Dmiles23

To get caught up on some of the questions... I honestly don't know what the value is. I would say between $300-400. But then I also paid $100 to get it framed. I'm pretty sure that when I dropped off my items, he just used a basic Excel spreadsheet with very basic information (name, number, item) for his record. I'm not sure if he does the same thing, but that's what he did back when I dropped it off. I do have some emails he replied to. The last one I have was the one of him telling me that my one canvas was complete and that I took the other one back. I have 6 emails including the one I sent last week, and another I sent today, that he did not reply to. I stopped into the store again today, and he was not there. I was somewhat in a hurry and the one worker was busy with other customers, so I didn't ask. But I did email him this afternoon telling him I was going to try to contact him one last time before I called the police and possibly filed a claim in small claims court. I actually have a week off of work in 2 weeks, so I may just have to stop in and hang out there for the day.

Paul- That was my thought as well if I called the police. I believe I do still have the receipt... but it doesn't give any information at all. I'll be in the area again today, so I'm planning on stopping in again. We'll see. The place is called Onto the Field in Madison. I believe their main location is in the East Towne Mall, but I think they have kiosks in a few other places in Madison.

This is exactly my thought. It was actually a canvas of Prince Fielder from "The Bomb" game where he's standing on home plate with his arms up. I was at that game, Prince Fielder is my favorite player, and now he's in Detroit and not accessible to try to get it signed again. That's part of the reason why I'm giving him so much time. I keep telling myself "Maybe he'll find it." I would rather have the canvas than any other compensation he could give me. But I think it's time to start to move past that and realize that it's gone. Thanks to everyone for their recommendations!

So this is the situation I am in, and I'm not sure how to proceed... so I'm hoping someone has some advice for me. So a while ago I took a couple signed canvas into a store to get framed. I had done business with this store owner a number of times in the past and had a good relationship with him. For the first few months after I dropped the canvases off, I would stop into the store and he would say "Hey... I apologize. I have to sharpen the blades on my saw. I'll try to do that this weekend and give you a call when your canvases are done." And I was patient with him because he'd framed other things for me and I had bought numerous things from him. After about a year of this, I finally told him that if he wasn't going to get to my canvases in the next week, I wanted them back and a refund. He told me that he would get them done for me to pick up that week. So I stopped in that Friday and he had one of them complete for me, but when I asked about the other one, he claimed that I had taken it back to get more autographs on it. I told him that wasn't the case, and he said he would do some more looking. That was about 6 months ago. I was patient with him again for a couple months, but for the last 4ish months I've started to get frustrated. He has stopped returning my calls. He doesn't return my emails. I have stopped into the store many times, but he has never been around. I ask the person working to leave him a message to call me, but he never does. So last week I stopped in, and made the person working call him... and he actually answered for her. He still claimed that I had taken it back, but asked the gal working to give me his card and have me email him to discuss this. She gave me the card, and it's the same email I've tried to email him before without a reply. So Saturday morning, I emailed him again... and still have not heard back. Any recommendations on how to handle this situation? I would just keep stopping in, but the store is out of my way... but I'm thinking that's probably the best bet. When I was explaining the situation to the gal working the store, she surprisingly recommended that I should contact the authorities. But I'm thinking that's not going to help matters much. I don't know how to proceed!

I loved the last 2 episodes. I thought they were very well done. I was a little disappointed on how they ended the Scranton Strangler situation. With how Toby was talking about it the last season, I thought someone from the office was going to end up being the stranger (I thought Gabe). Oh well... The ending was great anyways!

OK. We get it. You don't like Weeks. He hasn't been hitting. I think we all know that by now. But do you really need to comment after every at bat?

Nope... Not Garth.

It's not Sigura, I can tell you that. That's what I thought right away... but it's not. I'm 100% positive I didn't get Sigura last summer. Grrrrr... This is really bothering me.

Can anyone help me identify this autograph? I got this in the last year, and I forgot to label it. Any help? http://i.imgur.com/BwOvbgj.jpg

I'm guessing the Brewers stole this from a college hoops promotion. I remember seeing this on tv while watching college hoops and thinking it was a really good idea. I'm pretty sure it was a team in the Big 10 where I saw it, but I don't remember which team.

I'll take a stab... Record: 87-75 Division: 2nd (WC) All Stars: Braun, Weeks, Lucroy Disappointments: Gallardo, Hart, Maldonado Surprises: Henderson, Olmstead, Rogers, Schafer World Series: Nationals over Tigers

Billyhallfan- Working in HR, I have just a couple thoughts for you. First, like someone else said, don't leave your job and move up there without a position that you're happy with. Don't settle. Secondly, if an employer is truly interested, an in person interview may not be absolutely mandatory. We do 2 rounds of phone screens and then do an in person interview as the 3rd step. We have hired a number of people moving to the area, and we have used programs such as Skype to conduct the interview. Just ask, and most employers will be accommodating to you. Third, I wouldn't worry about a potential employer calling your current employer for an employment verification/reference check. This is usually the last step in the process. We do check references, but it's just before we are ready to offer the person the position. And lastly, just be honest with your current employer and potential future ones as well. People look for new jobs all the time... it happens. Employers understand that.

This is what I initially thought... but then it came out that Alvarez has known for a few weeks already the Bret was leaving. During the Big 10 Championship game, the sideline reporter said she asked Alvarez if he'd ever return to coaching and she said he walked away with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. Between that comment, and then not reaching out to Doeren, I'm guessing Barry may be eyeing returning to the sideline. My thoughts on this are mixed. I like the idea, as long as he's willing to give a 5-7 year commitment. Bill Snyder at K-State was pretty successful in his comeback. And Barry's only 65. He'd be able to name the "coach in waiting" like he did with Bret, and be able to have a seamless transition. But if he's not willing to give that 5-7 year commitment, I hope he looks elsewhere. Chryst isn't the answer. I hope he looks to the ND staff, as they have 2-3 highly regarded assistants... and that is where he came from, after all.

Wait... The Badgers are on the downswing and he was on the hot seat? Please explain that to me? They lost 5 games this year... but with any luck they could have won all of them. Add that to the fact that the team only had 9 seniors? And then add to that they have a couple of the best recruiting classes Wisconsin has ever had coming in in 2013 and 2014? How is that showing characteristics of being on a downswing? And how is a coach who has coached a team to 3 consecutive Rose Bowls on the hot seat? I'm not old enough to remember the days before Alvarez... but things can be a lot worse than an 8-5 season with a trip to the Rose Bowl! I'm not/wasn't a huge fan of Coach B... but I do respect the success he brought to the program and the way he treated the kids.

I'll chime in on this subject. I've been to a few of the games mentioned already: The 08 Playoffs, the 11 Playoffs, Fielder's "The Bomb" walk-off, Branyan's homer in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game against the Twins, 5 home run inning, Molitor stealing 3 bases in 1 inning. But a couple memories that just stick out in my head: In 02, I think, we were sitting in the first row behind the Pirates bullpen when Aramis Ramirez charged the mound and threw his helmet at Sheets. Both the bullpens cleared... a couple minutes into the "brawl" one of the Pirates bullpen pitchers came out of the bathroom and had no idea what was going on. That always makes me smile. In 98, my dad and I were able to get tickets in the first row behind home plate from the ticket window. We get to our seats, and end up sitting next to Cal Eldred's dad. It was Cal's first start in the NL, and his dad kept telling us about how excited he was to hit. In his first AB, he gave his dad a "thumb's up" as he walked to the plate. And finally, not really a game, but with all of the Gary Sheffield talk... I was actually staying in the hotel room next to Sheffield when he was traded. He was rooming with Kevin Brown (no, not the good Kevin Brown) and they had a huge party that night. We were wondering what was going on and my parents called the front desk a number of times to complain. We woke up and saw Sheffield was traded on SportsCenter... and a while later, we watched him pack up his car and drive off.

I got one with a weird DBA sticker on it. I was pumped because I thought I won something... but I took it to Guest Relations and they said it didn't mean anything.

Why is Kottaras playing? He can't run. He can't throw. Sit him down until he's healthy.

I can put up with most commentators... but I can not stand Bob Brenly and will not listen to him. I'd rather have no audio than listen to him. But I've resorted to the radio, even though it's about 10 seconds ahead of the game.

I currently have Frontier high speed internet and have been having problems with it of late, so am thinking of making a change. But I can not find any sites that list the fastest internet in the Madison area. Does anyone know of a site or have any recommendations for me? Thanks a lot in advance.

I don't know if he was joking or not, but before the game Adam McCalvey tweeted that Gomez was the backup shortstop last night. Now THAT would have been interesting to watch!

Was anyone able to grab an extra magnet they would be willing to part with? I'm still looking for one. Thanks a lot!

They just announced many of the headliners on the free stages, and I'm interested to get others opinions. I personally have not heard of many of them. I am kind of pumped for Lupe Fiasco. I think he is spectacular.

I know it's a ways off, but I'm not going to be able to make it to opening day this year and am wondering if someone will have an extra schedule magnet they'd be willing to part with. Let me know! Thanks a lot!

In my opinion, I don't think this means anything. How do we know the MLB Network has any information on what's going to be announced? They could have just received information that the decision was going to be announced today, and they just want reporters in camp to get reaction. If Braun is suspended, MLB will make the announcement and The MLB Network will be there to report. If Braun is not suspended, even if Braun does not make an announcement, the result will leak and The MLB Network will be there to report.

This has been my thinking throughout the whole situation. But listening to DP on a daily basis and the way he has handled the whole Braun situation, I just don't think he would throw something out there that he doesn't feel is substantial news. We've been fed "Braun is innocent" from Braun's camp since the news broke and it's common sense that the MLBPA representatives will say Braun has a chance. I just don't see DP as someone who will make a big deal out of nothing. DP is just someone I trust not feeding fuel to the fire on this situation. So anything coming from him, in my opinion, isn't just some mumbo-jumbo from a Joe Blow.