Be Happy

"Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead." - Scottish Proverb

This Old Cub

I watched the DVD "This Old Cub" about Ron Santo. It was very inspirational. He was a baseball hero of mine when I was growing up. I still remember when he clicked his heels when the Cubs won a game and "Ron Santo" pizzas. I was able to get my picture taken with him right outside Wrigley Field before a game a couple of years ago. I still listen to him do the play by play on the radio. He's raised over $50 million for juvenile diabetes.

Synopsis

There's plenty of fight left in This Old Cub… that's the story of a new documentary feature about former All-Star third baseman, broadcaster and Chicago Cubs legend Ron Santo and his lifelong battle with diabetes. Santo was the first and only major league position player to play professional baseball with Type One Juvenile Diabetes (insulin dependent). He played most of his career without revealing his disease for fear that he would be forced to retire from baseball. At a time when much less was known about how to regulate insulin levels, Santo rarely missed a game—taking injections and chocolate bars based on how he felt from moment to moment. The film was shot over a span of nine months, as Santo was recovering from having his second leg amputated due to complications from the disease he has been fighting for more than forty-five years. It documents Santo's rehab and recovery from a devastating operation to his return to WGN Radio as broadcaster for the Cubs.This film also goes back in time to tell the story of Santo's fabled career as a nine-time All-Star third baseman and five time Gold Glove winner, and the incredible story of the 1969 season, when the "miracle Mets" came from nowhere to swipe the pennant from a Cubs team that is commonly thought of as one of the great teams of all time. Santos teammates from that time, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ferguson Jenkins are all in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but despite being considered one of the greatest third baseman in history, Santo is not. The film documents Santo's continuing quest to be similarly acknowledged.Famous Chicagoans who participated in the film include Joe Mantegna (who narrates the film) Bill Murray, Brian Doyle Murray, Joel Murray, Dennis Farina, Gary Sinise, Dennis Franz and William Petersen. Such baseball luminaries as Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins, Brooks Robinson, Joe Morgan, Willie McCovey, Johnny Bench, Tommy La Sorda and Willie Mays give their views of the man himself. Also appearing are renowned baseball analysts including ESPN's Chris Berman and Peter Gammons, Milwaukee's Bob Uecker, and Santo's colleagues and friends at WGN, Steve Stone, Chip Carey and Pat Hughes.Most importantly, This Old Cub captures the spirit of Ron Santo, a player who clicked his heals after every win, perfectly reflecting a time when players like Santo played for the love of the game—not for financial reward. Despite being denied entry to the Hall of Fame, and losing two legs to diabetes, this is a man who handles everything with grace, humor and not an ounce of bitterness. Santo is the ultimate optimist and therefore the ultimate Cub. He epitomizes what a Cub is all about… a diehard fan… wait until next year. The film ends on the last day of the baseball season in 2003. The day before, the Cubs had clinched their division for the first time since 1989. But on this day, at an emotional ceremony at Wrigley Field, Santo joined his teammates Ernie Banks and Billy Williams as the only Cubs in history to have their numbers retired.The project got off the ground thanks in large part to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), which provided a generous grant toward the production. Santo has been one of the most successful fundraisers for the organization throughout his life, and a portion of all revenues earned by the film will be donated to the JDRF.

One Idea

"It takes just one idea to live like a king for the rest of your life." - Ross Perot

Better and Happier

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier." - Mother Teresa

No Direction Home

I watched most of Martin Scorsese's documentary about Bob Dylan. I saw more than half of it Monday night and watched all of Tuesday night. I never realized Bob Dylan wrote so many songs and had a thing with Joan Baez. The clips of his interviews with the press were great. I've developed a new appreciation for him and his music even though he is a little bizarre. I can remember buying the 45 "Watching The River Flow." I also had an album of his greatest hits. An American music icon.

Synopsis

Renowned director Martin Scorsese's documentary chronicles the career of the singer and songwriter during the tumultuous years between 1961 and 1966. Bob Dylan allowed Scorsese to have access to hours of footage that had never before been made public, including a number of live performances, and footage of Dylan in the recording studio creating some of his landmark albums from the period. Dylan sits for an extensive interview, as does a variety of people who worked with him during this time period, including Joan Baez and fellow songwriter Pete Seeger. The film debuted on PBS stations around the country on September 26, 2005.

End Up Where You're Headed

"If we don't change our direction we're likely to end up where we're headed." - Chinese Proverb

Action

"Action is the antidote to despair." - Joan Baez

The Harmonica

"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Steven Wright

No Genius

"I'm no genius. I'm smart in spots and I stay around those spots." - Thomas Watson, Sr.

Education's Purpose

"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one." - Malcolm S. Forbes

Education Is Learning

"Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know." - Daniel J. Boorstin

I saw Daniel Boorstin give a speech in Champaign when I was in college.

An Education

"An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't." - Anatole France

Education

"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not." - Thomas H. Huxley

Blogiversary

Today is my one year "Blogiversary" I haven't been real good about posting these past two weeks. Too busy. I've also gotten aggravated with pop-ups which have really dampened my enthusiasm for the internet. The computer I normally blog on had to be rebooted and scrubbed three times. It's pretty frustrating. There's a lot I want to post. Oh well, Happy Blogiversary!

Homecoming Victory

The boys won their homecoming game today 50 to 28 against Our Lady of The Rosary. They both played great games and got lots of playing time. It was a busy day. Mass at 8:00 a.m. The priest doing Mass has performed Mass for NFL teams and paid special attention to the players. After Mass the boys needed to be at the field at 11:30 a.m. They finally got to play on the Hinsdale South game field. Too bad it was so rainy. It wasn't rainy before the game and it wasn't rainy after the game. During the game there were a couple of downpours and then other times it would start raining you'd get the umbrella up and then it would stop. After the game they had their homecoming celebration in the church basement. It's usually outside but the weather didn't allow it.

Blame It On A Computer

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so." - Robert Orben

Reunion

We had our 30th high school reunion tonight at the Carlisle in Lombard. There was only about a 10% turnout 80 people out of 800 graduates. I crashed it about 11:00 p.m. I met some friends at the T.G.I. Fridays nearby and had some dinner and drinks. I was able to talk to a few people I hadn't seen in years. I didn't miss much.

Nostalgic

"It's hard to be nostalgic when you can't remember anything." - Unknown

Willowbrook Football Game

I went back to my old high school to see their homecoming game. They lost to Addison Trail. The parking lot was so crowded I had to park pretty far away. It was a nice cool night. I ran into some of my former classmates who were at the game because of the reunion tomorrow night. When I was in high school the football field didn't have lights. I played football all four years in high school but I've only been to a handful of games since I left. I can't believe it's been 30 years since I graduated. Yikes.

Example

"Example is not the main thing in teaching - it is the only thing." - Albert Schweitzer

Every Accomplishment

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try." - Anonymous

The Main Thing

"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." - Steven Covey

The Supreme Accomplishment

"The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play." - Arnold Toynbee

Ability

"Ability will get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - Abraham Lincoln

Be A Good One

"Whatever you are, be a good one." - Abraham Lincoln

Worrying

"If you can solve your problem, then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, then what is the use of worrying?" - Shantideva

Carefree Days

"There are two days in the week about which and upon which I never worry. Two carefree days, kept sacredly free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is Yesterday ... And the other ... is Tomorrow." - Robert Jones Burdette

Worry

"There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever." - Mahatma Gandhi

Live According To Your Belief

"He does not believe who does not live according to his belief." - Thomas Fuller

Never Confuse Defeat

"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Happy With What You've Got

"You won't be happy with more until you're happy with what you've got." - Viki King

True Measure Of A Man

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." -Samuel Johnson

Big Opportunity

"If you are looking for a big opportunity, seek out a big problem." - Unknown

Knowledge

"All that mankind has ever learned is nothing more than a single grain of sand on a beach that reaches infinity." - Unknown

Knowing That You Know Nothing

"And in knowing that you know nothing, that makes you the smartest of all." - Socrates

To Know

"To know is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge." - Confucius (551-479BC) Chinese Ethical Teacher, Philosopher

Real Generosity

"Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find it out." - Frank A. Clark

See The Stars

"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." - Charles A. Beard

Library Of Congress 9/11 Site

Lib. of Congress: Sept. 11, 2001

The September 11, 2001, Documentary Project captures the heartfelt reactions, eyewitness accounts, and diverse opinions of Americans and others in the months that followed the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93.

The "Little" Things

As you might know, the head of the company survived the 9/11 attacks because his son just started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring the donuts.

One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was stuck on the New Jersey Turnpike because of an auto accident.

One of them missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One's car wouldn't start.

One went back to answer the telephone.

One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.

One couldn't get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone... all the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment..

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated; God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.

Simple Messages

Dalai Lama's simple messages:

* The purpose of life is happiness.
* Happiness is determined more by the state of one's mind than by one's external conditions, circumstances or events, at least once one's basic survival needs are met.
* Happiness can be achieved through systematic training of our hearts and minds, through reshaping our attitudes and outlook.
* The key to happiness is in our own hands.

Intelligence

"It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value." - Arthur C. Clarke

Shoulders Of Giants

"If I have seen a little farther than other men, it is because I stood on the shoulders of giants." - Sir Isaac Newton

Shoulders

"God gave burdens, also shoulders." - Yiddish roverb

Man's Mind

"Man's mind once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimension." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

The Gift Of Happiness

"The gift of happiness belongs to those who unwrap it." - Andrew Dunbar

Pursuit Of Happiness

"In the pursuit of happiness, the difficulty lies in knowing when you have caught up." - R.H. Grenville

The Wisdom Of The Wise

"The wisdom of the wise, and the experience of ages, may be preserved by quotations." - Isaac Disraeli

Good Thing

"It's a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations." - Sir Winston Churchill

Victory

The boys won their football game today 28 to 14 against Saints Peter and Paul of Naperville. They got to play on the astroturf at North Central College in Naperville. One of the players on the other team broke his leg in the fourth quarter. My youngest son played defensive tackle the whole game and my oldest son played wide receiver and recovered a fumble. The defense played a good game. The other teams touchdowns were on broken tackles. We had two long touchdowns and a long pass play touchdown. It was another sunny and hot day.

Adversity

"Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records." - William A. Ward

Door In The Floor

I watched the DVD of the movie "Door In The Floor" last night. It was based on a book I read a while ago by John Irving - "A Widow For One Year." Jeff Bridges played an author and Kim Basinger played his wife and it really followed the book. It seemed familiar while I was watching it and I didn't fully realize it until I watched the special features at the end. His books make good movies. I still have to see "Simon Birch" based on "A Prayer For Owen Meany" and "The Hotel New Hampshire." I enjoyed both the books and the movies "Cider House Rules" and "The World According To Garp."

I have a first edition of "Cider House Rules" signed by John Irving.

Synopsis

Ted Cole (Jeff Bridges), a famous children's book author, and his wife, Marion (Kim Basinger), find their marriage unravelling after their two sons die in a car accident. When Ted hires a personal assistant who looks exactly like one of their sons, Marion finds herself drawn towards the boy in more ways than one.

Fun Is Good

“Fun is good.” - Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss)

Single Flower

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change." - Buddha

Best Place To Find A Helping Hand

"The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm." - Fred Dehner

Helping Hand

"The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor." - Hubert Humphrey

Make Me Brave For Life

God, make me brave for life: oh, braver than this.
Let me straighten after pain, as a tree straightens after the rain,
Shining and lovely again.

God, make me brave for life; much braver than this.
As the blown grass lifts, let me rise
From sorrow with quiet eyes,
Knowing Thy way is wise.

God, make me brave, life brings
Such blinding things.
Help me to keep my sight;
Help me to see aright
That out of dark comes light.

Author Unknown

A prayer for the victims of the hurricane