Lucky Seven

The 7th of March is always a lucky day. We celebrate my #1 stepson's birthday. Hard to believe Casey turned 23 today. Wow. He has grown into a fine young man!

It's probably lucky, too, that his birthday falls on a Friday this year. I guess that constitutes a whole birthday WEEKEND, right? I imagine living in a college town that he can make that happen.

Other lucky (or at least positive) signs today...

Saw some puddles -- which means warmer temperatures! Not going to say too much to jinx it. Officially, we got up to 36 today. The first day above freezing since I don't know when. We'll take it.

Today was the beginning of the popular Lenten season Friday fish fries, too. Hubby was officially trained last week and will be part of the kitchen crew at his church, St. Lawrence, which serves every Friday night during Lent.

Today his shift was 4-8 p.m. Since Carter needed to be to work at 5, I left work a bit early, picked him up at home and got him there. Turns out both my guys were doing dishes tonight. One for pay and one out of the goodness of his heart. What did I do? Not dishes.

After dropping Carter off, I came home and did not do dishes nor dirty any. Had a toasted bagel with Nutella then headed into town to the school for the other fun part of the day.

Regional basketball playoff continued for high school girls tonight. Our Lady Royals beat Marshfield Columbus by another dominating score: 60-20. Tomorrow night they will play for the Regional championship against Loyal. Now that will be a tough matchup! Should be fun to watch.

After the game, I picked up Carter from work. Jim had made it to the game for part of the second half but after putting in all that hard work in the kitchen, I sent him home. Was happy we were all home by 10 so we can get some sleep!

The weather was so nice today I may not even need my mattress pad turned on.

Just kidding. Of course it's on.

But I may be able to sleep without socks!

It's in the Can

Back in the mid-'70s, when my age was still in the single digits, one of my sisters lived in Florida. Oh how my twin sister and I loved to get letters from Romey on Walt Disney stationery or receive little Mickey Mouse stickers. The best gift, though, came one Christmas.

It was a can of Florida Sunshine.

Unfortunately, the gift was for all of us -- not just me -- so I could not claim ownership or any rights to its use. I was young enough to believe, though, that opening that weightless can would actually produce the heat of the Florida sun -- right there in our living room.

On the coldest winter days, I would beg our mom to open that can! Why are we suffering when summer is in the can?? She never relented. So I never knew what was really inside. If anything.

For years it sat on the bookshelves in the living room, taunting me. I wouldn't doubt if it was still there.

If it is, I'm pretty sure if Mom wasn't down in Texas for the past month, she'd have cracked it open by now. I know I would!

Actually, with all the online shopping I do, I wonder if I can't find some bottled up Florida sunshine and have it delivered -- overnight, of course -- right to my doorstep.

I've got my can opener ready.

Treasure Chest

After much deliberation and soul searching, I have decided to give up winter for Lent.

Don't you wish it was that easy?

Actually, I had pondered a few things I should deprive myself of during the next 40 days. Even with our Lutheran "get out of Lent free" card, I do want to do something that could change something or someone. Maybe even me.

I did not get to Ash Wednesday church services tonight but that doesn't mean I am not in the right frame of mind. As it turned out, Carter and I went to the church for the 5:30 soup supper. When we saw tonight's flavors were not in tune with our palates, we went to Culver's instead.

We had all intentions of going back for 6:30 services, but then I got a text from a friend in need. I dropped Carter off at home and went to her house to help her cope with a life-changing crisis. I realized a few things. The most important was that the people in our lives and our hearts -- and our relationships with them -- are the most important thing.

Things, though, are not that important. But some of us cling to things -- or treasures (as referenced above) -- as we would a loved one about to walk out of lives for good. We get clingy, greedy and selfish. Let me hold onto these treasures. They are mine! 

We lose sight of the real treasures around us.

When I stumbled upon this challenge tonight after I got home, it came to me quite clearly what I need to do.

What an excellent Lenten challenge! You can read more about it here (http://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/40-bags-in-40-days-2014/). 

It definitely hit home with me. That and that beautifully organized pile of hoodies I can't part with. I know I won't fill a bag with them but I'm sure I can find more than two to bid farewell. Guess I can add the other closets to my "progress grid." I'll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime, I am still going to try to give up winter. Thank you for your support.

Fat Tuesday (the Tamed Version)

The scale reminded me this morning that it was Fat Tuesday. Not to be confused with Fat Monday, of course. That goes without saying.

Typically, the purpose of Fat Tuesday is to fatten up on all our guilty pleasures before we deny ourselves for the 40 days of Lent. Since I didn't want to start out too far in the Mardi Gras hole, I had a tame day.

In fact, the only thing Fat about my Tuesday was the margin of victory our Assumption girls basketball team had over Granton in round one of the regional playoffs. In all fairness, the matchup wasn't exactly fair, but they always pit the #1 and #8 seeds against each other in the first round. Logically, it would have been more honorable to just give our Lady Royals a bye instead of putting Granton through the pain of a 65-14 loss.

I took some video tonight of the Pep Band playing as the girls start their warmups. I apologize for the shaky camera work. In the first seconds I do want to point out that as our team enters the gym, they are jumping up to touch the retired #22 jersey of Kiley (Flugaur) Hackl for luck.

Kiley, a member of the AHS winning state team in 1998 (and former babysitter for our big boys), died a year ago this week.

Here is the video:



Since the game was so lopsided, there wasn't much to stop the clock in the second half. It was basically done in an hour. That's good since we could come home and give Carter a few extra minutes to do homework.

And give me too many minutes to contemplate something really fattening on Fat Tuesday.

Think we'll stick with hot tea and a warm bed.

(I know. I won't earn any beads THAT way!)

Spring-Loaded

I don't suppose we can blame the extended winter on some sort of computer glitch. Perhaps a delayed Y2K?

Now I DO believe it! With lows around minus 20 to minus 25 in these here parts, I will believe anything. And, of course, continue to realize it is all out of our control. So I really should shut up about it, right?

As my twin sister put it today, winter is just wearing us down. And that I do believe!

One thing that did put a spring in our step today was parent-teacher conferences. We weren't too concerned since Carter made Honor Roll the first semester, but he does have his struggles. His teachers confirmed that.

While Carter's grades are not perfect, he did receive high praise for his behavior, attitude and charm. Now we just have to cure his test-taking woes, and we're on the right path.

It seriously is comforting and encouraging to hear -- and know that we as his parents can take at least half the credit. Right?

I'll guess we'll stick with what we can control. Somehow, though, I don't think we can control a teenager much more than Ol' Man Winter. One can give us a cold shoulder but the other can certainly make us chilled to the bone.

I prefer the short-lived cold shoulder. I've got lots of hoodies to wear for that!

And the Oscar Goes to...

I am somewhat of an awards-show junkie. I like the Emmys, Golden Globes, Grammys, Screen Actors Guild Awards and, of course, the Academy Awards (a.k.a. The Oscars).

The Oscars are a special exception. Why? Because I am the least prepared or knowledgeable going into them. For the Emmys, Globes and SAG, they include some TV shows I am familiar with at least. Grammys are touch and go. But consistently I rarely, and I mean rarely, have actually seen the movies nominated for top honors.

I consider the Oscars a guidebook of the 5 movies I should probably rent in the next year. Or make that 9. Yup, there are 9 movies nominated for Best Picture. How have I not seen any of them on the big screen (or even little screen)? I need to get out more.

For now, I will watch a while just to see if any actors and actresses I like win anything. And see if Ellen is as entertaining as usual. Since I am not rooting for any particular movie, I am OK with not staying up past my bedtime.

Plus I am full from a yummy supper and tired from some "organizing" today. Did you know I folded and organized about 30 hooded sweatshirts and only found 2 that I can part with? But that's a problem (and a blog) for another day.

You can see why I am exhausted.

I also sneaked in a couple hundred pages of The Book Thief. Now that's a movie I do plan to see -- on some size screen -- when I can!

Oops. Time to go. Enjoy the show...

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?

With more snow and a windchill advisory (again), you'd think March came in like a Lion. But I kind of think it was a Lamb, sporting extra-thick wool socks and an extra large fleece!

I was going to illustrate that with some graphic design today and ended up creating this...

You get the point.

I only ventured outside when I ran errands in town, getting groceries and stopping at the library to check out a new audio book. Both times I had to brush off my car when I got back outside -- not that I am a slow shopper or take too much time with my selections.

Oh wait, that IS me.

Got home and did my Saturday chores and then some. And by "then some," I mean while hubby was away at a hoops game with the neighbor, I did laundry, cleaned up 7 pairs of soccer and baseball cleats to sell and, get this, this undomestic goddess sewed buttons on two pair of hubby's pants AND darned two socks.

Darn!

Yes, I am that good. My reward was an hour to myself on the couch to start a new book, The Book Thief, and eat a tiny bit of Peppermint Stick ice cream. Yup, in the mother of all March surprises, I found one final container in the freezer in the garage.

So if you ask me, and you didn't, March is definitely coming in like a white fluffy snow lamb and minty-green grass!