Things have been pretty busy at work lately, possibly due to Aaron’s vacation. As usual, when the manager is out, more work seems to come in from all angles. Josh and I have been busy gathering and creating content for the new website which is being built right now and should launch in a couple weeks. For the record, I did indeed come up with the new site layout and design, though I have no role in the site’s functionality. Last week I was late coming into work Monday, left early for softball Tuesday, took Wednesday afternoon off due to stomach illness, and left two hours early Friday for Alison’s wedding, so I am attempting to make up some of that missed time this morning. Being here at 6 am just feels wrong.

Last night Lauren and I stayed home and watched the Twins/White Sox game on TV, while Walsh, Sarah, Nick, and others were at the Dome for what might have been the most exciting game of the year. The 35-minute bottom-of-the-seventh for the Twins featured an on-field delay as fans threw hats and balls onto the field in protest of Ron Gardenhire’s ejection after a terrible call by the umpires on a Denard Span strike call. Ozzie Guillen pulled the White Sox off the field and the umpires convened to warn the fans that the game would soon be forfeited if objects didn’t stop flying onto the field. It all was very reminiscent of the Chuck Knoblauch incident of the 90s where Twins fans threw garbage at him when he took left field for the Yankees, a season after demanding a trade from the Twins. Tom Kelly had to go out to left field and yell at the fans, and that game was nearly forfeited.

Back to last night. Order was eventually restored and the Twins tied the game at 4-4 on a Mauer single, then took the lead for good with a 3-run homer by Jason Kubel. They held on for a 10-6 win to get back to a half-game in the Central. The four-game series drew over 140,000 fans (I contributed 1 to that total) and Tuesday’s game was the highest-rated Twins regular season game in local TV history. This weekend the Indians are in for a three-game series while the White Sox play Kansas City.

This weekend there aren’t much for plans. I’m DJing again Saturday night in Byron, MN, an 81-mile drive. This time I was requested to be the DJ after the couple saw me in action at a friend’s wedding in Wabasha in May. The bride in this wedding is being very particular about exactly which songs do and don’t get played. If I go anywhere near their “do not play” list, there will be hell to pay. Next weekend I am surprisingly off altogether after once being told that 08/08/08 would be the busiest day of the year and all DJs would be needed. The following weekend I am also off, but will reportedly get $50 to be on call, but I can’t really plan too far ahead. Company manager Joe, though a shrewd businessman and all-around nice guy, has been quite unreliable when it comes to sticking to plans and especially about paying me the correct amounts each month. For July events, I am owed $410—$120 for three shows + $50 for travel to St. Cloud. I will most likely get a check for an odd amount of $280 or something and have to call and demand the rest of my money!

It’s also August 1, so let’s start my birthday countdown! Just 22 more days! Unfortunately I am booked solid that weekend and will not be able to do anything fun on my birthday. Maybe we’ll plan something fun for Sunday the 24th. I will be accepting birthday checks and cash through the mail at both home and work this year.