My Favorite Things: Fall Edition

Well, I am sitting at a bar in the San Diego International Airport. I am on my way home; although my flight doesn't get in Pittsburgh until 9:30 tonight (I fly through San Fran). Being in the perpetual summer weather of SoCal, it has made me appreciate fall (as if I didn't already). That, plus being on the precipice of the second best month of the year (see below)...well, I thought it was time to reveal my favorite things of the fall.

1. Fall weather - the weather and I are a good match. While I love it hot, I love it cool too (not cold, mind you). October weather is fantastic. I love stepping out of the house and feeling totally comfortable in a hooded sweatshirt.

2. Fall smells - bonfires, apple cider, just the general smell you get while walking outside. It's a little bit of freshly cut grass but more with the bonfires.

3. Fall baseball - this is thoroughly mined territory for my readers and me. I love baseball, I love the Pirates, fall baseball and the Pirates haven't gone together for 16 years now. But it is still magical to see the passion and the fire in these games. I long for the days when it will matter in Pittsburgh again; this is a good fix until it does. Plus, the drama of ending a game with one swing is just something that other sports cannot match.

4. High school football - wearing a hoodie, driving to the stadium with the sun going down, high school bands...it's a great tradition in Western PA. High school football brings back so many memories for me (remember, I was voted the class of '99's "Rams biggest fan"!). Even when I don't know the participants, it brings a rush to watch kids play football on Friday nights.

5. College football Saturdays - High hopes for Pitt this year, so there is more stress involved. But I love waking up, watching GameDay, then scanning to see what the best games of the day are.

6. NFL - Steelers. Need I say more?

7. Holiday season - the holiday season begins in earnest around Halloween.

8. Bonfires - I hit my pyro phase much later than most boys/men. I love fire, even at the age of 27 (I was never fascinated by it as a child, being so practical and cautious as to stay away for fear of my safety). Bonfires are obviously the most healthy, large-scale manifestation of fire in which one can partake. So I'll take it.

9. Darkness - I love when it's dark at 5pm! I may be the only person in the world. But it's such a peace to be out in the darkness. Added bonus for starry nights in any season.

10. College hoops - Pitt basketball being my 1A love to the Bucs, this needs to explanation. Obviously I count on this team to carry me through the dregs of post-holiday winter, but it's a fun appetizer for October through December.

11. Fall movies - after the summer movie season, full of popcorn movies, September is really lame. Then, October brings about the holiday movie season, which extends into January sometimes. Fall movies are great. Lots of arty movies, movies that directors and studios think deserve Oscar consideration. Lots of interesting fare, and this fall is no different.

Well, that's just a sampling of the reasons that I love fall. It's probably my favorite season! Even if its not yours, I wonder what you love about the season. Why don't you tell me?!?

Ranking the Months

Well, it's just after 7 am here in San Diego, but I've been up since 5:30 or so. I can't get used to the time thing in 2 days. I've been having a great time in SoCal, and will blog extensively about it in the future. But, I was thinking about this at the Angels game yesterday, so I wanted to do it. Ranking the months; which months are best and worst, in my opinion? Here you go:

12. January - not much beside bowl games and playoff football. Kind of a barren month that extends into...

11. February - my birth month, but that is all that makes it different (and a bit better) than the preceding month.

10. June - U.S. Open (golf), baseball not usually over for the Bucs fans...this month is grasping.

9. May - I don't think there is anything spectacular about this month. Horse racing's first two legs of the Triple Crown? I mean, I watch and I'm a fan, but not enough to make this month sweet.

8. April - Baseball season starts! Big plus.

7. July - I'm not a big fireworks fan, so the 4th is OK. It's hot. I like hot.

6. August - the laziest month of the year, because everyone goes on vacation during this month.

5. December - unlike other months for me, this is judged mostly on the holidays. It's hard not to be cheerful during this month.

4. September - football starts, school starts, high school football, college football saturdays, indian summer. good month.

3. November - Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, it starts the holiday season. Football kicks into high gear. Weather from October can carry over. Still get giddy with the first snow.

2. October - fall baseball, even without the Bucs, is special. College and pro football get into high gear, and college hoops practice starts. Plus, the weather is awesome. Fall is typified by this month, which is a great thing.

1. March - conference basketball tournaments. March Madness. Spring Training. "In like a Lion, out like a Lamb". Following Pitt hoops all over America. All make this the best month.

Hating the 'gate

Well, this is an entry from a previous attempt at blogging. We were discussing this in the office and it reminded me of my hatred for the "-gate" suffix. So, here are my thoughts on it:

Ok, it's happened once again. I now officially hate Richard Nixon and anyone associated in any way with his administration and the whole Watergate scandal. Before you accuse me of being a good American, wait until you hear why. I am sick of a trend that's got to stop. This trend? Calling every little scandal that ever occurs in the US (fill in the blank)-gate!Right now, we are in the middle of Van Gundy Gate (as dubbed by ESPN). We also have Paula-gate. And Jennifer Wilbanks-gate. So many freaking gates!We've had Monica-gate, Whitewater-gate, Enron-gate, steroid-gate, and seemingly every other type of -gate known to man. I for one am sick and tired of all this -gate action.Therefore, I am proposing we remove this term from our vernacular, so that the incessant media would stop shoving it down our throats any time a hint of impropriety creeps up. I will no longer refer to anything, ever, as _________-gate...will you pledge to join me?

I still feel this way!

Vacation Destination: San Diego

Well, Saturday morning I am leaving for a mini-vacation to the paradise of San Diego. I am leaving early Saturday from Pittsburgh, layover in Denver (where I'll watch the Pitt Panthers), then arrive in San Diego around noon local time. The purpose of the trip is to catch baseball games at Petco Park in San Diego and Edison Field in Anaheim. The Bucs are in San Diego this weekend, which is an added bonus.

This gets me to another list: the list of MLB stadiums I have graced with my presence. My buddy Moz and I are having a contest to see who can get to all active stadiums first. This means that, if they tear the building down or stop playing there, it no longer counts. So, this offseason both Sean and I will be losing Yankee and Shea Stadiums in NYC. Therefore, here is my updated list as of today, in order from worst to best:

11. Metrodome (Minneapolis) - I liked it but there is no denying it's a dinosaur. It will be discontinued for baseball use in the very near future.

10. Turner Field (Atlanta) - This is the old 1996 Olympic stadium that was converted to the Braves park. Nothing very significant about it.

9. Great American BallPark (Cincinnati) - I got a kidney stone when I was in Cincy for some Bucs games a few years ago. Maybe that taints my memories a bit.

8. Comerica Park (Detroit) - There is just nothing very memorable about this stadium. Ford Field is right next to it, and that's cool...does that count?

7. Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia) - Red brick...original.

6. New Busch Stadium (St. Louis) - see #8.

5. Nationals Park (Washington DC) - This stadium is meant to fit in with the DC architecture and look like a monument. Success!

4. Wrigley Field (Chicago) - The classic, one of only two left. It's so historic that it's hard not to feel overwhelmed when you first see the diamond. Bonus points to Wrigleyville.

3. Progressive Field (Cleveland) - One of the few good things about the town, this is one of the original "new" parks. Great location downtown.

2. Camden Yards (Baltimore) - This is a great park. The warehouse and walkway that extends from right to center field is a must visit for fans. There aren't bad seats in the place, either.

1. PNC Park (Pittsburgh) - Some things never change. I'm biased, but the architecture, the views...if someone could put a good baseball team in there, it could be magical.

So that's the list. I am planning (coincidentally with Moz) a trip next June where we will hit Phoenix, San Diego, Anaheim, LA, San Fran and Oakland on a 9 day adventure all over the West Coast. That will add at least 4 stadiums to my list. Exciting!

"The List"

Well, I haven't posted for awhile, and this is because I have been out of topics to discuss, kind of. I don't want to discuss the election in every post, so I'm trying to space it out.

So, I decided that my love of lists, and my rekindled Steeler love, mandated that it was time for me to post "The List". This is the most important list you will ever see. "The List" is the listing of my favorite sports teams, in order that I love them. The criteria for this is quite simple: they are ranked in order that you want them to win a championship. In other words, if you could only have teams that you root for win one championship for the rest of your life, which team would it be and why, and then in what order? Without further ado, my favorite teams (all Pittsburgh teams - other teams I don't care enough about to win):

5. Penguins - I will freely admit that I am a bandwagon Pens fan. When they are good, I like to watch on TV or even go. When they aren't good, I don't think twice about it. However, since I work downtown now, it would be cool to see the enthusiam of the town if they were to win.

4. Steelers - I know this will seem like sacrilege to many of you, but despite my rekindled joy of watching Steeler football, they have won a championship recently and won 5 in the last 30+ years. It would be exciting, to be sure, but it's only 4th on my list.

3. Pitt football - I have suffered through a lot of bad football as a Pitt fan. Remember the 72-0 loss to Ohio $tate in 1996? I do. I remember all of the heartache. We haven't won 10 games in a year since 1981, the year of Danny Marino, 48-14, and my birth. Now we have pieces in place to start the rebirth of Pitt football, but Wannstedt isn't a great game coach. Anyway, the future looks OK for Pitt football, but it will be tough to get to the place where we are competitive with the USCs, O$U's, and SEC teams of the world.

2. Pitt basketball - this is almost 1b. I have been a Pitt hoops fan as long as I can remember. I remember watching Big East games with mom and dad and running down the stairs as a kid, having dad introduce me as the point guard for the Panthers. Now, with our run of the last 7 years, it has been spectacular as a fan: 3 Big East regular season championships, 2 Big East tournament titles, numerous high seeds in the NCAAs, and 4 Sweet Sixteens. Now it is time for the next step. Our recruiting is getting better as our profile gets higher. Our expectations for this year are huge. This could happen relatively soon, and it would be a joyful day for me, because Pitt hoops mean so much to me and to my family.

1. Pirates - I am one of the few remaining Bucco fans in Pittsburgh, and it breaks my heart to say that. I just genuinely love the game of baseball. The strategy, the history, the statistics, the ballparks...it's a magical game that hasn't been tainted very much for me with the stench of 16 years of losing. I have so many fond memories of the Pirates that it isn't even funny. When I was 5, my grandpa, dad, and I went to a Bucs-Phillies game at Three Rivers. We left early because I was a kid, and we missed Mike Schmidt's 500th career homer. I remember going to the NLCS in 1992 and Jim Leyland receiving a standing ovation. I remember the day that Barry Bonds signed with the Giants; I was home sick from school and watching "The Price Is Right" and it went right into KDKA News, where it was the top story. I remember various other moments in the 16 years of losing, although they run together quite a bit. The last time the Bucs were anywhere near .500 was 1997, which is recalled with glory by the diehards. We went 79-83 that year but were in the division race until the last weekend of the season. That year, September baseball mattered in Pittsburgh. It's been 11 years since that was the case. And that's a shame, because fall baseball is one of the greatest parts about the fall. I can only imagine what our beautiful PNC Park would look like with 38,000 rabid fans hanging on every pitch in the NLDS. It's probably the one thing in life that I want the most, which might: (a) seem sad to many of you but I promise it's not, and (b) explain why I am still single. I'm buying season tickets to the Bucs next year, because I don't want to be left out when fall baseball returns. I want to have my ticket when the Bucs make the playoffs. It isn't going to be next year, but at some point in the near future, it will come. When it does, I'll be the happiest guy on Mt. Washington.

So, that's my list. What does yours look like?

A Rejuvenated Steeler Fan

Well, today was the first Steeler game of the year, and they won, so it's a good start. It's a good start for my fandom of the team as well, as when I lived in Knoxville, my love of the Steelers had waned a bit.

I think it traces back to the Super Bowl win. I really didn't think we deserved to win that game; we didn't play well, and the refs made a bunch of bad calls that went our way. Then, we suffered through the 8-8 season, Cowher's retirement, the Faneca situation, and the first year under Coach Mike (not to mention the current status of ownership). For me, I just was kind of tired of being a Steeler fan. I'm a huge Pirate fan, and I've seen them lose for a long time, and I'd rather that the Pirates won a championship before the Steelers win another. I think this started wearing on me, as it seemed as if everyone in Pittsburgh is only a Steeler fan (except when the Pens are good).

Today, I was rejuvenated, and this was made possible by my friend Brandon. He and I are Pine Richland grads (Class of '99) and we also graduated with graduate degrees from IUP at the same time (Class of '05). He works for the Houston Texans. I met him in Jacksonville last NFL season to go to the Texans Jags game in town, and it was a good time. When I saw that the Steelers and Texans played in Pittsburgh this year, I told him we'd have to meet up. He did it one better: he offered my brother and I the opportunity to work for Texan radio.

We were paid $50 to stand on the sidelines (!) and hold the parabonic microphones; you know what I'm talking about. They are the mikes with the big glass shields that are used at the line of scrimmage to pick up the sounds on the field. We had to follow the ball around the field all day, and it was an awesome experience.

One of the best aspects was the fact that we got to listen to Texan radio while working. It was interesting to hear what they had to say. They were very disappointed with the Texan effort. They also sang the praises of our beautiful city, especially the North Shore sports complexes and, of course, our confluence of rivers.

This gave me such a renewed interest in the Steelers. The fans were extremely loud all day, until we had the game wrapped up in the fourth quarter. It was cool to see all the black and gold from the field perspective. It really was a once in a lifetime type of experience. Now, I'm looking forward to every fall weekend not only because of Pitt football, but Steeler football as well. It feels good to be back.

My Personal Political Philosophy

After the vice presidential picks, and then the conventions, over the past two weeks, the discussion of presidential politics has been heated, and we've discussed it a bit in the comments. Some of you have asked for more of my opinions, so this is my start. I thought that it would make sense to first outline my philosophy, before I got into the particular candidates, their beliefs, and why I am one of those crucial undecided voters in a swing state.

I will start by saying this: I have changed my political beliefs over the years. I think as I've gotten older and received more education, I've become more open minded and tolerant. And to be honest, it seems like I'm the only open-minded person left!

I am not, any more, an ideological person. I believe in doing what works, and I believe in compromising. It always startles me when I hear ideological people talk; they seem to think that if a candidate doesn't agree with them on everything then the candidate is useless. How in the world can you expect a candidate to agree with you on everything? That would assume that you are right about everything, and guess what: you aren't. Neither am I, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that I am open to trying new ways of doing things.

I have basically learned over the years that there may not be a place in either party for me. I can't be a Democrat, because I am a Christian. I agree with Democrats on a lot of things:

• healthcare is a moral issue, something that should concern all Christians
• the conduct of war is a moral issue, and especially the poor prosecution of it, and when lies are told about why we go to war? unacceptable
• other social programs (welfare, social security, etc) are also issues that should concern Christians (of course, I'm opposed to Social Security, because IT DOESN'T WORK!)

Now, because I'm a Christian, there are other things that I am vehemently opposed to in the Democratic Party:

• I believe in the consistent life ethic (CLE), which is against abortion (along with the death penalty, euthanasia, and war)
• I'm against sex education in schools
• I want intelligent design mentioned in science class (even though I fully acknowledge that it isn't scientific)
• and other reasons

Then again, the Republican party doesn't fit me either, really:

• I'm not a neo-con, who believes in war first and everything else fifth
• I'm not a fiscal conservative. I understand these principles, I don't think they are necessarily wrong, but they aren't my highest priority (humans are imperfect, therefore GREEDY!)
• I'm not a libertarian; I believe the government has a place in life and needs to make laws (for example, I'm OK with wiretapping - it has a clear purpose--stopping terrorists)

I guess the group I could most closely be identified with is the religious/social conservatives, but I am for the issues I outlined above (social programs). Religious conservatives think this stuff needs to be done through the church. I couldn't agree more. If it can be done in this manner, by all means, DO IT! However, the church can't do it all. They just can't. The disappearing middle class, the high divorce rates, high rates of birth out of wedlock, single parent families, poverty...these are problems that the church just isn't addressing well enough (instead, we are building multimillion dollar facilities with air conditioning and other excesses, but this is another rant for another day). My philosophy is, why can't the church and the government both take care of social problems? The church does what it can, then the government helps fill in the holes. This is what forms the core of my belief.

I can, at later times, get more specifically into how I believe things should operate, but I will just close this first discussion by saying that ideology is an evil in the system of government that we have. People complain all the time about the two party system, saying that we need more parties. Why? So we can yell at each other more? James Madison wrote about the idea of factions in the Federalist Papers (No. 10), talking about how dangerous they could be. Guess what: he was talking about parties and interest groups! Factions of people that had beliefs and divided people.

So, to sum up, I am for two things: whatever works, and bipartisan cooperation. Maybe at some point in the future I will reveal my list of actions that attempts to disprove the myth that George W. Bush is a divisive president (it's not true; Democrats have hated him since 2000 and never gave him a chance at all). Thoughts and/or comments?

*Disclaimer: I wrote this while on the phone with Verizon techs (I'm at the office). It may be disjointed, contradictory, or nonsense. Please excuse the grammar and sentence structure and try to focus on the ideas.

Good News!

I just wanted to post a quick note. I got an email today notifying me that I have passed my comprehensive exams. I am now, officially, Joshua J. Grubbs, ABD.

ABD = All But Dissertation. Meaning, I have fulfilled all of the requirements of the Ph.D. except for the dissertation.

Woohoo!