Watching Skiing Not Skiing

By: In: Media, Non-Fiction, Skiing, Writing

Lorie poses in front of hte Copper Peak sign

Lorie and I at Copper Peak


Today, I am watching skiing instead of skiing.

That is okay, last weekend I got three days in, SA, SU, and MO. I was thinking of getting some runs in on TU but I decided that would make things a little too hectic and that was the last thing I wanted. Instead, we got in the truck and started to drive around.

So, Lorie did not get a pose in front of Blackjack’s hill so we stopped there and she struck a pose and so too did I. Then we moved on and went to Copper Peak which is impressive from a distance but is kinda underwhelming there. I suppose if we visit in the summer and take the tour up to the top of the scaffold my tune will change. Copper Peak is neat and the obvious neglect is a shame, that venue by its very nature is world-class but it needs some upkeep and maintenance.

From there we moved on and stopped at Big Powdherhorn Mountain to see the new lodge. Impressive, we can finally walk into a ski lodge without feeling like we have time-traveled to the 1970s. I have photos of that on my camera (and not my phone) and will dedicate an entire post to it later.

From there we hit US HWY 2 back to our cabin and did a thing or two and then went to our friends at the Chain O’ Lakes Campground in Eagle River.
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The Auto-Biography of The Wisconsin Skier

By: In: Media, Non-Fiction, Writing

Not going to go tell all here, but want to give you all a glimpse into some of the events that have shaped and molded myself.

I was born in 1967 in Green Bay Wisconsin and my brother arrived on the scene in 1969, that is all I have for siblings right at that American average. We moved around a little bit but not a whole lot, my first memories were in Manitowoc WI and summer working vacations (working for Dad & vacation for the rest of us) out to New York. I think it was at this time I also have very foggy memories of skiing for the first time at Hidden Valley I don’t remember too much about those first ski trips, just I did them and some runs down the bunny hill.

We then moved out of Manitowoc to a spot in the country just outside of Manitowoc, it isn’t so country anymore but my parents still reside there.

We grew up there and I did not ski again until I was in high-school. Of course, I recall more about the skiing and I was starting to get competent on the greens and and when that season ended we did not pick it up again the following season, no particular reason.

I spent my youth exploring the nooks and crannies of the surrounding farmlands and woodlots, imagining myself off in Alaska or some real wilderness, scouting out furbearing critters.

All during this time, we would go “UpNort” mostly camping & fishing trips in the summer time, but eventually my folks bought a lot on a lake up there and our camping trips turned into camping at the lot or staying at nearby cabins. Eventually our cabin went up and the camping came to an end. Still, the trips up there were mostly summer trips with the latest stays being around the end of November which is when Wisconsin’s deer hunting season occurs.


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Winter is Being a Tease

By: In: Media, Non-Fiction, Writing

 
 
 
Steve Smith writing in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Off the Couch sports blog notes:

Most of us spend all summer complaining about precipitation and unseasonably low temperatures, and then winter begins to tease.

It’s as though the wrapping on a gift sitting under the Christmas tree has torn just a bit to reveal that the present juuuussstttt miiiight just be….

Like children following reports on Santa, an anxious segment of the population starts scrutinizing long-range forecasts for rain of the frozen variety. Some of us see blue on the national weather maps and start begging Mother Nature to settle in, below-freezing with a comforting blanket of snow.

Wow, so true. I hear all the reports of snow out West and tune in the TV and watch Lyndsey Vonn skiing to World Cup glory and then another time I see Bode doing the same. I am spending lots of online time watching POV videos of skiers going down Birds of Prey (that doesn’t look that bad) or The Hahnenkamm (WAH! That doesn’t look that bad either, LOL!) and the wait provides me good motivation to get into the gym and work on my physical conditioning.

In any event, with the holiday season full swing skiing isn’t happening just yet. Still, the fact of snow on the ground provides comfort and assurance that ski season is just around the corner.


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The Badgers Win! YEAH and MEH!

By: In: Media, Non-Fiction, Writing

Last Saturday evening the University of Wisconsin (football) Badgers won a close game against the Michigan State (football) Spartans. The game was close the whole way through with the Badgers and Spartans trading leads and momentum. Again it was a last minute ending, ending on what appeared to be a Spartan punt return for a game-winning TD (or close enough). However, a Spartan defender ran into the punter and the Badgers got the ball back and assumed the victory formation to seal the win, the first Big 10 championship (new format), and a berth to the Rose Bowl. Yeah for the Badgers.

The two games these teams played this year show them to be evenly matched and the difference being chance events.

Now for the MEH part.
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Yet Another Android Application Review (YAAAR)

By: In: Media, Non-Fiction, Skiing, Writing

 
 
 
At one time I had the HWK Waxing Guide installed on my Android device. The description reads:

Become a wax specialist with HWK ski wax! HWK ski wax has been trying to find all the answers for you and is now proud to present the first ski wax App.

I found this application to be so-so. I think it is too in depth for the average skier and too superficial for the professional. I found it to be more about pushing HWK waxes than anything else (I know that shocks you).

However, the application does come with an instructional guide on waxing skis, not that it is a terribly complicated affair, but it is good for people new to ski waxing. Once I got over that, I removed the application, as the only factor I consider when choosing a wax is the anticipated air temperature we will be skiing in. I do not need a wax tree to help me decide what (ahem, Swix) was to use, however, I do need every megaabyte of phone storage I can get.


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The Endorphin Express

By: In: Media, Skiing, Writing

 
 
The Wikipedia starts off on its entry on Endorphins by stating:

Endorphins (“endogenous morphine”) are endogenous opioid peptides that function as neurotransmitters. They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, love and orgasm, and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a feeling of well-being.

Emphasis added and Wikipedia footnotes removed by yours truly.

Sometime ago I referred to drug use as a shortcut to pleasure. The Wiki I quote above strongly indicates our very own bodies produce opiate like substances to help our bodies cope with stressful situations — namely strenuous physical activity. When God was forming us (Open up God’s toolbox and in it you see evolution) it became apparent that humans need to bust their @$$e$ from time to time and that endorphins helped us through those times. Whether it was hustling across the African savanna chasing an antelope down, hustling down the road to make spot X before your adversary, or splitting a cord of firewood; those who can squirt out a bit of endorphins probably did better at it and actually may have even come to crave the exertions.
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XM-Sirius Review

By: In: Media, Writing

A Review

I have had the XM-Sirius radio service for a number of years now. In this review I want to share with you all, what I like and dislike about the service; and what I view as the strengths and weaknesses of XM-Sirius. I hope this will enable you to make a decision on whether or not to subscribe to XM Sirius programming.

This article is not about investing in the company and it is not meant to be a rant or a rave, but what I hope will an even handed review of the service.
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The Grateful Dead — Why?

By: In: Media, Non-Fiction, Writing

Steal Your Face righ75t off your head!

Nothing Left to do but Smile Smile Smile!

One recurring item of discussion you see me engaging in is the music of the Grateful Dead. I think anyone who has been around a bit knows the Grateful Dead are not on the top of too many people’s playlists. I can only think of few people outside the circle of my family and close friends who seek out Deadly music.

There are a number of reasons I have come to like the Grateful Dead and for some of you reading this I have to tell you to seal your assumptions in the silver mine!
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Turn Quest — Part 2

By: In: Fiction, Media, Writing

It was incredibly hot and muggy out. To make things worse, Jim was making regular contributions to the survival of the mosquito species, but he was at that secret hole and the heat and mosquitoes barely registered as he fought what appeared to be an incredibly large brook trout. The odd thing was across his honey hole on the island was a dapper and well appointed piano quintet providing a sound track for his fight with the brook trout. Incredibly and fittingly enough, they were playing Schubert’s piano quintet in A Major.

Just as Jim took his mind off of the trout and wondered what the… a piano quintet was doing in the thick of the Pine River his line got loose and the trout spit the fly and Jim’s eyes flew open; the dream was over but Schubert’s quintet kept playing on his phone telling him it was time to get up and fight another day.

As usual, it would be a struggle, but the struggle for the next two weeks would have less serious consequences than usual. Still, each day is a struggle in its own way. Today Jim would have to fight traffic to complete the last minute errands, to make sure the children had all of the clothes and equipment ready, and that Sally would be satisfied with the preparations and completion of the tasks at hand. She was hard to please at times, but he knew she made him a better man. Sally was still asleep the heavy wool quilt still muffling her figure, she could sleep for a while more since the children were still asleep and she did not have things to really get done until the children were up, and she was to take the first shift of driving.
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The Sounds of Summer

By: In: Non-Fiction, Writing

No pictures this time nor have I tried my hand at audio recording yet. So, I will have words only. I have written about the sounds of the season before, but want to do so again.

Summer has its own phases, even though it isn’t officially summer, I think it safe to say most of us consider the summer as starting from the second half of May, and in general I agree with that. I would further state that this phase of summer is from the first half of May through the Fourth of July. The sounds of this part of summer are dominated by birds. Redwing blackbirds, robins, the call of the cranes, swallows, and so on.

There are very few insects sounds that stand out at this time of the year. Open your window as you go to sleep and what do you hear? Birds with their roosting calls and here it is pretty much all robin. After the birds are done with their roosting calls, and it becomes quiet it is very silent, maybe frogs if you have the requisite habitat nearby.

Then as we reach and pass the Fourth of July, what sounds start to emerge?
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