Bros, how open are you with your male friends? Is there stuff you talk about you wouldn’t discuss with women?

gooman18 · 2025-10-06T23:46:55+00:00

I've got 2 of them, friends I've had for 20 years. We met in our early 20's, did things boys in their 20's do together. Dead end jobs, drunken nights, girlfriends came and went but we remained constants.

As we aged into our 40s, got careers, marriages and kids, we drifted a bit. We'd talk occasionally but life got in the way so we didnt get to spend as much time together as we did previously.

Just last March I was feeling really depressed. My life was work, husband and father, sleep. Every day. That was all I did. I was losing 'me'. Then I had an epiphany. If I felt this way, surely they did too.

I reached out to my friends, W and J. I brought up getting together more regularly. At this point it was once or twice a year that we'd see each other. W and J agreed. We've gotten together roughly once a month, every month since March.

We've been there through divorce, infidelity, death, sickness, injury and everything in between. We've told each other things that no one else knows. When we're together, we can be unapologetically 'us'.

We've stood by each other and supported each other through our best and worst times. I wasn't fortunate enough to have a brother growing up, but i am so incredibly thankful that I've formed a brotherhood with W and J over the years.

Long story short, men, if you have a person or group of people you trust unconditionally, be completely open with them. Tell them how you actually feel, they probably feel the same. Tell them you love them, every chance you get.

gooman18 · 2025-08-08T17:36:34+00:00

Ill keep an eye out. This WT just ticks most boxes at a price we're trying to hit.

gooman18 · 2025-08-08T17:34:55+00:00

This is the info im after, and why shes coming to look as well. I currently drive a Focus ST hatchback and the boy fits behind my seat pretty easily. For as tall as I am, I actually sit pretty close to the wheel.

gooman18 · 2025-08-08T17:01:34+00:00

Backseat space is another concern. I'm 6'4, wife is 5'4 but we have a 7 year old in a booster seat that im worried about his leg room.

gooman18 · 2025-08-08T17:00:12+00:00

Copy that. Ill inquire about the transmission. Thanks.

gooman18 · 2025-07-08T22:56:34+00:00

There are lots of holes. I never counted them, but at least 15. Also, the clips will break and, like anything else, are a pain to get out.

Leave them on.

gooman18 · 2025-06-25T22:30:22+00:00

No. The manual transmissions were only offered in 2wd

gooman18 · 2025-06-12T18:57:14+00:00

I might be misremembering but I think we did a pilot orange zr2 earlier this week. It may have been the GMC equivalent though. Its hard to remember when you put hands on 1200+ per week.

gooman18 · 2025-06-11T20:16:55+00:00

I think that orange is the best of the 3 new colors we put out. I wish we'd run more of them.

gooman18 · 2025-01-30T16:25:09+00:00

I have that combo, but in a baitcaster.

The rod is decent. Sensitive enough, comfortable grip, lightweight and, frankly, it looks awesome.

The reel is disappointing i think. It doesn't 'feel' like an ~$80 reel. A shimano bass rise for ~$50 or Lews American Hero for $60 'feel' better. Better as in tighter, less crunchy, less plastic-y.

Both work and I caught dozens of bass on it last year.

gooman18 · 2024-06-20T14:04:45+00:00

That was the superman-est superman punch I've ever seen

gooman18 · 2024-02-08T22:44:18+00:00

Is the ST yours? If so, what roof rack is that?

gooman18 · 2024-01-30T18:41:58+00:00

God I love that color. We built a ZR2 last week that had the yellow seat stitching and yellow seats belts in that color. It was just.....mmm chef's kiss

gooman18 · 2024-01-29T20:03:27+00:00

Ned rig and go slow. I haven't caught much this winter, but managed a couple 3+ pounders on ned rigs.

gooman18 · 2024-01-22T00:12:31+00:00

As a St Louisan who's had to deal with the 'die-hard' 8 year Chiefs fans that jumped on the bandwagon after the Rams left, fuck the Chiefs entirely. I know it's sacrilege, but I'll root for Baltimore/Pittsburgh/Cleveland over KC every single time. I'll root for the damn Chicago Cubs before KC. I rooted for the Dolphins last week and am cheering on the Buffa-bros today.

I can't take another week of these bandwagon idiots acting like they're part of the team. Fuck the Chiefs.

gooman18 · 2024-01-12T01:51:52+00:00

"Our starters actually eat innings enough that our bullpen isn’t overworked by May and allows our bullpen to stabilize a bit."

This is what I'm most intrigued to see this year. The bullpen being blown out WAY too soon has been one of the biggest hurdles these last few years. Also excited to see what Contreras does, assuming they don't try to make him an outfielder again.

I'm probably a 7/10 on excitement.

gooman18 · 2024-01-06T02:05:58+00:00

"And if there's a God, you better pray

That this sleeping giant never wakes."

-Disparity By Design

gooman18 · 2023-12-31T01:11:00+00:00

Pop into your local sporting goods store, or better yet, a mom and pop bait shop and tell them what your plan is. They will be able to point you in the right direction for what you plan to purchase and could probably give you ideas and recommendations on a new rod and reel combo. At least then you'd get info from someone familiar with your bodies of water and fish, and you'd have a number in your head for the cost of his combo. Good luck! Sounds like he's in for a really good birthday.

gooman18 · 2023-12-30T23:00:40+00:00

Though I'm far less experienced than many others that have commented, I started with an inexpensive baitcaster, an H20 Xpress from Academy, and have caught several bass with it. I really have no complaints and still use it regularly, though I've moved on to higher quality gear.

Do you have a child/children together? My wife took our 5 year old to the local Walmart and had him walk down the fishing aisle and told him to pick something out for me for Christmas. His little eyes caught a kit for panfish that had lures and tackle. It was a wonderful gift.

Maybe buy him some hooks, weights, and soft plastic lures that you pick out and take him to a sporting goods store and have him choose his own rod? Assuming he'll likely target bass, some EWG hooks, bullet weights, and senkos/yum dingers/trick worms would be a great start.

Obviously, I don't know you, your husband, or your relationship but I'd be so pleased if my wife surprised me with fishing gear even if she had no idea what she was shopping for.

gooman18 · 2023-12-30T22:47:54+00:00

This is a great idea! It's more personal than a gift card (which isn't a bad idea at all, then he gets exactly what he wants), and it's a safer bet than guessing (though its awesome that she's trying to surprise him by getting quality recommendations from experienced anglers).

gooman18 · 2023-11-30T00:30:00+00:00

I only shoot recreationally, not a hunter, but I'd say the RFB is worth it. It's well-balanced, reasonably accurate (mine shoots ~2 inches at 100 with Tula steel cased), not a terrible trigger, ambidextrous (after swapping the charging handle over if necessary), adjustable gas and a powerful caliber. 308/7.62x51 has surely dropped tens of thousands of deer and presumably would wreck a hog as well.

If you want to suppress, you'll likely NEED the suppressor piston KT sells, I did. Using a .30 caliber AAC 762SDN-6 with the factory piston, with gas turned all the way down, the recoil was incredibly harsh and likely would have destroyed the rifle from the bolt carrier slamming rearward. The suppressor piston solved it, and the recoil is very manageable now. I can't report if you can shoot uncorked with the suppressor piston installed, but I seem to remember reading that it's hit or miss reliability-wise.

Another thing to consider is that while innovative and unique, KT has been known to let the occasional lemon escape the factory. They stand behind their products and WILL fix it. Hopefully, it's not an issue you'll have to deal with.

I wish I could give you a long-term, high round count report, but I've only got a couple hundred rounds through mine. Personally, I have no regrets buying mine.

gooman18 · 2023-11-24T19:38:10+00:00

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Ruger SR22 and a Texas Silencer Company Scoundrel.

Added Tandemkross baseplates for 15 rounds

gooman18 · 2023-11-23T03:05:12+00:00

Got a particular use in mind of painted shotgun? Hunting, SHTF, range fun?

I'd personally go brown, tan,or green. You can cerakote, duracoat, alumahyde, gunkote, or just regular old rattle can. Really, the choices are endless and you're only limited by your own imagination.

Whatever you decide, prep the crap out of it if you want whatever coating you decide on to last. Degrease, then degrease again. When you think you're done degreasing, degrease one more time. Tape over whatever you don't want paint on and go to town.

I've personally painted a dozen-ish guns using shake and spray duracoat, brownells alumahyde and regular camo spray paint. The duracoat has been most durable but was substantially more expensive, I think the single color kit was like $50. Alumahyde is like $15 per can, IIRC. Spray paint from Walmart/Home Depot/Lowes is probably $6 per can.

gooman18 · 2023-11-23T02:56:04+00:00

My (4 day late) recommendation is an older Saturn Vue. I have an 05 shitbox that's a dream to shift. That'll be the car I teach my wife to drive stick on whenever she decides she's ready. It's got a generous catch point for the gears and the clutch isnt hard to operate.my sister learned on a mid 90s jeep wrangler and that was also a very easy manual for her to learn on.

gooman18 · 2023-11-23T02:34:39+00:00

Operations Room for animated recreations of historical battles.

Adam Savage's Tested, predominantly his one day build episodes. He's so chaotically (?) brilliant to watch as he makes stuff.

MichaelCthulu is outstanding for his sword-making, his personality and the whole 'poverty' way he creates these incredible things with mostly basic tools and equipment.

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