Saying Goodbye to Grandpa

Hey there, I just wanted to pop in for a moment and say 'hey' to everybody, including all the new followers. I assure you, I'm not usually this quiet on here! The past couple weeks I had a steady stream of posts planned, mainly on my Tasmanian and Great Lakes road trips, but then one of those unplanned, unfortunate life events happened; my Grandpa died.

It came as a shock to everybody, as he was doing all his usual bumming around and making jokes the few days before we received the call about him being rushed to the hospital in critical condition. I knew it was serious, but he'd had heart problems before. I assumed he'd come out the hospital as he usually did in the past. But this time he didn't. A group of us gathered around him as he took his last breaths.

While I don't usually get too personal here, on the blog, this seems like one of one the more worthy personal details of my life worth mentioning. When I was twelve, my grandpa had retired and sold everything on his farm after my grandma had died. It was sad seeing that part of his life being sold off at auction, but it gave him a freedom that led him all over the U.S. and abroad.

Being so young at the time, it was hugely influential on me, especially as he started using a digital camera and need my help with processing his photos. I started itching for my own adventures as I went through the memory cards of his first few trips around Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii.

While I've always been determined to get a bachelors degree, mostly out of sheer stubbornness, I took a few years off of studying to fulfill the urges to explore. My Grandpa took advantage of his retirement to adventure, I didn't want to wait until then.

I really think the standard to shoving kids off to college right after high school is a waste of the new found freedom of adulthood. After a year and a half into my studies, I dropped-out and moved to Australia while meeting and badgering foreigners with questions about the world of traveling. I liked school, but I didn't want to get stuck in the same rut as everybody else, fulfilling what we're all 'suppose' to do as we graduate.

Before I go off on too long of a tangent, I'm going to bring it back to my Grandpa, who I was fortunate enough to have with me my first 24 years of life. Half of those, on the farm, doing chores in the barn. The other half, seeing his more adventurous, worry-free side. It's bittersweet not having him around anymore, but at least he was still able-bodied and free to do all his usual mischief til the end. Never once did we have to see him suffer, and while I selfishly believe he should have lived another 25 years, I am happy that he had a good 74, almost 75, years on earth.

I'm going to get back to my flow of posting more regularly, but these last couple weeks away from the blog had been much needed as everything sunk in and the family gathered to prepare all the proper arrangements.

 It's been close to two-weeks since he passed, and it still feels so surreal. 

#LifeLately // Birthday Weekend

Friday I had my 24th birthday, and while I was anticipating the possibility of moving to a new city, those plans have been put on hold, leaving me clueless on what I should do to celebrate. When your birthday lands on the coldest week of the year, options are slim. Sure I can drink myself silly, but honestly, the Green Bay scene isn't all that exciting unless you're either a Packer fan or love country music, both of which I exaggeratedly roll my eyes at. 

Sadie, that pup in the photo with me, doesn't really have a birthday, or at least I don't know it. All I know is that she was about a month old when I received her for my 14th birthday, meaning this year would also be a momentum of having this fine mutt for ten years. 

When Friday came around, I ignored my alarm to wake me up early, instead lazily slinking out of bed while I piled on some layers and packed the car for the hour and a half drive up to Door County. Sadie and I were both getting a bad case of cabin fever as January has been a never-ending cold spell of subzero temps. I barely glanced at any forecast or thermometer, I was satisfied enough not seeing a negative symbol before the number.

Our first trail was the longest in the park, where we were alone with the freshly fallen snow... in the 2 degree Fahrenheit temp (-20c). Like I said, I had no idea of the actual temperature as we hit the trail, and about halfway through, we were both starting to feel how much we underestimated it. We were outside for roughly two hours, the first half we were both took our time, Sadie was taking in all the new smells while I constantly took photos. The second half, we were practically jogging back to the car. 

The second I saw the car, I clumsily dug out my keys with my numb hands, jumped in and started the car as quickly as I could. I sat for a while, only feeling about half of my body while I debated climbing the Eagle Tower. I've climbed up it several times before, most recently during my autumn road trip, but have never seen the scene during winter! Oh the dilemma!

As you can see, my curiosity overcame me as I justified letting the car warm up for another ten minutes during my climb. I didn't last long as I made it to the windy top, but I at least got the newly blanketed view of the lake and outlying islands! Worked for me! 

After the hike, I decided to stop at a couple of my favorite Door County shops before having dinner and ice cream cake with the family. The next day I also was able to see my kindergarten niece wrestle for the first time! Unfortunately they had placed her in the wrong category, meaning she was wrestling kids two years older than her. Her usual second place title was compromised to last because of the fluke, though the disappointment was quickly overshadowed by a trip to Happy Joe's with the rest of the family. 

In the meantime I'm still exploring some my options both home, out of state and abroad! Fingers crossed something good comes my way!

Cheers! 

Three Rules of Borrowing a Van

            It has been several days since I have returned home from Torsten's and my roadtrip. I dropped him off at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago last Tuesday. Airport goodbyes in a long-distance relationship only seem to get harder each time. Now he is back in Germany packing up as he moves back home from Stuttgart to complete the last leg of his studies. 

        After I dropped him off I drove straight back home where I unloaded the van, cleaned-up and took a long nap while enjoying the simple, everyday commodities of indoor plumbing and wifi. While I cleansed myself of the accumulated filth that comes with sleeping in van outside of Walmarts for over three-weeks, I made sure to remember the three simple rules my Grandpa told me before he handed over the keys to his van...

             1. You left with a full tank, you will come back with a full tank. Check.

             2. The registration and insurance is in the center council next to the polka tapes. Okay.

             3. Do not wear out the polka tapes. Check.

         The terms could definitely have been worse. The van is now returned and probably being spotted all around the greater Green Bay and Manitowoc areas with the dashboard cow bobbing his head along to polkas. Torsten and I are back to Skype dates and text messages while we make plans for after his studies! Fingers are crossed until next spring. If all goes well we may never have to long-distance again!

#Backinsyd

Y'know, after you've done several 12+ hour flights an hour and a half on a plane flies by rather quickly, that pun very much intended...

And the extended weekend Jo and I just spent back in Brisbane seemed to have gone just as fast. We caught up with his folks, his peeps and went to his cousin's very lovely wedding, which happened to have landed on the only sunny day of our stay. How's that for luck?

As swell as I think Brissie is, I admit I have more of a fondness for Sydney and didn't mind the inevitable return. Although it was fun hearing the good 'ole Queensland accent again, especially when on a train going past Bowen Hills station where the platform is on the right (that combination of words being said by a train announcer is always the finest, and most amusing, example).

Anyway, I'm going to keep this brief since I'm pretty beat and have class in the morning. Yup, my break is over and the return of hours upon hours of trying to make myself look busy have returned.

Huzzah.

[Note: please don't mind if the photo arrangement is a bit wonky, I currently have zero patience in dealing with it]