Pictures

Hi Everyone!

We really enjoyed seeing you all at the reunion. We also had the opportunity to see Jim and Carol last weekend at Marge's house and regale them with our stories! Now we are in Heiser Withdrawal.

To remedy that, I have attempted to place photos of the reunion on the blog in a "Picasso Slideshow". In theory, you should be able to click on the slideshow to open it in a large window. There, you can order copies or download photos to your own computer.

If you have photos, try to stick them out on the internet, through Picasso, or something like Flickr or Photobucket. I can add another slideshow, or you can post a link to them in a blog entry.

Looking forward to the Kentucky trip! Lets pick a date SOON.

Lynn

Hand count

I have two hands.

We will arrive Friday. My children have net yet decided if they will attend.

Happy Birthday Lynn!!! I will not wash your car!!

Did everyone get a room for the reunion? Count of hands... who is coming and who is not?
My family will arrive on Friday afternoon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYNN!!!!

The King hereby declares it Lynn day in the Kingdom.

You may order any of the subjects to wash your car.

The Final Option

Sorry to throw a curve ball, but how about a Chicago area resort. See the following. Also emailed.
Heiser Cousins,

Please review the following information. You may vote for Eaglewood Resort or Uncommitted. You may vote as often as you like. The Super Delegates will decide. You will do what the Super Delegates tell you to do. The Super Delegates know who they are. The Super Delegates will be blamed for any unrest or riots.

Eaglewood Resort, Itasca, IL http://www.eaglewoodresort.com/

We need to guarantee 10 rooms on Friday (6/20) and Saturday (6/21) nights. The discounted room rate of $129 per night is available 3 days before and after the 20th and 21st. The total with all fees and taxes is $157.08 per night. This does not include meals and we are free to eat where ever and when ever we want.

Following is a possible agenda. I encourage people to arrive on Thursday, but we do not have to guarantee any number of rooms. The attached files have menus, golf rates, and spa stuff.

I need to know asap. Every other resort in the country is booked because I waited too long to do this.

If this works for people then CoonDog will be the cruise director for the long weekend.

Draft Agenda - see email

Fun times in Galena!

OK, the pictures convinced me! Galena is fine with us! I would put the Ted Heiser's down for 4. Ted & Ellen for sure, and I would think that Ben and Laura will try to find a way down there also. They may bring a girlfriend or boyfriend, but I am assuming not everyone will be able to make it. So, I am guessing there will be four of us.

As far as things to do... hanging out with my cousins, drinking a few beers and telling stories is enough entertainment for me! I am sure there will be a few moonings and underwear runs mixed in as well. AND... I am playing golf everyday if possible! Got a play the General.

Things to do in Galena

Swimming with the cousins

Golfing with Cousins

Bicycling with cousins

Drinking with the Cousins

Sleeping with the cousins

Kissing with the cousins

Thanks Lynn!

First of all, thank you lynn for taking the lead on this. I'm all for the Resort in Galina, IL. Sounds like everyone else is at least OK with the idea. So in the interest of getting things moving forward, let's just go with it and get some solid numbers together on costs and secure our reservations. Again, I will have 2 people (Jennie & myself). I'm sure a down payment will be required. We'll need to work out how that payment will be handled by all of us, perhaps a separate person pays for the reservation of each individual house, then gets credit for that amount off the final bill on check out day. That will avoid the need to mail checks back or forth to each other. I will be happy to be one of those who puts up the reservation money should you agree that is the best way to go. Let's GET R' DONE!

Chris

I would vote for this one but she is over the weight limit..
Book the rooms Kim!!!!

I apologize in advance

I love the idea of renting a couple of houses. The hotel room option is going to be too difficult for us. We will have no place to party at night with a hotel room. If we went out at night, what do we do with the younger children? Also, then we are getting in cars after drinking too much. If we have a house, we COULD eat our meals in if we choose to. The hassle of finding a restaurant where we can eat together would be painful... not to mention expensive.

My biggest reason for making this long trip, by myself, is to visit with you. I think the fact that there may not be a lot to do in Galena might be a good thing. If we have too many other things to do, what is the point of having the reunion?

Ridge Runner

Eagle Ridge sounds nice to Colleen & I, and having a separate cottage/house is a nice idea since we are a bunch of loudmouths, but unless the houses are at least a 100 yards away from each other we may still have some noise complaints!!

I also see on their website that they are pet freindly, but it loooks like only one dog per house. My vote is for this one

Anywhere

Just for the record, Ted & Ellen are open to going anywhere. Ellen wonders what there is to do in Galena? I say golf! But there is not a lot else to do there are far as I know. So, The Dells or Chicago area work for us as well.

Ok... enough blogging for now....

I think I am in!

OK, I think I fugured out how this thing works. My first blog!
How the Hell is everyone doing!

I get the feeling we are looking at the Galena area. Sounds good to me. They have some good golf courses. Ellen and I would be there for sure. I think Laura and Ben would try to come as well, so we may need two rooms.
Did everyone watch the Badgers beat MSU yesterday? Tommy Izzo is still crying! Go Bucky!

Ted

Hey!! Did I get signed up for this Blog thing? How do I send something???

Galena will work!

The Idea of vacationing in Illinois just a few miles away from Iowa wow! Kentucky is sounding like Paradise......

But since Kim is volunteering to do the work!

I love Galena!!!!

I am "moderating" my comments. They came out sounding negative. I am not a huge fan of that area, maybe similar to Kim's feelings about KY. I think it's because I was pregnant the last time I was there. However the resort itself may work for us in this situation.

Mike and I have stayed at Eagle Ridge. (I just realized that was 14 years ago.) The resort was very nice and accomodations were lovely. It smelled like manure when we were there last - probably 'cuz it is so close to Iowa... I guess I didn't even consider it because it is not along anyone's travel path.

I agree with all of the PROS that Kim has listed. Of particular interest are the large homes available.

In the CONS category,
Fewer variety of activities available for the wide age group we are trying to satisfying - it is definately in the middle of nowhere.
More difficult for John & Lisa to get there, as taking the Car Ferry is ruled out - would be about 8 hours for them - just to go to Galena, Illinois!

Chinese Water Tortures

Ted Heiser always made me call him KING - whenever he was torturing me with a Chinese Water Torture or sticking long pieces of grass up my nose and the like...so when Dave signs as King and Big D, it is too confusing to me. Again, I think I'm having flashbacks...

Resort makes sense

I like the idea of the resort as well. Having houses to gather and potentially get loud in would also be beneficial to which the management of the Middleton Hilton Garden can attest.

That becomes even more important if you want to include the parents. We'd have to get loud so they could hear us!

I am in favor of Galena.

And Kim, you really don't know the nicknames?! You disappoint me.

The Southern Cousins

The Mark Heiser's are planning on attending. This includes their 3 adult children.
Kathy will attend and hopefully Laura. I am attending with my children. I don't
think that my Mark will be able to attend because of travel time and having a new job.

I love the idea of the resort. It has something for everyone AND it allows us to chill
out and drink if we want to do nothing. I like the location too.

Eagle Ridge Resort - Galena, IL

Eagle Ridge Resort - Galena, IL

I vote we consider this resort. Currently, they have availability in their 8 bedroom distinctive homes for June 19 - June 22 (I was thinking we could rent 2-3 of the 8 bedroom homes depending on our final count).

PROS

• Staying together in houses where we could have group-together time and also some get-away-from-everyone moments - we can get loud without worrying about getting tossed out!
• Many activities from golfing, horseback riding, hot air ballooning, boating, a spa, a pool, etc.
• Special kids programs for kids 12 and under.
• Appears to have good rates - not a bank buster!

CONS

• A little longer drive for some - 100 miles from Madison, 150 miles from Chicago.
• A whole new decision to consider.
• May be harder for the parents (Joe & Mary, Marge & Jerry, etc) to join as it is farther away

I am willing to do the work (with help from Lynn if she is willing) if people would like this option. Please visit the website - click on the title of this post and it will take you to the resort's website. I will send this information via email too as it seems there are some computer illiterate Heiser Cousins who cannot figure out how to get on the blog.

Bullseye!

I remember, vividly! And you did not miss!! You threw up all over yourself, on Dianne and on me. We walked around for the entire rest of the day all wearing your vomit on our legs. I have been traumatized for life by that experience and am not sure I will be able to spend a weekend in Wisconsin Dells without flashbacks - whenever I drive near the Dells I can still smell it!

I do not camp; I really hate the dry counties in Kentucky (and all points in between WI and KY); I think any convention will bore me to death; I do not camp.

I vote for wherever there is good food, good drink, sunshine, clean sheets and a hot shower. I think the Dells, Chicago area, Lake Geneva, or Hotlanta would work. Can we look to see if there is availability at a resort in a couple of the proposed locations - lack of availability may help us narrow our choices??

Finally, I want to know who you people are??? What is it with all these names..CoonDog, Good CoonDog, Big D, Little D...who the hell are you people???

Wis Dells

Let's say we pick the Dells for the reunion.....Where do we stay as a group?
Are reservations required? Is it too late to get a big block of rooms??

Last time I was there, I threw up on Kim and Diane.
Actually, I didn't throw up on them, it was just close. It was a long time ago.
Kim? Diane? Do you remember?

Lynn is not allowed to vote

After reading Lynn's last posting, she's not allowed to vote anymore.

Great Smokey Mountains

If you all don't choose soon, I will be making reservations for everyone at LeConte Lodge in the Great Smokey Mountains. You hike in and out about 5 1/2 miles. Supplies are brought in by Llama Pack Train.

You see, I DO like to camp. I like to camp in a TENT... For a week or more at a time... In REMOTE locations, like South Manitou Island...

Gymnastics Camp in Tennessee

Brenna's gymnastics club is scheduled to go to Flip Fest gymnastics camp in Crossville, TN (www.flipfest.com/camp) from June 15-20. We had not planned to send her due to the cousin reunion. Just realized the camp is only 2 1/2 hours from Mark's house. Any other kids interested in attending camp? We could wrap it all up into one tidy little trip!

It's age-not fandom

I also know Bill George, Ed O'Bradovich, J. C. Caroline, Johnny Morris...........hate 'em all.

Dave Lynett - Closet Bears Fan

Only real Bears fans know who Bill Wade is.


OK. Here's the box I keep getting into. I click on the 'sign in' in the upper right corner. It throws me into a page where I can create a blog, tells me I'm not the member of any blogs and offers all kinds of tips on creating a blog, none of which have proven to be especially helpful.
I can't find a way to join the heiser cousins blog.
I'll freely admit to significant techonological challenges.
As for Bears quarterbacks, I may be the only one old enough to remember Bill Wade. I went to college with a cousin, nephew or something, also named Bill Wade. If the original Bill Wade was as big a jag-off as that clown, it's no wonder he's forgettable. The guy could best be described as 'seldom right but never in doubt.'
Thank you in advance for any assistance you can offer. I can hardly wait to make witty comments. Some have occasionally opined I have a knack.
Dave

I have arrived!!

OK--I finally figured out how to get in here. It turns out my invitation from Lynn got spam filtered. (insert your own joke here)

Let me catch up on the reunion site debate. I'm with Lisa-NO CAMPING. We started camping with a group of neighbors when the kids were little and they always had blast. Now the kids are adults and these idiots still drag me camping once a year. I passed the age of sleeping in a tent long ago!!

It seems that Kentucky and Wis Dells have been the most talked about locations. Hmm....do we risk possibly being surrounded by toothless hillbillies or almost certainly being surrounded by FIBs and their demon spawn. Tough choice. Camping just might be back in the running.

I am intrigued by the Denver plan. Gotta love those skinny black cousins. Just because we attend the convention we don't have to vote for one of those kooks do we? Of course, McCain just might be certifiably nuts. Again, tough choice.

I am inclined to show up wherever my loyal subjects gather.

Sincerely,

The King

Favre Loss Impairs Abilities

[copied from email as Ted is still working out this blog thing]

I tried to sign up for this blog thing but was unsuccessful! I am not very computer literate, but I will give it another go! My mind is not functioning very well since Favre retired........ All I can picture is the next 20 years with quarterbacks like Scott Hunter, Old Jon Hadl, David Whitehurst, Jim Delgaizo, Rich Campbell, Randy Wright, etc etc.

Ted

Choose or Lose

Kentucky sounds like a good place since most of us have probably never been to see Mark's neighborhood (except maybe on HEE-HAW), but I see there are more votes for the Wis Dells on the survey, which I have to admit would be more convenient for the majority. So we have got to pick one.

Even though I have been a proponent of a good road trip... I'm going to pledge my vote for Wis Dells.

However, my vote can still be bought, for the right price (OK, maybe just a beer or two!!)

I don't want to camp!

First of all.....I don't camp. The last time I camped was on the shores of Lake Michigan with a bunch of you guys. I was almost carried away by mosquitoes and had sand in my ears. I still have nightmares about it. The Mark Heiser's don't live in rural Kentucky; however, shoes and teeth are optional. The Wal-Mart is only busy on the 1st Saturday of the month. Other than that, it's big city? I suppose to most --- it's a little rural. However, there are a ton of activities.

I am going to be in Wisconsin anyway. I haven't been pulled over for speeding in 20 years so I think I am due again. Who's available to bail me out this time? You guys all make a lot more money now so it should be easier.

I still vote for Kentucky just so I can torture you guys more; however, I'm in for anything.

Democratic Convention in Denver

I like Kim's Survivor idea, but let's go to the Democratic Convention. The cousins will be split into two tribes, Obama and Clinton. Lying, cheating cousins will go in the Clinton tribe and skinny black cousins will go in the Obama tribe. We will live on the streets of Denver and vocally support the namesake of whichever tribe we end up in. We can watch the protests, riots, and looting all for free! The last cousin thrown in jail is the winner.


http://www.denverconvention2008.com/

All Heiser - All the Time!!!

Wait a minute, what do you mean all Heiser, all the time can be overwhelming?? I think we should make it a Survivor weekend! We should gather at a sand bar in the Mississippi River down by Louisiana, have to eat grubs, fish and alcohol while reminiscing about the younger Heiser days without any sleep or other comforts. The winner is the last one standing after 96 hours of all Heiser, all the time!!

WHO IS COMING TO THE REUNION?

Are you planning to attend the Heiser Cousin reunion, location yet to be named? If so, please "comment" (click on the white, underlined word "comments" at the bottom of this post) to this post. Please include

• How many of your family members plan to attend.
• Location preference.
• Activities you would like to include.
• How far you are willing to travel.
• Anything you definately do NOT want to do or that would PREVENT you from attending.
  
  Thanks!

A Vote for Kentucky

Hey Everyone,

When the rumor of having the reunion in Atlanta was started by Mike Cooney:), it was really a joke. He was here on a business trip and he forced me into drinking too much....again, alas, the ugly rumor. My concern about having it in a busy place (Wis Dells) is that everyone is going to be so busy running around that we don't get to visit. I haven't seen several of you in 8 years.
I would like to go to a place where we hang out together. SO, the idea came to me about having the reunion at the Mark Heiser's. They live across the street from a golf course, swimming pool and tennis courts. Also, they live 20 minutes from a lake that they can easily rent boats for a day. We've done it many times. They have a huge lot for a football game:), camping(ugh), stumbling around after hours and it is 7 hours from Chicago.....9 from Madison? Hotels are cheap....

I don't want to exclude anyone from coming because of distance. I don't mind driving, I've been doing it forever. I'm going to be in Wisconsin the week before the reunion anyway. I would stop on my way home. I just think this is a win/win.

Let's rock (then Roll)

Well it's time to get some real discussion going -
My vote on location is either Chicago area or Atlanta area
Road trip !!!

Heiser Reunion June 19-22, 2008

Okay, you people. If we are going to "reunite", we need to get going! I have put together this blog to provide a communications center for all you Heiser cousins. Hopefully everyone can figure out how to use it!

The first order of business is to decide on a location for our gathering. I just picked up the latest issue of Midwest Living magazine, and it lists 24 tried and true reunion locations in the Midwest region. Many require 1+ year advance booking!

I will set up categories for the various options we have discussed so that we can all view the info without a "forward to all" email entanglement.

Happy communicating!

Lynn