The Mundane Mid-Life Show

A few of you have been asking... or at least thinking... "what's going on with the show? How come we haven't seen any updates recently at all... actually... for a few months (possibly)" Well, it's because I had a catastrophic failure of a hard drive that contained a lot of the original recordings and material for this show... and it wasn't backed-up. I lost a lot of things. I am trying to put together pieces of the shows that I have already recorded and trying to make-do with some other backup recordings that I have. It's all going to "fill-in". You will see the shows slowly come on-line here. In the meantime, I just ask for your patience, and I WILL get the shows back out again. Thank you.

What - more baseball? Yes... back at the park for Jim Thome's 500th homerun... and the end of the baseball season.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Jim Thome's 500th homerun Chicago White Sox U.S. Cellular Field Jim Thome Hanson End of the baseball season

We become criminalists during a trip to Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago to see (and participate in) a special traveling exhibit - CSI: The Experience.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Museum of Science and Industry The CSI Franchise CSI: The Experience Wikipedia

We go back to the ballpark for a special night. It was... wait for it... ELVIS NIGHT*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Back to the Ballpark for Elvis Night Chicago White Sox U.S. Cellular Field Sharing the Men's Restroom outside the park Entering the park The National Anthem Jamie Aaron Kelley The E Team - Entertainers Of The Sky Walking the upper deck

We scramble for cover at my office when severe weather blows through and we listen to "Cicada Song" as periodical cicadas swarm the Chicagoland area.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Severe Weather Warnings Brood XXI Cicadas Wikipedia Cicada Mania

I take a short road trip "over the border" to Milwaukee to go to the Wisconsin State Fair. I walk around, listen to music, look at some vendors hawking their wares, pick up some World Famous Cream Puffs to go, and watch some cattle judging.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Wisconsin State Fair Slim McGinn�s Irish Pub Ecuador Manta Wisconsin Bakers Association Cream Puffs Cream Puff You tube Video Angus and Hereford Beef Cattle Judging

Window washers go by my window at work, I use the self-service checkout line at a Jewel Food Store, and a surreal visit to a real, honest-to-goodness Kwik-E-Mart!!!*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Window washers Self Serve Checkout at a grocery store Visiting an honest-to-goodness Kwik-E-Mart! The Simpsons Movie 7-Eleven

It's the 4th of July! I go to one of the best festivals in the Midwest - Ribfest - and we listen to the sounds of celebration from a distance.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Naperville Ribfest Uncle Bub's BBQ 4th of July Fireworks - from a distance

I win an invite to go to Arlington Park Racetrack for a private party in a suite with Eric & Kathy from WTMX 101.9... and we go to a minor league baseball game with the Kane County Cougars*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction WTMX 101.9 Eric & Kathy Arlington Park Racecourse Group Sales - Specialty Suites Results Kane County Cougars Class A - Midwest League

We finish-up our vacation in Las Vegas! Part 2 of a multiple-episode podcast.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Green Valley Ranch Resort Sunset Station Caesars Palace Chinois C�line Dion A New Day... The Forum Shops Field of Dreams Pete Rose Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa Salt Lick Barbecue Restaurant Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower Planet Hollywood Hollywood Obsessions Jack in the Box McCarran International Airport Concourse D Ted Airlines

It's time to go back and vacation in Las Vegas! Part 1 of a multiple-episode podcast.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Ted Airlines Rio All-Suite Las Vegas Hotel & Casino Carol's Birthday Elton John - The Red Piano You Tube videos from the show Bennie And The Jets Rocket Man Candle In The Wind Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) Your Song Believe The Bitch Is Back Backdrop movies by David LaChappelle Candle in the Wind I'm Still Standing Someone Saved My Life Tonight - (*NOT* the music from the show) Wynn Las Vegas Dinner at SW Steakhouse Bellagio Hotel and Casino Bellagio BellsThe Fountains of Bellagio Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Mirage Hotel and CasinoWheel of Fortune slots Treasure Island Hotel and CasinoWheel of Fortune slots The Venetian Grand Canal ShoppesGondoliers Caesars Palace Bellagio - Dinner at Todd English's Olives Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

It might be baseball season, but there's still hockey going on in Chicago, and I have to get an emissions test for my car.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Chicago Wolves American Hockey League Wayne Messmer You Tube video of Wayne singing at the 1991 NHL All-Star Game Illinois Air Team

I go to some Chicago White Sox games at U.S. Cellular Field with a handheld radio scanner (a Uniden BR330T Handheld Scanner)... and we get a "behind the scenes" glimpse of the operations of the stadium during the game*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction U.S. Cellular Field Chicago White Sox

It's my favorite time of year again... it's spring... and baseball season starts!!! We go to Opening Day at U.S. Cellular Field where the Chicago White Sox host the Cleveland Indians*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Major League Baseball - Opening Day! National Anthem performed by Umphrey's McGeeChicago White Sox host the Cleveland Indians

A very long podcast of Annual Rituals in Chicago - Dying the river green, and the St. Patrick's Day Parade*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Saint Patrick's Day Dyeing the Chicago River green St. Patrick's Day Parade

We listen to an amateur blues singer at a legendary blues club in Chicago, walk through Gameworks in Schaumburg, Illinois during the annual Chicago Wolves Season Ticket Holder Party, and finally we endure the process of getting my Drivers License renewed.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Singing the blues - Buddy Guy's Legends Old Town School of Folk Music Chicago Wolves Season Ticket Holder Party Gameworks Renewing a drivers license at the Illinois Secretary of State

We start out at a typical Parish Lenten Fish Fry, dish a few catty remarks about the Oscars Red Carpet, and take my car to the car wash*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction St. Ferdinand Parish - Fish Fry Watching the Academy Awards show with friends The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 79th Annual Academy AwardsLet's get the car washed - Turtle Wax Car Wash & Auto

Oh... something so exciting turned something terribly wrong... The city of Chicago gets excited when the Chicago Bears make it to the Superbowl! Too bad they embarrassed themselves and lost the game handily. At least there were the commercials... So, we walk the show floor of the 2007 Chicago International Auto Show, the biggest auto show in North America!*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction - from the floor of the 2007 Chicago Auto Show Superbowl XLI Chicago Lyric Opera - Bryan Griffin sings "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" The Ides of March - "Mighty Bears" free MP3 at their websiteChicago Bears vs Indianapolis Colts 2007 Chicago International Auto Show

The search for the source of my health problems finally ends up with a diagnosis *** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction - from the Mobile Studio Domain name renewal - Go Daddy Multiple Sclerosis (also see Wikipedia)

We start off at a hockey game, listen to some bad squeaky belts on the engine of my car, Alec Baldwin calls in, we spend an evening at the theatre to see Wicked... and celebrate my BIG Birthday... thanks to audio from my sister.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction - Chicago Wolves hockeyBad squeaky belts on my car Alec Baldwin - NBC's 30 Rock A night at the TheatreThe Ford Center for the Performing ArtsWicked It's my birthday - a BIG one!

We go to Northwestern for a Myelogram, listen to a Chicago Wolves' goal, and celebrate New Year's with friends... well, actually New Year's Eve...*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Northwestern Memorial Hospital - Myelogram Chicago Wolves hockey - a goal by Darren Haydar Celebrating New Year's Eve with friends

It's a soundseeing extravaganza, as we have long listening segments of traveling to Downtown Chicago via commuter rail and subway, we walk along State Street looking at the decorated windows or Marshall Field's (damn it, OK, it actually Macy's, but I refuse to accept it), walk over to the largest Christmas/Holiday market in the nation - the Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza... and we end up listening to a haunting rendition of Little Drummer Boy on a subway platform.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction It's cold outside - ask TV's Craig Ferguson Metra CTA Subway - Blue Line Marshall Field'sMacy's Windows - Mary Poppins Christkindlmarket Chicago

Spend time at the largest shopping mall in the Chicago area on the day after Thanksgiving, put up some Christmas lights, strange turns in our health sagas, and play with Jackson's Caterpillar Front Loader*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Black Friday at Woodfield MallPut up Christmas Lights outsideHealth updatesCarol in the hospitalmy Chest CT Scanfirst/last visit to an oncologistMoment of Zen: Shopping on Black FridayMy Mundane Kid's Life: Toy time - Caterpillar Frontloader

We decide to go shopping for a new artificial Christmas tree and drag it home, time to vote in the election, a Fire Alarm at work, my doctor calls to give me some news and... I experience a hard drive crash and potentially lose 37,000 digital photos, documents, spreadsheets, and tax info!*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Buying an artificial Christmas Tree - Tree ClassicsTime to vote!Fire AlarmCall from the doctorHard Drive Crash - Gillware Inc. Data RecoveryMy Mundane Kid's Life

We don't even leave my house, as we listen to a passing thunderstorm and kids running up the side walk and ringing our doorbell for Trick-or-Treat-ing!*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Illinois Zen - an Autumn ThunderstormSuburban Trick-or-Treat!Jackson returns to My Mundane Kid's Life

The "Away Team" heads up to LaValle, Wisconsin for a weekend away from the spouses... spending time going out to eat, going to a model train store, and out on the lake. Then we spend some time just listening to the birds in the morning. We start the show at a hockey game, we end the show at a baseball game.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction - from a Chicago Wolves hockey game A guys-only weekend away at in LaValle, WisconsinBreakfast at Granny's PantryThe Train Shop - Elroy, WisconsinOut on Dutch Hollow Lake Wisconsin Zen - listening to the birds The end of the baseball seasonU.S.Cellular FieldNancy Faust plays Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Ah... who cares how long this show is... It's time for an oh-too-short vacation in Las Vegas! It's Paris! It's Venice! It's Lake Como! It's Love! It's... Van Helsing's Curse???*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction - Paris Las VegasFrench Lessons in the Paris Casino bathroom!The VenetianThe Grand Canal ShoppesGondolasThe MirageLoveCirque du SoleilBellagioThe Fountains of BellagioWet DesignLas Vegas MonorailHard Rock Hotel & CasinoVan Helsing's CurseSouthwest Airlines

I Did it! The shortest show yet!.. It's still over 20 minutes... We go back to the ballpark for some sounds of the game and we celebrate my nephew Jackson's First Birthday!*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Back to the ballpark - sounds of the game Jackson's First Birthday! complete with Sto Lat!

I say that it's a shorter show... but, alas, it is not... It's another health journey, as I go in overnight for a Sleep Study, and we have a Zen Moment sitting outside with a sprinkler watering my lawn.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Sleep Study Suburban Zen Jackson's Race Car

Screw it... let's force the issue and trim this down to make it short... OK... so.. it's as long as all the others... We vacation at my sister's house in Michigan, have a little Michigan Zen time, play with one of Jackson's toys on the fridge... and go off on DVD players in SUV's and minivans*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction - from under a tree in Michigan Vacationing in Southwest Michgan Michigan Zen Jackson's Leap Frog Fridge Farm Magnetic Animal Set My Pet Peeves - DVD's in SUV's/Minivans

Oh, who am I kidding... the longest show I have produced so far... my apologies.. the next one WILL be shorter... This show I get hauled off to the hospital, talk about my binaural recording setup, go to U.S. Cellular field... but not for a baseball game, and we have a Zen Moment... right in the middle of a bunch of slot machines.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction - from under a tree in Michigan Hauled off to the hospital Binaural Microphones and missing a recording Better Than Ezra 2006 Grinder Bash Moment of Zen - Slot Machines Jackson My Pet Peeves - Neighborhood Roadkill

Shorter... not short enough Time for a road trip, this time to middle-Wisconsin - small-town America - to continue to celebrate John's retirement*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction - in a Parking Garage John's 2nd Retirement Party in small-town America National Anthem issues Jackson - not this show, sorry My Pet Peeves - Vans/SUV's on the road

I finally got a shorter show... still not as short as I would like, though It's time to getaway to Michigan for a vacation over the U.S. Independence Day Holiday... let's go to the beach, wish a friend a Happy Retirement, watch some fireworks... and play craps at a riverboat casino.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction - on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan John's Retirement Party Independence Day Fireworks - Three Oaks, Michigan Craps - Blue Chip Casino, Michigan City, Indiana Jackson My Pet Peeves - Apologies for the U.S.

I keep saying I'm trying to get these shows shorter... here's one of the longest ones yet... Grab a beer and a polish, we're going to the ballpark to rip American Idol and discuss the concept of a Season Ticketholder Extended family, and we go to a Ukrainian/Greek wedding.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Walking around the ballpark American Idol - Brooke Barrett Smith A Ukrainian/Greek Wedding Puppeteering - not this show Jackson My Pet Peeves - Driving to your mailbox

I'm trying to get these shows shorter... no... really I am... In this show, we talk about seeing "TV's Craig Ferguson" at a local commedy club, tease a future segment about my "prior life" - as a puppeteer for a kid's TV show in Chicago, and then you get 5 good minutes of nothing but sounds of the woods at my sister's house - a moment of Michigan Zen.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction TV's Craig Ferguson at Zanies in St. Charles (at Pheasant Run) Gigglesnort Hotel Diane's House in Michigan Harbert Carol's Birhtday Michigan Zen - soundseeing the Michigan woods Jackson My Pet Peeves - Company Bathrooms

This show - our longest one yet - is all medical. Let's go get an NCV, an EMG and four MRI's!*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction All Medical - All the Time NCV EMG 4 MRI's! MRI results Blood test results Type 2 Diabetes Jackson My Pet Peeves - Just me

On this show, we go to the last game of the season of the Chicago Wolves and we go to the PBR as it travels through town on the Built Ford Tough Tour.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Chicago Wolves End of Season game Retirement of Steve Maltais' Jersey PBR - Professional Bull Riders - The Jack Daniel`s Invitational Jackson - not this week, he's on vacation! How about Chuck the Duck instead? My Pet Peeves - Gas prices

On this show, the baseball sesaon starts with the Chicago White Sox and we go to U.S. Cellular Field.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Chicago White Sox Our "Opening Day" (The second game of the year) The first view of inside the park The World Series Championship Ring Ceremony National Anthem Fly-over Ceremonial First-Pitch Lovehammers We lost the game No smoking in the park New foods at the park Pickles Where's the rumored Pulled Pork Sandwich? Fresh Carmel Corn and Cheese Corn 2005 World Series Ring Raffle Ring Day promotion How about a homerun courtesy of Paul Konerko? Nancy Faust - Take Me Out to The Ball Game Jackson My Pet Peeves - None this show! Baseball's back!

In this show, we head out onto the ice and go curling and I get a haircut.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Sports In-House Curling Tournament - North Shore Curling Club Medicine Nope - not this show - it's too long already Haircut Jackson My Pet Peeves - People walking and not paying attention

In this show, we're back in Las Vegas, closing down the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, play some penny video slots, have a Sunday Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues, and go up the Eiffel Tower at Paris - Las Vegas. Then we're back in town to go to a Chicago Wolves game.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction Las Vegas Closing of Boardwalk Hotel and Casino Penny Video Slot Machines Young Frankensten Star Wars Blues Brothers Sunday Gospel Brunch - House of Blues Eiffel Tower - Paris Chicago Wolves Penalty Box Police and Grand Rapids Griffins player Tomas Kopecky Group sales - heckler Jackson My Pet Peeves - Wait For The Whistle

In this show, my nephew Jackson gets Baptized, I start a new hobby sport - Curling, we visit old friends, we go to the dentist and the doctor, I introduce you to our two pet rabbits, and I take you to the implosion of the Castaways Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.*** SHOW NOTES *** IntroductionJack's Baptism - Old St. Patrick's Church North Shore Curling Club Open House - In-House Curling TournamentChelby & Damian - Connor's 2nd BirthdayChicago Wolves - Wedding?Going to the dentistGoing to the doctor - high blood pressure?Indy and ChipLas Vegas - Castaways implosionTechnologyF-117A Stealth Fighter retirementJacksonMy Pet Peeves - Kids in Las Vegas

Get out of bed Middle of June Craving some breakfast Can't find a spoon Looks like today is just another day... Hop on the couch Turn on the game Winning or loosing, it's always the same At least we all share the same mundane life... Get to work on time Work the daily grind Just another day in this Mundane Mid-Life... It's the same for you We all know it's true Not everyone can be a superstar The rest of us are just living in our Mundane Mid-Life INTRODUCING... The Mundane Mid-Life ShowShow #1 Yes, it's the Inaugural Mundane Mid-Life Show! It's my attempt at a Podcast, that I hope to do on a somewhat regular basis (weekly? Who knows...). Right now, all I know is that the first one is "in the can" and work on the second one can start... but with my schedule coming-up, I'm thinking this is going to take a while, just to get ramped-up. Anyway, check it out In this show, we talk briefly about the Chicago Wolves and the Chicago White Sox, we travel home from Las Vegas, we visit an experiment tossed-out of the International Space Station and talk about the concept of trading a sportscaster. We finish our journey with the National Anthem sung by Lou Rawls at the 2nd Game of the 2005 World Series at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.*** SHOW NOTES *** Introduction HDTV Chicago Wolves Chicago White Sox Las Vegas Air Traffic Control TED Pilot Space - SuitSat1 Technology AIBO ELP Laser Turntable Entertainment Al Michaels traded? Cats having trouble with HDTV? Jackson My Pet Peeves - Paper towels