T minus 5 days to take off

I had sort of an off day yesterday--  I was strangely tired (gee- I wonder why) and right before I picked up my keys to run to the gym for a quick workout, I got dizzy.  Not cool, man.  Fortunately, I figured out that it was from a stuffy sinus and perhaps a bit of a sore neck, and I was able to eventually solve the problem with Ibuprofen and Sudafed.    I actually took a NAP, and that is with Sudafed in me and that stuff keeps me awake.  Those of you in the know understand how unusual this whole thing is.  But I went to bed and slept like a log for once, so I guess I needed to rest.

We also went to see the grandkiddos and their lovely mom and dad, plus exchange a few items back and forth.  Always nice to see them- little Ruthie was in fine form and has apparently gotten over her "stranger danger" phase, as I didn't provoke any crying or looks of distress.  We had a good old time playing and laughing and having fun together.  Little Greggy was his usual busy self, and is always so entertaining.  Greg and Sarah-Jane were looking a bit tired, they have a lot to do setting up their little farm and they use their days to the fullest.

So back to the preparations, such as they are at this point, I spent a good hour discussing life and packing with my Seester-Rose and then an additional almost that long discussing life and other things with my Mad-Missouri friend!  After which I took the nap, lol.  I have now shifted my focus to using all my veggies up in the refrigerator, finding little things that need dealing with in the house, pointing out to the MA what plants need supervising inside and out, and making a mental list of some things that I need to get at the grocery store to begin the almost 2 weeks that I will be out of the house. Not that he isn't a big boy and can take care of himself, mind you, but at least it will be a few days before he starts mooching off his children or eating at McDonalds.  LOL- kidding, that probably won't happen much at all.

Last night I decided to look into more travel locations- shocking, I know- and began by looking into the Sorrento/Capri region, but that is not a place to see "things" it seems like that is a place to look at the scenery.  Which is fine with me!  So I did a little search about Rome- and found the Roman Forum!  This is a place that is going to push all of my buttons.  Columns, antiquity, ruins......  ah yes. I can hardly believe that I am saying I will be seeing these let alone imagine being there.  SO FREAKING COOL.

One place I have not even looked at yet is Assisi. No idea what is happening there, but if it is on the tour, there must be some redeeming qualities. Right??  (LETS GO BACK TO FLORENCE!!) (shameless link to David again) HAHA.  Seriously though, I have been telling everyone that after I get my fix of Florence, the rest of it I am going to be a non-interfering art teacher (quit laughing) and go with the flow.  I actually love just going along and letting stuff happen, it really is fun to relinquish all control and go with it.  I find it quite easy to step out of my teacher and parent mode and become a different person all together.  Doesn't happen much, but I can play that role!

I have a couple things on my agenda today, so I suppose I should work on them sooner rather than later.  The day is supposed to begin nicely, with rain forecast for later.  Maybe would be a good morning to go and remove a few weeds from the flower garden before the MA decides that he should take it upon himself to rip off the tops and not invest the time to get the roots of said weeds out.  We shall see how this all goes!

Mostly, I have to keep my mind from running off into panic mode and keep making little lists that I can accomplish in a timely fashion.  And do the things on my list RIGHT AWAY instead of waiting for the last minute- not that I do things like that or anything......  hehehe.

So until tomorrow, or later, or whenever- Be a joy giver everyone

Final Preparation and see ya!

I think I am ready.  I need to print directions to the middle of no where, but then I am ready.   Or as ready as I ever will be.  As my dear friend, the Mad-Marathoner said, you could work on getting ready for a long long time..... well that is paraphrasing a conversation that we had! Anyway, the point is, the house is as straightened as it's going to get.  I think I have all my REALLY important things together- clothes, cameras, pillow. What more do you need?

WELL, finding a gorgeous sunrise is a good perk!  I fancied it up with my new latest passion, that is using Instagram and Pixlr-o-matic.  Fun iPhone apps that make my life even more joyful!  

I have 2 cameras with me, 4 memory cards that I will swap out every day or so, incase something untoward happens, all the pix won't be gone, and 2 batteries for each camera!  I think I am ready for camera emergencies!  AND I  have my awesome waterproof  camera bag to hang around my neck and keep it safe.

This is an incredible way to be spending a whole week of birthday month!

So, until next time, have a wonderful week and find your joy!!!

To do list- Preparation part....... uh 4? 5???

TO DO LIST!!!

1.  Gather camping supplies

• shirt (fleece)
• pants (that zip off into shorts)
• one pair of shorts
• tanktops (swimsuit counts as this)
• wool socks 
• tshirt  

Note to self, do one last load of laundry!

• raingear
• mosquito net
• flask of tequila
• bottle of tequila
• hat
• mosquito net for head
• chacos 
• tennis shoes
• flip flops
• flashlight
• cameras/batteries/memory cards
• baggies
• small watercolor set and small sketchbook

Question to self: why don't they sell new memory cards for people??

• toothbrush
• sunscreen
• bug spray
• lipbalm
• flashlight
• pillow 
• dry  bags
• tequila
• FLY PATCHES for my hat

Thank Bernie at the Seed and Feed for this awesome suggestion

• reading glasses????
• hair ties and clips
• sunglasses
• bandanas

• other stuff too personal to mention on this list
• waist pack with water bottle
• vetwrap for potential blisters
• change of clothes for Friday night/Saturday drive
• shampoo and soap for Friday night- a gallon should do it.
• towel for Friday night
• cash for gas home, food, sweatshirt

Not sure I have enough sunscreen or mosquito dope!  

2.  laundry

3A.  grocery store

• popcorn for the MA
• beer for him, not that he will drink it until I get back
• beer for me, as I will need one when I get back
• TEQUILA!!!!!   

3B. Seed and Feed

• horse feed
• fly spray

3C. Park Pharmacy

• memory cards

4. Vacuum

5. wash dishes

6. make brownies for the MA

Note to self:  This man will not starve when I am gone, but he needs a diet overhaul!!

7.  Have tequila shots at about 2 pm

7.  Fix the $#%@#$%$ sewing machine after you find the...........manual and get the stinking cover off the side of the dang thing..........  AHHHHHHHH

8.  Calmly fix swimsuit

9.  Pack shorts to cover poorly fixed hole in swimsuit 

10. Remind self why drinking tequila the day before before traveling 4 hours is a bad idea

11. Pick up and put away the stuff left lying around the house

12. Call L and see if she can clean the house while I am gone!!  (fingers crossed)

13. Finish this ridiculous post and quit wasting time on the computer.

14. Find directions to Cook, MN

15. Find email with list to bring for cabin- twin sheet, blanket, pillow

16. Find out if Duluth is intact enough to go through without a badillion detours which would absolutely result in Debi getting lost.

17. Print directions

18. Put my PFD in the car

19. NAP???

20. Freeze rest of peas, cut up cantaloupe, cook beets

21. Call Rose, call my momma

22. Text - including but not limited to Mike, Jon, Greg, Gary, Samara and few other dear friends.

23. Wash  more dishes

24. Has anyone seen the Accountant???  I think he must still be raking hay for.... someone. 

25. Begin to see light at the end of the tunnel- or at least the things crossed off the list!  Almost there!!

26. Make supper

27. Relax a little - maybe I could have just one little sip of tequila.  And lime.  Maybe a little salt and ice....  

28. Go to bed sort of early

29. Attempt to sleep

30. Hope to not wake up in the middle of the night and remember something super important that I didn't do and then lay awake trying to not forget what it was.

LOCATE MY JOY!!!  I know I packed it somewhere!  :)

**The mad- sistah Rose is renting the sleeping bags for us and bought the sleep pads on sale- GOD BLESS REI!!!

Preparation part 3!

The next preparation part is obviously packing and getting mentally ready for this trip! Let me recap:

I am going on a canoe trip to the boundary waters with my Mad-sistah Rose and the Mad-aweseomniece Emily.  We are going through her church, who made the arrangements.  There is a group of 8 going, including a guide.  Like we would go WITHOUT ONE!  HAHAHA.  Anyway, we head up to Cook, MN on Sunday (that would be tomorrow) and arrive to learn about packing our packs, canoeing, having a swim test, and in general get ready.  Then we leave on Monday morning and will be canoeing between 7 and 15 miles a day.  Portages will take place.  Camps will be set up and tents will be slept in.  You get the idea.  We return on Friday at some point, take a shower, collapse in a bed and drive home on Saturday morning.

Sounds really awesome!  For those of your wishing to interject your own fears about camping, bears, rain, wind, cold, food, sleep, tents or any other subject that concerns you------- KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!!!  We can discuss at a later date, say, oh, I don't know- when I get BACK??!!!!  As I am not allowing myself to go there.  I want to go and just live the week and not have expectations of anything!!!

It has been suggested that I will be breaking out in a cold sweat from having no phone for several days and there may be some truth to that statement!!  :)  Again, I am trying not to think about it.

Yesterday, I gathered my "outfits" such as they are together for the week.  Limited space means making everything count!  I've never thought so hard about whether to take a tiny piece of clothing along or not.

Yesterday also found me preparing by having a pedicure with a gorgeous purply pink nail polish on my toesies and my summer fingernail.  This may seem quite unnecessary and even contradictory to my purpose of this trip, but if you think that, you really don't know me!  HAHAHAHA.  I am all about the color. I needed the stress relief.  I needed to have my feet pampered. AND I love that reaction when people tilt their head slightly to the side and you can just see them thinking- WTF???? You got a pedi before a CAMPING TRIP?????   hehehehehe  It is birthday month after all, why the heck NOT??!!

One more preparation, I am making arrangements for a quick birthday/anniversary  just birthday party for me complete with fireworks and maybe some cake.  If I can get someone to make a cake.  Or maybe I will feel like it when I get back on Sunday???  Hmmmm, I'm not seeing it. So anyway, I think Sunday when I get back at least a couple people can come over for perhaps cake, beer, tequila and fireworks around the fire ring.....  Gotta have some birthday month follow through!

Today's agenda includes packing, cleaning a little, washing any last minute things, trying not to go insane, and picking up any last minute items that I will need.  Should be a full day!

But not without its joy!

Fabulous Tuesday and preparation post 2

I had SUCH a good day on Tuesday!  What an awesome random birthday month day.

Lake Superior

I started off with that whole pullup thing!  That is a good way to start a Tuesday.  I wouldn't have ordinarily have been there at that early hour, but I needed to get my workout underway, as I was going to Ashland with my dear friend Cat.  First of all, I always try to get up to Lake Superior at least once during the summer.  Love seeing the lake, love the beautiful town of Ashland.  Anyway, I met her at the school parking lot in Glidden and up we went!

We had several errands to run and one included going to ahem- Walmart- for a little shopping.  I have great hopes for our new "Hometown Shopko" that is replacing the Pamida in Park Falls.  I sincerely hope that I can do much of my shopping in town and not have to go to Walmart out of town at all!  But that is beside the point, I needed to get some items for this camping trip!  A few things like small portable insect repellent, sunscreen, stronger lip balm, etc.  Since we have to carry in EVERYTHING that we bring with us, smaller is better!  I picked up a lot of things that I needed, with only 2 more items that need to be retrieved today!  Not bad!  It was kind of exciting to be going through parts of the store and finding just the right thing, or at least something that will do the trick.

SOME BUMP!!!

Cat was of GREAT help to me when it came to determining what I should be getting.  She has been camping for years and gave me some great ideas.  We basically talked nonstop the whole time, it was so so nice to catch up with her.  We are such good traveling companions, and she tolerates me needing to stop to take pictures and is always up for a little walk if we have time!  YAY!

The wind in our hair !!

AFTER Wallyworld, we went for lunch at the Black Cat, then to the Chequamegon Food Coop and the Ashland Bakery!  They are wonderful places to go.  The Black Cat has fantastic food- I had a wrap that had some dill havarti cheese, veggies and a garlic/redpepper vinaigrette sauce that was excellent, not to mention the iced mocha that I nearly swooned over.  The Food coop has a great selection of natural foods, organic items and other hard to find things that I wanted!  And the bakery.........  Oh my gosh!!!  Plus I was able to go to a vegetable stand and get some sweet corn.  It wasn't terrific, but it was fine when grilled and I topped mine with lime and chili powder!  I really miss the corn and tomato guy in the parking lot of Southside!  I assume the road construction has f-ed it up for the summer.  The MA is under orders to pick up some corn when he sees the stand down in Phillips!!!  We shall see.....



THEN we had some time left, so off to the park we went for a little tiny photoshoot!  Got a few good landscapes and a cute pix of Cat and I, well except for the wind and the squinty eyes!!  :)  It was a fantastic trip- nothing special, just entirely good.

CERTAINLY it was a joyful day!  She is one of my joygivers!!!

preparation part 1

I am going on a 7 day canoe trip to the Boundary waters in only a couple days!!  Sunday to be exact!  I was talking to the Mad-sistah Rose a little while ago, and we are making final preparations and plans.  We know mostly what we are and aren't going to take.  You all would have laughed as we definitely agreed that makeup, anything beyond basic hygiene and personal style will not be a concern..... that comfort for a 45+ year old body(shut up, I know how old I am)  is way more important than things, like, oh I don't know....  say FOOD or something!  We must have our sleep pad, our pillow and our canoe seat.  Our bodies, heads and butts just can't take the abuse any more.  I don't care if I eat, but baby, I sure as hell have to sleep at least a couple hours.  Or they will be helicoptering me out of there, just because they can't stand the crabbiness!  Lol.  Just kidding, I can take anything for a week.  We also enjoyed comparing how we are not thinking about any of this other than the fact that we are so NOT in charge and what a pleasant change of pace that will be!  And how we are doing our best to avoid JOY STEALERS!!!!  There will be no talk of anything unpleasant, like the weather or wild-life or anything else that I do not want to think about.  And of course we discussed the final trip or two to REI that needs to be made, my new personal favorite retail establishment!  Though I have to visit their online location or have the Mad-sistah go there for me, which of course she will!

It was an interesting conversation at any rate!  I was laughing at us, it was a hoot.  And now it is late and I have to go to bed, but I am starting this preparation posting, because we all know there will be more!!!

3 days to go!!!

I'll find some more joy tomorrow!







*They will have coffee won't they??????