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Today (Thursday) marks one of the most important days in our country. Armistice Day or as most people call it, Veterans Day is a day dedicated to the men and women who have served our great country in the military services.

If you have read my column before, you know I hold the veterans of our country in the highest regard. Not only have these people chosen to protect our country, but they have risked their lives doing so. These folks live all among us and work and play with us. Some choose to keep their military time private and I respect that. But regardless, they still need to be thanked.

Here is a great example of how much people respect those in the military. One evening, my son and I stopped at a restaurant to have dinner. A family with four children and no father was sitting next to us. After about 20 minutes of waiting patiently, their dad walks in, still in his khaki uniform. His kids rush to him and mob him as does his wife. There wasn't a dry eye in the restaurant. Even my 10 year old was emotional watching the reunion.

When we finished our meal, I told my son that I was going to pay for their meal. Of course he asked "Why on earth would you do that?" I told him that it was our way of thanking the man for our freedom and for serving our country. He thought that sounded really "cool" and we headed to the register to pay. When we went to pay, I told the cashier that we wanted to pay the family's bill. The cashier then leans in and tells us the last person to pay had done just that. I quickly turned to my son to see the wheels turning in his head. It was a moment that will stay and hopefully make an impression for the rest of his life.

I am sorry to ramble on. Getting back to Veterans Day, if you are a veteran and you are reading this, please accept my deepest most heartfelt thank you. I don't know what we would do without you.

Thank you to all who voted this year. Chisago County has once again produced a record turnout at the polls. I am not sure if the economy, or something else had to do with it, but there were many, many seats that changed hands. Of course we still have the Governor race tied up with a re-count and who knows how long that will take. I am probably one of those responsible for the re-count because I voted for Tom Horner. I just thought our choices were between bad and worse for Governor this year. We will have to wait and see if bad wins or worse wins.

I don't know about you, but this whole daylight savings switch is kicking my butt. Usually it will take me a day or so to get acclimated to the time change, but this year seems different. Mornings are unbelievable, I could sleep all day long. Evenings are embarrassing, I could easily go to bed at 8:30, but of course I can't go to bed before the kids. Maybe the warm days we have played a part in this, maybe it is one of the hundreds of bugs the kids have brought home from school, or maybe I am getting long in the tooth. Probably the last one.

Thanks to all the ladies who came out for the first annual Hunting Cruise on Saturday. From all accounts, it sounded like a very fun time and some great deals were had. Look for some other great specials like the Hunting Cruise offered in the near future.

This Thanksgiving, Ojiketa Regional Park will be hosting a Dash and Dine Thanksgiving 5K. It is a great way to burn off calories and build your appetite for the big meal. You can lean more at www.vacationsports.com.

The Chisago Lakes Senior High is putting on another great musical this year. Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma is the featured production. In North Branch it is: Suessical The Musical. The students have been rehearsing like crazy and promise to put on great shows. Both shows open November 18, but I am telling you now so you pick up your tickets early before they run out. You can purchase tickets online at www.chisagolakes.k12.mn.us or you can buy them at the PAC ticket offices at the schools.

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