For starters, 2006 brought Jim Laasch back to St. Germain in near perfect shape.  His recovery is truly a miracle, one which we all prayed for.  He was in rare form both back on the links and at the lodge playing liar's dice.  Witnesses even saw him don his swim trunks and sit in the lake.  Way to go, Jim!  

2006 also brought Mike the bartender back to Jackson's.  We were all very glad to see him and the progress he is making in his recovery.  Some of us so glad that we were reluctant to leave him and go back to our cottages at a reasonable hour.  Mike hung in there as best he could and we appreciate his patience with our rowdy group.  Buffy, on the other hand, did finally run out of patience late in the week when the "F-bomb" was dropped outside her bedroom window at four in the morning by several early morning revelers who were trying to stumble back to their cottage.  We certainly don't blame Buffy one bit and promise to do much better next year.

2006 also brought a near repeat of the perfect weather we enjoyed in 2005.  With the exception of one day, it was hot, hot, hot!  Thanks to the Berschbach's and their water balloon launcher, the raft people and the shallow dwellers had a swell time lobbing water filled orbs back and forth at each other.  There were more near misses than direct hits, but a good time was had by all... even those of us sitting on the ledge in the shade watching the battle from afar.  

We have two special mentions this year:  

    Kyle Berry got up on two skis on his very first try.  Although his ride was brief, he showed very good form and agility.  Kyle really showed great courage, given that he was forced to ski in the boat's wake due to an accidentally shortened tow rope.  Way to go, Kyle!

    Sam Fosbinder swam from the raft to shore without his life jacket on.  This was also "first" for Sam and we all cheered when he stood up in the shallows and shouted "I did it!"

If we had a "Good Sport" award, it would have to go to Matt Baier who showed up with a cast from his shoulder to his finger tips.  This severely limited Matt... no fishing, no swimming, no nothin!  Never once did we hear him complain.  We should all be more like Matt... especially you, Rob.  At least Matt showed up!

So, on to the awards.  Mary returned to grace the boathouse roof in fine shape.  Again, she brought us beautiful weather and no close calls in the water.  We wish we could say the same for the dice.  They certainly did not return in the pristine shape they were received last year.  In fact, one would be hard pressed to even attempt to hang them from their rear view mirror given their current state.  One can only wonder where they've been and what happened to them during the past year.  Bean, is there anything you want to share with the group?

Speaking of Bean, once again she had the most award-winning mentions.  Therefore, we will start with her.  Other nominees are mentioned in no particular order.

Bean Durante:  For being unable to stand on her own two feet most of the time thereby suffering the most bruises of anyone in camp.  (Given that she is maid-of-honor in a wedding on July 29th, one would think she would have been more careful!)  For pulling the handle off the lodge screen door... who knew she had such strength?  For falling asleep on the lodge bar and then falling off her bar stool on to her butt when she was checked for life.  Again, with the falling!

John Durante:  For getting so hammered that he allowed the J-Force to paint his face, back and arms.  We've all seen the pictures... it wasn't pretty!  One of these years, somebody will grab a permanent marker by mistake and Johnny's going to have some explaining to do back at the office.  Also, for losing his cell phone the morning after the painting incident.  Did anybody look under Kevin's car?

Brian Berry:  For feeling ganged up on and losing his sense of humor when all the other golfers gave him shit about missing golf on Friday.  Really Brian!  Five-to-one and you feel ganged up on... go figure!  For falling asleep on the pier and hoping no one would notice.  He almost fooled us until we realized that wasn't a motor boat we were hearing.

Sean Ryan:  The King of the Pukers managed to hit the bathroom sink from a seated position on the toilet.  Considering the distance, this was some feat.  

Kristy Gusse:  For also falling asleep on the lodge bar.  We are giving her and Bean both a huge benefit of doubt here... it couldn't have been the beer, right?

Kevin Berry:  For trying to dock his boat ON the peer as apposed to next to it.  Donations towards Kevin's next eye exam are much appreciated.

Dave Treleven:  For accidentally hitting the boat engine kill switch and not realizing it.  This started a chain reaction of a dropped skier, the boat having to be towed back to the dock and Dave advising those in earshot not to buy a Crownline because they don't run worth shit.  If only he had kept his mouth shut, he might have dodged his nomination.

Patsy Schroeder:  For having the best meal of her life at Scubi's... and then boring everyone in the lodge to tears by talking about it all night.  If only she could have remembered what it was she ate!  That said, who ever heard of deep-fried lobster anyway?  Patsy... go ahead and light up.  Your clogged arteries are going to get you way before those cigarettes do.

This year, the S.H.I.T. had a hard time controlling the group during the nominations.  There was such chaos that it is even possible that voter fraud occurred.  At least, that's what Dave Treleven believes.  After a flurry of voting, the winners were...

John Durante took Mary home to Tinley Park, and the dice went back to Racine with Dave Treleven.

Congratulations new S.H.I.T, John Durante and runner up Dave Treleven!!