ABC Meme

I've been tagged! Jenny McB has called on me to answer this ABC All About Me.

A- Attached or Single? Single

B- Best Friend- His initials are SSP and he sees me as I am and likes me anyway

C- Cake or Pie- Pie. Specifically strawberry rhubarb pie.

D- Drink of choice- In public: Margarita on the rocks with salt; In private: Arbor Mist Strawberry Zinfandel (Please don't tell!)

E- Essential Items- iPod, hairbrush and a book

F- Favorite color- Blue

G- Gummi Bears or Worms- Really? I have to choose one? OK, bears.

H- Hometown- Brookfield

I- Indulgence- Bad TV

J- January or February?- January, because it's a fresh start and everything seems possible

K- Kids- None

L- Life is incomplete without- Critters! I can't imagine living in a home without pets!

M- Marriage Date- I'm just a barren spinster

N- Number of Siblings- Two sisters; one 16 months older, one 8 years younger

O- Oranges or Apples?- Apples, but I prefer orange juice to apple juice

P- Phobias/Fears- Flying. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

Q- Favorite Quote- If we cannot end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. JFK

R- Reason to Smile- Hearing a Beatle song

S- Seasons - Fall

T- Tags- Starbucks Junkie. If you are still out there, Hick, copy this into your blog and answer these questions for yourself.

U- Unknown fact about me - When I was in second grade I had a poster of Paul McCartney on the back of my bedroom door. I kissed it so many times I wore the lips away.

V- Vegetarian or oppressor of animals? Oppressor, I guess. But this is very unfair. I consider about what I eat and am concerned with the quality of an animal's life.

W- Worst Habit- I can be terribly impatient.

X-X-rays or ultrasounds - I trust my doctors. Whatever they recommend.

Y- Your Favorite Food - Manicotti

Z- Zodiac - I'm on the cusp. Scorpio or Sagittarius, depending on which horoscope book I'm looking at.

I am SO still a Cub fan!

I know all the words to "Hey, Hey, Holy Mackarel, No Doubt About It." What more proof does anyone need?

One of my coworkers is a White Sox fan. Usually I treat these sad characters with the noblesse oblige they deserve. But today he really got under my skin.

He wanted to talk about last night's disappointment, when the winning run was walked in by poor relief pitcher Michael Wurtz. I confessed that I didn't watch the entire game because I switched over to watch my beloved future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux turn in a truly inspirational and heroic performance on the mound.

"You turned the game off? Then you aren't a Cub fan. You're a Greg Maddux fan."

Well, I'm both. My loyalties aren't even remotely tried this go-round because Greg Maddux certainly didn't ask to leave me … I mean, CHICAGO … last August at the trade deadline.

Also, it's still early. Experience has shown me time and time again that it's a very long season and we can't assume that the way we play in May will have any impact on where we end up in the Fall.

And the Cubs are my guys whether they win or lose. The outcome of one particular game has no bearing on my relationship with my team. We're in it together for the long haul. Whereas this could very well be (gulp) Greg Maddux' last year.

So I'm melding my Cub fandom and Maddux fanaticism with this photo. It's my beloved #31 doffing his cap and saying farewell to Wrigley Field last summer. (Is it any coincidence that the immortal Fergie Jenkins wore #31, too? I think not.)

Maddux halts Reds in complete game

Veteran right-hander perfect through five, wins No. 336
By Sandy Burgin / Special to MLB.com

SAN DIEGO -- Greg Maddux, who has never thrown a no-hitter, had a perfect game through five innings Monday night.

Javier Valentin doubled to right-center in the top of the sixth spoiling the no-no, but Maddux and the Padres went on to beat the Cincinnati Reds, 7-1, at PETCO Park.

The win was the 336th for Maddux, who allowed five hits in posting his 109th complete game, his first since Sept. 27, 2005.

Maddux (3-2) also helped his own cause at the plate with three straight sacrifice bunts, tying a franchise record.

Maddux threw 46 pitches in retiring the first 15 Reds. He got Alex Gonzalez on a groundout to start the sixth. But Valentin ripped a double to the scoreboard in right-center for the Reds' first hit. Pinch-hitter Jeff Keppinger followed with a single. However, Maddux came back and got Ryan Freel to hit into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.

Maddux lost a chance for his 36th shutout in the ninth. Juan Castro led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Freel. One out later, Ken Griffey Jr. hit a deep fly to center for a sacrifice fly as Castro came home. Maddux threw 96 pitches, 20 in the ninth inning. He finished the game striking out Brandon Phillips for his 3,200th career strikeout.