travel | Change Is Hard

October 15, 2013
by dawnkinster 19 Comments

The big adventure

At a rest stop.

Katie here. I just have to tell you about my big adventure. I’d have told you while I was adventuring but I was having too much fun to blog. And then I was so exhausted that I had to sleep. A lot. Mama had to wake me up just to type this. She is wicked that Mama.

So anyway, you know how my Mama is always taking me on adventures? She gets me all excited and then we just go to my park (which I like and all, but it’s hardly an adventure!) or to the store, or worse, we tour the back yard. Well this time when she told me we were going on an adventure she wasn’t kidding around!

We drove and drove for about forty days and forty nights. (OK, it was 4 hours, maybe a little more.) We stopped at 3 rest stops along the way and I liked all the new smells a lot. But still it was a long car ride.

My chariot.

When I was just about to explode and tell her off we were there! Guess what? We went to visit Ricky! Yes, THAT Ricky!

Little Ricky!

And he has a cool fenced in back yard and we got to run through his tunnel and jump over his jumps and everything! (No pictures of that because we were all having too much fun to remember the camera.)

Ricky and I got along just fine. He showed me lots of stuff, like how to do stairs. He has a lot of stairs at his house. I don’t do stairs, unless I have to when Mama isn’t looking. But mostly I don’t have to because, as you all know, I am a princess. So my Mama carries me up and down them because I whine about it. It’s a skill.

Mama! Come get me!

But you know what the best part of the trip was? We went to Ricky’s park. It is sooooo wonderful! It has woods and a ravine and a creek and gardens! There are so many things to look at and sniff I could hardly stand it!

Me and Ricky.

Ricky and I and our Moms spent a long time there and I didn’t complain once about having to walk so far.

Pretty gardens!

And I sat in the back seat of Ricky’s Mom’s car without trying to crawl into my Mama’s lap! See? I can be a good girl.

We sat in the back seat. Together.

Ricky is a good influence on me. He’s also a good friend, and so is his Mom and Dad, cause they let me stay in his house and sleep in his room on his sofa! Well. He might not know I did that, so maybe we won’t tell him.

Our ride home was very long too…and I did not sleep not one bit. OK. maybe a little. But I didn’t put my head down until we were almost home!

Just resting my eyes.

It was a wonderful trip. Next time my Mama tells me we’re going on an adventure I hope it’s as exciting as this one. Though I don’t know how she could top it.

I don’t get my feet wet either. Just saying.

I’m off to take another nap now. Gonna have the best dreams ever!

Thanks Ricky!

October 14, 2013
by dawnkinster 14 Comments

Night music

Ceiling

I was lucky this weekend. I got to attend a Columbus Symphony concert on Saturday night. You know how much I love to listen to live symphony music, so it was a treat to visit Columbus, sit in a beautiful venue, and listen to such lovely music.

The program contained three pieces. The first, Brio: Toccata and Fantasy for Orchestra, was written by a relatively young composer, John Estacio, born in 1966. It felt like a lush movie background, perhaps the sound you hear behind one of those motion films seen on giant screens, where you’re in an airplane flying low across the country. At the beginning I could see herds of horses racing across the prairie, the majestic Rocky Mountains touched with snow. I felt the plane dip low into the Grand Canyon, then glide gently across farmland, barns glowing in the sun. Soon I was on the East Coast, swinging through New York’s Central Park, where the frenetic sounds of millions of commuters began to infringe on the calm. The piece ended, for me, in the streets of that city with people and taxis moving together in the crazy race of city life. I know these images are likely not the inspiration the composer used when he wrote this piece, but I thoroughly enjoyed imaging it my way.

Second on the program was Rachaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 in C Minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op.18. It starts melancholy, contemplative, but my favorite part was the second movement, so sweetly gentle, such a familiar melody. You’d recognize it if you heard, (I linked so you CAN hear) and you’d smile. I smiled.

Ornate

The last piece of the night was also familiar; Brahm’s Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98. I thought my favorite movement of the four was the first. It’s so lush, so full, so familiar. But it turns out my favorite was the third movement with it’s grand entrance, jubilant and exultant moving into a playful dance.

Warming up

I was thinking, on the walk back out to the car, that if everyone could experience an evening like this just once in awhile the world would be a better place. There are so many bad things going on both here at home and across the world. Music like this is like comfort food. In fact I’ll risk calling it comfort music. I could feel the stress flowing out of my neck and shoulders as I sat and absorbed the music into my soul Saturday night.

I wish, truly wish, everyone could experience music live. If you ever get the opportunity attend a symphony concert one evening, even if you don’t think you like this kind of music. Just go. Close your eyes and let your mind float free. See how you feel. See what you imagine. It will expand your mind. It will let you breath.

Comfort music. We could all use a little more of it.

September 25, 2013
by dawnkinster 9 Comments

Weekly photo challenge: From Lines to Patterns

Last Friday the latest WordPress photo challenge was issued. I was immediately intrigued. I had some ideas, but no time this week to execute them. Now here it is Wednesday night and the Friday deadline is looming.

I was thinking about one particular photo I had in my archives from our trip to Washington DC last may. As I searched for it I realized there were a lot of shots from that great city that spoke to lines and patterns.

So I followed the instructions from WordPress to create a tile filled with multiple photos. If you know me you know how hard that technical stuff is. So I’m thrilled to show you a photo collage of lines and patterns in Washington DC!

From top left first row: Ceiling of Jefferson Monument; Arches inside the National Cathedral, apartment buildings. Second row from left: Roswell metro station; stairway in Senate building. Third row from left: Treasury building at night; Arlington office building reflections from our hotel room.

This was fun. I still might head out sometime looking for more rural lines and patterns. Or head into Detroit to see what’s there. You’ll be the first to see whatever I come up with. Sooner or later.

July 26, 2013
by dawnkinster 8 Comments

No respect

I woke this morning to the news that someone has vandalized the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

Mr. Lincoln

One of the beautiful things about our monuments is that you can visit around the clock. Wandering them late on a warm summer night, when they are all lit up, when they are quiet without the hundreds of tourists, is a gift. Perhaps it’s a gift we won’t always have.

Climbing to meet an important man.

All I can say to the person or people responsible is this: If you don’t have any respect for yourselves at least have respect for your own history.

Number 16

July 24, 2013
by dawnkinster 13 Comments

The compelling reason to visit Michigan

Scott wonders what about summer around here might compel a person to visit. So he asked us to show him.

Well here is the reason you should visit northern Michigan.

A visit provides the opportunity to relax your shoulders, loosen the kinks in your neck.

You can empty your mind. Or fill it with fresh new thoughts if you’d rather.

Relax

There’s nothing like the peace of sitting in the sand as the sun goes down…

Light.

…watching the light dance and change as your mind rests.

Come visit northern Michigan.

And let it renew your soul.

Sigh.

July 21, 2013
by dawnkinster 11 Comments

Nope. Not compelling.

Saturday I worked on Scott’s photo challenge. He wants to see something compelling about summer in our hometown or state. I think it’s the word compelling that is intimidating me. To go and create a photo that would compel you, my loyal readers, to book travel in my state is a big proposition. Yet I know there is so much here in Michigan that you would love to see.

For many of us down near the city summer means going ‘up north.’ We pack up family and toys and jam our freeways heading north.

Two bikes, two kayaks.

So Saturday afternoon I packed my camera and headed north too. Oh I knew I wouldn’t have time to make it to my favorite places, but I thought I’d see how far I got and then I’d augment with photos from my archives.

I got as far as Frankenmuth, a little German town infused with flowers, tourists…

Shopping!

….and famous chicken dinners.

Can’t stop in Frankenmuth without a chicken dinner!

You can buy German cheese….

Everyone needs a little cheese.

….or sausage…

Doesn’t everyone have a sausage store in town?

…or stop at Bronners where it’s Christmas all year round.

Ho ho ho!

Then while traveling cross country I got sucked into my favorite thing to photograph up there.

Wide open spaces.

Barns.

I’m a country girl at heart.

So I didn’t get any further north, never got to show you Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Nothing but sand and sky.

Or Lake Michigan.

Water as far as you can see.

Or Mackinaw Island where all motor transportation is banned and horses haul everything.

Working like horses.

Nope. Didn’t find that compelling photograph that will make you want to come visit. But I’m going to rummage through those archives and find something.

Just wait and see.

Come along with me!

June 8, 2013
by dawnkinster 13 Comments

A visitor is coming!

My sister is coming to visit us!

She’s certainly visited since this was taken!

She hasn’t been here in many years. Katie was just a youngster during her last visit.

Katie and her Aunt long ago.

Katie is waiting impatiently.

I find my self doing something my mother used to do when she was preparing for a visit from us northerners. I always seemed to arrive just after the azaleas were in full bloom. Or after the dogwood or wisteria was finished for the season. She always told me how beautiful they were and I tried to imagine it.

Today as I was weeding I wondered if our Koosa dogwood would still be in bloom when she arrives.

Prettiest this tree has ever been.

Will the clematis still be as spectacular?

Pretty in purple

Maybe the poppies will be opening.

Getting ready to burst!

Hopefully the begonias will still be beautifully orange. She says orange reminds her of Mom who had an orange front door and when we were kids an orange kitchen sink. I hadn’t thought of that when I picked them out for our front entry. But I think of Mom frequently as I come and go now.

Remembrance orange

Katie says I should stop worrying about what will be blooming. She says whatever is blooming we’ll all have a great time together. Katie has all sorts of plans for things to do with her Aunt. She can’t wait.

I’m waiting…..

Me either.

Hey Mom

May 8, 2013
by dawnkinster 25 Comments

Patience. Not so much a virtue.

Hart Senate Office Building

We’re finished, finally, with our meetings on The Hill. We’ve talked to legislative staff members, subcommittee members, transportation aides, heads of agencies, chief of staffs, a Senator, cab drivers and a Cabinet Member. Everywhere we go we express our frustration with the lack of speed we see coming out of the DOT (Department of Transportation), an agency tasked with the admittedly huge responsibility to implement many of the safety advances spelled out in the Reauthorization Bill passed last August.

Russell Senate Office Building.

Sitting at the huge conference table in the Transportation Secretary’s suite we heard over and over that mandating strong rear crash guards and speed governors, finishing the rule that mandates Electronic On Board Recorders, moving ahead to increase minimum insurance levels required by truck companies, putting together an objective study on size and weight, well, these things all take time. And study. Lots and lots of study. Because they want their T’s crossed and their I’s dotted. Repeatedly we were told we didn’t understand that it’s hard to get things finished in Washington. That there are lots of levels that had to be moved through before the common sense issues could be resolved. That we were impatient and naive.

Yea. We get that.

But let me tell you, if I preformed at my job the way it seems these projects are being handled I’d be unemployed. In the world of business, industry, retail, just about any workplace you can imagine, results are what matter. How many times, when asked by your boss to meet a deadline have you been able to respond with a study? Particularly a study to study the previous studies that have been done on your problem? How often are you allowed to miss a deadline, consistently come in late with a project, and make the excuse that it’s hard? We all have hard jobs. We all face difficult decisions. But eventually we all have to be adults and make a choice…go one way or another…do the best we can with the information we have.

Cannon House Office Building.

Nothing in this world is perfect and you can spend a lifetime trying to be sure you don’t make a mistake, trying to find the perfect solution, a solution that will make all people happy. Handling problems is hard. That’s why they’re called problems. But some problems have easier solutions than others. Some problems are no-brainers.

Strengthening rear crash guards is a no-brainer. The ones mandated on trucks now fail at an unacceptable rate. Canada and Europe have a better guard, and have for years. It shouldn’t be that difficult to transfer information from them to our own trucks. Raising the amount of insurance carriers are required to have is a no-brainer. $750,000 per crash isn’t enough to handle the medical bills for the first week a victim is in the hospital, not to mention a lifetime of rehab and care. Recognizing that heavier trucks will cause more destruction, more death, more injury is a no-brainer. But let’s be sure. Let’s put together a 2 year study. That’s the ticket.

Permanent memorial to truck crash victims.

We met with the DOT Monday afternoon. While we were there people died in truck crashes across the country. Monday afternoon in Charlotte NC the driver of a disabled SUV and a good Samaritan were hit by a semi. The good Samaritan was able to stop his car, get out and try to help the driver a the SUV, but the semi couldn’t stop? Why is that? Also Monday an Arizona public safety officer was killed, sitting in his car on the shoulder of the road while investigating another crash. So at least 3 people died while we were sitting in meetings discussing moving along on projects that will save lives. Not perfect solutions, but solutions that will save lives nevertheless.

Patience. We were told to have patience. The federal government moves slowly they said. These things take time they said. We need to study the ramifications they said. We’ll get back to you on that they said. Well. Tell all that to the three families devastated Monday. Ask them for a little patience. Then imagine it was your family. How patient would you be?

Exactly.

May 3, 2013
by dawnkinster 10 Comments

Gone away

Landed at Regan National.

Tonight I’m hanging out with friends in DC, tomorrow the work begins. We’re sitting at the hotel bar catching up; it’s good to see them again. We laugh, tell stories, but underneath the smiles rests the truth, the pain, the reason we’re all here. We’re here because there are people missing from our lives that shouldn’t be gone. We’re here because we can’t stay away.

This is the greatest group of people I wish I had never met. As one in the group says she told her spouse when she called him tonight….”these are my friends.” These are the people that truly know what it feels like because they’ve been there. People that don’t have to talk at all, they’re just there and you know you’re not alone. The kind of people that hug tight and long, that look deep into your eyes and just know.

Tonight was the easy part of our very long weekend. Tomorrow it gets harder.

Time for bed, I’ll share more later.

March 16, 2013
by dawnkinster 26 Comments

Living life big….or small?

Wonder who’s going to live here?

I commute to work every day, often driving through some very wealthy communities. For years I’ve been watching a couple of really big houses being built even though our area was hard hit by the recession.

I’ve watched these homes go up painstakingly slowly and wondered why. I’ve wondered who needs so much space, wondered what all the rooms were for.

Must have lots of bedrooms.

At the same time I’ve been reading blogs written by women living full time in RVs…some of them in very small places. The life of living small has always intrigued me. Many years ago I told my Mom I wanted to grow up and live in an RV full time. She said that I’d always want some home base, and maybe that’s so, but I don’t think way back then many people were living full time in RVs; certainly it wasn’t a movement it seems to be now.

I recognize that I view life on the road with rose colored glasses and by reading blogs I have come to realize a few of the realities of life in a fourteen foot recreational vehicle. The dumping of tanks, the challenges of cooking, finding internet access, doing laundry. Safety and health issues add even more levels to the discussion.

Still. I look at the photos of miles of dessert in the front yard of a small RV, or the canyons and mountains glowing under an evening sun and my heart is tugged.

Could you do it? Could you pare your life down to essentials…and would those essentials fit an RV life? Or are your essentials such that you need more space? Which would you rather live in? The new build? Or the little trailer in the yard?

Which provides a more interesting life?

I’m torn. But it’s fun to dream regardless.

Lots to think about.

Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

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