Here I sit, sipping my Fish Eye shiraz (from a box!), watching the Mets on ESPN, enjoying a rollicking thunderstorm that's rolling by outside -- and it comes not a moment too soon, after two days of 90-something and I can hardly keep up with water the grass (crunchy brown underfoot).

And now no power... and it's back... gotta go reset the wireless access point...

And I'm back to being online. Glavine just moved the runners over with a bunt -- maybe the Mets can add to their 2-0 lead.

Went to Wal-Mart earlier, but no story worth telling (but I did consider snapping a photo of the guy wearing the shorts and the knee-high Banlon socks). Then I went to Beast-Buy to try to find a new mp3 player. The one I've been using for years of jogging is starting to get a little fugazy. I saw a nice-looking Sony online, but wanted to see it up close and personal -- no dice, either at Wal-Mart or Beast-Buy. So then I took a walk through the foofoo import store, and then head home. Stopped at the deep-discount grocery store Marcs that just opened at the site of Tops, the now out-of-business competitor to area grocer Giant Beagle.

The place was full of a Marcsists. I mean full. It looked like the people of Berea hadn't eaten in months -- the place was mobbed. I strolled through, took note of several tasty delicacies that I would purchase on a return trip, and then drove the rest of the way home.

Mets crapped out this inning; stranded two runners in scoring position. Weak.