We count our losses in Normal Minn—-this ain’t no Badger “no contest” game: Fiction

Over some strong stiff coffee this morning at Betty Lou's in Normal, Mn the grizzly bass fishermen had a fieldday over the breaking news story that the Wisconsin Badgers who had a wonderful win last Saturday with a history making performance by their new quarterback---were stunned this week as that quarterback and his backup as well as the coach and a dozen players tested positive for Covid. The even bigger news was that the Badgers who were scheduled to play Nebraska this coming Saturday requested that the game be considered a "No contest" and not count as a loss. Meanwhile all across Wisconsin covid is rampaging and folks are dying. For keeps. So I just blurted it out"What do you think.?". The old fisherman responded: Up here in bass fishing country when you are not getting any nibbles in one location one moves the boat or changes the bait. Doing nothin is not the plan. Change is required. "As for the badgers....they need to count the game with Nebraska as a loss. And then change the remainder of the football season till the spring. Not counting losses is not the manly thing to do.

Preparing for Thanksgiving peace, State deploys National Guard for next 12 months:Fiction

Cold weather but hot hot coffee at Betty Lou's coffee shop in Normal Mn. this morning. The surprise this morning was the bass fishermen response to the news that our state has decided to deploy the National Guard in a 12 month deployment effort to "Be Safe" during the holidays and they define the holidays as beginning right after the presidential election. There was total agreement--which is rare in the frozen tundra-- that if you have no intention of changing laws and behavior there is no choice but to get ready for the riots...and as the rent moritorium expires and homelessness mounts and as doubts rise as to real reform as to social justice...well.. curfews and the National Guard seem next. Stay tuned as I follow this story.

We’re all Gator Fans “Packing the Swamp”. : Fiction

Fun coffee this morning at Betty Lou's in Normal Minnesota where the walleye fisherman gave a down home review of the recent episode of the Florida Gators.....and specifically the coach who tried to motivate the entire state of Florida to "Pack the Swamp" or fill the stadium of Florida university when the LSU team was to play the Gators. For all you frozen tundra fishermen the "swamp" is the stadium although yes it could refer to the entire state of Florida. But Presto!!! The very next day the game was cancelled due to a covid outbreak and to make matters worse the coach himself contracted covid. Bold leadership for some. Stupidity for others. In Florida infection just means a game cancelled and if death occurs you get a flag flown at half mast to make your heirs feel good.. So We're all Gators Now. worried that we might run out of caskets to stack or flags to fly. Stay tuned as I follow this story.

All the cameras are turned off in Normal, Mn: Fiction

Traumatic day today since i was unable to get to Betty Lou's coffee shop in time for the Bass fishermens coffee time---but being creative I did connect with zoom. Much of the wit of the bass fishermen is visual with all the rolled eyebrows and such and yes some grunts to spice things up--so I was very disappointed that all the cameras were turned off and i could only hear the muffled dialogue around the table. One of the guys explained the no camera policy. You have to have presence to be the fisherman. Virtual does not cut it. The world is filled with those who have forgotten how to show up. The coffee time is sacred here. I understood. Actually it could have been worse. The guys could have turned off their hearing aids. Stay tuned as I follow this story.