Cabin Fever

I have a severe case of cabin fever. Or maybe it's just seasonal allergies. Or malaria. Regardless, it's something cottage-related and i can't shake it. Over the past eight years, I've heard/enjoyed/endured/tolerated many tales of The Cottage from Liz. Each anecdote more fascinating than the last, each serving as a small lesson in Murphy-family history. Her stories had piqued my interest. That interest turned to captivation. Which then turned to intrigue. Were these simply tall tales, the by-product of a gal's clever imagination? Or exaggerated accounts of a typical childhood summer? Or a really long set-up to an incredible pun? I had to find out for myself. So there was only one logical thing to do: marry Liz and hope that maybe one day she would take me there.

Well that day was Sunday. And as far as I could tell, the legends are TRUE.

If I had to rank the sights I was most anticipating, the rankings would look like this:
1. The Cottage
2. The Spillway
3. The Golden Dawn
4. The End-of-the-Road Beach
5. Elvis Beach
6. Marin's stars and stripes headband

Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to enjoy one of these sights. To everyone's dismay, The Golden Dawn was replaced with Ray's something-or-other. Ray is a jerk.

NOTES
Cal exceeded everyone's expectations and fetched FOUR TIMES on Elvis Beach! Marin face-planted the water ONE TIME!

People who ride ATVs need to take a hike. Literally.

Carving my name into a tree LEGIBLY is more difficult than I had ever imagined.

I was a tad disappointed in the Spillway: I was told of a trillion carp. I only counted a billion.

If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound? I'm not sure because the ATVs were so damn loud.

Sterr can really grill! Delicious hamburgers and hot dogs! And good call on the horseradish!

Is it Murphy custom to always enter The Cottage through a window?

Some woman brought her laptop to the pavilion at the beach. Not to do work or surf the internet—but to play SOLITAIRE. This person should STAY HOME. Or at least bring an actual deck of cards. I mean I'd even be fine if she was doing ANYTHING else beachy in addition to solitaire. She sure knows how to enjoy a holiday! By being a loser.

MGM sure knows how to carry a football in a bucket!

En route to Elvis Beach, some guy asked us if we had seen any "arrowheads" back near The Cottage. We're STILL not sure if he meant snakes or actual Indian arrowheads. Too bad he didn't ask us if we've seen any weirdos with obscure questions.

It was certainly a Memorial Day vacation to remember. I can't wait for the next trip to The Cottage!

Next time I'm bringing my bike.

Having a swinging time

Ran into a couple of swingers at the beach. The water was a little brisk, but the action at the end-of-the-road park was in the playground area.

We thought it might be crowded, but found plenty of room to cook out at that pavilion deal. BTW, Rendell must have spent all the money on gas for his limo because there are no more lifeguards and swimming is at your own risk.

If you go to the Linesville weather link and look under the radar map you'll see a heading called "Wundermap New!". Click that and when the map comes up, zoom in about 5 clicks and bump it right once, and you'll see the street where we live, "Murphy Lane". Cool, huh?

We didn't get a lick of work done but anybody who wants to get the water going, etc., let me know and I'll try and go with you.

Nuts & Bolts

Check out the link on the right below "Traveling?" that will give you the weather in Linesville and the Online Meadville Tribune. BTW, looks like the mayor of Linesville is about Billy's age:

Meadville Tribune - Teen wins Linesville mayor race

Herman Herring

In keeping with our fish theme,
how do you like this guy? He
probably makes all the other fish goose-step, er, swim around. I thought of him when I saw this video:

Hitler Sings "Jeffersons" Theme - CollegeHumor video

We're planning on going up Sunday so maybe see yinz up there.

"Pa's second most popular tourist attraction"

I think we need to add to Linesville, PA on Wikipedia.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linesville,_Pennsylvania

We are . . .

I know you've seen it before, but when I think of this picture, I can't help but be reminded of the single minded devotion of, yes, the Penn State student body to their benighted and struggling football team. Doesn't that guy on the left look just like Billy, cheering on his lovable losers and their doddering octogenarian coach? What a plucky little buckaroo!

Introduction to The Cottage: 101

Imagine for a moment that you are Marin or Chris and you've only heard stories of the fabled cabin. Now, you're finally about to go there. Better study up!! What should you know before you leave?

There's this house, it's not in tip-top shape but it works and has plumbing (usually).

The family who owns it built it many years ago.

It sits in some dark woods near a man-made lake and a farm with cows and corn.

Sometimes animals (like a ruffed neck grouse) think they own the place.

A bunch of carp in a big bowl also think they own the place.

The ducks walk on the fish there.

Sometimes your Dad will make you ride your bike 12 miles with no speeds or gears when you're there.

You can have a big fire and roast marshmallows and play charades there.

Extended family relatives own a nice farm and house a few towns over.

Bring a flashlight.

You MUST wear bug spray there.

Fishing is fun there.

Swimming at the state park and cooking out by the swing set is also also a must.

Watch for tree roots or you'll fall on your face.

Don't mind the daddy long-leggers (they think they own the place, too)

Don't bother bringing your cell-phone.

Do bother bringing toilet paper.

You better bother bringing replacement beer for the fridge.

Oh yeah- the fridge is from 1800 and has about 6 tons of ice in it.

Definitely visit: The Golden Dawn, the Driftwood restaurant, ANY soft serve icecream joint, the Spillway, Elvis beach, and the bait shop, and the old Isaly's-which is currently called Rose's Cafe or something?

Take the dog for a swim when you're there or you're a jerk.

Elvis was an awesome family dog who loved the cabin so much that he is buried there and he has a beach named after him there, too.

There are raspberries and blackberries in the back-woods if you're brave enough to plow through.

There's probably a canoe-also from 1800- sitting on the side of the house still.

Professors? Any other pre-visit lessons for the freshmen?

1949 ... "Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)" by Vaughn Monroe

That was the #1 song in the country on the day I was born. You can find out what was #1 on your birth day here:

#1 Song on This Date in History

I think Uncle Tim's was Psalm 23

We're all bloggers now

Look for an invite to blog in your e-mails. I'm not sure what you have to go through to register as blog authors, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. You youngsters, help out the old guys.

AND

I'm not sure if I can add Sally the puking pooch but I'll try. I hear she won big in Michigan and Florida.

Hey, we can have our own blog

Do you guys think this would be a good way to share information about the cottage, especially what maintenance needs to be done, taxes paid and who's going there when? We might even spend more time there if we fix it up some. Let me know and I'll add you as a poster. Or if you think it's a waste of time, I'll cancel it. Either way.