Happy Birthday, Rob!

Today is my oldest brother Rob's 49th birthday!! The difficult part of having a brother that's several years older than me, is that it meant he was "out of the house" just as I was starting to really grow up. Despite that, I have many fond memories. Here is a quick list that I thought of to show honor to him on his big day. This may not mean a lot to anyone else, but I hope you enjoy it, Rob. I love you and wish you a Happy Birthday all the way from Colorado.....



This list is in no particular order. Just random wonderful memories:

• strange infatuation with RC pop....no other cola would do


• "Jingle Balls" underwear (found during my doing your wash for $$$ when you were in your 20's)


• "Rock Mantel" - we do this with Josie and JT today!


• BRAZZ band rehearsals in our basement in Bloomington


• Jefferson and Normandale Band Concerts


• Mom and I praying over your moldy marching band uniform before a performance


• watching you on TV playing your tim tom drums? during the bowl parade in TX


• scratching your sock marks on your legs for $$$


• your huge bowls of ice cream you had since you were in charge of dishing up


• listening to and eventually doing WLOL Morning Breakfast Show jingles on the radio


• your fanny pack, shorts, and tank top fashion phase


• your camero


• your Honda civics #1 AND #2


• your bedroom in Bloomington with drums and the draft table


• your commutes down to the farm for work


• your movie theatre job


• playing "drums" at the dinner table using the eating utensils


• your large vocabulary and pun competitions with dad


• graciously taking Nancy Figeroa to Northfield's Prom


• insistence of only buying Beta tapes verses VHS


• setting up the sound system for my driveway carnival so we could play the Monster Mash


• introducing me (forcefully) to cracking my knuckles which I still do to this day


• Gerby Alexander


• Jefferson Jaguars garage sales


• the unforgettable aroma of your rust orange McDonald's uniform after your shift