Despite the fact that this year’s time spent at Maple lake was unique and precious to me, there were a couple things I want to acknowledge in case anyone is wondering what planet I’m from, though in the states I am actually an alien. Har.
First, the weather. If I hadn’t had the luxury* of the ability to do paid work at the cottage I simply could not have stayed on as I did.
The key reason is that after months of discussion with the two potential internet providers that could serve Maple Lake it became clear that only one– the satellite Internet guys could actually complete the install for this summer.
They did a brilliant job. The service was better than what I have on a day-to-day basis with my American provider, Comcast, and through a bit of good luck I had more online work than I could handle.
It would have been very, very tough to chose between a beautiful day on the Lake and getting my work done but because many days were not beautiful in the traditional sense, I didn’t have to chose. I could find a nice spot only feet from the lapping of the lake and work away as the lake itself was colder than I’d ever experienced during high season.
My first week at Maple Lake was very quiet as I was alone in the cottage. I’d not ever been alone like that at Maple Lake and though a bit eerie the first night or two, it became quite peaceful. I absolutely never recall my dreams at home and here it seemed I woke each day with vivid recollections. I also had a transformative experience at one point when I awoke but I’m not sure blogging about it here is what I want to do right now. It was very, very helpful, I will say that.
I had time to notice a lot of what’s happening on the surface of things at Maple Lake. Even so, I have no illusions that I know much beyond that but here’s what’s not good that happened and that I’m very concerned about for my family both immediate and extended and for other folks on the lake.
Between the time that my spouse and I opened the cottage in early June to the time I returned in the third week of July and than again in the two weeks I was absent in August several acts of property damage and loss occurred.
Even before this happened–and it was a deep shock– I felt that it’s imperative that the residents of Maple Lake both summer and year-round, watch out for one another. This was a wake-up call for me and I’ve taken steps to keep a closer eye on the place and I will return with a stronger security mindset next June.
I am concerned that modern life, though it can seem to be pretty far away when one is at the cottage has indeed been able to creep down our gravel road or perhaps wander the perimeter of the Lake and we need to stop feeling secure that what we’ve been doing is enough when in fact there are many renters on the lake and there is much new development (teardowns, especially). Once you go out and paddle around the Lake’s edge it is very apparent.
We simply cannot know all our neighbours–as many may never return after their vacation. Again, I want to be emphatic: I have no reason to believe anyone we know vandalized our property but I can’t be an ostrich when taking note of the multiple incidents.
I am intensely curious to find out if the crime rate in the Maple Lake area is rising. That would seem to follow as more people equals more activity of many kinds.
Sorry this has been rambling. I hope that what happened to us didn’t happen to anyone else.
Next year I’ll try to be at the cottage even longer than this year–but on a different schedule based on my son’s need to visit potential universities which has yet to be determined.
No one is paying me to say this but having the ability to set up a webcam or two so you can literally keep an eye on your cottage may be worth the investment. It’s my opinion that the guys at the link above may be the best investment I’ve made thus far in our cottage.
I was just mulling over how when we go to Maple Lake, we are much more aware of our environment and how we impact it and visa-versa.
For example, cleaning products. At home I live in a condo in a big suburb and really don’t put much thought into what my cleaning products are made of. At the lake it’s a different story entirely. Any waste water that runs off does so just feet from our lake. Being aware of this, we go out of our way to use products that if somehow they do get into the lake won’t do significant harm.
The product I found myself using a lot at the cottage for older stains on ceramic and tile was baking soda. It was gentle but very efficient–even removing stains that I’d scrubbed with harsh cleansers that I’d previously used in desperation.
Another eco-friendly product I brought up to Maple Lake especially to keep at the lake was my sun jar. The cottage gets plenty of sun so the solar cells quickly powered the rechargeable battery which is then used to power the low-energy LED lamps.
My intent was to have another source of light if we were to lose power to the cottage which is quite common with severe weather. It did happen that the power went out one late afternoon, not returning until 11 p.m. and the sun jar was enjoyed greatly not just as a light source but as a object of beauty.
“Powerboaters and sailboaters are a different breed. Powerboats are turn-the-key, turn-the-wheel. As a sailor you’re working the entire time…” Alan Veenstra, owner of Chicago Sailing
This a quote from today’s Today’s Chicago Tribune newspaper about how motorboat users are feeling the pinch in gasoline costs.
The article goes on to talk about how many people have difficulty conjuring up sympathy for those well-heeled enough to be able to pay for a slip at the Chicago Yacht Club or the like, never mind burn up fuel on the Lake Michigan–the source of our drinking water.
I’m not going to present this as a non-biased viewpoint–the powerboat people certainly are not.
Quote: “I’m more conscious of gas prices this year, but it hasn’t spoiled my fun,” Blackwell said.
“I’ll drive 2 miles, shut the engine off, and turn on the radio. It’s like I’m in a different world.”
This powerboat owner is in a different world alright, the world of denial.
The owners of motorboats should be looked at more sympathetically because “studies say” (what studies–the “American Motorboat Association”?) that “most motorboat owners come from the middle class.” A-ha! The middle class likes motorboating so us non-motor-boating middle class folks should endorse motorboaters as we are all just ya know, middle class.
Sorry. Here is the deal locally, in the Chicago area. The “middle, middle class” scrimp and save and get a previously-owned small-by-any-yacht-standard, motorboat, which they keep in their own garages in the winter and their driveways in-the summer.
They can’t afford to rent a frelling slip on Lake Michigan! OK? Got that?
They take off to the Chain O’ Lakes on the weekend to fish, come back, and park their boats in their driveway until the next time they are able to take the boat out.
On the other hand, the so-called “middle class” whose boats are docked at the Chicago Yacht Club or Waukegan Harbor are upper middle-class and beyond and though they may cut back on engine running time whilst out polluting the great Lake Michigan (as well at adding more noise to the cacaphony that many boats in one general area make). The well-heeled who don’t have to care where the money goes have very little in common with the true middle class. After all, we have a have a short summer season, right?
The Tribune story goes on to report that boaters, in addition to taking shorter trips, are practicing “buddy-boating,” where people take turns whose boat they take when fishing, spending more time at the slip, and using it like “their summer resort.”
All I can add is, what took you so long? (And, you are fooling no one–we all know that you have at least one summer resort north of here). And why won’t you cozy up to the non-fuel using, previously mentioned sail-boating? Or, on a big lake like Michigan or Ontario for that matter, kayaking? On smaller lakes canoing, paddle-boating or how ’bout row-boating? I know it’s quaint but if you put a bit of back into it you can get far enough out on a typical smaller lake to get a good catch. As for those folks whose livelihood is tied to the water? You need to adapt. Carry less motorboat-related items and start catering to the non-fuel using alternatives. There are many. Just let it sink in that we are never going back to the petroleum hogging excesses of our immediate past and embrace the future in which you can still make a living off of water-related activities–they just don’t have to take such a toll on-the environment. It’s my predication that motorboat people will alter their lifestyles significantly in the next 5 years to go beyond using their big gasoline-ingesting boats to smaller, alternate ways of water transport. Hopefully, this blog will still be around then and I can check back to see if I was correct. 
If you are an advertiser who gets the word out through blog marketing you may have already heard of Pay Per Post and Social Spark which are but two offerings from the IZEA company.
Both are Social Media Marketing services which have proved very effective for advertisers. Through blog posts, blog sponsorships, and one of my favourites, product sampling, IZEA gives you a unique voice and presence on the World Wide Web.
I joined Pay Per Post as a postie in July, 2007. At the time I was simply looking for a way to make some household money without having to go into an office or elsewhere. My child is home for the summer and has many breaks throughout the year and I preferred to be home working than working somewhere else.
Having had 5 solid years blogging experience (and several more forum writing), blogging for advertisers really wasn’t much different for me than when I’d write about something I had an opinion about anyway. In fact even now–a year later–because I write about things I do, products I use, movies I see and places I go, as a seasoned blogger I offer my honest assessment all the time. It matters not if it’s paid, I still have an opinion to share with my readers.
Social Spark and Pay Per Post have much in common but there are distinct differences between them which distinguish them. To find out about the differences between Pay Per Post and Social Spark as very effective methods of getting the word out about your product or service, please click the “blog marketing” link above.
Red, White and Blue~
Canada Day Cake from http://yogi.vox.com/
There’s no way I could have gotten that giant maple leaf to look like The Maple Leaf. Maple-leaf shapes are notoriously difficult to render. Believe me, I’ve tried! 
I commend the cake decorator–same as the cake maker, perhaps?
Looks very yummy!
Vox Hunt: Red, White and Blue
Yogi has taken some really awesome photos.
International calling cards or simply a phone card can be handy and convenient for any number of reasons. For one, you can save time and money by buying online rather than wasting time and energy going to a brick and mortar store for your purchase. By having the ability to chose the card that fits your budget and suits your needs from the comfort of your computer chair you can take your time and know that you’ve compared the available rates and selected the best card for you. You can then while still online, get your PIN number instantly, going through verification and eliminating any potential delays on the telephone.
Simply put, phone cards work when you pay for the calling time in advance with your prepaid balance being reduced as you do your telephoning.
All you need to do to make your call is dial your access number (which is toll free), enter your PIN number, then dial the phone number of the person with whom you wish to speak. It’s really that easy!
To find out more please click the phone card link above.
