Ain't No Party Like a Northwoods Party

Three weeks out I think I can safely say we have fully recovered from our annual snowmobile trip to the UP! This year (my third) we kicked it up a notch in a lot of ways, some more blog-friendly than others! Some things did change (we still stayed at Sunrise Lodge on Lac Vieux Desert, just North of Land-O-Lakes) while others were even better. First on the list of the better category was the GIANT group of friends that were all able to make the trip, 14 people in all! We literally took up the ENTIRE bar, every stool, at my favorite bar, Mapleview! We still went to all of our favorite bars (except Baur's Dam, which Jon was a little sad about) and even added a new one to the list of all time greatest places that would keep serving us despite all the "hijinks" - The BLACK OAK. I also had my "new" sled this year, which was awesome. A better suspension and newer ride really helped me scoot around the trails and when it was all said and done, I didn't feel so beat up. We logged the most miles I've ever done on a trip too. You'd have to ask the others how I did on the whine-o-meter but I think it was pretty good! There are a million pics and stories I could share, but what happens in the Northwoods, stays in the Northwoods!

MIA

A quick update for all of my faithful readers, of which I think there are NONE! I must appear quite flaky to start this (late) New Year's resolution of a blog only to seemingly abandon it for the bulk of February. Well, as the saying goes, "it's not my fault!" We (or rather I because I really was the one holding the family back in this regard) have moved a rung higher on the technology ladder with the addition of digital (HD) cable and Internet at insane (or just faster than AT&T basic) speed, or so I am told. Now, since you have read this far, here is the BORING background story:


Our Netgear Router of three years crapped out and we purchased the EXACT same one (only version 3) and installed it only to find out that nothing in our wireless household (TIVO, XBOX 360, printer, iPod Touch, etc.) could automatically pick up an IP address for seemingly no reason because EVERY techie in the entire country of India who worked for Netgear and AT&T assured me that all of our hardware (router, wireless adapter and modem) was working correctly...so you go without Facebook for that long and swallow this too: we didn't have cableCards for the TIVO and Comcast just went all digital, so we had no TV! Holy crap, our lives came crashing down around us, what were we do to? Jon's answer was to get really grumpy and depressed about what he dubbed his "life" but really meant his evenings at home after the gym...and I, of course, scoured the Internet (wired now) for self help, trouble shooting message boards, that you guessed it lead me right to the (seemingly) best deal (for the next 6 months until we aren't a valuable new customer anymore)....well, all's well that ends well and it's ending with us, Comcast, TIVO and this masterpiece of a blog all back in action, Jackson.

Lost City of Atlantis...Found!

We just returned from four magical days in paradise, thanks to Primesource. Jon is so lucky to work for this outstanding company, and the crown jewel of the fastener and building supply industries I might add . For those not in the know, each year Primesource holds Premier Club, an invite only, exclusive event for their best customers at a primo destination...and I get to go with!!

For me it was all play and no work, not so much for Jon. He is in charge of Primesource's massive 30x40 booth.

Check him out, hard at work with a few other members of the PSDirect Team.

Walking the show floor it really was impressive to see all the products they sell and partnerships they have formed....OK, enough towing the company line...on to the trip highlights, of which there were many!

The Atlantis Resort itself was massive and quite impressive...did I mention how huge it was? Their aquariums, which they bill as "second only to Mother Nature" are amazing.

The resort provides quite a bit by way of entertainment, from the pools, beaches, lagoons, harbors, bars, casino and shopping to their waterpark, restaurants and night clubs. Jon and I took the "Leap of Faith," a slide that basically administers a spanking and a wedgie to it's riders at the same time, oh and you shoot through a tube within a shark tank...

In addition to what the resort had to offer and the 80 degree and sunny Nassau weather, Primesource had some ridiculous aces up their sleeve (lame casino pun...insert laughter here.) Namely, the headline entertainment on the final night, Mr. Lionel Ritchie...now I know what you are thinking, Lionel? YES! LIONEL! He was A-MA-ZING. As you read this you may not realize how many hit songs he has, the ones you know by heart. My favorite, of course, is Dancin' on the Ceiling, which dates back to my kindergarten days at St. Mary, where I presented my self portrait (a carefully crafted smiley face with stick arms and legs) to the class upside down, or as I dubbed it "Dancin' on the Ceiling." So strange, I have never been able to dance, yet that seems like all I was born to do?!

Aside from a once in a lifetime weekend, it was so nice to spend some time with Jon's coworkers, customers and their spouses/significant others. We had a great time. I'll leave you with a few more pics, they are worth 1000 words and I am about spent!