I was reading a post the other day in which the blogger talked about how she and her husband had lucked into getting front row seats for a helicopter ride one time. I replied that you couldn’t pay me enough money to ever fly in a helicopter, and she was sort of astounded by my response.
Really?? she wrote. I don’t know why that surprises me so much. I’m not an adventurous person but I thought it was super cool.
I consider myself an adventurous person by nature in other regards. Trying new foods? Sure. Moving halfway across the country to a brand new state, and then doing it all over again four years later? You betcha. But a helicopter is a hard no for me. Chalk it up to my general fear of flying, coupled with my general fear of decapitation. I don’t mind if someone says I’ve lost my head or am out of my mind, but I’d rather they didn’t mean so literally.
Most of you know I get up at ungodly o’clock to take a four(ish)-mile walk before work four days of the week. It’s a habit I started in 2015 after nearly dying.
(Diagnosis: an acute case of Overexaggeritis. Oh, and diabetic ketoacidosis.)
Anyhoo. I genuinely enjoy these solitary early morning walks, especially this time of year, when they take place outdoors instead of on the treadmill. I’m treated to some pretty great scenery most days.
This morning was particularly interesting. I was walking through the woods, just a few paces from my backyard, when it felt like I’d wandered onto the set of a Disney movie. I rounded a corner, and there was a flock of wild turkeys on the trail in front of me, with a bunch of babies in tow. At the same exact moment, two deer went galloping off into the underbrush, and a bunch of startled birds took flight. All that was missing was a cricket in a top hat.
I was kinda disappointed at least one of those animals didn’t burst into song.
Maybe we can work on our harmonies next time, fellas.
The front page story in today’s Wisconsin State Journal was devoted to our extreme drought conditions.
This is the driest it’s been since at least 2012. Our rainfall deficit since May 1 is over 8″ and corn, soybean, and strawberry crops are all in jeopardy. The article stated it would take an inch of rain every week for several weeks to even make a dent in the drought.
Well, one of their staff writers must have been playing with a Magic 8 Ball, because that headline proved prescient. This was what Hwy. 26 looked like on my drive home today.
Ask and ye shall receive, I suppose.
It rained for hours and hours. It thundered and lightninged, too. And when all was said and done, we ended up with well over an inch of glorious, welcome, much-needed rain. I might have been imagining things, but I could swear I heard my lawn emit an audible sigh of relief. Maybe it’ll be a little less brown and crisp for a few days.
We have a long ways to go yet, but this was a great start.
I’m really hoping tomorrow’s headline reads, A MILLION DOLLARS FOR MARK PETRUSKA … PLEASE, ’cause I could really use some extra pocket cash.
Mark My Words 
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