May Day Wishes

As a child, May Day was all about making, filling, and hanging May baskets. But for the past 24 years, it's been about one thing. Our baby boy.

Yup, Carter is 24 today! And I am feeling major Mom Guilt about not being able to make it a special day. #stupidcovid So I had Jim pick up a "cake" on the way home from church...

For the record, the birthday boy does love Glazers from Kwik Trip, so he was happy at least.

And I'm pretty sure his wish was for a Celtics win today. But the Bucks took them in game one of this playoff series. So the wish isn't unfulfilled just yet.

Since we couldn't do much with him to celebrate, he and his girlfriend met up with his college roommate whose birthday was yesterday. I'm pretty sure they've celebrate at least 4 or 5 of their last birthdays together. Gotta keep the streak alive! They met up for a late lunch over in Oshkosh.

I laid low on my recliner – masked up as I have been for days – and Jim and I knocked out some more final Ozark episodes. Thanks to my house arrest, we only have 2 episodes left. Then it's done forever.

And really, that's about all I accomplished this weekend. Forcing myself to rest is harder than it sounds. But I did pretty good. Unfortunately, the deep coughing fits still visit during the night so I don't know if I'm tired from lack of sleep or tired as a symptom of the virus. Either way, I think the worst is over – all the miserable stuff I felt last week – and I'm hoping I'm on the road to recovery.

Haven't lost my sense of smell or taste yet so hopefully the birthday "cake" lasts a few days, too.

Thanks for all the well wishes for me and all the birthday wishes for Carter. It's going to be a good trip around the sun!

Fraction Action

You know what makes me hungry? Math. More specifically, fractions.

Today about a dozen of us from work got to go on a little field trip to the Catholic grade school about 5 minutes from our office. It was a chance to see our company's math and reading software in action.

And, since the school is part of the Assumption school system, it was a chance to see a few kids (and teachers) I know.

Great to see our products in action. Great to not have to do math anymore, as well! A whole lotta fraction lessons today. Uff da. I forgot about the headaches of mixed numbers. I also forgot that staring at fraction "pie charts" long enough makes you hungry for pie or pizza or doughnuts.

So I was game for going out for pizza tonight! Jim and I went to The Ridges, where Carter washes dishes. He had the night off but it was sort of "opening night" for the golf season so we figured we should attend the eating part since we worked through the golf hours today. I opted for chicken strips but Jim had one-half, or 4/8, of his pizza and took the rest home.

I guess you could say we were tailgating since it is State Hoops Eve, after all! I hope the next fraction I see is a whole number in the shape of the Gold Ball on Saturday. I'll let you know how tomorrow shakes out. I guess we have a 50-50 chance of winning since the teams in round one of the state tourney are so evenly matched.

That's 50/100. I better stop eating pieces of the "pie" so we have better odds!

Fat Tuesday :: Take 2

According to the real 2016 American calendar of events, Fat Tuesday will fall on Feb. 9. By then it will be the third one we've celebrated around here. First we had MY Fat Tuesday the day before my come-to-Jesus meeting with the scale at Weight Watchers.

Today they had the German version of Mardi Gras at Assumption. The middle and high school German classes made doughnuts for the students, teachers and staff to celebrate Fasching. That's their word for it. While they have carnivals on a large scale over in Europe, the kids settled on deep frying little biscuits then injecting them with sweet jelly. Probably rolled them in sugar, too. I don't know. Carter informed me there were absolutely no leftovers!

I guess they were good then! Probably best I am not tempted anyway.

As for me, I thought it was called Fashion day – not Fasching – so I fashioned up a Fat Tuesday outfit. See how good I am at Weight Watchers already? I no longer eat ice cream. I wear it. Though it was almost tempting to lick my shirt.

No, it really wasn't. If I wanted that dry taste, I'd have another bowl of Fiber One cereal. Whoo-hoo!  No one parties like me – on either side of the ocean.

Happy Fasching!

Memorable March

The crazy super moon eclipsed my interesting blog material from yesterday!

I traveled down to Warrens Cranberry Festival to watch Carter and the Assumption Marching Band in the parade. Since they were unit #63, I knew I could show up after the noon start, find a close parking spot and see them in time. I've had 4 years of practice. I have it down to a science!

It was a gorgeous day – a bit hot to be in band uniforms – so I got a ton of photos. Still haven't finished futzing with them yet, but here's a few.

They played the song "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World. You would know it if you heard it.

They had plenty of dance moves, too. It was very entertaining. Right before they got to the turn off of Main Street, though, the parade came to a halt.

This is Carter's "are we seriously stopping the parade in this heat because a woman is giving birth?" face. Oh yes. Fact. About 2 units ahead of them, the ambulance was helping a pregnant shopper who was going into labor. I hope that she names it Warren, even if it's a girl!

I seriously hope Mom and baby are OK. I have it on good authority from Jingles the Clown that the woman was months early. So it was probably a scary situation. And no, I don't know why authorities would tell delicate info to a clown. But hey, this one is a friend so I believe he had the inside scoop!

So I took advantage of the pregnant pause in the parade and got a few photos. Here's Carter with his friend Emily.

And here he is with a few of the other senior brass-kickers, Olivia and Macie.

The parade really was only stalled maybe 15 minutes. I did a little shopping on my way out and this is all I bought, honest...

I swear I can stick to a budget, but not a diet. But dang, who can resist mini donuts? It's been years since I had them. And they got me all the way back to Rapids. With only sugar crumbs to spare.

Everybody loves a parade!

Makin' Doughnuts

 

There are days I feel like Fred in the Dunkin's Donuts commercial from back in the day. Dragging myself out of bed at some ungodly hour to drive nearly an hour to work.

It's actually only 45 miles from our house to Iola, but the booming village of Plover has become the bottleneck to the east, making it a 50-minute drive even though a third of it is freeway speed. Typically I hit the red light at all four traffic signals on my route. Today, in honor of 12 years on the job, I see they are adding TWO MORE stop-and-go lights on my commute!

No kidding. They are up on both sides of the I-39 exit now. They are not operating yet but will be any day now. Grrr.

So today I veered off at stoplight #3 and went to Dunkin' Donuts to pick up some treats for work (since I have been such a treat to work with).

Got two dozen assorted to mark my "Dirty Dozen" years. Yum!

Not sure how that tradition started, but I (and many others) bring treats on my work anniversary and on my birthday. Actually, I "make the doughnuts" a lot, often bringing baked goods in what my co-workers call my Magic Blue Pan.

Today was probably one of the few occasions I purchased something already made. But I was stuck on that "dozen" number in my head. And who doesn't need a good Dunkin' Donut with their coffee?

Heck, with two more stoplights to sit for, I might even have time for a few coffee breaks on my commute!

Better log off now so I can get some sleep before it's time to make the doughnuts again!

Hot Time in the Old Town

I don't intentionally pick the hottest days of the summer to do physical labor, but I just get lucky and it happens that way! That's OK. Our hot time on Saturday was sandwiched between two cool and breezy days.

And, more importantly, it was a productive R2-D2 weekend with even a little fun involved.

This weekend's downsizing efforts were focused on the basement at Mom and Dad's. I got there early enough Friday to put in a few hours of hard labor with my sister Rachel. Saturday morning brought four more sisters! (And a bonus niece and brother-in-law.)

A lot of hot, sweaty sifting and lifting. But some amusement, too.

Stumbled on a cache of self-help and motivational books. Look out world, I'm going to be a "1970s" assertive woman!

Who wouldn't love reading about how not to fake it and being an adventurous wife? Hey, when you are doing dirty work, you get a dirty mind!

When we took a break for lunch, I got to surprise my sisters Romey and Raylene with Packer tickets I won. It was hard to keep a secret because I was so excited about it! I earned my "chances" by working all those car show shifts. I really wanted to win so my twin, especially, could go since she has been having quite a challenging year. My sister Romey gets to go since she is now in the Sisters Over Sixty Club and needs to get a move on with her Bucket List items. They were excited and their husbands are, too.

(Please note for the record: Viking fans are nice!!)

We declared quittin' time at 5 p.m. so we could go to the county fair and enjoy a deep-fried supper of some sort. I know, after standing, squatting and lifting for 7-8 hours, who wants to walk around the fair in the heat??

The answer is: "I do! Because there are mini donuts there!"

After cheeseburgers and cheese curds, we wandered over to the barns, where I discovered I could finally call myself a "hot chick." We also located our cousin's daughter and her cow she was showing (for 4-H) and selling. Got to visit for a bit.

Then we actually walked in other barns. I am not a farm girl, but the llamas were calling me. This guy was getting fresh with me and trying to blow in my ear. Startin' some llama drama! At least he didn't spit, as I am told they do if they don't want you by them. He liked me!

After our entertainment and some deep-fried mini donuts on the way out, we headed back to Mom's. We saw a bunch of wicked clouds gathering around the sunset-orange ones. But we did not get a drop of rain. Elsewhere, not far from Mom's they got hail. They also got hail at home in Rapids. No damage at our house but others had car damage and more.

My sister Renell and I kept taking pictures of the clouds. Just forming so weird that they were pretty. We could see lightning in them later, but had no success capturing that on camera. We both tried, though!

Didn't get rain during the night but when my mom and I were on our way to church this morning – for an outdoor service – it started. Bummer. The visiting bluegrass band had to move inside so it was an indoor service but still very uplifting. I could feel Dad's presence there. He loved that music and that service!

Headed home to Rapids around 2 so I could get home for supper with the guys. And unpacking. And assuring hubby I didn't bring too much home with me!!

I swear, I didn't! I want to avoid R3-D3 in my OWN house!

Early Start

My fellow runners know what I'm saying when I tell you today is my last day as a F40-44.

As part of the "old" crowd in the Female age 40-44 division, I had an excuse to be slow during races. Now, I'm moving on up (just add 40 candles above) and I'll be that fast, young thing in F45-49.

Yeah, right.

It gave me an excuse to start celebrating early anyway.

Even though I spent a little time baking last night, I decided I would use those cookies for the mission trip and stop by Dunkin' Donuts on my way to work instead. I almost took a picture of the cop in line in front of me. It was too ironic! Granted, he only got coffee (that I could tell), but it struck me as pretty funny.

So I shared treats at work and treated myself to a chair massage AND King Cone on the way home. Heck, it might as well be my birthday TODAY!

I guess I figured since I'm getting up around 5:30 a.m. tomorrow and driving 8 hours with kids I am just getting to know, I should make sure I have my fun today.

Now I still have just a few items to pack, plus go pick up the van I'll be using, and maybe see some of Carter's 8 p.m. baseball game...

Yep, that's my fun! When we get old, I guess we appreciate the little things.

Or something.

Introducing: Not Me

Some days at work I feel like I am back home, living in my parents' house as a child again. Some days things go wrong. And some days they are looking for someone to blame.

You'll never believe this. I mean, the coincidence is uncanny. But we have an employee here named Not Me. That's the same name as my imaginary childhood sibling!

Something would go wrong -- a dish was broken or flowers pulled -- and Mom would ask "Who did this?!?" Somebody always chimed up: "Not me!" Marlys was always quick to respond that she had 8 kids and would certainly know if she had a 9th! And, in my family, its first name most certainly would start with an R anyway.

Blaming Not Me was a pretty tough sell when there was only two of us at home. Either my twin did it or I did it. If we both said "Not Me!" then one of us was lying (to avoid a spanking, no doubt).

I distinctly remember a doughnut incident where Mom wanted to know where half a dozen powdered-sugar doughnuts went. I knew I only had one. And Raylene said she only had one ... finally she 'fessed up to having 1 1/2 then 2 ... then 2 1/2 until finally she said she ate 3. Apparently, Not Me really ate the other 2 -- or maybe it was Dad.

In most cases, neither one of us relented and changed our stories so we both got a spanking in the end! At work, we try to cover our ass to avoid "spankings" in the form of documentation or discipline or just plain embarrassment.

Unfortunately, adults rarely end up 'fessing up to anything if they can get away with it. So as a manager, I occasionally have to take one for the team. After all, I am ultimately responsible for what they do and don't do. I just hope their "powdered-sugar doughnuts" were worth it!