"But, What If Tomorrow Never Comes? It Didn't Today!"

Whoa, sure glad we're not doing any traveling during the holidays this year.  Winter storm Boreas looks like it will be dumping 12-18 inches.  I am thankful that I am on vacation until Monday!

As you can see, we started with a good base already...  Also, it's our one year anniversary of owning our house.

Since she's from Kentucky, she doesn't really care for this cold weather.

So much misery.  And, the end of Scout's weather report

Don't know where Scout is?  First place to look is at all the heating registers.  

Second place to look is under all the blankets.

The dog is wearing pajamas and a line has been crossed.  Next thing you know we'll be saving up so you can go to college.  What an embarrassment...

The deer having been around much lately.  Here's one that was wondering across our yard.

Hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving.  As I said earlier, I'm off until Monday and will be just bumming around the house and doing chores with the dog.  Eat some food and watch some football.  A much needed break!

T-day in Rochester, New York

Megan and I having our traditional dinner at Midway Airport


When in Rochester/Buffalo, do as the Rochestarians/Buffalonians do. This is the 10th anniversary edition of Flutie Flakes.


When Megan was doing her x-mas shopping, we saw a bunch of people in these at Brookstone (or something like that) at the mall. Her dad got one and Megan decided to try it out. We thought it was suppose to massage the feet, but it really is a "foot crusher" instead.


This is Watkins Glen, which is near Rochester. It's somewhat like Starved Rock in the Chicago area. On top of this large, steep hill is a really old cemetery where Megan's family has a lot of relatives buried dating from the late 1700s to late 1800s.


Here is the glen at Watkins Glen. Interesting thing I've learned from going to these places is that gorge, glen, dell, and canyon are all different names for the same thing. They define each other...




Megan overlooking the glen with her dad and Marianne in the background




Marianne and Megan on the bridge over the glen


This is pretty much good advice in most populated places...
















Megan and I at the glen. It was pretty cool. It's too bad that the walk below was closed because of ice on the stairs and icicles falling onto the path. I guess it gives me a reason to go to Rochester when it's not winter...


BUFFALO BILLS! This is my 4th Bills game and I'm beginning to think that this officially makes me a Bills fan. I've only been to a couple of Lions games and they are terrible. Plus, I don't live in Michigan anymore and who wants the embarrassment? The Chicago Bears are a good team and I like their style of football. It's all about the defense. But, I've only been to a couple of their games (one against the Bills. All the other football games I've been to have been high school. So...


Tailgating at the CBG (Conklin's Bar & Grill). The menu this time included sausages, hamburgers, and wings (official Buffalo Wings).




Inside this converted bread truck is the bar portion of the bar and grill


I like the superhero Bills fan in red. It's a sporty look.


The bar in the club level of Wilson Stadium




Pre-game. I really like Wilson Stadium because it's very intimate. It doesn't feel like you're a million miles away from all the action, like lots of newer stadiums. Also, the cheerleaders are called the "Buffalo Jills." There's nothing more entertaining than watching girls trying to dance sexy in snowmobile suits.


Jumbotron


Obligatory us pic


If you look at the top of the last pic, you will see this guy. HILARIOUS! If you live in the Buffalo area and know this guy, send this to him.








Back to Chicago. Work up on Monday morning at 4am (eastern) to catch a 6am (eastern) flight to Midway. Landed at 7am (central). Took the Orange Line train to the Loop. Transfered to the Brown Line. (continued on the next photo)


...Made it to my office by 8am (central). It was a long day with lots of coffee.

It was a great T-day weekend. Some time off work. Lots of great food. I would have had a billion pics of food if I didn't think it would freak out the Bell Family too much. The T-Day dinner was great. Michael's Valley Grill had some of the best ribs I've ever tasted. The Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel had a good restaurant that had a good chicken sandwich. Food @ Fisher's Station was really good. It reminded me a lot of places in northern Michigan because it was a restaurant in an old green house. Get the 2-2-2 if you are there. It's where Megan's dad asked me "if I have a hallow leg." ">Max's of Eastman Place had great chicken and duck. The potatoes and appetizers were awesome as well. Then Megan's friend's Sarah and Pete made flank steak with zucchini and baked potatoes. It was all so good and I probably won't eat for a month because of it. I probably gained about 20 lbs. in 4 days. Besides, her family is extremely, very nice to me and her niece provides us with hours of entertainment. Now, I allow myself to think about the next holiday. Saint Nick's Day is Saturday...

Thanksgiving In Manistee

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. It's one of my favorite holidays. Just hang out, eat food, and watch football. Way better than X-mas. WAAAY Better...


Megan at the Nummerdor Cabin up in Manistee, Michigan.


Brian, Nick and Andrew plotting a fire


Karli giving the gang sign for the Van Buren Boys Gang (Seinfeld reference).


Karli sporting her new watch.


Gathering around the fire




Brian, Katie, Andrew, and Karli


Anyone who knows the Nummerdor Cabin knows the Kozy Kitchen. I like the two egg meal with meat and potatos for $5.65


The description above describes it all...


Looks like a normal house, right?


Just a thousand or so bottles stacked on their side makiing up the walls of the house.


A totem pole of a man with a beaver on his head outside of the bottle house.


Andrew and Nick inside the Bottle House/Kaleva Historic Museum reviewing every class that has ever graduated from Kaleva High School.


Here's a creepy student that model of "Gary," which it what a student at Kaleva High School would have looked like.


Tennessee in his hunting gear at the Cabin


Campfire with Tennessee in foreground


Brian and Nick


Cliff on the hog


Hiking in the Manistee National Forest. The trail we're on runs from Delaware to Montana (if I remember correctly).








Megan of the Northern Woods.






So, we bought frozen pizza and then there was no gas for the stove. Hmmm. So, Tyler helped rig up a hobo grill and baked some good pizza. Somehow it worked and the pizza was great. Otherwise, it was going to be Wheat Thins for dinner...


Jared, Tyler, and Mike Nummerdor at the campfire. We spent a lot of time at the campfire.


Karli and Tennessee keeping warm in the cabin.


Mike Nummerdor looks like a wizard from Harry Potter. He's melting a milk jug.


Now the wizard is lighting off bottle rockets.


Nick finally caught Tennessee so we can get breakfast.


Brian, Katie, and Andrew on Dale's log


Andrew and Steve shooting pool.


Brian on some kind of scientific expedition.


Brian shooting a potato gun full of a bag of sand.


Katie, Andrew, and Nick on the side of Big M. This hill use to be a ski hill, but now it's a part of the Manistee National Forest.


Karli reaching the summit of Big M.


Mike Nummerdor posing for a monument to be dedicated to him in the future.


Megan with the vast expanse of Michigan behind her.


Megan


Mike Nummerdor gazing at the Northern Woods








Megan scaling down Big M


Brian taking a break after coming down Big M


This is Ian. He greeted us at Zeppi's Pizza in Brethren, Michigan. He was a pretty funny kid. He liked my keys and tried to steal them from me.


Nick, Katie, Matt, and Tyler at the final campfire before going home...


The Booty Hunter prepares to head back to Chicago...

It was a great Thanksgiving and a HUGE thanks to Nick and Mike Nummerdor for the invite to the cabin!!!

xoxo,
Mike