I'm Ready For Some Football!

The Vikes begin their season on Sept. 9th at home against the dog-hating Atlanta Falcons. We are not going to get NFL Sunday Ticket, so I won't see many Vikings games this year, but I'll be rooting for them in my heart.

So, next sunday I'll put on my Vikings jersey and Kristi will wear her Helga Helmet. It's purple power time! Go Vikes!

An Insider's Guide To Minnesota, Part I (post script, part II)

It's not a logical or consistent position, so don't try to argue with me.

Yes, I own a St. Paul Saints baseball hat, yes, I've been to Taste Of Minnesota at the "Capital," yes, there are some beautiful neighborhoods in St. Paul, and yes, I had relatives who lived in St. Paul.

That's not the point.

An Insider's Guide To Minnesota, Part I (post script)

In Minnesota, people who do not live in Minneapolis or that city East of Minneapolis, refer to the two as "The Cities." Thus, a conversation in Duluth might be:

"Whatcha doin this weekend?"
"Oh, we're goin to The Cities to do some back-to-school shopping"
"That should be fun"
"You betcha"

I grew up hearing these conversations and accepting them because concessions have to be made for those who live in Rural Minnesota (ANY city other than Minneapolis or that city East of Minneapolis including Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester). Rural Minnesotans have enough to worry about (food, shelter, winter boots) without worrying about the significant differences between Minneapolis and that city East of Minneapolis.

But, when I was asked, "Are you from The Cities" or "Do you live in The Cities," I would always respond "I'm from Minneapolis."

An Insider's Guide To Minnesota, Part I

I was born and raised in South Minneapolis. I went to Page Elementary School, Susan B. Anthony Jr. High School, and Washburn High School. I went to the State Fair in August, the boat show in January, and I rooted for the Twins and Vikings because I, like most Minnesotans, believed in loyalty, hard work, and the ability to overcome large obstacles, including terrible seasons and better teams!

There's a good chance I'll move my family back to Minnesota. My wife mentioned moving to St. Paul and didn't realize what a nerve she had hit.

I'm from Minneapolis. I wasn't aware of the existence of St. Paul until I was in high school and by then I knew only cheeseheads would live in such a place. In my heart I knew Minneapolis was the real capital of Minnesota. I couldn't point St. Paul out on a map because it wasn't on our maps. Although the State Fair was in St. Paul, it was its own territory, much like an embassy in a foreign land. St. Paul didn't have Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, Lake Nokomis, or the Minnehaha creek.

Bodie loves the Twins song. This is the version he's learned:

We're gonna win Twins
We're gonna score
We're gonna win Twins
Watch that baseball soar
Knock out a home run
JOIN THE HIT PARADE
Cheer for the Minnesota Twins today!

In St. Paul, JOIN THE HIT PARADE is replaced by SHOUT A HIP HOORAY. How can they even call themselves Minnesotans?

So, I calmly informed my wife that I COULD NOT live in St. Paul.

Archie

There was a neat article in today's Los Angeles Times about Archie, a Newfoundland-breed dog who "works" at Casa Pacifica in Camarillo. Casa Pacifica is a home for abused and neglected children and Newfoundlands are very large dogs.

After telling how Archie injured his hip, required surgery, and howled at home while recovering because he was not around the children, the article ended with this paragraph:

"Murphy decided that work was the best medicine, and so Archie limped back to the office, his leg in a cast. And children who had known great callousness in their lives treated the giant canine with exquisite tenderness."

It was the best two sentences I had read in some time.

Road To Orlando -- 1

National Scrabble Association Club 357, Carlsbad, CA -- A special day at Club 357 because it was Sue Kaye's last day. She founded Club 357 and helped me when I restarted it in 2002. Now, after 20 years in Carlsbad, she's moving to Woodland Hills. I hope to visit her once she gets settled in.

I had a good day at Club 357. I was 4-1 with a 400 average and a 2.20 bingo average. I played a double game at the end (two opponents at one time), won both games, and played three bingos on one board and four on the other. I went over on time in my first game, but not in my others (no timers in the double game), my tracking was good, and, most importantly, my word recall was good. Well, my seven-letter word recall was good. I was unsure of a few threes.

Overall a good start down the road to Orlando!

2007 Vacation Update

Grandpa Jeff aka Great Grandpa Jeff is just fine.

2007 Vacation -- Saturday

Grandma's Marathon! Unfortunately, Bodie got tired so we didn't see Kristi on the course or at the finish. It was warm and humid today. I believe Kristi's time is 4:31. We haven't seen her yet, but I followed her progress online while Bodie napped!

2007 Vacation -- Friday

2007 Vacation -- Thursday

Look out seagulls!

2007 Vacation -- Wednesday

Bodie's first baseball game! Duluth Huskies v. Brainerd Blue Thunder at Wade Stadium. The game is still being played, but Bodie is sleeping soundly knowing the Huskies had a two-run lead when he left in the bottom of the 4th.

2007 Vacation -- Tuesday

Fried cheese curds. Is there anything else?

Vacation Photos

2007 Vacation -- Monday

Bodie is truly an Anderson. He grimaced when he tasted chocolate pudding, he won’t even try ice cream, but today he ate smoked lake trout without a blink! His great grandpa Andy, whose fish smoker I can smell to this day, would be proud!

Bodie also took his first steps into the frigid waters of Lake Superior and didn’t want to get out. His grandpa, who I’ve seen bathe in Lake Superior at Isle Royale, will be proud!

Of course, I wanted those first steps to be taken in Minnesota where Lake Superior’s water is more pure. But, we were at the beach and the breaking waves made Bodie laugh and want to get in the water. I tried to explain to him that it would be worth the wait but he just walked in.



I am fascinated by the books found in the condo or cabin rental. There are always gems hidden among the dime store novels. Ours is an eight-volume Treasury circa. 1942 that includes A Treasury Of American Literature, A Treasury Of The World’s Greatest Speeches, and, my favorite, A Treasury Of The Familiar.

2007 Vacation -- Sunday

Another travel day, but first we stopped to visit Grandpa Jeff. He lives at a high-class assisted-living facility in Minneapolis. We signed in and walked around the lobby while Grandpa was called. Bodie made several friends among the crowd waiting for the dining room to open for lunch.

“Jeff didn’t answer his telephone, do you want to go knock on his door?” I was asked by the lady in charge.

“We really don’t want to bother him; he didn’t know we were coming.”

“Well, I’ll just run up and check on him, he hasn’t been down yet,” she said. It was 10:55. She then verified his room number with a gal behind a desk, took a key, and headed to the elevator.

She was going to go into his room! I drew mental pictures of all the possible outcomes to her fact-finding expedition and was really uncomfortable with one of them. The Worst-Case Scenario, I called it.

It’s just that we were on a tight schedule and The Worst-Case Scenario involved paperwork, telephone calls, staff and resident interviews, a determination as to final wishes, and more telephone calls.

The dining room doors had opened and Bodie’s friends had all gone to lunch leaving us alone in the lobby waiting like Pavlov’s dog for the “ding” of the elevator. Finally, it came.

“Well, I went in his apartment and shook him pretty good, but just couldn’t wake him,” I was told.

“Yeah, he’s a pretty heavy sleeper,” I said from experience, having tried to wake him up on a visit three years earlier.

“Do you want to go and try?”

“Oh, no,” I replied as I realized there was a scenario worse than The Worst-Case Scenario, “we’ll just leave him a note and stop by next Saturday evening.”

While I was writing the note, there were mumbled conversations between the lady in charge and the gal behind the desk. I wrote faster.

2007 Vacation -- Saturday

We left the house at 5 a.m. and were sitting at Gate 28 by 6:40. Parking, baggage check-in, and security all went smoothly. The only things that didn’t go through the X-ray machine were the underwear, socks, pants, and shirt I was wearing!

The ticket agent told us the flight wasn’t full and guaranteed us a middle seat by assigning Kristi the window and me the aisle. We boarded late in the process, but it was still an agonizing 20 minutes before the plane backed away from the gate. Bodie had been awake for three and a half hours and was not happy. He fussed a bit, but took his bottle while we were taxiing and was asleep by the time the flaps were retracted.

That lasted 45 minutes. It was all new to him and he just decided he couldn’t miss it. He was pretty good the rest of the flight and made a lot of friends walking the aisle. The diaper change in the lavatory looked difficult from my vantage point in the aisle.

Minneapolis was warm and humid when the sliding doors opened and a lot attendant gave us the keys to a beige, boxy car-van. Looking back, I think he actually said I could take any of the vehicles in the row, but I thought he meant the closest one. I remember a Pontiac G6 and a PT Cruiser as nearby choices. Boxy doesn’t mean big. We all had to hold our breath, but our stuff fit and the doors shut.

The air-conditioned, extra-large room at the Sheraton was a welcome sight for three weary travelers. We all took a late-afternoon nap until, after only an hour, Bodie decided it was time to walk around Lake Harriet.



Bodie finally called it a day at 9:09 p.m. He woke up at 8:30, well-rested and ready for more!

23 Hours And 8 Minutes I'll Never Get Back

The Chik-Fil-A Oxnard Grand Opening. Greg, Matt, and I now get free Chik-Fil-A for a year because we camped in the drive-through and were among the first 100 customers.



Matt brought an X-box.


Matt was first in line and known as the King or Numero Uno, Greg was second and known as The Deuce or Deuces Wild, and I was fifth and known as Cinco or Nickel.

I'm not sure why I did it, but if you're ever in town and want a good chicken sandwich it's my treat!

Planning For The 2008 NSC

Okay, I know. It's more than a year away. But, I'm doing some preliminary planning for the 2008 NSC.

First, I want to play in Division 3. To do so, I need to raise my rating to 1400. To do that I need to learn more words and play in at least five tournaments. So, Zyzzyva is up and running again and I'm looking at tournaments, but probably none before October.

Second, Bodie and Kristi will make the trip with me.

Third, I want my mom to play in the tournament. I'm sure it won't be too hard to convince her.

Fourth, I hope dad and Bodie's Florida cousins will make the trip with mom and hang out with Kristi and Bodie during the day.

Potential Tournaments: Twin Cities (November), Reno (January), Phoenix (February), and some one-day tournaments in Laguna Woods, CA.

2008 National Scrabble Championship

July 25-30, 2008, at Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Looks like Bodie's going to Disneyworld!

Hopefully, my mother will be able to attend.

Time to start studying!

Eastern Sierra Trip

A few weeks ago I made a quick trip to the Eastern Sierras. I needed to catch my breath. This is my 13th year practicing law and lately I've been feeling a bit burnt out. It's not the law itself; I enjoy studying, reading, and discussing law, particularly Constitutional law. The practice of law, though, can be tedious.

I knew, of course, that the solutions to my problems or the answers to my questions would not be found driving up the 395, sitting by a campfire, sleeping in a tent, or soaking in a hot spring. But, the sights and sounds of the Eastern Sierras have brought me comfort since 1993 and didn't fail me this time.