UPDATE from the field:

The dock stairs are in big trouble.  A large long log has washed in and has been beating against the stairs and railing for a couple of days.  The railing is all beaten up and I think the stairs are no longer stable.

Note: This is not necessarily a disaster (for us) because I suspect that by Man Weekend the lake level will still be at or above the cement step level so there’ll be no beach to use anyway. The Burlington Free Press says the lake level has dropped a foot since the peak.

This is the 13th year that Men have been sojourning to Highgate Springs for spiritual and physical rejuvenation and refreshment. Now Man Weekend is mature enough to enter the ranks of the senior weekends (Thanksgiving, Superbowl, etc.) This year Man Weekend becomes a Man!

Revised list of events and procedures:

• Passages will be read from “The Art of Manliness.”
• Wes Dunham hats will serve as yarmulkes.
• All beer must be kosher.
• Rabbi Doctor Glenn Kaye will provide spiritual counseling and serve as mohel to Philistines in need.
• Something (TBD) will be sacrificed on the Altar of the Ridge. (We still have the magnesium plate John McCall brought last year. That will make excellent “heavenly” light.)
• A Feast of Great Magnificence will be held. (If Allen and Patrick are up to it again.)

Strand Craft

Link:

Art of Manliness

Anointing: A good beating. A case for the application of salve.

Blind Monkeys: An imaginary collection at the Zoological Gardens, which are supposed to receive care and attention from persons fitted by nature for such office and for little else. An idle and useless person is often told that he is only fit to lead the Blind Monkeys to evacuate. Another form this elegant conversation takes, is for one man to tell another that he knows of a suitable situation for him. “How much a week? and what to do?” are natural questions, and then comes the scathing and sarcastic reply, “Five bob a week at the doctor’s– you’re to stand behind the door and make the patients sick. They won’t want no physic when they sees your mug.”

Cupboard Love. Pretended love to the cook, or any other person, for the sake of a meal. My guts cry cupboard; i.e. I am hungry.

Earth Bath. A grave.

Fimble-Famble. A lame, prevaricating excuse.

Gentleman of Four Outs. When a vulgar, blustering fellow asserts that he is a gentleman, the retort generally is, ” Yes, a Gentleman Of Four Outs”–that is, without wit, without money, without credit, and without manners.

O’clock. “Like One O’clock,” a favorite comparison with the lower orders, implying briskness; otherwise “like winkin’.” “To know what’s O’clock” is to be wide-awake, sharp, and experienced.

Rumbumptious. Haughty, pugilistic.

Snotter, or Wipe-hauler. A pickpocket whose chief fancy is for gentlemen’s pocket-handkerchiefs.

Tune the Old Cow Died of. An epithet for any ill-played or discordant piece of music.

This year the State of Vermont got it right and Saturday, June 12 is Free Fishing Day and the start of Bass Season.

Usually Charles does a groovy Man Weekend web site cover page but I
haven’t heard from him since he suspiciously sent videos instead of attending Man Weekend 2009. I suspect he’s been assimilated by the
Borg.

So instead you get a cheesy exercise in visualization. Imagine the beer
bottle on the right cut out from the background, reduced, rotated, and
inserted into the hands of the Space Baby on the left. Then imagine
the words
“Man Weekend”
and
“with beer!”
inserted before and after the movie title in a graffiti font:

Click on one of the images to go to the Man Weekend web site.

Footnotes:

¹National Alcohol Swilling Administration

²U.S. Association of Fishermen

³Except at the Grow cottage, and Fred, and a
few other men.