The Lazy Days of Summer?

We just got back from watch the air show down at the lakefront in Milwaukee.  I've been wanting to see the Thunderbirds (or Blue Angels...I'm not fussy) since forever, and we finally did it today.  We spent several hours watching different aircraft maneuvers and I am in awe.  Who could possibly pilot a plane upside down? Or, better yet, who could pilot a plane while summersaulting

in the air?   Who could fly an airplane, or in the case of the thunderbirds, a jet, in precise and extremely close formations?  How do these guys do it?  How do they even begin, and aren't they completely nauseated by the time their "show" is over?  These are questions for others to ponder, but for me, it was really a thrill, and I'm so happy that Roger enjoyed it as much as I did.

It's a bit embarrassing to look at my previous posts and see that it's been so long since I've written anything here.  In my defense, I do write in a personal journal most every night, so I'm not a total lost cause.  This summer has been great.  Two babies born (one coming in October) and lots of opportunities to baby sit...literally.  Then there was the family night at the zoo, which is always a highlight...too bad this year our Chrissy was unable to make it.  However, she had a painting on display at the art center in Rochester, and while we were eating our way through the zoo and enjoying every minute of it, Chrissy  was hobnobbing with the high rollers and selling her picture.  Win/win for all of us.  Way to go, Chrissy.

We've had grandchildren spend the night, and in a couple of weeks, we'll have 3 more come for a couple of days, and we're really looking forward to their visit. I haven't been golfing even once, and I'm making it my personal goal to get a lesson and get out there for at least a few times.  There is nothing wrong with golfing in the fall.

People talk about the lazy days of summer. Exactly what do they mean by that?  Lazy? Hmmm. Perhaps we'll talk about that on a later post.

Back to the Real World

Many years ago a friend and I were driving to Wisconsin from California when we heard on the radio that a tornado had been sighted 10 miles west of North Platte Nebraska.  We were 10 miles west of North Platte Nebraska!  It was a harrowing experience, and I won't bore you with details here.I mention it only because Roger and I had a similar experience on our way home from Florida two days ago.We were in Georgia and the sky was getting darker and darker... looking more ominous by the minute.  Since we were low on gas, Roger decided to exit the highway and we found ourselves in this speck of a town with a mini mart and gas station.  Just as we got out of the car to gas up, the tornado siren sounded.  I yelled at Roger to head for the mini mart.  He says, "Okay, I'm just going to get gas first".  "No way" I shouted, "we're heading for cover now!".  So we parked the card and ran into the station as the skies opened up and the rains poured down.  Pretty soon several other people abandoned their cars and ran in to join us.  Someone said that the storm was due to hit Emerson at 4:45.  It was 4:44.  I asked, "Where is Emerson?"   Everyone looked at me and in unison said, "This is Emerson!".  The clerk tried to reassure everyone that we were safe because this particular mini mart was tornado proof.  People believed her.  I, however, hung close to the bathroom, the only place without windows or glass.   It continued to pour.  The lightening was amazing and the thunder very scary, but thankfully, all bark and little bite. Tornados had touched down all around us, but left Emerson pretty much alone.  Whew!

It was still pouring when we left, heading  for Tennessee.   Three hours later we decide it was time to stop for the night.  We passed one little town, but I said we should forge ahead, go a little farther.  On to Monteagle we went.  At the exit ramp to Monteagle we were met with such dense fog, that we weren't sure we were even on the right ramp.  We turned toward what we hoped was the town, but it was so foggy that we could see very little.  Roger crept into what we hoped was a gas station, but we couldn't really tell until we were 3 feet from the door.  We were told that there was one motel and we'd passed it.  It was a Day's Inn, a two story building with lights all around, but we missed it because we could only see 2 feet in front of us.

Long story short, we made it to the motel...the worst we've ever stayed in (except for that horrible one in Baraboo).  It was clean, but that's all it had going for it.  The toilet didn't work, so she gave us a new room on the back side.  It took us ten minutes to get there since we couldn't see.  We put the key in, and it didn't work.  Ten minutes later we're back in the lobby.  She makes another key for us and says, if this one doesn't work, stay in the room next to it, for which she gave us yet another key.  Unreal.

You know how in the midst of crud there is always a little light...something to enjoy or to appreciate or to experience?  Well, so it was that night.  Roger met this elderly couple on one of his many trips to the office.  They were from Illinois heading to our beloved Florida.  Since we had all stopped there to escape the shroud of fog, we were trapped and there to stay.  We were all hungry, as well.    Just a few hours earlier, son Roger had advised us strongly to get  some "real Tennessee pulled pork".  So here we are in a town of who knows how few people, when the clerk at the desk tells us to try Smoke 'n B's BBQ, just on down the road.

Another ten minutes to go two blocks and we arrive at Smoke'n B's.  The couple we met followed us in their car.  Since we couldn't see, we spent a good part of the drive on the wrong side of the road.  They followed us there as well.  We made it in one piece, and to our surprise and delight, Smoke'n B's had pulled pork sandwiches.  In fact, that was their specialty.  So the other couple (Dobby and Charlotte) joined us in eating good Tennessee  pulled pork sandwiches.  They each had a beer to "calm them down a bit".  Then they tlet the cat out of the bag . They told us they were 92 years old!!!!   They were driving from Illinois to Florida at 92 years of age.  They had a beer to calm their nerves at 92 years of age.  What an experience!  They were so cute and it was so nice having someone to share the fog with.  They were the little light that brightened our very foggy evening.

Are we there yet?  Nope.  We have to go through Indiana (no snow), Illinois (no snow) and finally Wisconsin (no snow).  We're fired up.  NO SNOW.  No snow in Kenosha.  None in Racine.  Very little in Milwaukee.  Some in Ozaukee County.  Not bad.  We can handle this.  We see the sign, "Cedar Grove" and our mouths drop open.  There is a ton of snow here...a TON!  No, this can't be happening.  It was 85 yesterday.  This can't be real.  This has got to be a mistake.  Sadly, it's not.  There really is 2-3 feet of snow on the ground!

We're home.  Yes we are.  We're back to the real world of snow and winter... and home.  And, while we miss the warmth of Florida, it's nice being home.  Really!

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Well, we just said good-by to the Krehbiels, who are flying back to Green Bay as I write this.  The Justus family left Saturday and are back in cold Baraboo.  Roger and Brittany and Chrissy and Jeff have been here and gone for a week already. And now it's our turn.  Tomorrow we head back to winter.  As is our  custom, we always take pictures of each family before they leave, so here they are.  As for us, we'll be back for a repeat of  a simply wonderful, relaxing, and fun filled vacation!!!

Sweating in February?

So, how can it be that although it's February on the calendar, yet we're sweating bullets.  Roger and I actually commented that we were so warm, we had to get in to the shade for a while.   The thing is, it is hot.  It's 83+ and  sultry.  We're loving it.  After a grueling day at Epcot, we came home and hopped in the pool.
It's tough being on vacation...really.

Pizza pool party

No Snow Here

Chrissy and Jeff and Roger and Brittany left for home this weekend.  It was sad to have them leave...even sadder to think they were heading for the tundra.  There was 13 inches of snow on the ground back there.
Bummer.

On the other hand, here it has been sunny and warm...80's...AC on.  Yesterday the Krehbiels, Justuses and Roger and me took another trip over to Downtown Disney.  We'd forgotten it was Preident's Day and there were so many people and it was so hot, and we had to wait everywhere.  So what should do?  What every other person down here would do.  Head for home and jump in the pool.  Now that was a smart choice.

Last night we babysat so Heidi and Eric and Greta and Adam could go back to Downtown Disney and enjoy themselves...and they did!!!!

It's summer in February!

We arrived in Florida on Valentine's Day along with Chrissy and Jeff who caravaned with us.   We stopped in St. Augustine, a charming little village on the ocean, and were able to walk around, stretch our tired bodies and enjoy the town.  We then drove to our house in Kissimmee, unpacked and did some grocery shopping.  Roger and Brittany arrived later in the afternoon.  We're having just a great time.  The sun is shining, the temperature is in the 70's, the pool is a balmy 91 degrees and we are thoroughly enjoying ourselves.

We spent yesterday afternoon at Downtown Disney, and are heading out to one of the bazillion flea markets in a little while.

Tomorrow the kids are going to Universal, and we are going to ..............  don't quite know yet........whatever we feel like doing, for starters.

Spent the good part of today poolside just relaxing and enjoying our vacation.  This could easily become addicting.

Winter in Wisconsin

We have had a regular winter around here...a beautiful white Christmas, not too cold, just pretty and white.  I thought it was so nice that I had Roger take my picture on our deck.   That's me next to the bird feeder, and there is a lot of snow, but not so much for winter.

Fast forward to today, the day after the big blizzard.  Whoa!!!!  Lots and lots of snow.  So much snow that I made a snow angel on our deck, but then the snow was so soft, that I could hardly pull myself up.  So much for the snow angel.

Roger spent over  two hours snowblowing this morning, and this afternoon we went to the park for a walk.  The path in the park hadn't been plowed yet, however, so we cut short our walk.    It's tough trudging through 2+ feet of snow.

So what's the moral of this story?  It's winter in Wisconsin, need I say more?

That's all there is...there ain't no more

Friday night Roger and I and another couple went out to eat and to a play.  The dinner was quite good except for the rolls which were so hard even Roger had trouble breaking  them in half.  The server,  was clever, witty and fun.  The rest of the dinner was great.  What we didn't know was that the dinner would be the best part of the evening.

We left the restaurant and headed for the play.  Talk about a real bust!  The play was all that and more.  The acting was not stellar, but for amateurs it was okay.  The story itself was the problem.  It was so bad that when it was finally over, we all sat there waiting for the stage lights to come back on.  Much to our surprise, they never did.  Apparently the play was over.

We have been attending these plays with our friends  for 3 years.  In all that time we've seen some good, some not so good, and some rather poor renditions.  This one, however, takes the cake. It's also the first time in 3 years that the good old Wisconsin audience didn't rise to their feet for a standing ovation.  Why didn't they?  Because like me, no one knew it was over.

They're putting it on next weekend as well.   We should go again.  Perhaps this time they'll  finish the dopey thing.