From Andy
Subject: PlainSilly

All,
	Reunion 98: PlainSilly MN.  was a HUGE enjoyment for all who made 
the effort and were able to attend.  To those who's committments took 
them elsewhere at that time, my condolences.  To those who just didn't 
make it happen: Dickhead, Dickhead, Dickhead, check it out.

	A prelude to the weekend's events began at "Brady-Fest" in 
Caledonia, Gabes' mother-in-law's residence in Southeastern Minnesota, 
home of some of the finest trout fishing in America.  The sight of yours 
truly in chest deep water pulling trophy Germans from pristine streams 
should soon grace the National Geographic cover.  We even got a brookie.

	SOUND BITE:  Tuesday afternoon on arrival at the Minneapolis 
airport finding no Prep at the baggage area as planned.
	ANDY: Hello, is Tom P there?
	RECEPTIONIST: Yes, he's on a conference call right now.  Would 
you like to get into his voice mail?
	ANDY: No, but you can walk into his office and get his ass on the 
phone right now, thank-you.

	SOUND BITE: At Caledonia with Gabes' 5-year old, Patrick the 
morning following our 10 hour stream escapades, fish and steak dinner, 
and an evening at "Elmo's" drinking Old Coyotes with my good buddies, 
Gabes, Dave, and Jack Daniels:
	PATRICK: How many fish did you catch?
	ANDY: (slightly foggy from the previous evening's efforts) 5.
	PATRICK: No you didn't.
	ANDY: (lying)Yes I did.
	PATRICK: No you didn't. You didn't catch any.  
	
	The little shit.

	Thursday morning Dave headed back to the Minneapolis airport 
where he met Prep to drive to Swan Lake and Gabes and I headed to the 
Casino where I scalped the local tribe for a quick $150 in a brief 
skirmish at the black-jack tables. Gabes thought the Casino sucked.
	
	SOUND BITE: Navigating from the Casino to the highway leading 
into Pengilly, Andy decides NOT to follow the directions Prep gave and to 
follow a route that looks interesting.  Gabes driving, Andy navigating 
the map.
	ANDY: Take this road here, County 3 which should take us into 
County 18 and eventually lead to 65.
	GABES: (As the pavement turns to gravel, turns to dirt, turns to 
pot-holes covered with grass): You don't have a bleepin clue where we are, 
do you?
	ANDY: Bleep it.  We're headed west.

	6:00 PM arrival at the property on the North end of 
Swan Lake found a beautiful piece of land on this 5 square mile lake in 
God's Country, a very practical fishing cabin with great sleeping 
accomodations a functional bathroom (there would be only lake baths this 
week), a refrigerator filled with beer, two bottles of Jack Daniels, a 
bottle of Vodka, a bottle of Gin(needed for the famous "pengilly 
screwdriver), and a box of cigars.  We were home.
	We spent as much time as we could on the lake fishing.  Friday we 
took a 5 hour hiatus from our fishing to play golf and get a quick tour 
of Hibbing MN. and the World's Largest Open Pit Iron Mine in the Mesabi 
Range.  Pretty Cool sight.  We also saw where Preppy grew up.  Fun stuff.
	The golf on Friday was at the Mesaba Country Club, a 6600 yard 
track with a 129 slope and a 70.9 rating from the whites.  Hans was 
deadly with an 83 for his first look at this course, Prep shot an 86 for 
low net title, Gabes sobered up on the back nine, and I shot a 
respectable 106 with my usual array of varied shots.  Dave stayed home 
and rested.
	Dave has definitely established himself as the official CyberZahm 
chef on this trip.  Omelets on Friday morning were extraordinary, steak 
and corn with salad and garlic bread Friday night was superb (finished 
off with a fine chianti I might add), skillfuly prepared fresh 
northern, perch, and crappie fish on Saturday was out of this world with 
the vegetable medley side accompaniment and tomato and onion salad 
completing the gourmet delights of the week.  And did I mention the tasty 
baked beans from Friday's lunch?  Awesome.
	After golf it was back to the lake until the stars came out.  The 
milky way in clear view, Jupiter big as a planet should be.
	After the steak dinner, Andy quickly instructed the lads in the 
game of scat which is now the official CyberZahm card game.  The bait was 
being presented, patiently waiting to set the hook.
	Up at 7 Saturday morning, fish until 1, break for lunch, back in 
the water by 4, bathe in the lake (whale spotting was reported), fish 
until we couldn't see anymore, dinner at 10, cigars, beer and Jack 
Daniels with scat as a back drop (it was easier than scalping Indians for 
Big Daddy this night) for great fun.  We had a suprise visit from Greg 
Norman and reviewed some photos from Andy's wedding.

	SOUND BITE: On the boat all week.
	ANYONE: What's the greatest movie of all time.
	ANYONE: Godfather I, Godfather II, Shawshank Redemption, Blazing 
Saddles, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Sting, Jaws, (list too long 
to mention), Cool Hand Luke.
	ANYONE: Any man don't discuss his favorite movie and repeat 
several lines from it: gets a night in the box.
	ANYONE: Just what I thought.  A whole lotta nothin.

	Sunday morning up early, hit the casino one more time on the way 
back (kick Indian ass for $400 today - Bring on Las Vegas!), grab the 
plane and head back to reality where I sit today.
	Guys, if you don't think CyberZahm is something special and 
worthy of all efforts to make the annual reunion pilgrimage, think again.
	It doesn't matter if you like or don't like fishing, boating, 
golfing, gambling, baseball......whatever.  That's all backdrop to 
sharing time with each other, talking leisurely about our jobs, our kids, 
our wives, our spirits, our lives.  We are ND.  That makes us all better 
people.  Better than we otherwise would have been.  It matters.

Peace,
Mazins