Sunday, March 23, 2008

Davy Crockett would have punched you in the face for drinking Smirnoff Ice

You know how in Evil Dead (I'm posting from my work computer so italics are out of the question, but that's a movie title) a bunch of friends go to a mountain cabin in Tennessee and commence dying horrible, screaming deaths and being posessed by the titular not-so-well-intentioned presence from beyond? Yes? Well that's exactly what we did this weekend, except minus the cackling demons, copious amounts of blood, death, and unlikely heroics of a man named Ash. There also was no ancient text bound in human flesh, but we did find a copy of Lonesome Dove in paperback.

In our PG-13 version (due to language, adult themes, and brief nudity [kidding about that last one]), the heroics were provided entirely by yours truly in the Trivial Pursuit arena, a board game thrashing that only partially made up for my incredible display of ineptitude when I was unable to properly operate the oven. An EVIL oven, you ask? Nope. Just an oven, and not a particularly tricky one at that. So despite my rocking the trivia, they still think I'm an idiot. Which I clearly am.

The weekend was concieved as a way for six or eight of our most beloved friends to get together on neutral yet scenic ground and enjoy food, drink and hot tub with a little nature thrown in for redemption. Unfortunately, by "beloved friends" I mean people waiting for something else to come up so they can do that instead, so it was just the four of us having a relaxing time in the mountains and making the most of the food, drink and hot tub.

The weekend was beautiful and warm and we took a hike in the Smokies to Abrams Falls, a place where people with tucked-in shirts and white shoes like to go because it's "pretty" and "outside." They also bring their kids. No really, it's a nice walk, just a bit on the crowded side.

We stayed up past 1 a.m. both nights, a first for me since probably the last time we hung out with Chris and Meaghan, and a fact that tells you I am both old and boring. No evil spirits came out of the woods to eat our souls, nobody lost any limbs, and we put a good dent in the bottle of vodka I brought. It was a good weekend. Thanks to C and M for making the trip up from GA. Enjoy some photos.

Nice little view, ample seating, fake hanging plant: cabin must-haves.

The game piece that would conquer all, despite being forced to settle for blue rather than my traditional yellow.

Requisite driving picture: the slow crawl along the Cades Cove Loop Road.

Keep in mind it's March, there are about 50 people around wearing sweatshirts and long pants, and the water is probably 45 degrees. This guy just had to do it anyway. Twice, in fact. Dumb ass.

Cool kids like the nature. They also have an inexplicable fondness for Smirnoff Ice Wild Grape. Go figure.

21 comments:

Meaghan said...

I'll remind you of the emphasis on WILD in Wild Grape, but yeah, we're a bunch of pussies for drinking it.

Seriously, we had a great time, despite the losers who bailed out at the last minute. And you only won Trivial Pursuit because I was preoccupied with cooking a delicious meal for you! (not really, I couldn't even guess that BIS stood for Best In Show when referring to the Westminster Dog Show!)

Allie said...

Great pictures! I am so jealous of your weather. It's 28 here today and no signs that it will warm up this week.

Glad you had such a great weekend!

Mickey said...

meaghan- You're right, you guys are WILD. And I didn't get the BIS question either. That was a really good meal!

Mickey said...

allie- You snuck that comment in while I was writing the comment above. Yup, it was around 70 on Saturday, but it snowed a bit this morning. Weird.

Noelle said...

I can see why the guy dove twice, I mean, if you're already wet and cold and stupid, why not do it again?

Chris said...

Good point by Noelle. I guess if you're going to make that dive into the frigid water, you might as well do it more than once.

It was a nice walk, and beautiful falls. I wonder if those exhausted people we passed on our way back ever made it to the falls or just turned around.

Anonymous said...

I like nature...as long as I don't have to sleep outside in it.

I also, uh, well, I have a shy bladder and peeing outdoors is a problem.

Actually, peeing in a strip club is a problem for me too. I guess that makes sense.

shelleycoughlin said...

Does Smirnoff Ice taste any better out in the woods?

Mickey said...

noelle- That is an excellent point. He was just getting his money's worth.

em- Bring it, sistah.

chris- You forgot the third option: having to call in a helicopter rescue.

kiala- Having done both, I think peeing in a strip club is harder. Was that a pun? I hope not.

npw- Doubtful, but I wouldn't know.

Courtney said...

The Smirnoff wasn't so bad. It tasted like carbonated grape Kool-Aid, in an alcohol-laden way.

Stefanie said...

Man, I miss summer.

Jacob said...

Believe, I didn't bail because I found something better to do. I can't imagine that I wouldn't have enjoyed the cabin weekend more than standing for 8 hours watching small-school JV tennis.

Sid said...

Not a big fan of trivial pursuit since ... well you actually need some general knowledge to kick ass in the game. Do you Americans have 30 seconds? Love that game.

Mickey said...

courtney- Yum?

stefanie- Not around here, you wouldn't. We go for spring and fall; summer is too hot to do anything.

jacob- I believe, man. Maybe next time.

sid- Not familiar with 30 Seconds, but Trivial Pursuit rocks.

The Dutchess of Kickball said...

Looks like a fun weekend, even without the evil spirits.

Unknown said...

Nice job on the dominance of Trivial Pursuit. It's so satisfying destroying your opponents isn't it?

also, dude, really no nudity? For shame.

Mickey said...

dutchess- A little evil might have been a good thing.

surviving myself- I'll take any opportunity to assert my superiority. And the lack of nudity? I'm old and boring and I guess my friends are, too. It is shameful.

Jacob said...

Em, Mickey would beat you, but maybe not from sheer ability. He's likely to bore you into a forfeit. He's got a knack for sitting there silently for 30 minutes or more, refusing to pass on his turn, before eventually pulling the right answer out of his rectum. When you play with Mickey you tend to forget you're still playing when it's his turn.

Aaron said...

Sorry I stole your Evil Dead thunder. I think we can both reference it in our blogs on the same day without it being a faux pas. Or maybe not. I dunno.

Mickey said...

jacob- Ask Chris and Meaghan- I totally play an efficient game now!

aaron- I didn't hear any complaints, so I guess there's room for us both.

Julie said...

I shall henceforth yank the yellow pie in an effort to thwart you.