Well, let me start off by saying we have some wonderful, normal friends here in central Illinois! And last Friday night Doug was invited once again to "chill out" with a few of them. I'll let the pictures speak mostly for themselves...(if you want a more complete play-by-play rendition of the experience by one of the actual players, click here)
the campsite......
the sleeping conditions...... 
what's such the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed look for, Doug? didn't you sleep well???
some serious, serious business--this cold-weather camping!
Now....what's wrong with this picture??Deep in the backwoods, probably makin yellow snow........and talkin on a cell phone! Technology has changed EVERYTHING!
BUT....I won't complain! As that brings me to, in fact, the most serious part of this so-called "adventure!" Doug left with some of the gang around 2:00 p.m. Friday. About 7:30 that evening I thought my feet were feeling a little chilly, and soon Trevon asked if he could turn (the gas) fireplace on. I said, "sure, that sounds nice." So, he flipped the switch. Nothing happened. hmmm. So, of course, I made a mental note to ask Doug to fix the fireplace when he got home. About 8:00 I thought I was just plain feeling a little chilly--so I checked the thermostat. 68 degrees. not bad when we try to keep the house at 70. But thought I'd bump it up a little. I bumped it up to 72. Left for a few minutes. hmmm. why isn't the furnace running? I bumped it up to 77. waited a few minutes. hmmm. WHY isn't (the gas) FURNACE RUNNING?! ah. ah? And so, in the days of cell phones and text messaging, I sent a text message to my lovely husband saying something like: "the fireplace won't work, neither seems to be the furnace." He fired a text message back that said something like: "Call the gas company as soon as they open tomorrow morning!!! yes, maybe better interpreted: I want the furnace running well as soon as I walk in the door tomorrow!!!:) (Because HE ended up calling the gas company........from his "cozy" campsite......as soon as they opened tomorrow!:)
And so, the kids and I ended up all huddled together in the same bed that night, and thus it twas a chilling adventure--for those who deserved it, and for those who certainly did not deserve it!:)
The 2008 Winter Camping Family Photo
(taken the morning of departure)
(from left to right) Back Row: Bruce Helmreich, Ryan Helmreich, Emily Helmreich, Robert Bixby, Don Stickel, Doug Carroll
Front Row: Rob Vail, Kenrick Vail, (front, and a little off-center: Eldon LiaBraaten. hmmm. Could he be the one who gets this whole thing organized?:), and Kyle LiaBraaten.
Well, I'm so glad all these wonderful friends took this "test," and decided none of them were fit to go "solo." But how they all survived together in the woods for a night will likely remain mostly a mystery to all but them......and of course anyone or anyTHING lurking around in the woods with them! Glad you made it home safely and frost-bite-free for another year, guys!:)
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