Wiffle Ball!

OK, I Know...
No one has mentioned the wiffle ball game that is supposed to be Oct 5th! It might be canceled or rescheduled but I would like to do something fun this weekend! I worked 12 straight days, had one day off and now I am on another long streak and have the pager for 4 or the next 5 weeks! Deer season is just around the corner and bird hunting starts tomorrow! I should get up early and go duck hunting tomorrow morning! You know what? I think I will ! I have been sick ever since I left for Florida and I haven't slept all that well this week either! I really need to work out tonight so I am off to throw down a work out and take a shower and then settle in to watch some TV! Sean and I have plans to go bird hunting tomorrow after work and I am sure he hasn't forgot! Well, off to go do something! Night

Sunday

What Are Politics Good For?
Well, in Colleen and I's case, fighting! I don't think we agree on a single thing regarding politics! We have the same views on some things but see them totally differently! In her mind, I am total idiot because the most important view I see in politics is the Second Amendment! Yes- the economy sucks and that is important but I really don't think either candidate for the president is going to solve that in four years! Taxes are also important and I understand enough about business to see the $700 billion bail out is and know what that means! I read an article the other day that says the bail out will cost everyone in America $10,000! Why do I base my vote on one thing? I don't think I can answer that one! I think it has to do with my belief that the ONE thing that scares me more than anything in this world is not being able to protect my family if someone breaks into my house and wants to harm my wife or children! I own a lot of guns! They are all used for legal hunting! I guess you could say the NRA has done a good job of scaring me into believing that certain people are a real threat to me owning firearms! My other biggest fear is the government showing up at my door some day with a list of guns that I legally own telling me to turn them over! Sorry- that isn't happening! THAT is why I do not like or trust liberal democrats! I have seen them pass bans on guns that they characterize as assault weapons when they are not! I have seen them confuse people because people don't know as much about guns as I do! That scares me!

Another Busy Friday

Today Was Crazy...
At work! Fridays usually are bad- because I am all alone and it is busy! Today was crazy busy! It turned into one of those days where everything I touched went sour, Al went to Auburn for the day and Todd was around but not inside much! Couple that with Ty getting fired yesterday and it made for a pretty crappy day! I was some happy to FINALLY punch out around six and head home! I am hoping for a much quieter Saturday tomorrow and some much needed catch up time! I hate being away from work for long periods because everything just piles up and is waiting for me when I come back! Hopefully, I will have help soon and things can get back to normal! I am glad I am home since I miss my wife and kids when I am gone! We have some projects planned for Sunday even though the weather looks like it will be crappy. We need to get our house puppified and ready for my new dog next Friday. Colleen is going to New Hampshire tomorrow to close out her Nana's things and the Vikings play at 1 PM on Sunday! I think I need to get my NFL radio thingy so I can at least listen to the games on line when they aren't on TV! I have been pretty lucky so far- I got to watch all of the first three games and that has ruled. Well, I am off to surf the web for awhile and spend some time with my wife before she goes to bed and leaves tomorrow morning! Night

I'm BACKKKKK!!!!

From Florida That Is!
I am sure everyone is riveted to know how my EXCITING AND FUN trip went so I won't tease! We flew out WAY too early on Sunday morning! Uneventful flights and we get in Florida at 1230 PM and the Vikings play at 1! I am panicking because I do NOT miss Viking's games! Period! We get to the hotel and we check in and I run my stuff up to my room and ask a lady if they have a sports bar in the hotel! She says yes and tells where it is so I run over, find the bar and ask the bartender where the Vikings game is and she sends me upstairs where a couple are watching the game and four or five guys in another table watching it. I get in there and it is 3-0 Carolina and they are driving for another score! They score and go up 10-0 and I notice the guy in front of me isn't happy about that! We keep watching and the Vikings tie the game up by halftime and I am being my normal self and watching the game! The guy finally turns around and asks me if I am a Vikings fan and I point to my shirt and he starts laughing! He is actually from Minnesota and we start talking and watching the game together! It was awesome! The Vikings came back and won behind a solid defense and enough offense and I had a BLAST! The bar is set up so you can watch like five games at once, I was getting PAID to watch the Vikings win, with OTHER Vikings fans! Probably the highlight of the trip for me! Shane wouldn't be caught dead in a sports bar which made it somewhat of a haven and I have NEVER watched a game with Vikings fans! The rest of the trip was boring classes that no one who reads this would care about, layovers and delayed flights that totally piss me off and stupid shit people wouldn't give a squirt of piss about! I did meet some cool people from Texas and we ate some good food and drank some beer while listening to a concert they put on for us! The food was pretty good- I thought it was better in Charlotte and the classes were not enough hands on in my opinion! I did learn enough to warrant the trip and I get to implement the stuff I learned tomorrow- a short six hours from now! Well, I need to get some sleep so I am off to bed! Night

Jessi

OK, So Tonight, Jessi Gets Her Turn!
Where do you start when she is the first person I ever fell in love with INSTANTLY? She was born at 11:30 PM on October 25th after a very hard and LONG labor on my poor wife! When she came out, her cord was covering her privates and we never found out whether we were having a boy or a girl so I had to wait a few more seconds until the doctor said, "it is a girl!" They cleaned her up, I got to cut the cord, they wrapped her in a blanket and handed her to me! I looked at her and was instantly in love and in AWE! I couldn't believe that I made something so perfect! It was the same thing with Sean but the first one! There is just something about becoming a Dad for the first time! The whole day, I will NEVER forget it! OK, enough about the day she first came to us! She is an incredibly bright yound lady! She is smart and popular and has lots of friends! She has fashion taste I only wish I had! She is my daughter and I am her father! I can't say that I am the best guy in the world to have a teenage daughter but I will manage when the time comes! I have some tricks in my bag and I have grown over the years a look to give when some teenage boy comes over to see her or pick her up! I know for a fact that I WILL leave an impression on them! If the thought of a pissed of me is what it takes, then that is what I will deliver! She is a wonderful cook! She can just whip something up with virtually no planning and going by memory and NAIL a recipe! I am not much of a girly man so I don't think her and I connect these days like we used to when she went hunting and fishing with me! I know what boys like to do because I have been a little boy for 39 years! I don't keep it secret that I work my ass off when I have to but I LIVE life whenever I can! I think that Jessi is actually more like me than Sean is! She is smart and picks things up instantly! She is patient and doesn't need to study very hard to get really good grades! She is very similar to me in a lot of ways! the things that she likes- she is very passionate about and she gives herself to the things she likes! She is a wonderful daughter and I think I will keep her! Some day, hopefully years and years from now, I will walk her down the aisle and give her away! I will get to see her graduate high school and college hopefully before that happens! Well, off to pack a little for my trip! I leave Sunday for Orlando so I will blog about my trip when I get back! Night!

New Nemesis!

Couple of Mallard...
Pictures to get me PUMPED up for October 1! I got pictures of the puppies from Joey today and I need to call tomorrow and see if they have any broen females left! I don't see what is wrong with a black one! They are cute, too! I leave for Orlando Sunday and I can't wait! NOT! I am not looking forward to it and what will be waiting on my desk when I come back! Work was uneventful today but busy as heck! The Vikings benched their QB today and I don't know if that is good or bad! I guess my opinion is he couldn't be any worse than Jackson and they were close to winning both games! I guess Sunday will tell the story! We fly into Orlando at 12:30 PM and the Vikings play at 1 PM so I have to find a bar that has the game on so I can watch it! I am thinking Shane will probably not be up for that! Well, it is almost 9 PM and I haven't slept that great this week so I am off to check a few more things online and go to bed! Night

Goose Hunting

OK, I Had a Monday Off From...
Work, so I decided to get some steel shot and a duck stamp and take advantage of the extended season on Canadian geese! I got up at 5 AM, got all ready and went out back with Dad at 530 AM. So, we didn't see any geese but we did see six turkeys and a couple of partridge. Then we went for a ride and still didn't see any geese but I talked him into driving down a road close to my house and checking out a huge swamp that Colleen had told me about! Well, that place was LOADED with ducks! There were mallards everywhere and I saw a couple of wood ducks and some black ducks, too! Well, Dad dropped me off, I went home and took a nap then went back to the spot colleen had told me about! I could TOTALLY get into duck hunting! There is all kinds of calls and trinkets and decoys! You get to have a dog to go get your ducks and I have an absolute duck haven just down the road! I am off to Cabela's to see what kind of money I am talking about before October 1 when ducks open! I have to say I know next to nothing about duck hunting but I learned turkey pretty good on the fly so I am going to dive head first into duck hunting! I can't wait to get a retriever and start training him or her to go get ducks! It will be nice to have a hunting companion to hunt with until Sean is old enough to tag along with me! Colleen seems to be OK with everything so far so I am off to do some research on decoys and calls! Later

Ok- I Will Play, Too

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison- of course!
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding-I prefer my pudding caucasian
7. Cheese fondue - yes
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich - yummy!
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart - yummy
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle- have tried- didn't like
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes - had dandelion wine
19. Steamed pork buns- I am a boob man! No buns for me!
20. Pistachio ice cream- Love it
21. Heirloom tomatoes- yes- my grandfather grew them
22. Fresh wild berries- yes
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans - yes
25. Brawn, or head cheese (Ew!)- yes- my grandfather used to make it
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters - yes
29. Baklava -yes
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl - clam chowder, yes
33. Salted lassi - I bet Timmy was pissed when they killed her and salted her!
34. Sauerkraut - Heck Yeah!
35. Root beer float - No Way- Ever! Oh wait, of course!
36. Cognac with a fat cigar - With Monica Lewinski?
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O - Yes
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail- Never eaten one but have used oxtail to tie flies
41. Curried goat
42. Whole Insects - You don't fish in Maine and NOT eat some blackflies or mosquitos! Not by choice!
43. Phaalis - UMMMM NO!
44. Goat’s milk - Have tried it- very bitter and thin!
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more - No but I sure would like to!
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut - They are GOOOOOD
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal - Heck yeah!
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV - Yes- in Canada!
59. Poutine - What self respecting man wouldn't go down on his woman? LOL
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores - Oh Yesssss
62. Sweetbreads - Well yeah!
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs - YES- many, many moons ago! Not THAT bad!
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake - Heck Yeah!
68. Haggis - Yes- don't like it!
69. Fried plantain - Isn't that a Crabby Patty? Aren't they kind of small?
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette - I have managed to avoid these STD's!
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill - I think we ALL know the answer!
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie - Oh yeah!
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong - Is this a type of lap dance?
80. Bellini - no, but my Dad has one of their shotguns
81. Tom yum - NO- I am NOT eating Tom! This is a sick poll!
82. Eggs Benedict - Sorry, Honey but YES! I had them in Florida!
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. - No but bought tires there
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare - YES
87. Goulash
88. Flowers - Does clover count?
89. Horse - YES- does NOT taste good!
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam - I live in Maine and am a red neck! What do you think?
92. Soft shell crab - yes
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano - Isn't it 'No Problemo'?
96. Bagel and lox - Oh yeah! Delish!
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

I am like Nicole in that I will try just about anything once! I do not have a refined pallet or anything- I just like different foods!

OK, Maybe Not

My Big Plans for...
A BBQ and wiffle ball game came to a halt! Jerry and Zack are sick and everyone else was worried about rain! Oh well, maybe we can do it another weekend! I have a duck stamp in my wallet, my Dad has a duck stamp in his wallet and our plans are to shoot some geese on Monday! I need to run to Bangor tomorrow and buy a box of shells and then get all my camo ready for some hunting on Monday! I have Monday off because I fly to Orlando for a computer conference next Sunday and I was told I can't work seven days! I am really not looking forward to Orlando! I don't like being out of work and I don't like being away from my family! Oh well, I need to do it because my boss is counting on me to come through and go so I will go, of course! My brother wants me to go over to his house tomorrow and watch football! I have some stuff to do in the morning and then we will see what the day holds! The Vikings play the Colts at 1 PM on national TV and he wants me to come out and watch it with him! We will see what happens but I will probably go! Well, I am off to take a shower and put on some PJ's and get ready for the night! Later

Saturday- BBQ and Wiffleball

OK, Saturday I am Getting Out of Work at 3PM
Because I want everyone to come over here and play wiffleball, have a BBQ and drink a few! Ingrid, ,you are more than welcome to come! Kristie- you and Tim are welcome and of course, Karen, too! See you all Saturday!

OK- I Saw This...

And Had To Blog!
He is such a HAM! I love the kid to death and he absolutely fills voids in my life that I never knew where there! Don't get me wrong- I absolutely am astonished by my very bright and witty daughter and I love my wife like no other! There is something about a Dad and son! He is my BOY! We think alike, act alike and like the same things! When I see or get something cool, I can't wait to show him or tell him! I know he is the same way with me! He always greets me at the car or at the door with some snake, frog, spider, bug or creature he has caught, found or trapped! He is a BOY! There is ZERO doubt about it! He cracks me up every day with some off the wall, crazy scheme or by telling me, "Dad, when I am big, I am going to play pro football, pro baseball and be in the army!" He is an absolute original! I have never met anyone like him- and can't really say that I ever will! He is fearless! As in he has no fear! He told me he wanted me to buy him a dirt bike so he can jump the house! At FIVE! He says stuff like, "You know, I am big enough for my own gun now! You should talk Mom into letting you buy me a gun so we can shoot!" When he turns ten, he is in for some stuff he can't even imagine! He will go hunting with me and we will be sitting somewhere and it will more than likely be a turkey hunt! He will start getting bored because he isn't the most patient boy I have ever met! Then, out of nowhere, a turkey will come in or gobble and he will get the look and we might get the bird or we more than likely won't! He will get mad, realize that it all was pretty cool and be hooked for life like his old man! Then, deer season will come and we will be sitting in a spot and a deer will FINALLY show up and he will have a look of shock and disbelief and probably miss the deer and be hooked on that! I can't wait until he really catches a good fish! Until I can take him to a spot in a canoe, fish with him and hear him hook a six or seven pound bass! He will lose the first few and then be absolutely obsessed with fishing- like his Dad! Maybe he was born to be my son! Half of his DNA is mine! Kind fo figures we would like the same things! Some day, he will come in the den, tell me the Vikings are on at 1 PM and sit down to watch the game with me! I like having a son! I like having a daughter! Maybe tomorrow, I will blog about Jessi and all the things that make her SO cool! Night

I Hear You

Kristie!
I had been looking forward to last night for four months! The Vikings had done a lot of new stuff last year to improve their passing game, their defense and even their special teams! Green Bay on Monday night, minus Favre in Aaron Rodger's rookie game! AD ready to go! Tavarus Jackson with a little more experience! What happened? The Vikings stunk up the joint! They lost 24-19 in a game that wasn't that close! Every time the Vikings drove down the field, they kicked a field goal. Every time GB drove down, tehy got TD's! I know how Kristie feels losing Brady for the year! He is the best in the league and the Vikings have absolutely nothing even close to him! We lost on national TV in a game they had been thinking about for 4 months with enough hype as you will ever get! The Vikings defense got ZERO pass rush, the defense gave up a 57 yard run when they needed to get the ball back, the offense three an INT with the game on the line! I know- it is ONE game but to think that they have a shot to win the Super Bowl with such a subpar QB- I can't see it! My poor Vikings are like Jerry- bending over and taking it from behind! LOL

This Picture Is Freaky!

Looks Like I am a Ghost!
Maybe I just move THAT fast! LOL

National Holiday!

Today Is One of My...
National holidays! It is up there with deer season on the Holiday Scale! I knew the NFL started on Thursday but today is the real first day! Games from 1 PM to 11 PM tonight! I need to get my stuff done this morning so I can sit my butt in front of the TV, text message all my football brethren, drink a few beers, eat some pizza and turn into a zombie! OK, the Vikings don't play until 7 PM on Monday but I LIKE football! Vikings-Packers Monday night should be fun! Last night on call absolutely sucked! I got woke up at 11, 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6! I got like ZERO sleep for the night! Today looks like the day to finish the lawn! Everything is already wet so I shouldn't have to water it for a little bit and I need to get some basement crap done and go to the dump! I would say it rained pretty hard last night! The pump for the basement has been running since I woke up and it never runs anymore since we had the land leveled! Well, it is almost 8 AM and all I have done so far is get a load of laundry going! Off to be productive before I become a zombie! If you like today, enjoy the football! I think the Vikings are going to be pretty darn good this year and I am looking forward their defense and running game! Later

Games. BBQ and a Day Off

Last Night...
Nicole, Jerry and Julie came over for some games! It was interesting and pretty fun! I am glad Jerry likes his new job! Then, I went to bed- with no calls whatsoever and got up at 530 AM and went to work! Today at work was pretty uneventful! I then ran to Shop 'N Save, got Colleen a rib eye steak and Sean and a nice, fat sirloin, asparagus and baking potatoes and sour cream! I hurried home, cranked up the grill, got the potatoes cleaned and on the grill, made Colleen's onion dip and got the asparagus and steak ready to cook! I let the taters cook for awhile then got the steak going, then grilled the asparagus and served supper! It came out VERY good! The meat was good, the potato was very good and the asparagus was excellent! I love Colleen's fresh chives in sour cream! It adds a total zip to it! Now, I am chilling out, blogging for a minute before I go throw down a quick work out and take a shower! No big plans tonight- probably a nice, quiet night and then a busy day tomorrow of cleaning the basement and going to the dump- 800 times! LOL. Well, off to work out and take a shower! Night

Friday Night, Three Days Off

Jerry and Julie Came Over...
Friday night while Colleen and Nicole were in NH and we took a few picture! We had a great time as usual although we do seem to miss Colleen and Nicole since they both seem to prepare much better than I do! Camp was really fun the first day! We fished and got stuff set up and then the wind came up and we spent the last day and a half stuck in camp with Yahtzee and no TV! I am back home and have got the porch cleaned off and my next mission is to get some laundry going, fold up the tent and clean up some trash outside! Both Colleen's and Nicole's tattoos look really good! I really want to get my new one now! Well, off to go get some more stuff done! Later