The Gophers of Summer


EVENT: The Gophers of Summer
DATE: July 1, 2006
PLACE: Osthimer House, Shoreland Park, Josh's House, & Ahmeds
Once again the gophers gathered for the fourth annual summer meeting. We began at Jeff and Erin's house before venturing out for ice cream at a nearby establishment. This led to seeking out a park to run off some excess energy and also working up a sweat so we could go swimming. This was done at Josh's house, but some people didn't want to partake.

We all went out to dinner at Ahmed's, which was ever so tasty not to mention fancier than the standard Big Boy fare. After our fine meal, we returned to the Osthimer pad and invariably found ourselves on the trampolines. That's where the trouble began and none of us will probably be able to run for political office once these photos get out.

In the end, this was a very good gathering. The turnout was good and the activities fun. Everybody seemed to have a good time, so I'll consider that a big mission accomplished.

Attending Gophers: Jeff & Erin Osthimer, Josh Gulch, Marie Jarden, Charles Meyer, Katy Murray, Sean Murray, Paul Arquette, Jon Smith, Devin Collins, Kellie Seiler, and Chris Berry.
It could be a cat for all I care People began showing up at Jeff and Erin's house around two. Here is Paul, Sean, Katy and Erin probably looking at a dog. At least, I hope that's what they're looking at.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Because hey, back doors are meant to be closed Erin yells at Jeff about shutting the back door. The drama is evident.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Plus his trademark shirt And here's Jeff and the back door in question!

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Paul must destroy them all is what he must do Paul sees a world of pain and fear, and he feels all of this at once, bombarding his sensories night and day. But Paul is strong, and he knows what he must do.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
The dude came from Columbus for this duty Jon is here to ensure that the ladies do something inappropriate. That is his solemn goal.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
And how to make a hypergathering Sean, on the other hand, is here to understand how the entire gathering relates to pi.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Phil only has one expression when viewed in profile Almost from the start an argument ensues. Katy is trapped in the middle but seems to be holding her ground. They are probably discussing Magic.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Phil is out to put right what once went wrong Charles made Josh a sign. It is the coolest sign ever.

Unfortunately he can't find his way home.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Phil comes from circumstances We went out for ice cream! Phil skipped work to be here today. Luckily, the pizza place behind him is hiring!

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
A handful of South Dakota state quarters Spare change is meaningless to Jon, something that Paul realized only too late.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Icees for the sullied masses The people ate their ice cream. The nation rejoiced.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
There is too much adventure in the world to sit on your bum all day Sean never remains in the same place for long, for he is a man always on the move.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
No manners is what we have 'ere Josh, being the rude little person that he is, stole from Marie's root beer float.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
That's what she said To the playground we went! As usual, Jeff was the first to scale the equipment.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
But she does not hold a playground license Marie took command of the playground, sailing to adventures new. Navigator Phil keeps an eagle eye on the horizon.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Jeff is a rebel Fire poles are for going down. Not for Jeff. Jeff is different.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
He was raised by forest elves As we did two years ago, we climbed out onto the fallen tree. All that time Jeff spent in the jungle paid off here.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
It's like a cult that sacrifices dolphins to a greater being Sean and Phil follow onto the tree. They did not know what they were getting themselves into.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
If we had helmets then it would have worked This was supposed to be like in "The Right Stuff," when the astronauts dramatically walk out, helmets in hand. I don't think they saw that one.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
His hair is kind of like a helmet though Devin missed all the goings on at the park because he is a turd.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Meanwhile, Sean practices for the big competition in Saskatchewan This was a ridiculous idea that got out of hand, involving two people using the overhead glider at the same time.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
VIDEO FILE - Click to view Here's the whole sorry affair in action.

VIDEO FILE

Click to view
Running time: 19 seconds
File size: 5.10 Mb

Video Credit Josh Gulch
VIDEO FILE - Click to view Josh made a video about going down the slide. It's kind of lame.

VIDEO FILE

Click to view
Running time: 8 seconds
File size: 1.75 Mb

Video Credit Josh Gulch
It was a sad and sorry sight The war had a devastating effect, leaving Sean crawling helplessly to salvation, only to be turned back upon his arrival.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Along with inappropriately placed apostrophies Ahmed's menu used the Gopher Gathering font for its drink headers.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
It's like fate just walked up and sucker punched him Devin, as usual, is caught totally off guard by life.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
I think these pants got eaten in the end This is a pair of pants that Charles made out of pita bread.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Time to trash the living room again Devil's Tower, sculpted out of butter. This means something.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
It may have something to do with the message on her shirt Here's Marie looking pretty sure of herself for some reason.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Normally they save this for private times Jeff and Erin have a ... peculiar relationship to say the least.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
This is a photo you normally see in *other people's* albums Devin remains positively astounded by the world around him. Kellie meanwhile only sees half of that world.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Because they just disappeared and even David Duchovney couldn't find them Jon and Paul at one end of the table being antisocial during dinner. This was the last anybody saw of them tonight.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
He could have probably sold it for big bucks, too Phil spent the longest time carefully sculpting a mailbox out of butter, complete with tiny envelopes and a flag.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
I cannot tell you why the pig is greedy Following dinner it was back to the Osthimer's house where Sean and Phil played with the greedy pig.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Nor would you, for that matter Sean is not necessarily pleased to have the greedy pig sit atop his head!

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
It's the galactic equivalant of a headache, knowing that trouble is on its way Having both Murrays in one place at the same time causes this one pulsar out in the galaxy to just blink like mad.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
The world should not have known this happened I don't know what Charles is doing in this picture. Stalking Loki?

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
It means she wants to get your goat Marie is often one to go out looking for trouble. She is an instigator.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Don't wear black to Jeff&Erin's Charles tries in vain to wipe away the remnants of Loki from his clothes.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
This is Jeff's Circle of Solitude Jeff was the first to head outside and take refuge on the trampoline. The others would soon follow.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Everybody Spoons is like Everybody Poops but you shouldn't poop while spooning Things on the trampoline got ... a little weird, I suppose. Weird in the sense that everybody spooned.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Berry has no motivation Well it's about time that turd Berry finally showed up. After all, it was nearly eleven!

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
I wish this was the first time that was said about Berry Berry wastes no time jumping onto the end of the spoon train.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
We should have all bounced right then Jeff crawled under the great weight of everybody to intimidate from below. He's not so vicious from this angle.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
He's going to read this and then slap his forehead Can you believe that Berry got up from spooning Erin to take a call? The boy needs to get his priorities straight.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
She did not gouge her own eyes out so it couldn't have been that bad Katy takes her glasses off to gaze upon the world with new eyes. Or maybe she prefers to not clearly see the madness around her.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
What is your malfunction? Is it the chip I implanted in your brain last night? Even though we're indoors again and he has some Mountain Dew, Berry still isn't happy.

(Bonus graphic)

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
The Slovenians need a symbol Katy is revered as a heroine in her native Slovenia.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Sean cares like that Sean knows the exact instant when the universe as we know it will end, but he's keeping it a secret so that we all don't go crazy.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
That was the best plan we could come up with In an effort to cheer Berry up, Erin and Josh humiliated him by giving him hickeys on his back.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Berry was not suited to the Vice Presidency Berry would later proclaim in a huff that "I am not your plaything!" Erin and Josh replied in unison, "Plaything?"

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
More on a subatomic level Again with Sean! He's the staple that held this entire gathering together. In his own way, of course.

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
Berry might not have gotten the hat back, though Berry finally cheered up a little when Erin took his hat, so it all paid off in the end! Berry was happy, everybody seemed to have a fine time, and the gathering was a splendid success!

Picture Credit: Josh Gulch
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Engaged July 2, 2006 | Updated November 4, 2006