Big News, Big Moves = Smalltown Life

Well if you haven't heard. I got a job in Granite Falls, MN teaching Social Studies at Yellow Medicine East High school.  So Jos and I had to say goodbye to the beloved Twin Cities....for now.  We truely have to thank God for this one. It has all worked out according to His good and perfect plan.  It happens when He says and not a minute earlier. I'll make a post describing the whole experience later. But for now I will leave you with a photo of the moving truck. Any guesses as to how long it took to pack? Unload?

                     

Busy,Busy Weekend

Last weekend was one of the busiest weekends that Jos and I have had in a long time. It all started with a celebration of goodbye to our boss at the Community Center. We were invited to La Casita Mexican Restaurant. It looks like a dive from the outside but once you get inside it’s huge. They have an appetizer bar full of yummy nachos and hot, hot salsas for you to munch on while waiting for your food. We visited the bar quite a bit because the man of the hour didn’t show up until almost an hour after the party officially started. All in all it was a good evening of reminisces and fun.

Saturday brought Chelsie and Ryan to the cities. We were so glad they were able to stay with us. We had a great time watching Tron: Legacy, laughing, eating at Red Robin, and just hanging out. In the middle of Chelsie and Ryan being here, Jos had to work Sat night and Dan and Peter wanted to hang out. Torn in both directions I invited Dan and Peter over to also partake in Tron: Legacy. It was great to see them. The movie was good, especially in Blu-ray format. After the movie we played a couple games of Settlers of Catan. I didn’t win any games (but I was close).

Sunday saw a lazy morning at Bedside Baptist where Pastor Larry Pillows preached a good sermon. Joslyn made muffins for our guests and me! They were amazing. Wild berry I think. After getting ready and watching the classic movie, “Little Rascals’” we were ready for lunch and we were “thinking Arbys!” So we ate there, using coupons of course. A little Shopping at Marshalls; then an unexpected phone call from my best man Doug who was in town.

Doug wanted to hang out and play some disc golf. It was great to catch up with Doug as I haven’t seen him since November. We both were a little rusty on the course but it was all great fun. We were very excited because we are planning a trip to High Bridge, WI later this summer for Doug’s Bachelor party.

Overall, I’d say that it was a great weekend full of laughter, excitement, and relaxation.

Just like a Grizzly Bear waking up from a winter of slumber so does this blog

After almost a year of not blogging on this blog, I/We (Jos and I) have decided to revive it and give it some TLC.  Originally this blog was to be just a place to randomly write thoughts where no one would care.  However, Joslyn came up with the idea that we should be sharing the stories and events that make up our lives. 


*To those of you who are grammar nerds, I apologize in advance.  Most of the time Joslyn will edit these posts but those that slip by. You can blame me, Christopher, Pappy, Chris, Mr. P, and any name in between.
*Thank You to our friends who are faithful at blogging about their lives cause that's where we got the idea. We have seen how amazing your stories and photos are to help remember those special moments.  We hope this blog is at least half as good as yours.


So enough formalities already. What's up with us?


Over the last year a lot has happened.  Here's a list of 10 Events that have happened in the lives of the Pappadackis'

10. Two Twins games at the new Target Field
9.  Free Rob Thomas concert tix at Grand Casino Hinkley
8.  Almost won $10,000 from the radio station
7. Paid off 1 of 3 credit cards
6. Bought a new computer
5. Bought a new couch
4. Doin a lot of Couponing/Saving Money in General
3. Joslyn started working at New York Life Insurance (which will count as her internship)
2. I have had three long-term sub jobs (currently teaching 8th Grade American History at  Plymouth Middle School till the end of the school year)
1. Celebrated our one year anniversary of marriage and 5 years of dating.

We are just enjoying life right now. God is good! Looking forward to summer and doing a lot of disc golfing....oops I mean spending quality time outdoors ;)

Another Big Milestone

Turns out I never wrote a blog about getting married on Oct 17, 2009. Well I got married on Oct 17, 2009 in Montevideo, MN. I married my best friend, Joslyn whom I had met in college. It was a crazy day…Awesome, crazy. I got sick right before the service. Upchucked about five times and other things that won’t be mentioned too. It was absolutely the best day of my life so far besides Jesus saving me from eternal death, that’s a given.

Here is why I am writing this post…we put up the Christmas tree. You know you are an adult when you have your own Christmas tree in your own home. Our’s happened to by my Grandpa and Grandma Weber’s old tree. Well old but new to us is what I say. It stands a burly nine feet tall and is quite beautiful with the 1970’s blue and gold shiny globes hanging on it. “You could say Bethel colors“ if you want. It also has a number of “Our first Christmas ornaments on it as well, each one with their own special meaning.



Typically in my family we never put the tree up before Thanksgiving and my birthday but I broke my own rule this year. For some reason, I just wanted to put it up. I got so excited that I almost didn’t tell Joslyn I was going to do it. She came into the room and was like, “You forgot to ask me to help. This is our first time putting it up.” Oops, I forgot.



This Christmas season, we have a lot to be thankful for. Our new marriage, and apartment we call home for now, our health, and family that we have, our jobs (part-time or not…it’s something), and most of all we are thankful for Jesus being humble enough to come to this Earth to save us all from our sins. May each person who reads this be blessed this Christmas Season.

Farewell to the Dome

Farewell to the Dome

In honor of the Twin’s last few games in the dome I decided to write a post which will include some of my favorite memories as well as a prediction for tomorrow’s tie-breaker game against the Detroit Tigers. So…to start it off here are a few of my favorite memories of the Minnesota Twins in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (dome here on out).

As I reflect on my favorite dome memories this first memory I really don’t remember. But thankfully my photo crazy mother, I have a memento to look back on. Here is a picture of my first visit to the dome.

I couldn’t tell you how we were playing but I must have been about three or four. So if you do the math. The Twins would win or had already won their 1^st World Series title. I could ask my mom but it really doesn’t matter. You could say that this was a great experience for me because it helped feed my passion for wanting to play baseball.

Another great memory of the dome occurred while I was yet a tween or a fresh teen like couple 13 or 14ish. At the time I can’t fully say that I was a Twins fan. Deep down I was because they were the closest team we had to root for. In Sioux City, IA (Home of the Greats like: Kirk Henrich, Adam Timmerman, ) In SC you rooted for the Twins, Cubs, or Royals for the most part. Or you were a front runner and cheered for the Evil Empire out of NY. At the time I was a huge Ken Griffey Jr. Fan. I mean who wasn’t. He was the best Home Run hitter at the time. He was so young and so talented. So for my birthday my parents got the family tickets for a weekend game to see the Seattle Mariners at the Dome. For me this was absolutely the greatest night of my life. We had tickets down the first base line. Just about even with the base. I got to see a lot of great players play for Seattle-- Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner, Joey Cora, Dan Wilson, Edgar Martinez, and Griffey. Here is a few pictures of that night. As you can see—I was a baseball nerd.

Then there were the many times in college when I had the opportunity to attend more than a hand full of games over my four years. A few highlights include: Dollar Dome Dog Wednesdays which were coincidentally college student day. I would say there were many games that were amazing to be at. Here are a few visual cues to help preserve the moment.

Followed by the Jenne-o Day-at-the-dome games that I was able to attend as a family friend of Joslyn, whose mom works for the turkey store. Who can forget the famous neon green, blue, and finally the awesome red t-shirts that were worn for those games to signify the group.

Kirby Puckett’s memorial service was also a significant event that I was able to attend. It was a cold, blustery night in 2006 when we remembered one of Minnesota’s greatest players. There were lots of tears, cheers, and great memories.

My final memory and quite possibly the greatest game that I have attended so far was last year when the Twins had to beat the White Sox in order to force game 163. The Twins were down and pretty much out of it. Then by a miracle or timely hitting and maybe an error or two, I forget. We made a comeback and won the game in extra innings. The place was electric. I have never seen it that crazy everyone was high-fiving and hugging each other. People who didn’t know Adam from Eve were kissing and making out. Ok it wasn’t really like that but I could say that I did have hearing loss for that evening. “It was electric” as the popular wedding dance song states.

“To Miss or Not to Miss”

Over the last few days many people have posed the question on KFAN, and many other news outlets, “Will you miss the Dome?” I would say yes, but no. I will miss knowing that there will always be a game because of the beloved Teflon roof. I will miss having the awesome 70 degree no wind weather in the early spring time. Finally, I will miss the blowing wind as you leave the dome because of the inflatable roof. I will not miss the artificial playing surface or the terrible sight lines in right field.

I grew up playing baseball outside. I fell in love with the elements, the warm summer sunshine, rainy days, and ever present wind factor. I have been to Wrigley Field in Chicago, Mile High Stadium and Coors Field in Colorado and believe that the move to Target Field next season is a move in a positive direction for the Twins. Yea, there will be rain, wind, and most likely snow, but baseball was meant to be played outside under the lights. So like Martha Stewart says, “It’s a good thing.”

Pappy’s Prediction

I don’t make it a habit on predicting the outcomes of sports games because I guess I believe that I might end up jinxing the teams in the end. However, I am going to make a prediction tonight--the night before the big game 163, the night of Brett Favre and the Vikings’ Monday Night Football game against his former team the Green Bay Packers.

After watching the last few Twins games I am predicting a Twins win on Tuesday. Here’s why I believe a win will occur.

1. The Sticks are on Fire!!!

a. Big—D elmon Young

b. Kublican Himself

c. The Famous Cuddy Bear

d. “Mr. Respectable” Orlando Cabrerra

2. Pitching

a. Starting Pitchers have been lights out lately.

i. Guys like Carl Pavano and Nick Blackburn have near perfect.

ii. As Burt Blyleven says the starting pitchers have been consistently “Attacking the strike zone” They haven’t been afraid to throw it inside establishing the inside part of the plate. I like that.

b. Middle Relief-I’m nervous at this part of the game.

i. Thankfully—the last few games the starters have pitched a little deeper into the ball game. For the most part.

c. Closer—Big Joe Nathan….that’s it.

I should give Detroit some credit as an unbiased post. But I’m going to say to them. You should have taken care of business. Minnesota should have as well. But they never gave up. So…..

THANK YOU METRODOME for hosting the Twins

THANK YOU METRODOME for the memories of seeing the beach balls popping up in the cheap seats playing keep away from the security guards.

THANK YOU METRODOME

The Life of a Sub Teacher Sub Teacher Sub Teacher

So on the days when you don't get a sub job or can't...depending on who you are. There is a whole world of things to do....or not do. Like today for instance. I woke up this morning hoping something would be waiting for me in my AESOP inbox. AND nothing. So most likely gonna get no sub job today. Sad. I really wanted to work today. Cause I got a few appointments tomorrow and probably won't a sub job as a result.

Yesterday I had a student say I looked like the wiggles. I got scared. Who are the wiggles? I did some research and found out that I really don't look like them. But it was 6th grade...what do you expect. I'd rather be compared to the Blue's Clues guy personally.

Turns out the PE class on Friday I was supposed to work got canceled. Just my luck. I was so looking forward to wearing shorts and a t-shirt to work and play with students all day. Oh well this is the life of a sub teacher...you know the song.

What do I do when I don't sub....whatever I want...usually involves watching tv shows on hulu. (today I caught up on last weeks episodes of Parks and Rec, Greek, and last nights NCIS and NCIS:Los Angeles.)

Oh yea I applied for a Social Studies Job today at Fridley High School. Hoping I get a phone call about it. It would be right down the road...super short commute. Not full time though...but it's better than nothing.

Probably gonna go play round two of my weekly three or four rounds of Disc Golf. You can catch more action of me and the life I lead as a disc golfer on another blog of my faithful disc golf partners on this very blog site. Just look up "Cold Lampen" or go to my facebook and find the link too. We are pretty nerdy about it. But that's who I am.

Tonight looks like a stay in night...gonna work on some wedding favors.

And that's the life of a Sub Teacher.

What's Taters Precious?????

Definetely out of Left field here. Went home to the soon-to-be inlaws today. And low and behold I end up digging up half of the potatoes for the wedding. Then I preceeded to spend the next hour or so spraying each potato down with the hose to clean the grimy dirt out of each little crevice. So if there is dirt in your potatoes at the wedding...don't blame me.

On a side note the pleague of little bugs hit Boyd today. It was nasty. Flying everywhere kinda gross. It was all better once I saw Joslyn's Dad spraying the air with off everywere around their property. It didn't help but the site was just plain hilarious.

More Later from Left Field