I am pretty sure that I will be the only person interested in what I have to say... I guess I am truly jealous of anyone that has their 15 minutes of fame (read: reality television shows), but I cannot be edited by big corporations to fit their story lines. I would say or sell their products, but maybe I can get a sponsor.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
A Proud Moment that I Have Absolutely Nothing to Do With
I have just learned that my niece will be appearing in "The Nutcracker" this holiday season. How wonderful for her! She has been taking ballet for a few years and apparently she is very good! The best part is that Dan and I get to take her to the first cast meeting and take lots of notes for my sister-in-law, Jenny. I get to take one of the mice! I am so proud and I cannot wait until the performance.
I thought that you would like to know that I have a pain in my foot. My left heel (the bottom of it) hurts like something awful each night. So much that the next morning I limp a bit. OUCH! I think I need some heel supports. My oldest brother suffers from the same ailment, except he is 37 and I am 32. I should be grateful. I have zero gray hairs, but some crow's feet and worry lines. I guess I prefer to think that they are laugh lines. I'd like to think that I have laughed more than I have worried, but it may be the case.
Minnesota, Golf Clubs, New Houses, Free Hockey Jerseys, Brewer Game and a New Baby
Friends, since my last post there have been a multitude of events. I spent many days in the state of Minnesota. I loved the city of Bemidji. It was beautiful. I hope that the folks who live there realize just gorgeous Bemidji is. I now have a crush on Bemidji. St. Cloud is also a fine town... close to the cities.
I got home on Friday night and Dan made me a steak, my favorite. Nice and rare too. I proceeded to re-grip my golf clubs with Dan's help. I think I started at 8:30 or 9:00 on Friday night and finished up at 4:00 on Saturday morning. Perhaps I will try them out today.
We also got a chance to see my friend Mike's new home. We are very happy for him. He's a good friend. Helped him assemble a bookshelf, the tv stand wasn't happening, so we played Madden 2005 on his new tv. GREAT TV! Mike also handed over to NHL jerseys... NICE.
Then we were off to the Brewer game. Now, so you all understand, my favorite baseball team is the St. Louis Cardinals and I grew up in the Milwaukee area. My favorite baseball year is 1982. Call me crazy but Ozzie Smith was more intriguing to me than Gorman Thomas. So I got harassed for wearing my St. Louis Jersey... even more harassed when the harassee learned I was from Milwaukee. Said harassment comes to an end when I ask how they think the Brewers will do in the post-season or remind them that the Brewers haven't wond anything but the AL Championship. It isn't that I don't like the Brewers, it is just that they aren't any good. A .500 season is a success for the Brewers, for some teams, it is expected. I choose to put my energy into rooting for a team that wants to, tries to and does win. But I do believe that the new owner is sincerely interested and committed to doing his best for the team. Best of luck to him. He's lucky the Packers aren't doing well.
Finally, the greatest event of the weekend is a telephone call I received about an hour ago. My friend Rachael is at the hospital about to deliver her first child. We are tremendously happy for her and Dennis and I cannot wait to meet the little bug. We'll wait and see who gets here and when.
... And I don't mean a post on the state of the game. If you are from the State of Hockey, you know where I am. I also happen to be visiting a big college hockey town... can't wait to go by the arena, maybe pick up a jersey? At least of hat or a touque.
I didn't stay up for the Northern Lights on Sunday night. I tried last night, made it until midnight, but even in northern Minnesota you can have too much light pollution...
Can I see the Northern Lights tonight? I would like to see them, I don't know if I can stay awake for another 45 minutes. I have only seen them once in my life and I am far enough north in the state of Minnesota. I am enjoying some tea before beddy-bye. We'll see how it goes and I will report back on Monday.
After driving for awhile in the dark, I arrived at my final destination and not without difficulty. But thanks to my telephone friend, I arrived. There are all one way streets here, so no left turns. All you can do is go north or east. You have to make a lot of u-turns.
I quickly realized that I had no hairspray. Easily remidied. I bought some. I also realized I had no brown socks... got those too. Soon it became apparent that I hadn't eaten. Run to Taco Bell. Return to the hotel. One quesadilla, one hard shell taco (in four pieces) and no mexi-melt. I was too apathetic and too not crazy about u-turning my way back to the hotel to do anything about it. I am out $1.19, but I have a 32 oz soda.
I have realized since 5:00pm today that there is no Danny Banjo with me either. I can live without hair spray, brown socks and mexi-melts. I'll have to see if I can make it without Danny Banjo. He is in my heart, but far away. I'll be counting the days.
Not this morning so much, but yesterday was like that. In general I wake up somewhere around 5:30am or 6:00am. Yesterday was one of those times when it felt as though I had just closed my eyes and the alarm was going off. I hardly ever feel like that, in fact it has been years. I am glad that is the case, because that is a lousy feeling.
Lots to do today, finish two things, go shopping, pack, leave and somewhere in the next 9 1/2 hours I want to get to the driving range. We'll see.
I am kind of a geography dork. I think it is fun to peruse maps. Not that I am necessarily visiting that area or country or county... I just like to look at maps. I imagine what it is like to live in that area. What the topography is like, the seasons, what it is like to say "I am from Sand Point, Idaho" or "I used to live in Olive Green, Ohio." I really like going to new places, visiting places that I haven't before. To me, it is fascinating. The map thing is something I get into. I write to state governments for the sole purpose of getting a road map. So next week, I will visit two new cities in Minnesota, and re-visit one here in the state of Wisconsin. It will be the furthest north that I have ever been. I will be gone for awhile, so my blog may not be updated as regularly... just so you know, my friend.
Ron Francis hangs up the skates. You may also know him as "Ronnie Franchise." 23 years in the NHL and all he gets is this? Where hasn't he played and made a difference? He was the first choice of the Hartford Whalers, fourth overall in the 1981 entry draft. He played in Hartford until the 1990-91 season when he was traded to Pittsburgh and played there until he was signed as a free agent by the Carolina Panthers (formerly the Hartford Whalers) in 1998. He won two cups for sure with Pittsburgh and had a great performance record in the playoffs. Thank you, Ronnie Franchise! Photo:(AP Photo/Bob Jordan), http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/photo?slug=ncbj10109141804.francis_retires_ncbj101&prov=ap
I hate being sick. Today I went to work at about noon and I left early yesterday. I don't like it. It is hard enough to do what I need to in a day without being sick. I hate having a fever, being snotty, feeling weak and wanting nothing but to sleep.
Mark Messier has retired. Again, a great player is forced to leave the game without the benefit of the fanfare and acclaim that he deserves. Messier is a tremendous player and has won a number of Stanley Cups. When I think of Messier, I think that he is the ultimate teammate. This is the end of an era friends. We're lucky that Yzerman will be around for another year. Her's not long for the league. Think of it, the whole season was lost and we didn't get to give the Mess the send off that he deserves.Photo: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/10/photos (AFP/Getty Images/File/Stephen Chernin)
I am taking my temperature again today. This time, not the surface temperature of my skin, but to see how sick I am. It's been hovering at about 99.1-99.00, that's in farenheit. I am just miserable. Weak in the knees... bubbly head... not good.
Yesterday was the 4th anniversary of 9/11. It sure didn't seem like it. Hardly a word about it. Why is that? Hurricane Katrina? Iraq? The only thing that I really saw in the media about 9/11 was something on the History channel that was narrated by Kiefer Sutherland that used some of the "black box" recordings from Flight 93 and interviews with family and friends of the victims. As a country we declared that we would "never forget." What happened?
We thought than Uncle John was in New Orleans again, but he is actually in Pensacola. That is good news as he is now with his family. That is the most important thing right now. They are together and safe. It sounds as though his future is still quite uncertain... to be expected I am sure. I am just glad that they are all safe.
We went to watch our nephew's soccer tournament today. Who would think that you need sunscreen in September? I didn't, but I did. I was burning so badly that we left before the end of the last match. So after I slathered my self in aloe vera, just for kicks we busted out the meat thermometer. The surface temperature of my skin was 95 degrees. In the unburned areas, it was 89 degrees. So that's that. I also have a bear of a cold. So here I am, sunburned and virus-stricken. That's what I get for living in Wisconsin.
BADGERS WIN! IRISH WIN! Packers Win? It remains to be seen my friend.
I love the Boneless Wings at Chili's. DW took me there for dinner and we "Created-A-Pepper" for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. A very worthy cause. Go to Chili's in your town and do the same friends. It will only cost you a dollar. Think of all of the ways that you waste a dollar. Have it go to a good cause.
I will then remove the NHL Freeze Out counter. Then and only then! I have to see it to believe it. The hockey world will be different than what we have known... be prepared.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Al MacInnis has retired. I am terribly disappointed. Mr. MacInnis had a great career as a defenceman (note Canadian spelling) and had a tremendous slap shot. After dealing with eye injuries and the season that wasn't, Mr. MacInnis will hang up his skates. I am not disappointed that he has decided to retire, I believe that he should. It is in his own best interest. What I am disappointed in is that the man will not get the fanfare that he derserves. The hockey world and sports in general need more players like Mr. MacInnis. You never heard bad press about Al MacInnis. I don't think that I have to tell you that the NHL needs all of the help that it can get. The league and the players have let this and another phenomenal and loyal player make a quiet exit from the sport. Scott Stevens has retired as well, without the fanfare that he also deserves. Who will be next? How about Mark Messier? Where is he? Will he surface in Phoenix now that his teammate and friend Wayne Gretzky is coach? Besides the fans missing out on a year of the greatest professional sport, the biggest loss is losing these great players without being able to truly celebrate their careers. Jersey photo from http://www.oddball-mall.com/macinnisjsy.htm.
Let me tell you about the dome light in my car. It hasn't worked for almost the whole time that I have owned it. If I hit the thing with my fist, it sometimes worked, but it flickered and sputtered. Tonight as I was leaving work, I hit the button on the keychain to unlock the doors and wasn't I surprised to see that the interior was flooded in light. I though to myself, "boy, it sure is bright in there." I said that only because for years the only interior lights that worked were the ones near the floor mats under the dash board. So, how about that? I hope that this is a trend that will continue. I am reminded that I need to check my lottery ticket.
Maybe it's the long hours, maybe it's the lack of sleep, maybe it's the frustration, but I just can't seem to find a thing to blog about.
I want to get to the range, but used all the dough that I had to buy gas... and a lottery ticket. If I win, I could use the money to buy more gas.
I have a busy few weeks ahead of me, what's new I ask myself. I also ask myself, what kind of noodles do I want tonight for dinner? Ramen or spaghetti?
This has must be the worst entry that I have ever had. I must be stopped!
Back to work tomorrow. It will be a hard few days this week. But after three days off I think I can take it. We had fun today. We were able to visit with the kids, Mike and Jenny, Grandma and Rosie... not all at once though. I have an amazing family, all around. So I could have the blues, but I will opt out. I want to have fun. Always have to be planning something fun, not no fun.
Maybe Wednesday or Thursday I will get out to the driving range again to try out the clubs. I know that I do have fun at the range because even when I don't do well, I still have fun. That isn't my normal reaction. Normally, if I do bad at something, I get VERY frustrated... it's actually quite childish. That's not the case with hitting a few at the range. My gosh, what have I become?
I was very much looking forward to today. I have been working very hard lately and was able to relax today. I still woke up at 6:00 this morning, but did things like check e-mail, send e-mail, watch the news, drink coffee. Then we did some shopping for clothes... good to have them isn't it? I am trying not to take things for granted given all that so many have lost in the aftermath of the hurricane. My family is relieved that John is out of New Orleans, but we are unsure what will happen next. Patrick is now enrolled in school in Pensacola and he is with his mother. John is in Meridian, MS and we are not sure what he will do until it is time for him to go back to work on the big pumps in New Orleans.
Then I cleaned the bathroom.
Big Mike came over and we watched the Badgers, a slow start, but a win is a win. We ate entirely too much, but that's the fun of football Saturdays (and Sundays). Then I fell asleep on the couch, a lot, in and out. Big Mike left while I was asleep! Sorry Big Mike! It's been a rough few weeks.
My golf clubs arrived today, so Dan and I went to buy a golf bag... not bad, $30 but still no head covers. Then we went to the driving range so I could try them out. The irons are fun to hit.
Right now, we've got the Fighting Irish on tv... GO IRISH! and Dan is taking a nap. We plan on enjoying a night out later... and Sunday brings the college football game that I most look forward to. Louisville and Kentucky... GO CARDS!
He is out of New Orleans and with his in-laws in Mississippi. I am so glad. I heard the news earlier today. Thanks to God for his safe travels... hopefully we can see him soon.
I am afraid for my Unlce John. I want him to be safe. I want for his life to be normal. I want to see him. Normal isn't likely. Seeing him is likely either. This is a scary situation. You don't know what to believe on the news. Some say "mob rule" others say not the case. I know that the National Guard is there now. But they say on the news that there is no National Guard presence on the news. I am uneasy about the Big Easy. What kinds of situations and people will he encounter? No, I haven't seen him for five years, but it certainly doesn't diminish how much I love him. I asked my Pastor to please use her in with the Big Man and pray for him. Please be safe Uncle John, I love you. I almost wish now that the hurricane itself was still here. I knew that it would be ugly afterward, but I could never have imagined all of what is happening in real life.
I am also moved by the plight of the victims of the hurricane, those who have lost everything and loved ones and who have had additional suffering and strain by waiting, waiting, waiting...
