Looking ahead

I am contractually obligated to write an blog entry today, but I'll warn you right now: There really isn't much interesting to report or any eye-opening insights. Hey, it's life--the exciting parts and the dull parts. This is one of the dull ones.

Most unusual event of the weekend was Saturday, when I went to a local ballpark to get a team picture--and ended up being the base umpire for a kids' game when someone else didn't show up. Well, I know my baseball rules pretty well, so that went OK. After that, off to a local "trout pond," sponsored by one the veterans groups in town for the kids to fish for trout with pieces of corn as bait. The trout didn't seem that interested and congregated in the middle of the pool, toward the bottom. They know what's good for them, I guess. I got a little sunburned from the ballgame and at the trout pond, but just around my neck.

From there, I picked up my wife from work and we all drove down to visit my mom. We went out to dinner, and I showed her some pictures from our trip last week.

The shopping was minimal. In fact, I did most of it, for my camping trip late this week. I bought things like a plate and bowl, a compass, some anti-itch stuff, a battery-powered lantern and a few other things. I thought I got a big fabric bag to store stuff like dirty clothes, but I must have left it behind. Well, I'll get another chance to get one on my way south in a few days.

Sunday, I did a little work around the office and then back home. I had a chance to take a nap and then watch some Buster Keaton movies on TV. Those are always fun.
Looking ahead: Monday is supposed to be hot, and I've got to cover a baseball game late in the day. Temperatures about 90F with a wind from the southwest. Should be interesting. It's the Little League local championship game. Hey, it's big stuff in a small town.

Tuesday, I've got a meeting in the afternoon. Wednesday, I'll be finishing up stuff at the office, and on Thursday I hit the road. It's about a six hour drive, down to southwestern Wisconsin.

I've been thinking a lot about what's going to happen down there. The people I met last weekend were very nice. But instead of about five others, this time there will be 30 to 40. And we'll be in our tents over several days. Most, I guess, will be about my age and a little younger--I don't really expect to see more than a couple young adults there. If there are, there will be young kids, too. That's fine.
Other things are on my mind, and I've got a couple days to ponder them. Namely:

---Food. As I wrote before, I'm not taking cooking gear there, so I'll just have to see. Most likely the folks there will be willing to share, especially if I make supply runs for them into town and buy stuff for them. I expect the folks will be generous--but I'm not relying on it. So the real Plan A is to make a trip into town each day for a warm meal and to replenish my supply of water and ice (I'm taking a small cooler along).

---Heat. Right now, it likely will be warm there, but not quite hot. It's up on a hill, so we'll be catching breezes, and the camping area is mostly shaded, so we won't get blasted by sunlight during the day. But you never know. There is no water up there, so we have to pack it in--no place to take a dip, skinny or otherwise, unless we go to a river nearby and find a suitable place.

---Outdoor life. I think I'm prepared, with the stuff I've bought over the last few weeks. It'll just be different. I think I'm better equipped than the last time I went camping. We'll see. Just sleeping in a tent, with the sounds of nature all around. One of my favorite ways to drop off to sleep is to put on a CD with nature sounds in the bedroom and drift off to that. This will be different. Plus, there could be wind and rain. Hmmm. Could be interesting.

---Internet. Much as I hate to admit it, I'm hooked on being online, and I'll want to find some way to keep tabs on civilization. Maybe every other day, I'll try to find a library nearby that is connected with the outside world.

---Home. I've got a cell phone, so I hope I can get a good enough signal so I can call my wife. Otherwise, I'll have to call from town. It's important for both of us to keep tabs on each other and hear each other's voice. The bigger issue is getting along for four days without seeing her. It's a fact that when I'm gone for a few days, I get lonely for home, and I know it will happen again. Yes, the people I'll be with will be friendly and share my feelings about nudity and sexuality--it's just part of life. They will be good with me, I know. But still ... I know I'll be eager to get back home, and I'm wondering whether I'll wind up leaving for home earlier than I plan, simply to get back with them.

All these emotions. We'll see what happens. I know I'll be happy when I get there. But I also know I'll be even happier when I get back home. That's a given. I'm planning to get back home about mid-afternoon on the 4th. Plenty of time to take everyone up to the airport at dusk to watch the Fourth of July fireworks from ground zero.