"What are you Drawing?" he asked. "It's only my favorite animal -- a 'Li-ger'," was the reply.

Great Picture!

Guess when it was snapped 20 years ago, it very obviously was young dapper groom with young dapper best man.

Happening across a picture of 2 such fine looking gentlemen today one could almost wonder -- who's the "bride" and who's "the groom?"

Steve would have to give you bride honors for your rose is pink and Johnny's is blue. Totally kidding! Kind of.

You are the cutest couple!

Think i might get into trouble for that, but i do looooovve this picture.

When is your anniversary Steve? It must be coming up. Think this picture was taken in August 1985. Nineteen hundred and eighty five. Lot's has happened in your lives since then, but think you will forever be "standing up there" for each other -- through thick and thin.

That is why it is so unfortunate that you Strombergs live across the country from us Miles and Mad. For we could have so much fun!!! Such a pity. But won't focus on what we can't change in life, for there is so much positive -- like airplanes. Yes, we finally braved it and made the pilgrimage with the whole tribe up to Minnesota a week or so ago. And the trek really wasn't that bad -- we need to do it way more often. Only problem being that the airfolk actually expect some type of compensation for ferrying family around in the sky. bummer.

But no more negatives -- for our visit was sooo great.

Hadn't seen you in sooo long. Maybe since we got HK? You and Sheila stopped by on trip somewhere. John and Jake picked you up at the hotel and Jake told Sheila we had a surprise for them. Sheila gushed, "a new puppy?"

Well, almost. It was a two-month-old Hannie. Still remember your reaction coming through the door of the Duck where we were living. I have the cutest picture of Sheila with HK who was all bundled up in yellow.

Five years later, Hannie looks way different -- but Sheila you look exactly the same. You still look the same as the day i met you all those years ago on that first wintery visit to MN.

Here were are at the Lakes Cafe, Perham. The whole Stromsberg clan. Aubrey, Lauryn, Steve and Sheila. Just driven up from the cities that morning to start your vacation with us and breakfast. Very amazing breakfast. Sheila know you are still laughing at how John was gushing over the bacon, "taste it, taste it." I remember the caramel rolls -- correction -- the cinnamon rolls, for us Miles' were tad late and the caramel rolls were gone. Sorry -- know you were a little disappointed Steve. After the breakfast, Perham International Turtles races were on tap.

The kids toodled on down first to register -- and i could finish every last morsel of my breakfeast. Which i did. Hurrah!

ok -- we get down the street and i realize this is a big deal! They do this every week in the summer. You can bring your own turtle or pick one from the giant tubs. You get assigned heats -- there were like hundreds of people in this thing.

First, they went down list and announced where everyone was from. We did our best to "whoop and holler" for Mad. They had entrants from Hollywood, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia. Guess the word is out in the world that this is place to be on Wednesday mornings, 10:30 a.m.

The young Miles and the young Strombergs lined up with their mighty terrapins. Hannie's really looked like he had something in those wee wheels.

Joe seemed over whelmed by the whole thing. His turtle on the other hand was kind of a rascally dude and was of the opinion that if he wasn't going to win -- he was going to keep any fellow racer within his stride out of contention too.

A lot of bumping and drafting. Well, unfortunately no member of Team Miles or Team Stromberg was judged winner by Miss Perham. So we were done for the day. A fact which Steve confided was really good fortune for you didn't have to spend all morning waiting for your next chance to jockey around.

So off we went to bait store.

Looked around beautiful downtown Perham. Love this shot with the TUFFY'S dog food elevator in background. There was faint waft of dog food odor basically everywhere. Now it really wasn't so bad because it wasn't a canned dog food odor -- that would have made me nauseous. It was a nice light dry dog food smell. Made me think of our dear departed Gator.

Now Sheila how did you get out of camera range? So sad not to have a former Miss Tuffy's Dog Food in picture with plant. Wonder if they have plaque with your name on it somewhere in those hallowed halls? Guess will save that little fact-finding expedition for next trip.

On to the lake.... and lots of fun.

Too bad you couldn't take a break from all your high-powered, high-flying, high-profile job duties Sheila and just relax on the first day of your vacation.

Here we are.. we look kind of dead.

Sheila guess you did fly in late from Salt Lake City the night before, get up at 5 a.m. to drive 3 hours with your family to meet Miles at Lakes for breakfast -- arriving on time.

I must be so beyond exhaustion from the fever-pitch excitement surrounding the turtle races and my body still trying to digest massive breakfast.

Aubrey, you are teenager, and well sleep is just what teenager-types do best -- or at least i did.

But it wasn't all sleep, the kids had such a great time. Of course, Jake was in teen heaven with two adorable young ladies around all day -- though, he would never admit it. HK and Joe loved all the attention.

HK keeps wondering when we are going to visit again, but she doesn't want to until she gets her ears' pierced.. or so she says.

Lots of tubing behind the boat. Sheila was such a trooper to grill and fry the billion Walleye that Jake managed to catch.

The Otter Tail County Fair. Very memorable.

Must say one of my personal faves of the lake experience was finally making it to the infamous Zorbaz. Have heard soooo much about it. Must admit i was tad sad that i didn't get to travel over in boat with that lucky group -- once i made it there -- it did not disappoint.

But it is really my kind of place. i could live there. Give me the finest restaurant in Pariz or a great beachy screen windows/fish camp type of place -- i'll take the dive everytime. Though Zorbaz was a step up from my usual sand-between toes haunts -- it was great. Can see why it is MN lakes tradition at its finest.

Another secret. i am a frozen margarita connoisseur. So when i read on the menu: the Zorbarita -- Helping Ugly people have Zex since 1969. Had to give it a try. It was quite scrumptious! And won't divulge if it worked any magic with my guy -- for somethings need to remain mystery -- but can reveal that we all did up getting tatoos before the night was through.

They were the water- stick-on-kind. They (tatoos) were amazingly long lasting, and i finally had to regrettably scour mine off before visiting my parents the next week. Didn't want to create any needless talk at pool amongst my mom's long time Orlando tennis-buddies.

Well, guess i must unfortunately wrap this up. Makes me sad for it is kind of like saying good-bye to you Strombergs all over again, and i desperately hate goodbyes.

Steve, i know you have been such a big part of John's life. And you are the cutest.

First, you and Sheila have known each other since kindergarten -- how adorable!

You are extreme creative and extreme funny. Totally awesome writer and very talented musician. Steve has own column in Eden Prairie paper -- which we enjoy on line. He is in church praise band and long time member of Sapphire. Fenderstratocaster (way cool), keyboards, drums -- vocals. Think john used to run the light board.

Great golfer. Which is one draw we will always have to get your crew down here. The Masters. Was showing Steve my blog on Miles' Golf tourney for he wanted to see pictures of Annie and Jimbo. First thing he said when looking at the pictures -- "Jamie, of course you didn't win -- look at how you're holding the putter. Your hands are way too far apart." Then he proceed so show mechanically how my form was destined to fail.

But most importantly -- and why i will always have soft spot in my heart for you -- is your kindness. Especially the kindness you showed to a 7th grader who had just moved to Wadena from Atlanta, Georgia. When lots were making fun of john's southern accent -- you befriended him. John remembers the actual moment -- he was drawing Star Wars pictures on his folder (alone and reclusive i am sure) -- you came up and sat beside him wearing mirrored shades and a parka (i think it was Sept.) and you said, "that's pretty good."

Totally discounting the fact that the whole thing sounds right out of Napoleon Dynamite, you were a very popular guy who didn't need to be nice to a strange-talking loner drawing Luke Skywalker's all over his notebook.

Think later you both graduated to "organizing" things and became life-long friends....

You and Sheila are awesome. Your girls are sweet and beautiful -- and very patient with young ones.

We had an amazing visit.

Have another Zorbarita for me for before the lake season ends.

And hope its not another 20 years till we get another spin on this retired Perham Firetruck!

Lots of Love from Mad..........