A Chili Cook-off Gone Terribly Wrong

Yesterday was a day I won't soon forget... or feel!

Around noon, Samantha, the kids, and I headed into town to catch up with mom and dad and head to the Camplex (A big events area that features a couple big facilities for almost daily events) for the annual Chili Cook-off.

I've never been to a chili cook-off so I was a little excited to check it out and try some good chili! I guess I never really understood that there could be so many different types of chili and even green chili... which about everyone I tried was excellent!

Anyways entering into the facility was a steep $8 a head... but heck why not!

Next we were met with a wall of people... I MEAN A WALL!

This was the beginning of my issues with the event... instead of being held in the Wyoming Center, which is a massive building built just a few years ago, they held the event in the central pavilion, which is just a long pole barn! And not nearly big enough for this type of event.

So we were met with a mass of people. It was tough trying to navigate two strollers and all stay close in the environment. It was basically standing room only!

The chili was pretty creative... although I don't think I want to know what was put in a couple of them... although I sure feel it today!

Overall, it wasn't a bad deal, just to crowded to have kids in the mix! Here's a few pictures of the kids from the last few weeks!

Face painting and Hair doo night!

Cutting cookies!

Floating in the tub!

So I'm all about Safety... but this is a little silly

So I left for work today (around 8) knowing that it was a professional day, that means that there is no school for students, but it is a required day of work for certified staff.

Usually on these days I get done everything undone and spend a few hours relaxing. Today I had a lot of items on my plate that needed attention. So basically get them done right away and then relax for a bit and then head home... say around... 2...err.... 3:30!

Today however I realized I was going to be at work a little longer than I wanted. A 3:30 IEP kept me know that I would be around town till 4:30 or 5:00. That's not a lot of fun, but a part of the job, so not a big deal!

It wasn't until about 11:00 that I realized that not only did I have an IEP at 3:30 but that I had First Aid and CPR training at 6:00 until around 9:00... not cool! Oh well. There's nothing like making sure that your up to date on being safe.

Now understand I wouldn't call myself a guru of safety, but I also understand that safety often requires people to think clearly and precisely. After all I had a FA and CPR class from this guy while in college... so basically what's out there that I don't know?!

Anyways... I show up tonight right at 6:00 pretty much ready to watch a boring video reviewing ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) to find that the instructor fiddling with the projector and the VCR equipment. Basically projectors are a fairly easy item to understand, and my dad can operate a VCR... so c'mon man! Get it together!

After sitting back for about 15 minutes I finally decided there was no chance that they would figure it out by themselves... so I smoothly strolled (ok so at this point I look like a nerd) up to the front and say nothing. I reached over and turned off everything. Wow... the look I got. I then turned it all back on, hit three buttons and went back and sat down... and it all started up like it was supposed to... wow... guess that would make me a real stud/nerd!

Anyways, as the videos started it didn't take me long to realize that I was watching the same video I've seen at least 2-3 other times. WOW. Red Cross... do something about that please!

I played the game for about 45 minutes and then was frustrated enough that I decided to fake family illness just to bounce... SERIOUSLY... I know that's sad... but I just don't get kicks over that silliness. I know that's pretty pathetic... but now I'm home and enjoying the kids before they head to bed! That isn't silliness!

Wow... life has really changed since I left TBC!

How could the Central come down to this?

Oh man, am I ticked.

The Tigers were owners of a seven game lead in early September... now it will take 163 games to determine the champ. The Tigers haven't had this kind of success since the 80's. I was really looking forward to coasting into the play offs.

I haven't decided what really makes me mad... is it the fact that I predicted this scenario? Or is it the fact that I know so many stupid Twins fans? Either way, I'm mad!

I'm looking for something/someone to blame. Right now Miguel Cabrera is my target. I'm ticked that a night of drinking was more important for one of our biggest stars than the millions of fans that have been waiting patiently on this organization FOR YEARS. Dang fight with your wife after the World Series like everyone else does. Or just don't fight with your wife and just get ticked at White Sox pitching.

My wife has quickly become a skilled Tigers fan. She's sat patiently next to me this season, cheering triumphs and in the last month she's pleaded with the TV for our team to have some success. All of what used to be a Twin's fan in Samantha has long been destroyed. I think she took a lesson from Abe and decided that "a house divided cannot stand." Unfortunately we've both been in a foul mood since this latest disgrace to a great organization.

We both made predictions... I can't believe that we're not settling with our team.

Samantha: Twins 3, Tigers 2
Brandon: Twins 6, Tigers 5

Now we could both be wrong and it could be a big time blow out. I hope not. Man I hate that stupid dome! I may spend the next few hours allowing God to hear my feeble prayers about sports.

Livin'... in a winter wonderland?

I had a difficult time waking up this morning...



It's October 5, 2009. Recently we were hit with chilly weather. It snowed the last day of September, however the ground is yet to be ready for snow. Last night however it snowed A LOT and ill prepared ground or not... it stuck!

Overall we probably have 4-6 inches on the ground with a few more in expectation.

I do have school today as road crews have been out all night! This is good... I hated tacking on days at the end of last year!

By Thursday it will be back in the mid to upper 50's so this won't last real long! I won't be moth balling the bike yet!

Here are a few more pictures...

It's over... it's all over!

Holy Buckets. Ever have one of those weeks that you just hope to survive? I just did.

I hate those weeks. At TBC those weeks usually happened more that "normal" weeks... which I guess would make them normal... right?... Hmmm... I don't know... stupid.

So this week wasn't any worse than some of the moderately bad weeks at Trinity... but in the real world that's still pretty much like being stabbed in an extremity and having salt poured in the wound.

This is indeed the first time since we've arrived out here that I've had to tell myself, "just survive till Friday" and my word, I hardly did.

A bad week for me typically involves three things.

1. Averaging about 6 hours or less sleep per night for the week (look... my body and psyche operate fine with 8 hours... but when you dip under that I admit that I struggle!!).

2. Samantha.

3. Stupid unnecessary work stress.

Those three items were out in force this week.

Sleep was around 7 hours until Tuesday night... where it hit the two hour mark and then saw me in town till about 11 pm for work, class and then more work.

Samantha was just nuts this week (ok remember that I tell stories... basically insert "Brandon" for "Samantha") the woman basically was under so much internal stress over the Tiger's/Twins series that she pretty much took to biting off the head of anyone who spoke to her negatively... good grief Samantha... get a grip... it's just a game!

Work. Is there a need to elaborate?

Anyways it's over. And I was able to relax for the evening and basically do this...

Samantha's thoughts on Life...

As I said before, Samantha may at time's post an item or two to my blog... this one I'm going to put up for her. It's mainly regarding her Grandma Moon. As you'll read, Samantha was very close to her and she was a major impact on my wife's life, so much so that Aundrea's middle name was given in her honor! Enjoy...

"It has been almost eight years now since my Grandma passed away but in my mind, as vivid a memory as yesterday’s events. It was Saturday, October 13th, 2001. I was a freshman in college and four hours away from home. The call from my mother was very unexpected and very heart breaking. To this day I am thankful for a wonderful roommate who was more than willing to drive the four hours to my home so that my dad did not have to come and get me during this time. I am also thankful for a very dear friend who stayed with me during that entire week even though she had never met my family or my Grandma.

Grandma loved life and lived it to the fullest. Even to the day she died she was very active and let everyone know it. You never knew what to expect from her. I think this is why I was so insistent on naming my daughter after her. There are many memories I have of Grandma and each of them I hold very dear. Things like overnighters, garage sales, and shopping.

Growing up I spent a lot of time at my grandparents. To this day I am very grateful to my parents for allowing this. I had many overnight stays in which Grandma and I did many things. Our favorite pastime was window shopping. We had two or three stores we loved to go into in the town of Brainerd. One (that no longer exists) was in the mall just a few blocks from their home. This store had a very large display of a village (the kind you see at Christmas), knick-knacks, and dolls. I know my love for dolls came from this experience. Our other favorite place was the Christmas store which again had many knick-knacks to look at. Other times I stayed at my grandparents I would be helping with the garage sale they had almost every year. This was always an experience. It never failed to have Grandpa heading to the attic of the garage to pull something else down to sell and Grandma yelling at him to get down because he was going to hurt himself climbing up there. There was always plenty of zucchini and toffee bars to sell if nothing else.

Grandma loved each of her grandkids very dearly and made sure each of us knew this. She had several sleepovers for all of the grandkids with no parents allowed. On one of these occasions the boys decided it would be fun to sleep in the garage in the car and Grandma encouraged it. When we would get up in the morning she would take us to the park for breakfast and she always had the small boxes of cereal that you poured milk into. Another time she invited all of the granddaughters by special invitation for a tea party. This was a dress-up in dresses with a tea set and mini sandwiches and cakes tea party. One of the only times I remember seeing Grandma in a dress.

There was a quirky side to Grandma as well and I would be unfair in leaving this out. I am sure there is not one grandkid that could say they did not receive a wet willy, get their nose picked, receive a knuckle sandwich, or have their two jam eaten. If all were not done at least one of them was.

Out of all of these memories there is one that sticks out clearer then all the rest. This would be the last time I saw my Grandma alive. When I left for college my Grandma promised me one trip out to North Dakota to pick me up and bring me home. All I had to do was call and ask any time, but only once, during the year. I took advantage of this very early in the school year and to this day I am so glad I did. There was a campout I had been to every year with my Missionette group at our church and I did not want to miss it. Grandma was more then happy to come and get me and brought my cousin Katherine with her. I could not wait for them to get there so I could show off my room and my college to them. We left for home and what was to be a three and a half to four hour trip home turned into a seven to eight hour trip. I was not yet familiar enough with the route to remember by heart and Grandma ended up taking a few turns I have yet to understand why. However, it has become a trip that Katherine and I hold very dear and have many a good laughs over when we get together.

When I return home and go to visit Grandpa I can still to this day see Grandma in the house. She is either standing in the kitchen at the sink or the stove or she is in the living room lying on the couch pretending to be asleep. I expect her to pop around the corner at any minute to give me that hug I miss so much. Grandma taught me to love life and to love family no matter the circumstance. I may not always live this out today as I get caught up in what is going on around us but as I sit here writing this these lessons are very real. I miss her greatly and wish she were still here but I know I will always have the memories and the lessons she taught even if she didn’t think she was teaching them."