Small World

     We returned home today after spending several days in Brainerd Mn with my side of the family for Thanksgiving.  It was a wonderful time with lots of great food.  I hope I didn't gain too much weight. 

     When we left to head down, we left with 5 new inches of snow in the ground and the first part of the trip was not much fun as the roads were snow covered.  We even had to use the breaks because we found there are still deer around. One safely ran across the road and another turned chicken and ran back.  the second half of the trip was better and by the time we got to Brainerd there was no snow on the ground.

     While there I did some Christmas shopping with my sister hitting the early specials at Walmart.  To get one of the deals I stood in a line for an hour and a half and while standing there I struck up a conversation with the guy in front of me.  What a small world.  Turned out his sister works at Marvin Windows - the same place I work.  Not only that she lives only a few miles from us on the same road we drive several times a week to give either piano lessons or drop off/pick up a child from his job.  It is a small world.

     The next day after doing some more Christmas shopping in the morning, I went with my dad to Pelican Lake where he fishes to check the ice.  After walking out on the ice for a ways we chopped some holes to check ice thickness and found there was a good 4 inches.  Once back on shore we met another fellow who was out checking the ice - his relative (not sure which one) also worked at Marvin Windows and he has often been in the area.  It is a small world.

     I hope you were all thankful this past weekend and that you are thankful everyday - we need that in this crazy world.

Halloween

     Today is Halloween but instead of going trick or treating - we don't really do that, I didn't something crazy or scary or something like that. 

     I got up early and took a trip to Grand Forks with my wife - so she could drive me home after having three teeth extracted. I was put under to do it.  The way I felt after coming to I could have probably drove myself home but you never know so I rode shotgun, and tried to imitate my wife when she sits in the passenger seat and I drive.

     We did stop at McDonalds to get a shake only to find that McRibs are back (my favorite sandwich) so my wonderful wife bought me one - maybe someday I'll be able to eat it.....  As of now, just soft foods.

Rain, Mud and Soccer

     This past Saturday we hosted a soccer tournament in Warroad.  This past Friday and Saturday we received 2.6 inches of rain. You could say it was a very wet, muddy tournament.  To top it off, the temps were barely into the 50's and the wind was blowing. 

     The Junior team - the team I coach took second place and while the seniors took last place, my second boy scored a goal.

Going Out.

Soccer is in full swing with 32 kids on the team but that didn't bring me down on Monday.  Monday at work I passed out.  I guess it had a few people scared.  They decided to take me to the ER to get checked out and turned me into a pin cushion and ran this test and that test and told me I was healthy.  However...

The problem appears to be related to a kidney stone.  I have a big one they said and there appears to be some inflammation around it and my white blood count was up a little. I may have been a little dehydrated as well and when you put it al together, the stone probably tried to move a little - I was feeling it strongly that day, and that could have caused me to pass out.

Once I got home - It was back to soccer practice.

Soccer

     WOW - where has the summer gone.  I've been busy with my new job and now it is soccer season and I must be crazy because I'm coaching again this year and so far we are up to 31 kids on the team 12 of which never played last year.  Our first game is this coming Tuesday.  I hope they are ready.  On the plus side I do have three helpers.