ECU Shooting for the Highest Level of Sports Competition-- Part 1

From the East Magazine: Magazine of East Carolina University.

Over the last decades, East Carolina University has striven to play at the top levels of collegiate athletics, and it hasn't been easy. I am a big supporter of the East Carolina Pirates, even though I did not go to school there.

My parents did as did an aunt and two cousins. Had I continued living in North Carolina, it is very likely that I would have gone there.

I watch the football team whenever I can and wear the team shirts and hats often. There was always the time that Liz and I were in a bar in Dodgeville,Wisconsin, on New Year's Day watching the Peach Bowl game between ECU and North Carolina State many years ago.

Now, those people had never heard of ECU, but by the end of the game they were all pulling for the Pirates. Of course, with NC State jumping off to a big lead and East Carolina coming back to win in the second half, it was a close one.

More to Come. --RoadDog

Goodbye to the Dodge Dakota

And in more ways than just one. Yahoo had a list of vehicles going adios by their car companies after this year, and the great Dodge Dakota is one of them.

I am seriously considering selling the one I have now as we have four vehicles with just two drivers and three available garage spaces to park them. We bought a 2011 Malibu back in the spring and are keeping the 2003 Malibu. We also have an '85 Firebird which we bought new. Never had a car that long.

The 2005 Dakota is my second one. I bought one back in 1990 and drove it until we traded it in for the current one. It is the right size truck for me as a Mid Size. Sorry to hear Dodge is dropping it.

Other American cars leaving us:

Buick Lucerne
Ford Crown Victoria
Ford Ranger
Cadillac DTS
Cadillac STS
Chevy HHR

First I Lost My Firebirds, Then My Pontiacs. Now, This!! Come on Guys!! --RoadDog

Annual Bald Eagle Trip: Da Tub-- Da Steakhouse-- Da Playoffs,--Part 2

In the past, we had to take these eagle trips according to school holidays, but NOT NO MORE!!! Being RETIRED certainly has its advantages. This used to be a three day trip, but now can go as long as we want it. It had to coincide with the MLK holiday.

The next day, Sunday, I went on the internet on their complimentary computer and sat in a barber chair to eat the complimentary breakfast. We went to the Don Q's pool/hot tub area. You can actually swim outside to the great wide open (today with snow still falling and sticking to the trees as nature does her painting). Stuck the toe into the poll and with a shiver said that that wasn't going to happen. We had the place to ourselves.

Always a treat, especially when we don't have to put up with screaming kids. For some reason, kids just start screaming whenever they hit the water. One nice thing about the Don Q is that the adults are usually in the fanta-suites and it is not likely they're going to be out and about. Then, with a $55 room rate for the regular ones, this is a great deal.

Went across the street at noon to Thym's Steakhouse which dates to the 1960s. This was their first time with breakfast buffet, and they did an outstanding job on it. The place was packed and plenty of delicious food. Wisconsin folk sure love their steakhouses.

Drove downtown Dodgeville and watched the Chargers upset the Colts and the Giants do the same with the much-hated Cowboys. Those were two big upsets.

Come On Packers and Chargers. --RoadDog

Annual Bald Eagle Trip--Da Trolls, Da Q, DaPack-- Part 1

We just got back from a road trip out to the Mississippi River to see the bald eagles. We've been doing this for about ten years. You never know if you'll see any or not. One trip, we only saw one eagle. Other trips, we've seen 20-50.

These trips used to coincide with the three day Martin Luther King holiday, but, now, we can go anytime and stay as long as we like.

We took US-12 from Spring Grove all the way to Madison, Wisconsin. Then, we got on US-18/151 and went to Dodgeville, Wisconsin, stopping along the way at Mount Horeb where we drove the Trollway, ate at a Norwegian restaurant, and toured the Mustard Museum after being searched upon entering for any illegal condiments like mayonnaise and ketchup. We sang a rousing Poupon U fight songs to the tune of those from Univ. of Wisconsin and Notre Dame.

Mount Horeb was originally settled by Scandinavians, especially those from Norway. The whole length of the main street has carved wooden trolls.

Spent two nights at the unique Don Q Inn in Dodgeville. This is an amazing place with lots of heavy wooden beams in the three and a half story lobby, complete with barber chairs around a huge circular fireplace. The Q also features the fanta-suites, but we always stay in the regular rooms.

Drove into town and watched the Green Bay Packers start off horribly, but come back to bury the Seahawks. What better place to watch DaPack than in Da Cheesehead Land?

Next: Cornish Pasties, Bald Eagles