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!

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!