Arrived in Eagle River for the start of the GRABAWR. The weather was sunny until about an hour ago. Now it's raining, thundering, and lightning. Dad and I are hoping that this will be the end of the rain and back to sunshine for the rest of the week.
The drive seemed really long--which was a little intidimating since it was only about half of the ride. Granted, we do have multiple days but still. Just thinking about the ride made me want to take a nap. Gulp.

We're getting ready to head over to pick up our packets. If we continue to have computers available, we'll keep posting as we go. Tomorrow we are taking the scenic route to Rhinelander and my Mom will also be riding with us.

Tomorrow begins the adventure otherwise known as GRABAWR. Here is the website for those who are interested:
http://www.bikewisconsin.com/grabaawr2006routemap.html

I am excited about getting started on it. For those too lazy to go to the website and who don't know what it is, it's a bike ride that begins in Eagle River and ends in Prairie Du Chien. It's a little under 500 miles and will be completed over 7 days. My dad and I are riding together with one of his friends and his daughter. My mother will be doing two legs of it.
If there is internet available to us at the hotels next week, I will update the blog with our progress and adventures.

Eek. I got really behind on these memories. I write this from Port Edwards, WI and I believe I am on Memory #4.....

10 mile hike!
Amanda singing French camping songs, playing the ABC game with medical terms and play titles (sadly I was better with the medical terms though I was sooooo irritated that we did it), Vawnya's super human patience and Amanda's never ending optimism that broke when we got to the Bob Evans and the waiter announced the ending of the spaghetti dinner. If we weren't so exhausted, Amanda may have leapt across the table at the waiter.

Memory #3
The Nights of Toxic Gin
Night #1- Rich and Rich's friend (don't remember his name) drank the toxic gin before going to the Lodge. The Lodge was in superior form that night and we had a lot of fun. Then Rich's friend kept drunk calling Amanda to talk to me.
Night #2- I imbibed said gin and realized why Rich's friend became infatuated. I could have fallen in love with a lamp post if it was wearing a pair of pants. I did manage to 'edit' one of my favorite shirts and f***ed all the way home.

Memory #2
426 Dance Party after our last night out together at the Lodge. The only thing that could have made it better was if the Pokey sticks would have actually came.

Memory # 1
I couldn't decide so I am going to just insert selectted 426 quotes.

“Either it works out…or it doesn’t.” --Kimberly’s relationship advice
“You never know what could happen over a cadaver!” --Casey’s relationship advice
“Are you white?” --Rachel to Kim
“I feel as though I have tasted the bitterness of death!” --Anne (with an E)
“oh, it says ‘side 2’!” --Casey
“Kimberly, stand in front of the ball!” --Casey
UHH! (Kimberly gets hit in the stomach)
“I got to yell at an 8 year old today—it was awesome!” --Casey (who “likes” kids and future pediatrician)

Kimberly: “Doesn’t it make you want to grab your boobs?”
Casey: “I mean, what doesn’t?”

“Hmmm…a new strategy…” --Casey, during viewing of “I, Claudius”

To be a normal woman, you have to have normal men around you. –Livia (I, Claudius)

“Why would you be sitting on a red house? Are you playing monopoly?” --Amanda

“He’s really Philled out!” --Amanda

“’It’s a fire hazard….’ It’s just an expression.” --Casey

Kim: “Is it possible to just be sore sometimes?”
Casey: “Yes, I’m sore right here, but I think it’s because yesterday I did a headstand.”

Kim: “I see what you were watching!”
Casey: “Full House?”
Amanda: “Porn?”
Casey: “Potato, potahto!”

“I rocked my pimping!!” --Casey

I am already behind. Sheesh.

Memory #6:
Running the Columbus Marathon with all three roomies cheering me on. We didn't know each other very well at that point, but Casey made me some huge signs, Amanda drove me to the race ridiculously early in the morning, and all three (Amanda, Kim,and Casey) were there to cheer me on somewhere in mile mid-twenties. Casey was a runner's favorites with her enthusiasm and loud cheering. :)
Good times.

Memory #5:
The first time the birthday decorations went up for Kim and are still up to this day.

It's my last week in Columbus and this weekend my roommates just moved out. I am going to try for an entry on the day recounting some of the best memories 'o' Columbus.

Memory #7

The weekend of the Bucky Badger and the high-fivers. This was a bizarre weekend last year during which Amanda and I hung out with a previous Bucky Badger who I didn't really know prior besides emailing him through Incircle (UW's form of Friendster). We spent a substantial amount of time with him and and his friends whom included a previous UW basketball player. (going out Friday night, Saturday night, and brunch on Sunday) and we were terribly fascinating (I made them sing into a straw as a microphone at one bar....and they did it and LOVED it). The entire occasion was concluded with a high-five and the rousing words: Cheer loud. Amanda and I then spent the entire OSU vs. UW game discussing the implications and sheer disappointment of our farewell. But we also drank small vats of diet coke and other game day goodies and UW won, making the entire day a success.
Bucky Badger and I kept attempting to go out again, but he stopped calling after he overheard Casey yelling 'Bucky Badger!' during one of our phone conversations. We agreed that he should be proud of his mascot heritage, but apparently it was not to be. I still see him around campus and I also have the overwhelming urge to give him a high five.