There had to be a downside to this beautiful house we're sitting.

Starting last night, the Milkmaid and I are housesitting for a co-worker of hers for a week. It's a much nicer place than most and there's a great pool out back. We've been pretty spoiled for the last couple of weeks, other than not seeing our kids.

We both made it through the four stages of the ropes course (only 40% do so). However, we were so broken that we had to get a hotel in Flagstaff...

Full day today, guys. I have to run a morning meeting at work, then immediately head to Flagstaff with my wife for Flagstaff Extreme (a ropes course up in the trees), and spend the three-hour drive back judging for my Survivor game. Normally on a day off I beg for the opportunity to do nothing, but I'm pretty excited about all of this.

I've got one of those nine hour shifts that kills the day at both ends. If I'm going to do that, I'd rather just dispense with all pretenses of free time and work open to close.

My girls have been gone for three days now, and the silence in here is deafening. I'm starting to miss them terribly - much too soon considering there are eleven days to go - but I'll admit the Milkmaid and I have enjoyed taking time off from a few responsibilities.

After last night, Joe Blanton's old-timey stats are 2-13, 5.66. Are the Angels out of options?

The last couple of days, my wife and I spent a lot of time in a rich area full of rich people. We went into some stores I figured we'd never go into and blew our minds with the price tags, and had drinks and a glorious hotel in Scottsdale. It was a very shallow universe in many ways, but it was fun to visit for a while.

I like these winning streaks wrapped around the All-Star break. The Twins haven't lost in more than a week. Plus, it allowed Scott to pitch in four games in a row and save three of them.