March 15, 2009
Spring is in the air and that means the trees, other plants and all that green is coming alive again. I figure its time for my blog to start out fresh too. Now it has a new look and a new focus. Realistically I will not be able to keep up with posting everyday so I am going to try posting about the trips large and small that we take. We have a very busy spring and summer planned, with lots of camping trips, biking trips and our big trip to Washington DC coming up next week. I will try to post lots of pictures of our adventures. My gal may post sometimes too. Let's go.
Wednesday we are leaving for 9 days in Washington DC. In order to save as much money as possible we will travel via planes, trains, and automobiles to get out to our hotel in Chantilly, Virginia. Hopefully mama will not be thrown from the train.
These posts get more sporadic and each time I post I think I will get back to doing it regularly but alas it doesn't come to pass. So this time, no promises, I had the urge to post because I am excited about going to this place. Hopefully I will be able to capture a few pics next weekend to share. Next weekend is Hawk week and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth Minnesota. I am not sure why but after reading an article in a conservation magazine a couple of weeks ago I have been hoping to have a chance to visit. Luckily its the perfect time of year. Hawk Ridge is a perfect place to see migrating birds as they move south in the fall. One year they counted over 5,000 birds passing over Hawk Ridge in one day and that was only counting from 8am to 5pm.
The next 17 days are all about the Olympics for me. I love watching those sports that you only see in the Olympics. Tonight the opening ceremonies on TV eventhough they already happened. Even before I start watching the coverage I am behind. A little Mickey Mouse Olympics to start off the games.
Lakewoods Resort on Lake Namakagon in northern Wisconsin
This past weekend my family spent the weekend together in a cabin at this resort. It was our annual birthday celebration. Instead of buying presents for my six nephews on their birthdays in the fall and winter we decided a few years ago to go on a family vacation in the summer instead. We do not have a permanent spot picked out yet but are trying different things each year. This year we may have found that spot.
We saved money by cooking our own food and saved headacheds with the kids by having a secluded yard for them to run around on without driving the neighbors crazy.
My family has been great accepting Debbi and her kids. She and Kathie(the twelve year old) came along and everyone treated them as a part of the family. Kathie had a great time even though she was the only girl amongst twelve boys.
We got my mom on a pontoon boat and she hates being on boats but had so much fun in the morning that she went back out on the boat in the afternoon. The boys had a peeing contest off the side of the boat. (Boys!) Ben the 4 year old all of a sudden had to pee every two minutes.
We caught a few fish. The kids swam off the boat. Adults had a few beers and we crashed at the cabin.
The best part every one had fun.
This post is empty just like my fishing line this weekend. I got zero, zippo, zilch, but I did drown a few worms. Hehehehehehe!
Posting as I eat one of my favorites a Cinnamon Crunch Bagel from Panera Bread. I may have found my hang out for Internet access. The local Panera Bread. Where else could I snack on my Cinnamon Crunch and see the world.
This post is for the purpose of getting out my frustrations at the way some parents deal with their children that just doesn't make any sense. Last night I sat up with my girlfriend, her son and his girlfriend outside on the curb waiting for LT's mother to pick her up. She ran away from home and has been staying at my gal's place for the last two weeks. She has been calling her mother daily to try to work it out so she can go home. Last night her mom comes over to pick her up or at least that is what we thought. After screaming at her for 20 minutes the mom leaves with her daughter left behind. Mom calls the police to come over suggesting that my gal is harboring a runaway teenager. When the police arrive they suggest that the girl wait outside on the curb for her mom to pick her up. At midnight the mother has yet to arrive calling the daughter to say she is not sure she will come to take her home. At this point the police ask my girl if it is ok for the daughter to stay at overnight. Of course!What is she going to do put her out on the street?
This evening my gal again called the police to let them know that LT was still at her house. The poor officer was so frustrated with the mother he was apologizing over and over to my girl. Thanking her for caring for her son's girlfriend and not putting her on the street.
I am sure that LT's mother is very frustrated with the choices her daughter has been making. My girl understand's that she is a very frustrated mom trying to deal with a teenage daughter and she is running out of ideas on how to handle the situation. My gal is a lot more generous towards the mother than myself. Sorry for the rambling things like this make me so frustrated and kinda mad.
Whewwww! Now that I got that off my chest. I think I'll have another cinnamon crunch and shop the Planet Shop.
