Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer....

 It has been a hot week this week!  I think yesterday was the first time it has been below 100 degrees!  It certainly felt like we were "baking" here in Kenosha.  (I really should get that Central Air Conditioning fixed!)   Be today is mildly cooler..  And I think we have all acclimated a little  by now to tolerate the harsh temps. 

But then there is this thing:    The Smoke! 

At first I thought it was a hazy fog from the high humidity.   But there was an odd smell in the air.   I thought it smeller like old cardboard in a dusty attic...  Some one at work described it as "The smell of a Sauna".   But everyone agrees it is not a good smell. 

Apparently,  there is a huge forest fire up by the boundary waters in Minnesota and Canada.  And we are getting the fall out smoke from those trees.   The fire must be huge to produce smoke that carries this far. It has been bugging the people with asthma and pollen allergies. And it has been shielding the sun as if it was a cloud. ( hence, the drop in temps, I'm sure.)   But it has also produced one of the most spectacular sunsets I have yet seen here in Kenosha!  

I wish I had my camera handy, because I have not seen a "fire Sunset" like that in a while.  I think this was Tuesday.  (the last couple days I have either missed the sunset or it was too cloudy.)  It was one of those sunsets that make you stand up and notice...

In the mean time,  I have been working had the opportunity to do some Chalk Art yesterday.   It is predicted to rain this afternoon, so I know the drawing will not last long... But it is a reason to get out of the house and have something to do that is not shopping or errands.  

I also like that there is a finished achievement that I can post on the blog at the end of the suffering.   ( Yes,  chalking in the summer heat is a form of suffering...) Will anyone see it?   Maybe.   Hopefully!   But at least I have something to pot for the blog.  

So that is all.   Happy Friday!   And I will now prepare for another Day at Haribo.   It has been a relaxing week this week at Haribo.   It could be because the heat effects the gummy production  from the 2nd floor....  It could also be that we have had a couple people from third shift coming in early to help us. (An additional Material Handler makes the day SO much easier!)  Whatever the reason,  I will take it!   A frantic day in High Heat and "Low Quality", Smoke-Filled  air is not a fun way to enjoy work.  So any way to alleviate the suffering is a welcome gift. 

In the mean time,  We will try to make every second count. 

A Fast Week!

 Ah how time flies!   This week has flown by so quickly.. And I can barely remember the things I did had I not taken a few pic along the way.    

So let us begin. 

Chalk work.   A couple of days I went out and actually made a few drawings.   I can't remember if it rained mid week, but it must have because one of my drawings disappeared after only a day.   But Chalk was never meant to last very long anyway.  

And then there were the critics.  

Now I don't really care what they think after I finish and have my picture for the blog.   But I did challenge them to a duel...

Not with guns or knives... but chalk. 

I doubt the chuckle heads that vandalized my last drawing will take me up on it with any seriousness.   But there is always the possibility someone with kids will accept the challenge and draw something with those kids.   That is my hope.   Much like the days of Iowa, when kids would randomly appear and help me with a larger project.   I have to admit, it was kind of fun for me.   And hopefully for them as well.  

I had the opportunity to go out and hunt mushrooms today.   After working yesterday,  This was my only day off and I thought I would take it as a day to relax.   But Christina asked me to help her move a couple items to her apartment.  And since she hurt herself arm-wrestling at some Tough Guy bar...  she was in no shape to move any table on her own.   

But... In typical Christina fashion,   those plans fell through as the place where she was supposed to pick up the furniture cancelled at the last second.   

But I did not get the memo... (in time)  So.. I decided to go hunting in Parkside and see what I could find.  
Turns out,  the Chanterelles are just beginning!   I harvested a little over a dozen tonight.   And I imagine they will continue to pop out over the next few weeks.   I found only one Russula....  And no Boletes.  

And I also discovered that I have competition!  The first signs I found were several perfectly cut stems in a place near one of the trails.   I imagine those mushrooms that are near trails are easy to find,  so I went out a little deeper into the forest to find the ones I did.   Luckily, I know several areas so I can always fall back on some if the season does not produce abundantly.  

After the hunting,  Christina texted and wanted to make up for the confusion.   We went to JW's for a beer and a burger.  I have not seen her in a while since we are both constantly working and she is always busy... But it was fun to catch up on things. 

We also  got to meet Natalie, who was our server, waitress, bartender tonight.   She runs half-marathons And has been recovering from a hip injury.   We had lots to talk about.... Christina shared her entire life story.   Good times!

And now I'm preparing for tomorrow.   There are a number of things I have to work on before heading to work, but I shall see if I can achieve them before I have to head out.   And with it getting late, I had better get this posted so I can make my remaining moments of this day  count. 

Happy 4th Of July! 250 Years Of The United States!

 It was a busy week this week.   And ending with last night's huge Fireworks Display in Kenosha.  I was wondering if I would get to see any fireworks from where I live.   Turns out,  I was right in the middle of the party!   Not only could I see the "official" fireworks that go off  near Simmon's Island.  But I was surrounded by other small groups of people who put on an impressive show.  There were at least five groups around Roosevelt Park.   And one right in the middle of the pavilion. All of them were launching pretty impressive fireworks.   It was actually pretty cool.  

I have now been in Kenosha for 4 years.   And honestly,  this was the first year I have actually seen the fireworks.   The first year I was here,  we left the party before the fireworks began and I never saw them.   In following years,   I was usually in bed well before the fireworks started,  being a morning person and falling asleep before 9PM.  So..  This was kind of a revelation for me.  

I remember back in the Iowa days when I would stay up late and watch the fireworks from our small apartment.   We could easily see them  right from out back yard.   Actually,  I believe I was the only one watching them those last few years I was there.   Cheryl would go to bed or do something else rather than deal with the heat or the bugs  But I never got bored of them.  

I remember also that when we were in Lansing Michigan,  we would go to the "official" fireworks near the county fairgrounds.   And then we would catch another show on the 5th of July from the parking lot of the Mall.   Or from the middle of the small lake that our apartment was on.  (We had a small peddle boat that we would fish on... and we could see the fireworks from the water.)   Funny how fireworks were not boring then.   Perhaps I never really grew up. 

I had Friday off this week,  and it was a welcome three days of freedom.   I was able to go for a "long" run on Friday and do a little mushroom hunting.  

No much is currently out, but I happened to luck out and find a Chicken of the Woods.   

I have been enjoying it all week for my lunches.   Basically a mushroom sandwich with cheese and mayo.  

Normally I would add  a tomato slice and lettuce leaf...  But I like to keep things simple for my lunches.  

It had been raining off and on all last week.   And I barely got out of the woods before a stormfront moved in.   There was a threat that it was going to rain yesterday.   And it actually did,  but thankfully not until after the parade and it finished before the fireworks began.   

It also ushered in the cooler weather.   I forgot to mention that last week was HOT!  Over 100 degrees for a couple of those days.   And everything was just miserable.  Who would have thought that 80 degrees would feel so "cool" in comparison.  

As mentioned before,  I went to the Parade in Sommers.   I got to meet the new Pastor and visit with a couple of other people from church.  I also got to see my neighbor!  

Who, apparently has relatives right there on the parade route.   He invited me to stop in next year if I don't want to walk so far to my usual viewing place. 

The people know me as the "guy who does the chalk drawings".  This year I got there a little later than I had hoped, and there were a few kids jumped in to help. 

 I tried to keep the drawings a little more simple this year and prepared with some print outs.   It is always a fun time. 

So now... I have been doing a few things around the house since I have been out most of the weekend. 

 I'm sure the cat misses me a bit and I feel I owe it to her to pay her a little mind.  Besides, I have to get ready for Monday... When it all starts back up again.  Funny how I remember a time when we had plenty of free time to do what we wanted.   Sometimes I miss those days.  

But now,  I have to focus on making as much hay while the sun is shining.  And that means putting those hobbies and pet projects aside for now.   I did "fix" the laundry drainage issue.  

 Though it is a temporary fix.  I'll have to look up a video that will show me how to replace the water fixtures in the basement so I can have a real solution to the problem.  But that requires time. ( and money!)  

 And both of those things are always in short supply.   So now, I simply have to save up some cash and try to make every second count. 

Take Me Out To The Ball Game.

 Yesterday, I traveled to Milwaukee to catch a Major League Baseball game  compliments of Haribo!   

I have been looking forward to this for several weeks now, and was planning on making it a full day's event.   I got up earlier than normal and headed out with the idea of getting there early.... so as not to miss anything.  ( Or get lost and have to double back to find the party area...)  

I also wanted to fit in a visit to IKEA again to pick up a few things I had missed last weekend.  Mainly, the small shelving unit that fits behind the toilet for the bathroom.  

 I added a couple other things while I was there and still managed to get out without spending much over $100!  (Might have been less!)  

I arrived at the "General Parking Lot" about an hour before it was to open.   It was a good thing too,  because the line began to wrap around the stadium moments after I arrived!  And I thought I was going to be late because I missed  the last turn and was heading back to the highway....

But it all worked out and I got a sweet parking spot right next to the Haribo Tent.  I brought my own beer, so I was able to start "early" instead of waiting or the caterers to arrive.  

Before long,  people started showing up and I linked up with a few of the second shift crew.  A few shird shifters were there, but mostly it was the first shift that dominated the crowd.  

The tailgating part was fun.  And the food was good.  but eventually it had to end and people began shuffling towards the stadium to watch the game.  Before we all dispersed,  they wanted a group photo with the Haribo Mascot.    

I didn't get a chance to get a picture with him,  but I was close enough to get a few, and that was good enough.   

We were asked to make some predictions for the game and "hopefully" win a few prizes.  I did get a Temporary tattoo of the Haribo Bear.  I personally am not a fan of tattoos,  but I will sport a temporary one for an event now and then.  

As we made our way to the Stadium,  the lines and people began to grow exponentially.   I lost sight of many of the Haribo folks and found myself nearly alone as we approached the gates.   And that is where the story turns...

With huge lines,  lots of people and organized chaos surrounding me,   I stepped up to enter and handed the guard my keys and phone.   That is when I was informed I was bringing in a "Deadly Weapon".  

The small swiss army knife with a nail file and scissors was deemed "deadly",  and they refused to let me in with it.   I would remove the knife  ( forever!)  or take it back to my car.    I had just stood in line for 20 minutes and endured all the pushing and shoving that comes with large crowded events. 

  If I was going back to the car, I was not going to come back.   I had already missed the national anthem and probably the first pitch.  ( Dan, one of the Haribo first Shift people, had won the lottery and was selected to toss out the first pitch of the game!)    

And since the Keychain was a gift...  And a handy, dandy tool I use often, I was not about to surrender it to a bunch of strangers.  ( They cost over $20 bucks to replace!) So... I left.   No game for me. 

Which was fine.  I have never been to a Major League Baseball Game before, but I had been to several minor league ones.   And I really had no horse in the race to cheer for.  I had already achieved what I wanted by going to the Tailgate and chatting with several folks outside of work, so there was no reason to stay.   Besides, I had things to do at home and was most likely going to leave early anyway.  Not a huge loss.  

Still, it did kind of bug me that they would not let me in because of a dinky pocket "knife".  This is one of those instances where I would not make a good security guard.   Unless you are in a prison, I believe "zero Tolerance" policies are moronic! A small dose of common sense usually destroys any policy that checks its brain at the door.  Like suspending a 6 year old because he pointed his finger at another child. ( A finger is not a gun, people!)  

I don't blame the security guy for doing his job.   Someone has to enforce the policy.  But the policy people have to know where to draw the line on  Deadly Weapon and "probably not a weapon at all." Good thing I left my baseball bat at home....

Otherwise,  Today was a "catch up" day.  Complete with its own set of adventures.   I will probably blog about that later as this post is getting long and the cat has decided to camp out on my chest as I'm writing this.  So I will end this here and save that one for tomorrow.   All while trying to make every second count.