Tasty Tuesday

Sure, I could comment on the 80-degree weather today but that didn't matter since I was indoors at work. I could also mention the nice weather allowed for another baseball game, this time up in Edgar. But the weather didn't help and we lost by 10 runs.

So instead, I will share those two tasty treat recipes I tried out this weekend with much success and yummy feedback...

• 1 package regular Oreo cookies (Not Double Stuff) – about 36 cookies
• 6 Tablespoon butter, melted
• 1- 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons cold milk
• 1- 12 ounce tub Cool Whip, divided
• 2 – 3.9 ounce packages Chocolate Instant Pudding.
• 3 1/4 cups cold milk
• 1 and 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Begin by crushing 36 Oreo cookies. I used my food processor for this, but you could also place them in a large ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin. When the Oreos have turned into fine crumbs, you are done.
2. Transfer the Oreo crumbs to a large bowl. Stir in 6 tablespoons melted butter and use a fork to incorporate the butter into the cookie crumbs. When the butter is distributed, transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you work on the additional layers.
3. Mix the cream cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add in 2 Tablespoons of milk, and sugar, and mix well. Stir in 1 and 1/4 cups Cool Whip. Spread this mixture over the crust.
4. In a bowl, combine chocolate instant pudding with 3 and 1/4 cups cold milk. Whisk for several minutes until the pudding starts to thicken. Use a spatula to spread the mixture over the previous cream cheese layer. Allow the dessert to rest for about 5 minutes so that the pudding can firm up further.
5. Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the top. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips evenly over the top. Place in the freezer for 1 hour, or the refrigerator for 4 hours before serving.

Peanut Butter Treats 

• 3 cups corn flakes, crushed
• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup white corn syrup
• 6 ounces chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat peanut butter, sugar and corn syrup over low heat to melt. Stir in cereal.

2. Pat into a 8x8 lightly greased pan.

3. Melt chocolate chips over low heat or in the microwave and spread over top. Cool until firm.

Scoring: A Good Place To Start

Thanks to our delayed start, we are beginning our baseball blitz now... pretty much playing every day of the week (sometimes twice) except Sundays and Wednesday for the next few weeks.

Tonight we had our first home game of the season, playing at Witter Field in Rapids. After 10-0 and 6-0 losses, there was much jubilation when we scored our first run of the season today! That's a great way to start turning things around. In fact, we scored 3 runs.

Too bad those big, bad Edgar Wildcats scored 12!

Dang.

Still it was nice to see the team a bit excited over scoring and Carter even got to participate. He's the designated pinch runner right now for the catcher -- in certain game situations. So tonight he got to run bases anyway.

Glad he could perform in front of his crowd of admirers. Oh, not Mom and Dad, but some girls we are pretending we don't know about. I can't really say anything because I was a teenage girl once and I did what I could to get to certain sporting events to watch certain teenage boys.

Welcome to the scary times of motherhood!

My only relief is that kids these days are so used to just communicating via text, etc., rather than face to face. So I'm not so sure he's that ready to interact directly with his fan base. Guess I'll have to go to all the home games just to make sure.

And cheer on my favorite teen boy, of course!

Son-Day

The best part about today was not the sunshine, or birds tweeting, or final snowbanks melting. It was Carter. Whether he knew it or not, it was his day today. And he was busy.

We got to sleep in a bit since we had to go to 10:30 church instead of 8. Today was Youth Sunday and Carter got to be pastor for a day, sort of. He was listed in the bulletin as the "liturgist" so he had some speaking to do. It wasn't a huge deal since the younger kids helped lead a lot of segments -- like the prayers, creed, etc.

Still, he got to don the clergy robe and wear the cool wireless microphone he normally associates with the music concerts.

He was nervous before but he looks natural, doesn't he? Later he said it wasn't so bad.

He sits in the background with Pastor Jen listening to the "children's" skit. He can call them children when he is the old high schooler!

Here he is after the service with Pastor Josh, who somehow talked him into helping. There's no way he'd have done it if I asked!

Speaking of helping... Carter has actually done yard work the past two days. Normally, I don't think he'd do this unless there was a monetary reward involved. But he has it in his head he wants friends over for a birthday campfire one of these weekends and, if he wants to do that, we said he has to get the backyard in shape.

Today, he didn't even have to be told, he just went out there after church and got started.

Of course, it was a good way to get some exercise and some sunshine...

 

Plus, show off his pipes to anyone who may be looking ... or stalking him with a camera through the basement window!!

Later, when it was still Carter's Day, we had hubby's family over and celebrated Carter's birthday a few days early.

The thing about teen-hood is that there aren't many presents. It's just cards and that green stuff he can't get enough of.

We got him new baseball cleats -- the right size -- and a golf pass for one of the local courses he used quite a bit last year with a friend.

Here he is being an uncooperative scrapbook subject!

A little better but I think he is actually rolling his eyes.

Here I threw his familiar-looking cousin Colin in the photo to get them to smile, plus show why some people think they are brothers!

So what is that cake, you ask? It is actually called Chocolate Lasagna! Oh the yummy things you can find on the Internet these days!

Yes, it tasted as good as it looks. And surprisingly was not too rich. Just the right combination of yummy-ness. I will post the recipe in the coming days. I have some other variations in mind already.

Needless to say, between pizza and "lasagna," I am still full. I went for a short walk but now my body just thinks bed is a good idea. I won't even complain how loud those birds and frog and crickets are down by the creek. Sounds like spring to me!

Glad it could be part of my son-day.

Spring has Sprung (for Today at Least)

I certainly don't want to jinx it by saying it out loud, but I can't help but shout that spring has finally arrived in central Wisconsin!

Even if it was just for today, it was such a pleasure to enjoy blue skies, warm breezes, birds chirping and the house airing out with all windows open!

Our cat was going nuts running from window to window just to catch some of that rare and valuable fresh air. She wasn't the only one. I was opening them to let spring "in" and trying to figure out where to start first with spring cleaning.

Well, I can tell you I didn't get as far as I hoped. But I had some productive delays.

Made pancakes for brunch so we could try out a gift of Vermont maple syrup. Wow. We will never go back to boring name-brand syrup again! Did some grocery shopping, too, plus made bars for a prom party tonight and did my Saturday chores. As far as spring cleaning goes, I did get all the window screens cleaned but did not get all the windows done. Not too concerned since the next few days call for the same type of spring weather. Hurray!

This evening was our high school's prom. I picked up a friend and her son and we went to watch the Grand March since we had a friend's son in the running for king -- and he got it!! -- plus my "daughter" was on court and another friend's son was the "miniature" king. All in all, a pretty cool event.

Afterward, a handful of us freshmen parents got together. We figured we might as well have a "prom party" if everyone else is. Ours was pretty tame, though. But it was great to reconnect with old friends!

Now I better hit the hay so I have energy tomorrow for the rest of that spring cleaning!

Unlimited

Saw this quote today and thought it a very appropriate reflection of this week.

If I don't like the way something is, if I'm stuck on a plateau, sometimes I have to move out of my comfort zone to change it. And sometimes that means pushing myself beyond my preconceived limits.

"...You must not stay there, you must go beyond them."

The key word for me is "go"! I just need to get going instead of just thinking, just talking or just writing about it. And so I am.

Although I jokingly wrote earlier this week about holding my chin up for photos so people wouldn't see all of them. It seriously got me thinking: Do I really want to hold an awkward pose for photos the rest of my life or should I just work to get rid of one of those chins? Do I want to spend extra time in the morning trying to find the larger clothes hanging in my closet instead of working to fit comfortably into what I have?

I talk about it plenty but my list of excuses has almost always surpassed my reserve of energy or determination or, heaven forbid, commitment to take action.

Oh sure, I take on a challenge now and then (see previous blog about the "spring" trail run) but what do I do for the long haul? Raise your hand if you've started (and subsequently stopped) more than a dozen diets or "miracle" exercise programs in your lifetime? How about 20? More?

You are not alone. It's just how some of us roll... or have rolls... or eat rolls...

I started this insane exercise workout this week at the fitness center. It is appropriately called the "Insanity Workout." It really is insane. Insanely difficult. It's hard and the day after hurts. Definitely beyond my normal "limits" -- which is why the instructor is shouting through the television at me to "Push it!" and "Power through it!" As my sweat is literally dripping and splashing on the floor, I stick with him -- as much as my 44-year-old body can. And I vow that the stupid age thing and fat thing and temporary pain thing and lack of time thing will not become excuses.

I'm not even worried about running right now or any races coming up. Frankly, I don't know what or if I will be doing any soon since my weekend schedules are so up in the air due to the late start to the baseball season. (We lost again tonight, by the way.) But I do know that this Insanity business will not harm my running either. This 40 minutes or 50 or so of cardio is definitely going to improve my running stamina if nothing else.

I figure Insanity can be my new lunch-hour routine just as blogging is my bedtime routine. Not to put a "limit" on this, but I'm going to give this 6 weeks -- until that TV room at the fitness center is transformed to the Kids Club summer program. No matter how slowly the results in my muscle, body tone or scale come, I am going to get off this plateau.

And I will be pleased with it. And proud that I was capable of pushing beyond my limits. Even if it's just this once.

I bet you can, too.

Now, go!

Game On!

Finally, Mother Nature cooperated just enough for our Assumption boys to have their first baseball game today!

Who cares if we had to drive an hour to sit in 40-degree windy temperatures and see the Royals lose to Marathon 10-0? They were finally playing ball!

Other than it was a bit chilly and we were grateful for the sun, there is not much to report from the game. They got on base and we didn't. Carter took stats and didn't even get a chance at bat. That likely might be the case for awhile, unfortunately.

They have 18 kids on the high school team -- with I think 9 being freshmen -- so we don't have enough for a JV team. Instead we have a large varsity team and few freshmen will see an opportunity to play. At the beginning anyway. Once we start making up games and cramming double-headers into the schedule, they'll see some playing time.

I'm a bit bummed, even though I know this is the reality of it. Hopefully Carter gets a chance to prove himself -- and then does! If not, we'll just go with the flow and be happy the team is able to play. We have another game on the road tomorrow, when it's allegedly going to be 67 degrees, so hopefully all around it will be more tolerable.

Carter and I got home about 8:30 (Jim is at an NFL draft party) and right away I noticed the pretty full moon. So I dug out my tripod, walked around the neighborhood and found a decent angle. Enjoy... It's one of the more successful moments of the day, er night!

 Good night, moon!

Change of Scenery

You know winter has gone on too long when we wake up, look out the window and have to note the fact that "Guess what? It did NOT snow last night!" It was a bit frosty this morning but no accumulations of anything for the first time in a long time.

I am really going to enjoy the change of scenery when spring finally arrives. Heck, by then we might as well skip straight on to summer! Sigh...

My dad is also enjoying a change of scenery. Sort of. While he has been bedridden for the last 10 days or so, not leaving his room at the nursing home for anything, that changed this week. Both yesterday and today he had the staff wheel him down to the lunchroom for a meal with "the guys." Sure it was one meal, but this is significant to us kids who are monitoring his status hourly at times. Monday he wanted nothing to do with anything. And now, he does.

His 97-year-old buddy Stan (you remember Spry Stanley) told my sister, "He says he needs to have a different attitude!" And if anyone can help my dad get that, it's Spry Stanley.

Plus, a person can only spend so much time laying in bed, counting ceiling tiles.

I wish I was kidding. I just got off the phone with my mom and she said he's been doing that. When one of his daughters asked him how many there are, he just answered: "Many." That's my dad!

Here's hoping we all get the change of scenery we are looking for.

I know quite a few of us would love to see a real, live high school baseball game. A few people I know just want to see a new group of faces besides the hovering nurses and pesky children. And most of us would love to see green grass.

At least we got that dandelion problem under control this year.

(So far.)

Pencil It In

Hubby's suggestion to always write the spring sports schedule on the calendar in pencil is good advice. Especially this year.

Unfortunately, since there was some rain today, the fields in our area were not conducive to playing. They actually shifted a few teams to different fields in different towns even. But there were none left for our Assumption boys.

To give you some indication of what happens when Ol' Man Winter overstays his welcome... Today was the 11th game on the schedule that had to be crossed off -- or gently erased in case it can be rescheduled. By May, I'm guessing the guys will be playing 5 or 6 days a week if they want to make these up and play the ones still scheduled.

I just want to start. And not half as much as Carter, who is chompin' at the bat, er bit, especially now that he has cleats to wear!

So in the meantime, since Carter isn't wearing his baseball apparel, Sylvester decided somebody had to!

If she's wondering if those pants make her butt look big... They do! But who am I talk? Good thing she doesn't know how to operate a camera yet! She's smart enough to root for the Royals, but not that smart.

I just hope we all have a chance to cheer soon!

Monday Musings

Chin Up: In our family, we have a motto to "Keep Your Chin Up." Oh, not necessarily when things are bad, just when getting photographed so our second chin doesn't show so much.

See? I'm not kidding! Seriously, we are trying to remain "cautiously optimistic" about our dad. We know his health will not improve. But after witnessing his ups and downs, it seems he might just be hanging in there for awhile. If he can still joke around -- sort of -- and still has a rock-solid grip when holding your hand, it just doesn't seem like he's going anywhere anytime soon. Trust me. I am not latching onto false hope, I am prepared for what is going to happen. Now it just doesn't seem like the "when" is as close at hand. But again, it is OUT of our hands, isn't it?

Poor House: Every now and then hubby and I play the Poor Game. It's just something we made up as a competition to see who had the most impoverished childhood. Yes, we are fun-seekers, aren't we? Plus, we try to do this in front of the teenager so maybe he'll appreciate what he has. (Or just roll his eyes.)

Tonight's example went something like this...We grilled out brats for supper and I baked french fries to go with them. Jim was curious why I didn't use aluminum foil in the pan to bake the fries. (I usually do.)

• Me: Sometimes I just like to use parchment paper.
• Jim: When I was growing up, we couldn't afford parchment paper. We had to crush aluminum cans and line those up to use as aluminum foil.
• Me: We were so poor we had to keep re-using the tin foil off the TV rabbit ears then put it back on when we were done.
• Jim: We didn't even have a TV.
• Me: We didn't either. My mom just bought the rabbit ears at a garage sale for the aluminum foil.
• Carter chooses that moment to chime in: Oh, so that's where I get my garage sale-ing gene from!
• Jim: Yup, blame Grandma!
• Me: (Silence. I know should have taken blame/credit, but I'll let my mom have this one.)

Batter, Up: Tomorrow might be the first Assumption Baseball game of the season, so tonight was a good time for Carter to realize his cleats are too small and he needed new ones. Well, he actually discovered a few days ago even though he's been practicing since March. And after some cross-examination from Mama Purse and Papa Wallet -- "Just how tight are they, Carter??" -- we relented. So less than 24 hours before the first pitch (maybe), he's got baseball shoes that fit.

Maybe he does procrastinate a bit. OK, Mom, I guess I'll take this one.

Ditto

For today's blog, I could just say refer to yesterday's snow pictures and "ditto."

I don't even pay attention to the forecast any more, but I honestly was surprised to wake up to snow. And it kept coming 'til early afternoon. I'm sure we were all saying the same thing, right? "Gosh, I was just thinking we could use more snow!"

Well our wishes are granted...

Locally, that means chance of snow showers (they say "showers" to downplay it to April showers) on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Not that that coincides with any spring sporting events or anything.

Sigh.

At least today it did not deter Carter from going to the batting cage. And did not deter a few people from coming to my Norwex party. Norwex is basically "tools" for cleaning -- like special cloths, etc -- that can be used with water to clean (instead of having to buy separate chemical products for windows, dusting, mopping, etc).

If you are slightly interested, I am taking orders through my online catalog until 6 p.m. Monday at this link. Hahaha. My blog. My commercial!

After the party, I hooked up to my work computer to get the stuff done I couldn't get done Friday in our "Northwoods office." It suddenly does not feel like it was the weekend. Work, travel, worry, travel, work. Monday comes too quickly!

Plus, just knowing what Mother Nature is going to throw our way AGAIN, I'm not that enthused. I think I've figured out the problem. She's going through "The Change." So every time Mother Nature gets a hot flash, she makes it snow to cool off.

How long will this go on? I'm not sure. But don't ask her! We do not need her moody and hot!

Seeing is Believing

I am back home again with my guys. And exhausted. Sometimes emotional "workouts" drain as much energy as physical ones! I was just glad to stay awake and have a safe trip home.

For those who might not believe the snowstorm 10 days before May Day, I figured I better upload some photos from my 3-day sojourn...

 This is the Friday morning view out Dad and Mom's west door. You can see plenty of snow on the bushes and the field beyond.

 Oh yes, and my CRV is there, too! Could have used a shovel to clear that!

You can see how wet and heavy it was, weighing down branches and, in other places, power lines. We didn't lose any branches there but saw plenty of broken tree limbs when we were out driving on Friday.

 Snow banks from the quick plowing job. See the robins on the ground checking it out.

Here are some cardinals (well, fake ones) doing the same thing on Mom's garden weather vane.

On Friday, Dad got a special visit from Pastor Dave, who happened to be giving a bible study at the nursing home that day -- and also happened to know the words to an old hymn, "Showers of Blessings."

Here Dad listens to him sing a song that my dad sang when he was a young kid on the way from school. He said his mom would hear him sing and know he was almost home. So it's a special song and, sadly, one he would like sung at his funeral.

 Here is the view outside Dad's room window. Not like that is any less depressing!

My sister Rayna is smiling here but she has nothing good to say about the snow... other than it can stay in Minnesota and Wisconsin when she heads back to Texas Monday morning.

Remember when I told you I brought up a variety of "lounge pants" for my dad. While he did refuse the Vikings ones, look which ones he was sporting today!

 I guess if he was a Tony Stewart fan, we could say he was "Smoke"-ing in those!

This afternoon, the 8 R's gathered at my sister Romey's nearby and had some discussions about planning. You know, the kind of planning you hate to HAVE to talk about, but better while we are all together. Of course, it was a good opportunity to try to get a picture of all of us "kids," too!

On the way home, I saw this while going through Frederic. There were lots of flags in the area still flying at half-staff for the Boston incident. This also was unique because of the much too-white background in this April 20 photo of Coon Lake.

You seriously never know what a storm in the Northwoods will bring. My question is, did the extra-terrestrials ARRIVE with the storm? Or did the storm delay their departure?

I can't blame anyone for wanting to leave this mess! Though I have to admit, it IS pretty. (Now that the roads are clear.)

One final image to wrap up my trip.

I thought it pretty appropriate to drive by Pray Avenue. Seems I've been traveling that road a lot lately. But it always gets me where I need to go.

Sn-OMG!

Snow-my-gosh! That sums up what we are thinking in the Northwoods today.

Waking up in my parents' house to see more than a foot of snow (officially 14.4 inches), I had to ask my mom: "Did Santa Come?"

It sure looked like it, but no, it wasn't Christmas morning. Santa did send a neighborly "elf" to plow out my parents's driveway. Plus I got about an hour of cardio in digging out my vehicle and the deck, plus the back door that we could not push open from the inside. Before heading outside with the pretty orange shovel, I asked Mom if she had some boots around the house. Yes, I wore boots, but I explained, "Mom, these are fashion boots, not snow boots!"

Well she could only locate one boot in a pair in their basement and the other full pair was in Mom's frozen-shut car. So I had to sacrifice those favorite boots of mine. Have I mentioned winter sucks?

At least the roads were way better than yesterday so Mom and I could get up to see Dad by mid-morning.

Dad was not too talkative today either but was awake more than yesterday. Schools were closed in Grantsburg plus the power was out so we were just grateful to see him OK -- especially since he needs his oxygen and his oxygen machine requires electricity. Thank goodness for generators!

I think all power was restored at some point in the afternoon. Talked short conversations with Dad. Told him the Packers had signed on Clay Matthews another 5 years and that the Vikings had signed on an older quarterback. He says, "Brett Favre?"

Figures -- he doesn't talk or engage in conversation 95% of the time and when he does he manages to crack a joke and pick on my Vikings at the same time. Love that man!

The rest of the day was a blur of visitors as my sister Rayna arrived from Texas and eventually four other sisters visited. That was the most I had seen Dad awake and talking, but he quickly tired. So we left him after supper and actually all went to a funeral visitation for an old family friend, then went out to eat for fish fries, burgers and cheese curds.

Tonight, Rayna and I are having a slumber party at Mom's while back in Wisconsin Rapids, Carter did not play baseball (again) and will get to sleep in tomorrow since they won't be playing then either. Not a foot of snow there, just plenty of rain that was topped with a little of the white stuff today.

It better be gone when I head back tomorrow. Not that anything is in my control, but I would think Mother Nature would be over her temper tantrum by now.

Have a cheese curd and get over it, lady.

Two Words

I think I could sum up my day in two-word sentences and you'd get the drift of my excursion Up North, where I am staying for another day or so -- not just because I am snowed in but because I still want a good visit with Dad.

Here goes:

Early departure. Safe trip. Only sprinkles.

Escort Mom. Visit Dad. Give gift. Lounge pants! How comfortable. Likes them. Except Vikings. I tried.

He slept. Woke briefly. Slept again. Looked weak. Ate lunch. Slept again. No conversation. Non visit.

Winter storm. Headed home. Nothing plowed. Scary slippery. Long trip. Home safe. Power out. Helped Mom. Dusted some. Swept floors. Mopped them.

No heat. Two hours. Power returns. Yay, vacuuming! Stove usable! Yay, supper.

Shoveled twice. 8.5" Snow! Tired out.

Bed time. Sweet dreams. For me. For Mom. Dad, too.

Hate snow. Want spring. Good night!

Riding the Wave

I'm not blaming my siblings or mother for inconsistent reports about my dad's current health condition. Yes, it's driving me nuts that one person says he seems fine, then several hours later he is weak and looking mighty frail. But they are reporting the truth -- for that moment.

And the truth is that Dad is still riding that up-and-down wave, from feeling good down to "too tired" to continue. So I am heading up there in the morning to see for myself -- and see if I can help my mom in any way, too.

Found this picture today and, not that I wanted to blend the rest of my family into the background, but I finally learned this new coloring skill in Photoshop... plus I wanted to focus on me sitting on Dad's lap. Oh how I'd love to do that again and have him tell me everything is going to be OK. The truth, though, is that I am the one who needs to do that now, hopefully finding some way to comfort him.

My visit will be brief -- provided the weather cooperates enough for me to go up and come back. Who would have thought we'd be dealing with winter storm warnings in late April?

Of course, we didn't predict we'd be visiting Dad in a nursing home this year either. I guess we'll just keep riding the wave and hope it calms down soon.

Really soon.

Delayed Departure

About a month into practice and today was the first day the baseball team got to practice outside... if you don't count the day they shoveled snow.

Seriously.

And the start of the season is still delayed and not going anywhere soon. Today's game was postponed or cancelled. Not sure which right now. Maybe the season can get going on Friday. If not, then hopefully Saturday.

The only good thing in all this is that I've had an extraordinary amount of time to hem his uniform pants if needed. Of course, I waited until tonight to have him try on the uniform. Hey, he didn't ask! I just happened to think of it today. Luckily, he is tall enough now there are no domestic skills needed this season.

While he had the uniform on, I figured I might as well take pictures. Would you expect any less? Actually I took them for 3 reasons. Besides the obvious scrapbook requirement, I wanted to take one and print it out to give to my dad later this week and I wanted to prove that his uniform was white once.

Take a look. Not a fan of the white. At least the AWAY jerseys are blue, but for some reason, Carter wanted to wear white tonight. And if he is cooperative, I don't push it!

 

I'm also not digging the "flat billed" hat look they think is cool. I hope they outgrow that fast.

Of course, what do I know about cool. We used to wear those "painter hats" and they were, like, totally awesome. Like, totally! Anyone remember those??

I guess I don't care what he looks like. I just want to see him play!

As we were walking back into the house and his cleats were clicking on the driveway, he says, "Man, I love that sound!" He definitely is anxious to get this season going.

I guess my bottle of bleach is ready, too.

Running on Empty

For awhile this morning, I was feeling a bit sorry for myself as I dealt with aches and pains resulting from yesterday's trail run. On the way to work, I was even thinking about the Boston Marathon today and how my discomfort was nothing like they'd feel after 26.2 miles. Maybe close, but not quite as bad.

But now I know that nothing I have felt could compare to what they experienced at the finish line.

For some, it was pure elation. For others, so close to the end, it was surreal. And not in a good way. We don't even know the details of the "why" or "how" exactly, but we know the "what" is that there were two explosions near the finish line that ultimately killed 3 people (including a child) and injured around a hundred. Those are just the numbers at this moment.

How tragic! I can't even comprehend the reasoning behind this. I mean, whoever did this certainly couldn't be targeting runners, could they? I highly doubt it.

Let me tell you a little bit about the running community. We may be competitive but we are also very supportive. Cheering on friends and strangers until the last runner or walker crosses the finish line.

Take yesterday, for example. While struggling up one of the "mountains," I muttered (or expelled loudly) to myself, "I'm getting too old for this!" The woman running next to me asks my age. I say, "44." She says, "Well I'm 53. Come on. We can do this!"

That is how we roll, er, run.

Of all the races I have run -- from 5Ks to the long half-marathon -- never ever in my wildest dreams would I imagine I was in danger. Maybe slightly concerned about injury, but never ever would I think I could die or lose a limb due to a senseless act of violence. Never.

It was so stunning to hear this today. I have a friend who ran the Boston just last year. This year she didn't run it. All her memories are associated with a hot day last year and the thrill of crossing the finish line after miles and miles and miles of seeing and hearing supportive fans along the route.

I hope that authorities can uncover the motive to this tragedy today. I would hate for this to reflect negatively on Boston and its ability to host this world-renown event -- or on the running community as a whole.

We deserve to cross that finish line without any fear.

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by today's events. Lord, please bless Boston.

Winter Warriors

According to Robyn's Thesaurus, the phrase "2013 Iola Trail Run" can be substituted with: challenging, grueling, snowy, slushy, sleety, slippery, chilly, extended, exhausting, insane, an uphill battle and, let's not forget, FUN!

Heck yeah! I can say that now, but 10 hours ago, hmmm....

We knew going into this Great Lakes Endurance trail run, that it would be challenging. Even though it was shorter in length (just a 5K) compared to the one the four of us did last fall (a 10K), we were 100% sure that weather would be a factor in this "Spring" race. And it was a big one.

In a nutshell, here is the BEFORE photo of me, Chris, Cindy and Niki...

And here is the AFTER....

Now you get the picture?

Here is a little bit about how it played out. We headed out at 8 a.m. in the Run Like A Mother Minivan. Ha. The event took place at the Iola ski hills. This sports area is used for cross-country skiing and their world-famous ski jumps. Since this is a "trail run" we knew it would be up and down hills through the park.

It sure felt like it was all uphill, though! Obviously, with the way Mother Nature has been cooperating lately, the trails were completely snow-covered. Completely.

Our running shoes did not touch one piece of dirt or grass (even in the parking lot!) Like my new bright trail-running shoes? Those didn't matter today. Probably snow shoes would have done the trick.

This wasn't really a "race" as much as a goal to get decent footing. Going up hills felt like a cross between swift mountain climbing and running up sand dunes.

So hard.

It was so physically draining that after the first few hills, I pretty much pumped my arms hard and walked up the rest... Then tried to make up time going downhill... without falling on my butt, of course. Amazingly, I did not see anyone fall.

It was a pretty route -- even though it ended up being more like 3.85 miles than 3.1 (according to our GPS watches). The falling snow was pretty, too. For awhile. Then it was getting heavy and also icy and it was windy. That was a bit painful pelting the face!

By the end, it was more like a snowstorm. You can see in this photo that visibility was down. (No, we did not run that ski-jump hill -- they all just felt like it)

And you can see in this one that my "after" photo reveals some icy slush clinging to my jacket, hat and face.

Are we Winter Warriors and just insane?? Maybe my oldest sister was right when she said I was being stubborn by doing this run when I've had enough stress going on lately. But hey, I did not get hurt and I was too busy trying to survive and finish that I did not have time to think about those stressful things!

Plus running generates all kinds of endorphins -- which probably helped keep our spirits up on the treacherous drive back to Wisconsin Rapids. Saw one vehicle in the ditch because the plows (yes, I am talking snow plows on April 14th) hadn't gone through anywhere yet.

When I got home, sweet home, I thought, "OK, I am going to take one more darn snow picture of my front yard and this better be it!"

This might make me think twice about signing up for a SPRING race next year.

But I doubt it.