Christmas time. It’s my favorite part of the year.
My family has always made it a tradition to be together on Christmas Eve. For as long as I can remember my grandparents, mom, aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered together on Christmas Eve in LeRoy. Tradition is a beautiful thing. Things of course have changed over my 31 years, but the theme has always remained the same. Our family is together to celebrate Christmas.
I remember during my childhood Christmases hoping the pile of presents would be higher then the previous year. There are photos next to the Christmas tree where I am shorter than the mountain of gifts. I’m not sure when it was exactly I realized the mountain of gifts didn’t matter. It was the people near that mountain. It was probably after Christmas 1998—my last Christmas with both my grandparents.
Our Stern Christmas traditions aren’t that much different than other families: Go to church. Gather together at home. Eat a lot. Have Santa come. Eat some more. Open gifts. Eat a little more. Go home. Between all that, it’s family conversation that ties generations together and carries on our traditions.
This column is dedicated to Christmas. Nothing fancy. Nothing on sale. No one telling you to buy this or that. The real Christmas. The right Christmas. The Christmas I think all should experience and love. If you truly believe in Christmas go to church. And listen. Faithfully listen.
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
Charles Dickens
“Something about an old-fashioned Christmas is hard to forget."
Hugh Downs
“There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child."
Erma Bombeck
“At Christmas, all roads lead home."
Marjorie Holmes
“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness."
Bob Hope
“I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace to this world."
Norman Vincent Peale
“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly."
Andy Rooney
“As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is."
Eric Sevareid
“Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves."
Eric Sevareid
“The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much.”
Henry David Thoreau
“Nothing's as mean as giving a little child something useful for Christmas.”
Kin Hubbard
“A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; it makes no noise at all, but softly gives itself away; while quite unselfish, it grows small.”
Eva K. Logue
“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.”
Charles Schulz
“He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree.”
Sunshine Magazine
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke
December 26, 2009
December 13, 2009
Your Hometown Connection 12/10/09
Despite the Minnesota Timberwolves (yes, my readers, our state still has a semi professional basketball team) not showing up to scout us, a few of my education friends and I play basketball twice a week. In the wee hours of the morning before students are even awake, we are on the court. We basically play for love of the game, to work up a mean sweat, and hope we are doing our hearts well. After our last game this past week, the locker room was abuzz with one topic. Tiger Woods.
Answer this question. Who on planet earth:
1. Makes more money than small countries.
2. Is married to a former Swedish swimsuit model.
3. Is the best athlete we have seen in any sport since some guy named Jordan.
4. Has the perfect life.
Well, if you answered Tiger Woods you would have been correct…until recently.
No one is perfect. And here is yet another athlete/celebrity reminding us of that. Earlier this year Steve McNair tragically and David Letterman shamefully reminded us. Now we have Tiger “Cheetah” Woods.
Apparently being the #1 ranked golfer in the world doesn’t make you the #1 husband.
Did anyone else just get sick hearing that voicemail with the undeniable voice of Cheetah Woods? For those of you who missed it, Usmagazine.com obtained a voicemail that Cheetah Woods left to home wrecker Jamiee Grubbs. Jamiee is not Cheetah’s wife.
The voicemail said, “Hey, it’s Tiger (Cheetah). I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling you. So if you can, please take your name off that. Just have it as a number on the voicemail. You got to do this for me. Huge. Quickly. Bye.”
Busted.
Way to go, Cheetah. You were one of the most admired pro athletes in the world…ever. Now there are rumors to be even more women involved and that you are paying them off. Your two children will read about all this one day. What will you tell them, Cheetah?
What makes these pro athletes think they can do whatever they want to whoever they want whenever they want? It’s about time someone remind them to keep the games on the golf course, football field, etc.
Tiger issued a statement shortly thereafter on his website tigerwoods.com that said, “I have let my family down…” There’s the understatement of the year. He went on to say, “For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives…But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy…Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions…I offer my profound apology.”
I agree we don’t need to try Cheetah’s marriage in the public eye. But how many times will this circus need to occur before athletes learn? Do they speak some different vows during the marriage ceremony?
Tiger (for now) is married to Elin. He has two children. He’s the best golfer in the world. He’s the most dominate athlete in all of sports. Hopefully he can figure it out. If so, maybe when we hear the name Tiger Woods we will think of golf again, rather than a Cheetah.
Answer this question. Who on planet earth:
1. Makes more money than small countries.
2. Is married to a former Swedish swimsuit model.
3. Is the best athlete we have seen in any sport since some guy named Jordan.
4. Has the perfect life.
Well, if you answered Tiger Woods you would have been correct…until recently.
No one is perfect. And here is yet another athlete/celebrity reminding us of that. Earlier this year Steve McNair tragically and David Letterman shamefully reminded us. Now we have Tiger “Cheetah” Woods.
Apparently being the #1 ranked golfer in the world doesn’t make you the #1 husband.
Did anyone else just get sick hearing that voicemail with the undeniable voice of Cheetah Woods? For those of you who missed it, Usmagazine.com obtained a voicemail that Cheetah Woods left to home wrecker Jamiee Grubbs. Jamiee is not Cheetah’s wife.
The voicemail said, “Hey, it’s Tiger (Cheetah). I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling you. So if you can, please take your name off that. Just have it as a number on the voicemail. You got to do this for me. Huge. Quickly. Bye.”
Busted.
Way to go, Cheetah. You were one of the most admired pro athletes in the world…ever. Now there are rumors to be even more women involved and that you are paying them off. Your two children will read about all this one day. What will you tell them, Cheetah?
What makes these pro athletes think they can do whatever they want to whoever they want whenever they want? It’s about time someone remind them to keep the games on the golf course, football field, etc.
Tiger issued a statement shortly thereafter on his website tigerwoods.com that said, “I have let my family down…” There’s the understatement of the year. He went on to say, “For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives…But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy…Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions…I offer my profound apology.”
I agree we don’t need to try Cheetah’s marriage in the public eye. But how many times will this circus need to occur before athletes learn? Do they speak some different vows during the marriage ceremony?
Tiger (for now) is married to Elin. He has two children. He’s the best golfer in the world. He’s the most dominate athlete in all of sports. Hopefully he can figure it out. If so, maybe when we hear the name Tiger Woods we will think of golf again, rather than a Cheetah.
December 5, 2009
Your Hometown Connection 11/26/09
TOUCHDOWN VIKINGS (again)!
Moments after the TD that made it 34-9, the suddenly unstoppable Sidney Rice runs over to the corner of the end zone. Rice had just made his 2nd TD grab of the day. He hands the football to one of the 63,854 fans. What a lucky recipient. The young boy no more than 10 years old, with glasses, wearing a purple Vikings cap and draped in a white Adrian Peterson jersey stares at the ball. Shock had set in. The man next to him excitedly pats the boy on the shoulder.
For Rice it was just one of his six catches on the day as the home team defeathered the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Vikings (more on that in a bit) improved to 9-1. For that young boy and (presumably) his father standing next to him, that moment in life will be shared forever.
I remember my first Vikings game. December 26, 1988. I was 10. First round of the playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams came to town to be part of my memory at the Dome and battle it out with the Purple and Gold. We sat in lower deck end zone seats however I don’t remember sitting. A “Get Your Sheep Off Our Carpet!” banner hung behind the opposite end zone. #47 Joey Browner. He intercepted Rams quarterback Jim Everett twice that game leading the Vikings to a 28-17 playoff victory. I loved the Vikings so much that day I lost my voice the next day. A fan was born.
Today, I own one Vikings jersey. Yep, you guessed it…a retro #47 Joey Browner jersey.
Could memories like those disappear for the next generation of Minnesota Viking fans?
It’s no secret Los Angeles wants a football team--again. I’m sorry for thinking that 1988 banner was funny L.A. But please don’t take my Vikings.
The Vikings have stadium issues. I know. I know. As tiresome as it is for all involved to talk about building stadiums, nothing is getting resolved. The Vikings are amongst the bottom of the league in revenue and with a top market like L.A. willing to build a stadium this should cause concern for the new Brett Favre nation.
But how far will we go in this economy to help save the Vikes? I asked the question on Facebook to LeRoy Connections:
Kevin Hovde: “Do everything we can to keep the Vikes. Look at all the money that comes in from the Vikings, and if they move the taxpayers are going to pick up that tab. Keep the Vikes in MN. BUILD THE STADIUM!”
Joey Miller: “I say they should get some sponsors and use their own money to build it (the stadium)…Wilfs (the owners) are billionaires.”
Stephanie Orum: “I will stop watching NFL football if the Vikes go to L.A. We need to keep them!”
Dave Farlinger: “The people in MN have to look at the long term picture! If we help build a new stadium it will last…We can’t afford to let the Vikings leave! Building a new stadium would create around 3,000 construction jobs…It’s time to get creative. Remember what happened to the North Stars after they went to the Stanley Cup Finals? Let’s not let that happen to the Vikings!”
Grant Lunning: “You have to try and keep the Vikes, but asking taxpayers to shell out more money I don’t think is an option.”
Rob Richardson: “This is the best economy for a stadium project. Interest rates and building costs are down. Large projects create jobs and stimulate the economy on a very real level. This is an investment in our state’s future. The Dome is outdated. Our revenue is low only because of that. We need far-sighted politicians…The state should be sitting down with the Vikings and finding a solution that will be profitable long term.”
Kellen Bucknell: “Coming from a Packer fan (Columnist’s positive note: Kellen’s Packers are 0-2 against Vikes this year), the Vikings have one of the lowest revenues in the NFL…Gotta go if they can’t boost it.”
Barb Hovde: “MN can’t afford to lose the tax revenue—generated from payroll taxes alone is 29 million. That’s huge. Plus the affect on the economy that’s generated because of people coming to the games…We love the Vikings—Go Purple!”
And now it’s my turn. A lot of good points were made by our LeRoy connections. Once upon a time L.A. took our Lakers. “Fool me once…” You know the rest.
It’s definitely 4th down. Build a casino. Make it work with the Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. Change the name to the Minnesota Targets or the General Mills Vikings. Much like the air we breathe, we don’t care where it comes from, as long as we have it.
Just make sure our team stays where they belong, Minnesota. Please keep my list to be thankful for this Thanksgiving complete: Faith, Family, Freedom, Favre, Finding my soulmate, and Football memories.
Moments after the TD that made it 34-9, the suddenly unstoppable Sidney Rice runs over to the corner of the end zone. Rice had just made his 2nd TD grab of the day. He hands the football to one of the 63,854 fans. What a lucky recipient. The young boy no more than 10 years old, with glasses, wearing a purple Vikings cap and draped in a white Adrian Peterson jersey stares at the ball. Shock had set in. The man next to him excitedly pats the boy on the shoulder.
For Rice it was just one of his six catches on the day as the home team defeathered the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Vikings (more on that in a bit) improved to 9-1. For that young boy and (presumably) his father standing next to him, that moment in life will be shared forever.
I remember my first Vikings game. December 26, 1988. I was 10. First round of the playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams came to town to be part of my memory at the Dome and battle it out with the Purple and Gold. We sat in lower deck end zone seats however I don’t remember sitting. A “Get Your Sheep Off Our Carpet!” banner hung behind the opposite end zone. #47 Joey Browner. He intercepted Rams quarterback Jim Everett twice that game leading the Vikings to a 28-17 playoff victory. I loved the Vikings so much that day I lost my voice the next day. A fan was born.
Today, I own one Vikings jersey. Yep, you guessed it…a retro #47 Joey Browner jersey.
Could memories like those disappear for the next generation of Minnesota Viking fans?
It’s no secret Los Angeles wants a football team--again. I’m sorry for thinking that 1988 banner was funny L.A. But please don’t take my Vikings.
The Vikings have stadium issues. I know. I know. As tiresome as it is for all involved to talk about building stadiums, nothing is getting resolved. The Vikings are amongst the bottom of the league in revenue and with a top market like L.A. willing to build a stadium this should cause concern for the new Brett Favre nation.
But how far will we go in this economy to help save the Vikes? I asked the question on Facebook to LeRoy Connections:
Kevin Hovde: “Do everything we can to keep the Vikes. Look at all the money that comes in from the Vikings, and if they move the taxpayers are going to pick up that tab. Keep the Vikes in MN. BUILD THE STADIUM!”
Joey Miller: “I say they should get some sponsors and use their own money to build it (the stadium)…Wilfs (the owners) are billionaires.”
Stephanie Orum: “I will stop watching NFL football if the Vikes go to L.A. We need to keep them!”
Dave Farlinger: “The people in MN have to look at the long term picture! If we help build a new stadium it will last…We can’t afford to let the Vikings leave! Building a new stadium would create around 3,000 construction jobs…It’s time to get creative. Remember what happened to the North Stars after they went to the Stanley Cup Finals? Let’s not let that happen to the Vikings!”
Grant Lunning: “You have to try and keep the Vikes, but asking taxpayers to shell out more money I don’t think is an option.”
Rob Richardson: “This is the best economy for a stadium project. Interest rates and building costs are down. Large projects create jobs and stimulate the economy on a very real level. This is an investment in our state’s future. The Dome is outdated. Our revenue is low only because of that. We need far-sighted politicians…The state should be sitting down with the Vikings and finding a solution that will be profitable long term.”
Kellen Bucknell: “Coming from a Packer fan (Columnist’s positive note: Kellen’s Packers are 0-2 against Vikes this year), the Vikings have one of the lowest revenues in the NFL…Gotta go if they can’t boost it.”
Barb Hovde: “MN can’t afford to lose the tax revenue—generated from payroll taxes alone is 29 million. That’s huge. Plus the affect on the economy that’s generated because of people coming to the games…We love the Vikings—Go Purple!”
And now it’s my turn. A lot of good points were made by our LeRoy connections. Once upon a time L.A. took our Lakers. “Fool me once…” You know the rest.
It’s definitely 4th down. Build a casino. Make it work with the Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. Change the name to the Minnesota Targets or the General Mills Vikings. Much like the air we breathe, we don’t care where it comes from, as long as we have it.
Just make sure our team stays where they belong, Minnesota. Please keep my list to be thankful for this Thanksgiving complete: Faith, Family, Freedom, Favre, Finding my soulmate, and Football memories.
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