Play in the City

Paddleboats, Etc.

Is there anything better than a lazy summer afternoon with your best friend?

Today Christi came to visit and we had a lovely few hours together. We sat outside at Gil's Cafe on the East Side (on Downer Avenue) for lunch and then we headed down to the lakefront. I always see people on paddleboats in the lagoon in Juneau Park when I drive on Lincoln Memorial so we decided to try those out today. We rode a paddleboat for awhile, and then we got to ride on a tandem hydro-bike which was pretty cool. The weather was perfect. There was a cool breeze coming off the lake and we had some great views of the buildings and condos downtown that I don't normally notice while I'm whizzing by in my car. Riding the paddleboat and hydro-bike was relaxing and kind of a good little workout at the same time.

For five bucks a person, you get 1/2 hour on a paddle boat or hydro-bike - or both if you'd like! You can also rent remote-control sail boats there, too. Juneau Park Paddleboats are located less than a mile down from the Milwaukee Art Museum. If the weather is iffy, you can call ahead of time to make sure they're open (414-217-7235), but otherwise they're open daily.

                                                                                                                   

Once we were done there, we went to Alterra for some iced coffees.

Mmmmmmmm. We sat in the outdoor courtyard for about an hour and half and just talked and people-watched. The courtyard there is one of the best spots in Milwaukee to just sit and be.

Right across from the marina, people from all walks of life sit around either alone or in twos and threes, clicking away on their laptops or reading or having quiet conversations while the city goes by them. I've never driven by there in the non-winter months and seen fewer than 20 or 30 people outside. They've got a good thing going there.

It was a great afternoon we had today. I think everyone could use more days like this.

Come to the fireworks!

The annual Big Bang Fireworks are this Thursday at 10:30 p.m. on the lakefront. Every year the fireworks kick off Summerfest - and summer! I go every year and it's one of my favorite events. A lot of people go down quite early and set up picnics and play games and light sparklers. This year I'm going with my mom because she's never been. Like many people, she watches them on TV, but fireworks on TV just aren't the same!

My first attempt at golf

I had SUCH a good time this morning - I think golf is something I could really get into. Once I get better at it, of course!

My golf lesson at Brown Deer Golf Club was at 8 am today. The plan was to get up at 6 and to leave by 7, but I overslept and had to rush - but still made it with time to spare. I was told I could bring a friend, but not many people are readily available at 8:00 on a Wednesday morning. Luckily I have a built-in friend in my dear fiance, so once again, Dave accompanied me on my excursion. He served as my photographer and got to play a few holes and drive around in the golf cart with me - we had a lot of fun.

My lesson was with the club pro, Scott Evans. Normally, one would take about 10 lessons to go from not knowing what they were doing to being able to at least hold their own on the course, but I got an accelerated lesson since I was only taking one. He taught me how to stand and how to hold my arms when I swing and how to follow through and all that. Contrary to what I did at the driving range the other night, I actually hit the ball this time - and a few of them actually looked good! He was really helpful. I got some putting tips, too, and once our half hour was up, it was off to actually try to sink a few on the course.

John Quinlan, the Public Services Director for the Milwaukee County Parks System, was our guide and he was really cool. We played four holes and that was about all I could handle with my limited skills. I made some pretty good divets in the course, and I lost one ball in the water, but other than that I was alright. It took me about seven or eight shots to get the ball in on the par four holes - but that doesn't include the times I swung at the ball and missed. Who knew it actually counted as a stroke when you missed?

Once we were done golfing, John led the way in his golf cart and we followed behind and took a tour of the rest of the course. I had a ridiculously good time driving the cart around - I had never driven one before. I asked Dave, "how fast do you think these things go? Twenty miles per hour?" and he just laughed and laughed and I realized how stupid that sounded. A person can run and keep up with a golf cart - they probably go about seven miles per hour - tops. It was fun as heck, though.

The course was absolutely gorgeous. I had never actually been on a golf course and I can see why people love it so much. Everything is so green and quiet - and today could not have been a more perfect morning. It was heavenly!

We snapped some pictures and learned a few things, like that the course was built in 1929 and that Tiger Woods made his professional debut there. John said that Brown Deer Golf Club is the best public course in Milwaukee. (It's located about five or ten minutes North of downtown off of Good Hope Road.)

The US Bank Championship will be held at the course July 18-24. BRETT FAVRE is going to be there on July 18 and 19 and I'm going to go see him. Seriously, my heart pounds fast just thinking about it. For years when I was younger and Brett Favre was new to the Packers, I honestly thought I'd grow up to marry him. I would be SO excited to meet him!

Anyway, after our tour we had lunch with John in the clubhouse and then we departed. It was such a nice morning - I will definitely go back. Now that I know how to hit a ball, I'm going to go back to the range and practice up!

Day off

What exactly is this guy doing and where can I learn how to do it?

Dave and I went down to the lakefront yesterday and ate a picnic lunch, got some sun, played catch and climbed out onto the rocks and watched these guys (there were three of them) for a while. It looked really fun - and hard! They had these huge kite things up in the air and were being pulled across the water on small wakeboards. I want to try it.

As always, there were tons of people down by the lake yesterday. I wish I lived closer so I could be down there more - one more month! Almost time to start looking at some apartments. I sent out a few resumes today. My goal is to have a real job in my field by September. Although I just started looking and they say it can take six months to find a job... I hope it doesn't take me that long.

After our afternoon by the water, we went to the Moorland Golf Center again, this time to hit a few balls on the driving range. I have a half-hour lesson and nine holes of golf set up for tomorrow morning at Brown Deer Golf Club, so I wanted a little practice ahead of time. I've never golfed in my life, and I've only been to a driving range once before. I can usually hold my own at most sports so I figured golf would be no different. I was wrong. I was terrible! Out of 50 balls or so, I probably hit 5 of them a respectable distance. I hope I don't make a fool of myself tomorrow - and I hope my instructor can give me some pointers that will help me actually be able to hit the ball.

Urban Tadpole

The Urban Tadpole and Urban Frog race was Saturday morning and it was an awesome event. It would have been a lot better, though, had we actually been able to finish...

Dave and I got up early Saturday morning and were down to Laacke and Joys by about 8:15. We schlepped our bikes, bike helmets, life jackets, and bags over to the starting area and set up camp. Sporting equipment was strewn everywhere, and the Frog contestants, whose race began at 8:00, were running through every now and then to get their bikes or roller blades or whatever. It looked intense!

The pre-race briefing for the Tadpole was at 9:00 and during that we finally got to find out what we'd be doing in the race. While the speaker went through every checkpoint, everyone around us was smiling and laughing and getting excited to start. I was psyched.

The race began at 10:00. One person from each team had to run across the river to Schlitz Park to get the packet which contained the instructions and maps and passport and such. Dave did that because he's a faster runner than I am, so I waited and cheered until he made it back and we were off.

Before I go on, I just have to say one thing. The people at Laacke and Joys said of the Tadpole, "if you can walk the family dog, you're ready for this race." To that I just have to say HA! Yeah right! It takes a bit more ability than being able to walk around the block!

But I digress...

The first task was to run to the Bradley Center, do a lap around the basketball court, and then each team member had to sink a shot from a designated spot. I went first and it took me five tries! Dave sunk his after two shots. We got our passport punched and we were on to the next task.

The second checkpoint was at the Milwaukee Ale House, and it was a good ten minute run to reach that spot. I was huffin and puffin already by this point! There we read a clue about the relationship between the Ale House and Laacke and Joys, a clue that we had to remember and tell someone at the end of the race.

The third checkpoint was Paradise Landing Water Park inside the Hilton. It was another mile or so there, and once we arrived, one team member (Dave) had to cross the rope bridge while balancing on the floating lily pads in order to get the passport punched. He got his feet wet, but he got across pretty quick.

The fourth point was at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel building. One team member (me) had to throw on an MKE shirt and hop about 15 feet on a hoppity-hop. Fun!

This whole time, we were definitely ahead of probably two-thirds of the teams. We were feeling that competitiveness and we were really movin! The fifth checkpoint was Turner Hall on 4th St. We had to run to the basement and there, one team member was supposed to have to climb the wall and then descend. Unfortunately, there was no one manning the wall, so everyone simply got their passport punched for being there. Dave is awesome at climbing, and we would have surely gotten even further ahead had everyone had to complete that task!

The sixth checkpoint was back at Laacke and Joys where we finally got to stop running and get on our bikes. Getting there, though, ended up being harder than it should have been. I don't know why, but we ended up taking a longer route and several more teams got ahead of us. I should know Milwaukee better, but I got a little lost.

We rode about two and a half miles to the Urban Ecology Center on the East Side. There we had to park our bikes, enter the woods, and find the canoe launch. Once we found it, we had to find a piece of plastic partially buried in the dirt and remember what color it was so we could tell someone at the end of the race. Stupidly, we ran aimlessly into the woods without looking at the map and we got LOST. Dave fell at one point and hurt his ankle, so we were both getting kind of cranky at this point. After probably 15 minutes of running through the woods, we found the canoe launch. (the clue was green.)

We hoofed it back to the Urban Ecology Center where the next task was to check in with a volunteer, and when our team number was called, we were to get into a harness, climb to the top of a three story platform and repel down. There were probably 100 people milling about, waiting for their turn, but we didn't think anything of that quite yet. I watched as people - Frog AND Tadpole contestants - dropped down three stories and I got a little nervous. It looked scary!

After a half an hour of waiting, we went to check where we were on the list. Our team number was still pretty far down, and just then we heard a guy next to us say that his team had been there for an hour and a half and it still wasn't their turn. Huh?!

We asked someone for the time and it was after 12:00. We had to be back home by 2:00 because Dave had to mentor at 3:00 and I had to leave for work at 3:00. We realized that after more than two hours of running our butts off, we didn't have the time to wait to repel and finish the rest of the race.

The people in charge had said that the Tadpole would take around two hours, so I didn't ask off work because I figured I'd have plenty of time. Had we waited, the race would have taken us at least four hours. I guess I should have been prepared for the off chance that the race would take that long, but I wasn't. Repelling off a three-story platform is a neat idea for an adventure race, but when only two people can go at a time, it really puts a lull in racers' momentum.

We got back on our bikes and rode back to Laacke and Joys and I was SO disappointed. All that hard work and we were disqualified! I had wanted to bring my camera with me to all the checkpoints, but I didn't want to be weighed down, so I left it behind. I wanted to win! So much for that idea... I should have brought it.

The last task was to return to the store, find a kayak, and then both team members had to row down to the bridge and back one at a time. I wanted to kayak just for the fun of it, so I grabbed a boat and hopped in. Rowing out was fun, but I was beat by the time I got out there and I still had to row all the way back. I finally made it back and we heaved the boat back onto the pier and returned to our stuff.

There were a few other Tadpolers milling about and after talking to them, we found out that they had dropped out, too, because of the long wait to repell. They all either had plans or had to work, too, and hadn't expected the delay.

The food was being set up by this time - they were going to serve brats, hamburgers, pasta salad and chips - and big plates of cookies were staring us right in the face, but they had plastic wrap over them. I was so hungry! The workers told us that the food wouldn't be put out until 1:30, which is when most of the racers would be finishing up, but we had to leave before then. So not only did we not get to finish the race, we didn't get any food, either! Oooooh, I was a grumpy girl as we left.

We got burritos at Qdoba for lunch and once I had food in my stomach and was able to recap my morning, I was in a better mood. It was still a fun time. But boy, was I tired. I had to work Saturday night and then I worked 12 hours yesterday, too. It felt GREAT to come home last night.

The official recap of the races is here. There are some fun photos and the winners are posted, too.

All in all, I'm glad I did the race, and I'd definitely do it again next year. I think those in charge realized their planning mistake and will remedy the repelling situation for next year. I am a little aggravated, though, by the "walking the family dog" statement. I think they highly overestimate the abilities of the average person! We ran probably five miles, and we biked another six. Not many people can just get out there and run five miles unless they're fairly fit. And climbing a rock wall, repelling down three stories and kayaking are not things that just any person could do!

I like to think that I'm in pretty good shape, but I was HURTIN when I woke up yesterday morning! My legs were sore and my shoulders and back were screamin from the rowing. I thought the Tadpole would be too easy and that perhaps we should have done the Frog - but it was definitely a challenge! I thought maybe I'd want to do the Frog next year, but I think I'll stick with the Tapole.

I think I'll hold off on sending that audition tape to The Amazing Race, too.

Quickie

There's one day left of the Lakefront Festival of Arts - I wish I could have gone, but I was booked all weekend, mostly with work. This is why I need to get a job in my field - so I can finally start having weekends off! There were a lot of people down there today when I drove by. And there were so many sail boats out on the lake - it sounds cliche, but it looked like a postcard it was so beautiful! I get to go sailing on July 15 and I can't wait!

The Rock

I've had several requests for some pics of my new rock. :)

This is not very outdoorsy, people. But I don't mind obliging!

A picture can't possibly do this ring justice - it's the most beautiful, SPARKLY ring, which can't be seen in a pic. But I guess it's better than nothing!

                         

We got it at Kesslers - they are the BEST. (click on the pic to see a bigger image)

We're shooting for October 7, 2006!

Alright, enough wedding talk. Back to your regularly scheduled blog!!

Tadpole Clinic

The Urban Tadpole is going to be SO FUN on Saturday!

Tonight I went to the clinic at Laacke and Joys to get more information about the race and to try some things I'd never done before that I'll have to do in the race. I got to rock climb and kayak!

Kayaking on the river was great - I wish I could have gone longer. I was a little nervous to get in that little boat all by myself, but it was easier than I expected. I could have been better at steering, but hey, it was my first try.

Climbing the wall was a bit more difficult and scary, but pretty exhilirating, too. Dave had been climbing before so he was much better than I! When you've never done it before, it's hard to trust those ropes that are holding onto you, but once I got to the top, I put my trust in them and fell backward and sailed right on down. I climbed twice, but didn't quite make it to the top the second time. It's hard! My forearms were bulging and aching afterward - they're going to be sore tomorrow!

This is the fourth year of the Urban Frog and Urban Tadpole, and this year, with 100 teams competing, it's become the largest adventure race in the country. There are about 40 Frog teams (that race can last up to 8 hours!) and about 60 Tadpole teams. The top three teams in each race get prizes and trophies. We really want to win! Our realistic goal, though, is to finish in the top 10. I don't know if that's feasible, but you should always aim high, right?

I guess the course is a complete mystery. I've never watched The Amazing Race, but I guess it's very similar. We start at Laacke and Joys on Water Street and go to check points either on foot, on bike, or by kayak and once we hit a point, we find out where in the city to go next. There's a celebration afterwards, but it doesn't really kick off until around 1 or 2 pm, when the Frog contestants are finishing up, so I won't get to enjoy much of it since I have to get home and shower and be to work by 4:00. Oh well.

I think the race will be pretty fun to watch! For more info. on spectating, go here.

Wish me luck!

It's official...

I'M ENGAGED!

Dave proposed last night! He did it in our apartment after we had been out to dinner at the Bistro. I'm so happy!

This weekend I'll be a busy girl so I won't have much time for outdoor adventures - it should be a great weekend, though. Tomorrow my cousin is getting married down in Illinois so I'll be there all day. I love weddings! And Sunday, my little brother graduates from high school and then we're having a party for him at my parents' house. The next two days will be filled with family and food and drink and dancing - and of course, showing off my new gorgeous ring! - and I'm looking forward to it.

Right now I'm off to work for the evening. Bye!

Weekend Update

I hope everyone had a good weekend!

I did - though today is a different story. I woke up feeling awful with a fever and a headache and terrible nausea. It's been YEARS since I've had a day like this where I can't even get out of bed! It's 6:30 p.m. and sitting here at this computer is the most strenuous thing I've done all day - and it isn't making me feel too well. I don't think there's anything worse than a complete waste of a day where you don't do one thing productive - I'm going crazy! I even had to call in sick to work. Not cool.

Anyway, Jazz in the Park was fun Thursday night. The weather was fabulous, and Dave and I met my friends, Angelina and Jared, down there. We had to sit behind the stage because the park was so packed. We ate yummy food and drank wine and talked and talked. It's a really nice summer event - and the people-watching is great. You see babies and dogs and families and couples... There are people drinking wine from a box, and wine right out of the bottle. Pretty funny.

I worked Friday night, and Saturday I worked a really big wedding at the restaurant from 2 p.m. until 1:15 a.m. By the time I got home and wound down, it was 2:30, and my alarm went off for the Miller Lite Ride at 5:00 a.m. Ouch. Once I got up, though, I was fine. I had signed Dave up, too, and he was a trooper getting up that early with me after a long day of work himself. We loaded our bikes into my little Corolla and headed downtown.

The ride was fun. It's neat at these things that all these people are up early to come together and ride (or run or whatever) for a good cause. There were tons of people doing various rides - five, 15, 25, 50 and 75 milers. I had considered doing the 25-miler, but after my two and a half hours of sleep, I was VERY relieved that I chose the shorter, 15-mile route. The weather was beautiful - kind of hot, but you'll get no complaints here! Gene Mueller from 94.5 WKTI was there, and so were Mike Gousha and Carol Meekins from Channel 4. I got excited when I saw all of them. :) At 7:40, we were off, and our ride took us through downtown and Bay View and back again. It was slow-going for a lot of the time, but I didn't mind. I was tired!

The guy in the fourth picture above was a protestor who was walking around declaring that beer drinkers are destined for hell unless they repent now. Most people ignored him - and rightfully so - but he was actually a pretty nice guy. He smiled at people and said "God Bless" and he was very cooperative when we snapped his picture!

After the ride, we got a free bike lock from Masterlock (a really nice one!) and some lunch, and then headed home. I worked last night, too, and was really exhausted by the end of the night. I got a lot of sleep last night, so have no idea where this sickness could have come from. Forgive me if this post is rather quick, but I need to lie back down!

I'll post again soon. Bye!