Ice Fishing Extravaganza or just an Ice Extravaganza

Bundle up and head for the ice with 10,000 other folks....wow. It was pretty nice out. A little windy. But all that Woogie and I caught was a buzz. We met some nice people from all over (some where even from Wisconsin...but we talked to them anyway). I fell on the ice twice. I think the first time Woogie pushed me. It was a doozie. Both feet straight up in the air, landing flat on my back. So we spent a half hour trying to put my cleats together and getting them on me. They lasted until on our way back to shore after the tournament and I lost one of them. Walking with one cleat on, I fell forward on the glare ice. And no, it wasn't from drinking, it was an "ice accident". Here's Woogie visiting with our new friend Matt from St. Cloud.We actually only saw a couple fish caught during the contest. No one near us caught anything. But everyone looked like they where having a good time.

Woogie was a good "bag bitch" for the day. He's trying to get the job for Barbados.

Fishing Partner.....

I think I found someone to fish with Saturday. My son-in-law, Josh (aka: Woogie) said he'd like to go. We'll finalize the details today.

Ice Fishing Extravaganza

This Saturday is the Brainerd Jaycees annual ice fishing extravaganza on Gull Lake. I don't know if I'll be going out there again this year. I have an invitation to go out with Makita and Bill from the radio stations but I haven't decided if I want to do that again. I'd rather fish it but I don't have anyone to go with. Or at least no one's asked me and I haven't asked anyone to take me along. I guess I should make up my mind what I want to do since it is this Saturday. Maybe stay in where it's nice and warm.

Check out the details at http://www.icefishing.org/

So Long Seattle

What a bummer. Seattle lost 24 to 27 in OT to Chicago. It was an interesting game but ended badly.

Tribute to Mike's 24th Birthday

Today is my son Mike's 24th Birthday! Happy birthday kid!!

Duluth

Yesterday I changed hotels here in Duluth. I was staying in the Radisson but the folks at the radio staitions recommended that I go over to Fitger's. It's pretty cool. You can check it out at http://www.fitgers.com

I'm here until next Friday the 19th. Winter has settled in and it's cold and getting colder. Check it out: http://www.wunderground.com/US/MN/duluth.html

Got the "roofs" up

Last week we got the girls "roofs", that we got them for Christmas, put up over their beds. Both Kiehra and Kaylie are posing here for this photo.

An incredible project completed!

As some of you know, my friend Ellie took up doing stained glass a year ago last fall. As most things she does, Ellie really took it on. After a few weeks of classes she started buying all the tools necessary to accomplish her new hobby. Her husband, Dave, put together an area in the basement for her to do her work. Last Christmas many of us got some of Ellie's beginner pieces. They were very good considering she had done very little of it.

At one point Makita mentioned to Ellie that his mother Shirley and step dad Bill have been talking about putting a stained glass window in their side light next to their front door. Well that's all it took. Next thing I know it's in progress.

I went with Ellie to buy the glass. It was quite a deal. The lady that sold us the glass pretty much told Ellie she was out of her mind to tackle such a huge project. Well long story short, this all started in May and was finally completed in November. Ellie got all of us involved. I helped foil and Makita helped soder. But all in all Ellie did the work. And let me tell you, it is a lot of work.

It turned out great. Bill and Shirley were presented it for Christmas and this past weekend we prompted Dave and Ellie to come up to Bemidji and help install it.

Great night in sports!!!

I'm more prompted to say that "the Cowboys lost" than I am to say "the Seahawks won" but who cares? The Seahawks are going to the playoffs! What a wild and crazy game!

And my Avs win their third straight, beating the Wild 2-1 in an overtime shootout.

What a fine Saturday evening!

Rocky Balboa

Awesome movie! I loved it. I didn't think I'd get into it as much as I did. My friend Robin Hopp wanted to go, so she took me along. Thanks Robin! I'm glad you talked me in to it! And thanks for the popcorn too!

Here's the skinny of it:


Former heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) steps out of retirement and back into the ring, pitting himself against a new rival decades after his initial glory. When a computer simulated boxing match declares Rocky Balboa the victor over current champion Mason "The Line" Dixon, the legendary fighter's passion and spirit are reignited. But when his desire to fight in small, regional competitions is trumped by promoters calling for a rematch of the cyber-fight, Balboa must weigh the mental and physical risks of a high profile exhibition match against his need to be in the ring.

New Years Eve at Boeckermann's

At the stroke of Midnight we had our toast of Champagne.


Makita had a little Captain in 'im. Arrrrrr.



Shots of Ice Hole....

Ellie concentrates hard on her Mexican Train tiles while enjoying a Kesslers from a blinky glass she brought back from the ice skating rink on a cruise ship she was on in October.

I'm admiring my very strange new "fly rod" Ellie and Dave got me for Christmas.

Auburn wins the Cotton Bowl 17 to 14 over Nebraska

Here's a photo me and Lorrie took while at the Texas State Fair a couple years ago!

Happy New Year!

New look to my Blog....

I'm trying a new look. I think I like it.

Went and saw Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd is Robert DeNiro's fictionalized account of the birth and early years of the CIA. While the names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent, many of the characters have real-life counterparts. The lengthy movie (15 minutes shy of three hours) unspools like a cold war spy novel, with betrayals, double-crosses, triple-crosses, and fluid allegiances. The protagonist isn't the most sympathetic individual to reach the screen, but the vortex of moral and ethical uncertainties in which he becomes caught makes him an intriguing, although not likeable, individual.

It's a really intense movie. You really have to pay attention. I'll have to see it again. It has an incredible cast:

Matt Damon - Edward Wilson
Angelina Jolie - Clover/Margaret Russell
Alec Baldwin - Sam Murach
Tammy Blanchard-Laura
Billy Crudup -Arch Cummings
Robert De Niro -General Bill Sullivan
Keir Dullea -Senator Russell
Michael Gambon -Dr. Fredericks
Martina Gedeck -Hanna Schiller
William Hurt -Philip Allen
Timothy Hutton -Thomas Wilson
Mark Ivanir -Valentin Mironov #2
Gabriel Macht -John Russell, Jr.
Lee Pace -Richard Hayes

Joe Pesci -Joseph Palmi

Uff da! Christmas is over!!!!

What a whirlwind! I'm so glad it's over. If they changed it up to an everyother or even a every leap year holiday, that would be okay by me!

Here's Josh, Luke and Makita with their score of new hunting hats, gifts from Peggy and Jerry.

Winter Solstice

Thu., Dec. 21, 2006, marks the solstice—the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere

The precise moment of the 2006 solstice will be December 21, 2006 at 7:22 P.M. EST

Related Links
Astronomical Calendar: Dec. 2006
Seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, 2006
Seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, 2007
For Kids: Understanding the Solstice
External Links Sky and Telescope U.S. Naval Observatory

In astronomy, the solstice is either of the two times a year when the Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator, the great circle on the celestial sphere that is on the same plane as the earth's equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs either December 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn; the summer solstice occurs either June 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Cancer. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter and summer solstices are reversed.

Reason for the Seasons
The reason for the different seasons at opposite times of the year in the two hemispheres is that while the earth rotates about the sun, it also spins on its axis, which is tilted some 23.5 degrees towards the plane of its rotation. Because of this tilt, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight (creating winter) while the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight (creating summer). As the Earth continues its orbit the hemisphere that is angled closest to the sun changes and the seasons are reversed.

Longest Night of the Year
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, “sun” and -stitium, “a stoppage.” Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.

Grandkids Christmas Concerts

Last night was Christmas concert night. Both Kiehra and Kyle's classes performed in the first segment of the night. The place was packed. The kids did a good job and were really cute.
Here's Kiehra's 1st grade class. It's hard to see her but she's in the second row up, fourth kid from the right.


Here's Kyle's 2nd grade class. He's standing out front holding the white "Y" on the end. He didn't seem especially happy to be out there.

Happy Holidays! Where's the snow??

Vikings Game

I visited the Metrodome yesterday to watch the Minnesota Vikings make fools of themselves. Hang it up Mr. Johnson.

Finally at the end of third quarter, with a 7 to 26 point deficit, Minnesota chose to replace quartback starter Brad Johnson with rookie Tarvaris Jackson, the team's second-round draft choice. At times the Vikings offense was booed and the decision to send Jackson in was met with a favorable ovation !

Jackson did manage a fourth quarter touchdown to finish the game up at 13 to 26. It was fun to be at the game but boy oh boy the Vikings are a weak team. Though it will be fun to watch them play the Packers at Lambeau on TV this Thursday night.

Doggie Humor

Don't drink the water & don't eat the taco's

State's E. coli case total jumps from 3 to 14

Taco John's restaurants in Albert Lea and Austin are implicated, and produce is believed to be the source of the infections.

The number of people reportedly sickened in an E. coli outbreak in Minnesota grew from three to 14 Tuesday, and a second Taco John's fast-food restaurant was implicated in the cases.
A Taco John's in Albert Lea was linked to E. coli cases initially, but now half the 14 people reporting E. coli symptoms ate at the chain's Austin location, according to the state Department of Health.

Produce is the suspected culprit, Taco John's officials said Tuesday. Starting today the company, based in Cheyenne, Wyo., will have a new produce distributor, replacing a company that served 100 of the chain's 400 restaurants.

Today is Ol' Blues Eyes Birthday

Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and Academy Award-winning actor who many consider to be one of the finest male popular song vocalists of all time. Renowned for his impeccable phrasing and timing, critics place him alongside such artists as Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and The Beatles as one of the most important, popular and influential musical figures of the 20th century. He has sold over 250 million records worldwide.

Sinatra had a larger-than-life presence in the public eye and, over a seven-decade career in show business, became an American icon. His brash, sometimes swaggering attitude was perhaps best embodied by his signature songs "My Way", and "New York, New York", and more generally by his frequently gutsy cinematic performances. He also garnered considerable attention due to his alleged connections with the Mafia.

Bemidji State University Hockey

Friday night I got the opportunity to go to the Bemidji vs Duluth College hockey game in Bemidji (thank you Bill and Shirley for the ticket!) It was a super fun game. They skated hard, played fast and Bemidji won 5 to 2. The following night Bemidji traveled to Duluth for the rematch and still kicked their butt with a 6 to 5 win in overtime.

http://info.bemidjistate.edu/Sports/sports/mhockey/

Radiothon to End Child Abuse

It's time for the 2006 WJJY, B93.3 The Power Loon and Cool 103.5 Radiothon to End child Abuse starting at noon Thursday December 7th through noon Friday December 8th. Since 1994, people in the lakes area have suported the Radioton to End Child Abuse with donations totaling $630,000. The Radiothon has also increased awareness of the problem of chld abuse and neglect. Listen again this year to find out what is being done in our communities to help end child abuse. Please make your pledge, bid on valuable auction items and support the 13th Annual Radiothon.

The ski lift is just three blocks from my hotel

I'm staying at: http://www.mountainchaletaspen.com/

Aspen Colorado

I made it to Aspen this afternoon. This is the view from my balcony off my Mountain Chalet. Now I'm going to go walk downtown and check it out!