Love Favorite Feelings

Our nephew Colin's wife does an amazing job each Christmas of creating a family calendar of sorts for the next year. 

So when Endless January did indeed finally end, it was nice to see cute pictures of him with his family at the racetrack, with his mom at the awards ceremony, and just a random shot of his favorite uncle and aunt at the Nashville Music Hall of Fame Museum.

I like the title: You are my favorite feeling.

What's your favorite feeling? Does it involve a person, place, or object?

I can tell you I love goodbye kisses in the morning from my husband... but also loved the feeling of eating that Andes Mint Chocolate Cupcake at work 2 hours later today (Bless you, 2 1/2 Cups Bakery in Marshfield!)

I also love when people drool over my trifles, genuinely appreciate my photography, and give me the best hugs ever (usually my sisters – there's no holding back!).

But it depends on the day, doesn't it? 

On many Sundays my favorite feeling is nailing our choir song in church. Then later hanging out with BINGO friends I didn't even know a year ago – whether we win or lose.

On Mondays, my favorite feeling is sleeping until the last possible minute to just cross the hallway into my office to work! No shower. Maybe comb my hair.

On Tuesdays, it's going into the office and seeing the people I sincerely like and respect, who care if I had a decent weekend and days out of the office.

Wednesdays typically mean my monthly Girls' Night Out dinner then church choir squad. (Yes, a squad. We're that cool.)

On Thursdays, my favorite feeling only applies in the summer when I have my Foxy Ladies Night golf league.

Friday it's ditto of Monday with an occasional fish fry sprinkled in.

On Saturdays, my favorite feeling is no alarm and no plans. 

So yes our favorite feeling can vary by the calendar. But mine, no matter what, is just feeling loved, respected, and appreciated – no matter who or what prompts that feeling! 

Hope you all have some favorites that never let you down!

Stuck Scrapbooking Pig

I never paid heed to the phrase "bleeding like a stuck pig." Until I was the pig. And I have to blame scrapbooking. Noooooo.

In advance of Camp Crop-A-Lot in a few weeks, our scrapbooking consultant reached out to see if we needed any product ordered before camp. We could earn tickets for fabulous prizes, by the way.

So I had a feeling I was in need of some tape runners – what we use to adhere paper and photos to the pages. 

I pulled out my main supply cart (yes, it's a thing) and blindly reached in to see if I had any new ones in pages but instead came face to face – or finger to blade – with a paper trimmer cutting blade. Just lying face up, waiting for a quick, very tiny slice.

And it was such a teeny tiny puncture wound to my righthand middle finger, yet I am still bleeding 20 minutes later. Good grief, I had no idea our fingers carried so much blood!

So now this little piggy really needs to cry all the way home so she can order some tape runners without more blood on the stinking computer keyboard.

How is it I am a hot mess every day without even trying. Must be a superpower, I guess.

Run, Rodent, Run!

Happy Groundhog Day! Not so happy really when Phil saw his shadow (again) and declared 6 more weeks of winter, which almost coincides with our calendar anyway. I mean, I'd take 6 more weeks over 7 more anytime!

The Philadelphia airport had this fun picture today with this Facebook post: 

Breaking News: Phil the Groundhog spotted at PHL en route to Cancun

In a brief statement before departure, Phil cited the forecast as the deciding factor, saying, “Six more weeks of winter was simply more than I was prepared to endure.”

I also think (on behalf of the entire Midwest) he may need to run for his safety. Just saying.

I didn't even blog this weekend because I did nothing exciting and was just waiting and hoping our 16 weeks (or maybe 20 weeks??) of January would come to an end!

And trust me, I have it on good authority that Phil has to go as far as Cancun to escape winter. Two of my sisters are on a little cruise from Florida to the Bahamas as we speak and there is a freeze warning for much of the Sunshine State – and highs in the 50s. They could not have predicted that when booking, that's for sure.

Even though we got beach and palm tree pictures texted to us when it was 40 below zero windchills here, I still feel bad for them. Honest!

Speaking of cold... I did have an unusual Sunday afternoon... I mean after the USUAL not winning at BINGO.

I had a senior photo shoot! So different having so much welcome brightness – and snow instead of leaves in the background. But also it was 20 degrees and windy and we went very fast! Three locations, nine different backgrounds. Done in roughly 30 minutes! Super kid. And I did promise to Photoshop out the snowflakes in his hair. Yup. That kind of Wisconsin winter day! And this kid was from Texas. Definitely scored points with me for being a trooper.

So pardon me while I may or may not look into airfare, et. al., to Mexico!

Bridgerton Distraction

 So yeah, even though I was taking Lady Royals basketball pictures last night, I still hurried home to start Season 4 of Bridgerton. 

And after work today, I continued.

If you know, you know. 

It's a bit of an addictive series to watch. So while I did watch after work, I also had Caribbean Jerk chicken going in the crockpot. That was yummy and delightful.

And a perfect sandwich as I watched the next two episodes. I hope some of you are "enduring" the same distraction this weekend!

It's worth it as far as I can tell.

Also, we have continued cold temps so just stick with your go-to survival tactics. For me, that's Shondaland!

A Challenging Moment in Time

When one of my nephews turned 40 earlier this month I realized, holy crap, high school was quite some time ago!

A clear memory for me – besides his birth on Elvis' birthday – was the space shuttle Challenger tragedy. 40 years ago today.

It was mostly a big deal to watch in school because there was a nontypical-astronaut teacher on board – Christa McAuliffe. I mean she was from New Hampshire, I believe, so no ties with Luck, Wisconsin. Yet there were some TV's on at school in the library and few other places.

I happened to be in typing class (yes, it was a thing) when the launch was happening. Then suddenly another teacher came in and told our instructor Mr. Lake something. Since we were approaching the end of class, he let us know. In a choked up voice because, well, it was a fellow teacher that gave her life.

I remember I had study hall the next hour and was grateful so I could watch the repetitive footage in the library. It still didn't seem real because it looked like one part of the shuttle was separating from the shuttle like it was supposed to.

I think it really did take the eyewitnesses a few minutes to realize what they'd just seen as well.

Up to that point, I sort of remembered to TV footage of John Hinkley Jr.'s assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan. But even then, after knowing my mom's account of JFK's assassination, it failed in comparison in terms of hype and memorability.

But 40 years later, I'd like to think positive moments in history were part of vivid memories, but instead we have weird things like 9/11, Covid, January 6th, and now... ICE in Minnesota. No political commentary here. Just praying for many nieces and nephews and family in the Metro.

It is, indeed, another Challenge-ing moment in time.

Our Own Happy

Saw this today and I liked it. Because today was my first happy-ish day of 2026. After being sick and then having no energy for a few weeks, I'm finally feeling good.

And that makes me happy. Unfortunately, the other half is battling something, but I hope I don't catch. I'll just pray he recovers and it disappears from our household germs file.

I was also feeling good today because I got a much-overdue deep tissue massage at the end of the day. My neck and upper back were screaming for it. I will have to try to get into my regular guy soon. He knows how tough I am. LOL.

Tonight I had to get a few groceries and gas on my way home. Still so cold in single digits and the wind took my breath away.

So I only went to a little bit of basketball tonight. Took pictures of the boys JV second half (they beat Stratford) and first half of the varsity game. We had a slight lead at halftime but ended up losing by 2 stinkin' points. That's a heartbreaker. 

I'll mess with my pictures tomorrow. My feet and fingers are still cold. But my bed is warming up and I'm HAPPY about that, too!

Choose your happy this week!

Finally Something Positive

After starting the day at -14 degrees, we reached the level playing field of ZERO degrees at noon, and have inched our way into the positives.

Isn't that great to have something positive? And on a Monday, no less?

I did get out a bit after work and I'll tell you right now, it doesn't feel very positive out there. But the weather app doesn't lie. So I'll take its word for it.

I did get to see some friends I hadn't seen in awhile. So in the end, that was where the positives were.

That's what warmed my heart! 

Hope you find something / someone to warm you this week!