A Vikings Fan Ministrations

Hello all,

As my Minnesota Vikings struggle to finish the 2011 Football season, I feel compelled to write down my feelings of my football team. With everything that has gone on this season; the firing of the head coach after the Green Bay loss; the waiver release of a former player whose attitude really hadn't changed; the scrutiny given an aged quarterback, arguably one of the best ever to play the game; the general frustration felt by my friends with all of their comments and posts; the back and forth talk between the Viking and Packer Fans; the collapse of the roof of our football stadium due to one of the largest snowstorms in recent years; the state Senate refusing to make up their mind to decide how to pay for a new stadium; and the talk of moving our team to Los Angeles.

Through all of this I remained a Minnesota Vikings fan, not a fair weather fan as I've been told I was. I've had an opinion on the team as long as I can remember, but I choose not to profess it nearly as often as others do. We have had worse records and worse years. Certainly there is drama in everything that goes on everywhere, it's just our turn as Vikings fans to go through it this year.

It's been an honor being a Vikings fan for all these years, and even a third generation fan. I'm also proud to wear my Jim Kleinsasser jersey every chance I get.

I have no doubt that we'll get to another few Super Bowls in my lifetime, and whats better, will win a few too.

My Bucket List (An Obvious Work in Progess)

participate in and finish a marathon
go backpacking in the Rockies
go to Europe, and visit London, Paris, Rome
go fishing in Canada
own a boat
catch a state record fish
walk on the Great Wall of China
ride in a Stock Car
finish a 72 oz steak
make a difference in someone's life
go to all 50 states (42 out of 50 so far)
travel to Germany and Poland, the land of my ancestors
go bungee jumping
go skydiving
go on an Alaskan cruise
visit Australia
visit all 7 continents
ride in a helicopter
become a father and husband and raise my children with my wife
be a better friend
restore a muscle car
attend a Superbowl (preferably one that the Vikings are playing in)

I realize I may have borrowed some ideas from other people, but I do feel that they were good ideas, and wanted to do them too.

Fall's impending transition into Winter (my favorite season!)

Hello everyone,

As you may be able to tell, Fall is here. While I do enjoy this season, what with the changing colors on the trees, the slight nip in the air as you begin your day, and the people out enjoying the weather before the winter. It hasn't been a typical fall here in Mankato, as far as I'm concerned. We've had some weird weather these last few weeks; had about 7-8 inches of rain last week, which interrupted our lives, but thankfully no one lost their lives. We've also been fortunate to have had sunny and warm days. These will soon pass to colder and snowy days, and ultimately my favorite season. Ah, winter.

Have many fond memories growing up of winter and all it's glory. Shoveling snow, playing in that snow, making designs on the frost on the glass, walking home with the Friedrichs' kids, having to break the snow for the rest of the group while on our way home. Traveling to the Grandma and Grandpa's houses, and sledding down the hill behind Messiah school. Great times we had with the cousins.

Also remember fun times ice fishing while I was younger, I went with a good friend of mine. I hardly ever caught anything but that wasn't the point really. Ice fishing in my youth also led to my first of a few near death experiences. I am glad that I can now do this more often, with my father and brother in law.

For a little over a month now, I have been growing a beard in preparation for winter. I haven't been able to do this for several years now, as the jobs I've had in the past haven't allowed this possibility. I started the beard in support of the Twins in the playoffs, and may even continue the beard throughout the Vikings season as well.

I do hope you enjoy my catching up with you, and look forward to writing to you all in the future.