Happy Birthday Nik!

Our son Nik turned 20 years old today! Let me say that again. Nik, our oldest, the one who just the other day I held in my arms as a cute little baby boy turned 20 years old today. Wow, where the heck does the time go. Niks 20th year saw him get a paying part time job at a local coffee shop, Vote in his first Presidential Primary Caucus, Vote in his first Presidential election and witness the historic swearing in of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. What a great year he's had, and is looking forward to great things this year as well. We had a small celebration after Catie's dance performance at a local Asian restaurant PEI WEI, followed by cake and presents back at the house. Happy Birthday Nik, we love you!

Me and my boy

Happy Birthday Nik!

Nik and the girls blow out 20 candles

Dancing with the Future Stars

Catie has been taking Ballroom Dance lessons since last March. At first she was learning basic moves and technique in formation classes. One of her goals was to be able to compete. So, in September the studio owner paired her with a male partner Catie's age, a boy named Aaron. In preparation for the first big dance competition the studio organized an exhibition at a local nursing home. This gave the kids a chance to dance in front of about 100 senior citizens who loved the chance to watch you people dancing to elegant music wearing beautiful costumes. The kids got valuable experience of dancing in front of a large audience. Catie and Aaron did a great job and are now even more excited about their first big competition next month.

Catie back stage before her performance

Catie and Aaron performing the Samba

Catie strikes a pose in her beautiful costume

A Prayer for our New President

Our God and Father,

You and you alone, see all things. We praise you.

You and you alone, hear all things, We worship you.

You and you alone, have all power to do what you want to do. We honor you.

We are your Children, We thank you and love you.

With your eyes, look upon us, and be happy.

With your ears, hear our prayers, and be pleased.

With your powerful hand lead us in your ways.

You ask us to pray for those in positions of authority.

We come to ask you to lead our nation and our new President, Barack Obama.
Help him.

The problems he faces are great.

The responsibilities he has are too overwhelming for him to carry alone.

He needs your eyes, your ears and your powerful hand to guide him and our nation.

Give him the gift of wisdom to know what to do.

Give him the vision so that he can see what you want him to see.

Give him faith to trust you for the resources he needs to lead.

Give him courage to do what is right in your sight and good for all people.

Give him the hope to endure through the challenges ahead. When he is feeling lonely, be his friend.

Give him good, gifted and wise leaders who will counsel and work with him.

Give him a cool head and a warm heart.

Give our new president confidence as he and his family move into the White House, that they will have the presence and the power of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ who said "I will never leave you or forsake you."

Lord, You have shown us what is good. That is what you require of us: To act justly and to love mercy and to walk Humbly with you, our God.

May President Obama lead our nation in this way so that you will be lifted high and all nations will praise your name.

We pray all these things in the name of Jesus, the giver of life and hope.

Amen

25 Random Things About Me

I had a friend of mine ask me to do a like like this as part of a Facebook project. I figured that since I had put all that work into it, I should have it on my blog as well. So, here you go!

1. I've been happily married to my wife Christina for 26 years
2. In that time we have been married we've lived in 2 apartments, 2 town homes, and 4 houses.
3. I have lived in Wisconsin, California and Minnesota
4. During almost all of this time (25 years) I have worked for the same company, Quad Graphics
5. In my time at Quad I have been a Jogger, Roll Tender, Cameraman, Stripper (not the kind you are thinking) Customer Service Rep, Customer Service Manager, Imaging Sales Rep, Imaging Sales Manager, Operations Manager and Sales Leader.
6. I have found Geocaches in 31 states. If you have to ask what a Geocache is, then you don't know me very well (www.geocaching.com)
7. I was a published auto racing photographer at age 17
8. Celebrities I've see include Liam Neeson, Lisa Bonet, Dustin Hoffman, Jim Carey, Florence Henderson, Holly Barry and Samuel L. Jackson
9. Saw Samuel L. Jackson having lunch with Larry Flint at the Four Seasons in LA
10. I've climbed 6 Mountains, 3 of them over 14,000 feet tall.
11. I've canoed and rafted with my Dad on 3 occasions. Each trip included at least 1 near death experience!
12. While hiking in the Anza-Borrego desert, I came across a fellow hiker wearing only boots and a hat!
13. While Kayaking with my Friend Jeff Porter in the Channel Islands off the California Coast, Jeff and his son Zack were being blown out to the open ocean by a fierce off shore wind. I took almost 2 hours to get them back to shore.
14. My kids and I have visited over 35 National Parks in the US
15. We have not done much international travel but have been to Canada and Mexico on numerous occasions.
16. While in Mexico with my Mom, Dad and Chris, I was the only one to not come down with a crippling case of Montezuma's revenge!
17. On a recent press check with a client we were up for over 36 hours strait. I was so tired, I feel asleep sitting up in the hotel dinning room.
18. While living in California, a wild fire forced us to be evacuated from our home. It was amazing how few things we took with us. The most important thing was that we all made it out safely together!
19. I'm the oldest of 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls. Two of my sisters are identical twins.
20. I was a distance runner in High School. It is true that the older I get, the faster I was!
21. Now that I live in the land of 10,000 lakes, I have developed a passion for the paddle sports of canoeing and kayaking.
22. I've had to learn to walk three times in my life. Once at age 1. Once at age 4 after having Legg–Perthes Synrome and once at age 8 after recovering from Rheumatic fever.
23. The treatment for Legg-Perthes in the early 1960's was complete immobilization from the waist down for 12 months. This was accomplished by strapping me to a board with wheels.
24. Growing up in WI (the dairy state) my parents and I would make Oleo (fake Butter) runs to Illinois as it was not sold in WI.
25. I can't spell worth a damn. Thank God for spell check.

Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

NPR.org, January 20, 2009 · The following is Barack Obama's inaugural address, as prepared for delivery.

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sanh.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive ... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Focus on the Positive, Living with the Negative (Temps)

This has been an interesting week, one that was filled with challenges of arctic proportions. We started the week out with 5 inches of snow, a nice addition since our snow up to this point has been kinda cruddy from a freak rain shower right after the new year. As soon as the snow stopped, the temperature dropped... And dropped...And DROPPED! Tuesday morning roared in with temperature of -17 below zero. I was in WI for work over the weekend so when I left Brookfield on Tuesday the temp was 10 above zero. As I drove towards home the temperature steadily dropped so that by noon I was driving in temps of -11 below. I had to really be on my toes, watching out for the dreaded Black Ice. I went past many cars that had spun off of highway and into the ditch. As the drive wore on it did warm up a bit, with the temp at my house a toasty -4 below. Little did we know this was the warmest it would be for a while!

Wednesday dawned clear and cold with a temperature of -6 below zero and it struggled all day long to warm up topping out at -4 below. Over night the mercury dropped down to what Chris calls "Angry Cold" to a nose numbing -21 below! It did warm back up to a respectable -4 again before making another angry plunge to what I call a "Snot Freezing Cold" of -22 below freakin' zero! That was this morning, and I still made it to the gym just like every other day this week, but it was a little bit harder to leave the comfort of my flannel sheets knowing what awaited me outside. The sun was warmer and the wind shifted from the south and finally the cold slid back north to our friends in Canada. Our high today was 9 ABOVE zero which is still on the chilly side, but a big improvement over the last 80 hours! In Minnesota, we earn our Summers.

The Dashboard doesn't lie, -21 below zero baby!

Happy New Year!

We rang in the new year at Rich and Sheryl’s house last night. We had an awesome dinner of surf and turf, Fillet Minion, Jumbo Shrimp and Alaskan Crab Legs. After watching the ball drop in Times Square we played Pictionary Man and the Seen it on Seinfeld game. We had a great time. Here’s wishing all of you a very happy and safe New Year.

Nik Toasts the New Year, Relax it's only Sparkling Juice

Happy New Year!

Catie with some of the Yummy Deserts