Breaking News: TastyGate!!!!

(Minneapolis, MN) An anonymous email recieved at The Frozen Shamrock newsroom is sending shockwaves through the Twin Cities.

In a covert operation at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome a Philadelphia Eagles fanatic accessed the Minnesota Vikings locker room and placed the "Tastykake Curse" on the team just days before their NFC Wildcard game against the Eagles on Sunday afternoon.

The informant claims the curse was activated by secretly placing an opened box of "Taskycake Butterscotch Krimpets" somewhere inside the Viking's Metrodome locker room.

A photograph shows the box is a special edition package emblazoned with the Eagles logo.

Pictures that accompanied the email provided visual proof the curse that bears the name of the Philadelphia made snack cake is place. The "Tastycake Curse" dates back to the 1980 World Series when when a package of "Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes" was discovered by an equipment manager above the locker of Kansas City Royals Willie Wilson. Wilson ended up striking out to end the the World Series and hand the Phillies a championship.

NFL Security is currently searching for the hidden snack cakes and mastermind behind the latest curse.

Hometown vs. Hometown

It's funny how football works. At the beginning of the day I was just happy to learn I would be able to watch my Philadelphia Eagles on television for their last regular season game.

I don't get to see many games since I live in the Twin Cities and I usually work Sundays so today was a treat.

The Eagles were playing for their playoff lives. I told my wife that their chance of making it to the playoffs was about 10 percent. Well since both Tampa Bay and Chicago lost and the Eagles put a spanking on the Cowboys...the Eagles have made the playoffs. And they're coming to Minnesota next Sunday. My hometown playing my NEW hometown.

So 8 hours later I am getting frantic calls from family and friends looking for tickets and trying to get flights from Philadelphia for the weekend. I am sure it will be a week of trash talking and mudslinging with my friends from the Twin Cities.

Although I live here now I can't say I'm ready to throw my allegiance to the Vikings. If it were any other team I would......but this is the Eagles. I bleed green....see you all at the game ..I'll be the one with the Donovan McNabb jersey on.

UPDATE: Orphan Annie

Orphan Annie going to a foster home

I am happy to report "Orphan Annie' the Golden Retriever who was shot twice with a rifle in rural Minnesota is going to her new foster home. She'll be cared for by Dayle Stubbs, Foster Coordinator for Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota. (RAGOM)

Dayle Stubbs and Annie

Annie's journey started when she was found in a snow bank by a passing motorist blood-covered and shivering in sub-zero temperatures. She was taken to the Pope County Humane Society, then to a local vet hospital and eventually to the University of Minnesota's Veterinary Center. So far no one has come forward as the dogs owner as police investigate the shooting. They have few leads.

This gorgeous 2 year old dog underwent complex surgery and a week in the ICU recovering. Meantime, her story has captured the hearts of dog lovers everywhere. Donations from 1 to a thousand dollars have come in to help pay Annies staggering vet bills. Last week doctors gave her a 60-percent chance of survival. 6 days later she's now wagging her tail and headed off to her new foster home in Minneapolis. RAGOM officials will now decide which lucky family out of the hundreds of applications will adopt Annie as their family dog.

To Donate to Annie's fund or adoption information click

http://www.ragom.org/

Winter is finally here...

For the rest of the country winter arrived on December 21st.

Here in Minnesota-it arrived in September.

So far this month, we've had more than 11 inches of snow.

But if there's one thing I've learned about living in the Land of 10,000 (frozen) Lakes is that you have to embrace the weather. So, Cheers!!! Here's to winter!!!!

Orphan Annie

As a TV reporter I see the best and worst in society. Today I witnessed both in 1 story.

We found out that a beautiful 2 year old Golden Retriever had been found in a snow bank covered in blood on a country road in Pope County Minnesota. Veterinarians quickly learned the dog had been shot twice with a rifle. No one knows who owns the dog. No one knows who shot the dog. I just can't imagine who would knowingly pull the trigger on a helpless innocent dog. That's the bad news.

The good news is the dog has been taken to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Center here in the Twin Cities. Vets have been working around the clock to save the dog they have now dubbed "Orphan Annie". She is in the ICU and is not out of the woods just yet. The more time passes the better Annie's chances of survival.

I knew this story would tug at the heart strings of a lot of people-especially dog owners. So far many people have come forward with donations to help pay for Annie's $15,000 medical bills after a complex surgery and 24 hour care. The organization "Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota" is taking on the task of taking care of Annie and eventually her adoption.

Donate to Annie's cause:

http://www.ragom.org/ .

Here's a link to my story on KSTP.com

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S710956.shtml?cat=1

Merry Christmas from Minnesota!!

White (trash) Christmas in Minnesota

photo by Dawn O'Connell

Another subzero night at the office....

It's nights like these where my job-quite frankly- sucks. A winter storm blew through the Twin Cities and I got the lucky assignment to do the obligatory live shot next to a highway telling viewers about what they can already see outside their kitchen window. It's snowing and you shouldn't be outside. On this night the wind chill was 20 below zero. And it got even colder the following night.

Photographers Jason Hanson and Kevin Bubach were with me this night broadcasting from I-94 in St. Paul. It got so cold that my eyes teared up and instantly froze my eyelids shut. Pretty nasty bone chilling weather..On days like these I just wonder why I moved from Florida where the wind chill today was 75..

Recession?? What recession??

My wife Dawn and I made a stop at Maplewood Mall for a few last minute Christmas gifts and a couple other things.


I was amazed at how crowded the mall was. I know it should be no surprise that a mall was packed 12 days before Christmas but with all of this talk of the bad economy and a recession I figured many people would be staying home. Apparently not..



We first went through the annual ritual of finding a parking space in the mall's parking lot which took about 10 minutes alone.



When we got inside the mall our first stop was Bath and Body Works. Weaving through the sea of shoppers and lavender bath bombs my wife got what she needed..1 bottle of lotion. "Sensual Amber" if I remember correctly.


We then proceeded to the checkout line where it all hit me....the economy must be in better shape than I thought. I counted 32 people waiting to pay for their body creams, bubble baths and aromatherapy.


We waited in line for about 13 minutes...not that I was counting. The all of the sudden a cashier who couldn't be more than 12 years old hung a sign on the "cash" register
saying they are not accepting cash. Only credit cards, debit cards, checks, your first born child and gold bullion...but no cash.


I guess the store realized that in this economy most people no longer have any cash to their names so they figured they'd help the average consumer dig themselves deeper in debt by not even offering a cash option.



When I asked the clerk why only half of their "cash" registers actually accept cash-she told me it was to "keep the lines moving" and "giving out change holds up the line".



Really?? How long does it take to count change?? After all it says so right there on the dollar bill. "Legal Tender". At least 1 woman was so disgusted she left the store saying "They're not getting any of my money.. all I have is cash". Luckily that woman was in front of us in line so we moved up a space...



We finally got to the cashier who obviously did not want to be there. I overheard her tell another employee how she can't wait until the holiday's are over. But the holiday's is WHY this girl has a job.


I after 17 minutes of waiting in line, I finally paid $10.76 cents for my wife's "Sensual Amber" body lotion (on debit card).


Then it finally hit me..we spent all of this time in the store and our purchase wasn't even for holiday gift.


Leaving the mall about an hour later I thought about the parking lot filled with cars, a mall packed with shoppers, long lines, stores refusing to accept cash and people like me willing to spend a half hour waiting to pay for a bottle of body lotion. My question is how bad can this economy really be??



It's a question I'd love to ask someone who has lived through "The Great Depression"

Happy Birthday Dawn!!!

I LOVE YOU!!

Happy 34th!!

Winter is here....

I forgot how cold 4 degrees was until had to go outside this morning..

The bad news is I will remember how WARM 4 degrees is when the temperature goes 15-below with a windchill of 35 below....Such is life in Minnesota. It seriously forces you to appreciate what all 4 seasons have to offer.

We got 2 inches of snow yesterday. And we're forecasted to get another 6 inches tonight.

Even our Labrador Retriever Murphy can't stand going outside in this weather. I litterally have to drag him out of the house every morning from his wintertime perch cuddled on his Eagles blanket next to the fireplace.

I know this is only the beginning of the winter and we have a long time to wait before we see the green grass again but I'm still complaining....at least we have nearly a 100% chance of a white Christmas...

Paying it forward...

I walk into the Woodbury Dunn Brothers for my daily morning coffee and blueberry streusel muffin. But before I handed the barista my debit card she tells me my order had already been paid for......by a stranger. I asked who. Apparently, on the last Friday of every month this man forks out 20 dollars to pay the coffee tab for the customers behind him. The gesture not only put a smile on my face but also put me in a good mood for the rest of the day. I'm guessing the man heard the "Pay if forward" idea on Oprah but I won't hold it against him.

If you are reading this...thanks for coffee and inspiration to continue the anonymous goodwill on my next trip to the coffee shop..

Welcome to my blog..

If you are reading this-- you have a lot more time on your hands than I do. I'm always encouraging others to start a blog so at the risk of being a hypocrite I have offiically arrived in the blogosphere...

I can't say I'll be posting daily musings, political commentary or photos from the family vacation....actually there's a very good chance this will be my first and last blog post...we'll see how it goes....