Super Bowl XLII

Sunday marks the 42nd NFL Super Bowl. As you may remember I predicted way back when that it would be the Patriots vs the Packers. Well that went all to hell when the NY Giants removed the Packers from the mix a couple weeks ago.

All I can tell you is when #67 Patriots Center Dan Koppen bends over and you hear "Hut Hut Hike" and he hands over the pig skin to #12 Patroits Mr. Tom Brady, it's going to be exciting!

Oh ya, we all want little Eli to have a good game but I have to root for the undefeated New England Patroits. The only down side to them winning is that Randy Ass Moss will get a ring. Sad.

I will be watching the game at Dan Goshey's again this year. Dan and Julie put out a spread like you can't believe. And their bar, Charnies, is always fully stocked. And rumor is there's a new 47 inch television in the family room.

Ground Hogs Day

http://www.groundhog.org/

Some may think Groundhogs Day is a pretty stupid day. A furry, dumb critter comes out of his hole and looks for his shadow and from there makes some lame prediction about how much winter is remaining. Now I know for a fact there's a hell of a lot of winter remaining no matter what that varmint sees or doesn't see.

As the legend would have it, on February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob - in front of thousands of followers from all over the world - to predict the weather for the rest of winter. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

Now all this craziness takes place in Punxsutawney Philadelphia. And I don't know about you but something in me wants me to get on the next plane to go see this madness. And you can bet I've put it on the list. Yep, the bucketlist.

This Groundhogs day is special to me because it will be 10 years since I've smoked a cigarette. Wow... time flies. I could use a smoke just thinking about it. But don't be sad, I've promised myself that if I live to be 80 I'm going to pick up the habit again. I'm looking forward to it.

It's Damn Cold

It's so damn cold, they're closing the schools tomorrow. Tonight's forecast is "Dangerous wind chills may approach -50 degrees. Temps will dip down to -22 with winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts up over 40 mph. Tomorrow will be bitterly cold with dangerous wind chills approaching -45 degrees. High will only reach -4". Bundle up folks!

Girl Scout Cookie Time

Well the Girl Scouts are in full swing selling their cookies. My granddaughter Kiehra stopped by this past weekend to give her pitch. I'm going with five different varieties this time.

This years choices include: All Abouts, Do-Si-Dos, Lemon Chalet Cremes, Samoas, Tag-alongs, Thin Mints, Trefoils and Sugar Free Chocolate Chips. Below is a link for all the descriptions. If anyone would like to order some just let me know. I'll make sure you get them wherever you are. Cost is $3.50 per box. //www.littlebrowniebakers.com/cookies/cookies_main.html

Western Lost All Star Game

Well it was a fun game to watch even if we didn't win. The Eastern Conference ended up winning 8 to 7 with only 20 seconds to go. During the game Gaborick from Minnesota had a goal and Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets not only scored the quickest goal in All Star History but also had a hat trick (three goals). Paul Stastny from Colorado didn't play because he went and had his appendix removed.

It was fun. But now back to regular season play please. Right now Minnesota is leading their Division but it's anyone's to win (with maybe the exception of Edmonton). Wild has 59 points, Flames 58 points, Canucks 57 points and Avalanche 56 points.

Tomorrows NHL All Star Game

Tomorrow night Atlanta will host NHL's 56th All Star Game. Tune in at 5pm Central time

on Versus. On the Western Conference I'm going to be watching for Marian Gaborik from the Minnesota Wild making his second All Star appearance and Paul Stastny from the Colorado Avalanche making his first. The West should be strong with 4 Detroit players, three of whom fans voted in to play in the starting line up. The Western Conference coaching staff will be made up of Head coach, Mike Babcock, Detroit and Assistant coach, Ron Wilson, San Jose

The National Hockey League All-Star Game is an exhibition hockey game that traditionally marks the midway point of the National Hockey League's regular season, with many of the league's star players playing against each other. The starting lineup for the two teams, including the starting goaltender, is voted on by fans, while the remainder of the teams' rosters are chosen by the NHL's Hockey Operations Department in consultation with the teams' General Managers. The coaches for the two All-Star Game teams are typically the head coaches of the teams that, at the time of the All-Star Game roster announcements, are leading their respective conferences in point percentage (i.e. fraction of points obtained out of total possible points).

Blogs New Look

I've been playing around with my blog today. I hope you like it's new look.

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!!