HEY KIDS! LET'S GET READY FOR THE MORALE-BOOSTING COMPANY SOFTBALL PRACTICE! COME ONE, COME ALL! LET'S HIT SOME BALLS! YAY EVERYONE! YAY! YAY! YAY!

Player 1: (Talks to friend about the big practice). You have your spikes, right?

Player 2: (Interrupts witty banter) I'm coming.

P1: (Awkward smile). Good, good.

P2: But I didn't bring my glove.

P1: That's OK. I'm sure you can borrow someone else's.

P2: And I have sneakers.

P1: OK. Well, I'm sure you'll be fine without cleats.

P2: I don't think I'll be able to play in the game next week anyway.

P1: (Stares).

And END SCENE.

Why we're addicted to the You Tube these days.

It's cliche to say, but we got chills then, and we get chills now. Goddamn Vedder is the man. And the band is pretty OK, too.

So had our Uncle John lived, he would've been 39 and we'd be jamming.

He died when he was 27. We were 19 and had just dove/dived/divened into our frat years. We were full of ourselves and hellbent on showing the world just how awesome we were. We listened to Snoop Dogg and hit the 40s and macked on chicks by implementing the now-(somewhat) famous spin move.

He had recently started nursing classes and was volunteering at a hospital. He was dating a mother of three, and he'd taken the kids to see The Lion King on July 12, 1994.

Life, as they say, was good.

John had the epilepsy, which destroyed his heart. He played the piano and loved the Yes. He once gave us a tape of old Police songs. Tonight, we played So Lonely on our porch and dedicated it to him.

On this day last year, we took a one-man trek to Troy, NY to his grave. We played Dead Flowers and asked for his opinion. We prayed for him. And us. And our family. And the world.

On this day 12 years ago, we were smacked upside the head with the fact that people die, and we never really recovered because no one ever does.

We miss John, only because we think he'd be a kick-ass Uncle and friend. And because he'd be laughing. And playing the piano. And enthralled with those around him.

So there's that.

Meanwhile... back at the grocery store... (part 2)

So the deli guy gave us a fist knock when we approached the counter. We made small talk. He found out what we do for a living after some witty back and forth banter.

"So what, you wear a suit and look pretty all day?" he asked.

"Um, yeah. Hah. Huh. Haha. So can (we) get a half-pound of the ham that's on sale?"

We'll take "Still Don't Know What You Want to Do for the Rest of Your Life?" for $500, Alex.

PISCES: From the moment you wake up to the last minutes of your day, you'll be filled with a strong energy that encourages you to act. This may not be a literal physical energy (you may still get those afternoon-nap urges), but it will be potent. Don't be surprised if your thinking is lightening quick, and you're the first one to supply the answers that everyone's searching for. Trivia games could be your forte, so see if you can get a game going with friends. You'll clean their clocks.

We *so* can't wait for our afternoon nap. Wait. We can't nap because we'll be too busy, you know, working. Sh*t. How can we work around this? There's got to be a way.