You can forget out future plans/Night touch my hand with the turning Golden Skans

Articulate Articles
Gardenhire Deciding Lineup
Pioneer Press – Phil Miller
Star Tribune – La Velle E. Neal III and Joe Christensen

Well, it is getting closer and closer and that means I am getting more and more impatient for it to just start already, damn it.
I caught the rebroadcast of the Diamond Awards on FSN. I gotta tell you, the montages really suck me in and tear me up (as in crying like a baby.)
So, on Thursday, February 28 at noon the first Spring Training game kicks off against The Reds.

Non-baseball but no less important

Concert Calendar
2/27 – Foo Fighters!
5/2 – Bob Schneider @ Fine Line (hubba hubba)
5/3 – Kate Nash @ First Ave

Linked, for your pleasure
The Current
89.3 The Current is the newest addition to Minnesota Public Radio; mind you it is at least three years old. In my section of the Land O’Cubicles we listen to this station all day long and it rocks. Where else can you hear the Klaxons, Kate Nash, Tupac, Vicki Lawrence, Dolly Parton and Count Basie? No where’s, that’s where!
89.3 The Current
For great live in-studio performances check out their You Tube page!
MOD
Speaking of the Klaxons, I don’t believe I have ever uttered their name in this blog. Shame on me. The Klaxons were introduced to me by a friend’s ex-boyfriend (who shall be called Schmike) and he could have easily been the president of the Americans for The Klaxons Fan Club.
Here are a couple links:
The Klaxons – Golden Skans
The Klaxons – It’s Not Over Yet

And the Oscar goes to…
Last night I went over to Tiff’s house for the Monday Night Happy Hour Oscar Party. Let me summarize with my favorite bullet points (Arial font, size 9)
· George Clooney needs to whiten his teeth
· George Clooney met his current girlfriend when she was a cocktail waitress at the Palms Casino in Vegas, a la Harlequin Romance Novel Plot.
· Even after watching her on the Barbara Walters special, we all hate Miley Cyrus (or Destiny Hope if ya’ll is feeling trashy.) Sorry to all the Hannah Montana lovers.
· Javier Bardem is hawt! (again with the teen lingo)
· I know somebody cares but did do we really need two separate awards for Sound Editing and Sound Mixing?
· Ooooh baby, when James McAvoy was presenting and speaking with his gorgeous accent the whole room melted.
· Jon Stewart is funny.
· I feel vindicated about “Falling Slowly” from the film Once winning best original song!!! I have been touting this film and soundtrack for a looooong time.
· Vegan Joe thinks Marketa Irglova from Once is pretty.
· Anne Hathaway is flawless
· We don’t like Penelope Cruz but we don’t know why.
· We were obsessed with Daniel Day-Lewis’ wife’s hideous broach and red bowties.
· Diablo Cody was a breath of fresh-fashion air!
· I am a bit confused to why some famous people were at the Oscars (P.Diddy, Miley Cyrus, The Rock)
· Jennifer Garner has to be Best Dressed!
· Jennifer Hudson…uh…yeah…no.
· Viggo Mortensen needs to get rid of the crazy facial hair!
· Renee Zellweger is scary

Hell no, we won’t go
Three floors down from me, on street-level, there are about a dozen people walking in circles with picket-signs. I can’t see what the hell they are picketing for but I wish they could keep their chanting to a dull roar. Seriously, it is all I can hear and it is making me mental. Mental, I tell you! Shit, one of the strikers has a ten-gallon pickle bucket that he is beating on like a drum. Y’ar.
Update: Now someone has two cooking pot lids and is banging them like cymbals. Son of a…

It’s too late it’s too soon or is it?/Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, boom

The Waiting Game
Wow, Pitchers and Catchers report to camp on Sunday (as if we all haven’t seen that everywhere.) I can’t wait. February 28 is the first Spring Training game. I can’t wait. I received my home opener tickets in the mail last night. I can’t wait. I should start making my 2008 Baseball Resolutions. That I can wait for.

There aren’t any new headlines coming for La Twins since the Livan Hernandez deal so that’s all I got for you. Sorry.

Baseball, but not Twins related
Why the hell not, I may as well piss everyone off
Okay, the Number 1 Rule when getting to the office on a -6 degree morning with cold coffee and a cranky attitude? Don’t read Sports Illustrated online!
Headline: Will Bush pardon Clemens? McNamee’s lawyer says Prez will let Rocket off hook

I know, I know, I know. I shouldn’t believe everything I read. Heck, especially what lawyers print. But, just the idea of this pisses me the fuck off. So, read it if you want to get feisty. Don’t read it if you are borderline Captain Cranky-pants.

Non-baseball, but no less important
Concert Calendar
2/15 (Tonight) – One of my fave local bands is playing at the 7th Street Entry side of First Ave, Romantica. Tickets are only $10 and show starts at 8:00 p.m. Romantica probably won’t take the stage until closer to 10:00 p.m.
2/24 – New York Dolls. I probably won’t be attending this show but I am okay with that…now.
2/27 – Foo Fighters!!! Yeah baby!!!
2/28 – The Hives at First Ave. I totally want to go and if I can rearrange my plans I may be attending by myself. Sad pouty face.
3/15 – Tom Jones at Mystic Lake Casino
3/17 – 3rd Annual Thin Lizzy Tribute Night. What better way to celebrate the REAL St. Patrick’s Day!!! (Silly Church is making everything happen on Saturday March 15.) However, I will most likely be sipping cocktails with my Monday Night Happy Hour Crew at Rossi’s…same old, same old.
4/12 – Bon Iver at the Turf Club. What a great show!

Sporting Calendar
3/2 – Minnesota Wild Hockey. You heard it here first folks. I am going to my first hockey game. I did once to go my high school’s hockey game because my best friend (BFF) was dating one of the players. It should be an interesting mix. It is always fun to put me in new sports settings to see what happens.
3/31 – Minnesota Twins Home Opener!

But I’m a creep/I’m a weirdo/What the hell am I doin’ here?/I don’t belong here

Whoa baby,
Over 7,000 hits! (Don’t’ worry I won’t be posting 7,000 random facts to celebrate.)

$5 Million for Hi Ho Silva’s Doppelganger
Boy, oh boy, the Twins are boasting about their latest acquisition with Livan Hernandez.
Stats:
Arizona Diamondbacks
11-11, 4.93 ERA, 33 starts

Inning-eater starter Livan Hernandez to join Twins

Livan signs with Twins

Non-baseball
Radiohead Tour Announced!!Are you excited? Are you planning the ticket camp-out? Are you ready to see Radiohead live???? Well, if you live in Minnesota let me be the first to burst your bubble. Thems boys ain’t happening by Minneapolis. Well, if you happen to live in a different state there may be hope for you. Check out their tour dates: http://www.radiohead.com/tourdates/

MOD
Ah, Radiohead! They defined my early years of high school (how sad does that sound) and it all started when I had first heard Creep around the age of 13/14. There I was in a new school full of Boyz II Men, Limp Bizkit, Dave Matthews Band, and Nirvana. There I was rocking out to Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers and Oasis. There I was jamming with my portable cassette player (I wouldn’t get my first CD player until later that year.) Yep, Radiohead has always been a part of my “when I first found cool music” phase.

Radiohead – Bodysnatchers (from In Rainbows)



Radiohead – Creep (the first Radiohead song I fell in love, that moment right at the chorus when the guitar breaks in…shivers!)

Come and see the blinding/it’s so blinding/it’s the last thing that you’ll ever see

Projected Batting Order
(From Minnesota Twins MLB site)

I love looking at these before Spring Training and comparing them to the batting order at Home Opener
1. CF – Carlos Gomez
2. C – Joe “Baby Jesus” Mauer
3. LF – Delmon Young
4. 1B – Morneausey
5. RF – Cuddyer
6. DH – Kubel
7. 2B – Brendan Harris
8. 3B – Mike Lamb
9. SS – Adam Everett

Well that is a lot of new people in the line-up (five to be exact.)

Projected Rotation
1. Baker
2. Boof
3. Francisco “F-Bomb” Liriano
4. Slowey
5. Nick Blackburn, Glen Perkins, Brian Duensing

Project Bullpen
Joe “Twitch ‘n Pitch” Nathan, Pat Neshek, Dennys Reyes

Wow, that’s not much of a bullpen.


Non-baseball, Music stuff
The following two topics fall under the MOD category.

Pete Doherty obsession


Spin Magazine has Pete Doherty on the cover so of course I went out and bought it. The ladies in the Land O’Cubicles are concerned with me liking him. First, he’s a bad influence and second, all the photos of him are really bad. It is difficult to explain to them that I don’t like him for eye-candy but for ear-candy. They now refer to him as my Crackhead boyfriend. Hey, leave Pete alone!

Concert happenings
Two concerts coming up that I want to see:
Bell X1
I just read a review of their new CD in the Paste magazine and it received high praise. The story behind this band is that they are the members of the original group, Juniper which was lead by Damien Rice. Now, we all know from one of my previous entries that Damien Rice had some “creative differences” with the band and split off for a successful solo career. I have never heard any of their previous work but maybe I will listen to some samples and make the big decision whether or not to attend the show.

Rogue Wave
Someone recommended their live show to me. I haven’t heard anything of theirs before. Anyone else in cyber-land know about them?

Paste Magazine
I love it when music magazines give out CDs in the issue. Here is the track listing from The Paste Sample 39:
· Radiohead – Bodysnatchers
· The Whigs – Right Hand on my Heart
· Sydney Wayser – Carousel
· Doug Burr – Thing about Trouble
· The Main Drag – Love During Wartime
· Rooney – When did your Heart go Missing
· Dr. Dog – I’m Standing in the Light
· Hank Vegas – To Beam
· Heirloom Projector – Sweet to Mend
· Blind Boys of Alabama – Free at Last
· The Sundogs – Desperation & Borrowed Time
· Gileah and the Ghost Train – The Emergency
· Tyler Ramsey – Ships
· Malcolm Holcombe – Gamblin’ House
· Little Big Town – Fine Line
· Laura Veirs – Nightingale
· State Radio – Story of Benjamin Darling
· David McMillin – Go Easy
· Bright Eyes – Coat Check Dream Song
· Lightspeed Champion – Tell me what it’s Worth

My fingertips are holding onto the/cracks in our foundations/and I know I should let go/but I can’t

The Twins are all over the news
System Upgrade? Prospects in Santana deal have lots of question marks

Twins happy with Santana trade haul

Press Release: FSN North and Twins announce 2008 telecast schedule

This is Twins Territory
Also, during the Super Bowl the Minnesota Twins showed their new 2008 commercial. I can’t wait to see the rest!

Drinking Buddies
Oh, Those Girls are freaking hilarious! I enjoyed our drinking, gossiping and watching the final news coming in regarding Santana on Friday night. I hope you girls survived the basketball game!

Randomly Random
Tom Petty or Bust
I got tickets to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. About six months from now I will be rocking at the Target Center with Stacy and Amy. Ah, the white man overbite and beer fist Arsenio Hall http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenio_Hall moves will be in full effect!

Music of the Day
Kate Nash

This video is awesome as are the lyrics!
Kate Nash – Foundations


Kate Nash Myspace

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 tried to be like Grace Kelly/but her looks were too sad/So I tried a little Freddie/I’ve gone identity mad!

Part I - Baseball
To fest or not to fest, that is the question
The Twins fest is fast approaching and I am still debating whether to attend or not. I am not one for autographs or paraphernalia. However, I am one for people watching and making my twins wish list. I think it would only take a small smattering of begging to get Amy to attend with me, so that’s not the issue. Also, there are tons of awesome bloggers that are going to be there. Hmm…I still have time to Pro-Con.

Part II – Damn Cute Kids
Lil’ Lucy is a freaking, tiny replica of a stylish and sassy Olympic swimmer. But hey, don’t take my word for it. Check the photos out. I can’t wait to bring her to Ryan’s pool this summer and let her go crazy (whilst properly watched so she doesn’t drown or anything.)




Part III – Music, of course
Just put a few new songs on my iPod
Grace Kelly – Mika
One (U2 cover) – Johnny Cash
Phantom Limb – The Shins
Okay, what rock have I been under that I didn’t realize the awesomeness that is The Shins? These guys are fantastic!

Yours truly (that would be me) is securing a hot date with this man…

Yep, you may have guessed it, Tom-fucking-Jones!!!
Jealous? Well, you should be.

In a coffee shop in a city/which is every coffee shop/in every city/on a day which is every day

I may be taking the leap
I have received a very tempting offer to go in on a 20-game pack for Twins season tickets. I am thinking about it but I am a little leery of such a commitment. This, coming from a gal who goes to about 40 games a year, I know. There are people out there telling me not to do it, especially with all these new players. I think it would be a great time to commit to the Twins. All I have to do it make the decision in my head and then talk Amy into joining me.

Since baseball is in hibernation let’s talk music!
Concerts I am interested in attending
The Hives @ First Ave – February 28
Mika @ First Ave – February 6
The New York Dolls @ Fine Line – February 24
TNT (AC/DC tribute band) @ sketchy sports bar – January 26

Concerts I am attending
Foo Fighters @ Target Center – February 27
Romantica, Alarmist @ First Ave – January 15
I really want to bring Lucy to see that band we caught at the Midtown Global Market. They are playing at a coffee shop later this month.

Podcasts – once to start you can’t stop
Seriously, I am addicted to finding new podcasts. My local NPR affiliate, MPR (Minnesota Public Radio) has a rock station called 89.3 The Current (sorry, lots of back story there.) Anyways, they have a new podcast called Facemelter! Here is the description:
The Current is proud to launch its newest podcast Facemelter. Every week, Facemelter hosts Jill Riley and Brett Baldwin talk about the guitar solos that are so awesome, they melt your face.
You can check it out here: Facemelter

Our own not-so-Little Plastic Castle
Great, now I just put a song in my own head – Little Plastic Castles by Ani Difranco
Once upon a time in a castle, in our living room there lived a damn cute little girl…

You aren’t seeing things. There is a castle in the middle of the living room. The strange thing is it’s not that obtrusive. I can put my feet on the ledge, cram myself inside for a moment of peace and it really warms the place up.

Beer is to Baseball as Horrible is to Mondays

Well, Lucy is now two years old and she thinks she can dress herself. I personally think anything goes with a Morneausey t-shirt, especially a pink and green nightgown. Let’s hope she can beat up the other toddlers at daycare if they make fun of her.

Why does it always rain on me?/ Even when the sun is shining / I can’t avoid the lightning
-Travis

Last night I channeled someone much hipper and much cooler than my actual self. I was invited last minute (well, 30 minutes before doors open) to a concert by my friend Liat. The Scottish band Travis was playing at First Ave so I decided to suck it up and be adventurous. Now, I don’t want to fill this baseball blog with all my new found Travis groupie-ness (seriously, this band rocked) but I felt like I need an explanation for why my brain is fried today. Too much dancing, too much drinking, too little sleep.

Why beer is for baseball (the at-home version):

* On Friday I drank my last two beers whilst watching the game. I am normally a one-beer-gal but the tight game drove me to the second one. I made a mental note to buy more.
* I tried to drink this horrible locally made strawberry wine to be frou-frou whilst watching the game but it was horrible (as stated above) so I switched to beer.
* It isn’t as cool to hold a fancy goblet when sitting cross-legged on the sofa.
* When you get to three beers and you feel a little tipsy you don’t need anyone else to watch the game with, because you can hold a conversation by yourself.
* It is fun to train the toddler how to get the beer.
* It is not fun to try and distract the toddler from throwing a fit because they want a drink of the beer.
* When the game gets sticky you can always go get a beer.
* Mmm…beer.

Well, it was a good weekend for baseball. We won the series against The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Gregg hates that name.) I didn’t get to watch the game yesterday which turned out to be the best one to skip. I will have to peruse the blogs to get a play-by-play.

I don’t have much else to write about (especially witty or funny) because I killed off a lot of brain cells last night.