Shell Game

Recent efforts to close our 30+ year-old checking account with a big bank and move our daily finances over to a credit union have me thinking about money in an entirely different way. The impetus for this transfer was some mailings from the bank regarding changes in the fee structure and loss of the opportunity to earn points. Frankly, the bank had just stopped selling itself as the financial provider of choice and it was time to move on.

For those of you who have had a long term relationship with a bank, you know the transition is not easy. I’ve had to start over with direct deposits, automatic withdrawals and on-line bill pay. I keep remembering yet another entity that hit the checking account without me having to think about it. In addition, the current bank has a nifty auto-reconcile feature using Quicken, something the credit union does not offer. Math is not my forte.

What’s funny to me is that throughout this whole process I haven’t touched a single piece of currency. It’s all virtual. In fact, when I think about it, I haven’t actually been paid in cash for work in years. Neither has Dan. The money I’m dealing with seems like more of an idea than a reality.

How many of us can draw a straight line between work and money? When was the last time an employer handed you cash that you in turn took to the grocery store and used to buy food? I haven’t received cash for work since I provided in-home childcare services. The money I earned seemed to mean a lot more to me then. Its immediacy to the job I performed gave it special relevance. I bypassed using the bank because I had the cash I needed to access the goods and services the family consumed on a daily basis.

So, I have to wonder, if as a society (broad generalization here) we’ve become so disconnected from currency and it’s real value that we no longer understand what it means not to have money. It’s just numbers on a computer screen, or a point of purchase touchpad. For so many of us it’s a magic card that works like a Disney fast pass, providing instant gratification.

On Saturday, our debit card was cancelled due to suspicion of fraudulent charges generating from Bolivia. Our card was declined at the grocery store, the computer ink store and the ATM. We couldn’t pay and we couldn’t get currency. Brief panic ensued until we regrouped and tapped other options. I had momentary flashbacks to living “from check-to-check” and praying that an unforeseen ear infection didn’t derail our delicate financial balance. In that instant I was reconnected with so many people in the US that are just trying to have their voices heard. They’ve watched the financial shell game go on long enough, as banks and governments shift virtual dollars, playing chicken with real people managing the real needs of real lives.

Somewhere in Bolivia someone charged $63.00 for a cab ride. Somewhere in California there are some protesters getting over pepper spray. All over Milwaukee there are moms wondering what they are going to do about rent…and breakfast. Just south of us a close relative is moving on after being laid off last week. Somewhere in Canada there is a millionaire banker who couldn’t care less that Paula Johnson moved her checking account to a little credit union. We lead a blessed, blessed life, and I need to be reminded of it more than once every 30 years.

The Reality of Fantasy Fest

It took a few days of reflection, but I’ve concluded there are both glaring differences and striking similarities between lots of things. Some examples include jet skis and motorcycles; shirts and body paint; people with cameras and people with cameras; sitting at the beach and sitting by the pool; and men wearing socks and men wearing socks. For my 14 loyal readers out there, you know that last week was our third trip to Fantasy Fest, a week long party in Key West Florida. What a blast.

I have written about our first Fantasy Fest before—how Dan researched it for two years prior, and as I’d walk past the computer and catch images of people in paint or wearing next to nothing, my comment was always the same: “If you expect me to wear something like THAT you are sadly mistaken.” After this year, I realize that somewhere in the great internetosphere, some wife is possibly looking at photos of me and saying the same thing. But I am getting ahead of myself…

For the Loyal 14, you’ll recall that in a previous post I wrote about my love of roller coasters and high speeds. While I wanted to do it last year, we never seemed to find the time to take a jet ski around the island. And while I mentioned it several times over the winter, I can’t say that Dan yelped with excitement. So when I stopped at a booth to inquire on price and availability, I looked at Dan, and he had the same plastic smile I’ve seen several dozen times down in Disneyworld as we’d queue for a coaster. And as I did on those occasions, I smiled back and charged ahead.
 

We arrived at the dock, were given some brief instructions (Dan was driving—he has a sport bike—how hard can this be?) and we were launched. Everything was fine until we started to move. The jet ski seemed to veer to the right on its own. Dan would slow down and correct, then veer again. Falling behind our tour group Dan would accelerate only to suddenly veer left or right. His cursing started off soft, but grew ever louder. He was now carpeting the Key West harbor with F-bombs, screaming that he wanted to return to the dock. Thankfully our guide stopped after about 10 minutes to see how everyone was doing. Dan piped up that he’d love to return to the dock and get on a motorcycle. The guide said this: “Leaning does nothing. Speed is your friend. It goes wherever you point the handlebars.” Dan said later that those same instructions on his high center of gravity V-4 Sabre would allow you to taste the wonder of God’s gravel and pavement.

The rest of the trip smoothed. Pretty soon I was hanging on tight and squealing with delight as we bombed over the waves at well over 40 mph. The trip was over way too soon.

That was also on Plaid Tuesday. The day I had decided to get body paint on my upper body (gulp). My skimpy costumes of the previous nights included items that kept me safely covered. At the appointed time we jumped on our bicycles and headed to the paint shop. Most painters are located next to the sidewalk. My painter, Frankie, was located away from the street, but not behind a closed door. In a moment of truth I had to take off my shirt (double gulp). Leaning does nothing. Speed is your friend. It goes wherever you point the handlebars. For the next hour I sat topless as Frankie applied one color after another, working to match the plaid shirt that Dan was wearing. A finishing spray of light lacquer and Frankie was done. He signed his work, took a photo for his album, and I was walking toward a packed Duvall Street wearing shorts, socks and gym shoes. And it was fine.

Looking at the pictures, I was more covered by paint than I was or would be by clothes at several other parties. Which brings me to people with cameras.

There is etiquette at Fantasy Fest when it comes to people with cameras. Here is our version of the rules:

1.) You compliment the person on their costume or paint

2.) You always ask if you can take a picture

3.) You snap the photo of the whole person—no zooming

4.) You thank the person for the photo

5.) You must be in costume/paint to ask for or take a photo

These people can take my picture all night. It’s quite flattering to be a 54-year-old mom of two and to be asked for and to be in lots of pictures—often with other partiers half my age. And then there are The Creepers.

These men are usually white, obese and alone, with high-end cameras and big lenses being used at close range. They:

1.) Step in front of you so you can’t get past

2.) Snap away without asking, confident that neither your chin nor navel will be in the frame

3.) Follow you around if they don’t get what they want

4.) They don’t wear a costume

I put up with it at first, but it got old. One memory: In Capt. Tony’s one night, a creeper would not take my repeated turning away as “No.” He kept trying to get his shot. Dan, sensing my discomfort, did what any Midwesterner would do. He set down his drink, reached out his right hand, and introduced himself. I only saw it from the back, but Dan, smiling, stood there for five to ten seconds, and then released his handshake, turned around and picked up his drink. The creeper said nothing, but turned and left. Only later did Dan admit what happened. There are advantages to lifting heavy things all the time. You can administer a crushing handshake while never losing your smile.

Late that week, Dan had painted on his back “Next year I’m coming as a creepy fat guy with a camera and no costume.” He got a lot of compliments.

And then there is the beach. We sat on the Southernmost beach for a few hours pretty much every day. It is a top optional beach and I absorbed a winter’s worth of Vitamin D. Fletcher, the man who runs the beach and takes care of the beach chairs, will bring around frozen strawberries or frozen towels or put beads on the ladies’ heads or just stop to chat and it’s just natural. Back at the pool by our condo, had something happened to my top I’d be grabbing for a towel. Yes, private pool is on the list for next year.

Lastly, socks. There is an icon on that same beach that we call Sock Man. He’s been there for years. Buff, tan, and wearing a hat and a sock on a string (but only one and not on his feet). As best we can tell, it’s his only job. I don’t really have an analogy to other men in socks—I guess he just popped into my mind.

The most important things I take away from our week in Key West have nothing to do with the pictures or the costumes or the paint or the parties. They have to do with how much more fun we are having as individuals and as a couple. It’s a wonderful emotional connection to Dan and despite the crowds we do focus on each other. We are a couple in love, and in love with fun and adventure. Dan always says “Have fun every day. You’ll be dead a long time.” We're working on the fun, for sure.

Key Distraction

For the past few weeks Dan has been preoccupied with work. Employee reviews, trying to spend capitol dollars before year-end, wrapping up several big projects, etc. So preoccupied that his usual "Holy Cow--Key West is XXX days away!" e-mails I'd get every day last year vanished months ago. But his mood is lifting in fits and starts. The costumes are ready, the condo key will be in the lock box when we get there, our roomies will do the grocery shopping on the way down so food, beer and wine will be ready on arrival. I just need Dan to focus on the Keys. Just think about the Keys. The work stuff will pass. The Keys are right around the corner.

This morning I got another snarly cell phone call as Dan left one meeting on the road to another. I continued to type, interjecting a "Yes dear" and "I understand" and "That's terrible" as appropriate. "Dan, think about the Keys!" 

That rant finished, I went back to work. 30 minutes later he called back, apologetic, and with a better tone. The first night in Key West is a little black dress party. I have several, and I asked Dan to look through my closet, and if he didn't find exactly what he was looking for, we'd go shopping tonight. (He won't find the perfect dress, of course, because I'll reject them all.) His mood brightened noticeably at that prospect (Dan loves to act as my personal shopper). "Well, I just pulled into work--gotta go!" he announced. I hung up. 

Two minutes later my phone rang again. "Um, guess what?" a sheepish Dan asked.

It took me almost two hours to drive from Glendale to Waukesha and back to Glendale today. I had to unlock Dan's car. Clearly he was not thinking about the keys when he got out and locked the door. But based on where I know his mind was, I think he's moving into full-on Keys vacation mode.

Roller Coaster

I happen to love roller coasters. I like standing in the line and chatting with the captive group that surrounds you. I like hearing the enthusiasm of people anticipating the thrill of the upcoming ride. I like climbing into the car, securing myself into the seat, getting a good grip and listening to the click-click-click as the train climbs the first big hill. I love the building anxiety of wondering what that first drop is going to feel like. I love the pause as you crest the top of the hill and then the sudden rush as you plummet to the bottom, only to hit another incline and experience the next high speed thrill. And I love getting back in line and riding the coaster, again and again.

This last week I had the opportunity to attend a professional conference at Disney World. For a theme park/roller coaster junkie like me the icing on the cake was also being asked to present information about a major work project I manage. I was asked and happily got in the line. I agonized over the story I would tell and how I would visually present it. I practiced in front of Dan at home and a friendly audience at work. I arrived at the conference and checked out the room. I was introduced, got up and delivered the content to an audience of 50+ strangers.  I experienced the thrill of a solid performance and strong finish. I felt the rush of applause and the excitement of answering questions. And I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Roller coasters are a great metaphor for my life. For years I sat back and watched as world went by, enjoying the stories told by others and looking at pictures of their adventures.  I hit my late 30’s and found myself looking back with regret at what I had missed and the chances I hadn’t taken. Somewhere, between then and now, I’ve come to realize that a good personal stretch is worth the effort. The commitment to get in line and take the steps needed to reach the goal, the thrilling payback, is absolutely a critical part of the ride.

I know that life isn’t easy, or always fun. Sometime the amount of time you have to spend in the line for the roller coaster makes you doubt the potential payback. But wow, when the train comes to a stop and I’m feeling that zip of conquering a fear, I’m so glad I invested the energy.

So, stay tuned, next up – some daily accounts of fun and sun from Key West and … Fantasy Fest!


Music that resonates:
Life is a Roller Coaster -- Ronan Keating

Vanilla Teasers in Paradise

Vanilla

First off, we need to talk about vanilla. Could there be anything more dull? But the word has a fascinating history. The Spanish sailors, arriving in the New World, encountered this fragrant plant. The flower bore a resemblance to a part of the female anatomy they had not seen in many months. Suddenly, dull ol’ vanilla is one hot word. 

In a post I wrote on January 6, 2011 called “Do it yourself, Atomic Boy”, I mentioned “Vanilla Teasers”, with the promise of an explanation. So here it is. I’m a Midwestern girl, with corresponding sensibilities, modest wardrobe and approach to life. Serious risk taking scares me, especially when it involves a personal investment. Five years ago Dan began researching this wild, week-long party in Key West called Fantasy Fest. Dan, always crazy over Halloween, became possessed with the idea of going. I’d walk past the computer to see picture of painted, scantily clad people and would remark “If you think I’d wear something like THAT you are sadly mistaken.” Dan’s comment was always the same. “Feel free to wear a Burqa, I just want you to be comfortable and have fun.” For two years Dan corresponded with Fantasy Fest veterans about the things to do and not do. During that time two ladies sent me almost the same e-mail: “Hon, take that special nightie that you would only wear on special occasions and throw it in your suitcase. By the third night you’ll wear it out on the street.” Dan was dealing with some freaks—an intervention may be in order.

Gradually, partly due to exercising, I started looking at those pictures differently. I starting seeing that these were not all 21-year-old hard bodies at this shin dig, there were a lot of women like me. In fact, there were a lot of women there who clearly didn’t run, bike, swim and lift heavy objects for no reason. I started looking at the nightie drawer with possibility.

With that said,  two years ago I somewhat reluctantly agreed to our first Fantasy Fest. On our first trip we were joined by four great friends. We all researched the themes for the nightly parties, brought appropriate costumes, participated in the four-hour long parade down Duval Street, and had a wonderful time. Back at home, we downloaded the borrowed laptop where we had stored photos during the trip. As we watched the 1200-plus photos transfer, Dan looked at me with just a bit of surprise, and commented that “it looked like you had more fun than I did!” It was a revelation for us both.

Last year, Dan and I returned on our own. I bought some new swim suits and planned costumes for the evening events. Wearing one of my outfits—completely covered, mind you--many people with cameras asked the 25-year-olds wearing just paint to move so they could get pictures of me. One flash after another, the reason for lifting heavy objects was made clear.

In another instance a sly over the shoulder smile and a kicked-up leopard high heel resulted in hundreds of flashes going off at once. So many, in fact, that Dan didn’t get the shot. “My God, you just channeled Betty Page,” was his remark as I walked back to him. (From Dan, there is no higher compliment in the world.) A photographer who did get the picture shared it with Dan. It hangs in our Betty Page room, unless the room is set to a “G” rating, as it is for most parties (more on that in a future post). Affirming? Yeah, I’d say so. Times one hundred.

Prior to last year’s trip Dan had proactively participated in an internet forum and made virtual contacts with other people who were also going. As we were not traveling with friends this seemed a good way to make introductions prior to the week. As a result, we were invited to two parties.  The first, a clothing optional pool party; the second a surprise birthday party.

Yes, you just read clothing optional pool party. For Dan, no problem, as he constantly reminds me that when it comes to men, “you can’t think simple enough.” For me, that falls under unbelievably serious risk taking. After all, I’ve got a 53 year old body marked by significant stretch marks, a nasty C-section scar and I suffer from the cruel effects of gravity (stupid, stupid laws of physics). However, as the invitation reads “optional”, then I have the option to leave all my clothes on.

The day arrives, we get on our rental bikes and head over to check it out. I must admit that I was repulsed and intrigued by the idea of witnessing a few naked people eating picnic foods. We walked in the courtyard and found, I don’t know, maybe 150 naked people in and about the pool. Dan immediately stripped off his suit and jumped in the pool. After about 5 minutes, and feeling self-conscious because I was overdressed, I lost half my suit and found Dan in the pool.  What passed was a surreal afternoon of people talking about their kids, their jobs, the ingredients in the chip dip and the next vacation on their calendars. We stayed for about 2-hours, met some very nice people and had a great time.

"Red" night

That evening, the night-time theme was “Red”. We put on our outfits and headed out to the first stop, Captain Tony’s.  There was a nice crowd, live music and pirate’s punch. Standing near the bar a couple who had been at the pool party stopped to say hi. Conversation was animated and we found a lot to talk about. He and I had worked for the same employer; he had taken a work transfer to Florida. She (as Dan has reminded me 100 times since) was wearing a skin-tight, one piece white Speed Racer jumpsuit unzipped far enough to fit in at Fantasy Fest. Needless to say, she and Dan were having an intense conversation. And then there were the odd comments that her husband would lean over and whisper in my ear. Did I just hear what I think I just heard? Yes, that’s what I thought I heard.

So, he comes right out and asks “What do you guys do for fun?”

Dan turns to me and says, “Paula, why don’t you start?”  (I slowly turned and stared at Dan, thinking really, are you really that unaware?)

I slowly turned back, smiled and said, “Not so much.”

Him, “Not so much?”

Me, “No, not so much.”

Him, “Well when you take out the not so much, how much is left?”

Me, “Not so much.” (I’m an outrageous flirt, that’s all the much he was going to get.)

Him to his wife, “They’re ‘not so much’.”

Her, “Really?”

Him, “Yes, let’s go dance.”

And off they went. Dan turned to me and asked “what the hell just happened?” I grab his hand and walk as fast as I can out the door and down the street. About a block away I finally stop and say, “They were SWINGERS, they wanted to have sex with us.” Dan, momentarily stunned, replies “But she was hot!” (Insert the sound of an old transmission being shifted without the use of a clutch.) The bulb still not coming on. “Dan, they wanted to have sex with us!” You can now hear the gears starting to engage. Dan repeats “But she was hot!” I wait, knowing that shifting Dan out of “I get to stare at cleavage” mode takes a while. He gets a huge smile on his face and says “high-five, we’re HOT.”  And it is true, when it comes to men you can’t think simple enough.

We meandered through various bars and at midnight found our way over to the surprise birthday party. Walking into the backyard we once again find people in various states of undress. This time, we both stayed fully clothed. We started talking to one couple, from Minnesota. She was wearing a snowflake skirt and no top. He had on a shirt and shorts. Suddenly, there it was again, were we interested in a little fun? Dan jumps in, confessing to having “fallen off the turnip truck earlier in the day” and no, thank you, we were not interested. They were totally cool, as was Dan. I, on the other hand, had had enough, it was time to leave.

The next day we had reservations for a clothing optional cruise. Dan, sensing my displeasure with the entire turn of events, figured we would just skip it and head to the pool for the day. My Midwestern frugality kicked in and I insisted we go – it was pre-paid. At the pier we found a group of 30 people, many who seemed to know each other already. We recognized one couple and Dan bravely stepped up to chat. We introduced ourselves and Dan relayed our “adventures” from the previous evening, quickly setting expectations that we were not looking for any extra-marital activities.

This was our introduction to our now dear friends from central Wisconsin who started laughing and nodding in understanding. She explained that they were not interested in that either and, in fact, there is a name for couples like us – “we’re Vanilla Teasers.”  Fun to be around, but no funny business. Since then we’ve had several opportunities to spend time with our new Vanilla Teaser friends and have enjoyed their company immensely.

So this year, we are heading back to Fantasy Fest, members of a club we never knew existed. Our wonderful new friends are going as well.  And I’m proud to be a Vanilla Teaser, in a 32+ year marriage that allows me to enjoy a week of wearing costumes and paint, a clothing optional cruise, a lot of flirting – but not even a thought of chocolate syrup, whipped cream or colored sprinkles on my vanilla fun.

Voices

For as long as I can remember Dan has been telling me about the seven distinct voices in his head. They join him on projects, talking him through the work to be done; they pipe up when he’s problem solving, weighing in on the options; and they fill the silent spaces if the radio or TV aren’t on (WDRJ, 24/7), reminding him of things he has to do. I’ve always just smiled and thought his head must be a confusing and noisy place, but I never really knew what he meant.  Until today.

Dan and I were up at 4:40 a.m. so I could get to Williams Bay for my first Olympic Length Triathlon. The Lake Geneva Olympic Triathlon is a 1 mile swim; 26 mile bike ride; 6.2 mile run. This was my first attempt at these distances, having conquered the sprint distance a few times over the last two years. Last winter my trainer, Steve, challenged me to move past my comfort zone. It’s funny, the things we say yes to, when the snow is flying and an outside race is months away.

Dan dropped me off at the staging area around 6:00 a.m. The race crowd was a bit different than I was used to. My previous races were for women only.  This was a co-ed race with four distance options, a super-sprint, sprint, Olympic and half-Ironman. It was a whole new ballgame and I was feeling unworthy. The race didn’t feel as well organized as I racked my bike in an unmarked spot I hoped I’d be able to remember. All around me were really fit looking athletes with expensive gear. And the biggest difference I noticed? I was old enough to be their mom – the whole damn lot of them.

I put on my wetsuit and headed to the swim start. The half-Ironman group would start first, then the women in the Olympic length race. As I looked over the lake I expected to see a well marked swim course, as in previous races. What I saw was a line of about six buoys and a few boats on either side of what you might call a large lane. There was no pre race pep talk, just some guy yelling into the megaphone that you better know your starting wave because he couldn’t fix your timing if you got it wrong. At that point I realized the prior women’s only races had been positively warm, pink and fuzzy by comparison.

They herded my group over the starting chips, we wade out into the water, the horn goes off and everyone lunges into a swim. I held back for about a minute, waiting for the crowd to clear, as I’ve been pummeled in the past. The water was cold and initially took my breath away. I started to swim, awkwardly, and with very little on my right to sight against I struggled to ensure I wasn’t wasting energy swimming too far off course. I was about 1/8 of the way out and the cold panic was rising in my body. I could feel it. This was not going well. I stopped and started to tread water. I felt totally out of control and needed to get it together. To my left there was another woman, also treading water. I looked at her and said “what am I doing? I don’t know if I can do this.” She smiled and agreed that it was more difficult than she thought it would be. We bobbed there, catching our breath and exchanged names. Her name was Lisa and she asked if I needed help. I said no, I thought I could make it, and unbidden, there was Steve’s voice (voice one),  – “Paula, you’re going to do better than you think.”

We both started swimming again and I settled into a steadier stroke with minimal leg motion (I was going to need them at top form later) and heard Steve coaching me on good swim form. Heading straight out into the water the turn-around buoy came up remarkably fast. So did the wave of swimmers heading back towards me. The race organizers had created a situation where the faster swimmers came right back through the slower swimmers. It occurred to me that I had a choice. I could very easily turn around and head back the other way. I was at least, guessing here, 100 yards from the buoy. Who would know? I would. I got to the buoy, turned myself around and there was Lisa. We had matched each other for speed. We exchanged congratulations and headed back with a renewed confidence.

Triathlons involve a transition area where you move from one event to the next. Once back at my bike, I stripped off my wetsuit, dried my feet and put on my very friendly hard soled tennis shoes. Earlier in the week I had asked Dan to remove the “clip-in” pedals that required special shoes. Dan had thought they were a very bad idea from the start, as I can be “tippy” on my bike. As I slipped my shoes into the familiar but low tech, and loose, toe cages I heard Dan say “Thank you.” Voice two.

The first mile was a monster hill, “the worst” of the course, they said. Climbing that hill, being passed by everyone was humbling. One rider on his way by called it “heartbreak ridge”. A third voice chimed in to help me out – Amberlea – my favorite Spin instructor was talking me through the hill. “Best two minutes of your day, right here, right now.” Up, up and over, settling into a nice ride through the country-side. My bike was acting up, shifting itself on inclines. At one point one of my water-bottle carriers came loose and tipped off the bike, bottle hitting the ground and spilling out. I stopped to pick it up, but that was the only real glitch. Overall, it was a good ride, and I was accompanied by Amberlea for 26 miles, talking me through hills, sprints and surges.

Back to transition and another shoe change, this time for the run. I moved through this fairly quickly and was back on the road, legs feeling like bricks. The route description on the web site had said it was a challenging run. Seriously, the understatement of the year. The first half-mile was a continuous steep incline. I thought for sure there must be a cardiologist at the top of the hill, waiting to pick up a few extra patients. I could only walk; it was faster than attempting to run. I reached the first water stop, the Super Sprint turnaround at ½ mile. The hill started to flatten out, my calves started to settle down and I heard a fourth voice. “It’s only two more blocks Mom, just two more blocks.” My son Carl had repeated this to me during a cross-town tour of Philadelphia, on a most enjoyable day. And there he was telling me in his cheerful way, to go just two more blocks. Yes, of course I can. I began to run.

I hit the quarter distance marker, the turnaround for the 5K and thought, I could do that, I could turn around and finish this, quick and easy. I grabbed some energy drink and kept going. I hit the three mile marker and felt myself settle into an easy jog (I am no gazelle) and felt great. I heard Hunter in my head, “you’re beautiful Mom, I love you”, and he was right, I was beautiful, enjoying a glorious day feeling better than I’d ever felt. That’s five voices. Dan tells me I experienced the runners high. Not sure, but I felt fabulous. The entire running course doubled back so the last mile was mostly downhill. As I headed for the finish line I realized that the challenge had been met, physically, and with the help of my wonderful team of voices, mentally.

Thanks everyone for being there for me. Imagine what I can do when I get the whole crew of seven!

Overall Time = 4:16:50

Swim 48:58 // T1 6:15 // Bike 1:48:46 // T2 7:02 // Run 1:25:52

This old home

I had a moment of clarity this week that really surprised me. Standing in the back yard, watering plants, I realized that I could leave this house. Just walk away. It would be fine. The idea that I would be able to do this also made me a bit melancholy.

I didn’t come to this conclusion lightly. The thing is, I love this house. We bought in July 1996, after 13 years of driving by and wondering if it would ever go up for sale. We put together a financial house of cards to make the purchase possible, a kind of lending hocus-pocus that in it’s day was not to be believed. We moved our two kids from a beautifully remodeled home to a tired old living space that needed a lot of work. And before that, we moved our babies from a cute, remodeled little Riverwest house into our first home in Wauwatosa that also required a lot of work. But that’s another story…

Our house was built in 1882, an old Queen Anne with a turret. In 1927 it was converted to a duplex. Over the years it received varying degrees of love and attention—or not so much. Talking to former first floor tenants; when it started to rain it took exactly five minutes before the water was coming through their ceilings. The 1960’s were not kind to Victorians.

But by the time we bought it the lower space was a beautifully remodeled 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment. We rented that out and moved in upstairs. By October of 2000, our house was one of six featured in the Wauwatosa Historical Society annual tour of homes.  In the intervening years Dan and I (mostly Dan) built 3 bedrooms, bathroom and laundry room in empty space on the third floor; added a second stairway to meet building codes; tore out walls to create a large living room of what had been two bedrooms; created a dining room out of a third bedroom including gorgeous built in cabinets; and removed another wall in the back of the house to create a large kitchen with separate eating area. Did I mention the recovered tin ceiling? The red fireplace?

And the work doesn’t end. Four different colors applied to the exterior require constant touch up. The shady yard is plant and grass resistant. The remodeling is now over 10-years old and starting to look a bit tired. Two big dogs have worn out a few carpets. Home to teenage boys who have since moved on to adulthood, the wear and tear still shows in places.

Then of course we also have tenants living downstairs. An interesting variety over the years. Three medical students; a surgeon, his wife and two kids (the always amusing 2-year old nearly naked Neal); a mom and her high school daughter; and our longest term tenants, a couple. Tenants bring a different level of complexity to home ownership. You share common spaces; you have responsibility for the upkeep of someone else’s living space; you need to make arrangements for unexpected emergencies when you are out of town;  and so on. Until this week, all expected and routine.

At 3:00am on Thursday morning the phone rang. There was a “bat or a bird or something in the apartment, could Dan come and take care of it.” Really? Dan, trooper that he is went downstairs and dealt with the problem. When he returned to bed he said it was a large bat.  I asked him if it was “ a pterodactyl?” No just a big bat that came through an open flue. Great, now we are landlords to the bat cave.

A rainy Saturday morning allowed for breakfast at one of our favorite places. As we debriefed the week Dan told me about the extra effort he had to put in on a Friday vacation day to touch up on the front of the house, having gotten rid of a rickety 40-foot ladder and replacing it with a 36-foot ladder. Yes I said, I’m sure that missing 5-feet really makes a difference. And then we laughed at my Paula-ism, one of many over the years, and talked about how our view of the house, or our home, have evolved.

With mixed emotions our younger boy Hunter and his fiancé leave for LA in just a few weeks. Carl is in Philly. Neither boy is, at the moment, thinking of moving “home.” It’s just us and the dog faced boys.

Dan has commented over the past couple of years that he has “one house left in him.” But this one will require a roof that can be accessed with only a 6’ ladder. And we can trade in the four car garage for a carport—one just big enough for the car we will use to evacuate when the hurricane warnings sound. And a fat tired bike will lean against the back of the house, used almost daily to ride to the beach to just stare at it and say “Damn, we made it.” I love my big old house. But I am ready for someone to love it even more than I do.

Heat

On January 31 I wrote a post called Flakes, about a snowmageddon event scheduled for Wisconsin. It seems only fitting that almost 6-months later I respond to the extreme heatwave currently blanketing the state. After all, we are planning to relocate to a state of excessive heat and humidity. So here goes nothing, my thoughts on a heatwave.


Heat causes stupidity. It does. You get overheated and cranky -- next thing you know you've said something you would never have said on a 60 degree day.


Heat causes misunderstanding. Why? Heat amplifies "every little thing" because you are too physically washed out to preoccupy yourself with activity, so you just sit and think and overprocess.


Heat causes impatience, that get out of my face feeling. Heat expands the amount of personal space we all need.


Heat causes an out of control feeling. True. When it's cold you can pile on the layers. You control your environment through a protective response to the temperature. You can cover every inch of your skin and burrow into a cozy quilt to get warm. When it's hot, it's just hot - no amount of artificial climate control eliminates an overheated feeling.


Heat causes laziness. Witness myself, right now. I've got so many other more productive things on my list, but I'm sitting here, barely typing and feeling smug that I've actually accomplished something. Yah.


Heat transforms animals. The dog-faced boys don't want to go outside. Just too damn hot when you are wearing a permanent fur coat.


OK, that's it, my brain is now officially drained...see my first point above. Stay cool, stay calm, and get yourself a refreshing lemonade.  This too shall pass.

Road Warrior

I seem to be having a love/hate relationship with my bicycle. Biking is one of the few athletic activities I’ve enjoyed my whole life. Even during my most extreme couch potato years I would still get on my bike and go for a several mile ride. There is something about the breeze on your face and the ability to travel significant distances, under your own power, in a reasonable amount of time.   Lately I’ve begun to view my bicycle as some kind of torture device. My old reliable mode of transportation has caused me some mental and physical anguish.

My first mistake was to add toe-cages to my pedals. Of course, everyone tells me I should go to clips and bike shoes, but it seemed an unnecessary investment for a casual rider who participates (competes is totally the wrong word here) in a few triathlons. The toe cages add an extra pull to my pedal stroke and provide just a bit more power and efficiency. The toe cages also add a layer of complexity to starting and stopping during a ride.

On a ride to the lakefront a few years back I stopped behind Dan at a stop sign—but forgot to get my feet down in time. Apparently a stream of curse words issued forth as I fell over sideways and crashed to the pavement. The ride was cut short as I needed some water, a bandaid—and a tall vodka lemonade—stat. Dan didn’t see that fall, but on a recent 50 mile charity ride for the Milwaukee area United Performing Arts Fund my sis and bro-in-law did. I pulled into the last oasis, and parked my bike by simply falling over sideways.  Anyone old enough to remember the show “Laugh-in” will remember Artie Johnson on the tricycle. I am the Artie Johnson of 2011, destined to have a scabby knee well into autumn. It was another ten miles of riding before I got the crudest of care possible (a beer—yuck!), before being transferred to a proper facility that served brunch and mimosas.

Fresh off a successful completion of that ride (and only one crash) I decided to up my biking game. The gym I belong to has a weekly “bike-club”, a group ride. Having taken Spin class at least once a week for about two years I felt up to the challenge. I showed up, appropriately attired and ready to ride. The leader asked if I had ever done this before and what my biking experience was. We talked about the 50-mile ride, my participation in Tri’s and what I hoped to get out of it. He mentioned that he had just completed a long ride the day before and today’s ride would be “leisurely.” Perfect.

Right turn out of the parking lot and up a gradual incline, pedaling my ass off to keep up, and the pace never let up. Hard-core cyclists must have an alternative definition of leisurely. According to my odometer, we covered 4 hilly miles in record time. My heart rate monitor was showing some scary numbers and my lungs were ready to explode. It was clear the group was dogging it on my behalf, very encouraging, yet frustrated with my pace none the less. I opted to drop away, it was my only hope. After assuring the leader that I could get back on my own I turned around to begin the return trip.

Those of you who know me (and have walked in town with me), know that I should not be left to deal with car traffic on my own. When Dan and I reach an intersection he literally grabs my hand and guides me across the street. The near misses I’ve had with cars are the stuff of legend. On one memorable occasion, on our way to Spontaneous Thursday Night at Hectors, I apparently walked out into the path of several speeding cars. Dan pulled me back and began to scream at me (to the amusement of all of the people sitting at the outdoor patio) that WHEN I got hit by the car and WHEN I was laying paralyzed in the nursing home wearing a diaper he WOULD divorce me, sell everything, find a trophy girlfriend and move to the Keys with her, because IF AT 53 YOU CAN’T LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE YOU CROSS THE STREET YOU DESERVE TO SPEND YOUR FINAL DAYS SAD, ALONE AND STINKY. With that he took my hand and led a red-faced Paula to dinner.

Now, on a narrow, two lane road with no shoulder I’m not much more traffic savvy on a bike. Basically, on streets in anything other than my beloved little SUV, I’m a freaking disaster.  I found my way to the bug infested bike trail previously disdained by the cycling group as quickly as possible to ensure a safer ride home. Let us not share this with Dan, OK?

Arriving home, exhausted, hungry and humbled, I thought about one of the reasons we want to move to Key West. The land area of Key West is just less than 8 square miles. We envision leisurely daily bike rides, to the beach, the store, restaurants, and the like on fat tired bikes with big baskets.  Dan has fantasized for years about walking away from our four car garage one last time, knowing the snow blowers, snow shovels, ice choppers and salt bucket will be left behind.  Hanging on a hook above the snow blower will be a well-worn ladies’ hybrid bike—complete with scratched toe-cages.

Music that resonates:

Bicycle Race -- Queen

10 things I learned in Cozumel

Bad Pancake Dive. Thanks to Kate (the girl with no first name—long story—for this one). The first dive of your vacation. It’s always bad, like a “bad pancake”, burnt on one side, raw on the other – you’ll eat it in your kitchen, but won’t serve it to guests. Make it a shallow dive and don’t dwell on the problems because the rest of your dives just get better. Blame it on a short fill tank and your partner. This worked for Dan.

Underwater photography. Awesome. This point and shoot girl found a new reason to dive more than once per year. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. For the first time ever I understood the importance of getting the right angle on a subject and patience for the right natural light.  One out of 30 pictures is a keeper, but when you get it right it’s really satisfying.

It’s about the light. Our little camera did a yeoman’s job, but a bright strobe is required to bring out the color in underwater life (It's not all blue and green, depth washes out the red). We’ll be stopping by the dive shop to rent the right gear before we dive again. I now (slightly) regret the Evil Eye I gave Dan when he bought the dive case last year right before we went to Key West. Sorry sorry sorry.

  

Pay for quality. We dive with the same dive center (Dressel Divers based in Spain)  every year. We trust them, their equipment and their expertise. We pay extra. Unlike divers who debriefed with us at the pool bar, we’ve never been LEFT BEHIND by the boat or been forced to squeeze an air hose to keep the air flow to a manageable level. Vince, Jake, Eduardo, Nat, Kate, Mattan, Michael to name a few—Thank You!

Don’t dive wearing green eye shadow. Or perhaps it would be better if you just say NO to the Star Friends when they want you to be in the show. Dan said yes and found himself wearing a dress, covered in make-up. He effectively removed most of it, but the next day, in the sunlight, his eyes were nicely framed by vibrant green eye shadow.

Air pig. An air pig is someone who uses up the air in the tank before their dive buddy. That would be Dan. Except twice, when I was taking lots of pictures and working hard to get close to subjects, then I was the air pig and Dan was forced to ascend with 1000 PSI.

Neutral buoyancy.  Dan is the master of “neutral buoyancy”, in which the diver’s body mass equals the mass it displaces in the water. A diver who has attained neutral buoyancy won’t sink or rise without physical exertion. If you struggle to achieve neutral buoyancy on your own, then dive with a partner that can. And never do a safety stop (15 feet/3 meters for 3 minutes) without one.

Bacon is universal. This highly sought after food is desired by every dive master in Cozumel, a big stack (on bread with cheese, please) will bring a ready smile and extra attention. Jake: “My Precious.” Nuff said.

You need a pirate in every port. (OK, I knew this already) It’s especially important when you are going to miss a pirate kiss on “spontaneous Thursday night at Hector’s”.  Then a pirate kiss in Cozumel, in another Mexican restaurant named after a Pirate, by a friend who IS a pirate is just as wonderful. It really is good to have pirates everywhere. (And Dan had no issues getting the Ms. Pirate kiss on the cheek from the very pretty Sandy in congratulations for our 33 year wedding anniversary.)

L-R: Pirate Michael, barman, France, Sandy

It’s not a party until someone smells like Tequila. So put down the camera. You watch the barman bringing seven two-ounce shots to the table. As he gets close Dan reaches for the camera, and two people leap into poses—and knock five of the seven shots into France’s lap (the person, not the country.) He brought more.

In summary, if we don’t move to Key West I could be talked into moving to Cozumel.  Can’t wait to dive there again next year.

Is that AM or PM?

New Orleans. The Big Easy. As in the Big Easter 2011. And along with it, the Crescent City Classic (10K). This is the third year we’ve gone to NOLA to run this race. It’s a family gathering of “runners”.  This year we had a group of 11 (Dan, myself, Carl & girlfriend Amanda, Hunter & fiancée Megan, sister Kris & husband Chris, niece Jess & boyfriend Bill, and nephew Eric). We all sign up for it months in advance. We buy new running shoes for ourselves and the boys. It’s a healthy plan for a family vacation. In New Orleans.

The race is on Saturday morning. The group arrives on Thursday. Plenty of time to get in a good rest, some healthy New Orleans food, New Orleans hydration and New Orleans stretching.

We check in to our interior rooms at the Place ‘d Arms, meaning no windows, because windows are $20 per night more, and I thought I should save some money. The mushrooms are free. And delicious. 

We have been here 20-25 times over the years and surprises are, well, New Orleans. For example, Dan losing a pair of underwear on the first night of our stay while a used condom “appeared” in the wastebasket of our bedroom would have—in any other city—been grounds for tears, recrimination and possible divorce court. In this case it was “Huh, how bout that?—can you get me some tea?”

On Thursday night we meet up with everyone and find some food. A lovely meal at Maspero’s followed by a stop at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop for the second best Hurricanes in the world (Dan’s, of course, are the best.) Some in our group prefer beer and those are reasonably priced at Fritzel’s. We end the night at Flanagan’s playing pool. Chris is really good at pool. OK, it was a late night, but we still had more than 24-hours before the race.

Up the next morning. A nice light continental breakfast in the courtyard, then off to Johnny White’s for Bloody Mary’s. At some point on Friday we needed to pick up our race numbers. And get the free beer. Abita sponsors the race and they want everyone to have lots of fluids. We get our shirts, a few beers, one high-protein bar, more beers, some free food, more beers, a t-shirt that says “Slow is the new fast”, more beers, topped off by more beers. Did I mention the free beer?

People split off and go their separate ways. I, of course, determined that I would not drink anything alcoholic that evening.  No toxins in the system as I did not want it slowing me down. We returned to the hotel and found our group had splintered. We now had runners and walkers. The “have more fun group” consisted of my sister Kris, her son Eric, my son Carl and Hunter’s fiancée Megan. They had a plan to carry drink mixers and take the route at a manageable and well hydrated pace. No problem. This now meant that Kris could indulge her desire for a “double-bacon” (that means one-pound) BLT. Well OK then!

Saturday morning. The group gathers. Carl was the first one in the courtyard and hoping others would be a no-show so that he could go back to bed. (His girlfriend Amanda had already decided that was only place to be on a Saturday morning. Smart girl.) No such luck. We downed water, coffee, Gatorade and granola bars. The runners left for the start. A record 22,000 plus were registered for the race. Hunter had bet both his Dad and Uncle Chris $100 that he would run the best time. By the time the gun went off that had devolved into a gentleman’s agreement, no money on the line.

The race itself was a slog. More of a swim through thick humid air than a run. Hunter ran too fast during the first mile and paid for that the rest of the way. He and Chris finished within 2 minutes of each other (Hunter was first). The rest of us runners did the best we could and were all happy to at least finish.  The “have more fun group” found the race passed them by as they waited in line for a port-a-potty – too much hydration did them in!

There were also some lessons learned.  By the end of the week I knew that $20 per night is worth every penny for a window in your hotel room.  There is something really unsettling when you look at a clock and you’re not sure if it is AM or PM. Lay down for a nap at 3 and at 5 you are wondering if you slept through until morning. A windowless room is incredibly dark and any light you leave on is overly bright. Add to that Dan’s inability to sleep in silence and the constant noise of WWOZ, the local New Orleans Jazz public radio station he tunes in to compensate, and you go just a little crazy. One night I was positive they were reading newspaper articles on air. Turns out they were, the tuner had gotten bumped to some newspaper station. Dan didn’t care as long as it wasn’t silence. It just kept me awake. Next time I must remember to pack the sound machine.

The kids left on Monday. The adults stayed until Wednesday, eating more rich food and enjoying the great weather. One thing we love to do—as adults who have been to NOLA multiple times—is to sit by the Mississippi and wait for the hustlers to approach. It must be somewhat disconcerting to have four middle aged white Mid-Westerners pick apart, correct and suggest new endings to your hustles. Yes, I know where I got my shoes. Yes, my age never goes down. Do I look like a f’ng tourist?

By the time we got to the airport we were ready to head home, and reality. As we sat in the airport terminal we became aware of a large (and by large I mean that if they had to pay by the pound, and flew naked with no luggage, they would still pay way more than me for each NOLA to Milwaukee ticket) family group sitting behind us. The adults seemed a bit too loud and the kids were quite young. Now, (and I’m sorry for this) Dan finds the Tourette Syndrome voice volcano as funny as the shirt on the T-shirt Hell site that shows a line at sternum height and reads “I’ve had it up to here with midgets.” One of the ladies in this group, after slowly working up to it through tremors or twitches, would suddenly yell out “Fah!” or “CORRR!” or  “PLACE!!” or “BITCH!!!” at full volume. This was while her sister was beating the child who was screaming. Yeah, no wonder Dan thinks driving is soooooooo much better that flying. Corrrrr! Place!! Bitch!!!

One week post race we have great memories of a wonderful family trip. We spent some great quality time with our kids, their delightful significant others and my sister and her family. Yes, most of us ran the 10k. All of us ate too much, drank too much and spent too much money. Oh, and Dan? He gained 6 pounds and never found the missing underwear. And I am grateful he has stopped asking about the condom. 

Spring Cleaning

The path to my first trip to Key West was an unexpected fluke--a surprise monetary bonus for Dan and some spare frequent flyer miles for me and--poof!--we were there. The unexpected surprises continued at our first and second  trips to Fantasy Fest, including last year’s clothing optional cruise. Like most of my gender, I have been programmed since childhood on what a woman should look like, and anything outside of that narrow Hollywood interpretation either needed to get to a gym or a good plastic surgeon. Instead I saw a rainbow of women, and for the first time realized that I looked just fine. That I was actually attractive. And that (gulp, BIG gulp here) Dan wasn’t the only person who might put up with me.

This blog has become more than a fun way to spend some time or communicate with friends. It has become a way to help me think through issues. To reread my own thoughts, and to ask myself why I thought them. This “body” realization made me wonder why I’d always thought that Dan was the only person who would ever love me. Would ever kiss me. Would ever lay with me. But as my horizons expanded with diving and exercise, and as I enjoyed the freedom of public near-nakedness in Key West, I had to acknowledge...her.

For many years she has been a friend and confidant. I have cried on her shoulder when work things went sour. I have whispered naughty secrets after an especially good weekend. Dan has teased me that she checks out my cleavage when I’ve worn low-cut party tops, and I laughed it off. But now I saw everything from a new perspective. How she’d reach out and hold my hand when I’d cried. How she reached up and touched my face when we laughed. Those deep hazel eyes.

I know, no, I knew that she had been attracted to me for a long time, but I only understood it last fall. I wanted to talk to her, to explain that this wasn’t right, and--more deeply--why me?

Dan had an all day meeting in Iron Mountain, followed by a social event with his peers. He’d be gone Friday night, would stop at the cottage on the way home and work on the pontoon boat, and be back late Saturday afternoon. I invited her over for dinner.

Over a glass of wine we talked about the boys. She’s a dog person. Ripley and Otto cleaned out the toy box trying to impress her. In hindsight, I realize I’d done the same. I’d worn my black mesh party bra that Dan loves, and a somewhat sheer cream silk blouse Dan bought me a year ago. I’d made Dan’s Caesar salad, and we ate and talked. After dinner we went back to the living room with another glass of wine. Gradually the small talk seemed to run out. I laughed too long at the end of her little funny story. For a second there was silence. Thunderous silence. And then she kissed me.

Dan shaves and showers every night before bed--he’s a fanatic about it. But I have never felt lips so smooth. Her perfume, always enjoyed from a distance, now pressed to my face. Hands without calluses touching my skin. I get a shiver just thinking about it.

I had never even considered how the passion of a woman might be expressed. While he has become better over the years, sex with Dan depends on how long the foreplay lasts. While lately that can go on for a wonderfully long time, once love making starts it’s 12 minutes--give or take. This was completely different--like comparing a controlled explosion and a long, sustained rolling flame. To be touched exactly as I wanted to be touched. To be kissed exactly where I wanted to be kissed. Our hands, mouths and bodies were as if in a mirror--each doing what the other was doing at the same moment. To have lived this long without knowing how something so slow and gentle could leave me so warm and breathless. And to know that I could give that same pleasure, over and over, left me trembling.

I awoke to the sound of pouring rain, dogs barking, and the whine of Dan’s car backing into the driveway. It took a moment for the events of last night to sink in, and a moment to smell--coffee? I threw on a nightgown and my robe, and picked up my clothes, looking around quickly for hers--they were gone. As I headed down the stairs I heard the back door open--and her voice saying good morning. My heart froze. I walked into the kitchen to see her fully dressed with a cup of coffee in her hand. The mess we’d left in the kitchen was gone, and I heard her say to Dan that after the second bottle of wine she’d decided to just sleep on the couch. “Good plan” Dan said, and he commented that with the rain there had been no point to stopping at the cottage.

As he poured himself a cup of coffee I walked past him and lit the stove for tea. Dan patted my butt and said he was glad I wasn’t alone last night. I will never forget the way she glanced at me as she said “Me too.”

So, what do you think? Publish a little soft porn to supplement our income and speed up our move to the Keys? Happy April first everyone!


Music that resonates:
I kissed a girl - Katy Perry

I am not...

…a runner. The thought flies through my head as I hit the interval button on the treadmill and bump the pace from jog to run. I feel my stride lengthen a bit to match the increased speed of the belt; I feel my feet pounding. There is nothing graceful about my “Barney Rubble” chunky up and down motion.

If I was a runner I’d be tall and thin. Well, at least thin. I would enjoy running outside, something I only do on a race day. I’d have gone through enough pairs of shoes to know when they need to be replaced; instead of complaining about sore knees before someone suggested I invest in a new pair. I’d tick off the miles with a sense of accomplishment, instead of intense relief that my 35 minute run is finally done. I’d run for the joy of running; not because it’s Thursday, and I run every Thursday after work.

 

I am not…

…a swimmer. I love the water, especially the ocean, in the context that it is the perfect backdrop for a beach. “Swimming” is just fine as long as I can touch bottom. I have always been able to keep my head above water, if I have to, and dog paddle my way to safety. Ultimately, learning to swim, really swim, was a means to an end.  You have to swim a whole 200 meters, without stopping, to get an open water diving certification. That’s eight lengths of a 25-meter pool, starting at the shallow end and swimming across the deep end and back to the shallow end, 4 times!

If I was a swimmer I’d hit the pool every Sunday and swim lap after lap, settling into a nice rhythm. My left arm wouldn’t prematurely drop into the water before my right arm had completed its arc. My legs would propel me with a steady, minimal and effortless kick. I wouldn’t be aware of every single motion my body is making, every single breath, every single stroke. I’d be able to swim with confidence across open water without wearing a bouyant wetsuit.

I am not…

…a cyclist. I ride a bike. I always have. In fact, I taught myself with no adult assistance. On Tuesdays I get on a spin bike at the gym. The music propels the motion. I add more resistance; I move through the route with buckets of sweat pouring off my head and down my shirt. My legs burn and my heart rate adjusts with the effort.

If I was a cyclist I’d go for long rides outdoors. I’d have skin tight bike clothes with padding in all the right places. I’d wear expensive cycling shoes and disdain toe-clips. My cadence would not vary because my knowledge of when to shift gears would compensate appropriately. I’d be able to grab quick drinks of water without fear of falling over. I’d carry a spare inner tube and know how to change a blow out.

I am not…

…a gym rat. Yes, I do lift weights three times a week. I have a trainer keeping me on track and honest. I’m accountable to someone else because I can’t be accountable to myself. I’d slide back into my lazy ways, dragging Dan along. So I follow the worksheet, increasing the weight and reps at the prescribed intervals. I keep my training appointments. I fuss at the silly things I’m asked to do, but I do them.

If I was a gym rat I’d spend hours at the gym. I’d strut around lifting stupidly heavy things and making ridiculous noises. I’d camp at a weight machine like I owned it. I wouldn’t slink around hoping no one notices I’m there. I wouldn’t think about how incredibly awkward I look doing a ridiculous exercise called a burpee. I wouldn’t trip over a bench. I wouldn’t rip my headphones off with an errant swing of a weight. I’d know the names of all the regulars.

I am not…

…a quitter. I got into all of this because I wanted to learn to scuba dive.  Diving is an incredibly lazy activity that expends a minimal amount of energy in order to conserve oxygen usage and extend underwater time. Low and behold, learning to swim, then lift and cycle and run made me feel so much better.  And the effect on Dan’s health, as he joined me at the gym, was amazing. By the time we finally move to Key West we’ll be immortal.

If I was a quitter I’d have stopped exercising after passing that 200-meter swim test. I’d be 20 or 30 pounds heavier. I'd laugh at the idea of running only 5Ks and completing only sprint triathlons as settling for less. I wouldn’t have my third 10K race inked in for April, and an olympic distance triathlon inked in for August. I wouldn’t be thinking that a sprint triathlon at the end of summer would be a nice morning spent outdoors. I’d be sleeping late on Saturdays, eating weeknight dinners by 6:00PM and enjoying huge portions of bad food. I wouldn't have a DVR backlog of TV shows waiting for attention.

And this I can say with absolute certainty…

I am not…interested in running any kind of race that incorporates the word marathon…

State of exhaustion

What a stupid week. 

It started out well.  We spent Saturday night in Poynette, at a friend’s house on Lake Wisconsin.  We had enjoyed a lovely evening of dinner and conversation.  The morning brought snowy, sleety weather resulting in a 2-hour white knuckle drive home.  We arrived safely to a delightful breakfast of eggs, hash browns and bacon prepared by our son Carl who was visiting from Philly.  He and his girlfriend Amanda had come in for the weekend and it was great to get some “kid” time.  We had a lovely day and wonderful family dinner that included my sister and her family.  The weather continued to deteriorate, but the warmth in the house was more than enough to overcome the nastiness outside.

After dropping the kids off at the airport early Monday morning, I headed off to work.  I run two big projects and they are both ramping up.  Over the course of the week I facilitated 7 global conference calls, accommodating every time zone for over 200 participants in total; I attended multiple strategy meetings and tied off loose ends on project decisions with our supplier.  Overall, nothing more or less than I would expect to do in the course of working these projects.  It’s always tiring, but rewarding.

What I didn’t account for in my allocation of personal energy is all of the craziness going on at our State Capitol building in Madison.  The news has been magnetic.  The conversations have been riveting.  The anger has been repulsive.  In all, it’s exhausting.  I have learned a few things however and would like to share before I back away completely from the discussions and refocus again on family, job and life in general.

1.  An electoral mandate is not numbers driven.  When 1,128,159 voters out of a possible voter pool of 4,370,000 cast their vote for a candidate, in Wisconsin at least, the opinions of the 1,005,008 participating voters and the other 2,236,833 non voters no longer matter.
2. Listening is free; the ability to listen is a learned skill; the willingness to listen is arbitrary.
3. If facts, reason and logic were enough to effectively persuade, no one would use tobacco products in any form.




Blood Sucking Leech


4. This is a blood sucking leech. I have never conversed with a blood sucking leech at any state agency.  I have only interacted with people, you know, human beings with feelings.  And I was taught by human beings in the public schools.  Nice, dedicated people actually, unless of course I was late with an assignment. Come to think of it, the only place I've ever seen a blood sucking leech is in the lake up-north.  And those leeches were not wearing DNR uniforms.

Agree or don’t, your prerogative.

Now, what I really want to do is get on my bike and ride to the beach.  Except the nearest beach is snow covered, and there is no dude renting beach umbrellas and handing out frozen towels.  I guess I’ll have to settle for a nap.  *Sigh.*