Travel » I Shoot People

Not the Pits in Minneapolis

Aug 092011

We’re back home again.

We took a trip to Forest City IA over the weekend. It was impromptu, but a nice way to spend some of Peggy’s pre-retirement time and talk over plans.

Friday evening was spent at Cresco IA, where we found a really nice pizza place for the middle of nowhere. It’s called Mabe’s Pizza and we had a very nice vegetarian pizza with fresh veg (not canned) and a very nice mozzarella. The dough was actually nice. I’m a dough snob. I admit it. I don’t like the too-0ften-cracker-like crust that frequently gets used by restaurants too lazy to make their own dough. This was a real dough; no cracker crust. Very nice. No bar, and beer by the bottle. (Gotta have a beer with a good pizza)

I was too lazy to get the camera out to shoot morning fog but it’s always so wonderful to look out across the landscape and see those whisps of obscurity. It was interesting to hear that they are putting in another 60 huge windmills for electrical generation — and the ones they have now are old enough that they are being replaced with new ones… Which results in a steady flow of trucks in both directions through town. Westbound new units; Eastbound used units to be refurbished/rebuilt. to We spent a couple days in farmland and then bopped up to Minneapolis, and from there across WI back home. Continue reading »

The Comfort of Water

The Comfort of Water Life No Responses »

Jul 172011

It’s funny the way certain things take on a life of their own.

We went for a walk at the marina again — our favorite place. Actually, when we are both gone Katy’s gonna have instructions to spread our ashes together there.

But when we want to think, and when we want to chat about serious things we seem to gravitate to the water. Not that we don’t talk about serious things during the winter — when talking at the water’s edge is a bit chilly. But it’s a soothing and calming place that has always been just what we needed when we wanted to think and share ideas.

From the earliest days of our marriage — the spartan years in Chicago — we have sought out water. From our first apartment on 37th and California forward we have gone down to the lake to talk. Like the men who “go down to the sea in ships” I guess. Not necessarily for the sound of water; just for something oddly calming about the vastness of the Great Lake, and of our small place on the planet.

I wonder what will happen when we retire? We are still quite undecided about what we shall actually do — there are a lot of details that have yet to be worked out — including deciding what to do about this house — But I don’t know that we will always be as close to the water as we have been most of our life — where will we go to talk?

Comaraderie

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Mar 222011

I’m not a great fan of strenuous exercise, I know, that’s not a good thing.

But I have this strange fascination for cyclers. I caught these three in the mountains of SW France on my last trip.

Great Veggie Hawkeye Pizza

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Aug 182010

Peg and I are going to combine some work with some pleasure, and we got started today.

On the fun side, we had dinner at Bob’s Your Uncle Pizza Cafe. It was strictly Kismet that we found the place — next to our overnight accommodations — but talk about great Karma. They have a wonderful thin crust, and with a vegetarian pie (tomato, green & red pepper, onion, artichoke hearts, black & green olives — and of course mozzarella) the crust just sings.

Tomorrow will be a long day, long drive, but good company and 75 mph speed limit will make for a doable jaunt.

Circa 1742

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Apr 262010

Country House

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Apr 252010

What are ivy covered walls so nostalgic

Travellog: Wytheville, VA

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Apr 112010

Yesterday was a long day. On the road with car packed by 3 am and 700 miles on the odometer later, arrived Wytheville VA.
What a glorious day for a drive and I had plenty of time to think, to enjoy, listen to tunes & the Met broadcast of Magic Flute. Not a lot of traffic on the roads — more than my last trip — but then the WX is a lot nicer now than it was in November.
I’ll hit Myrtrle Beach later today. A couple days of exploration there before heading to Charleston.
One of the things I really enjoy about driving is the time it provides to just think about life and appreciate what’s been goin’ on and the people in my life: I’m a lucky guy. I celebrated last night with oysters and crab cakes — food has always been my way of celebrating. But then with my wife 700 miles away I guess sex is NOT the best way of celebrating.