It Feels Like Christmas

Last year Christmas came right after we moved, and it didn't really feel like Christmas.  This year is different.  I am baking, shopping (see previous post), and wrapping in a happy way.  We are getting into the spirit of the season Northwoods style and in our own way.  Currently, I am combing the National Forest (Obama owes me.) for interesting evergreen boughs of different types in which to make a wreath.  I made a wreath on my own last year.  It was OK if you saw it at a distance.  A new friend has volunteered to teach me and a couple of other newbies how to make an "official" wreath.  I spoke with someone who received one of her wreaths as a gift last year.  It was the best wreath she has ever seen.  I am excited to learn! 

I will give the wreath report next week. 

Pitch Black Friday

We were at Tad's outside Milwaukee for Thanksgiving.  My usual Thanksgiving evening is checking sale papers to see if it is worth shopping early.  All of us were curious about Cabela's offer of a $600 gun or a gift card to the first 800 people, but I was the only one who needed to give it a try.  Tad lives about 15 minutes from Cabela's at the 41/45 split north of Milwaukee.  Store opened at 5 AM.  I arrived at 4:20.  It was "pitch black."  The line was wrapped around the store and I cued up exactly in the middle behind the store.  To keep us occupied they had Santa drive up and down the line in a Christmas tricked out golf cart giving out candy canes.  Then an employee came by with pieces of fudge.  At 10 minutes til 5 an employee with an armed escort came by to give out our envelopes.  I was in the 700-725 range.  Mine was a $5 gift card as was everyone around me although I did hear a big scream about 50 people behind me.  Entering the store was orderly.  I picked up the doorbusters but made the grave error of wandering around for additional shopping.  By the time I got in the check-out lane it snaked around the inside of the store - up and down ever aisle practically.  It took 50  minutes to check out.  I'm sleeping in next year.

Worn Out

Between my trip to Illinois, physical therapy for my left elbow (too much kayaking without strengthening before I started in early summer), eye appointment in Ashland, and a simple trip to church, and working all day - I am worn out.  It is 8:49 and I am going to bed.  In college I could count on 2 fingers the number of times that I studied past 9 pm.  (I studied during the daytime.)  I am just not a go all the time person especially in the evening. I need some down time to collect my thoughts a couple of times a day and I need a good night's sleep every night. 

Good Night!

A Simple Trip to Church

In the middle of an active snow storm we drove to Hayward for church.  Normally, we would have waited until Sunday but I was scheduled to lector at 4 pm service.  Truck in four-wheel drive, driving only 45 mph - what could go wrong?  Close to town we hit some ice and started to spin.  Ended up in the ditch facing the road with the back of the truck hanging over a stream.  Turning off the engine we could hear the water running behind us.  Cell phones safely at home, one of us needed to get out.  Case didn't get out because he couldn't.  The truck was laying at 45 degrees on the driver's side in heavy brush.  I get out by pushing open the truck door straight in the air against gravity and stand at the road in the storm.  A nice couple from the reservation stopped and let me use their cell.  I told 911 that we were in a ditch on 77 near Airport Road.  "Blue pick-up?"  Yes.  Other drivers must have called it in already.  In short order a deputy from the Sheriff's Department arrived (also Native American) and took care of us.  I asked him to call one of the 3 tow trucks in town who could get here the quickest.  "I am reading at St. Joseph's at 4."  Roadrunner showed right away but it took some time to extract us from our situation.  As I am settling up ($55 in Hayward-insurance will reimburse) with the tow driver in his truck at 3:46 pm, he says that we were very lucky.  "You missed a road sign by inches, did not go into the water and there is no damage to the truck and both of you are unhurt."  I smiled at him and replied, " In fourteen minutes I am to carry in the Bible at church.  Do you think that had anything to do with it?"  He smiled back.  We arrived at church on time, I carried in the Bible and read from Ezekiel.   

Good News is Always Good

I went to the ophthalmologist this week in Ashland about 70 minutes away.  None of the Hayward docs carry my insurance so off to the north I go.  Any excuse to see Lake Superior is OK with me.  My eyes received a clean bill of health again this year.  After 32 years of Type I diabetes I am very relieved that I can continue to make that statement. 

Most people say that you have to have good health to live in the Northwoods because specialists are at a distance.  I plan to buck that school of thought.  After spending much time researching the family doctors in Hayward, I found a woman who used to be a pastor.  I guess she found that calling too easy so she went to medical school and became a doctor in her 40's!  At my first appointment she had a list of questions for me that she had written down in preparation for the appointment.  This new doc had read my entire medical history from the files that I had sent to her from my numerous specialists in the Chicago area.  Those of you who are healthy and not as familiar with the system don't realize that doctors read the notes of the nurse that checked you in as they are walking in the exam room.  She wants to give me proper care, and she cares about me.  Plus with her being much younger than I am, she can assist me through the aging process with diabetes.  The medical care in the Northwoods was my major concern when we moved.  My mind is at ease.

Taking it out in Trade

Because Case worked for himself, he paid taxes quarterly, always overpaid (that is how the IRS wants it), and they hold the overpayment to go towards the next tax bill.  We received no interest, of course.  In retirement we are still extracting ourselves from that set-up.  In 2012 we will be paying annually. 

The holidays are upon us, and I want to decorate outside before the snow and cold weather.   I decided that I was going into the National Forest across the road and cut some evergreen boughs.  The U.S. Forest Service has restrictions that I followed:  balsam only, more than 50 feet or more from any road or path, and only take the lowest branches.  However, I did not pay the nominal fee ($5).  I figured that Barak owes me.  

Road Trip

I have not posted in a while because I have made a trip to Illinois.  Not been in the Land of Lincoln since Christmas.  It was time.  I wanted to see friends.  I am giving a shout out to everyone I saw and hugged!  We all just picked up where we left off.  It was wonderful. Sorry that I wasn't able to make connections with everyone.  Next time! 

On the way home I stopped at the rest stop a mile or so into Wisconsin.  When returning to the car, a gentlemen saw me and said, "You must be going somewhere important, walking with such purpose."  I replied, "I am going home."  It just came out without thinking.  Yes, I was going home. 

Raining Gold

All the trees have dropped their leaves except for Tamarack also called American Larch.  That tree is the only "evergreen" that does not stay green all year.  In the late fall it turns bright gold and slowly drops its golden needles leaving the tree as bare as any Maple.  When I am out walking under one of those trees, it seems as though it is raining gold.  I have only experienced that here in the Northwoods.  

(The poor porkie is still laying beside the road untouched.)