Quiet moments

This weekend, I went for a walk in my favorite local park. I went for quite a few walks, actually, just to get out of the house away from the sickies. (Beerman's home today, miserably huddled under blankets, a clear reminder why I'm glad I don't have tonsils anymore! But C-man was good enough to get on the bus with his Superbowl football to show off for "S" day.) And while Harry was flying around the park, literally diving under the snow drifts to come out on the other side looking like a small Yeti, I was really, really happy in the incredible quiet.

The snow was dropping in great big giant snowflakes. Nobody had been in the park since it'd started snowing, and the animals had obviously hunkered down until it let up. The insulated quiet around me was so calm and peaceful, and the enormous flakes falling on my face were fantastic.

I'm more than ready for it to be spring. To see the trees bud out and the tulips spring from the ground. I'm ready to see and feel the sun on my face. But until then, it's good to know there's still joy to be had in the winter, too.

Weekend life

Beerman has strep, C-man has a green nose, and Harry and I have been making as many park stops as we can. The snow has been so deep, that yesterday we were true trailblazers along the lake, stopping only to de-ice a paw or two until it got dark. But now, I'm off to disinfect the house. I live such a glamorous life...

Snow globe

We're living inside a snow globe. Which is incredibly pretty, except I'm stuck inside with a sick kid and a sicker husband. The child is whining and crying because the dinner he asked for 5 minutes ago somehow became something he doesn't want to eat once I handed it to him. And the husband refuses to sleep anywhere but on the couch, so there's nowhere to go without hearing him honk and snore. I can't even do the puzzle in the newspaper, because our carrier only feels like delivering it to us once every 3 days lately. And did I mention I'm still feeling like garbage? And that my brand spanking new dishwasher sounds like a Mack truck rumbling through the house?

Grrr.

I'm ornery. Time to book a massage tomorrow.

Day off

C-man had the day off school. He has a day a month like this. I don't totally understand why, but I'm sure it's some records thing for the teachers. Anyhow, it was my month to be home with him.

Since I was going to be home, I scheduled the new dishwasher to be installed today, and was going to post a photo to show the new beauty. But alas, it was installed, and doesn't quite work right. (I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to rumble and squeak while running - that's why we got a new one in the first place!) Which really sucks. The good news is I called the installation guy and told him it made a rumbling noise, and he called back and said they ordered me a brand new one to be reinstalled on the 3rd. So at least I give GE an A+ on that piece - they didn't make the repair guy come out and see what was up. (American TV and Appliance could take a couple of notes!) Then again, maybe this has happened before, which could be troublesome. But that's a long story to tell you I still have a crap dishwasher.

To celebrate, C-man and I decided to take to the sledding hill. We had loads of fun until 2 little girls showed up and one kept dropping her sled down the hill. C-man was sweet and went to get it 4 times. On the 5th time, after she dropped our sled that I'd given her to be able to go retrieve her own sled too, I told him he didn't need to go again. Because I'm pretty sure at that point the little "sweetheart" was doing it on purpose because she thought it was funny.

Not letting any of it ruin our mood, we went down again and again and again. The sun is shining, it's 35 degrees, and the hill was fast. And somehow, I managed to not break my butt. It doesn't get much better than that.

Thursday thirteen things I think you should be doing

1. Learning how to use your camera out of auto mode. I don't care if you only have a point and shoot and aren't a professional photographer. Having it in auto and using a flash when you're in a giant room is not okay. Plus, you get crap photos.
2. Answering some daily questions over at That's My Answer during your morning coffee. It's a sweet group of people, the questions are eclectic and fun, and what else are you doing over your coffee in the morning?
3. Buying yourself some fresh flowers to put on your end table. Trust me, it definitely makes the gloomy day a lot brighter.
4. Planning one of your vacations for the year. We just got word that our trip to Chile is much more of a possibility to actually happen in September. Hot damn!
5. Learning or brushing up on another language. There are all kinds of audio versions in the library, so you don't even have to spend any money on it. I'm going to be brushing up on my Spanish again. (See #4)
6. Purging your closet of stuff you haven't worn all winter. Spring's coming, after all, so who wants to pack away stuff you don't wear anyhow? I just got rid of 50 items out of my closet and feel way better.
7. Singing at the top of your lungs in your car. C-man and I do it on the way home from school every day, and it's a ton of fun.
8. Donating to a local food pantry or shelter. (I suggest this one if you're in Milwaukee.) This winter in Milwaukee, there have been 34 nights of emergency shelters. (That means it's been less than 10 degrees, so those who aren't typically overnight shelters get to become them for the night). As a result, they're desperately low on food.
9. Checking out Salt. (No, not her.) It's a Christian, faith-based site, but don't let that put you off if that's not totally your thing. It's really much more about spirituality through art and music.and they write beautiful posts about daily life stuff.
10. Sledding down a hill, screaming your foolish head off the whole way. While it doesn't necessarily do the body good, it sure helps the soul.
11. Exercising until you sweat. I don't like working out. Although I do really like yoga. (I'm still working on finding a place close to home with classes I like that aren't at 10 a.m. on a weekday.) But let's face it, how many times do we have to be told that our bodies need to move more before we believe it?
12. Watching Modern Family. I really think it is the funniest show out there right now.
13. Playing Words With Friends. I can't help it, I'm an addict and could use some more friends to play with me.
    

Wordless Wednesday: A trip to Hogwarts

 

 

I need a drink

What once was a cool protest about what is or is not a right has turned into crap from both sides.

No, Rachel Maddow, Wisconsin does not have a budget surplus. Your numbers are based on the next 2-year budget, of which this is not affecting. And all those of you quoting her - bah!

And no, this is not about balancing a budget, but about Governor Walker making good on his promises to those who financed his campaign. Those of you behind his positions without even knowing who the Koch brothers even are and what role they play in this state's government - bah!

It's not cowardly or weenie or wimpy of the left to flee the state. It's the state version of a filibuster. For the record, I don't like federal filibusters either. I think they are dumb and wasteful and often just delaying the inevitable. But they're a part of our democratic system. Just like the ability to push through votes while they're absent.

I've worked for unions, I've helped organize unions, I work for an anti-union company and help them stay that way. I get both sides. Really, I do.

But all this back and forth, sigh... It makes me tired. And want to drink.

In the end, what makes me the saddest are those arguing "I have had my wages or benefits cut, so they should too." Because they need to look up the word Shadenfreude and think about what is they're really saying to the world when they take that position.

Snowful

The heavy wet snow makes for a beautiful sight out my window.

Legal documents

just in case the current political climate gets too crazy, we can all make a run for the border, eh!

Best gifts

As I was getting ready to go to C-man's martial arts class, he came running into the room to hand me this. It might have been one of the best things I'd ever been given.

Duck parade

 

This past week I was in Orlando for work. I had the pleasure of staying at the Peabody. At 11 and 5, the famous ducks do their parade in and out of their fountain.

I skipped out of a session to watch the Grand Duckmaster parade the ducks along their red carpet, and of course, take some photos of them.

Being a duck isn't always such a bad thing.

Done Tripping

I'm home again. And while it was sunny and gorgeous in Florida, and home is gray, foggy and in the 40s, I'm really, really happy to be back. Because it was still work, and airports are still airports. And home is where I get to hug my husband and little boy and have my dog sleep right next to me because he missed me too.

Patient Saint

I'm still in Orlando in the sun, but will leave you with my favorite garden statue who is patiently awaiting spring.

75 and sunny

As I'm lounging by the pool in the bright shining sun, I'm hating Orlando just a tiny bit less.

Love Day

From ours to yours, Happy Valentines Day!

Half-Full

I believe whether we are natural optimists or pessimists is mostly a result of our personality. But I firmly believe whether we see the world as half-full or half-empty is ultimately our own choice. It's something I've thought a lot about lately, in particular as I see people deal with the events of their lives. I'm not a half-full girl by nature. But as I watch those who move, sometimes trudge even, toward the only possible direction, which is forward, I am truly inspired. There are so many things around us that are so unimportant. That's why I think at the end of the day it's mostly about recognizing the few that really are and focusing on them.

An early love day

In case you hadn't looked at your calendar, Valentines Day is Monday. The same day I'll be on a plane flying to hell Orlando. So in lieu of the actual day, we're celebrating today. And I came home from my workout (after only 40 minutes because I was super dizzy and ill - apparently just being fever-free isn't the same as being well) to receive 2 dozen roses - one set from C-man (in orange, of course) and the other in deep red from Beerman.

I don't care what people say about Valentines Day and its Hallmark made-upishness. Getting roses is awesome. And having 2 men in my life I love is even more so.

TGIF

I'm still feeling achy and shaky today, but don't have a fever. Yet. And my vision is back to normal, which is highly positive. So I'm working from home again today and can't stop singing one of C-man's songs that he made up... "Little Whaley Guy, Little Whaley Dude..." (Because it's too much work to embed right now, it goes to the tune of: F#, F#, G, F#, high C, F#, F#, G, F#, E - eighth, eighth, quarter, quarter, half; eighth, eighth, quarter, quarter, half) I'm always bad with the earworms, but know I'm sick when I can't get something out of my head.

So here's to making it through the week! I'm raising my glass of Alka-Seltzer on my end. Raise whatever you've got on your side of the screen.

It's dang cold

I feel like I've crawled back from the other side of the River Styx. Yesterday, I was running a 101. I barely moved from the couch, shivering under 3 blankets, woken up only by one phone call (Beerman making sure I was alive) and the dog walker (who must think I'm the laziest thing ever, having the dog walker come to walk my dog when I'm home). And even then, my only movement from the couch was to insert Wall Street into the DVD player. Thankfully, the fever broke later in the afternoon. But I feel totally drained today. Thankfully, I have non-stop meetings today, which means I have to think very little, and just manage a nod now and then to make it look like I'm "leveraging my skills" and "partnering with others".

And, of course it's "freaking cold" as my 5 year old put it. (Yeah, we put a stop to THAT saying pretty quickly, but only after I managed to suppress a snicker.) Warmer days are coming, I just know it. And if not, the polar bears can vacation here, because there is no ice melting!

Wordless Wednesday: 2 new additions