A Madness Most Discreet

Now that I've finished reading the Shakespeare-inspired fictional book and see the Oscar-nominated movie Hamnet, I feel I can throw Shakespeare words and phrases at will. "A madness most discreet" is from Romeo and Juliet. But I'm sure thou already knewest that!

So this was my moment of madness today. Bear with me. I'm over 50. We have earned the rights to daily rants of "madness." So I want to finish up this bridal shower gift and my silver wrapping paper at home falls short by a half inch. Any way I situate the box. 

So I go to Walmart since I needed ingredients for two upcoming trifles anyway to get either white or silver wrapping paper. Looking at this photo would you not see silver wrapping paper and two matching silver bows?

Turns out. No. It was just clear cellophane around a silver-colored rather than cardboard-colored tube. Grrr.

I'd already ripped the label off so that's how they getcha. And back to Walmart I went. 

Guess what? I just settled on red. A color I can count on seeing correctly. One that won't cause me madness. And matches the new family name I Cricuted onto the tub. Maybe that's how it was supposed to play out all along!

As for seeing red, though... Ugh. My bracket! We'll skip over that convo today. Definitely March madness.

But as for another episode of March gladness...

We had the most pleasant evening at the Sky Club supper club with our friends Jeff and Cathy. Jeff was Jim's college roommate and Cathy was Jim's high school classmate. You see how this story played out! They just moved to the Twin Cities so were back in Wisconsin and it worked out to connect. Just a great visit as always.

Make the time to make the connections so you don't regret it later!

Spring. For Real er No?

In my heart I know that our first full day of spring is fake. But it felt so good to embrace it anyway!

After an in promptu choir practice this morning, it was really just hoops and hoops and little outside exposure.

And I got to meet our new neighbor! She's so cute!

That was the highlight of the day other than remembering how to use my Cricut for an upcoming bridal shower. And visiting with my father-in-law. 

With the warm temps I did sit out on the deck steps for a bit. But dang, we really want this to continue! It won't of course. Despite the calendar. But please know, Mother Nature, that I truly liked you for one day!

Whoa, Black Betty

I've been watching my odometer this week because I knew at some point Black Betty – my Honda HRV – was about to reach 6 figures. Wish my paycheck would!

This morning when I got to work, she was officially at 99,999. I had to get gas on the way home and that was exactly one mile away apparently, so I could take a picture.

In my mind she's still a new car. Because when I hit a deer on the interstate and totaled my Honda Accord in June of 2020, the 2019 was still "new" since people were concentrating on surviving a pandemic, not going anywhere, and not buying cars.

It was the "newest" vehicle I ever had in my life. And the HRV is totally a Robyn-sized SUV.

A 2019 model but less than 3,000 off the lot. I remember hubby saying, "Well this should last you 'til retirement." Now I'm like, dang reliable Hondas. 100K miles is nothing. I'll have to work forever! Grr.

I treated her to a car wash on her special day. I mean we almost hit 50 degrees today. I know with the massive meltdown, she'll get all splashed up and dirty again, but it was the least I could do. She's got my back and keeps me going places!

Who's got your back today? Maybe give them a special nod of thanks!

Leprechaun Vibes

St. Patty's Day is over but I'm still feeling leprechaun vibes. Not only am I vertically challenged but so is my car! Still cannot see over piles of snow at most intersections.

And this icicle at work? It might be as tall as me by the time it's fully formed. If it doesn't fall to it's melting death first.

Roads were better on way home but any city side streets are just slushy messes. The temps are supposed the rise the next few days. I was ambitious thinking that when I got home tonight I could shovel out our turnaround area before the melting created Lake Austin.

This little area here is the concrete area I usually back into when pulling out of the garage. I was wrongly thinking that since the snow was fluffier to shovel Monday that today would be same. But no. Warmer temps added moisture and I realized right away my aging back ain't made for this. So I quit that almost as soon as I started!

My leprechaun car is small enough I can back up, make a few tries at a Y turn and eventually get out the driveway hood-first without any problem. So I will deal another day with this First World problem!

Be careful out there!

WTF (What the Forecast?)

When this is the first thing I see when I get home tonight, I am slightly enraged... and slightly jealous.

I'd take a March heat wave warning any day before an ICY forecast on a day when we're supposed to reach 50 here. It's insane.

This morning's commute proved this is far from done. Yes, the roads were plowed. But quality? Meh. Lots of snow-covered and glare ice-covered surfaces. Plus occasional drifts to drive through. Normally takes 30 minutes to get to work and today it took 50.

When I got to Stevens Point, it was obvious they got more snow because they didn't know where to put it. I was mostly concerned at the roundabout by work because the snow bank was so high I couldn't see to my left. I had to inch out super slowly and pray not to get sideswiped. Thankfully, I didn't.

I was so distracted by concentrating on driving after work that I just realized I forgot to stop to get a Shamrock Shake to celebrate St. Patty's Day. That's definitely the worst kind of distracted driving.

If you're Irish in any way, I hope you found a fun way to celebrate! When we were growing up we had an "Irish blessing" of some sort hanging on the wall – even though we're 100% Scandi-Hoovian. So maybe everyone is a bit Irish today.

Sláinte to us all! ☘

Blizzard of '26 :: Round 2 (Ditto)

Blizzard of 2026 first thought this morning: "Crap" and "Thank goodness I work from home on Mondays anyway." Honestly, with the extra 6-10 inches while we were sleeping, a lot of us in Wisconsin were sort of trapped.

This top picture is after the early morning snowblowing effort.

I realized quickly that a clear-ish driveway isn't a victory for long when the street hasn't been plowed. My low-riding Honda couldn't leave for quite some time!

So throughout the day I naturally took pictures. Remember our poor robin yesterday? Look at our poor cardinal! Granted, a solar version, but still a good representation of the overnight additional snow.

Anyone want to join us for a party on the back deck today? I don't want to disturb that 2-foot frosting coverage of the table!

When main plowing was done late afternoon, I realized those of us in shorter vehicles are challenged like in the '70s and '80s when we needed styrofoam balls on the radio antennas so other drivers could see us at intersections.

Official measurements for Wisconsin Rapids are still to come, but we have 20 or so inches here. In my meteorological opinion, that is.

Considering these are more "official" measurements and Plover is pretty close to us, I think my report is OK.

Late this afternoon we could leave the house and travel about on the "best conditioned" roads and they were not the best. Snow covered. But drivable. Just need to be cautious come morning, that's for sure!

Blizzard of '26 :: Round 1

I guess when they suggest on Saturday that Sunday will bring a blizzard... and churches, restaurants, and even bars in Wisconsin (gasp!) are going to be closed Sunday... and that travel was 100% not advised, they weren't messing around. 

The "black roads" in the map above indicated "travel not advised" and I know portions of some of our nearby four-lanes (like Highway 10) were closed. 

Wake-up views gave me a clue why they called it a blizzard and not just a winter storm warning. The crazy wind made visibility a nightmare!

The morning routine was hubby snowblowing us out, then he went to snowblow his dad's driveway, and I shoveled the drifted front deck. The back deck (shown) will not be touched until April at this point!

I realized that the wall calendar in my office doesn't even have spring arriving at all in March. No wonder I saw signs of several seasons today. Here's autumn.

Here's winter/Christmas. Yeah, I'm a little behind at un-decking the halls outdoors.

And poor summer crying like it's a thing of the past that shall never return. Poor summer.

As for spring... I'm convinced Old Man Winter has no heart. This poor expecting mother who arrived with her girlfriends and sisters on the 65-degree day last week does not know what to do. I made sure I scared her a bit so she flew into the woods where there is much better shelter than the few trees in our front yard! Yes, I'm a writer and photographer. We save lives every day. That's what we do. Ha.

A couple hours ago we hit a predicted 3-hour lull in snow so my hero snowblowed a second time for us and his dad.

As you can see, we've accumulated at least a foot of snow so far. And Wausau slightly north of us already has 22 inches! They say tonight could bring another 6 inches here at least. With possible freezing rain just for fun.

It's disheartening to think that after all this snow-removal progress made today that it will all have to be repeated come morning. This really is the meaning of March (very) MADness!

I finally appreciate the true meaning of my new mittens gifted to me from a co-worker. If you know, you know. If you live in Wisconsin or Minnesota right now, you definitely know!

Be careful out there!

March Sadness... or March Blues Today

In one poignant photo I can sum up how the Royals' bid for state went today. But it does not tell the whole story. 

For today's sectional final, we as the 4-seed played the 3-seed Southwestern High School – coincidentally Carter's girlfriend's alma mater in Hazel Green. The game was at the halfway meeting point in Westby (some 2 hours away) and my friend Lisa and I got a ride with our friends Craig and Sara so I didn't have to drive by myself.

It was a Royal Blue versus Wildcat Blue battle. The whole gym was fans of the same color. Not the first time this has happened.

We started off the first half pretty hot and had a lead at halftime of 26-13. Probably giving us fans too much optimism. But after the halftime break, the Wildcats came back a different team. Not missing their 3's and stealing the ball from us with pumped up defense. But we still held a lead.

This was the point the game got close and our lead (as home team) was in jeopardy.

Less than a minute to go and we still had a nerve-wracking lead by one. But then they had 2 free throws at the 34 second mark and made them both. Down by 1 and we could not get that lead back. Sadly we lost 44-43.

This was the group of boys (seniors especially) I've watched and photographed since their middle school years. So much talent I knew they'd do well. And frankly, they took us further than any of Royals boys' teams has taken us since 2009.

I know in the moment of a tough loss it is hard to remember that. But I hope they do. What an amazing ride this has been.

#RoyalPride4ever

Windy Day in the One Acre Wood

I know Winnie the Pooh and Piglet made a pile of money of their portrayal of a windy and blustery day in the hundred acre wood. Today we had the same thing on our one acre wood, er yard.

I guess my pompass grass is my compass. When I was at the end of the driveway before running errands at lunch I figured the wind was blowing strong toward the west.

And then, 5 seconds later, it completely changed directions. Quite the rude awakening to our disappointing delivery of spring so far. But the winds and chill today are not the worst of it in central Wisconsin. We've seen what is coming for "spring colors" and it isn't pretty.

Gross, right? What I do know and appreciate is they are holding those sectional playoff games at 1 p.m. rather than 7 p.m. tomorrow to "beat the weather." I just wish that means we could avoid it altogether. Dang.

Be careful and be safe out there this weekend. And buy some popcorn ahead of time so you can watch movies (or NCAA hoops) while we're shut in!

Another Round of March Gladness

Driving all the way to Black River Falls for boys hoops was worth every mile.

For the first time in at least 8 years, our Royals were in the sectional semi-finals. Up against the higher seeded Cochran Fountain City. They played in BRF because it was a neutral site and much larger gymnasium.

And both sides were packed.

And both teams were playing their hearts out and driven to win. So close and so tense!

In the end, we had our happy ending! Just one more win and we're statebound! Sectional final will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Westby – scheduling it earlier in the day beat the blizzard or whatever.

Speaking of non-spring... Took forever to get home because there was a whole line of Royals fan vehicles heading back to Rapids in wet and snowy conditions – driving slowly and cautiously. 

So it's past bedtime and I have to set an alarm because it's not Friday night after all. So picture editing will have to wait.

Congrats, Royals!

Spring Chickens and Other Random Commute Photos

 If you ever saw the Disney movie Up, you know that dogs can have a single train of thought until "Squirrel!" That is me. Of course, I've said previously that my "spirit animal" is an eagle or a fox. But now I'm thinking... squirrel. I offer my commute photos from the first part of this week as evidence...

Coming home from Stevens Point on Monday, I saw a plume of smoke and drove 10 miles out of my way to follow it. The old newspaper reporter in me never dies. Took this from the Prairie Chicken Viewing/Counting Area on County Trunk F (if you know, you know). But does anyone know what was going on south of there Monday? Gas prices are rising so I didn't go any further.

And here is what I am calling a spring chicken in the neighbor's yard. Mainly, since this was taken on that fake spring day Monday, I was attempting to coax it to make spring a little more permanent. Let the record reflect that that effort failed.

I was, however, successfully treated to a glorious sunrise. I will always tap the brakes for these!

PHOTO CREDIT: JIMMY AUSTIN

My photographic failure is that hubby captured a photo of this pale guy in our front yard and I've had my camera – with mega zoom lens – on the kitchen table all week to get a nice, crisp photo of him. And he (ooops, maybe SHE) hasn't reappeared since I've been at the ready. Multiple neighbors keep on seeing IT so hopefully IT will come back.

Also I assured Jim he'd get a photo credit.

So, yeah, there's a peak inside my hamster cage (or squirrel cage) of a brain! Enjoy your perfectly NORMAL selves for the second half of the week!

OOOH, My Aching Back!

 

I'm not sure why when we get to a certain age that we can "throw our back out" with the slightest movement.

Today it was just reaching for the soap dispenser in the women's bathroom a work. So home I go to ice my back and work remotely for a few hours. Grrr.

I am grateful that at a moment's notice – or old lady's notice – that I have the option for working from home. And after alternating icing and heating, I think I'll be good to return tomorrow.

The sad news is that our fake spring really only lasted a day. Today our pathetic high degree was only in the 40s. If any of you are in charge of this, please rectify the situation!

That's it. This old lady is over and out!

So Springy!

Oh gosh. Today was a legit false spring. So close to 70 degrees and definitely snow-melting weather!

I hate that we're predicted to get a ton of snow this weekend because this bare and brown grass suits us just fine. Not pretty, but definitely pretty enough.

I was just glad that after traveling to Stevens Point for a video shoot that I got home in time to take advantage of another "fake spring" day!

Keep them coming, I say!

Bring on March Gladness

Don't forget that March Madness actually begins at the high school level with the regionals and sectionals leading up to state hoops. And when we're lucky, it turns into March Gladness.

The crazy and amazing thing Friday night was that our boys won their Regional round 2 game versus a higher seed, Blair-Taylor (which is my college territory around La Crosse).

I had a few things to do and did not travel 80-plus minutes to shoot pictures last night in Elroy when they faced the No. 1 seed. But I quickly heard through the grapevine that our boys claimed the Regional Championship!

That is so exciting. Now onto sectionals for the first time in at least 8 years.

The other part of March MADness or GLADness is always weather dependent, of course!

Today after we both sang in our respective churches, we went to a retirement party for our friend Christine. Alwasys great to see old / long time friends. When we got home, the temps were in the mid-50s so I went for a walk.

Got to chat with my friend and neighbor Cindy and my favorite four-legged creature Buddy. Then ran into golf partner and neighbor Marigene.

We literally went the extra mile, so to speak. I forget how long winters somehow stop us from seeing people! No one likes to hang out on the swing in front of the house when it's 22 degrees! You know?

When Carter called this afternoon he, of course, was having slightly warmer weather "down south" in Iowa. But we both hoped this wasn't a fake spring again. And we know, naturally, that it probably is because this is, well, the Midwest and the calendar won't acknowledge spring yet for 2 weeks.

I heard a rumor, though, that tomorrow's high temp could bring Mr. Deck Chair out of winter hibernation. Just saying.

Hope you find your March GLADness this week!

Crash and Burn

Well today was our last in-person day to celebrate our Out of this World success in 2025. After making and flying paper airplanes with my great niece and nephew at Thanksgiving, I was pretty confident going into today's flying competition.

But... I must have forgot a key folding element or something, because I crashed and burned. TWICE.

So no prizes for me this week... other than the bonus deposited into my checking tomorrow. 

I should've won a prize for my cool T-shirt I wore – thanks to Amazon and, apparently COVID.

Still it was fun to have a little levity – and cake! – during a somewhat stressful time. I'm seriously grateful because the last 3 companies I worked for were very focused on cutting costs (and people) to thrive. Now I have a very financially stable employer and I will never take that for granted.

Cake or no cake.

Today's Space Invasion

I love that my company planned today's space invasion culprit to be the sun – and warm temperatures! We're going to get spoiled. Please don't let us down, weather forecaster dudes and Mother Nature!

I had to get gas to make it from work to my chiropractor. All I could think was "tell me it's 55 degrees in Wisconsin without actually telling me." This is definitely it. Also, I'm glad I went through the cleansing line on Sunday!

I didn't get a lot of time to enjoy the nice weather since I had work after work (after my spinal but not attitude adjustment) and then had to edit photos from the Assumption boys' regional win last night to advance to round 2 AT HOME on Friday. We haven't been in this position for quite some time so it's exciting.

As for today's space invasion fun... there was cake and we could dress like our favorite space movie or TV or whatever character. I had nothing. I wasn't creative. But tomorrow we can dress as our favorite planet... and this Atari-era girl is going with an anti-planet Space Invaders t-shirt that says "Don't invade my space."

Dang I miss that game and the rolly-polly ball to shoot the enemies!

Also dang. I guess this is the week I continue to age myself.

Get out and enjoy our spring weather this week – even if it's only temporary!