Can I Do Nothing?

Seriously. Why is it that every home improvement project requires at minimum three trips to Home Depot or Menards? I had a leaky valve for my toilet that needed to be replaced. Measure pipe size, go to the Depot. Look at the 48 different types of valves they stock. Pick one. Come home, wrong size. 46 of the 48 valves were 1/2 inch, turns out I have a 3/8 inch pipe. Okay, go back, return old valve, buy new valve. Right? Wrong. I forgot my wallet. ARGH!!

It's done now though, and no more leaks.

Erin Zimmerman and Aaron Zimmerman

Aaron and Erin got married on Friday! Kelsey and I arrived just in time, narrowly beating out Erin Cox for the last guest to arrive. After the ceremony, we headed to the St Paul Boat Club for the reception. I kinda forgot to use my camera early in the evening, so it's all party pics here.

The bride shaking a leg on the dancefloor.A crowd.
Obligatory "couple" pic. Yes, I'm wearing my standard wedding attire. Maybe I'll wear a different tie next time.
Shawn and Erin Cox. We had all the members of Team Aaron (Erin) in attendance. Of course, half that team is now together forever.
Kelsey, Kristen and Cameron.
Pirate Steve on the dancefloor!
The happy (and slightly intoxicated) couple.
Six of the eight original crew.
It's astounding that this entire event was brought together by a couple of people not being able to hold their stomachs down. Back in early 2005, Mr. Derek Kruse came to visit Mike and myself. A Thursday evening turned out to be a little too much, and Derek paid the price all over the side of the cab. But because of that, our Friday evening Gasthoffs event turned to a Saturday event, where we met the girls above.

A few weeks later, Zimm (that's Aaron Zimmerman) joined us at Gasthoffs, where he also had a bit too much to drink. But that didn't prevent him from asking for Erin's number afterward, and love soon blossomed!

Congrats!

Mille Lacs

On Saturday morning, Anton, Mike, Steve and I all piled into the Grand Prix to head up to the north land for a day on beautiful Lake Mille Lacs. The reason for the occasion was Mr. Aaron Zimmerman's impending wedding and the need to celebrate his final days of bachelorhood.A condo right on the lake had been rented at Izaty's resort, along with a few hours of walleye fishing. But more on that later.

We probably had the two best days possible, weather wise. Lower 70s each day, with an absolutely gorgeous sky. Of course we broke out the bocce ball, polish horseshoes, and a football or two.
A quick dinner before heading off on the boat. You need a lot of food to feed 15 guys! But what a good looking grill.
Quinn had the most interesting sandals I've seen. The bottom of the sandals actually had a bottle opener in them! Genius.
And we're off! Now, I am not what you would call an avid angler. I think I've caught a total of three fish in my entire life. And there were all sunfish. So this is all new to me.
Here we are. Fishing. Not much else to say.
Nate brought a snuff board. Anton was pumped.
The bachelor caught the first big walleye. A 24 incher, I believe.
Matt was the big winner in terms of quantity. He cought something like 11 or 12 fish. Others caught one. Yet we're all 10 feet away from each other at most.
This is what fishing's all about, I guess.
And I learn quick. My first walleye was a 17 incher. Long enough to keep, but not too long to have to throw back. It became food.
I can't remember who caught this fish, but they obviously take great joy in it.
It was a picture perfect evening.
I think this was Mike's first fish. Also his first walleye ever.
Nate with a nice catch.
Aaron and his dad, Curt.
Oh, another one for me! I had a total of 5 or 6 walleye on the night. A pretty good haul, if I do say so myself. And all of mine were keepers.
Sunday morning we took the scenic route back, stopping in at Anton's parent's house. Mike enjoyed the tractor.
Overall, an excellent weekend. Good food, good fishing, and good times!