Out of Rotation

We had an interesting situation with our Middle School baseball team this year. With some 22 guys signed up, there's no way they could have just one team. So they divided them into three teams -- Royal, Blue and White -- and rotate who plays. (Royal & Blue, then Blue & White, then White and Royal)

Tonight was White's night off. That's Carter's team. So while hubby is a coach and still has to go to all the games, we got a night off. So what did we do?

Naturally, we went to the ballpark!

I had to get my "daughter fix" so we went to watch my girl Brittney play softball. Due to recent rains, they moved the game out to the Kellner fields near us so we didn't have far to drive if we got cold and wanted to go home. But we stuck it out and watched the Assumption girls shut out the Northland Lutheran team 4-0. Since Brit's brother was playing for the high school baseball team at the same time (in town), I got to text her mom updates during the game. It always feels good to be a useful fan.

After that, it was straight home to do homework. We just beat Jim home from the Middle School game up in Auburndale. We won that one, too! I think the high school boys won their matchup, too, so it was a good night for the Royals.

Feels weird to be out of rotation and not seeing all of our Middle School games. I guess there's nothing stopping me from going even when Carter is off.

I'm sure as soon as the mercury rises in the thermometer just a touch, my Royal self will be right there on the sidelines.

Dancing Queens

What an eventful weekend! Had such a good time on so many levels. First of all, I made the long drive up and back safely. That's most important.

My first stop Friday was at the courthouse in Balsam Lake and that proved to be more productive than I hoped. Through some records I was able go back one more generation on my mother's dad's side of the family. So that was a nice surprise.

My other Friday fun included visiting with my parents, enjoying the church Pancake Supper with them and hooking up with two of my sisters and their husbands in Grantsburg.With my twin and I there, it was like a half Sister Weekend! Fun.

Saturday was our big day. We had quite an adventure actually getting to the theatre -- between pouring rain, road construction and our general lack of knowledge of downtown Minneapolis. I got to see Target Field -- we drove by there accidentally. Twins game was rained out so we would have been competing for parking otherwise. Instead, we ended up in a lot not half a block from the Orpheum, and ate at a pub next door to it. Other than running in the rain, sharing a jacket and no umbrella, it all worked out.

We're here!! We've been waiting since Christmas for this!!

The sign in the lobby was right: "You already know you're gonna love it!" And we did!

 

This was Raylene's first Broadway production so I was super excited for her!

The Orpheum is a small, older theater, but it is so gorgeous inside!

It's a great venue because there really isn't a bad seat in the house.

But I must say we certainly enjoyed our view from Row 5. Awesome!! It was a fabulous production. So entertaining! The crowd was involved and we were all on our feet dancing during the last two numbers. So fun!!

Afterward, the rain had stopped so we got a picture of us together! Merry Christmas to us!!

Of course, the weekend fun wasn't over. Went out to eat with Raylene's family -- including my very dressed up niece Ashley and her gentleman friend visiting from Georgia. It was prom night but they were just planning on dining out and not going to the dance. They invited us all with so it was Raylene and her hubby and my nephew Tony, too. I will post some pictures tomorrow since I have a few things I better get done around the house.

I didn't get back 'til almost 5 tonight. But it was a great reason for the delay.

It happened that my BFF from high school was at her parents in Luck for the weekend helping them after her dad's back surgery. So after leaving Raylene's, I met Julie at a coffee shop in Luck and we visited for a good hour or so. Funny. We live 90 minutes apart but we each drove 4+ hours to get together! Glad it worked out.

Capped off a great weekend that will keep me dancing all week!

Road Trip

I am hitting the road shortly for a Twins weekend! No, not the Minnesota Twins. A weekend with my twin sister Raylene. Not sure if I'll have Internet access up in the Northwoods so I am blogging now.

I am a little nervous as this is my first long-distance solo trip in 2012. I am hoping -- and praying -- my excitement over what lies ahead will keep all anxiety at bay in the 4-hour drive.

And what lies ahead?

Well, at the last minute I decided I would gather some family tree stuff together so I can stop at the courthouse in my home county and check a few things. Then I'll head over to my parents to visit awhile and take them out to eat at the church Pancake Supper (I'm getting off really cheap!). After that, it's up to my twin's house.

Tomorrow is the big day for us Dancing Queens. We are going to see Mamma Mia! in the Minneapolis! We've been looking forward to this since Christmas and, from what I've heard, we will not be disappointed!!

Now it's time to hit the road and plug in the soundtrack!

You can dance... you can drive...

Catch a Breath

If you unexpectedly felt dizzy this morning, maybe experienced a good case of vertigo even, blame Carter. He overslept big time and the world came to a complete stop.

We never get used to that sense of panic when it happens -- the oversleeping, not the Earth halting its rotation. But I tell ya, it's not any fun to observe it, either.

Technically, since Carter usually gets up way too early (in our opinion), he should have had time to get dressed and catch his ride. I mean he can shower quick and doesn't have to curl his hair or anything. But we still gave him a ride to school. And by "we" I mean Daddy did while I went back to bed for a few minutes.

Worked from home today and this evening. Lots of stuff to do since I am off tomorrow and because I had to work my schedule around a run (hey, it was sunny) and a baseball game. The run was a little painful, but the game was worse.

Got beat something like 16-1 to Stevens Point... and it took several innings to score that 1 run.The pitching from St. Pete's was amazing. They struck out so many of our guys that it took 4 innings to get through our lineup once. Not good. Not good at all. Carter was one of those who struck out at his first at bat. During his second, he hit the ball solidly but somebody managed to nab it and throw him out in a close call at first base. Oh well. At least he made good contact finally.

After the game, we stopped at Wal-Mart to pick up a few groceries while hubby headed straight to Stevens Point to meet some friends for their annual "NFL Draft Party." We got home and I finished up some work while listening to Carter out at the kitchen table lamenting over Hamilton and Burr (I do not miss some parts of studying history!).

Time to catch my breath now and hopefully sneak to bed before he asks me another question.

Hey, I might know a thing or two about history but he threw me with that last one on demagoguery. Good night!

Hump Day Headlines

Short but sweet....

Getting Old: Am I getting too old to have a girls' night out on a "school night"? I wonder. The alarm came much too early today for someone who got to bed at midnight! Probably a good thing I had a busy day at work so I could stay upright and alert (mostly). Now here it is already past my bedtime again. Good thing we are working from the home office tomorrow so I can sleep through our early "drive time."

Getting Older: Carter just informed me his birthday is less than a week away. How is it that our baby is suddenly on the verge of turning 14? Is that possible? I mean, I don't look any older so how can he? Right. I asked what he wants and he says, "I don't know." Oh goody. Leave it in our hands and you'll get clothes. Ha. That'll teach him. (Seriously, I had a few things ordered so the timing couldn't be more perfect.)

Visiting Hours: After we got home from confirmation tonight, a scrapping friend of mine (and her husband) stopped by to borrow my Cricut cartridges. She's working on a desperate deadline to finish her son's high school album before graduation in a month. It was one of those spur of the moment visits that turned into a 90-minute chat amongst the 4 grownups in the kitchen. Love that. Next to family, friends are the neatest invention!

Ready to Rumble

Tonight... Tonight... Won't be just any night...

My friend Christine and I headed East this afternoon to hear (and see) the West Side Story.

Met two of her friends in Appleton for dinner at a new Mexican restaurant, then walked down the street to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. We're starting to be regulars there!

So naturally, we knew enough to have a camera for our usual photo opp by the Broadway sign of the day. We also are becoming more familiar with the seating arrangements. We've pretty much sat in all areas (and levels) of the theater.

Tonight it was row two -- yes two -- just behind these people, and that was all that was between us, the orchestra and a few hot dancers! Hello, Bernardo!

 The performance was great, wonderful, super! If you are familiar with West Side Story, you know it is not only a good story, but has some memorable songs and lots and lots of dancing. Love it! We had a good time and even made it home from the Rumble before midnight.

Of course, that rumble will turn into quite a grumble from two tired "American" girls in the morning!

Worth it, though. Always worth it.

Home Opener

Warning: It's baseball season! And this blogging Momma will probably go overboard with photos and the play by play!

We couldn't have asked for better weather for our home opener (delayed because last week's games were weathered off the schedule). It was mostly sunny and mild -- like 50-something -- but breezy. A jacket and few blankets and we were good.

Today was a double-header versus Almond -- a small school located southeast of Rapids and Plover. In both games we started down 2-0.

 

Carter's first at bat and "Ouch!" Hit by a pitch. Not a good start to the game.

 

Here Coach Baltus tries to massage out the pain and give Carter a pep talk. "C'mon, C-Man, you're tough!"

 

He did end up stealing a base and did score once. However, his other at bats between the two games were 3 strikeouts and a walk. At least he went down swinging.

 

In the first game, Carter played third base. In the second game, he played second base. He was always ready but didn't see too much action. Which is a good thing. That means the other team wasn't hitting much.  Somehow in both games we came from behind and won, 7-2 and 5-2. What a great start to the season!

This year Carter is #11. Last year he was #6. I think they just get what fits. Carter wasn't blaming the new number on his poor batting performance. He just blames himself and hopes to turn it around for next game. Maybe it will be a lucky number after all.

We'll see. And trust me, I'll let you know!

Earth to Robyn...

Earth to Robyn... Come in, Robyn... Can you hear me?

Yes, I felt a little out of it today. I did not realize that "bar-hopping" was a form of exercise and I should have stretched out beforehand. Not sure what I did, but I woke up and could hardly move my neck. Must have been the head-banging music.

Or I slept on it wrong.

Either way, I've been in pain today and trying to nurse it back to health. Ended up sleeping in a bit and going to late church, which means we were not home to "start" our day 'til afternoon. I had intended to do something special for Earth Day. All I managed was this slightly fuzzy butterfly picture. For their part, the guys cleaned up the back yard, Carter planted a little tree and hubby pounded down mole hills and mowed.

I got off easy, I know.

I did have important things to do like run Book #3 of the Hunger Games series over to a friend's house. That couldn't wait. We commiserated a few minutes about our teenage boys and their new-found laziness and attitude. Glad we're not in this alone. I also had to run to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things. Ran into my "half" sister Chris there (my half-marathon partner), so more visiting.

By the time I got home and got supper going in the crockpot, it seemed too late to get any major (or minor, for that matter) projects going around the house so I spent an hour helping Carter fill out his first job application. He also had to call up 3 people who could serve as references. Even if he doesn't get this summer job (which I will tell you about if he gets it), it was a good experience. At this rate, between that application and the scholarship essays he's been writing, he'll be a pro by college graduation.

But let's not rush things.

The only other things I accomplished in my non-observance of Earth Day were a 2-mile walk after supper and a phone call to my parents tonight. Both were much needed and both were refreshing.

Glad I saved the best for last.

Happy Earth Day!

Sunny Side Up

Well the weatherman was wrong. It was not the chilly, rainy kind of day that makes one want to stay in the house and clean. (Like any day is.) Instead it was slightly cool but very sunny.

I did spend part of the day de-cluttering in the kitchen, but by noon I had to escape outside.

Today's mission was a run around nearby Lake Wazeecha. I am signed up for my first race of the season in two weeks -- a 6K around the lake. I have no intention of running the whole thing but I wanted to see if I could make it around with a run/walk schedule in mind. So I would run 5 minutes, walk 1, run 5, etc. It's a curvy path so with all the up and down and zigging and zagging, it's no wonder they call it the Jigsaw Run. Since I survived today OK, I feel better about it.

Plus, I'm excited because I'll have a new running partner with me. No, not Jim. Though I hope he takes some pictures! My one and only brother Ron is coming over from Minnesota to join me. He had wanted to get over here around Carter's birthday, so I said sure, if you will run a race with me! And he is! (Though I'm sure I would have let him come over anyway.) He's just getting into the running thing so my need for a combination of walking and running will be ideal for both of us. I just hope it's this nice in 2 weeks... and I am not listening to the weatherman ahead of time.

After my fun run, ha, I put my Martha Stewart hat on and did some baking. I noticed I still have cranberries in the freezer so I made yummy cranberry bars. After that, my productivity dropped off severely. While hubby was at church, I sat on the couch and flipped channels between two movies. All of sudden, I look out the window and it's dark. Whoops. Good thing Carter can feed himself.

I had just enough time to get ready for my date. Hubby and I started out at the Pour House listening to the band Surrender Dorothy. The guitar player is a guy we both worked with at the newspaper -- and who graduated from high school with Jim. We ran into some friends there who we ended up following to another saloon (slightly closer to home) and then onto another one that had a different band -- something like Rattlesnake and Eggs.

I haven't been bar-hopping in ages but it was kind of fun -- even as the designated driver -- because all of these places are within 5 minutes from our house! We sure don't get out much. And when we do, I guess we don't go far!

Capped off a great cool day. Just glad I turned my blanket on before we left the house!

Snow Day, Sort Of

Only in Wisconsin (well, the Midwest) would we wake up to this -- and end the day with the wonderful smell of fresh-cut grass drifting through the open window. That's what we call Spring.

I kidded Carter that he had a Snow Day today... and he actually did have the day off for a pre-scheduled teacher in-service. But we can pretend it was a bonus. For hubby and me, the roads were clear so we had to go to work. Had a busy day but was able to see the snow melt under the spring sun.

I think it warmed up to the 50s after all that -- at least warm and dry enough for hubby to cut grass when we got home. I opted to get my pedometer steps by going to Wal-Mart.

We did take a little walk around the neighborhood when we got done with our physical labor. Figured we should take advantage of the nice evening since it's supposed to be cool and rainy this weekend. Nothing like rain clouds to push away our nice spring weather. If you're wondering what it looks like, I took this on Wednesday out my window at work...

I call it the Ying and Yang of Clouds... Those dark ones on the left were ready to push our nice day away. And that is what happened. Gloom ruled the day.

Next time, I hope the light side wins.

Pencil It In

I hate to admit hubby is right twice in one week... but he was right.

I should have penciled in the Spring Sports schedule. Today was supposed to be the first game for the Middle School baseball team. Steady rains quickly pushed that right off the schedule. But you know what is still on the schedule for tonight? 1-3 inches of snow! Not kidding.

Welcome to Spring!

I looked at the forecast after a supper of those delicious new Dorito tacos, and it looks rainy and cold the next several days. "Good," I said. "I need a weekend like that so I'll stay inside and get something done." Hubby responds, "Like read?"

Oh ha.

I was actually thinking of getting to some of that organizing and de-hoarding that I had intended to do before the garage sale! Since this looks to be our last free weekend for quite some time, I better at least make an attempt.

And it better be a serious one. Because if I do succumb to the power of the written word at some point, you know who will be right again!

Just to prove I'm serious, I might even put my "to do" list in pen! I might.

America!

I like to be in America!
O.K. by me in America!
Ev'rything free in America
For a small fee in America! 

~ America (West Side Story)

Ironic that I am singing the lyrics to a West Side Story song called America while the teenager is doing anything but singing while studying for his American Revolution test. We obviously had two different days.

After work, my friend Christine and I went to an open house at my friend Lori's new massage business. She had done massage and wellness work for years but got away from it awhile. Now she is back in business and my back is glad is glad she's back! 

Since it was an open house, there were door prizes, of course, and guess whose luck is still running? Yes, me. I made an appointment for a massage over lunch tomorrow (since I am working from home) and I drew the prize coupon for 50% off. Nice! 

Hubby says, "Why are you wasting all our Powerball luck on baskets and massages?" I don't know. Maybe it's a good sign for tonight. Maybe?  


After the open house, Christine and I came back to my house and we watched West Side Story. We will see it next week when the Broadway touring group stops in Appleton, so we wanted to get in touch with our inner Jets and Sharks. She had actually never seen the whole musical before. Since it is one of my favorites and I have it on DVD, we took care of that tonight. Can't wait for next week!


In the meantime, long before Tony and Bernardo there were George W., Ben F., Thomas J. and some other dudes trying to make America! So I better cha-cha my way to Carter's room and see if I can help!


I like to be in America...

Fleeting Thoughts...

Our Tuesday in brief...

Public Speaking: I've heard it said the No. 1 fear most people have is "public speaking." I believe it. Unless you are really comfortable and confident in what you're going to say, it takes a lot of guts to get up and say it. Even then, it takes no small amount of courage. Last week Carter had a school forensics competition. He needed a score of 94 to advance to regionals and he got a 97. He was pretty nervous about doing his "prose" today. This morning he says, "I should have screwed up on purpose the first time so I wouldn't have to do this again!" We'll find out tomorrow how he scored today. I'm sure he tried hard. Honestly, even if he's a bundle of nerves, I don't think an Austin man could turn off the charm if he wanted to.

Poor Sport: I've never had great love for Packers fans but I try not to be mean about it. I respect the fact that we all have passion for our favorite teams. Even if they're the wrong ones. Why do I bring this up now? Well I went to pick up my leftover garage sale items tonight. I am happy to report I had a lot less to take home than I brought -- plus some decent cash which will either go into my Wild Women's Weekend jar or some other worthy cause. My friend who ran the sale told the me the story of a guy (I won't call him a gentleman) and his wife looking through Carter's clothes to find something for their son. Now, Carter has had his share of Vikings clothes over the years and, when he outgrows them, I sell them at the garage sale. This guy says, "Who the heck has Vikings clothes for sale?!" He was so mad, he bought one of the shirts for 75 cents, proceeded to rip it up in front of my friend, gave it back to her and said something like, "Here, give this to the Vikings fan selling this." Pardon my Swede, but ... what an ass! The shirt was in great shape. Now I wish I would have charged 10 bucks for it! Ass.

Saturday Night Glee-ver: After getting my garage sale stuff, I did some chores around the house, took care of some laundry and made supper. I wanted a guilt-free hour watching Glee. Tonight's "theme" was disco -- primarily from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. So yes, Daddy and I knew every song. And yes, we sang along... and maybe even danced. But Jim would deny that. Honestly, he wasn't in the living room rolling his eyes the whole time. But Carter was. His butt was anchored to the couch for the entire show. And he wasn't forced, I swear. My only disappointment was not that he shielded his eyes when I got up and danced, but that he never got off the couch to join me. He needs to find his groove, man.

And I need to get Disco Inferno out of my head!  

Burn, baby, burn...

Tentative Schedule

I have been trying to keep better tabs on our family's "master schedule" this year by actually using the little planner I carry in my purse. Most years it just sits there taking up valuable space, adding weight to my handbag and only occasionally being opened to check on an important date.

This year, my little Assumption Music Calendar has come in quite handy with all my doctor's appointments, Carter's sports events and hubby's work trips.

Last week, I decided to put Carter's spring baseball schedule in there. As I am writing on the way home, hubby says, "I have never seen anyone write in a spring sports schedule in ink!" As a former sports editor, he's well aware of the multitude of potential changes based on rain, sleet, cold and sometimes snow. But since I didn't have a pencil in my purse, I just went with a pen and kept my fingers crossed.

That didn't do much good.

I know family in Minnesota who woke up to snow this morning. We just had those strong winds continuing all day, keeping the temperature down in the 40s. Not an ideal day to spend outside.

We got an email by mid-morning that Carter's baseball practice for tonight was canceled and tomorrow's first game of the season is postponed to May. Already? Do I even "pencil in" that new date yet or just wait until yet another version of the "official" schedule comes out?

I also committed the same blunder with our kitchen wall calendar. Since there are 22 kids split up into 3 teams (1 & 2 play together one game then 2 & 3 the next, then 3 & 1, and keep rotating), I even color coded the schedule on that calendar with pretty markers to indicate games Carter will play. What a colorful mess this is going to be by the end of the season!

Figures. The one time I don't listen to hubby, he's right.

Re-Gifting

I unknowingly re-gifted my winning gift basket to Sylvester! Really all I needed to do was put it on the floor and put her blankie in there. Next time I walked into the living room, she'd already claimed it as another sleeping spot. And she's got her share of them around the house.

I can't blame her for wanting to snuggle up in the shelter of the basket. The winds have been wicked this evening and I suspect they're pushing some wicked weather our way, too.

Although it rained overnight, it has been dry here in central Wisconsin all day. This was good news for the garage sale. Carter and I went to 8 a.m. church then stopped by to help a few hours if needed. Mainly I just wanted Carter to spend some time with his old babysitters -- and I think they enjoyed seeing him. He misses going there -- but would never admit that he needs a babysitter or anything like that!

I knew storms were supposed to arrive in the afternoon or evening, so I got a little 3-mile walk/run in before the winds picked up. By late afternoon, I'm guessing our friends had to close the garage sale to keep things from blowing away!

After my run, I picked up around the house a bit, made some peanut butter chocolate chip bars and some Apple-Snicker Salad. As usual, Carter asks, "Who's that for?" Well 99 out of 100 times it's for some potluck or something so he was quite surprised when I said, "For US!" I figured as long as I made those things recently for other people, I should use up the ingredients and let the guys have some. (Me, too. That bar is going to go great with ice cream!)

Looks like the skies are darkening up so I better log off. Based on radar images I've seen, it appears I have lots of family in Minnesota getting pounded. Sending out prayers for everyone's safety.

Feel free to re-gift those, too.

Saturday the 14th

I guess if Friday the 13th is considered unlucky, Saturday the 14th must be just the opposite.

And it was.

Had an early start heading out to help at the garage sale. I was appropriately bundled up in a turtle neck, sweatshirt and winter coat. Why yes, it DID get to 70-some degrees today. But it did take awhile! After a slow first hour, we didn't really have time to be cold, though. It was really busy. By the end of yesterday, I'd already sold the big items I'd put on the sale. So today and tomorrow are about accumulating quarters and dollars in books and Carter clothes. Hopefully, I'll get rid of stuff. With 13 families in on this, there is plenty of get rid of!

I worked the sale 'til 1 p.m., came home and changed and we headed into town. Carter was home from his overnight at his friend Tyler's house and then we ended up dropping him off there again so they could go golfing.

Hubby and I went to a fundraiser party for a scholarship organized by some dear friends of ours. So glad to see a nice big crowd there. We had a great time. I put my name in several raffle baskets -- a lot in the scrapbooking one and designer purse one, and yes, even one ticket in the Packer basket. (I have sisters with birthdays coming up). When I had one ticket left to put in, I saw one basket that had the movie The Help and some mint chocolate Bliss candy. So I put the ticket in there.

One little ticket and guess who won that basket? Lucky me!

Later, I put in 9 tickets in a golf package raffle. They drew someone else's number and that person either lost their ticket or left. So they had to draw again. I turned to the guy next to me and said, "I'm gonna get this. I firmly believe in second chances." Guess whose number they called? MINE! Whoo-hoo! Four rounds of golf at The Ridges, plus some food and pizza gift certificates, golf balls, Budweiser gear and hair products (that are valued at $70 themselves)! Lucky me!

Guess who was not so lucky?

Carter got dropped off at home after golfing. The house was locked. Guess who didn't have a key?

We were still at the party so when we did connect with him via someone else's phone, we told him to hang out with the neighbors'. Good thing it was a nice warm dry day!

Since we knew he was in no danger of suffering (too much) we stopped with a bunch of people at the saloon down the road from the party, where of course, we saw even more people we know. Visited there a bit, but the guilt of our latch-key kid overcame us (me anyway) so we didn't stay long.

As designated driver, that was my first trip driving all the way through Rapids in 2012. That's 11 stoplights for those of you counting at home. No anxiety sitting at red lights this time. Felt pretty good.

In fact, felt darn lucky.

Friday the 13th

I'm not really the suspicious type. In fact, it was about 10 a.m. before I realized today is one of those Friday the 13ths we're supposed to worry about.

I should have figured it out last night on the way home when a black cat crossed the road in front of my vehicle. Then later, having very strange dreams about having to play a ukulele for some competition -- well, having to learn to play it in 5 minutes beforehand, too. Woke up very stressed and tired this morning. Thankfully, that was it for the weirdness. It was a pretty non-freaky Friday.

Was very busy at work. Then I got word that King Cone opened in Amherst today so I begged my driver to stop. Just got a small dose of Blueberry Wafflecone ice cream. That'll get me through the weekend!

Since Carter is at a friend's for the night, we went straight into town after work and caught part of the Assumption girls softball game. Got to see my "pretend adopted daughter" hit a triple. But they still lost to Edgar. Darn. We went from there over to the varsity baseball game where they smacked Edgar around and won by 10 runs in 6 innings. We really only caught one inning of that game before it was done.

Came home and gathered up my scrapbooking stuff (which I admit was not unpacked yet from Camp Crop-A-Lot) and went over to my friend Becky's for a few hours. Only got 2 pages done in Carter's Middle School book -- but had a nice visit. That's what counts! Hubby enjoyed a nice visit, too... in the Man Cave next door while I was gone. This isn't exactly how a couple should take advantage of night to themselves. But we both had fun, so that's all that matters.

And we don't necessarily want to push our luck on Friday the 13th, do we?

Well maybe just a little.

So I Says to the Tree: Hey, Bud

What? You don't like my springtime humor? I thought of that today when I saw this really strange reddish-pink bud on a tree in our backyard. So I grabbed the camera and captured some "spring" for you...

Hey Bud, you're pretty!

Not as pretty as kitty, though! She LOVES her sunshine!

So glad the Daddy Cardinal decided to eat. The not so pretty Momma has been hogging the food and I have had my camera waiting for HIS turn!

Our yard looks just dandy!

Some version of a violet poking through the wooden steps out back.

Love the veins shooting out Viking purple!

Even these pretty white violets are wishing they were purple!

As long as I was out, I had to steal a peek -- and a photo -- of the neighbor's "pretty in pink" tree! I just love the colors of spring!

Stinker

When I was growing up, my mother had pretty strict rules about using foul language.

It wasn't nice to say "darn." When she referred to the F word, she meant "fart." (And I'm sure the other one, too.). When she chastised us about using the S word, it wasn't the one that rhymes with "quit." She meant "sucks."

At some point in time, we stopped saying something stinks and started say it sucks. I don't really like that word either, but it's hard to find a grownup sounding replacement. It bites? It blows? It does stink. And it really sucks.

Tonight hubby has a baseball meeting so after practice, he dropped Carter off at confirmation and I picked him up. He seemed fine in the car -- a DQ Blizzard has that effect -- but as soon as we get home, he throws his very full, heavy backpack down and declares, "My life sucks!"

Well, I thought he had a good day since he said his forensics presentation went pretty well. But he was referring to the night to come. A night filled with homework... which he claims will keep him up 'til 11 p.m. I did what I could not to distract him. I kept the TV off. I closed myself off in the "office" and talked to my twin sister on the phone for some 30 or 40 minutes. I went back out in the kitchen and he said he doesn't have anything done.

A quick look around told me he didn't do any cleaning or anything productive, so I'm guessing he was daydreaming, playing with the cat or grumbling to the furniture about how his life sucks.

This is probably not a good time to remind him it will only get harder in high school, then college. Yup, best shut my mouth, go lay down and read... and think about my perfect life of ease.

Or at least thank God for the many things that did not stink today!

And Now, Back to the Show...

Call me goofy or geeky or whatever you want, but I was excited today that Glee was returning after leaving us hanging (like good cliff-hangers do) for several weeks during an off-season hiatus. So my mission today was just get everything done that I had to do so I could be on that couch at 7 p.m.

Mission accomplished!

Had a busy day at work, then hubby dropped me off at home and joined Carter at baseball practice. I threw some laundry in the washer, loaded up the CRV and went to our friend Audrey's house to drop off stuff for our garage sale this weekend. I unloaded, organized my stuff on tables and still got home before the guys. So I threw clothes in the dryer, pork chops in the oven and whipped up a batch of banana bread... which I pulled out of the oven just as Glee was starting.

I've got multi-tasking down to a science!

Was it worth it? Of course! Even if the guys rolled their eyes and made fun of my show, it was still worth it! And seriously, any excuse to dig out my '80s music -- in this case, my Duran Duran CD -- is a bonus.

Then, as a super bonus, I also got to hear Carter present his forensics speech to us. He's incredibly nervous about the competition tomorrow, but if he is as clear and dynamic as he was in front of us, he should be fine.

It's not like he has to sing and dance! Not that there's anything wrong with that!

Nothing wrong at all. Right, Gleeks?

Subject Matter

Since we just got back from parent-teacher conferences, I will divide up my Monday briefs by school subject matter...

Reading: We got a scare the other day when Carter got an overdue book notice in the mail from the city library. He had 2 Mayflower books checked out and renewed for his research paper. Unfortunately, he wasn't quite done with them when the second renewal came up. And he didn't renew them. So the letter stated the books are due. And the only monetary figure listed: $29.95. What?? I told Carter he would have to dig into his fish bowl and pay for at least half.

He was prepared to do so, too, but when we got to the library, the worker said we only owed $2.60. "Are you sure?" I asked. "Because we got a letter..." She quickly jumps in and says, "Oh I wish they would be more clear in those. They consider the book 'missing' so the total is what it costs to replace the book." So we didn't owe $29.95 and no, Carter did not learn a lesson. As soon as he knew he didn't have to fork over 20 bucks, he says, "Can we stop at Wal-Mart then so I can get an iTunes card?"

Writing: Carter was quite upset to learn yesterday that I blog about him. Seriously? What does he think I've been writing about for 5 years? A girl can only pontificate so many times on my love for ice cream, the Vikings, the Twins and scrapbooking. He mainly doesn't want me to say anything bad about him. I understand that. But I also can't paint the picture that he is a perfect child when he's not. Sure I like to brag about him, but I can't overlook the fact that he is becoming a snarky teenager. In the coming years, I suspect that will fuel more words from my fingertips than anything else!

Arithmetic: If you do the math -- and Carter's good at it -- he should have known that if he divided his homework over his 4 days off, he could have gotten it done with minimal stress. Instead, despite prompting from his nagging parents over the long weekend, he waited until today. He told me last night, "Call me when you get to work, no matter how early it is, so I can get up and get going on homework." Well, I called at 7:30, 7:35, 7:40, skipped to 8, then 8:02, etc. The caller ID registered that I called 29 times over the course of 3 hours until he finally got up. Guess who's fault it was? Not the teenager's. I'm sure he's still stewing about as he struggles through his 70 pages of reading in the basement. Do the math next time, kiddo, and save yourself the headache!

Social Studies: As long as I'm writing this whole blog about my favorite subject matter, I might as well wrap up with his parent-teacher conferences. It's usually a pretty positive experience. The teachers like him and appreciate his polite manner and respect and effort to get good grades. We learned tonight, though, that we have a blossoming social butterfly in the house. I don't know where he gets that from, but neither hubby nor I are taking the blame on that one.

Or is it the credit? Thanks to my big mouth, you know him as well as we do. You decide.

Happy Easter

Easter sure has changed over the years.

I remember when Carter used to be the first one up and beg us to go searching for his Easter basket. Now we have to drag him out of bed to get up in time for church. And today even that didn't work. In fact, it wasn't until I got home from church that he asked if he had a basket this year.

He then found it in 3 seconds.

Even the goodies in the basket have changed. We've learned over the years, that Carter enjoys the thrill of the hunt with our family Easter Egg Hunt but isn't a big candy eater. This year, since we were just up there for my mom's birthday and didn't have the big hunt, he just got a few things he'll actually like: beef jerky, gum, a few peanut butter eggs and some Peeps (I don't think he eats them as much as experiments with them.). He also got the Easter movie HOP and an iTunes card. He was happy with that, so good job, Easter Bunny.

The rest of the day went just as planned.

Since it was sunny, I got a 3-mile run in. It was very windy, though, so that wasn't an enjoyable outing. I got back in time to see Mickelson tee off and watched the Masters for the afternoon while pricing garage sale clothes.

We went to Jim's parents for Easter dinner. Thankfully, his dad is a golf fan so we got to see the rest of the Masters and the playoff. Great, great contest this year! Had a great supper, too. Even if I have had ham for lunch every day since my mother's party, it still tasted good to have "real" ham for dinner.

By the way, Jim and I are having turkey sandwiches for lunch this week -- just for something different. Whew. And for dessert, we'll get peanut butter eggs.

What? You don't think the Easter Bunny bought the whole bag just for Carter, do you??

Happy Easter!

On the Wild Side

My scorecard for the first time on the links was not pretty today, but the scenery sure was... for an early spring day with few leaves on the trees anyway.

We joined out friends Scott and Sandy at Wild Rock Golf Club in Wisconsin Dells. The course is only 5 years old so none of us had played it before. The hole above and below sits at the highest altitude of the course where, they tell us, we can see 25 miles!

I believe it! We made sure we got a picture of us there -- especially when the sun was still shining. It never really got that warm, but we were comfortable in long sleeves. It was quite windy all day so I don't know how hubby managed in shorts. I'm just glad I wore golf shoes and not my golf sandals! (Purple toes would have clashed with my outfit.)

I

Part of our fun was that each cart was equipped with this huge GPS that not only showed the hole, how far we drove our balls and how far we had to go to the hole, it also showed (in the upper right-hand corner) a sports ticker. So we were able to follow the Masters while playing our own 18 holes... that none of us played at a Master-ful level. But Jim and Sandy didn't do too badly.

Here's one of the holes that was challenging for a Par 3. The guys had to hit completely over a very deep "wild rock" pit. Us ladies had to get around the edge of it only. Either way, it wasn't easy. Overall, we loved the course. It must be really beautiful with the trees in full bloom.

While I spent time in 4 sand traps and we all thought the roller-coaster greens were tough, we certainly enjoyed the wide fairways. It definitely made my first outing of the season less frustrating!

We got lucky, too, that it only sprinkled a little bit and the rain held off until our drive home! And, of course, it was just nice to spend another date with hubby!

Naturally, Carter managed to get through the day without us. He actually cleaned his closet and filled three grocery bags with clothes to put on the garage sale next week. (We rewarded him with supper at Hong Kong Buffet.) So no matter how nice it is tomorrow, I better get those items priced.

And just stick to watching golf on TV.

Happy Blog-Day to Me...

Happy Birthday to my On the Light Side blog!

It was 5 years ago today -- coincidentally Good Friday that year, too -- that I started this almost daily rambling. And I managed to do it 1,709 times. 1,710 if you count this one.

I looked back at my beginnings and remembered why I started this. Mainly two reasons: One, I wanted to keep my creative juices flowing since I don't do a whole lot of writing with my job any more. Two, I wanted my long-distance family to have a chance to "see" their youngest nephew grow up.

Even when I started, I was wondering how I could do it every single day. I mean really, what do I have to talk about every single day? I think you know the answer: Sometimes, NOTHING. Most times I sit at the keyboard and hope something comes to me. Preferably something that will make you smile, maybe laugh, maybe cry. And once in awhile, make you think. I always hope you think it's worth that precious 90 seconds of your time.

If you been with me for most of the ride, you know plenty about me. Mainly I am not perfect and I am completely honest about that! But also, I love the Lord, my family and my friends. I feel very blessed.

Just today -- since I should blog about something -- I enjoyed a wonderful date with hubby. We went to the Hunger Games movie, which we both enjoyed, then by pure happenstance, our friends Scott and Sandy were coming through town on the way to the Dells. So we met up with them and had dinner. Now, we have a tee time to golf with them down there tomorrow. Just a really nice evening!

Poor Carter was neglected all day (he was off from school), but apparently he wasn't feeling that great. Do you think it's coincidence that he watched the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off this morning then called me at work to say he wasn't feeling well enough to go to Good Friday services? Hmm...

I suspect he didn't mind being "neglected" all day. And probably will suffer through it just fine tomorrow when we're golfing.

Either way, it will give me something to blog about for another day.

Now, I gotta see if there's some blog birthday cake and ice cream waiting for me!

Losing It

I already lost my mind for good, but I hate when I lose other things with seemingly no hope of finding them.

When I was at my mother's birthday party, I ended up talking to relatives on both sides of the family about genealogy. There is a cousin on my dad's side who I've talked family tree stuff with before. That day he gave me his email and a website where I could find a few things out. He had a little notebook with him so he wrote it down for me and gave me the sheet of paper.

Later in the day, someone on my mom's side asked if I could print out a family tree booklet for them. I had one on display that I made up for a family reunion a few years back. I had never met this woman but she gave me her name and address so I could mail them one.

Last weekend I printed the book out and looked up the info my dad's cousin suggested. Today I was finally getting around to mailing that booklet out and, wouldn't you know it, that piece of paper with the address on is nowhere to be found. I have looked everywhere. Well, everywhere except where it actually is!

I even called my mom tonight to see if she knew what cousin might have wanted that info. She was clueless but read some names from the guestbook. Honestly, nothing rings a bell. So I told her if anyone asks about it, she knows where to find me.

I suspect this disappeared in one of those strange places I will never look. You know how it is when you are holding something but you put it down to pick something else up or get distracted doing something else and never get back to it? That must have been what happened.

I also suspect that when I stop looking, I'll find it. It will just suddenly be there. Right in front of me.

Hopefully my mind is sitting right next to it!

...And We're Back

Hello, House. Yes, I see I've been ignoring you for the past week while I have lost myself in the Hunger Games trilogy. I finished the final book tonight, though, so I'm back!

It is sort of embarrassing that I let it take control of me like that. But at the same time it's been fun sharing this adventure with hubby. And it is encouraging that there still are some "good reads" out there that we can't put down. (Something every writer dreams of accomplishing!)

Other than housework, I haven't missed much. Carter and Jim have had baseball practice every night. Carter then has a load of homework and is unapproachable. So it's been good that I've kept hidden between the pages of a book.

On the downside, I haven't done anything to prep for a garage sale that I go in on each spring with Carter's former babysitter. Besides Carter's small clothes, I don't ever put much on there. Probably because I am too lazy to price things. I am. I really find that too tedious. I don't make an effort to set aside the time. I could. I mean I have this weekend yet. So we'll see...

... what other excuse I'll come up with!

(Hey, I'm honest if nothing else.)

I'm sure I'll find a new book to start by the weekend. I'd say I'm open to suggestions, but you see where that got me this time.

Maybe once the dust settles, er disappears, I'll back to you.

Election Day

Every day is election day, isn't it? When we get up in the morning, we can elect to take a positive approach to the day... or a not-so-positive one.

Some days it seems the choice is made for us.

Today, for instance, I know a teenager who overslept and, even though he can only get out of bed on one side, it was the wrong one. Then, upon hearing that Kansas lost the NCAA final last night, Carter says, "Well now I can't provide food for the family with the money I DIDN'T win!" Who knew our future livelihood was riding on his bracket?! I didn't.

But his day wasn't going to get any better. When he sat on the couch to watch SportsCenter, he spilled his bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch all over himself, a blanket and the couch. As I tried to help clean it up, he grits his teeth and stammers out, "This is just my life!"

Oh, are we having a bad day?

Gosh, we might have a mess, but nothing like the thousands in Texas who lost their homes today in tornadoes.

Is life really that bad?

No. Despite getting 13 campaign phone calls in the past few days -- from everyone from Mitt Romney to Barbara Bush -- and despite having a near anxiety attack waiting in line 7 minutes to vote, I am thrilled to live in a free country where I have the right to do so. And did!

Just like our Democratic process can be a vehicle for change, our daily decisions can do that in our own lives. Sure, there's lots of days I get up on the "wrong" side of the bed and make a mess of things. But I do attempt to focus on the light side... the bright side ... and the right side.

However, I do vote left.

Manic Monday

Manic: Pertaining to or affected by mania.

March may be over, but the madness is just culminating. In more ways than one.

In an unexpected progression of events, hubby and I are simultaneously reading the same book. How is this done? Oh, it's possible.

I was reading the second Hunger Games book 'til I went to bed last night. Since I crash early, hubby started reading it. Weird seeing a book with two bookmarks, but I can understand why he didn't want to wait to get started. So while he drove to and from work today, I got to read some more and finished it late this afternoon while the guys were at baseball practice.

I made supper for them and then just had to go to Wal-Mart to get Book #3. Now I can see why people don't just say they read the Hunger Games, they say they read the trilogy. There's no way to stop at just one or two. I saw another woman there buying Book #2. I said, "You might as well buy #3 while you're at it!"

So tonight I am hoping to get going on it but can't completely ignore my normal Monday night dates -- Adam and Blake on The Voice. Plus I need to keep an eye on the NCAA final. I have my Kansas sweatshirt on in support of Carter's bracket.

While I am sitting here on the couch, I am hearing groaning from the table, where Carter is agonizing over homework, and hear groaning and occasional cursing from the computer room, were Jim is participating in his Fantasy Baseball draft.

Who says Madness is confined to March? Certainly no one in this house!

Now if we can just get through round one tonight!

No Foolin'

I'm a little nervous. It's 7:30 p.m. and so far our house has been prank-free on this April Fools Day.

First of all, that means I have been far too nice. Secondly, it means the guys have been too busy. Or have they?

It probably has helped we haven't spent much time all together. Hubby and I went to our churches this morning and Carter tried to get some much needed sleep (he's been sleeping poorly the last few nights). We went to 10:30 service and got home about lunch time. The guys went hitting and I went shopping. Had to find something for Carter's Easter basket -- whether he believes in the Easter bunny or not.

Today we finally saw the return of spring after a chilly week. So I got out for 3-mile run/walk. It was just breezy enough that it really wasn't hot and certainly not warm enough to stay outside for long. I did sit on the deck -- in a sweatshirt -- and read a little bit. I am getting into Catching Fire (book #2 in the Hunger Games series) and need to finish. Now that Jim finished the first one last night, he is anxious -- like me -- to see what happens.

So I might sneak to bed early to read more -- and possibly avoid any foolish behavior.

Wish me luck!