I just got clearance from my doctor to take a long-planned road trip to Missouri and Illinois. See you in September!

I just have to say, I'm thrilled with how quickly VillaFan (the editor of Iron Chef America) turned around a submission for ICA. A very nice change from my submissions sitting for weeks on ER!

Since speddoc is cheering over Lance Armstrong, I thought I would add my own bit of US pride...

The US soccer team won the CONCACAF Gold Cup this weekend. Our national team is currently rated the 6th best in the world, ahead of England, France, and Germany, which I'm sure is chapping their hides. I can't wait for the new world rankings, since Mexico was knocked out in the quarterfinals.

Now if we can just entice more of the US national players to come back and play for Major League Soccer instead of going to Europe to play in the Premier League, we will be in good shape.

I have to admit, I was very frustrated when we won that I couldn't find any news on ESPN, CNN, or Fox regarding our win, but the fact that Sheryl Crow was in France with Armstrong was headline news. I mean c'mon, she hasn't even released an album since 2003, and that was a concert album.