Manville

Yesterday evening my hubby’s long-time fishing buddy drove for 4 hours to visit us here in the Midwestern northland (if you can figure that out) for the privilege of freezing to death out on the ice in front of our house.  Upon his arrival the guys sidestepped the frozen lake, however, in lieu of the hot tub where they languished in front of swirling jets with Irish whiskey until 1:00 a.m.  

A hearty sausage-and-egg breakfast kicked off the morning, then they hauled the auger and sled filled with various stunted-looking poles and baits and techno-gear (a fish finder with circular strobe-like flashing lights, for goodness sake) out on the frozen expanse.  They returned empty-handed, having had not even a single nibble. 

After a chili-and-cornbread lunch with homemade berry pie for dessert, they fell asleep in the Man Cave (TV room) in front of a basketball game.  Then it was up-and-at-em again, back on the ice for another try in another frigid, wind-swept spot.  A couple of hours later, I walked out to visit them. So this is how old men have fun - sitting in Siberia looking at holes in the ice?  I don't get it.

But they were elated with their catch: 18 fish, 8 keepers.  Back home, they started a celebratory fire in the fireplace. Adventure (in their minds, or panic, in mine) erupted when ominous smoke rolls billowed  into the house because of a malfunctioning flu.  I turned off the thermostat and we ran around opening all the doors and windows - brrrrrrrr - amidst exaggerated banter (the normative male coping mechanism). Our 34-year-old son, the most spry male in the group, climbed on the roof and fiddled with the frozen cap to remediate the situation.  Ah, at last the fire flickered happily, and relative normalcy returned. The men cleaned their fish, ate my manly marinated beef and venison steaks, and picked “Tom Dooley” on the new banjo.

Now it’s 10:30 0.m. and they’re back out in the hot tub, sock caps on their heads, steam pouring into the night sky, stories in full swing.  It’s definitely Manville around here this weekend.