Winners and Losers

Winner = All those who worked on the puzzle that was recently completed in my apartment. This 2000 piece monster was started in January and just finished in the middle of this week. I already miss not sitting down and working on it, but with a community meal coming to my place next week it is for the best that I have some space on my table.

Another Winner = Tonia who just started her own blog called Tonia Times. She has a good post up about her struggles and triumphs in going green.

Loser = Clifford Harris

Another Loser = The current Camp Gray Administrative Coordinator. I don't need to name names, you know who you are. Every year at the ACA Midstates Conference there is a Baggo tournament and every year the current Camp Gray Administrative Coordinator wins this tournament since the begining of the tournament. I did it my year. This week that line was broken. When the current AC was asked how she felt, she said, "I am glad I lost, all the other AC's were losers anyways so I decided I would rub the only thing they ever did right in their face." (That quote might be a compleat fabrication.)

Well I hope you loyal TIME readers enjoyed this little through back to the old Winners and Losers column that used to appear in their magazine.

Keep up the fight

Until We Meet Again

I have found myself wondering around my apartment the last few nights hoping I will run into someone to talk to. I keep thinking that I am still in TN and that this is all a dream. How did those 5 days fly by so fast?

As you may or may not know I spent most of last week at the WOW. WOW originally stood for Wieners Only Weekend. 3 years ago all male staff who worked at Camp Gray were invited to spend a weekend together in TN and WOW was born. To this day the only requirments are that you must be a male, and have worked at Camp Gray at some point. Now it is more of a week then a weekend and we have almost doubled in the number of participants this year as compared to the first year.

Much like Las Vegas what happens at the WOW stays at the WOW. I will say that it is a great opportunity to spend time with an amazing group of men. I believe brotherhood is something men have lost over the years in favor of being more gender inclusive and politically correct. I think this is a shame because in reality the two concepts are in no way mutitually exclusive.

I know there is always WOW 2010 to look forward to, but now I am still greaving the loss of WOW 2009. Thank you gentelmen who joined me on the WOW for a much needed break from my daily grind.

Keep up the fight

I think I am going Blind

Well I sat down at my desk this morning and all of a sudden I went blind. All I remember was a bright white light. After about 30 seconds of panic I leaned back in my chair and all was well again.

I know you are probably concerned as much as I was about my health but rest assured I got to the bottom of it. I slowly leaned forward again and the blinding light once again returned. Then I figured it out. It was the sun reflecting off of my "Miller's March Madness" trophy on my desk.

Yes, it is that time of year again. March Madness is the time where I spend hours in research reading hundreds of blogs, articles, opinion polls and celebrity endorsements to determine which pen I am going to use to fill out my bracket. I went with the Paper Mate Profile this year. I used the older model and it had black ink, but you get the idea. The Pilot G-2 10 was a close second this year, but I went with the Paper Mate because I use the Pilots for every day use and this is special. (Black ink=business, Blue ink=personal and Red ink=Out of town appointments)


Well back to me winning the "Miller's March Madness" trophy. My family has two traveling trophies. One for the bowl games and one for the NCAA tournament. Only family members can play in this one. If you marry into the family you can plan but until you say "I Do" you don't get to play. After all we don't want some hussy/punk running away with our trophy.

As inconceivable as it might be, I might not win the trophy again this year. It is in that spirit that I wish other family members good luck.

Keep up the fight

1000 Words

Sometimes photos say more then we ever could. I think this recent photo of my dear friend Ryan really does say a lot about my weekend in Chicago.

I will give you some details just in case the picture leaves you wanting more.

Friday night I took the Megabus up to Chicago from Indy. The ride was nice and if you have some flex in your schedule you might want to check into it. Ryan met me at the stop and we crashed after a long week for work for both of us and got ready for Saturday's festivities.

Our first stop on Saturday was the Dunkin' Doughnuts. It was right by the bus stop and it had been a long time since I had a doughnut. We boarded the bus and headed to the Adler Planetarium. Neither one of us had ever been but it was really neat. There was an old globe from 1913 that you could sit inside and hole were punched in to make the night sky and it turned around you which was really neat. We also saw a few shows and played with an inferred heat sensor camera. Just in case it was ever in question Ryan and I did confirm the fact that we are both hotties with the camera. One of us is a bit hotter then the other... but that is beside the point.

We then took a ride up Michigan Ave. and went to go see Slumdog Millionaire. Not at all what I was expecting which was good. I thought it was some gangster drug movie. Obviously I had never seen the previews. I was glad we went and if you are looking to go to a movie it is worth checking out.

We then headed back up to Ryan's neighborhood and at a place called Punjabi's. It was a Ty place and was actually pretty good. Ryan is good friends with the owner so we talked to him for a bit. They call him the Blue Elephant for some reason which I though was a great nickname. You can call me Red Elephant if you want, I think that would be cool also.

After Punjabi's we hit the bars. Well two bars. One which only took cash so I had to drink another beer while Ryan went to the ATM to get cash and another one which had amazing desserts. We had S'mores thing which was amazing. One of the best desserts I have ever had in my life.

After a short night of sleep we got up and headed off to Mass followed by a lovely breakfast (see above) at a local dinner. After walking home in the rain we both took a little nap and then it was off to the bus stop to head back home.

Ryan is a wonderful host and if you are ever in Chicago and need a place to stay I am sure he would love to have you. Just tell him I sent you.

Keep up the fight

Make a kid smile

So there is a 4th grade class is Iowa who is collecting postcards from all over the place. Since "A Cage of Words" is read in many different states and countries (I don't recognize Texas and Missouri as states) I thought I would post this project and see if I can help spread the word.

So here is what you have to do. Drop a postcard in the mail to the address below. I know what you are thinking, "What do I write to 4th grades I don't know without feeling creepy?" I am so glad you asked. Try this:

Dear Mrs. Fundermann's class,

I heard from a friend of mine you are collecting post cards from all over. I wanted to send you one from 'Insert where you are from here.' I think this is a cool project and I wish I could of done it in school. Good luck!! :) (smile optional)
'Sign name at bottom'

Phyllis Fundermann
Fourth grade class
601 Dr. Creighton Circle
Shenandoah, Iowa 51601

Now go make children smile,
Keep up the fight

Brett Dennen

Last night I went to a concert. I know what you are thinking... When did Andy get cool enough to go to a concert? Well that is a valid question. I am not sure, but i think it is part of my goal to get out more and explore new things. What makes it even more amazing is who I went to see. I did not go to an oldies group like most of you might think. I went to a new artist. One who is trying to break through to the big scene.

I would give you Brett Dennen's whole bio, or you could just click on this link and read it yourself. There is some of his music on that page or you can listen to more of his music on his Myspace page.

The concert was fun. I met my buddy Carl there and we "rocked out." Ha ha. He played a good mix of his new album and his older stuff as well. It was cool to hear songs I knew but also some new ones.

Keep up the fight

Here Comes Andy Appleseed

Last night was produce night at my place. Really Andy, what does that mean? Well it means that I went to the store and decided I was in the mood for some fruit and veggies so I spent an hour last night cutting, slicing and skinning all kinds of wonderful fruits and veggies.

Apples were one of the main fruits I did last night. What did I do with them? I dehydrated them. I got 5 pounds of apples and set to work preparing them for dehydration with my new apple corer, slicer and peeler my mom and dad got me for Christmas. Let me tell you that thing is great. It used to take me about 45 to fill up the dehydrator when I cut the apples by hand. That was even with the help of a corer and the slices where always odd shapes and never the same size which made the dehydration process take a lot more time. Not so anymore. Guess how long it took me to fill the 5 trays. (I was going to make you guess with a new poll but I will just tell you.) 10 minutes and I was done. It is amazing.

In addition to now having apple ring snacks my apartment also smells amazing right now. I am going to have to do this once a week.

Keep up the fight