I'M A WINNER

I just got done with the 1st Annual South APT HWY 51 North Minocqua, WI Awards Night! 

I may have officially reached my breaking point tonight.  I'm too social (and creative) to live on my own.  Starting December 13th, 2011 I moved away from my family and friends.  I've been in a small apartment in Northern Wisconsin.  I relocated to take on a massive challenge of raising a restaurant from the ashes like the mighty phoenix!  So far, professionally I have been successful.  The store is doing quite well although I feel like I've barely scratched the surface.

Socially, I've met some very nice people here.  Jeff & Julie have been fantastic people!  They've introduced me to people and given me insight into the area.  Others have been either coworkers or people in the community.  Mostly just acquintences really. 

I've been fortunate enough to feel how much people "back home" have apprecited me.  Whether it was missing my volunteer work, my fundraising ability or my friendship.  I really appreciate my friends that are back in Minnesota.  There's so much of a connection to where I've come from.  The people that are there and the people that have moved on.  I really hope that someday I can feel the same way about Minocqua.

I think the Blackduck/Tenstrike/Bemidji area is so special.  Being there you might not notice it, but looking from the outside I can see the community and connections.  I'm so proud that I came from a truly small town.

Thank you to my friends and family back in Northern Minnesota.  You helped me become who I am.  I'll always use you as the measure that I compare every other place I live.  This weekend my family moves to Minocqua.  It's been over 2 months since we've been together full time.  I was already feverishly in love with my wife and my son is my best friend.  It's been difficult to be away from them but, wow, absence does make the heart grow fonder!

So tonight in the absence of my family and friends I held an awards ceremony in my lonesome apartment!  It was called "The Scottie's."  I am proud to say that among the several paper mache people that I've created and placed around the apartment, I was the winner of 7 out of 10 awards tonight!  Being very modest in nature I won't tell you what I won, rather what I did not win.  I did not win 'People's Choice,' 'Most Unique Way to Make Toast Without a Toaster,' and 'Best On Screen Couple.'  I was thrilled to win 'Best Song,' and 'Best Special Effects in a Musical.'

So, I miss my family and friends (and contact with the outside world).  But I have managed to entertain myself.  Oh, and something about appreciating people and where you come from.  (sorry my acceptence speach ran long)  GOODNIGHT!

and now, in no particular order, a list of people back home i wish to send a special thanks to:  Justin 'Gus' Gustafson, Chance 'Horse Meat' Adams, Heather Forseen, Cara 'Carol' Townsend, The Bemidji State Beavers Hockey Team, KAXE, The Hoover Family, My Wife aka. My Bride, Tim Grace & family, The Skyberg Family (i think about you daily), Pour Willies (No Pissy Attitudes), The Baggenstoss Clan, Babe City Rollers, Stacy Swedberg and her 7 children, The Moen Family (Kylie's my favorite, don't tell), Kaleb Lienbach, The Pond, North Twin Lake, Papa Murphy's Take N' Bake of Bemidji, The Gustafson Family, Blackduck Class of 95 - 2000, Kendall Merrill, Cedar Rapids Lodge, Erin Bertrand and the Twins (even the gay one), Video Express, Carmen Kotula, People I attended BSU with (fm90 4-life), The Merrills of Hines and I-Falls, and special thanks to those of you that moved on from the area - spread the Northwoods ALL OVER!  *if i forgot you then that means i'm mean spirited and hateful or i just forgot.  : )  SKOL Vikes!