I have been staying up late a lot lately. I have to admit, it is one of my favorite times of year when the Twins go out to the left coast for long string of away games.

But this year, it has been enhanced by a surprise showing as the Gophers baseball program has won it’s first 2 games in the NCAA tournament. With big wins over Cal State Fullerton, and New Mexico, the Goldies have given us diehard baseball fans a reason to flip channels between Twins/Mariners and Twins/A’s games to watch ESPNU while burning the midnight oil.

It has been fun for me, surfing the web, learning more about social media, and watching baseball. The Twins have been hurt, and the games with Seattle were a downer because of that, but those darn pesky Gophers have given Minnesotans a reason to smile and Tweet.

It also allows me the excuse to sleep in on the weekend. With the wife’s blessing (yes, I am making up for it next weekend) I have been waking up to the smell of fresh coffee, and hot breakfast well after the crack of dawn, wake up sounds of our toddler and kindergarten off-spring.

Tonight is a big game for the Gophers as they will face the winner of Cal State Fullerton/New Mexico at 10 PM CDT. I am not sure I’ll be able to stay awake for that one, with a Monday Morning trip to the office at stake. But I am 100% confident, that I will be falling asleep to, then dreaming about the sounds of aluminum bat tings.

Go Gophers, and best of luck!

In the last 24 hours, I have been smacked in the face with a plastic horse, bonked on the side of my head with an Elmo phone, and “accidentally” been the victim of a slap-shot to the back of my skull.

The shot- albeit a good strong one- came from my 5 year old yesterday on eve of his Showcase Hockey playoff game.

I was sitting in the living room, showing the kids my iPad. We were playing the paper football, and air hockey application games to kill time and enjoy each other’s company. Of course the 5-year got bored, so he diverted his activity to “puck” play.

I cranked up “Let’s Go Crazy” from Purple Rain as my first tune ever on the iPad, and heard the soft sounds of plastic hockey stick meeting left over plastic eggs in the back ground. Yes, we still have the multi-colored gems laying around the living room, as the toddler finds great joy in puling them apart and looking for treasures. It’s cheap entertainment.

Just as his royal highness cranked up the line “Let’s look 4 the purple banana / ‘Til they put us in the truck, let’s go!” one of those plastic easter eggs came bolting into the side of my head.

“OUCH!” I proclaimed, looking disgustedly at the young hockey son 5 feet away.

He was laughing. I was not happy. It was a good shot, but I had to send him to the penalty box.

I know for the toddler, it’s just a phase. She doesn’t really mean to strike daddy in the head with phones, remotes or other small objects. We just tell her to to be “gentle” and re-direct her attention. But that 5-year old has been warned several times, and continues to play rough in the house. What if that egg had nailed his little sister?

Does anyone have any good advice for proper punishment/response for situations like these?

On Friday January 25, 2008, the The Annual Event known as Twinsfest will begin downtown at the Hubert Horatio Humphrey Metrodome.

Since our kids were born, my brother and I have made this an annual event. This will be the 4th Year in a row, that we pack the kids in the car, and drive down to brave the cold weather and get inside for the first taste of basbell since last fall.

Twinsfest is our favorite way to “baseball shop” for the kids. There are tons of memorabilia dealers, plenty of chances to pick up free stuff, buy some grab bags, stock up on old Twins publications, and in general, just get a chance to monitor the expectations of Twins Territory for the upcoming season.

One of the new features of TwinsFest will be a 3-D model of the Twins New Ballpark. My personal favorite theings to do are: Visit the Twins Pro Shop and load up on clearance items, Visit TC Bear and watch the kids interact with him, sit down and eat ballpark food in the the leftfield food court, and watch my kid take some BP.

Twinsfest 2008

Location: HHH Metrodome
Tickets: Adults $8 in Advance ($12 at the Gate)
Kids 14-Under $4 in Advance ($6 at the Gate)
Advance Tickets can be purchased at the Twins Pro Shops
Times:
Friday, Jan. 25 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 26 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 27 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.