Getting Ready for Adventures

Every once in awhile it's nice to have life slow down. I've been working at least 60 hour weeks for way too long this year. While there is much to do, I've just been napping and reading for a couple of days before getting into the final push of leaving for Poland.

The bags are basically packed. I'm rather proud. I have packed teaching supplies, things Dorota left behind last December when her bags were too heavy, and the clothing I think I need for almost six weeks in two 21 inch bags. I could probably have put it all into one large bag, but it's easier to have a small bag for weekend trips.

I need to make at least one more trip to work to take care of final details. Then it's the hair and nail appointments. It's hard to wait.

Adventures with the Health Care System

Today I went with my older daughter to an appointment as a source of emotional support for a difficult procedure she needed. We arrived 5 minutes before our scheduled time, waited until 10 minutes after the scheduled time to be acknowledged and asked to review some paper work, then we sat until 35 minutes after the appointment before she was called. A medical assistant took her height and blood pressure and then we were put in an exam room, where we waited for another 50 minutes! This kind of wait does nothing for someone anxious about an upcoming procedure. I can hardly wait for this whole system to be turned upside down. When people say we have the best system in the world I only wish they would search out how things are done in some other places.

Now if I had been in some other country people would criticize their national health system for being ineffective. How often we fail to see that the one we have has all the warts of other systems, that payor source has little to do with it.

Also I know in some countries there would be complaints about the lack of American customer service. We fail to see the lack of "customer service" in some of our systems, too.

Adventures Depend upon the Perspective

Yesterday I was walking on the Capitol grounds to take some photos for a picture book to take to Poland. I happened upon this little guy and thought: "How cute!" Then I remembered my Squirrely Adventures of December and January. (You may find blogs under those months.) Adventures certainly depend upon the perspective. Maybe this is a good thing to know and remember before setting off on a long trip.

My "nut" for the day was a wonderful concert by the Schubert Club. It was a revue of 125 years of music that had been performed at various concerts of the Schubert Club, all music with deep Minnesota connections. What a splendid evening.

Surprising Adventures

I have recently had some pleasant and surprising shopping adventures. For years I've avoided a restaurant only about two blocks from my house because the food wasn't very good. Even when the owners changed it didn't come onto my list. Then one day someone at work mentioned that she and her husband drive over here to go to this restaurant. I thought I should give it a try and one morning had a splendid spinach omelet. Then I noticed a sign about a Friday breakfast special and was delighted indeed with the strawberry and banana crepe.

I've been searching for a bag to cover my new camera, but one that doesn't scream "Camera inside." I've looked everywhere. Then I decided to stop at the REI store. I've not been there for years, and simply couldn't believe my eyes. The waterfall scene is quite improbable about 50 yards for a busy freeway. What a pleasant surprise.

Planned and Unplanned Adventures

Over the Memorial Day weekend I flew to Lincoln NE to spend time with friends. My schedule coincided with the every two year Lincoln Quilt Guild exhibit. My friend and I had a wonderful time visiting this huge exhibit.

The unplanned part of the weekend were the storms. Two nights found heavy thunderstorms moving through the Lincoln area. There was much clean up to do. We were lucky however to escape the tornados that moved into Iowa and Minnesota at the same time.

I just checked the plane fare thinking about a trip again in about 6 months. Already the plane fare is up $150!

Traveling Adventure

I took the photo primarily to check out the "sport" feature on my camera. I'm delighted I can take a picture in which the tarmac attendant was waving the wand and there isn't a blur. Being able to do this was certainly one reason for the new camera.

Having this photo though gave me the idea to describe travel. This picture was taken at the Lincoln, NE, airport. It is a very short walk from the gate to the plane. At the MSP airport one deplanes and walks a bit, and then the next leg of the trip is 3 moving sidewalks. Then another short walk to a tram. The tram delivers one at the top of a terminal leg. It's another short walk and then an escalator to the baggage claim area.

When the bag is recovered, it's a short walk to yet another escalator. Then it is a 100 yard walk (think football field) to the next tram. This takes one of the area of the light rail. The escalator to the train is very deep. Actually this dumps one at the point to buy a ticket. Then it's another escalator to the train level.

Next it's a 12 minutes ride to the stop where I catch a bus. The buses all do a layover at the station and it's more than a little irritating to watch a bus pull in and then the driver shuts the door and wanders over to the small building where drivers take a break. At last the door opens and then it's 10 minute ride to where I get off and finish off with a 4 block walk home.

Definitely Adventures Here

I have two experiences that show just how diverse Minnesota and Saint Paul is becoming. Last Friday evening I stopped at a nearby grocery store for a few items. Most of the other customers checking out were young Hasidic men wearing traditional dress. The check out persons were one Caucasian, One Asian, and one African American. Looking about I saw customers of many other racial origins including one woman, wearing a tank top, who had an artificial arm. Maybe the best of this whole experience is that no longer do persons with a disability need to hide in public.

Coming home just a few minutes ago,I saw the wonderful combination of a Little League Team all decked out in their uniforms, getting ready to play a game in the nearby park, all mixed up with persons of Asian Indian origin all decked out in clothing that would have not been noticed in New Delhi. They were just leaving an ethnic church service held at the nearby Catholic Church. I've been seeing them for about the last six months every Sunday. Part of me wonders, though, if these are the Asian Indians from Guyana who have recently immigrated into the Twin Cities. I had one student from this community in my spring semester class.