COVID Variation

Since our juniors last year and this year didn't get a spring prom – thanks, COVID – Assumption held a Royal Gala this evening for those two classes. Basically dinner and a show (Comedy Sportz). And time for photos, of course.

I was stationed in the photo room to take both nice and fun photos. Played around with the props while waiting around for the kiddos to show up. You know I can't resist a purple feather! Matched my shirt! Naturally.

Wasn't a huge crowd of students but they were dressed up like it was a formal dinner and looked amazing. Stayed for dinner and the coronation – senior court to acknowledge Junior Prom 2020 and junior court for this spring's non-dance gala. 

I hope the kids enjoyed it. Hoping this pandemic will quit pooping on all their plans, too! 

In the meantime, all we can do is just grab our purple feathers and smile. It worked today, anyway.

Limited Exposure

When the temperatures are not expected to get above zero, there's no sense in going anywhere you don't have to. You should limit your exposure to the great outdoors.

I thought of that as I lay in my toasty, warm bed this morning and knew it was double digits below zero outside. But both hubby and I got up and went to church. The late service this time "so it would be warmer," I told myself.

Yikes. A bit nippy out.

After church and once Carter got home from a friend's, we were all homebound for the day. The sun was shining brightly, but that was one big tease. I don't know what the high got up to today – it was projected to reach minus 8 – but you can see tonight's forecast is a low of minus 17. Uff da. Glad my blankie has been on for hours!

Since I didn't have any place to go and didn't want to, I spent a good chunk of the afternoon organizing things for Carter's school scrapbook. Camp Crop-A-Lot is a month away but I thought I better start figuring out what photos I need printed. Using my blog as a reference point, I think I have the order I will need to do pages in the book and what photos I will need.

Now, between my camera, my phone, my computer and even Facebook, I've got to track them down so I can order prints in the next few weeks. If I am lucky enough to have another "cold day" in, I might just want to get started on scrapping instead of waiting until that weekend. There are a lot of pages to get done! I have the second half (or so) of his junior year to finish plus senior year up to now. It doesn't sound like much but consider First Day of School, fall marching band, cross country, state, homecoming band and dance, concerts, all-conference band, pep band, prom, solo and ensembles, baseball maybe, spring concert, memorial day programs, etc. Plenty of photos to find. Plenty of pages to do. Thankfully, I have all the programs, tickets, brochures, etc., saved in the appropriate "Junior Year" and "Senior Year" containers. It helps that I am organized in at least some aspects of life!

My other project today was keeping the house warm. I had three dark bananas just hanging there, saying, "We're cold! Please make banana bread out of us!" I had to oblige.

Do you know what disappears faster than the Vikings playoff hopes?

Fresh and WARM banana bread! I won't tell you how many minutes after they came out of the oven I took this picture. But if you've ever had fresh-baked bread of any kind, you have the general idea. It wasn't long!

But it was so good!

As my reward, I stole the couch and the remote for the evening and watched Cinderella, the non-animated Disney movie made in 2015. This is what happens when we have free movie channels for a month and the football games are done for the day. It was a good movie. Obviously no spoiler alerts. The story has been re-done a few times. I enjoyed this one, though. And it was nice to relax.

Under a blanket, of course.

Gotta keep moving from one warm spot to the next! Think I'll make it from my office across the hall to my bed in record time. Unless I make a detour the kitchen. Just to check on that banana bread. Make sure it's warm enough...

Finally Final Finals

I'm not gonna lie. We're all pretty happy today was the last day of school.

This has been "hell week" for Carter, who had 7 finals in 3 days. Two on Tuesday, two on Wednesday and three today to wrap up his junior year. If all went well, we now have a senior in the house! He's already been assigned to read 3 books over the summer. Trust me, those won't get cracked open until mid-July at the earliest.

Hubby and I are just glad we get a break from being the human alarm clock!

Most school mornings, Jim has that fun job since I am at the 5:40 a.m. kickbox class. But some mornings I am the one trotting up and down the stairs every 5 minutes, trying to wake him from his up-late-for-homework-induced coma. It's a chore we will not miss during the summer months. It's like our version of a summer vacation.

Wow, we aren't that boring, are we?

The next 9 days until he leaves for Germany will be plenty packed with activities that I guess better include packing soon!

But first we've got some sports to see... Tonight, Carter and I watched the first round playoffs for girls soccer. Assumption beat Washburn/Bayfield 3-1. Now they move onto the next level somewhere on Saturday. Tomorrow and Saturday is the state Track & Field meet. Not going but will be keeping our fingers crossed for one of Carter's cross-country teammates, who is competing in two events at state. Tomorrow evening, the Royals baseball team travels to Pittsville for a regionals showdown. Weather permitting, Jim and I will be going to that. Weather permitting, Carter will be having a campfire in our backyard with friends.

It's not supposed to rain, but with 94% humidity, it might feel like it.

Ahhh, summer. Keep calm and bring it on!

For Your Viewing Pleasure... Prom 2015

This is pretty much the lazy blogger's out, but I am just going to post a bunch of pictures from today and just give you a brief running commentary. Some of these are probably blurry but it is late and I can't tell the difference!

Puttin' on the Ritz for prom! Thanks to our friends Scott and Sandy, Carter got to escort his date, Gracie, in style!

Yup, they drove over from Green Bay to let Carter drive their "Hot Wheels" edition Camaro to Prom. That's what great friends we are blessed to have. Carter knew about it and was so excited the past few days. He didn't tell anyone!

Of course his other surprise for his "fans," was the white tux, top hat and cane. It is an Assumption tradition of sorts that the junior boys wear a white tux. Many did and looked quite sharp!

Carter was the only one with a top hat (I added the matching ribbon) and cane (which I had to spray paint yesterday to get it looking decent again). He actually gets to keep the hat. "Mom, I can wear it someday for my wedding." Oh boy, let's just get through prom first.

Onto Gracie's house for the exchange of flowers. Here he is putting on her wrist corsage, much easier than pinning on the boutonniere. 

Aren't they adorable? And look at that dress! I am used to seeing Gracie running up and down the basketball court or the soccer field. They both clean up good, don't they?

 Thankfully Gracie's mom is an excellent photographer and captured a pic of me and my baby.

Gotta love when the car matches the vest and tie, right?

 They put the windows up and drove slowly so the hair on both of them would stay in place. Ha.

Ready to roll... First stop, making an entrance at the museum for junior class pictures! Then he basically told people he got the car from his Fairy Godmother and that it would turn into a Honda Civic at midnight. And it did!

 Some of the guys in white!

 Looking dapper on the front steps of the museum.

 Yes they are just friends, but they still make a classy-looking couple, don't they?

 Fun with the cane...

Carter holding Brady at bay.

Carter helping Jake do pullups.

 Festival of lights = Simply gorgeous!!

 Friends forever: Kassidy and Nick.

 Macyn and Macie strike a pose with attitude!

Dinner was served right at the school, as is tradition. I was one of the servers and was so busy I had no time to spy on Carter or hover. Honest. After we cleaned up dinner, we watched the Grand March and headed out to leave the kids to their fun.

Grandma and Grandpa Austin came to the Grand March, too! Grandma was quite impressed with Carter's ensemble... until she saw a picture of the car. Sorry, Carter, Grandma's a gearhead. Ha.

But I thought you, your date and, well, everyone, looked fabulous!

Out of Thin Air

When I got to bed last night after a very long day, I realized I hadn't blogged. At that point, though, I had neither the energy nor the reason to get out of bed.

I had nothing to say.

If only we could write or draw ideas out of thin air. That would be awesome. Of course, 75 percent of the time, I sit down to blog and have no idea what I am going to write. Sometimes I think if I just start typing, something will come to me. But then I remember, if blogging was easy, everybody would be doing it.

Oh wait, just about everyone does!!

The other reason I skipped is because I've had too many negatives happening to people around me. I am praying for so many who are sick or struggling or broken in some way. It just seemed inappropriate to be all flippant about nothing. But it's a new day and I am seeing some situations turning in a positive direction. Thanks be to God.

Not that I have anything to write about tonight – light or otherwise. Good thing this blog is not called On the Light Bulb Side. Then it would have to be grand ideas to improve our lives!

Whew. No pressure.

Besides all the praying, we are occupied this week with prom plans. Hubby and Carter picked up the tux tonight. I realized I was the only one who hadn't seen it. Even the mom of Carter's date has seen it and was there with her daughter's dress when they ordered it a few weeks ago. I won't give much away since I want you to be surprised at the first photos Saturday, but let's just say he'll be beyond dapper!

Since this is traditionally considered the "junior prom," as parents of a junior, we are required to "volunteer" for several tasks. I'll be busy tomorrow afternoon/evening, Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday, pretty much all day and evening. That's OK. This is fun for me and, if the weather forecast of sunny and 60s holds true, it will be enjoyable for all.

In anticipation of the hard labor (ha), I participated in Girls' Night Out this evening. This is a monthly gathering of "girls" of a certain age bracket. I don't make it monthly. In fact, I make it maybe 2-3 times a year tops. This afternoon at work, though, I decided I NEEDED some time away from thinking. Just talking and laughing and eating.

That definitely restored my LIGHT mood. Still looking for an idea to blog about, so I might just have to keep grabbing at thin air and hope.

Thanks for bearing with me...

UW-Peek

This has been quite the year for adjustment for this momma. I am used to – and appreciate – Carter driving everywhere on his own. Still worry a bit, but it is sooo convenient. Am adjusting to the fact that Junior Prom is coming up and, well, he's a junior so this is the work / decorate year. I had a tough time when I signed him up for his upcoming ACT test, knowing that is the first step toward college.

Today, though, was the "mother" of them all for me. His first official college visit.

We both struggled to get up and on the road by 6 a.m., but we did it. Between fog and lots of rain, we basically hydro-planed our way down to UW-Platteville.... located in the far southwest corner of the state, close to Texas and Mexico, I think.

It did take us just a hair under 3 hours so that wasn't bad. And we got there just in time for the start of the EMS (Engineering, Math & Science) Expo. Staged in two of the academic buildings, it was an open-house style of event with a ton of student demonstrations and hands-on activities for wanna-be engineers.

I didn't realize that there would be all ages groups there, including students that were probably treating it more as a field trip than a college fact-finding mission. Still, that worked out fine for us. When the kids would leave the room, Carter and I would talk to the presenters about their specific area of engineering, how they liked the school, where they came from, why they chose Platteville for engineering over some of the bigger schools that we plan to visit yet (Madison and Minnesota), and more. I dusted off my reporting skills, ha, but then sort of forced Carter into doing the talking / asking. He did fine and felt really good about the visit.

We were both glad that you can enter the college as an engineering major but don't have to define that to a specific area until you are a junior. Meanwhile, all your engineering-related classes will apply to any specific major in that department. He can gets exposure to all 8 or 10 categories before choosing.

I imagine we'll hear similar stories at the other two schools but this was a good starting point. A good first UW-PEEK! The campus is small in comparison and he can decide if that's a good point or bad point for him. Class sizes (student/teacher ration) are small, too, which he considers a good point. The tuition there would be less than the other two, and he probably isn't concerned about that point!

We'll take it one step, one visit, at a time.

Even though I had my internal maternal struggle about setting this ball in motion, it was exciting, too. And, of course, we both feel blessed our son has a good head on his shoulders – even if it was slumped over in sleep while I white-knuckled us back home in the deluge.

The things we do for love.

Just Whistling Past

Had our monthly book club meeting this morning at the coffee shop and bakery right next to my kickboxing place. How convenient after class to walk around the corner for a cinnamon roll and latte!

Our book this month was Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall. Another good read!

The plot is basically this: The summer of 1963 begins like any other for nine-year-old Starla Claudelle. Born to teenage parents in Mississippi, Starla is being raised by a strict paternal grandmother, Mamie, whose worst fear is that Starla will turn out like her mother. Starla hasn’t seen her momma since she was three, but is convinced that her mother will keep her promise to take Starla and her daddy to Nashville, where her mother hopes to become a famous singer—and that one day her family will be whole and perfect. She ends up running away and, once out in the country, Starla is offered a ride by a black woman, Eula, who is traveling with a white baby. She happily accepts a ride, with the ultimate goal of reaching her mother in Nashville. As the two unlikely companions make their long and sometimes dangerous journey, Starla’s eyes are opened to the harsh realities of 1963 southern segregation.

Pretty interesting. We got to talking about the meaning of "whistling past the graveyard," too.

According to legend (or myth), whistling in the dark – or any other time – is considered an ancient way of summoning spirits to help you in your time of need. Presumably one doesn't whistle near a graveyard in case one summons the spirits of the dead! In modern times, I would say it means a situation in which a person does something (whistling, maybe singing or talking to oneself) to make a show – to others, or even more commonly, to oneself — of bravery, or at least nonchalance, in the face of danger or difficulties.

Have you ever done this? What was the situation?

I can't whistle worth crap – unless I use two fingers in my mouth – so I either distract my "fear" with singing or talking to myself. I remember when I first had my anxiety attacks a few years ago I would carry on a 50-minute, one-sided conversation with God on my commute to work. I had to keep my mind distracted. Plus, we all know God's a good listener.

Back in the old days (aka my childhood) I was scared to death the Bogey Man was going to get me when I had to go to the outhouse in the dark. I would just say in a sing-song voice something like, "OK, I don't care if you're out here but I really have to pee so just let me be..." and keep the one-sided (again) conversation going until I did my business and was back safely in the house.

These days, I usually am conjuring up some courage only when I have situations like dealing with my fear of heights.  For one thing, I sternly tell myself not to look down. Good thing I am a good listener. It has gotten me through some scary moments.

Today, my overwhelming task was going to be cleaning up my office. Scary business. I didn't whistle, but I sure distracted myself. I road tripped up to Marshfield with hubby to visit his aunt and uncle. They weren't home so it was a somewhat wasted trip. Tonight we had to work at a fundraiser for the junior class (to help with prom expenses). Now I have to update my broken bracket.

I guess my office will still be here tomorrow. I still won't be able to whistle, but I sure am good at coming up with alternatives...

Second Chance to Chill

Feeling pressure from my Mint constituents, I knew I better try one of those new Grasshopper Mousse Pie Blizzards this month.

While I had hoped to dip into one on Friday or Saturday, I wasn't in the vicinity of a Dairy Queen. On Sunday after church, I drove right by with all intentions to stop but even so close to noon, it wasn't open yet! By then I figured my diet gods had stronger will power than my mint network – or it just wasn't meant to be.

I'm a big fan of second chances, though.

Today I worked from the home office to accommodate an 11:30 church committee meeting. It just happened to get done before noon and my church just happens to be only 3 blocks from DQ. Just to make sure I didn't show up before noon, I stopped at the bank first. Then, as timing would have it, I got to DQ to see a neon OPEN sign.

I figured I better just order a small one – in case I didn't like it. (Eye Roll). Plus, I had worked out this morning and really didn't need to set myself back already. The "pie" was so light and fluffy, though, it couldn't have contained many calories, could it?

Glad I gave DQ a second chance to be open. While I enjoyed the new flavor – and wouldn't turn it down if one was purchased for me – I didn't fall in LOVE with it. I know, I know. I have high mint standards. Plus, I really prefer "hard" ice cream to soft serve. I feel like I'm getting some substance to the fat intake. Ha.

Between that and the open window in my office (60 degrees today), I was in a good mood.

Even after parent-teacher conferences! Nothing too bad. Carter is still "a joy to have in class" and charming and respectful. He just has some study habits he needs to hone sooner rather than later.

Good thing I am not the only one who believes in second chances!

Royal Regional

For the past two years, our girls basketball team has gone to state and been in the championship game. Two years ago, we won by 4 points and took home the gold ball. Last year, we lost by 4 and took home the silver.

A couple of talented seniors graduated and there are no seniors on the girls team this year, but Carter's classmates have definitely kept the momentum going.

We can't assume anything. It's best to take one game at a time. But it sure was exciting to see them take home the regional championship tonight with a 66-28 win! It is especially fun to see the daughters of good friends succeed. (And I can still get my own daughter fix!)

The next game will be on Thursday against Loyal. It will be played in Waupaca since sectional games always require bigger venues.

In the meantime, the boys start their regional playoffs on Tuesday. There's always so much overlapping at this time of year. The boys are doing well. Hopefully, I'll be posting a similar picture of them next Saturday!

Time for Carter to break out the Royal Blue & White striped spirit bibs for Pep Band, wouldn't you say?

Nice work, Royals!

Please Hold On To The Bar

Fasten your seat belts. Hold on to the bar. The roller coaster ride is about to begin!

Yup, we just registered Carter for his ACT Test in April. From here on out, we are on the college-bound ride from hell. Or, thinking positively, maybe it will be gentle and calm like the Lazy River at a waterpark.

Ha. Unlikely.

Between the 2-hour financial aid meeting last night and the 30-minute registration for the test, this is occupying our minds AND our time already. Of course it will all be worth it. I'm just still in denial that our baby is this close to moving onto the next amusement park without us!

I also can't believe a 16-year-old HAS to know what his career will be. Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? I don't even know that yet! In order to appease all the inquiring minds, he tells people "chemical engineering." Granted, he will likely use his math skills to go in that direction, but who knows if that is going to be it. For now, I think he just wants a ready answer when people ask.

This avoids a further grilling and a bevy of suggestions. That inevitably comes when they ask what college he is interested in. The answer: He doesn't know. We haven't reached that peak on the roller coaster yet. But I am sure we'll be picking up speed in that direction before we are ready.

And by "we" I mean Boy Wonder AND his soon-to-be impoverished parents. I mean proud parents!

Should be quite the ride over the next 12 months or so. Good thing I don't get motion sickness.

I will keep the anxiety pills handy, though!

Do Reality Checks Bounce?

I wish there was a way to cash reality checks. It would be nice to cash them in a real bank instead of just our memory banks. Thought that institution is going to fill up quickly.

Hubby and I got our first check of many to come tonight when we attended a Financial Aid informational meeting. Well the first dose of reality is that we are a mere year away from finalizing college plans for Boy Wonder and apply for some tuition assistance.

Scary, sad and exciting – all in one.

The meeting was too long in those uncomfortable desks but we learned a lot. It was good see cost comparisons among Wisconsin schools – from tech to 4-year – plus the plethora of options available to help students get there. Wow. Thankfully quite a few.

The last time I sat in a Financial Aid meeting was probably about 30 years ago. Everything went way over my head as I had no concept of finances and only knew my impoverished self qualified for a piece of the pie.

Fast forward 3 decades and much of it still went over my head. But we have a year to figure it out. It was just helpful to know what adjustments we might have to make this year. And if Jim should start selling his blood instead of donating it. I can't help in that fund-raising category but for my part, I'll keep buying those lottery tickets.

Our next reality check comes this week, too, as we register for the ACT test. Can this really be happening? Has time flown that quickly?

Carter is already joking about being out of our hair in 18 months or so. I don't mind him in my hair.
In fact, I had my hair artist appointment today. She got rid of the gray but I specifically requested she keep Carter in.

You can bank on it!

Pepped Up

The week leading up to the Homecoming football game is like a 5-day Pep Rally, culminating the night before with the actual pep festival.

Since I have been out of town so much, I am a bit behind on the details of Homecoming. I knew Carter has a date – his friend Macyn – but that was about it. On Thursday I finally learned of the details of where pictures and dinner were going to be on Saturday. But there was another detail we overlooked.

I was at school by 2 this afternoon setting up for the German Club's annual Oktoberfest fundraiser. Great opportunity to enjoy polka music while eating brats, German potato salad and apple strudel. A successful event each year. Since Carter had cross country practice, he couldn't help with the setup. Since he had to work tonight, he couldn't play with the band or participate in any of the games at the Pep Rally.

He stopped to see me between school and practice and that is when I learned that other important detail: Carter has outgrown his black dress pants and needs new ones to wear for the dance... which is tomorrow, if I didn't mention that earlier. There are 2 other area schools with Homecoming dances then, too. Would there even be any black dress pants in stock anywhere in town at this point?

I had about half an hour between doing the setup and decorating before I had to sell food tickets. So I raced over to the JcPenney store, the only thing local really, and managed to find pants his size (whew), a new black shirt he also needed and, of course, a $40 tie to match his date's outfit.

No typos there, folks. Ugh.

Back to school, I learned another detail. Carter has been battling a old for two weeks an feels so crappy, he doesn't want to work, run cross country or stay at that dance tomorrow night beyond the Grand March. Am I bad mother for not knowing this sooner? Not really. It's not my fault he gets home at night and pretty much heads to his room to do homework.

I'm going to have to whip together some magic potion from my essential oils and hope that does the trick! Keep your fingers crossed.

Even though he had to work, we still went to the Pep Rally and had some fun.

The football team is introduced. They called attention to all the fall sports, which is cool. Carter missed his chance to stand with the cross country team. So no need to sneak any photos this year.

Immediately following the Pep Rally is the traditional lighting of the Assumption "A". That did not generate heat for two long in the chilly weather, but it was cool to look at for the 5 minutes it burns.

Here is the banner for Carter's class. It's always interesting that Homecoming Week often is more a competition between classes than a battle against our football opponent. Since this year we face our nemesis, Wausau Newman, that has changed.

This weeks, it's cardinal season. Can't wait to see how that pans out tomorrow.

Hopefully Carter is as pepped up (and healthy) as everyone else!

Get the Picture?

Hubby felt compelled to remind me that today is our boy's last "school picture day." Next year, it's SENIOR picture time!

Noooo. Say it ain't so!

Time is going too quickly as it is. And if you don't believe me, take a look at this "Throwback Thursday" photo of our almost grownup...

This was actually from a "real" photo shoot. I was working on an arts and crafts magazine at the time, and we borrowed Carter to model the "snowflake ensemble." This was the summer of 2003 after he'd just turned 5. It was for a Christmas magazine but since it was summer, we simulated "snow" on the porch by scattering potato flakes.

There, now you learned some behind-the-scenes tricks for your next Christmas in July photo shoot!

I miss that adorable little boy, but as I tell new parents, every age is "the best age!" Even tonight, when Carter noticed this new picture on my wall, I had to laugh when he feigned (I'm sure) having to toss his cookies over such a sight.

What? Too soon? I'm sure deep down he is just as anxious for the "season" as me!

Actually, really deep down, I bet he looks forward to Mom & the Hallmark Channel as much as I look forward to Carter & Senior Pictures.

Let's not rush either one. Get the picture?

Today's Numbers: Seven-Eleven

Got my backpack... got wheels... look out junior year, here I come!

Yup, it's back-to-school time for our baby. Since I had to get to work early and the first day of school starts late (8:30 instead of 7:30), I had to rely on hubby for the traditional first day of school photo.

He did a fine job, especially considering Carter overslept and was certainly not in the mood for Mom's scrapbook demands.

The good news for him is that he is in 11th grade now and only has to deal with this one more time... except those college move-in days and all that. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Today was also the first cross-country meet of the year. That's why I had to work early so I could leave early and we could get to Pittsville by 4 p.m. According to the Weather Channel, it was not going to start raining there until 6 p.m.

They were wrong. The kids had to run in a light rain the whole time. Glad I have a Royal blue rain coat with hood. Jim had to borrow my Twins umbrella since our huge golf umbrella was home in the garage. Didn't quite think that one through, but we were in a hurry to get there on time!

The boys finally have a larger varsity team, with Carter, 3 fellow juniors and 4 sophomores. There are two varsity girls and two middle-schoolers, as well. Finally some numbers instead of last year's total of 6 kids. Above, Carter is in the middle, still running with other Royals after mile 1. Then they spread out more.

Here he is in the final sprint to the finish. He ended up finishing 7 seconds faster than his end time at Pittsville last year. What an encouraging start to the season. I hope he feels good about it. Haven't got to talk to him since he and the team were going out to eat after the meet.

I wonder if he'll have homework to do tonight. He'll have to get back into that routine far better than his waking up to the atomic alarm efforts this morning!

Ahhh.... love that back-to-school time, don't you?

'Twas the Night Before...

'

'Twas the night before 11th grade and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for my computer mouse...

With 3 assignments done, Carter is working on his 4th school assignment due the first day tomorrow. Since he needs the computer, I will log off and appreciate that MY summer isn't over.

Can't wait for the daily challenge of dragging him out of bed begins! Better get to sleep so we can get that started!

OK, mouse... back to homework...

The Call of Nature

When I hear Nature calling, I don't head for the nearest restroom. I answer by picking up my camera and seeing what Nature has to say.

Well, in today's instance, my "camera" phone.

We have a couple of enclosed courtyards at work that are great places to sit outside for a nice lunch in the summer time. Anyone care to join me for an "iced" coffee break today?

You can see the 10 inches of snow they got Tuesday just piled up nicely, like icing on a cake. It probably tastes like cake and ice cream all rolled into one. Needless to say, I did not venture closer to find out. Did not have my hip boots with today!

I noticed a few times on my way to the fitness center during lunch hours that there is brood of big ol' turkeys right by the road on our work grounds or across the street. Today, since there was no traffic coming either way and the birds were joined by "deer" friends, I pulled out onto the highway, put down the window and snapped a few shots.

It must be 5 o'clock somewhere 'cause things are getting WILD in Iola! Isn't that crazy? Totally tops having the tractors slowing up traffic on Main Street during the summer.

I was in such a jovial mood about winter scenery, I neglected to see what was heading our way this afternoon. So without any choice, I had to venture home in snow, wind and freezing drizzle. Took me an hour and 15 minutes to get to Rapids, where I had to make a quick stop at school. Normally 55 minutes to an hour will do.

Went home and got hubby and we went back to school for a meeting tonight for sophomore parents needing to register their children for junior year classes. I am still in denial about words like "ACT tests" and "college credits." But they are becoming more real and more important.

This week is Finals Week so the whole testing and grade business has already been top of mind. Yesterday, Carter didn't have any finals but still went to school to study all day during normal school hours. Today he knocked off 3 finals -- and got to go to Rocky's for lunch -- and will have his final 3 tomorrow. So far, he's only felt really good about one of them. But you never know with that kid.

At the meeting tonight, the principal, who is also Carter's religion teacher, made a point of telling us that Carter wrote a very good essay on "Wisdom." Since he used my computer to write it, I found it when we got home. He'd kill me if I shared any of it. But let's just say there are days he acts like an irresponsible little kid -- and there are days when he is wise beyond his years.

If he truly believes half of what he is writing, Nature (a.k.a. God) will call him to do good things. That will be more fun to watch than turkeys and deer!