Getting the Cold Shoulder

At least two of us are not happy in this house. Princess Pouts-a-Lot is pretty miffed that we won't open the front door for her for her nightly blast of fresh air. She's not quite grasping that the screen can't protect her from the windchill – no matter how much fur she has.

I am the second disgruntled one. Woke up to this today. Do you see that "real feel" is one stinkin' degree?! Finally had to break down and wear a coat. Like all true Wisconsinites, if it's above freezing, usually that means no jacket required.

And if we go 3 for 3, I'd say Mr. Austin isn't thrilled about this forecast either. The game day forecast for the Badgers Saturday isn't pretty. He'll have to bundle up. I'll be facing the elements doing the Close the Course walk/run up at SentryWorld. Maybe record time to get done? Ha. No. We'll take our time and get our money's worth.

On the plus side – #gratitudemonth and all that – at least we know our snowblower works.

Snow-vember

If you ask me – and I'm glad you did – the middle of autumn is much too early for commuters to have to pay close attention to weather forecasts.

Of course, that is why many of us got our winter wakeup call enroute to work today. What's a little snow? Well, if you go your normal, perhaps fast speed, a little snow is a big deal.

I was careful per my usual winter standards, driving like a church lady with a full crockpot on the front seat and went slowly. I slowed down even more – it was possible, yes – when I saw numerous cars in the ditches, a few trucks pulled off to the side, and at least one accident.

Hello, winter. You arrived much too early to the party to pass for proper social etiquette.

The only time it looked pretty was when my car was parked safely in the ramp and I could view it from the warm side of the windows.

Ignore my phone reflection in the glass.

Our courtyard in the center of our office building was close to pretty.

I was grateful (#gratitudemonth) that main roads were clear on my commute home. Side roads a bit slick, still, and our road not plowed at all. Tomorrow is the one day this week it could get above freezing so maybe it will melt.

Any more snow days like this and I'm going to pass Go, collect my Pumpkin Spice Latte, and jump right into Christmas decorating. Blame Mother Nature. She started it!

I Can Rock ... Myself to Sleep

For some reason we got on the subject today of how we portray our lives on social media versus how we live them for real. Is your life really perfect like you show on Facebook? Or deep down inside your shoe, is your sock slipping off?

I said I think I'm pretty honest. I share the good and fun but also add in the appropriate dose of dysfunction, too.

One of my co-workers said my life looks like a big party in a lot of locations. I'm like, yep, my locations are work, the ball field or bed. Usually. I did let them in on a little secret. If I blog early – like 7 p.m. – that just means I'm going to watch The Voice and be in bed no later than 9 p.m.

Whoo-hoo! Party on!

I do like the concept illustrated above that I can still convince myself I'm a rockstar – even going to bed early... after a crazy Hallmark movie. Whoa girl. Contain yourself. Save some fun for the weekend.

I will point out that November is my most non-partying month – if you're still thinking I'm that wild party girl. Not too many sports or other freelance engagements. Actually more free evenings than not. I am starting to get ready for a scrapbooking weekend coming up in a few weeks so it's good I have time to track down photos and such. I guess that one will count as a "girls weekend," so you can resume your awe and jealousy of my rockstar life.

Hold that thought while I go turn on my electric mattress pad to warm up my bed and get ready for my Epsom salt bath.

For the Birds

Now that we're not saving daylight any more, it's that early darkness crap. And I can't adjust. 

Sunday morning I actually got up before my alarm and had cleaned the kitchen before going to 8 a.m. church. That isn't right. Then last night, I was so tired I struggled to stay up past 8 p.m. Needless to say I was in bed and asleep at 9 p.m.

Woke up this morning to hubby saying: "Did you set an alarm?"

Me: Yeah. What time is it?

Jim: 6:45

Me: @#$%^$ 

I usually leave the house around 7. This morning I managed to shower and curl my hair and all that and still hit the road at 7:10. Not bad.

Still, this time change business is for the birds. In fact, even the birds are flying out of here to go somewhere where the darkness doesn't mean cold and dark.

Yesterday afternoon following the Vikings' pitiful attempt at football, I decided some aperture therapy was needed. Grabbed my camera and headed for some fields on nearby County W where there are usually some "rest stops" for the migration. Saw this quartet totally oblivious to me.

Sandhill cranes are pretty common around here, but still pretty in their own way.

The red around their eyes may indicate they didn't get much sleep either when we changed the clocks Saturday night.

Here is when they heard squawking overhead and looked up and thought: "Oh was that flight south today??"

Definitely a lot of them motivated to migrate. I would if I could, too!

And yes, these are the colors at dusk because "dusk" happens at 4 p.m. now.

Nothing special about the pictures, but I thought it was pretty. And since it will be dark on week nights, I had to capture some of that light anyway! Changing clocks... definitely for the birds, wouldn't you say?

The Long and Short of It

After my extended summer hiatus, I have resurrected writing my micro-blog for the church bulletin. Today's column to tie into the Gospel lesson...

The long and short of it

The state cross country meet was held in Wisconsin Rapids yesterday. I’ve been attending regularly since my son was in high school and his team would make it state. Even though he’s graduated, I still go so I can take pictures (my side hobby) of any runners I know.

If you’ve been to any cross country event, you know that there are only a few places on the course where you can see and cheer on your runners. That’s where people congregate. Take that crowd size times 100 for the state meet. Especially at the finish line. I’ve given up trying to see over people’s heads there. Instead I kneel and sneak in front of them to take photos.

That’s what we petite people do. I know Zacchaeus can identify.

Back in Biblical times, when I was a kid in Sunday School, we used to sing a song about Zacchaeus. With actions, of course! So when we sang, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he” and held our fingers close together to indicate his size, I would picture a little 2-inch-tall man, like a character out of that Honey, I Shrunk the Kids movie. I wasn’t thinking that, hey, he’s just vertically challenged like me!

But he was.

Just a short man trying to see over people’s heads in a crowd – much like me at any concert or sporting event. “Down in front!”

Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t care about our physical stature – tall or short. What he does care about is if we shortchange people, we’re short-tempered, short on time for others, or short-sighted, among other shortcomings.

I guess I’d rather just be short. Although when I went for my annual physical, I’ve shortened from 5’2” to 5’1 ¾”. I’ll be in one of those shrinking movies before you know it. Hope God can find me!

Oh No-vember

Mother Nature always seems to know when it's state cross country weekend in Wisconsin Rapids. Typically she sends either a cold front or snow or rain or all of that. Once in awhile, it's a gorgeous day on the golf course.

Not today.

Woke up to a dusting of snow. Enough to write out a fan note on the front deck. Then it was just cool (33 degrees with real feel of 22) but dry. Until the end of the girls Division 3 race.

Isn't that insane? Just a 2-minute snow squall of sorts at the finish line.

Nope. No PhotoShop. Seriously that much snow blowing around. Crazy.

We had two runners qualify from Assumption and one from the Wisconsin Rapids public high school. Since I knew all three, I was there for most of the afternoon. A friend of mine also had her son there coaching a team and her sister's grandson running for another team. So I took pictures for her, too. Might as well take advantage of my time there! We're lucky it's held every year at the Ridges Golf Course about 5 minutes from our house. So hubby just dropped me off and picked me up.

Our Royal Runners were brother (senior Garrett) and sister (freshman Grace). They did well but probably not as well as they hoped. Pretty typical for most runners at state. It's a whole new field of competition. And they're all good. That's why they're at state! Impressive kids!

Came home to warm up just long enough before heading out to dinner with our friends Mike and Cindy. Had to hit Two Lakes Supper Club one more time before it closes for the season. Yummy food and great company as always!

Got home and changed the clocks already. Since it's only 8 p.m. now (for us cheaters who fall back ahead of time), I might just stay up and watch a Hallmark movie!

Yes, a Christmas one. Not ashamed. Have you looked outside lately?!

Warm Up the Attitude

Hello, November. I was so busy thinking today was National Eat Leftover Halloween Peanut Butter Cup Day that I almost forgot it's the beginning of Gratitude Month!

So I had change my first negative thoughts about the stinkin' cold temperatures...

And give thanks for the absolutely gorgeous sunrise on my commute. I also am grateful that when I see a blazing sky, it's just a colorful sunrise – not wildfires like those devastating California right now. Thank you. Thank you!

Was also grateful today for time with friends. Got to have lunch with some former Iola co-workers. And tonight hubby and I went out for dinner and such with his old high school friend Gregg and his wife. Good time.

I'm not going to use all my gratitude up in one day, but I am grateful I don't have to set an alarm in the morning. This old lady might not recover from being up til 11 p.m. How do kids these days do that?!

Don't forget to warm up your attitude this month! #gratitudemonth