The Cottage Stamper

Yesterday, my wife took a two hour course at The Cottage Stamper on Third Street in St Charles. She simply loves this store. Heaven for a scrapbooker and card maker, and particularly at this time of the year there is much to learn about making those holiday cards. I'll admit, there is much, much more to the craft of cardmaking than meets the eye. My wife and her friends exchange cards and learn new techniques all the time. We have a whole room dedicated to just scrapbooking! But, who am I to speak...we have a whole garage dedicated to kayaking. While she was meeting new friends at The Cottage Stamper, I slinked on over to Green Mill Cyclery on Bennett Street in Geneva to buy a couple of simple 3-speed steeds for Christmas presents for she and I. Living in Kane County and not having bikes is like living at the North Pole and not having an igloo. That analogy hits a tad too close to home, as today was the first appreciable snowfall of this winter season.

Orlando's Pizza

Hungry..well, actually starving... my wife and I stumbled upon Orlando's Pizza on State Street in Geneva and after being greeted by our high school student waitress, we were seated in a cozy eating area with not more than a dozen booths, and treated to a very fine thin crust pizza. Thin sometimes means "cracker crust", but in this case, thin is what I would call a regular traditional pizza pie. We ordered a large, and the two of us polished it off (we pick off 1/2 the cheese, at least) with a couple of diet Cokes. The pizza crust/bottom was browned perfectly, almost with a brick-oven crispiness--very nice. The salad bar was tiny but fresh, and although we did not try it, seemed excellent ($4 extra when you buy a pizza).

The real Orlando's secret, however, is the truly 1970's retro, "eating pizza in my basement" feel. Small, yet the booth arrangement makes it feel roomy, the oaky interior with panelled walls and mirrored beams signify a step back in time. Checkered vinyl tablecloths, with cigarette burns and wearing through under the salt and pepper shakers, let you know some serious grease on dough eating has taken place here over the years. There's even a dim, amber "light through pub glass" malted glaze over the entire interior. You'd imagine Denny Terio and the Solid Gold dancers would, after sweating to the latest 45 from the Chi-Lites, stop in here for elbows-on-the-table grub, seated next to plumbers and firemen. Me, I could never do the splits, even in my sequined leotard days, let alone lay pipe or put out a fire. For me, I tune my transistor radio to Jackie Blue by the Ozark Mtn. Daredevils, don my least faded corduroy Levis, and pedal my glittery Schwinn banana seat over to Orlando's for a hot pizza pie. Hold the anchovies, please,

Brother

My brother is a paddler. He also enjoys photography. He can sometimes capture the essence of the outdoors in a still frame. Here is an example; moving toward a goal is symbolized by the bow of the red boat, and the distant tree, with open water all around. I enjoy my time with my only brother, and hope to share more time together in 2009.

The Contented Fisherman

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A wealthy businessman was startled to find a seaside fisherman lying lazily beside his boat, smoking a pipe.

"Why aren't you fishing?" asked the businessman.

"Because I have caught enough fish for the day, " said the fisherman.

"Why don't you catch some more?"

"What would I do with them?"

The businessman said, "You could earn more money. With that you could have a motor fixed to your boat and go into deeper waters and catch more fish. Then you would make enough to buy nylon nets. These would bring you even more fish and more money. Soon you would have enough money to own two boats. Maybe even a a fleet of boats. Then you'd be a rich man like me."

"What would I do then?" asked the fisherman.

"Then you could really enjoy life."

"What do you think I am doing right now," the fisherman said.

----"The Contented Fisherman" from The Song Of The Bird by Anthony de Mello

Feet

"I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man that had no feet" -- Anonymous.

Lake Vermilion

Homes along Lake Vermilion, Danville.

Lotus Flower

This is a nice shot from summer 2008 when I had the pleasure of paddling Lake Vermilion in Danville, IL with Lenore and Gay. The shot was taken by Lenore and is from her Impex Montauck along the north side of the lake, just before the inlet river. For about 1/2 mile, the water winds through some thick growth as it funnels to the river, and this is where the motorboat traffic diminishes and the wildlife, particularly birds, becomes common. The day was gorgeous, high in the 80s, sparkling on the water. We made it all the way up the river until it was only about 20 feet wide, and we found a shady shoal under a paper bark tree to take a break before turning back. A glorious day on the water with two super paddling friends.

http://www.paddling.net/places/showReport.html?2155

Neccos

My favorite candy. Neccos. New England Confectionary Company. Massachusetts. The original candy wafer. Fat free. Eight flavors. Hand packed with 38-40 wafers per roll. I buy them by the 24-pack boxes. I'm eating them right this millisecond.

Sunset Lake

This former quarry is now a county park and is less than 2 miles from my house. It has very deep and pristine clear water. Warm and clean and ideal for practicing self-rescues, paddle swims, braces and rolls. I spent some time here with Guinness this past late summer, and often paddle it alone. Clean water is becoming increasingly rare across the USA, and the Midwest is no expection. It is a pure joy just to be on--and in--bathtub clear water.

The Church Steeple

I can see very far when the leaves are off the trees. One advantage to a late autumn day. In the distance, I see a church steeple. It's always there, made of stone, and immovable. I see it only now when the green veil is lifted. It is subtle, but beautiful.

Take a look around you...deeply. Can you see more now than when the days are long and the sun high? That cabin hidden in the woods along the road to your work. The yellow woodpecker high up in the treetop. Gaze as far as your eye can see. Enjoy a diffferent perspective that only autumn and winter can provide.

Gray Winter Daze

The leaves have fallen from the trees, and the clouds now hang over Illinois like a shroud of gray. I think back to the days of summer, when the water was cool and clean and crisp. I rolled kayaks with my friend Guinness in a clear quarry lake, and I paddled with Bruce at Busse Woods, all without more than a polyester shirt and shorts. And now, three months later, with the time change and the sun further from earth, the RiverPark has turned golden, the trees are leaf-bare, there are no kayakers launching from Geneva Kayak above the dam, and winter's thin cold fingers glaze my windshield every morning. Winter solstice--aka "the turn"-- is about 34 days away. I continue to trudge along through the daily grind and dream of warm weather, sea kayaks, and bicycling to my favorite used bookstore in St. Charles.

If there were no cold, dark and gray, we'd have less appreciation for the sunny warmth and vibrancy of summer.

This is Warren

Warren Williamson at Deception Pass, Washington State tidal surge in his Valley Anas Acuta with Greenland twig. My favorite all-time online kayaking video. Like watching Michael Jordan slam the ball. Poetry in motion. Click "watch in high quality" in blue at lower right corner of video box.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2I3gf77XsI

The Catcher In The Rye

"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be." - The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, Holden Caulfield,Chapter 22

Sectional Valley Kayak

The sectional kayak by Valley Sea Kayaks is new to my stable as of summer 2008, and I must say, this Aquanuat LV model is a winner! Paddles like a charm, with just the right blend of rocker and beam. I find that the sectional design has, on about four paddle trips so far, eliminated my need to strap the 17 footer to the roof racks; instead I just slide the entire boat right into the bed of my Avalanche, and on one outing with Bruce, directly into the back of my conversion van. The black over carbon Kevlar with clear gelcoat is mighty pretty, too. This is the third boat I have purchased from Ryan and Geneva Kayak Center on Bennett Street, and had to be custom manufactured in Nottingham, U.K. before being shipped in a carton to the Americas. Worth the wait.

What are the black bags for the sections, you ask? Traditional $10 Wal-Mart nylon sleeping bags.

Nosh Breakfast

Welcome to Nosh! While having breakfast today at Nosh on James Street, had to look around me at the wonderful surrounds; a very eclectic feast for the eyes. Anyone who has dined at Nosh knows what I mean. Perfect blend of antiquity and modern. Old diner chairs at the bar, but with white modern globe lights from the ceiling. Behind my table was this wall clock, always counting away the hours of our lives. But alas, this clock read the same time before my two eggs, hickory bacon and English muffin....and after I was done!

Ventriloquism

Some childhood things are scary. I remember when I got Charlie for Christmas and imagined him coming alive at night, turning his head; that slackjaw crying out to me in the dark. Vivid as my imagination was, I never did see Charlie move. As adults, we are frightened not by things bumping in the night or zany ventriloquist dolls coming alive, but by our fading retirement accounts, increasing personal taxes and diminishing real estate values. Spooky. We cannot control the happenings around us even as much as the puppet on a string. So we should emphasize things that are within our realm of influence. As a child, that meant turning on the light. As an adult, that means living a simple but clear and meaningful life. -- coolkayaker1

Peru, Illinois

Peru, Illinois, a memorable trip with a great group of sea kayakers. As the winter chills begin, it's time to rouse that nostalgic spirit and look to great times during sunnier climes. This trip was one of the most memorable, with the jumping carp and the Starved Rock backdrop for the mid-paddle rest. Sunny days to you all from the launch site in Peru. Rotomolded Valley Avocet in front of an old riverside factory. This paddle is particularly industrial, including barges on the river. But the river is always very wide, allowing a pleasant paddling pace, and is easily negotiated by a pddling group like the eight or so we had this particular day.

3/10/09: flooding over Water Street, i.e. the street with the factory in the background.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ7CY-9dN4k

The Punt

Like a contrived piece of photographic posing, occasionally things come together without any anticipation. We were at Allerton Park, Monticello, IL last month enjoying an 80 degree day, and the rump of the Sunsinger begged to be photographed. My son punted the soccer ball at the opportune time to get in the picture. Almost looks digitally enhanced, but it is not; it's 30 feet up in the air next to the statue. And with a click, it's here in infamy for you to review (click on any photo to enlarge it).

If we plan, we get nothing. If we look for what the Universe throws--or in this case, punts--at us spontaneously, we get Art. -- coolkayaker1

Wall of Dreams

In the foyer of the Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, overhead, is this circle of electric guitars. Like a halo of metal strings and birdseye maple necks, the guitars ooze nostalgia. Imagine the wall of sound these instruments would make. My son is a budding guitar aficionado. He enjoys the act of playing, and after less than two years, he's got it going on. Heavy on the metal, but light of fingers, he truly rocks out on his Fender Jim Root (Slipknot) model with EMG pickups and Marshall amp.

Whenever you read about a singer,an actor, a politician, or a police officer...if you see their profile, you note that they had a sincere interest in something--a proclivity, if you will--from a very young age. Encouraging dreams, particularly in children, is of the utmost importance. They have their entire lives to be told, "Get a real job," and "Get a real degree." For now, someone has to grow up to be the next Eddie Van Halen or Dimebag Darryl. It might as well be him.

The Red Barn

This is the first day of the rest of your life. It is a time of passion, and a time for joy. As I settle in, weary from watching my son this weekend in a soccer tournament, I realize the meaning of life in all it's glory. The power of "doing it now, not later." This blog is about my life, but without the boring and the mundane. It is about the essence of life. I will try, as we start this journey, to get all things in perspective. Thank you for reading.

The Illinois and Michigan Canal near Morris, IL has a lovely red barn, visible from the back by paddling the canal. It represents the antiquity of life, the rich, boldness of our passions in life, and the tranquility of sitting beside ourselves, every so often, to look it all over. Study its details. Measure its meaning.