Music That Tells.

 Music is lost on some people. 

Music To Calm The Soul.

 Music is lost on some people.... 

The Pagel Posse!

J/K..Pagels are German, Not Scottish!

A quick post for today.  As I mentioned yesterday,  Dave's Parents came over for a visit this weekend, ( they live in Michigan)   And we had a wonderful visit.   Several members of "Clan Pagel" were present, but mostly I mentioned them without getting their picture.   Today, I got it!  And wanted to share. 

 Note how Dave TOWERS over the Parents! 

They were all heading north for a wedding.   So while they were all dressed up,  Why not get a family photo?    Click!

Other than that, I have been scoring while everyone else is having fun.   And I am Prepping for tomorrow's Big Day!   I will be printing out the Email and making sure everything is in order.  I think the orientation is going to take all day!  So who knows what they will be talking about.   I guess I will be finding out. 

Dave and Deb

Only a couple more hours  for the Scoring Window, and then I will maybe head out for a walk.  

Becca From DMLC.

From the Wedding!  Dave linked up with an old Classmate of ours!   It has been ages since I have seen Deb, so why not add her to the mix.   Hope they are having a smashing time at the Wedding.  ( It's a wedding!  How can you NOT have a good time? )  Becca went to College with Deb and me and she also joined me on my first Trip to Alaska.   Great times!  Thanks for stopping in.

CrossFit Moving Day!

Dave grabbing the Dumbbells.

Today was a good day.  Today was a BUSY day.   Dave had offered/ dragged me  to one of his CrossFit Classes.  ( I say Dragged for Comedic effect, I went voluntarily.)  The thought of going was kind of terrifying for me.   Dave, along with several people he introduced me to are HULKS!   And I had no idea what I was getting into.  

The CrossFit Community....

Well, they bragged that the Community was a very welcoming one, and they were not kidding.   Everyone was very nice... which also scared me a little.  Just what did they have planned?  

Turns out, it was a 30 minute fast and furious no-holds-barred work out!  You jump from station to station, burning off 50 calories  between you and your partner ( Dave buddied up with me for this first time.) Dave is much stronger than I am so he did much of the heavy lifting.   There were power bikes, rowing machines, bell weights, sit ups, dumbbell   relays and Bar kicking!   Sound confusing?  You bet!  But we had to finish either 50 reps or 50 calories and then move on, taking turns at each station.  IT was a work out.  

I survived!

And that is just s few of the things they do.   We didn't have to play around with those huge bags of sand or what ever... Or rings, or Chin up bars.  At the end, I was totally smoked!  

But was it fun?   Mmm... I think so.   I mean, Yes,  I defiantly had fun reaching muscle failure on the sit-ups and lifting 20 lbs to Dave's 50!  But I don't think I embarrassed myself, which is good.   I question whether I would want to do that again right away, but I am definitely open to the idea.  I just have to get a LOT stronger... ( Which, technically is what CrossFit is all about... Apparently.) 

Moving Day!

After that little suffer-fest.   We helped one of Dave's  Congregation move out of a Small Hotel from the end of town into a Trailer.  The Poor guy was a bit of a Packrat, but with the help of Tom and his Father-in-law, we managed to get all of his stuff packed up on a trailer, truck and two other vehicles...  I was impressed the CrossFit pain had not yet kicked in. 

Um, last occupant was evicted?

The place the man was moving to was not much better from the looks of it.  However,  He had paid for the Trailer outright!  And unfortunately,  the last occupant left all of their stuff inside.   It looks like it will be a tough job cleaning all that junk out of the various rooms.   But at least he has a dry place to sleep and he fully owns the place.  I don't know if the garbage man will be able to pick up all the crap that the other occupant had, but once it is all cleaned up, he can do what he wants.  I'm just glad I do not own all that much stuff.  And yes, it rained all day today!

I purchased some new clothes today!   I was getting kind of bored wearing the same outfit to Church ever Sunday, so I went out and purchased new Khakis, a new shirt, couple ties and a Blue Blazer.  I even tossed in a Belt along the way.  I now have "Outfit options" to attend Church instead of one "Sunday's Best" suit.  

Besides that,  Monday I have to attend the Orientation for my new job.  They will be taking badge pictures and urged us to wear "Business Casual" attire.   I have always felt more comfortable in a shirt and tie.  

Dave's Parents are visiting today.  There is a Wedding in Milwaukee tomorrow, and they decided to stop in for a visit with the Kids and Grand kids.  I met them and they are wonderful people.   They remember me, but unfortunately, I had forgotten our brief meeting years ago.   They knew a lot of the people I went to High school and College with.   It was fun to chat and lose track of time with them. 

Big Screen UPGRADE!

The Install Dudes!

And finally I just finished Scoring for the Day.   Pearson offers a few hours on Weekends.   I started scoring around 2PM and managed to get just 4 hours in before they shut it down for the evening.   The good news is I managed to get my bonus in that time.  Score one for me!  

ESPN up and running!

So that was that.  A Busy day!   I left out Dave's little television "Upgrade" because that happened a couple days ago.  He got a HUGE TV from a Member who was upgrading his entertainment system and did not want to deal with the old one.  

Does it look like I had fun?

So, Dave got it for Free! ( Being a Pastor has its Perks!) A couple other guys from the Congregation installed the Wall mount for him.... All for the low low cost of a beer and some ESPN time.   Can't beat that!    I figured, since nothing else was going on that it might be blog worthy, so I decided to add a few pics.    I was hurting for Blog Material.   What can I say?  

Thanks for stopping in!  And I hope everyone is having a wonderful Weekend so far.  It certainly was a Busy day for me.... 

An Afternoon At The Lake.

Lake Michigan!

 And by "Lake," I mean Lake Michigan.   Yes, I took a little trip the the Illinois side of the lake today.  Mostly because the section of Wisconsin I'm currently in is literally a stones throw away from Illinois.  And that was the Marina Dave wanted to show me.   

Nice place.   Lots of nice boats and beer gardens to enjoy.   But I was not there for any of that.   I came for the  opportunity to chalk! 

Now,  I am currently working at the Scoring gig,  but honestly, I have all week to qualify and they are not going to let me begin scoring until Saturday!  So I have been trying to stretch out the training as long as I can.  (And I want to qualify, after all... so there is that.)   But a welcome distraction comes in the form of chalking a new place is always appealing.   I would say this is how you know you are cursed with being an artist.   You will abandon "responsible" choices just to go put some art on a  sidewalk.  

Unfortunately,  the sidewalk was small in places.   They also had lots of brick paths and boardwalks.  When I finally found  a large section of concrete in the shade.... It turned out to be sealed concrete... not the best for Chalk since it wipes away effortlessly.  

I finally settled on a small section near the  swimming pool area and that is when the Black flies decended upon me!

As some point close to that, I stopped having fun.   I blotched down a small drawing and I barely got to add any details.  Good thing I didn't tackle anything more complicated.  The black flies were Swarming!  

I got back from the Marina and decided to work on scoring a bit more.  I aced one practice set only to tank another.   I am pushing qualification off until tomorrow.   Hopefully with fresh eyes, I will be able to pass it without issue. 

Quality control.

When Dave got back, he asked if three days of fish was acceptable.   I agreed that fresh fish is far better than rotten or frozen.  So we cooked up the last of the Bluegills this evening.  We made sure that the Quality was still up to par.  And there is only one way to do that....   Samples!

As long as there is no evidence,  no one will be the wiser,  right    Oh!  And there was Beer!   Terrepin Hazy IPA.   A wonderful Grapefruit hoppyness.  

We STILL have fish left over... but Dave cooked them up and they will be stored for leftovers.  I couldn't eat anymore and neither could he.  With all that extra chow, it was time for an evening walk through the neighborhood.    Cool breeze and less heat than yesterday made for a pleasant stroll through the hood.  

Hope everyone is enjoying the evening as well... and thanks for stopping in.

And Then The Fishing was Hot!

I was about to head out for my evening walk when Dave invited me to go Fishing again.   I figured, what the heck?   But this time Dave suggested we buy some live bait.   Last time I noticed a handful of Bluegills on the beds, so perhaps some tasty food might entice them better than a small jig. 

We traveled o the Farm pond from last time...  Worms in Hand.   And I was disappointed when I only caught a small bluegill after several minutes.  I moved just down the bank about 20 yards and BOOM!  Crazy Fish!

Big Spawning Bluegills were more than eager to gobble up any portion of the worm I put on the hook.   I also caught three fairly large Bass along with them.  Of course, I did not bring my camera...  And had I actually done that, I'm sure I would have been taking a picture after every fish!  They are so beautiful when they have their spawning colors on. 

I don't know exactly how many we caught, but it was Plenty!  Dave moved just down the bank a bit from me and started catching them like crazy too.   In the end,  we had a "Stringer" full, ( because we left the bucket back at the truck.)  And it was getting late.  We still had to clean them. 

Asside from two small ones I kept, I think most of the bluegills were over 8 inches.  Several of them were pushing 9.5!   Those are pretty nice, even by Dad's Standards.  ( My Dad was a Bluegill snob.  "I only keep the 9+ inchers, and throw back the rest")  Don't get me wrong, he LOVED eating bluegills.  And he loved catching HUGE bluegills. 

It was a fun time this evening.  Cool air and no bugs to really bother us.   The action was hot and we have more than enough fish for several meals.  ( Maybe several.. at least two!)    It is funny how I forgot how much fun fishing is.  And even cleaning the darn things was fun. Imagine that!   Dad and I used to clean them well into the night and sometimes have them ready for Breakfast the next day.   Nostalgia is a funny thing. 

Well at least Dave did not have to clean them all by himself this time.  I think he welcomed the help.  And the mess was not as terrible as I remember.   Dave says  he might cook some up for Lunch tomorrow.   Sounds good to me!

Hope everyone is had a great weekend and Thanks for stopping in.  Today was a great day!

The Overwhelming Beauty Of This World.

Every now and then I become overwhelmed by the beauty of this world.  It is everywhere.  It surrounds us every day and the sensory overload can sometimes seem unbearable.  How can you possibly process all of the details and wonder of this world without totally blowing your mind?  It is moments like that that being an Artist might seem more like a curse rather than a gift from God. To be aware of all of the things that this world has to offer.   The sights, the sounds, the smells and tastes that are there for everyone to enjoy, if they only pause for a moment to notice...  How can an Artist possibly put all of those sensations into words?   To be honest,  sometimes the words fail  to capture everything in its best light. 

And yet,  Poets and writers continue to try.  Musicians do their best with notes and lyrics and instruments.  Painters Paint. Sculptors Carve. Photographers take photos. All in an attempt to capture that fleeting moment that was missed by the general public.  To try to show the general public  what they are missing in their busy lives as they run around with blinders on their faces....focusing on something of  "Great Importance" for their future. 

Capturing Beauty is very much like attempting to Capture Happiness.  They are simply moments in time that exist like vapor in the air.   To truly enjoy those moments, you have to be in the moment.  Not looking past it or trying to hang on to it for later.  Those moments pass you by and it is very easy to miss them. Ever wonder how people on vacation sometimes do not seem happy?  Or the person at a little league game watching their phone rather than their kid  in the batter's box?  The potential to gain a memory of a lifetime is lost by the endless shuffle of a distracted life. 

So what brings up this topic for me today?  Good question.  I simply looked up to see the bluest of blue skies this morning.   Felt the cool air on my skin and saw the glowing green leaves as the sun filtered through the trees.  Technically, I see similar scenes everyday, but today it seemed profound.  It always does.  But today,  some words managed to fill my mind and I figured it would be worth blogging about.   Especially since blog topics have been sketchy as  of late.  Why not ramble on about all the things we find beautiful.  

Of course, I lost many of the words before finally sitting down to type them.  This always happens.   But, with a little effort, I might be able to remember a few of them.  

And so the flowers that greet me every day on my run are accompanied by the  red wing black birds who heckle me as I pass uncomfortably close to their nests that are  hidden in the tall grasses. I wave to the people  who run or bike past as they also work on their physical fitness.  Beauty is not unique to beautiful things.  It can be seen in beautiful acts that our fellow human beings give to each other.   A smile. A wave.  A friendly, "hello" as a stranger walks by.  All of these are beautiful moments that are small, trivial,   and often missed by others.   But they are there. And over time, you realize that humans are truly just as beautiful as all of the rest of our environment. Even with their flaws. 

Especially with their flaws!  

 For the flaws allow us to overcome something to shine bright. And I find that Beautiful!   Roses have thorns. Animals are noisy and messy.  Fires  can burn and destroy...  There will always be some part of something that is "bad."   But  if you manage to look past those things,  and if you can find the beauty.   I believe you will gain so much more in your life. 

Thanks for reading this far.... Sometimes I just go off on a philosophical rant. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.   And thanks for stopping in.

And Then Covid Had To Ruin Everything!

This week had potential to be something cool.   As most weeks are at least...  But then!   Covid struck!  

Anyone know what version we are now on?   I wouldn't mind knowing because I want to collect the entire set.. apparently.   I believe this is the third time I have caught Covid in some form or another.   It started out Sunday Night with some body aches and night sweats.   I did not really have a Respitory issue to speak of.   But I did not feel very spunky either.  By Monday Morning,  it broke and I was feeling much better.  

But then Dave got it. He has the cough and raspy throat version.    And... Handy him, he has a collection of Covid Test kits!  ( Being a Pastor has it's perks!) So he, out of curiosity, decided to give himself a test.   BOOM!  Covid Positive!   He then offered me one to see if I had had it before.   What the heck, might as well...  BOOM!  You're Positive too, Eth!  

Well doesn't that just ruin everything?  So Dave was supposed to preach this Sunday... That doesn't look like it is going to happen.   He also had a Funeral on Saturday.   ( I think)  Um... Not any more!  So, needless to say, we have been laying low for the next 5 days.  Theoretically, I could probably head out in public without threatening anyone, since I had it last weekend, but I still have a stubborn little cough and if the test says I still have some of that junk in my system, then I certainly do not want to spread the love. 

So what does one do with this newfound time?   Why... Go fishing!   Why not?   The Fish certainly do not care how contagious you are.  And a hidden farm pond is the perfect place to get away from the general public.   It was a private pond where Dave knows the guy. ( Being a Pastor has its perks!) so no one bothered us for the afternoon.  The only down side was that the shore was pretty much overgrown with vegetation, meaning I had to wade out into the much if I ever wanted to be able to cast out.   (Which I did.)  Even then, it was fairly deep, so I could not go out too far.

Still!   We did manage to catch a few.   A couple bass and a nice Bluegill should be enough for a single meal.  I had hoped that the bluegills, who were on their beds, would be a bigger hit.  But I was wrong.   after that first one, I could not get the rest of the gang to try any of my offerings.  

And as I mentioned before,  Dave is the Pit Master MAN!  A few days ago he grilled up some marinated Chicken Breasts.   The smell was intoxicating and we got to sample the small tid bits that fell off the larger portions.   He cooked enough for the week!  And even reheating them in the Microwave, they remain tender and juicy.  

I'm going to have to dive into this field of cooking some time in the future.  I feel like there is a lot of unexplored territory that I have been missing out on.  I can't remember the last time I have eaten this much meat in a week!   Now, to be fair,  Dave cooks for the Protein.   He is a Hulk, after all.  All that muscle requires  protein to fuel and maintain.  I don't have such an agenda.  I just like the flavor.

So...  That is the week in review.   I still am able to go for some walks and stuff, but I now have to be aware of other people.  At least for the next couple days.  Dave is already feeling better, so that is a plus.  

Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy this week.  Honestly, I should start collecting the Covid stars for bragging rights.   Dave was even Vaccinated and has now caught it twice!   But we always knew it was going to be around now forever and ever.   It sucks that we both caught it during the Summer.  

Thanks for stopping in.