It Is True

Benjamin, 1978 Schwinn Continental II

My poor old Schwinn is a mess.  Dragged it out of the shed.  It may as well left it out in the weather. The mice or neighbor's cats did a job on the seat and the tires are flat and more rust than I care to think of. Even the handlebar tape is shot.  And to think I had it all spiffed up and was using it just a couple years ago. (see above)

So now I am thinking, do I find someone who can fix him up for me?  Or just get a new road bike?  I wish I could find someone around here that likes to work on vintage bikes.  The last time I took him in the kid in the dreads looked at me like "are you kidding?" instead of giving me the "what an awesome example of vintage machinery!" I was looking for!  This old bike is more than I need.  I don't need a fancy schmancy Trek that cost more than my car.  Not out here on the farm and miles of dirt roads.

I need to drag him around one day I suppose and get some estimates, feel the vibes of the shops and go from there.

Meanwhile I took the girly girl bike out for a spin, not far enough but I had two loose dogs with me.  Next time they stay home.  Then I can go to town and back maybe.

Day 6: 30 Interesting Facts About Myself

Well, I don't know how interesting they are.  In the end, who cares.

1. I work as a rural mail carrier substitute out of four POs.
2. My car's name is Black Beauty.  She is the nicest and newest car I have ever had...a 1999 Chevy Lumina.
3. If I move again it will be to Duluth, South Range or Fargo.
4. I seriously want to meet my German penpal.
5. I was the fastest runner in my high school and could do sprints and long distance.  Now?  Ha ha, yeah.  But I have the heart of a runner and am working on getting my mojo back.
6. This is the first time I haven't lived on some sort of body of water.
7. I listen almost exclusively to NPR/WPR and WOJB.  I can't get any of them in the house so I can only hear them in the car.
8. I belly dance.
9. I am resurrecting my 1978 Schwinn Continental II.  His name is Benjamin.
10. I love books!
11. I was born on the 11th.
12. I dislike housework for the most part.  Might be because I live with three men.
13. I like to drive.
14. My husband and I used to build houses.  Ours has been gutted for 16 years.  It is not pretty but we couldn't agree on design.  He has finally decided to let me have my way.  And he says I am impatient, ha ha ha.
15. I love to cook. My husband prefers junk food.  I don't cook very often anymore.
16. The best $1200 I spent was on getting satellite internet and my netbook.
17. I got my only credit card 2.5 years ago.
18. I had a midlife crisis...really.
19. I enjoy gardening and tried to do farmers markets etc.  I had poor results due to the mega tons of mysterious Amish and Mennonite sellers that everyone seems to want to buy from and who don't even grow their own stuff, believe it or not.  I need a gimmick.
20. I am a Sharpie addict and the company even used some of my artwork created with them.
21. I am my father's daughter. 
22. I used to make a living off eBay selling artwork. Now I hardly even draw anymore.
23. I once went on a week long trip to KY with someone I never met until I picked her up. 
24. I used to groom dogs.
25. I prefer pinching pennies to working.
26. I collect and show model horses.
27. I love a good cup of coffee.
28. I sometimes sit in a restaurant, write or read and just waste an hour or two.
29. I make my own laundry detergent.
30. I love wasabi peas.

Day 5: A Time You Thought of Ending Your Life

I don't know if I have ever been there.  When I was in my deep depression I thought "why bother even being here?" but not in the way of doing myself in, just in feeling invisiable.  I would leave before I would think that way too hard. 

There were times I thought "geez, if I make a sharp right or left with the steering wheel of my car" I could fly into the river/hillside/oncoming truck.  But that is as far as it went.  I thought a lot more (and still do because dammit I need some adventure in life!!!) about just passing my exits and seeing how far a road would take me, perhaps all the way to the oceans.

But kill myself.  No.  I would rather just disappear.

Singer Songwriter Concert

Patchouli at the Mabel Tainter theater

This is the only photograph that turned out from Friday night.  The concert was terrific.  The only downside is there is no room to dance!  With all that great music I am sure I am not the only one who wanted to move!

I have been a fan of Patchouli for a number of years already, seeing them live when I can.  The other three were really awesome too though I had not heard of them personally before.  Howard "Guitar" Luedtke lives up to his name and I absolutely love bluesy type music so he too was two thumbs up!

Release of the Cranes

After the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan I spent my time making paper cranes to raise money to send to earthquake relief.  As the news wound down and slowly the disaster became  less a news item I started leaving cranes around town and places I go.  On the wings it says "Pray for Japan".  These are some I left today...

Walmart crane

This crane was dropped off in Walmart.  Shortly after I dropped it off and took a photograph a young girl came along with her mom and spotted it.  I try and keep them fairly low so children can find them.  The first thing she did was look at it then throw it in the air to see if it would fly.  She then carried it for awhile, eventually putting it on her mom's purse in the cart.

Scheels, ladies biking clothing

This crane was dropped off by some fake flowers in the bike clothing dept. of Scheels.  I came home with a top and padded shorts and a pair of clearance socks.

Culvers

This crane was left in the number holder at the Culver's.  I needed some lunch ;).



Borders

 I was surprised to find Kandinsky cards at Borders!!! So in celebration I left a purple crane!

Michaels

A crane who has claimed his birdhouse!

Day 4: My Views on Religion

I was born into a non-practicing Catholic family.   My parents tried at first but by the time I was 7 they were fallen away although we still went to CCD.  I never was confirmed though.  They kept moving the age up and my folks said enough and I was graduated and gone.

I always went to church with my Grandmother to the St. Agnes in Ashland.  She would even put some rouge on my cheeks to make it special.  I loved that church, still do.  It is beautiful to look at and gave me hours of artistic daydreaming.  In summer I had a problem with passing out though due to the heat. 

I have tried all sorts of churches but none really feel like home. I also have a real problem with having to go to a place.  I am a homebody for the most part.  I find the bible mind numbing for the most part and never understood those who take it literally.  I have neighbors who do so and everything revolves around the bible or sins of others.  I don't like to talk with them for any length of time.

When we first moved here I was accused by a neighboring town's church of being a witch because the above neighbor's goat was killed while staked on the roadside and because the left haunch was taken, something about opposites etc. meant it was the devil and they just right away assumed it must be those new neighbors.  A great way to start! 

This area is very conservative.  We have a large Mennonite and Amish population.  Also, being an at home mom the only other moms I knew were all homeschooling so everything revolved around Jesus.  It was overwhelming.  The gossiping about who had a "bun in the oven" though came and bit two families in the butt when their daughters got pregnant.  And guess what?  The world did not end!

Anyway, I have dabbled in various christian groups and even went to RCIA classes and got confirmed in the Catholic faith.  I find it as close to my  beliefs as I get and I am still very very far from a lot of it.  I don't have a church home but I do once in awhile attend a mass in the next town over.

Last year I went to a Friends (Quaker) meeting and enjoyed that.  But there again, an hour drive.  I just am not into it that much.

I like to read about various beliefs.  I have gone to Ojibwe sweatlodges, Sami drum circles, pagan gatherings and the such.  I love dancing in powwows to honor my relatives and try to attend two to three powwows a year.  I enjoy the idea of the earth religions, keeping it simple stupid with what is right in front of you every moment of every day.  I don't need to go to church to see what "God" has created.  I can't decide if there is a god or not.  But I do enjoy reading the history, mystery, visiting sacred spaces and thinking about it all.

Winter, Give Up Your Grip!

Bozo the bull calf

28*F this morning.  Sigh.  Only good thing about that is the ground is a little firmer to walk on.  But, really, I am ready for winter to go.  Let's get this frost out and move on please? 

I am back to dragging the sled and peeling round bales to feed the horses.  Thank goodness we were able to get a round bale in one pasture and one to the cows but I have five horses we cannot get a bale to so I have to unroll a bale, pile it on an ice shanty sled, drag it across the yard and pitch it into the feeder.   My back and hips feel it. 

I found out yesterday my friend's business in Merrill is a loss.  What a shame.  It was a sort of home away from home.

Mabel Tainter Theater

Friday night will find me and my husband here (he doesn't know yet...I just ordered tickets online) for the Singer Songwriter Showcase hosted by WPR's past Simply Folk host.  The musicians are all from Western WI, one being my favorite for several years now, Patchouli.  I wish I wasn't working Friday and Saturday (I normally don't work much this time of year) so I could enjoy the night out but that is how it goes.  Tack on a 1 1/2 hour drive it gets late for me, a morning person.  But it will be worth it, right??  Gads, I am getting old!