Letter Jacket Fashion Show

It wouldn't be the holidays without the letter jacket fashion show. Also known as the "big man in a little coat" show. Rock on Redskin posse!

Trail Head

Dear Santa, thanks for letting me mountain bike today; and also the fishing net!

Hickory Glen - 12/26

Dear Santa,

It appears you have been reading my letters as you finally gave a good talking to at that bit...(ha) Mother Nature and gave us a "throw back the calendar" day today that allowed me to dust off the mountain bike for a cruise. Finally some payback for that June evening on Skegemog with 40 mph winds while jigging for bass in the Red Rocket! And lastly, the fishing net will come in handy next year on the Badwater bass circuit. Until next year, all the best Santa.

Trail Head

2011 MHS Alumni Hoop Game - oh, the pain!!!

Does anybody out there know a good chiropractor? My mind was ready for the challenge my 44 year old body was going to endure today at the annual alumni scrimmage versus the varsity team; however, my body had other ideas. I had visions of swatting shots away left and right while driving the lane with a look away pass for two. It was a nice dream. You would think a running clock for five minutes (my group played a total of four sets) would go pretty fast but that initial lung grab was not pretty. I can feel the discs in my back slowly churning as I type this (ha). 

The Dream Team of Phil (class of '76), Dan (class of '80), Rick (class of '83) and myself (class of '85) were given honors to play first today. Kind of like when Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead tee off first at Augusta. A little respect for the elders and don't swat their shots into the stands too much. We gave the youngsters all that they could handle but in the end, their ability to chuck better than us, and obviously getting up and down the court were more than we could handle. I am happy to report I poured in four with one air ball to my stat sheet. My mind had me skying for rebounds; however, the film will unfortunately show no vertical. A fun time it was though. It will be worth it for having to walk like Fred Sanford for a couple of days.

Trail Head

Dream Team

had this pose quite a bit

Chip X-mas Party - 4 Yamamoto lures, 3 fifths of Beam, 2 pints of Jack, and a blow up doll in silk underwear...

Friends gathered Saturday evening at the Gus residence for laughs, beverages, eats, more beverages, gifts, more laughs, more beverages, and yes, more laughs. And yes, we were being responsible as most of us stayed local or had a DD. With that, bring on the jello shots! Thumbs up to Katie for that staple at the annual gathering. With the booze and lure theme that seems to have taken over the dude side of the gift exchange (never any complaints on either), there wasn't any shortage of Beam or pink Yamamoto lures in the house. There was a partial re-gift by yours truly as Jim D. received the blow up doll that Al gave me a few years back. I was cleaning my house a couple weeks ago and that thing was crammed in a closet (no, I did not use the doll!). I'm not really sure who gave the doll to Al but it makes for some good giggles.

The weekend wasn't over for Doke and I after the Saturday celebration was complete. There was one more Lion game in our ticket package so slowly, the train got moving on Sunday morning towards Ford Field. After the Lions got up 21-0 in the first quarter, I was ready to sit back in my seat and enjoy an ass whooping. But, no!!! Our all-world defensive line wasn't looking so all-world. The Vikings should have won that one but we'll take the W. There definitely wasn't a shortage of Viking fans in the house as I saw a skinny Favre, a fat Favre, a female Favre, and a baby Favre. A passionate fan base they are. 

A happy holiday to all.

Trail Head

hey, we aren't a curse after all!

Well, it wasn't pretty but as has been the case this season, the Lions came back in the second half and put the lid on the victory. That is good for the won-loss column but bad for my peak age limit. The tailgate area was at a secret location just north of the RenCen. No neighbors to the left and no neighbors to the right; crazy. Forward down the field!

Trail Head 

sweet spiral - look close

most buzz - how did she get in?

Way Back Machine - damn I'm lucky to stumble upon these friends

I thanked my parents a couple weeks back for moving to our house off of Hickory Ridge Rd. before my 5th grade year. I can't imagine what my life would have been like had I been a Lakeland Eagle as I lived in that district for a bit. I have had many-o-nights waking up in a cold sweat on that visual and it's never pretty. I would probably have some Flock of Seagull haircut while driving a Fiero with white Miami Vice pants. I told you it wasn't pretty. But thankfully, things turned out for the best. With that, I give you the way back machine's tribute to my friends.

Trail Head

1998? (OSU-Toledo)

rare Joe M. sighting

Mark is saying Hi

my mullet years (late 80's)

Al and the mayor of Ontonagon

pump specialist making a sale

band practicing where Doke's living room now resides

working the Filobi