Favre and the Packers

Alright, not sure where to start on this one.  A couple weeks ago, I heard rumors on the internet about Favre telling coach McCarthy he had the itch to come back, had texted the GM Ted Thompson regarding it, etc.  Favre of course said they were all just rumors, which they weren’t.  Turns out Favre does want to come back, at least he thinks he does according to his interviews On the Record.

The Pack is telling him they have moved on and that he should stay retired, which is totally understandable.  Alos, turns out a couple months back Favre had been in contact with the coach and GM about un-retirement.  They were then ready to welcome him back when once again he changed his mind.  At this point I think the Packers really did move on.  They finally said enough is enough and really did move ahead with their plans.

Now that Favre is asking for his release, the Packers are in a bad spot.  Or are they really?  First off, Favre needs to ask the league for his reinstatement…which he hasn’t done.  Then Favre needs to report to camp.  If at this point they decide to give him his job back all will be well.  Or they can decide to trade him, but I really doubt they will release him.  Before we all get way to ahead of ourselves though, lets see if he really does want to play and if he applies for reinstatement.  Once this happens then let’s wait for him to report to camp.

More Door-to-Door

Why do kids from Florida and Michigan come to Rochester to sell magazines door to door?  One would think there are plenty of magazines to be sold there.  Anyway, had two 18-20 year olds I’m guessing ring the doorbell today and I knew right away I shouldn’t have answered it.  They gave me their pitch and told me they are learning sales skills, how to stay away from gangs, etc.  Then asked me if they could come in and use my bathroom…it was funny really.  I politely refused and sent them on their way.  I don’t get it sometimes…maybe it’s just me, but who in their right mind would let a couple strangers into their house to use the bathroom?

Anyway, getting my Favre thoughts together for a post tomorrow.  Also, want to hear what he has to say tonight on the second part of his interview with Greta VanSusteren.

Jehovah’s Witness

While downtown enjoying some music I noticed several people with name tags on that read “Guided by Gods Spirit” trying to talk to strangers and showing them books.  I was similarily approached at my home yesterday by two of these people asking me if I had read their book…of course I hadn’t.  I then was asked if I had any religious tendencies - I gave them my background and current religious stance.  They then asked me if they could read me scripture and I politely denied their request.  Finally, they asked me if there would ever be one true religion and I told them “absolutely not”, a religion is a belief, not truth.  It’s isn’t truth that the Catholics and Protestants fight over, it’s not truth that the Muslims and Christians argue about, it’s not truth that the Serbs and Croats war over…it’s religion.  There will never be one true religion, rather there will be many sets of beliefs people call religion which is fine by me.

At this point I think they realized that I had thought about all of this before, was willing to discuss it, and decided to move on.  In the end they did thank me for being so polite, saying that most people weren’t.

Romantica and The Alarmists

Thursdays on First (actually it’s in the Peace Plaza) featured a couple very good bands from Minneapolis last night.  The Alarmists started around 4:30 and were quite good though a bit loud at times.  The headliner Romantica came on at 6:30 and were great.  I’ve been listening to them for a few months now and have come to like their alt-country take on things very much.  Kind of a Ryan Adams sort of feel with horns.  Anyway, they were very good and I’m looking forward to hearing them again Saturday.

If you haven’t been downtown on a Thursday night you need to check it out.  The Peace Plaza is teaming with people, food, beverages, vendors, etc.  The bars and restaurants are full and it’s a great venue with the impressive Ghonda building in the background.

Jackson attacks Obama…off the record

I’ve been reading alot about these comments Jesse Jackson made about Barack Obama recently and it strikes me as irrelevant.  First, according to reports Jackson under his breath said to someone next to him that Obama was talking down to black folks and that he’d like to cut his balls off.  He has since apologized and indicated that this remark was not intended for the public.  Well of course it wasn’t intended for the public, but these are the types of remarks that reveal true character.  This is exactly how Jackson feels about Obama, not what he says to thousands of people at some rally.  It’s clear Jackson is not on board with Obama and how he is treating the black community, why doesn’t he simply come out and say that.  No need to say one thing off the record and another on the record…whatever that means.

So Jackson has apologized and we have moved on, but why does anyone care?  Is Jesse Jackson really a relevant figure in the US political landscape anymore?  Of course Jackson has a deep history in the Civil Rights movement starting in the mid 60s and today.  He also had two failed attempts at the Democratic nomination for precedency in 1984 and 1988, but how relevant is he today?  He has since been involved in many controversies, most of which are racial in nature and his fathered a girl while having an affair with a staffer.  I also recall him being the spiritual advisor to the Clintons during the Lewinsky scandal…how ironic.

So why do we care what Jesse Jackson thinks?  I don’t think we care so much as about what he thinks, rather that what he thinks represents black america.  What he said under his breath represents what many other black americans are feeling and this might concern the Obama campaign.  I personally think his son Jesse Jr. is more relevant these days as a US Representative from Illinois - what does he have to say?

July 4th Weekend

Thought I’d post a few pictures from our boating weekend over the 4th.  We had perfect weather and a great time!  The dogs got along well and are becoming fast friends.

Nosh in Lake City

We spent the weekend on the Mississippi River with my parents and a few friends.  Friday we spent in Wabasha and then went up to Lake City for Saturday evening.  They have a great harbor up there very close to downtown.  We had reservations at Nosh, which used to be located in Wabasha, but had since moved up the river due to their landlord increasing the rent.

We arrived around 7:30 for a 8 pm reservation and sat in the bar for a while.  Wasn’t very busy in the bar, but it was still very nice outside.  Had a few rounds and then sat down for dinner which was fabulous.  Had a few bottles of wine, several appetizers/first courses including the sauted mushrooms, chorizo sausage, and grilled shrimp.  They were all very good!  Several of us also had the beet salads which were great.  Entrees included seafood paella, beef tenderloin, grilled salmon, and I can’t remember what Amanda and Emily had, but everyone was very pleased.

Service was good and the food was great - I’d go back there anytime.  For those who have heard it’s expensive, it’s ok.  We spent about $100 in the bar and $300 for dinner, but it was well worth it.

Northland Country Club Golf Tournament

Got back late Sunday night from Duluth after playing in the member/guest tournament at Northland Country Club.  I arrived Thursday night and just hung out with Ray and some of the guys for a while at the club.  Great facilities after rebuilding the entire clubhouse within the past year.  Very accomodating locker room connected to the bar, with a sauna, very nice showers, etc.  They did a great job on the redesign.

We were supposed to play 36 holes Friday, but this turned out to be more like 24 after getting rained out both in the morning and afternoon.  It was good to see the course however and especially the greens.  I don’t think the greens were as fast as normal due to the rain, but this was fine with me.  Friday night there was a reception and teams were purchased.  Of course, we bought our own.

Saturday we teed it up for the first of our five 9-hole four ball mathches.  Basically, that means two man best ball match play matches.  Of course everything is handicaped and we’re in the top flight, so I’m getting strokes.  I was generally getting 4-6 strokes per 9 since the guys we were playing were so good.  I played very well the first day and putted much better than expected.  Ray also played well and we won two matches and tied another.  After a long day of golf we had a few drinks and went home…good call for Sunday.

Sunday morning we played the team that was considered the team to beat in the A flight with a 0 handicap and a 4 handicaper that were playing well and in second place behind us after day one.  This was a tough match and we were down until Ray drilled a long putt for a birdie on the short par 4 15th.  We were one up going into 18 which is the hardest hole on the course with a dangerous green.  After sinking a treacherous downhill 10 footer for par we wont that hole and beat em.  We won our last match which gave us the A flight and a position in the shootout.

This is where things get interesting.  All 11 teams that on their flight play in the shootout which is of course handicapped again.  The bottom 6 teams go out first followed by the next 5 teams.  The format is a modified alternate shot with each player hitting a tall ball then taking alternate shot format from there in.  With a nice drive down the middle from me Ray put his second shot on the green and we made par.  As I told Ray with what seemed like hundreds of people watchiing on the first tee this was about as nervous as I get playing golf and was just hoping to hit the ball.

The second playoff hole we were in the left rough after our tee shot and Ray put his PW over the green.  I then hit what I thought was a great chip shot that rolled off the front.  The greens seemed to be showing their teeth late Sunday after all of the sun and heat.  With 15 feet or more Ray bombed in the par putt which I thought would get us to the third hole.  Unfortunately, the four other teams all made par and we went to a chip off playoff which we lost and were out.

In the end we won the top flight, finished 8th overall out of almost 70 teams and had a great time.  Northland Country Club is a dynamite course and I would play in this event again anytime!

Thursdays on First

Summer concerts started last night downtown and look to be strong for the rest of the summer.  The new Peace Plaza was dedicated and opened and looks fabulous.  Here is the summer schedule with a couple of highlights for me including Romantica and Six Mile Grove - both great bands!

• June 23 — Gizzae, with opener Stoney Savanna

• July 3 — Swing Street, with opener Featured Swing. Les Fields & The Turkey River All Stars at noon.

• July 10 — Romantica, with opener The Alarmists. Josh Harty at noon and at 7 p.m. on the acoustic stage.

• July 17 — Umbrella Bed, with opener The Abdomen. Cam Waters at noon.

• July 24 — Charanga Tropical, with opener Dan Drubach. Rick Lee on the acoustic stage.

• July 31 — KnuFunk, with opener Annie Mack and the Blues Muse.

• Aug. 7 — Melismatics, with opener Maudlin.

• Aug. 14 — Standby, with opener Donny Todd.

• Aug. 21 — Little Man, with opener Paul Christian. Paul Christian also plays at 7 p.m. on the acoustic stage. Own Device at noon.

• Aug. 28 — Chester Bay, with opener Chatfield Brass.

• Sept. 4 — T.U.G.G., with opener Tony Zobeck.

• Sept. 11 — Mark Stary and the Whiskey Roses, with opener Lisa Bailey and Ten Cent Biscuit. Sisters and Co. at noon.

• Sept. 18 — Lehto and Wright, with opener Todd Menton.

• Sept. 25 — Six Mile Grove, with opener Jeff Brooks. Rick Lee on the acoustic stage.

Americana Showcase Tonight

Tonight there is a really cool show being done at the Mayo Civic Theater - details below!  For anyone who hasn’t seen any of these guys here is a great chance to check them out.  Martin Zellar was the front man for Austins Gear Daddies, Brandon Sampson is the leader of Six Mile Grove, and Dana Cooper is an old school Americana legend.  Details here:

Americana Showcase In The Round with Martin Zellar, Dana Cooper and Brandon Sampson
Tuesday, June 17th 7:30 PM  Rochester Civic Theatre
Doors open at 6:30PM - Reserved Seating
Call the box office at 507-282-8481 for Tickets or get them at the door.  $17.50/$22.00