Chance of Accumulation

Had to get up a bit early today since we had a short choir practice before church since we were off from practices during the holidays and wanted a great performance. Naturally! I was still a bit stuffed up – including my stinkin' ears – but went anyway since I also had to read in church today. 

No one fired me from these two volunteer positions so I guess I did OK.

Our last Vikings game of the season was on TV since, well, we were hosting the Packers. We won, but not an exciting game. And it would have been better for our Draft situation if we had lost. Oh well, SKOL!

After that I switched onto craft mode. Not crocheting today. My big project I INTENDED to attack on my week off was tackling my office a.k.a. Oh My God Room a.k.a Scrap Cave. Which I obviously was too sick and weak to do. But I did make some more progress today.

I have a pile of "to donate" scrapbooking paper that continues to accumulate. It there was something unique, I offered if for fellow scrap friends on Facebook and so far have most of that claimed for. Still have a ways to go.

Why get rid of it? First of all, I will never admit I have "enough" scrapbooking paper or that "I don't need more." But some of this I've had for 20-plus years – a lot were free samples when I edited scrapbooking magazines back in my "best job ever" days – and it's just sat there "in case" I needed it for this page or that. 

And that hasn't happened yet. LOL.

So next step it choosing which "organization" or whatever would really use this stuff. I've been given a few ideas, so I'll see what's the easiest for me. Because if this hoarder-in-the-making is willing to let something go, she better have an easy way to do it!

But speaking of accumulation...

In addition to those icicles hanging from our still sexy soffits (top photo), we have a chance for so much more. I love the color purple but it is never a good thing on radar. It's accumulating right now and we'll have another round Monday night into Tuesday morning – when I actually have to drive into work.

Not fun. Be smart and stay safe, everyone!

Back in the Game – Sort Of

 

It was a tough re-entry into the workforce today after a week away from my desk. Mainly because I'm still feeling a bit under the weather with no energy but also because we had to learn a lot of new things before break and I don't know if I remember them all!

Then, with false confidence after work, I thought I could tackle a drive to Stevens Point to take pictures of the Pacelli Co-op Hockey game which includes some Assumption kids. 

Excited to be back with my friend Mr. Zamboni but... I barely lasted through the first period. Just was too weak from this fun ick-ness this week. Felt too hot in a cold hockey rink so that tells you something. Still, I got pictures of 17 minutes of play and will have to make it back.

On the plus side, hubby and I are sneezing / coughing / blowing our noses less. Just need a little more time to shove this gift of "cold" away and embrace the new year. I know several loved ones struggling with similar health issues right now. Maybe the rest of the year is all upward and onward from here!

We can hope!

Goodbye 2025 – No Hard Feelings

The only festive things about this New Year's Eve is this graphic. Yesterday and today were just two old people hanging close to home – sneezing, coughing, and blowing our noses. And blowing snow. Must it snow every day?

As I mentioned, I'm a few days' behind hubby on this "fun" so he's finally improving and I am hoping to turn the corner tomorrow. Before returning to work Friday. Ugh.

I want to give some inspiring reflection on the past year (Can it end already? No hard feelings!), but I'm not feeling it. Especially after such a work-related stressful December and now feeling the crud. But my former boss (I miss her) shared this with me this morning and I think it could hit home for a lot of us who expect too much of this old year-new year transition business.

This Morning Matters More Than the Countdown
(A New Year’s Eve Morning Reflection by Levend Montgomery)

This morning is different. Not because everything has changed, but because you are standing at the edge of something finishing.

New Year’s Eve is often treated like a night to escape into noise, but it begins as a morning to stand in clarity.

Before the countdowns.
Before the reflections rush past.
Before the pressure to summarize an entire year into a sentence.

You woke up here on purpose.

You didn’t arrive at this morning untouched.

You carry a year’s worth of moments in your body.
Some strengthened you.
Some stripped things away.
Some required courage you didn’t know you possessed.

There were prayers whispered and prayers wrestled with.
Endings you accepted.
Endings you didn’t choose.
Faith that held steady.
Faith that limped.

None of it was wasted.

God is not waiting until midnight to be present.

He has already met you here.
In the quiet before the year closes.
In the ordinary hours that don’t get celebrated.

The God who carried you through the past months is not suddenly more available when the calendar turns.

Faithfulness does not operate on a clock.
This morning is not asking you to evaluate the year.
It’s asking you to stand honestly inside it.

You don’t need a final verdict on success or failure.
You don’t need to rush into resolutions.
You don’t need to tidy up every loose end.

Some things take longer than a year to make sense of.
Some growth only becomes visible in hindsight.

There is wisdom in beginning the last day slowly.

Slow enough to acknowledge what shaped you.
Slow enough to release what no longer needs to be carried.
Slow enough to thank God for the strength you borrowed when yours ran out.

This day is not a finish line.
It’s a handoff.

Walk through this morning grounded, not nostalgic.

Carry gratitude without romanticizing pain.
Carry hope without demanding certainty.
Carry trust without needing a full map of what comes next.

You are not closing a chapter alone.
And you are not stepping into the next one unaccompanied.

Goodbye, 2025! Whether you're ringing in the New Year with a midnight toast or a Nyquil-induced 9 p.m. bedtime, be joyous, grateful – and safe!! 

I Don't Care How Pretty You Are

I know the days are starting to get longer now, but today felt like 3 days' long! And that was without leaving the house!

We woke to about 5 inches of snow and below-zero feels. My hubby the winter hero spent the morning nose-blowing and snowblowing here and at his dad's. And I am about a day and half behind him on the winter cold/cough train. So I had absolutely no energy!

What I did accomplish was starting a trifle cookbook (well not really, but I do have 6 recipes done anyway for friends who got trifle bowls for Christmas). 

Then I switched to scrapbooking mode. It took all afternoon but I found and uploaded all my 2018 photos I want to use at Camp Crop-A-Lot in February – but since there are 392 of them they won't all fit anyway. But.... drum roll please... I ordered the prints!! What? I know. Crazy. Still have lots of prep and organizing to do once I get the photos, but this is a great start.

And for my final accomplishment of the day, I wrote a poem.

Thoughts on Winter

Dear, winter:

I don't care how pretty you are.

I still hate you.

The end.

Be careful out there, my friends!

Positive Pink Vibes

As I mentioned earlier in the week, Thursday night was the Pink Out night to raise money for cancer treatment at the Royals volleyball game. 

I worked from home Thursday with my stupid lingering cough, but I think those meds finally started kicking in. I was feeling OK enough to capture photos of the volleyball match (hey, the zoom lens is like socially distancing) and, well, win a raffle basket, of course! More Royals merch. What I need know that my kid has been out of school (gasp) 9 years. WHAT? Also, they raised $3,292 for woman I told you about with stage 4 colon cancer. Nice work!

Last night I had the best night of sleep in 2+ weeks. Hardly any coughing. YAY.

Since today is Friday I was already working from home. So no special exceptions needed. Didn't cough much all day. I think and hope hubby and I are both at a turning point for the good. But I shouldn't jinx that any further! 

Since we don't have a football game tonight, we're both hanging close to home. As in sitting in recliners shortly and cheering the heck on the Brewers! Come on, guys! Even non-Brew fans want this for you!!

Hope we all wake up with something positive on our minds in the morning!

Waiting For The Magic To Happen

 

I almost titled this blog "Ditto" because not much has changed from yesterday. The Magic Pills we finally got late last night from the pharmacy didn't exactly kick in and cure everything. Or much.

Yet.

We are terrible patients with no patience. 

So for caution's sake, I professionally distanced myself from work and stayed in the home office today. I socially distanced myself at choir practice, sitting 3 pew rows back during practice. (Jim tackled practice at his church tonight as well.) 

And maritally distanced myself as both Jim and I pretty much stayed to our own offices/separate rooms. Based on our back-and-forth hacking heard across the house, we're still on the Respiratory Struggle Bus. Where is that darn next bus stop so we can get off??

Thanks for the kind words and prayers. We're adults. We've got this. I just happen to have a blog that allows me to whine about it. SORRY!!

Be careful out there!

Get In Line

The beautiful sunrise commute inspired me this morning as I made my way back to office for the first time in a week. To be honest, my body was not ready to return but I wanted to deliver that darn birthday trifle. 

Another night of coughing (for both of us) so I was pretty exhausted. I think that's our unfortunate current state of existence.

I did give it the old college try though and made it until lunchtime before deciding to drive home and work remotely for the afternoon. Since hubby had went back to the walk-in clinic this morning and got some prescriptions, I figured I better head over there, too, as my first order of business.

Turns out we are not the only ones with respiratory predicaments. Get in line! Thank goodness they had the Hallmark channel on in the waiting room!

My appointment took forever and, turns out, I have some prescriptions of my own. But here we are 6 hours later and the pharmacy doesn't have them ready. According to my app, they are super busy and "Sorry, we're running behind schedule." So we'll see what time we get our goods. 

And how quickly they produce any results.

I'm not going to be a birthday hero or any type of martyr tomorrow, that's for sure. If my coughing is the same as today I'll just stay put. I feel super blessed that this is something I can do with my current job. 

Hope you all are escaping the fall crud!

This Is Why We Go Through Crappy Mondays

While I was clearly griping and whining about my second round colonoscopy prep going like the first (Up-Chuck City), I came across the announcement about our Royals Volleyball team's annual Spike It To Cancer night...

The recipient of this year's fundraiser is the woman the exact same YOUNG age as me – and she's battling stage four colon cancer. Wow. That was a wake-up call.

How dare I complain about my literally crappy Sunday and Monday and this is her "every day"? Please help spread the word so we can fill the gym and help support Christine. JV game starts at 5:30 and Varsity game will be at 7 p.m.  Basket raffles and 50/50 will be drawn during the Varsity game. We should all be feeling lucky about right now. 💙

As for my experience today, they did do the procedure. Thank God I didn't feel anything this time (another nightmare). And they only found one thing they gotta get tested. Was home by late morning and took a little nap on the recliner.

Our Hack-A-Thon in this house did not take a break during this other crappy drama. Right now I feel like my cough got worse. Dang!! I did manage a second nap and will go to bed early with actual cough syrup I can now have that my procedure is over.

I did have one task to get done this afternoon. No worries. Did not work at all. Wise advice. I did however promise to whip together for a birthday at work tomorrow. 

First I masked up because no one needs what we've got going on here!!

Secondly, I followed doctor's orders and did not operate heavy machinery. My mom's rolling pin was the heaviest!

The result...

The ugliest and most sloppy-looking trifle I've ever laid claim too. All my layers are merging. Ugh. Maybe the anesthesia hasn't totally warn off. I mean, they'll still probably eat. Hopefully I'll have more normal stomach and appetite back tomorrow so I can too!

Have a great week. Hope to some of you at volleyball Thursday night! 

TGIX

TGIX? Well that means its XC or cross country day! Actually, just a normal Friday with an afterschool cross country photo shoot of our amazing seniors. Gotta admit, it was a hoot!

And taking pictures outside meant I could just click and not worry where my next cough would land. Also good that another day into recovery meant fewer coughing spells anyway.

Mostly I was surprised that many of these super YOUNG LADIES were actually seniors now. I hate when time sneaks up on me like that. But I also was incredibly happy to see them not shy at all about showing off their personalities. 

Thank you, class of 2026 leaders for reminding me why I appreciated so much that my son was in cross country and we created amazing bonds as parents and fans!

Airborne for the Win

I rarely do any type of product endorsements here, but about mid-morning when I remembered we had this in the medicine cabinet, it was a win. I worked from home again to not spend the day coughing on co-workers.

But that magical effervescent tablet in mid-morning was really the cure for me. (Unfortunately not for hubby so much.)

So I got through work, got through a middle school volleyball photo shoot, and fake suffered (LOL) through an always wonderful Girls Night Out (with Mexican food) that I hoped would clear up my sinuses. Pretty sure it helped, at least.

Now if us non-Brewers fans could just help them win tonight. Hey, when our teams are out, the Blue Jay Drive team is like "go, Wisconsin!"

Home Hack-A-thon

So here's an interesting fact. Large companies like the one I work for often have huge IT departments and they occasionally have a "hack-a-thon" to test our company's cyber security. This week, though, it's been a bit of a different kind of hack-a-thon between hubby and me.

He wins. 

Or loses really. Coughing so much it's insane. I think I'm a day behind on this. So today I worked from home with my stuffed up head and sore throat while he went to the clinic to see what the heck was up.

All we know is that we are COVID-free. Sometimes we forget that's still an option. And there's just "crap going around" that we'll have just have to "let it run its course." Which according to Dr. Not Helpful could be 7-14 days. Boo.

Anyway, so here we are stuck at home after work. No golfing for him and no choir practice for me. Just trying to cheer on the Brewers in the post-season. But that didn't turn out so well. Sorry, friends.

Now we'll just see what we should eat for supper. Since stuffy noses lead to no taste. But don't feel sorry for us. Neither one of our teams our baseball teams are losing the playoffs.

Mainly because they've been eliminated! LOL. 

Yeah, someday I'll find humor in that. For today, just welcome any prayers for good health!

A Few More Requests, My Prayer Warriors

First of all, I thank all of my friends and family who have prayed on demand when I've asked for it. Secondly, I send super hugs to all of you who follow up later – even months later – to see how the situation is going.

I love you for that – and so does my family!

It's been almost 11 months since my sister Rachel was in a life-threatening, almost life-taking car accident. After 3 months in a trauma center then several months of rehab, we were encouraged with her progress. I mean she took several steps at Christmas unaided by a walker or cane.

But sometimes your body takes a minute to reveal what's happening internally.

She now faces a minimum of 3 more surgeries – starting with one tomorrow – and I don't know how her mind and body can handle it. I'm asking for prayers for physical, mental, and emotional strength for her. 

And frankly, please God, make these the last medical efforts to help her whole-y heal! I don't think I'd have the physical or mental power to endure what she has. That's why she's awesome. And I'm just the praying sister.

Thanks for your past and future support!

Dirty Snow, Sky's Aglow

If you look closely, the juxtaposition of this photo completely exemplifies January here in Wisconsin. Mother Nature is a good distractor. I was focused on the gorgeous sunset last night but now I see that ugly pile of dirty snow in the foreground at right. 

A picture that says it all!

I didn't get a chance to share last night because I snapped some Lady Royals hoops picture and I as was working on those 'til bedtime. And just remembered I gotta finish those tonight.

But this morning I was blessed with more color at 7 a.m. on my commute. Kind of freaky how it almost looks like a California wildfires-type photo. Thankfully, it was just the sky on fire.

Today our work cafeteria crew celebrated the Lunar New Year and we got fortune cookies. I'm pretty sure mine refers to something like trying a new ice cream flavor rather something silly like a new exercise program. It's almost the end of January. I missed that boat!

After work, we had our Marketing Department Christmas party. We always have it in late January since we're so busy in December prepping for our golf tournament on Maui first week in January. Had some hors d'oeuvres, won a prize, and then headed to Rapids.

Needed to get to a funeral visitation for the mother and mother-in-law of our friends Mike and Christine.

Was glad I was blessed with seeing this gorgeous sunset before arriving. It reminded me God is here and he'll give them comfort. And me, too, since I broke down crying realizing how much I miss my momma, too! 

Got home with enough time to whip together a Peanut Butter and Chocolate Trifle for work tomorrow before choir practice. I can't thank my Martha Steward television crew enough for cleaning up after me as I ran out the door!

I'm thankful hubby feels well enough to go to his golf simulator league tonight. That's a good sign. Prayers for further progress, please!

Be careful out there – of germs and any slippery roads!

What the ... Heal?

It stinks that when I'm ready to raise a banner saying, "I only coughed 3 times today!" that hubby continues to hack away. Feeling quite helpless at this point.

We both did got to our churches this morning, but then it was pretty much hunkered down at home. I had few more scrapbooking odds and ends to take care of, but mostly it was just checking out who would be in the superbowl.

In the Eagles-Commanders game, I was actually pulling for the Commanders even though they knocked us out. Mainly because a sort of local kid – Tyler Biadasz from Amherst – plays for them. If you can believe it, Carter played against him in both middle school football and basketball. Too bad they couldn't hold on and win.

The Bills-Chiefs game is on right now. The Bills are like the Vikings in that we've been to 4 Super Bowls but have never won. But I do I want them to win this year instead of us?? Not necessarily. The only reason I am cheering for the Chiefs has nothing to do with Mahomes or the Kelsey/Swift thing. 

Linebacker Leo Chenal is from Grantsburg, Wisconsin, the town I was born in (thanks to Burnett General Hospital) and where I still have family living. He's been such a gracious super star and mentor there, it'd be cool to see him get the change to continue that at the mature age of 24!

So we'll see what the final score brings. 

And what another medicated night's sleep brings to the house. This has to evening end, right? Stay safe and healthy out there, friends!

Just Random Stay at Home Things

 

I honestly don't feel comforted that other people in the universe are feeling under the weather. Just feel validated that our symptoms in this house aren't exaggerated. Or made up.

After working from home the past 2 days, I felt pretty good. But you can't feel 100% well when your better half is still hacking up a lung. Every hour. At a minimum.

Tonight I felt pretty OK going to the girls basketball game to take pictures. But then when I got to school, the opposing team's girls had too much illness so they forfeited. I mean this team was Prentice from way up north. So not our fault for spreading it there.

So, I made my long trip home. Long as in a lengthly wait in the Walgreens drive-through for more meds for hubby, then far too much time in Wal-Mart finding random solutions like Lysol spray and comforting Chunky Soup. So many options.

The unexpected "free" night gave me time to find my 2017 and 2018 photos for my upcoming scrapbooking weekend. While listening to an upcoming Book Club audio book.

Maybe I'm winning after all.  Cough, cough. Or not.

Be careful out there!

So Cold it's Painful

Two things to note about this screenshot. First of all, it's bleeping cold out. Secondly, note the time.

About the only time I get up at 5:48 a.m. I'm usually trying to catch a flight. Or, in this case, it's me up half the night coughing and shivering and hoping to get more than 3 hours of sleep.

That was not the case. I actually went back to bed with 2 Ibuprofen P.M.s at 6 a.m.  My body must be immune to them. I couldn't sleep then either. So I got up and completed a work day. I just hurt!

But now, almost 12 hours later, I'm already pondering the earliest bedtime possible. This house is an infirmary!

Didn't realize January would be so tough. But here we are, surviving January 47th like a boss. We got this!

Be careful out there!

Just Coughing, er Checking, Things Out

Since my dear hubby was diagnosed with bronchitis this week, he urged me to get to the Walk-In Clinic this morning after a night of coughing, etc.

Turns out I just have a cough/cold that needed some nasal spray and a night-time cough medicine.

That's a relief. I also realized I have the perfect method to eliminate double chins – just cover them up with a mask!

But seriously, since I had a few raffle baskets to deliver to our hockey team's Stick It To Cancer Night, I was glad I didn't have anything too serious happening.

And really, can I pass up a date night with Mr. Zamboni? And even though I didn't win any baskets, our team won! And I will have to wait until normal human hours to go through the pictures. In other words... sometime Sunday!

Shooting Hoops and Stuff

After our boy hit the road Saturday morning to head back to Iowa, the rest of the weekend flew by.

Jim and I both pretty much spent the day at Assumption High School for the Cranberry Classic basketball tournament yesterday. He was doing official committee-type duties and I was shooting pictures of our 3 Royals teams I didn't get to on Friday. 

Our Lady Royals won the girls tournament and our boys went 0-2 with some close, hard-fought games. Should be a fun season watching them all!

The "and stuff" part of the weekend was me waking up stuffed up with a scratchy throat this morning. Took me some time (and hot tea) to get my voice up to normal. So unfortunately I had to miss church choir. And BINGO.

And then I almost lost my voice again yelling at the Vikings! I had hoped to stuff Christmas cards into envelopes and put on stamps and labels while watching the game. But I couldn't relax enough to multi-task!

Thank SKOL-ness we had one final reason to raise our voices in the end when we came back to beat Arizona 23-22. Uff da.

I did start working on the card project after that. But when the first mailing label on the list is my mom's, my heart was not in it. Gonna need a minute. That's the worst part about updating labels – having to remove people who physically left our lives over the past year, but are still with us in spirit. 

I suppose, since it's only December 1st, I could put that off for a few days and, for fun, log onto my work computer to see how many hundreds of emails showed up during my vacation! I don't think I want that to be part of my "and stuff" for the weekend.

I do have to remember how to set my alarm again. Totally worth it.

Have a wonder-SKOL week, everyone!

Recovering in Dark Mode

I felt much better today. Pretty weak from lack of food and hydration, but I could work from home so that helped me take it easy.

What didn't help was just when I was feeling a bit energized, I swear it was getting dark out already. Looked at the clock and it 2:17 p.m. WHAT?

It wasn't my imagination. The rain started and stayed – and those dark clouds won't break up for days, I don't think. Uff da. 

Good thing I don't always count on the weather to lift my spirits. That's pretty much off the table from November to May. But if tomorrow goes even better and I survive all day at the "real" office, I'm hoping to join some church folks at the Best Christmas Pageant Ever movie after work.

Even if there's rain, my friend Kermit the Frog above knows it's often followed by rainbows. In whatever form you want! 🌈 Let's find our Rainbow Connection this week – for lovers and dreamers and Christmas-movie-junkie ME.

The Cookie Toss

Friday night's full moon reminded me of a cookie for some reason. Maybe because I was tossing them all weekend.

Not the "it's a fun bean bag toss" kind of game. But tossing my cookies (a.k.a. upchucking, puking, vomiting, dying). Only I didn't die. Just felt like it.

Could not keep anything all Saturday and even into the night. Finally about 2 a.m. I could keep a few sips of water intact. Big victory!

And today, I've managed some saltines and more water and 7-Up in moderation.

While yesterday I couldn't even sit up for more than a few minutes. Today I was able to bond with Mr. Recliner and enjoy a Vikings victory. They're on TV here a bit more often now that they're 8-2. But I honestly hadn't PLANNED to be home to watch it.

I was bummed all my weekend plans were shot to heck. No book club or shopping yesterday and no church, BINGO, or movie time for me today. I was too weak to even watch Hallmark. Now you know it was bad.

Not sure what kind of bug it was but another few friends have had it this weekend too so something evil is going around.

At least I was able to upgrade from Saltines to Ritz for supper. Guess I'll be all back to normal (my version of it) come morning. 

Let's have a good week!