Ace Wisdom

There is a TV ad that features two men standing at urinals in a rest room.  One man is texting on his i-phone and he drops it into the urinal.  He then reaches into the urinal to retrieve the phone.  The “other” man watches in disbelief and utters “Really”?  He can’t believe what he just saw.  I love that simple expression.

The Green Bay Packers (of which I am one of 112,000 stockholders) beat da Bears in Chicago and are moving on to the Super Bowl.  Really?  How can a team with so many injuries during the season be in position to win the Lombardi trophy?

Coming back from Madison this weekend, highways were coated in wet salt solution.  Our car went from dark grey to white in color.  So I took one of my xmas car wash certificates and went through PDQ Carwash.  Our car is back to dark grey.  Really!

We saw Grandson’s Grant and Mitchell play basketball Friday night.  Both are the tallest players on their respective teams.  Both teams won.  I am biased but both Grandsons were the best players on their team.  Really!

I went for my daily exercise on Sunday.  Upon arriving, there were two big fire trucks at the entrance of the Mall with lights flashing.  Nobody was allowed in until the facility was declared safe.  So I went home and never did exercise.  Neither snow nor sleet nor rain will keep me from my exercise routine.  Potential fire is another issue.  Really!

Now we settle into a two week period of hyper bullsh– about the upcoming Super Bowl.  It will make life interesting during two depressing weeks of winter.  I predict that the Packers will bring home the prize.  Really!

Stay Warm,

Love,

Dad

 

It was minus 12 degrees this morning.  Take heart.  It will warm to 0 degrees today.

I remember (that is how old people start sentences) when I would visit my Grandpa Jiggs and Grandma Helen in northern Wisconsin near Cable.  During a December visit to their home (called Wildwood Lodge) when I was 10-12 years old, it got to 40 below zero.  They had an outdoor toilet which was 1/2 block away from the main facility.  It forced a whole new meaning to the phrase “hold it as long as you can”.  No, you didn’t have to use the Sears catalog for toilet paper.  I was told that in northern Wisconsin there is “dryer air” so the impact of 40 degrees below zero wasn’t so bad.  I think that was all bullsh– to make you feel better.

The Packer/Bear game should be played in reasonable weather for Chicago this time of year.  Forecast is for low 20’s degrees with light winds.  Maybe a few snow flurries.  Weather will affect the game strategy.  Each team will want to run the ball to reduce fumbles and “chew up the clock”.  Turnovers could prove decisive.  I remember (here we go again) several years ago, the Packers were visiting Chicago.  Temperatures were near 0 degrees and winds were 25-30 miles per hour.  Brett Favre (mister tough guy) was quivering with a group of comrades on the sidelines.  Thankfully Chicago should be reasonable Sunday.

One more “cold” story.  In 1961 when I was living in Plymouth and commuting frequently to Marquette in Milwaukee, I would leave at 6:30 AM to make my early classes.  There were many minus 25 degree mornings.  My 1956 Nash Rambler always started.  It was just me and my little green and white dream machine bouncing down life’s path in extreme cold.

So Grasshoppers, “man up”.  Wear warm clothing.  Stay inside.  Enjoy the Packer victory on Sunday.

Does it get this cold in Minneapolis?

Love,

Dad

Last Saturday it was Packers 48, Falcons 21.  The Packers are still dancing.

Grasshopper No.4 talks about “it”.  Some people seem to have “it”.  They can fall into a puddle of mud and come out smelling like a rose.  The Green Bay Packers seem to have “it” this year in the playoffs.  They have dropped passes, given up kick-off returns for touchdowns and fumbled at key times.  But they still win.  When you have “it”, you are never out of the ballgame because you believe you can come back and win.  “It” just happens.

I want to remind everyone that I own one share of the Green Bay Packers.  So keep buying their merchandise and paying those high prices.  The shareholders couldn’t be happier.

I see that Brett Favre wishes the Packers well in the playoffs.  He thinks they have the best team.  I hope he doesn’t jinx the team.  A month ago he wanted Chicago to knock the Packers out of their chase for the playoffs.

Aaron Rogers has indicated that he likes indoor stadiums better than the blustery conditions he will get in Chicago.  Come on.  Man up!  Aaron also doesn’t like “cold weather shoes” either because they hurt his feet.  Hey, this is football.

So here we go.  Chicago versus Green Bay.  “Smash Mouth” football for the right to go to the Super Bowl.  Does it get any better.

Stay warm.

Love,

Dad

 

I received a year end tax statement from my Credit Union.  It was for “interest earned” on our checking account for 2010.  I have to report $2.56 interest on our taxes for the year.

Grasshopper No.5 calls it “tanking”.  It is when you are playing war games on a web hookup with your friends and one person has to sacrifice themselves by being a decoy while the rest of the team swoops in and kills the enemy.  The Green Bay Packers practice “tanking”.  They try to get the opponents to focus on the fact they have a running game when in fact they do not.  The Packers got a couple of lucky bursts from their running back last Sunday and now they profess to be a balanced team.  Shame!  Atlanta 27, Green Bay 20.

The stars are not lined up for me right now.

I ran the coffee pot over this morning.

I caught my headset in the door of the car yesterday and smashed it beyond recognition.

My doctor prescribed gout pills to reduce uric acid in my system.  The side effect is that it causes the gout to get worse as it dissolves “uric crystals” in your system.  The truth is that many people have high levels of uric acid in their blood and never experience gout.  Lucky me.

I thought we got major dentist bills out of the way last year.  Your Mom went to dentist yesterday and it is her turn to be crowned.

Wait, I think I am describing life.  Sh– happens.  Why should I be any different?

Actually one good thing did happen when I had my semi-annual doctor visit.  My blood sugar reading (which is a diabetes measure) was in normal range.  Maybe it is because I have been staying away from sweets.  Dah.

After all the “poor me” rhetoric, the Packers could go all the way to the Super Bowl.  Beating Atlanta is do-able.  The Packers do have a good team.  Beating Atlanta would lead to Chicago.  The Packers match up with the Chicago Bears.  The Bears can be beat.  That would lead to Dallas (the Super Bowl location) against the New England Patriots.  It would be a fun match-up to watch.  The last time I looked, a football is oblong and can bounce funny.  Anything can happen.

Stay warm.

Love,

Dad

I remember when I was working (years and years ago).  Going to work on a Monday morning after a Green Bay Packer victory was always uplifting.  Make that a “NFL playoff” victory and the effect was even greater.  People would wear player jerseys.  Today it would be Clay Matthews, Aaron Rogers or A.J. Hawk.  More work got done (inspite of all the water cooler gatherings) than on a normal day.  I loved the “Packer glow”.

Better yet, the Packers are still playing.  Losers go home.  Winners keep playing.  What else is there to do in Wisconsin in January?  Go Pack go.

I caused the snow today.  I got both cars washed yesterday (with certificates from Grasshopper No.3).  Of course it snows after you clean the car.  Why did I do that?

Tomorrow is my normal “Doctor Day” (6 month check-up).  It is my Doctor’s annuity.  Keep me coming back.  Daughter-in-law Shelby gets anxiety when she has to go the dentist.  I get anxiety when I go to my doctor.  I know I am “leaking oil”.  If I describe all my aches and pains, I will end up with tons of medications (and a lecture on weight loss).  If I keep quiet, I suffer in silent agony.  I will still get the weight loss lecture.  In my heart I know the Doctor is right.  I reserve the right to know my body better than he does.  So whoa is me.  How much do I tell him?

On a previous blog, I expressed my concern about information put out on Facebook.  USA Today had an article on people that were robbed while on vacation.  The vacationers expressed too much about their upcoming vacation on Facebook with friends.  Their home was looted while they were on gone.  Dah!

As Norm would say on “Cheers”. “It is a dog eat dog world and I am wearing milk bone underwear”.

Stay warm.

Love,

Dad 

 

Your Mom and I went to see the movie “Social Network” about the life of Mark Zuckerberg (all 23 years) and his role in the creation of Facebook.  He is becoming a computer cult hero.  He will obviously be rich beyond even his wildest dreams.  He behaves somewhat like an autistic.  He has a distant look in his eyes when he is interviewed.

Facebook is a warm “fuzzy”.  You can vent your feelings to your friends.  You can post pictures until your heart’s content.  You can network with an unlimited number of people who have similar likes.  You can express your preferences for everything from eating habits to kinky sex.  It is addicting.

On the negative side, facebook encourages you to post a lot of personal information.  It seems very innocuous (harmless).  You include (for the world to see), your picture, your name, where you live, details about your family and preferences about life.  There you are in all your glory.  You are a member of Facebook.

You don’t know what is real or not real.  Everything posted by people about themselves is not necessarily true.

You are theoretically protected by the Facebook pledges to keep your information confidential.  There have been many reported breaches that Facebook claims it fixed.  Hey, Zuckerberg in the movie Social Network, hacked into lots of data bases with ease.  Don’t assume you are protected.

There are people in business that have factored your profile and interests into a marketing strategy and targeted you for their services and products.  You can become inundated with solicitations for everything from credit cards to automobiles.  Do you really need that in your life?

Police departments from all over the country (including foreign countries) can access information about you.  You are part of the Iranian facebook connection.

The government can use your personal data to watch you.  I can’t even comprehend the potential ways “Big Brother” uses Facebook.

Debt collectors find Facebook data very useful.

Crooks can check you personal information and target you for theft.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a warm social benefit to being connected to your friends and loved ones.  It is just important to realize what you are dealing with.  Facebook is not a private. It is not secure.  You don’t know how your personal information is being used.

My conclusion is that I’m not sure that even Zuckerberg can comprehend the monster he has unleashed.

So be smart with how you use Facebook.  If the local police department calls you because you look like a suspect in a fraud case (from a picture you posted), don’t call me to bail you out.  Call Facebook.

Love,

Dad 

My blog and it’s format is made possible by Grasshopper No.5.  That gives her the power to change my “musings” whenever she wants.  I want all to know that she edits all information related to her and has on occasion changed a word or two.  Booogada.  Booogada.  She is watching me.  Almost sounds like the government as they intrude secretly into our lives!

2011 begins.  As they say in the Budweiser ad, “here we go”!

Mom and I had a chance to visit with Grandson Collin.  I learned something about the structual integity of an F18 fighter jet along with the importance of hydraulic systems.  He is doing what he wanted and it sounds really interesting.  Rest easy America, my Grandson stands ready to “kick ass”.  I think he returns to sunny San Diego Thursday.

UW Badgers lost 21-19.  They played well.  Still, winning is the only thing.  Maybe next year.

Rumor has it that the Green Bay Packers asked Santa Claus for a running game.  Without the ability to run, it will be a short playoff series.  You would think they could open a few holes for their backs to run through.  Jesus!  To be positive, the Packers are in the playoffs and they have a chance.  At least one more week of hope!

So tweak your 401(k)s, save more of what you earn and make wise investments.  You will indeed become rich.  You don’t realize it but you are already rich.

Stay warm,

Love,

Dad