musings and mishaps of an unconditional lover

Temagami 2011: Fishing Trip with Dad, Day 6: Thursday

2011-07-22T10:44:00.001-04:00

Temagami 2011: Day 6, Thursday, July 21

Today is the day that Stacy arrives for our canoe trip on Saturday!

We set the alarm for 6 AM, but decided to skip the morning fishing because of a severe storm around 3:30 in the morning. We didn’t feel like dealing with a wet boat, so we went back to sleep for a couple more hours.

After breakfast we went to the municipal building to get a map of the local provincial park - Finlayson Park – where Stacy and I will stay when we leave the lake next Sunday. I marked all the available sites for that night and dad and I went to take a look at them. There is a path from the dock at Temagami Shores over to the campground. We walked around the whole campground, probably about two miles. It was a nice walk, and dad and I definitely got our exercise in for the day. I finally settled on two campsites that I liked and settled on one after going back to the campground in the car to look at them both again.

After our walk we went for a swim in the lake. Today was hot, hot, hot – definitely the hottest day of the week. I fished for a little off the dock and caught two small bass. We went back to the cottage to wait for Stacy’s arrival. I had a headache and felt sick, mostly because of the heat and because I went too long between meals.

Stacy got here around 5pm and we had fish, fried potatoes, and fresh sweet corn for dinner. Stacy was pretty tired, but he came out on the boat with us. Unfortunately, it was incredibly windy and hard to troll out by the island. I caught a small bass and a walleye was the 19 ½ inches (in the slot), so we went home without any fish.

During the evening fishing Stacy fussed around with the old 8-track player that is in the boat, and we listened to some of Grandma and Papa’s old 8 track tapes. It was a blast! We couldn’t beleve the player still worked, and the speakers sounded pretty good for a boat that is from 1968.

Fish Count (Keepers): 0 (Boo!!!!)

Where: Island 4

Bait: worm harness

Fish Count (Throw Backs):

1 – Walleye (Gina)

where: Island 4

bait: worm harness

size: 19 ½ - “slotters”

Fish Count (Total):

6 – Walleye

3 – Bass

12 – Walleye (throw back)

2 little ones

10 in the slot

Temagami 2011: Fishing Trip with Dad, Day 5: Wednesday

2011-07-21T09:55:00.002-04:00

Temagami 2011: Day 5, Wednesday, July 20

Wow! What a great fishing day! Dad and I just got in from our evening fishing out by Island 4 and it was fantastic! Well, it depends on how you feel about the Ontario fishing regulations. I’ve explained this in previous posts of previous years, but you can’t keep a walleye that is between 18 and 24 inches. They are considered to be breeders and so you have to let them go so they can make babies. You can keep only one over 24 inches and generally, a “keeper” walleye is 16 inches and over. Sometimes you can keep one that is more than 15, but only if it’s fat.

Tonight we caught six in the slot! We had a blast. We just kept catching them as we were going through the 20-25 foot trough. First dad caught one, then I caught one, and then from there on I don’t remember the order. (We took pictures of each one, so I will upload those when I have faster internet connection.) We only caught one that we could keep – a 16-inch that I thought was something tiny as he barely put up a fight. Grandma, if you’re reading this, you probably think it’s a shame we couldn’t keep those fish! (My grandma used to get so mad about the slot regulations – which were put into affect almost 10 years ago now.)

During the day we mostly just hung around. After breakfast (French toast and peameal bacon), we went to Caribou and still fished off the rocks. It was extremely windy on the lake and I tried leeches as bait instead of minnows. I caught two small bass, but for the most part there was no action. One of the bass I caught swallowed the hook – there was no way he was going to survive. So dad just undid the hook and threw him back with the hook still in him. Apparently, the hook will rust and he’ll be able to live, as opposed to him dying if we would try and use the pliers to get the hook out. I know it’s weird to think of a fish swimming around with a hook in its throat, but he’ll still be able to eat and live just fine. I felt good about that since I always hate when the fish swallow the hook and they end up dying in the attempt to get the hook out.

After Caribou we went for a swim in the lake, which was very choppy due to the wind. But the weather was warm and so it was refreshing to cool of in the lake. I think when Stacy comes up I’m going to swim with him to the island across the bay.

Dinner was a bit of a mystery, considering the grocery store still didn’t have chicken when we went back to check. So we bought some pork chops and dad cooked those with noodles and salad. It ended up being a very tasty dinner.

It’s hard to believe that we’re already halfway through our stay here. It always goes too fast. Luckily for me, I’m staying another eight days with Stacy canoeing in the backcountry, but it’s not the same as fishing and being with my dad. If only we could afford a cottage up here…

Fish Count (Keepers):
Where: Island 4
Bait: worm harness

1 – Walleye (Gina)
size: 16 inches

Fish Count (Throw Backs):

4 – Walleye (Gina)
where: Island 4
bait: worm harness
size: 19, 20 ½, 21 ½, 22 ½ inches – all “slotters”

2 – Walleye (Dad)
where: Island 4
bait: worm harness
size: 20 ½, 21 ½ inches – all “slotters”

Fish Count (Total):
6 – Walleye
3 – Bass
11 – Walleye (throw back)
2 little ones
9 in the slot

Temagami 2011: Fishing Trip with Dad, Day 4: Tuesday

2011-07-20T10:12:00.004-04:00

Temagami 2011: Day 4, Tuesday, July 19

We set an alarm for 5:30 to go fishing in Spawning Bay. We were in the boat by 6:15, but had to turn around shortly after our departure for my glasses. The boat ride to Spawning Bay took about 40 minutes. The lake was smooth and foggy. It still mindboggling how such a big lake can ever be completely calm, but at 6 in the morning, it is. We didn’t see any boats until we got to the Hub (main part of Temagami), and then there were only two. Spawning Bay was beautiful – very peaceful, with only two cottages (which dad doesn’t remember them being there “back in the day”) and three nice looking campsites. At least two of them were nice looking – one I couldn’t figure out whether it actually was supposed to be a campsite it was so grown over.

We fished in the bay for a couple hours, mostly catching small bass. I guess that makes sense since this is where they come to spawn in the spring, but dad and I thought there would be a few big ones hanging around. We had a great time anyway, and towards the end of it we started catching more bass (getting bigger, but still not big enough to keep) in one particular rocky spot.

After fishing and not knowing what time it was we headed over to Bear Island (the local Indian Reservation) for some lunch at the chip stand. Unfortunately the chip stand wasn’t open this summer because the owner couldn’t find anyone to work it. The guy there that was running his gift shop was really friendly, and despite not ever wearing a watch, he went into the back room to check the time for us. “10 minutes to 11.” A little bit early for lunch, but dad and I had breakfast at 5:45, so we were hungry. We headed down towards the Hub to Loon Lodge, a little island that has a “snack bar”. Dad and I ate the deliciously healthy breaded chicken sandwich and poutine fries. If you don’t know, poutine fries are smothered in gravy and topped with cheese. I forgot about the cheese part, which I don’t care for, but I asked for the gravy on the side and it was excellent. (Not as good, of course, and Stever’s chips and demi-glose from the High Street Pub.)

We wanted to head up the North Arm of the lake because dad had never been up there. I had been to Ferguson Bay, Whitefish Bay, and Sharp Rock Inlet on the canoe trip with Stacy in 2007. I really liked it up there – particularly Sharp Rock Inlet, which was full of tiny islands and big rocks. However, we didn’t go up there because there was a huge rain cloud to the north, and we weren’t sure which direction the storm was moving. (It turns out we could have gone and been just fine – but that’s all hindsight.)

After lunch we headed back up the Northeast Arm (where the town of Temagami is located). We decided to detour to the mouth of the South Tetapega River (we had gone up the inlet of the North Tetapega a few years ago in the rented aluminum boat), but we never quite made it that far in because the lily pads beat up the little motor, which is about 10 horsepower and the one we use for trolling. I ended up having to paddle us out to deep enough water that dad could start up the big motor (90 hp). Back in the Northeast Arm we went over to the Beaver Dam to try and catch some minnows and fish. The minnows proved to be much smarter than we gave them credit for. Our bread was appetizing to the little minnows, but the bigger ones would have none of it. We didn’t catch very many in the end. We put a minnow on a hook and stuck it in the water by the boat and there were lots of little bass going after it. The one that snagged it was a rock bass, and as I was bringing him in the minnow got free and survived. Just as dad and I were taking note of the fortune of the minnow a small bass came up and ate him! So it’s true that fish waste no time in going after injured minnows. If that’s the case, I wonder why we don’t catch more bass at Caribou.

We got back to our cottage a little after 1 and went for a swim. While in the lake I wrestled with untangling the lily pads that were wrapped tightly around the little motor’s propeller. Again, in hindsight, it might have worked just to put the motor in reverse, but I was able to clear the propeller after a few minutes of tearing away at the lily pads.

Exhausted for our morning, we headed into town to get chicken at the grocery store. Ha. Try again. No chicken to be found (there were a few frozen pieces on Saturday when we went). There was a plethora of strip steaks and rib-eye steaks, but we decided just to have hamburgers and salad for dinner. There were also no eggs – they do carry them, but they were out. Dad and I commented on how this grocery store is operating on a lose-lose situation: If they don’t keep a solid stock of food then people won’t be able to rely on them (like we did for meats and eggs), and if people can’t rely on them, they’ll buy their groceries in North Bay or New Liskard and then the grocery store won’t have enough costumers to carry an ample stock. There really is no easy solution to this dilemma. When dad and I stopped in North Bay, I didn’t let him by meat or eggs because I told him we should support the grocery store in Temagami and buy it there. But it’s not always available in Temagami. It’s hard to say what we’ll do next year – will we buy more groceries in North Bay or try again with the Temagami store?

After dinner dad and I both fell asleep for about an hour. We woke up around 6:30 and hurriedly got ready to head out on the boat. Back to Island 4 to evening fishing! It was a beautiful night – the lake was calm and the sun was warm (a little too warm, maybe). We had quite a few bites, especially with bass at first. Dad ended up catching two walleyes about 16 and 17 ¾. They were perfect keeper size. Later on I caught a “slotter” – a 20-inch walleye. We took a picture and then bid him farewell. It felt good to catch him because for most of the night I was only catching bottom. We caught the fish in a different location – off a shoal of Island 4.

The mosquitoes ate us alive coming back in, since we quit a bit later than we usually do. Right now I’m scratching the 2 millions bites that are on my thighs.

Fish Count (Keepers):
Where: Island 4
Bait: worm harness

2 – Walleye (Dad)
size: around 16 inches and 17 ¾ inches

Fish Count (Throw Backs):

1 – Walleye (Gina)
where: Island 4
bait: worm harness
size: 20 inches – “slotter”

Fish Count (Total):
5 – Walleye
3 – Bass
5 – Walleye (throw back)

Temagami 2011: Fishing Trip with Dad, Day 3: Monday

2011-07-19T23:36:00.004-04:00

Temagami 2011: Day 3, Monday July 18

The day started out with a delicious breakfast of eggs, bacon (nitrate free for me), fried potatoes, and toast. Yum. After breakfast we headed into town to run some errands and then went over to Caribou to still fish from the rocks. It was warm and the lake was just a tad too calm. We didn’t have much action – after about an hour or so we had a small bass and a couple of bites that we missed.

We took another boat ride, this time down to the Marina to get gas for the boat ($1.65 liter or $6.27 a gallon!). It’s incredible how expensive gas is up here… well over $5 anywhere in Canada. Dad said they were just selfish at the Marina because in town it’s $1.38/liter. They know that they are the only gas service for the boats on this end of the lake.

Dinner was hamburgers and mushroom gravy with noodles – another childhood favorite. I never have it except when dad makes it for me in Temagami.

Went out to Island 4 for our evening fishing. We’ve been fishing in a 20-25 foot deep trough out from the island and seem to be catching them there. Tonight we caught two bass and two walleye, but only kept one of the walleyes because the other was only 15 inches – not very big. Dad would have kept him, but I thought he needed to grow bigger.

Sorry this entry is so short – I’m a little behind on these and I can’t really remember what all we did on Monday. It was a relaxing day. The weather has been great up here. Even though it’s been hot, it doesn’t feel it because of the lake and the natural breeze.

Fish Count (Keepers):

Where: Island 4

Bait: worm harness

1 – Walleye (Dad)

size: around 16 inches

2 – Bass (Gina & Dad)

size: ? (keepers but not huge)

Fish Count (Throw Backs):

1 – Walleye (Gina)

where: Island 4

bait: worm harness

size: 15 inches – too small.

Fish Count (Total):

3 – Walleye

3 – Bass

4 – Walleye (throw back)

Temagami 2011: Fishing Trip with Dad, Day 2: Sunday

2011-07-18T22:21:00.004-04:00

Temagami 2011: Day 2, Sunday, July 17

Woke up to realize we forgot to buy eggs at the grocery store yesterday. Not a problem for any other town, but in this small town, the tiny, almost non-existent grocery store is closed on Sundays. So just cereal and toast for breakfast.

Watched a bit of the final day of the British Open then headed over to Gramps to buy minnows (and eggs). I also browsed a book in the general store called, “Bear Attacks in Canada,” which I shouldn’t have done. I’m already freaked out about the possibility of being eaten by a black bear while Stacy and I are on our canoe trip, I don’t need to read several accounts of actual attacks by black bears. Although the book did have good advice about what to do if a bear does attack, depending on the situation. I don’t really remember much of it, and I’m too scared to go back and look at the book. I was on edge for a good couple of hours after reading some of it.

It was hot, hot, hot on today! Dad and I went swimming in the lake (we also did this yesterday) and the temperature was perfect. The water was warm enough that it didn’t even sting when we dove in. We also took the boat out for a spin. We went over to the beaver damn and threw the line in there. We got a few bites, but didn’t catch anything. I drove the boat around the lake a bit, but it was really windy and there were lots of waves breaking on the water. (Stacy – I thought of us trying to paddle down this lake and how impossible it would be. I’m beginning to wonder if Lady Evelyn will be the same way…)

After our swim and boat ride we watched the second half of the Women’s World Cup, and dad made fish and potatoes for dinner. It was a great game, and I can’t believe we lost in the penalty kicks! What an intense way to decide a match though. (For those of you that don’t know, I use to be a goalie and always enjoyed the rush of penalty shoot-outs.)

Let’s see… it rained/thunder off and on the whole day, and just as we got to Island 4 a storm started to roll down the lake. We weren’t too concerned until I saw lighting, and then I made dad take us back in. We fished for a little off some islands right across from Temagami Shores, but it started to rain so we called it quits. It was a smart move as it stormed the rest of the night. It was cool to watch the lightening storm from inside the cottage.

Fish Count: 0

Temagami 2011: Fishing Trip with Dad, Day 1: Saturday

2011-07-17T11:03:00.002-04:00

Temagami 2011: Day 1, Saturday, July 16

We arrived in the Temagami area around noon after a long, tiring drive from PA, hauling the boat behind us. We stopped in North Bay for groceries, Rockpine at Marten River for breakfast, and a new stop – Gramps, to get our fishing licenses. (Dad’s – the local bait and tackle store – closed last fall, and so we’ll have to find a new place to get our bait for the week.) To our surprise and delight, when we walked into Gramps we saw Jim, the owner of the now-closed Dad’s. He is working a few days a week at Gramps and also doing maintenance for Temagami Shores. It was really great to see him, considering we were just commiserating about Dad’s not being open and not being able to catch up with Jim. He looked healthy and happy, and said that he and his wife are moving out of town to be closer to family.

We checked in but couldn’t get into our room yet, so we put the boat in the water. No problems there, although the whole process takes a bit of time. We took the boat out on the water to get it warmed up and when we rode by the Pacey’s dad said he saw people sitting outside. So we turned around and tied the boat up at their dock and Diana, Dorothy and Verdun’s daughter, greeted us. Verdun and Dorothy were home and we got to sit and visit with them. Verdun is very weak after his heart attack and Dorothy is weak from her condition, but both are in good spirits. We sat for a while with the three of them and caught up.

After we got into our cottage and unpacked we ran our errands in town – “dump” water, grocery store, and Busy Bee to order our raspberry pie. The Temagami Co-Op (local grocery store) also closed this fall, but reopened in July. It’s pretty bare bones in the store. All the shelves are empty except for necessities. It was sad to see it that way, but I was also thankful and appreciative it was open at all. The winter must have been difficult for the locals. I’m sure there was someone in town selling milk and eggs and bread, but for anything more than that you’d have to drive an hour up the road to the nearest grocery store.

We ate dinner out so we could save some time, especially since both dad and I were running on fumes for the journey. We ate at the Orient Garden and had a chance to talk to the owners, Helen and Terry, who both asked about Grandma and Papa.

We went for a quick swim in the lake (warm) and then go ready to go fishing. We headed down to Island 4 and we had the whole place to ourselves. The little motor gave dad trouble, and for a brief time the depth finder didn’t work, but soon we were up and running like usual. We trolled mostly in this 20-25 foot trough that dad knows off of the point of the island. I caught a nice bass in about 12 feet of water early in the night. Later dad caught a nice walleye in the slot and then one that was too small to keep. In that same area dad also caught two nice walleyes that we kept and another one in the slot. All told it was a very good night and I’m sure we’ll be heading back there tomorrow night. We got back to the cottage around 10 and the mosquitoes were out in force.

Heard the loons out on the lake.

Fish Count (Keepers):

Where: Island 4

Bait: worm harness

2 – Walleye (Dad)

size: both around 16 inches

1 – Bass (Gina)

size: around 13 inches

Fish Count (Throw Backs):

3 – Walleye (Dad)

where: Island 4

bait: worm harness

size: 19 ½ and 22 inches (“slotters”) and a small one.

Temagami 2010: Day 7: Friday, July 23

2010-07-24T09:12:00.000-04:00

Temagami 2010: Day 7, Friday, July 23

Our last day.

We slept in and Dad made breakfast. By the time we got rolling with our day it was past 11. We stopped by the Pacey’s for a visit, but Dorothy was still sleeping. We went back to the Outfitter so Dad could by a shirt and I could by a BPA free Nalgene bottle and a canvas bag – both with the Outfitter label on them. Of course I don’t need either of these things, but I can’t resist anything that has Temagami inscribed on it. We also went to Northland Traders; I wanted to look at hats. After some major indecision on my part, we went BACK to the Outfitter so I could get a ball cap from there. This I need as my Temagami hat is very much frayed. (Although I probably still won’t throw it away.)

Went to see Jim to buy more worms tell him about the minnows. Most of them were still alive. Only a few had died. We suggested they just needed warmer water after they were caught, since the water they were caught from is warm. Who knows, but I’m glad he hooked us up with some – that was really nice of him. He made some comment about them lasting another day and Dad said, “Well, we’re leaving tomorrow morning.” His eyes got real big, “Noooooooooo. You just got here.” That’s exactly how it feels to us too, Jim. A week goes by very quickly, even when you’re doing nothing but fishing. We told him we’d see him next year, and I can’t wait.

Took our remaining minnows to Caribou and fished for an hour or so. Didn’t have too much action. I caught two nice bass that we kept. Got a few other bites and the seagulls came back for a visit. No reappearance from the turtle.

Went back to the Pacey’s and Dorothy was awake. I showed her and Verdun pictures of the family at Christmas and my and Stacy’s trip to Algonquin. It’s always sad to say by to them, but we gave them big hugs, told them we loved them and that we’d see them next year. Dorothy walked us to the kitchen and Verdun came down to the car with us. He’s worried about his wife; she can’t read or watch TV because of the vertigo. But Verdun reads to her and she can think and talk just fine. I told him to tell her that we loved her and that we would see them next year – maybe with a whole posse of people. (I think next year Mom might come up; I just get that feeling. And Dad said that Uncle Mike and Aunt Becky wanted to come up too. Now that would be fun!)

We wanted to eat dinner at Temagmai Shores. Justin at the Outfitter said it was good; a better choice than the Busy Bee (where we usually eat). It was getting late though and if we were going to spend any time out on the lake we had to make it a quick one. So we ate at the Chip Stand in town. It was quick and good.

The rain was really more of a mist, and so the lake fishing wasn’t so bad. We went back to Island 4 to the pool that Dad found last night. Pretty quickly after we started I caught I really nice keeper – about 17 ¾ inches. JUST under the slot. Dad caught a nice “slotter” – 21 ½ inches. After that we didn’t have much action, but it was a nice night. Lots of boats out around Island 4. I think at the high point there were seven! (Just like the old days, Dad says.)

So Dad had to clean three fish last night. We got to bed around midnight, after having some raspberry pie and ice cream. It’s been a good week. I’m writing this on Saturday morning; we’re sitting on the deck enjoying our last moments here. A plane just went by and Dad commented on how much he loves that sound, how he looks forward to it 51 weeks out of the year. When you’re home, going about your day to day, sometimes you get a whiff of Temagami. I can’t really describe the smell of Canada, but it’s one of my favorite smells. It’s always difficult to say goodbye. When I was younger I used to cry as we would leave town. Even this morning when I think about leaving (just as I’m writing this) my eyes well up with tears. It’s just so beautiful here. Everything is perfect.

Fish Count (Keepers):

2 – Bass (Gina): Friday, Day 7
    where: Caribou
    bait: minnow

1 – Walleye (Gina): Friday, Day 7
    where: Island 4
    bait: worm harness
    size: 17 ¾ inches

“Slotter” Count (throw back):

1 – Walleye (Dad): Friday, Day 7
    where: Island 4
    bait: worm harness
    size: 21 ½ inches

TOTAL FISH COUNT:

Keepers:

6 – Walleye
7 – Bass

Slotters (throw back):

5 – Walleye
    size: 23.2 inches (Gina): Tuesday
    size: 20 inches (Gina): Thursday
    size: 20 inches (Dad): Thursday
    size: 19.5 inches (Dad): Thursday
     size: 21.5 inches (Dad): Friday

Temagami 2010: Day 6: Thursday, July 22

2010-07-23T11:56:00.001-04:00

Temagami 2010: Day 6, Thursday, July 22

We woke up this morning at 6:00 for another attempt at Island Bay. Got there around 7:30 and started fishing. We didn’t catch too much – a bass that we put on the stringer but then let go later on. Later in the day we started to catch a lot of small bass. I caught a tree that was floating in the water, which took about 30 minutes of our time to try and untangle.

peaceful waters at Island Bay

Fished until about noon, then boated over to the chip stand on Bear Island, home of the Temagami First Nation peoples. Had some really hearty sandwiches there and then headed back up the Northeast arm of the lake to the cottage.

I talked to Stacy for a bit on the phone and then we headed back to the lake for a swim off the dock. The water felt slightly colder than a couple days before, but it’s still incredibly warm compared to what we’re use to.

Took a quick nap, ate a light dinner, and then it was back out in the boat for some more fishing. We wanted to go to Caribou as well, but my nap was longer than expected. But it didn’t matter because we had a great night out by Island 4. We fished in deep water – about 25-30 feet and had hits all night long. Both Dad and I caught “slotter” walleyes that we lost. (We could tell they were “slotters” by the way they fought.) I caught a bass early on (amazing he was in such deep water), and both Dad and I caught walleyes that we kept, about 15 and 16 inches. We also both caught some nice size “slotters” that we threw back. After I lost mine, Dad caught one that was 20 inches. Soon after I caught one that was also 20 inches. We (neither of us can remember who it was – there was a lot of action tonight) caught one that was 19 inches. So it was a great night! Finally catching some big ones. We found a new spot near the island that seems to be sort of a pool about 25 feet deep. Every time we trolled through it we had a bite.

Dad's "slotter" coming in at 20 inches

It’s hard to believe we only have one more day. The week has flown by – as it always does. This place is beautiful. I always hate leaving.

Fish Count (Keepers):

1 – Bass (Dad): Thursday, Day 6 – threw back
    where: Island Bay
    bait: worm harness

1 – Bass (Gina): Thursday, Day 6
    where: Island 4
    bait: worm harness

2 – Walleye (Dad & Gina): Thursday, Day 6
    where: Island 4 (25 foot pool)
    bait: worm harness
    size: 15 and 16 inches

“Slotter” Count (throw back):

3 – Walleye (2-Dad, 1-Gina): Thursday, Day 6
    where: Island 4 (25 foot pool0
    bait: worm harness
    size: 2- 20 inches, 1- 19.5 inches

Temagami 2010: Day 5: Wednesday, July 21

2010-07-23T11:51:00.007-04:00

Temagami 2010: Day 5, Wednesday, July 21

I’m a little backed up on the journals – sorry. By the time we get in at night, I’m so exhausted and I just want to go to bed. We’ve been pretty busy this week.

Wednesday I set my alarm for 5:30 and we were on the lake by 6. We headed for Island Bay, which is in the southwest part of Lake Temagami. It’s a 40-minute boat ride down the lake – about 20-25 miles. We were almost to Island Bay when we saw lightning in the clouds. Not good, especially when you are in a boat in the middle of the lake. So we turned around and headed home, back up the lake (the Northeast Arm). The storm chased us the entire ride back, and if it weren’t for our head start, it probably would have overtaken us. I filmed lightning strikes, about 2 minutes apart. When I get back to the states with quick and reliable internet connection, I’ll post the videos.

the inverse of "storm chasers"

We got back to the cottage and watched the storm from our deck. It passed quickly, and we were wondering if we could have docked the boat at the Marina and just waited it out. At the time though, it looked like it was going to last a long time; there were no breaks in the clouds. It was a nice boat ride anyway.

After a nap and some breakfast we went in to town to run errands. We stopped by Temagami Outfitters and I spent some time talking to Justin, the young guy who worked there, about the canoe trip Stacy and I took in July 2007. We talked about canoeing in the Temagami region and how great it was and I even routed out a couple of loop trips for the future. Stacy, are you ready?

It rained off and on the whole day. Before the outfitter we were in Dad’s talking to Jim. The sun was shinning when we went in and about 5 minutes later it was down pouring (right into the open car windows)!

Jim had some minnows for us, which I think was just something special since we’ve been asking about them. They were great! Anticipating that they would die at any moment, we took them over to Caribou and still fished for bass off the rocks. We spent a couple hours there, with one break in the car while the rain passed. It was mostly uneventful. Just when we were about to leave, we would have a bite and then decide to stick around “for another 10 minutes.” Dad caught two bass that we kept, so it wasn’t a total wash.

a rainbow at Caribou after the rain

There was activity in other places though. We caught a small bass that unfortunately didn’t make it. He swallowed the hook and was bleeding too much. We threw him into the water and he lay motionless belly-up. It’s always sad to lose one that way; we always feel bad. But, as Dad pointed out, he’ll become a meal for something else – all a part of the food chain. Indeed that was the case as a couple of seagulls immediately circled overhead. They knew the dead fish was there and wanted it. Problem was, it was sort of wedged in a rock cove, too close to shore (and us) for the bird to swoop down and grab it. The seagulls spent the next hour trying to get it, even sending in their baby after it! When we left, I climbed down the rock with the net and got the fish and threw it further out in the water. Right away the seagull swam over to it, snatched it up, and flew away. He didn’t even say thanks!

The other activity was a visit from a snapping turtle while we were fishing. It was so cool! I’ve never seen a turtle at Caribou and he just hung around in the water for a half hour or so. I fed him a dead minnow and he seemed to enjoy that. Again, I have video footage of all of this, which will have to come later.

the snapping turtle checking us out!

We left Caribou and took the boat to Island 4 for an hour or so. We caught a couple of little fish – bass and maybe a walleye, but we didn’t keep anything.

Overall it was a great day, despite being chased by a storm.

Fish Count (Keepers):

2 – Bass (Dad): Wednesday, Day 5
where: Caribou
bait: minnow

2010-07-21T11:40:00.001-04:00

Temagami 2010: Day 4, Tuesday, July 20

I forgot to mention that yesterday (Monday) we went for a walk over to Finlayson Point Provincial Park. There’s a really great campground that Mom and Dad used to camp at when they were younger (before kids). Dad showed me the site they usually stayed at; great view of the lake, close to the dock, and the fish cleaning station is right across the street!

Dad sitting on the bench near the campsite where he and Mom used to camp

Today was hot. Mostly clear skies and very, very sunny. I forgot to put on sunblock, and could feel my skin cooking. No burn, but I felt exhausted when we finally came inside. We took our tiny minnows over to Caribou and fished there for a little. No bites. Nothing. So we decided to go out on the boat to the little bay near Carson Island. When we arrived there was another boat in the bay. I think they were casting and still fishing. We trolled along the shore and had a few bites, but it didn’t amount to much. While we were out on the lake Dad untwisting our fishing lines (which requires one person to drive the boat slowly while the other lets out all of the line on the bail and then reel it back up again)

We headed back to the dock at Temagami Shores to swim. The water was so warm! I couldn’t believe it. I have vivid memories from childhood of jumping into a 60-some-degree Lake Temagami. The temp was well in the 70s. I swam to the island across the lake – about a quarter of a mile. I took the noodle with me in case I got tired. Stacy and I swim that distance all the time in the lake up at the Mountain House, but here I was crossing a heavy boat and plane traffic area. I made it to the island, hung out on the rocks for a few minutes, and swam back. There was a plane taking off and landing in the water in between the island and the dock, so I was careful not to get in its way. I’m sure the bright blue noodle helped.

Ate freshly caught walleye for dinner and headed back out on the lake for some evening fishing. We had a blast! Bites pretty soon after we got our lines in the water; lots of little bass and one little walleye. The fish seem to be in deeper water, about 20-25 feet deep. It’s a bit tricky to get your line that deep (without getting hung up) but the rewards are worth it. Dad caught another “keeper” walleye – about 16/17 inches. As we were trolling right by Island 4, I felt a HUGE tug on my line. I thought I caught bottom, but as Dad always says: Bottom doesn’t give.

And this gave. I had a fish! A big fish! It fought hard, stayed down – very typical walleye behavior. My favorite part is when you start to see the fish emerge from the water. It’s still about 10 feet down when you see it. Dad netted it and it was indeed big! Not a trophy size, but a nice 23 inches! Just about 4 centimeters to short to keep. He was a “slotter” and we had to throw him back.

My "slotter" walleye -- 23 inches!

The “slot” is any walleye from 18 to 24 inches you have to throw back. Those fish are usually the spawners. It takes a walleye about 5 years to reach 18 inches. A walleye that is 5 lbs usually spawns over 35,000 eggs a season. The slot was introduced quite a few years ago now – maybe seven. It was introduced because so many people were keeping those fish that were of prime spawning age. Even though it’s kind of annoying to have to throw back your fish, I think it’s a really important rule. Dad and I have noticed that there are a lot more little fish in the lake than there has ever been, so it’s definitely working.

We got a picture and threw the big guy back. Actually, with walleye, you have to sort of swish them in the water until they come to. It’s a very tense moment. I know it seems a bit ironic, but the last thing you want to happen is to have the fish die. The fish finally did swim out of Dad’s hand and so we were happy.

I put on a new worm and as I was letting out my line for 17 feet, a bass hit! It’s always a bit awkward when a fish hits and you still have your bail open. I brought him in and he was a keeper! The first big bass we’ve caught this trip.

The bass I caught right after the walleye. I didn't even have my bail set yet!

We quit soon after because it was getting dark and we need to get a full night of sleep. We plan to wake up at 5:30 and head down to Island Bay (40 minutes/25 miles down the lake) to fish in the morning.

Fish Count (Keepers):

1 – Bass (Gina): Tuesday, Day 4
    where: Island 4
    bait: worm harness

1 – Walleye (Dad): Tuesday, Day 4
    where: Island 4
    bait: worm harness

“Slotter” Count:

1 – Walleye (Gina): Tuesday, Day 4
    where: Island 4
    bait: worm harness
    size: 23.2 inches

Temagami 2010: Day 3, Monday, July 19

2010-07-20T10:37:00.002-04:00

Temagami 2010: Day 3, Monday July 19

Today we visited Dorothy and Verdun Pacey. Most of you reading this know whom they are, but they are old friends of the Thompson family. Verdun is 87. Up until four years ago these two were very active and social. They live part of the year (winter) in Florida and then spend the rest of the year in their house in Temagami. These two were always “_____ going on 25.” Just very active and both of them had a lot of energy. Dorothy liked to garden and Verdun liked cars and walking around town. They used to “do the potatoes” for the town’s annual fish fry, which means they peeled and cooked some 100s of potatoes – a pretty big feat for a couple of their age.

Anyway, about four years ago they were in car accident. The accident itself wasn’t that serious; they were hit from behind. But both suffered whiplash, and since then Dorothy’s health has deteriorated. She has a lot of trouble moving around now and when we visited them yesterday she was lying on the couch (which is where she was when we visited in 2009) and said she had vertigo. Verdun is still healthy, but his life is now consumed with worry for his wife. It’s absolutely heartbreaking. Especially knowing that these two are too young to be going through this. Dorothy has an appointment with a specialist from Toronto in a few weeks, and they are hoping he can help with the vertigo and the ringing in her ears.

But when we showed up they were both smiling and waiting with open arms for hugs and kisses. They asked about the family – Mom, Justin, Jim, Grandma, Grandpa. They asked how my husband was – I told them about his CD project and our canoe trip to Algonquin. We talked about how the town has changed and about Dorothy’s health. They haven’t gone to Florida for the past two winters, so Verdun just recently sold their place down there. They were both in good spirits, despite the circumstances. We’re going to visit them again this week, and I’m going to bring my laptop to show them pictures of the family.

Went back to that little bay (near Carson Island) to catch minnows. Most of the minnows are small, but it’s not a bad spot for them. While we were there we saw another Blue Heron. We were going to stay and troll in the bay, but since it was getting late we decided instead to head down the lake. As we were trolling into the bay Dad said, “If I could just have this right here in my backyard, I’d be happy.” Yes, indeed. It really is a perfect little spot.

Great Blue Heron spreading his wings

Trolled around Broom Island but didn’t have any bites so we went back up to Island 4. There were two other boats at Island 4 when we got there; one of them was Ray and his wife. We asked how they were doing and they said a couple of bites but nothing. At first we stayed in deeper water, between 20-25 feet. Right away we had bites (and bottom). Dad caught one that got off right as it was surfacing and then caught a small bass. I caught a few small bass (or the same one three times, not really sure). Dad and I both got hung up on bottom and while we were hung up had bites. Toward the end of the night Dad caught a nice walleye – 17 inches! We trolled close to 10 PM, and by the time we headed up back up the lake it was pretty dark. Again, I’m glad Dad knows how to navigate the lake!

Dad's catch -- 17 inch walleye

The lake was beautiful tonight. Very calm. Warm. Almost clear skies with just a few puffy clouds to make a beautiful sunset. I feel corny saying this, but these are the days worth living for. I told Dad that I love canoe-camping so much because you never have to leave the lake. There’s no place more beautiful than Lake Temagami. I feel so lucky to have been coming here since I was a wee tot and I hope someday I bring my wee tots here too.

As we docked the boat you could hear the loons singing all around us. Oh man, what a night.

Fish Count (Keepers):

1 – Walleye (Dad): Sunday, Day 2

where: Islands near Temagami Shores
bait: worm harness

1 – Walleye (Dad): Monday, Day 3

where: Island 4
bait: worm harness

Temagami 2010: Day 2, Sunday, July 18

2010-07-18T23:07:00.001-04:00

Temagami 2010: Day 2, Sunday, July 18

Forgot to mention that yesterday we ran into Ray Zemoski in town. Grandma and Papa: he says hi!
Dad finally woke me up around 10; he asked if I was going to ever get up. I probably could have slept for another hour! For breakfast Dad make French toast and peameal bacon. Yum! We lazed around the cottage watching the final day of the British Open -- some young guy from South Africa won – very cool.

Went into town to pick up our raspberry pie that we ordered from the Busy Bee and also picked up some ice cream to go along with it. The grocery store in town did not have vanilla ice cream. So no minnows and no ice cream – my how Temagami has changed!

This afternoon we took the boat out to catch minnows. The beaver house we usually go to was still very active but no minnows to be found. Dad then decided that we’d boat down to Ken Horton’s (an old friend) ask him if he knew of any good minnow spots. Well, we ended up hanging out with Ken and his wife for quite a while. They have a beautiful little cottage in this great little cove of the lake. Perfect for swimming! Ken is a retired math teacher so I chatted with him a little bit about my teaching gig. They were renovating their place because of their kids and grandkids coming up. Made me think of our own renovations at our shack in Bellefonte.

A great blue heron hanging out on the beaver house

Ken also explained why the lake was so low. In the fall, they purposely lower the lake in anticipation for the winter snow. If they didn’t lower the lake, there would be flooding from the snow. But this year there was very little snowfall and so the lake didn’t fill back up like it usually does. There’s a lot more exposed rock on the lake. I’m glad Dad knows where he is going! Ken asked about Grandma and Papa and told us to tell them he said hi!

Ken did give us a place to check out; a small cove that you can boat into with a motor. It was about 10 feet deep and then it narrowed and got shallower. We did indeed find minnows! They weren’t very big, but we caught a few that were a decent size. We decided to stay and troll for a little, just to see what might be there. It really seemed like a good fishing spot; protected from the wind and off the main part of the lake. Unfortunately, we didn’t get any bites, but we might go back at a different time during the day.

We ate dinner at the Orient Garden today, since Wendy and Terry (the owners) are headed to China on Tuesday. Wendy asked about Grandma and Papa and asked us to tell them she says hi. You two are very popular up here! Dinner was excellent – beef with vegetables and sweet and sour breaded lemon chicken.

After dinner we took our minnows over to the rocks at Caribou. It’s incredible how low the water is this year. Dad said that the water at Caribou has dropped about 3 feet or so feet in the last 20 years. We were there for about an hour with no bites so decided to head back to Temagami to troll. Just as I was reeling in my line, a bass took my minnow! He was too little to keep, but we decided to stick around for about 10 minutes to see if they would start biting. Nothing.

Got on the lake just a little after eight and just trolled around the islands close to town. Pretty quickly after we got our poles in the water Dad caught a 16-inch walleye that we kept. Then the rest of the night was a mix between tiny bass, rock bass, and bottom. It started to rain and the wind picked up. We left the lake close to 10.

When it started to rain and I asked Dad if he was okay staying out. He said:

“A rainy day in Temagami is better than a sunny day anywhere else.”

I couldn’t have said it better.

Fish Count (Keepers):

1 – Walleye (Dad): Sunday, Day 2

Temagami 2010: Day 1: Saturday, July 17

2010-07-17T18:14:00.002-04:00

And so begins the annual Father/Daughter Fishing Trip to Temagami, Ontario.

Temagami 2010: Day 1, Saturday, July 17

Dad and I arrived in Temagami around 12:30 PM after leaving Grandma and Papa’s around 7:30 PM last night. The drive was long and uneventful, and everything ran pretty much as it always does except with the addition of hauling the boat. We stopped in Meadville for dinner at Cracker Barrel, Angola, NY for a stretch and snack, across the border by 12:30 AM, and made it to Barrie for our couple-hour snooze around 2 AM. This morning we stopped briefly at a really nice rest stop called Almaguin in Katrine. It had loop paths through the woods that I think were made for dog owners, and there was even a little playground. We ate breakfast at Rockpine (Marten River/Lake) and then rolled into Temagami Shores around 12:30 PM.

Got our room key but couldn’t check in, so we went into town to get our fishing licenses. At Dad’s we caught up with Jim. First thing I noticed was that he didn’t have any minnows; in fact, his tanks weren’t even filled with water. He said he lost over half his stock within the first moments of putting them in the water. Apparently no one can keep them alive long enough to sell them. Jim said the lake water was 76 degrees; the warmest it’s been since anyone can remember. That seems to be what is killing all of the minnows. Needless to say dad and I were bummed, but we bought our licenses and two-dozen night crawlers to get us started. Who knows what we’ll do about still fishing off the rocks at Caribou.

Back at Temagami Shores we unpacked the car and got the boat in the water without a hitch. Well, there were a few hitches, but nothing serious. Took it for a quick spin, found a place to dock it, and we’re now officially set for the week. It’s nice to have the boat up here instead of renting the aluminum boat. For one, if it rains there is shelter and there is just more room and it’s easier to maneuver.

Back to the cottage for a quick nap (Gina), collected our “dump water” (from the local spring that happens to be on the road to the old dump), bought groceries at the Co-op, and ordered a raspberry pie from Busy Bee. This place never changes. Everything is the same and it’s wonderful that way. I love that we come here and this town is exactly how we left it last July. Except for the dead minnows. Darn dead minnows.

Dad is making dinner – hamburgers and mushroom gravy, and then we’re going out on the boat for our first night of fishing. The weather has been warm overall, but today it’s been cloudy, sunny, windy (Stacy), and on and off rain. Just like Canada should be. Ha.

Update: Trolled around Island 4 (the usual) but didn’t keep anything. I caught a walleye, just small enough to throw back, probably about 14 inches. I think Dad caught a small bass. It was really windy, so we trolled along the south shore where it was protected. The water is really low this year – about a foot and a half lower than last year.

The sunsets are beautiful near Island 4.

A double rainbow out on the lake!

Annual Father/Daughter Fishing Trip to Lake Temagami 2009: Day 6

2009-07-17T11:27:00.003-04:00

Day 6: Thursday, July 16, 2009: Road Trip to Red Squirrel Road

Fish Count:
3 – bass

New Temperature High:
At one point it got up to 22 Celsius / 70 Fahrenheit, although it was that warm most of the day. But it was sunny and warm – a good day for a road trip.

One of our traditions during our stay in Temagami is to seek out a back road we haven’t been on and go explore it. Problem is, we’ve been on most of those roads now that we’ve been coming for quite a few years. This year we decided to go back Red Squirrel Road, which we’ve been on numerous times, including two years ago when Stacy and I went on our canoe trip in Temagami. Dad drove us back to Red Squirrel Lake, our put in, and along the way we spotted a moose!

Jim recommended a series of three small lakes that are a part of the Anima Nippising River and eventually lead into Red Squirrel Lake. He has fished for rainbow trout in the third lake. We gave it a shot. He said to put a nightcrawler on the hook, let it sink to the bottom, and just wait for the fish to take it. Here’s the problem: it’s very easy to get hung up this way. And hung up we got. So we decided to just throw bobbers on and dangle the worms in the water. Really not the best method for catching fish (a suspended worm is a little unnatural), but it’s been known to work. Well, we didn’t catch any rainbow trout, but I caught two small bass. So, there’s bass in here too? Dad said next year we’ll have to come back with the minnows and fish that way because it really is a good fishing spot.

We also discovered another fishing spot along Red Squirrel Road – Thieving Bear Lake. There are some rocks there with a pretty decent drop off that we will try next year with the minnows. The rocks also were home to lots of frogs, which I spent some time trying to catch (pretty much unsuccessfully). I really should have gone into biology and wildlife studies.

Yummy fresh caught walleye and bass for dinner and then we went back to back fishing at Caribou and Temagami. While at Caribou we caught 3 (keeper) bass and lost a bunch. We sat for about an hour before we had any action, and then it only lasted about ten minutes before our bobbers were motionless again. There seems to be a pattern, but it doesn’t make fishing for them any easier. You never really know when/if they are going to bite.

We were greeted at the docks of Temagami Shores by a few tweenage kids, who were throwing the large rocks (you know, the ones that keep the lake from washing away the ground?) into the water. I decided it was WAY too early in the summer to be encountering kids again. I said to Dad that I don’t like to see kids during my summer vacation. We went out on the boat for an hour and didn’t catch anything. What happened to our great fishing spot in the bay?

Fish Count: (so far)
10 – bass
3 – walleye
3 – in the slot

Mosquito Count:
Still a lot, but Dad finally gave me the bright idea to turn the fan on while I sleep, so that the breeze keeps them away from my face. It worked! Best night’s sleep I’ve had all week!

Annual Father/Daughter Fishing Trip to Lake Temagami 2009: Day 5

2009-07-16T23:23:00.005-04:00

Day 5: Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Fish Count: 0

It rained. The end.

Oh, you want to know what we did? How many mosquitoes we killed in the cottage? How the fishing went?

Caribou was a bust. We fished for an hour or so before we decided to try to find the rocks that Dad & Company used to fish off of. I know of this place only by the story of my uncle falling into the lake, but not before tossing the camera to my aunt. This is a story I have replayed many times over in my head and always wished I had seen in real life.

We didn’t find the rocks. But we did bushwack through the Canadian forest a bit and became host to many mosquitoes. I tend to dwell on the bugs – I can’t help it.

At a recommendation from Jim, the guy who owns the local bait and tackle store, we drove not far from Caribou to Ping Lake. It’s on the way to the fire tower, for those of you who are familiar with Temagami. Jim said there were pike in there, and there is a nice peninsula where you can fish from and there is even a picnic table! We found the peninsula and picnic table, but we didn’t find the pike.

We ate dinner at the Orient Garden, the local Chinese restaurant. We used to go here with my grandparents, who know the owners, Terry and Helen Woo. The food is good, and the owner is a local artist. We told Helen that Clara and Bob Thompson said hello, and that they missed coming by to eat. Helen remembered who my grandparents were and said that she missed having them come by, and wished them well. It was a sad moment, because it was a remember (there have been many throughout the week) that my grandparents aren’t here with us like they have always been in the past. I still enjoy Temagami, of course, but it’s not quite the same without them here.

We just had gotten ready to go out on the boat when it started to rain. We went back to the cottage to wait it out there, and decided to watch Les Stroud do his survival thang. I love Youtube. We went out on the lake for about an hour or so, only to be skunked there as well. Just wasn’t a good night for fishing.

Fish Count: (still)
7 – bass
3 – walleye
3 – in the slot

Loon Count: 1 out on the lake tonight. I tried to lure it with a loon call, but I sounded more like an injured bird.

Low of the Day:
Did someone order a swarm of mosquitoes? Okay, I expect them up here. It’s Canada for crikeys sake, and we are situated around a lot of standing water. But I don’t expect them in the cottage, and buzzing around me while I sleep.

Highlight of the Day:
While we were at Caribou, a seagull began to circle us. I was getting worried he thought our bobbers were fish, because he would sort of swoop down towards the water close to where we were fishing. He landed not too far away and another seagull showed up. They hung around for a few minutes before the seagull was back circling, only this time we could see what he was after. One of our spent minnows was floating on the water, close to the rocks. Each time the seagull would circle, he would swoop down and try to grab the minnow. Around the third try he finally nabbed it. It was definitely one of those moments in nature that you don’t see very often, and Dad and I got a kick out of having witnessed it. As a reward, I threw another dead minnow out into the water, and very quickly the seagull snatched it up as well.

Annual Father/Daughter Fishing Trip to Lake Temagami 2009: Day 4

2009-07-16T21:54:00.003-04:00

Day 4: Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Fish Count:
3 - bass

New Weather High:
20 Celsius / 68 Fahrenheit. No rain. Not a cloud in the sky.

Today was the first warm, sunny day, and the first day Dad didn’t have to wake me up. We had a glorious breakfast of peameal bacon and eggs. (For those of you who have experienced a Larry Thompson breakfast, you understand why it’s worth mentioning.) Since I’m on the subject of peameal, we’ve since bought a great deal of it, since it was on sale at the Temagami Co-op. Hopefully that’ll get us through until next year.

We decided since it was sunny that we would take the boat out on the lake for a ride. I wanted to go mouth of the Tetapaga River, which is about 8 miles from the end of the northeast arm (town). Dad said he’s gone up it when we was younger, but hasn’t been back since. People use to boat up the N. Tetapaga River and portage into Tetapaga Lake and portage again to fish in Vermillion Lake. Basically no one does this anymore because Vermillion Lake is no longer there and there aren’t fish in Tetapaga Lake.

The boat ride up the river was really beautiful. We were going pretty slow, so it reminded me a lot of my canoe trips with Stacy when we were paddling through rivers. We took one wrong turn, which took us into a bay that would be excellent for wildlife (none while we were there, of course). Only a few times did lily pads get stuck in the propeller. In that case, you have to put the boat in reverse to get them to spin off. After a few miles, we couldn’t go any further, and you could see where the inlet flows into the river from the Tetapaga Lake. Dad said there used to be a dock for people to tie up their boats, but now it’s just a little rock spit with a grown over trail that starts into the woods. I got out to take a look around and indeed the trail was grown over. You could see where it headed into the forest, but who knows after that. We headed back out at a faster clip then when we came in, mostly because we knew where the shallow and deep parts of the river were. Dad and I both wished we would have seen some wildlife, but I told him when Stacy and I paddled through the rivers on our canoe trip we never saw anything. (Moose is what you want to see, considering they like to hang out in the shallow, marshy waters.) At the mouth of the river there was a seemingly nice campsite on a tiny island. We couldn’t get to it because it was too shallow. We got the motor stuck as it was, and Dad and I had to push the boat off the rocks and paddle away a bit before we could start the motor. I had a pang when I picked up the paddle and wished that I could be out in a canoe again.

The trip back took about 30 minutes. Just riding along Temagami Lake is beautiful. You eventually get used to the hum of the motor, and it’s a nice chance to look around at the islands and any possible wildlife. I took the opportunity to scout out a few campsites that are located along the north shore, though I don’t know if I’ll be paddling the northest arm anytime soon. Even at it’s best, Lake Temagami is fairly choppy. Just about the only times I’ve seen it still is early in the morning and late in the evening – not exactly prime canoeing times.

We had an early dinner and headed out to Caribou. There were kept 3 bass (I caught 2 and Dad caught 1). I caught one of the bass on Dad’s rode while he was rigging mine because a fish had snapped the line. (Not necessarily because of his size, but more likely that the line rubbed against a rock.) We lost a bunch and caught a few little ones that we threw back. Overall, it was a decent day at Caribou. And we didn’t have to sit in the car to wait out any rain.

Trolling on Temagami:
Not much action here. Dad caught a nice “slotter” walleye, about 20 inches. We basically got skunked, otherwise.

Loon Count:
Saw 2 flying overhead, making a raucous. So that’s 9 so far.

Fish Count: (so far)
7 – bass
3 – walleye
3 – in the slot

Mosquito Count:
Thousands. And lots of bites.

Annual Father/Daughter Fishing Trip to Lake Temagami 2009: Day 3

2009-07-14T09:44:00.004-04:00

Day 3: Monday, July 13, 2009

Fish Count: 0

Weather: COLD and rainy. The high today was 12 C. For my American friends, that’s 54 F. Needless to say I wish I had brought more long sleeve shirts.

Breakfast was probably the highlight of the day – peameal bacon. For those of you who don’t know what peameal bacon is, check out this site: REAL Canadian Bacon. It’s only the most tasty bacon there is, and it’s very difficult to find it on the U.S. You can order it (hence the site), but it’s extremely expensive.

We ordered a red raspberry pie from the Busy Bee yesterday, so we went by to pick that up. Also stopped by the spring to get more “dump” water. (Named that because the spring is on the old dump road. The water itself is perfect.) Finally, we stopped at the bank to get some Canadian money.

Headed over to the rocks at Caribou Lake only to be rained on. Twice we sat in the car to wait out the rain. Not a single bite, despite our very energetic minnows. Well, I spoke too soon. We did have ONE bite. I caught a small walleye. Yes, a walleye. In Caribou. Those of you who know about Temagami will understand how surprising this is. Dad said he has never, in the 50+ years he’s been fishing here, caught a walleye in Caribou. We’ve only ever caught bass, and the occasional catfish. Dad said they used to catch speckled trout here years ago, but never walleye. So we’re not sure what to make of it. Hopefully when we go back tomorrow we’ll start catching bass again.

Stopped by Temagami Outfitter, which is the outfitting company Stacy and I went through when we took our canoe trip two years ago. They’ve consolidated and moved to a smaller location – right across the street. I’d like to stop by again and pick up a few more bits of information for our next Canadian Wilderness Canoe Trip (wink, wink).

What I love about coming up here is simply how relaxing it is. I felt tired all morning, and when we got back to our cottage we both decided to take a nap. A nap in the middle of the day! It was glorious. In the evening, we went out on the Lake (Temagami) to the bay we’ve been fishing in the past two nights, only to get skunked. No fish. Barely any bites. We’re chalking it up to a change in the atmospheric pressure, which apparently can cause fish not to bite. It would make sense, anyway, seeing how we had a serious of fronts roll through yesterday.

Got back to the cottage around 9:30, and after a quick chat with Stacy, Dad and I had (warm) raspberry pie and ice cream. We spread out the Temagami Area Fishing Map and chatted a bit about places that Dad has fished and places Stacy and I canoed. It’s an amazingly beautiful area – by far my favorite place in the world. If I lived in Ontario, I would definitely be canoeing this Northern region every chance I got.

It was cold and raining all day, but as Dad put it while we were trolling by my favorite island, “Sure beats work.”

You said it, Dad.

Fish Count (so far): still…
4 – bass
3 – walleye

New Weather Low:
12 Celsius or 54 Fahrenheit and rain that drove us to sit in the car and wait it out.

Annual Father/Daughter Fishing Trip to Lake Temagami 2009: Day 2

2009-07-13T09:23:00.003-04:00

Day 2: Sunday, July 12, 2009

Caribou Lake (after breakfast)
3 – bass (two were 12 inches and 1 was 14)
Dad lost one because of me. I couldn’t net it, and the line kept getting tangled in the net. Eventually the fish got off. Probably around 14 inches, maybe a bit bigger. I also caught a smaller bass that we threw back. We fished off the rocks for about three hours. It was windy most of the time, but that seems to be good for keeping the minnows moving (especially if/when they are dying).

Temagami Lake
1 – walleye (15 inches)
We started at Island 4, but with the combination of it being very windy, ominous clouds, and no bites, we decided to head back up to the bay (which is right across from the Temagami Shores and Leisure Island). We figured if the clouds brought a rainstorm, we could quickly get into shore. As soon as we started trolling, I got a bite. A nice size walleye that Dad spent a lot of time measuring, hoping it was under 18 inches. Alas, it was JUST over, so we threw him back. Forgot to get a picture, too. Soon after Dad caught a walleye just off the shoal of where the gazebo is. (I always knew that island was lucky. Now if I could just scrape up $500,000 to buy it…) The walleye was another “identical twin” to the two I caught last night – about 15 inches.

The reason I mention the fact that we are catching 15 inchers is that this initiative where you have to throw back the spawners seems to be working, which makes throwing back a 23 inch fish a little easier to swallow. Dad is still surprised that we are catching as much as we are right in the bay so close to town.

During the day we went to visit Dorothy and Verdun, who seem to be in good spirits, despite their current conditions. Dorothy has been suffering from severe back pain since they got in a car accident a little over 2 years ago. She seemed much weaker than I’ve ever seen her, but she was still smiling. Apparently she sleeps a lot and can’t move around for too long. Verdun said she hasn’t baked since the accident. Verdun has some neck pain as a result of the accident, but his condition doesn’t seem to be quite as debilitating. They were both very positive, though. We talked a bit about the economy – things seem to be slow in Temagami, and a lot of houses are going up for sale around here. We’ll go visit them again – I told them I’d show them some wedding photos. Unfortunately, we won’t be having any of Dorothy’s homemade rhubarb pie.

Fish Count (so far)
4 - bass
3 - walleye

Loon Count
7 - A group of 5 as we were heading back in from Island 4 and 2 over by the bay.

Mosquito Count
Hundreds. But not too many bites.

Annual Father/Daughter Fishing Trip to Lake Temagami 2009: Day 1

2009-07-11T22:48:00.004-04:00

Temagami 2009

Day 1: Saturday, July 11, 2009

We arrived at Temagami Shores around 2 in the afternoon, unpacked the car, and then headed out to the hardware store to pick up some forgotten items. Then a quick trip to the Co-op for groceries, Dad’s (the local bait and tackle store) for our fishing licenses and some minnows, and back to TS to get our boat squared away. Dad brought Grandma and Papa’s motor, but TS had already charged Dad for a boat with a motor, even though he told them that he brought his own motor.

We’ve got free WiFi in the cottage, so I’ve already spent a good part of time online, mostly talking to Stacy and video chatting with Megg. I love technology, and more to the point, I love my new Mac. I’m a little pissed that I forgot my camera cord, so I’ll just have to wait until I get back to post pictures.

While I was online with Stacy and Megg I made homemade potato chips with Les’s (my father-in-law) soon to be patented potoato-chippper. It slices potatoes paper-thin and makes perfect potato chips. One of the many highlights of the trip, I am sure.

After a light dinner of sandwiches (and potato chips), we headed out onto Temagami Lake. It had stormed earlier, a quick heavy downpour with some hail involved. When we got out on the lake it was still overcast and a bit drizzly. By the time we got our poles in the water it was clearing up and the sun was coming back out. Whenever we used to fish with my grandparents, we would go down the lake a bit to Island 4, a nice fishing spot that many of the locals and old timers know about. Instead we stayed close to TS, and trolled around some of the islands in close to town.

Right away we had bites. Not sure if it was because of the rain, but that certainly is a theory. The first catch was mine: a 15-inch walleye that we kept. Walleye that are between 18 and 24.6 inches must be thrown back. The reason is that they are trying to keep the spawners in the lake so they can do their thing and create a larger fish population. Soon after Dad caught a nice size walleye – around 20 inches. He was big enough to “oh and ahh” over, and then we put him back.

Who wants to clean a fish that big anyway? I caught another 15-inch (“they were identical twins,” Dad said later when he was cleaning them). Dad caught a “keeper” bass (13 Inches) and we caught a few more little fish. Overall it was a very successful first night of fishing. Looking forward to a good nights sleep. I think we are heading over to Caribou after breakfast tomorrow.

Fish Count Day 1:
2 – walleye (both 15 inch)
1 – bass (13 inches)

where i am on the web

2008-09-14T21:19:00.002-04:00

My new blog
Our Wedding Page
Facebook
Photos

.titled by poetic license.

2007-08-20T17:58:00.000-04:00

.....>>>come over here.

while i was in canada...

2007-08-14T18:10:00.001-04:00

Stacy was playing some tunes with friends...

... but then he came to Temagami...

And we went canoeing in the Northern Ontario wilderness...

.pictures to come.

.and a surprise!.

Where is Gina???

2007-08-09T22:19:00.001-04:00

No one is certain, but she was spotted last week buying raspberry jam at the local farmer's market and sipping a frappachino at the local Barnes and Noble.

Consider this her official "away" message, even though, according to this blog, she's been away since June.

It's not over... things are just starting to get good!

because everyone needs a good laugh...

2007-06-29T22:16:00.001-04:00

email, call, or leave a comment for directions...

2007-06-25T22:32:00.000-04:00

“JUST BECAUSE IT’S JUNE… JUNE, JUNE, JUNE!” PARTY

Saturday, June 30, 4:00 PM - ??

Food and drink will be provided.
Stacy will do the famous grilled Chicken Gretl, and other things.
OK to bring your kids, a date, etc. VERY casual.
A side dish would be welcome, but isn’t necessary.

Bring: A musical instrument, if you play –
as usual, we might slip into live music later on.
Cheers! RSVP not necessary -- come if you can!!

~ Stacy and Gina ~

I'm out paddling in the Adirondacks

2007-06-10T22:04:00.000-04:00

This will serve as my Official Blog Away Message. Stacy and I are headed on a canoe trip to the Saranac Lake area for a four day canoe paddle in the smaller lakes up there. But first, we'll spend a day visiting friends at Schroonawarra.

We leave tomorrow after work. I'm subbing a half day at Bellefonte and Stacy is presenting at the Penn State Web Conference. We'll be back Sunday, June 17, missing my cousin's graduation party, a friend's kegger yay-we're-done-with-school party, and helping our friends move into a new house. So, okay, our planning wasn't the greatest. But there was no other week. I begin work at the Y(MCA) the following Monday. This was our only chance to get away. And given the (depressive) winter we both had, it's a long awaited break from the day-to-day grind.

Though it goes without saying, I won't be accessing the internet until the Sunday when I return. But I promise to have pictures for your viewing pleasures. And a post about the trip. That is, of course, if the canoe doesn't capsize and I suddenly forget how to swim. But we won't speak of such nonsense. I will return safely to you all soon.

And then they'll be a party! I'll post an official announcement when I get back, but it will look very similar to this. Locals, mark your calenders. Saturday, June 30. The usual: Chicken-Gretl on the grill, good beer, good company, and most certainly good music. If you play, bring your instrument. They evening always ends with a Stacy & Friends Jam Session.

It's not a spot on the top of your head. It's an AHA moment

2007-06-05T08:59:00.000-04:00

The seniors at Bellefonte are going to Krislund today for a community service project. They need 30 hours to graduate, and some have 0. They graduate in a week. Stacy and I were at Krislund a couple of weekends ago. The Christian camp was founded in 1963 and has gone through some dramatic changes since. I've been told by a bias party (ahem, my boyfriend) that the best days Krislund has seen were the early 80's. I wouldn't know -- I was in diapers at the time. You can read about the history here, but word on the street is that it's gone a bit fundamental. A friend of ours from Boston who was a C.I.T. (Counselor-in-training) with Stacy still sends here kids there, though. She drops them off at the camp, kisses their faces, and says, "Have fun! Remember, it's not the same as it used to be!"

Actually, we didn't go to the camp, but instead took a hike to the famous "Bald Spot" that he's camped at since I've been in diapers. It's your typical Pennsylvania rock face, but it comes with a great view of the Nittany Mountains. It's always very spiritual for me to be there. It's being surrounded and protected by nature that moves me. When I'm at the Bald Spot, I can understand why some people believe so strongly in God. How can such a hauntingly beautiful place just evolve? Surely the detail and beauty of nature is not just left to chance. Or more dreadful - science. It must be God who has taken the time to create and perfect each detail - the curve of the ridge, the meandering of the stream. And as a token of appreciation, the Children of God have erected crosses at the Bald Spot, so as all of us can be reminded of His glory while we are there, enjoying His great creation.

While I am grateful for my skepticism and find comfort in that I don't find comfort in faith -- I can understand it. The Bald Spot is indeed mystical. Some greater force is at work here. To me, the Bald Spot represents peace. Not the hippie-give-me-a-two-finger-salute kind of peace, but the meditative and magical kind. Peace that makes you stop and say, "Oh, this is it." It's the AHA moment of spirituality. And though I haven't yet decided where my soul will go when I die, I do believe I have one. I know I do, because when I have those AHA moments of spirituality, my soul tells me how much she has appreciated it. And I thank her for reminding me that I am alive.

I cannot speak for Stacy, but I reckon the Bald Spot conjures different thoughts for him. Maybe it's the memories of a time in his life that now only appear in whispers and daydreams. Occasional visit or email. Stories to his girlfriend about the Krislund Days. (I, of course, love to hear those stories, even if it makes me a bit envious.)

For Stacy, the crosses dug into the rocks may actually represent something, even if only memories of his youth. He has a special connection to this place that I will never have. And for that I am a bit jealous.

if nervousness is an illustration of desire

2007-06-04T17:43:00.000-04:00

Life is busy at the moment, and I want nothing more than to tell you all about the wondrous little ditties I've been experiencing. Unfortunately, I am out of time. (I have a meeting in 10 minutes.) Until I get my act together, complete with pictures, I invite you all to head over to Dave's, where he's blogging about Fred Woods, where I was with Stac and the fam only a month ago. (I never did get around to blogging about it, but I have plenty of pictures!)

And I'll leave you with this -- today I had a job interview to teach at my dream school.

If only you knew....

2007-05-31T10:01:00.001-04:00

Group 2k at HOBY 2007
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

What did these nine teenagers do to me? They changed my life. In less than four days. They were among the 200-some (all told including tators, ass-tators, ta's, staff, etc.) people who also changed my life. It's called HOBY, and you have no idea unless you've experienced it.

I was the Facilitator for Group 2k - pictured here. What does being a TATOR mean? These are my kids. I take care of them. And love them. And pamper them. I give them candy, make them dance and cheer, and generally tease them at all opportunities.

The chick with the hat and the peace sign is Sam, my Associate Facilitator. (Affectionately referred to as "Ass-Face" in the HOBY world.) She was the fuel and fire of the group. She kept our engine running. I've never met anyone, save for my mother (maybe) who was more mentally insane and just all around crazy. I love her. She was an ambassador last year (the high school sophomores that get picked to come) and couldn't resist coming back again. Thank Buddha she did, because I couldn't have lead this group without her.

It's been a couple weeks since HOBY, but I never did get a chance to blog about it. There are a few pictures (most are private) if you want to check 'em out. It’s hard to describe HOBY, and the best I’ve found is just to say that, simply put, it changed my life. It reinstated my love for kids, especially teenagers, and my passion for education. My belief that this generation can and will change the world. That there is more to them than just iPods and rap music. HOBY made me see that we are all the same, in our own unique individual way. We want to use enthusiasm to lead this world into a better quality of life.

“Reflection is the business of man; a sense of his state is his first duty..." ~ Willy Shakespeare

2007-05-14T18:35:00.000-04:00

I do most of my reflecting in the car. That is where all Profound Thoughts of Gina Marie take place. Unfortunately, seeing as I am driving, and seeing as I have a horrible memory – these thoughts often escape me by the time I get home. When I was in high school I bought a tape recorder to tape these Profound Thoughts that I had (yes, even at such a young age!), but that tape recorder is outdated and I have only two tapes to it – a recording of me and my friends on our AP American History and our AP European History field trips. I would love to digitize those because they are some of the most frackin hilarious stuff I’ve ever heard. Among the many embarrassing comments about our teachers (we had crushes – obvious crushes), there is also a point on the tape in which we all simultaneously moo because we have just seen cows in a field. I’d love to go back to being 17, just for a day.

My reflections today were centered around music, and my unfair judgment on the people who listen to certain types of music. For instance, I will judge you if you tell me you like rap or hip-hop. It’s not fair, I’m not proud of it, but it’s true. But more severe of a judgment happens upon the topic of Dave Matthews Band. I tend to stereotype those who don’t like DMB into soulless, shallow people. I think that anyone who doesn’t like DMB must not be able to go deep. I mean deep within themselves and deep with other people. DMB is deep, soulful music. If you don’t like DMB you are admitting you like simple music – simple harmonies, simple lyrics, simple rhythms. Because DMB is anything but simple. And it’s important, at least in my opinion, to not be a simple person. Complexity is the way to go in life.

So I know this is wrong. I shouldn’t judge people’s character based on the music they listen to. But at the same time, I expect people to judge me by similar qualities. If someone said, “she listens to Dave Matthews Band, she must be a hippie liberal chick,” well, they’d be right. Same goes for the way I dress. Long skirts, lots of bracelets, earthy colors. I don’t not except to be judged by that – and I’m okay with it as well. If I wasn’t an earthy hippie who is hell bent on saving the world and would rather munch on cockroaches than give George W. Bush an ounce of support than I imagine I would dress differently and probably listen to different music. But now I’ve brought in politics, which is a whole ‘nother set of stereotypes!

My point is – I know I’m wrong to judge. And, I’m working on that. I think it’s important to not judge. First impressions are what they are, and I can’t change what I might think from a first impression. But I’m willing to go beyond the first meeting. In fact, if people will allow, I’d love to go deep with them. Give me a fifth or sixth impression. Show me your soul, I’ll show you mine. Problem with me is – I tend to see souls even if they’re not willingly shown.

On my journeys through Wegmans and Target I also thought a lot about my job. Substitute teaching. It’s getting better. Part of that is I’m becoming more comfortable with the faculty – particularly at Bellefonte. I’m also becoming more comfortable with the kids. Again, I’m thinking more of Bellefonte than State College (and definitely not Penns Valley – I barely sub there). I’m starting recognize the students. Repeats are showing up in my teaching assignments. And they like me (they really really like me!) because I’m chill, cool, the “rebel” sub – the one who makes compromises and allows them to talk while they do their work. I tried to be a hardass, but I didn’t like what it did to me and how I came off to the students. But, students make good arguments, and sometimes I just have to agree with them. I can’t wait to have students of my own. I want to joke with them. Harass and tease them. Isn’t that what teaching is about? The more students I can love, the better.

and now for a little bit of off-roading fun

2007-05-13T21:18:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my mom for giving me 50% of Italian blood

2007-05-13T11:11:00.000-04:00

Mom, I sent you a card! But it might not get there until Monday. Flickr's blog post this morning made me think of this photograph I have of me as a monkey-face with my mom, her mom (my nunnie) and her grandma (my gramma bucci). Four generations of beautiful Italian women here. Two dead, two alive. I'm only 50% Italian, a result of my dad's "mutt" heritage not including any Italian blood (thanks, dad), but I still feel a strong Italian presence in my physical appearance and in my mentality. Or, I should say, lack of sanity. Irrational behavior. Highly emotional. A searing desire to kiss and hug everyone I see. (Well, not everyone. Just those that look incredibly cuddly.)

I had a discussion with Stacy over pizza and a beer buzz about my dreams. Downtown on a Friday night, half of the people walking around were wearing shirts that described whatever bar tour they happened to be on. Discussion about this bar and that bar, this drink special and that drink special. Most were celebrating their graduation from college, and I felt sorry for them. They are happy now. Let them be happy. A few weeks from now they'll be sitting in the middle of their parents living room floor, eyes glossy, wondering what to do with the rest of their lives. Been there, done that. (Except my breakdown took place in the comfort of my own home on my own dusty area rug.)

So our discussion about my dreams and their intensity. I have many reoccurring dreams and many reoccurring characters. Ex-lovers. Never-lovers. Never-friends. Mostly, the reoccurring people are those that I didn't get to have a successful relationship/friendship with. It was obvious by my description of the dreams why I was having them -- in my dreams I get to have these friendships. I had a dream last night I wrapped my arms around the body of one of those never-to-be friendships. I can still feel the hug. I can feel my hands, resting on the back, right hand grabbing the wrist of the left. Squuuuueeeeeze. It was a good hug. And I'm not ashamed of it.

Stacy and I concluded that these dreams were probably good for me. They were a way for me to have the friendships that I can't otherwise have in "real life". My philosophy is to love and care for all those that will let me. And it hurts when I can't do that. I'm coming around to that reality, and I've accepted it. But in my dreams, I can be friends with whoever I damn well please -- and I like it that way.

- - - - - - - -

Speaking of friendships and loving people -- Stacy and I went to a fabulous shindig last night. Our friends Chris and Lisa had a Just For the Hell of It party. My observations during the party led me to conclude it was more of a Celebration of Friendship party. I got to meet so many wonderful people! And of course, there was music, provided by yours-truly's truly and his friends:

Not to mention, barnyard animals! (Nicola - I was not lying when I called you and told you I was looking at a chicken.) Folks, only in Central Pennsylvania can you be at a party, sippin good beer, and watching chickens poke around the yard.

This is my Heaven.

Thanks to Chris, Lisa, Cedric and Sarah for hosting a great bash.

Upcoming Events: HOBY Seminar and Stacy's 40th (shhhhhh!) birFday!

Stripped Maple bud

2007-05-11T11:45:00.001-04:00

maple_bud
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

I love spring!

wildflower walk through Plummer's Hollow

2007-05-08T09:23:00.000-04:00

Before Saturday, I had never seen a purple trillium. At least I don't think so. But I wonder how, after all the years playing in the forest, I might have missed them.

Stacy and I went on a saunter through Plummer's Hollow on Saturday, guided by its resident botanist, Dave Bonta. It was a long time in coming, since I've been reading Dave's blog for almost a year, and also keeping up with the Plummer's Hollow posts by Dave and his mother. On our way there, traveling 550 from Bellefonte to Tyrone, I wondered aloud to Stacy if there was a lot of foot traffic in the Hollow. A lot of the area is open to the public, but somehow I think it remains the unknown gem of Central Pennsylvania.

Dave pointed out wildflowers and I ooooed and aaahhhed. Stacy did the good job of asking all the intelligent questions, while offering a bit of his knowledge of Pennsylvania forest history. I, the youngin', knew the forest only as a place for play. Hiding under fallen hemlocks. Picking buds off mayapple plants to make homemade "stew" from it. (Including any other number of ingredients you might find on the forest ground, except bugs. And of course, mud and water for the broth.)

I enjoyed the new perspective on the forest. Understanding the forest not just as a place to play, but a place where life begins and ends, where land disputes take place and big bad loggers try and take the trees. And also where Nature illustrates her power, collapsing trees with a wind gusts and snow blankets. (And after viewing these lifeless trees, I considered the comments in this post, but I ultimately agree with Dave on the issue of dead trees -- "decay is a beautiful thing!")

I learned that I should never assume all butterflies are monarchs. Here's a Tiger Swallowtail that was catching a tan as we were trying to catch some good photographs. He was unusually still for a butterfly, and I wondered if he was a bit vain and enjoyed the attention. He knew he was beautiful.

The names of most of the flowers are escaping me now, as does much of the information that I learn on a day to day basis. My brain does not retain facts well, but the experiences and memories seemed superglued in there. So sure, I can't remember what the name of that flower was that the the stem grew up through the leaves. But I do remember the smell of the forest, the inflection in Dave's voice as he described flowers to us, and the beauty of an (almost) untouched forest area. And even if I had had an awful time, which I did not, it would have been worth it just to see the train go by just as we pulled in!

For more pictures of our wildflower walk through Plummer's Hollow, go here.

something interesting to come soon!

2007-05-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

I promise. I am dodadling with pictures now and tonight I should have an opportunity to write.

20 Ways To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity

2007-05-02T09:32:00.000-04:00

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, ask If They Want Fries with that.

4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label it "In".

5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Smuggling Diamonds".

7. Finish All Your sentences with "In Accordance With The Prophecy".

8. Don't use any punctuation.

9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.

10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go".

12. Sing Along At The Opera.

13. Go To A Poetry Recital. And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme?

14. Put Mosquito netting Around Your Work Area And Play tropical Sounds All Day.

15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You're Not In The Mood.

16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, Rock Bottom.

17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won! I Won!"

18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking lot, Yelling "Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!"

19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner, "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."

20. And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity ..
Its Called ... therapy.

Penn State students to further honor Virginia Tech community

2007-04-20T20:43:00.000-04:00

Virginia Tech Tributes Set for Blue-White Game
Maroon and Orange Clad Students to Form "VT" Symbol

University Park, Pa. -- Penn State students and Intercollegiate Athletics will honor the victims of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, their families and the Virginia Tech community at Saturday's Blue-White football game in Beaver Stadium.

Soon after Monday's tragedy, Penn State students began organizing responses of support and compassion for the Virginia Tech community. Penn State has purchased 800 maroon and orange T-shirts, Virginia Tech's school colors, that will be worn by students to form a huge "VT" symbol in the student seating section at the Blue-White Game.

In addition to the "VT Zone at Blue-White Game" group, additional students will be wearing maroon and orange shirts to the Blue-White Game. This afternoon, local retailer, The Family Clothesline, sold 1,000 maroon and 1,000 orange shirts in approximately 30 minutes. The store expects to have an additional 10,000 shirts available around 12 p.m. on Friday. All proceeds from the shirt sales will be distributed to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, established by Virginia Tech.

The Penn State Bookstore will have maroon and orange T-shirts on sale at its campus and Beaver Stadium locations, with all proceeds being sent to Virginia Tech.

Prior to the 2 p.m. kick for the Blue-White Game, a moment of silence will be observed and the Penn State Blue Band will play a special tribute to the Virginia Tech community. Blue Band members will be wearing orange T-shirts. The cheerleaders will then lead the crowd in a "Let's Go Hokies!" cheer.

Penn State students have been proactive in organizing efforts throughout the week.

- This afternoon, a memorial service, organized by Penn Students, to honor the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy was held at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the University Park campus. More than 550 members of the Penn State and local community attended and listened to music, inspirational readings and several speakers.

- Members of Phi Sigma Rho, a social sorority for women in engineering and engineering technology, will be canning outside the Beaver Stadium gates on Saturday, with all proceeds going to the "We Are...All Hokies" Memorial Fund. The group also will be hosting a spaghetti dinner on Monday, April 23 from 5-9 p.m. at at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in downtown State College, with all proceeds going to the fund.

- Students are also organizing the signing of a banner, which will be sent to Virginia Tech, in the HUB-Robeson Center throughout the week. Additionally, a Penn State student-led group on Facebook.com is encouraging members of the Penn State community to wear maroon and orange on Friday, April 20 in honor of Virginia Tech. Maroon and orange T-shirts will be on sale at McLanahan's in downtown State College, with money from the sale being donated to the family of recent Penn State graduate and native of nearby Bellefonte Jeremy Herbstritt, a victim of the tragedy who was a graduate student at Virginia Tech.

The Office of Physical Plant, Centre County United Way and Nittany Bank have organized a special fund, "The United Way Memorial Fund for Jeremy Herbstritt." Contributions can be mailed to: Lloyd Rhoades, 149 Physical Plant Building, University Park, PA 16802. Anyone wishing to donate by credit card can go to the United Way Web site http://www.ccunitedway.org/index.html online. Make sure to state that the donation is to go to "The Jeremy Herbstritt Memorial Fund."

2007-04-14T10:24:00.000-04:00

Last night Stacy and I went to see Richard Wylie and Friends at the the beautiful State Theatre in downtown State College. The show benefited Housing Transitions, a nonprofit cooperation dedicated to providing affordable housing for low-income families in the Centre County region.

The musicians are some of the best in town and the night was incredible fun. Richard entertained with his wacky moves on stage, while the musicians jammed out on their solos. My favorite was Billy "Nasty" Test, who is still in high school, and probably one of the best keyboardist I have ever heard. Very soulful and simply outrageous. I didn't know fingers could move that fast and still make pleasing music.

I'm not much of a reviewer -- especially when it comes to why I like things. But last night just moved my spirits. I was energized by the the melodic notes coming from these instruments. the drum beats. And, of course, my favorite singer -- Annie Holmes -- who won me over when she sent chills and applause through me and everyone in the State Theatre with the Dreamgirls ballad, And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going. I've never heard anything that emotionally powerful come from someones lungs.

----

Today I have my first soccer game. I'm playing in an Adult Rec.1 league, unofficially referred to as "the old hippie league" -- so I'll fit in quite nicely there. Now I must got and pull out my old soccer stuff, make sure everything fits (its been a while) and if it doesn't, head to Dick's before the game. Yay for exercise! Yay for *fun* exercise!

"Sarcastic" Wednesday

2007-04-11T18:02:00.000-04:00

Stacy sent this to me today and I found it way too good to keep to myself.

1. Go to: www.google.com
2. Click on "maps".
3. Click on "get directions".
4. Type "New York" in the first box (the "from" box).
5. Type "London" in the second box (the "to" box) Click on get directions.
6. Scroll down to step #23.

In honor of the The Great Purge: We Really Need to Get Rid of Some of These Books by Gina & Stacy

2007-04-06T10:00:00.000-04:00

I offer this little ditty from author Gabriel Zaid. From his book, So Many Books:

"How many books fit into a reader's house? Not many. And readers never get rid of books they've already read, or are never going to read, to make room for others; it would make them feel bad." (page 96)

Yep.

The Two-Cow Explanation of What Makes...

2007-04-05T17:00:00.000-04:00

A Christian Democrat: You have two cows. You keep one and give one to your neighbor.

A Socialist: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.

A Republic: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So what?

A Democrat: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. You vote people into office who tax your cows, forcing you to sell one to raise money to pay the tax. The people you voted for then take the tax money and buy a cow and give it to your neighbor. You feel righteous.

A Communist: You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk.

A Fascist: You have two cows. The government seizes both and sells you the milk. You join the underground and start a campaign of sabotage.

Democracy, American Style: You have two cows. The government taxes you to the point you have to sell both to support a man in a foreign country who has only one cow, which was a gift from your government.

Capitalism, American Style: You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.

Bureaucracy, American Style: You have two cows. The government takes them both, shoots one, milks the other, pays you for the milk, and then pours the milk down the drain.

An American Cooperation: You have two cows. You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when the cow
drops dead.

A French Cooperation: You have two cows. You go on strike because you want three cows.

A Japanese Corporation: You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.

A German Corporation: You have two cows. You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves.

An Italian Corporation: You have two cows but you don't know where they are. You break for lunch.

A Russian Corporation: You have two cows. You count them and learn you have five cows. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. You count them again and learn you have 12 cows. You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.

A Mexican Corporation: You think you have two cows, but you don't know what a cow looks like. You take a nap.

A Swiss Corporation: You have 5000 cows, none of which belongs to you. You charge for storing them for others.

A Brazilian Corporation: You have two cows. You enter into a partnership with an American corporation. Soon you have 1000 cows and the American corporation declares bankruptcy.

An Indian Corporation: You have two cows. You worship them.

I'm not sure where this came from. I was going through word documents on my computer in a folder entitled "random." Random indeed. I mostly published it just so I could delete it from my hard drive. Better on the internet than on my computer. But it is funny stuff.

$1.8 million grant awarded to improve writing skills in students

2007-04-05T15:46:00.000-04:00

I love it when good things happen in education!

Send a message to Congress about global warming

2007-04-02T12:22:00.000-04:00

Don't ignore the problem. Take action. (It takes 30 seconds to make a difference, but a lifetime to be an apathetic soul.)

There's a certain chemistry between us I just can't explain

2007-04-01T21:38:00.001-04:00

stacyandgina
Originally uploaded by megpeachypoo.

But this picture illustrates it pretty well.

Cracks me up every time I look at it.

Why can't we be a normal family?

2007-04-01T21:35:00.001-04:00

dancing
Originally uploaded by megpeachypoo.

doing the jig/hoe down in the kitchen. Christmas morning. Dear.

Sunday Spring Cleaning

2007-04-01T13:36:00.001-04:00

It's almost 2 in the afternoon and I'm still in my pjays listening to Dave Matthews Band on the stereo. The smell of turkey bacon is still strong through the house, and Megg has just left. So it's the afternoon and I haven't accomplished much, but I had a wonderful morning with my Megg.

Stacy is in New York right now, and won't be back until this evening. Why am I not with him? I can't answer that, because I'm not sure of the answer myself. When he left at 5pm yesterday I did not feel like going to NYC. He is spending all day today listening to auditions for singers, hoping to scope out a few if he gets to do a reading of Passapaparola this summer in NYC. That means I would have had to be on my own, wandering a great big city I've never been to. Now, that sounds exciting, but I've been sick all week and I didn't get to make a plan of action for my Sunday Sightseeing. Alright, these are all excuses. I just didn't feel like going to New York City and being by myself all of Sunday. So instead, I'm in Bellefonte by myself all of Sunday, which of course, is lovely. I love my house. I love my town. And yesterday I planted myrtle (I think) in my flower bed. Today I will paint, maybe make a trip to Lowes for potting soil and some house plants. I will continue cleaning the house and throwing shat away (my favorite thing to do!) I need bleach. Things need to be bleached. So much to do! I couldn't haven't possibly gone to NYC this weekend.

Just finished my cover letter for the Friends School. I hope get to work there. I love their philosophy of education. There are a handful of teaching job positions for next year, and so I'm very busy at the moment, writing cover letters and such. I hope I get a j-o-b for next year. I don't hate subbing, but I don't think I can do it for another school year. I've only been doing it for two months and I'm a bit tired of it.

Remember -- Most of the pictures I'm uploading on Flickr now are private, so if you want to see them, just join and add me as a contact. I'm in the process of privatizing the ones I've already uploaded. It's a slow process, but it's worth it. I've decided after some suspicious activity on Flickr that I don't want strangers looking at pictures of me and my friends/family. Actually, I don't even care of about photos of me and Stacy -- it's more my friends. For instance, my most viewed photo is this one, which I don't even understand because it doesn't have any special tags, it's not in any groups, and I've never linked to it (until now). Strange. Though I'm not too concerned about this particular photo, I don't like the idea of pictures of my friends being public.

What exactly is a little crud anyway?

2007-03-26T10:09:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to decide how much of my time and concern to spend on this comment made by a nasty yourmurrysville.com memeber. (An online blog/forum from my hometown.)

It all started because I made a comment regarding the results of an online poll. (FYI: The comments read from the bottom --> up. The poll results are at the top, but the first comment -- mine -- is at the bottom.) The comments reflects some pretty harsh sentiments I have for my hometown. (Especially after living in State College, where education is valued above many things.)

I have no problem with criticism. In fact, as a teacher, I encourage criticism. But I don't appreciate slander. I don't appreciate being called a "little crud" on a public forum because I believe in freedom for all human beings. I have never been afraid to stand for what I believe in, even in a conservative town such as Murrysville. Bolkovac feels that I should be ostracized from the teaching profession for my love and compassion and understanding. Fortunately, those who posted a response to this man's demanding of my demise from the teaching profession did not take the challenge seriously. My favorite comment was from a member who pointed out that I don't even live in Murrysville, but simply grew up there, and so demanding to the local school board that I shouldn't teach there wouldn't do too much. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must go burn a flag." This made me laugh. Thanks, Mr.Z.

I'm relieved to know that most people are very level headed and understanding creatures. Of course we (all six .point. 2,3, 4? billion of us) are not going to agree. And especially in a Murrysville forum, I expected to read some dissent of my opinions. I did not expect, however, to be called a Little Crud while pointing out that my beliefs should be grounds for my banishment from teaching.

My feelings? Life is full of little surprises. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go hang out with some homosexual atheists. Today's agenda: aborting a baby in the sanctuary of the catholic church and burning a flag in the school gymnasium. It should be fun.

Posts have been thin... like the snow on my MX-5

2007-03-21T22:06:00.000-04:00

It seems that when I have things to write about, I have no time to write them. And when I am sitting around the house, jobless, I don't have anything interesting to say.

A couple weekends ago, Stacy and I walked through a rhododendron jungle and marveled at 300 (at least!) year-old trees. It was fairly warm outside, especially with the sun shinning through the leafless forest trees, and the stream were flowing quickly.

A week ago, Stacy made major progress on the bathroom renovation.

I have been subbing a lot lately, to my satisfaction. (Job = money) $ is not important to me, but I need a little to sustain life.

I have decided to start making some of my pictures private on Flickr. So if you care, and want to view them, you'll have to sign up. (It's free, and you can post pictures too!) Once you sign up, add me as a contact. Click "friend" and/or "family" accordingly. I don't like the idea of photos of my friends being viewed publicly by anyone. I've recently had someone favorite a photo of my friends and when I went to his Flickr profile, I saw he had a bunch of pictures of girls. That creeps me out. So, anyway, I want to share my photos with you all, most of whom even if I don't *know* personally, I know well enough through the blogsphere.

Well, I have much more to report. Like how I can't check my gmail, log into Blogger, Flickr, Myspace, Facebook, or any other "bad" site while I'm at school. Frustrating. I could get so much posting done while subbing. Ahh, well, another time!

My Quarter-Life Crisis

2007-03-08T13:40:00.001-05:00

pretty blue eyes
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

My mother asked me on the phone if I was happy. I figured it was probably a question which resulted from her finishing one of those "soul searching" books, (which, by the way, I am not criticizing - I am currently reading Man's Search For Meaning) and I responded with a matter-of-fact yes. I wasn't offended, just not really sure how to answer that question. Honestly? Am I happy that substitute teaching is dull work and on my days off I can be found geeking out on the computer rather than taking walks, exercising, taking pictures, exploring, etc.? No, of course not. The day ends and I wonder what I've accomplished. I can, without hesitation, say: nothing. Completed cover letters? No. Finished painting the trim and windows? No. Did my laundry?! No. Sit-ups? No. Organized the pile of papers sitting on the kitchen table? No. Pissed around on the internet for hours? Yes. Ate too many bites of Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream? Yes. Nap? Yes.

But, right now, I'm in a difficult place. (Think a little deeper here.) My spiritual advisor, Henry, says I'm going through my "Quarter-Life Crisis." I graduated (edit: from) college. Time to get a "real" job. The questions arise: What do I want to do with my life? What's my purpose? Why do I keep f-ing everything up? Can I just live in a hole somewhere?

I miss Sweden. I miss Peter. I've said it a million times before. You, who read my blog, who know me, know this about me. I've been so many amazing places, it seems a bit strange now to be planted in Bellefonte, described in poetry as a "fading" town.

But this guy that you see here is why I answered yes to my mom. Stacy. Makes me happy.

I can't be certain of what I want out of life. I'll probably go back to school. Study. Write. Get another degree. I might decide to relocate. I might decide to get married and have babies. I might even be a teacher and enjoy it. So life is full of uncertainties. This is not a profound statement - everyone knows this. But the one certainty in my life is this man. I know whatever life hands (or throws) at me, how many monkeys shake out of my tree (Peter!), my love for this man will not change. I don't care that we are 17 years apart. That I'm only 23 and he'll be 40. I'm young, and so is he. And we have a lot of living to do together.

a nice pretty package....

2007-03-08T11:34:00.000-05:00

... went out to a friend of mine yesterday. ;-)

Official AWP Stalker

2007-03-06T09:44:00.000-05:00

I read a lot of blogs, which may tend to get in the way of me writing on my own. Most of the blogs I read fall into these categories: personal reflections on life (like mine), education (tis who I am), and writers/writing (tis who I want to be). So a good chunk of my reading has been postponed these past few days because the writers/writing category have been gallivanting in Atlanta at the annual AWP conference. AWP is the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (you can see why they shortened it to AWP). The conference is an excuse for the writers to get together and hobnob, muse about their success, or drink away their failures. I always imagined writers, when put together in a large group, were rather stuffy and pretentious, but AWP sounds like anything but. Consider me an AWP stalker. No, I did not actual go to Atlanta. Jeez, I can't even afford to take a ski trip to New England. But for the past two years I have been living vicariously through the writers' blogs that I read, and I love to hear of their AWP adventures.

I have been saying this for some time now - but I want to get back into writing. I need to find out whether I'm actually any good at it, or if I had writing teachers blowing smoke up my butt. (It is entirely possible that this is the case.) I haven't found the inspiration to write... in almost a year. But, my mild depression I think might just be the kicker to get me going. My occasional but frequent enough sub jobs have made me itchy to write about American schools, students, and the inefficiencies of education. But in a fun, dry sarcastic sort of way. Fiction, memoir, poetry - it's all open to suggestion. I want to try all forms, see which one carries me through - and maybe, someday, lands me at a table selling books at AWP.

Quote of the day II

2007-03-03T21:11:00.000-05:00

"Wow, E augmented chord. You're a genius Billy Joel!" ~ Stacy

Me, Jenny, and my squinty eye

2007-03-03T20:11:00.001-05:00

Me & Jenny S.
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

Here's me and Jenny S, first college roomie and good friend, at the Penn Brewery in Pittsburgh. I love this picture for a couple of reasons.

1. I don't recall having any pictures of Jen and I in the five years we've been friends, and this is a particularly good one. Despite...

2. ... that it is a great illustration of my squinty eye. I am about three beers in and in no way drunk, but very much happy. It seems when I drink, my squinty eye feels the need to show itself more prominently, especially in photographs.

Jenny, here are the pictures finally. I've been busy subbing and haven't had much time for blog/photo updates. When I get home from work, I usually veg, eat some Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheescake (with the graham cracker swirl), and think (read: dreading) about my life as a future teacher.

Mail Call

2007-03-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

From Wednesday's glorious sub-job. Oh! How I long for every sub job to be like that one! I would give up my first born (just kidding) to have a job there!

Hi, Gina -

Just thought about you here at work and wanted to say that I love you and hope you're enjoying your day at the Delta Program.
See you this evening!!

S.

Quote of the day

2007-02-22T15:54:00.000-05:00

In an email from Peter:

"PS - Jamie asked if he should bring something I missed from the States in his luggage... consider yourself at the risk of being packed..."

"Oh my gawd!"

2007-02-21T10:34:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: My brother shouts "shit!" as he's going down the run. If this offends you, don't watch. Otherwise, this is some hilarious shit... er, stuff.

Me and Stacy taking a run

2007-02-20T22:55:00.001-05:00

Me and Stacy taking a run
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

This weekend was full of snow frolicking. And on Sunday we spent the morning with my family sled riding down our very steep and very snowy driveway. It started as an attempt to shovel, but turned into a sledding fest!

I'm in the process now of uploading the videos on youtube, but here's my favorite picture from the weekend - when Stacy and I took our turn down the driveway. To be honest, I didn't think my mom would get this shot, but she did great!

I'm scared!

2007-02-19T10:18:00.000-05:00

The best part of my weekend was when we all decided to have a little fun in the snow. It started out as a family effort to shovel the driveway, when we realized what a great sled riding hill it would make. And the best part of our adventures, when my parents took a turn... documented only here, on my blog.

getting my game face on...

2007-02-15T13:43:00.000-05:00

Since I'm a part-timer right now, I have some free time kickin around. So I took a long bath. Read some. Listened to music. And now I am giving myself a facial.
The directions said to lay down for 15-20 minutes. But I thought I'd blog instead. Kinda looks like war paint. I can't smile, which is a bit annoying, since it's my favorite hobby, even when I'm alone.

ahhhh, umeployment = bliss.

Sub Musings I

2007-02-12T11:05:00.000-05:00

Is this what I have to look forward to?

Huzzah!

2007-02-06T21:33:00.000-05:00

I have my first sub job tomorrow! YAY! And I have another one on Friday! I'm a substitute teacher! YAY!

Teacher Talk

2007-02-06T16:59:00.000-05:00

Been doing a bit of reading lately, including a few blogs writing about education. Here's one I read recently that struck a nerve. How much do teachers have to get shit on before someone finally takes notice that it's society's fault our education system is falling in the crapper.

I'm sick of these FALSEHOODS, so stop using them:

- TEACHERS GET SUMMERS OFF - What planet do you reside on? No we don't. We take other jobs because our salary is crap. We take courses because we are required to maintain a continuing education. We tutor. We prepare our lessons for next semester. School usually ends in early/mid June and teachers must be back early/mid August. That's two months to get all of the above done. As much as you don't want to believe it, we don't sit on our ass all day eating bon-bons and farting.

- TEACHERS HAVE SHORT WORK DAYS - The school day is seven hours long, a work day is eight. Teachers get 30 mins for lunch (at best), office jobs get an hour. My boyfriend works an office job. When he comes home at 4, he brings NOTHING home with him. When I leave the school at 3 (if I don't have after school activities to supervise, meetings to attend, or students to see) I bring home EVERYTHING from that day. When else will I grade the 60+ essays on the French Revolution?

... Alright, I don't feel like doing this now.

2000 Bloggers!

2007-02-04T15:42:00.000-05:00

I'm there! Somewhere near the middle-ish end. Can you find me?

Gina's Mental Disorder

2007-01-25T10:39:00.000-05:00

What mental disorder do you have? Your Result: GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) You can never seem to calm down and always feel anxious for unknown reasons. You tend to not be able to concentrate and have headaches or other anxiety symptoms.
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Paranoia
Manic Depressive
ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)
What mental disorder do you have?

Gina's Personality Disorders

2007-01-25T10:29:00.000-05:00

Disorder	Rating
Paranoid Disorder:	Low
Schizoid Disorder:	Low
Schizotypal Disorder:	Moderate
Antisocial Disorder:	Low
Borderline Disorder:	Low
Histrionic Disorder:	Low
Narcissistic Disorder:	Moderate
Avoidant Disorder:	Low
Dependent Disorder:	Moderate
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:	Moderate
-- Personality Disorder Test - Take It! -- -- Personality Disorders --

I guess I'm pretty normal. Dammit.

The Wages of Teaching

2007-01-22T18:55:00.000-05:00

borrowed from my alma mater...

01.	The Wages of Teaching. (Newsweek) “The average new teacher today makes just under $30,000 a year, which may not look too bad for a twenty something with no mortgage and no kids. But soon enough the newbies realize that they can make more money and not work anywhere near as hard elsewhere. After a lifetime of hearing the old legends about cushy hours and summer vacations, they figure out that early mornings are for students who need extra help, evenings are for test corrections and lesson plans, and weekends and summers are for second and even third jobs to try to pay the bills.”
02.	Teacher Pay, 1940-2000: Losing Ground, Losing Status. (NEA) “An analysis of decennial Census data clearly shows that over the past 60 years the annual pay teachers receive has fallen sharply in relation to the annual pay of other workers with college degrees. The mid- to late 1990s, a period of vigorous national economic growth, was a particularly bad time for teacher pay relative to the pay of other occupations. Throughout the nation the average earnings of workers with at least four years of college are now over 50 percent higher than the average earnings of a teacher. At no other time since a college degree was required to teach has this wage gap been so wide.”
03.	How Does Teacher Pay Compare? (The Economic Policy Institute) “An analysis of weekly wage trends shows that teachers' wages have fallen behind those of other workers since 1996, with teachers' inflation-adjusted weekly wages rising just 0.8%, far less than the 12% weekly wage growth of other college graduates and of all workers.”
04.	Teacher Pay Lags Behind. (The Economic Policy Institute) “Over time, the wage gap between teachers and their peers becomes a gulf that can sabotage schools’ best efforts to recruit and retain the best teachers. . . . This gap puts teachers in an untenable position, where they have to choose between their students and their own families’ wellbeing.”
05.	The Myths About Teaching. (NEA) MYTH: Teachers have summers off. FACT: Students have summers off. Teachers spend summers working second jobs, teaching summer school, and taking classes for certification renewal or to advance their careers. + Most full-time employees in the private sector receive training on company time at company expense, while many teachers spend the eight weeks of summer break earning college hours, at their own expense. + School begins in late August or early September, but teachers are back before the start of school and are busy stocking supplies, setting up their classrooms, and preparing for the year’s curriculum.”

Digital Picture Organizing

2007-01-21T12:38:00.000-05:00

I've been home for over a month, and I still have not shown anyone pictures from my trip. So today I will organize, delete, and print. But while I was going through old photos, I found this one from December 2005.

I donated my hair to Locks of Love. 13 inches of undyed brown hair. I was happy to do it, but I certainly missed my hair. I'm happy to report it's growing at a rapid pace. But I doubt I'll be doing that again any time soon.

Papa Bear and Baby Bear

2007-01-19T15:16:00.000-05:00

Just in case you missed it...

Colbert on The O'Reilly Factor:

O'Reilly on The Colbert Report:

LOVE IT!

A Meeting Of The Guts

2007-01-19T12:35:00.000-05:00

Last night, in great anticipation, I watched both Stephen Colbert appear on The O'Reilly Factor and Bill O'Reilly appear on The Colbert Report. It was, as Colbert put it, a meeting of the guts. I waited all week, and was not disappointed. Of course, I enjoyed watching them on The Colbert Report more than The O'Reilly Factor... more laughs to be had. I wish the meeting could have been longer. If it was such a monumentous (or for the dictionary nerds: monumental) occasion, why couldn't they dedicate half the program to it?

In any case, it was spectacular. I parked my ass on the coach for an hour of laughs. The first comedic love of my life, Jon Stewart, (Stacy occasionally points out my obsessive love for this man... a bit of jealous, I'm sure.) and then Colbert. How can a person live without these two great men? I know, not having cable at the Burnside residence, that I cannot. Every night at 11pm, I must find a t.v. I need Stewart like I need coffee (which, for those of you who don't know me, is the equivalent to needing oxygen. Maybe slightly greater.)

What I'll be doing tonight...

2007-01-14T19:07:00.000-05:00

My new favorite T.V series: Rome. I watched the whole first season in Sweden with Peter (who had it downloaded onto his computer), and now I'm addicted. Stacy found out that the library has Season I for borrowing, so as soon as the bathroom project is finished, we will watch that and catch Stacy up on the Rome happenings. But for now... Season II awaits!

I did it!

2007-01-08T16:37:00.000-05:00

Today might just be the most productive day that I've had since returning to PA.

I have just deleted over 500 emails with a former (fill in blank). Over 500. Close to 600. At first, I was going through, reading each of them, getting lost in the memories, and then DELETE. But... 500 of those moments takes a long time, and finally I just went to my folders window and clicked "delete folder." My heart pounded for a moments when the warning message popped up:

This will delete your _______ folder. Do you wish to continue?

And I thought, do I? Do I want to completely erase a very special and exciting time in my life?

OF COURSE I DO!

If things were different, but they aren't. If we were friends, but we aren't. If I weren't with Stacy, but I am. If I was in love with him (still), but I'm not. If we were together, but we're not.

So it was the only logical thing to do. It took me 19 months, but I did it. And gosh darnit do I feel good!

About this whole resolution thing...

2007-01-06T16:43:00.000-05:00

I found this little ditty by our friend, Cole, while Stacy and I were eating dinner last night. In the midst of my mild "depression" and anxiety of the "real life" ahead of me, it was nice to be reminded by Cole what really matters in life. And more importantly, that it's not healthy to focus on the external and superficial factors in our lives, but rather on our self. So for this year, I'm throwing out ~~lose weight~~ and ~~make money~~ and instead employing Cole's resolutions as my own.

About this whole resolution thing ...
by Cole Hons

With 2007's arrival, I find that in spite of myself I'm re-assessing my life and considering ways to improve it. I say "in spite of myself" because each and every day -- every waking moment in fact -- is a new beginning. We're continually presented with opportunities to decide how to proceed with the business of life. In the grand scheme of things, one year rolling over into the next holds little significance. As U2's Bono pointed out in the '80s, "Nothing changes on a New Year's Day."

Nevertheless, the whole world marks this change as a big deal, and because the histories of our collective and individual lives are mapped out according to specific dates, I can't help but reflect a little. And then there's that cultural tradition of the New Year's resolution. Like President's Day or Cinco de Mayo, it's an optional observance. Embrace it or ignore it. Either way, it makes its presence felt for a fleeting moment.

Usually I think for a day or two about making some resolutions and then decide not to resolve to do anything in particular. I can hardly get through a day without writing down a list of everything I want to accomplish by sundown or the end of the week, and I also regularly write down big goals for myself. So adding one more list on top of all that stuff feels redundant.

But this year, I thought I'd give the resolution thing a try. Because I've already got my ongoing lists of specific actions mapped out, I'm going to take a different, more general approach to this whole yearly business.

This year, I resolve to always remember to breathe deeply and steadily, to stay centered and to live from a place of harmonious grace.

This year, I resolve to act with compassion and understanding toward my fellow human beings and all creatures I encounter.

This year, I resolve to treat myself with compassion as well -- to move at a pace consistent with my own well being at all times and to rest when I need it.

This year, I resolve to laugh whenever I get the chance.

This year, I resolve to give freely of myself, without suffering fools or allowing anyone to misdirect my thoughts or emotions.

This year, I resolve to learn the truth, speak the truth, write the truth and live the truth.

This year, I resolve to consciously, joyfully add the gift of my own creative spirit to the infinitely creative Great Spirit that inhabits all things in the universe.

This year, I resolve to be in love with life.

Have a beautiful 2007.

Cole Hons can be reached at cdtweekender@centredaily.com.

Just in case you hadn't heard through the grapevine

2007-01-06T16:09:00.001-05:00

Mazda Miata
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

Stacy is the best boyfriend ever. And not just because he bought me this pretty Mazda Miata for my graduation from Penn State.

what I really want for Christmas... whoops, too late

2007-01-01T12:43:00.000-05:00

My mom was a little upset I got my Christmas list to her so late this holiday season. (In my defense, I had just just gotten back from Sweden on December 11.) And she was a little upset it was so scarce. (I only had about seven items on there.) So in a frantic effort to give her things to buy me for Christmas, I did what I hate doing - asking for tschotchkes. And now that Christmas is over (Though I do still have to give my family their presents. Seems I left them in Bellefonte when we went to visit the families this year.) I thought of things I need. Well, I don't need anything, except a job, but these are things that would be wonderful to have.

A stand mixer. To complete with great success the reicpies of Alton Brown.

A digital scale. Because AB says it's the best way to measure ingredients (particularly when baking).

a few good men

2006-12-30T18:37:00.001-05:00

a few good men
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

Here's Peter and Svensson (I can't say his real name) - two of my favorite men, and certainly my favorite Swedes. These two rank up there with Stacy in "Perfect Man" status. And ladies, they are single! Hopefully they will come visit me soon. (Peter is currently working out a plan to move here - now that's love!)

Another Shameless Plug

2006-12-13T18:49:00.000-05:00

Hi, folks --

Upcoming for January --

Forbidden Valley VI will be on Saturday, January 20 at the University Club. Don't miss Pam Monk's annual satirical song review of the previous year's events. I'm on the writing team for this show, and will be the music coordinator. More on this to come, but advance inquiries can be directed to Pam at 814-863-1005.

DREAMGIRLS REVIVAL!! January 23 and 24 at the State Theatre. I'll be the guitarist for this concert version of Richard Biever's successful October production of the classic 1981 book musical. Those of us who were in it this fall had a blast and thought it should be revived -- and CDT theatre critic Harry Zimbler agreed:

"The production of 'Dreamgirls' that opened last week absolutely rocked the house. No one can sit still when the cast of this show gets rolling. Go and see for yourself... The orchestra. . . was first-class. . .sounded like a professional pit group right off Broadway."

Tickets ($15) are available at www.thestatetheatre.org Click on Events Calendar and find the show, or follow this link: https://www.choicesecure01.net/mainapp/eventschedule.aspx?clientID=statepa Inquiries can be directed to Singing Onstage Studios at 814-238-1099 or singingonstage@gmail.com

Best!
Stacy

Still alive, but...

2006-12-08T13:58:00.000-05:00

Let it be known that I haven't posted a real post since... Spain. I went to Malaga in September. It is now December 8th, two days before I leave to fly home to Pennsylvania. Let it be known that I should be castrated (if that biologically worked...) and made to stand naked in front of 100 paper-thin European models. (WTF, Gina?)

In any case, I will pick up this blog again. Someday. But for those of you waiting in a pool of drool, here's a pic from my travels in Eastern Europe.

Yes, that's me, Alison, and Kristina with the Christmas Dragon in Krakow. A good start to the trip, no?

Okay... more to come. I'm going on a walk around my little Swedish community. Three sleeps before I'm back in PA. Contradicting emotions flowing through my little bloodstream.

Oh - and not to sound like a huge stalker, but PG, where did you go? You were, like, the only real person who read my blog. Or who left comments anyway...

something to look forward to...

2006-11-12T11:53:00.002-05:00

I know it's a bit late in coming, but...

CONGRATULATIONS DEMOCRATS!

Personality Test

2006-10-25T09:50:00.000-04:00

Jung Explorer Test
Actualized type: ENFJ
(who you are)

ENFJ - "Persuader". Outstanding leader of groups. Can be aggressive at helping others to be the best that they can be. 2.5% of total population.

Preferred type: ENFJ
(who you prefer to be)

ENFJ - "Persuader". Outstanding leader of groups. Can be aggressive at helping others to be the best that they can be. 2.5% of total population.

Attraction type: ENFP

(who you are attracted to)

ENFP - "Journalist". Uncanny sense of the motivations of others. Life is an exciting drama. 8.1% of total population.

Take Jung Explorer Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

And it's all mine...

2006-10-03T04:18:00.000-04:00

Happy Valley has a host of attractions
From Penn State sports to special events, Centre County has it all

By Lara Brenckle

Old Main stands at the center of the Penn State campus. The university has been the linchpin to continued growth in Centre County, although the rate of growth has slowed since 2000.

STATE COLLEGE -- Welcome to Happy Valley. You'll find out, if you haven't already, that the old nickname just might hold more than a little truth to it.

Centre County is smack in the middle of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and has a host of attractions within its borders that people venture thousands of miles to see.

Anchoring it all is Penn State University, home to 42,000 students and the Nittany Lions football team coached by the legendary Joe Paterno.

Their mighty, loyal fans swell this quiet, pastoral region of 138,000 people to create the third-largest city in the state on home football game weekends.

Just when you think the sports-driven mania is over, basketball season begins, and it is time to root for the home team once again. Though the winter schedule keeps most tailgaters at bay, the student section's rousing cheers warm up the Bryce Jordan Center's hard court.

Just a couple months ago, ground was broken for a minor-league baseball stadium that will be the home field for the State College Spikes, the area's newest sports team.

If football, basketball and baseball aren't your cup of tea, you can catch collegiate field hockey, ice hockey, tennis, swimming and myriad other sports during their respective seasons. To be sure, those athletes appreciate the support just as much as the football team does.

But beyond the turf, the university brings in a host of research, technology and business ventures.

There are performances of every type, from country superstars to custom car shows at the Jordan Center.

Eisenhower Auditorium host smaller acts, such as comedians, newly discovered stars and performances that include dance, music and theater companies from around the globe.

A patron of the arts?

You've got your pick of local photographers, sculptors, painters and craftspeople. Galleries and shops selling their wares can be found in Lemont, Bellefonte, Philipsburg, State College, Aaronsburg and elsewhere.

Theaters are springing up like the daffodils on the lawn of Penn State's Old Main. The Downtown Theatre Centre in State College is already attracting patrons, and the renovated State Theatre, a restored movie house, preparing to welcome the public in another year or so.

You can catch indie movies at Bellefonte's Garman Opera House Theatre or the latest action flick at the Rowland in Philipsburg. We've even got a drive-in movie theater, The Starlight, for those balmy summer evenings.

And it all comes together in July with the Central PA 4th Fest, a fireworks spectacular on the grounds near Beaver Stadium, and the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, a weeklong street fair of local, regional and national artists, specialty acts and traveling attractions.

In Boalsburg, which lays claim to hosting the first Memorial Day celebration, The People's Choice Festival, which highlights the work of regional and local artists, runs the same week as the arts festival in State College.

Perhaps one of the best assets of Centre County doesn't cost a dime: the great outdoors.

From Howard to Philipsburg to Bellefonte, there are woods to hunt the elusive white-tailed deer. Hunting is so revered in these parts that most schools close on the first day of rifle deer season.

There are plenty of trails to hike and bike. Tussey Mountain Ski Area offers winter fun. And sparkling summer streams lie waiting for someone to cast a line.

Vintage towns restored to their original beauty -- Bellefonte, Aaronsburg, Philipsburg -- make an afternoon of sightseeing a wander back through time. There among the antique buildings are independent retailers, coffee shops and restaurants where you can sample the local cuisine and dialect.

In the Penns Valley area, along state Route 192, is Amish country. The Amish are adherents to a strict from of Anabaptism. They shun electricity, cars and modern dress, preferring to live simply and quietly with their God.

A trip through Amish country will find men driving buggies, children dashing to one-room schoolhouses on scooters, and women hanging their plain black aprons out to dry.

With farming still vital to the local economy, we can't overlook the second major fair of the summer: the great Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair, a weeklong event that has brought families together for generations.

Tenters and RVers blanket Grange Park in Centre hall, and thousands more pour in to watch the livestock judging, tractor pulls and craft fairs and to sample the great food.

There are dozens more events I've left out. But, then again, what fun would you have discovering Centre County if I told you all its secrets up front?

Welcome to Centre County, where the world you want is right outside your door.

Movie Count

2006-10-01T17:33:00.000-04:00

If it's one thing I'm getting good at here in Sweden it's watching movies. Yes, I like movies. No, I haven't seen that many of them. Here's what I've got checked off so far in Sweden:

Capote
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Wallace & Gromit: Curse Of The Were-Rabbit
The Da Vinci Code
The Notebook
Apocalypse Now (Redux)

Six down and only 9,000 left. Whew! Well, I've made Peter's (my new Swedish friend who misses State College almost as much as I do) apartment my official cinema, and so I will continue to catch up on classics that I have never seen. American History X (nej), Saving Private Ryan (nej), Band of Brothers (nej), Donnie Darko (nej) - to name a few.

Keep checking back for a movie count update. If I gain nothing else from my time here, at least I know I was exposed to the world of movies. And that makes for great lessons!

Bellefonte breakfast

2006-09-28T16:51:00.000-04:00

Bellefonte breakfast
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

Every once in a while Stacy sends me picture updates of life in Bellefonte without me. Here is the most recent one. The homemade grape jam being spread on the delicious natural peanut butter Thomas english muffin! This is, by far, the best breakfast in the world. A breakfast that I am currently NOT enjoying and missing terribly. When I saw this photo, my mouth water... as did my eyes. I miss sitting across the table from Stacy, stirring up the peanut butter, fighting over the Sunday comics, and the grape jam/jelly.....

I miss your face, your morning hair, your coffee (well, maybe not your coffee... the Swedes make a mean cup of joe)... I miss every second of our mundane domesticity together. I'll take crisp October mornings, drinking coffee and overlooking our sleepy Victorian town over Swedish culture ANY day.

our grapes

2006-09-22T09:15:00.000-04:00

our grapes
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

Stacy emailed this picture to me yesterday – a day that ended up being a new low of my time here in Sweden. I cried yesterday – in my office and at the bus stop – and one too many of the teachers at my school took notice, for which I am completely embarrassed. How did I know that my mentor teacher and his wife would drive by to witness my private crying at the bus stop?

Thank god for Skype, and for Stacy. I am a little upset that more of my friends don't have Skype, but maybe it's for the best, because I would be talking on it all evening. But I talked to Stacy for about an hour, and he cheered me up, helped me sort things out emotionally. I miss home, that's for sure - much more than when Nicola and I traveled in 2004. I thought it would be like that - I would come here and be so overwhelmed with Swedish life that I wouldn't miss home. But that, as it turns out, is not the case.

When I traveled in 2004 I was leaving behind a very unhealthy, destructive relationship. I was only a year and a half into Penn State, and the only "home" I had was my parents. I was excited for my six month trek in Europe. I was with my best friend. I was happy to get away from Murrysville, the armpit of society, and to get away from a very unfulfilling life. I would miss my parents, to be sure, but they would be there when I got back. Missing your parents is a different kind of pain. One that is easy mended by the comfort of knowing they are always there and that they love you unconditionally. (Well, my parents anyway.)

But now I have a home. Granted, Stacy legally owns it, but it is ours. I am living a life that some would deem boring (especially for a 22 year-old), but for me it's a dream. I finally feel happy and secure, in a world that makes sense. I never was good at partying, doing drugs, or dancing like a slut to hip-hop music. I've been to one fraternity party and I spent the night watching my friend dance with multiple guys and driving the dunkards home. (And fighting with the drunkards about driving themselves that made me feel as though I was starring in some after-tv special.) If I'm going to get drunk, I prefer to do it with my close friends, in a setting where I can act silly and have fun, not be sexy and wonder who I might hook up with. Ugh. It all disgusts me, and it always has. I've either excluded myself from those events, or gone along, and had a miserable time.

But now I don't have to pretend anymore. Because the things I want to do: go exploring, hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing, cooking, going out to listen to jazz (not to find a frat party), going to musicals and plays, writing.... don't involve being a immature, trend-loving sheep. I have Stacy (and of course close friends who enjoy the life away from the party), and I don't need any longer to pretend to be a normal 22-year-old. I was never good at acting my own age.

Whew. That is a long-winded story to say, "Holy hell I'm homesick." And yesterday's terrible day, with the non-communicative students and the language barrier, just put that all into perspective. Today I am better, but it doesn't make missing home any easier. Do I regret that I came? Of course not. What I will gain from this experience, both personally and professionally far outweighs the homesickness. I am happy to be teaching the Swedes, to learn about their culture, and to educate them about America, dismissing some of the fallacies they tend to have. Do I long for December 11th? Like you would not believe.

I wonder what they thought when they read my emails

2006-09-20T16:09:00.000-04:00

Tonight, I realized just how stupid I really am. Or, the optimistic version of that statement: I learned how to finally spell.

G says: how do you spell segway?
G says: is that right?
S says: segue
S says: = transition
G says: holy shit
G says: it doesn't look at all like I thought
S says: Segway
S says: = thing you ride around on, looking STUPID.
G says: on my god
G says: I'm a complete moron
S says: yes, but
S says: there's still time to change.
S says: ;)
S says: Why, did you get a SEGWAY?
G says: no, but I've been typing segway in emails for years now
G says: god knows who I've sent that word to
G says: profs
G says: friends
G says: everybody
S says: That's why you're in college...
S says: to meet people like me...
S says: who can teach you the ways of the world.
G says: who will teach me how to properly spell segue
S says: Your life is now complete.
G says: thank you, my love

Now I know why I get the squiggly red line in Word every time I type segway. But there have never been suggestions on how to correctly spell it, so I just assumed it was one of those computer mental blocks that Word sometimes has. No, the MENTAL BLOCK was me.

Parents, be scared. I'm. teaching. your. children.

The narcissistic will Google

2006-09-19T10:22:00.000-04:00

I am no stranger to Google-stalking. I will admit to the occasional (daily?) Googling of people that I know. It is reassuring to have this up-to-date information. I don't consider it stalking - more curiosity. No, that's wrong. Pure Boredom.

So needless to say I am also no stranger to the vainest of all acts: Googling thy self.

Today (right now, in fact) I performed an update search on my name. What has transpired since the last Googling? Of course, my name is shared by a famous rap singer, making it a big more complicated to find actual sites about me. But there are a few, and most of them contain my middle name.

I Googled my name and the phrase "Penn State" (so as to keep out sites pertaining to Rapper Gina, though this doesn't always hold true). The search results popped up, my website first on the list (no updates there, I can tell you that), my Amazon page second, and third...

What's this? My name bolded under the heading of "Problem Child." What have I done now?! I look for closely to see that next to my name is the title of a poem I wrote spring 2005. What is this? Some practical joke? My mind races through faces of people who might be behind this....

And then I remember. I had submitted the poem to a student-run literary magazine at Penn State. I saw the flyer at the local bookstore/hang out. I thought it would be fun. I never received any confirmation whether the poem was accepted or rejected. Months went by, I continued with classes, Stacy, my life void of writing, and forgot completely about the submission. Possibly a year later (I can't remember when I submitted it) and here it is, published in the Spring 2006 issue (I was still in State College), my poem that may or may not be publish-worthy. (I had also submitted it to a real literary magazine, with real poets and writers, and was actually gitty to receive my first official rejection letter.)

So, in case you are curious, and I know you aren't, here is the website where my first ever published poem is featured. It's so insignificant, but I can't help feeling a bit vainglorious!

Holiday In Spain

2006-09-06T16:27:00.000-04:00

Those three words had a whole other meaning a year and a half ago. Counting Crows would repeat the lyrics, and I'd listen to the slow melody and fantasize about being in Spain. Little did I know that on September 8, 2006 I would be doing just what the song suggested... taking a holiday in Spain.

Well, it's not really a holiday, but I'll be going to Spain on field trip. The Spanish language kids from Erik Dalhbergs are going, and there was a spot open for one more, and the teacher (a lovely woman I hope to get to know more on this trip) asked me if I wanted to go.

Gina, would you like to go to Spain? I don't know... let me think about it. (HA)

When I got the news (which was last week sometime... I know, I've been holding out on all of you) I was in downtown Jönköping, and just about peed myself in front of everyone. I tried clandestinely do a little dance, but it was too obvious. You know when you see someone on the street with a HUGE grin on their face, and you just assume they are a pervert or mentally unstable - that was me. HUGE grin, check. Mentally unstable, double check.

My five day jaunt in Malaga, Spain will not be all pleasure. I will be a teacher chaperone. The Spanish teacher would actually like me to teach while I'm there, which, of course, I'm all too willing to do. (So, in a way, it will be all pleasure, because for me teaching is just that.) In addition, it will be an educational experience overall. After all, I am going to be a history teacher, and surely checking out the Arab castles in Malaga will fit quite nicely into that whole "history teacher" persona.

So expect pictures soon... sometime late next week. I leave Friday morning at 10 (4 am for most of you) and will be coming back Wednesday night.

"I may take a holiday in Spain
Leave my wings behind me
Flush my worries down the drain
And fly away to somewhere new"

This song finally has a new meaning.

Update

2006-09-05T17:54:00.000-04:00

Finally got the Copenhagen (Københavns) pictures up on flickr, along with the rest from Göteborg.

I'll be writing soon. I'm officially in the school everyday, either teaching or planning. I drink coffee. Too much. I still waste too much time on the computer.

Oh, and I cleaned my desk, but it's cluttered again.

The care package from Stacy finally arrived in the post yesterday. He gave me, among other things, Swedish fish (to give to my students), nerds (fav. candy), Burt's Bees lip balm (without me reminding him!), and the best of all, a Penn State keychain.

Today Kris, Al, and I met with three student teachers going to State College for five weeks. We spent a good amount of time telling them where to go and what to do. Bars, music, drink specials, theatre, campus, outdoors... everything. We told them they HAD to go to a football game. And if they couldn't get a ticket, they needed to go to a bar and watch the game there - to be in the atmosphere. I tried to explain to my students how exciting it was to be in State College during football season, to go to the games, to soak it all in. I did not do it justice.

In the process of telling the girls about State College I became overwhelmingly jealous of them. I wanted to be the one going to State College for five weeks. I wanted to go home. The feeling was brief, but it was there. I wanted to be sitting outside the library. I wanted to be sitting by the pond in the Hintz garden.

There are those of you who understand and there are those that never will. State College is so breathtaking, especially in the fall. It is easily the most beautiful place in this world. I have been to a lot of the world (not all, mind you, but enough that I feel justified to make that statement.) And so it's perfectly reasonable that I would miss it from time to time.

And Penn State football!!!

::: sigh :::

2006-09-03T19:03:00.000-04:00

They Were Wrong

and of course, since I'm blogging about PENN STATE, here's the classic video from last year, which, along with the Gladiator video, brings on serious chills.

2006-09-03T18:54:00.000-04:00

A New Season...

I found this video on youtube and I thought I'd share it with you all. Just because I'm in Sweden doesn't mean I feel any less excited about the new season.

Let's Go STATE!!!

something other than me

2006-08-31T16:20:00.000-04:00

I'm so proud of my man

The search for the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen

2006-08-29T02:36:00.000-04:00

I suspect you all know by now that I am settled into Jonkoping, ready to take on the Swedish teenagers. But I am still uploading pictures from my trekkings with Stacy, and I also have a weekend trip to Copenhagen to fill you all in on.

Stacy's request for me to take care of myself have gone unfulfilled. I'm not abusing myself, necessarily, but I have not eaten anything decent in the last couple of days. And when I do cook, it is something very simple, like chicken and rice, which is very hard to muck up, and very bland tasting. I've made it twice now, and will be taking it as my lunch to school today. Stacy - I will need some basic recipes from you. Ones which don't require much in the way of spices or unusual ingredients. That goes for the rest of you too; if you have something easy, send it along. My mind doesn't have time to think about all the things I might know how to cook.

As for Copenhagen... it was what I call a "trial and error" travel. It was fun, to be sure, but it was full of mishaps. We weren't sure, up until (literally) minutes before we left, if we were going to have a place to stay or not. But we did, in a lovely little hostel 4 km outside of the city centre.

We arrived late Friday night in Copenhagen, starving, and headed off down the main street, past Tivoli, and to a recommended place to eat: Bryggeriet Apollo. It was expensive, but we four girls split two dishes, a rack or ribs and a chicken in mango sauce, and stuffed our tums. It was tasty, to say the least, though the BBQ sauce undoubtedly tasted like marinara sauce. I kid you not. We asked the waiter, told him we thought it might be the wrong sauce, so he brought another one, same taste. We concluded the Danish just were uneducated as to the different tastes.

The next morning we did the touristy things. We searched the city, spending the better part of the day, for the little mermaid statue. We did find it eventually, tucked behind the crowd of people with cameras around their necks. I wasn't impressed, but decided I was going to get a few shots since I had walked all over god's Copenhagen earth to find it.

The city was beautiful, with it's narrow canal and old, imposing buildings. It wasn't quaint like Bergen or even Stockholm. It appeared much more historic, as though it had many more stories to tell. In any case, I didn't spend nearly enough time there. I was eager to check out a pub, named "Old English Pub", but the girls weren't in for it. I wasn't really in the mood to drink by myself, and wished that Nicola was there with me. Nic and I always popped ourselves into a random pub while we visited London. I remember very much NOT being tourists with Nicola, but rather, just being in the city. That is what I like. I don't feel like I did that in Copenhagen.

We went to the famous Tivoli Gardens Saturday night, only to be rained on as soon as we walked through the gate. Not just a sprinkle or a spit, but a complete and utter downpour. Somehow, after a bit of finagling, I got free passes for the next day. Only problem was that we were leaving at 12:30 and the park didn't open until 11:00. Needless to say we didn't go on any of the rides, but just wandered around the park. It was cute and very tiny. It was sort of like Kennywood's younger sister. But it is really more for the shows and festivals, which we didn't get to experience. (Although, there must have been a food festival going on, because there were a line of booths set up giving away free samples of food! Always a treat!)

Sunday morning we decided to skip the hostel breakfast and look for a Danish. You'd think they would be everywhere, but they were few and far between. The night before we happened across a cafe, Lagkagehuset, that looked as though they'd have them. I suggested going there the next morning, and the girls didn't think, because of its Starbucks-like appearance, they would have them. I wanted to say that all the cafes in Europe have a Starbucks look, but refrained from trying to sound like a know-it-all. (I've been very cautious of this since I got here - having traveled Europe for six months with Nicola, I do know quite a bit more than the average shmo.) So Sunday morning, as we walked around looking for the Danish, I popped my head into this very posh looking cafe (that did not serve pastries at all) and asked where I could get "a Danish." The girl was very nice and pointed me in the direction of, where else, Lagkagehuset! Even after this confirmation by a local, the girls were not pleased, and insisted on going in search of a more quaint place. So we walked away from Lagkagehuset in search of the "oldest bakery in Copenhagen" to find it closed. They were determined to fine something more... touristy? I'm not sure, but we had been walking around for over an hour and I had yet to have a cup of coffee. I felt a sort of understanding and sympathy for Chris Brenne, who was always on the search for coffee while we were in Goteborg. In any case, I set off for Lagkagehuset and they went searching for whatever they were looking for.

I have never seen better pastries in my life (except maybe France). And there among all the different types of pastries, was the "Danish." I ordered a cup of coffee and a chocolate Danish with custard filling. I took my breakfast outside and sat among the locals, listening to the sounds of morning traffic and smelling the smoky air. There is, for a brief moment, when I enjoy the smell of cigarette smoke. It in the morning, when I am drinking coffee. It reminds me of Nicola, and all the cafes we visited in Europe. All the times we would sit, early in the morning, with our coffee and a cigarette, and enjoy the city free from crowds and tourist attractions. We became a part of the city then, and forgot for a moment they we were actually just visiting.

In many ways, that was the best part of my weekend in Copenhagen. I sat and read Harry Potter, inhaled the cigarette smoke around me, and expected Nicola to appear any moment. She didn't though, which made me sad.

I was surprised, though, how comfortable I felt alone. I love to be alone, but it is usually always in my home or in a familiar setting. I didn't think I would like being alone while traveling. But I felt I rather preferred being alone. I like my new friends, but it's hard to travel with people you don't quite know. You can't comfortably say, "No, I don't want to do that." I wanted to find a pub; they wanted to find the Little Mermaid statue.

I might go a couple of places by myself and see how it goes. But I also like having the company of the girls, so I am not sure what to do. I am anxious to go to London. I want to go to Ramsbury, but I don't want to impose on the Jones' and I'm not sure if anyone there really wants to see me. We will see. For now, I'm nestled back in my apartment at RÃ¤slatt, not quite comfortable yet, but not lonely. I'm in my school, Erik Dalhberg, now, and enjoying meeting the students and observing the classes. I will write more on this once I get into a teaching groove. But I even have an office at the school!

I'll be adding the Copenhagen pictures shortly.

Strange dreams in a still strange bed

2006-08-25T03:23:00.000-04:00

I'm not hearing the sirens anymore, but I did have the most bizarre dreams last night, which involved dealing with the death of an ex-boyfriend, who left all of his sentimental things to me. Very awkward considering in the dream he was married. And also considering I felt love towards him and was utterly sad that he was gone, but also had Stacy who I cared so much more for. Anyway, it was strange and I blame it on late night internet gazing and the surprisingly comfortable but not too comfortable foam mattress I am sleeping on.

In other news, I am going to Copenhapen today with a couple of friends, provided we find a place to sleep. So now I must go and do a number of errands, which includes washing the clothes I spilt coffee on two days ago.

Räslatt - my new home

2006-08-23T15:12:00.000-04:00

Stacy has gone and I am settled into my apartment in Jönköping. Somehow the past two weeks happened without any consideration of my feelings. No one asked me if I wanted Stacy to leave. No one asked me if I wanted to live in a high rise with 500 of the world’s craziest 20-somethings. No one asked how I felt about being away from my home in Pennsylvania for four months. So here I am, trying to think of the positive.

Things are a bit better since I left Stacy and the Stockholm airport on Sunday. I have a mobile phone now, and you should call me, if it does not cost you too much. (It cost me a bundle to call the States, so I’ve been having my parents and Stacy calling me.) Kids, check with your parents on your overseas rates before dialing my number. In any case, if you need to hear my voice, no matter the expense, here it is:

(As I was typing my number I realized that it would be viewable by the entire world, should the entire world so happen to read my blog. So, if you would like the number, just email me and I will give it to you.)

Is it now Tuesday, but I will not be posting this until Wednesday, because that is when (hopefully) my internet connection will be available.

Just to give you all a little background info on my situation in Jönköping. I am student teaching here, but I am living with the other 500 + international students, who are here to take courses in a range of studies, with the most popular being International Business and Engineering. I have my own bedroom, but am living in an apartment with three other girls. I have met two – one is French and one is Finish. I think the third is Canadian, but she has not showed up yet. I am living in a community called Raslatt, and the students have occupied the last 20 apartment buildings. There are two other Penn State students, Kristina and Allison, here doing their student teaching, and they live in the same building as I do.

To give you a bit of perspective of what I’m up against, Allison’s roommate is from Turkey. We asked her why she chose Sweden, and she said “to party.”

Apparently this is where the partiers of the world come. Why? I’m not sure. Maybe the courses are easy, maybe Sweden is known for its drinking, though I was not aware of that. That night I went to the student center, Sokkertoppen, to call my parents. While I was fighting with the non-usable pay phone I heard bits and pieces of conversation from the students there. And I heard them talking about parties. How to party, where to party, when to party. And here I am, sitting in my pajamas, fighting with a payphone that doesn’t accept pre-paid calling cards, and insists on stealing my kronors.

Last night someone was blowing a siren at 2 in the morning.

But I am not worried. I am here to teach the Swedish kiddalooms. I will persevere. I will survive the obsessive drinking behavior of my generation. I went to the store to get a pack of beer, and my American friend said she liked beer, but what’s the point of drinking if you are not going to get drunk? And my immediate thought was, how typical. I decided against the beer just because of the calorie intake, but I don’t drink to get drunk. I drink because there are hundreds of amazingly brewed beers in the world, and I want to taste them. So I guess I suck at being 22.

Yesterday was an orientation for international students. We (me, Allison, Kristina, a couple of Aussies, my French roommate, her boyfriend, and a couple odds and ends) went to our college building. There we found a crowd of students, and, like the sheep that we are, were herded into a big lecture room, where we took refuge in the back row. Once everyone was in, some important looking man got up and started speaking Swedish. We looked at each other and laughed, thought, okay, this is some sort of authentic introduction. The guy ended his speech and everyone clapped. The next guy got up and started talking in Swedish too. Now we were confused. Surely, as this is an international student orientation, he should be speaking in English. After the fourth person spoke (in Swedish), we decided we were in the wrong room. I got up and shuffled through people, saying “sorry” in English. I went outside the the lecture hall and sure enough, we were in the wrong room. Some Swedish kid, decked out in some costume told me that this was a meeting for the new Swedish students. I went back inside just as this loud techno started playing and said to the row of international students, “we are in the wrong place” and shuffled out just before the dancing started.

I suspect there were a few who didn’t make it. I imagine they sat for a good hour before they realized it couldn’t be right. I felt bad that I couldn’t rescue them all, but they made it to the right orientation eventually.

I hope this post doesn't come off sounding too retarded. I have been writing the same way I’ve been talking to non-English speaking people – short, full sentences. “What are you going to do after the meeting? I am going to go to the grocery store.” The dog chased the cat. The cat ate the mouse. I feel like I’m in grade school.

In other news:

I have two new plants, and they will keep me company until my departure in December. I have not named them yet, but one is just a tiny thing, and I’ve settled him in a ceramic cup I stole from the IKEA café. Thanks to Stacy for this naughty behavior. The other I bought at a flower store. He is a bit bigger, and I’m hoping to get away without repotting him. It’s not that I don’t care about the well-being of my plants, it’s just that I don’t want to spend the money on soil and pots for plants I will only have for three months. But I need some life in my otherwise very plain bedroom.

My desk is already a mess. I should take a picture for you all to see. So, in that manner, I feel at home. But seriously, I need to straighten it out, before I start teaching. Buddha knows once I start teaching it’s going to be hard to keep anything in order.

Nicola, I found wine gums here. I also found every entire type of candy anyone would ever want (or not want), including salted licorice. Heads up: it tastes revolting. There are two things that I see everywhere in the shops in Sweden: ice cream and candy. Not just little packages of candy. We are talking bulk candy. Stacy and I ate a lot of ice cream, and now I am trying to resist. I managed to today, and maybe it was because I was trying on clothes meant for 6 foot tall, skinny Swedish girls. Whatever the case, I have one word: YUM. (About the candy and ice cream, not about the Swedish girls.)

Did you know Turkey is both a part of Asia and Europe? Or was I the only idiot who didn’t know that?

I hear sirens at two o’clock in the morning every night, but no one else does, and I think people are starting to think I’m mad.

I have much more to say, but I’m sending this off, as a post/email is long overdue. If you want to talk to me, either spend some money and call me, or buy a cheap headset and talk to me on Skype. Keep checking flickr and youtube for updates.

Being Tourists in Bergen

2006-08-15T04:19:00.000-04:00

I left you all with me sleeping soundly next to the Sognefjord. We said goodbye to Beatrice, our Swiss friend, and spent Thursday morning in the town of Aurland, buying groceries, checking emails, booking hostels, canceling hostels, and eating ice cream. We took a high speed hydrofoil ferry from Aurland to Bergen, the second largest (but small) city in Norway. For six hours we sped through the fjords of Norway with a couple hundred tourists.

Bergen is a cute little port city. The buildings there are different colors and pointy. It is famous for its daily fish market, which I found to be fascinating and stinky. We spent the night in a very wonderful HI hostel, with a very wonderful American employee. (A fellow Social Studies Education teacher, who had just finished his masters in London and didn’t feel like teaching.)

Stacy and I spent Friday in Bergen being touristy. We shopped along the market, which was not limited to seafood, but wool clothing items and tchochkes.

We learned that in Norway there are no beer or liquor stores, and you can’t buy beer after 8 pm in the grocery store. You also can’t buy beer in a bar and take it away. So basically, if you want to drink in the evening, you have to go to a bar and pay $10 a beer. So we slept instead.

Actually, we had a night train from Bergen to Oslo, and then from Oslo to Göteborg, where we are now. (Can you tell I’m behind on these?) Upon further reflection, I’d say that Bergen was my favorite place in Norway, apart, of course, from the hiking parts. Bergen was a quaint little city with crookity houses and massive sailing ships. It had a stinky fish market and yuppie wool sweaters. It had drunk 20-somethings and a great hostel.

I know this is shorter, but I’m hoping to catch up to where I am now, which is in Göteborg, Sweden.

Nicola, there are pigeons, and they act the same as all others in the world, but possibly a bit more modest. Maybe it is the Scandinavian way… ?

Glaciers and Sheep and Fjords - Oh My!

2006-08-12T13:47:00.000-04:00

No blogging can only mean one thing: Gina is hiking in the mountains of Norway and has neither access to her laptop nor the internet in general.

I will try and make this brief, but informative, and hopefully a little interesting.

Our travels began in Oslo, Norway, where we quickly learned that the convenient store of choice is the 7-Eleven. No street or train station was without one. And I wondered if they called it a seven-eleven, or sju-elleve. Stacy thinks they say it in English, but I’m not so convinced.

We stayed at a cute little pension, which was situated right behind the royal palace! We walked through the park to the palace and watched the guards march back and forth in front of the entrance. But, Nicola, we did not get obnoxious pictures with them. Actually, the guards moved their heads quite a lot, anytime there was a stray sound coming from somewhere other than right in front of them. So we would be walking along the side of the palace, minding out own business, when all of a sudden we would get the stare down from the palace guard. Hmmmf!

Oslo has many strange sounds at night. Beating drums and loud music. The sun doesn’t start setting until 10 o’clock, and it is finally dark around midnight. That’s when the party happens. The streets settle down around 2 or so, but the sun comes up at 4 am.

Hotdogs are the national kiosk snack. Every Norwegian eats hotdogs. The food otherwise is expensive and not very good. There is no food that they are really known for, except maybe salmon. But, to give you an idea, a hotdog cost about $9. Coffee is about $5 – and that’s just a little one. Maybe that’s why the 7-Eleven is such a hotspot.

For those of you who don’t know, Stacy and I planned to hike in the Norwegian mountains. We began our hike in the town of Finse, which is situated just below the Hardangerjokulen glacier. Yes, you read right, I said glacier. Our hike, which the Norwegians just call a “walk”, took us five hours on the first day. The mountains were rock, mostly sedimentary or shale, and there was no sign of life. We hiked along the snow fields, and you could hear the rushing water beneath them. Sometimes we’d come across a huge spring, and the water would flow under a snow field, creating this type of cave under the snow. Sometimes we’d be hiking along the (very well marked) trails, and I’d wonder if we’d ever make it to our hut.

Our first hytta (hut) was the Gkadhsfjkahytta, which is not its real name, but it might as well be. It will be remembered as the hytta with very luxurious outhouses. They are in the cabins, like toilets are, and built out of wood. But there is no flush, and the waste just drops. So I did what any civilized, modern person would do – I wrapped a bandana around my nose and pretended I was in the Ritz.

Funny side note about the Norwegian names. Stacy and I could barely pronounce them, and so we started calling anything that we couldn’t pronounce Borkdebork, in manner of Swedish chef. So, for instance, we walked down Borkdebork street or ate at Borkdebork restaurant. I’m sure it will continue while we are in Sweden.

The second hytta had flushing toilets and free showers. And sheep. We met Ola, a Norwegian, along the hike and hung out with him at the hytta. He bought us very expensive but very good beer, and talked about his alcohol problem as a kid. Stacy played the guitar for all the hikers, sticking to Beetles and pop tunes, which they seemed to enjoy.

The third hytta had stuffed animals, including a HUGE polar bear. I left my shampoo at the hytta, but have since bought a $5 (small) bottle of Herbal Essence.

Our last hike is the famous one; the one that the day hikers and tourists do. It’s the one through Aurlandsdalen. Now we are down in trees and wooded areas, with unique flora and sheep. On this hike you have two options, stay on the path along the river, or climb the cliff and then come back down. Stacy and I hiked the latter. Up, up, up… not so bad, hard on the legs. And then you walk along the ridge for a long time, staring out at views of the valley below. It was a little foggy the day we hiked, but it was still beautiful.

And then you have to go down, and there is a cliff face you have to descend, with a wire cable to help you. It was rainy, and the rocks were wet and muddy. We had been slipping along on the flat parts, and now we had to somehow get down these rocks. I tried to play it cool, but I was terrified, and Stacy got it all on film. Of course we made it down, and spent the rest of the hike enjoying the abandoned farms, sheep, wooden bridges, and the waterfalls that cut into the cliffs. All very amazing.

Four days and over 50 kilometers later, our hike ended, and we took a bus to Flam, the very touristy town on the Sognefjord. On the bus we talked with one of the other hikers, who was from the German speaking part of Switzerland. Her name was Beatrice, and she was traveling for a few months by herself, and decided to hike. In Flam, the hostel and every hotel in the town were full, so the very helpful tourist info lady hooked us up with some private digs. So the three of us – me, Stacy, and Beatrice – stayed in a little cabin right along the fjord. Needless to say it was one of the most stunning things to wake up to.

I am writing to you from Goteborg, Sweden, and I have to tell the tale of how I got here, but not now. We are visiting with friends from the States, and I am being a very anti-social hermit. I will write more soon!

xo,

~ Gina Marie

Leaving on a Jetplane

2006-08-03T22:32:00.000-04:00

I leave for Norway tomorrow. I should say, we leave for Norway tomorrow. Stacy and I. The beginning of the last days we will have together for the next four months.

Our flight leaves Pittsburgh at 3:45, and we will arrive in Oslo, Norway some time the next morning. We will rest, of course, and prepare for our hike in the fjords. It will be five (give or take) days of bliss. Glorious scenery, blood pumping, adrenaline rushing, and hopefully (pleeeeease, jesus) no headaches.

I get headaches. Chronic headaches. And the trouble is, there are so many things that cause them, that it's almost impossible to cure them. Sure, I can not go out to a bar and have a drink, but I'd rather not live than give up drinking good beer in State College. Sure I could not hang out with my cigarette smoking friends, but they are my favorite. And sure, I could drink Nalgene bottle after Nalgene bottle of water, but then I have to pee every ten minutes.

I started a new system. By noon I have to have one full Nalgene bottle (32 ounces) of water drunk, and then a second one by five. So by 5 o'clock in the evening, I've had my daily intake of water, and after that is just bonus. Sound simple? Sure, if you're not hiking in the fjords of Norway! It's not that I'm opposed to wilderness peeing, it's just that it's frustrating, and time consuming. I'm an outdoorsy person, and as such one of the things I am most jealous of is man's ability to pee standing up. But... I don't want a penis.

I am packed in a large duffel, that... is heavy. Megg was watching me pack my clothes, and she couldn't believe how little I was taking.

I'm afraid I over packed.

Maybe I don't need all seven shirts. Maybe I only need five. Even though they are seven different colors. Maybe I don't need my Express fleece, hoodie, and wool sweater. I have two pairs of pants: cargo and causal/smart work pants. Both black. I have one dress. Black. I have three pairs of shoes: sneaks, Tevas, and black leather sneakers. I have no skirts, no jeans, no dressy clothes. I'm banking of the fact that Sweden will embrace my casual style.

I was even able to fit my hiking pack inside my duffel, so after that part of my trip is over, that will be gone. So hopefully (clasps hands together in desperate un-religious prayer) I'm not over packing. There's nothing worse than packing shit you don't use. Nothing.

Did you pack your teacher clothes? is the most common question I get. No. According to my sources, I will not need *teacher* clothes. My students will dress like me, or rather, I will dress like them. I think they will even call me by my first name. So in there cute little English accents, they will be saying, "Gina, here is the paper that was due a month ago." Awww, gee, thanks. 0.

But honestly, I'm incredibly excited. I can't wait to do get-to-know-you activities. I can't wait to have 40 minute discussions with my students about American culture. One of the first assignments I'm going to have them do is to write down their questions about Americans, and to write down what they think of Americans. I want to swap cultures, and become a Swede.

I have this nauseating feeling that I'm going to fall abso-f'in-lutely in love with Sweden that, if it weren't for Stacy, I wouldn't want to come back to the States. I know I'm not going to want to leave. I know I'm going to love it. I know that when I get back, just like last time I went across the big pond, I'll be quite the depress-o. But I'll have Stacy, at least. And this time, when I return to PA, I'll have to find....

:::wait for it:::

a real J-O-B.

So let's hold on to this Sweden thing for as long as we can, shall we?

This is the first post of many to come about my adventures in the hinterlands. Keep checking back for more, and also hit up flickr for pictures.

What's in your garden?

2006-08-01T15:41:00.000-04:00

Lilies
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

Well, not these lilies, unfortunately, but I took pictures of them anyway.

Sunset off of Island #4

2006-08-01T15:40:00.000-04:00

Sunset off of Island #4
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

I have at least fifty different sunset pictures from this location on the lake. Here's one of my favorites.

Catch of the Day

2006-08-01T15:38:00.000-04:00

Me with my catch
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

It's a keeper!

2006-08-01T15:28:00.000-04:00

It's a keeper!
Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged.

Well, I'm packing up for Sweden, and attempting to write an essay for my teaching applications. But here's a picture from the fishing trip to Temagami. I caught a bunch of fish that week, but among them was this smallmouth bass. He's probably a little over 2 lbs and probably about 18 inches.

For more pictures of Temagami, just click on one of these links and it will take you to my Flickr page. I've gone pro, so I've been uploading like crazy and trying to organize my pictures into sets. Since I don't have any photo limits, I've been a little lackadaisical about what I upload. Some of the pictures aren't really *good* per se, but I've posted them anyway.

In other news, Stacy and I leave for Norway on Friday. I'm packing now, or trying to decide what to pack. It would also be nice to get these teaching apps out before I leave. And it would ALSO be nice to clean the office a bit. Right now it looks as though an unemployed slob lived there. Oh, whoops... that's true.

Okay... I'm writing this as to further procrastinate on the essay.