Enough Already

I love Brett Favre & I love the Packers, but if I have to hear one more story about them I am going to plug my ears and sing...

Our Number 4s

These men have a few things in common...

the Milwaukee Bucks' Sidney Moncrief

the Milwaukee Brewers' Paul Molitor*

the Green Bay Packers' Brett Favre

All have worn the number 4, all are among the greatest players to ever play for their respective teams, none of them will ever be forgotten!

The number 4 has left a lasting mark on Wisconsin!

*Confession time: When I was 12, I wanted to be Mrs. Paul Molitor when I grew up...LOL!

Sad Sports Day

Tractor Watch is over. This morning Fox Sports & ESPN are reporting that Brett Favre has decided to retire. According to a local sports reporter, his agent has confirmed the retirement.

It is indeed a sad day in Titletown.

Brett, you will be missed on the field, but I know you will continue to do GREAT things off the field!!

Oh Boy!

Things here have been crazy since I was last here on Thursday! I ended up stay-in-bed-or-on-the-couch sick ALL day Friday & most of Saturday!

Of course, Sunday is football & race day! Woohoo; Packers baby! We're 7-1! I can't believe it and keep waiting for the bottom to fall out because aside from Brett (and my man Aaron Kampmann) we aren't that great. The next three weeks are kind of scary -- Minnesota, Detroit, and Dallas! I will be holding my breath all through those games...LOL!! The race didn't go so well!

Yesterday was another visit to the dentist. This time it is for that new crown I told you about a while back. The old crown is off, a temporary is in it's place, and the new crown order has been sent to the dental lab. I have to stop in there tomorrow for color match. Even the temporary is a HUGE improvement from the old crown.

Today was my day with grandma. She has been having some trouble with her right knee lately. She wasn't walking to well today so she wanted to cut the day short a bit. We went to her toe nail clipping apointment and the grocery stores. We had lunch at Culver's, and YES; I had frozen custard. ;) I needed, maybe even deserved, something soft & cold with all the dental work I have had done recently.

I have had a little time with all that going on to work a little on a quilt project and finally get all the wallpaper off the bathroom walls. WOOHOO! I will post some pics (and send some to you, C) once I have a sec after my camera batteries finish charging.

Wisconsin Badgers #1

For the first time in the history of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the men's basketball team is ranked #1.

They are #2 in the ESPN poll, but honestly why should a team with two more losses and one of them to the Badgers be ahead? Gotta love those polls...LOL!

Sunday's game will be interesting! It is #1 Wisconsin at #2 Ohio State!

NASCAR "Cheaters"

The crew chiefs on five NASCAR Nextel Cup teams have been suspended. One of them indefinitely. The suspensions are for infractions discovered on the cars after Sunday's qualifying. Until NASCAR takes this seriously and suspends the ENTIRE team from competition it will continue. It is always the same teams. When will NASCAR listen to it's fans and penalize these teams so it really hurts? Are we becoming the WWE?

The points penalties are so small the teams aren't phased. The $25,000-$50,000 fines mean nothing to the multimillion dollar teams. The suspended crew chief can work on the cars all week long. He can have contact with the team during the race. He just cannot be at the track during the race weekend. In my opinion, NASCAR's "punishments" are jokes.

I am pretty sure when NASCAR tells a team their car AND driver will not take the track, the message will be heard.

PS...Carolynn, I know you don't watch! *snicker*

Are You Ready?

Go Tony Go!

May this season bring MANY opportunities to climb the fence!!

2007 Speedweeks Schedule of Events (from daytonainternationalspeedway.com)

Thursday, February 8
Noon - 5 pm		ARCA RE/MAX Series Practice
7pm		Budweiser Shootout drawing at the SPEED Stage outside of Turn 4
Friday, February 9
Noon		ARCA Qualifying (Two laps, all positions)
4:15 - 5 pm		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Budweiser Shootout At Daytona Practice
5:10 - 6:15 pm		ARCA RE/MAX Series Final Practice
6:30 - 7:30 pm		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Budweiser Shootout At Daytona Final Practice
Saturday, February 10
10:30 am - 12:30 pm		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Practice
1:30 - 3 pm		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Practice
3:30 pm		ARCA RE/MAX Series Driver Introductions
4:15 pm		Daytona ARCA 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series (80 Laps, 200 Miles)
8 pm		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Budweiser Shootout At Daytona
		Driver Introductions
8:30 pm		Budweiser Shootout At Daytona NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Race
		(70 Laps, 175 Miles)
Sunday, February 11
2:10 pm		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Qualifying for the Daytona 500
		(Two Laps, Two Positions)
Wednesday, February 14
Noon - 12:55 pm		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Practice
2:05 - 2:55 pm		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Practice
		(Final Practice Before the Gatorade Duel At Daytona)
3 - 4:20 pm		NASCAR Busch Series Practice
4:30 - 5:30 pm		NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Practice
Thursday, February 15
9 - 9:30 am		NASCAR Busch Series Rookie Practice
9:30 - 10:55 am		NASCAR Busch Series Final Practice
11 - 11:30 am		NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie Practice
11:45 am - 1:15 pm		NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Final Practice
1:30 pm		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Driver Introductions
2 pm		Gatorade Duel At Daytona
		Daytona 500 Qualifying Races (60 Laps, 150 Miles, Each)
7 pm		NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying
		(Two Laps, All Positions)
Friday, February 16
1:40 - 2:40 pm		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Practice
3:05 pm		NASCAR Busch Series Qualifying (Two Laps, All Positions)
7:30 pm		NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver Introductions
8 pm		Chevy Silverado HD 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race
		(100 Laps, 250 Miles)
Saturday, February 17
10:35 - 11:55 am		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Final Practice for the Daytona 500
12:45 pm		NASCAR Busch Series Driver Introductions
1:15 pm		Daytona 300 NASCAR Busch Series Race (120 Laps, 300 Miles)
Sunday, February 18
2:30 pm		NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Driver Introductions
3:15 pm		Daytona 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Race
		(200 Laps, 500 Miles)

Thank You Brett!

"TractorWatch" is over!! Al Jones, sports writer for the The Sun Herald and friend of Brett Favre, writes Favre to play in 2007!

I am SO glad to hear he will be back! He is an amazing player!

I do find it funny that it is first reported in a Mississippi paper...lol!!

The Brett Favre Watch

During the Packers season there was really no talk of Brett Favre's retirement. Last season was a different story. Mostly due to their record. It was a pitiful 4-12. This season was better at 8-8 and narrowly missing the playoffs. So there really wasn't much talk about his retirement. That is until his interview after the last game of the season against the Bears. Favre cried and was extremely emotional.

Now every time he does something it is analyzed by the media. Last week he didn't renew a membership at some country club; that meant he wasn't coming back. This week the talk is about hiring a cleaning lady so that means he is coming back. Would they just stop and talk about it when he makes his decision? Grrrr!

At least they aren't calling it "TractorWatch" like last year!

Benny Parsons

Benny Parsons, 65, died this morning of complications from lung cancer. He had been hospitalized since December 26.

Complete story is at www.nascar.com

More Sad NASCAR News

I was checking to see if there was an update on Benny when I saw this sad news.

Hamilton, 49, dies after battle with neck cancer
By Ryan Smithson, NASCAR.COM
January 8, 2007

Bobby Hamilton, the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series champion and a four-time winner in the Cup Series, died Sunday. He was 49.

Hamilton, a native of Nashville, Tenn., had been battling cancer for nearly a year. He announced in March 2006 that he was undergoing treatment for neck cancer. He immediately turned over his driving duties in the Craftsman Truck Series to his son, Bobby Hamilton Jr.

"He will be greatly missed as a husband, a father, a grandfather, an owner and a friend," Hamilton's family said in a statement. "We want to thank everyone for their love and support of our racing operation and the outpouring of care and concern during his cancer battle. One of Bobby's greatest loves in life was racing and we will continue on in his honor."

Liz Allison, a family friend who co-hosted a radio show with Hamilton, said he was at home with his family in Mount Juliet, Tenn., when he died.

In addition to Bobby Jr., Hamilton is survived by wife Lori and a granddaughter.

If you are interested in reading the rest of the article, it can can be found here on nascar.com.

Benny Parsons is in ICU

I have posted a couple entries about Benny Parsons. Back in July he annouced he was diagnosed with lung cancer and in October said his cancer was in full remission. Unfortunately, he has been in the ICU at a Charlotte hospital since the day after Christmas due to complications stemming from his lung cancer battle. You can read the complete articale a nascar.com .

Adopt A Playoff Team

Did your team miss the playoffs like my Packers did? If so and you are looking for someone to back, you can get an answer here!

I already knew I would be backing the Jets, Chargers, and Saints. The little quiz told me the Jets were the perfect team for me. I decided to try the test again. The second time around I was asked different questions. The result of the second test was the Chiefs. I will not be cheering for the Chiefs. That is one of those teams you never like, but don't know why.

Volleyball Fun

Saturday Morning Olivia had her first volleyball games of the season. The played a doubleheader. Her team did pretty well. They won the first match, but lost the second. The team they played in the second match was fresh because they did not play a doubleheader. You could see the girls on Olivia's team getting pretty tired during the sixth game. That's okay -- every team will be playing two doubleheaders it will all even out in the end. Of course, it doesn't matter since they don't keep track of W-L records in the rec league in our area. It is kind of silly, but makes for alot nicer parents when you are sitting and watching the games. :)

Volleyball Time

Olivia had her first volleyball practice of the season. They added doubleheaders for the first and last weeks of the season this year. In the past, they played six teams and this year it will be eight teams. I am looking forward to the Saturday morning games. It is fun to watch how much the kids improve each week.

I'm Ready for Some Football

Green Bay Packers at Cincinnati Bengals -- time for kick off!

Race Fan Fashion for A Cause

I ran across the article below on jsonline.com today.
Track Couture, a Memphis company, usually produces clothing inspired by NASCAR and racing. But this time the inspiration is personal. Kathleen Smith, co-founder of the company, has unveiled a new T-shirt in memory of her late sister, Wendy Smith Rice, who died unexpectedly last year.

Smith Rice died from Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) Type 2, which causes more than 3,000 sudden, unexplained deaths in the United States every year.

The shirt, a white, long-sleeve tee with black sleeves and a checkered pink and black heart in the front, was designed to raise awareness about the disease and raise money for related medical research.

The shirts sell for $29.99, of which $19.99 will be donated to the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation. For more information, visit www.trackcouture.com/charity.aspx. - Vikki Ortiz


It may be because I am living a rock (lol), but this is the first time I have heard of Track Couture! Fashion for race fans? I think I am in love!!!

The list of drivers they have merchandise for is limited, but my guy (Tony Stewart) is available. I am going to have to take a long look at the site and pick out some new race day gear.

How about Race Royalty or Pit Lizard? :)