The Fog is Trying to Lift

My morning commute was trying so hard to display color despite the lingering winter darkness and the fog.

Naturally I realized this was the most appropriate metaphor for the past few days. My brain is foggy and mushy from two days of training and my color (aka Creativity) is trying to show through!

Pretty spot on, actually.

I was trying to do my "normal" job today and found it challenging to put words together. I guess upending how you normally do your work can cause a bit of fog. Not to mention mental and physical exhaustion.

So I am just sticking close to home tonight. Was going to shoot some pictures at school but I just don't have it in me. From what I've read about New Year's resolutions, it's a good one to realize and practice the art of saying no. 

Especially when it's a non-paying volunteer gig where someone else is capable of handling it. (Also known as: Note to self, Robyn. You don't need to be the hero here.)

So I'm going to veg a bit, maybe hook a little, then go to bed at an absurdly early time. Because I really want to. Really need to. And because I can.

Don't forget to make choices for yourself this year!

False Free Time

The holiday season is over so in reality, this should be true. But the reality is that when I was too sick to even watch Hallmark movies over Christmas break, that just means I'm behind.

So change the 5th heart to "I can finally watch all the other HALLMARK CHRISTMAS movies on my DVR."

Although that will have to wait until the weekend anyway. Last night hubby and I watched our only current "joint viewing" show High Potential. And tonight, we have our respective choir practices. Then tomorrow night I could potentially shoot some wrestling pictures.

But there may be a winter weather advisory.

I guess we do live in Wisconsin so these probably take place every day between December and April! Duh.

I did make it into work today. A few slippery spots but it wasn't too bad of a commute. Another 8 hours of training/planning/whatever today. This old dog is starting to understand/sort of learn some of the new tricks. But I'm wondering what TREAT I get for performing them? 

My guess is it's something called a paycheck every other week. Boo.

Back of my mind says there's gotta be a Hallmark movie where the stressed writer quits her corporate gig and releases the next best seller! 

Ha. I better cut back on the leftover eggnog. Keep dreaming, my friends, and enjoy your free time!

Pretty in Pink :: Only in the '80s

Shout out to the weather dudes for being right 100% of the year – the 6th day into 2026, anyway. The popular pink color was so 1980s, though!

As it turned out, it was about 5:30 a.m. when I was checking my phone and realized yes, all the central Wisconsin schools (contained within yesterday's raspberry beret) were closed today. Even parts of I-39 (my commute) were shut down due to multiple accidents. So I stayed home.

And had 8+ hours of training/meetings remotely.

The only advantage was that this forced us to meet in smaller teams where we could all contribute rather than being in a meeting room with 60+ people and trying to be heard.

Still, I am officially entering the era of my life wondering if you can, in fact, teach an old dog (admittedly me) new tricks.

So much is changing about how we are going to be doing our work – at work – that I want to scream "Didn't you hire me for my writing skills? Why am I managing projects now and trying to squeeze in writing and editing?" 

Well, I guess I just screamed it now. Ha.

You know me. I eventually will embrace and make the best of it. But give me time. 

This old dog has to stretch out all her aging joints to tackle new moves.

May you all conquer new challenges this week!

Possible Guest Appearance :: Vanilla Ice!

Last night's ice and sleet didn't impact me much. I mean I work from home on Mondays and had no place to go until my late afternoon chiropractor appointment. By then the main roads were in pretty good shape. 

But now we're getting Round 2 of Vanilla Ice, Ice, Baby tonight. 

Most of our work writing team is in that little raspberry beret-colored oval in the middle. We commute to Stevens Point from Wausau on the north, Wisconsin Rapids on the south, Marshfield on the west, and Waupaca on the southeast. So yep, a good half of the team who don't reside in Stevens Point proper.

Per usual, if we head out in the morning and it's an ice rink, we can just turn around – slowly and carefully – and work from home. But it just happens that we have a two-day meeting set up with our whole team, which includes co-workers traveling in from Madison and Milwaukee and beyond.

I want to see them, but, no offense, I won't risk my life to do so!

And due to the widespread nature of this projected freezing rain, most of you – my friends and family – are in the circle of raspberry to pink to peach.

No one needs to be a hero. Make smart choices and be safe tonight and tomorrow! 

I mean we're already 5 days into a new year... the weather dudes are due for a wrong forecast anyway. Right?!

Chance of Accumulation

Had to get up a bit early today since we had a short choir practice before church since we were off from practices during the holidays and wanted a great performance. Naturally! I was still a bit stuffed up – including my stinkin' ears – but went anyway since I also had to read in church today. 

No one fired me from these two volunteer positions so I guess I did OK.

Our last Vikings game of the season was on TV since, well, we were hosting the Packers. We won, but not an exciting game. And it would have been better for our Draft situation if we had lost. Oh well, SKOL!

After that I switched onto craft mode. Not crocheting today. My big project I INTENDED to attack on my week off was tackling my office a.k.a. Oh My God Room a.k.a Scrap Cave. Which I obviously was too sick and weak to do. But I did make some more progress today.

I have a pile of "to donate" scrapbooking paper that continues to accumulate. It there was something unique, I offered if for fellow scrap friends on Facebook and so far have most of that claimed for. Still have a ways to go.

Why get rid of it? First of all, I will never admit I have "enough" scrapbooking paper or that "I don't need more." But some of this I've had for 20-plus years – a lot were free samples when I edited scrapbooking magazines back in my "best job ever" days – and it's just sat there "in case" I needed it for this page or that. 

And that hasn't happened yet. LOL.

So next step it choosing which "organization" or whatever would really use this stuff. I've been given a few ideas, so I'll see what's the easiest for me. Because if this hoarder-in-the-making is willing to let something go, she better have an easy way to do it!

But speaking of accumulation...

In addition to those icicles hanging from our still sexy soffits (top photo), we have a chance for so much more. I love the color purple but it is never a good thing on radar. It's accumulating right now and we'll have another round Monday night into Tuesday morning – when I actually have to drive into work.

Not fun. Be smart and stay safe, everyone!

Hookin' Away My Saturday

As soon as I woke up and was about to get up, hubby says, "You might as well stay in bed. We're at war." Say what?!

My first thought was "What did he do know?" and my second thought, as someone who avoids all news as much as possible, was "Did we know this was coming?"

No matter the answer to either, I knew I needed a day of distractions. I did watch a little news but then headed into town to Lighthouse to get a few papers for upcoming Camp Crop-a-Lot in 7 weeks since I picked up more photos yesterday and am jumpin' to go!

Then I cleaned my office "aka Oh My God Room" a bit before I earned my chance to relax.

Can't do too much cleaning on a weekend when there are projects waiting in the wings.

I have a wedding shower coming up in the same time frame as camp. The couple has many "sage" colored things on their list so I am making them a blanket that is mostly sage with a strip of white, then multi color for a wide strip, then white again close to the top – and the rest sage. 

I'm liking it. And today I realized I could close my eyes and do a whole row without looking, just feeling. I am a Jedi Crochet Master, I guess! That also means I can head back to the livingroom now and watch a Hallmark movie AND multi-task without even blinking.

Well, I better pay a little attention. This is a gift after all!

And oh yeah, it snowed again today. Stay warm and safe, everyone!

Back in the Game – Sort Of

 

It was a tough re-entry into the workforce today after a week away from my desk. Mainly because I'm still feeling a bit under the weather with no energy but also because we had to learn a lot of new things before break and I don't know if I remember them all!

Then, with false confidence after work, I thought I could tackle a drive to Stevens Point to take pictures of the Pacelli Co-op Hockey game which includes some Assumption kids. 

Excited to be back with my friend Mr. Zamboni but... I barely lasted through the first period. Just was too weak from this fun ick-ness this week. Felt too hot in a cold hockey rink so that tells you something. Still, I got pictures of 17 minutes of play and will have to make it back.

On the plus side, hubby and I are sneezing / coughing / blowing our noses less. Just need a little more time to shove this gift of "cold" away and embrace the new year. I know several loved ones struggling with similar health issues right now. Maybe the rest of the year is all upward and onward from here!

We can hope!