Maps....What is it about maps?

The information contained in this story is true, non-poisonous, there is no violence, or sex. Well to bad about the last one there were some mighty fine men in Kentucky and Tennessee.  You may enter herein with no worry about bigotry, racism, gender-ism, religion, or any other "ism."

From Northern California to Hilton Head Florida, although not in one trip.  Oh yeah, let's not forget, Ireland, England, and Scotland! Some trips were long, just not that long. I am a topography fan, both in the maps and geo-biological sense. (Got an "A" in Geo-biological Science. Yahoo!)  Oops...this might be an "ism," for which I humbly beg your pardon.

Man, I can digress better than I can cook. Ha! Ha! Ha! Did I say humble? :>)

Back to the story, oh yeah, the story. What is it about maps that brings out the best in most people? In all my travels it is unbelievable, but true, that when I get my map out, it draws people to me like a magnet to nails.

In a small town in Arizona, I am talking about 35 people, okay maybe 50, I
was sitting in the local (only) coffee shop with several maps spread out before me. It could have been that my eyes started spinning like windmills from jumping from one map to another, or simply their better nature. Be the reasons what they may, over walked a man and a woman. We will call them Bill and Ada. My food order had not even been taken and they were drawn to me in the manner which I described earlier.

"Are ya lost (accent on the "t")?, asked Bill, looking gleeful.

"Awh," chirps up Ada, "Don't believe a word he says. He's "awhways" getting lost (accent on the t" -- it's a local thing). I remember one time, back "awhwhile" he ended up in Tempe instead of up here in Flagstaff. How someone couldn'ta noticed they were in the flatlands who "awhad" lived his whole (you can add the awh, I am tired of it) dang life in the mountains is beyond me."

"Ada, what are you talking about?" I was justa havin' me a little aventure (intentional misspelling). I had wanted ta go to Tempe. In fact I'ma thinking of moving down there to retire. It's a hell...excuse me miss, heck of a lot warmer than these mountains."

Ada laughed so hard at his reply she almost fell into the booth where I was sitting. She tried to stop laughing, but giggles and hiccups kept sneaking out every once and awhile. It made me laugh as well, which of course made it worse.

Watching these carrying ons with disgust written all over his face, Bill leaned in to move Ada out of the way.

"Well? he asked.

I did not know how to reply to this one word question. In this conversation I was truly lost, if not in my topographical location. So, I just stared up at him, tilted my head, and raised my right eyebrow.

"Are you lost or not?" asked Bill with an exaggerated pause between each word.

"Ah, well, no." I sputtered between giggles.

"You see, it's just that I am in love with maps."  Bill's eyes nearly disappeared from sight as they rolled upwards.

"Where you from." He asked.

I was afraid to tell him because at the time I was living in Southern California.
Of course I 'fessed up, albeit reluctantly. Bill shook his head and snort-groaned, honest that is what it sounded like. He had one word for me.

"Figures." Ada started giggling again and Bill took her arm and steered her away from me. I looked after them giggling myself. Ada turned her red face back to me, waved, and mouthed, "Bye now."

Do you have any travel stories you'd like to share? I would sure love to hear them.

Later, ya'awhall. (I couldn't resist.)

What a storm we had...

OMG! Last night a real nor'easter settle itself in our town for most of the night. I have never heard thunder that sounded like what I heard during this storm. It was so unbelievably loud and sounded as though Harper and I were in a tunnel with the crashes of the beast echoing off the walls. I am not doing the joke there! You couldn't have imagined any two days in a row being so different.

Friday, Harper and I went to the beach, she ran, I looked for rocks that wanted to come home with me. ;>) Joanie, my sis, is rolling her eyes if she ever reads this. My apartment is turning into a beach itself, with all the sand we bring home.

Okay, so no sleep, a little loopy in the head from it. You know the old saw some are thinking now.

Been invited to my friend Roberta's 50th birthday. No can do buckaroo, it is in New Mexico and the budget cannot stretch that far. But I will definitely be there in my heart. I can hear the Mariachi band already! Oh drat, I will miss Neva's pessole. No one make pessole like she does!!! I can almost taste it now. Well, gotta go now, must pick up some hominy, tomatoe sauce, and pork ribs. If I want to eat it today, and I do, it's got to get simmering soon.

Have a magnificent day!

It's a beautiful morning...from the beach

Everyday here in North Beach is something to glory about. Today the waves are not so lazy, it looks as though there might be a squall acomin'. Both the sky and the lake are in their gun metal grey stage, but still beautiful. When the wind is coming fro the NNE, anything could happen. Whatever goes on, "This is the day the Lord hath made and I will be glad and rejoice in it." (God, in the Bible)

Here's one of my fave quotes. "Believe in life! Always human beings will live and progress to greater, broader, and fuller life." (W.E.B. du Bois, 1967)

Long day yesterday, drove down to my surgeon in Barrington, IL. Lunch at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, yum for the chicken salad sandwhich with cranberries and walnuts. Had to have my third MRI on the knee, back to Illinois on Thursday morning for the results. Dear God, let it be a simple sprain/strain. Whatever is up with this blasted knee will not stop me from rejoicing in my tribulations, which works my patience and endurance. Plus I get a crown of life for staying the journey cheerfully. Doesn't mean I won't cry, wince, or take pain pills some times, but rejoicing is still how I am gonna take it.

Still working slowly but surely on emptying the boxes. Still trying to get rid of half the junk I don't use. I love Goodwill and they love me. Keeping America working in my own small way.

Here in North Beach, I am gathering inspiration from my lake that can translate into pages in my novel (Got Any Rivers...). It has been a long time coming this work of love and commiseration that will, hopefully someday, help at least one teenager, to let them know their suffering, fears, and confusion are understood and shared. It was reading books like Madeleine L Engles "A Wrinkle in Time, "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, all the Judy Blume books, etc&. that helped me through a difficult early coming of age.

So, what's blessing you to day? Where have your dreams taken you? Hope things are at least good, if not wonderful in your slice of the world.

Welcome to the North Beach of Racine Wisconsin

This blog was designed to give us a place to dream. Here you may peacefully meander through your mind, and express your dreams. Dreams are important because they give us a goal to reach for, or bring us to places we have never been. So come one and all and dream, dream, dream.

We should keep it positive so that we may edify all that wander here.

Obviously the picture is not me, but I took the picture and it portrays one of my most favourite things on this planet.