Happy Birthday

"Happy 275th Birthday" George!

Token's Family Fun Center

Very good friends of mine and Val's own and operate a fun place called "Token's Family Fun Center" (formerly Pizza Palace). This is a great place to take your kids and have a fun family outing. They have games for every age from Lazer Tag to Miniature Golf. Did I mention we couldn't get Val off the Skiing machine? All the machines take tokens. We had their pizza for the first time tonight and we both were impressed, very good crust. Sorry, the only beverages they serve are non-alcoholic. If you get to Des Moines stop in and check it out. If you live in town where have you been? I got so excited telling you about it and forgot the address at 313 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, IA, tele: 515-222-5656 . . . go check it out!

Cruise 4

Just a little over two weeks and we set sail. We have booked some off shore excursions that should be pretty cool. We are doing a kayak adventure in the Dominican Republic, row row row your boat, good thing I have been working out. In San Juan we are taking a tour of the city and the Bacardi Rum Distillery, I am sure the city comes first or we might not remember it. Then in Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas we are going to take a skyride to Paradise Point and Parasail, up up and away. Finally we will be doing Blackbeard's Cay Beach Break in the Bahamas, it will be nice to just sit and relax and remember the fun times we had on this cruise.

Heroes

Don't you just love this program?? By far one of the best!! After reading about Velvet the black lab mix that helped save 3 climbers from Mount Hood maybe they should add a super dog to the cast. Could you imagine what they could do with a dog that could leap tall buildngs in a single bound or faster than a speeding bullit?

Job Hunting

I have been out of work since October and it's time to get back in the workforce. Well, I have put myself out in the world and haven't had too much luck. Recently I filled out an application at the TSA (Transportaion Security Administration) for a TSO position. Low and behold I have qualified for the next step, a 2 1/2 hour test. My testing takes place on March 1st and the only thing I am allowed to take with me into the test is what I am wearing and my car keys (thank God a means of escape). I am curious to see what this test entails. I can only imagine what kind of questons they will ask? I will keep everyone posted.. Wish me luck.

Cruise 3

The days are passing by and it's getting closer to departure date. Val and I leave on the 9th for my brother/Ed's and the four of us leave on the 11th for 7 glorious days in the sun. I have been working out religiously and am now up to 6 miles on my treadmill. DAMN it's hard work. I have been able to lose a little but I don't believe a swimsuit is gong to be part of my wardrobe. I also started tanning. At least the parts of my body people will see will be tan..

Weather Update

While there is still snow on the ground, it's actually going to get 40 degrees today. "Oh my gosh, No Way!!!!

Survivor-Fiji Part 2

Well, Erica is gone and that's OK with me. She was one of the cast members that I wasn't too particularly fond of. I hope James, (Rocky) is finding out that Mookie might not be the one to trust. What's up with Boo? I fear an accident waiting to happen.

Kerry Wood

Kerry Wood sidelined 4-5 days due to falling while getting out of his hot tub. Great, what the heck else can go wrong with this guy. Gees

Water Skiing Squirrel

This is "Twiggy" the water skiing squirrel. In 1978 she was blown from her nest during a hurricane and taken in by Chuck and Lou Ann Best. She is in Des Moines this weekend performing at the Des Moines Sport Show. Chuck and Lou Ann have also trained 2 dogs, 2 miniature horses, a cat, an amadillo, and frog to ski. I think seeing the armadillo might be interesting....nope just visualized it, not what I expected. Check Twiggy out on www.youtube.com (Twiggy The Water Skiing Squirrel

Wrigley Field

I guess it was just a matter of time before advertising would be surrounded by the walls of ivy. As long as it keeps the sponsors patches off the uniforms, I am all for it. I don't want to watch a baseball game with all the players looking like Nascar drivers. Although the tradition and character of Wrigley Field has had to come to this I hope the Cubs know where to draw the line and it never gets as cluttered-looking as once proud Fenway Park.

Cruise 2

Well, there are only 24 days till we set sail and I can tell you it won't be a day too soon. It's been colder than shit here, -15 this morning. I am ready for a change. I guess I better hit a tanning salon so I don't burn to a crisp...wouldn't want to blind anyone with my lilly white legs

Cubbie Bear

There is a wild animal loose at Principal Park! But don't worry ... it's only Cubbie Bear. The loveable mascot of the Iowa Cubs roams around Principal Park entertaining fans of all ages. A year after the Iowa Cubs became affiliated with the Chicago Cubs in 1981, Cubbie was born. The current Cubbie is the fourth generation in a proud family of Cubbie Bears. Cubbie loves interacting with Iowa Cubs fans whether he's blowing kisses, buffing a bald head, or his favorite ... HUGS ... Cubbie always wants fans to have a good time at an Iowa Cubs game. Cubbie Bear loves to watch the "big" Cubs and see all the players that have made it to the bigs that used to play for the Iowa Cubs. I am Soooo Ready for baseball. Iowa Cubs home opener is April 13th against Round Rock (Houston Astros AAA affiliate). Go Cubbies!!!!!

Oh, My Aching Back

Well, we got less than predicted but none the less it's a pain in the ass to shovel, not to mention my back. Isn't it pretty??

Valentine's Day

"Happy Happy" to all. I hope everyone has a great day!! I also want to say "Happy Birthday" to one of my close friends.."Happy Birthday Claudia"!

Carlos Zambrano

Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano has a new message for the team: sign him before the season starts or he'll leave and become a free agent after it's over. Zambrano asked for $15.5 million in arbritration. The cubs offered $11.025 million. Pay the man, please. Arbritration can get ugly because the team can bring out the negative things about a player. This is one guy the Cubs should keep happy.

Tornado Tears Through New Orleans

The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado hit parts of suburban New Orleans early Tuesday morning. One 85 yr. old woman was killed in the Gintilly neighborhood. What else can possibly happen to this area??

SNOW

Yahoo!!! We have 4 inches on the ground and it's suppose to snow till noon. Although we will probably fall short of the 7-9 inches originally forcasted (of course we will) I will take the 5-6 inches we will now end with. I agree with my brother, the weather people have some kind of scheme with the grocery stores. A kickback of sorts when the shelves become empty of toilet paper, bread, & milk.

Dixie Chicks

Bravo!! I am glad to see we are back to recognizing the Dixie Chicks for their talent and not their political beliefs. It's pretty bad to get death threats for saying something that the majority of the country was thinking and to live in constant fear. Maybe someone should have taken notice then and we might not be where we are today.

Winter Storm Warning

I better get to the store before the big storm hits. I want to be sure I am in line for at least 45 minutes to an hour because the weathermen/women have decided to freak everyone out. We are suppose to have freezing rain til noon and then 7-9 inches of the fluffy stuff. All my friends and acqaintances hate it when it snows because I just love it. How can you not like it when you have a saying like, "pure as the driven snow" and a song like "Let It Snow"? Come on folks it's just Mother Nature"s way of saying she loves us. Just think of it as a Valentine from her.