Horse Manure Park

So I checked my Twitter feed today and I almost fainted.  Even my dad would have gotten a chuckle out of this. A couple of days ago, Michael Vick opened his mouth and proclaimed he revolutionized the game as a running quarterback. As a lifelong Vikings fan, I know (and anyone who understands football knows) that Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton revolutionized the game.  (It also happens that I follow Mr. Tarkenton on Twitter.) Sunday Night Football (their handle is "SNFonNBC") posted Vick's comments on Twitter this weekend, so I responded to it: This morning, I received this message in my Notifications feed: Yes, this is 100% legitimate.  It's really him (just go to Twitter, search Fran Tarkenton and you'll see the message posted there). My dad is looking down and smiling right now.  He loved Fran Tarkenton. And I'm giddy as a school girl.  What a great way to start my week!

Happy Father's Day to my pops.  He's been gone for 17 years, but it seems like just yesterday.   I'm glad that I still remember his voice and I'm thankful for all the letters he wrote to me.  There are times I visit with him through those letters when I need advice. My dad on December 31, 1985 at a VFW somewhere in Minnesota.  I was playing a New Year's Eve gig that night.   Judging by the bottles of Schmidt, Howard's got a good start on the evening! Such a shame you had to go So much more that I'd like to know So many things you forgot to show me how to do... I got two kids of my own now They grow up so fast and how I wish you did not miss that part of who I am... But I keep doing all that I can do And I smile when they ask about you I will sing to them every day With voice and the words that you used to say... --"Always Remember" by Train

Wet paint, wet varnish, new flooring... those have been the smells of our home for the past couple of weeks; and they are still the smells of our home. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad smell (it's a heck of a lot better than that ghastly balsamic vinegar and broccoli concoction The Wife whips up on the stove now and then).   But it is the smell of chaos and disorganization. I'm ready to get back to normal -- we are all ready to get back to normal.  And we are almost there. Before... After... Before... After... Yet when I look at the before and after pictures, it makes the temporary pain of disorder a bit more worth it. But still, I've been having problems. I am a creature of habit, mostly because I have a chronic condition called CRAFT * and I always have a place for everything and everything in its place. For example, I always place my work ID tag and my car keys in the same place all the time -- specifically, in the entry way