Back from Vacation!

So I went on a writing retreat with Jenny Trout, Kris Norris, Kelsey St. James, Jess Jarman, Emily Love, Mia Watts and Anne (an awesome reader) and it was FABULOUS!  I got lots of work done, laughed until my face hurt and played Cards Against Humanity and laughed my ass off because I'm a terrible person, played in Lake Superior and even ate muffins made by monks. That's right people, Monk Muffins! And they were delicious.

I'm going to share a few pictures and then get back to my story. And also episodes of Hannibal (which is Jenny and Jess' fault) and cleaning my office, because holy hell, that has to happen! It looks like an episode of Hoarders in there. o.O

This was the view of Lake Superior from the deck of the house we rented.

 And this was our home away from home.

 A storm rolling in.

 Our trip mascot! Isn't he adorable? Kelsey knitted him on the way up!

 This is Hunter's Point in Copper Harbor on a particularly misty day.

 Hunter's Point

 This is me playing around in the lake.

 Rock formation at Hunter's Point.

 Great Sand Bay near Eagle Harbor.

 Rocks! No trip to Lake Superior is complete without rocks! At least, it's not if you're me.

Moonrise over Lake Superior in Gay, Michigan.

 Sunrise over Lake Superior in Gay, Michigan.

 Sunlight, rocks and water.

 The Tobacco River in Gay, Michigan

 

The Tobacco River Park in Gay Michigan

 

And this is what Jenny Trout made me and Kris Norris. Because she's awesome.

Back from Vacation

I'm home from vacation, and I'll admit it. I really want to go back up north. I spent the week with Jen Armintrout, Jessica Jarman, Kris Norris, Mia Watts and our friend Emily. I won't lie and tell you it was the peace and quiet because there wasn't a lot of that going on with six of us in a cabin. There was maniacal giggling, writing, drinking wine, collecting rocks, walking along the beach, listening to the waves - it was pretty much perfection.

Of course, I missed my fam and my friends who weren't there, but I could have cheerfully stayed for another week. I know I've waxed poetic before about the insane beauty of Lake Superior, but  my God, it's amazing. The whole time we were at the cabin, I only saw two people who weren't staying with us.

As a reward for our hard work during the day, we went to Mickey's for karaoke night. I suspect it'll be a long time before they forget us. One of the highlights of the night was Kris giving me a lap dance during Mustang Sally. I'm pretty sure that's when the elderly gentleman playing pool fell in love with her. And Kris being the awesome sport she was did several two-step dances with him because she's just that fabulous.

Wednesday, we went into Houghton, where my hubby went to college and had an absolutely orgasmic lunch at the Ambassador. We all got something different and it was all fantastic. Matt and I used to eat there when we could afford to when he was in college. If anything the food was better than ever.

I'll recap the rest of the week in a day or two, but here are some of the gorgeous photos I took. I also took video of the waves on the lake because I'm going to rip the audio to cd as a relaxation aid. Because I'm clever like that.

Okay, so I'm not sure this qualifies as a gorgeous photo, but it's Angus who wouldn't get out of my damn suitcase no matter what. 

This is the fantabulous cabin we rented. I'd totally stay there again in a heartbeat. 

This is the rock Jen wouldn't let me take home because she's a fun hater. 

This is the view of the beach right in front of our cabin. The pictures don't do it justice  - you'll just have to take my word that it was breathtaking.

A nifty sedimentary rock cliff where the beach shifts into the woods.

Some of the millions of rocks on the shoreline. Of course, after our week there, there are far fewer.

A mile or so down the shore from where we were.