Silent Support

I went to work today for several reasons. The main one, of course, was that I felt fine and had plenty to do. That was followed closely by the fact I had previously scheduled a hair upgrade over a long lunch. The culmination, naturally, was that we had a planned Royal Road Trip to Neillsville.

I am a time management goddess. I squeezed all those things in -- plus remembered to take my two circus peanut-sized anti-strep pills!

Work was good, my hair appointment was better ... and the Royal Road Trip was definitely the best.

Since Carter rode the Pep Band bus over to Neillsville, we could make a bee line from work (just about) on Highway 10. So we worked 'til normal time and stopped in Stevens Point for a quick bite to eat, then were on our way to the sectional showdown with Plum City.

We got there plenty early and we needed to in order to get a good seat. We had an awesome turnout. Both schools had lots of fans plus their bands. An exciting atmosphere!

I knew that I needed to take my healing throat seriously, so I hoped I wouldn't have major reasons to yell. Cheer, yes, but yell in frustration, no. So I quickly adopted the golf clap (loud version) and the silent fist pump for great plays. I didn't even do my celebratory whistle because I did not need a throat setback. My silent support did the trick!

While the first half saw many lead changes, the Assumption girls got command of the game in the 3rd quarter. Their lead shrunk a bit in the 4th quarter but thanks to some starters from Plum City fouling out, we held our ground and won 65-50! Yay!

Now our #2 ranked Royals will play against #1 ranked Seneca on Saturday evening in La Crosse. I don't know if I'll have my voice back by then, but I'll still have my blue nail polish and my new conference championship t-shirt!

Culture Club

I've inherited several traits from my father. I suppose if you lumped most of them together they could just be labeled "stubborn." But I like to think of myself as hearty with stamina and staying power, willing to stand my ground until something changes or goes away.

Yep, I guess stubborn could be used.

I know Dad and I are not fans of going to the doctor. LeRoy and I like to "wait and see." Will it go away or, on occasion, get so bad we have to seek help? Immediately.

I've been dealing with some night-time coughing this winter. It's like stuff settles in my chest and I end up coughing through the night, waking up on occasion with a cough drop in my mouth. Every time hubby "encourages" me to go to the doctor, I say I will but... then I go a few night with nothing so I brush it off.

On Monday, though, I had a new symptom. My throat suddenly was hurting so bad, it hurt to swallow air. My first thought was "Uh-oh, I hope I don't have strep." But then I remembered that the few times I have had allergies in my life, this is exactly how it starts. With that sneaky sore throat that leads to everything else.

So I tracked down some allergy medication in the office and took a pill Monday and yesterday. It minimized the pain only slightly, but now I know that could have been the ibuprofen I was talking for my "I bowled too much this weekend" back pain.

Today, I decided I would go to the walk-in clinic after work. I sent Jim on his way to Madison to the funeral home for Kiley's visitation. All he said to me was, "Why are you going now, in Week 14 of this?"

Ha. Funny guy.

Probably because this is something different! When I got to the clinic and the doctor checked me out, he didn't think I had anything major going on. As a precaution, though, he took a throat culture. Oh I do not like that type of culture! Definitely the Culture Club I remember from the '80s. My knee-jerk reaction was not to jerk my knee but push him away with my hands. Whoops.

He wasn't hurt nor offended. Whew.

He said the strep test would only take 5-7 minutes so I waited. I'm not sure who was more surprised by the results -- him or me. He walks in and says, "Well, you have strep."

I know LeRoy would say, "That's what I thought!" Because he... me... we.... know everything!

So I had to go to the pharmacy to get my pretty pink antibiotic horse pills.

Not entirely exaggerating am I? I have to take those twice daily 'til gone plus, I am sure the doctor -- if he would have had more time -- would have ordered ice cream as needed. And I need it!

The good news is I am only slightly contagious for the 24-hour period after getting on the drugs. So while I wouldn't have to work tomorrow, I will go and stay secluded in my cubicle. Then later, when we go to the girls playoff game in Neillsville, I will be past my contagious stage.

Honestly, other than the throat hurting, I feel fine. No fever or headaches or anything.

Just one last pint of Schwan's Peppermint Stick ice cream in the freezer calling my name. 

Oh, LeRoy... come here...

Delayed Reaction

We woke up expecting to see those 4-8 inches of snow on the ground and wouldn't you know it, there wasn't even 4-8 flakes (not counting the ones that live here).

This is when I love that the weather man is wrong! In the end, though, he wasn't.

Snow started falling in the afternoon and we did get about 3-4 inches of it after all. Nothing to disrupt travel too much, but enough to require snow blowing. Fortunately, while the guys were at the batting cage and I was at a cleaning products party (so domestic of me), our good neighbor came over and blew our driveway out for us. Have I mentioned lately how blessed we are? If not, I should have.

Now hubby's outside finishing up the snow removal and I am allegedly gathering up garbage to take out to the curb. Shhh... I meant to take it out of our office and found myself on the computer, then decided to blog. You know how that goes. My A.D.D. knows no bounds!

I sort of have to blame Carter a bit. He handed me a flyer for driver's ed (I know!!) and that prompted me to check out some info online. I find it hard to believe we are about to cross this bridge because, well, we've come to it. Uff da. Mama is not ready for this. And really, is Carter?

He can't get his temps anyway for another 8 months so I can delay my reaction to this for awhile. No sense opening up my mind and letting the crazy out just yet. That day will come.

Just like spring will eventually get here, too. Right?

I hope so. Mr. Deck Chair and the Flip Flop twins have been crying from neglect. I'm just going to have to explain to them that if the weather man can't get the forecast right, how can we rely on a weather animal's prediction?!

Forecast

One month from today is Carter's first high school baseball game! In the meantime, we are under a winter weather "advisory." That's what they call it when it is less than a foot of snow, I guess, since we could get 4-8 inches while we are sleeping tonight.

You think spring will actually get here in a month? I have my doubts.

I guess I can't blame the weather dudes either since they have no control over the forecast. They just relay it to us and we decide (much like watching refs in a basketball game) if we want them to be right or not. Either way, when we check the forecast, we sort of know what is coming.

Oh, if life were that easy.

Much of what happens to us as individuals is as much out of our hands as the weather is for meteorologists. Some times we have just enough information to be prepared. Other times, we are blindsided.

There is a sizable network of friends and family in our community who are experiencing that right now.

A 32-year-old woman -- who in the mid-'90s was babysitting my stepsons and before graduating in '98, played on Assumption's state championship basketball team -- has died.

A week ago at this time, she was enjoying life to the fullest with her husband and 5 children, ranging in age from 7 years down to just 4 months old. The next evening, she experienced a stroke due to a blood clot in her brain. After several days on life support, her family said goodbye to her yesterday.

One cannot even comprehend the devastation that family feels. It was only a few months ago we were at the funeral home for this family when this woman's dad lost his brother to a sudden heart attack. Now, to have to bury a child, seems overwhelming. Those of us who know them or just know of them -- through the "Assumption" family -- are shaken by this. Naturally, what parent wouldn't be? What wife or husband wouldn't be? What child wouldn't be?

This could happen to any of us at any time. We can't always get a forecast. Kiley, though, knew how to prepare. She lived life with a rock-solid faith and, in the end, increased the quality of life for two people through her organ donations.

All of this is part of God's plan. It is not our place to even attempt to predict what will happen next and why. For today, He is just shaking us a bit and reminding us to love one another and be grateful for each person who holds a special place in our heart.

For today, that will bring sunshine.

Extended Stay

Have you noticed the days are getting slightly longer? I should clarify: I don't have more time to do things, but the sun seems to be hanging around a bit more each day. As I find the last calendars around the house to switch over to March, I should not be surprised at the extended stay.

But I still didn't get (or make) time today to get my Saturday chores all done. I did get up and go to 8 o'clock church, then went grocery shopping and did laundry. Then hubby picked me up and we joined some friends at a nearby watering hole for a long visit.

We cut our extended stay there short when Carter texted he was home from a trip with a friend to the batting cages -- and was locked out of the house. Whoops. So we went home and that gave me time to get some more laundry done.

Jim had a meeting tonight so I finally watched the rest of the Oscars I had DVR'd and a Hallmark movie I "taped" too. Then Carter comes out with more laundry so he has clean pants for tomorrow. It seems like a never-ending cycle but we should be good for a few days.

I did make some time to upload a few photos from yesterday...

This is my BFF (Bowling Friend Forever, ha) Christine... yes, we look like we are taking the game seriously, don't we? We both have bad backs so we were feeling it a bit today. Four games was probably 3 too many.

Hubby was in a jovial mood... how could he not be after bowling a 252 or something around that his last game? He better be careful or they'll draft him on a league! Not that there's anything wrong with that.

From the basketball game... our girls take the court after receiving the Regional Championship trophy!

Was not at a good angle to get a good photo but I can tell you this: All the girls in the front row are in Carter's class. Yes, freshman playing on varsity. And we only have one senior this year so this team is going to kick butt again next year.

What we know for this year is we'll be playing against Plum City on Thursday at a neutral site -- Neillsville. That's less than an hour away so not too bad. I'm going to have to put on another layer of blue nail polish. I mean, it would be unlucky at this point if I took it off, wouldn't it?

I guess that's something I can do with all this extra time we're getting on these longer days. Hmmm.... wonder if there's anything else...

Running Like the Devil

Not only was I running with the devil today (see photos), I was running like one, too. Not fast, just super busy.

I rode up to Stevens Point this morning with our friend Gregg (classmate of hubby's). As we watched the in-car thermometer temperature rise a few degrees -- up to 22 degrees -- we were hopeful for a great race day. Actually, even though the wind prevented it from feeling warm, it was not bad!

Here we are are in the beer tent pre-race. Not drinking, just staying out of the wind. Don't you love his number?? I was seriously running with the devil!

Hurray! I finished! I actually was thrilled first that I managed to finish within an hour and thrilled secondly that it was under 55 minutes. With my lack of serious training, I'll take that result any day. I was especially pleased that I felt good. Did not have any aches or pains in my legs or hips. Tomorrow may be a different story, but for tonight, I'm good.

The fun after the Point Bock race is gathering in the beer tent area for free beer. I gave my tickets away and enjoyed some Point Root Beer. Gregg and I also remembered to grab a photo at the finish line on our way out!

I was on a very tight schedule the rest of the day. Got home at 2:25 p.m., had to shower quick and be to the bowling alley for a 3 p.m. start in the charity tournament. Got there on time but then they were running late so I really could have had time to fix my hair rather than throw a hat on it. We got started about 3:30 and by then, after learning we actually were bowling 4 games -- and throwing out the worst -- I figured we would be lucky to make it on time to the regional finals game at Assumption at 7 p.m.

Bowling went better than expected. I always strive to get to 100. My first game was 113 and that ended up being my throw-away game since the other 3 averaged 150. Whoot! OK, I'll be honest, it was a 9-pin tourney so knocking down 9 pins instead of 10 counted as a strike. My kind of game.

We got out of there and to the school just as the National Anthem was finishing up. Had a tough time finding seats so we didn't sit together. It was another great game for our girls. After a slow start, we beat Loyal 54-37, earning the Regional Championship! Another whoot!

Now we move onto sectionals next Thursday at Neillsville. Should be a fun road trip!

After the game, we came straight home since we were tired. Well, I was anyway. And Carter went to a late movie with some friends. I do not plan on waiting up.

Running like and with the devil takes a lot out of you. I wouldn't suggest it.

Forward, March!

Today's riddle: What do you get when you cross a lamb, an ice cream cone and the color blue?

The month of March coming in mildly, signaling the opening of King Cone this afternoon and an Assumption girls basketball playoff game tonight! 

Throw in the fact that it's a Friday today, too, and you know it was a good day!

I'll admit I was really counting down to this day since Tuesday when I found out King Cone opened in its Plover location today. That is on the way home from work with a slight detour -- unlike the Amherst site (not open yet) where it is just a turn into a parking lot. As it turned out, I had a pretty good plan how to drive right by the Plover one.

Tomorrow I'll be running in the Point Bock race in Stevens Point. Participants have the choice of picking up their race packets tonight from 5-7 or in the morning before the race. Since there is going to be 2,000+ runners, why not avoid the lines in the morning and stop by today?

So after a very fast, yet productive, day at work, we went to Point, picked up race packets for me and 2 friends, then just happened to drive right by King Cone on the way home. Hubby pretty much knew he had to signal left and turn into the parking lot! Oh, it felt good to be home. Ha. Jim got his usual Pirate's Booty in a waffle cone and I got a cup of Blueberry "Yes, Please" Cake (that's its full name). Yummy. Oh so worth the wait.

We stopped home quick to drop off a few things, then dropped off race packets for my neighbor Cindy, who unfortunately has been sick all week and can't race, and our friend Gregg, Jim's classmate who will pick me up in the morning and set my pace tomorrow.

From there, we headed to Assumption High School to cheer on the girls in their second regional playoff game. This game was much more intense than the Tuesday blowout, that's for sure. Lincoln-Alma Center had quite a scrappy team and they held close for the first 3 quarters. Scary. Thankfully, our girls really pulled away in the fourth quarter and ended up winning 62-37! Yay! (I cannot change my blue nail polish at this point.)

Now tomorrow night they host Loyal at home for the regional championship. Should be quite a game. Before that, though, I've got my 5-mile run and hubby and I have a mid-afternoon bowling tournament. To answer your question: No, we don't have much down time around here!

During all this, Carter has a friend over tonight. They've been instructed to "keep it down" so I get some decent sleep. At this point, with my lack of committed training for this race, that's not going to help much. But they don't need to know that. 

If March is coming in like a lamb, it's only appropriate I am counting sheep anyway... 1... 2... 3...