tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49141058218316611292011-07-07T18:33:32.946-05:00Simple thoughts about my world and our universe.lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.comBlogger141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-19774901510604899832010-03-02T10:21:00.004-06:002010-03-02T10:40:49.804-06:00

Obviously I have been out for a few months. Work got in the way of my life here. As spring time comes I should be able to return here more often. It is likely however that Halestorm is going to take on a little bit of a different life than it had the first time. Initially I was hoping to discuss many ideas of interest, but somehow I seemed unable to get away from the cabin at Blueberry Lake. I

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-38604784251788376852009-08-08T06:20:00.004-05:002009-08-08T11:01:22.918-05:00

The cabin is filled with people. My wife's sister and her family from New Jersey are in town and enjoying a long week at Blueberry Lake. My in-laws are there and we have brought our entire crew. Lots of laughter, lots of fun, and yet very little elbow room.Along with my wife and my five-year old, I slept lakeside in the tent. I awoke early to the sounds of rain. Silently I laid in the sleeping

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-44294980051399915462009-07-18T09:57:00.013-05:002009-07-20T08:01:46.109-05:00

My wife and I married in August of 2002. Along with the promise of our vows, so came a promise to my daughter (8) and to Carri's daughter (6). We knew that blending two families together would be a challenge and that our relationship would need to be strong and deep. We also knew however that the rewards could be long-lasting.Because the four of us had already planned a summer vacation together

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-50943222834581896252009-07-13T16:53:00.008-05:002009-07-20T08:02:46.157-05:00

Traveling to Minneapolis to see some friends last week, I decided to stop by the cabin for one night on the way. Although the detour added an extra 2.5 hours to the trip I didn't hesitate to make the drive.On Friday morning I decided upon a kayak trip instead of a hike. I believe I made the right choice.Although I wasn't feeling great motivation to fish, I still grabbed a fishing rod and hopped

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-13304231503324776572009-07-10T09:43:00.011-05:002009-07-20T08:03:15.824-05:00

John Muir admitted in his journals that "[he] shouted and gesticulated in a wild burst of ecstasy..."It was kind of like that:Up for the sunrise...but someone beat me to it...A tree to dance beneath... (need my wife around for that one)The boats beckon...A Pileated moment...

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-54099292271712321922009-06-29T08:03:00.001-05:002009-07-20T08:04:00.372-05:00

Sunday morning promised rain. I therefore awoke early, knowing that I needed to get outside for a bit. What awaited me was an absolutely glorious morning.My reward for waking before sunrise was arguably the most spectacular dawn I have ever witnessed. The fiery eastern sky drew me out of the cabin and towards the lake. The silence was as riviting as the sky: no one was around, the lake was still,

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-56885412020583668042009-06-27T10:13:00.001-05:002009-07-20T08:04:58.406-05:00

Last July my in-laws bought a cozy cabin near Hayward, Wi. It's a great spot and one that we hope to get to know quite well over the years.Here are some photos from a peaceful late-June morning on Blueberry Lake: Looking east, around 6:15 a.m., nearly an hour after sun-up...

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-91967616933592332192009-06-21T19:17:00.001-05:002009-07-20T08:05:42.516-05:00

Father's Day in America has become like so many other Hallmark Holidays. Although meant to spend time with family, too many of us head to the stores to try and find what we can buy dad. I personally am tired of these consumer based holidays. For my Father's Day this year I wanted quality time with the family, and I got it.The day started off at 5:00 am. I know rising at 5:00 am might not be every

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-26861898060753300322009-06-19T09:53:00.001-05:002009-07-20T08:06:44.036-05:00

It was late May in 1992. I had just finished my first year as a high school English and Journalism teacher. I immediately left the small northern town of Medford and went north to the Chequamegon National Forest for a long Memorial Day weekend. I returned to Medford for a couple of days of golfing before heading to Quetico for a week long canoe trip. After some very successful walleye fishing I

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-13526390781101844792009-06-16T10:17:00.001-05:002009-07-20T08:07:39.268-05:00

Last week I picked up a book some of my students have been raving about. It's called Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell, and is subtitled The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. It's a fascinating premise. His opening chapter introduces us to the J. Paul Getty Museum and their investigation and subsequent purchase of an ancient marble statute called the kouroi. It was estimated to be from the sixth

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-71450810870302217332009-06-09T21:01:00.001-05:002009-07-20T08:08:25.573-05:00

In the 80's I discovered Hayduke. Twenty years later I discovered Skink. Edward Abbey invented his crazy ex-Nam vet to wreck havoc on the industrial tourism of the southwest. Carl Hiaason invented his crazy ex-Nam vet to wreck havoc on the greedy scum and idiotic tourists of south Florida.Hayduke is a long-haired and scraggly recluse who feared no one and believed his vigilante justice needed no

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-77858750079029739232009-06-02T21:41:00.001-05:002009-07-20T08:08:55.961-05:00

Elver Park sits on the far west side of Madison. It's a terrific urban park with a little something for everyone. In the warmer months it has biking and hiking trails for the outdoor type, tennis courts, softball diamonds, and basketball courts for the amateur athletes, frisbee golf for the alternative athletes, and during the winters months it remains busy with a lighted cross-country skiing

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-84465564353049705512009-05-24T08:09:00.001-05:002009-07-20T08:09:46.224-05:00

Today I am hiking an ATV trail in Sawyer County, just south of the Chippewa Flowage, in northern Wisconsin. It is just me and my dog. The forest surrounding us is a deciduous mix of hard and soft trees, interspersed with patches of white and red pine. It is early and the sun is just starting to stream through the upper canopy.My attention however is not towards the sky, but instead towards the

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4914105821831661129.post-6561401793658124392009-05-24T07:13:00.001-05:002009-07-20T08:10:39.908-05:00

This all seems a bit strange to me. Maybe even a bit self-indulgent. For the life of me I could not imagine anyone else being interested in what I have to say. I am simply this small spot on the world wide web, and I live a relatively simple and anonymous life.I have been inspired by my long-lost friend Robb Kloss. I met Robb on the basketball courts in Madison, WI. We were both university

lphhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17181262431785226913noreply@blogger.com0