On this date, December 2nd 2004, we proudly unveil the new website for The Spurgeon Club. It still has a little bit of growing to do but we’re proud of it anyway!

The Spurgeon Club

Merry Christmas from the Fries Family! 

….12 hours at the Marriott. Yep, since hotels don’t close and I need a week off at Christmas, I’m stuck pulling a 12 hour shift as the Manager on Duty at the Kansas City Airport Marriott for Thanksgiving. Before you feel too sorry for me, though, I’ll have to admit that I volunteered for it to insure that I can get Christmas off. I’m feeling a little dissapointed right now but not too bad. In reality Thanksgiving is mostly about eating and being with family anyway. Since my family is not here (even though I love spending time with Tracy’s family) and I don’t really enjoy eating that much (I’m lobbying for the day when we can take pills that will provide all the nutritional value necessary so that eating becomes extinct) Thanksgiving becomes not that big of a deal. I’ll admit that I’d love spending more time with Tracy and Grace and I’d enjoy the break from work and school and I’d love the football but other than that, I’ll be ok at the Marriott. Besides, this should give me time to get a bunch of work done for school and church. Let’s hope so anyway!

Well, did winter hit with a fury! We’ve enjoyed unseasonably warm weather to date here in Northwest Missouri this year. All that has changed now. We woke up this morning to a white, white view. We started getting some of the fattest snow flakes I’ve ever seen last night at about 11pm. It stopped this morning around 10am. The weatherman was calling for anywhere from .5 inches (us) to maybe 5 inches (southwest of KC) and was off by a long shot. We got around 2 inches and all over Kansas City they were covered with anywhere from 6 inches to a foot. Some of you may know but if you don’t, I hate snow. Now, to be honest, I like the way it looks. I really enjoyed driving to work today and looking at the beautiful scenery. What I don’t like, however, is what it and ice do to the roads nor how I feel when I’m covered in snow myself. Thankfully this time the roads stayed clear where I live and I didn’t have to touch the stuff. Accordingly, I can chalk this up as one good snowstorm this year. Oh how I long for Christmas in Florida wearing shorts and playing golf! I’ll enjoy that in 4 weeks! (It can’t come soon enough) I’ve included pictures so that you visual people can understand what we’re dealing with.

LOOK HOW DEEP THIS IS!!!!!!!!

Grace in her doo rag! 

….a Florida Gator! Score one for Ron Zook. It hasn’t been done since 1986. Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Shane Matthews and Emmitt Smith never accomplished it, yet tonight Ron Zook, Chris Leak and Ciatrick Fason beat the Seminoles in Talahassee! It is a good day to be a Gator fan!

Many of you will know that I called Chipley, FL home for a few years. Chipley is home to a Class 2a basketball program. I keep up with Chipley sports by checking out their fantastic website, www.chipleybugle.com. I noticed that the Chipley girls opened up their season this week by killing Class 5a Rutherford High School! Way to go Lady Tigers!

You can read about the win here!

Ok, I’ll have to admit that I had no idea what “Up the Reds….” meant! I was at the store yesterday and I notice this older lady looking at me and yelling that phrase at me. I didn’t know if she was crazy or actually looking at someone else so I kept on walking. About 5 minutes later the woman shows up again. Evidently she’s been chasing me around the store yelling “Up the Reds!” even more. Well, little known to me but “Up the Reds!” is actually a phrase that is yelled by fans of the Soccer Club, Manchester United. While I was in Africa I developed a fascination with soccer. I really like watching it although I wouldn’t say that I am passionate about it, nor am I really knowledgeable about it. I’ve learned to really enjoy watching the English Premiership league play. Manchester United is pretty much the most famous club in the league and so I’ve been following them, mostly online, for the past year. Some of you will remember that I actually got a Man U. jersey for my birthday from my friends, Nick and Marsha. I was wearing the jersey yesterday which is what got the lady, who happened to be British, all worked up. It turns out that she’s a rabid Man U. fan and she seemed to enjoy meeting someone who claimed to be a fan, albeit a somewhat ignorant one. So, anyway, I guess you could say that I learned something new yesterday. Here’s to “Up the Reds!”