The Spring Sports Dichotomy

dichotomy: a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different

As a writer in my real-life job I don't mean to throw "fancy words" out to impress you – only to help you understand. So when we think of "spring sports" there are literally 2 versions.

The first version is the "spring sports photographer" trying to capture as many photos as I could at a Track and Field meet where so many things are happening simultaneously. Oh, and despite the sun, the wind made the "real feal" temperature only 53 degrees.

I was a bit ill-prepared coming straight from work, but I captured what I could in my few "hours of sunlight" there. Admittedly, I only got to the running events so I'll have to get to another meet (in warmer weather in May) to get our "field" participants.

Today's focus turned to MY spring sports.

After some 3 decades of golfing, I had my first official lesson! I was grateful to talk 5 others in our marketing department to join me for a group lesson. My only ask of the instructor was simple: "Help me correct all my bad form habits of the last 30 years!"

I loved it.

When I just learned to golf with guys, my mind set was mostly swing hard and hit that ball. Now, I actually now how I should position myself with the ball, my grip, my stance, and my swing. Probably stuff that people who've golfed with me know. But I think I needed to hear it from somebody who wasn't married to me. LOL. I know. I should've listened.

We do have 2 more lessons so I'm confident our instructor can help me correct a few more things and make this year's golf season even more enjoyable.

Did I mention that I had hoped to have a few rounds in by now? Pray for spring and pray it STAYS! 🏌

Level Red Threat

All weekend and early today we knew we were in some sort of level red threat zone. Which I guess just means moderate. We have to be pink to be concerned.

I hope.

We had two random downpours during our work day, but otherwise it was business as usual on a Monday on Bluejay Drive. Then I felt a warm breeze and realized it was almost 80 degrees and the sun was out.

That lasted less than 10 minutes. I know this because I dragged Mr. Deck Chair to a sunny spot on the driveway and didn't get through a full chapter in my book! Both are safe inside now.

Then the evening news showed us getting the big crackdown while we're sleeping! I'm not sure what to rely on a this point. But I'm gonna watch The Voice while I can and hopefully sleep through NOTHING.

Be careful out there!

Cheering for a Green Bay Team... Wait, Wut?

You knew there'd come a day when the Austins would cheer for a Green Bay team. Spoiler alert: It ain't football!

The quick back story is that our friends' three little girls used to think there were referring to Jim and me as Mr. and Mrs. "Awesome" rather than Austin. So how could we not fall in love with them and consider them ours as they grew up through school years at Assumption, college years, and beyond.

All 3 played softball at their respective colleges. Ava, the youngest, was a star pitcher for the Royals and is in her sophomore year at UW-Green Bay throwing for the Phoenix. In past years, our spring road trip/travel time was limited when Jim was coaching baseball. This year, his freedom opened up a new freedom to leave town. (As you may have noticed on recent weekends!)

Ava's team had their last regular season home games today and tomorrow so we figured we'd go to Green Bay, now that all the NFL Draft enthusiasts were out of town. Unlike the MLB, they don't necessarily announce their starting pitchers until game time. So there was a chance she wouldn't be taking the mound today with 2 games today and 1 more tomorrow – all versus the University of Detroit Mercy. 

With a Phoenix as their school mascot, it was inspiring to see the uplifting messages on the drive in to the field.

It's Ava's place to continue to rise, for sure!

The good news is that the Phoenix won game 1.

And came back after a rough first inning to dominate game 2!

Unfortunately, our dear girl didn't get to pitch today. But she was still all smiles seeing us and her parents and one sister – and a few other fans who drove over from Wisconsin Rapids today. She deservedly has the biggest fan club! Now we know that next year we'll just have to get some earlier games. Like someplace further south maybe!

We did not let the chilly, windy weather or her lack of pitching time spoil our day. It was still great to see everyone – so not a wasted trip!

As a bonus, we stopped on our way home at a new BBQ joint in Waupaca that our friends recommended.

Located on Hwy QQ almost across the street from our fave Waupaca hangout – Clearwater Harbor – this place is just in its second year of operation.

 

Very cool vibe inside and the food... wow. This is Jim's ginormous Brisket Tacos. Two is all you need and might be one too many!

Meanwhile, even me and my big mouth could not bite into this tall Pulled Pork Sandwich. I tried 3 different BBQ sauces as I made my way down the pile – with a fork! Always fun to try new places. Highly recommend!

With all that fresh air and food, I think we'll sleep good tonight. And knowing that there's definitely only one Green Bay team we're cheering for, we should rest easy. 😃

Just the Usual Shallow Grave Scenario

 

Naturally, I think I awakened to a situation where hubby dug a shallow grave in our front yard. Of course, normal people who don't watch any weird TV shows would probably wonder what Mr. Austin is planting.

Whew! I'm safe!

So we both discussed quite some time ago planting some Pampas Grass – which I just said is brown with white feathery blooms on top.

Today, our transplant efforts from our brother-in-law looks like this.

But we hope it ends up looking like this. Either way, we'll have learned yet another lesson in Landscaping 101. Hopefully this time we get a passing grade! 

That Bloomin' Draft

I thought it quite appropriate that my lovely flowers are blooming Vikings colors in time for the NFL draft.

Though hubby has some sort of draft pool with friends each year, I normally don't pay much attention to it. But this year, it's being held in Wisconsin. So we can't ignore the hype.

Our friends who own Feltz Family Farms and Dairy Store made the news big time last fall when this was their corn maze. Pretty cool. And as someone who does marketing for a hotel, I've been paying attention for months.

Between Jim and I, we know at least a half-dozen friends who are among the 200,000 NFL fans in Green Bay. As far as we know, they haven't been squished or trampled yet! 

But as for the actual picks? Well I hope every year our Vikings will build an offensive line that can give our QB of the moment some time to throw. In my many decades of fandom, that hasn't happened yet. But like every other football FANatic, I still hold out hope.

Good luck to your teams – and enjoy our Wisconsin hospitality!

Disappearing Act

I've been losing my identity bit by tiny bit lately. Well at least Black Betty has. 

At first I laid blame to the prisoners forced to make license plates. But I realized they may have been provided with inferior materials. Because mine is not the only WI plate I've seen peeling away in the wind (and aggressive car washes). 

My concern has been that the APR flew off somewhere. And while I did renew plates for Jim, Carter and me – and ordered replacement stickers – last month, mine never came. Theirs did. I was mainly concerned about getting pulled over without any proof but an email that I am legitimately renewed.

Since nothing arrived in the mail during my long weekend, I just went to the Stevens Point DMV, a mere 8 minutes from work, at lunch yesterday. I thought I was applying for a replacement plate to my "800 topaz" one. 

But BAM! They issued me new plates and new stickers on the spot. My clever son says that must stand for Bad Ass Mom. Damn right!

Then tonight on my way home from work, I was behind this guy. Part of me wanted to run up to him and tell him this can be remedied in less than 45 minutes at the DMV. The other part of me wonder which "shift" was working on these plates behind bars. 

In the end, I guess I don't care. It's just a relief to feel "legal" again!

Home, Sweet (but Chilly) Home

 

My whirlwind of life in the past 13 days has finally come to a slow stop. And I am home, sweet home in Wisconsin Rapids. Though temps are a bit chilly compared to Iowa and Missouri! The photo above is what greeted my when I walked through the door yesterday at 12:40 p.m. (Thanks, hubby!) But then I had to work a half day and shoot and edit softball pictures. So I had no time for bloggage.

Last time we checked in it was Easter Sunday night. That evening my sisters and I decided we'd check out of our VRBO early enough on Monday that we could join a Clydesdale Tour at nearby Grant's Farm. So packed and gathered up the tons of snacks we didn't have time to eat and made our way there a little after 10 a.m.

It was amazing. Such unique history and interesting details about how and what it takes to be on the official "Budweiser Hitch." 

First of all, if you want to be the biggest guys on the hitch, you have to be 19 hands high (at the shoulder) and the others have to be 18. You see I'm a bit short of qualifying for the hitch.

The fun part was spending some up-close and personal time with a few of the horses. Raptor seemed to take a liking to my hairspray. I should tell my hair artist that the expensive hairspray she sold me does not hold up to Missouri winds (see any previous photo from this trip) or horse saliva. 

We also each got a chance to carefully groom WolfMan. And by careful I mean don't touch near his lower leg because if his foot goes up, it must come down. 

And based on this horseshoe size, we did not want a hoof connecting with our human hooves.

Got a group picture though so that was cool!

We hit the road after that with a destination of Cedar Rapids again. Since we did our side trips to Swedesburg and Hannibal on the way down, we didn't have too many pit stops to make. So we got to the "other" Rapids at 5:30 p.m. and were able to join the kids for dinner at Chili's next door at 5:45 p.m.

Although full from dinner, Carter and Mamie have a favorite frozen yogurt place that we somehow ended up at hours later. Yum!!

I left around 8 a.m. Tuesday morning so I could get home during my typical lunch hour and work a half day. Pretty much no traffic so it was a smooth "commute" home. I can tell you my alarm this morning was a rude awakening. But it was worth suffering through after such a nice long weekend with loved ones!

Tonight, though, may require an 8 p.m. bedtime just to catch up! Just gotta get through choir practice, then I'm off to bed!

And the Son/Sun Rose

 

After rain Friday and Saturday, it was a joy to see actual sun today on the day the Son also rose. Happy Easter!

We did make the most of the rainy weather Saturday by visiting the nearby Missouri Botanical Gardens. It mainly misted but we all wisely packed rain coats.

A few images...

Chiluly glass!

Even with raindrops, it was simply gorgeous!

It's just blooming beautiful here!

After the Gardens, we met up with Karen and Ed again -- this time at an Italian restaurant in The Hill area (known as an Italian neighborhood).

So filling and tasty! Mamma Mia!

We were at the VRBO for the rainy evening playing cards. I can't catch a break this weekend!

Today we were so pleased to wake up to silence,  as in no rain or thunder. The Son has risen!

We went over to Uncle Charlie and Aunt Sally's house to not only celebrate Easter, but Charlie's 90th birthday today! He's our last living uncle so this was a big reason behind us planning this trip!

So great to spend the day with them, all 3 daughters and their families. Such a blessing!

Aunt Sally's birthday is coming up, so she got a gift or 2 as well.

We left there after 5 p.m. and decided to take advantage of the sunlight/non-rainy weather and headed down to The Arch. We got a few pix of it in the rain yesterday,  but today we actually parked and walked in the park area.

It was super windy so we got some giggles out our selfie!

Arch hair. Don't care!

Just beat the rain back to our VRBO. Played some more cards (I stunk) and are hitting the hay early since tomorrow we git the road again. ☹️

Hope you had a blessed Easter with some-bunny you love!