Spring Emerges

Like a butterfly from a cocoon, spring finally emerged today. I mean it really felt like it!

With sunny skies and 70 degrees, it was a hard task not to give in and spend the day with Mr. Deck Chair! But it's already May so I figured I better tend to some work in the yard. Hubby was golfing with son No. 2 over in Iola so I was on my own to stay on task.

My focus today was on my white rock landscaped area out front. It gets so full of leaves and crap in the winter. Once they're wet, they blow anywhere. Then they got covered by ice and snow and more ice and snow. Today I took the leave blower to it, plus pulled some weeds in there that have already bloomed. Between that and raking up what I blew out of there, I had 4 wheelbarrows full! I felt good.

I also got a few bags to Goodwill, aluminum cans to the humane society, and a load of laundry. For my enjoyment, I also got a walk in with my neighbor and went for a bike ride later in the afternoon – just to see if it's true that you never forget how to ride... even if I didn't go at all last summer!

I rode over the cemetery where my girl Emily is buried. Stopped there for a visit. That's where I saw the butterfly (above) hanging. It was in the tree by her grave. It's so pretty. Love it!

Got home and showered for the third time today (lots of sweat and grime), then sat down to watch one of the Marvel movies – Captain America: Winter Soldier. Just have 8 more to go, I think! Not gonna happen soon if the weather stays nice.

And believe me. I'd rather sacrifice a movie than spring!

Uphill Battles

It's been said that we cannot pretend to know another person's journey until we've walked a mile in their shoes. Or perhaps, pedaled a mile on their bicycle.

I came across this gentleman this morning on my commute to work. It was windy and the temperature was hovering around 15 degrees – the high for the day.

I could only imagine what a frigid uphill battle he was facing on this stretch of road. In fact, this may have been the easy part of his journey. In jeans and flannel jacket, he wasn't dressed for recreational exercise. But I have no idea where he was headed or how long it would take him to get there.

Or if he was even struggling. Maybe he was exhilarated by the below-freezing breeze. Maybe he just had to get to his next-door neighbor's.

We don't know. We can guess. But we really don't know.

I've had my share of uphill battles. Some I've made public and some, not so much. Each and every day there is something that appears in the form of an uphill climb. It might be a little hill, or it might be insurmountable. My goal is to level off some of those big hills so that I am on a steady course.

It IS a battle. I try to hand it over to God. But I don't always let him take it. He reminds me that He doesn't make junk. He doesn't care if I am a size 6 or size 16. He loves me as I am. And I need to love myself.

Can you imagine how freeing it would be if the bike was going in the other direction and we were coasting down hill?

That's what it must be like when one is at peace with herself. I can't pretend to know. I can only imagine.

But I hope to get there one day.

Golden Opportunity

This evening was our monthly Face to Face Book Club meeting. Tonight we discussed Gold by Chris Cleave.

Among other themes, the book focuses on the ultimate test of a mother's love. If your dreams pull you in one direction and your heart in another, which should you follow? This is the question that haunts main character Kate Meadows, a world champion cyclist whose eight-year-old daughter Sophie is battling a recurrence of childhood leukemia just as Kate is about to compete for her last chance at an Olympic gold medal.

For years, Kate has sacrificed everything for her family and watched her best friend and closest rival, Zoe Castle (the other main character), conquer the world stage. Kate has never won gold and will have to go through Zoe—who has everything to lose—to get it. Now her child is facing a life-threatening illness, and the stakes are higher than ever. How can she do what is right for her daughter without abandoning all of her dreams?

Since the book centered on the competition of cycling, my neighbor Cindy and I decided it was the golden opportunity to dust off our bicycles and pedal to book club. Good thing we've had all this Olympic training while reading the book so we could make it the 1.7 miles to the hostess' home!

Whew.

Then to have to bike all the way back home when it was done? We deserve gold medals!

Actually, it was nice to wheel around and get some exercise at the same time. Not enough to burn off the cupcake calories from the meeting, but a start. Is it too late to get some use out of our bikes this late in the summer?

Hopefully not. Actually after this heat wave blows by sometime early next week, it might be ideal. Except it's already getting dark earlier and I am out of shape and do have a laundry list of excuses in my fanny pack.

Whoa. I do not have one of those. Just checking if you are still paying attention!

By the way, I do recommend the book. It's a good story that is not as predictable as you might think. Plenty of plot twists and lump-in-your-throat moments. And it is a good reminder as a parent of what we sometimes sacrifice (or don't) for our children. When do we deserve "gold" for our hard work and when should we re-examine our priorities? And can we have both?

You decide.

Just like real life, the book illustrates why it's not a cut-and-dried decision.

I guess we take the golden opportunities while we can. Even pedaling 3.4 miles with a friend can be a win-win.

Even though I crossed the finish line first. But who's keeping score...

Patriotic Pinball

One would think I did not have a productive day off... after lying in bed 12 hours. Oh, but they would be wrong!

I got a late start to my day but I was on a mission to get a few things done. I sort of felt like a pinball, going in all directions. Too bad I didn't get points each time a task was accomplished.

Since the band performed yesterday, we did not have a Memorial Day service to go to today. Instead, the Austin household scattered. Hubby went golfing. Carter went to the races at Golden Sands. And I stayed at home.

Mostly.

Did some online garage sale organizing this morning and posted some new items while finding a "live and in person" sale I could contribute some items to this coming weekend. That was good to cross off the list.

The guys got my bicycle down from the garage rafters before they left. I dusted it off, pumped up the tires and went for a 5-mile ride. It was another warm day – 84 degrees – and the rain held off. It was a nice little ride. I didn't want to go crazy and do too much the first time out. I am so out of pedaling shape and I will feel it in my legs and backside tomorrow the way it is. Rode past a cemetery and saw several people putting flags and flowers on graves. Said a quiet "thank you" to God for those who sacrificed all for the Red, White and Blue.

After the ride, I showered and ran some errands. Dropped off some graduation party items for a friend and went grocery shopping. Got home and baked Monster Cookies. I had the oven on?!? Yes, I realize it was hot out. But this was my free day and I needed to get them made for a graduation party. Yes, I realize it is three weeks away, but I will be gone the week leading up to it and these freeze well. As long as they are labeled "Josh's Party" so no one eats them!

The guys came back after I was done and I decided to sit out on the deck – in the shade – and read. As predicted, I was a little crisp from yesterday so could not lounge around in the sun with Mr. Deck Chair again. Probably best or I wouldn't have gotten anything done. Didn't last long out there anyway. Mosquitoes!!!

Seriously. We really did jump from Winter to Summer.

Poor Lukas missed our Spring right along with us. Got an email from him today. He checked out our weather and was glad we finally had some decent temperatures here! Now he knows we weren't making it up. Ha.

Always makes my day when I hear from him. Will have to log off and write back to him... even though he is sleeping now. I'll probably go to bed early myself. The alarm will be a rude awakening in the morning. Despite only being up 10 hours, I should sleep well (you know, "good sleeping weather" and all that).

And for the record, I will not turn on my blanket for the first time in 2014!

Errand Boy

We had a high of 83 degrees today and I think the humidity was at 183 percent!

It was just "thick" out there. We could even feel it in our air-conditioned office, where the carpet seemed to be bubbling up in random places and my computer mouse was stuck in place on the mouse pad.

Sounds like great weather to force Carter to bike around on a bunch of errands, doesn't it?

Well, first he had to bike to school to lift weights and then go to driver's ed class. After that, he biked to McDonald's and then to his eye appointment at 1:45. After that, he biked to a friend's and had to wait to bike to his hair cutter at 3:30. He only had to call once for directions.

At that point.

After getting his hair cut, he biked home, taking a different route than he has before so I got one directional phone call. Not too bad.

We ended up beating him home by a few minutes. He walked in and was pretty surprised he had less than 10 minutes to change and get ready for his baseball game. Nothing like a hot, tired, crabby kid who doesn't ever look at the calendar.

Good thing he loves baseball, because he we didn't get too much attitude on the way to Rudolph. Plus, I reminded him I got a nice complimentary text from his hair cutter so he better live up to her praises.

The game itself was not so good. I can't blame it on our tired kid completely, but he could have been more alert on a few plays. He did fine hitting and running but it just wasn't enough. We were ahead 5-4 at the end of the first inning. Then the Red Team lost 12-5. It's our season pattern. So glad we got that one win last week.

Carter will probably be grateful tomorrow is errand-free. Just bike to driver's ed. Come home. And we'll play some ball for the Blue Team for a change.

Driven to Distraction

Back when I was a kid and we'd go, well, anywhere, I'd hang over the back of the front seat, bothering my parents and looking out the front window. Sure I was probably told dozens of times to sit down. But since seat belts weren't required way back then, I could stay in the back seat but still bounce around and look out any window I wanted to.

I might have been a brat who didn't listen, but I knew where we were going and how to get there.

These days, a good number of parents like me, feel somehow guilty just telling our kids in the back seat to sit still and just look out the window. We give them toys and books and that gradually changes to GameBoys then iPods. They are entertained. They do not complain.

And they do not know where we are going. Or how we are getting there.

I'm not which is more disconcerting... the fact Carter started driver's ed. today (yikes) or the fact he is not even sure how to get to school and back on his bike. He biked there on Friday and again today. Both times getting "mildly" lost. I say mildly because he eventually did get home ...with a few extra miles on his bike.

What's going to happen when he starts driving? Can he get to school or his grandparents' in town? How about our church or Dairy Queen? I'm pretty sure he could get to Wal-Mart, since that's only a few "roads" away. But that's nothing to brag about!

Texting, talking and changing the radio dial will not be his most immediate distractions. Reading a GPS might be.

Good thing we've got another 5 1/2 months before he can get behind the wheel -- and the rest of you can get your defensive driving skills sharpened!

Good luck to us all.

Up a Creek without a Paddle

In case you haven't seen the highlights on ESPN, the ping-pong win record in the Austin basement is Daddy: 91 wins; Carter: 5.

Honestly, he is not playing without a paddle. Daddy, as he had warned us, is just that good.

Of course, I haven't even entered the mix. Then look out!

Just kidding. I am pretty much afraid now of just how embarrassed I'll be.

Case in point: I wanted to just practice "volleying" and Carter started Forrest Gump-ing me like he was playing for the USA Olympic Ping-Pong Team. That didn't last long. And I haven't actually gotten a "real" game under my belt. Maybe I'm a natural.

Right. Just like all my other natural abilities -- certainly none athletic!

I did get to the fitness center and got some running and biking in today. My challenge at home is that I'm not done eating our holiday supply of goodies out of the house. As long as there are spice gum drops and cookies and Peppermint Stick ice cream taunting me from sealed containers, I will not make progress.

So I best make this "Fat Monday" and get this stuff gone! Tomorrow is the first weigh-in at work for a 10-week program to lose 10 pounds. I can't have any of these goodies around to weigh me down, so to speak.

I suppose if I was really committed, I would give the guys permission to paddle me when I cheat! But I would hate to distract them from their game.

New Directions

You know it's going to be a good Mother's Day when your hubby makes breakfast reservations. At the kitchen table. And serves you up the Mother's Day Special -- Eggs Benedict.

That's how the past several Mother's Days have started so yes, I've come to expect it. And yes, I am spoiled.

But I deserve it, right?

Carter was very excited for me to open my card and present before going to church. I can see why. He made the card himself and even wrote all the mushy stuff:

20 years from now, it won't matter....
The jeans you bought,
The car you drove,
The sneakers you had,
The phone you used,
The hairstyle you had.
The ONLY thing that will matter is that YOU are the best mom ever!

Mom: This is for you so you can find me wherever life leads me. Thanks for giving me direction, even when I think I don't need it.

Love, Carter

Am I the only one crying? Then I opened my present and it was a Garmin GPS! Wow, he's right. I will be able to find him wherever life leads him!

I really didn't need anything else to happen to make it a perfect Mother's Day. But more did, of course...

Came home from church and hubby had installed a new screen door on the front deck. We've needed a new one for years and that is what i actually asked for. Still need to make some adjustments to get that project done, but it's the thought that counts!

Was able to enjoy some time in the sun again since we had temps of 66 degrees. Got to read in my lounge chair for an hour. (Happy Mother's Day, Mother Nature!)

Talked to my 79-year-old mother who is recovering today after doing a Cancer Walk in Luck yesterday. She mailed out 270 letters asking for donations to help "stamp" out cancer and single-handedly raised $2,788, making her the second-highest fundraiser. Way to go, Mom! My brother and 2 of my sisters also did the walk with her. Very cool.

Carter and I had some mother-son time late this afternoon when we took an 8-mile bike ride. Basically, we biked to the lake and pedaled the same trail I ran yesterday. It's a heckuva lot easier to bike than run, but enjoyable either way.

After we got back, we went to see Jim's parents and brought a card and cake (from our church fundraiser) for his mom. Came home and grilled burgers for supper. Yum. I am actually too full for ice cream!

But it's early yet. Mother's Day doesn't get over until midnight.

Hope your day was as special as mine!

Rated PG-13

Hard to believe that it's been 13 years already since this little angel entered our lives! Yes, we are now the proud parents of a teenager. And yes, we've been warned about what happens next! For now, let's focus on the positive...

As far as birthdays go, it is harder each year to really surprise Carter for his birthday. He tends to get what he wants and clearly remembers what he asked for. This year was no different. He wanted a bike and even test-drove a few with me. But that's not what he opened this morning.

We had a yummy butter braid for breakfast and he wanted to open the gift bag on the table. So we let him open some baseball stuff he bought with Dad at Wal-Mart yesterday and then opened his Polito's t-shirt he picked out last night. That was it. He was clearly disappointed but we did not indicate at all that he was getting anything more. Poor kid.

Went to late church since he had to acolyte today. No break for your birthday. Then stopped to pick up the pizza for his party later. His afternoon was blessed with phone calls from aunts, babysitters and the entire middle school basketball team -- girls team, that is. They were apparently out to eat and wanted to give a shout. Yes, there is definitely a teenager in the house.

At one point, we had Carter go to the next-door neighbors for something just so we could get his new bicycle out of from hiding in the Scrap Cave and up into our bedroom on the main floor -- just so it would be easier to access later.

Jim's parents and sister came mid-afternoon, along with our friends Mike and Christine. Had pizza for supper, then it was onto some gifts.

He was wearing his new Polito's t-shirt so at least we know that was a nice gift. When Daddy rolled out the bike, though, he was completely surprised.

And pretty happy about it, too! This is an adult-size bike so the last one we'll be buying for him, anyway.

Didn't take him long to get his shoes on and take if for a test drive. This is his first bike with gears so this will take a bit getting used to. Frankly, it was just too darn cold and windy today for me to stand out there and show him. Another time when it feels more like May!

After the gift opening, he got a phone call from a friend to go batting practice so it didn't take him long to blow out candles (all but one!) and ditch the party. We couldn't blame him, really. There were no kids at our party and there looked to be at least one "teenage" girl playing ball.

I guess we better get used to this!

To Air is Human

We spent so much in time indoors Saturday, we hardly noticed another heat wave was developing.

Had a fun time at Koz's Mini Bowl. I guess they call what we were doing "duckpin bowling." I call it "the only kind of bowling where I can get a 200+ score!" Good stuff!

There were 5 of us couples who ventured down to Milwaukee from Rapids for the party. One couple went to the Brewers game later but the rest of us went to a place called Dave & Buster's. Basically a Chuck E. Cheese for adults. Played Skee Ball, Whack-A-Mole, basketball (hubby rocks at that!) and trivia. Between 4 of us, we won just enough tickets to send the birthday girl home with a brand new ... deck of Packers playing cards. That's one expensive deck of cards! Oh well, it was fun earning it!

This morning we noticed it was 80+ degrees already when we hit the road after breakfast. Wow! By the time we got home and then picked up Carter at Grandpa and Grandma's, there was no question we were turning on the air conditioning!

It was one of those afternoons where it felt good to be home, wanted to relax but I knew I should do something -- plus I wanted a little sunshine. So I took a bike ride (that way I had a breeze). That gave the house just enough time to cool off, too. Nice.

Carter and I went grocery shopping later and got a few things he discovered he needed for school. Now we should be done (I've said that before, haven't I?). He will start another new school adventure this week. Soccer starts Monday with his first practice.

Weather man says it's going to be 88 and humid tomorrow. Between us at work with our inconsistent air and Carter at the warm school, then practice, I guess Sylvester will once again be the spoiled one, napping in the cool A.C.

Not sure how that happens but I can't complain. We've certainly been blessed lately in more ways than I can say.

A Real Win-Win Situation

It's too late to put any coherent thoughts together but I will say it was a good night at the races. In fact, doubly good. We had 2 winners tonight!

First, and more importantly, our nephew Colin won the Super Stock feature! He has been finishing 2nd the past several weeks and finally finished out front! He still leads points in that division so this was an awesome night for him. Yay!

Carter was the second big winner. They were drawing names and giving away about 30 bikes tonight during intermission. They called his name and we went down to claim the bike for the Boys 10-12 category. Wouldn't you know it, it was a purple bike that said, Glamourous on it?! Whoops. Wrong category.

They were kind enough to find another bike. It's probably too small but we'll take it.

Everyone's coming home with hardware tonight!

Independence Day

It's weird having July Fourth fall on a Sunday. It just doesn't feel like a holiday. Just a typical Sunday... Jim and I got up and went to church. (Carter was still asleep). Grilled some burgers for lunch. And then it rained. I mean it poured!

When it let up and looked like it was going to be dry for awhile, I took advantage of my independence and went on a bike ride by myself. I had some good resistance today since the wind was blowing -- and stayed cool because the wind was blowing the rain off the trees. Nice. No wonder it didn't seem like 10 miles!

Unfortunately, the rain returned shortly after I got home and hasn't let up much since. This was good news for people like me (who wanted to read my Stephanie Plum book) and hubby (who could enjoy his Reds stomping the Cubs on TV and the John Wayne marathon). It was bad news for people like Carter who hoped to go to the fireworks tonight.

Apparently, they did shoot them off despite the rain. That doesn't sound too enjoyable to me. I'm glad we got to see some at the race track the other night. So we're good. Thought I'd share a few images so you can enjoy them in your nice, dry computer chair....

Happy Independence Day!!!

One More Thing to Celebrate

The Austin "power week" is drawing to a close. It started off with a parade on Sunday (purely coincidence), my birthday Monday, our anniversary Thursday and now hubby's birthday today. We've had fireworks at least 2 times and there could be more.

Today, as I mentioned, we had one more thing to celebrate -- Jim's birthday. Carter got him a Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun to get those damn squirrels eating our bird seed. I got him the book Sh*t My Dad Says, which should be pretty funny if it's like the same-named Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Despite the fact it was the "old man's" day, he still mowed some grass while Carter and I took a short bike ride. Later, Carter and I finally got to watch his Percy Jackson movie on DVD. It was pretty good. We both agreed the books are way better!

Did some grocery shopping in town this afternoon and got back in time for us to head up to Marshfield for another evening of racing. This was a big 80-lap feature for Colin's super late model car. Colin did win the heat race (his first, so that was cool) and then had a top-15 finish in the feature. We gave Jim's parents a ride up there and left after the feature. None of us cared much about staying for fireworks.

Frankly, it's way past my bedtime again and I am starting to feel it. I guess we're all getting old around here!

I think that's it for our celebrations this week. Of course, there's always the Fourth. I hear that's a good reason to party. And do fireworks!

Just Chillin'

The temps barely got up to 70 today but it was sunny so it felt pretty good. I don't mind the chilly weather when it doesn't have rain or wind accompanying it!

This morning was Carter's last day of Sunday School (ever, I guess) and also our church picnic. We basically had to eat and run so I had no chance to even win back one of my 4 cake walk items. Darn. That's OK, we still have some of Carter's "graduation cake" left.

We had to exit the picnic by 12:10 so we could pick up a baseball teammate at 12:15 so they could be at our house to ride with Coach Austin (assistant coach, that is) to tournament team practice. Made all my deadlines!

While they were gone, I finished watching a movie I rented, Dear John, and was relieved no one was around to watch me bawl over a silly movie. Hey, there's a reason they call them chick flicks! After my mushy stint, I spent a good 45 minutes attaching a water bottle holder to my bike -- which did not come with 2 screws built in for that purpose. This was actually the 2nd holder I bought for this bike, so I'm glad this one worked.

When the guys got home, I was just about to head out for a ride and it started raining. Where did that come from? Cloudy on one side of the house and sunny on the other, so I knew it was short-lived. I took a half hour ride in the sunshine. When I got home, Jim was grilling up some brats and burgers for the week (They have proven to be nice, quick meals.). I decided to chill out on the back deck in the swing and read awhile. That's my kind of Sunday.

I had to run a few errands later and now I come home to find Carter out and about and Jim gone to Menards for something for the batting cage next door. I better log off. The couch is mine and, better yet, so is the remote!

Wheelin' & Dealin'

I got a hot tip around the campfire last night that my running shoes were on clearance this weekend over at MC Sports in Plover. So this morning, after Daddy left to golf with a neighbor and Carter got his 11 hours of sleep, the 2 of us headed east.

And I wasn't just looking for shoes.

For the past 2 summers, I have been wanting to get a new bicycle to replace my now 18-year-old hybrid bike. Yes, it still works. But I am not a fan of the hybrid style. The wheels are thin like the old school 10-speeds so they don't do well off-road. Not that I am mountain bike queen, but there is a nice path around the lake nearby that has a few areas unpaved that my current bike doesn't handle. It just fish tails like I'm about to hit the dirt. Not liking that. So I have been shopping around for the past month. Today I cleaned out the trunk before we left "just in case."

And I found a "case."

Robyn the deal-digging bargain shopper scored big today. Not only did I get my shoes half price, which is a very good deal, I test-rode and purchased a new "comfort" bike (with fatter wheels!), also on sale in the price range I was aiming for. So it was good.

Since Carter had birthday money burning a hole in his pocket, we went to Wal-Mart over there. He bought a battery charger thing for his Wii remotes and also bought another Wii game -- Sports Resort -- that looks pretty fun.

With today's high heat and humidity, Jim only golfed 9 holes. So after I got my accessories on my bike, we went to a graduation party for the son of one of his school mates. Of course, we saw a few other people we knew, too, and had a very nice time. Did I mention there was yummy cake with good frosting?? Yep, that was a high point, too!

Got home and it had cooled down to the mid 80s so I took the new bike out for a spin. Very comfortable! Good seat and I sit up straight more than the other bike so it doesn't bother my back. I think I'm gonna like it!

While I was out, the "boys" broke in the new Wii game. I don't mind seeing Carter work up a sweat. That means he moving at least. While they played, I plunked myself down on the couch to watch my Twins on Sunday Night Baseball. Got to cheer them onto a win -- which was almost as good as my deals of the day... but, really, it's hard to top good frosting!

Youth Sunday

Today was the Youth Sunday service at our church, which meant the kids took over everything from the readings and sermon to the final blessing. Despite the fact he's missed a month of Sundays, well a month of Sunday School, Carter got to read the Psalm and joined in the group singing. It was a nice service.

After church, I had to run to a friend's house for some emergency hugs and prayers. But after that, the day was uplifting and fun. We sort of made the whole day a Youth Sunday -- and Mom got to act like a kid again (and will probably pay for it tomorrow).

I got my bike down from the garage rafters, dusted it off and Carter and I biked over to the gas station to put air in our tires. It was a breezy but sunny ride. I let Carter set the pace and I didn't mind all that it was quite leisurely. Gotta ease into it, ya know. Just five miles and plenty of sunshine.

When we got home, I could not pass up an opportunity to sit on the deck a bit and read. Guess what I'm reading? Now I'm into the second book of his Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. I guess I've sort of committed to reading all 4 of them after Carter gets done with each one. Hey, if it keeps him motivated to read, that's cool. Plus, he keeps insisting "it's the best series ever" even though it's probably the first real one he's read. Too funny. Oh well, I didn't mind an excuse for some sunshine time.

Carter was quite anxious to set up my character on Wii so we had to do that. Then he showed me just some basics on tennis, bowling and boxing. I was getting my heart rate up there! It was pretty cool -- and soooo easy, even a mom can do it!

After supper we all went to batting practice. Daddy pitched, Carter hit and Mommy fielded. I know it doesn't take too many throws before it's too late and I've already done the damage to my old lady arm, shoulder, back. Ah well. I was not there to be an athlete. Just an athletic supporter.

Some dark clouds rolled so we headed home. It didn't rain though. I guess it was just my cue to head indoors and get a little work done.

It was really a nice, warm day. But I think I'll still need my mattress pad on for my aching back...

Youth Sunday. Yeah right.

Some Assembly Required

With another day of temps in the 60s, we are close to waving goodbye to our final little piles of snow. In our house that means one thing -- we are close to getting our two-wheeled non-motorized vehicles out.

We have a rule that the bikes and scooters aren't to be used until the snow is gone. Don't need anyone leaving their bike out in the snow to rust. There's no worry that I am going to jump on my bike if it's much below 70 degrees anyway. But you know how boys can be. Look at those puddles!

Luckily, the snow melted at a slow and steady pace so we aren't in Mudville like some Springs. So we relented and let Carter ride today.

But first, I had to assemble the fancy 3-wheeled scooter he got for Christmas! Yes, we've had nearly 3 months to do this. But what's the rush? It surprisingly didn't take too long. And surprisingly, and very thankfully, it held together in its inaugural run -- and the brakes worked, too!

So we're all put together and ready for Spring. Too bad there's snow in the forecast by the weekend.

See, I knew there was no hurry!

Just Du It!

I did something over my lunch hour today I don't think I'll do again. Well, maybe...

A few weeks ago, in a moment of weakness or vulnerability to brainwashing, I signed up for the annual indoor duathlon at the Iola-Scandinavia Fitness Center. A duathlon -- not to be confused with a biathlon featuring skiing and shooting -- requires participants to run, bike, run. In this case, run 2 miles, bike 5 miles, then run 2 more. Easy peasy, right?

Since this is an indoor event, with a limited number of treadmills and stationary bikes available, contestants had to reserve a time over the course of 2 days to participate. Today was my lucky day.

Now I have resumed running in the past 2 months so I felt pretty OK with that part of the competition. But biking? Not so much. If I had thought about this months ago, I could have perhaps trained or something silly like that. Instead this was one of those "I'm just doing this once to prove I can do this" things!

I can tell you now I am glad I did it but it was hard! The first leg of running went very well by Robyn standards -- 2 miles in 17 minutes, 11 seconds. I had a misstep hopping off the treadmill to get over to the bike, but I didn't fall on my face or anything.

I expected the bike part to take 25 minutes so was happy to finish it in 24. However, after pedaling my legs off for the last quarter mile, they were done. I mean it. My legs were seriously thinking we were done. When I got off the bike to book it over to the treadmill again, my legs refused to move for a second. It took every ounce of my brain power to will those legs to move 5 steps over to the treadmill. Then I had to run?!?

Oh those last 2 miles were killers. I kept saying, "I just want to walk!" Cheryl, the fitness center drill sergeant timing me, said, "No way! You'll just be mad at yourself if you walk now!" But it hurt. My legs, what I could feel of them, hurt. And my lungs.

I kept concentrating on the music in my MP3 player. When Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive song came on, I thought, "This could be inspiring. This could keep me going." I hate that song now.

When I was less than a quarter mile to go, I felt like puking or passing out but I said screw it, upped the tempo and finished strong.

In the end, I accomplished the journey in 1 hour and 13 seconds! Yay me!

At this point, I don't even care if I am one of the top 2 finishers (in male and female divisions) to win a turkey. I'm just proud to say I did it and it's OVER!

Plus, I should have enough of those feel-good exercise endorphins to carry me through the day anyway. Let's not think about how this old body is going to feel tomorrow morning...

Bonus Hours

I like having a long "holiday" weekend with nothing going on. It was sort of like we had a bonus day squeezed in today -- and nothing (work or activity-wise) was required.

It may have seemed like a I slept in, but that's only because we got home so late, it took some doing to get 8 hours of sleep. After I accomplished that, who cares what I did -- if anything -- the rest of the day?

I did get a run in.

And did 3 loads of laundry.

And went on a little bike ride with Carter.

And shucked corn on the cob for supper.

And sat on the deck in the sunshine.

And finished my book.

And worked on some Sister Weekend surprises.

And enjoyed a campfire with the neighbors.

Other than that, it was pretty quiet around here...

Day of Rest

Typically Sundays are meant to be a day of rest. And that's not hard to do once the football season starts! Today was not typical.

First of all, the Vikings don't play until Monday (look out, Packers!) so I didn't have a really good reason to camp out on the couch.

Secondly, I am no longer a co-general manager for hubby's fantasy football team so, again, I didn't have a really good reason to camp out on the couch.

Finally, we did have a few other things to do.

After church and Sunday school, we went up to Wausau to bring home Jim's dad from the hospital. Jim drove his mom and dad home in their car and Carter and I followed. Our favorite heart patient is pretty weak but it sure was good to see him smile!

Carter had two homework projects to wrap up today. He still has one more day to complete the "history of me" items in a box assignment so I will wait until that's done to tell you what he thinks symbolizes Carter. He practiced his presentation on me today and I must say it was pretty good. He might end up throwing in something extra. We'll know on Tuesday.

To avoid the couch, I had big intentions of going on a long walk or bike ride. I seriously got on my bike and it was raining by the time I got to the end of our driveway (and it's not that long!). I did get on a ride later, after the rain, but it was a short one so I wouldn't get caught in a storm somewhere. At least it was some exercise.

Right now I am waiting for Carter to fall asleep. He lost a tooth today. By coincidence, that's the second one since football started. Maybe he is getting rattled around a bit after all. At least it keeps the tooth fairy in business!

That's it for our day of rest. (Oh, and I did make it to the couch for a little football. So there was some actual resting going on. I'm gonna try to do a much better job of it next week!)