Figures

Went to the US Figure Skating Championships today. Womens free skate and Pairs final. One of my presents for Barb’s upcoming birthday. Great to see such athleticism up close, and close to home. It was all premium, pairs was especially impressive in its difficulty and coordination. And no, I’m not gay now.

Now we know. Next time we’ll come prepared with a “plushy cannon” to blast those little plushy post-performance congratulations down onto the ice with authority. Preferably singed and smoking.

Categories they’ve overlooked:

The People’s Plushy Award

Best use of rhinestones

Best back

Best expression by a partner while being held aloft one-handed

Deductions needed for:

Any makeup job that makes a 17 year-old look 40

Winter Ops

Got together with a few buds yesterday morning. Jim Van Iwaarden, Kurt Klussendorf and Mark Raderstorf. Well, gents, either we go skiing OR we start a really scary political movement. Let’s ski.

Very nice to have some company, as I usually ski alone. Also nice to do a real organic cross-country ski. Walked to Jim’s. We walked to the lake. And off we went. Lake Harriet to Calhoun to Isles to Cedar to Brownie to Wirth Park. And back. Under the tracks, across the streets, over 394, along the channels and cattails. Few trails, just skiing. A cross between the old days, before established ski trails and a 10^th Mountain raid on Berchtesgaden.

Super way to get in a long workout on a -5 day.

Flat Earth

Quick trip to MN's newest brewery for their tour today. Flat Earth. Good beer, nice folks and they eventually cut us off. Get some at a pub near you!

Free the EPHS Seven!

A few kids skipped out of Eden Prairie High School last week. Some students had posted pictures of a beer party on Facebook and this got others disciplined. Of course this raised questions of civil liberties! And the future lawyers questioned whether the pictures actually proved drinking or just the fact that there were what appeared to be open cans of what appeared to be beer and liquor. A small walkout ensued.

This brought back memories of the day I skipped school. In recognition of the recent Kent State shooting (yes, 1970). We were likewise all full of angst and vinegar. Things were different back then, of course. We were faced with members of our generation fighting and dying in a distant war. A war that seemed senseless, endless and bad for everyone.

Kind of nice to see that kids today don’t have those concerns. Um…anyone? Anyone?

Frozen Tundra

Skied the Seeley Hills Classic Saturday. It’s an out-and-back and out-and-back classic-ski-only race on the Birkie trail. 10K north of Double-O. Return, then 11K south of Double-O. And return. And after coming all this way, why not do the whole 42K?

Why not? Well, it basically takes the hardest part of the Birkie trail, and you get to do it twice. The start throws you right onto the core of the Birke trail. A real kick in the ‘nads. Good thing the kicker was fresh, ‘cause you sure needed it for the climbs.

Back past Double-O with only a passing thought of dropping out there. Nah. A Clif Shot and on we go. Should be easier on this side and I did want to get some good K’s in.

South part was tough only because I’d just done the north part. Thankfully, much “flatter” than the north part. Then you get to thinking that every meter I go south, I’ve just added another meter to the return leg. Yeah, I am getting tired.

I was very glad to see the turnaround feed station. Not quite glad enough to quaff the offered Jagermeister. Still got work to do. Skied on the rivet so as to catch three others on the way in. We’re all hurting; who wants it more? My time and placing were nothing to brag about, but I was certainly knackered enough by the end.

A little feed at the Logging Camp. Made it to Al’s Saloon before Packer half-time. Packers win. Mission accomplished. Great day all around.

Don't taze me Bro!

Hearing with great relish that the quote for the year is “Don’t taze me ‘bro!” Alright! A media-hungry whiner gets billing above Rumsfeld, Bush and Ahmadinejad. There’s hope for us yet.

We briefly met the tazing officer (Nicole Mallo), a University of Florida campus cop on our December trip. She was working security at nephew Erich’s graduation and had taken a class taught by Bro-in-law Al. She’d been through administrative leave, an investigation and lots of good and bad PR. In the end, the cops acted properly and she was so happy to be reinstated.

Turns out, dispite his lamentations to the contrary, he really was asking to be tazed.