In Memory of DD

I realize you can't read this obituary because it's so small but I wanted to include it in this post. Diane was a very good friend to my sister Lorrie for many years. At just 43 years old, it's a huge tragedy and shock she's gone. She was snowshoeing this past Saturday and simply died. As of this moment we still do not know what killed her. Her body was transported to Denver for an autopsy and we're awaiting the results.

Just over a year ago Lorrie and Makita went hiking in the Grand Canyon with Diane. Here's a photo of Kirk, Makita, Diane and Lorrie during that hike.

Here is some of what the obituary says "A celebration of the life of Diane Kae DeBoer will be at 5:00 pm, Thursday, January 24th, 2008 at Highland Park Community Church in Casper. Military Honors will be afforded by the Natrona County United Veterans Council and the Wyoming Army National Guard. Visitation will be from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm Wednesday at Bustard's Funeral Home.

Diane died unexpectedly on Saturday January 19th while cross-country skiing in the Wind River Mountains with her soul mate Clint Conner.

Diane was born November 9, 1964 to Wesley and Sally Boerner in Winner, SD. Her siblings include twin sister Debra Rae, brother Dewayne and sister Dawn.

Diane graduated from Chamberlain High School in 1983 and attended court reporting school in Sioux Falls SD. In 1991 Diane moved to Casper with her husband Derek DeBoer and continued work as a Court Reporter. She enjoyed her many travels and all the new people she met. Derek and Diane later divorced.

In July 1997 Diane joined the Wyoming Army National Guard. Her military career included 15 month tour in Iraq where her Unit (the 14th ID) was responsible for the capture of Saddam Hussein. She was Honorably discharged after having reached the rank of Staff Sgt. in July of 2005.

Ini 2000 Diane started her career at the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming as Chief Judge William F. Downes' Deputy Clerk. She was a great asset to the Courthouse and will be greatly missed by her Court Family.

Diane touched so many lives and never met a person that wasn't a friend. Family, to Diane, wasn't only bonded by blood. She never passed up an opportunity to try something new. She was an avid hiker, kayak er, skier, golfer, biker and she recently found a new interest in snowboarding. She had accomplished everything from skydiving to hiking down the Grand Canyon. She enjoyed all the seasons of Wyoming and all it had to offer."

Salute from Cabo Wabo

One day we disembarked in Los Cabos and went over to Sammy Hagar's bar, Cabo Wabo. We had some cerveza and a shot of Sammy's tequila.

Home from Cruise'n

More details later.... Here's a shot of "Barney" and what looks like a Bloody Mary. Barney had a good time!

Minnesota Wild....go wild!

My friend Dan is a Minnesota Wild season ticket holder. He and a few of his friends that are also season ticket holders went on a road trip this past week to see Minnesota play in Detroit and in Chicago. Holy cow! The Detroit game was out of this world. Detroit is not only currently leading their Division (Central) and their Conference (Western) but they're also leading the entire leaque with 70 points. The next highest is Ottawa with 60 points. Minnesota currently has 52 points and my beloved Av's have just 47. But what happened Thursday night was awesome. Minnesota beat Detroit in a shoot out. It was very exciting. Then on Friday they beat the Blackhawks in Chicago 5 to 2. Good games to go to Dan!

On another Wild note: MINNESOTA WILD TO BE SOLD TO CRAIG LEIPOLD – FORMER OWNER OF NASHVILLE PREDATORS.

Today in History

My son, Michael, celebrates his 25th birthday today. He shares it with a few famous folks. Rod Stewart now 63 years old, Pat Benatar now 55 years old and George Foreman who was born in 1949 making him 59 years old. Foreman, a high school dropout, learned to box in the Job Corps. In 1968 he was the Olympic heavyweight gold medalist. Foreman beat Joe Frazier for the world heavyweight crown in 1973 and defended the title twice before losing to Muhammad Ali. He retired to the ministry in 1977, but launched a comeback in 1987, losing a title fight at age 43. In 1994 Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles and become the world's oldest heavyweight champion, but he was stripped of the WBA crown in 1995 and relinquished the IBF title the same year.

On a much more serious note, yesterday January 9, marks the 25th anniversary of the last time Brainerd had a commercial plane crash that killed one and seriously injured another. My friend Ellie's sister, Barbara, just so happened to survive that plane crash. Republic Airlines Flight # 927, Minneapolis-St Paul - Brainerd, Convair 580-11A, 33 (passengers:30 crew:3), Fatalities: 1 (passengers:1 crew:0), The plane landed 1,725 feet beyond the runway threshold, right wing down, veered to the right until the right propeller struck a 2 to 3 foot snow bank. The blade separated from the engine and penetrated the cabin. Proper alignment not attained by pilot in command. Terrain condition, snow bank. Lack of NOTAM. Improper snow removal.

Snowshoeing

This past weekend it really warmed up here. We went snowshoeing on Saturday.
If you see snow all over me it may be from a fall.

Correction: Seattle and Green Bay will play next Saturday 4:30pm EST in Green Bay not in Seattle as I earlier said.

Seahawks kick some Redskin ass!!!!

What an awesome game! Seattle 35 Redskins 14. At one point I thought maybe the Redskins was going to pull it off. But no way. Seattle is going forward to play the Greenbay Packers in Seattle next weekend. Now that will be a game. I'm rooting for Seattle but question if they have what it takes to go against Farve.

My nationality is mainly Irish and Norwegian with a dash of English and I would guess a few other things. I've tried living up to my Irish roots by loving a pint of ale on most any occasion. This St. Patricks day I'll be in St. Paul for the celebrations. Next St. Patricks day I'll be in Ireland. That being said, in effort to live up to my Norwegian roots I've tried cooking some things in Norwegian tradition. I just finally figured out lefse. It took me awhile and a few resources. My friend Bonnie Franke helped tremendously. She gave me all the important tips and a real good recipe. When I went to buy the equipment I ended up at Chef and Company, a kitchen store here in Baxter. Chef and Company has all the kitchen gadgets you can dream up and they also have a huge actual kitchen where they conduct cooking classes and demonstrations. It just so happened that when I walked in there a lady was in the kitchen making lefse. After speaking with her I found out that the very next day they were having a free lefse "clinic". So the next day I went over there and they put an apron on me and let me use their stuff to cook lefse. They even let me take my creations home. So I thought I was all ready. I had all the equipment minus the actual lefse griddle. I used a griddle I already had. But my grittle didn't get hot enough and the lesfe was just okay. It dries out if you don't cook it hot and fast enough. So now I'm on the lookout for a lefse griddle. Walmart had them at Christmas time for around $70.00. I haven't been back since before the holidays so I don't know if they still have any but I'm thinking if they do they may be marked down. I'll have to check it out.

The other Norwegian thing I want to properly cook is potato dumplings called coumpa (Koom-pa) or klub (cloob). My sister Lorrie has been making them for years. I tried it for the first time last year and on a scale of 1 to 10 I'd say I scored an eight. But this year I think I can improve on them. I received a Kitchen Aide mixer and the grinder attachment as gifts and I'm hoping that they may help.

NFL Playoff Bracket

I do not see the Minnesota Vikings listed on this playoff bracket. Huh. They stink. They blew it. Brad texted me last night from the game in Denver. Where he proudly waltzed in in a purple jersey and left totally deflated and disgusted. His last text simply said "Jackson Sucks". Well said Brad, well said.

Anyone that knows me, knows that New England is a favorite and of course Brett "I'm crying again" Favre is a fantastic QB. So I'll be leaning that way. I always cheer for the Seahawks but don't know how they'll fair against Greenbay, if they get past the Redskins, who seem to be on fire right now.

Kim's forecast says Patriots vs Packers for Superbowl 42 in Glandale Arizona February 3rd.

Cruise'n the Pacific

The holidays are over (HALLELUJAH). My old ass is about wore out. Now I'm sick with a soar throat and my head has some sinus/cold thing. So you may detect a whiny, feel sorry for myself tone. But there's a light at the end of the tunnel. A Mexican Riviera cruise leaving January 13th. Makita, his dad Jim and myself will be flying to San Diego on Saturday January 12th and sailing on the Princess Dawn on Sunday January 13th. We'll shove off at 4:00 PM, Monday the 14th we'll be at sea all day, Tuesday the 15th we'll be in Cabo San Lucas from 8:00AM to 6:00PM, Wednesday the 16th we'll be Mazatlan from 7:00AM to 5:00PM, Thursday the 17th we'll be in Puerto Vallarta from 8:00AM to 10:00PM, then Friday and Saturday the 18th and 19th we'll be at sea all day and Sunday the 20th we'll wake up in San Diego. Sounds like Una cerveza, por favor. Uno? No, mucho cervaza, por favor.

Holiday Funnies!

http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/view/aKHLN5pgwfQZ9TwVztNROFYc


http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/view/mpAeP6M1pnSLoL80pH4VcDfq

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas (hey, my sista's a ho)...just kidding Lorrie. I just love saying it.

The Marketron Brainerd Office party is now winding down. The potluck was a little boring with just the meatballs. The cookie exchange was a little boring with just my one dozen cookies. But I did win the decorating contest with my window decorations shown above.

Okay, so having a Christmas celebration in the Marketron Brainerd office wasn't the best idea because I'm the only person in the Brainerd office. But I loved my secret Santa gift. Yep I got a Jeff Gordon Bobble Head and a Jeff Gordon fishing spoon.

So now all that's left is the cocktail party. WooHoo!!

Holiday Eating Tips

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an "eggnog-aholic" or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it!!!! Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? LaborDay?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips: start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO- HOO what a ride!

~Happy Holidays~

Brainerd Office Celebration Con't

Things are still progressing with the Marketron Brainerd office holiday celebration. The cookie exchange is today. I brought in a dozen cookies for each person that signed up. Well that would be just me. So in other words I'll be eating a dozen of my own cookies for lunch today. I've put a few items in the food shelf collection box. We will be distributing that on Friday.

I put a stuffed Raven dog in the Toys for Tots collection box.

Christmas Party signup sheets are up!

There's sign up sheets posted in the office for the cookie exchange and the potluck lunch. Deadline to sign up for the cookie exchange is today.

Secret Santa Gift

Just between you and me, the person I drew for the Secret Santa gift exchange loves NASCAR and Jeff Gordon specifically. So I put together a couple items to give them during the Secret Santa gift exchange next week.

The "Ox Spoon" with Jeff's picture is a great lure that is ideal for casting and trolling for most game fish. And the Jeff Gordon Bobble Head with laser-scanned likeness, highly detailed artwork and a real-life pose is a gift sure to please.

A few of us from the Brainerd Office got Elfed

Hey folks check out this link for a laugh:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1304899873

Tenitive Christmas Party Plans

The Brainerd Marketron Office Christmas Office Party Committee met yesterday and discussed at length what we should do this year. We've decided to extend the party out for all of next week. Here are some of the items we plan to do:

1. Secret Santa

2. Cubicle Christmas Decorating Contest

3. Cookie Exchange

4. Potluck Lunch

5. Toys for Tots drive

6. Food Shelf drive

7. Cocktail Hour

So far the only thing set in stone is the Cocktail Hour, which we'll have at 3:30PM on Friday December 21st. We still have somemore planning to do for the rest of the events.

Marketron Broadcast Solutions, Brainerd Office, Christmas Party

Well we're in the planning stages of the Brainerd Office Christmas Party. I've been appointed the chairman of the planning committee. I'll keep you posted to what we're planning.

Can you say "Par-Tay

Well considering we got a foot of snow Saturday, Makita's 40th was quite a success. There were a lot of people that braved the snowy drive and showed up to celebrate. The biggest surprise was when my sister Lorrie and our friend Starla (aka: Stormy) showed up from Wyoming. Well actually they had driven four hours from Casper to Denver and then flown from Denver into Minneapolis on Friday. Then they went down to Benson to see my brother. Then on Saturday during the big old blizzard they drove up to Brainerd from Benson (under normal conditions a 3 hour drive). So we were pretty surprised to see them to say the least.

As the night progressed there were many rounds of shots. Last count Makita had 10 shots of various kinds. Here's his second of Patron tequila.

Here we have Jessi and Mike helping Makita out with a little Village People YMCA (missing the A and spelled backwards) .

Ahhhhh.....a shot of Bushmills Irish Whiskey (a gift from Lorrie and Brad) for some of the Irishmen in the group.

Grandma Piggy turned into quite the dart player.

Lorrie and Kimkay, water and soda, designated drivers.

Shep, Makita and Lorrie doing a shot of Patron (hey wait...wasn't Lorrie a driver?).

A round of Scoobie Snacks for the whole bar! Cheers! (hey wait, do I see those two drivers?)

You can't have a party at Shep's without a big Elbow initiation. Here's a bunch of folks that got their Elbow cards (now up over 13,000 members) and threw their dollars on the ceiling to help pay for the Elbow Convention this next August.

Shirley played the Accordion for us. That was a big huge treat. She played at Makita's 21st birthday too but he didn't hear it...cause he was puking in the dumpster at the time.

Daughter Tonya, Daughter in-law Jessi and friend Robin. You can see the girls are having fun.

Oh no... look who showed up. I do believe it's the Grim Reaper. Happy Birthday Makita!