Fast forward to this week… Wednesday, we (his family and ours) will celebrate one year of his sobriety.  Don’t feel embarrassed for him about me writing this blog about him.  Trust me he isn’t embarrassed.  He like all of us… especially me, are proud. Proud that he had the courage to do so.  Proud that he’s a better dad, son, brother, uncle, co-worker and friend for doing so….

Each year he helps me put my floats together.  He stops by so he and I can chat.  He brings his two adorable kids by so I can feed them candy and chips. In his honor I am giving thanks to those that helped him who shall remain nameless but they don’t need credit… they and we know who they are.

So… Wednesday we will celebrate with Tom and our families.  We’ll have dinner, laugh, talk, celebrate and give thanks for ours and his many blessings.

We love you Tom… You’re the best!

(Lucky for me he doesn’t have a computer…hahahahahaha!)

JR Jarosh’s famous Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge gets underway promptly at noon at the beach in Jacksonport.  If you haven’t done the plunge before this could be your year as the weather will likely be in the 30′s… but then again this is Door County and the weather could change in minutes.

But the main event IMHO will be Frosty Fest right here in Egg Harbor.  The parade begins at 1 pm at the Catholic church and heads north and turns right at Casey’s.  After that I don’t know where it goes because we head to Egg Harbor Lodge to park our own float.  This is our Wisconsin Badger themed hot tub float from last year…

Egg Harbor Parade 2011

Real classy with our cans of Bud Lite.  After the float there is a one mile fun run.  And for the low, low registration price of 15 bucks you also get a pair of Frosty Fest gloves!!  Too cute…

We also will have ice sculptures throughout the village, The Egg Harbor Lions Club will be selling brats and you can get yourself a Bloody Mary at Mojo Rosa’s outdoor bar.

We won’t have our annual Hot Tub Girls float this year but look for us to have some kind of festive float. We have a plan but we don’t assemble it until we get to the church parking lot so it’s kind of a hit or miss type gig.  Most of the time we think it’s pretty good but sometimes the wind blows the living heck out of it.

After the parade we will head downtown to watch the rest of the Packer game.  GO PACK!!!

But most of all from all of us Egg Harbor Lodge we wish you and yours a happy and healthy 2012!

Bill B. doin' his gig

It was delicious…  I would highly recommend ONE.

Then it was off to Husby’s for a burger and then over to the Sister Bay Bowl where we ended up bowling a game with Lucas Willems (I got a 66 if that says anything).  So if you are wondering what we do in Door County in the winter,  most of the time it’s not much but from time to time we have a blast!  Thanks Cole!

our little doll

As of November 30, 2011 Egg Harbor’s population has increased one-fold!  Baby Brody Joshua Sawyer was born yesterday weighing in at a whopping 9.9 pounds.  Congratulations  to our son Josh and his wife Carissa.  Brody is our third grandchild and is welcomed by his big brother Jaden, 10 and big sis Adison 2 1/2.  Jaden is thrilled, Adi… not impressed.

I am lying about the population of Egg Harbor.  The village  of Egg Harbor (it’s confusing… don’t ask)  has 250 more or less but the Town of Egg Harbor where Brody’s parent’s live has well over 500 citizens.  Anyway we are all rejoicing at the birth of this little guy.

And for a story worth repeating (remember this is MY blog), Our oldest Josh who is 29, (Jaden, Adi and Brody’s dad) had a high risk form of Leukemia way back in 1985.  As young parents Mark and I were devastated but we had faith and a phenomenal doctor which is what brings us to this celebration yesterday, today and from now on.  We are thankful and thrilled for all of our good fortunes.  God bless our newest baby!

In honor of their friend and classmate Bo Johnson who has Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML),  Gibraltar Middle School kids and parents arranged a flash mob in downtown Sister Bay… right in the middle of Fall Fest!  They then posted it for Bo on his GO BO! Facebook page. I think it’s too cute…

There are GO BO! hats, wrist bands and Gibraltar is even having a GO BO! dance tonight in honor of their classmate.

Our “little boy” Josh had Leukemia when he was just 2 1/2 so this cause if very close to our hearts. Our son is now 29 and expecting his third child next month. We all continue to keep Bo and his mom Annika in our prayers.

Saturday, take part in the Ellison Bay Art Crawl.  Nine Art Galleries and Schools in Ellison Bay host their Fall Art Crawl featuring guest artists, demonstrations and new work for the holidays along with creative and tasty treats along the way. Maps at all the locations.

Saturday night check out Daddy D’s Productions at Mr. G’s Logan Creek Grille in Jacksonport.  All your favorite hits from the 50′s & ’60s!  Mike’s Port Pub is sponsoring this event and from what I have heard it is a riot.  Dinner and the show only 35 bucks!  Check it out here or call 920.823.2192 for more info.

The weekend weather looks decent after the freakish weather we have been having.  This will be good new for those participation in the Door County Fall 50 Saturday which is a 50-mile running adventure for solo ultra-marathoners and teams of up to five runners. The course route begins at the northernmost tip of the peninsula and travels down the western shoreline along scenic back roads to the population center in Sturgeon Bay. The event ends with an outrageous party set under a tent along the shipping channel at Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay.

On Sunday we will head over to Gordon Lodge for a benefit for Door County native Randy Pluff.  This is what is says on the benefit’s Facebook page…

Join Randy, his family and friends at Gordon Lodge to enjoy the Packer game, food, drinks and kid’s games. Proceeds from the day will be donated to the Pluff’s to help offset rising medical and living expenses. Randy is currently recovering from his second surgery after removing a cancerous tumor from his brain. Soon he will undergo 5 weeks of radiation to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells. During this time he has been unable to work. We want Randy and his family to enjoy a day surrounded by family and friends to show our love and support. Please send any cash donations to:
Randy Pluff Benefit Fund
Associated Bank
PO Box 507
Sister Bay WI 54234

We have known the entire Pluff family for years and continue to pray for Randy and his family.

Next weekend we are looking forward to having friends come up to celebrate the end of the season with us.  We had a decent year at Egg Harbor Lodge for which we are thankful for.  Next up…Deer Hunting!

They call it the Grandaddy of all festivals Sister Bay’s Fall Fest. It is one of the oldest festivals in Door County.  They have a great parade, food, drinks and lots of music, including everyone’s favorite The Happy Schnapps Combo.  It’s a blast but you better love a crowd… in my mind that’s what makes it fun… people!  New this year will be the Sister Bay themed hat contest… one can only imagine.  Can you say goats on the roof?

Here what’s happening…

Weekend Schedule

Friday, October 14, 2011
9am-5pm: Classic Auto Show – Waterfront Park
Sponsored by Sister Bay Lions Club
10am-5pm: Arts & Crafts Show – Mill Road
Sponsored by Sister Bay Advancement Association
10am-5pm: Concessions – Various places in Village
4pm-7pm: Modern Day Drifters @ Husby’s
5pm-8pm: Fish Boil – New Fire Station on Mill Road
Sponsored by Sister Bay Lions Club
6pm-7pm: Children’s Cake Walk – Village Hall, Downtown
Sponsored by Gibraltar Junior Class
10pm-Close: Hoi Polloi @ Husby’s
Saturday, October 15, 2011
7am-11am: Pancake Breakfast – Village Hall
Sponsored by Kiwanis
9am-5pm: Concessions – Various places in Village
9am-5pm: Classic Auto Show – Waterfront Park
Sponsored by Sister Bay Lions Club
9am-5pm: Mechanical Bull @ Sister Bay Bowl
9am-4pm: Inflatable Games/Bouncers, Bungee Jumping & Clowns All Day
Across street from Al Johnson’s (weather permitting)
10am-5pm: Arts & Crafts Show – Mill Road
Sponsored by Sister Bay Advancement Association
11am: Parade – Bay Shore Drive, Downtown
Volunteer of the Year, Parade Marshal
1pm-3pm: Randy Peterson (Children’s Entertainer) – Gazebo by Village Hall
1pm-4pm: Happy Schnapps on the Husby’s/Sister Bay Bowl stage
3pm: Hat Contest on the Husby’s/Sister Bay Bowl stage
1pm: Dog Show – Downtown Park Tent
Proceeds go to Door County Humane Society
9pm-1am: Hoi Polloi @ Husby’s
9:30pm-Close: Whiskey Ditch @ Sister Bay Bowl
Sunday, October 16, 2011
9am-2pm: Classic Auto Show – Waterfront Park
Sponsored by Sister Bay Lions Club
10am-3pm: Concessions – Various places in Village
10am-3pm: Arts & Crafts Show – Mill Road
Sponsored by Sister Bay Advancement Association
10am-3pm: Bungee Jumping
Noon-3:30pm: Polka Man Dale with Bellows & Strings – Gazebo by Village Hall

On a side note, life long Sister Bay resident Annika Johnson’s 12 year old son Bo was just diagnosed recently with very serious form of Leukemia.  Annika is the daughter of the famed Door County restaurateur Al Johnson.  Prayers from all of us in Door County are going out to the family and this amazing kid.  Follow his progress in his own words at

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bojohnson

Bo is an amazing writer at just 12 years old and his candid perspective on his predicament will have you praying and cheering for him.  Go Bo!

Here are some random pics of the craziness…

Pumpkin People

Don Helm and I fighting the smoke

Not to be left out… Polly Helm and me…

girlfriends

The Kugle kids got their faces painted… too cute!

Cole Biwer keeping the peace…

Mike and Carrie from 106.9 The Lodge with Bruce from the Lull-Abi and me for our 2nd annual Pumpkin Patch photo op…

Yes… I am in all the pictures but hey it’s my blog.

This is the main reason I like to help at Pumpkin Patch…

Our Flanigan Distributing helpers Cubby Hartl and Brian Flanigan

And none other than Mark Sawyer is in charge of cooking the brats for the Egg Harbor Business Association… It’s a lot of fun working it but I think the beer helps.

Next up… Sister Bay’s Fall Festival!