Mineral Point, Wisconsin

The southwest portion of Wisconsin is referred to as the "Driftless Area" because the last glaciers to cover parts of North America did not spread over that part region.  The following is from Wikipedia, "Retreating glaciers leave behind silt, clay, sand, gravel, and boulders — called drift. Glacial drift includes till (unsorted material) and outwash (layers deposited by meltwater streams).^"
 
Sarah's brother and sister-in-law own a second home in Mineral Point, Wisconsin which rests comfortably in the Driftless region.  Their home is a lovely little frame home thought to be over 100 years old.  Donna has worked her magic on the house and it is most tastefully decorated.  Don't tell anyone that I used the phrase, "Tastefully decorated."

The driftless area has hills and valleys aplenty.  Perhaps you must have valleys if you have hills and vice versa.  Anyway it does.  Winding roads, scenic views, old farms, fresh air and friendly people abound. 

David and Donna have made many friends and know their way around Mineral Point and its surroundings.  They are wonderful hosts and seek to entertain and accommodate.  Sarah and I spent the past weekend being entertained and accommodated.

The highlight of our trip was the hops harvesting fest that we attended.  There was beer, music, kids, an old farm house, friendly people and lots of vines full of hops to be pulled off.

All of the music that we heard was very good.  We especially enjoyed a band out of Mount Horeb who call themselves, The Earthlings.  They were exceptional.  The young man who does most of the singing and also plays guitar (I also saw him playing bass and I think drums too) was obviously the leader.  He was a joy to watch.

The crowd was small, perhaps 50 people.  A band with the talent that The Earthling have deserves a much larger and more attentive audience.  A side benefit of hearing the band outside and with limited amplification is that they were not uncomfortably loud.

Mineral Point is a great old town.  It has an interesting history.  There are beautiful old buildings, quiet streets, a farmers market in the park on Saturdays, art gallerys, an antique shop or two, a brew pub, an upscale restaurant, and other interesting attractions that I am too tired to recall of look up.

Go there but don't form big, loud crowds.  Just be friendly and unobtrusive and  spend your money.

Oh, one more thing, Allen Luden, deceased husband of Betty White and former host of "Password" was born in Mineral Point and lived there until he was about five.  He is buried there too.

First Day of School

Did not get the full time teaching position that I interviewed for.  For a week after the first interview I was both confident, and nervous that I was going to get it but then I got the phone call saying that they had hired someone else.

A couple of weeks later I was offered a .3 FTE reading support position.  .3 FTE means 30% of Full Time Employment.  It's in a school that I love.  It pays more than I made last year, not much more, as a substitute teacher and it may be easier to get full time employment the year after this having had this teaching experience.

There are so many things for a teacher to know at the beginning of the school year.  It is true that a lot of what you are told is also given to you in written form and a lot of what you are told and given in written form is information that you could teach all year and not know.  Still and all there is a lot to remember.

The first school day has begun as I write this.  But because I am .3 of FTE my day does not begin until 9:30 AM.  

Sarah, Mom and Debbie left this morning for "The Dells".  Debbie wanted to go there and since her birthday was last Friday Mom and Sarah decided to take Debbie. 

Debbie is a very social person.  But because of her disabilities she can never decide on her own to go somewhere or visit someone.  Debbie is beholden to others for nearly all aspects of her life.  
The way that she accepts her situation and remains happy is an inspiration. 

Debbie recalls trips that we took to the Dells when we were kids.  Many of the things that she would have enjoyed then she is no longer able to do.  And since she can no longer see she cannot sit and enjoy the sights.

But for Debbie, to get away from the drudgery of every day life, to travel, to sleep in a different bed and eat in a couple of restaurants is a great pleasure.

My mother and Sarah are saints to do this for Debbie. 

The Heat

Boy it's been hot.  A hot summer.  It's been unusually warm since last fall.  Truth be told it's been unusually warm for most of my life.

I worry about my children and everyone else's children.  I worry about the future of the world.  I do this worrying while sitting in an air conditioned home.  I know that I am part of the problem. 

Here's my theory on the solution to global warming:  You must form a solution that takes human nature into account.  That means that you must remember that we humans are selfish and rather lazy.

You might be able to tax pollution enough to get the masses to stop a large portion of the polluting that they do.  Instead, why not reduced world population by about one third to one half.  Make birth control and birth control education free.  Give people incentives to limit their families.  Include birth control topics into the plots of popular movies the way that patriotism was included in the plots of movies during WW II.

If we reduce the world population enough we can all go mad polluting and the consequences will be lessened.  Also, there would be room for wild animals.  It seems apparent that there are too many humans on the planet and that we are crowding lots of other living things.

I have read about tiny bits of jungle in Africa that are the last place on earth that some primates live.  What a precarious existence!  How I wish for vast open lands with no roads, no humans, no development of any kind. 

The Ankle

On the 16th of December I worked, teaching 7th grade math, reading and language arts.  It was the last day of school before the long Christmas vacation.  Many call that school break "winter break."  I will have no such nonsense. 

In the evening I gathered with four of my table tennis buddies at Sigfried's house to play ping pong in his basement.  There is food, sport, camaraderie and beer.  What more could a guy want?

All was going well until I stepped wrong on my left foot and twisted my ankle in a severe way.  I went down to the floor. 

Siggy got a zip lock bag with ice in it and I put that on the ankle.  I knew that I was in trouble.  My foot had stayed flat on the floor and my ankle had twisted a lot.

I stayed awhile longer with the ice on it and then put my sock and shoe back on and limped to my car.  When I got home I woke Sarah and told her what had happened.  She took Siggy's ice bag and filled it with fresh ice.  I kept that on the ankle for most of the night.

By the next day I could barely put any weight on it.  I had trouble getting to the bathroom which is only 8 feet from my bed.

I spent the next 3 days in bed or lying on the couch.  I came down the stairs by sitting down and slowly slipping from one step to the next.  By Christmas I could walk but it hurt and I limped.

It is now Jan. 15th.  Most of the swelling has disappeared as has most of the pain.  I can stand and walk.  It still hurts. 

I know, I should have gone to the hospital and had it x rayed.  I had done the same thing to the other ankle 23 years ago.  So I had some experience.  And the fact that it has gotten better every day gave me confidence.  I don't like the exposure to radiation.  Those are my excuses.