The last day of August!! It seems like the summer went by in a flash--and I guess it did--because we were always busy! If I read back over my blogs since Memorial Day, there was something going on just about every week and during the weeks, too. Traveling--to the cabin, Elk Mound, Madison, Hayward, Mindoro, Bruce, Bayfield; having company both here and at the Hilton; taking care of lawns and houses and dogs; riding the Harley, writing lots of letters, taking lots of pictures, reading when I had the time. (Ten books for the summer, and I'm way behind on my goal of 75 for the year) Even finding time to write my blog has been hard the past couple weeks, as evidenced by the few and far-between entries here!
I didn't get around to several things I'd planned to do. I only went fishing once, but I guess there is still time for that during the fall. I missed all of the Thursday night concerts in town along the Riverwalk and have yet to get to the farmer's market here. I forgot to plant sunflowers until it was too late, and I never bought that bikini. (Hahaha) My diet sputtered and stalled.
Tomorrow a new month begins, and we already have plans every weekend through mid-October. We must feel the need to do as much as we can before the long winter arrives again--especially since we already had frost this morning and Fred had to scrape the windshield before going to work! Football season is upon us, and bowling league starts next week...the holidays will arrive in the blink of an eye. Fall is my favorite time of the year, with cool weather and beautiful trees--but like summer, it won't last long enough. So I plan to make the most of every remaining nice day, from today until I dig out that snow shovel.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A Mother's Son
Yesterday I had one of the most moving experiences of my life. I was able to meet my friend Cathi from Osborn, MO for the first time after getting to know her through e-mails, letters, and phone calls over the past year or so.
Cathi and I have both supported the troops using anysoldier.com for several years. Through our participation in "card swaps" and the anysoldier forum, we learned about each other's families. Both her sons were in the Army, but she also sent packages to other soldiers who needed things and didn't get much support from home. Cathi and I discovered much in common, and I found out that her family had lived only 25 miles from where I grew up in western Wisconsin when her husband--also in the Army--was stationed at Fort McCoy in the 80s.
On Memorial Day I wrote about the devastating loss Cathi's family suffered in January when her younger son Matthew's helicopter was shot down over Kirkuk, Iraq. Yesterday I had the privilege of getting to know Matthew through the memories of his mother. She brought along the scrapbook she had made for his wake, and I saw pages of him with his parents, brother, grandparents, and cousins. He kissed his bride and became a devoted father to a son and daughter. I saw the young boy who always wanted to fly join the Army and become a member of the 82nd Airborne, parachuting from a plane and later standing proudly in front of his Kiowa helicopter. Finally, on 1/26/09, he gave his life for his country. His older brother Christopher--who had just returned from his own Iraq deployment the summer before--escorted him home to Missouri for a hero's funeral.
Several thousand families all over this country have experienced the loss of a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. Most of us will not personally sacrifice anything as these wars continue. Cathi's wish is that we not wait for a funeral to express gratitude and caring for our military. The time to thank and support them is now, when they are far away from home and family, when a letter or package from someone they don't even know might be the boost they need to keep going a little longer.
As a mother, I feel Cathi's loss deeply. I admire her for raising sons with such courage and character, and for continuing to take care of other mothers' sons and daughters with packages as she lives a life without Matthew. I know we will be lifelong friends--and our next get-together will be in Missouri.
Please support our troops. http://www.anysoldier.com/
Cathi and I have both supported the troops using anysoldier.com for several years. Through our participation in "card swaps" and the anysoldier forum, we learned about each other's families. Both her sons were in the Army, but she also sent packages to other soldiers who needed things and didn't get much support from home. Cathi and I discovered much in common, and I found out that her family had lived only 25 miles from where I grew up in western Wisconsin when her husband--also in the Army--was stationed at Fort McCoy in the 80s.
On Memorial Day I wrote about the devastating loss Cathi's family suffered in January when her younger son Matthew's helicopter was shot down over Kirkuk, Iraq. Yesterday I had the privilege of getting to know Matthew through the memories of his mother. She brought along the scrapbook she had made for his wake, and I saw pages of him with his parents, brother, grandparents, and cousins. He kissed his bride and became a devoted father to a son and daughter. I saw the young boy who always wanted to fly join the Army and become a member of the 82nd Airborne, parachuting from a plane and later standing proudly in front of his Kiowa helicopter. Finally, on 1/26/09, he gave his life for his country. His older brother Christopher--who had just returned from his own Iraq deployment the summer before--escorted him home to Missouri for a hero's funeral.
Several thousand families all over this country have experienced the loss of a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. Most of us will not personally sacrifice anything as these wars continue. Cathi's wish is that we not wait for a funeral to express gratitude and caring for our military. The time to thank and support them is now, when they are far away from home and family, when a letter or package from someone they don't even know might be the boost they need to keep going a little longer.
As a mother, I feel Cathi's loss deeply. I admire her for raising sons with such courage and character, and for continuing to take care of other mothers' sons and daughters with packages as she lives a life without Matthew. I know we will be lifelong friends--and our next get-together will be in Missouri.
Please support our troops. http://www.anysoldier.com/
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Mississippi Mud
I didn't want to write about Brett Favre, but that was before his traitorous return from retirement yesterday to play for the team I have detested since I was 13 years old. I was so relieved three weeks ago when he chose to stay retired because I wanted to hang on to some of the good feelings I still had for him. Yes, I was upset last summer when he waited until training camp to announce that he still wanted to play. I wasn't happy that he became a Jet and would retire--I thought--as one of them. But I had mostly gotten over that and thought that at least he hadn't irreparably damaged his image and legacy. He's not the first big-name quarterback to leave the team he made his career with and finish up somewhere else. I felt he would still be welcomed back to Lambeau Field for the retirement of his number, recognized by the majority of the fans for what he'd meant to the team, the town, and the state.
However, that was before yesterday's knife to the hearts of Packer fans everywhere. I believe that he wants to play for the Vikings because it's the best way to hurt the Packers and the fans--as he told Sports Illustrated--"who never really loved me." He decided before training camp started that he couldn't give 100% and called off a comeback--then ambushed us by appearing in Minnesota yesterday and signing a 2-year contract. Gotcha!! He grins, holding up his new purple jersey, talking about how he had 16 great years in Green Bay, but they've moved on and so has he. Right.
I'm not saying the Packers are blameless in all this. I don't like Ted Thompson, and we will probably never know what went on behind the scenes with the Packers' management and Brett last year. But these latest choices are all being made by #4, and if he thinks that we have forgotten his desire to "stick it" to Ted Thompson by playing for Minnesota, then he must also think we have cheese for brains.
To many he has become a laughingstock, an athlete in the twilight of his career who can't face being out of the limelight or make a decision and stick with it for more than a month. Maybe looking at 40 in two months has made him temporarily insane. Who knows?
On March 6, 2008 during his tearful retirement press conference in Green Bay, he said: "It was never about the money or fame or records...it was never about me." Maybe it was true when he said it. It isn't any more.
However, that was before yesterday's knife to the hearts of Packer fans everywhere. I believe that he wants to play for the Vikings because it's the best way to hurt the Packers and the fans--as he told Sports Illustrated--"who never really loved me." He decided before training camp started that he couldn't give 100% and called off a comeback--then ambushed us by appearing in Minnesota yesterday and signing a 2-year contract. Gotcha!! He grins, holding up his new purple jersey, talking about how he had 16 great years in Green Bay, but they've moved on and so has he. Right.
I'm not saying the Packers are blameless in all this. I don't like Ted Thompson, and we will probably never know what went on behind the scenes with the Packers' management and Brett last year. But these latest choices are all being made by #4, and if he thinks that we have forgotten his desire to "stick it" to Ted Thompson by playing for Minnesota, then he must also think we have cheese for brains.
To many he has become a laughingstock, an athlete in the twilight of his career who can't face being out of the limelight or make a decision and stick with it for more than a month. Maybe looking at 40 in two months has made him temporarily insane. Who knows?
On March 6, 2008 during his tearful retirement press conference in Green Bay, he said: "It was never about the money or fame or records...it was never about me." Maybe it was true when he said it. It isn't any more.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Give a Kid a Pencil...
Back-to-school sales have been going on for a few weeks now, and school supplies are at the lowest prices of the year. One indirect way to help our troops is to send them school supplies for the children of Afghanistan and Iraq. Providing these kids with an education and a means to a better life will ultimately benefit our troops and our country.
One organization that provides these needed items to the children of war-torn Afghanistan and other countries began in 2005. It is called Operation Dreamseed and was founded by then-Captain Todd Schmidt, one of my Anysoldier contacts when he was deployed in Kandahar. An excerpt from the ODS website states: "For the first time, children of Afghanistan have the opportunity to receive an education, to have hope for a better future, and pursue their dreams. Operation Dreamseed is dedicated to distributing school supplies directly to Afghani children through the help of the U.S. Army. The program is a wonderful way for you and your family to fight alongside our soldiers, not taking lives, but planting seeds of hope in the minds of a young generation." Go to http://www.operationdreamseed.org/ for information on where and how to send items through this program.
You can also go to http://www.anysoldier.com/ on the "Where to Send" page. Scroll down the page to where it says "Click HERE to search anysoldier.com contacts." Using the box that says "requests and e-mail contents", type in school suppplies and click on SEARCH. This will give you a list of all the AS contacts who would like to receive these items for distribution to the children of Iraq and Afghanistan. You can read their individual posts and choose to whom you'd like to donate.
Three years ago Maj. Sean Gustafson wrote to me from Herat, Afghanistan where he and his group of Minnesota National Guard engineers were building schools and other projects for the people there. He said, "It is by helping the children here that we will ultimately help these folks make their country safe and democratic. Give a kid here a pencil and you've about doubled his net worth." You can see many pictures of children receiving donated school supplies if you look up Todd Schmidt and Sean Gustafson under "Old Contacts" on anysoldier.com
In Sean's words, "Happy people don't join the Taliban or Alqaeda."
Please help if you can.
One organization that provides these needed items to the children of war-torn Afghanistan and other countries began in 2005. It is called Operation Dreamseed and was founded by then-Captain Todd Schmidt, one of my Anysoldier contacts when he was deployed in Kandahar. An excerpt from the ODS website states: "For the first time, children of Afghanistan have the opportunity to receive an education, to have hope for a better future, and pursue their dreams. Operation Dreamseed is dedicated to distributing school supplies directly to Afghani children through the help of the U.S. Army. The program is a wonderful way for you and your family to fight alongside our soldiers, not taking lives, but planting seeds of hope in the minds of a young generation." Go to http://www.operationdreamseed.org/ for information on where and how to send items through this program.
You can also go to http://www.anysoldier.com/ on the "Where to Send" page. Scroll down the page to where it says "Click HERE to search anysoldier.com contacts." Using the box that says "requests and e-mail contents", type in school suppplies and click on SEARCH. This will give you a list of all the AS contacts who would like to receive these items for distribution to the children of Iraq and Afghanistan. You can read their individual posts and choose to whom you'd like to donate.
Three years ago Maj. Sean Gustafson wrote to me from Herat, Afghanistan where he and his group of Minnesota National Guard engineers were building schools and other projects for the people there. He said, "It is by helping the children here that we will ultimately help these folks make their country safe and democratic. Give a kid here a pencil and you've about doubled his net worth." You can see many pictures of children receiving donated school supplies if you look up Todd Schmidt and Sean Gustafson under "Old Contacts" on anysoldier.com
In Sean's words, "Happy people don't join the Taliban or Alqaeda."
Please help if you can.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tidbits
--Trying to sell a house is an exercise in frustration and disappointment. The people whose verbal offer we had accepted finally put it in writing--and offered less than their original amount. When we countered, they came back with the exact same thing. So we said no--and are back to square one after two years on the market. Right now we own all three houses we've lived in since we got married. How many people can say that?!!
--I spent part of the weekend in Madison with Erica and Craig at their new apartment. It made me marvel that my firstborn is really an adult now and is starting medical school today. I know she will be an excellent doctor and a champion for women. We are proud of you, honey!
--Yesterday Fred started prep work for the deck he plans to put on the house. He wants to get the parts outside each door done before winter. Then he can tackle the indoor jobs that still remain on his honey-do list.
--I've discovered that an oven timer is a wonderful thing. I'd never used it in all the years I've been baking--I mean, how could anyone forget they had something in the oven?!! It's very convenient, and easier than having to turn off a shrieking smoke alarm.
--I started my diet 6 weeks ago. Five of those weeks I made healthy eating choices, gave up the things I knew weren't good for me, stopped baking, exercised. The past week I ate whatever I wanted. I am still stuck at a meager 3-pound weight loss. I'm not sure what my next step will be, but yesterday I baked zucchini bread and a banana chocolate chip cake.
-Last night Fred and I watched a movie called "Defiance." It was based on a true story--which is also a book by the same name--about some Jewish brothers who saved hundreds of Jews during World War II by hiding them in the forests of Russia. Daniel Craig is in it, and he's not hard to watch for a couple hours, either!
--Fred has $31.07 in his gin jar, and I have nothing. Zero. I'm going to take up solitaire.
--I spent part of the weekend in Madison with Erica and Craig at their new apartment. It made me marvel that my firstborn is really an adult now and is starting medical school today. I know she will be an excellent doctor and a champion for women. We are proud of you, honey!
--Yesterday Fred started prep work for the deck he plans to put on the house. He wants to get the parts outside each door done before winter. Then he can tackle the indoor jobs that still remain on his honey-do list.
--I've discovered that an oven timer is a wonderful thing. I'd never used it in all the years I've been baking--I mean, how could anyone forget they had something in the oven?!! It's very convenient, and easier than having to turn off a shrieking smoke alarm.
--I started my diet 6 weeks ago. Five of those weeks I made healthy eating choices, gave up the things I knew weren't good for me, stopped baking, exercised. The past week I ate whatever I wanted. I am still stuck at a meager 3-pound weight loss. I'm not sure what my next step will be, but yesterday I baked zucchini bread and a banana chocolate chip cake.
-Last night Fred and I watched a movie called "Defiance." It was based on a true story--which is also a book by the same name--about some Jewish brothers who saved hundreds of Jews during World War II by hiding them in the forests of Russia. Daniel Craig is in it, and he's not hard to watch for a couple hours, either!
--Fred has $31.07 in his gin jar, and I have nothing. Zero. I'm going to take up solitaire.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
It's a Small World After All
Early this afternoon I trudged down to the end of the road in the midday heat to get the mail. When I opened the mailbox, I saw a large, lumpy manila envelope. "A package for me!!" I thought with glee. I pulled it out to see who it was from, but didn't recognize the name on the return address label. Then I looked more closely and saw that the package wasn't even supposed to be in our mailbox! It was addressed to someone named Karen who lives on a road that I pass by on my way to town.
I took the package back to the house with me, planning to return it to the mailbox in the morning with a note for the carrier. Then I started to think that maybe I should call the intended recipient in case it was something important or that she needed ASAP. I looked up her phone number and called, figuring I'd probably get a machine, but after a couple rings a cheery voice answered. I gave my name and explained the situation, and we arranged for her to come and get the package later in the afternoon.
Karen arrived awhile ago, bringing along a little gift for me as a thank you for calling her! We started gabbing immediately, and when I told her that we'd lived here less than a year, she asked what had brought us to Rhinelander. I began explaining that my husband works as a union rep for teachers, and she said, "You're Fred's wife??" "You know Fred??" I asked. She said she just retired after 34 years of teaching, and her husband works closely with Fred as the Rhinelander teachers' head negotiator! She hadn't really caught my last name on the phone because she thought I might be a telemarketer! I was delighted at the coincidence that led to us meeting, and we agreed that the four of us should get together sometime.
So a chance mix-up by the mail lady may lead to another new friend. And that's even better than a package!
I took the package back to the house with me, planning to return it to the mailbox in the morning with a note for the carrier. Then I started to think that maybe I should call the intended recipient in case it was something important or that she needed ASAP. I looked up her phone number and called, figuring I'd probably get a machine, but after a couple rings a cheery voice answered. I gave my name and explained the situation, and we arranged for her to come and get the package later in the afternoon.
Karen arrived awhile ago, bringing along a little gift for me as a thank you for calling her! We started gabbing immediately, and when I told her that we'd lived here less than a year, she asked what had brought us to Rhinelander. I began explaining that my husband works as a union rep for teachers, and she said, "You're Fred's wife??" "You know Fred??" I asked. She said she just retired after 34 years of teaching, and her husband works closely with Fred as the Rhinelander teachers' head negotiator! She hadn't really caught my last name on the phone because she thought I might be a telemarketer! I was delighted at the coincidence that led to us meeting, and we agreed that the four of us should get together sometime.
So a chance mix-up by the mail lady may lead to another new friend. And that's even better than a package!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
50 Will Be (F)ine
Today I got a 50 cent piece for change at the post office. Scanning through the radio stations, I heard "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." My new cooking magazine boasted "50 Recipes for Summer Produce." 50 50 50...five zero...five-oh...5 x 10...2 x 25...
It's a conspiracy. I have a month to go, and the fates will not let me forget it. I really don't know why this is bothering me in the first place. I'm not feeling much different than the days when I was younger, thinner, working full-time, raising kids, and socializing frequently. Most of my friends are older than I am, and they don't seem to be less active, less healthy, or uninterested in the things that make life fun. I just spent a couple days with a bunch of people who are mostly in their 50s and 60s, and we golfed, drank, told stories around the campfire, laughed a LOT--all the same things I did throughout my 20s, 30s, and 40s, too.
So I'm beginning to see that age isn't a number, it's an attitude. You can be chronologically 50 and view the half-century mark as the beginning of the end, the first step toward the Grim Reaper--or approach it with the attitude of "Today begins the next BEST 50 years!"
Hmm. I had someone wonderful in my life for more than 20 years who is the best example of this I've ever seen. Her name was Ine, and she started babysitting for 7-week-old Erica at age 66, then added Katie 2 1/2 years later. She had so much energy and vigor that I was the one who felt old when I'd pick up the girls after a long day at school --and Ine would be chasing them around outside. She found humor in any situation and laughed deep from her belly until her shoulders shook and the tears came. She gardened into her 70s, volunteered every day with the senior citizen meal program in her 80s, and in the 10 years before she died at 87, took trips with her daughter to several places, including Paris, the Caribbean, and Norway. Wherever she went, she made new friends and could be the life of the party. I think now how much FUN I had with my friend who was nearly 40 years older than me--but at heart was the same age or even younger.
Wow, this pep talk I have just given myself is working. You will not hear me whine about my upcoming milestone again. Somewhere out there is a 10-year-old just waiting for me to be her role model when she's in her 30s and 40s. Thanks, Ine.
It's a conspiracy. I have a month to go, and the fates will not let me forget it. I really don't know why this is bothering me in the first place. I'm not feeling much different than the days when I was younger, thinner, working full-time, raising kids, and socializing frequently. Most of my friends are older than I am, and they don't seem to be less active, less healthy, or uninterested in the things that make life fun. I just spent a couple days with a bunch of people who are mostly in their 50s and 60s, and we golfed, drank, told stories around the campfire, laughed a LOT--all the same things I did throughout my 20s, 30s, and 40s, too.
So I'm beginning to see that age isn't a number, it's an attitude. You can be chronologically 50 and view the half-century mark as the beginning of the end, the first step toward the Grim Reaper--or approach it with the attitude of "Today begins the next BEST 50 years!"
Hmm. I had someone wonderful in my life for more than 20 years who is the best example of this I've ever seen. Her name was Ine, and she started babysitting for 7-week-old Erica at age 66, then added Katie 2 1/2 years later. She had so much energy and vigor that I was the one who felt old when I'd pick up the girls after a long day at school --and Ine would be chasing them around outside. She found humor in any situation and laughed deep from her belly until her shoulders shook and the tears came. She gardened into her 70s, volunteered every day with the senior citizen meal program in her 80s, and in the 10 years before she died at 87, took trips with her daughter to several places, including Paris, the Caribbean, and Norway. Wherever she went, she made new friends and could be the life of the party. I think now how much FUN I had with my friend who was nearly 40 years older than me--but at heart was the same age or even younger.
Wow, this pep talk I have just given myself is working. You will not hear me whine about my upcoming milestone again. Somewhere out there is a 10-year-old just waiting for me to be her role model when she's in her 30s and 40s. Thanks, Ine.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Going Batty
Katie had some excitement early Wednesday morning when she woke up at 3 AM to find a bat in the house in Elk Mound. She is deathly afraid of them (I guess it's genetic), so I was impressed that she opened the patio door and turned on the deck light, barricaded herself in the kitchen with Jasmine, and watched through the window until she saw the bat fly out.
Wednesday night I was staying there with her to get the house ready for an Open House Sunday. I woke up in the pitch dark to the creepy/crepey sound that a bat's wings make when it's flying helter-skelter just above your face. "There's a bat in here!!" I shrieked, and Katie dove beneath the covers. I opened my cell phone to use it as a flashlight--12:42 AM. The bat flew in the bedroom again, leading to more screaming and ducking. Katie said, "We have to do something, Mom. I'm hot!" I preferred to close the door and wait for morning, but then Jasmine would have bugged us all night, wanting in or out. "I got rid of the one last night--it's your turn," Katie continued. "And close the door behind you!" Gee, thanks. Why does this stuff always happen when Fred isn't around?!
I crawled out of the bedroom and headed for the kitchen on my stomach to get the broom. I had no intention of confronting the flying menace with it, but I wanted to be armed just in case. The night light on the microwave was on and there was a full moon--so I could see pretty well. I dragged the broom and myself underneath the card table in the dining room and opened the patio door. The bat seemed to be making a circuit through the house because I could see it flying into the kitchen/family room, then back out into the dining room/living room/bedrooms every couple minutes. Why do they swoop so low to the floor?? (I might add that I had a full bladder during this whole ordeal, leading to a whole different worry) Whenever it dive bombed into the dining room, I curled into a fetal position and let out a healthy scream. I'm surprised a neighbor with open windows didn't call 911 to report a murder in progress.
After 10 minutes I was getting mad that the stupid bat couldn't find the big open doorway, so I went out on the deck. I turned on the outside light, hoping to attract it, but all that appeared were moths and bugs--a bat smorgasbord. I turned that light off before I had a dinner party on my hands and flipped on the dining room light instead. Jasmine was staring at me from the living room like I'd totally lost it. Now I could see the bat clearly, circling repeatedly around the card table, until he FINALLY found the doorway and sailed off into the night. I leaped into the house and slammed the door shut. Success!!
We figured that the first bat got in when Katie was putting cat food on the deck before bedtime Tuesday, and the second one probably came in when she had the door open to let the other one out. It lurked inside all day, waiting for dark to come so it could terrorize us.
I know my fear of them is irrational. Spiders and snakes don't bother me, and I'm not afraid of mice (much). But I'd likely drive a car over a cliff if there was a bat in it, flapping around my head. At least that would probably kill it.
Wednesday night I was staying there with her to get the house ready for an Open House Sunday. I woke up in the pitch dark to the creepy/crepey sound that a bat's wings make when it's flying helter-skelter just above your face. "There's a bat in here!!" I shrieked, and Katie dove beneath the covers. I opened my cell phone to use it as a flashlight--12:42 AM. The bat flew in the bedroom again, leading to more screaming and ducking. Katie said, "We have to do something, Mom. I'm hot!" I preferred to close the door and wait for morning, but then Jasmine would have bugged us all night, wanting in or out. "I got rid of the one last night--it's your turn," Katie continued. "And close the door behind you!" Gee, thanks. Why does this stuff always happen when Fred isn't around?!
I crawled out of the bedroom and headed for the kitchen on my stomach to get the broom. I had no intention of confronting the flying menace with it, but I wanted to be armed just in case. The night light on the microwave was on and there was a full moon--so I could see pretty well. I dragged the broom and myself underneath the card table in the dining room and opened the patio door. The bat seemed to be making a circuit through the house because I could see it flying into the kitchen/family room, then back out into the dining room/living room/bedrooms every couple minutes. Why do they swoop so low to the floor?? (I might add that I had a full bladder during this whole ordeal, leading to a whole different worry) Whenever it dive bombed into the dining room, I curled into a fetal position and let out a healthy scream. I'm surprised a neighbor with open windows didn't call 911 to report a murder in progress.
After 10 minutes I was getting mad that the stupid bat couldn't find the big open doorway, so I went out on the deck. I turned on the outside light, hoping to attract it, but all that appeared were moths and bugs--a bat smorgasbord. I turned that light off before I had a dinner party on my hands and flipped on the dining room light instead. Jasmine was staring at me from the living room like I'd totally lost it. Now I could see the bat clearly, circling repeatedly around the card table, until he FINALLY found the doorway and sailed off into the night. I leaped into the house and slammed the door shut. Success!!
We figured that the first bat got in when Katie was putting cat food on the deck before bedtime Tuesday, and the second one probably came in when she had the door open to let the other one out. It lurked inside all day, waiting for dark to come so it could terrorize us.
I know my fear of them is irrational. Spiders and snakes don't bother me, and I'm not afraid of mice (much). But I'd likely drive a car over a cliff if there was a bat in it, flapping around my head. At least that would probably kill it.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Catching Up
Readers of The Daily Mom: Sorry I have been out of touch for a few days. Fred and I went over to Elk Mound Friday to do some painting, cleaning, and hauling stuff to the dump. On Saturday we accepted a verbal offer on the house!! We haven't received anything in writing yet, so we are proceeding as if it is still for sale. Our realtor is holding an Open House this Sunday.
We got back here yesterday, stayed for a few hours, and then took off for the cabin on the Harley. Fred had a meeting in Niagara this morning, so we spent the night at the Amberg Hilton. We took a walk in the woods after arriving about 7 PM, then had a campfire until it started raining. I lost $2 playing gin before bed (making a total of $4 lost for the weekend). Having spent two nights on the air mattress in E.M., I was exhausted! We got up a little after 6:30 so we'd have time for breakfast at Mary's Place in Beecher. My pancakes were the size of frisbees and I couldn't finish them!
After Fred's meeting, we headed back to Rhinelander, and I had the worst time ever staying awake on the bike! I tried singing, looking around at specific objects, and slapping my face, but nothing seemed to help. I was really glad to finally get home!
Wednesday I'll be heading back to EM to mow the lawn and do more work around the house. So, my appearances here may be minimal for a few days.
Please remember our troops. We lost six more in Afghanistan over the weekend.
We got back here yesterday, stayed for a few hours, and then took off for the cabin on the Harley. Fred had a meeting in Niagara this morning, so we spent the night at the Amberg Hilton. We took a walk in the woods after arriving about 7 PM, then had a campfire until it started raining. I lost $2 playing gin before bed (making a total of $4 lost for the weekend). Having spent two nights on the air mattress in E.M., I was exhausted! We got up a little after 6:30 so we'd have time for breakfast at Mary's Place in Beecher. My pancakes were the size of frisbees and I couldn't finish them!
After Fred's meeting, we headed back to Rhinelander, and I had the worst time ever staying awake on the bike! I tried singing, looking around at specific objects, and slapping my face, but nothing seemed to help. I was really glad to finally get home!
Wednesday I'll be heading back to EM to mow the lawn and do more work around the house. So, my appearances here may be minimal for a few days.
Please remember our troops. We lost six more in Afghanistan over the weekend.
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