Blissed Out In the Water

The second leg of this series of blogs comes forth from the waters of south central Wisconsin. Specifically the Dells, where our nephew Luke wed his sweetheart Rachel last weekend. It was a destination wedding/reception of sorts where the celebration took place at Noah's Ark Waterpark. The weather cooperated for the reception which followed the Friday ceremony and the day turned out warm, wacky and wonderful.There were special geographical tatoos and homemade Aloe Vera spray favors for everyone. the sustainabull theme carried throughout including the Equal Exchange Coffee, Teas and Chocolate that was available as well as other tasty chow. It was especially enjoyabull for Mary and I as we had our two daughters to relive some water park adventures of yesteryear as Callie and Ashley and I waited in some long lines for rides like the Black Anaconda, the Slidewinder and the newest ride the Scorpion's Tail, a thrilling blur of a vertical drop and 360 degree blast into the water that we did with waited on for over an hour with Mary's bros Mike and Joe. Luke and Rachel had a non-traditional wedding and celebration with many loving family friends in showing support.The After parties back at the Best Wastern where we stayed were also fun and memorabull. Ashley and I got to witness Rachel's "trash the dress" dive into hotel pool Saturday night. The dress appeared to be indestructibull as did the spirit of love that was evident all around.

Sunday, Mary, I and Callie drove Ashley back to Chicago on our way home as she spent a couple more days with her friends before she flew back Wednesday to Boston. Thanx again to Molly for the Chitown accomodations.

It was a long drive for a quick trip to a fun and an interesting piece of real estate there in Wisconsin and by way Luke and Rachel my wristbands are on day 5;). Sum Sum Summa Thyme Rolls on...............................

Summer Swing

This will be the first of two blogs telling summer tales from my annual Guys Golf Getaway to the Jackson, MI area and our family's trip to the wedding of cousin Luke and his bride Rachel in Wisconsin.

Usually reserved for the first weekend of August the GGG has become an annual tradition of now 12 years for buddies, Mikey D., Petey, and Jimmy Jazz. We decided to stay downstate this year and do an abbreviated trip and take in a couple of fine golf courses over in the Jackson area which we had heard good things about and were a good deal. The courses were the Grande and Calderone Farms. We had good weather both days cept for a brief shower on the first day at the Grande which was typically hot and humid for this summer. Grande is a very nice course with a laid back vibe located just south of Jackson. After a good day of golf where Petey and I won the $ on the par 3 Greenie contest and Mikey D. and Petey won the Vegas game we played. We decided on Italian for the night and ate at Giglio's where the food was good but the service not so much. We made an early night of it and just hung out back in our rooms at the Hampton for the rest of the evening, myself nursing my overeating of the clam linguine I had for dinner and the cannoli we had for dessert.

Friday morning we had an earlier tee time and a farther drive over to Calderone Farms on the east side of Jackson just off the 94 corridor. The day was cooler but pleasantly warm and Peter shot a great round just missing breaking 80. Mike was feeling the pain of tendonitis and tried bravely to finish his round but ended up being our cart caddy for most of the last nine holes. Jazzman did well for not playing much this summer and finished both days unhappy that a Greenie ( greenie is the player closest to the hole and on the green for par 3's) was not be for him or anyone else on the second day as we were all shutout. Calderone is a pretty Links style course for a great price where a laid back vibe also makes for a pleasant round. After, we headed back after a tour of Jackson looking for a bank we hit he rooms for a rest as we planned to head out to Chelsea for dinner at the acclaimed Chelsea Grill. The Chelsea Grill did not disappoint as the food there and service were top notch, even without reservations we got in with less than a half hour wait.

The evening wound up with us playing poker back in Mike and Pete's room, situating the card table between the two beds. Jazz and I were the winners at cards. We took a smoke break for cigars and ciggies and danced having a little PLP in the hotel lot. I should mention that Jimmy and I celebrate our 40 year anniversary of being roommates at Western this fall and we still be hangin out as good friends.

Our trip concluded with a quick stop the next morning to the new Firekeepers Casino near Battle Creek and I left there with a bit more money than I walked in with, bonus. We were all home early on Saturday with another GGG trip filed into the memory banks and photo albums representing our annual 3 G.

in the midst of summer

I have been away from the blogging for several weeks now since the beginning of summer. Now, in the midst of summer, a very warm and sultry summer, we begrudgingly know that it will be on the wane, but not before some other exciting events on the horizon.

I must report on some of the happenings in the past month or so. July 4th was spent for the most part by Mary and I out at Bro-in-laws Joe C's crib kayaking, eating fish and hangin. Cuz Sharon and Jeff were out there doin a little camping and kayaking. And on July 12th, youngest Callan Jean turned 21. Mary and my subdued celebration with her out for Sushi was after her FB covered "real" party the night before.

Two weeks later we were out at Lake Michigan where Sharon spent her birthday camping. Mary and I camped for a night with them, swam in the warmest LM water in years and hung by another campfire. I paid off my bet debt to the Wedge I had made with him at Joe's C's over who wrote "Love on the Bayou" , (a song I had only heard Tom Petty do, it was the Byrds)), with a combo 6 pack of Shlitz and Shocktop. We left there on Saturday AM to attend the big party by the river, a great event put on my Kath and Larry, where the Wild Woody's put on a super show and we danced and chowed til it was time to go.

Two of most enjoyable moments were Sunday's by the pool at Mike and Susan's. The "good Rick" brought some homebrew both times and everyone pitched in with food and we had a couple of splendid afternoons. MJ Lacasse even showed up with some scuba gear trying to give some expertise to a vent situation in the bottom of the pool. The second one where "the 4 Stevens" made an appearance we had a cool jam with a bunch of percussionists and Melvis and Marty and Susan providing the guitar and vocal sounds.

After that it was Mary and Callie getting ready for their Boston trip to visit daughter Ashley and me heading to Detroit for friend Corby's recently announced nuptials. BMad had come back from California for a summer trip with his daughter so The Johnson's, Corby, BMad and myself had an impromptu bachelor and birthday party for Corby over in Sterling Hts. Between that and the good times and feelings at the wedding reception seeing old friends and hanging with Susie M. and golfing with PBolde (Rockman) I was a bit tired on my wayback from Det. to Kalamazoo for yet another summer celebration, the 20th annual 39 again party on Gull Lake hosted by Marty, Dale and the other Joe C.

Mary and Callie arranged a ride from cuz Sharon to the Airport so we could represent at the wedding without too much driving hassle. by the time I got back from Detroit there were on there way to Boston.

The party at the Jolly Mon's (Marty's boat) home marina was large but with a lot of space, food, beverages, friends and music. Marty had secured the local fave reggae band, Zion Lion, with assists from Mary to play and it worked out great. My man Asanne, had me come up and play percussion with the band and there was a cool "Irie" vibe in the pole barn right on the waters of Gull Lake bay. After a half dozen songs or my arms were noodles but it was much fun. I hit the party wall after 3 days around 10:30 and after my last beer from LD I was toast, went home to the kitty which I haven'[t said much about. Neko has been my companion the last few days while the girls have been gone on their fun trip. Sometimes obnoxiously playful and other times cuddly she has been good to have here.

Then yesterday, a last minute little golf excursion, with the Coash's, the Jodester, G, and myself turned out fun as we found a place that let us golf, swill, sweat and lose balls out near Gobles at Shamrock Hills. Great seeing Some good folks from my old job.

Whew, so that leads me to today and anticipating the return of Mary and Callie after my golf league tonight I go and pick them up. Then tomorrow I am off the "Guys golf Getaway" our 12 year or so with Jazzman, Mikey D. and Peter. We head to Jackson this year for an abbreviated tour of some of their finest courses. There will a report in the next blog about that and the Water Park wedding reception at the Wisconsin Dells where we go the following weekend.

As I look back over the past several months I am reminded of how life's ebb and flow of the highs and lows are always there for us to maneuver and negotiate. My mom is doing well, post heart attack and triple bypass, currently she is enjoying summer at Sister Sue's up north. All of us are reminded of my Step dad Linc's passing on a daily basis. We have a new pet after Maddie's unfortunate illness and death, in Neko and Jimmy C's picture on the fridge smiling away is another reminder of how fragile and wonderfully delicate life is.

The summer allows us to feel and experience so much, what the gardens being to us, the travels, swimming in the waters of Michigan, the incredible food, the sun making us sweat on the golf course greenery, and spending valuable time with family friends who make it all special. Again , savor it, breathe in the fresh air and get lost in the midst of summer "time".