Buffalo, MN Welcomes Home its Heroes

I participated along with a hefty contingent of Minnesota Patriot Guard in welcoming home nearly 180 heroes after a year-long tour of Iraq. I was there to send them off a year ago, and was overjoyed to see that they all came home safe and sound!

The 353rd TC out of Buffalo came back home today, and it was an honor to be among these brave men and women!

Among the dignitaries to speak at the event were Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, and a representative of Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

But, of course, they weren't the stars of the show...
And the look on this soldier's face as he hugged his loved one said it all...

Welcome home, men and women of the Armed Forces-- and our unending gratitude for a job well done!

Those Amazing Inscrutables...

Can eating candy somehow give one the ability to empathize with rabbits?

These chaps gave it the ol' college try, at any rate.

Welcome to Minnesota...

...The state where absolutely NOTHING is allowed.

Montana Mountain Solitude...

Montana Mountain Solitude

Welcome to Minnesota...

The state where nothing is allowed.

Early Lunch...

I've been on a diet since Christmas and have lost 40 lbs, but once a week I allow myself an extravagance, and this is it--Monarcas in Waite Park, MN, a hop, skip & jump from where I live. Simply the best, most authentic Mexican food around. My menu choice will be forthcoming shortly:

...And I was right...

Burrito with beef tongue. About as authentic as South of the Border itself.

Something tells me I'm into something good..

I took my bike out on a quick jaunt to a new Mexican restaurant here in the St. Cloud area, Las Monargas. Not a word of English spoken here...

Lunch on the road...

Heading back to St. Cloud now, stopped at Sun Prarie, WI after going throigh a 45- minute backup (gets kind of hot & muggy standing still on the pavement with all that cycle gear).

Onward and upward.

Not all mob members wear pinstripe suits....

Still havin' a good time...

Into the night

Tracy Eberle and Andy Aplikowski discuss the finer points of the Ventura governorship.

Into Each Mob Party

A little rain must fall...

Mayoral proclamation

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Celebrating Fathers Day in Style..

I'm currently at the palacial estate of Derek Brigham, who along David Strom, a fine beer, and equally fine cigar, are doin' up Father's Day and doin' it right. Cheers!

To end an evening Part II

Enjoying another day at the lake.. I'll be back to St. Cloud tomorrow and will be walking in the Waite Park Fun Days Parade with Steve Gottwalt tomorrow afternoon.

Peace out.

To end an evenimg II

One more glance...

(All of this evenings photos/blogging courtesy of my Treo 680).

To end an evening

Despite numerous severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings, we managed to get through the storms relatively unscathed. And we're being treated by a beauty of a sunset to boot!

Storm blogging?

I just got to the lake a couple of hours ago. I guess mom nature hasn't belched enough since we're now under a severe thunderstorm watch.

This is a weird year.

Live-bloggin' Lakeside

I was able to get away a little earlier than I thought so the wife and I headed to Detroit Lakes to air out the camper after a long winter's hibernation.

God how I love summer!

Lite Blogging

I'm volunteering at Camp Courage this weekend for a retreat for children with brain injury and their families....

Back on Sunday!