By the Beard of Zeus

Here we are Tuesday night, officially day two of my furlough. I haven’t accomplished much, a lazy week so far. With that said, I am currently working on one project that I have found to be pretty smart at: growing a beard.

I decided before my furlough that I would not shave the entire week, kind of like hockey players do when they begin the playoffs or like a bum does everyday. I’m starting to regret it now. I don’t like having face fur, it makes my face look dirty. I do like not having to shave in the morning though.

The funny thing about growing a beard is you start thinking about all the crazy things you can do with it. I have thought about crafting my face mane into a nicely trimmed goatee, muttonchops, fu man chu and the good ol’ fashioned mustache. I've even thought about shaving designs in my beard. But right now I think the plan is to keep the beard.

Sorry this blog post is so boring. It's like watching paint dry, or grass grow...on my face. I promise better posts ahead.

A Furlough's Eve

Hello faithful Lechner Blog viewers, it’s Matt here. For those of you not aware of my situation at KARE 11, I am required to take a week-long furlough (week off without pay). This is Gannett’s way of saving money, without laying people off. While I don’t like missing out on a week’s worth of pay, I do like still having a job. I have big plans for the week, a lot of things to do around the house. But before we get to the tasks at hand, I needed one night of fun to kick off my week. On Sunday night, Chris Larsen and I headed down to Canterbury Park, the horse track in town, and did a little off-track betting on the ponies. It is my first love (of my gambling loves).

What you’re about to read is my attempt at being creative. At work I get to be creative, but since I’m off this week (NO WORK-MANDATORY), my creativity will spill over onto the family blog. I will try and keep you updated on my furlough trials and tribulations. Here’s my first try, I call it “A Furlough’s Eve.”

‘Twas the night before furlough and Matt was not in the house, he was out betting on creatures, no not a mouse. The track had been callin’, I needed a fix, but with family and job, it’s not in the mix. But then came a word I’ve never heard—furlough—said the big bird. With a week off from work, and no place to go, I hoped to hit it big on a win, place or show. To Canterbury Park I want, no flight required, sure it was late, but I wasn’t tired. No alarm clock set for 3 a.m., excited to gamble, you bet I am. First race starts without a hitch, hey I’m a winner, but still not rich. Then in the second I bet on four, miss by a nose, I stomp the floor. I play a little longer, nothing goes right, a hard one to swallow with no paycheck in sight. But, it really didn’t matter that my wallet wasn’t fatter, because I’m on Fur-cation.