Bad Timing

Posted on May 1, 2013 by tosabarbell

It’s NHL playoff time and for the first time in five years, the Minnesota Wild boys are off the golf courses and still on the ice. Yeah.

So I sit down with my dinner; a glass of wine; listen to a chill bump rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and here we go! Only we’re going without our starting goalie. Huh?

Starting goaltender (and Finnlander) Niklas Backstrom looked fine in warm ups until this happened. It looks as if he tweaked his groin, maybe an ‘Ahmstring? Who knows. What we do know? Bad timing.

For those of us who’ve been competing long enough, we know that feeling. Gearing up for the big game or big event and boom, a bicep tendon; an ‘Ahmstring; an achilles rupture changes everything. Our very narrow focus suddenly takes a sharp right turn. It is physically and mentally shocking. To do it on a National or World stage is even more so.

Josh Harding, the back up goaltender who was diagnosed with M.S. last summer was stellar in the net throughout the 2-1 Wild overtime loss to Chicago. So as Wild fans, we’re fine. No word on Backstrom yet, hopefully we’ll see him again this season.

The sauna- a poor mans pharmacy.

Finnish Proverb

Training Log

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Menswear?

Posted on April 30, 2013 by tosabarbell

I just don’t understand. What in the world has happened to our young men? Who ARE you people? Who has convinced you that dressing up (with the same sizes) as a pre-pubescent girl is OKAY???? WHO? Just tell me, you can send me a confidential note. I won’t rat you out. What I WILL do is have this conversation directly with the offenders.

First this; I took the Oz man shopping for some shorts since all of his are now too small. We started at Target and didn’t get far before I realized that the men’s and women’s sections are eerily similar.

Pink and baby blue slim fit shorts. W! T! F! The camo shorts; usually a must have in Oz’s closet; still didn’t pass his inspection after declaring them “too small, only skinny/weak kids can fit into that.” True story. You see, a 13 year old who is often asked why he’s so big knows the only good answer to that is ‘why you so small?’ He understands that real boys don’t wear slim fit. So Target is out since they’ve given up on American Men. Shame, that.

So I know I was already a little fired up on the topic of current “men’s wear” when I then ran into this article.

Yup, men’s lingerie. Please tell me this is a joke. Please? Have we just given up completely on the idea of big, strong, MANLY men? Godsakes people, draw the fucking line in the sand! A pillow fight with a man in a teddy? No girls. NO!

I cannot imagine what my Grandpa would have said to that. Men (heterosexual men) dressing up in lingerie? No. That’s not a real man. A real man is hairy; smells of sweat and soap; muscley; works hard; trains hard; eats lots; wears gym gear on most days when not at work; is a fair and responsible leader of his home and puts his girl on a pedestal. Fact. Or I’m just spoiled.

Try to put a teddy on this?

Another line up

I don’t think so.

It’s a very confusing era that we’re in.

Clint Eastwood

Training Log

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Monday Bacon: Cool Things

Posted on April 29, 2013 by tosabarbell

Have you ever noticed that there are one or more ‘cool things’ about people we know? For example, my brother Jerry. If you are lost anywhere in the north metro or downtown Minneapolis area; pull over; take note of the nearest intersection; call Jerry. He will direct you out (by street names) to the closest highway without pause. It’s the coolest thing ever. I know, I’ve put it to use often.

With my Bigg guy, I can read up on something and ask if he’s ever heard of ‘this’ person and he’ll list the 18 different things this guy or girl has done over the last 30 years. Once he reads something, it’s in his brain for good.  It’s pretty cool.

And that’s how people roll. Get to know them; their ‘cool’ factor. It’s worth it.

My Oz man? Any WWII fact pertaining to Europe…pretty much. My Z’s? Great music they’ll know I love or movie lines from anything funny after 1995. Our friend Heath? Any fact or fiction related to Superhero movies. Swede? Whisky. Fact.  One of my clients? He’s a clock maker AND a drummer (but a Pharmacist for his day job.)  He always has good stories.

A co-worker of Biggs whom I’ve met and is a decent guy. Cool fact? His brother is some type of manager at one of our favorite Cold Spring, Minnesota breweries. One of our Kuvasz breeders has a wood working shop and installed their Koa wood floor in their home. She also rides a motorcycle. She’s awesome.

A friend I met while traveling to barbell seminars? Her hubby restores pinball machines. SRSLY. Who does that? Too cool. My ‘Sconny buddy Clay? Plays the bagpipes AND used to play with McBob. Cherry.  Bigg has a client out in Cali who has his own train engine. SRSLY.  I’ve seen pictures, it’s badass.

All you have to do is talk a bit to someone; ask a few questions and you’ll find out. I don’t know what my cool thing is, maybe that I love giving prizes? Dunno. I talk to myself all the time and still haven’t figured it out. Heh.

Maybe some folks are alcoholics and others are just voluntary drunks…Maybe some have drinking problems while others have problems enough to drink.

George Jones

Training Log

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Friday Jams

Posted on April 26, 2013 by tosabarbell

So I learn something new every day.

The Finnish hockey team, the Pori Ässät, won the top Finnish ice hockey league Championships. One of my favorite Finnlanders posted this video. What I love about it? “Winning” needs no translation.

Tears from coaches and players, ecstatic fans, celebratory chaos on the ice? Can’t think of a better way to kick off a Friday. I imagine the Minntu was flowing steadily.

Enjoy the weekend.

I don’t want to get into a ‘he said, she said’ with the refs…I’m the he.

Chris Pronger

Training Log

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment