Gander Christmas Party 2005-06

Well, Last night was the Company Christmas Party and a good time was had by all! Tonya and her Merry Gang of Merry Makers did a wonderful job decorating the Git-R-Dun dining area. It was mini Las Vegas night and we had Black Jack Tables and Casino Decorations all over! There were many Prizes and lots of good fellowship! The meal was very good and my Kudo's to the chef for the Beef, as it was truely tasty!! I said a few brief word of thanks to the crew, whom in my humble opinion did a terrific job this year, under less than optimal conditions. Every day I find myself lucky to be in their company, It may sound silly and a bit of a put on, but I do appreciate their effort on my and the stores behalf and am grateful for their help and hard work. I just wanted them to all know that my sincere thanks were heart felt. Thank you gang for a great year and here's to many more!!!!

What The .........?


Hey there boys and Girls. So by now I bet you all are wondering just what the heck I've been up to, Right? Well the answer is mostly work with a few inspired moments of more work. I did however make a quick trip to shoot and holler, Thursday night arrived about 1:30 AM Some quick sleep and a little visiting with my Grandma then off to the Albertville mall and the tall and fat store. Then off to St. Cloud and Red Lobster! $35 bucks later and I'm off to best buy, Damn, I gotta get one of those big TV's. I looked at a huge HDTV by Sony, about $4700. But Dang!!! Looked like 3D I had to touch the screen. It looked like I couldtouch the grass on the football field. Some Day. I even dream'tabout it last night. That's what My life has come down to. Pretty sad, or pretty good. Depends on one's outlook.
I actually was in St. Cloud to support my little fishin' buddy Nick Kiekenapp whose band "The B Team All Stars" Had their CD release Party at the Holy Angels Art Center. Their CD labeled "Went to the City" hit the racks today and they performed the disc tracks live and followed with 3 encores to a raucous crowd, dancing in the isles and teenage girls piercing screams. Man, I remember Nick's Guitar being taller than he was! Now he's got his learners permit and blazes riffs that make the little girls scream. I was glad to be invited and will happily accept the job offered as Groupie Sorter for their soon to be up coming tour! (I hope that there is a cool T-shirt I get to wear!) The drive home was long after the gig, but I was pretty jazzed,and had the lead foot so it went by pretty quickly.
On a different note, my left knee is once again deciding to let me know it needs attention. I can not for much longer ignore the bone on bone grating. I could if I did not have to navigate stairs. Not so bad going up, but going down, well its not pretty. After we have slipped the bonds of winter and Ice covered lots, it will be time to see if a scope can fix or replacement is needed.
Enough of that! This warm weather is teasing me,as I just know that February in Bemidji will surely be a ball buster. No matter, every day makes us closer to Spring!!! I am pretty bored with life at the moment and am at a loss as to what to do about it. "Road Trip"? Hibernate? Stay Tuned, there may be news upcoming!!
The Gander Mountain stores Christmas Party is taking place Tommorrow night. At the Git-R-Done saloon in Wilton, Mn. It should be a good time, Karl is on Vacation, and It's up to me to be responseable. Which you all know is my middle name. Keep the kiddies clear of the beer and gals from cat fighting, should be easy since "Hollywood"is not going to be there, I may have to work that fact into my monolog.
You Know Man! Just Living the Dream!
Spike

"The Hunt"



First off. I typed about an hour with great prose and panache a blow by blow account of my Reelfoot Lake hunt only for blogspot to take a dump on me and I lost it all. Sum beach!
Now I have lost my interest for it. I know you have been looking for it so I will attempt to continue it this weekend!
Right now I'm going uptown to get a web microphone. Seems like it is the thing to have. For this MSN messenger thing.
Since I have just installed a web cam, so people can look at me. Why I can't even guess? Just must be a good laugh?
For those interested in the hunt, here is the short version. I had alot of fun and it was good to hand out with dad and the gang. We shot about 35 ducks and should have shot many more.
I learned alot on this trip like all these items.
1. 5 gallon pails are of great value
2. Eagles love to eat dead mallards
3. Beloit wisconsin is full of young teenage sluts!
4. don't go to sleep during the BCS championship game
5. Order Ribs at a BBQ Shack.

More later

Spike

Middle: The leader Before the "Pail"!
Bottom: The leader on the "Pail"
Top: The Leader after the "Pail"

"Spike take me to the bucket" has a whole new meaning!!!!

You gotta Love This Guy!!

"The first time in 40 years of guiding that I've seen that!" "Now somebody Kill Me" Jamie Hamilton II, BJP Guide

1.Pictures of the hunt! The Crew with our harvest. 2. The Leader! 3. Spike & a Drake 4. Corey, Smitty and Toby in the Taj!

Black Jack Pocket Hunting Club

Well, I just got back home from my last Vacation of 2005, even though it happened in 2006. Where do I begin, I left Shoot n' Holler, South Haven, at about 7pm on Tuesday Jan 3rd. Corey had made the trip to Rogers from Gaylord and upon loading the dodge van we headed off to Edina and the Big Smitty residence. We arrived there at 8 something, loading quickly and headed toward, Menominee Wisconnie, to meet the last member of our party Toby Schoepke. We beat Toby to the Green Mill, beer and tea flowed and Spike got behind the wheel and 8-9 hours later, we were in Salem Ill. I turned the keys over to Roger and he drove us to Pahduka KY. Oops, I forgot a trip highlight. Our traveling band of waterfowl warriors ran amuck of a gaggle of teenage hussies at the Beloit WS, fuel stop. Big Al Hoppe's words of wonder came to me, as I watched with amazement the fine sight before my eyes. "The world is full of sluts and I can't find even one!" Well Al, they are in Beloit, WS. Hanging out at the Gas Stop/Taco Bell. :>)
AAA Trip Tix routed us through rural KY and western TN, on what was not much more than a cattle trail. But the true South experience was all around us! Front Porch sittin! Hound Dog Pettin' Tobacco dryin' Americana and we were smack dab in the middle of it. Corey was drooling in his slumber as he dreamed about deep fried okra, and biskets and gravy! Soon we were in Lassiter Corner TN, which I guess you could call a suburb of Horn Beak. I found a gas station in Lassiters Corner that sold Coca-cola in Glass Bottles! Awesome!!!!! We were just minutes from our destination of Black Jack Pocket Hunting Lodge. But we were way early! It was before noon and check in was not untill 4pm so off to the local BBQ Joint "Boyettes" for a couple of Bud Lites and then a sight seeing trip around Reelfoot Lake. Smitty at the wheel! We went to the State Park Observatory and of course promptly lost a tire to a blowout! 2 cars stopped to ask if they could help, Southern hospitality! The donut on, we drove into Tiptonville to the tire shop. Alas, no tire for us. I was dropped of at the lodge to wait for the guides and the rest of the merry band went off into the Tennesee evening in search of a tire or two. Little did I know that the guides would arrive just minutes later to show me our rooms and give me a tour of the place. It was great. 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, full kitchen, washer & Dryer, deck complete with grills and all only 20' from the Lake! As I stood on the deck/dock I watched Mallard after Mallard land right next to me. Just breezing through the cedars. Man, I was ready!
Now, where was the rest of our merry band? Well, they found a tire place just down the road where Roger set to haggle the owner for a "Price" on a couple of radials. The guy tells the great haggler to go to his truck and get his bottle out of the door panel and let them sit down to a good "Haggle"!! Well our fearless leader got his price after a couple of chugs, although he ended up buying 4 tires instead of 2! Not sure who haggled who!
Lakeview Eatery, all you can eat Catfish, pinto beans, cole slaw, onion rings, fries, biskets, country ham, hush puppies a big picture of Ice Tea for me and beers for the rest. Except of course for Corey. One thing I remember most was me trying to stay awake and watch the whole USC vs. Texas Championship BCS Game. I made it to 6 minutes to play with Texas down by 12. Only to wake up the next morning and tell everyone that USC won the Game. Only to turn on ESPN and find out about Texas's stunning comeback victory!! Damn!!
Tomorrow the Hunt!

Hello everyone! It's been awhile! I spent the month of December neck deep in work and very little else. Just as I have for the last 25 years. Man, does that get me depressed! I hope you all had a Great Christmas!
Nipper, Lets get ready for the steak I owe you! Charlie's here we come! I'm glad that you enjoyed the Tank 10.
I also heard from a couple of good old friends this week! Lance Mountain called me at the store on Christmas Eve! Lance it was so good to hear from you. If you knew how often I thought about you while I was out fishing. I alway think of our days on Sunshine Creek watching those Char suck in Polar Shrimp and whatnot!
I also heard from Snickers on Christmas day, I even kept the truck on the road! What, its only been 18 years and 79 days since she kicked me to the curb in that Wayzetta Grocery Store Parking lot. I can't seem to remember the photographer guys name you left me for. Smooth move. Hold on I gotta go and pour me another Capt. Morgan.
I leave tomorrow for the home in Shoot 'n holler! Tuesday the band of 5, head to Hornbeak Tenn. and the Black Jack Pocket Hunting Club to shoot some Mallards and just maybe if I'm lucky, a beautifully colored drake widgeon. So I can put it up on the wall!!!
This trip I know will be really something. Dad, Smitty, Corey, Toby and myself in the van driving for 14 hours. You all know that there is nothing better to bring Spike down from the holiday craziness than to (Harvest) some waterfowl with my trusty Benelli! The Good Luck Monkey is packed and ready to go! I just have to find some one to crank him!!!
I also just heard from Todd tonight! Yep, Todd Moore is alive and well!!! HE'S GOT A GIRLFRIEND!!! That is the reason that he has bascially totally cut himself off from all his old hunting and fishing buddies and all of the old things he used to find so dear to his heart. ***Note to self- If I EVER stop going to Lac Seul because a woman, You all have my permission to kick my ass! Todd, I happy for you! But, FUCK DUDE!!!!!! We need to go fishin'! It's been so long, is it worth it???
Well, I'm deep in Vince Flynns new book Consent to Kill. and I can get another chapter or two in before bed if I hurry.
I'll post some of the Pix's of the trip upon my return!!
Lastly, Mike, it was a strange run, Wilf and the pres. hosed you good, fireing you today, with your son around. 9-7 , we knew it was coming, but it still doesn't make it easy. Tip one for me at Bunny's! and O'Garas.
(Hi Buttercup)