Getting Ready to Go to Atlanta

Makita installs his flag bracket on the back of Anderson. Makita proudly displays his newly installed Pit Sign.

I'm ready with my bottle opener. We'll be leaving sometime tomorrow afternoon and hopefully arrive at the track by Thursday evening.

2008 World Series

I guess if you want someone to lose you should get me to root for them. Both teams I was pulling for lost their pennants.

Here's some facts: The 2008 World Series will be the 104th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff will be played between the respective champions of the National League and the American League. The National League will be represented by the Philadelphia Phillies. The American League will be represented by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Series is scheduled to start on Wednesday, October 22, 2008; if necessary, Game 7 will take place on Thursday, October 30. The games will be broadcast on FOX in the United States. Thanks to the American League's 4–3 win in the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the Rays will receive home field advantage. If a Game 6 is necessary, it will be delayed by 15 minutes so that a 30 minute paid advertisement for U.S. Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama can be aired on FOX, CBS and NBC. It will be the first World Series without a wild-card team since 2001.

Brad Makes Lieutenant

Recently my brother-in-law, Brad, made Lieutenant on the Casper Wyoming Police Department. Congrates!

Pennant Races Heat up

Even if you're not a huge Major League Baseball fan, you have to admit the pennant races are intriguing. I'm rooting for Boston (because I hugely, hugely hate the NY Yankee's) and I'm rooting for LA Dodgers (mainly because they were smart to get the hell out of New York, even if it was 50 years ago AND I want to see Manny play against the Red Socks). Right now the Phillies lead the National league 2 to 1 and the American league is tied up Tampa Bay 1 and Boston 1. They all play again today. Batter up!

Sunset on the Beach

Today it rained and was a little cooler (I'd guess around 80?). Here's a photo I took on my walk tonight right as the sun was setting.

Made it to San Juan

Here's a couple photos from the beach right outside my hotel. The water in the ocean isn't warm, it's hot. I love it. Puerto Rico reminds me a lot of Mexico but cleaner. They do not run on "island time" as most Caribbean islands I've been to. More modern too. The people at the radio stations are very nice. They speak fairly good english. Some better than others. They have a chauffeur come collect me in the morning and take me back to the hotel in the evening. For dinner tonight I had an awesome pollo burrito con chili verde and a Cornona at "Lupi's". Ahhhh mucho bien.

Next week you can find me in Puerto Rico. I've included a map for those of you that are geographically challenged (Jessi). For reference will someone please point Florida out to her. The red island is Puerto Rico.

I'll be staying at the Water Club (http://www.waterbeachclubhotel.com/) and working at WIPR radio. WIPR-FM (91.3 FM, "Allegro 91.3") is a radio station broadcasting a classical format. Licensed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, the station is currently owned by la Corporación de Puerto Rico para la Difusión Pública.

Thanks for the Bday Wishes

Thanks everyone that phoned, emailed, sent gifts and stopped by to wish me a happy birthday yesterday. It was a good day. Tonya brought the grandkids by on their way to school/daycare to sing. I got a lot of fun gifts. Makita made me some very nummy fondue last night. Bill and Shirley took me to dinner Wed night. A lot of folks called, some even sang. I received quite a few e-cards. This one was one from my friend Sharon from Oregon:

http://www.msn.americangreetings.com/ecards/view.pd?i=421151523&m=5865&rr=y&source=msne999

How do they do that? Crazy fun.

Jeff's New 2009 Paint Scheme Revealed!

Jeff Gordon unveiled a brand new paint scheme for his 2009 No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet Impala SS on this morning's edition of NBC's TODAY Show . As reported on his official website, www.JeffGordon.com, Jeff's primary car will feature a black, neon red and neon yellow paint scheme for the first time in his career.

It's time to get ready for our trip to the Atlanta Motor Speedway. It will be here in no time (see counter to the left). Jeff's had a rough year. He made it to the Chase, with no wins. He's moved up to 6th in points. Jimmy's in first but Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle are right behind him. Of course Makita is hoping his guy, Jimmy, wins three championships in a row. Now that would be something. Jerry Katz is hoping to find a Mark Martin flag at the track when we're at Atlanta. With that, his Jr. stuff and all our crap, we'll be a full fledged Hendrick campsite.

More Websites

Here are a couple more small websites I've built for you to check out.

aitkinpheasantsforever.com

doubletbark.com

Wheel'n in Effie

We went up to Effie this past weekend camped and rode the 4 wheelers. It was rainy Friday night and cool Saturday and Sunday. The leaves are starting to really turn. It will have been our our last trip up there this year.
Here is my friend Robin on her wheeler. Actually she kind of looks like the Preditor in that helmet.

My wheeler, Dora the Explorer got a little sick while we were there. Her temp light stayed on. She didn't overheat so I'm going with the sensor. But she'll need to get to the doctor.
Kurt got himself in a little too deep. But Makita helped him out.

Mr. Bill

For you old Saturday Night Live folks, I reference Mr. Bill.

A couple weeks ago Lindsey and I played Play Dough one night. She was really getting in to it.

I was doing my best to keep up. I created the family and included Sadie. Lindsey later cut everyone up with her play dough sissors and then requested that only Daddy got rebuilt.

Kimkay Consumer Tip

Don't ever buy Kleenex that says it has lotion in it or even that it's Extra or Ultra Soft. This equates to snot all over your face. They don't absorb anything. They simply smear snot all over.

Weekend of Hunting

I spent a fairly quiet weekend. On Friday night I went and watched Lindsey while her dad was working and her mom went to the Brainerd High football game over in Moorhead. I got home around 1am. When I got up Saturday morning I noticed that the extra rolls of toilet paper that are kept in a basket next to the toilet are not quite right. There was only two of them in there but both looked like they had suffered a severe attack. They were shredded up a bit and there was TP traces here and there on the floor. I squatted down for a closer look. "What the hell is going on here"? I wondered.

I'm currently going on my ninth autumn season in this house and I have never ever seen any trace of any varmint in this house (with the exception of that one bat that made me pee my pants). So this TP thing is puzzling. Could this be my first mouse? Are there a bunch of mouses? I got in the truck and off to Walmart I went. Walmart on Saturday is a very bad thing but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I came back home laden with traps and poison. I set a trap loaded with peanut butter (crunchy of course) right by the TP disaster. I also went and put one in the furnace room, just in case there was an army moving in. Then I went out for a few hours. When I came home sure enough Jerry was in the trap.

Now I reset the trap and never got anymore mice. I'm keeping a close eye on all the traps. Do you think maybe that there was just one lone TP eating mouse? I have my doubts. I'm on the hunt down after them.

Pick a Pound of Peppers

I was in the produce section in the grocery store the other day getting some salad fixins and there was a young couple filling their cart with every kind of fresh fruit and vegetable they could get their hands on. They were really stocking up. Health nuts probably. I was keeping it to a minimum. Salad greens, cucumber and tomato. I was however eyeing the peppers. They had some nice yellow, red and orange bell peppers, not to mention some big fat green peppers. I love a little yellow and/or red pepper on my salad. But hey now, they're almost two bucks a piece. That seemed a little to steep and I passed them by.

I did the rest of my shopping and within ten minutes or so I was checking out. As I'm putting my items on the belt I stop suddenly when I pickup a bag with two yellow and two green peppers in it. What the hell? For crying out loud those kids must have mistakenly put these peppers in my cart. I paused briefly thinking "what am I going to do with these peppers"? The checkout girl was about 12 and I didn't wanted to swing around and wave the peppers and say "These aren't mine". So in the end I set the peppers on the belt and six bucks later (green peppers are half the price of yellow by the way) I've picked a pound of peppers. I wonder when those kids realized they had no peppers. Reminds me of another story about having no piper at the party. But that's for another time.

Blasted Crap

Well my brand new lawnmower took a crap. It starts but won't run (and yes it has gas in it).

Here's my personal ad: SWF looking for SMALL ENGINE MECHANIC. I like long walks in the woods, beer, fishing, blah freak'n blah and could use a handyman with some knowledge of engines.

Mothers, listen to me, don't send your kids to band and football. Unless you think your little darling is going to turn out to be Louis Armstrong or Jerry Rice, forget about it. Both useless in the long run. And I'm pretty sure hockey is in that category as well. Fixen shit is where it's at. Shop class. Now that's useful. Building stuff = very helpful. Running, jumping, hitting balls, throwing balls, blowing horns = not so helpful.

My son Mike did fix my broken window motor in my truck (thanks little darling) and mount my GPS bracket on my ATV (very helpful) but I have no hope in him fixing my lawn mower. And Makita...hummmm ... I guess he can play a trombone, (now if that doesn't scream rainbow).

Saturday Football

Went to Kyle's football game on Saturday. He played Defensive Corner Back. He did pretty darn good. Made some good tackles. Thankfully it didn't start raining until we were walking off the field.

Bee Control

Labor Day Weekend sent Ellie to the hospital with some major bee stings. Actually she got stung on Saturday and didn't go to see a doctor until Monday. I guess it was pretty bad. Some kind of reaction that had her eyes swollen, nose swollen and puss bags under her eyes. She also got stung on her wrist, which was still swollen a week after the "attack".

So last weekend after the PF deal, we swung on over to Thor to kill the Killer bee's. Well I didn't actually do anything but watch. Dave was the aggressor. Hopefully the little buggers are gone now.

Aitkin Pheasants Forever Kids Day

This past Saturday was the Aitkin Chapter of Pheasants Forever kids day. 55 kids showed up to shoot guns, practice with a bow similator, learn to turkey call and listen to a safety talk from an area Conservation Officer. Afterwards they were treated with a meal and a dog demonstration.

Aitkin County Pheasant Forever Event

This upcoming Saturday I'll be going over to the Aitkin area to help with the Ringnecks (PF Youth). I did it last year and it was fun. There's a lot for the kids to do and learn.

Aitkin County
PHEASANTS FOREVER
& THE NWTF AITKIN GOBBLERS
Invite you & your Family to attend the
THE 3RD ANNUAL YOUTH CONSERVATION DAY

This event is FREE!!!!!!!!!! All youth between the ages of 7 and 17 will be in a drawing for two guns to be given away right after lunch.

When: Saturday September 6, 2008 9:00AM to 1:00 PM

Where: The Weathwood Rod and Gun Club. Directions: From Highway 169 South of Aitkin, North of Garrison, 1.2 miles East on Highway 18.

There will be lots of activities:
Shooting Sports
Games
Simulators
Information
Habitat Information
Turkey Calling
Dog Demonstration
Free Lunch provided by Paulbeck’s County Market

Registration is required.
Please call Jeff Scharrer @ 218-839-4218.