here's why my job is tremendously rewarding: last night, before the game, i had a chance to meet a pair of wonderful australian women. now, these weren't any wonderful australian women...they were mothers of players who, except for their current two-week trips, keep in contact with their sons by listening to me, every morning. how cool is that?

also, after today's game, i received a call in the press box from a kind gentleman from puerto rico. he wanted to know the score of the game, but only because his son is on the roster and he had missed a game for the first time since his son joined the roster in mid-may. (his son happened to have two hits in an inning today.) like the australian mothers, i'm this gentleman's day-to-day contact with his son. it's outstanding.

in other news, i took advantage of the night off to finally cave and purchase the moon and antarctica, by modest mouse, which i'm convinced is one of the great records of all time. (i had been listening to my lo-hi-fi recording - - from the computer to the cassette deck - - and just couldn't handle it anymore.) it's as good on cd, and the artwork is neato. it's also nice to know what isaac is saying.

we've got a rare monday day game tomorrow. (as such, i should probably be asleep right now.) the cubs are on espn, although it's estes and not one of 'the good pitchers.' in preparation for the big day, i've already separated my dirty laundry. i don't know what my plans are for dinner, however. (i've got a potato and alpha-bits [the better to receive mini-bobbleheads, my dear] and boxes of uncooked black beans and rice as well as some frozen chili. maybe a chicken sandwich.)