So there are few things in life I will stand outside in the cold waiting for.  Hearing oral arguments at the Supreme Court is one...and the Cities 97 Sampler is the only other thing I can think of at the moment.  I got up and drove to get in line at my local Target at 6 a.m.  I set up my camping chair, got out my International Human Rights Law textbook and hunkered down for two hours until the store opened...

For those of you not from around here...the Cities Sampler is a local radio station's tradition in which big artists record in "Studio C" accoustic versions of their big song for the year (so this year James Blunt, KT Tunstall, Snow Patrol, Amos Lee...etc.  recorded) as a donation to the compilation.  They produce a maximum number of copies and donate all the proceeds to local charities.  35,000 copies generates some $600,000.  Because of the limited release conditions there is no re-release after they sell out.  Usually they sell out within hours.

I emerged victorious at 8:25 with my allotted two copies of the disk (I have this tradition with my dad...tricking him into thinking I forgot about getting the disc, or convicing him I overslept, or was too busy....and then suprising him with it at Christmas...he at least pretends to be suprised) and now am warming up in International Human Rights law and waiting to enjoy the spoils...

And just in case you think I'm crazy...let me put my two hours in freezing cold MN in perspective...those whacky PS2 gamers were already camping in a different line waiting for the release of that gaming system TOMORROW...unbelievable...