When everyone gives everything

It's difficult to write blogs after reading everyone else's. Life is pretty simple up here.
I was a shopping a few weeks ago and the girl at the store asked me in accented English where I was from. As I answered, she looked surprised, then grabbed a flyer for an event for international people living in Door County and said she had asked because she thought I was international and wanted to invite me to the event. But nevermind. hmmm. Anyway, turns out she's from Israel so we chatted a bit about Israel, Egypt and Chile before she asked in excited tones, "What do you do up here at night!?"
"Ohhh, go to Husby's or JJ's if we're going out, maybe the Mink if there's a band."
A frustrated look comes over her face as she says, "ugh! This is what everyone says! It is soooo boring up here, I can't believe it!"
I am sure I gave her a bit of an incredulous stare back as I said, "Well, we just relax up here, have bonfires, go out to bars when we go out, hang out on boats or at friends, hot tubs...I guess I do miss dancing" with confusion twanging my voice.
Apparently they were going to a club in Sturgeon Bay the next weekend, which sounded like the least attractive idea in the world to me.

Early in the morning, risin' to the street

Madison was the perfect vacation from the vacation that is my life. Seeing Burbs for the first time in awhile and seeing everyone else for the last time for awhile (some longer than others) was great. I came back with a bit more zest than I left.

Now I have just gotten home for a poker game with some gals I work with, which I definitely lost. I have some faith I will get better with practice...but that may or may not be true. Tomorrow is my fourth double in as many days. So, making money, my body's aching, and I cannot remember the last time I ate in my own kitchen, other than fruit spinach smoothies and eggs for breakfast. At least it has been raining through all this working. The sun's taunting always makes it difficult to get through so many hours inside...and the heat makes the kitchen much less bearable.

In the kind of world where we belong

Well another weekend (if you can tell the difference between weekdays and weekends in Door County) is almost over. Friday set out with a friend of mine's wedding. Strange to watch someone my age, someone I grew up with, saying vows and wearing a wedding dress. After my first date came down with some health problems and every guy I knew was working, I brought Heidi. It turned out pretty well though as Heidi is very much the life of the party and both the bride and groom are in the military so there were lots of uniformed gentlemen, a particularly attractive marine became my dance partner for the evening. It reminded me of visiting the Air Force Academy with my uncle who told me that of the 4400 students who go to the Academy, about 400 are women. I immediately thought of transferring. Although odds like that are what create guys like those in Door County...overwhelming. Anywho, the thought of heading to Madison this Tuesday is making me happy as a peach. I do wish Adam, Ali, Katie, Katy etc could be there, but either way I will be very happy to get back to normal. Heidi leaves tomorrow for Germany. This is going to be an interesting month.

I'm laughing at the clouds

This blog may become a bit monotonous. There are times when Door County seems like Bizarro World. Awesome Bizarro World. Work is slow but still good. Getting some change in my pocket and some bronzed skin. Today it's rainy but after awhile you pray for rainy days so you can get things done. It's too difficult to clean the condo when the sun is singing through the windows and the water's calling your name. So today I will walk to the grocery store, do some cleaning, stay out of the sun for a day. However it also ruins some plans. Hiking plans I had now have to be put off for another day. Heidi and I are sometimes dumbfounded by how the guys are up here. Is it Madison that is bizarro or Door County, where guys call you back, ask you out on dates, are looking for relationships. A little overwhelming, outrageous, and exhausting. After about five minutes in the local bar I lost track of how many times Heidi and I looked at each other with wide eyes and raised eyebrows wondering if this is seriously our lives.

So I know that you are real

My first day off in what seems like forever was yesterday. We decided to play beer pong on the boat until the sun set. Then off to my place for some hookah and then the local bar that is coincidentally within walking distance. A fantastic day until the very end. On the walk home there is a fairly steep hill. I would not suggest making fun of your friend at the exact moment you are climbing this hill, climbing along the edge of the road, teetering on the edge of a deep gutter, right after passing a large pipe where water flows when it rains, wearing flip flops. Your friend may turn and push you slightly in jest. Somehow this slight push which usually would have been avenged by a swift punch to the bicep, now is avenged by your tears and blood and limps after you go flying into the gutter, scraping feet and back and landing against the large metal pipe a couple feet back. I felt like Adam in Texas, except that my accident was not nearly as hilarious...although if we had a video I'm sure I would laugh...and also I have much more than a severly stubbed toe at the moment. At least two more days off mean no limping around the restaurant, but I think sunscreen is really going to sting the road rash on my back.