New house, Midwest MOM and everything

[talula]

It is no secret that Gemm and I have moved from our long-time home in west central Wisconsin. We have lived there for about 20 years and in that time it seems we grew older. Being that getting older usually means getting closer to death we decided it was time to find a house we could call our own and go there to seek our fortunes.

We found a real estate lady and loan officer we like (and whom presumably liked us) and set out finding a house that we could afford in a town we liked. We didn't need to be picky since time was on our side and we looked at quite a few places till we decided on one which was a short sale. Months later, in the middle of January I signed all the paper and the house was ours. This of course was only the start of a long adventure.

The house which was built pre 1910 has not had much loving care applied to it. Not that anyone has 'trashed' it either, just never really gave it quality time. Also when additions/improvements were made they were done improperly hence the need for Gemm to rebuild a garage door that was put together backwards. The first improvement made before I'd even spend the night here was removing the popcorn ceiling from the dining room/kitchen. This meant the ceiling need to be re-plastered but it was mandatory. I hate popcorn ceilings and this was good practice to get the home improvement juices flowing. Many things have been done (including Riverwind carting off 2 ton of rock to a dumpster) and it probably won't stop for a good spell. We live about 4 blocks from the Mississippi.

The town is a nice little place. Not too big, not too small and located right where the Mississippi River joins the St. Croix river at the base of the National Scenic Riverway. There is a city park right where the rivers join and a bar with a deck hanging out to the marina so that you can enjoy resting all day long watching the river (the city park also has an unusual historical marker describing an event in 1781 where a group of Sioux got the drop on a group of Chippewa). There are some empty buildings downtown which makes me sad because the town really could use some more Mom and Pop stores. What is here though is amazing.

The one and only grocery store in town really could be a model for how grocery stores are suppose to work. Never a line and they always want to carry your groceries out to the car for you. Seriously, I once accidently insulted a 65 year old employee by not letting her carry out my heavy groceries instead demoting her to pushing the cart back inside. She got back at me later for telling me to 'shut up' one day while I was checking out. hehe.

There are quite a few restaurants in town, many with outside decks or gardens to eat in. The main one in town can get very loud during the winter due to all the folks visiting and loudly gulping down their BLT's whole. In the summer it is a real treat to eat at. My favorite restaurant however is back behind the downtown buildings down by the river and has a very simple and wholesome menu which constantly changes (except for their Friday fish). The first time we ate there they were featuring chorizo and ghost pepper cheese Juicy Lucy's. Today's special was cornflake-battered, caramel-granny smith-apple-covered French toast with margaritas for Mothers Day. Riverwind and his son got tangled up with a bacon-cheeseburger with fried egg there once (called 'the shipwreck').

Was out there Friday with Gemm and the parents when a pleasure boat came through and they had to raise the railroad bridge or break off its top. There is the railroad bridge and the highway bridge both crossing the river in about the same spot with both of them being movable. Don't get a chance to see them up very often so it is fun when they are. Barges used to go up the St. Croix so the bridges were raised quite a lot but now it is for pleasure craft with the barges turning and going up to the lock and dam on the way to the cities. They make the strangest sounds those barges do. Very throaty especially at night when there are no other sounds to be heard. They sound much different than the trains.

The Burlington Northern/Santa Fe comes through town regularly (almost to the tune of a train every 10 mins during peak times) on the way between St. Paul and all points south. I like the sound at night because they are not too loud and the whistle soothes me to sleep. Been wanting to spend the day down there with a camera and see if there are any good shots possible. The bridge tender has his own mailbox out on the street marked "Burlington Northern". I once saw the highway bridge tender scuttle into his shack with a 6-pack.

Along main street (which is the northern-most terminus of"The Great River Road" in this state) are the aforementioned conglomerations of restaurants and bars, along with an antique shop, a gift shop, a drug store, various lawyers, dentists, realtors, a gun shop, a computer repair shop, a tattooist a seamstress for bikers, a jeweler, a beauty salon, an art gallery and a bakery.The bakery sells some of the most wonderful donuts I've ever had that they make right there. Not great varieties of stuff but man their chocolate Bavarians are to die for and they shoot my blood sugar up to near lethal levels so you know the quality is there. They sell volume spices and handmade chocolates. Gemm loves the sea-salt caramels. I get the sugar-frees (80 cents apiece).

There are a couple of gas stations in town that sell fishing licenses and bait. Now that fishing season is open there are anglers out there on both rivers on the shore or on the water. They go for the walleye but I'm not much of a fisherman. Sometimes I think I hear a "pow" from the river where someone has tried to blow the fish out of the water but that must be my imagination. There are many swimmers out there also since the St. Croix offers some fine swimming. Beach is awfully crowded on hot afternoons though.

Speaking of bombs, there are two very large firework stands about 12 blocks away down by the motel where folks who don't have a Wisconsin drivers license can purchase anything they desire from sparklers to mortars. Must remind myself to keep Paolo away from that side of the highway lest the fire pit in the backyard gets a whole new life of its own.

One very different thing about moving to a town like this is that I've never lived in a place that had an active visitors center nor active museum.Down by the city clock tower (which clangs on a bell every hour and has workings visible by looking through the windows) is the visitors center where presumably you can learn all you want to about this area along with banging on 5 foot bell they have at ground level and easily accessible to kids with rocks.

Down the street from the house about 5 blocks is the museum in another city park. I think they have 'Great River Road' things on display along with telescopes to look at the eagles nests out on Prescott Island. Someone went out and dragged up a bunch of trash they found down at the river and turned into a sculpture. Looks ok I guess. Just think it's neat to be able to do up some burgers on the grills they have there while visiting the museum. Guess they have a summer full of learning events. Oh, they have grills down at the city park on the river near the monument for the Sioux and Chippewa too.

I was a bit worried when we moved here in that there is a Dairy Queen nearby and they have them there "Orange Julius" thingies which is something that Gemm cannot resist. So far he has been pretty good keeping his addiction at bay.

Well, enough for now. I'll write more as time goes on. I'm learning new things about this town every day. Am very glad we moved here. If you are coming to MoM be prepared for a wonderful place in that we have so much more room to have fun and we are close to many services and things to do. If you have never attended a MoM, please come. All are welcome and it is a fantastic time.

[Paolo]

Sounds like we're going to have a good time?

Mortars, did you say?

MORTARS?!

[JesusA (imported)]

Sounds like we're going to have a good time?

Mortars, did you say?

MORTARS?!

Better warn the neighbors (and the fire department), Paolo is coming to town!

The MoM is always a great event. This years sounds like it may be the best yet.

[talula]

I'm really hoping that Jesus will build a shrine out back. That or a rock garden.

A nice little shrine with a bell....

[considering (imported)]

For something different in your back garden, given some time and micro engineering, how about a mini nuclear power plant? Unlimited power-you could share with your neighbors-and the cooling tank could be left open to provide an attractive water feature. Given the age or your home, we could abandon the more utilitarian structures that so often define them in favour of something carpenter Gothic or a free adaptation of the early prairie style of Frank Lloyd Wright. Or just match the newly built garage.....I've never built one that small but anything is possible in this age of miniaturization. Just a thought....

[talula]

Woo hoo! Great idea! Make me one!

[considering (imported)]

Woo hoo! Great idea! Make me one!

Great! now all we need do is settle on the MWe goal, get a few simple permits from the municipality for construction and....voila! There can be a glow in the dark back yard. And, for those who want to try sterilization before castration, a dip in the cooling pond should do it. Construction could be completed before MoM. Here's a thought, given the location, why not see if you can run a deal with the FAA to replace Janesville as a guidance point?

Wish I could be there but I'm lecturing in Otago and Brisbane and taking the month of August as down time. Well, down under time. PJ

[Dave (imported)]

A statue of a cherubic little boy peeing in a water feature might be easier to maintain than a nuclear power plant.

[JesusA (imported)]

A statue of a cherubic little boy peeing in a water feature might be easier to maintain than a nuclear power plant.

In small town Wisconsin, though, it might get an even more negative reaction than a nuclear power plant in the back yard....

[fhunter]

Great! now all we need do is settle on the MWe goal, get a few simple permits from the municipality for construction and....voila! There can be a glow in the dark back yard. And, for those who want to try sterilization before castration, a dip in the cooling pond should do it. Construction could be completed before MoM. Here's a thought, given the location, why not see if you can run a deal with the FAA to replace Janesville as a guidance point?

Wish I could be there but I'm lecturing in Otago and Brisbane and taking the month of August as down time. Well, down under time. PJ

Water is quite good protection against radiation. So, yes, it will glow in the dark from Cherenkov radiation, but no, it would not cause sterilisation, unless you dive deep enough to touch the core itself

PS. Xkcd ran a feature on this: http://whatif.xkcd.com/29/