I was Wrong

In my last post...
You can have fun and still lose.
Bryan bought his buddies tickets to the Bears game on Sunday. If the weather was nice I would go and if it was crappy out Mike was gonna go. As you all know the weather was perfect on Sunday so I went to the game with my son.
We had a awesome time. I drove in to Bryan's and we took the El downtown and walked over to the stadium. The tickets were in the north end zone with a view of the lake. So while the fans at home were watching commercials - we were looking at sailboats on Lake Michigan.
We stayed to the very last second on the clock like good fans do and then got back on the El. Mary picked us up at Diversey and we headed on over to the Purple Otter and had some food and cocktails. They have the cutest bartender there. :)

Bryan 1991 - Bears vs Washington









Bryan 2009 Bears vs Arizona

It's more Fun when You Win

Friday night I suggested to Sharen that her and Dup join us for a last minute fish fry at the Moose. They have catfish (for Dup) and draft beer.
During dinner a lady comes by and sells me some 50/50 raffle tickets. They have the drawing AFTER the lightning games. Opps - looks like we stay for the 5 games of Lightning. The Dups were OK with this since they like to gamble. Only trouble is they can't buy tickets cause it's for Moose member only.

Used Lightning Cards

I buy 4 cards for the first game and Mike goes and gets another pitcher of beer. We were Not even close. The second game was cover the numbers down the right column. Mike gets one right away. I get nothing so I trade tickets with him. Sharen is not getting any numbers so she is switching with Dup. He starts calling some of our numbers and cards are being switched around the table. I end up with the WINNING card and yell Lighting. Woo Hoo - we win $40.00 (we had to split the pot).
On each game if you win you get to draw a number off a big board and if you guess the right number you win $5,000.
We had a discussion on what number we would pick if we won a game, Mike wouldn't budge off of 11. Turns out he let the lady that won with him pick the number and she choose 33. Loser!
3rd game nothing - The fourth game was the first cover all and Sharen and I knew we were going to win. (OK maybe it was the 5th pitcher of beer). The cards were circling the table and it came down to us needing 2 numbers. 55 & 57. I take the cards and start rubbing it over the table chanting 57, Olin Kruetz, 57, Olin Kruetz and sure enough 57. Sharen grabs the card and spits on it (it worked once before) and the very next number 55. Holy Crap we win again! We had to split the pot again.
This time I went up and Sharen and I decide on 55 the winning number and Mike birth year. I told the lady I wanted to go with 55 since we won on it. Loser!
We did cash in $46 that time and we drank another pitcher of beer or ma bye 2. Who cares? We came out ahead for the night, including dinner.
Yes! It is much more fun when you win!!!!!

RAH! RAH!

Coach Kribs - always keeping an eye on her girls

Hampshire Middle School was looking for a coach for their PonPom squad and Stacy was looking for some Christmas money for the kids so she volunteered.
Mike and I went out to watch her girls preform at halftime of the seventh graders basketball game.


The girls didn't want to look like the cheerleaders so Stacy decided on the long black pants instead of skirts. It's kinda hard to get 20 girls moving in one direction, but they tried and they all looked really cute with the ribbons in their hairs. I have to admit I did not recognize the music, but the girls got their groove on and perform really well.
The boys were playing Harvard and the score at halftime was 30-8 good guys.
All the boys had on the baggie, can't see my knees shorts. Am I the only one that HATES that?
Reminded me of when Bryan's six grade basketball team went to the big Middle school, Abbott, to play. That was the only year Bryan played - luckily I have it on tape. :)

Remembering Payton

The newspapers today all had stories about Walter Payton. I have one too.
When the Bears had their spring training in Platville we took a camping trip up there with the kids. It was Bryan's birthday and we camped in Galena a short trip by car to training camp.

The camp was wide open and we had the run of the place. This was before they put up chained link fences and the only thing that kept us off the fields was just a rope and your own judgment.

We spent the morning watching Walter Payton doing tires and then the ropes. We had taken our new camcorder (it was one of those huge ones that you rested on your shoulder till your arm fell asleep). It was really hot out and I had this great idea that at one point everyone would be thirsty so after taping some of Walter do his stuff on the tires and ropes and some scrimmage plays that the defense was running we settled ourselves near the drinking fountain (which was in the shade too).

Walter and Jim McMahon came over to get a drink and I shouted to them. They were maybe 15 ft away, but I wanted to get their attention for the camera. McMahon took a big drink and spit it out right at the camera and Walter gave a wave and a big wink.
They finished their drink and then Walter ran by us and high fived the kids. Yes, Bryan stood there with his mouth open and I'm sure that made his birthday.
We went back to the camper, had some cake, and spent the rest of the day by the swimming pool talking about the Bears.

FIREWOOD

We took advantage of the warmer dry weather and split some more wood.
These pictures should show everything, except that we worked together as a team for 7 hours straight taking turns lifting, manning the splitters blade, stacking, and burning the bark and rejects.

Before

Mike and Brian moved all of the large pieces (It looked like a scene from the Biggest Loser when Jillian has the contestants moving those big tires watching them trying to muscle those tree trunk pieces)

During

The bark was really wet and once I got the fire started it burned through the night and into all the next day.

After

We really had a good time and will reap the benefits of all our hard work for a few winters to come.

Yardwork

Seriously anyone who wasn't outside on Sunday missed a great day to get things done in the yard.
Mike and I started early with our yard work and then helped the neighbor split some of his tree. Just like when we were little we had to stop and come in because it was getting dark outside.

Before

During

I mulched all the leaves and then I bagged them

After

We still have quite a bit of the tree to split and will probably get to it some time this week if the damn rain will hold off long enough.
It's not easy work and our muscles are sore, but we have a great time doing it and the logs are rewarding during the dark cold winter days. An added bonus - I love the smell of fresh split oak.

Job Done

My one goal this summer was to get our shed painted. I thought I could get this done last week when Mike was gone, but the weather thought different.
On Tuesday we finally got the shed painted. The shed at our house now matches the deck at the Dupplers. Thanks for the paint, Sharen.

Before


During


After