Hi folks, Welcome back, and a happy Monday to you all. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your weekend. I had some extended garden time yesterday, so everything was great on this end. A quick reminder that we are working on a shortened schedule this week. Our crew will be here today and tomorrow, and then we'll be out of the office until next Monday. We're looking forward to our adventures, but BDH and Little Buddha want you to know they'll miss you. They also want to make sure you know the coffee is ready. Grab yourself a nice... Read more →

Hi folks, How are you? We're all doing fine at the moment, thank you very much. Our crack IT squad (i.e. BDH and Little Buddha) had to work on an unexpected issue for a few hours yesterday. Unfortunately, I had to leave to run errands before they were 100% certain they had fixed the problem. However, everything is running smoothly again, so a round of applause for all of their hard work! Those two are the best. I hope to be able to properly reward them for all of their hard work by finding a new release at the bookstore... Read more →

As a member of Generation X, it's safe to say that the 1990's were the most transformative decade of my lifetime. Growing up as a kid in in the 1980's provided a seemingly straightforward framework of how the world operated. A young person could easily believe that this would last forever. Perhaps everyone thinks this about their childhood. However, it seemed like we were cruising down the road of understood expectations, and then we went flying off the map. The 90's was a time of overwhelming change in every aspect of life. It can sometimes be startling to realize that... Read more →

Valerie Bertinelli is a multi-talented woman who has enjoyed success on multiple fronts over the course of her career. Of course, many know her for her roles on TV shows like One Day at a Time and Hot in Cleveland. She is also the Emmy Award-winning host of the Food Network's Valerie's Home Cooking and Kids Baking Championship. However, her accomplishments are not limited to television: She's the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Losing It; Finding It; as well as other books, including a popular cookbook. Bertinelli is well-known for her positive public persona, but like everyone,... Read more →

Will Smith is one of the biggest stars in our lifetime. He's succeeded in multiple mediums with Grammy award-winning rap albums, one of the most popular TV shows of the 1990's, and he also starred in a record eight straight movies that grossed at least $100 million. Smith has a famous wife and kids, and he is recognized and loved by audiences around the world. In short, he's a BFD. Will Smith has now taken his skills to the world of books with his new memoir, Will. (out now) A quick moment to acknowledge some preexisting bias before we go... Read more →

Hi everyone, Welcome back! How are you? What a crazy week. Sorry we had to step out for a few days. A couple of things hit at the same time, and we had to focus on that craziness for a while. However, everything seems to have settled down (fingers crossed.) Any big plans for the weekend? We've got the New England Patriots game and the Doctor Who premiere, so that will be fun, and then the rest probably depends on the weather, as another storm approaches tomorrow. Anyway, enough chitchat - let's get to work. BDH and Little Buddha made... Read more →

It's been just over a year since Eddie Van Halen died, but it's still hard to believe that the guitar icon is no longer with us. The man reinvented his instrument, both with his playing approach and technical innovations., setting the stage for legions of imitators to try to copy him. He lit up the rock music landscape for almost 50 years, from infamous backyard parties in high school, to Los Angeles clubs, and then arenas around the world. He was a creative force who went through some mind-blowing highs and dark lows during the course of his life. However,... Read more →

There will never be another professional sports dynasty like the New England Patriots. Other teams may win more championships, but there will never be an almost 20-year-run where a league is so consistently dominated by just three individuals like quarterback Tom Brady, head coach Bill Belichick, and owner Robert Kraft. These men are the elite of the elite in their fields. That they were able to both create this juggernaut and keep it going for so long is remarkable. There were many factors that could, and perhaps should, have derailed them much earlier, but these men would not let anything... Read more →

Hi folks, Welcome back. How are you? Our crew is doing pretty well at the moment. Don't tell BDH and Little Buddha, but I found a list of books being released in the next month, and there are a couple that sound like good matches for the guys. Fingers crossed the local bookstore carries them, otherwise I may have to visit one of the big chain stores in the area. We wanted to watch multiple things at the same time last night, so we kept channel flipping and missed Chicago Med, stayed focused for Chicago Fire, and went to bed... Read more →

Hi folks, Welcome back! How are you? Is it just me, or did September fly by this year? I don't usually think of it as a month that passes quickly, but it feels like it was just August a second ago. Anyway, no luck at the bookstore yesterday. BDH and Little Buddha say not to worry about it, but I'd love to find them something new to read, and soon. At least NBC's "One Chicago" shows are new tonight. In the meantime, let's get to work. The guys made coffee, so grab yourself a nice medium DD, because it's time... Read more →