A Camping We Will Go

Dan and I enjoyed a short camping trip to Ergang Lake, our woodsy oasis near Whitehall, Michigan. A good time was had. The weather was mild, but it did get a little chilly overnight in the tent. I don't like a sleeping bag, I don't like to be "enclosed", I like to have at least one foot sticking out. When we went to bed, I started out with the bag mostly unzipped, but at around 2 a.m. I woke up freezing. A quick zip of the bag and I was toasty.

Dan and I squeezed a lot of camping fun into our short day and a half trip. We did a bit of fishing, a bit of biking, a bit of campfire burning, a bit of Smore making (my favorite!). We took some walks and relaxed in lawn chairs with campstove coffee. Because we live and work in Chicago, the peace and quiet of the woods soothes our souls like nothing else can.

We were all by ourselves on this trip, and even though I have been camping in these private woods for 30 years now, I still get creeped out at night. I can't forget that 20 or so years ago we had a few bits of trouble with drunk locals, who liked to amuse themselves by riding through our campsites in the middle of the night on their motorcycles and in their pick-up trucks, terrorizing us city folk. They never did anything to us, they just drove through. But I remember being so afraid of them! Fast forward to 2009, and as I lay in my tent in the middle of the dark woods, I remind myself that these drunk locals are now in their 50's, and are probably home snoozing on their sofas, bathed in the light of the t.v. The new generation of drunk locals is hanging out in the local bar, drinking cosmos and appletinis and texting their buddies. No interest in a terrorizing jaunt through the chilly woods!

My friends and I have owned this little bit of paradise since 1984. It's just woods and a small lake, very primitive and private. No running water, no bathrooms, no problem. I love it, it's one of my favorite places on Earth. Only a handful of the 25 owners camp there at all these days. Dan and I usually go camping there once a year, at the beginning of fall. Maybe next year I'll be brave and camp in the middle of summer, and be happy while the deer flies circle my head. I used to be so carefree about swimming through the weeds to get out to the middle of the lake -- now the thought of it freaks me out. When did I get so old and timid?

I used to camp with my Norwegian Elkhound, her name was Lucy. She was the best dog I've ever had, beautiful and smart as a whip. Her mouth was shaped so that she always looked like she was smiling when she was panting. Lucy loved the freedom of Ergang Lake, and would often disappear for hours, sometimes overnight. The first time she stayed away overnight I cried in my tent until morning. I thought I had lost her forever. But she came back -- draped in deer shit and looking very, very proud of herself. This is my favorite memory of camping with Lucy -- I walked into the woods to relieve myself. Lucy, followed me, as she always did. I squatted to pee, and Lucy squatted a few feet away from me. I looked over at her, and she was smiling at me. She was probably thinking "Here we are, my human and me, peeing in the woods together!"
Here is a shot of Dan, standing on the beach fishing with crickets and grasshoppers that he caught himself. We don't need to buy no stinkin' bait!


What a gorgeous bluegill -- call the taxidermist!

Our little Kia Sportage looks right at home in the woods.


Ah. Crunchy campstove coffee. One of life's little pleasures!



It was a great trip, although too short. See you next year, Ergang Lake!

Summer is Over

I get melancholy this time of year. Fall is beautiful, and I do appreciate that, but it means one thing to me -- winter is coming. I dislike winter. I live in Chicago where winters can be ug-ly. Dan and I walk in our commutes and we face a lot of unshoveled sidewalks on our way. The city plows pile the snow and sleet on the street corners so that we have to climb a few hills to get to the train. Once we get downtown it's pretty easy to get to our offices, as most of the buildings in the Chicago loop are well maintained. There are no snowy sidewalks, but there are lakes of sleet to be jumped over at most of the street corners. Ugh.

One morning last winter I made it a point to thank every maintenance worker I saw shoveling and clearing snow in front of the skyscrapers I pass on my way to the office. They all seemed to appreciate it (who wouldn't!) so I'm going to do it again this year. Everybody likes to be thanked for what they do.

And now, I better keep a stiff upper lip and enjoy the beautiful sunsets and blue asters and crisp sweater weather and orange pumpkins and golden trees blazing. I'll try.

I Heart Weight Watchers

Today marks 4 months on Weight Watchers! I started one gorgeous spring day, May 2, 2009. I remember walking home from my first meeting, thinking "this will be a new healthy beginning for me." And it really has been. I've lost 31 lbs and I feel soooo much better.
I like counting points; it makes a lot of sense to me. I can eat whatever I want, nothing is off limits. I have really not denied myself anything these last 4 months -- I have just adjusted how much of or how often I have a particular goody, like a gin martini, for instance! I could never follow a "diet" that restricted something like carbs. I have always eaten healthy food, and I have always liked to cook, so it may be easier for me to do this point thing than it may be for others. My problem is portions! If one big bowl of Greek salad is good, why not 3 big bowls? Everything I ate had to be in huge, lumberjack portions. I always wanted more. WW has taught me what a proper portion looks like, and if I want to be slender I will have to keep track of my food intake every day for the rest of my life. It's worth it!! I can actually tie my shoes without asphyxiating myself. That's a good, good thing.