ALL ABOUT THE KIDS VOL 3

“Babumpbump”

“Will Gonzo be bringing the chickens?

Dirtbag Darcy and I are really looking forward to this hike. :)”

“You're really coming?! Coolness. =)”

“Well YEAH! You've got my damn chair! A 7 hour drive is a small thing when it's to retreive my Michigan throne. Besides I still have your big snot rags. Kelly's really looking forward to it.”

“What chair? We don't have any chair. I don't know what you're talking about.”

“And I don't suppose you have my filter either, do ya??? lol”

“I finally get to meet Kelly? Way Cool!!!”

“Hey Sassafras, birch,

I just want to remind everyone that there is no water at the Nurnberg (sp?) trailhead, although Lake MI has all you want. Since it's not that far to hike in, we just left some extra water in the car when we were there a few weeks ago---a good idea for any grownup that may want to bring along something cold and frosty to drink, hint-hint. (This may be all about the kids but Dad gets thirsty.)
Best bet for group camping would be to take the southern-most trail which is almost a straight shot to the beach and has the most open areas to camp. It's a nice wide trail but fairly sandy. The center trail is a quick jaunt to the beach as well, but probably better for woods camping unless you want to descend the (very) steep hill to the beach.”

“non-conformist, thanks for the info. We had planned on hiking south, there is a really nice section that has some beautiful clusters of pines that are just perfect for camping in. I have seen folks bring in sleds with coolers before, that would be brutal!

Are you gonna make it?”

“I'm pretty sure we will and I'll probably keep posting as such, but I can't commit 100% until probably the last few days before the trip. I'm going ahead with preparations though and we're keeping our fingers crossed.”

“Excellent!

I just talked to a longtime friend, he and his daughter may be coming too.”

“This trip has some potential! I see chili36 is a maybe....is this the guy married to Cottonsocks? We camped with her and their kids last weekend!”

“I screwed up. I was supposed to have my vacation note in by last Friday (two weeks before a trip) but forgot. When I got in on Monday, the schedule was posted and I'm scheduled to bartend both Saturday and Sunday (days I don't normally do it). Sunday won't be a problem cause it's not til 4pm. But, obviously, Saturday won't work. So, I started asking around for someone to cover my shift and had no luck. The very last person I could ask was finally able to do it. Phew! Ariel would have been so disappointed!!

And, everything w/ mom's surgery went smoothly.

The two variables to this trip were work and mom. Both are ok so I see no reason why Ariel and I won't be there.”

“Glad you can make it, Tara!

I have good news and bad news...maybe. Jon told me last night that he might be coming home about 4 days earlier than he was originally told. Yay! However, if that's the case, we cannot make the trip. I won't know until just days before the trip. The boys are disappointed. But because this location is relatively close to me, I told them if it works with our schedule, we could possibly still go for one night on Thursday and/or Friday.

So we are now maybes.”

“Well if Ruby ain't showin' up then I'm stayin' the hell home! LOL!

BTW Ruby-Dooby: I'm planning the Chicago Campout for early October. Any good for you? It turns out I have a cousin that lives on the north side of Chicago and she wants my wife and I to come up some time between Thanksgiving and christmas also.”

“Where you planning on camping in Chicago? Lotta buildings down here, and not a lot of space to put up a tent.

You guys are welcome to camp out in my office.”

“Ruby-Dooby? I like it!! My October calendar is wide open except for the 8th and 9th. I have a reporter convention I have to attend in Indianapolis. Are you thinking of doing the Dunes camping?”

“It's a very special weekend for the wife and I WK but all shall be revealed in time Grasshopper. Moooohahahahaha!”

“"My October calendar is wide open except for the 8th and 9th."

Fug. That's the weekend. :( We'll work around it. I'll talk to the Boss and send out the invites soon. Yeah, the Dunes.”

“Do I need a permit or reservations or anyting for this? Can I be a last-minute decision? I may just need to get the heck out of town!

Oh, and I won't be bringing any kids, except for G. :)”

“So Nigal, are you going on the Kids trip?”

“It's just a $5 NF parking fee which you pay there. And yes, G counts as kids. It'd be great to see you guys and I'm sure Kelly'd like to see you again too.”

““So Nigal, are you going on the Kids trip?”

I'm slobbering at the mouth for this trip and surprisingly enough so is the wife. She's been wanting to meet you.”

““It's a very special weekend for the wife and I WK but all shall be revealed in time Grasshopper. Moooohahahahaha!”
Nigal
10:59:07 AM
7/20/05

Is this your anniversary? If so, you guys share the same as ours. October 10 is ours.”

“October 7th, 1989. She says it only feels like 15 years...under water.”

“I can't wait to meet her, Nigal. Tell Kelly I say hi!”

“smiley, I would be offended if you and G didnt make it...just kidding...but no, really!

Oh, and Ruby, if you dont come I will hate you forever! I mean blowing off the kids trip to get the groceries with Jon. Its not like hes been gone at war for a year or anything, some people are sooo selfish...








Tell him I said thanks, I sincerely mean that.
last edited: 7/20/05 4:08:01 PM”

“Yeah, ya'll can stop for groceries along the way. LOL!”

“Man, it's been so long. I need a very big load of groceries. This may take a while.”

“Don't forget the condom-ment aisle otherwise All About the Kids Vol. 4 will be All About Ruby's 4 kids.”

“I bought a value-pack already! (okay, now this is getting TMI)”

“Has it been THAT long? Maybe you should see if they have copies of the Kamasutra at Krogers while you're there. Ya know, just to brush up before he gets home. LOL!”

“i am really bummed out about having to pass on this year's trip....my kids are complaining, too....but i have no more vacation time and i am scheduled to work all that weekend....

you guys have a great time and i will see you all next year!!”

“Well it looks like I'm out :( I just found out a today that the ASA state softball tournament is that weekend so I'll be playing ball all weekend. As much as I was lookin forward to this trip, I can't miss this tournament...we worked to hard to get there!”

“Wow, another near miss on my sometime quest to stop trolling and bring our little one http://laurel.fleszar.org on a TT trip...

We're going to the North Country Trail conference in Petoskey 8/11-14, by heading out there from PA through Ontario to Sault Ste Marie, and back along the western L.P. and thru Ohio. So we'll miss this trip by a couple of weeks.

Do you guys have any good suggestions on stopping points along this itinerary, with a 2.5 yo boulderer who's been to 4 state high points already? :)
last edited: 7/20/05 9:29:12 PM”

“She's a cutie!

Ki0eh, anywhere north of the Sault on
Highway 17 along Lake Superior is worth looking into (depending on how far you want to drive---check out the Lake Superior Provincial Park website) and there is a neat little tourist spot just north of St Ignace on I-75 in the UP but the name escapes me....it has a little climb and a lookout platform if I remember correctly. (been awhile, sorry)
I think west of the Sault on 17 there are some neat little coastal towns to visit but I'm not sure of the hiking out that way.”

“Upluver, that sucks!!! I will mail you your stuff, drop me an email with your address.”

“Okay, we are unfortunately officially out now. They just announced Jon's arrival today to be 7/28 in Indianapolis.

I am really bummed. I know the boys will be as well.”

“Ruby, I'm bummed but happy for you all at the same time.”

“Glad to hear he is almost home. I am really happy for you guys, though I will miss you all for sure!”

“Nobody likes a quitter guys. LOL! Damn UP I've been telling my wife what a great guy you are and how your wife does the same thing she does and Kelly was looking forward to meeting you guys and ya go and do a thing like this. I see where your priorities are now and where we stand...

1. Going to the grocery store
2. Winchester
3. Us

LOL!”

“Ok first thing...Rubes...it is a bummer that you have to miss this too but that being said....have a GREAT time!!! :-) and leave a few groceries for the rest of us!! lol

Now on to you, Mr. Nigal :p~~

1. Mary wasn't gonna be able to go anyway....she's in Toledo setting up a new store and won't be home till 8/2.

2. It's NOT Winchester...that's not till Labor Day weekend....this weekend we're actually gonna go play softball! lol!!

But all that aside, we are gonna have to get together and do some camping....maybe we can plan something in OH in Aug?

And I will say this....I really struggled with which one to go to....but I kinda figured I made a commitment to the softball team to play this summer, I probably should go!
last edited: 7/21/05 9:54:28 PM”

“And I will say this....I really struggled with which one to go to....but I kinda figured I made a commitment to the softball team to play this summer, I probably should go!


YOu may have struggled but not enough mister! J/K you guys better win though!
last edited: 7/22/05 5:46:17 AM”

“Hey gang, what is everyone planning on bringing for food?”

“UP, I will always respect a man who keeps his commitments more than someone who will drop them for other things. Basically, someone who will break commitments to go hiking with me is someone who will bail on a hiking trip with me for something else. Don’t have too much bourbon. As we all know, friends don’t let friends drink and slide into 3rd.”

“non, i will we will bring typical enertia food for dinner, pbj for lunch oatmeal or bagels for breakfast and typical snacks,nothing fancy...you?”

“I think we need to organize an All About the Beer trip. Who's with me?”

“Nigal, we tried that at shawnee...remember and this feb at green lake. Great trips indeed!”

“Yeah those were great times birch. But still they were incidental beer trips. I’m talking about a full-blown trip with real passion and commitment to beer and beer alone. LOL!”

“hmmmmm beer, its not just for breakfast anymore!”