Breaking news: WWU ends football program

R.I.P. Western football.

Western Washington University officials announced today that its football program is ending. The university cites financial reasons.

"I feel strongly that we need to offer a high-quality program of intercollegiate athletics that is commensurate with our status as a premier university. It is the focus on maintaining overall intercollegiate program quality and doing so at a time when we and all universities are being challenged financially that drives the recommendation of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and my decision to accept that recommendation," said Western President Shepard in the press release.

According to the release, football began at Western in 1903 and the Vikings played 797 games during their 98 seasons of competition, having a 50.2 winning percentage with a record of 383-380-34. They won seven or more games in 13 campaigns, eight of those from 1989 to 2001.

In my four (.25) years, I think I went to four football games, and their record was 0-4.

Tune into Ellen today

Because Courtney (Scott's wife) is on the show!

Look for her in the crowd when Ellen's dancing at the start and later when Ellen calls on audience members to play a game.

Oh, the perks of a flight attendant with a day off.

Good Samaritans on the mountain

On Saturday, I skied ahead of Amanda and Courtney to film them coming down the mountain. I waited for several minutes. Finally, the girls came skiing down slowly, calling, "Dominic!"

"What the cock is going on?" I thought to myself.

The girls said they found a wallet at the top of the run.

We went down to the base to return the wallet to guest services. Today, Amanda received the following mail:

Dear Amanda:

My son had lost one of his gloves during the day (someone picked it up on the table where we stopped for lunch, probably by accident).

Then, toward the end of the day, my son found a smart phone!

So we went to guest services, turned the phone in and wrote a note about the missing glove.

The person, a lady, at guest services said: thanks for the phone, the person that lost will surely appreciate it, then as we were further speaking, she said: "it is strange, someone with the same last name as yours lost a wallet that was returned to us. Are you sure you are in possession of your wallet?"

I replied. "I am pretty sure I have my wallet. But" (laughing in disbelief) "let me make sure."

I looked in all my pockets and found I WAS missing my wallet!

She asked for my first name and a description which I provided. I added that it should be pretty easy to identify me as I had my ID in the wallet.

She verified and turned the wallet to me with a small note with your email and phone #. I have tried to call you but you were away.

What a bizzare set of circumstances, but more important, thanks for your great honesty in turning the wallet back with all of its content!

It is wonderful to see that there are still honest people on this planet.

Many, many thanks for doing it and saving the day, before I even realized I was in trouble!

Dominic

The girls received no monetary award for their good deed, but the email was nice, huh?

No joke: Al Franken is senator-elect of Minnesota

How bad is it being a Republican these days?

Well, when Al Franken wins a senate seat, it's pretty bad.

When asked about his political qualifications, the former SNL veteran replied, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!"

2009 starts on the slopes

Scott, Courtney, Amanda and I had a great New Years up at Crystal Mountain.

We enjoyed New Year's Eve at the Snorting Elk.

I didn't bring my camera (party foul), but we rolled out to a cabin party on Saturday night and hand-fed some wild elk! More than two dozen elk were in the driveway!

We closed the weekend taking Amanda up to the top of the mountain for a view of Mt. Rainier.

2009 is going to be the realist!

fiscal