The little Blue Devils fought hard today but came up short in a double overtime game against the Cavs. Sam went down in the second overtime with a rolled ankle and was not able to return to the game. A pretty disappointing outcome for the strongest team in the league. Losing the league MVP was a tough blow but the the little blue devils worked together and just lost by a basket. Dylan and Sam played great all year and will be back to do it again next winter. Go Blue Devils!
A 20-5 win over the Tigers and a 26-13 win over the Hokies earlier in the day have put the little Blue Devils in the semi-finals with the 2-0 Cavs. Tip off at 1:30 tomorrow. We split the regular season with the Cavs and they were the only team to beat us. This time it's personal. ;-)
Sam was home sick today and Nicole is in Nashville si the kitchen table was my office for a bunch of the day. Here I am using the Go To Meeting app on the iPad and listening to the conference via blackberry and Bluetooth while I do employee reviews on my mac. Multitasking at it's grandest.
Sam is feeling better and will be going to school tomorrow.
Sam's doctor also wanted $5 from a previous visit when we got here. Now, we have had the same insurance and co pay amounts for at least two years now. It says it right on the card I hand them. Why can they not seem to do the simple thing and charge us consistently. In fact, sams file says the co pay is $20 while it has clearly been $25 for years. Yet she looked at me as if I was a criminal for their lack of ability to do basic book keeping. I crossed out the $20 and wrote $25. She looked annoyed. Will health reform fix this?
Btw, sam has pink eye.
Dylan was playing mad defense again and had 4 points. He definitely had the most exciting basket when he drove the lane, spun around a defender and pulled up for a 10 foot jumper. Impressive stuff. Saturday nights are always so much better when they bring home a victory. Next weekend will be full of stress with what could turn out to be 2 or as many as 5 games in two days.
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Got an early round in today and played pretty well. 3 birds and a 91 overall. It was good to get outside a little. In sure the cold is coming back soon.
It was dress like an animal day in Sam's class so he went as a dog. He wouldn't bark for me.
We went out to dinner at Rustico last night and the boys brought money to help me pay. I let them think they actually did puck up the bill.
Dylan and Sam imagining that they are slaying each other at Imagination Stage in Bethesda. We are here to see Perseus Bayou thanks to Linda and Gil's holiday gift of season tickets to the theater. It's a nice new theater and occupies a spot that used to be a bar I once frequented when I lived in Bethesda. Seems like a long time ago.
Picked up a new Acura MDX yesterday. The boys were getting too big for the Infiniti's back seat. We still have the minivan but with boys going in all directions we need two vehicles with growing boy legroom and space for all the crap that they need to carry around with them.
Off to the Imagination Stage in Bethesda today to see Perseus Bayou. Should be fun.
Dylan and Sam had participated in the school New Year celebration today and had some fancy outfits to wear. Dylan looked good to and I will post a video of one of the songs so you can see him as well. I'm glad this week is over. It was good but it wore me out a little. Going to go out and pick up a new vehicle tomorrow which will be fun and of course, a basketball game tomorrow night at 6:15. Can they keep the unbeaten streak going or will we come back down to earth and would it be a good thing so lose one before the tournament starts so they won't be so cocky going into it? I don't know, but we beat this team before and I like to see them win. Lessons in losing as well. Hmmm, I guess I'm not playing or coaching so it's out of my hands anyway.
A Mini for some miniature people. This would be a good car for the boys if they could drive.
Dylan and Sam designing the web of the future on the whiteboard in my office. Yes, school was cancelled again so they hung with me for a while.
We are now basking in the heat of a fire, glow of the iPads and warmth an LCD TV.. Of course school has been cancelled tomorrow again for some unknown issue (literally, the streets are as dry as a bone) so the boys will be hanging out in our offices for part of the day tomorrow. I have a meeting I can't cancel and Nicole has a video town hall at 1pm. Oh, yeah the same type of system is heading this way for early next week. Tons of moisture from the gulf, spinning off the coast and dropping wet, heavy snow. We did lose some tree size branches from the bigs pines and maples but nothing landed on the house, this time..
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They both played a great basketball game yesterday with Sam scoring 16 and Dylan getting 4 in a 25-19 victory over the Hurricanes. They really love sports and get very excited about the game and being part of a team. They are extremely competitive little monsters but still have fun with it and are not overly aggressive but go get that ball wherever it is.
Sam and Nicole just went to swim practice and Dylan and I are watching some football in front of the fire. Pickle has an ear infection and needs ton stay out of the water today. I think a long winter hike is in store for tomorrow. We have not been in the woods for a while and some fresh air will do us good.
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Dylan loves to use his computer to watch all sorts of things on YouTube and NFL.com. He has figured out how to go back decades and watch game film of contests that happened before he was born. He knows more about some if the old Viking teams than I do, or that u choose to remember anyway.
While I was away last weekend the Blue Devils Won another game, 28-14. Sam had 19 points, 3 steals and Dylan came away with 1 point and 9 steals. Nicole wasn't able to count rebounds but I'm sure they both had a few.
I'm at practice with them now and am looking forward to this weekends game. The snow missed us again last night and put a hurt on New England instead. I do hope we get one good snow this winter. Just not one that cancels a game.
This is the first tee of the Torrey Pines South Course and the location of the 2008 US Open and a tournament stop in two weeks. I didn't bring my golf clubs, shoes or knee brace on this trip. It just seemed too much to haul to Vegas and La Jolla but just walking around the beautiful grounds of this this place made me sad I left all that stuff at home. I can rent clubs and buy shoes but I will probably fall over in my backswing if I don't have my brace on. Oh well, maybe next year. I have an early flight tomorrow and I'm looking forward to seeing the family and a four day weekend next week. I think I will take Friday off and Monday is a holiday. The ACS Editors meeting was very nice, I learned a lot and had some great conversations with some of the leading scientists in the field of Chemistry. The CES Show and this meeting as worn me out and I'm ready for some R&R.
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This is a new addition to the Bellagio lobby since I last stayed there. About 2 days in that town was enough for a while. Win some money on the black jack tables but lost it all in the video poker machines. At LAX again and on my way to La Jolla for weekend work meeting. I'm looking forward to the slower pace of the Lodge at Torrey Pines over the all night insanity of Vegas.
Long day but I'm in town for CES. Ended up with a decent room anyway.
I picked the boys up from school the other day and came in when they were practicing their moves for the big Aftercare Dance Showcase in February. I also just bought them Just Dance Two fir the Wii last weekend so they have many opportunities to get their groove on.
We are back home now and waiting for 2011 sitting by the fire. Dylan and Sam got all worn out running from girls and wanted to leave. Happy New Year everyone.
We are on flight number two for the day and the boys are all relaxed on their new timberwolves and Viking hats and jerseys.
On the plane back to dc and hoping the connection works out in Chicago. Based on the gift the Vikings gave the Bears yesterday by beating the Eagles, I'd say they owe us one. We had a great trip but it's time to get back.
Got out and got some tubing in today with Rachel, FInn, Mae, Nicole and the boys. It was chilly but we all warmed up after a few runs. Plenty of snow out there to keep us busy with winter sports. Not sure what we are doing tomorrow but I'm sure it will involve snow. You never know if we will get enough back in DC to have any fun there.
Saw a nice little children's play at the Old Log Theater this afternoon and now we are settling in to watch some football and let the cousins play together outside. We finally got some sun today which made the snow filled trees look very beautiful.
We dug a series of snow caves and forts in the 6 foot drifts in the front yard today. That may be all the outdoor time we get today but it is a winter wonderland out there.
The kids in their new pajamas getting ready for a long winters nap.
It's a snowy and cold Christmas Eve here in Minnesota and the kid present frenzy is about to begin. The dead of winter always seems so bright around the holidays.
The snow is deep on the sledding hill this year. Like to my waist deep in some spots. We spent a couple hours shooting down the hill and sipping bailys and hot chocolate before getting ready for Christmas eve dinner and the child present opening extravaganza.
Early flight to ORD then a fairly tight connection to MSP. The boys are pumped about all the snow.
The baby Blue Devils won their second game of the season 21 to 10. Sam had another 10 points, Dylan had 4 and both played great defense. Sophia came away with 7 points and some awesome assists. They have a good little team.
I did some errands after my vein treatments today and got some replacement LED icicle lights for a string that was having issues on the back porch. When i got home after picking up the boys, the strand in question was working again. I looked at it with the boys and told them that it wasn't working all week and how I bought a new strand today. Dylan looked at me with a dead serious face and said, "it's a Christmas miracle". Then grinned and we all laughed. Funny kids.
It's just a couple inches but it whitened up the place quite nicely. I do like trees with lights and snow. It's a good look. In off tomorrow for one more session of needles in my legs. I may have to take the boys with me since school has been delayed two hours. They should enjoy that.
We are getting our first couple of inches of snow today and people have already forgot how to drive. As always, stay away from cars with diplomatic plates. They tend to be really bad snow drivers.
This was last weekends starting lineup and are working together tonight against the other five. Dylan and Sam provide some great power under the basket but Sophia may be the best all around player on the team of 8 boys and 2 girls.
The annual Christmas party at Steve and Patty's house in Catonsville. A bunch of people I haven't seen in a while and a good time all in all. The boys had a great basketball game yesterday as well. Sam has 10 points and Dylan had 2 in a 14-12 nail biter. They both played some ferocious defense and had to have 10 steal a piece. We are getting the rain that was snow in Minnesota today so after few errands it will be home in front of the fire for the rest of the day.
This was a busy week that kind of flew by like this little spaceship ornament on our tree. I had more needles put in my leg today and I'm still trying to shake thus cold but I'm glad it's the weekend. Minnesota is getting a couple feet of snow this weekend. With the foot they already have we should be good for some serious sledding un a couple weeks. I like snow but I'm glad I dont have to shovel this round of the white stuff.
I would be the neighborhood champ if I had these lights up on the house. Had an easy trip back from New York today with the trains running on time. Sam and I are still a little sick and I'm not sure he will be going to school tomorrow and I'm a little on the iffy side as well.
Rockefeller Center at christmas time. It's cold and a little snowy here in Manhattan. Noon train up today, noon train home tomorrow.
The tree is up, the stockings are hung, the outdoor lights are strung and Elf is on TV. Elves stick to the four major food groups, candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup.
My neighbor across the street from us got his lawn all set for the holidays. I can't match the sheer number of inflatable displays, mostly because I wouldn't know where to store them so I will do my typical lights around the doors, front bushes and back deck. Maybe something new this year if I can muster the energy.
One of my favorite months of the year. Lights, cold and snow are all good with me but this kinda hot torrential rain we just had should not happen again until June.
