Sundae, Monday, Tuesday

I have a little bit of a love-hate relationship with ice cream. I mean I LOVE it. But I HATE that it has calories. That's it in a nutshell. Or waffle cone.

Today, though, I was going to pass it up. Honest.

You've heard of the Freshman 15 for college kids. There's also what I call the Festive 15 over the holidays. And now we have the Fundraising 15. Yes, it's a thing.

All this week and next week at work we are doing our big United Way campaign. And I mean big. Huge. Like we raised over a million dollars last year big. So to raise that, we have a crazy calendar with daily bake sales and lunches and afternoon snacks. Along with lots and lots of raffles and fun activities (you recall our mini-golf course last year).

Today, some of us walked over to the new office building to buy lunch for a good cause. Got back to our building and caught the end of a bake sale. Will have to eat that tomorrow since I was too full from my hot ham and cheese sandwich and chips and lemon bar lunch. I actually told my boss: "Mark your calendar. I'm too full to have ice cream today." There was no way I'd venture upstairs for the afternoon Ice Cream Sundae Bar.

But an hour later, I'm like: "Two scoops, please."

I'm hopeless. I have not willpower whatsoever... when it comes to donating to charity. OK. Or to ice cream. But yeah, it IS for a good cause. And it was yummy. And yes, almost painful to enjoy because I really WAS that full.

There's always that little compartment for ice cream, though. Always.

And possibly something else. We'll see what's on the menu, er agenda, for tomorrow's fundraising events! No judging. It's for a good cause, folks.

Birds and Bees... Well Just Bees

 When I was doing some photo shoots at the museum yesterday, a volunteer was working in the gardens. Since I am me, I struck up a conversation while waiting for my photo subjects. She was bee watching – not to be confused with bird watching.

She noted that since it was a cool morning, the bees were moving slowing. I guess that makes sense since I know they are pretty active on hot days. Suddenly she let out a loud whisper (it's a thing) and said, "Oh my! There's a queen bee!"

I'm like, "How can you tell?" She replied, "See how big she is?!"

Well, they all look big to me. Anyway, she ran to her car to get her camera and I just happened to have mine!

So here's a queen bee for you. Looks like she's spread out on the comfy couch for a nap.

Still... I wouldn't mess with her! There were plenty of her loyal subjects around. Moving slowly, yes, but they can fly faster than I can run, I'm quite sure!

She also commented that people her that count bees or whatever noted that a certain kind of bee not seen around here since 1967 was just spotted in the next county over. How do they get that close to them to tell the difference? I guess when you live with someone who carries an Epi-Pen, you don't get that close.

Every had a hobby. While she did hers, I did mine. Might as well stop and smell the flowers – but check for bees first.

Little hornet buzzing around.

Big Daddy Long Legs in top right flowers. I did not kill it, so don't blame me for any rain!

I don't know if this bee is royalty or not. Just glad that despite reports of bee shortages, there are still some around!

We'll just keep our distance and use the zoom!

My Skowl Man

My Skol Man now has a Skowl on his face after the Vikings' loss to the Pack today. This picture was taken pregame, but I now have a Skowl on my face, too!

To be fair, I can't defend or explain my team. I had three photo shoots today and saw less than half the game. Obviously, we sucked it up somehow. On a positive note, it was a super productive day. And now it's way past my bedtime.

Hopefully I'll have some wonder-SKOL dreams tonight!

On the Final Lap

The countdown to being great aunt and uncle on hubby's side of the family is nearing its final lap. And that's how we talk in a racing family. Today I got to go to a baby shower for our nephew Colin and his wife Amy. Well, mainly Amy, but the dad-to-be showed up later.

It was decorated in a racing theme and completely adorable and creative! Nice work, Amy!

The diaper track above is awesome and useful. And this sign greeted us...

Reminding us that the October due date is near AND that we don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet! No one knows. Exciting.

There was a little photo booth set up with one of Colin's real racing trophies. Here's mom-to-be and Jim's sister Sherry, the grandma-to-be!

Of course, there was also amazing food and drink. We could have "motor oil" (iced tea) or "radiator fluid" (lemonade)!

And games, too. While I didn't win this one (was 8 off) I did get a few other prizes. Not that that's what it's all about.

There were presents, too, naturally. Since there were a couple dozen of us there – between family on both sides plus friends – they should be pretty set when baby Reffner arrives.

Good luck to both mommy and daddy in the final lap. Can't wait to see you at the finish line!

Bring Out the Crazies

I didn't even fact check this. I just saw that I'll be 80 years old the next time there's a full moon on Friday the 13th. I just wonder if it will bring out the crazy in me. I sure hope I'll still be up to shenanigans!

It was windy, cold, and cloudy tonight so I didn't see the full moon. Doesn't mean it's not there. We'll know when the cat starts doing jumping jacks at 2 a.m.

Since we escaped any weirdness today, hubby and I had a football Friday night date. Sort of. Joined friends at the Nekoosa game to watch a senior on the Nekoosa team and an assistant coach on the Adams-Friendship team. Cousin vs Cousin and we adore them both. In the end, it was Nekoosa by one point.

I had another crazy adventure today – for me – but I'll wait to tell you about that in a few days to see if the positive results hold true. Right now I feel like I was hit by a truck – driven by Jason from Friday the 13th, ha – but no pain, no gain, they say.

Be safe out there!

Rain Delay and Deluge

Blame me for saying my summer flowers could use some rain. I mean I know so little about anything plant-related that I forget it's logical for "summer" flowers to wither away. Unless you really, really care for them and water them.

Well, this might be too much water.

We had crazy rain yesterday that made my morning commute pretty stressful. Today it didn't start up in earnest until I got to work. Then not really until tonight... when we had a football game!

Hubby was there and reported that first lightning delayed the start. Then well, they just figured that instead of standing around under Royal blue umbrellas all night they should just postpone the game. So now it's going to continue on Saturday at 1 p.m. – right in the middle of the first quarter with Assumption already down a touchdown.

Between now and then we're in a flood watch (and warnings closely to the south). Plus... heavy rainfall from thunderstorms with the potential for hourly rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Yup. We need that, don't we?

So we'll see if Friday night football (for Nekoosa) will be a thing or not.

For now, it's colorful, but not pretty! Be careful out there.

Fresh Emotions

Eighteen years and still the emotions are raw on this date. Everyone says "Never Forget 9/11." We're not going to forget that. I'm sure of it. But we are forgetting – some days – the feeling we had that we were all "in this together." Whatever "this" turned out to be.

I found this online and it says it succinctly...

I loved that we cared and that being kind was just a natural way of treating each other. We just appreciated what and who we had. For awhile.

Unfortunately, tragedy on much smaller levels still happens around us. If we are getting stagnant in our gratitude, it quickly gets a reboot. Almost always we are so grateful for who we have in our lives – not what. And we treasure each moment like it's our last. And pray to God it's not.

And that just gives me a lump in my throat while we sit in our empty nest.

Carter must have sensed that. Here I was sitting in the dentist chair after work and I hear the Sweet Child of Mine. I signal the hygienist to stop. "I have to take this call." I told Carter I'd call him back when I was done with my checkup.

And then sat in the parking lot and talked about nothing major. Just talking. And I was getting that lump in my throat again.

You see, when Mr. Senior in College calls me, this is who I'm picturing on the other end of the line. And my heart is so full, it starts to leak tears out of my eyes.

I think: How was I blessed with this? And also think: Please, God, don't take this from me!

I don't know how the friends and families of those lost on 9/11 can cope. Even after almost two decades, there are fresh emotions from average people like me. Just your little neighborly American who loves her country... but God and family first.

Don't just count your blessings on 9/11 or anniversaries of other tragedies. Live in the spirit of 9/12. Every day.