Not much going on in the world.  The Cajun Classic National Enduro was held last weekend and again tough guy Mike Lafferty was the big winner.  And again he was followed home by Russell Bobbitt.  Wally Palmer (fresh off his alligator eating trip) was third.  I believe everyone is still there eating Cajun chicken sandwiches since I have not been informed of anything else.  No news.  No big story.  Nothing.  Just the results.

Since that is a pathetic blip of news I will follow that up with some more garbage.

The Minneapolis supercross was Saturday night.  Now I know that this is an off road website, but here in the frozen tundra (otherwise known as the state of Minnesota) sometimes there is the need to fill the void of trees, rocks, and ruts with crowds, exhaust fumes, and triples.  You see up here there are four seasons just like everywhere else, but we call them something different.  We have the riding season, trepidation of the tundra, tundra, and anticipation of the riding season.  Riding season is self explanatory.  Trepidation of the tundra usually hits right after the last race of the season.  You could do more riding, but the ground has started to freeze and therefore is quite unforgiving if you should be so unlucky to meet it.  As tundra sets in there is once again a need for riding that begins to run deep in our veins and has us mounting studded tires and blasting around a track on the frozen pond or up the local river or creek.  Then, usually around the beginning of March, the temps begin to warm and with that the ice begins to melt.  This signifies the beginning of the anticipation of the new riding season.  Right now we are in this season.

              And so it was with this purposelessness, like when you are sitting at the bar with an empty glass waiting patiently for the bartender to make his way down to you, that I stopped by my brother’s shop last Friday to swap studded tires for unstudded and begin my preparations for the new season.  As I walked in he says, “Hey you wanna go to the Supercross?  I’ve got free tickets.”  My two favorite types of free, in order of importance, are free beer and free tickets.  I’m in. 

Turns out, a rep of his had invited him to a pre race party at a local bar and then given him some tickets for the race.  I was (very unfortunately) unable to make the pre race drinking party since my fatherly duties called for me to be attending my daughters dance program.  That taken care of, I hoped in the truck with some friends and we made our way to the Metrodome.  After watching the heats my brother, Al, and I made our way to the press box that his rep was also having a party in.  When we got there most of the beer was gone.  Very disappointing!  The rep made us a VERY strong vodka / Red Bull of which I took one sip and realized that after only a few beers, I was far too sober for that nonsense and dumped it into my brother’s glass.  Someone scrounged up a couple of cans of beer and we quickly took them and headed back to our seats.  A quick detour to the little boy’s room provided some great entertainment as my now drunk brother attempted to set his newly opened beer on the ledge of the trough, but instead managed to dropped it in.  He bitched for at least five minutes.  I laughed for ten.  We made it back to our seats and by this time Al said his alcohol filled eyes were having trouble focusing.  Cue up more laughter from me.  Once the 450’s hit the track the alcohol had moved to his brain and he kept asking me who was leading the race.  I said Josh Hill and after about the fortieth time he looked at me with utter surprise and said “Woa that would be an upset!”  O.K. Al, I think it’s time for you to go to sleep! 

            Now with the supercross out of the way I can continue my preparations for the riding season.  After all it is supposed to be almost forty degrees out today!

Psycho  Monkey