The Kirby Krew!: "Your weekend will be Comped, Sir."

I don't regularly rub elbows with high society. Seems it's those high falootin' folks that are constantly "comped" for their meals or travels. When in reality they are probably the people that need it the least. Every once in a while, good fortune falls in my lap and this weekend was filled with fun - free of charge.

As if being excused early from jury duty wasn't enough of a gift, Tyler and I hit up the MSHSL State Hockey Tourney, Class AA games on Friday night compliments of Poppa and Gigi Frie. It has quietly become a Spring tradition that I look forward to each year as the snow melts. Dick's work as an Athletic Director has made it possible to secure some great Club Level seats. Through the generosity of his grandparents, Tyler and I were witness to the second longest State Tournament game ever! .... a 4 Overtime affair with Minnetonka beating Hill-Murray 2-1 Thanks Dick and Marilyn!

With a Friday full of hockey, we wondered what the next day would bring. It didn't take long for Saturday to morph into another wonderfully inexpensive day! I caught word of the Rink Rat Appreciation at Korbel Arena earlier in the week and was trying desperately to talk my wife into another family outing. The kids were excited for one last skate of the season and I even talked my Father-In-Law into donning a pair of skates, something he hasn't done in 50+ years! I learned that my wife has come by her competitive nature honestly. At first when I offered Poppa Ray my other pair of hockey skates he politely declined. After I reminded him that he wasn't to scared to give the water slide an attempt last summer, he asked what size skates I had. Everyone to the rink!

The Open Skate was free and Pine City Youth Hockey gave each skater a
Hot Dog - Cookies - and a Slushie... the smiles cost extra.

I left the rink on Cloud 9 and was literally brimming with gooey happiness not thinking the day could get much better. It did. After a delicious porketta meal, courteous of my wonderful wife, Michele and I headed out for a night on the town. With Poppa Ray in town and March Madness on TV, we had an in-house sitter for the evening without the constraints of having to pay extra for a date night. To top that off, we still had Christmas gift certificates for the Cambridge Movie Theater that my dear sister had given us, essentially insuring us of a cost free movie outing. "She's Out of My League" proved to be a good laugh and provided Michele with some giggles at my expense. I guess she noticed some comparisons between the Beauty and the Beast story line and our courtship. - A perfect Saturday.

Sunday dawned with a summer like forecast and I found it hard to believe that Tyler and I would actually be downhill skiing. But thankfully, that's what we did. In February each year, I take the 6th graders to Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls and each year I've been invited to a Chaperone Appreciation Day. I never took anyone up on that offer until now and boy am I glad I did. Tyler and I had a great day on the costless slopes. Lift tickets, equipment rental, lessons and lunch were all GRATIS. An hour of Ski Instruction with only one other student immediately set Tyler at ease. Can you believe that? We got Ryan, a 19 year old amicable Ski-Bum, to teach and cheer on Tyler for an hour! The thermometer hit 66 degree that afternoon and we both "bit it" a couple of times in the slushy snow but left there with all of our faculties still intact! No doubt - a great experience for Tyler and I to share.

After Logan got snubbed from the Hockey Tourney on Friday night, I was thinking hard how I might make it up to him. From the moment he awoke on Sunday morning, Bear had his sights set on a little squirrel hunting. He spotted one such rodent rummaging around in the back yard and immediately jumped out of his jammies and into more appropriate hunting clothes. It was some sight to watch him stalk around the neighbors' yards with his PopGun. Michele and I almost came unglued when he came in and asked if he could have Gunner come help him. As the day wore on, his aspirations of a successful hunt did not waver. I got word at Wild Mtn. that Bear wanted "to go huntin' wit Gunner and Daddy" that night. And so with Poppa Ray and Tyler glued to the Gopher's basketball game and the girls off to watch "Alice in Wonderland", my youngest son and I capped off one of my Best Weekends Ever - Compliments of the Good Lord.