Ace Wisdom

If you are a football coach at any level (youth programs, high school, college or the pro’s), the dream job is to have a terrific team, play for a major championship and “win it all”. That would be as good as it gets for a coach.
Alabama played Notre Dame in Miami last night. It was for the National Collegiate Football BCS Championship. Alabama won 42-14. They were leading 28-0 at half time. The coach Nick Saban won his second straight National Championship. Clearly it was “men conquering boys”.
What goes with being the best coach in the country? Recruiting top talent becomes easier (kids join a winning program). New recruits improve their chances of starring and moving on to the NFL pros. Alabama improves their ability to raise more money for their football program. Oh yeah, Saban the coach insures his $5.5 million salary is safe for another year. Who knows. He may even get a raise.
This of course will not last. Another team will come along and knock Alabama off their perch. But for this moment in time, Alabama and it’s fans can celebrate being the best. It is as good as it gets.
Oh yeah. The game was so boring that ESPN started wandering from the play on the field to stories in the stands. The camera “panned” Katherine Webb, the girl friend of quarterback AJ McCarron (Alabama QB). She of course is a beautiful young lady. The advice of the announcers was for all young football players to practice throwing the football because star quarterbacks always get the pretty ladies. Really?
College football is over until August. Really!
Love,
Dad

It all boils down to this. The Packers have trained in the “off season”. They drafted good talent. They have endured the 16 games of the season. They won their division and now host the Minnesota Vikings tomorrow night (at 7:00PM) at Lambeau in the first game of the NFL playoffs.
For years the mystique of playing on the “frozen tundra” was threatening. “Real football players” endure the cold, wind and frozen ground at Lambeau. The Packers always felt they had a big advantage when opponents experienced the harsh conditions in Green Bay in late December and January.
Wait. What’s this? I hear Green Bay Packers players admitting that they hate the cold. They don’t feel the home field advantage of the “tundra” is all it is cracked up to be. Their hands get cold. The footing is questionable even with the heated field. And that nasty cold wind makes the ball feel like a solid rock and hinders the kicking game.
Really? Lombardi would be rolling over in his grave. Remember his team survived the “ice bowl” in 15 below zero temperatures. When you come to Green Bay, it is a matter of macho endurance. It has been a psyche job. Make the other team feel you love the cold. Come on! Suck it up.
All I know is that at 7:00PM tomorrow night, I’m going to turn on my HDTV, settle into my “stressless” favorite chair and enjoy my favorite beverage. Cold? What cold!
Love,
Dad

2012 was a memorable year. Despite all the “noisy” political upheaval, everyone in our family was employed and I think ended the year in good health. For those of you that have 401K retirement plans (or Roths IRA’s) or pension plans, the stock markets were up approximately 12%. We can’t bitch about that.
We are now into the New Year. Grasshopper No.5 is settling into a dream job revolving around computer games. My advice is to suck up to her because you might get some freebie video games “down the road”.
Grasshopper No.4 is already planning his Youth Football programs for 2013. Grandson Tommy will anchor his line. Does it get any better. Grandson Dominic moves into his sophomore high school year after special freshman recognition. Onward and upward.
Grasshopper No.3 never tells me his plans but my driveway keeps getting plowed. I know that Shelby Jr. seems to be making strides to good health. At least now she knows what the medical issues are.
Grasshopper No.2 seems to be in a “good spot”. She enjoys her work, routinely exercises and eats healthy. Her hectic job of being a single mom remains the same. Grandson Grant moves into his senior year of high school in the Fall. Grandson Mitchell becomes a sophomore in the Fall. Over the next few years No.2’s life is going to change dramatically (for the better of course). Please note! Being a parent lasts a lifetime.
Grasshopper No.1 is 10 years away from qualifying for Social Security. It is hard for me to believe our oldest child is in sight of retirement. I’m waiting for her(and Hubby) to buy a horse!
And your Mom and I get to witness the “Circus” and all the performers. We get to applaud. Sometimes we get to participate. 2013 will have it’s share of opportunity.
Today, New Years day sees the UW-Badgers play in the Rose Bowl later today. Win or Lose you have to call the UW football program successful this year.
Saturday night, the Packers start their playoff quest. The football Gods have scheduled the only night game of the weekend for 8:00 PM eastern time at Lambeau. Really? Why wouldn’t the Packers get scheduled for an afternoon encounter with a possibility of a little sunshine and reasonable temperatures. Aw, what the hell! Packer nation is tough.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Dad

Grasshopper No.2 celebrates her “umpty-umpth” birthday on Sunday. Happy Birthday No.2. She has never liked having her birthday so close to Christmas because it tends to be forgotten or diminished. Believe me, her Mom and I remember the date very well.
“Close Shave” doesn’t refer to the current fiscal cliff in Washington D.C. If we go over the cliff and revert to the tax rates “pre-George Bush” the world will not end. The sun will come out tomorrow. It will reduce the amount of money everybody has to spend.
The “close shave” refers to one of my Christmas presents that delivers razor blades from an “on-line” company every month. I expected a plastics “rinky-dink” offering. I got my first blades in the mail today and I was impressed. Thank you Grasshopper No.4. I will say it is a strange gift from someone who wears a beard. Stay tuned.
Your Mom and I used the first of several gift cards that lets us eat at one of our favorite restaurants today. Today’s lunch was courtesy of Grandson Mitchell. You were in our thoughts. As I figure it we have 7 more free dining experiences coming.
The Garmin GPS we received at Christmas works fine. I am now able to find the local shopping mall which is only 3 miles away without getting lost. I am reminded of the old television series “Lost in Space”. The robot computer would always blast out “Danger Will Robinison, danger Will Robinson” whenever something bad was going to happen. Our Garmin broadcasts “recalculating, recalculating” as though we had made some grievious error. I make wrong turns on purpose.
As we head towards year end, I hope 2012 has been good to you. May you enjoy good health and bask in riches. The Packers will “play on” and the Badgers fantasize about winning the Rose Bowl on New Years Day.
Love,
Dad

Merry Christmas to all.
It was special to have the whole family around for the Day of Christmas celebration. It is like the cosmos aligned perfectly for a moment in time.
I am harkened back to my childhood days. The tavern where I was raised was always busy. At Christmas, festivities always increased in intensity. Lots and lots of patrons. Lots and lots of “drinking to the season”. Noise and laughter were a given.
And then there was silence. The tavern always closed at 6:00 PM on Christmas Eve. Up until the moment of closing, the bar room was packed. At 5:45, no more drinks could be ordered. By 6:00, every reluctant patron was ushered out the door. The theory was “everybody should be home with their family on Christmas Eve”. The selfish reason for closing was that our family could have our own Christmas…..quietly. A tavern without noise and people is haunting. It isn’t supposed to be that way. It is hard to describe the feeling walking around the tavern alone with nobody around. It was like a cavern of memories past.
Our recent Christmas was like that. Our growing family was all gathered in one place at the same time. The common theme was laughter. As I looked around everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves and sharing stories. The house was alive.
And then, just like my tavern days, everything was silent. And like the tavern, memories will linger and the day will remain special.
So thank you one and all and to all a good night. The silence is actually a good thing and besides, Santa is tired.
Love,
Dad

According to the Mayan calendar, today is the end. I’m told that it already is Dec.22 in Australia and they are still functioning. Hmmmm!
My guardian angel from across town (Grasshopper No.3) has really taken care of me during this latest “blizzard”. This morning at 6:00 AM I saw No.3 coming up the street to plow my driveway. It meant I could go to the training center for my morning work out. I sipped my coffee and flipped on the TV to SportsCenter. Life seemed good. 10 minutes later the city snow plow came up the street and plowed my driveway shut. Sh–! Yes, I did make my workout routine on schedule (retired people have to have a schedule).
Today is also the first day of Winter. That means the days will slowly be getting longer and there is again the prospect of warm weather.
I saw Santa (at least I think it was Santa) in the evening sky and it looks like he is starting his early deliveries to kids who have been nice(screw the naughty ones). The definition of “kids” includes people like me.
So the blizzard is now past. The sun is shining. The weather forecast for over the Christmas holidays is good. The Mayans had it wrong. Enjoy the season.
Merry Christmas to all.
Love,
Dad

I’ve been told that my exquisite chili is really “soup”. The small addition of noodles apparently moves it into the soup category. Grasshopper No.4 has agreed to show me what real chili tastes like and he is bringing his concoction to our Christmas celebration. We’ll see.
Grasshopper No.5 also claims to make one “healthy”, tasty batch of chili herself. Rumors are she is thinking of making her chili for Christmas. Hey, does it get any better.
Our Charlie Brown Christmas tree is up. It is artificial and has personality. Each year when we turn on the integral lights, only half of them light up. By straightening branches and position certain bulbs, as if by magic, all the lights come on. Yep, they are all on.
We have already received a Christmas canister of mixed nuts in the mail. You can’t eat just one, or two, or three!
I got Christmas caramels from a couple that “trains” with me at the Mall. The soft caramel has pecans and a hint of anise. They are obscenely rich and you can’t stop eating them.
So you see, Christmas is “lining up” to be fun, food, frivolity and tradition.
I sat on Santa’s lap at the Mall. All I want for Christmas is for Mason Crosby of the Green Bay Packers to kick one field goal.
May Santa fill your stocking!
Love,
Dad