I have returned from my vacation to the "one of many" Lakes regions of the great state of Minnes"oh"ta. Now, round those parts see, when you go to the lake for a getaway, they actually say, "we are going to the Lake!" To which other people inquire, "Oh yeah, which lake you going to?" See what I mean? Let me tell ya though. I have to thank the good Lord above for the best thing to grace my mouth in a while...well, since college anyway, that I have oh so missed. The best pizza on this planet - Giovanni's Pizza in Detroit Lakes. I ate so many of these things when I was in college. Oh man are they good. It all came back as I ate pizza with my love and kid floating around on the smaller than average pontoon boat enjoying the sunset and a strong to suit Morgan Coke (God Bless the Captain)! Hanging out with outlaws was interesting as it always is. And it was kind of a weird vacation this year. We are usually the last ones there, and the first ones to leave. It was flipped around this year. Everyone had to go home and work and we left a day early. Sheesh! No, it was all good. Playing golf with my bro-in-law, pappy-in-law, and chum of a friend was brutal in the heat of Sunday morning. But, the beer kept my core temp down and helped me with my backswing. My bro-in-law and I were the only ones to sack up and actually finish all nine holes...the old guys quit after five! Did alot of swimming, sleeping, drinking, playing guitar, and basically a whole lot of nothing. Took my pappy-in-law's convertible Mustang for spin to actually drive into town to the get the blessed and anointed communion I call Giovanni's. Very cool car, but it would get me many tickets if it were mine. My love and I took a sidetrip after everyone left. We drove to Ada, which has about 1600 people or so. Drove around for a bit checking out the scenery, the High School, and the local Lutheran church. As small as it is, it is a very cool spacious community. We then drove to our alma mater for a quick rummage through their bookstore. I left my beloved ring of power (class ring) with the nice bookstore lady who promised me she would send it to the conglomerate who makes those rings to widen it. See the sad thing that happens after eleven years of wearing it, is that even my fingers have gained weight. That sucks! My love and I had two places we absolutely needed to stop at as we left on Wednesday. We drove to the Mall. Now, I have been to the Mall of America too many times, and it has frankly lost its mystique over time. I now go in, know where I am actually going (that's half the battle), get what I need, and get the hell out without too much hassle. This time around, there was only one place I needed to go...the Lego store. I love Legos. I have since I was a kid. I actually bought a really cool Technic set this time. It's an Extractor...kind of like a Caterpillar scoop shovel machine that spins around and runs on tank treads...very Village People manly you know. It took me three hours yesterday to put the damn thing together! Glad my morning was filled with such debauchery! Once I bought my Lego masterpiece, my wife needed to go to the one place I am not all that crazy about, but we went cause that's what you do when you are married, and you want peace for the rest of the drive home. Where else do all the Swedish people go to buy cheap, home paraphanalia that resembles crap at its finest? Why Ikea of course! As my son and I sat in the parking garage waiting for my love to come back with her bag of wonders, I introduced him to Christian hip-hop...an artist named TobyMac. It was great to hear my son repeat his name over and over, and do the arm bounce thing you do when you listen to hip-hop...he got us both bouncing away...or at least as much bouncing that is possible while in the cab of a Silverado. He is also quite good at headbanging. See him bang away while listening to Black Label Society it awesome...it would make any daddy proud...including Zakk Wylde himself. Now if he could just do the worldwide metal sign with his hand! Anyway, that's my vacation. Reality is back, probing me and sticking its unpleasant agenda in my face. Too bad I can't just live on the lake and work from there. That would be a helluva commute...on second thought. More later...