Thursday, August 30, 2007
HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER
Damn... How can it be Labor Day already? Seems like the summer just got underway! But the granddaughters have been in school for two weeks, so summer must be about over. The bulk of the nations children will be starting school next Tuesday, and most will be given the assignment of writing an essay on how they spent their summer vacation. Since I am feeling rather young and highschoolish these days, I thought I might post an essay on how I spent MY summer. Yes Miss Brooks, you can share it with the class (sorry, flashback)!
I spent 20 days paddling 15 different rivers. Made a lot of new friends on the river! Thanks to the Internet, our paddling group has more than doubled in size! The highlights of the paddling year were probably the Pigeon River Camp and Canoe, the two trips we made on the Dowagiac, and the Indiana Paddler's Rendezvous. Pics of which can be viewed on my Flickr site. The low point was probably last week, when a high water trip on the Pigeon nearly cost us a paddler, and a kayak. As it is, the paddler suffered black eyes, possible broken nose, and cracked ribs. She is probably only alive because of the skilled river rescue pulled off by one of our senior paddlers, Nick Norris. He also orchestrated a skilled rescue of a pinned kayak. Our other senior paddler, 74 yr old Bob (Curmudgeon) Owens, also was responsible for a skilled rescue. Thank heavens for the geezers!
I learned a lot of lessons paddling this summer, the top 5 of which were:
Now I am sure that at this point you are thinking, "Wow, what a full exciting summer! Couldn't possibly have crammed much more than that in!" WRONG, camel breath!
I spent several weekends camping, where I was introduced to a wondrous invention called a "Bake Packer." Allows you to cook an entire meal in a food grade plastic bag, freeing you from the hassle of washing pots and pans! NIFTY!
I also baby sat for my granddaughters every Friday. Among our adventures... Every Friday breakfast at Allie's Cafe, where the pancakes shaped like Mickey Mouse were a big hit! Several trips to lake Michigan beaches. Toured four separate museums. The Studebaker Museum, the Northern Indiana Center For History, including a tour of the fabulous Oliver Mansion, where the founder of the Oliver Chilled Plow Works (now White Tractor), and his heirs lived. Also toured HealthWorks Kids Museum, and the Curious Kids Museum in St. Joseph MI. The children's museum visits were bracketed by breakfast at Le Peep (which they found to be very fancy and grown up), and dinner at their favorite restaurant, Cracker Barrel.
Wow, but there is still MORE!
I discovered the best invention of the new century so far... The 5L Heineken refrigerator keg! Hold five liters of draft beer, and will keep it for a month after it's been tapped. Fits perfectly on the bottom shelf of the fridge! Also discovered that if you set the keg on the table next to the computer, you can go through a half dozen pints of beer in an amazingly short span of time. Also discovered that consuming six pints of beer in that short a period of time makes it difficult to type. Or for that matter, to get up from the chair.
I spent many a summer night watching, or listening to, my beloved Detroit Tigers. Amazing how they have hung in the pennant race, in spite of the multitude of injuries they've suffered!
I also am now officially qualified for the senior discount at McDonald's and Allies Cafe! Another milestone passed. Or should that say millstone?
And last, but certainly not least.... I began seeing a lovely young woman 17 years my junior. Who had her own adventurous summer, including three weeks in Europe.
Yes, I am bemused by my sudden abandonment of my 7 year old "never again" vow. And yes, I am bemused and slightly embarrassed to be seeing someone who is still "pre 40." But she doesn't yet seem to have a problem with it, and I am not so embarrassed as to suddenly become rational!
Okay, THAT was my summer in a nutshell!
I spent 20 days paddling 15 different rivers. Made a lot of new friends on the river! Thanks to the Internet, our paddling group has more than doubled in size! The highlights of the paddling year were probably the Pigeon River Camp and Canoe, the two trips we made on the Dowagiac, and the Indiana Paddler's Rendezvous. Pics of which can be viewed on my Flickr site. The low point was probably last week, when a high water trip on the Pigeon nearly cost us a paddler, and a kayak. As it is, the paddler suffered black eyes, possible broken nose, and cracked ribs. She is probably only alive because of the skilled river rescue pulled off by one of our senior paddlers, Nick Norris. He also orchestrated a skilled rescue of a pinned kayak. Our other senior paddler, 74 yr old Bob (Curmudgeon) Owens, also was responsible for a skilled rescue. Thank heavens for the geezers!
I learned a lot of lessons paddling this summer, the top 5 of which were:
5. I am a much better paddler than I gave myself credit for.
4. I am not nearly the paddler I want/need to be.
3. I have incredible paddling friends who are much more resilient and forgiving than I deserve!
2. I too often take our elder statesmen paddlers for granted. What they have lost in physical prowess is more than made up for in accumulated skill and knowledge.
And the #1 lesson I learned this summer... NEVER take the river for granted! It will bite you in the ass every time!
4. I am not nearly the paddler I want/need to be.
3. I have incredible paddling friends who are much more resilient and forgiving than I deserve!
2. I too often take our elder statesmen paddlers for granted. What they have lost in physical prowess is more than made up for in accumulated skill and knowledge.
And the #1 lesson I learned this summer... NEVER take the river for granted! It will bite you in the ass every time!
Now I am sure that at this point you are thinking, "Wow, what a full exciting summer! Couldn't possibly have crammed much more than that in!" WRONG, camel breath!
I spent several weekends camping, where I was introduced to a wondrous invention called a "Bake Packer." Allows you to cook an entire meal in a food grade plastic bag, freeing you from the hassle of washing pots and pans! NIFTY!
I also baby sat for my granddaughters every Friday. Among our adventures... Every Friday breakfast at Allie's Cafe, where the pancakes shaped like Mickey Mouse were a big hit! Several trips to lake Michigan beaches. Toured four separate museums. The Studebaker Museum, the Northern Indiana Center For History, including a tour of the fabulous Oliver Mansion, where the founder of the Oliver Chilled Plow Works (now White Tractor), and his heirs lived. Also toured HealthWorks Kids Museum, and the Curious Kids Museum in St. Joseph MI. The children's museum visits were bracketed by breakfast at Le Peep (which they found to be very fancy and grown up), and dinner at their favorite restaurant, Cracker Barrel.
Wow, but there is still MORE!
I discovered the best invention of the new century so far... The 5L Heineken refrigerator keg! Hold five liters of draft beer, and will keep it for a month after it's been tapped. Fits perfectly on the bottom shelf of the fridge! Also discovered that if you set the keg on the table next to the computer, you can go through a half dozen pints of beer in an amazingly short span of time. Also discovered that consuming six pints of beer in that short a period of time makes it difficult to type. Or for that matter, to get up from the chair.
I spent many a summer night watching, or listening to, my beloved Detroit Tigers. Amazing how they have hung in the pennant race, in spite of the multitude of injuries they've suffered!
I also am now officially qualified for the senior discount at McDonald's and Allies Cafe! Another milestone passed. Or should that say millstone?
And last, but certainly not least.... I began seeing a lovely young woman 17 years my junior. Who had her own adventurous summer, including three weeks in Europe.
Yes, I am bemused by my sudden abandonment of my 7 year old "never again" vow. And yes, I am bemused and slightly embarrassed to be seeing someone who is still "pre 40." But she doesn't yet seem to have a problem with it, and I am not so embarrassed as to suddenly become rational!
Okay, THAT was my summer in a nutshell!
Comments:
<< Home
I was fortunate enough to share part of that summer! I hope the young lady realizes how lucky she is!
Relax, the age difference thing works great for SME and Doug. Don't sell yourself short; you're a great catch!!
Sounds like a wonderful summer. And whoa, dating again...you're a brave man! I guess I'll have to try the river thing...I mean if it's going to take a bite out of my ass....I could use a FEW bites out of this big thing!
Heck yeah, the age diff isn't a big deal if you don't make it a big deal. And the bravest thing a person can do is start over.
Paddling 15 rivers in a single summer, I think you're prob'ly a better paddler than you give yourself credit for
Good to see you back. At least you have the excuse of living it up all summer long!!
Paddling 15 rivers in a single summer, I think you're prob'ly a better paddler than you give yourself credit for
Good to see you back. At least you have the excuse of living it up all summer long!!
The prodigal son returns! Sounds like an eventful summer. Congrats on your new companion. I'm very jealous that you went to Europe.
I'm very intrigued by the beer technology. Actually, I'm intrigued by beer ... period.
I'm very intrigued by the beer technology. Actually, I'm intrigued by beer ... period.
And the #1 lesson I learned this summer... NEVER take the river for granted! It will bite you in the ass every time!
I've always known this much - no matter how strong you think you are, water is stronger. Learned that one the hard way when I was almost killed in an undertow.
Glad to see you back. And glad she'll be ok. Those injuries aren't too bad considering what they could have been.
I've always known this much - no matter how strong you think you are, water is stronger. Learned that one the hard way when I was almost killed in an undertow.
Glad to see you back. And glad she'll be ok. Those injuries aren't too bad considering what they could have been.
# posted by 
: 3:27 PM
: 3:27 PM
Sounds like a lot of fun! Age is what you make of it. I know a lot of people who are with someone who is 10+ years different in age and it doesn't matter to them.
Good to see you back. We miss you!
Good to see you back. We miss you!
Wow, that was one hell of a summer. Congrats on the new love interest. Just lean back and enjoy the ride. If you two are right for each other, the age won't matter. Enjoy!
We'd be lucky to have 15 different rivers in NSW (australia) able to be canoed... but we are on the beautiful Hastings River which can be canoed... something I did only once back in 1972 in North Queensland with my husband Don...
Then life took over and there are things that never happened...no regrets...our life together was wonderful as it was...may do it one day soon...have to work my 53 yr old self up to it I think... glad you had such an interesting time and such a happy ending to the summer...hope winter is as grand.
Then life took over and there are things that never happened...no regrets...our life together was wonderful as it was...may do it one day soon...have to work my 53 yr old self up to it I think... glad you had such an interesting time and such a happy ending to the summer...hope winter is as grand.
I'm glad you had such a great summer, and I'm glad to see you blogging again. And, I'm very happy for you!
Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!!
Perhaps you could tear yourself away from the new gf long enough to post something? ;)
Perhaps you could tear yourself away from the new gf long enough to post something? ;)
bz好秘书 中国呼吸网 肿瘤网 中国皮肤网 癌症康复网 工作总结 个人工作总结 半年工作总结 年终工作总结 单位工作总结 教师工作总结 教学工作总结 学校工作总结 德育工作总结 财务工作总结 医务工作总结 安全工作总结 乡镇工作总结 党员工作总结 团委工作总结 公司工作总结 实习工作总结 班主任工作总结 党支部工作总结 办公室工作总结 学生会工作总结 总结报告 工作报告 政府报告 述职报告 述廉报告 考察报告 自查报告 情况报告 调研报告 调查报告 申请报告 辞职报告 实习报告 验收报告 评估报告 汇报体会 工作汇报 思想汇报 汇报材料 情况通报 情况汇报 心得体会 学习心得 工作心得 培训心得 读后感 发言致辞 发言稿 开业开幕 领导讲话 动员讲话 庆典致辞 节日致词 新春致词 晚会致辞 追悼词 节目游戏 毕业致辞 思想宣传 组织人事 晚会主持词 会议主持词 婚礼主持词 常用书信 表扬信 感谢信 倡议书 责任书 承诺书 检讨书 申请书 保证书 决心书 悔过书 建议书 慰问信 邀请函 条据书信 礼仪文书 贺电贺词 社交礼仪 个人礼仪 商务礼仪 职场礼仪 涉外礼仪 饮食礼仪 节日礼仪 婚庆礼仪 鲜花礼仪 其他礼仪 交际礼仪 秘书
Post a Comment
# posted by : 4:41 AM
: 4:41 AM << Home
