Monday

That's Texas going down in flames. I thought it would have been a closer game. Memphis looked great. KU will have their hands full. This would be a fun week to be in San Antonio.

The mother-board on my desk-top was fried. I've got a temporary machine up-and-running for the next couple of weeks. The hassles just keep on coming. At least I'm not limited to the laptop.

I've still got the sore throat and body aches. Hit the wall around six tonight. Really needed an extra hour or two. Then again, tomorrow is another day.

In re-reading 1's comments from yesterday, I couldn't help but smile. "The Glad Game" made an impression on all of us. I did take the advice to go to bed early.

One other thought for the day: it was Opening Day today at Wrigley. Cubs lose! Cubs lose! Cubs lose! Although the game was delayed by rain, they were able to get the whole game in, including a 10th inning. I really think any game scheduled before April 15th should be played in the South. While the temperature was ok today, they're talking 40's for the rest of the week. Yet another reason to watch the game at the Cubbie Bear!

And for the record, I've reserved the condo at Tahoe for August 1st through the 9th. Friday through the following Saturday. It's a place in the complex where Uncle Phil first lived, right in the middle of Incline. Details to follow.

Hope everyone has a good week.

BCOT

Sunday

I've had a further disaster with my desktop at the office. My normal routine is to "log off" when I leave for the day, which means that the machine is never really "off". On Saturday morning when I came in, it was not only "off", it was D-E-A-D. Not even the hint of power. This after paying the IT guy for 2+ hours on Thursday to scrub off the virus. I'm guessing that I'll be working on my laptop through April 15th.

While I can plugthe laptop into the office network to get to the tax programs and the like, I've learned that the desktop's stuff doesn't just transfer over even if you are connected through the same access point. So the IT guy will have to come back and get the laptop's configuration up to speed. What a hassle! And I'll still have to get a new desktop (I presume).

I've also managed to contract a small cold, sore throat, body aches deal. Not sure from where. Or from whom. I need to feel better than I do now to successfully get through these tax files over the next couple of weeks. I'm working on my drug therapy.

Symptomatic of the little blip in my world today, I couldn't pick up a Verizon signal at SB's this AM, and had to come into the office to get on the Internet. The moon and stars must not have got the memo.

Fairly predictable NCAA tournament so far. If Texas isn't able to pull off the upset today, my run at the top of the clan pool will be over. Whatever.

I'll add more to this later.

BCOT

Thursday

Here's a little tribute to 1's rant. (What do you think of the shoes, 2?) Actually, that was a Class A rant. Kind of like me and sports writers. You go girl!

This was the third day this week that we had snow on the ground in the AM. Today's storm was more than a token anomaly. I think that the cities even had to bring out the snow plows again. (Or should I say, pot hole facilitators?)

The bad news for me at the office was that my desktop acquired a virus late yesterday, and the machine was near trash this AM. So I had to get the IT guy in, and it took him a couple of hours before the worm was scrubbed away. A lost morning. We never could identify the source. The anti-virus software worked, but the worm was always just a step ahead, and kept replicating. No true damage to files. I don't think (hope?) Just lost time and more IT costs.

The worst computer virus that I ever experienced was one that came with a message from my old friend Wally's son. It was one of those Trojan's that sought out Outlook addresses and sent nonsense messages to everybody on the list, multiple times. It was bad enough and widespread enough that the story made national news. (For the record, there was no porn involved.)

Also for the record, 3 knew that she was mixing metaphors yesterday with her comment about eating peanuts outside the Sports Corner at Wrigley. I mean, it could have been the Sports Corner.

That's about it for today. I'm watching the games. No promises for tomorrow. Not only is it Friday, but I have a busy day scheduled. And the Tuscan will be beckoning. Along with the next wave of games.

BCOT

Wednesday

I think that we all have a few I-80 stories to tell. I added to my list with the trip over to DM yesterday. It was a generally successful trip, but the old derriere was sore by the time of my 10 PM return to Bettendorf.

The wind was a factor on the drive over as trucks wanting to pass a slightly slower truck had serious difficulty mustering the momentum to get around the supposedly slower vehicle. A pass could take miles to complete. And passenger car traffic would just accordion behind the dueling semis.

I remember one of my trips through Oklahoma driving on the turnpike late one night when I was in the USAF and a couple of trucks played a "block the road" game game with me. They just drove side-by-side, mile after mile, with no effort made to pass. Finally, I made a mad dash on the right side of the road in an extra lane provided for an entry ramp. It was touch-and-go, and the truckers were p---ed!

As most might be aware, I have a "favorite tree" along I-80 near West Branch. It is a grand oak that has stood guard for decades on a rise just west of the exit. Every time I drive by, I think about the people who have seen it preside over it's territory. It loses a limb every year or two, and a wind or ice storm will eventually come and take it down. It will be a sad day for me.

I first became conscious of what I have come to consider the "Interstate culture" when I made the trips to ND in college. The truck stops, gas stations, rest stops, and toll booths. And the people. The truckers, waitresses, troopers, and hitchhikers.

I had a little mechanical excitement on the trip as well. The plastic cowling under the radiator and front side of the engine somehow came free and was dragging on the pavement. It created a racket, but sounded much worse than the reality. I had had the same problem in Minnesota before the wedding. That fix done at a dealership was obviously not long-term. I borrowed a bungee cord from one of the client's whom I met, and I was eventually able to secure the cowling enough to make it home. Again, never a dull moment.

2 related a SB's story to me from her stop for coffee late yesterday afternoon on her way out of town for her class in IC. It was at the downtown store, where I never go. 2 told the barista that she needed a vinte Americano, extra hot. And the barista responded by saying that there was a guy who went to one of the other locations who always wanted his Americano so hot that they called it "a cup of fire". 2 said, "That's my dad!"

Busy times at the office. People whom you can't find most of the year are all of a sudden very interested in your time. It will be a hectic three weeks.

Have a great evening.

BCOT

Monday

OK. I'm off to Des Moines tomorrow for a little biz and a reception. Back late tomorrow night.

This is the state capital building in DM.. I think we had the girls in there a time or two for educational purposes. They tried the stairs to the little side domes, I think.

Snow again this AM. It's getting really old. We still have snow piles at the edges of the parking lots. Just like Tahoe.

Did I ever mention here that the Waterfront Deli in Bettendorf does a great imitation of Chicago style hotdogs? I've had them several times and they've really got it figured out. Not cheap, but all the condiments. Hot buns. Small bag of chips. $3.50. Right up your alley, 2. It could be the Sports Corner at Wrigley.

Greetings to Uncle Phil. He undoubtedly will have something intelligent to say at a point in time in the future.

My pal Roy closes on his new golf course later this week. My advice to him is to keep clubhouse expenses down and say , "No", to most suggestions and requests for improvements. In his world, lots of people want to spend his money on their ideas. I continually remind him of a piece of sage investment advice from another old friend; "No pile (of money) is too big."

And one other thing, is it fair that Kristi Yamaguchi is an "amateur" on Dancing with the Stars? Not that I really care, or watch, but it is a valid question. Inquiring minds want to know.

Have a great day.

BCOT

Sunday

Happy Easter to all.

2 reminds me that I need to be careful of copyrights and other legal restrictions when I pull my images from the Internet for my blog. I'll try to minimize my legal exposure in the future. Anyone claim these eggs?

FFF at my place last night. Steaks on the grill. In the
snow. A good time had by all. Albeit a little calmer than the wine-fest from the night before.

Sunday from SB's. It looks like a pretty nice day, but cool. The dusting of snow has melted. We're supposed to see 50 degrees a couple of days this week. We deserve it. I am so tired of Winter.

Brunch at the Figge later. Then taking 2 back to C-town. 4 heads back to IC.

Boring NYT this AM. No scandals to release.

More later.

BCOT

Later...

Uneventful trip in and back to deliver 2. (Open-road tolling is a wonderful progression.) Although we did miss our turn off the toll road and had to back track to the train station. And there was the matter of an extra Blackberry in my back seat on the way home. Never a dull moment.

The NYT magazine was delivered to 2 at the brunch. I too had noticed the art articles.

I'm thinking that the NCAA tournament has become a real crap-shoot after the first round. Most of the games are close, and being higher seeded only matters for the 1-16 match-up. I'm guessing that Carole and Evelyn already know that.

Did I mention that we had snow on the ground this AM? Really puts one in the Easter spirit.

BTW...The team that beat Augie in the second round of their tournament a couple weeks back, in OT, (Washington of St. Louis) won the D III crown this weekend in Salem, Virginia. Easily. By 22 in the title game over last year's champ. Oh, what might have been...

Is there any status in being one of the "known" regulars at SB's? In their recent national promotional efforts to establish their commitment to "get it right" every time, stores have put up some signs stating that policy. At the 53rd Street store where I stop most mornings, the baristas have put a few cards with particular special order instructions on one such sign. One is mine, the so-called "Cup of Fire". (One of the assistant managers at the Duck Creek and downtown stores calls me a Starbuck's slut, since I frequent all their shops.)

OK. Enough. Hope everyone has a great week.

BCOT

Saturday

Sorry for no report yesterday. Work got in the way, and then we had some un-planned FFF.

This pretty well describes Friday night. Rarely has the phrase, "I bring a six-pack to the party", meant a six-pack of Tuscan red. 2, 3 (+1), 4, Mom and I managed to do some serious damage to my contribution for the evening.

Speaking of damage, a couple of those brackets are out of the water. Then again, it's only the first round.

I'll add more here later as the second round games get underway.

BCOT

Thursday

Happy Hundo, Margaret!

You and Daddy gave us all so many gifts. And with those new fourth generation additions to the family tree, the gifts just keep on giving.

Love, from all.

And the rest of you guys, make today something special in memory of Margaret. Find a smile, a laugh. Do something for somebody else. That's how she spent her life.

Be Careful Out There!

I know that you can't read these, but it's the point that counts. The clan submissions need to be done by Thursday morning.

I missed the mark on my prediction for Craig Wilson's column. He went for the Easter candy analysis instead. That would have been my second choice.

Happy Tax Birthday to Mother. The 'ol Ten-Oh.

2 and 4 have had a bug. Neither have felt good all week. I've had the body aches, but nothing much worse. Was it the flu shot?

I did something this evening that I think I can honestly say that I have never done before: I had my evening meal at Panera Bread. A client wanted to meet and he suggested the Illinois-side store as it was on his way to a later engagement. I've had breakfast and lunch there numerous times, but never din-din. Their oatmeal-raisin cookie is worth a repeat visit.

There was a neat story in the papers today about the NY Yankees visiting Virginia Tech yesterday and playing a game against the Hokies' baseball team. The picture of A-Rod sitting in their dugout among the college players was cool.

Hope everyone has good luck on their picks.

BCOT

Tuesday

This cartoon is very close to my scenario this evening on the way home from work, but I was lucky enough to have hit fumes within walking distance of the office. I wasn't for sure that it was gas, and I thought about calling the tow truck, but I did the math and decided to give a shot to a gallon of gas. It worked. But it still managed to screw up my evening. Arguably, I saved enough for a pretty nice evening with Tuscan red.

Actually, I profited from a similar fate with the same car coming home with 2 from an Augie game over a year ago. The symptoms were identical; a normally running car just dies. Plenty of juice in the battery and the starter was strong. Overall, the fix was the same, and this one was pretty simple compared to that night from a year ago. No cops.

The problem was with my math on just how many miles that I should expect out of a gallon of gas. For some reason, I had it in my mind that the number was 260. And I was at 180. For future users of the Taurus, trust me on this: 180 is the number.

Maybe I should consider getting the gas gage fixed. Naah.

The play-in game is on. ESPN has the A Team on the broadcast. Including Erin. Mt. St. Mary's now gets Carolina.

Craig Wilson will probably have a basketball brackets theme in his column tomorrow. The tournament has become such an iconic symbol of our American culture, even gay, Life section writers feel compelled to comment.

Get those picks in.

Hey to 1 and 1.1 on the road.

BCOT

Monday

I'm sure that none of you will be out there participating in any green beer celebrations. It being a work day and all.

Hope it's a good one.

BCOT

Later...

Busy day on Wall Street. The next few days will be very interesting for the markets.

In searching for an appropriate picture for the blog today, I came across several aerial photos of a green Chicago River. With 3 working there now, and with Mom and I having a history in C-town, a photo of the river would have been a good choice. But I don't recall actually seeing the extra coloring in the river on St. Patrick's Day: it looked green to me all the time!

There have been a number of columns written recently using the Irish as an example of the integration of an immigrant people into the US population. A quick check on Wikipedia suggests that this assimilation was not without hardships, prejudice, and some violence. I wonder if today's anti-immigration crowd is similar to the anti-Irish folks of the 1800's? Then again, is it a hardship to ask someone coming to your homeland, to stay, to speak your language?

4 is working on an extended-family web site for one of her journalism classes. I remember Mother having a 2'x2' framed "family tree" display maybe 25 years ago that she may have received as a gift from Aunt Margaret. It was the "artsy-craftsy" thing that you buy at a craft shop and then you put pictures of the various "limbs" of your family on the different boughs. Pre-Internet stuff. 4's will be a lot more work, and contain a lot more information.

OK. I may be old, but it is St. Patrick's Day. And I am an ND grad. I'm off for a green beer.

BCOT

Sunday

Today's the day. There's the matter of a few conference tournaments to be settled, but we're down to the last couple of at-large bids, and the seeding. Ultimately, there really aren't that many teams who can actually win the tournament. Those last few teams who get in are just saving their coaches' jobs.

My pal Pete and I were at a regional final in San Antonio at the Alamo Dome about 10 years ago when Iowa State had one of their last really good teams. Anybody remember Dedric Willoughby? They got beat by UCLA in OT. The downtown Riverwalk was (and I think still is) a good place to party.

Uncle Phil has posted the Clan's pool on ESPN.com. See his email. Beware of The Oracle.

1 advises me that she and 1.1 are headed to Arizona on Wednesday for a little Spring Break getaway. I'm envious. She's required to give us some daily reports here.

My pal Roy and I did breakfast this AM at the new Maidrite over by the Devils Glen Hy Vee. The problem that occurs in these new places for old establishments is that it's never the same. I maintain that the fried rice at the new Hy Vee tastes different than that made by the same cooks at the old store. And the tenderloins at the new 11th Street Precinct in the Village definitely have lost their edge now that they're working with a new "stove".

Lot's of observations in today's papers over the Spitzer affair. Very little insight. The most common lament is that his wife made the media appearances with him in some statement of support. I think Roy is probably right on this one: Econ 101 would suggest that she's just solidifying her claim to his wealth.

The bigger news out of NY at week's end was the action taken by the Fed to shore up (bail out?) Bear Stearns, suggesting that more government action may be likely to combat the slowing (recessionary?) economy. It's hard to say what may be the next shoe to drop. A new term that was discussed in the NYT business section this AM was/is Alt-A mortgages. Alt-A borrowers were/are those with good credit scores, but without the documentation to make them prime clients. As more nervousness sets in, investors might decide that they want even safer instruments, and the Alt-A securities are the next to face the veritable "run on the bank". Stay tuned.

I'm breaking for a while. More later today.

BCOT

Late evening addition...

Great day for sports. The picks are ready for pickin'. Tiger wins another in dramatic fashion. And NASCAR turning left.

A little FFF with 2 and 4 for pizza at Harris'.

Looks like Monday will be a very interesting day in the market. Lots of action already and the uncertainty will scare people.

Hope everyone has a good week.

BCOT

Saturday

So we have the Ides of March. Tough day for Caesar. As I recall, my entry last year on this date gave a little history. You'll have to do your own review this year.

Fun night yesterday at Biaggi's. 2 was a participant. Not quite to the level of "bad shrimp", but it may be an early evening for me tonight.

Lots of St. Patty's Day activities this weekend. The local parade was today. As was the one in C-town. 3 checked in and informed me of same. Years ago, I ran a couple of St. Patrick's Day runs here in town. Not a chance this year.

Forgot to mention that Margret made her first appearance on the streets Wednesday. She fired up like a champ. But she does need a tune.

A full report tomorrow morning from SB.

BCOT

So it's Friday afternoon. I am where I normally am. Several friends to come on down.

More tomorrow.

BCOT

Thursday

No blog today. I'll try to post early tomorrow.

BCOT

Wednesday

Craig Wilson is at it again.

I know that I live one of the most boring lives in the world. An accountant in Iowa. What I didn't know was that a hot shot columnist for a national newspaper needs to review my work for ideas to construct his weekly effort. Today, his column was devoted to his trials and tribulations as a result of his cleaning lady being gone for a month. To the Philippines to see her family.


www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/finalword/2008-03-11-final-word_N.htm

My Russian cleaning lady has been written about here several times in the last couple of years. Including episodic ruminations regarding her trips back to Russia. There needs to be an investigation.

Actually, what this really means is that 60 year old men, gay or straight, universally lead largely similar lives on a day-to-day basis. They are mostly still working. They deal with a body that aches and creaks. They can appreciate a good glass of wine, and an occasional meal at a restaurant that may be a little off the beaten track. They go to bed early. And they're glad when they check those obituaries to see no names that are too familiar.

March Madness is in full swing with the Big East Conference tournament at Madison Square Garden now under way. Lots of games tomorrow with the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 tournaments kicking off. I know that I've said it before, but those years in the mid-to-late '80's when the then Big 8 tournament was always in KC, were some of my favorite years as a basketball fan. When Iowa State had good teams, Kemper Arena became Hilton South. And the Country Club Plaza area was as hot as it gets.

Our picks in the Clan contest will have to be entered a week from tomorrow (Thursday) morning. Is there a better time for a basketball fan?

Spitzer is gone. Ferraro had to leave the Clinton campaign. It's rough out there.

It is said by many pundits that baseball mirrors life. Today, the Yankees and the Devil Rays (who are they?) decided to brawl in a Spring training game! Can anyone say, "Democratic primaries"?

My pal Bill and I stopped for lunch yesterday at an old line neighborhood bar on a main drag in Moline. We were a little late, but there were only two other tables (out of say, maybe 12-15) occupied. In years past, it was hard to find an open spot. I'm wondering if the anti-smoking ordinance is having an effect? Then again, times change.

All for today. Have a good evening.

BCOT

Tuesday

It was a day for the bulls. The biggest one day rise for five years or so. We'll see if it can be sustained tomorrow.

Conventional wisdom had suggested that the market may have been temporarily over-sold, and the announcement this morning of a government-backed liquidity program sent the bulls running early, aided by the shorts closing positions before the rush.

Spitzer may not survive another day. I didn't realize how many people disliked him. Now though, in the space of a day, he's become just another fallen politician. Amazing how quickly it moves from shock and amazement to lurid details, to post script. They're already talking about the successor being the first legally blind governor in the country.

How 'bout a Top Ten list of true signs of Spring?

1. No morning frost on cars parked outside.
2. DST.
3. Easter.
4. Lower heating bills.
5. Hy Vee setting up the outside Garden Shop.
6. Lines at the car wash.
7. Spring Break trips.
8. High school track meets.
9. St. Patty's Day.
10. Mother's and Daddy's birthdays and wedding anniversary.

I've read of a little bit about some controversy in various places about the Catholic Church having a problem with St. Patrick's Day celebrations, the 17th falling in the middle of Holy Week and all. I been able to get passed it.

So have a good "hump" day.

BCOT

Monday

Really a Monday today. The time change didn't go well.

Championship Week on ESPN. Of course, it started last weekend. Another example of their 10 day week like in Bowl Championship Week in December.

Eliot Spitzer had a tough day too. As the details begin to emerge on this, his rationality isn't close to reality. I mean, the guy used his own name. Hiding in plain sight is over rated.

The media cannot contain itself, even though Spitzer is a Democrat. I swear that Wolf Blitzer was drooling at the mouth as he "reported" on the story. Spitzer has few friends in the business community. As NY Attorney General, he went aggressively after some people in high place. Wall Street tends to remember those things.

4 has a busy week. Be a tiger, Kiddo. Good luck to 2 on her mid-term tomorrow night.

My quarterly water bill came today. About an 18% increase over the last quarter for the same amount of usage. I need to adjust my billing rates for a transportation surcharge. Is that how inflation gets started?

Speaking of natural resources, there's a report out that the average world temperatures for January 2008 were some of the lowest in many years. I know we sure have had Winter here. Maybe Al Gore should recalibrate those global warming numbers.

All for tonight. Have a good week.

BCOT

Sunday

Welcome to DST! This has to be an invention of government. I was doing fine with regular time. The one redeeming fact is that my bedside clock is now correct. I had refused to reset it last Fall. Yet another example of ignoring a situation long enough that it self corrects.

Cool but sunny here today.

Augie ran out of magic in OT last night, losing to Washington U of St. Louis 70-67. Two really good teams, well-coached, and capable of playing with anybody. In looking at the statistics this morning, the key may have been Augie's 1 for 13 in three-point shooting.

2 and I were both worn out by the end of the game. Funny how you can get invested in a team, and how your general feelings can go up or down depending on their wins or losses.

The religious right is alive and well in the Quad Cities area. The local arena is holding a hollywood-scale production of animated dinosaurs this weekend. The local paper carried a letter to the editor from a minister who wanted to caution attendees from listening too hard to any non-biblical evolution theories that might be promoted at the show. Please save us all.

After failing to hit the mark with the young, blond lobbyist story on McCain, the NYT is giving a shot today at his history with melanoma. At least with this one, they're launching their concerns on page 20 as opposed to page one. An editorial piece on the OpEd page today tried to present some math on their fairness between the candidates. And the lead piece on the front page today was one that basically described Obama's small presence in the US Senate.

Speaking of ineffective senators, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania wants more information from the NFL on the Patriots' "spygate" issue. I mean, did this guy have some money on the wrong side of the Super Bowl or what?

And finally, in the you've-got-to-be-kidding-me category, the IRS (or somebody in DC) is spending $42 large (as in million) to send out a mailing just to announce the economic stimulus package. I've always said that I would like the contract to be the government's mailing service. These guys don't look at the price tags on anything unless some watch-dog is on point.

Anyone have another use for the term "presumptive"? As in John McCain, the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party.



More later.

BCOT

Saturday

I was correct in that I never got to the blog yesterday. Very enjoyable evening. Victorious over at Augie. A win tonight in the second round is a ticket to the Sweet Sixteen next weekend. My pal Pete's son had an unusual double-double: 28 points and 10 steals.

Good to see 3 back in the area. She got in late last night and is over in IC to visit friends tonight. Back to C-town tomorrow.

The wine list over at the Chop House in Moline had about four bottles of red wine priced below $50. And none that I recognized. We got a California cab that was ok, but nothing special. The entrees were all $30+, and the sides were a la carte. Even so, I tried to pull the old, "I've got to go to the restroom" routine to get the bill from the waitress before she presented it to Roy. But I was out-foxed by Roy who had made previous arrangements with the waitress. And the manager was no help. Roy was very proud of himself.

The new martini place, Graze, that opened up a couple of weeks ago, has had mixed reviews. I think that it had a negative impact on the business at Biaggi's on that first Friday night that it was open. I'm sure that it will do ok in the short run, but martinis and appetizers may not be the long term answer. 3 said that the Graze in IC and Burlington were good places to go to.

It's interesting to see what works and what doesn't when it comes to restaurants in a community. There have been lots of failed attempts here in the last few years. I'm not sure that it's the menu, the location, or the ambiance that makes something work. Price comes into play. Trends also. Maybe more than anything, the preferences of the population around the place will determine if it will be successful. Then you get into the shifts in commercial and residential development. Smarter people than me can figure it out.

Enjoyed 1's comment on Thursday's entry. She didn't describe it there, but she had excitement at school last week with a bomb threat. No actual problem, but her school is not the easiest place to work. She can give us more details later.

Closing for now. 2 and I are headed to Augie.

BCOT

Thursday

I really don't have much to say today. These two have dominated the front pages most of the week. No reason it should be any different on 4K Days.

It might be kind of interesting to see how the Dems resolve their nomination dilemma with the Florida and Michigan delegations. Remember, these were two states that tried to upstage the Iowa caucuses as the first state to hold a 2008 presidential primary/caucus. When these states decided to go forward with their own ideas, the National Democratic Committee pulled their credentials. Now with the race so tight, and Hillary behind, there's some sentiment out there for "do-overs". Can anyone say, "Hanging chad?"

I see where the Facebook guy is now on the list of American billionaires. Not bad for a twenty-three year old. I wonder what he might do with himself when he grows up?

The Augie tournament game is tomorrow night. My pal Roy and I are doing din-din first at the fancy steak place in Moline. Biaggi's will have to survive a Friday night without my act. 2 has an early-evening commitment at the museum, but will be joining us for the game.

Coach John Wooden has been in the news this week with a fall in his home that resulted in a couple of broken bones. He's 90-some years old. Early in the college season, UCLA had to request fans give Mr. Wooden a break from the constant parade of autograph-seekers who would approach him when he would attend games in Pauley Pavillion. He remains one of the few on the list of people whom I would walk across the street to greet.

Tears are flowing in Green Bay tonight as Brett Favre has announced his retirement from football. I was never a huge fan, but he seems to have stayed true to himself throughout the years. I suppose he'll sign on with a TV contract in a year or two. (Or a day or two if he were to pull a Bobby Knight.) Then again, Joe Montana, whom everybody liked, couldn't make it on the tube.

The market sucks. I met with a long-time client this morning, a smart, well-read and successful businessman. He was asking about some of the terms and acronyms that have become standard verbiage in daily business articles. Subprime. SIVs. CDOs. Mortgage backed securities. His questions illustrate how convoluted/complicated the markets have become, even for the educated. The big issue remains the uncertainty in valuing anything tied to credit-related securities.

I know that young people use the "layered look" in fashion. You'll regularly see girls wearing a shorter shirt over something a little longer, with maybe a sweater, vest or other outer garment on top. Then a jacket. The cold of this Winter has made me an advocate of multiple layers. I now wear tee shirts under everything. Even tee shirts. On the really bad days, I might even wear a long-sleeved tee shirt and a short-sleeved tee shirt under a sweater. It reminds me of Daddy.

There probably won't be much here tomorrow. Hope everyone gets a good start on the weekend.

BCOT

Wednesday

I'm giving 2 some props tonight for her work at the museum. She has steadily risen through the ranks, and the new Director has made a good choice to now let her do more meaningful work for the organization. I have said all along, the museum needs motivated young people like 2 to breathe new life into an operation that can otherwise fall into bad habits with little energy. You rock, girl!

I have no clue on who the guest commentator was on yesterday's non-entry. Probably someone looking to sign up bloggers on a money-grab.

I cannot recall potholes being the problem that they are on our local streets this year. I got caught this morning in the right-hand lane on Kimberly Road over by Red Lobster, and I literally had to stop to avoid bottoming-out my car. The street maintenance budgets for our communities have all got to be well under water this year. Pun intended.

My Oldsheimer's kicked in yesterday and I didn't get to the polls to vote for the tax proposal to support school funding for capital improvements in the county. And early in the day, I had actually logged on to the Scott County website to find my voting place. Late in the day, I got involved with a couple of return situations, and then I met a client for a cocktail, and I forgot all about the voting business. Fortunately, the proposal passed. If I don't have a stickie note on the tip of my nose, I'm inclined to forget it, whatever "it" is.

Barack was saying on the news today that part of the reason for Hillary's success in yesterday's primaries was something akin to a "sympathy vote". There have been some accounts in the press, most likely originating from the Clinton campaign, that the media has been perceptibly easier on Obama than on Clinton, even to the point of being the focus of an over-the-top skit on SNL (which I, of course, did not see since it's past my bedtime). Does Barack think that there are actually fair-play rules in politics?

More later.

BCOT

Tuesday

No blog today.

Monday

No real reason to include the Golden Dome in the blog tonight, but I've come to like a little color in my entries, and I thought it would be OK to give some air time to ND. In the foreground is the steeple to the basillica (the main church on campus).

Glad to read about 4's project to add to her Internet presence. I told her to seek the aid of AM and Uncle Phil. Those retirees can be very useful.

Note to AM: I saw the article in yesterday's NYT about the sports analogies, but it appeared to me to be an Obama political report so I passed.

Augie does get to host it's first DIII tournament game on Friday. And their second one Saturday, if they win their first. (Wheaton College of the CCIW received a surprise at-large bid. They have a gunner who can score from the parking lot.)

I was pleased to get out and do my "standard" bike ride yesterday afternoon. That's the ride of 16+ around Davenport Country Club. The county roads were much better than the city streets that I rode on Saturday. That's the mid-week route that takes me about a buck twenty to complete in the Summer. It was a little longer yesterday as I was mostly just happy to be out, rather than looking for a time target. Lots of water running to toward the river. Very dirty water.

With temps in the high 60's, yesterday was a huge snow melt day. We're back to the 30's for the rest of the week. So the snow piles on the edges of the streets and parking lots will be there for another week or so.

I made the oversight of forgetting to turn my heat back on last night after turning it off during the day when I had opened the windows. I woke up at one point after midnight to go to the bathroom, and nudged the temperature lever up some, which didn't do any good since the unit was off. I'm keeping it to at least 62 for the rest of the week.

2 received a bit of a promotion down at the museum today. Details to follow later in the week.

Hope everyone has a good week.

BCOT

Sunday

Hey to all from my Sunday morning home-away-from-home. The people here now ask where I've been whenever I don't show up.

Augie had a successful evening. Regular season and conference tournament champs. Suite. And they had to do it without their starting center who had injured his wrist on Friday night. Now they await word on their D III tournament paring. With their record, they should host as many games as they can win. Good stuff.

Note to 2: The Prez of Augie asked where you were last night. Your presence was missed by others as well.

Even Walmart does the old bait 'n switch. I pulled up for gas this morning and went through the credit card protocol only to learn in the final step that the cheaper, lower two grades were not available on that pump, and rather than wait in line at another pump, I paid 30 cents more per gallon than the price posted on the big sign visible from the street.

This is certainly the nicest day so far in 2008. 50 plus, although a little windy. I'll have to make a choice on riding today. Probably will battle the potholes. I may even try to fire up Margret. And maybe even open some windows at home?

One of the positive by-products of the cold weather has been that the "Check Tire Pressure" warning signal on the Buick self-corrected itself. Interesting. The signal initially came on in August down in KC when it was 100+ for the three days that I was there. Another example of how, if you delay long enough, a problem just might go away. A victory for procrastinators everywhere.

The NYT is opining from on high this week about the lax standards that Harvard has allowed to creep into their culture as a result of the Tommy Amacher basketball hiring. Let me first say that Amacher can't coach a lick. He might be able to recruit, but not necessarily the best citizens. Getting his players to play at a high level is a whole 'nother story. Just ask the people in Michigan. But I do feel better knowing that the Times is riding herd on such a diverse collection of topics critical to the American way of life.

I forgot to mention that my bike ride yesterday was preceded by a required tube change in my rear tire. For some reason, the old tube wouldn't take/keep air when I went to pump it up in preparation for my ride. The valve stem was faulty, which probably means that I bent it when I attached the pump hose. Anyway, it took me 15-20 minutes to replace the tube, which is slow, but I remember 25+ years ago when such an effort was either inconceivable, or a two hour, knuckle-scraping, cussing, bitterly frustrating experience. Of course, that was before quick-release hubs, proper tools, and dozens of flat tires on the road. Necessity truly is the Mother of Invention.

The tire change evidenced a need to get more post-surgery strength in my thumbs. The ol' rubber ball needs to be worked a lot. Still. Even my cruising hold on the handle bars suggested that I am quite a ways away from where I need to be to feel back to 100%.

Does anybody besides me wonder what the heck is going on with Congress that they need to spend so much time and money on steroids/HGH investigations? If they're going to have the WWF testify alongside the NFL, where's Stallone? Maybe they need to get into some stuff on Britney or Angelina or 75% of the rest of Hollywood. Whatever.

Enough for today. Get out there and enjoy it. I am.

BCOT

Saturday

I did get out for my first outside ride of the year today. It was partly sunny and was up to 40 degrees at one point. Still, I only did about 11 miles in 45 minutes or so. Started on the bike path, but ended up on the streets as there was just too much ice on the path. The streets meant watching for potholes. It was a bit stressful, but I'm glad to get started. It's a long road to reach the strength necessary to get up Mt. Rose.

Augie pulled it out last night in OT, so I have the finals tonight. Against arch rival Illinois Wesleyan. It's one of those situations that you have to beat a good team for the third time in a season. It's never easy.

I'll give a full report on life tomorrow AM from SB's.

BCOT