Trip to the BWCA

Check out the slide show on the left hand side of this page.  It will show you what a good time we had.  The portages were interesting.  One was 210 rods.  That reminded us that were aren't spring chickens anymore.

There was a lot of wind and a lot of rain during our stay.  We actually came out a couple days early because we were getting tired of sitting under the tarp.

Fishing wasn't very good.  We did manage to round up enough walleyes for a meal on Sunday.  Monday we portaged and paddle to a different lake, where we had heard the walleyes where bigger.  We never caught a one.

We still had a good time being outdoors and being with our friends Dave and Ellie.  However, Ellie did say that she was just being polite when after several days of being camp bound, I started to repeat my stories and she pretended she had not already heard them.

We also had some fantastic meals.  We made lazagna on the fire for the first time and Ellie made burritos one night.  She had even carried in some fresh veggies to put on them.  And rehydrated refied beans are amazing.  Throw in some jalapeno Valveeta cheese and you have yourself a super good dip for Makita's homemade tortilla chips.  And Ellie's pizza was killer!  It must have been the biggest pizza ever made over a fire.

Ellie's pizza prior to going on the fire.



Makita frying up fresh tortilla chips.

La la la la la zagna....

Pre Sprint Race Activities on Sunday

Because we're season ticket holders at Kansas Speedway we get Track Passes.  So we went back behind pit road.  I stopped at Jeff's pit and watched them glue some lug nuts to his tires.

Jeff's pit.

Me on pit road.

Here I am in the grass between pit road and the track with the stands in the background.

Jake Owen band performs pre race.

Makita signs the start finish line.  I'm sure he's writing something stupid like "Go Jimmy" or something nauseating.

There's where I spot signed the start finish.

Makita signs the wall.

There's a lot of people roaming around the track for pre race ceremonies.

Saturday at Kansas Speedway

A perfect start to a race day is a nearly famous Bloody Makita.

Hmmmm the smell of bacon frying!

Color Guard during the opening ceromonies.

B52 Bomber fly over.  AWESOME!

Nascar Truck race....

Clint Boyer takes the checkered flag.  It was a fun race.

Kansas Speedway

Last weekend we went to Kansas Speedway for the Nascar races.

Here I am in front of the track.

Eddie is sporting Jeff's flag.

I don't care who you are, this is funny stuff!

Nikki Borden Graduates from High School

My niece, Nikki, graduated from High School this past weekend.  Here she is pictured with her dad (brother Bob).

Nikki has enlisted with the Army National Guard and is preparing to go off to basic training.

Nikki's Senior Prom

Nashville

Last night Donna Sue and I had dinner with Ann Guest, a Marketron client, at Maggiano's.

Aunt Karen and the Gang

This past Sunday I stopped by Dad's to visit with Aunt Karen.  She broke out the Willy braids and make shift guitar in celebration of her 70th Birthday.

My cousin Janae and her husband Mike flew in from Long Island NY.  My cousin Jared flew in from Seattle but I neglected to capture him in a photo :(

Janae and Mike's daughter Kaylee poses for her glamour shot.

Janae and Mike's son, Braden, poses with Grandma Karen.

Girls Weekend

Last weekend we had a "girls weekend" at Irish Acres.  Me and Jodi kicked it off with some hootch.  Slainte

Saturday night we cooked steaks on the grill and oinked out.  From left to right, Shelly, me, Jodi, Gay and Cindy.  We were going to have a campfire and hangout outside but it never stopped raining.  So we stayed indoors and finished the night off with watching Hangover.

Meet Ben (Gentle?)

Okay in my excitement to see Ben in the yard my photography skills went completely down the drain.

He's been around for awhile now.  He likes to wreck stuff and poop in the yard.

Beach Boys Concert with Shanana

While in Gulf Shores Donna Sue, Oscar and myself went to a Beach Boys concert at The Wharf Amphitheater. Shanana opened.  It was a really fun time.

Shanana

Shanana

Shanana

Beach Boys

Beach Boys with John Stamos playing guitar with them.

John Stamos on drums.

John brought his actor buddy Vince Vaughn to play the tambourine.

Gulf Shores Visit

My friend/co-worker Donna Sue and her husband Oscar have three homes in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  Currently she's renting out the condo at the Crystal Towers.  This is the outside pool area that is adjacent to the beach.

The view from one of the decks off Donna Sue's condo on the 13th floor.

Another home of Donna Sue and Oscar's is about five miles north of the beach.  It's gorgeous!

The third property is at The Sands.  This is where they go if they want some fun in the sun at the beach.  This is where I stayed with them while I was down there.