One Nation, Under God
One Nation, Under God
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Off and on for the last couple of years, my wife and I have been talking about owning a dog. She wanted a chew toy, while I wanted a bigger dog. I was going to name him General McTavish, which is a character from a video game. It sounds nerdy but I thought I could call him “General” for short. Not willing to give up our differences we settled for a midsize dog. Or at least I did. Every once in a while I like to surprise my dear wife Susan. Many times I’m 75 percent positive that she will love my surprises. When I showed up at her job with a fiv...
It's not everyday you get to meet your childhood hero. Typically when anyone asks me why I am a fan of the Chicago Bears, I would typically answer that I am a Chicagoan. When former Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher asked me the same question, the answer was a little different. I told him that he was the reason I was a Bears fan and then complimented him on his playing. It was an honest answer. Growing up in the 90's, it was all about the Michael Jordan led Bulls, who brought Chicag...
Our springs sports season is off to a great start with three M-ettes (Darby, Sophia, and Jada) already qualifying for state in their first meet of the year. Keenan VanWichen knocked down a hole in one in Shelby and the Malta golf team is looking great after their first meet. Track and field doesn’t have the suspense that basketball or football does. The meets are long, cold, windy and sometimes wet, but there are a few great things about the sport. For one, the meet gives each of the athletes a...
I never win anything. Except for in Madden Football, a game which I have played for over a dozen years. 50-50 raffles? Forget about it. Every time I hear a number called, I hope that whoever is called isn’t there so they can do a recall. Am I a poor sport? Probably. In fact, yes I am a sore loser. But that’s only because everyone wants to win. Last Friday was a weird day. Little did I know that it was a day of victory. I gallivanted to the Firehouse with Mark for a firehouse burger prepared by...
Thanks to the excellent play of our sports teams,I have been blessed to follow them during state tournaments for the past three basketball seasons and last couple of wrestling seasons. During my expeditions, I have learned a few things. Number one, I invested in the a shoulder strap for my camera, instead of a strap around the neck, which can really hurt after a few hours. Second I learned to make sure I keep my batteries fully charged. Third, I learned to plan a hotel early, because nothing is guaranteed upon arrival to whatever town the...
I'll assume that it was just an old disgruntled fan that decided to take his misfortunes out on me. Going into such a sacred place as the men's room, there should be no deep conversation, let alone a discussion about anyone's weight. This elderly gentleman aiming to make himself feel better, said "You're going to have a hard time like me getting into those stalls... and later said maybe I should think about going on a diet! This poor guy, was around sixty years of age, and could barely stand if...
I have to admit the teams around the Phillips County area have been impressive as of late. Between the M-ettes and Lady Panthers taking first in their conference to the Mustangs taking second and the Panthers and Lady Coyotes earning tough wins to make it to the next level, I'm proud of our teams. I would also like to say how proud of our local fan base I am. I know some of our fans vent in different tasteless ways, but some of the other fan bases have shown much less class. As you go to these...
It’s one of my favorite times of the year.... TOURNAMENT TIME! To me there is nothing more suspenseful than a basketball game. Since I started reporting sports news for the PCN I have been blessed and honored to see a few great tournament games. Whether it be the Mustangs 2013 State Championship win against Wolf Point or last season’s Girl’s State sketchy double overtime loss to Fairfield, I have seen a few of the good ones. I’m looking forward to this year’s post-season in hopes that most of o...
In movies, it was always comical when someone would make a move only to find their hip or back goes out. Never again will I laugh about that happening because last Sunday it happened to me. While I was putting our dear son in his car seat, I strapped him in and then I felt it happen. My back went out! I’m only in my late twenties... How did this happen? I used to be at the gym lifting weights four to five days a week. The pain was severe at first, causing me to double over and then eventually dr...
Apparently the month of January is National Bath Safety Month. Bath safety encompasses many things including making sure your tub is slip proof, making sure you keep a close eye on your children in the tub to prevent drowning and even making sure the water temperature isn’t too hot. When I think about bath safety, it takes me back to my disdain for communal showers. I was the type that always wore flip-flops in the dorms. I would sanitize everything in the bathroom before I used it. I don’t car...
I’m not typically a fan of games people play on Facebook. No, I will never play a game of Candy Crush or Words with Friends, but I have to say, one application has gotten a hold of me and probably won’t let go anytime soon.... Trivia Crack. I stumbled upon the game while looking for an application that would help me with my memory. I figured I was a fan of trivia, so I thought I would give it a try... I didn’t know it was so popular until I was challenged to a game by an old college frien...
It has finally happened! My beloved Bears have fired their 2014 coaching staff after a subpar season... And their General Manager. Maybe the owners of the team will make it their New Year’s resolution to actually give a poop about who is running the team. God bless them for it. I have a love hate relationship with resolutions. In 2010, I have pledged not to drink pop, minus club sodaor ginger beer for ten years. That ban is scheduled to be lifted on the year 2020. But looking back to when I w...
For this weeks grapevine segment of the PCN, I asked a few people what their most memorable Christmas gift was. I thought about this loaded question, and have decided to answer it for myself. Sure I could say the year that my parents got me my first bike without training wheels. That was a great gift. There was also that time my parents gave me a Nintendo 64 gaming system with a few games including Mario World 64. While there was nothing greater than playing as Mario in his 3D world, that...
We the people of the United States of America reflect on what we are thankful for on Thanksgiving Day. The next day, Black Friday, is a crazy day fast becoming a holiday. This is the day that if you go shopping, you put your life in your hands. Maybe this is why the last couple of years Walmart has started their Black Friday deals on Thursday Night. For people’s safety. The United Kingdom apparently just had Black Friday hit their area for the first time.... Following American trends.... CNN f...
Originally I was going to complain about the state of our nation featuring politics, immorality and maybe even a mention of the weather. Then I thought to my self maybe I should focus on giving thanks. Like most Americans Thanksgiving makes the top three on my favorite holidays. When I think of Thanksgiving Day, I have a few fond memories. The three F’s. A hot fireplace, football and our course, food. I say this at the risk of sounding like a pyromaniac. I’m not, but for some reason there is...
My wife and I were watching Chicago PD the other night, only a day or so after making it back home to Chicago Midway through the show, we noticed that there was a little guest in our house that doesn’t pay room and board. No, not PJ... This guest (a mouse) was caught on top of our curtain rod, scaling the curtains in an attempt to watch Detective Voight fight crime with us. It would have been nice to grab that little turd and break it in half with my bare hands, but we found out how fast they ca...
Anyone that knows me, knows I love my Chicago Bears... After Sunday’s “embearassing” 55-14 loss to Green Bay I am convinced that the team has no heart, our coaching staff needs to be canned or the team is tanking this season on purpose for next year’s draft. I only believe two of the aforementioned in my heart. It’s rough sledding for Chicago, who at one time had one of the most feared defenses in the league. Apparently the Packers admitted the next day to knowing the Bears defensive signals....
I don’t know if it’s because I was born two months earlier than I should have been... When it comes to eating... I can put it down. My mom and dad used to think I had an iron gut... That brings me to my continuation story from last week. While living in California, I took the Knucklehead challenge upon hearing that there was a Knucklehead Hot Dog Diner in Roseville. This behemoth meal consisted of multiple hot dogs (a eight pack maybe??), buns and corn chips, smothered in french fries, che...
I can be a knucklehead sometimes…. I wouldn’t advise anyone with a newborn to make an 18 hour trip anywhere. But my wife Susan and I did last weekend as we traveled to my hometown for my one-week vacation. To my son’s credit, he did really well considering, he strongly hates his car seat in the first place. What made the trip a little more stressful, was the fact that we only stopped to gas up, change the baby or walk off our tiredness in various Walmart locations in North Dakota and Minne...
Pretty big game for the Mustangs tonight, as they face Wolf Point in a game that could mean the playoffs for either team. I’m kind of bummed that I will not be at the game, but it is for good reason. Our darling son has yet to meet his paternal grandfather and uncles. So in an attempt to kill a few birds with one stone... (meaning taking a vacation and seeing the aforementioned), my wife and I are taking a treacherous 18 hour trip to Chicagoland, more specifically a southwest suburb called Bolin...
I’ve never been one to read signs well, this unfortunately carried over into fatherhood I’ve noticed. Our three month old baby cries and cries and cries often. I had the honor and privelege of babysitting him last Friday.. He cried and cried and cried. Diaper? Check. Bottle? Check. Get him to crib for a nap? Negative. He was really clingy this day in particular and wouldn’t let daddy put him down for anything, until ultimately he was too tired to resist. Then thankfully mom came home early...
Every Monday night it is a struggle to crank out news, whilst a show that I watch weekly comes on. A couple of months ago it was 24. The last couple of weeks it has been Gotham, a show that is a portrayal of Bruce Wayne growing up without his parents that were killed in a robbery. For those who don’t know (spoiler alert) Wayne ultimately becomes the caped crusader affectionately named Batman. After the first two episodes, I have got to say, I didn’t expect the show to be so dark, but I love the...
I am allergic to everything. My life long dream has always been to own a dog that is mine. Not my brother’s. Not my mom’s. Not my band’s. Mine and only mine. I stumbled upon some puppies the other day and everything was going alright, of course until the puppy started yelping for me to put it down. I of course obliged the dog’s demand, because I didn’t want to be a jerk. But good guys do not always win, I found out, because that sweet little pup-pup hurt me more than it will ever know. I g...
I dislike America’s deep infatuation with social media. You might call me bitter because I remember there was a time that only college students were allowed into Facebook. Then it got kind of lame when high school kids were let in. Then it got super lame when everyone and there mom was updating their statuses. The original intent of the site was great but today it is a Mecca for airing dirty laundry, talking about politics and pushing agendas that not even ten years ago was considered immoral a...
What really makes a social gathering, a sport? The biggest thing up for debate seems to be cheer leading. But I’ve found that there are many topics up for debate. For instance, it came to my attention that many students don’t think of golf as a sport. Others don’t even see track and field as a sport. While many people have made valid points for both sides, I believe that both of the aforementioned are indeed sports. Take cheer leading for example. Many of the choreographed movements require skil...
