Trick or Treat?

Even though we got zero trick-or-treaters here tonight, I do hope there are lots of zeroes after a Halloween treat that may or may not be headed our way.

I did say may OR may not.

To be honest, it's been so long since I purchased a lottery ticket, I still thought Powerball was only drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. When did Mondays become a thing?

Thankfully my neighbor said something. I suppose if I win, I should give him a twenty, at least.

For now I'll distract myself by watching The Voice, tending to my patient (who improves daily), and finishing a Christmas book. 

Hey, I may not have millions in the bank (yet), but I rank pretty high at multi-tasking.

Happy Halloween! Here's hoping for more treats than tricks this year!

Good For My Soul

Today was just the spiritual uplift I needed. It was confirmation Sunday at church so I had to redirect my attention to something and someone else.

As her mentor, I got to introduce her during the service, stand with her during the ceremony (for lack of a better word), and share her chosen Bible verse.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4

I love that she chose the version with "darkest valley" instead of death. As she pointed out, this is important in dark times, not just times of death. "I chose it because I wish to live by it, and help others live by it. No matter what fear stares me down, I will show peace and comfort in the presence of the Lord." Very smart teenager!

As I've said before, it was awesome to get to know Ainsley and learn from her!

In fact, Pastor Cheryl shared part of Ainsley's faith essay as part of her sermon today...

I will continue to worship with other Christians, listen to God’s Word and take Communion because of how it makes me feel. There’s a comfort in being surrounded with your fellow believers as you worship your ever loving Father together. This is all something that can’t be simulated elsewhere, no matter what. As you listen to God’s love for you, eat the body and drink the blood that signifies how deeply He cares, all while around your siblings in faith; nothing can make you feel more welcomed and whole.

Did I mention how incredibly smart and deep into a personal faith journey this "student of God' already is? 

Knowing how confirmation strengthens her faith helped strengthen mine and more importantly, gave me some needed peace today. 

That and the sugary frosting on confirmation cake...

And the much-appreciated many kind words and condolences you've shared with me...

And a nice visit from Son #2 and his girlfriend. Mainly to see the patient, but it was uplifting for me, too...

And of course, there was...

Good for my soul and my SKOL!

Let's find something to uplift us each day this week!

Road Worthy 2.0

On June 18th,  my "Road Worthy" blog was about a trip to Marinette that almost didn't happen because I had to do the hundreds of miles of driving by myself. I wondered if a graduation party for a friend's grandson was worth the solo road trip plus extreme price of gas. In the end, I decided to go so I could see my girlfriends of three decades: Cindy (left in photo) and Sally.

I wrote: "These friends are worth more than the price of gas! If I didn't go and something happened to one of them, I'd regret it forever."

I did not realize that day would arrive so soon. 

After taking pictures at the state cross country meet today I was heading for the shuttle bus and my phone was buzzing with a call from Sally. We don't usually call each other. We text. I knew right away something must be wrong. But never was I more shocked to hear the words "Cindy died last night." Totally unexpected. Likely a heart attack, but I don't for sure. 

I got down on one knee amidst cross country spectator traffic and just tried to process the news. I was devastated. Still am. As I've written before, she was my family up there. And I watched her beautiful children grow up like they were my family, too. Those poor broken-hearted kids! 

If you go back and read that blog you'll understand why my heart is shattered, too. And my closing statement that day still rings true. More so today than ever:

"My advice: Always take the trip. Make the time. See that person. Get that hug. Always!"

Do it!

TGIF (Thanks, Guys, for Incredible Football)

Our television viewing the past two nights has just about left us in tears. After a historic season, our football playoff run came to an end tonight down by the Wisconsin-Illinois border.

While we did manage a slim lead at one point in the first half, our Royals just couldn't manage to score again and the Blackhawk/Warren team prevailed. After our first conference title with an undefeated record, it was sad to see this season end. These amazing seniors who saw winless seasons their freshman year of high school deserved to see this go further. 

But Blackhawk was a tough team. 

They had what our Royals have won with all season long – talented quarterback, crazy good running backs, and great defense. 

We still have that. Just wasn't quite what we needed tonight. Hope our boys hold their heads high. They still made history this season and we won't forget that for some time to come! Nice work, guys!

Now we have just one more fall sport left – our Assumption girls cross country team is competing at state tomorrow. State is always in Wisconsin Rapids so I'll be able to leave my Bionic Man for a bit and hope our Lady Royals have some super running powers of their own.

In victory or defeat, we're always proud to be a part of the Royal family!

Sad Show on TV

Since I can't leave my patient alone for too many hours, I stayed home and watched our Lady Royals on TV (via live stream) instead of going to Athens.

After a crazy comeback Saturday to upset the No. 1 seed Marshfield Columns, our ladies took the Regional championship. Tonight was the Sectional semi-final at the No. 2 ranked team's home court. We lost the first two games and rallied in the third – actually having the lead at one point – but fell short and are done for the season. Sad!

Pretty amazing seniors, though. I'll miss them! Well, until the next sport begins.

That was about the only action around here today. I worked from home to help as the Bionic Man needed me. He went to his first visit to the Torture Chamber (aka as physical therapy/rehab). That after a long night last night in painful discomfort.

I feel pretty helpless. Thank goodness someone invented pain medication years back! It doesn't take away the sadness of losing a volleyball game. But does help the man on injured reserve here. 

Another bright note: Jim is convinced his left leg is now an inch longer. I'm guessing after he has the surgery (and extra inch added) on the right leg, he'll be able to dunk a basketball.

Patience, my patient. One step at a time!

My Bionic Man

I'm not sure if I can call my hubby the Bionic Man, but the original nickname belonged to Steve Austin. Potential relation? Maybe.

We'll see how it shakes out in the coming weeks. 

Before the crack of dawn, we were at the surgery center so Jim could undergo knee replacement surgery. This time on his left knee. Next time, God willing and there's a great recovery, the right knee. He wanted to wait until after golf season for the surgeries so he got as many rounds in as he could this summer. Even one last night!

I camped out with my laptop and worked in the waiting room while he was under the knife. When he cleared that first hurdle (quite figuratively since he doesn't have bionic powers yet), I went home to work in my office a few hours so he could rest.

Went back around noon. Crazy that some 3 hours after surgery, they had him up and walking! He got a little woozy after that, but was good to go home by 4 p.m. Yay! 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the prayers and good thoughts. He's got a long road ahead. Thankfully he doesn't have to walk it all! 

We'll just take things one step at a time. And Six Million Dollars later, he'll be good! 

(You might be too young to know these references. If so, you missed out on some quality entertainment back in the day! Believe me, I'll be doing the Bionic Man sound effects when he takes those first unaided steps. If you know, you know.)

Disclaimer: That's clipart up top, not his real X-rays!

Haunted House Cat

Honestly, if you heard the sounds that we did during the night, you'd think our house was haunted. And it's pretty freakin' freaky!

As it is... our 18-year-old cat going on 88 is pretty psycho in the sound department these days. I just recorded her a few minutes ago as she came down the hallway looking for humans. Tell me she doesn't sound partially human herself here!

Freaky, right? All I can say is sweet dreams! I'm leaving my lights on!

The Week Ahead

I love starting my day with Sweatpants and Coffee. Yes the comfy clothes and caffeinated drink. But also an inspirational Facebook page. Today's message is spot-on for the Monday following an uplifting weekend.

My favorite part is "May you take the time to notice a good moment while you are in it."

When tragedy or some ill befalls us, we often realize we didn't know how good we had it when we had it. 

I've been reminded of that plenty lately as I pray for loved ones who are going through tough times physically and mentally. I just want them to get past it and return to the good part of life. We just don't know it's good when it's good.

Think about that this week when you find yourself smiling or laughing about something this week. You're in a good moment. Something good is happening and it makes you feel good.

May we all strive to carry that good moment with us for as long as we can. Have a great week!

What Happens at The Lake...

I survived Wild Women's Weekend XXIV – that's 24 years for those of you who prefer Arabic numerals! Our top secret location this year was... on a lake Up North.

Well, more specifically a gorgeous VRBO on the west side of Long Lake just east of Sarona and Shell Lake. This one was called the Loon Lodge and it was 100 percent appropriate for us loony sisters!

Not everyone is cut out for roughing it like we are. But we managed alright. Thanks for your concern.

A few inside views...

Main floor had one master bedroom and upstairs had two bedrooms.

The well-appointed basement also had two bedrooms plus this living area and a kitchenette that we never used. Perfect if you are looking for a getaway with multiple families!! Or a longer stay than our 3 nights/4 days combo.

The weather turned out to be simply gorgeous so we could enjoy a little time on the large screened-in porch.

Or out on the deck with the nice views of the water. Most of the color was past peak or off the trees, but we still saw plenty of beauty around us.

And my beautiful sisters, too! We had to get a picture in between talking and laughing and playing games and talking and crying and talking and laughing some more! It's so freeing to feel all the feels – especially so much laughter (like red-faced can't breathe or make a sound laughter) squeezed into one weekend!

My twin and I doing our own photo shoot!

Oh we'll never grow up! Which could be said of all of us. Thank God! 

This morning's sunrise was beautiful but also a sad sign our weekend was coming to an end. Time goes too quickly. We packed up and had our group hug outside while singing happy 95th birthday to Dad in heaven. Pretty sure he heard us. Along with the other loons on the lake!

I did have a brief visit with Dad on the way up to the cabin on Thursday.

And I had lunch with Mom, too! So it was great to see 90 percent of my family over this extended weekend. 

Got home this afternoon while hubby was at the golf course. Then we met for dinner at Portesi's to catch up over pizza. Jim and the boys had an amazing time at The Who concert in Portland and just hanging out together. 

We're both just feeling blessed right now. There are a lot of amazing people out there. And they're ours. 

Have a good week, everyone!

Booked Stay-cation

Hello! My name is Elder Lee Robyn. Ha. Get that one? I am in a musical mood and I pretty much danced through the day, checking off "to do" items one by one. My stay-cation was booked. I even mapped out my errands so I could start at the south end of town and work my way up in a time-saving manner back home.

Got through my list. I've got my Wild Women's Weekend "gear" packed. And my car is loaded. 

Just in time for an amazingly funny and relaxing evening I "booked" with my friend Cindy. We bought tickets to the Book of Mormon months ago after not getting a chance to see it before when it was touring through Appleton and everywhere else. The Grand Theater in Wausau is a nice venue because it's small enough we could see and hear well – and laugh our backsides off. 

I think our cheeks still hurt from smiling and laughing for a solid 3 hours. It's just hilarious. Outrageous and bit raunchy so not for the faint of heart or easily offended. We do not fit into that category. Ha. We loved it.

Most everyone else did, too, based on the quick-to-their-feet standing ovation at the conclusion.

Now it's off to bed for a quick sleep so my fun vacation can continue! 

TGIF - A Tad Early

It's one thing to pretend to live every day like it's Friday. It's another to look at the calendar, see it's technically Tuesday, but know in your heart it's actually Friday! In other words, hello weekend! A tad early.

Since I'm leaving early Thursday morning in order to see my mom on the way (not really, but close enough) to sister weekend, I really need to get my stuff together Wednesday night. Since I'm going to the Book of Mormon musical Wednesday night, I'd really need to get my stuff together in that small 90-minute window after work.

So I says to myself, "Self, take the afternoon off." By noon today I says to myself, "Self, just take all of Wednesday off and call it a weekend." So I am. And so it IS Friday and I'll have my pre-weekend weekend day tomorrow to get stuff together plus run errands that aren't even related to the weekend. Yay me and myself and I! 

We make good group decisions.

If the logical side of you wonders why I couldn't just get my act together tonight. Well... I had a very necessary deep-tissue massage after work. Then...

Round 1 of volleyball playoffs, of course! Our Lady Royals defeated Rib Lake 3-0 so they're moving onto Round 2 of Regionals on Thursday. I'll be out of town so I gave an extra hug to my favorite senior! 

Now I better commence to picture editing. I know I can sleep in tomorrow but still, l have a long "to do" list, which may or may not include sneaking in one Hallmark movie while I have the house to myself. Yup hubby's Friday is today too and he's flying off tomorrow with our brown-eyed bandits to see The Who in Portland, Oregon.

In case you were wondering, yes, we old folks know how to weekend around here! TGIF!

Cold Turkey

I'm wondering if the phrase "cold turkey" really means quitting something abruptly or if maybe it means these turkeys and cold and really, really wish they could fly south for the winter! 

Based on the forecast that we're dipping down into the 20s tonight, I'm thinking it's the these frigid fellas looking for an escape. I know I am!

Besides very cooooool temps today, the wind was wicked and our trees are getting naked!

I was glad I was able to snap this photo yesterday. I call it "Moses Parting the Red Sea." 

We were so blessed with a gorgeous colors this fall. I hope we'll still see some color Up North this weekend for sister weekend, but I'm OK if we don't.

Fallen leaves often create a gorgeous blanket, too. And Lord knows, we all are gonna need an extra blanket. Starting now!

Bundle up and be careful out there!

Yabba Dobber Do

Celebrating a couple of things today. Hubby got leaves picked up and I got my hanging baskets and hooks and junk (ha) put away. It was chillier than yesterday but we wanted to cross it off our lists. I guess we had some post-church motivation! Yay.

We relaxed a bit this afternoon while checking football scores. And...

SKOL! It wasn't televised here so we'll have to have long-distance excitement over that one.

My winning ways continued though. I picked up my friend Jenny and we went to Assumption to play BINGO. OK it's been decades since I played so I didn't it was so fancy will all kinds of different rules and patterns and stuff. Lot to keep track of. Luckily we had BINGO mentors in the table next to us. (Thanks, Sean and Michelle!)

I figured out 4 Corners. BINGO! So that was cool. 

I had to split the pot with another winner, though, so I just got $10. But a win is a win!! And my orange dobber was fun and cool, too. I know. I am officially an old lady BINGO dork!

I was THIS close to winning the Martini Glass round. I'm telling you, they have everything!

Jenny was hoping for a Blackout win (or orange-out) but we both fell short. Still, we both agreed we're going to have to do this again. I mean we have to use those dobbers up! 

Plus, it's for a good cause. No, not to give our hubbies peace and quiet – but support a fundraiser. Today was for the junior class. Not sure what future ones are for, but pay attention to the school newsletters and social posts so you don't miss the next game day.

We might even let you sit with us at the cool kids table!

The Sweetest Things

In case you didn't know... purple is one of the colors of fall! Ask Viking fans and we know this. But for everyone else, there's the magical combination of my favorite colors in the M&M's Halloween Ghoul Mix – purple, orange, and lime green! 

The perfect touch to the 10 dozen Little Monster Cookies I had baked before noon today. And that's a half-recipe! Just needed enough to send some with Jim for his boys weekend in Portland next week, plus some for my sister weekend next week, plus some for a few others. They do freeze well if I have any leftover for that nonsense.

But that wasn't the sweetest part of the day.

Hubby got me this sweatshirt for Sweetest Day plus some other goodies. Obviously after a quarter-century together, he knows me pretty well.

Tonight I returned the favor and took him to dinner. We decided to go somewhere new – for us anyway. We tried out Avocados, a relatively new Mexican restaurant in town, and it was so good! Super delicious so we'll definitely return.

Since we were already on Highway 54, we headed to Plover for dessert!

Oh yes, King Cone is open one more day for the season and then it'll be back open on the next romantic holiday – Valentine's Day. Go there Sunday if you can. I had the Pumpkin Pie ice cream and it was amazing.

What a sweet way to end the day with my sweetie!