First Game

My youngest son's sophomore football team played their first game of the season away at Bolingbrook High School. It was a beautiful sunny night and there were a lot of Downers Grove South fans at the game. We won 35 to 7. He got to play the last set of downs on the offensive line. A great start to the season. We stayed and watched the first half of the varsity game.

Big City, Bad Blood

I finished reading "Big City, Bad Blood" by Sean Chercover. I heard about it on Rick Kogan's Sunday morning radio show. It's based in Chicago.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Disillusioned newspaper reporter-turned-private detective Ray Dudgeon doesn't want to save the world; he just wants to do and honest job well. But when doing an honest job threatens society's most powerful and corrupt, Ray's odds of survival make for a sucker's bet. A simple bodyguard job for a Hollywood locations manager uncovers a rats' nest of sexual blackmail, murder, and high-level political corruption . . . and Ray Dudgeon is caught in a war between the FBI, the Chicago police, and the mob. With the line between good and bad blurring, Ray doesn't know who he can trust . . . or if he can even trust himself.

Nonsense

"I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells." - Dr. Seuss

Imagination

"Perhaps imagination is only intelligence having fun." — George Scialabba

Everything Is Extraordinary

"In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary." — Aaron Rose

Enthusiasm

"Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and influence." - Henry Chester

Death At A Funeral

I watched "Death At A Funeral" on DVD.

Synopsis

On the morning of their father's funeral, the family and friends of the deceased each arrive with his or her own roiling anxieties. Son Daniel (Matthew Macfadyen) knows he will have to face his flirty, blow-hard, famous-novelist brother Robert (Rupert Graves) who's just flown in from New York, not to mention the promises of a new life he's made to his wife Jane (Keely Hawes). Meanwhile, Daniel's cousin Martha (Daisy Donovan) and her dependable new fiancé Simon (Alan Tudyk) are desperate to make a good impression on Martha's uptight father, a plan that literally goes out the window when Simon accidentally ingests a designer drug en route to the service, leaving him prone to uncontrollable bouts of delirium and nudity in front of his potential in-laws. Then comes the real shocker: a mysterious guest (Peter Dinklage) who threatens to unveil an earth-shattering family secret. As riotous mayhem and unfortunate mishaps ensue on every front, it is now up to the two brothers to hide the truth from their family and friends and figure out how to not only bury their dearly beloved, but the secret he's been keeping.

Knocked Up

I watched the DVD "Knocked Up."

Synopsis

Allison Scott (Katherine Heigl) is an up-and-coming entertainment journalist who at age 24 is on the fast track. She gets seriously derailed when a drunken one-nighter with slacker Ben Stone (Seth Rogen) results in an unwanted pregnancy. Faced with the prospect of going it alone or getting to know the baby's father, Allison decides to give the lovable doof a chance. An overgrown kid who has no desire to settle down, Ben learns that he has a big decision to make with his kid's mom-to-be: will he hit the road or stay in the picture? Courting a woman you've just knocked up however proves to be a little difficult when the two try their hands at dating. As they discover more about one another, it becomes painfully obvious that they're not the soul mates they'd hoped they might be. With Allison's harried sister Debbie (Leslie Mann) and hen-pecked brother-in-law Pete (Paul Rudd) the only parenting role models the young lovers have, things get even more confusing. Should they raise the baby together? What makes a happy lifetime partnership after all? A couple of drinks and one wild night later, they've got nine confusing months to figure it out.

Bookshelves

My bookshelves were delivered about 10:30 a.m. We're converting the old spare room/play room into a reading room/library. I now have 6 full size oak book shelves to store all my autographed first editions and hardcovers. It's still a work in progress, but it will be great to not have stacks of books all over the place and I'll be able to see what I have.

Scrimmage

My youngest son's sophomore team had their beginning of the season scrimmage in the stadium. The weather cooperated and they played offense against defense for about a hour. He played at center, guard and tackle on offense and did a great job keeping his guys away from the ball. We watched a little of the varsity's scrimmage. It's amazing the transformation of the players from one year to the next. The players were treated to hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and a drink by the boosters. It's gonna be a great season.

Personal Days

I finished reading "Personal Days" by Ed Park. I was hoping to get inspired to start my book.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In an unnamed New York-based company, employees are getting restless as everything around them unravels. There’s Pru, the former grad student turned spreadsheet drone; Laars, the hysteric whose work anxiety stalks him in his tooth-grinding dreams; and Jack II, who distributes unwanted backrubs–aka “jackrubs”–to his co-workers. On a Sunday, one of them is called at home. And the firings begin. It’s a novel for anyone who has ever worked in an office and wondered: “Where does the time go? Where does the life go? And whose banana is in the fridge?”

Talent

"There are two kinds of talent, man-made talent and God-given talent. With man-made talent you have to work very hard. With God-given talent you just touch it up once in a while." — Pearl Bailey

The Wedding Singer

I watched the DVD "The Wedding Singer" with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. It was one of those movies I didn't see when it came out in 1998.

Synopsis

Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler) is the ultimate master of ceremonies and wedding singer until he is left at the altar at his own wedding. Devastated, Robbie becomes a newlywed's worst nightmare, an entertainer who destroys other people's weddings. It's not until he meets a warm-hearted waitress named Julia (Drew Barrymore), that he starts to pick up the pieces of his heart. The only problem is Julia is about to marry someone elses, and unless Robbie can pull off the performance of a lifetime, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever.

Do Things That Are Remembered

"It is when we forget ourselves that we do things that are remembered." - Croft Pentz

Everything Matters

"If anything matters then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again." — William P. Young, The Shack

Fearless Fourteen

I finished reading "Fearless Fourteen" by Janet Evanovich.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Personal vendettas, hidden treasure, and a monkey named Carl will send bounty hunter Stephanie Plum on her most explosive adventure yet.

The Crime: Armed robbery to the tune of nine million dollars

Dom Rizzi robbed a bank, stashed the money, and did the time. His family couldn’t be more proud. He always was the smart one.

The Cousin: Joe Morelli

Joe Morelli, Dom Rizzi, and Dom’s sister, Loretta, are cousins. Morelli is a cop, Rizzi robs banks, and Loretta is a single mother waiting tables at the firehouse. The all-American family.

The Complications: Murder, kidnapping, destruction of personal property, and acid reflux

Less than a week after Dom’s release from prison, Joe Morelli has shadowy figures breaking into his house and dying in his basement. He’s getting threatening messages, Loretta is kidnapped, and Dom is missing.

The Catastrophe: Moonman

Morelli hires Walter “Mooner” Dunphy, stoner and “inventor” turned crime fighter, to protect his house. Morelli can’t afford a lot on a cop’s salary, and Mooner will work for potatoes.

The Cupcake: Stephanie Plum

Stephanie and Morelli have a long-standing relationship that involves sex, affection, and driving each other nuts. She’s a bond enforcement agent with more luck than talent, and she’s involved in this bank-robbery-gone-bad disaster from day one.

The Crisis: A favor for Ranger

Security expert Carlos Manoso, street name Ranger, has a job for Stephanie that will involve night work. Morelli has his own ideas regarding Stephanie’s evening activities.

Turn On The Light

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." — J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

100 Reasons To Get Rid Of It

Because You Have Too Much Stuff

1. 1.4 million Americans suffer from chronic hoarding & clutter.
2. People burn 55 minutes a day looking for things.
3. 80 percent of what we own we never use.
4. 1800GotJunk.com
Pay someone else to take out the (big, cumbersome) trash.
5. Publicstorage.com
Lock it up in more than 2,100 locations around the U.S.
6. redshield.org
Schedule a pickup with your local Salvation Army.
7. earth911.org
Find local recycling and reuse programs for all kinds of household items.


Because It's Fun

8. 127sale.com
Set up shop at the World's Longest Yard Sale, August 2-5, along 450 miles of Highway 127 in the southeastern U.S.
9. Or peddle your wares in your own front yard on National Garage Sale Day, August 10
10. Swaporamarama.org
Attend nationwide clothing exchanges and do-it-yourself alteration workshops
11. Wildzipper.com
Watch as a pile of your favorite old T-shirts is converted into a quilt.

Because Someone Else Needs It

Cell Phones

12. Verizonwireless.com
Put a refurbished phone (of any brand) into the hands of a domestic violence victim.
13. Eco-cell.com
Or let its sale benefit an environmental charity.
14. Care.org
Send a phone to the field staff of a poverty-fighting mission.

Digital Cameras

15. Operationhomefront.net
Help keep service members in touch with their families.

All Technology

16. Rethink.Ebay.com
Work with charities to find homes for consumer electronics.
17. youthfortechnology.org
Put scanners, computers, and cameras in the hands of deserving, impoverished kids around the world.

Air Miles

18. Redcross.org
For Red Cross staff and volunteers
19. Heromiles.com
For deployed soldiers
20. Marrow.org
For transplant patients
21. Childrenscancerassociation.org
For terminally ill kids

Furniture & Appliances

22. excessaccess.org
Match your household items with a local non-profit's wish list.
23. help1up.org
Furnish homes for disaster victims.
24. dressforsuccess.org
Give interview and work clothing to disadvantaged women.
25. makingmemories.org
Donate a wedding gown to benefit breast-cancer patients.
26. www.operationfairydust.org
Send formal wear to teenage girls who need help getting to the prom.
27. onewarmcoat.org
A free coat to anyone who needs one.
28. boulderrunning.com
Ship shoes and sportswear to struggling athletes around the world.

Other

29. Suitcasesforkids.org
Supply children in foster care with luggage.
30. Uniteforsight.org & givethegiftofsight.org
Send eyewear to men and women in underdeveloped countries.
31. Savethechildren.org
Convert American Express credit card points to cash donations.
32. Cartalk.com
Donate a used vehicle to support your local public radio station.
33. Booksforafrica.org
Give everything from storybooks to encyclopedias.
34. Cap4pets.org
Send towels and newspapers to animal shelters.
35. Goodwill.org
Fund job training programs and social services.
36. Freecycle.org
Post donations for charities (and regular folks) to claim.
37. Habitat.org
Donate leftover building supplies to Habitat for Humanity's ReStores.

Computers

38. Cristina.org
Technology and training for the disabled and disadvantaged.
39. Sharetechnology.org
Connecting donations with charities across the U.S.
40. Worldcomputerexchange.org
Send computers to more than 50 developing countries.

Because It Can Be Turned Into Something Else

41. Nikereuseashoe.com
Recycled footwear materials become sports and playground surfaces.
42. Patagonia.com
Donated Capilene base layers become polyester fibers for new Capilene garments.
43. Pangea organics' packaging becomes an herb garden when planted in soil.
44. Cargo cosmetics' PlantLove lipstick tubes come in plantable boxes that sprout wildflowers.
45. Pencilthings.com
Old newspapers become colored pencils.
46. Vivaterra.com
Rubber tires become sleek purses...
47. Passchal.com
...or rugged iPod covers.
48. Gaiam.com
Plastic soda bottles become durable hammocks.
49. Recycline.com
Yogurt containers become colorful plates, flatware, toothbrushes, and razors.

Because It Will Make Your Life Better

50. Getting rid of clutter will reduce housework by 40 percent.
51. Erase a $10K credit card debt (with an average interest rate) 65 percent faster -- and pay 75 percent less total interest -- when you pay double the typical minimum monthly payment.
52. Download security software like Stopzilla to keep a lid on computer pop-ups.
53. Around 23 percent of people pay late fees on bills they cannot find.

Because You Can Get Something Back

54. Return six MAC Cosmetics containers to any MAC store and receive a free lipstick.
55. Trade in an old iPod and receive a 10 percent discount on a new one.
56. Coinstar.com
Easily convert spare change into "real" money.
57. Craigslist.org
Sell it to your neighbors.
58. ebay.com
Sell it to anyone.
59. giftcardbuyback.com.
Get cash for gift cards you'll never use.
60 Paperbackswap.com
Trade the books you have for the ones you want.
61. Peerflix.com
Trade the DVDs you've seen for the ones you haven't.
62. Spun.com
Clear off your CD shelves, and make money in the process.
63. Titletrader.com
The great entertainment exchange: books, music, movies, and games, all swapped in one place.

Because It's Old/Expired

64. energystar.gov
Replacing old appliances with new, energy-efficient ones saves money and fuel.
65. Running shoes should be retired after 300 to 500 miles in order to prevent injuries.
66. Deep-six your toothbrush every three to four months.
67. Swap your pitcher's water filter every two months (or as directed).
68. Change out disposable air conditioner filters once a month during cooling season.
69 Replace the batteries in your smoke detector at least once a year.
70. foodsafety.gov
Find the USDA's recommended storage limits for refrigerated and frozen food.
71. Throw out mascara and moisturizer after three months.
72. Discard foundation and sunscreen after six months to a year.
73. Keep concealer, lipstick, eye- and lip liners, fragrances, powders, blushes, and shadows for only a year and a half to two years.
74.-76. Say goodbye to the dried-out remnants of your favorite no-longer-available lipstick, and check out threecustom.com, T.J.Maxx stores, or Lancome's beauty bye-bye program for replacements or duplicates of discontinued cosmetics.

Because You Don't Want to Suffer from "Stuck Song Syndrome"

77. And these five tunes are among the most persistent: Chili's "Baby Back Ribs" jingle, "We Will Rock You," the "Mission Impossible" theme, "YMCA," and "It's a Small World After All." (Tip: Try drowning them out with classical music, which is less likely to haunt you after it's turned off.)

Because the Last Thing You Need Is More Paper Lying Around

78. File your taxes through an authorized IRS e-file provider.
79. Eliminate paper statements by banking and paying bills online.
80. Call 1-888-567-8688 to stop unwanted credit card solicitations.
81. Opt out of mailing and telemarketing lists by logging on to dmaconsumers.org.

Because There's a Better Option

82. Search for phone numbers online instead of storing bulky Yellow and White Pages volumes.
83. Lose the road maps and get a GPS system to download up-to-date travel guides.
84. Read "Dating Up: Dump the Schlump and Find a Quality Man," by J. Courtney Sullivan (Warner Books, $14, 2007).

Because You Don't Want to End Up Like Them

85. Miss Havisham in "Great Expectations"
86. Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale in "Grey Gardens"
87. Oscar Madison in "The Odd Couple"
88. The family in the documentary "Packrat" (packratthemovie.com)
89. The Bronx, New York, man who, in 2003, was trapped in his home under an avalanche of books and newspapers for two days before being rescued.

Because If They Said It, It's Probably True

90. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." -Leonardo da Vinci
91. "Less is more." -Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
92. "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." -William Morris
93. "You've got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative." -Johnny Mercer
94. "The joy of giving is indeed a pleasure, especially when you get rid of something you don't want." -Frank Butler and Frank Cavett, "Going My Way"

Or Just Because...

95. It has no value, sentimental or monetary.
96. It hasn't been used in over a year.
97. There is no logical place to keep it.
98. It doesn't work.
99. An ex gave it to you.
100. And what's the worst that can happen if you throw it out?

First Published: March/April 2007

Copyright 2008 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

What You Resist, Persists

"Whatever you fight, you strengthen, and what you resist, persists."
— Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth

Hot Fuzz

I watched the DVD "Hot Fuzz."

Synopsis

Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is the finest police officer London has to offer, with an arrest record 400% higher than any officer on the force. He's so good, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, Angel's superiors send him to a place where his talents won't be quite so embarrassing - the sleepy and seemingly crime-free village of Sandford. With garden fêtes and neighborhood watch meetings replacing the action of the city, Angel struggles to adapt to his situation and finds himself partnered with Danny Butterman (Nick Frost), an oafish but well meaning young Constable. Just as all seems lost, a series of grisly accidents motivates Angel into action. Convinced of foul play, Angel realizes that Sandford may not be as idyllic as it seems. With his faithful partner in tow, Angel fights to prove his instincts are correct and uncover the truth about Sandford. Is Angel simply losing his mind in the safest, sweetest village in Britain? Or is something far more sinister at work? A small village is about to get some big city justice.

Thinking Makes It So

"For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
— William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Another Chance

"If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down." - Mary Pickford

Only One Person

"There is only one person who can ever know exactly what you want and truly make you happy — that person is you!" — Denise Austin

When Men Make Gods

"When men make gods, there is no God." - Eugene O'Neill from "Lazarus Laughed."

Dan In Real Life

We watched the DVD "Dan In Real Life."

Synopsis

Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is a local newspaper advice columnist. He has three daughters and is a widower. He brings the family to his parent's house for a family get-together. When Dan goes to a local bookstore, he meets a woman, Marie (Juliette Binoche). To catch her attention, Dan poses as a shop clerk, and convinces her to buy a random selection of books. When Marie finds out the truth, Dan proposes to make it up to her. The two share an intimate conversation and Dan starts falling for her. Marie, gets a phone call and starts to leave immediately. Dan asks for her number. Marie refuses saying that she has just started a new relationship, but relents and gives Dan her number. On the way back, Dan, an otherwise careful driver, is so engrossed in the memory of Marie that he jumps a stop sign and gets a ticket. When he gets home, he finds out to his surprise that Marie is his brother Mitch's (Dane Cook) girlfriend, but not before he mentions that he met a hottie at the bookstore. Dan tells Marie that they should not mention the bookstore incident to the family. The family starts liking Marie, while Dan gets envious and starts to behave strangely. Over the next few days ,the two go back and forth in forbidden love and a few laughs. Dan's mother Nana (Dianne Wiest) announces the she met an old acquaintance of Dan's, Ruthie Draper (Emily Blunt) and that she has set up a date between Dan and Ruthie. Dan recalls that when they were kids, Ruthie's nickname was "pigface" and refuses to go. Mitch proposes that they could make it a double date with him and Marie, and Dan agrees. Ruthie turns out to be very hot, but Dan isn't really interested in her. However, on Marie's indication that Ruthie is not right for him, Dan feigns interest and starts dancing with Ruthie. Marie gets jealous and joins the floor with Mitch, leading to an upstaging contest between Dan and Marie. During a game of family football, Dan continues to flirt with Marie, and as a result, gets hit on the nose by the ball. His eldest daughter, Jane (Allison Pill) confronts him and tells that she has noticed his flirting and warns him to stop. Just then, Dan gets a phone call and finds out that some representatives from a syndicated publication will be coming to interview him for a position. The night before the interview, the family has a talent show program, where Dan sings a love song to Marie, disguised as his talent. In the morning, Marie, torn by the pressure of falling for Dan, dumps Mitch and leaves. She calls Dan, and he leaves to meet her, missing the same stop sign and getting a second ticket from the same cop in the process. They meet up, and decide to go bowling. In the meantime, the representatives have arrived and the family comes to look for Dan to fing the two sharing a kiss together. Dan explains, saying that Marie was the woman he met at the bookstore. Mitch hits Dan. Marie runs out and then drives away. Dan goes chasing after her, but rams the same cops car while backing out and loses his license. After this incident, Dan realizes he's been neglecting his family and kids. He admits he's been ignoring them and apologizes to his family and kids. He tries to apologise to Mitch, to find out that Mitch is now going out with Ruthie. His daughters realize that he is in love with Marie, and they encourage him to go back and find her. He then goes to New York to find Marie and they live happily ever after.

The Secret Life Of Words

We watched "The Secret Life Of Words."

Synopsis

Hannah (Sarah Polley), who wears a hearing aid, is forced to go on holiday. On holiday she manages to find a job: caring for Josef (Tim Robbins), a burn victim on an oil rig who temporarily lost his sight, until he's stable enough to be transferred. There is almost no one on the rig, except a cook, an oceanographer and a few others out at sea. Hannah tends to Josef and he slowly breaks her shell of silence.

The Whole Truth

I finished reading "The Whole Truth" by David Baldacci

ABOUT THE BOOK

A rising threat has startled the world. Armies are preparing to fight. And as nations slip ever closer to open conflict, the struggle to reveal the truth might be the most dangerous battle of all... “Dick, I need a war.” Nicolas Creel is a man on a mission. He heads up the world's largest defense contractor, The Ares Corporation. Dick Pender is the man Creel retains to “perception manage” his company to even more riches by manipulating international conflicts. But Creel may have an even grander plan in mind. Shaw, a man with no first name and a truly unique past, has a different agenda. Reluctantly doing the bidding of a secret multi-national intelligence agency, he travels the globe to keep it safe and at peace. Willing to do anything to get back to the top of her profession, Katie James is a journalist who has just gotten the break of a lifetime: the chance to interview the sole survivor of a massacre that has left every nation stunned.

Fear

"Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed." - Michael Pritchard

Regard Little Things As Important

"The human tendency to regard little things as important has produced very many great things." - Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

Wrinkles

"Wrinkles merely indicate where smiles have been." - Mark Twain

It's Never Too Late

"In terms of being late or not starting at all, then it’s never too late." - Alison Headley

Mr. Bean's Holiday

I watched "Mr. Bean's Holiday."

Synopsis

Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) enters a church raffle and wins a vacation trip to France as well as a camcorder. After boarding a Eurostar train and arriving in Paris, the French language proves a barrier for Bean, as he struggles to get across the city to catch a train to the south of France from the Gare de Lyon. Taking time to order a meal, he finds the consumption of a seafood platter to be a challenge. Just before catching his train, he asks Emil, a Russian film director on his way to be a judge at the Cannes Film festival to use his camcorder to record his boarding, but accidentally causes Emil being left behind at the station. Bean attempts to cheer up the director's son Stepan as the train continues south but matters are made more hectic by the fact that Emil has reported his son to have been kidnapped and Bean losing his wallet and essential travel documents at a pay phone where he and Stepan attempt to contact Emil. Heading in the direction of Cannes, Bean finds himself in the cast and disrupting the flow of a commercial being shot by the egotistical director Carson Clay (William Dafoe.) He and Stepan finally hitch a ride with the young and vivacious actress Sabine who is heading to Cannes to attend the premiere of Clay's film, in which she appears. After Bean sneaks into the showing, his camcorder images are destined to enliven the proceedings.

Evan Almighty

I watched the DVD "Evan Almighty."

Synopsis

Buffalo newsman Evan Baxter (Steve Carrell) is elected to Congress with the slogan, "Change the world." He lucks into a huge house in a new Virginia suburb. His Capitol office is also fantastic, but there's a catch: he's tapped by the powerful Congressman Long (John Goodman) to co-sponsor a bill to allow development in national parks. In steps God, (Morgan Freeman) who appears to a disbelieving Evan and gently commands him to build an ark. Tools and wood arrive in Evan's yard, animal pairs follow, his beard and hair grow wildly, nomad's clothes and a staff appear. Long grows impatient, Evan starts building, his family leaves him, reporters gather, and drought grips D.C. Still, Evan believes.

Fuzzy Navel

I finished reading the book "Fuzzy Navel" by J.A. Konrath.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Life is pretty good for Lieutenant Jacqueline Jack Daniels of the Chicago Police Department. She's solved some of the city's toughest--and most high-profile--homicides. Her fiance, Latham, is on the mend from an almost deadly case of botulism. And she just got a call that eased her mind like nothing else could: Alex Kork, one of the sickest, most dangerous criminals Jack has ever put away, killed herself. But things sour quickly when a group of vigilantes on a murderous spree decide to take down a cop...and they turn downright ugly when Jack discovers Kork may not be so dead after all.

Were There No God

"Were there no God, we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts, and no one to thank." - Christina Rossetti

Bears Family Night

We went to the Bears Family Night at Soldier Field. It was hot when we arrived at a little after 4:00 p.m. but it ended up being a beautiful night. We parked in the south lot and you would think it was game day with all the tailgating. We walked around outside for a while until the gates opened at 5:00 p.m. We watched some of the youth leagues play until the Bears came out at 7:00 p.m. The kids were actually more interesting then the Bears. The boys each had a personal pizza. When the players came out onto the field they announced each player and coach and then when they were practicing what they were doing on the field. We had decent seats in the south end zone. We didn't stay for the fireworks to beat the crowds and traffic. We were home before 10:00 p.m.

"Kyle Orton won a major decision over Rex Grossman during player introductions to begin practice Friday night before 24,977 at Soldier Field. Orton took the bulk of the first-team reps and had one of his best practices of camp. He showed patience waiting for Devin Hester on a crossing route in 7-on-7 and hit several mid-range throws. Grossman connected with tight end Fontel Mines using a small window over the middle and was steady. But boos cascaded down for Grossman after he threw the ball away twice in the red zone." - from the SunTimes

Ten Suggestions For Improving Happiness

• Don’t equate happiness with money. People adapt to income shifts relatively quickly, the long lasting benefits are essentially zero.

• Exercise regularly. Taking regular exercise generates further energy, and stimulates the mind and the body.

• Have sex (preferably with someone you love). Sex is consistently
rated as amongst the highest generators of happiness. So what are you waiting for?

• Devote time and effort to close relationships. Close relationships
require work and effort, but pay vast rewards in terms of happiness.

• Pause for reflection, meditate on the good things in life. Simple
reflection on the good aspects of life helps prevent hedonic adaptation.

• Seek work that engages your skills, look to enjoy your job. It
makes sense to do something you enjoy. This in turn is likely to allow
you to flourish at your job, creating a pleasant feedback loop.

• Give your body the sleep it needs.• Don’t pursue happiness for its own sake, enjoy the moment. Faulty perceptions of what makes you happy, may lead to the wrong pursuits. Additionally, activities may become a means to an end, rather than something to be enjoyed, defeating the purpose in the first place.

• Take control of your life, set yourself achievable goals.

• Remember to follow all the rules.