Netflicks

By the miracle of today's technology, we have Netflicks free through somewhat shadowy means.  Case and I have limited tastes so much of what is offered does not interest us anyway.  However, recently, we found 3 movies that I recommend.  Stories with characters worth watching and have a message.

Little Boy - starts slow so stay with it (happy ending)
The Physician - set in middle ages (happy ending)
and this one I recommend but Case doesn't:  a comedy - Johnny English - the actor who plays Mr. Bean plays a bumbling secret agent.  I can't remember the last time I have laughed so hard at a movie.

The Big Ski Race

Every February Hayward and Cable host the largest cross country ski race in North America called the American Birkebeiner.  The original Birkie is held in Norway to commemorate and re-enact from 1206 when a infant prince was kidnapped in the Norwegian Civil War.  The prince's father sent two of his best skier/warriors to rescue the prince and ski as fast as they could back home.  They skied 53 kilometers.  Thus is born the annual race.  Twelve thousand skiers come to our area for the weekend.  Each skier brings an entourage with them so the population of Hayward is much more than the usual 2100.

Early February brings "Birkie Fever."  Symptoms are varied but all bring excitement culminating in the volunteer dinner for 1000 the day after the race.  Local volunteers pack the registration packets with race bibs, gather supplies for spaghetti feeds the night before the race, lay in their own supplies at home because shopping in town that week is impossible, on the radio listen to Birkie songs recorded by local musicians.  It is excitement beyond my description.  My tasks this year were packing registration packets, baking several desserts for the church spaghetti feed, and taking a long shift the day before by checking IDs of skiers coming to pick up packets.  Really enjoyed the international skiers, especially the Spanish team. Case spent all of race day sorting the skiers' bags of belongings and handing them back when they finished the race.  His group was in charge of more than 3,000 bags. 

Case in the race several years ago before he blew out his knee.

 

Behind the start line at the Cable airport.

Skiers write an essay to win the honor of being the warriors.  Modern day adds Inga, the mother of the Prince who is skiing with a baby doll.  The three of them lend moral support and fun to the racers.  Note the birch bark leggings on the men.  Birkebeiner means just that - birch bark leggings.

Lest You Think There is No Civilization Here...

...I was accosted by Girl Scouts selling cookies.  Well, to be truthful, I had to stand in line to purchase.  They were outside of Walmart - outside, mind you...in northern Wisconsin in February.  These girls are a hardy lot.  I chatted with one of the leaders for awhile.  She loves the camp experience for the girls.  I shared that I was a "Cookie Mom" at one time and a leader for Junior Girl Scouts for 3 years.  Good memories.  I took my box of Thin Mints and my box of Chocolate-Peanut Butter Patties home and directly to the freezer.  On an extremely hot day this summer the boxes will be brought out and thoroughly enjoyed.

Winter Garb Continued

Last week a technician from our satellite company came out to bring us a new DVR.  Our old one, leased since October 1, 2010, no longer records.  He was dressed properly.  Of course, if we needed a new dish, he would be on the garage roof.  That restored my faith in Wisconsiners dressing ability.

...until church last Sunday.  As we were driving out of the lot, we stopped to let a couple cross in front of us dashing for their car...without coats. 

I am not totally Wisconsin yet

This is a priceless, true story about living in Wisconsin.  Let me set the scene...

On the way to church I pass a local bank with the time and temp always going.  At church I was assisting with youth club which happens when the teachers have an institute half day.  The children spend the afternoon at church doing a serious thing or two but mostly fun stuff.  It was the time in our schedule to cross the small street from our education building to the church sanctuary where Fr. Wilger was to talk about Ash Wednesday and Lent.  The adult leader for that day asks the adults if the children need coats to cross the street.  The other adults are thinking and slowly shaking their heads.  This common sense Illinois girl pipes up,  "It is 7 degrees outside not including the windchill.  Yes, the children are wearing coats!"   Good Golly!

Good thing we did... Fr. Wilger had our group outside burning the palms from last year's Palm Sunday to make ashes for the service.  WOW!

Walking in a 2016 Winter Wonderland

Our lane to the mailbox

Bushwacking a snowshoe trail - what a beautiful workout!

Complete Circle of Lake Superior

I will end this travelogue with me standing atop Brockway Mountain at the end of the Keewanaw Peninsula.  That is the long finger of land that juts from the south into Superior from Upper Peninsula Michigan.  All of that geography is to say that this is the freshest air on earth - self-proclaimed.  The wind comes from Canada across its forests and across Lake Superior to this spot.  No manufacturing, little sign of civilization.  The air was clean.  You could smell it.  Glorious!

As of this writing December 1, 2015 the peninsula is closed.  They get so much snow that, well, you get the idea.  A few hardy souls do stay out on the tip all winter using snowmobiles and Arctic Cats  to go for supplies.  Good to be home in Hayward with a 5 inch snow falling and four-wheel drive.