Bring on March Gladness

Don't forget that March Madness actually begins at the high school level with the regionals and sectionals leading up to state hoops. And when we're lucky, it turns into March Gladness.

The crazy and amazing thing Friday night was that our boys won their Regional round 2 game versus a higher seed, Blair-Taylor (which is my college territory around La Crosse).

I had a few things to do and did not travel 80-plus minutes to shoot pictures last night in Elroy when they faced the No. 1 seed. But I quickly heard through the grapevine that our boys claimed the Regional Championship!

That is so exciting. Now onto sectionals for the first time in at least 8 years.

The other part of March MADness or GLADness is always weather dependent, of course!

Today after we both sang in our respective churches, we went to a retirement party for our friend Christine. Alwasys great to see old / long time friends. When we got home, the temps were in the mid-50s so I went for a walk.

Got to chat with my friend and neighbor Cindy and my favorite four-legged creature Buddy. Then ran into golf partner and neighbor Marigene.

We literally went the extra mile, so to speak. I forget how long winters somehow stop us from seeing people! No one likes to hang out on the swing in front of the house when it's 22 degrees! You know?

When Carter called this afternoon he, of course, was having slightly warmer weather "down south" in Iowa. But we both hoped this wasn't a fake spring again. And we know, naturally, that it probably is because this is, well, the Midwest and the calendar won't acknowledge spring yet for 2 weeks.

I heard a rumor, though, that tomorrow's high temp could bring Mr. Deck Chair out of winter hibernation. Just saying.

Hope you find your March GLADness this week!

A-maize-ing Friends

Work has been full of changes and severe adjustments lately that have caused me more than a moment of stress. But then you have that one co-worker who you've known since a previous job 20+ years ago, and they can turn your day around.

I love puns and my first thought was "Boy, I wish I could share this one with my mom. She'd LOVE this!" 

It really did help me get through another day of too many meetings (the new culture I'm moving into, apparently) and too little time to write (you know, my actual job). 

Not having the easiest time adjusting to changes but I love and appreciate having "a-maize-ing" friends who have my back. 

Unfortunately, my focus right now is buying the right lottery tickets so we can both retire right now. We're so close. But that extra little bit (it doesn't have to be a billion) will push us over to the edge. Of happiness. 

Oh, Mom and Grandma J, please work your luck from heaven!!

New Beginnings

Pretty appropriate that our dinosaur-obsessed little boy got to drive a "dinosaur truck" from Bluejay Drive to his new home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

Yup, he and Mamie arrived Friday night with the U-Haul and somehow got everything in there – including some of the big stuff (dining room table and chairs, coffee tables, etc.) that have stayed in our basement for the past two moves! We've got some space back!

Why Cedar Rapids? Well, just like their moves to Denver and Raleigh, they researched areas for things like quality of life and safety – and interesting things to do. This time, they also prioritized being able to comfortably afford the cost of living there. They've learned the hard way.

I'm just glad it's just a little over 4 hours away! Same as going Up North to see family. No biggie.

So while they moved south, I attended a dance recital at the Performing Arts Center in town. A couple of senior moms were paying me to go. And I saw a handful of other dancers I knew, too. Let's just say I took a thousand pictures and leave it at that.

From there, I went straight to Stevens Point to celebrate another new beginning – our friend Marigene's retirement party.

While Marigene is my golf partner, Dar is her real-life partner – and Jim and I just adore them both.

Looking forward to having her at my golfing beck and call during her retirement. Ha!

Stayed up super late editing dance photos and continued this morning. Pretty much a low-key day until our next new beginning for the summer: Couples Golf League at TriCity.

It's I think just a 6- or 7-week league so I'm glad our first opponents were our friends Craig and Sara. Fun to golf with people you know. There's like 22 couples signed up so there's a chance (even though between hubby and me we do know a lot of people) that we'll be playing against strangers (aka new friends) in the coming weeks. Should be fun!

Only thing is that we got home at 8 p.m. and I feel like the weekend was gone in a blink of any eye. 

I still gotta get that petition going to add a day between Sunday and Monday. Who's with me?!

Have a great week, everyone! 

A Good Cup of Joe

Some sports news today: Dallas Stars' Joe Pavelski says he's done after 1,533 games and 18 NHL seasons. 

Pavelski, who just wrapped up his fifth season with the Dallas Stars (a team I usually don't acknowledge as a Minnesota North Stars fan), turns 40 next month. The Wisconsin native, whose 74 playoff goals are the most for a U.S.-born player and were the most among active players, was at the end of his contract with the Stars. 

While Joe is no Mr. Zamboni in my eyes, ha, he grew up just down the road in Plover and I go through his hometown every day on my work commute.

Plus, he made my birthday pretty special last summer when he was a VIP guest at the U.S. Senior Open at SentryWorld. Love that he took his son out for a round to share the experience. Exactly what you'd expect when you hear the term "Midwest Nice." 

Of course, there's also a banner that hangs where my Assumption-Pacelli Co-op team plays each winter. So I'll still keep him in mind. Just fun to have interactions with people who are famous but don't act like it.

That's good Wisconsin roots, right? Good luck, Joe! I think you're skating in the right direction. 🏒👪

Showers Of Blessings

I love spending time with family. And it's even more fun when we're celebrating the upcoming addition of a new member! Looking forward to welcoming a great-niece in August. Actually, based on the enthusiasm at the baby shower yesterday, quite a few are excited about my nephew Travis and Michelle's blessing.

Special occasions always call for a trifle, of course! And pretty in pink!

My sister RoAnn and I had so much creative fun planning this. Our food had a baby theme with wraps. Grab a blanket to get started...

Add some clothes... Baby shower tip: Use cookie cutters to cut your cheese slices! 

Had other "stations" too, ending with a chance to fill up a bottle (or cup) with punch or coffee. Also played Baby BINGO and a game I made up where you draw a name, that person draws a lollipop from the centerpiece and reads or does what the note on it says.

We never did get to the one asking who will spoil the baby more – Mommy, Daddy, or Big Sister. I think it'll be a tie!

They all helped with opening gifts. So many cute baby girl things!!!!

Got my blanket finished. It's big sister-approved! She loved a LOT of the gifts!

Very nice afternoon! I hit the road around 4 p.m. And then again after turning around 5 miles down the road to go back and get my suitcase. Duh me! Just wanted to get back to Rapids before dark.

Because of deer, you know! What are the odds I'd see two white ones when I was 9/10 of the way through the drive? Wow. I had to stop and takes some pictures. No surprise.

Met up with Jim at Homestead Golf Course to celebrate our friends' retirement. They sold the golf course and are moving onto the next chapter of their lives. Saw a lot of people we knew. That was fun. Got home too late to think about blogging, but tonight will be even later. 

Heading down to La Crosse to see Riverdance with some girlfriends. Very excited! Gonna toe-tap that right off my bucket list! 

Have a great Sunday.

How We Get Our Kicks

And this is how we get our kicks on a Saturday...

First, we stay busy so I for sure can't do Saturday chores on actual Saturday. Got up and made treats for the TaeKwonDo and kickboxing open house, then went to the open house. And yes, hung out with Iron Man.

Seriously, watching Iron Man break concrete. That is impressive entertainment.

His sidekick (see what I did there?) did well, too. Compared to these guys and the kids breaking boards, I am sure the kickboxers were boring to watch. But I heard at least two new people sign up for classes, so our performances must have convinced a few that anyone can do it.

It did make for a fun day. Hanging out with the ladies from class and seeing what everyone does there. Two of my classmates were teaching another one to knit. I could have joined in but I am just thinking I probably don't need another hobby right now. I'll just "oooh" and "ahhh" over their work.

Had a great, standing-room only crowd at the 1 p.m. show and a smaller one at 3:30 p.m., but that allowed me to move around and get some pictures. Didn't have time to go through them yet.

Right after the open house, I got in the shortest car wash line I could find and took advantage of above-freezing temps to get rid of the salt and slush grime. That was awesome, said my car.

Got home, showered quickly and hubby and I were off to a retirement party for our friend Chet. Was a great crowd with plenty of people we know – including my BFF and her hubby in town, and a bunch of friends we mostly see at the races. Well, Jim sees them when he substitute bowls. But I don't. It was fun.

In fact, a pretty fun day overall. And we'll get to bed by midnight.

That's how us old folks get our kicks.

Time to Chill

Most "normal" people of sound mind and body would see this temperature and think hot soup, hot tea, hot chocolate... hot anything.

But those of us on the outside of normal looking in think ICE CREAM!

By sheer coincidence, today was the season opener for King Cone in Plover AND I was heading to Plover after work. True story.

An old publishing friend was having a retirement party there. Since my guys were both washing dishes at fish fries – Jim volunteering at church and Carter getting paid for it at "work" – I had to head over there alone. I went straight from work since I wanted to stop at Staples first. Can I help it you go past King Cone to get to Staples? Well, it's a bit of a detour actually, but it still got me to both places.

You know how Oprah brags on the Weight Watchers commercial that she lost weight and had bread every day? Well, I am not having ice cream every day but I was mathematically responsible and saved "points" for my frozen supper. I'm not used to just getting a SMALL, but it was just as good. Plus, as a bonus, I got a free Valentine's container of red velvet something.

As an added bonus, thanks to the lovely temperatures, it sat in my car during the party and didn't have a chance of melting!

Did enjoy myself at the party and saw some former co-workers I haven't seen in the 6 months since I left Iola. Reaffirms that I miss the people not the job necessarily. And I don't even have to miss King Cone on my commute because they'll be opening one in Rapids in 2 short months!

The location is not that far from work so I will really have to be a diligent mathematician with my Weight Watcher points then! Since I am that person on the outside of normal looking in, I did calculate the mileage. It's a 1.2-mile walk from work so I could get a nearly 2 1/2 mile walk in and burn it off as I am eating it. Not that I'm planning to go there every day or anything.

Just when I need to chill. And not from the temperature.

Clocking Out

The summer my twin and I were born, my oldest sister turned 17 and began her senior year of high school. There are 5 other siblings between us. Thus, the age gap that technically makes her old enough to be my mother.

Not to rub it in.

I will openly state I was not jealous of her when she turned 40 way before me, then 50 way before I will and even 60. But today, I am jealous.

She shut off her alarm clock this morning for the last time. She clocked out of work tonight and is now a retiree like her husband.

Lucky.

Actually, I can't really say "lucky," since she had hoped to retire a few years ago. But then the economy tanked and set all of our retirement savings plans back a few steps. And by steps, I mean years.

But now, starting tomorrow, she is free to travel about the country and beyond. She is quite the road warrior and I am sure had her eye on a road sign like the one pictured for quite some time! Their first adventure will be a trip to Hawaii. Then she'll only have one state she hasn't been in -- West Virginia. Yup, she's a gypsy. And I wish her well as she follows her dreams.

Not to steal her thunder, but I had some of my own traveling excitement today.

One of the main roads that gets me to and from work has been under construction since early June. So yes, I have been detoured for four months via Stevens Point, which doubles my "stop and go" lights and slows me down.

Now, County B is like a whole new road -- and it gets me to work and home quicker -- by 5 whole minutes.

I know. Not as exciting as a retirement cake and party and trip to the islands, but I've got to start small. If I follow my sister's schedule, I have at least 17 more years to build up to that big moment.

Who knows - by then they might have built another King Cone on my route. We all have our dreams.