Green Bay Marathoner Sets Record

I didn't think I'd be writing much about the place that we used to live, but out of Green Bay comes this amazing story of endurance:



And like a true Sconnie, he slams a beer at the end.  However, earn that PBR he certainly did.

The Drunkest City? Green Bay

This is a touch old, but still relevant.  According to a recent study, Green Bay was found to be the United States' most drunken city, based on self-reported incidents of binge drinking.

Wisconsin also took in honors as the most drunken state in the union, with the following cities ranking as the drunkest in the country:

#1 Green Bay 
#2 Eau Claire 
#3 Appleton 
#4 Madison 
#6 Oshkosh 
#9 Wausau 
#10 La Crosse 
#12 Fond du Lac 
#15 Sheboygan 
#20 Milwaukee

Titletown, indeed.

Islam Meets Green Bay

You can't make this up, and from our local NCB affiliate here in Green Bay:

GREEN BAY - The Islamic Society of Wisconsin's Mosque, 1512 Velp Ave., was damaged when it was broken into on Monday by a 60-year-old Green Bay man.

John Michael Wescott, who had recently been released from jail prior to the incident, has been charged with criminal damage to property and trespassing.

Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith says it's not a hate crime.


Wescott was intoxicated when he broke into the mosque with ribs, beer and cigarettes.

Given that pork, alcohol, and tobacco are most clearly haram in Islam, this guy was batting 1.000 in inappropriate in his drunken search for a place to party.

This can only happen in Green Bay...

Overheard In Green Bay

Last Sunday, I was completing my usher duties at mass, and was in the church office putting things away.  In the office with me were two older women who were selling discounted gift cards that the parish uses to raise funds.  In walked a woman looking to buy one, and this is how the dialog went down:

Parishioner: I'd like one hundred dollars for the Piggley Wiggley, please.

Old Woman #1: You want a hun-nert for da Pig?

Parishioner: Yes, please

Old Woman #1: A hun-nert for da Pig!

Old Woman #2: Ja!

Only in Green Bay...

Up Close and Personal With Heroin

Last Saturday I needed some things to help me clear the huge ice pack we have at the end of our driveway, so I drove to one of our closest stores to pick up some goods and to take advantage of my employee discount.  As usual, I parked at the end of the lot, as I don't want to take up good spaces for our customers, and I could always use some extra steps.

I opened my door to step out of my vehicle, and as I was swinging my leg outside, I pulled up as I was going to step in something.  That something was a bag of hypodermic needles (some used, some not), two spoons, and some cigarette butts.  Clearly a couple of folks felt the need to shoot up in our parking lot.

I shouldn't have been surprised - the latest trend in heroin use is to shoot up in a public locale as if you overdose, there's a chance someone will see you and call the paramedics.  Still, seeing something I had only seen on cop shows troubled me.

I carefully picked up the bag and brought it into the store, where I asked to see the head loss prevention person on duty.  He quickly came out, and I told him what I had and where I found it.  The good news about my company being so paranoid is that we have cameras everywhere, and we likely have the ability to see the license plate of the offending users.  Likewise, it would be great if they made the buy right there before they shot up, and maybe we can get two birds with one stone.

Hard to believe those kinds of hard drugs are here in suburban Green Bay.  It does appear that this heroin epidemic might be as bad as is being reported.  Scary.

Lambeau Fais Do-Do Recap

It has taken nearly a week to recover, but the Lambeau Fais Do-Do went off successfully last weekend.  The only thing that was missing was a LSU victory.  Beyond that, we had it all.  Family.  Friends.  Food.  Football.  

What else could one want?

The whole thing started with a gumbo, which my cousin and friend started putting together immediately upon arrival.  It was flat outstanding, and fed the 14 of us that had gathered for the event.  

I had some shirts made up for the event, and they were pretty much the hit of the weekend.  All weekend long we had people coming up to us asking about them.  Here's my cousin and Mrs. YDP sporting our look.

We took over the outside bar at Titletown, and had a lot of Badger fans worried.

We were fortunate to tailgate right at Lambeau Field, and had a heck of a party.  It was a great atmosphere, and was arguably the highlight of the weekend.

Yeah, the game didn't come out the way we wanted.  However, our time together as a group?  Frankly, I can't imagine it being much better.

Gags the Creepy Green Bay Clown

Some loser here in town is dressing up as a creepy clown and walking around Green Bay in the middle of the night.  Here's a photo:

Local residents have named him "Gags."  Makes sense to me.

This begs a couple of questions:

• How hard up is this guy for attention?
• If somebody perhaps put a cap in our friend Gags here on some dark night, would anyone be surprised?

BTW, as a Johnnie, there's only one Gags in my book:

Where Did Summer Go?

Fall is coming, with a vengeance.

Sure, it is still August, the kids are still off from school, and temps are going to be in the 90's this week.  However, we should have had our first NFL pre-season game last night.  We're making plans for a college football get-together that is just a couple of weeks out.  Likewise, as I type this at 5:30, it's as dark outside as it was at 4:30 a month ago.

Summer is flying by, and it seems like it just got here.  For a guy like me that loves the fall so much, that's OK.  The only problem is that winter is hot on fall's heels, and that lasts for something like 8 months up here.

Sigh.

Lambeau Fais Do-Do

These arrived in the mail today:

Come Labor Day weekend, there should be one big ass dance party going down in Green Bay.  I'm hoping we'll be full with friends and family as we get together for this historic game.

Fall can't get here fast enough.

Thornberry Creek to Host LPGA Tour Stop in 2017

In a shocking development last week, our home golf course of Thornberry Creek was announced as the site of a LPGA tour event in the 2017 season.  It's not some rinky dink stop either; the purse for the event will be $2 million.

As residents, all we can say is "WOW!"  We've been concerned about the course for a while now.  Golf is in a free fall from a participation standpoint.  When our house was on the market all of last year, our area was ignored by buyers.  Indeed, this area has suffered for years in its inability to turn over real estate for sale.  Frankly, with each subsequent reduction we made to our home's price, it had us incredibly worried.  We had no idea what it would take to sell our home, and how much of a hit we'd have to take.

Now, in one fell swoop, we're on the map.  The prestige the event will bring to the course and the surrounding community is a life saver.  

Beyond that, Thornberry will have to up its game.  The course grounds will need to be upgraded, as will the club house and restaurant.  We stand to the be the beneficiaries of all of that spit and polish that will occur over the next two years.  Likewise, the agreement the LPGA reached with the Oneida Nation is a three year deal, so we should be able to enjoy this environment well into 2020 and beyond.

The only bad part of all of this is what we do when the tournament is in town.  Do we rent the house (hopefully to one of the 144 players) or do we stick around and enjoy the event in person?  Both are excellent options, and we'll see how it shakes out.

Regardless, it felt like we were drowning with our home, and the Oneida Nation and the LPGA just threw us a giant lifeline.

Crazy Green Bay Weather

After a tough start to the winter (as we've had the past two or three years), Mother Nature granted us a reprieve with some mild temperatures for the past week or so.  The result has been an elimination of our snow:

Yes, sports fans, that's green grass in January in the land of the Frozen Tundra.

Typically, winter up here is a matter of endurance - you need to be able to make it through at least three straight months of brutal weather, and some winters it is longer than that and can be as long as five months.  But this year, ah, what a change.  November was indeed cold through nearly the entire month, but December has been downright delightful.  It's resulted in December walks, hunts, smiles, and damn-near euphoria.

And, of course, green grass.

January is brutal, as is February.  March is a coin flip.  April, it's over.  Suddenly, this winter seems tolerable.

Aaron Rodgers Butts In on My Birthday

It was my birthday yesterday, and my wife took me to our favorite restaurant in Green Bay.  The head chef there is the former team chef for the Packers, and he still has quite a following among the players.  I've happened to see a couple of players there over the past few years, but nobody of consequence.

But last night, in the middle of enjoying my fantastic fillet, my wife looks past me and says, "Wow - that guy looks a lot like Aaron Rodgers."  I subtlety turned, viewed what she was seeing, and replied, "That's because it is Aaron Rodgers." 

There, standing at the table directly behind us, stood the NFL Pro Bowler, chatting up the table.  I went back to my steak, but quickly noticed somebody standing at my left elbow.  I turned to see that Rodgers had moved around the table to talk to a woman, and that his butt was a little too close for comfort.  Especially during dinner.

Two thoughts went through my mind: 1) I could totally sack this guy right now (he was smaller in person than we expected), and if I did, I'd totally do the Jared Allen calf-rope sack dance 2) I should stand up and give him the whole "RODGERS!  DISCOUNT DOUBLE-CHECK!" routine.

Recognizing that both would get us kicked out of our favorite restaurant on a permanent basis, and the sack would likely get us killed, I opted for going back to my dinner.

No, it's not the best "brush with greatness" story ever, but then again it is not every day when a Super Bowl MVP backs his booty into a birthday.

The Gift of Guests

For a lot of reasons, life here in Green Bay is a lonely one.  For a surprisingly large number of reasons we have basically no close friends here.  This place does not feel like home; never has, and it is looking very much like it never will.

That's one of the major things that makes having guests such a thrill.  We've been fortunate to have a good cross section of family and friends pass through on a visit, and it always has been a great occasion.

And that's why I was ecstatic to hear from a college buddy yesterday who is planning on taking his son to see the boy's favorite team, the Detroit Lions (I know - don't ask) play at Lambeau Field.  He asked if we were interested in having a couple of guests.  Were we?  We can't wait!

Green Bay isn't the best place to visit - it's a small town with limited things to do - but when folks make the trip it means the world to us.  It makes our lonely existence over here a lot more tolerable.

Hence, family and friends, please view this as your open invitation to make the trek out an see us.  We have plenty of room, will show you all Green Bay has to offer (albeit not a lot), and will generally be the best hosts we can.

Hope to see you soon. 

Lambeau Fais Do-Do - LSU to Play in Lambeau Field in 2016

It has been rumored for a while now - in fact it was covered here at YDP last May - and now it is true.  

The LSU Tigers will square off with the Wisconsin Badgers at historic Lambeau Field on September 3, 2016.

Murphy clan, you have a three year heads up to keep your calendar clear, make your travel arrangements, and acquire the necessary provisions.  And when you think you've bought enough boudin, buy about 20 packages more.

Our house can easily sleep 8, and I'll be tracking down additional places.

Oh, and I've already designed the T-shirts:

Packer Family Night

My company is the new title sponsor of Lambeau Field's newest gate, and as part of our sponsorship we were granted a bunch of tickets to the Packers' Family Night.

The event is a bunch of on the field activities which culminates into a offense versus defense scrimmage.  Basically, it's a glorified practice.

Only this practice takes place in front of about 70,000 people:

Our section was in the new 600 and 700 section of Lambeau, which definitely rises above the rest of the stadium (as well as the rest of the city).  Here are some views from the top of 600, but bottom of 700:

Note that this is from the bottom of 700 - the stadium rises another 20 rows or so from there.  Not exactly a good seat for those afraid of heights.

Prior to the expansion, it was accurately said that there weren't any bad seats in Lambeau.  Unfortunately, with the addition of the new nosebleed seats, I think that can no longer be said.  But to the Packer faithful - the same people that came out on a Saturday night to pack a stadium and watch a practice - I doubt there's a care.

And all I could think of when looking up at the 700 section was "I know where they'll plan on putting the Vikings fans..." 

Cabela's Grand Opening Sneak Peek in Green Bay

I use only one credit card to consolidate my "rewards" as much as possible, and that's my Cabela's card.  As such, everything goes on that card, and I do mean everything.  Given the amount of transactions I make in a year, I've earned the most elite status a Cabela's cardholder can have - a black card.

Thus, imagine my thrill, after driving past the under-construction Cabela's store twice a day for about the past year, to receive this in the mail:

I felt like Charlie Bucket and I finally had a Golden Ticket to get me into Mr. Wonka's wonderland.

And a wonderland it was.  Here are some photos:

While smaller in square footage than the stores that I'm used to in Rogers and Owatonna, the layout, mounts, and decor are much nicer.  This is a beautiful, beautiful store.

Wisconsin's record whitetails

One of two displays for Wisconsin decoy manufacturers.  Neither of which were George Herter.  This was a massive miss by Cabela's - if there was no Herter's, it would be doubtful there would have been a Cabela's.  They bought what was left of the company and had tons of opportunity to tell the Herter's story.  Huge miss, and the one big thing they did wrong.

The gun library.  Not much there that impressed me.  Was surprised they'd open with a weaker selection.  Compared to other stores (I've visited six different Cabela's stores in my life), this assortment was the worst, and by a large amount.

The requisite taxidermy mountain.  The mounts were scattered all over the store, and they all were incredible.  Very well done.

This picture does not do this mount justice, so click on the photo to see a larger image.  In it, you'll note that the mountain lion is not connected to anything - it is not touching the mountain, nor is it suspending by wires.  The lion just has its left paw on the back of the sheep.  Look even closer and you'll note that the sheep has only one leg - it's rear right leg - that is touching the ground.  Two full animals, one of them suspended in the air, are balancing on one leg of the mount!  I've never seen anything like it, and as such, this is the most impressive mount I've ever seen in my life.  A trip to this store is worth it just to see this mount.  Seriously.

Overall, the store is beautiful.  It is well stocked, the employees were fairly knowledgeable (and will only get better with experience), and the decor gorgeous.  This is easily the nicest outdoors store within a two hour drive (Bass Pro in Gurnee Mills).  Given how nice it is, its proximity to Lambeau Field (about four blocks away) and Lambeau's ability to bring folks into town for a pilgrimage regardless of the season, this store will be a license to print money.

It is a huge addition to the community of Green Bay.  Hats off, Cabela's team.  You guys hit a retail home run.

See you soon. 

When does Cabelas Open in Green Bay? July, Baby!

Cabelas latest store is scheduled to open July 25.  Not missing any kind of opportunity to drive  traffic, management just happened to pick a day that's a day after the Green Bay Packers "shareholder's meeting" and a day before training camp starts.

License to print money.  Buy your shares of CAB while they're still cheap.

See you in line for the Grand Opening on 7/25

LSU to Play at Lambeau Field?

According to CBS, it is being discussed.  

I can't even begin to think of how fun that would be.  

The football game would be a rout, hence the only competition would be in the famed Lambeau parking lot where two vaunted tailgating heavyweights would duke it out.  Both sides claim great drinking capacity, and great cooking, so that part may be a toss-up.  It may very well come down to the following:

• How would the Tigers do partying in weather thirty degrees cooler than what they're used to?  
• And how would Bucky fans do getting the ever-living stuffing Tiger-baited out of them?  

All I know is that it would be the party of the decade; especially if I could get a whole mess of cousins up here with me.  

Get your tiger-bait ready, boys, this might go down.

Oh, yeah.  And GEAUX TIGAHS

On the Packers Season Ticket Waiting List

This week I got around to signing up for the season ticket waiting list for Packers tickets.  While the wait is still massively long, there are two things at play that move it along:

• Lambeau is expanding in 2013, opening up a couple thousand more seats
• The premium seats (many of which are indoors) are just not in that big of demand.  A person I work with was only on the list for three years before her name came up for premium seating.

This doesn't mean I'm changing my allegiances.  Far from it.  I still love my Vikings, and it has been a ball being embedded with the enemy to see their reaction to Greg Jennings committing NFL treason.  No, the reason for the request is that Lambeau is an incredible experience, regardless of who is playing.  If you've not been there, it is bucket list stuff if you are an NFL fan.  Likewise, having the ability to sell/trade tickets would assure us of being loaded for the annual Vikings game.

I have no idea how long we are going to live in Green Bay.  But as long as we're here, we might as well get on the list.   

Even if my intentions are not exactly pure.

University of Wisconsin Green Bay - A Basketball Bargain

A bunch of us attended the game last weekend between UWGB and Valparaiso.  For a seat in the 2nd row of an NCAA Men's Division 1 game, it cost $24.

That's right - $24.

And since it was in Green Bay, that means beer is available, even though it is a college event.  

Good hoops, great seats, and access to a frosty one.  If there's a better sports bargain out there, I'd be hard pressed to find it.

We will definitely do this again.