I have had many friends ask me when am I going to recap my past year. I will do so very soon. I apologize for taking so long. Perhaps, not having a midnight every Sunday deadline has enabled me to put off my Goldie 52 conclusion. I will wrap this up shortly.
Unexpectedly, I have had many "new things" happen this year. All were unplanned. It makes me wonder if I should have continued this adventure.
This year has barely started, yet has been memorable. If these events happened before December 31, 2009, I would have been carrying my camera around to document these unplanned calamities.
My headlines would be ... #1:It is getting a little Nutty in here! ... Two squirrels were loose in my house trashing and defecating all over my place. (Last year I would have run to fetch the camera instead of the trap). My brother ended up with an epic water boarding, trap escaping, Mano-e-Mano fight to the death with this beast.
#2: I can't drive 105! ... I have never been driving over 85 mph before (not including going 125+ while jumping out of an airplane) let alone 105! Not even in a car, yet alone a snowmobile ... twice! Praying that a little stone or log doesn't show up to give me an unexpected lift. It was very dangerous and very exhilarating!!
#3: Get out of the water NOW!! ... Saving someone was new and unplanned this year. Snowshoeing in the U.P. with three friends from work turned dangerous. While inspecting a Beaver Lodge, my buddy fell through the ice and the current grabbed him. My friend Dave and I quickly got on our stomachs and formed a human chain to pull him out. "Stay calm, stop wailing away with your arms, slowly take my hand..." Crazy stuff! He made it out a little cold, but safe. (Ironically, this very same friend saved my life about a year ago by performing the Heimlich maneuver on me at an upscale restaurant in New York, very Pay It Forward if you ask me!)
#4: Where the Heck are We!?! ... Getting lost and running out of fuel in the north woods. Trying to get back to the cabin by 3:30-4:00 and arriving past 7:00p.m. we ran out of gas, had to siphon gas from one tank to another. Became lost over and over again on the interlocking lakes of Upper Peninsula Michigan. Seeing nothing but darkness on the pitch black frozen lakes. Very stressful, yet comedic at the same time. Finally making it back for a stress-reducing cocktail and many stories of our separate lost snowmobile stories.
1.03.2010
Week #52 (Part II-Final Week): Honey, you stay home. I'll take the kids!
Late last year, I decided to attempt this endeavour. In November, 2008, I started going over potential "new things" for the upcoming year. My wife's first idea was "Why don't you go on a vacation with all the kids by yourself ?" I knew she was joking, but I thought it would be a good idea.
I have been alone with the kids before (either at home for a weekend,((while my wife was out of town)) or at my parents house), but I had never gone on a vacation with just me and the kids. Why not wrap up this crazy year with a little R & R with the young ones.
We spent a couple of days at The Landmark Hotel in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. The only thing my kids cared about was if it had an indoor pool. It did! After we checked in, the kids loooved the fact that there was a loft in our room. They had a full-fledged upstairs kids floor!! They loved hanging out up there with their feet dangling over the ledge and watching kids shows on their own TV. We ended up swimming a couple times, making microwave popcorn, baking a pizza, and staying up late watching "Pirates of the Caribbean". I forgot to pack food for breakfast, so we had a "Daddy breakfast" of garlic bread sticks and Diet Rite (the only food left in the place). Then the batteries on my son's cochlear implants started flashing and I realized I left the batteries at my parent's house nearby. One last swim and it was time to go. Back at my parent's place, we realized my daughter's irreplaceable Blankie had been left in the room. Rivers of tears fell that night, but were replaced with sunshine and happiness the next day when I drove back and retrieved it. We had a great time while Mom hopefully had an even better time unwinding from the holidays rush, at home by herself.
It was a great way to end up the year. The kids had a fun time. While we soaked in the hot tub, my youngest said, "Hey Dad, our whole family is here ... except Momma :( ... " Well, don't worry buddy, Momma will be coming next time".
We all had fun this year and I thank everyone for helping out, especially my wife! I will recap my year in the next week. I want to thank everyone for their encouragement and also for giving me a hard time whenever possible.
Pictures: Checking in, pulling over on the side of the highway for a chilly picture of a farm with frozen Lake Michigan in the background, dinner, hangin' in the hotel, and my 10 year old daughter's blanket (which she forgot and I had to drive back to the hotel for), and checking out for good!
Video: Thanks to my oldest son for joining me, FULL CIRCLE- back to the Polar Bear-- This Time Only Observing ... Thank God!!
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