War Eagle

Annette, Christopher and I went to the Auburn Homecoming game today. What a great time. Toomer's Corner after the game looked like Barrow, Alaska with all the TP. It was a lot of fun watching the end of the Alabama game at the hotel in the lobby with a bunch of Auburn fans. We had dinner at the Cock of the Walk (the best shrimp around) and now watching Arkansas beat South Carolina.

In the morning we hope to get breakfast at Taylor's Bakery (a friend of Christopher's uncle owns it) and then Mass at St. Michael's where Fr. Bill is the pastor. He is such a great guy. I wish we had him back at St. Dominic.

Barrow, Alaska

I left Mobile on Tuesday, November 2nd to go to Barrow, Alaska. It took about 30 hours to get there and it will take the same on the way home Friday. Barrow is a cool (maybe COLD) place. The folks are very nice but I don't think that I have met anyone "from" here. On our flight coming up, Ted Danson was with us. He is filming a story about whales in Anchorage and came up to meet with natives here that are in the story. Since there is only 3 restraunts (and we ate at 2 of them) we had lunch and dinner with him. He was very nice but was also private.

I decided not to join the Polar Bear Club, which requires you to go into the Artic Ocean, since is was about -20 or so with the wind chill.

The top is a reminder when getting there that this is an unforgiving area of the country. Will Rogers died here in a plane crash. The second is me standing by the Artic ocean. By the next moring, 50 yards of ocean was covered in ice. They said by December you can drive cars on the ice. The third is the Top of the World Hotel, which is basically a trailer on sticks.... not the best in town and for $170 per night you can expect a little more.

I am so glad to be home now!!!!!

St Dominic Midget Football 2010

Here is a Youtube video of this season's highlights from Christopher's football team. The did great this year and had a lot of fun.

The World's Largest Porch Swing

Annette gave me a cool list of unique sites around the country. With all the travel that I do now to remote and interesting areas of the country, I thought this would be a good way to see parts of the country that I probably would otherwise miss. While in Hebron, NE this week, I had a chance to mark one off the list. I spoke with a local store owner and he actually was proud of the swing and said that during festival, art shows, and the like that people actually do sit in the swing. I will admit; it is BIG! So 1 down and 49 to go. I will keep you posted.

We all should try to identify those opportunity in our own community to meet new people and connect with old friends. Maybe we all need a giant porch swing.

Townhalls - Rep. Bright (AL-2nd)

Townhalls - Rep. Bright (AL-2nd)

If anyone knows someone from this area, here is your chance to ask him your questions. Rep Bright is a Democrat from AL2 (southeast Alabama). The event is August 12th in Troy. Only 6 Democraps in the country are having a town hall meeting. Only 1 in Alabama.

Lincoln's Childhood Home

I have now had the opportunity to see the beginnings of two of our presidents. Here is the childhood home of Abraham Lincoln. They surived on 30 acres of rugid terrain in the Kolb Valley in Kentucky. Very humble beginnings indeed.

Blue Grass State

I am in Horse Cave, Kentucky this week. Obviously, there are tons of caves around here, but more importantly the Maker's Mark Distillery is close as well. I had a chance today to visit and take the tour. It is really incredible how that stuff is made. I am a confessed Crown Royal kind of guy, but it was cool to see the bottling and making of a fine bourbon. I will try to post some photos later.

I was able to secure a couple of bottles before leaving and already have plans for them. Pat Greenwood is a big fan, so I got him a personalized bottle and Jeremy Cushing gave me some Jack Daniels once so I hope to repay some of that.

PARTY!!!

Since the last post, we have had a run of parties. Matthew's second was basically a family gathering but it got us started on the right track. Thanksgiving was a feast at Ann and Randy's house. Even if they are still wasting blackberries on outmeal. Then we had the Christmas marathon with decorating and celebrating. Katie Ann had her 6th birthday party in January. It was a sleep over with a few friends. With all the little girls running around; I needed therapy and Annette was the one on the front line. Whatever the cost though, Katie Ann had a great time and that's what really counts. This past weekend, Christopher had his 9th birthday party. We made marshmellow guns with pvc pipe. If you want the plans let me know, but I think the squirrels at cottage hill park will be calling Michelle Obama for an obesity rally after the feast. Of course, mixed in with all this is Margi Gras. We went to the Polka Dots and the Fifty Funny Fellows. Both were excellent. Now it's time to pay the piper, I see lots of yard work and home stuff over the next couple of months to get ready for summer.