Staying Focused

Heading to bed at almost midnight for the second night in a row. I'll blog, though, so you don't think I was struck by lightning or a virus. I do have some serious back pains messing with my serenity, but all else is good!

Friday evening and today and tonight were focused on being focused. With my camera.

Last night was an unofficial Ramblers Legion baseball game with a few Assumption boys. The first game of the double-header was about 3 hours and ended with a 26-13 loss. Hubby and I went at that point. They did rally and win the second game, though. So night to see LIVE baseball!

Today's focus was a senior portrait session, which featured this cutie and the nice old '65 Chevy truck. Very nice!

Tonight's focus was cheering on our nephew Colin at the races in Marshfield. It was a double-feature night for super late models. He had a top 10 finish in the first 30-lap feature and, yes, took the checkered flag to win the second 30-lap feature! How exciting!

I have much better photos of racing but this was taken through the fence – across the track. I'll share another time as it's bed time now and we are heading out of town in the morning and the day's focus will be on gentle golfing. You know, the kind where I swing slow and easy so it doesn't impact my back. Haha. It's never too old to learn what I've been told for years!

I'll sleep on it. Right now!

Rain Dance

Whoever prayed for the rain, you must have some powerful connection to the Man Upstairs AND Mother Nature. And please, may I give you my prayer list?

Seriously, if you have that kind of pull, I've got at least 4 cancer cases I've been praying on, plus some MS, pancreatitis, fibromyalgia, a few addictions here and there, some tough financial situations, plus emotional and mental health issues. It's a wonder God has time to listen to anyone else besides me!

But I do appreciate the rain. Even though it broke my streak of getting 10,000 steps every day since my birthday (OK, 10 days in a row, but still), my flowers are happy. Our lawn is happy. My dusty vehicle is, too.

So I'll give you a pass this once. But certainly let me know if you want my list. I can just give you first names. God already knows their burdens. I'm sure He'll get back on the job now that Mother Nature's done nagging him about how hot and dry it is.

Amen, sister!

Wonderful World of ... July

In my desperate need, well desire, to see Hamilton again, I subscribed to Disney+ streaming service. Since we already have Hulu and they'll be nothing new on ESPN+ for awhile, I just got the wonderful world of Disney. Maybe just for July. Maybe longer.

If you see the fine print there, it's only $6.99 a month. I'd have to watch Hamilton like 9 more times to equal the live performance ticket price alone. So I delved into Disney movies first this evening – it's what you do when it's 90 degrees out – and watched the new Lion King movie. Pretty well done. There's also a ton of retro Disney, too, like Herbie the Love Bug, Witch Mountain, Mary Poppins, Parent Trap and The Muppets, to name a few. (See complete list here.)

There are also Pixar movies so I can watch the ones I enjoyed when Carter was little – Toy Story, Incredibles, Monsters Inc, Cars – and now watch their sequels, too!

Then there's all the Marvel movies (also included) that I had once planned to watch in order before watching Avengers Endgame. I did not watch them all but I did watch Endgame on my long flight to Seattle. Pretty sure there aren't any spoiler alerts I can't handle.

And as one more bonus, I could watch all the Star Wars movies – in chronological order of the overall story, not the movie release dates. I think that would take me beyond July!

But still, one month is only the price of one matinee movie around here. And my popcorn at home is pretty cheap. I'm not getting paid to endorse this product. Just letting you know about this reasonably priced option – especially if your kids have been staring you in the face for 121 days and you (or they) need an escape from each other or this heat for a few hours!

It's a wonderful world!

It's The Thought That Counts

I don't think I'm necessarily a bad gift giver. Some people are just hard to buy for. And by "some people," I mean my hubby.

It's taken quite a few trips around the sun with him, but I'm finally getting the hang of it. I always had the best of intentions, though. Like that baseball jersey with a "C" on it that I thought was for the Cincinnati Reds, but was for some team called the Cubs?? (In my defense, that was a long time ago and I'm strictly an American League girl.) And then there were the countless VHS videos and DVDs of his favorite movies or TV shows that stayed in their cellophane wrap until I gifted them at a white elephant exchange a decade later.

I've learned he does like a good sports non-fiction book and a decent golf polo or special gear from either his Reds (not the Cubs), the Celtics, or his alma mater UW-Whitewater. I, on the other hand, deter him from buying most clothes for me since the great-fitting size medium uni-sex shirt that fits me might equate to an XL in women's sizes because they are a constant inconsistent mess.

I was excited for Christmas last year because I got him a Carhartt coat that he picked out. Unfortunately, the zipper was messed up so we returned it and I still have the rain check for its replacement. Trust me, I was stopping in weekly to check during the winter but the lovely Fleet Farm gal shooed me away – assuring me they'd call when it was in stock again. I wonder if they have them now that it's the hottest week of the year.

My other gift required early planning. Even though the Ryder Cup is scheduled for this fall in Wisconsin, I had to register last fall to be in the lottery for purchasing tickets to this popular international event. Yes, I had to apply to get a chance to buy the tickets, but the purchasing was a whole different process. I was thrilled to get approved and they sent me a link to when the "ticket window" would open. And then I had to wait in a "virtual line" for nearly an hour, praying not to lose Internet connection on my phone, and by the time it was my turn to purchase, they had no more tickets to competition days – just practice days. Still, I took them! Especially knowing they allow cameras and possibly autographs during the practice rounds.

Fast forward to the 2020 sh*t show and you know what happens next. They just announced today they're postponing the 2020 Ryder Cup to 2021. At least they're still going to do it instead of running with it this year and not allowing fans – especially after all that hard work to get tickets.

Mr. Austin, though, basically got squat for Christmas last year. Can I say it's the thought that counts? Probably not.

Good thing, I was nice to him for Father's Day, our anniversary, and his birthday. I think I still owe him a few rounds of golf, though, for "Christmas in July." I'll get the hang of this one of these years.

Not Throwing Away My Shot

Nine months ago, my friend Cindy and I got to see Hamilton – unseating Wicked as my most anticipated musical. It did not disappoint. We both fell in love with the story AND the music.

We had to get season tickets to the Broadway Touring shows at the Appleton performing arts center, but it was worth it for our guaranteed seats to this show.

Due to COVID-19, we didn't get to see the last 3 shows in our package – though Dear Evan Hansen will come around in August of 2021. I guess seeing the theatre-goers' state of suffering prompted Disney to take advantage of the situation and offer a subscription to their Disney-plus streaming service, which includes a recording of Hamilton, as it was presented on Broadway.

I was going to wait until I had lots of free time to subscribe, but that $6.99 was burning a hole in my pocket – especially after so many friends watched it this past weekend when it first became available. So after supper, I signed up for a month (a bargain compared to theater pricing), ignored the severe weather outside, and joyfully sang along with Lin-Manuel Miranda, who not only created Hamilton, but portrayed him.

Thumbs up from this fan. The production was amazing to see in person and this lived up to it – partly because of the camera work and close-ups we couldn't see from our balcony seats, and partly because I know most of the songs now!

I forgive you for fleecing us, Disney. Just this once.

Mission Accomplished

Well I did it! I survived my first Stay-Cation of 2020. And this is about all measurable rainfall we got. And that was tonight during a 3-minute max shower!

For me, that was OK. I accomplished all my daily to-dos. I had morning coffee outside and spent as much time outside as possible, golfing twice and kayaking three times. I saw several friends so that was nice!

Had ice cream every day (and some other good meals out) but also got my 10,000 steps every day.

Did some yard work and even mowed the backyard today and, for the first time, did not see any snakes or bees or other strange creatures. One frog by the creek and that was it.

Manage to watch a little TV and read plenty. Limited my computer time big time.

I stopped to smell the flowers – and remembered to water mine, too.

All in all, not bad at all. In fact it seemed way longer than a week and that is how vacation should be! Not looking forward to the morning alarm and sitting in a chair for 8 hours. But that's how I earn my exotic vacations, right?

Happy July!

Let Freedom Ring

Since it's Independence Day, I do have the right to celebrate my freedom not to stay up late blogging. Says the old woman.

Our holiday was marked by two highlights. One was having Carter and his girlfriend stop by to say hello on their way up north to a friend's cabin. The other was the delayed start of our nephew Colin's racing season.

Since it rained a few weeks back, tonight was the first Tundra Series race for super late models like our favorite #87. It was fitting that when we go to the race track outside of Wisconsin Dells this afternoon, it was 87 degrees. Thought that would be a good sign. But not quite.

After unavoidable contact due to someone else's crash just 23 laps into the 75-lap feature, Colin had to head to the pits for a really quick repair. He came back and had to start at the back of the pack, but did manage to battle up to a 15th place finish. Probably not what he wanted, but we were happy he could get back out there.

Yes, was super hot. But it cooled down a little by the big race. Were treated to numerous fireworks shows on the drive home. Apparently, lots of people are doing them on their own since towns are trying to avoid social gatherings. That includes a neighbor or two somewhere close enough that I won't be going to sleep as early as I thought.

Let freedom and firecrackers ring, I guess. 

I feel bad for the pets who are anxious with each crackle. Hope we can all enjoy a quiet day of rest on Sunday!