At long last, a quiet evening with nothing better to do then throw together a quick journal entry.  Well, that’s not entirely true.  I’ve got a million other things I should be doing like responding to emails, folding laundry, cleaning house or preparing for a work trip next week.  I’ll try to catch up tomorrow.

Sorry, this is going to be just a tad disjointed and not game related at all.

The best piece of technology I own is my iPod.  Not even close.  Second place goes to my automatic coffee maker.  Coming in dead last is my cell phone / pager / instant messenger.  I have a dream about rowing out into the middle of a very deep lake where, suddenly and unexpectedly, the damn thing jumps out of the boat and disappears under the waves.  With no witnesses, they’ll never be able to prove it wasn’t suicide.

Last week Bri dragged me to a concert down at the zoo.  It was a great night for a concert.  Too bad the music was lame and sad.  Thank God I had my iPod.  I wonder how many people go to a concert and listen to something else.  She had a great time.

If you watched the U.S. National Women’s Soccer game against Sweden Saturday on ESPN2 you saw a terrific, exciting match that finished with a flurry of goals in the closing seconds.  You also saw my national TV debut.  The cameras caught me covering myself in suntan lotion just before the start of the second half.  I only mention this because I know ESPN isn’t showing the game again.  At least they didn’t catch me picking my nose.

Lollapalooza is a little over two weeks away at Grant Park in Chicago.  I want to go so bad I can taste it.  Sparta, Death Cab for Cutie, Wilco, The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, Sonic Youth, Sleater-Kinney, Coheed and Cambria, 30 Seconds to Mars, Broken Social Scene and about 120 other acts I’d like to hear.

Is the lead singer for Coheed and Cambria related to Rush’s Geddy Lee?  They sound similar.

I love Minnesota.  Where else can you get a 150 degree temperature swing in a year?   It was 98 degrees here Saturday at 5 pm.  That was when the soccer match started.  The wind was gusting to about 25 mph.  It was like standing in front of a blow dryer.  Glad I wasn’t out there chasing a soccer ball around for an hour and a half in that heat.

I consider myself a bit of an expert on blow dryers.

Out of the Park Baseball 2006 is a weak imitation of Football Manager 2006.  There’s a good game hiding in there somewhere, but it’s going to take more then three patches to find it.  Maybe it’ll be ready to play by the World Series.  OOTP2006 reminds me of Masters of Orion III.  Yes, it’s that ambitious and that buggy.  Jeez guys, at least get the baseball right!  When a player is pinch hit for, they can’t play the field the next half inning.  It’s a rule.  Honest.

I guess I lied.  One game comment, but that’s it.  I’m done now.

And while I’m ranting - Oprah, please, put a sock in it.  Thanks.

I hate my job.  No, that’s not right.  I love my job.  I hate my employer. 

Momo doesn’t know it yet, but she’s getting a sister in a couple of weeks.  If anyone has any good dog names they’re not using, let me know.  The puppy’s a Weimaraner, just like Momo, so think 70 – 85 lbs of big grey dog when all grown up.  Names like Bubbles (and Momo) are probably not appropriate.

They opened a new “sporting goods” store just down the road.  I needed a new pair of hiking boots, so I walked down to take a look.  What I found was aisle after aisle of guns and ammo.  Good thing I looked non-threatening.  If South Dakota attacks, Minnesota is ready.

This stores other claim to fame is live bait.

Ok, that’s enough “stream of consciousness” stuff.  If anyone here ends up going to Lollapalooza, I’d appreciate it if you told me it was hot, crowded and the sound was terrible.  Thanks.

Let’s be careful out there.