed in on all things bulls.

Needless to say, the next few months are going to be a fun ride; I'm not going to spend my entire column talking sports..

For starters, its been a nutty winter. The last time I posted ways sometime around the first of the year and the pace of life has been quick. My work occupies much of my time (and unfortunately much of my energy), and I am challenged in ways I've never been challenged before. The work gives me flexibility in terms of how I spend my time (to some degree) and my job is essentially to help a Laboratory deliver on time, accurate results for patients (really their doctors) in hospitals and outpatient settings. I've learned a ton about a slice of healthcare that gets far too little visibility for the importance of the work. Think about it: although your doctor may suspect you have a suspicious mole, its the lab that confirms if its suspicious or not. And in order for us to deliver that result, your doctor needs to obtain a specimen, which gets stored into a container, that gets picked up by a guy/gal in a car with a cooler, who hands that specimen off to a receiver who accepts that specimen, then prepares the specimen for testing, then tests it which produces a result, which then gets sent (mostly electronically) back to your doctor. Unless its a real bad mole that the pathologist is worried about, then we call your doctor directly to let them know it doesn't look good. And yes, that summary is extremely oversimplified and doesn't clearly describe what I see when I observe the work being done.

So its pretty serious work...the results we deliver can change the course of someone's life in both good (pregnancy) and bad (cancer) ways. And my job is to help this laboratory deliver accurate, timely results so that you don't spend any time sicker than you need to be (or worrying about if there's something wrong). Given the variety of work my laboratory does, and the service area it covers, I'm a busy guy! Back in March I facilitated a week-long workshop at one of our hospitals, during which I helped a team of people who draw your blood, test your blood, and nurses to figure out ways to ensure your doctor (and nurse) have your results when they come to the hospital to see you in the morning. There's no 'hard data' to know if docs need the results as early as we've been asked to deliver it, but my job is to help teams solve problems like this--not so much to figure out which problems need to be solved (or goals need to be achieved).

The workshop was a ton of work (try sitting in a conference room with me for a week and you'd know why), but the team walked out with a bunch of nice work that gives me reason to think we can make healthcare a better place. Their results are much better (more results in charts earlier in the day) meaning there's less likelihood a doc will make rounds without having your results in the chart. How does this help you and me as a patient? This should mean your doctor should know whats going on in your body when he or she sees you in the hospital, because she'll have results that reflect how you're doing in the morning. And don't forget those patients with surgeries and other procedures that can be delayed if current information isn't available. But perhaps more important than getting more results in to charts is the shift in thinking that I hope to stimulate among the folks who manage and complete the work needed to collect your blood. That probably sounds very pscyho-babbly, but the jist of my work is its designed to have people who do the work figure out the best way of doing their work to deliver what the customer (patient) needs. Essentially, its up to them what they want to do in order to improve how they complete their work; so its kind of a 'grass-roots' approach to becoming a better operation. If it was in a restaurant it would be the equivalent of the wait-staff figuring out easier/faster ways to set tables, clean tables, etc. But back to my work; my hope is to use this workshop to light a bit of an improvement flame throughout 8 other hospitals. Its a lot to have to "logisticate" as I like to call it, but as I have been taught (and try to practice), you can achieve your desired outcome if you thoughtfully plan your steps, adhere to those steps, and involve others in helping you get there. So that's one of several work things i'm involved with, which may sound interesting, or like a complete bore....I find the challenge rewarding, although it'd be nice to have a few soldiers to help me wage the war on waste (in all forms) and irrational thinking. That'd also help me have some better balance with other areas of my life, which include a great girlfriend, a family, friends, and summertime hobbies that range from golf to travel....

Life hasn't been nearly as dry or boring as I'm making it out to be....some recent highlights:

-romeo sierra getting an 'in person' tour of the seattle adventures of yours truly. we were out west for a wedding of a former coworker but also had a chance to see friends I hadn't seen in some time. we got excellent weather during our trip, and it was nice for me to return to a city that marked a pivotal turning point in my life. showing romeo some of the places, faces, and experiences that shaped life was a blast...there's pix out on facebook somewhere if youre curious

-my cousin delta whiskey and i saw trombone shorty here last monday. if you haven't heard him (or heard of him) do yourself a favor and watch this. he's one of the few artists I can listen to with my folks, my girlfriend, at work, or working out. and its not just him, his backup crew can bring it as well....

-there's been too many great nights at the UC to mention, but needless to say I've spent plenty of nights with my dad watching Derrick Rose and the bulls shred through the NBA. they haven't won a thing, but it has been a fun year to be a bulls fan, and I'm glad his life has slowed down so he can enjoy it (as well as many other things)

Alright, well Romeo just got back from Toronto and I gotta wrap up to walk annie anyhow. Hope all of you are enjoying life wherever you're at.....and LETS GO BULLS!!!!!!

The Delta Whiskey Bowl

We're officially in the dog days of winter--the holidays are in our rear view mirror, pitchers and catchers don't report for spring training for at least another 45 days, and you're psyched when high temperatures soar into the 20's. But this time of year isn't so bad, especially if you're a sports fan. Shallow as sports may be, its a nice outlet to pass the time and in my case it keeps me connected to family, friends, and the pulse of Chicago. Whether I'm firing off text messages to buddies during an important game, or listening intently to Tahhhd (Todd for those of you without Chicago accents) calling in to sports talk radio to tell the public "how da bears ain't got nuttin' ta worry about come sunday;" sports occupy a decent part of my brain's capacity throughout the day.

So with sports on the brain, tonight's column will focus on the NFL playoffs, and Sunday's tilt between the Seahawks and Bears, the next chapter between two teams from cities I have a personal connection to. For the non sports fan (aka my girlfriend), I'll try to sprinkle in a few non-sports topics from time to time.

Lucky for me, I come from a family where my father and his two brothers were passionate about their Chicago sports. This left a notable impression on all of the Whiskey males (and probably the females as well), and also access to tickets for great sporting events. And this Sunday, my cousin and I will attend the Bears-Seahawks playoff game. Like me, my cousin explored the country a bit during his twenties, and is now back in Chicago; with part of his travels taking him to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. But no matter where he and I lived during our 20's, Chicago sports always stayed on the brain. And while I can't speak for him, it wasn't easy living out in Seattle, away from such an integral part of my life. Occasionally a Chicago sports team would visit Seattle, which was always a treat, but I missed the collective interest in the teams near and dear to my heart.

I'm pausing the column to interview my girlfriend, whose house I am at while I write. Her day has been long, and she's offered her remaining energy to conduct a long-anticipated, exclusive interview on the Adventures of Delta Whiskey. Her dog Shaney (aka Sha Nay Nay) is alongside as we dig into the most intimate details of her life.

Delta: We have been dating for roughly 13 months, and our dogs have known each other the entire time. How would say the relationship between Shaney and Annie has gone?

Romeo: Rocky, at best. At least they haven't killed each other.

Delta: I see. Well, from my perspective Shaney has been gracious with sharing her home with Annie and her bed with me. Thanks for such a deep response!

Delta: Looking back over the past year, tell me three days that stood out to you. You'll get extra credit for telling me why.

Romeo: Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Kidding ok...

1) Our entire first date - December 23, 2010. You picked me up, you told me everything about Delta Whiskey, the good, the bad, the ugly...and I thought you were cute. Very cute. Even during the ugly. But the best part of that night was the drop off. The awkward lean in from you, and my awkward reaction which was to say "that was awkward". Awkward is good. It makes for good stories. That's why. (extra credit 1)

2) Go go Galena. Our trip to western(?) illinois - a quaint little, but very pretty town called Galena. Our first trip together. We hiked and talked and got lost and eventually had to call the hotel to come pick us up. Conversation was obviously captivating. That's why (extra credit 2)

3) Roasting marshmallows on that same trip. It was genius until the wood was all gone and I was eating marshmallows and graham crackers, cold, with sticky black hands. I think we both ate too many. But I just remember looking up at you, you looking at me, marshmallow all over my face and laughing...

4) oh wait, one more from that same trip - impromptu gym class (by the way, I think this all happened in 1 day) on the floor of our townhouse. it stood out because it was so ridiculously random, but grrrreat. that' why (extra credit 3)

Delta: Very cute, I'm concerned we're getting too far away from my core demographic (all 19 followers), so I'd like to ask you a few questions about sports. What is your prediction for Sunday's game between the Bears and Seahawks? Who do you think is going to be the 'difference maker'?

Romeo: Player or Team? Well, I'll just go with Team, because I don't know any players beyond Devin Hester and Jay Cutler. Julius Peppers! I do love that name! Ok, the Bears.

Delta: Phew. Now I feel a little more at-ease knowing the bears are in good hands.

Romeo: Actually, if I can interject for a second - I think the bigger question is who's NOT going to be the 'difference maker' - and I can tell you who will make no difference, at all, the Patriots. Are they even in the playoffs?

Delta: Yes, they are. I'm getting hungry. When is dinner coming?

Romeo: I say in 10.7 minutes. Best guess.

Delta: Great story. Compelling and rich. OK, back to more serious questions. You work in a world where coming up with clever ideas is part of your day to day life. I could use some ideas from you--how do I appeal to a broader audience on my blog?

Romeo: Good question. Off the top of my severely drained head:

1) Focus only on sports. Or don't. Pick one then go hard at it.

2) If you don't focus only on sports - then make your blog about something - make it have some sort of rhyme, reason or mission. Or have it be about nothing, like seinfeld, but that was about something.

3) Ask your friends to read your stuff.

4) Consider writing about celebrity gossip. (e.g., "hey, did you hear that Jake broke up with Taylor...heartbreaking!")

5) Branding branding branding. Get a logo. Some pretty pictures and then watch the followers pile up.

Delta: Good food for thought, as usual. What did you hear on my ipod that surprised you most?

Romeo: Classical music. I wasn't expecting it, nor do I really like it, but you seemed to really like it when I asked you about it. And I thought that was cool. Because it kind of represents you in a larger sense - unexpected, diverse and open minded. and funny too, but classical music isn't funny.

Delta: Not funny at all. Not funny. Its almost time for dinner. I'm soooo hungry. What are 2 things you'd like to accomplish this weekend?

Romeo:

1) Workout. It's necessary, but likely won't happen

2) Get some work done so I don't lose it next week.

3) Be with Delta and Annie and Sha nay noonie

Delta: I think you could get all 3 of those done, but I too feel like there isn't enough time in my world as well. Sometimes you just get done what you can, and make sure to smile along the way.

Delta: If I told you I could book 3 musical acts at a venue of your choice in Chicago for tomorrow night, who would you have me book, and where would you want to see them?

Romeo:

1)

2)

Headliner:

Venue: Let's make tomorrow the middle of July and say Ravinia meets Charter One Pavilion - because you can dance at Charter One and then laze on a blanket and eat cheddar fries from michael's

I'll leave the music to you...because you have better answers to that - however, one request I would like to make - I'd like some funk. I'd like to dance.

So delta, pls answer your own question...

Delta:

1) Trombone Shorty (if you like funk, you can't miss them...we'll see them soon, you can dance then)

2) I'd like to see someone I've never seen--the Black Keys seem like they'd put on a fun show.

Headliner: Metallica (just because everyone should see them)

Venue: I like the Vic, although it'd be really friggin' loud in there

Delta: OK dinner is here and my column isn't what I thought it would be. My playoff picks are below:

New England 33 Jets 24

Baltimore 12 Pitt 10

Green Bay 23 Atlanta 21

Bears x Seahawks x

I'm not dumb enough to predict anything one way or another, but I will say this: the bears probably should win, but they're the least predictable team I've ever seen. And something tells me the Seahawks aren't as bad as their record indicates. It'll be close either way...