I got a call from Suzanne, “Sean is requesting your presence at noon. We’re having a pre-celebration at Old Chicago pizza.” I love their Thai Pie so she didn’t have to twist my arm. Sean ordered a meat-lovers pizza with Bavarian Sausage that he shared with me. I shared some of Tim’s pizza as well. It pays to sit between them. It probably was a mistake to fill up on so much pizza.
Vic Teigen Fong Fan
I made the mistake of telling Sean on Monday that Victor was having a football party tonight. In his mind he imagined some stunning soirée with lots of food, friends, and action. I told him it was just Victor and I watching the 49er game. He assumed I was lying.
All during the week he planned and tried to weasel an invitation. As it was I had invited myself over to Victor’s. Vic was not planning any sort of party. I told Sean, “You can watch the game on the NFL Channel at home. And I won’t have to take you home during the 3rd quarter.”
This didn’t detour Sean, he got permission to stay up until 10:30 and talked me into taking him along. Suzanne dropped Sean off after school. Sean work on his homework: he was the CEO of a wind generator company and had to describe the geography of the area and why basing his company in Fargo was a good idea. I corrected some spelling. I wanted to rewrite the paper but felt it was better to leave it as is- written by a seventh grader.
After his homework, Sean wanted to throw the football around. I over inflated my Steve Young ‘Wheaties’ Football and we went into the front yard. Over inflated so it hurts when you catch it. We served French toast and bacon for supper. I stopped the main Library downtown. I called Victor at home. Victor was ready for us with candy and ice cream. The game was a let down. Neither the Bears nor the 49ers were playing very well. The 49ers held on to a 10-6 lead. Cutler threw 5 interceptions and the Bears defense was just bad enough to hold the 49ers weak offense down. The end of the game was exciting. The Bears drove down the field and looked ready to score a last second touchdown and win the game. Cutler threw an interception instead. Sean had a good time at the football party and my Niners won again.
Sunday (11/15) Sean and I call back and forth during the Viking victory over the Lions. We both enjoy watching the game and commenting on our favorite players. Sean admires Peterson and I like Rice.
Presto 04830 Microwave Popcorn Popper – Char bought an Orville Redenbacher signed popping bowl after seeing Sean make popcorn in it. I tried it out. It works well. The first time I used a little oil, but found it ruined the paper PowerCup Concentrator-especially the second time I used it. Instead, I now use it like an air popper, and just add butter, which is better anyway. I also pour the popcorn into a second bowl. This makes it easier to add the butter and keeps the butter off the PowerCup, and lets me clean the popping bowl with just a quick rinse.
Suzanne Smiles Over Cake
Paul made a turkey dinner for Suzanne’s birthday. Unfortunately she had a bad hotdog at the NDSU Bison football game and wasn’t feeling well for much of the meal. For dessert Paul made a German Chocolate cake. It looked really good, but I handed my slice to Sean. I didn’t want to risk the chocolate triggering another daylong headache. Suzanne was in good spirits blowing out the candles, opening her gifts and reading the cards.
"Go Bison"
After dropping some hints, Suzanne invited me to the Bison Football home opener at the Fargodome. Unfortunately, she got sick and couldn’t come herself. Paul Dobbins asked, “You think Victor would like to come?” I gave him a call but didn’t get any answer. The traffic wasn’t too bad. Paul parked in the street next to the Fargodome. Sean and Tim bailed out of the van. Clare gave one hand to Paul and one to me. The weather was great and the tailgaters were busy across from the Fargodome. The students were flooding into the dome, wearing their gold t-shirts. Paul and Tim stopped for concessions. Sean, Clare and I went to find our seats. I let Clare hold my hand until the crowd got too dense. She got a good view as I picked her up and sped to the other end of the dome. To Tim the game is an excuse to eat concessionaire food. Sean had a Subway sandwich, but then pestered Paul for junk food during rest of the game. We didn’t get any popcorn, but Paul bought a bag of roasted candied almonds. Yum.
Bob Nelson At Work In The Endzone
Bob Nelson was down in the end zone getting ready for the game- he is NDSU Sports Information’s photographer. Bob couldn’t believe Clare could eat an entire hot dog in one sitting, but she stuffed most of it into her mouth and chewed it down. Paul had to cover her ears after each Bison touchdown, at least until she got use to the cannons going off.
The game was good. The Bison started out shaky but played better and better. The ticket holders in front were well behaved, but the NDSU students behind were assholes. Loud assholes. If I didn’t think it would start a fight, I would have told them to shut the hell up. I think they were drunk and they were certainly opinionated, screaming taunts at our quarterback and defense. They left by the third quarter and we followed shortly after. The final score was NDSU 59, Wagner 28. Victor called at half time, but as the NDSU Gold Star marching band was playing a medley of Emerson Lake and Palmer songs I couldn’t hear him. I gave a one sided update to the game and told Vic I would call him back afterwards. On the way back to the car, I told Victor I had called earlier with a free ticket. Too bad he was outside and missed my call. He would have enjoyed this game.
Game Coverage with a photo by Bob.
Gene Maas called, “The flight to Milwaukee is delayed so Steve, Sarah and Baby Girl won’t be leaving until later.” Gene also wanted to stop at Innovis Clinic and ask the staff some questions about his mother Lydia. Char had told him on Tuesday, “I won’t do anything with the guest bedroom, in case you need to stay over on Thursday.”
Gene took us out to diner after a fruitless visit to Innovis. We ate at Famous Dave’s BBQ. Everyone agreed the food was excellent. I called Suzanne and told her she could pick up dad at the restaurant- much closer to her house. Suzanne and Ray were going to the hospital to pray over Roberta. She just finished the first chemo treatment for AML. We shared food, and had a long talk. Gene, Norma, Char and I continued the talk at home.
Friday (9/11) Gene reloaded the car with all the clothes and gear he had stored in our garage. I burned him a DVD with WMSTR photos, Air Sho photos, and other 2009 family photos. Before they left I posed the family on the porch and swing. Gene and Norma returned a third time, when Char noticed they left their tea. Mom bought a container of powdered donut balls and made the mistake of leaving me alone with them. One after another, “I’ll just have one more and quit.”
I finished “Liberty & Tyranny” by Mark Levin. I called Suzanne, “What a powerful book. His arguments go back to the founding fathers and he illustrated the evil that is socialism and communism, without the name calling and anger that comes across on his radio show.” That anger and his annoying voice are what makes it impossible for me to listen to his radio show. I regretted listening to the audible version of the book. I felt the density of ideas and lists of numbers worked better on paper. I was thankful that Levin didn’t read his own book. (Just the first chapter.)
Suzanne came over that afternoon with Sean, Tim and Clare in tow. We talked about Facebook (Suzanne is in that exciting first week of discovery.) Then Suzanne signed up to become a Chocolatier for Dove Chocolate Discoveries. I have a suspicion Suzanne is going to eat up all her profits.
I entertained the kids in the family room by standing on my head. Clare thought it was funny. Sean and Tim tried this themselves with no luck. I was surprised. With Sean’s Gymnastics training and Tim with his dance instruction I thought they would have the strength and balance to follow my lead.
Clare was fun, she was running around, throwing sofa pillows about, and chatting up a storm. Char arrived, which made Clare very happy.
Thursday (8/27) Paul and Suzanne had to attend an informal diner for the Deacon Program. I babysat the kids. Sean made frozen pizza. We watched the NFL preseason game and then gave Clare a bath. Once she was dry, Paul and Suzanne returned. Paul brushed the tangles out of Clare’s hair. Suzanne complained about the time requirements the deacon program is making.
It seems like I’ve been waiting forever for this air show. Now that I got a good camera I’m doubly excited.
Jim & Carol Peterson invited the family for a little Maas get together. Their new lake home is on Pickerel Lake. Although it isn’t far from Paul and Suzanne’s lake cabin, the directions are more complex. Carol’s directions were good, and except for a couple intersections, which Char almost drive by, we arrive with no trouble.
I was at the library over the lunch hour. Across the street at the Radisson were the Green Day tour buses. I took a photo and emailed it to Paul so he could show Sean. In his birthday card, Sean said he would try to win Green Day tickets for us.
I thought I might be going when Suzanne called. Suzanne’s friend Jennifer is always winning concert tickets from radio stations. But it wasn’t to be. Instead, Suzanne, Sean and I were going to Old Chicago for Thai Pie and bottled root beer. Afterward we watched Star Trek- Sean and I for the second time. It was just as good the second time around. I wasn’t hungry after the Thai Pie but I managed to polish off Sean’s popcorn.
Paul asked me about the photo I sent him, “You need to look at this.” His screen was even smaller than mine and the buses were probably only a couple pixels each. Good thing I titled the photos or he’d never guess what the photo was about.
