Easter Weekend Review

It was a good Easter weekend for me. Friday night I left straight from work to Madison. I was giving Jay a hand in remodeling the upstairs apartment at his new place. When I got there, Jay and his brother, Tim, were painting the kitchen. I helped them finish up the first coat and then the three of us went out for a fish fry for a couple hours. We got back and applied the second coat of paint, and were done by 11:00, and while I contemplated a drive to Sun Prairie to toilet paper The General’s house. But I was just too tired. Saturday morning, Jay and I put down new flooring in the kitchen and then spent the afternoon doing some trim work. I left Madison around 5 and headed back to Milwaukee. Saturday night I went down to the Pabst Theater to see Chris Cornell in concert. Chris Cornell who has been a member of the following bands: Temple of the Dog, Audioslave, and most notably Soundgarden. The concert was just OK. A lot of that may have to do with the fact that it was a General Admission show, and I showed up late and didn’t get a very good seat. In fact I was up in the third level. The doors opened at 8:00 p.m., and the opener didn’t come on stage until 9:20 p.m. I got in around 8:45 p.m. William Elliot Whitmore was the opening act. I had never heard of him, but he was decent. He came out on stage with just a guitar and a bass drum. He did perform a great cover of “Ain’t No Sunshine”. Chris Cornell didn’t come on stage until a little after 10:00 p.m. And he played until 12:30.
Here was the setlist
Scar on the Sky

Ground Zero

Can’t Change Me

As Hope and Promise Fade

Call Me a Dog

Sunshower

Fell on Black Days

Blow up the Outside World

I am the Highway

Billie Jean (Michael Jackson cover)

When I’m Down
Seasons

All Night Thing

Man of Golden Words / Comfortably Numb (Mother Love Bone cover / Pink Floyd cover)

Say Hello to Heaven

Thank You (Led Zeppelin cover)

Mind Riot

Like Suicide

Like a Stone

Doesn’t Remind Me

Ticket to Ride (Beatles cover)
– Encore–
Scream

Hunger Strike

Black Hole Sun

Cleaning My Gun

Imagine (John Lennon cover)
Moving on to Easter Sunday, I headed out to my parent’s house and the whole family got together. I started the day off playing capture the flag with my nieces and nephews. I wasn’t too surprised by the cheating. I mean, I cheat every chance I get. But the fact that one of the kids lied to me about their cheating after they were caught. I mean I am fine with them lying to their parents, but not me, I mean I am the cool uncle. Who lies to their cool uncle? We then moved to playing football where I had a little more control over the game as all-time quarterback. It was a lot of fun, especially since the kids are getting older and some of them I can throw the ball to with some heat on it. Well at least as much heat as I can generate with my deteriorating body. We also got a second football game in after dinner. Although it never fails, we were playing 4 on 4 most of the time and every kid is wide open (according to them) and on every play they all run into the end zone. Usually when they come back to the huddle and say they were open, they get a laser coming in hot on the very next play. The other thing that they do is run down the field, look back at me, and just as I am about to throw the ball they turn their head and look to see where they are running. But like I said, it was still a lot of fun. Next game is Mother’s Day weekend. I think kickball might be in order this time.

Over 50 Friend Font Format

At work I go to a number of meetings. Quite often I bring a spreadsheet or two to present information. More often than not, I am squeezing as much information as possible into these spreadsheets, and I always try to get everything on one sheet of paper. This often leaves the print on the page to be in a small font. Recently some of the older staff have complained about the size of the font on my spreadsheets. This has led me to adjusting my spreadsheets to maximize the font size and I have coined the phrase “Over 50 Friendly Font Format”, for those spreadsheets. For example, now at the office you can hear a conversation that resembles the following:
Supervisor: “Hey Rickie, can you bring a copy of that TPS report to the Change Management meeting today?”
Me: “Not a problem. Do you want that in Over 50 Friendly Font Format?”
Supervisor: “Of course, otherwise I won’t be able to read it.”

Expense Reports

Here is the red tape that I had to deal with regarding an expense report that I submitted for attending a Utility Conference. The cost of attendance to the conference was $25. I may have been a bit snotty but I think it was warranted. The way I see it, my company's failure to accept / question my expense report, could be interpreted as the company accusing me of embezzlement. Please read the string of emails below.

To: Rickie Davies/Milwaukee/URSCorp@URSCorp
From: Problem AP Resolution Team/App/URSCorp
Date: 04/20/2011 10:42AM

No proof of payment provided..only PAA's (Professional Activity Approval Form) attached, please advise


To: Problem AP Resolution Team/App/URSCorp
From: Rickie Davies/Milwaukee/URSCorp@URSCorp
Date: 04/21/2011 11:32AM

See the attached document. (The attached Document was a scanned image of a check that I made out to WE Energies)

To: Rickie Davies/Milwaukee/URSCorp@URSCorp
From: Problem AP Resolution Team/App/URSCorp
Date: 04/22/2011 01:34PM

Hi Rickie, We will need the image of the back of the $25.00 check as well. Thanks for your help.


To: Problem AP Resolution Team/App/URSCorp
From: Rickie Davies/Milwaukee/URSCorp@URSCorp
Date: 4/25/11 03:57PM

I do not have an image of the back of my check for the 2011 Annual Utility Conference sponsored by WE Energies. What I do have is the registration form for the 2011 Annual Utility Conference sponsored by WE Energies, which states (highlighted at the bottom of page one) that the fee for the conference is $25, and that document is attached to this email. I have also attached the URS Professional Activity Approval form for the 2011 Annual Utility Conference sponsored by WE Energies, which has a total cost of $25 which has been approved by my Supervisor (Austin Milbarge), the Milwaukee Office Manager (Peter Venkman), the Central Midwest Region Manager (Emmett Fitz-Hume) and the Americas West Group Manager (Daniel Caffey). I have also attached an image of the check that I wrote out to WE Energies, the sponsor of the 2011 Annual Utility Conference. Further inspection will show that the date on the check (2/15/11) matches the date on the registration form for the 2011 Annual Utility Conference sponsored by WE Energies as well as matching the date of attendance listed on the URS Professional Activity Approval form for the 2011 Annual Utility Conference sponsored by WE Energies. The combination of these documents also show a rather clear paper trail that the amount of the 2011 Annual Utility Conference sponsored by WE Energies was $25, the amount that was approved for the 2011 Annual Utility Conference sponsored by WE Energies was $25 and the amount that was paid to WE Energies for the 2011 Annual Utility Conference sponsored by WE Energies was $25. Therefore, the amount I should be reimbursed by URS for attending the 2011 Annual Utility Conference sponsored by WE Energies is $25.

If you have any further questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me. Thank you.

Rickie Davies, P.E.
Bridge Engineer
URS Corporation 6737 W Washington Street, Suite 2265
Milwaukee, WI 53214

Another Easter Memory

Here is the last of my Easter memories. It is hard to believe that I have that many memories. This one goes back to my college days. Another Easter tradition was going to Easter Sunday morning sunrise service, which began at 6:00 a.m. The evening before I had been out with some friends at a local drinking establishment, I doubt I put my pretty little head down on my pillow much before 3 in the morning. Being that I was staying at my parent’s house that weekend, I felt the obligation to go with my parents to church. Three hours later, I managed to pry myself from my bed, get myself looking respectable and went to the church. I sat in the first pew with my parents, my head pounding, my saliva glands working overtime, and my stomach doing somersaults. After making it through the service, it was on to the traditional Easter breakfast at the church. My parents and I grabbed a table with me making little to no small talk while waiting for breakfast to be served. I just sat there contemplating that if I did have something to eat, if it would stay down. That is when my father saved the day. I don’t remember the exact wording but he said something to the effect of, “You know you really don’t look too good, why don’t you just back home. We will get a ride home from someone.”, and gave me the car keys. My parents don’t live much more than 2 miles away from the church. It you timed me from when the cars keys hit my hand to me in bed, it would have been less than 10 minutes, probably closer to 5.

Never Say Never

Here is a new segment to the blog entitled "Things You Will Never Hear Me Say".
I while back when I was living in Minnesota, I said that I would never complain about the heat again or you could throw a drink in my face. So I guess you could interpret that I will never say "It is way too hot out."
I would like to at to that profound statement with this one, which an unnamed friend said to me, "Let me check with my wife to see if she will let me go."
As new phrases come up I will continue to post them here. That is all for now.

Do you want more dreams?

What do you think about the new blog feature, "my dreams"?
	I can't get enough of your dreams, because you are so dreamy.
	No more dreams. More pictures of Tree the kid hater.
	Based on your dreams, you need psychological help.
	None of the above.
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Dream. Dream, Dream, Dream, Dream, Dream

Another dream. Really? Well Tree doesn’t like pictures of kids. So here is the dream. I am at my class reunion which for some reason is at Catheral Square in downtown Milwaukee. At the reunion it seems everyone keeps asking me the whereabouts of a classmate, Bill Schultz. Of course I have no idea where Bill Schultz is because I haven’t seen him since graduation day. It also just so happens that it is the night of the big bang on the lake front. But I miss nearly all of the fireworks because I was in one of the neighboring buildings getting something to eat. When I finally realize that the fireworks are going on, I head outside and I manage to see the second half of the grand finale. Jim Villa is at the class reunion even though we didn’t go to high school together. Jim and I decide to play two handed sheepshead on one of the benches. But Jim doesn’t know how to play two handed sheepshead, or sheepshead at all for that matter. So Jim turns into Stegall. Stegall deals out the cards but instead of dealing out 5 cards down he deals out 7. I tell him he dealt wrong and he says “Stop being such a baby and just play.” Stegall also didn’t sort out the cards correctly and the cards used are a mixture of two decks. For instance there are two 10 of clubs. We are both down to only 4 cards left and if I play the cards right, I will win the last 4 tricks. But I over think it and misplay and Stegall takes the last 4 tricks. But I still may have won. As we are counting up the points, my alarm goes off and I wake up.

A Birthday and Nice Weather

It is Friday, April 22, which is also the birthday of my brother, Chucker. I love this picture. Look at how happy Chucker and Tim are.I would make fun of Chucker and say that he turns 40 this year, but since nearly everyone knows that I am only a year younger than him, I will stay away from such a statement. So Happy 30th Birthday Chucker!!! (Which means I turn 29 this year).

After being in Utah and soaking (no, not soaking like the Mormons do, that is an inside joke with Russ and Amanda, if they are reading the blog) up some beautiful weather. I have decided that the next day that it is sunny and hits 80 degrees I am grilling out in the back yard. Everyone is invited. Just give me a call that day (414.397.1457) and tell me you are going to stop by and I will make sure there is plenty to eat and drink. However, I fully expect that I will be grilling out solo.

Good Friday...No, Great Friday

How about some Good Friday talk? I normally stay away from religion as a topic. But I thought I would share one of my favorite Good Friday memories. To be honest there are too many Good Friday memories, in fact this is the only one that comes to mind. I am sure that all my brothers and sister remember this one as well. As a child, my family would always go to the late church service on Good Friday. You might know that my father has always been hard of hearing, that being the case, we always sat in the first pew. In fact first pew on the left. At the end of Good Friday service, our pastor would walk up to the altar, pick up an old large bible, turn to the congregation and in the dead quiet church with the lights turned down, read from Luke 23: 36-46 or another similar passage:

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the king of the Jews.” One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, because the sun’s light failed. The temple curtain was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”

And then the pastor would slam the bible shut which would echo throughout the whole church and then he would walk out of the church. The remainder of the congregation would then leave the church as well without a sound and no music playing. The noise of the slam was so loud that it still made you jump to attention, even if you weren’t dozing off and were paying attention. I can even recall some years looking forward to the service just for the slamming of the bible. This was all before my parent’s church made renovations. It used to be your traditional church with just two rows of pews separated by an aisle. The pews were all hard wood, that didn’t have cushions to sit on. And the Sanctuary was tall with exposed rafters. And then two days later we were there again in the first pew for Easter sunrise service.

Tree Hates Kids

I recently had a phone discussion with my good friend, Tree. He told me that it is enough with the pictures of my nieces and nephews. And then he sent me this picture to post. I usually don't take requests, but since Tree is a good friend and a loyal blog reader I thought I would post his picture. Disclaimer, the views and opinions of Tree are not necessarily the views and opinion of the blog owner.

Skiing Update

This past weekend I was in Utah for some skiing. I got into Salt Lake City Thursday night. Friday, Russ and I headed to Brighton for some skiing. In the parking lot we started to get dressed but when I pulled my skis out of my ski bag, I noticed that one ski had de-laminated. See look at the picture.I went and rented some demo skis and to the lift we went. On the third run of the day, we headed down a double black diamond. Here is a picture we had taken before embarking down the double black diamond.At the end of the run, I fell and popped my shoulder out. But fear not, it went back in and I was fine. We got in 4 hours of skiing on Friday. Here is the view at Brighton.At the end of the day, I decided to just buy the demo skis that I had rented. I figured that I was going to be skiing two more days and I would easily blow $100 on renting skis. Plus these skis and bindings retailed for $900 last year, and I got them for $300. Even though I broke my skis and dislocated my shoulder, it was still a really good day of skiing. Once we got back down into Salt Lake City we made a stop to the State owned liquor store. Check it out, a home wrecker of Jameson for $51.99 what a deal!That evening we went out for dinner with a group of people that Russ and Amanda go to school with. Saturday, Russ and I headed to The Canyons. It was pretty warm out and the snow wasn’t good at all. My skis kept sticking. It felt like when you are in 3rd gear in your car and instead of shifting to 4th, you accidentally go back into 2nd. Russ and I even took the gondola down the mountain rather than ski down it, the snow was that bad. Saturday afternoon, Russ and I took their dog, Stuart, to a dog park. Here I am with Stuart.Here is Stuart getting a little action. No lie, this little black lab mounted Stuart easily 50 times while we were at the dog park.Stuart cutting a deuce.Saturday evening, we went to a cookout with some more of Russ and Amanda’s classmates. Sunday Russ and I attempted to ski at Snowbird, but after arriving to the ski resort where it was 45 degrees and drizzling, we went and talked to one of the ski patrol members, who said that the conditions weren’t too good and would only get worse. Rather than dropping $60 on a lift ticket, we headed back down the mountain and we went to see “True Grit”. After the movie it was off to the airport. I had a layover in Denver and my second flight got delayed an hour, I ended up not getting home until 1:00 a.m. Monday morning. I want to thank Russ and Amanda for letting me come and visit. While it wasn’t the best ski trip, it still was a good time. And the weather all weekend in Salt Lake was great, sunny and in the mid 60’s.

Nascar and Dinosaurs

Here is a dream I had the other night. I am at someone’s house, it is a person I know but can’t remember who that person is. I am in their home theater room. There is a huge screen at the front of the room and there are 3 rows of 15 red velvet movie chairs. Everything else in the room is also red, the carpet, walls, etc. The movie we are watching is a Nascar movie starting Will Ferrell as the driver and Bradley Cooper is the pit crew chief, however the movie is not Talladega Nights. About half way through the movie, I realize that I am no longer watching the movie, but part of it. Will Ferrell brought his car into the pits, and popped the hood. Bradley Cooper and I are looking under the hood, and he shows me how to flip a switch and immediately the car is faster. But it is well know that flipping the switch is illegal. Our team’s rival is another car driven by a very good looking girl, and their pit crew is also a bunch of very good looking girls. Will Ferrell ends up just beating the rival team for 3rd place, passing them just before the finish line. After the race our race car and that of our rival, are parked in my parent’s driveway where both teams are working on the car. While working on the car Bradley Cooper and I are literally standing at a drawing board going over some car designs. He pulls out a pen to make some notes on the design, but his pen doesn’t work. He grabs another pen, but that pen also doesn’t work. Seeing Bradley Cooper is having trouble finding a working writing utensil, I give him a red pen from my pocket that works. I then excuse myself to use the bathroom. When I get into the bathroom I see that someone from our rival’s team had put their pet dinosaur in there. It was one of those little Compsognathus dinosaurs that stand about a foot tall, and it was orange. And it kept nipping at me as I walked into the bathroom. Then I woke up.

Air Guitar

This is one of the events that I have put on my radar from this summer, the U.S. Air Guitar Championships. I didn't even know that they had such a thing. But this year it comes to Milwaukee. Wednesday, June 8th at Turner Hall. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Let me know if you are interested in joining me.

Six Million Dollar Man

This conversation came up a while ago and I made a point of remembering it so that I could talk about it here on my blog.

In 1974 The Six Million Dollar Man premired on television. I was wondering what it would cost to put Steve Austin back together today. Based on inflation, today the show would be called The Twenty Six Million, Nine Hundred Thirty Four Thousand, One Hundred Fifty Eight Dollars and Twenty Two Cents Man. And I guessing that there would also be a Co-Pay.

Two Utes

I wrote this posting up on Sunday and set my blog up to post it Thrusday evening, right about the time my plane should be taking off for Utah. That is unless of course we have another blizzard that cancels my flight. Yes, I will be skiing this weekend. Last I talk to my buddy, Russ, on Saturday he said the forecast is for snow all week in the mountains. It will be the Chicken and the Gorilla hitting the slopes.

Dream a Sweet Dream

I have been setting my alarm for 3 in the morning to wake up in the middle of a dream so that I can write them down. I had a dream recently where I was living in Minnesota. And I was living with Krum and Tom Brady, the New England Patriots Quarterback. We lived in the same condo complex that Krum currently lives in, but we were living in the other tower and we had the entire top floor. But just because we were living with Tom Brady didn't mean that Krum was any more tidy than he currently is. So one day Tom Brady, comes home from work as a football player and it is pretty clear that Krum had been in the kitchen because it is a mess. Tom Brady says to Krum "Hey man what is your deal? Why are you so messy?" Immediately I chime in with "Yeah, Krum why are you such a slob?" Krum did a quick double take at me and said "What is this 2 on 1?" Tom Brady says "Yes, I guess it is. Why can't you throw out the wrapper on a pizza when you make it?" I jump in and say "Rebound! Why can't you put the cap back on the toothpaste?" Before Krum can say anything, Tom Brady says "Rebound! Why can't you clean up your crumbs after you make a sandwich?" I again yell out "Rebound! Have you ever put a CD back in it's correct case?" And I guess that is all that I can remember from that dream. I do recall for a fact that Gisele wasn't in the dream. I blame Krum for that, because if he wasn't such a slob, maybe Tom Brady would have invited her over.

Brewers Baseball

I think I mentioned it on my blog, that I plan on going to more Brewer games this year. I didn't get a real quick start to my Sunday. I woke up at 7, but managed to lay in bed until 9. Is there any better feeling than waking up in bed and knowing that you don't have to get up for anything? Once I got out of bed, I worked on the temple a little bit. Then I was going to head to the health club for some more temple work. But I step out the door and it was absolutely beautiful out. Way to nice to go into a health club. I jumped on my bike and went for a ride around Miller Park. (MKA, I have my sights on your world record. But if it is going to fall, it is going to have to be this year. My time Sunday was 25:45) I got in a real quick jog and then I spent a half an hour juggling. I have two months to sharpen up my performance for the Freeman Party. I will probably be purchasing juggling torches sometime this month. If there is a year to make the Freeman Party this is the year, because with juggling torches there will be a high probability that I will burn my house down. Back to my Sunday. I jumped in the shower and then settled into my couch as the Brewer game started. I watched the first pitch and then decided it was just too nice to stay inside, so I biked back down to the stadium. I wasn't going to pay alot to get into the game. My limits were $5 for the upper level and $20 for the lower level. When I got to my 3rd scalper, he told me that he had one in section 116 row 18 right behind the plate. He wanted $50. I told him the game had already started and it is like when you drive a brand new car off the lot, it immediately depreciates. He went down to $25. I said $20. He caved. As I was pulling out my money, he said "How about $5 more for the effort?" I said "See ya later." Then he said "Wait, wait alright $20." He wasn't lying, it was a great seat. And it turned out to be a really good game. The new score board is crazy. When they show a highlight using the whole thing, it is just crazy. I had great seats and I still found myself looking at the scoreboard all of the time. I would like to watch a movie inside there sometime. So if any of you loyal blog readers are headed to a game and want my entertainment, or to be mentioned on the blog give me a call. You can even call me from the parking lot, it wouldn't be the first time I was an after thought. I can make it down there in 10 minutes, you can time me.

Happy Birthday and Anniversary

Two quick things from this past weekend. First, on Friday was my sister Deb's birthday. She turned 45. Happy brithday Deb. Second, Sunday was my parent's 46th Anniversary. I would like to wish them a happy anniversary and I would like to also thank them. They called my Saturday afternoon and said that they were coming to Milwaukee for dinner and invited me along. I managed to pay for dinner before the check was even set on the table, i.e. I didn't have to buy them an anniversary gift. I think I am going to make a point of just buying them dinner on their anniversary rather then trying to figure out a gift they might like.

Ride Cowboy Ride

Here are more pictures from the park. I had some trouble with the kids getting into my frame. In fact if you look in the lower right hand corner of Fuss' and Sarah's pictures you can see Pickle's foot is in my frame. Here is Fuss and Pickle's foot.Sarah and Pickles foot. GET OUT OF MY FRAME!!!!ZackHollywoodBoomerAuggiePickle

Princess

Arm Wrestling

I told the kids that I would post the brackets from the Arm Wrestling Tournament. As you can see it was double elimination. I don't think it mattered how I set the tournament up, Round Robin, Double Elimination, whatever, Boomer was going to win. It appeared that she was even toying with some of her competitors during the tournament. I think there are a few boys (especially the two who are older than Boomer) who need to start hitting the weights, or at least start pumping out some daily push-ups.

Correction

A thousand appologies to Steve Nevermann. Steve was also at Skateland last Saturday for a birthday party. Here he is skating with his daughter. And he is going old school with the quads. And yes, I made a mistake. Both MLK and MKA were not in the races last Saturday, which helped make it possible for me to win. Although if MLK had been there, I think I would have beat him too. MKA not so much. Liquid, I would think about being a gym teacher, but from what I hear the benefits aren't as great as they once were.

Sunday

Sunday morning was boot camp, a half an hour of push-ups and sit-ups. I don’t think that they enjoyed boot camp very much, half of them quit (one football player didn’t even start) and nearly all had poor form. After boot camp, I spent an hour making breakfast. We then had a double elimination arm wrestling tournament.

Josh and CrusherPrincess and BoomerZack and FussPickle and AuggieBoomer took home top prize. I don't think she was really challenged by anyone. After arm wrestling, it was another lesson in Blackjack and then we loaded up for bowling. I don’t recall who won the first game of bowling, but when I put the top prize of $5 to the winner of the second game, Nick ended up as the winner. After bowling I took them to Culver’s for lunch. By that time it was pretty easy to see that everyone was pretty spent, including and especially me. I dropped off all of the kids and then headed for home and my couch. So over the weekend with the kids, I was: skating instructor, chauffeur, playground monitor, short order cook, casino dealer, photographer, and referee. It was a lot of fun, but I think I will stick with just doing it once a year.

Saturday

Saturday I had my annual sleepover with my nieces and nephews. I had 9 kids to watch over. I took them rollerskating Saturday afternoon. The reason we went rollerskating was more because I wanted to go than the kids. You would think with 10 nieces and nephews they would have more rollerskating birthday parties, but to my recollection there has only been one. The two highlights of rollerskating were: #1. I won the races. MLK wasn’t there so my only other competition came from Zack. And #2. As I was taking off my rollerblades and getting ready to leave, this little kid came skating by me and said “Hey, you are a really good skater.” That made my day. Even though Lindsey and Abby said I was a show off.

I had switched vehicles with my mom, so I had her minivan. I piled all of the kids illegally into the minivan and headed for my house. Upon our arrival, I made the kids each pick up 10 sticks in my front yard and back yard and put them in my fire pit. They unloaded all of their stuff and then said they wanted to play outside. I mentioned that we could go to a park and they were all excited for that. I decided to head down to Miller Park and go to the park they have behind the fence of the little league field. When the kids said that they were going to play tag, I said that I was going to play. Although I wasn’t the most active participant in the game. I don’t have the energy to run around the whole time. I just sat on a step until I was tagged, then with each time I was “it” I systematically chased down each kid starting with the oldest and working my way down. Miller Park had the “Rising Star” game going on at the same time, and as the game go closer to the end, more kids came to the playground so we decided to head to a different park. I took them to Jacobus Park just off the Honeycreek Parkway. We stayed at that park for about 20minutes. As we were leaving I walked by one parent who was pushing his kid on a swing and I said to him “Do you want to trade?” He said “No way.”As we were headed along the parkway, I stopped by the fish hatchery. I thought that would be a nice spot for a photo-op. Then we stopped again near Hart Park and I grabbed a couple photos on the foot bridges. Normally when I get the kids together for a picture, I make them take a nice one where they are all smiling and then they can do a goofy one. When I had them on the foot bridge over the Menomonee River, after the nice picture, I had them all spit into the river. I think this is one of my favorite group pictures that I have taken with the kids. I then took them to the park at Dyer Field. After three parks it was time to head back home and feed these kids. I laid out a spread of Doritos, cookies and candy along with pizza and soda, everything that a growing kid needs. The boys were pretty content with playing video games, so I played cribbage with the girls. That soon changed into teaching the kids how to play Blackjack. I broke out the poker chips and gave each kid $1000, and I was the dealer taking all of their money. I think they learned that in the end, gambling doesn’t pay. At around 11:00 p.m., I set the kids up with a movie. Then Erin and I played a game of war. It was real close to midnight when I left them to watch the movie and I went to bed.

Friday

Well there is plenty to talk about from this last weekend. Friday I made a run to my favorite restaurant, Crawdaddys, for my standard take out order: crawtails, lobster mashed potatoes, carrots and brown rice. As I pulled up to the restaurant, I was able to secure “Rockstar” parking. But it was even less “Rockstar” because I walked across the street to get a picture of my parking spot. Later in the evening, I met up with The General and we went to Roman’s 40th birthday party. Although I did forget to bring my camera to commemorate the evening. I played 18 holes of Golden Tee with Nate and then I realized that my good friend and ride, The General, pulled a Casper on me and was gone. What are friends for? But Nate gave me a ride home so it wasn’t that big of a deal.

Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor and Doctor

Congratulations Doctor Havlik. The winner of my NCAA Basketball Pool.

Here are the final standings.

1st Heather

2nd Bubs

3rd Schrank

4th Deb

5th Sherman

5th Tree

5th Borky

8th Liquid

9th Dan

10th Rickie

10th Tim

10th TJ

13th Doggie

14th Tom Brady

Heather the check is in the mail Bubs, let me know when you are working at Boz's and I will drop your money off.