Christmas Quiz

I will post the answers in a few days, good luck.

1. In the 1964 classic Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, what was the name of the elf that wanted to be a dentist?
2. What was the snowman narrator of the show's name?
3. On the Island of Misfit Toys, why was the train a misfit toy?
4. On the Island of Misfit Toys, what was the name of the Jack-In-The-Box?
5. Where did the Grinch live?
6. "If I can't find a reindeer, I'll make one instead!" What was the Grinch's dog's name?
7. How did the Grinch know that he hadn't stopped Christmas?
8. How much did the Grinch's heart grow that day?
9. When catching snow flakes on his tongue, Linus thought the flakes needed something. What?
10. In dictating a letter to Santa, Sally ultimately asks Santa for one gift. What is it?
11. Lucy was kissed once during the show. Who kissed her?
12. Here's a tough one: What song did Schroeder play indicating it was his selection for the Christmas play music?
13. What traditional Christmas carol does the entire Peanuts gang hum, and then eventually sing at the end of the show?
14. What action causes Frosty to come to life?
15. Upon coming to life, what were Frosty's first words?
16. In an effort to keep from melting, where did Frosty travel to?
17. Throughout the show, a little girl helps Frosty. What is her name?
18. What were Frosty's last words at the end of the show?
19. What did Ralphie want for Christmas in the movie A Christmas Story?
20. In the movie A Christmas Story, what was Santa's response to Ralphie's request for a BB gun for Christmas?
21. What grade was Ralphie given on his themed essay "What I Want For Christmas"?
22. What happened to the Parker family's Christmas turkey?
23. What did the family eat instead of turkey for Christmas dinner?

The Night Chicago Died?

Yes, friends today (October 8, 2010) we celebrate the 139th anniversery of when Chicago burned to the ground. Many of you may be asking if we can burn it to the ground again. Well God did rain down fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, which were two cities with less corruption the Chicago, but who am I to question the great all mighty. I'm just say some good old fashion wrath never goes out of style.

I would also like to point out that most people often compare the transportation system of Chicago to hell. I know that my own personal hell is sometimes driving through the city.

So why not burn it to the ground and start over? Well, I guess because there are some neat cultural things there, a lot of people would die (including several good friends of mine) and more importantly it would be an environmental disaster.

Keep up the fight

There are many things I would like to draw your attention to that have been happening lately. Let me first start by sharing with you a joy from this morning.

2222
That's right the old Scooter hit 2222 miles this morning! I would like to say I turned off the road to take this picture, but I did not. I took it at the red light I was stopped at this morning. There are only 3 lights in town and 2 of them were red on my way to work at 6:48, but that did not bother me because my Scooter turned 2222. I have had it about a year and a half and it already has enough miles on it to go to the moon and back. I am so proud of the little guy!!

Next on the list of exciting news to tell you is that I am now officially a school bus driver. That is right, I took my first official drive in a school bus yesterday! It was a noon and evening route for a driver who had a funeral to go to. There were a total of 4 kids on my bus (2 and noon and 2 after school). They all said that I was cooler then the normal driver. Well truth be told one student had some support needs and was nonverbal, one was too scared to say a word, one kid was in 6th grade and the other kid pretty much ignored me. But I consider all of those to be a success.

Last but by no means least, and something that goes along with driving the bus is that I now have PMS. Well again I might of changed the facts. I have MPS. Which means I have motorcycle, passenger and school bus endorsements on my class B Commercial Drivers License. I know it is kinda a big deal, but I am not letting it go to my head. I also got the "A" restriction taken off because I no longer need glasses or contacts.

On another note, I had my every two year physical yesterday. Although that is never fun I am glad I am not a woman or over the age of 50 yet. The nurse did comment that I had great vision! 20/15 in each eye and 20/13 together. I told her I just had LASIK and she said I cheated.

Well till next time,

Keep up the fight

Going Under the Laser

That is right folks, I will be going under the laser Friday, September 10th, at about 9:45. I will be getting LASIK done on both of my eyes to hopefully end my dependence on glasses and contacts.I have been wanting to get LASIK for several years now, but it has always been to expensive, but thanks to a new medical study, I can afford it. LASIK cost about $5,000 and there are also fees for the initial screening, vision test, eye drops, medications and follow up appointments. All in all it is not uncommon for the whole package to be closer to $6,000.

Over the years I have been watching my Health Savings Account grow to a modest amount of just under $3,000, so how is it that I am able to afford LASIK? Great question, let me explain.

So I was listing to the radio when I heard an ad to call for more information about a LASIK study. I will save you some of the details and tell you that instead of $5,000, I will pay $2,000, get all my meds and drops for free, follow ups for free and at the end of the study get a check for $500.

So what is the catch? Here's the deal. The FDA is doing a study on the eye drops that are used after the surgery. They are already on the market and commonly used in the %1 solution. The drug maker wants to know if the drug would work better in the %5 solution. So they are giving the study participants drops that are either %1, %5 or just a natural re-wetting drop (placebo). I have no idea which one I am on and I just take the drop like normal.

What they are hoping will happen is that those participants with the %5 will heal faster. Those who get the placebo will still heal, just slower. So, once a month for 6 months I have to go back and the run a bunch of test on me to see how I am doing. They poke my eye with this fine hair about 100 times. I'm not kidding there are 9 zones on each eye they test and you have to feel 3 pokes in a row before they will move on to the next zone. The other test is a reading test where they are trying to see how quickly your eyes can recover and focus on small print to be able to read faster.

Well keep me in your prayers and I will let you all know how it goes.

Keep up the fight

Me and "The Hoff"

David Hasselhoff is German, I am German. David Hasselhoff played a lifeguard on TV, I am a lifeguard in real life. David Hasselhoff has tons of money, I am poor. As you can see David and I have a lot of common.

While on the set of the both Emmy and Grammy winning show "Baywatch," Mr. Hasselhoff's character, Mitch Buchannon, guarded the lives of many young and healthy men and women. If you have ever been to your local Y or other indoor pool then you know that from 7-10 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings that the swimmers are not exactly young and not always healthy.

But that is the shift I have been work the last few weeks and even though the swimmers might not be right out of Baywatch, I am glad I am there. The morning starts with me getting to work at about 6:50 and clocking in for the morning. I ten go and grab the radio and tune it into the local NPR station and begin to soak up 2 hours of world, national, state and local news. After the radio is ready to go I sit back down in the chair and eat my granola bar for breakfast. I kind of feel bad because the sign reads no food or drink in the pool area, but I don't really care that much.

After breakfast it is off the the equipment closet so I can get a yoga mat out and spend about 15-20min stretching out my legs for the day. This helps so much with the running on the other days. After I am nice and loose it is time to walk laps around the pool. 19 laps around the pool is a mile and I try to get about 3-4 miles in a morning. It takes about an hour, which is perfect because by now it is 9:00 and NPR is switching over to classical music so it is time to turn the radio off and put it away anyhow.

With the radio off I spend another 10-15 stretching and then hop back up into the chair for the last half an hour of the day. Don't worry I generally keep my eyes on those who are swimming, but typically there is almost a whole hour in there when nobody is in the pool, so I don't have to worry about anything. I know it sounds like a tough job, but it is important.

Keep up the fight

The Sun is Setting

It has come to that time of the year again. The sun is setting on yet another summer of camp. We have one last week left, and it started today. While I have by no means processed this summer in all of it's entirety, I have been spending some time thinking back already.

Maybe thinking back is not a fair way to say it as much as looking forward, which focuses me backwards? What on God's green earth am I trying to say? Let me explain.

I have some exciting things coming up this fall:
1) I am going to be driving a bus for the local school. I will not be an every day driver with a route but a part time driver. This means I will do things like athletic trips and sub when they need me. The transportation director, Roger Cline, said I would be able to get a lot of shifts if I want them, so I said sure. This means I have to go to bus drivers training school. It is a 3 day class and I am sure it will be really interactive and super fun. Maybe not, but the $80.00 for a night of driving some kids around and watching a football game is ok by me.

2) I am also going to lifeguard at the Young Man's Christian Association one or two days a week. This is not really all that exciting, but my $30 a month membership will turn into a $30 a week paycheck and that is nice.

3) I started training for a half marathon today. Well, kinda. Today is day number one and I am supposed to stretch and do strength training. Once I get into the program my long runs will be on Saturdays so Sundays are recovery days. Not much of a workout today, but they will be coming.

So with these three things and one other (maybe more on that other later) I have been looking forward to this fall. What is interesting about this is that for the first time 100% of my attention in the summer was not focused on camp. I found myself going home at 7 not 9 or 10 at night. I came in at 8:45 not 8:00. Now I was not skipping out on my duties, I was just taking more time for myself and other things in my life. It feels odd to not have summer camp control all of my time. In some ways I have felt guilty about this, but in the end I think it is a healthy transition.

So I am in no way wishing the last week of summer camp away. Every day I am reminded of why I love my job, and tonight when I tell the campfire story I will once again be reminded of how much I love being with campers. Maybe it is because after 10+ summers of doing camp I know that great sunrises don't come without the sunset.

Keep up the fight

Dear Private Investigator

Dear Private Investigator,

Can you please help me find my friend Pat Andera? He goes by many names: Big Slick, SPA, Sexy Beast, Heart Breaker and Big Sloppy. He really likes sloppy food and typically this time of year is in the Lake Delton area of Wisconsin.

The last time I had any contact with him was late April. I did receive a text message from him a few weeks ago, but since he does not respond to voice messages and his mailbox is now full I am concerned that someone took his phone and used it to throw me off the trail.

I have also heard a rumor that he took a vacation to South Dakota with a man named Tim. I find this hard to believe because surly if he was in the car for 18hours he would of found 20min to call me back.

He also used to have a blog, "Spa's Sports" but May 12th, was his last update and again, I question if this was another phantom writer using Pat's name to throw me off the trail.

So, Mr. PI, all I am asking for is prof that Mr. Spa is in fact alive. I would accept a recent photo as prof. Maybe if you track him down you can let him borrow your phone and he can call me. I might be willing to offer a cash prize to any person who can find him... dead or alive.

Thank you,
Andy Miller

Keep up the fight

Day 1 and 2

It is that time of year. Summer camp is now here. We spend 9 months preparing for summer camp and then much like a mother, give birth to a monster.

After a few weeks of a very good pre-camp it was time for campers to arrive. It only takes me about 1 minute after seeing that first camper to remember why we work so hard for the rest of the year. The questions they ask are so funny. The creativity is so amazing. The way they look at everything like it is so fresh and new just makes me smile.

Then the second day of summer camp comes. The bus breaks down, the phone system goes crazy, a volunteer nurse backs out and the medical supply company tell you that you owe them $200 when you really paid that bill months ago. Then I remember why sometimes I pray for August.

Keep up the fight

Take Note

See what I was talking about?

• Paul (T) knocked off Grayson (R) in Kentucky
• Specter lost in Pennsylvania

Anti-Incumbent fever and far right Tea party candidates are taking over the ballots.

What about Bob

There is an amazing story coming out of Utah. That is right folks I said amazing and Utah and was not talking about the National Parks. About a week ago the junior senator from Utah, Bob Bennett, failed to win his party nomination for reelection.

Now why is this so amazing? Well a few reasons. 1) In recent polls among the popular vote he was getting like 70%. 2) He carries an A+ rating from NRA and the delegates said he was no conservative enough. 3) He is a Mormon.

All over the country we are seeing more and more incumbents fall in the primary. Not only Democrats, but Republicans also. I find this interesting because typically incumbents do pretty good in elections. Evidently the citizen of Utah are so upset with the federal government that they don't care about losing a rather high ranking representative in the senate.

I have also been thinking about what this could mean for the elections in November. I am wondering if more and more republicans who don't get their nominations may run as independents? Would this split the vote enough to allow Dem to maintain their seats or gain a few? If so, who are these independents going to caucus with?

It also brings up the point of the Tea Party movement in the Republican party. If the delegates who elect our officials, sorry Americans you don't vote in your representatives, from the GOP are now so fed up with Washington that they are going to get rid of Bob, who is safe in the party? McCain is fighting for his career and so are many other big name Republicans. Do the delegates really thank that rank and file rep want an ultra right wing Tea Party candidate in the elections? How is a Tea Party candidate going to get an independent vote?

Obviously this will not matter in a state like Utah. Some states are just red and some are just blue. The purple states should prove to be interesting to watch this year.

Keep up the fight

Stepping into May

The arch created this new walking intensive program. A team of 5 has the whole month of May to walk 500 miles. If we do it we get $25. After that each 500 miles an individual gets they get another $25. Needless to say I am all about this. I am getting paid to work out.

It is also the time of year where I find that I don't stop working until it is time to go to bed. I have been helping out at confirmation retreats, visiting friends in Chicago, cutting and stacking wood, training for fall races, working on ACA accreditation, moving into a new office and working in my garden for the past few weeks.

I do enjoy this time of year because I keep busy. Oddly enough I enjoy the rush. It is nice to come into work have a long to do list. It makes me feel needed and it is o so fun to cross off big projects.

Ok, well on that note, back to it.

Keep up the fight

Andy's First Triathlon

Yes, it is true I did finish my triathlon last weekend. The culmination of about 4 months of training really paid off when I ran through that big blue arch.

I am guessing most of you have never done a triathlon before so I am going to take some time and tell you all about mine.

First of all it was call a "Sprint Triathlon." A sprint means it was a short one. It was 1/4m swim, 10m bike and 5k run. Just to let you know "Olympic Triathlons" are about double that length. To learn more about distances and such check out the Wiki page on Triathlons.

The following is a list of my times and all the ranking number from my race.
Swim 8:32 (259th)
Transition 1 3:47 (377th)
Bike 38:37 (15.5mph 496th)
Transition 2 1:50 (137th)
Run 30:39 (9:52m 560th)
Total: 1:23:28 (483rd/672)
Division 45th/62

I want to share one story from the race. It was about my 3rd length in the pool and there was a swimmer passing me on my left. There were also two swimmers right in front of us and I was getting ready to cut left to pass them. With this guy on my left it meant I could not do that and was going to get stuck behind them all. I decided I didn't want that to happen so I swam right up the middle of the two other swimmers. Then when I went to take a breath on my left the swimmer to my left took a breath on the right and we met goggle to goggle about 6 inches away from each other. It was a really cool moment in the race.

I also learned what draw strings are for on swim trunks. Not because mine also fell off, but because most triathlon athletes look like a blend of meth users, super models and body builders and their cloths are falling off of them because they have no body fat to keep them on.

Overall I was very happy with the race. I had three goals and I meet them all.

1. Do not die
2. Finish the race
3. Under 1:45

So what is next? Well there are several things I have on the to do list.

1. Mudathlon on June 26. What is a Mudathlon? I have no idea but they say it is between 3 and 4 miles with obstacles and participants get a free beer. Combine that with two attractive women on the flier and that was all it took to get me excited enough to do it.
2. Columbus Triathlon on August 7th. I am not sure about this one. It is the day after summer camp is over. That could be good because it could keep me training all summer long or be bad because I am physically spent after a summer camp.
3. Wine at the Line, 5mile or 5k run on September 25th. You get a wine glass, shirt, wine and pizza. And yes, they also had an attractive woman on their flier.
4. The Grand Canyon, Fall of 2011. What is this? Check out my buddy Ford's blog for that information.

Come join me on one or all of the events and,
Keep up the fight

On Your Marks, Get Set, Oh Shit

So today, Saturday, April 10th, is a good day. Why you might ask? The question is rhetorical, I will answer it for you.

1) I got on the scale today and for the first time since 2003ish I weighed in under 200 pounds. That is right folk I was a slim and trim (with two love handles that you could crab hold tight enough to ride a bull on) 199lb.

2) I then:

• swam 1/4 mile: 1 lap around a track
• biked 10 miles: 40 laps
• ran a 5k: 12 1/2 laps (well what I call running, similar to a brisk walk for most)

I did all of this is 1 hour 30 min and 21 seconds. Why did I do this? Again, the question is rhetorical, I will answer it for you. I did this because next Sunday, April 18, I am doing those same distances in a Sprint Triathlon in Carmel, Indiana.

Why the hell would I do that and who took over Andy's body? Two valid questions. There are several reasons:

1. About 5 months ago I had a health screening and almost all levels of health that they measured were in the yellow or red.
2. Several people around me workout a lot and eat healthy, so I had support.
3. I have been told a slimmer man is a bit more attractive (true it is what is on the inside that counts but for me that was arteries that were slowly closing and fat deposits building).
4. The Miller family gene pool tends to favor diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and double chins. I grew a beard for the chin thing.
5. Health Care is getting more and more expensive. If every American lost 5 pounds and moved their nutrition plan 5% closer to what it should look like, can you imagine how much money would be saved and how much healthier we would be.
6. I also realized that I am not in college any more. What I eat and how I take care of my body does matter.
7. Last but by no means least... I look hot in a pair of jammers... ok not really.

3) Now after burning what I am guessing was close to 800 calories and realizing that I am so close to accomplishing the goals I set back in the Advent (Catholic New Year) that it was time to have a mini celebration. So what did I do? Only one of the most amazing things ever. Something that truly proves God loves us. Something that melts all the cares and pains right off the body like a butter cow left in the sun (go to the Iowa State Fair). That is right, I had a beer shower. For those of you that don't know what a beer shower is, I truly feel sorry for you. It is not showering in beer, but rather taking a shower while drinking a beer. It is even better if there is a large green plastic lawn chair to sit down in while you are in the shower, but I have a small shower. O, that moment when the water hits the back of your head and your spin tingles. If you time it just right your mouth tingles with the cold beer at the same time and a little piece of heaven comes out of the faucet (that is not actually church doctrine, but it should be... I'm looking at you Benedict).

4) What could top a day like this off? Well I am on my way to get the Scooter out for the summer. The time has come and I am ready.

5) After a Scooter ride I then get to go to Mass. Nothing like some Grace from God to top off the day. Then home to bed at around 6:00 because man am I tired!!

Keep up the fight

Bacon-Wrapped Maple Pork Loin

So last week I had the best pork I had ever had in my life. Normally even good a pork loin is either dry or sometimes a bit on the chewy side, but not this one. It was juicy, moist and you could cut it with a fork. So tender that it melted in your mouth. It had a touch of the sweet Maple flavor but not overpowering to make you feel like you were eating a pancake. The Bacon it was wrapped in was nice a crisp and helped hold the loin flavor but it didn't give off an overpowering bacon flavor.

This was course 4 of a 7 course meal that Mr. Pat Hurley was the masterminded. I had the special privileged to be his right hand man in the kitchen for the feast. It was served with roasted asparagus and sweet potatoes with a chipotle honey glaze.

If you do not have plans for Easter yet you might want to give this loin a try.

Keep up the fight

WOW Goodbye March

I noticed that I only had one post in March so far, and then I noticed March was almost over.

Well WOW is coming up this week. The guys are on their way to my place tonight and we will take off tomorrow morning for the drive down to TN. I really do look forward to this week for the whole rest of the year. Such a great time with so many great people.

I also wanted to make note of some of the Saints feast days we had last week. It was an amazing week for men if they were paying attention. If not take a quick look at this link and follow along while I highlight some.

St. Maximilian: A solider not of man's army but God
St. Patrick: Want to talk about spreading the word of God, here's is a guy for you
St. Cyril: A Doctor of the church
St. Joseph: The man of all men who truly teaches us how to treat the women in our life.

These four men really call us to task as we enter the last few weeks of Lent. I think each one of them highlights a different aspect of what it means to be a man today.

I think it is also interesting that it takes 4 men to get still a fragmented picture. I think this a very humbling reminder that even the best of us still fall short.

Keep of the fight.

Febrile

I got a fever yesterday at about 4:15. I was heading home from work when it hit me. The song, "The Boys are Back in Town" (thank you Thin Lizzy) was playing on the radio.

I looked outside and realized it had been sunny all day and in the mid 40's. It was so nice out and the snow is almost gone.

The sickness got worse today when I was driving from camp to the Y this morning at almost the exact spot on the road as it hit me yesterday. I looked off the road to my right and there where two artist painting out in a field.

Today the cement guys are laying the new sidewalks to our office because the ground over there is dry and the weekend calls for highs in the mid 50's.

It is only 18 days until my trip to TN.

Yes, I have SPRING FEVER.

Keep up the fight

I love you Grandma

I am sure many of you know this already but I wanted to blog about it anyways. My grandma Irma Miller passed away last Friday. I flew home to Iowa on Saturday to spend time with family and returned to Indiana late Wednesday night.

Grandma's death was in no way sudden, but is still a loss to all those who knew her. Over the last 5 years she has been in and out of different care facilities and it was time for here to go.

My theory is that God simply wanted someone to bake for him. Grandma always made the best rolls even if Steve and I mashed them up. I have never tasted a better carrot cake and hers other cakes are the measure in which I measure all cakes.

I will also remember rides on her wheelchair, her playing croquet in the front yard with us kids, driving all around the county in the silver van, her and grandpa peacefully talking things out, her hamburgers, chocolate pudding, the blankets she made me, the way she shuffled the cards with only the tips of the cards, where she sat at Mass, working on puzzles with her and so many other little things.

Grandma was a true inspiration to many and to all of us who knew her, we can call ourselves blessed for being in her presence.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. ~ 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Amen

Good Bye Good Time

There was a story this week which received some media attention, but not the extent that our staff at A Cage of Words felt like it deserved. So, we are using our soap box to spread the word of the death of another great man in American politics.Who was this man that once had the guts to call Pat Schroeder, "Babycakes?"

Who was this man who said in a book:
"The girls had cocaine, and the music was loud. It was total happiness. And both of them had ten long, red fingernails with an endless supply of beautiful white powder....The feds spent a million bucks trying to figure out whether, when those fingernails passed under my nose, did I inhale or exhale, and I ain't telling."

Who was this man that funneled millions of dollars into arming Islamic Fundamentalist in the 80's to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan? (It also helped to cause many of today's issues, but never mind that.)

Who was this man that recieved the second highest amount of demerits when he was at the Navel academy, and then made lieutenant?

Who was this man who got into politics to spit his neighbor for killing his dog?

Who was this Democrat that represented the 2nd district of Texas for 12 terms? (The fighting 2nd is a bible belt good Christian district...hardly a place for a blue tie.)

Who was this man who had to testify to congress about his love of a Russian model which some in congress believed to be a spy?

This man was Charles Nesbitt Wilson. Know in the big show as Good Time Charlie. He partied hard and brokered enough back room deals to make even an Illinois politician blush. It was Tom Hanks who portrayed this man in Charlie Wilson's War. Yes, Wednesday was truly a sad day for American politics. I can only hope that he and Strom are watching over us now. Thank you Charlie for all you did for us. Rest in peace, servant of our freedom.

Keep up the fight... we must carry on for Charlie

To Swim A Mile

I remember a few years (7ish) when I first because a lifeguard. I did my training with Bonnie in the Ho Chunk House of Wellness pool. The hardest part of the training was not the brick, not the written test or recovery of a passive deep water victim with a positive MOI spin who needed back boarded, it was the 1 mile swim. I remember that it took me a little over an hour to do this task. All the other people in the class where done and on the side eating lunch before I was done, but I did it.

You may or may not know this about me but I swim at least 3 times a week. Most of the time my workout is about 1 mile in length, but I stop on average twice. Yesterday for some reason I just didn't stop. I was feeling good and the water was the right temp so I just kept going right through my first break and into my second set. Then I went right into my third and before I new it I was only 4-5 laps away from the mile so I just did it.

Now I know swimming a mile is not that big of a deal. Most swimmers will do this several times a week. There are a few lightweights out there who might not be able to handle it but that's ok. I also know that the distance is not important but how much effort you put in. Shorter workouts can be more productive and all that. It was just a small personal moment I wanted to share with you all because it was only the second time in my life I have done such a thing.

Keep up the fight

The Romantic Comedy

This post is dedicated to the most manliest genera of film: The Romantic Comedy?

Yes, that is right the romantic comedy. I am a huge fan of them and let me tell you why. They are nice and uplifting. There are so many shows and movies that are about violence, drugs, death, hate, crime, sex and money. We have enough of that in our world. What the world needs now is love sweet love (and more bald men...). RoCos make you feel better and believe in the power of love.

Now I understand that some may say that type of love is not real and that by watching RoCos you are only buying into Hollywood's fake version of love and that real love that comes from Christ. I see their point, really I do. It is a valid one (not often I concede a point!!).

Was I depressed because I watched romantic comedies, or did I watch romantic comedies because I was depressed? Well to be honest I don't think either on is true. Although I may toss the whiskey bottle (ok red wine) in the recycling bin at the end of the night with a "whatever" after watching a romantic comedy, I probably still enjoyed it. I also don't think I am depressed or spinning into cycles of unhealthy choice in my life by watching a RoCo every now and then.

I don't believe a person is going to meet their true love over some book store drama, fall in love with a movie star in the streets of England or leave their vocation up to the circulation patterns of a book and $5 bill. If I get to be 100 years old, let me go hunting, don't read to me every day. I think the ideas are interesting and they make good comments on our social condition.

Now don't get me wrong I have more James Bond movies on my shelf then RoCos. I'm just saying that for the most part I enjoy me a good romantic comedy. I know I probably just lost my "man card" here, but let's be honest besides this guy, what man out there doesn't have some soft spot?

On another notes I would like to point out that this is the 100th post for "A Cage of Words." I would like to think my staff and all those who check in on us so regularly. We write this for you... and so that I don't have to email people with life updates.

Keep up the fight

Facebook

Yes, I am on Facebook now. I know several you you have asked why? In my typical fashion I will now rattle on for paragraphs with some BS philosophical crap about why. Read it or not it's up to you.

First let me just say that so far I think I have recipes coming to my email daily now, stock in some sort of zoo cafe farm, am enrolled in classes at University of Phoenix online, signed a petition to legalize pot in Indiana, place an order for a "escort", joined the police force, gave all my money to Hattie, have been mocked by hundreds and then I found out how to log into my new account.

Much like anything in my life there are many things that led to this action. I think bullet points are in order:

• Nostalgia
• Being Board
• Peer Pressure
• Being signed up for a FB and Twitter marketing workshop for work
• The loneliness of Nashville
• An ongoing quest in my life to be more open
• My SD and I talking about letting go of the past
• Accepting that no man is an island
• An attempt to not let the term interdependence scare me
• I love to eat my own words

I don't know there might be more but that is a good start. Anyways I will now join the world of Facebook and attempt to welcome it into my arms. After all I am such an open and loving person.

BTW: Let's keep "those pictures" you all know which ones I am talking about, off line!

Keep up the fight

IOWA

Well I lied. I am not going to post the answers to the quiz because I deleted the email it came in. Sorry about that, but if you really care you can email me and I will do what I can to help you find the answers. *****UPDATE***** A concerned reader got the answer for me and they are posted below.

I have returned to the state of Indiana and am ready to share a few highlights of the trip to Iowa. They are in no particular order or ranking and I know I will miss some great moments, but it is a list none the less.

• Seeing family: Mom, dad, sister, grandmas and even an aunt and uncle
• Time with the Loaders
• Card games at many tables
• -20 degrees... leaving it would be the highlight
• Loader #1 Mac and Cheese (see photo) that he has been cooking up since 2006
• Helping drink a case of wine
• Seeing some friends in Indy

There were of course many other wonderful things about the state. All the corn and snow made me feel at home. It really is the small things.

Keep up the fight