Careful what you wish for...

My life is a joke. This week has gotten to the point that I can only laugh.

As mentioned in my previous post, weather threw a monkey-wrench into my plans for the week. I figured I would make the most of it by going to church (24th), snowshoeing (25th), and a hockey game (26th) to fill my time. How little did I know that this was all just a dream.

December 24th...There's a first time for everything!

I figured I might see someone at church and I would enjoy some fellowship with them that evening that might even spill into a Christmas Day invite. Yes, it was a longshot as the only people I know there who are in town are in their 70s, but some company is better than no company. Right?

As I was leaving the house for the Christmas Eve service, I realized I had locked myself out. With no way of getting to church on time, I stopped by an apartment where some Saudis live to wait until someone could come unlock my apartment. This actually wasn't that bad. I really did enjoy visiting with them.

Note: This is the highlight of my week.

December 25th...I'm a snowshoeing machine!

...or so I thought. There was a very sharp wind that day and because of this there were significant snowdrifts forming on the streets in town. I decided to make the most of it and try snowshoeing in town. The windchill was a bit much, so I only was out there for 20-30 minutes before deciding to head off to a truck stop to see if food was being served.

I passed up one truck stop where there's a fast-food joint to hit one where there's a more established restaurant. I didn't know if it would be open, but at the time it sounded better than a greasy burger. I wish I would have stopped for a Frosty.

The restaurant at the second truck stop was packed! And I mean packed! As I was walking through, I saw someone I knew and stopped to share the meal with him.

Remember that bit about longing for company? Famous last words.

He's a retired professor who I often see at the coffeehouses. I have been very desperate for conversation this week, but this was by no means easy for me to sit and share a meal. The reason it was so difficult is because this guy creeps me out. Plain and simple: he creeps me out. There's a popular animated series on television where there's an older guy who tries to lure in young men. Think this guy. It was bad enough for me I could hardly look him in the eye as we ate (let alone allow him anywhere near my nephews).

He paid for dinner. I felt bad. Well...sorta

December 26th..."This is OUR time!!!"

My long awaited hockey game! The Rapid City Rush vs the Colorado Eagles! Ryan had an extra ticket and because my mom wasn't able to make the game, I gave my 2 extra tickets (the ones my mom and I were going to use) away to a barista here in town. I couldn't wait for this! Finally a break that would surely go my way! Even if the Rush didn't win, it would still be hockey.

The game was cancelled because of weather.

I'm not sure what I'll be doing for Christmas next year. Heck, I don't even know what country I'll be spending Christmas in next year. But I do know I won't be doing this again.

A perfect ending to a perfect year...

In 1997, I spent Christmas at the South Pole. There was a lot taking place down there leading up to the big day; a lot I don't normally share with others (ex: being assigned to chip frozen sewage as a warning not to speak to the powers that be in a sexual harassment case--the chipping wasn't so bad, just the part when you went upstairs to eat and it melted). Work was tough and conditions were brutal. Many of those there, including myself, suffered from some form of cabin fever. In addition to this, I was beginning to feel homesick. In all my travels, this is the only time I have really been homesick.

We worked long hours in the Antarctic: six-ten hour days every week. In addition to our having Sundays off, we were rewarded three additional vacation days: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's (although I seem to remember working a Sunday to make up for New Year's). At any rate...Christmas was a needed break I was very much looking forward to.

I remember at one point we gathered into a large room in the Dome--the main building down there at the time. Being a day off, it was one of the rare occasions where we were able to come together, since we normally worked 3 separate shifts, as one large family. A couple of shipments of mail had come in and the decision had been made to wait until Christmas to pass out the goodies. Mail was always a welcomed relief from the stresses of life at the Pole and given the occasion (ie Christmas), the anticipation leading up to this was pretty high.

There were roughly 175 of us there that summer. As my co-workers tore into package after package of cookies, stocking caps, and knitted scarves from home, I sat there patiently waiting, hoping, that the next package would be mine, only accepting the hard truth that I had been forgotten when an announcement was made for the last package...and it was passed to someone else. Of the 175, I was literally the only person there not to receive a present.

I've experienced many things in my travels, but that sucked.

This year's Christmas may rival 1997. This has been a rough year for me. It started off on a rough note, one that seems to have set the tone for the entire year. I lost my father. I lost my home. And now I face Christmas.

My mom visited me for Thanksgiving. We had a very nice time and made plans at that time to spend Christmas together this year in Laramie. But due to the weather, I will be spending it alone. A situation I am not looking forward to (and Mom, please know I'm not pointing finger here, I understand why you're not coming, just venting my frustration with the weather and my situation in Laramie).

I returned from my weekly Denver weekend trip on Monday. Since then, I have made small talk with several of the baristas in town and with some Mormon missionaries who stopped by last night, but that's about it. I know of no one I would call a 'friend' who is left in town. Laramie is a college town and this is somewhat to be expected. Tomorrow I plan to visit one of the truck stops for a meal. Not because I am without food--I have plenty. Not because I am a horrible cook--I am, but I can make something as good as they can. But simply to see another human being. ugh.

A perfect ending to a perfect year. I can't wait for 2010 and pray God my life changes for the better in the coming year.

Top 10 from the 'Digits'...

Last weekend I went to a hockey game in my hometown. Around this time last year, a good friend of mine and I started a tradition: Rush Hockey Men's Night Out! It was a great game!--and not just because we won! I really enjoyed being with the guys again and it was an exciting game with lots of scoring and lots of fighting. But how good was it?

This past week, I stumbled across a list of the best games of the decade. This is a timely list as we are quickly approaching 2010 (and yes, I understand that technically the new decade doesn't start until 2011, but no one cares) and I figured I should create one of my own.

A couple of rules for the list...

1) PLAYOFFS... Regular season games were omitted. This means that games such as last year's Rush debut in which Miquel Beaudry had quite possibly the best performance I've ever seen live and Brett Favre's '03 Monday Night performance in which he threw for 399 yards and 4 TDs shortly after his father's passing were left off the list. As great as they were, they simply don't matter as much in the bigger picture.

2) LIVE... I had to watch these games live. Not necessarily 'in person', but live on TV. Unfortunately (for me), this means that games such as Game 7 from the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals (Avs vs. Devils) and the 2007 Fiesta Bowl (OU vs. Boise State) were omitted.

So, without further ado, here's my Top 10!

2001 World Series Game 7... Yankees suffer. I celebrate. Seriously though, having Randy Johnson and Curt Shilling trade off was something special.

2001-02 Divisional Playoffs... "The Tuck!" But what I like to remember is a Adam Vinatieri's 45 yarder in the snow to send the game into overtime.

2001-02 Super Bowl XXXVI... Mike Martz suffers. I celebrate.

2003 NBA Finals... There are very few games in which I have prayed for more than this one. David Robinson was one of the greats and seeing him win a second NBA Championship was special and silenced many of his critics.

2005-06 Divisional Playoffs... I have never seen one play in which I thought one team was for sure going to seal the deal only to have the other team nearly steal it away. Amazing. You'll have to talk to Ryan for details of my full reaction leading up to this play.

2005-06 Rose Bowl... This may be one of the greatest single game performance I have ever seen. Vince Young literally took over the game in the 4th. Great game.

2007-08 Super Bowl XLII... "The Play": Fourth and forever. Manning escapes a sack and throws a duck of a pass. David Tyree catches the pass using his helmet. One of the craziest plays ever.

2008 Final Four... Kansas, down 9 with just over 2 minutes remaining, comes back to tie the game in dramatic fashion to send it into overtime. My roommate at the time, Vaughn, is a big KU fan and we drove to Lawrence afterwards for the celebration.

Side Note: KU's Final Four victory over UNC was nearly as amazing. The Jayhawks were up 40-12 early, before UNC pulled within 4, only to have KU eventually win by 18.

2008 NBA Finals Game 6... Boston Celtics 131, Kobe (& Co) 92. Need I say more? I seriously couldn't stop smiling after this game.

2009 Stanley Cup Finals Game 7... Fleury's save at the end made this memorable. And in case you don't know me that well... "Pink Wings" suffer. I celebrate!!!

What's on your list?

Taking a night off from the cold...

It's a tad chilly outside. Tonight, the windchills are expected to approach -50 and remain there through the day tomorrow. It's been a while since I've experienced such temperatures. In fact, I'm not sure I've been exposed to such extremes since returning from The Ice.

At any rate, it makes for a great excuse to stay inside and get some grading done. Or at least it does in theory.

Instead of tackling the stack of papers that impatiently await my red pen, I've been watching some shows and following hockey online. The Rush won again tonight: 9-2. That's right! NINE TO TWO!!! They've been on a roll of recent winning 7 straight dating back to a game against Colorado in which we won 3-2 (a game I saw in Fort Collins). This weekend, I really hope the streak continues! Not just because I want the Rush to continue their winning ways, but because I will be there.

Last year a good friend of mine I had grown up with and I started a tradition. Along with his two boys and his dad, we had a "Men's Night Out!!!" This year, his brother-in-law and nephew will join us. I'm looking forward to it; it's one of those traditions that I really hope continues.

When we went to the game last year, we discussed the possibility of turning this into an annual tradition. I'm not sure how much of what was said was actually taken to heart, but I certainly did. When I called last week, I could tell I had caught my friend's dad a bit off guard. But by the end of the conversation, I could tell he was warming to the idea.

For those of you that know me well, it probably come as no surprise that I made the call. Believe it or not, I attribute this part of my personality to my time overseas. Maybe not entirely, but the part where I follow through. It all comes from a conversation I had when I was in Europe and this friend was describing how it always drove him nuts how Americans would always say "Be sure to give me a call when you come visit!" and not mean it whereas in Europe, such an invitation was actually meant (well, most of the time).

So I'm curious... how many of you do follow through with such plans? Comments and stories are welcome.