Years ago in my "working life", I would drive to work along wooded and swampy areas. In late October and early November I was informed by my deer hunting friends that the male deer herd went into the "rut". My dictionary defines rut as a periodic sexual excitement of certain male mammals. In other words they get stupid.
Recently there was one male deer in Ohio that apparently was in the rut. He went into a Walmart parking lot and randomly butted cars and trucks for no apparent reason. Then this same deer headed for a nearby motel. He crashed through a window of a ground level room and that is where authorities found him. The deer should have known there were no female deer in the motel. The story ends happily. The buck was captured and released back into the wild where he could head-butt more cars, trucks and motels. I wonder if deer get headaches.
It is hard to believe a male animal can get that stupid.
During my daily compute to work there was always the danger of encountering stupid deer. I would see herds of deer from time to time but they seemed to graze like cows and were quite docile. Docile until this time of the year.
Our company dealt with an insurance company that handed out high pitched whistles. The whistles were mounted on the front bumper of a car. The wind passing through the whistle produced a pitch was so high, human beings could not hear the noise but deer could. If a deer was near the road side, the theory was that the high pitch sound would "freeze" the deer in his tracks and drivers would be safer because they could avoid the deer. I drove with whistle for several years and was never sure whether it worked or not. I never encountered a dangerous deer situation so maybe it worked.
Nope. It was proven that the high pitch whistle did not reduce deer accidents. If a stationary truck, car and motel room can't stop a deer, why would a whistle? You can't fix stupid!
So as Halloween approaches, you need to deal with witches, goblings, zombies and all kinds of strange creatures. Add crazed male deer to your list.
Love,
Dad
I need to recognize Grasshopper No.5 in Minneapolis for a birthday that began with Oct. 21, 1977. It is a belated Happy Birthday. Her life is a mystery because she lives just far enough away that she can protect secrets. I hope there were clowns, balloons and candles.
The UW Badgers had their dream of a national football championship dashed Saturday night. A hail Mary pass and a bizarre series of events stopped the juggernaut. If the Badgers win all remaining games, they control their destiny to the Rose Bowl. It still has been a great season.
Grasshopper No.4 along with Dominic closed out the youth football season Saturday with a win. I don't know if a championship was involved or not but it really doesn't matter. It has been a great year.
The Packers are still rolling. A 7-0 record is spectacular but there are nine games to go. The last time they started with seven wins was 1962. They went on to win the NFL Championship and finished the regular season with a 13-1 record. The lone loss came on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit to a lousy Lion team. They entered the Thanksgiving game 10-0. If today's team keeps winning, they will play on Thanksgiving Day's game with, you guessed it, a 10-0 record. What are the odds?
A friend, Carl, that I exercise with is 86 years old and in failing health. He received an invitation to participate in a "honor flight" taking World War II veterans to Washington D.C. to visit the new memorial that is a tribute to their sacrifices. Carl didn't want to go. Part of Carl's reluctance was his failing health but he really didn't feel worthy of the recognition. In the end, the friend who entered Carl's name convinced him to go. He was ecstatic. It is a one day trip with visits to national monuments. The high-light for Carl was all the enthusiastic people greeting the flight in Washington. He said it was humbling.
I have talked to several people who have taken World War II honor flights. Everyone of the World War II vets feel they are undeserving of the personal recognition. They have respect for all the men and women who died and didn't come back. They also feel they didn't do anything special under the circumstances. If you were a young man (or woman) during World War II, you fought for the freedom that was so precious. Many veterans who take the honor flights, need to be convinced they are worthy or the special day. They were worthy. They are worthy. They will always be worthy.
Somebody flipped a switch this morning. It is cold and damp and destined to stay that way.
Love,
Dad
Our government officials in Washington are trying to balance our national budget. They have committees and elite economists working on the problem. Cutting "entitlement programs" is part of the cost cutting agenda. You know! Things like Social Security and Medicare are being considered because the programs can not be sustained. Wait, the mail just came and I have been informed my Social Security checks will increase 3.6% next year. Here is where the wondering comes in. If you are going to reduce Social Security because the costs are killing us, why would you increase the payout for next year? I guess I don't understand. Don't get me wrong. I can use the increased payout. I can use it better than our leaders in Washington..
I see that Muammar Gaddafi, the deposed Libyian leader was found in a drainage tile under a roadway and killed by rebels. As I recall, Saddam Hussein, the ousted dictator of Iraq was hunted down and eventually pulled out of a covered up hole in the ground on a farm. Both of these leaders were receiving billions (that is billions with a "b") of dollars from oil reserves and should have amassed huge amounts of cash. With all that money, they couldn't figure out a way to bribe someone to hide them. I could have figured something out. Both leaders were pulled like rats out of a hole and ended up dead. Just wondering why money didn't buy them a safe harbor?
Grasshopper No. 4 and Grandson Dominic put a 6-0 record on the line last night in Sheboygan Youth football. The Raider Gold juggernaut took on another unbeaten team at North High School. Both teams scored 4 times, so it boiled down to who could make the most extra points after each touchdown. Sh--. The Golden Raiders lost 30-27. A valiant effort. A nail biter. I'm sure it will be a game filled with "what if we had done something different". My advice is, "let it go". It has been a great season. A fun season. A memorable season. A father got to coach a team, including his son, to an exciting conclusion. There is always next year. Ooops. Dominic moves on to High School next year so they can't really wait for next year. From my distant perspective, it was a great season filled with dreams and expectations. It doesn't get any better irrespective of the final record. Great Job!
There are two big games that face the same pressure as Grasshopper No. 4's unbeaten team. The Packers go into Minnesota Sunday, also unbeaten (6-0). Be careful Packers. Minnesota isn't as bad as it seems. The UW Badgers go to Michigan State sporting a 6-0 record. Michigan State plays dirty and rough. Look out Badgers! Maybe both teams should call Grasshopper No. 4 for advice.
Love,
Dad
Baseball was a big part of my childhood. The longer I study the history of the baseball, the better my perspective of my Dad's involvement in the game and the reasons his life evolved as it did.
I have come to understand that in 1940 baseball was the only game in town. There was no NFL football. There was no NBA basketball. Television was not a viable source of communication. College sports were interesting, but mostly regional. Baseball was the one sport that dominated the national radio airwaves and promoted heros. Every little community in America could build a baseball diamond and encourage young people to get involved in baseball.
Sports Illustrated recently had an article featuring a young farmer named Jack Swift from North Carolina that aspired to be a baseball player in the early 1940's. My Dad had the same dream, same time frame! Jack Swift got swept up by World War II. My Dad with 3 children (at the time) was pulled into World War II. When Swift got back from the War, he pursued a pitching career in North Carolina. My Dad had tried out for a major league team before World War II, so when he returned from "duty", he had given up on baseball as a career. I am struck by the number of young men who had the baseball dream.
The reality of achieving a baseball career was really quite slim. Jack Swift had a "cannon for an arm" and kept trying for years to reach the major leagues. It meant playing "D" ball, Class "C" ball, moving up eventually to Triple A teams. The baseball system was designed to engage lots of talented players who would never hit the major leagues. Jack Swift won 30 games, an unbelieveable total of wins. He actually was a local hero, but he never made the major leagues. He "threw out his arm" by pitching double-headers (18 innings) and volunteering to pitch on short notice. He died at age 44 on his farm.
My Dad always bought baseball "stuff" from Joe Hauser's Sport Shop in Sheboygan. Joe was a minor league baseball legend, having hit 62 home runs in one year, a record that topped Babe Ruth's major league record and a record that stood for 40 years. As good a Joe was, he never made the major leagues.
The truth is, my Dad never had a realistic shot at the baseball career. I have come to understand that having a dream is very special and everybody needs to discover for themselves whether it is possible or not. Even when my Dad's dream failed, I think he harbored a secondary dream that one of his kids might succeed at a baseball career. My Dad spent the rest of his life around baseball, either playing City baseball, coaching or attending baseball events.
For many years, baseball dominated the national sports landscape; 1958 changed all that. A football league called the NFL televised their championship game with Johnny Unitas slinging passes all over the field and Alan Ameche (Heisman trophy winner from Wisconsin) scoring the winning touchdown in overtime. Baseball had a rival: football.
TV has created heros in lots of sports and baseball does not occupy the lofty position that it once did. Alas, baseball is not the only game in town.
Love,
Dad
When Grasshopper No.2 was going to UW in Madison in the early 1980's, the "Bucky Wagon" always made a grand entrance before the football game from the tunnel at the north end of Camp Randall stadium. It was a bright red 1932 American LaFrance fire truck donated by some wealthy alumni. The cheerleaders would cling to the fire truck as it made it's entrance and the whole stadium would come alive.
In recent years there has been no fire truck. I don't know if it fell in to dis-repair or the "green junkies" protested the gas burning engine. I have heard that the Bucky Wagon is back. It has been restored by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton including an electric power plant that will propel it 40 miles on a single battery charge. Camp Randall already rocks on a football weekend. The fire truck will add to the excitement.
My dilemma is that there is an "occupy Wall Street" protest in New York this weekend. I need to choose between flying out to New York for the protest or driving over to Madison for the Indiana football game. Let me see! New York or Madison? Hmmmm! I'll let you know my decision.
A Reporter in Sheboygan phoned me personally last night to let me know that Grasshopper No.4 and son won their Youth Football game in the rain, 40-12. There was a reference to "kicking ass". I think there are two games to go and the Raider Gold is undefeated. Now the pressure begins to build. Can the team finish unbeaten? Can they win the championship? My advice is to stay grounded. Take one game at a time. Keep the players focused. I'll bet that advice has never been given before.
My challenge for next week is to solve my "motion sensing light" in the back yard. The light is supposed to activate when a person walks at night along the back of the house. It is an excellent security device. The damn light goes on constantly probably activated by our large bunny rabbit population. I temporarily put a piece of cardboard in front of the electric eye with a piece of duct tape. The idea was to disable the device until I could figure out a way to keep it from being super sensitive. Even with the electric eye covered, the light still activates (but not as much). What the hell? I will solve the problem!
Go Packers, Brewers, and Badgers. All play big games again this weekend. Does it get any better?
Love,
Dad
Your Mom and I spent the weekend in sunny Minneapolis. It was in the mid-80's every day. We expected to see lots of vibrant tree colors during our journey but most foilage was "past peak".
I can report that Grasshopper No.5 is sassy as always. I was given the burdensome task of carrying a "warm hug" from Grasshopper No.3 all the way to downtown Minneapolis. It weighed heavily on me. I finally conveyed the hug to No.5. I was free at last. Wouldn't you know No.5 gave me a hug to bring back to No.3. It strikes me that I should get out of the middle and sibblings should hug each other. How about that?
Minneapolis has always has something going on. Last Saturday night was the annual Zombie Bar Crawl. Normal people dress up like Zombies and prowl the downtown streets frequenting the bars. I expected to be frightened but all the Zombies must have gone home early. Up to 700 people sign up to be Zombies. I know lots of people who could go as they are. No costumes required
During our next visit to Minneapolis, No.5 has agreed to make breakfast using some of the terrific recipes she has accumulated. It is a date.
I understand that Grasshopper No.4 and Grandson Dominic "kicked ass" and beat one of the top Sheboygan youth football teams 26-20. When you win by 6, that isn't exactly kicking butt. 59-0 is kicking butt.
Some friends I see everyday were attending their only daughter's wedding last weekend at the Heidel House in Green Lake. It was not a large wedding but a really nice setting. The mother of the bride contacted poison ivy several days before the wedding and incurred big red blotches all over her arms, neck and even on the face. I can't imagine how ackward it would feel to have one of the biggest days in my life affected by poison ivy. Apparently everybody endured. The marriage took place. Believe me when I say the memories will be forever. 20 years from now it will be funny. I bet the Mother of the Bride is looking forward to those wedding pictures.
We are headed for Madison Saturday. The UW football game kicks off at 11:00 AM. I love early games. It is homecoming which I guess means students have a bigger reason to drink. It should be fun.
Enjoy the weather.
Love,
Dad
The UW Badger football team destroyed Nebraska last Saturday night. Camp Randall was rocking. Badger fans were in red and Nebraska had encouraged their supporters to wear black so they could be easily identified.
Fans had been warned to allow an extra 30 minutes for the security search upon entering the stadium. It wasn't a problem.
Grasshopper No.3 and No.4 joined your Mom and I. We all wore sweatshirts and windbreakers because of the cool night. Either the seats are too narrow or we had too much clothing but seating conditions were tight. Of course my losing 40 an extra pounds never entered my mind.
ESPN featured the game on their telecasts with Lee Corso and his sidekick Herbstreet (?). Corso was asked to make his pick for the game: Wisconsin or Nebraska. Corso threw down an ear of corn (Nebraska's nickname is the cornhuskers) signifying Nebraska was his pick. Needless to say he was booed.
ESPN has identified the student section "jump around" at the end of the third quarter as the event that makes Wisconsin special. Of course the students unleash all their energy by bouncing up and down to the tune "Jump Around". The jump around is nice but what about the UW band's pre-game run on. Or the half time band presentation. Or the 5th quarter featuring the band in a festive mood.
I am always amazed as the student section shows off the reason they have gone to an instituion of higher learning. Half the students shout out to the other half, "eat cow dung" while the other half of students retorts with "have intercourse with yourself". It goes something like that! It is a proud moment as I sit with my Grandsons and they listen to the verbal exchange. Then a Grandson will ask "what are they saying Grandpa"? Magnificent moment.
Wisconsin won big time. 48-23. The Badgers have a 5-0 record and are rated No.4 in the national polls.
My only regret is that I let a situation get away where I could have insured my financial security. Rumor had tickets being scalped for up to $4000 each. Imagine if I had sold my tickets. I could have been on a yacht in the Bahamas. I could have owned my own south sea island. I could have flown to Paris, France for breakfast on an outdoor patio. You get the idea. I gave up the riches to see Wisconsin play football with my family. All together now: Oooooh!
Love,
Dad
I remember several years ago ESPN network experimented by using Rush Limbaugh as a commentator for NFL weekly programs. He was free to add his "colorful" insights about players and team matchups. That lasted less than a month. Rush ventured into mentioning Donovan McNabb, a very good black quarterback with Philadelphia. He said Donovan was held up by the league as a "black success". Limbaugh was fired for venturing into the "black arena". So much for free speech. The last time I looked, the NFL is 80% black. It was a political issue and the minority right wanted Limbaugh gone.
Last night, Hank Williams Jr. always sings the introduction to Monday night NFL football. ESPN did not allow Williams to do the intro because he had made a political comment about Obama. Obama has been playing golf with the House Leader, John Boehner. They are strange "bedfellows". They are polar opposites. Hank Williams compared Obama/Boehner to Hitler golfing with free world Israel leader Netanyahu. Oops. We have a verbal link of Obama to the most hated leader ever. Williams picked the wrong comparison to make his point; but trust me ESPN will fire Williams. It is a political issue and the minority right will want Williams gone.
Public TV is doing a special on "Prohibition". The 10% of the population (the Women's Anti-Saloon League and the Women's temperance Union) pulled off a protest coup. They got our Congressional leaders to pass an amendent banning booze. This was 1920. The minority right changed 13 years of American history. America was dry for 13 years. In the meantime, the law forced cheating, stealing and mobsters like Al Capone to became "kings". Eventually the 90% of the population got their rights back, but it is amazing what the minority could do even 100 years ago.
History is full of situations where good people fail to act when minority factions disrupt our society. The result is usually bad.
The lesson, Grasshoppers, is "don't let your rights slip away because you were afraid to fight for what you believe".
Love,
Dad