First Footing Runs of “Fall”

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Hit the bay tonight. Now that Fall is officially here, I guess I can ll say Fall now. Had good weather for Wisconsin in September… 65 & Sunny, although it was breezy. We did find some good water though. Here are some pretty good photos from the night…

The Madison skyline as seen from Monona Bay

Bugs cutting hard… look at that glass…

Pretty good one foot

Footing in front of the sunset

Sunset on Monona Bay

Link to my Picasa Web Album with full size versions you can download…

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Fearless

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Yes, there was a new kung fu movie out this past weekend and I went to it. I’ve become a sucker for kung fu movies, mainly because they are almost always entertaining. They may not be great movies, but they entertain.

This one was no different. Fearless, staring Jet Li, in what he calls his last kung fu movie, is a good movie. The kung fu sequences are phenomenal and there is a captivating story (something lacking in a lot of movies) that links the action sequences.

Regardless of whether you like kung fu movies or not, this movie is worth watching, whether you catch it in a theatre or later at home, watch it.

It tells the story of the Chinese Martial Art Master Huo Yuanjia who becomes a symbol to the entire nation, and one worthy of being a model for how everyone should live their lives.

I want go into details of the story other than to say it worth watching. If this is indeed Jet Li’s last movie, he definitely ended on a high note.

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I’m Number 1

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At least according to Google when you search for “who is the badger who wanted cheese curds when he won the lottery”. Don’t believe me, click here. If you want to know why I know this, click here (not sure how long this link will work).

I previously mentioned that I thought it was rather funny when some Badger said it on the video board during a prepared video clip at the Badger game. At the time, I didn’t know who it was.

Well, I decided to see if I could figure it out. I’m not completely sure, but I think it is #75 Andy Kemp that said he’d buy cheese curds if he run the lottery. Why do I think it is him? Well, he is an offensive lineman, so he is the right size (6-6, 316), he looks like the person that said it (same face, short hair) and he’s from Wisconsin (you’d have to be to say it with that much enthusiasm– Menesha, WI to be exact.)

I tracked this down by looking at the Badger Media Guide.

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Mad-City Helps Build World Record Pyramid

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This past weekend, 4 show ski teams (Mad-City Ski Team, Beaverland Must-Skis, Badgerland and Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Skiers) joined forces to build a world record pyramid. They put 48 people behind one boat powered by three Evinrude 225 E-Tech engines and built 4 four high human pyramids. Here’s a picture of the pyramid on the water.

Left to Right: Badgerland, Mad-City, Beaverland, Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Skiers

Another shot of the world record pyramid

All of the participants

Related Links:
Forum on Showskiers.com
Story on WiscNews.com
Story from Wisconsin Rapis Daily Tribune
Story from Wisconsin State Journal

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Mad-City Ski Team Recognized by the City of Madison

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Earlier this month, the Dane County Board recognized Mad-City’s accomplishments this year. This week, the Mad-City Ski Team received some more positive local press. On September 19th, 2006, the Madison City Council recognized the accomplishments of the Mad-City Ski Team for our 2006 season.

Here are links to various documents from the city council meeting…

Here is a scan of the resolution. Click on it for a larger version.

This is in addition to being recognized by USA Waterski and the US Olympic Committee in the month of September as well.

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The Duck Story

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So this past Thursday I was out skiing in the bay. In the fall (I still have a hard time saying that), there just seems to a few more birds on the water. Don’t know why. So much like with the pigeons from Seinfeld, boats seem to have a deal with the waterfowl. As the boat comes through, they get out of the way of the boats and we just mumble under our breaths at all the crap they leave on our dock.

So I’m footing behind my boat, moving along at 41 MPH or so. There is a flock of ducks on the water that we’re coming up on that I’m keep my eyes on. They scatter for the boat, but one moves just clear of the boat and directly into my line. Now, much like in NASCAR (at least according to Days of Thunder), this is kinda like a car wreck so I’m thinking “just go straight through.” There are still several ducks scattered about and trying to slalom my way through just isn’t a realistic option. I’m moving at 41 MPH and there is only about 90 feet between me and the boat. Not sure on the exact math, but that doesn’t give me much time to react.

Now I’m moving along directly towards the duck that is just kind of floating there. As I approach closer, it sees me coming directly towards it and starts swimming which is good. Except it starts swimming the same direction I’m going. It isn’t going 41 MPH. So I’m thinking a typical barefoot stance is about shoulder width apart roughly. The duck isn’t going to fit between my feet. At least not easily. I obviously don’t want to hit the duck. A) This is bad for the duck and B) hitting the duck would be bad for me. I could potentially break a foot, ankle, knee, leg, etc and I’m just not ready to call it a season yet.

So I get to thinking, the duck is swimming, it isn’t that big. I’m about 20 feet from it now and I decide to widen my stance so it is about 4 feet wide. I wanted to get wide, but not too low because the duck might remember that it can fly too. The duck starts to swerve just a bit, but not much, just enough where I need to move a little bit to keep it centered and I straddle the duck. To the best of my knowledge, I didn’t touch it. I didn’t feel any feathers on my ankles or legs.

The spotter, Seven, who’s watching this, went from a look of “oh shit he’s gonna hit a duck” to laughing his ass off. John, who’s driving also sees this in the mirror and I could tell he’s laughing too. They could both see clear as day that I straddled it.

I resumed my normal stance and just kept on going.

Maybe this duck thought it was a squirrel?

BTW, ask John about his duck stories. He’s got a couple of them.

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Busy Week

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During the ski season (which is still going on… I’m talking about the ski team season) I keep thinking I’ll have free time when it over. Wrong. Life doesn’t let up. This past week has been busy. Two Badger football games and much more in between.

We start last Saturday when I went to watch the Badger football team beat up on Western Illinois. The Badgers won, but against NIU, they should have played better.

Sunday, the NFL season kicked off. Monday, even more football.

Tuesday, I ended up heading out for Holly’s birthday. We met up at the Nitty Gritty. Had a small turnout from the ski team, but the people I expected to be there were. Bugs, Libby, Beau, Kelly and Cory. We gave Holly a lot of crap for her full page write up in The Star (local Sun Prairie weekly newspaper). I mean whole page. Take a traditional newspaper page and her article covered 90% of it. Just a couple ads and two very small articles were on the page. The rest… all Holly, lots of pics too!. When we finished up at the Gritty, we headed over to the Karaoke Kid. The bar is truly a little hole in the ground. I believe everyone sang. Some better than others. The Kid, although a bar specializing in karaoke, didn’t have the selection that I’ve seen at CBI where they just have a traveling karaoke person come in. I’ve put some pictures up of the vents from the night.

Ski Team Members doing shots… what’s new?
Libby, Bugs, Holly, Cory, Kelly, Me, Beau

Holly and I doing the 3 Wise Men… I look like a giant next to her

Me & the ladies of the night


Holly – The Birthday Girl

Cory and Myself singing… Sweet Caroline I think?

Bugs & Kelly – A Little Funky Cold Medina…

Wednesday morning came all too early and it was a take my boat to work day so I could ski right after work. Met up with Beau and Bugs. It was a little cool, only about 65 degrees and overcast. Very calm winds though. First we hit up the ski jump. Bugs and Beau made use of that. Beau tried a reverse heli. Not so good. Bugs looked a little rough. I think he became use to the good jump service he was on it Ohio. We then went into the bay and did a lot of footing. I did several loops. Beau didn’t like the weeds. Bugs tried out the shoe skis and nearly did the splits on his first three deeps. They looked painful. About 630 or so, the skies finally cleared (as I promised they would). Here’s Bugsy…

About to eat it

Thursday, I did some more skiing after work. This time with John and Seven. This time we just hit up the bay. Weather was much nicer than it was on Wednesday. About 75 and sunny. And we had very calm winds again. I started off with a set of 8 runs back and forth across the bay. Trying to keep up my endurance. Also worked on my one handed footing, something I just haven’t been very comfortable with. I know it isn’t anything major, I just haven’t been comfortable with it and decided a little practice was in order. Then we dragged Seven around. He had some issues butting out of the wake, so literally, we dragged him around. Then John took his turn and thought about using the teeth hold. Then I took my second set and decided to do some barefoot slaloming. Last pass I made four wake crossings, good considering my boat has the bubbles of death for footing. I also ending up doing some more loops. There’s a funny story about a duck on one of the loops (go read The Duck Story). We hit up the bar next door afterwards for drinks, food and music.

Look mom, one hand…

The other hand

Friday, quiet day. Caught a movie.

Saturday, another football game. Badgers vs. San Diego State. This time I went with a group from work. We hit up the Stadium Bar before hand. Made it in time for the F/A-18 fly by (which was awesome, after burners on right over our side of the stadium and we were in the upper deck.) Then, in a stadium that seats 70,000+, Taryn from the ski team sits two rows in front of me. Game was good. Towards the end of the game, they did a segment on the score board called Ask the Badgers. The question was what would they do if they won the lottery. Most had common answers… house, house for parents, cars, boats, etc. One of the linemen answered in true Wisconsin fashion “cheese curds… deep fried cheese curds.” Crowd loved it. Next, they have the Big Ten opener at Michigan.

Finally, apparently I’m the best answer when you search google.com for “how to prevent birds from crapping on your boat.” Don’t believe me… click here.

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More Random News

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Here is some more news that you may not have heard that is cluttering up my inbox.

We May Not be that Special. Turns out Earth-like planets may be a lot more common than we first thought. So if there are more Earth-like planets, maybe there is more Earth-like life?

Schwarzenegger puts foot in mouth. Apparently he was talking a California State Assemblywoman. Some people just like to make too out of some stories.

The Hobbit. Looks like The Hobbit, the prequel to the Lord of the Rings is going to get made. The are trying to get Peter Jackson to direct. In other news, they are going to make a Terminator 4…

Hell Frozen Over? Today, it looks like CBS finally realized that when you start a game after 3pm, it isn’t going to be done by 6pm. For years now they have been trying to start 60 Minutes at 6pm. It would hardly ever happen when they had a 3pm game. Never happened when they had a 315pm game. Well tonight, they have 60 Minutes schedule to start at 630pm. Looks like they won’t mess up there schedule for the whole night. Here’s hoping they do this for the rest of the year.

A Pulse. Finally, it looks like the Packers may have a pulse this year. Didn’t win, but moved the ball. Granted it was against the Saints, but who knows.

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Gridiron Gang

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I think it is official. There have been too many sports movies lately. We had the Invincible a couple weeks ago that tried to replicate Rudy and failed (it was an OK movie though). Now we have Gridiron Gang staring The Rock.

I was kind of indifferent to this movie. It was good. But not great. Fun to watch once, but I don’t see myself wanting to go watch it again. Football sequences were good. The kids cast to play the various characters did a good jump. The Rock does a decent job, but dramas are not going to be his bread and butter.

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