And We All Fall Down

After getting delayed on my commute by at least 20 minutes today just trying to navigate through Plover, I was reminded in the back of mind about a Michael Douglas movie where he totally lost it in a traffic jam. I get you, man.

With some quick research, thank you Google, I realized it was called Falling Down and released in 1993. They labeled it "The adventures of an ordinary man at war with the everyday world." That's most of us every day, isn't it?

I'm not sure why I went to see it in the theater other than there were few entertainment options then. Plus I was single and some guy probably promised me popcorn. Ha.

In the movie, his character is desperately trying to get to the birthday party of his daughter (living with his ex-wife) and basically has a breakdown and leaves his car in a traffic jam in Los Angeles and decides to walk. 

While I do need my steps, I was in no mood to get out and walk – first it was still 10 miles to work. And secondly, the temps dropped down to just a high of like 52 today. I will cope with my impatience in my heated driver's seat, thank you.

But it probably did fuel my attitude for day where I was pretty impatient with some people who had no time to acknowledge or appreciate my offer to help, etc. Some days are like that. Are our mid-50s the age we lose our filter to NOT get defensive about things like that? I think so. 

And I hate that and I regret that.

But am I ready (well, mature enough) to extend an olive branch? Knowing my luck, it would blow away in these cold spring winds.

Lord, help me!

Sneaky Sticker Shock

After an oil change this morning, I had to stop and gas up and... I must not have paying attention lately because gas prices have jumped sky high.

Also why I was putting gas in my mileage-friendly Honda vs hubby's truck for an evening trip to Green Bay for a friend's retirement.

I looked it up – on my trusty, historical-record-type blog, of course – and the last time gas prices were of concern or of note was in June of 2022 when we hit $4.87 per gallon of the regular unleaded variety. God bless you diesel people. Ouch.

We did have fun at our friend Scott's retirement party. We both worked with him at Rapids newspaper and then again at the publishing house in Iola. He and his wife Sandy are the ones from Green Bay that we meet up with each summer for at least one golf round on a nice course somewhere!

On the way home, we had to keep a sharp eye out for deer and orange construction barrels. It's that time of year.

You'd think this would be a nice sunset reflection on a lake. But nope its a flooded farm field near Shiocton. Nearly half of the 400 homes in the village were evacuated two weeks ago as the Wolf River reached record levels with that constant rain. The road was dry today. But there is going to be quite the agricultural impact on that area of Wisconsin, I'm sure.

Got home in time for me to get 8 hours of sleep before I sing in church in the morning. Then BINGO. I gotta play for gas money now!!

Spring Brake, Palm Sunday, Etc.

So I was thinking that when my church choir and I sang two songs on Palm Sunday that for sure I'd have an "in" to win the cross BINGO. Nope. There were two games that I was one away from BINGO and couldn't claim a payout in time.

Close does NOT count in BINGO. Still, so fun! Too bad there's only 2 Sundays left this "season."

When I got home and it was 64 degrees I quickly changed shoes and went for a walk. Dang the snowplow drivers did some damage to neighborhood yards when they could tell road from anything with 2 feet of snow.

Was fun to catch my friend Marigene on the circle and the a few miles in, though. So nice!

Went to the store later for trifle ingredients and was struck by the knowledge that we really never know of a spring pothole is half an inch deep or half a bucket deep! Uff da. Wow. Actually so grateful for the bucket at this grocery store because my Black Betty would not have handled that well!

Of course, spring brakes wouldn't be complete without something BREAK-ing. For me. That's my bracket. Dang Duke. 

As Forrest Gump would say, "That's all I've got to say about that." 😩

Forget all the madness. Enjoy spring the next 24 hours!

Leprechaun Vibes

St. Patty's Day is over but I'm still feeling leprechaun vibes. Not only am I vertically challenged but so is my car! Still cannot see over piles of snow at most intersections.

And this icicle at work? It might be as tall as me by the time it's fully formed. If it doesn't fall to it's melting death first.

Roads were better on way home but any city side streets are just slushy messes. The temps are supposed the rise the next few days. I was ambitious thinking that when I got home tonight I could shovel out our turnaround area before the melting created Lake Austin.

This little area here is the concrete area I usually back into when pulling out of the garage. I was wrongly thinking that since the snow was fluffier to shovel Monday that today would be same. But no. Warmer temps added moisture and I realized right away my aging back ain't made for this. So I quit that almost as soon as I started!

My leprechaun car is small enough I can back up, make a few tries at a Y turn and eventually get out the driveway hood-first without any problem. So I will deal another day with this First World problem!

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. 😃

Life Detours

There's two seasons in Wisconsin – Blaze Orange and Orange Barrels. If you know, you know. 

Even though I'm facing a detour on my commute the next 7 months, I didn't realize we'd get simultaneous major detours in life. My family has had quite the orange barrel season the past month.

The good news is that my mom is out of the hospital. Yay! But she is going to the nursing home section of the same hospital. She's having a positive attitude, so that's good. It will be different to visit her where Dad was living in his last days. I hope that she's there much longer than Dad was.

The other good news is that my sister Rachel had some 8 hours in surgery today and she survived just fine. Hopefully, that means her left elbow and foot are fixed. The last of all those broken bones. Praise the Lord! 

I guess when we see how much work HAS to be done, we sometimes have to remember that we have to trust it will be done. Maybe not on the timeline we wish for, but it will be done. 

Thanks for all the prayers for my family. But we still need them. I can't imagine what it will be like when Rachel tries to take her first steps when both legs have injuries. Just like I can't imagine what Mom will go through the first time she wants to bake something or tend to all her African violets.

We'll need prayers for just a bit longer as we navigate these detours. Thank you!

Score: Low, Fun: High

We don't often take bus trips to Brewers games. But when we do, they better be playing one of our teams. And we better be going with good people. 

Today was both. The Brew Crew hosted hubby's Cincinnati Reds for a 1:10 p.m. start. That meant the nice coach bus was leaving Assumption at 7:20 a.m. – totally worth it to not have to drive! If you haven't been to what we all still call "Miller Park," it's a pretty nice place to see a game. For any fan and any weather.

Our group of more than 60 Assumption and Rudolph friends consisted of approximately 56 Brewers fans, 1 Reds fan, and 3 neutral Twins fans.

I even wore black to prove that point. Just here for fun and good baseball.  

We could see pretty decently down the first base line. And we were thankfully in the shade all day. Even though it was only 76 degrees, I'm sure we would've melted in the sun! 

Although there were plenty of hits, a lot on both sides were left on base. Brewers ended up squeaking by with a 1-0 win.

Poor Jim. But at he pointed out, the Reds are still in first place over the Brewers in their division.

Meanwhile, my Twins got slaughtered by the Orioles today so we slipped a half game behind first in the American Central. Good thing it's early July. Lots of baseball left.

And hopefully lots more fun with friends this summer! Hope you had a great weekend.

Orange You Glad It's Spring?

I saw them last week. Just sitting there waiting for Easter to be over as to not appear to forceful. But they were quickly out in full force today.

Those darned orange barrels.

I had the one-lane-of-traffic deal going into town (and back). And I know from signs on the interstate that'll have that as part of my commute, starting tomorrow.

The only good thing is that the Orange Barrel powers that be must think spring is here today.

I mean it sure felt like it today! Unreal. And tomorrow will be warmer. And Wednesday a bit warmer. This girl is happy!

And this is the last bit of snow in out yard. A thin strip hiding behind Jim's big shed. That will definitely be gone by midweek. But the best sign today was this email notification...

It's happening, folks! It is just about time to PLAY BALL! We'll have a double-header at home against Stratford. So at least we know we'll get two games out of the way while Mother Nature is cooperating. Softball also hosts the Tigers for two games, starting a 4:15 p.m.

My camera is packed. Let's do this, Spring!