4 Years Later

How time has flown by! The World Cup is almost upon us again. 4 years ago Kris and I, along with our good friends the Wengers were getting ready to head over to Germany to experience the sports thrill of a lifetime, the greatest sports event in the world - the World Cup!

To the rest of the world the World Cup is the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, and NBA Championship rolled into one. Really, thats how big it is. Country against country - competition at the highest level in a sport played literally around the world. No other sport I can think of can say that.

We Americans just don't realize how important this tournament is. Countries go nuts over the results. EVERYBODY seems to care.

The photo above is of some happy and party-loving Italians and me. It was taken the day of the USA-Italy game at Kaiserlauten, Germany. What an exciting day.

I didn't have tickets but offered one ticket scalper over $700 for 2 tickets but fortunately he turned me down. I can't believe I did that but I guess I got wrapped up in the excitement of the day.

June 11, 2010, it begins again!

We're Back

I'm re-entering the world of the Blog. I've been away but am ready to try it again.

We were in Arizona, not we're back in Minnesota. Whew! We got out of Arizona

just in time. All the gun laws, "birther" movements, ethnic studies controversy, and of course the "immigrant" problem made me long for my home state of Minnesota. It's good to be back!

It's a Mystery

My wife and I went to terrific movie called "The Soloist".  It's a great and touching story of a extremely gifted musician troubled by mental illness, a film I highly recommend.

It brings to mind my admiration regarding those lucky people whe are able to play a musical instrument, any musical instrument at all.  The best music I can play is from my radio or iPod shuffle.

I played basketball in high school and then in college.  I kept playing for many year of my adult life.  I could fake right and go left, I could slow down and then speed up, I could fake a shot and drive around a defensive player.  But I couldn't go right and left at the same time.  I couldn't fake a shot and take a shot at the same time.  In other words I couldn't do two different things at the same time.

I play golf also.  I grip the club with 2 hands.  You supposed to swing back and through the ball in one great coordinated arc.  Hard to do but fun to try.  But all together.

On the other hand.....

Piano players play with both hands at the same time but each hand does something different. Organ players do the same thing with 4 or 5 rows of keys and also use their feet on the pedals at the same time.  Watching that cellist in the movie, one hand did one thing while the other hand did something different AT THE SAME TIME !  One hand at one speed, the other hand at another speed.  How do you move one hand slow while the other hand moves fast?

How does anyone do that?  I have no idea.  It's just like that other impossible feat I have never master, skating backwards.  That also seems impossible to me.

All the members of my family all play musical instruments, except me,  and are great at it. 

Like I say - I don't get it ......

It's a mystery to me.

Give Her a Big Hug

(click to enlarge view)

Isn't that a wonderful expression of love and remembrance! Wow!

I'm back. In Minnesota and on the blog. Big, big day tomorrow - Mother's Day.

A little sad though. My mom is not around anymore. She left us awhile back, leaving an empty hole in all our hearts. That empty feeling will never go away but she's not gone, certainly not forgotten. She lives on in our memories. I still think of her often.

Like all of us, I could say "I remember ......" and go on and on. I'm not going to do that but I do have my favorite photo, plus others to share with you.

First the photo. One of my oldest memories is when I was very little and also very short. My mom was only 5' 2" tall and I remember to just loving to wrap my arms around her and put my head against her tummy and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze. That must have happened around Dahlen time, in the early 50's.

For some reason I stopped hugging. I realized that was silly and decided to go back to the old ways and begin my favorite hug again. This is what it looked like:

(click on the photo to see some photos)

Of course I couldn't squeeze quite so much but it was wonderful.

I have a request for the rest of you - if you can, give your mother a big hug, today, tomorrow, and every day you can, take a picture of it and post it on your refrigerator! Remind yourself of that wonderful person that would do anything for you, no questions asked. That's how I remember my mom and I'm sure its the same for you.

In a Frenzy

I've recently gone and enjoyed 2 aeorbics classes. The music is great and its a great way to get exercise.

I'm so envious of people that can go through the routines and make it look so easy and effortless. They just seem to have just the right rhythm and know all the steps. They look so relaxed.

Me on the other hand, am always in a frenzy. I'm always in the back so I can watch others and try to copy them. While they are going, say like 1-2-3-4, left, right, left, right, etc. with arms moving gracefuly, hips moving every which way, doing full turns and quarter turns, all right in time with the music,

I on the hand hand am like this:

okay, watch them, okay I've got it, 1-2-oops-4 2-3-4, oh now go right, lets see left, right, move hips and arms, quarter turn coming up, oops, 1--4, oh now full turn coming up, they'll all see me, 1-2-3-4 (hey I've got it) forgot to turn, right, no left, right, 3-4-5 no 1 -2 etc. etc..


What I am describing takes place in about 20 seconds! My mind is trying desparately to keep up but I can't, it's impossible.

I'm in a frenzy.

Fat Man's Pass

Hiking is big in Arizona. We hiked at a huge city park just south of Phoenix and came to what is called the "Fat Man's Pass".

I made it through.

Could you?

Zumba

"Zumba: a fun cardio class utilizing Latin/international music and Latin/international dance moves to burn calories and tone".

I tried this class during my last visit to the Mesa Multigenerational Center ( a recreational center for all ages but mostly seniors). I have never done this and it was great! However my "dance moves" were more alien than Latin/international.

I have one question, how do you move your hips in one direction but move your arms in a different direction? I think its really an illusion.

Anyway it was fun no matter how nerdy I looked.

Zumba on!

Lunch of the Future

Yesterday my wife had the "neighbor" ladies over for lunch.  It was a great time for all.  I sat inside our home and listened a bit to the great conversation and realized how much fun these ladies were having.

My daughter loves to have friends over for lunch.  She blogs about it and just really enjoys the fellowship and comradery  of it all.  

Well kiddo - old folks do that too!  I heard one of the guests say..."this is a lot more fun than going to my fitness class!".

Isn't it great to know that such good times can be had by all and at any age.  Doesn't matter the age or location, what's fun at a young age is also fun at an older age!

Enjoy it all.

The Ankle Tan

I've been teased over the years on a variety of things but one special "tease" are my ankles. I have always worn crew socks, unlike the current generation and many others before them that wore sandals all the time. I just never got into that and stayed with my beloved crews.

I'm trying to change however. This video of my putting will demonstrate that. I'm trying. Thunder (Minnesota racquetball buddy) says I have a great tan line. My kids think it looks like I'm always wearing white socks.

Therefore I'm wearing anklets as much as I can to try to "tan down". My ankles do look pretty silly.

It's hard and it doesn't seem to be working.

What do you think?


Arizona Golf from Jim Lindberg on Vimeo.

Kristine also played golf. On this hole she hit a nice shot on the green, but missed her birdie putt and had this put for a par.

Kristine making a par from Jim Lindberg on Vimeo.

Arizona Racquetball

My racquetball buddies back in Mankato requested that I video tape my Arizona partners so they could get a look at who I play.  As requested I did and here it is.  Let me warn you back in Mankato that I have been lifting, have grown some facial hair, have worked a lot on my backhand, and have added diving to my arsenal.

(In case you wondering, I'm the guy with the sleeveless shirt on)

Enjoy!