Brrrrrrrrr

It was a very cold weekend in Chicago, especially if you're playing softball or going to a baseball game. That's mostly what I did this weekend. Friday, LL and I went to Joliet to see her folks and to play in a cash softball tournament. Our team was one of eight invited to play at no charge with the chance to win $1,000.  We won our first game got to the championship game, but lost. No money. Boo. The worst part though was the temperature. It was in the upper 30's, low 40's with a gale blowing. That made it really, really cold! In fact, I had to break out Mr. Heater from my tailgates to help keep people warm. What made it worse was that I didn't even get to play! Long story short, there were 17 guys for 12 spots. It's really, really cold when you're not playing. 

Saturday, which was supposed to bring another tournament in Joliet, instead found us in Waukegan. The Joliet tournament didn't have enough teams, so north we went. Waukegan's about 75 minutes away or so for me, but closer to two hours for many guys on the team from the south burbs. The cold reigned again, but with the sun, it felt (and probably was) slightly warmer....not much though. In our first game, in which I only pinch hit, we lost on a two out, two run home run in the bottom of the last inning. Ugh. I did play in the next game, but only got two at bats as we were slaughtered by a team from Wisconsin who plays two levels above us (it was a crazy tournament). Anyway, it was another cold day and I was happy to come home to my lovely wife who had made a great dinner (baked chicken, sugar snap peas and a spinach with bacon salad). 

After the Blackhawks won in overtime on Saturday night/Sunday morning, Andy (aka Sausage) texted me an invite to the Cubs game Sunday with him, Blind Mender and Benny Baseball. Sounded fun so I said I would go. Benny and Mender bailed in the morning though so we scrambled to find replacements. LL was going to a birthday party, but we found JC and we just had an empty seat next to us. Actually there were several empty seats around us because it was still so damn cold, especially in the shade with the wind blowing. After the game, I came home and took a nice hot Jacuzzi bath. Actually the first bath I drew was tepid, so I went out to check the hot water heaters (yes, the building has two). One of the pilot lights had blown out, so we were only getting half the normal hot water. Once it was lit though, and after a trip to Starbucks for some coffee, I drew a much hotter bath. Good stuff. The chill has finally left my body!!