Picture a day.

I have long been a big fan of photography. In college I even dabbled with the thought of still photography as a career.

Jim Brandenburg has been one of my favorite nature photographers ever since I learned who he was. When I was working in TV I was lucky enough to be one of the first journalists to go through his exhibit hall in Luverne, MN. I think his quote to me...something to the effect, "if you can make the Prairie look beautiful in a picture, you can make anything look beautiful." was a challenge to my creative side to try to look around my everyday situation for those beautiful moments.

Brandenburg did this experiment in photography before the boom of digital photography where he took one picture a day for 90 days in the summer in Northern Minnesota. You can view the pictures here.

I have always thought that would be a cool challenge, but I don't have a whole summer to devote to taking 1 shot a day, so I will post a picture a day to my blog. Some will be good, some average, some will be pictures I have taken in the past, some will be as recent as yesterday. Hope you enjoy.

I will post them as I have time, so you might get a couple days in one shot.

The Lake Is Open.

On Saturday night Grandpa Bob brought 3 horses out to the lake so Brecken, Maxim, Cowboy Bob and I could go on a long ride. We rode about 2 miles and the last part of it was along the lake.

Dad asked me if you could still walk on the lake and I had heard that it was still 6 or 8 inches thick so I said yes.

12 hours later you would have to be a bit more divine than I will ever be to walk on the lake, as 2/3 of the lake was open water. By Sunday evening the whole thing was open, and Steph and I were celebrating Spring.

Then Sunday night it snowed.

I need to remind myself I'm in South Dakota.

James Valley's Promo Video.

Here is James Valley's new promo video...you might recognize at least one of the kids in the video of the pre-school.

The Price Of Everything Is Going Up....

This morning on National Public Radio they did their usual economy news. Which is pretty bleak, millions of foreclosures are fore-casted for 2008, the price of gas predicted to go up to $4 a gallon, milk prices, cereal grain prices...etc.

$4 gas is not even a drop in the bucket for what you are about to read...when we were in Phoenix we stopped at a pet store in a mall because they had Whippets, and I totally want one...in about 10 years.

Puppies are crazy expensive in Arizona. A simple black lab puppy, that you have no idea if the parents were field tested or "his daddy was a great duck dog" type statements to back up what kind of dog you are buying, will cost you $2,500! We saw a couple breeds that went for as much as $4,000.

About the same price, with insurance, it takes to have a kid. Not to mention in Arizona you have to buy all sorts of doggy accessories, like diamond necklaces, sweaters and special bowls and a carrying purse if you have a small dog.

I wonder what most Arizona dog owners would think of South Dakota classified advertising for dogs. FOR $200 I CAN GET A FIELD CHAMPION POINTER OR A LAB THAT WILL BE SMARTER THAN A FENCE POST! Where do we sign up?

I have to think the dog ownership in Arizona is behind that of the average Midwest town.

April Fools...

I have to admit that I have some tricks up my sleeve for today. I really like April Fools Day, I think I got the love of practical joking from my Uncle Skip.

He was on us all the time with jokes and pranks, but I think I got him the best, and he has never quite topped the day I put his newer, sharp looking pick-up for sale.

When he lived in South Dakota he was a foreman at a plant and got a good parking spot right in the front of the building, so everyone walked by his truck in the morning. He had people coming up to him all day asking why he was selling his pick-up for such a low price. He'd ask them what they were talking about and tell them his truck wasn't for sale.

It was one of the best jokes I ever pulled on him and it only cost me $4 and a little lost sleep.

Skipper was good about it, and promised revenge...so I waited, and waited and waited. I was always on the lookout for his next prank, but it never came. Finally, I asked him if he was going to pull a revenge prank on me and his answer was, "I just did, you have been so nervous waiting for me to get back at you why did I need to!"

He did the same thing about 4 months ago...he was in town for something and came out to our house to eat...I was late getting ready and knew he would be there at any time so as I was in the shower, I was completely insane thinking every noise I heard was Skipper coming in with a bucket of cold water. He didn't do anything! Which was a better prank than if he would have.

Bad for your wallet websites...good for the economy of some .com

So I have this problem...kind of like video lottery, but I lose a lot less money, and when I do spend money I get something I "really need" in return.

If you look to the right of this blog you will notice some links...Steep and Cheap and Whiskey Militia. I hit these sites at least once a day. Some of the stuff is ridiculous and I would never need it, but sometimes you can score a really good deal on outdoor gear or clothes.

Lately, I have re-found a website I used to hit up a lot, but for some reason it forgot about it...it is woot.com. They usually have electronics, refurbed MP3 players, speakers, computers...etc.

I have bought 2 new MP3 players in the last 5 weeks off of WOOT.COM, and together they have 9GB of memory, one plays video, pictures and music and both together cost less than $70.

The first ever MP3 player I bought about 6 years ago had 64mb internal memory and a card that doubled it!!! I payed $120 for that. So if you wait for a little bit longer you can pick up that 60GB video I-Pod for $50 on some website.

The Robber and Steve Nash with a "ba-ba".

MAXIM THE ROBBER...

So the other night Maxim, Brecken and I were screwing around in our master bedroom and Breck found a nylon stocking...which as I write this I can't think of what would have prompted Steph to actually need to wear nylons...but whatever...it was lying on the floor so I put it on Maxim and about 10 minutes of insanity ensued. I have video that I should post of the 2 boys running around with a nylon stocking over their heads, but I am afraid Children's Social Services would be knocking at our door tonight...here is Maxim's best Nixon impression.

STEVE NASH WITH A "BA-BA"

When we were in Phoenix we watched a lot of Suns basketball and it dominated the local news because Shaq had just been traded there a week or so earlier.

We saw a lot of Steve Nash, and I have always liked him...kind of the same reason I always like Bird...hard working, not overly gifted sizewize, just plays his heart out every night, and he's got cool hair.
After years of not caring about the NBA, I have actually watched a few games this year, basically because it was the only sport in HD that was on TV.

I have to say I am looking forward to the NBA playoffs this year, I can actually tell you the last time that happened. It was the 1996 NBA Playoffs...the year the Bulls went 72-10...my roommate Rahn and I hated Michael Jordan and wanted nothing more than the Sonics to ruin their record year. Chicago won the series 4 games to 2, and Jordan was named Finals MVP. I still don't like him...Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf, Hersey Hawkins, Sam Perkins, GARY PAYTON, and George Karl on the bench...ahhh those were the good ole days.

Anyway, I talked Steph into buying Brecken a Nash jersey...she was so against it, because she hates most jerseys, but she caved in. This morning she put the jersey on Breck and was bragging on how cute he looked.

So just in case, Steve Nash Googles himself today...I thought he might be proud to see some crazy-haired bottle sipping kid from South Dakota was rocking his jersey.

Easter Sunday.

We have been doing this thing before we put the boys to bed where we tell our 3 favorite things about the day. Of course, Brecken just runs around and pays no attention during this very special family time. There are times when it is tough to come up with 2 things, and then there is days where 3 is not enough.

Easter Sunday was one of those days where you added a couple extra things to your list.

Maxim sang in church, and he actually moved his mouth, we were so proud. I have no idea what song they sang now that I think about it, but he did a good job up there, and we have pictures to prove it.

We then went over to my cousin Mary's for Easter ham. Mary is like a cooler more laid back version of Marth Stewart, kind of like Martha without the East Coast snobbery. So I always giver her a hard time about her presentation of the table/meals/home layout...etc. She earned a 9.8 this year. Of course basketball was on so most of us watched Davidson put their Cinderella-magic to work on Georgetown.

Brecken ate a few bites of ham and some potatoes, but his big deal for the day was the amount of candy...in his reach...that could be eaten without parental supervision. He was on a continued sugar buzz for at least 7 hours.

I'm not sure how chocolate and the death/resurrection of our Savior go hand in hand, but believe me...Brecken is glad they do.

The Easter Weasel did stop by Mary's with a load of eggs and the kids ran around looking for eggs with more candy. It took Brecken only 1 egg to discover that if you throw the egg with all of your almost 2 year old might on the concrete it breaks open and the candy spills out and it is free for the taking. (As illustrated in the picture to the right.)

The kids and adults had fun and I think they found all of the eggs.

After the festivities we headed back home. Brecken fell asleep for 30 minutes and when he woke up he was ready for round number 2. We played outside until the sun went down and then grilled hot dogs.

We played a family game of baseball in the front yard...Maxim got a couple of good hits and Brecken cried each time he didn't get to be the batter.

Finally around 9:30 p.m. the sugar wore off and they both crashed.

Actually all 4 of us crashed.

Other People's Pain Is Sometimes Funny...

As most of you know I worked in TV for a number of years, and bloopers were just a part of the job, whether it be your fault or someone else's fault they always made someone laugh...not always us.

Thought you would all like this one...as a couple of what seems like "has been" news reporters go at it right during the live shot.

Easter Weasel.

Cassidy this post is for you.

About 8 or 9 years ago my oldest niece Cassidy lived in Alaska...one Easter they came home to the lower 48. She must have been expecting bunnies, chocolate, and eggs, but for some reason I messed with her and told her I had never heard of the Easter Bunny, but we did have an Easter Weasel.

The folklore goes like this....the Easter Weasel runs around stealing eggs from chickens and colors them then hides them all over, and it is the kid's duty to find them, and the chickens are totally cool with the kids keeping them.

So started a tradition...the tradition of the Easter Weasel.

E-Weasel also likes to eat the ears off of any chocolate bunny given to children of the family on Easter. Grandpa Bob started that one long before Cassidy was born.

So this post is dedicated to the Easter Weasel, or Easter Ferret in some parts of the world...I couldn't believe it when I found 2 pictures of the Easter Weasel on the Internet.

Happy Easter...and by the way this weekend is not a celebration of Spring or about the bunny or the weasel.

Happy St. Patrick & Survey Results

Hey, it's March 17th...whoop-te-O'doooo.

Some of you remember my Halloween posting where I poked some gentle fun at adults who dress up in costumes to go to work. I still think that is stupid...and generally I don't get the hype around St. Patrick's day either...although I am much more tolerant of green wearing folks if Irish-descent.

I must work around too many women...as there is little Leprechauns wishing me a happy spring in plants around the office, green M&M's in candy dishes and today I might be the only one in my wing of the building that isn't wearing some sort of green.

I guess I have been this way since high school...I'm not Irish, I'm not Catholic and the closest thing we have to a Leprechaun in our family is my Uncle Skipper.

So forgive me if I choose to not pretend I'm Irish today. I do hope the Cubs win while wearing green uniforms, and also I hope the Chicago river looks nice...dyed green...enjoy it Aaron and Sheila!

Survey Results:

-62% of you found this website by word of mouth...12.5% because I begged you to come here

37.5% of you visit the website for reasons other than listed in the multiple choice...an amazing 25% come here because of my writing ability and my good looks.

-Only 18% are from the Huron city limits...2 folks do come from Hoth and 1 from Endor.

-Most people considered us friends or relatives...about 54%...only 6.3% thought we were insane.

-Most of you dedicated readers have been reading the site for a year.

-94.3% of you thought the solid rock anchor of the family was someone else besides me.

-An equal number of majority would like to see more long form essays and pictures of Steph

The most loved team from all readers is the Vikings bringing in 28.6% of the votes.

-And J. McCain would win the election, but just narrowly over SMELO-Land weather anchor Jay Trobec...he actually only won by 2 votes...I think if Volesky would be the VP on Trobec's ticket he would win...hands down.

Thanks for playing.

Survey Results...next week.

The 1st ever LOL survey is going well...the results are some what funny and most of the answers I expected.

I'm going to let the survey and the website stew for the weekend and early next week I will release the information.

I feel a bit like Neuman the mailman from Seinfeld..."When you control the mail, you control....information!"

Click below to take the survey...you know you want to!!!

Click Here to take survey

Living On Liquid Survey...the first ever!

So I always have to take surveys with my job asking me how I like this or that, or how helpful this meeting was or this conference could be better with.....

I thought I would spread my pain to the readers of this website with the first ever Living On Liquid survey.

It should only take 5 minutes to do, unless you have a hard time reading, then it might take 12 minutes. The excitement of taking a survey will make the time fly by.

Thanks...Oh yeah, most surveyors say that this information will better help them serve the survey taker...I won't lie to you, there is nothing in this survey that will help anyone!

Click Here to take survey

The best way to put kids to bed.........

Is to make them work/play outside for 7 hours.

For the last 2 evenings the boys have not gone inside until the sun goes down, which has been so nice...they may be a bit on the muddy side, but that's what boys do.

Monday night we played outside with every outside toy we own, it was like Christmas all over again opening up the storage shed where their toys are. They put a couple miles on their electric Jeep, and ran over some small shrubbery and into a couple of trees.

Then I started a fire in the burning barrel and it was ON. Both boys are pyromaniacs! OK, all 3 of us are. We burned everything, including this wooden snowman that Steph told me to throw away the other day...Maxim would have burned the deck if he could have lifted it! We had flames jumping 5 feet out of the barrel.

Last night, with the help of our neighbor and her chainsaw, and my chainsaw which wasn't working very smoothly, we cut up a tree that the utility linemen cut down for us. It was a 40' evergreen that was dirty and annoying...a very pretty tree...in someone else's yard. Maxim and Brecken hauled branches for 2 hours...without complaining! In fact, they asked to help...I'm not sure if they are my kids. By the end of it we had a huge pile of branches that they were jumping into and crawling through.

8pm rolled around and they ate like rabid wolves, then took baths and both went to bed without incident...which never happens in our home.

Thank God for spring!

PHX Update 1.4...the final installment.

Back to reality.

I sat down at my desk this morning to a week of mail, 67 newspapers, about 80 e-mails that I didn't respond to last week, and my coffee mug had some funky mold growing in it. Somehow I was relaxed and didn't notice the time fly by...all of the sudden 5 pm...time to go home...and I actually enjoyed the day.

PHX was beautiful and Steph and I needed some time alone away from everything. I couldn't believe how relaxing it was, even though I had a very full schedule while we were down there.

We came back just in time for winter to be on the way out the door and it looks like spring is right around the corner!

While Steph was in town today the utility came by and chopped down a big evergreen we asked them to cut down, as it was growing into the power lines, the only problem is now I have to clean up the mess! Lucky for me I watched Ax Men on the History Channel last night, and I know how to take care of felled trees, I just need a little bit more equipment and I could start a logging company!

PHX Update 1.3

This would have came a long time ago, but we were having a blast!

We just got back from our 2nd Phoenix Coyotes hockey game of the week...we loved the atmosphere around Jobing.com Arena. The Yotes lost both games we went to this week and the Cubbies lost the game we went to as well. We actually thought about going to the Suns game last night, but decided to hang out downtown right by ASU's campus, and we watched the game...SUNS LOST!

I think the Mayor of Phoenix will ban us from the city.

Anyway, we are ready to come home to see our boys, and get settled back into the cold weather...kicking and screaming.

We will post some pictures and video through out next week.

PHX Update 1.2

Do we have to come home?????

PHX Update 1.1

The Cubs new import from Japan, Kosuke Fukudome, broke out yesterday...a day after being harassed by some bums in White Sox jerseys in right field at HoHoKam Field...the Spring Training homefield for the Cubs. Fuku missed 2 foul balls that he should have had for outs, and also had a very poor day at the plate.

But on Monday, he went 3-for-3, including a solo homer with one out in the third and an RBI single in the fourth. I hope he works out...it was cool when he went to bat everyone chanted "FOOOOOOO".

I might have Steph talked into catching one more game.

We went to a super nice Italian restaurant this evening...Tomasso's...we didn't understand a thing our waiter said for about the first 10 minutes!

Tomorrow we head to our 2nd resort and have most of the day to ourselves.

PHX Update 1.0

This is Steph...and one of the pools on the property of the Arizona Grand Resort. For the record...Steph sat by the pool all day yesterday...she looks really dark. I spent all day listening to speakers...I look really white.

Weather is good the Cubs game was fun.

Will tell you about more later.

Video Friday.

This is video of Maxim helping to retire one of the senior All-Stars banners. The senior is Jared Wold who is a friend of ours, so it was cool that Maxim got to skate his banner.

This is something Stephanie shot...we laughed at Brecken's eyes and mouth...I don't know how he did it, but it was funny.

Phoenix here we come.

10 years...

10 years ago this week Steph was preparing for our wedding...hard to believe we have been married for 10 years.

In that 10 years we have lived in 5 different house/apartments, I have had 4 jobs, we have gone through 8 different cars and added 2 boys to the mix...and I wouldn't change a thing.

On our honeymoon we went to Florida and the Bahamas...we went to a Cardinal's spring training game, laid on the beach and just enjoyed each other. To celebrate our 10th year we are doing the same thing...kind of.

On Sunday morning we are leaving for Phoenix, I have some conferences, and then we are staying a couple extra days for a little time together. We are going to watch my beloved Chicago Cubbies play on Sunday afternoon...I am stoked about that...then throughout the week we will do whatever, and we are also going to watch the Coyotes play the Ottawa Senators (NHL Hockey Game). I got some super good tickets on Ebay.

This trip couldn't have come at a better time, as we are both sick to death of winter, along with everyone else in the upper Midwest, and we are ready for some warm weather. Let's face it...Steph needs a break.

Right now Phoenix is boasting a balmy 80 degrees...perfection.

Grandma and Grandpa Decker are coming to stay with the boys. I feel a little bad leaving them alone with the boys for 7 days, but it will be good for them to hang with their grandparents that they don't get to see a lot.

You might not see a lot of posting on the site for the next week, but I might post some pictures just to give you a feel for what we are doing.

The Zamboni.

"There are 3 things in life that people love to stare at, a crackling fire, a flowing stream and a Zamboni cleaning the ice." - Charlie Brown, Peanuts

"This office needs to be Zambonied!" Me, about 3 hours ago.

I sat down in my office today with piles of junk every where, I started thinking wouldn't it be great if when I left for lunch or the evening a little Zamboni would come out of a garage and sweep up all of my "ice shavings" from the day.

That got me thinking how many times this year I have seen a Zamboni, or if I was in Watertown an Olympia, come on to the ice to give me a clean sheet to skate on.

With reffing and coaching the mini-mites I estimate that a Zamboni cleaned up after me, and a bunch of other skaters about 230 times since October.

Zamboni Facts:
It takes about 12 minutes to flood the ice.
The average Zamboni travels about 2,000 miles a year around the ice rink's surface.
When the Zamboni comes on to the ice it is carrying about 1,200 pounds of hot water.
When finished with the rink the Zamboni is carrying about 1,500 pounds of snow shavings.
A Zamboni travels about 3 miles per hockey game.
The Zamboni made it's Olympic debut in 1960.
The first Zamboni's were built on Model "A" and Jeep chassis.
Zamboni is actually the company name, Frank Zamboni started the company, the actual name is Ice Resurfacing Machine...how boring would it be if we all called it that?

Hockey Season Comes To An End.

Hockey is over...now it is time for SPRING.

Since Steph and I will be in Phoenix for 10 days at the beginning of March my schedule won't allow for me to officiate any of the state hockey tournaments. So I reffed my last hockey game of the year last night.

It was a good year, I only had one really off game where I went into the locker room afterwards and called myself names, and offered myself some new glasses. Otherwise I felt I was always fair but firm.

I actually think being a hockey official prepares you to be a parent to boys. For instance, there are times when you have to hand out punishment, and there are times when you tell them to go ahead and drop the gloves for a little fight....and then step in to curtail the carnage.

Yes, even if it is a mis-match fight between a 5 year old and a 22 month old...sometimes fighting is needed, and the only way Brecken can earn his respect from his older brother.

I'll probably regret writing this in 8 years when one of them comes out of a brotherly-love fight with a broken tooth or black eye, but I know from experience growing up with a sister who could pound me that a lot is learned about life when you are pinned to the ground by your sibling with spit hanging out of their mouth ready to drop it on to your face.

Montana again.

I was in MT all week, and what a crazy one it was in BIG SKY land. Especially in the sky.

On the plane ride from Denver to Bozeman our plane made a crazy hard turn in the middle of what is usually a very straight flight...so I looked out the window and about 2 minutes later saw another plane go screaming past, as close as I have ever seen...I could actually tell it was a Delta plane from the tail markings.

I snowboarded at Bridger on Sunday and the sky was clear and beautiful all day, I rode in a sweatshirt for most of the day.

Then early Tuesday morning...while I was sleeping...a meteor slashed across the Northwest and caught the attention of most people outside at that time in Montana and it ended up crashing in Oregon, you can read about it here or here or watch the CNN report here.




Then on Wednesday night I was in Bozeman for the full lunar eclipse. I was out grabbing some food and I saw these guys looking at the eclipse on the edge of town with a telescope, so I stopped made quick friends with them and looked through their telescope.

It was the best telescope I have ever looked through, not the kind you buy from your buddy for $50 either (T-Meyer), they had that thing so tight on the moon at times you could not see the edges of the moon and they were showing me different areas and locations on the moon. They were from the University and were all in a astronomy students.

I got back long enough to coach hockey practice and pack for tonight's hockey reffing assignments in Mitchell. Steph and the boys are coming with and we are going to have an "I hate winter party" at the new water park at the Comfort Inn...should be interesting to watch B-reck tear the place up!

Dilbert hits home...

If you have been around me for any length of time you know I am addicted to my BlackBerry, well it seems Dilbert is as well. A buddy sent me this cartoon mocking my addiction to checking e-mails...

Regulator Robert...The Final Installment.

Writer's note: Sorry I've been keeping you in suspense...I was traveling. Now where were we...

The bullets piercing the air above and the frozen ground beneath kept bringing him back to reality...he was in a pickle and there was no escape. Any learning his mama ever gave him couldn't apply to this situation, he would have to get out of this one on his own.

He needed to get a better look at his attacker, so he peered over the berm of dirt. He couldn't make out numbers, but it looked like there was more than 2 hombres, and a horseless carriage, or a "car" as some people called them.

Just as he ducked back into the safety of the switch grass poking through the crusty snow another volley of projectiles whizzed overhead.

He yelled again...but the wind muffled his plea.

The shooting had stopped, and he knew they were out of bullets because he had been counting the shots. So he knew he had to take action now. His only way out was to ride right at them while they were reloading, and take them on bare-knuckle-style...he'd have to be fast, and that was Cookie's job.

He looked up at Cookie, that horse had been mighty good to him...he looked him square in the right eye and said, "Are you with me?"

Cookie snorted and stomped his foot as if to say, "TO THE DEATH!"

He stood up and was ready to throw a leg over for the ride of a lifetime....

Just then he heard a slam, then a motor fired up, and the car took off. The cowards were yellow-bellied sap suckers. Running away from the fight they started. Good for them...it saved their life from a cowboy that was set to defend his cattle, his horse, his land and his good name, to the death.

He kept a mental picture of the car, just in case he saw it parked at the local watering hole...he would remember this day forever. A lot of thinking was done in those 20 minutes of human peril.

On the ride back to the ranch he vowed to take better care of his family, to reach out to his preacher-boy son-in-law and ask him about the faith he proclaimed. He would take interest in his sissy-boy son's writings...he would hold that woman of his a little bit longer in the morning, he would start packing his .45 on days in the saddle, and he would become the fastest gun in Central Beadle County...things that matter in this world, things you can hold on to

It became clear to him that day, that his whole life was a preparation for that moment...those bullets flying over his head...after all when he was 8 and digging on a pile of dirt at their homestead, it was his daddy that said, "Leave that pile of dirt alone son, you never know when you'll need a pile of dirt in front of your house."

Funny, a pile of dirt saved his life.

(For the most part this is what happened, I know you are a bit dissappointed with the ending, well in real life I was too...dad didn't even call the cops. If someone shoots at me, you better believe I'm calling the cops, and my dad.)

The End.

Regulator Robert...continued.

Writer's note: I'll admit I didn't know this would turn into an epic blog-novel...I actually got bored while writing it the first night and just left it as a cliff hanger. The next installment was going to be the last, and then I saw how insane it drove Verlie that I didn't write anything for about 3 days, so that gave birth to the epic it has become. (This is a good thing because my real life has been super routine lately.)


KA-ZZZZZING!

"Bullets make sounds in the air," was one of the thoughts running through the cowboy's head as he ran his trusty steed Cookie the last 40 meters.

The other thought was, "what is going on here?". "Have I wronged someone that's looking for revenge, have I been mistaken for wild game, is someone looking to take my horse." When you don't have a known enemy or arch nemesis it is hard to know what puts you in predicaments like this.

Finally he made it to cover...he had some time to clear his head and think about his next step. He tried yelling.

"Hey, quit shooting at me!"

"Hey, there is people out here!"

His voice was cracking with fear like a 14 year-old boy going through puberty...but he couldn't help it.

"Why are you shooting?"

"I have a wife and kids."

"Please...let me live!"

KA-ZZZZZZING...another shot.

The wind was strong and blowing from the Noreast, causing his pleas for help to rush away in the wrong direction with the dust and blowing snow.

The gunman was a good 300 meters away or more. He wondered if he could fashion an old style sling shot out of his saddle's flank cinch and some latigo strapping. He had seen a moving picture show about David and Goliath one time and he was pretty sure he could fling a rock a couple hundred feet or more at his attackers.

KA-ZZZZZING....KAZZZZZZZING....KAZZZZZZZING.

They were really bearing down on him now.

The crafting of a Biblical era slingshot seemed like his only defense in case this came down to a fight, but the thought of wrecking $80 worth of tack to throw a rock to save his own life seemed too expensive...so he sat there...like a gopher trapped in his hole. He got mad at himself for being so cheap.

If only he would have brought his unwired communication device along on this ride he could have called the sheriff for back up. That piece of technology too was not within his reach...just like the old gunfighter's Colt .45 and it's custom made holster.

He had to sit and wait for the fight to come to him...or did he...

(To be continued.)

Regulator Robert....continued.

Writer's Note: Sorry I made you wait a few days before part 2. I had a lot of media requests for interviews last week with the Super Bowl and all.

PART 2:

Cookie was one of those horses that only comes around once in a lifetime...enough speed to catch the fastest calf, shoulders with the strength of a Lebanon Red Cedar, his eyes as keen as the Red Tailed hawk, ears like whitetail deer, and a heart like that of Mother Teresa, Ghandi and a little bit of Mike Tyson...in case there was a need for a fight.

The old cowboy trusted this horse, and that's why he talked to him, "What do ya hear? Trouble?"

Just then something whizzed past the old cowhand's head.

Now having never served in the military, due to a knee injury he sustained during a caber tossing competition while he was on a cowboy exchange program in the Scottish Highlands, he didn't recognize the sound right away. But it only took a split second for him to know this was trouble, of a serious nature.

He had been in tight situations before, like the time he had to smote his brother for eating the last of the cookies on HIS 9th birthday. The 10 mile trail ride with his grand daughter where their only rations were a can of soda and some sunflower seeds. The church league softball game where a baserunner didn't slide into home like required...the old boy floored him and kicked some dirt in his general direction, instagating the first ever bench clearing "rubarb" in Huron Church League Softball history. The run in with Campus Security at a college library, and the day he and his family almost came to blows with the overzealous owner of a golf ball driving range at Lake Okoboji. He was always a peaceful man, unless pushed.

There was an inner beast waiting down deep in his soul, the beast was there, just waiting for the message to rip off his shirt to show his chiseled pectoral muscles and defend his honor...this was one of those times.

Staving the urge to rip his shirt off, he refocused his attentions.

Was it what he thought?

Then it happed again...ZING.

Some FOOL was shooting at him.

The days of always carrying a gun had been long gone for this cowboy. He quit leathering a loaded piece 'round about the time when his trusty sidekick "Brother Phil" put a slug of lead into his own leg.

After that mishap and almost losing Phil, his most trusted human friend, the gunfighter image quickly wore out it's welcome. He dropped the "Bob-a-louie-guts" moniker right beside his 9-shot pearl handled .22 pistol and it's holster.

He would be a cattle man, not a gunfighter, but he never could quite walk away from his gunfighter past. He did it now for competition. Wax bullets shot at an old street sign. The people called it Cowboy Fastdraw, and it was the only way to harness the beast within, as the new era of society didn't look kindly on those who packed iron.

So this day, as like most days, his trusty Colt .45 was sitting in his house. Just when he needed it most, he had left it behind. There was no fight to be had from his end, just flight.

Quickly he surveyed the area. There isn't much cover in these parts. The tree belt was to thin and there was a chance for a stray bullet to make it through the maze of branches. He noticed a dried out dugout stock dam, pulled the reins on his horse and dropped his spurs into the breast of the horse for action.

Cookie, being the brains of this operation, was already thinking the same thing. Just make it to that cover, before we take a piece of hot lead in the flesh. He turned tail and ran, like Barbaro, without the broken leg.

Then another shot rang out...KA-ZZZZZING...just over their heads.

Only 87 meters from safety...but could they make it in time.


(To Be Continued)

Regulator Robert...Epic Lamour style.

It dawned on me this morning that I hadn't blogged about a great story that happened over the weekend.

If you have read this blog you know my dad was born about 150 years to late. He would rather head cross-country in a covered wagon or on a horse with his 6 gun on his hip. He has a love of all things of the Old West.

With a break in the freezing cold temps last Sunday he took one of his horses out for a ride near his "ranch", and that's when it got "western"....and now I will get L'Amour-ish.................................

There he was, just a lone cowboy on the prairie, a few miles due East of the James River Valley, or as the locals called it...The Jim.

It was a regular day for this ranch boss, checking on his horses and longhorns as the January wind nipped at his life-weathered face. He turned up the collar of his ranch coat, and pulled his silk scarf a little bit higher on his neck to block nature's attack. His hands, dried and cracked from hours of hard labor, needed no gloves. Time had turned them into iron.

It was turning into a long winter on the flat and desolate plains, the cold seemed colder, the nights seemed longer and the warm company of his fine wife made it harder to force his beaten and scarred body out of bed in the mornings. This is the kind of winters that Laura Ingalls would write about, or as the native Sioux called this time of year...The Moon of the Popping Tree.

It entered his mind, that this might be the last season on the ranch, time for a younger to take over. But he knew, in his family, he was the last of his breed.

His daughter's husband was a preacher-man in the plains of Kansas, a good man with a great heart, but his thin build and feeble back was not cut out for the work of a ranch boss.

His only son, the last hope for the family ranch was a writer...a sissy-boy by his account. More content to prose, and to wax on with a pen and paper. That mama's boy couldn't even pull a calf on a sloppy March day or sack out a 3 year-old gelding for it's first saddle. Where did he go wrong with that one, he would often think. Knowing full well that a life on the ranch was a hard one. He didn't wish on anyone, but it made him proud to see all that he had, right there on those acres of his life.

Times had gotten harder in the last few seasons...commodity prices on the rise and the invention of GPS driven combines had made the dirt farming folk successful. That new fangled technology never did serve the cowboy well.

So then and there, on the back of that dun gelding with the sunlight warming his work-widened back, he decided to plod on, as long as his body could handle it, he would run this ranch. If his brother-in-law the banker had to come reposses it out of his unwilling hands, or if he died in these pasture lands...well, all the better. That's how his daddy went and that's how he would go, working his craft right to the very end.

He continued to ride that Sunday through some naked trees, and shrubary, he noticed rabbits, a few deer tracks and antler rubbings, things you notice when you are in tune with nature, and one with the land.

His attention came on an old busted off pine tree, and a smile creased the cheeks of his wind-whipped face. He and Penny used to share many a summer picnic under that old pine, good memories. That pine was a stoic beauty until the storm back in '05. Ice came down so hard almost every tree in the area broke in some way. Just another story of his survival.

Just past the fall tree of memories was a clearing, his trusty horse Cookie stepped out of the belt of trees and his ears perked.

The old cowboy noticed.

"What's that, boy? You hear something?"

(to be continued)

Happy Birthday to Steph...

My coffee guzzling wife is celebrating her birthday today.

For the longest time...well, up until 2 years ago, I couldn't remember when my wife's birthday was...January 30th or the 31st. So I would either sneak a peak at her driver's license or just give her a present on the 29th...to cover the next couple days.

It's funny how if you get something in your head once, and it's wrong...how hard it is to change it. I have since programmed my wife's actual birth date into my BlackBerry so I don't forget or miss it.

Grandma is going to handle the boys tonight...believe me that's about all you can do is HANDLE...So tonight we will celebrate her big day at some exotic restaurant in The Fair City. I was thinking Phoebe's, but someone told me it closed a few years ago, so I'll let her decide.

I must say I got her a pretty rad gift, tickets to Phoenix in March...I have some work conferences and I have never taken her when I do stuff like this so I am parlaying her birthday and our anniversary into one big gift. We are staying at 2 different high end resorts, and she can't wait to sit by the pool in the desert. We will also take in a Cubs spring training game and a Phoenix Coyotes game...and yes, she is excited about going to watch the Cubs and the Coyotes. I'm sure she'll shop for a few hours as well.

That being said, Happy Birthday, Steph...January 30th, I finally got the right day.

MARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A broom is drearily sweeping
Up the broken pieces of yesterdays life
Somewhere a queen is weeping
Somewhere a king has no wife
And the wind, it cries...Mary
-Jimi Hendrix, The Wind Cries Mary

So yesterday it was around 50 degrees as Maxim and I walked into the hockey rink for practice...we joked with some others that Spring was coming early. When we left, completely under dressed for what was beyond the doors, the wind slapped me on the face and we ran for the car.

This morning with the wind chill factor...it's close to 35 below...that's an 85 degree swing! I think I can truly say, I don't mind humidity, extreme heat, snow, below zero temps or spring days when it is 73...but I hate the wind. I have never liked the wind. In the summer it makes my lake choppy, my golf ball fly in directions I don't want it to go, in the winter it makes the cold...colder. I can't think of one good thing the wind does for me.

With the exception of wind generated power, I have no use for wind. Even windmills work better with a slower wind speed. So I am pushing for a law to keep the wind speed limits to under 13 mph.

The coolest thing today was that the DJ of the station I was listening to played an old Jimi Hendrix song that I hadn't listened to in a while, and it completely made sense that he played it today...THE WIND, IT CRIES...MARY...

Quite Possibly The Worst Animated Movie Ever Made.

Ironically the toys I played with as a kid are experiencing a comeback of sorts...Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Justice League Super Heroes and Transformers. Star Wars, Justice League and G.I. Joe never really went away and Transformer is fueled by the success of last year's very well done summer block buster.

Maxim loves the new movie, and so we decided to pick up the original full length animated movie from 1986. I couldn't have been prepared for how brutal this movie was. The plot was impossible to follow, some of the characters were impossible to understand and Optimus Prime gets killed off half way through the movie. The main reason kids loved Transformers and now he's dead!

Did I mention the soundtrack...the theme song is sung by a knock off band that sounds like Stryper and Weird Al Yankovic's song "Dare To Be Stupid" even makes an appearance during one of the fight scenes.

There were scenes where Steph and I would look at each other and be completely confused with what was going on. You could totally tell it was Hollywood trying to make some quick money off of the TV series...and it probably worked.

With that said, Maxim loved it. I have a feeling I will have to sit through parts of it again before we have to take it back to the rental store...the saving grace of the movie was that the disc was scratched and we got to skip through about 20 minutes of boredom.

10 meals.

I had a buddy ask me, "If you could eat 10 meals with living people...not relatives or close friends...who would make your list?"

So here is my list:

10. Chris Sharma...the zen master of rock climbing
9. Rob Bell...great man of faith and writer.

8. Ty Murray...rodeo legend.

7. John Stewart and Steven Colbert...from the Daily Show with John Stewart, and from the Colbert Report...TV's most trusted fake news shows...I'd roll them into one meal.

6. Tony Hawk...Skateboard and action sports legend

5. Bono...U2's front man

4. Sean Penn...I know a little strange to see him so high on my list, but I have seen a couple of interviews with him and I think he would be a good meal partner.

3. Wayne Gretzky...sorry Paul Coffey, you are in my top 20, but The Great One beats you out here.

2. Matt Lauer...NBC anchor...will go down in history as one of the best

1. Bishop Desmond Tutu...I interviewed him while he was in SF a while back...I got 15 minutes with him and wanted 2 more hours.

So there without a ton of thought put into it...that is my list...I am sure I could do the same list tomorrow and have about 4 or 5 changes.

Your job...go to the post comments section and put your top 10 in.

Napoleon Dynamite

I still laugh when I see anything that has to do with Napoleon Dynamite...the first time I watched it was during a holiday break with my brother-in-law and my dad at like 12:30 am. We were quite punchy and laughed really loud. I think G-ma Pen told us to quiet down about 4 times.

I was sent a link to an advertisement that the Utah State Fair used a couple years ago. Super funny.

Hockey Rituals

A couple nights ago in the coaches locker room a buddy and I were talking about hockey rituals...things we do prior to stepping on the ice, whether it be playing, coaching, reffing or just skating.

Some of the things I do I have no idea why I started them, but I still do them today.

Here is the list:

Most important is my number always number 7, (Paul Coffey's number) although my freshman year of college I had to be 14 for the first year, because a senior already had 7...so I went with the sum of two number 7's.

I also write the number 7 on my stick handle, and the bottom of my skates.

White tape on the blade of my stick...because Paul Coffey did.

My shin pads are always super tight to my legs, either with tape or "shin-tights"...can't stand floppy shin pads.

I dress left to right...left skate, right skate.

Helmet is never buckled when I step on the ice.

Maybe the most important ritual that I do is "the spit"...when I step on the ice I step on with one foot and push off with the other and before that skate touches the ice I spit on the ice...it's my way of becoming one with the ice. I have taught Maxim that ritual as well, and my buddy asks Maxim every time he sees him on the ice if he has spit on the ice yet.

The other ritual in college that I used to abide by was pre-games I would eat at Subway...6" club on white...now every time I eat one of those sandwiches...I think of hockey.

I'm so hungry for Subway right now!

My next shotgun.

Pheasants and ducks beware...I'm getting this for next season.

Spelling Words On A Calculator.

I think my buddy Dale in 2nd grade first showed me that you can spell the word "hell0" on an upside down calculator...there were a few words that our 2nd grade minds could come up with as well.

Yesterday in a meeting a friend spelled the word "shell.oil" on his calculator and showed it to me...so I got to thinking how many words can you spell on an upside down calculator???

Of course on the net we find a host of websites...this one was the best.

You are welcome for this useless knowledge from Living On Liquid.

Frozen Fun.

This is some video of the boys enjoying winter ON the lake...too much snow for skating...I think Brecken's cheeks and nose were red for 3 hours after we came inside.

Explain This!

South Dakota Barbies To Hit The Shelves Soon

My buddies and I had fun with this chain e-mail a few weeks ago and I thought I would share it. It seems the folks at Matel are making a few new Barbies for '08 to fit the stereotypes that our major cities of South Dakota have developed over the years...enjoy.


Sioux Falls Barbie:
This queen Barbie is sold only at Macy's. She comes with an assortment of Chanel Handbags, a Volvo, a French poodle named Charisse, and a Lincoln County McMansion. Plastic surgery available upon request. Hey, she has to look beautiful when she works at KELOland TV. CitiBank Ken sold separately, but don't tell Barbie that Ken has an apartment in Sioux Falls' slum suburb Tea! Sold at all shops in beautiful downtown Sioux Falls and by street peddlers along the Phillips' to the Falls city namesake.


Rapid City Barbie:
This tough little sport comes with optional hiking boots or mountain bike. When she's not selling magnets at Mount Rushmore, she can be spotted off-roading in her Jeep Wrangler or running on the Mickelson Trail. Inhaler included to give relief during forest fires. Buy her while you can because Ken works at Ellsworth and might be getting transferred!

Spearfish/Hill City Barbie:
This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, no makeup and always wears Teva or Chacco sandals. She prefers that you call her Ocean . She does not want or need a Ken doll. Sold at the Sylvan Lake gift shop.

Aberdeen Barbie:
This "Frost Queen" comes with an entire winter wardrobe! Her parka can be modified to use as hip waders for the 10" spring rains that flood the downtown area. She drives a Grand Am, wears Lee Jeans and works out at the YMCA. Package includes a psychologist for seasonal depression. She comes with a Ken Doll and 4 kids that love to play at the Barbie Waterpark and Storybook Island playsets. Sold exclusively during the Brown County Fair.

Vermillion Barbie:
This young, hip girl ended up at the Division 2 school because her ACT wasn't good enough to get her into SDSU. She actually comes with her own pepper spray to fend off campus predators. Her USD sweater is made of real wool and her '97 Cavalier gets great mileage between the Empire Mall and Vermillion. Available DakotaDome play set with purchase of makeup. College Ken doll sold separately with broken cell phone... he never seems to calls back. Sold exclusively at the Shrine to Music Museum gift shop...how else would you get folks to visit.

Mitchell Barbie:
This brassy, tobacco-chewing gal comes with camouflage overalls, Cabela's Credit Card, and a rifle. She can be found just north of town shooting pheasants and drinking an ice cold brew. Cabela Ken available with purchase of Chevy Silverado and Congo Club play set. Sold only during tourist season on the basketball court of the Corn Palace.

Brookings Barbie:
This modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Einspahr Ford Windstar Minivan or uber-exotic Honda Odyssey Minivan with matching stay-at-home velour Wal*Mart sweats. She knows she has it so much better than her sister-in-law in Sioux Falls, after all Brookings has 3 malls...if you count the Brookings AutoMall. She gets lost easily while taking Stacy to her soccer games, due to the remarkable numbering of both avenues and streets in Brookville. Thanks to the Campanile she can find SDSU. She has no full-time occupation other than the PTA. Ken doll sold with matching Daktronics company car. Sold at Lowe's.

Sturgis Barbie:
This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, leather chaps, and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) ...unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about. Harley sold separately along with deadbeat Ken. Jail uniform available with purchase of Mobile Home play set. Sold at City Hall.

Huron Barbie:
This model comes dressed in her own Cruel Girl jeans, a NASCAR or Dakota State Fair Speedway t-shirt and Care Bears tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud light and a Johnny Cash CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and out-worked all the other guys on the "turkey wing cutting line" at Dakota Provisions. Push down on her head and watch her karate action kick mullet-haired Ken's butt when they leave The Red Arrow. Purchase her Schoenhard Ford dually F-350 pickup truck separately and get a #3 Earnhardt with angels' wings bumper sticker absolutely free. Sold at Humphry's Drug and Lewis Drug.

Deadwood Barbie:
She may be a 75 year-old, Brandy drinking, Virginia Slim smoking cuss, but she has more audacity than Calamity Jane. She listens only to Big and Rich. She just got out from Gambler's Anonymous and needs to get rid of some spare change. Deadwood Barbie has an "aces and 8's" tattoo on her wrist, and can be found in a "Saloon #10" t-shirt at the Monday night "Kevin Costner Fanclub" meeting just down the street from Cadillac Jack's Prime Rib Buffet. Ken comes free, but is usually working two jobs to keep a roof over their head. Sold only at the house of the really super tall guy that dresses like a cowboy and walks up and down main street.

Pierre Barbie:
She comes with scooter and a state employee ID card, bowling ball, pool stick and dart case. Khakis can be rolled into capris for social events at the RamKota. Ken available with purchase of fishing boat. Sold only at DakotaMart

Lake Byron Barbie:
This beautiful Byron babe is sold exclusively at Fowl Play Bar and Grill. When not chasing around two young sons, or wakeboarding, she can be found polishing up her skills with her AK-47 which she might soon use on Toolman Ken if he doesn’t get the house finished soon. Gun sold separately. No assembly required.

(Cousin Erkel added the Lake Byron one after the fact, and Steph loved it)

10,000 hits on this site!

Just about 7 months ago we celebrated our 1,000th visitor to the Living On Liquid site. (Almost 100% sure Uncle Skipper tipped the tally to 1,000) Today we celebrate our excess of 10,000 visitors to the site. Ironically the 10,000th hit also came from cox.net in Garden City, KS. I'll let Uncle Skip, Kent or Kim fight out who the 10,000th visitor was, but I put my money on Skip.

When you think about it in the historical presence, size and advertising to readers ratio terms, more people are reading my blog than the Daily Plainsman. Maybe I should hire R-Kasa to write for me.

Last weekend, to celebrate the 10,000th hit to the site I reffed 9 hockey games in Pierre...which translates to 21.5 hours in skates, 27 periods of hockey, 459 minutes of regulation hockey, 4.5 minutes of overtime hockey, I called about 130 penalties, 150 icings, 75 offsides, and told 1 coach to take me off of his Christmas card mailing list.

I once read that one hour of moderate to casual ice skating is like running for an hour at 4.5 MPH because of the total body involvement during skating...I think I got my cardio workout in this weekend...missed the wife and boyz, and a lot of good football on TV though.

My Other Hockey Player.

I think for everyone there is a few pictures that define your childhood.

My folks have a couple of them...one is a picture of me in my full cowboy gear, chaps, hat and all. I was "Larry Mahan". Every ounce of me, back then thought I was going to be a world champion bull rider...that dream was shattered when I got sick of the pain and losing money.

I also have a great one when I was about 5 or 6 in my hockey gear, mouthpiece and all, right there on the gold shag carpet of the living room. Those pictures are priceless.

I got the same feeling when I saw this picture Steph took of Brecken...in his brother's hockey gear, ready for the puck to drop. Can't help but think this is one of those pictures you go back to enjoy in 15, 20 and 30 years down the road.

National Treasure II

As many of you know National Treasure II is in theatres right now. Some of the filming was done at Mt. Rushmore and my favorite place to climb, Sylvan Lake. I got an e-mail today from a friend of mine Daryl Stisser who owns and operates Sylvan Rocks Climbing School.

Their crew was asked to guide the film crew to the rocks that overlook the lake, and they also did some safety work for the crews on top of Rushmore. They took a boat load of pictures and here is the link to check them out....

Happy New Year, by the way...enjoy the night of festivities and a day of football tomorrow.

I will blog on!!! and...End of the Year Awards

Ok, I will admit it...I think this happened a few months ago and it happened again...I had a notion of ending the blog.

But after last night I realized my place in life, and this 5 minutes a day I spend rambling on about my life and our family life events, in a way keeps our family and extended family closer.

Last night we had a post-Christmas party at my folks' house with my dad's sisters and their kids. After a while the talk turned to Living On Liquid, the laughs were hearty, and inside jokes about stories and comments on the website came out for all to enjoy.

I had a warm-fuzzy feeling to know that a little something I do keeps our family connected, I guess I am the family journalist...with the world wide web as our newspaper.

The end of the year always brings awards, top 10 lists and Best Of lists...so here is the awards from the Living On Liquid staff.

Most loyal Living On Liquid Visitor: After much debate Aunt Gloria wins this award...she told us there are only 3 websites she visits...Living On Liquid and the 2 funeral homes in our town. Yes, Debbie Downer gets her fill of family news and then heads on over to Welter's site to see who's dead! (Notice the 2 new hot links on the right hand side of the website to make things easy for Auntie Glo!) Honorable Mentions: Sally, Skipper and Verlie (Skipper and Verlie would have won this award but thier wives don't let them post comments for fear of hurting my feelings...come on guys start dishing it out again, we miss you!)

Best Fake Injuries Sustained Through False Reporting On This Website: Grandpa Bob...a blown out knee from caber-tossing gone wrong, and a nose injury from prize fighting on the East Coast...both injuries sound way more rad then how they actually happened...thanks for the artistic leeway, dad. Honorable Mention: Shaki the cat...who my mom almost successfully crushed with their 2,000 lbs. garage door...don't worry Shaki, Maxim has his Sunday School teachers praying for you and Grandma Penny!

Most Frequent International Visitor: Amber K. wins this one hands down...it's always nice to see that Uganda has Internet access. Honorable Mention: The Korean spamer that had Aunt Gloria convinced that all of our computers are now in the hands of Kim Jong-il.

Best Picture Posted: At Sally's request, my 2nd grade picture with the hemp necklace, velour shirt, stocking cap hair and a half-stoned look on my face...funny thing is...I look the same today, minus the 2nd grade innocence.

Best Linking Site To Living On Liquid: Minus Car Project...I get more outside the family visitors from this site than any other site. Mike is the man when it comes to blogging and saving the Earth...also takes a pretty good picture with the sweaty drummer from MeWithoutYou...good times.

Best Comments Posted: Aaron S...he posted the comment that shocked the Internet world after I lost my stupid dog in a sleet storm earlier this fall. Exactly 17 minutes after he posted it his mom called him to yell at him for being so mean to me. In all reality he was quoting lines from one of our favorite Adam Sandler movies and I was laughing with Brent as A.J. was getting chewed out. Aaron, may God have mercy on your soul! Honorable Mention: Skip and Verlie...this tag team - dynamic duo of retirees used to rip it up on the "post comments" section, but now have been shut down by their wives...I guess we know who wears the pants in those relationships!

Most Played Musician During Posts: Jack Johnson...I can't seem to figure out my Last.FM scrobbling tool all the time and I have a feeling Jack would have lost out to Eartha Kitt singing "Santa Baby" over the last few weeks, but here's to Jack!!! I am counting down the days to February when the new album drops...maybe an invite to the CD release party in Hawaii???

Visitor # 1,000: January 21, 2007 we tripped the "hit counter" over 1,000 here at Living On Liquid and I am almost 99% sure, Uncle Skipper was the 1,000th visitor...congrats. For being number 1,000 I invite you to go to the Living On Liquid webstore and buy yourself a new t-shirt. By the way we are nearing 10,000 hits! Can we do it before 2008? Only you can decide.

Most Controversial Post: July 20th's Harry Potter blog. I completly went off that day...I think it was some of my best work. BUT...I must have stepped on toes, because I was approached by an older friend who said a person came up to him with concerns about my blog and my beliefs.

They were a little miffed about my statement:

"Will the books challenge people's beliefs, thoughts and faith? Maybe not, but I hope so.Will it cause people to face the reality of darkness in the world, ie...in magic, wizards, demons and the occult? Maybe, and that's a good thing in my eyes...when is the last time any church had a 4 week session on demon possession? Never, but it still happens, and we sweep it under the rug.

Maybe because it is a powerful thing, and most of us are ill-equipped to deal with it's depth, mentally and spiritually. It's much like faith healing or speaking in tongues...oooooh, I stepped on some Mennonite toes there, yes I believe that God still preforms miracle healings, and I also believe Christians still speak in tongues."

I still stand by my statements, as my Bible still has those stories listed in the text.

Biggest News Story On Living On Liquid During 2007: The Great Flood of May. If I would have had a 3rd son I would have built an ark...I just didn't think we could get it done without a "Japheth". We got 10" in a couple days...then there was the infamous pontoon boat landing on our "shores". Finally 8 months after the event, the insurance company did what insurance companies are supposed to do...pay you for losses. Honorable Mention: House remodel completion...actually there is still some more to do, but that is a bad subject with the CEO of the family, and we won't bring it up...if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

Most Blogged About State: You would think the 605 would be the hands down winner here, but I guess I have a crush on Montana. Final score of posts about states...Montana 8, So-Dak 5, Idaho 2. Sorry Gov. Rounds...I guess I need a little more kick back from the Dept. of Tourism this year.

Best Guest Blogger: Cousin Brent...I think he did it from his BlackBerry in an airport all about airport travels! Thanks for giving me a break from the writing that day! By the way you will see some of Brent's work this New Year's Eve...when the ball drops in Times Square...you will see an ANHEUSER-BUSCH sign in the background...that's his project!

Finally MVP of Living On Liquid: My wife* and kids, there is no way I could put up the stats that I do each night without their help...they are the lifeblood of this blog, and without them I would have nothing to write about. However you might notice there is an asterisk by my wife's name...as she was listed in the Mitchell Report for using HGH and The Clear during the '06 season. But how else could she have got through almost a full year without a working kitchen!

Special thanks to Whiskeymilitia.com and Steepandcheap.com for making Christmas shopping for presents to myself and others easy...thanks to Wikipedia.com for giving descriptions to obscure references to readers during my posts...thanks to basec.net for still offering slow Internet dial-up connections to those of us who can't get a cable modem and don't want to pay $130 a month to a satellite Internet provider...special thanks anyone who comes to this site for a break from their busy days...Happy New Year for the gang at Living On Liquid.

Playing with the presents.

One of my favorite things about Christmas has always been playing with the presents, either that I received or now...the cool stuff my boys get.

Video games, action figures, Legos (that I put together), dinosaur bones (that I put together), remote controlled cars (That I ran the batteries out of), Nerf guns (That I shoot Steph with), we got it all this year, and it has been a blast.

My sister who is a great gift-giver sent Maxim a pair of snowshoes. Maxim had no idea what they were for, but last night we strapped them on and went on a little expedition.

After a couple of faceplants in the front yard, he relearned how to walk...Then he wanted to go down to the lake to walk on the ice. So I piled Brecken in the sled, and great Beadle County Explorer Maxim, Brecken and their trusty sled dogs, Annie and Lily ran all over the snow-covered ice of Lake Byron.

There was some pretty heavy fog so it was really cool, as you couldn't see more than 200 feet in front of you. Steph came down and joined us...and laughed at Maxim when he would get his feet tangled and land in a pile...GREAT GIFT AUNT SALLY!

The other thing Steph and I love to do in the winter, is grill...she threw a pork loin on the grill and while it cooked, Brecken wanted to play on the swing set. The slide is a lot more fun when you land in a pile of snow at the end of it.
Our next door neighbors, who totally spoil our boys, brought over the boy's Christmas present. A bird feeder that looks like a log cabin, and a year's supply of bird food. We can't wait to hang it up and see all the birds that come to the lake. Last night I saw a huge Bluejay, so maybe we can get him to stop by our new birdhouse when we put it up this weekend.

My Christmas Slideshow 2007

Omaha's Henry Doorley Zoo!

We had the place to ourselves...the boys loved the aquarium and the primates.

Oh yeah, and the Roadrunner that, "Almost killed Maxim!"

We spent almost an hour watching the orangutans...we were the only people there.

Maxim was teasing this guy and then he jumped at the window and scared Maxim off the bench he was standing on.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Uncle Jay and Aunt Angie's. The house was never quiet and the Amazing Pizza Machine was a sensory overload!

This is Uncle Jay feeding Brecken candy sprinkles straight out of the dispenser...Brecken loves his Uncle Jay.
Sunday sledding at Jay and Angie's...Avery won the award for loudest scream.

Christmas morning opening presents....right here Maxim is thinking, "Yes!!! Slippers!!!! just what I wanted Grandma!" He wore them all afternoon. Brecken with his adult present opening helper Grandpa Bob.

It's about 12:30 in the afternoon here and notice Grandpa is already yawning.

He and Brecken both took naps.
All in all it was a great Christmas, one of the best that I can remember...with that said, I don't even remember last year's Christmas.

Just in time for Christmas...

The folks here at Living On Liquid know shopping for the right Christmas present is tough, so this Holiday season, get that loved one...or not so loved one, the gift that says..."Yes, I was bored enough to find this website!".

Living On Liquid invites you to check out our apparel and hard goods at our Internet store located here...http://www.cafepress.com/livingonliquid

This is the design on all of our custom items...check back frequently as we will be adding more items!

New Shoes Make You Go Faster!

When I was a kid...17 and under...I never understood why my dad would get up each morning and run 3 miles...rain, sleet, snow or bitter cold. He would just bundle up and beat the street.

Those of you that know my dad know he is famous for an extremely bowed-out leg with no cartilage on the knee, an old caber-tossing injury he sustained while working on a goat milk dairy farm in the Scottish Hilands. After the medieval-type surgery he was left with a bone on bone arrangement that couldn't have been comfortable to run on...but he did it anyway.

Now that I am older and wiser I realize why he ran...much the same reason that Forrest Gump ran...because you escape when you run. Nothing else matters except the next step...it is refreshing and calming.

I run 3 miles a day 5 days a week, sometimes more. So I am your average "jogger". Oh yeah, the other reason I run, is because I eat like a pig. I was tying up my shoes the other day and noticed how broke down they were from running, and it dawned on me that I have been running in the same shoes for over a year and a half...so it was time to retire them to the lawn mowing pile of shoes.

On Wednesday I replaced my old Salomon XA Pro's with a new pair of Adidas Bounce's. I felt like an 8 year old with new kicks! I felt like I was floating on air and running so much faster. It was like running was new again.

I can't help but remember the time I got a pair of KangaROOs I felt like the coolest kid in the town and always had a couple of quarters in each hidden pocket, and I could jump in those 'ROOs.

New shoes haven't changed, they still make kids, and BIG kids, go faster and jump higher. Maxim has some black Chuck Taylor All-Stars that are completely rad, and his first comment was, "See how high I jump, dad?"

Little did he know both of his grandpas probably said the same thing about the same shoes about 50 years ago. Makes me wonder if my grand kids will be wearing KangaROOs?


By the way I was happy to see my name didn't make it on to the MLB's "The Mitchell Report". I once did a TV news story about baseball and steroids.