I don't usually stop in the middle of a book

I like murder and mayhem.

Throw in a World's Fair and that's what The Devil in the White City was promising me. So I started reading it.

But I'm just 200 pages into it and I need to put it down. Not because I don't like the book, because I do. And not because I can't handle the murder or mayhem. Because I can.

It's just that the library e-mailed me this morning. Seems like my name has come up on one of my holds: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. I was surprised. Because when I put my name on the list, I was number 99. And considering the book hasn't been out that long, I thought I'd be waiting a lot longer before I got my hands on a copy.

But it's in my possession now. And it's mine for the next two weeks.

So I have to put aside the murder and mayhem at the World's Fair. Because right now? Well, the vampires are calling.

I like my cable company today

I'm a happy Badgergirl.

I no longer have to curse the fools who decided the Big Ten Network would be a great idea. Remember that channel was the reason I wasn't able to watch most of the Wisconsin football season? And let's not even talk about how many Badger basketball games were broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

I was not a happy Badgergirl.

But today? I read this.

And that makes me happy. And probably the cable company happy since I'll now be getting the regular cable back in a matter of months, just in time for basketball season. But what about football? That's what Mom and Dad's couch is for on Saturday afternoons. Or bar stools at local establishments where wings are served.

Now what am I supposed to watch?

The Olympics are over.

What am I going to do now? I spent my lunch hours watching the obscure stuff. But I learned things too. For instance, apparently in water polo, a tie is just as good as a win. At least it was the day NBC choose to air a women's water polo match during my lunch hour. Other days I watched fencing, equestrian or rhythmic gymnastics while munching on my ham sandwich.

About the equestrian events. How do they get the horses there? Do they have to buy a special ticket? Do the horses ride in the luggage compartment of the plane? Or do they get the shaft and have to make the long trip by boat? Just something that I thought about while watching them jump over fences.

And once I got home at night, it was a no brainer. My television would be tuned into NBC, even if I wasn't actually watching it. At least I could hear what was going on.

But I won't forget the nights spent watching Michael Phelps make history at The Water Cube. Or the gymnasts. Or the divers. And the track and field athletes who lived out their Olympic moments at the Bird's Nest.

Sigh.

I miss the Olympics already.

Good thing the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. start in February 2010. That's just a more than a year before I can get my next Olympic fix.

They're back. And getting too close for comfort

Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.

They're back.

The crickets.

And they're not just staying in the living room. That's where they get in. They sneak in through a crack in the screen of my patio door. No, the latest intruder? He'd managed to find his way into my apartment and down the hall. And when I found him? He was hanging out in the hallway, right by my bedroom door. One or two hops and he'd be sharing a room with me tonight.

I don't think so Mr. Cricket.

I employed the scoop and flush method. But he was a sneaky fellow. Hopping away every time I tried to scoop him up. It took me four or five tries before I finally caught him in the wad of toilet paper.

But he's been flushed now. Him and the five other crickets I've had to kill in the last month or so.

Hopefully the rest of his cricket friends learn the lesson when he doesn't come back tonight. If they stay out of my apartment we'll get along just find.

RIP LeRoi

The Today Show shocked me yesterday morning.

LeRoi Moore. Dead.

It took me a few moments to fully comprehend what they had just said. And it still seems odd to me. I can't imagine the band without LeRoi. It'll seem strange.

But for now, my sympathies go out to LeRoi's family, his friends and his band mates.

Thanks for the historic moments

Eight gold medals. Seven world records. One Olympic record.

One historic week in the pool.

And I'm left amazed. And thankful I got the chance to watch Michael Phelps make history.

I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for the results of the 100 meter butterfly to flash across the screen. The race that was so close, even Michael's mother thought he finished second. But Phelps knew what to do. Took the extra half stroke and stretched to touch the wall.

It paid off.

One-hundredth of a second. Amazing.

And even though he was on an individual quest for eight gold medals, his team was still important to Phelps. I couldn't help but notice the first words out of his mouth to his teammates Saturday night after Jason Lezak touched the wall to give the US the 4x100 medley relay win were "Thank you."

No. Thank you Michael. For being an amazing swimmer who gave it his all during a week long journey to eight gold medals and an entry into the history books. We enjoyed it.

Paging motivation

I've been in a bit of a slump.

I'm not feeling particularly motivated. Running? Biking? Swimming? Eh.

I haven't swam a stroke or put a toe in the pool since my triathlon. A month ago.

The running shoes have been enjoying their new home in my gym bag. And they've become a bit anti-social, preferring to stay in the bag rather than be put on my feet and pound the pavement. And it shows. I've run a grand total of 5 miles since the triathlon. And the last time I ran? It was July 24.

My bike should have the fewest complaints. We still get along pretty well and get together for a ride a couple of times a week. But I have to admit. The bike was probably starting to get a bit grumpy since it's been parked in the garage for the last week. But I did take it out for a 12 mile ride after work tonight.

I'm not sure what it is. Why I'm slacking so so much. Maybe it's because I've been pretty busy the last few weeks. I dunno.

But I do know that it has to change. I need to regain the motivation that I had back before the triathlon. I get back in the pool. I need to start logging some miles in the running shoes. And I need to stay on the bike.

Are you ready for some football?

Can you smell it in the air? It's football season.

And last night? I spent it sitting in Lambeau Field, watching the Green Bay Packers take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the pre-season opener. Granted, the Green and Gold didn't win, but it was exciting to watch. Because in case you didn't hear, it's a new era in Green Bay.

There's been a changing of the quarterback guard.

Aaron Rodgers took over the reins last night. And he didn't look too bad. Nine of 15 for 117 yards. A touchdown and an interception during his four series. Not bad. The rest of the game wasn't too bad either. I got to see some of the backups, see who might have a chance to shine this year.

Even though the Packers ended up losing 20-17, it was a fun night. Although it wasn't the super swanky luxury boxes, my seat was in the front row of one of the swanky indoor club seats. It wasn't outside in the Lambeau Field bleacher seats, but hey, I'm not complaining since they were the tickets of the free variety.

The only downside? I pulled into the driveway at 1 a.m. and the alarm went off a mere six hours later. Needless to say, it's been a long day and I think I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight.

*Photo credit: Post-Crescent photo by M.P. King*