SUNRISE

“We can only appreciate the
miracle of a sunrise
if we have waited in the darkness.”

BREAKFAST TIME

Today is
NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY!!
Grab the syrup or head to IHOP.

SEPTEMBER CONTEST

I've got just a few more days to squeeze in the September "Write the Caption" contest. The summer hiatus is over...it's time to get to work. So use all your brainpower or caffeine power and submit your creative ideas.

GIFT MYSTERY

This Donkey Kong Throw and Go Spinner was left in my work mailbox yesterday without a note or name. Hmmmm... After a little research, I discovered that this is one of "six active toys for outdoor fun" from your local McDonald's (Happy Meal, of course). I look forward to many years of outdoor fun. However, the directions include "do not aim or launch toy at face". I hope I can remember that!

ARRRRGH!

Ahoy, Matey!
Happy National Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day!

If ye have problems figuring out how t' do that (I did), ye can use this English to Pirate Translator. (It never ceases t' amaze me what you can find on the Internet, aye?) Or ye can check out this useful list o' pirate words and phrases. This includes pirate pickup lines, so if ye need the PG version, try this pirate word list.

ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS

Wouldn't it be fun to have a 6 ft. fiberglass sock monkey in your yard?!?!?! He's so cute!

Rockford, Illinois (the home of friends who shared this info with me) has 20 of these monkeys throughout the city to "celebrate the creativity of the invention of the sock knitting machine and of local artists". (Each monkey is painted differently by local artists.) To see all the monkeys, go here. The one above is my favorite, but you can vote for your favorite if you'd like.

OUR TRIP FAVORITES

Best Campsite - J.W. Wells State Park
Best Meal - Chicken Wings with Cherry Porter Bar-B-Q sauce (M); Fried Asparagus (G)
Best place to buy a donkey - Munising
Best Coffee - Falling Rock Double Mocha w/shot of caramel (M); Raspberry Mocha from Coffee and Connect in Petoskey (G)
Best Scenery - Pictured Rocks
Best named city - Epoufette
Best Sunrise - Cedar River
Best Sunset - Petoskey
Best possibility of seeing Santa Claus - Mackinaw City
Most primitive bathroom - Bay Furnace
Best animal sighting - Turkey family at Stony Lake
Best camping birthday present - headlamp
Best monkey purchase - red monkey boxers
Friendliest animal - Chip the Chipmunk at Bay Furnace
Best waterfall - Munising Falls

(You can see more pics here.)

WE'RE BACK!

We have successfully returned from a fabulous journey around Lake Michigan. Stay tuned for some awesome pictures.
(Teaser: a glorious sunset, a clothed moose, a couple of pasties and some monkey business)