Luggage Has Arrived!

I created a Facebook page for the January 12 - 15, 2013 Marlboro Chill Off the Grid Winners - and have been reading, with plenty of excitement, about other travelers receiving their luggage.  

Despite my characteristic desire to be surprised with gifts and things, as soon as I found out about the trip, I started googling what "gifts" I would be receiving, so I knew it was VERY likely that we would get luggage.  The mystery, of course, was what that luggage would look like!

I was really surprised when the box arrived today at work, because the woman I spoke to at Marlboro had said it would be sent to my house.  It appears that our box has been through some times; it received a second set of tape at some point between Southaven, MS and here.  Don't tell my sister, but she's getting the bag that has a couple of little mud splotches on it.

When the box arrived, I was PRETTY sure it was the luggage, even though, as I said, I wasn't expecting it to come to me at work.  Because I win a lot of things (see my Incredibly Lucky 2012), I wasn't 100%.

Here is what arrived:

I'm impressed with my restraint - taking a picture before opening it!!

Inside the box was our luggage - two rolling "Vertex" Duffels, and two baseball caps.  

Sadly, I generally do NOT look very nice in hats, but, am totally excited about wearing this one when we're at the airport (specifically our Chicago to Bozeman flight, which will have a number of other travelers on it!!).

Here I am, rocking my hat (which, thankfully doesn't scream Marlboro - which would be okay, but not as classy looking):

Yes - that is a paisley shirt - that's how I roll

I'm not sure if I'll have time to blog anymore about my pre-trip excitement before it's actually Trip time!!!  We leave at 5:39 am on Saturday, and then arrive in Bozeman a little after 2:00 pm.  I can PROMISE that I will post PLENTY of pictures when I return!

To read all posts related to this win - go to my Marlboro Ranch Page!

Ticket Time!

I have been neglectful of the world wide everyone with my Marlboro Ranch Trip updates!!!

Back on Wednesday, January 2nd, I received our Airline tickets, in addition to information on what we need to bring, a $25 Visa card for myself, and for my sister, for us to check our luggage (which you can read all about in my next post).

Our Information was in these cool little folders

The letter was filled with great info on what to bring, as well as contact info for the ranch.  In the ticket folders are little handouts for folks back home - emergency contact info for us at the Ranch.

The most FUN thing (yes, I know, the plane tickets are super fun, and definitely added an element of reality to this dreamlike vacation) was the "Activity Confirmation." If you read my post "Paperwork II: The Fun Stuff" then you saw the form we got to fill out rating our preference for different activity choices.  The Activity Confirmation has our schedule of activities for days 2 & 3 of our trip!  Check it out!

I used my incredible office skills to remove our last names

I'm beyond thrilled at the Zip Line Adventure, and the Dog Sledding.  I am really interested in the Archery Adventure, and I'm actually kind of glad we got wait listed for the snowmobile; I was nervous that the posture you maintain on a snowmobile might not be beneficial for someone who had spinal surgery less than six months ago.  

All in all - this is, as usual, a total win!! 

Luggage arrived today, but I decided to make that a separate post!

To read all posts related to this win - go to my Marlboro Ranch Page!

Paperwork II - The Fun Stuff

Did you hear that?

I suspect folks all across the nation heard the squeal that I just let out!  It's wild, I just got the confirmation phone call, with my dates, and the FedEx guy delivered the second set of paperwork this morning!!!

This is the fun stuff - we get to give our sizes for hat/clothing (they provided a handy-dandy hat sizer, as I suspect I'm not the only person who has never thought about her hat size beyond infant-youth-adult. I'm not, am I?), and pick out our activities!!!

I'm going to scan all the paperwork that came, but thought I could give you a summary!

We get to rate our interest level in different activities:

• Archery Adventure - My one experience with this proved to me that I'm no Katniss
• Zipline Adventure - I have ALWAYS wanted to do this - and no flesh eating bacteria is going to dissuade me.
• Dogsledding - Even though I lived in Alaska for a winter, I've never even met a single sled dog!
• Snowmobile Intro & Trail Ride - I REALLY want to do this!  It's pretty crazy that I've lived in Maine for the vast majority of my life and have never been on a snowmobile.  My only concern with this is whether or not it's a good idea with my back (I had back surgery in July of this year - Laminectomy and Microdiscectomy in case you're wondering.  I feel FANTASTIC now, but am terrified of injuring my back again)

We provide our sizes for the following items:

• Boot Size (option of Men's and Women's sizes)
• Glove Size - this is unisex sizing - I think I might need to go try on gloves at LLBean or something to figure that out.
• Hat Size - as I mentioned, they included a hat sizer, but I think I'll need my sister's help using it, as my eyes are not on stalks like a snail.
• Jacket Size - I wish I knew what brand it is - I might try LLBean on this as well
• Thermal Undergarment Sizing - (aka Long Johns) - this is unisex, which I need to keep in mind, as I am not a very tall person.

We get to specify if we want to share a bed, or have two beds (and while I do love my sister a lot, I don't love her in a creepy way that would make me want to share a bed with her).

We specify our tobacco preference.  As I said before, I'm not a regular smoker anymore, it's just when I'm "out" or at a party or something.  The equation works like this: Jessy + Alcohol = Jessy + Cigarettes.  It's not a complicated equation.

The fantastic folks at Marlboro also provided a schedule of when everything else will happen, keep in mind that the trip is January 12 - 15, I'm sure these dates are specific to our trip date, but if you're going on the trip, you can probably math it out:

• Around December 3rd, I will get a call confirming my mailing address. I have until December 10 to change my travel companion (I guess that means Conni had better be on her best behavior!)
• Around December 31, I will receive the airline tickets, and a check for $600 (this should cover the taxes I will need to pay on the trip in 2014)
• From January 1 - January 11th - I will be consumed with my upcoming trip, and will have trouble eating/sleeping/etc.  

Tonight I'm meeting with Conni to do our hat sizing and paperwork.  I won't have access to a fax machine until Tuesday because of Veteran's Day on Monday, but will fax the info Monday morning!

I am over the moon excited.  I scanned in all of the paperwork I received - read on!

Descriptions of the activities & the Hat Sizers!

The Official Letter

Rating Activities

Size and Preferences

To read all posts related to this win - go to my Marlboro Ranch Page!

It's Official!!

I just got off the phone with a lovely woman at the Marlboro, and after over six weeks of waiting for the background check to go through - we are officially scheduled to go to the Crazy Mountain Ranch from January 12 - 15, 2013!!!!!

I am over the moon excited.  I feel a little bad because all of my election-related excitement has really faded into the background (although I must point out that my beloved home state is the FIRST state in the nation to legalize gay marriage through a popular vote - I am one proud lady!!!!).

This has been my morning:

• 2:00 am - finally turned the TV off, after Obama made his AMAZING speech, and the news coverage ended
• 2:30 am-ish - fell asleep
• 6:45 am - woke up for work
• 8:00 am - got to work 
• 8:01 am - talked with coworker about our excitement over election results
• 8:30 am - made car and hotel reservations for "Prospective Students Weekend" at the high school my daughter is hoping to attend (check it out - it's pretty amazing: The Maine School of Science and Mathematics)
• 10:39 am - got the phone call from Janet at the Marlboro Travel office, congratulating me on being an official winner, and telling me that the earliest date available would be January 12 - 15th (this was really exciting, because when I called last week to check on the status of our paperwork, they told me that it would probably be mid-February at the earliest)
• 10:43 am - sent the first of roughly 8,000 texts to Conni (my travel companion, and big sister) asking her if those dates work - I have plenty of flexibility at work, so it's not an issue for me, however, she had to have her days off for 2013 submitted by last Friday
• 11:02 am - Conni replied "Yes!"
• 11:03 am - I call back, and tell Janet we're good for those dates!!

As you can see, it's been one busy morning!!!  According to Janet, we should be receiving the "fun" paperwork in a week to ten days - this will have our gear and activity forms.  She suggested we fill it out as fast as possible, as activities are assigned on a first come, first serve basis, luckily, there's a faxing option!!!  After that, she'll be contacting me in early December to finalize all of the travel arrangements!!

I am over the moon with excitement right now.  There's one tiny bummer - my nephew Aaron (who is completely and totally cool and awesome) is turning 18 while we'll be in Montana, and Conni is freaking out a bit over missing his birthday.  I think that just means we have to throw him the swankiest birthday party ever when we get back.  

I promise I will update the blog with any news I hear, and as soon as the paperwork comes in!!!

Read more about my Marlboro Ranch Adventures

Marlboro Chill Off the Grid 2012 - 2013 - Official Rules

I found it entirely frustrating that I had to be logged into the Marlboro website to see the rules, and then only scrolling through a teeny, tiny box, so I was overjoyed to receive a printed copy with the packet of paperwork!

I decided that it might make someone else's life easier to have them all posted here.  While I am not nearly kind enough to have transcribed the entire six pages, I did scan them as image files for you!!

To see the rest of my information about my adventure, go to my Marlboro Ranch - Chill Off the Grid Page!

Marlboro Ranch - Chill Off the Grid

I think it would make life easier if everything was in one place!  Here are my posts about my upcoming Marlboro Ranch Trip *New Info* Trip Dates: January 12 - 15, 2013

• Finding Out I won the Trip!
• Yup, I'm impatient - some great links about past trips
• Best Letter Ever - the paperwork came! See the letter that arrived with all of my official forms.
• Official Rules - I scanned the six pages of rules
• It's Official!!! - I'm a confirmed winner, background checks are done, and the trip has been scheduled!
• Paperwork II: The Fun Stuff - The set of paperwork with activity requests, sizes for clothing/gear, a schedule for when we'll receive more info :)
• Ticket Time! - Plane Tickets and Activity Confirmation
• Luggage Has Arrived - Received our luggage, and baseball caps! Only two days to go!

Best. Letter. Ever!!!!

I am way beyond excited right now - my packet of paperwork arrived from FedEx this morning for my Marlboro trip!!!  I plan to scan it all so I can keep a decent record of everything here, but as I'm at work, I need to keep this short and tidy.

I did take the time to scan in my letter!!!  Read it and weep (with jealousy - or with shared enjoyment if you're going too!).

To read all posts related to this win - go to my Marlboro Ranch Page!

Marlboro Ranch - Chill off the Grid

If you're a regular reader, you most likely saw my post last week about discovering that I won a trip to the Marlboro Ranch for this coming spring.  I've spent a RIDICULOUS amount of time looking up blogs from folks who have gone on these trips in the past, and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my packet of forms from Marlboro.

Because I'm a bit of a nervous nelly, I have now called twice.  The first time was to give my work address to have the forms delivered; that was last Monday (I received the notification on Saturday), and they hadn't gotten my name in the office yet.  I called again this Monday (yesterday) to verify that they had the correct address, and received a message back that the forms have been FedExed and should arrive by the middle of this week.

In the words of a gal headed out west "YEEEEEE-HAW!!!!"

My sister, Conni, and I have been texting like crazy about our plans for the four days and three nights of awesomeness.  While I used to be a verifiable chain smokin' mama, I now just smoke if there's alcohol involved - which means that I will most likely be chain smoking the whole time we're in Montana, as there's an open bar.

If you're interested in learning more about the trip (including, like me, desperately wanting to know what the "gifts" will be) - here are some of the best sites I've found from people who have already been on the trip!

I PROMISE I'll be doing regular updates about this, as I am SUPER DUPER FLIPPING EXCITED!!!!

I like this one because the folks went on a winter trip, which is what we'll be doing: http://www.czarinanocon.com/web/Czarina_Nocon_MarlboroRanch/index.html

This site is great because they have detailed EVERY aspect of the trip, including the paperwork! http://thepodanys.blogspot.com/p/info-about-marlboros-crazy-mountain.html

Some super cool person out there made a facebook page for the trip!!!  https://www.facebook.com/MarlboroRanchJanMarch2013

To read all posts related to this win - go to my Marlboro Ranch Page!

Marlboro Ranch Trip Winner!

Congratulations to me!!!!  I received notification this weekend that I am a winner in the Marlboro Chill off the Grid contest - my prize?  A trip for two to the Marlboro Ranch in Montana, in January, February, or March of 2013.

Wowzer!!!!!!!!

I discovered this while checking my email a little after midnight, and FREAKED out!  When I clicked on the "official rules" link in the email, I was a bit confused because it lead to the rules for a different trip (they're doing one to Vegas).  I called my lovely sister Conni, and woke her up shrieking about a trip to Vegas we were taking.  I have virtually no reception inside my house, so we started texting, and soon after I made the connection that this was the trip to the Marlboro Ranch (which, in my opinion, is waaaaaaaay more awesome).

This has the looks of being an UNBELIEVABLE experience - since this is a winter trip - some of the activities we'll get to participate in are Archery, Dogsledding (much debate on whether or not the dogs are smokers has happened so far), Ziplining (always wanted to do that!), Snowmobiling, and Tubing.

I am over the moon about this win, what makes it even more amazing is that I won an incredible trip to California earlier this year - the TNT Armchair Detective Mystery Sweepstakes, we got to go to beautiful Huntington Beach, California in February, which was quite a change from a Maine February!

Obviously, a trip to Montana in the winter is just about the opposite of California, but in no way less awesome - I happen to be a GIGANTIC fan of winter - I love love love playing in the snow!  I think it would be a shame to live in a beautiful state like Maine and not embrace the snow.

Because I don't need all that much sleep, and was way overexcited, I spent a good chunk of the wee hours of Sunday  morning online reading about other folks' experiences going on these trips, and it I have to say it sounds absolutely incredible.

I called Marlboro this morning, and asked them to have the FedEx paperwork sent to me at my office, rather than at home, because I don't want to risk a big ol' delay because of me not being there during the day.

So, now you know why I'm going to be pretty darn distracted over the next few months.  I can't wait!!!!

To read all posts related to this win - go to my Marlboro Ranch Page!