Sophie's Story

   One of my favourite shows is "A Football Life" which is on the NFL network. Each episode profiles a player or coach. A few weeks ago the subject was Doug Flutie. For those of you who don't know who he is, he played for the Canadian Football League from 1990 to 1997 and in the NFL from 1986-1989 and 1998-2005. He is best known for his "Hail Mary" pass in 1984 that gave his college team a win over Miami. (A Hail Mary is a long forward pass usually thrown in desperation. Players joke that you throw the ball up and then pray.)   The show focused on one of Flutie's physical features and how it affected his career. That feature was his size. He is 5 feet 9 and 3/4 inches tall. This is normal height for men, but short for a football player.   He started out in college being one of several quarterbacks on the Boston College team. He moved his way up to starter. Because of his height or lack of it, it was assumed that he wouldn't be able to play well. Onc...

    For the last few years we had driven past signs advertising an open art studio. They have a selection of various projects to choose from. People can come in an work with mosaics, fused glass, or paint pottery. There is a place for metalwork and a place for people to make jewelry. I'd always been a little curious about the place. On one hand, it looked like fun. On the other hand it could be a place that catered more to children than adults.    This year I asked Charlie if we might go there. I'd looked it up on the Internet and it looked like something fun to do. He agreed that we could at least take a look.    When we got there we were greeted by a young woman who told us what projects were open and where we could work on each one. I was torn between jewelry making and painting pottery. I elected to paint pottery as I didn't think C would want to make jewelry. Also, when you make jewelry you should have at least some idea of what you want to do...

    We are on our annual pilgrimage to Door County. Lately we have been arriving in time for the Sister Bay Fall Festival. We have a lot of fun there. It's good people watching and also good dog watching as well. There are craft booths, good music and booyah.   This year I made  a bet with C. Before we left on vacation, he went to a store at the Big Mall (aka The Mall of America) and got an NDSU Bison pullover jacket and cap. I thought it a little funny that he would go all out for a school that he didn't attend. I wasn't going to complain though. The Herd could always use another member. He decided to wear his NDSU gear to the festival. I made a bet with him that no one at the festival would know what he was wearing. If someone said something that gave the impression that they were familiar with the Bison, I would pay for dinner at one of the more expensive restaurants. If no one said anything, C would pay.    We went to the craft booths first. T...

   I read an article on the internet where Martha Stewart titled an article about holiday desserts "Conscious Coupling". This of course was meant to be a not so discreet slam against Gwyneth Paltrow who has her own lifestyle website, Goop.    I have to admit part of me thought it was pretty funny. It's bad enough that another celebrity saw fit to make a big announcement about a divorce. (Do they really have to do that?) It's even more ridiculous when it has to be phrased in such dramatic terms. I suppose you must be really special and cultured to 'consciously uncouple'. The rest of us just break up or get a divorce/annulment.   I have a hard time taking the name Goop seriously. Where I come from Goop is a soft lanolin based soap that is really good for getting grease off your hands. You can buy it at Fleet Farm right next to Gunk and Lava. The name Goop does not conjure elegant living to me.   You've guessed by now I...

   Someone shared a post that got onto my Facebook page. It was a list of how to make a man happy and another list of how to make a woman happy. The list that dealt with how to make a man happy had five items on it mostly dealing with physical needs. The woman's list had 53 items on it. In one way I found it interesting and in another way I found it completely offensive. It gave the impression that women are needy, emotional creatures where men are clearly not. It also implied that a woman can only be really happy with a man when he is and can do everything.   I would like to propose my own list of what makes this woman (me) happy. Don't worry. It won't be 53 items.   First off, be a friend. Be the kind of person that I can go to for support when things are bad and celebration when things are good. Encourage me when I need it. Be a partner.    Be honest. Don't lie and don't sugar-coat things. Your words and your actions should match. Don't lead me on. ...

  First I want to issue a disclaimer. I am a Packer fan. I have been one for many years and I intend to remain one. The following column is in no way meant to imply that I am changing sides.   After listening to a few disgruntled Vikings fans I must, in the name of human decency, speak up. I dislike poor treatment of human beings no matter who they are. I feel that Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder is being unfairly blamed for the Vikings loss to the Packers last Thursday.   Vikings fans were licking their chops in anticipation of their team, led by rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, marching onto Lambeau Field and marching over the hapless Packers. They longed to see the Pack humiliated on their home turf. I had heard that Bridgewater was not going to be playing in that game for some reason and emailed a guy I know, a devoted Viking fan. His response was Nooooooooooooooooo. He knew, as I did, that Ponder would be starting.    The anticipated Packer ...

   Denise posted something on my Facebook page that made me tear up. She posted a picture with the following saying in it, "A step parent is so much more than a parent; they made the choice to love when they didn't have to." When I saw it I could feel my eyes fill up. This wasn't a post in response to anything. She'd done this all on her own.   I felt like I was finally accepted. That little post on my wall meant more to me than Denise could possibly realize. I felt like I had gone from being "dad's wife" to "stepmother". It may not sound like it, but there is a big difference between the two.   Part of this may be due to the fact that I had done some parent like things. A few weeks ago Denise had to go to a meeting to get some affairs straightened out. She was nervous and wanted someone to go with her. I had the day off and said I would go. She came to our house 45 minutes before the meeting. I had a cup of hot tea waiting for her. She...