Date: 2004-12-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I don't think it's officially winter in NW Wisconsin until the weather gets down to zero. Well, today's the day. I'm snug in my little shack just south of Lower Twin Lake, the furnace is crankin' out the btu's, I'm in my bvd's and there's a winter's worth of neatly stacked firewood for the fireplace. I've also got at least a months worth of coffee...just in case. It's been a busy year getting ready for my thru hike and the most important part of my preparation has been physical. The Northwest Sports Complex in Spooner, Wisconsin has been a second home and they've helped me a lot with classes in pilates, yoga, aerobics and a cardio/light weight training program, Working out with Weights (although I prefer to call it Working out with Women). I'd especially like to thank the ladies in all of these classes who have been very tolerant of the only guy to invade their turf and live to tell about it. So far anyway. They are all younger, prettier, in much better shape and smell better than I. If not, I probably would never have kept going. The friendly banter that constantly hums in Dana's Restaurant is also a blessing, not to mention that wonderful breakfast of coffee, wheat toast, fried eggs and way too many hashbrowns. It's great living in a small town. Walk in the door of Dana's, heads turn to see who it is and people immediately start giving you a hard time. It's what I like.Robert & Michelle Ortmann's Alley Cats Coffee Shop is located just north of Dana's on River Street. They have the most fantastic family. Corazon, a high school senior, is counting the days til graduation and, I suspect, feeling that push/pull of wanting to leave the home while uncertain of what life holds beyond the encircling arms of a safe and loving family. Jordan is the youngest and of an age unknown to me, both because he's so tall and my quite fallible memory. Somewhere in middle school I suspect. He waits on tables and cleans up on weekends, learning more than a few things that will hold him in good stead in later years. Don't ever play checkers with Jordan. Customer or not, you'll never win. His Dad has mastered the art of letting me win just often enough that I'll keep coming back in the misguided belief that I'm actually in the game. Jordan is just stone cold. Do not play him, his checkers philosophy being that the customer is always dead meat. Levi, the oldest, is in the Army at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Mom, Michelle, is positively giddy that he is coming home for Christmas. No one is safe from her infectious joy, so if you don't want your day brightened, stay home. These folks are just about the nicest people I've ever met and I know some good ones. You'd never guess they are Republican. I spend my time trying to make them over into Democrats just as they model behavior that might, if followed, shape me into a passable Christian. I suspect all of our noble efforts are to little end, but it's all about progress, isn't it?Oh, I forgot to tell you about my physical preparation. Not that important in the larger scheme, is it? It's all about your personal trail...and the people you meet on it. Alley Cats is certainly an important part of that trail.