In Search of Ark

After more than 10 inches of rain in three days (and six of those inches in one day), we are beginning to see animals lined up in twos. There were several DC locations that were closed including roads, buildings, a few metro stations, regional trains and flooded tunnels. Thankfully, I returned from a business trip to find a dry house. I think my mode of transportation to work in the morning is canoe.

Starbucks Tale

I was in Starbucks the other morning for a cup of tea with steamed milk when I ran into Christina. Christina was the former store manager at the Starbucks and now is the district/area manager for several Starbucks stores. It was the first time I'd seen her since she left the store, so we briefly said hello and I asked how things were with her. Thinking it was a boon that I'd run into her, I sent an email to a friend, who often frequents the same Starbucks. Little did I know that not only had she seen Christina, but numerous times and knew all about her comings and goings. Alas, my news was no news to the Starbucks-loyalist.

Happy Father's Day!

A very Happy Father's Day to our Dads!

Congratulations!

We celebrate with Kurt & Kendra on the safe arrival of Kira Lee on June 12!

Public office qualification requirements include ...

Not hiring illegal aliens. Moreover, I have been told that my mantra should be "Don't go to Jail".

However, due to recent trends, I have received conflicting advice. Or, as the politicians say, "a refinement of their position".

You may wonder what type of trends would cause a flip/flop...um...er....I meant to say, would cause a 'refinement' of an upstanding citizen's advice.

Perhaps it's the recent immigration bill, perhaps there were recent grass root protests, perhaps some other national political trend. Or, perhaps an issue closer to home, such as the fading facade of our moral character.

If you perceived the last item is most likely; you are correct.

As a matter of fact, it is not just close to home. The issue is the home. Specifically, the fading facade of the metal siding's character.

Yes. Like you, I am shocked, too.... "Shocked ! Shocked!", I say.

How could painting our aluminum siding corrupt such moral fortitude? Is the fading aluminum a morality play on our fading facade of our character?

Moreover...

Hang on.


"Paint-o el Side-o .... el SIDE-O ... THE el SIDE-O !!"*


Sorry, I had to give our day laborer some direction.

Now, where was I? Ah yes, now I remember.

.... Moreover, how could someone express one set of values, yet live a different set of values !?

How could someone be that hypocritical ?!

I will never know.





*Although, I am ugly and an American. I am not the ugly American parodied in the above post.
No day laborers were harmed in the making of this blog.




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Ginger did everything that Fred did, but backwards and in heels

Well, it's been a while since my last blog. Last weekend we visited my parents for the weekend. My sister was visiting and my brother and sister-in-law also came down for a few hours. Fun was definitely had by all.

There were two new restaurants that are a must-return-to: Jimmy & Michele’s Pizzeria in Port Washington, admittedly, some of the best pizza ever, and The Perc Place in Hartford. One of The Perc Place's claim to fame is the hundreds of different sayings that decorate the women's and men's (so I've been told) bathroom walls. For instance, in the women's here's a sample:

• "Well-behaved women rarely make history"
• "First God made Adam and then looked at him and said, 'I think I can do better,' so He created a woman."
• "Ginger did everything that Fred did, but backwards and in heels."

One can only imagine what must be on the walls in the men's room!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to our Moms!

He's baaaaack!

Photo by Jim Biever
(Official Packers Website)
Mini-camp opened in Green Bay and Brett was back.

by Roger Anderson, Packers.com
posted 05/06/2006

The decision Brett Favre made to return to Green Bay this season wasn't easy, but it was rather simple.

"Ultimately I still wanted to play, I still felt like I could help this team win," Favre said. "I wondered what it would be like at home on Sundays next year and saying I could be doing that, I could be helping that team.

FINAL (I promise) Stars-Avs Series Reflection

Well, a whole day has gone by, perhaps the dust has settled and so I thought I'd be a little more rational about the Stars-Avs series. Here are the final thoughts: Stars fans, be grateful, we were finally put out of our misery by Brunette's OT goal yesterday. We went into the playoffs with high hopes for our team, only to witness some of worst hockey, goaltending, short-handed goals, blown leads, OT and, at times, puck handling, we could have imagined from our 2-seed team. I think it would have been more painful to drag the series on and win a game or two more only to go down at the end anyway. I wasn't a fan of goaltender Marty Turco going in, and this certainly hasn't helped my opinion. Over and out. When does pre-season begin?

Golfing

Maybe I'll take up golfing like the Stars who will watch the remaining Stanley Cup playoffs from their couch.

UPDATE: Perhaps that sounds a little harsh. Ask me tomorrow; maybe the loss won't be as fresh.

OT

Guerin of the Stars tied the game in the third to force OT!

UPDATE: Stars lose 3-2 in OT.

Finally, Not Finale

The Stars pulled out a win last night against Colorado, but they face almost unsurmountable odds as they're down 3-1 in a seven game series. Although, it was nice to see the Stars play with some vigor and a will to win; I fear it may have come too late, however.

New York

Today, I was at headquarters, which is located at 3 World Financial Center directly across the street from where the World Trade Center towers stood. The board dining room, where our event was held, is on the 50th floor and directly overlooks the now vacant block. There was damage to 3WFC and it was closed for repairs from September 2001 to May 2002. I can barely imagine the horror witnessed and experienced by my colleagues on that September morning as they watched the towers destroyed. It's always a poignant moment.
(Above: The view of the 3 WFC building from the observatory of the now destroyed World Trade Center.)

On the site of the former twin towers, the construction of Freedom Tower has begun. See the depiction of what it will look like when it's completed. (a little perspective, 3WFC has the green top pyramid on the left of the picture) To monitor progress of the build, visit Project Rebirth.

Alright Already!

This playoff series is REALLY not going as I'd wished. Stars lost game 3! They are down three games and have to win the next four to advance to the next round.

15th is the Charm for #4!

Photo by Jim Biever
(Official Packers Website)

Favre is returning!

Official Packers Website
Green Bay Press Gazette
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Official Favre Website

Favre News?

Photo by Jeffrey Phelps
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinal)
The speculation has once again begun in earnest as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and ESPN report that Favre will return for his 15th season. Hopefully, there will be good news to report later today!

Dallas Series 0-2

Well, game two didn't exactly go how I wished it would have. After coming back from an 0-3 deficit in the first period to go ahead 4-3 in the second, the Avs tied the game late in the third and won in overtime. Now the Stars are down two games in the best of seven and headed to Denver for game 3 on Wednesday. Hopefully, I'll have report will have better news on Thursday morning.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my bro!

Take for Granted

The Stars performance today was what not to do in the first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Although they scored the first two goals; that's all they would score and the Avs would have five unanswered goals. I hope Monday's game will show some improvement.

Go Stars!

Well, as I mentioned in my last post, regular season is over, but not for those that made the playoffs! Go Stars!!!! (You might wonder why I'm a Stars fan. Good question. As a Minnesota native, and therefore a North Stars fan, I still feel an allegiance to the Stars who took up residence in Dallas in 1993. Hence, my continued affection for the Stars!)

Their first round, post-season schedule is as follows:

Sat, April 22 3:00 p.m.at Dallas (NBC)
Mon, April 24 9:00 p.m.at Dallas (OLN, TSN)
Wed, April 26 9:30 p.m.at Colorado (OLN, TSN)
Fri, April 28 10:00 p.m.at Colorado (OLN, TSN)
*Sun, April 30 2:00 p.m.at Dallas (NBC)
*Tue, May 2 TBDat Colorado (OLN, TSN)
*Thu, May 4 TBDat Dallas (OLN, TSN)
*if necessary
-- All times Eastern