Welcome to the Friday Five. Each week the Exile staff will tackle various topics and come up with five things pertaining to it. The topics could be as relevant as the Chicago Cubs to as completely offtrack as food or music.

Amazingly we've had 3 weeks with topics all relating to the Cubs. Why stop now? Especially since we haven't written a thing all week regarding the team. So with Opening Day fast approaching, we thought about what our annual rituals are for this magical event. Is there anything special that we do that day? Where to watch it, what to drink, what to eat, what to wear, etc and so on....

This week's topic: What is your annual Opening Day tradition?

T.R.: During college, my Opening Day tradition was to skip class, buy a 12 pack of Coors Light, and boil some hot dogs (we did not have a proper grill in the dorms or my first apartment). I would soak in hour upon hour of baseball, usually starting off with the Cubs vs. Reds. Seems like they always played each other in the first series of the season. Now that I'm all grown up, it's much more difficult to throw a Monday away. Ever since I started working a "real" job, I've had to settle for Gameday Audio feeds of Pat and Ron. This year, however, I'm finally taking the day off for the hell of it. The Cubs are on ESPN, along with several other matchups throughout the day. I will sit on the couch in my own filth, and as the wife is on Spring Break, I will be waited on hand and foot. I will finally be gaining back some of my manhood.

John: My Opening Day tradition (besides the insistent capitalization) has remained the same for a few years. I head down to the park as quickly as I can shower after waking up (tickets already purchased and printed) with my brother, as baseball is one of the few things we both like that doesn't end in a dorky convention hall. I then worry about the weather while drinking pitcher after $7 pitcher at Salt & Pepper while the watiress stares rape-daggers at me.

All these questions and more, to be answered April 12, 2010. Fuck yes.

(Editor's Note: John understood this question to be about Opening Day at Wrigley when the rest of us assumed Opening Day of the Cubs' season.)

Goreo: My opening day tradition got fucked in the ass by the fact that I won't have any vacation time until November this year because of the recovery time from my back surgery. Usually I take opening day off and OD on beer, brats, and all the stuff I shouldn't eat anymore while watching as many games as humanly possible. The Cubs opener is paramount, but I will watch any other game that doesn't involve the Cardinals, the White Sox, or a Red Sox-Yankees matchup. The tradition will recommence Opening Day 2011.

Wolter: My opening day tradition (which I usually have to move to the first game I'm actually available to watch) is to completely blank my mind of all thoughts of the offseason - trades that shouldn't/should have been made, players that should have been red-tagged in Mesa, people who came back fat and stoned, etc. (it helps to have a pretty thorough grounding in Rinzai Zen meditation), then start a 30 pack of Old Style. If I can make it to the end of the 30 pack (usually this takes several games) before finding something to truly hate about this year's team, I consider it a good omen. Sadly, I usually don't make it to can #3.

Jake: First I put on some comfy clothes like an old hoodie and some sweatpants. Then I lock the doors and disconnect the phone so I'm not disrupted at all. Just before it begins I will go to the freezer and dig out that pint of Ben & Jerry's I bought the other day specifically for this special occasion (Either Karamel Sutra or Coffee Heath Bar Crunch). I also stock up on cherry flavored Crystal Light to drink after I finish the ice cream. Then I rush down to the family room, curl up on the couch with my cozy blanket and turn on the tv. Oh, I'm getting excited just thinking about it. Perhaps I'll do this again tonight...... What? Opening Day? I thought you said to tell you about my watching "New Moon" tradition. Ah, that makes more sense to blog about. Well, um.... Gosh, this is kind of awkward now.... Uhhh. (abruptly runs away)


Thank you to the Exiles who gave us a glimpse into their Opening Day traditions, no matter how disturbing they might be. Wanna share your Opening Day tradition? Feel free to discuss in the comments.

Have a topic for The Friday Five to tackle? Email it to us at exileonclark@gmail.com.