I've been Blaked!

Last Tuesday I got a chance to hang out with some good friends. Earlier that evening I had dinner with Carolyn and later Peggy joined us for dessert at the Gate House. Afterward we took a walk to the school playground. After swinging on the swings Katie came out to meet us, later followed by Trace and Kristen. I was pretty high on life at the time and I climbed around the swingsets and other silly things. We soon headed back to the Gate House to meet Bruce, Blake, and Stephanie. Here we talked, laughed, smoked, and drank all evening. Lets thank Blake for letting me try his cuban cigar (which was great btw). It was surely good to be back on the island!

About 300 sailboats attended the Chicago to Mackinac Race!	Cheesecake dessert - yum indeed!
Bruce and Blake being themselves.	Enjoying a good cigar (I've been Blaked!).
Me and Kristen looking hip at the Gate House.	Trace enjoying a puff or two.
Starting to see wierd looks later that evening...	Hitt'n it at Sinclairs with Blake and the gang.
Thought I'd try to steal this dude's hat - ended up getting a pic with him instead.

Michael & Lillian's Wedding

Father Rey and I went down to Ann Arbor over the weekend to attend Michael & Lillian's wedding. The drive was long of course. We made a pit stop at Gaylord and had a classy meal at Ponderosa. We made it through several thunderstorms on the way down and made it to AA by 12:45am, thanks to my quick driving skills (I mean c'mon, driving close to 90 in a conversion van takes skill). After dropping father at St. Mary's rectory, I got to hang out with Inchai and friends at O'Conners. It was a good time!

I attended the 10am church service at St. Mary's, followed by brunch with Inchai and Ron at Coney Island. Then it was time to suit up. Father Rey and I arrived at Cobblestone Farms by 2:15 and had the chance to meet Michael and Lillian before the start of the ceremony. It was outdoors and the weather was perfect, maybe too perfect. It was like 80 outside but thankfully there was cloud cover from time to time. It was nice to see the dance team again and some old friends as well. As Father Rey gave the final blessings, we took refuge under the trees. With our glasses of champaign, we chatted next to some farm animals (funny huh) and almost got my hand bitten off by the horse. At least the sheep, goats, and ducks served as a nice background noise to the hustle of people congratulating the new couple.

Annette, Beth, Lisa, and Stacey - lovely aren't they?	Michael alone under the leaves, waiting for his bride.
The crew of Ocean's 11: me, Nathen, Rainer, Damian, & Kostas.	Lillian and her father (insert song "Isn't She lovely...")
Cutting the cake. Erin did a wonderful job making it too!	Making silly faces at the camera.

 

After the beautiful cake cutting event, we slowly marched indoors for the reception. With my MC abilities and Evan's DJ skills, the nite started off well. The food was great and even the dessert was a worthy treat. By 7:30 I announced the couple's first dance: a waltz to "Shrek". I must say Michael did a good Am. Waltz basic, even got the underarm turn - way go man! There was much drinking and dancing throughout the night. In between we manage to do the bouquet toss and the taking-off the garter ritual. I even got to see Father Rey break down some funky dance moves! The evening ended well and it was worth the drive to see everyone again!

Behold, the fountain of youth! Chocolate that is.	Lillian & Michael pose before dinner.
The Bakers of the wedding: Erin and Beth.	Go Father Rey! Go!
Lots of dancing throughout the nite.	Looking sophisticated.
Evan, the hip DJ.	Another accidental dance formation.
Me, Damian, and Steph just acting silly.	Me and Michael, exhausted.
The beautiful Lillian and I (nice dress btw).

We left as fast as we would on Monday. We left AA at 9am and caught the 3pm ferry (made a quick detour to p-town for some supplies). But the weekend was a blast nonetheless!

Father Rey and I catching the 3pm ferry.

Wonder if Father is going to eat his fries. . .

 

Island + Friends = Good Times!

The last few days have been busy: Yacht season is in full swing, just got back from Lillian & Michael's wedding, and working out plans for next year. I've met a lot of new friends on the island and saw some new changes as well. But before all of that I got the chance to meet some new people on the island and see some different things happening on Main St. The Fourth of July went well this year and got the chance to see the fireworks with the family at the school park later that evening. Then there was that one time to the Irish pub to see the Pub Runners. I'll probably be seeing them a lot with the regular entourage of fort people. Then there was that one time on Canada Day too. Had a fun time eating and drinking with the fort crew (I must say Beaver burgers aren't half bad). And those Jello Jigglers shaped in Maple Leafs - nice one!

Brynn and I at the Biscuit. I hear she's a good dancer.	Going to the the Grand with Kesenya.
Fourth of July parade on the island.	Square dancing antics...

 

Then there is that time I got to hang out at the Stang with a select few. It was nice of Trace, Steph, and Katie to stop by during my dance lessons and persuade me to come to the Biscuit afterward. The result was a good time with fellow friends at both the Biscuit and the Stang. Got to see Bruce and Blake again and share a few laughs here and there. I know you people want pics so here goes:

Getting into the Pub Runner experience (when did I get that headband?!).	Miss Whitener and I (I don't even remember kissing her, but thats good!).
Trace and I, um, don't even remember that (vaugly I do I think).	Steph and I at the Pony awhile ago.
Oh Canada Day! How we love thee!	Paul and Kristen caught in the action!
Kristen and I at the Stang, eating popcorn.	A shot of Sandy & I from an earlier trip to the Stang.
Bruce and I just chill'n with the fort entourage.	Just ecstatic with joy.

More pictures are on the way, including pics from the wedding last weekend. Stay tune to see some crazy shinannigans

Back on Mackatraz!

Greetings! Welcome to my summer blog on Mackinac Island! Let's just start saying that I've been quite busy since I left Ann Arbor. As soon as I got to the island by the first week of May it was just work work work. But the month of May wasn't too bad: got the chance to meet my old friends and meet some new ones! It was pretty cool to start ballroom dancing up here on the island since Carolyn James wasn't sure if she was coming back. So I get to teach dance lessons in my busy schedule. I knew I'd head out to the Terrace room at the Grand Hotel as soon as I started thinking of the Rhumba and Swing (lets thank Peggy for that).

A random shot of me, Heath, and Peggy from the front of the Grand.	The schedule for Friday nites. Cool huh?
Thought I try to be a wicked photographer.	Heath and Peg caught in the act! Figured I could use this photo for other purposes...
Both Carolyn May and Carolyn James at the Terrace Room.

 

It was also great to have friends from Ann Arbor come visit the island last month. We had about seven people come to enjoy the weekend during the Lilac Festival (Jason, Anastasia, John, Ron, Inchai, Chris, and Emily). I'm sure they had a blast making candy, riding bikes and horses, and dancing at the Grand Hotel. Here are a few pics from the last nite:

My friends and I having dinner at the Village Inn.	Ron and Jason pose as the real gentlemen of the Grand Hotel.
Anastasia and I looking pretty.	The UofM Ballroom Dance Team, my sisters, and I.

 

And of course I can't forget the fort people! I've been hanging out with them ever since I got up here! We've done a lot of things like going to Sinclairs (many many times), Canada Day (woot!), the movies (Superman with Steph and Jenny - sweetness!), and much more! I'll include a few pics below:

Me being Ray Charles at Jazz & Wine nite at the Gate House.	Trace's version of Ray Charles.
The infamous Pub Runners at Sinclair's.	Caught in the start of a train in Sinclairs.
Us leading the entire bar in the Hokey Pokey!

 

Those are just some of the crazy things happening on the island. Surley more are on the way on this hectic island that some us like to call "Mackatraz"! ~L