Recovering in Dark Mode

I felt much better today. Pretty weak from lack of food and hydration, but I could work from home so that helped me take it easy.

What didn't help was just when I was feeling a bit energized, I swear it was getting dark out already. Looked at the clock and it 2:17 p.m. WHAT?

It wasn't my imagination. The rain started and stayed – and those dark clouds won't break up for days, I don't think. Uff da. 

Good thing I don't always count on the weather to lift my spirits. That's pretty much off the table from November to May. But if tomorrow goes even better and I survive all day at the "real" office, I'm hoping to join some church folks at the Best Christmas Pageant Ever movie after work.

Even if there's rain, my friend Kermit the Frog above knows it's often followed by rainbows. In whatever form you want! 🌈 Let's find our Rainbow Connection this week – for lovers and dreamers and Christmas-movie-junkie ME.

The Cookie Toss

Friday night's full moon reminded me of a cookie for some reason. Maybe because I was tossing them all weekend.

Not the "it's a fun bean bag toss" kind of game. But tossing my cookies (a.k.a. upchucking, puking, vomiting, dying). Only I didn't die. Just felt like it.

Could not keep anything all Saturday and even into the night. Finally about 2 a.m. I could keep a few sips of water intact. Big victory!

And today, I've managed some saltines and more water and 7-Up in moderation.

While yesterday I couldn't even sit up for more than a few minutes. Today I was able to bond with Mr. Recliner and enjoy a Vikings victory. They're on TV here a bit more often now that they're 8-2. But I honestly hadn't PLANNED to be home to watch it.

I was bummed all my weekend plans were shot to heck. No book club or shopping yesterday and no church, BINGO, or movie time for me today. I was too weak to even watch Hallmark. Now you know it was bad.

Not sure what kind of bug it was but another few friends have had it this weekend too so something evil is going around.

At least I was able to upgrade from Saltines to Ritz for supper. Guess I'll be all back to normal (my version of it) come morning. 

Let's have a good week!

Girls' Getaway

There were many times this spring when we wondered if we'd have our 26th annual sister weekend this fall with all 7 of us sisters. By the grace of God, we could.

Since we had to wait some time to know if our sister Rachel was OK first, then OK to walk in some fashion second, we waited to find a place for a getaway. What ended up working was a few days in the middle of the week rather than a weekend. 

In November.

So I found (via VRBO) a huge house in the Twin Cities area that had a first-floor bedroom for Rachel, plus plenty of dining and relaxing space also on the first floor. As a bonus, we all got our own bedrooms and queen beds – except my twin and I sharing the master suite.

And here's one view of that master suite. A king-size bed plus a couch and two chairs for relaxing or visiting, then a huge bathroom with a jacuzzi tub and shower and walk-in closet as big as my home office. Wow. We were willing to share.

This was one of the nice living room/gathering spaces.

It was very nice and perfect since we didn't need to go anywhere and sight-seeing. We've all been to the Cities a bajillion times! The sad part was that this was our first down-time where we could talk through Rachel's tragic accident and miraculous recovery – and grieve Mom. What a year!

Somehow a bunch of childhood pictures came out of the woodwork...

Yes, me being a clown. Not far from my personality 50 years later!

Me around kindergarten age loving on one of our barn cat kitties that we never seemed to keep.

My sister Rachel helping me walk. And then decades later me having to help her walk after her accident. A sad but victorious twist!

Just hamming it up before there were selfies.

I had never seen this picture of my twin Lene and I riding tricycles. 

And this one with us (I'm on the left) and Dad. Never saw that. We both cried over that one!!

Current day at Sister Weekend (aka Sister mid-week getaway)!

This year, since we were in the Twin Cities and our brother Ron lives there, we met up for dinner at a place called Junction 70 – literally 5 minutes from our VRBO rental.

Took pictures around the table... Ron and Rayna...

RoAnn and Renell...

Rachel and Raylene...

And Romey and me...

Then our cooperative R-sister waitress Rowan took a picture of all 8 R's. We just can't take that for granted! The sad part is that we can't show this picture to Mom.

And yes, I'm crying as I type this because dang, that really, really sucks.

We did, however, manage to have plenty of fun catching up, playing games (me losing at cards but winning $$$ off my sisters at dice). Everything will just sit a bit different now going forward.

I'm sure I've said it a hundred times, but hug your parents, your siblings, your kids, and any loved ones! You just don't know! 

P.S. Love ya, R sisters!

It's About More Than Us

It seems weird to say "happy" Veterans Day. So I'll just say hey, today is Veterans Day and I thank all of you who served – whether in war time or peace time. Your commitment matters.

For us non-government employees, today was a normal work day. I had to have a GSD day (Get Sh-tuff Done) day before a few days off. I worked my butt off and I think I can be removed from the office Tuesday–Thursday without worrying about work. 

But then after work I was on mission to get "a few things" wrapped up for our sister "non-weekend" getaway. No one requires anything from any of us. Yet we all seem to do something. 

If my sisters are looking for clues, you won't find anything. Here are my after-work stops: Lighthouse Books and Gifts, Walgreens, Marshall's, and Goodwill. Ha!

All you need to know is that I'm excited to bring some fun and entertainment (hopefully) for our Great Minnesota Get-Together.

Hope you all have something to look forward to Tuesday through Thursday!

Skate-By Sunday

Naturally, I'd love to brag about a Vikings win during a Packers' bye week. But since we barely won, I made sure I adjusted the graphic above to reflect our just skating-by victory. 

I'm disappointed but at least honest.

Since the Pack was on bye, though, we got to watch the game in central Wisconsin. After our duties in church (my choir does have 2 other Vikings fans!).

While we were watching our friend Christine came over. She was in town for the weekend and was willing to visit while her Packers were not playing. We definitely did not force her to cheer for the purple. It was just great to see her, that's all!

I was supposed to have my final final senior photo shoot after the game, but that got postponed until Friday. So it was really a low-key day. I may or may not be planning a few things for my "sister getaway" this week. Since it's Tuesday-Thursday this year, we can't really call it our usual Wild Women's Weekend. But we can pretend.

Hidden message: I only have to work tomorrow (and Friday if I'm up to it) this week. Yay, me! Yay, sisterhood!

Hope you all have something to look forward to this week! 

Going Octo-Bananas

Who sets an alarm on a Saturday morning to get up and make a trifle? This girl! And yes, as shown by the photo, I've gone bananas!

At the request of my father-in-law, whose 87th birthday we celebrated today, he wanted something like the banana cream pie-type dessert his wife used to make. Thank goodness he was amenable to a dessert in the trifle format so I wouldn't have to compete with that memory. It was tasty. I'll share the recipe in a bit.

We went to lunch at Anchor Bay and he was surprised with a cupcake for dessert. We had a nice group – Baird and Sherry (you can see in the background), plus Colin, Amy and their kids, and Jim and I plus Clay and Becca – and Mr. Carter who arrived late last night!

We all came to our house after lunch to settle our full bellies and the have dessert. Dad looks pretty good for an octogenarian, doesn't he?

Tried to get a picture of the grandkids. You can see Carter and Colin cooperating in the back row but Eli, Dad, and Mya were looking elsewhere. Still, it's sweet. My favorite peoples.

By mid-afternoon the crowd had dispersed and Carter hit the road as well. It was so nice to see him for a short visit but it's also Mamie's birthday weekend so we understand why he wanted to head back.

Since we're laying low with an empty house, I figured I share what I threw together to make my first ever Go Bananas Trifle.

First of all, I could've baked a banana cake from scratch. But when we saw this I figured I can't compete with Dolly Parton on any level. So let's go with that. I baked that yesterday afternoon and today I sliced up cubes to make the bottom layer of the trifle.

Next layer was Banana Cream Pie pudding. I ran across the Snack Pack version before finding the instant version, so that's what I went with. Please know that if you try this at home you'll need to by 3 of these – 6 packs per layer. I sliced up some REAL banana and lay those pieces on top of the pudding layer.

The crunchy layer – as I call it – was Vanilla Wafers x 2. I used a rolling pin to crush up some of vanilla wafers pictured above and used a knife to slice up bits of the wafer cookies with vanilla creme.

That went onto the top of the pudding layer before I started again with banana cake cubes and repeated layers. The tip-top layer was whipped cream and some banana slices.

As a side option, I had both chocolate and strawberry syrup in case anyone wanted more of a "banana split" type taste. Overall, positive reviews. So go bananas! 

P.S. If anyone like banana cake, I've got about half of one left I could gift you with whipped cream or whatever!

Another Dinner and a Show?

My sisters Up North were texting photos of the Northern Lights a little bit ago. So I thought I'd better head out to the front deck, point my phone up, and click.

OMG! Spectacular! That is... until I realized I forgot to shut off the porch lights with the those Viking purple bulbs. Whoops. And dang.

It's possible we have a little action going on down here. But it's nothing like we've been treated to before.

Still, it did not ruin our evening. We met up with a dozen cousins, aunts, and an uncle on Jim's mom's side of the family for dinner at PJ's – SentryWorld. Due to some work meetings this week, tonight was the third time this week eating there. So I got the fish fry and it was delish!

So nice catching up with family we just don't get together with unless it's a wedding or a funeral. Sort of like me and my adult cousins. There is one surviving sister of my mother-in-law and she's coming up on 90 years old. That was nice she could be there, too.

Don't wait for a special occasion to see family. Make the occasion – and it will be special!

Political Poll: Half Full, Half Empty, Don't Care

When you get home from work and the sun is setting, yet you see the moon... Well, you gotta take pictures. When I saw it was possibly going to have some "silhouette branches" in front of it, I zoomed in to take a picture.

Then I realized the moon looked like it was trapped in some sort of bondage. Definitely the wrong angle. 

Then I thought, just take the half moon for what it's worth. It could mean we wasted so much of the first half of "something." Or it could mean we're just starting. You see less than half of what's to come, but we've got a great thing on the way!

Maybe after all the politics we're burnt out about whether we're half full, half empty, or fully just don't care. 

But let's focus on the sliver of brightness that is showing and continue to work on that until we're full and those who matter know it! I vote for that.

Our Daily Bread

I'm late to the Gratitude Month party! But this is the column I wrote for our monthly church newsletter on the subject. Since it's finally November (plus some), I can share....

Our Daily Bread

At least once a week – without fail – we pray the Lord’s Prayer. But sometimes we get so used to praying it that we end up reciting it instead. Do we ever stop to think that we’re merely asking God to provide us our “daily bread” – our daily needs – and nothing more than that? Could we live with just what we need?

This fall, like usual, Mother Nature hit our country with a variety of tropical storms and hurricanes. And this year, at least two big ones that caused extensive flooding and damage and led to power outages and destruction of homes, business, even national treasures.

I personally am grateful I got to spend a week in the Asheville, N.C., last year – including a day at the impressive and historic Biltmore Estate – before this year’s storm put the city and an extravagant piece of history under water. You can’t take anything for granted – even after a century.

My heart goes out to the millions in the Southeast who lost what we would consider our daily bread – our necessities: Shelter, water, food, clothing, electricity, and more.

I feel blessed to be part of a church and community who immediately rallied to send aid to the victims. Semi-trucks parked around town were quickly filled with donations of water, blankets, and clothing. It’s amazing how caring and selfless we can be when responding to a crisis. 

Galatians 6:2 instructs, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Christians tend to respond to disasters by extending hands of help, offering prayers, and providing comfort to those in need. But what about the disasters that don’t make national headlines?

Each year, as the holidays approach, we get a wake-up call about the growing population of people in our own community trying to get by without their daily bread. And the many opportunities we have to band together – like we do with natural disasters – to help those suffering personal disasters.

The Red Kettle, our Charlie Brown tree, Operation Christmas Child, and more. These are evidence of the growing needs of many of our neighbors. 

Let’s enter Gratitude Month with appreciation for our daily bread and see how we can respond with faith, hope, and love to those who go without.

Last-Minute Write-In :: Mother Nature

I gotta hand it to Mother Nature. After 3 days of rain, she gave quite a show of color as the "after work" crowd headed to the polls. At least in Central Wisconsin.

First were the streets of gold or the yellow brick road path west from Plover to the town of Grand Rapids. Sun finally peeked through for the first time in days and did it in style.

And she brought on the ol' double rainbow (of promise, perhaps?). I mostly missed it because this was behind me in the eastern sky.

But my girlfriend Sharon captured it nicely from her office in Wisconsin Rapids. Still, the crazy thing was that while I headed south and looked left at the rainbow, this was my view when I looked right (west).

So vibrant and pretty, Mother Nature. Well done!

However, I did notice several geese going the wrong way. Maybe course-correct for them so they're heading south to warmer climes.

At the end of the day, I did end up in the correct place. I did my part to support my candidates and perhaps keep moving the community, the county, the country forward. 

Not sure how late I'll stay up tonight or even watch the results coming in. I still have PTSD from the 2000 election and the damn hanging chads that kept me in the newspaper office almost till sunrise with the only headline we could go with at the time: Too Close To Call.

I'm happy to just be a participant and spectator for now.

May we all continue to love and respect each other in the morning!

It's Only a Day Away

I'm Rockin' Robyn and I approve this message:

Every 4 years, most of us look forward to exercising our right to vote. And really, really look forward to the end of campaigning. 

Every election, it reaches a whole new level. I have no idea who sold a phone list with my number on it, but I have gotten countless phone calls AND texts. Even from this guy...

I must be a very important voter! Side note: The polls open in like 12 hours. There's not much that will sway me at the last minute. But as a former news hound, I know there's the tiniest percentage of chance that something could. 

Unlikely, but you never know. 

My only advice for tomorrow is: Bring your I.D., follow your heart, and if you live in the town of Grand Rapids like me, vote between 11-7.

Cast your vote then grab lunch or dinner! And meet some cool folks protect our lives. No matter who you vote for!

P.S. Our mail box will be feeling pretty empty now too. Feel free to send a card or letter or check! God, bless America! 

How November Launches

The last weekend in October or first weekend in November always begin with a starting gun. That's because it's the State Cross Country meet nearby and we have historically (since Carter was a student) had a full team or at least a few individual runners.

Yesterday I headed over to The Ridges – usually 5 minutes away but more like 30 when I need to take a shuttle. Cheered on and took pictures of our Lady Royals, who finished 4th as a team – with one of our individuals taking 5th place overall. Then stayed to take pictures of our single male runner among Division 3 teams. He was basically in the middle of the pack, but had a good run personally.

The rest of the day was editing pictures and catching some Hallmark. It 'tis the season after all!

Plus, we got an extra hour or sleep when we turned the clocks back! Yay, us!

This morning I had to read in church. It was All Saints Sunday. And I gotta tell you, it really hits different when you light a candle with newly acquired orphan status. So missing Mom and Dad right now.

So, of course to take my mind off that, I did what my mother would have loved to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon. I played BINGO at Assumption.

This was as close as I got on "regular" BINGO. Grrr.

And I really didn't have a prayer on cover-all. Still, I sat among friends and had a good time!

Hopefully our luck changes tonight as our boys in purple play the Sunday Night Game.