PTO :: Packed Time Off

My PTO day (paid time off) started with an alarm at 5 a.m. That doesn’t sound relaxing for a day off. And that didn’t change for several hours.

Hubby and I left the house by 5:45 a.m. to head down to Madison, where our Lady Royals were playing their Division 5 state semi-final softball game against Oakfield.

First pitch was at 8 a.m. and we got there with time for him to find a seat and me to find the dugout for game-day pictures.

As the #2 seed, we were home team to the #3 seed. By the bottom of the first, we were down 1-0 and couldn’t ever relax. 

Granted there were many reasons for small celebratory smiles during the game, but they (and I) couldn’t relax.

It was nerve-wracking. Oakfield, who has had a record number of teams at state more than a dozen times, had a 4-1 lead by the bottom of the 3rd inning. We rallied to tie it and all was good until they scored 3 more in the 6th. We answered with 1 in the last at bat but… lost 7-5.

It was heartbreaking for MY girls. Especially MY seniors. Dang. 

Got home shortly after noon and then edited pictures until we headed west to Pittsville to join old friends for dinner. OK. Old as in Jim has known them forever and maybe old as in more than a decade beyond retirement. 

We met Marv and Sherry at their house in Pittsville then headed south to Babcock. Now I’ve been to Pittsville dozens of time and never even knew they had a downtown. I’ve always just gotten as far as the school or ballpark and that’s it. I did notice an ice cream shop on the way down so we girls decided that was a must stop on the way back.

A night of firsts… also have never even stopped in Babcock for any reason, let along dining. We ate at the Bucks ’N Berries place. I thought the sign said “Buck N Berries” like trying to be a swear word, but not. That must have been my hungry side of the brain!

Had a nice fish fry and funny conversation in the little diner. They’re a neat couple. So gracious. 

After dinner, we stopped by the cemetery north of Babcock to visit Jim’s old boss and friend Dave (who our friends the Kolbecks knew, too). He’s still missed very much!

When we got back to Pittsville, we grabbed frozen goodness at the Cranberry Creamery, sat outside and watched the Friday night high life.

I still can’t believe Pittsville has both a downtown AND an Ice cream place. I have to get out more!

Going through Rapids on the way home, we stopped to visit Jim’s dad awhile, too. 

Hey, when I take a rare day off, I’ve got to pack it with good (well, mostly good) stuff! Now, onto the weekend!