Friday, February 11, 2005
09:27 p.m.
I don't have any pictures of our Wyoming trip developed yet, but all I can say is that this vacation was by far the best vacation I've ever had. We had at least one day of fresh powder up in the mountains while we were snowmobiling. On the last day in Jackson Hole, I had a few inches of powder (not big for the locals, but HUGE for me) when I went snowboarding.
So far, I received one response regarding the naming of my blog. It reads as follows:
Sam, What about Kanasotian Country Boy news or Kanasotian Cowboy press release. You could have you with a KS sunset in the shape of MN behind you either on a horse or in your overalls.
I like the idea, but two things trouble me: Sometimes I don't want Kansans to know I'm from Minnesota, and sometimes I don't want Minnesotans to know I'm from Kansas (sometimes they just make stupid Dorothy and Toto jokes, which is ironic, because Judy Garland is from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, not from Kansas)
I also don't think I want to draw that much attention to myself. This site is already too much about me, and even though my barber believes I look dashing and devonaire when I leave his chair (is he only looking for a tip?) I don't want to over-market myself.
Sure, I'll admit that I'm classicly handsome, perhaps like a young Sean Connery or Clint Eastwood except without the loads of money or the big contracts. But I don't think I need to remind you of that, for you must already know.
This week has left me pretty exhausted, and a little goofy. Don't mind what I say because I'm still a little light-headed. More info to follow: Stand by for vacation photos! I hope they turn out!
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
02:11 p.m.
I took this picture just off the snowmobile trail near Lutsen, Minnesota, with my uncle John Davies, three of his friends, and my second cousin Chad Potratz. It was taken a few years ago, and it's not the best picture because I had to set it to auto and then run into the shot. The views up on the north shore trail are always awesome, and there are very few straightaways so driving is always a little bit of a challange.
This year, I was hoping to get up there, but I decided to make a trip out to Wyoming with my high school friend Chad. He's been out there before, so he knows a little bit about the area. I'll try to take some pictures and get them posted when I get home.
While I'm gone next week, I'm hoping that some of you who keep up with my blog will help me come up with a better blog header. I decided that I needed something a little better than just calling my blog Sam Sinke's Blog. While accurate, I don't find that it is all that creative. So here are four ideas. Please feel free to vote on them, and email me with your choice. If you have some better ideas, I hope to hear from you, no matter how insulting. Might I suggest something along the lines of, Sam Sinke is a butthead or Sam smells like single malt scotch or Why does your hair stick up like Alfalfa?
Anyway, here are some of my ideas:
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
08:04 p.m.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
Joel and Dale, about to go canoeing in chilly Lake Superior.
I was going through some old pictures and found this one I snapped about eight or nine, maybe ten years ago when I was in college in Duluth, MN.
Joel and Dale and I used to go canoeing in the Lake, next to giant ore carriers. We would jump on freight trains and ride them for a while. We would climb deserted grain elevators and walk out on the large levy. Every time we went out after hours, wandered into places we didn't belong, and skirted trouble everywhere we went.
It really was an age of innocence. Now, we would have easily been arrested on charges brought by the patriot act. We paddled a small canoe next to an ore carrier. After the Cole was blown up, people suddenly decided it was better to shoot first and ask questions later.
One particular time, we set off with a fourth person, Eric Andersen. Somebody came up with the idea of taking plastic sleds to the ski hill. I remember going far too fast for a plastic sled. I remember feeling the sled heat up underneath me. And I remember wiping out. It was a time in my life when it was just too much fun to be alive. We were so lucky to have the opportunity to live in an exciting city, to have been given all the freedoms we had in those years. And while I wouldn't take back a moment, I don't often think enough of those moments.
Joel Wahner died in a car wreck shortly after I left the Twin Ports. I didn't make his funeral, and I had no good excuse for missing it, except that at the time I didn't have a lot of money to take the trip.
Dale and I grew apart, most likely because of something stupid or immature that I said or did. And I guess I don't blame him because I was stupid and immature at that age. We had the chance to work together again, but we just didn't have the fun conversations we did before. Eric, Jason, Drew, and the other guys I used to hang around with have almost disappeared.
I guess we all grew up. Maybe we lost our innocence. I heard Jason and his wife had a baby. I heard Drew is working in Milwaukee somewhere. The other guys aren't on the radar anymore. And I hope that someday we contact each other again. Part of the fun in having good times is remembering them and reliving them again.
Saturday, January 8, 2005
04:25 p.m.
Here's one from the file of: "When was I that young?" or "When did I have that much hair?" or "Cut your hair, hippie."
I was going through my old pictures and dug up this college photo. I was working at WAKX-FM and KXTP-AM, and it was probably six in the morning, by the look of my eyes. That was when I ended my shift.
In my first year at UMD, I worked at both the radio station and at WDIO-TV over the weekend. I would work 3-10:30 on Friday, then 12 midnight-6:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, go back in to WDIO from 3-10:30 Saturday night, the radio station from midnight to six again, then WDIO on Sunday night from 3-10:30 again. By monday I was a zombie, and that's when I went to class and caught up on sleep. No, I kid. I was paying my own way through college, so I didn't sleep or skip any classes. It was too expensive.
I remember a few weekends where they asked me to come in early or stay late, and I would sometimes go straight from one job to the other.
Part of the reason for the two jobs was that they both paid minimum wage. Actually, the TV station started me at 40 cents above minimum because I already had a year of experience. When I left, I was making a whopping $5.75 an hour. I really loved the job and loved everybody I worked with, but was obviously only there for the experience. The day after my last final, I had already found another job as a writer. And I was working at the job the next day. I think I had moved a bunch of stuff down the weekend before, and went to get the rest a few weeks later.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
06:15 p.m.
To everyone who sent me a card, or was kind enough to give me a gift, thank you very much for thinking of me.
While I did send out a few gifts this year, in comparison to other years I would label myself the Grinch this year.
Most of my efforts were given to either helping people out, or just visiting people this year. So, in essence, I gave of my time. Right now, time is more precious than gold. Take a look at my schedule, and you'll see what I mean.
As the year comes to a close, I count myself very lucky to have a great career, in a job that I love. As far as progress being made regarding how this industry works, for every good thing being made in the entertainment and media industry, there are four times as many garbage reality shows emptying the minds of the U.S. population. So we, the good people of the TV biz, haven't made very much progress.
I so wish that more people took a look at the people creating this, and ask themselves if they really want to live in a Utopia created by Walt Disney, or Rupert Murdoch, or any of the other owners of large media conglomerates.
I just got word that I'll probably be home for New Year's. Maybe I'll do some more work on my basement. Maybe I'll just catch up on some laundry and paperwork. Or maybe I'll just catch up on some sleep.
Friday, December 17, 2004
10:07 p.m.
Riding in a Studebaker
A couple of months ago, after the annual buffalo roundup, I came back to the twin cities and was offered the chance to take a ride in a 1917 Studebaker. (I might be wrong, it might be a 1915. But I digress.)
Al Weege, a friend and builder of Randy and Kathy Johnson, called one night and asked if we would like to take a ride. Moments later, fresh from the great plains, I was riding around the lake in Buffalo, Minnesota in a beautiful old car.
Our first trip was to the gas station, so Randy could sip on a Diet Coke and Al could fill up with some petrol.
And this car takes the highest of octanes! Racing fuel is the only thing good enough for this engine.
AND THEN, AL LET ME DRIVE!
Even though you can't see the front of my face, you might be able to tell I am grinning ear to ear. Al was acting like I could drive it better than he could, and was asking how I could make it cruise along so smooth. I think he was lying, but it made me feel great.
And I had to have just one more picture. It's just a picture of me, chillin' in the most pimped up ride ever. Thanks again for bringing us along for the ride, Al. And thanks again for taking pictures, Randy.
Friday, December 17, 2004
10:04 p.m.
I'm trying to figure out how to get a satellite truck box to fit on a UNIMOG. OH YEAH.
Friday, December 17, 2004
09:56 p.m.
Found while fueling up in Spring Valley, Minnesota (my boyhood home). A lady had about two dozen deer whistles on her 1990s Buick sedan. At my estimates, the whistles cost more than the car.
She claims they work, and that leads to a lot of questions: How many deer have you hit? How many deer are now deaf? Did you collect them over time and add the whistles to consecutive cars until they started to work? Why don't you buy a bigger truck and put some big cattle bars so you can hit deer without damaging your vehicle?
Friday, December 17, 2004
09:44 p.m.
We're in the first intermission, UMD is behind, 2-1. Arrghh.
Anybody want to join me at the concession stand for a soda, box of Cracker Jacks and a swift kick in the nuts?
