Snow is Here

 Winter has finally come for its annual visit. And so it will overstay its welcome for the next five months. 

Flurries and snow showers have been falling for days now, nonstop. The season has gradually snuck up on us and now we've gotten several inches of accumulating snow. I blew out the driveway Tuesday and it'll need to be done again in the very near future. Even as I write this, flurries continue to fall. It doesn't seem so bad while sipping a mug of hot apple cider.

Ava's fall play, "Father of the Bride" opens Friday (tomorrow). She's stressed about that, putting in very long hours over the past week. She was promoted to stage manager for the theater department this year (she was assistant stage manager last year); it's something she really wanted to do and this is a big test to see whether it was a good idea. She's doing well with it to be honest, and it is certainly a learning experience. I know she takes pride in what she's doing after texting me a picture of the set last night:

"Father of the Bride" BHS Theater Dept, 17 Nov 2022 

Since last posting, our upstairs shower is complete. Now we are waiting for someone to sheetrock around the surround and another to install the bathroom flooring. This is all being coordinated by our plumber and the pace is... well, there is no pace. We've come to another standstill. It has been a very frustrating experience. We are now two solid months without a second shower.

I saw my doctor this morning for a check-up. Not surprisingly, he added a new blood pressure medication. In a month he wants me to do bloodwork to make sure my liver and kidneys aren't being pickled. To think, this could all be avoided (probably) if I could get motivated to lose weight like I did in 2012. Actually, I'm not as heavy as I thought I was going to be. I weighed in at 251 pounds today, which is about 14 or 15 pounds less than what I was at my heaviest some ten years ago.

I started reading a book by Jon Meacham called And There Was Light. It is a biography on Abraham Lincoln; I've read multiple biographies/studies on Lincoln and I always find something new and interesting about him. He's one of my favorite historical figures. I read American Lion by Meacham a couple of years ago, a biography on Andrew Jackson. So far, his new book is proving to be just as good as that one.

I suppose that's it for now. Looking forward to absolute darkness at 5:00 PM. Not. My wife and I have come to an agreement that we have to do something in the evenings to keep us occupied. We cannot go to bed at 7:00 PM (even though it feels tempting). Maybe we'll hold a winter-long gin or rummy tournament? Anything is better than staring at the t.v.

Windy Day

 Not really sure what to write this Sunday morning. I lead a most boring life. 

This past Monday was the first Halloween evening shift I worked in 15 or 16 years. I've always had Halloween evening off so I could take the kids trick-or-treating. But that is now part of history. It went by so fast and it sure was fun. Instead of trick or treating, my daughter and a couple of her friends went door to door collecting canned goods for the school's food shelf (part of the high school's Interact Club, I believe), but my son wasn't interested in getting dressed up.

So I worked Halloween night. 

I reviewed my health insurance benefits this morning and submitted that (the annual "benefits review"). I'm not even sure if I am going to be employed at this place in another six months, but obviously my family can't be without health insurance. I hate this feeling of the unknown. Some people fly by the seat of their pants every day. That's not me. 

In other news, we are still waiting for the panel for our upstairs shower, so we are still functioning on a single shower. We're going on two months now. Nice.

Deer hunting opener was yesterday. I woke to the sound of gunfire this morning. There is a slough just to the west of our house and it is a prime hunting location (deer, duck, etc.). It is only about a mile away and for 21 years I've been waiting for a bullet to come flying through my house. Hasn't happened yet, but it always enters my mind this time of year.

The clocks fell back last night. The sun now officially sets at 5:00 PM, and it is only going to get earlier. I absolutely hate this time of year; I can't stand these 13, 14, 15 hour nights. I need one of those happy lights that make you think the sun is still up. 

Several forecasts are suggesting snow on Thursday/Friday. Weather Underground is forecasting 4" of snow, Accuweather is calling for a wintry mix, Apple Weather says an inch or so. The common denominator is a near certainty that it will snow later this coming week. I am on call Thursday, naturally. 

A very windy day today, so something must be brewing...

Sunday, 30 October 2022

 A crisp Sunday morning. Clear skies, sunny and a bit chilly (47°F), but it feels good. 

The Mugwugs played a private Halloween party last night south of St. Cloud, near a tiny town called Rockville. We had a good time, sounded decent. I think the crowd enjoyed themselves. I got home a little after 11:00 PM and made some fun money in the process.

My lost book finally arrived via Amazon, days after it was supposed to be here. I had claimed a lost package (actually, Amazon suggested it was lost) and they sent a replacement. Now have have duplicate books, so I will have to return one. Or maybe I will just keep it? The jury's out.

Our shower debacle continues.  We STILL do not have an upstairs shower. The plumbers were here to finish the job this week, only to discover another panel to the surround is cracked at the bottom. The company was again kind enough to send another replacement which we are now waiting for (although at this point I am questioning the quality of the product). I cannot believe our bad luck with this project. 

...actually, that's not true. If it is going to go wrong, it will happen to me. 

So we are going on week six without an upstairs shower. It has really, really tested my patience. Our plumber does feel bad about it, though. He did say to let him know as soon as the panel comes in and they will make the time to come out and finish.

Today is reserved to be a lazy day for me. This past week has absolutely sucked at work -- the worst it has ever been. It is to the point where I am contemplating looking for another job, but that's a lot to digest. I am too old to start over again doing something else. I've done the college thing and soon my kids will be going to college. It is their turn now, I've had my shot; if I screwed up, that's on me, not on them. 

I have nearly 25 years invested with the organization, I have climbed the seniority ladder, and I have well over 500 hours of sick time which I've earned, but will lose if I leave. Can I tough it out for another 10 to 12 years before I can seriously think about retiring? I'm not sure. Maybe if I stopped caring about the quality of my work, if I just did the bare minimum and went home for the day, it would make it easier. Maybe that's the answer.

It is a pity because I know I am very good at what I do, but the company I work for does not give two shits about its employees. Simply put, it is miserable working for shitty people. And yeah, I know this is on the web and can be read by anyone. I won't mince words about how I feel. Fucking fire me.

I have a lot of thinking to do about this.

That said, I am going to plant my ass in front of my 72 inch t.v. and watch NFL Redzone all day. A Bloody Mary is undoubtedly on the radar as well. Maybe two.

Monday Morning

 Monday morning, a beautiful thing. I was on call this past weekend and I am glad it is over. I logged in 18 hours of work time and I never sleep well when I'm on call, so I am pretty tired. There's a good chance a nap is on my radar today.

My wife texted me on Saturday to tell me our thermostat wasn't working right (again). It keeps going dead (the screen goes blank) despite fresh batteries. It was a programmable high tech thing when I originally installed it (I am guessing 12 years ago?). I am disappointed it didn't last as long as I was expecting, but nothing is built to last anymore. 

Anyway, a poorly functioning thermostat is not a good thing going into the winter months, especially in Minnesota. So this morning I installed a new thermostat. It is a simple, non-programmable digital model. I am all about keeping it simple at this point in my life. 

Also, on Friday my wife's mysterious iPhone showed up! It took four times longer than it should have, but it finally arrived no worse for wear.

And in the continuing saga of things not arriving on time, I ordered a book from Amazon a week ago (And There Was Light by Jon Meachem). Today I got a notice that said "Your package might be lost, click here for a refund or a replacement."

My package was last seen at the Baxter post office some five days ago (the post office is about four miles from my house). I have no idea why getting a package to my residence is so incredibly difficult. It isn't like I live in the middle of absolutely nowhere.

A face only a mother (and father) could love. 

My daughter is a member of Key Club (a high school club) and that organization was on the "scare team" at the Northland Arboretum's haunted trail last weekend. She loves putting on (and creating) special effects make-up and she was completely in her element. I have to admit she does look a bit horrifying.

Today is my only off this week (my first day off since last Wednesday). After I get off work Friday, my band is rehearsing and we are playing a private Halloween party in St. Cloud on Saturday. We haven't played since the end of July, but I think everything will fall into place pretty fast. It will be fun to make music again and get away from work-related crap. Ugh.

More updates to come...

The '78 approach

 I was just a kid in 1978, but I do believe life wasn't quite as hectic as it is today. No smartphones. No internet. Instant access to information was science fiction. Life just came at you and you dealt with stuff on a day-by-day basis. You learned about the world on the evening news with John Chancellor (NBC) or Walter Cronkite (CBS). You got local news from the newspaper (Bertha Herald) and radio (KWAD). 

Whatever was going to happen tomorrow was saved for tomorrow. 

That's not the case today with all the conveniences of modern technology and instant information. In fact, instant access and up-to-the-second information can cause a great deal of unwarranted anxiety.

What do I mean? I'm glad you asked!

I bought a new iPhone 14 for my wife early last week. She has a very old iPhone 8 with a battery ready for the graveyard and it is way past due for an upgrade. I ordered the new phone from Verizon and it was shipped via UPS; I've done this at least five times in the past and things have always gone smoothly. 

Not this time. But if it wasn't for instant information, I wouldn't be nearly as stressed.

The main cause for my consternation is this new phone is not, shall we say, cheap. And 99% of my fretting is based off that fact alone. 

Anyway, according to UPS's tracking system, my package (the new phone) arrived at the UPS facility in my city on Monday, October 17. Shortly after that, it was out for delivery. Fantastic!

Except it never arrived. 

Later that evening, the tracking system updated my package as "processing at UPS facility," still in my city, just six miles (give or take) from where I live.

I thought this was odd, but rationalized that it must have been sorted to the wrong truck for delivery (I don't know how UPS is organized); surely the phone will come Tuesday. 

Well, that didn't happen. It went unscanned for 48 hours.

This caused more than a little concern for me. Unfortunately, as I've become older, I've developed into a terrible worry-wart. I cannot just let things play out. I have to brood, agonize and lose sleep over ridiculous things (I do remember my dear grandma Walker was the same way, so maybe it is genetic). Yes, I am working very hard on that gastric ulcer. 

Always one to act prematurely, I started investigating the claims process through UPS and Verizon's policy for a lost package. I tend to take the doomsday approach to almost everything. Worst possible scenario: that's me. 

Meanwhile, I could not understand how the most technologically advanced shipping service in the world could lose a package just miles from its destination?

Somehow we go from Minnesota to Florida without a single scan. I can't even....

Now this morning, October 18, my package is "on the way" and has suddenly departed from a facility in Jacksonville, Florida.

Wait... what?

How on earth did this package go from Minnesota to Florida without being scanned even once? It was never listed as "departed" from a facility in Minnesota or "arrived" to a facility in Florida. It just POOF! appeared (and departed) in Jacksonville overnight. 

Was it even in Minnesota? But if it wasn't, why was it "out for delivery" on Monday? It hurts my brain to even think about this anymore.

In 1978, I wouldn't even be fretting about this. No, I wouldn't know where my package was RIGHT NOW and I wouldn't feel that I'd even need to know. I'd simply know that my package would eventually arrive.

No worries.

I think I need to take a more '78 approach to everything. It is much healthier.

Observation Unrecorded

 What a beautiful fall day; it is very breezy, but with a temp of 78°F, it is hardly worth noting. 

I've not posted for a very long time--six months, to be exact. The spring, summer and most of fall has gone by. Indeed, I'm still here, which is pretty obvious since you are reading this. 

And if you are reading this, thank you for visiting. You must really want to be here because I'm not posting the link for my blog on social media anymore (in fact, I don't even look at social media anymore), I'm just posting for myself (and anyone who cares to read). I like journaling. I like keeping tabs on ideas and current events and looking back on them in context. 

I just finished a book today, Undaunted Courage by acclaimed historian, Stephen E. Ambrose. The subtitle of the book is Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West. I purchased the book while on vacation in Cody, Wyoming, this summer (I bought a whole bunch of books on that vacation!). I've been reading it for multiple weeks (I am a notoriously slow reader); essentially it is about the history surrounding the Lewis and Clark Expedition, with special emphasis on Lewis and Jefferson. 

The odd part is I finished reading it on the day Lewis died (today, October 11th), exactly 213 years later. 

Anyway, excellent book. I looked forward to reading it every single day. My interest in Corps of Discovery (the official name of the Lewis and Clark Expedition) piqued after visiting an interpretive center near Washburn, North Dakota, last year, where the Expedition spent the winter of 1804-05, near the Mandan villages. I purchased the Lewis and Clark journals while at the interpretive center, which I am going to read at some point.

~

Our upstairs bathroom is still not complete. A new shower is being installed (after waiting some 16 months for a plumber) only to find the main piece for the surround was damaged in the box. We contacted the company (Lyons) and they sent a new piece, no questions asked--great customer service. Now, two weeks later, we are still waiting for the surround to be installed.

Still not done...

I spent the 53rd birthday in Walker, MN. A quick getaway. Enjoyed the crisp air and beautiful fall colors on Walker Bay of Leech Lake. Also enjoyed the fantastic beer of Portage Brewing. 

Walker City Dock, near Chase on the Lake Hotel in Walker, MN

Of course it is football season and I've greatly enjoyed watching my son play. He's really improved this year and he seems to really enjoy playing. My daughter is really active in school: member of student council, theater department stage manager, plays in the pep band, symphony and jazz band. They are my source of eternal pride and happiness.

Seven tackles that day!

She's become "famous" for her frog hat during pep band

Some times I get in on the act at football games. It's a pretty good view from here.

Well, there's a quick update. I suppose I am a bit motivated to jot something down since the passage of yet another birthday. It always seems like a good reset. Plus, I read a quote from Undaunted Courage last night that struck me: "Observation unrecorded is knowledge lost." (James P. Ronda)

Now, if I could just keep at it for 21 days. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.

We'll see.

Oh, What a Night!

 You may have noticed my posts are running few and far between again; part of this is because I don't have a ton of time to sit and write something I feel is worth reading; secondly, my life is actually pretty damn boring. We really don't do much.

But this past week, we finally did something...

We had a great time in Fargo this past Wednesday. I bought tickets for Jersey Boys way back in November 2021 and we waited through five long months of winter for this show. I figured going to an award-winning musical gave us something to look forward to--a little reward for making it through another crappy Minnesota winter.

Timing, as they say, is everything...

Sure enough, one of the biggest blizzards North Dakota has seen in years plowed through the state this week, suddenly putting our chances of seeing this production in major jeopardy. 

Well, this time we got lucky (mark it down because it doesn't happen often) and the snow kept to the west by about 50 miles. I got email confirmation on Tuesday that the show was on!

The show...

I suppose just about everyone knows the story of Jersey Boys: it tells the tale of The Four Seasons (Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi and Bob Gaudio); their rise to the top of the music world, their inevitable downfall (and rise to the top again!). When I was a kid I remember listening to the Four Seasons ("Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man") marvelling at their harmonies and loving the songs. About 30 years ago I bought their double CD greatest hits compilation and played it constantly. To be fair, I am biased. I love this group.

But back to Fargo...

We had a great pre-show dinner at Lucky's 13 (superb Bloody Mary's--a bit sweeter than how I make them, but delicious nonetheless). Then we were off to the Fargodome, which had been modified for Broadway into the Gate City Bank Theatre (I have to credit my daughter, Ava, for taking most of the following pictures; I rely on my memory to recall the experience, which I suppose is a bit old fashioned).

A goofy "vacation photo op." Fargo did not disappoint; it was as cold and windy as ever. Spring definitely was not in the air.

It was difficult to judge exactly how many theatergoers were in attendance; the Gate City Bank Theatre has a capacity of 3,500, so my best guess was close to 2,500. I am also guessing that quite a few folks simply could not make it to the show because of the heavy snow and high winds pummeling the rest of the state. Not only that, the interstate from Dickinson to Jamestown was closed. Travel was literally impossible.

Our seats were fantastic: main floor, six rows from the stage... and my daughter (who loves live theater) proceeded to complain because it was too crowded (life with a teenager... argh!). Luckily, once the house lights dimmed she forgot about it.

The show started about fifteen minutes late, but it was worth the wait. The musical itself was absolutely stellar. The four principle actors--all from Broadway--were flawless in their performances (honestly, the entire cast was terrific). And yes, they sang live (yes, I watched closely) and the backing band performed live (yes, I watched closely). I didn't hear a single clam the entire night. 

But one thing I wasn't expecting was the colorful vocabulary, even though we were warned about it before the show started; the language was even described as a "special effect," which made me chuckle: 

We were warned.

"Authentic, profane, Jersey vocabulary" is right. I could hear the pearl clutchers gasp toward the beginning of the show when Frankie's girlfriend berated him for taking a stage name "Vally." 

You can't end your name with a 'Y', Frankie. A 'Y' doesn't know what the fuck it wants. 'Am I a consonant? Am I a vowel? What the fuck am I?' You need to end your name with an 'I'. V-a-l-l-i. That says, 'I'm Frankie Valli. With an 'I'. If you don't like it, you can go fuck yourself." 

And the colorful language just kept a-coming. But I found it actually added to the story, rather than detract. It made the performances more authentic. After all, the real members of the Four Seasons were not exactly choirboys; most of them did jail time (more than once) and they all had ties with shady characters whose names also ended in vowels, if you know what I mean.

A very simple stage design. But with a show this good, an elaborate set wasn't needed. The band performed underneath the catwalk, hidden before the show by the black screens.

I was also pleasantly surprised that the musical didn't focus solely on Frankie Valli. Each member of the group got a fair shake in the spotlight, especially Bob Gaudio. 

Gaudio was the group's main songwriter and I believe his name is often shamefully overlooked on the list of great songwriters of the 20th century. The man was a hit making machine, and Jersey Boys does well to give him his due. (My son told me he was going to look up more music by him. I told him that was an excellent idea!)

In fact, during his final monologue, Gaudio's character says, "I like to look back on it all and think that none of this could have been possible . . . without me." That line got the biggest response of the evening; applause, shouts, hollers, whistles, the whole shebang.

After 2 1/2 hours, the show concluded with yet another huge hit, "Who Loves You" (the whole show was hit after hit after hit... to Bob Gaudio's credit!) and a well-deserved standing ovation. 

And yes, my crab apple daughter had a huge smile on her face. 😁

Spring? Really?

 There are rumors circulating that spring has sprung. I missed it. I was on call this weekend and missed the alleged beautiful weather we had.

To pour salt on the wound, my dear friends kept sending me Snaps of their excursions to assorted breweries over the weekend. I should receive some sort of worker's compensation for that. Seriously.

I spent part of the week completely alone, which was very weird for me. No wife, no kids, not even a dog. The whole damn family went to Mandan, ND, for spring break (no beaches, but lots of wind). They fared better this time than last time they went (three years ago?). Last time they all came home sick. So far, they have been spared the wrath of any nasty North Dakota bugs.

Neil waiting for the jab.

Our kids are now fully vaccinated. Please refrain from your political comments/personal freedom/'Murica bullshit here. This isn't about politics or misguided "patriotism." This is about two kids who have nurses for parents and one of them (me) is exposed to COVID all the time. Plus, we like to go to live theater/musicals and many places won't allow you through the door without proof of vaccination. And you know what? It's the right thing to do. 

My daughter finally got to celebrate her 16th birthday with a group of her friends (a month late, but when Mom and Dad both work, compromises must be made). We had a sleepover here and the house remained remarkably intact. Her birthday party was cowboy themed (she's got a thing for cowboys), complete with cowboy hats, sheriff's badges, tin pans for grub and enough bandanas to make an '80s band blush.

The cowboy themed spread...

Pepsi, milk and Pop Tarts: the breakfast of champions.

My band has added a couple more shows to this summer's itinerary. Our June gigs are filled up. We now have three summer festivals in July; we could play every weekend this summer if we wanted to. It is nice to be in demand!

So, between a much-needed vacation in August (to Cody, Wyoming. Why? Because my daughter wants to see the "Wild West." I told you she's got a thing for cowboys), working a weekend (or two) of call, and taking a couple camping trips, the summer is almost completely filled up already. 

A few days ago, I started reading Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. He also wrote the controversial The Last Temptation of Christ, which is one of the best novels I've ever read -- certainly in my top ten (I didn't find it blasphemous in the least, but that's strictly my opinion). Zorba the Greek is translated from Greek (as was The Last Temptation of Christ), so it is a little muddled in spots, which I bear in mind as I'm reading. But I'm enjoying it. I love any good fiction.

Well, not much more to say right now. I think I should get outside and enjoy the remainder of this beautiful spring day. It is supposed to turn rainy/wintry tomorrow. 

Photo by Ava

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, Class of 2022, According to That Damn Sam

 In lieu of nothing worthwhile to post, read or share on social media (nothing but negativity, bad news, doom and gloom -- probably for good reason), I decided I would do a little something different today. 

This time of year always lights a fire under my backside. The 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees have been released and I am always astounded at how many artists are still not in the Hall of Fame (and how many are in the Hall who probably shouldn't be there). 

I know my opinion doesn't mean squat, but this is my site and I pay the annual domain fee, so I will speak my mind. For the first time ever, I am going to cast my vote for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Class of 2022. I will try to make this an annual thing, since it gets sand in my craw every year.

I can vote for FIVE of the below list of 17 nominees:

~

Disclaimer:

One name that immediately caught my eye is Dolly Parton. Let me first say that Dolly Parton is a national treasure. I will never talk shit about Ms. Parton. She's an American icon. She's not only a brilliant songwriter and musician, she's an incredible philanthropist.  Her Imagination Library is a beautiful gesture to humanity. But there's nothing about Dolly that's rock and roll. After learning she was a nominee, Dolly herself said, "I've never thought of myself as rock and roll in any sense of the word." 

So I am sorry, Dolly. You can't get my vote, but I will always love you.

~

Buckle up and get ready to argue with me. Here are my five inductees into the Class of 2022:

The classic Judas Priest lineup. Leather and studs. That was the look.

1. Judas Priest. So here we are in 2022 and it occurs to me that the most influential heavy metal band of all time is still not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. How does this stuff happen? 

Judas Priest was formed in 1969 and they are still rocking to this day. Their look, sound and attitude defines what we now know as heavy metal rock and roll. Judas Priest's dual guitar attack has influenced every heavy metal band on the planet (that's not hyperbole) and lead vocalist Rob Halford is considered the genre's quintessential vocalist. Priest has never had a Top 40 hit in the U.S. pop charts (true to heavy metal form), but they have had 11 records in the U.S. Top 40 album charts and their worldwide album sales exceed 50 million. British Steel, released in 1980, is considered one of the greatest metal albums of all time. Songs like "Breaking the Law," "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" and "Living After Midnight," although never considered commercial "hits," have become an indelible part of the rock and roll landscape.  

To me, Judas Priest was the first and most obvious inductee on this list.

Fun Fact: Lead singer Rob Halford was considered the ultimate "heavy metal alpha male" in the 1980s. In reality, he is a gay man who loves cats. I can't make this stuff up!

Pat Benatar

2. Pat Benatar. This is Pat Benatar's second nomination in the past three years. Can we PLEASE get this woman into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? This is ridiculous. 

Benatar was a feminist trailblazer in the 1980s, when true rock and roll (not Madonna-bubblegum pop) was an all-boys club. Her debut album, In the Heat of the Night, was released in the summer of 1979, and she set the rock world on its ear with the hit single "Heartbreaker." 

As the 80s rolled on, so did the hits: "Love Is a Battlefield," "Hit Me with Your Best Shot," "Treat Me Right," "Fire and Ice," "We Belong," "Shadows of the Night," ... I mean, come on! Six Top 20 albums, fifteen Top 40 hits, four Grammy Awards and albums sales in excess of 35 million. And she's got pipes that will peel paint off the walls. Enough of this nonsense. She's in the Hall.

Fun Fact: Benatar's maiden name is Andrzejewski. It is pronounced exactly as it's spelled.

Duran Duran... a bunch of guys named Taylor and Simon Le Bon

3. Duran Duran. Okay, I will admit it. Duran Duran deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I try not to overstate things, and I don't think it is too much to say that, by 1986, no band since the Beatles had influenced music culture and fashion as much as these five guys from Birmingham, England. 

As a teenage boy growing up in the 80s, I didn't mind Duran Duran because of one simple fact: if their music was playing, it was guaranteed a bunch of cute girls were nearby... but I digress. The good news is the band had substance to their style; these guys weren't just pretty, they could actually play. More than that, their songs have stood the test of time: "Rio," "Hungry Like the Wolf," "The Reflex," "Is There Something I Should Know," still sound fresh. The band has scored fifteen Top 40 hits and they have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, making them one of the best selling music groups of all time, yet they've never seemed to get the respect they actually deserve. Well, they check all the boxes for me. They're in.

Fun Fact: In the 1980s, Duran Duran included John Taylor, Andy Taylor and Roger Taylor. None were related.

Lionel Richie

4. Lionel Richie. This is the most obvious shoo-in on the entire ballot. Actually, I was shocked to learn that neither Lionel Richie nor the Commodores were in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Yet Jay-Z is? Jesus, just shoot me.) 

Richie was the principal songwriter for the Commodores before going on an off-the-Richter-scale successful solo career. "Three Times a Lady," "Hello," "Truly," "Endless Love," "Sail On," "Brick House," "Deep River Woman," "Say You Say Me," "All Night Long," "Dancing on the Ceiling," "Stuck on You," ...oh, "We are the World," (you may have heard of that one)... these are just some of the songs Richie has written in his 54 year career in music. As a solo artist alone he has recorded thirteen Top 10 hits, including five #1 hits. He will be given the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress later this year (the country's greatest honor in the performing arts). He's a Kennedy Center Honors recipient. He's won four Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. He's enshrined in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has received the Johnny Mercer Award, the highest honor one can receive as a songwriter. He was also the first artist to ever receive the RIAA Diamond Award, which is an album selling over 10 million copies (1983's Can't Slow Down). You know what? The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame seems a step down, doesn't it?

Fun Fact: Lionel Richie wrote and produced "Lady," for country music legend Kenny Rogers. The song went to #1 on the Billboard pop and country charts. It was probably #1 on Mars and Saturn, too.

The New York Dolls, 1973.

5. New York Dolls. I admit, this is a tough one. It's my last vote. But I must go with seminal. That's the key word. 

I'm inducting the New York Dolls, at long last, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The New York Dolls were true pioneers of the punk and glam rock movement. Without the Dolls, there would be no Sex Pistols, Ramones, Green Day, KISS or Guns 'N Roses (all members of the Hall of Fame), just to name a few. The New York Dolls were not commercially successful and they were only active from 1971-1976 (not including a reunion some 40 years later -- only two of the original five members were still alive). Despite being a working band for only five years, they left a deep imprint on rock and roll and they are considered by rock historians as one of the most important and influential bands of the pre-punk era. It is time they are enshrined. 

Fun Fact: Most people know the New York Dolls best by lead singer David Johansen, who changed his image and stage name to lounge singer Buster Poindexter in the late 1980s. He recorded a cover of Arrow's dance tune "Hot Hot Hot" in 1987 which was a massively successful single. It was Johansen's only hit of his 50+ year career.

Ear Buds Don’t Taste Good

 Ava took these beautiful photos of our dog, Lulu, last evening. Ava has a photographer’s eye; she was proud of these pictures because it is all natural evening sunlight, no filters.

Praising her for being such a good dog and posing so nice, Ava offered her a treat. 

Plot twist: Ava had her Bluetooth (wireless) ear buds in, and when she leaned down to give Lulu a Milkbone, her ear bud fell out onto the floor … see where this is going? 

I suddenly heard a commotion and frantic cries of  “No, Lulu! No! No!” I jumped out of my chair and rushed to the kitchen to find Ava desperately reaching into the dog’s mouth. 

Lulu, thinking in the ear bud was a tasty treat, swallowed the goddamned thing in an instant. 

Normally, I’m pretty chill about this kind of stuff. Dogs are quite resilient. However, this was a rechargeable ear bud with a lithium battery inside. Ava couldn’t be certain that the dog hadn’t bitten into it before gobbling it down, it just happened so quickly; if Lulu had bitten it, the battery acid could leak out and eat into her stomach or intestines. In short, it could be fatal. 

So, after a discussion with Dr. Kemp, the on-call veterinarian, we spent our Friday evening at the Crosslake animal hospital. Lulu got a magical IV injection. She puked just like Linda Blair in the Exorcist. Ear bud recovered, just like new. 

There’s never a dull moment. 

There it is. It probably didn’t taste very good going down or coming up. 

The Rams and the Bengals Spin a Tangled Web

Most of you know I am a football nut. I love the sport, I loved playing the game and I love the game's history. 

I’m always amazed at the crazy connections you can uncover if you start digging into the bedrock of pro football history. Recently, while slowly compiling my own NFL history (during the cold winter months I don't binge on Netflix, I research and write), I've made a fun discovery: this year’s Super Bowl teams--the Rams and the Bengals--have a direct tie to each other. 

In fact, we could call this year's championship game the Long Lost Battle of Ohio. How? Read on!

Our story starts in 1934, with an Ohio physician and NFL pioneer named Harry March. 

Dr. March's passion for football started in college. He played on Mount Union's very first collegiate football team in 1893 and later worked as team doctor for the legendary Canton Bulldogs. Dr. March had served nine seasons as president of the New York Giants after convincing Tim Mara to invest $500 in the team. 

Unfortunately, after a dispute with Boston Redskins owner George Preston Marshall, Dr. March sold his interest in the New York Giants and left the National Football League that same year.

Dr. Harry March (above). He convinced Tim Mara, who had never seen a football game, to invest $500 in the New York Giants. Mara's family owns the Giants to this day, now worth $4.85 billion. A considerable return on his investment.

Dr. March was a visionary and he believe he could model pro football after pro baseball, with two rival leagues playing a “Football World Series.” With the help of a few investors, he decided to form his own league in 1936. 

Stuck for a name, he simply called his new organization the American Football League.*

*(Quick note: To understand pro football history is to realize it gets confusing. Everybody loved the name "American Football League." In fact, there were four separate, unrelated AFLs between 1926 and 1960. Historians refer to them as AFL I, AFL II, etc. Each league was formed to rival the monopolized NFL and none lasted more than two seasons, except the AFL IV).

March's AFL, commonly referred to as AFL II, featured eight franchises, including one based in Cincinnati called the Bengals. This team is unrelated to the current Super Bowl-bound Cincinnati Bengals, but there is a historical connection, as we shall see. 

The original Cincinnati Bengals vs. Boston Shamrocks; a 1937 match-up from Dr. March's AFL II. An interesting sidenote: the Shamrocks were very successful in Boston and outdrew the NFL's Boston Redskins, prompting that franchise to move to Washington in 1937. This must have put a smile on Dr. March's face, since he left the NFL after a dispute with the Redskins' owner. courtesy: cincymuseum.org

A second Ohio-based team in the new AFL II was called the Cleveland Rams, a team founded by businessman Homer Marshman. Figuring the hard work was already done for him, Marshman chose the nickname "Rams" after the powerhouse collegiate team, Fordham Rams. He even "borrowed" their logo and red/black color scheme. Let's say it was a simpler time.

Any similarities between Fordham University's logo and Cleveland Rams' logo are definitely not coincidental. courtesy: redbubble.com

The Cleveland Rams defected to the more established NFL in 1937. This also proved to be the last season of the AFL II; it had only survived two years.

Harry March passed away in 1940, more than two decades before his “World Series of Football” vision became a reality (what we now call the Super Bowl).

courtesy: sporsteamhistory.com

In 1946 the United States finally settled into peacetime, and the public was primed for entertainment. The All-America Football Conference was launched, yet another league formed to rival the NFL. This time the competition was serious; a star of this new league was Ohio coaching legend Paul Brown, who was paid handsomely to lead a new franchise in Cleveland. 

The All-America Football Conference, the NFL's first serious rival. courtesy:logoserver.com

Coach Brown was a hero in Ohio after guiding the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national championship four years earlier. Not a bit full of himself, named his new Cleveland team the Browns.

The NFL's Cleveland Rams were already struggling to put fans in the stands. Now, what was left of their fan base quickly defected to the legendary Ohio coach and his wildly popular Browns. The NFL granted permission for the Rams to pack their bags and head to Los Angeles.

The Rams stayed in Los Angeles until 1994. The franchise relocated to St. Louis for 20 years, but has called Los Angeles home again since 2016.

After four seasons, the AAFC could not sustain itself financially. The league folded, but the AAFC's Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and the original version of the Baltimore Colts all accepted invitations to join the NFL monopoly. 

courtesy: wikipedia.com

Now the plot thickens. 

Paul Brown coached his namesake team for almost two decades before he was fired by Cleveland Browns' owner Art Modell--a controversial and sensational sports story at the time. 

The NFL left a bad taste in Brown's mouth, but he was not done with professional football, not yet, especially if it meant getting even with that commie bastard Modell. 

In 1960, yet another league was formed to compete with the NFL (American Football League IV). When Brown heard that league was looking to establish a rival franchise in Ohio, he jumped at the opportunity. He was given complete control over the new organization. 

He called his new team the Bengals, named after the short-lived team 32 years earlier from Dr. Harry March's AFL II. Brown felt it made a nice historic connection with the past.

Brown essentially ripped off the Browns' (his Browns) color scheme; he mulled over several helmet designs, but settled on the Browns' plain orange shell with the word "BENGALS" slapped on the side. It is possible Coach Brown was trying to make a point. 

Cincinnati has been home to the Bengals since 1968.

Paul Brown leading his second professional football franchise, the Cincinnati Browns Bengals in 1968. He had been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame the previous year. courtesy: americanfootball.fandom.com

So there you have it, a direct tie between today's Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals: 

1. Both teams originated in Ohio; the Rams and original Bengals both formed in 1936 and were two of the eight teams in Dr. March's American Football League II.
2. The Ohio coaching legend who chased the Rams out of Cleveland (and to Los Angeles) later formed a new team in Cincinnati called the Bengals, named after the original 1936 team.
3. On February 13th, Homer Marshman's former Cleveland Rams will face Paul Brown's Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, in the Long Lost Battle of Ohio.
4. No, you can't make this stuff up.

Brown with an array of Bengals prototype helmets. The helmet he is holding looks remarkably similar to today's design. The Bengals switched to the tiger stripe design in 1981; this photo was taken in 1967. Brown ultimately settled on a much less creative design. courtesy: bigblueview.com

Washington Hogs

 On 2 February 2022, the Washington Football Team will announce their new team nickname. Unfortunately, the team will screw it up, because a name not in consideration is perfect for them. 

The Hogs were the nickname for the former Redskins offensive line in the '80s and early '90s. The nickname took off like wildfire. Redskins fans started dressing like pigs (complemented with female attire for reasons unknown) and cheered on their team every Sunday. In fact, I think Redskins Football Team fans still do this. It's one of those fantastic spontaneous "things" that makes football awesome. 

An original hog from the 1980s.

I should clarify the "Red Hogs" is a nickname finalist. But let's leave the "red" out of it. Why tempt more controversy?

The Hogs nickname has history behind it. It is unique. And if you've ever seen a hog eat its young, you know they are pretty nasty bastards. The name is perfect, which is why the fuddy-duddies in the NFL's ivory tower will never let it happen. 

This is perfect. And it won't happen. (courtesy: Trayton Miller Designs)

The Washington Football Team was formed in Boston in 1932, certainly a more political incorrect time. They were originally called the Braves, but Boston already had a professional baseball team of the same name. So the football Braves changed their name to the Redskins the following year to avoid confusion. (historical footnote: the baseball Braves are now in Atlanta after spending some time in Milwaukee)

After spending four seasons in Boston, the Redskins moved south to Washington D.C., where they've remained for the past 85 years. 

What will Washington's rebranded nickname actually be? My money is on the Commanders. Someone with talent in the graphic arts department came up with this design on Twitter:

courtesy Twitter.com

I don't hate it. It's actually not bad at all. But it's not the Hogs. 

Relativity

A very cold night. There's not much to do, so I am spending some of my free time trying to better understand the undecipherable. I find astronomy, quantum mechanics and astrophysics fascinating, even though the subject matter is leagues above my head.

Below is a very simple explanation of a portion of Einstein's theory of special and general relativity. Well over 100 years ago Einstein predicted the existence of black holes. He also introduced the revolutionary idea that space and time were unified, and spacetime could be manipulated by gravity. Many of his contemporaries called him far too radical; in fact, that's the main reason he couldn't find a job as a teacher early in his career. 

Thanks to modern science, we have verifiable proof that he was exactly right.

I love this quote from Heisenberg. He is best known for the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics, published almost 100 years ago. Like Einstein, he was light years ahead of his time. 

"Not only is the universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think."

The Nostril Stick Test

I like to call this photo "stupid cold."

This morning in my part of the world (Minnesota, USA), the mercury plummeted to -33 degrees Fahrenheit. To my friends everywhere else in the world, that’s -36 degrees Celsius. 

Life changes at this temperature. The house makes eerie popping sounds. Wildlife disappears. Delicate sensors in vehicles flash false warnings. Ice crystals float in the air.

Today I attempted the ultimate test of frigidity: the Nostril Stick Test. In the painful January air, I breathed in deeply through my nose. My nostrils stuck together like wallpaper paste. A positive test. It was cold.

By now you are certainly asking, “Why do you live there?”

It is a fair question; in fact, I ask myself the same thing every winter: “Why do I live in a place where my nostrils stick together?”

I have no clever answer. This is simply home. 

New year update

New Year's resolutions are stupid.

I "resolved" to start writing every day, 30 minutes a day, beginning January 1st. That didn't happen. I have a dozen excuses, but they are all lame. 

Unlike many people who write, I have a terrible time coming up with something to write about. I seriously struggle with content. 

For that reason, I'm inching toward writing more fiction. Just make stuff up. I can do that, right?

So for lack of anything better to write, and since I spend hardly any time on social media anymore, here's a quick update on life as I know it.

~

Our Christmas was very nice. We spent time with family; on Christmas morning my son got his Oculus Quest he'd been wanting (for over a year) and my daughter got a new phone. No, it wasn't a cheap Christmas, but they've been rockstars in school, they stay out of trouble (for the most part), and good behavior does not go unnoticed by Santa Claus.

Ava getting her new phone

Neil could not believe his eyes

Besides, we spend lots of money on bills; spending a bit of green and putting a smile on our kids' faces is what life is about. I doubt I will lay on my deathbed thinking, "I'm so glad I paid that credit card bill in full." 

~

Coming soon: I'm going to put on a brave face and take my daughter driving in this white crap. My wife simply refuses to do it. Winter driving is a life skill the kid must have prior to getting her license. But I've got a secret to share with you all: I don't want to do it.

~

I've been spending most of my time at work, which I cannot talk about, of course, due to HIPAA. I have a thousand funny stories I could share. Maybe someday when I am retired I will write a tell-all book... 

In fact, I already have a copyrighted title: Nursing and Cursing: My Colorful Life as a Registered Nurse. Cursing someday to a bookstore near you.

I spend my free time writing (when the spirit moves me), and reading--my latest book is a biography on Ava Gardner. I became interested in learning more about her life after reading a biography on Frank Sinatra. It is funny how you read one book and it ignites your interest in another subject or person you'd never given a thought to in the past. In fact, that's why I read.

I've also been watching football--lots of football. I can never get enough football. The FBS bowl games are beyond lame and the Vikings suck this year (it is time for a full reset, kids). However, I'm really looking forward to NDSU Bison playing for a ninth national championship this Saturday. 

Tradition dictates that my family go out for Mexican/Tex-Mex the night before the national championship. It has worked eight times since 2011. So guess what we will be eating Friday night?! (Why Mexican/Tex-Mex, you ask? The championship game is played in Frisco, Texas).

So there you go, a quick update from yours truly... politically correct and non-controversial.