Wisconsin July-August 2015 Part 1

In quasi chronological order ...

We stopped in for a brief visit at Greg and Laura's house to see Sammy our newest grandson when we first arrived.    The next day we went off for a hike with them at Lapham Peak State Park.  Seany ran while I trotted some of the way.  Sammy napped all the way in his comfy, modular stroller.   I'm guessing its safe to assume baby buggies are from long ago era?

Walking the trails

Post hike lunch

After a hike we had to have lunch so we stopped at The Depot which was the old Oconomowoc train Depot.  I actually did stop in there when it was a real train station back umpteen years ago.  Now its just good food and a view of any passing trains.

The next day LeAnn came into see Sammy and we all went to Bonnee and Chuck's house for a July 4th party.  They have a great pool in the back yard but I forgot to bring my suite.  It was wonderful to see Bonnee again and all of Dave's family.  

Party setup, Mary, LeAnn and Dave.  Supervisors, Seany, Jonah

Next it was off to the Oconomowoc 4th of July Parade.  Greg and Laura live right near the route so we drove over there and than walked the few hundred feet to sit on the curb with Larry and Sue, Laura's parents.  It was rather fun although I'm not a parade person.  Some of the Marchers would toss out candy so there was always a scramble going on with the kids scarfing up treats

At night Dave started his fireworks display.  They had a huge inventory from sparklers and punks to a few giant rockets which were part of the finale.  Quite impressive!

While in Wisconsin we stay and Jennifer and Dave's house in Ixonia. Aside from seeing everyone we also have doctor appointments to attend too.  But all the doctors are in Green Bay.  And for me, since I found my dentist, Dr. Farrell I won’t go anywhere else.  She is, by far the best dentist I have ever experienced.  When she retires I’d better be dead because I don’t think I’ll ever go to another.

So we found ourselves in Green  Bay, at the dentist office one fine morning.  Carmen the dental tech did her usual fine (and painless) job of cleaning my teeth.  Then I moved over to Bernadette’s chair where she and Dr Farrell did the crown work.

They ended up shooting me 3 times with the Novocaine replacements, Septocaine  and Lidocaine.  It took that many shots before I was numb enough not to feel my tooth being ground down.  I seem to have a large number of nerves round my teeth, the benefit of which escapes me.

And of course she reminded me again about my chipped tooth which also needs a crown.  In the end I’ll have 3 crowns.  That’s a lot of gold!

Enjoying myself waiting for more teeth grinding

It takes 11 working days for a permanent crown to be fabricated.  Add 2 days for shipping and that puts us close to 14 working days.  Not a big deal for most, but for us it means staying up here in Wisconsin for at least 3 weeks.  In the summer its great.  In the winter, not so much.

After the dentist it was the eye doctor for me.  He found that because I’m so far sighted, my eye ball has a curve causing the angle between the lens and the cornea is shallow and can close off these little vent-like holes where fluid is able to escape.  If these holes are plugged it can cause a dangerous pressure in the viscous fluid of the eye ball resulting in excruciating pain and very possible loss of eye sight.  This condition is called, Closed Angle Glaucoma.

So he recommended I have laser surgery which basically meanings cutting a small slit in each eye.  And its reportedly painless and done in the office with mild after effects that go away after 12 hours

Since we plan to be in the Bahamas a lot I figured I’d better get this done now.  Eye doctors, or any doctors for that matter, are exceedingly rare in the more remote islands where we travel too.  

Mary’s physical was fine except she was scheduled for a pulmonary test.  They turned out to be inconclusive.

Ready for a pulmonary test.  Guess they mus be fun?

Once the medical portion of this trip was complete we made a stop to see Amanda our favorite barber/hairstylist.  Her business is Dr. Hair up in Green Bay should you ever have need of a haircut while up there.

Amanda doing her thing

Amanada is great.  She always squeezes us in knowing we have this wacky schedule when were up in Green Bay. Mary wanted a trim.  I did not so it was only one haircut this time.

The day after we returned to Ixonia we picked up Seany and did a quick shopping run before heading back to Jen and Dave's house for Jack and Jonah to show up.

Discussing bread choices 

I set up the Hagen's big blow-up pool.  Pool time means water fight!  They were all against me!  Quite fun although I fear I’m getting a bit old to rough house with youngsters that young.  And a special  thanks to Jen, Jennifer’s next door neighbor, for making up a few dozen water balloons.  As you can probably guess they were all tossed at me. 

Another day we had to make a drug store run since we were watching Jonah that morning he came along.

Mary and Jonah discussing prescriptions

We ran a few other errands and then picked up Jack at his Summer School.  Whats better than stopping at Chocolate Factory for lunch and ice cream before heading home.

Perusing the ice cream choices

Debate on what to order

Now Mom,  It is not too much for me.  I can eat it all (he did)

I had ordered Mary’s new tablet from Amazon and it arrived today so I played with that for a while and then ordered a new VHF radio from eBay to replace our non-functional radio.  Then I contacted Wilson electronics for advice on purchasing a cell phone signal booster.  All this shopping for boat toys can be exhausting.

Over the weekend we all piled in Jen and Dave's mini van and drove to  Devils Lake State Park to hike around.  We have never been there before and its a great park.  We hiked up a trail which turned out to be a little more torturous than anticipated.   It was pretty much straight up a rocky slope but the views near the top were awesome.  And no, we didn't make it all the way.

Placid fresh water and a pretty nice beach

Not a trail for the unsteady

One morning we even went to the Shorehaven Cafe for breakfast and wondered if we should maybe take a tour of the place now that we're Medicare age.  Ooops, sorry.  Mary isn’t quite there.  Yet...  The cafe is inexpensive and pretty good.  We will be returning.

We stopped in for a brief visit to see Seany and Sammy again.  What a duet of cuties!

Captain America (Seany) and his brother Sammy

We had pool day again another day with the next door neighbors kids even TJ whose close to 4.  Why do they always pick on me?

Greg and I golfed Sunday.  55 for nine using his old clubs.   I felt like Tiger Woods I was playing so badly.  Greg easily out drives me by an embarrassing and undisclosed distance.  

We left Ixonia at the eye opening hour of 6:45AM to return to Green Bay the next day.  We had to make it to the dental office in time for Mary’s cleaning.

Then later in the afternoon I went in for my laser surgery, the slit cutting operation to alleviate my narrow-angle glaucoma condition.  

The laser is, well, sort of toyish.  Its just a little black box with a camera-like device mounted atop one of those eye machines where you sit as they spin through lens choices to see which one you like.

The Laser

The actual procedure took about 2 minutes.  The doctor first put this gel-like substance on my eyeball, and then placed a focusing lens in the gel.  When he fired the laser I could see a bright red light and felt a momentary ache which wasn’t intense, but still uncomfortable.  After the second shot there was no more pain.  The right eye took about twice the number of laser shots as the left eye.  That’s because there are ridges and valleys and sometimes you catch a ridge and it takes a few more shots to cut through it.  He had to hold the focusing lens on my eye for a few minutes to keep pressure on a few capillaries that had begun to bleed.  The things you learn in a doctors office.

I had blurry and darker vision but could still see well enoough so drove to Lambeau anyway where we planned to eat at the new restaurant.  And since the Packer Pro shop was right there, we bought Sammy, our new grandson, a Packer outfit.  The new restaurant, 1919, was closed.  It's replacing Curly's and occupies a space on the atrium ground floor.  So no Lambeau dinning for us.

My right eye felt like I had something in it, a grain of sand maybe?  But I was able to see just fine we we went to Anduzzis for a few drinks and dinner.  As the evening progressed my vision became clearer and less painful.

We drove back to Ixonia the next morning,   My eyes have recovered to near normal sight so that’s good.

We had Seamy over to Jen and Dave's house again a few days later.  He, Jonah, Jack and Stefani,  Jack and Jonah's cousin, ran me ragged again.

We met Greg and Laura for dinner at Rosati's.  Happily Laura and I share the same taste for Veggie pizza's with peppers.  Yummm!

Mary and Kathy. 

Walking in Judy's backyard

The gang who stayed.  We had left before "The" picture was taken

We left the next morning for my cousin’s reunion at Judy and Larry's have a home on the shores of Lake Michigan, north of Milwaukee.  It was great seeing my cousins again!

We strolled around in the woods and noticed the shoreline had shrunk dramatically due to the high water levels of the lake. We ate dinner and then had to leave early in the evening to drive up to Green Bay.  Well actually Suamico, where we were staying in our almost second home, The Country Inn Suites in Suamico.   I did note that once we left they decided to take the annual family picture.  Hmmm ....  

Next day we left Suamico and took the new highway 41-29 interchange to highway 29 for the drive to see Leann and Brant who live in Burnsville, Minnesota.  We arrived around 7:30 pm.  Nice drive and of course, Subway for dinner.  Next day we went to eat breakfast at this really good little cafe, Silver Bell, in a strip mall down Hwy 13.   But first we went to the Y where Mary and LeAnn engaged in a yoga session outside and I did the weight machines and ran the track.

I'm certainly more captavating

In the afternoon Mary, LeAnn and I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to view the Davinci Notebooks.  His actual notebooks were on display.  Very interesting except he wrote from top to bottom and right to left.   The intricate drawings were amazing. 

Ikea.  Our cart only half full yet, and Mary drooling over hot dogs

Next morning while Brant and LeAnn were at work, Mary and I headed to Ikea to look for lights for our master stateroom bathroom.  Some how we ended up with no bathroom lights but 4 other lights for the fly bridge and closets.  And a shopping cart full of stuff including a new table for the sun deck.  Nothing like being able to use our laser shopping focus.

Lula waking Mary up

Later we met up with LeAnn and went to Walmart so LeAnn could buy camping supplies for this coming weekend when they met Jen and Dave at a campground.   And why, I dont know, but we ended up purchasing another $100 worth of stuff.  We must need it but I really don’t know where were going to stash it all.

I ordered the cell phone booster and found a source for these Teflon coated flare fittings called Flare-Tights.  No, they have nothing to do with a cell phone booster, but they will help fix one of our leaking water maker high pressure lines.   The cell phone booster will help when we're over in the Bahamas which has spotty cell connections.

Exactly 11 ounces

After dinner LeAnn and I went to the yogurt place for frozen yogurt.  They had a special deal going on too.  It's a self serve place and if your cup weighs exactly 11oz.  its free.  Yes, you can call me lucky.  Mine was exactly 11oz.

Gosh tomorrow I turn 65.  What?  It cant be, can it?  65?  That’s old!

Birthday day for me.  After so many previous birthdays, their a bit underwhelming I guess.  

Hiking along the Mississippi

We went to hike at Fort Snelling.  What a great little spot!   While we were walking Dan called and treated us to his rendition of happy birthday on the organ.  He gets better every year.  That or I cant hear as well and he’s really getting worse.

Leann took me to lunch at Caspers where the staff discovered it was my birthday and gave me a little cake.  I had two bites.  Mary, took care of the rest.

Free Lego technical advice

We took Lulu their boxer for a few walks and then the next afternoon, while Leann was at work Mary and I went to the Mall of America!  We ended up at the Lego store to buy some grandson presents but realized we were out of our league confronted with maze of different Lego's.  So Mary asked a couple of young kids for technical assistance which they eagerly provided.

We loitered around the house most of the day but went to the Giuseppes, a local Italian place in a strip mall for delicious Italian food.

Silver Bell Cafe patrons

Note that first item on the desert board

Next morning we went to the Silver Bell Cafe for breakfast.  We had gone there once before and found it a great little cafe.  They even had Chocolate Cherry Pie.  No, I didn't.  But I will remember this place.

We left for Ixonia around 11 AM and arrived by 4PM.  Only one stop.  Mary slept most of the way but I’m avoiding any casual connection between our unusually swift transit and Mary's nap.

At Buca's

A few evenings later our kids took me out for dinner at Buca's.  It's in the building where the Around-the-Lakes Family restaurant had been for years.   Sammy was even along although he didn't say much, preferring to nap instead of indulging in family horse-play.  The nice waiter we had asked, "and Mam what would you like", before noting I had a beard which seemed to negate his impression I was of a different gender.  I must have done a really fine job on my pony tail.  He brought out some mouth-watering cake later and made a joke of it.  Fun night!

Doing math puzzles at Buca's

Over the last several weeks I have been the recipient of bits of 5 year old wisdom.  For example, Jonah instructed me that Mary cant call me grandpa but George is acceptable.  I never knew about that rule.  

Meanwhile Seany continues his very patient and detailed instructions regarding Super Heroes and whether they belong to the Justice League, or Avengers or some other group I've forgotten.  There appears to be a large number of Super Heroes now.  All I remember is Superman.    

Jonah, with his serious lecture expression, reminded me that I have to call Mary, "My Lovie", but only if we’re really married. And then added that I have to do this only if I want to.  Its getting very complicated.  

Some unusual excitement in Ixonia one day this week. Chip sealing the street.  Looks very nice but in reality its like driving on a gravel road until they remove the excess aggregate.  The downside is the removal of the painted street lines, with bike lanes clearly marked.  The wont be adding those again.

A few days later we headed once again to Green Bay so Mary could exercise her rights as a Packer stockholder and attend the annual Stockholders meeting.   We take Hwy P up to Lomira and then 41 into Green Bay.  Getting mighty sick of Hwy P.  And Green Bay is all torn up as they work on revamping highway 41.  Some of the finished segments are great.  But its a bit difficult navigating through all the construction which is everywhere. 

Jack and Jonah were along with us since we were meeting Jen and Dave in Green Bay the next day.   We took them to the Packer stockholder meeting.  The meeting is held in the stadium which is closed off to the general pubic for the day.  But really, in Green Bay is there not a stockholder in every house?

The Podium

Some of the early arrivals

There were maybe 10-15 thousand people there filling about half the stadium.  The podium was on the 50 yard line.  They did the usual stockholder meeting stuff and it was interesting.  Well the parts I heard were.   I took the kids one at a time to buy food. 

A recalcitrant non-stockholder unhappy with a pretzel-piece eating grandpa

Jonah, was irate that I took some of the pretzel since he considered the whole thing his.  And he doesn’t share his food!  The ensuing tantrum entertained a few ushers for a few minutes 

Stock holders dutifully in line for something.  Never found out what

I also they discovered they do not have any drinking fountains anywhere in the stadium.  Why would they when it's possible to sell bottled water for $4.25 / 12oz bottle.  That pretty much squelched any desire I might have had to visit this place any time soon.  But of course I picked up two bottles for the kids.

The concession stands were all open but with large signs indicating beer sales would not begin until noon.  Around 11:55, after the football operations and general stadium news report were over, the financial guy gets up and starts talking numbers.  Coinciding with his report, a large, probably 1/3 of people there, were all walking out of the standing towards the exits.  I  though it rather odd seeing this mass migration.  Until it dawned on me that beer sales were beginning.  And sure enough, after we left a short time later, the concession stands were all jammed and there weren't many people eating hot dogs.  Well, it is Green Bay after all, and financial reports can be death numbingly boring.  But still ...

I guess even Green Bay wont serve beer before noon.

We went back to our on and only hotel again where they really do know us by name.  The kids and I went  in the hotel pool while Mary napped and then we drove over to Anduzzis right near the hotel where the kids played games and we eventually ate.  

And, thankfully, we all went to bed early too!  Jack and Jonah took one bed and Mary and shared the other.  We seemed to manage sleeping just fine.

Next morning the kids were up around 6:30AM so I wasn't late when I headed to the dentist office.

I was back again for my permanent crown replacement and had to have 2 cavities filled.  It all only took 1.5 hours.   

Got back to the hotel where I walked J&J (Jack and Jonah) over to the dollar store where they bought a few items while we were waiting for Ma and pa (Jen and Dave) to arrive.   And sure enough as we  were walking back to the hotel Jen and Dave the rolled in!