Sunday night

1. Rumor has it that the Orioles have traded Eric Bedard for Adam Jones and company, pending physicals, and I have some mixed feelings about it. As something of an Orioles fan, I think it's a great move: Bedard is good, but he's also been frustratingly brittle throughout his career, which has never seen him pitch 200 innings; I think he's going to battle injuries for the rest of his playing days, and that his value will never be higher than it is right now in this starting pitcher-deprived market. That being said, as a Tigers fan, I don't want any possible Wild Card teams to have a pitcher like Bedard. I guess Seattle is putting themselves in a spot to try to make a run for it this year. It'll also make the Orioles easier competition this year against the Yankees and Red Sox, which isn't a good thing for the Tigers in their ascent through the playoffs. But six years of Adam Jones for two years of Eric Bedard seems like a great deal. I doubt of Bedard tops 350 innings in those two years, either.

2. I worked way too much this week at the second job - Wednesday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night. I've definitely found that two days a week is my upper limit for working over there. I prefer one night a week (relaxing Sunday night, where I can almost always make a guaranteed $100+ and get out of there on time), but two is okay for now. Three pushes me over the limit. It's still nice to have the second job - today, I literally spent $107 at Staples on supplies for my classroom, and then made the money back waiting tables; yesterday, I bought a long-shopped-for pair of baseball cleats that match my school's somewhat unusual school colors, and paid for it with tips from that night. But, three nights makes me crazy. Laundry isn't done, my room is a sty, and I'm starting A Lesson Before Dying tomorrow without as cohesive a unit plan as I'd like. I'm not sure how long I'll keep the second job - I'm still hurting from my spring and fall tuition bills (haven't been reimbursed for either yet), and have some credit card bills I'd like to pay off - but it would behoove them to keep me at two nights a week, maximum. I usually only notice I'm exhausted when I hit three.

3. I took a day off from the gym today after seven days in a row. I was just going to go in and run on the treadmill - I'm finally building myself back up to being able to run two miles without my foot hurting - but my hamstrings were sore from the deadlifts yesterday, and I did Pilates For Men at home instead. It was only my second time through it, and I know it's cliched as hell to say it kicks my ass, but it does. I believe I have very poor posture, and my "core" is probably the weakest part of me, so it's good that I'm trying out something new. The weird part about doing the video, though, is that the cheery British lady tells the instructions while two guys model it, but she makes me do such strange twisting motions that I often cannot see the television and end up guessing.

4. If you missed it, Caroline Kennedy - who is not political, and hasn't publicly spoken up for a presidential candidate since 1980 - has endorsed Barack Obama. The mantle of the next Kennedy has been passed, and I'm hopeful that Feb. 5 goes okay. Here is Carolyn Kennedy's endoresement: I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved. I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.