Hawaii 49, Northwestern 41

Northwestern played its final football game of the season on Saturday night in Hawaii. The game wasn't on television in our area. I figured I would just check the score on the internet -- until my parents called and left a message on the answering machine. They upgraded to digital cable just so they could order the ESPN "Game Plan" ($20 for the weekend) and watch the game. By the way, this game started at 10 p.m. Central Standard Time. I was dumbfounded at why my parents would spend so much to see two unranked college teams play football. When I called back and asked my mother what led them to spending $20+ to watch the game, she said something to the effect of: "It's less expensive than traveling to Hawaii." She's right.

So, Jenelle and I made the 5.1-mile journey to my parents' house to watch the game. We turned on channel 891 just before 10 p.m. We soon discovered that the feed was coming from channel 5 in Hawaii, also known as "K5". Both announcers had Hawaiian shirts on, and we could tell that they weren't the most exciting announcers in the world. As the teams lined up for the opening kickoff, I had a feeling that watching this game would be an experience like no other.

Part 2 of this story coming soon...

Jenelle's Thankful #2

I am very thankful that I no longer owe any money to Mr. Stafford! After writing a fairly hefty check yesterday, my entire college education is paid off! No more student loans!

Ben's Thankful #3

Here's one that I'm borrowing from a refrigerator magnet that I saw at the Walter house in Oregon:

Thank you, Lord, for dirty dishes. They have a story to tell.
While others may go hungry, we're eating rather well.
With home and health and happiness, I shouldn't want to fuss,
For by this stack of evidence, God's been good to us.

Ben's Thankful #2

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for quite a few things today, but let's start with the company that I've worked for in some capacity since 1995 (and that Jenelle has worked for since January). SC Johnson is a wonderful place to spend 40 hours a week. Flexible hours and competitive wages are just the beginning. It is a place where everyone is respected, and each individual's talents and contributions are recognized on a regular basis. I've never encountered a situation where freedom of expression is challenged. Whenever Jenelle and I discuss the possibility of moving to Oregon, we both agree that leaving SCJ is a difficult thing to do.

Jenelle's Thankful #1

Thanks, Ben! I'm thankful for you too -- but I'll write about you another day.

I am very thankful for my family. I don't get to see them as much as I'd like, but we do keep in touch through emails and phone calls, and I love them very much. My mom makes the best Thanksgiving dinner I've ever had -- and Thanksgiving anywhere else just isn't the same. So, tomorrow I'll be thinking about all of you a lot and remember that I love you and am very thankful for you.

Ben's Thankful #1

Once again, I'm a day late. I guess the first thing I'm thankful for is people who keep reading this even though I'm not always prompt with my posts. :)

The first thing I'm thankful for is quite cheesy -- no, not pizza. I'm thankful for JENELLE! She's been a great wife to me over the past 20 months, and she was a great girlfriend to me in the three years before that. Those of you who know me know that I have my share of funny behaviors, and Jenelle puts up with all of them. Lately, she doesn't mind me exercising after work, even if it keeps her at SCJ an extra half-hour or so. I could go on for a while about her, but I'll spare everyone a few eye rolls. :)

What else I am thankful for? Plenty more to come!

Warm November Flies Away

Whoa, eight days since the last post...

Since we've been pretty lazy with the WebJournal lately, we're going to try and post something every day next week -- and since it's Thanksgiving week, we'll be highlighting something we're thankful for in each entry. The fun begins on Sunday the 21st. We have some semi-interesting weekend plans, so you'll get to hear about those as well.

Otherwise, Jenelle and I are trying to make the most out every day, and we're keeping busy with work-related stuff, church-related stuff, exercise-related stuff, and married couple stuff. :)

By the way, have you tried to post a comment without success? Let me know. Thanks!

Whaddya want?

A third Christmas list is now available to the right -- the Comande Family Christmas list! If you're a Comande family member, and you want your Christmas list posted for all to see, you can contact us (e-mail, phone, whatever), and we'll add it as soon as we can. So far, it's just Sue and Ed. Would you like to be next?

And even if you're not a Comande Family member, we'll still put a list up for you. :)

A few birthdays before heading out:
Sunday the 7th: Happy Birthday, Grandma Iz!
Sunday the 7th: Happy Birthday, Uncle Gary!
Friday the 5th: Happy Birthday, Jeff! (a friend in Missouri)

You've Been Asking For It...

...and now it's here! My (Jenelle's) Christmas list is now online. Just click on the link below our webcam picture.

Remember -- nobody has to buy us anything, but since you never listen when we tell you that, we've come up with a few suggestions. Enjoy, and remember to send Ben an email before or after you buy - he can verify no one has bought it yet. (And send me an email for Ben's gifts.)

Family members -- if you have a Christmas list you'd like us to post, let us know!

On a tangent, it seems like Christmas celebrations start earlier and earlier each year. Has anyone remembered that we have another very important holiday before the big Joyeux Noel? It's called Thanksgiving -- and I think we should all remember to be thankful for everything we have before beginning the crazy Christmas shopping season.

And finally, on a completely unrelated note, the crazy Kerry campaigners have finally stopped calling us! We are both thrilled the election is over as we can now stop screening calls.

Ricky's 50-something, Pinocchio's 40-something

A lot of us had trouble making shots at tonight's game, but I still thought we put forth a good effort. Oh, well... you can't win 'em all. Next week, we're playing a team called "Bye". I wonder if they're any good.

In other news -- only 6 days until I get my ring back. :)