Life As We Know It

Jumping Cliff on Thomas Lake?

2008-09-04T16:18:00.002-05:00

Well, I promised a return to the land, and here it is. I've settled in (for the most part) into my new place of residence. Car insurance went up. Sigh...

I managed a short BWCA trip over Labor Day. We were attempting to visit the jumping cliff from the snowbank trip, but I couldn't find it. Was it in Thomas Lake? That's where I looked...

A Return to the Land

2008-07-30T19:55:00.002-05:00

It's almost that time, folks. I'll be back in Minnesota for Grad School starting on or around 19 August. There's talk of going to the BWCA for a quick trip over Labor Day weekend. Anyone interested? Anyone still read this blog? Beuller?

All Quiet on the Western Front

2008-04-26T13:12:00.002-05:00

So, we seem to have abandoned this blog. It's been nearly a year since we've posted anything! It once again looks like I will be traveling to Canada for fishing in lieu of BWCA. It's sad, I know. I'll have to make sure to get out there next summer.

Cricket ... Cricket ...

2007-05-30T21:45:00.000-05:00

So, not much progress on the BWCA front, I see. Where is Aaron, self-proclaimed planner extraordinaire? Perhaps it doesn't matter much; I won't be going anyhow. It probably matters to someone. Instead, I will be joining my dad on a fly-in fishing trip in the great country of Canada. Huzzah!

In other news, I climbed Mt Ogden last Friday. Pretty exciting. It only took 11 hours (round trip) of trail-less scrambling along 35 degree slopes through knee-high scrub oak. Ok, so the scrambling was only half the way up (we went a different way down) but it was painful nonetheless. And when we thought we were nearly there, the way we took back (different than the way up) dumped us out 20 blocks from our cars. Oops. Well, I guess you can't have it all.

Additionally, I would like to go to New Zealand someday. Anyone want to join me?

It's that time of year again...

2007-02-07T19:07:00.000-06:00

No, not tax time (though that is almost here. Do you know where your W-2s and 1099s are?) BWCA 2007 planning time! Yes, BWCA is as little as 5 months away, so we had better start figuring out some dates. Post a reply with preferred dates or date ranges. Keep in mind that early June and late August will probably have the fewest Mosquitoes. I do dislike mosquitoes.

As far as for me, there are three big tests this summer at work: Early May, early June, and early August. The only trick is, I am not involved in those tests and no one will tell me if I should choose leave for during the tests (everyone else will be out at the range) or not during the tests (so I can be there while everyone is out at the range). So in short, I am pretty wide open.

In that case, I'll start the bidding at late August or perhaps even early September.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-23T18:49:00.000-06:00

I guess it's time for an update. This can even be considered my Christmas letter. Matt and I have moved to another apartment about 10 miles south of B-town. I'm still saving the world one well at a time. I've seen a couple wolves while hunting this fall. I'm not getting out hunting much lately though. That's what having to move will do. Matt has a girlfrend now -Uff-Da.

I miss all my friends and wish they would come visit and spawn another adventure.
BTW -Andy, I have a coupon here that says you own me one canoe trip.

Pictures of BWCA 2006

2006-10-22T14:35:00.000-05:00

"Where are the pictures? When will we get the pictures? How come you haven't sent out the pictures?" These might be questions you are asking yourself. Or more likely shaking your fist in a generally westerly direction and yelling at me. I am glad to say that all the pictures have arrived (to me) and they have been transcribed (and circumscribed) to several compact discs. All I need to know now is what addresses to send them to. So, if you want one of the eight (8) limited edition BWCA 2006 picture sets (on one (1) compact disc), please send me your address. Email will work. I'll also send out emails to the people that gave me theirs at the trip.

I don't really have anything else to say right now.

SCUBA, PCS, and BWCA

2006-01-03T19:18:00.000-06:00

It hasn't been a good day until you've used a few acronyms, so I started right out with a few good ones. Let's discuss in greater depth:

SCUBA: Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Aparatus. Before the Christmas break (Dec 17 we'll say) I took a one day boat trip. As far as sea life goes, it was excellent. On the way to Anacapa island, we happened upon a pod of dolphins. They put on a bit of a show for us, leaping from the water and swimming in the boat's bow wake. They left us before we arrived at the first dive site, however; no diving with the dolphins. Sea lions awaited us instead. On the first dive, three to five sea lions accompanied us on the descent, performing summersaults and corkscrews and the like for our entertiainment. Then on the ascent, they brought some of their friends (15 to 20 total) for a grand escort. More summersaults and a few blown bubbles amused us on our return to the boat. On the third dive, we also saw an octopus. Cool! There were also plenty of spiny California Lobsters, but we couldn't eat them (State Game Preserve and all).

PCS: Permanent Change of Station. Some of you may have heard (others not) that a move is upon me. Theoretically, I will hear sometime in or before March 06 what my next assignment will be. I will most likely have to report to that assignment between June and September 06.

BWCA: Boudary Waters Canoe Area. We all know about this grand place. If I were to have it my way (and I should), we would plan our BWCA trip around my PCS timeframe so that I could stop on by on my way (using a bit of leave and a couple of my travel days) to visit the BWCA and yous guys. I guess I'll just keep you informed on what those dates are.

Well, that is all the excitement that I can handle for one entry.

This is more like it!

2005-12-25T21:55:00.001-06:00

The weekend after the previous story, I went out hunting again. This time I had a coworker with me named Steve. We drove up in his truck and stayed at the cabin. Friday late in the afternoon we got a stand up out at Tracey's in the north triangle woods. Steve sat in the stand while I sat on the edge of the field (playing the wind -not in a likely spot to shoot something) to see what came out so we could set up better the next night. I saw lots of deer, I quit counting after 40. I only counted that high cause I told Steve that I'd see about that many.
Steve saw quite a few of them, but nothing in range. I didn't see anything come out worth using someone else's tag on. Dark came and we went to the cabin. Steve grilled some duck he shot last weekend for our supper.

Saturday we woke up to snow on the ground. This is perfect I thought. Time to try still hunting! We went back out to Tracey's and still hunted south of the farm. Steve went to the South end and headed N through the middle. I hugged the river and went S from the farmstead. I spooked a deer as soon as I crested the dike. I crossed the ditch and was slowly entering the woods when a small doe got up 25 yds in front of me. It stretched and walked behind a tree away from me. I squatted down and waited for it to move on so as not to spook it. But it didn't go far. It was milling around and came back towards me. I was sneeking a bit closer hoping to get into shooting range, but it caught me. So then I played on it's curiosity to get it back within 35 yards, but no shot. Eventually it decided my hand flapping in the wind wasn't all that interesting and wandered off. I moved slowly and gave it a wide berth so as not to spook any deer ahead. I worked my way through some promising looking spots hoping to spot a bedded deer (or at least spook em to Steve). The conditions were great. The snow was melting off, so it was wet and quiet, but enough remained to spot deer. About an hour and a half into it, I spotted Steve and turned toward him till he spotted me. I turned around and we both headed north back towards the truck. I watched a deer get up between us and look toward Steve. I was about 50 yards away and made it 10 closer before it wandered off. Probably the same yearling doe as before.

Back at the truck we decided to move Steve's stand to another trail a bit further south where we thought a large percent of the deer had come out last night. We then headed back to camp for lunch and to switch into wamer clothes for the evening. I decided to sit at the end of the ditch dump road a mile west of the cabin to see what was near home, while Steve went to his stand. I saw eight deeracross the field, one was a small buck. Steve had a wild time stating that he had never before seen so many antlered deer at once. A group of bucks came running in on him and milled around his stand a while just out of bow range. At one point a small buck came snifing under is stand and Steve leaned over and spit. The buck looked up just in time to have the spit hit him between the eyes. The buck looked up for a while then wandered off. A while later a pickup scared several deer out of the field and past him. One was a nice ten point, but it wasn't about to slow up for a shot. Steve was very excited and called the wife, getting permission to stay for sunday. We went to Dave's for the evening. Dave enjoy steve's fun hunting experience and of course had a few for us. Very good times had by all.

Sunday found us at dave's for a quick shower, then church, then.....hmmmmm

We set up a stand for me just N of the farmstead, and steve went out to his. I watched several deer cross the small field behind me toward steve. Then I spotted a critter coming at me from the east. It looked like a large cat or small coon, but moved a bit different. It took a while to get it in the binocs as it russled through the grass. It was a fisher. It wsa about 50 yds away and turned back to the east and ran off. I thought, Lord, it would make my day to see that critter up close, right there. Then I went back to watching deer. One doe grunted near me, so I mimicked the sound. It looked toward me and grunted twice more. It's fawn ran up to it from across the field and tried nursing. They moved on and my attention turned to a deer a bit further north. It was intent on something to it's east. Hmm must be the fisher again I thought. Sure enough it came along near me after a bit. It sniffed along several downed logs working its way toward me. It came 10 yds from my stand and stopped right There. I chattered at it like a squirrel and it looked up at me. It then worked its way off to the east again still hunting for mice. A while later I chucked to myself as I watched a squirrel cut the fisher's scent trail. I always love watching animal's reactions. Natually, the squirrel shyed away and cautiously worked its way to safety. I was well pleased with my hunt and took down my stand at dark and went to the truck.

Steve came along after a bit and told his tale. He watched a buck pass by to his north and stop near the field edge. He broke out his grunt tube, and soon had the buck coming to investigate. It came withing 20 yds, but wouldn't look away. Eventually it glanced toward the field and he started to draw. Unfortunately the ten point looked back too quick and caught the movement. Steve let down slowly, but never got another opportunity to draw.

Both Steve and I were pretty excited about the events of the weekend. We were standing by the truck slappin each other on the back saying "That was awesome!" Then the coyotes started howling acrost da crick. We just laughed and howled back. What a great weekend.

Is this hunting?

2005-11-28T16:20:00.001-06:00

So the other day (back in october) I went out hunting. It was my first time out with my new bow. I was up north for the first time this season and hadn't done any scouting yet. So I head out to Granville and check the fields. Nothin to the south. Beets 1/2 mile out to the northeast. So obviously I opt for the north side. I walk the field edge in, looking for a trail to set up on. I come across two promising trails just east of the corner. Unfortunately, I can't cover both and the wind is from the north. So I decide that I'll just sit in the oak on the corner and glass for the evening. I settle into position in the oak and enjoy the day. A short time passes, then I hear a deer snort to the south. Not suprising, wind from the north and all. Oh-well, it's still a nice warm day. It's getting later, and I'm cooling down from the hike in, so I start slowly putting my gloves on and spook a buck that was coming to cross the river by my stand. Shoot! I didn't get a great look, but I thought it was a decent 8 pointer. Oh-well, not a shooter.

About sundown, I look east and see a deer walking the field edge towards me. It had come out on one of the two trails I looked at before. I lean forward a bit to see around some branches and see that it a buck. Not just a buck, but a decent buck. Crap! Now I have to decide whether to shoot it and use up my only buck tag for the year, or hold off in hopes of a bigger one. So this deer slowly walks by at 17 yards, and its not till he's almost past I decided to take em. So he's looking in my general direction, but I draw slowly anyway. He looks up at me but it's too late for him. The sight pin settles and thwap! Picture perfect! -I like my new bow. The buck runs about 70 yards to the high bank, and falls over. I just can't help but think, that was too easy. Guess it was my turn to be lucky. I've put my time in!

So to finish the story, I get down and walk over to him. Funny thing, ground shrinkage worked in reverse this time and I was glad I shot. A respectable ten point. I call up Matt and ask him to come out with his truck. He's like"you got one eh?" I say, "Yeah I got a deer." He said he'll be a few minutes, so I gutted it and drug it to the field edge. I was looking for my arrow when he came pulling up. He gets out confused. He thought I shot a doe cause I didn't sound too excited. Anywho, we registered it and Tuna let me quarter it in his garage. Now to try to get some pics u

When Tamarack went batty.

2005-10-09T18:13:00.000-05:00

I think I shall continue with stories involving animals. Mainly since that is what is coming to mind. So anyway here's a story. First person this time.

So the other day I was visiting Tamarack Hall on the BSU campus. It was a typical day a couple years back in the early fall. Actually, it was during the first week of classes. I had been visiting some people and was just about to exit the elevator on the main floor. As I stepped into the lobby it became immediately apparent that something was awry. It wasn't so much that there was a crowd gathered, but they were acting kinda strange. Walking around the corner, I was able to piece together what was going on. It was a mixed crowd of girls and guys. Some girls seemed to be quite nervous, while others seemed to be as active as the guys. The guys where for the most part jumping around waving their hats in the air. As I rounded the corner I saw that these people where attempting to catch a bat in their hats. I immediatly began chuckling to myself -Boy this could be REALLY entertaining to watch. Unfortunately, I seemed to have missed the comical timeframe of the situation, and was noting the despiration some of the people had trying to rid the lobby of its unwelcomed visitor. At one point the bat flew against the window and one individual slowly crept up and -not wanting to touch it- threw his hat over it in an attempt to scoop it up and remove it. The bat of course took off again and hats went flying after it.

This whole while I had casually walked up to the group and weaved my way between them. I was in place the second time I saw the bat come to the window and rest on the sill. Once again the same individual began his approach. "Hold off, I'll get 'em," I said so he wouldn't spook it into flight again. I walked the last couple feet to the sill nonchalantly, then paused reading the bats positioning and temperment. Then, to the appalled amazement of many of the people, I just reached out and gently picked up the bat. Of course the bat's temperment was not such as to just allow this without a struggle, but I was ready for this.

***PLEASE note that catching wild animals should only be attempted by professionals or idiots. In case you want to copy an idiot though, you should know that in dealing with any small animal that will want to bite, you should grab it so that its head is between your index and middle fingers, and use the rest of your hand and palm to refrain the body/wings. With the head between these fingers you can control its head so that it can't position itself to bite you.

Having successfully captured the bat I turned and calmly weaved my way between the slack jawed people. Some people were grateful and thanked me profusely (must have been the desk worker). Others looked at me in disgust -be it for touching a bat, or for ruining their macho man brave image in front of the women. Looking back, I imagine some people would have appreciated a closer look at the critter, but I had it in my mind that this bat had been through enough. I walked out the door and released the bat a short distance from the building as I walked along. At this point I was greeted by someone. Looking up I saw Tina and a few other people from the IV crowd having a BBQ. I had not met Aimee before, but she asked "was that a bat??" "Yes." "That's 'Waterguy' for you," chimed Tina. -To this I had to smile. What a way to be introduced to someone. It worked well though, she immediately had good insight into what I was like. Turns out she was from a farm in SD, so she shared an appreciation for our introduction.

So the moral of this story is:

The Evil Plot on Canada

2005-09-24T17:05:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I posted anything, so I figured I'd better. Com'on guys, you got to help me out with this! Anyway, not much has happened recently worth noting, so I had to delve back in my memory to tell a story. One I hope all will enjoy. And I shall call it, The Evil Plot on Canada.

Once upon a time in the magical land of Kit. Co. there lived a young farm boy. As luck would have it, this boy was assigned the task of cutting hay north of the duck ponds, along the Canadian border, for Gator. The intricacies of this job were not such as to hold captive large portions of ones brain. Even this boy’s feeble mind began wandering, and soon he was pondering about our docile neighbor to the north.

Ah yes, Canada! Not so very different from the US. However, we find the need to strictly regulate the border. I imagine it’s needed to inhibit entrepreneurs from taking advantage of the differing government regulations, and resulting price differences in goods. Anyway, this boy looked upon Canada in a good light….waterslides, cheap theatres, confusing intersections, Cold Beer at Rear stores (beer doesn’t float BTW), much good times had by all. A great break from the hustle and bustle of Kit. Co.

Anyway, this being a warm day, the boy’s water jug soon became a good friend. When the boy had drunk his fill, he was full of water. Stopping, the tractor at the north end of the field to stretch his legs, he breathed deep relishing the fresh fragrance of cut hay as it wafted by. He looked around for any border agents, and carefully scrutinized the presence of a hawk.

He crossed the border under the watchful eyes of raccoons, deer, and hawks. –the grasshoppers not being worth mentioning. Whose petulance has befallen us in times past to rape the land of its greenery and all else in sight. One year the infestation was so bad, they overtook a schoolyard coating everything in layers and layers of hoppers all chomping away at anything and everything. This infestation was so bad that the corner was named after the incident. This boy knew it as the corner where nobody stops however. But I digress….

The boy made his assault onto the Canadian farmer’s field unbeknownst to either government. The boy found it much the same there, but liked it and took great relief there. He returned to the tractor noticing the coyote slinking off to the west to tell the tale. Oh-well, this world will always be full of muckrakers.

Anyway, the moral of this story was clear in the boy’s mind. –It can be a great relief to have good neighbors.

A Mini Adventure

2005-09-02T16:24:00.000-05:00

So the other day (yesterday) I went to this place called Pine Point.

-It's a little campground with access to the Mississippi. Noticing that some unknown individuals had stolen all the wood that the US Forest Service had cut and left for campers, I recalled a few weeks proir when some unnamed persons took some of the wood from there for a camping adventure in Duluth. I believe that a US Forest Service representative will be calling them.

But I digress, this story is about yesterday.

Yesterday I was out there doing some reading and reflecting. After a while I decided to walk around and look at tracks along the paths. Then I followed a deer trail meeting a 4 wheeler trail which I followed a ways. Eventually I tired of this and went back to my car. I putted down the road watching for deer, then took this side trail from the forest service road. Great road for a saturn, but what can you do if all you got's a saturn. Anyway, putting along in 1st gear I saw something ghost across the trail in front of me a ways. I figured it was likely a deer. Eventually, I found the end of this trail and headed back, the saturn unscathed by its trip. Just before I got back to the road I met this porcupine. Not having seen too many of these on the prarie, I got out for a closer look. So I chased this thing off through the brush grabbing a stick along the ways. I got it to stop so I could poke at it a while to turn it around and see it up close. I don't think it liked me, and it took off again and tried climbing a tree. I wasn't done looking yet so I pried it off the tree from 4 feet up and got a good look at its belly as it tried flipping over. Ungraceful creatures if you ask me, poor acrobats too. Anyways, it started climbing again and got above me before I could stop it. I wasn't about to pry a porcupine off a tree above my head so I decided the games where through.

So I'm 10 yds in the woods and start heading out of the woods. When I got to the edge I noticed a wolf coming down the road to check out the commotion. He was 40-50 yds away and noticed me at the same time. He paused briefly, realizing what I was, he turned tail and trotted off. I thought this was neat chasing a porcupine and attracting a wolf.

So of course my next move was to go track the wolf a ways. He had come from the west followed the road towards me, then left the road heading east. The trail I had been on was to the east, and I began to wonder if the creature I saw on that trail was another wolf. If it was, I was in the middle of a pack of wolves chasing a porcupine. hmmph Interesting.

Then I went home. smiling.

A Wedding Story

2005-09-02T15:54:00.000-05:00

There once was a man named Aaron. His wedding went off in typical fashion for his family. It was great! I arrived the night before, after the decorating was finished. (I R SMRT) At this point I learned that an unnamed individual with many tickets took a 100 MPH trip to Hibbing to pickup the tuxes before the store closed. Of course he met a cop on the way, but since there was no way for the cop to cross the median he kept crusing along. When he stopped at the store and was heading in, several cops sped past on the road he was just on. Hmmm.

That evening I was putzing around Virgina looking for my hotel minding my own buisness, just looking for a sign for fifth street. Suddendly, a cop pulled up behind me with flashing lights. He proceded to blind me with his spotlight -just for good measure- as he strolled up to my car. Apparently he had seen me pull into a drive, back out in no particular lane (since no one was coming), and slow way down at a green light (trying to read road signs). His interpretation of course was that I was drunk. Anyway, he ran my license then gave me directions to the hotel.

Aaron wasn't so lucky on his wedding day. When he left the hotel he turned the wrong way on a one way, which wasn't marked from that lot. he proceeded a few blocks like this and was noticing that the other three sides of the intersections had stop signs, but not him. Hmmm....oops, too late cause the cops noticed before he did. He got a ticket on his wedding day -mean cops!

Eight minuted before the wedding Aaron made a quick flight to the flower shop to pick up the flowers. I'm guessing he flew anyways cause he was back in short order having traveled a fair distance.

Well anyway, I think the wedding went quite well. The best man was even able to find and identify the correct ring. The reception was enjoyable with good stories and toasts. Ahh yes, good friends and family make for good times. Hope we embarassed you at least a little bit. Here's to you Aaron and Michelle.

Thoughts on BWCA 2006

2005-08-29T19:49:00.000-05:00

Thoughts on BWCA 2006:
1. I will be moving from CA to somewhere (locations unknown) sometime in the summer of 2006. Most likely, I would like to swing by Minnesota during the time that I am moving for BWCA 2006. It will most likely be in Jul/Aug.

2. I was thinking about our failed attempt to go to Eagle Mt. Looking at a map, it doesn't look like it would be too bad a hike to do for a day. I wonder if we could get a day-hike permit to hike to
Eagle Mt? I'll look into it, yous guys tell me what you think.

2005-07-27T19:03:00.001-05:00

Now for the story about death and how it was almost upon me.
At the county work is had by all and thankfully our crew was one of them that day. It was a hot day and i dont know why everybody was wearing there vests but we were and that is good. The crew decided to have a little siesta inbetween my large blacktop truck and a little stick shift pickup about 6 feet behind. this so happens right after we finished a crack. we are waiting for a red chevy pickup to roll past. It was in our lane. Three of our four crew members are watching this truck to see when it will pull into the next lane. the fourth was sitting on the hood of the ORANGE pickup. The hood was very hot I don't see how he could do it. Well one said," Is there another car coming?" I went to look arround the blacktop truck and saw nothing. I looked back at the oncoming vehicular unit wondering why they would be coming to talk to us. All of a suddon the man driving slams on his breaks. three of my crew saw it soon enough to step out of the way but the fourth sitting on the hood had no idea that this old man would come smashing into the rear of the BRIGHT ORANGE pickup and send it jolting into my blacktop truck where it stopped dead with the guy still acting like his butt was a shammie sliding accross the hood of the pickup into the windshield and back forward into all of the pointy objects attached to my truck.
I was two feet and a half a turn from death or much pain. O and the guy on the hood ended up with a couple of scratches on his forearm.

2005-07-27T19:03:00.000-05:00

well as none of you most likely know. While at the fair I was being berghish and jumped over a fence (because i didn't want to go arround ) this resulted in much limping and carrying on over the next couple of days untill I went to the doctor and found out what I had suspected......that I had partally toar a tendon in my knee. Do not be alarmed death is not upon me at the moment! My leg will have to be amputated at about half thigh and i will have it cremated, and pictures taken for all of you guys that need them (lucas). actuall i'm just kidding about the amputation but i will have to rest for a couple of weeks to get it back into prime working order. Hopefully in time for football.
well that would be all for now i just remembered that i have pancakes in front of me.
bye
owen

2005-07-24T09:23:00.000-05:00

Family Reunion

We just had a long overdue family reunion. I learned so much about Dad's side of the family. I suppose this feat wasn't that difficult because I really didn't know anything. We traced back our roots to Ireland, Scotland, England, and Quebec. -I'm not sure where they migrated to Quebec from. I've had relatives on this continent as early as 1758. My great great grandpa came down from Quebec and started farming. He had a large family and we have dispersed all across the US.

It was very interesting seeing all the faces at the reunion some where familiar, but most where not. Many have lived near me my whole life, but I hardly know them. Most interesting is that I currently am living within 10 miles of a relative I never knew existed on my dad's side, who married a man who is likely related to my mom's side of the family.

I had a good time learning about my heritage. The food was great, and you should have seen some of the old pictures that people brought! Some where so old they where printed on tin. My mother brought several pictures that my grandpa had from his aunt. Many of these photos we are not sure who exactly they are, but they are definantly relations! Hopefully, we can figure out who they are.

Anyway, family history is interesting, attend the reunions!

2005-07-09T18:21:00.000-05:00

Welcome fellow canoers!

As Andy said this is our new blog. Keep us updated on good stories and adventures.

2005-07-09T18:20:00.000-05:00

Now I have my own profile. No more imitating Javin!

Let's get this thing started. BWCA 2005 went really well. Brady, Andy C., Craig and I entered at the Wood Lake entry point neary Ely MN. We stuck to some large motor boating lakes (which was annoying, but the only thing we really could do). It meant more traffic, but we still had tons of fun. I'll have to get a good summary with pictures up on my website sometime.

I also just got back from scout camp. I even got free time off work for it! Good ol' community service. I went sailing and swimming, but mostly I wrangled youngin's. That's really about all the interesting stuff that I can think of.

-Andy J.

2005-07-09T18:09:00.000-05:00

It's a test run! Javin gave me administrative rights, so away I go! Welcome to Life as we Know it. With any luck, this will be a great way for the ol' crew (with new additions of course) to communicate about [drum roll...] life as we know it! Major topics include: BWCA, large life events, funny adventures, getting stuck (and the levels thereof) and more. Have fun!

-Andy J.