PURE MICHIGAN!

Well it's been awhile since I have posted but this summer has been very busy. I have gone back to work at the local roofing company and spent the entire month of June on the road for 3 hours while not getting paid for it. We then would work our typical 8-9 hour day in the blazing sun. As the song goes, "Working hard all week puts the beer on the table."

It was all worth it come mid July, when our family went on the annual trip up to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. We have been going to "PURE MICHIGAN" every year since I have been born and I believe my Dad has been going there every year since his senior year of high school.

The Thursday started off with a five hour drive to Gaylord, Michigan, where the annual ALPENFEST was going on. The highlight of that night was probably the fact that we paid $0.00 to watch LIGHTS, the Journey Tribute band. They absolutely ROCKED THAT SHIT and I had an awesome time. It was probably the best start to a vacation we have ever had. During the intermission, my brother and I went to Tim's Pub and grinded out a Miller Light or two. When he left to go to the bathroom I got hit on by this drunk older woman who asked if I was "actually in the Marines" since I was wearing a USMC shirt. I was an ass to her and then we left to watch the rest of the concert. That night we stayed in the "Executive Suite" at the hotel.

The next night my other brother met up with the rest of us in MACKINAW CITY. I have probably said this before but that city is one of my favorite places in America. Driving along of the coast of the Great Lakes and seeing all the boats, kites, and random gift shops and tourists just brings a sense of joy to me that I can't find hardly anywhere else. We stay at the Parkside Inn which is literally right on the Mackinac Bridge, one of the most beautiful scenes in AMERICA.

My brother Aaron bought me a 4 Loko apparently as part of his plan to murder me that night and he started "Sailing away with Jerry." After spending some time reflecting on the beach just next to the Mackinac Bridge, we decided it was time to start the night off! We played euchre and had some beverages and ultimately headed to the DIXIE SALOON (which my Dad claimed was named because of the Dixie Highway, since the Saloon is not exactly in the "south")

We had a great crew that night at the Dixie Saloon. Along with myself, my two brothers, and my Dad, we had my 2 of my cousins, a girlfriend of one of my cousins, then one of my cousin's Husbands, Josh, who is probably the most fun person to hang out with ever. He bought pitcher after pitcher for us and I even bumbed a few cigarettes off him, which is rarely ever do! Well after everyone left and all that was left was my brothers, Josh, and myself, the shitstorm came. We got invited to a bonfire by some random lady and I hit on a girl that worked at a clothing store that I saw earlier when I was buying my cowboy hat. When my sister came to pick us up, I got into a car with a girl who invited me to the bonfire (out in the sticks). She backs up a little ways and my brother Aaron (THE LUMMOX) comes and pulls me out of the car in the middle of the road and throws me in the van my sister was driving. Probably for the best. My cousin Josh claims "she was a keeper. She almost had 6 teeth" but I think he was just being sarcastic. I still don't know.

Once back at the hotel room we were extremely loud and obnoxious and probably woke everyone up. Aaron was running into walls and jumping on the bed. Tony and I were wrestling on the bed and he bit my ear to the point that it was sore for almost the rest of the vacation. He kept saying "COMMON MR. MARINE! COMMON MR. MARINE!!" Apparently he does not understand that I'm not a Marine yet. Josh and my sister just sat there and watch us. Probably the funniest thing though was as soon as we got back, Josh starts walking for his motel room and Aaron goes "JOSH, WE GOT COLD COORS LIGHT!" and he literally, without saying a word or stopping his pace, just turns around right at his door and comes into our room to hang with us. All in All, a hilarious night.

After crossing the bridge the next morning and reflecting on the stupid shit we did the previous night, I rode with my brother Aaron through the Upper Peninsula Highway 2 west bound until we got to our destination. The week that followed has too many memories to describe but it consisted of a lot of swimming, cornhole, alcohol, grizzly wintergreen, fishing, bonfires, and failed attempts of hitting on women. We took a pontoon boat to the middle of the lake and swam for a few hours. We would drink all night and then wake up early to fish in Big Manistique lake. Perhaps the most fun night though was the night we spent at Pickelman's Pub for Karaoke night.

Pickelman's Pub has Karaoke every Friday night and it has become a family tradition to get as many of us there as possible and sing as many songs as possible. I believe there were five people in the bar who were not from our family/friends. Aaron was the MVP of karaoke that night with his 8 songs sang and I think I came in a close second with 6. Here is how the Karaoke broke down.

Myself=
Beer on the Table by Josh Thompson
Should Have Been a Cowboy by Toby Keith (with Aaron and Tony)
Need You Now by Lady Antebellum (with my sister Ali)
Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band (with my Dad)
Beer for my Horses by Toby Keith and Willie Nelson (with Aaron)
Water by Brad Paisley

Aaron sang JUMP AROUND, some Soggy Bottom Boys, and of course, TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT by Eddie Money with my mom playing the role of Ronnie Specter.

Other great highlights included our friend Dave singing "Rhinestone Cowboy" and my uncle Butch (straight out of the hills of Kentucky) singing "Toes" by Zac Brown Band, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", and of course his most well known songs of "Neon Moon" and "Boot Scootin' Boogie." Classic.

Eventually the week came and went, but we all collectively agreed that it was the greatest year we have ever had up north. The fact that almost all of our family and friends were up there made it a week that none of us will ever forget. The night of karaoke at Pickelman's was the most epic vacation night I think I have ever had. It truly was Michigan in it's PUREST form!