I don't doubt all of us have wished at one time or another that we could have an extra day. Every 4 years, that wish is granted on Feb. 29. In my humble opinion, though, we should be allowed to take a rain check and cash it in, say, sometime in the summer when we could use it to shovel out of a big sand trap instead of shoveling out of a slushy winter storm mess!
The big one of the winter dropped a foot of snow Up North in my family's neck of the woods but gave us, as predicted, a lot of ice and slushy build-up on the roads and our driveway.
I suppose I can't totally complain about the "extra" day. When my alarm went off at 5:44 and I saw that every school between here and Iola was closed, I told Carter to go back to bed -- and hubby and I did the same. That was nice to sleep in and just saunter over to my "cubicle" in my PJs with fresh coffee in hand.
I actually had a few hours of work done before Carter decided to get up! It was about that time that Round 2 started. We got more freezing drizzle and light snow throughout the afternoon. Jim left early to drive to the airport and it was mainly rain down toward Madison so he was lucky that way.
We had enough of the wet stuff here, too. After work, I trudged outside with the shovel and it way too heavy to lift. Not worth killing my back over. Plus, I couldn't shovel much anyway since our driveway is mostly under water!! We have a little pond out there that I will have to figure out how to navigate through.
I expect it is turning into to an ice rink as we speak. I just hope all those little Leap frogs got out OK and back to their real pond!
Happy Leap Day!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Leap Eve
By the looks of things, you'd think March is going to come in like a lion. But who knows -- this is only Leap Eve. We have an extra day between now and then so it could change completely before we leap into next month.
At least the weathermen were right about one thing -- this storm system is going to touch every corner of Wisconsin (I'm sure Minnesota, too). I hope they are wrong about the rest, though, especially accumulation amounts. You can see on the radar map that Wisconsin Rapids is right on that all-important dividing line between snow and rain. That can only mean one thing: ice.
But we'll see how things develop tonight. I know one person in this house is really, really hoping for a snow day. And if it means shutting the alarm off and rolling over, make that 3 people!
Early today, it didn't look like anything was going to happen. It was sunny at times with nothing starting until late afternoon. We went into work early so I could tackle the stuff I missed yesterday on my day off. (It sure was a relaxing commute with hubby driving instead of me!) I went to the fitness center over lunch to run since it doesn't look like I can do it outside for awhile.
Tonight we had hoped to go to the high school boys basketball playoff game but they called that off early. Assumption is hosting Wabeno, which is far enough north they didn't want people to have to travel. Right now they have it rescheduled for tomorrow night. We'll see how the day transpires.
It would be nice if we just got an inch of snow and no ice. Hubby is supposed to drive down to Madison and fly to St. Louis tomorrow. It's supposed to just be rain down there but who knows what Old Man Winter will drop between here and there. He's gotta make an impression since he hasn't been around much lately.
Good thing we have this extra day this year to shovel out.
Yeah. Good thing.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Roughing It, Sort Of
I realize that heated cabins and decent meals every day -- and plenty of chocolate on hand -- really isn't roughing it. But when I get home, I realize what I missed.
Well, there's the obvious -- Jim and Carter, even the cat, who I'm sure missed stealing my pillow space at night. I also missed my couch. My computer. My TV.
And enlightening conversations with Carter like this...
Me: Carter, what did you end up getting on that video for German?
Carter: 91.4%
Me: What did she dock you for? Not long enough?
Carter: I don't know. She wrote her notes in German!
He just didn't see why we found that funny!
Ah, it's good to be home.
Well, there's the obvious -- Jim and Carter, even the cat, who I'm sure missed stealing my pillow space at night. I also missed my couch. My computer. My TV.
And enlightening conversations with Carter like this...
Me: Carter, what did you end up getting on that video for German?
Carter: 91.4%
Me: What did she dock you for? Not long enough?
Carter: I don't know. She wrote her notes in German!
He just didn't see why we found that funny!
Ah, it's good to be home.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Goal Tender
I'm proud to say I accomplished my goal for the weekend! I have Internet access!
Well, that's the first goal. I had to stand outside on top of a hill to get it. Now I am freezing so I better blog fast... about the real goal I accomplished.
Just finished Carter's 7th-grade pages for his Middle School album. That was really all I wanted to get done for sure, knowing I'd lose a large chunk of my Saturday going to Carter's basketball tournament. And 31 pages later, it's time to move onto 8th grade!
My break yesterday was well worth it, though. Got to see our first two games of the day. First one we lost by 7 and the next one we won in double-overtime! I know -- what are the chances of two double-OT games in the same week? After that I went back to camp with a detour stop at home to pick up an adult-size sleeping bag. Was in a "cocoon" Friday night sleeping in Carter's bag. Whoops. (We ended up winning our last game by one point in OT to take 5th in the tourney.)
Got back to camp in the late afternoon and scrapped until 1 a.m. Today's first order of business was a 1-hour full-body massage. You're right. Other than the sleeping bag, this isn't your ordinary camp!
The massage gave me a late start to productivity, but I got into a groove. The fun part of scrapping in a group is stealing ideas (scrap-lifting) from others and feeling proud when you can inspire others a time or two. Can't wait to show Carter his book!
I am staying one more night so I will at least get a start on last fall's school fun. Might as well. It's not like this spotty Internet will let me keep tabs on the Oscars or as Carter pointed out, the NBA All-Star game.
Besides I gotta get inside and warm up. My period of roughing it at camp is over!
Well, that's the first goal. I had to stand outside on top of a hill to get it. Now I am freezing so I better blog fast... about the real goal I accomplished.
Just finished Carter's 7th-grade pages for his Middle School album. That was really all I wanted to get done for sure, knowing I'd lose a large chunk of my Saturday going to Carter's basketball tournament. And 31 pages later, it's time to move onto 8th grade!
My break yesterday was well worth it, though. Got to see our first two games of the day. First one we lost by 7 and the next one we won in double-overtime! I know -- what are the chances of two double-OT games in the same week? After that I went back to camp with a detour stop at home to pick up an adult-size sleeping bag. Was in a "cocoon" Friday night sleeping in Carter's bag. Whoops. (We ended up winning our last game by one point in OT to take 5th in the tourney.)
Got back to camp in the late afternoon and scrapped until 1 a.m. Today's first order of business was a 1-hour full-body massage. You're right. Other than the sleeping bag, this isn't your ordinary camp!
The massage gave me a late start to productivity, but I got into a groove. The fun part of scrapping in a group is stealing ideas (scrap-lifting) from others and feeling proud when you can inspire others a time or two. Can't wait to show Carter his book!
I am staying one more night so I will at least get a start on last fall's school fun. Might as well. It's not like this spotty Internet will let me keep tabs on the Oscars or as Carter pointed out, the NBA All-Star game.
Besides I gotta get inside and warm up. My period of roughing it at camp is over!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Back to Camp
I'm heading off to Camp Crop-A-Lot in a few minutes!
I'm excited, but the timing of this scrapbooking retreat is not good -- sandwiched between hubby's two work trips and on the heels of my ongoing anxiety drama. But this will be my 9th year going, so I really can't miss it, can I?
The Camp is at a real camp -- the Wisconsin Lions Camp in Rosholt, just up the road from Iola. I can't recall if we finally had Internet access there last year so this may be my "sign off" until Monday!
I have two, well three, goals in mind for the weekend. One, I will be starting Carter's junior high book and hope to get 7th grade all done. Two, I hope to be able (read: capable) of driving down to Nekoosa tomorrow so I can see part of Carter's last basketball tournament of the year. Three, I hope to relax and think non-stressful, non-anxious thoughts.
In other words, be a happy camper!
I'm excited, but the timing of this scrapbooking retreat is not good -- sandwiched between hubby's two work trips and on the heels of my ongoing anxiety drama. But this will be my 9th year going, so I really can't miss it, can I?
The Camp is at a real camp -- the Wisconsin Lions Camp in Rosholt, just up the road from Iola. I can't recall if we finally had Internet access there last year so this may be my "sign off" until Monday!
I have two, well three, goals in mind for the weekend. One, I will be starting Carter's junior high book and hope to get 7th grade all done. Two, I hope to be able (read: capable) of driving down to Nekoosa tomorrow so I can see part of Carter's last basketball tournament of the year. Three, I hope to relax and think non-stressful, non-anxious thoughts.
In other words, be a happy camper!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Showdown
The stage was set for quite a showdown in the Assumption High School gymnasium tonight.
Our girls hoops team, ranked #2 in the state, hosted Wausau Newman, ranked #1 and the only team to hand us a loss this year -- and that was only by 3 points. At stake was the conference championship. If we beat Wausau, we'd share the conference title with them. If we lost, well, they'd have it all to themselves.
The tension has been building up for this game since that loss waaaay back toward the beginning of the season! This week was like bonus Spirit Week at school, too. Everyone was encouraged to don their Royal Blue and attend tonight's matchup.
And I think they did.
When Carter and I arrived at 6:45 p.m., 45 minutes before tipoff, the gym was already packed. He went off to play in Pep Band and I found my friends who saved me a seat. Thankfully!
We had a pretty sad outing to start with, only scoring 4 points in the first quarter to their 12 and finishing up the first half down 22-13. We were bummed. But the girls rallied big time in the second half and we even took a 2-point lead. On occasion. At the final buzzer, though, we were tied! Overtime, baby!
You didn't even have to cut the tension with a knife. It was so packed and so hot in that gym, it should have melted away. Instead it was more like fuel to a fire. Uff da. This time at the final buzzer, the score was 40-40. Yes, another overtime! Unreal.
Oh I wish I had good news for the final, but we ended up missing some key shots and fell at the final (for real) buzzer, 49-45. So sad.
What a game, though. This is what high school sports are all about. All that school spirit. All that intense interest because these are our kids... or our kids' friends... or our friends' kids! What a great experience to be a part of tonight.
Now we just have to hope we do well enough in playoffs so we face them again. I think third time will be a charm and we can kick their butts! Or just win by a basket. Or even one point. We'd take it!
Whew! Hubby missed a good game. I texted him to keep him in the loop because his plane landed in Madison around the first OT. I'm lucky I beat him home. Now to wind down quickly and get to bed!
Uff da. Seriously.
Our girls hoops team, ranked #2 in the state, hosted Wausau Newman, ranked #1 and the only team to hand us a loss this year -- and that was only by 3 points. At stake was the conference championship. If we beat Wausau, we'd share the conference title with them. If we lost, well, they'd have it all to themselves.
The tension has been building up for this game since that loss waaaay back toward the beginning of the season! This week was like bonus Spirit Week at school, too. Everyone was encouraged to don their Royal Blue and attend tonight's matchup.
And I think they did.
When Carter and I arrived at 6:45 p.m., 45 minutes before tipoff, the gym was already packed. He went off to play in Pep Band and I found my friends who saved me a seat. Thankfully!
We had a pretty sad outing to start with, only scoring 4 points in the first quarter to their 12 and finishing up the first half down 22-13. We were bummed. But the girls rallied big time in the second half and we even took a 2-point lead. On occasion. At the final buzzer, though, we were tied! Overtime, baby!
You didn't even have to cut the tension with a knife. It was so packed and so hot in that gym, it should have melted away. Instead it was more like fuel to a fire. Uff da. This time at the final buzzer, the score was 40-40. Yes, another overtime! Unreal.
Oh I wish I had good news for the final, but we ended up missing some key shots and fell at the final (for real) buzzer, 49-45. So sad.
What a game, though. This is what high school sports are all about. All that school spirit. All that intense interest because these are our kids... or our kids' friends... or our friends' kids! What a great experience to be a part of tonight.
Now we just have to hope we do well enough in playoffs so we face them again. I think third time will be a charm and we can kick their butts! Or just win by a basket. Or even one point. We'd take it!
Whew! Hubby missed a good game. I texted him to keep him in the loop because his plane landed in Madison around the first OT. I'm lucky I beat him home. Now to wind down quickly and get to bed!
Uff da. Seriously.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Amazing Grace
Since I am one of those fickle Lutherans who isn't required to give up something for Lent -- unlike my Catholic better half -- I'm not doing it. In my mind my Lent has come and gone. I've already sacrificed everything from my health to my sanity and quality of living in the first 40+ days of this year.
If God is willing, I'd like to move on from here, please.
Still making progress. My witch doctor (and I told her I call her that) has done some incredible voodoo magic to sweep away some nasty old cobwebs and help me clean house in my mind and soul. (Perhaps one day it will even extend to my real house!)
So today, with hubby half a country away, I was able to drive to and from Iola, run some errands in town, pick Carter up from basketball practice and go to Ash Wednesday service and soup supper at church. Sadly, I couldn't have dreamed of doing those "normal" things just a few weeks ago!
The confirmation students and parents are responsible for serving the soup suppers during Lent and cleanup. We grownups sent the kids upstairs to church while we wrapped up K.P. duty, which took another half hour. So I missed the ashes, but heard the end of the sermon and was there for communion.
Now Sunday, I was unable to take that giant leap forward. My stomach was in such knots and my head was practically spinning at the notion of walking all the way to the front of the church for communion. Tonight, though, I just kept taking deep breaths and praying and, well, singing.
Totally fitting that we were singing Amazing Grace:
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
'tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
Grace is amazing, isn't it? I made it up front, albeit a little shaky, took communion and made it safely back to my seat -- and stayed upright. Then we got in the car, and grace did lead us home!
Thanks be to God.
If God is willing, I'd like to move on from here, please.
Still making progress. My witch doctor (and I told her I call her that) has done some incredible voodoo magic to sweep away some nasty old cobwebs and help me clean house in my mind and soul. (Perhaps one day it will even extend to my real house!)
So today, with hubby half a country away, I was able to drive to and from Iola, run some errands in town, pick Carter up from basketball practice and go to Ash Wednesday service and soup supper at church. Sadly, I couldn't have dreamed of doing those "normal" things just a few weeks ago!
The confirmation students and parents are responsible for serving the soup suppers during Lent and cleanup. We grownups sent the kids upstairs to church while we wrapped up K.P. duty, which took another half hour. So I missed the ashes, but heard the end of the sermon and was there for communion.
Now Sunday, I was unable to take that giant leap forward. My stomach was in such knots and my head was practically spinning at the notion of walking all the way to the front of the church for communion. Tonight, though, I just kept taking deep breaths and praying and, well, singing.
Totally fitting that we were singing Amazing Grace:
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
'tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
Grace is amazing, isn't it? I made it up front, albeit a little shaky, took communion and made it safely back to my seat -- and stayed upright. Then we got in the car, and grace did lead us home!
Thanks be to God.
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