This is my last walk in Minnesota. Tomorrow we drive to Milwaukee.
It's misty and cold today. I love it.
It's three miles around the lake. I want to try walking the entire way today but doubt we can make it. We started through the nearby woods but thought better of that because it looked a little treacherous. Falling in the snow is one thing, falling on the ice is another.
So we're on the safe walk. Earmuffs, hat, scarf over my nose and mouth. Gloved hands in my pockets but they're still tingling. I love it! It's so exciting I can hardly stand it.
Can't see to the far side of the lake. Can't even see too far ahead. We're talking about the North pole explorers and how it must have been to see nothing but a sea of white before them.
About 10 feet below us on the lake we see a cross country skier from time to time. Further out on the lake are two men next to a little hole. How can they even think about fishing?
I can't possibly even stand still.
But I love it.
Afterwards hot soup at Turtle Bread.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
I've Learned My Lesson
About noon I couldn't find my wallet. It was missing from my purse.
Of course I retraced my steps from the last time I'd seen it. We decided that I had to have lost it in the restaurant last night while we were celebrating my birthday with friends. I'd put my purse on the floor under the big round table. The wallet must have fallen out.
Yes, I looked in the car.
My boyfriend called the restaurant. They would make a search but the restaurant was jammed and they couldn't crawl around under the table with eight diners seated there.
How serious was it? Lots of credit cards, money, insurance cards, gift cards, drivers license and I.D. (I have 2 more planes to board.) And here's the worst part. I wasn't carrying my copies of all of these things.
We headed to the car to drive to the restaurant to crawl under the table where the 8 diners were eating to look for the wallet - ourselves!
But when I opened the passenger's side door, out tumbled the wallet.
All of the cards are copied - and life is good again.
**
Of course I retraced my steps from the last time I'd seen it. We decided that I had to have lost it in the restaurant last night while we were celebrating my birthday with friends. I'd put my purse on the floor under the big round table. The wallet must have fallen out.
Yes, I looked in the car.
My boyfriend called the restaurant. They would make a search but the restaurant was jammed and they couldn't crawl around under the table with eight diners seated there.
How serious was it? Lots of credit cards, money, insurance cards, gift cards, drivers license and I.D. (I have 2 more planes to board.) And here's the worst part. I wasn't carrying my copies of all of these things.
We headed to the car to drive to the restaurant to crawl under the table where the 8 diners were eating to look for the wallet - ourselves!
But when I opened the passenger's side door, out tumbled the wallet.
All of the cards are copied - and life is good again.
**
The Nutcracker
To my knowledge, there are no more tall department stores in Florida. Almost all of them are located in malls. Two-stories at the most.
Yesterday we took our walk in downtown Minneapolis. It was cold. Many of the tall buildings disappeared into the midst. We admired the architecture. We toured the new library (designed by Cesar Pelli.) We took the stairs.
Then we walked a few blocks to Macy's. We have Macy's in Florida. They bought out our wonderful Florida department store, Burdines, several years ago. Some of us still affectionately call it "Burdines."
The Macy's in downtown Minneapolis was once Dayton's. They were bought out by Marshall Fields. Marshall Fields was bought out by Macy's. My Boyfriend calls it "Dayton's."
It's one of those wonderful, old 12 story high department stores - with a bargain basement. The 12th floor has a famous restaurant called "The Oak Grill." They're known for their chicken pot pie.
At Christmas time, on the 8th floor, they have a presentation of what we, when I was a child, knew as the "windows." Remember the windows with the animated themes where we pressed our noses against the glass until somebody dragged us away?
But this is much more eleborate. It consists of 16 animated, lavishly decorated ROOMS. They tell a story. (They would make even Disney proud.)
They've done it every year since 1963 so we need to give Macy's props for keeping up the tradition. Last year was my first time. It was "Mary Poppins." Not the movie mind you, but the book.
This year we stood in line with loads of preschoolers to see "The Nutcracker." Well worth the wait.
I only wish my younger grandchildren could have been with us - especially the ones who missed out on seeing "The Nutcracker in Florida this year.
**
Yesterday we took our walk in downtown Minneapolis. It was cold. Many of the tall buildings disappeared into the midst. We admired the architecture. We toured the new library (designed by Cesar Pelli.) We took the stairs.
Then we walked a few blocks to Macy's. We have Macy's in Florida. They bought out our wonderful Florida department store, Burdines, several years ago. Some of us still affectionately call it "Burdines."
The Macy's in downtown Minneapolis was once Dayton's. They were bought out by Marshall Fields. Marshall Fields was bought out by Macy's. My Boyfriend calls it "Dayton's."
It's one of those wonderful, old 12 story high department stores - with a bargain basement. The 12th floor has a famous restaurant called "The Oak Grill." They're known for their chicken pot pie.
At Christmas time, on the 8th floor, they have a presentation of what we, when I was a child, knew as the "windows." Remember the windows with the animated themes where we pressed our noses against the glass until somebody dragged us away?
But this is much more eleborate. It consists of 16 animated, lavishly decorated ROOMS. They tell a story. (They would make even Disney proud.)
They've done it every year since 1963 so we need to give Macy's props for keeping up the tradition. Last year was my first time. It was "Mary Poppins." Not the movie mind you, but the book.
This year we stood in line with loads of preschoolers to see "The Nutcracker." Well worth the wait.
I only wish my younger grandchildren could have been with us - especially the ones who missed out on seeing "The Nutcracker in Florida this year.
**
Monday, December 17, 2007
Concept vs. Reality
I know many children and adults who've never seen snow. Of course they know what it is. They've seen it on the news. But
they've never experienced it. It's a concept to them.
I've lived in Florida for 45 years. Twice it's "officially" snowed but it wasn't anything to write home about. Over the years I've visited snowy places - but haven't really had the time or the inclination to play.
Snow is more like a concept to me. Something I experienced as a child.
This morning I woke up in Minnesota. Snow is everywhere. My Boyfriend's back yard, the creek, other yards, are all one big snow covered wonderland.
We had a hearty breakfast, bundled up and drove to a close by park. We walked for miles. When we got home we played in the back yard. I've been excited all day.
Just like a little kid. I kept putting off going to the bathroom because I had on many, many layers of clothes.
For those of you who were impressed with my one little suitcase packing, it's mostly because I wore half my clothes up here on the plane.
Playing in the snow is one of the things I used to know in concept but now have experienced as reality.
they've never experienced it. It's a concept to them.
I've lived in Florida for 45 years. Twice it's "officially" snowed but it wasn't anything to write home about. Over the years I've visited snowy places - but haven't really had the time or the inclination to play.
Snow is more like a concept to me. Something I experienced as a child.
This morning I woke up in Minnesota. Snow is everywhere. My Boyfriend's back yard, the creek, other yards, are all one big snow covered wonderland.
We had a hearty breakfast, bundled up and drove to a close by park. We walked for miles. When we got home we played in the back yard. I've been excited all day.
Just like a little kid. I kept putting off going to the bathroom because I had on many, many layers of clothes.
For those of you who were impressed with my one little suitcase packing, it's mostly because I wore half my clothes up here on the plane.
Playing in the snow is one of the things I used to know in concept but now have experienced as reality.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Gifts
I've already received several Christmas gifts. Nothing big and fancy or expensive. Just loving.
Last night the husband of one of my Power Rangers threw her a surprise birthday party. It's hard to believe but she was truly surprised! Of course the logistics of getting her out of the house and others into the house - and then getting her back into the house - were daunting.
My take on it is that this was as much a gift for her friends as it was for her. Being in her home, surrounded by people I love was a wonderful birthday gift for ME. This is good because my birthday is coming right up.
There are lots of December babies. I don't know why.
My best gift so far is a card. I had my usual breakfast with my OLD friends yesterday. He's 87 years old, she's 88. They gave me a card. I waited until I got home to open it.
It's home made. They made it themselves. My picture is in the middle, surounded by felt poinsettias and angel stickers.
Gifts don't get much better than this.
**
Last night the husband of one of my Power Rangers threw her a surprise birthday party. It's hard to believe but she was truly surprised! Of course the logistics of getting her out of the house and others into the house - and then getting her back into the house - were daunting.
My take on it is that this was as much a gift for her friends as it was for her. Being in her home, surrounded by people I love was a wonderful birthday gift for ME. This is good because my birthday is coming right up.
There are lots of December babies. I don't know why.
My best gift so far is a card. I had my usual breakfast with my OLD friends yesterday. He's 87 years old, she's 88. They gave me a card. I waited until I got home to open it.
It's home made. They made it themselves. My picture is in the middle, surounded by felt poinsettias and angel stickers.
Gifts don't get much better than this.
**
Friday, December 14, 2007
Packing
I'm packing today for a 3 week trip that will include 10 stops. I'm not leaving until Sunday morning but tomorrow is another busy Christmas celebration day so I don't want to have to rush home to do it.
Besides I'm putting everything into a tiny suitcase that I can heft over other passengers' heads and slide into the overhead compartments on at least 3 planes.
And I'm going from weather in the 80s to weather in the zeros and everything in between so it takes a little thinking through.
I've heard more than one of my friends tell people "She's taking one pair of jeans and one pair of black pants!" - like I'm some sort of crazy bag lady trying to fit my stuff into a shopping cart.
But, actually, it's not just about the packing. It's about life.
These days I travel light.
**
Besides I'm putting everything into a tiny suitcase that I can heft over other passengers' heads and slide into the overhead compartments on at least 3 planes.
And I'm going from weather in the 80s to weather in the zeros and everything in between so it takes a little thinking through.
I've heard more than one of my friends tell people "She's taking one pair of jeans and one pair of black pants!" - like I'm some sort of crazy bag lady trying to fit my stuff into a shopping cart.
But, actually, it's not just about the packing. It's about life.
These days I travel light.
**
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Songs of the South
We have a big controversy going on right now in Florida. Our state song has been rejected for being racist. That's right, "Swanee River" (you may know it by it's real title which some people think fits us "Old Folks at Home") is being replaced.
We're down to 3 contenders for the new song. The guy in the lead is a New Zealander.
But parodies abound. They all deal with our faults.
And currents songs have been suggested like "Big Yellow Taxi" (They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.)
And, of course, there are those who want to retain "Old Folks at Home." They think only the pinko liberals are offended by the words. After all, we don't have any more slaves in Florida.
My favorite local columnist, Mike Thomas, wrote several sets of lyrics for alternative consideration this morning. Following are his titles:
To the tune of "I Shot the Sheriff" - I Bought the Condo
To the tune of "Leaving on a Jet Plane" - My Glock is Packed, I'm Ready to Go
To the tune of "She Loves Me" - I'm In Foreclosure, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.
But my favorite was by another columnist, Scott Maxwell, written to the tune of "America the Beautiful"
Oh, hurricane-filled, cloudy skies,
O'er sinkhole-covered lots;
Where mice run free,
And we clear-cut trees;
Where elections we have botched.
Oh Florida, Oh Florida
You mean the world to me,
Where beaches have sea walls,
And lots of strip malls,
Ooph, I just hit a man-a-tee.
**
We're down to 3 contenders for the new song. The guy in the lead is a New Zealander.
But parodies abound. They all deal with our faults.
And currents songs have been suggested like "Big Yellow Taxi" (They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.)
And, of course, there are those who want to retain "Old Folks at Home." They think only the pinko liberals are offended by the words. After all, we don't have any more slaves in Florida.
My favorite local columnist, Mike Thomas, wrote several sets of lyrics for alternative consideration this morning. Following are his titles:
To the tune of "I Shot the Sheriff" - I Bought the Condo
To the tune of "Leaving on a Jet Plane" - My Glock is Packed, I'm Ready to Go
To the tune of "She Loves Me" - I'm In Foreclosure, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.
But my favorite was by another columnist, Scott Maxwell, written to the tune of "America the Beautiful"
Oh, hurricane-filled, cloudy skies,
O'er sinkhole-covered lots;
Where mice run free,
And we clear-cut trees;
Where elections we have botched.
Oh Florida, Oh Florida
You mean the world to me,
Where beaches have sea walls,
And lots of strip malls,
Ooph, I just hit a man-a-tee.
**
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