Obliviate

We experienced what felt like a heat wave today, high of 32F and only 12 mph winds! I couldn't pass up an opportunity like that so I hopped in my car and made the 45 minute drive to Kettle Moraine for a hike.  It was a little closer to pick up a trail in Eagle than to go to my usual haunt at Scuppernong Trails.

Nice, right?  Less hilly, but that's a good thing in the snow without snowshoes or skis. As soon as I stepped into the woods the wind was non-existent, it wasn't long before I took my hat off, and my fingers didn't even freeze when I took off my gloves to work my camera.  I was still all decked out from head to toe in Smartwool and Columbia so I was nice and toasty.  I was a little nervous about my Merrell Moab waterproof hikers, but they did just fine in the snow for the two hours that I stomped around, most of it off trail trying to find subjects to shoot.  I swear I'm not being paid to promote any of these name brands, but I love to spread the word when things work as advertised!

 

Yesterday was my "hey it's a been a year, stop in and let's see if you got cancer of the esophagus" appointment. Gee, doesn't the time fly?   No news is good news so far.  It was much less traumatic this time, and I don't remember anything past the minute they gave me the magic memory wiping drugs. She said, "Feel anything yet?"  I said, "I'm starting to feel a little dizzy" and then NOTHING.  It was like someone waved their wand and intoned "obliviate".  I've been watching way too much Harry Potter while being stuck inside.

Speaking of "obliviate", my walk in the woods resembles Hermione and Harry's time in the Forest of Dean, which happens to be the installment I watched while putting the finishing touches on my tree the other day.

 Wayne figured out some of the electrical problems so we stayed with the artificial tree this year.  Maybe next year we'll head out to the tree farm and cut our own.  Much like our favorite holiday movie which we'll probably watch this weekend.

For now I'm just hoping that I get more days like today when the weather is fine enough to leave the house.  My brain is working overtime trying to figure out a way to get to Reno, Nevada, to see that Friday photography exhibit before it ends in February, but I might have to settle for something closer to home.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a mild weather weekend in January to head up to Katrina's neck of the woods.  They have waterfalls up there and I'd love to get some frozen waterfall shots like Linda from Linda's Lens did recently.  Mine won't come from waterfalls as tall as hers, but I'll take what I can get!

What's your favorite scene from "Christmas Vacation"?  Katrina has a fondness for the "shitter's full" scene, Wayne likes the scenes where Cousin Eddie is wearing the black dickie under the white sweater and the daydream scene with the pool.  I can't choose, the whole dang movie is hilarious.  Sledding scene? Shopping for panties at Marshall Fields? Squirrel on the loose? Russ' reasons he can't help with checking the light bulbs? My favorite line though is probably right at the beginning when Clark says, "Burn some dust here...eat my rubber!"