Day 18...the boy who lived

So this has become more of a bi-weekly affair...so be it. Last Thursday night proved to be a riveting and magical display of theatrical bliss. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, though it will never surpass the book's brilliance, was a fantastic end to a decade of Harry. Because Luna is pretty much one of my favorite characters in the series, I felt to go out with a bang for this last movie by dressing up as this crazy blonde-haired lass (seemed suiting for me). I also purchased some Nerds candy (cause those are just oh so tasty)...then off to the premier I went with dear ol' Anna. Ah what a joyous occasion it was with fellow witches and wizards, some sporting capes, hats, wands, Griffyndor burgundy or Slytherin emerald. After George and Snape died along with other members of the Order, with mixed emotions inside I was unable to shed a tear. Nor when the movie came to a close was I able to outwardly express what I was feeling on the inside........as the credits rolled on the screen I thought to myself, this is the close of my childhood! When the last book was released it marked the beginning of the end...then as the movies caught up and the final one ended........this is it. Harry is no more....................I first had the books to look forward to, then the movies...now what??? My pilgrimage to Harry Potter World in Florida? What am I to do with my life now???? So as I scramble to find my sanity, I must bid Harry adieu  and thank he and his fellow witches and wizards for all of the adventure, excitement, and childhood memories they have rained upon me.

Day 17....library surprises

Oh Ryan Library....a place full of bright eyed - bushy tailed students, a place of relaxation amongst the age-old couches, a place of dancing, a place of mourning over grades, a place of stress, a place of hope, a place of grandeur, a place of mischief....and alas, a place of surprises. One thing I strongly dislike during summer is summer school, another thing I dislike are research papers during summer school - double wammy. In my art class I had to write a research paper (that turned out less than mediocre), so where do I go to hide myself from numerous outside distractions? Ryan of course. As I'm walking up the little slope (what's that for anyways) on the first floor, I see a familiar figure about 20 yards ahead. Anna, psssssstt that you?! The person turns around only to reveal the vagabond we like to call Anna....large backpack (check), duffle full of books (check), two canteens (check check), glasses (check), bike (check), tell tale sweat lines (oohhhh baby check!), dignity in tact?? (absolutely check!). This girlie hopped on a train, road her fixie all the way from the downtown station (with her extremely heavy caravan of bags), and landed at the library to do her research paper - how bout them apples?! What a joyous surprise amidst the humdrum of my research paper. She's kind of like, for lack of better analogy, a cold sore....you see it for a few days and experience all of its joy and wonder...then all of a sudden it disappears.....but wait for it, wait for it, wait for it....BAM - days, weeks, months later (who knows!) it comes back again in all it's glory just waiting for another round of adventure!!! There's probably an analogy out there that's more flattering.......hm. So Anna, here's to your welcome sighting in Ryan Library and for the hopes of many more flash encounters! Oh, and I recommend Secret Clinical Strength ;)

Day 16....the bird

Ouch, that's all I can say. So one of the last days in MN I decide to attempt to boost my ego and start on one ski for water skiiing. I'm able to drop one once I'm up, but never tried it from the water....this day was that day. After 5 attempts, the last one my arms tired and the boat yanked me forward, causing my right hand to smash against the perpendicular ski -------- pain.....and wishing I were dead. You know for such a small surface area, the nail has a lot of nerve endings and can cause a grown man (or woman) to beg for mercy. So there I was, floating like yesterday's dead fish in the water, cradling my poor injured finger, dignity shattered. For the next few days I may as well had gotten my hand mauled by a bear cause I was pretty much out of commission with that dominant hand. Almost a week later and I still feel the bruise, which has developed into a pretty gnarly looking black finger nail. Here's all to say that I am so grateful for healthy, in tact, colorless fingernails and the services they provide us each and every day. Can you imagine what life would be like fingernailless???? Pretty awful.....especially for those mosquito bites. So fingernails around the world......this one's for you.

Day 15...dweebessence

Ok, short n sweet. I was just chillin in the cabin the other day (namely, a week ago), and I was just minding my own, reading the Alchemist (great book), sippin some tea, when some kid comes in. My dear brother Kip......this is dedicated to one of your numerous traits ---- your dweebiness. Yes, I said it, you're a dweeb, can't do anything about it now huh!? Ok, back to the story, so I was minding my own when Kip rolls into the cabin feeling all pumped before skiing. Being that this cabin is of humble origins, it is very small and not equipped with a full sized gym (don't think that creative genius idea got past the drawing board). Therefore, little Kippy had to find a more creative way to stay yolked. So, after a few reps of breakfast chair lifts, he moved on to the more heavy duty equipment. stacking his feet on the couch (yuck) and the chair at arms length, he proceeded to do some elevated push ups.....this wasn't enough......did you know that a father's tackle box can also serve as a weight? Me either. With the tackle box on his back like a shelf, a few more push ups later.....the mini P90X makeshift workout was complete. So thanks for that Kip, it was my entertainment for about eehhhhh 10 minutes. I'm grateful for your ingenuity :)

Day 14...ode to an old man

This little gem is Robert - Bob - fisherman - father - grampa - grampa great - brother - friend - goober - ironman - sturdy - crush-you-if-you-hug-him-man......but I just like grampa. Take a look at this guy and guess how old he is......any takers? 78? 82? 88?...........this work of art turned 95 on July 9th, talk about some good genes! I know I have been horribly and inexcusably tardy on these posts, but Grampa was intended to be my post for July 9th. Grampa has been such a character in my life. See, I am only able to visit the great and glorious state of MN once every year to go up to the Corner and see every relative ever born....this guy included. My time spent with Grampa has been none other than wonderful - he makes me laugh, he makes me stand in awe (when he hauls loads of sticks and shrubbery to the burn pile and watches the fire reach 10 ft), he breaks my bones (when he hugs me.....never gets old), actually, HE never gets old and for that he makes me think he's a living wonder.........he's my gramps and I am so immensely thankful for this man and all that he has provided and for all of his love - he has made a legacy that spans 3 generations, this guy is a living legend. I love you Grampa - happy birthday!!!!

Day 13...lake placid....

 

The Fishermen!

Well today (technically July 8th) myself, pops, Kip (bro), Courtney (cousin), and Grandpa decided to take the pontoon out to fish. Now...I haven't fished in a coon's age, so my skills were less than sub par. However, I am pleased to note that I was the first person to get 2 bites within the first 20 minutes of our escapade.....granted, those 2 bites resulted in a 2 stolen minnow and a bruised pride - but hey, I was close! Our trip lasted about 2 hours, Courtney caught a perch (yay!) and Grandpa caught a small rock bass that he threw back. Besides that, most of the time was spent with my feet propped up, bobbing my pole up and down and enjoying the beautiful Big Turtle Lake scenery. Gosh, the lake was so peaceful! There was little conversation on the boat, a lot of the time was in silence; but sometimes you can hear a lot in the absence of noise. I was able to use my sense of sight and smell and hearing to truly experience the great northern wilderness. Ah....I can smell that warm summer air spiked with pine and water all the way in the cabin where I write. So on this day, I'm thankful for the peacefulness of fishing and the wonderful time spent not really doing anything!

Day 12...David Sedaris meets Big Turtle Lake

When people ask "Hey Skye, what is it you do up there in Minnesota?" I am often at a loss of what to say; for how many different ways can you say "Whelp, we hang out down by the lake, talk to the relatives, drink tea, and read a ton" and still make it sound exciting? After the 20 years (well, 21 counting inside the womb) of annual pilgrimage do this delightful vacation spot, I have yet to master the inevitable response. So I figure, this picture pretty much sums up my Minnesota vacation in a nutshell (imagine many a white-hair clad grandmother or great-uncle sitting 5 feet from me). Because I am here for a few more days yet, I need to disperse my "gratefulness" into specific topics (cause you can't just collectively say "I'm grateful for Minnesota" - there's too many wonderful things included in such a vague statement!). So....for day 12 of this project (and day 5 of my being in this delightful state) I am grateful for reading down at the beach (David Sedaris' When You Are Engulfed in Flames----hilarious, must read!) with my hot drink of choice, cocoa (in the ever so appropriate blue speckled tin camping mug). Hey thanks, white lawn chair, Swiss Cocoa powder (marshmallows included),  blue speckled tin mug, tree log coffee table (leftover from last night's campfire), David Sedaris (you've literally caused me to lose sphincter function), The North Face (for keeping me cozy), 5th grade moccasin slippers, Bemidji Woolen Mills Scarf.....am I missing anyone else??? And the Oscar goes to......

Day 11...fire, gooeyness, and bugs

Oh day 11 (the game of catch-up forever continues...I must be kicked in the bud)...anywho, last night we (the Bertelson offspring bunch) celebrated our 4th of July with a campfire and s'mores. The actual 4th was rainy and thunderstormy (which I enjoyed severely; however, it proved incompatible with fireworks and campfires) so we decided last night was the best fit for such an occasion. This was also the last night my beloved brother and sister-in-law would be with us, so we wanted to make it count. So here we were, my crazy bunch called family, surrounding the campfire, sharing stories and burning our marshmallows. By the end of the fire time, most of us had chocolate and marshmallow smears on our faces, graham cracker crumbs adorning our chests, and about a half-dozen more mosquito bites to add to our collection. So on this day 11 I am dually thankful for campfires and family time...both are unique, exciting, strange, and most of all, things in my life which I love dearly (especially the latter).

Cody and Pops...notice the elephant gun of a s'more stick my dad proudly made himself..dweebessence

Day 10...when I look west I see...

My game of catch-up still continues...This was last night's sunset up here in Bemidji. Big Turtle Lake has been home to many a site like this one and is a color-lover's heaven. The folks in the canoe are my grandma and cousin Erin - it's almost like they're paddling to a golden city. Ah I can taste the jealousy from you readers (if I even have any..do I? Are there more than my devoted sister? Oh well, no hard feelings). But in all seriousness, I am so extremely grateful for sunsets like these ones. It never ceases to amaze me how creative the Great Artist is - He always manages to come through with some pretty remarkable sunsets. Although trillions of sunsets have been created, none is alike - now that is true individuality right there. So thanks God for this lovely site and for the one you will paint tomorrow, and the next day, and the many more to come.

Day 9...just a run in the green abyss

I'm playing catch-up from the past two days...I'd like to say that I've been busy, but in all actuality I've just been so darn lazy up here in MN! Aside from conversations with distant relatives and laughing with (or at) the little kids in camp, I find that one has to be creative to keep entertained while up here in the boons. Whether it be reading, playing badminton, paddle boarding on an old makeshift sailboat, swimming to the raft, swatting mosquitos, canoeing around the island, or exploring, one must be autonomous here up at the lake. Yesterday I decided to go on a run in the afternoon to make up for lost time (my half-marathon training is slaking...woops). One of the many great things about up north is how beautiful it is! It doesn't matter if you're on an old snowmobile trail or on a paved road, you are completely engulfed in green! So today, I am grateful for my running trails/roads up here in MN - your beauty is something to be marveled at. 

 

No joke...this dragonfly (alive) was doing a handstand, take that yoga fanatics!!

 

Oh...and the critters that I find are pretty cool too.

Day 8...some pretty awesome goobers

      























So this was the Devil's Punchbowl hiking crew today......gosh what amazing women to be surrounded by for a whole day. These three (Anna, Molly, & Sarah) are some of the most entertaining, fearless, strong, hysterical, beautiful, intentional, gooberly, and just all around WONDERFUL women that I have ever come to know and love. You three have taught me today what it means to overcome fears, encourage one another, laugh at oneself (namely the Meiner's Diner bathroom fiasco), love ourselves for who we are, be absolutely outrageous in public and not give a rat's fanny, and blast worship music on the beautiful drive home amongst the trees and feel so at peace with the world and with God's love. You three are GREAT and I am so pumped to get to know each one of you more this summer through living with you (yes, even you Anna) and for the many magical years to come. I love each one of you and am so thankful for your friendship and for your love. Here here!! (*clink*)

Day 7...how great thou art

Wide open spaces....the great outdoors....nothing gets better than this. Take an hour drive out of SD heading north east and this is what you'll find ---- fields to frolic in, fresh pine trees, metal cattle catcher things, squirrels (that may or may not have been run over), hot dry yet magnificent heat, deer scat, lizards, crazy hikers (namely my lovely entourage of 3 plus moi), clear water pools, cliff jumpers, Miener's Diner, inappropriateness, war paint, tiny black water bottle straw :), sunscreen, and white booties, green ravine, radiating sun over the hills.....it can't get any better than this. But really though, what it comes down to is the breathtaking BEAUTY that our world has to offer - such that I am overwhelmed whenever I am enjoying the great outdoors. I can't even begin to give props to the Big Guy for creating such a picturesque landscape (and world at that)--- I have a feeling that many days during this project will be dedicated to God's creation. So consider this day number one of many to come - oh hey God, you're great and thanks for yet another wonderful day in paradise.

Day 6...Oh toilet where art thou?

Yes....yes you see this correctly - it is a toilet and it is a fine toilet at that (thanks to the lovely bottoms of my roommates who rest upon it). This is a toilet and this toilet (and all the working plumbing systems alike in the world) is what I am grateful for. This is yesterday's gratefulness object (though I am grateful for it every day) - but why, you may ask, am I grateful for a poop bucket, crapper, the John, the loo, swimming pool, pot, or whatever you may have named it?! Well  yesterday I was talking to my dear friend Derrick who went on a missions trip to Rwanda this past summer. As all missions trip conversations tend to do, our talking bird walked into poop stories and further extreme poop stories. Last summer I went to the Congo and was blessed with a toilet like you see here, except the plumbing sucked and we had to manually "flush" the toilet by fetching water buckets and forcefully pour the water down so it gets sucked up in the pipes - an ordeal (and a noisy one at that after a 2AM bout of sickness). When we went to the churches in Congo we were not as blessed to have such porcelain delicacies; rather, the bathroom was a hole in the ground with two bricks on either side of it where you placed your feet to balance - if you were lucky, you had three 5 foot tall brick walls surrounding you with a piece of cloth on the fourth in front of you (that always managed to be blowing in the wind, rendering it absolutely worthless......oh and peeping Tom children - oh my). Such a set-up was like the one Derrick had at the orphanage/churches in Rwanda. And these outhouses were merciless when it came to "runny belly" (as we call it in Jamaica). But as they say, "you gotta go, you gotta go" so you just do what you can with what you're given. These rural toilets made for some pretty crazy poop stories (my favorite kind of story) and some unfortunate events (one missions trip to Mexico a buddy had horrible horrible HORRIBLE runny belly that caused him to miss the target ((ps how do you do that?)) in the port-o-potty in the middle of the night...we found this particular port-o-potty to be locked shut with "caution" tape wrapped all around it the next morning on the way to breakfast - oops!....way-to-go pal hahaha). This is all to say that I am extremely grateful for our westernized plumbing/septic system that allows us to do our business in both style (have you seen all the types of toilet seat covers?!) and comfort. So thank you Mr. Toilet man who invented this fine piece of furniture - my hat goes off to you on this day.

Day 5...the world as my oyster

At work today (well...technically 2 days ago, but I knew I wanted to be thankful for this prized possession), I met someone who greatly appreciates traveling. She told me she's been to every country in Europe, various countries around the world, and every state in the US (except OR ----- of all the places!). I told her about my past two summer adventures traveling to the DRC and Jamaica and a brief overview of my experience there. This got me thinking how GRATEFUL I am for the opportunity to travel, which leads me to my beloved passport. This little blue book with an unfortunate Santa Rosa post office photo, numerous inspirational quotes from famous peeps through the ages, cool watermarks, and oh yes, stamps in various fading shades of red, blue and black indicating the pit stops to my countries of travel. I am so so so happy to have been given the opportunity to meet my brothers and sisters in both Congo and Jamaica. These travels have given me a whole new outlook on life and have also spurred great interest for further traveling endeavors. So passport...thank you for getting me from point A to point B, and for your future guidance for the next 9 years before your retirement. May your pages get severely stamped by future sleep deprived customs workers in whatever country I am led to next. I love you passport and on this day #5 I am so very thankful for you.

Day 4...Australian Mini Series

Summer Heights High......a fantastic collection of high school misfits compiled into a mini series that will certainly leave one both crying from laughter and uncomfortable due to it's political incorect-ness. A flamboyant drama teacher, a punk curly haired kid, and a prissy private school transfer girl make this series a good time. The best is watching this with the Udall family whilst eating caramel rolls. So this day #4 is dedicated to this awesome series (honestly...watch it). I am grateful for the crazy Australians and Rengas seen in this short HBO series (oh...and HBO, thank you for giving us such wonderful TV shows....without you we would be more prude and less crude - which is always a less than entertaining thing)

Day 3...God bless my mat

Sunday nights I attend a free beginners yoga class in Point Loma. I began this weekly ritual a mere 3 weeks ago and already I am left with a profound appreciation for this form of exercise. Yoga is not just stretching and saying "Oms"...it is a workout man! I don't think I have ever perspired (or as the gentlemen call it "glisten") so much in my entire life exercising as I do in this yoga class. Perhaps it is because there are half a million other sweaty and beaten bodies in the room with me doing the tricky chair pose, or perhaps it is because the cute half naked guys in my class make me kinda nervous (leading to my sweating), or alas maybe it is just pain leaving the body...regardless, I lose some major water poundage every Sunday starting at 6:30 in that yoga studio. This leads me to my appreciation for non other than my poor mat who has to succumb to my ssvveeetttyyy integumentary system. It reminds me of that Jackass 3 skit where the unfortunate Steve-O has to drink a dixie cup of Preston's rancid sweat after his seran wrap sweatsuit aquired so much perspiration from a few minutes of the standstill bike. Now imagine that sweat soaked in my mat.....thirsty yet? Thus, my dear mat (whom I have yet to formerly name), this day 3 is dedicated to you and all of your mercy, love, support, peace, and yes sponge qualities that you have so humbly granted me these past 3 Sundays. Here's to you my friend...

Day 2...good food and a dear friend

Tonight my dear Noelle and I decided to woo each other with a lovely candle lit dinner...I have known Noll for the past three years at the delightful institution (PLNU); however, I realize that there are many times that I under-appreciate those who are most dear to me. How many times do I hang out with my friends without telling them that I love them? How many times do I share a warm OB afternoon with Noelle without looking at her and let her know how blessed I am having her in my life? Why don't we tell our friends that each day - how much we love them and how important they are to us? So this day, day #2 of this already enlightening project, is dedicated to my Noelle (and the delicious food that we create together :) )Noll, my beautiful friend, and I am grateful for you!                                                                  Here's to many more burnt pizzas and smelly candles!

Day 1...where it all begins

I find it appropriate to launch this blogging endeavor at the rightful and undoubted place - the beginning. About a month ago a dear friend of mine, Will, informed me of this delightful photo project. We both have a love for pictures (though I am an amateur photographer) and a love for the beautiful gift of life; therefore, Day 1 starts with this incredible blessing in my life - my jovial and  inspiring Villham. Thank you Will for reminding me that these things we are given in this life, however big or small, is a blessing from God and must therefore be praised. So Will, my love goes out to you on this first day of 364 more to come :)