Hey, folks, made it to autumn!

Autumn, the season when leaves - and dreams - die.

The Cubs are out of the running for what, the 101st year? You think we'd get used to it by now. But they had the third-highest payroll in baseball (for once!) and it didn't do them any good. Probably made a bad deal for Milton Bradley. and heaven knows we could use some reliable pitching. But I really don't know what happened. Just can't say.

The other day Chicago was eliminated from consideration for the Olympics. Rio de Janerio won.

Not to say that I didn't think rio's "first Games in South America" card wasn't going to be played. Heck, I half-expected them to win. But I didn't expect Chicago to get eliminated first thing. Either there was a lot of animosity toward the US of A (possible) or a lot of animosity toward Chicago's bookmakers giving us a 50-50 chance (probable) or just animosity toward President Obama and Oprah appearing (possible). Again, I don't know WHAT happened.

I do know that that was probably our last chance to go for the Games. Mayor Daley won't be around in 2020 and thus won't care. A shame - i really was growing to like the idea of having the Olympics close to home. I even had a drawing made up - here - in support.

On the other hand, Notre Dame is actually playing like they want to win some games this season, and after my nephew's football game last weekend I went over to my brother Sean's, who had it TiVoed and hence we watched the game from the beginning. It was versus Purdue, and man, what an exciting game. didn't know until the last who won (ND, with 23 seconds left).

My nephew's football team? Well... putting it politely, they suck raw eggs. 0 and 6, including major losses against teams they should have beaten. The team is composed of 11 through 13 year olds, which makes it difficult for the 13 year olds. Since the division is based on weight, you have a lot of chubby 11 year olds mixing with 13 year old giants (some kids, including my nephew, hit the old growth spurt already). the teams were stretched pretty thin this year, given that there are eleven Arlington Heights Cowboys teams.

Eleven teams. From the same little suburb. And the other suburbs supply the same.

and the towns all have baseball, basketball, volleyball, and soccer operations too. And the Catholic schools have their own leagues for all those sports, including football - and this being Chicago, we have a lot of Catholic schools. and of course the public schools, and the travel teams, and -

See, this is why I'm a little disturbed by Chicago not getting the nod for the Olympics. We are, bar none, the most insane sports town on the planet. We support teams that haven't a chance in hell of reaching the playoffs, and those who do. Pro teams abound - in addition to the big five of Cubs, Sox, Bears, Fire and Blackhawks we also have several minor league baseball teams, football teams, even hockey teams. People hop in their cars each weekend for college football at Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Illinois, NIU. the jogging paths along the waterfront and in the forest preserves are packed with walkers, runners, rollerbladers, bicyclists. Thousands of us participate in softball leagues, golf leagues, bowling leagues.

It's just plain nuts.

Sigh. Anyway, I bet you were wondering when I'd get to Americana, weren't you?

Yes, there's new artwork in Americana's Art Gallery #25 and in Americana's Art Gallery #26! tons of new pictures by some old favorite artists and by some you probably haven't seen before. Check 'em out!

There is new art available in Angel Flight this time, so go to Forte Universe to see it. Yeah, "it". That's all I got this time. Sorry.

But I do have a pretty full load of Americana stories for you.

Americana's adventure in England continues, with Bobbies on Bicyles Two by Two. Then, she appears on a talk show, but things get pretty weird in a hurry when she finds this is a Talk Show With a Twist.

Next, it's an old saying, but Americana finds it to be true that Video Killed the Radio Star. Then she finds herself facing The Silver B.U.L.L.E.T. - no appearance by Vangard this time, though.

Lastly, Americana is one smart cookie, but this time she finds herself Behind the Eight Ball!

Yes, indeed, that is a full sampling of stuff!

Hope you all have a great autumn (and enjoy the colors!)!

K.C.