Frontenac State Park

This summer we are engaging in L and L's excellent adventure.

Dungeon Master's work is doing a wellness challenge.  If you visit a certain number of state parks, you are entered in a drawing for lots of goodies at the end of the summer.  So she's doing the thing with state parks and I get to come along for the fun.

We picked Frontenac to start because it's one that does not require overnight planning.  I'd been here once before (with my favorite nun in tow, that's a story all it's own) but I didn't remember much.  Dungeon Master talked to the rangers and identified a route for us.  All in all we walked about three miles, up and down hills, through prairies and forests, and saw all kinds of overlooks.  I identified half the plants in the park (not) and re-learned that blood root is bad for you.  (I learned this via google.) 

After the park we headed in to Red Wing to see the big boot and grab some food.  The boot was fun, as always.  The food was meh but the server was super sweet, so it was ultimately a nice time. We also went up to Memorial Park (the big look out) in Red Wing.

In a surprise move, when I got home, I went out and got all of the plants.  I went big on perennials this year, with only one small flat of begonias.  I also went big on herbs, and re-potted my shishito peppers.

Cincinnati Day 13 - May 17: Reality starts to sink in

Morning: well, it rained all night and it was raining in the morning too. I woke up and had coffee and did crosswords with Dad. Around 10:30, I headed over to Skyline.  One last feast?   After 'brunch' I finished reading the book I'd gotten Dad and I for Father's Day, so I could leave it here for him.  And then, yo, I napped hard.

Afternoon: We took a family trip to the compost bin.  Which I remain super happy for because it means Mom will walk every day or almost every day.  To compost her food waste.

Run: I had a 4 mile run today. It was stupid humid, but at least I didn't get rained on.

The big event: I taught a dear friend who thinks she's anti-technology (but is really a late adopter) how to turn on her iPad.  Then I discovered the whole damn world was wrong when they told her how easy it'd be.  Because yo, she doesn't have an email address or an Apple ID. It takes a minute and technical knowledge to set that shit up.  But, yo, we got it done.  And as a thank you, she showed me where some of the very very few living cicadas are that have emerged already.  I took pictures.

Evening: I did laundry and pretended I don't have to go somewhere else tomorrow.  I've been here almost long enough to think I belong here.  That was the longest vacation I've had probably since moving to Minnesota. (Not including the moments of not working and looking for work.) It was kind of amazing.  Anyone else who gets the chance to take two weeks off, I highly recommend you do it.

Cincinnati Day 12 - May 16

This may have accidentally been my most favorite day of the trip so far.

Morning: Ok, this wasn't my favorite part because I woke up with a RAGING headache.  (Thanks hormones.)  I had coffee, ibuprofen, and a second sleep. During Second Sleep, I dreamed of teaching college level social work classes and doing assessments.  (Why can people say and do the same things but present a different clinical picture?)

Late morning: Dad was ready to install what I am calling "Mom's compost bin".  Other people are also going to compost, but this has been Mom's dream since 2008 when they moved here. We dug a trench, put the bin in place, but some "brown" in it, and I sweated up a storm.  When that was all said and done...

Running: I went for a 'long' run.  I meant to do a 10K for 'garmin challenge" reasons.  I stopped at 4.9 miles.  But for the first time in a few days, I did not poop my pants while running so I'm calling it a win.  (My life is what it is.)

Afternoon: We went down to see many many of my favorite people in Kentucky.  It was just the perfect afternoon of hanging out with Mom and Dad, cousins, kids, and Aunt Bonus Mom.  (That should be her blog name right?)  We had grilled meats and fishes for supper.  Mom tried Salmon skin for the first time.  It's not an acquired taste as much as an acquired psychology to try it in the first place I think.  We played many card games including Euchre.  There was also Harry Potter trivia.   I am the MASTER at Harry Potter trivia. 

Evening: Dad and I hung out on the couch and did crosswords and sometimes talked about life.  Mom got frustrated at something and was all "I'm just going to do this myself, this is ridiculous" which was hilarious.  (She volunteers with a national organization that apparently doesn't understand what the NASW wants before they grant social work CEUs.) 

I have one day left.  This trip was planned to involve more remote work and much less playing.  Work politics dictated I take off all but one day instead.  And yo, I can say for real now, two weeks off is more than twice as good as one week off.

Cincinnati Day 11 - May 15

Morning: I thought about getting up to run.  I literally told myself "learn from yesterday".  Spoiler alert: I did not.  Instead I had an egg at 9am and then went to hike with Mom, and a couple other people.  We hiked out at Rowe Woods (Cincinnati Nature Center) where I lived a couple summers in college working for a lady commonly known as "the bat lady" but also "Belwood". (Neither of those things are google worthy, right?)  So in addition to walking around and visiting the place, we saw my old accommodations.  That green cottage was way more rustic when I lived there for sure.

Lunch: I totally had Graters with the hiking crew. I had two scoops.  That was probably my mistake because...

Afternoon: I went out for a run and felt great.  I genuinely thought I could go forever until I had to poop.  I also genuinely thought I was going to make it back to my house.  I did not.  (This is why we don't take two Imodium. Ever.) So, as soon as I got home, I um, repaired that damage and moved on with life.  I hung out with Mom a while and she gardened.

Evening: We had supper on Mom and Dad patio.  Obviously I was in my bliss.  And yes, I am jealous of their shade.  I've tried to show them my umbrella fort but they just do not understand.

Cincinnati Day 10 - May 14

Morning: I had breakfast with a different old KY friend.  We visited and talked and it's like we just saw each other yesterday except I can't remember what grade her kids are in.  Also, how are they freaking driving now?!?!

Afternoon: My stomach was having issues.  I took Imodium.  I tried to run.  I did get my mile but it was not a super successful run otherwise.  Let's just say there were not one but two stops in the woods.  For the first time ever I called for a ride home.  No one answered so I sat around and caught my breath and then made it home very gingerly.  Surprised to say this was not actually the day I pooped my pants.  There was a second Imodium though, which is rare.

Evening: We had supper with my cousin, and his wife and kid.  Want to know the only thing that could persuade Mom to go near a restaurant in COVID?  My cousin's 3 year old kid.  For sure.  We colored.  We looked at flowers.  We ate hamburgers.  We had fried pickles.  It was a day.

Cincinnati Day 9 - May 13

Running: Again, pretty early in the morning I hit up the run. I didn't go quite as far today, but still had a good time.

Lunch: Was with my dad's only big sister, the auntie I sometimes refer to as my bonus mother.  We had a nice visit but couldn't convince Aunt to come along with us to the farm.

Afternoon: Went to see the farm and the family there.  We took a nice long walk and had a lovely visit.  I feel very lucky for the weather I'm having on this trip.  Other than mother's day (when it rained to beat the band) it's been super dry and a little cool.  The only down side is it's not warm enough to call the cicadas forth yet. So I'll miss them.

Evening: I cooked a 'stir fry' to use up some of the rice cakes we have.  I did not use them all. Sigh. Then I dealt with my stomach being in attack mode pretty much the rest of the evening, so that was awesome.

Cincinnati Day 8 - May 12

Running: Hitting my stride with this running thing.  I found a "downhill" route that involves me running the downs and walking the ups, but I can get it up to four miles pretty easily.

Family: Dad and I headed north to Dayton.  You know the "we have aunts" commercial?  (Aunts pronounced ants like the insect.) I saw 3 aunts, two uncles, a cousin and her spouse, and two tiny cousins.  So it was like the best day ever.  Also, Tiny Cousins can make Dad actually smile.  Dad can't normally smile because that's just something Parkinson eventually takes away, but he can still do big heartfelt smiles that only a baby can make you feel.

Evening: Saw a couple of the Kentucky troupe again.  One had soccer practice.  So I sat with the grown up and purchased plane tickets and talked logistics for vacation.  Because, yo, vacation! And then I had Skyline at like 8pm and it was lovely.

Cincinnati Day 7 - May 11

Running: Happened first thing.  Because, yo, I had a big day today. 

Morning: was spent with an old friend drinking coffee, eating breakfast, walking, and playing with dogs and cats.  Spoiler alert: all of her animals that were awake loved me, even the super shy cat.  Because I am the best.  She took me over the purple people bridge just days before it started falling apart.  It's been determined that if I ever get a dog it should be a doberman.  (I want a short haired mildly big dog that looks like it'll eat your face off but is actually super sweet and just lays around.  Also, I don't really want a dog.  This is just in my imagination.) 

Lunch: I ate defensively because I knew what was about to happen next.

Costco with Mom: We hit up Costco big time.  I got a new pillow for my Cincinnati bed because I was unhappy with my current options, and two surf shirts.  Because, yo, I am going on vacation!  Mom came away with like $350 worth of goods including nuts, laundry soap, regular soap, mouth wash for the year, and I don't really know what else.  I did not buy pots and pans here.  (Mom and Dad's current big non stick skilled it warped as hell and does not sit flat on the glass top stove.)  It's pretty liberating to shop at Costco when you can only buy things that'll fit in a carry on suit case.

Soccer: Some of my favorite people in Kentucky headed impressively far north for a make up soccer game for the little guy.  I'd seen the big one play in September when I was in town.  Super fun to see the other guy play, hang out with the family, and, yo, plan for vacation!

Cincinnati Day 6 - May 10

Well. I worked all day.

This was planned and on purpose, and I enjoy this part of my job.  It was also the one single day I'd agreed to work remotely for sure for the whole trip.  (And the only 'work' day that I kept.)

I was wiped out and exhausted most of the day. I just felt like I never really woke up. Certainly not the first day in the pandemic I felt like I was sleep walking through life.

At the end of the day, I went out and ran for a while to find my sanity. I'm not sure it worked.  During my run I saw a helicopter flying over head.  After the year we've had up in the Cities, I'm not a fan.  Though they fly over Mom and Dad's house for very different reasons than in the Cities.  They are in one of the flight paths to the small airport where a lot of helicopters and small crafts are serviced. 

Cincinnati Day 5 - May 9

Running: Was first thing because of the weather. Afterwards, Mom and I jazzercised in the basement via zoom.  Part of Mom's day is me dancing with her.  It was fun.  The instructor has an internal monologue that just comes on the outside and it was hilarious.

Brunch: I made crepes which are always a request of Mom's.  We tried something new with the berries and all agreed it was better this way.  Frozen berries, heated up and somewhat cooked down.  No sugar or thickener, just cooked down a bit.  It makes them super sweet.

Afternoon: Yo, it rained all day so I napped and read the news and watched sports with Dad.  Mom broke google sheets while she was trying to do minutes for an organization she serves.  So she was out of commission.

Supper: Homemade Tom Ka Gai.  This was more of a "trust me, you'll like this" meal.  They did like it. 

Afterwards: So, Dad thought there was to be a Factime call.  Turns out that text was on a thread last used April 11 and that's when the call was.  Dad obviously forgot that'd happened.  So when everyone asks how Dad's doing with his things, about like that.  But I did help him start the Facetime call that he thought was coming, so there was an impromptu siblings call that was utter chaos.  Then we had a much more chill call with my Pooky Bear and the Qat Lady. 

Cincinnati Day 4 - May 8

Run: I'm surprised to tell you I woke up and ran, and I went 4 miles.  It was a fun run actually.  I focused on running the downs and walking the ups, and this route had plenty of both.  Bonus, it was open and legal for me to be there the whole time as well!

Afternoon: I hung out with an old friend from high school and her family including twin preschoolers and a 2nd grader.  I learned about Minecraft and other video games.  I hope Grandma likes her Nintendo so she can play animal crossing.  We walked around Sharon Woods.  I've already told Mom and Dad this is where they're having their 50th wedding anniversary party next year.  I've also told them I'm already getting pressure not to screw this one up from Dungeon Master of all places.

Evening: We hung out on a neighbor's patio and had supper.  Everyone else there is in my parents generation.  But we're all technically adults too, so that can be weird.

Cincinnati Day 3 - May 7

Morning: Today was Jungle Jim's day.  And if you don't know Jungle Jim's, I can't quite describe it.  If you've seen the YouTube videos it's both more and less of what you think it is. This time I went with an agenda which I highly recommend. Friday night supper was to be Mushroom soup and Sunday night was Tom Ka Gai so I got loads and loads of fresh ingredients. 

When we got home I put in the ingredients for chicken broth in the crock pot and made the veggie salad. Everything else went in the fridge.

Lunch: Is it possible this is the first time I had goetta this trip?   That doesn't seem right.

Nap: Afternoon naps have definitely been a thing this trip.

Run: I decided to head the other way on Wasson Way (towards Kroger vs Ault Park).  This part of the trail is not yet paved.  Today I learned this part of the trail is actually closed. I told mom she'd played a nice trick on me, like the time she sent me down Grandin Rd and told me it was flat. 

Supper: Mushroom soup is awesome.  As always.

Cincinnati Day 2 - May 6

Chaos Morning: Well, obviously I slept in pretty hard on this day. Mom and I took a walk in Ault Park in the morning.  Spring flowers including irises and columbine are out.  Hastas always look good.

Later: Mom and Dad have been dealing with a smell issue in Mom's office. A nice man named TJ who works for their property management people came over and diagnosed the smell as a dead animal, not water incursion or mold (that's it's own post).  Once reasoning was explained, I understood and agreed.

Run: While TJ was exploring my parents attic, I spent some time briefly exploring the newer parts of the Wasson Way trail that are near Mom and Dad's house.  The part that connects to the park hasn't been paved yet.  More on that later. 

Afternoon: Mom needed to work so I took a hard nap. 

Supper: I'd requested Bangkok Bistro.  One of my favorites. Though this time, I was trying to dissect the ingredients in the dish I like. 

Cincinnati Day 1 - May 5

 Run: I woke up and ran to the sun coming up in Mpls.

Travel: Captain Smiley took me to the airport.  Where no one has heard of social distancing.  I had the golden arches for breakfast and a fairly easy flight to Cincy.  It was not 100% full but almost. 

Skyline: Obviously I made a beeline for Skyline when we got home.  We had drive through and took it home to game plan for the week.

Plant Nursery: In what I hope is the first of many trips, Mom and I hit up the plant nursery of her choice.  It's supposed to rain on Mother's Day so we were preemptively shopping.  Mom's garden this year will be pink and white.  Her plants of choice include begonias, geraniums, and columbine. 

Supper: We had a bonus shopping trip to Kroger because we needed mushrooms for Dad to make supper.  Kroger has changed a lot.  They remodeled the whole store.  The footprint for the alcohol section is massively bigger (and it was not small before).  Dad cooked chicken piccata. We couldn't find exactly the right mushrooms, but it was good for what it was.

Gardens!

Plant update
Lavender: Dead.  This is not a perennial in Minnesota.
Potted strawberries and mint: Also dead.  I am disappointed as I was told this shit would come back.
Hydrangea: Coming along.  She got lots of water today.
Bee balm: Flourishing.  If I ever don't know what to plant, I'll just get more of that.
Catalpa 1: Doing fine because her gator bag works correctly.
Catalpa 2 (southie): Also starting to grow leaves.  I found the hole in the bag though.  
Follow up with Southie: Mpls Park Board Forestry Service is lovely to talk with on the telephone, and they are sending someone out with a new bag eventually.