Day 171

It's been a full week now in Cleveland. It has definitely been an adjustment. As I wrote last week, this is like night and day compared to where we were living before. Pretty much everything is a 180. Pretty much everyone we saw in the city were between 20-40 old. Here? I'd say I rarely see anyone who isn't either between a baby and high school age, or 40 and up. Anyone we see in their 20's or 30's is married with children. That has been one thing that was a concern to me, all of our friends here have kids. All of them. It's all about adjusting to the kids schedule and finding baby sitters. I hope to have that problem at some point, but it is just another part of the adjustment for us here. We had a real nice and busy weekend. Most importantly, we were able to get into our house with a decorator and handy man to do some measuring an attempting to make a floor plan. Being in the house really was great, I just wish we could be in it right now. I feel like once we get in there, everything will come into place for us.

We went to Tribe/Twins in the box with the Goldberg's Saturday night, Movies and dinner with mom Friday night. A word to the wise - skip the movie The Devil Wears Prada. I'd give it a C+ tops. Meryl Streep was good and I dig Anne Hathaway, but it is a total chick flick. That being said, Leah thought it was just ok and my mom didn't like it either. The chocolate milkshake at Yours Truly saved the evening. Not only was it good to spend time with Jeremy and Amy, it was even better to watch rookie Jeremy Sowers pitch a 4 hit shutout. Yesterday afternoon we had a great time out at my Uncle Kenny and Aunt Linda's. It was a perfect weather day and with my cousin Julie in town, all of the in town cousin's and their dogs had a big brunch. Casey met her new friends Romey the cavalier (who is adorable), Lebron, and Kona and saw her old friend Darby. I really felt like I was at home though for the first time being with all of my family the entire weekend. We spent a Saturday lunch with my mom's side and Sunday afternoon brunch with my dad's side. Everyone in my family is making us feel like we are at home. Taking a step back, I can honestly say I don't know many other families that actually enjoying spending time with their relatives the way we all do - that goes for both sides. Thanks again to everyone.

A few random thoughts:
-Make sure you all read this brilliant column about Bush vetoing the stem cell research bill by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom. It is a terrific read and right on. I'm sorry, this moral high ground bull shit that he spews makes me sick. Go talk to Jesus and ask for more answers you idiot http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060723/NEWS05/607230610/1082/COL01

-White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is taking his macho bullshit too far. Last night, Rangers Pitcher Vincente Padilla hit a white sox player with a pitch. At the top of the next inning, Sox Pitcher Jon Garland threw behind a Ranger Hank Blalock. In between innings, Guillen, in plain view, completely dressed down Garland for not actually hitting the guy. This is the second time he has done this in public. Garland pitched a shutout, but Guillen seemed more concerned with the fact that he didn't hit the Blalock? Time to check yourself Ozzie - your team is 6.5 games out of first and sinking.

-Last Thursday I gave my girl Jaimo a birthday shoutout and I didn't give proper credit to my Chicago older brother Ags, who also had a birthday. Like Jaimo, Ags is one of my oldest and closest friends. I basically grew up with him as "cousin brian" as he dated one of my cousin's on and off for around 8 years. Every Browns game, he was there. Family functions, he was there. The semester I was home after freshman year, he was my best friend here. But our friendship really stepped forward during my 8 years in Chicago. He brought me right into his group of friends who I now consider one of my crews. He has always looked out for me as a business mentor. But the funniest is that we talk pretty much every day about sports and he refers to me as his "sports soulmate." Ags is my guy, I miss him a ton, but we are still talking as much as we did before, mostly about the same inane crap of why Aaron Boone is still at third base and why his fantasy baseball team is so subpar despite having a deep rotation.

Days until we move into our house: 39
Song of the Day: "The Bridge is Over" by BDP