Watery

I started Monday morning off right -- by almost getting killed twice on my way to work. What is it about the rain that prompts people to become even more vehicularly aggressive than usual?

So I made it to work and braved the 10-minute walk in the rain. Apparently, my wool pants have super water-repelling power, because I brushed off the tiny beads of mist easily when I finally got inside.

Had a good weekend. Jo and I planned to go hiking Saturday at the nearby state park that runs along the river. Our ETA was 1 pm. We got there around 2, then spent an hour getting incredibly lost. I guess I go there less often than I think, and I always end up taking the same wrong turns.

This time, though, I went unusually far afield. We drove on narrow, winding roads past cotton fields and monstrously huge threshers cutting down the last of some spent crop. Eventually we made it to the river landing where you can look out over the Mississippi. There were some vintage car enthusiasts gathered around. I've never seen so many tailfins together. I remembered going to the river landing before because of its most distinct feature -- the bullet-riddled speed limit signs.

After backtracking and making at least one additional wrong turn, we arrived at the visitor center and checked out the map. We took one road, doubled back and then another. We never did make it to the big lake, but by 3 we were glad just to find a trailhead with 1, 3 or 4-mile loops. On the trail itself, we found a paper map, dropped by some good soul who knew we needed it more than anyone. Great hike with some very steep hills and a little path through rushes. We vowed to come back in a few weeks and find the lake.

Good weekend, but I have to admit to a bit of funky restlessness. Reason 1: having to stay inside and work when it's beautiful outside and/or having to stay inside and work when it's nasty outside and I'd rather be in my cozy bed. Reason 2: I'm impatient about some of the uncertainties floating around in my life. I've been keeping the light touch with them for a while, but sometimes you just don't want to wait around anymore. How's that for specific?