Two baseball notes today. First off, this Thursday is the trade deadline for Major League Baseball. Second I'm going to the Red Sox game on Tuesday night!!

Why do I mention the trade deadline in what should be a psychotically excited missive about me going to see my favorite baseball team play in possibly the most hallowed sporting field in the United States?

Because somehow I always seem to end up down in Boston when big things happen to the Red Sox.

For example, on July 31, 2004 I was in Boston visiting with college friends. That was the historic day that Nomar Garciaparra was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Orlando Cabrera and Doug Min-- ... Doug Mienk-- ... Doug Mientkiewit-- ... aw, you know the guy who kept the ball from the final out of the 2004 World Series and now all of Boston hates. That guy.

I actually cursed the Sox that day, and said loudly and publicly that I'd root for the Cubs to win the World Series in 2004. And we all know how that turned out.

Fast forward a year and a half to December 21, 2005. I was in Boston picking up Liz from the airport (back when she was in Dubai and I was in Maine, hey, kind of like how it is right now). That was the day when center fielder / second-coming Johnny Damon signed with the rival New York Yankees. I usually love hotels who leave newspapers on your doorstep. Not that day, with Johnny all cleancut in a pinstriped suit on the front page. The image is seared into my brain forever.

This next one is a little stretch, but I was in Boston and it was a big trade ... in my head. On July 31, 2007 Liz and I were staying in a hotel in Boston to catch an early flight in the morning to Los Angeles to visit my peoples. Also that day relief pitcher Eric Gagné came to the Red Sox for pitcher Kason Gabbard and minor league outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltre. Sure, Gagné didn't do so hot for Boston, but he was a hell of an insurance policy in case something happened to Papelbon. Seriously. I'm still a huge fan of his, but I've told you that over and over (see I am honestly going to miss Eric Gagne and Eric Gagné and I Jinxed Gagné).

Anyway, this is my thought. So I'm going to be in Boston, trade deadline approaching, and I apparently am some kind of token / idol / charm for screwy Red Sox trades. Hmm. Watch the paper. Maybe we'll trade Manny for Brett Favre or something. Anything's possible ...