Time with Val and Tim

October 1, 2006

We are now in Central Time zone, but our bodies are still on Eastern Time. We got up at 6:30. We decided to go for a walk and walked up hills and down around neighborhoods and through the park. It was a good morning walk. Val and Tim came and picked us up and we went to the Jiva Jive, The 11th Annual Coffee Tasting to benefit the Rape Crisis Center in Madison. We entered the nightclub turned coffee shop for the day. The Jan Wheaton Duo played jazz, featured local coffee shops provided coffee and there were pool tables coved with donuts, sweets, fruits, bagles and goodies. We each received a ceramic coffee cup and were sent on our way. Val found us a table upstairs at the banister so we could look over the happenings. Kathy’s favorite coffee was the EVP coffee Company’s Guatemalan French Roast. A silent auction and raffle kept people moving about. We bid on a handmade folding table, but got out bid quickly. It was a great time people watching and spending time with special people.

After the event we walked to State Street admiring the many cows along the way. Val’s favorite was Half and Half. The Loco Moo-tive was one of our favorites. And pictured here is the Moooon over Madison. We walked around the Monona Terrace, the convention center that used designs by Frank Llyod Wright. The lines are zig-zags and curves and seems to bring the lake Monona into the building. It was a project that began sixty years ago when Frank Lloyd Wright first proposed plans for the dream civic center in downtown Madison. The building is a wonderful place for the community to gather. The come and sit on the terrace to read, to watch the boats, to have events. We listened to a group play and a woman sign, we watched a wedding party enter their ceremony, we clapped at the water skiers practice formations, and we took in the design of a great architect. Val was preparing an event for over 400 people to be held here in November. We walked into the Cultural Center and admired the art on display. Val brought us into the main hall where she had prepared brunch event on the balcony.

Tim drove us around the Wisconsin University Campus and we stopped for icecream made fresh at the dairy on campus. Outside the student union we sat on steps at the water’s edge watching sailing ships, cruisers tied together and sail boarders. Maria we thought of you guys out on your boat tied off with your friends enjoying the last days on the water before you have to put your boat into the tunnel. As the sun went down behind the student union we continued our tour. Tim drove us through the university Arboritum, a wooded area with wetlands and grass savannas rich with people biking, walking and driving through.

Back at our roadtrek we said our goodbyes. Kathy and Val had added memories to their friendship and build yet another bond to hold them close even though distance would keep them apart.

We prepared the roadtrek for departure and decided to eat first. Will made us hotdogs and Kathy prepared a salad. We watched some West Wing and ate. Too tired to think about driving we decided to stay the night and leave first thing in the morning.