CHIC UNDONE 2009

From July 12-16 I had the opportunity to attend a youth conference called CHIC. CHIC stands for Covenant High In Christ. This conference is sponsored by the Evangelical Covenant Church and happens every 3 years.

The trip started out with a 24 hour bus ride departing from Duluth, MN and ending at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. We started our journey at 11:45 AM and arrived the next day at 10:00 AM. I have done many bus rides in my day, but despite the many stops we made along the way, I was unsuccessful in trying to find a comfortable position to accumulate a significant amount of sleep. We did make it without any significant problems.

Upon arrival I found Massey Hall and checked in to my dorm room. Yes I stayed in the dorms. Thankfully the dorm room had air conditioning but the bed was quite uncomfortable. After check in I began to explore the campus. Unfortunately for me my room was on the opposite side of the campus from where everything was going on. With the handy dandy little map I was able to navigate my way around campus.

There were tons of things to do and I liked swimming, playing frisbee, listening to live music, playing some basketball, and doing some crafts.

The main event of the evening was called Mainstage. We sang worship music lead by the CHIC worship band, Israel Houghton, David Crowder Band and Third Day. I learned about mission work in Thailand and was challenged by some speakers. The speakers I listened to were Erwin McManus who challenged us to make sure that we dream big. He emphasized I should never think my dreams are ordinary. He called me to dream of a life to make the world better.

On the second night Shane Claiborne spoke of "The Simple Plan." He had the opportunity to work with Mother Teresa. His story is amazing. Shane challenged us, "the best thing to do is give the best thing away." His story is amazing and I would encourage you to google him to learn more. He lives simply.

On the third night we listened to the pastor of Elevation Church of Charlotte NC Steven Furtick. Steven assured us that despite any mistake made in the past the Lord will forgive. He said, "God didn't put you in this world to survive it, he put you here to change it."

And on the final night I listened to Efrem Smith from Santuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis MN. Efrem challenged me not be afraid of God's call and to have time to find God's call. He asked us to have courage to answer God's call no matter what it may be.

It was a great week to refocus my life and remember that there are so many more important things in this life that stuff you can buy with money.

I would strongly encourage you to google CHIC UNDONE 2009 if you are curious. CHIC 2012 is going to be great.

Free Drive in Movie

I just wanted everyone to know about a movie that will be playing at Lakeview Covenant Church. Lakeview Covenant Church is located at the corner of Glenwood Street and Jean Duluth Road. The exact address is 1001 Jean Duluth Road. Please call the church with any questions 525-6625. The movie is free with a concession stand. You will be able to sit or watch from your car and have the sound play through FM frequency. It is going to be lots of fun. Hope to see you there and invite some friends.

Funny Stories from Emma

As many of you know Emma is almost 5 years old. As she learned that a new baby will be arriving in the near future, she is adamant of a few things. I must preface this story by telling you Heather and I will not find out what the baby will be prior to the birth. So with that said, Emma is telling people 1 of 3 things when they ask her about her new sibling. Emma says, “My mommy has a baby brother and baby sister in her tummy.” Second she may say, “My mommy has a baby brother in her tummy.” Third she may say, “My mommy has a baby sister in her tummy.”

And with that said, Emma has come up with some names for her new brothers or sisters, they are Tresa, Sally, Natalie, Callie, Ashley, Dora, Emma, Eddie, or Heather.

Heather and I laugh every time we hear someone ask Emma because we never know what she might say.

Twitter

I kept hearing about it everywhere. Twitter this and Twitter that and kept wondering what all the fuss was about. So because I was bored I decided it was time to give Twitter a try. First I downloaded the free app on my Iphone and then learned you must register online on your computer. So, I did that step and what I then learned was finding a user name is quite difficult because most names have already been taken. I guess I didn’t think Eddie_B, Ed_B, Edwin_B would be taken so I had to settle for Eddie_Bash.

After finding a user name I had to find some friends to follow and then I decided it was time to follow some celebrities. Now the hard part with this step is figuring out if this is the real celebrity or some one pretending to be. Luckily when celebrities share their user name on the TV it makes that decision real easy. So far I am following Dennis Rodman, Shaq, Kevin Love (MN T-Wolves), Britney Spears and ESPT PTI show. Of course I have a couple close friends but I am also learning no too many people are choosing to enroll in Twitter. At least the people I know.

Other aspects of Twitter I am learning about is that random people can decide to “follow” you. This part can be tricky. Because when someone decides to follow you, if you want to block them you must go online because that option is not available on the free Twitter Iphone app. So in my first 2 weeks of Twitter I have had to block about 10 “weird” people from following me.

Last, I am trying my best to recruit people to this social networking device. I have been on my sister who recruited me to start Facebook to get on Twitter. I mean if you have an Iphone there would be no reason why you wouldn’t be on Twitter. Come on it is a FREE download. As time goes on, life becomes more hectic and hard to keep up on these channels. I mean now I am Blogging, Facebook and Twitter. As you all know my Blogging has fallen behind and time limits my flexibility to Blog, Facebook and Tweet. So I hope many of you will now begin to Tweet, and as Conan O’brien does we can all have a Twitter Tracker!!!

I Drink Diet Coke No More

Last week I made a harsh decision with a friend of mine. We decided it was time to give up one of our true loves, yep that’s right, Diet Coke and all soda. We no longer enjoy this sweet nectar of the Cola gods. We will no longer spend that $1.49 on a 20 ounce at the gas station when we fill up. We will no longer feel the sugar of a Mountain Dew eat away at the enamel of our teeth. We will no longer get that caffeine high we crave half way through the day. All soda is now on the endangered species list of our lives.

I am not going to lie this past weekend was very hard. There was nothing better I would have liked to do than crack open a nice cold Diet Coke. But with the help of my wife and the thoughts in the back of my head I could not let my friend down, I resisted the temptation and enjoyed an even better ice cold glass of……WATER. Water is so good and I have invested in the Crystal Light single serving packets to make my water tropical, lemonade, and even other funky brands from Crystal Light.

Now this doesn’t mean I have eliminated caffeine from my diet. I still enjoy two nice cups almost every morning with some sugar free French vanilla creamer. I am not crazy. I still need some caffeine in my life but it will no longer come from my first love, Diet Coke. Tomorrow will be one week without pop and I will and must keep you all updated on my progress. I know you will all be sitting at the edge of your seats in anticipation to hear how my progress is going. I appreciate your prayers, texts and messages of support during this difficult time. Thank you and God Bless.

Baby On The Way! For Real This Time!

I know that some of you were mad at me when I chose to play an April Fool's joke about Heather's pregnancy on Facebook but I just wanted to make an official announcement and say for real this time, "Heather and I are expecting to have another baby on December 11, 2009."

To answer some questions that you may wonder about, No we will not find out the sex early. No we will not tell you the names we have picked out. Yes we will accept any baby donations you are willing to give.

We are very excited and can't wait to add another member to the Bashaw family.

P.S. Emma is convinced it will be a boy this time. Well actually a while ago Emma said, "Mommy had 2 babies in your tummy. A boy and a girl." Then it changed to just one baby, a girl. But now she knows for sure it is one baby, a boy.

Happy Birthday

I recently celebrated a birthday and turned the ripe old age of 29. It was a wonderful birthday.

So let's recap. My birthday fell on a Wednesday. I woke up and went to work. Sounds pretty exciting so far huh? During the day at work I kept thinking about what I would be doing later that night. Heather works on Wednesday nights, Emma and I go to church for Wednesday night activities. I just assumed that we (the family) would partake in some fun activities on the weekend. During work Heather sent me a text and asked what I wanted for my birthday dinner, sloppy Joe's or tator tot hot dish. I chose sloppy Joe's. Well as work was wrapping up my friends asked what I was going to do later that night. I said well go home, eat supper with Emma (remember Heather works) and then go to church. They wished me a happy birthday and I was on my way home.

Now the plot thickens, I arrived home to a wonderful greeting from Emma and Heather on the back deck. They greeted me with hugs and kisses and many happy birthdays. We proceeded inside when I noticed a pot on the stove without the stove on. I went over to check the stove and Heather had put a note in a pot that read, "Happy Birthday We are eating out at Blackwoods." I was very excited to learn Heather got her shift covered and had the night off. I then asked if we were going out to eat by ourselves. Heather said our friends weren't able to make it.

Plot gets even thicker. As I began to get ready for dinner, Emma says, "Daddy guess what?"

I say, "What?"

"Stephanie, Cory, Kelli and Matt are coming out to dinner with us," Emma says with a big huge smile on her face. I look over at Heather who says, "Emma you ruined the surprise."

Heather had got all our friends together to have a great birthday dinner with us. I was super excited and because of Heather I had a wonderful 29Th birthday.

Watch out world, coming next year the big 3-0.

Fishing

Tis the season for fishing. The fishing season is upon us and many have embarked on the journey to the open waters hoping to catch the big one. Today was my day to try and get that big one on the St. Louis River. I am very lucky my father has a nice boat we can use to get out and enjoy nature. So to make a long story short, during the 5 hours of fishing today I did not get a nibble, a bite or even see a fish at the end of my line. I did however get to witness my wife catch her very first walleye (2.4 lbs). She was very excited. And can you believe she caught this fish within the first 10 minutes of fishing. In the back of my mind I was thinking, "wow this is going to be a fun day." Well unfortunately it was the only fish we saw all day. Despite only one fish in 5 hours it was a wonderful day.

I remember when I was young and I wouldn't last a single hour without complaining to my dad, "Where are all the fish dad?" When I was young I remember thinking, "How can he (my dad) do it? Sit in a boat all day long and not catch anything and be the happiest man alive." Now without any explanation I can honestly say fishing all day long is one of the most fun activities I can do.

So why do I love to fish even when I don't get anything all day long? There is just something about sitting in a boat, enjoying the water, holding a pole and trying my best to get something on the end of my line. I love the challenge and despite not getting a single bite, I would prefer to fish. I don't know how to explain it.

I LOVE My Wife!!!

Isn't she beautiful!!!!


I am so proud. She just finished Grandmas Half Marathon in 2008.

At the Big Sand Dune in North Carolina.

We are very happy together!

She looks pretty sexy in those shoes!

Crazy Hair Party!

Emma convinced Heather and Kelli to have a crazy hair party!

Christmas Pictures of Emma!

Santa how about for Christmas you give me some Barbies, clothes, and how about a Dora book!

Wow Emma got everything she asked Santa for. It is amazing how that works!

Pandora Radio

Pandora Radio was recently introduced to me and I wanna take time to pass on this great site to everyone. If you Google Pandora Radio you can get yourself signed up for one of the best music sites out there.

This site allows you to pick your favorite band and then you will get to hear other bands with the same type of genre. Some genres I enjoy are U2, Coldplay and the Newsboys. Once the music is playing you can give the song a thumbs up or thumbs down depending on if you like the song or not. If you give the thumbs down you will never hear that song ever again. Once you have picked some songs of your liking you will get a wider range of music and often times you will not have a repeated song. Another benefit of Pandora is when you open a new window you can surf the net and listen to a good variety of music while you do whatever it is you do on the Internet.

Another benefit of Pandora Radio if you have an iPhone (who doesn't have an iPhone?) you can download the free Pandora Radio Application and listen to this music where ever you may be.

I really wish I would have known about this website sooner because I really love it now. With the Internet being so big it is always nice to pass on some good sites to everyone so they get a chance to check it out. For those of you who have never heard of Pandora Radio I have a strong suspicion you will enjoy it. Check it out.

Disturbing Day Care Story

The Bashaw family has been quite lucky for the past 4 years to have had a wonderful day care provider. At the beginning of March our world was flipped upside down when we learned Emma's day care provider would be retiring at the beginning of April. When we got the news, I was quite disappointed but I thought we could find another good place. Well, this search is harder than I thought it would be and I want to take the time to share a disturbing day care story.

Heather and I found a new place we thought would be perfect. Emma's new place was closer to my work, flexible hours, and we could have more vacation days. Well to our surprise it was far from perfect. One Friday morning I dropped Emma off and headed to work. After a long day of work I went to pick her up. To my surprise Emma came over to me wearing a "new" pink hat. I quickly asked her, "Where did you get that?" Emma responded, "From the store." I looked quite puzzled and the day care lady quickly said oh we went to a rummage sale and the lady hosting the rummage sale gave it to Emma. In my mind I'm thinking oh they walked to a rummage sale. Emma then proceeded to say, "Daddy today I saw where I go to swim lessons." Now I was even more puzzled. The school where Emma has swim lessons is across town. After Emma said this, the day care lady filled in, oh we drove to a local church who was having a rummage sale. Well this church was on the opposite part of town from this day care. The day care lady then proceeded to tell me after the rummage sale they ate lunch at McDonalds. After the story seemed apartently over, and the day care lady was a bit rude to me, I took Emma and went home.

Now as I am driving home these questions began going through my brain. What if she got in a car crash? Was Emma in a car seat? What if someone snatched Emma while they were out? Why am I paying someone to watch my daughter and then run her personal errands without telling me? Why didn't she tell me they were going to be leaving the house? Why was Emma the one telling me the story and not the day care lady? Why is this day care lady trying to hide stuff from me?

After cooling down I decided to give this lady a call. I very politely expressed my concerns to her about Emma being driven around town and not having any idea this was happening. She apologized and said that in her contract it states on days when she only has 1 or 2 kids she may take them and run errands. She then acknowledged that I had not been provided with a contract yet and because of this I would not know this information. I informed her, this new information made me uncomfortable and Heather and I would have to rethink about Emma coming there.

So, Heather and I talked about it and decided we would start to search for a new place. In the mean time we had to send Emma back to for 4 more days. That first day when Heather dropped Emma off, the day care lady asked if we had made a decision because if she would not be allowed to transport Emma around town she would give us our 2 weeks notice to get Emma out of her day care. She then asked Heather if Emma was ever driven around town by her grandparents? Was this lady trying to compare herself to our parents? WHAT???? After a brief conversation Heather told me about it. It was at that point we said, Emma is out of there.

I'm a new day care daddy but is this behavior from day care providers normal? If she would have just told me when I dropped Emma off this was going to happen I could have taken it a bit better but why the secrecy? At the last day care place, it was always communicated if Emma would be even leaving the house to go for a walk and Emma never left in a vehicle to go somewhere. So, the search for day care continues and we hope in the near future we can find another good place.

If any of you are in search of day care providers good luck because as I am learning good day care is indeed hard to find.

Sorry

Well I am very pleased to post this blog as many of you have asked me why it has been so long since my last blog on April 7, 2009. It is also fun for me to see my counter continue to rise and rise. I am always curious to know if people are enjoying my blog. I have heard from many of you and most comments have been quite positive.

The reason for my long absence has been for a couple of reasons. First with nice weather I tend to take Emma outside to play instead of having her watch hours and hours of Dora the Explorer. This is about my only free time to blog is when she watches TV because otherwise she is attached to my hip asking me so many “WHY” questions I am mentally exhausted. Second, at times I draw a blank as to what I should write. Should I be serious? Should I be funny? And it takes me about an hour to come up with something good. Finally, at night time when my wife comes home from work (just about the time Emma goes to bed) I want to spend my time with her instead of sitting on the couch watching TV and blogging.

Well now that I have gotten this off my chest I will now post my newest blog that I hope you all enjoy. Thanks again for your loyal reading and sorry I had to make you wait so long for the newest blog.

Lost the TV Show

It wasn’t until just recently after watching my friend post daily statuses on Facebook about his obsession for the TV show Lost did I inquire to him if this show was any good. He quickly responded with an emphatic, “It’s a great show.” To which I responded, can I borrow Season 1? The next day I was in possession of Season 1. Heather and I that night sat down to check it out. Before placing disc 1 in our DVD player we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.
I must preface the rest of this blog by sharing a little story with you. For the past few years I have been hearing from the in-laws, “Don’t call on Thursday nights between the hours of 8-9PM. We are watching Lost.” I must admit I kept thinking to myself what is so great about this show? They are on an island, stuck there, with nothing. How do you make a show like that good? Well it is good and once you start watching you are addicted.

So, now let’s get back to season 1 disc 1. Each disc contains 4 episodes and without commercial interruptions you can get through an episode in about 45 minutes. That first night was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Heather and I watched the first 4 episodes that night without blinking an eye. We wanted to continue watching, but we thought twice because we had to get up for work the next morning. Once you start watching, you are addicted. You must watch another episode, you must. I have found myself wanting to turn it off but not had the will power. I keep watching and keep wondering, what is going to happen next. The show hooks you in and you can’t turn it off. I am hooked, every night I must watch 2 episodes at least. I obsess about watching more and more episodes. I will also say my sleep schedule is suffering from this show. Friday and Saturday nights I’m up till about 1 or 2 in the morning. Not because I can’t sleep but because I am watching Lost.

I am so glad I don’t have to wait a whole week between episodes. I would not be able to watch only 1 episode a week and then wait an entire week to watch the next one. I would go insane. I am almost going insane having to wait each day for work to get over so I can go home and watch more.

Lost is so great I would recommend to anyone to watch it. But if you have not figured out already, give yourself lots of time because once you start, you won’t be able to stop.

Are you insulting me?

Do you feel insulted when you don't make it on a person's Facebook friend list? Do you try and add as many friends as possible? Do you reject people or do you accept everyone and anyone? I will help clear the air as to why you may or may not be on my friend list.

For me personally I only want people looking around my page who I keep in contact with or have been close friends with in the past. I have got numerous requests from people I went to high school with (over 10 years ago) I rarely talked to or associated with. I looked at their request and wonder why in the world they all of the sudden want to be my "Facebook Friend." I have no problem pushing "ignore" when I receive those requests. And sometimes it is more than one time. But then I wonder if those people are insulted I will not add them to my friend list.

I am not trying to get the most friends ever so I will never add everyone and anyone. There are also some people I absolutely don't want on my friend list. I recently had an encounter with someone who didn't say they were mad but looked mad I had ignored their friend request. In not so many words this person said, "You better add me as your friend." Is it such a big status symbol to have Facebook friends? I don't care if other people on my friend list are friends with you, that doesn't mean you're gonna be on my friend list. Don't get mad, after all it is only Facebook. I know I'm not too special that when I push "ignore" I'm telling that person they are no good and their life isn't worth living.

This makes me wonder, how do people feel when you see someone after they were rejected. Do people have hostility, anger, or do they hold a grudge over this rejection?

If Facebook friends are that important I would argue, Facebook friend requests should come with a portion so you can give an explanation as to why you should be accepted on someones friend list. Then if the person doesn't like what you have to say or your reason can't persuade them to push "confirm" then you have no one to blame but yourself. Wait a minute, Facebook does allow you to send a message to people who aren't on your friend list. So, if you are mad and/or insulted you have not been allowed on my friend list I would suggest you send me a message as to why you want on my friend list. I will read your message carefully and Also if you want send me a message why I'm stupid feel free to do that as well. I promise I won't take it personally.

Euthanasia Yeah or Nay

While I took a Christian Ethics class in college we studied many controversial issues. One issue in particular was euthanasia. Dictionary.com defines euthanasia, also called mercy killing. The act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, esp. a painful, disease or condition.

Buzzel.com lists some pro euthanasia arguments as:

1. Legalizing euthanasia would help alleviate suffering of terminally ill patients. It would be inhuman and unfair to make them endure the unbearable pain.

2. In case of individuals suffering from incurable diseases or in conditions where effective treatment wouldn’t affect their quality of life; they should be given the liberty to choose induced death.

3. Also, the motive of euthanasia is to "aid-in-dying" painlessly and thus should be considered and accepted by law. Although killing in an attempt to defend oneself is far different from mercy killing, law does find it worth approving.

Buzzel.com also lists some con euthanasia arguments as:

1. Mercy killing is morally incorrect and should be forbidden by law. It’s a homicide and murdering another human cannot be rationalized under any circumstances.

2. Human life deserves exceptional security and protection. Advanced medical technology has made it possible to enhance human life span and quality of life. Palliative care and rehabilitation centers are better alternatives to help disabled or patients approaching death live a pain-free and better life.

3. Family members influencing the patient’s decision into euthanasia for personal gains like wealth inheritance is another issue. There is no way you can be really sure if the decision towards assisted suicide is voluntary or forced by others.

Wonder what I think? Well I will tell you of course! The first thing that comes to my mind is to get yourself a living will. A living will is a way to prevent some major problems from occuring in the first place. If there is a legal document stating the wishes of the dying person this would make things quite clear.

Second, what family member gets to "pull the plug" if I may use that term. Well if a couple is married I believe the spouse should then be in control of that decision. Of course there is the argument the spouse may be thinking of the financial gain if the person dies but once again I would refer back to the living will. If the dying person does not want the spouse in charge, get that in your living will. Maybe they are close to a divorce, well then you better get in writing somewhere what you want your dying wishes to be. Make it a priority.

Third, so what if the person is not married, has no family, and there is no living will? I would then argue the decision should be left to the doctors in charge of the person's care. Doctors are well educated and placed in that position for a reason to make tough decisions. I strongly believe in their ability to make the decision for a person's care. I think it should be their decision to make. Yes doctors make mistakes but can you please name a customer service profession free of mistakes?

Ultimately who decides when a person should live or die? How long do we let a person "live" in a coma before it is acceptable to turn off the machines? I am strong believer in letting medical professionals assist in making all these decisions. I know people come out of a coma sometimes after years but let me ask how long do we want insurance companies keep someone alive in a hope they might regain consciousness? Now I know I might change my mind if it were my loved one in a coma, and of course I am not suggesting you can put a dollar amount on someone's life but when the worst case scenario happens I think people should listen to the recommendation of the doctor. They are the smartest and most knowledgable people in those situations. We ought to follow what doctors think is the best viable option.

My Thoughts on the Fast and Furious

Paul Walker and Vin Diesel made their return to the big screen together to try and revive the Fast and the Furious trilogy. They were absent from the second movie the very sub par Tokyo Drift. Walking into the theater I was expecting lots of action, fancy cars and good fight scenes. Well the movie met my expectations and I was quite pleased with the movie.

First, I don't like Paul Walker. I don't know what it is about Paul but I just can't stand him. I think he tries to overact and that really bugs me. I am not impressed with his ability to play any kind of character in any movie he has been in, and I am just guessing but I don't think we will ever see him nominated for an Oscar.

Second, Vin Diesel does a good job playing a hard ass who won't take any crap from anyone. His bald head and cut body (kind of like yours truly) helps him fit into that role quite nicely. Of the two main actors in this movie I definitely think Vin is much better than Paul.

Now let's get down to the plot. I found it interesting they kept Paul's character a FBI agent and obviously Vin was a fugitive on the run. The writers did a good job to mold the two characters to meet again after a 5 year absence. I'm not giving anything away, but I did not understand why Vin would leave his woman who had been on the run with him for the last 5 years to now all of the sudden "protect" her. But I will say if he hadn't of left her there would be no need for the movie to continue. Their breakup was the premise of the movie. Paul did his usual police stuff and broke every procedure with every move he took which I didn't buy either. I would think the FBI must follow some sort of procedure, and maybe not, but for Paul's character to pull the stuff he pulled I didn't buy either. I mean he's a member of the FBI at least make his undercover operation a bit more believable. But I did enjoy the story.

Now the cars! In this movie you want to have fast, nice looking cars and the movie had that and then some. Great action scenes that were quite intense and impressive. The scenes were original and well thought out. I loved Vin still had the souped up muscle car and Paul was driving the import. The cars definitely fit their characters. It was indeed an enjoyable action packed movie.

I would say seeing this movie in the theater is worth the money. Leaving the theater I wish I had millions of dollars I could just waste on cars. And with the way the movie ended I look forward to the next Fast and Furious that is bound to come out soon.

Is it just a game?

As you all know I love Duke basketball, yesterday I watched them lose to Villanova. I would summarise the game as a poor shooting performance by Duke. As an avid Duke fan I have noticed their loses in the NCAA tournament have come from their inability to score. But needless to say Duke lost by 20. Sitting on the couch watching the clock wind down and my mood turn to crabby my wife says, "It's just a game."

"It's just a game." WHAT!!! NO WAY!!!!

Many people who have competed with or against me would describe me as the most competitive person they know. My competitiveness has been with me my whole life and started all the way back in 8Th grade when my gym teacher made a terrible call. I could have brushed it off but no I took the ball we were playing with and threw it right at my teacher. I then spent the rest of the day assigned to in school suspension.

If you are a true competitor everything you do you wanna win and accept nothing less. When I played basketball I was so competitive my speciality was guarding the other teams best offensive player to keep them from scoring. I prided myself in keeping players in check and off the scoreboard. My parents can testify the tone of my voice would be the indicator if I had just won or lost. This competitive spirit continues with me to this day.

So, with this type of attitude, it is impossible for me to accept a saying, "it is just a game." When you compete and hate to lose as much as I do you would never accept this cliche. Yes I know I was never a Duke player or a member of the University but when you love something so much you will never accept second place or be happy to watch you team lose whoever they may be.

Now for those of you who do not relate to sports, let me try and use this analogy to help prove my point. I know someone who I won't name that likes to obsess about her weight. She weighs herself morning, noon and night and if the number is not what she likes to see, she could be quite crabby the rest of the day. She then might go and work out more, not snack, or reduce her food intake. The number will also determine her mood and anxiety level. My response should be but I know better, "It's just a number honey!"

Now how is it OK for her to be crabby because of her weight but not OK for me to be crabby when my favorite team in the whole world just lost?

It would be fun to hear any comments any of you may have to help me understand if you believe or disbelieve in the cliche I can't stand, "It's just a game."

Why I live in Duluth

As high school graduation approached I was ready to get out of Duluth. I told my parents when time was near for me to go to college I did not see myself coming back to Duluth ever. I told them I was tired of the "small" city and wanted to live in the big city. The big city I was talking about was Minneapolis.

Once in Minneapolis it was love at first sight. I was ready to experience the big city and have stuff to do. While I lived in Minneapolis I did just that. If I would not have lived in Minneapolis I would not have met my wife, met life long friends and most of all not learned how much my heart was in Duluth.

There were many good things about my times in Minneapolis but as I got older and my priorities shifted (A wife and daughter) I realized Minneapolis was not the place I wanted. When my child was first born, living in a crappy apartment with crappy neighbors, no yard and paper thin walls, I knew it was not the place I wanted Emma to grow up in. I realized to live in a good neighborhood and buy a nice house had to be in Duluth. Lucky for me I had extended family in Duluth who really made the move to Duluth possible. They were so supportive and helpful. Without my extended family there is no way Heather and I would be here today.

Here are the things I love so much about Duluth you can't get in Minneapolis. First there is no such thing as rush hour in Duluth. I know many Duluth natives will say they fight rush hour traffic but until you battle the traffic in Minneapolis around the hours of 8AM or 5PM, don't talk to me about rush hour. Second, I have no fear about letting my daughter at age 4 ride her bike in the neighborhood while I get dinner ready. (Yep, that's right I cook!) Third, I live in a house. With the jobs I been able to have, buying a house in a good neighborhood would not have been possible in Minneapolis. Finally, I love the outdoors. In Duluth we are 5 minutes from Lake Superior, 10 minutes from a hiking trail, and 30 minutes from getting on a lake to do some fishing.

I love the life I had while in Minneapolis but my heart is true and will always be true to the cold, snowy, summer lacking city of Duluth, Minnesota.

March Madness

It is that time of year again when the nation sits down with their bracket in front of the TV to watch the most exciting time during the sports year. 65 of the best teams in the country compete for title of best in the nation. Here is why I believe March Madness is the best time of the year.

First, filling out a bracket is one of the best parts of the tournament. Filling out a bracket requires no skill or knowledge but perhaps just a good ability to guess. There are people who spend many hours studying the teams to help them get an edge on who will move on and who will go home. Still, others (mostly women) pick a team with a good name, cool mascot, or flip a coin. Most times for the women it is a very effective way to win the office pool.

Second, the level in which these college athletes compete is incomparable to any other sporting event. Don't get me wrong I know other college athletes work just as hard, but when it comes to a team tournament, I can't think of another tournament comparable. These college athletes lay it all on the line every night or it could be the end of their season. It is not best of 7 and there is no BCS just putting them in a National Championship game. They are not driven by the million dollar paycheck waiting for them after the game (well OK maybe some of them do) but there is a level of competition this tournament brings out in them that is unmatched. And with this level of competition the excitement of watching them compete is a lot of fun.

Finally, it gives me an excuse to procrastinate on all house projects, playing with Emma, and cuddling with my wife. Now many of you probably may wonder why I procrastinate the cuddling with my wife. Well to clear all the confusion, while I'm watching March Madness my wife is pretty much doing anything else. She doesn't doesn't understand how I can sit down and watch all that basketball. I don't know how to explain it but I love college basketball.

Just to give you all a hint, if you ever wonder what I might be doing these next couple weeks, I would suggest you check the TV schedule. If college basketball is on, odds are extremely good I'm laying on the couch enjoying a bowl full of popcorn with a diet coke, every single college basketball game they put on TV.

P.S. So far (as of March 23, 2009) in my fantasy bracket league, I'm in last place. So much for my great basketball I.Q.

"Debit card? What's that?"

As technology expands so does the possibilities of things you can do. But some things are just fine the way they are. I write this to share my recent experience with a DTCU bank teller.


Every so often one must reorder checks obviously because you are running out. So instead of doing it online I decided to call my bank to save time. Upon answering the phone I explained to the teller I needed to order some more checks. Upon my request her response to me was, "Did you know a debit card couuld reduce the number of checks you would write?" Now upon hearing this information, the smart ass in me ALMOST said, "What's a debit card? I've been stuck in Antartica for the last 10 years of my life and have never heard of a debit card." Instead I said, "Yes, I have a debit card."

To my surprise, her response was, "Did you know you can use your debit card to pay bills? This would reduce the number of checks you write which would save you some money. Also, you can pay your bills online!"

Now I bet most of you know what I wanted to say. For those of you who can't guess I'll tell you. "WHAT?!?! you can pay bills online? I did NOT know that.What's the internet I have never heard of it? As a matter of fact, what's a computer?" Instead I took a deep breath and explained to her, "Yes I do pay bills online but some bills still require a check. For example, I have to write a check for Minnesota Power and Comfort Systems, because they don't offer online bill pay."

She acknowleged and placed the order for my checks. I thanked her and our conversation was over. Now I can understand her need to try and upsale but did she for one second think I had never heard of a debit card or online bill pay? I mean come on, even my folks who are three times older than me know what a debit card and online bill pay are. (No offense Mom and Dad, I love you!)

Out of courtesy I am letting you know the next time you order checks your bank representative might offer the suggestion of getting a debit card or utilizing online bill pay. Be prepared and be careful not to let the smart ass in you take over.

Tax Season

Well, as another tax season comes to a close, I have not waited as long as I normally do to complete my taxes but I did try something new this year.

I have always decided it was worth my money to have taxes done by H&R Block. Well this year, I received quite a bit of encouragement from numerous people that I could do my taxes. So, today I gathered my paperwork, computer, pen, paper and got started. I got two different recommendations on tax sites to use. One was completetax.com and of course Turbo Tax. Well I decided to start with completetax.com. After all my information was added and the result was a deficit for both state and federal, I decided to give Turbo Tax a try. This site was a bit friendlier and easier to understand. I did everything I was suppose to do and the result was a bit more to my liking. I had a federal rebate but for some reason I owed the state almost 3 times more than last year. I went back and double checked my work and still owed the good old state of MN quite a bit of money. I became easily frustrated and after about 3 hours it was time for a break. Out of frustration I posted a new Facebook status and within a few minutes got a call from my good friend Chris. He offered some help and back to work I went. I checked my work and turned out I had left out a "0" from my W2 for state taxes. Boy that made a big difference and soon my state deficit was reduced by a third and back to what I had hoped it would be when I first began. The fee for me to do it online Turbo Tax was also about a third of what my H&R Block bill was last year. I am quite happy with this accomplishment and will tackle this project again next year. Boy it is sure fun to grow up and have more and more responsibility. But, for a first timer I would definitely recommend Turbo Tax. Feel free to post any questions you may have and I bet I might be able to help.

Why I hate Brett Favre

Living my whole life in the state of Minnesota I have many loyalties: Minnesota State Fair, Golden Gopher sports, Minnesota T-Wolves, and most importantly the Minnesota Vikings. I would consider myself a loyal Vikings watcher every Sunday no matter what. Because of my loyalty to the Vikings I have inherited a feeling that most Vikings fans have which is hate. This hate in particular is for one specific man and his name is Brett Favre.

If there is one team on the planet I hate more than any other it is the Green Bay Packers. Who was the leader of this team for 17 seasons? That’s right, Brett Favre. I sat by and watched him orchestrate fourth quarter drives to defeat my Vikings more times than not. I sat by and watched him win a Super Bowl. I sat by and watched him receive a MVP trophy, twice. During this whole time I will go on record and say I was cheering against him every time. I want nothing more than to watch him fail, get hurt, or retire.

What drives my hatred even more now is talk of people in this great state wanting to see him run out of the tunnel at the Metrodome in purple and gold. How can people turn a cheek and want a man who has done more to hurt this organization than help? How can people be so selfish for a Super Bowl victory they would support the signing of this man? I realize all his records, I respect his ability to play the game but I will never support or agree with bringing him to Minnesota. I hear the argument if we had a quarterback we could win a Super Bowl but NO to Brett Favre.

I hope and pray Brett Favre will never put on a Vikings uniform and so far my prayers have been have answered. But if by any chance Brett Favre manages to sneak his way here to Minnesota, I will not ever, and I mean ever, watch a Minnesota Vikings game in which Brett Favre is the starting quarterback.

My Love, My Baby, My Iphone!

As some of you may know, the one piece of technology I love to buy all the time is the cell phone. Heather can testify, since the Iphone was on the market, I asked her weekly, " Can we get an Iphone?" Heather's response usually consisted of, "Eddie, do you need a new cell phone or want a new cell phone?" I tried to make my argument better and better each time but needless to say I didn't get my new Iphone like I wanted.

About a month before Christmas I don't know what happened but Heather came to me one day and said, "Eddie, I really think we should get Iphones!" I was floored. I was stunned. I was looking at our check book. I responded, "Heather do you need a new cell phone, or want a new cell phone." She responded, "Ha Ha very funny." So without further hesitation we were off to AT&T to get our new cell phones. Upon arriving in the store I was like a kid in a candy store. I looked at the Iphone in ahhh. I talked to salesmen, bargained and used some moxy to try and get us the best deal possible. I even talked to other customers who said the Iphone was the coolest thing they ever bought. Well, after a short period of time, Heather and I decided our Christmas presents to each other would be the Iphone.

Since obtaining the Iphone in November I must say it is the coolest thing I have ever used. Let me give you a run down of just 10 things you can do on the Iphone. First of course the text message. It is so nice instead of having to make a call, you just send a quick message that requires no verbal interaction. Heather and I decided to get unlimited text messaging and let me tell you it was a good thing we did because combined, Heather and I send out about 2500 text messages a month. Second, you can surf the internet. Even better yet when you have WiFi access, surfing the internet is lightning fast and painless. Third, surf around on Itunes. You can buy a song on Itunes and instantly listen to it on your phone. Wanna listen to that song you just heard on the radio again? No problem, for only $.99 you can have it with the touch of a button. Fourth, instant map access to pin point your current location. Then if you need directions to a future destination your Iphone will map it out and give you turn by turn directions to get you there. Fifth, it's also an Ipod. All your songs, movies, and podcasts are viewable. (Quick side note, Emma loves watching Wall-E on my Iphone.) Sixth, you have instant access to up to 6 email accounts. I mean who has 6 email accounts? But if you did, you would know instantly when your emails arrive and read them right away. Seventh, you can sync the calendar on your Iphone to your calendar on your computer. This way when you are working and add a new event it automatically uploads to your phone without any further work. Eighth, instant weather updates to where ever you might be. The Iphone automatically determines your current location and gives you an up to date, seven day forecast of what to expect. Ninth, you can download for free or for purchase applications that will help make your life even easier than it already is. I know you have all seen the newest commericals from Apple advertising, "There's an app for that." Let me share my favorite app I downloaded for free. Shazam. This app is so cool, remember hearing that song on the radio and you have no idea who sings it? Well, if you run shazam while the song is playing on the radio, shazam will listen to the song and in about 10 seconds tell you the name of the song, the artist, and album. You also get a link to watch the music video on You Tube, and a link to Itunes to purchase the song. Finally, I almost forgot you can make calls too.

Don't be fooled by this and think these 10 things are it. Oh no! It appears the possibilities are almost endless. This phone is so user friendly that I would be happy to give you a demonstration if you would like. They are a bit pricy but trust me when you have it, you will tell everyone like I am telling you, "It is the best investment I have ever made!"

What We Can't Buy at Wal-Mart

I was suffering from some nasal congestion and got a recommendation from a friend to try some Sudafed. I decided it was time to go to Wal-Mart and buy some. One night after dinner I packed up my daughter and headed to Wal-Mart. I chose Wal-Mart because I also needed some other household items and as we all know, Wal-Mart has pretty low prices. We arived and began our shopping. As we made our way over to the Sudafed isle, I discovered instead of being able to get the box of Sudafed off the shelf. I had to grab a Sudafed card and then proceed to the pharmacy to collect my Sudafed. As I walked over to the pharmacy, I noticed all the lights off, windows shut and ultimately it was closed. I then noticed a sign explaining the hours of operation for the pharmacy. I then noticed a sales person stocking a shelf near by and asked her despite already knowing the answer that if the pharmacy is closed I would be unable to get my Sudafed. She affirmed my hunch the Sudafed was unattainable. I purchased my items minus the Sudafed and went home.

How come a store is open for 24 hours but has its pharmacy close at 7PM on weekdays. I mean doesn't it seem logical if a store is open 24 hours you would be able to purchase all the items the store has to offer 24 hours a day. I mean it is Wal-Mart. You can go up there at 3 in the morning and purchase some new underwear but if it was medicine you seek, you better think twice and probably head to Walgreens because they have all their products for purchase 24 hours a day. If you were in an emergency and needed medication the store you seek would definitely NOT be Wal-Mart. With all that is offered at Wal-Mart, it definitely isn't medication after 7PM.

The Miracle of Birth

I would like to share another great memory of my life. On January 7, 2005 Emma Naomi was born. It was a day Heather and I had been waiting for quite some time. Well I should say for obvious reasons Heather was more anxious than I was.

As most women know and share to almost everyone, during the last month of pregnancy they are ready to be done. To take you back a few weeks, Heather went to the doctor a few days before Christmas for a final check. During the doctor visit, the doctor very enthusiastically said, “it looks like you might have a Christmas baby; I think the baby could come at any time.” I was pretty excited. But unfortunately for me Heather heard, “The baby is going to be born very soon.” Now I can understand a woman’s need to be done with pregnancy when they are down to the last few weeks, but it doesn’t help the situation to have the doctor tell my wife the baby is coming at any time. The next two weeks were the longest weeks of our lives. Everyday Heather would say, “I just want to be done. I should be having this baby today.” As the good husband that I am, I was supportive and sympathetic to her needs and did everything I could do to keep her comfortable, but there really wasn’t anything that I could do. Christmas eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Years Day all came and past and no baby. It was the longest Holiday season ever.

To make the story longer, Heather was not working just waiting, and I was working two jobs to keep up. My employers knew I was on high alert and had to leave at a moment’s notice. On a normal day when I got done with my morning job, it was straight to work again. For some strange reason on January 7 I had some spare time and decided to make a surprise visit home. I was home for about 30 minutes when Heather developed major contractions. Heather called the hospital to ask if we should come in and asked the standard question, “How far apart are you?” Well at this time I was running around all crazy getting stuff ready and had no idea how far apart they were, and Heather was a little preoccupied at the time to sit and stare at a clock to time it. So I think at the time we just gave them some answer of “5 minutes.” The hospital gave us the run around and said we should wait and come in if they were closer together. Well after another contraction came about 2 minutes later, Heather called again and the hospital said come in. I grabbed the bag and headed in.

On the car ride over I remember telling Heather to hold on and wait. I did not want to pull over and deliver a baby on the shoulder of highway 694. Thank goodness we made it to the hospital. I got Heather a wheel chair and we were on our way. We got inside and they requested we register. I tried to explain we had preregistered, but for some reason we weren’t in the system. Trying to remain calm I started to fill out the paperwork and Heather in her glory said, “I can’t wait! Fill out the paperwork later and get me upstairs.” I looked at the receptionist, I looked at Heather, I looked at the receptionist, I looked at Heather, and we were on our way upstairs. We got to our room and Heather was awesome. After 90 minutes at 6:35 PM Emma Naomi took her first breath on her own and came into the world. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen and when it happened I have no idea what I was thinking about. I just remember one minute nothing, the next a baby. The nurse proudly announced, “You are the proud parents of a baby girl.” Heather emotional and sobbing says, “I’m sorry it’s not a boy.” I hugged and kissed her and said, “It’s ok!”

QB Controversy

As an avid Minnesota Vikings fan I thought it only appropriate to share my thoughts about why Brad Childress will lose his job because of his loyalty to Tarvaris Jackson.

Going into his fourth year as head coach, Brad Childress, has put all his hope on two mediocre quarterbacks to lead his team to a winning record and a playoff birth. Mr. Childress has recently stated he wants Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson to compete for the starting position next season. Right now anyway it is apparent the Vikings organization will not pursue the signing of a free agent quarterback. It is my opinion, if the Vikings do not find or produce a NFL worthy quarterback to lead the team next season, it will be the end to the Brad Childress era in Minnesota.

I do not boast to be a great NFL recruiting mind, as Paul Allen voice of the Minnesota Vikings would say, but I still wonder to this day how Brad Childress convinced other front office personal to trade up in the draft to take Tavarias Jackson. I know NFL talent does not always come from top division 1 schools but I don’t think it was the right time to draft a quarterback from Alabama State. But with a coach like Brad who boasted on his ability to create NFL quarterbacks, I was hoping for the best.

In the past 3 years Brad has attempted to bend and mold Tarvaris into the quarterback of the future. Vikings fans are still waiting to see praiseworthy quarterback. Throughout training camp last season, Brad supported Tarvaris and named him the starter. Starting the 2008 season 0-2, Gus Ferotte was quickly announced the replacement for the remainder of the season. I do think the benching of Tarvaris was a bit early but I would speculate, Brad was feeling some pressure from the front office to win and win now. I mean the front office did just spend millions of dollars to bring in highly sought after free agents Jared Allen and Bernard Berrian. So, as the season progressed Gus led the Vikings to a playoff worthy record but went down to injury. Tavarius came back in to finish off the season with a Division Championship. But throughout this run I still felt uncomfortable about the possibility of either quarterback coming up with a big fourth quarter drive to win a game. I never had the feeling that our quarterbacks would be good enough to make the clutch throw, get the key first down, or complete the long pass necessary to go far in the playoffs. And my feelings were cemented by the first round home playoff loss to the Eagles.

As I have sat back and watched the Vikings improve over the last 3 seasons, I still wait for the day when I can have a feeling of hope in the fourth quarter. I have no idea what they will do next season, but I am going on the record and predicting, “If the Minnesota Vikings do not make the playoffs, or if the Minnesota Vikings do not win 1 playoff game, Brad Childress will be replaced at the end of the 2009 season.”

How I Met My Beautiful Wife

I have told this story to some people but as most of you know I love telling stories. So for the enjoyment of everyone else, this is how I first met my wife.

I met my wife working at a shelter for troubled boys in Anoka, Minnesota. The very first time we ever talked on the phone she called me to relieve her at 6 the next morning. First of all, I had no idea who this person was. Second, when I took the shift I was visiting my folks in Duluth, and third she called at 9 in the evening. So I thought for a second, had nothing else to do and accepted the work. I quickly went to bed because I had to leave Duluth at 3:30 the next morning to make it to work on time. When I arrived at work, there she was eagerly waiting my arrival. She thanked me a million times for relieving her and then left. This brief interaction was only beginning.

A few days later our second encounter happened. The company had an outdoor basketball court. I was with my boys shooting hoops when who happened to stop over with her boys? Yep that’s right, Heather. I will admit some flirting took place while on the job, but at no time did I ever lose my focus of my job responsibilities. I built up some courage asked Heather if she would like to come out with me and some friends after work. Heather thought for about 1.2 seconds and accepted my invitation. After work I picked her up and we went out. Maybe it was coincidence or fate but our friends never showed up. We sat and talked for a couple hours and then I invited her back to my place and we watched our first movie together. It was a great first date.

I then tried to play it cool and give it the 2 day rule. For those of you who don’t know, after a first date the unwritten rule is a guy gives it 2 full days before calling again. From what I learned later, during those 2 days Heather was very anxious and never thought I would call back. But after 2 days I called back and several other dates ensued. Sparks turned into flames and we quickly spent all of our free time together and some work time as well. We hit our rough spots as any normal relationships do but we worked through it together. We dated for about 2 years off and on until we got engaged and married.

Wedding vs Day of Love

As Valentine's Day has come and gone I thought it only appropriate to share my thoughts on this National Holiday. There have been times in my life when Valentine's Day has been fun and boring. I think the boring times were when I was in high school and single in college. I did purchase the gift for my high school sweetheart and we did have a nice dinner, (I purchased this as well) but as the night ended and I dropped her off at home it seemed a bit melodramatic. Don't get me wrong I did get a present out of the deal. But I felt forced to show "extra" love because of history of Saint Valentine.

In college I spent 3 of 4 Valentine's Day at my place, watching movies, and enjoying the company of myself. The one Valentine's Day I decided to get a date was my freshman year when I really wanted to make a good impression on a girl who caught my fancy. I got her number from a friend of mine and it was to my surprise when I called, she answered and without much hesitation said yes to my invitation. I did my homework, found out her favorite flower and favorite restaurant. We had the date which I thought went very well, I paid for everything and was quite the gentleman if I do say so myself. However, after Valentine's Day there was no return phone call from her despite numerous attempts for a second date. It was for this reason I spent the next 3 Valentine's Day all by myself. Thanks for letting me get that story off my chest.

So with this in mind, is it ok for weddings to take place on this date? If so, is it then fair for others to be upset if they must miss out on the opportunity for a special date with their love one for attendance at a wedding. This controversy is why I decided it necessary to blog and share my opinion. I think there would be no reason why people should avoid scheduling Valentine's Day as a wedding day. This year I found it rather enjoyable to spend Valentine's Day with my wife and then share the day with our friends while they "tied the knot." It was fun and added some variety into a National Holiday that may in any other year turn into the same "dinner and a movie date day." How many times do your friends get married (well marriages end in divorce 50% of the time)? I would find it rather selfish to be mad at your friends for deciding to get married on Valentine's Day and ruining your chances for a date night. I mean come on, how many other times of the year can you go out on a date night? Just because this one day is nationally known, doesn't mean hostility would have to accompany you to the wedding. I can only think of one thing, selfishness. And on the day of love you should be happy being with your significant other where ever that maybe, even a wedding.

I will say, after Heather and I started dating I have enjoyed Valentine's Day ever since. I believe when you find that person you want to spend the rest of your life with, Valentine's Day will be something you look forward to every year.

My Obsession for Duke Basketball

It was the 1990-91 basketball season when I was first introduced to Duke University during March Madness. Christian Laettner and Bobby Hurley were the leaders of this Blue Devil squad that included other great names such as Antonio Lang, Grant Hill and Thomas Hill. I was 10 years old at the time and watching this squad win a national championship with a 32-7 record will be forever grained in my brain. I have been a loyal follower of Men’s Basketball at Duke University ever since.
I thought it only be appropriate to share about some of the highlights from my life about Duke University. First, “The Shot” by Christian Laettner with time expiring to beat Kentucky in 1992 in the East Regional to advance to the Final Four is by far my number one highlight. I would argue this is the greatest college basketball highlight of all time. (This highlight is on You Tube.)
My second favorite Duke moment is when I visited Duke University. It was summer time so the campus was empty. As I walked around campus I could feel the history and aura of the greats who had walked the campus streets before me. As we approached Cameron Indoor Stadium I was getting goose bumps. As we entered the stadium I saw the 2 National Championship Trophies and pictures of past and present players. To my amazement we could enter onto the playing floor. As I entered and looked to the rafters and saw the retired jerseys, ACC Championship banners, and the National Championship banners I was in awe. I walked to half court and touch the logo. I then ran down and touched the rim. I took about 30 pictures to remember every single moment.
My final favorite Duke basketball moment was in 2001 when they came to Minneapolis and won their third National Championship in 10 years. Watching Shane Battier, Jason Williams, Nate James, Chris Duhon, Carlos Boozer, and Mike Dunleavy defeat Arizona in my home state was spectacular.
I know some day I will make it to Cameron Indoor Stadium to watch them play in person. I wait patiently for that opportunity and I know my opportunity will come.

The Chipotle Experience

Living in Duluth has many pros and cons but in my opinion the biggest con is the absence of the fast food chain Chipotle. When I left Duluth in 1999 for college in St. Paul, MN I was introduced to this wonderful food chain and immediately fell in love. I cherished every time I could enjoy my chicken burrito that was conveniently located throughout the metro area. It is an unfortunate tragedy that Chipotle has neglected to expand to northern Minnesota. It was even more unfortunate for me when in 2005 I moved back to northern Minnesota that is 150 miles away from any Chipotle. Upon my arrival back to northern Minnesota I have shared my wonderful experiences at Chipotle with many residents. The most common response I receive from residents of northern Minnesota is, "What is Chipotle?" I then care to explain to them the smell, and enjoyment one receives while ordering their meat, black or pinto beans, salsa, sour cream and cheese that is magically stuffed into an extra large tortilla. Even after this explanation many still ask, "What is so special about that?" I then enlighten the residents of northern Minnesota when they travel to the metro area of they must make a stop at Chipotle.
As a testament of what I am talking about I work with one of the most picky eaters I have ever met. He has lived in northern Minnesota his whole life and until last year he had never had the pleasure to enjoy a Chipotle burrito. During work last year he had the opportunity of traveling to Minneapolis and had time for lunch. I convinced him to try Chipotle. After helping him order, showing him how to unwrap the foil and watching him sink his teeth into his first Chipotle burrito, it was love at first bite. This guy has been in love with Chipotle ever since and obsesses about when the next time he will travel to Minneapolis for business.
So I would suggest to all people who have never experienced the joy of eating Chipotle burritos, google Chipotle, locate the closest location and make the trip. It will be worth your time and money even during these tough economic times.
As I sign off tonight, don't be scared to try new things and especially not the Chipotle burrito.

"Oh Mom..."

Last night I called to inform my mother of the newly created blog. Today we had my parents come for lunch. During our time together my mother expressed her concern of posting information on the internet. She made it quite clear she wasn't worried about people knowing about me or Heather but concern for her 4 year old grand daughter. Oh I love my mother and how much she cares about her kids...oh wait I mean her grand kids. I still remember the day when I received a call from my mother requesting I drive out to their house so, "she could see her only grand child in Duluth." It was odd she didn't seem all that excited about me coming with Emma. I love my mother and how much she does for me and my family. I love you Mom!

The Family 2008

We hardly get any "good" family photos but this one turned out quite nice. We are the Bashaw family!

Our First Ever Blog

This is another first for the Bashaw family, not only do we write Christmas letters but we are now blogging. Saturday afternoon has been pretty quiet and so we have made a decision to start a blog. We aren't quite sure what the normal expectations are for those who blog, but we have decided to take on the challenge. Since Heather's enrollment in school we had the luxury of purchasing a new laptop computer. We have enjoyed the perks associated with the new computer and most of all sitting on the couch, watching tv, and surfing the internet all at the same time. Isn't life in America grand? With a 4 year old running around the house our lives are hardly dull, but we both agree, Emma is the best perk of all! We look forward to including a blog in our lives as well! Thanks for visiting "The Bashaw Blog."