5th annual float t(r)ip

If it's the weekend after Father's Day, it's my fraternity brothers' annual float trip.

Once again, we went to Bennett Springs State Park.

Amazing how the fish all follow directions so well, facing the same direction.

Just like Zacchaeus climbed?

Craig's a photo op waiting to happen.

It was cool that Neal drove over from St. Louis to join us for the first time.

Well, until I find our waterproof camera case, I won't have any pics of our actual day-long float trip, but it was perfect, once again. Seems like we spend half the time wishing we were still college students, and the other half thankful that we're not.

A true hipster.

Ready for some grub.

Until next year, gentlemen...

4th annual float t(r)ip

For the fourth year in a row, my fraternity brothers and I took our annual float trip the weekend after Father's Day. Here's what south-central Missouri looks like on a gorgeous summer day at 60 miles per hour.

We finally arrived at our destination — Bennett Springs State Park near Lebanon, Mo.

After setting up camp...

...James, Craig and I set off to explore our surroundings (with some refreshments, of course).

The Bennett Spring fish hatchery has been part of the Missouri State Park system since the 1920s..

Here fishy, fishy, fishy.

The hatchery stocks the river on a daily basis with approximately 350,000 to 420,000 rainbow trout annually...

...attracting roughly 800,000 anglers per year.

Saturday morning, while we were still dry.

I didn't take my camera on the water but, suffice it to say, we had a blast.

Fall Classic X

This was the tenth year of Northwest's regular-season conference football game with Pitt State at Arrowhead Stadium. Which means the tenth anniversary of setting the record for the most people ever at an NCAA Division II football game — 26,695 (more than the Division II national championship even attracts). And the tenth year of being impressed with our own tailgating expertise.

Bobby's my bud.

It was a gorgeous day with not a cloud in the sky.

Alex, Susan & Shane.

Ever seen double-decker Rice Krispy treats before? That's a layer of peanut butter and pretzel pieces between two chocolate-covered Rice Krispy treats, topped with chunks of Reese's peanut butter cups. Thanks, Susan, for the insulin rush!

The National Anthem.

Kick off!

Does your marching band do this? (A better question might be, does your marching band get applause during its half-time performance ... and a standing ovation at the end?)

Northwest vs. Pitt State

Northwest vs. University of Central Missouri