8-Track Tape Memories

It's 8-Track Tape Night!

My Dad's Sea-Foam Green 1972 Buick Electra 225 had an 8-track tape player mounted on the "hump" on the floor of the middle front seat.

We had THREE 8-track tapes. From the Target clearance rack, my Mom picked out Fats Domino's Greatest Hits ("Blueberry Hill"), an early Olivia Newton John album (it had an "Angel of the Morning" cover) and some god-awful tape I can't remember, but I think that music still haunts my dreams. If I ever go through Freudian psychoanalytical therapy, I am sure I will sing all those songs on the Analyst's Couch. I recall the cover was orange, yellow and white.

In 1976, we were moving from Duluth, MN to Plymouth, MN and we did a lot of road trips to look at houses, etc. I somehow added Boz Scaggs "Silk Degrees" to the 8-Track Tape mix and heard the songs over, "clunk", and over "clunk" and over "clunk"...

Boz Scaggs. Palled around with Steve Miller, Greg Allman, Toto, Steely Dan and played a lot of Jazz clubs in Europe before hitting the US in the 70s.

Boz Scaggs is smooth and cool. Like a city night after a hot, hot day.

WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH, and WINNING IS LOSING

A Soccer League in Ottawa has established a rule that any team scoring more than 5 goals more than their opponent will be declared the LOSER of the game.

This isn't just for pre-school kids learning the game. The rule applies to players up to age 18.

CBC News - Ottawa - Ottawa kids soccer league stops blowout wins

Our family helped Globe Ice Lantern Artist Jennifer Shea Hedberg create a fantastic Enchanted Forest for the City of Lakes Luminary Loppet tonight.

We followed Jen's direction to light up her ice structures. Ice globes are heavy, and require precise placement, plus proper prior planning. We also hung around to hang ...candle lanterns in the trees. It was all hard work and fun from about 2-5pm.

We went back to Loppet home base to see the band at the Loppet tent and have dinner. Plus a few Surlys. We drove by the Enchanted Forest on the way home around 10:30.

It was magical. We had to stop and walk across Lake of the Isles to see it.

Jennifer had created an oasis of light that stood out from an already luminary "Luminary" event. Lake of the Isles is beautifully lit up with a trail of thousands of candles in your typical ice-in-a-5-gallon-bucket fire/ice lumiaries. Awesome in itself. The "Enchanted Forest" stood out like a brand new sun on a starlit night.

We had to stop and walk through what we had helped deliver. Jack got to tell people "I helped make this!" and point at the lanterns he hung in the trees. Hannah did the same and they both boasted about who had placed the higher candle.

Lucy laid down under the tree she helped light ... to look through the lanterns at the stars. She pointed out the ice chunks she had placed around the ice artwork. When we talked about leaving, Lucy ran wayyyy out onto the lake because she did not want to go. AND she wanted to see the other lights and sculptures around the lake.

It took a while, but we convinced Lucy that there were no better lights around the lake. She had helped build the best lights on the lake. "Look back at that Lucy". A truly Enchanted Forest.

This City of Lakes Loppet is an event that can make and define Minneapolis. Please help at www.cityoflakesloppet.com
and also join their summer fundraiser http://www.tri-loppet.com/

If you live in a frozen climate like me...Check out Global Ice Lantern Artist Jennifer Shea Hedberg at www.icelanterns.com. She will take simple ice and turn it into distinctive artwork to greet your guests at your next party.

Girl Scout Cookies!

Girl Scout Cookies!

Order your Girl Scout Cookies here from my daughter Hannah.

$3.50 per box.

Cookies available:

-Lemon Chalet Cremes -- Zesty lemon cream filling with a hint of cinnamon-ginger sandwiched in valinna cookies
-Trefoils -- Classic Shortbread Cookies
-Do-Si-Dos -- Oatmeal cookies with peanut butter filling
-Samoas -- A classic - vanilla cookies, covered in caramel, rolled in coconut, striped with chocolate
-Dulce de Leche -- White cookies with caramel chips
-*NEW* Thank You Berry Much -- Cranberries and white fudge chip cookies. Thank You for supporting Girl Scouts!
-Tagalongs -- Cookies covered with peanut butter and coated with chocolate
-Thin Mints -- Thin pappermint wafer covered with chocolate. You know and love this cookie.

Either reply here or e-mail me at John@Marden.com

Thank you for supporting Scouting!

-John-

Skiers and Snowboarders - Courage Cup and Moonlight Madness Couage Center Fundraisers!

Skiers and snowboarders - The plans for The Courage Center's Moonlight Madness all night party on the hill at Trollhaugen on February 19 and the Courage Cup Race on February 13 at Trollhaugen are coming together.

We are in need of a few items and are hoping you can help us out.

We are looking for donations of items to be used as door prizes for Moonlight Madness and silent auction items for the Courage Cup Race. Gift cards, hand warmers, or goggles all make great door prizes. One of our volunteers has offered to embroider fleece items with our logo. Check out the clearance sales at your favorite retailer.

Private and Corporate donations are always welcome as well.

Please plan on attending one or both events. All of our skiers and snowboarders are welcome to participate in Moonlight Madness. If you are a skier who requires volunteers or adaptive equipment to participate, please contact Jenny Walsh (contact info below). We will do our best to arrange for volunteers to assist you at this event. The Courage Cup Race is open to any independent skier or snowboarder.

Register for the Courage Cup race at www.CourageCenter.org/couragecup or Moonlight Madness at www.CourageCenter.org/moonlightmadness.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jenny Walsh |Program Coordinator, Sports & Recreation | PH: 763-520-0480
Courage Center | 3915 Golden Valley Road | Golden Valley, MN 55422
jennifer.walsh@CourageCenter.org

Merry Christmas!

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A Jack Bauer Christmas