The last weeks of December are always a blur—especially when Oracle decides to shut down between the holidays. Plenty of time to tackle all the stuff we’ve been putting off and, of course, to enjoy some Vikings football.
Miss Sheri and I spent Monday night at US Bank Stadium for the Winter Whiteout game, where Sam Darnold lit up the Bears in a 30-12 victory. Watching Darnold perform like this has been the surprise of the year, the kind of plot twist that makes you do a double take and say, “Wait, Sam Darnold? Really?” Turns out, sometimes the best gifts are the ones you didn’t even know you wanted.
Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a pre-holiday colonoscopy. The prep? Absolute misery. The results? Thankfully good—so I guess it was worth spending 24 hours in what felt like a personal episode of Survivor: Bathroom Edition.
As for the procedure, let me tell you: fentanyl and versed together? That’s a ride I don’t remember buying a ticket for. One minute I was chatting with the doctor, the next I was waking up like, “Wait, we’re done?” Honestly, I’ve had enough new diagnoses this year, so walking out of there with nothing but relief? Feels like the best gift of the season.
Luke and I went to see the Timberwolves take on the Knicks, and let’s just say it was less of a basketball game and more of a Karl-Anthony Towns highlight reel. Towns, traded to New York before the season for reasons no one can explain without laughing, dropped 32 points and 20 rebounds while the Knicks steamrolled the Wolves 133-107.
The crowd gave him a tribute video and a standing ovation before the game, but by the third quarter, he was draining 3-pointers and striking poses like he never left. Meanwhile, the Wolves were outscored 37-8 in the second quarter—a stat so bad it deserves its own tribute video.
Moral of the night? Trading Towns might go down as one of the biggest mistakes in franchise history. The Wolves thought they were building for the future, but they forgot one key detail: the future needs players who can actually score.
The Saturday before Christmas, we met up with Sue and Ron Korkowski for dinner and a show. We kicked things off at Holman’s Table in St. Paul, a spot that somehow manages to make eating next to an airport feel classy. Between the Art Deco vibes, runway views, and a pretty good steak, it’s safe to say this place lives up to the hype.
It’s like dining in the set of Mad Men, but instead of Don Draper, you’re surrounded by Minnesotans talking about snowplows. All in all, great food, great company, and no turbulence—what more can you ask for?
We went to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra for the first time, and wow—calling it a “Christmas concert” feels like calling the Super Bowl a friendly game of catch. Known for their over-the-top blend of rock, classical music, and holiday themes, these guys take festive to a whole new level.
The music was incredible, but what really blew me away was the light show and pyrotechnics. Fire, lasers, and smoke everywhere—it was like Christmas exploded and then set itself on fire for dramatic effect. By the end, I wasn’t just in the Christmas spirit; I was practically ready to shoot my own music video in front of a burning yule log. Highly recommend.
We spent Christmas Eve playing games, both digital and analog, because nothing says family bonding like trying to crush each other’s dreams in Settlers of Catan. It’s all fun and games until someone hoards all the brick.
Eventually, we had to call it a night so Santa could sneak in, because apparently, the big guy draws the line at making his deliveries in front of grown adults arguing over sheep trades. Classic Christmas magic.
Last Sunday, Luke and I watched the Vikings take down our hated rivals, the Packers, for their 9th straight win. Sweet victory doesn’t even begin to cover it—nothing beats beating the cheeseheads in front of a roaring home crowd.
Now it’s all set up for tonight: 14-2 Vikings vs. 14-2 Lions. Winner gets the #1 seed, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage. Loser? Wild card. On the road. In January. Big stakes. Let’s go, Vikings—don’t let us down. SKOL!
When Abby came home, we all got together again for dinner and another round of gift exchanges. It was great having her back—we missed her—but we’re holding out hope that someday we’ll all manage to be in the same place for Christmas.
Until then, we’ll enjoy the moments we do get together!
We’ve been ringing in the New Year at Karl and Tina Zitzewitz’s party for years now, and it never disappoints. Great people, great food, and just the right amount of chaos to remind you why you don’t host.
Every year, it’s the perfect way to say goodbye to all the bad decisions of the last 12 months while making brand-new ones for the year ahead. Cheers to tradition!
I’m pumped to see what 2025 has in store—hopefully, a lot more good than bad. But no matter what comes our way, I feel incredibly lucky to face it with Miss Sheri by my side. Honestly, with her around, I’m pretty sure we can handle anything… except maybe putting together IKEA furniture without a fight. Here’s to another year of adventure!
Looking forward to another year of your blog. Wishing you all the best 2025 can offer.
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