There's always next year

It occurred sometime last week and I missed it. To be honest, it has actually occurred every year since 1908 at different times of the year so I sometimes just lose track of things. Not that I dont care but I do try (not) to "celebrate" this event.

Yes, you might have guessed it, the Chicago Cubs have been officially eliminated from the playoffs, let alone winning anything this year. In honor of this moment I have turned to a book that offers some levity to this situation, titled: "The Cubs Fan's Guide to Happiness" by George Ellis, circa 2007.

With chapters such as; Beer will make it better (Chap 2) and At Least You're Not a Sox Fan (Chap 7) to the 15 Habits of Highly Happy Cubs Fan's the theme of being "frustrated" for 100+ years is evident throughout out these pages.

So as the season winds down with some teams preparing for or pushing themselves for that last run at the playoffs and potential World Series celebration, other teams just go home ashamed of under-performing, I turn to a book.

We however as the eternal optimist called a Cubs Fan, we simply chant "wait til next year".

101st post

This is my "official" 101st post since I started my new life as a blogger. I could have "celebrated" my 100th but as a former Chicagoan and always a Cubs fan . . . this is the 101st year since 1908 and . . . well the number "101" is something to celebrate (this year).

I want to first start off by saying THANK YOU to so many of you who have guided me, traded with me, commented on my blog, and continue to help me learn more about a hobby I left long ago. All of your blogs are prominently featured on the right in two places. I have certainly learned so much from all of you - my collection has grown (as my wife says I have reluctantly and finally entered the "modern" era). I still remember and relish the simpleness of the hobby when I was a kid (born in 1960) and am constantly amazed in awe of the hobby of today.

Blogging has taken on a new life for me . . . just a short three months ago my life was "normal". Now with new friends (bloggers), a re-newed passion (some newer cards) and a growing desire to learn more (looking at cards differently); the blogosphere is the first thing I check in the morning and the last ting I do at night (many times I check it during the day as well).

So this being my 101st post in "honor" of the Chicago Cubs. Looking back at some of my entries I see I have had some winners (good seasons like the Cubs of 1945, 1969, 1984) and some not so good (like the early sixties and late seventies). That is what happens over the course of a 101 span of anything.

Maybe the Cubs will repeat as:

Once again I want to say THANK YOU to all of you who read, share, trade, comment, teach, educate, guide, laugh, have fun with and enjoy this hobby and blogging as much as I have grown to after 101 posts.

Maybe this is the year we can escapes all curses and scream:

. . . for me it has been 101 posts . . . for the Cubs 101 years . . . with a bit o' luck the "Cubs will shine in 2009" . . . if not its "wait-til-next-year" . . .

1908 E M F

. . . no I did not discover a 101 year old baseball card that you have never heard of. E M F stands for Everitt Metzger and Flanders; a car company you probably have never heard of either. They built cars from 1908 until 1912; then Studebaker bought them and changed the brand label in 1913 to Studebaker.

This past Saturday I was "co-pilot" on a tour with very old cars and my good friend Scott who owns this car. Yes this 101 year old car (the oldest in our tour) still drives incredibly well. You have to crank start it, it has kerosene lamps, no doors, windows or top and we had a blast.

I wore my Chicago Cubs cap just to stay connected with my hobby . . . whether it be cars or cards . . . the older the better. Just wanted to share this with all of you . . . now back to my cards.