Storm Damage

We hit the road around 5 a.m. to get to my parents' place at a decent time to help with cleanup today. For most of the ride up -- when I wasn't sleeping -- I tried to invision what the storm damage was going to look like. Nothing prepared me.

It is our family tradition that no matter which way we are approaching home, we would always look for the tip top of the Lone Spruce in the distance -- and when we could see it, we knew we were almost there! We were about a mile from "home" this morning and I looked for it, knowing it was no longer there, and I didn't like it.

When we got closer, the first thing we saw was the power truck out on the road. It was 9:10 a.m. and they had already erected a new pole to replace the one that snapped in half after the Lone Spruce landed on it. That was a good sign. My parents would only be 12 hours without power instead of days.

Then, when we got past the driveway and I looked right, I just about lost it. I mean I didn't know if I should puke or cry. The landscape of my childhood was gone. Just one big pile of pine.

I gave my mom and dad big, grateful hugs, then set out to work. We didn't have time to get sentimental. There was a big mess and a lot of work to do. Thankfully, all my siblings within driving distance were able to get off of work today -- and some of their chainsaw-wielding children, too -- so we accomplished a lot in one day.

Yes, I took hundreds of pictures, but I probably won't get to them until later tonight or tomorrow. I did do a video walk-through of the property so my siblings who weren't there until later (or not at all) could see the initial damages. It's an 8-minute video if you have the time. (Pardon the loud and continuous chainsaw noises that sometimes outranked my loud voice.)

If you watch it (or view still images tomorrow) you will see what I mean when I say my parents were lucky -- are lucky -- no harm came to them. Thank you, God!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfiClU56Oeo

Close to Home

I told my dad tonight that he is either too stubborn to die or God has great plans for him. Because not only has he used about 8 lives in his 82 years, he used up the 9th one tonight when he and mom survived a tornado.

Details are sketchy but their neighbor across the lake witnessed the funnel cloud dip in the lake and hit our property and house -- taking down 13+ pine trees that have lined our driveway forever, the huge "lone spruce" out front and part of their roof. They, thank God, are OK.

They knew about the warnings from the 6 o'clock news but didn't think it looked that bad out. Of course, they are out in the sticks where there is no siren to sound either. They felt the wind and Mom heard the roar as she was closing up windows and trying to close a door. That's my mom, trying to close a door against a tornado while the mirror and other wall hangings in the hallway are getting blown around!

When she saw the domino of trees falling, they headed to the basement. By the time they got to the landing (4 steps down), she said it was already over. Somehow, thank God again, they survived unscathed.

The big challenges are the roof leaking over their bed tonight , the trees blocking the driveway and the big Lone Spruce that fell on the power line out front. They have no electricity but thanks to their Amish/backwoods ways, I got through to them on their old-school rotary phone!

We're heading up in the morning to do what we can to help. I can't wield a chainsaw but I can do something that a 78- and 82-year-old should not be doing! Hopefully the electricity will be back on so they don't lose everything in the fridge. But if not, who cares? Food can be replaced.

My parents can't.

(Prayers appreciated. Thanks!)

Win Some, Lose Some

Oh I would have loved to have been at the Twins game tonight! Got home to see they stomped all over the Royals 19-1 and my boy Mauer was 5 for 5 with something like 7 RBIs. I wish I could SEE these games once in awhile instead of cheering after the fact.

Ah well. We were enjoying a different level of baseball tonight.

Remember last month we ventured to our first Wisconsin Rapids Rafters game? Well that night was a "guaranteed win" night so when they lost, we got FREE tickets to another game -- and that was tonight.

It was a fun game. This one was much closer but, unfortunately, the guys couldn't pull it together in the end so they lost 3-2 against Waterloo, Iowa.

Highlights included free baseballs for the first 500 kids, so Carter and friend Nate each got one; a foul ball caught/captured by Carter; and the "beer batter" striking out twice so Jim and friend Mike got half-price beers 2 times! My highlight was seeing friends at the game, including some people from church.... and getting home and seeing the Twins score!

Have a mentioned I love baseball?

We're even going to a game next week in Miami when the Marlins host the Phillies! Just got very good tickets at a very good deal. Apparently no one goes to those games (if you ever see highlights on ESPN and see all the empty seats!) so for one night they'll have 3 Brewers fans, 2 Twins fans and 1 Reds fan cheering on their home team. Should be fun.

But when isn't it?

Off Schedule

Carter got his schedule for 7th grade a few days ago, along with his final list of school supplies and other info about his new school. He's pretty excited! (We are, too!)

This is how organized I am (ha), I've got his supply list printed out in an order that we can find supplies quickly (grouped by pens, notebooks, etc.) rather than going back and forth between aisles and forgetting something. Now we just have to go get 'em!

We did start on the clothing part. He has a dress code now so we had to get some "polo shirts" (which I mostly got earlier this summer on sale) and some "dress shorts." I shouldn't call them dress shorts, just plain/solid khaki or blue or black, and not the sports kind which, unfortunately, is about all Carter has. That proved to be a tougher task since stores are getting rid of their summer stuff (in July) and bringing in the pants and long sleeves for fall. Between Wal-Mart in Rapids and Target in Hudson (on our way to the reunion), we found a few pairs. I think they are a little long, though, for Carter's short frame. Anyone know a seamstress who could hem shorts for cheap and NOT make them look hemmed? I might go that route. We'll see what the dress code cops say at school.

I wish I was as organized with my other list. You know, that summer vacation we've been planning since January and is now, oh, just 6 days away. My thought was that we'd get a great start on packing this weekend, but then life happened.... races Friday night, out-of-state reunion Saturday, hubby's church picnic this afternoon and evening, and Mad Men season premiere tonight. Needless to say, I haven't even got the suitcases upstairs from the basement! But we sure had a fun weekend!

I did manage to steal away from the picnic today and connect with my friend Christine to get some plans together. We're pretty sure the guys are counting on us "girls" to organize things. And we're fine with that. We just hadn't had time (sad, I know) to figure things out. We're excited now, though. Got a few things in mind that should be fun, but mostly we're going to relax!

Now I just need to get back on schedule this week so I can get my work stuff done by Friday and that pesky packing done by then, too! Well, that deadline I can't miss!

Branches

I think it was quite appropriate that we trekked over to North Branch, Minn., for the day Saturday to get together with the north branch, the south branch and all branches of my family tree on my dad's side.

My aunt, uncle and cousins were coming up for the weekend from St. Louis so we thought it was as good excuse as any to have a Hedberg reunion. The weather gods blessed us and we had a really nice turnout, too. Of course, there were lots of cousins who couldn't make it -- including my sister Rayna down in Texas -- so I thought I'd post a few pictures...

Of course, it's always a good excuse to see my twin sister. Since Raylene has been 4 inches taller than me forever, I decided to make her sit in the chair so I could be taller than her for once!

My cousin Carolyn (left) kindly opened her home to all of us and organized the event. Here she visits with our cousin Pam (up from St. Louis) and some of the kids (younger cousins).

I was obviously not the only one snapping pictures! Carolyn's husband Glen let us set up in his "man cave," which was a nice place for relatives to sit and eat and catch up!

My mom hates smiling for pictures. I'm not sure how I pulled this one off, but it's a keeper!

Girl power! At some point, do we all start looking alike? We certainly laugh alike!

My sisters Renell and Romey staying cool -- as usual.

Rick and Glen seem to be saying: "Oh boy, is that your wife making all that noise? Or mine?"

Jim and my nephew Zach smile for the camera -- sort of. Zach obviously hates having his picture taken so this is what he gets!

I have now been told by more than one person I look like my dad. So I guess we're both lucky!

My dad and his 4 remaining siblings (and wives) pose for a nice picture.

I'm not sure when the 5 were last seated together, but it must have been a big deal because...

... look at all the paparazzi that showed up!!

Makes me wonder who was left to take our group photo. This is the first line of cousins -- children of the Hedbergs. Good-sized group -- and that's probably only half of us!

The perfect ending to the day was a full-size rainbow over the reunion! Very cool to see an entire rainbow end to end (though we couldn't fit it all in the camera viewer). Now we know God has blessed all his trees and branches.

A Real Win-Win Situation

It's too late to put any coherent thoughts together but I will say it was a good night at the races. In fact, doubly good. We had 2 winners tonight!

First, and more importantly, our nephew Colin won the Super Stock feature! He has been finishing 2nd the past several weeks and finally finished out front! He still leads points in that division so this was an awesome night for him. Yay!

Carter was the second big winner. They were drawing names and giving away about 30 bikes tonight during intermission. They called his name and we went down to claim the bike for the Boys 10-12 category. Wouldn't you know it, it was a purple bike that said, Glamourous on it?! Whoops. Wrong category.

They were kind enough to find another bike. It's probably too small but we'll take it.

Everyone's coming home with hardware tonight!

Boys of Summer

...And I can tell you
my love for you will still be strong
after the boys of summer have gone.
(Boys of Summer, Don Henley)

In honor of Don Henley's birthday today, I thought I should share some last pictures of my boys of summer!

Here is a scrapbook of the Fond du Lac tournament from this past weekend:

The all-important coin flip. Our team only got to be the HOME team 4 times all summer -- and they won each time!

Somehow captured Carter in the middle of a bunt that obviously fouled off to the right.

Carter stands in ready position in right field.

Father and son watch the action from the dugout.

Our second game Saturday was a doozy. The boys scored 8 runs in extra innings to win 9-2! Whoo-hoo!

The 11U Rapids Rage boys do their "break down" after the 9-2 win. They went into Sunday with a 2-0 record for the first time this season.

In their first game Sunday, Carter gets ready at third to head home.

Carter scores at home. Lots of scoring in that first game. We kicked some Antigo butt!

Did I mention lots of scoring? Yes, you are seeing things correctly. For once we were on the giving end of a 12-run rule. Whoo-hoo! Going into the championship game with a 3-0 record!

Carter grounds out during the championship game, which was a tight battle with the 3-0 team from Madison. They beat us in extra innings, 5-4.

Coach Birkhauser hands Carter his second-place trophy.

The team was disappointed but still smiles with their trophies -- knowing this was the best tournament of the season!! Too bad it was the last!

Assistant coach "Dad" poses with Carter, who was pretty disappointed at the final loss, but is very excited to do this again next year!

Me, too! I already miss my Boys of Summer!