I have been counting down ‘til Cubs Opening Day for much longer than I would like to admit. In fact, it’s a little obsessive. I am getting invites to Opening Day parties. Mike and Mike will be at Murphy’s before dawn on March 31st. And, all around the neighborhood, there are small signs that Cub’s season is a comin.’

First, I started this blog. This is the 100th anniversary of the Cub’s last World Series win. I feel that I should commemorate the summer in a small way- especially since I will experience it from the Bleacher entrance of Wrigley Field. I can’t tell you exactly where I live, but let’s just say that my house has a preferred ticket scalper, a shirt vendor as a neighbor, and you need ear plugs to sleep on the chance that you have to go to bed during an extra-inning night game.

Second, I started soliciting my friends to go to the Day Games – which is a lot more work than you would think. It is so cold that April games are more like Bears weather…I have a pair of snow pants just for this time of year. Good luck trying to convince a friend that it is worth taking off of work to freeze in the upper deck.

Finally, I started praying that it would stop snowing. It is one thing to have a rain delay, but snow in the outfield is inexcusable. In 2003, I actually watched an industrial size snow blower moving mounds of snow out of right field as I walked to the El shaking my head.

So, to Tori and you other Cubs fans, near and far…it is 4 days and counting. And, here at the Bleacher entrance, all the locals are waiting like its time to return for summer camp. I hate to admit it. I miss the 40,000 people who descend on the neighborhood each game day. Its quiet here, and the silence is just deafening.