Dylan says:
Today we went to the zoo. The thing I liked the best was the wolf and the coyote.
The first thing we saw was turtles. I took a picture of the turtles. My camera went click, click. I also took a picture of a swimming turtle. My camera went click.
Next we went to the birds. When we got to the birds, the first bird we saw was the bald eagle. I took a picture. My camera went click click clickety click click. Next we went to visit the turkey vulture. I took a picture of it. My camera went click. Then we visited the barn owl. I took a picture of it. My camera went click click clickety click... click.
Then we found the beavers. They weren't out. We went into the beaver dam. We saw one. I took a picture of it. Except the flash bounced off the glass and it was a picture of a big white thing. I deleted that picture. I forgot to tell you that my camera went click.
We moved on to the bear. I took a picture of that too. My camera went clickety click click delete, clickety click click delete click click. Then we moved on to a bob cat. I took a picture. My camera went clickety clickety click click clickety clack clack click. Then we moved on to the wolves and the coyote. I took a picture. My camera went click. Then we went to the big elk.
My camera went click delete. We moved on to the cherry buffalo. They were gone! No where in sight. So we walked back past the elk. I took another picture of the elk. Past the wolves and coyotes... to the minks! I took a picture of the the minks - click, click. Then we moved on to the red fox. I took a picture... click.
Then we went into a big building. There were animals in tanks there. We saw a snake that was fake. I didn't take a picture of the snake that was fake. We saw a real snake, a real frog, and I saw some crickets. I did not take a picture of the crickets. Then we went to the raccoon. So, because the raccoon wasn't there, I tried to take a picture of a chipmunk outside of the cage. But the chipmunk was behind the fence and I couldn't get the chipmunk into focus. I ran around the fence to get closer to the raccoon cage that would bring me closer to the chipmunk. But Mommy and Daddy yelled at me. They said it was time to leave.
But before we left, I took a picture of the most important thing of all.... Mommy and Daddy. And they weren't in a cage.
Then we went to the Boardman River. [Union St. Bridge at 6th St.] We went down the stairs to the Boardman River. I threw huge, gigantic rocks into the river. Ducks and a big fat dog came swimming by. A man shouted Lucy and whistled. The dog made a big splash and jumped out of the water. It ran towards the man and they went right up the stairs. And when they went up the stairs that gave me an idea.
I picked up a rock, and I climbed the stairs to the top of the bridge. I pushed the rock off the edge of the bridge. Ker-plop.
Then we went home and played with Auntie Jana on the computer playing Everquest. Then we were looking for Jloubelle's corpse. Grandma's advice was to cast enduring breath but we didn't have any fish scales. I sang an encouraging song to Auntie Jana:
I know you're gonna find the fish scales
I really know you are
Come on now, Don't give up now
Keep looking - You're going to get those gnolls back for what they did to you.
You're gonna get them back I just know you are,
You're going to find the fish scales,
You're searching the downtown streets,
Searching the uptown streets,
You're going to find the fish scales.
Oh yes those fish scales are yours!
Yeah yeah yeah.
So then Auntie Jana decided to go to the fishing supply store. No fish scales. Then we went to the other fishing sell-guy - no fish scales. Then we went to general supplies number one - no fish scales.
Long story short, we found Jloubelle's corpses with the help of some other druid.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Dylan's Report on the Making Of "The Piggy Mystery"
Dylan says:
Dylan liked the movie making the best. [The Piggy Mystery]
The movie we made was about two detectives. The detectives are 2 boys - one 7 [Dylan], one 11 [J.P.] They're visiting their grandma and grandpa [Uncle Doug].
The two boys were playing Toss the Pickle. The 7 year old had a bad throw, kneeled down to pick up the pickle, and they saw a red pig. The 7 year old picked it up. The 11 year old said What's that? I said It's a pig. The grandpa said Hey give me that pig and snatched it from me and walked right out of the room. We pulled out our detective hats, nodded, and got to work. We had every intention to figure out what was in that pig that grandpa didn't want us to get.
Grandpa got into the car, but it was tricky because there was one thing that the Wonder Boy Detective Agency didn't teach us how to do....and that was learn how to drive. We had to think of something, and really, really fast.
We ran into the house. Mommy [Jana], Daddy [John Lichtenberg], we have to follow grandpa - he's getting away with the pig. Dad said, the pig? Mom said, OK.
Following Grandpa was hard because there were no other cars on the road and we were only 10 feet behind him. It was also hard because we didn't know which way he was going to turn because he always had his left turn signal on. Grandpa parked the car. He threw the pig off the bridge!
After that, Grandpa reeled it back in after we went back home.
Dylan liked the movie making the best. [The Piggy Mystery]
The movie we made was about two detectives. The detectives are 2 boys - one 7 [Dylan], one 11 [J.P.] They're visiting their grandma and grandpa [Uncle Doug].
The two boys were playing Toss the Pickle. The 7 year old had a bad throw, kneeled down to pick up the pickle, and they saw a red pig. The 7 year old picked it up. The 11 year old said What's that? I said It's a pig. The grandpa said Hey give me that pig and snatched it from me and walked right out of the room. We pulled out our detective hats, nodded, and got to work. We had every intention to figure out what was in that pig that grandpa didn't want us to get.
Grandpa got into the car, but it was tricky because there was one thing that the Wonder Boy Detective Agency didn't teach us how to do....and that was learn how to drive. We had to think of something, and really, really fast.
We ran into the house. Mommy [Jana], Daddy [John Lichtenberg], we have to follow grandpa - he's getting away with the pig. Dad said, the pig? Mom said, OK.
Following Grandpa was hard because there were no other cars on the road and we were only 10 feet behind him. It was also hard because we didn't know which way he was going to turn because he always had his left turn signal on. Grandpa parked the car. He threw the pig off the bridge!
After that, Grandpa reeled it back in after we went back home.
Dick's Report on GenFest 2005 - The Basswood Bend Film Festival
Dick reported:
Well another Gen-Fest is in the history books and it might have been the
best one yet..
We had a total of 33 enthusiastic participants. All of Gen's living descendants were in attendance except for cousin Molly who is in summer school at the University of Hawaii, and my eldest brother's two kids who are estranged for reasons that are not totally clear to me. I sent them
invitations with hand written notes that we missed seeing them but did not
receive a response.
Cousin Kevin had the most adventurous trip. He was attempting to fly in
from Phoenix through Detroit on North Worst but the flight to TC was
cancelled. He teamed up with others from the flight to rent a van and drive
up. He got here about 5 a.m.. One reason he made such an effort was to
announce his engagement to Amy. That gave us an excuse to break out the
Champagne and the wine glasses. The wedding will be in San Diego so Tom can
look forward to some house guests.
My day started at midnight sitting beside Dylan on the curb by the side of
Front Street in downtown Traverse City. We were waiting for the new Harry
Potter book to go on sale. Laurie stood in line while we waited outside.
We were certainly not lonely. Hundreds of people had joined us for the
festivities which started at 10:00 p.m. There was a scavenger hunt involving
quite a few of the downtown stores as well as numerous characters from the
books. Many of our fellow Potter fans were fully costumed although we were
not. It was a fun time but after a full morning of work at the Visitor
Center and an afternoon of pre party set up at home, I was bushed. The
fatigue bug had bitten Dylan as well and we decided to wait in the car. By
the time his Mommy got back with the books he was fast asleep. It was after
1 a.m. when we got back to the house.
I was up and at'em a little after 6 a.m. and discovered that I was nearly out
of charcoal for the grill. I had a trip into town scheduled anyway because
we had a video camera reserved for rental at the local camera shop.
Each year we try to have some unique and fun event that can involve all
ages at our Gen-Fests. For example, last year was competitive Geocaching
and the year before was a Rubber Duck race. So while the rest of the
inhouse crew, (6), ate breakfast, showered and dressed, I loaded up the car
with recycling and ran my errands.
All went well until I reached the camera shop. It turned out that they
didn't open 'till 10, I wandered the street for 15 minutes and then came
back at just after 10 and they were still closed. It turned out that little
Cindy, she with the nose stud, had also been out late the night before and,
as a result, was 15 minutes late for work.
I was in the door to collect the camera as soon as she opened. She went
into the back room and returned quickly with camera bag, attached to which
was a note with my name on it. She opened it to determine that it's
contents were correct and discovered that it did not contain a camera. She
made a phone call and informed me that Bob would be there in a few minutes
to take care of me. "A few?" "Well 15 to 20 or so".
I wandered off down the street to get a coffee. When Bob got there he
looked and indicated that the camera was missing and its location was
unknown but he told me that they would rent me their (his) in-house camera.
Unfortunately, he was out of the type of cartridge that it required. To get
me in business, he put in the tape of his kid's Physics project and told me
to "Just tape over it". After a quick tutorial, I was on my way.
By the time I got home, the troops had begun to arrive. I started the
grills and worked as greeter until 11:30 when it was time to assign groups
for the First Basswood Bend Film Festival. Their task was to create and
film a movie of at least 5 minutes length in a set genre in which they
utilized a couple of required props. After a short time to gather and
select a director, they picked their genre, Sci-Fi, mystery, adventure,
horror and fantasy were chosen. Then they picked their central prop. They
could choose from; a flag of New Brunswick, a fire extinguisher, a piggy
bank, a picnic basket or pom poms. Finally, they were presented with a
required prop, a large dill pickle and given about 2 hours to eat lunch and
plan their film.
Filming began at 2:30 and every one became quite involved, even those who
approached the concept with some trepidations. In our film, an adventure
saga titled Minnesota Smith and the Basswood Bend Booty" our stars were
reliving Gen Fests past and attempting to discover the plan for next year's
gathering. My roles were as "Indigenous Basswood Bend Native", a war
painted rock throwing thug, and "Evil Uncle Dick", a black clad villain
determined to protect the secret of Gen Fest 06 from our heroes. Cousin
Shelly was awarded the "Genevieve" for "Best Actress" for her performance
as "Drunken Shelly" while Cousin Derek won for "Best Costume". The
interspersed glimpses of a physics lecture between some of the gripping
scenes added greatly to the humor of the project.
In her film, "The Attack of the Slimy, Mutant, Green-Eyed Pickle People
Eater", Nancy played herself as "Dead Aunt Nan" who had been attacked by a
genetically altered version of the required prop, "She's been pickled!" It
won for "Best Film" and Laurie won "Best Director" and tied with Jana for
"Best Cinematographer". Cousin (Dr.) Kevin won for "Best Actor" for his
portrayal of a Doctor. (Type casting?)
Jana filmed and directed an effort that co-starred Dylan with cousin JP as
boy detectives attempting to determine what "Evil Uncle Doug" (see a
pattern here?) had done to the piggy bank. It was a 10/11 vote but Dylan
won the Genevieve for "Best Boy Actor". JP was "Most Enthusiastic".
In another film, Tom was an evil scientist who was creating an army of
Frankenpickles who were attacking and killing picnickers. Chip won for Best
Make Up as the catsup splashed victim of the killer pickle.
The cutest film stared four of the little girls in the under under five set
driving around town looking for pickles. They even got a park Ranger to
respond "No pickles here!" They each won a Genievieve.
Following the viewing and the awards presentation, more food was eaten and
the traditional Gen-Fest recreational activities took place. While some
canoed or tubed, and a valiant group of the moms performed what always
seems to be near permanent KP, others began the volley ball game. It seemed
to be less spirited than past years, partly a function of the lateness of
the day and the heat and humidity but mostly, I fear, the continuous
encroachment of age.
As dusk approached, the campfire was started and those with distance to
travel said their good byes. After an obligatory visit to the campfire and
volleyball observation, the most senior members of the clan blearily sat
and chatted awhile until finally giving in to fatigue and age we waved
farewell and drifted off to bed.
It is reported that the campfire crowd continued to socialize until after 2
but that too was tamer than some past years and there was no evidence of
Molson's ailment in the crew this morning.
Well another Gen-Fest is in the history books and it might have been the
best one yet..
We had a total of 33 enthusiastic participants. All of Gen's living descendants were in attendance except for cousin Molly who is in summer school at the University of Hawaii, and my eldest brother's two kids who are estranged for reasons that are not totally clear to me. I sent them
invitations with hand written notes that we missed seeing them but did not
receive a response.
Cousin Kevin had the most adventurous trip. He was attempting to fly in
from Phoenix through Detroit on North Worst but the flight to TC was
cancelled. He teamed up with others from the flight to rent a van and drive
up. He got here about 5 a.m.. One reason he made such an effort was to
announce his engagement to Amy. That gave us an excuse to break out the
Champagne and the wine glasses. The wedding will be in San Diego so Tom can
look forward to some house guests.
My day started at midnight sitting beside Dylan on the curb by the side of
Front Street in downtown Traverse City. We were waiting for the new Harry
Potter book to go on sale. Laurie stood in line while we waited outside.
We were certainly not lonely. Hundreds of people had joined us for the
festivities which started at 10:00 p.m. There was a scavenger hunt involving
quite a few of the downtown stores as well as numerous characters from the
books. Many of our fellow Potter fans were fully costumed although we were
not. It was a fun time but after a full morning of work at the Visitor
Center and an afternoon of pre party set up at home, I was bushed. The
fatigue bug had bitten Dylan as well and we decided to wait in the car. By
the time his Mommy got back with the books he was fast asleep. It was after
1 a.m. when we got back to the house.
I was up and at'em a little after 6 a.m. and discovered that I was nearly out
of charcoal for the grill. I had a trip into town scheduled anyway because
we had a video camera reserved for rental at the local camera shop.
Each year we try to have some unique and fun event that can involve all
ages at our Gen-Fests. For example, last year was competitive Geocaching
and the year before was a Rubber Duck race. So while the rest of the
inhouse crew, (6), ate breakfast, showered and dressed, I loaded up the car
with recycling and ran my errands.
All went well until I reached the camera shop. It turned out that they
didn't open 'till 10, I wandered the street for 15 minutes and then came
back at just after 10 and they were still closed. It turned out that little
Cindy, she with the nose stud, had also been out late the night before and,
as a result, was 15 minutes late for work.
I was in the door to collect the camera as soon as she opened. She went
into the back room and returned quickly with camera bag, attached to which
was a note with my name on it. She opened it to determine that it's
contents were correct and discovered that it did not contain a camera. She
made a phone call and informed me that Bob would be there in a few minutes
to take care of me. "A few?" "Well 15 to 20 or so".
I wandered off down the street to get a coffee. When Bob got there he
looked and indicated that the camera was missing and its location was
unknown but he told me that they would rent me their (his) in-house camera.
Unfortunately, he was out of the type of cartridge that it required. To get
me in business, he put in the tape of his kid's Physics project and told me
to "Just tape over it". After a quick tutorial, I was on my way.
By the time I got home, the troops had begun to arrive. I started the
grills and worked as greeter until 11:30 when it was time to assign groups
for the First Basswood Bend Film Festival. Their task was to create and
film a movie of at least 5 minutes length in a set genre in which they
utilized a couple of required props. After a short time to gather and
select a director, they picked their genre, Sci-Fi, mystery, adventure,
horror and fantasy were chosen. Then they picked their central prop. They
could choose from; a flag of New Brunswick, a fire extinguisher, a piggy
bank, a picnic basket or pom poms. Finally, they were presented with a
required prop, a large dill pickle and given about 2 hours to eat lunch and
plan their film.
Filming began at 2:30 and every one became quite involved, even those who
approached the concept with some trepidations. In our film, an adventure
saga titled Minnesota Smith and the Basswood Bend Booty" our stars were
reliving Gen Fests past and attempting to discover the plan for next year's
gathering. My roles were as "Indigenous Basswood Bend Native", a war
painted rock throwing thug, and "Evil Uncle Dick", a black clad villain
determined to protect the secret of Gen Fest 06 from our heroes. Cousin
Shelly was awarded the "Genevieve" for "Best Actress" for her performance
as "Drunken Shelly" while Cousin Derek won for "Best Costume". The
interspersed glimpses of a physics lecture between some of the gripping
scenes added greatly to the humor of the project.
In her film, "The Attack of the Slimy, Mutant, Green-Eyed Pickle People
Eater", Nancy played herself as "Dead Aunt Nan" who had been attacked by a
genetically altered version of the required prop, "She's been pickled!" It
won for "Best Film" and Laurie won "Best Director" and tied with Jana for
"Best Cinematographer". Cousin (Dr.) Kevin won for "Best Actor" for his
portrayal of a Doctor. (Type casting?)
Jana filmed and directed an effort that co-starred Dylan with cousin JP as
boy detectives attempting to determine what "Evil Uncle Doug" (see a
pattern here?) had done to the piggy bank. It was a 10/11 vote but Dylan
won the Genevieve for "Best Boy Actor". JP was "Most Enthusiastic".
In another film, Tom was an evil scientist who was creating an army of
Frankenpickles who were attacking and killing picnickers. Chip won for Best
Make Up as the catsup splashed victim of the killer pickle.
The cutest film stared four of the little girls in the under under five set
driving around town looking for pickles. They even got a park Ranger to
respond "No pickles here!" They each won a Genievieve.
Following the viewing and the awards presentation, more food was eaten and
the traditional Gen-Fest recreational activities took place. While some
canoed or tubed, and a valiant group of the moms performed what always
seems to be near permanent KP, others began the volley ball game. It seemed
to be less spirited than past years, partly a function of the lateness of
the day and the heat and humidity but mostly, I fear, the continuous
encroachment of age.
As dusk approached, the campfire was started and those with distance to
travel said their good byes. After an obligatory visit to the campfire and
volleyball observation, the most senior members of the clan blearily sat
and chatted awhile until finally giving in to fatigue and age we waved
farewell and drifted off to bed.
It is reported that the campfire crowd continued to socialize until after 2
but that too was tamer than some past years and there was no evidence of
Molson's ailment in the crew this morning.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Thursday Stuff
Tom and Conni arrive late this evening. We are ready!
Tomorrow night is the picnic set-up. It's all going to end at 10 p.m. or so when all of the Steigers are going to downtown T.C. for the release of the new Harry Potter book. Jana is arriving around 8:15 p.m. tomorrow evening, so she'll be here just in time for all of the Harry Potter fun.
Downtown is really getting into it - the shops have all changed their names to Diagon Alley shop names. The Horizon Bookstore is Flourish and Botts. There's going to be treasure hunt all along Front St. and a human chess game in the street. Somehow, they are planning some sort of Quidditch, although none of us can see how they'll do it. The release of the book is at 12:01 a.m., and we have 3 books reserved.
Today Dick did the final outdoor manicuring of the yard, Chip washed off and inflated all of the tubes, I changed and laundered bed linens and made centerpieces, Laurie set up the playroom. Laurie and I visited Mother and showed her the video of Dylan's Tae Kwan Do class, and a video tour of Laurie's home.
Then we went grocery shopping for the last minute items for Saturday.
Chip visited the chiropractor and Dick and Dylan had ice cream.
Tomorrow night is the picnic set-up. It's all going to end at 10 p.m. or so when all of the Steigers are going to downtown T.C. for the release of the new Harry Potter book. Jana is arriving around 8:15 p.m. tomorrow evening, so she'll be here just in time for all of the Harry Potter fun.
Downtown is really getting into it - the shops have all changed their names to Diagon Alley shop names. The Horizon Bookstore is Flourish and Botts. There's going to be treasure hunt all along Front St. and a human chess game in the street. Somehow, they are planning some sort of Quidditch, although none of us can see how they'll do it. The release of the book is at 12:01 a.m., and we have 3 books reserved.
Today Dick did the final outdoor manicuring of the yard, Chip washed off and inflated all of the tubes, I changed and laundered bed linens and made centerpieces, Laurie set up the playroom. Laurie and I visited Mother and showed her the video of Dylan's Tae Kwan Do class, and a video tour of Laurie's home.
Then we went grocery shopping for the last minute items for Saturday.
Chip visited the chiropractor and Dick and Dylan had ice cream.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Long Lake
Dylan says:
We went on a boat ride. We went to an island.We played in the water. And there was this old water pump and there was a little dry spot that looked like it could hold water that went all the way down the hill into the lake. But then Mommy came and got to be the big funner messer upper ruiner and told me not to make the river. Then me and Daddy and Autumn did something fun. We got lost in the woods. We walked right off the path because it ended, and got lost. So we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked and then Daddy decided to go into the water where there weren't cobwebs and spiderwebs and acorns. And then we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked and then we walked two more feet and then Daddy found a little bullet that was red. Then we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked up a big hill on the island so Daddy could see the path, and then Daddy came down and said he couldn't see the path and he said I'm sorry to Autumn. (for having to climb the hill)
After that we walked and we walked some more, and then Daddy found the blue bullet, and then we walked and we walked some more and then I asked Daddy if we should get back up in the woods. He said, Are you crazy? And then we kept walking, and walking and walking and walking some more. And then we found another red bullet. And then we walked and we walked some more. And then we saw a sign. Daddy read the sign. It said, No campfires, No dogs. And then we walked seven meters and saw an opening. We came out and we saw the pontoon boat! Me and Autumn ran as fast as we could towards the pontoon boat. Then I shared the Coconut cupcakes with everyone, and they were yummy.
Then we went to another island. And there were stairs on the island. Me, Grandpa, Autumn, Brooke and Mommy followed. Then we saw trees making some X's. Then we saw a giant sized woodpecker hole [probably made by a pileated woodpecker]. Then we walked and we walked and we walked some more. Then we walked ten feet. And saw a million tadpoles!! And lots of good skipping stones. I skipped one that almost went to the other island that we were just on where the pump was where Mommy was the big fun messer upper ruiner. Then we went back past all of that, and back onto the pontoon boat. And then we set sail for home. Then when we got home, we played a game of Follow the Signs. Grandpa won. Then we watched some TV. The we wrote this journal. The End Good Night Good Bye Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me Leave Please I Mean It! Thank You.
We went on a boat ride. We went to an island.We played in the water. And there was this old water pump and there was a little dry spot that looked like it could hold water that went all the way down the hill into the lake. But then Mommy came and got to be the big funner messer upper ruiner and told me not to make the river. Then me and Daddy and Autumn did something fun. We got lost in the woods. We walked right off the path because it ended, and got lost. So we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked and then Daddy decided to go into the water where there weren't cobwebs and spiderwebs and acorns. And then we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked and then we walked two more feet and then Daddy found a little bullet that was red. Then we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked up a big hill on the island so Daddy could see the path, and then Daddy came down and said he couldn't see the path and he said I'm sorry to Autumn. (for having to climb the hill)
After that we walked and we walked some more, and then Daddy found the blue bullet, and then we walked and we walked some more and then I asked Daddy if we should get back up in the woods. He said, Are you crazy? And then we kept walking, and walking and walking and walking some more. And then we found another red bullet. And then we walked and we walked some more. And then we saw a sign. Daddy read the sign. It said, No campfires, No dogs. And then we walked seven meters and saw an opening. We came out and we saw the pontoon boat! Me and Autumn ran as fast as we could towards the pontoon boat. Then I shared the Coconut cupcakes with everyone, and they were yummy.
Then we went to another island. And there were stairs on the island. Me, Grandpa, Autumn, Brooke and Mommy followed. Then we saw trees making some X's. Then we saw a giant sized woodpecker hole [probably made by a pileated woodpecker]. Then we walked and we walked and we walked some more. Then we walked ten feet. And saw a million tadpoles!! And lots of good skipping stones. I skipped one that almost went to the other island that we were just on where the pump was where Mommy was the big fun messer upper ruiner. Then we went back past all of that, and back onto the pontoon boat. And then we set sail for home. Then when we got home, we played a game of Follow the Signs. Grandpa won. Then we watched some TV. The we wrote this journal. The End Good Night Good Bye Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me Leave Please I Mean It! Thank You.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore (Sand Dunes)
Dylan says:
We went to the dunes and climbed up a big big big hill. And that hill was steep, steep. We got to the top. There was another hill. We climbed that one too. That hill was a steep, steep, steep, steep hill. But we got to the top and rested for about 10 minutes.
Then I ran off a ramp thingy and fell 2 feet. Then I ran all the way down to where these logs were. We went up the hill where the logs were. Then we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked. And then we saw that someone had built something on the dunes made out of logs. It was shade!! I rested for 3 seconds.
Then we kept going. Then I ran down a hill and went up a hill. This hill was not as steep as the other two hills. In fact, I don't even think that hill was steep. Then we came to this big circle thing. I took a wrong turn and ended up about 35 feet above the ground. Then I lost my balance, caught myself on my feet, and ran down really fast. And I'd say that hill was about 10 steep-steeps. We kept on going through the whole circle thing.
We found ourselves in the middle of a dune desert. We had a drink, then proceeded. Then we came to a slope - we ran down it and went up it. It was as steep as a ladder almost. We got up to the top of it - Mommy and Daddy were still trying to get up. I ran down the other side into a valley and up the other side. And then Mommy and Daddy got to the top on the other side of the valley. They asked me - Dylan - What's over there??!! Some trees, a mountain, and another path!!
Daddy shouts - we don't have enough water for that. I ran down through the valley again and up the other side. Mommy wanted to race me down the hill that's as steep as a ladder. I said, You're on! On your mark, get set, go! I ran - I was in first place. And it got really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really steep! I was twirling and whirling in mid-air! Ker-plop!!!! I went into the sand head first. I wasn't on the bottom - the race was still on. But when I landed face first, a giant sand cloud appeared around me, over my head, and straight at Mommy's face. She was blinded and went back up to the starting line. When the sand cloud went away, she realized that she was on the starting line of the race course, and she said, I won! And I said, Did you notice that you are up and I am down! She looked. She was up. I shouted - I win!
Then we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked past the dune desert. And we walked and we walked until we came to the big giant slope where we started. Then me and Mommy raced down it and Daddy too.
When I said On your mark, Mommy took a startling leap. She was ahead of everybody. She went before I said go. I started down after her. I picked up a lot of speed. There was a little ramp. I ran off the ramp. I was up in the air, I had enough time to do a flying side kick. It created another sand cloud like my face-plant did. This one stung Mommy's legs. I ran and I ran and I ran as fast as I could. I did a bad aimed flying side kick, and made a smallish sand-cloud that went up to Mommy's ankle.
Just as planned, it hit her in the feet. Before she could stop saying Owie, I was at the bottom. And I shouted I Win!! The End
We went to the dunes and climbed up a big big big hill. And that hill was steep, steep. We got to the top. There was another hill. We climbed that one too. That hill was a steep, steep, steep, steep hill. But we got to the top and rested for about 10 minutes.
Then I ran off a ramp thingy and fell 2 feet. Then I ran all the way down to where these logs were. We went up the hill where the logs were. Then we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked. And then we saw that someone had built something on the dunes made out of logs. It was shade!! I rested for 3 seconds.
Then we kept going. Then I ran down a hill and went up a hill. This hill was not as steep as the other two hills. In fact, I don't even think that hill was steep. Then we came to this big circle thing. I took a wrong turn and ended up about 35 feet above the ground. Then I lost my balance, caught myself on my feet, and ran down really fast. And I'd say that hill was about 10 steep-steeps. We kept on going through the whole circle thing.
We found ourselves in the middle of a dune desert. We had a drink, then proceeded. Then we came to a slope - we ran down it and went up it. It was as steep as a ladder almost. We got up to the top of it - Mommy and Daddy were still trying to get up. I ran down the other side into a valley and up the other side. And then Mommy and Daddy got to the top on the other side of the valley. They asked me - Dylan - What's over there??!! Some trees, a mountain, and another path!!
Daddy shouts - we don't have enough water for that. I ran down through the valley again and up the other side. Mommy wanted to race me down the hill that's as steep as a ladder. I said, You're on! On your mark, get set, go! I ran - I was in first place. And it got really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really steep! I was twirling and whirling in mid-air! Ker-plop!!!! I went into the sand head first. I wasn't on the bottom - the race was still on. But when I landed face first, a giant sand cloud appeared around me, over my head, and straight at Mommy's face. She was blinded and went back up to the starting line. When the sand cloud went away, she realized that she was on the starting line of the race course, and she said, I won! And I said, Did you notice that you are up and I am down! She looked. She was up. I shouted - I win!
Then we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked past the dune desert. And we walked and we walked until we came to the big giant slope where we started. Then me and Mommy raced down it and Daddy too.
When I said On your mark, Mommy took a startling leap. She was ahead of everybody. She went before I said go. I started down after her. I picked up a lot of speed. There was a little ramp. I ran off the ramp. I was up in the air, I had enough time to do a flying side kick. It created another sand cloud like my face-plant did. This one stung Mommy's legs. I ran and I ran and I ran as fast as I could. I did a bad aimed flying side kick, and made a smallish sand-cloud that went up to Mommy's ankle.
Just as planned, it hit her in the feet. Before she could stop saying Owie, I was at the bottom. And I shouted I Win!! The End
Friday, July 08, 2005
Dylan Friday
Dylan says:
We were the first finders of a geocache. We walked in the Tunnel of Doom with Grandpa and Mommy. It was a hard hike through the Tunnel of Doom, but we managed. Although Mommy and Grandpa cheated by following a deer path and leaving the Tunnel of Doom to get out.
We were the first finders of a geocache. We walked in the Tunnel of Doom with Grandpa and Mommy. It was a hard hike through the Tunnel of Doom, but we managed. Although Mommy and Grandpa cheated by following a deer path and leaving the Tunnel of Doom to get out.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Alden is Kicking
Dick cooked breakfast for the four of us - he did the banana/pecan thing again - best pancakes in the Western World. He also cooked both bacon and sausage, so we had a most agreeable breakfast. We never run out of things to talk about with Bill and Jan. It was fun to hear about their new condo, all of their grandsons (4), and Belleville gossip. They had to leave early to be back down in Wayne County to pick up Mike and Kim at Metro at 5:45 p.m. So we waved good-by at around 10:30, and they were on their way.
Dick bundled up all of the cardboard out of the garage, loaded up the trash and we went to the dump. He swept the floor of the garage, which still had remnants of sand and salt from last winter.
On the geocaching website, he discovered 3 new caches in Alden, put out by the Alden Search Party. After a second trip to the dump with a forgotten bag, we were off to Alden.
As we entered the village, we couldn't help but notice all the cars and trucks with boat trailers that lined the road on both sides. Of course it is the 4th of July weekend, but we never expected such masses of boats! The boat launch is right at the end of the main street, and people were still launching, and trying to find a place for their trailers. Alden has about a block and a half of "downtown" with little shops and cafes - it's a really unique little place. The villages in Leelanau County, like Glen Arbor, are really a lot more upscale and boutiquey, while Alden maintains a village atmosphere. It was busy, busy, busy - people everywhere. (see link above)
The first cache we attempted was in the Helena Twp. park - a great little park with tennis courts, a nice play-structure, a fitness center, basketball, clean bathrooms, and swings. Our target was over near the swings, and the swings were totally filled with small children being pushed by their dads. So we decided to save it for later. Too many muggles.
Next we went back woodsing to the Helena Twp. Cemetery to find cache #2. This place was deserted, and so we found the cache easily. It seemed to me that the cemetery was way out in the middle of nowhere - kind of unusual. It was also unusual in that there were several plots that had benches as well as headstones.
Back to the park, and the swings were empty. The cache was cleverly hidden, the coordinates were right on, and we had no problem retrieving and replacing it this time.
The 3rd cache was at the Coy Mountain Preserve, which is a hop, skip and a jump from downtown. Dick hiked up the hill a quarter of a mile to find the cache, and that one was easily found also. I stayed in the shady, cool parking area and called Jana on my cell.
Having found all three, we started driving around the lake, and miracle of miracles, we wound up at Docksides for an early dinner. We found a table on the deck. The sun was warm, and the boats on the river were fascinating. You can see just about any kind of watercraft imaginable while sitting out on that deck. There was a profusion of boats on the lake, and the beach by Docksides was jammed also. It's very satisfying to be at Docksides on 4th of July weekend. Of course we can go there anytime we want to, year around, but there's a certain energy abroad today.
We drove home through Torch River, and we could see masses of boats at the Torch Lake sandbar. I've never seen so many people at the sandbar - the boats were in a huge clump 25 boats wide and 5 boats deep. It's quite a scene. http://www.torchlake.com/trr/Torch%20Lake%20Sandbar%20Large%20Photo.html
When we got to T.C. we did a modified Subaru Cruise - downtown Traverse was amazing - we saw huge groups of people (maybe 40 in one group) wearing matching t-shirts - we have no idea what that was about. Front St. was loaded with people - it has to be the busiest time of the year. The Cherry Festival started today. Discretion was the better part of valor, and we didn't go down on the Parkway. I heard on the radio later that the Parkway was bumper to bumper and barely moving.
This was a gorgeous day weather-wise, and activity-wise. We had a great time.
Dick bundled up all of the cardboard out of the garage, loaded up the trash and we went to the dump. He swept the floor of the garage, which still had remnants of sand and salt from last winter.
On the geocaching website, he discovered 3 new caches in Alden, put out by the Alden Search Party. After a second trip to the dump with a forgotten bag, we were off to Alden.
As we entered the village, we couldn't help but notice all the cars and trucks with boat trailers that lined the road on both sides. Of course it is the 4th of July weekend, but we never expected such masses of boats! The boat launch is right at the end of the main street, and people were still launching, and trying to find a place for their trailers. Alden has about a block and a half of "downtown" with little shops and cafes - it's a really unique little place. The villages in Leelanau County, like Glen Arbor, are really a lot more upscale and boutiquey, while Alden maintains a village atmosphere. It was busy, busy, busy - people everywhere. (see link above)
The first cache we attempted was in the Helena Twp. park - a great little park with tennis courts, a nice play-structure, a fitness center, basketball, clean bathrooms, and swings. Our target was over near the swings, and the swings were totally filled with small children being pushed by their dads. So we decided to save it for later. Too many muggles.
Next we went back woodsing to the Helena Twp. Cemetery to find cache #2. This place was deserted, and so we found the cache easily. It seemed to me that the cemetery was way out in the middle of nowhere - kind of unusual. It was also unusual in that there were several plots that had benches as well as headstones.
Back to the park, and the swings were empty. The cache was cleverly hidden, the coordinates were right on, and we had no problem retrieving and replacing it this time.
The 3rd cache was at the Coy Mountain Preserve, which is a hop, skip and a jump from downtown. Dick hiked up the hill a quarter of a mile to find the cache, and that one was easily found also. I stayed in the shady, cool parking area and called Jana on my cell.
Having found all three, we started driving around the lake, and miracle of miracles, we wound up at Docksides for an early dinner. We found a table on the deck. The sun was warm, and the boats on the river were fascinating. You can see just about any kind of watercraft imaginable while sitting out on that deck. There was a profusion of boats on the lake, and the beach by Docksides was jammed also. It's very satisfying to be at Docksides on 4th of July weekend. Of course we can go there anytime we want to, year around, but there's a certain energy abroad today.
We drove home through Torch River, and we could see masses of boats at the Torch Lake sandbar. I've never seen so many people at the sandbar - the boats were in a huge clump 25 boats wide and 5 boats deep. It's quite a scene. http://www.torchlake.com/trr/Torch%20Lake%20Sandbar%20Large%20Photo.html
When we got to T.C. we did a modified Subaru Cruise - downtown Traverse was amazing - we saw huge groups of people (maybe 40 in one group) wearing matching t-shirts - we have no idea what that was about. Front St. was loaded with people - it has to be the busiest time of the year. The Cherry Festival started today. Discretion was the better part of valor, and we didn't go down on the Parkway. I heard on the radio later that the Parkway was bumper to bumper and barely moving.
This was a gorgeous day weather-wise, and activity-wise. We had a great time.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Bill & Jan
Dick worked at the Visitor Center this morning - they had 66 visitors in 3 hours.
Bill and Jan arrived around 11 a.m., and we had a nice visit, shared pictures, broke in the new guest room porch, and waited for Dick.
After a leisurely lunch, Jan and I went to see Bewitched (save your money). We felt that Nicole Kidman sold out a bit - the part was beneath her in my opinion. I went in thinking that she must be a really good sport to take on a part like this, and I left thinking that she made a really bad choice of roles. Will Ferrell was Will Ferrell - cute, funny, and "charming". The story is a yawner - it might have been better to just recreate some of the episodes of the original.
After more visiting and more picture sharing and more gossiping, we went out to dinner at the Big Eazy - very relaxing and casual. Watched the View on TiVo and went to bed.
The weather was rainy, dark and overcast so Dick and Bill didn't get on the river at all.
Bill and Jan arrived around 11 a.m., and we had a nice visit, shared pictures, broke in the new guest room porch, and waited for Dick.
After a leisurely lunch, Jan and I went to see Bewitched (save your money). We felt that Nicole Kidman sold out a bit - the part was beneath her in my opinion. I went in thinking that she must be a really good sport to take on a part like this, and I left thinking that she made a really bad choice of roles. Will Ferrell was Will Ferrell - cute, funny, and "charming". The story is a yawner - it might have been better to just recreate some of the episodes of the original.
After more visiting and more picture sharing and more gossiping, we went out to dinner at the Big Eazy - very relaxing and casual. Watched the View on TiVo and went to bed.
The weather was rainy, dark and overcast so Dick and Bill didn't get on the river at all.
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