What the Fox?

When you work in Stevens Point and the craft store giant Herrschners has its annual warehouse sale, you've got lunch hour plans! Of all the yarn I could buy for a steal, this foxy latch-hook rug caught my eye. 

First of all, I didn't realize latch-hooking was still a thing. My sister Rachel did a lot of that while my twin and I were teens and we loved when we could help her. So fun. But... I don't need another new (or resurrected) hobby. So I passed.

Secondly, my foxy life has resurrected itself in multiple ways today.

The first instance... I was overseeing a video shoot at SentryWorld this morning and the LPGA Pro said, "You know, still my favorite picture was the one you took of the fox at the Senior Open."

I did admit that was my favorite, too, and that it started my "mild" fox obsession.

Then I had a fun evening at Foxy Ladies Golf League (I call it that because of my favorite head cover). And this picture was from last week since tonight we just dodged the rain – but still had a great time since we got to play with (or versus) my friends Sara and Michelle. Legit foxy ladies. 💚

Then I get home and hubby says he got a reminder on his phone of a picture he took in our front yard 7 years ago today. 

I mean.... what the fox?!

Guess we were destined to lead a life as Silver Fox and the Fire Fox. Don't tell hubby I said that. 💓

Hot Wheels

The heat wave continues for this un-official end of summer Labor Day weekend. To beat the heat, I had some strategy on my side.

Do a senior photo shoot during a little after sunrise. Then go see our nephew Colin race at Golden Sands – allegedly BEFORE the hot spot of the day.

Well, when it's hot as helling dustballs, you do what you can.

Had a great photo session with Mister "I Will Flex For You" Jacob! Fun to have some water shots at his uncle's place on the Lake Camelot chain. Great family and great kid!

Then onto the races. Colin got fast time and let my sweet grand-niece roll the dice for his position. Even though he started in row 6 (11th), he ended up finishing 5th!

Awesome job, kiddo!

Tonight we pretty much stayed in the A/C. I made tacos for supper and some special treats for work this week. Then I found out my 15 minutes of fame at the U.S. Senior Open extended another minute. Well, maybe 3 seconds.

NHL MVP Joe Pavelski included my birthday shot in his instagram story. I may be fan-girling a bit right now!! 

In other words... returning to the office to work tomorrow will be hella boring. Sorry, not sorry, coworkers! 

Hope you had a great Labor Day weekend as well!

Birthday Birdies and Stuff

As I previously mentioned, I think, I bought hubby a round of golf at SentryWorld for his 60th birthday.

So today we both took the day off and enjoyed and appreciated the challenges the seniors had last week. He did birdie one hole so he deserves props for that. But... we get what they were saying when they proclaimed how challenging the course is. Off the fairway. We experienced that first hand, along with the fun couple from California we were paired with.

Naturally, we loved the beauty of the course – including our infamous Flower Hole.

I'll admit it was slightly intimidating approaching the 18th green with all those fans watching. I mean, the stands were empty now, but we could picture it!

Overall, it was a glorious day. Perfect mid-70s weather and some sun and nice people to golf with. Pretty sure hubby was happy with his birthday gift. Though we both agreed that when the pros mentioned last weekend that our thick rough was "brutal," they were not exaggerating. 

Probably means anything else we do this weekend is pretty easy!

Finally, My Turn

After spending 7 whole days on a golf course without swinging a club, it was finally my turn tonight. 

My partner Ziggy (I'm Zaggy to reflect our non-cart golf style) and I had to miss last week since we were both volunteering at the U.S. Senior Open. And while we spent countless hours close to legends, we apparently didn't pick up any tips.

Pretty much got cremated tonight but it was fun to golf with friends Sue and Wendy, who I sub for occasionally at The Ridges. And oh so nice to golf in pleasant temperatures in the low 70s. Didn't help my game any, but it boosted morale anyway! 

It was also a relief to get the bad shots out of the way before golfing at SentryWorld tomorrow. Yup my birthday gift to hubby. The second part of the gift will be not getting frustrated when I lose my balls in the "brutal rough." Hey, if it happened to pros, it can certainly happen to me.

I mean I do qualify for senior golfing! Wish me luck!

USSO :: Day 7 and Final

When I walked into the U.S. Senior Open grounds this morning, I pondered whether the current leader Berhnard Langer (the 2010 winner) would win SentryWorld. Or would it be one of our favorite Wisconsin boys. 

Spoiler alert: I was right.

I initially wasn't going to be volunteering today, but I love this green shirt so much, I wanted to wear it one more time! Actually, they didn't need help for my media/marketing job today so I was able answer the call for much-needed volunteers today.

So I started on hole 9 per usual. Then they needed help on hole 2 with the large crowd following our two Wisconsin golfers in the last two groups. After that, I went back to 9 and then they needed an extra "quiet please" person on hole 17. I agreed before I realized my 3 hour shift was turning into nearly double.

Of course, as a marshal, the TV coverage showed only my lovely backside – thankfully blurry.

By coincidence, when eventual winner Bernhard Langer was putting on hole 2.

And driving on hole 17.

Quite a long, hot day. But pretty cool seeing quite a few people I know. I even ran into my college friend's dad, hubby, and son. That was cool!

And I got a few of the leaders in action en route between volunteer holes...

Wisconsin's Jerry Kelly on the par 3 hole 3.

Leader Bernhard Langer on hole 3.

After telling Bernie good luck on 17, he looks at his book as if to say, "Anything for you, anonymous volunteer!"

And I did get him carrying the trophy through the media area later. Just didn't have time for many autographs.

On the plus side, I got a pic of Strick giving an autograph to my friend's son.

I got home and watched the final round to see how everything went. Yeah for Flower Hole coverage – where my cousins volunteered...

Pretty fun to see. And pretty amazing to be a part of!

I'm pretty exhausted and sun-drenched right now and looking forward to cooling off and sleeping in. Hope I didn't bore you for the past week, but this was a pretty big deal! 

Please continue to enjoy your holiday weekend! 

USSO :: Day Six

Today was many things. It was Round 3 of championship play at the U.S. Senior Open but Day 1 of the cut / reduced field. Today was also our 21st wedding anniversary so I took Jim to the tournament of course. And today was also hot. Even now, it's after 9 p.m. and 74 degrees. Today was 87 and felt like it!

We headed up to Stevens Point midmorning. Basically just walked around to see what we could.

Sat in the grandstands at hole 9 for a different perspective from volunteering. Sand was just as much of a challenge as the creek!

From this angle, you can see why it was such a fun and challenging hole to volunteer on.

Vijay Singh tees off. He did not have a super great day.

Padraig hits a water shot on hole 5. That was a tough one for him!

Tim Herron sinks a putt on hole 16 – also known as a our Flower Hole.

We hung out there for a bit, just for the chance to sit down!

We did have tickets to the skybox pictured here on hole 18. Earlier we got food and drink there, but it was so crowded, we knew we'd never get a seat. And in today's heat, we didn't want to stand all day.

So we parked ourselves in the grandstands at 18 and got to see some great finishes. Miguel above.

The amazing crowd of follower seen here for Wisconsin's own Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly.

They had a great finish, both carding birdies and placing second and third for the day.

They're great friends, which is evident in how happy they were for each other's finishes.

Very cool Wisconsin moment.

At the end of the day, we got to see the leader Bernhard Langer finish up.

If he wins this thing tomorrow he'll set a record for most Senior tour wins. Pretty cool to be part of this.

Of course, I completely forget to get our anniversary picture on the course. Duh, me. So here we are on the way home. With my groom belting out classic country or classic rock on the radio! Love my hot date!

Oh and P.S. ....

I started the day making national news on CBS Saturday Morning! There will never be another birthday-anniversary-palooza week quite like this one. Ever!

USSO :: Day Four

Today's first round of competition can be summed up in three letters: H-O-T. And maybe: P-A-R. But not many birdies.

I got there an hour or two before my volunteer shift. Totally different vibe today. Lots and lots of spectators. And the Flower Hole has loved the recent rain and now the heat.

I only managed to grab a few pictures on my phone before and after my volunteer shift.

John Huston gets out of the pristine white bunker on the Flower Hole.

John O'Donnell, the founder of johnnie-O Apparel, was having a good time.

Vijay teed off on hole 9 right before my shift.

Mike Weir teed off on hole 9 right after my shift.

In between was a much more intense volunteer shift than earlier days. You don't want to make a mistake or miss finding a ball or any task when it's real competition – and on TV. Oh in just 96 countries. No biggie. And did I mention it was hot?

This was at 7 p.m.! Yes, quite a day. I stopped to by some adult Pedia-lite just to get rehydrated. 

I don't know if it was the heat or what, but only 4 – yes, just 4 – players finished under par today. Wow. Not I do not feel badly about any score I've carded on this course for golf league! But side note. Watch it on TV a bit and feel free to be jealous.

I cooled off in the media center with my co-workers after the shift.

That's pretty cool in and of itself. Feel free to be jealous again.

And when I asked about my round, er day, I said, "Things are just starting to heat up!"

Thanks for following along. Be careful out there!

USSO :: Day Three

The poor air quality could do nothing to dampen my spirits today on day 2 of practice rounds – and my birthday! 

Of course, my day was made early when I got a picture with superstar hockey player Joe Pavelski! He went to school in Stevens Point and has played SentryWorld. And recently had a crazy amazing season for Dallas! Lucky me!

Of course it was also great to see our friend Rob from Wisconsin Golf in the media center. I think hubby owes him a round at TriCity yet this summer.

Since it was still practice today, I could take some more action pictures with my good camera. Caught a few of the legends I missed yesterday.

David Toms.

Oh and a few more stogies today, too!

Ken Tanigawa.

Finally got to see Vijay Singh in action, too!! 

Driving range was busy all day.

Got to see Colin Montgomerie again today.

You can see a bit of the hazy sky here.

Miguel Angel Jiménez briefly but down the cigar to shoot.

Not the second shot, though!

Right before my volunteer shift started, my cousin Laryn brought over our cousin Leonard Johnson, whoI had no idea lived up the road in Marshfield all these years!

And the star of the day was our friendly fox. First he was sunning himself.

Then after one group teed off, He went to investigate the ball on the fairway.

Well that's one way to move your ball further down the fairway! 

He dropped it out of his mouth.

Pondered playing soccer with it.

Then moved on.

Ted Tryba and his caddy couldn't believe what they just saw!

The picture with the ball in the mouth went a little viral today. I couldn't resist sharing it everywhere!

Kenny Perry teeing off.

And Tom Lehman!

Still didn't get pictures of a few others, but now competition starts tomorrow so my phone will have to do.

Got home and Jim took us down to The Lure to celebrate my birthday. Yummy dinner as always!

Couldn't believe with this haze that we could barely see the other side of the lake!

Stopped at Sand Valley to show Laryn and Lydell those unique courses.

Was hazy there, too. But you know what? I was OK with it. It was a pretty special birthday all around! 

Thanks for all the special wishes and heartfelt messages. Love you all!