wildside

Check out buckfallsranch.com Its owners are baseball players Kirk Gibson and David Wells. We saw a feature about it on TV not too long ago and it looked interesting. Also, if you do a google search for Michigan guided hunts, you'll find several listings. Good luck!

Exactly what we're getting ready to do right now!

Santa left a Wii system under the tree for our family gift. Anyone ever play before? The only video game that I ever really played was PacMan back in the arcades of the 80's (yes, I'm dating myself), and I have to say that this Wii is somthing else! Really fun, and there are a variety of games available for all age groups. It's certainly a huge hit in our house!

Great pictures and story. Reminds me so much of back when my husband and I were dating. One of my favorite "dates" was a particular time when we were fishing out on Lake Michigan and came upon a hot spot for steelhead. We couldn't reel them in fast enough. It was an absolute blast! We still love enjoying the great outdoors together and now have our two little buddies (son, 6, and daughter, 4) to share the fun with us. There's a magnet on our refrigerator that reads "One great fisherman lives here with the catch of his life". I wish you a wonderful future with your "greatest catch"! Laura

Polaris Sportsman 700 EFI. Awesome machine.

What has you heading up towards the "thumb" area of Michigan? Enjoy your time and have a fun and safe New Year's celebration. For anyone not in the know, hold up your right hand, palm facing you, fingers together and thumb a little ways apart - that is the lower peninsula of Michigan! We can all refer to where we live in the state by what part of the hand holds our towns. . . . simple, yet effective!

Eagles Cowboys Bears Bucs Jaguars Browns Packers Chiefs Rams Colts over

Our 6-year-old son was up and at 'em a little after 4 a.m. I told him to snuggle with me in bed a while and try to fall back to sleep - he snuggled, but announced the time every couple of minutes - "Mom, it's 5:05 now. . . . Mom, now it's 5:08 - can we please get up?!". Needless to say, we finally told him to "go for it" just before 6. He woke up his 4-year-old sister and they both were completely overjoyed to see that the milk and cookies were all gone and there were presents under the tree! Merry Christmas!

Browns Packers NY Giants Saints Vikings Lions Bucs Titans Seahawks Monday Nighter: Chargers over

Couldn't agree with you more! I often press mute on the remote so we don't have to listen to him say "And just like that, a fresh set of downs" over and over again! Enough to drive you nuts!

Congrats to your husband on a really nice buck! Now it's your turn.

Good work, Ruth.

I just finished a plate of venison salami and Vermont cheddar on Ritz (with some apples slices on the side). Yum! As for the snow outside - we're in a zone expected to see 12-16 inches on the ground when all's said and done. It's blowing and drifting like crazy out there. Good day to make Christmas cookies with the kids!

Steelers Browns Lions Cowboys NY Giants Saints Packers Ravens Titans Monday Night Bears under

You know, I haven't been on the forums much lately, and this is the first post that I read . . . what an awesome story. The thoughtfulness and generosity of those two "Santa Clauses" exemplifies all that is so wonderful about this time of the year - selfless giving to others. Thanks for sharing, Buckee. Merry Christmas and happy hunting! Laura

Chargers Bucs NY Giants Seahawks Steelers Browns Colts Broncos Cowboys Monday Nighter Saints under

1. Do you drink egg nog? yes, with a little somethin' special added 2. Open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? both 3. You eat fruitcake? I only work with them 4. Ever had a white Christmas? absolutely! 5. Ever catch your parents playing Santa? no 6. Do you attend special plays or contadas? sometimes 7. Go to a Christmas parade? yes 8. Do you have all your shopping done? I wish! 9. Do you get up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning or sleep in? whenever the kids wake up . . . usually at the crack 10. Do you hang mistletoe? not necessary to get same results 11. Do you hunt on Christmas? not usually 12. Do you attend church services on Christmas? more often on Christmas Eve 13. Do you make a special trip just to go look at Christmas lights? historically, yes, but my husband is not as into that 14. Do you buy your pets a gift? fresh cracked corn for the backyard deer and turkeys 15. Do you travel long distances on Christmas to visit relatives? not on the actual day 16. And last but not least....have you been good alllllll year?? good at what, exactly?!

Big Jim doll with his own camper and accesories.

Happy Birthday!!!

You know, I had no idea about the "urban legend" thing. . . I simply received it as an e-mail from, truth be told, one of my sisters and her husband, and found it to be well worth the few minutes of read time. Very thought provoking, any way. So, I agree with Andrea's quote above and say, hey, if it makes my mind think, why not?! From some of the comments others have made, it seems as though I'm not alone in that regard! Besides, who's to say that the "urban legend" thing isn't an "urban legend" in and of itself? Laura

Ruth, you've not given your first enema yet, have you?! Ah, much to learn, young "grasshopper" nursing student.

Amen to that! Interesting, I just posted a thread with a similar message, only it isn't a cute rhyming poem like this one. This past Saturday evening, the town of Chelsea, Michigan ("our" town, even though our mailing address is Gregory) had a Christmas light parade. Snow was falling, and the floats with lights were beautiful. Folks were festive and the overall mood was like something out of a movie. My favorite part? The fact that EVERYONE was shouting out, "Merry Christmas"!

I'm sorry, what was the question? Would I like flowers, diamonds or hunting equipment as a gift or do I noodle? I'd like a new bow-hunting jacket with a diamond necklace in the pocket and a beautiful bouquet of flowers up one sleeve.

I received this as an e-mail and found it interesting enough to pass along as simply something to think about: The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary. My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?' In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.' Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to ****. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards. Honestly and respectfully, Ben Stein

He certainly attracts a "cult-like" following. Okay, now I'm just giving you a hard time. . . I'll stop. I just couldn't resist.