Peering through a decomposing leaf
Hi, everyone. Guess where I am? Not sitting next to Lake Superior. Not in the Midwest anymore. Instead, I am sitting here in the Los Angeles International Airport sipping a glass of Pinot Grigio and waiting for a garlic chicken pizza. Hopefully the glass of wine won’t interfere with writing a blog too much. If it does…well, you can just chock it up to vacation mode. You see, I have four hours until my plane takes off. And it’s been hours and hours since I left Marquette. And no one is answering my phone calls. So it’s time to upload photos and babble away to any readers who might stop by.
Lake Superior at dawn...beautiful, isn't she?
OK. let’s go backwards. You won’t believe what I did last night! (Well, you will if you’re a family member and have seen this predictable behavior for years.) I was sitting home when the crazy restlessness struck and I said to Barry, “I have been thinking about driving down to Marquette and spending the night in the motel…”) Well of course he grinned because he was expecting this and said, “I was wondering when this would happen. Of course you’re going.” (Aren’t I lucky to have a traveling-supporting husband?) So off I went to the motel. Stopped at Starbucks for a while. Then enjoyed a good night of sleep.
Maritime Museum...old Lighthouse?....Marquette
This morning I yawned and woke up and drove down by the Big Lake Superior in Marquette and snapped photos. The sunlight looked stunning. It was freezing cold outside. The wind blew just wretched and icy from the north. I hoped the plane would be able to take off. Ate breakfast at Sweetwater Cafe, one of the fave spots in Marquette! Of course had to eat the Arame Spuds Platter. Yum! You all know that arame is a seaweed, right? But it’s a good seaweed. Not an overpowering seaweed. The whole dish tastes so good you think you’re in heaven. Honestly. Then, a quick drive to the airport.
Arame Spuds Platter at the Sweetwater Cafe
Past Marquette Mountain. I left the car to photograph the remaining snow–just for you. Just for anyone who wants to still view snow. The plane went skyward at 10:30 a.m. I ended up sitting next to the cousin of one of Kiah’s friends’ mother. Got that? OK, let’s backtrack. She has two friends who are twins. Their mom is cousin to this woman. It amazes me that you can live in a small town forever and not know everyone. She lives just across the bay in Baraga. We chatted most of the way to Detroit. Which is unusual. Usually I get really quiet and non-communicative on planes. Don’t really know why.
Last of the snow at Marquette Mountain ski hill
Now I’m sitting in “Malibu Al’s” at the LA Airport. Still three hours to go. Might be necessary to buy a book. I have bought this 24-hour Internet pass so maybe will just stare at the computer for a while waiting to see if anyone writes back. Or reach my son in San Diego. We’re hoping to chat. P.S. You wouldn’t believe all the airlines they have here. China, Singapore, Japan…I counted more airlines than I’ve glimpsed in a few years! And the tangle of highways as we landed…it looked like…well, all I can say is that we’re not in the Midwest any more, Toto. 🙂
Lake Superior Spirit 
Darn
I was looking for a picture of pizza…LOL
The spuds do look good.
Thanks for sharing your travels with us.
My travel today consisted of about 10 miles to Holessense for reflexology with Laurie…keeping my feet good since I have 3 surgeries on them.
Jeez, Kim, I was so busy eating the last of the pizza that I didn’t notice you comment! I wish I could have a reflexology session with Laurie. You are very lucky. You know…I never thought of snapping a photo of this pizza. And now it’s gone. LOL! (This is what happens when you write a Title after you write the blog…LOL…)
Many kisses!! I suggest taking butt pics! Ok no, ignore that voice! I love the lake images and the food too, though I cannot eat potatoes. I miss chatting and things, so, I thought I’d comment here. E got accepted to another college today AND they gave her an achievement scholarship for $15,000 each year for four years!!! The Creator does some wonderful things! Are you going to be able to look for real sea-glass? And will you take me some images on the mountain? hops up and down…
Dear Elisa, I am thrilled. Did I say THRILLED? To see you here at the LA International Airport. After the pizza is over. (shhhh…I can’t eat pizza either. But I did…) Congrats on that scholarship opportunity!!! Oh my goodness that is exciting. You must be really proud. As for sea glass, no. I am headed up to the Mountains. And then to more Mountains. I promise to take pics atop the mountain. Please come back. You will not be disappointed. (um, I HOPE you will not be disappointed!!)
as long as I can feel the ground breathing…. YAY! You said California at one point, so, being landlocked here and maply challenged I ASSumed ocean. How many ways are there to write a Postcard home?
Kathy – I’m going to live vicariously through your “vacation mode.” No use in arguing — scoot over ’cause I’m stepping into your skin with you.
My favorite photograph is “Arame Spuds Platter at the Sweetwater Cafe” – delicious!
Laurie Buchanan
http://holessence.wordpress.com/
Oh good, Laurie, glad you’re along for the trip. (And you would have liked the Spud Plate, too!) The only thing about waking up in California is that it’s pretty early here. You know, the time zone difference thing. Forced myself to stay in bed until 5:55 a.m.!
Dear “Kathryn”–Malibu Al’s? That’s a long way from Marquette Al’s! And pizza? I want to see a pic of the pizza, too! How did I know it would be the arame spuds at Sweet Water? You’re way predictable! Love you and have a great time on the mountains. –Barry
Barry, it’s funny seeing you reply because I am always trying to figure out what I might have commented–and then realizing that it was you! Yes, I’ll bet you were surprised that I was eating pizza. Sorry about forgetting to take the pic of it… (So you see, I’m NOT that predicatable. When’s the last time I ate pizza?) Loved talking wtih you last night. Have a good time at home. Keep those home fires burning.
Kathy, believe it or not, we were in the exact same place last month. At least it was Malibu something-or-other in the LA airport. Same wine but different pizza!! Our stop over was supposed to be two hours but stretched into four as they kept us parked on the runway for over two hours. When I read your post today I thought “Oh goody…a travel adventure for all of us who are stuck at home”.
Enjoy your travels and your time in California. Rick and I are temporary Californians (San Fransisco/East Bay area) so will be looking forward to your adventures and your insights.
Happy trails to you!
Colleen, that is amazing! I can’t believe we were at the same place and drinking the same wine and having a pizza. Wow! But am sorry that you were kept on the runway for four hours. 😦 Don’t like those kinds of travel experiences.
Am in Fresno this morning…headed up to near Yosemite later today. So we’re within shouting distance. Well, kind of. My friend, whom I’m visiting, grew up in San Francisco.
Kathy – I find myself in Cardiff by the Sea, California on a semi-regular basis and the same thing happens to me. They’re 2 hours earlier than we are. I get up at 4:20am here in Illinois to frontload my day with Tai Chi. In California, that 2:20am — way to early. So I force myself to lay in bed until 4:20 their time (6:20 my time) and then I scurry down to the beach to do Tai Chi.
When I’m on vacation I usually throw some of my self-implied boundaries out the widow. So …. on the way back from the beach I stop at Starbucks and get a large White Chocolate Mocha with an extra shot. Ahhhh, vacation life — enjo!
Laurie, glad you understand about the time zone difference! I should be doing some yoga right now. Do plan to meditate for a long while this morning. And perhaps lounge in the spa. Have a big open space of a few hours just to relax before my friend’s plane arrives and we take off for the mountaintop. As for lifting some of the boundaries—that’s why I had pizza last night! Glad you are along for the vicarious ride. 🙂
Your ‘lake at dawn’ photo is absolutely beautimous! And don’t you love hanging out at airports and the amazing array of culture to gaze at? Have great fun, sweetie!
Cindy, glad you like that dawn photo. There were at least four really cool photos of that sun shining and our lovely lake. Couldn’t decide which–or how many–to post. I am headed back over to the Fresno airport in an hour or two to wait for my friend Melinda’s plane to arrive. Then we’ll drive up to her mountain. There are so many cultures and different folks to watch here in California. A few more than we have in da Yoop!
Kathy happy sweet travels to you and thanks for taking us along – it the most comfortable I have ever been when packed in someone’s suitcase! You are a treasure and such an inspiration for living fully in the moment. Enjoy! Terrill
Terrill, that is one of my goals! To live fully and completely in the moment. (So much so that it’s hard to remember the PAST moment sometimes…) Thanks for coming along! Don’t you love our little cabin? 🙂
Kathy, pack me in your bag sometime, please … I’d love to go traveling with you!
Trudie, I think you are here, too. Would you like a cup of coffee or tea? Don’t you love this mountaintop view?
Wait, WAIT! I want to come with you!!!!!!!
Loved the decomposing leaf picture.
Have FUN!!!
Dawn, there’s room for you in one of the little cabins, too. With all of you guys here, we’ll have to buy some more food, though! 🙂
It’s such fun going on the trip with you, Kathy! I’m looking forward to more posts and pics.
I like all the photos – but the red lighthouse one has this mysterious, wild feeling about it… as though it has some fascinating stories to share… I wanna know what the rest of the landscape around it looks like! And I can’t believe you didn’t photograph the pizza! 😀 Giggle…
Have lots of fun on your trip, Kathy!
Reggie, I took 98 photos today. JEEZ! When I started compressing and uploading all of them, thought of you and your weekend trips. Oh I’m glad you liked the lighthouse. Don’t know why pizza-photographing completely eluded me. tee hee. Thanks for the well-wishes!
Kathy, that photo of Lake Superior at dawn is just gorgeous. Wow!
Your comment, Amy, makes me miss Lake Superior already! (It was a gorgeous dawn.)