Ripon Good Time

We all dragged our backsides out of bed early today to head southeast towards Ripon. Good thing our runners weren't dragging!

Both our boys and girls cross country teams had a successful inaugural appearance at the Ripon invitational. One of our girls had a top 15 finish and our boys, well, they rocked it and finished 2nd as a team!

This means they've placed 1st or 2nd in 3 out of our four meets so far. So yes, they are ranked in the state and we can only cross our fingers that everyone stays or gets healthy!

Carter had his best finishing time of the season, but it is not close to his personal best from last year.

He's healthy, though, and still having fun so I hope that keeps him motivated. I know we all (as in fans and parents) are having a good time. It's fun to win or almost win, isn't it?

By the time we got home after 1 p.m., we actually needed a nap before our next item on the agenda. So, hubby and I slept like old folks for almost 2 hours! Got up and hit the road to Waupaca to meet up with some friends we worked with in Iola. Yes, I already miss them enough that a get-together is needed!

The Clearwater Harbor Bar on the Waupaca Chain O' Lakes is closing for the season next week so wanted to be sure to get there and enjoy good company and the last bit of summer.

The breeze required sweatshirts, but as long as the sunshine required shades, I was happy! Seeing good friends: a bonus!

Home by 8 p.m. so we could see our boy for a few minutes before he went off to someone's house. Despite the nap, I'll be hitting the sack soon. Tomorrow we have more fun in the sun planned.

Please, summer, just hang in there...

Saturday Sundae

One could almost compare my Saturday to an ice cream sundae. It started out good and I just kept adding layers of goodness to it! In the end, it was a one-of-a-kind treat!

First of all, we went to Iola to golf at Glacier Woods Golf Course and I did NOT have to drive there. I have that 45-mile drive 10 times a week as it is, so that was nice of hubby to take the wheel.

Secondly, we were meeting up with our friends Scott and Sandy. Typically, we get together 2 or 3 times to golf during the summer. This year: zero. Until today. It was just too hard to match up schedules (mostly me and my mega-traveling this summer on weekends). Glad we got it to work today!

It was perfect golfing weather. I actually wore pants because I saw it was only going to get up to 71 or 72 degrees. It probably got to 75 but there was always a pleasant breeze so I wasn't too hot. My golf game wasn't either. Except that ONE shot!

Only I could sandwich a snowman on the first and last holes with a BIRDIE in between! Yes, they do say even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile. And somehow I found the hole on a very long putt! That excitement was an extra special "layer" today!

Here's a few photo highlights:

I know the sign just says "summer rules," but when I read it, I was thinking, "Summer Rules!!!" It sure does!

The boys keep cool with non-PGA approved Red Solo Cup beverages. 

Obligatory couple photo. Ha. Besides fun with friends, it was sort of double-date! Even if the guys had their cart and we drove ours. Still, another layer of goodness.

After golf, we headed down to Waupaca to enjoy supper on the waterfront at the Clearwater Harbor Bar. Love that place. Good food and beautiful scenery. Lots of people there holding onto one more summer weekend!

Before we said our goodbyes, I got one more treat. I got to drive Scott's new car around the block. Why is that a treat?

Can you day "Hot Wheels Camaro"?? Oh yes! And it's an automatic! Boy that thing has power. Good thing I only drove it a few blocks or I would have been busted for speeding, that's for sure. Very cool. And yes, I did text Carter to rub it in. I don't feel bad. I'm sure he won't have to wait 30 years to drive something cool.

Said goodbye to our Green Bay friends and promised to get together more often. On the way home, more than content, we added our final topping to this Super Saturday Sundae: a stop at King Cone, of course!!

Now really, nothing left to top that except this perfectly "good sleeping weather!"

Oh, and since I'm obviously grateful for a wonderful day, here are my Gratitude examples on day 4 of the 5-day challenge. Today I am thankful for:

1) Nature: Such a joy spending the day out in the sunshine on a beautiful green golf course, then eating dinner on the lakeshore. God's handiwork is everywhere and it's gorgeous.

2) Neighbors: Whether we are the Desperate Housewives of Blue Jay Drive or just hard-working women (and men, too), our neighborhood rocks! We share cups of sugar, baked goods, homemade salsa, bacon everything, beer, laughs and tears. They could almost charge extra for living here :)

3) Noonan! Appreciate a good game of golf, which is any game for me because I'm golfing (not because I'm good). I am not skilled in the least, but have had a blast golfing last weekend with Assumption friends and today with longtime and long-distance friends. I'm especially grateful I got a rare BIRDIE today! ha

I nominated three fellow golfers  to do the gratitude challenge – and heck, top my 2 (well 3 maybe) snowmen, 2 pars and 1 birdie in their next round!

Boys of Summer

Since today was one of Carter's last days in Iola for the summer, I decided to treat him to dinner down at The Harbor Bar & Grill on the Waupaca Chain O'Lakes.

We invited a couple of the guys from work who Carter thinks are pretty cool. We hadn't even left work when I got a text from hubby that he was already in Chicago (coming back from Indy) and would be home before 7 p.m. Uh-oh. Busted.

I knew he didn't have his keys with so I suggested his co-worker/driver swing through Waupaca and drop Jim off at The Harbor. Jim declined and had his sister (who had a spare key) stop by the house and unlock it.

Uhm, feeling a bit guilty at that point but didn't want to let Carter down, of course.

So we had our dinner on the deck overlooking the water. Me and the 4 boys of summer. Yes, 4... One of the guys had his 3-year-old son with and he wanted nothing to do with sitting down -- just wanted to feed the fish. So it was a little bit more chaotic of a sendoff for Carter, but he still had a good time.

For the record, I had no room for ice cream after supper but Carter got a scoop of Malt-imore. It looked good but I just didn't have the room. Plus, I actually got out for a 3-mile run/walk at lunch so I didn't want to erase all my efforts.

I'm sure the buffalo chicken strips and fries already did that.

But that's summer!

Friday the Thirst-teenth

My husband is one to say, "If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all." He's just trying to be clever. We all know how super lucky he is to have me, right?

Today was the only Friday the 13th for 2010. And because time flies so quickly and I am losing track what day of the week it is, I was ill prepared for the supposedly unlucky holiday. I had no time to work up a good case of paraskevidekatriaphobia -- that's "fear of Friday the 13th" for you lay people.

And that's OK because it was really just a normal day (barring any strange events in the next 2 hours).

Had a busy day at work since we were off yesterday. Before we knew it, it was 3 o'clock and time to go. I love summer hours -- but only 3 more "early release" Fridays left!

We had some wicked weather go through central Wisconsin so before noon they had already called off racing for tonight at Golden Sands. Part of me was bummed because it was supposed to be "Kids Night" and Carter could have ridden in his cousin Colin's super stock for a lap. (I guess they'll do it 2 weeks instead.) The other part of me was sort of relieved we didn't have to go somewhere tonight. We've had quite the busy week!

We had already planned to hit The Harbor in Waupaca after work. Now instead of rushing off to the races, we were able to stay awhile. The Harbor bar & grill is located on the Chain of Lakes and is always a pretty spot to tip back some cold Diet Coke and watch the sunset. It was too cloudy for much sun, but drinks were going around.

There ended up being at least a dozen of us from work -- including 3 former employees who have moved on to other things but still live close enough to enjoy The Harbor on occasion. We had a nice time. Carter knows most of them, too, so he had fun. We had supper there and hit the road around 7:30 p.m.

Since I was designated driver, I got to choose the route home. We just happened to go past Scoopers Ice Cream Parlor down the road. Did you know a single scoop of hard ice cream there is equal to about a pint? I'm serious! Well worth $2.90 for a "scoop" of Mint Chocolate Chip. Oh yeah!

Had to run a quick errand in town when we got back but am safely home on this suspiciously scary day -- and aiming to be in bed ASAP so I can wake up to a normal, Saturday the 14th tomorrow.

Type A Personality

I have found that bronchitis is not as bad as it sounds. I mean I feel pretty good, pretty normal. The only time I feel sick is when I cough. Then I don't feel sick really. I just feel pain and it ain't good. So I try not to cough.

Easier said than done.

It was another terrible night's sleep. It's like my body knows it's night time and I start coughing. Then I lay down and I might as well forget about sleep! It's actually not too bad when I'm sitting up, though, so I went to work today.

It's not that I am a total type A personality. (OK, I am!) I know the place can survive without me. But I did have lots to do and, frankly, I wasn't feeling too bad. I pretty much stayed close to my desk and kept interactions with other humans to a minimum. (I guess if I was contagious I would have already passed it on Monday or Tuesday anyway.)

I also tried to follow the doctor's orders and drink plenty of liquids. That extended to an after-work stop at The Harbor -- a nice bar & grill on the Waupaca Chain of Lakes. I kept my liquids to soda but Carter and Daddy both had beer (Carter's was of the root variety). Had a nice visit with some friends we used to work with, ate some good food, survived a quick rain storm and then got ice cream to go. Can you top that?

Yes, we can.

Good thing we took Carter out to eat because we had something to celebrate. Of course, we didn't know 'til we got home. But report cards came today and we now officially have a 7th-grader in the house. Whoo-hoo! (or boo hoo?) We also have a straight-A student, too! Nice way to finish up grade school, Carter!

I guess we're both type A personalities in our own way.

What a Treat

I figured since we were on a cake binge these days, I'd take a cake to work for our wedding anniversary. Hey, any excuse for cake, right?

Well that's what happened -- but the reasons were a little different. I was actually just being efficient in the "must bring treats to work for birthday" department. I figure bringing something in would cover my birthday and hubby's (coming up Friday). It did. And no one complained. They ate my Dirt Cake right up. No leftovers to bring home (darn).

After whipping together the Oreo delight last night, Jim and I stayed in and watched a movie. Cool and rainy so no golf again (another darn). We watched a movie nominated for some Oscars a year or so back -- Into the Wild. Movie was interesting but not incredibly exciting. I wouldn't say you have to see it -- unless you're really interested in the story (based on a true story). It was about 2 1/2 hours long so it was a late night for this old early-to-bed lady. So late, in fact, I didn't even turn my alarm on. So that's how this day started!

Felt the need for a pot of coffee. But my morning pick-me-up actually came later when I got an email from Carter. My how times change. No letters. No phone calls. It's email now. I didn't mind. In fact, I'm still smiling about it. I did get to talk to him on the phone tonight. He must have said he missed me a dozen times and I said, yes, but you're having fun, right? Oh yes, he assured me. "It is totally worth it!" Good to know. Can't believe we'll be seeing him tomorrow night already. What a quick week.

In order to take advantage of one more "date night," Jim and I stopped at The Harbor bar & grill on the Chain O' Lakes in Waupaca on the way home with some other people from work. Thought we'd see a romantic sunset for our anniversary, but it was too cloudy. Enjoyed some good food and good company. A real treat!

Now we're trying to get a few things organized so we can hit the road at a decent time Thursday afternoon. My blanket is on (yes, it's still cold out) so I can fall asleep quickly and get up early (yes, I'll set my alarm). Want to get to work and be done with it for 3 days!

But as anxious as I am for that, I'd rather not see Date Week draw to a close so quickly. I don't think we can really count tomorrow and Friday nights as "dates" when we're sharing a hotel room with 3 boys! Good thing I love ALL those Austin boys (for better or worse, right?).

Cabin Fever

Some of the weather reporters claim we tickled 70 degrees today. That would explain why everything and everyone came out of the woodwork and grabbed a bit of sunshine if they could. Me included.

It was one of those days where cabin fever hits big time and, had I been back in college, we would have been cutting afternoon classes to lay out in the sun and perhaps sip a cold one (or two). Instead I was sitting at my desk with the urge to play hooky -- but I knew my golf clubs were still in the corner in the basement some 45 miles away. That does me no good. So I gave it an honest 8 and will plan ahead better next time.

Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer! But I do know I have too much work to do so I know I won't be ducking out too early.

Everyone (just about) was looking forward to The Harbor opening tonight. That's a bar and grill on the Chain of Lakes in Waupaca where a bunch of people from work go most Fridays in the summer. It's awesome to be right out on the deck to watch the sun set. They've got great chicken strips, too. Just ask Carter, who likes to accompany us there occasionally in the summer (when he commutes with us) and hang out with some of our cool work friends.

Tonight, since we drove separately today (Jim had a dentist appointment this morning), Jim is enjoying the opening and I got soccer mom duty. I didn't mind. Honest.

It was so nice out, I found myself walking laps around the school yard (and beyond) where he practices, just enjoying the sunshine and the exercise. If it had been raining, this would be a whole different story, of course. (Most likely involving a pouting female character!)

If the weather guys are right -- and this time I hope they are -- we will have nice weather for both the garage sale and soccer. Then, if we make enough money at the garage sale, we can buy a new gas grill for the next nice warm spell ... probably sometime in May.

Doing the Door

In two words, Door County is a photographer's paradise. I definitely took my share of photos over the past two days. I was thinking a lot of my lens-loving siblings while I was there.

I'd see something in nature and think: "Ron would take a nice picture of that." Or we'd drive by an old boat among weeds and wildflowers and I'd say: "Now Rayna would stop and take a picture of that." But I found enough subjects on my own -- and was pretty pleased with a lot of my results. Some highlights:

The golf course we played Sunday was called The Orchards at Egg Harbor. The fairways were lined with cherry and apple orchards. That was different -- at least we could find our errant balls!

We crossed the ferry to Washington Island in the late afternoon. I had just been reading that Door County was named after the Native American translation: Death's Door. That's what they called the land mass because the treacherous waters sunk so many of their canoes between the islands and the mainland. I was glad to arrive safely!

Thanks to the tourist tips from the owners of the inn, we found a special park with a beach filled with water-smoothed rocks. It is such an unusual shoreline -- and in need of protection and preservation -- that anyone caught taking a rock from there is subject to a $250 fine!

The inn owners also pointed out the perfect spot on the island to be at 8 p.m. for the sunset. Looking at the photo above, wouldn't you agree? It was like watching a ball of fire slowly lower itself into the water and disappear over the edge of the Earth. Very cool to be in the right place at the right time!

Today's golf course was quite memorable. Not only did I get my best score of the summer so far, the course offered spectacular views of Egg Harbor (right). It was a unique layout. There were times when we trekked that cart up the entire steep bluff, then shot the ball down to the green on the bottom. Other times we were right along the shoreline. Beautiful! I normally don't take my camera golfing, but I'm glad I did!

For only being gone 36 hours, we took in a lot, yet thankfully managed to relax. And, as Jim pointed out, we filled a couple scrapbook pages! (See why I love him so much?)