My American Hero:

[LakeArenal]

Mr Lake just spent four hours chopping 2” of ice off our 25’x15’ deck before the next ice storm hits tomorrow.



He is tired!!

[Laffy Kat]

1. Oh, man.

Your place has a wonderful view, though. Where is this?

[LakeArenal]

3. Thank you. It's a 26 mile view.

We know because we can see the power plant 26 miles from here. We have lived with the view for 35 years. ❣️

It is beautiful here in central Wisconsin.

[Laffy Kat]

5. I didn't realize how beautiful Wisconsin was until my son started college in Ripon.

Bucolic, lovely. I enjoy car trips through there now, although from Colorado it's pretty monotonous until you cross the WI state line.

[LakeArenal]

6. Your son has to be pretty smart to get into Ripon.

My brother tried to get in. He’s very smart but goofed off and had average grades.

Ripon is about 35 miles east on Hy 23.

Wisconsin Dells (if you know of it) is about 15 miles west of us on Hy 23. Very central WI.

[Laffy Kat]

7. He is majoring in physics, graduating this May.

Honestly, Ripon was a "reach" for him. His ACT score was not stellar and he had maybe a 3.8 GPA in high school. I think what got him in was the all the rocket-building he did from toddlerhood through high-school. He competed in rocketry nationally and won several national awards. The selection committee at Ripon paid a lot of attention to that. He also really, really wanted to go to a small school and Ripon, although a reach, was the ONLY college he applied to and he got a free ride for the first year. For the most part, it seems like a relatively progressive campus, too, at least for the mid-west. But, damn, it's cold!

I will Google Wisconsin Dells. Beside travelling back and forth to Ripon, I haven't seen much of WI.

[LakeArenal]

8. Dells is a huge family destination.

It’s said to be the water slide capital of the world. They have lovely Duck rides on the Wisconsin River (which is beautiful unto itself). Lots of restaurants, tons of crappy souvenir shopping, huge go cart rides both indoors and out doors.

It’s becoming a great spring break destination with indoor water parks. Cascade Mountain, Christmas Mountain and Devilshead Ski resorts nearby.

Fun place.

[Ohiogal]

2. Wow, what a great guy!

I hope you treated him to a nice hot meal after that miserable job!

You do have a nice view there!

[LakeArenal]

4. Pork chops. 😉

[Bayard]

9. Four hours!

Did he just do that out of the goodness of his heart?

Back in the day, my ex and I took a week's vacation to go cross-country skiing at the Dells. It rained/sleeted the whole time. Otherwise, it was beautiful.

[LakeArenal]

10. Yes, weather... Bummer. WI smells good, too!

He chopped ice because we are having an ice storm tomorrow and Sunday.

At first I thought I could do it, but he laughed and said oh no. He is right. My arms would have been done in 30 minutes.

Labor of love, baby!!!!