Vacation

We just spent two weeks back in Boston. It was great seeing lots of old friends and old stomping grounds. Strangely, I found that I enjoyed the snooty, unfriendly people and the homicidal drivers. I had to drive by the new Apple store on Boylston St. We ended up buying a few Apple products while in Boston, taking advantage of the low (compared to Chicago) sales tax.

Red Sox, White Sox,...Cubs?

I've noticed a curious trend over the past few years.

In 2004, we were in our last full year of living in Boston. The most notable sports event of the year was the World Series victory by the Red Sox. The last World Series they won was in 1918. In 1919 the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees who went on to win 26 of the next 84 World Series. By winning, the Red Sox supposedly lifted the "Curse of the Bambino".

When we moved to Chicago in 2005, the White Sox had not won the World Series since 1917. They were supposedly cursed as a result of the Black Sox scandal of 1919. Well, within 5 months of our move, the White Sox win the World Series and lift their own curse.

Following the White Sox victory, I said that 2006 must be the year for the Cubs to finally win. The Cubs have had even a longer drought than the Red Sox or White Sox. They last won in 1908. Yet another curse is purported to be the cause, in this case the curse of the billy goat.

Well, as it turns out, in 2006 the St. Louis Cardinals won. I don't know if the Cardinals are cursed, but probably not since they've had a fair bit of success, winning the World Series ten times (second only to the Yankees). However, now in 2007, the Cubs are in the playoffs. If they win, I'm taking credit for the victory. I'll also entertain bids from other major league teams if they desire to have us move to their city for a season. I see that San Diego hasn't won a World Series yet.