Halloween

There were no smashed pumpkins in our neighborhood. And almost no trick-or-treaters either.  I imagine they've all gone the way of community parties and other events to keep kids from walking the streets.  It seems to be something that has gone the way of most childhood activities - sports, after school fun, just being a kid - supervised and planned by adults and run on a schedule, a very busy schedule.  I find it sad that kids have so little time and parents are run ragged getting them to and from those activities.  We used to spend hours out trick-or-treating. We played baseball - in our yards or a nearby open field where we had to bring our own bases. We thought up and ran a neighborhood newspaper, we played games in the neighborhood at night, we rode bicycles for hours, watched the clouds go by, days, weeks, years seemed endless (they weren't though)..... slow down, kids (and parents), childhood goes fast enough....

Houston - Hot and Humid

Trip to Houston was mostly because I normally love just relaxing in hotel rooms while Bill is at a conference or even working out of town. Plus he will be gone for 4 weeks after this on a trip for work to China.  And this trip did come with benefits - a lovely reception that I got to attend put on by Microsoft - 24th floor of the Westin Galleria with great view, excellent food and a nice jazz band. Didn't even have to listen to talk of "business" all night. I know some of the people in the Microsoft users group from other conferences so it was fun.  And a night out at a restaurant with select users group people - also paid for by Microsoft.... only bad thing was the for the first three days, the muscle spasms I've been having since trying to heal my frozen shoulder after breaking my arm were pretty painful. Last two days have been much much better. Funny thing but after watching the Vikings and thinking of how these guys come back from injuries, I decided to fight it with more exercise. Instead of doing my physical therapy exercises once a day, I started doing some/most of them several times a day - especially when the muscle spasms got bad - so far that seems to have made a huge difference. Hoping that after PT on Monday, it doesn't relapse.... each time she forces my arm to go further than it wants to....hopefully we're almost there!

Life at the Lake

Ok, its not quite a perfect life - my arm is STILL hurting me from when I broke it - muscle spasms in my back and soreness in the muscles in the upper arm as I try to regain strength. Talked to my brother about it since he broke his arm many years ago (in his 20's) in the same place. Not helpful to hear that he doesn't remember it hurting, only that darn old Dad wouldn't let him go waterskiing until it was completely healed. And when your dad is a radiologist he can just go take another xray to prove its not quite there.... Was it just that much easier (less painful) to heal at that age or does memory fade? I hope its both.... gives me an excuse and I really want this memory to fade.

It doesn't always hurt though and we've had a beautiful time at the lake. Nothing to DO so that's easy at least. I do my exercises for the arm, go for long walks with the dog, read, practice photography, go out to eat every night, and just relax. Do I want to go home? Not so much.

Long walks - we found some paths through the woods that went for miles.

Watched Notre Dame beat Purdue in a last minute win....

One morning it looked like bad weather - windy and clouds coming up with the wind bringing moisture right up over the water.

 

But in an hour or so it was back to gorgeous - the only rain came at night.

But all good things have to end and we will go back either Monday night or Tuesday.

Just a Perfect Day

Woke to a foggy morning sunrise, with the maybe 15% of leaves that have changed to fall colors brightly catching the warm rays of the sun through the bluish fog.  Out on the docks a heron surveyed its domain until I got too close...

Time to walk the dog - up the small hill behind the condo where I took a lot of pictures for a previous post this summer. Everything is quieter now - Riley did not run out to greet Gandalf, no other dogs barked at our passing by, few cars around to tell us others were up here enjoying the first days of fall

I went to do the dirty laundry we brought along - up here its almost fun to do.  Walking back from the laundry I saw the one other car in sight at our condo building drive by. I waved but I'm not sure who they are, so many people have changed, but I remember well who used to own that condo for many years.  As they drove by I realized that in my mind they were seeing me as the young person I was when I spent the whole summer up here, I could imagine I was walking back from the mailboxes where I checked several times a day for letters from friends - there were no cell phones, or blogs, and no email or texting to keep in touch. I realized that sometimes up here I still feel like I could be that young person so I will put off the promised thoughts on being 59 years old for another, less perfect day.

The sunshine is absolute, no clouds, clean slightly crisp air, bright blue sky, just a slight breeze and a touch of fall colors - a day suspended between very warm, busy summer and fall's glorious color and chill which will move us towards winter. So few people are around now it seems like the day is all mine. Except that I shared it with you.

Pelican Lake, here we come

One more week at the lake this summer! Thank you 3M for forcing Bill to reduce his banked vacation and actually take time off! Just did my physical therapy, packed us and the dog and we're off :)
Hopefully some pictures will be showing up here soon! Maybe some reflections on turning 59 on last Sunday and being married 36 years as of today....

-- Post From My iPhone

the arm

Who knew a broken arm could hurt so much - its more the attempt to get the arm moving again that hurts actually.  Physical therapy twice a week for three weeks and I can actually lift that arm high enough to quickly touch my nose before it gets too heavy to hold up.... right now I am working on range of motion exercises with the goal of getting my arm to go straight up with the therapist holding it up or using a pulley - not using my own muscles even and that seems like weeks away still. In two weeks I get to start building strength - right now I can not life any weight with that arm other than its own weight....

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch

Nostalgia

Last time I was at the lake I was hit by all the memories of 40 years of coming here- and all the little things I love here in the condo. So I snapped some iPhone pictures. Then a condo neighbor told me how glad she is her parents are keeping their condo after the death of the second grandparent and one reason for her was "because it still smells like grandpa" (his cigars probably..). Two weeks ago I visited with my 94 yr old aunt, another condo neighbor, during what would turn out to be her last time here- she's dead and buried now and wow, another wave of nostalgia and missing my parents..
So here we go - last time was a walk outside at the lake, now a walk inside






Early morning on the lake view from the porch






From a favorite breakfast spot - or lunch or anytime the lake view calls






Refrigerator magnets, some bordering on antique status

Mom's domain but now






Her stool that was always in the kitchen is retired...





The garages but 117 should be open and Dad out there working







The table - scene of many meals, puzzles, games- Hearts, Yahtzee, Apples to Apples, etc






Loons of course, what Minnesota lake place does not have these?






Dad made this and it I held it for about 5 hours on the way up here






The door to the parents' room
My dad's sense of humor- did I mention I miss him






I made this 40 years ago and it has been on the other bedroom door all this time






We used to have two bunkbeds for the kids in the other bedroom






Kathy slept on the sheepskin rug, probably using the same sleeping bag that's in the picture






Not sure if the Notre Dame toilet seat was mom humor or dad humor













Gotta love the orange, harvest gold and avocado green throughout













This says it all - have to be a little glad 3M is making Bill take all that saved up vacation







Although while you can take the man out the workplace you can't completely take the work out of the man - or should the paraphrase be - you can lead the man to vacation but you can't make him take it?

But soon it will be the weekend and most of the family will be here for almost a week (about 13 of us - so happily we now have two adjoining condos)






and out will come the model airplanes to fly, boat rides, some long walks with the dogs, bloody mary's, a few movies and video games, puzzles, time with friends and family, adding to 40+ years of memories here






-- Post From My iPhone painstakingly tapped on with only my left thumb....