Posted 11:20 AM by Mike
Hello.......?????? Anybody there????

If you are reading this, it is probably only because I convinced my wife to put a link from her site to mine. I'm sure any readers I had left a LONG time ago due to my over five month absence. We'll....alot of things had to be put on hold after the first of the year. My last three terms at Scholastica definately kicked my ass. Although they were successful, they required every ounce of energy I could muster. I am now done with the class portion of the program. THANK GOD! The last month I wasn't able to work out very much so I started up again yesterday. OUCH. I hurt. I remember this feeling from the first day of off-season workouts in college. It's a good hurt though.

Well....I will try and sum up the last five months of non-related school events:

Came off my my 17 day vacation, which I don't know if I'll ever do again. After taking two weeks off, one week vacations just don't cut it anymore.

Had a big poker game up in Proctor with my cronies. Even Kristin went with as all the wives/girlfriends went out and danced the night away.

Celebrated Kristin's 30th birthday with a small get together at our house. Family and friends showed up. Pretty good time.

As a birthday present to myself, purchased two new Canadian Hockey jerseys for the collection. Super sweet looking jerseys!

Kristin and I went to Las Vegas. It was our first time there. I could go there three times a year if I could. I loved it! Hobbled around most of the time on a freshly sprained ankle (don't ask) but still had a blast. After returning home from Vegas, I went to my home away from home, Muscatine. Went camping with my uncle and cousins. Had a blast. But the best part of the whole trip.......

....got a phone call that changed my life forever.....Kristin called me to tell me that I was going to be dad! Yes, fatherhood. Me....the biggest kid that you will ever meet is going to have a kid of his own. I'm so excited that I can't even stand it. Kristin is probably getting tired of me touching her belly and kissing it all the time.

Mom got home in May after a long stay in Duluth. We'll see how long we can keep her at home. It is getting harder and harder for my dad to be able to keep up with things. He has his own health problems to deal with. Home health aids and nurses come a couple of times a week to take care of some things so that helps. Plus they purchased a $32,000 special bed for her. Hopefully all of these things add up to a long stay at home. As much as I don't want to admit it, the next time she has to go in will be the last time. It will be permanant.

Finished classes last Wednesday. Final GPA......3.95. One A- short of 4.0, which was my goal. My thesis/capstone isn't graded and doesn't factor in my GPA so it will be 3.95. I should be proud of that, but the A- kind of tarnishes things.

Interviewed for two jobs in the past two months. One here and one at the YMCA. Didn't get either one. The one here would have been a nice step up, but it wasn't meant to be. They can pay for my education and then I'll leave. If they want to lose money, that's their problem. The job at the YMCA wouldn't have been something I wanted to do for very long, but it would have gotten my foot in the door. So although I was mad at first, I got over it.

Getting ready for another vacation next week. The NY Webbs are going to be in town so I took the week off. I wasn't planning on taking the whole week, but after just getting done with classes, I'm ready for a break.

Sports: Still no hockey. Although it looks like things are almost settled, I'm still bitter. Niner's get the #1 draft pick and draft Heisman finalist Alex Smith from Utah. Hopefully he is the first step in bringing the Niner's back to greatness. Vikings traded Randy Moss. New owner spent alot of money to fix the defense so we will see how it goes. Cubs are plugging along. Batteling injury problems but still hanging in the chase for the Wild Card.

That about sums it up for now. I'll be around now that I have more time with no classes. Until next time.......