Valley Girls (and Guys)

 

Was a fantastic weekend in New England. More specifically, in Lehigh Valley. It's the hilly area just east of Allentown, Pennsylvania, right before you cross the Delaware River into Jersey. Definitely didn't go there. 

We did spend time in Bethlehem (there's a Nazareth out here too) and Easton, where the beautiful campus of Lafayette College sits. 

Blogging enroute home from Appleton airport as we speak.

Had a long flight out there Friday. Sat on tarmac in Chicago waiting for some weather to clear. Once we got to PA, though, we quickly commenced to weekending.

Six of us Wisconsin folks were there for yummy dinner Friday night. Then the other 5 joined us Saturday morning for tailgating. Along with a ton of other Lafayette player parents and families.

Here's our motley crew in pregame mode. You know, around 930 am start. 

Here's our star Big Joe in pregame mode. He was pumped up for what turned out to be a great game. I had my good camera and took some decent pictures but I'll look at them tomorrow! But here's a few of our favorite #74. He's the center so was in a lot of plays in their 27-0 win over Bucknell. 

After the game, we managed to get out on the field. Top secret how we pulled that off.  

So here's the hubbies: John. Greg, Jim, and Mark.

And the wives: Becky, Kay, me (the short one), and Lisa.  It was the Pink Out game, in case you noticed Joe's pink socks in the pictures above.

And Big Joe with his Big Fan Club!

After the game, we did a little more tailgating, headed to Joe's college house, walked half a block to the nearest saloon and had a tasty dinner. Then back to Joe's to be entertained by college kids. Can't keep pace with them so might as well sit around a fire and watch.

Ohmigosh such a fun day! Got back to hotel at 10-ish so we really did have a solid 12 hours of Lafayette Leopard enjoyment!

Slept in today and despite drizzling weather, saw some sights (some old steel town stuff) and ended up watching the Vikings game at a casino in Bethlehem. Now that's one you've never heard before.

Had to leave for airport when the games were almost done. So we'll have to watch replays on how the Vikes and Packers managed to pull over their wins.

I certainly didn't pull off any wins at the casino!

Had trouble-free travel. Even had a pretty sunset flying into Chicago. 

Pretty ending to a pretty amazing weekend in the valley!

The Escape Song, Kind Of

If you can believe I've been channeling my inner Billy Joel all week just to hear one particular song his new Sirius radio channel.

And I never heard it.

Apparently Allentown isn't as popular as I thought. But it will be tomorrow. Because, well, I'll be there. Ha.

Doing a travel weekend with hubby and 3 other couples to fly out to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and attend a football game in nearby Easton on Saturday, then fly back home Sunday. That's how us jet-setters roll, I guess.

Our friends' son is a senior at Lafayette College and has been on the football team since his Assumption days. It'll be fun to see Big Joe in action. And just see a new area of the country. Plus, the campus is right across the river from New Jersey. In case we want to get crazy.

After a stressful week between work projects and home computer issues, I can't wait to get outta Dodge.

Wonder if Billy Joel wrote a song about THAT!

The Latest Buzz

I wasn't planning to blog from my phone again but the latest buzz is that my computer isn't cooperating just yet. 

I managed to update the operating system today, which took hours on this ol' Mac. But I still have some programs that aren't with the program!

So while I have you here on my phone, I'll share some pictures I took at the museum tonight while waiting for my photo subject to arrive.

The bunches of purple flowers I saw were literally a-buzz with activity. These bumblebees were so busy, in fact,  that they didn't notice me. So I gotta few close ones.

Spoiler alert: This may or may not be PG. For the life of me I can remember 7th-grade science right now!

I'm kind of wondering if we're doing spring over or what. Or is autumnal pollination a thing Again? Again, sorry to Mr. Messar I didn't retain that! 

Maybe I'll Google it when my computer allows. Crossing fingers I'll have a better buzz on that tomorrow!

Serving Up a Cause

Tonight was the Pink Out (aka Spike Out Cancer) game for Assumption volleyball. I had hoped to share some more photos but my computer is spinning colorful wheels and I'll be lucky to get a few sentences typed here.

Anyway, besides players and fans wearing pink, they had a wall of cancer warrior names that made the shape of a ribbon. I recognized several names, including our friends' mom (and a player's grandma) who died of pancreatic cancer this year. Sad stuff.

I could've added a name, too, since we just lost a friend and former Iola co-worker to cancer the other day. Tom was only 57 – which is young when you're in your 50s yourself. But cancer doesn't care. It'll take anyone. Any age. Any size. Any station in life. It just doesn't care.

But those of us who've watched a loved one suffer through it care. That's why I'm glad they call attention to it, raise money, and wear pink for a good cause.

No one whose name appears on that ribbon deserved to get cancer or die from it. I hope some of them are survivors. Because my girlfriends who wear pink as their victory color are proof you can beat it!

In the meantime, though, hugs go out to all the family and friends behind each name. 

May we all live to see the day we truly do spike out cancer!

Oh Deer

What do you do when two of the top social media platforms are out of commission for the day? You drive around see real-world stuff.

Seriously, it was kind of weird not having any Facebook or Instagram working today. But yet, I probably got a few more things done. Except when I needed to do some legit marketing research for work. Who knew how much we rely on these silly time-suckers!

So I did a spot check on some fall color. And, oh deer, got a few surprises.

There was not any traffic out in the town of Rudolph, so I could slam on my brakes and catch this trio. "You lookin' at me?"

"Run! It's the crazy camera lady!"

They all ran and THEN crossed the road behind me. They did not want to get hit and did not want me to get another picture of them. Maybe they're smarter than we give them credit for. 

Nah.

A little further down the road I drove past this, braked and put my wheels in reverse for a quarter mile. Thank you again for not having traffic on the road.

Just seeing the windmill with fall color bursting behind it was so brake-worthy! 

Maybe experiencing real life isn't that bad. Of course, I do need some social media platforms to work – otherwise how could I share these pictures or my blog? Oh dear, indeed.

To Have and To Hold

Dearly beloved, we're gathered here to wrap up a very nice weekend! Yesterday was quite busy – and fun.

Hubby and I did the Tracks for Tina 5K at the high school at 9 a.m. Then got home, showered, and headed to church for a wedding for our friends' daughter. 

We were very excited for Macyn (also a classmate of Carter) and her fiance Jake (coached by hubby years ago). But it also was a bittersweet day. Macyn's dad (our friend Greg) was not there to walk her down the aisle. He died unexpectedly in May of 2019. We know he was smiling down while Macyn's two brothers walked her down the aisle instead. But most of us were crying. 

Big time. Sad because we were reminded we miss him. And because he shouldn't have had to miss this occasion! Glad we could all be there to help celebrate and share the love.

And it went round and round. Literally. 

After the ceremony, Carter and his girlfriend Mamie got to town so they rode up the the reception and dance with us. It was held at The Round Barn at Willow Springs Garden on the north side of Wausau. Driving up, we weren't sure what we were in for.

But what a cool venue!

The center was like a silo that contained stairs to the lower level. The tables we set up around one half, and the kitchen area, bar, and photo booth area were in the other.

They also had seating on their balcony. We clean up pretty good, don't we?

Got a nice group picture of us girlfriends with the mother of the bride! 

The photo area was cute. But how can it not be?

The inner stairs.

Looking up to the top of the silo.

Time for dancing! So pretty!

Instead of the traditional father-daughter dance, Macyn ended up honoring her dad's memory with some heartfelt words – and a polka with her brothers. Now we know Greg was looking down and smiling – and tapping his foot to be sure! (Hope those reports that in heaven there is no beer are untrue for his sake.)

We did some foot-tapping, too. And by we, I me. Well Carter and Mamie, too. Had a lot of fun dancing and definitely got my 10,000 steps! Lots of people to visit with as well. Since Carter graduated with the bride, he saw a lot of his classmates, too.

One pic before we go! Ha. Got home about midnight and we all slept really, really good! Mainly hung around the house today and the kids went back to Platteville-Potosi in the late afternoon. It was so, so nice to have them.

Especially on a weekend where we really are counting are blessings. And hugging them, too.

Make Tracks Tomorrow

If you're not doing anything pressing in the morning, set your alarm for a good cause. Even though Assumption is not holding their Royal Event (thanks, COVID), we are still having the 5K.

Tomorrow. Saturday. October 2. Behind the high school.

What I love about the Tracks for Tina walk is that not only is it good exercise, it benefits the Tina Livernash Memorial Scholarship – organized by her cousins (who are friends of ours). Even though you had to register early to get a fabulous t-shirt designed by yours truly, you still can register onsite and get a goody bag. (Plus, there are a few extra t-shirts if you're early.)

The schedule is:

• 8-8:45 a.m. Registration
• 9 a.m. Walk
• 10 a.m. Get on with the rest of your day and feel good about yourself!

That's it. Hope to see you there!