Today was Christmas decoration breakdown day and I spent most of it in the basement organizing all of the boxes and doing a long-overdue cleaning. Our basement is unfinished, but I do have some areas set up for different things.

One area still had boxes from our move-in day six years ago. I got through all of those today and found some interesting souvenirs (see montage above). Seeing that stuff was fun–maybe someday I’ll do an online photo album of all that junk I never seem to throw out.

This weekend we re-filled the bird feeder and put out a peanut butter suet ball. This attracted several new visitors to the deck, including a number of house finches and a small downey woodpecker. He had a larger friend that stayed in the trees, but I got a shot of him too.

From our Bumble to you and yours, wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season…DK

UPDATE: Pictures are up in the private section of the photos area.

We arrived early for the game last night and brought along the Nikon to attempt some shots of the pre-game practice. I have a new appreciation for the Sports Illustrated-caliber photographers and need to read up on the techniques they use to get those great action shots indoors under artificial lighting. I took almost 500 shots and I’ve uploaded the best ones here.

As for the game, I was initially disappointed, as the Dominator had the night off (and didn’t even travel to Minnesota). On top of that, one of the refs was Mr. Magoo. If the Wild lost in addition to those things, it would have been a total waste of hard-earned money (this was an extra game I purchased). Thankfully, things turned out OK.

The first goal of the night was totally unexpected–a short-handed feed from Dupuis to Koivu. If Dupuis keeps this up, we’ll have to stop calling him Dufus. The two Detroit goals were even more painful due to the small, but vocal group of Detroit fans in attendance. Both were good goals that weren’t really Manny’s fault (more defensive breakdowns than goaltending). The Parrish tip-in to tie the game with so little time left in the third was a nice surprise and caused the X to explode (take THAT Detroit fans). PMB’s break-away in the OT sealed the deal and sent us home happy.

Next scheduled game for me: January 16 versus Rollie the Goalie and the Edmonton Oilers…DK

Festivus, for the rest of us, seems like the ideal day to launch the initial, What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?, guest column. Special thanks to David Kingsbury, the Deputy Ambassador for Golf in Minnesota, and editor extraordinaire of Golfing in Minnesota, Minnesota’s Premier Golf Blog for inviting me to share my thoughts on the game of golf, from a golf course architect’s perspective. David is truly a golf nut.

What are my credentials? As Sid would say, I’m one of the local “geniuses”. Just as a teaser to my credentials, at the grand opening of The Legends, a Golf Digest top ten best new golf course in 2002, I played in a foursome with Chad Hartman, the Ambassador of Minnesota Golf, Dan “Common Man” Cole, and Garrett Gill, enough said. Keep in mind, that one of the user responses for one of my recently opened designs said, “plough it under and start over with a plan next time”. To which I say, plans are for wimps.

Typically golf coverage is a pretty lame affair. Descriptions of new golf course designs talk about championship layouts with multiple tees and challenges for all golfers like that is some bold new revelation. Not to give away trade secrets but multiple tees and challenges for all golfers are standard fare in golf course design. Another trade secret, good sites and good budgets equal good golf course design. It helps make life a whole lot easier if you have a good client, too. Give most golf course architects Pebble Beach sans golf course and they’ll give you an outstanding golf course.

What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? will try and move out of the tried and true and offer some perspectives that aren’t press releases from the office of the golf course architect. Keep in mind that this is a guest column and does not reflect the thoughts of Golfing in Minnesota or of anyone else for that matter. As my wife frequently says, “where do you come up with that shit?” (sorry).

If we fail miserably you will be given the opportunity, in the great tradition of Festivus, to air your grievances, one year from today on Festivus 2007. That assumes the Deputy hasn’t decided that he likes golf course discussions the old fashioned way. He is “The Decider”.

In the meantime you can reach me at:

Paul Miller
Paul Miller Design, Inc.
220 Division Street
Northfield, MN 55957
507 645 6999
paulmillerdesign@msn.com

After weeks of grey squirrels gorging at the bird feeder on the deck, we had a new visitor today.

I believe this is a red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)–the first we’ve seen at this house…DK