End of Living Among Tourists

Super Chicken cartoon image copyright ©Jay Ward Productions

This is the last Living Among Tourists post*! I have made the jump and my first post on my new blog Wisconsinland is up. While I wait for Fred and Super Chicken to locate my new blog, please do wander over and help me stumble along my way.

*ANYONE WHO IS SUBSCRIBED TO THIS BLOG MIGHT WANT TO UNLIST NOW OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT BE GETTING SOME REALLY ODD RERUNS FROM BLOGGER.

Saviors

Another childhood memory running around my brain recently was my fondness for Mighty Mouse. I loved him. I wanted to be him and to help everyone in the world. Super Chicken was awesome, too. 

Leonardo's new find- "Salvator Mundi"

I failed miserably in Sunday school, but I know the essence of Jesus and Christianity. Look, I'll take them all. If Mighty Mouse or Super Chicken can help me out of this crummy situation I'm in before it gets really desperate I'll be thankful. And if Jesus has a plan and a hand to help me out, I'm open for that, too. No matter what image you give it, it's all love. It's all about love.

Armchair Exploration

A grabbed windshield photo as I drove by the Circus Museum teases of exotic photo opportunities yet to come. Why it says "Baby Chicks" I don't know and don't want to know, but it isn't an attraction here. After being busted for animal welfare violations last year, I think Ringling will straighten out- if only for a short time. Maybe the old building used to be a farm supply store. 

I have to confess that I loathe circuses that use animals. The use of exotic animals is the worst. Some small circuses that use trained dogs and such are not so bad as long as they are conscientious. 

Now that I've made my circus statement, let me say I love the imagery and costumes of circuses. I most likely would not walk across the street to see the performances, but I like the mechanics of a circus, the characters, costumes, the nuts and bolts and flesh and bones of it. And the signage.

Erik just sent me a link- Wisconsinosity- and if you go to my new county of Sauk you will see all kinds of wild stuff! I love the UFO sightings. Especially the "Punctual UFO". I was thinking this orange orb was the winter sun rising, but...apparently it happens all year long... Wisconsin folks see a lot of interesting things in the late and early hours, especially after long nights at the bar. Although, years ago one bitterly cold night as I looked out the pitch black window over the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan I saw something odd in the sky...

I plan on investigating many of these treasures listed here. Oh, and the guy with the metal sculptures is within walking distance from my new house! 

The thing about the Midwest is that since we are not all off competing to see who can climb the highest mountain or stay under the sea the longest or taking on whatever other death defying challenge someone can come up with, we are focused more on our communities and each other. And that's how you get places like Wisconsin. It's a place where people would really rather spend their vacations at home fishing, camping and spotting UFOs with their friends, family and, sometimes, neighbors. 

Thanks for making me laugh and giving me something fun to do on a bitter cold blizzard of a day, Erik! 

This Video Is Worth It

Waiting Out Winter

The video link above is worthy of a double post on this horrid bitter snowy day. What a wonderful video, beautifully done. And if you don't think that's a great way to spend winter, well...

It's Not Over Yet

One reason not to commute one and a half hours: Minus 6 (stop laughing Richard) and 35 mph gusts. No need to go out, so I'm staying in my motel room today. 

While searching for info on the snowiest month in this state I found Wild Wisconsin, an excellent website! And indeed, he states that February is the snowiest month. But that doesn't mean March and April won't take a mighty parting shot with a foot or two and that would be wet snow, too. However, the warming sun makes all the difference. 

Looking Forward

Well, I just can't resist. This is a photo from the realtor's website that shows the kitchen/dining area of the house I am buying. It's an old house, a Prairie Craftsman* style- one of my favorite styles!. The original narrow wood floors are in excellent condition, blonde brick is also present in the kitchen. It has an enclosed front porch and an enclosed back porch. 

I can't say enough about the people who I am buying this from and how well they have cared for this house. It's even tastefully painted and I won't have to paint a thing! I'm pretty sure the inspection will go well because I saw nothing but good care when I viewed the house. The price was so reasonable I had to wonder what was wrong with it, but I think the size was the issue for most buyers. It's only 900 sqft and that's just my size. 

It has many windows and that means lots of light. I plan on taking excellent care of this little old beauty. I always leave a house in better condition than I found it, but I think this one really meets my standards right now. 

Soon a cedar privacy fence will be installed (thawed ground) and I'll plant some nice prairie grasses all around. Take out some of the lawn and plant grasses that can tolerate drought. I can't wait.

*Note: I really don't think you could call it "Prairie" style. It's a bungalow, for sure. It has Moorish archways inside, too, but Arts and Crafts doors. All authentic, original. I don't think the outside has changed much except for the siding. I'll be picking some brains about this as time goes on.

Simple Matters

It is widely said and accepted that moving is one of the top greatest stresses in human life. I believe the list  in order is: Death, divorce and moving. I don't know anyone who would disagree.

Millions of people have lost their normal way of life in these past years. Many have lost their homes, investments, total bank accounts and even their families. Oh, and lost their jobs, too. This makes the pharmaceutical companies happy. 

I am always scanning my thoughts and reactions and beliefs. When I get to the point that I really don't like the person I am, I begin to investigate what's going on and where I went wrong. And then I disassemble some things in my head and rebuild in a better way. Sometimes I just don't intend to be a certain way or act a certain way and I have to figure out how it all came to pass. 

This article on anxiety is interesting. No one escapes anxiety. And it's different for everyone because we are all different inside and outside. And we should never judge those who don't cope as well as we do. Anxiety manifests itself in a tragic variety of ways; we see that every day on the street and in the news. 

As the huge white clouds smother the morning sun here and the temperature is somewhere around 0, I still feel a relief even after living in a motel for nearly a month. I can see the sky now. All day long. The landscape is huge and open. And again, I can drive as far as I want in any direction- and what beauty! Simple things can matter so much in our lives, but the important thing to understand is that simple things matter.