1) I have some relatives renting cottages this week on the north shore of Shawano Lake, where my family used to take it's vacation every year.

So, I drove over Sunday morning to hang out with them.  It turned out to be day of a little while outside, followed by a little while in the cottage because of the widely scattered thunderstorms.  (as predicted perfectly by Storm Team 7)  No matter where we were sitting, though it was great day of eating, drinking, shaking some dice, talking and laughing. 

It's amazing how some time next to some water can just relax you. 

Some day when I win the lottery (right after I buy the luxury box at Lambeau Field) I'm going to buy a cottage next to Shawano Lake.  It's not going to be one of those gleaming new 5-bedroom, 4-car garage, 3-bathroom, "look at how much I make" homes they seem to build next to lakes these days.  I'm just going to keep the old cottage with the musty smell that comes from only being open in summer.  It brings back a lot of great memories.

2) Nice to see the Brewers playing so well again.  They're getting a lot of love from ESPN these days.  With Buster Olney saying they are the team to watch for the rest of the season.  For the record, when I said Yost should be fired during the struggles of earlier this season, I was just kidding.  Have to get down their for a game later this year.  Miller Park is a lot of fun.

3) How's everyone else perenials look this year?  My tulips, bleeding heart, climatis (sp?), roses, shrubs and decorative grass came back really well.  But my black-eyed susans didn't come back at all and my sedums are pretty small.  My irises are small, but I split two plants into four last fall, so I think they'll be fine. 

4) My church picnic is this weekend.  My Godson will be coming up.  He's three this year, so I'm thinking he'll enjoy the kiddie games a little more than last year.  But it'll still probably have a year or two more before he really gets into them.  He'll probably be more into swimming at the hotel. 

They have me MC the big raffle drawing at the picnic again this year.  It's actually pretty funny visually, because my preacher who also takes part is about 7'11" and 110 lbs. (an exaggeration, but you get the picture) And I'm short and fat.  Stand us next to each other and we make the number 10.

That's about it.  It's been a while since we had a good debate and talked about something a little controversial.  So, I think we have to do that pretty soon.  Any ideas, or memories of family vacations, Brewer talk or church picnics.  You know what to do.

J