I do not have any reservations for anything yet,

and still do not really have a plan, though I am

getting a little bit more lucid in my thinking

(presuming I ever was).

If I hope to avoid the city of Detroit, that

would mean not flying in or out of detroit.

So that leaves me with a car trip.

Since I don’t have to make an air reservation,

I am thus free to plan my trip more or less

at tle last minute (like a week or two ahead of

time), assuming the MN accomodation can

take my reservation on that short notice.

Actually, from what I have heard, most

hospitality establishments are having low

occupancy, so if I travel at the last minute

I should be okay. 

I will always book accomodations along the

turnpike, as I know that those type of hotels

where people are in transit can fill up even when

it is not peak season.

I have read a little more about the Ford Museum in

Michigan, and am really looking forward to it.

There is lots of old stuff, and being of a certain

vintage myself, there should be lots of things

that I remember from my childhood, but have

already forgotten.

comedian Goerge Carlin, I pondered this question:

what happens to old solar calculators?

Do people ever actually throw them away when

they start not to function?  or do we keep them

around, knowing that this one can’t type a 4

and that one does not compute well.

The reason I ask is I wondered really if anyone

ever actually throws them away, or if other

people are like me and have more than one

dysfunctional calculator in the kitchen

drawer.

that was supposed to simulate a great emergency.

I volunteered to ehlp, as it was Saturday, and I

played a person (based on the card that they

gave me) that had an abdominal injury, and part

of my guts were coming out.

From the way they treated me, I gather that the

way to treat this (should you ever find someone

in this condition) is to put a sterle gauze that is wet

on the wound and apply pressure. 

Now because this was simulating true emergency

situation, they did not have enough sterile materials,

so they did the best they could.

However, after my ride in the ambulance (first

one ever, that was fun– with siren), when we got

to the hospital the parametic reported off to the hospital

staff and said what my injury was and what I needed

right away. 

The hospital staff was part of the exercise too.  They

charted what treatment they would administer, and

this will actually be checked later against the protocol

for such a condition to make sure they did it right.

It was a long day, but all in all it was very educational,

not only for me, but for all the aid workers who needed

actual bodies for their dramatic enactment.

to attend a visioning meeting with town leaders, about

how we want to see the city in 50 years.

The premise is actually pretty interesting, as most of the

oldsters among us will probably not be around in fifty

years.

We started with the things we know and the things we

do not know.  For instance, today we know that the

job situation is tight for some people. What we do not

know is if our region and America in general is going

to regain composure or keep sliding down the tubes

until it becomes a third world country.  Nobody wants

to believe this is possible, but when people have been

making such high wages compared to the rest of the

world, one has to wonder if this situation will eventually

adjust so that we make less and other people in other

countries make more.

The town economy, then, was one open question.

The other was what about of population we might

have.  Will people continue leaving town for other

areas?  Or wil the next generation of young people

see that this is a good place to live, thus not only

staying here but telling their peers about the town.

Some people were envisioning all kinds of crazy

houseing and space ship vehicles, but that was all

beyond my imagination.  I can only see it as it is

now.  perhaps with a new coat of paint or something.

what someone told me about Detroit.  Although

if I drive and do not fly, I think I can avoid that

city.

Apparently in some parts of the city, it is now an

urban area with drugs and crime.

As a younger man, this would not have concerned

me particularly, but these days I am feeling

somewhat frail and know that I have the look of

a person who could be mugged.

I have lots a good bit of weight from my medical

condition, so much so that the doctor is concerned

and encouraging me to eat more.

Perhaps by the time vacation comes I will be my

old robust self, in which case this may not be an

issue, but nonetheless I am thinking about it today.

I would have all kinds of time to be writing.

It does not seem that that is the case, although I think

about writing all the time, and I write things in my mind

as I walk or hike.

The hard part seems to be finding time when it is quiet

to actually write the things down.  I guess I like being

a genius in my own mind than seeing the words in print

in the harsh light of day.

Nonetheless, here I am today, but the only thing I

am thinking at the moment is that time slips away so

often.

Maybe that is an actual subject when you think about it.

I know there are lots of books about procrastination.

That’s not really what I am talking about. I am referring

more to the fact that there seems to be so little

unstructured time in a person’s day anymore.  Time that

is really yours to do with what you please.  It is always

spoken for by someone or something (like the job).

starting to get nicer these days after quite a bunch of

evil weather previously.

The travel destination I have in mind may surprise the

reader. 

I was thinking about either Minnesota, or

Michigan, or both.

I like that northern tier part of the country, having

been there many years ago.

Minnesota has the Grand View Lodge.  It is not

exactly a fishing camp.  It is more like Lifestyles

of the Rich and Famous.  You can order meals

for all meals, or you can cook in your own cabin

if you have one.

The other option is going to a more typical family-

run Minnesota resort, and enjoying that. Mostly I

would be fishing anyway, so that should be okay.

The only liability is that sometimes (depending

where you stay) the places can be pretty buggy

(mosquitos).

Now, the reason that Michigan appeals to me, is that

I have always wanted to go to the Henry Ford Museum.

This (at least from a documentary I watched) is one

of the most outstanding museums in the country. I

guess it is something like the Smithsonian, although

it was put together by either Henry Ford (the original)

or with more Fords involved (don’t remember).

Conceivably I could do a loop that would include both

places (MN, MI).  Right now I am looking at the

mileage charts. 

I do not want to drive a great deal each day, maybe

300 and I don’t think more than 350 miles.  I am

not clear yet how many miles it might be between the

Minnesota lake country and the Henry Ford Museum.

Another thing I have always wanted to see, now that

I think about it, is the Mall of America which is either

in or right close to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I would say it was the flu, except that I have never

felt so bad, plus I had had a flu shot given my

previously-compromised immune system.

I hardly have any energy, and I have just been

dry-heaving. Not an especially pleasant picture,

but I figure not much of anyone is reading this anyway.

It is more like my personal diary.

I have had 2 cans of juice over a period of hours,

so I may or may not be dehydrated, but that is

always something I think about.

Thinking (as much as I can think) that I should

start feeling better soon. But when?

George Foreman the grill, I mean.

I bought it at the thrift store a year ago

Christmas, thinking it might be a way

to cook things with out too much fat on them.

It has actually worked out quite well,

although I have to say i do not know

exactly how much electricity it uses, nor

do I really want to find out (I think it may

be alot).

If it can be cooked, I have probably done it

with the help of George Foreman (the grill).

Take today for instance.

I had one trout. Just me eating.

Now this took some courage, as I have

never done it before, but it turned out

okay (I tell you in advance).

I sprayed the grill with some Pam (the

coating spray that comes in a spray bottle).

Then I simply put the medium-sized washed

trout on the grill. I had taken off the head.

Then I went about my business in the other

room.

About 20 minutes later I came back,

wondering what I would find inside the grill.

The trout was crisp as can be and not burnt.

I probably should have checked it earlier, but

I was not paying attention.

It was, I admit, slightly (ever so slightly)

on the dry side, but the crisp trout skin

–which I love– more than made up for it.

Of course, if I had used butter to moisten

it or anything it would have been even

more delicious, but I ate it without either

butter or salt.

This is one recipe I would certainly recommend.

When you try to pan fry trout the skin always

seems to stick to the pan, and it certainly

never comes out the way it does in a

restaurant.

This way was pretty good.

information here.

Ever since I had a bout with cancer, I have learned

to appreciate every day that is given to me.

It is my hope to make the most of each day. 

Unless you have stared down death, you probably

do not count sunrises and sunsets as something

you are grateful for, and are glad to see another of them

I do.

We could all die at any moment, and some of us have.

I don’t know that I feel like I am living on borrowed

time, but I can say I certainly do appreciate the time

that I have here.

If I start to forget my gratitude, I hope something

shakes me (in a good way) as a reminder.  I want to

be appreciative and I want to be attending to each

precious moment.