So, This Really Happened Today

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This evening, after it had already gotten dark - and this fact is very important to my defense, I asked Fisherhubby to pull into Walgreens so I could pick up some Dramamine to calm my dizzy head.

When I got into Walgreens I was utterly amazed at the remodeling they'd done in there since my last visit no more than a month ago.

They had rearranged the shelves, there were new colorful identification signs hanging from the ceiling, the Pharmacy had been completely redone,  and even the debit/credit card box at the check out was a shiny new model.

I was utterly amazed.

I hopped back in the truck & said to Fisherhubby:  "you won't BELIEVE how much they've remodeled in there.  It looks like a new place."

"I wouldn't know,"  says he, "I've never been in there."

Well, I let that fly right over my head so intent was I on noticing that they had completely revamped the parking lot too.

"Look!" I squealed,  "Walgreen's has completely rebuilt their parking lot too!!!"

Fisherhubby looked at me like I'd lost my mind and said:

"Keetha!!  This is CVS!!!"

I don't believe there's a Dramamine on the planet strong enough to cure me!!!

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So We Had Us a Day!!

Yesterday was Fisherhubby's birthday.  He has been planning his birthday outing since last July.  Ended up he had to work yesterday so the birthday adventure was today.

This is pretty tame stuff to be called an adventure - but we call it that anyway.

We began with brunch at Perkins here in town.  I'm telling ya, they need to ask me to write their menus.  I took an ordinary egg dish & revamped it right before their eyes.  Made it delish.

After brunch Fisherhubby pointed the nose of his new, to him, truck toward Eau Claire.

Along the way, when our morning coffee necessitated a potty stop, we found this particular brand of bottled water.  It is my very fave and we don't find it just everywhere.

SCORE!!

The drive was quite lovely - even though a bit overcast.  We passed fields ripe unto harvest, leaves trading in their greens for more flamboyant hues, and animals doing what animals do.

In one field nine(ish) Sandhill Cranes were forming a perfect pyramid.  That was all it took to launch Fisherhubby into a detailed description of how they must practice their flying formation on the ground to get it just right before they take to the skies for migration.

I didn't believe him, and neither should you for IF Sandhill Cranes practice their formations on land before taking them to the skies, which I sincerely doubt, HE certainly doesn't know about it and was only trying to trap me into one of his fables.

I shall not be trapped,  nor shall you.

Upon arriving in the metropolis of Eau Claire we imbibed in a bit of shopping.

First stop Kohl's for jeans & other accoutrements.

Next Gander Mountain where I spent time in the camping chair department with this for my vista as Mr. B shopped till he nearly dropped.

I met a young lad who wore a crimson Alabama hoodie though he knew not one thing about AJ McCarron, Nick Saban, the elephant,  nor even Roll Tide.

I did my best to edjumacate him, even warning him that his most vile rival was Auburn, to which he replied:  "I just liked the shirt."

I shake my college football loving head in disbelief.

Finally we reached our final destination - Red Lobster.  Fisherhubby dug right into his salad knowing it was a mere precursor to his main event:

 

Two pounds of Alaskan Snow Crab legs.

I look at these and wonder from which perilous seas they were wrought.

But Fisherhubby dissected them with the skill of a surgeon giving not a moment's thought to their procurement.

Too much work.

I preferred the ease of never-ending shrimp with an add-on lobster tail.

It was a veritable feast.  They lost money on me.

With briny hands washed & dried we wended our way home over long and winding roads.

I swear the leaves had gotten more colorful in just one afternoon.

We arrived home none the worse for the wear, Fisherhubby already with visions of next year's birthday adventure dancing in his head

TBT - Throw Back Thursday

I've been out of blogging too long to know if TBT, throw back Thursday, is a meme that is a "thing"  here or not.  I'm gonna make it a "thing" today anyway.

On the last Thursday in May Fisherhubby and I set out on a wee adventure - the end goal of which was a new fishing pole for one of us.

It was a gorgeous sunny day as we drove through the heart of Wisconsin Dairyland.

We succumbed to the temptation to stop at roadside venues like this - and purchased a log cabin bird feeder for our back yard.


 

We even pulled into the Wisconsin Concrete Park where we moseyed amongst the whimsical creations and the gift shop.

We had barely been back in the car when disaster, in the form of another car suddenly crossing our path, struck.

I only had time to think "so this is what death is" before the soundless slow motion grinding of impact occured.  

Somehow both of us survived - death was cheated that day.

Fisherhubby was able to walk away unscathed but for a pinprick on his thumb.  I, on the other hand, had to be cut from the car by the jaws of life and ambulanced to the ER.

The force of the impact was enough to bend my zipper pull into this L.

Fisherhubby wants me to throw those capris away - but I have chosen to keep them as a reminder of God's grace and protection.

We are grateful.

Obviously my shiny red Durango was totalled and had to be replaced.

After our ordeal my number one requirement for the replacement: a substantial front end.  I don’t see how anyone driving a small compact car could survive that impact.

We shopped locally and found this cute Buick Rendezvous - new only to us.  I am very happy driving it.

Of course Fisherhubby could not STAND driving his old rusty bucket of nails truck with me having a new(ish) car.  Within a month he upgraded to this Ram.

As luck would have it, our life jarring wreck occured just minutes from the fishing pole factory destination, the ER to which I was transported a mere three miles away.

However,  Fisherhubby has yet to get that fishing pole.

Big Heart

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We received this check in the mail the other day.

Being the big hearted kind of person that I am, I told Fisherhubby he could get it cashed & keep it.

I'm not at all sure why he wasn't more grateful..

That skunk.

If Wishes Were Horses Then Beggers Would Ride

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 I really wish I could give this story a different ending.

On the 4th of July I went to a big family picnic at my cousin Chuck's (on the left)  farm.  Lots of once-removed, second, and shirt-tail cousins were there.   I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting & even meeting cousins I'd never met before.

Just before I left to drive the hour and a half home my cousin Bud appeared.  (center)  Bud & I had met as kids but I hadn't seen him since high school.

We quickly caught up.  He told me he had stumbled across my blog & had gone all the way through the archives reading it.  He said he wished I'd make more posts.

I  begged him to let me take this picture, he consented only on the condition that I not put it on my blog.  Then we promised to get our families together again soon & said good-bye.

Last week Cousin Loretta (right) phoned to tell me that Bud's wife came home on September second and found him lying in the yard - dead.

Oh Bud, how I wish I could undo this.  How I wish we could roll the clock back and meet for dinner like we promised we would.  You left us too soon. .

I also hope when you look down from Heaven, where I have no doubt you are, you will forgive me for posting your picture and story.

At Bud's visitation I was able to reconnect with these second cousins (siblings with their mom) whom I have not seen for years.

And I also got to visit with Second Cousin Mary Jo whom I met for the first time on July 4th.

I think the moral of this tale is - don't waste time.  Make time to embrace those whom you love.  Cherish time spent with them.

Because I'd rather be a begger walking than a bunch of wishes riding.