Record Dreams

Dylan exploring vinyl at Shuga Records in Whicker Park.

Whisky Tango Foxtrot

Iconic architecture on the Chicago river and the cover of a great Wilco Album.

The Bean

Dylan and I got to Chicago at noon and have been visiting record stores, eating deep dish pizza and seeing the city at night. Gonna see Sam in the morning, then again at the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships tomorrow afternoon. Looking forward to seeing Sammy throw some weight around.

Hangin Loose

Mae looking pretty relaxed after an overtime victory to earn a trip to the final tomorrow afternoon. The Orono girls hockey team beat Proctor\Hermontown in the semis of the Minnesota High School Hockey tournament today and face the far north Warroad Warriors in the finals tomorrow. Go Spartans!!

Iowa Mural

Tracking Sam's phone on the way back to Des Moines from SDSU. Sammy had a personal record of 17.20 meters in the weight throw. He was 15th of 55 throwers. #1 freshman in the MVC.

The landscape of Iowa is much more interesting from space than it is at ground level.

West End

A little bar with a ton of kids in it, and me. I was easily 25 years older than the average age of the other 75 people there.

Bulldog Wrangling

Not sure drinking beer on Griff in front of the Drake diner was a good idea but I had a good time going out with the throwers last Saturday.

Meet Ready

Just water tonight for Sam as he prepares for some throwing at Iowa State tomorrow.

Mexican Sling

Nicole is doing her best to move around with the shoulder still smarting and still sporting a sling. Mexican food in East Village tonight.

Holiday Town

Steamboat Springs is one pretty town. Founded in the late 19th century, it has a ton of charm and a ton of snow when we were there. It snowed pretty much every day we were there which made the skiing fantastic and the in town dinners and drinks were lovely. I made it home without any issues last night and I'm back to helping Nicole get back to full strength. Grandma and Dylan did a great job in my absence so I will need to up my game this week.

Yampa River

Night view of the Yampa river in Steamboat Springs. Walked up to some natural hot springs on a cold snowy night.

Powder Day

It snowed most of the day today so the slopes were nice and fluffy. Cold but we warmed after a run or two.

Lookin Out Forever

Steamboat has some beautiful terrain with big views of the valley. Great bluebird ski day with the highs in the upper 20's. It felt good to be back on the snow after 7 years.

Steamboat Spring

Two, on time flights, and here I am at the Rabbit Ears Motel. It's a short, 5 minute bus ride to the slopes but walking distance to everything downtown. They have had 220 inches of snow this year and it is everywhere. They seem to be running out of places to push it.

First in Group

Sam got first in his weight throw group today at the Cyclone Open at Iowa State. He was about a half meter shy of making the finals but not bad for something he's been throwing for a few months.

Office Champion

After three 2nd place finishes in the office fantasy football pool, I finally got the trophy. No money involved, just bragging rights. The writing at its base was left over from Rhen's won from 2019. Some of my colleagues felt he had an unfair advantage. I've place this beauty in a spot, right behind me when I'm on a zoom call for all to see.

Alien Bug

Momma's shoulder reconstruction was a success and the doctor says she shouldn't set off TSA metal detectors even with a titanium plate and 11 screws. Still lots of pain but she's on the mend.

Surgery Day

Getting that shoulder done.

Georgetown

Sam wanted to try a new part of town for brunch on Sunday. We decided on Georgetown because, we don't get there much anymore and it has good restaurants and shopping. We also traversed the steep steps made famous by the Exorcist movies from the 70's.

New Years Golf

Sam and I played 9 holes this morning to kick off New Year's Eve. It was the first time playing with either kid and quite fun. Dylan was working and Sam has had more golf practice from his time with the ladies of the Drake Golf team. I hadn't played for 4 years or so but my problematic shoulders were not a problem at all. I need to play more, with the kids would be ideal.

Holidays

Multiple holidays at the same time.

It’s the season

Back Home

Got a picture of me and the boys in a big holiday snow globe at MSP. Easy flight and back in Virginia.

Snowy Minnesota

It snowed all four days while in Wayzata this trip. At times it snowed big flakes, small flakes and generally the entire time we were there. A few periods of sun allowed for some nice pictures.

The Sweater Says it All

Just Amazing

I bought five $100 seats in the rafters of US Bank Stadium for the Vikings vs Colts game on Saturday. The boys hadn't seen an NFL game live before and we got lucky with the Viking in town during our annual December visit. The Vikings were down 33-0 at half time and got booed off the field by a stadium of disappointed fans. Half of our row of 20 some seats left before the third quarter and I was feeling like I over paid for tickets by about $99.

The third quarter started slowly but the Vikings started scoring and it didn't stop until the last seconds of overtime with a field goal to give the home team a 39-36 win and the NFC North title. It was bedlam in the building as we witnessed the largest comeback in NFL history and a very memorable first game for Dylan and Sam, a first Vikings game in that stadium for Finn and just a fun day for Nicole and I.

It turns those tickets were priceless.

Minnesota

Lots of snow with this visit. We all made it here yesterday and have been enjoying the snow but not the driving so much.

Little Sammy

Sam looks sorta small compared with he's throwing buddy from Wales. He looks good anyway.

Cold and Bright

Almost the longest day of the year and feeling like winter.

More Lights

I added 100 lights per tree this year for a total of 300. They are still young trees but growing up, not so much out. They will be lighting up the yard for the next few months.

First Meet

Sam wasn't thrilled with his first NCAA track meet at Iowa State today but it was his first time throwing the 35 pound weight indoors. He only started throwing that thing a couple months ago and he was doing it on a taped up ankle from an injury last week. Nice job Sammy. Many more meets to come.

Number 16

Nicole ran her 16th marathon this morning in Rehoboth Beach. It was rainy here and there but she got it done. Her friend in the picture ran her first half marathon.

Christmas Dinosaurs

Christmas tree gathering should always include dinosaur feet.

Holiday Season

I nice Thanksgiving with Linda, Gil, Elaine and Sam in town and now the beginning of the month of lights. One of my office windows looks across 16th street at the Jefferson Hotel. It's the first thing I see each morning when I get there at 7am, three days a week anyway.

Sunday Bay Bridge Run

I was not part of this but it was much colder today and probably really windy a couple hundred feet above the Chesapeake.

Saturday Walk

70 degree walk in the woods.

Friday Dinner

Had dinner with Kate and Larry on Friday. They came down from Boston to visit the old hood and catch up with their Virginia friends.

South of the border

While Dylan was in Colorado for his birthday, Sam visited our neighbor to the south…south of Forest Avenue anyway.

Buffs

Dylan and Wyatt at the Colorado vs Oregon game. Nice day for football.

Chasing the Sun

Dylan is on his way to Denver to hang out with his friend Wyatt in Boulder this weekend. He sent this from 36,000 feet above Des Moines.

Pumpkin Time

Soon to be squirrel food

More Autumn

We are nearing peak color if we haven't gotten there already.

Fall Walks

Our two or three weekly walks together now feature crunching leaves at out feet and a spectacular canopy of color to breath in. Not to mention great Halloween displays on every block.

First Fire

The chimney was cleaned, wood delivered and the temperature dropped. Doesn't look like the temp is going cooperate this coming week but we did get the first blaze going in October.

The Beaver

For reasons unknown, this beaver was acquired by Sam and his roommates from some sorority house last year. It was stolen back from them earlier this year and seems to have returned this week. I don't believe the saga the beaver is over.

Sea Cave Kayaking

We didn't actually go in the caves because the swells were rough and we would have been crushed against the rocks but it was fun.

Not Des Moines

Stepped on a plane Des Moines yesterday morning and stepped off in a totally different environment. La Jolla is our final stop on our cross country journey. We hiked down the cliffs to the Pacific and back up to have a questionable dinner in the village last night. Got some business and fun lined up the next few days.

Pizza Night

Grabbed some Za and met Robbie an Carolyn in Urbandale for dinner. The sisters just got back from a 7 day eastern Iowa adventure. A bonus for our Drake parents weekend trip.

Grays Lake

Many trips around the lake this morning. Crisp 45 degrees in Des Moines.

It’s the season

The spookiness is starting to show up in the neighborhood.