Ready to Go

Got my work done, my camera batteries charged, memory card cleared – even my scrapbooking stuff ready – let's get this weekend started!

Leaving the house by 8:30 a.m. to catch a ride on the "adults only" bus down to La Crosse for state hoops. Usually the girls play in Green Bay for state and only the boys play in Madison. Now, with COVID restrictions, they're dividing up at a few sites. Division 5 will play all their games tomorrow at the La Crosse Center. Assumption takes on Chippewa Falls McDonnell at 12:35 p.m. (Wisconsin ABC channels) and the winner plays the championship game at 7 p.m.

They had a sendoff at school today before the team headed down there. I couldn't go – work time, dang – but I was able to provide dozens of photos for them to use in a slide show and was definitely there in spirit. Tomorrow I'll be shooting under the baskets (photos, of course) and am excited to document their crowning achievement. 

Fingers crossed for the best.

Anticipating a late night Thursday, I'm making sure that I'm pretty much set to go for Camp Crop-A-Lot on Friday morning. Vacation time out of the office takes focus!

Camera pun intended. Yep. I better try to get some sleep for the Royally big day tomorrow!

Go Royals! #royalpride

Tuesday Treat

No need to write anything. This pretty much sums up my day. It's February. In Wisconsin. And 41 degrees. People either got out and walked or got their car in line for a wash. Some of us did both. What a treat!

Hope you could soak up some spring today!

Monday Meltdown

Hard to believe we had a springtime forecast today when the morning involved removing 2 1/2 inches of snow. (Thanks, hubby!) Even the plow went through and I'm thinking, "Really, guys? It's going to be NICE today?!"

The view out of my "corner office with windows" looked much the same. So I hunkered down to a busy day of work and the temperature started rising without my notice. When I was done, though. Dang! It's 37 degrees! I gotta go for a walk. 

The path around Lake Wazeecha requires a few areas where walkers have to take to the road. The walking lane is somewhere under that snow on the right and the Monday Meltdown Lake of Reflections. If temps are going to be in the 40s tomorrow, I don't think I'll be able to skirt around it! 

It just felt good to breathe warm air (Midwestern winter warm). And tomorrow we may just reach the "open the windows and let some fresh air in" stage of Midwestern winter warm. Gotta grab hold of it while we can!

Enjoy this springlike week. Hope it brightens your days and lightens your loads!

Sunday Smiles

In unusual turn of events, I had plenty of reasons to smile on a Sunday in the winter. Usually that's reserved for summer time!

Today, though, it was "nice" by Wisconsin winter standards. Temps around 22 degrees and no wind made for a pleasant walk around Lake Wazeecha. Saw this smilie face on a big rock and it reminded me that yes, we have reasons to smile today.

Nice walk and I got to try out my new mittens I just got in the mail from my back-home bestie Jules. Since we've known each other since junior high, it's a safe bet to make me mittens that have some purple in them – and a nod to Assumption's Royal Blue, too! She sent them to since she can't join me for Camp Crop-A-Lot next weekend. This way, I can take her with me on my / our walks! Thanks, dear. Love them! 

The other fun today was wishing my Aunt Gwen a happy 92nd birthday in person. Well, kind of in person. Our cousins set up a Zoom call at their house so she could SEE people giving her birthday wishes.

Even got to sing Happy Birthday and see her cake. Sweet! Thanks for setting that up, Carolyn, Laura, and your young, tech-savvy family members. That was nice!

The rest of the day was spend getting my scrap together for next weekend. If I'm going to state basketball Thursday, I pretty need everything set to go by Wednesday night. I'm pretty much set to go. As usual, if I don't remember details about something, I just check my blog. Thankfully I've been doing this for nearly 14 years. Might be time to retire from it and actually finish my scrapbooks. That sounds like a lot more work, though. I'll just keep plugging away and smile at the completion of each page.

Hope you found a reason or two to smile today. Based on the forecast of above-freezing temperatures here, we might even make a habit of it!

Still Going

If you didn't quite catch on to my clue, Assumption Lady Royals' basketball season is still going and going... all the way to state!

Based on the fact they claimed the 2021 sectional championship with a 21-point victory, I'd say it was a good game way down in Wauzeka-Stueben. Congrats, ladies!

We had it on TV but then got surprise company so kinda sorta watched it to keep an eye on the score. Otherwise, totally devoted to our guest! Seriously, our friend Toni just happened to be in the area and we haven't seen her since Carter's graduation party. So yes, so glad we was home for that! Very nice socially distant visit!

Also, since I didn't spend the day traveling, I got some cranberry bars baked, delivered birthday wishes to our nephew, walked around Lake Wazeecha, started a crochet blanket for someone, and somehow got hooked on watching Emily in Paris on Netflix tonight while hubby's off golfing. Since the main character works in marketing, it's even more interesting – beyond good humor and sarcasm and some possible romance. It is Paris after all.

Gonna have to get back to it, ha, but I'll share my two graphics I posted today...

This was my "good luck" one. I've been in our gym so many times, I can position my photos the way I want them. I've loved the sign in the background, but I don't know if people really SEE it. Now they will the next they go in the gym.

And thankfully a few moms were on the mission to get me a photo so I could post it on the school site. Whipped this together and couldn't stop grinning. So proud of these girls. They work so hard. Definitely deserved to punch their ticket to state!

However, any remaining creative juices shall be put in reserves for scrap camp prep tomorrow! Oh yes. I'm still going... 

Tis the Season

I honestly had some legit grocery shopping to do after work today. I had to get a few things for a little baking on tap this weekend and a few essentials like deodorant – you'll thank me later. Luckily I took a picture of my list on the fridge, because I got easily distracted the minute I walked into the store.

Seriously. Already? I guess Valentine's Day is over so we move onto Easter but dang, just two days into Lent and I'm having a hard time remembering I was going to focus on making healthy choices. There are so many unhealthy choices in those 3 boxes! 

But oh, so yummy!

Why are the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs so much better than the regular peanut butter cups – miniature or otherwise – and those shaped like pumpkins and Christmas trees?! I do not know. But I do know I'm not alone on this. Here's a few funnies I'd bet most of you can identify with...

Super breakfast with lots of protein, if you ask me!

I'll give you a free pass if you have peanut allergies, of course.

You know it! I help the Easter bunny fill the baskets to ensure we have plenty of "leftovers."

And in this ongoing pandemic... 

That last one alone should give me a free pass. But I don't need one. Yet. Today, I resisted. No special treats of any kind. Even though I walked past the ice cream case a few times. Somehow resisted that, too. This doesn't sound like me at all. I should probably get tested for that virus that gives you Will Power.

Pretty sure it won't last in my system as long 40 days. Any time I've suffered a bout of Will Power before, it's usually been short-lived and always quite unsatisfactory. And in the end, all I can hear is the clock ticking...

Good luck this season! Be careful, avoid viruses, and have sweet, sweet dreams!

Still Hanging On

When you're in a sport your senior year, you're kind of like this icicle – hanging on as long as you can, as the polar vortex comes to an end. Our Lady Royals are the same way.

Tonight, coming off their regional championship last Saturday, they entered the Division 5 sectional semi-final. In other words, the season is coming to an end and they needed two more wins to get to state. But of course, I'm sure coach reminded them, focus on one game at a time!

I always get nervous because I never want their last game to be, well, their last game. The other night when the boys lost, it was different. We had no seniors on the team. They all can play again next year and hopefully take it even further. The girls, though, have four seniors trying their hardest to be that longest-lasting icicle!

This evening they played at home against Independence, another small school about two hours west of here, not quite to the Mississippi River. Never met them on the court (or any playing surface or sport) before. (Glad the pandemic and weather cooperated enough so they could play because that did impact at least one playoff game tonight.)

When we were down by 10 or 12 points a few minutes in, I texted hubby, "Oh fudge." He replied, "Patience."

He's so smart. 

With more than 7 minutes to go in the first half, we took the lead and didn't look back. It was still a close and physical game. But our scrappy girls came out on top 63-49 and will hang on another day! 

Much rejoicing and masked hugging! 

So Saturday they'll travel all the way down to Wauzeka-Steuben High School – which is almost 3 hours away and sort of in the neighborhood of Prairie du Chien at the southwestern edge of the state. A win there and they punch their ticket to state.

Sadly, I realized that with an away game for the final, tonight was my last night with the seniors. I've sort of commandeered the home court this year with my picture-taking. That doesn't cut it with the away games and current COVID crowd-size restrictions. Thank goodness for the internet live-streaming opportunities! Hopefully we'll be doing the happy dance in our recliners on Saturday.

Good luck, Lady Royals! Keep hanging on!

Lenten "To Do" List

I don't believe everything I read on the internet, but I'm guessing even the Pope wouldn't mind if something this inspiring was falsely attributed to him. 

Rather than spew my own inspiring words for Ash Wednesday and the rest of Lent, I'll share this take on a different kind of fasting. A kind we could all try – no matter what our spiritual beliefs and backgrounds. are. In the words of Pope Francis:

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and have trust in God.

Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

Sounds like a great "To Do" list to me! Bless you all this Lenten season!

Well Shake My Fat... Tuesday

Cheers! It's Mardi Gras somewhere! I don't always observe Fat Tuesday, but when I do, you can bet I give it the same grand-scale effort as my Fat Monday and Fat Wednesday! 

Today, for example, I put on my Mardi Gras mask and beads for our morning staff meeting. After 347 days in the home office, you find ways to have fun with Zoom! Of course, I made it clear that I earned all those beads by 8:30 a.m. by showing people ... typos in their work. What were YOU thinking?

Rest of the day was comparatively boring. But after my trigger-point, deep-tissue shoulder and back therapy after work, I knew I had to take action.

A Shamrock Shake is one way to put the FAT in Fat Tuesday! Not as thick and tasty as I recalled. And no, it's not COVID-related loss of taste. It just wasn't the triple-thick mint magic of days gone by. And why was there no cherry on top? I mean I always threw it away, but keep something consistent from year to year.

Don't worry friends, I powered through it. Lent and pre-Lent is all about sacrifice.

I also sacrificed, er spent, two hours of time tonight in a church council meeting. I only gripe because it interferes with basketball playoffs. (Sorry, Jesus.)

I couldn't watch our Assumption boys play their first regional game – and last game of the season as it turns out – in person because my meeting was exactly the same time. I did sneak a peek on my phone and saw they were basically tied or close to it right up to the end. Port Edwards won by 3 points. Grr. Sorry, boys. 

So now I'll finish my second day in a row of fake holiday celebrating with a hot, epsom salt bath. Don't want my muscles waking up with any post-Mardi Gras regrets tomorrow. My tummy will have that covered.

Hope you all found a way to shake up your Fat Tuesday!

Happy National Wisconsin Day

For our friends in Texas and other places typically much warmer this time of year, sorry you had to suffer snow, cold, and power outages today. We had to share the love because it's, well, National Wisconsin Day.

Who knew it was thing? I've lived the Badger State my whole life and I didn't know they did a national holiday for any state, let alone mine.

When most of you think of Wisconsin, you think Green Bay Packers. I think "record cold highs" on Valentine's Day. I think cows and cheese, beer and brats, cranberries and COLD, polka music and brandy old-fashioneds. A look at some online sources that actually recognize this holiday, and they remind us of all those things we learned in 4th grade.

For example, nationalcalendarday.com reports this [with a few of my side notes]:

Rich in copper, lead, forest and fertile farmland, Wisconsin became the 30th state on May 29, 1848. In 1634, French explorer Jean Nicolet was the first European to reach Wisconsin while seeking a Northwest passage to China.  [Kids: No GPS in those days.]

A mining boom, not fur trading, led to the nickname The Badger State. [Fans: The Big Ten and football team came later.] According to oral history, the miners burrowed into the hillsides much like badgers for shelter instead of setting up more permanent homesteads. The first wave of settlers to the area also began the uprooting of the Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Chippewa, and other indigenous people. [Fellow white people: We suck.]

Early in Wisconsin’s settlement, dairy production began to take root. By the turn of the century [Shouldn't that be the "churn" of the century?], the state became known for its dairy farms and synonymous with cheese.

Mining, dairies, and breweries grew one after the other. [Supper clubs and deep-fried cheese curds came next.] An influx of German immigrants in the 1850s brought a new brand of dreamers. Brewers cropped up across Wisconsin satisfying the thirst of The Badger State. As with brewers in other regions of the country, the 18th Amendment of 1919 prohibiting alcohol drowned out much of the competition leaving only a handful after the legislation was repealed in 1933. [Pretty sure we've made up for lost time.]

From Lake Michigan to Superior and numerous river and lakes in between, Wisconsin offers ample opportunity for water recreation and sport. There are also year-round trails perfect for summer hiking or substantial snow for winter activities. [And Frozen Tundra temps to keep the long underwear manufacturers in business.]

And for the record, I guess this is only the second National Wisconsin Day. Now we know for next year to plan a big celebration that involves shutting down the schools and staying home due to extreme temperatures and wind chills. Pretty sure we got those logistics figured out today.

Be careful out there, Wisconsinites!

My Loves

I guess everyone celebrates Valentine's Day in this house. And the two women here love the same man. How does that work?

I used to think I was lucky only one of us could talk. Now, it seems we both can, thanks to my Meow Talk app. I tell hubby "Happy Valentine's Day" and she gets her two cents, er meows, in... 

It's pretty spot on with its translation. She loves him. I love him. And he loves both of us. She gets more back rubs. But I'm the one who got chocolate, new towels and rugs for the bathroom, and a gold-dipped rose today.

This year's color is Baby Blue. Pretty! I guess roses are red AND blue!

That was the extent of excitement today. Got some chores done and relaxed in my warm recliner while Jim was off golfing (indoor simulator). It didn't get above zero degrees here so I was not motivated to leave the house for any reason! Schools are called off tomorrow already, too, since the windchill (likely -36 ish) makes it impossible to breathe outside. Uff da.

If I didn't know better, I'd say Cupid and Ol' Man Winter teamed up to force us all to snuggle on this Valentine's Day. 

Works for me. I might even turn off Meow Talk for the night. Nothing ruins a romantic holiday like a cat fight.

Sweet Saturday

For a frigid cold sub-zero Saturday, it wasn’t bad. It's nearing midnight, so I’ll sum it up briefly...

Shooting hoops part one: 8th-grade basketball tournament. 

Out of the Box Coffee: Super yummy coffee from new coffee house in town.

Bridgeton: Finished that Netflix series and it was also yummy. And steamy. Ha.

Shooting hoops part two: Regional final and subsequent regional championship for our Lady Royals!

A good day, indeed!

The coldest is yet to come. Bundle up and watch golf or something Sunday! Be careful out there!

Friday Night Cruise

With a Round 1 Regional bye Tuesday, our Lady Royals proved their No. 1 seeding and took Round 2 opponent in a landslide victory tonight, 75-29. Poor Greenwood. They headed home and our girls cruised into tomorrow's Regional Final. 

Assumption will host No. 2 seed Loyal Saturday night. That'll be a tough matchup. I took a few photos tonight (just a few hundred) and tomorrow night I'll probably be too nervous to get any in focus. 

I don't know why I get nervous. Probably because I love high school sports and just enjoy seeing kids I care about succeed. I dislike senior year because there's going to be a "last game" at some point. And when they cry, I cry. Hopefully they'll keep winning so I have an excuse to get out of the house, too!

Even with our landslide win, I still shed some tears. The girls had an appreciation ceremony of sorts an hour before the game. The players each picked someone they wanted to thank for being an influence in their life and supportive, etc.

My sweet Lydia invited me. She gave me a bag of sweet treats and a letter that brought a lump in my throat! She's the best. I should say she is one of three of the best. Her older brother and sister – both graduated now – are pretty fantastic, too. Great kids. Great family. And easy to love right back.

Sometimes we get lucky that way.

Other times, like tonight's victory, takes skill. Hope they can put another show tomorrow night. Let's go, ladies!

Oh That's Why it's a Pand-emic

Saw this today and I can relate on so many levels. After 343 days in "soft" lockdown, this panda behavior has become the new norm. Of course, it wouldn't be so bad if I spent the last year snacking on leafy greens for half the day.

That's not how it works. Not on Blue Jay Drive anyway.

I eat like a panda and move like a cat – closer to the "sleeps 22 hours a day" movement more so than the "young and frisky" side.

I was so good the month of January about getting out to walk at lunch time and after work. Probably because January felt like December. Now February is feeling like the usual Polar Vortex that is January. And I hate it.

By the way, it's warmer in Alaska (see you in 123 days) than in the Midwest right now.  We're apparently in a 10-day Arctic blast and these next 5 days will be worse than the past five. Can you say 23 below zero? Oh yes, that's how the weekend will wrap up. 

In other words, I'll just continue to eat like a panda, move like a geriatric cat, and hibernate under a warm blanket like a bear. And Lord help us, this does not become the "new normal" for all of 2021.

Stupid pandemic.

Another Countdown

My internet is behaving badly. Well, very, very slow, at least. So I'll keep today's blog short and sweet while I still have a connection.

Today was an exciting day for one of my favorite golf courses and for my work company (which owns and operates it). The USGA announced that they chose SentryWorld, in Stevens Point, as the host site for the 43rd U.S. Senior Open Championship. 

I'm beyond exited about this. After volunteering an the U.S. Junior Girls Championship in 2019, I couldn't wait to work another one and had high hopes it would be at SentryWorld. Yay!

And for it to be the senior tour is awesome for a golf geek like me. Hubby and I have been golfing and watching golf for decades. It will be amazing if we get a chance to see some of our favorite golfers in action. Freddie Couples, please be my birthday date in 2023!

Lots of planning will be set into motion now that it's official. Not sure my involvement but I'm excited nonetheless. It's also nice when we're setting here in below zero temperatures that we can have something warm and summery to look forward to.

Lord, please return the world to normalcy long before these next 868 days are up. (But who's counting?)

Non-Arctic Cat

You want to know what puts the F in Forecast? I'll tell you. Frigid. And maybe another F word. Like Frozen. As in highs in the single digits only for the next week. Uff da.

Good thing Sylvester (my solar sister) and I have the answer: Heat.

It's no secret we both love the sun – whether it's sitting on Mr. Deck Chair or laying on a rug in front of a sunlit window (that would be her, not me. We just like the warmth. As in can't stand to be cold! Ask Mr. Heated Mattress Pad about that. He never gets a day off. 

And I honestly don't have to fight over the thermostat setting while working from home. Hubby and I are pretty sure we've reached the age we feel the cold in our bones. I'm starting to get why "older" ladies wear sweaters in the summer. We must gradually lose our natural insulation as we age. 

One non-guilty pleasure in our house is the in-floor heating in our bathroom in our master bedroom. On cold winter mornings like we're having now, it's so nice to walk from the carpet right onto those heated tiles. Ahhh. So glad we spoiled ourselves when we renovated the bathroom a few years back.

You know who hasn't noticed this hot spot? Sylvester. 

Seriously, my sun-seeking sister did not notice until this winter. All these times she's followed her human to the bathroom. She always stayed outside the door and let him do his business in private. This winter, though, she must have accidentally followed him all the way in and suddenly was like, "Whoa. This is warm and cozy and amazing! And look, there's two rugs in the house I haven't layered in hair yet! Maybe I'll stay a bit." 

And she did.

Tonight I lost track of her while Jim was gone and I was working on some photos while watching boys basketball on my tablet and watching This Is Us on TV. It wasn't until I was going to go brush my teeth that I found her.

And she was sitting right in front of the toilet instead of the other rug by the sink! Based on the projected low of at least 16 below zero tonight, I forecast little movement. 

Of course, the 83-year-old (in human years) is thin-skinned like us old folks. She'll get too hot before too long. I'm just glad I discovered the joys of heat – and how to fake create it – before I got old like her!

Bundle up, kids!

Preparing for Final Battles

Feels like we just got into a groove with some winter sports actually being played after covid this and covid that. 

Now the girls have wrapped up their regular hoops season. They lost to Stratford tonight so the Lady Royals share the conference title in the Marawood South. Congrats! Considering there was basically a 3-week gap with quarantines, I'd say our ladies are getting strong at just the right time.

Regional playoffs start tomorrow. Assumption got the No. 1 seed in their bracket so the Lady Royals get a bye and will host regional round 2 on Friday night.

Our boys are still looking for their second win of the season. Stratford also stomped on them tonight. We still have a few more chances for a "W" as the Royals host games at home this Tuesday and Thursday. Not sure if they'll have other games to make up yet, but the boys regionals start next Tuesday, Feb. 16.

We'll see what happens from here. Feel blessed I got to see some action in person this season and capture what I could on my trusty Nikon. Hopefully there's a few more good stories to show AND tell before they officially wrap up winter sports. 

Let's go Royals!!

Easy Like Super Sunday

When it come to Super Bowl Sunday, you kind of have to go into the day knowing that, even if you're not hosting or attending a party somewhere per usual, it's still gonna be a waste of a day.

Throw in subzero temperatures. All. Day. Long. And really, who wants to do anything? Not me.

I watched church online, called my mom, and tried to be productive through early afternoon then, bam, in my recliner with an anchor tied to my backside for the next 6 hours or so.

Watched an exciting Sunday afternoon finish to the entertaining Phoenix Open. Then, since hubby was off to golf himself (indoors), I made Caribbean Jerk Chicken Strips in the air fryer and sat down for football and the second half of my bonding time with Mr. Recliner.

I could claim he kidnapped me, but I wouldn't want anyone to rescue me. It's sort of like New Year's Day. We earn that one day to sit around a do absolutely nothing.

I didn't have a vested interest in who won the game. Usually I'm trying to just match "my numbers" on boards at a party. That was back in pre-pandemic times. This year I just wanted the score to be close and the commercials entertaining. I would have said enjoyable halftime show, too, but I'm getting to the age I don't recognize all the songs by halftime artists. If I've heard of them and know two songs I consider myself still young-ish.

The game itself wasn't that exciting. I had predicted a close game with Chiefs winning by 3 after Brady falls short on a 4th-quarter comeback. So everything opposite of what I "thought" actually happened. Remember that for Vegas next year, friends. 

There were a few noteworthy commercials. I liked the M&M's commercial (sorry your name is Karen) and the "2020 was a lemon" one and this one...

... which says "Good night and sweet dreams" to me. Good thing I stuck it out and didn't switch over the Hallmark movie.

Good night, Boss.

Hoops and Scoops

When you observe National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, you know the rest of the day is going to go downhill. 

Let's just say that was the peak of my relaxation part anyway. Last night I didn't blog since I was up late editing photos from girls basketball. Between road games and quarantines, they haven't played at home in forever and now the playoffs start next week. So I skipped blogging since it was midnight. Today I watched the JV girls in a makeup game. Their season is done now and they had a nice win. Did those photos when I got home while watching varsity via live stream. 

Somewhere in between all that, the temperature rose above zero. Not by much. I didn't walk outside and didn't get a whole lotta steps expect for dusting and vacuuming. I should get double for those!

And I did enjoy my Cedar Crest brand Blueberry Chocolate Waffle Cone ice cream for breakfast. Hubby suggested the real blueberries so maybe some might thinks it's cereal. Hey. it fooled ME.

Stay warm and be careful out there!

Seven-Layer Snow Day

Spoiler alert: Those human prognosticators were right. We were in the 4-8 inches zone and we closed in on 7 inches just as it was getting dark. It was still coming down, but since the wind was starting to blow things sideways, I wanted to measure before drifting was a factor.

We'll see what the officials weather reporters say later or tomorrow.

It was an actual snow day for our local kids. Knowing there was overnight freezing rain setting an icy foundation under the snow, everyone was advised to stay home today. One of those days I was grateful to be in our soft, snowy lockdown here.

Also grateful I'm not a short little weiner dog making my way through the neighborhood. Poor Charlie! Go home, little guy!

And grateful hubby took command of the snowblower at the end of the day.

Uff da! Feeling cold yet?

That wind!

For my part, I stayed out of the way. Watched a little golf on TV and compared my back steps to the church pew bunker at the Phoenix Open. I also watched another episode of Bridgerton on Netflix and, quite possibly, may watch another. 

If 7 inches of snow can't give some of us a real snow day off, we can pretend. And squeeze the fun and relaxation into the 7 (well 5) hours after work. Enjoy this winter wonderland.

Be super careful out there. Watch for ice. And little dogs, too.