Been a while between blogs. Sorry 'bout that!  The Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards Dinner benefitting the March of Dimes was a tremendous success, despite some cold weather.  The athletes we honored were humble, well spoken and gracious.  I really enjoyed Andre Dawson's speech, as well as Jim Thome's speech in which he thanked his father, who was also present.  Obviously, the highlight was the speech given by our Inspirational Athlete of the Year, swimmer Ericka Jackson.  She was great!!

Costa Rica was unbelievable.  I'm petrified of heights, but more petrified of being ridiculed by my friends, so I actually ziplined.  For those not familiar, ziplines are cables attached between trees in the jungle or rainforest. To reach those cables, you climb into the mountains, and then up to a platform built around a tree.  At that point, you have already been outfitted with a harness that is secured to said cable (and, while you're on the platform, to the tree itself).  The harness is actually fastened to the cable via a piece that looks like a pully, so it easily rides over the cable.  Our group included a family of four (with a teenage boy and girl) as well as a couple of young ladies -probalby in their early 30s.  My buddies John Kinsella and Kevin "Mad Man" Marschall went with me.  As we listened to the instructions on the first platform, I wondered why no one asked why the tree was shaking-in unision with my legs.  I was absolutely mortified as I looked at the next platform, some 500 yards away.  First, the youngest girl went and she was absolutely fearless - she sat in her harness, hanging from the cable, lifted her legs and zipped off!! I couldn't believe, as I peered toward the jungle floor nearly 500 feet below, that I was stupid enough to get caught up in this adventure.  When it was finally my turn, I sat in the harness, focused on the next platform and then sped off.  I thought I'd heard them say that you brake by squeezing the cable with your back hand, so as I neared the next platform I squeezed the heck out of that cable -and came up ten yards short.  So, I had to turn backward and pull myself to the platform.  That happened a few times.  Did I have fun?  Hell no!!  I never looked up, down or around.  I stared straight at the next platform each time and when I found that I'd miscounted and we were finally on our 11th leg, I was ecstatic.  I flew down the last zip line and since I'd been told to brake hard the entire time, squeezed that cable like it was my lifeline.  Unbelievably, you could practically see smoke from my gloved grip and when I finished I was told you actually "pull down" on the cable to brake.  I turned in my hole-ridden glove and swore never to do it again.  I was hot and drenched and the fresh fruit they offered was the best food I've ever eaten.

More on Costa Rica later, but the people were wonderful and I'd strongly urge any of you to visit Los Suenos.  Go to the marina and ask for The Greek.  Tell him The Roller sent you and that you want to catch marlin and sailfish on the Dreamcatcher!  Adios.

Welcome to my blog. I'm Steve Monroe, Chicagoan and author of the crime noir novels '57, Chicago and '46, Chicago.  I'm finishing the novel, Pursuit, now and hope it will be available later this year.

As I discussed on Rick Kogan's Sunday Morning Papers show on WGN a couple of weeks ago, tomorrow night is the 20th anniversary of the sports awards dinner benefitting the March of Dimes.  The Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards dinner will be televised live, on Comcast SportsNet, at 7:30 p.m.  I've run the silent auction for 15 years and tomorrow night will be the first time I've ever sat down at the dinner! I'm really looking forward to it.  Tickets are still available, so join me! Honorees include Andre Dawson, Ted Lilly, Joe Thome, Robbie Gould, and Inspirational Athlete of the Year, Ericka Jackson.  There will also be a special tribute to Bill Wirtz, whose son Rocky (who has done such an amazing job with the Blackhawks this year) will accept an award.  The emcee is Chicago radio legend Steve Dahl!!  He's a stud -he has really stepped up to the plate and is vying to become the best emcee we've ever had!

Looking forward to watching The Wire tonight on HBO.  That show has such nuanced characters and is complex but easy to follow. It is a real eye opener for storytellers.  The impact of deep characters is much more so than, say, those on 24 (which I also really enjoy).  I believe the challenge for authors such as myself is to write with a sense of urgency but also show depth to our characters through their words and actions.  Too often, we opt to use a character's history to show why they act as they do -when brief spurts of action or language can give our readers better insight.

Finally, I'm heading to Costa Rica later this week. Can't wait.  I've never zip-lined, but may do so, and if the weather is nice (uh, five days of rain forecasted) we also plan on deep sea fishing a couple of days.  Frankly, with the real estate market tanking, I simply need a few days in the sun with no cell phone or Blackberry service.  Enjoy!! SM