Fall in Wisconsin

The weather in Wisconsin is always interesting--the temperatures and weather patterns can change at the drop of a hat. But fall in Wisconsin needs to be experienced! The crisp smell as you crunch fallen leaves underfoot during a walk in the woods, the smell of a burning pile of leaves, the unseasonably warm spells and the cold snaps that make warm tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich taste all the better. Is there anything better than Badger football or Green Bay Packer football? The annual ritual of raking leaves to the curb, only to see the neighbor's unraked leaves blow onto your property for disposal. :-( We saw our temps fall from 72 degrees Farenheit to 35 degrees Farenheit this week. The winds kicked up my neat pile of leaves at the curb and squirrels are rooting around in the yard to store their finds for winter. The vivid leaf colors of brillant red, dull orange, muted shades of yellow. Yes, I love living in Wisconsin. Especially this time of year!

Walk of Shame in Beautiful Wisconsin

I was out walking my Havanese this morning before mass and encountered three young men at various points during the walk returning to their apartments. Mussed hair, wrinkled clothing...the early morning walk of shame back from their girl friend's place. (making assumptions here.) It ended up being a beautiful day today in SE Wisconsin. 63 degrees at 3 p.m. which is rare. I'm inside though watching the Green Bay Packers play the St. Louis Rams. One minute left in the game and they are winning 30 - 13. Love it when my Packers win! Since we did all of the outside work yesterday, I plan on just enjoying myself today and taking it easy.

Cranberry Festival

My family camped in Warrens, Wisconsin this past weekend. It was absolutely wonderful weather the entire weekend! The fall colors driving to and from the Cranberry Festival were so perfect. There was a Harvest Moon so flashlights were hardly needed if we ventured out at night. We had a roaring fire each night...hard to gear up for a work day tomorrow. *sigh*

UW-Madison Pride

We moved our daughter (again) over the weekend, into her next apartment for her junior year at UW-Madison. This move was particularly painful for us in that she had to be out of her old apartment during a time when she was away for a camp job. So that meant we had to move her out of her sophomore apartment, hold her stuff for three weeks, and then move her into the "new" apartment this weekend. Nothing like wrestling with 100+ pound dresser sets, desks and boxes of kitchen gear twice in a three-week period.

Oh, and did I mention that her new apartment didn't have an elevator? And did I say that the dresser weighed over 100 pounds....???!!! How about that the temperature that day was around 90 degrees Farenheit?

To say that Corey (my husband) and I were both sweaty messes when we were finished is an understatement. We didn't begin moving her things until about 6 p.m. that evening, our daughter arrived from camp around 7:15 p.m. on the bus and by then, we were done moving it all up the two flights and into her bedroom. By the time we got her picked up from the bus stop, and supper eaten, it was after 9 p.m. A long exhausting day.

Sunday was unpacking day, grocery shopping and out and about getting odds and ends like carpeting, desk chairs, shelving....and in our jaunts about town, we noticed so many other families in our same boat. New UW students wearing their new Badger gear, parents finding that balance between being a parent and hovering too much. UW-Madison did a good job Sunday keeping traffic moving around the residence halls where the freshman were moving in and high traffic areas like the bookstore where kids wanted to stock up on Badger gear.

Our daughter is the farthest from campus she has ever lived. She is just four blocks from our illustrious state capital. The street where she lives is 98% UW-M students. Older hovels (I mean homes) carved into small apartments. As I walked two blocks to the restaurant where we dined Saturday night, I counted at least one party every third or fourth house. Definitely taking advantage of the good weather and no coursework (classes begin next week.)

I'm very proud of my daughter and what she has accomplished. I'm proud of being a Badger mom. You Rah! Rah! On Wisconsin!

Life Gets in the Way Sometimes

If I could retire tomorrow, I'd do so in Milwaukee minute! I have so many things I want to do and try, but never enough time to do it all.

We have a receptionist at work who is very proud that she has worked for the company for almost 50 years. She is clearly beyond retirement age, but says she doesn't know what she'd do with herself!

This week I turned the sloth chapter and hopefully put to bed my non-fitness ways. If I cannot change my eating habits, then my fitness habits need to pick up so I don't turn into one of those candidates for The Biggest Loser.

It all snowballs--ride bike or go for a walk over my lunch hour takes away time I could be picking up around the house or running errands. Now running errands and cleaning the house need to come out somewhere else....my family time, craft time? It is all important and so necessary for my psyche...but then there is this thing called work. I need to earn a buck so I can travel, support my craft habits, have fun with friends, go on vacations.....

It's really too bad that life has to get in the way sometimes!

Follow Up to Earlier Post

I didn't make time the other day to post another incident at our local post office. Is it me, or does that post office bring out the worst in people? (see post from earlier this summer > http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=34622944#editor/target=post;postID=3496557563431131715;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=2;src=postname) Monday I needed to mail a sweepstakes letter as well as a birthday gift to a friend who lives in California. As I moved forward in line (it was my turn next) a dazed looking woman came into the lobby area and glanced at the line (there were about 10 or 12 of us) and walked right up to the counter with her dilemma. No backwards glance to the rest of poor schmo's patiently waiting in line for their turn... From what I gathered from the conversation, she had mailed a package earlier that morning but now wanted it back. Because the Post Office couldn't guarantee next day delivery for the zip code she was mailing to, her sister (the recipient of said package) insisted she ship it another way. Well getting a package back costs you over $10. Once that package crosses the counter, it is in the hands of the government and you have to fill out a form to get it back, as well as cough up some money. I don't care what your story is--you saw the long line of people--our stories may not be as exciting as yours but we waited our turn and you can wait yours bitch. Since I was next, I got my package weighed, paid my postage and went on my merry way. But not before stepping close to our line butter and say softly "next time wait in line like the rest of us!" Shame on her. And shame on the postal clerk for waiting on her. He should have politely asked her to step to the end of the line. I was flustered enough by the whole thing that my sweepstakes envelope was still in my hand down the block a few moments later! But I felt better giving her a piece of my mind!

Fall Weather in the Hottest Month--August

This summer will be on record for Wisconsin--it was so unbearably hot most of the month of July, not to mention dry that I dare not complain about our recent bout of cool weather.

When we woke this morning, it was only 53 degrees Farenheit. Right now, at about 4 p.m. in the afternoon, it is 69 degrees Farenheit.

August in Wisconsin is typically hotter than HOT. Hotlanta hot. And humid. Disgusting humid. Not so this year. In fact, our hottest days in July were hotter than typical August days. Global warming indeed.

We have a new member in our department at work. He localized here from Brazil for career opportunities...how do we explain that this year just isn't typical?

Is It Me, Or Are You Just Rude?

The other day as I was leaving the post office, as I stepped toward the glass exit door, a man threw the door open in front of me and strode right through. Strongly. Without a backwards glance AND did not hold the door for me. WTH?

Holding the door open might have delayed him a whole 10 seconds, but it is a nicety we women come to expect (at least this woman.) I mean, I was RIGHT THERE! His stride was such one would have thought he was going all "postal" on someone or something. Since I haven't read any news stories of such, maybe it was my imagination.

Normally I just blink my eyes and shrug my shoulders and blow it off, but his forceful entry and rudeness still has me pondering two days later.

And since I'm on the subject, what about throwing a baby shower at work and not inviting all of your coworkers? Sure, I work for global and you work for another division, but I sit right next to you when I'm in the office!

Rudeness surrounds me....daily apparently. Here is hoping I get a day of rudefree blissfulness today!

It All Comes Out in the Wash

My hubby is so busted! I've been missing my sunglasses clip-ons for a couple of weeks now. He found them this morning--they must have been in a jeans pocket because they went through both the washer and dryer load. (He's busted because he hasn't been keeping up with the laundry!) I complained last night because I had no shorts to wear. I'm thankful they came out in the wash...we are on vacation soon and the clip-ons are well needed.

Related to laundry, it is the middle of July and I still have winter clothes piles in our bedroom waiting to be packed up. Today is the day to finally get them packed away for the remaining month and a half of summer.

Cooler Weather, Happier Mama

The temperatures dropped into the 80s Fahrenheit today...currently the temperatures are such we turned off the air conditioning and opened up the windows.

My insulin pump went askew at some point this afternoon. I wasn't feeling well, just wanted to lay down and take a nap....problem though was I was out driving the girls to the mall! Fortunately, I noticed it needed to be reset, and did that, as well as started pumping liquids. It took several hours to feel better...thank goodness for technology! A 511 blood glucose is scarey!

Not only did the weather improve, but my oldest is home from college for a long weekend with us and friends...it is nice to spend time together as a complete family for a change.

Africa Hot

So Wisconsin has set a new meteorological record today...the third day in a row with temperatures over 100. Today I believe was the hottest....107 degrees Fahrenheit at one point in Waukesha, where we live.

I took every available bucket outside and filled them all with water this morning. My idea was to get them air temperature, so when I watered the plants, I wouldn't shock them with ultra cold water. After supper, I watered the bushes and plants up front with the first 10 gallons of water. I'll get the side gardens and some of the plants in the back tomorrow morning. I heard that with this excessive heat, your trees and bushes require 5 gallons of water a week. I have my work cut out for me!

Optical Illusion

Haven't blogged in a month because I haven't been properly inspired. Yesterday I thought I could write about the pavement between Pewaukee and Delafield on Hwy 16 but once I started typing, decided no more than two sentences was all I could stretch it out.

So on Hwy 16, if you are in the left lane heading west towards Oconomowoc, they've patched the cracks in the road with tar. Driving 65 mph it seems like you are driving over an optical illusion. And that without any liquor in our system--just a boatload of coffee.

Heh, it is the small things sometimes that make our day!

Wisconsin in the News

How refreshing it is that Wisconsin makes the National news stage for our political disagreements instead of the most recent abusive parent or serial killer news? If only Governor Walker hadn't mentioned beer and brats in his victory speech! Talk about setting stereotypes back a step.

But his talk about working together is nice and he also half admitted not asking for advice on how he went about shutting down collective bargaining. I felt that was a small white flag towards the future improvements he's promised.

75% voter turn out is fantastic--you shouldn't be complaining if you didn't vote. Every vote matters! Just ask Senator Wanggaard of Racine....it appears as though he is losing by 800 votes.

It really is too bad we have the expense of this recall to shoulder, but that is what democracy is all about. Too bad we don't get much of a break with ads, protests or political phone calls either....they will just shift from state politics to National politics with the presidential election on the horizon.

I sure appreciate living in the free world!

Literacy Services

I was invited to the Literacy Services luncheon today at the Pfister Hotel. I used to be more involved with this group, participating in an annual spelling bee and once, assisting with a book fair.

This is one luncheon I love attending. The student's stories are very inspiring to hear and the organization rocks it out of the ballpark on so many levels. They have programs to teach anyone how to read, to teach someone where English is their second language and they also assist student's who are going for their GED.

The time commitment is 90 minutes per week...I'd love to do it if I could find someone to alternate weeks with me. That would only be two nights per month and that doesn't seem so hard from a time commitment standpoint.

Every year I feel like I should do more. Give money, or volunteer my time....I cannot imagine not being able to read. Not to be able to read a road sign, read your child's homework, notes from the teachers, or their report cards. Reading is my escape. It takes me back in time, it surrounds me in Gothic romance, a scintillating mystery, or a silly comedy. It is how I tune out my long day in the office.

Time to step it up...what shall I do?

Statistics

As a certified Six Sigma black belt, I have to say that I love all things statistics. When I see pundit polls, bar charts or percentages in print, my pleasure meter goes into overdrive being the devil's advocate to decipher what is in print and look at the stats from another viewpoint. Angles the average viewer would not know or care to think about. Imagine my surprise to find that Google keeps track of who is viewing my blog and where they are found around the globe. As someone who had an emphasis in Geography for my undergrad, it was cool, but also a bit weird to see that three people in Russia viewed my blog, or four from Brazil. Even more weird were the folks from Egypt reading my blog. Hmmm. There are Packer Fans all over...or perhaps because I mention menopause in my intro. Or they are folks like me--nosey, interested individuals who like to read what others write about when they feel the urge to be creative and publish their thoughts. Yeah, I'll go with that one....other thoughts I have are too disturbing to publish!

Single Parenthood

Corey is gone for work this week and I am riding solo with Megan....for 5 days. This will be a test of my patience not having a buffer for her energy and talkiness. Gads the girl loves to talk!

Mother's day was Sunday and it was bittersweet. I kept hoping Sarah would surprise me and walk through the door but I had to be content with my day as it was. My parents came in and I treated them to the Domes in Milwaukee. We came back to our house for a lunch of hardrolls and ham salad. I also put out chips and pickles and a fruit salad. Chocolate Chip cookies for dessert. It was a nice day all-in-all and I shouldn't complain.

Since Corey left for North Carolina around noon, Megan and I ended our weekend by watching a cute movie called "The Hotel for Dogs" I let her stay up past her bedtime but she was good about it.

If ever you want a taste of single parenthood, chase your spouse away for a few days and get a feel for how much he/she does help you out around the house. My daughter said to me this morning "Do you know how to run the dishwasher since dad isn't here?" Gotta love their perception vs reality!

Only three days left....but who is counting?

The Secret Garden

One of my favorite books as a young girl was "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I finally purchased the video for Megan's birthday and we are watching it this afternoon. A beautiful way to end the weekend. As it says on the video box, "magic and hope bloom."

The second movie is "A Little Princess" which is another story by Burnett. I don't remember reading the book, but sure enjoyed watching the VHS movie with Sarah when she was younger. That movie moved us both (still does) of make believe, having zest for life and loving a parent above all else.

Make believe helps one forget their troubles...wish mine could go away that easily!

Master's Degree Paid in Full

Well today my student loan payment came out of my checking account for the final time. I thought my final payment would be over $500 this month, but it ended up being only $224--bonus! I've been making those payments for more than 10 years now...sure feels good!

Not that I'll see any of the money....it will go towards my daughter's rent at college. Always a payment there....for the next few years anyway.

Still feels good though!

Easter Blessings

We were naughty and did not fight the crowds at mass this morning. Instead, we slept in a bit, read the paper and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of bagels and bacon. Since it wasn't too cold outside,we decided to go for a bike ride.

Since Megan and I have not been for a ride yet this year, we opted for a short ride. Starting at the trail head of the Glacial Drumlin trail, we road out to Sunset Park, which is about 3.66 miles one way.

Sarah joined us too and was surprised how far 3.6 miles is in reality. She wants to run in a 5K in a month...a big step for someone who has never ran other than a bit on the tread mill. Not that I'm one to judge...I need to get my butt moving daily.

Today was a great way to welcome Spring...thank you sunshine! Happy Easter!

Sleepovers and Hangovers

My oldest is home from college for spring break. Her two BFFs came and spent the night and it is so heartwarming to hear the giggling that only young girls can do. I am so grateful she has such good friends who are good kids, come from good families and have good values. The timing on last night's adventure wasn't the best. Hubby had to go into work for an overnight change to the company's infrastructure and since all did not go well, he didn't get home until after 8 a.m. Which means as I sit here and work outside the sleeping area in my office off of the bedroom, I worry that a phone call will happen any moment and will wake him up. If the girls were not downstairs, I could set up shop down there. I feel I can focus better with snoring background noises than giggling. :-) Last night's adventures had more casualties than my hubby. My daughter ate too much junk food and got violently ill this a.m. Think Melissa McCarthy (aka Megan in the movie Bridesmaids)where stuff is coming out both ends.... Guess eating a rich Italian Meatloaf, loaded mashed potatoes, cupcakes, chips and dip, ramen noodle salad and cookies, it gets a bit much for the tummy (which is used to basic college fare) can handle. At least she is old enough to successfully make it to the basement bathroom without throwing up all over. (and if she did throw up all over, she would have had to clean up!) Another sunny day in Waukesha!