It was the best of times; it was the worst of times – the boys' basketball tournament at Fosston. Coach Bob Laine said he had never seen a score so low when the Bears met up with tournament hosts Fosston Greyhounds last Thursday. The Bears were happy to break 20 points. Then the next night against Win-E-Mac the Bears stepped it up and looked like a team that knows what to do on the court. This back and forth between sketchy play and competitive play is showing how young the team is, but also the promise they have if they can pull it together by the end of the season.

Boys' hockey coach Mike Pepera said yesterday the month of December is the most difficult schedule he has seen. He hoped the team would come out of the month with great experience, and not pay much attention to the scores or the record. That being said, the Bears should be happy with their game last night against Warroad. A team that blew them out of the water last year, the Bears held the Warriors scoreless for about half of the game. The Warriors scored twice in the second period and once in the third for the 3-0 win. Alex Lyon had another good night, making 51 stops for the Bears.

The winter sports season is in full swing at Lake of the Woods with all four sports in game action this week.

Does anyone still have a copy of the story of the two archaeologists? I happen to be one of them, and was wondering if any of you would be able/willing to send me a copy.

Thank you so much...

A blog is a place to share observations and ideas in a way that is less formal than forum discussions or editorials. It is more like having a conversation with a friend.

After trying to get the hype going on the Dancing With the Stars, I am so disappointed that I am going to have to pull out of the competition. Believe me, I don't want to. My dancing partner Erik and I were getting somewhere with our lessons and we were well on our way to taking the trophy, or the bragging rights, or whatever the prize would be.

Unfortunately, I have a surgery scheduled on the Monday before the Oktoberfest weekend, and it will require a night or two in the hospital at the University of Minnesota.

Is our local police a joke as the sheriff implies? What does he comsider "good" law enforcement? Spending our tax money for all the latest and greatest, under the umbrella of " Homeland Security", or write as many DUI's as it takes to pay all his troops their wages, and effectively shut down business at night between town and the lake establishments. Its' unbelievable that the lake businesses aren't at every cty, board meeting to complain.

The lederhosen are off!!! This is a challenge to Linda Nuss, Don Ungerecht and Terry Olson! The four of us will be the so-called "stars" of Oktoberfest's Dancing With the Stars September 27th. The show is at 8 p.m. in the big tent and you aren't going to want to miss it.

I've been doing a little research on the subject of polka and I've learned that one of the contemporary styles of polka is called the "Chicago Honky". I wonder which one of my competitors will fit that category? Or maybe do the "Chicago Push"?