The Day before I got married in 2000 I put together a speech for my Dad at the grooms dinner.  I spend about a week writing and re-writing a tribute to my father, Al.  I have always been so proud of Dad and wanted to do a public eulogy-like speech on his accomplishments.  When the night came, we were at the Chart House in Lakeville and there was no privacy.  It was loud, we were mixed in with the public and a band was playing.  I didn't give the speech.  Later that evening I approached him and told him what happened.  I gave him my notes.  He told me he had written a dedication to me and was unable to give it.  I got those notes.  Later on, after reading my dedication he told me his only prayer was for me to have a child that would write a speech about me, like that, some day.  I've attached the speech here.

Dedication to Dad at my grooms dinner. 6-19-2000

Wouldn't it be awesome to have all NHS yearbooks scanned for online viewing...and searchable by name?  Yes it would...but is very time consuming.  I started with just the senior photos from my senior year.  You can click here to view or download the originals in Flickr.  I'd like to enter all the names as Flickr tags so you could search for a person by name. 

In the spring of 2004 I came up with a great idea.  I was standing in the back yard of my house and looked down the neighbors back yards in my block.  It seemed that almost half had one of those gigantic wooden play fort swing sets, maybe of which were Rainbow Play-systems.  Rainbow is the "Cadillac" of forts and can be denoted by their trademark red, yellow and blue striped canopies.  Rainbow is very expensive.  So my good friend Chad and I got together and went to work for Rainbow installing these sets.  Out goal was to learn about the product and either try to re-sell Rainbow or make our own models.  Well..it didn't take long to rule out manufacturing and we hooked up with Outback Play-systems in Wisconsin.  We bought by the truck load and installed all over the twin cities.  There was some rewarding about putting these fun little kits together.  It paid pretty well. 

After installing these for just one summer, I ended up here.  I had wrecked my right shoulder.  Four years later I had the surgery.  I held off for so long hoping it would go away only to ice the pain away every day. 

Well, I'm back and available to install should anyone be in the market.  Just shoot me an email to learn about the various brands on the market.

Don't Let this happen to you....Call us!

Here's a photo from 1979 of Chad, Andy and I building our first fort.

Oh, the agony of being left handed. I've spent my life fighting a prejudice toward left handed people. It was there in pre-school when my scissors didn't work, was there in college when I had to use "right handed" decks of cards and now, at work, where the standard keyboard and mouse are tailored for the righty.

Wait..deck of cards? That's right. Just to prove my point, I'll show you just how subtitle this discrimination is. Most people wouldn't even think something as simple as a deck of cards was made for right hand use, but just look at the pictures below and you'll see exactly what I mean. I'm not kidding. One can't read the card indices when fanned with the left hand.

Over the years, I have become accustom to picking out a lefty. I can see them a mile away. Why, well...because of that awful left handed writing hook. You've seen it, where we have to look all gimpy when writing. There's really no way around this if we want to see what we're writing. Ask a lefty if they get pen or pencil on the base of their hand. Actually, when erasable ink came out, my hand would be covered in ink.

Here is a list of items that are automatically made for the right hander, and not the left hander.

• Bowling balls
• Guns
• Fishing rods (now they come with inter-changeable reels)
• Guitars
• Most instruments
• Controls in the driver seat of a car.
• Can openers
• Mice (computer mouse)
• Scissors
• Playing cards
• Golf clubs
• Baseball gloves
• Most kitchen utensils
• Spiral bound notebooks and paper pads
• One could even say the standard clock is bias.

Funny story

About 10 years ago, Nerf came out with this aerodynamic football that had curves carved into it for a better spiral throw. Problem is, the curves were meant to assist the right handed hurler, not the lefty. I was at the lake with some friends who were throwing this around. I picked up the ball and went to riffle of my usual perfect spiral, but it died in the air like a lame duck. This is when I learned that left handed prejudice had been taken to a new low.

Left Handed Fascinating Facts (grabbed from some random website)

• Most left-handers draw figures facing to the right.
• There is a high tendency in twins for one to be left-handed
• Left-handers adjust more readily to seeing underwater.
• Left-handers excel particularly in tennis, baseball, swimming and fencing.
• Left-handers usually reach puberty 4 to 5 months after right-handers
• 4 of the 5 original designers of the Macintosh computer were left-handed
• Left-handers are generally more intelligent, better looking, imaginative and multi-talented than right handers - based on discussions among lefty's.

Logistics 

I know it's a numbers and cost thing. Most people are right handed, so why produce something for a left hander. But, day in and day out, we need to constantly find ways to adapt to the right handed man's world. Sometimes, it even poses a safety concern. But, I'm proud to be left handed. It's like our own little everyday club. And, I will go on the records as saying that lefties are definitely different than the right. I can't nail down the specifics, but they say that the left side of the body is controlled by the right side of the brain. The right brain has certain artistic and creative lobes not found on the left. Left handers seem to be more creative, artistic and dynamic thinkers. We are also more quirky and socially slow. Lefties are also know to be good leaders. A majority of past presidents of the US are left handed, including Clinton, Bush Sr, Regan, Ford and Truman...and I'll just add Obama to the list right now. So, please let me know if you're a left hander and I'll add you to my comprehensive list of left handed people that I keep.

Finally

Check out this beer bottle label.  It's "Left Hand Brewing Company".  It captures BEER, LEFT HANDED and BLACK JACK.  Three of my very favorite things.

I have been a registered eBay seller since 1997 and an official eBay "Power Seller" for two of those years. eBay is by far one of the top website's on the face of the earth. You are able to consistently buy almost anything you desire or sell anything you can think of. The process can be as easy or as complicated as you want to make it. The site is set up for ease of use, while able to handle the volume of a large company. I have been able to use eBay to find treasures for my collections that I thought would be impossible to find. I have learned that eBay has it all. If you want to buy something, I urge you to check eBay first. I am your connection between wondering what it's all about to being an active user. I also have advice for established users.

• I am looking for merchandise to sell..new or used. If you have stuff sitting around, I am interested in purchasing it from you. Dig through old boxes for dusty collections. Make room by offloading CD's, DVD's, books, appliances, musical instruments, even vehicles. I'll take it. I do not sell on consignment. I'm looking to purchase outright so you have no hassle.
• I will consider commercial agreements when over stock or returned goods can be off-loaded, allowing you to recoup cost.
• I am available for consultation and eBay sales training. I have over ten years of tips and tricks to share.

Regards,

Tim

*I have multiple accounts. This account was established March 2003.

First there was the famous image of the Marines raising the flag at Imo Jima. Then there is a similar image of fire fighters raising the flag at ground zero after 9/11. But nothing beats the reverence of the image taken on the Fourth of July 2000 just down the street from my house in Shakopee Minnesota.

The famous fire work display started before dark. We lived close to a field and used it to fire enormous bottle rockets into. After a few celebratory cocktails and beers, we used a 12 foot by 4 inch PVC tube I had in my garage as a launching mechanism. Not did it just work perfectly, but it make such a cool sound that it made it all the worth while. I can not remember why it took 5 guys to make this thing work but it did. Liquor, fireworks, friends and PVC tubing. You can't get better than that on a national holiday.

This is the logo from the staffing department at the State of Minnesota. I've always noticed that there was a left facing human profile in the eastern border of our state. I've always meant to do something artistically to bring out this face. I ran across this logo and BAM, there it is. Someone has already done it. So, now you'll see it. Every time you see the state map now, this just might stick out for you.

Last Tuesday Brad Pitt's latest movie came to DVD. "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" is quite the title and a pain to type (twice). This is the movie that I based the 2007 DJJD button on. I was expecting the movie to be a smashing success in town as Hollywood's biggest male actor of the century portrays Jesse James. I used the font, parchment theme and art clips from the original Warner Brother's website and trailer to reflect the theme of the button. There were even committee members trying to get Brad to make an appearance last year as the movie came out just weeks after the celebration. It would have been a wonderful promotion and a news story that we be sure to make the national wire. Nothing became of it.

The movie came and silently went through Southgate Cinema last year. I was unable to see it during it's short stay. I heard that Brad Pitt played Jesse to the tee and that Casey Aflack was Oscar-worthy.

On Tuesday I went to 'Movie Gallery' to rent it. They informed me that they were not carrying it as they were having "disputes" with their movie vendor over it. On Friday, I was told they weren't going to be carrying it. I then went to Mr. Movies and they only had 3 copies, all of which were out. THEN, the nerd in me went to Target to buy it. They had one little spot for it, and those were all gone. Usually, when a new movie comes out, Target has 10 spots for each movie. It appeared as if they only ordered 10 copies. Lastly, I went to Mc Donald's Redbox without any luck. To this day, I can't tell if they even carry it. I didn't even think to check Cub foods video rental box.

No one seemed to calculate the demand for a movie with significant Northfield ties, played by Brad Pitt. Of any city, wouldn't the distribution people think to double up on their volumes in Northfield Minnesota?

I was very lucky.  I had a friend that worked at a restaurant call me when he needed someone to read a commercial for a radio advertisement.  He knew I wanted to get into radio my whole life.  I was already in a career, hadn't gone to Brown Institute nor had any radio experience.  Chad sent me the ad copy and I rehearsed it many many times.  I went to the ABC Studio's close to the University of Minnesota campus in May of 2002 and asked for a guy named David Tuttle.  David was the production manager for all stations.  He was well known on the KQRS morning show as "Tuttle", the guy that laughed in the back ground.  I followed him into one of the 7 KQRS studio rooms and recorded my commercial.  I nailed the 60 second spot on my first read.  It was a rush.  The studios looked just like you see in the movies. 

I made a well thought out pitch to Tuttle right after I finished.  I told him that I was thinking about going to Brown and was willing to volunteer my time in exchange for learning opportunities.  He quickly took my under his arm and showed me everything he learned at Brown.  So it began.  I started to come in after work day after day.  I recorded so many commercials and learned how to run the board so quickly that he let me come in on my own, without him to go to work on commercials.  It was all unpaid, but it was the time of my life.  I was able to hang out with every local radio personality that you could name.  It was literally a dream come true. 

After a few month, there was a opening for a DJ on the new Drive 105 modern rock station. Tuttle wanted me to have it. I put together a demo and Tuttle perfected it before handing it to the program manager.  I began doing weekend nights.  It was very hard work at first but sooo cool.  After just a few months of giving up my weekends, I asked for some "compensation".  I learned quickly that radio stations don't pay their radio talent.  I soon had my first daughter.  She had some health problems and I had to leave my gig.  They never let me back in.  My opportunity was gone. I would not have been able to support a family at 28 on a DJ's wage, so I had to let the dream go. 

Lately, I was able to dabble in radio for a brief stint at 1080 KYMN radio before starting my job at the Newspaper.  Once you're on air, it's always in your blood. 

Following are various on-air radio samples of myself:

Try-out demo for Drive 105 (note: the songs are cut out so you just hear me.  Sounds like I say things over and over a lot)

Ragstock Commercial 93X (last part of the commercial)

Tom Thumb Commercial 92.5 KQRS

UPS Commercial Drive 105

Redbull Commercial 93X (last half)

Sprint PSC Commercial 92.5 KQRS (last half)

Voice Stream (Commercial with Jamie Lee Courtis) 92.5 KQRS (last half)

Northfield News Spot on KYMN 1080 AM

On Air, Minnesota's Alternative Drive 105. October 2002

I was a frequent BWCA camper from 1988 to 1995 when I officially "retired" myself from taking these trips. I finally have scanned as many photos as I could find from these years, having neatly posted them into Flickr and created a nice landing point to view them all. I encourage anyone who has been to this beautiful country to have a look and comment about your own experiences.

Click here or the photo collage to be magically transported to the photo collection.

Oh, I retired because I am a huge wimp and now prefer to experience my nature in a cabin and motorized boats.

NORTHFIELD - Why does the first DJJD button read “3^rd Annual”? In 1948, the Northfield Jaycees decided to dedicate one day of their Fall Festival to defeating Jesse James and his gang. This day would include a western theme and re-enactments of the infamous bank raid. Although this was the Jaycees 3^rd year having the Fall Festival, it was the first ever mention of a Jesse James Day. The 1948 button featured a “deputy” star along with period art work, hand drawn font and the words “Jesse James Day”. For years to follow, the “Fall Festival” and “Jesse James” wording would be promoted together on buttons until the “Jesse James” part grew and the “Defeat” was added years later, eventually knocking the “Fall Festival” right off the button. This year will commemorate the 60^th year since Northfield began to celebrate the defeat of the most notorious gang of bank robbers to wield a firearm this side of the river.

I have been a die-hard fan of the celebration since I was a young kid and have collected buttons just as long. I’ve grown to consider myself a DJJD button expert. In 2008, I was set on pitching my button idea and having it come to fruition. Currently, as a DJJD committee member I knew who I needed to sell my 2008 button concept to: The committee General Chairman Brad Ness, the “gang” re-enactment leader and 2007 Joseph Lee Heywood award recipient, Chip Demann and Northfield Historical Society Executive Director Hayes Scriven. I’ve always wanted to do a “flash back” button. The 1948 button was always one of my favorite antique button because of its small hand-drawn art and font. I was also especially fond of its “deputy” star layout. So, I visited Hayes this past November, we took the original 1948 out of the display case and captured a high resolution scan of it. I then had my friend R. Jeff Smith, a Photoshop Pro render a version of the old button, changing the celebration name, adding an "s" to "day", replicating the art, removing "Jaycees", making it the 60th annual, changing the date and adding the current year to 1948. While trying to copy the old type font exactly, we were unable to find anything to match. After consulting with a type-face/font expert, we learned that the entire original button was hand drawn. Including the letters and numbers. So, much to my disappointment, we had to settle for a "close-enough" font instead the identical type-face.

Eleven thousand of this years button will be printed at Engage Print this week along with the standard numbering system in black ink. We will also print around 400 buttons with "Royalty" on them instead of the numbers. Guess what event these are used for? Because the initial white paper had yellowed over the years, I chose to print on a slightly off white paper, so as to look identical to the original. Much attention to detail was taken to make this button appear identical to the original, even the small imperfections that can be seen up close.

In the world of collecting DJJD buttons, 1948 is a rare find. Ironically, the night I was to introduce my prototype to Brad, Hayes and Chip at the December committee meeting, my dream came true. I became the proud owner of my very own 1948 button, thanks to the genius they call eBay. My design was well accepted and I was given the green light on my design for the 2nd year in a row. To procure a 1948 button and to be named the designer of the 2008 DJJD button all in one day was the honor of a life time.

On Saturday September 6th, 2008, the most heavily attended day of the festival, I will walk around town only to look at all the people wearing my button-child. Thousands of attendees will not even realizes the significance of that $4 collectable. Heck, if it were any prior year and I saw anyone wearing a button with a red star, I would be jealous with envy at their 1948 gem. This year, everyone will be wearing a gem.

Much to everyone's surprise, including my brother Andy, his landscape design company was featured in "Best of the Twin Cities 2007" in December's Minnesota Monthly. Andy is a 1994 graduate of the Northfield High School. In 2003 Andy and his good friend Mike Hart, also of Northfield, decided to leverage their homes towards equipment and a business plan that included high-end designs, superior customer service & life-long quality. Today they have grown into a thriving mid-size company.

Andy was called by former Northfield News journalist Joel Hoekstra on a whim and was asked to show up for a photo shoot. After a brief interview Andy was on his way. He didn't expect to be included as one of the top 101 Twin City businesses. It was definitely an honor for him to be seen in this beautiful layout. Joel is the managing editor of the publication. I believe their segment on Andy & Mike's company says it all.

Beds & Borders Landscape Design

Andy Freeland, owner
Green lawns are perfectly pleasant, but if you’re looking for a yard with personality, try Beds and Borders Landscape Design. Its staff provides custom designs with trees, shrubs, patios, flower beds, retaining walls, and other features, while paying close attention to technical issues like drainage. Can’t tell a dandelion from a daffodil? You’ll get to see photos of all the plants before they’re in your yard. Do-it-yourselfers can hire the company for a consultation. 6521 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, 612-396-2014, www.bedsandborderslandscape.com.

 

DSC01650

Originally uploaded by timfreeland

Look closely at the animal atop this very old Northfield Cemetery grave stone. It's half seal, half dog. Or, is that a "walorse". That's half walrus, half horse. According to Andy Langhaugh of Benson & Langhaugh Funeral Home, these were lambs before time and corrosive rains wore away the lime stone.

I have spent hours photographing our beautiful and historic cemeteries in town. This includes the Northfield Cemetery, Calvary (Catholic), Oaklawn & Grover in Dundas. Not have I just found a source of peace & beauty, but I have learned of Northfield history by noting family names, birth & death dates & epitaphs. Each stone reflects not just the character of that person but also represents certain periods and era's through the font, wording, wear, rock style and even stone placement.

I'd encourage you to view my collection of photographs. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Click here to view the collection..or just watch below.

I'll be the first to admit that I am a picky customer when I go to get my hair cut.  If you haven't figured the process out, there are really two schools of hair cutting thought.  Either you walk into one of the "crank-em-out" shops without an appointment, any time you want, and get a cut after maybe a 15 minute wait, tops. Or, you get to know a "stylist" at one of the more up-scale salons and let them get to know you.  This usually requires an appointment, maybe a few days out, and you will probably end up paying more. 

Both methods have their pro's and con's.  It's speed and value verses quality and a relationship.  Which do you prefer?  What do you do?  Better yet, can you recommend someone?  Use the comment section below to share a tip. 

Now, here's what I do.  I do like to have the same person every time but I don't like to make appointments or pay a lot.  I get a lot of hair cuts, so I have to watch the price.  What I do is go to one of the chains and request to wait for my favorite person.  If she's not there, I'll either ask when she'll be in or take a rare crap-shot and try someone new.  I always need a back up.  It's good to try new people, but you always risk getting a bad cut.  Besides, the turn over is quite high in this industry.  They are always moving around.  So, it's a good idea to try out a few others now and then.  Is there a better way?  I'd love to have someone tell me who their favorite person is.  Save me the trial-and-error. 

In fact, I'm such a weirdo about this stuff, that I'll take a photo of my cut and label them with a date, name of the stylist, location and what that did differently, or well.  Time to commit Tim to the loony-bin.

Worst Cut Ever.  She was in a hurry.  Didn't blend the shaved section with the top.  Barb.  Cost Cutters.

Best Cut Ever.  Scissor cut everything.  Thinned the top and notched the bangs.  Perfect length.  Michelle.  Heads & Nails. 

Just right.  Shaved the sides.  Hand cut top.  A little too short in the front.  Good price.  Kristen.  Cost Cutters. 

Too short.  This was part my fault but they used the shavers on almost the whole thing.  Stacy.  Great Clips.

The third stall in my garage is sectioned off with it's own wall. Both sides are fully insulated, winterized and have their own heaters. This is a must for this state. When people see this home bar, the instantly want one of their own. Careful attention to entertainment detail makes TTS (The Third Stall) my place of homely Zen. Let me further explain.

When I first set this up, I finished the floors, put up wood quarter-panels, and painted the walls Vikings purple. The wooden bar & cabinets were already there from the prior owners. He used it as a wood shop. The ceilings were already finished and the dividing wall was in place. I used the walls as a place to display my neon sign collection as well as personal "artifacts" including favorite pictures, signs and special items to be listed below.

Bar Element Highlights:

• Minnesota Twins, World Series framed photos of Kirby and the post-victory pig pile.
• Oversized Miller Lite Neon hanging face down on the ceiling.
• Authentic Mystic Lake Black Jack table. This table used to train new dealers.
• Custom made, full size Hooters poker table. Make for the Colorado Hooters No-Limit tournament.
• Custom cabinets and maple bar.
• Mini-Fridge.
• Ceiling fan and wall-mounted TV.
• Stereo System.
• Replica "No Bare Feet" Caddy Shack sign (in photo below).

Click here to see all photos...or just watch it below.