Carrie Underwood Christmas Shopping, Nature Boy Shows Off The Rolex & Braves Pitcher Nearly Arrested
Hope my chores list is ready to be dominated today
Guys, it's feeling like one of those Saturdays where I fire up the garage TV and get like 50 things accomplished. I'm completely motivated, the list has at least 10 things that can be knocked off in very little time and my energy level is to a point where there's no containing me to a couch until LSU-Alabama tonight at 7 ET.
I'm talking about knocking off things like bringing in the birdbath so it doesn't freeze up and shatter into a thousand pieces. I'm talking about bringing in the beer cooler that's been on the patio for a couple of weeks. There are plants that need to be thrown into garden bags, pots that need to be cleaned out, umbrellas that need to be brought in, limbs that need to be thrown into the fire pit.
Pulled chicken sandwiches need to be made. A run to the rock store to get hand-selected river rock. Need to get a piece of insulation board for a project. On and on and on.
That's right, it's one of those Saturdays. I'll just say this: the Busch Lights are in big trouble.
• Chris S. in Illinois read deep into Friday's Screencaps where I asked to hear from people who have winter projects coming up, including outdoor rinks.
Hey Joe, love screencaps. I am currently building a home on 8 acres out in the country, hope to join TNML (golf on Thursday, it will be a Wednesday exemption) once the lawn comes in.
We are a hockey family, and for us, the project starts the day after Thanksgiving-the outdoor rink. There is absolutely nothing like playing in the backyard with a bunch of kids, and sometimes adults. I attached a few pics from previous years.
Keep doing what you’re doing, us normal guys out here love to see we are not alone, the world really is great offline.
Chris tells me he uses a company called NiceRink who provides all the needed forms to install the outdoor rink.
Takes about 2 hours to get it up now. Used to use 2x4 and plywood, stepped it up once the kids started playing on teams. Had to spend 3 days screwing it together back then. Don’t miss those days.
FYI, Rink measures 35 x 70.
And Chris also notes that Screencaps has saved him a bunch of money. I'll let him explain.
Also, on another note. Since I am building a home, your buddy with the lumber futures has helped me out tremendously. I have followed him on Twitter, and used his data to negotiate my price back down, since lumber dropped. My builder laughed at how much I knew about the market.
• This email from Chris absolutely jacked me up. All the elite journalists and media experts laugh at things like Screencaps because they're elitist scumbags who think relating to the common person is beneath them and that the common man has a small-thinking brain.
Then along comes something like Screencaps and the common man has his space again to learn about things like lumber futures so he can save money and use the money to upgrade his outdoor hockey rinks.
Tell your friends, pass the word, text Screencaps to your friends. In 2021, this is where real America is hanging out. *OutKick t-shirt marketing executive Maxx (yes with two Xs) didn't write that marketing copy. That's all me!
• Britt T. wants to get in on the 'Worst Big Ticket Item You Ever Purchased' question I posed this week:
First and foremost, as a former Army Officer (Medical Service Corps, HOO-AHH!), I love love love the military ladies' pics that you post. I also love the Go Blue photos you post -- devin_eiramc -- bless her heart (he said, checking his heart rate haha). All of those ladies are looking STUNNING while still out there looking after us common folks. Thanks to all who serve in any type of uniform to keep us safe!
About this big-ticket purchase item. I got all new golf clubs last year, and still don't love them. May have to do it again this winter. A friend of mine bought his....and after playing with them for a month, dumped them to another friend for about 20 cents on the dollar (sounds like an NBA trade?). At any rate, do not, and I repeat, do not get the Golden Tee machine. I had one. I had a pool table. I had a ping pong table. No one used any of them.
My buddies came over to watch games, a lot....we played Golden Tee...once. Shoot, my Golden Tee machine had about 500 games on it (to include old-school games like Galaga, my personal favorite). No one used it. We finally dumped each item.
Given that you play golf, do what I did and get a hitting net (very inexpensive) and convince a local club to give you one of their hitting mats (the nets are not expensive, the mats are). Get your kids some new clubs (inexpensive), and tell them to hit away. I was shocked at how much use my setup has gotten from two of my boys. I have to tell them "not hitting balls right now, I have a conference call." You can also buy a portable launch monitor for yourself. Also inexpensive.
Lastly, I'm almost 50, so I appreciate both the young ladies and those that some of the more senior officers have requested that you post. One suggestion -- Jane Seymour. (Good gosh her scene from Wedding Crashers....nuff said).
###
Thanks to Britt for the advice. I will say that the hitting net idea is something I've thought about quite a bit. Seems like a nice way to spend an hour over a cold January weekend. Tunes, crushing golf balls into a net and getting exercise in the process. Great advice from Britt.
• Sean C. in Granger, IN is all over this whole video game big-ticket purchase thing and has his own experience to share.
So when I saw you ask about a major purchase you regret, I wasn’t going to comment as I couldn’t think of anything really major that I definitely regret. My mind first went to actual tangible purchases. We’re there some? Sure. My Ric Flair replica World Championship Belt. My Chewbacca costume. Or maybe even that restaurant-style hot dog cooker that I never used. However, I don’t know if any of those qualify.
Even though all those were purchased when I was in my early 20’s and my disposable income was minimal, none of those items were super expensive. More than that, I’ve gotten significant entertainment value out of all of them (except maybe the hot dog machine…..that was dumb).
So then I look at expensive purchases I regret. Most of those resulted in non-tangible “purchases” or impulsive “buys”. Many of those can be linked to activities in Vegas. The casinos and other “establishments” have certainly made me regret certain ways my money was spent.
However, since I’ve owned a home, I’ve avoided the expensive pool or hot tub that many friends say they regret because they “barely use it” anymore. No pool table yet, but I think a nice shuffleboard table will be the next expensive purchase I regret.
But the reason for my email is that I saw a couple of people mention their Golden Tee machines. My brother got one second hand. It’s an older version, but still lots of fun. About 5 years ago I purchased this lady (Ms. PAC-Man) from an acquaintance. It was worth it at the time and it’s worth it now. There’s a positive and negative. The negative is that the outlet that it’s hooked up to goes out from time to time, resulting in me losing my high score every month or two. The positive…….I get to set a new high score every couple months.
So, I have a built-in excuse to spend hours on that machine without regret.
I certainly have some indoor home improvement projects I have on the agenda for this winter. I’ll keep you posted on things that might be interesting until the ground thaws next spring.
• Moving along, Beau in Toledo is still out mowing because it's a side gig of his and he just loves mowing.
Well of COURSE i laid down Maumee Stripes today, but since #TNML is "officially" over, I'm going to toss in this pic i took on the way home.
OhioAin'tSoBad
• Indy Daryl is so programmed that he just sent me an email on Friday out of habit:
Good morning and happy Friday! I had the same exact moment of grief you did last night. We were out in the front yard playing soccer and pushing our littlest in the tree swing, and then Mrs Do Hard Things said “oh man, you would normally be mowing right now!” And there it was, the official end of the season for me. I will probably have to mow one more time, and I am definitely a “mulcher” of leaves, but knowing the season is over definitely brought a moment of sadness.
• I wasn't expecting such a big end to the week out of the emailers, but this is some quality work out of you guys. Now go out there and dominate Saturday. Let's crush some beers, crush the chores, crush meals and then crush the couch after a busy day of life.
Enjoy the weekend.
Email: joekinsey@gmail.com