48 in January in Wisconsin?

I reveled in the sunshine today when I ran some errands over lunch today. My car temperature gauge said 48 degrees! This seems to be the norm this year instead of the usual very cold temperatures. I worry about my perennial flowers and some of the farmer's crops without the blanket of snow, but I have to say I'm digging all of the sunshine!

UW-Madison Band

Got to experience the Madison band at a fundraiser for Oconomowoc High School bands. Very entertaining of course. Two former classmates of my oldest daughter are in the band. They put on a very good and entertaining show. Got to spoil my youngest daughter by taking her for ice cream after the show.

Renting Movies

I mailed a care package to Sarah, my oldest daughter today. Our post office is within walking distance, which I like. There also happens to be a video rental store nearby as well. Since renting a movie through Time Warner Cable is cost prohibitive, I decided to rent through the store. I was able to get almost three times as many rentals for the price I would have rented one movie through the cable provider.

After an evening of doing absolutely nothing last night, I was productive this morning...making Valentine cut out cookies for the care package and getting the dishes caught up.

Productivity

Disruptions were minimal today at work. First two early meetings were cancelled and that left the day wide open to be productive. Got some documentation completed along with a record number of items crossed off of my TO DO list. Hoping tomorrow will be as productive!

Had an amazing night with Megan. Sarah was working at her job in Madison and Corey was at a wood working guild meeting so it was just her and I. We ate breakfast for supper, did dishes, practiced her piano a bit and we read some from a book about giant squids that no human has seen alive (only dead, washed up on the shore bodies). Quite interesting. I like evenings like this when we have time for her not to compete for any attention and she is more relaxed and amenable.

One Sentence Blogging

I was inspired today from an article in Good Housekeeping magazine (February 2012 issue) to keep a journal but be realistic about what I write. Try and write one sentence a day about a memory of the day or something witty one of my kids has said etc. Can I do this? Can I keep it to one sentence?

Today was quite relaxing. After mass I was able to read the paper, several magazines, and watch a slew of movies with the girls. I made a large batch of spaghetti and generally lazed about all day in my lounge chair! Nice!

No TV?

It's 8 p.m. and our cable is out...which forces me to do something constructive...I've been constructive all day....come on! I want some mind-numbing nothing, some witty dialog, some easy comedy or some HGTV education why my decor is screwed up.

My youngest is at the park with her father and my oldest is working on summer school homework for college. 8 p.m. is too late in the evening to get anything started but too early to hit the sack--remember, hubby is at the park ;-) Guess I'll have to read a book...

Not Pregnant!

Nothing like shopping with your youngest daughter to bring you back to reality! Yesterday I was shopping for a summer dress and while trying on a particularly tight one she said "You know mom, if people didn't know you, they'd think you were pregnant!"

OK, I have grown a bit of a gut...there is truth to what she says...Out of the mouths of babes and drunks comes the truth! Makes me want to improve my diet!

No Energy Friday Nights

I'm sure it is an age thing, but I know many people older than myself that make a night of it every Friday night. I can barely keep my eyes open past 6 p.m. What's with that?

I do work hard all week long--10 hour days at work and usually some time in the yard after supper. Gardening is my passion...my flower gardens are evidence of that. This year I have a vegetable garden on top of that. So with all of that activity you'd think I'd have a lot of energy? No way. I just can't seem to catch my second wind.

Time to go for ice cream....now that got me going!

Bill "The Big Unit" Michaels

Have you ever experienced running into someone at work and you realize you haven't seen them in a while....you make some small talk sort of comment and then they inform you they've been on disability for 12 weeks or something like that? I was delivered a blow on my drive home tonight...I am an avid listener to WTMJ 620.

I was a Jonathan Green fan and didn't think I'd like the new guy, John McCure. He's not as annoying as he was on TV. I decided the reason I still like the new talk news program on my drive home was thanks to Bill Michaels.

Bill is a straight shooter, breaks it down very simply and uses terminology that everyone can understand--even if they aren't a rabid fan of the sport. He is a master of his trade. As a female, casual fan of most of the big sports, he taught me enough to talk the talk with the guys at work. He got me to see the games from a different perspective.

The blow I got on my drive home tonight was John McCure welcoming some new schmucks to Sports Central beginning next week and I'm like WHAT? Imagine my surprise to look Bill up on Facebook and get the news that WTMJ and Bill could not come to agreement on his new contract. I'm sooo bummed! I actually shed tears...I like this guy that much! (like when they announced that Fr. Dolan was tapped to go to New York)

I am numb right now...not sure if I'll listen to 620 in the afternoon anymore. This really blows!

Weight Watchers wise I am still hanging in there sticking to the plan. Got 60 minutes of walking in at lunch and only went over on my points by 2. This is the first time I've gone over on points (in four days.)

Day Three and Staying Strong

This is my third day on Weight Watchers and I'm amazed I've been able to stick to it. It has been years since I've gone successfully for this long...I just haven't had the will power.

So far so good. The daily point value I'm allowed seems like too many. Today though, I wanted to have a beer, but after tallying up my totals, I had like three points left and I needed 5 for a beer. I could tap into my 49 extra weekly points, but I decided I didn't need a beer that bad today! So after a 60 minute walk I ate two small cookies sealing the deal on the points for today.

I tried a new recipe today, it was a crock pot white chili recipe. I initially cut the recipe in half and added half the spice, but ended up adding extra beans and chicken broth but forgot to up the spices too. It was fine...not sure I cared for the ground turkey meat...I think diced cooked chicken might have tasted better.

On my walk tonight I heard a lot of bird cacaphony as well as a woodpecker. Spring is definitely on the way!

Turning 50, Diets & Will Power

So what is it about dieting that makes you want to eat everything in sight, even if you aren't remotely interested?

I'm proud I finally decided to do something about my body image and joined Weight Watchers this morning. I've been contemplating this for a long time...not necessarily Weight Watchers but doing something to jump start me into a healthier mode and hopefully lose weight. My goals for 2011 were to get a new job (done) and to lose weight. That's it. It's achieveable...but I've been on the downward spiral for the past five years and I've decided enough is enough.

My first step this week was signing up for a class in the fitness center at work called "From Couch to 5K in Eight Weeks." The first class is next Thursday after work. I knew I wanted to lose weight, but haven't had the initiative to do anything about it. Well, this morning I had this epiphany, hit the web to see the class schedule and did it. My hubby and youngest daughter weren't even out of bed yet!

Breakfast was fine, lunch was fine, but the rest of the day....I wanted to snarf cookies, chips, dip...all the naughty items left in our house after last week's party.

The Weight Watchers plan will definitely be doable...a beer is only 5 points--so worth it when I'm having a bad day. Cookies are 2 - 3 points....again, I can plan for that! Today in fact, I had three cookies and still have a point left to burn today if I care to!

Tomorrow after I get dolled up I'll have Corey take a "before" picture...then it will be to stick with the plan...tracking what I eat online or on the phone app to see if the new PointsPlus plan will work for me. Anything in a positive weight loss will be good for me!

Blizzardness

Howling winds tonight...wind gusts upwards over 40 mph at times. The wind is blowing so hard that the snow has made it between the storm window and our 118 year old windows. I'm in my favorite lazy boy chair and cannot see the bird feeder or suet feeder that bring me joy. Cannot look out my kitchen window either.

I have a drift at the bottom of our driveway that is at least five feet high and one off of the fence by the garage that is about the same. The front sidewalk to our porch has drifted over to the point you cannot see there is even a sidewalk there.

Leave it to the college kids to enjoy the snow. The frat boys from down the street are drinking it up and walking somewhere...no boots, no hat...idiots. At least most folks are heeding the warnings and are not out and about driving.

On my drive home, I stopped at the grocery store to get a few things in hopes we would have a snow day. There was only about 4 gallons of milk left in the cooler!

Work officially cancelled tomorrow. I get to work from home in my jammies!

A Piece of Americana

On July 11th I got a taste of Americana in quaint Eagle, Wisconsin. My husband, daughter Megan and I attended a community concert to benefit the local cemetary. This cemetary was desimated by a tornado that ripped through the area in June, uprooting older trees, which in turn fell and ruined many a grave marker--doing much damage. That damage was still evident everywhere you looked...trees split in two, people's property still showing signs of the power behind that storm.

We sat in lawn chairs we brought. An empty bucket was passed for donations. As the Palmyra-Eagle Community band played patriotic songs, I looked around and felt I was experiencing what the Midwest is all about--a strong sense of community, apple pie and lemonaide.

Ages of the patrons ranged from infant to old geezer. There was ice cream to accompany your piece of cake or cookies--all donated by local bakers who wanted to do their part. All free, but donations were welcome and taken before you helped yourself.

The band was typical for a small community...all volunteers like you and I. An occasional off note, but their pride was absolute. Directed by none other than Ed Pierce, they did the community proud. (and I'm not just saying that because he was my band director in junior high!)

The local boy scout troop presented the colors, we all sang...it was, America at its best. A wonderful way to end a sunny weekend in Wisconsin.

Immigration Reform ?

This past weekend, I got into a minor discussion about the new Arizona law concerning illegal immigrants. I'm not a fan of the new law, but I wasn't able to properly communicate my feelings to the people in the room that felt differently. I found this post by Archbishop Timothy Dolan (late of Milwaukee) that states how I feel....http://blog.archny.org/?p=652

Blast from the Past

Tonight, while on Facebook, someone I used to date "chatted" me. You know, that little strip in the lower right corner that shows you who is online? I've avoided it like the plague, never chatted with anyone....it seems, so....90s. It reminds me of AOL instant messaging.

I hung in there...stayed on to see what was so important. Nothing. I got caught up on the past ten years of his life, he didn't ask one question about mine. Reminded me of one of the many reasons I dumped his ass so many years ago....

Gotta Love Spring

This is one of my favorite times of the year in my garden. The daffodils are all in full bloom....all different shapes and colors. Tulips are starting to bloom and iris' are beginning to sprout. One of my routines is to walk down the driveway (garden strips down both sides) and in front of our yard where the majority of the garden space is.

Almost time to put away the winter clothes....not quite.....it was in the 40's this weekend!

Only in Wisconsin....

Only in Wisconsin can you have sleety/slushy/rainy/snow one day and warm enough sunshine the next that the entire neighborhood is out for a walk! I am so pumped about spring I can't wait to get in my gardens!

To officially kick off the spring season, Megan and I went to the mall and both of us got a manicure and pedicure. She got wild/glittery blue with white flowers and mom got a sedate pinkish red. I even managed to get hubby to make supper. All is well in the kingdom.

Spiritual motivation sorely needed

To get more involved at our parish, I volunteered to teach Faith Formation class this year. Growing up Lutheran, we called it Sunday school and I believe my Catholic friends called theirs CCD (I have no clue what that stood for.) I converted to Catholicism in college and have been a Cathlolic now for almost 30 years.

Corey comes along to assist because if everyone shows up, we have 28 seventh and eighth graders! Some weeks I put in a lot of effort and don't feel I'm getting through to them at all. This week I didn't put in as much effort for our twice/monthly lesson and Corey's comment after class was "that went well." What!?! Were you in the same class I was?

The kids rarely participate and only read if I make them read. Seventh and eighth graders should be reading better than they do in class...although even I have difficulty with some of the words in the Bible etc. I try and switch it up--do something different every 30 minutes or so. I've also resorted to candy bribes so they bring their folders and to encourage them to participate.

Talk about a workout. I'm so drained when our time is up. Fatigued....mentally and physically.

Am I getting through? Do I force them to think? I hope so. Minimally, I hope our discussions and lessons incite discussions around their dinner table. I can't say I remember any of my Sunday school teachers from my youth, but as we have made our way through our lessons this past year, the Biblical stories came back. And as we slowly close out the year (only three classes to go), they are all tieing together.

I guess I need to be more like St. Francis who says in the Introduction to the Devout Life, “the proud man who trusts in himself has good reason not to attempt anything. The humble man is all the more courageous because he recognizes his own impotence. The less he esteems himself, the more daring he becomes because he places his whole trust in God.” I need to quit doubting and begin trusting in Him and perhaps our last few sessions will go well for all.

Blah Winter Blues

Despite the glorious sunshine, I feel guilty because all I want to do is lay in bed and read a book. When did kid's shoes get so expensive? Good Lord! In the past we've purchased Megan's shoes at discount box stores but this time she really wanted a pair of Sketchers....so off to Famous Footwear and Rogan's shoes we go. $39.99 for a pair of shoes that she will likely grow out of before she wears them out. Did manage to pick up my new specs and do some grocery shopping. Next I get to chauffeur Megan to a birthday party and hope to have the Chair Massage guys at the mall work out a few kinks. ;-)

Facebook

So while I've been stressed a lot by work lately, it hasn't been enough to blog about it. Facebook seems to be a nice distraction lately--its new and I want to check up on my 17-year-old as well as stay in touch with coworkers and friends.

It also has given me an opportunity to see what my world-traveling brother is up to as well.

What does my future have in store for me electronically? A 'crack'-berry? *gasp*