A lot has happened since my last entry!
My wife and I have had a baby girl together, who is now five months old. Her name is Meghann and she was baptized in July.
I have traveled to Las Vegas for my annual excursion.
I have celebrated my 3rd wedding anniversary and reached 28 years old age.
The Twins are miraculously still in the hunt for another Central Division title and ticket to October baseball.
So much to write, yet so little time. More updates shall be forthcoming!
For now, check out a few of the articles I have posted on www.quarterlives.com!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Experience of a Life Time
Last night I had the pleasure of being a part of the biggest show in town. I served as linesman for the boys varsity hockey game between the International Falls Broncos and the Fort Frances Muskies. The referees for the game were Bill Mason and Chad Shikowsky. The Broncos are one of the top ranked teams in Class A High School Hockey in the State of Minnesota. The only loss the Broncos have suffered this season was at the hands of the Muskies back on December 21, 2007.
I have never officiated in front of such a large crowd before. My estimate would be that over 1500 people showed up for the game. There was not a seat to be spared and the glass was lined with fans for boths sides. It was very difficult to communicate with others because of the noise level. But it was the neatest thing to experience. The crowd would react to every play on the ice. After the Broncos scored the first goal of the game, two frozen muskies were hurled onto the ice. This was the first time I have been required to assist with debris clean up other than hats.
The final score of the game was 7-1 in favor of the Broncos. However, I received a great feeling about a job well done with my officiating partners. The game was fast paced, hard hitting and emotional. It was a great reminder about why I became an official in the game of hockey.
I have never officiated in front of such a large crowd before. My estimate would be that over 1500 people showed up for the game. There was not a seat to be spared and the glass was lined with fans for boths sides. It was very difficult to communicate with others because of the noise level. But it was the neatest thing to experience. The crowd would react to every play on the ice. After the Broncos scored the first goal of the game, two frozen muskies were hurled onto the ice. This was the first time I have been required to assist with debris clean up other than hats.
The final score of the game was 7-1 in favor of the Broncos. However, I received a great feeling about a job well done with my officiating partners. The game was fast paced, hard hitting and emotional. It was a great reminder about why I became an official in the game of hockey.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
A New Year
Here is it a new year and I haven't blogged once until now. I candidly admit that I did not make a resolution to be more faithful to my blog by updating it on a regular schedule. The resolution would have been broken by now.
When I am not busy working, reffing hockey, studying for the Minnesota bar exam, or spending time with Caryn and Kodiak, I enjoy playing poker. I play Texas Hold'em and Omaha Hi/Lo on Full Tilt Poker. Nothing high stakes, but just enough to keep my skills together for my annual trip to Las Vegas.
Well, I have been playing online poker at Full Tilt long enough to where I accumulated a significant amount of frequent player points. I chose to redeem most of those points for the custom baseball jersey seen in these pictures. I don't know what the jersey will suggest to other people. My hope is that it will instill a sense of intimidation in others when I am seen wearing it at the poker table.
When I am not busy working, reffing hockey, studying for the Minnesota bar exam, or spending time with Caryn and Kodiak, I enjoy playing poker. I play Texas Hold'em and Omaha Hi/Lo on Full Tilt Poker. Nothing high stakes, but just enough to keep my skills together for my annual trip to Las Vegas.
Well, I have been playing online poker at Full Tilt long enough to where I accumulated a significant amount of frequent player points. I chose to redeem most of those points for the custom baseball jersey seen in these pictures. I don't know what the jersey will suggest to other people. My hope is that it will instill a sense of intimidation in others when I am seen wearing it at the poker table.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Overdue Entry
When I started this blog, I intended to make daily, or at least weekly, entries about life in International Falls, Minnesota. I received an electronic notice today that reminded me to stay active or lose the web-space. Here I am, preserving my space.
The other significant event of the day, which merits publication any day of the year, is that I met the son of our Court Report. Matthew Iffert is currently training in the U.S. Army to a battlefield medic specialist. Matt has been in training for several months now and must undergo further training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After that, Matt will be deployed to Iraq, or wherever our armed services may need him. With that, I must offer a heartfelt thank you to Matt, and all other military personnel, for the service they provide our country. With out the security of our armed services our Country may not be the best place to live.
The other significant event of the day, which merits publication any day of the year, is that I met the son of our Court Report. Matthew Iffert is currently training in the U.S. Army to a battlefield medic specialist. Matt has been in training for several months now and must undergo further training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After that, Matt will be deployed to Iraq, or wherever our armed services may need him. With that, I must offer a heartfelt thank you to Matt, and all other military personnel, for the service they provide our country. With out the security of our armed services our Country may not be the best place to live.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Life North of the Falls
This Labor Day weekend has been dedicated to catching up. The first item on the catch up list was to take a drive north of International Falls into Northwest Ontario. Neither my wife nor I have been further north in Ontario than Fort Frances. We have both been to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Victoria, British Columbia. I have been an hour to the west of Fort Frances and at least four hours to the east of it. So, we packed into the car with our dog and went north.
On Friday our destination was Kenora, Ontario. The town of Kenora originally went by the name of Rat Portage and was a part of Manitoba. However, England later decided the town was a part of Ontario. The town's name was changed to Kenora in 1905 after the Maple Leaf Flour Company made a huge ruckus over having to print the word "rat" on their bagged flour products. Kenora is a beautiful town that is located on the northern edge of Lake of the Woods, with a rough population of 16500. For my previous reflections on Lake of the Woods in Minnesota, please see my earlier post titled The County Next Door. But I digress . . .
After checking into our hotel room, we scouted the town a bit in search of food. While driving through Kenora we witnessed several standard Canadian retail and food outlets: Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, A & W. We decided to eat at a place called Boston Pizza because it was familiar to my wife and me from our days in Grand Forks, North Dakota. My wife had a ham (canadian bacon) pizza and I had a tropical chicken pizza. Overall, the food and entire meal experience was first rate.
Saturday morning we got up and about. We explored some of the Kenora's hot spots, including trails along Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River. We even took an opportunity to say hello to "Husky the Muskie," a giant fish that stands over 40 feet tall. We also made it up to the trail along Rabbit Lake. The cool thing about Kenora is all of the murals painted on the side of the buildings in the downtown district. We also explored south of Kenora, running into a golf country club and a charitable casino. Take my word on the following: the non-charitable casinos here in the States are much more aesthetically pleasing.
Next, we packed back into the car and made our way east to the town of Dryden, Ontario. The first 3/4 of the drive was awe inspiring. Every corner we turned led us out of highways surrounded by rock to surroundings of beautiful, cold, blue, island-filled lakes. The only thing interrupting the beauty of the outdoors were the large quantities of yellow signs reminding motorists to be aware of moose. But the lake country abruptly ended near Vermillion, Ontario, and changed to farming scenery with hay and alfalfa fields. This in turn brought us to the industrial town of Dryden.
We spent just under 2 hours in Dryden. The smell of the local Domtar factory was a little too strong for us. Domtar produces and distributes wood products. The stench created in Dryden was eerily similar to the pungent aroma of the Abitibi factory in Fort Frances. We had lunch at the Patricia Inn, both having a burger and fries. However, I had gravy on top of my fries- which is absolutely delicious! I understand why the Canadians like it so much now!
The drive home was not as breathtaking as the morning drive or the drive to Kenora from International Falls the night before. There were fewer lakes and views to be seen from the car window. But overall it was a terrific trip that we took one just one tank of gas, two meals and a hotel room!
On Friday our destination was Kenora, Ontario. The town of Kenora originally went by the name of Rat Portage and was a part of Manitoba. However, England later decided the town was a part of Ontario. The town's name was changed to Kenora in 1905 after the Maple Leaf Flour Company made a huge ruckus over having to print the word "rat" on their bagged flour products. Kenora is a beautiful town that is located on the northern edge of Lake of the Woods, with a rough population of 16500. For my previous reflections on Lake of the Woods in Minnesota, please see my earlier post titled The County Next Door. But I digress . . .
After checking into our hotel room, we scouted the town a bit in search of food. While driving through Kenora we witnessed several standard Canadian retail and food outlets: Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, A & W. We decided to eat at a place called Boston Pizza because it was familiar to my wife and me from our days in Grand Forks, North Dakota. My wife had a ham (canadian bacon) pizza and I had a tropical chicken pizza. Overall, the food and entire meal experience was first rate.
Saturday morning we got up and about. We explored some of the Kenora's hot spots, including trails along Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River. We even took an opportunity to say hello to "Husky the Muskie," a giant fish that stands over 40 feet tall. We also made it up to the trail along Rabbit Lake. The cool thing about Kenora is all of the murals painted on the side of the buildings in the downtown district. We also explored south of Kenora, running into a golf country club and a charitable casino. Take my word on the following: the non-charitable casinos here in the States are much more aesthetically pleasing.
Next, we packed back into the car and made our way east to the town of Dryden, Ontario. The first 3/4 of the drive was awe inspiring. Every corner we turned led us out of highways surrounded by rock to surroundings of beautiful, cold, blue, island-filled lakes. The only thing interrupting the beauty of the outdoors were the large quantities of yellow signs reminding motorists to be aware of moose. But the lake country abruptly ended near Vermillion, Ontario, and changed to farming scenery with hay and alfalfa fields. This in turn brought us to the industrial town of Dryden.
We spent just under 2 hours in Dryden. The smell of the local Domtar factory was a little too strong for us. Domtar produces and distributes wood products. The stench created in Dryden was eerily similar to the pungent aroma of the Abitibi factory in Fort Frances. We had lunch at the Patricia Inn, both having a burger and fries. However, I had gravy on top of my fries- which is absolutely delicious! I understand why the Canadians like it so much now!
The drive home was not as breathtaking as the morning drive or the drive to Kenora from International Falls the night before. There were fewer lakes and views to be seen from the car window. But overall it was a terrific trip that we took one just one tank of gas, two meals and a hotel room!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Swimming in the Artic
Yesterday was spent enjoying a beautiful, sunny day in the great green north. You don't think that snow lays on the ground all year long here, do you? Anyways, with the temperature exceeding eighty degrees, I decided it was time for my annual swim in Rainy Lake. My wife, dog and I hopped in the car and drove to City Beach, which is located in Rainier, Minnesota. Rainier is about two miles to the east of International Falls, and may be considered the illegitimate suburb of the Falls.
The best way to describe the temperature of the water is as follows: the ice water surrounding a keg of beer. Just kidding! Actually, the water gets up to approximately 65 degrees. It is very chilly when first wading in. Eventually, one gets to a point when the inevitable occurs. You realize the only way to adjust to the pleasantly cool water is to take the plunge and submerge the entire body underwater. After holding your body the water for about 30 seconds with only your head exposed above the water you begin adjusting. The most difficult aspect is waiting for your breathing to be normal again. My breathing become much shallower than normal.
But, it was a great day for it. I ended up spending about an hour in the water before every one decided to head home for the day.
The best way to describe the temperature of the water is as follows: the ice water surrounding a keg of beer. Just kidding! Actually, the water gets up to approximately 65 degrees. It is very chilly when first wading in. Eventually, one gets to a point when the inevitable occurs. You realize the only way to adjust to the pleasantly cool water is to take the plunge and submerge the entire body underwater. After holding your body the water for about 30 seconds with only your head exposed above the water you begin adjusting. The most difficult aspect is waiting for your breathing to be normal again. My breathing become much shallower than normal.
But, it was a great day for it. I ended up spending about an hour in the water before every one decided to head home for the day.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Delayed Disposition
It has been a while since I last made a post here. If there are/were any steady patrons who routinely check this site, please accept my apologies for a lack of new content. Rest assured that new thoughts will be posted soon.
For now, know the following things. International Falls is still on the national map, don't eat too much candy, and always tell your significant other how appreciative you are of him or her.
Oh, and here are a few thoughts for you to ponder (as if you do not already have enough to think about). What did tornadoes sound like before there were trains? Is it strange that only one company produces the game "Monopoly" ?
For now, know the following things. International Falls is still on the national map, don't eat too much candy, and always tell your significant other how appreciative you are of him or her.
Oh, and here are a few thoughts for you to ponder (as if you do not already have enough to think about). What did tornadoes sound like before there were trains? Is it strange that only one company produces the game "Monopoly" ?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
