New Glarus Brewing Co.

This is the whole gang that made the trip out to the New Glarus Brewing Co. in New Glarus, Wisconsin. We visited the new Hilltop location and were really in awe. The ride up to the brewery is spectacular enough, but once you round the corner into the parking lot, it is truly heaven. The building is massive and very elegant. It has such a laid back fun feeling right off the bat.

We did the tasting and then went for the self guided tour. The new brewery is set up specifically for welcoming visitors in to see the process. You really felt welcomed and special. Everyone was so friendly and the beers were the best! The dancing man and stone soup were my favorite.


We were able to get Scott Noll out on the couch for a quick pic too! He had no idea what he was in for. He honestly thought we wanted him to TAKE the picture for us, not be the focus of it. He was such a great sport. He is also the first person to sit so close to me.....lol

If you have never been to the New Glarus Brewery, you gotta go check it out. Thanks again to everyone at the brewery and especially Scott for making the trip worth while!

Camping in Blanchardville, Wi

The Bk Boat n Sleds.com gang took the couch camping this weekend. It was loaded up with all the other gear and was hauled out to Yellowstone Lake State Park in Blanchardville, Wisconsin. There were twenty of us that made the trip out for 4 days of antics and fun.

The couch spent most of it's time around the campfire. It made the folding camping chairs look so flimsy and uninviting that the couch was rarely vacant. The group site was right at a corner location, so the couch got some real looks and attention.

We also hauled the couch down to the beach for the day. It didn't get as many looks as I though it would. Apparently, Wisconsin folks see couches at the beach all the time. Matt, on the left side of the couch in the picture below, really did a number on himself in the sun. I will set honor him with a separate blog later.

The couch did attract the attention of the Park Rangers. It was about an hour after quite time and the party was no where near stopping. The park Rangers appeared with a "Park Ranger" and the group didn't skip a beat. We all laughed a little too hard because we knew that this moment was coming and we had used the, "Park Ranger" line all weekend so far.

The deal was we could take this picture as long as we didn't have any complaints from the neighbors. That conversation was broken up by loud laughter and cheering from our neighboring campsite, so we knew that wasn't going to be a problem. The Ranger also asked if the couch was going to go to jail with me....I responded..."Can it? That would be a great picture!"

Check in for tomorrows post of the Bk group's trip to the New Glarus Brewery and the infamous Chicken Chug Competition!

Rock Solid Buliders

I experienced another first with Anna and Butch, owners of Rock Solid Builders in Mchenry. They work from their house, so I was invited to hang out in their home for a while. We had some beers while the kids watched I Carly..lol I got to see some new composite decking material too!

Rock Solid Builders specializes in, and is the largest deck builder in Mchenry that uses, Trex. It is pretty cool stuff! It looks just likes stained or painted wood....but it is almost maintenance free. Sounds perfect for lazy folks like me! The deck in the picture is the first composite deck Rock Solid built so that's pretty cool.

Oh yeah, Anna will hate that I said this, but her two year old was pretty ticked that we moved him and his Little Tikes car in order to get the couch pic. He refused to join us too...I think he was protesting lol

Anna and Butch can be contacted at 815- 363- 7133

Mchenry Chamber Maids

I stopped in to say hello to the helpful ladies at the Mchenry Area Chamber of Commerce today. They were in the middle of Fiesta Days preparation, but they took a few moments to join me on the sidewalk for a picture. Kay, Jane, Kathy, and Bonnie have been very helpful in connecting Bk Boat n Sleds with other local businesses and the community.

If you have a business in the Mchenry area or are interested in supporting businesses in the area, please visit www.MchenryChamber.com

Thanks Ladies!

The Couch Gets a Wash

After being in and out of the truck like a Hobo, the couch finally got a good scrubbing. The couch has been through a lot over the last couple weeks. In those experiences, the couch took a little more from them than expected. It has had 3 drinks spilt on it, numerous dogs on it, it sat outside one night, and shared the truck bed with firewood for one trip. The comments started coming too....

Over the last few trips, I have heard, "the couch smells like a locker room", "looking a little ragged". and "you need a plastic granny cover". I am meeting with the ladies of the Mchenry County Chamber of Commerce tomorrow, and I wanted it to smell all nice for them, so it got a good cleaning tonight.

Woolite Oxy Deep really got the job done!

First Customer from Doug's Couch

Well it is official! Matt Greenenwald is the first one to go over to "Say What? Screen Printing & Embroidery", to buy his DougsCouch.com gear. He even switched it up and got some girly pink shirts for his lady friends. Also notice his custom embroidered hat. Pretty slick Matt, thanks for the support!

I gotta get myself one of these hats!

The couch really attracts the ladies, so we need to have something special for them to sport too...

You gotta meet up with Angel so she can give you a killer deal on some custom gear.

She is at 28 N. Rt. 12, Fox Lake, IL (across from Ray Chevrolet)

Fathers Day

Well the couch made a special trip over to my parents house for Father's Day. Here is the pic of my dad and I. Cole also found a comfy spot in the middle. Maybe he heard how comfortable it was from the Camp Bow Wow hounds.... Not the first dog and probably not the last.

We had a great turn out poolside.

The couch is slowly taking on a personality of it's own. It sat poolside and caught some sun. Couple nights ago it got some lovin' at the bar. Like many people, it gets judged at first sight, but it usually makes friends quickly!

Stow-Away

It looks like I need to get a bodyguard for the couch now. I was working in the Bk Boat n Sleds shop, when I noticed Pete was missing. I needed a hand with something so I went looking for him, he is 17 so his brain wanders sometimes. I didn't take me too long to find him.

Pete gets the first solo pic on the couch. I figured if he had climbed in there, he earned it. Getting him back off of it was the bigger challenge.

First Celebrity Shot

Ladies and Gentleman, I would like to welcome you to the first Celebrity Sighting at DougsCouch.com. I feel like Perez Hilton on this one, minus the gay and the gossip....which leaves me with chubby and lonely....so never mind that comparison. Lets get back on track.

I met up with Award Winning News Director for WXLC and WKRS, Mr. Tim Vander Tuuk. Although he will deny his celebrity status, he is the biggest celeb to sit on the couch to date. I tried having him sign my boob, but that's when he walked away.....

1000 Views!

We just passed 1,000 views today! I never thought that there would be so much interest in the couch so fast. It was 2 weeks ago that I started this goofy site and 1,000+ unique visitors have seen the couch since. And don't think that we are staying local here. Yes, most hits are from Illinois, but there have been visitors from 33 other states and 13 other countries. Yes, we are global!

I do not get many emails though..... I would LOVE to hear some feedback on the site and what the couch is up to. Please talk to me!! lol I want to hear how you found us, where your from and what ya think!

Thanks to everyone that has visited and has made this such a fun site! Please pass a long the link to your office, family, friends, and strangers! I have stickers too that I am more than happy to send you if you get me an address to send them to.

Thanks everyone,
Doug

Moe-B-Dicks North Shore Pub

So the couch is spending more and more time in the truck as it travels around. I am too lazy to take it in and out in between visits. That means it gets a lot of face time when on the road. My buddy Jeremy and I have started hitting a local neighborhood bar called Moe-B-Dick's in Crystal Lake and, this time, the couch was in the truck.

As soon as we pulled up, I was asked about the couch. I told the story and hit the bar. About an hour later, Katie (girl on the right in the first picture) went out the the truck and went to the website via her phone to see what the deal was. That's about the time I got pointed out as the "Couch Guy".

They told me to bring it around back so I did!

If you have not noticed yet, this is the first time I am not sitting in my side of the couch. If the ladies say, "Sit in the Middle", you sit in the middle.

So far this is the second time that we have gotten 4 people on the couch. The last time might have been 3 1/2 with Matt, Myself, Joe, and his little girl....but technically it was 4. That seems to be the number to beat.

I love the people over at Moe-B-Dicks. It is a great crowd and a great bar! I can't wait to go back... I wonder if I have to bring the couch EVERY time now....

Amanda Hein Photography

Met up with Amanda Hein (my little sister) on Monday this week. She is a photographer and is booked solid on the summer weekends so she called a Monday boating day on the corporate cruiser. You don't need to twist my arm too far to take the day off for a boat ride, that's for sure. She came to the couch, but I still have to try and get the couch into her downtown studio.

Amanda Hein has had her picture featured in numerous magazines and is a respected photographer in the Chicagoland Area. If you have an event that you would like to remember for ever, call Amanda at 312-480-9949.

Say What?

Say WHAT?

I met up with new site sponsor "Say What?" Screen Printing and Embroidery in Fox Lake, IL. Angel and her son are a blast to be around. This was my first time meeting Angel and she makes you feel like her best friend when your in her shop. I met some of her customers/friends and ropped one into taking this shot. That is route 12 in the background!

Angel is also the sole provider of DougsCouch.com T shirts! I was a little early when I met her so I got to see the first shirts being made.

Here is the final product. The first 10 sponsors lucked out and went down in history with their names on the back of these shirts.

Angel is really helping spread the name of the site and offering these shirts CHEAP! Just stop in and say hello and get one of these shirts for $7. Call here at 847-973-9511 or stop into her Fox Lake location located at 28 N rt 12, Fox Lake.

Rustic Harbor in Mchenry

As many of you know, I am a boater. So when I am not working, toting the couch around, or hanging at home, I am out at Rustic Harbor. This past weekend I was able to snag a pic with the owner, Joe Kijak III (far left). Also in the picture is Mobile Mechanic, and good friend, Matt Greenenwald (center).

There is always something going on at Rustic Harbor so you will be seeing a lot more of the couch there.

RaveWaves Detailing in Fox Lake, IL

I stopped in at RaveWaves boat detail, a sponsor of the site, and met Trey and Helene. I met, owner, Brandon Schwab when they were over in the Lakemoor location and have had them detail one of my boats. They have a very cool shop now over at 716 E Grand ave in Fox Lake.

Trey and Helene were both in the pic so we went with the timer shot. As ussual, something random happens. This time, we had a car come through the lot and we were left with this....

Then I forgot to set the timer and caught this one...

Then we got it right.

Trey and Helene were also the first ones to STAND on the couch. I don't tell people how to get on the couch. I let them express themselves on the couch...lol The couch is pretty deep like that. RaveWaves can handle any size vehicle in any condition. They can be reached at 888-575-5556

Camp Bow Wow in Mchenry

The couch made the short trip down rt 120 to Camp Bow Wow in Mchenry. Owners Kari and Jason went all out for the arrival of the couch. They had the website plastered on their blog, they sent out a newsletter to their mailing list and even had fliers at the camp office! The group of dogs that were there for the photo shoot were quite a mix. They say working with animals is tough and I got to experience that first hand. There was so much going on, we didn't know what to shoot!


This big guy sat on my lap for most of the shoot. I remember Kari saying something along the lines of, "Let this one come to you and warm up to ya first." Next thing I know a 100 lbs Rott is sitting in my lap. There was also a little white dog that hid behind the couch the whole time.


We spent about an hour messing around with the poochies and taking video and pictures. This was by far the funnest photo shoot! It was such a random experience. If your dog needs a break from you or needs some bonding with other dogs, call Kari at 815-385-PAWS (7297).

Northwest Performance

I visited another sponsor today. Northwest Performance in Lakemoor, Il is owned and operated by Ian Roesner. It was obvious where we were going to put the couch in this photo shoot. It was certainly the first time that something like this was raised on the lift. It was an odd sight to see the couch slowly raise while you heard the clunk of the saftey catch on the lift. Here are a couple "behind the scenes" pictures at N.W.P.

Now that the couch has been in the presence of supped up Civics and tuned imports, I think it is ready to hit the road again. As I pulled it out of Northwest Performance, it seemed to scrape across the floor faster...I think it gained some Horsepower. Ian can be contacted at 815-276-2292.

A Message from Doug

Thanks to everyone that is stopping in to check this goofy blog out. I have already gotten a lot of great emails so keep them coming! If you have any suggestions, connections, or pictures of the couch, please contact me via any of the methods listed on the right. This is just as much fun for me as it is for you, so lets keep it going.

Also feel free to comment on any of these posts.

Sign Appeal

I think this is the best picture yet! Jim Busch, owner of Sign Appeal, was the first person to sit in on a pic with me. This is also the most "public" sighting of the couch. In order for this picture to be taken, Mike Missak of Bk Boat n Sleds.com, stood on the yellow line of Grand Avenue in Fox Lake. The looks that you get when sitting on a couch in front of a storefront are a BLAST! You can contact Jim at 847-587-4300.

The next stop after TK was Lighthouse Marina in Fox Lake, IL. I tried to get Todd or Dick Cherniak to sit in with me but they chickened out. Todd has been a friend of mine and BK Boats for quite some time. This is the closest the couch has gotten to the water, but I don't think it will be long before it is out floating. Todd can be reached at 847-587-0611.

TK Collision Works

TK Collision works is located in Lakemoor, Il. Torrey Fiorovante, the owner, let me drop the couch just outside the paint booth. I tried getting inside, but the years of dust and whatnot on the couch would reek havoc on the ventalation system. So, becuase I didn't have $40,000 on me, I agreed to sit outside the booth. Torrey can be reached at 815-385-0670.

Mini Sponsor Tour

The Couch hit the road today and took a mini sponsor tour. I wasn't able to hit ALL the sponsors, but I did get a lot. In one run I hit TK Collision, Lighthouse Marina (new sponsor), and Sign Appeal. The couch got a lot of road time too!

Bk Boat n Sleds in Lakemoor, IL

This is the first official picture of the new couch. Bk Boat n Sleds.com is the primary sponsor, so I felt the first picture should be at their doorstep. This is myself and the couch out front of Bk's Lakemoor, IL location.