The true rules of shotgun

The history of “Shotgun” goes back to the days of the Wild West. Back then they had covered wagons, and it was necessary to protect the wagon from Indians and mean-tempered cowboys. For protection someone would sit next to the driver and hold a shotgun. This has evolved into the ritual known as “Shotgun” and is practiced before most car rides.

There are many ways to play but everyone knows the game. The fight for the most coveted position in the car is determined by on single word, Shotgun. The only problem with this "game", or some may call it a lifestyle, is that the rules are not the same in different places and according to different people. This can all be fixed if everyone plays according to the Official Shotgun Rules, which can be found at shotgunrules.com

The creators of the rules find the battle for shotgun no laughing matter. “Shotgun is a living entity and be aware that it is always changing for the better good of society,” said Joshua Pearson, co-creator of the Official Shotgun Rules. They may always be changing, but as of right now these are the official rules: the person must call “Shotgun” loud enough for at least one other occupant of the car to hear and to be able to call “Shotgun” the person has to be outside the building. Some people play that you must see the car to be able to call "shotgun" but they would be incorrect.

Now that we all know the rules, some people may be asking why is this so important and to them I say, umm DUH! the passenger seat means you have the most leg room, you get to control the radio (which is one of the most important things in life), reclining seats!, and of course you have the privilege of being surrounded by airbags.

I hope I have enlightened all of your lives.

Numero Cuatro

Topic of the week:
Best Halloween Candy

I may be 18 going on 19, but I still love trick-or-treating. I figure if I have a good enough costume, people won't be able to tell how old I am, and most people are willing to give you candy if you actually put effort into your outfit. So, yes I will still try and go trick-or-treating this year, but that's not the issue.

I want to discuss what the goal is of the evening, which is of course candy. As much candy as possible. My friends and I are hard core when it comes to getting as many sweets as possible. But I'm not going to divulge my secrets. I will tell you what my favorite items are to receive on All Hallows' Eve night. For me, it's those little packages of sour patch kids. There's only like five in a package, but if I am able to acquire six of those that's at least 30 pieces of sour patch!! Those are also hard to trade for sense almost everyone likes those, but I am always willing to trade a prime piece of Reese's or whatever your favorite chocolate bar is. Keep that in mind, if you go trick-or-treating.

But, anyways back to the loot. One thing I despise getting are those black and orange taffies. No matter how recently they have been purchased, they look like the person fished them out of their 50 year old Halloween bag that was in the back of their closet. And you can't sell those pieces of candy away. I'm also not a fan of getting icee pops or any kind of ice cream, it may be a creative thing to give out but after freezing my butt off for four hours that is the last thing I want to eat.

Now, I don't mean to be rude but Mequon seems like a pretty ritzy area. And ritzy areas tend to give out large candy bars or several other pieces of candy. Which means this year may be an epic year. EPIC.

St. Vinnie’s, the Holy Grail

This week I would like to share my favorite pastime: thrifting. If you are a person that only shops at Abercrombie, American Eagle, or whatever brainwashed “fashion trend” the Man is feeding youth these days, then you may not enjoy the true fashion hunting that is involved with thrift stores.

OK, maybe I shouldn’t start off by insulting 90% of my audience. Plus, I don’t want to be a hypocrite because I’m sure I have an American Eagle sweatshirt hidden somewhere in my closet from eighth grade. Let me start anew. Thrifting is not just a way to spend your hard earned paycheck; it is an adventure. I can spend hours sifting through thousands of shirts, pants, dresses, jackets and shoes in assorted styles, eras, and colors just to find the “One”. The “One” is that magical item that is sans shoulder pads and stains, has come back into style, and fits perfectly. I can count the number of days on one hand that I have found multi-magical items, those days will live in my memory as glorious… forever. You may be thinking that is too much work just to find some clothes, but its not just about finding an outfit. Thrifting takes effort, but it is also a spectacle of fun, kind of like a scavenger hunt.

Thrift stores such as Bethesda, Saint Vincent de Paul (better known as Vinnie’s and is my paradise), or Yellowjacket have unpredictable hours and are in the weirdest locations, so that is a journey in itself. Then there are the hours of exploring through awesomeness, trying wacky outfits on, taking pictures in prom dresses from the eighties, playing with semi-broken toys, relaxing in used Lazy-boys, etc. The best part is feeling like you accomplished something when you finally get to the check out and only pay $3.11 for two dresses, a pair of moccasins, and a fur coat. If the idea of wearing someone else’s clothes grosses you out, there is always the huge assortment of books and music, jewelry, furniture, and other random mishmash.

I’m hoping I may have swayed you to experience the thrill of bargain hunting at its most extreme. But if you are still a little leery, then I have a program that will slowly emerge you into the underground fashion culture. First, start off at a place like T.J. Maxx where you will learn to bargain hunt. Next, go to Style Exchange and learn to shop by size instead of going straight for the first cute shirt you see; also at a place like that you can exchange your old clothes for money and then go shopping. Third stop is at Goodwill, which is the most commercial of the thrift stores, and is the easiest to learn your way through if you are a thrifting newbie. After that you are prepared to step into any thrift store: Bethesda, Manna for Life, Fox Annie’s Closet, etc. Finally, if you think you are ready, go to the Holy Grail and experience pure bliss.

Need a sled? Does your Backstreet Boys C.D. have a scratch in it? Only have five dollars to buy a prom dress? Moving our of your parents’ house soon? Go thrifting!!!