Saturday, December 31, 2016

So Long, Sweet 16

Remember when we thought the world would end (or close to it) when the calendar turned to 2000? Remember we survived?

So many people thought 2016 was such a bad year, yet we survived, didn't we?

Maybe the elections didn't go how you wanted them to. Maybe there was too much violence. Too much negativity. Too much sadness.

Maybe. But we also had great time celebrating the Olympics. Remember? And, in my own little world, there also was joy at our son's graduation. Pride as he started college. Gratitude that the year ended without the loss of a loved one in our family.

Extra special gratitude that I got to spend the last day with a few special friends.

My BFF Christine was in town so I got see her (right) and her sister-in-law Jenny (my scrap sister) downtown late this afternoon. Along with about 10 or 12 others. We old people need to go out early! Home a little after 6 p.m.

At 6:30, we headed down the block to our friends Mark and Brenda's house where 11 of us got to eat, drink and be very merry, talking stupid, playing cards and losing money. (I did, anyway.) Made it until midnight and then some! Take that, young people!

Speaking of young people, Carter is staying at a friend's and Tony had to go to bed early because he has to work at 5 a.m. So somebody had to ring in the new year.

Hope you have fond memories of another passing year and appreciate how far you've come. May 2017 bring you everything you are hoping for!

For me that is more time with the many special people filling up my heart.

Happy New Year!

Friday, December 30, 2016

By Snacks-ident


This has been such a tough week of work. And by work, I mean working on getting the junk / bad / crap / yummy sugary food out of the house so I can start that annual health kick January 1st.

Well, I have been sharing it. Does that count?

I even wanted to start this "lifestyle" before the end of the year. Get a step ahead. I went so far as to my FitBit back on. Do you know that it only registers steps and activity if you actually MOVE?! Like anything else, a FitBit isn't going to help you lose weight. Not if it's on your wrist and your legs aren't moving. And definitely not if you are eating a Reese's Peanut Butter Christmas Tree while you're walking.

Who knew, right?

We'll see if I can come to my senses in the next 24-48 hours. This downward spiral to Fluffsville did not happen overnight or by accident. More like snacks-ident.

Good thing it's almost all out of the house! Just too full to finish the job right now.




Thursday, December 29, 2016

Holiday Deadline


Since the official holiday season, according to Robyn, ends Sunday night, I figured I better share our Christmas card.

No need to "oooh" and "ahhh." I wasn't impressed with it. This is the result of a "let's get something sent before we leave for Maui" moment. I let myself down because I was going to design my own – something that maybe didn't mix up 3 different fonts. (That's the designer talking.) But when you gotta catch a plane, you grab a template, fill it and go with it.

No time for an accompanying letter this year either. That makes two years in a row. Is it too much to hope that all our recipients read my blog and keep up with the Austins that way? Probably. No need to fill you in on 2016 because, well, you're reading it!

We do sincerely wish 2017 will bring you renewed faith, hope, love, joy and peace!

And if there is something in 2016 you wanted to do, try, accomplish, you name it, ya better get going on that before the sands of time are washed away by 2017!


I know you want to say it... Like sand through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives. Good luck with the rest of the days of your year!



Wednesday, December 28, 2016

In a Pickle


On the agenda today: Pickle Training.

Pickle what?

I was a bit skeptical spending my morning in Pickle Training, which I later learned is just "Give 'em the pickle" training. Does that clarify things? Ha.

The training is designed to improve customer service and build leadership. Our company's session was based on the popular "Pickle Training" offered globally probably by Bob Farrell. It stemmed from a customer complaint he received when he owned a restaurant. Patrons always got a second pickle if they asked for one. This person didn't one day and wrote a letter of complaint and said he wouldn't return to the eatery again.

Mr. Farrell reminded his employees to focus on keeping their customers happy and satisfied. If they want one, give them the pickle! It's not worth losing customers over.

Our group today represented a handful of different departments – all of us with both external and internal customers. It was both entertaining and interesting. Basically, the Pickle principles for great customer service are these...


While this might apply to our work, it also applies to our volunteer efforts, boards and committees we serve on, and relationships in general. Doesn't that make sense that we should try to serve others, maintain a positive attitude to keep them happy, consistently be there for them, and build each other up?

What is your pickle? What do you have (or do) that can be applied to those four categories? Knowledge, creativity, humor, support... You probably have a number of pickles to give! 

I think we undervalue the positive impact of a listening ear, a compliment or a hug. This was a good reminder today it is simple to do more for others in all corners of my little world.

I guess when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. But when life hands you pickles, you give them away!


Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Winner, Winner, What's for Dinner?

Two of my best and, at the same time, worst traits are that I am competitive and predictable.

As noted above, December sort of is just a month-long eating contest. Darn my competitive nature. I think I am totally winning!

Which brings me to predictable. I won't even bother looking back at past blogs from the last 6 or 7 Decembers. I can almost guarantee. I can almost predict, rather, that I was having issues with the holiday graze craze. It really is the most wonderful time of the year when it comes to home-baked treats. Oh my gosh. So many yummy, yummy choices. So much mint and chocolate, too. Where to start?

Where to stop? Can I stop?

I think my will power goes right down the drain with my energy and extra cash this time of year. The other day I actually stopped at Culver's for an eggnog shake because I heard McDonald's was out and I considered it a crime if I didn't have one before Christmas. It goes against the law of Christmas cheer or something.

Was it worth it? Probably not.

I did the usual berating of oneself when one is eating like Elf.

That might have played into why I actually got up for 5:40 a.m. kickboxing on Friday. Alas, the martial arts center was closed the next 3 days. So I continued to eat my way through the long Christmas weekend and am coming up for air today.  

Sadly, I can't seem to break the cycle. Am I the only one? My thought pattern is something like this. I try to eat right for the most part and exercise when I can. Just enough of both disciplines for me to feel like I DESERVE these treats this one time of the year. Anyone else feel that?

I won't sugarcoat it – though that might be tasty – but this means there is some level of emotional eating going on here. I deserve this because I am stressed and need it or I have been good and earned it. Either way, it's not because of needed nourishment.

The other bit (not bite) of bad news about this "one time of the year" is that "one time" equals a month! OK, let's be honest. More like 6 weeks spanning from Turkey Day to New Year's Day. Not good, folks.

Obviously, you and I are not the only big "winners" in this competition. Why else would all the diet and exercise products be on sale for New Year's?

Let's just accept it and enjoy the rest of the year. We're into the 6th week here. Can't undo the choices we've made. And frankly, there weren't too many bad ones. Most were delicious beyond measure!

Keep on winning. We have all of January to be big losers. Plus, there's kind of only one way to get rid of these treats around here.

Open wide and say "Ahh-m-m-m."

Winner. Winner. What's for dinner?

Monday, December 26, 2016

Monday Accomplished



Today was the day one half of the population goes to Wal-Mart to get the Christmas item clearance deals (I know because I was one of them) and the other half sleeps in because they are on vacation from school or work (I know because I was one of them, too).

To be clear, though, I took the advice to sit back and relax and actually slept in past 8:30 a.m. Oh, after the early morning Santa helper gigs, it felt sooooooo good!

Spent the morning working on a freelance project then gallivanting around town on errands this afternoon. This included a visit to a shut-in – OK, delivering a book to a book club member who is "shut in" with a scooter after ankle surgery – and included a stop at Wal-Mart for some yogurt... and $15 in half-price Christmas candy for the candy dish at work.

I was going to go for a walk outside since it was going to be warmer. But the wind was blowing so hard it knocked the windchill down to the teens – and knocked out power in some places. B-r-r-r! So that was crossed off the "to do" list and switched over to "not required."

Since hubby made turkey noodle soup with our leftover turkey from yesterday, I wasn't required to make supper either. Not that I do that all that often anyway. (Just being honest, even if Santa is taking the day off, too, and not watching!)

This might sound like the day was all about me but for the record, I did not watch a single Hallmark movie. I did, however, get started on my next book club book. I was trying to do that while watching reruns of The Detour with hubby. I sense that my recliner is not made for that much multi-tasking!

So I'm going to bed early because I can. Plus setting an alarm for work tomorrow is on the "must do" list.

Sigh... I much prefer the "Day After Christmas Do Nothing" list, don't you?


Sunday, December 25, 2016

On The Nice List

Apparently Santa put us on the Nice List because we were rewarded with quite a good Christmas today! Not just my yummy purple (of course) ice cream ornament either.

Had all our "big boys" around the table for Christmas lunch today. I cooked a turkey and tried a new crock pot recipe for cheesy potatoes that worked out pretty swell. Casey, Clay and Clay's girlfriend arrived after noon, right around the same time as Tony, who trekked down from my twin's Up North this morning. He had the wintry mix you probably heard about, but all we've had here all day is rain, rain and rain. Actually enough to cause flooding in the area. This is not typical of Christmas in Wisconsin!



Having all the boys under the same roof two days in a row wasn't typical either. But I loved it. We did the usual meal, gifts and watching A Christmas Story and John Wayne. But it just felt good to all be together. I wish it wasn't so seldom. It's a gift when our 3 wise men (or wise guys?) are together.

Today was also special because it was Tony's birthday. I was so glad he got Up North a few days to be with his family and friends for the holiday. They've missed that privilege the last few years.


I didn't exactly make him a cake, more like a Christmas-Birthday dessert. I know he loves chocolate and peanut butter but I had to go with a Christmas chocolate-peppermint combo. Trust me, between his Santa Up North and his Santa down here, he got enough peanut butter treats! And yes, he did turn 28, but when I counted my candles I only had 27, figures, so we made a smiley face instead. I hope his wish still comes true!

I know mine did. Having family together is the greatest gift.

Watching a Hallmark Christmas movie in my new recliner ranks right up there, too! In fact, I've been so nice, I may just watch two.

Merry Christmas!


Saturday, December 24, 2016

Christmas Lights

Our Christmas Eve can be briefly summed up in two types of lights...


The first was a morning "candlelight" service at church, where battery-operated tea lights give the warm glow of Christmas Eve... and are fire safe! They also remind us Jesus is the light of the world.


The second was an afternoon and evening at the in-laws' with the lights of our lives: Casey, Colin, Clay and Carter.

No need to mention the third... the Packers turning the lights out on any hope of a playoff appearance by the Vikings. I missed most of it. I was nestled, all snug in my recliner with visions of victory in my head. Too bad I awakened to en-light-ened reality in the 4th quarter!

Guessing maybe Santa has something better in store for me. Better get to sleep just in case!

May the joys of Christmas light up your life! 


Friday, December 23, 2016

12 Days of Kalikimaka

We're all familiar with that long, drawn-out carol called "The 12 Days of Christmas." We've heard it a thousand times and probably have heard at least a half-dozen (mostly comical) variations. Have you heard of the Hawaiian version?

It doesn't exist. In fact, I don't know if the kalikimaka part of "mele kalikimaka" can stand on its own to replace the word Christmas. But are going to pretend it does. And hopefully I can figure out 12 gifts of Christmas from my modern-day Don Ho.

Here goes...

12 Drummers Drumming


The big lu'au we attended was actually called the Drums of the Pacific Lu'au. While there weren't 12 drummers drumming, there were anywhere from one to four at any given time. The focus of the Lu'au was to share through dance and song the many cultures of Polynesia. It was outstanding. There will be a few more related photos... or closely related to the 12 Days.

Eleven Pipers Piping


How about 11 Pipers Paddling instead? There were some really colorful numbers illustrating the journey to the Hawaiian islands.

Ten Lords a Leaping

Maui is host to some of the largest surfing competitions in the world. It was no surprise that even with "small" waves, we saw some lords a leaping over the waves.





Nine Ladies Dancing
Before you get excited about the "real" hula girls, I will have you know that at our resort's Polynesian show, I did get up in front of 100 people and learn the hula. If figured you only live once – plus no one knew me!

Sure, I might have been the oldest one up there (red Badger shirt), but I was young at heart!

 And look how much I improved by the end of the week!

No comparison to the dancing lu'au ladies, though!


Eight Maids a Milking

While we didn't have milk maids or meter maids on Maui, we did have Ubers.


The ukelele-playing Melanie was our first Uber driver we'd ever "hired." I wasn't even sure if I knew what Uber was until then. But the concierge recommended we download the app and use that for a personalized taxi service versus the more expensive commercial taxi services. In the end, it was pretty convenient for us.

Seven Swans a Swimming

This should be more like seven seconds swimming! The waves and undercurrent were pretty strong so it wasn't like we could just float around in the ocean!




If I lived there, I would need to either shave my head or invests into some serious hairspray!

Six Geese a Laying


Despite the breezes, there were at least six geese/girls/gals laying... in the sun, that is!


Five Golden Rings

Welcome, Johnny Cash and his five burning rings of fire!


 Definitely the coolest part of the Lu'au!


Hey, why not throw fire while we're at it? Crazy!

Four Calling Birds
While we kept in touch with Carter via text regularly, we were the calling parent birds on a few occasions, including one where we video-chatted.

Poor Carter. We showed him some beach footage but the waves and wind were so loud, we couldn't hear him, even on speaker. So we sort of had to cut him off. Not something this mom would ever do under normal circumstances! We wanted him to feel a little included, though, even if it probably made it worse, based on the frigid, snowy weather back home! 

Three French Hens

I don't think it was French hens who laid the eggs for our breakfast and lunch experiments we had, but the eggs played a part. While we had coconut in a dozen ways and fish, including shrimp, swordfish and mahi-mahi, one of the interest "local" meals we had was called Loco-Moco.

This was served as a lunch and included white rice topped with two hamburger patties topped with gravy and two eggs. I gotta say, it seems like a weird combo, but it was pretty darn good!

Two Turtle Doves


C'mon, it's Hawaii. You think we're going to see two turtle doves? Saw these two parrots hanging out and thought that was pretty cool. For a pretty penny, you could get your picture taken with them, too.

and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

No pear tree, but how about a Banyan Tree? Hard to describe, but oh so interesting. One tree covering nearly an acre and it somehow has 11 or so trunks. The largest one of its kind in the U.S.


A view from the edge of the park. I just couldn't get it all in the frame!

Trunks under the tree canopy.

Isn't it the strangest thing?

At night, the Christmas trees light up the trunk area so tourists like me can walk about taking pictures.

And, of course, wondering what their true loves will bring the next 12 days of Christmas, or Kalikimaka!



Thursday, December 22, 2016

Just Along For The Ride


If you've been to Maui or know someone who has, you've no doubt heard about the Road to Hana. Despite how the name Road to Hana sounds, the objective of this road is not just to get to the small town of Hana. It is all about the journey and enjoying the beauty along the way.

When you learn that a nonstop commute would be 3 hours or less and a "tour" can take 12 hours, you realize it is probably the best way to get a taste of all that Hawaii has to offer. And we did. The Road to Hana is a curvy coastal road with views of cliffs, beaches, waterfalls and miles and miles of rain forest. It’s mostly a well-paved road, but you do need to keep your wits about you when you drive it because of the many sharp curves and one-lane bridges. That's one of the reasons we decided to go through a tour bus instead of renting a car and driving it ourselves.

The other reason is that it's also known as "The Divorce Highway." Why? Because although it's fabulous, it is also 52 miles of driving madness – with 617 hair-pin turns and 56 narrow, one-lane bridges (some over 100 years old).

Wouldn't YOU rather be just along for the ride?


The comfort cruiser (tour van seating 12) picked us up at 6:30 a.m. since it was going to take nearly an hour to get to the official "road" – plus they provided breakfast for us! Once we got on the road, we were hitting the hair-pin turns right away. See above how the van behind us looks like it's going in the other direction? I couldn't have handled driving and Jim couldn't have handled me sucking in my breath and making stress noises! I felt comfortable with Walter, our tour guide with a much longer Hawaiian name, at the wheel.


He gave us a ton of information and history, including that this bridge we were going over was more built more than a century ago. Concentrate on the beauty, Robyn.


Since there are dozens of places tourists could stop, a person may not get far before dark if they tried. Walter had some key points to stop and I took a lot of photos out the window. He stopped here to show us the Rainbow Eucalyptus trees because they are so unique.


These trees may look like they’ve been painted on, but these colors are all natural. The multi-colored streaks on its trunk comes from patches of outer bark that are shed annually at different times, showing the bright-green inner bark. This then darkens and matures to give blue, purple, orange and then maroon tones. Cool, huh?


We were probably an hour or two into the tour when we had a traffic delay. Apparently with the rain and rain and rain the weeks leading up to our arrival, there were some mud slides. So they needed to clear debris and be sure everything else is secure. (As secure as it could be.)



If you click on the picture and look closely, there are three guys up on the top of this "cliff." Uff da. Now do you appreciate your day job?


The delay did afford us (and the people in the 43 vehicles behind us) a chance to walk around a little and see a few views from a different angle. Got this coastline photo and just love how blue the water is, how white the waves are, both contrasting with the lush green trees.


Since our road trip circled the base of a volcano crater, a lot of the beaches had black, lava rock. Very different.


I don't recall the names and locations of all the waterfalls, but they were all pretty.


 Waterfall pretty .... and pretty high up. So glad we didn't drive and have to "look down" occasionally.


All the waterfalls were robust, for lack of a better word, due to all the recent rains. Just added to the beauty.

Bamboo... you can't stop it. You can only hope to contain it.



A poinsettia tree. I wish I could contain THAT.


Just outside of the town of Hana is Wai’ānapanapa State Park. It is ruggedly beautiful with a lava outcropping just offshore to a small, black sand beach. Have never seen anything like it!


You just expected your hands to be black if you touched the rocks or sand. But they weren't.


Walter did advise us we could look and touch the rocks -- but not take them. That would be bad luck. If you recall The Brady Bunch Hawaii episodes, it would be like taking the taboo tiki idol around! That's according to island legend. And we weren't going to press our luck.


A view of Black Sand Beach from up the hill.


We had a picnic lunch stop at a little garden and gift shop. The owner gave each of us ladies a sprig (or stock??) of ginger. It has no scent to it until you squeeze it, then your hand and the flower have this beautiful fragrance.

Just learning new things around every corner (or curve)!

Unfortunately during our lunch stop, it started to rain. Hard. I guess it rains every day around Hana. Glad we got some photos taken in the morning!



We had brought our swimsuits with because we were scheduled to stop and take a dip in the Pools of Oheo in Haleakalā National Park. These are most commonly known as the Seven Sacred Pools (even though there are 21) so we looked forwarded to getting a healing swim on. But it was raining and due to the recent rain and rain and rain, the pools were closed to swimming that day.


Not to be deterred, since we had a 30-minute stop, Jim and I hiked the very muddy and slippery path to try to catch a sacred view. Didn't get much since it was raining and some of the outlooks were fenced off, too. Maybe the rain was sacred??


Even if it wasn't raining, we were going to get wet at Wailua Falls, touted as Maui's most photographed waterfall. While we may have been at the point in the drive where another waterfall is about as novel as a tree branch, this one is impossible to pass up.


When we were there, is was crazy cascading – like super rushing cascading – the 80 feet down the side of a jungle wall. It was so loud and big, we could feel the water droplets from the road. You can tell by my hair, the wind was blowing precipitation our way, too. Pretty awesome, though.


I had no idea how many famous people are associated with Maui. Did you know Charles Lindbergh is buried there? Had no idea.


He had lived in Hana until his death and had told his wife he wanted to be buried there at the Kipahulu Point Light Station. Did not see a lighthouse in the rain, but the grave site was in a cemetery for Palapala church, a little old church founded in 1864.

As the light rain continued, Walter kept us moving along. He wasn't sure if we'd reach a point where there would be too much water over the road and we'd have to turn around. Not something you want to hear 8 hours into your trip!


I was trying not to look at the muddy road. This was paved actually but was considered the "full body massage" portion of the trip that chiropractors everywhere love, I am sure. Still, we made it through safely and got home to our hotel in about 11 hours.


But not before the cows came home. Yes, even in Hawaii, they occasionally have the Wisconsin version of a traffic jam. Maybe it's not so different after all.

Right.

Thanks for going along for the ride with us!