TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016 Today was the big talk at Lake Carlos State Park. I was nervous. Inside the Visitor Center was park staff, Allen, Ryan, Aaron and Ben along with taxidermied animals, live fish (in tanks), books on birding nicely displayed on the table. Ben, the park naturalist was an outstanding host. We all shared a few laughs while setting up that helped to put me somewhat at ease. They were expecting some folks that they talked to earlier in the park about attending

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 It was déjà vu returning to Madison. It has been 12 years since I have been here. A little known fact for some of you is that I used to live there in 2002-2004. Everything felt like a dream once we were edging further and further into the city limits. The airport I had flown in and out of, the top of the capitol building which punctuated the city center where they have a farmer’s market, the unique Frank Lloyd Wright style homes. I had definitely been he