You’ve got the money maker/This is your change to make it/Out oh yeah/You’ll get out oh yeah

About Last Night…
Twins 11, Rangers 4
Here are the notes I jotted down whilst watching the game last night:
* The Twins first hit comes from our lead-off man, Gomez and it’s a speedy triple. I see that the Metrodome crowd is on their feet.
* Pause in the game to answer Amy’s phone call. (She’s in San Francisco all week and it’s been tough without her to chat to.)
*Bottom of the 3rd, errors and small balls get the score to 6 7 8 9.
* Thoughts on Josh Hamilton – he has wicked cool tattoos (or tats) and does he really need that much chew/seeds shoved in his cheek pocket?
* Another pause in the game – Amy called to check in since she just got back from walking around Chinatown. Yeah, she explored Chinatown and I sat on my sofa.
* Thoughts on the home plate umpire – his flamboyant strike calls make me chuckle and did anyone else notice his foo-manchu mustache (or ‘stache) when he took his mask off?
* The guy in the crowd who was chanting/jeering during the 7th needed to shut the fuck up. Usually I am all for that but it shouldn’t last a whole inning and I am sure he pissed off the people around him.
* Did anyone else catch the guy yelling “Come on, punch it!”?

Other baseball notes:
* Tolbert is scheduled for surgery this week and be out for potentially two months.
* Rincon – I keep asking the television why Gardy keeps putting him in! I guess we got our answer via a quote from a Star Tribune article:
"It comes in spurts," Gardenhire said. "He just needs to get a little more consistency. [Monday] he was just misfiring it. He'll be back out there. He'll get plenty more chances."
*Span out with a broken finger.
* I love reading comments after articles on Star Tribune. There is always so much drama…fighting, petty blows and correcting the writer (and working hard to find a mistake so they can be the ones to write that comment.)
* Sidney Ponson is pitching tonight…hee hee hee.

Extra! Extra!
The Bizarro Supermen
The Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks and Minnesota Twins, which according to baseballreference.com are the three youngest teams in baseball when it comes to position players, were a combined 74-57 (.565) through Sunday, with a total payroll cost of $167 million. The three oldest clubs, the Blue Jays, Yankees and Tigers, were a combined 60-74 (.448) at a cost of $445 million.

The chatty Percival (Rays pitcher) keeps players loose and humble. For instance, he promised to fine pitcher Matt Garza, who was obtained in a trade with the Twins, $500 every time he acted like a jerk on the mound, though Percival used a more colorful term.
"What's the matter? Nobody in Minnesota ever said you acted like a [jerk]?" Percival asked him.
"Uh, yeah, they did," Garza admitted.

Non-baseball but no less important
Girlcrush vs. Bromance
In the Land O’Cubicles I have single-handedly brought the term “Bromance” to fruition. Bromance – describes the complicated love and affection shared by two straight males. I love the term and it fits with so many situations. However, the men don’t like to be called out on having “bromances,” they feel it is emasculating. I think a similar term that is applied to females is “Girlcrush.” After much thought and discussion it is almost unanimous that women don’t mind their “straight girl’s crush on another girl” definition to be called a “girlcrush.” So men, why is a bromance so tough to take? Is the word itself? Let’s ponder.

Music of the Day
H introduced me to Rilo Kiley a few years ago after luring me to a concert and ever since I have been a fan. I have already posted their first single from the newest album “Under the Blacklight” on my blog (Silver Lining) but this is the newest single hitting the airwaves.

Rilo Kiley – The Moneymaker

I think you’re loving/But you don’t love me/I want to be free/Baby you’ve hurt me, you don’t love me

Instead of reflecting on all that I have missed blogging about let’s just move on.

Monday night baseball games are always a challenge because my Aunt K gets to the remote-controller first so by the time I drift in from Monday Night Happy Hour she is deep in to watching Three and a Half Men. Oh, and I just found out that she likes the sitcom after that also. Damn it, I lose the middle hour of the game to sometimes-funny shows.

Here are my thoughts and/or reflections:
* I tried to stay awake but my alarm goes off at 5:15 a.m. so I went to bed at the top of the 12th and of course missed all the good stuff. I did get to see it all on the morning sports shows.
* There are many (I would need both hands to count) of you out there that have expressed displeasure/disgust over Rincon being put into games.
* Although I am extremely pleased with how the game ended I would have liked to see Livan at bat again. See here.
* Oh, Those Girls were damn right about how C.J. Wilson is a hottie-biscotti (allow me a moment to girl-out.)
* I like that Dick & Bert really focused on the fact that Gardy went to walk out to remove (I assume) Rincon from the inning but the ump wouldn’t let him. “That must be the most productive almost-visit to the mound.” I also tried to read Gardy’s lips when he got back to the dugout but even I don’t know some of those swear words.
* Amy (my baseball partner in crime) is in San Francisco for business this week and is unavailable for baseball commentary so when I made my deal with the devil/Baby Jesus to get a home run in the 9th I had to have my Aunt K be my notary. However she, being evil, decided to up the ante and not use my standard bet “If Baby Jesus gets a homerun I will say only nice positive things about him.” No, if Baby Jesus got a homerun I would have to write a nice letter to him which I would hand over to my Aunt K to do with it what she wanted. Argh!

Okay, I said I wasn’t going to reflect on past games but here are a few items of interest:
* The Rockies have a gorgeous stadium which housed a lot of Twins fans.
* To the people sitting in the first row behind home plate. Please. Stop. Talking. On. Your. Cell. Phone. And. Waving. At. The. Camera. It makes me want to flip you off.

Non-baseball but no less important

Overheard on the Ghetto #5 by me:
Crazy guy on the bus preaching to everyone: “I am your King. He is your Jesus.”
Bus driver: “Sit down and shut up”
Crazy guy to bus driver: “In my next life I am going to come back as your supervisor and make your life hell.”
Bus driver: “Yeah, well I am going to come back as a Transit cop and arrest your crazy ass.”

Ah, the bus is never boring.

Weekend Recap
* Friday was the big New Kids on the Block Reunion (on the Today Show.) Now this may draw some eye-rolling from you guys, my loyal blog readers, but I totally “hearted” NKOTB when I was 10ish. Friday morning two of my co-workers and I parked ourselves in front of the television (which is only supposed to show CNBC Market Watch) in order to watch our boys perform. Tickets for the 10/21/08 Minneapolis concert go on sale June 2.
* Saturday was Lucy’s 3rd Birthday Party! Lots of kids, pretty cupcakes and one giant hamster wheel sealed the day.

* Sunday was the Minnesota Aids Walk. Ryan and I volunteered with our Giant Corporation X, who sponsored a Rest Stop (#2, the best Rest Stop of the walk.) There were pom-poms, cheering, a DJ, fruit, water and crazy people watching.

Music of the Day
You may have heard of Duffy since her song “Mercy” is played on VH1 and she’s MTV’s Artist of the Week but she is much more than all that promotional drama. Check out this great video of her newest single “Warwick Avenue.”

Duffy – Warwick Avenue

X, Y, Z/Now I know my ABCs/Next time won't you sing with me

Seriously folks, Livan Hernandez is 6-1.

Tuesday’s game – Twins 3, Jays 5
Gomez and Kubel hit homeruns, Morneausey missed on by <__> this much and Slowey did okay (just okay.)

Tonight’s matchup is Halladay and Boof. Boof has a 2-4 record right now and maybe since Amy and I aren’t actually at the game (a first during a Boof-pitched game) it will take some of the pressure off.

Extra! Extra
Great expectations for Rincon with Neshek out - I know some of my blog readers are just as nervous as I am regarding this headline.
Last-place Blue Jays knock off first-place Twins
Inside Baseball: From sluggers galore to sluggers no more, the power’s out in the AL
The league once chewed up and spit out has-been ex-NL pitchers such as Livan Hernandez and Sidney Ponson. But Hernandez is 6-1 and Ponson has a 3.18 ERA.

Non-baseball but no less important
Ah, here we are at the middle of the week. Life is calm and orderly – no parties, no shenanigans. I will leave you with three very random topics to discuss amongst yourselves.

A thin line between funny and having a social worker called…
Lucy, age 3: May I have some beer, please?
Pause whilst Stacy and I hide our faces and uncontrollable laughter.
Stacy: No, but thank you for asking so nicely.
See, manners matter.

That guy…
You know that guy in the Starbucks line who talks loud enough so everyone can overhear his very important conversation. He also is fond of looking around to make sure people are watching. Thankfully I can alter my look of disdain to one of cool-indifference in a flash.
I assume…he is married with kids, has a stay-at-home wife. He is most likely in lower-management and his employees secretly mock him. Yeah, thank you for the topic Coffee Guy.

Goth Prom
So, I got a weird text message from an old college friend last night. Normally she only sends me a message when she’s having a go-party (just an address and theme, but I never “go”) however last night it was a personalized message: Jen, we are at Goth Prom at Saloon. Stop by and see our costumes.
Yeah, I didn’t stop by because the idea of goth costumes at the Saloon kind is a little overwhelming (especially after having three glasses of wine.) When I got in the office this morning I Googled my little fingers off trying to see what Goth Prom was. Well, it is literally a Goth Theme party at the Saloon Dance Club. I found a slide show that has very interesting and entertaining photos which you can view here.

Political Schmolitical

Yeah, see the zubaz in the photo?
The Republican National Convention unveiled their new clothing line.

Music of the Day
Here is my own personal Beethoven playing the ABCs on the piano.

Daydream/I fell asleep beneath the flowers/For a couple of hours/On a beautiful day

Well, hells bells. Last night game was friggin’ awesome. You see, I wasn’t at the game in-person but due to the power of technology and my baseball-peeps having text-skill(z) I felt like I was in the crowd. Let’s see…it was unanimous that some of the Red Sox fans were obnoxious, the knuckleball was fun to watch and Nathan kept everyone on the edge of the seats. Thanks to TBL, Curlz and Sam…you were all much more patient than I would be with Red Sox fans standing up in front of me.

One of the things that stood out to me was Blackburn (singing in the dead of night/take these broken wings and learn to fly) hitting two hitters. I think I need to research the clarification on if a hitter gets hit whilst showing bunt and his body is on home plate. Is that a hit batter? Because it seems like he could have avoided it if he would have moved his red-stocking ass over to the right a little (his right, of course.)
Here are some answers I found on a random site called Umpire Test:
14. While attempting to bunt a pitch the batter steps on home plate but does not hit the ball. The umpire rules the batter out because the batter is out of the box. (2.00-Illegally Batted Ball)(6.06a)

Non-baseball but no less important
What does a perfect day look like?
Sunday I experienced a perfect day (and I even spent most of it with family!) For the first time in a looooong time I got to sleep in until 10:00 a.m. I woke up and lazed around, listened to the radio (not a children’s CD), took a nap in the car on the drive up to my aunts, played outside in the sun, cheered Lucy when she rode her bike, had great food and watched baseball. All in all, the perfect Sunday.

Sticking with my theme, here is a short (two minute) long video montage I made of Lucy riding her bike (well) for the first time!!!

Lucy’s first bike ride


Music of the Day
I have been addicted to a song on the AT&T Mother’s Day commercial. After extensive searching (a la Google) I found out that the song is by Lupe Fiasco featuring Jill Scott. Enjoy getting this one stuck in your head!

Lupe Fiasco – Daydreamin’


Click here for the short, commercial clip

Don’t you stop/Everybody wants you/But you can’t say no/If you even try

Friday’s Game
Twins 7, Red Sox 6
Son of a bitch, that was an awesome game. Of course, once again with my impeccable timing I missed the best part. I watched until 9:15 and then I had to head downtown to 7th Street Entry to catch VHS or Beta in concert (if you haven’t listened to them before GO and DO it!) Thanks to Oh, Those Girls for giving me the score between opening bands so I could dance freely and with a full heart of win! (Cheesy, I know.) You can read my review (which is oh, so witty) below in the Non-Baseball section.

Saturday’s Game
Twins 2, Red Sox 5
Thoughts?* I was nerdily excited to see Matsuzaka pitch.
* They are saying that Neshek would be out for the rest of the season.
* Punto is headed to the 15-day DL.

Non-baseball but no less important
Last night I headed to 7th Street Entry (the small venue in First Ave) to see VHS or Beta in concert (for the fourth time, thank you very much.) Whilst the day progressed I had a jumble of emotions of whether I really wanted to go or not. You see, it was going to be a late show and well, it was nearing the end of Jenapalooza and I was tiring fast. I did what every obsessive compulsive person would do; I created a mental Pros and Cons list in my head:
Pro – I really loved the band
Con – They wouldn’t be on stage until 11:30
Pro – I could socialize with co-workers I had never hung out with before
Con – It was at 7th Street Entry
Pro – K, my connection, got me on the list so I wouldn’t have to buy tickets.
Con – With three kids at the house I knew I would be up at 7:00 a.m. the next morning.
Pro – Dudes! It’s a concert!

So, off I trotted to 7th Street Entry, which if any of you have been there before you KNOW how horrendous the bathroom (singular) is. The mainroom (First Ave) was hosting a wrestling show. As in, honest to God WWF wrestling, satin pants, folding chairs and horrible music. I met up with my people, grabbed a can of Strongbow Cider and watched the music unfold.
First Band – Maps of Norway
Fun band, interesting sound, about a dozen people listening.

Second Band – Tiger City
Unusually awesome, I was surprised by how much I liked them.

What we were all there to see – VHS or Beta
The sound of VHS or Beta could be described as a mix between The Cure, The Killers and Franz Ferdinand. We were smack dab at the front of the stage right in front of the guitar player. Oh, on a slightly inappropriate side note: the tight pants that are so in fashion right now leave very little to the imagination. Out of the five band members I could tell you which way three of them hang. Know what I mean? Whew, sassy.

So, in conclusion: A great show, great people, good beer, lots of dancing (my feet were a little sore this morning) and loud music.

Music of the Day
One of my favorite songs from their newest album, Bring on the Comets

VHS or Beta – Can’t Believe a Single Word
VHS Or Beta - Can't Believe A Single Word

Falling slowly, eyes that know me/And I can’t go back/Moods that take me and erase me/And I’m painted black

Twins 13, White Sox 1
Go figure, fantastic game and instead of watching it I am drinking at a concert. Such is my life. Since I didn’t observe the game I will bullet point a few things:

* Looks like Slowey is coming back. Here’s to hoping I get to see him pitch one game live. I am just saying.
* Livan has a 5-1 record. That’s pretty damn amazing/necessary/cool.
* Punto had five RBIs. That’s pretty damn amazing/shocking/awe-inspiring.
* Buehrle was mad/pissed/tantrum-y
* Glen Perkins is being brought up to start this weekend

Extra! Extra!

Guess what’s on the front page of Sportsillustrated.com?
Twins Ride Rare Cycle
Now-healthy Slowey returns
Sox players go pink for Mother’s Day

This is for Those Girls...mmmwhwhaahahaha (evil laugh)

Non-baseball but no less important
Guess who is too old to pull an all-nighter?
Me! Yep, at the ripe old age of 29 (going on 60) I have decided that staying up late and sleeping fitfully for four hours before waking to go to work sucks. Eloquent, eh? Last night my Monday Night Happy Hour Crew (minus R plus two co-workers) went to the Orpheum Theater to see Swell Season. Swell Season consists of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova and are the stars of the indi-darling film, Once. These two are joined on tour with a few members of Glen’s band The Frames. Here are some bullet points from the evening:
* Vegan Joe totally “hearts” Marketa.
* The girls in my group (including me) were drooling over the band.
* They played “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
* The encore lasted nine songs.
* The audience was Minnesota-nice, passive-aggressive responsive. That means there was a lot of clapping for any little thing they said and an occasional shouted out question.
* Glen Hansard is very chatty and a great story teller. He would preface almost every song with a story and/or anecdote.
* We each spent $7 on a Dixie cup of wine to keep our happy-go-lucky buzz going.

So, the moral of this story? You should rent Once, you won’t regret it.

The Frames

American Idol
Upon hearing that Jason Castro was the one booted of American Idol:
Stacy: Oh no! Jen! Oh no! I can’t believe it! Not him!!

Jen: chuckles
Last night (sometime after midnight) Stacy checked to see who was booted off American Idol. I think it is safe to assume she is upset that Jason Castro was eliminated. Hey, don’t get me wrong, I am sad too. Besides being very, very pretty I have always liked the music he sings. I think I have talked her into going to the American Idol concert tour...(even I have a hard time admitting that I want to go.) They will be in Minneapolis at the Target Center on August 31 (tickets go on sale May 17 at noon, in case you are interested.)

MOD
In honor of the amazing show last night I give you the Oscar winning song….
Falling Slowly – Swell Season (from the Once soundtrack)

Back in black/I hit the sack/I’ve been to long I’m glad to be back/Yes, I am let loose/From the noose

Confessional
About one hour into viewing the game I decided that catching up on my newest obsession, Gossip Girl, would be more fun. I muted the game and sat down with my laptop to lose myself in the glamorous world of underage drinking, drugs and sex.

When Ozzie Opens His Mouth
It seems that everytime he does something irrational and ends up in the paper we end up losing. His latest gripe is that fans care more about the Cubs than the White Sox.

Observations from the game
I did see a whole lotta signs in the crowd tonight. Office Max must have sponsored the free whiteboards (with their logo in the corner) and markers. Some of them were creative and some were lame.

Non-baseball but no less important

Today, on a very special episode of this blog…
HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY LUCY!!!

You are the coolest damn kid in town!


Music of the Day
Keeping with my theme of photo montages set to music, here is a short, albeit hilarious video montage complied of photos from the last year.

AC/DC – Back in Black

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Lucy’s Birthday Music Mix
Now Lucy’s mom has a cool CD to play in the car (screw you Wiggles, Raffi and that damn Moose.)
1. Anyone Else But You – Moldy Peaches (Juno)
2. I’m Sticking With You – Velvet Underground (Juno)
3. Tree Hugger – Kimya Dawson (Juno)
4. Tire Swing – Kimya Dawson (Juno)
5. Well Respected Man – The Kinks (Juno)
6. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
7. Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
8. Come On Eileen – Dexies Midnight Runners
9. Mickey (You’re So Fine) – Disney
10. Flathead – The Fratellis
11. Feel Good Inc – Gorillaz
12. Mercedes Benz – Janis Joplin
13. Over the Rainbow – Jason Castro (American Idol)
14. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
15. Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash
16. Rainbow Connection – Me First & The Gimme Gimmes
17. Hey There Delilah – Plain White T’s
18. I want to Break Free – Queen
19. Fidelity – Regina Spektor
20. So Long, Farewell – Sound of Music
21. A-Punk – Vampire Weekend

Local News
What’s out people of Minneapolis! There is a new crime fighting vehicle on the streets of downtown.
Minneapolis Cops Take to Three Wheels

**I did write a brief entry about being a fangirl over the new Twilight movie trailer but I refrained from putting it in. I already have enough eccentricities that I don’t need that one also.