Shameless plug for another cause I've been involved with for about 9 years.  The St. Jude Children's Hospital Telethon is coming up in 74
days.  Each year I try to raise a few thousand dollars on behalf of my employer, Excalibur Seasoning.  This year I've set my goal at
$4,000.00.  If you would take a moment and click
over to my fundraising site, please do so at:
 http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Telethon/Telethon?px=2232382&pg=personal&fr_id=4120

What better cause could there be than extending the life of a child or curing them indefinitely.  I can't imagine what it would be like for one of my kids but I'm sure some of you can.  Even the smallest donation is greatly appreciated.

I woke up yesterday and checked my emails as usual.  I regularly receive one from an old Marine buddy (Bulldog) who served with me way back in the day.  He's in the Army Reserve now and has put in many tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  He sent me this photo that a reporter took yesterday morning after a VBIED (vehicle born improvised explosive device) went off and he lost a large number of fellow servicemen.  He wanted me to know he's OK if I saw it in the media.  Yesterday afternoon I did see that Fox News and CNN were reporting the bombing.  Bulldog often volunteers for the tours he puts in.  His sense of duty to our country is as strong now as it was 24 years ago when I met him.  He's full of all the unpopular things nowadays, discipline, focus, service to others above himself, etc.  While we enjoy the lake over the long weekend (as we should) let's take a moment to remember the inconvenient war that others are still fighting on our behalf.  And remember those who will go home one last time from an unforgiving foreign land after having made the ultimate sacrifice.

You've seen this map posted on the bulletin board at the corner by the clubhouse.  You've also seen it inside of the clubhouse.  Did you know Bob Bergman does these by hand!  He just update one as of May 2013 and was kind enough to give me one.  I scanned it and it is loaded on the News/Information page.  It's the best map of the lake lots that I've ever seen and it takes him quite a bit of time to produce it.  THANKS BOB!   You can also get it by clicking the link below.

Mother's Day weekend is coming up.  So far Spring has been filled with wet and cold weekends.  Good news is that the lake is UP!  Water is going over the spillway big time.  I lost a few railroad ties when the water came  over our rocks and lifted the ties up and on our each.  One floated down to the boat docks and I retrieved it there.  Been trying to do weekend
projects so we're ready to go once the nice weather hits.  We had Enos Eicher (local Amish) level off our dock and he did a fantastic job.Then I power washed it and Maria and I stained it.  It looks great and we won't have to touch it for a few years.  Enos has also built many of the metal garages/sheds you see around the lake.  He does seamless gutters as well.  I think I saw Enos' kids helping Kent and Shiela do some yard clean up a few weeks ago as well. 

I'm new to this blogging thing.  Although I've designed a few websites, the blog feature has always been a mystery to me.  After watching a few videos online and reading the help section, it's basically a log book that incorporates an interactive guestbook.  That's what I'm telling myself anyway.  You can click "Comment" anywhere you see the option and ask me anything about the lake, etc.  I'll either answer you or put you in the right direction.  I have to approve all submissions to the blog before it shows up.  So don't worry if you don't see yours right away.  It will send me an email immediately to notify me that you've made a submission.