Bob "RealMan" Timm

Two weeks ago I blogged that we had set an all time snowfall record for a year, EVER! Well it just keeps coming. I had really hoped to post several blogs about our community over the Holidays but frankly I've been doing a lot of bonding with my snow thrower. As you can see from the pictures above I've got plenty to do in my yard.. BUT what you don't see is that I also run over to my mother-in-laws and do hers and then I have a listing (or two) by elderly clients that I head over to and do theirs as well. In the summer I often mow the lawns (also at no charge) for my elderly clients).

The snow has been so heavy and frequent that yesterday the Minot Super Walmart closed (and still is) until they clear the roof of snow. Many business here are in fear of failing roofs as the weight of 5 feet of snow tests their strength. We have yet another storm warning for tomorrow.

There is still some fun to be had for those brave enough to venture out into this mess. Here is a picture of the snow tunnel/fort Tina (8) and I made yesterday when the temp jumped up to 28 degrees above zero.

In case you were thinking that I was joking about the temperature, guess again. We have had several weeks of subzero temperatures and last nights storm brought the subzero temps back again.

Incoming Air Force personel, oil workers traveling to North Dakota, please NOTE: This is officially the snowiest winter EVER in much of ND including Minot ND. Again, keep in mind EVER!!! So when your friends and relatives tell you how bad it is just keep in mind this is beyond unusual. I don't know about the official temperature stats for this month but it's got to be close on the lows as well. It's going to get better, this just happens to be a new benchmark on the low end so chin-up and look forward to meeting the warmest people in the USA right here in Minot ND.

So how do you shovel so much snow? Hardware stores are reporting record sales on snow-blowers and shovels. Excavating companies had a banner building season and now this has just been an added bonus.

While a boon to the construction companies this is absolutely killing many business owners. Over the last month this has been the scene out my office window about twice a week. Shovels this size don't come cheep. Here are two pictures from my back yard. Please note I brushed the snow off the grill last week.

Pictures are property of Bob Timm, Minot ND.

Some time ago I read about a website called greatschools.net which reports/grades schools. I thought what a good idea. How that I've checked the site out I'm thinking otherwise.

I am the father of a 7 year old boy and an 8 year old daughter. They attend our neighborhood elementary school, Sunnyside. 1st a little more background is in order. As a devoted Christian I was very concerned about sending my children off to public school. Due to where their birthdays fall our kids are two grades apart. We sent our oldest to a Christian school for kindergarten and 1st grade. The expense made us make some adjustments to our lives but we felt it was worth the sacrifice. When it came to our attention that our youngest child would need some special services that only the public school system offers we felt it would be best if both kids went to the same school so the older one could look out for the younger one. Although we were not thrilled with the idea this is what we did. Our oldest missed Chapel and her friends at the Christian school but we have been absolutely thrilled with the results for both children.

When I went to the greatschools.net website and looked up our school it had a horrible rating (and still does today). I was alarmed when I saw it and I called the principal. She told me that a very high percentage of how greatschools.net rates a school is on it's teachers pay! Furthermore she has encouraged myself and others to provide greatschools.net with information to correct their rating. I know I did take over an hour to fill out their forum and I have no doubt that others have also yet there system shows no parent input (such as mine) and their rating remains a dismal 3 of 10.

I highly doubt you will find a parent who's child goes to this school that is unhappy with the quality of education here. I would like greatschools.net to explain what teacher pay has to do at all with the quality of education? I was amazed at the youth and exuberance of the teaching team here at Sunnyside and I'm even more amazed at the results of the care and love they show my children.

It seems awfully transparent to me that greatschools.net is just a front for the NEA who's only focus is teacher pay and getting God out of our schools.

Has the North Dakota Oil Boom Busted? That is the question I'm being asked most often these days with the price per-barrel down significantly.

The simple answer is NO! So aside from the low price what is causing this commotion? The simple answer to that is your usual gossip of the uninformed and uneducated about the oil industry. Obviously the current glut of oil on the market and the lack of storage for it has brought oil to a price that has consumers thrilled. So with this situation how can I be optimistic about the Oil Boom in North Dakota?

#1) Despite rumors that oil will not get above $70.00 a barrel in 2009 it really doesn't matter, they make money at $25.00 a barrel.

#2) This oil field holds 4 times more re-cover-able oil then any other fields in the USA. If they quit here they would quit everywhere.

#3) The oil companies have worked hard to obtain the minerial leases here and they know if they allow them to lapse they will be paying much more the next time. Again don't forget that this is the biggest oil reserve in the USA with 4 times the most re-cover-able oil then anywhere else.

#4) Current layoffs are seasonal and transitional. The phase of searching and acquiring leases is winding down and does not need the people it did. The current glut of oil actually gives the companies a welcome break in this harsh winter environment where we have had a streak of subzero temperatures. What could be better for them, hold off until is warmer (thus less expensive to drill) and give your people a break over the Holiday Season. If you question the cost of drilling in these harsh temperatures then try to convince me that a man/woman can work as fast/well in -70 degree windchill temperatures as he/she can when the temp is above freezing.

I could go on and on and I may in later posts but just plain and simple, do you really think OPEC is going to allow prices to stay at these prices. Do you really think the American consumer will not adjust to these prices and start using more? Any one who says this boom is bust or even in trouble is NOT a thinking or informed person. Fortunes are here to be made and they are not hard to find, get your donkey to North Dakota!

Bob Timm, Minot ND Oak Park Realty

In my previous post I mentioned that in our recent blizzard we had a very nasty wind chill. I had to make a correction to that post as I reported that we had a temperature of about -20 (that's 20 degrees below zero) but with a 40 mile an hour wind it was like 40 below... WRONG, as you will see from the chart below it was more like 75 degrees below zero.

If the chart is to hard to read click this url http://www.math.montana.edu/~nmp/materials/ess/atmosphere/novice/activities/windchill.gif

If you are moving here from a climate that wind chill is foreign to you please check into it. Wind chill is a deadly threat and you owe it to your loved ones to know about it if you are moving to this climate.