UPDATE

After trying to redo the blog, I have run out of time to mess with it the last week....Stand by for a new them next week.....Not much until then...



Doctor Jitters

Grandpa Joe and His Travelling Guitar!

I would ne'r grow tired of sittin' by a fire with a guitar bein' strummed in my ear!

TRASHY BOMBFIRE!

Why suffer with the boyscout way when you can have instant fire?????????

Fish On!!!!!!!!!!

Took three of the princesses today......What did we catch? MEMORIES!!!

Give it Your Best

Sometimes, your best just isn't good enough!

Another Great Song!

I love the passion between a man and a woman! Makes life worthwhile.....Hold the one you love....Let them feel it!

Missin Her

Rocket Man!

Yes almostgunlakers fans, its HELL WEEK again....
But I am looking at it differently this week....Although its 5 work days totalling 60 hours and screwed up sleep, I am fortunate to have a job. I see so many around struggling and am pausing today to be thankful.

It is easy to look around and see the price of gas, struggling Michigan economy, and whatever may be going on in your life and begin to feel as though the ship is going down. (here is an unlucky but fortunate family in Ludington a couple of days ago!)

HERE IS THE STORY!




But we all must realize something today, WE ARE ALIVE AND HEALTHY! Even as I sit and wait for the mushrooms to begin popping, I realize that there are large portions of my life where I am in control and don't have to wait for the perfect time or environment to make things happen! I am responsible for the path my life takes and I am getting on it!

My goal which I will continue to strive for is to make the best of this life, smile each day, and realize what things don't matter and shouldn't make me worry or occupy my time! The ROCKET POWERED LINCOLN MAN gave me some inspiration today!

I challenge each of you to sit down and figure out once again what it is you want to accomplish in life and GO FOR IT!

Today is a big meeting at the job for a change of position. Even though I wonder if it will happen, I have thrust those doubts aside and will go in today and GIVE IT MY BEST! I GOT EVERYTHING ALL SHINED UP TODAY AND AM TAKING THIS FULL ON!

I'm also looking forward to a fishing trip with the boys in 12 days! A much needed GETAWAY!

Hang in there this week, and shoot for you goals! (even if it means building a ROCKET LINCOLN!)

Great Movie!

So, last night while trying to stay up and flip my body over for the nightwatch schedule of this week, I stumbled along a movie, "The Truman Show". WOW! This was a real sleeper. Here is the trailer (the premise of it being that the world the guy lives in is all fake except for him, the rest are all actors and the whole world is watching him on t.v. unbeknownst to him! Even the city is fake!)

Country State Of Mind

Perhaps it is because I grew up with a deep appreciation for the outdoors that spawned this drive I have inside of me. I'm talking about LIVING COUNTRY! It is no mistake that the things that really get me going are old pickup trucks, the smell of manure, and good ol' country music!

The GOAT WHISPERER

Well, here are the new baby goats at my sister's farm!

(PHIL AND IZZIE-named after Grandpa/Grandma TEAM T)

Man I would love to have a couple of these running around...

And here is Parisienne Farmgirl, a fellow blogger, who visited my sister. Click on her name for a blog about all things French!

And a few pics of my sister's farm...

Do You Know the MUSHROOM MAN?

Each year at this time, a magical thing happens! The MUSHROOM MAN COMES OUT! HERE WE GO A MUSHROOMING! Enjoy the MOREL MUSHROOMING FIGHT SONG!

What is MUSHROOMING you might ask? Well, it is the annual journey I love and enjoy to pursue the coveted MOREL MUSHROOM! Notice the full camo outfit, black boots, glasses, and HOT WIZARD OF OZ SPEED INSERTION BIKE! I TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY!

Training for insertion is another key to make sure the exit from the drop vehicle is flawless. This training exercise shows the precision that one must have to minimize exposure. You have to understand that Morel mushrooms are a hot commodity that grow in the same areas each year and if your "secret spot" gets out, IT'S ALL OVER! The picture below of the man in the boat tells you how far I had infiltrated behind enemy lines!

It is also so crucial to speak to my informants to see what the word in the bush is....Here are a couple who's name has been shielded to protect their identity!

Today we take you live to the actual first MUSHROOM MAN drop of the year! Standby! Standby! Prepare to drop!

Take a journey with me LIVE to the FIRST TEAM T OUTDOORS MOREL MUSHROOM OF THE YEAR!
Here is the second one I found! If we could just hold some warmer temperatures at night, these things are going to explode!

New Residents

We were surprised today while sitting outside hashing some things out to see some new folks move in here at TEAM T. They apparently spent the night in the yard and for some reason today wouldn't leave. Wonder if they want to take over the place and make the payment?

So we decided to feed em. I often wonder if God sends little things like this to drop into our life and let us know he is in control and cares for us. It was so cool to see these beautiful creatures waddling around in the yard.

We will see how long they hang around! They ate lots of bread and drank out of the puddles in the driveway and seem to be content sleeping in the freshly mowed grass. Think I could catch one? I have this desire to hold them and wonder how they would respond?

In Pursuit of Hot Wheels!

So today, after a seeing a HIGH SPEED HOT WHEELS PASS, I grabbed the video cam and went mobile to capture this scene! I found out from TEAM T WIFE that Hotwheels also has a custom motorcycle! Look at these two lovebirds! Kid Rock in the background seemed fitting since the HOTWHEELS GUY looks like KID ROCK!

M's First Fish! A TARPON!

Here is M's first shark!

Passing along the fishing monster disease I have! After listening to the eulogy at my Grandpa T's funeral yesterday, I realized that I have to kick it in gear with passing along the enjoyment of the outdoors (amongst other things) to my kids....The girls had a blast!

Here is L's fishy! A nice Gill!

Funeral and Fishing With My Brother

Well, here is the Fish Lake channel in Barry County in ORANGEVILLE! A REAL HOT CLASSY PLACE!

Here is some very shallow fishing! The water was about 2 inches deep!

I must tell you that today was SO RELAXING! ALMOST FELT LIKE A GETAWAY! It is amazing how much 15 seconds of peace can rejuvenate your soul!

Kitchen Sink Surprise and Bonfires!!

You never know what you are gonna find in your KITCHEN SINK!

My mind gets going when the flames start lapping around the logs! MAYBE it is the fire that inspires me to figure out what I really want out of life? MAYBE

Forever Peace

Today, my Grandfather made the journey! Phillip T softly fell into a coma this morning with his children by his side and left his body to be at the feet of Jesus! Imagine the feeling of this embrace!

Can you imagine being in the Glory of God today? All suffering, worry, pain GONE? He is experiencing that right now.....

I can only imagine his son, parents, and beloved waiting on the shores of Heaven cheering loudly as he arrived.....

Imagine being whisked away through the clouds free of your earthly body and its limitations! That is what happened for him today all because he acknowledged that Jesus died for sins and rose again!....

Montage of Awesomeness!

Here are some ol' favorites of mine....







If you have never heard my buddy Trailer sing this one, you haven't lived!

Great Song!

FISH UPDATE!

The Best Part of Fishing! Eating Them!

SLOW RIDE

SLIDE OVER BABY, HERE BY MY SIDE, I WANNA TAKE YOU ON A SLOW RIDE.

YOUR HISTORY SHOWS ON YOUR FACE, YEAH YOU'VE BEEN HURT, YOU'VE BEEN BETRAYED.........
When life turns up the heat, I GO FISHING! Tonight is going to be a trolling escapade with my brother and Joel out on ol' Gun Lake! We are taking out the ol' Alumacraft and going for some of those big ol' Gun Lake Hogger Walleyes! Stand by for updates!





How about a slow ride (1.5mph trolling speed) for 6 hours with some ice cold beer and conversation waiting for those lines to peel off????





I'm one of those people that wake up and step out of bed and think "TODAY IS A GOOD DAY!" And today is no different! Sometimes, waiting is hard to do but all you have as a choice! HERE IS TO THE FUTURE!

Potlicking Bastards

Once again the mongoloid inefficient machine we call "big brother" rolls out another beautiful drooling turd performance!

Here's your stimulus check! Here's our media release! Just look at the last two of your social security number and your money will be direct deposited soon! Count on it!

OH WAIT! WE ARE RETARDED! IF you use H/R Block, Turbo Tax, or any process where filing fees are taken out, that will delay it by a couple of months....

If filing or preparation fees were deducted from your 2007 Refund or you received a rapid refund, you will be receiving a check instead of a direct deposit. Please see the Paper Check section of the Payment Schedule.

I almost drove the PRIMETIME van to Washington today to park her in the park fountain. I shouldn't be surprised however, as I have seen Big Brother. Performances like this give you a glimpse as to what he looks like. Imagine for me a small writhing creature tied into a chair with ripped linen and bedsheets. His head barely propped up against the chair by the stretched harnesses. The armrests, floor, and cushions covered in drool. This my friend, is BIG BROTHER!

Is it any surprise? NO! If you have ever been on a committee with more than one person you realize how hard it is to get things done. Imagine this many people trying to accomplish something!

Celebration Day

My Son

This is my attack dog!

Play Ball and The Fleecing Of America!

I must be honest with you, I hate people that want to show me 486,672 pictures of their kids and especially when they think I am as excited about them as they are....I wouldn't expect you to care about my kids either. I don't want to be a soccer dad. I am however very proud of Jitters Jr and her first game today.(as well as her cousins!)

Here she is with her first hit in an exhibition game!

Man, no denying she is mine.....Look at her...So proud!

But we need to get to the meat of the issue here, the FLEECING OF AMERICA! It all revolves around this instrument here....Hang with me on this...

It wasn't long ago as I walked down the halls of Hudsonville High School with a heavy heart. It was THE DAY. You know what day I'm speaking of, that dreaded day where after tryouts the results were in and to be posted on a teacher's door of who made the team. Excitement raced through the school and within minutes, all who had tried out checked the door. As I staggered over I searched frantically up and down the list, and for two years in a row, my name was there. However, where this story changes is exactly what this post is about.

I recall that day as a Junior when I walked up to the door, scanned the list, and scanned it again, and again, and you guessed it, I DIDN'T MAKE THE TEAM! What a dissapointment. I thought I had become quite versed in keeping score and being a team motivator in the dugout albeit my play sucked....I still remember the feeling that day of pure hopelessness. It was one of my first lessons in life that I believe is so important.

Things have changed my friends. Now everybody makes the team. I was most puzzled today to see kids get up to bat and swing 3, 4, even ten times at the balls coming out of the pitching machine. I was even more surprised after the 12th swing by some of these kids to see the pitcher walk up six foot away and hand toss them three more balls to hit.....WOW!

I can still remember seeing this guy when I was growing up:

Growing up, I was puzzled by the veraciousness that he called me OUT and wondered if perhaps he was having a bad day. Today I realized how much that miserable bastard had actually taught me. NOT EVERYONE MAKES THE TEAM. IF YOU SUCK YOU WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL. STRIKE THREE? YOU'RE FIRED.

I wonder what we are teaching kids today?

Life Lessons

If I have learned anything in this life, it is the following:

DON'T TAKE IT TOO SERIOUSLY!

This shirt is exactly what I am talking about. Here are some other things I believe are CRUCIAL to life:

-If it breaks, and you fix it, and it keeps breaking, GET RID OF IT.

-Take a moment each day, if even right now, and step outside. STOP all the thoughts in your mind and take a deep breath. Inhale deeply. YOU ARE ALIVE.

-Bills and dirty dishes can wait but do not go away. Incidentally, neither do problems in your life you don't address.

-The most enjoyable things in life are not things, THEY ARE PEOPLE and experiencing life with them.

-You can touch people so deeply by showing them how special they are to you. The feeling you impart on them will be returned to you threefold when you see their smile and the look of amazement on their face.

-Rain on my face makes me happy. Only when I stopped worrying about getting wet from rain did I realize how peaceful it is....

Hot Wheels Dancin!

Fancy Anniversary Dinner-TEAM T STYLE

In celebration of nine years, I brought it up a notch. And when you can't escape the kids for a GETAWAY then you bring the fancy restaurant here! I took time in selecting fresh cut flowers from the yard and setting the table with precision.


Soft music played in the background as we dined amongst the flowers.












































































The menu for this luscious evening consisted of the following:




Iceberg Romaine Cabbage Lettuce Salad with Strawberry Chardonnay Vinaigrette Dressing and Roasted Garlic Onion Toppings.
















Charcoal and wood fired prime cut of Steak on the grill

















Roasted Asparagus and Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries (the cheese is from England!)
Arnie's Turtle Sundae Cake

Good Harbor Cherry Wine

















Coffee


The mood was set with the fragrance of flowers and the soft candlelight glow of the evening....

The entire evening raced by in what felt like 15 seconds.....We both sat on the porch and felt the warm spring air....Not a word spoken....Both satisfied with the eating, dancing, drinking, and loving................Sigh.