Choices

I can either take a nap or blog.

So sorry mes blogging amis but nappy time is winning.

All In a 9 Hour Day AKA Seen Along the Way

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Today Fisherhubby and I made a 7 and a half hour trip in 9 hours.

Yes, we are just "good" like that, able to take twice as long to do something as normal people would need.

This is a pictorial saga of our day.  Come along and ride with us.
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First things first.

Before anything else went in the luggage hatch, Fisherhubby made SURE his fishing gear was stowed away.

Can you imagine how I LOVE riding along with fishing poles poking me in the ear?   Well, imagine away.

Anywhere we go, the fishing gear goes with us.  This trip he's MAYBE going to use it for most of Friday when he fishes with his buddy Mark.  Of course Mark also has TONS of fishing gear, but I guess SHARING that gear simply isn't "done" by REAL fishermen, so this stuff goes with us wherever we go.
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Fortunately Fisherhubby DID save room for "less" important things - - - like our luggage.

By 7:30 this morning we were off and running.  

AND, after circling back home once to get the back pack FH forgot (yes, on top of all that OTHER gear he simply HAD to have his back pack too) and one stop at the ATM we were on the road again..
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About an hour from home we stopped at a Micky-D's for some breakfast and coffee in this quaint and cute little berg.

I must here confess that I took a little extra time talking to some locals (who me???  TALK??) and getting closer to that awesome Lutheran church in the background to snap a closer-up of it.

In retrospect - - - I MAY have saved us 10 minutes or so of a long grueling day had I curbed my tongue and spared my camera clicking finger.
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A few minutes later I snapped this photo of the "adult male maximum security prison" in Portage, Wisconsin on the fly-by.

It's a very interesting, even pretty, place to have housed some horrific criminals not the LEAST of which was Jeffrey Dahmer.

A little later in the trip, this prison spurred a "google and discuss" session of Wisconsin Serial Killers - - - and we have some doozies, folks.  At Halloween we have no need of fictitious ghosts stories, we have had some real live ghouls of our own.  

GB, also known on this blog as Fisherhubby, has a morbid fascination with the subject.  Today our "investigations" covered:

Ed Gein
Jeffrey Dahmer
David Spanbaur

If you don't know about these men, google away if you've the stomach for it.
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Next we hustled past Madison, our state Capitol - - - and I do mean we hustled.

I was hoping to capture the Capitol dome on the skyline, but for some odd reason Fisherhubby frowned on the idea of slowing down in the Mad Town traffic on I-90, I know not why.  ;-)

Needless to say, because of our haste, the dome slipped behind something in every shot I attempted.

So - - - just imagine it back there on the skyline, will ya??
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About that time Fisherhubby needed a "pause that refreshes." 

I TRIED  to talk him into waiting until the Belvidere Plaza (where we had to stop to switch drivers so I would drive through Chicago) and thereby save one stop - - - really I did - - - but alas and alack, his eyeballs were floatin' from the coffee he'd been drinking.

This stop also probably added another unnecessary 10 minutes to our trip.

Let me clarify - - - unnecessary to those of us whose eyeballs could go another hour or so before they floated. 
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Upon leaving the rest stop, I espied this formerly famous I-90 landmark.

The orange pumpkin now lying on the ground like a fractured Humpty Dumpty used to adorn the silo for years and years.

However, when two successive storms turned it into a "smashing pumpkin" the owners stopped repairing it.

I miss that pumpkin!!
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As we traveled along I marveled at the beauty of the morning sun shining on the now quickly greening Wisconsin landscape.

This was not the prettiest vista through which we traversed, but it is the one I captured.
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And then, just like that, we were in Illinois - - - the land of Lincoln, toll roads, and
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Highway construction.

I snapped this photo from the window of the Belvidere Plaza, looking down at the portion of I-90 we had just traversed.  I thought at the time how "lucky" we were that the traffic hadn't been backed up by that roadwork.

I thought too soon.
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As luck, or fate, would have it we pulled into the Belvidere Plaza just as these two buses were discharging their loads of "age challenged" folks for a wee bathroom break.

I rushed into the plaza and all the way to the other end where there were no long Ladies' Room lines.

Then, by some freak accident (like I was probably looking down at my phone texting) I saw FH go INTO the Men's Room, but not come out.

I sat and texted away happily for perhaps 10 more wasted minutes before I realized I had missed him and he was back in the car waiting for me.

Sigh.  30 minutes of our trip already wasted in a wanton manner and the worst was yet to come.
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No sooner did I take over the driving duties than the Illinois scenery began to look like this.   Road construction on our right, traffic before, traffic to the left, and
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Traffic behind.

All of it STOPPED.

Let us digress a moment:  
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Is it really  necessary to have a "slow" traffic sign flag lady in the median when traffic is at a dead standstill???

DEAD STANDSTILL???

Don't you worry about me being unsafe snapping away with my camera in all that traffic.

DEAD STANDSTILL.  

Not too dangerous to snap photos from a DEAD STANDSTILL.

And this is where the OTHER hour was wasted on our trip.  That's how long it took us to go 10 or 15 miles until we came to the place where they had narrowed ALL the traffic down to one skinny lane.

Really????

Chicago traffic down to one lane?  What were they thinkin'???   Oh yah, THEY WEREN'T!!!

Fortunately once we got through the block or two of SINGLE LANE traffic, things picked right up - - -
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And before we knew it we were in Indiana and making one last stop at this oasis for a potty break and to get a little petrol, as the Brits might say.

With nary another pause or delay we were off and running on the last leg of our trip, arriving in our former home town of Marion by 5:30 Indiana time.

What we will do with the rest of our time in Indiana may (or may not) be the subject of subsequent blog posts.

Although I really think there will be more posts, 'cause why would I want to waste all this good bloggy fodder?

And now, my head really needs to hit the pillow.

If only I'll be able to sleep as well as the snores coming from FH indicate that HE is sleeping - - - what with his snores and the sounds of many baseball players feet, which said baseball players are sharing this hotel with us tonight afore they play in a tourney tomorrow - - - it is NOT a sure thing that I will, be able to sleep the deep sleep of a snorer.

TTFN
  

Spring Arrives With a Vengeance in My City

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Last Sunday it snowed 

ALL

DAY

LONG

Up here on the frozen tundra.
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But this week warmer temperatures rolled in.  We broke 60 and then 70 for the first time since way, way, way back last fall.

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The snow which blanketed our ground since late December has been slowly melting away. All that's left to remind us of it are the snow mountains on the edges of parking lots.

The largest of these may linger on into early June - - - but they are shrinking fast now.
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The ice is gone from the lakes.  

The fishing shanties were brought onto solid ground back in March.

Fisherhubby and his ilk have been forced to fish from the shore from whence FH has been catching walleye like crazy.  Next weekend lake fishing season begins and they will return to the water in their boats. 
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Suddenly tree branches are swelling with buds of new life - - -
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Some more than others.
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Children are playing in their yards like bear cubs emerging from hibernation.  I've seen t-shirts, shorts, flip flops and even bare feet.

(This child, our grandson Mackinley, is actually in Indiana - thus the advanced signs of spring behind him.)
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Fisherhubby pulled his boat off of a formerly snow covered lot, and began readying it to set sail.
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And I ventured forth to church this morning for the FIRST time this spring in my flip flops.

Yep - - - Spring has arrived with a vengeance on the Frozen Tundra and in my city.
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I'm joining Unknown Mami

For Sundays in My City.
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My city is Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
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Please hurry over to Unknown Mami's to see

What's happening in other cities around blogland.
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Lovin' Me Some Fraggin' Wagon!

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It is indubitably my FAVORITE bloggy party of the week - - - Fraggin' Wagon Time!

On Fridays Mrs. 4444 invites us to hitch our weekly frags to her wagon.  If you've never joined in the fun, consider doing so this week.
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Tonight (Thursday 4/25) our friends Bill and Eloise joined us at Lake Aire Supper Club for the 

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Steak and Lobster special.

Good friends, great food, lots of laughs, and the first round of the NFL Draft - - - WHAT COULD BE BETTER???

I think I died and went to sports/food/friends-aholic heaven.

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* * * * * * * * * * * *

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Very, very soon this cutest EVER little "bad" fairy will be fluttering around Maleficent in "Sleeping Beauty."
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This will be Pipe's first EVER full ballet recital and her Kamma and Papoo will be right there in the audience cheering her on.
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* * * * * * * * * * * *  

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Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Little "Bad Fairy's" brother Mackinley is participating in "Bad Hair Day" at school.

Oh that MY bad hair days were this cute!!!

Can I get a witness???
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* * * * * * * * * * * * 

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This week we had out-of-state guests for two nights.  They stayed in our basement bungalow "honeymoon" suite and used my beloved FBC - Football Cave.

This is how ONE of them "defaced" my Badger Fans ONLY sign.
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And here's how I feel about the Wolverines.

The perpetrator of said crime shall receive these shreds back with an "On Wisconsin" sign taped to his front door in the very near future.

Then I shall RUN out of his neighborhood and back to Wisconsin where it will be a LONG time before he can "get" me back!
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* * * * * * * * * * * * 

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Fisherhubby had a meeting at the hospital this morning at 7:30 A of M.

At 7:07 A of M he was moving about the house clicking his lighter and whistling Chickadee bird calls - - - just 'cause.

What was that man thinking?  I was TRYING to sleep.

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* * * * * * * * * * * * 

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This is Sister Pam on her way out to do "good" for some Gulf Coast beach.   She and hubby Joe do this form of beach combing once a week.  They're just "righteous" volunteers like that.

Yes they live in South Florida, near Marco Island, for all of you who covet living in that clime.
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* * * * * * * * * * * * 

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And here is BIL Joe soaking up the rays on the beach, texting me this picture to try to make me jealous.

It didn't work - - - I live right in my FAVORITE place in the whole wide world, Wisconsin.  I wouldn't trade my 4 seasons for his monotone climate for all the gold in South Africa.

I know NOT why he appears to be picking his nose.
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Someone you know and love(?) from this blog started a twitter account today @KeethaB

Look for this avatar to see if she's tweeted someone near you.

Oh my - - - first a smart phone, then texting, and now this.

Not too bad for an old fossil dinosaur!!
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Number 1 daughter Keri pexted (that's what I call a picture text) me this gorgeous photo of a Hoosier sky and barn this week.

Isn't it a dandy?
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Youngest daughter, Korie, was watching some old videos this week.  She paused her TV, snapped this shot of Number 1 Daughter and me, and pexted it to me.

Happy faces.

Happy times.

Happy memories.
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When our guests were here from Indiana this week, Fisherhubby did his dead level best to turn Mark into a cheesehead.

It didn't work, but made for a fun photo shoot anyway.

Mark is the "Go Michigan" perpetrator.

He will get his back, I can surely promise you that!
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* * * * * * * * * * * * 

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That's all the frags I've got to
 Hitch to the wagon this week.
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Please hurry over to Mrs. 4444's place

Where you will see LOTS of other frags
Hitched to her wagon.

Why not hitch up some of your own
And join this fraggin party!?

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Village People in My City

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My friend Eloise, (pronounced E-Lois) has a cute little village of houses above a couple of door frames in her home.

I always admired them, and dare I say it, maybe even coveted them.

One day while at a yard sale, Eloise spied another set of the same type of houses.  She promptly bought them and presented them to me as a gift.
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Now I too have a village above the door frames on one side of the main living area of our home.
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About a year later a couple of little wooden houses came through the Shepherd's Loft where I volunteer.  I held them in my hands and thought about taking them home for my village.  They were, however, a much more country design and ultimately I decided they wouldn't blend with my village and didn't bring them home.
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A few weeks later a lady came into the Loft and picked up the two little country houses.  She had them in her hands ready to put them in her shopping cart when I passed by.

As encouragement to her I said:  "Aren't those cute? I noticed those too and thought they were really cute."

She turned and thrust them into my hands saying, "Then you take them.  I don't need them and I want YOU to have them."

I could tell she was trying to give me a gift and that it would be unkindness itself to refuse.  So I thanked her and took the houses home where I put them above the door on the opposite side of the main room.

I thought - I have the village people on one side and the country cousins on the other.
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Now for the REST of the story:

The next time my very professional mother-daughter cleaning duo came over they spied the country cousins and began to giggle.

Seems Mary, the mom of the duo, had donated those to the Loft.  At one point in their history she and Sara, the daughter of the duo, had repainted the houses into their current burgundy and green color scheme so there was no doubt whatsoever in their minds that these were indeed the same houses.

And to make this even better, Mary and I have been friends since she was a little girl.

I couldn't make this stuff up.
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I'm joining Unknown Mami

For Sundays in My City.
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My city is Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
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Please hurry over to Unknown Mami's to see

What's happening in other cities around blogland.
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Rising Like a Phoenix From the Frag-Ashes

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I have been in absentia from blogland for over a week due to circumstances beyond my control - namely recovering from the overhaul and rearrangement of my inner workings.

Aside - why is it that a young whippersnapper doctor who looks about 12 has the audacity to tell an oldie goldie like me that since it is ONLY outpatient surgery you will be right back on your feet the day after???   Hmmmmm???  What in the world was SHE thinkin???

Howsomuchever, I  am RISING like a Phoenix from the frag-ashes of my sickbed just in the nick of time to join Mrs. 4444 (oh I KNOW she says to pronounce it "fours" but I just can't do it, to me she will always be Mrs. 4, 4, 4, 4!) for her wunnerful Friday Frag party.

I surely do hope you ALL missed me last week while I was groveling in my own ashes.
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* * * * * * * * * * * * 

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Well folks, she did it again!  And by she I mean my MIL Robin and her gift-giving gift.

Wednesday I was lower than the underbelly of an anaconda just wishing my throat would stop hurting for even one moment when THIS appeared on my front stoop.
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Everyone needs some chocolate band-aids for the lacerations of life, no?
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If I can't survive with the help of all this, I'm quite hopeless.

Thank you, Robin!  You are better than a personal life coach!
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* * * * * * * * * * * *  

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We're planning a trip to Indiana soon to see our kids and our grans - - - only we'll miss these two, Korie and her hubby Chris.

Korie is a marathon runner and had she been in Boston last week it is highly likely she would have been coming across the finish line right about at the "fateful hour."

I am one grateful momma that she wasn't there.

I am also a momma grieving for the mothers and their families who were not as fortunate as I.
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* * * * * * * * * * * * 

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We will however see these two while we are in Indiana.  This is our oldest son, Kelly and his calm sensible wife, Cathy.

Kelly needs calm and sensible - - - trust me on this.

Remember, he's the one who skied right off a cliff a few short weeks ago.
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This is brotherly and sisterly love at its finest.  

Not sure what our grans were watching here, but their momma said this is what they did and how they got along all afternoon that day.

Precious.

Even if I DO say so myself.
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It is brat fry season in Central Wisconsin.   That is pronounced Br-ahhh-t and not like a mean unruly child.

We are from staunch hardy German and Scandahoovian stock 'round these here parts and we do love our sausages.   We care not how many calories nor how many fat grams they contain.

To us they ARE health food.  We eat them for our health. 

All we care about is their succulent deliciousness.  This one was embellished with Swiss cheese, mustard, and dill pickle relish.   

YUM.

It was my first brat of the season but it shall NOT be my last.
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This little angel is about to be in her first full ballet EVER.  She will be a little "bad fairy" in Sleeping Beauty.

Here she and her mommy were practicing getting her stage make up just right.
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For a modest investment you too can receive refrigerator art masterpieces.  Just click over to Keri's blog and place your order.  ;-)

Does refrigerator art give a whole new connotation to the phrase "starving artist" I wonder?
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Fisherhubby's been at it again.

He found this ecard on Pinterest or something, posted it on Facebook and said it was for me.

(No, I do NOT like to answer my phone, thank you very much.)

Our friend Shawn saw it and gave the original version a little "facelift" so to speak.

I was singing in case you wondered.
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Our Indiana friends, Mark and Annette, are arriving here this evening to spend the weekend.

We have ulterior motives for inviting them - - - we want them to MOVE here near us.

We don't ask for much.

Perhaps one day I shall say more about that.
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* * * * * * * * * * * * 

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And that's all the frag-ash rising I'm capable of for tonight.
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Please hurry over to Mrs. 4444's place

Where you will see LOTS of other frag-ashes

AND where you can do some rising of your own,

Should you so choose.

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