Bob "RealMan" Timm

If you are moving to North Dakota it's only fair to warn you about our traffic. Of course we are a rural state so I'm not posting this to warn you about big traffic jams with long lines at a standstill on the interstate. I was raised in the biggest city in North Dakota and there were times that were a little frustrating but it was never much more then a 5 minute delay. I also lived in one of North Dakota's smaller communities, Underwood, and there it was as if they rolled up the streets at 5:01 pm.

My warning isn't about quantity of traffic or the lack of it I just wanted to let you know that in the North Dakota Dictionary the word "turn signal" doesn't exist. Please keep this in mind for your and your families safety. View every car you see as one that may make a left hand turn in front of you or even if you happen to be on one of our 4 lane roads (we got a couple) the car next to you may make an unannounced right hand turn in front of you. We are a peaceful, kind and loving State so there is no need for angry looks, hand jestures, or horn honking. Just keep in mind the principal means of transpartion for many North Dakotians is usually found out in the middle of the field where the only traffic usually is the four legged type.

Again, be patient, be kind, and do not be surprised. Welcome to Rural America.

Bob Timm Minot ND

The Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot North Dakota holds an annual open house called "Boo at the Zoo" and it starts this Friday (October 24th).

Kids day is Saturday and I strongly suggest it for younger kids. On kids day they leave the lights on so it's not so scary. My kids went when they were 6 and 5 and they were so scared they were crying and we had to back out (this was with the lights on). Also when you come be sure to bring your patience as there is usually an incredible line.

The scary version is October 24, 25, 29, 30 and the 31st. For more information go to www.rpzoo.com . Hope to see you there!

Bob Timm, Minot ND

Halloween costumes can be a trick in themselves up here in the Northland when often there is snow on the ground on October 31st. We usually have to figure a parka under or over the kids costumes. Believe me a Parka definitely makes costuming more of a challenge. As skinny as my daughter is Tinker bell just doesn't look right with a snowmobile suit under here ballerina type of dress and when was the last time you saw Dracula walking around in snowshoes? I know there are a lot of creative people here on AR so please help me out, give me some ideas for my kids, 8 and 7 years old.

This has been a beautiful evening with a full harvest moon. Up here in North Dakota the leaves have been falling and we have had a couple of frosty nights. Tonight my bride and I raked leaves with the help of our little ones (Tina 8 & Timmothy 7). It was nice to get the most out of our short evenings as the sun is now down by 7PM. Timmothy wasn't a lot of help tonight as early on he stepped in some dog do-do and then whined about it for half an hour. Burning leaves in our Fire Department approved fire pit is one thing I look forward to every fall, just love the smell. I mention the Fire Department approved fire pit because one of my neighbors who obviously doesn't care for the smell always calls the Fire Department every time I light it. I actually look forward to greeting my Fire Department friends several times in the fall. They are always very friendly to me and it's fun to hear them lecture my neighbor and question his IQ. Tonight was no different. After five years of lectures from the Fire Department you would think he would catch on but then again he does have a Barrack Obama sign in his front yard (I had to throw that in). Sincerely it was a very nice evening. To top it off another neighbor just came home from pheasant hunting and gave us a couple of birds, he even cleaned them for us. Best yet, and very unusual in North Dakota it was an absolutely calm night, not the slightest breeze. It was a perfect night for burning leaves, visiting with my pheasant hunting neighbor and my Fire Department friends. All is well in Minot North Dakota tonight.

Bob Timm, Minot ND

The big old gas pig let me down on Monday. It was quite a sight to see, for my top client and myself. We had a good laugh over it but now I'm driving Mom's car with the license plates TNTSMOM. Both my kids have the initials TNT thus the plates TNTSMOM. I thought they were really cute but I never counted on me driving it.

Let me tell you quick about the temporary demize of the big gas pig. I'm out with my friend and best client. He is up here to see the Scandinavion Festival known as The Norskhost Feast. We always take my 92 Sable Station Wagon because I'm scared to death of doing anything to his ride. He has one of those Chevy pick-ups that is built onto a Corvette frame with a Corvette engine. I bow down before it but that's as close as I want to get.

So we are driving all over town and back looking for properties that may suit our needs. I smell something hot but the temp gage looks fine (even though it's a gage there is a reason they call them "dummy lights"). Well we decided to make one more stop before returning to the golden arches for more coffee. We get out of the car and I hear a gurgling sound, turning to my friend I said "that doesn't sound good". Four or five steps down the dirt driveway (in town) we hear a noise that sounds like a muffeled stick of dynamite under the hood of my car.... then the cloud like over Hiroshima. My friend looks back at me and says "I don't think I want to get back in the car". We proceeded to look around the property and I call for a ride to get us back to McDonald's.

Just to finish the story I have to let you know that I drove it to my favorite repair shop (after it cooled down) and they told me it would be FIVE days till they could get to it.

Moms car is a great car, a newer Tauris SEL with leather seats, Moon roof, a fantastic stereo, all the bells and whistles, but those darn plates!

Bob Timm, Minot ND