JAN 5, 25.. DETROIT LIONS 31 - 9 MINNESOTA VIKINGS..

Patti and I, along with many, MANY, National Football League (NFL) fans, have been waiting this past week for this final game of the 2024-25 Regular Season.

This game established several "Never before in the history of the NFL" has there been a game like this.

"Never before in the history of the NFL"..

Have two teams that had each won 14 games in a season played each other on the last weekend of the season.

Never has a Wild Card Playoff Team (the Minnesota Vikings) won 14 games.

No! Patti and I did not attend the game.

Yes! Patti and I have attended a number of games in the Lions Den, a/k/a Ford Field.

Yes! The below photos were taken during Lions games we have attended in the past. 

FORD FIELD, DETROIT, MICHIGAN

Home of the DEROIT, LIONS

The Lions "colors" are Blue and Silver.

Pregame socializing.

We are now inside of Ford Field.

The next three photos below "Pan" from left above to the middle to the right of the playing field.

Thanks Detroit Tom for the below photo of One Dead Viking!

DETROIT LIONS 31 - 9 MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Patti, along with me and every Detroit Lion Football Fan sure enjoyed the second half of the game. Yes the first half was indeed "a bit tense".

JAN 4, 25 (Part 1).. THE 14th HAVASU BALLOON FESTIVAL AND FAIR..

Here we go loop de loop.. Here we go loop de li..

Here we go loop de loop.. On a Saturday Night.. 

Johnny Thunder December 1962

Patti and I have now begun our fourth Havasu Balloon Festival And Fair.

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Today, Saturday the 4th of January 2025, was volunteer "Sign In Day" for the 14th HAVASU BALLOON FESTIVAL AND FAIR.

The actual event will begin next Thursday the 9th of January and end on Sunday the 12th.

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January of 2022 was our very first Havasu Balloon Festival. Patti and I were visitors.

In January of 2023, 2024, and now 2025, I have been an active volunteer in the Havasu Balloon Festival.

Only the official volunteers receive T-Shirts. 

The 2023 T-Shirt.

The emblem on the front of the 2023 T-Shirt.

The 2024 T-Shirt. Let's Soar In 24!

The emblem on the front of the 2024 T-Shirt.

This years 2025 T-Shirt

Hi one and Hi All !!

The emblem on the front of the 2025 T-Shirt.

Yes! Oh Yes! This is really a fun experience!

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If you are going to volunteer, you have to sign up!

Inside we go. We enter into a very high energy atmosphere. 

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Each year the Balloon Festival has a very nice program.

Let's look inside the 2025 Program.

The Havasu Balloon Festival And Fair raises funds to assist many local charities and other worthy causes.

Yes! I know you can't read the fine print in the below photos, BUT the below photos give you an idea of all of the activities that are underway each day.

Thursday and Friday.

Saturday and Sunday.

A list of the Balloons and their Pilots.

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As I sign off here on Saturday evening, I do not know yet what my volunteer assignment will be. 

Each of the last two years I have "Worked" the 5 and the 10 Kilometer runs on Saturday morning. Today I again signed up for this specific assignment because "I know the ropes".

Time will tell.

Cap and Patti

JAN 1, 25 .. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025..

 

Thanks so very much Pamela for your above contribution.

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2025 IS here. 

2025 HAS arrived.

New Year’s Day can be a time of optimism, planning, and resoluteness. There’s a feeling that maybe this year we’ll make the changes we’ve been meaning to: more rest, better eating habits, more exercise, or a new job. New Year’s Day is about taking a moment to get ready for everything that is about to unfold. 

Happy New Year 2025!

Most historians credit the Roman emperor Julius Caesar with developing the Julian calendar, designating January 1 as the start of a new year. The Gregorian calendar, which many nations around the world use today, arrived in 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII aligned the calendar, not with the moon, but with the earth’s rotation around the sun — marking 365 days.

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How many of you "stayed up" until 12 o'clock midnight to welcome in 2025?

10...9...8...7...

Most Americans stay up for an hour or two after the ball drops.

1,875 pounds, the weight of Time Square’s ball. 

360 million, the number of glasses of sparkling wine that are consumed each New Year’s Eve in the U.S.

41% of Americans say New Year's Eve is their favorite holiday, after Christmas, Thanksgiving, and July 4th.

12% the amount of Americans who fall asleep before midnight.

102.1 million the number of people who travel in order to reach their New Year’s Eve destinations. 

$1,160 the average price for dinner and entertainment for two in New York City on New Year's Eve. 

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New Year's Resolutions.

The Mesopotamians and the Babylonians were among the earliest cultures to mark New Year’s Day as the start of a new year; they came up with the concept of making resolutions. Making resolutions on the first day of the year gave one favor to the gods.

Do you make them?

67% of Americans set resolutions on New Year’s Eve.

More than half of Americans make New Year's resolutions.

Over one third of the Americans who make resolutions, never keep them.

And you?

19% I always make them and keep them.

36% I always make them, but never keep them.

23% I don't make them because I know I will break them.

22% I never make them.

MOST POPULAR RESOLUTIONS

Resolve to lose weight.

Resolve to exercise more.

Resolve to get a new job.

Resolve to eat healthier.

Resolve for personal growth.

Resolve to spend more time with family.

Learn new skill/pick up new hobby.

Drink less alcohol.

Get a raise at work.

Get a new job.

Stop smoking.

Personal growth.

Get into a relationship.

Oh By The Way .. Taa Daa ..

NATIONAL TODAY / NATIONAL DAY CALENDAR.. Are the sources of most, but not 100%, of the information on our various “Days” such as today.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025 

Cap and Patti