The Big 2-3

That's right, folks. It's my birthday. And a birthday first for this kid: today I had 300 people singing Happy Birthday at the Pioneer Preview. A little bit random, but a whole lot of fun. Heidi kindly suggested it, and the whole crowd played along. Thanks Preview people!

Leave a birthday comment to brighten my day above the gloomy weather today! :)

Round-Abouts and Other Confusions in Green Bay

Can someone explain the purpose of a round-about? I mean really. You know what I'm talking about right? Those ridiculous substitutes for corners or four-way stops that require you to circle your way precariously around to the right on a very tight curve while simultaneously trying to avoid all the other cars coming in from three other entrances, exiting at random all at incredibly high speeds.

Now, what exactly is the point to all this? Is it faster than a four-way stop? I think not. Everyone still has to yield to that person on their left entering the circle while keeping a mindful eye on that car to your right that may slip in before you do. Is it safer than a four-way stop? Absolutely not! Everyone at least comes to a stop at a four-way stop! Round-abouts? No stopping required, occasionally it's a good idea, but definitely not required. Are they more cost effective than the stop? I don't see how. They require so much more pavement (the big circle is probably the equivalent of an extra city block).

In my opinion these crazy round-abouts are just ridiculous. Just ridiculous.

You know what else is ridiculous? Today, Green Bay got its fair share of snow sprinkles throughout the day, but the sun refused to give up. Every time that it snowed today, it was also sunny. I thought it quite strange.

Oh, and for the record, Green Bay-not so scary. I thought that it would be a little more big-city-ish. But so far, I've found it to be very nice.

Pot-a-wat-o-what?

(A.K.A. Happenings and Mishappenings in Door County)

Yesterday I took a trip to Potawatomi State Park here in Door County. Lucky for me, the rain held off, and it wasn't too cold for a good hike in the woods. I found a good spot to park on the farthest end of the park near a trail head where I was sure I would find no other human soul. I took a moment to bundle up in my favorite sweatshirt, a vest, and a stocking hat, ready to find an adventure. With park map in hand, I took off down the trail, not knowing exactly what to expect. I gave a quick call to Mom just to let her know I was ok, and I took off, confident that this would be a great hike.

I walked only about twenty minutes through some very thick timber when the path opened up right to the lake. Before I could even see it, I could hear the waves lapping up on the rocky shore. I broke a few park rules and left the well-worn trail to experience the shoreline a little closer. White-washed rocks, all square and flat were scattered for as far as the eye could see in both directions down the water's edge. I could have sat there all day...if I would have had all day that is. It was already nearly 5:00, and I wanted to get some more hiking in before it got dark. Fearing that I would get lost (which seems pretty difficult on a shoreline...you really only have two directions to go), I jumped back on the trail and walked a little longer. When the trail veered away from the shore, I decided to turn around and follow that beautiful rocky shore right back to where I had come from. The sound of the water was just too relaxing to walk away from.

Back into the thick timber, I walked slowly, satisfied with my adventure. I was deep in a daydream when I heard a twig snap. Jolted back to reality, I glanced around, worried suddenly that I could possibly be in some sort of danger. Instead I found a small and very pretty deer about ten feet from me in the path. There she stood, checking me out as much as I was checking her out. Then a second and a third poked their heads from around their trees to check me out, too. They all munched away, with one mindful eye on me and my every move. Finally, not wanting to disturb them, I hunched down to a squat and just watched. I watched until finally the deer got bored with me and walked on to better munching grounds.

And how better to end my day at Potawatomi than to climb a 75-year-old 100-foot wooden tower to view the lake and the treetops from above. God must love looking down at his creation all the time. Something so beautiful is hard to take your eyes off of.

Today was fantastic as well. Already feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, I decided to take off again for a new and exciting destination. This time however, the actual destination was unknown. It was the journey I was after. The cloudy skies had held back all day, not allowing a single drop to fall, but at about 2:30, just as I was leaving my last school, I saw one, then another, then a downpour of all the days saved-up drops...just trying to ruin my adventure. And they could have. All those little rain drops could have chased me right back to my hotel room where I would have hermitted until dawn. But I decided that there was adventure to be had, rain or not, I was off.

I took off north of Sturgeon Bay wanting to peek at as many nooks and crannies of Door County as were physically possible before dark. Heading up the east side of the peninsula, I followed a scenic route or two before I hit a double whammy of parks. Whitefish Dunes State Park and Cave Point County Park. These parks shared an entrance road except for one crucial difference: state parks cost money to enter and county parks are free. Carefully navigating by the road signs, I made sure to only enter this unknown territory of the county park. It turned out to be one main parking lot with a few picnic tables and an information kiosk. The rain was still coming down pretty good, but I couldn't really see beyond the picnic area, and I was curious to find out what the attraction of the park could be.

I debated with myself in the nice warm dry car for a bit before the curiosity was just too much to stand. Bundled up with that lovable hooded sweatshirt, hood up, I headed for the kiosk. I read for a bit, but for the life of me, I just couldn't figure out what the heck it was trying to tell me. There were diagrams and glacier talk that I just didn't get. Finally, before reading the whole thing, I took off to just over the small ridge when the most wonderful sound hit my ears. Water...not just water...but pounding waves, crashing up against...well, something.

Over the ridge there was, well, a cliff. But when I looked down, all I saw was water flowing under where I was. I walked around on the rocky ledge until the crashing was much louder when I could finally see what was beneath me. It was a beautiful cave...a whole shoreline of cave-like structures, all crashing and roaring. Oh, how I would have loved to climb down to the base of a few of the caves, put my feet in the cool water, and be engulfed in the majesty of the whole thing-the sounds, the smells, the feel of the waves. I could have chosen a smooth rock and perched there for hours just listening, maybe singing along with the waves' heavenly song. But after just a few minutes of taking in the grandeur, I had also taken on much water. My beloved sweatshirt was several pounds heavier than it had started, my hands a little colder than I would have liked.

Throughout the drive, I took many detours so I could remain as close to the lake as I could. I spent more time driving 15 miles an hour than any other speed, which couldn't have made me happier. Around every bend I found waterfront homes with their own personal beaches. Some of the homes were small and nearly worn out with pure love. Others were massive and regal, like mansions. But my favorites were the ones you couldn't even see. The timber was so thick in some spots that all you could see was a well-worn opening in the trees that wound around into the shadows. No pavement, no gravel, just a worn dirt path. Now, if the driveway takes your breath away, can you imagine what wonders the home at the end must contain?

After several hours of awe and admiration of many neighborhoods and timberlines, I decided I still had time to head north, but the farther north, the heavier the rains and the darker the skies. So, after making it as far as the shining little town of Ephraim, I headed straight back to Sturgeon Bay with no pit stops, detours, or park hopping.

This week has done more for my soul than I ever could have imagined. I began this week with feelings of loneliness and sheer exhaustion, and I will end it with a renewed sense of accomplishment and energy, knowing I'm in the right place, the place God that has put me for reasons that I don't have to understand. Who knew that all of that could have come out of little ol' Door County?

New Idea

Being the lonesome traveler that I am, I (with much credit due to my mom) came up with an idea that I think I will implement within the next few weeks...hopefully.

I think I'm going to organize a twenty-somethings group for us non-married folks that provides activities and events on weekends for people to do with other people. There is so much stuff that can be done for free or relatively cheap around the area that would be much more fun with other people. Even dinner...that would be more fun with others. Adventures of all kinds await groups of young folks like myself....I think I will find them. :) What do you think? Think it sounds like something to pursue? Express yourself in the comments so I know how you feel!

On a completely unrelated note, I am near Door County this week...and it sure is raining. The forecast calls for rain all week which completely blows my plans of a little work and a lot of Door County play. It's too bad really. I was in the mood for some state park hiking, cute shop shopping, and all that comes with the tourist spot that is Door County. And on another completely unrelated topic: Manitowoc has some of the most confusing intersections known to man. How do people find there way around this town anyway? I mean, seriously. I have a GPS system telling me my every move, and I still took like thirty wrong turns today. There is something seriously messed up about that.

Kohler?

I went to the town of Kohler, Wisconsin this week. Have you ever been to this town? I have to say that I was thoroughly creeped out. I mean seriously.

This town is like a movie set. I drove around with the extra time that I had before my school visit, and it quickly became a game to try to find an ugly house...an ugly car...an ugly person. But I lost at my own game. There were none. The town was so beautiful that it was almost disgusting. All of the shops and markets and the downtown were all of these beautiful brick building, new-looking with old-style charm. Many of the buildings had leafy vines crawling gracefully up the sides, and they were just starting to show the colors of fall. What a town.

My first thought was that if I ever made a whole lot of money, I would move there and boast of this most beautiful town. But I found myself, as I was playing my little ugly search game, saying out loud over and over, "What is this place?" And then I realized that the feeling I had was not an awe of its amazingness, but rather an overwhelming weirded out feeling, as if in the presence of some sort of strange cult.

So, in short, I do not feel like I will ever move to Kohler, Wisconsin, but I may go there again to gawk.

Oh Monday

Man, I love driving all the way across the state on a Sunday night to visit a high school at 8:00 am with no students (not to mention three schools with only one or two students). Man, what a productive day.

On happier notes, I get to see my most recently married friend Bridget Thomas (still takes me a second to get her name right) tonight. I get to see her apartment and get a meal. What a deal! :)

And possibly the scariest then funniest moment so far on this trip: My GPS unit was stolen out of my car...OK, well that's what I thought anyway. Actually, the suction cup fell off the front window because it got so darn cold last night. But when I walked up to my car and opened the door, it sure did seem like it was stolen. I first peed a little in my pants, then I shed a quick tear. But then I recovered and stuck the darn thing back on the window.

PS. My hotel this week is very nice. It's got a water park (of sorts), free breakfast, and a Citgo in the parking lot. Who doesn't need one of those?

She-man and the Nipple

For those of you who have small children in the room that can read, this post may not be completely appropriate. (As if the title wasn't enough of a giveaway for that...)

The best story I've got about my week of WEF's had to have been toward the end of the week. The WEF setting was pretty normal as far as WEF's go. I was at a table with some cosmetology school across the aisle from me. With only about five minutes to go before the close of the WEF, three students cruised their way over to the cosmetology school.

I clearly had a stunned look on my face as I caught a glimpse of the sight in front of me. The person next to me, out of the blue, said, "Yeah, I can't figure it out either." I blushed about ten shades of red when I realized that I had been caught staring. But truly, neither of us had a clue what we were looking at. Was it a man dressed convincingly as a woman? Or was it possibly a very masculine looking woman?

The representative at the cosmetology school table did a very good job holding herself together. I will give her props on that. She gave her usual talk, handed them their information, and sent them on their way. The students only got a few steps away when the rep quickly covered her mouth with both hands and turned away from her table. Curious as I was, I went up to her to inquire about the situation that had just unfolded. Before I even had a chance to ask about the she-man, she blurted out, "Definitely a man, but that's not all!" She went on to share that as she was talking to the students, one of them repeatedly pulled down her shirt to cover her midrif, but instead, she revealed much more disgusting and taboo body parts...her nipples. Um...nipples? You don't even see them on a beach or on TV...but at a college fair? Wow.

And so goes the tale of She-man and the Nipple.