Fear and Loathing in Milwaukee?

It's true. Only 4 days after I graduate from UNCW's MBA program we will be on our way to the Land of Oz -- a trip we've been trying to take since 2002. We're excited in our own ways and I'm sure as the date gets closer that will only grow. At the same time I have heard so much about Australia and seen so many pictures and spent so many hours daydreaming about what it must be like that in some ways I feel like this will only be a trip around the corner to another neighborhood, or Milwaukee. Somewhere new, but not foreign. This is good for me. I am not afraid of Milwaukee. I am however afraid of the following things:

1. Spiders
   
2. Sharks
3. Snakes
   
4. Friendly, Outgoing People

All of these things Australia has in abundance. Jason has chided me for googling "scary things in Australia" and "things to fear in Australia" (neither yielded anything interesting), and then the following conversation ensued:

Jada: I'm not sure that I'm really afraid of snakes, except if they are very close and dangerous.
Jason: It's likely that we'll see at least one brown snake in Australia.
Jada: Yeah, but are they venomous?
Jason: Yeah! They're only the most venomous snake in the world or something! They could easily kill you.

Ah, it's a thin line men walk, reluctantly shouldering the fears of the more delicate sex and then inviting us to the cinema to see Cloverfield. Sounds like a self-perpetuating cycle to me, which means I will no longer feel guilty about leaving the creepy-crawly killing and clean up to the man of this house.

My original point, I suppose, was to observe that the world is much smaller these days with all the information and easy access we have to it. This Knowing opens the possibility of adventure up to calculating and timid risk-takers like myself, while also informing me of all the possible things that could go wrong. Is that better then? Bother.

"It's a dangerous business, stepping out your front door, if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you'll be swept off." - Bilbo Baggins

Waiting For Paradise in an Irresistible Revolution

Living in the "Big City" by the river has it's cultural advantages and a larger population among whom I may be able to find others who share the same feelings and beliefs that I do. When found they make the anxiety of being alive in a confusing world of religions, politics, theologies, life goals, and dreams a little less anxious. And even when blessed with the ability to to travel the globe more often than I deserve I still only live in the present and when it's knee to waist high and I cringe because I know back home it's overhead and barreling. But being the artist and collaborator that I am, I try to focus on and emphasize the optomistic side of things. Thanks to my friend Ryan Curtis we found beautiful way to make a semi dull day into a portrait of flawless beauty and fun. Getting to surf NC's only reef break by myself with a couple pelicans doing finger drags across the fluid panes of glass brought a much needed peace and tranquility that the average picturesque brown over head barrel doesn't always grant you. One wave every twenty minutes doesn't leave room for error so you carefully exact every movement with surgical precision. Thank you Lord for every blessing!

A near perfect day!

Day and Frank Smith came into town last night and saw our house for the very first time. We chatted, had tea, and generally congratulated each other on looking great and making exciting plans for the new year. In the morning The Smiths treated us to breakfast at IHOP, which was a treat for me as chain breakfast dives hold a special place in my heart. I had hot tea, eggs (sunny side up), hash browns, double blueberry pancakes, and (later) a bit of a stomachache. It was lovely. Day and Frank were in town to buy a dog, so we went to the pet store for necessities. Jason and I window shopped all the pets from fish to finches, imaging ourselves owning each one and then feeling glad that we didn't. We saw the Smiths off and ran some errands which included buying new dishes for me, perusing the Linens'N'Things sale aisles for me, hunting for new coasters for me, and buying a chocolate bar for Jason. In World Market we found coasters that looked like little pebbles with epoxy poured over them and a pleather backing glued on. Therefore, the craft store was our next stop for epoxy and molds and ideas. Since the weather hit the 50s today we spent the entire afternoon outside mixing epoxy resin under the bamboo pergola and burning dead branches in the burn barrel. At one point we made a youthful and dangerous decision involving glass bottles and old perfume, but the result was fantastic. I only wish the perfume we used had actually smelled nice. We also had the great idea to take the top of the chicken coop down with nothing but a sawed off Sassafras log and a ladder. All-in-all it was a successful day full of hard work done with improvised tools and task-oriented focus--really the most satisfying day one can have. As the afternoon dragged on I heated up some soup and April's Chai tea recipe and we ate Linner on the back porch and watched the fire. No mosquitoes, no humidity, and I still managed to get a pink sunburn on my face (the only skin showing on a chilly January day). After an unsuccessful attempt to find coverage of the presidential debates tonight, it is time to go to bed.
Goodnight!

My favorite Christmas present!

Though I was overjoyed that some people in faraway lands received water from our friends the Prauses in our name, I really must confess that my favorite Christmas present this year was toy that you can throw as hard and fast and far as you want and instead of shattering into a million pices causing me to cry...it comes back to me....an authentic Boomerang...from Colorado. My brother in law, Jude, knows me well and always comes up with the simplest most thoughtful gifts. Being that I was in Ohio dreaming of all the barrels I was missing on the east coast, I decided to go for a walk in the woods, find a field and master the art of throwing a boomerang. After several failed attempts, a sore right side of my body, and a couple dives into a hedgehogs lair, I caught a few throws in the failing midwest sunlight. It was a great Christmas indeed.



Jada came along and gave me some tips...


Look close and you can see a little blur...that's my favorite new toy...


Sunset over the prairie

Happy New Year!

I frequently forget great swaths of time, so it's important for me to make the new year as memorable as possible. I celebrated this year by falling asleep in Jason's lap while he caught up reading Prince Caspian. We finished reading it out loud New Year's Day. Jason does all the best voices.