After 5 days of sloth and gluttony, I had to get a 4-mile run in tonight. Boy, do I need to get back on track!
With the sun shining and temps in the 70s this week, it shouldn't be all that hard. As long as I stay out of the house.
Why? Well, sitting on my counter right now are leftovers... and I don't mean the crappy kind that Carter refuses to eat. I'm talking about a pound of red licorice, one frosted Halloween cookie, two "slabs" of cashew crunch, 5 chocolate mint cookies and, oh yeah, 1 1/2 pounds of Door County fudge! Not to mention about a dozen or so sugar crisp cookies from a baking spree last week.
So not only does my body and running shoes need to get back on track, but so does my willpower. I have to decide if I should let it go to waste -- or waist. Is taking small bites an option?
I think so. I mean I'm slowly but surely making progress. Heck, I haven't had ice cream for breakfast since, well, yesterday. And today I had oatmeal... for lunch.
Wow, this could take awhile.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
See Ya, Sisters!
Much like the build up to a big race or a new episode of Glee, our 13th annual sister weekend was met with cheers and excitement... and over before we knew it.
You'd think 4 days (with 2 of those mostly travel) would be enough, but it never is. Had a good time seeing the 6 of them and being our silly sisterly selves!
Had to hit the road by a decent time this morning since everyone had quite a ways west (across the state) to travel. I had my sisters Rayna and Renell riding with me so they could get their car at my place.
I am such a courteous driver. Remember on Thursday when I was kind enough to drive to Lambeau Field to meet the other 4 for lunch before heading to Door County? Well today on the way back, I drove through Green Bay "tailgating central" and right by Lambeau Field again so they could see Packer excitement on game day. I know what you're thinking and no, I am not switching teams. And yes, I really am that loving of a sister!
As a bonus, I even stopped at King Cone so they could see what all the excitement is about. I think they concur that it is the best ice cream around!
Got home and was greeted by hugs from my guys -- and flowers! Awww, they missed me! I missed them, too. It's always nice to get away but even nicer to get home. Spent some time catching up, sitting out on the deck in the sunshine and unpacking.
After all the laundry is done and I have already checked work e-mails, it's like I wasn't even gone. Though I have probably 300 pictures that say otherwise!
I'll get to those eventually. First I need to find someone to snuggle with on the couch!
You'd think 4 days (with 2 of those mostly travel) would be enough, but it never is. Had a good time seeing the 6 of them and being our silly sisterly selves!
Had to hit the road by a decent time this morning since everyone had quite a ways west (across the state) to travel. I had my sisters Rayna and Renell riding with me so they could get their car at my place.
I am such a courteous driver. Remember on Thursday when I was kind enough to drive to Lambeau Field to meet the other 4 for lunch before heading to Door County? Well today on the way back, I drove through Green Bay "tailgating central" and right by Lambeau Field again so they could see Packer excitement on game day. I know what you're thinking and no, I am not switching teams. And yes, I really am that loving of a sister!
As a bonus, I even stopped at King Cone so they could see what all the excitement is about. I think they concur that it is the best ice cream around!
Got home and was greeted by hugs from my guys -- and flowers! Awww, they missed me! I missed them, too. It's always nice to get away but even nicer to get home. Spent some time catching up, sitting out on the deck in the sunshine and unpacking.
After all the laundry is done and I have already checked work e-mails, it's like I wasn't even gone. Though I have probably 300 pictures that say otherwise!
I'll get to those eventually. First I need to find someone to snuggle with on the couch!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Seeing the Light
After 2 days of rain, clouds and high winds, we saw the light today. And it's called the Sun. And it was awesome.
Still a bit cool today with highs in the 50s but just having lower winds -- 10-20 mph instead of 30-60 mph -- was so nice for us! Had a full day of seeing various parts of the Door peninsula including, naturally, seeing the light -- as in lighthouse!
After breakfasting at Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant, where goats ate grass on the roof and I had ice cream for breakfast (seriously, it was on the menu with my pancakes), I thought my day couldn't get any better. But then there was Cana Island.
I love that lighthouse. When I saw it 15 years ago, I swear there was no option to climbing it. But there was today. What's 97 steps when I can say I've been in a lighthouse?
Well, my legs weren't the problem... it was my brain. I couldn't exactly shut off my fear of heights. So I clawed my way to the top, breathing deeply, doing my best to not look down or let go of the railing. Let me tell you, it was cold and windy at the top, and I was a bit (OK, a lot) unnerved. But the view was worth it!
We all enjoyed the gorgeous scenery along the shore there and every where we could get to. Some road were still closed with downed trees over them and all state parks are closed due to storm damage. So that limited our options, but we still took in some great views, some more great shopping, a stupendous sunset and dinner at the Viking Grill.
Hey, if my day starts with ice cream, ends with Viking and has a lighthouse somewhere in between, you know life couldn't get any better!
Still a bit cool today with highs in the 50s but just having lower winds -- 10-20 mph instead of 30-60 mph -- was so nice for us! Had a full day of seeing various parts of the Door peninsula including, naturally, seeing the light -- as in lighthouse!
After breakfasting at Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant, where goats ate grass on the roof and I had ice cream for breakfast (seriously, it was on the menu with my pancakes), I thought my day couldn't get any better. But then there was Cana Island.
I love that lighthouse. When I saw it 15 years ago, I swear there was no option to climbing it. But there was today. What's 97 steps when I can say I've been in a lighthouse?
Well, my legs weren't the problem... it was my brain. I couldn't exactly shut off my fear of heights. So I clawed my way to the top, breathing deeply, doing my best to not look down or let go of the railing. Let me tell you, it was cold and windy at the top, and I was a bit (OK, a lot) unnerved. But the view was worth it!
We all enjoyed the gorgeous scenery along the shore there and every where we could get to. Some road were still closed with downed trees over them and all state parks are closed due to storm damage. So that limited our options, but we still took in some great views, some more great shopping, a stupendous sunset and dinner at the Viking Grill.
Hey, if my day starts with ice cream, ends with Viking and has a lighthouse somewhere in between, you know life couldn't get any better!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Unlucky 13?
A friend of mine told me before we left town "If you make the news, then you know you had a good weekend!" Well....
Who would have thought the WILD part of Wild Women's Weekend 13 would be a major wind storm that would knock out our power for 10 hours? What a crazy night!
After the 7 of us met for lunch at Curly's Pub in Lambeau Field -- a thrill for 5/7 of the sisters -- we drove in rain and wind up to Sister Bay. With one stop for ice cream (of course!) along the way. We checked in to Birchwood Lodge and are situated in a renovated farm house (very cool) on a resort, where the rest of it is all a hotel.
We figured we'd wait until if was a least not raining to see the town -- which should be today. After a meal out (great pizza) we came back to the Birchwood Lodge to relax and play some dice game (CLR). The rain was pouring, the wind was howling, the shutters (or something) were clattering... and yet we still made so much noise with our laughing, etc, we couldn't hear it!! (That's why we get a separate building/cabin/cottage... always!)
When the power went out about 9 p.m., we kept shaking dice by candlelight and flashlight. We were a bit unnerved heading to bed in the dark ... insert scary farm house horror movie plot here. Sheesh.
Out the windows, we could see nothing but blackness in the town with the occasional emergency vehicle light. We hoped two things at this point -- that nothing would land on the house or our vehicles... and that it wouldn't get too cold without heat. We got lucky.
A little after 6 a.m. we heard the trucks on our street and the lights (lots of them all over the house) came on. Not too much of a hardship to be without power for 10 hours when you can sleep about 7 of those! What we learned on the news (yes we made the news!) is that Door County was hardest hit by this wind storm with 50 mph winds and 7,000 people without power.
Is this sister weekend unlucky 13?
You'd almost think so. But we all survived. I even have internet access now... and that sun is trying really hard to break through the clouds.
Looking good from here!
Who would have thought the WILD part of Wild Women's Weekend 13 would be a major wind storm that would knock out our power for 10 hours? What a crazy night!
After the 7 of us met for lunch at Curly's Pub in Lambeau Field -- a thrill for 5/7 of the sisters -- we drove in rain and wind up to Sister Bay. With one stop for ice cream (of course!) along the way. We checked in to Birchwood Lodge and are situated in a renovated farm house (very cool) on a resort, where the rest of it is all a hotel.
We figured we'd wait until if was a least not raining to see the town -- which should be today. After a meal out (great pizza) we came back to the Birchwood Lodge to relax and play some dice game (CLR). The rain was pouring, the wind was howling, the shutters (or something) were clattering... and yet we still made so much noise with our laughing, etc, we couldn't hear it!! (That's why we get a separate building/cabin/cottage... always!)
When the power went out about 9 p.m., we kept shaking dice by candlelight and flashlight. We were a bit unnerved heading to bed in the dark ... insert scary farm house horror movie plot here. Sheesh.
Out the windows, we could see nothing but blackness in the town with the occasional emergency vehicle light. We hoped two things at this point -- that nothing would land on the house or our vehicles... and that it wouldn't get too cold without heat. We got lucky.
A little after 6 a.m. we heard the trucks on our street and the lights (lots of them all over the house) came on. Not too much of a hardship to be without power for 10 hours when you can sleep about 7 of those! What we learned on the news (yes we made the news!) is that Door County was hardest hit by this wind storm with 50 mph winds and 7,000 people without power.
Is this sister weekend unlucky 13?
You'd almost think so. But we all survived. I even have internet access now... and that sun is trying really hard to break through the clouds.
Looking good from here!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Gradual Start
I have two sisters in my house as I type this so now I can say Sister Weekend has officially begun!
I had today off to get a few things done. I am still not packed so what the heck was I doing? Not sure but I know I got a 4-mile run in (going to pick up the car and its 4 new tires at the garage), got 25 minutes on the deck (yes that nice out) and got a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins and gourds at the neighbors' Pumpkin Shed.
OK, the reason I was Halloween shopping had nothing to do with decorating for my sisters. Well, it's a nice gesture, but Carter says after school he "volunteered" to bring in little pumpkins or gourds for all the kids in his homeroom for some homecoming project. So we went over to the neighbors and picked out 27 little pumpkins ... and few other goodies. At least I can check that off my list.
My sister Rayna flew up from Texas today and my sister Renell picked her up at the Minneapolis airport. They got to Rapids around 5 p.m. We dropped Carter off at confirmation at 6, went out for Mexican (probably silly with a Texan in our midst) and then picked him up and came home.
Yes, we are doing our nails like a true slumber party! And yes, the other 4 sisters got a late start and haven't arrived at their hotel in Wausau yet. Tomorrow morning we'll head out and meet up with them in Green Bay.
For now, though, it's a gradual start. By noon Thursday, we are officially into Wild Women's Weekend XIII.
Lord, help us!
I had today off to get a few things done. I am still not packed so what the heck was I doing? Not sure but I know I got a 4-mile run in (going to pick up the car and its 4 new tires at the garage), got 25 minutes on the deck (yes that nice out) and got a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins and gourds at the neighbors' Pumpkin Shed.
OK, the reason I was Halloween shopping had nothing to do with decorating for my sisters. Well, it's a nice gesture, but Carter says after school he "volunteered" to bring in little pumpkins or gourds for all the kids in his homeroom for some homecoming project. So we went over to the neighbors and picked out 27 little pumpkins ... and few other goodies. At least I can check that off my list.
My sister Rayna flew up from Texas today and my sister Renell picked her up at the Minneapolis airport. They got to Rapids around 5 p.m. We dropped Carter off at confirmation at 6, went out for Mexican (probably silly with a Texan in our midst) and then picked him up and came home.
Yes, we are doing our nails like a true slumber party! And yes, the other 4 sisters got a late start and haven't arrived at their hotel in Wausau yet. Tomorrow morning we'll head out and meet up with them in Green Bay.
For now, though, it's a gradual start. By noon Thursday, we are officially into Wild Women's Weekend XIII.
Lord, help us!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
TGIT
Thank God It's Tuesday... which is MY Friday. Seriously.
If there's ever a time to be jealous of being me, now's the time. Coming off a 3-day weekend, I had a 2-day work week to lead into a 5-day weekend.
Oh yes, it does not suck to be me!
Well, it wasn't any fun getting a week's worth of work done in 2 days -- especially that getting up at 4:30 a.m. But we do what we gotta do to enjoy a long (and getting longer each year) sister weekend.
Today we had to leave work shortly after 3 p.m. so we could get to a tailgating party before Carter's football game. Welcome to the big time! It was nice. A school organization provided the burgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks and we parents just had to bring desserts. I made my mom's yummy Sugar Crisp Cookies with some "Assumption Royal Blue" sugar sprinkled on top.
That was almost enough luck to help the team beat those huge farm boys (and one girl) from Stratford, but not quite. We ended up losing 16-14 in a what came down to a missed 2-point conversion in the last minute. Bummer! Apparently the Middle School team has lost to Stratford the last 2 years by a measly "extra point." They just can't break the cycle.
In our boys' defense, though, I will say that there was a monster on the other team. I just can't believe he was only in 8th grade. Not sure what they feed those kids up there! The other unique aspect was that their quarterback was a girl. I worried our boys would hesitate to sack her. But they finally did! She actually had to defend against Carter when he was on offense. No, she did not knock him on his butt or anything.
Thankfully, since he had some fans there... my father-in-law, sister-in-law and my "scrap sister" Jenny and her 2 kids who Carter babysit this summer. It would have been nice to have showed them all a win. But the boys weren't too bummed -- not when they discovered there was leftover food from tailgating. That's teenage boys for you!
Afterwards we ran Carter home so he could do homework and hubby and I went back to the school to watch varsity volleyball. That was fun. When we have all boys, it's nice to know some of my friends are gracious enough to let me "adopt" their daughters once in awhile so I can go to volleyball and girls basketball and have someone to cheer for! Tonight we took the best out of 5 versus Pittsville. Intense stuff. Loved it!
Now I am home and it is almost 10 and I am wondering why I don't have anything packed for Wild Women's Weekend yet!
Good thing it's my Friday today.
If there's ever a time to be jealous of being me, now's the time. Coming off a 3-day weekend, I had a 2-day work week to lead into a 5-day weekend.
Oh yes, it does not suck to be me!
Well, it wasn't any fun getting a week's worth of work done in 2 days -- especially that getting up at 4:30 a.m. But we do what we gotta do to enjoy a long (and getting longer each year) sister weekend.
Today we had to leave work shortly after 3 p.m. so we could get to a tailgating party before Carter's football game. Welcome to the big time! It was nice. A school organization provided the burgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks and we parents just had to bring desserts. I made my mom's yummy Sugar Crisp Cookies with some "Assumption Royal Blue" sugar sprinkled on top.
That was almost enough luck to help the team beat those huge farm boys (and one girl) from Stratford, but not quite. We ended up losing 16-14 in a what came down to a missed 2-point conversion in the last minute. Bummer! Apparently the Middle School team has lost to Stratford the last 2 years by a measly "extra point." They just can't break the cycle.
In our boys' defense, though, I will say that there was a monster on the other team. I just can't believe he was only in 8th grade. Not sure what they feed those kids up there! The other unique aspect was that their quarterback was a girl. I worried our boys would hesitate to sack her. But they finally did! She actually had to defend against Carter when he was on offense. No, she did not knock him on his butt or anything.
Thankfully, since he had some fans there... my father-in-law, sister-in-law and my "scrap sister" Jenny and her 2 kids who Carter babysit this summer. It would have been nice to have showed them all a win. But the boys weren't too bummed -- not when they discovered there was leftover food from tailgating. That's teenage boys for you!
Afterwards we ran Carter home so he could do homework and hubby and I went back to the school to watch varsity volleyball. That was fun. When we have all boys, it's nice to know some of my friends are gracious enough to let me "adopt" their daughters once in awhile so I can go to volleyball and girls basketball and have someone to cheer for! Tonight we took the best out of 5 versus Pittsville. Intense stuff. Loved it!
Now I am home and it is almost 10 and I am wondering why I don't have anything packed for Wild Women's Weekend yet!
Good thing it's my Friday today.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Dome Diary
As promised (to fellow Vikings fans anyway), some Purple Pride pictures from our roadtrip to the Dome yesterday...
"We made it! I'm here!" Yes, Carter has been to Twins games at the Dome but not for Vikings football -- until yesterday.
Pretty exciting atmosphere around the plaza outside the dome.
Carter got to meet "Viktor" during training camp so we didn't bother with waiting in line for another photo.
"We made it! I'm here!" Yes, Carter has been to Twins games at the Dome but not for Vikings football -- until yesterday.Pretty exciting atmosphere around the plaza outside the dome. Carter got to meet "Viktor" during training camp so we didn't bother with waiting in line for another photo."I'm excited to be here, too!" Not my first Vikings game, but one of the most memorable! 
Oooh, Adrian Peterson larger than life!
We sat in the second level. Not really that high up, but it took awhile for Carter to get used to it. Notice the gripping of the railing! You can't beat the big smile, though!
The game was sold out -- 62,466 tickets, I think -- so we obviously were shooting these pictures more than an hour before game time.
We wandered around the upper level awhile, hoping to catch a glimpse of Adrian Peterson in warmups. And we did!
Joe Webb, Toby Gearhart, Lorenzo Booker and Adrian Peterson in pregame huddle.
"Hi Adrian. Nice to meet you!"
"OK, I'm not taller than Adrian Peterson... but I'm almost taller than my mom!"
Carter stands between two of favorites: Jared Allen and Percy Harvin. Got to see some big plays out of both of them so that was cool.
Carter was excited to see the FOX Sports camera man. This is the big time!
Their drum line is called the Skol Line. Clever and talented.
Former Vikings kicker and Vikings all-time leading scorer Fred Cox sounds the Gjallarhorn to signal "The Vikings are coming!"
The team enters the field through the inflated Vikings ship -- met with cheers and fireworks. Cool.
Pregame cheering and flag waving.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb steps onto the field before his, well, mediocre performance. He has yet to impress me. But I don't hate him or anything.
Obligatory snapshot of cheerleaders for hubby, who didn't come with us. We honestly had agreed years ago we weren't going to spend anymore money on the Vikings. But that doesn't mean we couldn't spend it on Carter and the Vikings. So he encouraged Carter and I to go by ourselves.
Action in the first half -- when we actually scored.
The purple defense lines up.
Before Sunday's game, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had not been sacked. We changed that and got 4 yesterday!
At the end of the day, though, that still wasn't enough. The Lions roared back from being down 20-0 at halftime to tie it and eventually win it.
Waiting for overtime to start, Carters says, "No matter what happens, this has been so awesome!!"
Skol, Carter!
Oooh, Adrian Peterson larger than life!
We sat in the second level. Not really that high up, but it took awhile for Carter to get used to it. Notice the gripping of the railing! You can't beat the big smile, though!
The game was sold out -- 62,466 tickets, I think -- so we obviously were shooting these pictures more than an hour before game time.
We wandered around the upper level awhile, hoping to catch a glimpse of Adrian Peterson in warmups. And we did!
Joe Webb, Toby Gearhart, Lorenzo Booker and Adrian Peterson in pregame huddle.
"Hi Adrian. Nice to meet you!"
"OK, I'm not taller than Adrian Peterson... but I'm almost taller than my mom!"
Carter stands between two of favorites: Jared Allen and Percy Harvin. Got to see some big plays out of both of them so that was cool.
Carter was excited to see the FOX Sports camera man. This is the big time!
Their drum line is called the Skol Line. Clever and talented.
Former Vikings kicker and Vikings all-time leading scorer Fred Cox sounds the Gjallarhorn to signal "The Vikings are coming!"
The team enters the field through the inflated Vikings ship -- met with cheers and fireworks. Cool.
Pregame cheering and flag waving.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb steps onto the field before his, well, mediocre performance. He has yet to impress me. But I don't hate him or anything.
Obligatory snapshot of cheerleaders for hubby, who didn't come with us. We honestly had agreed years ago we weren't going to spend anymore money on the Vikings. But that doesn't mean we couldn't spend it on Carter and the Vikings. So he encouraged Carter and I to go by ourselves.
Action in the first half -- when we actually scored.
The purple defense lines up.
Before Sunday's game, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had not been sacked. We changed that and got 4 yesterday!
At the end of the day, though, that still wasn't enough. The Lions roared back from being down 20-0 at halftime to tie it and eventually win it.
Waiting for overtime to start, Carters says, "No matter what happens, this has been so awesome!!"
Skol, Carter!
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