Midwest Vacation

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Caroline Wise and John Wise at Lake Michigan in northern Illinois

Flew into Chicago today, rented a car, and drove north as fast as we could. The first stop and the official beginning of vacation was right here on Lake Michigan.

Snake in Northern Illinois by Lake Michigan

Dude, we’re from out west where snakes have rattles, letting us know to stay away; your posing is not getting the results you desire. Smile for the camera. [The way I remember it, we actually did hear a rattle, but that must have been all in my head because after researching local snake photos, I came to the conclusion that this little fellow was a fox snake and nonvenomous – Caroline]

Caroline Wise standing in Lake Michigan in northern Illinois

After our lakeside stop that allowed Caroline to dip her feet in the waters of Lake Michigan, we continued north.

Caroline Wise and John Wise entering Wisconsin

Happy faces of happy people entering the state of Wisconsin. Due to this now being a last-minute trip without the typical travel planning, I only just had today’s itinerary figured out in a spreadsheet, and even that was hardly a schedule as much as it was a note for a single destination. Due to my stay in Santa Barbara in September (to help with a family emergency) and the uncertainties surrounding dates there, I hadn’t been able to return to the itinerary, so this will be a relatively spontaneous adventure following the road that takes us forward, but first, we must head for Milwaukee and take a sharp right turn west.

Caroline Wise at Jimmy's Grotto in Waukesha, Wisconsin

Jimmy’s Grotto in Waukesha was on my radar for their famous Ponza Rotta deep-fried pizza. I’d caught wind of this place on some radio show on NPR, I believe, but wherever it was, I heard about the brilliance of deep-frying a pizza; we were here right now for our first encounter. But was it worth it? No question!

Wisconsin

The rest of the day was spent driving through Wisconsin farmland on our way to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Wisconsin

This is just the reason we wanted to be here in this corner of America in late September or early October…we’re joining the herd of leaf peepers.

Wisconsin

Oh yeah.

Wisconsin

Having arrived mid-day in Chicago, we were not going to get far, nor did we want to, as then we’d miss the countryside, so we only went as far as Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and called it a night.

Blue Dragon

JWise Photo of the Day

Blue dragonfly in Santa Barbara, California

Indulging myself with the new lens I was on the prowl looking to take photos that previously were out of reach. Funny thing is that when you don’t have the tool to do the job right it seems opportunities arise constantly, reducing you to wistfully fantasize that someday you’ll be properly equipped. When that day arrives and you find yourself confident to go forward and tackle those objects which had previously been outside of your reach, they cannot be found. And that is how I found myself with my new lens: I was ready to shoot but little showed itself to my discerning eye. Where was that grizzly now? Ok, a wetland in Santa Barbara probably wasn’t the best location for tracking bears, but how about a dazzling bird, or a fluttering butterfly? Then in an instant there it was, a beautiful giant blue dragonfly zipping by.

Update: Somewhere just a few days after this with Uncle Woody at home and a rehabilitation therapist visiting on a regular basis, I’m assured that things will be okay and that I can return to Arizona. I’ll have just enough time to get ready for our fall trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for you guessed it, fall colors and some leaf-peeping.

Briefly

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Caroline Wise in Santa Barbara, California

Here she was and just as quickly gone again.

Heron in Santa Barbara, California

Sunday morning and another five-hour visit to the sea.

Heron in Santa Barbara, California

Caroline and I tried to spend as much of our time together as we could find. It is by now going on a month since coming to Santa Barbara and the end is not yet in sight.

Great white heron at the Goleta Slough near Santa Barbara, California

Next week, on the 4th, we are supposed to take a vacation up in Michigan, but, as of this moment, that is one big uncertainty. As evening rolled around, Caroline and I made our way back down south to Burbank for her to catch a flight back to Arizona – sigh.

Fly in

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Egret in Santa Barbara, California

Last night, Caroline flew in and landed in Burbank, California, where I picked her up and whisked her away up to Santa Barbara.

Caroline Wise in Santa Barbara, California

It’s been nearly two weeks since last I saw her although it feels like months.

Pelican in Santa Barbara, California

This morning, we arose early to catch a sunrise at the beach; we had to imagine the sunrise behind the foggy daylight.

Grey Plover in Santa Barbara, California

The next five hours were spent walking in the sand, sitting in the fog, watching the birds, and listening to the surf.

Kayakers in the fog in Santa Barbara, California

Being together, that’s all that mattered.

Birds and the Broken Hip Repair

JWise Photo of the Day

Pelican in Santa Barbara, California

Guess who’s flying in tonight? Nope, not another pelican, it’s my wife Caroline!

Pelican in Santa Barbara, California

Yep, it’s worth raising your wings and celebrating.

Heron in Santa Barbara, California

Meanwhile, this is me just waiting around as the evening can’t arrive soon enough.

Curlew in Santa Barbara, California

This sure beats Phoenix for things to photograph but I wonder if I’d get bored here after taking 100,000 images of the coast?

Black Skimmers in Santa Barbara, California

By now you might recognize their profile, more of those black skimmers coming in low.

Santa Barbara, California

Tranquility out in the bay.

Pelican in Santa Barbara, California

Every direction I look, things are beautiful.

Black Skimmers in Santa Barbara, California

I’m guessing they got their fill out on those calm waters.

Xray of my great uncle's hip now held together with a titanium pin after a fall which broke his 84-year-old hip

It’s been fifteen days since Uncle Woody broke his hip and today was his appointment with the surgeon who performed the repair. The doctor showed us the x-rays of my uncle’s new titanium rod permanently attached to the thighbone and screwed into the broken head also known as the ball, that is held in the hips socket joint. He told us the hip was healing slowly and that my uncle would continue to be restricted to 50% weight bearing to ensure the bone securely heals around the screw, since if that screw were to break through the ball my uncle would feel the sort of pain that would make the break seem minor. So it was now obvious that I would be staying on in Santa Barbara for an indeterminate amount of time before my uncle would regain his mobility and once again live at home independently. Hopefully, I’m just being pessimistic. Time to drive down to Burbank to pick up Caroline.