Transitions '09

It’s almost Summer in Minneapolis/St. Paul, but if I’d just gotten back today, rather than three weeks ago, I wouldn’t believe it. It was warmer on Lake Superior over Memorial Day weekend d than it is today. It’s about 50˚F and raining, a nice soaking rain that we desperately need. A good day to catch up on some stuff.

The transition back to home has been slower than usual, maybe because I was gone longer this Winter, from 26 December to 15 May, with a 2-day stop in the Twin Cities to do laundry and taxes. I’m slowly getting reacquainted with my house. I have been fostering cats again, cats, five to date, no kittens so far. I’m anxiously awaiting my certification card for the dive instructor, and within a few weeks I might even have my USCG Captain’s license. I have done some rearranging to fit all the diving and sailing books and manuals that I’ve accumulated by taking all these classes.

I’m teaching two classes at the moment and have a few more coming up. I’ve been racing on Lake Superior and Lake Minnetonka, had my kayak out, and signed up for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and who knows what else. (More stuff to figure out.) My next project is to help rebuild the website for my now deceased friend’s 401 c-3 Toddler Foods Partners. That’s in addition to going through all the photos I took over the past five months. Fortunately, the sponsor of the Antarctic cruise sends out a synopsis of our trip, including photos taken by fellow passengers. Two of my photos actually made it into the book, but not my drawings. I might just frame one of my drawings. Hmmmm. Would that be the sea lions, the baby sea lion or the head of a penguin? I’m just happy the admirer will know what the subject is. After all, I only drew stick figures before this.

My transition will last a while longer as I ponder what to do with the certifications I’ve received in the four years since leaving my work career. It’s a nice, neat package for the right location. I’m certified to teach sailing, scuba diving, CPR/Primary Care/Secondary Care and English as a foreign language. Doesn’t that sound like a place in Central or South America or the Caribbean? The dilemma is “where”? Let me know if you have any suggestions.