Mi Vida Ocupada: My Busy Life!

The Vike's didn't Win....

and I am very very sad.  Boo Hoo.

The end.

Purple Pride from the Purple One: Prince's "Purple and Gold"

Most of you know I have been a life-long Prince Fan.  I am not  the biggest fan of this "Purple and Gold" song but I still had to post it!

Here are the complete “Purple and Gold” lyrics:

the veil of the sky draws open
the roar of the chariots touch down
we r the ones who have now come again
and walk upon water like solid ground
as we approach the throne we won’t bow down
this time we won’t b denied

raise every voice and let it b known
in the name of the purple and gold

we come in the name of the purple and gold
all of the odds r in r favor
no prediction 2 bold
we r the truth if the truth can b told
long reign the purple and gold

the eyes say ready 4 battle
no need 4 sword in hand
we r all amped up like a rock n roll band
ready 2 celebrate every score
ready 2 fight the elegant war
ready 2 hear the crowd roar

that’s what we came 4
and so much more
in the name of the purple and gold

r spirits may b tired
r bodies may b worn
but since this day is r destiny
r history – that’s y we must b
4ever strong as the wind that blows the Vikings’ horn
in the name of the purple and gold

CHORUS

MN Timberwolves Library Dedication

This past Monday was a very special day at one of the schools I teach at.  Last spring our school was selected by the Timberwolves' Fastbreak Foundation to receive a library makeover.  Over the past few weeks several members of the Timberwolves office staff spent hours and hours at our school, painting the library and putting together the new shelving and then re-stocking the library books on the shelves.   The walls are the blue, green and white of the Timberwolves plus we got giant wall decals with the current Timberwolves players.  Everything looks amazing!

Monday was the big celebration, with the Timberwolves people (along with school district administration) coming out to help us celebrate.  A couple of the Timberwolves players were supposed to be there also but were running late from that morning's practice.  They finally showed up after it was over and signed a few autographs.  The organization has promised to bring the players back when they can come, but with the start of a brand-new season, it may be awhile before that happens, we'll see.

 

 

Crunch, the Timberwolves mascot was also along for the fun and even helped act out the book that was read aloud, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. It was great!! 

 

After the celebration Crunch insisted he have his picture with me. Too bad I was in the middle of saying something when this photo was taken, I look like a big dorkis.

 

If you'd like to read the Timberwolves article about the project, read here.

Thank you Minnesota Timberwolves!!!!

Farvapalooza.....

A few weeks ago the Minnesota Vikings played the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. This rivalry has always been a BFD, but never more so than now, with ex-packer star Brett Favre playing quarterback for the Vikes!!

In honor of this big game, my brother Jeff decided  to a throw a football party termed "Farvapalooza".  (He loves to name his parties...remember Porkapalooza from last summer?) What a hit both the game and party were! Jeff made 28 lbs of pork shoulder, which he smoked and then pulled to make sandwiches.  Great stuff!  There were around 30 people at the party and every last bite of the pork disappeared before the end of the evening!

One of the coolest new things that Jeff has bought this past summer (and this boy loves toys and gadgets!) is an outdoor movie theater.  Giant Blow-up screen, hi-def mounted projector (removable) and mounted outdoor speakers!  This photo was taken before it got dark out, so you can't see the images on the screen as clearly, but you can see the giant screen itself.

 

Here is a better view of the screen when it started to get dark out.  Gotta love how the broadcasters always use Madden Football game to do their pre-game predictions, etc!

My dad and his brother Joe also showed up for the football party

You like my new purple hat? I got it in Duluth on my trip to the North Shore, thought it would be good to wear on Viking game days!

 

And apparently this hat makes me look younger because a few of Jeff's friends (pictured below) mistakenly thought I was Jeff's YOUNGER sister!! That made me feel great because I am actually 4 years older than Jeff! They are now my new best friends! lol.  I thought they were so cute, she is a Vikings fan and he is a Packers fan.  They wore their respective jerseys and also brought along their Vikings/Packers reversible blanket!!

 

Jeff was jealous of my cool new hat and decided to steal it from me for a minute.... (notice he is wearing Twins gear instead of Vikings??!! The following day was the Twins best game of the year!)  Another classic Jeff pose.....

Jeff's parties are always a good time and the best news is that the Vikings beat the snot out of the Packers to bring them 4-0 and we have won the past two games since.

Vikings are now 6-0 baby!!!

Day 122 ~ 18th Hole at Mississippi Dunes Golf Links

Day 47 ~ Wolves Country

I went to the Timberwolves game today.  I framed this shot so that both the basket and the mural on the floor can be seen together.  From this perspective it looks as though the basket is just a foot off the ground, but they are really several feet apart!

 
 

Some T-Wolves Action

Went down to the Target Center with some friends today and watched the Timberwolves beat the NJ Nets 108-99.  Its been awhile since I've been to a TWolves game.......it was cool but boy do I miss KG!

 

We also saw construction on the new home of the Minnesota Twins, Target Field.  The Twinkies will open up the 2010 Season at this new outdoor park.  Looks like it will be pretty sweet!

Shaq Diesel NBA All-Star Dance

I love Shaq because he is the biggest clown! I wish I could've seen this live!! Make sure you watch HD version. This spoof is pretty good too!

Vikings & Foosball- Better luck next year!

I know its already old news, but despite the fact that I (along with my niece Bianca below) and thousands of other Vikes fans got all decked out in Purple Pride this past Sunday for the first round of the NFL playoffs, the $%&$*()&* Vikings lost to the Eagles.  Not really a surprise since they are so good at letting us down year after stinking year, but it is nice to have hope sometimes.  Better luck next year!

Sunday was also the 22nd Annual Sauer Family Foosball Tournament.  We have the tourney every year at the celebration of my dad, aunt and uncle's Famous Birthday. 
Guess who I was randomly paired with this year? Michelle! And we did NOT make it to the championship round like I did last year.  Oh no we didn't.  In fact, our team was shut out this year :(

Better luck next year!
This is the winning team in action.  My cousin Collin is really good, he has won the trophy 6 times now!!

The prize is the coveted Toilet Bowl Trophy, which the winner proudly displays in their home for the year of their Championship.  Each year it is repainted  by the previous year's winners.  Here is the 2009 design:

It was a fun time and I think it is so cool that our family has such a unique tradition!

A Sunday with Football & Sushi

Quick sidenote! Coincidentally the title of this post sounds a lot like the title of my friend Ang's blog: Football, Sushi and the Pursuit of Happiness.  She is one super cool MN chick and has a fun blog to read :)

The inspiration for my title is that the Vikings won the football game on Sunday against the NY Giants (yes it was at the very last second that they scored a field goal to go 20-19, but whatever.  Skol Vikings!).  After watching the game I ended up going downtown for all-you-can eat sushi at Ichiban.  Delish.  I just love spicy tuna rolls and salmon with avocado! After dinner I took a short walk downtown and saw this cool building lit up with Vikings colors so I stopped to take a couple of photos.

 

Now if only the Vikes could keep up this momentum.....

And maybe I should learn how to make my own sushi?

Thoughts for Thursday: Kids Playing Sports

I have blogged about sports a few time before as TFT (sports fans and sports heroes) and now I have yet another one to ponder! A friend of me was telling me recently about her kindergarten-aged son who has just started wrestling.  It had me taken aback somewhat to think about little kids wrestling, mostly because of all the contact and the potential to get hurt.  Kids are even playing football as early as  1st grade (as one little kid recently told me).  MN is also a huge hockey state and many people start their kids skating at age 3.  I also know of many little girls who start dancing at age 2!!! It sure seems like kids are starting sports younger and younger these days! I have to admit that by the age of 4 my mom also had me enrolled in a ton of sports; we belonged to the YMCA and she sure took advantage of every possible sport we could participate in (as long as we were willing!) I played soccer, gymnastics, floor hockey, and t-ball.

What are your thoughts on kids starting sports so early? Is it okay as long as they want to play? Do you consider some sports more appropriate than others at a younger age??  How old were you when you started playing sports?

Other TFT posts this week:

Robyn on voting

Michelle on women

Dana Leigh on Halloween
Ang on the reasons why you blog

Thoughts for Thursday: Sports Fans

Sports.

Sports are a very big deal in the U.S., wouldn't you say?  Football, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Boxing, Golf, Tennis, Soccer, etc.  Billions of $$$$ are spent on sports every year.  There are the die-hard fans who buy season tickets every year, no matter how their team is doing.  These fans will support their teams even when the going gets tough.  There are also the fans that love their team and watch every chance they can get, attending games a couple of times a year.  There are also fans who will watch a few games here or there, but do not invest a lot into the teams or sports in general. And then there are the fair-weathered fans.  These are the fans who only come out of the woodwork when the local team is doing hot, then they jump on the Bandwagon. Of course their are also people who couldn't care less about Sports.

Several members of my HUGE family are very BIG sports fans on both my mom and dad's sides, and my dad and brothers are also die-hard sports fans.  Once upon a time I was a big fan also......

We'll start with the Twins.  When my dad was the CEO of Schweigert Foods, we had  incredible season tickets for the Twins, front row on 1st base.  I attended a ton of games as a kid, including the winning World Series Game 7 in both 1987 and 1991 when the Minnesota Twins won the World Series.  I was a huge fan of the Twins back in the days of Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti, Dan Gladden, etc.  When Kirby retired due to his health, I pretty much quit following the Twins.  I was deeply saddened when Kirby past away a few years ago. 

I was also a HUGE Minnesota North Stars fan.  Mike Modano and Curt Giles were my GUYS!! We also had season tickets to the Stars and I was fortunate to attend several playoff and Stanley Cup finals games.  Then stupid Norm Green moved the team to Dallas.  10 years later or so, the NHL came back to MN with a  new team, the Wild.  I made a conscious decision not to invest emotionally in the new team.  I haven't followed hockey at all since.

I was also a huge Vikings fan back in the day and during the 1998 season (when we went 15-1) I had high hopes that they would go to the Superbowl and WIN.  My heart broke in January 1999 when we lost that chance during the NFC Championship when we lost 27-30 to Atlanta.  At that point I realized that I could no longer let the Vikings dominate my emotions.  It just wasn't worth it.  I quit watching the Vikings and have only watched a few games here and there ever since.  Too me, football is all about socializing- I will cheer for the home team but I will not invest any emotion into it.  And here I fooled my blogging buddyHelmet into believing I was a huge Vikings fan....he even gave me an award because of it!!! Ha!

Basketball is a different story.  I love to watch it!! The Timberwolves were my team since the very first game they ever played.... I was lucky enough to attend their inaugural game in 1989 against the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordon (courtside!).  We had season tickets to the Twolves also, and then when Kevin Garnett joined the team in 1995, I was super excited to see where the team would go.  I remained very loyal to the Twolves and especially to Kevin Garnett, who would become an incredible Superstar.  My loyalty still remains with KG, even though he was traded last year to the Celtics, so I  became a Celtics fan overnight.  I was beyond ecstatic when the Celtics won the NBA Championship last year because I so badly wanted to see my man win!  I still like the Twolves and hope they get better, but will continue to support them in the mean time.

As sad as it is to some, I now consider myself a fair-weather fan.  I have very little emotional attachment to the teams or players (with few exceptions).  I would be very happy if any of them had successful years, and I will admit I am the bandwagon type and would probably only show major support in the event that they make it into the playoffs.

Wow, I guess I had no idea where this post was going when I started it, but my questions for you today are:

What type of sports fan do you consider yourself? Who are your favorite teams to root for? 

**************************************************************************
Other TFT posts this week:

Mel on emergency dispatchers

Dana Leigh on getting picked on

Denise on smells that bring back memories

Jenny C on fall favorites

Ang on extended family

Jenny P on slowing down

Anne on giving away your pet

Disk Golfing....

One really great sport/hobby that has become quite popular in MN is Disk Golf.  I have gone along with the guys for YEARS as they went disk golfing (to be a caddy and get exercise!), but I was too scared to try it out for myself until this year.  I am not going to pretend that I am any good at it, but at least I am trying :)

My favorite course (the only one I've ever played! LOL) is at Lakewood Hills in WBL, behind the YMCA.  It is only a 14-hole course, but has both rolling hills and holes throughout the woods.  Like regular golf, there is a tee, but instead of aiming your disk at a "hole", there is a metal basket you need to get your disk into.  Since it was so pretty a few days ago when I played, I brought my camera along to sneak in a  few pics while we played.

 

Like I said, some of the holes are in the woods.....kind of looks like a setting for a Horror Movie.....would make a good place for a "Haunted Woods" Halloween event!

 

I love birch trees!

Does anyone else out there disk golf?????

Victory for Celtics!!! KG gets his Championship ring!!!!

I am ecstatic!!!!!!!!!
KG and the Celtics kicked the Lakers A$$ 131-92 to win the 2008 NBA Championship!!!
This was totally worth getting only 5 hours of sleep to see!!!!!!!!

Kevin was so emotional after the game.....made me cry a little too....tears of happiness!!!!!
My man finally got his ring!!!!!!!!!!

Bring on the Lakers!

KG and his boys have made it to the NBA Finals!!
Hoping to see my boy wearing his new Championship Ring in about 2 weeks from now!!

Game 7 Victory for Celtics!!

Oh, that was a close one! So happy my man Kevin Garnett and his boys are moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals!!!  Paul Pierce played like an absolute All-Star. 
Woo hoo Celtics! Bring on the Pistons

Ps  I better put a disclaimer up... I am a Kevin Garnett fan, not necessarily a Celtics fan.  It wouldn't matter to me what team KG is on, but since his current team is the Celtics, that is my "new" team to cheer for.  Remember when I became a Celtics fan over night after KG got traded last summer?

Sports Heroes

I have had a few in my lifetime, but I have to say that Kevin Garnett is my biggest sports hero.  I know he hasn't won a championship (YET-I am hoping this is the year!) , but he is still awesome in my book :)
Other sports heroes I have had in my lifetime include:

• Mary Lou Retton
• Kirby Puckett
• Mike Modano
• Michael Jordan

How about you? Who are some of your sports heroes??

Yao!!

Yao Ming, that is.

Anyone know this Chinese GIANT from the Houston Rockets???
I saw him in person last night at the Timberwolves game (from my seat that is) and let me tell you, this is one HUGE DUDE!!  Look at those legs??!!

I had to try to get a few of my own photos during the game with my little point-and-shoot.

*******************************************************************************

I was not the only one taking pics of Yao! There were many, many Chinese fans at the game last night also, taking their own pics. These guys in front of us were great fans...they cheered every time Yao touched the ball!

This was my first T-Wolves game since my man Kevin Garnett was traded to the Celtics.  The Wolves played pretty well last night but ended up losing anyway (no surprise there, this has been a crappy season for them!)  We miss KG!

Football means socializing........

I have never been really into football, unless you can call the socializing aspect of football being into it.  I am all about the socializing! I think it started back in 7th grade when me and all my friends would go to the HS football home games every Friday night.  It was a chance to get together with everyone outside of school and talk, gossip, etc.  Who cares about the game?  Cheer and clap when they do something good and ignore all the bad moves.  I am not even ashamed to admit I still have the same attitude.  My brother Brian played football for years and it wasn't until I was in college that I actually realized that there was a separate offense and defense and that they didn't all play on the field at the same time.  I know you're laughing right now, and I am not kidding!!  I played soccer for 12 years and our defense and offense all played at the same time.  How was I to know football was any different?

Where I was trying to go with this is that football provides a great chance to get together with friends, even if you couldn't care less about the game itself.  Of course it usually helps if the team you're rooting for is half a shit.  The Vikings? Not so much.  Don't start hating on me, Vikes fans!

Anyway, the neighbors had a yummy little get together and I enjoyed my day quite a bit, despite the fact that I did not watch one minute of the Vikings get their a$$es handed to them by the Packers ;)

The boys on the other hand, take this junk way too seriously.  They dress up for every game and in some cases, dress up the kids AND the dogs!

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!

I became a Celtics Fan Overnight....

First I felt shock, then anger, then sadness.

My man Kevin Garnett, The Big Ticket, was just traded from our Minnesota Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics.

I guess he feels that after the past three years of losing in Minnesota, he deserves a chance to win a ring.  He joins Ray Allen and Paul Pierce in Boston.

I could continue to cry about how it isn't fair, but instead I am going to follow my man's career to Boston and now I am rooting for the Celtics to go all the way!!

Oh, but it just won't be the same to see KG wearing all that green :(

Cinco de Mayo

I was definitely in the Mexican spirit yesterday in honor Cinco de Mayo :)

Despite the un-Mexican type weather we had (windy, dreary and cold), it was a pretty good day.  Had to have me some good Mexican food (I realize that is bad grammar), but we decided not to brave it down on the West Side where the "real" Cinco celebration was happening.  Went to La Casita instead....

Yummy margarita and chips w/ salsa...

And the biggest platter of food I have ever seen....for less than $12!  I have not yet written my review yet, but it was excellent!

Later in the evening I went to my neighbor's house to watch the Big Fight between my man Oscar de La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr.  Enjoyed plenty of Corona, margaritas and pico de gallo while I was there!

 

Okay, so its Cinco de Mayo; Oscar is Mexican, Mayweather is not, right?  So despite that fact, Mayweather makes his entrance into the arena wearing a robe in green, white and red and he is wearing the largest freaking white sombrero I have ever seen.  he looked like clown!!  It was funny, but also seemed to be mocking the Mexican culture.  Either that or he thought he was showing respect??!!!  Who knows....

It was a pretty good fight, but neither of them stood out, and neither of them got very hurt.  It went the full 12 rounds without so much as a knock-down.  Here is The Sport Network's rundown of the fight.  Those of you who are boxing fans always know that when it comes down to a decision, there is usually politics or some other funny business happening.  They ended up giving it to Mayweather by split decision.  Bullshit!!!  It should've been a draw, IMO.  Oscar still reigns as champ in my book ;)  Either way, they both made out like bandits ( It has been reported that Oscar will earn at least $25 million for the fight, and Floyd will earn at least $10 million.)

More about Oscar.... his wife, Millie Corretjer, was watching the fight last night.  She is cute, but looked about 18 years old.  She is a famous singer in Puerto Rico.

30 Years Ago Today...

One of my favorite people in the whole world was born:  My Jenny.  Today she celebrates her 30th birthday! Jenny and I met late during our junior year of college at SCSU. The next year we moved to Arizona together to live and student teach on an Indian Reservation.  What an experience! During our trips to San Diego, Camping in the Sierra Vista Mountains, and Super-Bowl partying in Las Vegas we became very close friends.  Today she is still a wonderful friend of mine...one of the very best, in fact.  I just wanted to give her a shout out today and let her know how much she means to me.  Jenny is the sweetest person you could ever meet.  She is cute and smart and will always go out of her way for a friend. I love you Jenny, I don't know what I'd do without you!!

Here is a little collage I threw together of us over the years.......

***And coincidentally, today is also the 30th birthday of Good Morning America!! Check out the video clips on their site.

*** The Timberwolves and my man Kevin Garnett won their Home Opener last night.  Its weird how the team looks so different at the beginning of every season.  Lots of new faces this year.  I hope this means lots of new, great potential!

***Speaking of the NBA, have any of you seen the new TNT/NBA Ali G Commercials??  Ali G is a character from DA ALI G SHOW played by Sacha Baron Cohen ....the character is an ignorant, British interviewer who interviews all sorts of serious people and makes such an ass of himself.  I think he is HILARIOUS!!!!!!!   

Check it! Ali G Clips from HBO.  He also plays two other characters, Borat the preverted Jewish guy and Bruno, the Gay German Fashionista.  Funny stuff! Boom chuckah!

What do you think of Ali G? Mad Respek!

My take on Football; Sevendust Concert!!!!!!

Sunday was a busy day...

Warning! Boring Football Talk to follow in the next few paragraphs!

My friends Lanee & Roger had a Vikings VS. Green Bay Packers party at their house in the early afternoon.  I didn't watch a single minute of the game while I was there.....I am not proud of the Vikings these days.  And not just because of the recent SEX scandal that has gotten them such great publicity in the past few weeks.  They just plain SUCK!!!  I lost my confidence in them during the 98-99 season when Gary Andersen missed the field goal kick that would've brought them to the Superbowl.  It hurt so bad I decided I just couldn't do it anymore with that team! 

To me football is really about the socializing with other people while "watching" the game.  This is the way it always was for me in High School until my little brother started playing.  One time while watching one of his games, I asked my mom why Brian wasn't out there playing.  She was like, "well he plays defense.  That is the offense out there." I am not kidding...I had no idea that the offense and defense didn't play at the same time!  I was a soccer player for goodness sakes and we all played together!!  Anyway, Kim and Katie came to the party and it was really nice to see them.  Here is a cute pic of me Kim and Lanee:

I ended up leaving the party before the game was over because I had a few errands to run before I went back home.  I got home in time to watch the last 1:23 of the game.  The Vikings had come back to take the lead and then Green Bay tied it up with just a few seconds to go.  Can you believe that the Vikings had a chance to score a Field Goal (for the win) with 2 seconds left, 56 yards away....and the kick was GOOD!!!!  That was a team record FG.  And I still hate the Vikings!!

Shortly after the game we got ready to head downtown to see one of our favorite heavy bands of all time: SEVENDUST!!!!  I have seen these guys probably 10 times and they still kick my ass every time!! The show was last-minute at a small venue and they had this place slammin'.  It never fails that the mosh pit opens up right next to where I am standing and I sometimes  get lost in the pandemonium.  Here are the best pictures I could risk taking:

Latest on my effin laptop.....I think the problem is somewhere in my Network Bridge.  Not sure what my next move will be.  Today at lunch I went to Target to by an External Harddrive....a place I can put all my pictures and keep them safe!  I also bought a jump drive so I can easily take pictures from computer to computer.  Thank God I have a pretty sweet PC at home that still has working Internet.  I'd die if I couldn't get online again!  I will try my hardest to keep up with all the fun blogs I love to read.  And maintain this one, of course!

I guess it could be worse...My brother Jeff just told me that the Web hosting company he uses for his personal site and all the ones he creates for business is based in Miami....apparently somewhere near where Wilma hit....because everything is GONE.  Or at least down for the time being! That really stinks if you have them as your e-mail provider as well.

I also wanted to give a shout out to my Gramps who turned *80* yesterday!!! Happy Birthday!!