The Journey Home ...

Sadly, I had to say goodbye to my good friends in Minneapolis on Monday. The 10 days I was there flew by and I am grateful for the hospitality and support. I decided to make a slight change to my return route, to take a side trip to Madison, Wisconsin. But before I headed out, I spent a delightful hour with quietdanmn who gave me a first class tour of the Minneapolis Childrens Theatre where he works. What an amazing set up ... new classrooms, scenery shop and expanded costume shop; two performance spaces for the public and one for the students; rehearsal spaces that would be the envy of any theater around the country. The primary rehearsal space actually allows for specing out the exact dimensions of MCT's main stage! I came away with a very positive impression, even wanting to throw my hat into the ring for next Spring's production of "Seussical". I think I'd be a rockin Horton:)! Thanks, Dan! It was wonderful!


Silver Fox

Post-tour, I headed out on Interstate 94 to Madison. I really enjoyed the scenery ... In short order I passed a large herd of buffalo, went through sunshine, under a rainbow and into snow flurries. I passed a large hand-painted sign which said, "Bush Sucks! Vote Dem!" (Who said farmers aren't political?:) I checked in from time to time with my host for the evening designerotter, getting specific directions from Joe about the time I passed the Wisconsin Dells. Joe arranged a spontaneous dinner with bruinwi and madisonbear at a nice restaurant in the outskirts of Madison. When Tim arrived, he gifted Joe, Ted and me with copies of the newest edition of "Bear With Me". Very thoughtful! We took quite a few fun photos and then had a gabfest which lasted a couple of hours. I knew I would enjoy these handsome men and I don't have enough superlatives for the evening. On the way back to Joe's condo, we had an unusual sighting. A silver fox dashed across the road, brushy tail at full extension. I'm reading a book about foxhunting right now, so the sighting seemed prophetic:) As I left Joe's place and Madison this morning, I couldn't help but feel a bit sad that I don't get to see my friends in Minneapolis and Madison more often ... Hugs to all of you!

Fiefdoms

Today was a long travel day. I drove from Madison to Kansas City, cutting across country through Dubuque, Iowa (surprisingly picturesque with historic homes perched on the high banks of the Mississippi ) to Cedar Rapids and Des Moines where I made it back to the familiar paving of Interstate 35. I drove past dozens of farms today .. dairy, pig, cattle, corn ... plowed fields snaking off into the horizon, dotted by huge covered bales of hay ... each farm with its house, barn (mostly red:), outbuildings and silos composing a quiet little fiefdom. I'm no farmer or rancher, but I can see the appeal to working the land, growing and raising much of what sustains you. I'm not immune to the romance of a life working the land, taking care of livestock, but I also understand the long hours, deprivation and isolation of the lifestyle. I'm content to just drive by and imagine the stories of the people who live on farmland as it passes into the distance in my rear view mirror.

Tomorrow, I'll make another drive of 550 miles. I could push to make it to Brenham, but will most likely hole up for the night and arrive home on Thursday afternoon. One thing I know to be true ... the trip away to known friends and new friends was good medicine for what's ahead.

The Journey Home ...

Sadly, I had to say goodbye to my good friends in Minneapolis on Monday. The 10 days I was there flew by and I am grateful for the hospitality and support. I decided to make a slight change to my return route, to take a side trip to Madison, Wisconsin. But before I headed out, I spent a delightful hour with quietdanmn who gave me a first class tour of the Minneapolis Childrens Theatre where he works. What an amazing set up ... new classrooms, scenery shop and expanded costume shop; two performance spaces for the public and one for the students; rehearsal spaces that would be the envy of any theater around the country. The primary rehearsal space actually allows for specing out the exact dimensions of MCT's main stage! I came away with a very positive impression, even wanting to throw my hat into the ring for next Spring's production of "Seussical". I think I'd be a rockin Horton:)! Thanks, Dan! It was wonderful!


Silver Fox

Post-tour, I headed out on Interstate 94 to Madison. I really enjoyed the scenery ... In short order I passed a large herd of buffalo, went through sunshine, under a rainbow and into snow flurries. I passed a large hand-painted sign which said, "Bush Sucks! Vote Dem!" (Who said farmers aren't political?:) I checked in from time to time with my host for the evening designerotter, getting specific directions from Joe about the time I passed the Wisconsin Dells. Joe arranged a spontaneous dinner with bruinwi and madisonbear at a nice restaurant in the outskirts of Madison. When Tim arrived, he gifted Joe, Ted and me with copies of the newest edition of "Bear With Me". Very thoughtful! We took quite a few fun photos and then had a gabfest which lasted a couple of hours. I knew I would enjoy these handsome men and I don't have enough superlatives for the evening. On the way back to Joe's condo, we had an unusual sighting. A silver fox dashed across the road, brushy tail at full extension. I'm reading a book about foxhunting right now, so the sighting seemed prophetic:) As I left Joe's place and Madison this morning, I couldn't help but feel a bit sad that I don't get to see my friends in Minneapolis and Madison more often ... Hugs to all of you!

Fiefdoms

Today was a long travel day. I drove from Madison to Kansas City, cutting across country through Dubuque, Iowa (surprisingly picturesque with historic homes perched on the high banks of the Mississippi ) to Cedar Rapids and Des Moines where I made it back to the familiar paving of Interstate 35. I drove past dozens of farms today .. dairy, pig, cattle, corn ... plowed fields snaking off into the horizon, dotted by huge covered bales of hay ... each farm with its house, barn (mostly red:), outbuildings and silos composing a quiet little fiefdom. I'm no farmer or rancher, but I can see the appeal to working the land, growing and raising much of what sustains you. I'm not immune to the romance of a life working the land, taking care of livestock, but I also understand the long hours, deprivation and isolation of the lifestyle. I'm content to just drive by and imagine the stories of the people who live on farmland as it passes into the distance in my rear view mirror.

Tomorrow, I'll make another drive of 550 miles. I could push to make it to Brenham, but will most likely hole up for the night and arrive home on Thursday afternoon. One thing I know to be true ... the trip away to known friends and new friends was good medicine for what's ahead.