3 a.m.

What does a guy do at this hour? It's too early to turn on the kitchen lights and start baking cookies. Yesterday, Regis and I were both up by 5 so we left by 6:15 to do the last of our shopping in Mankato. It was a trick to find places that were open that early. Herbergers was but they had some door buster event and the place was full of blue hairs trying to get a good deal. After a while, it got crowded and I got crazy and we had to leave. That's how you buy stuff you don't really want...spend an hour in a store where they hand you a coupon every time you turn around.

We went to C&S Supply on our way out of town. It's a farm store, I guess. They have a great selection of stuff: medical uniforms, thermal-lined hooded sweatshirts, boot scrapers, flannel pajama pants, cow feeders, beef jerky, cowboy shirts with pearly buttons, flashlights. It's one of our favorite places to shop.

Speaking of flashlights. I made fun of Regis' flashlights a couple posts ago. Son Regis found a blog called Candlepowerforums, where this guy (I'm assuming) has flashlights in wooden display boxes on the walls. He calls it the Wall O' Maglights. If you check it out, you'll find this is a blog for people who collect mini-mag flashlights. In different colors. And sizes. Now, that is a flashlight collection.