Hold on loosely, but don’t let go/If you cling too tightly babe/you’re gonna loose control

Baseball
Ah, baseball is addicting. Stacy called me yesterday morning to give me the scoop on Morneausey. You see, I was elbows deep in a dull-as-tombs spreadsheet (for work, of course) and hadn’t read the latest on MLB.com. So, Stacy knowing my addiction (and secretly loving it all as much as me) called to inform me that the Twins just signed a one-year deal with 2006 MVP Morneausey. Whew. The first thing out of my mouth was “One year? Only one year?” I guess beggars can’t be choosers. You see, I feel like I (well, the Twins organization) have given up enough for the start of 2008 season. What are two more years and 15 million dollars? Eh?

From John Heyman (CNN, Sports Illustrated)
The Twins have made it official on Kubel, Morneau…and Juan Rincon. The righthander has agreed to a one-year, $2.475 million deal to avoid arbitraton.
Rincon currently is closing for Lara during the winter league playoffs, and spent the early part of the offseason working out with Detroit masher Miguel Cabrera. He plans to work out with the same trainer right before heading to camp.
This may make you cringe but the Twins need Rincon. He should be motivated after posting a 5.13 ERA in 63 games last season. And they’ll need bullpen arms around in case Joe Nathan is dealt after Santana is dealt.
Yes, I think Santana will be dealt before camp opens. I have a trade thought involving the Mets that I’ll share with you over the weekend.

Non-Baseball
Used Music Store – You are what you listen to
I was cruising around the North East suburbs last night, in my old stomping grounds of Columbia Heights (Co-Ho) where I went to high school. I decided to stop off at Cheapo’s to peruse the Local and Modern Rock sections. I spent most of the time giggling and groaning over the selections and came to the conclusion that location does rule the used music market. In the Uptown Cheapo’s you find a wide variety of Modern Rock with a few “what the hell’s” throw in. Whereas in the CoHo you find two rows of Jessica Simpson, Backstreet Boys, Vitamin C, Nickelback, Staind, Creed, Puddle of Mudd, Poison and other similar artists. Where are the Arcade Fires, Kaiser Chiefs, The Shins?
When in Cheapo’s I sometimes find myself fucking around with their alphabetizing system. You see, I like to give props to my favorite bands and pull out a CD to put on the display. Now, before you go judging me, take in account I removed two Bow Wow, one Jessica Simpson, three (three!) James Blunts and one Marilyn Manson. I replaced them with Travis “Boy with No Name”, The Feeling “Twelve Stops and Home”, The Hives, The Frames and The Fratellis. So, I would like to say to the CoHo…You are welcome! Oh and stock up on some Romantica, 22-20’s and Sondre Lerche.
I did walk out with a Levellers album upon Nikii’s (Third Base Line) recommendation.

City Pages Concert Calendar
Maybe there is a lull in music news or concert announcements. After reading through 30+ pages of the City Pages paper I found the following concerts (new ones I haven’t already announced):
.38 Special with Zed Leppelin (cover band) – which I am contemplating
Lenny Kravitz
Hotel Café Tour 08 with Dan Wilson and Ingrid Michaelson
Jonas Brothers (their tour theme is “Your world is about to be rocked”)

Well, that’s not exciting at all (or a’tall)

I’ll be alright on my own/Don’t worry about me/Pack your bags, your alibis/And do whatever’s gonna set you free

Girl’s night
Stacy sublet Lucy to my aunt and uncle last night so we had a good old fashioned Girls Night. We saw Juno, ate Thai food (Tum Rup Thai) and went music shopping at Cheapo’s. We also (which may embarrass Stacy for stating this publicly) watched the fifth disc of the sixth season of Gilmore Girls. I spent the whole evening comment on how I was freaked out/excited that Stacy was actually sitting down and chilling with me. (Being a single parent with an exuberant blog community keeps her going.)

Juno, the film
Honestly, there are very few films out there that whilst I am watching them I covet the soundtrack. Juno is one of them (the other being Elizabethtown.) First, the film was amazing. Hands down one of the most entertaining and funny films of the year, if not more. Second, the soundtrack is absolutely amazing. Seriously, check it out.

Music, the addiction
Being inspired by the soundtrack of Juno and being conveniently located across the street from the city’s greatest used music store, Cheapo’s. Well, since I have no willpower and/or control AND they have the greatest Modern Rock collection I left with four CDs:
Neon Bible by Arcade Fire (yes, I finally broke down and bought it, damn hype)
America by Romantica (I decided to give back to one of the local bands)
Scottish Fiction by Idlewild (I thought I would give them a try since loria has been recommending them)
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace by Foo Fighters (to prep for the concert in February)

New Year’s Resolution – Schmesolutions
I am in the top ten percentile of lame resolution makers. Why? Well, because I make resolutions that I know I will keep. Exhibit A: I will not eat any Blue Cheese dressing. Fact: I hate Blue Cheese dressing. Exhibit B: I will not purchase a Colbie Caillat album. Fact: I can’t stand her. That being said here are some lame albeit real resolutions for 2008:
I will not purchase a whole CD when I only want three or less songs off the album.
I will try not to mock Vegan Joe and his quirky (drunken) statements (oh, and I won’t make fun of his virtual-reality dragon named Bolt.)
I may or may not purchase a house and/or townhouse.
I will go and visit my Grams.
I will teach Lucy three more songs that are not children’s music (I am thinking Pink Floyd, Ramones and Toto)

Look for my baseball resolutions in April 2008!

Happy New Year’s!!!

They trade in their high tops/ for night sized white rocks

The Last Hit by High and Mighty
I would like to put a disclaimer on this entry because my household (well the adults at least) have been stricken down by the Common Cold. Right now I have tissues with lotion, lots of medicine, cough drops with vapors and eye drops. I am not in the best place to be writing sentences and such. (Don’t tell my boss that!) Oh, I also lost the ability to pronounce the letter “G.”

Here is a list of thoughts/reactions from last night’s game (only until the 7th, which is when my drugs kicked in)

* How can a Twins fan not love last night’s game? I can’t help but feel like we owned that town last night. Besides the obvious win it was great to see so many Twins fans in the crowd. (Note: if I was a KC fan I would feel very different and territorial.)
* I have to give major props to Stacy since when I walked in the door last night she already had the game on. See, baseball is addicting.
* Did anyone else get fed up with the awkward argument between Dick and Bert regarding Barry Bonds? I don’t think they could have been more passive aggressive. Please, for the love of All-Star High-tops, don’t carry the issue/topic/argument into two innings. One is enough!
* Did anyone else feel a kind of “sweet justice” when Torii hit his homerun after the Great Morneausey Debate? I did. In fact there may have been a little “in your face” going on.
* Anytime we go through the line-up in an inning is a guaranteed good time. The players said it, Gardy said it and us fans said it…They were having fun out there.
* At 5:30 this morning I caught the end of the rebroadcast of yesterday’s game. It felt like I was in a time vortex, floating in a parallel baseball universe.


* For anyone who cares…last night I slept with a tissue jammed up my right nostril. Damn cold. Oh, and nose rings? Not as “bad ass” during a cold.