I grew up in a tiny town, where my Dad owned a hardware store and Mom cooked and cleaned and also worked at the store once we started going to school. Summers were spent running around the neighborhood until it got too dark to see, and sometimes we even would lay on the grass late at night to look at the stars. When we got older, we started going to The Lake. No matter which late folks around town went to, it was still called "the lake", sometimes "the lakes", as in "are you going to the lake this weekend?".
Swimming off the dock, fishing with our Dad, digging our bare feet into the muck at the bottom of the lake...all part of the experience. Catching minnows with a net, collecting turtles, and yes, dealing with mosquitoes after dark were part of my childhood.
My neighbors here in Minnesota had their son, daughter-in-law and two grandkids visit from Texas this week. When the kids were encouraged to take their shoes off to run through the grass, they declined, saying that they were afraid of fire ants (we don't have fire ants here, just the regular old picnic ants). They didn't want to go into the lake for fear that they'd run into a fish. Their parents wouldn't go in either - too mucky and "dirty" for them (the lake is very clean).
My neighbors told me these things with a sad, disappointed look on their face. You see, they grew up like I did here in North Dakota/Minnesota. But their jobs took them to the big city, and later to Texas before their son got to experience what we did. And now they might as well be from a different planet, wondering how on earth we all survived growing up the way we did.
My 4 year old grand niece is getting the lake experience - she loves the water; even dives off the high part of the pontoon into the lake already. Her shoes are rarely on (except for a couple of months when her Mom couldn't convince her to remove her snow boots), and she stays up late by the campfire, shooting off sparklers and roasting marshmallows. She's a lucky girl indeed.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Working For a...Living?
Although I love my Summer Palace enough to have bought a share of the Association, there were things that irritated the bejeezus out of me. The Annual Meeting was a free-for-all, with lots of folks airing their frustrations. The common theme, it seemed to me, was a lack of communication, so I stepped up and volunteered to be in charge of a monthly newsletter for the Village. At least 200 hours of work later, my first issue was published. I never wrote a newsletter before, so I had to figure out a template to use, articles to write, and how to lay it out at the printers. All in all, it was a work I'm proud of, and hopefully it'll go a long way to fixing that pesky communication problem we seem to have. I'm already working on the August issue!
I also volunteered to be a member of the 2012 Sounding Board, which is the predecessor to a more formal board of directors. Right now, private owners are improving, marketing, and selling the place, but once we sell 75% of the lots, the Association takes over (and we're scared to death about that). Our first Sounding Board meeting finally took place the last Saturday in June, and boy did we have a lot to talk about! Since we're the predecessor to a board of directors, we decided to start acting like one, electing a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary, and following Robert's Rules. Since I was the only one taking notes I got elected secretary, not that I minded. Since communication is such a strong theme for me, I like putting some order around what we're doing.
So in addition to working full-time at my real job, I'm feeling lately like I have a part-time, unpaid job too! But I have a lot (to me) of money invested here, so I want to make sure I do what I can to make it succeed.
I harvested my first tomato (Cherokee Purple) yesterday, which is really early for this heirloom. I didn't think that plant was even going to survive, much less produce tomatoes, but it's starting to go crazy. I've been eating the sugar snap peas right off the bush - they're so fresh and sweet. And the wild raspberries are in fruit behind my camper. The cucumbers are growing well, I've got three hot pepper plants with fruit that'll be ready soon, and tons of white onions coming along nicely! The rhubarb and asparagus are in their first year, so no harvesting them until next year. I didn't make it the Farmer's Market last Saturday, so I'm excited to see what they have for me this week!
I also volunteered to be a member of the 2012 Sounding Board, which is the predecessor to a more formal board of directors. Right now, private owners are improving, marketing, and selling the place, but once we sell 75% of the lots, the Association takes over (and we're scared to death about that). Our first Sounding Board meeting finally took place the last Saturday in June, and boy did we have a lot to talk about! Since we're the predecessor to a board of directors, we decided to start acting like one, electing a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary, and following Robert's Rules. Since I was the only one taking notes I got elected secretary, not that I minded. Since communication is such a strong theme for me, I like putting some order around what we're doing.
So in addition to working full-time at my real job, I'm feeling lately like I have a part-time, unpaid job too! But I have a lot (to me) of money invested here, so I want to make sure I do what I can to make it succeed.
I harvested my first tomato (Cherokee Purple) yesterday, which is really early for this heirloom. I didn't think that plant was even going to survive, much less produce tomatoes, but it's starting to go crazy. I've been eating the sugar snap peas right off the bush - they're so fresh and sweet. And the wild raspberries are in fruit behind my camper. The cucumbers are growing well, I've got three hot pepper plants with fruit that'll be ready soon, and tons of white onions coming along nicely! The rhubarb and asparagus are in their first year, so no harvesting them until next year. I didn't make it the Farmer's Market last Saturday, so I'm excited to see what they have for me this week!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Summer Palace Week One
After my long journey back to where I belong, I settled in and started up the Summer Palace. I had a full tank of propane, so I could feed myself and stay warm. What else do I need? Oh yeah - water! There was still a chance of freezing temps overnight, so the water wasn't going to be turned on until there was no chance of the pipes bursting.
So for 5 days I hauled water from our Community Center for coffee but mainly to flush the toilet. Luckily we have good shower facilities there too. I learned to appreciate water that comes straight from the taps without having to haul it in 5-gallon buckets.
But the water was eventually turned on, and I flushed all the pink antifreeze out of the lines. That full tank of propane only lasted 2 weeks - it was cold overnight!
A lady turkey had her home base nearby it seems, since I saw her quite frequently wandering in my backyard.
And the pair of fox from last year started a family!
And this week I saw a bobcat running through the property two doors down. I've gotten a lot of grief from folks who don't believe it was a bobcat, but I know what I saw, and they're not uncommon here. And late last night I may have seen it again bounding through the property. Where are those nigh-vision glasses when I need them?
Friends of mine that have a cabin on Pelican Lake (site of my Summer Palace a few years ago) had a cinnamon colored black bear strolling through their front yard. And the next day 2 cubs were seen. That freaks out a lot of people, but there's a research organization up in Ely, MN that has been studying black bears for years, and have been able to prove many myths are untrue. For example, bears don't sleep through the winter. They wake up quite often, leave their den, and will sometimes eat snow for the water. When their cubs are born (during hibernation), they are good mothers, and just like humans, don't sleep much for the first few months!
Check out www.bear.org - this winter I actually watched Jewel, one of the bears in the study, give birth to 2 cubs. The cameras with audio in her den kept me coming back time and time again just to check on her and the kids.
I think I missed my calling. If I could somehow combine my passion for nature with my passion for cooking, I'd be a happy camper! In a way, that's exactly what I've done already.
So for 5 days I hauled water from our Community Center for coffee but mainly to flush the toilet. Luckily we have good shower facilities there too. I learned to appreciate water that comes straight from the taps without having to haul it in 5-gallon buckets.
But the water was eventually turned on, and I flushed all the pink antifreeze out of the lines. That full tank of propane only lasted 2 weeks - it was cold overnight!
A lady turkey had her home base nearby it seems, since I saw her quite frequently wandering in my backyard.
And the pair of fox from last year started a family!
Friends of mine that have a cabin on Pelican Lake (site of my Summer Palace a few years ago) had a cinnamon colored black bear strolling through their front yard. And the next day 2 cubs were seen. That freaks out a lot of people, but there's a research organization up in Ely, MN that has been studying black bears for years, and have been able to prove many myths are untrue. For example, bears don't sleep through the winter. They wake up quite often, leave their den, and will sometimes eat snow for the water. When their cubs are born (during hibernation), they are good mothers, and just like humans, don't sleep much for the first few months!
Check out www.bear.org - this winter I actually watched Jewel, one of the bears in the study, give birth to 2 cubs. The cameras with audio in her den kept me coming back time and time again just to check on her and the kids.
I think I missed my calling. If I could somehow combine my passion for nature with my passion for cooking, I'd be a happy camper! In a way, that's exactly what I've done already.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Back Home Where I Belong
I was chomping at the bit to get going. After all, the temperatures had reached 70 already in Detroit Lakes (okay, so it was one day and it probably snowed the same night). I got back from my latest 2-week jaunt to Australia, spent the weekend packing, worked a couple of days, then I could stand it no longer. Even though the campground isn't open officially until May 1, I knew they wouldn't kick me out if I showed up a week early.
I may have mentioned that jet lag coming home from Australia kicks my butt. Generally for 2 weeks after I get home I suffer from disturbed sleep, diarrhea, and even depression. So I know that driving for two days straight wasn't the smartest thing to do. The first day wasn't bad - I drove 12 hours, checked into a hotel, and even stayed awake to watch TV a couple of hours!
Day 2 was a little harder. Even though it would be a shorter day, I found myself all fidgety and cranky, and worst of all, sleepy. Driving through South Dakota, I really kept wishing I was in Minnesota already. So knowing that I couldn't shorten the drive anyway, I decided to at least "get to Minnesota". I exited on Highway 90 and turned east. Before you knew it, I was in Minnesota! And I had never visited Southwestern Minnesota before, so I felt like a tourist.
I may have mentioned that jet lag coming home from Australia kicks my butt. Generally for 2 weeks after I get home I suffer from disturbed sleep, diarrhea, and even depression. So I know that driving for two days straight wasn't the smartest thing to do. The first day wasn't bad - I drove 12 hours, checked into a hotel, and even stayed awake to watch TV a couple of hours!
Day 2 was a little harder. Even though it would be a shorter day, I found myself all fidgety and cranky, and worst of all, sleepy. Driving through South Dakota, I really kept wishing I was in Minnesota already. So knowing that I couldn't shorten the drive anyway, I decided to at least "get to Minnesota". I exited on Highway 90 and turned east. Before you knew it, I was in Minnesota! And I had never visited Southwestern Minnesota before, so I felt like a tourist.
"So it came to be (1993) that a cluster of more than 70 wind turbines was erected about Hendricks and Lake Benton in Lincoln County, MN, as the U.S. government, the State of Minnesota and several energy conglomerates began a serious effort to create electricity from wind. Soon a second cluster of turbines - more than 140 - was erected near the same site.
A dozen years later there is uncertainty attending the precise number of wind turbines across and along Buffalo Ridge. There are thousands of them. Southwest Minnesota’s landscape has been transformed, just as the search for energy has been transformed. Minnesota’s southwest corner, in particular, has become an American center for the production of electricity.
The sleek, nearly silent wind turbines are all about 250 feet high. Each turbine weighs nearly 100 tons. Most have three blades with a rotor diameter of more than 150 feet. They are awesome structures.
Each turbine may generate the annual electrical needs of up to 250 homes. The wind-driven turbines supplant the burning of hundreds of thousands of tons of coal which would be required to fill the needs of the power now harvested from Minnesota breezes.
Some farmers in the southwest region, who have watched turbines being erected on their lands, call their farms “wind farms.” They now reap harvests from winds which once only rustled their corn crops."
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Little Creatures, Helium, and Sailors; or How I Spent My Friday Night
I'm down under again, and was lucky enough to be invited to a going-away party. I don't know the person who the party was for, but hey - any excuse, right?
We went down to the local pub, and I ordered my favorite local beer Little Creatures. Several more of them, someone decided to show us all the proper technique for sucking helium out of a balloon in order to talk funny. I have to admit, I've always been the one laughing at others when they do this. I am a virgin when it comes to sucking helium. The proper technique involves pulling the knotted end taut and biting a small hole in it, then inhaling as much of the stuff as you can handle. Why have I never done this before? We laughed until we cried!
One of the girls wanted to move downstairs where a musician was playing and there were pool tables, so I gladly went with her. She put a dollar on the pool table and told me to find two "good-looking men" to play with us. So I very politely tapped two gentlemen on the shoulder and told them that my friend asked me to find the two "best looking men" in the pub to play with, and would they like to be our partners?
I'm not sure they knew what to make of me, but they went along out of politeness anyway. They were both really interesting guys! I asked what they did, and they responded, "we're sailors". Interesting enough, that was their hobby, their passion; not what they do to make money. I saw pictures of a beautiful sailing vessel, which they plan on racing all the way to Tasmania. I would venture a guess that they were both in their 30's, maybe early 40's. The older one had tattoos everywhere, including his knuckles. He used to be a punk rocker, but now builds marine electronics. The other guy is an engineer, which translates to building gas stations.
For some reason, I felt like a celebrity with these guys. They hung on every word, and totally ignored the (much prettier and younger) girl I was with. What a great night - I wasn't looking for anything except having an interesting conversation, and that's exactly what I got.
The girl I was with was looking for a man, and these guys didn't meet her standards. She kept looking for something better in the pub. Which is probably why the guys ignored her. I told her that even if one of these guys wasn't Mr. Right, it didn't hurt to expand your circle of friends. Funny - I remember being just like her; looking around waiting for my handsome prince and ignoring the funny, smart guys sitting right in front of me. I guess when you stop looking for the pearl you get to enjoy the oyster.
We went down to the local pub, and I ordered my favorite local beer Little Creatures. Several more of them, someone decided to show us all the proper technique for sucking helium out of a balloon in order to talk funny. I have to admit, I've always been the one laughing at others when they do this. I am a virgin when it comes to sucking helium. The proper technique involves pulling the knotted end taut and biting a small hole in it, then inhaling as much of the stuff as you can handle. Why have I never done this before? We laughed until we cried!
One of the girls wanted to move downstairs where a musician was playing and there were pool tables, so I gladly went with her. She put a dollar on the pool table and told me to find two "good-looking men" to play with us. So I very politely tapped two gentlemen on the shoulder and told them that my friend asked me to find the two "best looking men" in the pub to play with, and would they like to be our partners?
I'm not sure they knew what to make of me, but they went along out of politeness anyway. They were both really interesting guys! I asked what they did, and they responded, "we're sailors". Interesting enough, that was their hobby, their passion; not what they do to make money. I saw pictures of a beautiful sailing vessel, which they plan on racing all the way to Tasmania. I would venture a guess that they were both in their 30's, maybe early 40's. The older one had tattoos everywhere, including his knuckles. He used to be a punk rocker, but now builds marine electronics. The other guy is an engineer, which translates to building gas stations.
For some reason, I felt like a celebrity with these guys. They hung on every word, and totally ignored the (much prettier and younger) girl I was with. What a great night - I wasn't looking for anything except having an interesting conversation, and that's exactly what I got.
The girl I was with was looking for a man, and these guys didn't meet her standards. She kept looking for something better in the pub. Which is probably why the guys ignored her. I told her that even if one of these guys wasn't Mr. Right, it didn't hurt to expand your circle of friends. Funny - I remember being just like her; looking around waiting for my handsome prince and ignoring the funny, smart guys sitting right in front of me. I guess when you stop looking for the pearl you get to enjoy the oyster.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Jet Lag - the Bitch That Won't Leave
I'm surviving day 11 since I returned from my last trip to Oz. As I write this, I'm on the couch, wearing a fuzzy purple robe, slippers, and a cat in my lap. But I am working - this is lunchtime, so I can be forgiven a few minutes to rant and rave about my present state of being.
Jet lag, medically referred to as desynchronosis, is a physiological condition which results from alterations to the body's circadian rhythms resulting from rapid long-distance transmeridian (east–west or west–east) travel on a jet airplane. It is classified as one of the circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
Jet lag, medically referred to as desynchronosis, is a physiological condition which results from alterations to the body's circadian rhythms resulting from rapid long-distance transmeridian (east–west or west–east) travel on a jet airplane. It is classified as one of the circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
The symptoms of jet lag can be quite varied, depending on the amount of time zone alteration, time of day and individual differences. They may include the following:[2]
- Headaches
- Fatigue, irregular sleep patterns, insomnia
- Disorientation, grogginess, irritability
- Mild depression
- Constipation or diarrhea
Source: Wikipedia
Yep, got 'em all. I lived through 5 days of a constant nagging headache, which only subsided to let the diarrhea start back up for a couple of days (and nights). Last night I fell into bed at 8:30 pm, exhausted, only to be wide awake at 11 pm. About 1 am I decided to take some Nyquil, which put me back to sleep. Until I woke up with a leg cramp. Don't see that on the list of symptoms, but I'm blaming it on jet lag anyway.
Last week I got into a shouting match with my boss, burst into tears twice, and shot off several pissy e-mails. So I took yesterday off - my last trip I took 2 days off. Which makes me irritable, because I have to waste valuable vacation time on a day where I barely leave the house anyway. Did I mention that irritability is one of the symptoms?
NASA estimates that west-to-east travel takes one day to recover for each time zone crossed. Brisbane is 15 hours ahead of us, so by their estimation I've only got 4 more days to endure this bitch. But I'm heading back to Australia April 7, so let the games begin all over again!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Taking Care...of Myself
First, an update on Jewel the black bear - she had two cubs, and the researchers have named them Fern and Herbie! I still check in on the bears - it's a great way to pass the time in Australia. And yes, I'm in Australia again.
I spent 3 weeks here last month, and I'm 1 day short of 2 weeks this month. I love the city (Brisbane), and the people, but geez, I miss home too! The work is challenging, frustrating, fascinating, infuriating, fun, and tiring all at the same time. During my last trip my Aunt and Uncle both died (husband and wife), and I still feel like I haven't dealt with that yet. My uncle was my Mom's favorite brother, and his wife was my Mom's best friend. But it feels like I've been swept up in a wave that's rushing away from the shore; away from everything I love; everything I need to pay attention to.
My day starts really early. When I arrived, Brisbane was 16 hours ahead of Dallas. The easy way to calculate that is to take the current time in Brisbane, subtract 4, and that's the time in Dallas, except reverse the morning to night and vice versa. This weekend though, Dallas changed to daylight savings time, which means we only subtract 3.
So if I want to talk to my colleagues in Dallas (and I often do), I have a window of opportunity: from about 5 am Brisbane time (2 pm DFW) to 8 am Brisbane (5 pm DFW). I need to work Saturday here, since it's Friday in DFW, but no relief Monday, since the customer is busy that day.
I'm not complaining - it could be worse in so many ways.
But today I voiced a dream. Someday, I want to hang up my traveling shoes and move somewhere not Texas (Minnesota I hope, but I'm keeping the dream open just in case). I want to contribute as much as I do today to my work, but without ever leaving home. I'd have a lovely organic garden, and keep chickens in the backyard for the eggs. I'd always have at least 2 cats, whom would of course never leave the house (I do want those chickens to be happy).
I'd rarely if ever have to pay for a petsitter, a house cleaner, or a lawn mower. That alone would save me about $500 a month, which I could put towards more plants, or chickens, or chicken feed.
And you know what? I don't care if I live in a camper, an apartment, or a mansion. My dream isn't the house I live in, the car I drive, or the power I have. It's about contributing, loving, and taking care of myself.
One more day here in Australia, three weeks in Fort Worth, then back again. Then it's time to move to my Summer Palace!
I spent 3 weeks here last month, and I'm 1 day short of 2 weeks this month. I love the city (Brisbane), and the people, but geez, I miss home too! The work is challenging, frustrating, fascinating, infuriating, fun, and tiring all at the same time. During my last trip my Aunt and Uncle both died (husband and wife), and I still feel like I haven't dealt with that yet. My uncle was my Mom's favorite brother, and his wife was my Mom's best friend. But it feels like I've been swept up in a wave that's rushing away from the shore; away from everything I love; everything I need to pay attention to.
My day starts really early. When I arrived, Brisbane was 16 hours ahead of Dallas. The easy way to calculate that is to take the current time in Brisbane, subtract 4, and that's the time in Dallas, except reverse the morning to night and vice versa. This weekend though, Dallas changed to daylight savings time, which means we only subtract 3.
So if I want to talk to my colleagues in Dallas (and I often do), I have a window of opportunity: from about 5 am Brisbane time (2 pm DFW) to 8 am Brisbane (5 pm DFW). I need to work Saturday here, since it's Friday in DFW, but no relief Monday, since the customer is busy that day.
I'm not complaining - it could be worse in so many ways.
But today I voiced a dream. Someday, I want to hang up my traveling shoes and move somewhere not Texas (Minnesota I hope, but I'm keeping the dream open just in case). I want to contribute as much as I do today to my work, but without ever leaving home. I'd have a lovely organic garden, and keep chickens in the backyard for the eggs. I'd always have at least 2 cats, whom would of course never leave the house (I do want those chickens to be happy).
I'd rarely if ever have to pay for a petsitter, a house cleaner, or a lawn mower. That alone would save me about $500 a month, which I could put towards more plants, or chickens, or chicken feed.
And you know what? I don't care if I live in a camper, an apartment, or a mansion. My dream isn't the house I live in, the car I drive, or the power I have. It's about contributing, loving, and taking care of myself.
One more day here in Australia, three weeks in Fort Worth, then back again. Then it's time to move to my Summer Palace!
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