Circus Trip 2018: Yosemite NP

Day 90, Saturday, October 13, 2018
Yosemite National Park, Mariposa, California

I’ll say right up front that I need to see more of Yosemite.  My visit was too short, and too emotional to really do justice to it.

That morning I woke up in Bridgeport, California at my campsite at the little marina there.  It was cold (about 17 degrees or so), so I decided to get breakfast out, and went to the Bridgeport Inn for corned beef hash and coffee.  I’m not ordinarily a coffee drinker but I needed a warmup that day!  The Inn was built in 1877 as the Leavitt House, and has a hotel, restaurant and bar.  Mark Twain stayed here at some point.  The food was good, and warmed me up, but soon it was time to get on my way.

I headed west over Tioga Pass and soon was in the line to enter Yosemite Park.  I was so excited to see it!  This is one of the National Parks that has been on my bucket list for a while.

Sadly, when I headed into the park, I started to feel a heavy weight in my heart.  I had long wanted to visit Yosemite, but it had been a dream I had with my ex-husband when we were married.  In fact, when we separated, we had a trip planned to Yosemite, and I ended up canceling.  He went with his dad, and I didn’t go, because we were having so many problems.  We ended our marriage shortly after that.  I always thought it would feel amazing to finally visit, but it was quite the opposite.  It was like all the grief I had been holding in for a few years at that point finally came tumbling out.

I parked at a lake on the pass and sat next to the beautiful water.  People were all around, but no one really noticed me.  I sobbed.  I thought maybe once I had it out of my system, I could go on, but I kept starting to cry again after that first time.  I finally decided I wasn’t ready for Yosemite that day.  I didn’t go into the valley, or do much more than just drive through the park, sitting in my sadness.

I did get a stamp and a few postcards to commemorate the parts of the park that I did see, but I definitely need a do over.  It has now been almost 7 years since my divorce was final, which will be longer than I was married.  I think I’m ready now.

So after leaving Yosemite that day, I headed up to northern California to see the man I was dating at the time.  That relationship didn’t work out either, but for reasons unrelated to Yosemite.  That’s a long, sad story for another time, if I’m ever ready to tell it. 

I suppose I could call this day the last day of my big road trip, even though I spent close to a month in Northern California before I finally headed home to Washington.  But I wasn’t traveling all the time anymore, so it seemed the trip was at an end.  I saw parts of Northern California that I had never been to, but I also just relaxed.

All in all, I spent several months on the road that summer and fall.  If you remember back, I left home on July 16, and got back home on November 12, 2018.  It was the trip of a lifetime, and one that I would love to do again with a different itinerary.  It was exhilarating and fun, and sometimes sad and lonely.  I learned so much about bravery and courage, and feeling comfortable in my own skin.  I healed, and learned how to be alone.  It was everything I needed at the time. 

Now, 5 years later, I’m at at different place.  I’m retired, with the ability to pack up and take a trip when the mood strikes me.  And I do.  Life isn’t perfect, and I still have stories of sadness and hardship that I’m not quite ready to tell.  But life for the most part is good.  I have other tales to tell, and other road trips to take, and memories to make.  I hope you will continue to follow along.

 

Book Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

After hearing a lot of positive feedback from multiple people, one of my book clubs was discussing upcoming reads and this one came up.  It was chosen as our February read, so I reserved it from the library and it came in pretty quickly.  The read was on!

Evelyn Hugo is a glamorous movie star who got her start in 1950s Hollywood.  She came from abject poverty to create a name for herself, swearing that she would become so successful she would never have to worry about being poor and powerless again.  And that’s how it started.

Decades later, Evelyn is in her 80s, long ago retired from the silver screen, and she approaches journalist Monique Grant with a proposal.  Her biography.  Evelyn will tell her everything, and allow Monique to write the story in whatever way she wants, as long as she waits to publish it until after Evelyn’s death.  Monique is confused; she has no ties to Evelyn Hugo, and is baffled as to why she chose her to write the story.  Despite this, she agrees to the assignment, and sits down with Evelyn to get to work.

Evelyn has lived a life in the spotlight, full of ups and downs, fully covered by the media.  She has been married seven times, and had one daughter along the way.  But how much does the public really know about Evelyn?

The novel has a lot of twists and turns, joy and heartache, and a surprise ending that you won’t see coming.  Taylor Jenkins Reid made Evelyn a complex and unapologetic character, a woman who will do anything to secure her place in the world.  The author’s writing style sucked me in and made me not want to put this book down.  I loved Evelyn and hated her, and cried at the climax of the story.  It’s one I certainly won’t forget.

5 stars.

 

Retirement Diaries 2024: Cows!

Unfortunately I’m sick for the second time this winter.  A cold with fatigue and congestion that’s been hanging on about a week.  It has made for some long afternoon naps and lots of time spent reading.  It has also coincided for the most part with a cold snap here, so it isn’t like there’s a lot I would be doing outside anyway.  Still, I will be glad when I feel better.

Last weekend I did venture out for a Sip and Paint with my mom at a nearby (nearby is relative in rural Minnesota) cidery.  The subject – whimsical Highland Cows!  This was more challenging than my usual craft project, and I was definitely skeptical in the middle of the class during the Char-broiled demon pig phase and the Zombie Muppet phase.  I stuck with it though and ended up with a super-cute finished project!  I haven’t decided where to hang it yet, but it will certainly be gracing the walls somewhere around here!

After a few months of almost no fresh eggs, the chickens are coming out of their molt and are starting to lay again.  I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that the lightening is happening too, and the days are gradually getting longer.  Wednesday the temperature is even supposed to get above freezing!

Book Review: The Lincoln Highway

The Lincoln Highway, by Amor Towles

I checked out this book because I love roadtripping, and am interested in the Lincoln Highway.  Imagine my disappointment when I realized about 3/4ths of the way through that the Lincoln Highway was not going to actually make an appearance in this novel.  I guess there is a lesson to be learned about the fact that life often doesn’t put us on a path we are expecting. 

It is 1954, and Emmett Watson is an 18 year old boy who has just been released from a work farm in Salina, Kansas after serving a sentence for involuntary manslaughter.  His father has died, and his mother ran out years ago, and he figures there is no reason to try to stay in his hometown after his father’s farm is foreclosed.  All that remains is to gather a few belongings and hit the road with his eight year old brother Billy to try to make a new life for himself. 

Little does he know that two friends from the work farm, Duchess and Woolly, have stowed away in the trunk of the Warden’s car when he drives Emmett home.  They have other plans for Emmett, which include driving to the Adirondacks to steal money intended as Woolly’s inheritance.  Although Emmett wants no part in the plan, when Duchess steals his car and life savings, he finds himself forced into following him across the country to try to get his stolen car and money back. 

Along the way, there are stories to be learned about morality, good and evil, and the kindness of strangers.  The reader learns about the fact that people are rarely black and white, and that you can’t really judge a book by its cover.  Eight year old Billy possesses a refreshing insight into people that Emmett can learn a thing or two from, and they are helped in their journey by other down-and-out characters who help them, even when they don’t have much to give. 

Just as I thought I might know how it would turn out, the twist ending came on quickly and wasn’t really what I expected.  It certainly reiterated that in the end, you usually get what is coming to you. 

Despite the fact that they don’t actually travel the Lincoln Highway, it was an enjoyable book, and worth the read.

4 stars.

Circus Trip 2018: Mono Lake

Day 89, Friday, October 12, 2018
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve, Lee Vining, California

After I visited Bodie, I wanted to see the tufa formations at Mono Lake.  If you have never heard of tufa towers, you are in for a treat!

In Mono Lake, there are freshwater springs beneath the surface of the lake that are rich in calcium.  This calcium rich spring water mixes with the lake water, which contains carbonates.  When the two combine, a chemical reaction creates calcium carbonate, otherwise known as limestone.  Around the springs, the calcium carbonate becomes a solid, and over decades, forms a tower of limestone under the water.  So how are they visible at Mono Lake?

In 1941, water diversions began by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, and the water levels in the lake fell dramatically.  The tufa towers have been exposed since that time; they no longer grow, and are now slowly eroding away.  Mono Lake is one of the unique places where these tufa towers can be seen!

The South Tufa Trail is about a mile long; it gave me a close up, spectacular view of these tufa towers.  They were so cool to see!  I stayed as the sun lowered in the sky, and captured some nice photos.  I also got to see big flocks of Yellow Headed Blackbirds and a few ducks.

 

On my way to camp for the night, I stopped to see the Mono Lake Historical Society Musuem, which is housed in the old Mono Lake Schoolhouse, and the Upside Down House, which was built by Nellie Bly O’Bryan.  Nellie Bly O’Bryan, not to be confused with the journalist Nellie Bly, was a silent film actress in the 1920s and 1930s.  After retiring from film in 1934, she moved to the Mono Lake area and became a State of California licensed mountain guide.  She also owned and operated a resort on Lundy Lake, near the east entrance of Yosemite National Park.  She built the Upside Down House by hand as a tourist attraction, where everything in the house is just that – upside down. 

Unfortunately, both the museum and house were both closed for the day (and probably season?), so I had to be content with taking photos outside in the fading light.  I would like to visit when they are open someday! 

That night I camped at a little marina that also had campsites.  It was $20 for the night, and had a beautiful view of the water in Bridgeport, California.  The only drawback was that it was COLD!  It got down to about 17 degrees that night!  But I was snug as a bug once I was layered up under all my blankets in the car bed.  That was the coldest night of my entire trip!

 

Retirement Diaries 2024: Wind Chill

After having several months of “unseasonably warm” temperatures, we are finally feeling the first true blast of Midwest winter.  The coldest temperature this morning was -10, with a wind chill of -30.  Yuck.  That is an improvement from the -39 wind chill they were originally predicting though.  It is supposed to be warming up a teensy bit over the next few days, before returning to acceptable winter temps.

Needless to say, I have had several “indoor” days lately, with my only time outside running errands, checking on the chickens, or taking out the trash.  I’m not silly enough to be out in that for long!

Mom and I checked out a new-to-us store this weekend.  They have home decor, vintage items and a few antiques.  I got a vintage milk bottle with a cream top for my collection, and I couldn’t resist a gnome since they were 70% off!  Being outside from the car to the store was enough for me.

I also started a new puzzle on New Years’ Eve, but it was very slow going to start.  I finished it last night!  The next one I do will be something a little easier.

 

 

The only real excitement lately was finding a little bat in the house last week!  EEK!  There was a bit of panic as I scooped up the cats and put them in my room so there would be no interactions.  I haven’t seen them so excited in a long time!  Luckily Burnie (I named him Burnie in case I needed to burn the house down) settled in for a nap on the wall, so I could calm down, and he didn’t move until he was scooped up and deposited back outside.  He was pretty cute, but definitely not cute enough to live in my house.  NOPE!  If you are a bat lover, don’t worry, he wasn’t left in the snow.  After he didn’t fly away right away, he was put on the wood pile where he promptly moved deeper into the pile. 

Yellow and Cora are appreciating having so much time with me at home.  Yellow has settled into a routine of pre-breakfast, breakfast, second breakfast, third breakfast, dinner, second dinner, and third dinner and a midnight snack.  I’m trying to encourage him to eat, so anytime he wants some food, I’m happy to give it to him.  Unfortunately I can’t just free-feed him, as Cora is already so portly and she would eat whatever was sitting out.

And since the chickens haven’t featured very highly on the blog lately, here’s a picture of Winter.  She decided she was going to stay in the outdoor coop after dark, so she was collected and deposited back inside; but not before I took the opportunity to take her picture.  Silly girl! 

I know I have a lot way to go, but I’m ready for spring! 

 

Book Review: Zorrie

Zorrie, by Laird Hunt

Zorrie is a woman whose life is touched by hardship.  An orphan in rural Indiana who is sent to live with a cold and distant aunt, she is orphaned again when her aunt passes away and leaves her with nothing during the Great Depression.  Zorrie is on her own, so she picks up and walks to the nearest larger city in Illinois, occasionally finding work doing odd jobs along the way.  There, she finds a job at a radium plant, painting watch dials using radium paint.

Thankfully for Zorrie, she doesn’t work there for long, and eventually makes her way back to her home county, where she meets and marries a young, hard-working farmer.  She becomes a farm wife, learning how to grow crops, raise animals and care for her home.  The novel follows Zorrie for the remainder of her life, through her family relationships, her community friendships, her joys and her sorrows.  It relates the complexity of life, health and mental illness, through the characters simply living their lives. 

Hunt writes simply and poetically and allows the reader to really imagine Zorrie’s lived experience.  That is where the strength of this novel is, as you will not find excitement or a strong plot line here.  It is a short book, so in my opinion, the lack of a strong plot doesn’t detract from the book, but just be aware that this is more a book of character development and poetic description of the simple residents of the heartland.

3 stars.

Circus Trip 2018: Bodie State Historic Park

Day 89, Friday, October 12, 2018
Bodie State Historic Site, Bridgeport, California

The night before I had stayed in Bishop, California, at a fun family owned campground that was very busy for early fall.  It got a bit cold that night, but I was snug in my car bed.

In the morning, I got on the road and drove up to Bridgeport, California.  I had been interested in going to Devil’s Postpile National Monument, but unfortunately it was closed for the season.  I had read online that it was generally open through the end of October, so that was disappointing; I will have to go back!

I stopped at the Visitor’s Center for Mono Lake, which had information on Bodie, Mono Lake and Yosemite.  I was excited to visit all three! I decided to start with Bodie, and was happy that it was a beautiful sunny, day.  Bodie is 11 miles off the main highway; the last three miles are gravel and some of it was very rough.  I bounced along and took it all in stride as all the California drivers passed me.  But soon enough, I was there, and I was in for a real treat!

I paid the $8 admission and bought the information book for $2 (prices have gone up since then I’m sure), and they set me loose on the park.

Bodie started out as a mining camp in 1859 when gold was discovered there; it became a boom town in 1876.  Within three years there were about 8,000 people and 2,000 buildings, with many of the residents mining both gold and silver, and the rest providing goods and services to the miners.  Sadly, the boom was short-lived and the town began to decline as early as 1880; I think this might have been because of the climate. 

Bodie is a harsh place; at almost 8,400 feet in elevation, and little protection from the elements, Bodie gets extremely cold and the wind can blow up to 100 miles per hour.  In fact, Bodie experiences an average of 303 days per year where nights are below freezing, and only two days per year on average where the low temperature stays above 50 degrees.  It is considered a subarctic climate; not something you really think about in California.  Wow.

Bodie was basically a ghost town by 1915, although the last remaining mine closed in 1942 and there were residents there until the mid-1940s.  Now the town is in a state of arrested decay; the park preserves the buildings as best it can, but does not restore them.  That said, time and a couple of fires have reduced the 3,000 buildings that were there at its peak, to about 150 now.  Even still, it is one of the most complete ghost towns that exists in the United States, and it is so cool to explore!

I spent several hours wandering the site, peeking in windows, walking the streets, and imagining what it would have been like to live there.  It was such an interesting place!  I was there until about 3 in the afternoon, but I still wanted to see Mono Lake, so I got back on the road.  On the way, I found this big herd of sheep, so I had to get a photo!  I’ll share about the lake next – it isn’t just any old lake!

 

 

Retirement Diaries 2024: Kicking Off January

Happy New Year!

2024 has quietly entered the building.  The holiday itself was low-key; mom came over for dinner and we spent a little bit of time working on a puzzle.  I haven’t finished it yet – it is a hard one!

It seems we may finally get some truly cold temperatures in the next week, with lows currently forecast down to -7.  Not my favorite time of year.  Of course, from the looks of it, the whole country is in for a deep freeze!

Mom and I had a Thursday Funday last week.  We went to see the Festival of Trees at the Wright County Heritage Society, about an hour from home.  They had 80 decorated Christmas trees, done by local residents and businesses, and you could have fun by voting for your favorite trees.  After seeing all the pretty trees, we found a couple of antique and vintage shops and perused to our hearts’ content.  I got some cute rubber duckie earrings but otherwise didn’t buy anything; they had some really cute items though that were tempting!  We stopped off at the Goodwill on the way home and each found a few things too.  Chinese takeout rounded out a fun day!  It was nice that the weather held off – it was cold with temps in the 20s, but the few flurries of snow didn’t ever get serious…

Yellow has been doing a bit better.  He’s eating a bit more and eating his latest wet food that was recommended by the vet.  Which means he’s been eating a bit more of the phosphorous binder that I sprinkle on the wet food.  Supplemental fluids each day are helping a lot and he’s not fussy about getting stabbed in the scruff of the neck each night with the needle.  He has another recheck on his blood work in late January, so we will see how things are.  Cora has been trying to rough house with him again, so maybe that means he is feeling better!  Ah, the things we do for our babies.

Yesterday I went over to a friend’s house for the Taylor Swift Eras Concert watch party that she was hosting.  There were about 10 of us there, and we had a potluck lunch and then settled in for the 3.5 hour concert.  I like Taylor Swift’s music, and the fact that she is a smart, savvy businesswoman who stands up for herself.  It was fun, and nice to be making some friends in Minnesota.

I didn’t make any resolutions, although at some point soon I want to start planning out my 2024 travel.  I’m not sure yet what will be on the agenda, but I’m looking forward to some time on the road, where ever it ends up being.  One of these days I’ll sit down with my maps and make a wish list!

Otherwise, my world has been pretty relaxed.  Reading, writing and puttering around the house.  It’s nice to be able to have the down time.  How is your New Year starting out?

 

Book Review: The Overton Window

The Overton Window, by Glenn Beck

Have you ever heard of the Overton Window?  I have an MBA and I hadn’t…  I’ll explain.  The Overton Window is a way to describe the window in which the majority of the public will accept a policy decision.  It is used by politicians to determine what policies can be recommended without having that politician be considered too extreme (in either direction).  One of the goals of politicians is to shift the window, and gain acceptance for their policy changes over time.

But back to the book.  Noah Gardner is a low level researcher in his father’s public relations firm, working for very powerful businessmen and politicians to create an image, gain consumer buy-in on products, shift constituents’ thoughts on political policies, and inevitably, to sometimes do damage control when things go awry.

Noah’s work introduces him to the beautiful and feisty Molly, who works in the mail room, and spends her time on the side working for a group of patriots who are convinced that the government is working to take away citizens’ rights, and move the needle to a place where Americans no longer have the freedoms promised by the U.S. Constitution.  Molly convinces Noah to attend a rally, and he goes mainly because he wants a date, but once there things take a drastic turn.  Clearly someone is working to set up another terrorist attack on American soil.  But who is behind it?  Who can Noah trust, and how can he stop it if he doesn’t know what’s happening?

Beck isn’t the best writer, but he does pose an interesting premise.  Can the government take advantage of violence against the American people to create a shift in the Overton Window – one that makes us more willing to voluntarily give up the rights we normally enjoy?  Do you trust your politicians enough to think they are honest and ethical?  The idea is a compelling one, yet terrifying at the same time, and who is to say it isn’t already happening?

3 stars.