The computer says:

The future is a little unclear for the Dell, but she's in good hands with repairman Mark. The first shower was wonderful, and I hope to make an entry sooner than later.

TUT 2009

This weekend we went up north with Kirk, Andrea, Caden, and Logan to Houghton Lake for Tip Up Town. This annual winter festival is held on Michigan's largest inland lake over two weekends in January. For those of you who do not know what a Tip Up is, it is an implement used when ice fishing. A tip up enables an ice angler to fish a hole unmanned. If a fish takes the bait suspended by the tip up, a flag gets tipped up into the air signaling FISH ON.

Nowadays, TUT boasts many festivities, including an ice fishing content (homage to its namesake), fairgrounds with a polar bear dip, carnival rides, junk food, beer tent, and ice slide. There is snowmobile racing/demos on the ice and even a parade on the streets!

This year we caught the parade for the first time. It was FRIGID outside, and we all had to bundle up to try and keep warm.

Andrea and Caden keeping warm:


Logan and I, all bundled up:


We happened to park right by the end of the parade route, which also doubled as the finish line for a Bed Race. I'd never seen one of these, so it was fun to catch the winning moment:


We also got to do some snowmobiling. Conditions could not have been nicer, and we got 3-4" of fresh power on Saturday.
Andrea riding ahead on the lake -- look at that snow!


Andrea and I on the trails:

Friend or Enemy?

Odie and Tucker have a unique hot/cold relationship. Unlike the other cats who don't trust Odie for even a split second, Tucker seems to have more patience and will often wait and see what's going to happen when it comes to Odie being within 2 feet of a cat. Invariably the interchange ends in exactly the same fashion -- Odie trying to 'hunt' or stampede the kitty, but Tucker still keeps trying:

Even at a young puppy age, Tucker tried to hold his ground:


You'd think Tucker would run for it, but he's torn between his 'spot' and the annoying dog:


Odie sometimes tries to be coy by sneaking around objects.


But Tucker is on to him (look at Tucker's eyes!)


So you'll understand my surprise when I happened upon this scene this evening:


Wonders never cease!

Funny

DanEcca im Lebkuchen

We started a Christmas tradition this year of constructing a gingerbread house on Christmas morning. I purchased a German kit from a local store, and as we were putting it together we discovered that the constructed house was a near-perfect representation of us! Even Odie was there!



Later, after reading the box, I discovered that the house was intended to depict the story of Hansel and Gretel. We still think that fate handed us our very own prepackaged little cookie/candy DanEcca diorama.

Errr, wait . . . I suppose that would require a dirt bike, duck decoys, and Big Idea Book. Ah well, Hansel & Gretel it is!