Carl Pettit

It’s that time of year again, when you have to watch out for tricksters. April Fool’s Day is the perfect excuse for any prankster in your immediate area to practice his or her craft. So, what’s the real story behind the origins of this, um, ‘holiday?’ Well, it’s no joke — there are many possible explanations.

Last Man Standing are articles intended to help the average guy prepare for some of life’s oddest events. It’s just advice. It’s better than being clueless. While extreme drinking can actually kill you, sometimes you’ve just got to cut loose and prove to the guys, and the gals, that you can hold your booze better than anyone else in the bar. It’s a macho thing. And what better way to show off y

If your best friend sidles up to you and tells you that he or she is “as pleased as punch,” then you know that person is very pleased indeed. But how did this phrase come into being in the  first place?

When a parent, a boss, a co-worker or someone in a position of authority tells us that we have to ‘face the music,’ we know we’ve probably done something wrong, and now we’re in for a bit of trouble. Where on Earth does this expression come from, though?

It all starts the same — you and your buddies are pounding down beers at your favorite bar, and before you know it, you’re running down the street in your girlfriend’s dress while your friends are passed out on the sidewalk. It may be fun to party real hard like this sometimes, but it’s actually illegal to replicate this scenario somewhere in the US… the dress part, anyway.

When something gets done ‘in the nick of time,’ it means the clock is about run out, and whatever needed doing almost didn’t get done at all. In the movie ‘The Hangover,’ the guys have a wild bachelor’s party weekend in Las Vegas, and only make it back to Los Angeles for the groom’s wedding ‘in the nick of time.’ But where exactly does this oft-used expression come from?

You might think you’ve tried every ice and snow sport there is, but unless you’re already a member of a very strange and unique ice and granite-loving tribe, you probably haven’t tried curling yet.

When thinking of the best place to celebrate winter, most of us don’t automatically think of Michigan, but we should. Every year, the folks living in Curtis, MI, hosts the aptly named Curtis Winter Carnival, which falls on February 18th this time around.

When you have a chip on your shoulder, it means you’re in a foul mood because of some injustice, imagined or not, you believe another person or group of people have directed against you. It also implies that you can easily become upset. But what exactly is the origin of this popular expression?

Thinkstock Are you one of those roller coaster fanatics? If yes, you're probably in ride withdrawal during the winter, so why not try flying off the side of a mountain instead. Some of the best spots for extreme skiing and snowboarding are in the Canadian Rockies. It ...

Thinkstock Hiking boots are making a comeback, but still too many people wear the wrong foot attire for the winter (Hint: UGG boots aren't proper snow shoes, ladies). If you're the kind of person who enjoys excursions out into the cold outdoors, you should know that nothing ruins a hike like numb toes and soggy socks. Here a ...

Marmot Col EQ, Trailspace.com / Carl Pettit / Slumberjack, Slumberjack.com Jack Frost might be waiting just outside your door, but you can still embrace the icy tundra and enjoy the beauty of nature this winter season, just as long as you bring the right camping gear ...