Back From Sabbatical

Well...it's been 3 years and 6 months since my last post. It's also been 3 jobs, 3 cities, 3 home addresses, 2 states, and 2 kids since my last post. Needless to say, finding the time was difficult. So, why am I back? For some reason my wife "googled" me(which is not the same "googling" that led to the 2 kids) and found 'Da Beef', and remembered how amused she was with some of my postings.
So, I'm gonna start speaking my mind a little more publicly and, hopefully, often, and in longer segments than facebook will allow.







So, in the words of Greorge Costanza, "I'm back baby!"

Try this one on for size

There was such a great response with the first picture, and some great comments, I have finally found another "worthy" picture. Let's hear them!!

What is this??!!

I would like to start a new feature here on "'da beef". I often find some pretty weird stories, and with them, some pretty weird photos. I am going to post a photo and I invite all who are faithful to "'da beef"(and you first-timers) to post a caption for the pic. Unlike other blogs, I will not be emptying out my piggy bank(you know who you are) for the best one, but rather enjoy some funny or insightful captions.
So without further adieu, here is the first picture...please tell us what is going on?

No Drought About It

My beef today is with the weather. Back in July, I got married in my wife's hometown of Velva, North Dakota. The week I was there, temperatures hovered around 100 degrees and it was partly cloudy or sunny the entire time. We didn't complain about the beautiful day we had for our wedding(just how hot it was in the un-air-conditioned church).

However, although the sun shines often and temperatures are steadily in the 80s and 90s, many North Dakotans are desperately longing for some rain. North Dakota relies heavily on its agriculture. Last year, the state led the nation in the production of 15 different commodity classes: spring wheat, durum wheat, barley, oats, canola, pinto beans, dry edible peas, lentils, flaxseed, sunflower and honey. Many farmers there are in a real bind, but so are the communities that they operate in. "Agriculture is not only the biggest industry in the state, it's just about the only industry; Communities live or die with the fortunes of agriculture", said N.D.S.U. professor and researcher.



Some farmers, like my father-in-law, have something aside fom farming with which to bring SOME income. He has beef cows. I haven't really talked with him enough about it to know when he sells them or what-not, but I am almost certain that no matter how many of his cows he might sell, it would not supplement the lost income from the crops.

So I end this beef by standing in front of the computer, doing a rain-dance. I strongly encourage you to do the same. Farmers are very hard-working people that many of americans take for granted. They struggle year in and year out to get enough seed planted(not too early and not too late), to continually monitor the growth, and then harvest it all so that they can sell it at a good price and make enough money to break even on the loan they had to take out before the season.

Barenaked Ladies put it best:
I tend the wheat field that makes your bread.
I bind the sweet veal, pluck the hens that make your bed.
Mother Nature & Mother Earth
Are two of three women who dictate what I'm worth

Quick Hits

What is going on with gas prices? When I first started driving(legally), the price hovered right around $1.00/gallon; often dropping below that mark. Today, gas is at $3.09/gallon. I don't think that we can attribute this high jump to inflation, but I am not an economics expert. But it very much disturbs me that these oil companies are making so much profit, while the consmuers are struggling to drive to work and earn enough to pay for the drive home. Can't the government regulate this? Oh yeah...most of this administration is in on it.



"I will have a Large, half pepperoni/half sausage elastic loaf please. And throw in a side of crazy bread too." What is with this guy? He goes from a firm stance on his country's right to develop nuclear technology to outlawing certain words, like "cabin" and "chat" and "PIZZA"!! Maybe we can outlaw our president from "attempting" to use proverbs.


Last time I checked, America is a free country. And it is the right of every American to buy land where they can, if it can be afforded. So when Cindy Sheehan found land near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, she bought it with the money she received from her son's death in Iraq, making it a shorter drive to daily anti-war protests. However, there are some pretty arrogant people in this town(Bush probably included), who feel that political party preference should be taken into account when purchasing land.

On a more depressing note, the Cleveland Browns took a big hit this week. On the second day of taining camp, they lost their biggest free agent signing from this past off-season. LeCharles Bentley is a 2-time Pro-Bowl Center, who was going to bust through the Pittsburgh and Baltimore defensive lines, leading Ruben droughns to a record-breaking season in a Browns' uniform. Now, the fellow St. Ignatius alum begins rehab and looks forward to cheering on his teammates from the sidelines. Let's win for LeCharles!!!!

Are we there yet?

It is a time when grown men can act like little kids. A time when kids who would have been bullied by a man twice their size in high school can trash talk him, and get away with it. A time for those who are normally followers, to lead their chosen ones to the promised land as champions, giving them bragging rights over their friends or co-workers for the next 8 months. Yes...it is time for Fantasy Football 2006.
This will be my third visit to FantasyLand and it promises to be a great trip. Fantasy Football is relatively new to me, and I think to many people. Five years ago, when I heard the term "fantasy baseball", I thought it was some sort of a camp in Florida, where older men(past their prime) could enjoy playing the game, while honing fundamental skills, and meeting some washed-up former major leaguers. So when a co-worker in North Dakota asked me if I was interested in Fantasy Baseball, I started packing for a week of baseball fun in the sun. I was confused when he told me I only had to bring $50, a pencil, some paper, and a magazine. So in April, I showed up at his house in my khaki cutoff shorts and hawaiian floral shirt with the aforementioned objects in my backpack. Well, not only did I misinterpret 'fantasy baseball", but I was also very cold because in North Dakota, it was still the middle of winter . The season was as quickly underway as I was in last place.



Now, Fantasy Football is my fantasy preference. Last year, and my wife will agree, I may have over-indulged myself in Fantasy Football leagues. Four is a little too much(especially when there is a fee)...sorry honey. I feel that the real reason I didn't win any of those leagues is not because of my players' performances, but because I couldn't give my individual teams any undivided attention. In some leagues I would cheer for Ruben Droughns(because he was on my team), and in other leagues I would root against him(because he was on an opponents' team). My players just got too confused and overwhelmed, in my opinion.
This year, I intend to give "The Moist Towelettes" my full and undivided attention in the "Case of Natty" league. It is with this new style of coaching, that will hopefully end the drought and bring a championship home. Plus, as commissioner of the league, I can better "monitor" the stats of each player, can "confirm" the margin of head-to-head victories, and can conitnually "keep track" of the amount of playoff teams. The prize for this....you guessed it....

Making Money...Wasting Space

I'm overdue for a post, but unfortunately I have no new material...sorry to disappoint. Just counting down the hours until 12:00am Wednesday July 5th. Thats when I get off work and don't have to return for a whole 2 weeks. I will be taking the big plunge and then celebrating south of the border. Hawaii was the other choice, but we saw this weather forecast and opted to take our chances with the mexican water.

Other Beef Vittles:

• signed up on myspace.com. I know I vowed to boycott the new technology(I just got a cell phone last year), but I was under pressure from co-workers. They were all communicating via myspace, even when they were sitting in the desk next to one another. I felt left out. What is the world coming to?
• I am addicted to the World Cup now. It is a good thing that Brenda is out of town(she hates soccer). Not a Germany fan; don't like the home team winning it all...doesn't seem right. I like France(never thought I would say that) and Portugal. France's Zidane is playing in his last World Cup...good story. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is a special talent. Either of these 2 teams win...I'll be happy.
• I talked with the soon-to-be wife, and she is warming up to my strong desire to name our first-born son, Bruce Wayne McCasson...it has a nice ring to it, right? That kid would be destined for great things.