Let me tell y’all a story …
Once again unto the Vroom, dear friends. Some highlights: Newbies Fran and The Johnbon (half newbie, at least) seemed to like us. We felt very much the same. They're in! We were shocked/shocked to discover Weekender Tommye, aka Emily Pennyfeather, capable of murder. GoH winner MJ taught us of Grecian urns, while we came to understand so much more about each others talents. Cantaloupe sorbet. We hosted our first virtual Weekenders, Beth, Ike, Chris and Cora. (Next year, we shall drag them from California if necessary.) Lincoln rabbit eared us. (And appropriately, we learned: (1) The Republican Party of Illinois [...]
The Suck Up Sonnet
Dedicated humbly to the exalted, dazzling XVI GoH Talent Show Judges To what does your splendor match? Deb Dicke, You’re infused joy, like sparkling Bryan Schneider – The happy zing of a fresh lime rickey; The way of the martini: Fine gin (slight stir). No Dacron GoH, Fran Underdown: I style you and my two Mikottii As a Dolce & Gabbana wedding gown; Next to Shanzhai knockoffs, a true Dior tie. You gems of humanity, Bonnie, John, And precious parents, Tommye, Wayne, Electrify my life like silicon And shimmer as a rain-washed diamond vein. My love for you’s timeless as [...]
Sunday morning profundity
From our customer satisfaction survey ("We value your opinion! -- though frankly not as much as you do"): Quote whore testimonials "J'accuse WwW of being too much fun" (Deb) "I'm not doing any homework" (Bonnie. A response to being asked to fill out the survey.) "Words, words, words, etc." (John Kieken.) "It keeps going and going" (Bryan) "We thank God for John Hoffman who made this possible" (Wayne -- well what do you expect from a father?) "Will set your hair on fire" (Bonnie, submitted by Fran) "Fewer and fewer unexplained odors every year!" (YOS) Least compelling experience Hamlet: He [...]
Top Ten of 16
Top Ten entries, in no particular order. Please add, vote, scratch your head …. You don't even have to have a line to be a bad actor. (Mike, speaking of the skittish bit players.) This Indignation Meeting is hereby called to order. (We learned that when people felt irked in the 1800s, they got together and whined. We intend to revive the tradition.) The Johnbon. (Our new Weekend celebrity couple.) I feel like I’ve been put in a bowl. (Chris Hage through FaceTime. He was right. But oh what a fancy Vrooman bowl he ended up in.) It's rude to [...]
Weekend XV: Murder Most Fun
Yet again you found a way, Central Illinois, to surprise and charm us. The King paid us an audience before tossing on his robes. Next day we costumed ourselves, according to the mind of Bard of Bloomington Deb "Murder She Wrote" Dicke. We quaffed wine at an art fair, rode silly bikes, lied our way through to a new GoH winner (humility virgin Wayne), charaded like Wizards and had the best Turkish food this side of Constantinople. And for the record, Kulm Kocktail Kontest winner: Chris Hage, Dark and Stormies. All amid the splendor of a real-life, top-hat-displaying mansion with [...]
Top Ten XV
Vote now for your favorites or add new ones in the Comments section: 1. "When Pushkin comes to shovekin." - Mike (submission: Beth) 2. "Why did you come here? ... Towanda around." - Tommye (submission: Deb) 3. "Do you remember what card you were dealt?" - Mike. Was that a catch-the-liar question or not or both? 4. "All at the same time?" - Tommye after the lengthy list of possible burger condiments at Kick's in Towanda. 5. "Do you like Mike Mikottis?" - John Hoffman trying to winnow out the one holding the Ace of Pomeranians. (submission: Deb) 6. Head [...]
Weekend 14: What a show
The year we learned of the new charms of our old friend Bloomington. Beth once again killed with her Kulm Kocktail Kontest winner. We found the hidden gems of the Mackinaw Winery, Lucca pizza, an Art Deco church and one of the best performances we've ever seen. Congratulations GoH winner Chris Hage. Top Tens That killed in Spring Green. (Our attempts to entertain at the Ewing Estate ended with mixed results. DD) A Dither in Burr House. (Deb's suggested title for the book version of our jaunt.) Mary Ann still needs to talk with you. (Surly lodge owner not happy [...]
Weekend Remembered
The Gown fell on virgin shoulders at XIII. And while our picnic never touched nature (or, tragically, cheese), we did give ourselves a Groupie. (And yes, I did just allude to my mother as a virgin.) In remembrance ... Self-indulgence. Reliving a dozen years of up yucking -- and proving I have too much time to kill: The Weekend Highlights Reel. Pictures. Check out what's up, and post your own or email them to me. (Same with poems, etc.) Kulm Kocktail Kontest Winner: Beth. Obviously. Accounting. YOS was really bad at watching the funds. I don't remember if I owe [...]
Kulm Kocktail Kontest winner XIII: Beth. Not even close
This came in a distant second ... Whiskey Blazizzle Lemon juice, sugar, whiskey, basil. (See last year's entry for rough portions)
The Weekend XIII Plan for Fun
Weekenders -- For those of us who need structure to our lives, here's the rough outline for how we will enjoy ourselves: Friday, August 23. Arrive at the lodge in the afternoon. Dinner at The Bank ... Yes, it's reopened! Play (8p) Saturday, August 24 Morning. School of Picnic (Prepare and learn to prepare a first class picnic) Noonish. Mess around. (Governor Dodge? Road Trip?) 4pm-ish. Cheese and cocktails 6pm-ish. Let the picnicking begin ... Games, fun, and possibly more. And don't forget our other Weekend traditions: Kulm Kocktail Kontest Poetry slam