By Erik France on 1/29/2008 12:47 PM

When I woke up this morning, it was 54 degrees outside. The weathermen on various television and radio stations warned me about a day with drastic changes coming. Currently, it is 12 degrees outside with blowing snow so thick, it is hard to see the trees just 50 feet away.

Yeah, you have to love the Midwest!

By Erik France on 1/18/2008 10:39 AM

I received the following information from my friend, Brian Coulter (a.k.a. Cousin Eddie). There are too many stories about Cousin Eddie for me to go into here, but let it be know that Brian is one of the all time "Good Guys".



It's once again time for what has become an annual tradition. You are all cordially invited to participate in this invigorating winter activity. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this, it's quite simple. It's exactly like lawn croquet with a few minor variations. First off, we got rid of those wimpy little wooden balls and upsized them to bowling balls. Then since the balls are much heavier, we've discarded the tiny little mallets that were really only good for whacking your kid brother in favor of something a smidge bigger, sledge hammers. We've also replaced the flimsy wire loops with re-bar. And to really make it interesting, we play it on a frozen pond.

The Man Croquet Championship of the Free World will be held on Saturday, the 19th of January commencing...

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By Erik France on 1/18/2008 9:08 AM

For Christmas I received The Princess Bride and I can not tell you how much fun I have had in only one day of reading it!  Everyone is there: Westley, Buttercup, Fezzik, Inigo, Humperdink.

It has been fun to relive the story I remember from the movie.  But it has been even more fun to learn what the true story from William Goldman is.  Well, then, to be honest, learning that the tale goes even farther back to S. Morgenstern.

I recommend the book, if for no other reason than to read to your children.  Go get it!  In the meantime, take a look at these quotes.  Some of my favorites are:

Inigo: Fezzik, are there rocks ahead? Fezzik: If there are, we all be dead. Vizzini: No more rhymes now, I mean it. Fezzik: Anybody want a peanut?

Fezzini: Inconceivable! Inigo: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

And, of course, my favorite line:

Vizzini: You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The first is never get involved...

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By Erik France on 1/14/2008 11:02 AM

Today Jusytn said it right.  We walked outside, on our way to school, and he said, "It's cold out here, Dad.  It is a good birthday for you."

Yep!

In some ways, I can not believe another year has passed.  I look at my children and wonder how they grew so much, learned to do so many things, and accomplished so much this year.  My list is so much shorter than theirs.  Perhaps that is how it should be.

I thank God that He has blessed me in this past year.  I have had a chance to see many friends, spend time with my extended family, watch my brother get married, and so much more.  I continue to learn how wonderful my wife and children are, and that brings me more happiness than I can express in typewritten words.

So, yeah, I guess today is very special.  It is a good day to reflect on what I have been given.  It is a good day to think about the road ahead.  And it is a great day to tell all of you how much you mean to me.

...

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