tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047070982237007052011-10-28T12:48:45.525-05:00Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.comBlogger701100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-2593103992535900732011-10-28T12:26:00.001-05:002011-10-28T12:48:45.772-05:00

Would've, could've, should've. Normally I avoid such awkward contractions in my writings, but last night they kept running through my brain. At the end of September, I had to make a decision that affected what I'd be doing this week: potentially work a World Series game or head to California to watch a rocket launch. (As an aside, I will say that I'm very blessed to be in a position where this

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-32807968795251162722011-06-24T23:56:00.061-05:002011-10-28T10:13:15.743-05:00

The previously canceled inaugural Space Camp Tweetup (#SCTweetup) was rescheduled for June 2-3, and I wasn't going to miss it. Surprisingly, the husband who dislikes being in the car decided to make the road trip again, so we took the child out of school and retraced our path down bumpy I-65. Having been given the opportunity to take the "same" trip for the second time in five weeks, we took

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-17390303486875374182011-05-07T23:44:00.003-05:002011-09-01T00:13:06.774-05:00

Space Camp, here I come? That was my last post. Our road trip began after work on Wednesday, April 27. You may recall the end of April was experiencing more than its fair share of tornadoes. The last batch of storms was moving through that night, far south of us. We'd miss driving in it, and the weather forecast was great in Huntsville. We drove as far as southern Indiana, with plans to make

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-16519530532148766022011-04-26T23:36:00.083-05:002011-05-31T01:15:09.837-05:00

So I got to go to camp several times while growing up, but I never did attend Space Camp. When you're one of three kids in a Midwestern family in the mid-1980s, as the country is recovering from a recession, you can't just pack your bags for Alabama and start driving south. I don't remember how I first heard of Space Camp in those pre-website days, but my knowledge of its existence definitely

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-70941022984489621222011-04-25T23:55:00.001-05:002011-05-21T00:40:24.521-05:00

I've been fascinated with camp since age 6. I remember poring over a brochure for the camp I ultimately would attend: "3 days and 2 nights for 6-8 year olds." Not sure how it started, but given that most camps have beaches, golf carts, clipboards, and walkie-talkies, well, let's just say my obsessions have be consistent for decades. Side note: To be clear, we are not talking about camping; we

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-15875629682549831822011-04-24T23:37:00.027-05:002011-05-09T00:49:17.963-05:00

It was April 14, 2011, and I was checking my email at lunchtime. What I read shocked me: "Congratulations on being selected for our first ever Space Camp Tweetup event on April 28th and 29th! We have a lot of great events planned and are excited you will get to be a part of it." What? Seriously? I get to go to Space Camp? Wait, I'm taking a trip in two weeks? Me, Miss "Start Planning Vacations

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-74318247326088794932011-02-16T00:08:00.001-06:002011-02-16T00:11:55.344-06:00

February often is my least favorite month of the year, and I have been known to use this blog to vent about that. But not so in 2011 (yet). Despite an early February blizzard that canceled Groundhog Day in these parts, I'm hanging in there because of a dose of San Diego's glorious blue skies and warm weather in late January. There must be reasons why people don't live in San Diego, but my

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-2510810579996262312010-11-02T20:18:00.002-05:002010-11-02T20:47:12.669-05:00

Welcome back to me, that is. Where have I been? Well, I drove a golf cart. Then I sat on a beach in Paradise. End of blog, right? I found the beach and golf cart I'd been seeking. Sorry. You can't get rid of me that easily. I'll offer a list of possible reasons for my nine-month disappearance in the form of True/False statements. 1. I took a sabbatical to research the microbrewing industry

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-63546143623974689642010-02-27T13:04:00.018-06:002010-02-27T14:31:13.832-06:00

February. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Say it again. It's not my favorite month, mainly due to my being done with winter at this point, and this year it's been the longest month e-v-e-r. Thank goodness it doesn't have more days, like 30. I'm not the only one who thinks so. Samantha Bee eloquently stated her distaste for our calendar's second month in this morning's Wall

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-38591992413919917152010-02-27T00:16:00.002-06:002010-02-27T14:31:31.352-06:00

I'm watching a show on a channel that talks about food a lot (and I don't mean the Travel Channel). People famous for cooking on television shows discuss the best foods they've ever eaten, in various categories. Someone just was discussing the best cupcakes he's ever eaten. They were from New York City I believe, not Oklahoma City (from whence these originated). Now these OKC

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-26541258714702427252010-02-09T23:02:00.104-06:002010-02-27T14:32:24.184-06:00

This has been the longest 90 days ever. It doesn't help that it's the middle of winter and my office is the warmest place I've been (nary a beach in sight). So my grandfather passed away 90 days ago. Then we rolled into the holiday season with my father-in-law moving regularly between the hospital and nursing home. The child had a birthday that inconveniently fell on Thanksgiving

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-39198725589516423862009-12-31T16:19:00.004-06:002010-01-01T14:21:44.608-06:00

As I perused today's Wall Street Journal, I learned that vacations are making a comeback, per a survey conducted by the US Tour Operators Association. I also learned that in 2009, the top domestic destination for tour- and package-type travelers was New York City. I have no desire to travel to New York City. As you may know, my destination happiness normally revolves around beaches and/or golf

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-20954020659048409902009-11-13T19:01:00.088-06:002009-12-19T19:36:44.943-06:00

Today would have been my grandparents' 66th anniversary. Last year we celebrated their 65th, and in July we had a party for my grandma's 90th birthday. Last night, just three hours shy of his anniversary, my grandfather went to his eternal home. We're giving them credit for 66 years, since in Greenland, where he served in the Coast Guard during World War II,

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-7963347287419170692009-10-20T11:50:00.000-05:002009-10-20T11:50:34.872-05:00

I haven't vented about plastic bags, especially from Target, in a while, but I just noticed a few things the other day: Target now gives me a five-cent credit for bringing my own bag. The cashiers are routinely impressed with how much I can fit into my reusable bag (I pack my own). We're out of Target bags at home! Still using a few miscellanous-sized plastic bags from the back of the closet,

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-21836013846743341092009-09-29T23:32:00.002-05:002009-09-30T22:14:02.881-05:00

The month of my birth is ending, along with my seasonal part-time gig and our streak of San Diego-esque weather. Yes, it was a beautiful run of sunny, 73-degree days. But now the furnace has kicked in. And I'm cold. You know my feelings on that topic. If not, just look at the title of the blog. To add insult to injury, I don't get paid to use a walkie-talkie and clipboard for another six months.

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-62502244250193029372009-09-06T23:30:00.011-05:002009-09-07T23:42:08.075-05:00

Last September I referenced the fact that I had never witnessed a Major League triple play in person. That changed today... saw one. What else is there to dream about in my future baseball game observances? Have to think about it. In other news, I spent Saturday at the beach. Remembering to bring the sand toys for the child (for once) got me some bonus "sit on a blanket and read"

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-55975494613770236592009-08-30T23:56:00.006-05:002009-08-31T01:37:56.532-05:00

The title of this post has a double meaning, of course. First, the literal. I haven't done much walking or running (for real exercise) this summer, and apparently with 40-something temperatures upon us in August, summer is over.When I occasionally did venture out for fitness, I was trying to do more jogging than walking, in theory to get a better workout in less time. In reality, I just gave up

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-49713241448556798042009-08-06T23:15:00.003-05:002009-08-06T23:33:03.154-05:00

I have limited creative outlets and news sources today (though it was a semi-productive day at work, despite the oh-so-slow servers). Twitter has been down, Facebook has been iffy, and my RSS feeds are cranky.Plus we no longer get a newspaper at home during the week. (Reason: The child was learning more about copy editing marks than about health care plans from the Wall Street Journal. As a

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-139420638655638532009-07-27T23:09:00.015-05:002009-07-28T02:03:01.647-05:00

There was no wi-fi available at work today, so the sit-at-the-picnic-table plan didn't pan out. Instead I used every wired Internet capability at my disposal to escape the office for a bit. Yes, I would love to tell you I drove to the airport and got on the first available flight to a warm beach. Someday I'll pull that stunt.But today, you see, a really big airplane was going to land at our

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-18272707044426142602009-07-26T23:12:00.005-05:002009-08-31T01:46:35.819-05:00

I worked through another beautiful weekend, so by tonight, after sitting in the desk chair of power for two days, I was bouncing off the walls at home. The husband told me to go for a run. Since I don't run (I walk quickly or jog slowly) and the only shoes near the door were sandals and it was getting dark, I put on the sandals and bailed out before anyone changed their mind.It was a quiet, still

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-45106855714907515452009-07-12T23:10:00.003-05:002009-07-12T23:41:48.052-05:00

Actually, I worked through the weekend, so I'll have to wait another five days to enjoy next weekend.Despite the weekend work at my part-time gig, I did accomplish more organizational/annual-cleaning tasks around the house.Over the Fourth of July weekend, between parades and fireworks, we tackled the "put new shelf paper in all the drawers" project: my husband, with his straightedge and razor

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-17597668038125996812009-06-21T23:08:00.035-05:002009-06-26T00:33:49.074-05:00

We escaped the Badger State for the first time since last summer. Granted, it was only a border crossing (no passports necessary), as was the prior escape, but the child did get a new state added to her life list. Hello, Iowa!Random observations from the two-day jaunt to the Mississippi River:1. Wind farms make for an alien landscape. You keep staring, feeling like you've stumbled onto a Star

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-44834232003550698292009-06-15T22:39:00.002-05:002009-06-15T22:46:59.850-05:00

Some days you just want to vent to anyone who will listen. And what better place to do that than on a blog.But after running through the events that made this day annoying, I've decided to spare you the details.Instead I will summarize my biggest pet peeves:1. Overturned semis that close freeways during rush hour leading to four-suburb gridlock.2. Stores that don't have anything you need in stock

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-75387032876826238172009-06-12T09:12:00.001-05:002009-06-12T09:13:28.770-05:00

I remain in hibernation due to the late arrival of temperatures I deem acceptable. Beach girl hasn't even used her state parks pass yet. There is potential for this situation to change next week.Stay tuned.

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-68174221870560645902009-05-21T23:26:00.009-05:002009-05-21T23:46:55.620-05:00

We've gotten past the annual rummage sale and moved my grandparents out of their apartment.And my mother-in-law has started removing extra stuff from the very large house that they may or may not sell this month or next year.So we've made lots of trips to thrift shops, worked ourselves ragged at a rummage marathon (five days), and refuse to deal with any more boxes.Except for this one, for a

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-11108376501787192412009-05-21T23:01:00.003-05:002009-05-21T23:58:00.506-05:00

It should have been Friday, based on how messed up everything has been this week.The date mix-up came on Wednesday, when I reviewed the child's hot-lunch menu and announced, "It's pancake day!" So I sent her to school for a (not-so-frequent) trip through the lunch line.She came home and said, "I had to eat pepperoni pizza. Thumbs down." That's her rating system for food, by the way: thumbs up,

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-62057305636186862242009-05-15T13:36:00.003-05:002009-05-15T13:40:35.638-05:00

I work for an institution of higher learning. I love beaches. There has to be a way to use this list of top surf colleges to my advantage. I think I'll work on that this afternoon.

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-71426568376242536242009-05-06T13:30:00.003-05:002009-05-06T13:33:47.351-05:00

I hit golf balls at the driving range last night and got to see real golf carts, live and in person! That makes me happy. Doesn't get me any closer to my dream job, but it's something.The child made her driving-range debut yesterday. Now we have a new family activity!Next step: condo on a golf course in a warm climate, with a golf cart in the carport? Probably not. Give us a couple years to work

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-25453522928096943562009-04-29T23:25:00.004-05:002009-05-06T14:48:40.353-05:00

Honeydew is to the fruit platter what celery is to the veggie platter. No one eats them. And they're both pale green.How deep is that observation? Just had to verbalize it, as I stare at yet another pre-cut bowl of fruit in my refrigerator, which has only honeydew melon left for my consumption. No one wants it, but it makes great filler for the food store, apparently.

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-45724398211977273592009-04-25T23:33:00.003-05:002009-05-06T14:50:13.172-05:00

I'm on social networking overload. Didn't think it could happen. But we pulled off our coverage of the "big event" at work. I edited and uploaded photos from each segment of the day before the next portion ended, while live-blogging. We posted to our Facebook page. We Tweeted the whole thing and had people at a technology conference following us. Our "news" was posted to a newspaper reporter's

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-43869386455301033892009-04-21T13:42:00.009-05:002009-04-21T16:54:50.520-05:00

It's been a nose-to-the-laptop kind of month, with about two days of nice weather (which I spent outside instead of blogging about them).Anyway, my day has lacked congruity. I've experienced a clash of technologies, or rather, a clash of technology and an aversion to technology.Background: I don't like talking on the phone. I'm more of a written-word person. I'll IM, Tweet, chat, blog, converse

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-41513025617022550402009-03-21T22:31:00.013-05:002009-03-26T20:09:49.274-05:00

I took lots of steps today; I should have worn the pedometer. The setting on this beautiful Saturday afternoon: the Milwaukee County Zoo. Lots of people came out of hibernation to see the newly awakened animals, but the great part is the paths are wide, so someone doing four 18-minute laps around the zoo while wearing her iPod had plenty of space to navigate, without coming near a double

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-21672733763068493882009-03-20T22:58:00.007-05:002009-03-20T23:19:40.099-05:00

If you're like me, two things can happen when you see "1985."One, you have bad flashbacks to awkward early teenage years, or two, you start singing "She's seen all the classics, she knows every line, Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, even St. Elmo's Fire..."Yes, it's the song by Bowling for Soup that recounts the mid-'80s, right down to my Duran Duran obsession (but I didn't marry a CPA).And

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-37724424203398285772009-03-19T22:36:00.002-05:002009-03-20T22:57:39.538-05:00

Since I obsessed about sitting in my previous post, I will make up for it by getting on my feet.For four glorious days this week, I got to walk to my destination, instead of depressing an accelerator to move from Point A to Point B. It's all about location.Walk number 1: While cleaning out the grandparents' apartment last weekend, we discovered a strong need for Magic Erasers, as nothing else

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-67127007825407364072009-03-10T22:56:00.010-05:002009-03-11T00:13:08.346-05:00

"Please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until the plane comes to a complete stop." I haven't heard those words in more than a year. In fact, the last time I flew, you could check your luggage for free. How quaint.My thoughts about seating are wide-ranging at the moment, so I'll ramble.1. Today I received tickets for the right-by-the-stage seats I picked out for this summer's jaunt to

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-67692021315093734452009-02-28T22:27:00.003-06:002009-02-28T23:42:09.534-06:00

Finally we can bid a not-so-fond farewell to February.It is not a month that's traditionally beach and golf cart friendly, unless you venture to Florida. The past two years I've had that opportunity, but the flight south didn't come to fruition this year.It has been a long two fortnights, filled with old snow, slush, cold, fresh snow, freezing rain, and ice. Plus we're wrapping up a full house of

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-23350884187022948472009-02-02T23:23:00.006-06:002009-02-03T01:13:38.527-06:00

Fifteen years ago, on the fifth Monday of the new year, I started my first "real" job. I was slightly removed from my college career, but I was finally working in my field. Well, not really, but you could make a connection.I had purchased my first new car (1995 bright red Neon, aka, the lemon) and was looking for apartments ($400 a month or less please). I wore a skirt and heels to work that

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-47983580656684522872009-01-29T23:50:00.005-06:002009-02-04T00:16:05.931-06:00

I don't eat much meat anymore, so the turkey reference isn't overly appropriate. But I've realized that over the past year, two seemingly unrelated items have disappeared from my daily routine: soda and a watch.Those who know me understand that I am a creature of habit. So every morning when I got dressed, I fastened my watch on my right wrist, since I'm sort of left handed. This routine probably

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-72579790904867541592009-01-18T23:30:00.006-06:002009-01-18T23:43:44.879-06:00

I spent part of my afternoon the following way:Wearing flip-flops and shorts, breathing in warm air laced with humidity, I walked along the water's edge as waves splashed just inches from my toes.Nice image, isn't it?Reality: I was walking next to the YMCA's swimming pool with the child, inhaling chlorine fumes. Screams pierced my tropical fantasy, as kids who have cooped up for a week splashed

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-54815891149408351982009-01-17T23:05:00.011-06:002009-02-03T01:12:44.823-06:00

To a model railroader, "undecorated" is seen as an opportunity. It may be a plain gray locomotive that the modeler can paint in the scheme of his or her choice, or perhaps it's a piece of rolling stock waiting to be decorated for a certain railroad, in a certain era, with a certain number. (Please don't ask why I know enough to have written that last sentence.)But to me, sitting in my living room

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-39380111943774792062009-01-05T23:32:00.004-06:002009-02-03T01:15:40.004-06:00

Subtitle: Things I've pondered during my ten months on Facebook.Caveat: I originally joined Facebook for work purposes, so I could be an admin on my employer's site.The benefits:1. I communicate far more regularly (even daily) with my siblings. A quick wall post or comment is easier than an email at times, for all of us. When my mom gets concerned that she hasn't heard from my brother in a while,

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-33990517437936665812009-01-01T22:32:00.012-06:002009-01-06T16:47:23.594-06:00

Happy 2009 to my faithful readers (you two know who you are).Stop number one in this new year: Milwaukee's lakefront. For the annual polar bear plunge, you may ask? It's at a beach; I will give you that. But you should know that my dislike of the cold trumps my love of the beach. My bare toes do not visit sand and fresh water outside of the happy months (June through September). They may visit

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-89679678256406815752008-12-21T20:40:00.016-06:002008-12-22T09:52:39.920-06:00

Here's a look back at our trip to the Wisconsin Dells in October, when it was 45 degrees warmer than it is right now (yet we were wearing gloves and winter coats).See how pleasant it looked at Devil's Lake that day? It is a beach, but not the sort on which I long to be on winter days like today.The scenery was beautiful after a blustery, rocky hike.Next we saw the now-being-refilled Lake Delton.

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-91524919487164970722008-12-13T00:40:00.001-06:002009-02-03T01:18:20.408-06:00

Here's a discovery we made at work yesterday. It's a fun, fast, and free way to use the numerous photos we take to promote my employer. And low-cost, online marketing options are looked upon very kindly these days. Today I made a little show of my personal photos to help me forget winter in Wisconsin.

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-30254915829667578042008-12-07T16:32:00.002-06:002008-12-07T16:37:03.463-06:00

I think the Wisconsin tourism group started a new ad campaign on December 1. I've heard the same slogan repeated each morning since, when the radio comes on to wake me up: "Give yourself some extra time. The roads are slick."It's not what I personally would have come up with. It's actually making me want to leave the state. But it must be working; I hear they plan to continue the campaign all

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-67740601238883203822008-11-23T22:46:00.002-06:002008-11-23T22:50:10.143-06:00

I'm still around. I've either been (a) hibernating since temperatures plunged below freezing or (b) working many hours.While I'd prefer (a), the answer actually is (b). Therefore, I haven't had a chance to edit and post photos from a recent trip to Wisconsin's answer to warm beaches in fall: indoor waterparks at the Wisconsin Dells.Soon...

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-15453309757084060192008-11-13T23:41:00.001-06:002008-11-30T00:48:24.423-06:00

Just wanted to send along congratulations to my grandparents, celebrating 65 years of marriage today. Wow.In the mid-1940s, my grandfather was serving in the Coast Guard near Iceland and Greenland and my grandmother was teaching kindergarten in Milwaukee (in high heels and dresses!).Today they live just two miles from us, across the road from my parents. We're thankful for that!We've had fun

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-81555177468565566542008-11-01T22:38:00.003-05:002008-11-01T22:46:11.920-05:00

Ah, finally a productive day at home, after spending the past three weekends enjoying numerous state parks. I cleaned inside (even used the vacuum attachments to suck all the dust and Asian lady beetles out of the corners) while the husband took care of sucking leaves out of the gutters.The child played so nicely by herself. I think she was just happy to have a Saturday that didn't start with, "

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-41381605908662324682008-10-12T22:39:00.007-05:002008-10-14T12:38:26.638-05:00

Subtitle: The invasion of the Asian lady beetles.Warm weather, pretty leaves, hiking at state parks, tons o' lady bugs. That about covers it.Didn't think you'd get off that easily, did you?State park visit #1: Saturday at Pike Lake. Below is the view from the observation tower in July, followed by one taken Saturday. The leaves have turned. Ooo, pretty. But to get that view, one had to fight

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-58806203414649921252008-10-10T22:43:00.004-05:002008-10-13T00:51:00.725-05:00

Not much right now, apparently. It's a quiet time of year. Baseball season is over (in my opinion), but I did get to witness my first-ever playoff game (a victory). At least we won a game, unlike another nearby team that went three and out.The last time the Brew Crew played in the post-season I was collecting baseball cards and decorating my rainbow bedroom with now-retro logo pennants and Rollie

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-87622592813443863642008-09-29T23:13:00.005-05:002008-10-03T15:14:45.961-05:00

After searching long and hard, I found a good thing about fall. Trust me, letting the furnace make its season debut tonight isn't it.It's cheap plants! I decided that for 75-percent off on select bushes, I could afford to remove the diseased rose bush now living in filtered sunlight (trees grow... who knew?) and replace it with a hardier model in a new location.Add to the cart two small,

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-18517799558977528652008-09-22T23:46:00.008-05:002008-09-24T00:27:27.156-05:00

Welcome to fall and the dreaded autumnal equinox. At least when we hit the winter solstice, the days start getting longer. We have reached the point in the year when, well, allow me to illustrate:Very soon summery scenes like this:Will start to look more like this:After that, it is only a matter of time before those of us silly enough to live in snow-land end up doing this:Which usually drives me

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-85501146045034837892008-09-20T23:10:00.004-05:002008-09-24T00:26:14.898-05:00

Summer is reappearing for a bit, giving a co-worker a gorgeous wedding day today. Here's a peek at two of Wisconsin's fine state parks, which I visited during another beautiful week, this one during vacation last month.Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island has a clean, sandy beach, plus a fun hiking trail where you can climb onto the rocks and enjoy Lake Superior, unobstructed.Copper Falls State

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-82627989682747374322008-09-15T00:41:00.003-05:002008-09-24T00:48:58.539-05:00

Last night I witnessed my third memorable moment in baseball history: a no-hitter. It made an odd night get even stranger, since the Cubs and Astros were playing in "neutral" territory.What were my two other memorable games? I saw Nolan Ryan get his 300th victory, and I was present for the infamous All-Star Game that ended in a tie. I'm still waiting to see a triple play. But given that two of my

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-22682714674225321752008-09-03T22:50:00.005-05:002008-09-24T00:55:19.963-05:00

Or at least give me a more gradual transition to fall.You can imagine that someone who blogs about beaches and warm weather can't be too happy come Labor Day in Wisconsin. The national holiday did fall on my birthday this year, so I had a special day off to reflect on our beautiful summer (the mosquitoes only lasted a few weeks) and enjoy the blooming hostas, which serve as my personal marker for

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-18427419618060486272008-08-31T12:24:00.005-05:002008-09-04T12:41:42.730-05:00

No, I don't ride a Harley, nor have I ever touched one. But I heard plenty of them this weekend, thanks to living in close proximity to events for Harley's 105th anniversary. I also found some creative routes home from work to avoid traffic logjams.I did get invited to dine with the riders on Saturday, leaving my car safely ensconced in the garage, where it stayed most of weekend. Our neighbors

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-68606271510008599952008-08-22T21:59:00.000-05:002008-08-24T22:10:36.464-05:00

After my post in which I was stressing about Target bags, I needed to write a follow-up. Today I visited a different Target, not one of the three within an arm's reach of my house.Besides being pleasantly surprised about the good selection of natural and organic foods, I had a wonderful cashier, who made it her goal to fit everything I bought into my canvas bag. It helped that at this store, the

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-32259560104176768172008-08-20T23:02:00.001-05:002008-09-24T00:08:48.187-05:00

Given the title of my blog, this sign doesn't bring me joy.One should never have to face this reality. P.S.: We went in the water anyway. Budget cuts, not pollution, made this the default "suggestion" for the summer. "Swim at your own risk" would have been more accurate.

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-32449937369474976342008-08-17T23:17:00.006-05:002008-09-30T23:12:13.972-05:00

Need I say more? Of course.Here's a summary of the trip Up North, with more photos to come.The good:Didn't go near an airplane, except to watch sea planes take off and land in Duluth and Madeline Island. The old Accord got 32mpg, so everybody's happy.Perfect weather for each day's planned activity. Walk along the lake to the Duluth harbor and maritime museum? Breezy with whitecaps and wispy

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-34932846915141280522008-08-03T23:51:00.011-05:002008-11-13T14:53:43.708-06:00

Most of my dairy consumption is in the form of low-fat yogurt or string cheese, but sometimes in America's Dairyland, you succumb to temptation and end up eating a lot more dairy than you'd planned on. Welcome to August in Wisconsin.It started innocently enough. In my part-time summer gig, a preview of State Fair was delivered to my desk: one cream puff. I hadn't had a chance to eat dinner, so

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-43050923058194954062008-07-22T23:22:00.000-05:002008-08-03T23:49:52.386-05:00

I try to reduce the amount of stuff that comes into the house, partly for environmental reasons and partly for "I can't stand clutter" reasons. If you've ever seen my desk at work, you know the second reason is true.I've been successful in my ongoing quest to keep excess bags out of the pantry, with one exception: Target. Back to that in a second.I'm shopping more and more often at a small, local

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-3019574674479731532008-07-18T23:32:00.003-05:002008-07-18T23:49:09.496-05:00

Sometimes timing is everything.How did I end up walking along the lake, a stone's throw from a beach, during work hours Tuesday afternoon? It legitimately was part of a long-planned, oft-delayed tour of the city, camera in hand, to restock the photo library. For once, the timing was perfect: a sunny day, with wispy clouds in the sky. Readily available parking spots. All the buildings smiling for

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-59961227673907796992008-07-06T22:19:00.005-05:002008-07-06T22:37:45.521-05:00

Knee high by the Fourth of July? I don't know how tall the corn was this weekend, but it sure tasted good, especially paired with the barbecued ribs from the neighbors' grill today.After working the first two days of this holiday weekend, I decided to skip a trip to the beach, thus avoiding throngs of friendly drivers slowly heading back to the state to our south.Instead, I walked all the way

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-211015022880618242008-06-26T13:55:00.005-05:002008-07-08T23:52:14.403-05:00

Consider this a Twitter-ish blog posting. I can't talk about beaches and golf carts ALL the time, so I'll digress.I'm so excited that I got to work out at the Y for the first time in five weeks last night! A workout with machines for a change, not a jog around the subdivision. Has the summer been crazy? Um, yes.It took some quick, evasive moves, but I made it to the Y with time to spare. Not only

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-22122038692764564512008-06-19T23:52:00.008-05:002008-11-13T14:53:43.855-06:00

Things have been a little stressful lately, but in the past 24 hours I've been exposed to golf carts, clipboards, walkie-talkies, and a beach. Plus I spent time in the perfect non-humid, mid-70s weather I complain we never get. Therefore, I've maintained my sanity for another few days.After dodging golf carts at the zoo, I drove as far east as one can here without getting wet. Saw beautiful views

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-77401650811937035282008-06-12T00:34:00.014-05:002008-11-13T14:53:44.203-06:00

You have probably seen the video of houses being swept away in Lake Delton last weekend. The lake is no more; the forces of nature have chosen a new path to the Wisconsin River. Since we've had numerous family reunions at the Dells, just down the road from the lake, I dug up a couple pics of Lake Delton in its former glory.And if you have fond memories of splashing into Lake Delton on a cheesy

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-3027764886590558042008-06-09T23:55:00.004-05:002008-11-13T14:53:44.669-06:00

I'm sorry, but standing ankle-deep in flood waters while clearing out my in-laws' clogged culvert is not what I had in mind when I discussed my love of the water. This photo is much more along the lines of what I was thinking.In fact, I was quite clear that water in my basement doesn't count. I should have been more specific, apparently. Water in anyone's basement (especially when I'm on clean-up

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-91695010075797137012008-06-06T00:12:00.005-05:002008-07-08T23:54:38.954-05:00

So how do golf carts fit into my obsessions? A golf cart is one of three necessary accessories for a dream job. But who didn't already know that.At some point, we've all taken a career assessment or personality inventory, listing what makes us feel fulfilled and what we want to avoid. My self-analysis didn't lead to a career path; it pointed toward the three things I need to be happy. They are,

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-38773356952197928912008-05-30T15:05:00.004-05:002008-06-06T00:09:56.179-05:00

Why have a blog with "beaches" in the title? Why not. As you can tell from the photos and links, I like large bodies of water with waves bordered by warm, sandy areas. Sorry, but rivers don't count. Neither does water in my basement. Really hate that. Northern beaches on Great Lakes are acceptable in a pinch, hence the state parks pass on my windshield.I don't know where this surf and sand

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-604707098223700705.post-39788951391757174812008-05-27T22:34:00.006-05:002008-05-27T23:07:39.884-05:00

I know that referring to beaches and golf carts in my blog title may lead you to believe any of the following:I've retired from my job in the Rust Belt, moved to Florida, and now pass the time walking the beach with a metal detector, before cruising back to the planned community in my golf cart.My estate in Hawaii is so large that I need a golf cart to return to the main house after a leisurely

Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13727060742454216373noreply@blogger.com1