Lisa Ling

Noted journalist Lisa Ling and her production crew spent two days in our home, filming for an upcoming documentary. You may have seen Lisa on Oprah, The View, National Geographic and most recently the new Oprah Winfrey Network.

Spring Break - 2010

We were saddened to once again bid goodbye to Perdido Key, our spring break refuge for nine years now (I think that's right - I'm starting to lose count). This year we were particularly excited to have Jim and Dee join us, along with our son-in-law and daughter-in-law ... thirteen people in total. What a crew! We are so grateful to have all the kids together. That's not so easy as they grow older. Kudos to my parents for once again being the boots-on-the-ground to make it all come together. We certainly beached, bummed and ate royal reds with the best of em. Good fishing, good weather and good food! Thank God for the beauty of this place and the wonderful family with whom we’ve been able to share it. Our first spring break here was in 1986. No kids, just a dog. Things have indeed changed. Thank you God for your goodness! You can find several related photos in my Picasa Album and a few video highlights immediately below (with more available through my YouTube Channel, look for "Spring Break - 2010").

Scorpions On Ice

For me, February has become synonymous with Scorpion Homecoming. Here we enjoy an iconic image of the firm's legendary 1969 line-up - just a few of the nearly 300 sleds in attendance. Thanks to all the wonderful family and friends who once again joined us for the festivities on beautiful Serpent Lake's west-end!

2009 In Review

Well it’s that time of the year again. If you enjoy those overdone Christmas brag letters, feel free to proceed. If not, hit your ‘Back’ button. Coming-off an incredibly active 2008, 2009 brought a much-welcomed reduction of pace. I continue to consult in fixed-income processing for SunGard. The credit crisis has presented many opportunities for stress and many changes and challenges among my clients (large domestic financial institutions) but the over-all atmosphere is thankfully on the upswing. My bride continues working part time at a local dental office where her ever-present smile is a delight to all. Brieanna is settling into married life and is a full time college student while also working part-time at our church. Her husband Michael is busy in outdoor servicing and together they live about 20 miles north of us so we still see them regularly. Brandon wrapped-up his four year tenure with Go Ministries where he most recently served as their graphic design director. He is now working full time in that same field. His wife Jenna will be attending college this spring and they live just a couple miles down the road. After spending a year with Go Ministries, Jordon is back at home and is now a full time student as well. He works part-time at B&N and actively volunteers in our church. Mariah is in the 9th grade at MCA. Highlights for her include a staring role in "Your a Good Man Charlie Brown” and making the varsity volleyball squad. The dogs have been a thorn in my side. The youngest has been getting some help from the local dog whisperer but I don’t know if it’s going to be enough to save our relationship. We were grateful to spend our 25th anniversary on Maui. We also spent some time on Perdido Key Florida (including a horrible overnight in the Atlanta airport), Orlando Florida, and an undisclosed north woods location. We also surprised Jordon in Branson, Missouri during his last tour with Go. Several of us were featured in a marketing campaign for a local dental office. I’d never been on a billboard before. It was a lot of fun. I believe the campaign is still running in Mpls St Paul Magazine. Jordon, Mariah and I did our first marathon in October. It was just a Twin Cities 10K but was more than enough to keep these creaking joints moving. I’m looking forward to next year. Rounding-out the year was the fifth annual Scorpion Homecoming, a Go Ministries leadership retreat, camping in West Salem Wisconsin, the Cuyuna Days loon calling contest (which Mariah and I lost), my 30-year high school reunion, and getting skunked for another year of deer hunting. With so many friends and colleagues experiencing layoffs in 2009, it was indeed a time of great challenges, even fear. But I've found God to be faithful in things big and small, and I've been reminded in these times of the things that really matter. I've been blessed with so many trusted and heartfelt friends and my family is a source of great strength, inspiration and even joy. So all told, Starr and I remain very grateful for God’s blessings in 2009 and together we wish you and yours a terrific 2010!

TSO from the fifth row

Enjoy a few TSO highlights. It certainly was an incredible show (especially from the fifth row). I think this is our sixth Trans-Siberian concert. The show is as big as ever, with lots of full motion video integrated this year. Thanks to David and Mary for sharing this special evening with us once again this year. Great to have Jordon and Ashton on board as well.

Smells like a Skunk

In spite of several close-range sightings, this year’s deer opener finds us once again facing a big fat zero. Darn! The weather was glorious…the deer hunting less than desired. We could have bagged a few does, but we are (of course) holding-out for the big boys. Here we are at the hunting shack in our undisclosed north woods location. We had fun as always. Good times as a family…nothing like a memory.

The 10K's of Terror

Well the kid’s and I did it, our very first Twin Cities Marathon of any kind – a 10K. I haven’t run that far since senior year track, circa 1979. We got a very slow 7:30 AM start from the state capital grounds under a frigid drizzle as the 1,800 participants wound their way past the Saint Paul Cathedral and westbound down historic Summit Avenue. Before long the 45 degree temperature was a blessing and not a curse (thank God I was down to shorts and a single-T). Things went smooth at a modest overall 8:36 pace (7.0 MPH), although that return-leg eastbound hill at Summit and Dale darn near killed me. My pre-race goals were two-fold: finish on my feet and beat my children. I certainly did the former (in fact, I think I finished pretty strong past the Minnesota History Center and over the finish line) but I can’t say I beat the kids. Mariah’s ankle problem knocked her out at the two-mile mark (a member of Saint Paul’s finest gave her a ride back to the finish line), and Jordon had equipment problems and had to walk part of the course. All in all, it was more fun than we expected. My kid’s and our biggest fan (Starr of course) were real troopers. I’m proud of you guys!

Do it again? Hmm … it’s tempting. My time of 53:14 is ok (putting me in the 73rd overall percentile) but I’m thinking I can shave-off 5 minutes (particularly if I don’t get caught-up with all the slow-skis at the starting gate). I see that I’m 11 years older than the average TCM runner. Nice to know I can still bust a move with at least some of those youngsters. Check-out a few more photos in my associated Picasa album.

Summer 2009? It’s a wrap.

You know it’s going to fly-by and fly-by it does indeed. Find pictured here summer’s final sunrise from our undisclosed north woods location. Stellar weather, good friends and a growing family of people we actually love has made this perhaps our most memorable summer since 1979 … and that’s saying something.

Look Mom - I'm a billboard!

Together with my father-in-law and son Brandon, we terrorize the south-bound traffic on 494 and Baker Road. I've never been a male model before ... got a free D'Amico and Son's sandwhich out of the deal. Works for me.

30-Year Reunion

I know, it's hard to believe that I'm really that old but I'm afraid it's true. Here I am with my classmates from Crosby-Ironton Class of 1979. All told were are holding-up pretty well. Kudos to the planning committee for a great weekend.

Our lives as loons

For a reason that yet escapes me, my youngest daughter and I found ourselves this day on stage competing in the Cuyuna Range Heritage Days annual loon calling contest. In this action-packed shot, my youngest daughter Mariah displays good form before the throngs gathered in Memorial Park to witness the tense competition. Did we win anything? Well, in the loon world the difference between wining and losing is simply staying alive to eat another fish. On that basis, we find ourselves victorious.

Birthday Field Trip

I go to Saint Paul for one of two reasons, to either take-in a Wild game, or because Saint Paul lies between where I am and where I need to go. Today however I broke with past practice and journeyed across the river to celebrate my beloved's birthday at The Nook (Shamrocks location). Recently featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, one look at that Juicy Nookie through my TV set and I said to my family, "we gotta go there!" The burgers were indeed terrific (I downed a Paul Moliter burger) but the surprise hit was the dry-rubbed Minnesota Wild Wings. Michael and Jordon both swallowed the massive double-decker Nookie Supreme Burger - just dripping in American and Pepper Jack cheese. Hmm ... I just might have a third reason to visit Saint Paul.

A Son Returns

After a year of Go Ministries internship, it's great to have our Jordon back in the fold. He did a great job, learned a lot, and is now ready for college and beyond. Here he is with us after the awards ceremony. Well done young man.

Coulee Region

Since the mid-1990’s we’ve enjoyed an annual weekend away to Wisconsin’s beautiful coulee region. Thanks to Bill and Mariann for the great company and terrific food. Oddly enough, only our Mariah and her friend Mo joined us this year. The nest is indeed growing thin. Pictured here is an early morning shot of Lake Neshonoc from just west of our campground.

Yo Jordon – Surprise!

With our youngest son Jordon on the last leg of his road team internship with Go Ministries, the extended family and I decided to surreptitiously follow him to the great state of Missouri. Here, we found Jordon at the C4C conference in Branson. Great job on the bass son! Highlights included Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Hollywood Wax Museum, Whitewater, Presley’s, Silver Dollar City, Dixie Stampede (of course) and the C4C conference itself (which was terrific). Southern-style meals at Lambert’s, Uptown Café, and McFarlain’s (among others) kept meat on our bones. I’ll always remember those late-night forays to Andy’s Frozen Custard, and Sonic (yum).