Go Packers!

 If the background on my blog here didn't make it obvious let me tell you that I am a Packer fan, I bleed green and gold. Today lunch featured a rather heated discussion today about the upcoming playoff games this weekend. As any diehard football fan knows the Green Bay Packers will be facing off against the NY Giants this weekend. My company's main office is in NY so there has been some good natured trash talk all week. Maybe even more so since I live in the Denver area and the Denver Broncos are not my team (so don't ask me about Tim Tebow, I don't know and I don't care). So why the Packers? Family tradition certainly plays a big part, my family is from Wisconsin. Just as was done with me, I indoctrinated my boys into the Packer fan fraternity at an early age and at one point we could put four generations of Packer fans in front of the TV (sadly we have been down to 3 generations for some time now). It is a franchise with a proud history and expects the members of its organization to be professional at all times, on and off the field. They do not tolerate the inflated egos you see on so many other NFL teams, you play for the team, you represent the team and you win as a team. Perhaps most of all though this is a team that truly belongs to the fans, the proof hangs on the wall in my room, one share of stock in the Green Bay Packers, yes I am part owner of an NFL franchise. So while the players of the Giants trash talk, the Packers are quietly working away on winning the game on Sunday. And they will do it the same way they have all season, throwing the ball, running the ball, and taking advantage of every turnover. I would like to welcome the Giants to playoff football in the Frozen Tundra.

Dogs

There are days when I just really miss my dogs and for what ever reason this morning was one those times. They both passed away in 2008 within about six months of each other. Right at the top end of the normal lifespan for Great Pyrenees. Babe was a little on the small side, just under 100 pounds and Porthos was kind of in the middle for a male right around 120 pounds. Babe was the bright one, smart as a whip and as willfully definite about things as a Pyr can be. Porthos, well he lived up to his namesake, strong and lovable but a little slow (you can tell because he would instantly obey commands). I had Babe from puppyhood and Porthos was about 18 months when we rescued him. Pyrs are fantastic dogs much longer lived than other larger breeds and I know there will be another but that time just isn't now. They need more attention than I can give right now. So in the meantime there is Sadie, my oldest son's dog. A sweetheart, eager to please, smart, obedient and very loyal. She's a great Frisbee dog but prefers balls and those dumbbell shaped toys. More than anything else she is Calvin's dog. When he is gone from the house she lays down right in the middle of the stairs so she can watch for him through the big bay window.She is a mix; Catahoula Hound (also known as a Leopard dog because of the spots) and Australian Shepherd (I think Blue Heeler). She has light blue eyes and her left eye is marbled with a bit of brown on the top. I'll post  pictures of the Pyrs later but here is Sadie:

Carousel Horses and other Creatures

I know, this looks a little odd when viewed with the other things I do but its fun and definitely not what you would call a mainstream hobby. Basically my Dad carves full size carousel horses as a hobby. Although he is a pretty good carver, his painting skills (and color choices) are a bit lacking. I have painted four of his carvings over the years, the last one was done while they were on vacation somewhere and it was a surprise Father's Day gift waiting for him when they got back. So here is the teaser shot, this is the smallest of the bunch and stands about 18" tall at the shoulder. Check the gallery for the horses.

Painting Competition Selection - Genghis Con

So while at the FLGS tonight, I was able to go through the box of miniatures that I had been throwing to one side the last month or so. I'm down to three miniatures to work on for the painting competition. This year I'll hit three categories; Single Fantasy (all ways the toughest), Single Historical and Single Figure Vignette. With a little concentrated effort I should be ready to go by the convention in February. A little nose the grindstone work which means other things are going to fall by the wayside for a bit. If I do well with these they may well end up as entries at one other con that I go to that would allow winning entries from another convention to be entered in there. Not something usually allowed by trophy/podium judging competitions but not unusual at all for medal competitions where they want to see your very best work. So its prep time. I'll pick out a unit of my Marines to do as well, I need something that doesn't require the same concentration to relax with after working on the competition pieces.

New Stuff - 1-48 Combat - Baueda Wargames

I got intrigued by these miniatures over the weekend, mostly because of the release of their new buildings so I decided that I would take a look at them. Decided to order both buildings, the two starter packs and two individuals. I'm on my way to the FLGS to paint tonight so I won't open them till I get there. I'll tease you with pictures for now.