The story behind the photo

Jeff Foxworthy defines “redneck” as “a glorious lack of sophistication.”
For the most part this is a perfect description for my husband, especially last weekend.

Nate’s been playing softball with a group of guys from the Medford area for the last several years, since before we were a couple. I think meeting his softball team ranked right up there with meeting the family: I had to meet their approval before I was in. They’re a pretty harmless group of guys, so I don’t think I could pick a better crowd for Nate to hang out with in the summer. It’s good he has people to bond with outside his regular crowd.

Softball season usually runs from early May to Labor Day. In the “off-season” they really don’t see each other much except for the occasional random meeting at a wedding or out on a weekend. As sick of softball as Nate can get by the end of summer, he’s always ready to rekindle the friendships and get out there again in the spring.

So when Greg, the team’s sponsor, called a few weeks ago and invited Nate to join a different kind of team, he jumped at it. In typical Greg fashion, it couldn’t be something normal like pool or darts. It had to be something a little off the wall.
Greg invited Nate to join his outhouse racing team. Just saying it conjures up all sorts of backwoods visions, and brings the term “redneck” to mind.

Of all things to do in the winter in Wisconsin (skiiing, hockey, snowmobiling) outhouse racing seems to have a dedicated following. At least in Perkinstown it does. Nate agreed so on Saturday it was off to the remote area in the national forest to watch teams of four push a wooden hut on skis containing their fifth team member.

Greg’s team was a new addition, and their outhouse was sparkling new. The loving hands that built it (which were probably bribed with the promise of free beer) did a great job. It was sturdy yet light: about 220 pounds including the rider. All four of the pushers were rookies in the sport, but young and quick. They walked the course before the race to look for potential trouble spots.

When it was time to go Nate handed me his coat and sweatshirt, stripping down to his softball jersey which was the uniform of the outhouse team as well. They drew #1, so they were the first team to brave the course. When given the signal the guys were off up the hill and through the trees. I couldn’t see much of what was happening through the woods. Suddenly the outhouse burst into sight.

But it was two team members short. Where was Nate?

A split second later Nate and his fellow detached teammate barreled down the hill after it. The other two still hanging on continued to go with Nate frantically trying to catch up. He caught the outhouse with less than 50 meters to go, but they had to pull up and wait while the fourth caught them too before they crossed the finish.

Surely enough, there was an amusing tale behind it. Nate and the other guy on his side got pushed into the deep snow. As they tried to sprint through snow up to their knees, the outhouse gained speed and they had to let go or get dragged behind it. Fifth place may have been a disappointing finish for them, but I’m sure they will do better next year.

Greg's Towing Outhouse Racing Team

Ah yes, the Greg's Towing Outhouse Racing Team. No joke.

My redneck husband is the one on the left. They placed 5th out of 12 teams. One placing higher would have netted them a case of frozen pizzas. Still, not too bad for a bunch of rookies. They're already plotting how to improve the design for next year.

Sometimes I do love my job

A few thoughts

Here's a few random, Tuesday items:

-I ordered a photo printer for my mother-in-law for Christmas online, and I STILL have not gotten it. They say its backordered. And yet, they charged my credit card. I sent them a not-so-nice email. Hopefully they will get the hint.

-My work camera is on the downward spiral. The autofocus on the trusty ole Canon 10D is hit and miss. It may be replaced soon, likely with the newest member of the Canon family, the XSi. I'm giddy about this for some reason. I love new toys, especially when I don't have to pay for them.

-Dawn is still down for the count since the influenza is spreading through her household. Kind of makes me wish I'd gotten the flu shot. At least Jacob got it.

-Kirsten called and said she had a bad day. Bosses suck, she said. I don't think it made her feel any better when I told her mine is in Florida for the next three weeks. (Must be nice, huh?)

-I'm lacking motivation tonight after this week's paper. I need to figure out what to write my column about yet, any suggestions? But yet, I'm doing unproductive things like complaining to customer service and updating my blog. Huh.

P.S. I tried upload a cute picture of my sis when she was four. Doesn't want to go through the dial up. Maybe another time.

A funny e-mail

This is something Jacob would do, and my guess is Nate would do the same:

One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me and my brother who is four years older than I am. I was maybe 3 and a half years old and had just recovered from an accident in which my arm had been broken among other injuries.

Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it was one of my favorite toys. Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news and my brother was playing nearby in the living room when I brought Daddy a little cup of 'tea', which was just water.

After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Mom came home. My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!'

My Mom waited, and sure enough, here I come down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy and she watches him drink it up, then she says to him, 'Did it ever occur to you that the only place that baby can reach to get water is the toilet?'


Now to my update! Nate and I took Jacob to the Kalahari in the Dells last weekend. I was there for the newspaper convention (got an award, whoop whoop!), so we got a good deal on the convention rate. Jacob had a blast in the water park, but I'm sad to report I didn't think to take a waterproof camera. :(

Otherwise, not much new to report. Just busy with work as usual. I'm hatching a plan to "retire" from newspapers and become a full-time mom, part-time farm worker and part-time freelance writer, maybe even mess around with some photography. Still too many loose ends yet, but that's my goal.

A funny e-mail

This is something Jacob would do, and my guess is Nate would do the same:

One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me and my brother who is four years older than I am. I was maybe 3 and a half years old and had just recovered from an accident in which my arm had been broken among other injuries.

Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it was one of my favorite toys. Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news and my brother was playing nearby in the living room when I brought Daddy a little cup of 'tea', which was just water.

After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Mom came home. My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!'

My Mom waited, and sure enough, here I come down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy and she watches him drink it up, then she says to him, 'Did it ever occur to you that the only place that baby can reach to get water is the toilet?'


Now to my update! Nate and I took Jacob to the Kalahari in the Dells last weekend. I was there for the newspaper convention (got an award, whoop whoop!), so we got a good deal on the convention rate. Jacob had a blast in the water park, but I'm sad to report I didn't think to take a waterproof camera. :(

Otherwise, not much new to report. Just busy with work as usual. I'm hatching a plan to "retire" from newspapers and become a full-time mom, part-time farm worker and part-time freelance writer, maybe even mess around with some photography. Still too many loose ends yet, but that's my goal.