Are You Ready For Some FOOTBALL!?!

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College Football.

I'm just a leeeeetle bit excited about this:



And he's coming to OUR HOUSE this fall.

"We ready!!"

My smile is spreading ear to ear.

PS - - - - of COURSE by "our house" I mean Camp Randall Stadium and NOT my personal residence. Although, if he'd come to my personal residence I'd most CERTAINLY invite him.

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Badger QB News

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Russell Wilson, former QB of the Wolfpack, is trading his NC State red and whites in for better colors - - - BADGER red and whites!!!

And THIS Badger Backer couldn't be happier.

Welcome to Big Ten Football at its FINEST, Russell!!!

Photo by Chuck Liddy

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Sunday Favorites - Origins

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Today is Sunday again, and you know what THAT means!?! It's time for "Sunday Favorites"!!!

Sunday Favorites are RERUNS, not current posts - - - if you want to participate, just repost something you previously posted "back in the day."

Thanks so much to Chari over at Happy to Design for hosting this meme. You may click on the link to find the rules and see more favorite posts.

Today I'm reposting an excerpt from the trip my dad, sister, and I made to Wisconsin to inter our mom and retrace our roots.

Birth Place
(first posted on 9/03/08)

On my birth certificate it says:

City: Shell Lake

County: Washburn

State: Wisconsin

In my heart:
Childhood memories of picnics in this lakeside park.

Images of this sandy beach - - -

Etched forever in my mind.

Calling me to kick off my shoes and - - -

Wade in the water.

Sister Pam, standing on the shore of Shell Lake - - -

On a warm September morning.

Just look who decided to join us.
Well, actually, I guess we joined them.

No life guard today.

And a stone's throw away - - - this tiny hospital. The newer, larger, improved version of the one in which both Pam and I were born.

And as we got in the car to drive away, dad suddenly nearly jumped out of the moving car in his haste to catch these folk:


Kenny and his daughter Darla who attended our church all those many years ago. What a delightful surprise to find them here.

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White Pine Silhouettes In My City

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You can't help but notice them in the afternoon sun.

If you pause beneath one or two

You will catch their pungent, acrid, Christmas aroma.

They tower over roofs and other trees.

Their shlhouettes are jagged against the sky.

Everywhere I go, I look for them.

Sentinels over my world.

They are majestic Eastern White Pines

They are all over my city and my state
And I love them.


Thanks to Unknown Mami for hosting
"Sundays in My City"
To which I am linking this post.
My City is Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

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Here It Comes!!!

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With TWO more visits to my blog,
My sitemeter will hit:

111,111!!

It will be a LONG time
And a LOT of visits
Before we get to:

222,222.

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It's Friday and I'm Definitely Fragmented

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I find I have absolutely NOTHING of substance (well, do I ever?) about which to blog, so fragments sound really good about now.

* * * * * * *

Fisherhubby has gone north of the border to participate in his obsession. I often think that if I were cold, green, and scaly he'd love me much more.

* * * * * * *

Remember the old movie, "A River Runs Through It?" Well - - - I should have been filming my OWN version of that the last couple of days in our BASEMENT.

Fortunately, I stemmed the tide before it did any permanent damage.

* * * * * * *

Why oh why do neighbors with a pool think ALL OF US want to hear their music???? I imagine even Fisherhubby can hear it up there in Canada.

* * * * * * *

"Here comes the sun, here comes the sun!!!"

After what feels like days and days of gray rainy skies, I'm LOVING me some sunshine.. .

* * * * * * *

And finally, I REALIZE I'm getting my fragments into the party really really late. I do hope this is one of those "better late than never" scenarios.

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Please head on over to Mrs. 4444's place
And check out all the Friday Fragments.

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Hear Ye Hear Ye - - -

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Borris tells his "tail" of woe here.

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Just Like the Energizer Bunny, He's Still Going

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I've been rather absent from blogland this week, oh but PLEASE don't desert me now - - - I'll try to amend my ways. Just hit a little busy spell.

Fisherhubby has been at it again - - - or possibly I SHOULD say he is at it STILL.

The other day he said, "You aren't very observant, Keetha." and that was the only clue he would give me.

In my defense, I HAD been gone to camp for a week.

Anyway, knowing FH's propensity for tricks, I began looking around in earnest trying to find out what in the WORLD he had done THIS time.

Beauregarde Bearski was in his regular place AND wearing his scarf. Hmmmmmm what has that man done to me now?


Then I spied poor little Brunhilda all alone at 101 South Kitchen Table Way.

Where in the WORLD did that man I married put Borris, and WHY did he leave no ransom note?

FH would give me no clues, so I had to send out the search and rescue team, who were able to locate Borris after a frantic grid search.


He was down inside Cookie Jarbear.


Not to fear, I rescued him and he is back where he belongs with his beloved Brunhilda at 101 South Kitchen Table Way.

For a FEW days we are all safe from Fisherhubby's antics - - - he's been shipped off to Canada in search of those cold, wet, slimy, scaly green things for which he is named.

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Kids Camp in My City

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Well, Kids Camp in my STATE anyway.

I spent last week being a counselor in a cabin of ten girls at Kids Camp.


Welcome to Assembly Park Bible Camp on the shores of Lake Minnesuing. Such a pretty little spot buried deep in the northwoods of Wisconsin.


The camp office and chapel basking in the warm sunshine. This warm sunshine appeared about an hour before we headed home on Friday.


Picturesque cottage just above the shore.


Campers enjoying a frolic in the barely thawed lake water. This old counselor didn't frolic. Tuesday there was a little sun and the temperatures hovered around 70.

That didn't last.

Here's what we had outside our cabin door ALL DAY LONG on Wednesday:


Jemima Puddle Duck would have LOVED this.


And did I happen to mention in my "whining" long-title-post on Wednesday that the high temperature for the day was 54? Well, just in case I didn't - - - the HIGH temperature on Wednesday was 54.


Many of the hardy "penguins" at camp swam and played out in the cold, cold rain.

Not THIS chick. I curled up inside, as much as I could, and TRIED to stay warm. I found it very difficult to get warm with soaking wet socks and dripping jean hems.

Here's what some of the (anonymous) "penguins" did after they came in out of the cold, cold rain:


Burrowed under their sleeping bags trying to thaw their blood - - - mess optional.


Sat on their bunks reading - - - dripping bathing suit over head optional.


Made themselves cozy sleeping bag hide-aways - - - wet towel trim optional.


Stood around in their wet jeans, shoes, sweat shirts,


Jackets and hoodies - - - shivering mandatory!

Thanks to Unknown Mami for hosting
"Sundays in My City"
To which I am linking this post
Featured today is the northwoods of Wisconsin

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Wherein We Break Free From Long Title Posts

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I'm back home where I can return to my regularly scheduled blogging program.

That means, no more long title, pictureless, posts.

At least until the spirit moves and I decide to do another one. I'm thinking of starting a linky party of nothing but long title posts - - - would YOU play??

Keetha and Pam

Only this isn't SISTER PAM.

This is Pam-who-was-10-when-I-was-5-Pam.

Pam worked in the serving line in the dining hall at camp. On the very first lunch she heard someone say my name. She turned to Julie, who was serving beside her and who I've known for a long time, and said, "Keetha? I've only ever known ONE Keetha and she was our pastor's daughter when I was a little girl."

Julie, knowing I had grown up in Wisconsin and that my dad was a pastor said, "You better ask her, that may well be she!"

And so - - - THIS Pam and Keetha were reunited after 52 years!!!!

How fun is THAT?

"First and Second Mark"
Or so they dubbed themselves.

First Mark is a pastor from Superior, Wisconsin, who runs the snack shop at camp.

Second Mark is really Marcus, but they put the wrong name on his name tag. He came to camp with me to be a counselor.

Not sure why they are looking skyward - - - trying to look holy I guess.


This building housed the snack shop on the left end of the picture with my cabin being the next door to the right.

Invariably, when I was returning to the cabin - - - especially in the middle of the night after a PR (potty run) - - - I would try to enter the locked snack shop door.

So - - - First Mark put a sign on the door just for me.

Here, let me give you a closer look:


So helpful, that First Mark.

More camp news and views tomorrow for Sunday in My City.

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Last camp title post. CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!! I'm all packed & ready to go in my camp tie-dyed shirt lookin' just like a dead head - in every concievable way!

WE'VE GOT SUNSHINE!!!!

So today they determined which cabin got to go to lunch first by making the counselors race for it. As in RUNNING. If you knew me in person you'd already be laughing hysterically - so yah, I was last. Good thing there was plenty of chicken and REAL mashed potatoes to go around or my campers may have court martialed me. No rain today, no heat or sun either. ttfn

I "ain't" complainin', just tellin' it like it is. Bet BIL Joe wishes he were here. ttfn

54 degrees with steady rain. My tennies and jean hems are soggy. I'm cold. My girls are still swimmin' in the lake 'cause they are 3/4 penguin. I need to pee, but I don't want to leave my warm bed and swim to the potty house. They frown on using the trash can for bodily functions

Wednesday Words - Continue to be unable to post anything but titles. Cool with possible drizzle today. All my campers are from the same town and are beginning to get along (or NOT) like siblings. Like true residents of the Frozen Tundra they submerge their little bodies in the barely thawed waters of Lake Minnesuing. This old gal won't even dip in her toes. More later.

Hypothetically speaking - - - when you stop at a McD's for breakfast in Osseo Wisconsin it may cost you $30 to get your car opened by a towing company beause the police no longer do it for free in Wisconsin. Hypothetically - - - just sayin'

Tuesday Talk in titles only. Don't ask. 10 campers in cabin with me. Good food. One camper sleep-jumped out of her top bunk in the middle of the night, wanting to "go back to her cabin for a sweat shirt," no memory of the incident this AM. The counselor snores. More later

By the Time You Read This I'll Be On My Way - - -

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I HOPE.

I'm Leaving at 5:30 AM.

Goin' to Kids Camp.

For a whole week.

To be a counselor.

Uh - - - for the last upteen thousand and fifty years I've worked camps - - - as the head counselor or the speaker. I think this "back in the trenches" thing may wear me out. We'll see.

While I'm away, I'll have my new little droid toy with me so I can READ your blogs, your e-mails and your comments on my blog. (Did you see how I snuck that hint to comment on my blog right in there!? I'm tricky like that.)

Maybe just maybe I'll have time to post some words on my blog as well.

We'll see.

Don't worry - - - I am not gone forever, so please don't forget me.


While I'm away you can sleep easy knowing that Grandson Mackinley is "on the job" protecting us from the forces of evil that are loose on our planet.

He no longer needs his helmet and his blue death-ray sword because he's learned to conquer the foe while only using his magic thrashing twigs.

So - - - rest easy - - - all's right with the world - - - well, figuratively speaking - - - and I'll be back Friday evening.

ttfn

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"Community" in My City

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I spent the bulk of Thursday this week volunteering at an outdoor community fundraiser.


Don't'cha know it was the COLDEST day since the day we had nine inches of snow back in May. It was cold enough that I sat huddled under a blanket for most of the time. It was so cold it gave a whole new meaning to the term "cold cash." (I was collecting and organizing the money.)


The event was a brat fry.

Oh, we had hot dogs and hamburgers too, but the STARS of the show were the brats. They were mouth-watering good!

Wisconsin is all about brats.

Brat is the shortened form of bratwurst. Brats are fat, succulent, German sausages that are "to die for yummy" when grilled.

Brats are the soul food of Wisconsin. ( I didn't make that up - - - I'm not smart enough. I FOUND it over on bratwurst pages dot com.)


Our brat fry was a fundraiser for National Night Out, which will be held in our church parking lot on August 2, 2011.

National Night Out is a national (DUH) event designed to strengthen neighborhoods by engaging in stronger relationships within the community and with local law enforcement.

Here in Wisconsin Rapids, our church partners with law enforcement to sponsor a huge community "block party" complete with emergency vehicle displays, creation of free safe-assured IDs for kids and a potluck dinner on the grounds.

So, grab your lawn chair, a covered dish, and join us!


Since the brat fry was for a community event, two of the players from our Northwoods League baseball team, The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, came to help "drive" in business.

Meet Jordan and Nestor. What great young men.

Jordan is from the DC area and Nestor hails from New York City. Both are using their summer, between two years of college, to play ball. Jordan will be a Junior, possibly at William and Mary, next fall. Nestor will be a sophomore at Ball State, where our own College-Boy son Kyle will be a senior.

No - - - Kyle and Nestor don't know each other, I asked - - - even though Ball State is a BIG place and I knew the chances were slim to nothing.


The team mascot, Rosco P. Rafter came along too.

Unlike Mike Wilbon, I LOVE mascots. Rosco is hands (paws?) down the cutest and most fun River Rat I've ever met.



Take a peek at him in action.

Of course I had to pose with the Rafters. Rosco gave me rat ears.

It was a great day for a little "community" in my community.

Thanks to Unknown Mami for hosting
"Sundays in My City"
To which I am linking this post
My city is Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Photo Credit: Brats from grilldecency.com

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