Category: Chicago Cubs (Page 13 of 26)

Cubbies

Retirement is not without Hassles: Crush #684

October 2, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

After watching Cubs’ title hopes “crushed” yesterday, it’s time to do some “crushing” of my own. I will join my retired friends in the second step of the Wine-making Process where we extract the eventually drinkable juices from the grapes. I missed Step One, the Harvest, while we were traveling back to Indiana last week. The grapes were picked in record time this year by 25 friends and neighbors, then stored in giant tubs to begin fermentation. We’ll transfer them bucket-by-bucket today into a Press that will squeeze the good stuff out, leaving us with solid “cakes” of seeds, stems, and skin that will eventually go to the birds. The strong smell leaves a lot to be desired, and no one will have a craving for a glass of wine for a few days.

As for today, what used to take an army of people is now down to just the three of us, as the wine is transferred directly to a new 80-gallon stainless steel storage tank in the basement of my friend’s home. In the past, we’ve had to fill individual 5-gallon carboys and carefully lug them down the steps. It was an accident waiting to happen. The new procedure will save time, muscle, and mess.

Before we know it, will be sitting at Wanker’s Country Saloon, enjoying a beer and a cheeseburger while discussing the Cubs’ chances today in the elimination Wildcard Game against the Colorado Rockies. The wine will continue to ferment until it is transferred into wooden barrels periodically throughout the year. I will also be needed at some point to help prune the vines and transport them to be recycled. This is my fourth year of helping to produce about 300 bottles of wine annually. Throughout each year, I’ve been a leading contributor to its consumption, as well, and will take home another case of the 2016 until the current Walleye vintageis ready to be bottled. Crush Day here I come!

Old Sport Shorts: Division Disaster #683

October 1, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

The Cubs have gotten into the habit this year of falling behind before they can move ahead. It got them in trouble today, as the magic ran out. There was no Bote moment or two-out heroics – they just never came back. I got two messages from my die-heart-Cub-fan son today – both emojies – as the game continued to deteriorate – vomit then poop. They went predictably down to the Brewers 1-0, before Rizzo homered, one of only three Cubs hits, then fell behind again 3-1. Baez tried to set off a spark with a two-out, ninth-inning hit, but Rizzo fell short on his bid for a second long ball. As a result, the Brewers celebrated in Chicago’s house and claimed their first NL Central title since 2011. They deserved it, while my lucky Cubs socks failed to do their job.

“The Crew” finished the season strong with their 8th straight victory. They also won five out of seven games against the Cubbies, and swept the Cardinals to dominate the Division. The Cubs slowly watched it slip away, managing only 16 of 29 victories down the stretch. One more victory would have claimed the title. Instead, they’ll have to come from way behind via the Wild Card route. This time, however, they may not have a shot because they’re behind the Eight Ball.”

Drinking Champagne,

Yelich and Braun.

The Cubs look on,

Division hopes Gone.

Have the Cubs fallen behind too far this time? Can they rebound from this Division Disaster? Five years ago, fans would have been thrilled to simply have earned a Playoff spot, as would any current White Sox fan. However, this fourth playoff appearance in a row is now tainted in Bitter Brew. The Cubs get a second chance tomorrow, as the Rockies come to town, after a similar fate against the Dodgers. Jon Lester takes the mound for the Cubs seeking his 19th victory of the year. The Rockies will pack their bags and fly from L.A. to Chicago, symbolically passing over their Denver home, where both teams will start the second season by trying to forget about what happened today – tomorrow.

The Cubs will need to get more than the three hits they managed today to move forward, and chances are good that they will once again fall behind as soon as the first inning. I can only hope that they will respond as they have all year long, there will be no Wade Davis revenge, and they’ll “Fly the W” at least one more time. In the meantime, the Brewers get a day of rest and the satisfaction of taking that first positive step towards a winning their first World Series in history. They won it as the Milwaukee Braves 60 years ago with MVP Lew Burdette, along with Hall-Of-Famers Warren Spahn, Hank Aaron, Red Schoendienst, and Eddie Mathews. Will the “Comeback Cubbies” eventually earn a second chance to stop the Brewers from winning it all?

Old Sport Shorts: Wild Finish #681

September 30, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

The Magic Number is down to ONE – for two teams, as both have completed eight innings in their “last” scheduled match-ups of the season. The Cubs got a little tougher assignment, with the evil Cardinals hanging on to Playoff hopes until late yesterday. Despite their 2-1 win over the Cubs, the Giants failed to play a spoiler role against the Dodgers, and any chance for a Red Bird Wildcard flew away. However, they did also manage to gain a little sweet revenge over the rival Cubs, on top of the victory. The loss dropped the division leaders into a tie with the red-hot Brewers, who were dominant today in claiming their 9th victory in the last ten games, including a 7-game win streak.

The Brewers played better down the stretch than the Cubs, so consequently, after 162 games and 95 wins, both records are identical. As a result, they will play a tie-breaker tomorrow at Wrigley Field that will determine which team is guaranteed to play more than one game in addition to owning home-field advantage throughout the Playoffs.

After the first inning of today’s games, the Cubs had officially slipped into second place but rallied in typical comeback fashion (they trailed in 46% of their victories) to take a mid-point 8-2 lead. The Cardinals predictably narrowed the gap and then fumbled, while the Brewers extended their onslaught against the nothing-to-gain Tigers. This is why the Brewers easily gained a series sweep, while the Cubs had to somehow finish-off their closest rival. Cardinal fans were energized over a potential season-ending upset, and Cub fans were shaking their heads over a disappointing September.

Tomorrow will be a historic day in Major League baseball, as two tie-breakers will decide the Playoff fate of four teams. The Dodgers, Rockies, Brewers, and Cubs will play an extra game this year. As a show of offensive fire-power, all four teams scored double-digits in their last game of the season. There will be no eliminations tomorrow, just disappointment in finishing second and a much more difficult road to the World Series. Trophies and bonuses may also present frustration factors.

The Cubs were already tired, as evident in their stretch-fade, while injuries and personnel issues have diluted their overall chances. You can be assured that tomorrow, the Cubs will fall behind the Brewers at some point in the game, and will have to play catch-up. This has been the story all year long, and it probably won’t change in historic game number 163. Expect a Wild finish to this unprecedented Wildcard race!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Computer Problems #679

September 29, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I’ve spent much of my writing time this morning rebooting Google Chrome. Sometimes, I think my Microsoft computer is intentionally creating problems to force me to switch to Microsoft Edge as my search engine. As a result of this switch hassle, I am now back in business, with very little to say of importance today.

We’ve had lots of company these past few days. Both of our guest rooms were filled for the first time ever in the four years we’ve owned this house. My wife’s youngest daughter, celebrating a birthday, and her niece came to town for different reasons. The niece is also staying with friends, while the birthday girl and her boyfriend are attending a wedding. We met his parents for dinner last night, as the relationship gets more serious. It is his cousins that are getting married here in Portland, so I don’t have to go. My wife and I will probably go to a movie, and there is no apparent reason for me to wear anything but my retirement uniform today.

I got to shop at the Columbia Employee Store yesterday thanks to an invitation from my wife’s company. By the way, I had to use the Men’s Room just after I entered the store. (See Post #677). After the slight delay, I then added a couple of new pairs of Prana (not Prada) jeans to my retirement uniform collection, along with a Columbia rain jacket. My last such water-proof jacket was ripped by the strong winds aboard the Viking Star to Athens. In thinking back to six months ago, I was running on the promenade deck of the boat and the pocket caught on a protruding stairway railing. My forward momentum caused me to twist completely around in the same strong winds that prevented us from docking in Olympia Greece. With the rainy season ahead here in Portland, I was able to replace the badly damaged coat at a reasonable cost.

I bought new shoes and socks at the convenient Chicago O’Hare Airport Johnston & Murphy store two days ago, once I used the nearby Men’s Room. However, since we had an hour or more to kill at the airport, it really didn’t seem like shopping. I also fulfilled a boxer shortage by ordering online at Tommy John, so the retirement uniform has been completely replenished and upgraded. No additional shopping will need to take place for some time. My wife is especially satisfied with the new blue-suede-shoes that present me with a dressier retirement look.

The Friday “Leadership Meeting” put my routine back on track. It had been two weeks since we had added points to our holiday party fund. The Beaverton Buffalo Wild Wings is our traditional meeting location, and they’ve lowered their prices on beer from $5 a mug to $5 for a pitcher of 3 mugs. This incentive alone will keep us there for the rest of the year, cashing in all our reward points for free food to celebrate the New Year.

This morning’s “Schnauzerthon” was another indication that my “homebody” harmony is back in tune. I.U. Football is on the tube, with Cubs baseball to follow. I’m in my favorite chair behind my home office desk, and I woke up in my own bed. Even better, I loaned my car to my step-daughter, so they’re out of the house, while I have no chance of doing anything or going anywhere. Instead, I’m enjoying some “my time.” If it weren’t for the computer hassles this morning, I would be in undisputed “Hometown Heaven.”

Old Sport Shorts: 18 in 2018 #678

September 27, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Tonight was the 18th victory of the season for Cub’s pitcher, Jon Lester, tying him with Max Scherzer of the Nationals for the National League leader in wins for the year. The Nats will definitely not be headed to the playoffs, but Lester and the Cubs may be able to get a few more. The Cubs also lead the league in shut-outs in 2018 with eighteen, surpassing the Cleveland Indians. These two achievements of “18 in 2018” are the sole reasons why they are still in the race. Clearly, it has not been a year of dominance, but rather a year of fingernail-biting comebacks (43 so far).

The Magic Number for the Cubs is now down to three, just to claim the National League Central. The three best records in the National League happen to be in the same division, and all three can still make the postseason. The Cubs and Brewers have already claimed two of these spots, but the regular season comes down to a three-game series against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. The math is simple: if the Cubs win all three, they’ll claim their 3rd straight division title. So, where “eighteen” was the lucky number tonight, tomorrow it’s down to “three.” The Brewers play a final three-game home-stand against the lowly Detroit Tigers, so a Brew Crew sweep could put them in the driver’s seat, if the Cubs stumble. I guess it’s what most fans want going into the final weekend of the season? Personally, I was hoping that it would be wrapped up by now. I hate the idea of the evil Cardinals having even a chance of ruining the Cubs’ final drive; especially, after the Red Birds were absolutely no help against the Brewers, losing all three on their St. Louis home field.

Admittedly, the Brewers have had another great season. They made some fruitful trades this year that have made them a worthy contender. They deservedly clinched their first playoff berth in 7 years. It’s only their fifth in franchise history, so I’m excited that they are a fresh addition to the stale line-up of traditional playoff regulars. I would hate to see them win the division, but beyond that I will support them should the Cubs falter. It would be a shame if the Cubs have to play them again, since they’ve met so many times already this year. By right, the Cubs have already proved their dominance, but unfortunately most of that was determined early in the season. In all honesty, the Brewers have been the better team since the All-Star break, and I would be very concerned about the outcome of a final battle.

I give the Cubs credit for fighting back to square the final series against the Pirates. I also give them credit for a 14-11 record down the September stretch run, despite a tough road schedule. I’m glad I got to see them win against the White Sox in Chicago, and I’m proud that they’ve somehow so-far prevented the hot Brewers from catching them in the standings. They hold a slim one-game lead and maintain the best record in the National League with 93 wins. 96 would be ideal, but 95 probably more realistic, so I’m hoping for a Tiger upset in at least one game.

What I’ve gotten to know as the “Comeback Cubbies,” as they have in too many of their games this year, it seems only appropriate that they once-again fall behind in the race before the finish. Perhaps they tie-it-up in the last game, and have to go to the extra game tie-breaker to win the division at Wrigley? Let’s hope they can get it done without that level of drama. Go Cubs and Tigers! Better luck next year White Sox!

Old Sport Shorts: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly #673

September 25, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It was impossible for all my teams to win yesterday, since the Cubs and White Sox were playing each other. The White Sox season was essentially over Saturday night when the Cubs claimed the Crosstown Cup in addition to gaining even greater odds for post-season play. It was good to get back to the ball park – regardless of the name. As I looked down over the parking lot from the top of Guaranteed Rate Field, I could see the outline of the original Comiskey Park home plate that my baseball hero Sherm Lollar crouched behind for many years. (See Post #5). I also got to see “The Monster” spew fireworks after a White Sox home run, although I had to leave the concession line to watch it. By the way, the lines for food were a big hassle compared to other parks I have visited – it’s too bad that Bill Veeck isn’t still around to fix that problem. He would have been outraged at the lack of efficiency. (See Post #257). It was a flood of memories, and a much needed “W” for the visiting Cubs. The Magic Number is now down to just 5. On the NFL front, my other Chicago favorite, The Mack-revitalized Bears, pulled off a come-from-behind victory over the Arizona Cardinals to somehow lead the NFC North, while the bottom-dwelling Lions upset the evil Patriots. Oh, and the Cleveland Browns finally won a football game. All “Good.”

The “Bad” of weekend sports included the Colts loss to the Eagles and the I.U. defeat by the Michigan State Spartans. In both cases, the “L”was predictable, but I was hoping for the upset. It was a “welcome to the BIG” message to the undefeated Hoosiers, and no-Luck in the Red Zone for the visiting Colts against the defending Super Bowl Champs.

On the “Ugly” side, I should include the 10-4 loss by the Cubs, as White Sox bats prevailed in the Crosstown series opener. I was glad the Sox got one victory, so it was a good ugly. Maybe next year? – as we say good-bye to legendary Chicago broadcaster Hawk Harrelson. Meanwhile, back home in Oregon, the Ducks displayed the crowning jewel of college football ugliness. They managed to blow a comfortable 24-7 half-time lead over favored Stanford. They had the game firmly in hand in the waning seconds, until those hands failed them. A costly fumble allowed the Cardinal to win against the ugly ducklings, a thing of swan-like beauty for the visiting fans in red. I admit to “seeing red” myself as the ball popped loose. OMG!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a Clint Eastwood classic. It also best describes my sports-related emotions over the past four or five days. The week ahead is critical, as the MLB Playoff stretch-drive unfolds. I’m worried! The Cubs could raise their ugly heads by squandering a narrow Division lead to the Brewers and then losing the Wildcard spot to the Cardinals. Let’s hope not, but that could be the Ultimate Ugly!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Key Lime #671

September 22, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It is not a typical day that starts with a slice of key lime pie. I saved it from Friday night’s dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab, after chocolate cake from Shaw’s Crab House last night. I had indicated that it was our anniversary when I made the reservation on Open Table because we celebrate birthday anniversaries each month, a monthly 8th anniversary, various wedding anniversaries, and other special occasions. As a result, it’s always an anniversary for us and certainly worthy of free dessert if the waiter is in a giving mood. It is a rare occasion when I have key lime pie anymore after once committing to only ordering it while in Florida. Since Joe’s was founded in Miami, I decided to make an exception, and because it too was offered “on the house.”

We’ve certainly eaten our way through downtown Chicago. Fannie Mae Chocolate, Macaroons, Garrett’s Popcorn, cookies from the Marriott concierge lounge, Shake Shack, and even Dim Sum at Imperial Lamian. We even bought a six-pack of Diet Coke for the room, outsmarting the Marriott beverage exclusive with Pepsi. Tomorrow I’ll walk down the street and pick-up our Hertz rental car for the trip into Indiana and the transition into fast food. We’ll be back in Chicago at the O’Hare Renaissance after two risky nights away from Marriott pampering. Between meals, my wife ended up at Walgreen’s seeking medical advice for her cough and cold. The doctor suggested that she “feed a cold.” Just kidding!

A hot dog and nachos are a must at tonight’s baseball game, despite any dietary restrictions. I’ve done a pretty good job in Chicago of violating the “no white foods, low-carb diet” that we’ve been successfully following, so why stop tonight? It will be chilly in the cheap seats tonight, but I hope to see “The Monster” shoot off some fireworks in honor of a White Sox home run. With the Playoffs on the line, I also hope that the Cubs hit more. Regardless of who wins, I have another pair of socks just like these to wear tomorrow, but no more key lime pie to eat:

Retirement is not without Hassles: End of the Road #670

September 22, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It’s interesting that today’s post number 670 is at the start of my 67th year, after making Route 66 the theme of my 66th. If you go back to Post #235, I first started writing about historic Route 66 on or about my birthday, and posed in front of the start/finish sign at the Santa Monica Pier several months later (See Post #302). Today I took similar pictures of the start/finish signs in Chicago, marking the end of a memorable year of travel. A few months ago we even stopped at the Route 66 museum in Litchfield, Illinois, just outside of St. Louis. There are apparently 10 such sights along the long and winding road:

I will probably never get to all of them, or travel what’s left of the entire route, but I’ve enjoyed some of the highlights, and will continue the journey, despite my age. I would probably put these stops on my “Pail List,” rather than the Bucket List. (See Post #279) The question remains – is Chicago the beginning or the end of the road!

Now that I’ve stood at both ends and/or ends, I have a lot to look back on, as well as year 67 that continues ahead. Last night, we had dinner at Shaw’s Crab House, while tonight it will hot dogs at the ballpark. While my wife did some shopping yesterday evening, I went to the Chicago Sports Museum, but found myself in the middle of a private wedding reception (oops). Instead, I went to Harry Caray’s and had a martini. We’ve also enjoyed the artwork up and down the Magnificent Mile, including the 25th anniversary display of Chicago Wolves hockey masks, and what my wife fondly refers to as the “Puparazzi.” These are decorated dogs reminiscent of the cow art that once dominated Chicago sidewalks. These dog statues, K9s for Cops,” “stalk” you like photographers as you walk up and down Michigan Avenue.

We have one more night in Chicago before we drive to Indiana for some family time. We’ll spend some time at Millennium Park, despite today’s cooler temperatures before we head to the ballpark. I’ll wear one Cubs sock and one Sox sock to split my allegiance, but will be cheering for the Cubs, since the White Sox season is essentially over. The Brewers are bearing down on Cubs Playoff hopes, so the North Sider’s need a victory tonight coupled with a Brewers loss (their 67th).

Old Sport Shorts: Crunch Time #668

September 20, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I got started on my run about five miles minutes earlier this morning, nearly beating the school bus up the hill to its pick-up spot near the two-mile mark. Thoughts were on getting packed and driving to the airport for our 11:10 a.m. flight to Chicago’s O’Hare. We would be there in time for dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab, one of my wife’s favorites. She has business meetings tomorrow while I do my retirement thing.

It’s Crunch Time, with only ten games left in the season! The Cubs are off today prior to the start of the Crosstown Showdown at White Sox Park on Friday. It’s hard to refer to it as Guaranteed Rate Field, since that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. I was just getting used to calling it Cellular One, despite so many childhood memories of Comiskey Park. I understand the value of sponsorship in today’s world of sports, so I tolerate the unromantic, commercial names we call our venues. I will just be glad to be there, whatever it’s called?, on Saturday night as the Cubs hope to once again reduce their Playoff Magic Number (currently at 8) and hold-off the hungry Milwaukee Brewers. Crunch!

It was a rare night on Monday when both the Cubs and Bears won their respective games. The White Sox did not play, so none of my Chicago teams were losers- a miracle! Watching the masterful defense “Bear Down” was particularly emotional, reminiscent of the glory years of the mid 1980’s. Equally satisfying is the Cub’s quest for their historic fourth consecutive playoff appearance. They’ve managed a winning September record, but the offense is sputtering and the pitching painfully-patched in piece-meal. I have reduced expectations for the post-season, with comparably much less hope for the Bears. College basketball will start in less than a month, as both of these Windy City favorites slowly fade into typical, late-season obscurity, and much-improved I.U basketball begins to take preference. It’s the sports cycle that I seem to be stuck in every year thanks to my Northern Indiana upbringings.

The good thing about sports is that for every loss somebody else wins. While we’re flying the “W,” hoisting the hardware, and hugging total strangers, the opponent is disheartened, disappointed, and ultimately disgusted by our poor sportsmanship. To make matters even more miserable, they, may have even lost a “friendly” wager, personal credibility, or a major bet. Regardless, it’s a difficult moment that may reverse itself in the future – or even next year. Remember to win graciously and lose with visions of that next win. Better yet – never bet. As a fan, I can’t control the outcome, just the ugly emotions that often come out. I just hope that the very last game I watch is a big victory that I can enjoy throughout eternity. That would be the way to go!

I won’t be disappointed if the Cubs win the World Series, the Bears win the Super Bowl, and the Hoosiers win the NCAA Tournament. Each has now happened in my lifetime, as well as a White Sox World Championship. I’ve even gotten two out of three in the same year. I’ve been blessed with several good years, and cursed with many more bad ones. What will the end of this year bring? It’s Crunch Time!

Crunch Time

It’s that time,
The last chance.
Your final move,
To make the dance.

It’s everything,
You’ve waited for.
You couldn’t ask,
For anything more.

You’ve Fantasized,
And dreamed it.
How much more real,
Can it possibly get?

Within your reach,
In front of you.
What to do?
It’s up to you.

Grab the ring,
And hold on tight.
Keep it close,
With all your might.

Enjoy the spotlight,
It’s your day.
Don’t let anything,
Get in your way.

Miracle maker,
Beating all odds.
Defying defeat,
Gift of the Gods

Hitting the Walk-off,
Or Last second shot.
Giving everything,
That you’ve got.

Heisman recipient,
And The MVP.
Impact each moment
With all you can be.

What makes a winner?
Refusing to lose.
Highlight heroics,
Front page news.

Everyone’s All-Star,
Here’s the latest.
In lifetime achievement,
One of the Greatest.

Hall of Fame moment,
Tell Cooperstown.
You’re Ranked #1,
Put on the Crown.

It’s Crunch Time,
So go for it all.
When it’s on the line,
You’ll get the ball.

Retirement is not without Hassles: Jazz #662

September 14, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I went to the library and picked-up my copy of the Ken Burns documentary, Jazz. I had been on the waiting list for several months. Like many of his recent works, this is a time commitment, approximately 19 hours on 10 DVD’s. I was reluctant to get started, knowing that I will not be able to stop watching. As indicated in Post #430, I made it a retirement goal to watch all of his productions. They are each very educational and help balance all the frivolous video that I watch. I particularly enjoyed Central Park Five since I was not familiar with that story, and was intrigued with the engineering of the Brooklyn Bridge. Maybe I’ll run across it the next time I visit NYC? I struggled through Not For Ourselves Alone, the “trials, tribulations, and triumphs” of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Burns burnout was beginning to effect my judgement, as the voices of the narrators and background music made several of his works seem redundant. I guess this is bound to happen after watching more than 25 of his productions. However, Jazz, has quickly resuscitated my interest.

I was pleased to find out that Xfinity/Comcast has apparently not yet dropped the Big Ten Network from its lineup here in Portland. It had been temporarily removed for some reason, and caused me to search-out other options, with I.U. basketball about to start. Believe it or not, this channel was one of the reasons that I selected Comcast in the first place. You can’t take the Hoosier out of me, even if I live several thousand miles away! I will also soon be able to get Amazon Prime, so I’ll wait to watch Goliath on the big screen, rather than on my lap-top. Honestly, if it weren’t for sports, I would drop cable and go to OTT, as many consumers are doing to save money. With internet, home security, phone, and premium channels including sports, my monthly bill approaches $300 or $10 a day. When we’re traveling, those are wasted dollars. However, when I’m home, the computer and TV are on all the time, and I’m often in a multi-tasking mode.

Learning about Louie Armstrong, Bessie Smith, and the history of “Jass” or “Jazz” will keep me entertained over the next few weeks, but I’ll probably have to wait to finish it when we get back from Indiana. The Wynton Marsalis segments are outstanding. Yesterday, I watched it on one computer, while using my lap-top for genealogy and memorabilia searches. The TV was on the Cubs game, and I used my phone to stream the Cardinals game against the Pirates. I think I got my $10’s worth out of Comcast for the day! Plus, the Cubs won and the Cards lost. I also bought a 1970 Fillmore West handbill through Ebay promoting a Led Zeppelin concert that I saw at the Oakland Coliseum. My traveling companion and I saw a similar poster on the door of the legendary Bill Graham establishment in Haight-Ashbury and were able to watch them play “Blueberry Hill” as an encore to their unforgettable performance. (See Post #295). As yet, I have been unable to find a ticket stub for my collection. I never got to see Louie Armstrong, or Bessie Smith, but I have seen Wynton Marsalis perform live. I’m also looking forward to the Ken Burns documentary on Country Music that will debut next year. Rock, Jazz, or Country – “I’ve got the Music in Me.”