Die Hard and Onstar

Well, this was some excitement-I locked my keys in the car. On the 4th of July no less. I was pondering my fate, and what I was going to do about it when my husband reminded me that we have 'Onstar' in our vehicle. How fun is that! It almost made it worth it to have done such a stupid thing in the first place. And sure enough they unlocked my doors in a swift jiffy. It was really easy and the only pain involved was my initial dismay at discovering the keys inside the locked car. Anyway on to...Die Hard. They have a scene in the new movie where Onstar starts a car after the young man says his father( really Bruce Willis) is having a heart attack, "please please please help him" cry cry sob. That looked pretty easy too, and was pretty funny in the movie. But After using the service, and having to give name, address, phone # pin and the last time I'd run the vehicle, I think the movie got it wrong. Not to mention the fact that the whole country had been shut down because the bad guy had turned off all our computers. How did this kid think Onstar was going to work, too? Oh well. That's the nature of the movies. Too bad we don't keep realize that the fiction of movies is just that... It seems every nation in the world knows what America and Americans are like because they've watched our movies.

Fourth Fun

Happy 4th to all: this weird, middle of the week 4th will bring no fireworks for us, no outdoor grilling, not even a family time. I will get in some shopping and a flying trip to Omaha but with work butting up against both ends of the holiday there won't be much else...including relaxing. Oh well.

Fireworks remembered: at the Pickeral Lake in Wisconsin when I was 14
In Chicago during the summer of 1969
At Ft.Riley Kansas in 1970 setting off forbidden cherry bombs.
Multitudes of fireworks with my brothers setting off bottle rockets
and firecrackers.

Hope you get to enjoy a great firework display this 4th and lots of time with family

Tour de minnesota

I've always thought riding in RAGBRAI would be such fun (the Iowa 400 mile trek from river to river). After this weekend I know I would never survive. (or I would have to do one heck of a lot of training for it!!) We did a biking/camping weekend in a campground on the Sakatah Bike trail near Mankato, Mn. What a beautiful area. What a wonderful campground we were in! But we were in the middle of two small towns and biking either way was going to be a distance. At 10 in the morning it didn't look so bad, but by the end of the day I was wiped out. I peddled slower and slower and slower. It got hotter and hotter. We biked 16 miles. We took a picnic lunch and then were able to explore the small town of Elysian. We checked out their ice cream and the new Elysian Queen was serving. That always helps the taste- it was pretty good. They were having a bean bag throwing contest while we were there and, darn, we were going to miss the 4th of July turtle races. (bring your own turtle) I brought back some great pictures, sore muscles and lots of dirty laundry. i have to say, too, that I love our camper.

Routines

Mornings have taken a new turn for me lately. I have to be to work by 7:30 a.m. , if you can imagine an early riser doing such a thing! That means the walk has to be done by 7 for sure. The dog has to do with shorter walks, too. Poor thing. I am champion at the 5 min. shower, however, but I do miss the leisurely cup of coffee with "Good Morning America". I have to take the coffee with me instead. So it looks like this: Race home from the walk (or swim) turn the coffee on, walk the dog, home and shower, drink coffee and eat a quick bite, wash the lunch apple, pour the 2nd cup into travel mug, bike to work.....

Mornings at the library are the quietest time of all. I must admit I enjoy that a lot! I have also been swimming on my 'off' days. That is when my partner has to be to work by 7!! (imagine such an early hour) It's another reason to enjoy summer anyway. It's a different kind of exercise altogether. But I have been plagued with water in my ears since. Anyone have any suggestions besides ear plugs?

All things free. What's on your list?

I think summer is my favorite time of year. The heat, the humidity aren't a big deal (probably due to an airconditioned house and workplace) even when I have to be out in it. It's pure joy being outside right now. I can go anywhere on my bike and often do. We grill out for evening meals and enjoy them on our deck. If not that, we can wander uptown on Thursday evenings for the Brats or burgers that are always being served. On Wednesday or Thurs nights we can enjoy concerts in the park and the rest of the week enjoy the concerts that the neighborhood kids put on with their play. Or how about this, drop everything and head up to the coffee shop for a smoothie or iced coffee. I was able to get the first of the fresh peaches at the farmers' market in Lincoln on Saturday. They were a bit pricey I admit, but we ate them tonight in a cobbler and , Oh My! That was every bit as good as I remembered. The fresh strawberries are done now, but there's more of the summer's bounty to come...Tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh veggies, sweet corn. I don't know why everything necessarily revolves around the good food. Lots of other things about this time of year make it the best too. I've been swimming, walking, canoeing, camping, biking and reading! These are everyday joys. I am truly blessed.

Intensity

No question, when we do things we're intense about it. Whether the family gets together for playing games, eating, talking or... going to the zoo we always go whole hog. The daughters in law have these rules for themselves when it comes to some things (no playing of certain indoor games as they often end in fights) But here we are anyway..playing games (we're great as long as we have the rules down ahead of time!) checking out the animals (big and little contrasted all in one) and heading to the next one... (whatever that may be) I have a feeling our littlest ones will follow the footsteps that are in front of them.

Family time

I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend than with family. This trip has been in the works for awhile and it went off without a hitch! We visited the Omaha zoo on Friday and we had a great time. Isaiah was so enthralled with the aquarium and it made it so much fun to watch! We rode the train, sat on animal statues, rode the carousel ... it was wonderful. More pictures to share with you later on this week.