Back At It.

So I quit Facebook on January 30^th 2011 or maybe it was the day before I forget. I quit for a couple of reasons one being: 2012 will have people leaving these social sites to keep private, and I was and am a leader in these movements so I shut it down. Another reason is I just don’t have time anymore.  Life is too crazy busy as it is, having Facebook just clutters up more!

I have not blogged for longer than that because I am just too busy!! Between work and 2 kids and wife, a dog and cat, hunting, chores around the house, a cabin that needs wood cut and chores done, social activities with friends and even just sitting around doing nothing – I have a full plate! (don’t we all)

Well, I have decided to blog at least 2 times each month (more if desired) because…  well just because. Not sure who reads this thing if anyone but if ever I run for public office I want them to be able to dig up good dirt on me from my Blog…..:)  That is not totally true – but worthy of a post non-the-less.  Attached is my latest fun thing…. www.myendfuneral.com

why do i blog?

From the looks of things I haven’t done it since May!!!

Well I broke my leg there on June 30th and was the most painful thing I have ever done in my life! Broke the ankle, tib and fib, 11 screws and a plate put this humpty back together again.

Pales in comparison to my friend Tom Corey who passed away from a long battle with cancer. Way too young and with young kids. From what I understand, my pain was minor to what he went through his last month of life.
And my friend Justin Crane who is in the midst of his battle with the same disease. Justin is a giant man and to see this crap take him down is so scary to me.

But all this is a reminder that life is a gift. Every day should be full. Hug your kids, take 5 more minutes to play or visit with a loved one. “We don’t know the hour when will come so be prepared always”.

So I haven’t blogged because I found more important things to do. Or maybe I think “who cares” (and I do think that). But for the few of you that do – know I am living life more today than I did back in May. And no matter what, laugh – its free.
Psalm 34 vs 4

Cameraman at Cathedral

Today I am in the balcony of the Cathedral of Saint Paul for the ordination of 5 new priests.
It’s actually pretty inspiring! This is such an old Cathedral. And in the balcony you get to see some old stuff. Like the wall that holds the huge stained glass cross pictured here. It is as if the wall is untouched after placing the wall of glass 100 years ago. The wall seems 6′ thick.

The music people are up here as well, and they are magical. Just the way the huge organ plays and the director Lawrence Lawyer just commands the singers, percussion,horns and bagpipes.

All of this for 5 new priests to feel empowered by this great sacrament of priesthood. Now out to the flock to lead to salvation.

Kinda happy BS these days with all bad press of priest and the catholic church gets. But I love history of the church. Who knows what religion or belief is the right one, but this history of the Cathedral of Saint Paul is pretty cool no matter what you believe. They built this thing back when you first had to make tools to make the building.

I am excited to help here today and be witness to this sacrament. I’m also glad I got the balcony camera position.

I’ll pray for you, if you pray for me.
(Start now)

sushi night

So, at about 11am my brother Fred calls up and says “I just got back from Mexico and have 25lbs of Yellow Tail we need to eat”

I said “sushi or grill” he said “both! I got 25lbs of it!!l

So I got on the phone. First I called my wife who was more than excited to have sushi. Next I sent a message to all my brothers who eat sushi. Brother Mike fwd’s it on to our friend Ken who has Naz the sushi chef at his disposal. Ken calls me and we take inventory of supplies and agree that we start to prepare by 6pm.

When I arrive home with beer and wine, brother Freddie is on the phone and another car pulls up…the word spread.

Last Minute Impromptu Sushi Parties are the best!

Bradley shows up with corn on the cob, Uncle Bunnie shows up with French wine and chips, one of Freddies buddies just landed and shows up with a case of beer… Next thing you know 20 people are standing around watching Naz make sushi!

What fun! Its an art to make it and its a treat to eat! We grilled some we sushied some but we ate it all!

Good times and its only Monday! Wonder what the rest of the week will be like?! Hard to compete with impromptu Sushi!

cobbler made easy

Put in a dutch oven,
1can cherry pie filling,1can chunk of pineapple,1box regular cake mix, sick of butter, cover and put into fire.
Wait 40 minutes and serve.
Does it get any easier on a may day in the back yard burning sticks?

Kids love it
Adults love it
Try it, you may love it.
Great camping sweet treat!

Been a while

So I have not posted in sometime so I thought I would post some fun Videos I have been involved in.
Some of these are old, but still worth a second look. Like this Vocal interpretation or how about FAST EDDIE

How about these Classics! Junior #1 Junior #2 Junior #3 Junior #4

Enjoy!

40 days

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son to us, that who shall ever believe shall not die but always live.
Believe it.
I do and always will.
(You can name the quote if you want)

snowed out

So my lovely wife decided we needed a little “weekend” away and we chose to go to San Francisco in February! What a smart wife! We planned a long weekend over presidents day, because she has Fridays off we left on thursday night and stayed till Monday. That was until Minnesota got snowed in and our flight was canceled leaving San Fran on Monday. (Oh dear, must stay another day or maybe two in sunny and 60 California)
Turns out my brother Fred, a pilot, got bumped as well and ended up in San Francisco too! As he was at the air port I called him and he confirmed what we thought, all flights in and out of Mlps were canceled. He was able to help us get switched to San Jose, where we ended up on Sunday and to fly out of San Jose a day early.

So we arrived in San Francisco on thursday afternoon and were picked up by cuzzin Fritz and wisked off to Napa Valley wine country for some off season deals. My lovely wife has never been,I had, but she was in heaven even though it was over cast, sparsely raining and 50 degrees. We toured and tasted 5 vineyards and had dinner at Tra Vigne (awesome awesome food and drink) Cuzzin Fritz is a blast and we laughed and laughed! He returned us to San Fran where we stayed at a “hotwire” rate at the Mosser Hotel down town San Fran. We awoke to a little rain but in wonderful city by the bay! Cuzzin Claire picked us up and took us all over the city of San Fran. We saw so much! China town, lunch at fishermans warf, golden gate park, golden gate bride and then on to Berkeley to her home for the night. Her fun husband Dana arrived for dinner and we enjoyed the visiting and catching up all evening long.
We awoke to a great breakfast and the arrival of cuzzin Anne for a tour of Berkeley (because of rain) we had a great lunch at Wood and the “True Grit” at the local cinema. We then went to the Berkeley Bowl for fresh produce for dinner and the arrival of cuzzin Mary for dinner and a ride to Uncle Fred and Aunt Muriels in San Jose.
What fun to visit with all the cuzzys!
In San Jose we awoke to great breakfast and then a tour of the country side on our way to lunch at Pebble Beach! 17th Green – ocean view and AMAZING experience.
The ride along 17mile road was so cool to see the extravagant homes and just the views!
We arrived back at Muriel and Freds for Dungunus Crab dinner with Mary and Fred and Mur. This is when we learned we got snowed out of Minnesota!
By the next day, Fritz and Freddy arrived for Sushi lunch for Fritz’s Birthday! At this point we had Fred Cubed with us and we sent Fred Squared packing and Mary took us to another Movie, “the Kings Speech” and Dinner at Sammys BBQ.
We awoke to another amazing breakfast by Auntie Mur and visiting until we departed at 11am back to MINUTE and our little kiddos!

Couldn’t have asked for a better tour of California! All was great!

the Medalion

For years my family has hunted for the treasure. The pioneer press in conjunction with the “coolest celebration on earth” the Saint Paul Winter Carnival has held this treasure hunt for years.
It starts the Sunday before Carnival with a clue in the paper letting people know its in a park in saint paul.
My old man used to take us kids out with every kind of digging tool known to man. Shovels, rakes, ice choppers, ice pics, hoes, broken broomsticks. One year I remember bringing a paint roller on a long stick just for looks.
He would have us read the clues back to him and would use his powers of elimination to get us to the correct park. One year I remember him putting a coin in the void of a tree in hopes that another hunter would stumble upon it and think they “found the treasure”.
Later in life, brother Fred would get us to help him sell “Hoozier Doggie Hot Dogs” at the parks. We would make a killing! No other food vendors anywhere, and once the hunters smelled the great smell of steamed hot dogs, they lined up and bought hot dogs and talked about theory and clue meaning. One year our hot dog stand was with in feet of the spot where the medallion was found.
Every year I love to dream about finding it. It gets harder and harder because of technology. People at the Pioneer Press office, txting the clues to people at the 10pm nightly release of the next clue. GPS and other tools bring people closer faster.
My thought is to watch the “main” parks early on… See where the clue writer might be placing the treasure well before the snow falls.

This year I would have thought it would go the 12 clues due to the heavy snow fall – but some smart people figured it out on clue #7.

There is always next year! And the dream continues! Thanks Pioneer Press for doing it, and thanks mom and dad for the years and hours we spent as kids looking and digging and dreaming about finding the loot!

what a year

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our last offical knighting