on my own

First thing tomorrow morning (and by my standards, that's technically well before tomorrow morning) I'll be on a plane to Tampa, FL to attend a wedding.  DS isn't going.  It was partially a money thing, but I think even if we'd had the money he would have stayed behind.  The climbing gym he goes to is having a competition in his honor on Saturday.  It's name after him, by which I mean Dragonslayer, which has vaulted the nickname from those few who read this and who were around when it began to almost every single person that frequents the gym.  Apparently his name was even changed in the computer system there.  The MWC (madison women climbers) mailing list even advertised for the comp, claiming the winner would get to do some adventure thing with "the dragonslayer".  I found it highly suspect, as I'm sure they didn't know who or what they were talking about at the time.  It's very bizarre to get third hand information about your husband from people who don't know either of you.

Anyhow, the point is, I'm heading to Tampa alone.  It's been a long time since I've traveled alone.  DS does it frequently for work, but even if I fly alone, it's always to see him or go home.  And while I obviously know the bride, and I'm even familiar with several others through reading her blog, I won't know anyone other than her.  So it could be a stressful four-day weekend.  But then, something tells me that things will be lovely and that I'll meet everyone and be fine.  Even with my anti-social tendencies. 

I'm taking the laptop, but who knows if you'll hear from me.  If not, I expect to update Tuesday.  In the meanwhile, you should go vote!

it begins

The last few days there have been rumors of flurries. Today, I walked through them myself just an hour ago. That's a full month earlier than last year, though admittedly the Thanksgiving snow last year actually accumulated...

It's hard to believe that in less than two months I will be living in perpetual spring.

crash and burn

so um.. computers have been dying fiery deaths here right and left. i suppose that makes it lucky i have so many. the good news is that several new parts later, the two dead pcs have been grafted into one working gaming computer. the bad news is that the imac is now gone, which is where i do all my photo and business stuff. the genius bar has helped, but i still have to transfer the 100 GB worth of data they saved back onto the thing. whenever i get up the desire to tackle that beast after the pc disaster, expect several back-posts cataloging our recent adventures.

other than that, all is well, and i'm looking forward to being in tampa halloween weekend for kimberlina's wedding (by which i mean after party).

Governor Dodge and Peck's

Every fall, DS and I go on a hike through Governor Dodge State Park. We start with the fire tree, and then pick a trail. This year, it was a short one to a waterfall, because we'd just come from Taliesin.

While we were out that way, we stopped at Peck's to get our pumpkins and gourds, along with essentials like fresh apple cider and beef sticks.

Taliesin

My birthday present this was from DS was the four hour estate tour of Taliesin. Having studied it extensively in college, living so close without going for the past three years has been difficult. As the move approached, it didn't even occur to me that I was losing my opportunity to easily go. Luckily, my husband is amazing, and thought of this all on his own. Be prepared for LOTS of photos. But no interior photos, as those are strictly forbidden.

A Walk in the Arboretum

One of the last warm days of the year, my friends Luke and Becky invited me out for a long walk in the arboretum.