Safe Bet

Awhile back I told you about how Jim and Carter were betting on the outcome of a Celtics-Lakers basketball game airing on the ESPN Classic channel.

Clever Daddy knew the outcome of the game so he bet on the Celtics, who had one of the greatest comebacks in an NBA final game. Carter, who failed to put the puzzle together before the end of the game, ended up losing the bet and, even after finding out he was duped, made his payment (cleaned the litter box).

That day, Daddy sent off an email to Bill Simmons, who writes an excellent Sports Guy column on espn.com. Once in awhile, Simmons will answer a few of the thousands and thousands of letters he gets in the mail bag. Today, he did again. And today, the anonymous Carter and halfway anonymous Jim made the national press.

Click here to read Simmons' column. It's always worth your time!

Now maybe Carter won't mind so much that he makes my blog -- which only has a "national" audience because of friends and family spread across the map!

Church Ladies

There's really nothing more stereo-typically accurate than two bus loads of aging Lutherans heading to the big city for an off-off-Broadway production of Church Basement Ladies.

And believe me when I say I am not mocking them because I am one of them already, in part, and I saw a glimpse of what's in store for the rest of me. In the meantime, my friend Becky and I shared a lot of quiet chuckles about it today.

First of all, I was right about people canceling in pairs. Unfortunately, I didn't think it would happen with Becky's parents, who signed us up for this trip to begin with. But her dad broke his hip yesterday and was laid up in the hospital today instead of road-tripping with us. Naturally, her mom spent the day with him -- but they both insisted we go. So we did.

Becky picked me up at 5:30 a.m. and we were in the church parking lot well before our 7 a.m. departure. So was everyone else. Good thing to know that as I get older, I'll become an early riser and get places a half hour early!

It was quite the sight when the buses arrived. Suddenly all these car doors fly open and the Gray Hairs file out like termites coming out of the wood work. And I mean that in the nicest way.

We got on the bus and were amused en route with word finds, word scrambles, a few pit stops and clever clean jokes over the bus intercom from tour guide Ray. At one point, after announcing he was on his last joke, a number of passengers mentioned they couldn't hear him. Ray asked, "Should I start over?" That got a resounding no. (Sorry, Ray. We still love ya!)

We had lunch at the Kelly Inn, which also houses the Plymouth Playhouse. Conversation around the lunch tabled ranged from a comparison of body aches and pains to curiosity about a local supper club from long ago that was now a strip club. I just kept my head down and smiled while eating our typical Scandinavian smorgasbord of chicken, corn, mashed potatoes and Jell-O. Becky and I were not aware we had become speed eaters until we glanced around after our plates were cleaned and saw we had that competition locked up. Let's just say we really savored (slowly) every bite of our carrot cake!

Our matinee production of Church Basement Ladies 2 -- A Second Helping started at 1 p.m. We didn't realize this was a sequel. Neither Becky nor I saw the first one, but we'd like to! It was a very entertaining show! I highly recommend it to my readers in Minnesota who could pop down to see it yet. A good comedic depiction of women who could have been my own mom, grandmothers, aunts or just ladies from my childhood church.

After a post-production pit stop in Hudson to eat, world-class bus driver Carl found our way home in the thick fog, and we were treated to a Reader's Digest video production on the bus TVs -- turned up way too loud (but no one else seemed to mind).

I guess I should consider it a good thing I still have my hearing and, comparatively speaking, can still hold my water pretty well.

Olds-Mobile

Ever notice jokes are a lot funnier when you aren't the butt of them? Just a quick anecdote about something that happened over my lunch hour...

Today was a Zumba day, which means I had what I call my "salsa aerobics" class at noon. I love this class! It gives me a chance to get my groove on and burn calories for an hour twice a week.

So far, there are no men in this class and the ages of women range from somewhere in the late 20s to the late 50s. Today one of the women was celebrating her 46th birthday so I was feeling like the young 'un in the class. But that didn't last long...

For the first time, we had two high-school girls join us because they didn't want to watch a movie in gym class. They were standing pretty close to me -- and I mean close, like I was concerned about taking them out on a wicked turn. They weren't keeping up very well but, granted, they were new to this. They left about 25 minutes into it because gym class was over.

Half an hour later, when the rest of us were done, I was commenting to one of my friends in the locker room that young people don't know "aerobic etiquette" (I just made that term up). I said, "Those girls were standing so close to me, I thought I was going to bang into them. They should have started another row."

Then another friend I work with (who was in the weight room while we were Zumba-ing) said, "Oh, those girls were in your class? They came in here and said, 'I don't know how those old ladies do it'!"

Old ladies?!?! Are you kidding me? I'm an "old lady" now? (Geez, I should fit right in on the Senior Bus tomorrow!)

I guess I shouldn't feel too bad. This old bag o' bones could still out-Zumba them any day!

In Like a Lion...

The funny thing about the month of March is that it doesn't really matter if it comes in or goes out like a lamb or a lion, because it undoubtedly changes a lot in between.

From a weather perspective, I'd have to say it came in like a lion. We definitely had below-zero temps at the appropriately named Lions Camp this weekend (where I snapped this photo of a carving on the fireplace mantel). I know in the Northeast they are dealing with a major Nor'easter Lion that prevented our company execs in New York from flying to Wisconsin this week.

I think the only people enjoying a "lamb" in March are my parents, who unfortunately, are packing up their bags as we speak to leave their winter retreat at my sister's in Texas (where they had record highs in recent days). Figures they're experiencing major warmth the one spring we decide not to vacate there!

March also means the start of high school basketball playoffs. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, hubby's alma mater, is ranked No. 1 for both boys and girls. He and Carter watched the girls win their first round last weekend while I was at camp. Last night we watched the boys soundly defeat their opponent 75-31. I actually found myself clapping when the other team scored because I felt so bad for them! Lincoln High School (where Casey goes) also scored twice as many points as their opponent last night so we have two Rapids boys teams moving on. Should be some excitement in the area over that.

I'm just excited because the temperatures are turning around, too! We could hit 40 tomorrow. What difference does it make? A lot. When it's 40 we can take a few layers off. We don't have to be concerned about ice on our commute. We can't exactly lay in the sun but can certainly get outside for a walk (if you don't mind puddles).

I will actually not get out much tomorrow. I will be spending about 8 hours in a bus going to the Twin Cities and back with a busload of old people -- people over 40, probably over 60, too. My friend and I were on a waiting list (I can't make this up) to go see the musical comedy Church Basement Ladies with her parents. Her mom and dad have tickets but the buses (departing from Wausau) filled up right away. We put our names on the list, figuring that people would cancel in twos -- you know, if Elsie got sick, Elmer wouldn't go. That's what happened. We found out yesterday afternoon that a twosome canceled so Becky and I are in. Just have to get up at 4:30 a.m. tomorrow to catch the bus. I imagine we won't be the only ones sleeping on the ride! Should be a fun way to play hooky!

You just never know what comes your way in March...

It's Contagious!

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others
without getting a few drops on yourself.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ever notice that when someone is having a bad day and we attempt to cheer them up, we instantly feel a bit better, too? Try this experiment once: Greet people with a smile and a friendly hello for a day and see how you feel. Even if you are tired of the cold temps, depressed about the snow or down about the economy, you will find a spring in your step because you are spreading cheer to others and, inevitably, yourself.

In the photo above, I am pictured front and center with some of my siblings (Rachel, Ron, RoAnn and Raylene) doing our famous orange-rind smiles. It was definitely a goofy childhood thing, but it sure made us laugh. And probably put a smile on our mom's face, too, as she snapped the photo!

Carter is a good one for always trying to make me laugh by things he says or does. Much like his mother and father, he's totally Mr. Entertainer, but he's got that serious, sensitive side, too. Last night after we all got in the house and he was unloading his backpack and I was putting my work stuff away and sorting through the mail, Carter told me to stop. "How about a hug first?" he says. Aww. I like mushy surprises!

I'm a firm believer that, other than the Common Cold, nothing is more contagious than laughter and love. Think about that the next time you give someone a smile or a hug. Don't you feel better, too?

Try spreading some happiness today. And if it doesn't seem to be working, walk around with an orange-rind smile. That should do the trick!

Case of the Mondays

"Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays."
-- Office Space movie

I can totally relate to the character in Office Space who had a case of the "Mondays." After engaging the creative side of my brain all weekend, it really needs a jumpstart today! So I'm starting with coffee and we'll go from there.

I slept like a rock last night! I'd have to say the best part about going away is coming home -- if that makes sense. The guys got along just fine without me. Carter had a friend over Saturday and went to his house on Sunday. I asked if he played video games (his Lenten resolution) and he said, "Yes, but Dad said he'd pay for the weekend!" Hmm, I didn't know we could make others "pay" for our sins. I might have to look into that. Glad he had a fun weekend anyway.

Since the calendar is turned over to March, that also means our Streaking competition has come to an end. Jim and I were picking sports games on ESPN.com against another couple for the month of February. Jim and I won -- thanks in part to my 57 wins and my long streak of 8! At stake was a round of golf and dinner (coming soon, we hope). Next we'll have the boys against the girls. But that won't start until later this month. So I'll take a break from obsessing over curling matches and European soccer.

I'm hoping my work week will be as productive as my weekend (Did I mention I completed 46 pages? That's a camp record for me.) But it's not starting good. Maybe it's this coffee. It needs a pile of peanut butter M&M's next to it or something. Hey, it worked this weekend...

All Scrapped Out

I'm home sweet home now after an awesome weekend at Camp Crop-A-Lot! First rule in the house is there is no whining -- no matter how tired I am or how sore my back is. Only positive, grateful words about my weekend away. And I'm OK with that because I am very excited -- and positive -- about what I accomplished.

This year, we were allowed to arrive earlier on Friday instead of waiting for a 6 o'clock check-in. Since I took the day off, I was up in Rosholt at the Lions Camp, had my bed set up in the cabin and was in my chair in the dining hall scrapping by 2 p.m.! I stayed up until about 1 a.m. Friday night and it took me awhile to get the creative juices flowing on Saturday. (Rough night sleeping in a sleeping bag on those 3-inch thick mattresses!) I found coffee and peanut butter M&M's are a good energy mix.

My main goal for the weekend was to complete my 2007 family memories book. I got that done at 9 p.m. Saturday to a cheering crowd (we're weird that way). I was so motivated then that I decided to get cruising on the 2008 book.

About 2 a.m. Saturday night/Sunday morning, I was still up and scrapping. Quite a few of us were. I wasn't even that tired but knew waking up this morning would be pretty tough if I didn't get to bed. How did I ever manage to stay out until bar time on the weekends back in the day?! I am too old for that kind of schedule!

I was asleep by 3 a.m. and up with the cabin crowd before 8. Yikes. I gulped at least 3 cups of coffee to get my mojo going. I wasn't even hungry. I think I ate enough Saturday to keep me going for a day or two. A whole lotta snacking going on! So without eating breaks today, I managed to get through April of 2008 before it was time to pack up. I'm very pleased with the progress.

And even more pleased to show off the book to hubby and Carter. They might think this scrapping thing is a cult, but they enjoy seeing the finished work of art.

Of course, now comes the fun part of unpacking all the scrapping supplies and organizing them. But not today. This body's just waiting for the sun to set so I can call it a day and get some sleep on a warm, comfy mattress. In fact, I probably should go turn on my blanket now. Scrap -- I mean Sweet -- Dreams!