a post-script on my blood donation story from earlier this week: as of thursday morning, there was a gigantic (4-6 inches in length, 1-2 in width) purple bruise, tender to the touch (then don't touch it, stupid). as i type, the bruise is still purple, but has started to move into yellow territory, and is no longer tender. instead, it's become a conversation starter (chicks dig unsightly bruises.)

fantasy football draft was held tonight, and it's tough when you use a second round (25th overall) pick on someone who apparently may be out for the season (michael bennett), a sixth-roundish pick (immediately rescinded - thanks nemes) on a player who no longer exists (olandis gary), and a ninth-round pick, a pick you consider a steal, on a player whose stats, upon further review, weren't that good, and even worse, is also a health question mark (james thrash) (comma record!). it's also embarrassing when kelly holcomb is your starting qb, backed up by kordell stewart. (can the pittsburgh-cleveland rivalry coexist on the same team...doubtful) then again, i did land amani toomer and donte' stallworth, and TE billy miller will be this year's biggest revelation, i hope.

and i can also turn my ineptitude into a positive: after all, i'm an adult. should it really matter that i don't know the relative health situation of michael bennett? of course it shouldn't...i've got dishes to worry about. (side note: it matters.)

finally, you may be familiar with the fact that i called joe mauer (youngest brother, way rich) and jake mauer's (oldest brother, not really rich) games on a daily basis last season. their parents were regulars, and i got to know them on a shake-hands-and-smile basis. well, middle brother billy was recently added to our roster. (joe now at double-a, jake at high-a.) this weekend, the grandparents tierney (mauer maternal, i believe), in town to watch billy pitch, found a lame excuse to come up and introduce themselves. they were looking for a phone book - - - where's a nearby catholic church? - - - and came up to the press box to say hello. it was neat...they were both grateful and great.

note: i've added and changed songs to the list at left. why you'd care, i don't know.