Physical Labor

I was reminded today why I am cut out for a desk job. Physical labor and I don't mix. It was quite an exhaustive day.

Got up for 5:40 kettle bell / strength class then hit the road northbound for garage sale headquarters in Cushing. We are renting the community center there so there is plenty of space and we aren't dependent on Mother Nature.

For some reason, I didn't think we could fill 20 8-foot tables. What was I thinking? It took a lot of hours of grunt work, but there we were at 6 pm,  looking at very, very, very full tables.

That's not to say it went smoothly. As my mother pointed out later,  sometimes there were too many chiefs and not enough Indians.  No pointing fingers since all 8 kids probably wore the chief hat at least once during the day.  Now, so tired and frazzled,  it's best not to say any more.

Enjoyed a great meal at the Bon Ton Saloon in downtown Luck.  Now Rayna, Renell and I are hitting the hay at the Luck Country Inn so we are refreshed for the big day.

If our aching bodies can move in the morning,  that is!

Mush, Mush

Let's just pretend for a moment that this chiseled athlete is me. I know. Stretch your imagine.

It was sort of me today. When I showed up as the only class member to kickbox at 5:40 a.m., my instructor informed we were going to try something new. (Well, new for me anyway.)

I guess you could say I had my pre-NFL Draft workout today. Just like the photo illustration, I was  pulling my teacher around the room like a sled dog while doing constant Karate Kid moves. Step Pull. Kick. Mush, mush! Step. Pull. Kick. Mush, mush! Then I had to do it with resistance bands on my legs! Uff da.

For the record, I am available as a "free" agent but I would prefer to get paid. King Cone currency is fine.

After that, I went to work and had to take the afternoon off because my mind was mush. Mush! No, not really. I just had a lot of things to get done before I leave town at dawn tomorrow for Garage Sale Palooza.

Knowing I am missing Carter's 17th birthday Friday, I had to find something for him to open in my absence. This is how Robyn shops: Walk into Dunham's Sporting Goods to get Carter a birthday present. Walk out of Dunham's with birthday present... and a pair of golf shoes for herself. 

In my defense, I needed them, they were on clearance, and I just saved Carter and Jim time on shopping for my Mother's Day gift. Everybody wins, right?

Got home and did a few projects before heading off to school for our "final meeting before departure to Germany" meeting. No, Carter is not leaving until June 14, but there were forms to sign, itineraries and rules to review, packing lists and questions, etc. It's getting exciting now!!

Stopped at Wal-Mart on my way home to visit with a girlfriend for 30 minutes in the card aisle. Oh, and to pick up 3 days' worth of snacks for the garage sale workers (aka Mom and the 8 R's). Tomorrow we load everything up from Mom's and set up at the community center. Mom doesn't have a garage AND this guarantees a rain or shine sale. We'll staff it on Friday and Saturday and by Saturday night at this time I will be praising God it's over!

Our minds will be mush. Our bodies may be, too. But I have every type of nourishment from granola bars to chips AND Chips Ahoy. (I am keeping the red Twizzlers to myself. That is my travel food!)

Now, even though my whole being is mush, I better get packing so I can hop on my dogsled at sunrise. Northward, doggies! Mush, mush!

Being Neighborly

Through my recent years of working on the Empty Bowls fundraisers, I am well aware of the numbers, the volume, of hungry in south Wood County. Yet it never fails to startle me when those numbers become a face, a real person.

Tonight our church was in the rotation to host The Neighborhood Table – a nonprofit, charitable organization staffed by volunteers who provide free meals to anyone in need. First English Lutheran is among the 100 community groups that have sponsored a meal there each year. It takes that many "hosts" and that many volunteers to provide this needed service.

In total, more than 1,500 volunteers help during the year (about 20-25 at each meal). On average, about 375 meals are served every Thursday and about 170 meals are served each Tuesday (the last two of the month).

This evening, we served 191 meals. Just simple, yet free, meals with milk, juice, water or coffee to drink. Simple yet needed.

I was a server (aka waitress) in charge of one table. However, all of us helped out as needed making sure people were getting their food in a timely fashion, no matter whose table they were occupying. I had a mixture of adults and children cycle through my table. It's sad to see the children but good to see that their mothers are doing what they can to get them a decent meal.

At one point, I had an older (as in 65-plus) gentleman sit at my table. All he wanted was a coffee and glass of water. He did not want me to serve him a plate of food. I could not convince him to skip straight to dessert or enjoy a fresh banana either. He sat a few minutes and left. His coffee hardly touched. One of my fellow church ladies saw him leave and asked me if he had something to eat. I explained that he just sat a bit but didn't want anything.

"Well what's he going to do for food?" she said. "He's homeless."

Homeless? I almost asked her where he lives but I guess if you are homeless, you don't "live" anywhere. Instead I asked where the homeless "go" in our community. She just frowned and said, "I don't know. I just don't know."

Hungry and homeless. They are here. It is happening. In OUR neighborhood.

While I can't profess to have any knack for waitressing, I am so glad Carter and I took advantage of this mother-son volunteering opportunity. He was right at home in the kitchen, running the dishwasher, which is quite similar to the one he operates while working at the golf course.

He kept pretty busy and had an enjoyable time bonding with one of the "old guys" from our church who thinks Carter's a good kid. While I was dropping off dishes, he says to me, "Carter's doing twice as much work as I am. It's a perfect arrangement!"

Carter did enjoy hearing Pete tell him "kitchen stories" from his days in the service. And I bet Pete (an Honor Flight vet like hubby's uncles) enjoyed telling them!

You know. If we just close our mouths and open our ears, our eyes and our minds, we can learn a lot from other people, can't we? Maybe even learn to respect them for who they are, who they were and what they hope to be. We can see their struggles, appreciate what we have and pray for them.

That's just being neighborly.

In Their Honor

There were 83 veterans who flew out of Central Wisconsin Airport at O-Dark-30 this morning. One of them was Jim's Uncle Lyle, his mother's brother-in-law. Just like last year, when Jim's Uncle Frank (his dad's brother) went, there was a massive crowd to greet the passengers of the Never Forgotten Honor Flight upon their return home.

Today's event was unusual in that the $70,000 flight was not only was fully funded from a single donor, but for the first time, Vietnam veterans who aren't terminally ill were on the flight. As of today, this unique program (which celebrated its 5th anniversary, too) will have sent all of the oldest veterans – in our 12-county region – on their way to Washington DC to tour the various monuments built in their honor.

Uncle Lyle's flight included 29 World War II veterans, 49 Korean (like him) and 5 Vietnam. All were welcomed home with equal fervor from the crowd of thousands that included hubby, his parents, his sister and me. Not to mention much of Lyle's family from sister to kids and grandkids.

Veterans lined with flags on one side of the pathway.

The other side of the aisle was large groups of supporters like Lyle's – inlaws to siblings to grandchildren. So cool to be there to support him.

When we could finally see him coming, the cameras came out a the applause meter rose a few notches.

 He was able to stop long enough on his trek on by to hug one of his daughters...

 And his sister, too!

He was so happy to see all of his supporters. How moving after a long day filled with much amazement and emotion.  Just like this shirts illustrates!

 

Hubby dropped off his parents and then sister. Can guarantee I won't be getting up for early kickboxing but it was worth every sleepless minute to show these heroes a little overdue respect!

You can learn more online at www.neverforgottenhonorflight.org.

3 Minutes and Counting

As tradition goes, it takes 3 minutes to boil an egg. In fact, they sold "egg timers" set to exactly 3 minutes. Do they still sell them? I am not the person to ask. I spend time in the kitchen for two reasons: baking and getting my coffee.

Well, and microwave popcorn. And, occasionally, ice cream out of the freezer.

Two years ago, when Carter and I went to the Ozarks on a mission trip, 3 minutes took on a new meaning. Due to the number of showers and the volume of "missionaries," we were allotted 3 minutes for a shower. Yes, it is a challenge to shampoo and soap up and rinse that quickly. But when the water is somewhat chilly, you learn to move fast!

I felt so accomplished.

I put that new skill to good use on days when I am getting home from kickboxing and have to shower and get ready quickly for work. I can usually take it easy on days when I have afternoon or no class.

Or days I oversleep...

I guess the trick of setting an alarm is that you have to turn it ON. Who knew? This morning I turned over and saw it was 7:23 a.m. Church starts at 8 a.m. and it is 15 minutes away so I needed to be ready in 22 minutes. Start the egg timer!

Somehow I managed to shower, dress and curl my hair and get to church at my normal time... which is 8:01. I just never get there early or on time unless I am doing the readings. So I park in the back pew and think I am awake until it comes time for communion and I dropped my wafer into the big communion cup. Whoops. I looked at it floating there and for a minute was thinking of the 3-second rule. Could I grab it? What? No. Other people will be dipping their wafers in there! So I got a second one and barely dipped it and moved on. With a red face.

Definitely was awake by then.

Time was NOT of the essence the rest of the day, thankfully. Got some projects done and even got a run in since it was sunny and springy out. Definitely no timing involved with that. More like take your time and enjoy the sunshine!

All the fresh air should help me sleep. I'll probably go to bed early to give myself 3 extra minutes to set the alarm and turn it ON! 

Saturday in the Park...

Saturday in the park
I think, it was the fourth of July

– Chicago

Had the Chicago song in my head today as I headed to the ballpark for the first time this high school baseball season. But I had to cross some things off my to-do list first.

Remember when our Saturdays were like this?

That was awesome, wasn't it? Now Saturdays like today, when I had nothing in particular I HAD to get up for, I was awake before 8 a.m. with my list running through my head. A list that did NOT include any cartoons.

I knew I should get my Saturday chores done first. But I was like...

 

I didn't read, though. But it seemed like a good idea. Instead I distracted myself by doing my nails, basically finishing what I started at the Jamberry party last night. Can't go out in public with only 3 nails done! Goodness.

By the time I had the actual important stuff done, I missed the first game of the double-header but made it by the start of the second one. Nekoosa beat us both games but it was nice to be there anyway, wearing winter clothes and chatting with a few baseball moms. 

 

I miss my Saturdays in the park!

Got home and did some work-type projects, took a very short walk in the wind and watched some TV with hubby. Carter was working, got done early and brought a few friends home with him. Might be a good time for me to stay out of the way and get to that book that's still on my Saturday to-do list!

Land of Milk and Honey

For the teenager who lives under our roof, the fabled "Land of Milk and Honey" is more like the "Land of Chocolate Milk and Money."

I should know by now to never have a twenty-dollar bill in my purse. When I have to give it to a 16-year-old, for example, I never get the change. I'd much rather be out just the change from a ten. But I am a slow learner.

I still register surprise when I reach into my wallet and wonder where the cash went. Then I remember.

And then I pray for rain so that Money Tree in the backyard will start growing!

To his credit, Carter does have a part-time job. He just hasn't been on the schedule in say, a month. But life at the golf course is not so busy in the winter. Now, with spring allegedly upon us, he will get some more hours and maybe have a little spending cash on hand. With this spring drought, I surely hope so.

He is getting his first real lesson in money management, though. Yesterday I took him to the bank to sign him up for a checking account. The only reason we are doing this is so that he has a debit card when he is in Germany this summer. He already has a hundred euros we obtained ahead of time. He doesn't need to be walking around in a strange land with more than that in his possession. If he needs more, which we know from the schedule of activities that he will, then he can get it with from the magic money machine.

From his own account. Not ours. Ha.

He'll need to learn a little Accounting 101 when he gets his debit card in the mail. What he already does know is that work is not always enjoyable. Sometimes you work when others are out having all the fun.

Tonight, for example, he is working and I was across the street jammin' at a Jamberry nails party. Oh yes, living it up and "out" until 8:30. I know. I'm a party girl! Carter, on the other hand, will possibly do something fun after work... about 10 or 10:30 ... when the party animals in this house are sound asleep.

Dreaming about the Land of Milk and Honey...

License to ... Collect

All thoughts of hoarding and cluttering are top of mind these days with my mother's big Downsize / Please Take This Off My Hands Sale just a week away.

I've learned this collecting disease does NOT skip a generation... as evidenced by one of the walls in Carter's basement Man Cave.

His habit started innocent enough. But I am to blame, I'm sure, because he wouldn't have been at a flea market years ago unless I took him there, right? So he picked out the cool yellow and red flamed smiley face one and then choose a Man Cave and Budweiser one for Daddy. Then, well, it just went into full gear!

He found a few "real" ones a different time at that flea market, then discovered there is an endless supply at the Iola Old Car Show. Of course, the treasured find – gift from his Grandma Hedberg actually – are the old plates up top representing the years my parents were born: 1927 and 1932. There also is a 1949 one, the year they got married, and a Wisconsin 1963 for Jim's year of birth. I don't think he has one for my year, which, for the record, was NOT from a Model T!

He's also received a few as gifts and now has more than half the states.

Our friend Tamara, one of Carter's first "girlfriends," sent him some from Indiana and Montana a few years back after she moved with her husband from Indianapolis to her homeland of Montana. She asked recently if he minded "duplicates." Not at all, I said. No two are exactly the same.

The one he got from her in the mail yesterday – as an early birthday present – is different than his other Big Sky plate. So that's cool. And now he started a new row, which obviously has to be filled at some point. We know that if he goes back to the car show, he could wrap it up in one final purchase. But what's the fun in that?

Besides, if he gets every state and fills the wall, what will he start collecting next? A car for each plate?

Let's not encourage him. Perhaps it's not too late to break the cycle.

Oh ha. That's a good one.

What on Earth?

It's been said – by those who care – that "every day is Earth Day." It should be.

As an R Person (one of 8 in my family), I like the R words "Recycle" and "Reuse." And I try to make them action words in my life. There was a time, though, I didn't care.

Who did?

When I watch a TV show like Mad Men, set in the '60s, I am reminded of this. On one episode, a family had a picnic and when it was time to go, they shook off the blanket, let the paper plates land where they may, and walked to the car without looking back. Maybe an exaggeration. But maybe not.

If you are a walker or runner or take the dog around the block, you know once the snow melts, the ditches yield evidence that people are still tossing trash out their car windows. Cigarette butts, fast food wrappers and beer cans seem to be the popular choices I note.

Just because there is not a "do not litter" sign, doesn't mean we should. Would you go to someone's house and dump trash on their floor? Then why do it to Mother Earth's home?

I acknowledge I am not the best role model. I used enough AquaNet in the '80s to enlarge the hole in the ozone. When I have opted to car pool or walk somewhere, it has been to save on gas money, not to save the planet from air pollution. I don't necessarily save all those Cool Whip containers to practice "reuse," it is just my hoarding genes causing me to litter in my own cupboards!

Still, we do recycle everything we can from paper to plastic. I feel guilty if I am somewhere and there is no recycling option for my empty can or bottle. But am I guilty of not doing enough to save the planet or guilty of putting us in this position in the first place?

We may mock the "old-fashioned" way of living – cloth diapers and clotheslines – but when we became a disposable society, we created a mess of disposable items that can be thrown away but not disappear. Out of sight, out of mind?

That's why I like the quote above that we are borrowing the planet from our children. They will need it longer than we will. What can we do to give it to them in good condition?

Remember: It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature... She has ways of getting back at us. Case in point...

Brrrr... Happy @#@$% Earth Day from Mr. Deck Chair!

100% Chance of Everything

Not sure what the Farmer's Almanac predicted for today, but if it wanted to be totally accurate, it would just say: 100% chance of everything!

I always get a kick out of those "weather rocks." They are meant to be funny but yet, they really are completely accurate aren't they?

If it's wet, it's raining. Yup woke up to that.
If it's white, it's snowing. Yup, had that on and off all day.

It was also moving due to the wind. It was almost dry and still but then, as the rock indicates, that changed soon. Sometimes it was casting a shadow AND wet because it was snowing while the sun was shining. True story!

And all day, the rock was cold. We even have a windchill as a type this. It's 35 degrees and feels like 27 in Central Wisconsin.

Last year at this time, when our boy Lukas was here, we swore to him it was unusually cold. I guess that makes liars out of us. In fact, all our high school sports were called off tonight. I did see some pictures of some kids still playing their games. I think a friend posted a photo of her daughter playing soccer but there were so many white dots in the picture, it was hard to tell!

It's a bit crazy but typical for Wisconsin and Minnesota. I just feel bad for Mr. Deck Chair. He must be suffering from some seasonal disorder by now.

Maybe I should make him my weather chair:

If he's wet, it's raining. It he's dry AND warm, there's 100% chance of Robyn sitting on him quickly before the weather changes again!

Bundle up. We should hit 60 by May Day!

Rainbow Connection

It rained today, thank goodness. One, we need it. And two, it held off until after prom. There were no rainbows (yet), but it reminded me that I didn't share the pretty decorations in "daylight."

Like I said, the women who orchestrated this have an eye for design. Just loved the colors and what they did with them. Just thought I'd share in case you have a summer-time sherbet-time party of some sort coming up. You might get a few ideas...

Dance floor area with the tulle canopy and lighted posts wrapped in more magical mesh.

View looking from dance floor toward dining area and stage. The "Royals" on the floor is proof it was a gymnasium up until last Thursday!

The tables kept the color scheme going with criss-crossing sashes and bows around the white-covered chairs. Gave it such a nice, formal look!

There were two towers of lighted votive candles – one in front of each side of the stage. Got to light those Saturday before dinner. They lasted a long time and no one's dress started on fire. Whew.

On Friday, a table of balloon holders sat waiting for their attachments. There ended up being a balloon tunnel type entrance. I guess I forgot to take the "after picture" of that on Saturday.

And about that chicken wire. The little "balls of light" on stage and in front are the chicken wire bales wrapped in colored lights. How's that for a cool idea?

Seriously, all you need to decorate for a party is chicken wire and a staple gun. The rest will fall in place!

Good luck!

Getting Off Track

With all the prep for the main event yesterday, it seems like I've been speeding uncontrollably on a freight train bound for PromVille. Now that that train has left the station, what to do, what to do?

I felt way off track today.

I didn't have time to recover since I was scheduled to read at 8 a.m. church. Let's just say I dragged my bleary-eyed, tired butt out of bed and got there somehow. Probably fortunate the podium microphone served as a defibrillator of sorts and shocked me when I touched it to lower it to my height (or lack of height).

Then I was awake!

For awhile. Got home from church before Carter got home from prom. Granted, we knew where he was staying and what he was up to – and figured he didn't get much sleep either. The junior class had to be back at the school at noon, though, for take down / tear down / "un-decorating," as I called it.

Jim got a ride to the Dells with some friends to go see our nephew Colin's first stockcar race of the season. He ended up finishing 9th in the 100-lap season opener. Not a bad way to start.

I had all intentions of helping at the school but thought I'd lay down on the couch "for a few minutes" to rest. I woke up and it was after noon and Carter was gone. He was home by 1:30, about the time I was finally feeling "awake" again. Tear down went fine and I wasn't needed.

Whew. (And, for the record, he and his date had a very nice evening.)

So, with a free afternoon on my hands, I decided to start our next book club selection. My friend Sharon handed the book to me at church since she already had it checked out of the library. Knowing I'd have to get it back by the end of the week, I dove in...

While I did take a break to fold a load of laundry and talk to a friend on the phone, the only other breaks from this intriguing novel were to move from the living room chair to Mr. Deck Chair to the couch. I read the whole thing! I just had things I needed to KNOW! Now I know.

And I'd recommend the book! Written by Paula Hawkins, it is not only a mystery and "thriller," it has some characters struggling with self worth, addiction and anger management. That's all I can say without giving too much away.

Read it. Especially if you just need a day to relax and get your mind OFF track for once.

For Your Viewing Pleasure... Prom 2015

This is pretty much the lazy blogger's out, but I am just going to post a bunch of pictures from today and just give you a brief running commentary. Some of these are probably blurry but it is late and I can't tell the difference!

Puttin' on the Ritz for prom! Thanks to our friends Scott and Sandy, Carter got to escort his date, Gracie, in style!

Yup, they drove over from Green Bay to let Carter drive their "Hot Wheels" edition Camaro to Prom. That's what great friends we are blessed to have. Carter knew about it and was so excited the past few days. He didn't tell anyone!

Of course his other surprise for his "fans," was the white tux, top hat and cane. It is an Assumption tradition of sorts that the junior boys wear a white tux. Many did and looked quite sharp!

Carter was the only one with a top hat (I added the matching ribbon) and cane (which I had to spray paint yesterday to get it looking decent again). He actually gets to keep the hat. "Mom, I can wear it someday for my wedding." Oh boy, let's just get through prom first.

Onto Gracie's house for the exchange of flowers. Here he is putting on her wrist corsage, much easier than pinning on the boutonniere. 

Aren't they adorable? And look at that dress! I am used to seeing Gracie running up and down the basketball court or the soccer field. They both clean up good, don't they?

 Thankfully Gracie's mom is an excellent photographer and captured a pic of me and my baby.

Gotta love when the car matches the vest and tie, right?

 They put the windows up and drove slowly so the hair on both of them would stay in place. Ha.

Ready to roll... First stop, making an entrance at the museum for junior class pictures! Then he basically told people he got the car from his Fairy Godmother and that it would turn into a Honda Civic at midnight. And it did!

 Some of the guys in white!

 Looking dapper on the front steps of the museum.

 Yes they are just friends, but they still make a classy-looking couple, don't they?

 Fun with the cane...

Carter holding Brady at bay.

Carter helping Jake do pullups.

 Festival of lights = Simply gorgeous!!

 Friends forever: Kassidy and Nick.

 Macyn and Macie strike a pose with attitude!

Dinner was served right at the school, as is tradition. I was one of the servers and was so busy I had no time to spy on Carter or hover. Honest. After we cleaned up dinner, we watched the Grand March and headed out to leave the kids to their fun.

Grandma and Grandpa Austin came to the Grand March, too! Grandma was quite impressed with Carter's ensemble... until she saw a picture of the car. Sorry, Carter, Grandma's a gearhead. Ha.

But I thought you, your date and, well, everyone, looked fabulous!