Howdy Mosquitoes,
How is it going out there? It is getting close to crunch time now. The weather is warm here in Iowa and the corn is being planted just in time to show the way us across the state in a couple of months. I hope you are all out on those bikes getting in shape for the second hilliest year on record. With summer around the corner, the weekend rides are all over the place. You can find a list of the important ones on the Mosquito web page, or you can check out www.cibroc.com for the latest info on rides around Iowa. Get out there and enjoy the fun and beauty of our great state.
It is time to get the shirts ordered. We are going to get some more tie-dye shirts again this year with a little different color combo. They are going to be different shades of blue. It will be hard to beat last year, but either way we will have the best shits in the state again. As far as sponsors, I haven't heard any definites from you guys yet. We need your help to fund our binge drinking, so ask your employer or family or do it yourself. There is a lot of money out there waiting for us if we go after it. The motto this year will be: Can of pork and beans-65cents, vodka lemonade-$3, case of beer- $15, being a member of Team Mosquito-priceless. That got the most votes by far. Thanks for all of you who voted on this because we love the input here at the headquarters. We don't have a picture yet, but we still need to get the shirts ordered and made, which takes a little extra time since they are hand made. Since all of the notes are e-mailed this year, I expect you guys to respond to me by e-mail. You can pay by sending a check through the mail or you can pay via paypal (Klink sent out that info about a month ago and it is very easy to use). Either way works well. The shirt order form is attached so you can print it out if you want or you can just send back the e-mail to me. I need the shirt orders by May 31. That gives you a couple of weeks, but don't wait too long or you will probably forget that they need to be done, so send it now, and don't forget they make great birthday or Christmas gifts.
As many of you know, Eric Werner, had some interesting surgery not too long ago and is doing well. I got an e-mail from him a couple of weeks ago and it sounds like everything is going great. He is able to ride the stationary bike, and his hair is pretty much grown back. I still would like to see him with long hair. Keep up the rehab there, Eric, you will be back on RAGBRAI before you know it!
First of all, I said that the last set of notes would no longer go out to those who didn't pay their dues. Well, I know most of you well enough to know you are slackers, so get those in to me please, and also enclose the first installment of dues for $75. In order to figure out how much the whole ride will be, I will also need a head count as to who plans on riding the bus this year. Please e-mail me now and let me know if you plan on being on the bus trip to Sioux City. We are getting e-mails from all sorts of people who have some distant connection with Team Mosquito and they want to be part of it because we are sooooo cooooool! I want to know if we are going to have room for the newcomers. Thanks. Again, you can pay by sending me a check or putting money in Paypal. The address to Team Mosquito headquarters is 2970 Winston Circle, Marion, IA 52302.
That brings me to the bus. As reported last time, we were having repairs done. The place that fixed it was really nice to me and is now a sponsor. Yes, I just asked! Anyway the repair was pretty inexpensive, which worries me, but they assured me that it was fine. They also said they would store the bus during football season for us for only $30 per month. Cool, huh!
The Bud ride was a great success. My daughter got to go on her first ride, and seemed to enjoy it a lot (two words). I had to keep Jay Strief off of my wife though. If you don't know what that is about, join us for a ride sometime and we will tell the whole story of the milkman! Klink is back in action and going full steam ahead. He claims that it is time to step it up a notch for RAGBRAI this year. Whether that is possible is yet to be seen. We may have a good idea when we partake in the Mosquito ride on June 23rd. This will be held in Dysart. We will be based at my parent's house. The address there is 901 South Main. There will be activities on Friday eve also. They have a pool to swim in and a basketball court. It will be great! Bring your tents and check out the web page (calendar of events) for all the details on this ride.
Lastly, we are not sure what is going on for the pre-RAGBRAI party this year on Friday. Chris, Alexa, and I are going to be in Dallas until Sat. morning, so we need to come up with something. The bus will probably leave from Iowa City somewhere, so come up with ideas and let me know. We will be making a stop in Des Moines also to pick up some stragglers. I think that is all for now, so get your shirt orders in to me and pay me all of your money!!! Thanks and we will see you soon.
Blaine McLaughlin
The BIG BUZZ of the Mosquitoes
