Archive for ‘October, 2007’

Another Whitefish Day

Yesterday –  Chiropractor, dog walk, eye appointment, lunch with friend, dog walk, Costco, Grocery, home – a LONG day “out” for this home body!  BUT… weather!!! rain, clouds, blue sky, sun – everything and clean, crisp, fresh air!  I took a LOT of photos but was hampered considerably by the eye appt which included dilation of both eyes.  I was reduced to absolute trust of my camera.  (my eye contines to be fine…one more check…)

The day started as a rainy, socked in day.  Mid-morning, the clouds lifted enough to show some blue patches and snow levels plenty low for early October!  If things keep up the 2 local ski resorts should be extremely happy!  As I moved from here to there and back there were areas of squalls – looked like snow vs rain ???  Judge for yourself below:

Whitefish Train Station – Amtrak – it seems SO old-fashioned – especially inside – something from another era.  I took Amtrak to Seattle several times in ’97-98 when I was working with a consulting company there.  The train leaves Whitefish early evening – and arrives Seattle 7 a.m.ish.  I always got a sleeper – took minis of scotch, my Walkman (the iPod of the 90’s!) and enjoyed the comfy-coziness of the tight quarters.  There was a 1-2 a.m. stop in Spokane, WA where I usually woke for a bit.  I’d then wake early enough before Seattle to shower and change before arrival.   It was a unique experience!  …. first photo below is the train station, ski area in the background is Big Mountain.

Train Station

Big Mtn

More Whitefish – Big Mtn and Whitefish Main St.

Train 

Main Street

Living

About a year ago – after getting settled in this house, I made time for a physical.  I’d lived in this area for nearly 13 years at the time and have seen the same G.P. – and even though all doctors are busy, I have been fortunate enough to see a man who makes time to listen to me and also share what’s going on with his family.  So after relating my 7 month motorhome adventure – his comment was “You are one of the few people who has actually done something they really wanted to do”.  Thankfully,  I know another who has, but the point of today’s post is that I often get that kind of reaction to the travelling, my work, my life in general.  And it is often said with some wistfulness or with the tag line “I wish I could do something like that”.

I’d like to say “Hey, wake up and smell the coffee – because you can!”.  I’d like to say “live your life with some passion, spend some time and figure out what you’d really like to do and go and do it!”  I have no special powers, no pot of money – I do have a good imagination, though!  And the truth is, it is the visualization of the “dream” that gets me there and I believe it is the way that those who accomplish goals and realize dreams “make” things happen.  We see in our mind’s eye how we want our life to be.  Visualizing what we want keeps focus, helps weed out the stuff that is not part of the picture and crazy as it might sound – “moves the molecules” so that the vision becomes reality. 

We each have some number of years in this earthly experience.  If you have any faith or spirituality or even a general belief that this is not all there is – do ya really think we were made to play it safe???

It is not an original line(s) and I can’t say it’s totally true but really, can you imagine on your deathbed saying…

“I wish I’d worked more”

“I wish I’d spent less money”

“I wish I’d travelled less”

“I wish I hadn’t loved…”

I bet not !

Boys in the ‘hood

Boys 1Karl and Bob… I often describe their “relationship” as similar to brothers.  They tolerate each other, occasionally play which usually degenerates into someone being a bit too rough with the other so ending up in a skirmish with Bob usually drawing blood… Karl will certainly defend himself but he never seems to get that Bob is getting serious and Bob does not hesitate to use his claws when he’s had enough.  One of the funniest things that happens is Bob will be sitting quietly outside intent on watching something and Karl will decide to start the play and run full steam towards Bob and just roll him over.  Bob comes up fighting – Karl walks away with a pleased look and I swear he’s laughing!  Bob pouts for a bit and no one can do a mad pout like Bob – purses his lips and looks extremly put upon.

The walks – funny also.  Bob decides to come along every once in awhile.  The first we know that he is along is a pitiful meow as we are further ahead of him than he likes – I tell him to hurry up and he does although he tends to always stay back a bit.  He doesn’t follow the entire walk – he’ll come part way not too far off the exact property line – then he’ll be waiting at the point we return to the property.  He’s usually pretty cautious about Karl … Karl loves if other people or dogs walk with us but I think he believes that cats should not be part of the walk… On the rare occasion, though, they are “nice” to each other and even seem to act like family…

Boys 2

Boys3

Boys3