Winter Wondering

It could be sign of writer's block when a blogger talks about the weather. But in Wisconsin it changes so often, it sometimes is newsworthy or... at least generates a thought or two.

The thing about snow is that it is silent. So we woke up to a few inches covering the ice and were surprised. It took a little longer to get to work, but we figured it was pretty much done for the day. But when I went over to the fitness center to work out over noon, I had to brush and scrape ice and snow off the car before and afterwards. Then again later before heading home.

It didn't take long before the Winter Wonderland turned into Winter Wonder-Why We Live Here.

My husband and I do question that. We're really not fans of the snow or cold. Other than the neighborhood Olympic sled hill, we don't do the ice fishing, snowmobiling, skiing activities some people of the Northwoods just love!

We (hubby actually) figured out the answer today, though. Blame it on our stinkin' ancestors! If they hadn't settled here, we wouldn't have sprouted our roots here either. Sure, we can leave on our own power at any time (we're not ordered to stay here by law), but it's easier to blame the Swedes, the Germans, the Norwegians, the Bohemians...

Honestly, if we didn't have a 50-minute commute to work, we probably would embrace it like they did. But I hate driving on the uncertain roads and those that are certain, too -- to be slippery. I'm really a grandma about it and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Tonight I had to run into town on a few errands then planned to stop at a meeting (where my attendance isn't required, but desired). But a little mishap changed my mind. I was driving slowly per usual and I was inching toward the turn into the Wal-Mart parking lot. But when I fish-tailed wide right, then wide left, I pretty much decided that was my last stop.

Probably a good idea I went home early. Some fecal matter hit the fan while I was gone. Not so much in the Wonderland arena than the Wonder About Teens These Days category. But that's another story...

Midweek Musings

Just a few things happening...

Gossip Girl: Turns out Carter was right about "the break-up" playing out like a game of Telephone. There's a reason his redheaded sweetheart didn't tell him she was breaking up. It's because she wasn't. Some other girl started the rumor and it got out of hand. So, Carter says, "We're still dating." Not sure what that entails. But, he added, "I still forgot to ask her why she (the redhead) didn't bother to set the record straight or at least tell me." Yup, there still are plenty of lessons to be learned with this. Sort of seems like a soap opera, doesn't it? Stay tuned.

At Close Range: After 6+ years of avoiding each other at work -- well, doing our best not to fraternize -- hubby and I now sit within shouting distance of each other. Not that we'd yell at each ever (or at work, anyway). I told you last month we now have the same boss. We still don't really work "together" but it will be easier for him to run over to my desk when he needs chocolate or, more likely, aspirin! Stay tuned for that, too.

Movie Night Part 1: I'm still logging miles (and steps now) on the treadmill while watching movies. Since the holidays are over and I've run out of Christmas movies, I've now moved on to the North and South miniseries -- a trilogy actually, based mainly on the Civil War. The first one came out in 1985 and I enjoyed it very much. (I'm sure it has nothing to do with Patrick Swayze in the starring role.) I got the DVD set for Christmas and have many hours (and miles) ahead of me. Can't wait.

Movie Night Part 2: Tonight, however, we took a break from the War and regular TV -- and hubby and I actually watched a movie together. We had wanted to rent Hangover over our break but never got around to it. We'd heard it was entertaining and wanted to see for ourselves. And yes, it was fun-ny! Just stupid, mindless entertainment that we seldom allow ourselves to enjoy. There's something to be said for small doses of immaturity. (Very small doses!)

Carter, bless his heart, stayed out of the Rated R room and put himself to bed. I'm guessing tonight he just might have sweet dreams again. He certainly deserves it!

Little Women

Ask Carter any day of the week what he knows about women and he'll answer, without hesitation, "They suck the life right out of ya!" Now he's learning it can apply to all females.

Yes (though Mommy is only pretending to be sad), Carter got dumped by the redhead. Did I not see this coming?

I was suspicious over the two-week break that she never called and never "showed up" next door to play. But then thought perhaps she was busy with family. I asked Carter about it last night and he said it's over. He thinks.

"Well it's not like she's even told me yet," he said. "She's telling everyone else and they're telling me like we're playing a game of Telephone."

Poor kid. I told him I felt bad if his heart is broken (because I do feel bad), but he said he'll be fine. He'll get over it.

I asked him tonight if she said anything today to him. He said, no. She just giggles with her friends. I said, "Well, you know what you always say..." And he says, "Yeah, but Mom, she's not even a woman. She's a girl."

Well she's a little woman, son. Sometimes they (or do I say "we"?) start early.

Manic Monday

Let's face it, a person doesn't really go into a Monday with high expectations. About anything. If something goes right, it's a bonus. If nothing does, then our expectations were met.

Those Mondays suck.

Honestly, today I was just happy to turn the alarm off and hit the shower by 5:30 so we could go to work early on our first day back. No problem. I was dragging a bit, but with my self-diagnosed ADD, it was good to be back in the workplace.

Besides the alarm -- set for the first time in 17 days -- I was also dreading the final weigh-in for the Weight Clause at the fitness center. If you recall, the goal of the 6-week program was just to get through the holidays with your weight in check. No outlandish goals to lose pounds during eggnog season, just maintain within 3 pounds of your pre-Turkey Day weight, and you'll be eligible for awesome to-be-named prizes.

I was doing well until the New Year when I decided we (as in me) better eat up all these Christmas treats so they are out of the house! A worthy goal, don't ya think? Good thing I still had to put some miles on my legs each day for the Frostbite Club. That's the only thing that kept me close.

So yes, I succeeded by not going anywhere -- on the scale, that is -- and now will wait to see if or what glamorous prize I won! (The drawings are later this week.)

Sadly, that was the high point of my Monday. Not because I had a bad day -- but those closest to me did.

My twin sister became the latest victim of economy-driven "right-sizing" today when she lost her job of 5 years. She didn't see it coming. She's a hard worker and did her job well. No one deserves that, but it's just a sad reality in today's recession. I've seen a lot of friends go through this in the past 18 months. Somehow, though, when it's family, it moves up a notch on the "This Sucks!" scale. I tried to give her some words of comfort and will keep prayers coming her way. We just never know what God has in mind for us next, do we?

The other bummer today, on a much smaller scale (except in the mind of an 11-year-old), was Carter's basketball game. The team did not get a chance to practice over break and it showed. They really got trounced on -- even though Daddy said before the game, "Mom will pay you a thousand dollars a basket, but if you miss, you owe her that." Well he missed one and made none. Final score: 40-10. Don't worry, I won't collect my debts. I think humiliation and disappointment probably carry their weight in gold some days.

Before anything else happens -- good or bad -- I think I'll go fuel up on some Monday night comedy. Enjoy your Tuesday!

Sweet Revenge

The regular football season is officially over now. It was a strange season since neither hubby or I could stomach certain personnel changes on the Vikings.

While hubby threatened to become the world's biggest Lions fan when Favre signed, he couldn't really get into it. They just don't air many Lions games here.

So we'd watch the occasional Vikings game when they were actually on TV and cheer for a victory for the whole team. We just couldn't bring ourselves to say, "Great throw, Favre!" Instead we'd be more apt to say, "Nice catch, Rice!" or "Way to go, Adrian!"

We've been sort of watching quietly and haven't really felt the excitement of winning and heading to the playoffs that we have in other years. But I will say today was a longtime coming.

It was 9 years ago now that the Giants handed our butts to us on a platter in the NFC championship game. They beat the Vikes 41-0! Today, when we were seemingly running up the score, I didn't care what it looked like to the casual observer. Viking fans know we needed to stick it the Giants -- and stick it big. A 44-7 victory was sweet revenge, indeed. I only wish it happened during a more critical game... like, say, something post-season!

Oh well, beggars -- and those set on revenge -- can't be choosers. We'll take what we can get. (And hope there's more where that came from!)

Once in a Blue Moon

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow...
gave the lustre of midday to objects below...

In case you didn't notice, we've had quite the full moon the past few nights. And it's not just any moon, it's the legendary blue moon!

According to popular definition, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month. But if you've seen it, you know it's not actually blue. That's just a name it acquired in some Farmer's Almanac back in the early part of the last century. Since then, we say something unusual happens "once in a blue moon." Blue moons, I discovered through some research, actually do occur about every 32 months. However, the chance of them happening on New Year's Eve are more like once every 19 years.

So blue or not, we had to enjoy part of our New Year's Eve out in the hot tub with friends -- under the light of the blue moon. Just to say we did it, you know.

It was partly cloudy that night, but last night, on New Year's, it was so clear out, it was almost like daylight -- just like the Night Before Christmas story mentions -- casting shadows of pine trees and branches on the snow in our front yard. It was so cool, I had to at least attempt to capture it with the camera. It turned out pretty good.

I'm starting to think it's an omen, though. Occasionally, about once in a blue moon actually, Carter beats us at a game. Between yesterday and today, he won Monopoly, Mexican Train dominoes and a card game. Crazy. I, in turn, kicked hubby's butt in cards today. Which happens more often than once in a blue moon (but not too much more).

Just to be clear, though. Blue moons do happen far more often than hell freezes over. So I don't think my Vikings will be winning any Super Bowl this year. But if the blue changes to a tinge of purple, we may have a chance!

The Year of Robyn?

There's comes an age when -- for the sake of appearances -- we claim we don't believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy. There also comes an age, I believe, we are no longer required to make New Year's resolutions. I say that age is 41.

That's a cop-out, I know. But frankly, my resolutions are already being made for me. Sort of.

With this new healthy choices participation plan at work (the one to help us save on insurance premiums), both hubby and I will automatically have weekly weigh-ins, be part of some top-secret weight-loss team and, in my case, clip on a pedometer to achieve 10,000 steps daily.

We still have to do all the legwork, obviously, and make the healthy choices. But for 52 weeks, we sort of have somebody to answer to. I'm kind of looking forward to it. My pedometer arrived in the mail the other day so I have been keeping an eye on what a person has to do get 10,000 steps (basically 5 miles) in per day. I found that on 2 separate trips to Wal-Mart, I logged just over a half-mile each time. So I guess I could make that part of my daily routine...

Of course, by the end of the year, I may be physically fit, but flat broke, too!

I am expecting good things out of this year, though. Just this morning, hubby made some remark that bordered on sarcasm and complimentary. I gave him a questioning look and he innocently says, "What? This is the Year of Robyn." Cool! Awesome, I say.

Then he bends down to scratch Sylvester behind the ears and attempts to recant his statement: "Oh, I mean this is the Year of Kitty." No way, says I. She had her year this year! She's always spoiled.

I threatened to directly quote hubby to the millions, well 12 or 13 people, who read my blog -- just so he follows through. So there you have it. Check back for details.

Seriously, for the record, I do have the best husband in the world. You can quote me on that, too! Happy New Year!