Czech Out the New Windy City

Move over, Chicago. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, might have you beat as the Windy City!

We both took the day off and got down there in mid-afternoon. It was so windy we could actually hear it in our 4th-floor hotel room. If you closed your eyes, it sounded like ocean waves almost. All flags were definitely flying all of their colors.

We had only a few objectives to our trip. Meet up with Carter and Mamie for dinner, then all go to see Colin race at the historic Hawkeye Downs on Friday then check out the National Czech-Slovac Museum and GENEALOGY Library on Saturday. It turned into so much more.

We met up with the kids at Up in Smoke BBQ, which had a very similar (and delicious) vibe as the new place we checked out in Waupaca a few weeks ago. But they had some good, spicy sauces like Blueberry Habernaro and Chipotle BBQ. So tasty!

And by strange coincidence, the restaurant was located in the "Czech Village" which included the museum and genealogy library Jim (my partially Bohemian hubby) had already planned to visit Saturday. And lo and behold, there was a big Boho festival going on! So we were already excited to (accidentally) be here for this particular weekend.

From there, it was off to Hawkeye Downs, celebrating its 100th year. Mamie hadn't been to a stockcar-type race before so this was her very windy and cold introduction. 

She thought it was fun – even though we couldn't stop laughing at how absurd the wind was!

Plus, we got a precipitation delay that include a rainbow at the east end of the track!

To sum up the race experience...  Colin qualified 14th, finished 3rd in the heat race, and the feature was interesting. There was an accident on Turn 1 before Colin's feature where a car had issues and flew into the turn, taking out part of the fence, wall, then there were several accidents there the rest of the night. During his feature, Colin got hung in a wreck with 4 trucks on that same turn. Colin had to leave to the pits but got his truck literally taped up while they were cleaning up the mess. And got back to the race and even though he was in the back of the pack, he fought his way up to a 5th-place finish! It was pretty fun to watch!!

By the way, this was the temperature and "feels like" temp about an hour before Colin's race ended. Uff da!

This morning, we got down to the Czech Village so Jim could do some family tree research at the museum and I could watch the festival parade and shop all the vendors. Perfect situation!

Parade with lots of Bohemians in full costume.

Oh and the wind? Still here today obviously!

There was also chalk art going on. Very impressive.

When Jim was done, Carter met us so we could cross the river and head into New Bohemia.

Upon a museum worker recommendation to Jim, we went to the Little Bohemia restaurant.

After all, they have perfect Robyn-approved pun in "Czech us out."

My partially Bohemian husband and son ordered the ghoulash. They said it was very delicious!!

My Boho Boys before we left town.

We got home around 6:30 tonight and we're a bit exhausted. Lots of driving for Jim and lots of windy fresh air for us both! Too bad we both have to sing in our church choirs in the morning and can't sleep in. Guess that means I need to turn on my electric mattress pad and hit the hay soon! 

A Trifle Busy This Week

When we last left off in this blog-a-thon of life, it was Tuesday night and I had to get my trifle in order!

I think it was after 9 p.m. when I texted hubby that I forgot about the top layer – Cool Whip – and could he pick up some. So yep, late night.

My Pina Colada Trifle (I call this one) has Pina Colada cake from the Walmart bakery since it was too hot to bake and I had permission to be lazy. The next layer is Coconut Cream pudding, which I can only find at Pick and Save or the local IGA. Then my crunchy layer – this time rolling pin-crushed white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and Girl Scout coconut-themed Samoas. 

Pretty darn tasty. And no leftovers to bring home for Jim. 

Wednesday was work, then our final golf lesson at SentryWorld.

Thank you, Teacher Katie (top row, 2nd from right)!

Naturally everything I learned about putting on my final night was exactly what my better half has said for years. Why do I listen to my female instructor over him? Not sure. But I have an idea. It was definitely money well spent! 

After that last night I had church choir practice then came home to finally edit all those track and field photos from the night before. Definitely no time to blog. LOL.

Today was a fast (busy) day at work. After work we gathered with just our writing team to get to know our new team member. And sort of got stuck in Point because, well, tornado warnings.

Thank god it turned out to be nothing at home or in Point. But it was kind of freaky pondering if we should out-drive it or drive through it. I heard there were twister touchdowns the next county over, so we'll see how the news shakes out tonight.

Hope you all are safe! As I often say, be careful out there!

Jumping into a Busy Tuesday

Not that there is anything more important than you, my dear readers, but I am beat after quite a full day.

Work was a bit chaotic because we had a new member of our team and the mother hen in me always wants to go overboard to be sure they're welcomed and know their way around.

From work, I went straight to Nekoosa for their track meet so I could finally get the "field" part of a Track & Field meet pictures of our Royals. Got what I could before my next engagement.

Book Club.

We were discussing my book "The Last Secret of the Soul" at R&R Patio and Bar (formerly Joker's). The book is a novel a point of view of a 10-year-old boy and how he gets through the holocaust, etc., near the end of World War II. Our group has done several different WWII novels but not from the point of view of a child, so it was interesting.

My next engagement?

Well, as I mentioned we have a new member on our writing team, so of course that calls for a trifle. I have to do the finishing touches so that is why it is not photo ready at 10 p.m.

I also need some sleep. Quite the full day for a Tuesday. The rest of the week can feel free to slow down. Am I right?!

Multi-Color Monday

Who knew that the most challenging day of the week could be the most colorful?

Who knew that thanks to temps in the mid-80s (not kidding) my Mother's Day flowers would start blooming?

I think Tuesday will be even prettier!

Then, as if I was sugar-deprived, I remembered around lunchtime that I ordered my Mother's Day dessert "to go" yesterday!

Pistachio Cheesecake for lunch, anyone? Trust me, it looked as good as it tasted!

I think for my sanity I'll concentrate on these Monday colors rather than the "offensive" red alerts that a project is overdue.

Focus on the pretty, my friends!

Oh, Mother!

 

Upon awakening, I was confident I could get through this first Mother'sDay without my momma. I wore my own "Mother's Necklace" and my mom's "Mother's Ring" to church. 

But I confess. I was sobbing before I left the driveway. So much for being strong! When I got to church, thank goodness my friend Kelly, also experiencing her first Mother's Day without her mom, gave me half her tissues. Because you know, every reading and song (and that dang Mother's Day video) will remind you of Mom!

God, bless my amazing husband for trying to keep me positively occupied all day!

Got home from church and this adorable balloon was floating in the kitchen...

Anchored by these gorgeous flowers! I was going to say Tulips but the last time I called flowers that, this black-thumbed momma was corrected. So let's just call them beautiful.

After asking me yesterday where I wanted to enjoy a Mother's Day brunch, I had a few places in mind. But then, on our drive home, we remember Two Lakes is open on Sundays now. One check to see if today counted and we were on our way.

They had a special Mother's Day menu but all I cared was that they now serve their beyond amazing Coconut Shrimp every day. Happy Mother's Day to me!

Later this afternoon, we ventured over to TriCity for some Mother's Day golf. 

I love that all of us Foxy Mamas could golf. But it didn't take long for me to realize my spirit wasn't in it. Nothing spoils that good walk like bad – or in my case, sad – attitude. We did have some fun. But I was dropping tears more often than I was dropping putts.

A year ago, all 8 of us R's gathered to clean out Mom's apartment since she was actually excited to move into the nursing home part of the hospital in Grantsburg. She was excited to have a roommate, too, after living by herself since Dad died 10+ years earlier. We were happy for her acceptance about moving out of her apartment. And really thought we'd be seeing her in the home for quite some time.

The quick, downward slide of her health after Mother's Day shocked me and devastated me. 

While it officially hasn't been 365 days since Mom's passing, nothing impacts me more than missing her today – Mother's Day. 

My only saving grace really, is that I got to hug the one flesh-and-blood baby that is mine yesterday. 💜

Happy Mother's Day to all of you missing your mom for the first (or many) time. And to you who have kids, wanted children, lost babies, act as an inspiration to a young person, or serve as a mentor to ANYONE. This day belongs to all of us. 

No shame. Embrace the love!

Jumpin' Around

Another weekend. Another jump around the state. Today's destination? We find ourselves back in Madison for the second time this week.

For an important reason. UW graduation at Camp Randall stadium! 

8,679 Badger graduates today and only ONE is our favorite! Carter's girlfriend Mamie. (Though we did know a few other special grads from Rapids.)

Dare I say there were more people there than on a Badger football game day?! Well if all the graduates were in the stands with the thousands of spectators, there certainly would be! And they kept it entertaining – for a few hours.

A couple fun surprises... The acapella group (and thousands of graduates) singing "Build Me Up, Buttercup" like they do during football games.

A good (and humorous) keynote speaker in Jason Gay, a '92 grad and current sportswriter for the Wall Street Journal.

And singing and dancing to "Jump Around" at about the 3/4 mark of the ceremony. It was warm, sunny, and we had plenty of reasons to sweat before we were jumpin'!

Oh and most entertaining... Mamie's "appetizer" of apparently super-sized nachos at the Vintage Brewing Co. in Cross Plains where we met up with her family after the ceremony. It was a good choice to meet a bit outside of Mad Town. Always a pleasure to see her parents and siblings.

Oh, and see our boy, too! 💖

Had a very nice visit with the family and one of their college friends – who manages to get a picture with Jimmy at this same brewery oh once every 5 years as it turns out. Yes, many of their college friends are like family. We're certainly blessed in so many ways. 

Especially to have sweet Mamie in our lives. Congrats, girl! 🎓

About to Catch the Weekend

Just like last night's catch at second base wasn't quite on time, my weekend wasn't quite there either. But after a fast, productive day at work, it's here.

Not that anything exciting was planned for today. I did some quick shopping to put another raffle basket together for my friend Jeannie's upcoming cancer benefit. Then I got home and my neighbor Marigene and I got a quick 2-mile walk in while hubby was mowing the lawn.

I guess that's a sign of spring if anything!

Tonight I'm surging social channels trying to figure out where Jim can take me for brunch or lunch on Mother's Day. Hey, he offered. 

Apparently, most places think moms love prime rib. Not for me! I think I have it narrowed down to Anchor Bay – I mean, who cares if you have to wait if you can sit outside on the river? But if YOU know of something NOT of the rare meat variety, let me know!

Also, now that I got the sports pictures done from last night, I have to share this series of pix where Anna "possibly tripped" to throw out the runner at first. It makes you realize how two teammates are obviously BFFs.

And that's why I love what I do in my "free time!" These two are seniors and I'll miss them so much. But I'll save the mushy sentiments until those last pictures.

For now, we have a big day ahead tomorrow (can't wait to share) and Mother's Day. Make sure all you mommas are spoiled like you deserve!