In less than two weeks the Mutants Over At Table 9 will begin its defense of last season's championship.
Here is the roster, in draft order (I drafted 4th):
1. Joseph Addai (RB-Ind)
2. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (WR-Cin)
3. Maurice Jones-Drew (RB-Jac)
4. Calvin Johnson (WR-Det)
5. Kellen Winslow (TE-Cle)
6. David Garrard (QB-Jac)
7. Chicago (DST)
8. Joey Galloway (WR-TB) 9. Jon Kitna (QB-Det) 10. Nate Kaeding (K-SD)
11. Kenny Watson (RB-Cin) 12. Donald Lee (TE-GB) 13. Drew Bennett (WR-STL) 14. Andre Hall (RB-Den) 15. Jason Hanson (K-Det) 16. James Jones (WR-GB)
The draft for my other team (The Mullet Mafia) will take place the morning of Labor Day.
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We just passed through there two weeks ago. I sure don't remember it looking like this:
I remember it as a beautiful city that kind of smelled like a bowl of oatmeal (which I guess is more pleasant than the dog food smell we endure here). I hope and pray that the river will subside and that life can return to normal here soon.
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I’m not much of a planner except when it comes to taking trips and vacations. I love to know where I am going and when and what stops I want to make and things I want to see before leaving. That's not to say I'm the Trip Nazi: Chris and I exchange ideas and input during the planning stage and I do allow time for activities that are more spontaneous in nature. But mode of transportation, hotel reservations, basic plans for activities and sightseeing and such are important details I like to take care of well in advance. So the planning for our recent vacation was a complete nightmare.
Chris was appointed as a juror in federal court for a 90 day term back in February. She was to be notified by mail, and was to confirm by calling a recorded message whenever she was to appear. She received letters on numerous occasions during the three months. On each occasion during the first 87 days (when there were no major conflicts) the court business for the day scheduled was delayed or cancelled.
Midway through her term we learned that my nephew in Minnesota had moved his wedding date up to May 31 and requested that I serve as an usher. For various reasons, it only made sense for me to take the four days of that week plus the Memorial Day holiday as vacation days for the purpose of making this trip. However, the three days after Memorial Day were days 88, 89, and 90 of Chris’s jury service. And she was notified that she was to report on Tuesday. We thought surely she could get it excused. We thought wrong.
On Saturday we left for St. Louis, packed for a ten day trip, so that in the event that the court business was once again delayed or canceled, we could just continue on to Minneapolis from St. Louis. Monday evening we called and the message confirmed that Chris was to report at 7:45 on Tuesday morning. So we drove back to Bowling Green and Chris reported for service the following morning. The temptation was great to just stay in St. Louis. The estimated cost of gas for a round trip between St. Louis and Bowling Green was about $120 and the fine for failure to report was about $100 (and/or 3 days in jail). The bit about possibly spending 3 days in jail was a deal breaker. So we returned. But after not being selected for the trial (and replacing a tire) we got back in the van Tuesday afternoon and headed back to St. Louis. And Thursday we made the trip to Minnesota. We started back Sunday evening and after spending the night in Madison, Wisconsin, we made our way back to Bowling Green, driving straight to the church building in time for the second half of our first night of VBS.
Here are some of the highlights of the trip:
Grant’s Farm: A nice park, well worth the price of admission (it was free, just $10 to park). After a tram ride to the main part of the park we could see everything without a lot of walking. Anna loved seeing all of the animals but she couldn’t quite bring herself to bottle feed the goats or let the camels eat out of her hand.
Hannibal: We would like to come back here sometime, as we didn’t get a chance to see the Mark Twain Museum. We didn’t have much time this trip as we were essentially just passing through, but we did go into a couple of shops and I took some pictures down by the river. I also climbed the famed Cardiff Hill (my calves let me hear about it for the next three days) to get a shot or two of the river, and of the lighthouse at the top of the hill.
Minneapolis and St. Paul: We loved the area. Chris wasn’t looking forward to making this trip at all. While we were there, however, we were trying to figure out when we could come back, preferably when we had more time that was our own. We were treated to numerous sightings of various waterfowl, deer and other wildlife which seemed to thrive even in densely populated areas.
IKEA: We were on our way to Mall of America and made it to the parking lot when Chris noticed an IKEA store and we went there instead. We picked up a few items and saw much more that we wanted.
The wedding: Beautiful setting by Lake Minnetonka. The weather cooperated for us. I will refrain from sharing several of the details of our experiences in this forum. Chris tells the story much better than I do anyway. We left the reception before the police were called… Actually the photographer either had his camera (with all of the wedding pictures on it) stolen or didn’t place it where he thought he did so that’s why the police were called. It was apparently recovered because I saw some of the pictures from the ceremony on his website. The ushering was easy... just my mom and a couple of other people.
Minnesota Twins: A bunch of firsts here. My first indoor game. Not as bad as I thought it would be. I think it was the first afternoon game I ever attended where I didn’t get burned to a crisp. First time to see the Yankees…got to see them lose 5-1 :o). Almost saw my first inside the park home run…Justin Morneau hit one deep to center, Melky Cabrerra fielded it at the wall and botched the throw badly, but it was scored a triple and an error. First AL game that didn’t include the Angels. Anna’s first professional sporting event…she seemed to have a good time. We’ll have to take her to see the Predators next year.
Mall of America: Due to a limited amount of time and unforeseen road closures we were unable to make it to Inver Grove in time for services Sunday night so we went to Mall of America after the game and actually made it inside the building this time. We didn’t stay long as we were driving to Madison that night, but I rode a couple of rides with Anna, who we are sure is going to be a roller coaster junkie.
Madison: We arrived at our hotel after midnight after driving I-94 (I shall forever refer to I-94 in Wisconsin as the Deer Memorial Highway) for 5 hours and were only there to get a few hours of sleep. But this room… I think it was decorated by Bill Dance himself. There were fishing plaques all over the wall as well as a net. The bedspreads, shower curtain, and futon all had fishing related designs on it, not to mention the two big fish pillows on the futon and the fishing lure shower curtain hooks. My father in law would have loved this room.
Churches visited:
Kirkwood (St. Louis) (Sun. AM & PM and Wed.) It’s always good to get acquainted and reacquainted with the brethren there. It was also good to meet little Isaiah for the first time. Wednesday we sat behind a family who was also from Eastside and after services we introduced them to Ted Drewes, where I got reacquainted with a Terramizzou concrete.
Northwest (Minneapolis) (Sun. AM) Seldom do we travel anywhere that there is not someone we know or some close connection at the church we visit, and this time was no exception. It was good to get caught up with some former members of Eastside, and to hear a lesson by Rick Lanning, who held a meeting for us several years ago. We would have had connections at Inver Grove as well because a former foster sister of mine and her family attend there.
All in all it was a good week, despite the headaches and hassles, i.e. the return home for jury duty and some billing issues with the hotel that have yet to be resolved, as in they charged us for a room we didn't stay in. God granted us safety, however, and our van gave us a nice ride for about 3,000 miles. I love visiting new places and I got to add both Iowa and Wisconsin to my maps (below). I already had Minnesota on the map even though my only prior visit was a layover in Minneapolis when I was three years old, and have no memory of it.
Chris told us about the trip and the wedding last Wednesday at Panera Bread. LOL You're right, she does a great job telling it. You did some of the same things in St. Louis that we did. I love the church at Kirkwood! They are such friendly people.
I'm not sure that I blame Anna for not wanting to feed the camel. The one and only time I did that I was bitten pretty hard and he pulled my arm into his giant slobbery mouth half-way to my elbow.
Thanks for the update ... I didn't want to wear Ann out calling her (They had called my parent's while en route so I looked up all the hospitals and started calling. I got the right one on the third try, but she couldn't tell me for sure but she had two ambulances on the way and told me to call back 10 minutes later) BTW, how did you find my post tonight?? I haven't figured out who ya'll are except that you must worship at Eastside. Isn't PLEO great?
Angie was my maid of honor back in '90 and one of the reasons I met my husband to start with ... but we go back with her family to before she was born. Her dad teased me about enlarging the aisle so he AND my dad could walk me down it.
Ok ... I couldn't figure it out ... I haven't ever gone to the recent entrees (maybe I should try that!) I remember your wife from FC days (I worked there from August '90- May '93.)
That is wonderful. I am so glad the doctor released him in time to make it there. What better present for John, too, to have them all there today ... Thanks for letting me know.
*Hijacking back* It is great to hear from you Chrissy. Actually brings tears to my eyes as I type...
Just go ahead and make your own account, rather than being a hijacker! I miss your mom also. I can honestly say there has not been a week go by that I have not thought of here and some 'lesson' she taught me. The thoughts were daily for a long time...
I am so thankful for the internet and the ability to keep up with people I love and see pictures of their beautiful children. We need to visit and catch up. Love you more than you probably realize. And yes, 'those were the good old days'!!
Thanks Greg for letting me hijack your site. Now make that wife of yours get on her own!!!
Thanks for the link to the article about David Zucker and the movie. It is encouraging to see that people, when presented a truthful situation, can come to their senses. Just like having hope that honest people will be able to see The Truth in God's Word. Tell your sweet wife hello and hug your beautiful wee girl for me.
It was an honor and a thrill to meet Lt. Col. Oliver North, who was in Bowling Green today signing copies of his latest book. After waiting in line for about 40 minutes or so, he signed two of them for me. One is actually for me and one is a gift.
But aren't they more precious to you when it was a struggle to get them? I know there is always a reason when God puts us through certain trials, and I really think it has made me love and appreciate my children more than if it was easy to conceive...well, maybe I am way off there, but it makes me feel better!!! ha ha
Exactly...I whole heartedly aggree. I know God was in full control as to how everything worked out for us. In fact, when we were going to try for our second child, I prayed to God and asked that he not make me go through what I went through the first time around. I even set a time limit!! I said, God, if you do not bless with a child within 6 months, I really don't feel like going through the agony any longer than that...so if we are really supposed to have another child, then please don't let it take too long! Ha ha, well, He must have been listening and took me seriously because I was pregnant that first month...so how do you explain that one?? I think we all know the answer!! I would love to meet your little girl someday. I think girls are wonderful.
