Favred

Good Bye

Photo by AP

Every week there seems to be a record that Brett Favre breaks. Today, it was Marino's career yards passing. But, as Brett always mentions, the most important thing is winning. So, also with today's win and the Seahawks loss, they secured a first round bye in the playoffs.

(see Brett's record http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80523628)

In no imaginable way did I ever think that Green Bay would have won the NFC North and have a first round bye by week 15.

P.S. However, all is not well in Fantasy Football world. I may have my lowest scoring week of the season.

North Pole

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

I'm the first to criticize when special teams aren't so special, so I need to give kudos to Will Blackmon who scored two touchdowns on special teams - one punt return and another on punt coverage as Packers clinch the NFC North title.

Help Wanted

This epitomizes why I am a Green Bay Packers fan. I love that it's the smallest media market to be the home of a North American major professional sports league. I love that the team is publicly owned and that I own one share. I love that I am #56,267 and not #71,500 on the waiting list for season tickets. I love that it is not unusual for fans to designate a recipient of their season tickets in their wills. I love that Brett Favre was named 2007 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. But this is the best; I love press releases like this!

Shovelers Needed Wednesday Morning For Lambeau Field Snow Removal
With last weekend's snowfall, the Green Bay Packers are putting out the "help wanted" call to help with snow removal from Lambeau Field.

Ted Eisenreich, the Packers' director of facility operations, is seeking recruits - as many as 300 - to shovel out Lambeau Field tomorrow, Dec. 5, in preparation for the team's game Sunday, Dec. 9, vs. the Oakland Raiders.

He asks all who might be interested in lending a hand to report to the Mills Fleet Farm Gate on Lambeau Field's west side, beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday and continuing throughout the day.

The Packers will provide shovels to all who come to help.

Shovelers, who need to be at least 15 years old, will receive $8 per hour, with payment to be made immediately upon completion of their work, Eisenreich said.

Emergency Snow Broadcast System

Shut down the city. Put the chains on the tires. Do you have an emergency plan? This is because of the first snow predicted for the season! Do read on.

...SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM EST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SNOW ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM EST WEDNESDAY.

AN ALBERTA CLIPPER SYSTEM WILL CROSS THE REGION OVERNIGHT AND TOMORROW. SNOW WILL BEGIN AFTER 5 AM. THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING ONE TO TWO INCHES TO THE REGION. THIS WILL BE A LIGHT AND FLUFFY SNOW.

This is a snow test. This blog is conducting a test of the Emergency Snow Broadcast System. This is only a snow test. If this had been an actual snow emergency, the Attention Signal you just heard would have been followed by official information, news or instructions.

UPDATE: We actually got about 4 inches at our house.

Au Revoir Paris

Map courtesy of Rick Steves

It is our last day in Paris. We walked from our hotel down to Rue Cler, which is a two block, traffic-free, open air market just south and east of the Eiffel Tower. The cobblestoned street is ecclectic, with chocolate, cheese, spice, wine, meat shops, flower stand and, of course cafes. Today there was also an antique flea market.

Our final museum for this visit was La Maison Européenne de la Photographie, which exhibits contemporary photographic art. This is comparable to Le Jeu de Paume at the Tuileries in the sense that depending on the artist and exhibit, it's worth a return visit.

We walked over to Île Saint-Louis for final crêpes at Le Sarrasin et Le Froment.

We are already plotting our return.

Starbucks of Paris

You can find one on nearly every corner.

1. Crêperies (Paris' version of hotdog stands, at some you can actually get a hotdog)
2. Boulangeries and Pâtisseries (bakeries)
3. Fromageries (cheese shops)
4. Tabacs (Paris' version of 7-Eleven)
5. Nicolas (Paris' version of ABC stores)

French Connection

I believe this may be how Americans are perceived in France.

1. Loud
2. Demanding
3. Obnoxious
4. Fat
5. Lazy

The French tolerate Americans. Barely.

Cliché

Of course, the works in Musée du Louvre are amazing, but so is the architecture in and around Musée du Louvre. This was the last museum we visited on our four day museum pass. Not by any design, it's just the way it worked out. As Brian mentioned, my picture on the left shows an interesting contrast of old, new and ancient. However, our highlight of the day, came as we entered the Louvre. A man asked Brian to take a picture of he and his girlfriend, as Brian started taking a picture, the man proposed to his girlfriend! It's so cliché Paris, but it was very sweet.

After a morning nap from our middle of the night excursion to the Highlander, we visited the Musée Eugène Delacroix, a French Romantic painter. The museum is in his last residence and studio in a small courtyard in the Saint Germain area. We saw works of his both in the museum as well as the Louvre. Note: it's good to remember that this museum is of works by Ferdinand Victor Eugène, not Claire, not Michel.

02:15

QUESTION: What does every good wife and loyal Packer fan do while in Paris?
ANSWER: She finds a bar that's open until 5 a.m. and drags her husband to the Packer game that starts at 2:15 a.m. Paris time!

After a day of French culture, a little American football is good for the soul. Despite a cloudy rainy day, we scouted out a potential place to watch the Packers and visited Le musée des Arts décoratifs located in part of the Louvre and Musée national des Monuments Français at Palais de Chaillot, which made up for Le musée des Arts décoratifs located in part of the Louvre. The Musée national des Monuments Français displayed French buildings, architecture, facades and monumental sculptures from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century in the form of moulds (6000) and life-size reproductions. It was really beautiful and one I had not visited before. Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed in either museum.

After a few nap, we got up and made our way to the Highlander located at Pont Neuf on the left bank. It met two qualifications, it was open until 5 a.m. Paris time and subscribed to the Sky satellite sport feed. We ran into a few other Packer and Cowboy fans too. However, we knew the one downside might be that the game would not be over at 5 a.m. So, to the dismay of all American football fans, we found ourselves outside in the damp morning air wondering how to get updates on the last five minutes. Perhaps merciful as my BlackBerry updated me that the final score was 37-27. The only thing that would make this tale more fun is if the Packers would have pulled out a win.

Note to the Packers: much credit should be given to the Packers offensive line over Favre's 16 year career. However, when you let the defense sack and hit your quarterback as many times as they did last night, you're going to get a hurt quarterback.

P.S. Rodgers almost had a Favre-less comeback. But, he's no Favre.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Starbucks

Just not on every corner. And, yes, I have refrained...

Today was another crystal blue, nearly cloudless sky day. We walked down to Jeu de Paume on the end of the Tuileries at Place de la Concorde. We saw an exhibit of works by Edward Steichen, or as Brian dubbed: the Annie Leibovitz of the early to mid 1900's, because of his work in fashion and commercial photography. His entire career was quite fascinating as it ranged from commanding the photographic division of the American Expeditionary Forces to serving as the director of Photography at New York's Museum of Modern Art. We also visited the renovated Musée de l'Orangerie. The museum is known for Claude Monet's Nympheas. We also visited the exhibits at Centre Georges Pompidou. As most of you know, I'm not the biggest fan of modern art, but I particulary enjoyed the Wassily Kandinsky and Alexander Calder exhibits.

Our trip's splurge was dinner at Bistro Le P'tit Troquet on Rue de l'Exposition. This is a small bistro (10 tables or so) that we ate at during our trip five years ago. It was a few steps away from where we stayed at Hotel d'Alma. My menu du marche (appetizer, entree and dessert) tonight included a mussel and mushroom risotto, a braised pork with vegetables in a wine sauce served in its own little cast iron casserole and a lemon tart. Brian ordered a pumpkin soup, beef filet with vegetables and mashed potatoes and crème brûlée. The entire meal was delicious.

Sacrificing Fashion for Comfort

Well, it's not like I was the model of fashion in my Eastlands the past few days, but nonetheless, I hadn't resorted to tennis shoes...until today. A heel rub was the downfall and I found myself in a pair of tennis shoes today looking very American.

We visited Musée d'Orsay and Musée Marmottan Monet. A smaller museum not on the main drag, which possesses the world's largest collection of works by Claude Monet. Today's pictures include several from Musée d'Orsay, but the Marmottan did not allow cameras. Yes, we almost had to leave. ;-)

P.S. We have had nothing to do with the recently reported riots in Paris. Really!

Photojournalism du Brian

As you all know, Brian is the photographer of the family. I have decided to photojournal some of our trip by taking pictures of him in various settings. It's kind of a version of "Where's Waldo"...I mean Where's Brian!
After starting at Montmartre and Place du Tertre this morning, we made our way down to Les Halles where we had lunch. No trip to Paris is complete without a croque-monsieur, which is a hot ham and cheese grilled/broiled sandwich. Or a new particular favorite, which was croque-Provençal, open face with tomatoes, pesto and Herbes de Provence.

After lunch we made our way over to Notre Dame to climb the towers. This photojournal picture is from the bell tower. Dinner was at Osaka in the Latin Quarter. By the way, lemon gelato is also very good even when it's in the 40's.

On the way to soupe à l'oignon, we ran into a crêpe!

Today began a little later than normal as I slept through an alarm and chiming bells Brian tells me. On the way back to Île Saint-Louis for our little shop with the French onion soup we still remember, we stopped for a crêpe. Mmmmm

Following the soup, which seemed better from our memory at Le Sarrasin et Le Froment, we wandered through the flower and bird market on Île de la Cité. We then took the métro to the stop for Monmartre. We climbed the hill and walked the steps up to la basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre. We also walked around the square and saw the various artists drawing and painting. in Place du Tertre. The Christmas market wafted with smells of hot wine, hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts.

Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis

Despite the foggy forecast, we woke to sunny skies. We're reserving the cloudy and rainy days for the inside museums, so we spent the day on Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis. We saw Ste Chapelle and Notre Dame. We had beef stew at Le Vieux Bistro. We listened to a band playing on Pont Saint-Louis and found the cafe we ate at the last time we were here. Since we didn't find it in time today, we will go back for their onion soup.

Observations à Paris

1. You can hear fabulous music in and on the métro. Everything from La Bamba to classical to a 10-person band singing Hava Nagila.

2. The weather forecasting is even worse here than in the United States!

3. Stinky cheese tastes better in France.

4. I can't imagine the Smart Cars (2-seater, scooter size cars that make a Mini or VW Golf look big) vs. Hummers.

5. Glacier Berthillon's strawberry sorbet tastes good even when it's 46 degrees out.

Camera Nirvana

I do believe Brian found camera nirvana à Paris. After a quick Google search, a site recommended Boulevard Beaumarchais. It was a great recommendation. After browsing the many camera store options along the way, it resulted in a camera lense purchase at Odéon Occasions Photo at 73, Boulevard Beaumarchais.

Some Early Observations

1. The French still have a passion for smoking
2. The French still have no passion for deodorant
3. Transportation striking is all fun and games until it interrupts our vacation
4. Do the big white tennis shoes give us away as Americans?
5. In America, pedestrians have the right of way. Here, no one has the right of way. If you can squeeze in front of the car ahead of you, then you have the right of way. Pedestrians beware.

I'm glad to see nothing is new since I was here five years ago.

Voilà. J'aime Paris.

Football Américain

I'm sure the French are horrified. We found an English style pub that's showing the Packers-Lions game! This is awesome.

The last time we watched the Packers and Lions on Thanksgiving we were in Hawaii, and they lost! But not tonight. Brett Favre set a Packers record for consecutive completions in the 37-26 win over the Lions.

On to the Cowboys. Unfortunately, the game is 2:15am Paris time.

In case you need to watch football or have fish and chips when you're in Paris, check out The Bowler on 13, Rue d'Artois.

Go Pack Go!

Hilton Arc de Triomphe

The transportation strike continues, but we made it safely from the airport to the hotel.

To give you an idea of where we are, we're the big, blue circle 1.

Click on the scrolling slideshow to see more pictures.

À Paris

I was dreading the airport. Flying on the busiest day of the year was none to appealing. We arrived extra early and to my utter astonishment, there was extra staff and short lines. We left the house, checked our bags, got through the security line and were standing at our gate in less than hour. That's nearly a record on a regular day!

However, we're waiting to see how delayed our flight might be. The inbound plane was 1.5 hours late to depart. So far, no updated time.

Things that Make Me Cheery

1. The stunning red, gold and orange foliage this time of year. Stunning.
2. The red Starbucks cups to celebrate the holidays. So festive!
3. Listening to Christmas music in October!
4. Winning my fantasy football league for five weeks.
5. We leave for Paris tomorrow! Check back for our trip adventure and pictures.

On a more serious note, I'm most thankful for the many blessings I've been given and for family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

Fond Farewell

I've been blessed to have my best friend live 30 minutes away for the past two years. We've been best friends since high school. We were roommates for 2.5 years in college. Never did we dream that we'd get to live so close post-college.

They moved this weekend.

Our friendship has survived the test of time and space. We will always be friends. It's a friendship that picks up where it last left off. But, I will miss them. Now instead of a short car ride away, they're a plane ride away.

Friends
Deborah D. Smith
Michael W. Smith

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

No Fluke

Photo by Jonathan Daniel /Getty Images

Well, I guess I can't say that 8-1 is a fluke. However, I would say that there's been some luck involved. This year, it's been good luck compared to the last couple of seasons where things have just not fallen in the Packers favor. For instance, yesterday's fourth quarter touchdown by Ruvell Martin, could as easily have been an interception by defense backs Darren Sharper or Cedric Griffin who collided in the end zone and the ball bounced off them into Martin's hands.

However, believe me, I'm not complaining, I will take 8-1 any day! I'm just trying to be realistic

Veterans Day

From How to Raise an American: 1776 Fun and Easy Tools, Tips, and Activities to Help Your Child Love This Country:

What's the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day in May? Veterans Day is to thank all men and women who have served in the military during times of war and peace. Memorial Day honors those who died while serving our country. Yes, Veterans Day used to be called Armistice Day and celebrated the signing of a truce between Germany and the Allied forces on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 that ended the First World War. President Wilson declared the first Armistice Day in 1919 to honor those who had participated in the war.

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed legislation to change the name of Veterans Day to also honor all who had served in America's subsequent wars.

Veterans, we remember you today, and thank you for your service.

ooh la-la

For our anniversary we are going to Paris! Well, not quite on our annivesary, but shortly thereafter. It will actually be an anniversary of anniversary of sorts. We celebrated our fifth anniversary in Paris and another five years, we're going back!

In preparation, we are brushing up our French, so our bonjour doesn't sound like bonn-jurr. And, Brian reminded me that just because we get a new book on Paris, doesn't mean that there's "new, old things." Good point.

But, the most important preparation came in Brian's new Sony α (alpha) DSLR-A700. Check back for the masterpieces that we can always count on.

And, yes, shhhhh, we know that the French are in Paris.

Hmmmm. What Could it Be?

It won't be ready until tomorrow.
You have it, but you can't possess (own) it.
I talked about it last week.
It's a surprise.

These were my clues this year. That's a tough one.

*************

A little background...one of the first years we were married, I begged for clues on my present. To no avail. Finally, this was my clue, "You have it, but you can't use it." I innocently guessed a pair of photographs that I had talked about wanting to get framed. I was right! Since then, my clues are always oblique and esoteric. :-(

Hotel Room Bistro

Don't laugh. I think we're on to something. You would not believe what my Mom can do with an electric skillet, toaster, hot plate and microwave in a hotel room!

Really, I think it could be the next Food Network show. Watch out Everyday Italian, 30 Minute Meals, Barefoot Contessa and Iron Chef...here comes Hotel Room Bistro!

My Week of Fame

The Cheese leads CFAFL fantasy football heading into week #7! I will enjoy it while it lasts.

BecauseISaidSo

This past weekend, I watched my best friend's children. Here are a few lessons, reflections and commonly heard phrases from the weekend with a 7, 5, 4, and 16 month-old...

• Note to self...ice cream close to bedtime...baaaaad idea.
• The 365 daily goal is to wear your child out before they wear you out.
• "Wellll, mommy doesn't do it like that..."
• How is it possible that someone less than 3-feet tall can have that much energy.
• "Mommy let's us..." any imagineable activity that a child wants to do at any given moment.
• "We don't have to..." any imagineable activity that a child doesn't want to do at any given moment.
• "Well, sometimes life isn't fair" in response to "uhhhhh, that's not fair." Where did that come from?
• A bad babysitter forgets to bring water or other type of beverage to the Adventure Playground.
• You know it's time to leave Adventure Playground when the children are dehydrated, one child "really needs to go potty," and there's been a diaper explosion resulting in diaper changing on a public park bench. Send me the psychiatry bill.
• What goes in, must come out. Note to self, there might be better options than oatmeal and yogurt.
• How is it that no one has invented anything better than a diaper?
• Variation on that theme: Why is a wipe only 6" x 5"?
• I know why patience was specifically highlighted as a virtue.
• And, although the phrase, "Because I said so..." was never used, I have a much better understanding of how that phrase came to be.

The above is said all in gest. We really had a lot of fun. Truly. In all seriousness, these are the four most well-behaved children ever. If you ever have the pleasure of watching children, I hope they're as good as these four. I will miss them dearly!

Country Fair

What's not to love at a Country Fair!?

Favre on Breaking Marino's TD Record

This is one reason I like Favre. He's humble.

Packers 4-0

Don't get me wrong, I will take 4-0 any day. However, a couple of observations.

The running game is in serious trouble. When your punter is the third leading rusher for the day and his average is higher than anyone else that rushed, and his faked punt for the first down was the second longest of the day. Not good.

Rusher ATT/YDS/AVG/LG
D. Wynn 10/20/2.0/3
R. Grant 3/17/5.7/15
J. Ryan 1/7/7.0/7
V. Morency 1/2/2.0/2

I guess I should be glad that Morency actually played today.

The four wins haven't been the prettiest. Today, defense let a few big plays go by, but they also sacked Holcomb four times. Special teams has improved as well as added a trick or two, i.e., Ryan's faked punt.

This is a young team. Each win is a scrapping match. But, somehow they have willed themselves to win. And, it sure is fun to watch!

Favre's Latest Record

Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Congratulations to Brett Favre!

#241 and #242

Here are some neat quotes from around the league.

Dan Marino's videotaped message to Favre after touchdown pass 421
"Hey Brett, it's Dan Marino. I'd like to take a minute to congratulate you on breaking one of the great records in sports. I loved holding the touchdown record for the past 13 years, but if someone was going to break it, I'm glad it was someone like you, who has always competed at the highest level and always played only to win. Over the past 17 years, you've been a credit to the Packers, and to the National Football League and to the sport that we all love so much. Brett, congratulations on touchdown 421!"

Mike Holmgren
"As proud and amazed as I am of what Brett is and has accomplished on the playing field, the thing that impresses me the most is what kind of a man and leader he has become off the field. I have taken great joy in watching him develop as a person and father over his career."

Terry Bradshaw
"Brett Favre is the best I have ever seen. And I've never said that about anybody. He's simply the best. He's got the strongest arm, athleticism, field presence, leadership, poise and tenaciousness. He plays hurt, he's fun, he's infectious. He has everything I want to see, including the game-time decisions, the strengths, and all the intangibles."

Dover's Monster Mile

As promised, here are a few pictures from our past weekend at Dover. These are not to be mistaken with Brian's masterpieces. These are from Ellie's new Sony Cybershot DCS-W200, which was a surprise from Brian.

We had a great time! Like any sporting event, it's very different being there in person. Terribly cliché, but the smell of gasoline and rubber and the incredible roar of the engines, was just incredible. It was a picture perfect day, not a cloud in the sky, which provided for excellent tailgating and a lobster red sunburn.

However, no weekend is complete without staying in the very Days Inn in Easton, MD that boasts, "Don Johnson Slept Here." Seriously, who knew?!

3-0 or 420

Photo by AP Photo

Morry Gash

Hmmmm...where to start, 3-0 or 420.

In a come-from-behind 31-24 win, Favre threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings, which tied Dan Marino's record for most TD passes. He also had his 60th career game with at least three TDs, had his 49th career 300-yard passing game and led his 38th game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime. Wide Receiver, Donald Driver also surpassed Antonio Freeman as Lambeau's all-time reception leader. The Pack take the NFC-North lead.

From last week, I think this is classic Favre as he reflects on nearing both the the records for the most touchdown passes and the most interceptions.

From Packers.com:

With both records about to become his, Favre reflected on Wednesday on the best touchdown of his career as well as the worst interception. The former was easy for him to recall. It was his first pass in Super Bowl XXXI against New England, a 54-yard TD strike to Andre Rison when he audibled to a play called "Razor." Read more

[...]

As for the worst interception, there were a few choices in Favre's mind, but the most-discussed was his famous "from the knees" throw in Detroit that was picked off and returned for a touchdown. It happened on Sept. 28, 1997, with the Packers facing third-and-3 near midfield.

"I could not convince him after that I thought it was going to be a great play," Favre said. "So if you ask Mike, he'd probably say that was one of the worst. If you ask me, it was that close (placing his thumb and forefinger a half-inch apart) to being an unbelievable play." Read more

"I Do...?"

Nearly ten years, ago when Brian said, "I Do," never did he imagine that he said:

"I Do...want to root for the Green Bay Packers."

"I Do...want to go to hockey games."

"I Do...like that you obsess over your fantasy football league."

"I Do...like Tony Stewart (uhhhh, I mean Joe Gibbs drivers)."

"I Do...really, really want to go to the NASCAR race in Dover this weekend!"

Yes! We're off to Dover this afternoon. We're going to the race tomorrow with a good friend and her husband. Check back later, as Brian did say, "I Do...love to take pictures!"

Congratulations to Brett Favre

Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images
NFL Photos
Today, future Hall of Fame and Packers' QB Brett Favre became the winningest (is that really a word?) quarterback in NFL history in victory vs. Giants. See Favre's highlights.

As surprising as the Packers 2-0 record is, so is my fantasy football team! For the second week in a row, it looks like a win is highly favorable, minus a major implosion by Tom Brady in the rest of the game.

Here were this week's starters:
QB T. Brady, NE
RB L. Tomlinson, SD (ouch, only 5 FF points; lowest of my starters)
RB A. Peterson, MIN (gulp, only 11 FF points; and he's a Viking, double gulp)

WR S. Smith, CAR
WR C. Chambers, MIA

WR W. Welker, NE (good last minute start in place of L. Coles)
TE B. Watson, NE
PK A. Vinatieri, IND
Def Steelers

On the bench:
QB B. Favre, GB
RB M. Barber, DAL (ouch, scored 20 FF points)
RB D. McAllister, NO

RB B. Jackson, GB
WR L. Coles, NYJ

WR V. Jackson, SD

PK M. Crosby, GB

Def Bengals

GO PACK GO!

According to a story on MSNBC:

Pittsburgh is the runaway leader, with 34 percent of the women living in the Steelers’ market identifying themselves as fans. Green Bay was second with 29.4 percent, but no other market surveyed had even one-quarter of its women identify themselves as fans.
Read more

Personally, I think the Green Bay percentage is low. Plus it does not take in to account for fans that don't live in the "Packers' market."

Vote that the Packers have the best fans!
GO PACK GO! GO PACK GO! GO PACK GO! GO PACK GO!

Eleven Tears

The company I work for lost eleven employees on 9-11. In the lobby of our New York headquarters, there stands a memorial in their honor.

Eleven Tears: Drops of water representing 11 invisible tears fall at random intervals from the ceiling into the 11-sided reflecting pool, creating ripples that expand and intersect in the water. Below, etched into the base of the pool, appear the names of the eleven employees who perished in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, as well as words of remembrance about each of them.

It's a lovely memorial, an ever present reminder of the sadness we feel for all that were lost that day, and to their family and friends who still feel their immense loss.

We remember today.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

Once again, I have agreed to humiliate myself and field a fantasy football team in a friend's league. For Week #1, the Cheeseheads are starting:
QB T. Brady, NE
RB L. Tomlinson, SD
RB D. McAllister, NO
WR S. Smith, CAR
WR L. Coles, NYJ
WR C. Chambers, MIA
TE B. Watson, NE
PK A. Vinatieri, IND
Def Steelers

On the bench:
QB B. Favre, GB
RB M. Barber, DAL
RB A. Peterson, MIN
RB B. Jackson, GB
RB F. Taylor, JAC
WR V. Jackson, SD
WR M. Muhammad, CHI
WR M. Jones, JAC

After Thursday's 2007 game opener between the Colts and the Saints, my score was 14 to 31. Check back for Fantasy Football score updates. I'm hoping to beat last year's record of 4-9-1.

PACKERS UPDATE: First I must start with the Packers. It wasn't the prettiest of games, that's for sure. But, I'll take the win (16-13) against the Eagles to start off the season. If nothing else, it will give their young team some confidence. It's a good start even though they're without Vernand Morency and Greg Jennings. Special teams was almost special, as they contributed to two turnovers that set up 10 points. Also Rookie Kicker Mason Crosby had a 53, 37, and the 42 yard game winner with two seconds left.

On to Fantasy Football, all of my players have played, my opponent still has TE Todd Heap and PK Matt Stover to play on Monday night. So far, my score is 140-106.

TUESDAY UPDATE: I won! At least I won one fantasy football game this year. Final score 140-116. I've also made some roster adjustments. We'll see how the season progresses.

Had this been a real emergency ...

I believe I heard a very exciting story this evening at dinner. But I'm not completely sure.

This was because the storytellers, two friends of ours, brought their two daughters, also two friends of ours.

The daughters are a 4 year old ("4 and a 1/2", she's quick to correct), and a soon to be 3 year old. As a side note, when the younger is reminded that her 3rd birthday is next week, she is very excited for as long as 0.7 secs. Then she's on to the next item.

My wife and I had one of the kids on each of our laps, while our taller friends told the story.

Below is a summary of the story, as I heard it:

- - - -

Our neighbor had a burglar ... Brian, Brian, Brian, BRIAN, BRIAN, BRIAN, BRIANBRIANBRIANBRIANBRIAN...(The 4 1/2 yr old was in full Emergency Broadcast Mode. About a foot away from my ear.) ...

We saw the burglars leave their property and we called the neighbors to see if they were ....Your sock's are soooooo BIG that you fall ALL the way to the bottom!! . . . HAHAHAHAHAHHA .....

A couple of days later, the burglars returned and we saw them as they .... BRIAN! BRIAN! BRIAN! ...um....um ....

Then I walked over and moved their getaway veh ..... You are 72 years old. HAHAHAHA !! ...

Two of the burglars escaped on foot when ... Brian, BRIAN, BRIAN! BRIANBRIANBRIANBRIANBRIAN! ... Are you going to the concert? ...

Meanwhile, the third burglar pulled away while I held the burglar's shirt, and ... Brian! Brian! Your neck is SOOO big, ... I mean...... um ... um....

So I had the shirt from the burglar in my hands when the police arrived .... Your neck is SOOOO tall it goes all the way up THERE! HA HA HA! ......

Eventually, the canine unit came out, sniffed the shirt and took off straight toward the... ...Your hair is so big, it goes from here to THERE! HAHAHAHAHAHA ...

They couldn't find anyone, but the next day the police returned and told us ... BRIAN! BRIAN! BRIAN!...{silence}...

And, surprisingly, the burglar wasn't a 15 yr old, the burglar was ... Brian, Brian, Brian! You have a leaf-shoe! HAHAHA ....

It turns out, she was one of the students from my... BRIAN! BRIAN! BRIAN! Your eyes are THIS big !!... HAHAHAHAHAHA ...

- - - -

Anyway, I think it was a very exciting story and may have had a surprising twist at the end.

However, with certainty, I can report, the test of the Emergency Broadcast Child (EBC) worked perfectly well, and, importantly, had this been a real emergency, I would be instructed that my "head is THIS big! HAHAHAHA..."

Brian

PS. Just so you don't get the wrong idea, the two shorter friends at dinner are some of our favorite Emergency Broadcast Children. We always enjoy seeing the entire family, both sides, the taller and the effervescent.

mul·li·gan

Dictionary.com defines a mulligan as "a golf shot not tallied against the score, granted in informal play after a poor shot especially from the tee. "

Well, my score was still 1,357,892, and you didn't think a golf score could be that high! Neither did the other three players in my foursome. They were better than saints and had an abundance of patience!

Blokus...not just for 3 year olds

Our 4 1/2 and almost 3 year old friends taught us a new game. Admittedly, they always have a little assistance in playing. But, I have to admit that this game is slightly addictive. Perhaps it brings out the competitive nature in me. I recently picked up the hexagonal version of Blokus (the original is a square).

The purpose of the game is for each player to place his/her 22 pieces on the board (or at least the maximum number of pieces).

The game ends when a player is blocked and can no longer place any pieces on the board, s/he must miss his/her turn. The other players continue in the normal order of play until no one can place any more pieces on the board.

Medical Mal-pricing

As some of you know, I broke my arm a few weeks ago.

(For those interested in that story, see the post entitled: "In a beautifully choreographed ...")

There are important life lessons to be learned from this experience, namely: Don't anger the Emergency Room staff.

Let me explain. I did not go with a plan to anger the staff, there was no premeditation. Instead, a few hours after the accident, I went to the ER in a relatively calm manner.

At this point the alert reader will note I did not go to the ER right away. Why? (Husbands, world wide, already know the answer.) I had to clean the mess I made before my wife got home.

Anyway, expecting to wait 2 or 3 eons before I would be seen by medically inclined people at the ER, I brought a book to read. Surprisingly, I was admitted immediately. But it was a ploy, the ER people had developed new places to wait, inside the treatment area.

Periodically, medically inclined people would stop by and administer medical things in my general direction, sometimes directly at me. ("A proctology exam??! ... It's my arm! MY ARM!") Mostly, I was waiting with other people in the middle of the ER.

Every once in a while, announced over the loudspeaker, someone who needed more immediate medical attention, (e.g. "Code Yellow", serious but stable), would arrive "by air", i.e. helicopter. Otherwise, after they get those folk stabilized, there was just more waiting.

It was only later did I realize that important decisions I made earlier in life, would affect the the outcome of my current situation. And when I say "important decisions", I mean, picking the appropriate book to read in an ER.

- - - -

I chose to bring a book by the literary giant, Dave "Will Shakespeare" Barry, known to many for his deep, thoughtful, and carefully crafted booger jokes. He writes more than booger jokes; sometimes he ignites strawberry pop tarts and sometimes he explodes toilets. So, he is a true renaissance man.

If you have read any of his material, you may know that you will uncontrollably, and sometimes loudly, snort milk out of your nose. Fortunately, I wasn't drinking milk. But I found myself accidentally laughing loudly, very loudly.

- - - -

While reading the Dave Barry book, I had an outburst of uncontrollable laughing. It was poorly timed. Below is an unre-touched transcript based on the actual event.

Loudspeaker: Code Yellow, by air, 4 minutes
Me: BWAAAAA HA HA HA HA, .... HA HA ....
Families, Patients & ER Staff: (Really loud & stern glaring. Directly at me.)

I did not realize that this faux pas (from the French, faux meaning 'idiot', pas meaning 'says something stupid, out loud.'), would be recorded in my 'Permanent Record'. Yes, the very same 'Permanent Record' that has been in existence since elementary school. In which, every teacher told you, your every misdeed would be recorded. "Brian! That's going on your 'Permanent Record'!"

Apparently, I had a new entry.

Shortly after this, the ER People did some more medical things at me, referred me to a orthopedist, then shoved me out of the ER with a temporary splint. Apparently, they did not want "my kind" hanging around. "Look at his 'Permanent Record', let's discharge him."

- - - -

After a couple of days of waiting, I was able to see an orthopedist for approximately 37.3 seconds.

His entire conversation with me consisted of:
1) An unintelligible mumble, which translated as, "I don't want to be here, I'd rather be golfing".
2) "You have a break, these heal", which translated as, "You have a break, these heal".

Just kidding, he used a few additional words. But not many. Because it was a clean break, apparently a text-book "night stick wound", I did not need a full cast and was prescribed a brace. See image below.

Ultimately, I had to "co"-pay $165 USD for my brace, (which equals: £82 GBP, €121 EUR, ¥19,213,420,370,841 YEN) . I'm not sure, but I believe my 'Permanent Record' affected the rate of my "co"-pay for the brace

Also, I believe my insurance company had to pay only 3 cents. They haven't paid yet; they are still on the floor laughing because I actually paid the $165.

- - - -

Medical administrator: I need pre-authorization for a forearm brace.
Insurance claims person: A forearm brace? Sure. ... Wait! Look at his 'Permanent Record' ! I'm only authorizing 3 cents for him. HA HA HA! Have the stooge, I mean the client, "co" pay the balance. HA HA HA HA ...

- - - -

In my humble opinion, $165 is expensive for a piece of mass produced plastic. But I have no one to blame except for my 'Permanent Record'.

Next time I plan to break my arm, I may go to a witch doctor instead. I think that costs only three chickens. Or, I may go to a new-age crystal healing person, that way, they could bill my aura. I've seen my aura's bank statement, he's flush in aura money, and he has a better 'Permanent Record'.

Brian

PS. This is a joke image, you can't actually buy a forearm brace on a TV shopping channel. Who would want to?

PPS. hmmm.....However, shortly, you be may lucky enough to buy this beauty on ebay. It's a one of a kind, exquisite, 'work of art'. I'm sad to part with it. Minimum bid: $165.


(c) 2007

All in Perspective

Every year, Beloit College in Beloit, WI, publishes its Mindset List of 70 items that "provide a look at the cultural touchstones that have shaped the lives of today’s first-year [college] students."

Here's a few highlights for the class of 2011.

• They never “rolled down” a car window.
• Nelson Mandela has always been free and a force in South Africa.
• Pete Rose has never played baseball.
• Russia has always had a multi-party political system.
• Classmates could include Michelle Wie, Jordin Sparks, and Bart Simpson.
• Al Gore has always been running for president or thinking about it.
• U2 has always been more than a spy plane.
• Fox has always been a major network.
• They drove their parents crazy with the Beavis and Butt-Head laugh.
• The “Blue Man Group” has always been everywhere.
• Thanks to MySpace and Facebook, autobiography can happen in real time.
• Smoking has never been allowed in public spaces in France.
• Tiananmen Square is a 2008 Olympics venue, not the scene of a massacre.
• MTV has never featured music videos.
• The space program has never really caught their attention except in disasters.
• They get much more information from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert than from the newspaper.
• They’re always texting 1 n other.
• They never saw Johnny Carson live on television.
• The World Wide Web has been an online tool since they were born.
• Dilbert has always been ridiculing cubicle culture.

Complete Mindset List

Do Not Call the ASPCA or PETA

Statement: Mid-Atlantic Squirrels are not as smart as Squirrels in the Midwest.

Proof: How do I know this? Because, you see a significantly larger number of roadkill squirrels.

Reason: My theory is that winters are not cold enough in the Mid-Atlantic region to sufficiently naturally select the smarter of the bunch.

Now, before, you get upset or send the ASPCA after me or call PETA, please understand that I have no ill-will for the furry, little mammal. Really. I grew up where mosquitoes are the state bird; Bambi could be dinner; Nemo is caught through a hole from one of 10,000 frozen lakes; home to Blatz, Schlitz and Pabst; where real football is played outside on the frozen tundra; and where lutefisk isn't just for breakfast any more.

Truly, I like them. They provide plenty of entertainment for our squirrel-proof bird feeders. And, we even feed them corn from a squngee (very entertaining!).

What the cars fail to select, the red fox in our neighbor's bush completes.

Grace via Hummingbird

(photo by ©Dan True from hummingbirds.net)

Off and on all summer I have put out my hummingbird feeder. However, to no avail. I put out the feeder later than normal in the season or perhaps it was nesting season.

This morning, I thought I'd try it again and put it out before going to church. As I pulled into the driveway, I looked toward the backyard and saw a hummingbird hovering and then head toward the feeder. Since then I've seen as many as two hummingbirds together at the feeder.

It's what I needed to see today.

In a beautifully choreographed ...

In a beautifully choreographed, meticulously executed, oh-so-graceful move, I accidentally broke my left arm.

But all was not lost. Because of my left arm's sacrifice and, from years of practice, subconsciously, I was able to save most of what was in my right hand, a Healthy Choice brand 'Sweet Bourbon Steak', TV dinner, recently microwaved.

I suppose I looked like an American Football player sprawled on the ground, with his hand in the air, grasping the football to show he had caught the winning touchdown pass. Except, he would be holding a microwaveable TV dinner... and ... he would be on my staircase ... and ... he would be thinking that his socks were pretty slippery.

But he would have been proud that the TV dinner was saved. Well, most of it.

The rest of my TV dinner was artfully decorating part of my wall. (Jackson Pollock. Ha! He's called an abstract expressionist? Ha! He has nothing compared to my creation! I bet he had never expressed Garlic Mashed Potatoes!)

- - - - -

Before you think I'm only focused on the food, let me just say, recently I've taken up a sport - the great game of Golf. When people see me golf, they usually say I remind them of Tiger Woods, if he were to have John Daly's physique, and if missing the golf ball on the down stroke was okay. Actually, I'm not as bad as John Daly, but my wife can tell you that I'm trying.

At this point, the alert readers may say:
1) Ah-ha! A wife! Why would she let me, a circumferentially growing boy, eat TV dinners?
2) Why would such a beautiful creature marry a goober like me?
Let me just respond to each:
1) My wife was visiting her sister for the weekend.
I was left home. Alone. Unsupervised.
2) I don't know.

- - - - -

I have learned the difficulty of having full use of only one hand. Although, there are some things that aren't as difficult as I imagined:

• Typing on my Blackberry - not too difficult,
• Driving - not too bad,
• Typing on my Blackberry while I'm driving in heavy traffic - not easy, do-able, but I'm practicing. (Just kidding; I would never, ever do that and publicly admit to it. Instead, I would just tell you I was kidding. Um...I've said too much.)
  
• Socks - not too bad,
• shirts - not too bad, and
  
• I've convinced my firm that I'm just wearing loafers and I'm not wearing a tie again until the cast/splint is off.

Anyway, all of this is relatively easy with only one hand, especially when it's compared to the most difficult task that I've found: buttoning my suit trousers.

Two days ago, I may have spent 10 minutes trying to button my trousers with my one available hand in a men's room stall at my firm. I was banging from side to side, making an awful racket. A couple of times, I heard footsteps of someone entering the mens room. Both times, I heard them stop, then turn, and scamper out.

I don't remember exactly, but I could have been grunting slightly while I was attempting to button my trousers. Really, I am not making this up. Had I heard all of that from a men's room stall, I would have scampered, too. I dare YOU to try to put on your suit pants with one hand in your company's rest room !

- - - - -

So, in closing, after two days of having full use of only my right arm, I have learned important lessons and come to appreciate important aspects of my world around me, namely, my left arm.

Brian

Up-set

A work team outing found us at today's Legg Mason Tennis Classic quarterfinals where we saw the 6’9”, NCAA top-seeded John Isner from the University of Georgia defeat the Number 2 seed, Tommy Haas.

Thoughts and Prayers

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those touched by the Minneapolis bridge collapse. As a Minneapolis-native, my thoughts immediately went to family members and friends that live there.

San Diego

What I enjoyed about San Diego:

• Visiting my aunt and uncle
• Running into a cousin whom I hadn't seen in nine years and his wife, whom I hadn't met before
• Playing golf at Aviara
• Staying at the Four Seasons (what's not to enjoy!)
• Jamba Juice (it's always a treat when I visit New York or California)
• Gaslamp Quarter
• Walking the streets of San Diego while Comic-Con is in town - I've never seen so many light sabers in my life! (who are these people and where do they find the time!)
• Seeing the Mexico border
• There's nothing like coming over a hill and seeing the vast Pacific coast

Fore!

This is a warning to any creature with two or more legs, we have recently taken up golf. After taking lessons more than five years ago, a friend who is currently taking lessons convinced us to venture out on to the course.

Needless to say, we are having a blast. Our area has some lovely regional nine-hole golf courses. A great place to learn and not feel completely overwhelmed.

However, when we need to feel completely overwhelmed, we can play at courses like we did this past weekend. We were in San Diego and played at the Arnold Palmer designed course at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara Golf Club.

Honoured in 2006 as Golf Magazine's number one golf resort in Southern California, and as Condé Nast Traveler readers' number one golf resort on the West Coast, Four Seasons Resort Aviara Golf Club offers superb golf facilities. Its memorable coastal layout – par 72 over 18 holes and 7,007 yards – was designed by Arnold Palmer. The course is sculpted around natural topography, with water hazards positioned as visual extensions of the lagoon. The club includes a 32,000-square-foot (3,000-square-metre), two-storey Spanish colonial clubhouse with a complete golf shop. Read more

Seventeen balls later, we still had fun and hadn't killed, marred or injured anyone including ourselves. Brian says we really got our money's worth as we had enough shots for 36 holes! By the way, I single-handedly lost three balls at the hole pictured here.

What comes after triple bogey?

You can tell a lot about someone by the way they say "Good-bye"

You can tell a lot about someone by the way they leave for an errand or leave for work and say "good bye". For example, my wife, who is very efficient, will be the first to leave the house.

This is because her work schedule starts earlier in the day than mine, primarily due to the life-balance, technical fact that I'm lazy. So, when she leaves for work in the morning, I may still be preparing for my busy day, typically in a supine position.

At that time, she may sit on the 4-Post, Queen-Sized Preparation Area, next to where I'm still preparing, and lean over to chat with me about the day. Because, I'm typically still in my diligent preparation phase for the day, I'll manage to look at her with only one eye, because the other eye is closed so it can focus on continuing the preparation activities.

So, we chat, and then she kisses me, and says good-bye and that she'll be back at her usual time, which is only 2 or 3 hours after her colleagues leave their offices for the evening. For me, that translates.... um... let me get my calculator....yes ... about 4 or 5 hours after I stop working for the day.

Anyway, you may have drifted from my point. Here is my point. After she makes up her side of the 4-Post, Queen-Sized Preparation Area, she efficiently leaves the room where I was still preparing. But, she actually doesn't leave the house. She says "good-bye", but doesn't leave the house. She just leaves the room, where I've probably fallen soundly into preparation, and she goes downstairs.

This is where, in my Preparation Area #2 of our facility, she may have breakfast.

Because of the differences in our work schedules for the aforementioned reason, I haven't been able to coordinate our schedules to actually see what she's doing outside of Preparation Area #1, where I've rolled to another position of preparation. Regardless, she's probably doing something efficient, charitable, work-related, or frequently, all of the above, as well as, the chores for the next three weeks.

After a half-hour or so, I may hear the downstairs door open, close, then dead-bolted in a very efficient manner.

Anyway, you may have drifted away from my point again. My point is that my wife chooses to efficiently say good bye while she is upstairs. She could have waited till she completed all of the other efficient activities in the morning, then return upstairs, say good-bye, go back downstairs, then leave the house. But that's not very efficient.

I'm not complaining at all, I wouldn't want her to change anything, and, like most everything about her, I admire her efficiency, too.

Besides, probably, I'm back in deep preparation by then.

Brian

Happy Independence Day!

No ER visits as a result of the slip 'n slide or the firecrackers; a friend's death-by-chocolate, caramel and extra cocoa, yummy brownies; the brand new grill initiation and an afternoon spent with friends. Despite a downpour and a few thunderstorms, we had a great 4th. Hope you did too!

The Hazy Days of Summer

Flying into New York this week, I was looking out the window and could barely make out the profile of the city. You could tell it was a city, but it was hard to distinguish the major characteristics of the city. Like a sheer veil of clouds that had settled over the city. It made it look rather mysterious. Such an enigma to be explored.

Gullible as a Squirrel

A squirrel can find a bird feeder within 100 miles. Needless to say, our bird feeders and the birds trying to feed at them have been tormented by many a squirrel.

Last month, when we were in the Mall of America in Minnesota, we walked by the Wild Bird Store and saw a feeder by Droll Yankees, called the Yankee Flipper Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder. Here are its many claims:

• Motor driven, battery powered, weight activated perch ring
• Weight calibrated to allow birds to eat, flips squirrels off
• Powder coated in forest green
• Advanced technology provides the ultimate experience
• Hottest Selling bird feeder in the industry

Key words that sold at least one member of our household: motor-driven, flips squirrels off, advanced technology ... SOLD!

So this weekend, we took the plunge to the new feeder, obviously as much for the entertainment factor as to squirrel proof. We have waited patiently, however, the feeder itself seems to be a deterrent as we have yet to see a squirrel take a spin. Only time will tell who the gullible one is!

**We promise, no squirrels were hurt in the making of this post.

Final New York Observations

Here are a few differences that I noticed between New York and Washington, DC.

1. Magazine stores - there's nothing like it in DC
2. I am admittedly an urban dweller, but even I would miss green
3. Where else can you find Ess-a-Bagel and La Maison du Chocolat in one city?
4. The metro is so much cleaner than the subway
5. But, the subway runs 24 hours
6. There are as many Jamba Juices as Starbucks; you're right, impossible
7. New York's Chinatown is really a Chinatown
8. How much electricity is used in Times Square?
9. In New York, an entire block can have the same address number
10. Where do I find soup dumplings in DC?

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)

When you find yourself in New York's Chinatown, besides the fun street shopping and knock-off you-name-it, scout out Joe's Shanghai Restaurant for soup dumplings. A friend recommended this culinary experience and we will be back for sure! You will find Joe's at 9 Pell Street between Mott and Bowery. It's a very small, one-way street and it's easy to miss. In this rather compact setting, the seating is sort of family style for smaller parties.

From Joe's Shanghai Restaurant:

Xiao Long Bao or "Little Dumplings from Basket" was originated from Nan Xiang, a suburb of Shanghai. Their perfectly symmetrical shape, resembles a pagoda.

These tender pouches, "little dumplings", are freshly made to order. They arrive at the table in piping hot bamboo steamers. Each plump dumpling contains a little pork meatball surrounded by a delightful meaty broth.

To prevent burning one's mouth and to savor the dumpling, the preferred method of consumption is to bite off a little piece of the doughy wrapper, suck the broth with a "slurp", then eat the rest.

There are two variations available at Joe's Shanghai - crab meat and pork meat. Each basket is freshly made to order, so don't forget to order your Soup Dumpling upon arrival at your table. Otherwise it might be a long wait.

A cartoonist, Robert Zimmerman, had drawn "Soup Dumplings: A Survival Course" comic strip that was once published in the newspapers. It comedically depicts the hazard of eating a fresh, piping hot dumpling. Although a little extreme, the danger of burning one's mouth is no different from the dangers of enjoying a hot cup of coffee.

Art Appreciation

I admit that I'm not one to appreciate all-things art. To me, a canvas with a single stripe of paint isn't necessarily art with someone's deep, inner spiritual meaning of life. I just have a difficult time with that.

I know it's all about styles and preferences. I suppose my preference is a PICTURE of something . . . anything, as long as it is even a somewhat recognizable object. I say this somewhat in jest, as I do like a few modern artists such as Gregg Robinson and I can even appreciate the abstract work of Salvadore Dalí.

My art appreciation was tested this weekend at the Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art and the International Center of Photography, which although recognizeable objects, not spectaculorly photographed. However, I'm most spoiled as I believe Brian's photography could easily match most I've seen this weekend.

New York

We're in New York for the weekend. We recommend seeing Frost/Nixon written by Peter Morgan starring Frank Langella and Michael Sheen at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, which we saw this evening. It was really well done.

The most exciting news so far is that Brian is the new owner of a Sony® α (alpha) DSLR-A100K (digital single-lens reflex camera for non-camera acronym knowing people like me!). His camera buying experience at J&R is captured on the Digital Photography Review discussion forum.

We are staying in the theater district and Times Square is a mere three blocks away. Right next to our hotel is a magazine store, literally a little store with magazine racks surrounding all sides. We both commented on how New York-esque the store is.

Look-ALike?

Does anyone else think that Brian looks a little like Tony?

Will Tony have a new teammate next year? Brian predicts that Dale Earnhardt Jr will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008. You heard it here first!

No Drivers Injured in the Taking of this Photo

No worries, Brian had nothing to do with taking this photo. He took the real photos (like the car), check back later.

Tony Stewart made an appearance in the Home Depot suite (I was within an arm's length). Rain was the other appearance of the evening, which postponed the race until Sunday. On the spur of the moment, we decided to drive back down to Richmond. It was a really fun race. Richmond is a short track so you can easily see all of the cars going around the entire track.

Tony had a pretty good race. After starting 22 and a few radical car adjustments, he moved steadily up to fourth. However, several cautions toward the end of the race, and no long green flag stretches to work his way through lapped traffic, he got caught in a late race crash. Despite the damage to the front of the car, he managed to complete the race and take eighth.