Taking too long between posts it would seem...
First of all Happy 16th Birthday to Mackenzie! Thats the big time. And more importantly as of 10:30 this morning she is officially licensed driver. Great Job!
Monday, January 25, 2016
Sunday, January 10, 2016
January Hang
Anyone tracking with me I have made it a point of camping or sleeping outside for at least one night a month.
Started in July 2015 and have been successful through December 2015. Now the 2 next months will be the most difficult I figure for cold anyway.
So last week Saturday night I got the January 2016 night in.
We had a lot of snow on the ground so stakes would not work. I ended up using branches and some firewood logs buried in the snow to hold the corners of my tarp tight. It worked really well. The temperatures hit about 23° and windchills around 13°. I was not cold and slept pretty darn good.
I also goofed around with the snowshoes I got for Christmas. It is pretty cool how they work. I trudged around the yard in my boots alone and was winded after down and up the back. I put the snowshoes on and what a difference. No sinking in to trudging. Not even close to winded after a loop around the yard. Then I tried wearing them while setting up my hammock. You really have to lift your feet if you plan on walking backwards. I did not and twice I fell on my ass because of this. I eventually took them off so not to wreck them or hurt myself. Really looking forward to putting some mile son with these. Now a bit more snow would be helpful after all the rain we just got.
Started in July 2015 and have been successful through December 2015. Now the 2 next months will be the most difficult I figure for cold anyway.
So last week Saturday night I got the January 2016 night in.
We had a lot of snow on the ground so stakes would not work. I ended up using branches and some firewood logs buried in the snow to hold the corners of my tarp tight. It worked really well. The temperatures hit about 23° and windchills around 13°. I was not cold and slept pretty darn good.
I also goofed around with the snowshoes I got for Christmas. It is pretty cool how they work. I trudged around the yard in my boots alone and was winded after down and up the back. I put the snowshoes on and what a difference. No sinking in to trudging. Not even close to winded after a loop around the yard. Then I tried wearing them while setting up my hammock. You really have to lift your feet if you plan on walking backwards. I did not and twice I fell on my ass because of this. I eventually took them off so not to wreck them or hurt myself. Really looking forward to putting some mile son with these. Now a bit more snow would be helpful after all the rain we just got.
Monday, January 4, 2016
End of Year Wrap
Well that's it. 2015 is behind us and we are staring right down the barrel of 2016.
Looking back this year, it wasn't too bad. As a family we did a lot, as a person I expanded. We had some good times and some sadness.
So where do I start? I have been struggling to write this for the last few days.
First some fun. We went to Mexico as a family! We brought other people. No one died, got hurt or even sick. Planes were not delayed. A travel miracle. I took a lot of pictures.
It was fun because the kids are older now and don't need Mom or Dad around but still did stuff with us. In fact helped with planning and deciding what they would like to do. They are also good at ordering food and drinks so we don't have to get up from our chaise loungers. Although, I can't see too many more whole family vacations as they are getting older and moving on with their own lives, at least Joel for now.
Which is a great transition. Joel started his final year at U of A and wow, I cannot believe it. It seems like only a summer ago we were touring all the campuses and waiting for him to make a choice on where to go. I know he's excited to be that much closer to the 'real world'. Tracy and I could't be more proud of him.
Then there is the other bundle of joy. Mackenzie. A full on teen ager who likes to argue and butt heads with us at every turn. She started driving lessons this summer and is only a few weeks away from a road test. She too is growing into such a well rounded young adult.
Basketball for her sophomore season turned out to be very much like last year. She was team co captain, she started the first game, she had 8 points 6 rebounds and a blocked shot. And after 3 games she was done because of hip surgery. She is still part of the team, practice and games but without the participation. Last year was the reverse, started the season injured and finished strong. There are a few albums of some of the games on my Flickr Album page.
As I write this I can't help but feel as though this is almost like one of those Christmas letters people stick in with their cards. I guess its a lot of the same.
It looks like I am going over person by person. Thats the problem when you just type off the cuff. What seems like a good idea can kind of sound not so good after a few rereads. Can't tell you how many times I read post and then re-read it only to cringe and want to go make edits. Most often I don't and just let it go. I could never write a book. It would be for ADD afflicted and make little sense in the end.
It was not a great year for Tracy. The high points had to be the 17th anniversary of her transplant, and the Mexico and Arizona trips for her, because there were some rough patches for her. First, she had to start using corrective eyewear again. Some seventeen years after not needing it. I think a lot of us can relate. Then fall came and what is usually one of her favorite times of the year, became sad. Not just for her but our whole family. Her Mom was taken by surprise with what seemed a very sudden end stage of a disease she had been dealing with for years. The progression was rapid and was very hard on all of us to see. Just a month prior she was sitting on our deck for her 81st birthday. Now here it was my birthday, less than two months from that birthday and she had passed. I know Tracy still has bad days and struggled over the holidays coping with her loss. Believe it or not as much as we cursed her 1-4 phone calls a day, it seems out of place not to have those calls anymore.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Tracy also had the other hip operated on in November. She recovered so much quicker this time, but still dealt with a lot of pain and had to scale back all summer. 2016 will be better for her.
The year for me was what you could call active. On a whim in March I did 6 miles of hiking on the ice age trail, little did I know how much that would rekindle my love for the outdoors. Stuff I had only dreamed about when I was younger became my goal to accomplish. So yea I hiked over 105 miles in 2015. I am not getting any younger and its seems the last two years I have made it my goal to become really physically active again. Call it a use or or lose it mentality. And I don't feel like I want to lose it anytime soon. I can't stop getting older but I can sure as hell beat it back and go kicking and screaming.
Along with my hiking I geared up and did some backpacking. I had not done this since my days with the boy scouts. And not only here in Wisconsin, I did a section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Again, fed by another boy scouts presentation on whet he did some 30+ years ago. It was a bucket list moment, but it fueled the desire to even more. Now as I sit here in the beginning of winter, I read and think and start planning expeditions as to what is next. Another segment hike of the PCT in Oregon, perhaps Crater Lake? How about the John Muir Trail in California, a segment of the Arizona Trail or even a hike into the Grand Canyon or Havasu Falls. That's to say nothing of the sections of Ice Age trail I can backpack right here in my backyard. The hard part is I have a lot of plans and most end up being solo. Don't get me wrong, people who know me know I have no problem with being alone, some probably think I prefer it. It would be nice to share some of the experiences with someone. Joel is stepping off on his own thing and maybe once he gets settled in a few years he would come, although I never considered him 'outdoorsy'. Tracy doesn't mind camping, but these trips involve a little more effort where there are not always outhouses and no showers for more than two days are common. I could crack Mackenzie, but not for a few more years. She's at the age where she thinks she stinks and is gross every 3 hours and would shower multiple times a day if possible. However, I think if she could just not worry about what she looks or smells like, I think she would enjoy it the most. There may be hope for me. The more people I share my stories with the more encouraged I am
to hear that some are interested in doing the same. We will see.
One other outdoors thing I did, was hang out with my brother. It had been a long time since we did anything together, no families, just us. We did a one night camping and kayak trip just to see how it would go. It was great. So much so he let me drag his ass across the state to camp and paddle 35 miles over a weekend. 3 days of solitude and brother time it was a blast. Again that's something we need more of. Away from work, phones, internet and all the day to day bullshit.
Some other highlights of blog this year: I cooked up 91 pounds of meat on my grill, made enough pizza on the grill to be the equivalent of a 32" pizza from a pizzeria. Just take a 16 inch large now double that across. Mama Mia! Work is work but it help pay the bills and allow me to do some of the stuff I like. Between work and pleasure I flew almost 20,000 miles this year. Not a road warrior like some folks but plenty for me. I only posted 41 times this year. the lowest since I started blogging. However, it did include what were probably the longest posts I have ever made. You demand quality over quantity. I deliver. Like pizzas.
Here is to a happy and healthy 2016 to all the loyal readers and the rando's that find my drivel accidentally.
Cheers!
-Jeff
Looking back this year, it wasn't too bad. As a family we did a lot, as a person I expanded. We had some good times and some sadness.
So where do I start? I have been struggling to write this for the last few days.
First some fun. We went to Mexico as a family! We brought other people. No one died, got hurt or even sick. Planes were not delayed. A travel miracle. I took a lot of pictures.
It was fun because the kids are older now and don't need Mom or Dad around but still did stuff with us. In fact helped with planning and deciding what they would like to do. They are also good at ordering food and drinks so we don't have to get up from our chaise loungers. Although, I can't see too many more whole family vacations as they are getting older and moving on with their own lives, at least Joel for now.
Which is a great transition. Joel started his final year at U of A and wow, I cannot believe it. It seems like only a summer ago we were touring all the campuses and waiting for him to make a choice on where to go. I know he's excited to be that much closer to the 'real world'. Tracy and I could't be more proud of him.
Then there is the other bundle of joy. Mackenzie. A full on teen ager who likes to argue and butt heads with us at every turn. She started driving lessons this summer and is only a few weeks away from a road test. She too is growing into such a well rounded young adult.
Basketball for her sophomore season turned out to be very much like last year. She was team co captain, she started the first game, she had 8 points 6 rebounds and a blocked shot. And after 3 games she was done because of hip surgery. She is still part of the team, practice and games but without the participation. Last year was the reverse, started the season injured and finished strong. There are a few albums of some of the games on my Flickr Album page.
As I write this I can't help but feel as though this is almost like one of those Christmas letters people stick in with their cards. I guess its a lot of the same.
It looks like I am going over person by person. Thats the problem when you just type off the cuff. What seems like a good idea can kind of sound not so good after a few rereads. Can't tell you how many times I read post and then re-read it only to cringe and want to go make edits. Most often I don't and just let it go. I could never write a book. It would be for ADD afflicted and make little sense in the end.
It was not a great year for Tracy. The high points had to be the 17th anniversary of her transplant, and the Mexico and Arizona trips for her, because there were some rough patches for her. First, she had to start using corrective eyewear again. Some seventeen years after not needing it. I think a lot of us can relate. Then fall came and what is usually one of her favorite times of the year, became sad. Not just for her but our whole family. Her Mom was taken by surprise with what seemed a very sudden end stage of a disease she had been dealing with for years. The progression was rapid and was very hard on all of us to see. Just a month prior she was sitting on our deck for her 81st birthday. Now here it was my birthday, less than two months from that birthday and she had passed. I know Tracy still has bad days and struggled over the holidays coping with her loss. Believe it or not as much as we cursed her 1-4 phone calls a day, it seems out of place not to have those calls anymore.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Tracy also had the other hip operated on in November. She recovered so much quicker this time, but still dealt with a lot of pain and had to scale back all summer. 2016 will be better for her.
The year for me was what you could call active. On a whim in March I did 6 miles of hiking on the ice age trail, little did I know how much that would rekindle my love for the outdoors. Stuff I had only dreamed about when I was younger became my goal to accomplish. So yea I hiked over 105 miles in 2015. I am not getting any younger and its seems the last two years I have made it my goal to become really physically active again. Call it a use or or lose it mentality. And I don't feel like I want to lose it anytime soon. I can't stop getting older but I can sure as hell beat it back and go kicking and screaming.
Along with my hiking I geared up and did some backpacking. I had not done this since my days with the boy scouts. And not only here in Wisconsin, I did a section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Again, fed by another boy scouts presentation on whet he did some 30+ years ago. It was a bucket list moment, but it fueled the desire to even more. Now as I sit here in the beginning of winter, I read and think and start planning expeditions as to what is next. Another segment hike of the PCT in Oregon, perhaps Crater Lake? How about the John Muir Trail in California, a segment of the Arizona Trail or even a hike into the Grand Canyon or Havasu Falls. That's to say nothing of the sections of Ice Age trail I can backpack right here in my backyard. The hard part is I have a lot of plans and most end up being solo. Don't get me wrong, people who know me know I have no problem with being alone, some probably think I prefer it. It would be nice to share some of the experiences with someone. Joel is stepping off on his own thing and maybe once he gets settled in a few years he would come, although I never considered him 'outdoorsy'. Tracy doesn't mind camping, but these trips involve a little more effort where there are not always outhouses and no showers for more than two days are common. I could crack Mackenzie, but not for a few more years. She's at the age where she thinks she stinks and is gross every 3 hours and would shower multiple times a day if possible. However, I think if she could just not worry about what she looks or smells like, I think she would enjoy it the most. There may be hope for me. The more people I share my stories with the more encouraged I am
to hear that some are interested in doing the same. We will see.
One other outdoors thing I did, was hang out with my brother. It had been a long time since we did anything together, no families, just us. We did a one night camping and kayak trip just to see how it would go. It was great. So much so he let me drag his ass across the state to camp and paddle 35 miles over a weekend. 3 days of solitude and brother time it was a blast. Again that's something we need more of. Away from work, phones, internet and all the day to day bullshit.
Some other highlights of blog this year: I cooked up 91 pounds of meat on my grill, made enough pizza on the grill to be the equivalent of a 32" pizza from a pizzeria. Just take a 16 inch large now double that across. Mama Mia! Work is work but it help pay the bills and allow me to do some of the stuff I like. Between work and pleasure I flew almost 20,000 miles this year. Not a road warrior like some folks but plenty for me. I only posted 41 times this year. the lowest since I started blogging. However, it did include what were probably the longest posts I have ever made. You demand quality over quantity. I deliver. Like pizzas.
Here is to a happy and healthy 2016 to all the loyal readers and the rando's that find my drivel accidentally.
Cheers!
-Jeff
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