Community-Wide Bargain Hunters

If you're like me and you work Monday through Friday, there's not much opportunity to hit any garage sales until Saturday. Good news for you! The Grand Rapids Community-Wide Garage Sale is in full swing and there will be plenty of action Saturday!

Yes, there are 87 sales listed on the official map – which you can find at a Kellner business or on the Grand Rapids Community-Wide Garage Sale Facebook page. Make sure you stop at 2111 87th St. S. (just off of County Trunk FF).

In case you missed the sale I participated in in April, this sale features some fabulous leftovers – including teen/young man clothes, lots of books (including many nonfiction sports ones), and dozens of underpriced Stampin' Up rubber stamps!

I know I personally don't NEED anything right now. But it will be hard not to make lots of pitstops between Point A and Point B anytime I'm out of the house tomorrow! 

Should be a beautiful day to find those bargains!! Happy hunting!

Collector's Fees

This reflects the overabundance of shirts (well, clothes) that the boy and I have. He at least was willing to at least part with some at the garage sale. Fingers crossed, that is. As promised (or threatened) here are the details of our friend's garage sale this weekend.

MULTI-FAMILY

GARAGE SALE

THURSDAY – SUNDAY

APRIL 4-7

OPEN  8AM TO 6PM

Kids to adult clothes (including lots of Carter's young men's clothes), household, books (4 boxes from us – including lots of nonfiction sports memoirs), leather couch, TV stand, puzzles, tools, Miller racing mirrors,  toys, children books, generator, outhouses, birdhouses, children's coupe cars, bikes, torpedo heaters. Way too much to list.

9410 80th St. S.   |   Wisc. Rapids   |  3.5 miles South of Kellner  

Also for sale...

Tons of Stampin' Up rubber stamps! Yes, this collector is attempting to let go.

And some of my lighthouse collectibles and decorations. Again, this collector is trying to let go.

My friend is right that there are too many items to mention. Stop by and check it out. Not sure if I'll be there as I have to work on Friday and am Twin Cities bound Saturday. But my boy may be there Saturday, trying to downsize his t-shirt collection.

Until he finds other cool ones to buy, that is! 

Just ignore the snow: It's Garage Sale Season!!

Lighthouse Lovers, Anyone?

Since my first real job in a town that had a lighthouse – what I refer to as MY lighthouse – I've been a tiny bit obsessed.

In normal people's language, "A TON obsessed"

So yes, after re-doing our kitchen and dining room and having no need for lighthouse replicas or a lighthouse and seascape decor theme in central Wisconsin, I'm getting rid most of my lighthouse-related decor, etc.

So if you have an interest in anything from cookie jars and plates and "fish net" to framed prints of lighthouses, let me know. I always try to give stuff to good homes if they want them. Otherwise I'll promptly get to pricing these things. 

Not that I want or need to let it go, but it's time.

Contact me for details. You know who you are!

Groundhog Day :: The April Sequel

I think we can call April 2 the sequel to the February 2 Groundhog Day.  Today, again, was much like the movie – where the day keeps repeating itself. I could've take this same photo every morning this week.

We'll call this the BEFORE. Our wake-up view.

And this is the AFTER. Our late-afternoon view that gives us false hope that spring has really arrived. But then Ol' Man Winter sneaks a visit while we're sleeping. Every. Stinkin'. Day.

So we did spring things today. Priced stuff the garage sale – because that's a definite sign of spring. Then watched the first game of Final Four – definitely a sign we're beyond March. And we'll watch the second one and hope it's closer or more interesting. If not, we'll slip back to college softball on a different station. That sign of spring has me the most excited of all.

Playing here in 3 days – if Mother Nature and Ol' Man Winter can come to terms. 

Maybe by the end of the Groundhog movie??

Monday Multi-tasking

I figured I'd get a start on finding items and pricing them for our friends' garage sale. Only because the kids were doing that and I felt guilty for wanting to watch TV or something. So I started with my easiest item: Books.

My buy-sell cycle is buying the books (mostly at garage sales or Goodwill in the off-season), then reading them, then putting them in the "done" pile and sell them at this garage sale. I guess I got a little out of practice because the piles (which you shouldn't have anyway) on the top of the book shelf were mixed up.

I priced a box full and thought I should check if there were any by my side of the bed that I had read. Turns out I'm still reading a few.

All 4 of these at once, it appears. My version of "book Quordle"?? Anyone else do this?

I mean they all have book marks and I know they were good reads at the start. Just must have gotten distracted maybe? Because I sometimes have a busy schedule. I mean do often times read a book while listening to a different-titled audio book. But that happens more when I'm commuting. However, I am listening to one now in addition to these – though my main focus is Still Alice right now.

I told the kids I should probably read more this week so I can sell them.

I may or may not have been handed a roll of masking tape and a Sharpee to start tagging.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (and Anyone Else)

This is what my Sunday of rest looked like. Sans the dog, of course. But yea, I finally had an empty day on the calendar and 3/4 of us slept in today.

Jim got up early, went to church, then headed to Green Bay to celebrate a birthday of an old college friend. I slept through church – I mean the time it was going on, not literally in the back pew. Then I didn't do much of anything else. Carter and Mamie didn't either.

We did get out of the house to deliver card tables to Carter's old babysitter for her upcoming garage sale. Mark you calendar for April 7-10. Follow the signs on 80th Street between Church and Mill avenues. If we manage to get some items together this week, it will be a small fraction to what will be there at this annual multi-multi-family sale!

It was a nice visit, too! Dropped the kids off and got groceries. Then turned on NCAA hoops and watched the clock strike midnight on the St. Peters' Cinderella story. Darn. My bracket was busted after Day 2 so I just was cheering for an underdog. Meanwhile, Jim as 3 teams in the Final Four. I never pretended to know even a teeny tiny percentage about sports compared to him!

Tonight, we might catch part of the Oscars. But I don't think I saw anything nominated. And if I'm going to keep my day of rest going, maybe should got to bed early. With a good book. Always better than the movie, if you ask me. (Sorry, not sorry, Oscar.)

Hope you had a relaxing day – or were busy doing what you love1

Round Robins Return

It took a week or so, but I finally captured my first robin of spring. And pardon me, girl, but you got round!

No one's immune to the Quarantine 15!

At least she'll be slimming down soon. Hopefully they'll be bright blue eggs around here as evidence. Also hopefully Mother Nature cooperates.

That 70-degree weather was fun while it lasted. Today rainy and in the 50s I think. Before the rain hit, I did get in a walk around the lake this morning with my neighbor, plus a spontaneous shopping trip to Point, and a stop at the annual garage sale at Carter's former babysitter's house. 

Then the rain came and I didn't care. Jim went visiting aunts and uncles this afternoon. And Mr. Recliner and I were all set to watch The Masters for hours on end. Unfortunately, the rain was in Georgia, too, as they had a rain delay for more than hour. That forced me to abandon the chair and vacuum and fun stuff like that. Not fair.

Play after the rain delay was pretty awesome. Several eagles and birdies... no robins. Maybe tomorrow for the final round.

No offense, Mz. Robin. 

The '90s Called... Marie Kondo Answered

Despite some momentum in the spring, I sent my tidying guru Marie Kondo on a long summer vacation. I mean who wants to be inside doing anything in summer – let along tidying, as she calls it.

Well guess who's back trying to spark joy in my life? I should say, guess who's back in my head reminding me to keep what sparks joy and toss or donate the rest? Yep. Front and center. Well somewhere in my head anyway.

I purposely left my Labor Day weekend calendar open to force myself to stay home and "do stuff" around the house. Yes, I was interrupted by fun at Sand Valley, a picnic with friends, and an afternoon at the racetrack. Still, intermingled with that was a start of something MK (I'll call her that now that we're bonding) would approve of.

After consulting hubby, the basement was my first target. I realize I am breaking all MK's rules. She wants us to examine categories of items like clothes and books – not go room by room – but the basement gets so humid and yuck in summer, it's just begging for attention.

There's certainly more than one elephant in the room down there – unused stereo, unused weight machine, etc – so I walked down the stairs and started with the sound machine at the left and worked clockwise.

I know. The '90s called. They want their big-ass stereo back. Well they can have it! Oh everyone had to have big one back then. I actually purchased this one 29 years ago this week. I remember because I had just moved into my apartment in Marinette for my first newspaper job and I needed to "furnish" it with something! The radio, double cassette tape deck, and 6-CD changer still work. The phonograph, though, is inconsistent.

As luck would have it, my next-door neighbor was having a garage sale. I texted her a picture and asked, "Do you need a big-ass stereo on your sale?" She said, "Sure!" So I took out the plastic containers of some 50 or so cassettes, unhooked the wires, got a little help from a friend, and hauled it over. "Sell it for what you want or give it away. I'm not hauling it back," I said.

Well, apparently there's a '90s fan born every minute. Someone bought it for $5. And I am so fine with that!

Now, what to do with all the tapes? I worry they've been sitting unused so long that they'll break in any machine. Not that I have another cassette player around. (I don't think.) There was a cardboard box of "cassingles" – yes kids, it was a cassette with a single song on it – that seemed a bit mildewy so I just tossed that whole darn thing. I'm sure MK was dancing somewhere over that major tidying move. No music required. (Or available without the stereo.)

To prove, though, that I've always been a fan of all kinds of music, I did snap a picture of a few of the cassingles before I discarded them.

Quite the mix, right? Definitely the late '80s and early '90s vibe. And I have a slew of mix tapes to prove there's more where that came from. Not to mention the CD tower. (MK should give my extra points for having all those in alphabetical order.)

Hopefully the music will inspire me to move and groove AND move stuff out of the house! Fall cleaning, er de-cluttering, er Kondo-ing, here I come!

Hump Day Headlinez

Just a few Hump Day Headlines...

BIG FOOT: Well, the tallies are in and we officially received a foot of snow in Wisconsin Rapids. That's roughly half an inch per hour. It piled up slowly but surely. Roads were allegedly plowed this morning but it was a slippery commute. Got just warm enough that the road surfaces were OK for the drive home. Let's not talk about the Weather Channel headline "Three more chances of snow – we're sorry". Somebody better be sorry!

MARCH MADNESS BRINGS APRIL SADNESS: You know you had a bad bracket when just realized the NCAA tournament is over. I didn't stop paying attention after Arizona got knocked out, but I certainly "let it go" after Duke was eliminated. I didn't win any money off my picks but did win $10 off a pool based randomly on final scores. Hubby was a the big winner for the one at work – well, our former workplace in Iola. I never professed to be the smart one around here. Not for sports anyway.


NAILED IT: Somehow all this talk about snow and winter led me to volunteer to host a Jamberry party. I saw some new looks for spring (the real spring) and summer so I got pretty excited. At right is the Roam Free design that I couldn't wait to order. Should go with just about anything! If you want take a look at what's new – especially the Desert line where this came from – you can shop here: https://sarahoksiuta.jamberry.com/us/en/shop/party/home/70643ff2-e05e-465d-8870-1a2e618902c4. I can invite you through Facebook, too. Just let me know! Closes April 16.

SPRING SALE: It's that time of year again for the annual super-huge, multi-multi-family garage sale hosted by Carter's former sitters Jon and Audrey. For my part, I took over some 80 books to sell. There are way, way, way too many deals to mention. Clothes from baby to adult, toys, household goods, tools and just good stuff. Shop Friday-Sunday at 9410 80th Street South, Wisconsin Rapids. What else you gonna do in this weather?!

Back to the Sixties

There's lots of reasons to like Fridays. End of the work week (for most) and the start of the weekend. When you have a forecast like this, it just adds an exclamation point to TGIF!!

Temps were decent enough in the low 50s today that I got out for a walk break at work and a walk after work. Tomorrow, though, look out!

I attempted to get my "inside" stuff done tonight, but that was interrupted by a yummy fish fry at Boone's Saloon and some freelance work. Will have to knock off chores in the morning so I can enjoy the home opener for the Assumption Royals baseball team in the afternoon.

If you are in a garage sale mood, Carter's former sitters are having their annual mega sale this weekend, too. Find all the goodies at 9410 80th Street South, Wisconsin Rapids. This is the first year I didn't contribute anything but there are still multi-, multi-, multi-families involved! Something for everyone. Seriously.

Crossing fingers for all – and Mr. Deck Chair – that the weather forecast is correct. Zero percent chance precipitation and mercury back in the 60s.

Happy spring! (again)

Senior Moments :: Prom

When you wake up to 19 degrees, it can only mean three things: it's still garage sale weather, it's prom day and you are in Wisconsin!

After a chilly morning working at the garage sale – complete with long underwear, hand warmers in my shoes, hat, scarf and mittens – I felt bad for the girls in dresses who would have to stand outside for prom pictures today.

Carter and the guys are kind of lucky they have long sleeves AND a jacket to wear. At least for that part of the day.

He left before 4 to go pick up his date and friend, Allyse, and then squeeze in photos with some of the junior class at the museum (her classmates) and the senior class at the Mead Inn (Carter's class). After that, some of us parents when to Jennings to eat before heading to the Grand March at 7:30 p.m.

A few photos highlights from the day before Cinderella (me, not his date) turns into a pumpkin at midnight...

I should know better than to have us squinting in the sun. But at least we got a picture of the three of us before he left us for better-dressed friends!

Carter and Allyse trying to stay warm posing at the museum.

Carter and the cool T-cats (Tyler and Tony) who live at our house some weekends.

Junior boys and miscellaneous senior boys who are dates of junior girls. If you recall from last year, it's a tradition for junior boys to wear white tuxes. Not required by any means.

Classmate, friend and German co-traveler Nathaniel.

Mason, another friend and classmate who traveled halfway around the world with him!

Ava, one of three adorable sisters who call Jim "Mr. Awesome" instead of Mr. Austin.

Her sister Ellie with Mr. Awesome.

Inside the Hotel Mead, it was warmer for picture taking, but the lighting wasn't ideal. A mix of seniors, juniors and sophomores here.

Grand March time. No way I was getting a decent pic from my seat in the bleachers.

Thankfully we could grab photos afterward before they kicked out spectators to start the dance!

Carter and his VIP guests Grandma Austin and Auntie Sherry. (You can see from the background, they had a Greek theme.)

Carter and another special guest, a former Assumption graduate who continues to adore Carter and vice versa. Hannah is just a cool, forever kind of friend. It's neat.

Classmate and bud Macie.

Fellow goofball, cross country teammate and dishwashing co-worker Theo.

Friend and co-traveler Trevor. 

Good friend Emilie and a former homecoming date.

Good friend Macyn and previous homecoming date as well.

Just like his dad, Carter has had a different date to each dance in high school. But they've all been great friends who are just fun to hang around with. Cool memories all around.

Can't believe this is the last time we'll see Carter in a tux... for quite some time anyway. That part we don't need to rush either. Let's just enjoy prom weekend and break tradition by getting 8 hours of sleep.

Out of Season

Woke up to this. AGAIN. Went to early kickboxing class and it was snowing enough to cover the car while I was in class. Bit slick out there, too.

My first thought: Looks like Garage Sale weather to me!

Right. If you get time this weekend, head on down to 9410 80th St. S. for a multi-multi-multi-family sale! Need to bundle up? There are clothes from baby girl to 2XL men! Lots of books, household goods, toys, furniture and "man stuff" too! Today through Sunday, 8-4.

I had to work my normal job today. But if you bring me hot yummy coffee when I'm on sale duty tomorrow, I'll give you a discount!

Or something.

Pretty much snowed all day. This is the view from inside my car after work, when I sat there pondering if I really had to get out and brush the car off or if the snow would just fly off when I hit the gas. In the end, since it was such a sticky mess, I had to get back out in the wind and swirling snow and deal with it.

I'm not even exaggerating when I say the flakes were so big, they hurt my eyes. It was weird, crazy and moderately painful.

So when I got home, I just stayed home. I have worked enough this week, I didn't want to have to DO anything. Since the guys were both gone for their activities, I plopped on the couch and watched Wheel of Fortune, followed by a movie.

When Jim got home he wondered if I was just getting home or just leaving because it was 8 p.m. and I hadn't turned my blanket on yet. Wow. Guess my butt was literally anchored to the couch.

Remember that one nice day in March when we didn't need the blanket on? Yeah, I can't really recall it either!

I just know it does not LOOK like Garage Sale Season. But tomorrow better LOOK and FEEL like it ... and Prom Season, too.

Uff da. If Mother Nature is bi-polar, I hope tomorrow is the non-polar vortex mood. That's so last season.

Rally Time

April usually means one thing around here. Garage Sale. Carter's former babysitter has had a sale in early April for many years, almost always the first sale of the area to bring out the thrift shoppers from their winter hibernation.

Since it is this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I figured I better rally the troops to get stuff together. And well, by troops I mean me and by rally I mean rally up some energy to put on price tags – the most tedious process and the No. 1 reason I usually donate stuff to charity. Not a big fan but I wanted to contribute more than just the leftover Carter clothes from last year.

I also knew I wanted to clean out a coffee table that has sat in a corner of the basement, gathering toys on the inside and dust and cobwebs on the outside. That sort of got me on a random basement cleaning project. I priced some stuff, threw out some stuff, and hung onto some stuff. Some not by choice.

I had planned to sell this kitty cubby that Sylvester NEVER uses. Today she had different ideas. Just like a kid cleaning their room and finding "new" toys they forgot they had. So I guess we'll keep it for now, Sly. But if she doesn't use it the rest of the week, it's gone.

I managed to take a CRV load over to Audrey's and will take more over this week if I rally up any more energy to price things I can or should part with.

Meanwhile, my friends are having fun with the other big thing April symbolizes around here. Primary Election.

Tuesday is the primary in Wisconsin so all of the presidential candidates are rallying up support around the Badger State. I had some friend see Cruz and Trump earlier this week and I had 3 girlfriends (they don't all know all each other) attend the Bernie Sanders rally today in Wausau.

Our friend Lori was the first one there at 5:20 a.m. and stood in the freezing temps for hours and hours. Our neighbors across the street – Mike, Cindy and their 20-year-old son Sam – headed up there at a more reasonable hour and got up there before 10 a.m. My friend Chris and her daughter Emily (who I mentored in confirmation) got there in time to basically be among the last ones in. They sat in the last row of the balcony!

Lori, though, was chosen to sit on stage with some choice Bernie supporters. That made it worth getting up and on the road at 4 a.m. Our neighbors also got to sit on stage! They saw Mike wearing his Union jacket and they wanted to be sure he got special treatment. How cool is that?

So here we are watching the news and we see Sam, Cindy and Mike to the left there and Lori right behind Bernie. That's awesome for them!

No matter what your political views are, it's exciting to be a part of the democratic process. Reminds me of my brushes with candidates of the past. For the 1988 election, I got to celebrate Al Gore's 40th birthday at his rally at UW-La Crosse. Got to see Paul "bowtie" Simon on campus, too, and shook Michael Dukakis' hand at a rally at the Eau Claire airport. It was fun time to be in the Campus Democrats. Ha. (I met someone else, too, but I gotta see if I can dig up the photo. Then I'll share that story later.)

I'm too tired to put any more effort into anything. I even got 10,000 steps today and, thanks to my work in the basement, my FitBit says I've "climbed" 15 flights of stairs, too.

Think I'll relax the rest of the evening while hubby gears up for his important April events – fantasy baseball draft tonight and Assumption High School baseball season opener tomorrow.

Pretty sure we're all going to need to rally up major energy come Monday morning.

S.O.S.

Did you know that even though S.O.S. (in Morse Code) is the international signal of distress, the letters don't represent any actual words? True story. So I made up a few of my own... not that I have been distressed lately!

Source of Stress / Save Our Sanity: Today was the last day of Mom's "living estate / downsizing" sale of the century. Thank goodness! After nearly a year of focusing on this, we are ready to move on!! On a positive note, she got rid of a LOT of stuff – more than I expected. Another positive is that we got to visit with some family and friends we don't often see. And the biggest positive: it's OVER.

Sisters Over Sixty: My OLDER sisters have established an exclusive SOS club for "Sisters Over Sixty." I'm in no rush to join, but my sister Renell will be shortly, whether she likes it or not! Since we were all together, we figured we should toast her transition to the next age bracket!

The Packer chair and cushion are gifts (not from me, naturally) and the cake is courtesy of Mom, who felt the need to bake even though there were 658 other details to attend to this week! Is it a coincidence that the table sign in the background advertises ANTIQUES? You decide.

Sounds of State: Yesterday I missed Carter's birthday and today I missed his performances at State Solo & Ensembles. In our region, it was held nearby at UW-Stevens Point. Thankfully hubby was available to go and report back to me. He was quite impressed, he said. Turns out Carter "kicked brass" and got a first on his baritone/trumpet duet and a second on the brass ensemble. Nice work!

Scoop of Serenity: After the sale, we boxed up a majority of the leftovers for charity. I dropped off a load in St. Croix Falls at a place that closed at 4 p.m. Got there in time, then continued on my way home. Around 6 p.m. I exited off Highway 29 at Abbotsford. What could be better for supper than a scoop of Blueberry Waffle Cone flavored ice cream from the Hawkeye Dairy? The answer: Nothing! I think that and 8 hours of sleep will do the trick!

Searching Out Sandman!!

Freaky Friday

Got up early and was so focused on my task of getting garage sale signs up that I didn't call my baby to wish him a happy birthday this morning.

Hubby texted me this picture,  though.  He opened my present so he knew I was thinking of him,  but I was thinking,  "Who dresses this kid?" Apparently when Mom is 4 hours away he does what he wants. And today that meant getting his freak on, wearing vintage pants that were once his Uncle Ron's!

For the record,  he got a call right after school with his uncle, 5 aunts, a cousin and his mother singing "Happy Birthday" to him!

As for the other main event today, the sale went better than I expected. Brisk business.  Lots went out the door,  but still PLENTY left. Stop by to buy on Saturday.

During the noon hour,  when apparently everyone in Polk County stays home to eat, there was a break in the action so Rayna and I ventured down to St. Croix to see the antique mall where my twin has a booth set up. Had just finished visiting with Ray lens when our Friday turned freaking than Carter's pants.

 Don't know why he was dressed like this or why he was in store, but Elvis was loving us tender. Viva, Las Twinsies!

As hubby would say, "Anything goes north of Highway 8!"

Afternoon flew by and a group of us went to eat at The Dugout Bar and Grill in beautiful downtown Cushing. It had been chilly at times today but Mom did not have a jacket. The only thing I had to offer her was a spare sweatshirt in my backseat.

 Marlys in a Pink Floyd hoodie might just trump Elvis!

And the other freaky surprise besides seeing Elvis was running into a childhood neighbor, friend and classmate. I guess his "adult" name is Don, but I still call him "Donnie." Just your ordinary, accidental 29-year class reunion in the smallest town in Northwest Wisconsin! Had fun catching up!

Got back to hotel and sat in the hot tub a bit. Great to relax after all that excitement. Now I know should get to bed but my niece Caryn and I are watching The Wild take on Chicago. Nothing freaky,  just Wild!

Physical Labor

I was reminded today why I am cut out for a desk job. Physical labor and I don't mix. It was quite an exhaustive day.

Got up for 5:40 kettle bell / strength class then hit the road northbound for garage sale headquarters in Cushing. We are renting the community center there so there is plenty of space and we aren't dependent on Mother Nature.

For some reason, I didn't think we could fill 20 8-foot tables. What was I thinking? It took a lot of hours of grunt work, but there we were at 6 pm,  looking at very, very, very full tables.

That's not to say it went smoothly. As my mother pointed out later,  sometimes there were too many chiefs and not enough Indians.  No pointing fingers since all 8 kids probably wore the chief hat at least once during the day.  Now, so tired and frazzled,  it's best not to say any more.

Enjoyed a great meal at the Bon Ton Saloon in downtown Luck.  Now Rayna, Renell and I are hitting the hay at the Luck Country Inn so we are refreshed for the big day.

If our aching bodies can move in the morning,  that is!

Mush, Mush

Let's just pretend for a moment that this chiseled athlete is me. I know. Stretch your imagine.

It was sort of me today. When I showed up as the only class member to kickbox at 5:40 a.m., my instructor informed we were going to try something new. (Well, new for me anyway.)

I guess you could say I had my pre-NFL Draft workout today. Just like the photo illustration, I was  pulling my teacher around the room like a sled dog while doing constant Karate Kid moves. Step Pull. Kick. Mush, mush! Step. Pull. Kick. Mush, mush! Then I had to do it with resistance bands on my legs! Uff da.

For the record, I am available as a "free" agent but I would prefer to get paid. King Cone currency is fine.

After that, I went to work and had to take the afternoon off because my mind was mush. Mush! No, not really. I just had a lot of things to get done before I leave town at dawn tomorrow for Garage Sale Palooza.

Knowing I am missing Carter's 17th birthday Friday, I had to find something for him to open in my absence. This is how Robyn shops: Walk into Dunham's Sporting Goods to get Carter a birthday present. Walk out of Dunham's with birthday present... and a pair of golf shoes for herself. 

In my defense, I needed them, they were on clearance, and I just saved Carter and Jim time on shopping for my Mother's Day gift. Everybody wins, right?

Got home and did a few projects before heading off to school for our "final meeting before departure to Germany" meeting. No, Carter is not leaving until June 14, but there were forms to sign, itineraries and rules to review, packing lists and questions, etc. It's getting exciting now!!

Stopped at Wal-Mart on my way home to visit with a girlfriend for 30 minutes in the card aisle. Oh, and to pick up 3 days' worth of snacks for the garage sale workers (aka Mom and the 8 R's). Tomorrow we load everything up from Mom's and set up at the community center. Mom doesn't have a garage AND this guarantees a rain or shine sale. We'll staff it on Friday and Saturday and by Saturday night at this time I will be praising God it's over!

Our minds will be mush. Our bodies may be, too. But I have every type of nourishment from granola bars to chips AND Chips Ahoy. (I am keeping the red Twizzlers to myself. That is my travel food!)

Now, even though my whole being is mush, I better get packing so I can hop on my dogsled at sunrise. Northward, doggies! Mush, mush!

Beauty (or the Beast) Rest

I believe I have just discovered the international symbol for "teenager." At least the one in this house.

Kinda pathetic that it was almost noon and I still had to bribe Carter out of bed with cinnamon rolls. As typical with most week days, one of us parents had to serve as the human snooze and try every 10 or 15 minutes to awaken him.

Today, knowing he hasn't gotten much sleep lately and he got home late from the post-musical "wrap party," I let him sleep in and did not start the process until after 10. It is the weekend after all, but I knew he had homework to work on all day so I didn't want him to be short on time. Otherwise, I would've have just let him sleep even longer and get his beauty rest rather than awakening the beast!

The cinnamon rolls did the trick until he found procrastination distractions like stopping to check progress at the garage sale and, oh, a sudden interest in The Masters.

Basically, I kicked him off the couch and down to his homework dungeon when he tried that move. Between working on a freelance project and doing housecleaning and laundry, I deserved to park on the couch to at least watch the last few hours.

Worth it.

A nice young man – Master Spieth – earned the privilege of wearing the Green Jacket. So much talent. Should be a fun player to watch. Of course, I root for everyone's putt to go in. They have a far better shot at it than me! Always inspires me to get the season started.

Did not, however, inspire me to get up off the sofa and do anything. Perhaps I am still part teenager...