We Can All Be Rock Stars

Happy Thursday. The first thing I want to say – especially with any of you with some self-doubt at work – there is always someone on your team who thinks you're a rock star.

It's true!

The other morning when I was in desperate need for caffeine and they had no sugar-free Red Bull left in stock in our work cafeteria, I was sorta forced to try a sugar-free Rock Star for the first time. Not the same. But...

By sheer coincidence, someone on our team had left me a random "you're a rock star" type gift and I had a little uplifting trophy to accompany my energy drink. In a very unplanned way, it made for the best day!

I'm trying to keep that attitude positive this week as I deal with really inconsequential things like how will our church choir sing the Hallelujah Chorus during Memorial Day weekend? How can I take a mental health day on Friday when there is so much urgent work to do? How can I celebrate other people?

I think I found a way. For me this evening (after a ladies' golf league meeting), it was capturing photos of K.C. pitching successfully while at another ballpark his sister A.C. was pitching to their 10-run victory in softball. I adore their parents so this was cool for me.

I want both the baseball and softball teams to embrace that rock star status today. 

But I also hope that any of you who feel "undervalued" at work – to use my words a few weeks ago – to feel like you matter. But mostly, to feel like you're a rock star.

Pretty sure most of us are!

Team Steps Challenge

We're having a companywide steps challenge at work in May. It started Tuesday but I didn't realize until today that my FitBit is no synched up with the new version of the work app. Darn technology.

Hopefully I got everything reset and reconnected so I didn't lose all of yesterday's steps and today's. Our Writers Assembling team needs me! 

This after for what was intended as fun, a small group of us from Marketing took a short walk across the street in Schmeeckle Reserve – this amazing 280-acre conservancy area technically on the campus of UW-Stevens Point.

I say "intended" fun because is turned out to be sunny.... but in the 40s and windy. B-r-r-r-r! (Side note: Hubby wore long underwear to golf league tonight!)

The fun part was coming across a small herd of what I could only call "domesticated city deer." 

I mean this dude (I shouldn't assume a dude just because he was very busy chewing on his snack with his mouth open, sorry) just looked at me and I was 5 feet away. No flinching or need to run away from a crazy camera lady!

And yes, my Up North brothers-in-law and nephews would be ashamed of me not knowing the difference between male and female deer. But this one looked like Rudolph's girlfriend Clarice. I obviously follow a different outdoors learning guide.

Anyway, it made for a fun little jaunt to get steps!

And now I better log off because I still need 145 steps to get to 10,000 today. Can't let the team down!

P.S. You know me. I am NOT at all competitive!

Happy Five-o of May-o

When I see this, I'm hoping there's a spicy queso dip ahead or maybe buffalo chicken! What's your favorite dip?

Of course I am that dorky photographer who takes a picture and knows I'll share it 2 months later on Cinco de Mayo. 

We had a Salsa-Guac Showdown at work again this year. I only participated as a taster/voter. Did not make any this year. I would have had a pretty late start after taking track photos! But there some good entries! I have yet to warm up to the taste of guacamole, but I'll take salsa with heat any time.

After work, I met up with friends Cindy and Marigene at the movie theater to see The Devil Wears Prada 2. Loved it! Funny moments, of course, but some heartwarming ones as well. No spoilers! If you liked the first one 20 years ago, go see it!

Now I've got to get reading. I picked a book for my June book for Book Club called The Correspondent. It already reminds me of my mom – the most prolific letter and card writer of all time! Should be good.

Enjoy the non-holiday!

Temporarily in Bloom

I was so excited to take a bunch of these pictures yesterday and even today (at lunchtime), but boy did I need a jacket to ward off the wind by the time I got to track meet at 5 p.m. I just don't know what has Mother Nature in such a foul mood!

Anyway... enjoy some blossoms from yestersday when I thought the REAL spring was here. Probably a good thing hubby reminded me of the many nights in the 30s this week so I didn't go hogwild at the flower place!

Full disclosure. I have no idea what any of those flowers are. But I like them!

What I do know is that while I was taking pictures at a track meet tonight my friend's little daughter latched onto me and picked me a handful of flowers! As someone who hopes to be a grandmother some day, I thought is was the greatest gesture leading into Mother's Day.

P.S. That's my not so subtle warning that Mother's Day is this Sunday. 💜

A BINGO Cage Match?

Sunday suddenly BINGO got more serious. After singing at church and going home to pick up my official old lady BINGO bag I ordered on Amaazon, I headed to the school.

Naturally I was pumped up after taking some $1,000 in the past 6 weeks. But boy. BINGO bitties (or is it biddies?) don't like that. Buying my cards they said, "Yep, you're not allowed to win today." That was just the buying the cards process. 

Then, at intermission, a handful of ladies I do not know at all said, "You better not win the 50/50 today." My first thought was "sore loser" and second thought was "should I alert ESPN there is actually BINGO cage match potential?! And... how do I make money off of that?

I fell short in the goal post pattern BINGO by one and the coverall Progressive Jackpot by two (pictured above). Come back September 20 to join me!

For my safety (LOL) I guess I'm glad I was a loser!

P.S. I really was going to focus on some pretty spring blossom pictures today but they wouldn't survive in any cage match!

Sneaky Sticker Shock

After an oil change this morning, I had to stop and gas up and... I must not have paying attention lately because gas prices have jumped sky high.

Also why I was putting gas in my mileage-friendly Honda vs hubby's truck for an evening trip to Green Bay for a friend's retirement.

I looked it up – on my trusty, historical-record-type blog, of course – and the last time gas prices were of concern or of note was in June of 2022 when we hit $4.87 per gallon of the regular unleaded variety. God bless you diesel people. Ouch.

We did have fun at our friend Scott's retirement party. We both worked with him at Rapids newspaper and then again at the publishing house in Iola. He and his wife Sandy are the ones from Green Bay that we meet up with each summer for at least one golf round on a nice course somewhere!

On the way home, we had to keep a sharp eye out for deer and orange construction barrels. It's that time of year.

You'd think this would be a nice sunset reflection on a lake. But nope its a flooded farm field near Shiocton. Nearly half of the 400 homes in the village were evacuated two weeks ago as the Wolf River reached record levels with that constant rain. The road was dry today. But there is going to be quite the agricultural impact on that area of Wisconsin, I'm sure.

Got home in time for me to get 8 hours of sleep before I sing in church in the morning. Then BINGO. I gotta play for gas money now!!

My "Mother's Day"

Today is my Mother's Day. Which I can officially acknowledge at 10:15 p.m. to mark 28 years since I brought our brown-eyed bandit into the world. Yes, 28 years! Next year will be terribly awkward since we'll both be 29 and I already have twin. Hmmm.

When my oldest sister (whom my "real twin" and I call our "upstairs mother") sent me the above image today, I had to cry. 

It's one thing to love your child and celebrate his existence. But it's a whole new level of pride when you can look at your adult child and realize you did good raising him. I mean we have to take SOME credit, right?

Despite his serious "Thinker" pose above prepping to be the narrator in a grade school play, he has the best sense of humor. A perfect combo of (yes both of us, LOL) his parents' quick wit, clever turns of phrase, and of course, sarcasm.

I love his courage to get a passport and study abroad. Not knowing anyone! But finding a career focus after graduation to work for a company that provides this same opportunity for others like him.

I beam with pride when I hear how much he does for others. His girlfriend's family cannot say enough good things about what he does for them – from physical labor to helping care for people and animals. I'm most proud of you for that, Carter. You have such a big, generous heart. 

You have such compassion. Even at 8 years old you'd be corralling wayward shopping carts in the Walmart parking lot with a "Mom, why can't people just put them where they belong? It takes like 5 seconds!" 😁

And I'll cry typing this... throughout your childhood (even in the sometimes surly teen years), every time I called my mom, you were willing to talk first with a "Hi, Grandma. How's it going?" She just thought you were so kind, smart, funny, and exceptional.

I'm biased. But I agree. 

Thanks for making my "Mother's Day" my best day! 💜