Winter this week, Summer next!

We didn't quite get 4" here in the Grand Cities, but 2" and howling winds was still enjoyable. So we get to put up with this cold for most of this week. By next Tuesday or Wednesday, we could see a return to 60s statewide, possibly some 70s west. A nice taste of "Indian Summer" for everyone who wants to pull out the grill a few more times.

Snow flakes!

The snow has arrived. It's 2:40 PM and I just noticed the flakes flying.
Local Doppler Radar

New feature

Please be patient with my template changes. I'm trying to find the "right one". In the meantime, I've added a new feature to the bottom. I will be chronicling Grand Forks snow events. I am using the measurement taken at the NWS office. I could use the airport, but I prefer to pick the measurement closest to town.

In case you aren't paying attention to the weather forecast, we're gonna get some snow Monday. I had predicted 4 inches during my most recent shift, and that still looks on track. So, be sure to check the Snow Total Diary at the bottom of the blog throughout the winter. I am considering adding snow depths.

Taking one for the team

One of my favorite sports cliches is "taking one for the team". This phrase is commonly used in baseball in a situation where a pitcher is having a bad game. The manager leaves him in there to eat up innnings and save the bullpen, even though he's allowed 15 runs in 4 innings. It is pretty humiliating, but it is a sacrifice the pitcher understands and accepts.

The cool thing is, even though the pitcher screwed up big time, his teammates don't ride him about it. They still want the guy to come back the next time and pitch lights out. They want him to see him succeed because they want the team to be successful.

Of course, there are clubhouses where this wouldn't be the case. It's like the kicker who misses the chip-shot field goal to win the game. Do you blame HIM for the loss or do you look back to the 3rd-and-goal incomplete pass that the QB threw? But wait, the QB was rushed to throw by a defensive blitz not picked up by the offensive line. See, it's a team effort. A loss is a loss for everyone, not just the kicker.

Wanting to be wanted

Is it a bad thing to want to be needed? I don't think so. If my abilities are not wanted or noticed, then why not go somewhere where they would be?

Bush speech on TV now

TPIR vs. President Bush statement? Give me The Price is Right any day!

Snow and cold looming

Any takers on guessing how much snow we'll get with the first Arctic blast of the Fall due this Wednesday? I'm thinking perhaps an inch, because it looks like a STRONG front that will zip through, and some snow showers behind with the upper-level low lingering for a day or two afterwards. It will be a shock to the system after that great 78 degrees yesterday to drop down to lows in the 20s. Yeah, baby... Fall in North Dakota!

Problem Drivers

Have you ever wanted to say something downright mean? Well, tonight's one of those nights where I feel the need to rip on local drivers. I don't suppose a disclaimer would soften the glaring ridicule I am about to spew forth, but yes, I am aware that not ALL drivers in this region or in this town are inadequate. This rant is intended towards the GUILTY.

Just once, could you please get in the freakin' right lane instead of hogging the left lane with your 30mph driving in a 40mph zone!!!

Ever learn about signaling your intentions? You might want to get acquainted with that little plastic piece of machinery dangling from your steering column!

Maintaing lane discipline when executing turns? Just a common practice that you must have slept through during Driver's Ed.

And no, I'm not sorry I honked at you this afternoon. I do like steak, but that kind of T-bone is not what I'm looking for, and you should never repeat that delicious maneuver. Next time it might be a drunk, or worse yet, one of the aforementioned stellar drivers we all know and love.

Now it's time to rant on the stretch of road known as 32nd Ave. This little gem of a thoroughfare is sinking slowly into the depths of hell... it's an incident of road rage just WAITING to happen.

Picture of Molly

I wanted to post a picture of my dog, Molly...

Movie maker?

I've been thinking about crafting some short films using my digital camera. You can set it on 'movie' mode and record as though it were a camcorder, then download the video which is in Quicktime format. I took some short video of a hummingbird at my feeder. I'm considering developing a plot, screenplay, the whole works!

It was an explosive demolition

If Ramzi Yousef (sp?) can try to place a small bomb in the WTC in 1993, then why couldn't a well-funded terrorist cell place more powerful bombs under the towers 8 years later and try it again? No, instead we get served fantastic collapse theories that defy the laws of physics.

Rather and Jennings knew an explosion when THEY saw one. I just wish the media would stop with the phony baloney already.

You're the man, Dan!

“In addition to the two world trade center hit by an aircraft,...there were subsequent explosions--hard to know whether these were explosions planted in the buildings...”

Dan Rather, 9-11-01

Thank you, Peter!

“Now this is what it looked like moments ago. My gosh. The southern...tower...just collapsing on itself. This is a place where thousands of people work. We have no idea what caused this. Um...If you wish to bring ah...anybody who ever watched a building being demolished on purpose knows...that if you're going to do this you have to get at the...at the under infrastructure of a building and bring it down.”

Peter Jennings, 9-11-01

Cops on cell phones

I'd like to say this to the female cop driving north on Cherry St. this evening...
Driving while talking on the cell phone, I believe, sets a bad example, unless of course you don't care (or GF police don't care) about drivers using their cell phones.

Vacation

I just got back from a very long vacation. I traveled through Montana, Idaho, and Washington. I enjoyed the magnificent mountains and forests, as well as a trip through Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. It's too bad that North Dakota got the short end of the stick.

Slice it and Dice it

I gotta tell ya, the veggies from the garden taste awesome this year. Several jars of pickles are in progress. The rain keeps falling over areas other than Grand Forks this summer. Some severe weather in the region recently. Read the Grand Forks Herald

Did you know that I shot a 46 on the back nine of Kings Walk? I nearly ended the round with a birdie birdie, but I choked the birdie putt after losing my focus just a bit. I don't know how those pros do it!

Picture Perfect

This summer continues to be awesome. No bugs and warm, sunny days make going outside a pleasant experience. If I could bottle this weather up and hold it for this winter, I would. Well, I might throw in a little more rain.

Not Ready for Prime Time

So, there are several blogs going on in this town. The Herald has a blog and links to several local blogs. I have to admit, I snicker whenever I see "culture" and "Grand Forks" in the same sentence, but landing Cirque du Soleil is an impressive feat, that is, if they don't cancel! Anyway, my blog isn't ready for the big time, as I'm not mentioned anywhere other than by my coworker. It's not like I do much blogging, so I don't mind much. Also, I may be revising this blog, getting rid of irrelevant content and also putting more effort into it. Like, at least weekly entries would be good.

Hot Hot Hot... Dry Dry Dry

It's been hot and dry this summer. This is the hottest, dryest one in my five summers here. My garden is doing well. I've had to really water frequently to keep the plants from wilting in the heat. I've enjoyed the lack of mosquitoes. I've done some creative things around the house, too. I made an agility jump for Molly (my lab mix) to try. She likes it. I did Basic Agility with her over the winter. Next time, we'll try the Intermediate. It gives her a good workout.

So, the heat. Some people love it. The farmers would like some rain, and I wouldn't mind some myself.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

So why is it that John Rocker got 28 games and a $20,000 fine (later reduced to 14 games and $500) for offering his opinion concerning the diversity of the occupants of a New York subway but Ozzie Guillen only gets a fine for calling a sports journalist a perjorative name?

Tiger Woods is not a robot. He can't just show up on the PGA tour after that long a layoff. Not only did he recently lose his father to cancer, the first event he plays is the US Open on the weekend of Father's Day. And in New York to boot.

Speaking of golf, I broke 100 this year. If I could avoid the disaster holes (quad-bogeys), I'll start doing it quite often.

My garden is doing okay so far. It's been very dry, so the soil is starting to dry out and harden. I guess I'll have to use my new hose a lot this summer. I just predicted a warm, dry July-September for my climate outlook today. Maybe that means that just the opposite will happen (HA HA!). You never know!

UND has decided to move to Division 1 athletics. I think this is a big mistake. I don't know if there's enough money to cover the cost of traveling. Only the hockey teams have been D1, and I don't see the baseball, swim or tennis teams EVER being anywhere close to competitive. But what do I know? I'm not from here so I probably don't "get it"... <----- SARCASM, in case you couldn't tell.

The US soccer team should just avoid Europe like the plague. No victories! How does freakin' Australia make it to the knockout round? All I can say is Group E was very tough. Certainly no freebies! I wish I could be in Deutschland right now and experience it. Oh well, maybe I can go to Europe one of these days.