Top 10 things I would rather be doing...

Okay, so this post is basically an excuse to bump that creepy picture of a bald John Dillinger off the top of my blog so that Robocarp will stop bugging me about it.

Really.

I am getting to the time of year when, quite honestly, things are more hectic than normal. I mean, here is a great example: Memorial day weekend is coming up and there are some plans to go camping with some friends Sunday night. I talked about this with the guys, mentioned it briefly to my son and father in law, so you would think that I told my wife of these plans as well, right?

Wrong. She heard about OUR plans (that is, OUR meaning MINE) from dear old dad before she heard them from me (boy am I in trouble...)

Anyways, that's what I'm talkin' about.

So here it is, my lame excuse as to why I haven't been blogging lately, the Top Ten Things I Would Rather Be Doing Besides Blogging.

10. Mowing the yard.
I can't really call it a lawn as there is more quack grass and creeping charlie than actual grass. Me wife has been mowing the front and leaving me the back, which is just fine, but I have been informed that our yard is sporting a mullet - short in front, long in back. Got to take care of that.

9. Fix the lawn mower.
Rachel said it wouldn't start after she finished the front yard... Got to take care of that.

8. Eight?...
I forget what eight was for...

7. Get over this cold.
Spring colds are the worst. You feel all crappy and it always seems like you get sick on the nicest day of the season, but you're too puke-ee, achy, barf-y, wheezy to enjoy it.

6. Get a new job.
Technically, this one is already finished. Besides the time that it took to prepare an application and do the interview, once you get that new position, there is the time that it takes to...

5. Move all your stuff out of your old job.
Where do I even begin? I am really not looking forward to this. One big part o moving is organizing, so that when you get to your next place, you are able to set up within a year of your hire date. Still, despite the amount of work that goes into this, there is something oddly satisfying about organizing... it's the Rain Man in me trying to get out.

4. Clean the garage.
This is the manly way I like to indulge my inner Rain Man. Seriously, a man's home is his castle, but the garage is his sanctuary. That poor old neglected garage... Oh, and the Man Room (see previous post), oh yes, I remember it fondly...

3. Finish prepping the boat for her maiden voyage of the year.
It's almost there, just need to replace a gasket or two on the gas can and then she should be ready to go.

2. Fish.
No explanation needed.

1. Study.
If you were at the School of Ministry retreat this spring, you know EXACTLY what I mean.

Separated at Birth?

You get a prize if you figure out who I'm poking fun of with this photo...

Here's a hint.

Blood, Sweat and Beards

Some of you out there may be wondering why, on April 10th, is it snowing here in the great upper mid-west...

...but it is no secret to me.

This is the season for Blood, Sweat and Beards. That's right, it's time for the Stanley Cup Playoff's.

I have been a hockey fan since my dad took me to watch my first prep hockey game in Madison, WI, my home town. He was an art teacher for the district and used to work as a crowd control supervisor for some extra spending cash, and I would get in free to the arena to watch the action both on and off the ice with him. The guys in the score box were his teacher friends who we hunted and fished with, and once in a while, I would get to push the horn button at the end of the period. Too cool!

There really is nothing that I dislike about this sport. The checking, ice flying off skates, a fast game, the blasting goal horn and jumping up and down so much at the score that you squeeze the ketchup and mustard from your 50 cent hot dog through the fingers in your fist... good times.

As part of the pursuit of Lord Stanley's Cup, playoff hockey players keep the tradition of growing their "playoff beards". This year, one of the Minnesota Wild's players, Brent Burns, is keeping a blog to document the development of his scrub growth. Brent Burns' Beard Blog is complete with pictures and should be a good light read for anyone who appreciates facial hair.

Speaking of facial hair, check out that Red Fury...

Happy Easter!

After I became a Christian and started to actually care about how many distractions have found their way into and compete with the meaning of Easter and Christmas, I thought this picture would, as they say, speak 1000 words.

Enjoy, and have a blessed Easter!

...Git That Bunny!...That's a gooood gurrrl!

Here comes the snow again...BRING IT ON!

The date: April 3rd.
Th recent weather forcast: 2 to 4 inches of snow.
My response: Let it come....




I was commenting on another blogger who is feeling guilty for jinx-ing our 81 degree spring weather. He felt that by rolling out the Harley and working on the boat, he doomed us to an inevitable turn for the worse.

On the contrary! Stud Taerrapin's actions were not folly or misguided. No! They were the actions we must all take to stand against Old Man Winter in order to usher in the dawning of a new season. Below are my words of encouragement and edification, that I now share with you as well:

Take heart and be of good courage! There comes a time each spring in the life of every good Upper - Mid - Westerner (Wisconsinite in my case) where we must stand tall in our flip flops, wearing our camo cargo shorts and "Spring Break - 1987!" t shirt and say in defiance, "I will not go quietly into the night!"

We must put away our winter parka's, sorel boots and leather chopper mits and continue forward with expectant hope that Short's Weather has begun! Indeed, the first day of spring is not March 21st, but rather December 21st, the day of equinox, when daylight again begins to prevail over darkness.

Roll out your Harley's, flip your boats and fire up the outboard! Dust off your fishing poles and change the oil in your lawnmower while drinking a beer with the garage door open!
SPRING IS HERE!

...glad I was too lazy to store away the snowblower just yet, though.

File all complaints HERE...

Just a quick post to celebrate the return of one of my favorite bloggers...

Could it be? Yes, it's another vision of what Heaven will be like...

Actually, this is not heaven, it's just Spring Break in the North Woods!




(Thanks to the DirtKing for foorwarding this on to me!)

Really, it is my spring break this week, and so I am going to wisk my dear wife away for a few days. We are heading north to Hayward and Duluth to use some gift certificates for hotel rooms that we have saved for just such an ocassion. I am really looking forward to it! There will be lots to do, but the best part is to just be able to be spending time alone with my wife!

The weather report says that it will sure feel like spring with the mercury rising into the 50's by Tuesday. Who knows, maybe we will see some guys out fishing like the above photo...

Oh, and remember, if you are in Heaven and see a couple guys out ice fishing shirtless, rest assured, the one that looks like Robert Redford will be me!