OH, TANNUMBAUM

The Christmas tree; it is probably the best known symbol of Christmas next to the nativity scene. On any day, it is a sign of peace, hope, love, and world kindness that makes people warm and happy during the holiday season. But not today. Today was a scene out of The Apocalypse.

The cats, Scrappy and Lance, were sitting under the Christmas tree. They tolerate each other to a degree, but there isn't a whole lot of love between them right now. I was in the kitchen when I heard one of the cats yowl and chaos ensued under the tree. It only lasted about 3.4 seconds, but in that amount of time they managed to wipe out my Christmas tree and scare the crap out of the girls. The only thing that stopped the tree from completely hitting the floor was the Lay-Z-Boy recliner in the corner in the corner of the room. Three quarts of the ornaments blew off of it and I had to restring half the lights. Lucky for them, only one ornament broke. Now my tree, that was once perfectly straight, has a wicked left shift lean and the angel is about to jump off the top of the tree and commit suicide at any moment. I tried to straighten the tree, but quit when I thought I was going to knock it over again.

I cannot wait for Vanessa to come and pick Lance up on Saturday.

LANCE

A while ago, while working at Moller's, my boss asked me if I wanted another cat. He and his wife had a collection of animals, 3 dogs and 4 cats, and they were looking for new homes for some of the animals. I had been to his house several times before, and I told him we would gladly take Lance.

Lance is a one-year-old declawed house cat. He is Siamese in color. However, Vanessa swears that there is no Siamese in him. Our cat, Scrappy, hasn't been to happy about Lance since he got here, but they are not doing too bad. Just the occasional growl and howl at each other. Until they get comfortable, I am watching the cats closely while they are in the same room together. I am waiting for an episode of WWF Cat Wrestling to break out at any moment between them.

We may not have Lance all that long. I spoke to Vanessa on the phone and she told me that she told her father that she was going to take Lance when she came home for Thanksgiving and he wasn't supposed to give him away. I don't know if her father believed her or not, because he brought the cat over 20 minutes after talking with Vanessa on the phone. It won't bother me if she decides she wants her parents cat. So for now I have been telling the girls that we are cat-sitting for the week. I just don't want Vanessa to take too long if she is going to take Lance back. I would hate to have the girls become really attached to him, and then have to give him back after he's been here a month.

NEIL DIAMOND CONCERT

Rainy and I arrived in Grand Forks at 6 o'clock, just in time for the supper rush at every eating establishment in town. Every place was packed with people. We were going to eat at Red Lobster, but there was a 50 minute wait for a table. Instead, we headed down the road and ate at the Golden Corral. There was a waiting line there too, but not as bad. After eating we ran over to Lowes so Rainy could pick up some Christmas items she had been looking for and then we headed out to the Alerus Center.

The concert started a little after 8 o'clock. I was very impressed with the show. Neil Diamond hasn't aged much at all and he sounded wonderful. Not like some other performers where they sound good on CD but they sound like crap live. He performed all his classics and even a few new songs that he has coming out. At one point in the concert, he even came down on the floor, pulled a young woman out of the audience, walked with her while he sang, they danced together, smooched, and then he returned her to her seat. The crowd roared and sang along with every song. Everyone really got into Sweet Caroline, which I got video of on my cell phone. Too bad the music was too loud for the phone and all you hear is Rainy and I screaming, "Ba Ba Ba. So good, so good, so good" to what sounds like garbage garage band music. He sang for two and a half hours and the concert wrapped up at 10:30. After fighting a mad mob of people to get out of the parking lot, we made a quick trip to Wal-Mart and then headed home.

I would definitely go to another one of his concerts if I have the opportunity. I would also recommend that you all see it too, you would be impressed. I'm posting a few really bad pictures on my blog. We were in the nose-bleed section so I didn't any pictures that are good, but I did get a some that turned out okay.

SUPER EXCITED!!

Instead of watching movies and eating junk food all weekend like we intended, Rainy and I are now going to the Neil Diamond concert in Grand Forks at the Alerus Center on Saturday. How cool is that! Rainy got two free tickets at her last Family Troop Support meeting and asked me to go with her. This will be my first concert in five years. I am so excited to be doing something like this with one of my two best friends. Rainy and I are going to have a lot of fun getting there, we will probably have a few drinks at the concert, listen to good music performed by a man that wasn't all that bad looking 30 years ago, eat out, and then try to remember it all in the morning. It may not get that wild. We have both discovered it takes a lot longer to recover after a night of consuming alcoholic beverages then it did when we were younger, but we will DEFINITELY be making the most of this evening, you can guarantee it. So, with that being said, does anyone have enough money for bail just in case i have to make one phone call. Also, mom and dad I'm sorry, but neither of you can have my ticket. It's mine!!

I CANNOT THINK OF A TITLE

Yesterday, the girls and I got ambitious and we put up our Christmas tree. I know it's a bit early, but I enjoy having it up and I don't see the point it going through all that work to just have a tree up for 2 weeks and then taking it down right away. If you are going to put a tree up, let it stand for a while....that's my personal opinion.

Today I had morning coffee and muffins out at Billy Jo's place. I hadn't spoken to her since Kat's Halloween party so it was great to get together with her. We had a lot to talk about and we had fun playing karaoke on her Wii. Billy brought up joining Eastern Star and that she is seriously thinking about doing it. My mom was in Eastern Star for a little while and I also have given a thought or two about joining, so I asked my mom about it. I must say her comments were less than encouraging, but truthful. Three of my most favorite quotes from her while we talked about Eastern Star were, "It's too formal for you. You HAVE to wear a dress", "They wouldn't appreciate you", and my favorite, "Play on a dart league in a bar instead. I'm serious. It would be more fun." You could take all these into really bad context and say that my own mother was slamming me, but she really wasn't and it made me laugh. However, I am still kicking around joining Eastern Star with Billy....but Wednesday night darts is very tempting too.

I have a friend from Fargo coming to visit on Thursday. I'm excited! It's been over a year since we have seen each other. I'm just not 100 percent sure what we are going to do in the metropolis of York yet.

This weekend I had tentative plans for a veg-out-movie weekend at Rainy's place. We were going to rent some old movies that we liked to watch when we were younger like The Burbs, Transylvania 6500, The Goonies,...stuff like that. But my mother informed me this evening that she has been asked by a few people to make 16 more cookie trays, some of her cappuccino coffee mix, and buns so I may end up helping her instead.

Blaine Albertson's memorial service is on Friday in Minot. My mom, dad, and I all plan to attend. I'm not sure how long it is going to be since his body was cremated and interment services are not held in the middle of winter. I plan to take the girls with me and drop them off at my mother's aunts house while we are at the service. Then afterwards, we are going to meet the girls father at the mall because it is his weekend to have them.

BLAINE ALBERTSON: R.I.P

At this time, my thoughts and prayers are with the Don and Darlene Albertson family. Their son, Blaine, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer not too long ago, and on Friday at midnight Blaine passed away at home with his wife, Theresa, by his side.

I got to know Blaine when we lived in Churchs Ferry. I would go out to Albertson's farm everyday to ride horse and train some of the younger ones for Don. While I was doing this, I became really good friends with Theresa's daughter Stephanie who I spent a lot of time with, and even stayed at our place when they were up visiting Don an Darlene.

Blaine was a good man with a kind heart. He was a wonderful step-father to Stephanie and her younger sister. He lost both of his arms in an auger accident when he was growing up on the farm, but that never bothered him and didn't stop him from accomplishing any task that a person with both arms could do. I remember the time I stayed at their home in Minot one weekend a long time ago. I drove up there because Stephanie and I had plans to go see the John Michael Montgomery concert at the state fair. We spent the majority of the day just riding, hanging out, and talking with everyone. It was definitely a fun time. The morning I was to leave for home, Blaine had breakfast and coffee waiting for me when I woke up.

Blaine will be missed by many people.

CHRISTMAS TREE AND OTHER BLOGS

It's cold and icky today. The wind is a bastard so the girls and I don't plan on going outside or doing anything exciting. There isn't anything today to do but clean up my house, wash clothes, and watch the snow fall.

While I was cleaning, I got this strong need to put up my Christmas tree. Don't worry, I fought temptation and haven't put it up just yet. Do you think it's too early to put my tree up? I don't know why I want to put it up, but I do. I suppose it's because Christmas time brings the best out in people. Everybody gets along, There is cheer and happiness in the air, there is sharing among friends and family, people want to help one another, and everyone just seems to be in better moods. Those actions are infectious and spread drastically.

Yesterday, the girls and I took cookies to all of our neighbors. Its not a big deal since we only have 3 neighbors. There were some left over cookies from the bazillion that we made over the last few days at my moms. The girls wanted to give cookies to people, and I thought it would be nice to give all the neighbors cookies, so that's what we did. Hope you all enjoy them. If any donuts or fudge come home from the bake sale, I will give out those too. But don't hold your breathe on that happening.

And on quick notes:
April - You haven't posted in almost a month.
Karissa - What's up with your "Isabella"blog? I cannot get into it.
Kevin - You haven't posted in a YEAR!
Doug - Thank you for posting on my blog. At least I know you are alive.
TLaw - How are things going?
Mr. Toast - It's been a while.
LeAnn - Where the hell did you go?
Josie - **Does anyone know if Josie still has a blog**
Billy Jo - You really need to restart your blog
And for those I have missed - Post and let me know you are there.

OBAMA ELECTED PRESIDENT

Change for our country is finally on its way, not just because Obama is America's first black President, but because he also comes with hope and a brighter future for all citizens. The election of an African American President has shown how far we have come as a nation since the Civil Rights Movement. I hope all people will embrace him as President, and he will bring us better peaceful years ahead.

I am proud to say that, yes, I did vote for Obama.

KAT'S KORRAL HALLOWEEN BASH 2008

My regular babysitter didn't have any volleyball games this weekend, so she was able to come over and watch the girls so I could take part in Kat's Halloween Bash and Costume Contest. The place was packed with people, most of them in costume, and she also had karaoke that night as well. We had such a fun time! I can't fully describe how much fun it was! We chattered, drank, laughed, and danced the entire night. My feet were killing me the next day.

I wasn't expecting to win anything during the costume contest. There were a lot of people dressed up a lot nicer than me....but I won 3rd place. Rainy got 1st and Dwight Noltimere from Penn got 2nd.

I took the liberty of posting a few of the 73 pictures that I took that night. They all turned out pretty good for the most part. Some I cannot post because they may break graphic content rules, and I don't really wanna find out. If you wanna see more, just ask.

Peace out, Cub Scouts!

Rainy....the 1st place winner.

Peggy Sue....the 2nd place winner.

Me...the 3rd place winner.

Tiece, Me, & Thomas

Thomas & Brandie

Amanda Nygaard

Brandie, Me, Candace, Samantha, & Amanda

Rainy, Anessa, & Kat

Me & Jordan

Jordan, Myself, Nate, & Rainy

Jordan & Nate

Billy Jo & Myself

Merri & Rocky Teubner

Samantha & Jeremey

Brandie and Myself

HALLOWEEN 2008

When I picked up the girls from the babysitter, the babysitter had already fed all the kids so that they were all ready to go out trick-or-treating after their parents picked them up. I took the girls over to my parents house to get them ready to go out. Billy Jo called me, she and her husband were driving around getting ready to start with their boys. They drove over to my parents place and waited for me to get the girls together and then we all headed out together in their van.

We made a quick stop over at Jeremey and Sam's house where they got a crap load of candy their. After that, we went and started out on the south end of town. There was a little excitement at first because all the kids tried to crowd the house doors at the same time. After about the 10th house, Billy and I got it worked out where A.J. and Cassidy would go up first and then back away from the door and let Ashton and Jessie go. It wasn't 100% perfect, but it worked. Ashton was comical at a few houses. Some places had spookey displays and Ashton would sit there and stare at them and then start laughing. His parents literally had to pull him away from the displays or he wouldn't leave. It was cute.

We finished up with the south half of town and my girls were starting to get tired and they asked to go home. Vinny and Billy Jo dropped us back off at my parents place and they went back into town to do some more trick-or-treating. They went home with a MASSIVE amount of candy, which was shown to me through a picture text message. The pile of candy filled up half of their living room floor. I had to laugh a few times at Vinny half way through trick-or-treating. He gave me a stern 101 lesson on how to do it so the kids would get more candy out of sympathy. It did work, we came home with a lot of candy too...not near as much as they did, but enough for my two girls.

Tonight is the Halloween party at Kat's Korral. I haven't completely decided if I am going. I really want to, it would be a lot of fun. However, my babysitter is busy with a volleyball tournament today and she could be really tired when she gets home. I don't even know the exact time she is getting home, so it's basically if the sitter feels up to it or not.

I hope all of you enjoyed your Halloween!

Cassidy Lynn

Jessie Ann

A.J.

Squeaker; a.k.a Ashton

A group shot of all the kids, and Sam & Billy Jo

The Posse Trick-Or-Treating.