Da Beer and Da Bon Fire was Da Bomb….

All da guys had a nice evening on da mountain last night (sans da Grizz who was under da weather). Da Weave (aka Man Hut Brewmaster) brought up a partial keg of his magnificent Oktoberfest that we quickly polished off. I previewed his latest brew; an imperial IPA, it is fantastic (click the Brewmation link to the right and learn how he creates these magic brews). Big Lou and Bobo cut some “good wood” to make a bon fire in da big pit.... Da good wood makes da good fire. The G-Man brought up a few liquid provisions from his liquor room (imagine that a liquor room). A good time was had by all.

Oh yeah…. We had a surprise visitor; “The Mrs. Weave” came up to da hut for a drink…. She also supplied da boyz with da pasta and da sauce so she is welcome back anytime.

Dat’s da story.

Happy Holidays

On this Holiday eve 2008 I would like to take a moment to give thanks to our neighbors and friends for the fun, the warmth, the excitement, the wonder, the silliness, the booze, the camaraderie, the adventure, the partnership, the laughs, the sharing, the knowledge and the everyday love and good cheer we share.

From my family to yours, Happy Holidays and a really great New Year!

A Snow Day, Yay!…

The meteorologists finally got one right. Yesterday the northeast got hit with the first major snow of the season. Fortunately for me I had already pre-planned to take yesterday off so I didn’t mind the threat of snow at all… In fact I was excited about it. The anticipation of up to 12 inches of fresh snow when you have no place to go is a pretty good feeling. The wife and I spent the morning in our slippers and sweats, made a fire in the fireplace and put up a big pot of chicken soup. The first flakes fell around 11:30 as best I can tell.

Around 1:00 Big Lou and me got up to the Manhut. By then the first few inches of snow had fallen. Grizz joined us and we just hung out for while. It was pretty nice up there; very quiet and quite beautiful.

But the big news of the day was the call for the impromptu soirée we have come to call Winterfest. This is when a bunch of the neighbors; guys, wives and kids congregate to the cul-de-sac during the first big snow of the season for a few drinks and stuff. For the second year in a row we even had an official tree lighting thanks to the Grizz strapping his electrified tree to his pickup truck.

Highlights: Doughnuts, Doughnuts, Doughnuts! Emily’s, Linda’s and Maria’s first quad rides and the plow guy.

A Cool Experience…

Sunday morning the “Quad Squad” took a ride up to the top of the mountain.
It was beautiful up there. The air was colder and crisper than down below. Getting to the top made us feel as though we were in a completely different climate. The ice from the prior day that had coated the tree branches was still fully intact up there. Down the mountain it had completely melted the prior day. The sun was bright and reflected off the icy trees like Christmas tinsel. The weight was heavy on the branches as limbs were continually falling down around us. We paused for a smoke and a talk. Nice.

PS: Just as were about to leave, we noticed we had been standing directly under a heavily ice laden tree. A limb was dangling above us, broken off and barley holding on. Lucky us.

PSS: Since Lou’s Bro picked up his Can Am Outlander 400MAX Lou he has been “Quadless”. But Saturday he picked up his new toy; a 1988 Honda Foreman 350. Nice ride! That’s Lou catching some air. So now we all pretty much have the same machines as you can see in the pix….

Last Night…

Last night was CRAZY!.... Torrential rains, ice everywhere and wind. The sound of rain, rushing water and falling trees made for a long night of uneasy sleep. In the middle of the night we were blasted from our bed when the sound of a pretty good size tree limb fell on our roof… Not sure if there’s any damage. Going to wait until all the ice is thawed before I climb out there. Also, there was no glimpse of the Manhut from down the mountain this morning… Was it still there?.... Did it survive the night? OH NO! Bob and I took a quick ride up to check out the “situation”. Rode the old logger road up the mountain, which was surprisingly solid considering the rain. Half way up and we still didn’t see the hut. OH NO!...
Alas the hut remains; the heavy ice on the trees had blocked the view until we got almost all the way to the top. Everything is fine. Good thing we build it on a boulder…. Hut is high and dry.

Fire On The Mountain…

Bobo came up with the idea of inaugurating the fire pit last night… Pretty good idea since it was a brisk 28 degrees, and not much else was going on in the hood. Most everyone had commitments, especially since it’s getting so close to the holidays and there are so many chores and “stuff” to do (note to self: leaves still need to be raked). The Weaves were getting a little trim done (tree trimming that is), Big Lou & Co. were busy little elves, and the Grizz and G-Man were MIA. So all in all it was going to be a pretty mellow evening; a fire, a stogie, a couple of brews and that’s it. The fire pit worked out great. The location is good, It’s close enough to the Manhut to keep an eye on, far enough away not to burn it down plus the water barrel off the back roof is just close enough in case things get out of hand. We probably just want to beef up the walls a bit. As the early evening progressed the hut started to buzz; two of Bobo’s young sons came up for a bit, Grizz came up with beer in tow. Later Big Lou and one of his buddies wandered by including a very special guest….. Mr.’s Big Lou!

The Inaugural Poker Night & Drinkfest…

It’s official!.... Last night the founding Hut Men had the first official night of poker and libations at the Manhut. The gaming was brisk and the beverages flowed as we chowed down on some fine fine chili (thanks Linda), some excellent Bambi burgers (thanks Penny) and a wide assortment of top shelf spirits and beer (thanks to all the guys). Of course the night would not be complete without a fine selection of cigars for those of us who partake; choices included Acid, Monticristo, Alec Bradley, Padrons and more.
Everything in the hut worked great from the heat to the lights to the stove as the fun went on into the wee hours of the morning.
A Good time was had by all!.....

A Busy Day At The Manhut….

Yesterday we made some serious progress winterizing the hut :

• Fitting and installing rigid foam in the soffits…. Isn’t that something! (Thanks Bobo).
• Installation of the propane stove Lou got from his dads old Chris-Craft (Thanks Lou’s Dad & Grizz Man).
*** Huge shout out to Grizz for the new built-in bar counter he constructed and installed during the week.
• Our new 12-volt electric system and Ox-Yolk lighting fixture (Courtesy The Weave).
• Installation of the foam insulation and gutter guards (Big Lou done did it).
• General crack filling and caulking (by the one and only B-Man).

After all the work was done we felt pretty good about the progress we made to help keep most of the heat inside the Manhut. But, there are so many gaps in the heavy oak floorboards that the cold wind just whips in from underneath (Who’s idea it was to build on a slanted rock ledge anyway?). The heat is toasty warm about three feet from the floor up but below that it’s like an icebox. We really hate to cover up the great looking wood floors, but we might have to. And besides Bobo “knows a guy” who he might be able to swing a deal with for some cheap carpet. Maybe we can just leave it up there for the cold winter months and roll it up during the rest of the year. Stay tuned.

(Photo above) The Grizz admiring the labors of his work after a long day.
Note: this shot is really two photos I cleverly pasted together which you would not have known unless I told you...

(Photos below) Shots from all the work going on at the Manhut yesterday (click on image for a closer look).

A Test Drive…

Last night a few of us decided to take the Manhut out for a test-drive with a few of our international friends (friends including Mr. Saranc, Senior Corona And Sir Johnny Walker). Our enthusiasm was “fueled” by the installation of our propane heater earlier in the week… Ironically last night was the coldest night of the season reaching a bone chilling 17 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here’s what our test drive taught us; When you build a wooden box perch perilously off the ground with gapping floor boards, open soffits, no insulation with an overall R value of zero… There’s no amount of clothing or international spirits that can keep you warm.

Conclusion: We have got some serious weatherizing to do before next Saturday’s first official Poker Night & Drinkfest

*** Saturday, November 29th, 2008 is the first official Poker Night & Drinkfest ***
(Invitation only – casual dress)

The Buck Stops Here…

Hunting season began this past weekend. Lou and his Bro Brian spent both days up on the moutain and didn’t see much more than a couple of psychotic squirrels.

The good looking 8-point Buck to the left was shot (I mean photographed) by our fellow Hutman “The G-Man” in his back yard this morning…. A couple hundred feet from Lou’s front door.

Kind of ironic don’t you think?...

Sorry Big Lou

A Few Creature Comforts…

It’s official, the Manhut has heat! The Manhut has HEAT!... Old Grizz hooked us up good by installing the propane tank and heating unit yesterday. Lou’s bringing up the stove he got from his dad. The Weave is hooking us up with a 12-volt battery operated lighting system complete with a 100-year-old ox yolk chandelier he’s wiring up. Bob created an awesome fire pit already filled with wood scraps and ready to burn. And I install the most crucial comfort…. The bottle opener.
YEAH BABY!!!

*** Saturday, November 29th, 2008 is the first official Poker Night & Drinkfest ***
(Invitation only – casual dress)

Making A Little Progress...

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours tinkering up at the Manhut. First I reversed the two 48” x 54” windows (the ones we swiped from the trash) that the Shed Guys installed backwards. I took one of them (the one on the right) and hinged it on top so that if desired the window could swing up and out of the way. I put a handle at the bottom for easy maneuvering. Lou came up and we figured out where to place the propane heater; under the front window… a nice fit and out of the way. Lou and his quad were on their way further up the mountain to scout around for an ideal hunting spot since the season opener is next Saturday.

This morning Bob picked up a gutter for the rear roof. The Weave came up and we installed it pretty quickly. Still need a rain barrel to catch the water - want the water just in case of an emergency, like a campfire getting a little too big.

Manhut Rules...

Went on a business trip out to California this morning for two days. Sitting on an airplane for five hours makes you think about all sorts of stuff. Here's what I did; checkout my Manhut Rules. I'm gonna frame em and put em in the Manhut.

*** Feel free to print out your own copy of the Manhut Rules for your own personal use in your Manhut***

A Sunday Morning Romp...

It was an absolutely beautiful morning today, 50 degrees and sunny… A perfect day for a romp through the rocky wooded hills of the Hudson Valley with the guys, or, as my wife calls us “The Quad Squad”. Bob and I were kickin it up pretty good on our twin 1986 Honda FourTrax 350’s, while Lou cruised on his big Can Am Outlander 400MAX… With all that power, fully automatic transmission and 4-wheel independent suspension Lou blazed the lead trail passing through the roughest terrain like it was a newly paved parkway. I got jammed up a couple of times; once teetering on a boulder and another time wedged up against a tree… nothing too terrible. Bob had one little incident when he slid sideways on a wet log and got locked up against a tree… The three of us picked up the quad and were soon on our way. Two and a half hours of muscling my machine through the woods really made my muscles ache, but, this may be the last recreational ride for a little while since hunting season starts in two weeks. Lou has his brother coming up for opening day, they’re gonna take their quads up the mountain and are hoping for a couple of eight pointers. We’ll see…. I just don’t think he’s that patient.

Solid as a Rock!...

Today we finished the support structure for the Manhut. Ever since The Shed Guys left us teetering on the rock ledge we’ve all been pretty restless about getting the structure better supported. In the end everything worked out great; The uprights were dead-on level, the cross members kissed each joist and the angled kickers added extra strength and stability. Soon we’ll get some heating in and if we do nothing else we should be able to enjoy our sanctuary for the winter months ahead.

The Witches & Wenches of The Hut...

Happy Halloween!... Twas a beautiful evening for a little frolic and mischief. All the families of the block got together for a party in celebration of the fall frightfest. Highlights included scary decorations, a great array of food and drink, a giant movie screen showing among other things Sponge Bob square pants, a blazing fire and two costume contests including one for the kiddies and one for the adults. A few of us snuck away for a brief jaunt to the Manhut. We raised a pint or two and returned to the gala before anyone missed us.
BOOOO!

Lets Get Busy….

With a supply list and plan in hand me and the Weave hit the Depot for supplies. Wood, nails, cement… The one unknown; how we were going to drill holes for the rebar for the pilings into solid rock. These holes need to go in six inches before we can pour the concrete footings and build the pressure treated support structure. I had a bad feeling about that part from the first time it was mentioned. We knew we had a heavy duty hammer drill but what kind of bit would do the trick. We found a 10 inch long 5/8 inch diamond encrusted carbide tipped drill bit (around $20). We brought all the supplies up to the site, Dave brought up his generator for the drill power, and the rest of us including Lou and Bob would supply the labor….. We figured we’d be done with the whole support project before the end of the day. This was way too optimistic on my part (even with fast drying cement). It took hour upon hour just to drill the holes. Lou went to the store and picked up two more bits just so we could get done. We took turns one after the other leaning and pressing on the drill. By the end of the day we were exhausted and ended up with exactly two footings…. Didn’t look like much for a whole day of work. But the good news is that the hard work is done. Next weekend we should be able to finish up with the reinforcement project and begin to start enjoying the Manhut without fear of sliding off the mountain…... Yay!

We Have A Plan….

I showed pictures of Manhut to my pal Dave at work today. Dave is an Architect and leads our Companies construction department. Dave nearly barfed when he saw how precariously Manhut was perched on its unstable foundation. He said we should rename it the ManSled since it would probably be sliding down the hill at the first sign of frost. In any case, Dave the ever concerned friend was kind enough to propose a remedial plan for the ManHut fix (see image). The idea is to create concrete piers with uprights which would then support two 2”x12”’s on either side and below the floor joists. A weekend project for the guys no doubt.

Manhut Lives!!! :

Well Manhut has risen! Was worth the wait. In the end Shed Guy did a nice job. He was right though, I did build it in the most inconvenient place possible. I think he was just happy to get it built without it falling down the mountain. Truth is, after he left last night me and the guys reworked the stone and cement block footings to get them more stable and flat… Was probably worth doing since he had propped it up with wood wedges and pebbles. Next step is to come up with an idea for reinforcement. As you can tell from the photo, right now it’s just sitting on two unstable pivot points. It needs to be reinforced before we can enjoy it.

A few shots during construction...

A few photographs on construction day as Manhut takes shape.

What a F***ing Day! :

I woke up pretty darn psyched, I could hardly sleep; Today’s the day the Manhut gets built!... I’m up and outside by 10:00am, Bob comes up the driveway a few minutes later on his awesome 1986 Honda FourTrax 350 Quad (a machine so cool I had to buy the same exact year and model). A couple of smokes and some coffee later and we decide to bring up the mountain a bunch of the materials from the front lawn left by Shed Guy last night. We hangout for a while longer but by noon we decide it may be best if we both go to our homes and take a little nap since we don’t know if he’s coming and he’s not answering his cel phone (as usual). By 12:30 I’m out like a light.

It’s 3:00 and the dog starts barking, waking me up. There’s a truck in the driveway, three Mexicans are in the driveway meandering about. I find my boots and coat and make it outside as fast as I can. “Where’s Ed?” I ask. They point up the mountain. I go to the garage get my 1986 Honda FourTrax 350 Quad and go up the hill. When I get there Shed Guy is just staring into space. “What took you so long?” I ask. “It’s been a tough day " he says "and it’s just about to get a lot tougher"……

At this point it's best if I skip most of the conversation detail cause it got pretty ugly (I have cleaned it up). In summary it has to do with me being mentally unstable for wishing to build a Manhut on the most inconvenient of all possible places and how I might need to be more fiscally amiable since I would be imposing such hardship on Shed Guy and his band of merry Mexican laborers. I retort with the fact that he should have come earlier to take a look at the site which I invited him to do no less than three times while trying to explain the project as best I could, and, that when we first spoke he said and I quote; “I can build anywhere I can get my truck”…. In the end we shake hands and they begin to build.

As the foundation begins to take shape and some of the other guys show up after work I realize that I must be mentally unstable for wishing to build a Manhut on the most inconvenient of all possible places… Before the first nail is hammered we all realize that the footing for this structure just aint gonna cut it and we had better come up with a reinforcement strategy or Manhut is gonna slide off its granite perch down the mountain and into the Weave's pool.

By 6:00pm the base is built and all the wood is cut for tomorrow’s construction…

Shed Guy is a “No Show” :

So Shed Guy (SG) is a no-show on Monday, so we arrange for Tuesday. So about 9:00 on Monday night SG calls and asks if, “I’m gonna be up for a while”. I tell him sure. About 11:00 SG shows up and dumps another load of wood on my front lawn. He says he’ll be here at around 10:00 am in the morning cause he’s got to finish shingling a roof that wasn’t done today. I’m getting a bad feeling about SG.

Tomorrow Manhut Gets Built :

Crisp October morning, Sunday the 19th. Tomorrow Manhut gets erected, the excitement is in the air. So after much discussion and debate the final plan for the Manhut has become pretty straightforward. The structure will be a one level, 12’ x 12’ square (any fancy decks or overhangs will have to be added later). We all got together this morning to decide the final building details; positioning, door and window placement, foundation support, etc… It’s got to get built and weather tight before hunting season begins and the weather gets too cold. With any luck we’ll be in business by next weekend…. If all goes as planned.

Got Some Good Wood :

It’s Here!... My first sign of real progress! The first trailer load of wood. An ecologically friendly mix of rough-cut white pine, recycled telephone poles and other reclaimed odds and ends…. The next step will be to get this pile transferred to a pickup truck and up the mountain, a chore that makes my back ache just thinking about. If all goes as planned it will be on top by the weekend with help from the other “men of the Hut”.

Going Garbage Picking :

I saw these driving home from work; two 48"x54" thermal pane windows sitting on the curb Thursday, trash day. They were in front of a fairly new house in the area but nobody I knew. There they were leaning against an old broken desk among other junk. WOW I thought....Perfect for the Manhut!.... And for FREE! I rushed home, got The Weave and took off in his pickup. I was kind of nervous thinking that in the 15 minutes since I left the scene that someone else might have had the same idea. But happily when we got back to the scene of the trash they were still there. We tossed them in the truck and and snuck away like theives in the night.

My First Sketch :

My first sketch doodled on the corner of a napkin at lunch. Very Beverly "Hillbillies" if you know what I mean.

The Idea :

I was recently on a business trip overseas. One evening while sitting around a table with some colleagues, one of the guys mentioned that he would never be able to "do this at home". "Do what?" I said. "Do this, sit around with a bunch of guys, be loud, smoke cigars, drink a bunch and talk too much. My wife would kill me!" he said.... That seemed to be the sentiment of everyone at the table.... Especially the cigar smoking part. So I shared a conversation that I just had a week earlier with some of my guy neighbors. It was this idea of a place that guys can go to (close to home) and just hang out with the other guys. A place to smoke a cigar without criticism (and without freezing our asses off out in the garage). A place to hang out with a few creature comforts; like a couch, a stove, a cooler, a poker table, a roll of toilet paper. A place in a nice setting, without pressure, without chores and no responsibilities. Something rustic and primal with walls and a roof and not much more.....We called this place ManHut.
As each person thought about my story in their mind, the more the idea grew. "A fire pit, you've got to have a fire pit!". "Build a deck around it", "You've got to have a bar", "Need some water barrels if you’re gonna have a fire pit".... And so it went for a good part of the night.
By the end of that evening, I realized that there was something pretty universal about the idea of Manhut and that I needed to build one.

- Manhut is a place. Man Hut is a state of mind. Man Hut is freedom, friends and good times.

I Love My Wife And Kids....

I want to begin this Manhut Blog by saying a few straight forward things about me. First, I love my wife. She's great. We've been married nearly 25 years and it's been a great ride. We both have careers we love, families we love and some really good friends. Along the way, we raised two great kids, did all the things couples and parents are supposed to do and have really had a lot of fun doing it... Truly, we have been blessed.