Oct. 3, 2019
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3854-N-Kostner-Ave-Chicago-IL-60641/3665066_zpid/
Built in 1872 – a year after the great Chicago Fire. Empire style – it’s been restored and remodeled, kept up and lived in throughout the years. $775,000.
Check out the inside – gorgeous! I shot the exterior (not this shot) on a photo assignment about 10 yrs. back. I really enjoy the architecture of Old Irving.
Sept. 24, 2019
By Gordon Wittenmeyer – Chicago Sun-Times
Cubs manager Joe Maddon said again recently what he has said for months: He expects to be back managing the team next season.
Granted, this is the same perpetual optimist who kept saying he expected good results this season, even as each wrecking-ball blow by the Cardinals destroyed what was left of the Cubs’ season during a four-game sweep at Wrigley Field.
By Monday, social media, local sports airwaves and national pundits were abuzz with varying degrees of venom and certainty that Maddon will be let go 11 months after team president Theo Epstein lobbed the first shot across his bow by announcing Maddon would enter the final season of his contract without an extension.
But with Epstein’s ‘‘year of reckoning’’ sputtering to an ignominious finish this week, the front office faces a classic be-careful-what-you-wish-for proposition, no matter how it spins a Maddon departure — and no matter whom it hires in his place.
As the Sun-Times said this summer: Whoever fires Joe Maddon as part of the solution for this team needs to look in the mirror and fire that guy, too.
The Cubs’ decline since their 2016 World Series championship has less to do with any change in Maddon’s effectiveness or shortcomings in game management than it does poor free agent spending, worse player-development results and ownership’s questionable “commitment” to setting baseball budgets according to actual revenue.
The fact that the youngest champion in World Series history didn’t come close to living up to all of the ‘‘dynasty’’ talk back then represents a multilayered, organization-wide failure Epstein acknowledges.
But if he fires the most successful manager in franchise history without bigger fish frying, as well, it can’t be reasonably read as anything but finger-pointing, if not scapegoating, by non-sycophants, no matter what kind of spin or celebration of a great run the Cubs apply.
‘‘Reckonings’’ need fall guys when things go wrong. In this case, that might be the manager who finally achieved the right balance and tone to cut through the psychological mystique of an October pressure-cooker a century in the making.
‘‘Joe’s done a great job, as always,’’ Epstein said a few days ago. ‘‘Since he’s been here, he’s been a terrific partner. And he’s had a lot of moving parts thrown at him this year. That’s not the type of thing that usually bothers him. He takes such an even-keeled approach to managing the club.
‘‘He looks for solutions, collaborates. With him, you wouldn’t know if he has a totally healthy roster of if we’re leading the league in injuries. He’s just unflappable that way.’’
In 2008, with the best record in the National League, the Cubs folded under the pressure in a first-round playoff loss to the Dodgers. Manager Lou Piniella exacerbated the problem by getting irked by Mark DeRosa’s suggestion that Game 2 was a ‘‘must-win’’ proposition.
The Cubs’ infield then responded with errors around the horn in a Game 2 loss.
If anything, the laid-back, embrace-the-target, stay-present demeanor that made Maddon the perfect fit for a fledgling core of potential playoff performers can come off as bad optics when things go awry.
‘‘If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have this winning culture, this winning attitude, these expectations of winning here,’’ 2016 NL MVP Kris Bryant said. ‘‘Because when he first got here is when we really started to win, and it’s no coincidence.’’
What else are the players in the clubhouse going to say? Sure. But it’s also hard to make the case that players aren’t responding well enough to Maddon after seeing this flawed roster with a pedestrian bullpen get this far into the season in playoff contention and after watching Anthony Rizzo return four days after what looked like a season-ending ankle injury.
‘‘He’s done a good job of managing the personnel that we’ve had this year,’’ said veteran left-hander Jon Lester, who has been disgruntled at times with Maddon. ‘‘We’ve had a lot of things that have come up and we’ve had to deal with, and he’s done a great job of doing that.’’
Bullpen problems, lack of mix-and-match leadoff options a year after the process worked, breakdowns in an aging rotation and injuries conspired to create a host of challenges in an improved NL. And that doesn’t even include off-field distractions related to Addison Russell’s domestic-violence suspension, Ben Zobrist’s four-month personal leave over marital problems and Maddon’s own lame-duck contract status.
‘‘Obviously, I don’t ever like being taken out of a game, and we talk about it,’’ Lester said. ‘‘We talk about it in the dugout, and then there’s been times he’s pulled me aside and talked to me in the clubhouse about it, and he always has an educated answer.’’
Maybe David Ross — if he even would take the job — can step right in as a first-time manager and be a star. Maybe bench coach Mark Loretta would make a fine manager.
And Maddon is all but assured of managing somewhere next season, whether Philadelphia, San Diego, New York or somewhere else.
But if the Cubs’ plan is to extend their competitive window, is anyone sure those are better answers? And if their plan is about roster turnover that means fresh faces and maybe some younger players to initiate, that has been the strength of Maddon’s style and track record.
‘‘The best thing I like about Joe is that he allows the players to dictate how the clubhouse is, and then I think the genuine personalities of each individual can come out, which I think is important to get the best out of people,’’ newcomer Nick Castellanos said of his seven-week first impression.
For example, Maddon is a manager built for Rizzo, who thrives on the loose clubhouse and pregame schedule but brings as much focus and effort to game time as anyone else.
And Javy Baez, a two-time All-Star and the NL MVP runner-up last season, might not even be in the organization without Maddon. He immediately fell in love with the wild-swinging, undisciplined Baez’s skills at first glance in the winter of 2014-15.
It’s hard to imagine another manager in the game who would have had the patience to allow Javy to be Javy enough to get the payback the Cubs have seen the last four seasons.
‘‘He’s a very good judge of personality,’’ said Castellanos, who has played for four managers. ‘‘I think he knows his players really well, who needs a kick in the ass, who needs a pat on the back.’’
Kick in the ass?
‘‘He had a meeting with us in New York [after getting swept at home by the Nationals],’’ Castellanos said. ‘‘Just a stern meeting about wanting to be cleaned up a little bit more around the strike zone and having better discipline or a better plan.’’
The Cubs went on to beat Marcus Stroman, Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom to sweep that series.
As pitcher Kyle Hendricks once said: “Behind the scenes he’s a very intense, competitive dude, trust me.”
Three rival evaluators in the last two weeks offered unsolicited praise for what Maddon has done this season to get the Cubs even this far. One said he didn’t see one area of the game in which the Cubs stood out compared to the rest of the league.
‘‘He’s doing the best with everything he’s been dealt,’’ Bryant said. ‘‘He’s handled the criticism, the questioning, everything great.
‘‘I would love to see him back.’’
Sept. 22, 2019
Used to do these ‘word games’ so to speak, with my former neighbor and beer drinking buddy, Craig (pic at bttm.)
We should get together and laugh about how we can’t drink anymore (not beer, anyway). But we’ve both had this odd thing happen – let me know if it happens to you – where you have a thought or are saying something, and the same word is said at the same time, on the radio. I’ve had some weird ones.
One time I was driving in the rain, listening to Garry Meier. He was talking about something and a car turned right in front of me with a license plate that bore the same, rather unique word Garry had mentioned. I wrote him about it and he even said weird things like that have happened to him.
Craig and I used to call each other and go, “Holy Smokes, wait til you hear this one…” Well, wait til you hear this one.
This morning I was noodling on my Ibanez 12-fret, something I usually do every day when I get up. I was working out a progression – slow shuffle, gospel style F, Bb, Bdim, C7, Gm, F. Right as I was playing the Bdim, someone’s car alarm goes off – and I kind of freak out, because IT’S THE SAME NOTES I WAS PLAYING! B and F.
There’s probably a song there – but it was weird. Will have to buzz Craig and see if he’ll read the blog.
But I digress…since I can’t drink coffee anymore because of UT problems (what a plague to older men), my morning drink of choice these days is either Peppermint or Chamomile tea, in cold, filered water. I keep it going all day.
Photo at the top – from this morning, playing my Mustang a lot lately. The smaller scale suits my arthritis, and the Mustang is hot-rodded!
Sept. 21, 2019
Should call it The Learning Curve Pizza. Made plenty of pizzas in my time but these are new ingredients for the toppings and crust. Here goes!
Crust (this makes about a 10″):
1c. Almond Flour
1c. Riced Cauliflower
1/2c. Gluten free Almond Meal Mix
2 Eggs
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 Tsp. Thyme
1 Tsp. Oregano
1/2 Tsp. powdered garlic
1/2 Tsp. salt
Sauce/Toppings (use your favorites – this is just what i used):
6 Sweet Potato slices, cut carefully on a mandolin
4-5 Zucchini slices (ditto)
Sliced mushrooms
Roma tomato – sliced 1/2 of it on the mandolin
I think i forgot the olives!
Pre-made turkey sausage – loose
Marie’s (delicious) Ranch Dressing – i can’t have tomato sauce or onions, but i’d use them if i could.
White Cheddar Shredded
Mozzarella – 4 slices
Same seasonings as above, plus a little fennel seed.
Pre-heat your oven to 400F. Put all the ingredients for the crust in a mixing bowl – mix, kneed, etc.
i pre-heated my new – way too big – 15″ cast iron skillet a little, then coated it with coconut oil. You can use olive oil is you like, or do it dry and throw a handful of coarse corn meal in there. Turned out i loved the iron skillet, but it gets HOT and i ordered some new oven-proof gloves.
Next time, i’ll roll the dough out, but i just packed the skillet and shaped it carefully.
Put the skillet in the oven and let it go about 15-20 minutes. i’m glad i took the pan out and carefully turned the crust over.
i put the White Cheddar on first. Not too much – great flavor! Then the toppings – btw, i microwaved them in a little chicken broth first. Helped soften the sweet potatoes.
After toppings, add the Mozzarella slices. Put the tomato on top and return to the oven for 10-12 minutes.
Voila!
Next time, i won’t use cauliflower. I’ll add more almond flour and roll out the dough.
Hope you enjoy!
Sept. 20, 2019
The photo is only a depiction, because what i made last night made it to my stomach before i got to shoot it! Btw – the recipe serves only one. Adjust according to size of brood!
1 russet and a couple of small organic red potatoes
1 hard boiled egg
1/4 (or more) white or red onion, sliced
3 garlic cloves
string beans, peas or broccoli
frozen tri-color peppers
mushrooms – sliced
Marie’s Ranch Dressing
salt, pepper
rosemary, thyme, dill
coconut oil
black or green olives – sliced
fresh parsely
white cheddar – shredded
Boil the potatoes with the garlic cloves. Throw in the veggies at the end. Leave the onion out for later.
Cook it all al-dente. Drain.
Add the coconut oil (2-3 tsps.) to a pan or pot, medium heat. It melts fast. Makes everything taste like it was cooked in a bakery. Add the potatoes and everything else except the olives. Save the parsely for a topping. Salt to taste.
Saute til light brown. Scoop it out, add the parsley, white cheddar, olives and you’re rolling!
Top it off with a little butter. I like Earth Balance Euro Style Spread – a good teaspoon.
Sept. 18, 2019
The lions and tigers are in London for two years because their house here is being remodelled. The paths are revamped but difficult to navigate – i gave in to the lady who wanted to give me a map at the end. No sea lions, but the seals were out (i have shots of many animals, but am learning to post pics on the new blog, so please bear with me.)
It’s really quiet there – the place is nice, but i get the sense that the heyday of the Zoo has passed by. Seems taken for granted now.
Great to see the blue fish and a wet baby hippo, and some of the birds. Next time i go, i’ll visit the Rookery at Fullerton and the beautiful view of downtown from the bridge over the lagoon at the south end. And the Farm in the Zoo – a favorite place!
My feet, and everything else, were sore enough, and by golly the characters on the Clark St. and Irving buses! We had to get off the Irving bus on the way there. The bus driver (who i knew) whispered to me ‘fire light went on’ – whoops, everybody off! Long wait for all the buses, got to see Wrigley from Clark St.. Will go there again and get off at Addison and do a photo shoot.
But i sure got my exercise on a beautiful late summer afternoon in Chicago.
The new bike and jogging path is open. I’ve yet to see foxes or any wildlife on it, just birds. The animals are there, I’ve seen them in the past, just venturing into the woods or walking the streets nearby; raccoon, ducks, an occasional heron, snakes, many deer, even a rooster, who lives in the woods and feeds at the dish a neighborhood resident puts in her driveway.
About 75 yards into the trail, there is an intriguing moss pond down a steep slope. A lady who was standing at the edge of the slope with her husband told me the moss is called ‘duck grass’. The pond doesn’t seem to flow anywhere, and no water seems to flow in. It just stands there, stagnant, bright, and green.
A few days later, I came back to the same spot with some friends and one of them pointed out a couple of turtles sloshing around at the bottom of the slope, a few feet into the pond. I got close to the edge, pushed the end of my cane into the clay mud to steady myself, and enjoyed the view. I wished a lake or a stream flowed into the woods instead of the river. I’d like to fish there. Fishing the Chicago River, which I did with my son when he was five, can be a crap shoot.
Lore has it, people have fished bodies or parts out of there, car accessories, clothes… One of the neighbors, who told me Al Capone once kept a couple of houses in Forest Glen – one a hideout and the other allegedly housed the world’s oldest trade – said, not too long ago somebody hooked a beer bottle that dated from the time Mayor Daley made his infamous, and at best, overly optimistic statement about using the river as a recreational resource.
