With 1 week of retirement now in the books, I no longer have any valid excuses to not be blogging more. I have, however, over the past week made a few observations that may or may not be enlightening to you. Among them:
There is a LOT to be said for starting the day by getting up early, drinking coffee, and doing some reading.
It's a LOT more enjoyable going for a walk when you want to than when you have to and it's also a lot more fun doing just that while NOT having a 30 lb. satchel of mail hanging off of your shoulder.
Regarding walking, I need to remember that when strolling down main street listening to some music, it does look rather stupid to be begin playing air guitar when the mood/beat strikes me.
A cousin of mine told me it took her about 20 minutes to get used to being retired. I have to find out what took her so long as I think it took me about 5.
All for now, time for nap before game one of Wildcard Weekend!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Championship Memories
My favorite football team is playing for the world championship today. It happens to be the 9th such time since I've been around that they'll be doing that. At the risk of sounding like an "old timer", I actually do remember the championships of the Lombardi era, beginning with the tough loss in the 1960 NFL Championship game against the Eagles in Philadelphia at old Franklin Field. That game would be the only playoff game a Lombardi team would ever lose and in reality it was a game the Packers probably should have won.
The 1961 championship was held in Green Bay and was the game that spawned the moniker "Titletown USA". The Packers throttled the Giants that year 37-0 and I can still remember a headline that appeared in either the Green Bay or Appleton paper the next day, proclaiming "New York can have Tittle,Green Bay has Title", a reference to the Giants great QB YA Tittle, who was frustrated and harassed all day by the Packer D while Bart Starr and the great Packer offense was nearly flawless. The scenes of the goalpost being torn down and hauled through the streets of Green Bay were priceless indeed.
1962 saw a Packers-Giants rematch, this time on the cold, windy turf on Yankee Stadium. The Pack once again prevailed, 16-7 in a game that many of the players said years later, was nearly as cold as the famed Ice Bowl. Guard Jerry Kramer kicked 3 clutch field goals in difficult conditions and the Pack prevailed in a gritty contest.
After missing the playoffs for 2 years straight, the Pack returned to the top after the 1965 season, this time prevailing over the Browns in Green Bay. I remember that day very well. It had snowed 6 inches or so during the night and I remember my Uncle Gib and his son Bob(I think) stopping at our home in Navarino on the way to the game. The Pack prevailed as they held Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown in check on the way to victory. It was to be the first of 3 straight championships for the Packers, the only NFL team to win 3 in a row, and our Green and Gold has done it twice.
1966 and 67 saw two thrilling contests with the Cowboys with the first tilt being in Dallas, that victory sealed by a late interception of a Dandy Don Meredith pass by the Packers Tom Brown. 1967 was culminated by arguably the most famous game ever played, The Ice Bowl. With the 67 title game being played in Green Bay, the game was not on TV around here. That was in the days when home games were "blacked out", the thought being that televising games in areas close to where the game was actually being played would cause attendance to suffer. How wrong that thinking was for the most part. I can remember pacing feverishly around our living room as the Pack drove down the field on that fateful drive that culminated in Bart Starr's famous QB sneak. I do believe I jumped so high when he scored, that I hit my head on the ceiling. That was probably the biggest"air" I ever got in my life.
Pacing is something that comes with the territory I guess it you're a fan of any sport. I know I did my share of it a few weeks ago during the final minutes of the NFC Championship against the Bears, and I'm sure I'm in for a lot of it later today.
Those two wins were followed by the first 2 Super Bowls, although it wasn't even known by that name back then. Boy, that seems like a long time ago and I guess it was.
Most everyone reading this will remember the 1996 and 1997 seasons, the first culminating in the victory in New Orleans over the Patriots is Super Bowl XXXI. What a feeling that was to have the Lombardi Trophy coming back to Green Bay! Sadly, the following year we lost to the Broncos, a real downer. I'm sure many of us thought that might be the last trip to the "Big Game" that we'd see in our lifetimes. I know I had my doubts from time to time. But football, especially NFL football, is a hard game to figure out sometimes. Look at this season. In spite of all the injuries, tough overtime losses early in the year, an almost unforgivable defeat at the hands of the Lions when they could least afford it, these guys have jelled and gotten hot at just the right time. Hopefully, that hot streak will continue in just a few hours and our guys will return home tomorrow, with another Lombardi Trophy in hand. GO PACK!
The 1961 championship was held in Green Bay and was the game that spawned the moniker "Titletown USA". The Packers throttled the Giants that year 37-0 and I can still remember a headline that appeared in either the Green Bay or Appleton paper the next day, proclaiming "New York can have Tittle,Green Bay has Title", a reference to the Giants great QB YA Tittle, who was frustrated and harassed all day by the Packer D while Bart Starr and the great Packer offense was nearly flawless. The scenes of the goalpost being torn down and hauled through the streets of Green Bay were priceless indeed.
1962 saw a Packers-Giants rematch, this time on the cold, windy turf on Yankee Stadium. The Pack once again prevailed, 16-7 in a game that many of the players said years later, was nearly as cold as the famed Ice Bowl. Guard Jerry Kramer kicked 3 clutch field goals in difficult conditions and the Pack prevailed in a gritty contest.
After missing the playoffs for 2 years straight, the Pack returned to the top after the 1965 season, this time prevailing over the Browns in Green Bay. I remember that day very well. It had snowed 6 inches or so during the night and I remember my Uncle Gib and his son Bob(I think) stopping at our home in Navarino on the way to the game. The Pack prevailed as they held Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown in check on the way to victory. It was to be the first of 3 straight championships for the Packers, the only NFL team to win 3 in a row, and our Green and Gold has done it twice.
1966 and 67 saw two thrilling contests with the Cowboys with the first tilt being in Dallas, that victory sealed by a late interception of a Dandy Don Meredith pass by the Packers Tom Brown. 1967 was culminated by arguably the most famous game ever played, The Ice Bowl. With the 67 title game being played in Green Bay, the game was not on TV around here. That was in the days when home games were "blacked out", the thought being that televising games in areas close to where the game was actually being played would cause attendance to suffer. How wrong that thinking was for the most part. I can remember pacing feverishly around our living room as the Pack drove down the field on that fateful drive that culminated in Bart Starr's famous QB sneak. I do believe I jumped so high when he scored, that I hit my head on the ceiling. That was probably the biggest"air" I ever got in my life.
Pacing is something that comes with the territory I guess it you're a fan of any sport. I know I did my share of it a few weeks ago during the final minutes of the NFC Championship against the Bears, and I'm sure I'm in for a lot of it later today.
Those two wins were followed by the first 2 Super Bowls, although it wasn't even known by that name back then. Boy, that seems like a long time ago and I guess it was.
Most everyone reading this will remember the 1996 and 1997 seasons, the first culminating in the victory in New Orleans over the Patriots is Super Bowl XXXI. What a feeling that was to have the Lombardi Trophy coming back to Green Bay! Sadly, the following year we lost to the Broncos, a real downer. I'm sure many of us thought that might be the last trip to the "Big Game" that we'd see in our lifetimes. I know I had my doubts from time to time. But football, especially NFL football, is a hard game to figure out sometimes. Look at this season. In spite of all the injuries, tough overtime losses early in the year, an almost unforgivable defeat at the hands of the Lions when they could least afford it, these guys have jelled and gotten hot at just the right time. Hopefully, that hot streak will continue in just a few hours and our guys will return home tomorrow, with another Lombardi Trophy in hand. GO PACK!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
This and that on a Sunday afternoon
Various ramblings while I watch a purple #4 try to stage another 4th quarter comeback...
When did guys start thinking it's ok to wear shorts when it's 35 degrees out? To me that's just as dumb as wearing pants with your underwear showing out the top. Our neighbor is one of these guys. Of course he also likes to take his riding mower with the bagger unit around and collect everyone's leaves, except ours of course, and then allows his lawn to look like some sort of landfill. Go figure.
What's worse, hardly ever hearing from someone you care about or only seeming to have them call you when they have had too much to drink? Not sure, but I sure like talking to sober people a lot more than I like trying to converse with intoxicated ones.
I've noticed the 50th anniversary patches on the uniforms of the Vikings today. I remember when they came into the league. Man, I must be getting old.
I wonder what my Mom would think about a lot of this technology "stuff". She was the one who "encouraged" me to go to tech school and study computers. She was certain there was a big future in them. Boy, she nailed that! I still regret disappointing her by bailing out on that line of work after only a couple of years. I hope she's ok with me becoming a mailman. I guess I could have done worse, like become a politician or used car salesman although I've met a few of those folks over the years that have almost seemed human.
I can't wait to get out into my boat and go fishing again. It would really be great to go someday with my son and grandson.
All I really want for Christmas this year is to go to church on Christmas Eve with my daughter.
When did guys start thinking it's ok to wear shorts when it's 35 degrees out? To me that's just as dumb as wearing pants with your underwear showing out the top. Our neighbor is one of these guys. Of course he also likes to take his riding mower with the bagger unit around and collect everyone's leaves, except ours of course, and then allows his lawn to look like some sort of landfill. Go figure.
What's worse, hardly ever hearing from someone you care about or only seeming to have them call you when they have had too much to drink? Not sure, but I sure like talking to sober people a lot more than I like trying to converse with intoxicated ones.
I've noticed the 50th anniversary patches on the uniforms of the Vikings today. I remember when they came into the league. Man, I must be getting old.
I wonder what my Mom would think about a lot of this technology "stuff". She was the one who "encouraged" me to go to tech school and study computers. She was certain there was a big future in them. Boy, she nailed that! I still regret disappointing her by bailing out on that line of work after only a couple of years. I hope she's ok with me becoming a mailman. I guess I could have done worse, like become a politician or used car salesman although I've met a few of those folks over the years that have almost seemed human.
I can't wait to get out into my boat and go fishing again. It would really be great to go someday with my son and grandson.
All I really want for Christmas this year is to go to church on Christmas Eve with my daughter.
Friday, November 5, 2010
I'm Back!
After a long absence from the blogging keyboard, I've decided it's time to get back in the swing of things as far as blogging goes. I guess my long absence can be explained by one word, baseball. The long season has finally ended and as a lifelong fan I guess my brain gets stretched in too many different directions for me to effectively "multi-task" as long as there are games on the radio or on TV.
Oh well, I guess this will be my sort of "spring training"for what I hope to write about next year. That topic...my last year on my mail route. Yup, retirement for me will come at the end of 2011 and I'd like to take the time to record as many of my daily observations as possible. Reading that stuff will be a sure cure for a sleepless night. Stay tuned...
Oh well, I guess this will be my sort of "spring training"for what I hope to write about next year. That topic...my last year on my mail route. Yup, retirement for me will come at the end of 2011 and I'd like to take the time to record as many of my daily observations as possible. Reading that stuff will be a sure cure for a sleepless night. Stay tuned...
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
It Makes Me Stop and Think
For the past several weeks, I've noticed ads on TV being sponsored by the Catholic church. As a Christian, my initial reaction was that I thought they were a pretty neat outreach to the members of the Catholic faith who have fallen away from their churches. Being involved in my church as our congregations vice chairman, I appreciate what they are attempting to do. I wish more of our members would attend more than just occasionally. How do you get them to do just that is the age old question.
The commercial I just saw, was the best I've seen. It's intent is to try and stir those inactive members to come back to church. In it, the narrator speaks of the "movie of our life" and how it will be used to judge us some day. Wow! The movie of my life is one I wouldn't want anyone else to see! I've done far too many sinful things, said too many sinful words, and conjured up so many sinful thoughts it makes me sick just to think of it all.
Thankfully, I know that my Lord and Savior has taken care of all my transgressions by his death on the cross. All I can do each and every day that he grants me on this earth is to try to be worthy of the price that he paid for me. I know I never can, but I keep trying just the same.
At the risk on jumping the gun by about 10 days, let me leave you with the following!
Happy Easter ! He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!
The commercial I just saw, was the best I've seen. It's intent is to try and stir those inactive members to come back to church. In it, the narrator speaks of the "movie of our life" and how it will be used to judge us some day. Wow! The movie of my life is one I wouldn't want anyone else to see! I've done far too many sinful things, said too many sinful words, and conjured up so many sinful thoughts it makes me sick just to think of it all.
Thankfully, I know that my Lord and Savior has taken care of all my transgressions by his death on the cross. All I can do each and every day that he grants me on this earth is to try to be worthy of the price that he paid for me. I know I never can, but I keep trying just the same.
At the risk on jumping the gun by about 10 days, let me leave you with the following!
Happy Easter ! He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Apology Accepted
I lost a old friend the other day. Old in that he was in his 80's, not that we had been friends forever. Oscar was a fellow who lived with his wife on my mail route. You get to know a lot of people over the years just by delivering their mail. Some you get to know better than others. Oscar was one of those. Over the years I'd learned that Oscar joined the Army the day after he graduated high school in 1943. He ended up at Normandy about a week after D Day in 1944. He ended up losing an eye in battle and returned home. As we both loved fishing, I always hoped to get to go sometime with him. Sadly, that never happened.
The last time I saw him was a couple of weeks ago, when I just stopped to see how he and his wife were doing. Oscar was in the kitchen, cleaning a mess of bluegills that he had caught earlier that day. He apologized to me for not having the sidewalk cleared of the inch of snow that had fallen earlier that day while he was out fishing. I told him "no problem" and ended my visit and went on my way, to the next stop on my route, where two young guys in there teens along with their Uncle reside. The sidewalk there is never shoveled, a reflection in part as to the type of guys who live there. To bad they aren't more like their neighbor Oscar. I'll miss him...a lot.
The last time I saw him was a couple of weeks ago, when I just stopped to see how he and his wife were doing. Oscar was in the kitchen, cleaning a mess of bluegills that he had caught earlier that day. He apologized to me for not having the sidewalk cleared of the inch of snow that had fallen earlier that day while he was out fishing. I told him "no problem" and ended my visit and went on my way, to the next stop on my route, where two young guys in there teens along with their Uncle reside. The sidewalk there is never shoveled, a reflection in part as to the type of guys who live there. To bad they aren't more like their neighbor Oscar. I'll miss him...a lot.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Perspective?
Yesterday while delivering mail, I had a small padded envelope that required the addressee's signature. I arrived at her address, knocked on her door, and informed her that I needed her to sign for a piece of mail. She wondered what it might be that required her John Hancock and I informed her it was from a local casino. With that information now disclosed, she became elated, as it I now learned that she had lost her wallet on a recent gambling trip. I told her that I hoped her wallet contents had remained intact. Her response left me amused and confounded as well. She was concerned that someone may have taken the booklet of "forever stamps" she had just purchased out of her wallet.
Hmmm, let me get this straight. You go to the casino and are willing to LOSE money, money that you probably can NOT afford to lose. You end up losing your wallet and upon it's safe return, your first concern is as to the possible disappearance of a book of stamps, retail value $8.80?
Such is the mindset, I'm afraid, of far too many folks who go to the casinos on a regular basis. File this one under "Sad but True" I guess.
Hmmm, let me get this straight. You go to the casino and are willing to LOSE money, money that you probably can NOT afford to lose. You end up losing your wallet and upon it's safe return, your first concern is as to the possible disappearance of a book of stamps, retail value $8.80?
Such is the mindset, I'm afraid, of far too many folks who go to the casinos on a regular basis. File this one under "Sad but True" I guess.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)