tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41065007083113372272024-03-19T23:17:20.366-07:00I'm Okay in SpainKaterihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.comBlogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-76003905159840931122013-05-17T22:59:00.001-07:002013-05-17T22:59:34.029-07:00White Water Rafting in Wisconsin on the Peshtigo....... and finding uses for a winch beyond the apocalypse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyETBiKMowM5wCnygEaE1pdMqPnGPX48_cV_LJ-Z1yKXtdemkwNrT-l-R9uH3sHeYXR86qO-RtADASjJKD6_baC8FdrxeDuCKTrIWlS69mkaNk431lqtwyAkXXc_tsx8-6pvt5nkVwUcE/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyETBiKMowM5wCnygEaE1pdMqPnGPX48_cV_LJ-Z1yKXtdemkwNrT-l-R9uH3sHeYXR86qO-RtADASjJKD6_baC8FdrxeDuCKTrIWlS69mkaNk431lqtwyAkXXc_tsx8-6pvt5nkVwUcE/s320/DSC_0035.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6vRhiLgtsO9y44xOEzlHEL65rU9bnJlIUf-h7ZEfQqL3XaWMSbzHazO39hZ7hieL_SoESzNaaTruAussS4mwoWzBUgCojCSrSMHciY9fPA6g4GJ0TC2Zw1fM47grITq3hy1nVOcBvuA/s1600/2013-04-20+15.56.38-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">In a season confused last chance at winter trip we headed up north during April. Greg's appeal was to shoot guns and put the Jeep's winch to use on the wooded trails; The prospect of my first white water rafting trip during the highest and most dangerous part of the season sealed the deal for me. Of course I approached it applying the same motto as my latest ski endeavors, "I freaking better not fall. It's way too cold for that crap!!!" Upon arrival at the river, the rafting guides' warnings of possible hypothermia coupled with their guarantee that 15 of our total group of seventy would fall Into the water, heightened the excitement, adrenaline, and pressure to not fall. I really do realize that I'm a little crazy.... All I can say is that I'm lucky that I've found good friends who'll sit right next to me in the raft and on any adventure in life.</span><br />
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On Friday after work we headed up north to spend the weekend at the cabin of our friend up in Silver Cliff, WI. It was a new experience for me because it had no electricity or running water, just a nice fireplace that kept burning 24-7. It reminded me of "The Little House on the Prairie" with the addition of two small bunk rooms that fit four comfortably in each.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VK70UyF6KUsPMldk_uvWfK_vYBqEVY6mtMRuq_NrfYvMZIb0Xfqa6jnD7fSsS11lAZKP5P1S9hdqIoAdaNKaET4DRNzMKF4Lknq1jigeVPh_6dhK1gTdqWkh3qh9U-474Hlf59NkYcM/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VK70UyF6KUsPMldk_uvWfK_vYBqEVY6mtMRuq_NrfYvMZIb0Xfqa6jnD7fSsS11lAZKP5P1S9hdqIoAdaNKaET4DRNzMKF4Lknq1jigeVPh_6dhK1gTdqWkh3qh9U-474Hlf59NkYcM/s400/DSC_0024.JPG" width="400" /></a>After a hearty Saturday morning breakfast and shooting an array of weapons, we headed out on the rafting expedition with <u>Kosirs Rapid Rafts</u>. I definately recommend them for rafting in northern wisconsin. For only something like $40-50 we each rented all the equipment including wet suits and rain jackets. </div>
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From the homebase and the bar, they shuttle everyone upriver to the rafting starting point where they give you a brief lesson about what to expect and set everyone into the water in rafts of two or three persons or these dangerous little things called "fun yaks," which honestly looked far from fun and incredibly dangerous. While we were all fighting for our lives, the "funyakers" as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>they were called, flighted and flipped around, falling or nearly falling out of their rafts at every rushing wave. Anyways, the entire group, in our case nearly 70 people, rafts downstream and ends at the homebase and bar. The length of the trip depends upon the water flow. April, when the snow is melting, is considered peak season. The normally 3-4 hour trip down the river took us only 1.5 hours. At the end of the trip everyone heads into the bar where they show pictures and videos from the adventure. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6vRhiLgtsO9y44xOEzlHEL65rU9bnJlIUf-h7ZEfQqL3XaWMSbzHazO39hZ7hieL_SoESzNaaTruAussS4mwoWzBUgCojCSrSMHciY9fPA6g4GJ0TC2Zw1fM47grITq3hy1nVOcBvuA/s1600/2013-04-20+15.56.38-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6vRhiLgtsO9y44xOEzlHEL65rU9bnJlIUf-h7ZEfQqL3XaWMSbzHazO39hZ7hieL_SoESzNaaTruAussS4mwoWzBUgCojCSrSMHciY9fPA6g4GJ0TC2Zw1fM47grITq3hy1nVOcBvuA/s320/2013-04-20+15.56.38-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our group heading into a big drop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyMyqCki4kZFeikk0DlTuf1L8OM-pbheD2nQoxBKQkxLOC3LvuIPoNudpScbOezisz-WxTKlUkbtwJwhUtMhtBLau_aubyWHssuSkEYjqU_XD1htcUXFx8BZ57dKFuHgo3xnW9BOcVR4/s320/2013-04-20+15.56.41-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is us ALMOST falling, but not quite....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3hxKVqh6G37YbNRoj-87zG72Vz9wxkNlc9W7fpVh2lXXcSKnrpXV7-shd2R2rVnXhV2BkobshlPGwNvDBZgGG1PrfTw4eXK8Z-V86fAEbTuovRENwzJEoUdDlU6yBzg8d_VV-uO2i30/s1600/2013-04-20+15.56.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3hxKVqh6G37YbNRoj-87zG72Vz9wxkNlc9W7fpVh2lXXcSKnrpXV7-shd2R2rVnXhV2BkobshlPGwNvDBZgGG1PrfTw4eXK8Z-V86fAEbTuovRENwzJEoUdDlU6yBzg8d_VV-uO2i30/s320/2013-04-20+15.56.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... because this is after our miraculous recovery!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a favorite of my friend Corrin as she is about to jump overboard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHq-ckR3gPWANYVQHY-xPw-x5_xRrbvmwFtFuKGymz7fqOrtBtrSoV4yxQmaXVmbSVJuTK_BAEyFvE0Wo4mDaAnN6FH_F-eJ0BQe3As3Jrk3PffdNje9vQyiIWpHb8fqFxY_D_3Wbma3s/s1600/2013-04-20+15.56.56-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHq-ckR3gPWANYVQHY-xPw-x5_xRrbvmwFtFuKGymz7fqOrtBtrSoV4yxQmaXVmbSVJuTK_BAEyFvE0Wo4mDaAnN6FH_F-eJ0BQe3As3Jrk3PffdNje9vQyiIWpHb8fqFxY_D_3Wbma3s/s320/2013-04-20+15.56.56-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, the two men styled through it like it was nothing.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLFk-R41aqKz2y9c-ZeSohZrcXrA8xvMnfeENXcMDZKYG6vQNkuJ4e_2uuLhyphenhyphenfA4YIcUfI47jjeUKxn-OJA591r51zMows8_NJTJNbIlkFSPg-6v2mcuNdWKjqSzFHidP-iBXQoidPpo/s1600/2013-04-20+16.04.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLFk-R41aqKz2y9c-ZeSohZrcXrA8xvMnfeENXcMDZKYG6vQNkuJ4e_2uuLhyphenhyphenfA4YIcUfI47jjeUKxn-OJA591r51zMows8_NJTJNbIlkFSPg-6v2mcuNdWKjqSzFHidP-iBXQoidPpo/s320/2013-04-20+16.04.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEclLBf_ZtIjw4rQEwPm7L2wDyRvNHCf5k1gQG6dJI6Jr0QAC_3-rnQm4-FjFoqzfvxla51sbMZpyTGrwVJRZCzJTiGMScgwRbSu_heRFC3Ws5Tc3aN4sfcwkgxagVE1xsmIzJCXxKGI/s1600/DSC_0089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEclLBf_ZtIjw4rQEwPm7L2wDyRvNHCf5k1gQG6dJI6Jr0QAC_3-rnQm4-FjFoqzfvxla51sbMZpyTGrwVJRZCzJTiGMScgwRbSu_heRFC3Ws5Tc3aN4sfcwkgxagVE1xsmIzJCXxKGI/s320/DSC_0089.JPG" width="320" /></a>The last portion of the trip was a sort of "apocalypse survival skill course" (an alternate name could be "putting to use of expensive purchases that may otherwise only come in handy during the apocalypse"). We set out to go off-roading in the snow. My take was that there was an unspoken understanding that we would drive two jeeps out into the snow to trails that we knew would be unsurpassable. There we would get stuck and then the guys would have fun getting them out. </div>
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It was quite fun. Eventually it got dark and the work became tedious and we headed back to the warm, cozy cabin.</div>
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After a weekend of adventure we headed back to the city and our normal lives where we hoped to finally see some signs of spring after the long, dark, cold winter. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-51034952695849005812013-04-28T20:24:00.002-07:002013-04-28T20:24:47.177-07:00Other things near PichilemuAside from learning to surf, there were plenty of other things to keep us busy in Pichilemu and the surrounding area. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7V9WhW9HenUdKvuqpsu28VjBEZ4gCu8SAPC6sSIDY-OM3NhHg8a2NkMQk30RHyyo8mhzZomw4jONyqdbWKJdUSHJe0uAyWf7qfnCT_Y3_6HG8nWkdiwj-Ve3oRbjNi-ePKdupagjIh-o/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7V9WhW9HenUdKvuqpsu28VjBEZ4gCu8SAPC6sSIDY-OM3NhHg8a2NkMQk30RHyyo8mhzZomw4jONyqdbWKJdUSHJe0uAyWf7qfnCT_Y3_6HG8nWkdiwj-Ve3oRbjNi-ePKdupagjIh-o/s320/DSC_0054.JPG" width="320" /></a>Upon arriving we used the bikes from the hostel to visit the town and surrounding area. It was mainly a beach town, but a lot was empty since it was off-season. Things in town seemed to slow down during the afternoon so we adopted a siesta schedule, meaning we ended up taking a nap or resting nearly every afternoon.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvCdGzoi9kinA1l7b4g5p_n8Lflh4wXIWfbgZXfK_r5wBnPUObJ7K_QFRlFV4w0EetzgjJiWHXrFPQoY1bpQdKzyjfqTNSmv-jLolQ4f88ie4rMlvGk8tLS0V1AAfyOjJkzlL51SN2VM/s1600/DSC_0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvCdGzoi9kinA1l7b4g5p_n8Lflh4wXIWfbgZXfK_r5wBnPUObJ7K_QFRlFV4w0EetzgjJiWHXrFPQoY1bpQdKzyjfqTNSmv-jLolQ4f88ie4rMlvGk8tLS0V1AAfyOjJkzlL51SN2VM/s400/DSC_0061.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdUNN2Ps0YtVCeqNA2msgQbzJlVH22zn5JLsWTsqKjO-jJODLbjaAp1HTqegcKZPw0rgGFDeodiqtm0M8SoWVhyphenhyphenjCPWRTGRZU85dpKrHhJNN8eVuksp5MDYkhNFu7GggGyH7rLAAFeV4/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdUNN2Ps0YtVCeqNA2msgQbzJlVH22zn5JLsWTsqKjO-jJODLbjaAp1HTqegcKZPw0rgGFDeodiqtm0M8SoWVhyphenhyphenjCPWRTGRZU85dpKrHhJNN8eVuksp5MDYkhNFu7GggGyH7rLAAFeV4/s320/DSC_0072.JPG" width="320" /></a> We decided that there could be an entire National Geographic episode about "The dogs of the streets of Pichilemu." When we first arrived, and were greeted by gangs of wandering dogs, we were a bit wary and timid, but we soon realized that they were a special part of the town. The street dogs were pretty amazing; They were everywhere. Lots of them. and they were beautiful. They appeared groomed, shiny, and well fed. The dogs wandered wherever they wanted, including inside many of the stores and their manners were fairly tame. When you had food they might approach, but they didn't beg. If they proved bothersome you could shoo them away and they would actually yield to your command. They almost seemed better trained than many domesticated pet dogs. This is a picture of Shea with her favorite street dog. <br />
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We also went to Santa Cruz, Chile to go to a wine tour. The winery that we toured was called Viu Manent. It is a family owned winery that was established in 1935. We toured the winery's 627 acres in a horse drawn carriage and were able to taste one wine during the tour as well as five others after the tour. It was a wonderful first wine tour visit.<br />
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The wines that we tasted were a white, a Syrrah, a Carmenere, a Cabernet, and a Malbec. It was a first tasting for both of us, so I can not share any written notes about the exact tastes of the wines because I lack the vocabulary. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqu0CJ74co_i9HuRzid7VaShGYmzZxeXAZCfWBdVyTMd1sbHAjbHztSvp3PjLdoWBdQcdC1I9P5DaFSk_6FNKstolCdiKaoctUrofUWMZwG7Q7_Hd85PgueG1z1nndcjiEQsStlDcyDA/s1600/DSC_0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqu0CJ74co_i9HuRzid7VaShGYmzZxeXAZCfWBdVyTMd1sbHAjbHztSvp3PjLdoWBdQcdC1I9P5DaFSk_6FNKstolCdiKaoctUrofUWMZwG7Q7_Hd85PgueG1z1nndcjiEQsStlDcyDA/s640/DSC_0158.JPG" width="640" /></a> The weather during the trip to Pichilemu was not what we originally expected. It was a cool and cold when the wind picked up. We had lots of coffee, tea, and mate to keep us warm.<br />
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Staying at the hostel worked very well. We met lots of people and the owner was able to help us set up and coordinate everything that we wanted to do. The hostel had a wood burning hot tub, which led to a fun and relaxing evening.<br />
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This is the owner of Sunset Hostel, Eduardo. He is a Chilean from Santiago. He relocated to Pichilemu because its an awesome and relaxing place to be.<br />
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In Pichilemu we found even more seafood than in Santiago..... </div>
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I don't have many pictures, but one of the most fun parts of the trip for me was horseback riding. While I had previously done tours when I was younger, this tour was unique in that they trusted you a little more with the horses. We took a tour throughout the town and some country areas and at the end we went to a beach. Although the horses knew some of the route, we were not traveling "head to tail" the whole time. We were allowed to go as fast or slow as we wanted and were responsible for moving out of the way for cars or any other obstacles. When we were on the beach, we had free reign to trot, cantor or galloped as we pleased. I galloped on a horse for the first time and ran through a couple of puddles. My horse was named Cholita, or "blackie," obviously she had a beautiful dark coat.<br />
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This was from our last and semi-rushed meal before leaving Pichilemu.</div>
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Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-7940639288257567212013-04-21T21:17:00.000-07:002013-04-22T20:39:51.076-07:00Surfing for Beginners in ChileThere is a lot to write about from our trip to Pichilemu, Chile so I am going to start with the motive for the trip: Learning to surf.<br />
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I think I have had a vague dream to learn to surf in the back of my mind since I was very young. The movie Blue Crush came out in 2002 and I think it really brought this dream to the front of most girls' minds. Living in Wisconsin, I never thought it would become a reality until one day I was thinking: People always go on ski trips during the winter to Vail or other destinations and it seems really great, but I love the sun and the beach and the water. Why can't I go on surfing trips instead?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXOAWzRpiN_fPzAIIzt6s4S7NoTao5ekouq4nqu5ZSNFzKtZb3SHO9CgrZW1Z1b_cMCt-ZDG4RzPq03AXoo-S0AOL10NS1q0o53QSSy7Y0QX4xRoDlbyLtNiy8uDloew9E7HYet4sR29v/s1600/DSC_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXOAWzRpiN_fPzAIIzt6s4S7NoTao5ekouq4nqu5ZSNFzKtZb3SHO9CgrZW1Z1b_cMCt-ZDG4RzPq03AXoo-S0AOL10NS1q0o53QSSy7Y0QX4xRoDlbyLtNiy8uDloew9E7HYet4sR29v/s320/DSC_0452.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Shea and I decided to go on our first surfing trip to Pichilemu, Chile and we couldn't be more pleased with the results. I don't know if I will continue the theme of surf trips, but we were happy to try it out and succeed. Since we have returned, we have dabbled with the idea of jointing the surfers on Lake Michigan, but still think it is a little absurd.</div>
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Back to the story at hand, we stayed at a hostel called the Sunset Hostel (that was a shout out to Eduardo the hostel owner) and as you would expect, the hostel keeper helping the owner also happened to be a surfer and was able to give us our own private lessons. The lessons were a blast. Our instructor's name was Phil and he was from Australia. I think he was a phy-ed teacher by nature, but decided to spend a few months in Phichilemu to surf during winter. With a true blue, real life Australian surf instructor at our side we were ready to go ride the waves. </div>
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Here is a picture of us combing and waxing the board before we go to surf. You have to comb it to get the old wax off and wax it to make it grippy for your feet. </div>
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If you can't tell by our clothes, summer was winding down in the Southern Hemisphere and winter was creeping in. It was very sunny, but the water was cold and the evening temperatures dropped drastically. When the wind was blowing, I had to wear two jackets.</div>
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We surfed in wet suits and booties the whole time. It was surprising how warm they kept us. I am in the blue and Shea is in black and gray.</div>
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Below we are warming up a little before we "get our hair wet." (That is a surfer expression, i think).</div>
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Although there is no actual photo-evidence that we surfed, we did. These pictures were all taken from the second day when the water was a little bit rougher and we were able to stand up on the board less. Shea, however, was able to stand up and surf on her very first try. I followed and caught on quickly as well.<br />
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Here we are out in the water with Phil, getting ready to hang ten, whatever that means.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXGEoaZAjxGjRlfmqjT2t-O2vnN7VnBECb5LmuYu2M8xYdHAZfS4a1S0x55Qul6GmBfm-W58poqaAaIWCkxvDnvCvLdVGUu0D1keP6CbkqTAkWGvsN397Z1aFTF7GzEhIxyCgUEOcICUA/s1600/DSC_0424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXGEoaZAjxGjRlfmqjT2t-O2vnN7VnBECb5LmuYu2M8xYdHAZfS4a1S0x55Qul6GmBfm-W58poqaAaIWCkxvDnvCvLdVGUu0D1keP6CbkqTAkWGvsN397Z1aFTF7GzEhIxyCgUEOcICUA/s320/DSC_0424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT_03Eq6jlJ8E340zYrrZe0umRQMtTB9GhKIKO4bR8LH66Unl5Es8rXLlYBSNrkNBnwW75mizrtuppoTdg-YuClueUIuNXe_J1GZKkZoBZ4rEjlwTWgItQKaRlKEyS9FBz3QplyJC2R9t/s1600/DSC_0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT_03Eq6jlJ8E340zYrrZe0umRQMtTB9GhKIKO4bR8LH66Unl5Es8rXLlYBSNrkNBnwW75mizrtuppoTdg-YuClueUIuNXe_J1GZKkZoBZ4rEjlwTWgItQKaRlKEyS9FBz3QplyJC2R9t/s320/DSC_0432.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Cj5xtEQaxg8qeJeXy3qcwZkRTXtJNgWnzCX5JwsI9YPmlf9BcBBnlY7WDc7O2SlpE3VvaIc5pcNKHSVbHPjyxZuFo_sJG8rDQqvdGjpa57kOeh2JZKa-ZbUq6iG-6ubVyHuuxyoqoeA/s1600/DSC_0446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82Cj5xtEQaxg8qeJeXy3qcwZkRTXtJNgWnzCX5JwsI9YPmlf9BcBBnlY7WDc7O2SlpE3VvaIc5pcNKHSVbHPjyxZuFo_sJG8rDQqvdGjpa57kOeh2JZKa-ZbUq6iG-6ubVyHuuxyoqoeA/s320/DSC_0446.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the picture below we are hanging out in the water with all the other rookies, waiting for the waves to come in. I think that this was one of my favorite parts. It felt really good to stop and enjoy the moment, just hanging out on our boards under the sun and rocking in the mild waves of the ocean. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJxyG4B-DaqkzJVkjhbVT_KmDNWKNwD8ebzJLWjrvMGX6iyppNxL0BV2kXN00FnP67-G-SgeBmbwZWzRXTYx9ttuV4XlE78I97KJ7XWVQZrQ8xsMfDyYNACiTPYRXSayqL62UoSS2ViiV/s1600/DSC_0462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJxyG4B-DaqkzJVkjhbVT_KmDNWKNwD8ebzJLWjrvMGX6iyppNxL0BV2kXN00FnP67-G-SgeBmbwZWzRXTYx9ttuV4XlE78I97KJ7XWVQZrQ8xsMfDyYNACiTPYRXSayqL62UoSS2ViiV/s320/DSC_0462.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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As luck had it, there happened to be a big surf competition on the Thursday that we were in town. I think it was a Chilean competition to qualify for nationals and it took place at a world famous surf spot called "Punta de Lobos."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDwkRbloStb5OkqY1oFfdoGhozJxb3LXzOWYn5kR6q4goI0NrMeS57pEcu2bCqMOjjZ_ABM-z1mUCx-94vOynEZAMgPzVMZzvbpAlC0tXK8OsgeH7Q7l6yiqBlXOmK40tSGtNAIE0e056/s1600/DSC_0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDwkRbloStb5OkqY1oFfdoGhozJxb3LXzOWYn5kR6q4goI0NrMeS57pEcu2bCqMOjjZ_ABM-z1mUCx-94vOynEZAMgPzVMZzvbpAlC0tXK8OsgeH7Q7l6yiqBlXOmK40tSGtNAIE0e056/s400/DSC_0292.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The two rocks you can see are the classic view of Punta de Lobos.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0dAdvP2rKd-EYi3sB55SmQ1zNnEMX6d7BSS6bd0zoaZnXhtMjk_gun84MahplWTpYHq00ideCd-1-d_5C0ybblyH2DFR2VaA-POSI0YiX70ms43J9XMqZFTom4mWr1L-NTS7VW1qE8ZC/s1600/DSC_0283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0dAdvP2rKd-EYi3sB55SmQ1zNnEMX6d7BSS6bd0zoaZnXhtMjk_gun84MahplWTpYHq00ideCd-1-d_5C0ybblyH2DFR2VaA-POSI0YiX70ms43J9XMqZFTom4mWr1L-NTS7VW1qE8ZC/s320/DSC_0283.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0dAdvP2rKd-EYi3sB55SmQ1zNnEMX6d7BSS6bd0zoaZnXhtMjk_gun84MahplWTpYHq00ideCd-1-d_5C0ybblyH2DFR2VaA-POSI0YiX70ms43J9XMqZFTom4mWr1L-NTS7VW1qE8ZC/s1600/DSC_0283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLw_YpQnkgeChIf3T324XuUy0n-CoapwkqIoF1fKCueR8-hY3UsgrixDYh1Im7_q68sXgaNUvCyl1ZasvZZvLx5m03-QI6C7rCDTf7NQgqW-jshxX4Ut8JQv-W2RbDzPo_yGuLZiVj9UQ/s1600/DSC_0244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLw_YpQnkgeChIf3T324XuUy0n-CoapwkqIoF1fKCueR8-hY3UsgrixDYh1Im7_q68sXgaNUvCyl1ZasvZZvLx5m03-QI6C7rCDTf7NQgqW-jshxX4Ut8JQv-W2RbDzPo_yGuLZiVj9UQ/s640/DSC_0244.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
If you look very closely in the lower right corner of the above picture you can see a surfer in green. In order to make it out to the waves they had to cross the channel and get onto the land behind the big rocks. It was almost as exciting to watch as the competition. Below you can see one surfer sitting on the rocks watching the others who are surfing behind the rocks.<br />
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I felt really bad even asking this guy for a picture. He was toast after coming in from competing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1plgwo9wvHMhN7SD3Bpi4A0B7V_JURtheqNG80HG6l_bdPbdIXoK9CiLYnaK8RJJxmn7UPBZXce1SSkoocM7VcYHhiXhF3U8_z8-x-6d_341scwbae_Qltr_EKgQGz_lydOxZyI3quFte/s1600/DSC_0351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1plgwo9wvHMhN7SD3Bpi4A0B7V_JURtheqNG80HG6l_bdPbdIXoK9CiLYnaK8RJJxmn7UPBZXce1SSkoocM7VcYHhiXhF3U8_z8-x-6d_341scwbae_Qltr_EKgQGz_lydOxZyI3quFte/s320/DSC_0351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And one last important detail for anyone who has seen Blue Crush, yes they did have someone on a jet ski who went around to help the surfers.<br />
<br />Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-80773636847154936712013-04-18T19:05:00.004-07:002013-04-18T19:05:32.646-07:00Santiago ChileI never finished the last segment about Estonia, but I am onto the next because it is more fun, interesting and recent. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyCIkF77dYn7J4A5nNke8kNYfcU0_2BKvUznE7nfsoq68e3OnuzOoCY1YllPa5KjDhK43vesbbSKfscoY3g6QDdLj_pAMZGc97pWvZWj8kSAc1e6o4WOJGcGsfeDoYoXwer8v2yPkcPKz/s1600/IMG_0702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyCIkF77dYn7J4A5nNke8kNYfcU0_2BKvUznE7nfsoq68e3OnuzOoCY1YllPa5KjDhK43vesbbSKfscoY3g6QDdLj_pAMZGc97pWvZWj8kSAc1e6o4WOJGcGsfeDoYoXwer8v2yPkcPKz/s200/IMG_0702.jpg" width="150" /></a>I ran my first solo conference April 5-7 in Santiago, Chile. Man was it tough! but boy do I love my job! I am so lucky to have gotten the right job for me and very lucky for a certain special someone who helped me find my way to it. <br />
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After a horrible 9.5 hour flight from Dallas to Santiago, I looked out the window and was greeted with mountains, horses, field workers, sunshine and junkyards. I knew that it was going to be a special trip. <br />
The first few days were filled with work, but this was my office. Meetings, dinners, set ups, registration, classes, lunches, busses, patients, clean ups, presentations, transfers, paperwork, payments, etc. <br />
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This is my work all packed up and ready to go for one day. Yes, I had 7 briefcases. Now the truth is that I really make it sound like I'm important and the students do often think I'm a doctor, but I am not. I suppose I am just trying to prove to the world that I was not playing during my whole trip and I DO work hard. <br />
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Anyways after 6 straight days of work, I was on vacation and Shea was down in Santiago, ready to go and planning our week long adventure. Santiago was never on my radar previously, but I soon learned that it should have been. I was only there for a short time, so I don't have too much to share about the actual city. I am more left with a lot of curiosity and half answers. I think that after nearly every trip I say "I wish I had known more about this place or done more research before I got here." With google at my fingertips, I'll keep the same resolution in mind before my next trip.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Hands down, one of the more important obvious facts about Santiago is that it is home to the tallest building in South America, yet at the same time it is also the cite of many strong earthquakes. In 2010 a strong earthquake toppled an entire building. </span></div>
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Aside from an obvious fact, everywhere has a shopping product. Lapis and Copper are the important purchases in Chile. I was on a quest to buy Lapis the entire trip, but I failed. I was found running to the airport on the last day of the trip. No Lapis in hand. </div>
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The next obvious cultural exposure is food. Along with all sorts of food, Razor Clams are noteworthy in Santiago and we kicked out trip off with beer and a tray full of clams.</div>
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For the Santiago portion of the trip, we headed off to a famous hill/mountain in the city. The hill has a cable car that goes up the side to a statue of the Virgin Mary overlooking the city. Halfway up the hill there is a zoo. We walked the first half of the trip up to the zoo. They had all the usual animals, but it was very interesting because the whole zoo was on the side of a hill that went straight up. </div>
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Since the zoo is on a hill, you can see the Santiago skyline behind the animals. I don't think that they appreciate the view very much, but it is pretty unique. In addition to the uniqueness, it was 100% not handicap or stroller friendly. Everyone was basically carrying their strollers up hills and stairs.<br />
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After the zoo, we rode the cable cars to the top of the Mountain where there was a giant statue of Mary overlooking the city. We hung out up there for a while and took in the view. The city was huge! Santiago has a population of 6,000,000. Milwaukee has a population of 600,000. Whoa!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr3OOJ7jBURXEht3t8TlnJ7lxjCUlP_ziGYynXjlO5aBk26EjRFekhCHz27Evp-wEHDf0B2R05YnzU96_FA7dzjqVYx4wx9OMBaCse0fiNfcYDnOmOWSgn6Hd1Fo3Unh4kuxnHjmuXPaO/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr3OOJ7jBURXEht3t8TlnJ7lxjCUlP_ziGYynXjlO5aBk26EjRFekhCHz27Evp-wEHDf0B2R05YnzU96_FA7dzjqVYx4wx9OMBaCse0fiNfcYDnOmOWSgn6Hd1Fo3Unh4kuxnHjmuXPaO/s320/DSC_0045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HITW-cwuPhQHe9p5nxSnWXO2DClNJAZAsIFz5vvKQ4ewAc3_dC3y3w9yHRuqG1pEqZ-qrkIqz9qysz5NzPxwpZ2iL198EIWDeZ3rQ-CmxrqZM8l_y6vRk-kMo9xS6lwxe4UO0TCz6plS/s1600/DSC_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HITW-cwuPhQHe9p5nxSnWXO2DClNJAZAsIFz5vvKQ4ewAc3_dC3y3w9yHRuqG1pEqZ-qrkIqz9qysz5NzPxwpZ2iL198EIWDeZ3rQ-CmxrqZM8l_y6vRk-kMo9xS6lwxe4UO0TCz6plS/s200/DSC_0044.jpg" width="132" /></a> After finding our bearings and learning the currency and dialect in Santiago, we headed off on a 3.5 hour bus ride to Pichilemu, a small surfing town on the coast of the Pacific. There we would fulfill the great Blue Crush inspired childhood dream to learn to surf. Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-884277756293681172013-03-23T19:42:00.001-07:002013-03-23T19:42:25.865-07:00Estonia?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc0ilMYkTl579Z0fOsTNZLeMJqAoeit7w1COt2vAS-T0nAr8aAJdDGNxwsEXzQ19oYTlzjsqjOA5R9UdlGXeo_W37xD89GFvSWCgX7I24bY9L00TvFjoZNH8iQU7P-c0tYNCI_VyH0rWk/s1600/IMG_1183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc0ilMYkTl579Z0fOsTNZLeMJqAoeit7w1COt2vAS-T0nAr8aAJdDGNxwsEXzQ19oYTlzjsqjOA5R9UdlGXeo_W37xD89GFvSWCgX7I24bY9L00TvFjoZNH8iQU7P-c0tYNCI_VyH0rWk/s320/IMG_1183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
When I was telling people that I was going to Estonia for a course, the usual reaction was something along the lines of "that really exists", "What's Estonia?", "Where's Estonia?", and there was one person who actually knew about Estonia. He was an ambassador to Estonia during a summer internship in Washington DC. Thank you, Kevin for knowing what, where, and why Estonia is.<br />
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Let's start with the where:</div>
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It took me about 24 hours to get to the course site in Tartu, Estonia. That's a bus from Milwaukee to Chicago, a flight from Chicago to Stockholm, a layover in Stockholm airport, a flight from Stockholm to Tallin, and another 2 hour bus ride to Tartu.</div>
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It interesting because the weather and landscape in Estonia almost reminded me of home. It was snowy and open. Instead of what I consider to be the typical European style houses that are masked by gates, there were yards and you could see the houses. They were mostly made of stone and wood. and people had dogs playing in their yards. </div>
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My former supervisor, Kate taught me to travel by hotels. You can really travel the world by anything. Some people travel the world with a fascination for chocolate, or coffee, foods in general, or by magnets or T-shirts. Anyways, Kate taught me to appreciate the different hotel rooms. So you will probably see a theme of hotel rooms as I travel. Above is my room in Tallin. It was a really nice hotel. To the left is the view outside of my skylight window.</div>
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Tartu is a city that was under various reigns and wars throughout history. I found it interesting that typically everyone there speaks Estonian, English, and Russian. They also typically learn one other language in school. Being bilingual suddenly seems like a simple feat. I would love to attempt another language, but am still apprehensive about ever returning to school.<br />
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Modern day Tartu is dominated by the university. The city is very proud of it's University, which is the oldest in Estonia, and has a huge student population. Above is a statue in the main square. It is called the 'kissing students', as a tribute to the University students that dominate the city.</div>
There are a few interesting other things about Estonia. Randomly, EVERYWHERE we went there were free coat checks. They really were over the top in that respect. I think it is related to the cold temperatures and the fact that everyone walks to their destinations a lot more often so the coat check becomes essential as everyone arrives very bundled up. Another interesting thing was that they had WIFI throughout all the cities and believed that the internet should be a free resource for everyone. The below, was also their creative solution to sitting in the main square in cold weathers. They have fur topped chairs and heaters! I think Wisconsin could learn a thing from them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswtCJ33M0Vuhg7KCHJS96dET8qZmbLA_l2M_iwG6doHb5R1Ye8NWgA2XWJaxrbnxZAeEgKcFOAMczDed-lMG60wNgkQ09kJaaV46l0ZIN6jjL_PkRxI8zo5kcfLWI-fVT2h6YaN6ZkvXj/s1600/IMG_1197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswtCJ33M0Vuhg7KCHJS96dET8qZmbLA_l2M_iwG6doHb5R1Ye8NWgA2XWJaxrbnxZAeEgKcFOAMczDed-lMG60wNgkQ09kJaaV46l0ZIN6jjL_PkRxI8zo5kcfLWI-fVT2h6YaN6ZkvXj/s320/IMG_1197.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhpiVuQxgqCHnFFPpVyhMunjl8BNudc1csz_kHUDdI4RhOfnYAsyLJnoBPvgvbJir_lYlmDJ6xRDzCIHpPLo3bZdKg_ROeEZ5jHmCngtXflq18GTjKZ_rNT2MYBoc_SFYKFyZyaIXQDBX/s1600/IMG_1208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhpiVuQxgqCHnFFPpVyhMunjl8BNudc1csz_kHUDdI4RhOfnYAsyLJnoBPvgvbJir_lYlmDJ6xRDzCIHpPLo3bZdKg_ROeEZ5jHmCngtXflq18GTjKZ_rNT2MYBoc_SFYKFyZyaIXQDBX/s320/IMG_1208.jpg" width="240" /></a>This is a leaning house. The higher side was built on the ancient wall that surrounded the city, hence it hasn't sunk along with the other side of the building.</div>
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After running the course. We headed back to Tallinn, where we spent the night until our planes left the next morning.<br />
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Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-53600612987073585672013-03-15T12:06:00.000-07:002013-03-15T12:11:06.010-07:00Just a Lazy Saturday Afternoon.......<span id="goog_1716247482"></span><span id="goog_1716247483"></span><br />
I know, I know, I will probably grow up eventually........<br />
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Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-1260123055329765962013-02-25T22:01:00.002-08:002013-02-28T07:56:06.402-08:00Boston!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkWyas8VEQutipw5UL85yBZhsBOIQmoLJM2RjJHvEQXEwA5hX60lw_AFP3nA3CXqgcLWDDwwyb-KZWdsJwOpgZO6h5L1l0V_yWfuhKTHSSxFO2BEP0Xd7fpBpihW9i8F_u2qk8676vrwZ/s1600/421888_10151261614752610_2137433849_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkWyas8VEQutipw5UL85yBZhsBOIQmoLJM2RjJHvEQXEwA5hX60lw_AFP3nA3CXqgcLWDDwwyb-KZWdsJwOpgZO6h5L1l0V_yWfuhKTHSSxFO2BEP0Xd7fpBpihW9i8F_u2qk8676vrwZ/s320/421888_10151261614752610_2137433849_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
After a quick trip to Newport we were onto the Boston portion of the trip and I use the term Boston loosely. For me, Boston has always meant Canton. As far back as I can remember we would head out to this "Boston" annually to visit my mother's stomping grounds, it meant that we would visit Canton, a town about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCl1JJ0fXlNf3Xd4ItmAA0slewo0Hi0OtyE_e0nX-ITyNdDXlm3yFjh1LF_WSvjzxFwmbXYLvqtoktJdVT-r6pSU_FCQD8AeMOIsBD1VllZIY21nXnPqWmQZI2KRac89ECeNC_lHUpAUA/s1600/image+copy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCl1JJ0fXlNf3Xd4ItmAA0slewo0Hi0OtyE_e0nX-ITyNdDXlm3yFjh1LF_WSvjzxFwmbXYLvqtoktJdVT-r6pSU_FCQD8AeMOIsBD1VllZIY21nXnPqWmQZI2KRac89ECeNC_lHUpAUA/s320/image+copy.jpeg" width="240" /></a>My fabulous Aunt Maggie is holding down the Cook Family fort out in Canton now and hosts a sort of unofficial family bed-and-breakfast only open to immediate family and absolutely free. My adult experiences there are as though it is you are on a small retreat, where we sleep in late, take a break from life, drink lots of coffee, and visit Grammy only a few miles away. I love it!<br />
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It was especially wonderful this visit because I met my sister from Philly there. She took the guest room and I made my home in my cousin Joey's room. It was a full house with Anne, her boys, and my cousins Joey and Anna.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2VjMwsB9IS_k8f9XJQL-jRCy8qYujMWYxzu4iCg9gPniNYLpV0ssyqUWNkfjX7738TUdu-3or_XjCuVyaIdFu_Z1LfUmLia5DUhag8ZVXlGYUj0SSb-YyideEA7vqecIRormNm47NaEa/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2VjMwsB9IS_k8f9XJQL-jRCy8qYujMWYxzu4iCg9gPniNYLpV0ssyqUWNkfjX7738TUdu-3or_XjCuVyaIdFu_Z1LfUmLia5DUhag8ZVXlGYUj0SSb-YyideEA7vqecIRormNm47NaEa/s320/image.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAivKRUlVS_KxjTJPeUpxwvFNM5nDbS8KELD1AQSjB0bJcA17a8dt5u0lIaTXfylSq-JvBK6boWB29j0kYhBcApdcgm9VSlNoBi6X9oRXy5Gz7Ds4NdPjB50teHosVy1i8VssqGyi9GCH/s1600/47854_10151261615037610_760840211_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAivKRUlVS_KxjTJPeUpxwvFNM5nDbS8KELD1AQSjB0bJcA17a8dt5u0lIaTXfylSq-JvBK6boWB29j0kYhBcApdcgm9VSlNoBi6X9oRXy5Gz7Ds4NdPjB50teHosVy1i8VssqGyi9GCH/s200/47854_10151261615037610_760840211_n.jpg" width="150" /></a>The weekend went by too quickly, but it was great to see everyone, particularly to see everyone together. Roman followed Joey (14) around wouldn't leave him. Joey was trying to be a good, nice older cousin, but Roman just wouldn't leave his side. Grammy met AJ. Anne and I spent time with our now teenager cousin Anna. We went to see her play volley ball and Greg gave her a brief driving lesson. In retrospect he told me that he was a little nervous when Anna asked, "Which is the gas and which is the brake, again?" But, she drove wonderfully and is going to be a great driver. Anna and I were both excited to see each other for other reasons: Greg and I are honored that she will be able to say a reading at our wedding mass and I will be returning in May to be her confirmation sponsor. It is wonderful how family can be so close and important, even if they are far away and you rarely see them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y73zuJz5eFlRxu9yvzX1cEdWI8KYp-O0kQbNL18Hvgua5VOk0L_luyARsenjJh3NzGQgx1ddlX0GjJkIsijX0d8ZlX4nvbpb_ah-FEyqR-YU4wHriOZbh3tx_zBeIUjRbnfbgXv70ZbK/s1600/IMG_1087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y73zuJz5eFlRxu9yvzX1cEdWI8KYp-O0kQbNL18Hvgua5VOk0L_luyARsenjJh3NzGQgx1ddlX0GjJkIsijX0d8ZlX4nvbpb_ah-FEyqR-YU4wHriOZbh3tx_zBeIUjRbnfbgXv70ZbK/s200/IMG_1087.jpg" width="133" /></a>And as usual, I wish I had taken more pictures. Even though you can't see them in pictures, Grammy, my sister, and everyone else was present.<br />
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After a healthy dose of the Cook side of the family, Greg and I took a quick look at Boston on our way out. It was extremely cold so the Harbor was empty and we did not do much outside. In fact, Greg even begged me to stop in a small dress shop, just to get a break from walking in the cold. We met a friend for lunch near the Public Gardens ... and then headed back home to sweet Milwaukee.<br />
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<br />Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-25716524385086356782013-02-10T20:23:00.001-08:002013-02-10T20:29:05.708-08:00An engagement and three + holidays later......Here we are in 2013.I skipped writing about Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and probably some other significant and noteworthy events, but I am going to pick up from my latest trip.<br />
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I went out to Boston to visit and introduce Greg to the infamous Aunt Maggie, Grammy and the rest of the gang out in Canton. While we were out there we "multi-tripped", making a day trip down to Newport, Rhode Island to visit his Uncle and visiting a good buddy of his who lives out there. If that wasn't enough, to top it all off, my sister came out from Philadelphia with Roman and little AJ.<br />
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An appropriate transition from my last post is to point out the fact that only a few hours into Boston, we recieved a parking ticket. For those who might wonder, the parking fine in Boston seems to be $25 and I do not exactly plan to contest this one....<br />
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Once we touched down in Boston we soon headed down to Newport Rhode Island. Greg's Uncle was happy to show us around and point out many of the major areas. Newport seems to be rich in high society and a popular summer home for many famous. Being winter, it was quiet; However, it was our first time seeing Newport and going anywhere new can always hold excitement for a visitor. We learned about the historic colonial homes, visited the naval complex, stopped for a nice lunch with clam chowder and took a scenic drive around the bay to see the magnificent mansions and homes of the Vanderbilts and Doris Duke. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-_vT0HZhwVWOUgtvXIasGzYPPoVvPcln0uQWV8eW8bKRUIHfXu9j6AIpbXxBOC6brFafQMn21WVvXAdixyiWFRxcpcAHm3Yin8xcLdfmy5DdVG6-eYDo9iCDPGZ5OzIygJAKr_5AGM4N/s1600/IMG_1046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-_vT0HZhwVWOUgtvXIasGzYPPoVvPcln0uQWV8eW8bKRUIHfXu9j6AIpbXxBOC6brFafQMn21WVvXAdixyiWFRxcpcAHm3Yin8xcLdfmy5DdVG6-eYDo9iCDPGZ5OzIygJAKr_5AGM4N/s320/IMG_1046.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>This is the USS Saratoga. It is a super carrier for the navy that was decommissioned in 1994. Currently, it's docked in Newport awaiting it's final destiny. Deep down, I really hope that it will eventually be turned into a museum, but it does not look very likely. So there it sits.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wsGcbnPrmDiQyzWhNQvkqu9Eyvwn3JlVPOR0D0GDNMBVY-YC4zFdYhv8zEVkjSAMkDKwZwDttPzEJIa2zZj7wlmi3blpB1FVnwwh8Q39yPKCGjpKzPrj5Z5Qsz-yj7e-S97CqmpF9zza/s1600/IMG_1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wsGcbnPrmDiQyzWhNQvkqu9Eyvwn3JlVPOR0D0GDNMBVY-YC4zFdYhv8zEVkjSAMkDKwZwDttPzEJIa2zZj7wlmi3blpB1FVnwwh8Q39yPKCGjpKzPrj5Z5Qsz-yj7e-S97CqmpF9zza/s320/IMG_1061.JPG" width="320" /></a>We took a long drive around the bay and along the shore. The East coast is beautiful. One of the things that humored us was a house called "Cling Stone." I wasn't able to capture a picture of it, but it sits in the middle of the bay, literally clinging to a giant boulder. It has no yard and no connection to the land. You must reach it by boat and we supposed electricity in the home is provided by generators. Somehow I imagine Gatsbyian parties taking place at the house until 4am during summers. </div>
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The trip was very brief, but Uncle Charles' abridged version of 'The Best of Newport' took us to see the oldest library in the country. It reminded me of the history and enchantment the east coast will always hold for me. </div>
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To Be Continued</div>
Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-39123776024813488422012-12-20T11:29:00.000-08:002012-12-20T11:31:00.663-08:00My Parking TicketA while back I got a parking ticket because I parked too close to a driveway. The regulated distance in Milwaukee is 4 feet. It clearly showed in the picture from the parking maid and on my ticket that I was parked at zero feet from the driveway. Who even knew that the little parking Jeeps take a picture of every single mis-parked car in Milwaukee? Well, now we all know this. If you get a ticket they will provide you with photo-evidence.<br />
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Anyways, so the story begins when I shared my frustration with the girl in the cube next door and she recommended that I contest it. "But I have no argument, I was parked at zero distance and I really didn't know there was a 4 foot regulation. Although, it is completely logical." She said- just call the number, make an appointment and it takes about 5 minutes to go in there and they excuse it.<br />
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So rather than just pay the thirty bucks I called. The appointment would serve as a legitimate excuse to be late to work and I will NEVER outgrow the joy of playing hookey. I'm not sure why I had to make an appointment 1 month out because I walked in to an empty office. I waited five minutes until a man called my name and asked me to plead my case in front of a screen showing my car parked right at the edge of a driveway. I did not expect this part of the meeting..."Well, I didn't want to park any cars in and I really only parked there for a couple minutes so that i could run in the building and change my laundry."<br />
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He quickly dismissed my ticket and told me to park legally from now on.<br />
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I don't know why the story intrigues me. It is just weird to me that they waived my ticket. I'm still not sure if it was worth the $30, but I guess it was just interesting to me. If you are bored at work someday you should try it too.<br />
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That $30 immediately went towards the late charge on my best buy bill. However, now I'm thinking about calling best buy to see if I can get that one waived too..........<br />
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A pointless story to amuse you. I think it may also attest to the monotony and lack of excitement in my life....or maybe I just appreciate small every day experiences? Yes, that's definitely it.Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-91932104630580011292012-11-27T16:54:00.002-08:002012-11-27T16:54:34.304-08:00Two holidays later...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCFiIs23ddQws23gk5jSPpjhIUQFbKKzh1JMY136GhzArKH3wTTZ8QGb2Gn2QbYvZh_seol_E2P_fDHP93MizazVVL31TDb7L3XojZukgoAxMpAsPN9-uYtOLu7JNw1HBwTft5E6da1Dw/s1600/culdron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCFiIs23ddQws23gk5jSPpjhIUQFbKKzh1JMY136GhzArKH3wTTZ8QGb2Gn2QbYvZh_seol_E2P_fDHP93MizazVVL31TDb7L3XojZukgoAxMpAsPN9-uYtOLu7JNw1HBwTft5E6da1Dw/s320/culdron.jpg" width="320" /></a>Halloween came and left along with Greg's birthday, my mother's, and my Grammy's. I'm not sure what that says about the persons who are born at the end of October, but I'm sure I can find something that the three of them have in common. I simply wouldn't care to share that in my blog.<br />
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Anyways, for halloween this year I was part of a Jamaican bobsled team with Shea and Katie. It was a very simple DIY costume and a true testament to the wonders of duct tape. We were a little bit weary about the costume at first, but it turned out to be a big success, along with our cardboard sled.<br />
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I am completely convinced that you can make any costume with black spandex and the right colored duct tape. <br />
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I think that anyone who reads this blog should know, but Greg and I also announced our engagement. The date and place are yet to be determined... the best I can say is 2013 and you are invited!<br />
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Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-49968927914075698562012-10-29T20:22:00.001-07:002012-10-29T20:24:09.925-07:00St. Kateri Tekakwitha<div>
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Finally. After living 29 years with a <i>almost saint </i>patron, Kateri has finally been canonized! Last Sunday was the canonization of my patron and I couldn't be more excited. For a while I had deliberated actually going to Rome, but I decided it would be a bit wiser economically to celebrate it here at home. <br />
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We had a little Kateri Tekakwitha Canonization get together. We dressed up in indigenous garb, at least what they taught us about in grade school and had lots of corn snacks, like popcorn, candy corn, corn chips, corn puffs, and corn dogs. We figured that lienenkugel was the most appropriate beverage. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTniZoCOm-1GIICD_04N6yyzKpbqXGcc1Khhg6ywLSKkxj_WfIyRyZEbV6AT17rWsnEAzNdIHL0O-eyNux5ZJCjywZ9yFpSIo5EzwYNSvWbcfZ-mQADadATfMa5oHfpVvGOfXtKdsSm8ss/s1600/kateri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTniZoCOm-1GIICD_04N6yyzKpbqXGcc1Khhg6ywLSKkxj_WfIyRyZEbV6AT17rWsnEAzNdIHL0O-eyNux5ZJCjywZ9yFpSIo5EzwYNSvWbcfZ-mQADadATfMa5oHfpVvGOfXtKdsSm8ss/s320/kateri.jpg" width="181" /></a>Kateri was finally eligible for sainthood after her latest miracle. In 2006 a five year old boy named Jake Finkbonner was playing basketball when he cut his lip. It became infected with a flesh eating bacteria and within days he was on his deathbed when a priest, knowing of his native american descent, suggested that his family pray to Kateri. Things looked grave and the family was talking of his organ donation, when suddenly he recovered. His cure from the infection has been deemed medically inexplicable and is the miracle that allowed Kateri to become a Saint. Finally.</div>
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While I was not able to go to the canonization in Rome, I hope to travel to La Crosse, WI where I have heard there is a beautiful shrine to her. I am also lucky that I have an amazing friend (Ellen) who was fortunate enough to be in Rome for the canonization and is sending me a prayer card from the ceremony. </div>
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YAY for Kateri!!!<br />
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Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-68933756460515172802012-10-15T15:49:00.001-07:002012-10-15T15:49:17.150-07:00Bolivia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfwZUXIvYmuphvw5ltGkOsOpOMTyQUqUJ5FqnIkAhFPb4GiYdB8g7wNI5YD_FqJA_UV5uVU4PSzVgMFcDUdcg5yjdKYwl8ga3ZRl7PBBjjOlet-d1lgGcdqie6ohxC_j_fYiio5V6HoKr/s1600/IMG_0549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfwZUXIvYmuphvw5ltGkOsOpOMTyQUqUJ5FqnIkAhFPb4GiYdB8g7wNI5YD_FqJA_UV5uVU4PSzVgMFcDUdcg5yjdKYwl8ga3ZRl7PBBjjOlet-d1lgGcdqie6ohxC_j_fYiio5V6HoKr/s320/IMG_0549.jpg" width="213" /></a>My trip to Bolivia not only added a new country to my list, but also a new Continent! While it was simply a work trip I had a little time to relax and still enjoyed the thrill of a new place with new sights.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jYou14057EscnRih_KtxhjnytsNjp65YShoRWhKysP03NUW5OREDFjTl3QeIdXysq07LQ4lxi5unNzXMLdSIxNt119H0GmyuEAgPJ8GoVv6u-4U4PBr7dolP1euHwECDn_pWxXDneV8I/s1600/bolivia-map.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jYou14057EscnRih_KtxhjnytsNjp65YShoRWhKysP03NUW5OREDFjTl3QeIdXysq07LQ4lxi5unNzXMLdSIxNt119H0GmyuEAgPJ8GoVv6u-4U4PBr7dolP1euHwECDn_pWxXDneV8I/s1600/bolivia-map.gif" /></a>I arrived in Bolivia at El Alto Airport, which is rightfully named because it happens to be the highest city in the world. I have not verified this fact, but it is at 4150 meters and the swift kick of altitude sickness would lead anyone to believe it. Within 30 minutes of being at the airport I saw someone on the ground and passed out from the height. I only had a short layover so I went to my gate and slept the feeling off until I was called to the gate to board for Cochabamba, Bolivia.</div>
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I was not sure what to expect of Bolivia, except that it happens to be a very poor country and they speak Spanish. From what I saw, both proved to be very true. I was quickly the uninformed American overtipping everyone at the hotel...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLZn9m9p-cKQL9vgzYII9Q8z0xRv_OxClIWtRmIX0WyjyUf1oGex1S9o020Uh88YCgt7j9xItxwoxOmiwuqNocQJhnP74S6HiHiZl44Q-FwObXghpGTMD14AtcS9aJDpHPyEfzr_nJ_NF/s1600/IMG_0574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLZn9m9p-cKQL9vgzYII9Q8z0xRv_OxClIWtRmIX0WyjyUf1oGex1S9o020Uh88YCgt7j9xItxwoxOmiwuqNocQJhnP74S6HiHiZl44Q-FwObXghpGTMD14AtcS9aJDpHPyEfzr_nJ_NF/s320/IMG_0574.jpg" width="240" /></a>Bolivia was also full of lots of color, energy and Alpaca! Okay, I don't know that I actually saw alpaca, but it is a huge part of their economy and I came home with a soft warm Alpaca vest. The colors were everywhere. The city buses looked like school buses, but each one was painted a unique vibrant pattern.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ndzlj7yPJtnxZrNXPufVxUqlOctLchN45x462Ys1GRXpGYMCFF3yakGjA4FvWoIBQjdetDXHtog3ibCCUf5fL5hD0YB1bSZyssWe0RbU5nMCMTKrL-X_Wh9LxdZEG3QXGfjHM9kBgwxO/s1600/IMG_0555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ndzlj7yPJtnxZrNXPufVxUqlOctLchN45x462Ys1GRXpGYMCFF3yakGjA4FvWoIBQjdetDXHtog3ibCCUf5fL5hD0YB1bSZyssWe0RbU5nMCMTKrL-X_Wh9LxdZEG3QXGfjHM9kBgwxO/s320/IMG_0555.jpg" width="240" /></a>Cochabamba sits up in the Mountains. Literally. I have never seen any city like it. It sits in a valley in the middle of the mountains. It was absolutely beautiful. Since I arrived early I was able to partake in the ancient worldwide tourism fad of going up high to look down at the city. I rode a 'sky glider' to a huge hill in the middle of the city where the giant Christ statue overlooks the entire city. The Christ statue is surrounded on all sides by the city below. It's as though the entire city sits within a crater. The boarder of the city is surrounded by mountains. Within the crater there was one lake and a few winding roads that follow the mountains off to the other major cities.</div>
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These are pictures of the hotel. It was a five-star hotel with the most slippery hotel floors EVER. It also happened to be my first experience with turn down service. (I think that it what it is called?). Each night I would return to room and the shades would be drawn, with the nightstand lamps on and the corner of the comforter folded down and a chocolate on my pillow.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJW0VAIUG0hZ5VvmF1PJuVkmV5x1PAzBqcIAKzET4Nilpor2zPCk9i7RW-xpF7wMeLwK5cH9ubUI6ntN9h6kAZ701ZofvrB4xlkF707DM1TkoaNQ6HgvyEPm5u7YE9gvlntko6FRFdPbjf/s1600/IMG_0544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJW0VAIUG0hZ5VvmF1PJuVkmV5x1PAzBqcIAKzET4Nilpor2zPCk9i7RW-xpF7wMeLwK5cH9ubUI6ntN9h6kAZ701ZofvrB4xlkF707DM1TkoaNQ6HgvyEPm5u7YE9gvlntko6FRFdPbjf/s320/IMG_0544.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lastly, my food reviews. I don't have any pictures, but the doctor I worked with from Bolivia was very proud of their trout. It was excellent. I also tried duck, yucca (similar to potato, and awesome), plantains (i guess cooked banana), and arroz con queso (this sort of cheesy rice). Loved them all. I also learned about a new drink called Pisco Sour. I did not know what was in it at the time, but Pisco is a type of Brandy from Peru. The drink also contains egg whites and I would assume whatever else is in a typical 'sour.' I can't find any specific recipe.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPq9FEgvsIS_9I7zFEL_CJf6WnUI3obXfQHfydH5jgEGzS0MooklhMIBfE8Ihl3W9_9jTbkjEm6CiNhTnmbDY3Q4Dpd8p1oReo4FupobmUCLq1YImBZAKE5VEfTLRHqAFzquA1B97DBD_/s1600/IMG_0569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPq9FEgvsIS_9I7zFEL_CJf6WnUI3obXfQHfydH5jgEGzS0MooklhMIBfE8Ihl3W9_9jTbkjEm6CiNhTnmbDY3Q4Dpd8p1oReo4FupobmUCLq1YImBZAKE5VEfTLRHqAFzquA1B97DBD_/s320/IMG_0569.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My work went well and my trip was quick. I returned so quickly it was hard for me to believe that I had been so far away.<br />
<span id="goog_2007274651"></span></div>
Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-68780629515555310202012-09-15T12:27:00.002-07:002012-09-15T12:35:02.227-07:00Here he is! :)So excited to share these......<br />
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I am obsessed with AJ. He is absolutely adorable and has a very chill personality. I have had so much fun being here and helping my sister. It's crazy for me to think that she now has 2 little boys. Mom and baby are happy, healthy and getting sleep whenever they can.</div>
<br />Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-65501120773766935522012-09-10T11:30:00.001-07:002012-09-10T11:30:23.488-07:00Off to Philly
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Up, up and away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
canāt explain how much I love to travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I donāt know that I will ever outgrow this travel bug I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Itās been 7 months since my last flight and
the second that my feet hit the escalator up to the airport I realized how much
I love airports, I love flying, and I love going far away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had unlimited funds, I would jump on a
plane every other weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The other
weekends I would probably be climbing).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGk_BmKuLzppPC6tI8rrit6hCzraYWEEiegscapV65SR2b-wcVCZ9LLCm4I2XgrVum22epq80uY5GCdWsGKgKKvmJDuA6M66LbByxCfdCAD0INDyQXcawANa68KR663F1mPSyFc5RhyphenhyphenM5u/s1600/IMG_0400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGk_BmKuLzppPC6tI8rrit6hCzraYWEEiegscapV65SR2b-wcVCZ9LLCm4I2XgrVum22epq80uY5GCdWsGKgKKvmJDuA6M66LbByxCfdCAD0INDyQXcawANa68KR663F1mPSyFc5RhyphenhyphenM5u/s320/IMG_0400.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since I havenāt traveled for a little bit, there are a
couple updates to the procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
time I used my smart phone to check in and they sent me my ticket through text
message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am definitely not a person on
top of technology trends, but I tried it on a whim at 2am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was one of the few on my plane who did this,
but it worked splendidly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I definitely
recommend it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, I feel it my need to
inform everyone- although the Internet on the planes is not free, you can go
online for shopping free of charge. Needless to say the flight flew by.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuZvBphhkclEE_h822Urb9pRHFsQ48eTNG7Z_UIlNNozNhHh_46bTfA6qXp-3e68QCJvquIAUTsiS6ag1DBo-YMzmLkpI7DJjJNr8zbUsVndU4cdaB7CrhyphenhyphenhguKqKYyaCLraNer7ZDLiY/s1600/IMG_0402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuZvBphhkclEE_h822Urb9pRHFsQ48eTNG7Z_UIlNNozNhHh_46bTfA6qXp-3e68QCJvquIAUTsiS6ag1DBo-YMzmLkpI7DJjJNr8zbUsVndU4cdaB7CrhyphenhyphenhguKqKYyaCLraNer7ZDLiY/s320/IMG_0402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now Iām off to familiar territory in Philly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister had her second baby:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AJ (Anthony John) and I am going to fulfill
my auntly duties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am excited to see
Roman and the baby (I suppose I might as well add Anne and Ant to the end of
that statement), take some pictures and enjoy NOT running around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come back soon to be introduced my newest
nephew.........<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yay!<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-35410803809690143672012-08-08T15:45:00.002-07:002012-08-09T15:14:35.756-07:00New Beginnings in MilwaukeeI would start this blog off with a drum-roll, but I am too tired to type out the sound. My new job is as a program manager for a medical society. I would write more about the society, but am afraid that my blog will come up in google searches for the medical society and that would be embarrassing. I would know, because if you typed in my previous employer, my blog was one of the top searches for that company.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFLc5luTHTQZR3iNFX7VHDaqSTeRp7LvHySuzFi3MZYJNc0-Nm7Harf141sJuQkvkE3U6rlmDiWHIkrTvVCg55fHuBcI3rRG92zZ7XwnhfJci0bNkHC8W5ovRkCN8He7w1TxlqZirkvY9/s1600/IMG_0311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFLc5luTHTQZR3iNFX7VHDaqSTeRp7LvHySuzFi3MZYJNc0-Nm7Harf141sJuQkvkE3U6rlmDiWHIkrTvVCg55fHuBcI3rRG92zZ7XwnhfJci0bNkHC8W5ovRkCN8He7w1TxlqZirkvY9/s320/IMG_0311.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
What do I do? I am still figuring out what I do and after 3 straight days of orientations, reading and researching, I SOMEWHAT understand it. Once I figure it out, I doubt I can explain it very well. I can tell you some of the highlights and my favorite things thus far:<br />
<br />
It is a world-wide non-profit organization that promotes the advancement and education of knowledge and medicine related to certain types of disorders.<br />
<br />
My largest responsibility is that I am in charge of the North America, South America and Latin American sector.<br />
<br />
My job involves travel to various international conferences in my region.... next month my first trip will be to Bolivia.<br />
<br />
I will be using a great amount of my Spanish skills.<br />
<br />
One of the biggest perks is that the 12 minute commute of my previous job has now transformed into a 12 minute walk. My job is right next to Cathedral Square Park, within 1 mile of home.<br />
<br />
There are lots of young woman, a huge change from my last job.<br />
<br />
This week has been very exciting for me and I am very happy to work for a company that I think will be a great fit for me in both my personality and career. Its definitely a step towards my dream job (although I'm still not sure what my <i>dream job</i> really is)<br />
<br />
Now I am headed out to shoot with Greg. I have so many <i>important</i> things to learn in life........Ugh<br />
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQV422tBdPHsFf8LQcpnhDUCzmzNcJatsmXhtaYiegpb0P46gty3UVzXfFTZ-pEQ_WWsWySDbyM0z8jLfu7OInoUrGD1kxJCKjzh1YiOUYLO2hRlgR1tknE32ZTwBe5TpV5VE6nFA6BHi6/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQV422tBdPHsFf8LQcpnhDUCzmzNcJatsmXhtaYiegpb0P46gty3UVzXfFTZ-pEQ_WWsWySDbyM0z8jLfu7OInoUrGD1kxJCKjzh1YiOUYLO2hRlgR1tknE32ZTwBe5TpV5VE6nFA6BHi6/s320/IMG_0312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-38233430105580304082012-07-27T19:25:00.002-07:002012-07-27T19:25:06.295-07:00The big ToDo in Iowa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTm1vP5Sh4qfTnOHXGx3GrHAHpsCuIjFX-2s6A9N-KheQ97NDoajRiHzB4KxksaE4bqez5IrRb6XlKvg1IREzfFw4xlbGyTvIwk-HS_SupcbsB3kT4TC_ifO3wPmsBM6ugRdzv9jQdbG6/s1600/megwadle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTm1vP5Sh4qfTnOHXGx3GrHAHpsCuIjFX-2s6A9N-KheQ97NDoajRiHzB4KxksaE4bqez5IrRb6XlKvg1IREzfFw4xlbGyTvIwk-HS_SupcbsB3kT4TC_ifO3wPmsBM6ugRdzv9jQdbG6/s320/megwadle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Charlie and Meg, both from UD, got married and so he gang got together in Iowa for some good ol fashioned wedding fun. It's nearly the same story every time, but with more characters. We will never tire of the wedding parties.</div>
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Firstly, you may notice a change in the 'style' of my pictures. It's because I learned how to use a fancy new iPhone application that makes my photos look much more 'artsy' than my own capabilities would allow. Those are the sort of skills that blossom when you are with your best friends from college. </div>
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Lets go through the usual wedding fun......</div>
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A party bus, obviously we are all well seated and behaved on the way out there.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFb9Qi4ZdojmsfjVy9KSAOvNjcwTfG_HtzRgPLIAL3660NR83ZQxAUzHpDm5TmXQJq0ZO5gAr8J8FmOmmY5j1aBwMyDSAO1kJCPgCdFKsgLHQzgOv7tO_A074ul6mNNyIUZ8Ve7oruqQw/s1600/IMG_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFb9Qi4ZdojmsfjVy9KSAOvNjcwTfG_HtzRgPLIAL3660NR83ZQxAUzHpDm5TmXQJq0ZO5gAr8J8FmOmmY5j1aBwMyDSAO1kJCPgCdFKsgLHQzgOv7tO_A074ul6mNNyIUZ8Ve7oruqQw/s320/IMG_0114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some amazingly patriotic shades.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R0Y79b_Vb4gFkyTMOmvg5IwdKTMpZk7xGaJIaz45MNJGpZWY845WC1oZs1Ew21rzvxpXzrkvTMdGhoFmfdqIlvefGqP77OI4VqivCRnNrF6oVmhR18XbZj-DJ-PelAF8JduPkarnpZ04/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R0Y79b_Vb4gFkyTMOmvg5IwdKTMpZk7xGaJIaz45MNJGpZWY845WC1oZs1Ew21rzvxpXzrkvTMdGhoFmfdqIlvefGqP77OI4VqivCRnNrF6oVmhR18XbZj-DJ-PelAF8JduPkarnpZ04/s320/IMG_0115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A nice dinner with the people that were, are, and always will be your best friends for life. Below is Katie, she is my oldest friend (25+ years friendship) and Kate, my roommate freshman year. I couldn't ask for a more awesome person to help you through that trying time literally 1000 miles away from home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxueVxKAvLpMGBcSaJgjrGRoJgjoRuNVijwK85aa2jqk63v7-PRyNqvt6HKwIl3SmkTDauJdQCRuDAsvBOySdp7xelPZZvi3NCBtzLNda2lKGuNL9Gc-Z3sJtTK5xmtmkXqrfWUG0NUCz/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxueVxKAvLpMGBcSaJgjrGRoJgjoRuNVijwK85aa2jqk63v7-PRyNqvt6HKwIl3SmkTDauJdQCRuDAsvBOySdp7xelPZZvi3NCBtzLNda2lKGuNL9Gc-Z3sJtTK5xmtmkXqrfWUG0NUCz/s320/IMG_0118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTz4xaR_Ef_guKqWNt8jhsjVRVC2yQM-zrFWyGlpxI-2o_PjmC3RSh7ZpPQ0apB2L3FTZib0TdtAbN7vX-VZ2UBN_XBM8FMlNGh8ZYb9eWnCeXIxvmlCSkGbeMoi8boGQQIV1Vt0XVZfK/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTz4xaR_Ef_guKqWNt8jhsjVRVC2yQM-zrFWyGlpxI-2o_PjmC3RSh7ZpPQ0apB2L3FTZib0TdtAbN7vX-VZ2UBN_XBM8FMlNGh8ZYb9eWnCeXIxvmlCSkGbeMoi8boGQQIV1Vt0XVZfK/s320/IMG_0122.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Bags sets in an orchard with a baby......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Tl3L61C5IPCCdaz0wcXpS9wle1r6520B3O27xbecAAQbdaC8PEl-uHSdu7_SOJnR7fTLCWFe3CvGEeZCMOVuOs3mdjLIWcmYh39JT3sDXOJvYj0DzJ2XWsfr_CvPc8hfpju8QsKCBcRw/s1600/IMG_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Tl3L61C5IPCCdaz0wcXpS9wle1r6520B3O27xbecAAQbdaC8PEl-uHSdu7_SOJnR7fTLCWFe3CvGEeZCMOVuOs3mdjLIWcmYh39JT3sDXOJvYj0DzJ2XWsfr_CvPc8hfpju8QsKCBcRw/s200/IMG_0124.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vvg90ZUP3S00ledfxlaULff7wuXzIRUrtrL4J8BWsykfnwUfavozmRy58v3KymoIDOzCgL0Izg7J1xDSbj0khSTAsqdzbQPVMcnu39Ky98NvdMndtHA_RGQoGgwLeRLYru7g_-p36iq4/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vvg90ZUP3S00ledfxlaULff7wuXzIRUrtrL4J8BWsykfnwUfavozmRy58v3KymoIDOzCgL0Izg7J1xDSbj0khSTAsqdzbQPVMcnu39Ky98NvdMndtHA_RGQoGgwLeRLYru7g_-p36iq4/s200/IMG_0127.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2bso0-clPG9rtIrpNsco4jV15SetzaQG2cFyX_yiXQsjg78N3OsnRTCiZQvbgVGHhNTBKvQ3WSSUsQ9PL5VlRX7D4DBs2st2jZpQT1fffLBjdOIFYUSrZq1YQE0OsWhBHarfCluaYLK0/s1600/IMG_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2bso0-clPG9rtIrpNsco4jV15SetzaQG2cFyX_yiXQsjg78N3OsnRTCiZQvbgVGHhNTBKvQ3WSSUsQ9PL5VlRX7D4DBs2st2jZpQT1fffLBjdOIFYUSrZq1YQE0OsWhBHarfCluaYLK0/s320/IMG_0125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
and another little one....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwGzVhQOJsNfAL4AmfbEaaj3-m86RhPNOclQwqfhZPZpxzZKYhPaxlX9kOOTfiSXU-dSXcg5bhgGRPj_tfuYTRX7nbQv3dEFVkTEQOy-vmzraNeKPWE9rgNdQyXK6btjK5Ym2Bjw7qEMJ/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwGzVhQOJsNfAL4AmfbEaaj3-m86RhPNOclQwqfhZPZpxzZKYhPaxlX9kOOTfiSXU-dSXcg5bhgGRPj_tfuYTRX7nbQv3dEFVkTEQOy-vmzraNeKPWE9rgNdQyXK6btjK5Ym2Bjw7qEMJ/s320/IMG_0128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhpKoyL-DDj1iFk_PVCsTehyphenhyphenYdoOR-861LsFjAjWHJRS5J4oKmZEojVu1E0q1rJAcxVV6g7w4dpSufeECqfx9JbUH9F2L0tK2033m07U-8iY0P7yze_y0mNRDBlK0_2yEzhEZ0PhI-Vg5/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhpKoyL-DDj1iFk_PVCsTehyphenhyphenYdoOR-861LsFjAjWHJRS5J4oKmZEojVu1E0q1rJAcxVV6g7w4dpSufeECqfx9JbUH9F2L0tK2033m07U-8iY0P7yze_y0mNRDBlK0_2yEzhEZ0PhI-Vg5/s200/IMG_0131.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRtV2iFpC9ck0M41FOwkQSGG2LEZs_-4NyOkCXd566HaQKgNyh_Pij3lGhIZNDsYltdj9am32JQEDn2albv6w77ZYzgXUWdO8q0yUf94LJ9j0WHJtm5abRqG9qhxEgNoYPk0CO2nNZL8q/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRtV2iFpC9ck0M41FOwkQSGG2LEZs_-4NyOkCXd566HaQKgNyh_Pij3lGhIZNDsYltdj9am32JQEDn2albv6w77ZYzgXUWdO8q0yUf94LJ9j0WHJtm5abRqG9qhxEgNoYPk0CO2nNZL8q/s200/IMG_0135.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiybK8uFsncUnIxW8sAVv3tc2iaPyGyPmMeFZykJg8r4klj3U3riUDmk5AhrqZF0_QO0k_lReXs1YpDuTPG6rAVYJhjoAoka5SPDxaHPc92hximgtBFR-aXEBp3c0TKpWuMkA0N0yqRAsK/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiybK8uFsncUnIxW8sAVv3tc2iaPyGyPmMeFZykJg8r4klj3U3riUDmk5AhrqZF0_QO0k_lReXs1YpDuTPG6rAVYJhjoAoka5SPDxaHPc92hximgtBFR-aXEBp3c0TKpWuMkA0N0yqRAsK/s200/IMG_0134.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Here's about when it starts to get a little wild..... <br />
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A golf cart piled high with balance lacking people.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBc8bcXe-CnCGfUy6I4yTGEttbGgTuZe3hcdxb9ElVFhqDGb2IjCRClE8-0yaR9mY5bovNt-sNoTgBcd2W-bKPRofi9xuIwkOkkZZfaj9XckACTxh_4B1Sno0UJwKVQBbpj5_7rfl18An/s1600/IMG_0152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBc8bcXe-CnCGfUy6I4yTGEttbGgTuZe3hcdxb9ElVFhqDGb2IjCRClE8-0yaR9mY5bovNt-sNoTgBcd2W-bKPRofi9xuIwkOkkZZfaj9XckACTxh_4B1Sno0UJwKVQBbpj5_7rfl18An/s320/IMG_0152.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The women wear the ties.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzeieqOjOT102KcFrTZTEnAAZdIc_hSCxPP8bd5PjOjrAIXFUadBcIipidDRftQqG9BnkMiaq68HGk74WRct4gzCZedAKzfblipCfGLSZDh3bxNxFLiWXY8Rw2KOWl_YxGVR7Pe6GXDkV/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzeieqOjOT102KcFrTZTEnAAZdIc_hSCxPP8bd5PjOjrAIXFUadBcIipidDRftQqG9BnkMiaq68HGk74WRct4gzCZedAKzfblipCfGLSZDh3bxNxFLiWXY8Rw2KOWl_YxGVR7Pe6GXDkV/s320/IMG_0155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Late night snacks with a raised pinky<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Opi614oWeCHc1iVIZBgXb0854ZElQzHZnqS2b-Bc0DHwFDmwH-9Dmb0hFV24QTXWtuwGNr9WhCaBPg1ZlzpMaEUKmU0hyphenhyphentLV98FMYGm9ABtSOaLsqZzAKx4Z5Bq5q3TMA7Y3_IeZcyOF/s1600/IMG_0158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Opi614oWeCHc1iVIZBgXb0854ZElQzHZnqS2b-Bc0DHwFDmwH-9Dmb0hFV24QTXWtuwGNr9WhCaBPg1ZlzpMaEUKmU0hyphenhyphentLV98FMYGm9ABtSOaLsqZzAKx4Z5Bq5q3TMA7Y3_IeZcyOF/s320/IMG_0158.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4b957aGgMzerePmanLApN0XZiQQBACU0KUonjlIwVI41ZxyT6mxoVWD_hmMFZbCMRXTljkQAaQeOxB7MZAUpBUg1tKIwvTwlQVtoVz_nkRw5HE3hKfosfTWTQJeiNE8aK-sOq2tw80A2/s1600/IMG_0159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4b957aGgMzerePmanLApN0XZiQQBACU0KUonjlIwVI41ZxyT6mxoVWD_hmMFZbCMRXTljkQAaQeOxB7MZAUpBUg1tKIwvTwlQVtoVz_nkRw5HE3hKfosfTWTQJeiNE8aK-sOq2tw80A2/s320/IMG_0159.jpg" width="240" /></a>Karate chops<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dIdjHRjcCFjgeX4KlTiNeAbOwgBt9Zkn4hZ6Sb3IzpN7nB2cyMkZ-vzwaAuV1pYyr2KXh4Cekfn6klBgUgp2NKcPI8lGPl1jyN4Vh9535rKiIZwb0x2fXMPv8o-fuDsMuCvGmgLuPxpO/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dIdjHRjcCFjgeX4KlTiNeAbOwgBt9Zkn4hZ6Sb3IzpN7nB2cyMkZ-vzwaAuV1pYyr2KXh4Cekfn6klBgUgp2NKcPI8lGPl1jyN4Vh9535rKiIZwb0x2fXMPv8o-fuDsMuCvGmgLuPxpO/s320/IMG_0161.JPG" width="320" /></a>Happy blurry edged pictures</div>
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Fully blurry pictures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0AMWxQTXkSHsXoib6epcePxv-ohyphenhyphenUWWDiXQcAAkBfSy52VwF2F4gspU1u_d2JYzQFYOpfnclSQ-arFBkWH-5MgHNzbsFQdozDMYI22AH3jPDMerlDDsEhA6GfDSRpe7mi40CEzJiViMb/s1600/IMG_0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0AMWxQTXkSHsXoib6epcePxv-ohyphenhyphenUWWDiXQcAAkBfSy52VwF2F4gspU1u_d2JYzQFYOpfnclSQ-arFBkWH-5MgHNzbsFQdozDMYI22AH3jPDMerlDDsEhA6GfDSRpe7mi40CEzJiViMb/s320/IMG_0163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SHngtigNtXmHS8RhSBb-zW6o0LnEXPRzV3bXpVrCokdFPnF58MjMxYV7f2kxEj-coTdCiF77zEpAfqnY-yvKF75oahnjKg8pbsctW9w6KLendLRzNFafH5O1wLttpcdJmezD4K-OsAL0/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SHngtigNtXmHS8RhSBb-zW6o0LnEXPRzV3bXpVrCokdFPnF58MjMxYV7f2kxEj-coTdCiF77zEpAfqnY-yvKF75oahnjKg8pbsctW9w6KLendLRzNFafH5O1wLttpcdJmezD4K-OsAL0/s320/IMG_0174.JPG" width="320" /></a>A fabulous ending with unsurmountable spirit.</div>
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Actually if i remember correctly it ended with flips and bottle caps.</div>
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<br />Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-55630540937844942692012-07-26T20:01:00.002-07:002012-07-26T20:01:25.910-07:00A change of directionTomorrow is my last day at my current Job. I am extremely excited to close this chapter and open another (and of course slightly nervous, unsure, and anxious as would be expected)........ You are going to have to wait in suspense to see what happens in the next chapter.Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-221631753834322682012-07-22T20:49:00.002-07:002012-07-22T20:49:54.314-07:00Milwaukee's Best Happy Hour?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTC6bHsyUx1ssyo5awkq4HOmNL73vJl31AItAzz_6Odqf7DTDUMF7hSBeBAczqDl-4VJV3gJ0YPgPEVbZQlcQxml6Lh1oHIWBvqHXu6K5lzS6TRjiBVrczQXYvr5i2CbEyUHcDi1nEX9I/s1600/IMG_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTC6bHsyUx1ssyo5awkq4HOmNL73vJl31AItAzz_6Odqf7DTDUMF7hSBeBAczqDl-4VJV3gJ0YPgPEVbZQlcQxml6Lh1oHIWBvqHXu6K5lzS6TRjiBVrczQXYvr5i2CbEyUHcDi1nEX9I/s320/IMG_0021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I wish that I was savvy enough to know every happy hour in the city and what deal is at each bar/restaurant each day of the week. Unfortunately I have other aspirations in life. Based upon my limited knowledge and limited pocketbook, my favorite happy hour so far this summer has been the Bradford Beach BYOB. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmxQ0r3qNL2pOo8a3BOLvqHc4T8zb-Vbbyv1XSLPlBhRG1YG1Z4O77kEiVrw6lI_Tk6lKwjmTQCaGW-78htqSlkvenZECQDKinVOE0JVGdGMOJ0u_wWRz0W6j3ukRjgEDKgxS3zuf_7CF/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmxQ0r3qNL2pOo8a3BOLvqHc4T8zb-Vbbyv1XSLPlBhRG1YG1Z4O77kEiVrw6lI_Tk6lKwjmTQCaGW-78htqSlkvenZECQDKinVOE0JVGdGMOJ0u_wWRz0W6j3ukRjgEDKgxS3zuf_7CF/s320/IMG_0023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Drink of choice was the piƱa coBradford. A named coined by Dan (pictured above). It involved Mando and parrot bay and sprite. Very tropical and perfect for the heart of Downtown Milwaukee. My only advice to others who try the Bradford Happy Hour: There is a no glass ordinance.</div>
<br />Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-42714783105519077922012-07-16T19:41:00.003-07:002013-02-10T20:30:40.663-08:00Milwaukee Summer FunNot too long ago I was asked if I was going on any vacations during the summer. The answer? Aside from my recent wedding trip to gorgeous IOWA, I am avoiding leaving Wisconsin as much as possible. Milwaukee is filled with endless fun during the summer. Approximating that summer is June, July, and August- that limits me to about 12 weekends! So the run around has begun......<br />
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<b>Chill on the Hill:</b> Chill on the hill is just what the title describes. It takes place every Tuesday in Humboldt Park. We went a couple weeks ago to see Mel's husband play....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59fAdtvP4_MhPqGeSB-sRZAQ2X3Bd7qihCPWCLVgsLUcNlcAdv3Xne4tkRMi6gMwAOX6hD1vt-G2VNNGfpKDZylcu9AXPA-XpctveNGL2lesUPB7ufV35PlZ4-Dzdp8sbtWoeXA0XD4ap/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59fAdtvP4_MhPqGeSB-sRZAQ2X3Bd7qihCPWCLVgsLUcNlcAdv3Xne4tkRMi6gMwAOX6hD1vt-G2VNNGfpKDZylcu9AXPA-XpctveNGL2lesUPB7ufV35PlZ4-Dzdp8sbtWoeXA0XD4ap/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Above is a portrait that I like to call "Mel and the sunset". When I took that picture I was I wanted to have the big light ball of sun coming out of her head. It's a great symbol for society and a lesson to all of us to let our light shine out into the world..... Okay just kidding- it's a horrible picture - but these days you can pull anything off and just call it 'artsy.'<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Od2EERkyMdFOUM2xoFn50xBF_yLZW9HV0Zee2cJzGM0uHLdglV0W7IdVZU7Kl226PJY-dIZVwc16nn4fwpreARisvwiWEAm5P-MA9J5pdwtIZc1_ZaDsln_G65e8EbrCjRKFXAc-eELY/s1600/IMG_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Od2EERkyMdFOUM2xoFn50xBF_yLZW9HV0Zee2cJzGM0uHLdglV0W7IdVZU7Kl226PJY-dIZVwc16nn4fwpreARisvwiWEAm5P-MA9J5pdwtIZc1_ZaDsln_G65e8EbrCjRKFXAc-eELY/s320/IMG_0005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Above is the pavilion where the musicians play. The whole event has a really relaxed atmosphere. There is tons of space for everyone and since it's on a hill you don't have to worry about blocking anyone's view or having a bad seat. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEH_LcGEkrM4C6yz2S1dO4cYIljI7Yu3VOEJFE4qxeQTMxfbfpQG-m7qQZa8Amn6eLQvMZILLfae9KPcuTHa8HVK_sTXo9stZMwHoing4DpwqNc9wGwtLt0-qslXWVvX-dHSg_NMeCnLS/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEH_LcGEkrM4C6yz2S1dO4cYIljI7Yu3VOEJFE4qxeQTMxfbfpQG-m7qQZa8Amn6eLQvMZILLfae9KPcuTHa8HVK_sTXo9stZMwHoing4DpwqNc9wGwtLt0-qslXWVvX-dHSg_NMeCnLS/s320/IMG_0007.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Above is Mel's son Donovan. He is dancing to his dad's music. I love that he thinks it completely normal that his father is up on stage playing the music that Donovan knows.<br />
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Here we are chilling and below is Tonka.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGSHwS5HDelQ7vvR8n7vJW_CrWwiqUzzxSqvmCX2WVjEXrZrkrIixODfVhQAqz1GtIFZs3jK2t_yz5MZKsL3_roWvg6BBwTR46wA3bhY6jg5lwlD-XW8WHJRKojo4RPAAV4b1Lx8DYHiJ/s1600/Chill-on-the-Hill-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGSHwS5HDelQ7vvR8n7vJW_CrWwiqUzzxSqvmCX2WVjEXrZrkrIixODfVhQAqz1GtIFZs3jK2t_yz5MZKsL3_roWvg6BBwTR46wA3bhY6jg5lwlD-XW8WHJRKojo4RPAAV4b1Lx8DYHiJ/s640/Chill-on-the-Hill-web.jpg" width="414" /></a></div>
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Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-65987002079036153582012-07-10T15:29:00.002-07:002012-07-10T15:29:24.772-07:00Laying it Out there.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I got in a PhotoBooth fight. I think I lost.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMbt-pfd9s-UZV5S4NZdUZQFPF2vFH4inUC5VXnkjRTBYhw31rMRMPPi_AnPdiFExLjE7FIvUXxZWwlHdRcjBpcU4rJ4WOx8ILOR61lpnzUOLgCsD6nUadbUZUZ1t9Sl70mQVWQJOSOmv/s1600/582116_10100120849638354_1720493884_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMbt-pfd9s-UZV5S4NZdUZQFPF2vFH4inUC5VXnkjRTBYhw31rMRMPPi_AnPdiFExLjE7FIvUXxZWwlHdRcjBpcU4rJ4WOx8ILOR61lpnzUOLgCsD6nUadbUZUZ1t9Sl70mQVWQJOSOmv/s640/582116_10100120849638354_1720493884_n.jpg" width="432" /></a></div>
<br />Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-78475986691329076322012-06-18T19:47:00.001-07:002012-06-18T19:47:15.695-07:00The cutest little origami I have ever seenWhenever I see origami things, it makes me think of the time that Desarae and I procrastinated from doing homework in college by trying to fill our entire living room with cranes. We filled the entire coffee table, but let's be real... how many cranes can you make before you're bored enough to find homework appealing. Anyways this is BY FAR the coolest little origami i have ever seen......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtOcgr6LLT0ML4wNDOiW6cwpXOzWAk5fPHzLe7DOgpWR_wB-OuHfT3Twy6jX21pRuIe9Qzcsn8MZGJ52G2M23IYNNEAUTEGURmzaU-ie_Nz6oHLDwgWJsHa_4GsnwvCfOqELOLRjISylU/s1600/IMG_0117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtOcgr6LLT0ML4wNDOiW6cwpXOzWAk5fPHzLe7DOgpWR_wB-OuHfT3Twy6jX21pRuIe9Qzcsn8MZGJ52G2M23IYNNEAUTEGURmzaU-ie_Nz6oHLDwgWJsHa_4GsnwvCfOqELOLRjISylU/s320/IMG_0117.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-51197265286085400762012-06-08T17:43:00.001-07:002012-06-08T17:43:17.067-07:00As per the usual.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_uG9nMbhozzpkml1Im7RXywMUTXGU4EcNO3EwAJhFv-4m9Prr0rSQ5rW41R4ii_V1GFQWH1a4UWrGBfLWc6JHOVTiC-HcdkUTiR2sFWte0ZB048Qr0aGmUx1j1CU8xklkRlt_bUveUM3/s1600/DSC_0307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_uG9nMbhozzpkml1Im7RXywMUTXGU4EcNO3EwAJhFv-4m9Prr0rSQ5rW41R4ii_V1GFQWH1a4UWrGBfLWc6JHOVTiC-HcdkUTiR2sFWte0ZB048Qr0aGmUx1j1CU8xklkRlt_bUveUM3/s320/DSC_0307.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNbx6qLQTz92KthKdBNKK8yKyEU4M7o_K1RyxTnfkt3tK4ElLIKY9UQBQHuyUfGPYfETqRybJhahJHbKNPSYP4SoxU6TiICR1y1ge6y1zmFpKaZYsl4F_u5Rd_iMU-laqljwWx-IEGMQd/s1600/DSC_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>Over Memorial Day weekend we headed out into the great known kentucky armed with camaraderie, 2 gallons of home-made chex mix, and hopes of climbing great, tall, rocks. We found it all, along with great weather and lots of mud. </div>
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Climbing is secretly a good sport for a lazy person. Sitting around and lounging is a very important part of any climbing trip. If you can't sit around and chill climbing may not be a good sport for you.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2u_y2KbyAUlEJaAfOsnSP6bP7crmgZ4NFOn2fx4NVPtuoce8m-_vf0KqaEDyIWNp2owCJNXU31eaG5t-bnLGoqpXnE9eDOOwoxXIVpddXot1w5BLLd2HosCLSH727p4ZVzsrpXymkeJ9G/s1600/DSC_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2u_y2KbyAUlEJaAfOsnSP6bP7crmgZ4NFOn2fx4NVPtuoce8m-_vf0KqaEDyIWNp2owCJNXU31eaG5t-bnLGoqpXnE9eDOOwoxXIVpddXot1w5BLLd2HosCLSH727p4ZVzsrpXymkeJ9G/s320/DSC_0232.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Shea lazily lounge in a hammock in the shade.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5FQHxQv_HyndNusgrzgYRCw_wTClDT2Ne5BllW7zTa_yS7km59qmu8ubZOnKunuhIq-WMJVeTiXBYgs_zDz4rGhBQVVYahv4HninRWViz7aZt3frUxpueMqHNx8Y6tIeHKVFA9Hn5hpp/s1600/DSC_0275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5FQHxQv_HyndNusgrzgYRCw_wTClDT2Ne5BllW7zTa_yS7km59qmu8ubZOnKunuhIq-WMJVeTiXBYgs_zDz4rGhBQVVYahv4HninRWViz7aZt3frUxpueMqHNx8Y6tIeHKVFA9Hn5hpp/s320/DSC_0275.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2lDT3HvnEXY6RAVkvwOj_kB1XpgNjaNG_3yB7CDGbD-8Sel_LU8JvN2CLD0OIFu4jf_nQ9mHby-RM3OGsKdAb4kTnHjRl5K6s1zSwK6xbx6KGyKuJaCtx7dYnbfohF1sgFKjvoVAw04y/s1600/DSC_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2lDT3HvnEXY6RAVkvwOj_kB1XpgNjaNG_3yB7CDGbD-8Sel_LU8JvN2CLD0OIFu4jf_nQ9mHby-RM3OGsKdAb4kTnHjRl5K6s1zSwK6xbx6KGyKuJaCtx7dYnbfohF1sgFKjvoVAw04y/s320/DSC_0179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2IJMgNxobeP5V0BLArrXRzfDh3dqx0-MDaYJ4To11Dc_3-tSJtyyS8Emkhyphenhyphen5Up5UfXiCh93hOpDQ2CgCwbyonZbqzVNRYc2FvswFr7WxOsciOvgXpFLh66jGP3VLV6N95jiKSVa6f20i/s1600/DSC_0239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2IJMgNxobeP5V0BLArrXRzfDh3dqx0-MDaYJ4To11Dc_3-tSJtyyS8Emkhyphenhyphen5Up5UfXiCh93hOpDQ2CgCwbyonZbqzVNRYc2FvswFr7WxOsciOvgXpFLh66jGP3VLV6N95jiKSVa6f20i/s320/DSC_0239.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although it is rare to see Melissa Nimmer climb, she can crush just like the rest of her family.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVwMIEm_rr0hTc7C_Ao_f10fEvAbB70m_Ttwje86DBXRNmQ29fm61Z4yhoxnOCpvgkuFzA2WxYWbgLQD49bL-qa67h-bLPT8nAErAGrcU3dq6i880tNzXXO2tWVs2yBTxngYXqH-gSIEc/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvEdPitIG7bNR2jFlZf4jLBNmCjJAYWoU7JI9k3m0AuQSL70x_2qED7xELb2SOftG04-3pEcR0JI45OsSNPpBGhC05_IG2Apc5dWR6g1UJu2SStpwWwgpec4ce3Xy3DTmlQWXShrGOgG2/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a> Off- roading is an essential and muddy part of any trip to the Red River Gorge.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnyC8yWIpt_riPkWOXbM2IFVI8ZiTMVsLV6i6PbvOj7KmiN9hk9xsZ7F7JcOmkifAyXEHE1XdvcebzoN-G9Rtjt4sMJd0BsY2ab5ng17KTafJ-GW71w59KnbgrG7d0e_d6XXlQJP5nk86/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnyC8yWIpt_riPkWOXbM2IFVI8ZiTMVsLV6i6PbvOj7KmiN9hk9xsZ7F7JcOmkifAyXEHE1XdvcebzoN-G9Rtjt4sMJd0BsY2ab5ng17KTafJ-GW71w59KnbgrG7d0e_d6XXlQJP5nk86/s320/DSC_0319.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqfYWU-h_k7GVZA_GDl9lK4GQUewTT2KyBbe5TfudD1UfLBbl2KdGqYYgiJpQabPqR_kK-h-c8Z319LHmQOMOhlul_9BIx7awWYFQoFQp3hdGoy9iUEfhJNE8UaWkxxsnVLiVttskTGmD/s1600/DSC_0253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqfYWU-h_k7GVZA_GDl9lK4GQUewTT2KyBbe5TfudD1UfLBbl2KdGqYYgiJpQabPqR_kK-h-c8Z319LHmQOMOhlul_9BIx7awWYFQoFQp3hdGoy9iUEfhJNE8UaWkxxsnVLiVttskTGmD/s320/DSC_0253.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Below is a portrait called "David"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-yh-r-GlyCFtqNr-O-NJP3_PyjA9kFQl_sUGHsUFblQPduuUgRnWYzs_AX1lGbFg7M36HcjxCWWue-kZKP8i9kCtr9nfE19SZ-wS-Bp0GFW6PYLS5xzr2VkFa7obWDW0aGInC7Kh68ph/s1600/DSC_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-yh-r-GlyCFtqNr-O-NJP3_PyjA9kFQl_sUGHsUFblQPduuUgRnWYzs_AX1lGbFg7M36HcjxCWWue-kZKP8i9kCtr9nfE19SZ-wS-Bp0GFW6PYLS5xzr2VkFa7obWDW0aGInC7Kh68ph/s320/DSC_0265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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See Caitlyn be awesome. Because she is awesome and a super strong climber and not a scaredy cat like me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoRPiPtWLIhPKe2Mj_oqlMG-D9yj7y6mrdmXeKyL1d_OTTyc9nE1ElAMT2PMgCqZyeLmH7FAdoBRhDnpjpqwB6-VMIp5HozR6WUIyTLulL75ar7O06L7nSIZE1LfGKJ7J7oEClwIuxsbz/s1600/DSC_0295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoRPiPtWLIhPKe2Mj_oqlMG-D9yj7y6mrdmXeKyL1d_OTTyc9nE1ElAMT2PMgCqZyeLmH7FAdoBRhDnpjpqwB6-VMIp5HozR6WUIyTLulL75ar7O06L7nSIZE1LfGKJ7J7oEClwIuxsbz/s320/DSC_0295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Can you find a venomous snake in the picture below? This is one of the many reasons why I can be quoted as saying "I hate nature" on every single trip to Kentucky. I like trees and I like rocks, but I hate wild venomous snakes, and bees, and going to the bathroom in non-flushing toilets. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvGuG7o-vdI8FAoq6xqTzodAYW-UR-j5XHp-9G8h0H1mYgzDsnJo5hMv33F07gHdn7txOVpcZZkBdNysM276RBFi5udzquBOfTK2-beZguu38K5ksklh3IXjKP03h6kzvsIEBQLXsOGtK/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvGuG7o-vdI8FAoq6xqTzodAYW-UR-j5XHp-9G8h0H1mYgzDsnJo5hMv33F07gHdn7txOVpcZZkBdNysM276RBFi5udzquBOfTK2-beZguu38K5ksklh3IXjKP03h6kzvsIEBQLXsOGtK/s320/DSC_0298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After a hard day of climbing nothing quenches the thirst like a bottle of Ale 8 ginger ale accompanied by a candy cigarette.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsltdi-TwlW4fJHBgYrkqPe16yaBOZeHMFQnsl6veZM2jq099dKHxxC9umi7VURRNwgSu2iZX6kSm3agxHT6QA-iks_0CLmUhlefjbRQj1PjLGwNueUdAsR_8unNPTzYcz9AiivNpkWlVA/s1600/DSC_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsltdi-TwlW4fJHBgYrkqPe16yaBOZeHMFQnsl6veZM2jq099dKHxxC9umi7VURRNwgSu2iZX6kSm3agxHT6QA-iks_0CLmUhlefjbRQj1PjLGwNueUdAsR_8unNPTzYcz9AiivNpkWlVA/s320/DSC_0301.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The last sight as we drove back to Wisconsin and work. Good bye until next time, Kentucky.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtSO3RhHG-3kGwqIawnCQbFAngt30LsJ-ZbFhqExkV1UlJJGixoqg8WoEdtFvOHluBkS6H1atNcS7gDf9fwQwKvIcRCai4DFpQYvvpFMbrj0xwdIfSK2ZGV8yE-spiOZVQAMjHzbXua5-/s1600/DSC_0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtSO3RhHG-3kGwqIawnCQbFAngt30LsJ-ZbFhqExkV1UlJJGixoqg8WoEdtFvOHluBkS6H1atNcS7gDf9fwQwKvIcRCai4DFpQYvvpFMbrj0xwdIfSK2ZGV8yE-spiOZVQAMjHzbXua5-/s320/DSC_0325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Below are pictures from a weekend trip to Devil's Lake with my brother, Mark. It's always exciting for me when he comes out to climb. This was the second time he came out there and he climbed really well. It was a joy to have one of my best friends and brother come out to do one of my favorite things in the world with me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNbx6qLQTz92KthKdBNKK8yKyEU4M7o_K1RyxTnfkt3tK4ElLIKY9UQBQHuyUfGPYfETqRybJhahJHbKNPSYP4SoxU6TiICR1y1ge6y1zmFpKaZYsl4F_u5Rd_iMU-laqljwWx-IEGMQd/s1600/DSC_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNbx6qLQTz92KthKdBNKK8yKyEU4M7o_K1RyxTnfkt3tK4ElLIKY9UQBQHuyUfGPYfETqRybJhahJHbKNPSYP4SoxU6TiICR1y1ge6y1zmFpKaZYsl4F_u5Rd_iMU-laqljwWx-IEGMQd/s320/DSC_0059.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxUEoiXBlI9VnBNIIYN43S52whHLajhTS2u4dsxNg7wk-iKnaGr2C2n71EQuAX5-XFwxvG7Ic67KiePJtO_sGK5kjK47M9yeCBNVr5lmYgnuoPVu66bUIi6gEj3QW4wYZqCh3TXTK7mP8/s1600/DSC_0047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxUEoiXBlI9VnBNIIYN43S52whHLajhTS2u4dsxNg7wk-iKnaGr2C2n71EQuAX5-XFwxvG7Ic67KiePJtO_sGK5kjK47M9yeCBNVr5lmYgnuoPVu66bUIi6gEj3QW4wYZqCh3TXTK7mP8/s320/DSC_0047.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></span> He's got natural ability (good climbing runs in the family) and I secretly hope this is just the beginning of his climbing career.... alongside his skateboarding and golfing careers. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvEdPitIG7bNR2jFlZf4jLBNmCjJAYWoU7JI9k3m0AuQSL70x_2qED7xELb2SOftG04-3pEcR0JI45OsSNPpBGhC05_IG2Apc5dWR6g1UJu2SStpwWwgpec4ce3Xy3DTmlQWXShrGOgG2/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvEdPitIG7bNR2jFlZf4jLBNmCjJAYWoU7JI9k3m0AuQSL70x_2qED7xELb2SOftG04-3pEcR0JI45OsSNPpBGhC05_IG2Apc5dWR6g1UJu2SStpwWwgpec4ce3Xy3DTmlQWXShrGOgG2/s320/DSC_0148.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVwMIEm_rr0hTc7C_Ao_f10fEvAbB70m_Ttwje86DBXRNmQ29fm61Z4yhoxnOCpvgkuFzA2WxYWbgLQD49bL-qa67h-bLPT8nAErAGrcU3dq6i880tNzXXO2tWVs2yBTxngYXqH-gSIEc/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVwMIEm_rr0hTc7C_Ao_f10fEvAbB70m_Ttwje86DBXRNmQ29fm61Z4yhoxnOCpvgkuFzA2WxYWbgLQD49bL-qa67h-bLPT8nAErAGrcU3dq6i880tNzXXO2tWVs2yBTxngYXqH-gSIEc/s320/DSC_0140.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>Every once in a while we go down to enjoy the Lake at Devil's Lake. I love being out there because it definitely feels like I am away from home and work and everything. I am amazed by people who don't get to head out anywhere on the weekends.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNJyftoKGna7xhSZ815dMjLE39iuJPhoaIySwqDYHZEilsAjEbUjwkwgCrCg55EHZhQ8AusRaThUYHLuULL1TWitJjvLoiClugiR5-1gMR8yhbmI6BMwQeTz3rB_vVNCD4dkNCBhn6ZES/s1600/DSC_0086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNJyftoKGna7xhSZ815dMjLE39iuJPhoaIySwqDYHZEilsAjEbUjwkwgCrCg55EHZhQ8AusRaThUYHLuULL1TWitJjvLoiClugiR5-1gMR8yhbmI6BMwQeTz3rB_vVNCD4dkNCBhn6ZES/s320/DSC_0086.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-24165483534817725672012-06-02T20:21:00.000-07:002012-06-02T20:21:06.026-07:00Summer Summer Summer. So ready!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A few new things.... I finally took the leap to get a mac book and it is severely hurting my blogging because I don't know how to do much anything on it. It's going to take some time for me to get used to not having a right click button and all those other little mac drawbacks. </div>
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I also decided to get a little pick me up for summer......... </div>
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My friend Heather did an awesome job putting in some sun kissed highlights. :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRkQ0TYPr9pPG5OkG52Y5PF2a2bwZfhzxWxAK8Ehk0drOuwhyphenhyphene6GZgw9YHQfiabkM01Cf1gpvzQ2K21MZo1z-tMrx-k5WGN5UYyLGfHE_3QbhU2BJovfwVHI2puXGnWfcxXEA1yjhjJNr/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRkQ0TYPr9pPG5OkG52Y5PF2a2bwZfhzxWxAK8Ehk0drOuwhyphenhyphene6GZgw9YHQfiabkM01Cf1gpvzQ2K21MZo1z-tMrx-k5WGN5UYyLGfHE_3QbhU2BJovfwVHI2puXGnWfcxXEA1yjhjJNr/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Spring is here and I have been climbing a lot lately. Tomorrow I will be out climbing again, but I'm going to combine it all into one great big climbing extravaganza blog entry.Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-20501265546181639152012-05-16T21:14:00.000-07:002012-05-16T21:14:40.625-07:00The CircusPete took me to the circus with Amaya. I have mixed feelings about the circus. It was amazing and fun, but on the other hand I can't imagine the life of a circus gypsy. That would be an interesting reality show.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMPnRwg5_3i5r6odcqH3tMUKEHbZSwm39Fspc2-u3o2DhzZYG2INrGqG8qb7aYtt9Au6_lge7UIu7f285KVghUsgCzyAvI5K6q6pUCujHPmF7KwDDqT4UBfCXYWLmLWDMXJ89Ae6jLvHF/s1600/images%5B2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMPnRwg5_3i5r6odcqH3tMUKEHbZSwm39Fspc2-u3o2DhzZYG2INrGqG8qb7aYtt9Au6_lge7UIu7f285KVghUsgCzyAvI5K6q6pUCujHPmF7KwDDqT4UBfCXYWLmLWDMXJ89Ae6jLvHF/s1600/images%5B2%5D.jpg" /></a> There were so many awesome acts. One of the more memorable events was the motorcycle cage. There were two different motorcycles going around the cage and then they topped it off by having a woman stand in the middle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSH4wv4QHZL5Xdur5wtGrQg-j5832AwDqMCzOlmjwYn8LiTc0PFl0HlQuYvAhtnrl_xJF6vkIeWZHnfBEU6En0YocAjgjZUWhw1C3keUF-ykQ3l7yod-RsPQvOtZkf3ABA7ym41LVn48UG/s1600/DSC_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSH4wv4QHZL5Xdur5wtGrQg-j5832AwDqMCzOlmjwYn8LiTc0PFl0HlQuYvAhtnrl_xJF6vkIeWZHnfBEU6En0YocAjgjZUWhw1C3keUF-ykQ3l7yod-RsPQvOtZkf3ABA7ym41LVn48UG/s320/DSC_0201.JPG" width="320" /></a> I don't have any actual pictures of the show because you weren't allowed to take pictures. There were numerous acts with clowns and what I would considered old tom and jerry type humor acts. There were lots of acts with ponies and dogs, and even a dog that was trained to walk on two legs. My favorite act, which I think was also Amaya's, was the elephant. It was wearing a black and sparkly silver outfit like the elephants from dumbo and they trained it to dance to the music. Elephants otherwise known as "el-noses" were always one of my favorite animals growing up, along with monkeys, which were known as 'munk-a-dunks."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtaLd5PZCM9R1eYQHF114uOnUPqJdU69Jn0y3XCucZax5r25u1uGtpIp3ZF4G-x3KCyrSL7-9xg3UyZ9s2AqL3KWkGtzU1uoBSyQGIjovGOO-abApmSQBJ9LrfDKKpdVDvu3NMytGnaU6/s1600/DSC_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtaLd5PZCM9R1eYQHF114uOnUPqJdU69Jn0y3XCucZax5r25u1uGtpIp3ZF4G-x3KCyrSL7-9xg3UyZ9s2AqL3KWkGtzU1uoBSyQGIjovGOO-abApmSQBJ9LrfDKKpdVDvu3NMytGnaU6/s320/DSC_0198.JPG" width="213" /></a><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"> To be completely honest I'm not sure who was more thrilled to ride the elephant. I hope Amaya always remembers that we rode the elephant together. Although it was probably one of 50 elephant rides she has had in her life.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqmmv-iYH1QCHAnDvHtoJ3wC9EnDcfbn2hnXceYhMLZKI2X-Okfk5rhB6jKat8_ncELa0oUOAPH5hUl25PbG3SNifmTNJ7GYJdWxdNS9shJP3M7ihhArlQ_ZxO5yiUGZ-cewVVulSI7TJ/s1600/DSC_0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqmmv-iYH1QCHAnDvHtoJ3wC9EnDcfbn2hnXceYhMLZKI2X-Okfk5rhB6jKat8_ncELa0oUOAPH5hUl25PbG3SNifmTNJ7GYJdWxdNS9shJP3M7ihhArlQ_ZxO5yiUGZ-cewVVulSI7TJ/s320/DSC_0193.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">Amaya loved the circus and loved the animals. She is so smart... Peter was surprising her about where we were going, but as soon as she smelled horsies and saw the popcorn she knew where we were. She loves all the animals and as you can tell is absolutely not afraid of any of them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7mlel7jxkJO7l6JEN5fRsZuc5Z9dApDY5BbtO3tQSaWQvn4idHDRYMW1xkoKcJ5Mz3Z2yfeP9MhmBiQUpWi4f6qMgW6jobWDsPbyFHfZ3NtXd9ayuIYJBRykGE31n_P943ftGzIUS1-V/s1600/DSC_0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7mlel7jxkJO7l6JEN5fRsZuc5Z9dApDY5BbtO3tQSaWQvn4idHDRYMW1xkoKcJ5Mz3Z2yfeP9MhmBiQUpWi4f6qMgW6jobWDsPbyFHfZ3NtXd9ayuIYJBRykGE31n_P943ftGzIUS1-V/s320/DSC_0196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And now for the sad, happy news. Amaya and Pete and Sara have moved out to Washington D.C. Of course I am excited for them and all the opportunities and fun things they will do out there, but I will miss them and especially Amaya! Thank God for facetime :)Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4106500708311337227.post-83298128270239433862012-05-03T18:02:00.001-07:002012-05-03T18:03:12.743-07:00Out at the Lake<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0k64rOP69-APORhQ9ZY3BWhdlQDHYYzBq96-VuhUx4V8-BhuyI7WD51Zfa-lKI2puUwfRPDgOR4HgNj4KAUv8uK-GxxH7OKQLOkUUlkPYHlXGo8TzyrPaxlT71zkOOC6FueRdqxnW1A5/s1600/DSC_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0k64rOP69-APORhQ9ZY3BWhdlQDHYYzBq96-VuhUx4V8-BhuyI7WD51Zfa-lKI2puUwfRPDgOR4HgNj4KAUv8uK-GxxH7OKQLOkUUlkPYHlXGo8TzyrPaxlT71zkOOC6FueRdqxnW1A5/s320/DSC_0182.JPG" width="213" /></a>My favorite Destination this spring has been Devil's Lake. It is a wonderful state park about 2.5 hours northwest of Milwaukee. It's a simple day trip that can be planned on a whim; It takes you away from the city just enough to forget about everything, but not too much that it empties your gas tank. Last weekend we went out for a day. I was very excited to be out there and in particular with an old friend from high school who I discovered also climbs.</div>
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We had a good group out there. We ran into a lot of people from the climbing gym, imagine that- they also like to go to Devil's Lake to climb.</div>
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David brought along a rubiks cube, which unfortunately I found difficult to put down. It's good to know that despite the 5 years that have passed since school my brain is not <i>necessarily</i> dumb. I worked on the cube between climbs or while belaying....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eJbZTG_owIRX3cNAjI8QUoAlFTrcCeAoi9NNKyGOC9egNVwkLn9wGfijHU16qTcA10wqZtYHTJ_PuYzty1lIEg-Djtu7KB91yuDFsYN5S0JzLna2tbEXxJeBJ2b-lbNgGg_DOhb2whcA/s1600/DSC_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eJbZTG_owIRX3cNAjI8QUoAlFTrcCeAoi9NNKyGOC9egNVwkLn9wGfijHU16qTcA10wqZtYHTJ_PuYzty1lIEg-Djtu7KB91yuDFsYN5S0JzLna2tbEXxJeBJ2b-lbNgGg_DOhb2whcA/s320/DSC_0166.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGUPxgDiE6gUwvX0gK1YRd1kwPwC43l9rTkxg1o57HdIXAUNuONN9muL2qhZDYem4hyphenhyphenNyKuIwCTW8kQs7nn-ViYHsL_rNkDWhZCEWN1aBH_8CBqCK2EowSKCT_fiu8Uikpy6iFBTGVPKn/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGUPxgDiE6gUwvX0gK1YRd1kwPwC43l9rTkxg1o57HdIXAUNuONN9muL2qhZDYem4hyphenhyphenNyKuIwCTW8kQs7nn-ViYHsL_rNkDWhZCEWN1aBH_8CBqCK2EowSKCT_fiu8Uikpy6iFBTGVPKn/s320/DSC_0154.JPG" width="320" /></a> David has been injured so he told us that he did not bring along his harness in order to avoid the temptation of climbing and aggravating his injury. Instead, he just hiked around and started climbing things <b>without</b> his harness or a rope.......Climbers are a special breed and climbing is an addicting sport.<br />
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Greg styling up the rock:<br />
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Don't be surprised to see more of "the Lake" (as we call it) in the upcoming months. Summer is coming and all I want to do is play outside!Katerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335090475819991319noreply@blogger.com0