Christmas is upon us, and because Santa has been drinking and carrying on too much, he's just now getting to his list of great gifts for your favorite laker.  As with everything I recommend on this website, I have no affiliation with anyone (Santa is lonely!).  Lets get to it!

One of our favorite things from 2016 (read the review here), everyone will love wearing Floaty Pants, and other lakers passing by will definitely check you out and think "This guy/gal seems like fun, we should party with him/her."  No one puts on a pair of Floaty Pants and has a bad time.  Only $40, and available on Amazon Prime to be delivered to your door in 2 days.  They come in different sizes, colors, and designs, so pick up a few right here, and "Enjoy the party in your pants!" 

Cooler Can Montly is pretty much exactly as it sounds.  You sign someone up (or sign yourself up because you are a greedy bastard and want all the cool things), and they will mail you a random Koozie each month.  They will be funny, unique, and/or just from some local dive around the country.  Here are the three I received:

It's only $7 or less per month and you can sign up for 1, 3, 6, or 12 months.  So treat yo self or someone you love (or are related to).  Coolercanmonthly.com  Like I said, I have no affiliation with them, but you should leave em a note and tell them Rule The Lake sent you because "business reasons."

 The boys over at Shinesty have nailed the Christmas vibe.  Their suits are only $99 (and they make other stuff).  Here's me in my "Bad Santa" suit.  I would advise you that the suit fabric is quite rigid, and the pants are narrow, so if you're a thigh guy or gal and like squats, your pants will be tight.  All of my suits are 46L and 36x32, however I popped the button on the pants (ok, maybe post surgery I'm not quite back to those exact sizes...but I'm pretty close, and they are still pretty rigid).  The suits are not cheaply made, and you will look awesome in one.  They also have outfits for you ladies as well, and their emails and texts are pretty funny. 

If you didn't buy the Dog-On-Water Ramp featured on Murphy's Log, you're out of luck! They're sold out.  I'd check back again in February/March, or follow us on twitter or Instagram and I'll be sure to blast out a notice when they're available again. If you have a dog on the lake, you need it plain and simple.  As a consolation gift for your "big sweetie" (in dog voice), it's probably time you upgraded your pupper's life jacket.  Do that right here.

My wife already won Christmas with just one gift....the gift of a pair of Chubbies!  If you want to Rule The Lake, rocking the best pair of swim trunks you can buy will go a long way.  They sell more than just swim suits, but go ahead and buy some swim suits. Mention Rule The Lake for an extra 0% off because I have no affiliation with them...just mad respect.  Also business reasons yet to be determined...or explored...or understood.  Take my word on this, Chubbies are in.  Get some.

Yetis are awesome.  They work.  They look cool.  People who see you with one will think you're cool.  Plus Brad and Lisa two docks down have them, and you definitely can't let them show you up.  So stick it to Brad and Lisa, drink colder beverages, look cooler, buy a cooler, and up your lake rep with any and all things Yeti.  Don't sell yourself short with a knockoff, you rule the lake!

I know, I know, I know...I need to write way more reviews.  I have a list and I'll get to it....at some point. However, if I've actually written about something, it must be pretty great.  So go to my product review pages and buy those things.  I promise they are as good as I say they are, and they will make great gifts.  Plus everything is available on Amazon Prime, so it will be delivered in 2 days or less.  Don't have Amazon Prime?  Here is a handy dandy link for you to sign up (below), or sign up someone else as a gift.  Also get an Amazon Echo...it's amazing.

In closing, you still have time to get that perfect gift and win your Christmas. Although He is the reason for the season, it's still OK to give something awesome to the loved ones in your life.  Thanks for reading, tell your friends!

Well fellow lakers, it's October, so if you live somewhere that has a winter like I do, you know that this means the end of boating season, and with that, lots of work and/or bills!  Luckily, we've had some brilliant Fall weather, and as I happen to have a couple of days off work, I will get to enjoy it on the water, so I'm fairly pumped up about that.  Hopefully I'll be able to capture some great Fall pictures from the lake, stay tuned to my Instagram for those.  This is just a little icing on the cake though, as with boating season over(ish), there's a lot to get done around here, and at least one big check to write!  If you're new to boat ownership and/or lake life, or thinking about getting into those things, here are some things you should consider.  For all you experts, I'd love to hear your tips and tricks on the subject!

Full disclosure, I wrote this piece two weeks ago, but was holding off on publishing it until I could get some video and photos to better illustrate some of the things I'm talking about.  However, it has basically rained for all of the last two weeks, so you're just going to have to let my words fill your imagination.

Everyone loves to go out to the bar/restaurant on the lake by boat.  One thing that can be terrifying to boat owners is docking it, even with experience.  It seems simple enough in theory, but then you have that first windy day with only one slot open at the lake bar and you’ve got to pull in next to another, much nicer boat than yours. That is when things get really real.  Another terrible moment in boat parking is when you have a large crowd either on your boat, the boat you’re parking next to, or on/around the dock that you’re parking at.  Everyone’s got an opinion, that’s for damn sure, and if you don’t nail that docking job, judgments will be made and opinions formed, and you can go from King of the Lake to Lake Jester just like that.  I’ve seen (and probably (definitely) participated in) instantaneous arguments, heated exchanges, and questioning of marriages, friendships, relationships, and religion over intense boat docking conditions.  In fact, this past weekend I witnessed and participated in all of the above, which leads me to this post.  Plain and simple, parking/docking/tying up your boat is difficult and can be extremely stressful.  For the non-laker, it might seem like it’s basically the same as parking your car.  Well, since you’re here reading about the lake life, you’re probably aware that it most definitely is not the same as the road, parking space, and/or curb don’t move while you’re doing it, but the boat, the water, the dock, and the people do.  Also, no brakes.  Here are my top tips for parking your boat confidently, effectively, and safely, so you can park like a boss (NSFW language) and Rule The Lake!

We've crowned our first #lakedogofthemonth and the King's hip continues to improve!

Charlie Kelly knows what America is all about...ROCK, FLAG, and EAGLE!  I believe that every day is Independence day in America, and my opinion is that freedom is always in style, especially on the lake!  I have amassed quite the collection of 'Merica gear, and wear it loudly and proudly!  Here's a list of some affordable, stylish, and incredible pieces that will be sure to let everyone know that you're a freedom-loving Patriot!  Most of this stuff is already organized and selected for you over in The Lake Store 'Merica Collection, but I haven't gotten the store to work on mobile yet because I have little to no idea what I'm doing for the most part.  

I've been laid up the last two weeks after undergoing an operation for a torn labrum in my hip along with FAI.  I am tracking my progress and focusing on my comeback to triathlon over on the Triathlon page.  It was not great timing for the peak of the triathlon and lake season, but after almost two years in constant pain, it was time to get it fixed.  4 more weeks until I can get back in the Lake.  Can't wait!