It's cloudy and dreary outside, but the forecast calls for warmer temps and sun as the week progresses. But, what signals spring even more than that forecast is the fact that while I work there's a baseball game on. Sweet!
Some of the lots around Miller Park are still covered in snow, but that chilly white blanket is beginning to melt. In no time at all, those lots will be explosions of colors as cars fill the spaces.
I can't wait for that.
In the meantime, I'm watching spring training ball and even if the games don't really matter, I find myself thrilled by every K, cheering every hit and rueing when they opposition notches either of those little achievements.
Some teams, like the Brewers, are selling single-game seats -- and others are poised to start doing that within a few days -- and one of my best friends has already invited me to see the Mets take on the Cubs at Wrigley in September. It's been on my calendar for perhaps two weeks now and I'm already looking forward to it.
The only bittersweet part will be that by the time that game happens, summer -- and the baseball season -- will already be winding down. I'm not going to think about that part.
Two weeks ago, I dug my baseball hats out of the basement and I've started wearing them a bit. I'm ready to start donning them a whole lot more regularly.
Bring on the baseball!
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
