Well, My Weekend Of Gigs Is Over ...

... and if you count waking up early and finally walking into my home after the Vikings Game, my 20 3/4-hour day finally wrapped up around a quarter to 3.  For a second I thought strike would wrap up early, but then a half-dozen of us were asked to go outside and wrap cable, and that's how I got to getting to my car in the parking ramp a bit past 2:30.

With all that said, my fear of arduous manual labor were a bit exaggerated.  Oh, sure, I wish I could've just left after the Game was over, and working three hours with my hands is still hard.  But you know what made the work tolerable?  The camaraderie.  Me and these hired hands talked about everything to pass the time.  Better yet, that half-dozen of us built a rapport between ourselves, an us-versus-the-world mentality that broke down voluminous tasks so that we could all do a little bit, and easily solved difficult tasks where each of us concentrated on just one part of the problem.  Those were good people, and I'll miss them greatly.

And the more I think about it, the more I believe I won't have time to move all my stuff out once next Monday rolls around, even though my parents aren't coming home for another dozen days or so.  I am busy most days next week, and there is a lot of stuff that, frankly, I think I'll be resigned to just chucking into bags and hauling off to my storage unit.  There's other chores to do, like taking the leaves to the composting site or my laundry, that need to be done as well, and those things, as well as moving back all of my stuff, need to be done on the days I have free.

Gosh, this is getting to be a more daunting task that I feared.  And I have to go sleep now because I'll be working 19 hours straight!

Yeah, Tomorrow's Gonna Suck

I think I'm still doing it for the money, but pulling a hard gig lugging stuff around after a full day at work is something I think I want to tell myself I can still do.  Always better to be wanted than not.  Nevertheless, after pulling in almost a half-day shift yesterday for the Gophers, I am absolutely frightened over how I will get through tomorrow night's Vikings game.  Sleep will help; I got a full night's one just now, I might tuck in a nap this afternoon/evening, and I'll probably get another one at work tomorrow.  But we are required to help pack things up after the game, and that is usually a few hours, at least.  I won't be back home until, maybe, 2 in the morning.  And now only am I working a full shift tomorrow, I'm doing so Tuesday as well.  It's a full week for me at work and beyond a full week when it comes to work, and right now, I feel like I am going to drop dead on my feet.

Wish me luck!

Hit Head Hard (Scheduled Post)

I hit my head real hard on the edge of my trunk door.  I thought it had went up all the way, but it sometimes hang at less than all the way up (and sometimes it sags back down -- maybe the hydraulics need to be checked), and I didn't see that was the case when I parked at the gas station to get my free Oreos, and so, when I went to close it, I smacked the crown of my head against the door.  Hard.

I think I'm OK.  But if I die in my sleep because a blood vessel in my brain burst or something, well, you heard it here first.

No Motivation

And it will be, for the most part.  I work as a gopher (ironically enough) today/Friday and tomorrow/Saturday, and then on Monday.  Since I go for things, it'll be long hours, and I mean long.  I haven't done this position in a long while, and right now, the bad memories of waking up in the middle of the night, seeing the sun rise while I'm at the compound, then hauling tons of stuff after Games at the U. and at U. S. Bank Stadium fill me with dread.  I have to wake up early today/Friday and tomorrow/Saturday, and will need to stay very late Monday, and I am not looking forward to it.  Maybe I'm too old for this.  But you know, until just now, I remembered I am doing this for the money.  So, possibly, money isn't such a motivator for me now.

On top of all that, I need to schlep all my stuff into storage soon.  I'm planning what's going on the next two weeks before they come home, and I think I have enough fun stuff I want to do the last week that next weekend basically is the drop dead date to clean the house to something that looks decent.  It's not going to be spick-and-span.  My worry is what I did tonight, which was nothing because I took a nap once I came home and then watched TV the rest of the night.  I am not even close to getting motivated to go through my stuff.  I can see myself chucking all my crap into boxes last minute.

(sigh) time for bed

The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey

With both U. basketball teams starting their seasons, we've reached the busy part of The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey.  Because of so many clubs and that I'm tired af, I think I'm just going to whip through them:

#-1: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -6).  These women are in like Flynn.  They went to Los Angeles and won both Games.  They were already in the NCAA Tournament, but this boosts their chances to move up on the S-Curve.

OK, I don't quite understand this.  The Gophers play Penn St. at Maturi Pavilion Friday, then play at Iowa Sunday afternoon.  Never seen a pair of one-offs like this before.

#-2: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: -2).  A pair of 3-2 Wins at ranked Duluth.  They have this weekend off.

#-3: Wild (Last Week: -3).  Yes, they lost at home to The New York Islanders.  But that was in Overtime, they won the other three Games this Week -- and all on the road, mind you -- and they're tied with Edmonton for Most Points In The Western Conference.  (BTW, they're up five Points in The Central Division.)  Most impressive of all, the Wild are doing this without Brock Faber, who could be back on the team soon.  This team is impressive because Jesper Wallstedt may be The Best Goalie In The NHL.  The sky could be the limit.

This Week: Home to San Jose and Tampa Bay (whom they're playing back-to-back), then at Montreal.

#-4: Timberwolves (Last Week: -7).  With Anthony Edwards out for an extended period of time, it looks like leadership responsibilities fall to the new guy on the squad, Lamelo Ball.  And, despite a Loss in San Antonio everyone saw coming, they're weathering the loss of their teammate well, cruising past The Bastard Buffalo Braves by 26 Friday, outlasting Milwaukee Monday and, most impressive of all, hanging tough and defeating The Bastard San Diego Rockets in Houston.  This Week will be a relatively light one: At New Orleans tomorrow/Friday night, hosting Utah Sunday evening.

#-5: United FC (Last Week: -5).  They continue their possibly-too-late late-season run by going to South Central and beating Laugh-See convincingly, 3-1.  (Joaquin Pereyra, with his Brace?  God bless you, you beautiful, beautiful man.)  They're undefeated in their last six Matches, and because of that they're still technically alive in the playoff race, which is something to behold.  Now, to actually get in the postseason.  They obviously have to win Saturday evening at home versus San Jose, and then they have to hope that things go pear-shaped for three of five XIs that are also fighting for the final three births in the West.  Again, probably not.  But we all put this club out of their (and our) misery after the World Cup ended, and they've chose to fight instead.  Gotta respect that.

#-6: Gopher men's basketball (NEW SEASON!).  The male ballers started 2026-7 with a 35-Point beatdown of North Dakota at Williams Arena Monday night.  I have no idea how good they are projected to be.  All I know is that St. Thomas comes to Dinkytown Friday, and then they will visit Cincinnati Monday.  

#-7: Gopher women's basketball (NEW SEASON!).  The Gopher team that reached last Year's Sweet Sixteen began their new season with a 20-Point cruise past Harvard at the Barn Monday evening.  Bright start despite the devastating loss of wunderkind Tori McKinney, who suffered an ACL tear in practice and is out for the rest of the season.  How will they survive?  Who knows?

This screening Week: At Marquette Saturday afternoon (a rare visit by a BcS school to a non-BcS-affiliated establishment), then home to Southern Tuesday.

#-8: Gopher men's hockey (Last Week: Positive Numbers).  A Shootout Loss and an Overtime Win, both at home vs. Penn St.

I remember the graphic being put up during Friday's contest: Minnesota is in the middle of a nine-Game homestand.  I've never heard of that before.  The fifth and sixth Matches are tonight/Thursday night and Saturday night against ... well-well-well, Wisconsin, the top-ranked team in the country.

#-9: Gopher football (Last Week: -1).  Fuckin A, man, they had 'em.  The defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers were the opponent, and the Gophers were in Bloomington, and they had the then-fourth-ranked team in the nation on the ropes.  But the kicker for the Hoosiers, who was only 1-of-3 Saturday afternoon (and that one made Field Goal was from only 21 Yards), nailed one from 60 Yards to send the tilt to Overtime.  Indiana's backup Quarterback (the starter got benched) threw a Pass for a Touchdown on the first play in OT, and Minnesota couldn't answer.  Frankly, by all rights, the Gophs should have pulled the upset.  Alas, they have another chance to make College Football Nation notice when they host UCLA this/Saturday afternoon.

#-10: Vikings (Last Week: 0).  Another sterling performance turned in by Brian Flores and the Vikes' D (I don't know for sure; I didn't see it because I fell asleep for pretty much the whole Game), but this time the Vikes' O couldn't hold up their end and they lose for the first time all Year, 19-14, at Detroit.  It's not all bad.  For one, I think a defeat is good because that focuses a team to fix what went wrong.  But the problem, as well as the reason I have the Vikings ranked lower than the Gopher gridiron outfit, is that what's wrong has been obvious for some time: The entire Vikings Offense.  It hasn't gotten out of second gear all season.  Aaron Jones, Sr. can do only so much at his age, and he gets bogged down in front of a line, the interior of which is holding on by threads.  That means Kyler Murray can't key off of that for play action.  Meanwhile, and I saw this in the Win over the Colts, he's missing a lot of throws.  I think he's a bit more accurate than Carson Wentz (and Murray will avoid Turnovers almost to a fault), but he hasn't proven he can have his guys climb on his back and lead them down the field to score.  I am tempted to put Wentz in there; he won't run (and Murray might be the team's best rusher if Jones continues to be hurt), but he'll at least be tall enough to not have his passes batted down.

And all of this could unravel if the Defense finally buckles.  Things can't last forever, and even though Buffalo is a tough opponent, losing to the Bills Monday night might bruise the team's aura a bit.

#-Infinity: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -4).  OK, so in the final Game of the 2026 women's soccer regular season, they got routed, 4-1, at Illinois.  Chris Henderson (he's a dude that follows soccer) now puts the U.'s chances of getting into the NCAA Tournament as very slim (my words, not his) because the Gophers did not qualify for that tournament and therefore don't have the chance to polish up their resumes by beating quality squads.  So ... that's it, and I feel pretty confident this race will not go to a run-off.  Don't think too hard.

Good Election Night, I Must Say

I remember going to the Herkimer at 2016.  I thought it was going to be an historic night.  Little did I nor anyone know that Election Night was instead going to be a harbinger of the hell that Trump (and Russia, and Republicans) will unleash on us for the next fucking decade.

In some ways, doing an Election Night party in 2024 was going to be less worse (I went to A Bar Of Their Own) because my heart was ripped out of my chest eight years before, so I girded myself for the worst.  Then again, my heart was pounding out of my chest.  And when the good news I wished for didn't come that night, I left for home fearing the worst.  And it happened.

But tonight?  It kind of reminds me of Bauhaus at the 2018 midterms, when we all cheered when it was announced that Democrats took back control of the House of Representatives.  Except better, because Democrats have kicked ass in every corner of the nation at every minute of the night.  I was in South Minneapolis at a watch party last night, and we had reason after reason after reason to clap and cheer because the correct candidate won.  It is glorious, and honestly makes my heart light knowing that there's still good people in this country trying to fight for what's right and just.

Welp, playtime is over.  Mother told me last/Monday night they're coming home in a few weeks.

It was going to happen.  But it's never enough time.

And I'm stuck with all my stuff in the house.  I'm glad I have the time I think I have, but there's so much to go through throw back in storage ... will it be enough?

(sigh, depression)

May Be A Super-Busy Weekend

I expect to work both the Gophers and the Vikings Games over the weekend-ish.  (Did both teams raise a concern that both football teams in town seem to be playing home Games over the same weekend?)  I say "-ish" because the gigs, if they come through, are going to seep around the weekend, too.

The Gophers play early Saturday morning.  I've been asked if I'm free, to which I said yes.  However, I also said yes to working the day before, the set day.  I haven't been confirmed for either day, but if I work one, obviously it'll be Saturday.  But I can work both.  Heck, I'm free Friday; originally I had the day off from it because I planned on my doctor's appointment then, but I'll cancel it if I'm asked to work.  Hopefully they'll get back to me in time.

The Vikings don't play Sunday.  They play Monday, and I have been asked to work it.  I haven't really gotten this job yet either.  I asked when I had to report on Monday, and he hasn't gotten back to me.  I hope the reason he hasn't is because he doesn't work weekends.  Anyway, I said I was also available Sunday; haven't heard back from that yet.

So it's possible I'm working gigs from Friday through Monday.  That will make me a very busy, tired (especially since I'm working my job too) and kind-of rich (?) boy at the end of it all.

I Have Three Streaming Services And Barely Use Them

I've signed up for two on a free basis, Sling and Peacock (or, as I like to call it, "The Cock").  I have Apple TV because I'm a MNUFC season ticketholder; you get a subscription as part of your season ticket.

I have barely used any of them, and I barely have seen any shows on any of them.  A few months ago I finished the pilot for The Morning Show, and I started on the pilot maybe three years before then.  I think that is the only show I've seen in any of the three streamers.  I have seen sports on Apple TV (Major League Soccer Matches mostly) and Sling (but it's really obscure leagues, like Liga MX Femenil).  But I just don't have time.  Thankfully I don't pay any money to use any of the three.

Just because, I logged into Sling and Peacock just now.  It's been weeks since I've done so.  Peacock shows you free international soccer, like Serie A.  Nothing like that on Sling; the closest to that are re-reruns of women's cricket.  And since there's the NFL on free TV, I turned off those streamers to watch my TV set.  No, actually I think I'll go take a nap with football on because I'm headed out later this afternoon.