Our Cup of Coping Mechanisms

I can read Sylvester's mind today. She's thinking, "The kids are gone now. I cried with mommy lady when she said goodbye. They won't be back for almost 3 months. Will licking the remaining mint ice cream in this cup heal my broken heart?"

"I'll just taste a little around the edges and see."

"It's pretty good. I'll dig in and hold onto this brief moment of frozen, minty happiness."

"Hey mommy lady, the ice cream was good... but I'm still sad."

Me too, princess. Me too.

Partying Like it's 1999

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life... Oh, and party like it's 1999. If you're a Prince fan, that is.

Had a girls night out tonight with a few of Jim's high school classmates I've come to know over the years. So glad they invited me to tag along because we had a fun time pretending we were at a Prince concert. For lack of a better word, The Prince Experience is a tribute band. And a pretty talented one at that.

Had to get my head-to-toe purple vibe going for this one! 

Terri, Lori and I rode together from Rapids and met Lisa up in Wausau at Townies, a bar/restaurant right across the block from The Grand Theatre. So that worked out well. And it was good food, too!

Terri and I ordered matching shirts on Amazon. They say Prince on the front and 1999 on the back. And of course, that was the last song after the first encore! 

I'll say the lead performer tried to look like Prince. Wasn't quite there, but his voice – with all the falsetto moments and screams that were trademarks of Prince – was spot on. So it was entertaining. Fun to sing along and dance to a full spectrum of songs – not just the Purple Rain soundtrack. 

Meanwhile back home, our husbands had dinner together and went to hear another classmate sing with his band. I guess it was old school rock night. Though they were partying more like it was 1981, not 1999.

#purplepower 

Full Time Out

Happy Friday! Felt like the work day just dragged today. Probably because I had non-work activities on my mind – including a deep-tissue massage and shooting hoops tonight and seeing the kids.

Full Friday for sure!

Royals are still out of town so I covered the Lincoln High School boys game at home. Couple of parents of seniors asked if I could get to a game since they don't have a regular picture-taker for them this year. It was fun. 

Our Rapids boys lost, but it was still good to get out – and get a lot of pictures. I'll be up for awhile yet, so figured I'd blog before midnight.

I got home from the game about 9 p.m. but then Carter and Mamie arrived about 9:05 p.m. Carter brought some stuff home and claims everything he owns is under one roof now.

But that won't last long. He's home so he can pack up again and this time prepare for a big move. They signed a lease and will be moving out to Raleigh, N.C. Since his job is remote, he can live anywhere and after enjoying Colorado, they figured they'd try a new place again – and venture east this time. 

I'd like to take a full time out here to absorb this. Even though we've known a few weeks, it's now for real. They're to get what they need and leave. At least they're here until Sunday so there's still time on the clock.

Hopefully the weekend drags out like my work day today!

GroundHog and My Calendar Predict Winter

Happy Groundhog Day – the dumbest holiday on the official calendar. A calendar that also confirms – shadow or no shadow – that it's about 6 weeks until spring. We'll just have to deal with it. I did find a few more funnies to share, though...

This one cracks me up. We'll see how long Brady's announcement this week actually sticks. He must have Brett Favre Syndrome.

Me too, Groundhog. Me too. Definitely need coffee to work! I had so much caffeine I was energized to work after work! Well, take photos. 

I went to capture 7th- and 8th-grade girls hoops but our opponent didn't have enough 8th-graders so there was only the 7th-grade game. We were beating Port by 30 at half so it was a running clock at the end of the game. Yay for quick games. I could come home and do the pictures and still will have time to do some top-secret yarn work.

Glad someone knows the truth. Thanks, Phyllis. I'll just plan to keep my electric mattress pad on for another 2 to 5 months!

Hello, February

Had a gorgeous sunrise through my filthy car window to accompany me on my morning commute today. Almost made me think that if February is going to go all pretty on me, I might like it.

But most likely I won't. Not until the current Polar Vortex ends its reign anyway.

Let's just hope the shortened February goes as quickly as January. I guess it helps to be in southern climates for half the month!

When I went to choir practice tonight I hadn't realized it was the first one I've been to this year. It was just the timing of my Wednesdays with travel or vice versa that made me miss. We've got plenty of songs and performances lined up for the rest of winter and Lent, which already starts later this month. So that'll be fun.

Jim was out of town this afternoon and evening eating dinner with some aunts and uncles on his dad's side. And yes, they did eat at 4 p.m. – that doesn't only happen in Arizona! Just glad they were all willing to get out of the house in this cold weather! 

And in related news... Dairy Queen in Wisconsin Rapids reopens Friday. In case these subzero temps have you craving ice cream.

Who am I kidding? That's pretty much any day of the year for this girl. Though I may have to be snuggled under a warm blanket to eat it. It's all about balance, folks.

Have a good month. And be careful out there!

You Still Have to Leave the House

I didn't realize this morning's wake-up temperature was going to be even worse than yesterday. It made me actually look to see if schools were closed. 

They weren't. I can't remember the threshold, but a windchill of -23 isn't cold enough. Either way, I still had to leave the house and get to work so I could deliver that trifle. Priorities! 

Even the remaining water in my water bottle decided to give up the fight. It was ice by the end of the day. Even though we have covered parking at work, that doesn't keep the wind or the chill out. I'm probably going to cave and wear a coat one of these days, too!

Tonight after work I kept warm by shooting hoops. Well, shooting pictures of hoops. I went to the Rapids girls' JV game to watch Coach Austin in action. Not THAT Coach Austin. A different one. Jim's goddaughter Becca is leading the JV 1 squad this winter.

Since Royals hoops are out of town all week, it finally worked on my schedule to go. She's a sweetie and it's fun to see her share her passion for the game with these young girls. It was a low-scoring affair, but they beat Medford 17-10. A win's a win. Hoping she'll find continued this success this season. Stay hot!

Speaking of hot... I didn't stay for varsity so I got home at a decent time to turn on my electric mattress pad. That thing never gets a break. Except during daylight hours, of course. Because darn it, we still have to leave the house. 

Be careful out there!

We're Built Different

OK, I woke up to below zero temperatures for the first time this year. And no I didn't step out in a short dress and stilettos – without a coat. But only because I worked from home today, of course.

Frankly, my weather app was in complete alignment with my heated mattress pad. Stay in bed! They both urged. My body said yes, but my mind said, "Crap. It's Monday. Gotta work." So jeans and a sweatshirt it was. No stilettos in sight. 

I did venture out at lunch to pick up ingredients for a trifle. It was up to 2 degrees by then so I didn't need to break out a coat yet, just slipped on a vest over my hoodie. I'm telling you, we Wisconsin girls ARE built different. Though I have layers of fat to warm me compared to the girls pictured. That makes a difference, too!

And this is supposed to be the coldest day this week. Yay.

Since I was home for afternoon and evening, I whipped together a trifle for the new member of our circus, er work team. I asked if she had a wish for the Trifle Fairy and she said anything with vanilla and sprinkles...

This is sort of a messy one, but there is vanilla pudding and there are sprinkles of sorts on the frosted animal cookies. Hope that works for her. Haven't had a disappointing Trifle Tuesday yet. Let's keep the streak going.

As for the Polar Vortex streak – that can go away any time.

Not that I can't handle it. #WisconsinGirls