Chasing Silver Linings

Mother Nature was slightly cooperative today – when it came to our schedule anyway. Most people had to adjust and do what they could between storms.

This morning we headed up to Marathon (west of Wausau) to participate in the annual Capital City 5K sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin. Now Marathon isn't really the capital of anything, but this event usually takes place in Madison. Thanks to COVID, it's virtual again this year but our usual Running to Remember Ben team decided to do it together instead of having us participate individually in our own neighborhoods.

Why do we run (or walk mostly) to remember Ben? He was Jim's cousin. Fifteen years ago this weekend, Ben was killed when a distracted driver in an oncoming car crossed the centerline and hit him head on. The one silver lining was that Ben's organs were donated – giving someone else a second chance at life – and a gentleman named John, who received Ben's kidney and pancreas, joins us in this annual event.

The tough part this year was that Carter is now the age Ben was when he died. Just 23 and freshly out of college with big plans. I don't know how I would survive such a tragedy, not having my baby as he is right now with us for the rest of our days. My heart breaks just thinking about it.

One way Ben's parents and his sister cope with it is honoring his life with this annual event. Not only does it remind us that parts of Ben still live on in others today, it also reminds us that we can give that same gift when we "go," too. Check that organ donation box! You just never know!

This is little Ben, named after his uncle. It's another way Ben lives on, too. 

We're pretty sure he was up there looking over our crowd of 50-plus today because the sun shone while we walked and the rain didn't hit until we were under a shelter at the park, eating our post-walk pizza and ice cream.

Then it poured a ton on our drive home and during a quick stop at Jim's parents to tell them about the event. Later, when it cleared up, I headed down to the town of Rome to catch a waterski show. 

Got through the first half of the show and then it became quite evident Mother Nature was about to unleash some more fun.

I did not hesitate to hit the road and head home. It was a crazy downpour drive again. Uff da.

I'm hoping tomorrow is just a nice, sunny Sunday to spend the day outside without have to run for cover. I can walk a 5K around a track but I'm definitely not equipped to run anywhere.

I hope you're listening, Mother Nature.

Not Quite a Crystal Ball

Took my new lens ball (birthday present!) outside yesterday and it was so humid, it fogged right up. I'll have to try it a different day. But in the meantime, I'll pretend it's a crystal ball. It kind of looks like one, doesn't it?

Of course, these days you don't need a crystal ball to predict the future in some things.

I've decided that watching the Olympics when they’re half a world away is sort of like looking at the last page of a new book before you start it. (Yes, some people do that — not me). Yet, even though you know how it ends, you want to see how the characters got there. So you read through it anyway.

That was me yesterday and Suni Lee’s successful bid for the women’s gymnastics all-around gold medal. I knew she got it, but I had to watch "fake live" coverage last night to see how she did it. So I stayed up and watched that and, in my excitement, forgot to blog and went to bed. 

Tonight I saw some live action of a different kind — and they were all winners.

The entertaining KIDS From Wisconsin entourage had a show in nearby Plover this evening. Since this was considered the Hometown Show for my “honorary niece” Megan, I made sure to go.

This year’s theme was In Living Color — but there were no Fly Girls like the ‘90s TV show of the same name. Instead it as just amazing numbers covering a colorful spectrum of genres. Good stuff. Megan was amazing as always and did a super job with a Patsy Cline solo. 

My fave number of course was a medley from Hamilton. I am not throwing away my shot!

Naturally, I took hundreds of photos because that's how I do things, so I don't need a crystal ball to know what I'm doing the rest of the evening. 

Better get started. Have a great weekend. I think I see a good one!

100% Chance of Something

 In Wisconsin, we've had our eye on the sky all evening because, well, there's a hundred percent chance we're going to get something in the way of nasty weather. Or what they call PDS – a Particularly Dangerous Situation.

Oh I've never heard of it either. 

A PDS watch is issued when thunderstorm wind gusts of hurricane force are possible. Yup. Don't have to live on an ocean – just Great Lakes – to have hurricane force winds, I guess. According to the weather dudes, the primary threats include...

• Widespread damaging winds expected with scattered significant gusts to 90 mph likely
• Scattered large hail likely with isolated very large hail events to 2 inches in diameter possible
• A tornado or two possible

So far this evening, there has been tornado warnings in two of the counties adjoining ours – we're in Wood County in case we make the news later – but it's just starting to thunder and lightning here at 10 p.m. So who knows. We may get hail, may be 90 MPH winds, may just get a light show.

Hopefully, the power stays on and, more importantly, no one gets hurt. 

Now if only they'd quit breaking into the live Olympics with these storm updates. Not convenient during a swim final, folks. Not at all convenient.

Stay safe, everyone!

Pushing Their Luck

I wish this was a real four-leaf clover so it could bring some luck to our Olympians. What a tough day for women's gymnastics. I mean, if you're American, that is.

After the first rounds in the team competition, our team leader (aka G.O.A.T.) Simone Biles dropped out and the rest of the team had to step up to the plate. I should use a gymnastic analogy, not baseball/softball. The rest of the team had to chalk it up!

And they did. They really showed why they, too, earned a spot on the Olympics team. 

Glad I got to see Grace McCallum perform. I told you I take ownership of these athletes. Well Grace trains at the same gymnastics facility as my great-niece. So I do KNOW her. LOL. She's super nice and talented and an excellent role model for the Junior Olympians. My niece definitely has potential AND a goal!

And you know what, a silver medal still means you're an Olympic medalist! How awesome.

Hopefully things turn around for Simone and her mental health issues. As someone who takes medication for an anxiety and panic disorder, I know all about not being able to function sometimes. It's hard to put in words what we're going through when it happens, but I don't wish it on anyone. Especially on an international stage.

The truth is, these are just youngsters trying to live out their dreams. They don't owe us anything. Our role is just to support them and push as much luck on to them as we can! 

Let's go, girls! It ain't over yet! 

Olympic Tee Vee

I pretty much have to blog in Olympic-record time these days so I don't miss the alleged LIVE action on television.

My neighbor and I did get out and golf between work and Olympic junkie duties. 

No par dances – left some par putts short – but pars weren't our main concern. Not melting was. I don't know if it got up to 90 today but it officially felt like it when you throw in the humidity! Here's a golf tip for you, though: If you swing often enough, you create a breeze.

Not enough of one where we stopped sweating, though. Still, it was fun.

Got home in time to shower and watch men's gymnastics – we need to medal one of these years – and some excellent swimming. Just saw teenagers from Minnesota and Alaska snag medals so that's cool. Like hey, I've been to both of your states! 

Yup. I take a lot of ownership during the Games. 

Too bad I didn't have any pars to own tonight. Oh well. Back to my recliner before I miss anything!

Go USA!

Some Odd Ducks

We had three choices on this beautiful 80s and sunny Sunday. We could have done some yard work. We could have stayed indoors in the AC and flipped channels between golf, baseball, and the Olympics. Or we could enjoy the afternoon paddling with friends.

I'm so glad we chose option 3! 

Our friends Mike and Cindy took us to Dexterville over by Pittsville (both are west of Rapids about 20 minutes). We put in our kayaks on Lake Dexter and paddled up the Yellow River aways. It was pretty calm so I really don't know how far we went before turning around an hour or so later. Very nice! 

Saw some weird, er different, things though.

Couldn't get close before he swooped off, but we learned this is a double-crested cormorant. A diving bird of sorts.

Our leaders Cindy...

And Mike (also the purveyor of snacks)!

When I got closer to this Canada Goose, I noticed his left wing was dragging. Guessing broken, but I don't know enough about that to be certain.

Can you tell from this angle? I don't know. Just hoping he can still swim at least!

Hello, Blue! Excited to see and creep up close to a blue heron on shore.

Eagles weren't sitting still today. I think we saw the same one multiple times.

The only other kayakers we saw were on the highway nearby.

Didn't share the water with any boats so I guess this means we shouldn't paddle too fast!

Pretty calm at times!

What is happening with the turtle on the right? Is he shedding parts of his shell?

And is he pooping or some other odd turtle process – I also know nothing about?

Lotta mysteries out there today. But cool to see different stuff and enjoy a relaxing summer day! 

Now I'm gonna hunker down and watch the Olympics. Probably no mysteries from that today for most people, but I've kept off my phone and other news sources. Gonna watch my gymnastics and hope for a great show!

Name Changes

The Cleveland Indians announced this week that they're changing their name next season to the Cleveland Guardians. Close to the same name like they're trying to cover up a bad tattoo, but a different enough meaning to be politically correct. 

We went through the same thing way back when I was in college – kids, that was right after the Dark Ages. We were still considered the La Crosse Indians when I started college and had transitioned to the La Crosse Eagles by my graduation. 

Not to say how long ago that was, but you can tell by this yellowed sticker (and price) that it really was a short jump after the Stone Age. Not that that makes me old.

In fact, today I had coffee with two other UW-L Indians turned Eagles. Obviously, it's impossible we've known each other for 30-plus years since we're all still 29! And just like the UW-L Indians, we've all changed our names since then. 

It was mini-housing reunion of sorts since we'd all been on staff at the same time. Our coffee hour sort of fell together. Liz (blue) lives in New Jersey but has a sister in Wisconsin Rapids. Julie (pink) lives in Alabama but has parents in nearby Marshfield. They both just happened to be in my neck of the woods this weekend, so it was fate that we could meet up, chit chat for a few hours, both laughing and crying.

It was just so nice. Really. How blessed to enjoy time with people you've known for decades. A lot of fun memories, but a lot of wonderful things happening in our respective lives now.  

Friendships are a blessing, aren't they?

Go to college, kids. You'll meet the most amazing humans!

Deer-Rive-Er's Education

Contrary to popular purple belief, there is one green-and-yellow thing we have a fondness for here on Blue Jay Drive. Our new John Deere riding lawn mower.

I say "new" as in new this mowing season. We had a shed delivered in December and got the rider to go in it this spring. And oh yes, this Owner's Edition hat comes with it. Since then, hubby – who holds the one-and-only key to the shed – has been the only one allowed to operate it. He's the only one who can access it after all. Plus...

His shed. His rider. His rules

He deserves to relax while mowing. Even though we've both done our share with the push mower in the past 20 years. He's older. Ha. And I usually did it for the sun and steps anyway.

Tonight, after eating fish fries at the in-laws, we mowed. I pushed around the close edges of the house and shrubs and stuff while Jim rode. He had one more section left when he whistled me over and said I could drive.

Well yee-haw!

I got scared off as soon as he mentioned a clutch. I'm an automatic kind of driver. Thankfully I shouldn't have to use the clutch once I'm started. I kind of got the hang of and it remembered 4 out of 5 instructions to shut it down.

Jim texted me a lovely photo of me and my John Deere green. As you can see, I am not wearing the hat. I don't know where he hides it. Probably the same place he keeps the shed key. And I don't really need either one!

Ride on, friends!

Whack-A-Mole

Cartoon moles are portrayed as so cute, you wonder how they wreak so much havoc on our yards in real life. We have trails zig-zagging through both our back and front yards now. We've tried a variety of "elimination" methods over the years. Today we finally had success!

I probably should have given you a spoiler alert: They're ugly as sin!!! Ick. Gross. Buy yay, we got one!

Now the trap is moved to the front yard to see if we can get one there.

I have this sinking feeling that killing one mole is akin to the satisfaction of killing that one mosquito that keeps annoyingly buzzing by your ear. You're so happy to be rid of it finally that you forget there are dozens and hundreds and thousands more.

Hopefully that's not the case with Mr. Mole. I don't want to see many more of these creatures with the creepy-crawly clawed hands. Eww.

I think I'll need to watch a warm, fuzzy cartoon before I go to bed tonight to get rid of the heebie-jeebies!

Loony Birds

Since a good chunk of the state is a bit loony today after that crazy amazing Bucks game for the title last night, I thought I share some of my loony pictures from Alaska.

These are loons right off the Homer Spit shoreline around dusk – thus the dark images (sorry). I guess I only thought they hung out on little lakes! They do have a pretty good view off the Gulf of Alaska.

By the way, he pretty much gulped that fish down in one big gulp. Sort of like me with a mini frosted cupcake... or that first slice of warm banana bread... or that first huge spoonful of ice cream.

Do loons get brain freeze?

Fear Factor

While the rest of the population of Wisconsin is chanting to Sun Valley people to "Fear the Deer" tonight, I'm fearing what the heck lives in this hole!

Not just squeeze in there but did a fine job digging out a home. What do you think?

Now normally I'd compare something to the size of my foot, but since the hole is closer to the size of a volleyball than a golf ball, I didn't go near it!

This is located down the road near the intersection of 64th and Deer Road (oh, I mean Fear the Deer Road). We've driven past it and guessed who live there, but we're pretty sure there aren't badgers or obese woodchucks in our neck of the woods. Maybe though. I mean we have had black bear sightings recently.

Anyone have any ideas? (And if your idea is for me to peek my head in there or at least hold my camera closer... that would be a no.)