Another life event is on deck

I know....  it HAS been a long time.  It has been an interesting early 2019 shall we say.  One life event leads to another and sometimes you are some place you weren't expecting....

The door on which we have been knocking all our lives will open at last.

C. S. Lewis

I have sort of let it be known lately that I am retiring at the end of the school year.  If  you would have told me at the beginning of the year that I was going to be done in May of 2019 with the career I waited so long to get and love so fiercely, I would have looked at you askance and tilted my head and rolled my eyes at you....  I can't yet would have been my answer.  But, a sad twist of fate came up- my mom's death and subsequent settling of the estate- gifted me with something I hadn't expected.  Retirement.  Basically I will have enough to pay for my insurance for a few years and with the catalyst of some situations in the teaching profession that I may or may not talk about at some point in the future has caused me to make the decision.

That particular moment of change was the culmination of many factors, not the least being that two of my very best friends and colleagues were going to be retiring- the Mad-science teacher, Laurie and my buddy, the band teacher, Pat.  I had a hard time imagining my life next year without them- especially mornings with coffee without Laurie.  But I was working on that visualization, and was settling in to it.  Then the school calendar came out and teachers have to report in 2 plus weeks before school begins.... which is ridiculous.  And my former idea of 3 years out before retirement became one year.  Then a situation arose and I decided on the spur of the moment I was done. It was a traumatic event in many ways (for me only) ...  then I had a couple of conversations at school- I was crying (this is how I handle stress- what can I say?) and they were talking me down, and then I had lunch with the MA and Laurie, and they told me exactly why I could and should indeed be done.  I believe I was told that someone was glad they wouldn't have to listen to me complain about meetings- staff and otherwise- any more... hmpf.  But he has a very valid point.  There was no reason of any sort to keep me working in an increasingly difficult situation.

Fortunately those are two very calming people in my life who coached me through the initial decision- even though I had really already made it.  But I needed their words and validation and steadying influence that day.  Then another person very close to me continued (and still does- YOU'RE DONE) to offer words of calm reflection, advice and support.... I have a few of those people in my life and I am SO grateful.  And then I have my dear Mad-Missouri friend who tells me how much I am going to love it.

The next few days were a rollercoaster of giddy relief and teary regret.  I have never ever doubted I made the correct decision, I just wish I didn't feel like I was deserting my kids.  Especially the HS kids.  It took a full month of being on the edge of breakdown to talk about it without crying.  I sometimes still do- I love my job.  But it isn't the job I took when I began this career.

This winter was hard- between my mom and being sick with influenza for a LONG time, and a few other personal things and the freaking weather that kept me cooped up- it was very difficult. And of course tax season REALLY sucked this year, people.  The retirement decision did not make me a more stable individual either.  Lol.  But I am feeling better all the time, and I, once again, am redefining my life and heading in directions that I NEVER thought I would be going in.

There is a lot more that can be said, and I will in subsequent blog posts....  I have many related topics.  And I have a couple celebratory vacations coming up too- and you will have to stay tuned to what happens next.  I have a few things up my sleeve.....  Including my very own retirement party!   Like I said- topics to be covered soon.

I have been posting a bunch of oddities on Facebook and Instagram, definitely helping me come to terms with this- the whole Wroger and Wrachel craziness, but the ceiling tiles and the senior pictures and the Eagles are giving me so much joy.  The memories come flooding back and I have been getting messages from so many students of the past.  I love talking and reconnecting with them- I hope to see them soon- Might have to arrange a Flambeau-rama meet-up time or something?

Anyway- I have also been taking photos (like that is a surprise)- so the above photo is for attention only. Well, maybe not- that picture and the quote are very, very apropos.  Which is of course why I chose it.

So much joy has come out of some serious heartache- and as I take on this next adventure- you can be sure I will be taking pictures and making art, probably writing as well...  and who knows what else.  Change is challenging, but the best things in life are hard won, waited for and anticipated and sometimes they come out of the blue- you HAVE to recognize them when they appear so you can embrace them and get the most joy possible.

And summer comes screeching to an end....

I feel very torn today, and if you aren't a teacher, you won't really get it - on a cellular level.  It is the struggle between your summer self, your relaxed happy, unchallenged, adventure seeking self and the self that is fulfilled by the profession- seeing very excited children, hearing about their great and not so great summer lives....  and starting a new year of challenges and rewards.

Each year there is a new crop of scared- frightened kindergarteners starting school and leaving the safety of their moms, dads or daycare....  Frightened 4th graders coming to our Park Falls Elementary campus.... Frightened freshmen who are worried about what is coming during this week/year and truly frightened (though they don't admit it) seniors who are wondering how the heck this is all coming to an end, and what will I do when the year is done and who will protect me then?  They don't all know they are feeling this, or they won't admit it, but I've seen it!  They are all deer in the headlights.

We, as a high school staff, are finally stable.  No new staff members that I can think of right now.  A few room shifts, but overall, we are FINALLY able to be consistent.  It has been hard on all of us to have the turnover that we have had.

We, as an elementary staff, are facing changes again.  A few new teachers, many new staffing assignments, a new principal.... this will be challenging, as things are when they are in flux.  But good things should result, change almost always has unexpected silver linings and I am going with that, in my usual positive way.

The kids need us and most of us teachers thrive in this environment- the kids  are really the only thing that count.  All the rest of it is sort of gets in the way of us getting these kids to the next step in their life.  Many think how we do it is so important, but really, giving our days and our hearts and our time to them is the most important thing. I don't teach children art, I use art to teach the kids.  BIG difference.

Anyway, I had planned to garden and blog and relax and somehow I ended up cleaning out under my sink and painting it?????  WHAT??? WHO AM I????  Well, at least I am doing a quick blogpost to get at least one thing done.  And you will notice I am not at school, I spent plenty of time there the last week or so, so I will stay here and snivel and mope.

BUT I have plans for next summer already, so this is so exciting.  And you can bet it is involving an airplane flight, because I LOVE airplane rides!!  More on that as time goes on.

Those thoughts of joyful summers ahead, bracketed by my joys in teaching drive me from one part of my year to the next.  Hold onto your hats, everyone, the school year is about to begin.

Bayfielding and scrambling- 10 days

Things are getting real on Omaha Road, people.  I am beginning to actually get some things together for my trip on a table in my hall way, yesterday, I began some shopping in earnest!  I am starting to feel a little out of sorts, what I really need is a day at home alone and that won't be happening for a while. I have't been able to kayak for 2 weeks, haven't taken many photos, just haven't done my usual Debi things, but at least I have school crossed off  my list.

In Minocqua at the Bearskin trail

Today, I have a trip with my dear friends to Bayfield...  It is not our ideal Bayfield weather, but we will still have a good time.  I will definitely be excited to get up to Coco's and Big Water Coffee and to Madeline Island.  Once I get on that ferry, I think my mind might finally relax and enjoy.  Being up there is like going to another dimension- it is easy to forget about anything that is happening 90 miles to the south.  I am excited to try out the camera in some of my familiar places, but really want to try shooting in a new place of some sort too.  We shall see what we find!!

It was a lot nicer out than these photos show

IN 10 DAYS I will begin my journey but actually in 8 days I will be leaving here to head to my sisters.  I am heading to her house sometime next Wednesday, so I can be there for a full day of prep before we have to head out on Friday.  The thinking is that I can sleep well the night before..... we shall see how that goes!  And we have our own personal chauffeur who will drop us off and pick us up!  #ftw!!

Because yesterday I spent virtually the whole day with the Mad-English teacher and then the evening also with the Mad-Science teacher, I did not get a chance to look at art again.  But I have another Michelangelo in mind- and seriously at this point I don't remember whether I have posted it or not, so besides the Michelangelo AND the Donatello Davids, these are the other pieces of sculpture I really want to see. We talked about this a LOT in Art History, in fact in a couple of the classes I took.  It shows the creative process of the artist and really is something that is of interest to me.

The Mad-English teacher and I made the best of the not particularly pretty weather yesterday and had breakfast at The Island Cafe in Minocqua and went on to shop a while in Rhinelander and eventually walk on a very nice hiking and biking trail near downtown Minocqua. Followed by supper with him and the Mad-Science teacher and it was a great day.

Anyway, I need to get ready for another adventure, so I better finish this off!  It is looking a bit cloudy out, I surely hope that it gets sunny later.  Lots of things to do, I need to stop constantly looking at what I have to do tomorrow and then tomorrow and then tomorrow and really enjoy the day I have in front of me.  It is how I had a fantastic summer last year that did not go fast at all and how I plan to spend this summer as well.  Because summer vacation is everything and believe me, teacher everywhere need to have a good one.  And so do you!  Find your joy in your Tuesday!

12 days!! WHAT???

I was rousing myself from the sleep of the dead after a marathon art room cleaning session....  when I heard the little riff of my text messaging.  I almost always get in a nice chat session with my dear Mad-Missouri friend in the morning.  It is sort of how we ground ourselves for the day.  After virtually mainlining an extra strong  ( which I have since watered down a little for the delicate-of-tongue who lives in the house) cup of coffee (YAY FOR BIGWATER COFFEE) and a nice long chat with her- which may be on going still- and some messaging with the Mad-English teacher who is making his way north soon, I am ready to write this!

A finished elementary art room- I have two more of those in the high school

I cleaned my art rooms yesterday, and I am still exhausted.  When I say cleaned, I do not mean washed anything in any way.  I mean put away and pick up and store and throw away stuff.  Lots and lots of stuff.  I have 3 rooms and while the kids did help me and did an admirable job, I had lots to do!  So I spent most of yesterday's rainy, icky weather inside the school.  Fortunately, the Mad-Science teacher was in there too and we kept each other moving and then made sure we were out of there by mid-afternoon.

So, then I started doing stuff at home, and then I found myself playing word with friends, as I was a worn out little puppy.

Last night I didn't accomplish a whole bunch, and I did not even pick up a book or look at a website.  So I am skipping the art connection today.  My mind is on my orders and how when I finish them I will be free, so that needs to happen before I can relax and enjoy the next steps.

So I am sort of freaking out a little, as some of you have guessed.  ;)  I have a big ole list that I have begun and it is going onto the second page. so, for the mind clutter to begin to have a focus, I have to put this other thing behind me.  So that is going to happen.  Like Meow!!

So, have a happy Sunday!  I am counting on the weather getting sunny later so I can get outside and get in some walking- you know- Italy-training!  YES!!!  And that will be a joy.

Saturday on the river and Sunday inside

 As I write this it is raining like crazy outside.  We haven't had a lot of rain lately and with all the dry grass and the windy days, the fire danger has been way up.  So it is really a good thing - and it gives one an excuse to rest inside.

It is a different Sunday from last week when the MA was frantically filing returns and mostly extensions, and was gone for 10 hours I think.  He is now doing Fred things that involve trucks and crowbars and wagons and possibly a chain saw.....  In other words, he is in his own personal heaven.  I have a little project to do myself that I have been putting off (um, blogging to procrastinate??) and probably should be reading my book for bookclub, but that will be later.

Yesterday I had lots of little plans, some of them were changed but the essence stays the same.  I went to a baby shower in the morning, after fiddling around outside for a while and then made an early exit to get in a kayak before the clouds (and rain) came in.

I miss my kayak buddy!  This is our dock and text and selfie spot (I do selfies- not him)  

I put on my wet suit thing and my splash jacket with a t-shirt underneath, because it was in the 60's.  Nice and warm for this time of the year.... the water is still REALLY cold though- hence said wet suit.  Anyway, now that I have this amazing lens and camera body (seriously - forgive me you guys for repeating myself.  I can't believe how much better this camera is than my other one.  My photos are still composed the same, but the increased ability for this equipment to pick up details and the exposure is just so different.....  I am constantly blown away by the whole thing.)  I take it everywhere.  And it is a "thing" to keep it covered and protected and tucked away under my knees, and it is another "thing" to change the lenses and keep them safe while trying to hurry to not miss a shot- ahem- you will understand this in a moment.  I am so torn between doing the kayaking thing to get activity (which I LOVE) and the whole wildlife photography thing. So I am trying to dovetail them with pretty good results.  I am going to do some pure photo shoot kayaks soon, though.  Where I sit and wait- which may outright kill me dead- but I can do it.

THIS is my place- the water in Wisconsin

So I had the MA and the Barber (the Barber was important, as he is the one with the cell phone)  take me down to the boat landing as they had something to do with the truck, and I took off.  I had to show them kayaking tricks first (lol- they are so goofy) which involved turning and paddling backwards and me generally showing off- the MA asked me to, so...   I think that someone is trying to brace himself for a paddle in his future.  Fred is not a big fan of water- when you come right down to it- but he is willing to go kayaking.  It will not be windy that day... long story.

Buffleheads- I didn't consider this the best picture, but it ended up being kind of interesting

I had started out my trip thinking that this was going to be mostly an exercise/fun trip down the river but within about 100 yards there was the first group of ducks - which I just looked up and it is something called a Bufflehead- huh.  Who knew. Followed quickly by Mallards and others that I couldn't see well enough to identify.  Then I saw a swan floating up river a bit.  So- ok- not just an exercise trip.  I kept feeling rushed as I wanted to get to the Lower Dam before it totally clouded up and try to get a good picture of the barn that belongs to Fred's aunt- used to be his Grandparents farm. The pic I got was fine, but I know that mornings are better, so I will be doing that trip again.  

The Farm

It was a fun paddle up that river- I stopped and changed lenses a badillion times.  Each time I switched to my landscape lens, I would see another animal....  I am SO grateful I thought to bring a little chocolate with me for a snack- I didn't have any other portable foods that wouldn't make a mess in my dry bag- and of course water.  It was tough paddling in some places, the river was going faster than it usually is and then on the way back there was the wind. All this is stuff I love, so don't feel bad for me.  :)  Anyway, I shed my splash jacket in favor of a t-shirt eventually and it was a comfy 2.5 hours.

One of my favorite shots so far this year.  Tundra Swan.

I caught up with the swan a couple times that trip, trying to get a little bit close to it, but not pushing it's personal space too much.  Obviously since I have lots of flight photos, I spooked it a bit.  Sorry swan.  But wow some great shots.  I have learned from a photog friend how to set my camera up for bird action shots, which I am really starting to understand.  Some of my  pix were a little out of focus yet, but that I imagine is the relative newness of my Canon 100-400 lens.  He's heavy and also the kayak seemed to always turn in the direction counter to the flight of the birds.  But cool to know I am getting the hang of panning the camera and all.  I do need to set up my camera body for multiple shots instead of single....  I am a slow learner I guess.  

Lift off!

So the annoying part of this trip was I had once again- in anticipation of said barn- switched to my landscape lens, which was a trick to stay heading in the right direction and not end up on a rock or whatever.  So I am almost there and I spot on a rock the biggest Snapping Turtle I have EVER seen or imagined.  Holy crap.  It's shell looked too small for its body- I can't even describe how massive this thing is.  Bigger than the one I saw last year way up by the other dam.  I guess it is possible that it is the same one, but jeez.  It seemed bigger.  So yeah- frantic switching of lenses almost commenced and then I decided to shoot the pic with the lens that was attached and as I floated even with him he bailed.  ARGH.  Oh well.  I will say that later, while practically zooming downstream (there was a current- lol) I saw this kind big thing poke its head out of the water- of course the turtle in question- he was checking me out.  LOL- keep your dogs and small children away from the water people.  A dinosaur lives in the Flambeau.

However these adorable little painted turtles gladly posed.  

Anyway, 6 miles is a long way for your second kayak of the season.  LOOOONG.  The last mile was tough going, but I just set my mind to it and dug down and went.  Didn't see quite as many things coming back, which was fine.  I was no longer in the photo taking mood.  I just wanted to get back so I could 1.) get to my bathroom 2.) take that wet suit off and 3.) quit paddling.  My shoulders were tired and my hands were getting sore.  Thank you to weight lifting for my endurance- and I know where I have to add to my routine- traps and the top of my shoulder.  Dumbbell shrugs are in my future.  I texted the Barber, who was with the MA, that they needed to drop what they were doing and get me.  They were waiting and I was grateful to let them load the 'yak and I babbled on about turtles and swans.

I was later treated to a trip to the Mad-Middle Son's house and I got to see Greg and Sarah and the babies and the doggies....  SO nice.  Then Mikey came over and ended up having steak for supper with his dad.  I of course did not have steak...  But the grill has gotten a good work out the last 24 hours.

Peaceful - it makes me sad, though.  I thought swans mated for life.  Poor thing.  Hope it finds one when it gets to the tundra

It was a long tiring day, but in a totally good way.  And last night I fell asleep to the spring peepers calling and the rain falling and I passed out until almost 7 this morning.  THAT is sleeping in for the Mad-Artteacher.  Haha, I am pathetic.  But always joyful!  Hope you are having a lovely relaxing Sunday all of you lovely peeps! 

December ...... Where did you go?

Lola finally looking wintery

I know where December went- I spent a lot of it sleeping.  And coughing.  Good grief.  I have this amazingly uncanny way of knowing when I am going to pick up a virus these days....  Right at the end of Thanksgiving when certainly little adorable Granddaughters shoved their dirty little fingers in my mouth- I knew it: sick.  In mid-December, when I watched a child cough right towards me from 10 feet away, and saw a vision of those little germs incased in a lime green cloud of disgust- you got it.  I was right.  That one was a lot worse.  That one had me in bed by 8 some nights, destroyed my vocal abilities for 5 days, still has me coughing now 3 weeks later.  I only recently began walking outside, and my hardening back, chest and arm muscles are needing a tuneup again.  sigh.

Oh well.  I am encouraged by the fact that I am pretty sure I will not be affected by the bug that the MA has right now.  He stayed home from work yesterday for the first time in probably 15 years.  I was a bit surprised, he must have fielded all the calls from desperate tax payers that he was going to.  And no one called the house, so this is all good.  And don't worry people, he's fine.

Requisite blurry selfie from Christmas Eve

We had a pretty nice Christmas, it was stretched out over a few days, which is just fine with me.  The oldest Mad-son and his lovely Sarah could not come this year as the next little sweet baby is going to be born in mid January!!  YAY! AND it is much easier for the middle Mad-son and his lovely Sarah and family to be in their own house what with naps and stuff, so we went there for Christmas day!  I actually don't have a ton of photos from any of my Christmas celebrations, preferring to ooh and ah and smooch with the grand kiddos....  So Christmas Eve was spent with the elusive Mike, opening his gifts and having a nice supper and generally relaxing.

RUTHIE!!

Christmas was a hoot, as we arrived, much food in tow, at the Oswalds and immediately embraced the children.  Ruthie is SO cute, and is starting to coo and smile and interact.  Greggy likes everyone to see what toys are his favorites and in general holds wordless conversations with us.  When those words begin, that child will be filling us in on lots of things- he has amazing powers of communication and memory.  Goodness.  And then there are the dogs- Ruger, who insists on lots of attention because she is after all a lab, and Toby- who is a special snowflake, loves me and needs to try to sneak in when Ruger isn't looking.  Toby who loves me, yet gets all excited and spends a lot of time pretending to bite my hand when I pet him....  he's such a goof.

GREGGIE!

A little impromptu Christmas music!  :D

Anyway, the Mad-Accountant and I got a TV from the children for Christmas.  The thing about us is that if something is working, we are really fine with it.  We still had a MASSIVE TV (in square footage, not in screen square inches) from probably 8 years ago and it really had been chugging along quite fine.  But of course, it had been discussed in the past (by certain off-spring) that we should get a flat screen.  blah blah blah.  Anyway, apparently over Thanksgiving it was decided that a new TV was the way to go for us, so it was being planned.  A week later, when I got home from the Madrigal dinner said massive behemoth of a tv had blacked out.  Which is when my lovely self started doing some TV research..... well sort of.  I had help from a certain very smart tech savvy friend who was giving me TV advice.  Anyway, the next day I tried turning the TV on, fortunately, and it worked -otherwise I was TOTALLY heading to Minocqua or possibly Rhinelander to pick up a new set.  Of course I discuss things like this with all of my electronics experts (the boys seem to have picked up this expertise somewhere) and I am sure they were all having a minor heart failure over it.  Because they know that once I finally decide to be brave and do crap like that I do.  And besides, who'd ever think a TV would be under the proverbial Christmas tree.  Long story short(er), I discussed Tvs again right before Christmas day as I was going to be going online the day after Christmas!  AND THEN I got a text with a super deal at Sam's club---  so...... JON!!!  Will you go pickup that TV and I will get it when I come down?  The child lied to his mama....  Lol

Anyway, now I have to get a DISH upgrade which apparently will involve a new satellite; we've had the same receiver since we got the system (no judging, I told you, if it works, why mess with it??)  Sigh.  Oh well, it needs to happen.

Greggie had a blast!  

Did I mention that I will finally use that part of my Amazon Prime??  This should be fun.

Meanwhile, we have this MASSIVE  OLD TV in our front room, and it really needs to either go to a good home (doubtful) or get recycled.  And with the MA being under the weather, well, I am really hoping that he makes an astounding recovery so it can get the heck out of my house tomorrow.

At the Rotary Gardens

So, the Sunday after Christmas I drove myself down to Janesville, gifts in tow, and hung out with another Oswald family for a few days.  We went and saw the Rotary Gardens Holiday Light Show, which was AMAZING, had a little Mexican food and just generally had a  nice evening!  In spite of a ice/sleet/snow storm on Monday, I made it home Tuesday.  Which is when the festivities continued with the Mad-English teacher coming to visit, an amusing supper at the Mad-Science teacher's house, a trip to Bayfield on Wednesday, a wintery hike on Thursday..... whew!!!  I spent yesterday afternoon sort of putting my house together again.  Today or tomorrow will be Christmas removal.

SELFIE SPOT!

This is an amazing event!

Ella in her dressup clothes from Gramma

I also have at least one and probably 2 more blog posts to write.  They have been building up.  I am so far behind in lots of things.  SO MANY parts of my house need straightening up again after a couple months of crazy.  And btw, speaking of that, I am so ready for a little sunshine.  We have had a month of virtually no sun.  It has come out once or twice, but I was sick that day- or in one case, I was in Janesville for the sunny day up here.  sigh.  I am ready, man.  If that sun is out today I am OUT the door, camera in hand.

Good morning with Ella

Anyway, since this is my first post of the New Year, I would like to take a moment to wish you all a spectacular New Year- 2016??  Wow.  Enjoy your year, embrace your life, live for now....  you are all awesome the way you are!  That whole new year, new you stuff is such bull shit.  You people are spectacular, you don't need fixing, you don't need to change.  You can trust yourself, you know what is best for you.  You sure as hell don't need Oprah insinuating that you are not good enough.  You all ARE good enough and in fact you are perfect.  So, eat what you enjoy, move how you like, wear what you want and don't let the MEDIA dictate your life.  They portray an illusion and you are real.  Mute their asses!

WOO HOO

I hope that you have a lovely Jan. 1!  Find your joy and keep spreading it around all year.  Avoid those joy stealers and share  your smiles.  You never know when someone is going to need it.

Denver art museum

Imagine my surprise when I noticed that I had begun and did NOT FINISH one of my Denver adventure days....

LOVE the work of Deborah Butterfield

We went to the Denver Art Museum on Wednesday, our first full day in Colorado.  We had driven to Golden Gate Canyon Park for hiking earlier, then ate a YUMMY lunch at the Mediterranean restaurant in Golden.  So part of our master plan for the trip was to hit up the art museum and so after consulting map lady off we went.  

We were able to navigate through the city and found the parking garage for the art complex.  A very handy place to park and turned out to be a stroke of excellent luck.  

Photo taken from an upper floor of the museum (notice the gathering clouds)

The Denver Art Museum is housed in a very interesting building, I definitely enjoyed the architecture and the various sculptures that were on the grounds.  Inside, there was a great collection and I LOVED the Miro exhibition!! 

I took a bunch of random photos of things that caught my eye!

Monet- a sentimental favorite

The beginnings of Cubism...

This installation was so amazing to walk through!  An alternate reality?  A fantasy?  Lol, I loved being in that brilliant red and the grey foxes were in suspended animation.  The action and snapshot reality made it so enjoyable to experience.

This piece was my favorite of the day.  It was so compelling- I looked at it for at least 15 minutes.  I loved seeing a modern take on a classic Romantic painting.  And the black and white definitely caught my eye....  I just kept searching the picture for something- I am not sure what.  So much I could talk about here- the angel in the center that is the lightest, the repetition of shape, the  use of contrast  and value and form.....  I also like the relatively large size of the painting- so easy to immerse yourself in the tumble of items that lead your eye through the composition.

I am glad I had a nice text discussion about it, even if the Mad-English teacher was no where to be found at that moment.  I did direct him to the piece so he could see it for himself.  :)

The art was just so good- a very nice museum indeed.

In other news, our original plan was to roam around downtown Denver for the evening.  Just as we were getting ready to leave as the museum was closing, the storm clouds rolled in.  We went outside to notice the rain starting and we found a very nice museum security person, who directed us to Mad Beans..... when we walked out the heavens opened up, or the bottom fell out, or any other rain metaphor  you want to use,  and the same very nice man lead us up into the museum and told us how to get to the back door where we scampered across the road to the coffee shop.  We sat there and enjoyed a beverage while watching the rain, then hail and then even more rain come down...  and SUDDENLY both of our phones alerted us to a tornado warning!  Fortunately for us, the tornado was in the southern part of the city.  And like previously mentioned- our rental was safely tucked in the parking garage during the hail!

Just to add to the excitement, there was a flash flood warning on our phones about a half hour later.   Sadly this was bike to work day in Denver- I wonder how many people were caught in that little situation.  We eventually got out of the coffee shop and went on down to a little bakery/cafe where we had pastry for dinner (life was good), but the rain was not our friend that night.  So we hustled on back to the car and headed for Golden.  We attempted to get another walk/hike in, and that did not end well- well, it did not end in a dry manner.

In my usual way, I had some very interesting discussions about all sorts of things in the coffee shop with people I didn't know.  So much fun to travel.  I did have interesting discussions with the person I do know, as well, don't get me wrong.  We had a really great time comparing notes about the art work.  And we, of course, began planning our next adventure.

I have gotten a lot of joy out of reliving my trip this evening.  I hope you may have as well.

Well, well, well, what should I start with here.....

So I have a lot of things that could/should be covered here.  I just don't even know where to start.  It is, thankfully, still early August.  Another weekend is upon us and I had a pretty interesting week.  :) I began my week of up in Washburn- on Lake Superior- kayaking!!  And we got to kayak in some SEA CAVES!!!  YEEEESSS.  (you will notice kayaking drives my blogging decisions quite frequently these days)  There were a lot of other things this week, but they are for another post or in some cases not for public consumption.

It was a spectacular morning- we left early to get to Thompsons West End Park by about 7:30 or shortly before and put into Lake Superior.


When the Mad-English teacher and I did the Book Across the Bay 1.5 years ago, we were smitten with the little island that had a fire breathing ice dragon right by it.  This cute little island!  And we were determined to find the little guy and we did! 

 There are caves along that shoreline to the south of Washburn and we had a great time exploring and paddling and generally having fun.  We proceeded north and past my car to go along the shore.  Eventually we got up to the Marina, which is when we noticed a turn in the mood of the lake.  What began as a serene paddle became a little more challenging.  When we were going around the marina the water became significantly more choppy, and while we did proceed to the other side and continued up the shore a ways, we found our point of exit.  We decided to get out before we got back to the car, and I just simply walked back to get it.  Maybe a mile, no biggie.

By the time we got everything all arranged it was almost noon and as we say in the car on the way to Coco's -  DEBI AND ADAM HUNGRY!!!  So we had a great idea and ordered a plate of falafel and a plate of dal and we split it!  NOM NOM NOM!!  Serious good eats there, people.

Of course there was then the requisite trip to Bayfield for Debi's coffee habit and we *may* have stopped at the candy store.... 

I could do this almost every single day.  I am very happy for 2- 3 time a week, which I have TOTALLY nailed!  

The thing about the kayaking- it is such a relaxing yet physical sport.  We feel VERY BRAVE being on Lake Superior and we just don't care if we choose the calmest days to go- we are smart!! We discover new things all the time when we go. 

I believe these are the nests of some sort of swallows

These stairs (totally unedited photo I see) belong to friends of ours~

No matter where you look, there is quite a view.

Anyway, enjoy the scenery and whatever you do look for your joy.... and it helps to hang out with a rocking awesome joygiver as well.