it's been a very busy week, because that's sort of the nature of things. i can't think of anything significant that happened, except that my laptop magically started working again - i don't think that a week-on, week-off pattern is exactly ideal for functionality, but it's okay for the people at dell, based on the conversations we've had.

wednesday was super hero night, featuring the red ranger from the power rangers and superman. in addition, two odd gentlemen dressed up, one as duffman and another as...well, i couldn't quite tell. it appeared that he had a bulbous silver head. i thought maybe antennae. perhaps dressed entirely in aluminum foil. my broadcast partner and i had an in-depth conversation about this person. or at least, i talked about him.

i was heading out to turn off the scoreboard postgame, and i happened to see this man's reflection in the parking lot light. he seemed to be alone. i waved to him. he waved back. i said, "who are you?" he yelled "al;sdkjf!" i yelled "what?" he yelled, louder, "disco boy!" i was satisfied.

i was planning to stay overnight in peoria last night but, owing to the lack of confirmation from a former coworker, i wound up coming home after the game. [i hadn't packed for the overnight.] so then former coworker offered me the chance to eat dinner at his house tonight postgame. i accepted. a burger, some carrots, an actual omaha steak, some beans, some salt n' vinegar chips, a brownie, and hanging out with a 19-month-old kid...what a blast, and all it cost me was two two-liter bottles of soda...and a half-tank of gas.

i had an ultra-fierce scare that began friday, and worsened by this morning. friday night, as i returned from game two of the four-game series, my throat was sore. saturday, i woke up, and it was sore. postgame saturday, former coworker geoff said i sounded raspy. gadzooks! so i drank lots and lots and lots [probably eight large cups] of hot tea last night. still raspy this morning. i took that godawful gargle i bought in march. it was gag-tastic, and i still felt sore for the drive to peoria. but i got through the game okay, and i've drank some tea tonight, and we're hoping for the best.

i got back from former coworker's house at about 930 tonight, and went all 'ducks in a row' and wound up at the office tying up end-of-first-half loose ends until about 1:00.

tomorrow [monday], i plan to be out of the quad by about noon or so, allowing me to arrive in des moines by 3. before i leave, i've still got to do laundry. goal is to be up to do laundry by 9...get it in the washer, get it in the dryer, get out and about for a walk, finish the laundry by 11, get packed by noon, and be gone. one sticking point is that i forgot my texas rangers media guide at the ballpark...i'll have to dispatch an intern to get it [i live near the yard, and i sure don't want to show my face there, y'know...? i guess that's sort of sad but, alas, such is life...]

listen if you get the urge, a link posted here. i believe i'm scheduled to be on-air for the duration of tuesday's game and the duration of wednesday's game, although my likely play-by-play time is about 7:45-9:00ish range.

i don't know if you're weirded out by the ultra-religious [i think most are], but i sometimes am. a former intern of ours - a good kid who worked directly under me two years ago - is now doing the media relations for a collegiate baseball team [like the cape cod league] that is affiliated with the christian organization athletes in action. he's from a religious family - both parents are 'officers' [i feel bad putting it in quotes, but i'd feel odder if it weren't in quotes, y'know?] in the salvation army. he was telling me about the schedule for the ballclub he's working for, explaining that there's a mandatory discipleship meeting every day for all players and staff members. we were speaking on the phone with each other during last monday's off day, and he said... "i hope this doesn't make you uncomfortable... [never a good sign] ... but would you mind if we prayed for you?" it's flattering, i guess, but also a little uncomfortable, right? or does that make me a bad person?

i've plateaued/plateaud/leveled off/levelled off in the weight-loss game. the initial goal was to 1) stay on the plan and then 2) lose some weight before the season began and then 3) maintain a constant weight through the season. well, i cruised, dropping 35 pounds before opening day [about 90 days on the plan]. and then the season hit, and i kept going. by 56 days [rough math] into the year, i had dropped 50 total pounds, or a rate slightly slower but very similar to the preseason plan. so i changed my expectations. and now i've failed. since the wedding [i was down 50 heading to that weekend, and expected to gain some through the trip and the booze], i've not returned to the 50-pound mark. hovering between 48.5 and 45 for the most part, which is good.

but i think i've done all that i can do with the 'do some walking and avoid actual exercise' plan. perhaps some running? maybe, although doubtful, captain.