Killing Time

While I’m just about ready to panic about my upcoming subspecialty board certification, I’m surprised to find myself only slightly annoyed by not having the pressure of completing something. But I nearly went bonkers when my internet wireless router hummed its way to disconnected oblivion for several days commencing at the time I learned how it feels like to be a deceived Dell/Microsoft consumer (I still feel mad about this one, which deserves its own entry). Life without an internet connection feels foreign to me now. But it gave me an excuse to set aside writing my 3rd manuscript. How could I download the articles I needed? (I heard a faint cry in my head: what about the library, you dummy? In my defense, I am working at home!).

So for a few days I had a legitimate excuse to procrastinate. Where was it that I read about procrastination being a fleeting way of achieving immortality – the feeling of always having a tomorrow? And procrastination was my minor in college! (Insert an evil grin here).

I was channel surfing when I remembered about my Lord of the Rings extended edition DVDs that had remained untouched. I thought about finishing Tolkien’s book; but after getting my copy and seeing it bookmarked on page 107 (Chapter VI: The Old Forest), I thought: wouldn't it be faster to go through all the DVDs?

The verdict: LOTR Movie Marathon -- an excellent way to kill time.

The Culprit

Uh-oh

Now what could have led to Arielle's -- hmmm, almost mad expression?

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Taken last Saturday in the family's backyard, a few hours before the celebration of her twin sibling's 7th birthday started .

Random Fact

I love wrapping gifts -- from putting the gift in the perfect box with gift tissues, choosing the right wrapper, folding all the edges impeccably, using a tape that will disappear with the wrapper to fitting the right ornament or ribbons. I've got to admit, it's cultivating the OC* in me (my friends with similar OC-traits are nodding in agreement). I love wrapping presents almost as much as I love shopping for one. And I hate those situations where I have to send it without my personal touch (i.e., mailing one in just an ordinary, re-used box). But last weekend, I was able to wrap with glee. I could perhaps put up a stall just outside the mall with a message: "Gift wrapping for free!" (Maybe with a P.S. please provide the wrapper and tape; donations appreciated) and be content.

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OC = Obsessive-compulsive

Just wrapped gifts are for my 7 year-old twin cousins, Aiko & Ashley. I didn't bother to place any ribbons, nor did I splurge on the type of wrapper. Kids don't notice the novelty and craftsmanship of how gifts are wrapped.

Goodbye Greg

The Cubs bid farewell to Greg Maddux, a future Hall of Famer and a pitching icon at the trading deadline yesterday. Although he has a no-trade clause in his contract, I think it’s the competitiveness in him that made him say “OK do it” – which gives him a chance to be in the post-season. He also insinuated he'd likely do it to be closer to his family (home base: Las Vegas). Hmm, let's see. Chicago to Las Vegas: 1780 miles. Los Angeles to Las Vegas: 270 miles. There you go.

It seems like yesterday when he was featured with the rest of the Cubs starting pitchers in 2004 after being a free agent from Atlanta Braves, joining what was then deemed as a formidable rotation composing of Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano and Matt Clement. (Current reality check: Prior still hasn’t won any of his starts since coming back from injury, nor has he been healthy in a full season; Wood has been shut down for more shoulder problems and I suspect he may not be donning a Cubs uniform in the future; Zambrano is the only one that had held up his status: he’s now vying for the Cy Young and aiming to extend his 9-game winning streak; Clement has moved on to the Boston Red Sox after the 2004 season). It also seems like yesterday when nearing the end of the 2004 season with the Cubs leading the Wild Card race, I had a premonition they won’t make it (a nasty thought of Cubs’ collapse nagged through me the entire week I was in Boston for a conference) – and they didn’t.

Maddux is used to playing in the post-season during his years with the Braves (with a World Series in 1995). I would love to see Maddux being a Cub in the post-season. Not going to happen this year (you think?!). And now that he’s with the L.A. Dodgers, it’s never going to happen at all. Unless he re-signs with the Cubs for next year, which I doubt he’ll do.

Best wishes Mad Dog. I hope you do get that elusive 2nd World Series Ring. It would have been extra special if it will happen with the Cubs – wishful thinking, I know.

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Photo from ©cubs.com. Maddux tipping his cap to a standing ovation crowd at Wrigley Field on Saturday after leaving the game in the 6th inning allowing only 1 unearned run. The Cubs went on to secure Maddux's 327th career win against arch-rival St. Louis Cardinals.