Category: All things Trojan

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Southern California Trojans ROMP!

Do I look smug? Yep!

Someone once said,”modesty is the ultimate form of conceit.” So let me add some well deserved praise by saying that the  University of Southern California  is a wonderful school with an  incredible athletic program.  I am proud to have earned two graduate degrees here.

Frankly, I can’t imagine having attended any school that didn’t value athletics. College without athletics is… well…. like going to a one gender school… boring. Now, I know some of my professor friends are happy to go to schools like Cal Poly just because athletics is so devalued… but it is easy to explain their disinterest… they were all picked last in grade school pick-up sports games. Jealousy sometimes lasts a lifetime.

always a fun time on Game Day!

So, when you are thinking about choosing your university experience… find a college that meets your academic interests … but also a place where you can spectate or participate in meaningful athletics. It adds the spice, seasoning & entertainment to any university experience.

Fight On!

Roger Freberg

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a South African Braii… in California?

Our trial balloon for the South African Braii!

Have you ever started a series of new recipes? Have you wondered whether they would be a hit… or a colossal flop? Well, the sure fire way to see if something new works is to do a small trial run… we did… fantastic!

Karen had returned home from her internship in South Africa with Total Media and has just ‘graduated” with her Masters in Public Relations from one of my alma maters… the University of Southern California! With all these excuses to celebrate, we couldn’t resist… besides, if the menu flops it is better to have small, manageable group mad at you than a large crowd looking for a rope!

The anticipation was deafening!

Karen wrote up the Braii …. and I am sure she’ll  have a post to follow! Now, we can work up to the big event!

 

Roger Freberg

PS… the wine of South Africa was exquisite… and yes, there was much Pinotage!

 

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Only YOU can invest in YOUR future!

What, me worry?

Here is my daughter  Karen  relaxing at our home in San Luis Obispo. My girls often take over my favorite spots when they come home… and that’s fine with me. They work hard, play hard and from time to time they let me spoil them…. they make me proud.

On Saturday, I am fixing a South African ‘Welcome Home & Happy ‘SC Graduation’ Celebration… a little respite from Jenny Craig… a ‘planned’ excursion into gastronomical delights! Oh yes,  Kristin  gets the same treatment when she comes home in December: Dad’s pancakes, Turducken, barbecued ribs & specialty baked beans.  They tell me, these are the ‘smells and sounds of home that they love.

I believe that parents are the ‘pit crew’ for the ‘next …  greatest generation.’ As I have often said to young people,” if you are standing on the podium having a gold medal put around your neck… then someone was successful in seeing that you got your chance… but it was your hard work that got you there.”

Fight On!

Roger Freberg

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Trojan Football is Coming! Step 1 — get tickets!

worth their weight in gold!

Step 1: Get the tickets!

For those who know and care… the time is arriving when your long awaited Southern California Trojan Season Tickets will arrive! This happened to me today!

Step 2: WHO gets to go?

This is always a challenge. Karen has graduated from USC and is now heading for her Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee , so she’s not in consideration. Kristin will probably attend one of the games, my guess will be the USC-UCLA game — which should be a tale of revenge and city bragging rights.

Left over tickets? heh heh, silly bruins.

Step 3: Fight on! Let the season begin!

Roger Freberg

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Fairview… Fair Price! Pinotage

Fairview Fair Price! PinotageSometimes its nice to have a simple bottle of red wine… Fairview is an old South African vineyard that is now operated by the folks whose  Goats do Roam. (hint: click on the GDR site and search “Fairview”)

Anyway, the Fairview brand is: 

 “a wine of quality that will please both palate and pocket.” 

Unfortunately, you can buy from their site if you live in South Africa, but — fortunately –there are plenty of folks you can buy from that ship in the USA… including  BEVMO  (on sale right now!)and  Southern Wine.

Another interesting experience was presented to me by my daughter on her return from South Africa… a delightful creamy liquor entitled “Amarula Cream”. Now I do remember the story that my wife told me about Amarula berries from her research days at UCLA (1970’s)… they were one of the few things that got Elephants drunk!

So,  Karen searched the Amarula site , as in many South African wine and drink sites found some wonderful recipes. In particular, she found a carrot cake recipe that is very similar to one we all are very fond of… but with Amarula Cream. So we are adapting our recipe to accommodate… we’ll let you know how it goes!

Why does everything taste so much better when you are on a diet?

Roger Freberg

PS. I am now down over 80lbs on Jenny Craig! Amazing!