Friends in Foreign Countries
Not much new going on here, but I wanted to share something very special with my "readers" (and I realize there are probably only a couple of you!) My friends Gina and Eric are currently in Vietnam adopting their SECOND set of twins. They adopted Jack and Anna a few years ago, and are now adopting 2-year-old twin boys to add to their family. I think it is so wonderful that this family has opened their hearts and home to these kids, and I couldn't be more happy for them! Anyway, Gina is keeping a blog while they are in Vietnam. They have taken Jack and Anna with them for the first part of the trip, so they are getting to experience the country in which they were born and meet their new brothers. Please check out Gina's blog (Buss Twins link at right) and read about their amazing journey!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
North Woods Camping
Brett and I both took last Friday off and pulled the boat up to Lake Vermilion to do some fishing and camping. Our friends Bobbie and Lowell also pulled their boat up to camp with us. We took our time driving up, and arrived at a boat launch on the east side of the lake (not far from Tower, MN) later in the afternoon. We loaded everything up in the boat, because you see folks, we were camping on an island!
Brett and Lowell have been coming up here for years, and last year Brett and I camped on what they call "the big island." It's really not that big, maybe 3/4 of an acre. This year the big island was occupied (first come, first served) so we headed to "the little island" which is slightly smaller but can still easily fit 3-4 tents. We only had 2, so it was perfect.
As you might guess, this is a more primitive campsite, but there is a fire pit and some rough "tables" constructed between trees. There is also a um...latrine...and I use that word loosely. Bobbie actually brough toilet seat covers to put on it!
But you can't beat the view at Lake Vermilion. It is just a beautiful lake, and the leaves are starting to turn up there, so every once in awhile we'd see a burst of bright orange, red or yellow along the shoreline. There are lots of birds - we saw 3 mature bald eagles and one youngster. One of the adults flew right over the boat. You can't beat the view of that stark white head and tail against the bright blue sky! But of course my favorite by far are the loons. They are wonderful birds with a unique call that can be heard echoing across the water. I especially love the sound of them at night. Speaking of sounds - in the later afternoon/early evening we heard a wolf! We heard one last year too, and went to the International Wolf Center in Ely to confirm what we heard. Such a eerie, but cool sound. Of course one of the benefits of camping on an island is that you don't have to worry too much about bears, wolves, and other wildlife that are lurking along the
forested shores.
The other critters we were coveting were of course, the fish. We took Brett's boat out for awhile on Saturday morning/early afternoon, and didn't have much luck except for a smallmouth bass. He did teach me some different methods of fishing, like drifting and trolling. I also baited my first leech. We came back to camp and took a little nap, snacked and went back out around 4:30. Brett caught another smallmouth, but we really didn't have good luck until around 7:30, close to sunset. I was trolling and got something on the line - my first walleye! I was pretty excited. Shortly after that I caught a good-sized perch. Brett wasn't fishing at this time, so that's why I got all the glory - of course I couldn't do it without him, because he nets the fish and takes it off the hook! I tried again but got caught on some rocks and lost our last Shad Rap. The fish didn't like the other lures so well. It was getting dark so we went in. We photo-documented my walleye before turning the fish loose. Not enough of a catch to really go to the trouble of preparing them to eat. Bobbie and Lowell caught a few, but no keepers for them either.
We had a nice, relaxing time and enjoyed some good conversation around the campfire. All in all it was a good trip, but a little chilly! It got cold out on the water at times, but in the sun it wasn't too bad. Nighttime was the worst - it was in the 30s! - but we came prepared with sleeping bags and a lot of blankets. Good times, and we'll definitely be back!
Remembering 9/11
After returning from Lake Vermilion last Sunday, I turned around and left early Monday morning for a work trip to Chicago (talk about a change of scenery)! It was, quite frankly, a little weird flying on 9/11, at the same time of day the terrorist attacks occurred exactly 5 years ago.
So how is flying different these days? I flew to Washington DC about 3 weeks before the actual 9/11 events, and I have flown on average 2-3 times a year since. It's probably changed in a lot of ways we don't necessary see (i.e. they say there are many more air marshalls engaged now than there were then). But there are also obvious changes. Five years ago a loved one or friend could also greet me as I stepped off the plane. Now I catch up with them in baggage claim or the outdoor pick-up area. And of course now there are greater restrictions on what we can and cannot carry on a plane. Five years ago I could carry scissors, nail clippers, etc. Not so now. Five years ago I didn't always have to take my shoes off before going through security. Now I'm required to take them off every time. Five years ago I could carry on a single bag for an overnight work trip. Now I have to check that bag because it contains hair gel, lotion, and other products that are considered a potential threat because they could house bomb-making materials.
I'm not complaining. Granted, it is a bit of a pain to not have some of those items on the plane, and there is more of a chance of my luggage getting lost now, but checking and picking up a bag only takes a few minutes. I haven't really encountered any long lines for security - airports have staffed up and it doesn't take too long. But there's always that chance of a long line tugging in the back of my mind, so I'm often at the airport plenty early (which actually, I like to be anyway).
Consequently, I made it to Chicago and back again safely. But it is true that the way we travel is changed forever. We will always be reacting to the next event and attempting to avoid such a tragedy again. As I walked out on Navy Pier in Chicago with a group of people on Monday night, I looked back at the Chicago skyline and saw a tall office building lit up with an American flag and the date "9/11." We remember, and we won't be forgetting anytime soon.
Brett and I both took last Friday off and pulled the boat up to Lake Vermilion to do some fishing and camping. Our friends Bobbie and Lowell also pulled their boat up to camp with us. We took our time driving up, and arrived at a boat launch on the east side of the lake (not far from Tower, MN) later in the afternoon. We loaded everything up in the boat, because you see folks, we were camping on an island!
Brett and Lowell have been coming up here for years, and last year Brett and I camped on what they call "the big island." It's really not that big, maybe 3/4 of an acre. This year the big island was occupied (first come, first served) so we headed to "the little island" which is slightly smaller but can still easily fit 3-4 tents. We only had 2, so it was perfect.
As you might guess, this is a more primitive campsite, but there is a fire pit and some rough "tables" constructed between trees. There is also a um...latrine...and I use that word loosely. Bobbie actually brough toilet seat covers to put on it!
But you can't beat the view at Lake Vermilion. It is just a beautiful lake, and the leaves are starting to turn up there, so every once in awhile we'd see a burst of bright orange, red or yellow along the shoreline. There are lots of birds - we saw 3 mature bald eagles and one youngster. One of the adults flew right over the boat. You can't beat the view of that stark white head and tail against the bright blue sky! But of course my favorite by far are the loons. They are wonderful birds with a unique call that can be heard echoing across the water. I especially love the sound of them at night. Speaking of sounds - in the later afternoon/early evening we heard a wolf! We heard one last year too, and went to the International Wolf Center in Ely to confirm what we heard. Such a eerie, but cool sound. Of course one of the benefits of camping on an island is that you don't have to worry too much about bears, wolves, and other wildlife that are lurking along the
forested shores.The other critters we were coveting were of course, the fish. We took Brett's boat out for awhile on Saturday morning/early afternoon, and didn't have much luck except for a smallmouth bass. He did teach me some different methods of fishing, like drifting and trolling. I also baited my first leech. We came back to camp and took a little nap, snacked and went back out around 4:30. Brett caught another smallmouth, but we really didn't have good luck until around 7:30, close to sunset. I was trolling and got something on the line - my first walleye! I was pretty excited. Shortly after that I caught a good-sized perch. Brett wasn't fishing at this time, so that's why I got all the glory - of course I couldn't do it without him, because he nets the fish and takes it off the hook! I tried again but got caught on some rocks and lost our last Shad Rap. The fish didn't like the other lures so well. It was getting dark so we went in. We photo-documented my walleye before turning the fish loose. Not enough of a catch to really go to the trouble of preparing them to eat. Bobbie and Lowell caught a few, but no keepers for them either.
We had a nice, relaxing time and enjoyed some good conversation around the campfire. All in all it was a good trip, but a little chilly! It got cold out on the water at times, but in the sun it wasn't too bad. Nighttime was the worst - it was in the 30s! - but we came prepared with sleeping bags and a lot of blankets. Good times, and we'll definitely be back!
Remembering 9/11
After returning from Lake Vermilion last Sunday, I turned around and left early Monday morning for a work trip to Chicago (talk about a change of scenery)! It was, quite frankly, a little weird flying on 9/11, at the same time of day the terrorist attacks occurred exactly 5 years ago.
So how is flying different these days? I flew to Washington DC about 3 weeks before the actual 9/11 events, and I have flown on average 2-3 times a year since. It's probably changed in a lot of ways we don't necessary see (i.e. they say there are many more air marshalls engaged now than there were then). But there are also obvious changes. Five years ago a loved one or friend could also greet me as I stepped off the plane. Now I catch up with them in baggage claim or the outdoor pick-up area. And of course now there are greater restrictions on what we can and cannot carry on a plane. Five years ago I could carry scissors, nail clippers, etc. Not so now. Five years ago I didn't always have to take my shoes off before going through security. Now I'm required to take them off every time. Five years ago I could carry on a single bag for an overnight work trip. Now I have to check that bag because it contains hair gel, lotion, and other products that are considered a potential threat because they could house bomb-making materials.
I'm not complaining. Granted, it is a bit of a pain to not have some of those items on the plane, and there is more of a chance of my luggage getting lost now, but checking and picking up a bag only takes a few minutes. I haven't really encountered any long lines for security - airports have staffed up and it doesn't take too long. But there's always that chance of a long line tugging in the back of my mind, so I'm often at the airport plenty early (which actually, I like to be anyway).
Consequently, I made it to Chicago and back again safely. But it is true that the way we travel is changed forever. We will always be reacting to the next event and attempting to avoid such a tragedy again. As I walked out on Navy Pier in Chicago with a group of people on Monday night, I looked back at the Chicago skyline and saw a tall office building lit up with an American flag and the date "9/11." We remember, and we won't be forgetting anytime soon.
Monday, September 04, 2006
I can't believe it's Labor Day! Holy cow. Where did the summer go?
This weekend we went camping at Sakatah Lake State Park with our friends Amy and Broc (and their dog Gus), who drove up from Iowa. This trip had been planned for awhile, and it was our first camping trip with them, so we were pretty excited. We drove down later Friday night (about 14 miles west of Faribault, MN) and set up the tent in the near-dark. Amy and Broc arrived shorty after us, and we enjoyed a beautiful, cool evening by the campfire. It was perfect camping weather! The campground is pretty nice too - shady camping spots, and the restrooms are modern and clean. The weatherman had threatened thunderstorms that evening, so as we headed for the tents, we braced ourselves for a potential storm. But it stayed cool and clear all night, and the next morning was beautiful as well. We cooked breakfast and made a quick trip into nearby Waterville (the self-proclaimed Bullhead Capital of the WORLD), population about 1,800. The guys and Gus explored the lake, which turned out to be a 6-foot deep, green algae mess. But they got a good little hike out of it. We cooked brats over the fire for lunch.
This weekend we went camping at Sakatah Lake State Park with our friends Amy and Broc (and their dog Gus), who drove up from Iowa. This trip had been planned for awhile, and it was our first camping trip with them, so we were pretty excited. We drove down later Friday night (about 14 miles west of Faribault, MN) and set up the tent in the near-dark. Amy and Broc arrived shorty after us, and we enjoyed a beautiful, cool evening by the campfire. It was perfect camping weather! The campground is pretty nice too - shady camping spots, and the restrooms are modern and clean. The weatherman had threatened thunderstorms that evening, so as we headed for the tents, we braced ourselves for a potential storm. But it stayed cool and clear all night, and the next morning was beautiful as well. We cooked breakfast and made a quick trip into nearby Waterville (the self-proclaimed Bullhead Capital of the WORLD), population about 1,800. The guys and Gus explored the lake, which turned out to be a 6-foot deep, green algae mess. But they got a good little hike out of it. We cooked brats over the fire for lunch.
Amy cooking wieners
Gus wanted some too!
We looked forward to an afternoon of checking out the park, maybe finding a good fishing spot, grilling our big meal that evening, and making s'mores and sitting around the fire that night.
But that all ended around 2:00 in the afternoon.
It started thundering in the distance, and we started putting things away. The rain came and we headed to the tents, thinking there would be a nice shower that would be over by the time we took a little nap.
3:00PM - Still raining. Tried to go back to sleep.
Gus wanted some too!
We looked forward to an afternoon of checking out the park, maybe finding a good fishing spot, grilling our big meal that evening, and making s'mores and sitting around the fire that night.
But that all ended around 2:00 in the afternoon.
It started thundering in the distance, and we started putting things away. The rain came and we headed to the tents, thinking there would be a nice shower that would be over by the time we took a little nap.
3:00PM - Still raining. Tried to go back to sleep.
4:00PM - Yep, still raining. Busted out the cards and played a couple of games of Solitaire, and some War.
4:30PM - I got so bored I got out the digital camera and starting taking photos.
5:00PM - We passed the time by watching the drops of water streak across the roof of the tent, which was a bit concerning because we did have a rain fly on, and somehow the water was getting below the fly to the actual roof. But it can't rain much longer, can it?
5:30PM - Water streaks like shooting stars across the tent roof, collecting into pools which burst and zig-zag like a roller coaster across the surface...ok, I have WAY too much time on my hands.
6:00PM - Seriously, this tent thing is getting old. The rain has not stopped. I go and talk to Amy. Broc has gone to the ranger station to get an idea of how much longer this is supposed to last. Forecast: 2 more hours of rain, a small break and then...more rain. We already have water in the tent.
We all headed to Faribault to get some dinner, since there was no way we were cooking outside in the rainy mess. After dinner we stopped to get some rain gear and extra towels, then reluctantly headed back to camp to survey the damage. Did I mention it rained the whole time?
For some reason, we decided we HAD to burn the firewood that was brought, and Broc and Brett did get one going. So there we were, all standing around the fire in our rain gear in the slow, steady rain. Amy even brought out a tarp and basically wrapped herself in it! We stood there until the fire went out, and tried to dry out the best we could before crawling into bed around 11:00 or so.
We did fall asleep (to the sound of raindrops, of course), but around 12:15AM we were jolted out of bed by a panic alarm on someone's vehicle. Turns out it was Broc's truck! It just kept going off - he had to unplug the whole system to get it to stop. Turns out he had the keychain with the panic button in the pocket of the tent, and it got wet and shorted out! After that, the night went something like this:
2:00AM - Surely this can't go all night. There's a little dampness growing at the top of the air mattress. I shift down a little bit.
3:00AM - I turn on the flashlight and survey the damage. The puddles in the tent are growing.
4:00AM - Dammit, still raining. I check the gear I had placed strategically near the bottom of the mattress, which was the driest place in the tent when we went to bed. It's getting damp. I pull it up on the end of the mattress and curl my feet up.
5:00AM - GOOD LORD. This is getting ridiculous. Every once in awhile I feel drops on my forehead. I scoot down more on the mattress. By this time I am in the fetal position and there's no room for much else. I see Brett has shifted down too. We are also losing air. He's got to be about on the ground by now.
6:00AM - I am envisioning muddy streams of water running outside our tent door. Surely we're going to float away sooner or later. I'm fighting off the urge to pee, but it's difficult with the constant pitter-patter of rain and the water surrounding the mattress...
7:00AM - WE CANNOT TAKE THIS ANYMORE. It's still raining, b
ut we decide to cut our losses and pack it up. Brett's sleeping bag is soaked and he is basically lying on the floor of the tent, which is virtually a big puddle.
By around 8AM we had the wet, muddy mess of a tent and tarp in the back of the Jimmy and everything packed and ready to go. The weather made things tough, but what can you do? Mother Nature at her finest. At the end of the trip we were wet, but still smiling. We'll try it again sometime!
Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?
Today we hosted the draft for Brett's fantasy football league. The entire Laabs family is represented, even Brandon and Betty (Brett's mom) have a team! We had about 15 people in the house - lots of guys and a few gals with magazines, clipboards and all kinds of other info to help them make the best pics. It's quite an event that they've been doing for years. Everyone brings their own food and drink and they bid on players. It took about 4 hours to get through! I didn't stick around - Candy, Hayley, Marcey and I went to the mall. Brett is in 2 leagues this year, so it's a lot of football at our house this season.
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