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Paul is given a time machine that can only go backwards for six months.

What to do?

Go back six months and invest to the moon in media stocks.

Morning!

There is a pair of Merlins that nests in the spruce trees across the street (falcon family, one size up from a Kestrel). For a raptor, they are almost musical. It's settled down now as the babies have fledged, but it very almost musical for a week or so that spanned the twix tween June and July. There a lot of Merlins in town. Several Falcons as well. Saw a nice white '63 just the other day. Sharp!

Actually, the eastside Hugo's is in East Grand Forks, so that would make four Hugo's in Grand Forks, except that I forgot that new market-style one they just put up downtown, which brings it back to five Hugo's in Grand Forks.

Sheesh, everyone is doing something or going somewhere... but me...

Well, the heck with that. I'm going to do something, too. I think I'll take a little trip out to the eastside Hugo's for milk. Haven't been there in a while. Sometimes they might have something my northside Hugo's doesn't have. Should be a fun trip.

Morning!

Just got a welcome early morning rain, .5".

It came out of nowhere. Radar showed a clear sky, then a little green turning to yellow dot developed right over Grand Forks. Five or six miles out of town in any direction, nothing. Our own private little rain developed right over our heads.

Well, I suppose all rains have to start somewhere, and this one started in Grand Forks. It then rolled off towards Barnsville and fell apart at the walls of Fergus.

Back to blue skies across the region.

You got ChatGTI. Or else just ask Todd.

Lou Nanne is Minnesota Hockey Immortality!

He came out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, (home of the famous Saskatchewan Chicken dish) to play hockey for the University of Minnesota. He then went on to play for Minnesota North Stars. And then later, become their long-standing coach and general manager. He has since has become the voice of all things hockey in Minnesota, a colorful, interesting, and very popular radio/tv personality.

My Lou Nanne encounter.

The Newfolden JC's chartered a bus to head up to Winnipeg and watch the Minnesota North Stars play the Winnipeg Jets (this was sometime in early 80's). There was a fair bit of cards and drinking on the bus. And when we arrived at the Winnipeg Chi's-Chi's for a pre-game meal, we were a tooted bunch. On our way to our tables, I spotted Lou Nanne at another table off in the corner giving a pre-game radio interview to a sports guy from some Winnipeg station.

"HEY! LOUIE BABY!", someone shouted quite loudly as they zeroed in on Lou Nanne's table interrupting the interview. (ok, it was me. I was young. And I was tooted.) "Hey, how you doing! I'm a big fan. We're from Minnesota, up to see the game! Go North Stars!" I said as the chagrined radio guy quickly hit pause on his tabletop recorder.

To this day, I'm surprised Lou didn't punch me or tell me to get the hell away. But, he didn't. He smiled and thanked me for the good wishes. He was pleasant. He even seemed to find it all a little humorous. (even when I was drunk and stupid, I was always a friendly, non-belligerent sort). He asked where we were from. Starting to come a little bit to my senses, I said, "Middle River". I then started to ask if I could have his autograph, "Umm, could I, uh..."

"Would you like an autograph? Here" and he signed "Lou Nanne" for me on a Chi-Chi's napkin. I thanked him, genuinely, and I went back to our table with Lou Nanne's autograph in hand, a hero. I got offers of up to $50 for it on the spot. But, no way. I kept and cherished that autograph until I put it somewhere I can no longer find it.

But, I have the memory. And I'm still impressed with how patient and nice a man who accumulated over 980 penalty minutes for fighting in the NHL was with me when I interrupted his meal and interview session at the Winnipeg Chi-Chi's.

Morning!

Up super early. It isn't even 8:00 yet. This is barbaric. But I need to go to Fargo to pick up her dog and cat for a weekend of dog and cat sitting. Always exciting to head the big city. Scary, but exciting.

Ha! And my wife said I was the only one. I'm showing her this.