On the Wild Side

My scorecard for the first time on the links was not pretty today, but the scenery sure was... for an early spring day with few leaves on the trees anyway.

We joined out friends Scott and Sandy at Wild Rock Golf Club in Wisconsin Dells. The course is only 5 years old so none of us had played it before. The hole above and below sits at the highest altitude of the course where, they tell us, we can see 25 miles!

I believe it! We made sure we got a picture of us there -- especially when the sun was still shining. It never really got that warm, but we were comfortable in long sleeves. It was quite windy all day so I don't know how hubby managed in shorts. I'm just glad I wore golf shoes and not my golf sandals! (Purple toes would have clashed with my outfit.)

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Part of our fun was that each cart was equipped with this huge GPS that not only showed the hole, how far we drove our balls and how far we had to go to the hole, it also showed (in the upper right-hand corner) a sports ticker. So we were able to follow the Masters while playing our own 18 holes... that none of us played at a Master-ful level. But Jim and Sandy didn't do too badly.

Here's one of the holes that was challenging for a Par 3. The guys had to hit completely over a very deep "wild rock" pit. Us ladies had to get around the edge of it only. Either way, it wasn't easy. Overall, we loved the course. It must be really beautiful with the trees in full bloom.

While I spent time in 4 sand traps and we all thought the roller-coaster greens were tough, we certainly enjoyed the wide fairways. It definitely made my first outing of the season less frustrating!

We got lucky, too, that it only sprinkled a little bit and the rain held off until our drive home! And, of course, it was just nice to spend another date with hubby!

Naturally, Carter managed to get through the day without us. He actually cleaned his closet and filled three grocery bags with clothes to put on the garage sale next week. (We rewarded him with supper at Hong Kong Buffet.) So no matter how nice it is tomorrow, I better get those items priced.

And just stick to watching golf on TV.

Happy Blog-Day to Me...

Happy Birthday to my On the Light Side blog!

It was 5 years ago today -- coincidentally Good Friday that year, too -- that I started this almost daily rambling. And I managed to do it 1,709 times. 1,710 if you count this one.

I looked back at my beginnings and remembered why I started this. Mainly two reasons: One, I wanted to keep my creative juices flowing since I don't do a whole lot of writing with my job any more. Two, I wanted my long-distance family to have a chance to "see" their youngest nephew grow up.

Even when I started, I was wondering how I could do it every single day. I mean really, what do I have to talk about every single day? I think you know the answer: Sometimes, NOTHING. Most times I sit at the keyboard and hope something comes to me. Preferably something that will make you smile, maybe laugh, maybe cry. And once in awhile, make you think. I always hope you think it's worth that precious 90 seconds of your time.

If you been with me for most of the ride, you know plenty about me. Mainly I am not perfect and I am completely honest about that! But also, I love the Lord, my family and my friends. I feel very blessed.

Just today -- since I should blog about something -- I enjoyed a wonderful date with hubby. We went to the Hunger Games movie, which we both enjoyed, then by pure happenstance, our friends Scott and Sandy were coming through town on the way to the Dells. So we met up with them and had dinner. Now, we have a tee time to golf with them down there tomorrow. Just a really nice evening!

Poor Carter was neglected all day (he was off from school), but apparently he wasn't feeling that great. Do you think it's coincidence that he watched the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off this morning then called me at work to say he wasn't feeling well enough to go to Good Friday services? Hmm...

I suspect he didn't mind being "neglected" all day. And probably will suffer through it just fine tomorrow when we're golfing.

Either way, it will give me something to blog about for another day.

Now, I gotta see if there's some blog birthday cake and ice cream waiting for me!

Losing It

I already lost my mind for good, but I hate when I lose other things with seemingly no hope of finding them.

When I was at my mother's birthday party, I ended up talking to relatives on both sides of the family about genealogy. There is a cousin on my dad's side who I've talked family tree stuff with before. That day he gave me his email and a website where I could find a few things out. He had a little notebook with him so he wrote it down for me and gave me the sheet of paper.

Later in the day, someone on my mom's side asked if I could print out a family tree booklet for them. I had one on display that I made up for a family reunion a few years back. I had never met this woman but she gave me her name and address so I could mail them one.

Last weekend I printed the book out and looked up the info my dad's cousin suggested. Today I was finally getting around to mailing that booklet out and, wouldn't you know it, that piece of paper with the address on is nowhere to be found. I have looked everywhere. Well, everywhere except where it actually is!

I even called my mom tonight to see if she knew what cousin might have wanted that info. She was clueless but read some names from the guestbook. Honestly, nothing rings a bell. So I told her if anyone asks about it, she knows where to find me.

I suspect this disappeared in one of those strange places I will never look. You know how it is when you are holding something but you put it down to pick something else up or get distracted doing something else and never get back to it? That must have been what happened.

I also suspect that when I stop looking, I'll find it. It will just suddenly be there. Right in front of me.

Hopefully my mind is sitting right next to it!

...And We're Back

Hello, House. Yes, I see I've been ignoring you for the past week while I have lost myself in the Hunger Games trilogy. I finished the final book tonight, though, so I'm back!

It is sort of embarrassing that I let it take control of me like that. But at the same time it's been fun sharing this adventure with hubby. And it is encouraging that there still are some "good reads" out there that we can't put down. (Something every writer dreams of accomplishing!)

Other than housework, I haven't missed much. Carter and Jim have had baseball practice every night. Carter then has a load of homework and is unapproachable. So it's been good that I've kept hidden between the pages of a book.

On the downside, I haven't done anything to prep for a garage sale that I go in on each spring with Carter's former babysitter. Besides Carter's small clothes, I don't ever put much on there. Probably because I am too lazy to price things. I am. I really find that too tedious. I don't make an effort to set aside the time. I could. I mean I have this weekend yet. So we'll see...

... what other excuse I'll come up with!

(Hey, I'm honest if nothing else.)

I'm sure I'll find a new book to start by the weekend. I'd say I'm open to suggestions, but you see where that got me this time.

Maybe once the dust settles, er disappears, I'll back to you.

Election Day

Every day is election day, isn't it? When we get up in the morning, we can elect to take a positive approach to the day... or a not-so-positive one.

Some days it seems the choice is made for us.

Today, for instance, I know a teenager who overslept and, even though he can only get out of bed on one side, it was the wrong one. Then, upon hearing that Kansas lost the NCAA final last night, Carter says, "Well now I can't provide food for the family with the money I DIDN'T win!" Who knew our future livelihood was riding on his bracket?! I didn't.

But his day wasn't going to get any better. When he sat on the couch to watch SportsCenter, he spilled his bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch all over himself, a blanket and the couch. As I tried to help clean it up, he grits his teeth and stammers out, "This is just my life!"

Oh, are we having a bad day?

Gosh, we might have a mess, but nothing like the thousands in Texas who lost their homes today in tornadoes.

Is life really that bad?

No. Despite getting 13 campaign phone calls in the past few days -- from everyone from Mitt Romney to Barbara Bush -- and despite having a near anxiety attack waiting in line 7 minutes to vote, I am thrilled to live in a free country where I have the right to do so. And did!

Just like our Democratic process can be a vehicle for change, our daily decisions can do that in our own lives. Sure, there's lots of days I get up on the "wrong" side of the bed and make a mess of things. But I do attempt to focus on the light side... the bright side ... and the right side.

However, I do vote left.

Manic Monday

Manic: Pertaining to or affected by mania.

March may be over, but the madness is just culminating. In more ways than one.

In an unexpected progression of events, hubby and I are simultaneously reading the same book. How is this done? Oh, it's possible.

I was reading the second Hunger Games book 'til I went to bed last night. Since I crash early, hubby started reading it. Weird seeing a book with two bookmarks, but I can understand why he didn't want to wait to get started. So while he drove to and from work today, I got to read some more and finished it late this afternoon while the guys were at baseball practice.

I made supper for them and then just had to go to Wal-Mart to get Book #3. Now I can see why people don't just say they read the Hunger Games, they say they read the trilogy. There's no way to stop at just one or two. I saw another woman there buying Book #2. I said, "You might as well buy #3 while you're at it!"

So tonight I am hoping to get going on it but can't completely ignore my normal Monday night dates -- Adam and Blake on The Voice. Plus I need to keep an eye on the NCAA final. I have my Kansas sweatshirt on in support of Carter's bracket.

While I am sitting here on the couch, I am hearing groaning from the table, where Carter is agonizing over homework, and hear groaning and occasional cursing from the computer room, were Jim is participating in his Fantasy Baseball draft.

Who says Madness is confined to March? Certainly no one in this house!

Now if we can just get through round one tonight!

No Foolin'

I'm a little nervous. It's 7:30 p.m. and so far our house has been prank-free on this April Fools Day.

First of all, that means I have been far too nice. Secondly, it means the guys have been too busy. Or have they?

It probably has helped we haven't spent much time all together. Hubby and I went to our churches this morning and Carter tried to get some much needed sleep (he's been sleeping poorly the last few nights). We went to 10:30 service and got home about lunch time. The guys went hitting and I went shopping. Had to find something for Carter's Easter basket -- whether he believes in the Easter bunny or not.

Today we finally saw the return of spring after a chilly week. So I got out for 3-mile run/walk. It was just breezy enough that it really wasn't hot and certainly not warm enough to stay outside for long. I did sit on the deck -- in a sweatshirt -- and read a little bit. I am getting into Catching Fire (book #2 in the Hunger Games series) and need to finish. Now that Jim finished the first one last night, he is anxious -- like me -- to see what happens.

So I might sneak to bed early to read more -- and possibly avoid any foolish behavior.

Wish me luck!