The gAy Team (a WSJP travel log)

WARNING: The following blog may contain images that are unsuitable for...well anyone.

some highlights...wait, who am I kidding...some LOWLIGHTS from this year's infamous WSJP trip to the Traverse City area (Torch Lake to be exact for all you MI people in the know):

-the beach house we stayed in was awesome....tons of rooms and beds (could sleep anywhere from 20-40, much more than our 10-12), excellent decks and a mandatory fire pit (more on that later of course)...though not actually on a beach. more like 200 feet from a boat launch and some grass. but cool nonetheless.

-Andy brought his fishing boat for the few days he was there. went on a daring high seas adventure with him that nearly ended with us at the bottom of Torch Lake with Davey Jones (well probably not, unless the Monkee was down there). went out when it was calm, came back against the wind with 5 feet waves...new we might be in for some fun when Andy said "Would it make you nervous if I suggested that we break out the lifejackets?"...I was already grabbing them in my mind.

-the guys had a cool, though ultimately embarrassing idea to buy 9 of the ugliest shirts and wear them on our one group golf outing...the catch was that they were only progressively ugly (some Hawaiian shirts were ok actually) and one was AWFUL!! a purple mumu (sp?) shirt with flowers that was huge and obviously made for pregnant women with no taste. we then played a poker tournament to determine who would wear what...the first person out of the tourney got last choice of shirts (so the purple one obviously) and had to wear Kate's pink hat. thank god I had enough marginal luck to force Jim out first and relieve much of the pressure! Chief and I ended up with cool Hawaiian shirts.

-spent alot of time around the firepit retelling some of our favorite stories and trying to come up with our favorite quotes from the 9+ years we've known each other...of course the Wildebeast story made its now annual appearance (for those who don't know it, come on next year's trip). and us drinking around a campfire made for predictable nonsense. the fire was put out every night by the most drunken guys pissing it out (I only did it once I believe...hehe). Dan (who was in rare form on this trip) on a bet from Stiga actually pissed on Chach's feet and of course Chach told Dan he would just go after Stiga for it. and then on the first night, Stiga (the only one NOT drinking) flung a marshmallow that was STILL ON FIRE at my foot....which put out the fire and left me with a massive blister the next day!

-and of course when we get together and beer is involved (I guess that would be always) gayness abounds. Chach modeling Kate's bikini bottom and scaring everyone in upper MI. Dan and Andy spooning in bed for more than 15 mins...I even feel asleep before Andy left Dan's bed...and DAN IS MARRIED! and I saw Dan naked more times than I've seen a girl naked in a year. if any one of us (or all of us for that matter) came out in 20 years, I don't think anyone who knows us would be all that shocked....but umm...I LIKE GIRLS!

-we watched some episodes of the A-Team while we were there...first time I've seen the A-Team in probably 15 years. had the theme song stuck in my head...and everyone else's, for the rest of the week. and the showed sure seemed a lot cooler when I was a kid. but best moments...Mr. T (B.A. suckas!) driving a truck and turning the steering wheel like it was a ship's wheel, and Murdock breaking both of B.A.'s feet but somehow B.A. ran after him at the end of the show.

-and of course we had to try to recreate our drinking contest that we first staged in Toronto last year. Chach was his own team, so was Jim...J, Dan and Jen were another and then there was team Perrysburg of me, Chief, his Jenny and Rex. Chach and Jim of course were their usual drunken selves, my team was mostly me and I admit I did not do as well as I could have (I blame the godawful beer we were drinking), and Dan's team won mostly with an impressive performance from Dan himself.

well I am sure I am leaving how many sordid, amusing details...and those of you who went feel free to remind me what I am forgetting. but it was another great trip and I look forward to wherever we decide to get drunk next year.

and now feel free to glance at some pics of the trip...AT YOUR OWN RISK!:


Chach doing some swimsuit modeling, Kate looking embarrassed


Chach and Dan...umm, guys with a gf and a wife, respectively


J and "friend"


the best behaved member of the group, Anthony James "Stiglit" Anselmo


Stiga modeling the infamous shirt


J and Dan gearing up for the big contest...dominated by Dan MF Green


this isn't really all that gay, is it? note that the only person with a shirt on is a girl


Jim wearing his fab outfit for golf, Andy doing his best Magnum P.I. pose


a rare, classy group photo (well except for Jim grabbing Jen's boob)


Chach being "straight"


Andy and Dan cuddling


just seconds after Ypsi the dog (love that name!) was actually sitting on top of the baby


Dan, Chach, and Jim playing a game they drunkenly invented...a game that would only be not stupid if you were drunk


how Chach didn't set himself on fire remains a mystery...notice he has no shirt on when its obviously chilly outside...vintage Chach


Stiga at the this year's performance of the Wildebeast story


Jen and a couple of benefits to child birth (hey! I'm sure Stiga said it first)


thanks Stiga! (never put out a flaming marshmallow with your toe)


the pontoon boat crew at lunch


the place where all the magic happened