Breeze, Glorious Breeze

What a treat today to have temperatures (and humidity) in the 70s! Beautiful, pleasant light breezes and mostly sunny skies... No excuses not to get that long overdue yard work done!

After church, we all tackled our jungle. Hubby mowed, Carter raked and I weeded. Three hours later and I think we are back in the neighborhood's good graces. (Not that they said anything, but I could even admit we looked like we'd abandoned our property for too long!) At least that's done. For now.

In the early afternoon, Carter and I took a road trip down to Adams. We were on a mission to get a particular item we knew was going to be at the flea market there. Unfortunately, on Sundays they all seem to pack up early and clear out. So there were only about 5 booths left doing business. We did find a neat little Cincinnati Reds antique truck-shaped bank for Jim. So that was something anyway. Guess we'll have to go back on a Saturday to get to "our" booth!

Spent a little time on the deck reading today. I am reading/analyzing a book for a first-time aspiring author. I need to get it done and get feedback to him so I can get working on my own manuscript! I should finish it tonight or tomorrow.

Did get to see some of the final round of the PGA Championship. Just makes me want to golf (but not there -- too much sand among other things). I haven't swung a club since May so right now I'd go just about anywhere! I think the weather will be perfect for that this week, don't you?

C'mon, just twist my arm. Just a little. Don't make it hurt.

A Non-Event

Hard to believe (since this is mid-August) but this is the first Saturday of the summer that we had absolutely nothing going on. No events we had to attend. No place to be but home. Unreal. So I was torn between working hard to have a super productive day or finally just kicking my feet up and relaxing!

I sort of did both.

We all slept in -- well, got 8 hours of sleep -- so that was a good start.

After breakfast, I tackled a little organizational project that has been staring me in the face for months. I've gotten hundreds of pictures developed but never did anything with them once I got the out-of-order piles of prints. So I spent the better part of the morning getting them in order and in boxes or envelopes clearly labeled so I am set to use them for scrapbooking. (See, I have a reason for doing everything!)

After that I worked out, did some laundry and then sat out on the front deck. I had to get a few magazines read (or at least looked at) before I added them to the recycling box... which I had to get to town and empty before the center closed at 3. That was OK to be rushed. It was something like 88 and humid so I really didn't need or want to be out on the deck too long. I just hate to lose my Florida tan, that's all.

I dragged Carter with me to town so we could wrap up his school shopping. First we had to drop off recycling and then, since we were close by, had to check out the flavor of the week at Dairy Treat. Blueberry Twist! M-m-m. Had to stop. Just got little cones, though, because we were heading to Staples next and it wasn't that long of a drive.

We got the last item on his supply list at Staples, then got him some pants at Wal-Mart. Now he is officially done and ready -- with 12 days to go before school. Glad I got all the other stuff before vacation because it was a zoo in the school supply aisles at Wal-Mart!

By the time we got out of there and home, it was after 4:30. The day had officially gotten away from me. I didn't feel I had been productive enough but the "I need to sit on the couch and watch golf" feeling won over anyway. So I watched a bit of the PGA action in Wisconsin.

Then, I guess, I felt guilty and did some filing and organizing in our office. That didn't last long either before it was time for Smoothies! It was Carter's idea. (I'll blame him for enabling me and my addiction!) Anyway, I made Pina Colada ones tonight with Pina Colada Yoplait yogurt, crushed pineapple, about half a banana, a touch of imitation coconut flavoring and vanilla frozen yogurt. Yes, it was as good as it sounds! Nice and cool, too.

I hear tomorrow will be the start of a "cool front" around here with temps in the mid-70s the next several days. Guess that means I will be able to set foot outside without melting tomorrow and might be forced to get some neglected yard work done.

We'll see how it goes. It's supposed to be another non-event day so could get a lot done!

But it is the final round at Whistling Straights...

Friday the Thirst-teenth

My husband is one to say, "If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all." He's just trying to be clever. We all know how super lucky he is to have me, right?

Today was the only Friday the 13th for 2010. And because time flies so quickly and I am losing track what day of the week it is, I was ill prepared for the supposedly unlucky holiday. I had no time to work up a good case of paraskevidekatriaphobia -- that's "fear of Friday the 13th" for you lay people.

And that's OK because it was really just a normal day (barring any strange events in the next 2 hours).

Had a busy day at work since we were off yesterday. Before we knew it, it was 3 o'clock and time to go. I love summer hours -- but only 3 more "early release" Fridays left!

We had some wicked weather go through central Wisconsin so before noon they had already called off racing for tonight at Golden Sands. Part of me was bummed because it was supposed to be "Kids Night" and Carter could have ridden in his cousin Colin's super stock for a lap. (I guess they'll do it 2 weeks instead.) The other part of me was sort of relieved we didn't have to go somewhere tonight. We've had quite the busy week!

We had already planned to hit The Harbor in Waupaca after work. Now instead of rushing off to the races, we were able to stay awhile. The Harbor bar & grill is located on the Chain of Lakes and is always a pretty spot to tip back some cold Diet Coke and watch the sunset. It was too cloudy for much sun, but drinks were going around.

There ended up being at least a dozen of us from work -- including 3 former employees who have moved on to other things but still live close enough to enjoy The Harbor on occasion. We had a nice time. Carter knows most of them, too, so he had fun. We had supper there and hit the road around 7:30 p.m.

Since I was designated driver, I got to choose the route home. We just happened to go past Scoopers Ice Cream Parlor down the road. Did you know a single scoop of hard ice cream there is equal to about a pint? I'm serious! Well worth $2.90 for a "scoop" of Mint Chocolate Chip. Oh yeah!

Had to run a quick errand in town when we got back but am safely home on this suspiciously scary day -- and aiming to be in bed ASAP so I can wake up to a normal, Saturday the 14th tomorrow.

Bake-ball

I'd have to say today was one for the record books. I'm just not sure which book to put it in.

We had today off to take in an afternoon Brewers game at Miller Park. This has been an annual tradition for several years with what I call the Sports Guy Contingent.

Jeff (left) and Pete (middle) all worked with hubby as sports writers at the newspaper a dozen years ago. Since Jeff and his wife Kristin (far left) live in the Milwaukee area, we meet up at their house and head to the game.

Today was just too hot to even think about tailgating so we ate lunch at some Chinese-American sports bar. Sounds weird but it was good. We took a free shuttle from there down to the park.

Game time was 1:10 p.m. Not sure what the temperature was. We think 90 -- which means this has to have been the absolute hottest game on record for this Sports Guy outing. It rivaled the incredibly steamy July 3rd game 3 or 4 years ago -- but at least for that one we were in the shade!

Today we were baking in the sun along the third-base line. Totally baking! In the 3rd inning, when I saw paramedics tending to a heat-stroke victim in the women's bathroom, I said we better stay hydrated! So the drink of choice at Miller Park was not Miller today, but cold water. That helped -- and the fact we could finally move up a row in the 6th inning so we finally had some shade!

It was a good game. Brewers scored 3 runs in the first 2 innings so that was cool (well, nothing was cool really -- it was more likehot, sunny bake-ball than baseball). They beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-4!

A few photos:

Rickie Weeks at bat.

Ryan Braun at bat. Based on the thousands of Brewers t-shirts I saw in the crowd today, he is definitely the most popular player!

Another one for the record book: With his 4 hits today (including a home run!) Casey McGehee set a Brewers franchise record for 9 hits out of his last 9 at bats! Nice job.

Since we were on the third-base side, we got to see Braun up close (sort of). Poor guy never got any shade out there all day.

The highlight as usual is the Sausage Race! Can you imagine how hot it was in those costumes today? Yuck. Bet they all felt like they just came off a Weber grill! I know we did.

But it was fun! And who can beat a day off just 4 days after vacation? I'll take it.

Perfect Angells

It's always a good day when you can spend 3 hours with a friend you haven't seen in 20 years!

Thanks to the age of online social networking, I reconnected with my college friend Liz about 2 years ago. When I was a resident assistant (RA) at Angell Hall at UW-La Crosse the year of 1988-89, Liz was the assistant hall director there and lived on my "cube" (or wing).

Since she lives out in New Jersey now, I didn't think we'd ever see each other for a visit unless I got to Milwaukee where her mother lives. But small worlds being small worlds... Her sister lives in Wisconsin Rapids! Only about 5 minutes or so from me!

So Liz is in Wisconsin on vacation this week and visiting her sister and brother-in-law in da Rapids for a few days. Tonight our schedules were free so she popped on over and we caught up on 20 years of fun (and life). It was awesome!

Carter entertained her adorable 6-year-old son Brian with the Wii and Hot Wheels so we were free to chat. It's funny how young we all were when we lived together in college. You just don't know how people are going to turn out -- what they're going to be like in their 40s. I'd say Liz and I are batting a thousand in the "we turned out darn good" category.

I'm just sayin'. We're both still down to earth and funny and kind and good looking -- but that goes without saying. (Right.)

We have a few other members of our Angell staff that we have both been in touch with so maybe we will get that reunion tour going one of these days! It's a treat to see an old friend and be reminded that while we both have had our share of challenges, we both have become stronger women because of it. And very blessed.

As perfect Angells (staffers) should be.

Unexpected

This has been a week of little surprises. Not the "surprise birthday party with yummy cake" kind of surprises. More like the "oh, I wasn't expecting this turn of events" sort of unexpectedness.

We learned our jobs are changing again at work. We know from experience and many previous corporate "right-sizing" efforts to expect the unexpected. In this day and age, we have learned to be "fluid." Our job titles may remain essentially the same, but our job duties are everchanging, ever evolving. Fluid.

Both hubby and I will face some interesting transition challenges in the next few months or so, but we are both so grateful to remain employed, we'll do what we have to do.

Not all surprises are bad.

Carter surprised us last night when he asked us to play chess. This was unexpected. Not in a bad way. Just had no idea he knew anything about it. Turns out he didn't -- before yesterday. He learned from a friend at Kidz Camp and thought it was fun. (Trust me, if Mom or Dad had suggested it, he probably wouldn't have even tried it!)

So he took on Daddy first. Daddy showed no compassion for the newbie and check-mated him in somewhat record time. Then it was my turn. I was trying to be fair (read: nice mommy) and not kick his butt, but then I got too far off my strategic track and he nearly beat me. Saved by a stale mate!

Today Carter went to his former afterschool babysitter's for the day so he could see the kids one more time before he is too old (and too cool) to associate with them. He was like a celebrity there. "Carter's here! Carter's here!" During naptime for the little kids, Carter taught Audrey (the sitter) how to play chess. He ended up beating her but was no match for her checker-playing ability. Apparently that really put him in his place because tonight he did not request a chess rematch with Daddy or me.

We did get one more little surprise tonight.

My stepson Casey had mentioned he wanted to come out for supper one of these nights. Since we have plans the rest of the week, we said tonight would work best. I did not realize until he was on his way that he was bringing a friend with.

I will say it was kind of cool to finally set a place at the table for another girl! (Not that I don't love all my boys.) And it was also very cool to meet his very nice, pretty and down-to-earth girlfriend... that we did not know much about. He can be quiet, that Casey. I'm sure he didn't want to make a big deal about it so that we wouldn't either. I only showed her 2 scrapbooks. (Hey, Casey was so adorable! Still is!)

We had a very nice evening. Sometimes the unexpected can be a pleasant surprise! Makes me wonder what else the week has in store for us...

Back on Schedule

I was awakened by an annoying sound this morning... and had to make fast friends with Mr. Snooze. Oh how I did not miss my alarm clock on vacation!

Since we stayed up late (in my opinion) to watch Mad Men, I was a little slow out of the gate this morning, but about an hour into work, it felt good to be back. Not as good as laying on a beach sipping a smoothie, but OK good.

I tell you, if we won the lottery, I would not get a chance to be bored. Here we had a whole week off and I didn't even get anything done around the house. I could use a hefty jackpot to help me get things started -- like cleaning out my closet, organizing some family tree stuff, scrapbooking...

I'm not envisioning it's going to happen (winning or getting those things done), but I can dream.

Carter was back at Kidz Camp today, too. He is going Monday, Wednesday, Friday this week, then all next week, then that's it. Do you realize in just a little over 2 weeks, school starts? I knew it was a bad sign to see Sunday Night Football last night on TV already. Now, knowing school is less than 20 days away, we might as well admit summer is over.

Except for the part where it's 90-some degrees and humid.

With mosquitoes.

On the way home from work we made sure to stop at King Cone for ice cream. With Labor Day right around the corner, our days there are numbered, too! You'd hate to miss out on one more Blueberry Waffle Cone treat!

I better get off the computer and see what else I need to get done before the leaves change!