Random Acts of Appreciation

In a random coincidence tonight, I received three gifts of appreciation while I was shooting pictures at the boys basketball game (including these lovely flowers above). 

There was no way these three people planned to do this the same evening. I think they just figured I might be there taking pictures since it was a home game.

There was also no way they knew I had the crappiest, most stressful day at work and I really, really, really needed something uplifting in my life. I guess God knew. Thanks for putting these three in my path so that when I was frustrated and filled with self-doubt today, they were there to boost my self-confidence by pointing out how my talents touched their lives.

I needed that so much!

I can now commence to weekending with a smile on my face. Yes, even though our Royals lost a tough battle with Edgar, I will still think positive thoughts and move forward.

Thanks for being special and thinking I'm special, too!

Technically it's Still Autumn Right?

The brownish-green grass disappeared overnight and now the only color out there in our winter wonderland is white and a few brown and orange autumn leaves holding onto their season for dear life.

Sadly, they're not long for this world.

As predicted, we officially got 6 inches of snow in Wisconsin Rapids. I think only 5 on Blue Jay Drive but it all still weighed in at "heavy and wet." Schools were closed so most of our team worked from home again. 

And while I was working, the neighborhood snow angels swooped in to clear our driveway. I love that even though hubby is the one laid up, they treat me like a helpless female who can't remove snow. I don't mean that sarcastically. I love that. And am so grateful that for today I didn't have to try and remember how to operate the snowblower. Thank you, Mike and Mike! Jim thanks you and my back thanks you, too!

To illustrate how heavy that snow is... remember these straight trees (at right) from our front yard yesterday?

Mother Nature likes to bend them apart so they look look like fuzzy rabbit ears. Or, as a friend pointed out, wings. Maybe snow angel wings? I tried to get a selfie in front of them to look like an angel, but as Santa pointed out the other day, my name does not appear in that column either!

Over lunch, I did break out the lens ball and got this somewhat creative shot. I need more practice but I still think it's cool! Since winter hasn't technically started, I'm guessing I'll get a few more chances.

We could still get another inch or two tonight. At least I know I don't have to travel in the morning since Friday's already a work-from-home day. We were also lucky we didn't have to deal with power outages here either. It's been a very long couple of days for many of you.

Take care, enjoy the last days of fall, and be careful out there! 

Ice Escape-ades

If you haven't figured out by now, this chick is not a fan of winter. At least not the driving part. Or walking on ice and feeling like I should have ice skates on. Even though I have no idea how to skate!

Yesterday was an OK drive to and from work. Last night I went back up to Stevens Point to shoot some hockey. It was parents night so I said I'd get pictures ahead of time and stay for one period. Figured that would get me back home before the freezing drizzle started.

Glad I was able to go. I got the pictures and more. As two of players were helping me back off the ice, one of them handed me a rose – like they gave to their moms – and assuming I had to deliver it outside the rink to someone, I asked, "Now who does this one go to?" 

They said: "You!"

Awwww. That was so sweet! And I got my team hat, too. And some time with Mr. Zamboni (the machine, not the driver, ha). Oh and they ended up winning 5-4!

I tell you, it's the little things in life that make me smile! And having a mostly rain versus icy drive home was great, too.

Before I had left work in the afternoon, they'd already started closing schools for today in anticipation of the ice. Our team planned to just work from home to stay safe. I planned to watch Hallmark movies from home.

Nope, not playing hooky. Realized I have PTO to use or lose this year and, gasp, it's already mid-December. What?! Anyway, I called into my 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. meetings and then had the rest of the day off. And yes, got 2-plus Hallmark movies watched plus got hubby to rehab (the ice was melting by early afternoon) and got to choir practice tonight. Figured we'd cut it short and get us all home to beat the next round of this winter storm.

Of course it's not over yet. This is Wisconsin. And it's almost winter. We can't escapade, er ESCAPE, it!

Although the ground is still bare here, we could get up to a foot of the heavy, wet, white stuff over night – here and at the office in Point – and they've already called off school everywhere near here.

So maybe tomorrow will be a work-from-home situation again (and I'll really have to work this time) or the frazzled forecasters could be wrong. 

I hope they're wrong. The power blinked off here early this morning. I can't imagine what more ice and heavy snow will do. My poor twin up north spent the day without power! Uff da.

Be smart. And be careful out there! 

Talking Smart Doesn't Get You on the Nice List Either

I'll apologize in advance for what's coming this week. This is what happens when I talk smart! Didn't I learn anything about the talking thing yesterday? No, apparently not.

So my sister Ro texts a picture of the pretty wreath she put by Dad's grave. I commented on all the snow and was reminded that it is winter after all. I boldly and stupidly replied with...

A photo out my front door and a "Not here!"

Oh, I wish I could take those words back! Eight hours later and we're seeing this...

And this...

Either way you look at it, it's snow and ice and a mess. And, yep, my fault for talking smart. Or not so smart.

And selfishly the timing stinks because I have plans to escape the house the next 4 evenings! Oh, and that commute to work, which looks like it will be icy and sketchy both Wednesday and Thursday mornings. There's a change I'll work from home but that's no fun when we're doing Secret Santas at work and I still have more hollying and jollying to do!

We'll see how the forecast shakes out in the next 24 hours. In the meantime, be careful out there.

And if you love winter... you're welcome!

Nice List in Progress

Ever plug your name into one of those online name games on Facebook and get very accurate results? Yeah, me neither.

I did laugh out loud at this tonight! I mean I do take a break from talking once in awhile to laugh. But yeah... he's not wrong. Hopefully that doesn't nudge me off the Nice List. Think I'm safe earning points on that one just by default with hubby's knee surgeries.

Several others are also on that list! I can't believe we've had dinner delivered to our doorstep every night this weekend. We have the bestest friends in our life! We couldn't ask for anything more. 

Based on Santa's snarky opinion of me, that's probably a good thing! 

Anyway, we do appreciate the love. Knee pain sucks and Purple pain sucks, too! Yes, I'm acknowledging some bad television programming today. I guess there are more Lions on the Nice List right now so Santa had to do the right thing.

Just this once I hope. 

Enjoy every miracle this season brings. Even if they're meant to bring someone else joy! 🎅

Ice Time

While the last 48 hours have included routine applications of icing hubby's knee, I got some of my own ice time today. Yup. That's me and Mr. Zamboni reuniting for another season!

Our Pacelli-Assumption co-op team was hosting the Blizzard team from back home – a team of combined players from Luck, Frederic, Siren, Webster, and Grantsburg (where my cousin Tyler goes to school). Since a few of my cousins would be there, I did some wrangling with the patient care so I could be gone a few hours.

Yup, my sister-in-law agreed to Jimmy-sit for a while. Thanks, Sherry!

It was great to see Rachael and her son Luke, who goes to UW-Stevens Point and played in the pep band at the game today. Fun!

Since it was my first game of the year to shoot and I wanted to capture some players from both teams, I ended up taking about a thousand pictures. Haha. Not kidding. I'm done editing and uploading now. Here's a few of cousin Tyler ...

He looks a bit like my cousin – his Grandpa Gene!

Pacelli ended up beating them 7-2 but at least my cousins got to hang around the area for the night instead of hitting the road for that lovely 4-hour drive home. 

My time with them was short since I had to get home to my slowly-but-surely improving patient. Hopefully we'll turn a corner tonight and he'll get some sleep. I may or may not have random hockey dreams. Br-r-r-r.

Be careful out there and watch for ice!

Walker-ing in a Winter Wonderland

Today was just your typical Friday. You know, work and therapy. I prefer saying therapy over "rehab."

As expected, hubby had a rough first night with little sleep. Even with those magic pills! At least he's managing the pain a bit more proactively this time. But powering through his first physical therapy session this morning was as brutal as you'd think. 

My therapy session after work was trigger-point therapy. Also painful, but short-lived. And I feel loads better after.

Hubby's not quite there. I continue to feel helpless but am doing what I can. He's pretty immobile now and needs some assistance getting in and out of the recliner. I had planned to go shoot pictures of the Royals' double-header tonight, but really can't leave him alone for long. Pretty much how it was last time around.

He'll rely 100 percent on the walker for another two days, I'm guessing. Just grateful he hasn't had to maneuver that magical tennis-ball supported contraption through snow yet. I don't know how we escaped the forecast from last night, but we're OK with that! 

Thanks for the continued well wishes for him. And thanks to our friendly neighbors for delivering fish fries for supper. I certainly don't need spoiling just because he does... Not that I'll turn it down. 

I certainly won't take my healthy knees and mobility for granted ever again! Be careful out there.