Week #22: Wax on ... Wax off !!!

Chest hair begone! If you ever saw the movie "Forty Year Old Virgin" you would remember the scene. When Andy got his chest waxed. I figured after twenty plus years of chest hair, it was time for a change. Time for my chest to see the sunlight. I am worried it might react like a vampire, because it has not seen the daylight for many years through its forest. It didn't look like much fun in the movie. I am here to report, it is not enjoyable at all. Very painful with a little bleeding involved, but my mission is accomplished. The pelt is forever gone and I feel better for it. The downside is that now after I see my new look, I feel I have to do a few more sit-ups. Maybe I'll buy an Ab-Master.

Week #21: Nice Shrooms.

My brothers and I went morel mushroom hunting this week. I had never heard of this before I read an article in the paper last Sunday. These mushrooms are in season only for a week or two, they grow under fallen trees, preferably in the shade and on damp ground. I've been told they sell for about fifty dollars a pound. We started on our multi-hour hunt with great enthusiasm. Our moral was up, but the morels were gone! No luck at all! I ended up with two oyster mushrooms and one something-or-other mushroom. My brother told me to wear pants and I wish I did. The weeds, spurs, raspberry bushes gashed up my legs pretty good. But I had an interesting time trying and ended up with two hard crusty oysters to show for it. In the next couple of days, I tried morel hunting again with my children. We ended up with the same result. I hope to have better luck next year.

An article below depicting a slightly more successful hunt.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/outdoors/45155987.html

Week #21: Additional Photos

I was very tempted to eat some oyster mushrooms right off the tree. Picture of my mutilated legs. I was unaware of the extreme danger involved in this hunt. Two of my three "animal graveyard pics". Final picture is of me buying fishing bait for the first time ever from a vending machine. I did not know that was even possible.

Week #20: May the Lord be with you

And also with you. I was honored to be asked, by my nephew, a few weeks ago to be his confirmation sponsor. I took immediately to the task of representing his future religious upbringing. While writing this, my nephew called and said he was reading the bible as we spoke. I am happy to hear such things. If he continues on this course, I will be forever satisfied.

The photos above include : the Bishop of Milwaukee and my nephew and I at church and with the chocolate crosses I presented to him when he finished his confirmation.

Week #19: Don't you think it is getting a little Hot in here?

Holy S#@$! This Hot Yoga thing is Hard! A couple of weeks ago, I had never heard of hot yoga (or the the term it goes by Bikram Yoga). A friend of mine mentioned that he did this and I should give it a try. I called Christine (pictured above, who has become a hot yoga junkie) and she joined me for an one and half hour session.





Bikram Yoga is conducted in a room of 105 degree heat with 50 percent humidity. It feels like 205 degree heat with 150 percent humidity. You are sweating like you are in a monsoon immediately when you walk in the room. I was the only first timer (out of 30 of us) and was called out by our instructor. He kept talking only to me the entire time. Are you o.k....you are doing fine...hold that cobra pose better...nice camel pose, etc. I (uncomfortably) felt like the only one in the room. Halfway through the routine, I was exhausted. Then the instructor told me that the "real yoga" was about to start. Are you kidding me!! I was ready to pass out! An hour and half later, I got through the lotus, snakes, camels, scorpions and many other exhausting and painful stances. Hot Yoga is a great way way to lose a quick five pounds of water weight while trying your best not to pass out due to sheer exhaustion. I don't know how Christine does it, but good for her. The most awkward moment of the night happened in the men's locker room. I asked another yoga guy to take a picture. He asked, "Of what?" I quickly explained - me (not of the locker room guys!). His photo is the first one posted. It'll take some time before I try this torturous yoga again.





Below is the link to my Hot Yoga place. There is a great informative two minute video showing the torture I went threw.



http://www.bikramyoga-milwaukee.com/

Week #19: Part 2 ... Pasta anyone???

This is technically not a new thing, but since I already completed hot yoga for this week, I decided to comment on this also. For the third straight year, I helped out by manning the spaghetti station (along with Jerry) for the Messmer spaghetti dinner. Messmer is an inner city high school where the majority of the families live below the poverty line. Three years ago during a business class, their teacher brought up an article about Waukesha West's academic decathlons team. They couldn't afford to send the team to the nationals that year, which was held in Hawaii. They decided to do something about it! After long discussions, Messmer decided to host a fundraiser for the suburban school's decathletes, so they could go to the national finals. I was recruited by my friend, Jeff to help out with the pasta duty. The first year, I scalded myself trying to move the spaghetti around with my hands (sterilized, of course!) before it cooled down (ouch!!). I learned my lesson, lots of cold water first. The first year, we had over a thousand people show up and had some national press. It was reported that this could be the first time nationally that an inner city school came to the aid of a suburban school for a fundraiser. The kids at Messmer are unbelievable, very kind, nice, smart, and personable. I am happy to do my small part along with the rest of the volunteer kitchen staff. It is a long day of cooking and cleaning, but well worth it. I am glad to help out and hope to be asked back next year. Jerry and I got the pasta down. Just don't call it noodles!

Week #18: Off to see the Oracle ... my trip to the "Financial Woodstock"

I went to the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting this week. It took a looong time to get there, but was worth it. I left in the early afternoon on Friday and got back home Sunday early evening. The solo drive took about nine hours each way.

My wife's sister and husband live in Omaha and were nice enough to let me stay with them. My mother-in-law also has caught the Warren Buffett bug and flew in for the event. On Saturday morning, we arrived about an hour early and quickly proceeded to find some seats. Not easy! We ended up in the upper deck about ten rows from the top. Approximately 35,000 people showed up this year. People travel from all around the world and keep coming back year after year for this meeting. It has become kind of like a Financial Woodstock. Everyone comes to see and learn from the "Oracle of Omaha" Warren Buffett and his right hand man Charlie Munger.




They started by introducing the board of directors that were in attendance, which included Bill Gates. The both of them work well with each other and form an economic comedy team. Warren Buffett doesn't use a computer or a calculator. He said, "If you need a calculator to decide whether to buy a company or not, Don't buy it! It should be shouting at you ... Buy me!" Charlie Munger was asked about the upper management at some the world's larger companies and he commented that the stupidity of most management and CEO's will keep a competent company like Berkshire going good for years to come. It was an interesting day and my MIL and I had a really good time.




While in Omaha, my brother-in-law showed me the home Buffett grew up in and the home where he currently lives (very unassuming). We even had lunch and a beer at Dundee Dell where Warren Buffett took Lebron James when Lebron came to town to ask for his advice. Besides all the driving, I had a rewarding weekend and would like to thank my brother and sister-in-law, my MIL, and my considerate wife for the opportunity for this weekend.




Pictures above are from the meeting: me with Warren, MIL, and various mascots from Berkshire Hathaway companies and you can never be too safe with the swine flu floating around. The video below is Buffett cracking up the crowd while answering a succession question.

Week #18: Photos of the Road Trip

Scenes from the seventeen hour (round trip) drive. Top picture is of Buffett and Munger (they are the two dots in the spotlight bottom left). The next three are in Mount Vernon, Iowa (population 3390) and the following at University of Iowa.

I was driving on a small county highway and stumbled upon Mt. Vernon, they were having their "Chalk the Walk 2009" event. I had a long way to go, but I stopped for about five minutes. It was a great small town event. In the middle of the closed off street there were two girls about 8 and 10 playing the cello and violin to the tune of "What a wonderful world" and everywhere around were artist making beautiful chalk drawings on the street. It was neat.

On the way there, I stopped at the U. of Iowa for the first time and ate a sandwich called the conglomeration at Micky's Irish Pub (the bar is originally from 1870). Notice the safe and secure door handle in the bathroom. While on the Ped Mall walking back to my car, I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the latest issue of The Militant (really cheery socialist newsweekly). In fact, I think this may have been the first time I have been in the state of Iowa.

One last new thing this week, I ate Kangaroo for the first time (please don't tell my vegan friends).