I’m currently at a coffee shop in Boulder, Colorado. I went for a nice short hike this morning and figured I’d type something up for the blog. Over the last month I’ve been in the Denver area but took a short trip to Wisconsin. I originally planned to road trip out to California upon my return from Wisconsin but got hung up in Denver due to car issues. Due to time constraints I had to abandon the road trip idea but got back to work shopping for inventory at estate sales in Denver. I was blessed with dumb luck again in the form of a rare mid century speaker. In a couple of days I’ll return to Houston.
Thus far this year has certainly been a roller coaster of sorts. Several bouts of vertigo followed by a stint in paradise then a month of antibiotics combined with episodes of some of the best dumb luck I’ve ever had leaves me feeling satisfied enough, yet, disconnected if that makes any sense. More than usual, plans have been disrupted. Unsettled is usually something I roll with pretty well. At times I seek it for the sake of keeping life interesting, however, I currently feel a little out of place, a bit sideways, and/or played out. I’ve been oscillating inconsistently between periods of contentment and irritably while pondering the next scene but the background music doesn’t match the screenplay. While distracted or out of sorts I prefer to distance myself from friends etc. as patience can run a little thin when I’m not feeling like myself.
I suppose it’s only natural, as one approaches a birthday divisible by 10, there’s an element of self-evaluation. In a couple of weeks I’ll turn 50. All in all I’d say I’ve had my share successes and failures but can’t really complain. Some things I’ve done really well and other things I could have done a lot better. Riddles and crossroads abound along the path I’ve chosen but I refuse to cut a deal with complacency or sell out for status quo. It’s all relative. As the guru says, “When you come upon a fork in the road, take it”. I don’t have a problem with that. It’s the roundabouts that throw me off.
As I mentioned I took short trip to Wisconsin. I wrote a little about it but never got around to posting. It goes as follows…..
Thursday, August 27, Milwaukee Airport…
Wisconsin is my current place of travel. The somewhat Asian looking hipster barista poured me a stiff cup of mild coffee to pass my time while I await my brother in law, sister, and nephew who will be arriving 3 hours later. I’ve taken a seat at a table beneath a large American flag. The terminal offers a good selection of Green Bay Packer gear. It’s airy with a tall architectural ceiling and relaxed feel. A bar offers serve yourself beer on tap. Internet is free for 20 minutes. I flew out from Denver where I’ve been the last week visiting my mother.
The plane was a small CRJ commuter jet designed for medium sized people and smaller. For once the person sitting next to me was not an overweight business traveler but a nice attractive young woman from Taos, New Mexico who was a pleasure to talk to. That made the flight time pass quickly.
Friday, August 28, Door County Wisconsin…
I awoke from a poor night’s sleep under a slanted roof upon a twin bed in a loft of an old 1940’s summer cabin next to the shore of the Bay of Green. I jumped into my running clothes before heading out to the bunkhouse garage to help round up a bicycle for my fourteen year old nephew. I admired vintage outboard motors as we searched for a pump to fill the bike tires.
It doesn’t get much more Americana than rural Door County, Wisconsin with lots of small farms, red barns, and domed silos. Quiet roads are ideal for running. My nephew cruised along on a bike speeding ahead and lagging behind taking photos with quick breaks to immediately post his day for everyone to see on the internet. A quick four miles was all I needed to reset. The run was followed with a swim in the Bay of Green.
Lambeau Field…
Arguably the greatest and most famous American football stadium in the world is Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers . It’s also popularly known as the frozen tundra with no roof or protection for the bitter winter games. The Packers were formed in 1919 and the stadium was built in the late 1950’s. In more recent times the stadium has seen upgraded but local pride and tradition demands it remain roofless. There is no problem selling out games no matter what the conditions are. It’s the Pride of Wisconsin.
My Brother in law’s roots run deep from Milwaukee to Appleton and Door County to Green Bay. For this trip I was just along for the ride as I got a chance to tour the world he had grown up in. Saturday afternoon was spent at Lambeau simply checking it out, touring the Packer Hall of Fame, and enjoying lunch with beer brewed on premises in honor of Curly Lambeau at restaurant named 1919.
Tradition runs very deep with the Green Bay Packers and pride still maters even though Vince Lombardi, the most legendary football coach of all time, has long left us and Green Bay.
Saturday, August 29, Lambeau Field, Game Day
It cost me two beers when I kicked a football in the parking lot and knocked over another person’s drinks. My brother in law and his best friend from childhood got the grill going. A band in the near distance provided music as we tossed a football with other tailgaters bunched in eating, drinking, and playing games. The colors of the day were green, yellow, and denim.
As time approached for pre-season game three kick off we left the parking lot and joined crowds shuffling slowly like a group of pilgrims headed towards Mecca. Up steps and through an iron framed cathedral like entrance we entered a holy place of great NFL significance.
Being pre-season made the game not particularly interesting but sitting in the stadium under nearly perfect weather conditions while gazing upon the field was very nice and enjoyable. In some ways I’d say Lambeau was on my 100 places to visit before you die list. So, I got to mark that one off.
Our remaining time in Wisconsin was spent at the Lake house. I got in a couple more runs and a little more swimming in the lake. The flight back to Denver was a little exciting as once again I was in a small CRJ commuter jet. We were delayed arriving with a bumpy skirt around a severe thunderstorm with lighting cracking off to the left side view not too far away.
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Well, As earlier stated I’ll be back in Houston in a couple of days. I’ll need to focus on work for a short while but hope to be off doing something more interesting later this fall.
