Monday Bacon: Cool Things

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

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Friday Jams

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

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Most Beautiful? SRSLY?

As if we needed another glaring observation that the idea of beauty and the simple minded media are so thoroughly and completely F*d up, People magazine just announced that this…

…represents the worlds most beautiful women. SRSLY?

Uhhhhhhh, okay. I’m curious what the definition of beauty is these days.

Skin that shows no hint of color due to completely stupid and malnourished diet? Check.

Bragging about working out two hours a day to keep that svelt, chick, Somali teen figure? Check.

Being borish and uppity while cramming your stupidity on the rest of us? Check.

It’s what makes life interesting, finding the balance between cigarettes and tofu. (Gwenneth’s quote, not mine.)

Uhhhhhhh, okay.

While she may be a perfectly fine lady in real life (bwahahahhaaa!) she is not beautiful. We’re confusing celebrity with beauty…again.

I understand how her publicist probably paid someone handsomely for the coverage but at some point, the media should have standards and values. Again, bwahahahhaaa!

I’ve always thought those possessing beauty had grace,

and determination,

and unapologetic sass,

with a little bit of fearlessness thrown in,

and an awareness of the world around them,

and always, strength.

But that’s just me.

Celebrity was a long time coming; it will go away. Everything goes away.

Carol Burnett

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Be That Dad.

‘

Ever look up to someone? Look up to them while thinking, “I want to be that guy/gal.” What characteristics draws you to them. They are secure in themselves? Funny? Stronger than you? What do you see in them that you don’t see in  yourself?

My cousin Denise’s kids out in Woodinville, WA are two of my most favorite people in the world. Gabe and Carmen have been a staple of love and entertainment in my life even though I only get to see them once a year or so. They live with unashamed joy, and I admire that about them. Of course my cousin and her hubby have something to do with that but Carmen hit the latest homerun so I get to brag on her.

While trying to talk daddy into a final night time game on the I-Pad and getting a stern ‘No’ she pulls this one out…

“Dad, when you were my age and your dad said ‘No’, did you ever wish you had a different dad, one that would say ‘Yes’?” Dad:  “Probably.” Carm: “Be that Dad, dad.” Boom. 

There’s been a long list of people I wanted to be other than myself through the years. Princess Leia for the obvious reason that she had a dashing boyfriend with a Wookie. I wanted to be the girl across the aisle from me in Accounting class who understood that crap without a blink. There’s always been people with “more” of what I wanted but didn’t believe I had. Be it money, friends, ability, beauty or brains.

It took a while to understand that all I had to do to be like those I admired, was to live a life I admired. Now don’t get me wrong, I fail… a lot! But overall, it’s been a while since I’ve played the “I wish” game.

As much as we joke about not “being that guy”, ya know, the one that curls in the squat rack? We don’t talk enough about ‘being that guy!’ The one you admire and don’t think you can be. Cuz why not? Wouldn’t you rather admire yourself more than others?

The lack of a sense of history is the damnation of the modern world.

Robert Penn Warren

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