A Well Used Channel

I have been out the last few days walking on water.

Well…. Frozen water. I was walking around snapping some photos of an outdoor sport that I do not understand. I have a few on flickr.com and I decided to include a couple which shows you the craziness, stupidity, I don’t know. I will let you guys decide with these 2 photos.

This is a well used channel which is used by snowmobiles, pickups, cars and hikers. It is a cut through to Black Lake and I was about to make my way through it when I felt the ice move. I backed up slowly and studied the pathway. The included photos are what I found. I went the long way around………………

My Last Few Weeks

I entered the ER with visions of every TV Show I have seen in the last several years. I was disappointed.

There was no screaming CODE RED! I never heard the words IV or STAT. But I was quickly herded into a room where my Dad lay in a rather impressive hospital bed, with tubes and wires shooting out everywhere. My Sister stood next to the bed with a trouble look that told me she was not thinking only reacting.

Moments before, I had been briefed on the situation and knew my Dad was going to pull through, but I was worried for the nurses who had to take care of him for the duration of his stay. He had fallen, hit his head and got 12 stitches to remind him of his instability. If it was me, they would have sent me home that evening (probably after I sobered up). But when you are 87 years old, that nasty bump on the head includes a collection of medical tests to determine if you are clumsy or your body is failing you.

During these testy moments, my Dad is…. Well, Dad. This man could be holding his severed right leg and wonder what all the fuss was about. Every 2 minutes he would try and sit up and say he was fine. He would occasionally pepper that with the occasional “It’s time to go. I don’t like it here.”

My Sister was standing next to him countering every movement with a gentle comment like a skilled swordsman. But I could see the strain. Her optimistic manner was mechanical. I looked at Gary (her husband) and he was watching her like a hawk with a nervous look. I should have seen it.

With a wavy of his hand, Dad’s doctor motioned me outside the ICU room. I started to follow when I heard Gary yell my Sister’s name. I looked around and saw her lying across my Dad’s lap. Gary had a hold of her arm and shoulder.

Suddenly I became a doorway of sorts. The doctor blew past my right shoulder; several nurses blew past my left shoulder. I actually heard on the intercom “CODE BLUE”. This would have been cool other than the fact that my Sister was quickly being surrounded by hospital personal. I started to step into the room and was pushed away as another impressive stretcher with even more people shot passed me.

I just happened to look at my Dad saw something I hadn’t seen in a long time.    He was holding my Sister’s head and barking instructions at the group attending to Cheryl. He was Dad again. It didn’t matter that no one was listening to him. In his mind, he was in control. I couldn’t hear what he was saying. But every order was completed, every command was obeyed, every demand was completed. At least in his mind and that is what was essential.

In the end, my Sister ended up 2 rooms down in the same hospital. She was dehydrated after her dialysis that day and the stress of Dad’s injury pushed her to a collapse. She spent the same number of days in the hospital and she was just as stubborn as my Dad. I think Waconia was glad to see this family leave. One nurse (a cute one I might add) stated that there was a coin toss each evening to see who got that wing. She said it was uncomfortably close to Russian roulette.

Yesterday, Dad and Cheryl got to go home. As Gary and I wheeled out our recovering relatives, both of us swore to God we heard the clicking lock on the hospital doors as we exited. My Dad was telling me no one paid attention to him while my Sister proclaiming the cooking there sucked! Both Gary and I were just happy we didn’t have to visit the hospital again.
As I headed to Dad’s place that evening, my nephew called. Phil (my brother) had another stroke that evening.   (His 3 rd ) Trevor wanted me to come down there to help!!!!!!

Guess where I am headed next week? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DAMN. Someday I am going to try and work!

 

My First.....................

Yesterday, I was introduced to black ice. I know the term but have rarely experienced it. I was on Hwy 7 headed for I-494 when suddenly the back of my truck decided it wanted to be the front.

The result was a 360 spin and two 180s in different directions.   The cars behind me were now in front, then they were behind, occasionally I caught glimpses of the now familiar cars out my passenger side window.

During those sluggish several seconds, was my life passing before my eyes?     NO!

Was I screaming like a terrified kid?     Maybe, I don’t remember.

But I do remember (Jim, you can relate) reaching for my hot cup of coffee so it wouldn’t spill!   Yes, I was reaching for coffee and still trying to steer out of the spin with my left hand. That did nothing other than to show people watching, I was attempting to do something. (and in the back of my mind, give the impression I knew what I was doing!)

I ended up in the middle of the median facing the direction I was headed. I took a quick sip of my coffee, put on a nervous grin and looked around. I had hit nothing, no car, no guard rail and no sign. NOTHING!

DAMN, I was impressed with myself. Other drivers also seemed impressed. I noticed several made special efforts to gesture that I was NUMBER 1 as they drove by.

I got out and quickly realized that I wasn’t going to just drive away. I had slid into a large snow drift. I knew from experience that if I had trouble with a parking spot, I had no chance in this situation. With a small camping shovel and a bag of Puerto Rico sand, I started the task of working my way to the highway. It was much like trying to get out of the parking spot but involved no drifting. Just spinning of tires, actually I should say tire. Only one would spin.

After about an hour of this, I had actually made some progress. I have moved about a foot closer to the road. At that rate, I knew I would be out by morning, if I didn’t run out of gas. But the falling temperature was cooling my enthusiasm. I was becoming aware of the 30 mph wind blowing more snow into my ditch and it was hard to keep up with a small shovel.

The solution appeared underneath flashing blue lights. The local policemen pulled up, turned on his lights and ask a question straight out of the law enforcement manual.

Hey, what are you doing down there?

My mind quickly came up with a large number of smart-ass responses, almost over-riding the rational judgment you need when dealing with law enforcement. I stared at him for a second or two, then pushed aside the “burying a body” response and told him I was stuck.

It was his turn to stare at me for a second or two. Those seconds allowed me to put on a silly grin and describe my handicap, I am from the South. It resulted with a perceptive smile and the offer to help me.

He walked around my truck accessing the situation and telling me how lucky I was that there was no damage. He said something on the radio, I think he called a wrecker and then asks me to try again. After a spin, he asks if he could try. I jump out; he gets behind the wheel and gets the same results. I told him to try one more time as I push and suddenly my truck is free.

He got out of my truck and offered me the drivers’ seat; I thanked him over and over again.   I could see in his eyes that he wanted to lecture me about driving in this weather, but didn’t want to interrupt the tributes. So I continued with the gratitude as I jumped into my truck, shifted into gear and slowly pulled out on the road. He stood there watching me pull away, cancelled the wrecker on the radio, shook his head and got back into his warm cruiser.

And me. Well, I was going home immediately. That is after I accomplished my original drive to Starbucks, sit next to their fireplace, watch it snow and have a cup of coffee!

Whining in the North

On Christmas Eve I woke up to 12 inches of snow. Then just to add to the mix, I step out my door and stared at a number of huge piles of snow not really knowing which one contained my truck. It wasn’t that I had forgotten where I parked the night before, just the landscape had changed. I started brushing off the snow and chipping away at the ice hoping my car door wasn’t frozen

Occasionally, a pile of snow would whine a few times and then roar to life as a car engine deep within would start. Apparently, remote starters are all the rage up North! I looked around and notice people watching me out the window, remote starter in one hand a hot cup of coffee in the other. I seem to be the entertainment that morning and the show was just getting started.

I, like Travis, religiously defend my ability as a good driver. It was tested today and shattered with my inability to get out of a parking spot. YES, I could not get out of the parking SPOT!

I tried to back out and would drifted to the left. I adjusted the steering try again and drifted to the right. I would periodically jump out, shovel frantically at snow around the tires, jump back in and repeat the process. This went on for some time before I began to noticed more spectators at the windows, sipping their hot coffee and smiling. I swear to God, the Today Show’s rates dropped that morning.

After awhile, I was beginning to accept the inevitable when a mother herding her three kids appeared and began brushing off the snow on their mini-van in front of me. She must have been watching for some time because she came over and informed me her husband and two older boys (must be Catholic with 5 kids) would be out shortly to help. Then piled the kids in her van, backup and drove away like the roads were clear.

Shortly afterward, the promised helpers showed up and I was free of my icy parking spot. I thanked the snickering helpers and headed off to the local hardware store to purchase, ready for this, SAND! I was told to put some weight in the back of my truck so I purchased two 100lb sacks of sand, imported from Puerto Rico and bagged in St. Paul, MN. Now anytime I feel the need to go to the tropics, I will just warm up my truck, mix a margarita, slip into my shorts and relax on the sand in the back of my truck. There is something just not right up North!

Christmas is Here

Last week, I had lunch with a local TV News reporter who has a lot of media contacts in town. She brought her 2 year old daughter along with the intention of getting some photos with Santa at the mall.

It was a productive lunch because she was able to point me in a few different directions in my quest for work. But her daughter kept staring at me. At first I figured she wondered who this strange person was seated next to her. But the stares continued for the duration of the lunch. Occasionally the child would awkwardly offer me a French fry or a mini hot dog. I would graciously accept the partially eaten morsel   of food which would generate a squeal and kicking of her little legs. I had to admit, well, she had me after the second happy yelp.

The lunch continued this way for the next 45 minutes. The large wide eye stare, the nervous offerings and the squeals of delight, sprinkle in between a few job leads and career suggestions. It was one of the oddest lunches I have ever attended. But the oddest part came later that day when the mother called. She apologized for her youngster and said I made the her daughter’s day. At the daycare center that afternoon, she bragged to her classmates that she knew Santa and had lunch with him that afternoon. The fact she had her picture taken with Santa was never mentioned! Damn, I really do need to trim my beard.

Yesterday morning I woke up to -9 degrees with a wind chill making it feel like -25. It was time to get some thermal underwear. So I put on my heaviest t-shirts, several pairs of pants and started toward the nearest Target. On the way I discovered another incentive to get warmer clothing, my Explorer wasn’t pumping out any heat! Yep, my thermostat is out according to my brother-in-law. Considering the Minnesota weather, I have no idea when it went out. So as I drive around this week I will be behind the wheel wearing both pairs of the thermal underwear I purchased and my brand new hooded down coat. I will have so much clothing on that if I get broadsided by another vehicle, I won’t even know it! Hell I don’t even have to put my gloved hands on the steering wheel, just lean in the direction I want to turn.

I took a chance and walked on the iced over lake yesterday, dressed in my new winter wear. I fought back the panic and strutted out there like I knew what I was doing. I looked fearless then, I heard the cracking sound of ice. Suddenly my crotch got warmer and I was on talking terms with God.

I must have looked like a cartoon character as my legs blurred into circles in my efforts to get to the nearest ground. I moved, but not where I wanted to go. I landed face first on the ice and heard the ice crack again! This was it! I was going to die in at oversized frozen margarita. IF WASN’T FAIR!

Then several amused ice skaters glided over and pushed my curled up form off the frozen lake. There I tried to regain some pride and mumbled something about a twisted ankle. They all giggled in agreement and skated away without a hint of fear.   Behind them a snowmobile shot across the ice as if to dare me to try again.

I have determined to try again. Next week, after there has been another week of sub-zero temperatures.   Maybe………………..

(Side Note: I was told that the sound of cracking ice is normal. That can be heard all season long and some people find it relaxing. SOME people………….)

I have included a photo for the frozen tundra for your pleasure. It should end up on flickr.com when I get a chance to touch it up.


Have a Merry Christmas everyone.

Winter Supplies

It started as one or two falling flakes here and there. I really didn’t notice until one landed on my nose, perch there momentarily to get my attention then disappeared. The introduction was brief but the visit promised to be lengthy. IT WAS SNOWING!

“Oh, God, what shall I do? I’ve got to get supplies. Yes, that is it, I have to get supplies. Try and remain calm and head to the store and get bread and milk.”   I told myself.

The man ringing a bell for attention, steadied his red bucket as I rush past through the door. The girl behind the counter with a look of boredom watched as I skidded past the register. I caught my breath and took a quick look around. THERE WAS NO BREAD OR MILK ANY WHERE! I was doomed. I will be a starving icicle by the end of the evening. What insane reasoning made me move to Minnesota?

“Can I help you find something?”ask the cheerful clerk in the ill-fitting red shirt.

“Do you have any bread? Milk? Something? ANYTHING?” I said quickly as I turned to him resisting the urge to grab his shoulders.

His smile was replaced by a nervous grin as he glanced around fearfully looking for assistance. “Sir, you are in Ace Hardware. Cub Foods is next door and may have what you are looking for.” He then spotted an out, spun around to face a rational shopper, reattached his smile and voiced his willingness to help.

With considerably less flare, I slipped passed the bored cashier and left the store. Then started running across the parking lot. Passing my car I noticed snow had collected on my windshield and increased my speed toward Cub Foods.

As I pushed through the automatic doors, snatch a shopping cart and weaved around slower shoppers, I started to noticing things. There wasn’t anxious crowds at the checkouts. Shoppers didn’t have expressions of fear, agitation and panic. Some shoppers didn’t even have bread or milk in their carts!

I rounded the corner and squealed in delight at all the bread along the aisle. There was white bread, wheat bread, Italian bread and french bread. Even better, there was a person restocking the shelves with more bread.

“Thank God, it is snowing out there and I need to get some bread and milk. I guess I beat the crowd.” I timidly said to the bread stocker.

He looked up at me smirked and said, “Yea, the "CROWD". What part of the South are you from, son? “

I told him I moved up from Georgia as I scooped up several loaves of bread try to calculating the strength of the approaching storm. I then noticed people passing through the aisle and not even looking at the bread.   The helpful stock-boy interrupted my slowly developing revelation and point me toward the milk.

He tipped his purple Viking hat to me as I passed and said something that sent chills up my spine, “Here in the North we usually stock up on beer.”

DAMN IT! I yelled as I spun around and headed for the front of the store.

As I blew past the stock-boy once again he yelled, “Hey, you forgot your cart.”

So now I stand here with no bread, no milk and try to decide if the snow storm is a 12-pack or 24-pack. Oh, what the hell, I will take that 30-Pack!!!!!


Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow………………………………..

Minnesota Winters

I didn’t write this, I just wish I had……….


Dear Diary:

Aug 12 - Moved into my new home in Minnesota. It is so beautiful here. The hills and river valleys are so picturesque. I have a beautiful old oak tree in my front yard. I can hardly wait to see the change in the seasons. This is truly God's Country.
Oct 14 - Minnesota is such a gorgeous place to live, one of the real special places on Earth. The leaves are turning a multitude of different colors. I love all of the shades of reds, oranges and yellows, they are so bright. I want to walk through all of the beautiful hills and spot some white tail deer. They are so graceful; certainly they must be the most peaceful creatures on Earth. This must be paradise.
Nov 11 - Deer season opens this week. I can't imagine why anyone would want to shoot these elegant animals. They are the very symbol of peace and tranquility here in Minnesota. I hope it snows soon. I love it here!
Dec 2 - It snowed last night. I woke to the usual wonderful sight: everything covered in a beautiful blanket of white. The oak tree is magnificent. It looks like a postcard. We went out and swept the snow from the steps and driveway. The air is so crisp, clean and refreshing. We had a snowball fight. I won, and the snowplow came down the street. He must have gotten too close to the driveway because we had to go out and shovel the end of the driveway again. What a beautiful place. Nature in harmony. I love it here!
Dec 12 - More snow last night. I love it! The plow did his cute little trick again. What a rascal. A winter wonderland. I love it here!
Dec. 19 - More snow - couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work in time. I'm exhausted from all of the shoveling. And that snowplow!

Dec 21 - More of that white shit coming down. I've got blisters on my hands and a kink in my back. I think that the snowplow driver waits around the corner until I'm done shoveling the driveway. Asshole!
Dec 25 - White Christmas? More freakin' snow! If I ever get my hands on the son-of-a-bitch who drives that snowplow, I swear I'll castrate him. And why don't they use more salt on these roads to melt this crap??
Dec 28 - It hasn't stopped snowing since Christmas. I have been inside since then, except of course when that SOB 'Snowplow Harry' comes by. Can't go anywhere, cars are buried up to the windows. Weather man says to expect another 10 inches. Do you have any idea how many shovelfuls 10 inches is??
Jan   1 - Happy New Year? The way it's coming down it won't melt until the 4th of July! The snowplow got stuck down the road and the shit head actually had the balls to come and ask to borrow a shovel! I told him I'd broken 6 already this season.
Jan   4 - Finally got out of the house. We went to the store to get some food and a goddamn deer ran out in front of my car and I hit the bastard. It did $3,000 in damage to the car. Those beasts ought to be killed. The hunters should have a longer season if you ask me.
Jan 27 - Warmed up a little and rained today. The rain turned the snow into ice and the weight of it broke the main limb of the oak tree in the front yard and it went through the roof. I should have cut that old piece of shit into fireplace wood when I had the chance.
Apr 23 - Took my car to the local garage. Would you believe the whole underside of the car is rusted away from all of that damn salt they dump on the road? Car looks like a bashed up, heap of rusted cow shit.
May 10 - Sold the car, the house, and moved to Florida. I can't imagine why anyone in their freakin' mind would ever want to live in the God forsaken State of Minnesota

Finally the Deer Shot, Don't tell O'Brien

I promised you a photo of the angry doe. Well here she is.

I spotted this small herd of deer while hiking at Fort Snelling State Park. The 6-point buck about knocked me down running across the trail. I grabbed my monopod and started stalking the herd. Surprisingly, they move very slowly. I really wanted another shot of the buck, but this doe stomped out into the clearing and snored her disapproval. I actually had time to set up a tripod before she snored again and started stomping toward me. I shot a few photos and then backed off. The DNR Ranger (who loved my photo) told me she was probably protecting a fawn and would have attacked. I was wise to back off. I just wish the buck would have reappeared.

If you wonder where I get my sense of humor, it is from my Dad. I discovered that Thursday evening.

He has his good and bad days. Up until Saturday he was, well, Dad. Sunday and today he slid back to basically being an old man who struggled to know who I was. He didn’t remember Thanksgiving (that is all he talked about for 2 days) and kept asking me if I knew about our brother who was killed in WWII. (My Uncle Philip died in New Zealand in 1942 during a classified mission.) I corrected him several times, telling him I was his son. He got quiet for about a 30 minutes, then announced he would like to do something.

I loaded him up and went for coffee at a local coffee shop. There he grumbled about the cost of coffee, eyeballed the waitress and announced my availability along with his desire for a grandson. After the waitress slipped me a fake number that we both did to quiet Dad down (she was a high school student for God sake) my matchmaker Dad was happy and ready to go back. He actually likes it at the assisted living home. He just has moments where he thinks it is boring and time to leave. I guess I am here to remind him how good he really has it there.

Now let’s step back to my wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. There is a side note on the sunset photo story that happened the next day. Cheryl, my Sister, hosted this rare family moment and wishes to top it for Christmas. She wants our Brother Phil up here for the next holiday meal. His son is working and unable to bring his father up here for Thanksgiving. She suggested I drive down to pick Phil up and bring him up to celebrate Christmas with the entire family, then return him to the nursing home the next day. When I mentioned to her that that is a 6 hour trip and I would be spending 24 hours on the road in 3 days, she sharply ask, “Did you have any other plans over the holidays?”

DOH!

Thanksgiving Sunset

I was taking my Dad back to his place after a GREAT Thanksgiving dinner (my first with the family in 30 years), we pulled away from my Sister’s house and saw a gorgeous sunset. I quickly jumped out of the car, grabbed my camera and started snapping away. My poor Dad sat in my car patiently waiting for me to finish. I spent about 15 minutes getting a variety of shots and slipped into the driver’s seat impressed with the evening sky.

My Dad looked at me and said, “You acted like that was the last sunset you would be seeing.”

“Did you see that sunset?” I questioned.

“Yes and I would like to see more. Set the emergency brake next time you hop out of the car.”

I glanced down and noticed he had his foot firmly pressed against the brake pedal. I quietly replaced his foot with mine, started the car and shifted it into gear. As I drove down the road my Dad quietly muttered to himself, “And they took away MY car keys!”

Needless to say, Dad was having one of his better days.

The three attached photos were taken (according to my father) at great risk to his well being. I hope you enjoy them.

A Fowl Day

Look what I found today. A young female bald eagle. I was wandering down the Pike Island Trail on the Mississippi River side and looked up and spotted the eagle sitting on a branch. I grabbed a few shots from behind then quietly made my way to the river bank and walked right up to her. She watched me closely but seemed a little more interested in the river. I snapped a bunch of photos hoping it would fly off to get a fish or something. This bird was HUGE! You do not realize it until you are right there upon them. It must have been 3 foot tall.

I stood there for about 10 minutes photographing the bird, waiting for it to make a move. It suddenly pushed off from the branch and swooped toward me. It scared me shitless and I quickly dropped to one knee hoping she wasn’t after me. Then she banked sharply toward the river and was gone. And did I get that wonderful shot? No! My camera battery died and I was in the process of changing it out when she decided to spread her wings.

I called my sister who worked at that state park (Fort Snelling) and related my experience. She laughed and said it was probably a hawk. Cheryl said that there were a couple of young eagles about 10 miles down the river, but I was too close to the city to see bald eagles. Later that day, I wandered into the visitor center for the park where everyone had heard the story and was having a good laugh about my “adventure”. I showed them the photos and they suddenly were asking me a lot of questions like where, when, descriptions. Then several rangers headed out with GPS and cameras to search out the young eagle.

My sister has called me twice tonight asking for copies of the series of shots. She explained that they were able to spot is again, but couldn’t get close enough to see if it is one of the young eagles from down river. They seem to be excited that they have a bald eagle visiting their park.

Well, I have new photos from my visit to Fort Snelling State Park. I am hoping they will be as interested in them as they seem to be with my eagle photos.