Out of Retirement and back from Michigan

From Newark, NJ to Cleveland, OH to Flint, MI.

You know when the stewardess says, "please turn off all electronic devices or you could kill us all..." I find thats the best time to take photos out the window-

After a particularly rough take-off, another Zanax is just what i need to calm the fuck down

First arrival. Ski sleds full of food, beer and blankets. Me, Anna and John. One cabin with fireplace. 6 bunk beds. No electricity, water pump out back, and creepiest outhouse ever.

Canada is apparently out there somewhere. This is the beach. Lake Michigan was frozen as far as the eye could see, but doesn't freeze completely due to immense size. It looked like a giant frozen ocean.

Its good luck to make snow angels at midnight...

We found a puzzle called "Puppy Tears" in the cabin and just had to put it together. Even though it was clearly missing 4 pieces, it still melts your heart...

Relaxing during a cross country skiing excursion.

On the lake. The best way i can describe it would be to imagine an ocean at low tide. Between where the breakers would be there is just a vast snowfield, even though the waves are actually frozen behind and in front of you. On the horizon, you can barely see the lighthouse.

Standing on frozen waves. Lighthouse in background.

The waves froze into a sort of igloo that was large enough to crawl inside and sit upright. Below, one ice sheet is subducting under the one I am on. I was afraid to venture beyond here because Im clearly already a few hundred yards onto the open water at this point. The ice appears to be inches thick, and the waves are frozen four feet high in places, but standing on the edge of this crack I could see and feel the ice rise and fall as waves passed underneath me. Invigorating to say the least...

I am fucking terrible at rummy...

Packing up the sleds to hike back to the car after 3 peaceful days. Its a good half hour trek humping all this stuff in and out. I only saw two other people the whole time we were out here...