In It For The Long Haul

Some things are worth waiting for. And some aren't. Hubby and I are in this dreamland together of a Viking Super Bowl victory some day "before we die." We don't invest much time in that, trust me!

What IS worth waiting for is the right partner in life. To love and support you unconditionally – and make you smile, laugh, and love yourself.

That's was I was blessed to find in Jim. And today marks 24 years of marriage. I won't say "wedded bliss" because people are lying if they say that after more than two decades with someone. There are ups and downs. But when I'm down, he pulls me up, and when he's down, I offer to help, but he usually helps himself! 

When you find THAT person, it makes it all worth it!

We didn't really get to celebrate today. Jim worked and I cleaned out a large box worth of clothes from my closet for donation. (Yay, stay-cation!) That's a start. Tonight he has golf league. 

But more wicked storms are coming, so he'll be lucky to finish. And I figured I better blog while we still have electricity.

Hug your blessings today – and tell them you love them!! 💜💜

Not Gonna Lose Our Shot

This is, I swear, the most random thing in the world. I was all set to wear a pink shirt today for National Wear Pink Day or whatever, but spotted a t-shirt I hadn't worn in some 4 or 5 years. So I donned one of my Hamilton (the musical) t-shirts.

Then when I was turning into my neighborhood after a post-work gas run, I saw a familiar color!

I parked my HRV and after confirming my friend Cindy I randomly picked this shirt today, made sure to take a picture. I mean, what are the odds?!

We saw Hamilton together years ago but the odds of us choosing today to wear our shirts is crazy. I guess that means we're due to see it again. Or see some "Broadway" show in our area in the coming months. 

It's kind of freaky, but I'll take it as a sign. I'm checking out shows right now!

#NotThrowingAwayMyShot

Summer Sweets and Treats

Summer is always full of cool treats – and some that are just delicious room temperature ones! Three examples:

1. I forgot to mention that after we all went to an early dinner after the dance recital, we (Ken, RoAnn, and I) were on a mission to find some good "hard" ice cream on the way home. However, there were so many detours just to get back home that we said screw it – let's just get it at the grocery store near Pine City!

Of course, after being in air-conditioning and walking into their very cool house, Ro and I said we needed to light the fire "pit" on the deck before we sat out there and ate the ice cream. Sometimes you have to warm up enough to eat ice cream, ya know? Smile if you understand our logic!

Side note: It was Cedar Crest Blueberry Waffle Cone. So good!

2. Both mornings I was there, I had a slice of delicious Amish Friendship Bread for breakfast. Amish Friendship Bread is like an adult chain letter for people who like to bake! Once you accept that batch of "starter" you cannot leave the cult. You can only break the chain by throwing away whatever starters you can't give away – including your own! So I resisted getting back into that (been there, done that) but did take a half-plus loaf home.

Got home from work today and this is what is left! So I guess hubby does like it. I remember that now. Should've rejoined the damn cult!

3. On my way home from work, I had to hunt and gather ingredients that may or may not be used in a trifle soon. (Hey, gotta get one more in before we're all working from home for 6 weeks!) And that's when I met my sweetest downfall.

Hadn't seen these before nor purchased them. But they fit my "theme." I am a huge HUGE coconut anything and everything fan. But I still felt I should taste test one when I got home. Just to be sure it would blend with the rest of the flavors and all that. I demand quality in my creations! 

Or something.

Anyway, I kid you not, I moaned out loud at first bite. Holy perfectly delicious flavor combination! Good thing Jim is golfing or he'd wonder what the hell was happening in the kitchen!!

I quickly shoved them in the fridge to chill with the other cookies – you have to do that so they cut up nicely (rather than mushy) the next day. But you know that from my previous Trifle Tutorials. I don't know how I can stay away from them! This will be my biggest test of willpower strength in recent days, that's for sure.

I mean I do have another cookie type to cut up as well for the cookie layer, so I might not need to "use" all them. #MeJustifyingANewAddiction. Bwaahaa.

Just... if you love coconut like I do, get yourself some of these!!!

I mean it is a flavor of summer after all... at least tropical islands that are summer year-round! Enjoy the treats of the season!

A Par-tial Improvement

So tonight was our second week of Ladies Golf League for my friend Molly and me. This time we were in the last grouping at 5:20 p.m. so that meant "normal/regular" golfers had tee times behind us. We were well aware of that. And hoping those guys behind us realized that we were held up by the ladies in front of us and so on.

They never FULLY caught up with us and gave us grief. And for that, we're grateful.

It also helped us maintain our more "relaxed" vibe compared to the first week. It certainly helped that one of us is done with work for the summer (thanks to a school district job) and the other of us was more serene (thanks to a decision/action at work).

I think we both knocked off 7 strokes from our week 1 performance... which is a big deal with just 9 holes. You wouldn't even recognize us... except for our matching clipped up hair. Ha.

We don't normally take a cart because we like to get our steps. But there was this threat of rain. And our hair, OMG, what would we do?! In the end, we did not get wet. AND we had more time to visit than when we use our own pull carts and zig and zang to the green.

Even though some mock lady golfers, I'm grateful God recognizes the importance of female friendships. Any where. Any setting.

Take advantage of those, ladies! 💗 

Building a Mist-ery

Last night was so weird. As I exited work, I could see crazy dark clouds to the north – heading south quickly. As it turned out, two neighbor friends had come up to Stevens Point to meet me for a little experiment.

We got to be treated while taking very serious participation in a "test run" of a new upscale restaurant experience. (Hey, hubby and I know our share of restaurant owners and managers! And he had golf league. His loss.) So here we are indoors and we missed the whole storm, which did end up reaching Rapids and sort of flattening my flowers – and also took down walls of the new Pizza Ranch under construction. Gasp!

The important thing is that my friends have adventurous appetites so, following their lead, I tried new things, too. For the good of the experiment.

The super delicious salad I had was just the beginning with its blueberries and toasted almonds with... kohlrabi (first time trying – new fan), white balsamic vinaigrette (this typically ranch girl is a new fan of this, too), and... goat cheese.

What the heck have I been missing for... ever? OMG. It's so good and light and creamy and wow.

To defend my lack of adventure with the goat cheese... Who among you siblings and Hedberg cousins recall when we'd visit Grandma in her apartment, she would not let us have one of those pecan cups she always made "not until you have some goat cheese."

I don't even know if we ever had to eat it. But my mind saw it as disgusting punishment. 

Oh, Grandma Minnie. Sorry I disappointed you. It's good stuff!

The rest of the dinner – off the charts. When we stepped outside it was sunny. So who knew while we were indulging that things were twisting and turning and down pouring?

The weird thing was that because the asphalt was so hot during the day with nearly 90 degrees again, the cool rain created a weird, fog-like mist to drive through on the way home to Wisconsin Rapids. Some of it was pretty thick. But we all made it home.

Today my foggy mist was my brain and body working together to remember how to golf.

First night of Ladies' League at TriCity. My friend Molly and I were shaking off the rust but had a blast because, well, what's better than golfing with a friend? It's the one thing I am not competitive in because I know my limited skill set. And I don't want pressure. Just fun.

I saved our scorecard so we can see where we go from here. We can only go up... while our score goes down, that is.

I just re-read this all and realize... there's Robyn... typical 24-hour span of life... so much. And I didn't even mention I got to King Cone for the first time in 2026 as a welcome-our-intern social after work! 

#livingthedream #ifyousayso

That Damn C Word

 

So... fricking cancer claimed the life of one of our favorite coworkers when we were at the newspaper. Granted, we exited in 2003 but we – at a minimum – have exchanged Christmas cards ever since.

I think what both Jim and I remember is that Diane always had a smile on her face. Even when we had last-minute changes of where ads had to be placed, etc. for the day's newspaper edition.

In a weird coincidence of the way-back time machine, I was in Lamaze class with Diane's son and daughter-in-law, who delivered their boy about a week or so before Carter. Diane watched them both on a few occasions over their toddler years and that's why we occasionally her called her "Grandma Diane."

Ugh.

I sometimes think during funeral times that it stinks how many people we know. But then have to pause and remember... they were pretty amazing people, how lucky were we that we got to spend part of our lives with them?

Just something to ponder.

You're So Vain... I Bet You Think This Blog is About You...

I'm at the point in life where it turns out the best-laid plans never work out compared to the last-minute plans.

So when friend Becky (who I plan to spend all next weekend with at scrap camp) told me yesterday she had an extra ticket to some live music at the Wausau Grand Theater for tonight, I said, "Heck, yeah. I'll join you."

I actually didn't care what was on the agenda since I'm that weird "I love musicals, stage and live concerts" chick. But in this case the band was called Three American Troubadours – a tribute to the music of James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Carol King.

As a fan of the Tapestry album, I was "count me in" in no time.

So I headed up to Wausau straight from work and met Becky for dinner at Texas Roadhouse (where one of her kiddos usually works when he's not injured from a wayward knife – ooof). It was great to catch up since we USED to do that at 2 a.m. at Camp Crop-A-Lot, but now value sleep much more. So next weekend we can scrap to our hearts' delight and feel good about where our friendship updates are at!

It was also a weird coincidence that we sat in front of one of Jim's cousins and his wife – who works where I work and we just happened to connect today. I swear I'm not stalking anyone!

While we felt like Flower Children from the '70s, I think Becky and I were among the youngest flowers there. As for the talent tonight, they were amazing. They each sounded like their Taylor, Simon, and King counterparts. And, obviously, there weren't any song we didn't know. And they included insights to the songwriting for some of the numbers – so that was cool, too.

Still surprised (in the back of my mind) how "tribute" bands do so well. But they do somehow fill the house!

Managed to get home by midnight with my only deer sightings within 5 minutes from home. Obviously listening to the '70s channel on SiriusXM radio kept me calm. Ha.

Post-Holiday Celebration

After our Friday Christmas celebration with all the Austins, our holiday celebration continued on Saturday morning with the three boys and their special ladies.

I'm not ashamed to brag but I made a very tasty egg and spicy sausage egg bake.

And grandpup Rey was the most well-behaved and well-loved girl in the house! Love days like that.

After the house was empty, I did some yarn shopping in Point for a special project. And today was church in the morning and a different kind of celebration this afternoon.

Hubby has developed quite the cough so I went by myself to give our friend (and 20 years' former newspaper coworker) condolences since she just lost her husband to cancer. Naturally, I arrive crying and saying I totally meant to be strong for HER! Ooof. I did see a few other newspaper coworkers so that was nice to catch up, too.

Wasn't long after that our predicted snow storm made it self known. We'll see what it dumps on us tonight. Since I'm on vacation and neither one of us has any place to go on Monday, I think we'll be just fine.

If you're traveling, though, be safe out there!

One More Sleep

Who's so excited for her scrapbooking weekend that she had her car packed LAST night? Apparently, THIS girl!

I was missing a few key items that had to wait until tonight/tomorrow morning... like my clothes for the weekend. Even though I'll wear the same thing probably all 4 days. And the food and snacks – which half are in the fridge right now.

Including my Pumpkin Spice Spice Baby Trifle I whipped together after work! 

Now I just have to throw my clothes together and hopefully I'll be all set to hit the road at 8 a.m. Must make the most of 4 days! Ha. 

I don't know if I'll have time or connectivity to blog at all. I'll be working to finish up my 2017 "family memories" album and get a good start at 2018. My high school BFF Julie will be joining me again (yay). Sometimes we get more distracted chit-chatting than scrapping. But you know what? I wouldn't change that for anything. 

So no judging on my productivity (or lack of it). I really need these 4 days out of the office!

Plus, reliving memories is so fun and healing. Today my dad would have been 98 years old. Logically, I know he wouldn't have made it this far. But that doesn't make me miss him any less. I scrapbook to preserve moments in time that I want to cherish from this day forward. 

I mean if you can find a hobby that's both fun and therapeutic, you gotta grasp it and hang on!

Mommies Seeing the Mummies

 
Back in the days when hubby and I commuted to work in Iola, nearly an hour drive, we listened to the Bob and Tom Show on the radio in the mornings. Their often close to R-rated programming format is showcasing lots of comedians and bands that also could pass as comic relief. 

That's when we first heard Here Come the Mummies. We immediately liked and were entertained by this eight-piece funk-rock band of 5000-year-old Egyptian mummies with a one-track mind. So this summer, when I saw they were playing in Wausau at The Grand Theater this fall, I bought tickets as a birthday or anniversary gift for Jim.

Fast forward 2 months and he scheduled his guys golf weekend at the same time. So I had to find a backup date in short order. You know who works well for that? Golf partners who also share an occasional raunchy sense of humor. So it was Molly and I – two mommies – off to see the Mummies tonight!

It rained all the way up there but it stopped so we could walk around near The Grand and get something to eat. Ended up eating at The Limerick, an Irish pub a couple blocks away. Good stuff.

The concert was almost like a micro-music festival with opening sets from TWO (very loud, rock-heavy) bands – Platinum Moon and Lachy Doley. It after 9 p.m. before HCTM took over and we could party like it's 1999 B.C.! 

It was impossible to get a decent shot from the upper balcony, especially since lights were constantly changing colors or flashing. But you can see they ARE dressed as mummies! And they played until 11 p.m.

They are such a talented and entertaining group. I'm glad one of us could enjoy our anniversary. Ha. And Molly did, too! Now to get the funky dance tunes out of my head so I can sleep fast for church choir in the morning. 

I Used to Like Purple

Anyone who knows me knows I love purple. But I don't always have to like it! Especially when it represents below average temperatures on a long holiday weekend!

Today was worse because it was both chilly AND rainy. My friend Molly and I had planned to take the afternoon off and golf. But it was raining and that didn't seem fun. So we just met for lunch instead! That was nice.

Then I just worked the afternoon and tried to warm up. Tonight our friend Todd's band is playing down by Lake Arrowhead. Outdoors of course because it's allegedly still summer. Some friends were going as well so I sent Jim on his own. I hate being cold. And it's already down to the 50s.

So I've got my blanket warming up and I'm watching the original Footloose on TV. That combo should warm me up pretty fast.

Have a warm and dry and fun and safe holiday weekend!

The Sun Sets on Lucy and Ethel

First of all, if you're too young to know who the "Lucy and Ethel" are in my blog title, it's your loss. Google it and enjoy some belly laughs. Full disclosure, this was before my time too, but I was treated to reruns as a child!

Tonight was our final night of the Foxy Ladies Golf League. We had a sort of scramble format which meant my partner Molly and I were scrambling but so were against the other two in our foursome. All summer this is how we did Couples League but tonight was the first time for our Women's League. Since Molly and I are typically bogie/double bogie golfers, we still did about the same. We tried to help each other out but it wasn't in our golfing nature.

Still, what we realized with our matching side hairclips, was that we are today's version of Lucy and Ethel. We are laughing through the whole round because it is genuine "feel good to be reconnecting" feelings. And perhaps we're the only ones to get the humor. But we're so funny, so please tune us in!

We also managed to pull out a "second place in the league" accolade. Don't try to be our friends NOW that we're swimming in money. Or something.

I just can't get over how it was destiny that I reconnected with Lucy when this Ethel needed a new partner – and we had known each other for more than decade. Never put an expiration date on a friendship. The universe can throw you back together at the most surprising times (school BINGO) and you'll forever be grateful!

Trifle Thursday Sneek Peak

 

When the "new girl" at work isn't on Facebook and doesn't know about my blog I can give you all a sneak peek of our Trifle Thursday celebration for her upcoming birthday Saturday – and she'll be none the wiser.

I also have a longtime friend at work who just got a promotion – and she loves Circus Animal Cookies – so this could be a 2-for-1 trifle day!

Here's the latest concoction recipe of sorts by layer:

• Since the temps have been more than HOT, I did not bake the cake layers on this one. I bought vanilla and confetti mini-cupcakes and sliced them up. 
• The matching pink layer is just white chocolate pudding with some red food coloring.
• The crunchy layer is my old stand by – diced up vanilla wafer cookies (you know, the ones with frosting in between the wafer layers).
• Topped with Cool Whip and more animals.

After all, this is my circus and these are my monkeys! Sounds delicious to me.

Summer Scratch 'n' Sniff

I took a lunchtime walk with my friend Jenny and her lilac blooms were heaven scent! As I shared a photo of them, I said, "You can smell this picture, can't you?" That's when I thought that lilacs would be a great adult Scratch 'n' Sniff sticker! 

Sorry if you're too young to remember this staple of all our school notebooks in the '80s! It was entertaining and pretty amazing! 

As it turns out, my thought was not unique. There is actually a company called Everything Smells that has a lilac sticker! I might have to look into that now that I found it. 

Today was quite the summer reveal in Wisconsin. I thought yesterday was a nice golf day...

...But today – with our high of 86 – it would have been a nice afternoon to ride a boat after work. If you were the type of person who has one.

Instead, just like trying to keep up with salt accumulation on the car in the winter, I made a pointless attempt to keep up with washing the yellow-green pollen on my car. after work. It may last a day. Or maybe two. Meanwhile...

I created this very IMPORTANT POLL: Yes it's 85 degrees out but Spring Sports are not over, so...

• Keep the winter clothing in the backseat (👍)
• Remove and trust Mother Nature this once (🤣)

Thank you for your participation.

So far, the results reflect a resounding anti-trust issue with Mother Nature! So I'll give it time. And, so far it is not interfering with space for my golf pull-cart and clubs! 🏌

Be careful in this heat and careful, too, for the wicked weather which may or may not interfere with Tuesday afternoon tee time! Again... Mother Nature trust issues.

Playing Through

It was probably appropriate that the first night of ladies golf league started today, on the one-year anniversary of my mom's death. Because I really needed the distraction!

I actually worked from home today because I had graduation practice this morning (Stop on the X and smile tomorrow!) and figured it would take too much drive time for me to be productive at work. I also predicted that since I did not handle my first Mother's Day well (or not at all) that I'd be a hot mess.

All of this was mostly true.

As I posted this photo today, I said... 365 days without you, Mom. That's 365 moments I've wanted to call you with a funny pun, solve a Wheel of Fortune puzzle together, wanted to play cards with you, wanted to hug you. What I wouldn't give for one on those childhood walks in the woods with you! 

I guess 6 of my 7 siblings got together Up North to honor Mom over dinner. But my one sister was traveling and I didn't get enough notice to travel 4 hours to meet them. 

Again, that's why it's good I had golf league with a friend and we played "against" 2 other friends of mine. They knew my head-space and were supportive. We won't talk about my golf score. There seems to be a pattern of my sucking big time on "Mom" days.

I'm guessing my angel momma is looking over me for far bigger issues! Love and miss you! 💔

Cinco de Putt-oh!

Most people today would think of the next great taco or margarita they can get their hands on to celebrate a holiday of the country we're building a wall between. But I guess that's none of my concern. 

For me, though, it was the question of can I get out of work fast enough to experience the great golf weather we missed out on yesterday. Now since hubby has at least 3 or 4 rounds in, this was all about me.

Well me and Mr. Foxy that is. We were on a mission to spoil a "good walk" for the first time in 2025. And I'm pretty sure we succeeded. For me, there was a lot of self-imposed pressure to implement the lessons I learned last week in my first golf lesson ever. 

Some of that helped.

Other times I just wanted to try out newer clubs whether they were right for the situation or not. In the end, I was OK my first "get the ugly swings out of the way" round of golf was just a double-bogey round and not something worse.

Unfortunately, looking at spring sports and my other things on the calendar, it might be a hot minute until I get out there in the coming week or 2. 

Historically, though, thank goodness that doesn't last long! 🏌

Sundays in Dobberville

After a little hiatus since the BIG jackpot was won, I was wondering what my good luck (er, good duck) fox would do.

As usual with fair-weather dobbers, we had a smaller crowd today since the progressive jackpot was starting over at just shy of $600. But we did have over 100 players there so the jackpots were the larger of the two choices in each game. 

Thank goodness I sat with my group of veteran players because playing 12 cards myself, I almost missed the fact I could yell BINGO during the 4-corners game. Unfortunately, the $70 pot for this one doesn't go far when you have to split it between 4 winners. Still, they graciously rounded up from $17.50 each to an even $18. #winning

None of us at our table won the 50/50 raffle or the big coverall round. I will say being achingly close with just 2 squares to go was pretty painful. But per usual, we smile and nod and promise to be back and say it was for a great cause – this time our high school soccer team.

For me, winning was seeing an interesting exhibit at our museum after BINGO (which I'll blog about tomorrow) and catching a 2-mile walk in the "fake spring weather" with a friend. 

We'll see what other nice surprises are in store this week!

Skate-By Sunday

Naturally, I'd love to brag about a Vikings win during a Packers' bye week. But since we barely won, I made sure I adjusted the graphic above to reflect our just skating-by victory. 

I'm disappointed but at least honest.

Since the Pack was on bye, though, we got to watch the game in central Wisconsin. After our duties in church (my choir does have 2 other Vikings fans!).

While we were watching our friend Christine came over. She was in town for the weekend and was willing to visit while her Packers were not playing. We definitely did not force her to cheer for the purple. It was just great to see her, that's all!

I was supposed to have my final final senior photo shoot after the game, but that got postponed until Friday. So it was really a low-key day. I may or may not be planning a few things for my "sister getaway" this week. Since it's Tuesday-Thursday this year, we can't really call it our usual Wild Women's Weekend. But we can pretend.

Hidden message: I only have to work tomorrow (and Friday if I'm up to it) this week. Yay, me! Yay, sisterhood!

Hope you all have something to look forward to this week! 

God, Bless the Helpers

Yesterday was overwhelming. But in a good way. The benefit for my sister Rachel and her friend and passenger Brian was amazing – to put it mildly. You can't put a price tag on the amount of love and support that came pouring in – through raffle basket and monetary donations plus items for the silent and live auctions and money dropped in the buckets for each of them.

First, my heart was smiling that my dear friends helped me provide 15 raffle baskets – and then when all was said and done, there were more than 100! Crazy amazing! There were also more than a dozen each items for the silent and live auctions.

Of course, it was just just amazing that the Luck fire hall was full for most of the time. So many people came out to support them both. I saw a lot of cousins that I saw in recent weeks due to family funerals, but this was finally a positive reason to get together.

When Rachel gave her thank-you message she mentioned her daily devotion of 1 Corinthians 13:7, thanking the helpers – as in all the people who helped put the benefit together and all those who donated items ahead of time to make it work! (P.S. I thank you, too! You KNOW who you are! 💖 ) – And all her family, friends, and prayer warriors (I know YOU, too, thanks!).

Both Rachel and Brian were understandably emotional and overwhelmed! Shocked and amazed.

Naturally, the paramedics who saved their lives got a standing ovation too. So grateful for you!!!

They even gifted her a new jacket since they had to cut her nice one off of her while extricating her from her car. Who thinks of that? Apparently, Midwest Nice EMTs do! How awesome.

We got a picture of us 8 R's too. We know Dad and Mom were smiling down on us and so grateful all 8 of could be alive and together. We're grateful, too!!

So thankful for the Luck Fire and Rescue Dept for their manual labor during this event.

And for letting me be an honorary member. I do have an official T-shirt given to me after this. LOL!

A couple side notes: 

I was lucky enough to win a few raffle baskets myself and for a friend who gave me basket money. 

And I was more than blessed to see family, cousins and some LHS classmates, plus a long-lost fellow confirmation class friend from junior high (hi Tim!). 

And... thanks to my generous friends Julie, Dar, Marigene, Gene, Cindy, Terri, Julie, Michelle, Sara, Jill, Christy, Jane, and Jackie!

On behalf of me and my sister, I love you all!

Paid-For-Views

It just happened that I could head up north to a park in the Wausau area this afternoon instead of watching the Vikings fall like leaves to the Lions. I always say it's good to keep a team humble. But a last-second field goal is painful when we usually just lost it ourselves by missing one. Well done, Detroit.

I arrived at Bluegill Bay County Park early enough to scout out the location and see fall colors. Totally peaking in the Wausau area!

I also saw a blue heron in the distance and managed to find a trail through the woods to sneak up on it for a photo.

If you know me, you gotta question how I kept quiet enough about ANYTHING to be sneaky. But I did. Literally, my only victory of the day.

That and getting paid to be there (ha) to take senior pictures of my friend Becky's son who I've known since birth and still think of him as a 10-year-old delivering me a Shamrock Shake at Camp Crop-A-Lot!

I hope to look through the pictures tonight but I am flying to San Diego in the a.m. (for work) and really need to be sound asleep at 8 p.m. to get 8 hours of sleep tonight. The positive, is that the weather out there should be just like today's glorious Wisconsin temps of the mid-70s or so. 

It'll be just like home. Only slightly different views, fall colors, and birds.

Have a great week!