Leech Lake Fishing Report – It Ain’t Pretty

Fishing has been really tough on the lake thus far this week. I'm still without any kind of fish boated, and have tried multiple methods and spots. JT offers some insight but no real solutions (typical), and I'm slowly running out of vacation. The bad news is that the fish fry looks like it is an impossibility. The good news is that we're having a ball up here, every one of us.

Doing a long bike ride with my brother today, so won't be able to get on the lake until tonight, but will definitely get my time in. I envision some beers, baseball, and boating tonight to cap off the evening.

Stay tuned.

Kathleen Edwards Concert Review and Setlist – 7/25 Detroit Lakes

I donned my newly designed "Oldest Guy at the Concert" T-shirt (for sale at Zazzle.com right now, click here to view) and headed out to Detroit Lakes. I tell you what, if the reaction I got from attendees is any indication, my little creation in Zazzle is going to make me a very rich man! It was a hit.

Great day for a concert – started out cold and cloudy, but ended up clearing off and ending up being a nice afternoon. Overall band selection was left something to be desired, and the headliner of Dave Matthews Band does absolutely nothing for me. Hence, I spent my $80 to see Kathleen, and that was about it. It was money well spent.

For a band, it was just her and her guitarist husband Colin Cripps. Kathleen's versatility with playing acoustic, electric, and harmonica made for a lot of flexibility with the sound, and even though it was just two of them, the sound they pulled off was pretty robust.

The set list didn't disappoint:

Set List

• Buffalo – Great opener, set the tone for the rest of the set.
  
• In State – Nice version with just her and her husband.
  
• One More Song the Radio Won't Like – Really nice lead story gave this one some gruff emotion.
  
• Copied Keys – This is a favorite of mine, and was a beautiful version.
  
• Summerlong – Beautiful and appropriate.
  
• Hockey Skates – Another favorite.
  
• Are the Good Times Really Over? – A Merle Haggard cover that worked really well – introduced with a good story about the trials of crossing the border.
  
• Run – Wonderful, quiet rendition. A gorgeous song to begin with, with the skinnied down production, it made it all the better.
  
• Cheapest Key – Missed something without the full band.
  
• Northern Sky – New song, and outstanding. If other new material is along these lines, I can't wait.
  
• I Make the Dough – Long lead in to explain to us Yanks who Marty McSorley is. Hey, we're Minnesotans. We know our puck.
  
• Six O'Clock News – Probably the most popular song of the set.
  
• When Will I Be Loved – A throw away. Sounded like a cover of Linda Rondstadt covering Buddy Holly. Could have gone without this.
  
• Scared at Night – Had people crying in the crowd. Literally. Haunting and beautiful. The most moving song of the set by a long shot.
  
• Back to Me – Rousing rendition that was the perfect way to close.
  

Again, the concert was worth every penny. I'd like to see her in a more traditional tour and with a full band next time, or in the same configuration in a more intimate setting. There were a couple of stoned idiots at the stage that needed attention from the crowd, and that was really annoying. Likewise, the passing of an ATV behind her, twice, was a big distraction and was insulting to both her and her audience. Shame on the Festival for not being more attentive.

A couple of thoughts about this concert in general:

• I forgot what dope smelled like, and it was there in massive quantities.
  
• I had to laugh at the thousands there that dressed and acted like they were part of the "summer of love." Hell, they hadn't even been conceived yet. In some instances, their parents hadn't even been conceived yet.
  
• Had a kid ask me if I wanted to smoke opium with him. That was a conversation that I don't have every day. I'm still laughing about it.
  
• I can't believe how many people were camping up there – thousands. I'm not sure if or how they slept, other than with the help of some kind of chemicals.
  
• In some ways I'm missing that I'm not 18 anymore, and in some ways I'm really grateful those days are over.
  

Leech Lake to the Rescue

It was crazy getting here, but we made it to the cabin for a week of much needed R&R. Yesterday was incredibly hectic, and while I had the day off, I had a massive list of chores to do and a very important meeting I needed to attend in the afternoon. I’ve been warned that stress triggers the Trigeminal Neuralgia, and it kicked my butt really bad yesterday midday. Luckily it was kept at bay during my meetings, and things went really well.

Regardless, by the time I finished my running around, packing, and driving to Leech Lake, I was completely exhausted. We got up here about 11:00pm, and I could not have stayed awake another hour.

The week is crazy – my sister and her family are coming up later today and are brining my aunt with them, I’m headed to see Kathleen Edwards at the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Detroit lakes. Tomorrow my brother and his family come, as does my wife’s sister. Monday, my wife and I need to head back to the Cities to attend the funeral of the mother of a friend of the family, and we’ll bring my mom back up with us. By Tuesday we should be locked down for the remainder of the week.
Hence, look for concert reviews, fishing reports, and more tall tales from the north woods in this space over the next week. The quest for enough fish for a fish fry begins with trolling Rapalas tonight. Let the games begin…

The Green Room Waconia Restaurant Review - Belgian Beer Dinner

Last week my wife and I attended the special Belgian beer dinner held at The Green Room, our favorite local restaurant here in Waconia. For those that have not been out here for lunch or dinner, you are missing out on a fabulous restaurant. The chef is incredibly talented, the menu diverse, the wine list functional, and the service top notch. This is a Minneapolis quality restaurant in little Waconia, and we're so lucky to have this jewel in our back yard.

Every month or so the restaurant does a wine dinner - a multi-course dinner accompanied by a specific wine for that course. We've attended a number of those dinners, and have been thrilled at the new food and wines which were introduced to us there. So when they announced a Belgian beer dinner, we knew this had to be something special. Consider this menu:

• A fresh oyster, chilled and served with a Belgian that drank a lot like champagne (I'd offer more information, but this was an add by the chef and was not on their menu)


• Chareruterie - wonderful European sausage and mixed cheeses served with a Kwak beer


• Smoked trout and endive served with Tripel Karmeliet - outstanding trout that was almost hurt-yourself good


• Mussels and French Fries, a Belgian staple, served with a Koningshoeven Dubbel


• Wild Boar stew that was off the charts, served with a St. Feuillien Brune


• A finish with a fresh made chocolate waffle with a wonderful raspberry Framboise Lambic from Lindeman's
  

This was a simply amazing meal - worthy of the finest of restaurants in the largest cities. 6 courses, complete with drinks, for $54 a person.

And, oh did I fail to mention that included 2 Belgian beer glasses?

This easily was our best restaurant meal in 2009. Next time you are anywhere near Waconia, Minnesota you absolutely owe it to yourself to visit The Green Room. Incredible.

Yet Another Year of Minnesota Twins Mediocrity

Once again this year we have just enough talent to keep things interesting, and completely lack a killer instinct to be competitive when we need to be. Our record against the big teams in the East is woeful, and even if we made the playoffs, we'd be swept in the first series.

This team desperately needs a personality like Jack Morris or Dan Gladden - guys that absolutely refused to lose, refused to let their teammates quit, and refused to be intimidated by teams that were better than them.

I get really tired of the "hey, we're just happy to be here" attitude this team has.

Thankfully, we have a lot to look forward to with the Vikings, and soon all this ineptitude won't matter much anymore.

Trigeminal Neuralgia - Carbamazapine Works, But Whoa I Need a Nap

I'm trying to understand the impact of the meds. I'm taking a low dose, 100mg 2 times per day. Yesterday I took with breakfast and dinner, and while that appeared to worked OK, by about 1:00pm I would have paid big money for a nap. Got hit with "the knife" a couple of times on the ride home, and ended up in bed by 8:30. Think I need to take that second dose earlier, and will try today. Just hope I can keep my head off my desk this afternoon. Wish me luck!

A Dog Named Blitz - Chapter Two: "Pre Dog" Part 4

For background on this serial, please click here. You can also start at Part One of this chapter.

Anyone that knows me knows I am the world's worst negotiator. I'm quick to find settlement, any settlement, even if it is not the best deal available. This has worked to great advantage for my wife - herself a stellar negotiator. The only thing I have going for me is that I wear my feelings on my sleeve, and you pretty much always know where I stand.

So after Randy's call about the availability of the pup, I tried negotiation with my wife. I would have been better off trying to broker a middle east peace accord. All of my moves and posturing were deftly rebuffed, and I was quickly running out of runway. If I was going to get a pup from Randy, I needed to close the deal soon.

My wife clearly knew I wanted a dog. However, given my approach and my actions, it was clearly becoming evident that I wanted not just a dog, but this dog. In some marriages, things get done via a war of attrition - the other side just gets tired and gives in. Me, I'm lucky. I have a wife that can read me like a book, knows what's truly important to me, and ultimately makes it OK for me to do what I'm asking her to do. She's a wonderful, patient, and generous woman, and one that I do not deserve.

So eventually the "yes" was provided, but also with a whole host of rules, jobs, and requirements. In my shrewd negotiation mode, I dutifully agreed to everything, lest the deal go sideways at such a critical juncture. Truth be told, she could have made out a lot better than she did.

Armed with the approval and with a couple of days ahead of the date to pick up the pup, I threw myself into a crash course of all things new Labrador puppy. Books and articles were devoured, advice from dog owning friends sought, and multiple trips made to Gander Mountain for crates, collars, bones, and other puppy sundries. It was a whirlwind of information gathering and cash outlay. I found out quickly that owning a dog is neither simple nor cheap.

Soon the day was upon us, and while my wife and I felt trepidation (mine due to lack of knowledge, hers due fear of what might happen to her house) we set off for Oronoco, Minnesota to see Randy and to take home a puppy. I came with a crate in the back of the Explorer, a small collar, and check for Mr. Bartz.

We pulled into Randy's homestead, which was a working farm, small business, and kennel operation all in one. As expected, it was impeccably kept up; a clean, orderly operation. We were quickly met by the huge smiles from Randy and his wife, and as his hand engulfed mine in a firm handshake, he slyly asked, "Are you ready for this?" In looking at my wife, I knew her answer was unsure at best, but I was beyond the point of no return. I replied in the affirmative, and we headed off to where the puppies were playing.

Anyone, and I don't care who you are, anyone loves a yellow lab puppy. Throw about 8 of them into the mix and no matter what your troubles, they are instantly gone. As we waded into the pen and this roly-poly mass of yellow and cute, I looked over to my wife and recognized the signs of a cold heart that had been absolutely melted. I knew that brining her down with me to select a dog was a wise thing, as I knew that regardless of what would happen from here on out, we were not leaving Randy's place dogless.

Vera spent her time playing, while I was trying to invoke some selection criteria I had read in a book about looking for the dog that's not too timid, and not too aggressive. She had fun, while I had confusion. About the time I thought I had one identified, it'd wonder back into the pile to see the nice lady and I'd have no clue about who was who.

We spent nearly 20 minutes on this process, and I noticed that my wife had taken a shine to the smallest dog in the group. While she was technically the runt dog, there was nothing runty about her personality. She got in and mixed it up with the other dogs, and she was not afraid to come up to Vera and me. She also had a beautiful coat, not quite white but close, and was the lightest shade within the pack. It soon became clear - this little trooper was coming home with us. This little dog was Blitz.

I wrote Randy the check and we put this tiny little dog into the full size dog crate in the back of the Explorer. Randy's wife asked if we had anything to help take up room in the crate (dogs, especially pups, do much better in a confined space that is not much bigger than they need - a fact I learned too late for Blitz's first car ride), and I confided I did not. It was quite a picture in the back of the rig.

All loaded, we said our thank yous and goodbyes and headed back north. In all of the time there, Vera developed the need to use a rest room, and we stopped at the first gas station we could find along the route back home. We pulled in, and as my wife headed in, I went around to the back of the truck and opened up the hatch. There sat the dog, my dog, with a quizzical look on her face. At that point, I looked her straight in the eye and said out loud, "Blitz, you and I are going to have so much fun. And I want you to know that no matter what happens, I will always, always take care of you."

I had no idea how she'd ultimately put that promise to the test.

To head to the next chapter, click here

Trigeminal Neuralgia - Meds, My Head, and a Nap in Bed

Update on how things are going:

• Pain was kept in check most of the morning, but "the knife" came out quite a bit yesterday afternoon. Only a couple of sticks today, but the dull ache has been there for almost half the day today.
• According to a post at a TN site, the meds I'm on take a while to be taken in by my body. Hence, I can't expect full impact for a number of days yet.
• There are some resources out there for suffers, and a lot of people have this a lot worse than I do. That scares me. One of the sites is really friendly, though, and I appreciate that they found me through this blog and asked me to join in their community. A kind and generous gesture for sure.
• On of the sites is a Trigeminal Neuralgia Association, and while I've not done it yet, when sitting at the PC and my wife asks me what I'm doing, I'll be able to answer "Just looking at a T'n'A site," without fear.
• Had wine with dinner last night and had a great night with zero manifestations of the malady. I shouldn't be mixing with the meds, but man I felt normal. I will really need to watch this going forward.
• Meds appear to make me drowsy. I've taken two long naps the last two days. I'm worried about what that will mean tomorrow at work. We're going to find out...