Why IT starts with SH

So there's this weird thing in our house where I can answer all IT-related questions. Beats me why. Especially when I use a Mac for my photos and creative stuff and hubby and I both use PC laptops for work.

Usually it's no big deal....

Assumption football starts tomorrow and Jim needs to keep stats. Suddenly I cannot print his freaking sheet of defensive players to mark stats on. I have been trying for 90 minutes and have no reason why this isn't working!

I mean it's an Excel spreadsheet but I can't print it. I think I'll have to take a screen shot then print it out.

Oh gosh. Sorry! No one really cares about this crap. I'm just so frustrated!!

This is why all IT issues shout be spelled SHIT!

Talk To Yourself –– Nicely

 

I love this sentiment. I mean why do we talk to friends and "sisters" so supportively, but knock ourselves down?

I am so not blaming my mother. But I just can't pinpoint when this started. At what age did I think I was too fat, too poor, too unworthy, etc?

When we use the term "mental health" we mean anything and everything about our self worth.

We realize that isn't enough!

Last week, we were so saddened to learn that one of our neighbor boys (well one who grew up across the street for 20+ years) took his life. It definitely gave us all a renewed focus on what mental health needs mean. 

This happened more than a week ago and the funeral was Saturday. I just haven't wrapped my head around the fact that he's gone. To realize he will never show off his skate bording or bicycling skills on a ramp again. 😟

It's not just random 80's and 90's song lyrics when when we tell you to don't stop believing!

Believe in YOU! 

Random Pokes of Color

Not sure who thinks of "these rose-colored glasses" when seeing the sunset. But suddenly that is me.

I do want to talk more about my post of many colors and sounds but I must confess it was a quite a Hee-Haw related engagement!

A lot of friends are gathering photos and feedback -- and I love that we're so POPULAR  -- just hoping to share it all with you and, according to rumors, invite you to the next one if you missed it!

Like I said the other night, "We'll see you next tine on Yee-Haw!"

Yee-Haw Ha Ha!

OMG! I think that most of the descendants of the OG Yee-Haw group from 40 years ago thought "some friends" would attend Saturday Night's "revival" show. Turns out there's a pretty loyal community when it comes to Rudolph, Wisconsin!

I (and hubby) were right in the mix and loving it! 500 some attendees? We'll take credit. LOL.

Full disclosure: Jim and are not from there. But we have friends that we've joined in community fundraisers and, well, productions some people needed to resurrect after 40 years.

I know I spent too many blogs promoting the Yee-Haw show, but I'll take credit for a few extra tickets. Of course.

The best surprise for me was my twin sister coming from 4+ hours away to surprise me – and her son, my nephew Tony in Green Bay – coming over and knowing the whole time! Sneaky! 

But the show itself was amazing.

I have yet to process all the photos and videos other people took. That doesn't matter as much as the fact there were 20-30 folks on stage trying to tell the best corny jokes and sing the best songs! A standing ovation from 500 people at the end of the night might prove we succeeded. 

If we can actually share a wrap-up, I will share. I feel bad if you missed it because I often times thought people were like, "That's nice. You do your 1970 music thing." Well we did and I'm glad hundreds of people enjoyed it.

The best part really is that Jim and I – and well most of us – weren't even nervous. We had so much fun singing and telling jokes, it felt like a night hanging out with friends. 

 

Can't wait to see what images/videos shake out.

Thanks for coming, y'all!

Pork Barrel of Laughs

Tonight was our last rehearsal before tomorrow's big Yee-Haw show. If you were a fan of the original Hee-Haw show in the '70s, rest assured we tried to include at least some part of every element of the show.

Remember when some jokes were really funny – or perhaps super corny – and the animated pigs would dance across the bottom of your television screen? Well it's 2026, folks. And ours are 3-D! Actually 4-D since little humans are carrying them, ha.

So many things I'd love to share but we want the mass of humanity attending (fingers crossed) to be surprised. 

We had our final rehearsal under the big tent tonight. Even if the show is not perfect tomorrow, our large crew will know how far we've come. Tonight was a great feeling to realize we were arranged just right on stage and had enough microphones so everyone could be heard when telling their incredibly hilarious jokes. So incredibly hilarious. 😁

As a group, of course we're great singers. (And so humble.) But we have some pretty cool duets (father/daughter and uncle/niece) along with a classic solo NO ONE else in the cast could do. Plus we have this random 16-year-old phenom on the steel guitar! We've adopted him now and he can't escape.

Seriously, if you like good classic country and gospel music plus jokes that make you both groan and laugh simultaneously, stop on out. 

It's 7 p.m. Saturday at Feltz Dairy Farm outside Plover. You can't miss the big white tent!

And full disclosure: I don't make a commission on ticket sales. This is a fundraiser to benefit St. Philips Catholic Church in Rudolph (where this show originated with members 40+ years ago), the Power of 5 in Portage County (a non-profit community group that pools small $5 donations from local residents to fund families in crisis, local charities, and community projects like school supplies drives and free pantries), and the Parkinson's Foundation (in honor of the mother of half the cast).

I just can't help myself from promoting it because of how much fun we've had putting this together and really just want to share the joy. 

And give you a pork barrel of laughs. No offense to our dancing pigs! 🐷🐷🐷

A Pleasure To Have In Class

Of course my grade school teachers would write in my report cards that I was "a pleasure to have in class." Not sure I was, but it was pretty much a standard phrase they used – back in the 1900s! Was it sincere? I'm going to say sure since I have historic documents stating so. Ha.

But this summer as I was a "teacher" of sorts, my star pupil was definitely a true pleasure to have on our writing team. I mentored a college-aged intern again and she was amazing! 

It happened that I've known this "tiny dancer" and her parents for years, but that didn't automatically get her the position. She had to – and did – rock her way through all the interviews! It wasn't the summer we promised her since we were working remotely for half of it. But she enjoyed it. We made it work.

Since tomorrow is her last day already (sob, sob) that means today had to be Trifle Thursday! Naturally.

I texted her mom for ideas of flavors and was pleased to hear she liked chocolate (who doesn't?) and mint, too. My favorite!

For this delicious concoction: Bottom layer is crumbled up brownies. Pudding layer is white chocolate pudding with a touch of mint extract and green food coloring. Crunchy layer is crushed Thin Mints. With a little Cool Whip layer. Repeat. Then garnished with Andes Mints, naturally. So good.

My mom would be so proud of how often I use her rolling pin! Never for pie crust or anything as domestic as that. But I have crushed a lot of cookies for my trifle crunchy layers! Just put them in a gallon Ziploc bag and vent your frustrations. Trifle making is 100% therapy!

When I texted the picture of my completed masterpiece to Jim last night. He happened to be golfing against my intern's dad. He said, "She better be bringing some of that home!" So like a good mentor, when I realized there was about one large serving left in the early afternoon (they go fast), I got her a to-go container and told her "You better scoop up the rest and take it home to your dad!"

Not only was she a quick learner and very professional, she's obviously very considerate. 

(You're welcome, Mr. G. Enjoy your trifle!)

The Land of the Lost

I could have titled this blog "Land of the Lost" or "Somebody Moved my Cheese" and both would have been appropriate.

First, the 6:20 a.m. alarm is jarring after setting it to 7:25 a.m. to walk across the hallway and login at 7:30 a.m. for 6 weeks. Secondly, weather conditions were strange.

I feel like I was literally trying to find my way back to the office. And Mother Nature was saying, "Why? Just stay home." LOL. Wishful thinking.

My new digs. Of course it looks impressive. We happened to open it just before COVID. It's modern and also so foreign in layout that I felt everyone was quite lost finding our way around – from where to park, how to enter the building and how to set up our work station to where are the meeting rooms and what's the cafeteria like.

Summary: Confusion overpowered Productivity today.

Also our is on the 6th floor so my fear of heights/falling ramped up any time I was in a meeting or near the ground-floor indoor "courtyard" area. Uff da. I gotta buck up for the next 4 years. Feeling grateful we share a desk with someone so we're only in office every other week for this transition period!

Look up to stay positive about change. Don't look down! 😆