The Winter Wind 2002

Cripple's Progress

 I am hobbling a lot better, but have a ways to go.  I gave up cane and crutches almost a year ago.  In August a 2 mile hike turned into a 10 mile hike (it was too pretty to stop) and my femur ached for a week (it was good that I survived).  In December I went on a 5 mile brisk walk and my femur ached for 2 days (I had hoped for a lesser reaction).  So I go to the YMCA 5 times a week to swim, sauna, and hot tub and hope to ski sometime ... I will at least try some xc this winter.  Yes, I know about moderation ... I may be forced to try it some day.

Activities

Since I have been off crutches, I have been able to do much more ... just not the hiking and skiing that I want to do.  The sea kayaking (a sit down mostly sport) was good ... though I only did day trips.  I did some biking (another mostly sit down sport) -- the bad leg is not as strong as it was (I can't keep up with the Big Boys anymore).  I was out on  the island  (web page password = "woodiok") a dozen times or so.  I hope to work on a cottage there next summer ... (lots of help needed if you want an adventure).  
Paula and I did an enjoyable  car camping trip into the Canadian Maritimes in August ... got out to Grand Manan (big cliffs there).


Steve and Grand Manan Cliffs

Fish Weir in Campobello

Steve on Bold Coast Trail

Paula on Bold Coast Trail

While we were gone, my boat floated out to sea and Magn fell down ... but all were saved and little worse for the wear.  

 But mostly I have been around home enjoying visitors, trying to keep my mother on good behavior and out of the bars ;-), and doing chores here and at apartment buildings ... and, of course, trying to keep Paula happy (this is more than a full time job with no vacation ... but sometimes there are benefits -- Paula says there are ALWAYS benefits).  I, however, remain principled and disallow the contention that restraint in inflicting pain is a benefit.


Paula is a giant of a woman

(click on any picture to enlarge it -- then use the back button to return)


Happy New Year


Mother Wobblier but Game


Paula and Steve pushing Magn
My mother (Magn -- the maker of the world’s best Swedish coffee bread ... and other claims to fame) is now 94 years old. In the above picture she is gamely taking a ride on a Swedish-type kick sled (I fabricated it in a for-fun welding class out of aluminum as a project).  Such a sled (though wooden and with runners, not skis) was used in Scandinavia extensively for Winter travel and fun.  .She was talking about how much fun she had as a kid on such a thing ... so I made her one.  She has only had a short ride, but she liked it and that is sufficient.


Magn and Sam

Sam the Dog
Samantha is doing OK except for a heart valve problem (~ 10 years old now).  She leads a life of leisure on the couch interrupted by attempts to entice more than her share of food.  She responds better to hearing the click of the toaster popping up toast than she does to any command.  This is what she looks like when watching a piece of bacon wafting by her nose -- note the absolute intensity:

Scanner Memories

I finally bought a scanner that can scan my old negatives and slides.  It was mostly fun to revisit times of old (there are always a few bittersweets) ... this was motivated by a visit from an old friend from the New York days, Ed Griff ...  I brought out some of my old prints and we reminisced.  This is what I looked like in my Big City longer hair days ...

 I also made a CD of about 85 digital pictures of my father (from birth to grave) ... this was for my mother (to help her remember her husband and the good times).  It also had the effect of letting me intensely feel as well as see the passage of time (8 minutes to automatically run the slide show on computer or DVD player) ... a full life in 8 minutes ... grains of sand through your fingers, then just dust ... =>  moral:   you all enjoy while you can. 

Projects

I did have to learn steam heating systems from a book in order to solve a heating system problem in a building I own that no professional heating consultant has been able to fix for years ... it is a shame that you have to do some things yourself if you want them done right (?) ... but on the other hand it is reassuring that a PhD in Physics is good for something ;-) ... I did determine through the years that such a degree is  not sufficient preparation for relationships with humans so had to try to learn by trial and error ... still have too much to learn, too many errors, too little time ... but I keep trying.

Scandanavian snow blower

The Winter Wind 2002

Page 2

Point House Status

Paula and I kept going to auctions and bought enough oriental rugs to fill the house completely (floors only).  

Now we are trading up ... when we see a rug we like better, we try to get it and return the one it replaces to the auction house for resale.  


Living Room

even the 3rd floor

Then there are the changes that Paula insists on, like changing the bathroom ... (but she will not let me put oriental rugs in the bathroom)


(bird bath on left; people bath on right)

Things are going well with Paula and I ... we might even both be  getting kinder and more considerate (maybe we are mellowing in old age) ... actually I am savoring the idea of  becoming more eccentric ... that should throw my mother as well as Paula into a tizzy ! (?) 

The Point House has been fun to live in ... it feels good, has lovely light, and good views.  The porch in warmer weather is the ideal place for meals or any other excuse you can think of to be there.


Cloudy Day


 Lilacs blossom by the end of May

Pictures:


Winter Sunrise from the Point


Summer Sunset from the Point

Paula on watch for approaching icebergs (she remembers the Titanic -- and worries)


Steve in the ornamental just-for-fun boat on the end of the point ... alas, it will never float again

That's all Folks, take care ...

Previous editions:  Winter Wind 2000      Winter Wind 2001

Thanks for your visit if you made it this year, 
 If you didn't make it this year, come visit next year :
directions: http://www.greatmaine.com/steve/stevedirections1.html 

Merry Christmas!
Best Wishes for a Very Happy New Year!
Don't forget to enjoy!
Send me your email address!

Steve Winter
845 Foster Point Road
West Bath, Maine 04530

email:  swinter@blazenetme.net       or     steve@greatmaine.com       

(note that the above regular mail address was new a year or so ago -- I have not moved but the houses all along the road were renumbered.)