Couple Random Things with Me Right Now:
Tomorrow morning, I am headed to Stoughton to actually take a hunter's safety course, something of which I should have done when I was say 12!!! But, a few years ago, I thought I was old enough to just walk in anywhere and get a license. It was explained to me that I had missed the age cut off by a few years, and actually had to take the course. So, anyway, I am actually fulfilling one of my goals for this year. Receiving this will allow me to hunt whatever. I have wanted to go hunting for a few years now, since my family has some incredible land in northern ND; land that my Dad has hunted and has successfully harvested many a fine deer. I also would like to take up bird hunting too. Now, I just need to amass some fine weaponry for the said hunts.
This week, I wrote a proposal to our church's endowment/memorial board asking that they share a bit of their good fortune so that I can go and buy some office furniture. Keep in mind, that I love having an office. That is definitely something that as a pastor, I appreciate, because I have had those jobs where having an office was impossible, well, say the cubical thing at Choice Hotels was the closest thing I had to an office, but that job was not at all enjoyable, even though it paid bills sort of. Right now, in my church office where the furniture will go, I have a large round table, seven industrial strength work chairs, and a huge blank space near my west wall. Imagine if you will, how a principal's office may look. Now you see it. My office is not all that inviting or comfortable if say someone needed to come in for a chat or counseling. I am embarrassed by having them sit at this monstrosity of a table and sit on these uncomfortable chairs. I want people to be comfortable, so that they can feel at ease. I believe a nice environment helps people calm down and it also helps brings down the defenses. At least that's been my experience. So, I am going out today to look for a couch, a matching chair, and an ottoman. The smaller things like say the end table, coffee table, area rug, and table lamp I will probably get at Ikea (cheap Swedish crap sometimes looks nice!).
Don't tell anyone but this year, I am not going to the Synod Assembly. Why you ask? Well, that first week in May, I am going to be with my friend Trav, sitting along the Missouri River confluence at the border between ND and MT. We will not just be fishing there, but paddlefishing there. I did this a few years ago with him and we had a blast even though we only went for one day. We are going for pretty much a whole week this time. I love the equipment - a 12 foot pole, a reel that is as big as my head, line that is 80 pound test, a five or six ounce sinker, and a hook that looks as if it could catch a small shark. Nasty stuff. But, you basically heave this rig out into the current, wait until the rig hits the river bottom, and then begin to reel in. The goal is to snag a fish since they are bottom feeders, and are not attracted to baits like regular fish. Large fish are common to snag there. I saw a 75 pounder caught, and that guy had an interesting time landing him, as his whole reel pretty much broke off the rod...still not sure how he did it. Anyway, this is of course, just an excuse to celebrate all things primal, setting up a tent that looks as if it came out of the civil war, massive bonfires, cases of Captain Morgan, flasks of Jameson, pounds of red meat waiting to be grilled and consumed, smoke a fine cigar or two, and all while we wear our jeans without belts. It's not camping without having the ability to show the crack even while doing the most menial of tasks!!! AND, this is all done while others have the same instinct at this massive campground we are at. YES! It's crazy, but definitely worth the time off to just go and fish for these weird fish, drink a few, and hang out with really good friends! AH, what a fine time to be a MAN!!! (cue chest beating sounds, followed by a beer being opened, followed by a fine belch!) More later...
Tomorrow morning, I am headed to Stoughton to actually take a hunter's safety course, something of which I should have done when I was say 12!!! But, a few years ago, I thought I was old enough to just walk in anywhere and get a license. It was explained to me that I had missed the age cut off by a few years, and actually had to take the course. So, anyway, I am actually fulfilling one of my goals for this year. Receiving this will allow me to hunt whatever. I have wanted to go hunting for a few years now, since my family has some incredible land in northern ND; land that my Dad has hunted and has successfully harvested many a fine deer. I also would like to take up bird hunting too. Now, I just need to amass some fine weaponry for the said hunts.
This week, I wrote a proposal to our church's endowment/memorial board asking that they share a bit of their good fortune so that I can go and buy some office furniture. Keep in mind, that I love having an office. That is definitely something that as a pastor, I appreciate, because I have had those jobs where having an office was impossible, well, say the cubical thing at Choice Hotels was the closest thing I had to an office, but that job was not at all enjoyable, even though it paid bills sort of. Right now, in my church office where the furniture will go, I have a large round table, seven industrial strength work chairs, and a huge blank space near my west wall. Imagine if you will, how a principal's office may look. Now you see it. My office is not all that inviting or comfortable if say someone needed to come in for a chat or counseling. I am embarrassed by having them sit at this monstrosity of a table and sit on these uncomfortable chairs. I want people to be comfortable, so that they can feel at ease. I believe a nice environment helps people calm down and it also helps brings down the defenses. At least that's been my experience. So, I am going out today to look for a couch, a matching chair, and an ottoman. The smaller things like say the end table, coffee table, area rug, and table lamp I will probably get at Ikea (cheap Swedish crap sometimes looks nice!).
Don't tell anyone but this year, I am not going to the Synod Assembly. Why you ask? Well, that first week in May, I am going to be with my friend Trav, sitting along the Missouri River confluence at the border between ND and MT. We will not just be fishing there, but paddlefishing there. I did this a few years ago with him and we had a blast even though we only went for one day. We are going for pretty much a whole week this time. I love the equipment - a 12 foot pole, a reel that is as big as my head, line that is 80 pound test, a five or six ounce sinker, and a hook that looks as if it could catch a small shark. Nasty stuff. But, you basically heave this rig out into the current, wait until the rig hits the river bottom, and then begin to reel in. The goal is to snag a fish since they are bottom feeders, and are not attracted to baits like regular fish. Large fish are common to snag there. I saw a 75 pounder caught, and that guy had an interesting time landing him, as his whole reel pretty much broke off the rod...still not sure how he did it. Anyway, this is of course, just an excuse to celebrate all things primal, setting up a tent that looks as if it came out of the civil war, massive bonfires, cases of Captain Morgan, flasks of Jameson, pounds of red meat waiting to be grilled and consumed, smoke a fine cigar or two, and all while we wear our jeans without belts. It's not camping without having the ability to show the crack even while doing the most menial of tasks!!! AND, this is all done while others have the same instinct at this massive campground we are at. YES! It's crazy, but definitely worth the time off to just go and fish for these weird fish, drink a few, and hang out with really good friends! AH, what a fine time to be a MAN!!! (cue chest beating sounds, followed by a beer being opened, followed by a fine belch!) More later...
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