We are almost done with the poll for activity #1- hopefully, we will be able to post the results tomorrow.

After that, we will need to have polls to choose Activity #2, then I will choose activity #3, then we create the menu, and then sign-ups will go out!

The trip will be around the same time as usual; however, exact dates remain unknown until I get a job (I’m defending in a few weeks).  I will keep you posted. The trip runs a slight risk of being canceled, if I do not get a job with an understanding boss.

This site will now be updated more frequently with Maine Trip information, so stay tuned. Hope you can join us!

Day One: Sunday, December 27th 2009

Trip Attendees: This is written from my perspective, if you attended the trip please feel free to e-mail me (Flohk13@aol.com) your summaries of days, events, etc…and I will happily add them.

Jimmy & I awoke very early on Sunday. I had set my alarm, but I woke up well before it went off. Seven in the morning in New England looks like nine in the morning in Ohio. We needed to wake up early as Carl was arriving at the airport in Portland.

The weather was particularly nasty- a slippery freezing rain. Jimmy left for Portland in the car we borrowed from his father for the week, and I began to do some laundry. I had just come back to the basement with a load of laundry, when I saw Jimmy pull up to the house. Oh-uh, this can’t be good.

Jimmy attempted to get up the hill on Powerhouse Rd twice, and failed- sliding back down the road, and the second time doing a 180.

The next few hours were spent handling this new problem. First, we arranged a ride for Carl- it meant he had to wait in the airport far longer than planned, but it was the best we could do. Next we called everyone, and informed them of the situation in case they arrived early. Next we called all the numbers for the town we had- not getting a response at any, then we called my grandfather who suggested we call the police department, so we called them and finally got someone to pick up! The police department was helpful, but they told us that the road wouldn’t be sanded until the freezing rain stopped. Well, that made sense. So, we were stuck in the house for the remainder of the day.

Bill & Carl were the firs to arrive, followed by Mark & Stacy. The afternoon’s entertainment was a football game.  Chinese food was ordered, and Bill & Jimmy went to pick it up, in the only vehicle that could get out. Kristen arrived shortly before the Chinese food did.

After our traditional Ruby Food Chinese Food banquet (yum!), we sorted out rooming. For the first time, a room upstairs was taken by a single occupant. Kristen landed herself the top seniority position (congrats!) and got a coveted upstairs room.

The evening was capped off by Beatles Rock Band.

Guests: Mark, Stacy, Kristen, Bill, Carl, Heather, and Justin

Activities: North Conway Trip & Board Game Night

Dinners: Smokehouse Tavern, Burgers, PW Night, Appetizers, Leftovers

Quoteables: “Dump Truck!” “Gas station. Gas station. Red light!”

New Munchkin Game: Cthulhu

• Sign-up to go on the trip, and let me know you are looking to carpool
• I will let others who may be interested know that you are looking for a carpool buddy
• If I can’t find you one, just retract your sign-up before the last day of refunds (Dec. 15th)- and you won’t lose a dime!

If all the Ohio folks interested DON’T sign-up soon, how can we connect people for carpooling? It’s better to sign-up so people know you want to go, and so I can help you.

That is why, it isn’t too early to plan on going! Maine Trips are a vacation… you wouldn’t plan a trip to Disney World at the last minute, would you? If you don’t know what you will be doing in December…sign-up for the trip, mark it on your calendar, take the time off of work, arrange transportation and tell friends and family you will be going on vacation for a week.

So far, the Maine Trip High Council has come up with 77 reasons for you to join us on a Maine Trip. They are wise. Listen to them.

1) Because it’s cheap.
2) Because it’s Maine.
3) Beautiful Scenery.
4) The Lake.
5) Chance to go to the Polar Caves.
6) Lost River
7) All the laughs
The paper game
9) The ducks
10) Pine trees.
11) Snowmobiles
12) Sledding
13) Jet Ski
14) ATV
15) Swimming in the Lake
16) Hottub
17) Kayak
18) Pool Table
19) Ping Pong
20) Air Hockey
21) Foosball
22) Campfire
23) Bill
24) Friends
25) Little Green Boat
26) Lefty
27) Food
28) Reny’s
29) Baseball
30) Games
31) Mainers with Living Room Stores
32) The Diner at Night
33) Mountains
34) Nature
35) Maine Sunrises
36) Ruby Food Chinese Cuisine!
37) Desert of Maine
38) The White Mountains
39) Sebago Lakes
40) Naples
41) Night Walks
42) The Waterfall
43) Improv Night
44) The Funny Things that Get Said
45) The Metallica Guy @ the House of Pizza
46) The Big Kahuna Cafe and it’s owner.
47) Nature Path
48) Computer games on the dining table
49) Munchkin games
50) Meeting new people
51) Marathons of favorite shows
52) The crazy things that are said, heard and quoted
53) Ultimate Ping Pong
54) Making Memories
55) House, MD Marathon
56) Die Hard Movie Marathon
57) Loons
58) Night Noises
59) Sounds of the waterfall
60) Moose!
61) Mexican Fiesta
62) Kara’ Random Music Selection
63) The Mists
64) Stalin, the Spider
65) Grill in Four Feet of Snow
66) The Sims 2
67) Grand Theft Auto
68) The Bookshop in Town
69) Snow
70) Late Night Shopping At Hannaford’s
71) The Snack Table
72) Mike The Druid
73) Ghost Hunts in the Graveyard
74) Knitting
75) Monty
76) Coozies
77) Warped Coozie, our new band

• I continue to add discussion questions and features to the Maine Trip Ning Group if you plan on attending the upcoming Winter 09 trip you are encouraged to join so that you can meet other people, arrange carpools, and give the Chefs feedback on their meals
• I have created a Chef Contract that has all new rules for Chefs to keep things running more smoothly
• I am now taking requests for Chef positions. If you are interested, e-mail me as soon as possible.
• Continuing to advertise & recruit for this Maine Trip. I am hoping to achieve my DZP goal of having 15 people on a trip.

I’m going to be continuing to update this blog. There is a lot of information for me to put here though, so I would love to get some feedback on what topics I should cover first. What aspects would you like to know more about?

Winter 2009-2010 Maine Trip

You are invited to join us for a New Year’s Celebration in Bridgton, Maine.

Dates

Sunday December 27^th at 12:00pm to Sunday January 3^rd at 12:00pm

Cost

$95

Includes:

-          7 Complete dinners; plenty of variation to please everyone

-          7 Other prepared meals; each day there will be one additional prepared meal (breakfast, lunch or snack)

-          Plenty of snack items and do-it-yourself breakfasts and lunches

-          Variety of beverages (soda, juice, water, teas, milk, etc…)

-          Lunch at the Muddy Moose Family Restaurant in North Conway (alcoholic beverages not included)

Activities

3 Prepared Activities

1. North Conway, NH: A day trip to North Conway and lunch at the Muddy Moose. Walk around the quaint town and shop at the unique gift shops with a backdrop of the White Mountains. If any events are occurring during our stay, the trip will be arranged to incorporate one of those. Lunch is included in the cost of your trip.
2. Board Game Day: Spend the day curled up with hot chocolate and fresh homemade cookies while playing classics like The Game of Life and Monopoly.
3. Favorite Movie Marathon: All participants will be encouraged to bring one or two of their favorite movies on DVD. Using the process of elimination, we will determine the most well-liked movies and watch them in order for an entire day. Plenty of popcorn and candy will be available.

Activity Binder

A large binder with several suggested activities (both indoor and outdoor; both at the house and away), maps of the area, pamphlets from attractions, etc…will be available. Guests are encouraged to coordinate activities for the group as well.

Guest-Coordinated Activities

After signing up, guests are encouraged to contact me about coordinating any type of event they so choose.

Dinners

1. Chinese Takeout- In keeping with tradition, buffet-style Chinese food.
2. Burgers & Dogs- Simple hot dogs, cheese burgers, and sides
3. Italian- Two Italian-style dishes (examples: Lasagna, Chicken Alfredo, etc…)
4. Homemade Pizzas- Several different kinds of homemade Pizza
5. Time Period- Our featured chef this trip is Stacy Booth, she is cooking “a 17th century dinner or what might be called a “humble” feast.  There will be delicious meals that are recognizable and a few that will be a bit different but all that will show the typical fall meal of a 17th century family.  Remember though that forks are not included and don’t wipe your mouth with the table cloth.”
6. Pioneer Woman Evening- Kara’s meal will be a sampling of the wonders that can be found on pioneerwoman.com. Dessert may come from a bakerella recipe, however.
7. Leftover Night- All chefs will use their ingredients to create some kind of dish to be placed out in a buffet style on leftover night.

Signing Up

• Retrieve copy of sign-up form from Kara; if you received this as apart of the mailing list, the form is also attached.
• You are not signed up until you send me the form, a signed agreement (not electronic), and your payment.
• Guests are welcome but must abide by the same rules.
• Couples may submit same form; provided all info is present for both individuals
• Benefits of Signing Up Early

1. Bonus to rank for kitchen duty assignments and rooming
2. Opportunity to talk to chefs and influence meal decisions
3. Opportunity to come up with activity ideas
4. After planning day, there may not be any spaces LEFT (see below)

• Dates of Sign-up:

1. Yahoo Group or Ning Members: October 9^th, 2009
2. Full-time Guests (5 to 7 nights): October 19^th, 2009
3. Part-time Guests (Less than 5): November 1^st, 2009
4. Planning Day: November 21^st

On Planning Day, I will call my grandfather to request the space required for the # of individuals signed up, and to come to agreement on the number of rooms available for us. My grandfather is spending more time up there, and we will need to establish the exact # of rooms required early on so he may plan ahead to make those rooms available. Once we make an arrangement, any extra unoccupied spaces in the rooms we are allotted will be available for an additional fee. However, once those rooms are filled we will not request additional space, and you’ll be out of luck. In addition, comments on the chefs meals will be closed, and no more special requests will be made based on food preferences.

Please contact me for a sign-up form,

Starting this trip, it will be more important than ever to sign-up early. My grandfather is making more use of the Maine house now, and on Planning Day (Nov. 21st ) I will be telling him exactly how many rooms we require.

Please make plans to sign up as early as possible!