Takin' the Blog for a Walk

A poor defenseless bird turned Kamikaze over the weekend and did serious damage to my place of employment. Maybe no one ever told this bird to not play with electricity, because after he got too close to a power pole insulator all that remained was the smell of fried chicken in the air.

All the motors were incapacitated Monday morning. About 20 overhead doors couldn't be opened. Air compressors weren't working and the fridges and air conditioners were non-functional. The lights were working and I was told the partial outage had something to do with single phase. I don't pretend to know much about electricity, and question how much the line worker who came to repair the problem knows - while he was still there we heard a huge explosion coming from the area he was working.

Most everything came back to life (not the bird) once the power was restored but the rooftop air conditioner had to be replaced, which was done yesterday.

A brief but powerful rain storm rolled through the Milwaukee area today. The sewer backed up at my shop and the power went out at our Racine shop. Nothing ever happens at work.

How was your weekend? Sunday was a day of firsts. First time I went to Polish Fest. Finally tried paczki for the first time. Attended a Polish mass, walked around Wisconsin's newest state park, Lakeshore, stepped inside and checked out Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin.

Mass at the lakefront started at 10:15 but I was already up by 4:30 a.m. to crew for a first time hot air balloon flight for someone who was turning 50 Monday. To get in to Polish Fest for just $4.00 I had to attend mass and, because I was attending mass, was the only one I could talk into going.

Because I was alone Sunday morning I had time to see what interested me. I enjoyed talking with an interesting man who was selling beautiful paintings he had done on large linden leaves. I listened to the Chopin Youth Piano Competition and was amazed by the skill of the 10 through 14 year olds. I played the benches under the Wind Leaves in front of Discovery World. Watched the sailboats, walked the beach...

With Summerfest starting tomorrow there is perfect opportunity to explore all the new things just outside the gates. On July 8th everyone gets in to Summerfest free from noon to 4:00. You can get a wristband any day from noon to 6:30 to leave and re-enter so you can check out the park, play the benches and turn the Wind Leaves, visit the gift shop in Discovery World, pick up brochures for sailing on the Denis Sullivan, walk the breakwater...

Sir Fido at "Car Show on the Hill"

Blog took me for a walk to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church this morning to check out the show. We investigated the cars, van, go cart, motorcycles... and won a raffle prize!

 Found our way back home by following the scented trail he laid out every block or so. We'll have to stop back later for a bite to eat and to see if we won anything else.

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Managed to get back to the "Car Show on the Hill" before it ended to see if we won anything else. We picked up an additional three raffle prizes! Each of the boys won a meal and ice cream from Culvers and I won certificates from Suburpia and Paisano's Pizzeria. We did so well because someone put in a lot of effort to help make this first car and bike show a success by gathering many, many donations for raffle prizes, all proceedes of which go to the Waukesha County Food Pantry. Before we left we filled up on, (I'm not making this up) the very best brats and burgers. The brats were juicy and the burgers were large and full of flavor from the grill. OoLaaLaa!

 Boys and I rode bikes to Culvers at night to cash in their certificates. Huge burgers. Strawberrys in their custard. Nice treat.

As taken directly from Friday's Freeman: You're turning this weekend into a feel-good comedy, and it starts now. Turn up the music, and drive with your window rolled down. You're only available for opportunities and people who promise to be fun.

With so much going on this first weekend of summer the horoscope is pretty accurate. I can think of so many fun things happening just a short drive away; Cedarburg, Milwaukee, Delafield and Brookfield, to name a few. But there's also lots happening right here at home with Fiesta Waukesha, St. Mary's Summer Festival and a car and bike show at Mt. Calvary. Enjoy!

Instead of putting off repair of the bathroom sink stopper to later, I fixed it this morning. Instead of doing it before I showered, I did it after. Instead of leaving my coffee in a safe spot, I put it where I could get to it - right next to the sink. Instead of spilling into the sink when I bumped it, coffee and cup tipped on my head. Instead of yelling, I laughed.

Instead of camping all weekend, we spent just one day. Instead of staying at one of the three other Waukesha County Parks that offer family camping; Muskego, Mukwonago or Menomonee, we chose the one that was most crowded, thus noisier, but had a lake for canoeing and was closest to home, Naga-Waukee Park.

Instead of remembering to pack canoe paddles, we made a trip home. Instead of going out on heavily-used Nagawicka Lake when it's calmest, we tried canoeing mid day. Instead of getting swamped by breakers from the speed boats, we managed to keep it upright and took only a little water over the sides. Instead of finding "No Trespassing" signs on an island we found none, and we explored it. Instead of burning gas, making waves and pulling around people on inflatable furniture, my son and I caught some fish, got a close look at the lake properties and gave our muscles a workout. Instead of giving us the same courtesy as motor boats at the landing, (it cost us as much to launch as it cost them) we were noticeably rushed to make room for trailered boats even though it took us only two minutes to get our boat out of the water.

Instead of the storms that were predicted this weekend, the weather was great. Instead of the lake being cold or weedy, the water was very nice for swimming. Instead of spending $145.00 for a night's stay in a cabin somewhere, we spent $14.50 and put up our own cabin. Instead of having all the amenities of home, we pumped our own water, used an outhouse and cooked over an open fire.

Instead of camping with his eight kids, it was tricky with just my two, my dad took us Up North to a cabin in Minocqua or Mercer to fish, boat and swim. Instead of seeing my dad today, Father's Day, I will be visiting his grave, he died two years ago yesterday. Instead of waiting, tell your dad you love him.

It's Takin the Blog for a Walk's first blogiversary and more than one hundred entries have been posted. I'd like to take this time to thank the Journal Sentinel, Community Newspapers and Mark Maley for giving me this opportunity and readers of WaukeshaNOW and Marketplace for your feedback.

This blog has allowed me to write about things I'm passionate about and has given me motivation to get out and do more. It's also been one year since I lost my weekend job and I've enjoyed all the new things I've been able to do since then and am happy to be able to write about them.

My fear in doing this was I'd run out of things to write about, maybe in winter nothing would be happening, but that hasn't been the case. Something is always going on in or around Waukesha. This weekend we're going camping so I hope to write about that. I'm really amazed by the varied offering of free or low cost things to do around here. Sometimes you have to volunteer to get into something but it's still fun and it's free.

My favorite blog is "The list of things to do before I die just got shorter" on 7/25/06. I went up in a hot air balloon for the first time (it cost me nothing because I was volunteering) and told about it as in a letter to my dad. I cried while writing it because of all the emotions I was experiencing. I called in to a radio show and talked about the flight and the letter, and later blogged about the radio show and added a link to the broadcast. Even though we only floated from one end of Waukesha to another, I got a lot of mileage out of my first balloon flight.

Thanks for reading!

Visited the Carpentry Training Center Open House in Pewaukee with my son yesterday. There were two race cars on display, vendors, free food and giveaways but the best part was the time two gentlemen had for us to show us around, answer all our questions and tell us all about carpentry apprenticeship. It's a beautiful building and the program sounds great too.

My son loves working in wood, thanks in large part to one of his great teachers at North, Mr. Kugler. He has built several nice pieces this year; a clock, poker table, a roll-top bread box... which was partly accomplished by working overtime after school. Through Mr. Kugler's guidance his class has built several wooden sheds this year, the most recent just last Thursday for the Waukesha County Food Pantry.

The local papers, The Journal Sentinel and Waukesha Freeman, had photos of the kids building the shed at the Pantry. In Friday's Freeman the picture caption mentioned my son was using a circular saw to cut wood for a shed to store food for the Pantry. Well, my son wasn't in the picture, it wasn't a circular saw, wasn't cutting wood, and the shed isn't going to be used to store food. The article was well-researched and written but the picture caption was all wrong.

So the Freeman caption was wrong. One of the things I feel the Freeman does right is sponsoring Freeman Friday Night Live. Now in it's fourth year I think the music is a very good thing for the downtown and on a good night, like last Friday, you can almost feel it. The sidewalks and parking spots were crowded and with four stages spread throughout downtown it certainly encourages exploration. I especially like the write up the Freeman does for Friday Night Live in Thursday's paper. It lets us know about the performers and points out things to listen for.

There was no graduation ceremony for eigth graders when I attended Butler Middle School. There was special recognition for kids who did well in a particular subject, but no graduation ceremony.

Our youngest graduated eigth grade last week; cap, gown and diploma, from St. Joe's Middle School and from Waukesha Catholic. After an eleven year involvement with Waukesha Catholic education, my sons now both attend public high school. Waukesha North is a great school, my wife and I both attended, and I'm sure our boys will do fine.

North seems to have everything; great facilities and teachers, an outstanding band and athletic teams that do well. And from what I've seen of the graduates coming from North, they are doing something right. I just wish there was more communication between us and the school.

At Waukesha Catholic, a weekly envelope came home full of news and volunteer opportunities, things to fill out and return. Parents were strongly encouraged to help as often as they could and, once I got over my fear of volunteering, I came to like it and actually looked forward to it. Some of my best memories of their school years come from volunteering; I was an "Art Mom", where I'd research and teach each grade about a different artist each month. I chaperoned at Camp Whitcomb-Mason and tried to teach the kids about archery. I would describe Waukesha Catholic as "close-knit" and I think it earned that by everyone pitching in.

I have to admit "News Notes", the weekly envelope from St. Joe's, did get old after a while - the volume of paper was sometimes overwhelming, but when we think back on it, I'm sure we'll appreciate too much information rather than too little. North doesn't have a student newspaper, and School Times Magazine every month or two just doesn't cut it.

I admire the dedication of teachers everywhere, especially parochial teachers who typically earn less, and am continually amazed by the example they set. One of my son's teachers at North likes teaching so much that she can also be found volunteer teaching religious ed at church. Another teacher likes his classes to do good things for the community and yesterday, on the last day of the school year, they put up a shed for the Waukesha County Food Pantry. The phy ed teacher at St. Joe's moonlights as Bernie Brewer, which is cool for the kids but I don't know what that fact alone teaches the kids; that you can have fun while staying active, I suppose.

So, from waiting in line in the cold at 6:00 a.m. twelve years ago to guarantee our family a spot at St. William School, to eighth grade graduation at St. Joe's last week, it was a good run. We may be done with Waukesha Catholic, but I could still be talked into volunteering.

How big is your carbon footprint? Usually mine is pretty large. Today, however, mine was so miniscule that whatever the wind didn't blow away the rain washed out.

Today I rode a Schwinn World Sport, my secondhand rummage sale bike, three miles to the Hwy. G Park and Ride. From G, I caught the eastbound Wisconsin Coach for a 20 mile ride to Milwaukee. I then walked a block to where I keep my other bike, a Schwinn Traveler, the roadside freebee someone had thrown out three years ago. I finished my commute to work with another short bike ride.

The commute was repeated in reverse in the afternoon, the bad weather held off, and I felt good about it. Didn't save the planet but didn't make it worse either. It was something good I did for my health and should probably do it more often.

Miles covered, one way: 24
Total time in transit each way: 1:05
Bus ticket: $2.50
Laughing all the way past the gas station: priceless

I first heard about Ed Yost a week ago today. It was while discussing hot air ballooning films during the crew training day I invited everyone to that we learned about Ed, "The Father of Modern Day Hot Air Ballooning." In the late 50s Ed experimented with propane and kerosene burners, lightweight synthetic fabric and vents, openings and shapes to help make ballooning what it is today. Thanks to Ed, pilots today can unpack and launch a 100,000 sq. ft. balloon, float for miles, hit a target and land and deflate exactly where they planned to, most of the time.

Ed died last Sunday, the day I first learned about him. After years of soaring heavenward on calm breezes, may his spirit forever float with angels. Ed was 87.

If seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong were to visit what would you do? I rode my bike over yesterday morning to see him and many other participants in the TREK 100, the MACC Fund's Ride for Hope fundraising bike ride which began at WCTC. My black Schwinn rummage sale special was clearly in the minority as well more than 90% of the bikes appeared to be TREK bikes. It was a TREK Mecca with, it had to have been thousands, of pricey Trek bikes. The president of TREK Corp. was there and introduced Lance, who raced TREK bikes in seven straight Tour de France wins.

Armstrong said just a few short words to the crowd, once the mic problem was fixed, and joined others at the beginning to lead off the ride. I saw a lot of photographers crowding around him and I didn't want to be one of those, so I didn't get any decent pictures of him. Just as well, put everyone in a colorfull jersey, bike helmet and sunglasses and you'd be surprised how similar they look.

There was some variety though. I tried hard to spot non-TREK bikes and actually saw a few, even saw a couple tandem bikes. Not everyone wore Spandex either - I saw one guy with cotton shorts and a t-shirt!

I contemplated joining the TREK 100 this year, the first year I was able, but knew I wasn't ready. Not only was it $35.00 to enter plus $1.00 a mile in pledges, but I don't own a helmet, bike shorts or Spandex. While many distances were offered, my ego would only allow me to try the 100, for which I hadn't prepared. I know my bike would have made it but my body would have hated it. Maybe next year, with sponsors.

Because I wasn't in the ride this year I payed attention to the weather because, you know, it would probably be too windy or rainy anyway. Even though a short thunder storm passed through the area, it produced only a few drops, and for the most part it was a nice day Saturday.

From WCTC I continued on my bike around Pewaukee Lake to Hwy. 83 and KE in time for the start of a seven mile Ice Age Trail hike to commemorate National Trails Day. I read about the hike on WaukeshaNOW and it interested me. Hiking the trail costs nothing and, even though there's close to 1000 miles of Wisconsin trails, I'd never hiked it before. Not really sure how long a seven mile hike takes, I brought nothing but a camera and water bottle. The smart ones brought walking sticks, food, bug spray . . .

A little over thirty of us began the hike. The steep terrain soon leveled off and eventually passed right through downtown Hartland and beyond. We crossed paths with TREK 100 riders outside Bark River Park, where the Kiwanis Club was sponsoring a fishing clinic for kids. Rain threatened but trees along the Bark River sheltered us.

Seven miles, 14000 steps, 3-1/2 hours, and several friendships later the hike sadly ended and I continued on my bike the rest of the way around Pewaukee Lake, returning home via the Lake Country Trail. I learned a lot yesterday and was impressed by everyone I met and everything I saw. After 20 years of working weekends I told myself I'd never waste a weekend when I lost the job last year. I met a woman who had retired just the day before and her husband, a former Earth Science teacher from Oconomowoc, still teaching me about the plants and land. A gal from Milwaukee was just returning to hiking after recent foot surgery. One nice couple knew a lot about the area because they used to farm the land we were hiking on and still lived nearby. . . This weekend wasn't wasted.