Shoot the Breeze With the Cooler Crew - Peoplesforum Edition

you snooze, you lose, sweetheart. sorry.

and WHO is still in bed? not me!

Gonna go get ready to watch some FOOTBALL!

GO VIKINGS!

I attended a premier at the Science Museum the other night on the Vikings!(not about the football team).

Note: I learned that the Vikings never wore horns on their helmets-at least not to be truly proven since none have ever been found. So our football team is a farse!

I always have to allow time for getting turned around and around and around before I get out of there. Give me good ole St. Paul where the streets don't have some quasi-numeric or quasi-alphabetical thing going.

That's exactly the problem with Minneapolis. They claim the streets are organized and follow rules, but there are so many exceptions to the rules, that all it does is build up a false sense of confidence. You have all these one-ways, streets that cut through at angles, barries in the middle of the streets that prevent you from just going straight down them, not to mention the fact that they duplicate street names! (Was that 4th St or was it 4th Ave.? Was it on 4th St. NE or 4th St. SE?) Even Hennepin Ave., one of the city's main streets, does it go east/west or north/south? And then there's the freeways. What is with all these entrances and exits that you can only access from one direction? What if I got on to 35W from Highway 36 and I want to get off on Hennepin or Lake? I can't! I have to go find some other exit and then try and figure out how to get back to the street that I originally wanted without running into a some barrier, a street running through at an angle that cuts me off, or going the wrong way down a one way street! You can navigate Minneapolis by following the rules just about as well as you can be a perfect speller in English just by following the rules.

Give me St. Paul where things may be chaotic, but we never made any pretense that they weren't and we just resigned ourselves to learning it all (and we save a lot of money by not buying a bunch of "one way", "no right turn", and "no left turn" signs.

So who's going where or who's cooking turkey dinner?

That would be me this year. I have just five people coming over though as my other 7 relatives who might potentially come are all spending the day with other family instead. So do I need to start thawing the turkey today?

Allison - The turkey should thaw in the fridge. When you start depends a bit on how big a turkey you are preparing and how cold your fridge is.

our football team is a farse!

There's an understatement

Good Evening Crew!

Been a busy, hectic weekend, but we sure got much accomplished here.

Allison - We have a 20 pound bird that went to thaw in the fridge this evening.

Hard to believe this weekend is about over - but it's only 4 more wakeups till Turkey Day and my son coming home. I can hardly wait!!!!

Allison - We have a 20 pound bird that went to thaw in the fridge this evening.

ditto here.

I've never gotten lost in Minneapolis. I can't say that about St Paul.

i can say that about both cities. maybe its because i've lived in st paul for all 25 years of my life that i've never gotten lost there. i dunno, but i do know that the reason i've never gotten lost in minneapolis is that i know how easy it is to get lost there, and how to avoid those areas of the city where getting lost would be a trivial task (i.e., sw downtown, the "shifting streets" area between hennepin and como just east of stinson/18th street, etc.)

Ive never been lost in Saint Paul either... but Im guessin thats just cause I live here... In Minneapolis.. its a different story... started going there when I was a lil kid just to the Metro Dome, and to Target Center.. and didnt know anything about it at all... but then when I got to actually driving myself... I would go there and spend a while just starting at the Target Center and seeing where I could get to from there.... its all jiggy now... Since when i get bored/drunk or whatever... sometimes I hop on a bus, and end up walkin around over in MPLS, cause theres always stuff going on over there. I havent actually goten "lost" there in a long ass time... prolly since the first time Shaggs drove to the Dome for monster trucks, and we got off an exit too late...and that was a long ass time ago.

I've never gotten lost in Minneapolis. I can't say that about St Paul.

I get lost there every year looking for the carnival office.

Maybe that's my problem. The Target Center and the Metro Dome are newer than when I was a l'il kid. The only thing we ever went to Minneapolis for was the annual Christmas display at Dayton's...and we took the bus there and back.

Thanks J. I feel ancient! LOL!!

There's a whole lot more to the story, but I found a guy in Indianapolis who knows where my dad is. I haven't seen him since 1966, when he allowed my step-father to adopt my brother, sister and me. I can't decide if I should contact him ...

mornin' ralph.

Ian, it's certainly a personal choice. But have you talked to your brother and sister about this knowledge? I'm sure they would be the ones who could understand your feelings and situation the most. Perhaps after talking with them you can come to a decision.

They've both had some contact with him in the past. It's really a messy situation with alcohol involved in my father's past and my brother's present. Plus my sister is losing her house due to medical problems, and unemployment. So I can't 'easily' contact either one of them, without going through my mother. She would be pissed to find out I contacted him.

Oh yeah, he's in a maximum security correctional facility, for a crime he did not commit. and on and on ...

The best thing to do would be to drop it. But there's got to be some curiousity. The searching that I did was pretty involved. He used to publish a magazine, and at one time was a sports reporter for a major newspaper. I couldn't find anything looking there, or on eBay.

Oddly enough, his name came up on a message board/forum concerning the magazine he published. And I found a guy who would sell me five issues from 1966-67.

Hi! Just wrapped up in a warm blanket from the dryer----mmmmmmmm AND an electric blanket. toasty :)

Ian... :(

I think I have some kinda JOE but to relaxed/lazy to figure out what kind ;)

WOW- Dick Clark just said he & his wife buy 2000 gifts for Christmas! OUCH! My aunt wanted to draw names this year- but we are not cause our family is less people :( this year.

So how many people now have sighted the 'mystery van' ;)? Where did you spot it Chem?

Chem
Me2 -Roseville- Rice St @ Larpentuer -near The Lamplighter;)

I saw it in either St. Anthony or NE Minneapolis on 29th Ave/County Rd. C. Can't remember where along there though.

I saw it at the Midas on the corner of White Bear Ave and Maryland.

Bethany found out today that the Dr. is going to put her on bed rest at 28 wks. She's @ week 26 and been home from work for 2 weeks already because of her cyatic nerve(sp).

Good Evening!

Ian - Sounds like you are curious enough to want some answers or to put some closure on things. Whether you go see him, contact him or decide to put it all behind and not have contact, that will put closure on this for you.

As you may remember, both our kids are adopted. Earlier this year my daughter did a search and through the adoption agency her birth mom was found. She soooo wanted to make that contact and ask questions and find out something about her birth dad. (The birth dad did not know of the pregnancy and doesn't know that my daughter exists.) The birth mom refused contact. It was so sad to see the young woman that is my daughter be rejected like that, but it did put closure on the situation as there is no further opportunity to get questions answered.

Through that adoption process, we also were involved in being on panels for other prospective adoptive parents. We heard from adult adoptees who found their birth parents and from birth parents who gave up their children. The stories are as unique as there are people involved. Some turn out super. Others are simply heart wrenching.

The only advice would be to be ready for whatever possible outcome there might be. Think it through so that you know what it is you want from the contact and try to be emotionally ready for anyway the scenario might play out.

I'm sorry to hear your sister is having such problems. I know you're concerned about her.

bed rest

I was on best rest which each kid for an approx total of 9 months.

I completely understand, sympathize, and wish you both patience to a quick due-date. And bring her anything she wants-constantly offering to get her things! A woman will get more stressed and feel bad to have to constantly ask-and if you constantly offer, you won't feel like she is nagging all the time-PLUS- this is the perfect time for you to ever feel NEEDED by your wife! You cannot do a thing when it comes to labor pains! Things like this will make or break a relationship.

i'm gonna have to miss our "christmas" party at work this year. they went off and planned it for january 18th. damn shame i've already got plans that evening. assuming of course, that the pp hunt starts when we're expecting it to.

as i was explaining to me2 when they announced the date, i don't particularly care to socialise with most of my cow-irkers during the work day. i can't imagine why in the world i'd want to socialise with them outside of work.

hey, wait a minute. weren't you one of the ones last year who was all set to prop my sore, doped-up body in a corner at mcg's just so i could be at the predig? those arethe plans i'm talking about, ya know.

January 18th is the birthday of a woman in my singles club and she wants to have a party that night. So it would seem I now have a conflict of loyalties.

By the way, has anyone heard if and when the screening of the movie is going to be? I would guess possibly that same weekend since I assume Trent and Jackie would want to be here for it, and probably don't want to stay here using up any more vacation than they need to. Unless they do it after the hunt begins.

not even gonna help you decide, aw. you're the one who's gotta keep your pryorities straight :)

thanks for that little clarification, jt. cuz yeah i woulda responded to it as though it meant what it sounded like even though i knew better :)

Woman or treasure hunt...woman or treasure hunt...?

come on, jt. its too early for me to have to close my office door to silence the laughter.

are you saying i'm a bovine, chem? that's kinda rude considering you've never met me.

just kidding :)

i know. i'm just teasing ya. and i guess i kinda walked into that didn't i? :)

lol.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WARNING

ISSUED: 22:10 UTC, 26 NOVEMBER 2002

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

*** POTENTIAL FOR MODERATE TO HIGH ACTIVITY EXISTS ***

For North Americans, begin watching TONIGHT.

VALID BEGINNING AT: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
VALID UNTIL: 22:00 UTC (5 PM EST) ON 27 NOVEMBER

HIGH RISK PERIOD: 27 NOVEMBER (UTC DAYS)
MODERATE RISK PERIOD: 26 - 28 NOVEMBER

PREDICTED ACTIVITY INDICES: 16, 40, 15, 12 (26 NOV - 29 NOV)

POTENTIAL MAGNITUDE OF MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY: MODERATE TO HIGH

POTENTIAL DURATION OF THIS ACTIVITY: MAIN BELT = 12 TO 18 HOURS
                                    MINOR BELT = 18 TO 24 HOURS

ESTIMATED OPTIMUM OBSERVING CONDITIONS: PRIOR TO AND NEAR LOCAL MIDNIGHT

EXPECTED LUNAR INTERFERENCE: MODERATE

OVERALL OPPORTUNITY FOR OBSERVATIONS FROM MIDDLE LATITUDES: FAIR TO GOOD

AURORAL ACTIVITY *MAY* BE OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY NORTH OF A LINE FROM...

OREGON TO EXTREME NORTHERN UTAH TO WYOMING TO NORTHERN NEBRASKA TO IOWA TO
   ILLINOIS TO INDIANA TO OHIO TO WEST VIRGINIA TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND
   MARYLAND.

ACTIVITY *MAY* ALSO BE OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY NORTH OF A LINE FROM...

NORTHERN FRANCE TO BELGIUM TO CENTRAL GERMANY TO CENTRAL POLAND TO
   NORTHERN BELARUS TO NORTH-CENTRAL RUSSIA. ACTIVITY MAY ALSO BE OBSERVED
   FROM NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA.

SYNOPSIS...

A moderately strong interplanetary disturbance is in-progress. Impact
of the disturbance occurred at the Earth near 21:52 UTC (4:52 pm EST).
Periods of minor to major auroral storming are expected to accompany this
disturbance. Observations of auroral activity will be possible across
wide-spread middle latitude regions during the next 12 to 18 hours. Initial
data suggest the disturbance could become fairly strong initially.

This warning will remain in effect until 22:00 UTC on 27 November. It
will then be downgraded to a watch or allowed to expire.

mornin' ralph. happy friday to everyone.

Good Morning!!!

Happy Friday like Wednesday everyone!!!

Only one more wakeup till Turkey Day and my son being home. I can hardly wait!

i can just about imagine your excitement, terry. yay!

Good Morning everyone! I am back from Haiti, man it is cold here. It was around 90 all week in Haiti, and now I am freezing in the Minnesota cold, because I adjusted to the heat. I just hope this cold weather continues, and we get a ton of snow, and it stayes around untill after I find the medallion.

Going to Haiti was very interesting, I learned a lot about Haiti, but also about American foreign policy... very sad. I just read in the New York Times that Bush is trying to increase foreign aid by 5 billion, and the money will be giving out to countires that pass his "test", first the have to be poor(less than $1440 per capita income to start out), and second they have to comply with everything that Bush says. It's frusterating because we(America) has frozen over $500 million in foreign aid to Haiti, because of a minor flaw in the election process(this happened at the same time Dubbya was getting elected due to what some would call a flaw in the US). This freezing of aid is choking the economy of Haiti, and in the end the only people that really suffer are the living poor, which is almost everyone. I really sensed the despiration of the Haitian people, and I believe something is going to give, more and more people are suffering everyday, I just pray that the US will un-freeze the aid. I have so many friends in Haiti that are suffering, I just wish that I could do something know that I am back home. I will start writing letters to Mr Bush, and our Senators and Congresspeople, but I doubt that will work. God bless Haiti, and all of the other 3rd world countries in need of help.

It was around 90 all week in Haiti,

thanks, timmers. that was the one thing that none of us wanted to hear about your trip :)

welcome back.

Yeah Ares, but I am glad to be back in frosty Minnesota. You can't have a decent hunt in temperatures above 20.

I don't know about that. It was fairly warm for a good part of the Mock Hunt and that went pretty well (to 11 clues even).