ROUSes, Quaint Coffeeshops, and Gaming

In the light of day, much of what we fear loses its potency. Scary Ass Mouse quite definitely had a different feel to him today. It appears it only requires the right accessories to turn fearsome into the ultimate in cuteness.

Fennimore is an exceptionally small but delightful town. We spent the day there, halfway between Madison and Decorah, relaxing in the atmosphere. There are bike trails just outside of town, where Erin prepared for her MS150 across Wisconsin, and I struggled to keep up. (Note the beginning of a recurring theme.) The countryside, unspoiled by glacial scarring, is like something out of Celtic lore, with winding creeks unstraightened, and stark lone trees, laying claim to the bend in the river.


















I think I found the perfect place to build a home, between the trees, abutting the river.
In search of a place to finish our election game we'd started the week before, we found the perfect coffee shop, run by a very friendly family. We talked with the proprietor for perhaps half an hour, learning all about his adventures teaching in Saudi Arabia, and discovered we had much in common. (Erin won the Election Game.)

Our final stop was bowling at the local alley. Erin obtained near double my score; I was striving to copy Obama. You can see here her form was far superior to mine.

We then tried for a game of Settlers,a game we're both passionate about, and I learned to appreciate when in Morocco. This was the Sea-Faring Settlers, particularly attractive because of the ocean. I'll give you two guesses as to who one this game. (I had to continue repeating my personal mantra. "It's not whether you win or lose. It's how you lay the blame." I was...insufficiently prepared for such a formidable opponent. Which probably makes it my parents fault.)

Fear not though. There was this game of Scrabble that I won, once, long ago... I'll just have to adjust to dating an incredibly intelligent and able woman.

And play more games of chance.