July 8, 2010:  We’re thinking of cancelling our newspaper subscriptions and just reading your blog full time.  It’s more interesting and doesn’t have all the bad stuff.  You do a tremendous job with your Web site!  Jerry and Cathy from Lake San Marcos, California.

June 25, 2010:  I just read the tribute to your mom, Paula.  It was awesome!  Alimae from Chicago, Illinois.

June 20, 2010:  I am always amazed with what quote of the day that Mark comes up with on each new post. He must have a lot of inspiration!  With kind regards, Laura from the Netherlands.

June 14, 2010:  I enjoyed seeing a glimpse into Paula's and your lives over on Gilbert Lake via your blog.  Adrienne from Brainerd, MN. 

June 2, 2010:  Mark and Paula –  Just want you to know that I check in your Gilbert Lodge blog on a regular basis. I enjoy the pictures and following your adventures.  Wishing you both a wonderful summer on Gilbert Lake!   Doug  from Wadena, Minnesota

June 1, 2010:  Cool site!  Deb from Elk River, Minnesota

May 24, 2010:  Hope you had a good time on your respite from Gilbert Lodge!  Mary in Bemidji, Minnesota

May 24, 2010:  The blog looks great! You must have had a fun time.  Kurt in Brainerd, Minnesota

May 23, 2010:  Welcome back.  I really enjoyed Mark's travel blog.  I checked on your travels every day.  Mark could have a career as a travel journalist when he retires from being a broadcast engineer.  Leslie in Little Canada, Minnesota.

May 23, 2010:  Good Grief!  You guys are really getting around.  We love your site and we vicariously are living your lives.  When we didn’t check your sight for a week or so………we missed your traveling the world.  Jerry and Cathy in Lake San Marcos, California. 

May 23, 2010:  Nice pictures on the Gilbert Lodge site (Regarding trip to Michigan).  Good luck getting out of the travel mode and back into the work mode. Hmmm let's see - 40 years in the work mode - 9 days in the travel/leisure/retirement mode. You may have to do more of this again soon in order to help restore the balance of the universe.  Anyway, hope you had a good time.  Jim in Baxter, Minnesota.

May 17, 2010:  Ann and I just finished and enjoyed the latest chapters in the life and times of Mark and Paula Persons on the Gilbert Lodge Blog.  Jim in Fosston, Minnesota.

May 14, 2010:  Travelers, by this time you are either safe in Michigan or at the bottom of Lake Michigan. I haven’t heard of any ferry boat disasters so I’ll assume that it’s the former and not the latter.  70 degrees today in central Minnesota and finally starting to dry out. Tomorrow should be even better. The Scotch is good, the grille is hot and best of all it’s Friday!  I hope you have a great trip/getaway and enjoy good weather and exciting adventures.  I also hope that the Ferry trip wasn’t a rough one.  Jim in Baxter, MN

May 14, 2010:  Looks like a fun trip.....I hope that Paula shared that doughnut!  Am looking at the picture from the hotel.  I'd think you didn't go on vacation, looks like the office there!  Have fun!  Dave in Brainerd, MN.

April 16, 2010:  Thank you for sharing the Gilbert Lodge with me. It is beautiful!  Becky in Chicago, IL.

January 27, 2010:  Paula!  You're living the good life as are we!  Ain't it grand?  Your "Lodge" is really pretty special.  You can be very proud of it and how you created it.  Don in Pequot Lakes, MN.

January 25, 2010:  Spent some time on Gilbert Lodge’s Web site.  Tell Paula I enjoyed her underwater pictures very much.  It’s amazing how colorful the fish are, and so many unusual ones.  Mary in Crosslake, MN.

January 3, 2010:  I have a suggestion for Chef Paula.  If she ever finds some free time and needs something new to do, I suggest she create a cook book of her favorite recipes complete with your photographs.  I think it would be a hit.  Question, how can you eat so well and not weigh 300 pounds?  You must be really physically active during the rest of the day.  Diane from Lake Benton, MN.

January 2, 2010:  We follow your life and live ours vicariously through you.  Frankly, we wish we were there whooping it up with you.  All we have here is Schwarzenegger.  Jerry and "Pink Fish" Cathy in Lake San Marcos, CA. 

December 31, 2009:  Mark and Paula:  I enjoyed your Christmas pictures on the Gilbert Lodge Blog.  Keep them coming!  Doug in Wadena, MN.

December 9, 2009:  Nice pix of Winter Wonderland.  Mike from Woman Lake in Northern, MN.

December 4, 2009:  I have enjoyed keeping up with your adventures on the Gilbert Lodge Blog. You folks have a beautiful home and office there on the lake, and I think it’s pretty neat that you share it through the words and pictures on your site.  Keep up the good work, and Merry Christmas to you both.  Doug in Wadena, MN.

December 2, 2009:  Everything looks very homey.    Kurt from Brainerd, MN.

November 30, 2009:  Mark, Your photos are really great.    Lorraine from Pequot Lakes, MN.

November 29, 2009:  Hi Mark, I looked at your Blog and your Haunted Trail images are great.  John from Brainerd, MN.

November 12, 2009:  Thanks for the Web tour of beautiful Gilbert Lodge – I looked at every bit of it.  I was ready to make a reservation for dinner then I read further and realized that you are not open to the public.  Darn!!!  I’m very impressed, it’s a great Web site – tell Mark he does a wonderful job.  I enjoyed your photos of the SCUBA pumpkin carvers.   Elaine from Lakeshore MN.

November 4, 2009:  The Haunted Trail looks toooooo spooooooky!  Jim from Mosinee, WI.

November 1, 2009:  When you two do something, you go ALL THE WAY!!!  VERY Impressive!!!!  Jerry and Cathy at Lake San Marcos, CA.

September 14, 2009:  I enjoyed looking through the different Web pages and all of the work that you've put into your Web site!  Gilbert Lodge is very impressive!  Stephany from Brainerd, MN.

August 1, 2009:  Tell Paula I like her underwater photos.  Jim in Baxter, MN.

June 16, 2009:  Great Web site!!!  Good job on the Viet Nam entries. I also got a kick out of you and Paula around the "homestead."  Saturday. was a real moving experience for me and I also enjoyed the great conversation...keep up the good work!  Lon in Baxter, MN

June 2, 2009:  I spent some time reading about your pontoon issue with the gas line. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and photo of the kind resort folks.  How folksy!!!  Then reading on to the life and times on Gilbert lake---wild life photos--- was just pure joy.  We are so fortunate.  Thanks for documenting and sharing.  Karen from Brainerd, MN.

5/14/2009:  Mark and Paula:  I love your site.  I need to close it now because I’m not getting very much work done today.  I’m spending too much time looking through it.  I specifically went to Job Opportunities when I saw how good the staff at Gilbert Lodge eat.  It was very disappointing when I saw there currently weren’t any open positions.  Kim in Baxter, MN. 

5/12/2009:  I've got to run the calculations to see what percentage of all photos taken at Gilbert Lodge involve food.  We LOVE your place and each time I look at your photos, I want to get a lake place.  We do miss the beauty of the lakes in northern Minnesota.  There’s nothing like it here in California.  And now I want a wood splitter….and haven’t’ any wood.  I like your life!.  Jerry at Lake San Marcos, CA.

4/13/2009:  It was sure a crowd at the Easter egg hunt and the rabbit is fabulous.  I bet your Easter dinner was great with both of your parents, the food looks delicious….. I am going now to lunch….Have a good day, Lourdes in Woodland, CA.

4/9/2009: Mark and Paula,  I enjoyed the blog.  Great photos.  Hard to believe you operate such a lodge with only 3 employees.  If you need a 4th to keep the wine cellar stocked and up to date, let me know.  Kerry in Baxter, MN.

3/31/2009:  Hi Paula and Mark!  Enjoyed seeing your photos from the recent dive trip to Little Cayman, Paula!  I am sure that it was a fantastic trip.   Some of the fish are just like puppies or kittens!  So much fun!  Take care!  Mary from Walker, MN.

3/30/2009: I think we liked the wine in front of the warm fireplace best!!!  YOU are a SPORT!!!!!!!!  Thanks for sharing this.  We love following your adventures!  Jerry and Cathy in Lake San Marcos, CA.

3/30/2009: Gilbert Lodge is amazing! and good job on the website!  Monica in Wadena, MN.

3/30/2009: Hi Paula, I took a look at the ice diving pictures that Mark posted.  Congratulations on getting your ice diving card!  I wish I could have been there.  Leslie from Little Canada, MN.

3/29/2009: Looks like fun!  I like the wine in front of the fireplace best!  Dave in Brainerd, MN.

3/3/2009: You have an impressive guest list!  We love Gilbert Lodge!  Keep up the great work on your sites!  Jerry and Cathy in Lake San Marcos, CA.

Questions, Comments?