I usually make it a habit not to buy advance tickets for any Cubs game before June 1, because while I love baseball I prefer to watch it in summer-like weather and in Chicago that’s a crap shoot even in late May.

I made an exception for today’s game against the Giants, seeing as how this is their only trip to Chicago this year and so my only opportunity to see Barry Bonds in person. Well, I may see him in person, but whether he’ll actually play is also a crap shoot, thanks to a creaky back.

The weather, as usual for this time of year, is anybody’s guess. It’s supposed to be warm — as high as 80 degrees — but with a strong chance of thunderstorms later in the afternoon.

After all that, I just hope the Cubs pull out the rubber game of this series.

UPDATE: Cubs lost a real heartbreaker, 5-3, after Alou tied it with a two-run homer. Joe Borowski once again called into question whether he’s a reliable closer by giving up a two-run shot to the very, very light-hitting Neifi Perez.

It did not rain, but Bonds did not play. The weather was suitably hot and humid, as it should be for a baseball game. If I wanted to freeze my ass off while watching a sporting event, I’d become a football fan.

Lastly and for the record, today was not my first Cubs game this year. My dad and I also saw the Cubs lose 11-10 to another mediocre team, the Reds, back in April. You’d think I’d have remembered the game where Sosa tied and eventually broke Ernie Banks record for most home runs by a Cub.

I guess I only remember the painful things.