Pretty Colour Lakes
As some of you know, I had the chance to meet up with Jo(e) and venture to Pretty Colour Lakes last weekend. Yes, she and I met before in the academic way, at conferences in New York and San Antonio (I think it was at both), but this was our first time to meet as bloggers. Last summer, I made a quick comment to her that I was coming, and we had the date set quick.

On Friday, I called her when I woke up, and she was over in a flash. I had just sat down in the lobby to do some reading when she called to say she was by the parking area. In the car, she did warn me that she talks with her hands, which makes driving difficult. But it wasn't long before we were at Pretty Colour Lakes, which does deserve its name. We pulled out our cameras and started walking. I have to say that I have no idea what time we started or how long we actually spent there. We talked about other blogger meetings and our histories with those we know online. We talked about our jobs and families. I asked her a bit about the history of the lake and assured her that I really did want to know.

And then the storm hit. Honestly, the weather forecast online that morning said it would be cloudy, but it said nothing about any type of showers or rain. Jo(e) put my camera under her raincoat with hers, and we just kept walking and talking. After all, what else could we do? The point was to be out in the natural world.

As soon as we reached her car, wiped our faces, and pulled out of the parking area, it stopped. Just like that. But she went directly to a great Italian restaurant that was full with lunch customers. We were still able to sit quickly and kept talking. It didn't seem fast, and we spent several hours together, but all of a sudden it was time to get me back to the hotel so I could see a few afternoon talks and she could cart the kids around to music lessons.

Back at the hotel, I had plenty of time for a hot shower. The hotel had one of those rain-style shower heads where the water just falls down, perfect after a drenched walk. As I sat down at the computer to check email, I updated my Facebook status to say, "Nels thinks spending the day with creative people can fuel the mind and body more than anything else."

That's how I felt, relaxed and invigorated all at once.
- posted by Nels P. Highberg @ 10:52 PM | | | Link |