Store Check-Out Requires Discipline

I’m probably the exception to the supposed “rule” that emphatically states men don’t like shopping.  When it comes to clothes, groceries, items for the home – you name it – I prefer being an active participant.  In particular, I’ve always viewed late-night grocery shopping as therapeutic:  A simple, relaxing way to end the day.
Some might even call [...]

Where Do Lost Balloons Go? (video)

Have you ever wondered where lost balloons go?  They float up, up and away from us… we watch them as long as we can and then… where?  Where do they end up? 
Now we know.
 

Sports Fans are Candles in the Wind

Three friends sitting in a bar, late August 2009, discussing college football.   
Jim’s team is the Tennessee Volunteers.
Mike’s team is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Dave’s team is the North Dakota State Bison
They’re experts.  They’re seasoned fans.  They… know… The Game.
Jim:  We finally got ourselves a real coach, boys!  Lane Kiffin is gonna bring us some of that [...]

If You’re Rude, Own It

I leave for work every morning at 6:30 a.m. with the drive approximately five miles.  Requiring 12 to 16 ounces of coffee before making contact with other human beings at the radio station – this is for their benefit – I stop at one of the major Midwest coffee house chains since it’s directly on the [...]

The Krispy Kreme Dilemma

I’ve been having doughnut issues lately.  In particular, Krispy Kreme doughnut issues.  I’ve been dreaming about them, daydreaming about them, openly discussing them with complete strangers, drawing pictures of them and plotting out the driving distance to the nearest Krispy Kreme from Minneapolis.  You see it wasn’t that long ago I only had to travel six miles to grab [...]

Eye on Monday: Chicago

This is post #100 for Blog Harbor which makes this something of an occasion to commemorate.  And I can think of no better way to do so then by highlighting my beloved hometown of Chicago.
I began this blog with a simple premise:  Writing about people, places, things and events that passionately and/or humorously moved me [...]

Could You Make This Shot? (video)

At the recent Idaho – Utah State basketball game in Logan (Utah), Idaho center Marvin Jefferson stepped to the free throw line for two shots.  As is the case in college basketball, the crowd behind the basket – in this case, part of the Utah State student section – was doing everything they could to distract [...]

This Week's Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This Week’s Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

It’s week two of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.  So… how’s Canada doing?  Has the show they’ve put on made the world like them – dare I say, love them – the way many like / love the United States?  Canada is a wonderful country, but let’s face it – our friends to the north have [...]

This Week's Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This Week’s Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

Valentine’s Day is over.  This means men everywhere once again can let out an enormous sigh as they prepare for next year’s Main Event on the Giving Calendar.  Is there a “holiday” loaded with more pressure than Valentine’s Day?  It says here the answer is no.  No, no… a thousand times… NO!
Sorting Through the Fallout [...]

CareerBuilder.com Casual Friday and My Pal (commercial)

CareerBuilder.com Casual Friday and My Pal (commercial)

This was one of my favorite commercials during the Super Bowl for two reasons.  First, the mere thought of this happening in an office makes the mind race… or crash.  And second, the principal actor in the ad (“Terry”) is a really talented guy and good friend, Steve Lewis.  It says here it’s only a matter [...]

This Week's Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This Week’s Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

Everyone in meteorology likes to talk about Weather Events.  And if it’s not a Weather Event, it’s a Snow Event.  So if they can talk about Weather and Snow Events, it only seems appropriate for me to talk about them as well.  And, perhaps, define the difference between Weather Events in, say, Minneapolis and Fargo-Moorhead. 
I [...]

This Week’s Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This week I decided to tackle Facebook.  Namely, the resistance I had for it until finally being sucked into its Black Hole.  What I’ve discovered is that sooner or later, they get you.  Oh, you try to avoid them – we’ll call them “recruiting specialists.”  But they’re good.  They’re very good.  No sooner do you look in your [...]

This Week’s Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This week’s column is all about vehicle deals.  Need a new one?  Thinking about something a little larger for the family?  A sturdy performer that has good cargo space.  I’d like to bring your attention to an option you may not have considered.
Deals Abound on Space Shuttles

Vikings vs. Saints: Whose Destiny Wins?

Vikings vs. Saints: Whose Destiny Wins?

The relationship most fans have with their NFL team is one built on love, trust and understanding.  They understand there will be peaks and valleys.  They acknowledge there will be times another team will tempt them.  And they accept the fact that love alone does not solve all problems.
It’s with these delicate points in mind, I [...]

This Week's Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This Week’s Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

My column in the Forum this week is on the art scene in Fargo and how it relates to other cities.  I’m once again a little late on the draw but no matter; the column is there for the reading.  Hope you enjoy it! 
WARNING: The elements of satire, irony and parody, in varying degrees, are at work [...]

In Derek Dooley, Has Tennessee Finally Found Their Man? (video)

In Derek Dooley, Has Tennessee Finally Found Their Man? (video)

The new head football coach for the Tennessee Volunteers is Derek Dooley.  I’m not qualified to judge what he can, or can’t do on a sideline.  A number of things from his background as head coach at Louisiana Tech and as a top assistant for Nick Saban (at LSU and the Miami Dolphins) stand out [...]

Vikings Fans: Will Today Be 1975 All Over Again? (video)

Kiffin Trades the River for the Ocean

Kiffin Trades the River for the Ocean

Back on October 11, I wrote that Tennessee Volunteers fans needed to climb on board The Lane Train.  I insisted that Lane Kiffin, if given time, would give Tennessee fans six (the phrase is an homage to legendary Vols broadcaster John Ward).
I was correct… sort of.
What I should have said was Lane Kiffin would give Tennessee fans the [...]

This Week's Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This Week’s Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This week at the Forum, I bring back an old post from here on cgabriel.com.  Every man, sooner or later, will get The Procedure….more commonly known as a colonoscopy.  Serious stuff, to be sure, but why not take a different approach.
A Low Pressure Front? No, It’s a Colonoscopy

Is a Loss Ever Irrelevant? Some KU Fans Think So

Is a Loss Ever Irrelevant? Some KU Fans Think So

When the Kansas Jayhawks come to town for a basketball game, it’s an Event.  It makes little difference if the team is top-ranked, top 10 or top 25.  It’s Kansas, and KU spells Historic. 
It’s much the same when UCLA comes sailing into your town from the west coast for a game.  They can be a .500 [...]

This Week’s Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

I’m a little late on the draw this week… nevertheless…
My first 2010 column centers on college football bowl games.  My thought: Let ‘em ALL play in a bowl game!  It’s gotten completely ridiculous, with 68 out of 120 teams playing for the right to become national champion or… 7-6.
A Need for More Bowl Games

This Week's Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This Week’s Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

As New Year’s Day approaches, the truly significant day for most people, New Year’s Eve, is once again treated as just another work day.  But in truth, it’s a day that needs to be recognized for what it truly should be:  A day off.  If Black Friday is the most insane shopping day of the [...]

The 1949 WDAY Northwest Holiday Hour

The 1949 WDAY Northwest Holiday Hour

On Christmas Eve, myself and WDAY Radio Production Director Steve Tschida did the 10:00 hour of my radio program as if it was 1949.  We didn’t try to sound like 60 years ago as much as we structured the hour in a manner that gave you a sense of what an hour of radio on [...]

This Week's Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This Week’s Column in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This week’s column in the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and on INFORUM.com:  Santa’s letter to the F-M area.  Yes indeed, it wasn’t easy but through a variety of connections, shady compromises and promises for “favors” in 2010, I got a hold of it.  And as any media person worth his weight in Christmas spritz cookies should [...]

This Week's CG Column in the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This Week’s CG Column in the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

This week in the Forum and on INFORUM.com, I’m discussing a theory I’ve had for some time now:  When I move to a new city, the snow seems to go elsewhere.  Some view that as a good thing but kids do not.  I’ve seen signs up in neighborhoods:  No sledding this year – blame Christopher [...]