Hoping for Spook-tacular instead of Spooky

I'll blog now before I learn if Halloween was really a trick or a treat. Hoping a treat. But the Vikings are scaring me with their inability to hold a lead! Tied after 3 quarters. Uff da.

Meanwhile, the Braves could take the Series tonight but got a bit spooked and are behind. I am hoping the Braves pull it off one of these nights. My brother-in-law is a huge fan and this would make his week! Plus, who likes the cheating Astros anyway? Put rocks in their Halloween bags!

Alright, gotta get back to my recliner and the games. Was a low-key Halloween here with just one family of trick-or-treaters. Glad I wisely bought Jim's favorite (Butterfingers) instead of mine (Reese's Peanut Butter Cups) for leftovers.

Or am I? 

Crossing fingers I won't need comfort candy later. Happy Halloween!

Keeping Pace

It was almost too nice of a day for state cross country. Seriously. Sunny and nearly 60. That's warm to run this event. Especially for a middle-aged photographer trying to run from spot to spot to get a good shot.

It got me steps. But it also got me hot and tired! 

After last year's extreme crowd-size limit plus dividing the meet up in three locations, it was actually nice to have it back in Rapids like one big happy family. If the family had thousands of members, that is.

Our Lady Royals finished 10th as a team. I hope they are holding their heads high because being a top 10 team in the state is a pretty, pretty big deal. If you ask this lifer cross country mom. I was proud of them for powering through the nerves and powering through a tough course. 

Since I was there, I got to shoot pictures of a few other runners, too. Grantsburg (where I have history and current family) had both a boys and girls team run today. That was cool. And the boys especially did well, finishing second. Was able to share some pictures of both teams on social media. And assigned some cousins to handle sharing them with the people runners' families.

By the time I got home and got done going through photos, I needed to not only sit, but give my hands a rest after several hours of clenching and unclenching the camera and then the computer mouse.

So yes, I did sit on the recliner and watch one of the new Hallmark Christmas movies. I had pumpkin spice coffee for breakfast so that makes up for DVRing and watching Christmas love unfold in October. I promise tomorrow will be all about pumpkins and candy. Or just the proper seasonal coffee drink if my legs hurt from running today and I need to relax!

Note to self: Never try to keep pace with kids half your age. Make that a third. Uff da. What was I thinking?!

Great job, runners!

$tre$$ Relief

After pulling my hair out for the past month (at least) over computer issues, I decided to take action today. Which, of course, always comes at a price. But look at this pretty view...

Yep. It's a clean, completely uncluttered desktop of a new iMac. I had to do it. We just happened to be gifted a free afternoon off at work, so although I hated to spend off time getting stressed and dealing with computers, it was worth it now.

Went to Best Buy in Plover and had it all set up by the end of what would have been a normal work day.

It's so nice! I couldn't believe how quickly Photoshop worked. And well, everything worked! Finally got through some volleyball pictures I took weeks ago but couldn't edit since the old computer (still sitting here for now) was locking up and restarting and only letting me open up 25 pictures at a time. That is so time-consuming when I have my typical several hundred from an event! 

So hopefully tomorrow will be stress-free after shooting state cross country where our Lady Royals return for the second year in a row. Finally got to create their "good luck" graphic, too.

It's possible I rely on my computer a little too much, eh? I mean I just realized I have 5,000 blogs under my belt so yeah, I do use it a lot. Lucky you, though. Right?

$igh.

Twisting and Shouting

Had an "old school" fun night with two girlfriends as we stepped – or twisted and shouted – back in time to hear The Beatles. Or something close to them.

The Britins were in town playing a fundraising concert for the Wood County Crimestoppers. Basically, if you donated, you got tickets. My friend Sharon found herself with some extras so Cindy and I tagged along. What else is there to do on a cold and rainy Thursday night in central Wisconsin?!

It was at our Performing Arts Center so definitely not a bad seat in the house.

And we felt pretty young in this crowd! But still could sing along to all the songs!

It's funny because they do dress the part. I think the top photo was when they started the band some 40 years ago in the Milwaukee area and probably had legit haircuts like the real Fab Four. Now you can see they have faux hair (very obvious wigs) as the faux Fab Four.

But they put on a great show. And are still very talented vocally and instrumentally. Sounds just like the originals.

I don't have a voice left so apparently was singing all night without realizing it. Even got a few steps in when they sang Twist and Shout as their encore. Fun time. Especially for the few of us that really don't care what's on TV tonight.

Though you may be losing your voice, too! Enjoy this hard day's night!

Well, Bless My Pumpkins!

I've seen this before but I find it a worthy reminder to share. Plus, it gets me out of writing a blog tonight after a very, very long day...

This may also explain why I'm such a pumpkin spice girl. We can blame – or thank – God for putting the spice in me! No wonder it was so easy for Him to carve a smiling face!

Happy Halloween week, my little pumpkins!

Oh, 600!

Would you rather wake up at 0-600 hours every day or wake up and work at home for oh, 600 days? 

Uff da. You know which one I'm living! Yup, 600 days ago was my first in the home office.

600 days and I'm still using 4 empty Cricut cartridge boxes to prop up my laptop and just the right height. And thank goodness at least 575 of those days was in a new (back then) office chair and using a second monitor, full-size keyboard, and mouse. Made it so much easier to adjust and endure!

Oh, 600! On the plus side, that's about 1,000 cups of tasty flavored coffee. But 600 days also means I've been in about 1,000 virtual meetings from Zoom (back when this started) to Microsoft Teams. And my eyesight has gone to Hell in a handbasket. Along with my average of 10,000 steps a day. And my ability to wear pants.

Just kidding on that last one. Had to see if you were paying attention.

The current back-to-office plan might put me out these 4 walls by year-end. We'll see how the plethora of unknowns line up for my company. Well, and the world. 

A friend asked me today, "Will you have anything to wear?" Obviously my state of dress – hole-y jeans and a hoodie – didn't spark thoughts of a corporate marketer.

I said I'd pretty much have to wash everything in my closet since 98.3% of it has just been hanging or sitting there for about 86 weeks, gathering dust. 

So there's plenty to do before my return to the real world. Including getting a lot more steps if I want to fit into my dusty clothes! We've got this, my fellow WFHers.

If Monday Was a Sound

I'm not the only one complaining about Monday around here. Or maybe just making noise.

Sylvester has become so vocal lately that it's kind of freaky. It's almost got a human quality to it. She does it when she comes back up from the basement after eating and litter boxing. And when she wakes up from wherever she's napping.

Jim looked it up and she might have cat dementia. She's 17 so it's quite possible. Take a listen (ignore the visual of my office floor. I had to be sneaky or she'd see me and be quiet).

Doesn't it sound like she's lost and forlorn? That was me after being off work three days, too! Makes me feel sad for her... and makes me talk to her more, too.

Between the two of us, the only male in the house will not get any peace and quiet. Welcome to Monday!

Scraps of Many Colors

I survived another scrapbooking weekend. And it wasn't tough to do. Had fun with my friend Julie – and other scrap sisters – and was mildly productive. Besides the pages of many colors in my book, we also got to see some more color in nature! 

Spoiled with another red hot sunset. No filter, I swear. That's how vibrant it was!

The temps were mild enough on Saturday (as in in the 40s), so Julie and I walked around the little lake at camp – about a 2.5-mile loop. And a pretty one!

Sunshine plus fall colors = amazing scenery!

The wind was calm during our hike so it made for some gorgeous mirror action.

Just happened to walk by this stump – aka mushroom colony. Kind cool and creepy at the same time.

Was up until 2 a.m. last night (hello, college lifestyle) and was up at 8 a.m. So there's a good chance I'll be sacking out early tonight.

Was productive, though, despite the 8-foot disaster areas we each call our work space! Somehow, it fuels creativity and fun conversations. So glad they added this fall camp this year! Now just 4 months til the next one. 

You're living vicariously through my exciting life, I just know it!

Gods of Scrap

In case you were wondering what sort of higher power watches over scrapbookers, there are a few. 

We have the totem pole just outside the dining hall that guides our creative juices. Also helpful this year is the fact we can see some fall color and the water behind Mr. Totem (usually it's covered in snow and ice when we scrap in February).

And then there's Leo the Lion. Actually it's a different name like Jerome or something.  I just can't recall right now. Mr. Lion gives us courage (of course) to keep going when we're tired and want to go to bed. He's good at saying, "You'll hate yourself in the morning if you don't do another page."

Kind of a slave driver, actually. Don't tell him I sneaked away from camp for 2 hours this afternoon to shoot some Royals football. They were just 15 minutes away playing Pacelli in the playoffs. I left at half-time to get back for dinner at camp. They were down by 3 TDs then and ended up losing.

The other spiritual guides at camp are our scrap sisters. 

So glad my lifelong bestie Julie could come up from Madison to join me. We're having fun and getting some pages done.

We promise we'll do at least one more before bed, Mr. Lion!

Scrap Snack Pack

Before I could finish packing my scrap, I had to get the scrap snack packs bought so I could pack 'em. You follow? In other words, buy plenty of unhealthy snacks so I can thrive on sugar and caffeine rushes and crashes all weekend.

The Big Guy Upstairs (not Jim) gave His blessing! At least that's how I interpret the gorgeous sunset greeting me as I walked out the automatic doors at Walmart. Behold. Even a supercenter parking lot has beauty... 

I'll just share them as is – no filter needed...

Beautiful! What a colorful way to put the work week behind me and focus on creativity. Let me check my scrapping packing list one more time. Then... bring it on!

A Scrap Pack

Now that I've had a day to breathe, I gotta get packing again. I told you this was a busy October with plans every. Single. Weekend.

If all goes well, I'm leaving the house at 8 a.m. Friday and heading to the all-new fall version of Camp Crop-A-Lot at the Lions Camp in Rosholt. So, I have a bit of organizing left to do. 

I'll be working on the 2016 family album – the year Carter graduated from high school and we empty nesters got kayaks. The photo above shows the folder system I use to have all my pictures, etc., in the order I want them to go in the scrapbook. It's missing a few dozen photos right now as I figure out which kayaking pictures go with which trip on which date.

So I will get that in order hopefully tomorrow night. I can't look at another picture or the computer right now! 

Thankfully, I've got a few things packed in the car already. Just have to remember the essential supplies for scrapbooking – and eating and sleeping, of course. Not much time to build up excitement. Gotta GSD ASAP. 

(Get scrap done ASAP!)

The Gitchi-Gami Girls

Fall colors were in the past-peak stage in Up North, Minnesota, last weekend. There were plenty of yellows but rarely any oranges or reds. Everything looked basically dull the first two days, but then Saturday, the sun came out and color popped. And my camera clicked.

A few views for you of nature along the North Shore ...

We had an inlet outside of our AirBnb that reflected some pretty colors when the sun came up. We had a campfire ring down there, too, but it was much too windy all weekend. And well, cold. Even though fires should warm you up.

Hanging out under a bridge where the Stewart River flows into Lake Superior, somewhere near Two Harbors. Kinda felt like a troll under there, but what a cool view!

Shoreline looking north. A smattering of color. And cold waves.

 

This gull fancied himself a super model. Wait for it...

Yup. Perfect pose!

So we other super models (haha) had to follow suit! My twin and me (R7 and R8).

Rachel (R6)

RoAnn (R4)

Rayna (R1)

Renell (R3) and Romey (R2)

I could see pretty rocks in the clear water but didn't spot any agates like Lake Superior is known for. I also didn't look very hard.

A wild mushroom makes a nice bed for a fallen leaf.

On Saturday we went to Enger Park where the Enger Tower was. I thought all along my sister was saying Anger. So our Anger Management for the day involved climbing to the top (yes, I did) and checking out views from there and around the park. Even with past-peak colors, it was still a gorgeous view of surrounding nature and the lake they call Gitchi-Gami!

Occasionally we'd see those just starting to change! Like barely!

A ship in the harbor. Not sure if it was the one we saw come in earlier that day.

Now I see why I was a bit freaked driving over that big bridge! Very high.

I think this is the land mass they call Wisconsin Point, coming out near Superior. Or was it Minnesota Point, coming out of Duluth? Or both?

Another loner. One single leave was willing to start autumn and the rest are holding out!

There was a peace bell and Japanese peace garden as part of the part. This is the river of pebbles.

Oh kids these days on their phones!

We also saw some wildlife on our wild weekend...

Finally a moose with horns!

And Sasquatch was hanging out everywhere!

My favorite colors were the sunset on our last night. No filter here. Just a color palette in the sky on Island Lake. 

Thanks, Mother Nature. The Gitchi-Gami girls were pretty happy with your work!