Painful day of rest

I haven't been sleeping well lately, so finally gave in and took some Tramdol last night. Apparently it also meant I didn't move or slept in a weird position, because my back is totally tweaked today. I can't do anything. It's totally miserable, and even a steam at the gym didn't help. So much for enjoying the last bits of the long weekend - what with a funeral, car rides, and this back pain.

The good news is I was able to put the honey and sugar on my hives yesterday. The girls weren't clustered, and there was still honey inside - both things I'd worried about.

So now, it's narcotics and Netflix. Happy Sunday to you!

The next day

Well, we certainly didn't get our wish for a Packers win. And I certainly didn't get my wish for a good night's sleep, what with being up to the wee hours consoling a sobbing kid. He really has to learn how to take this a little less seriously, because they aren't getting any better.

Thanksgiving was good. Fewer people showed this year than normal. But we're all healthy today, which is 300% more than I can say for last year. The rain kept everyone indoors, and me away from putting the extra sugar on my bees. I did get the report that they were out on the English Sage last week, so that was a little comforting. We'll be back up there on Saturday for a funeral, so I'm hoping for better weather.

I'm doing no Black Friday shopping, which is no change from any other years. We're still trying to figure out what C-man even needs (nothing) for Christmas. Ski weekend it is.

Anyhow, I'm incredibly thankful for the long weekend, even if we do have to travel again. Here's hoping I can get some sleep!

10 for Tuesday

1. We had Parent-Teacher conferences this morning. It's really nice to listen to other people talk so nicely about your kid.
2. What I found most interesting was the types of things he was being praised for - ability to work through conflict, maturity in not getting caught up in petty things, collaborating with others - are things he's had some pretty intense experience with in his sports teams.
3. It's nice to think about that side of things, when I'm reading all those articles about the potential brain damage from the sub-concussive hits.
4. I have tomorrow off. I thought I'd have a half-day, but then learned work gives us a half-day. So now I'm using my half-day to give me a full-day. I'm very happy about that.
5. We have a funeral this weekend for Beerman's paternal grandmother.
6. She was a nice lady. I just wish there wasn't such weirdness with this side of the family.
7. There's all this push at work for togetherness and team building. Bleh.
8. I've decided reply-all and group Facebook messages are the devil.
9. I'm really ready for the vacation, even if it is for Thanksgiving. I'm ready to be home with the family.
10. I'm hoping to get us to a Christmas market this week. I have never done one, and they are popping up all over.

The week ahead

It's only Monday, and I'm already a little stressed about the whole week. Maybe if I had warm memories of Thanksgiving as a kid. Or it didn't mean Black Friday craziness at work. I know I'm one of the few, but if I could erase this holiday altogether, I would. At least I'll get to put my sugar on the bees. And C-man is a cribbage fiend now, so that'll be fun, too. Focusing on the good things. Focusing on the good.

A year ago

It was a nice, lazy, wintry Sunday around here. C-man went to a friend's house, and Beerman made chili. That gave me the time to get my act together, pull out the green screen, and start shooting the family for our annual Christmas card. It was Beasley's first year on the Rysewyk card. He tolerated it well, but took his own union-mandated breaks in-between. I shot that, too, of course.

This process was very sweet, and I was happy to get this year's card done. But it reminded me it was exactly a year ago that we lost sweet Harry to the Rainbow Bridge in the sky. I think I'll forever miss those sweet brown eyes. It also makes me incredibly thankful to have this big gregarious Beasley in our lives.

And now, Go Pack Go!

TGIF

Friday. Yes.

Thursday Thirteen

1. C-man is all scheduled for ski club at school. It's hard to believe it's ski club time.
2. It's another potluck at work today. I think other people are getting tired of these, because there isn't nearly as much food there today.
3. I made a yellow cake. From a box. Because I had no time. It was gone in mere minutes.
4. Someone brought poached pears in mustard and bacon. Now that was actually worth it.
5. I've been quite dependent on my coffee lately and not drinking enough water. Time to reverse that trend. Except now I have to pee all the time.
6. Classmates keeps sending me emails asking if I know these people. Um... no? Geez. High School was a long time ago. And to be honest, I didn't like the people then. What difference is 20+ years going to do?
7. C-man wants a Hoverboard for Christmas. This seems like a really bad idea to me.
8. It's going to snow this weekend. It'll be good for my bees, at least, so they stop eating their stores of honey.
9. But it also means I have to get my act together on hats and boots and matching mittens. Where do all those right-handed mittens go anyway?
10. I'm following the Brewers trades today. It makes me happy to think about Spring.
11. We have our Fiji-New Zealand travel figured out. Now to figure out those last two days in Fiji that we no longer have a room for.
12. I think we're going to get moved to a Hilton on the island instead. It's a better place at a lower cost than we'd pay otherwise, so it makes sense.
13. One more day of work to go...

Wordless Wednesday: Moments

The start of the week

Starting the week on a Tuesday is sort of nice. Both C-man and I are back to school and work. I have mixed feelings about that, but it was nice to be able to take the day off. I could use some more of those.

Slowly

C-man and I are home today. I've been in such bad shape arthritis-wise, and he just hasn't been great. I thought maybe it was being worked up for hours post Packers atrocious loss. But I think it's more. It may be exhaustion. It may be a bug. I don't really care. It's Monday, and we're taking it slow today. Work and school will be there tomorrow.

We Jingled. With Bells.

It was a beautiful day for the Jingle Bell Run/Walk at the lakefront today. A pretty large group walked together, which was really fantastic. And now, to get ready for Monday.

TGIF

For the love of all - the weekend is almost here. What a miserable week in a non-tragic kind of way. I'm glad to move on.

Thursday Thirteen

1. I have to do a big presentation at work today. So, of course, I spilled my whole cup of coffee on my pants before 10 a.m.
2. It looks like Beerman is working for a Canadian company soon. Guess we should start practicing our 'aboot', 'doh-lahr', and 'eh'.
3. Maybe he'll get Canadian benefits? Now that'd be nice.
4. I picked up the Jingle Bell Run/Walk shirts for the team yesterday. We'll be in green this year.
5. I haven't broken it to C-man that Eddie Lacy is now the Packers' #2 back. Some things are better left un-said.
6. Report cards come home today. That'll be interesting.
7. I have been doing better with the eating this week. Working out has been a bust with our schedule. It's a bad excuse though. I need to do better.
8. I'm glad it's getting to be vacation time at work. I really need some time away where I don't have to think about work.
9. C-man wants a hoverboard for Christmas. I think that's a really bad decision.
10. Beasley's foot is healing. I really hope we can get him to the park this weekend, because he is nuts.
11. This is our slow month. So why doesn't it feel slower?
12. I'm reading the 4th book in the Outlander series. I'm tired of this series and going to move on after this book. But bajeezes, these are long.
13. Speaking of which, I'm taking book recommendations. No sappy Nicholas Sparks nonsense, either.

Wordless Wednesday

Random stuff

• We just had a guacamole and salsa fest at work. Next week we have a Thanksgiving potluck. In the middle of cold and flu season. Double gross.
• Speaking of which, I think the house is all feeling 100% again. For today, at least.
• The work cafeteria has been kind of bad lately, so I've decided to start bringing a lunch. The problem is it's gone before 11 a.m. when it's time for lunch.
• Beasley's foot seems to be healing. Hopefully we can get him to the park this weekend, because he's already going nuts. He's been stealing each of C-man's stuffed animals and placing them throughout the house in very specific locations.
• I only sort of like Instagram. However, this feed makes it all worthwhile. It makes me want to buy a Jeep and go nuts with Beasley. Except I don't really like camping. And he hates riding in the car. You know, the little things.
• Operation Spring Break Bikini is underway. Can I just wish it to happen? That'd be so much easier.

Leaping into the week

• I've begun Operation Spring Break 2016. In other words, lose the fat because I'm not about to take photos for all posterity looking like I look.
• First world problems, I realize.
• My right shoulder, you know - the one that's been hurting since February - is finally able to move in full range of motion. Still stiff, but moving. Thank God I went to all that PT, she says sarcastically and 9 months later.
• But now my hips are killing me and I can't really sit. Damn this arthritis.
• Speaking of which, the Jingle Bell Walk is Sunday. There's still time to sign up if you haven't already. The weather is supposed to be nice, which is hopeful.
• I've got a package of bees ordered for spring. I'm thinking I should get a couple more. I have enough equipment for 3 more hives, and that's if my hives overwinter okay.
• Speaking of which, this warm weather is not good for the bees. I'm worried they're eating all their honey. I'm going to give a super back to one, and feed sugar. But it's still worrisome.
• I'm afraid I'm not a very good farmer.

It's the weekend!

• I got my third and final Stitch Fix shipment. A cowl neck sweater? You know - one of those floppy neck boobless things that nobody has worn for at least 2 years, let alone seasons? And an acrylic forest green chunky knit sweater. Oy. I can't take the ugly suggestions anymore.
• Beasley gashed his foot open about a week ago. Probably while chasing a rabbit like a maniac. We've had him wearing a boot since to try to stop him from licking it. The boot is off today for the first time, and he's mostly leaving it alone. So that's good news. We were worried it'd need stitches.
• My Audible app stopped playing with my headphones. So lame, since I'm right in the middle of a book. It plays fine from my phone speakers, just not via headphones. And everything else is fine with headphones. I'm blaming the latest upgrade. Dumb.
• It was nice to not have to rush anywhere today. Just regular errands and house cleaning and lawn mowing and screwing around. I like that.
• I keep camera shopping, hoping I'll find it even cheaper somewhere. I don't think I will.
• I'm so happy it's the weekend. Gosh, this feels good.

Made it

Making it to Friday sure seemed like a true feat of strength this week. Fall is always a hard time for me physically, and actually being sick doesn't help matters. I feel like I'm getting better virus-wise, but had such a splitting headache by the middle of last night's football banquet, I could barely see straight. (And of course, 99% of the people split after and didn't even bother to pick up their own messes). And C-man was having serious doubts about himself after the football banquet and wanted to talk 'deep' talk on the ride home. I really appreciate that he opens up like that, and can articulate his feelings so well. I just wish I'd been in a better state of mind to help him out. So we snuggled for a bit and both decided sleep was the better option for us.

But we made it. To November - a month of being sports-free. To the 6th, which is opening night of Spectre (seats J15, 16, and 17 at 7 p.m.). To Friday, which means we have a few days of not thinking about work. To a weekend where my bee equipment, except the extractor, is put away (and I realized I can start 2 more hives with all the crap I've accumulated!) and I can focus on cleaning up other areas that desperately need attention.

My goodness. We made it.

Wordlessly Reading

Ten Things on Tuesday

1. I'm sick, and starting to cough a lot. Ugh.
2. Last night, C-man declared having a night off felt good. I think he overschedules himself so much, he forgets what down time is.
3. Speaking of which, he's signed up for the athletic training after school until wrestling starts.
4. I have our tickets to Spectre for opening night on Friday. Ohmygosh, I cannot wait.
5. In a spare moment, I went through this season's football photos. I took a lot of photos of those 6th graders.
6. I keep saying I'm going to start working out more regularly and haven't. I hate that.
7. The football banquet is Thursday night. It's my last volunteer gig for a bit, which one of the only good things about winter.
8. Someone from the team wanted me to doctor up some photos so she could print them out for the coaches. She's now emailed several times because she can't figure out how to order photos online. Seriously.
9. It's the second thing I've been asked to do for the coaches. Each time, I want to remind people that my husband is a coach. I think people don't think.
10. My hair stylist is going to start coloring hair. Which is great news, because my colorist is moving to Wauwatosa. I cannot drive to Wauwatosa for my hair. I have to draw the line somewhere.

Oh, right.

So Halloween happened. And we all got sick. And now it's Monday. Great.

Weekend wrap-up

Yesterday was the last game of the football season for C-man. He had a pretty great game. He sacked the quarterback and had two tackles for losses. Unfortunately, it was super cold and rainy, and my camera kept focusing on the rain or getting whipped around in circles when the wind gusts took my umbrella. So this is my best photo of the big sack.

But he had fun, despite the weather being utterly miserable out and him still on antibiotics for a sinus infection.

He got to run the ball a couple of times. It's always great to see the improvement over a sports season. At the beginning, he was completely intimidated about being a back. Yet by the end, he was doing it pretty well. (Despite telling me this morning, when they call his play, all he can hear is the thump-thump of his heart until the handoff)

It was another great season, for both my boys. So great, in fact, he's now talking about the public high school as a possible option for him. (His team is the public high school feeder team, even though he's in a Catholic school.)

As for Halloween, I didn't take a single photo of it. We were too cold and wet and drying off between game time and a friend's party. The party where C-man got to trick or treat at night with his football team friends without parents walking alongside them - a first, and a really big deal. (The parents were too busy back at the house with drinks and food.) And I, shockingly, didn't even bother with the camera. I'm feeling completely awful, and it was all I could do just to make it through the party without bailing super early like a giant party pooper. Oh well. C-man wore lounge pants and a robe. I was a gnome. Beerman was a Dutch time traveler. (Don't ask)

And now, Go Pack Go!