The Curse of the Billy Goat and the 100 Year Drought

The Curse of the Billy Goat is a curse on the Chicago Cubs that was started in 1945. As the story goes, Billy Sianis, a Greek immigrant (from Paleopyrgos, Greece), who owned a nearby tavern (the now-famous Billy Goat Tavern), had two $7.20 box seat tickets to Game 4 of the 1945 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Detriot Tigers, and decided to bring along his pet goat, Murphy (or Sinovia according to some references), which Sianis had restored to health when the goat had fallen off a truck and subsequently limped into his tavern. The goat wore a blanket with a sign pinned to it which read "We got Detroit's goat". Sianis and the goat were allowed into Wrigley Field and even paraded about on the playing field before the game before ushers intervened and led them off the field. After a heated argument, both Sianis and the goat were permitted to stay in the stadium occupying the box seat for which he had tickets. At this point, Andy Frain (head of Wrigley Field's hired security company at the time), waved the goat's box-seat ticket in the air and proclaimed, "If he eats the ticket that would solve everything."Philip Knight Wrigley due to the objectionable odor of wet goat. Sianis was outraged at the ejection and allegedly placed a curse upon the Cubs that they would never win another pennant or play in a World Series at Wrigley Field again because the Cubs organization had insulted his goat, and subsequently left the U.S. to vacation in his home in Greece. However, the goat did not. Before the game was over, it started to rain and Sianis and the goat were ejected from the stadium at the command of Cubs owner

The Cubs lost Game 4 and eventually the 1945 World Series, prompting Sianis to write to Wrigley from Greece, saying, "Who stinks now?" Referenced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_the_Billy_Goat

For more info on the curse and how it might be broken visit the link above.

If you are a fan of the Cubs like Garrett, you may be aware that the Cubs have not been to the World Series since that fateful day in 1945, and have not won the World Series since 1908. For all those faithful Cubbies fans, this is the year, the 100 year drought shall soon be over.

Gracie's Getting Big

Gracie had her 4 month check-up and vaccinations. She did not like when the Dr. shined the light in her eyes and started screaming. Maybe she's already developing a little stranger anxiety because she's been scared of several other people too when they come up to her or hold her.

We're pleased that Gracie's healthy and generally happy. She now weighs 13.9 lbs, 25.5 inches tall.

She loves to yell and blow bubbles, roll over, but can't figure out how to get back from her belly to her back. She also loves reading, watching t.v., and standing up (with help, of course).

IT'S A GIRL

Grace (Gracie) Pierson was born at 2:55 PM on May 21, 2008 and was 7lbs 1oz, 20 inches long!!!

We are so happy and blessed to have little Gracie in our lives. Just to let you all know how it all went here is what happened:

On Tuesday night at 9:30 PM we went in to the hospital and at about 10:30 PM they started Lindsey on Pitocin to get her started. Family was there until about 12:30 AM and all went home to sleep and we tried but failed to sleep. At 6:30 AM that next morning the doctor broke Lindsey's water and at 7:30 AM she received a Epidural for the pain. Family then started coming around 8:30-9:oo AM.

We then continued to wait, wait, and then wait some more. Then at about 2:30 PM the nurses had Lindsey start pushing and then 10 minutes later the doctor was there and Grace was born at 2:55 PM.

The next day at about 11:00 AM Grace's pediatrician called and said that she had high CRP and Band Cell levels (whatever the heck that is) and was worried that she had an infection. At 12:00 PM the nurses took Grace to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). We then proceeded to go to the NICU and feed Grace every three hours for the next 3.5 days. Her levels continued to drop down to where they needed to be and we were able to bring her home at 11:00 Am on Sunday May 25, 2008.

We want to thank all the family and friends that then came to visit Grace, Lindsey, and I. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.