Saying So Long to 2021

Probably fitting that on the last day of a somewhat poopy year, we lose a favorite icon. Betty White died, just shy of her 100th birthday. And she was feisty and funny to the end. Amazing.

She's had some good quotes over time and I like this one pictured. It epitomizes why my blog is called On the Light Side. Find the humor and the light side of things and it will get you through the dark or just plain dreary times.

Like 2021. For many, anyway.

It was definitely an interesting 365 days. Some challenges, of course. And weird "new normal" things I'm not quite ready to accept as normal just yet. Working from home, for one. Is it ironic in a peculiar way or simply scary way that today marks the 666th day at home? Not even kidding. Uff da. 

Let's focus on some positives instead! Had an amazing trip to Alaska this year plus fun weekends with sisters and friends. Jim and I had a great time at the Ryder Cup and golfed together a few times, too. Mostly, we had our own golf buddies and that was fine.

Somehow, knock on wood, we stayed healthy. Our kids did, too. At least as far as avoiding the big virus. Hoping that continues in 2022.

The one thing we really appreciated in 2021 over 2020 was finally getting to see people again – and actually hug them! It took 'til July but we finally had the first gathering of my family since December of 2019. That seems so unbelievable. Will never take that freedom to socialize for granted again.

We did lose some people in our lives this year – on both sides of our family – and there were a few close calls, too, but thankfully the power of prayer worked in those instances. We also welcomed some new life into our family – again, on both sides (one great-nephew and one great-niece). How exciting that life and love prevail!

We also managed to stay up until midnight two nights this year. Just kidding. It's 11:06 p.m. and I don't think I'll make it. We did have a fun evening gathering after 4 p.m. church in Rudolph with other members of the guitar choir. Lots of food, laughter, and singing to serenade the old year out of existence and ring in the new year. 

Happy New Year!

Happy Bucky Eve

I don't know what gets into those Bowl Game schedulers, but it's asking a lot of us middle-aged Wisconsinites to stay up past midnight two nights in a row!

The Badgers bowl game in Vegas kicked off at about 9:40 p.m. and just wrapped up at 12:45 a.m. Thankfully with a win. Yay, Bucky!

Tomorrow night / tonight is New Year's Eve. Not sure what will make it worth another run at midnight. Maybe a nap will help. 

Then again, there's no rush to start 2022 – in my book, anyway. Enjoy the last day of 2021!

Year-End Adjustment

 The highlight of my day was a visit to the chiropractor. She could tell right away I'd been doing something different (sounds like a free pass from shoveling for life). She worked on my for quite a bit and yes, if was the good kind of pain. Where you hope in the end, it's worth it.

I'm still hoping. Based on how many things went crick and crack, I think tomorrow will be a new day. In the meantime, I got a few projects done and 2 Hallmark movies decluttered from DVR storage. Nothing too exciting.

But I did do some searching and year-end adjustments are pretty common for us jolly fat folks. Enjoy...

Be safe and careful out there! (And bend your legs when you life, for crying out loud!)

More White Stuff

Those of you who wished for a white Christmas must have been pretty persistent! We're getting another 3-6 inches of the lovely white stuff this evening and through the night. Hopefully what hubby removed is all we're getting.

Since I did not want to hurt my back further, I stuck to indoor removal tasks today.

Tomorrow's garbage day so I figured I should go through the fridge and all the cupboards to get rid of super-expired food. Yes, I know many of the dates are "suggested" sell-by dates, but if it's super-expired, it has to go. I mean in my head I "just did this" not too long ago. But my eyes saw the expiration dates without a 2 in it. So you know it's super-expired when it ends in 18 and 19. Uff da. 

It made for quite a heavy garbage bag!

Since I was somewhat motivated, I figured I'd move onto Carter's bathroom. Well, the main bathroom, but I never use it since we have one off our bedroom. Anyway, it's been awhile since I've gone through the cabinets. Quite awhile.

Snow was not the only white stuff needing removal today. Did you know dental floss has an expiration date? Did not know that. Probably more related to minty flavored ones, but still. This floss Jenga tower has been in the makings for quite sometime. 

You might think it's hoarding. I just think it's a sign of good dental health. Obviously everyone under this roof visits the dentist twice a year and gets that free little packet of floss each time. Definitely sticking with that story rather than the notion I keep things for no good reason!

For the record, I threw them all out. Didn't want to be around when the Jenga tower collapsed on some unsuspecting tooth brusher!

Also, it's feeling good to tackle a few decluttering/organizing projects each day – interspersed with Hallmark movies of course. I am gradually getting rid of a few from the DVR storage each day.

Hey, that counts as decluttering to me! On a roll!

Setting a Pattern

You may be interested to know that I did nothing of interest today. That's kind of the point of a Christmas stay-cation, isn't it?

My morning routine – which I could set as a pattern this week – was coffee first. Sylvester thought she might like it. Dipped her head into my mug, then thought better of it. "How can sleep 22 hours a day if I have caffeine?" Good point, kitty.

One thing I did accomplish was clearing the driveway and deck of 3.5 inches of fresh, heavy snow. That was a mistake. I was gung-ho but my back is paying for it. Even though I had help from Mike across the street who just happened to be going by with his snowblower. Timing is everything!

Anyway, I've been stretching the rest of the day. Trying to only watch one Hallmark movie at a time to limit my recliner time. And hopefully the tweak will just go away. I have a previously scheduled chiropractor appointment on Wednesday so maybe my mind already knew I'd do something silly to my body this week.

Maybe tomorrow I'll stick to an indoor project like organizing my office or the basement or shake a dice for any room in the house. Plenty to do for the ambitious. 

Guess I better not share any more of my coffee! Sorry, kitty. 

Angels We Have Heard on High

Merry Christmas! You realize it's only the 2nd day of Christmas, right? We can keep saying this another 10 days at least! 

What I like about that has nothing to do with the potential to get 2 turtle doves or 5 golden rings. I liked that in church this morning we got to sing a lot of Christmas hymns. And it was perfectly legal. (By Lutheran standards, anyway.)

Of course, every time we sing about angels, it's both joyous and sad. I think about who I'm missing this holiday season and who my family's missing and who my friends are missing. We're all missing someone this Christmas. And some of those wounds in our hearts are pretty fresh.

This morning, probably around the time early church service folks were singing Angels We Have Heard on High, heaven gained another angel. Hubby lost his 96-year-old aunt. It was pretty much expected, but God waited until she could have her Christmas visitors yesterday – including Jim.

Then God wrapped her in His arms for a big hug. And then I'm sure she pushed Him out of the way to run to her Frank, who she's missed dearly since he died 4 years ago. I'm pretty sure this is why we hear angels from on high. They are rejoicing because they are free from pain and worry. And their hearts are whole again. 

Definitely worth singing sweetly about.

Heaven gained another angel today – one I don't know. What I do know is that thanks to an organ donor somewhere, a kidney became available and our ailing neighbor got the long-awaited call to head to Madison for a transplant. 

Thank you, God, for helping the spirit of our angels live on in others. 

By the way, the angel pictured was a gift from the Emily Klopotek Angel Foundation. Somebody (who I know is reading this and I love you) nominated me for being kind in such a way that I keep my sweet Emily's kind spirit alive. I'm humbled and blessed.

It's a perfect reminder that no small act of kindness goes unnoticed. Whether it's taking an elderly aunt grocery shopping or putting an orange dot sticker on your license or just opening the door for someone. Your small act can be a huge deal to others. 

I think that makes us all angels-in-training at least. 

Bless you this Christmas season. Sending hugs to those of you who need it.

 

Merry Brown Christmas

While we had a gorgeous sunset tonight that was sort of a pinkish Christmas red, we could see more brown than Christmas green in our grass. And certainly very little in the makings of a white Christmas! 

Glad we had the pretty ending of the day because it reminded me to snap a photo of the current status of the yard at Christmas. You know. For the scrapbook.

Plus, we didn't do photos this morning. Jim and I opened our stockings and gifts PS (pre-shower) and that's not as cute when we're not little kids. Ha. Anyway, he's got some Cincinnati Reds and golf gear and we both share a couple's membership for next summer at our favorite local golf course. We must have been very good this year!!

For our Christmas morning breakfast, I cooked up some SPAM and eggs – thanks, Secret Santa – and they weren't bad. I'm not sure we'll make it a tradition, but we do have half the can to use up in the next week.

After lunch, we delivered a few gifts, including to son #2 and his girlfriend.

Clay and Becca have four maine coon cats that are huge. I could not lift one up! But they were friendly! Had a short but sweet visit.

They liked the blanket I made them (Just a hint of Vikings colors). And by the time we were home...

had already staked a claim to it! Praying all those crochet stitches hold!

The rest of the day was a relaxing, low-key holiday. Jim visiting an ailing aunt and then it was lots of recliner time for us both. I'm acclimating to Christmas vacation just fine. Thanks for asking.

Oh and since we didn't mail cards to everyone on the planet, here's our holiday greetings for you...

Merry Christmas to you and yours from me and mine! 

Then One Foggy Christmas Eve...

I feel like we're living the Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer song. In central Wisconsin anyway, we just got to the part where Rudolph becomes an essential worker.

Definitely a foggy Christmas Eve and Rudolph definitely has to guide Santa's sleigh tonight! 

Good thing we're just home for the night. We did deliver dinner to Jim's parents so we did do something family-wise on Christmas Eve. That was nice.

Came home in the fog and commenced to watching the tree lights while Sylvester waits for Santa. Ha. We watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation – because it was on – and played a few games of cards. Trying to figure out what traditions we might want to start since there's just the two of us and well, that might be pretty often.

I like the tradition where we wish all of you a Merry Christmas. Hope you can spend at least some of it with the people who mean the most to you. And be careful out there.

Rudolph can't be everywhere at once. 

Jingle, Jingle for Danish Kris Kringle

Nothing says Happy Festivus or Merry Christmas Eve Eve like a visit from Kris Kringle. 

Or in our case, my friend Kris (but spelled differently) delivering a Kringle. A Nordic Noel Kringle!

You can see the by the description that our friend from Racine has good taste. And, of course, the Kringle had great taste! We are trying to see how far this lasts into my vacation.

Oh yes. This afternoon I shut down my work laptop and don't have to start it up again until 2022. Now that has a nice jingle jingle ring to it!

So to start vacation, we finished buying and wrapping presents. And ordered out pizza for dinner. And, I may or may not have watched a Hallmark movie already. There's no judging on Christmas vacation!

Hope you all enjoy some special time off, too. Until then, Merry Christmas Eve Eve and Happy Festivus to the rest of us!

From Santa and Spam to Soltice and Singing

Lots going on this week. Gotta cram in the fun before Christmas break, I guess. A few headlines from Tuesday and today...

Oh, Little Town of Bethle-SPAM: Look above to see what a white elephant gift looks like! Yup, yesterday was our department Christmas party via Zoom and the big Secret Santa reveal. My recipient was surprised it was me (didn't see me, yay) and enjoyed their gift. 

I had a clever person give me mine, too. In fact, I told the person – a new co-worker – just how to trick someone. Ship something and use a friend's return address. That's what she did. And that's why I didn't guess it was her. She got me some SPAM to remind me of Hawaii (where our company sponsors a golf tournament), 5 K-Cups to get me through a work week (a short one, anyway), and a golf ball and tees. Nothing bad. We may have to try SPAM and eggs for Christmas Day breakfast!

God Jul: Happy Winter Solstice! It is observed in my Scandinavian homelands more than in the U.S. uch like Midsommar (the summer solstice). For the shortest day of the year there was plenty to it! I worked, then shot some 8th-grade basketball pictures, then shot high school hockey since two friends have seniors on the Rapids team. Stayed up pretty late getting those pictures done. Actually appreciated the darkness to help me sleep. Fast! Can't wait to see more daylight every day now!

Golden Mass: Went to the annual Christmas mass at Assumption High School over lunch. It's always the day before kids get sent home for their Christmas break. I enjoy seeing friends home for Christmas and friends of Carter, too. Plus loving hearing the band and everyone singing the Alleluia Chorus at the end. I remembered both Soprano and Alto parts from high school. Pretty sure I weaved them both together today! Definitely puts me in the Christmas spirit.

Tonight have some more hockey pictures to go through from an alumni game. Then it's work one more day and jingle all the way to Christmas vacation! Ho, ho, ho!

Grown-Up Christmas Wishes

Monday Night Football and what can I say? We're already looking like it's Ugly Sweater night or just ugly football. Hopefully, we can beat the Bears!

Just got from book club – dinner at the poor, understaffed Perkins – so I again walk in and jinx our lead. Halftime so I gotta quick change out of Christmas red and into Vikings purple for the second half!

We did celebrate Christmas number 3 today. My fam, Jim's fam, and now our fam. Well Carter and Mamie anyway.

That was my lunch-hour fun today. They opened stockings and Santa gifts since they're leaving tomorrow morning. I don't mind spreading out Christmas like this. Lots of celebrations and total relaxation by the time the big day gets. Loving that.

Gonna miss everyone but just getting all these hugs in the past 2 weeks should carry me for a long time. That and a Vikings victory tonight. C'mon, Santa, I've been pretty good this year!

Badger and Christmas Red

I realize I was completely disconnected to the cyber universe this weekend while I was busy connecting with family and friends in person. And that's how it should be.

Yesterday was a blur. I know I was doing some last-minute shopping then went to church in the afternoon at Rudolph where hubby was singing in the church choir. Finally I was around on a Saturday when he was performing so I could catch a listen. It was great. It's a guitar-accompanied group rather than an organ and it sounds amazing.

After church we go together with some of the group and one of the guitar hero's houses. So we had several hours of visiting, laughing, singing (of course), and watching the Badger women's volleyball team take their first national championship. My friend Sara and I want to be clear we were wearing Badger red, not Nebraska red!

Got home pretty, pretty late. Now I know how Jim's "choir practices" can end up going until midnight!

Today was our Austin family Christmas. The big boys couldn't make it – Casey's out in Portland and Clay was under the weather – so Jim, Carter, Mamie and I went over to his sister's house. There was 12 of us, including the two littles – Colin's 2-year-old daughter Mya and 5-month-old son Eli. Such cuties. They pretty much entertained us the whole time. 

Our annual cousins picture – usually Casey, Clay, Colin and Carter – just got a little cuter! No offense to our missing boys!

Eli is

 mister smiley!

Mya is smart and talks a mile a minute!

Put my Cricut to use and made some water tumblers with Colin's racing logo on them!

Carter and his look-alike cousin! Both handsome, of course!

Came home and spend the evening playing a few games with the kids. I won 3-13 and the girls beat the boys in two games of Sequence.

Can't believe tomorrow's Monday! I need a day between Sunday and Monday to recover. But there's more festivities to come this week so I may be out of luck on that one. But in a good way!

Have a super merry Christmas week! 

Santa Ninjas

Every Santa's helper out there knows it takes a certain sneaky ninja-like quality to pull off a lot of surprises. Being a Secret Santa takes it up to a whole new level. Not only is the gift a surprise. But so is the giver.

Thanks to this virus pandemic thing, we have to deliver to houses, not just take them to the office. So it's way ninja-y!

Last year when we did a Secret Santa white elephant gift exchange, I thought I was pretty stealth delivering to the person's house. Darn video cameras these days! So this year, I went a little more undercover. 

I think.

After work, I didn't have to wait long for the light to fade since I had a 20+ minute drive to my destination. I drove by the house as dusk settled. I really love that this person is in the Christmas spirit – they had outside lights everywhere – but that provided a little too much light for covert operations.

So I parked past the driveway behind some trees and pulled my black jacket over my head. Then ran toward the house. As soon as I heard one or five dogs bark, I switched directions, put the bag between the two garage doors and ran down the driveway. All while holding the black coat above my head so the person could look out the window and wouldn't know if I'm male or female or short or tall. We'll find out Tuesday when we have our exchange. 

I did have to have slight third-party involvement, though. Texted a coworker who is not on my team and asked him/her to text my person and indicate a Secret Santa gift had been delivered and tell them where to find it. Fingers crossed they're surprised.

Since I was in the general Stevens Point/Plover area, I figured I better go to Michaels. Don't always need something but you walk out with merch for a "new project" more times than not. So I have some more Santa work to do in the next 36-ish hours! 

Where are my ninja powers when I need them?!

Marked "Safe" from Bizarre Weather

I shouldn't have joked so much about the wind last night, because it got serious later. And bizarre. So we actually reached our high temperature of the day – yes 59 degrees on December 15 – at 10 p.m. The same time this was going on...

A tornado warning was issued but as you can see where I circled on the map, we're just off the line of the path. because storms always follow lines exactly, right? 

We still were awake a lot during the night just in case. And the wind howled constantly. I've heard people say a tornado sounds like a freight train coming, so I had to question when the wind got loud if it was just a loud howl or train howl. Thankfully, just crazy strong winds here.

And thankfully we didn't loser power or trees or anything. Bizarre again because neighbors across the street, next to us, and just down the street all had trees go down. It was quite a mess around the region and general path of that storm – including two confirmed tornadoes further northwest of here near Neillsville and a Stanley and a ton of damage even close by with power out for some 5,000 in Wisconsin Rapids today and Port Edwards calling off school since they had downed power lines, too. 

Uff da.

I had to run down to Nekoosa school after work and these trees were across the street from each other near the school....

Isn't that nuts?

Then God blesses us with a beautiful sunset on my way home tonight to make up for it all.

Works for me but certainly not all those dealing with damage. My prayers go out to you. Stay safe!

Super White Christmas

It's not so much the snow making it white outside as it is the fog! Couldn't even see the neighbor's house today. I hope they were behaving.

I was such a weird weather day which, of course, is not unusual for Wisconsin any time of year. But this one is whacko. Just days after that lovely winter storm we thankfully survived, today's temperature reached 57 degrees (or close to it). So depending on your weather source, it appears we broke a record for high temperature today – possibly as much as 10 degrees. Crazy.

But we couldn't get out and enjoy it.

Was hoping for a nice walk at lunch but I didn't think I had bright enough clothing to keep myself out of danger. The fog was thick and stayed. All day long. And into this evening. Dang.

I was going to join some girlfriends for Girls' Night Out but I made it less than a mile and turned around and came home. In any area where there wasn't a street light, I couldn't see in front of me. Nothing was breaking through the fog. Better safe than sorry.

Of course, fog isn't the only advisory we're dealing with. It was thundering a bit ago and we may be in a storm watch. For sure, though, we're in a high wind warning area. Most of the state is, I think. So we'll sit tight at home and hope the only thing the wind blows away is the fog.

Be careful out there!

 

A Hallmark Moment

Not to brag but... I'm gonna. We started celebrating Christmas in our department – a few activities here and there over the next 10 days since we can't meet in person. So today was trivia. More specifically...

That's right. Hallmark Holiday Movie trivia. I should be embarrassed I won with such a lame (to some, not me) topic. But I would have been more embarrassed if I hadn't won! All this time invested only to lose? Not for me.

Not that I'm competitive. Ha.

It was a serious of two Hallmark movies names – one real, one fake – and we just had to pick the real ones. I won't lie and say I got a perfect score because I didn't. I fell for a very close-to-real title. But I am glad I dove into my 2021 DVR'd selections to help with several titles.

And the grand prize? I don't know. It's in the mail, I guess. But I'll just cherish my dorky bragging rights for now.

I better get to my recliner and start "studying" for next year!

Oh, Christmas Trees

Happy St. Lucia Day! In honor of the Scandinavian holiday, I figured I better share something festive. So I give you a tour of the 5th Annual Christmas Tree Walk at our museum. My friend Cindy and I managed to get there yesterday afternoon – on their last day – and would highly recommend making it an annual activity!

Each room on both floors had a variety of trees and theme areas set up. Kudos to the designers of the 20 unique and creatively gorgeous trees! 

Come on it and take the tour with us!

First we were in awe of this old house. Can you imagine how gorgeous it was decorated back in the day? They certainly did a fine job with creative touches on every surface!

Even had Jack Frost designing winterscapes on the windows.

This one was called "Over There" and featured decorations symbolizing the World Wars.

I mean, this is a museum after all.

This "phone tree" is appropriately called "Hello Christmas." Love the antique phone desk.

And the antique telephones nestled in the tree. Very cool.

The "Peacock Holiday Fantasy" tree was gorgeous. 

Not something I'd ever think to do, but the blues and feathers were so pretty!

We had an "It's a Wonderful Life" room, too. Loved it!

Now this is how you do a Christmas village!

Welcome to Bedford Falls!

There were angels hanging from the ceiling. What a neat idea for using the cutout snowflakes!

Of course the old school room part of the museum had to get a bit decorated.

Love the big peppermint sticks and old primers on the desks.

The "Christmas Blessings to our Troops" tree courtesy of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Loved the "Angels Among Us" tree since my oldest sister also decorates with angels!

A huge variety of angels.

And why haven't I thought to do this with any of my seashells before?

It's the "Peace, Love, and Belly Rubs" tree, of course! 

"I'll be Gnome for Christmas!"

A Viking gnome for sure!

Santa fun in the toy room!

Now isn't this a clever idea with a watering can, "icicles" and mirror for ice?

How to set up for a holiday wedding!

Here's a pretty and pretty interesting bouquet or centerpiece.

It's made up of antique broaches and probably and old clip-on earring or two. So unique!

Pink and feathers belong to Christmas. Who knew?

I think it's pretty. Not going to happen in my house, but still pretty to look at here!

The Christmas goose is in for a surprise.

Love this idea of the old Christmas hymns made into ornaments. You can always print out things that "look" old, too, to make this work.

Had to take a picture of the Irish Christmas tree in honor of my ailing Irish brother-in-law.

Hope these Celtic decorations and ...

this Irish angel send you good luck in the hospital, Mr. Delaney!

A little Whoville Christmas action. 

I like the idea of the lights inside a Santa bag. So many creative things going on!

Son of a nutcracker! There's a lot of nutcrackers!

Very neat to see the huge variety.

Not sure if it's one person's collection but it's impressive!

Love the "Choose Hope" tree!

And this "Puttin on the Ritz" tree totally brings out the museum qualities.

The dress on the mannequin and the "pearls" hanging on the tree. Very vintage!

And that completes our tour today, folks. Thanks for visiting. And be sure to check your calendar next year for the 6th annual event at the South Wood County Historical Museum!