FUN TIMES AT ZOO-DE-MACK

A big thanks to Muma for bringing the toys. We all had fun in the hot tub with those guys. Those must come back next year. I'm happy to say that I wasn't running in the halls wrapped in a bed spread this year...some are probably disappointed they didn't get to see that...maybe next year. ;-)

Anonymous (although we know who this is...)

2007

Hey John,
I just wanted to say thanks for planning such a great trip. I reallyenjoyed it and I am definitely going again next year (and every year)! Please keep my in mind for future events. I hope you have a great Holiday weekend.

Maggie

I forgot to thank you for the trip - it was more fun this year! AND Matt isbummed he did not go and is in for next year. Erin raved about it toeveryone here and can't wait for next year.

Stacey

Hey John,
Just wanted to say thanks for organizing the Zoo weekend. I had a great time, and I can't wait until next year! I hope all is well!

Erin

John,
Thanks so much for inviting us to the zoo-de Mac!!!! We had such a great ime. I'm walking a little funny, but it was all worth it! Next year, I'm sure I will be bringing a lot more people. Thanks again!!!!!!!

Kathy F.

Thanks for breaking in this newbie. You were all gentle yet my butt still aches today! I guess I should've rode with a toaster in my diaper like Stewie.

Had a fun time, and it was great to meet so many loose, er I mean new friends. I found a beach towel in my room--not to be confused with the room I actually slept in. It's got a lot of shades of pink in it so I think it's Dave's. Maybe he was using it to buff out the hickey he got from the offspring of Carly Simon/Steven Tyler. And I now have many new jokes to remember. Hey, did anyone hear them telling one of the duck trilogy jokes on the Soprano's last night? "That's a duck under your arm, not a pig...."

Jim McArdle

Hey guys -
I just wanted to thank you again for letting my crew & I join in the festivities this past weekend. We all had a great time and hopefully we'll make the cut for next year's event. You both did a great job organizing this past weekend and I tip my bike helmet to you both! Thanks again!
Mary Picot
Nelson!!! I just adore you. Thank you so much for the great job in organizing and herding the kittens! I had a blast, a BLAST I tell you. Next year, a bike that won't feel like I have 10 lbs strapped to each leg .....

Kathy O.

Thanks John! Excellent weekend indeed! As usual, I had a great time and look forward to seeing everyone this coming weekend for Bike the Drive. You were charming, offensive and overall quite the host.

Thanks again...and thanks for giving props to my @ss.

McCord

Once again Joe and John managed to completely waist one of my valuable weekends for me again..... Oh wait.......I meant I got wasted at the zoo-de-mack all weekend again!! Thanks guys I appreciate it, you do good work. You do such good work that I managed to miss my flight Sunday night. The Sea Biscuit Saloon jumped out and got me again on Sunday. Next thing I knew I was trying to catch the 2:00 ferry, then waiting for the shuttle for another hour and Walla!!! Jim spends another night in Michigan. Next year I'm staying on Sunday so I don't have to worry about that happening again. Don't all say it at once....... Brilliant!!...........It was the best trip yet. I'm looking forward to next year already.

See you all soon!!
-Jim Van Epps

Want to tell you all how much fun my friend Julie and I had partying with you guys this past weekend. You have a great group of people!!! Was a BLASTO weekend, the best in years....Chicago rocks.....giddy up and come back to Michigan soon....or maybe we need to take a road trip to Chicago!?!..Xxxooo...Janet (the tall chk) bdaway...James/Dave/Beth/Lisa...you guys are party machines.....anyone need a captain and soda?? TOO fun!

2006

I had an awesome time and can't wait until next year! Thank you John for all your organization (okay, trying to put 7 of us in a 6 person room was a glitch but bravo on everything else!). The spin the bottle suggestion is an excellent one...it certainly helped in achieving my "shack" status. I must say my only disappointment was that I didn't get to meet more of you. I had a hard time juggling the biking with the drinking with the securing of the "shack mate'....made it hard to also meet all of you!!! Everyone I did meet was tons of fun. So, I think we should have a couple parties aside from the traditional pre-party and post-party. Maybe a "halfway to zoo-de-mack" party sometime in November. Stacy and I were remarking that John knows all these great people, where are they the rest of the year???!!! We could be having great times!!

Kalee

Thanks to John & Joe for another organized ride....and this was the best year - it only took us 8 years to figure it out, but well worth it. I'd especially like to thank my cookies - Jim & Chip for holding me together...thank god I don't have to think about what would've happened to me w/o you! As for bike the drive.....whoever's room in shack in Saturday nite, will you please nudge me in time to make it to Buckingham fountain? Thanks - that'd be great!

Bonar (Original Shack Member)

2005

I'd like to thank everyone for a fantastic and hilarious weekend. This was my fifth Zoo ride and I'd have to say the most fun, even with the hot tub fiasco...Joe and I look forward to planning next years ride, and hope that you'll will join us again with more of your friends and some of the other veterans who didn't make this years trip. I've heard from so many of you what a great group of people we had and I'd have to agree. With that said, we'll even give you the chance to complain about anything, as Joe and I would like any feedback on how we can improve things for next year (other than hot tub at the Chippewa actually working, make the drive to and from Michigan shorter, too much beer, and the tee shirts being too hot! :-), so please let us know.As far as pictures, they'll be posted on the website for Team Shack to follow. Thanks again for such a memorable and fun filled weekend.

John Nelson

Joe and John,
Bob and I want to thank you for a great time. I would thank you for the weather but I'm not sure you had much to do with that, however it was fantastic and I'd like to order it up for next year. John I hope your "Shitty, Shitty, Shitty" shirt doesn't give us bad luck... haha

It was also great to spend time with all the new people. Everyone was so nice, friendly (No Bob I'm not talking about Chip) and fun. Looking forward to next year. Hope to see you all at other rides throughout the year.

Take care,
Bob & Nancy

For next year, we could look into a cool form of transportation from Chicago, like a
bus with a bathroom, bar, and TV's that we could run 7 hours of continuous porn.
This person will remain anonymous...Mr. Silver

So much love! It was great meeting all or most of you. Thanks for the laughs, a sore @** and a memorable experience. Somebody definitely needs to take charge of photos and someone should also catalog the plethora of one liners.....hilarious!
Hopefully I'll see some of you this Sunday for Bike the Drive?

All the best,
Jennifer McCord

Great time. I wouldn't change a thing. Thanks to John, I now add the word "f-ck" to the end of every sentence. Thanks again and I look forward to riding this summer with anyone who's up for it.
Corey Z.

Agreed, it was a great time and thanks guys for planning a great trip. I have decided not to do it nexy year for two reasons, the lousy weather and not enough beer.

Dave

My bike helmet is off to John and Joe - you make super Julie McCoy's, although a little less blonde and curvy. I had a blast, more fun than my first trip - mostly because this time John managed to hook up with someone that I wasn't sharing a room with, so I had my own bed to sleep in!! Can't wait until next year. Hope to see you all at Bike the Drive and hopefully some spontaneous bike rides over the summer..

Hope to see you all next year!!
Lisa Tharpe.

John and Joe, You guys suck!! I don't know why all of you are throwing around compliment and Thanks you's for those two! This week BLEW!! I don't want to see you two for at least a month while I hang my liver on a clothes line so it can dry out. That goes for you too Chip!! I don't think I went to bed before 5am any of the three nights!! Ohh, that's right, I'm the idiot that slightly over estimated the beer count by about 100 and some odd cans! I'm sure house keeping was acting a little goofy Sunday afternoon when they were done cleaning out room 404.

I have to say this weekend was better than last years even though I didn't get to ride and there was no hot tub. It was great to see those of you from th previous year and meeting all of the newbies. You are all great people and you make me miss Chicago more than I already do. (John, Joe, and Chip, you don't make me miss it at all though! I never have any fun when I am around you guys. Like I said, you guys suck!!)

Please let me know whenever there may be a gathering over the summer and hopefully it fits into my school schedule and I'll jump on a flight. Wish you all the best and hopefully I'll see you a couple times between now and October.

Jim Van Epps

Well since the the roll of smart ass replier has already been taken (played in email by Jim "I like to play hide and seek behind the comforter" Van Epps), allow me to add the kudos to John and Joe. As the original Julie McCoy for Zoo, I firmly believe you two look much better with a clipboard on the promenade deck than I ever did...and, wow, way to use the 'flair'! As for me, I much prefer my current role as Isaac the bartender.

See you this weekend at Bike the Drive and then later on at Toon's Crawfish Boil. My liver will not have recovered, but we'll see how I can rally for the bike ride on something more than 2.5 hours of sleep and fully carb-loaded on Miller Lite.

Cheers, Mooooooooma

Best weekend I have had in a long time - great meeting and partying with the group. John/Jim, thanks for all the organization. I called my mom when I got home and told her that from now on my new name is "Mother F**ker!!!" - she was thrilled. Also, I am going to the store tonight to buy a rose petal bed sheet for next year's ferry over to the island thanks to Barb and Jason.

I'd like to organize a riding group and do a couple of more rides this summer - Hope to see you soon

Rich Boogaloo