August 17th, 2010
and through all kinds of weather…!
Another bang-up weekend. To copy Trike, it’s along the lines of an EOTD but this must be an EOTW then? Not sure. Although it’s Tuesday already, so my memory is quickly fading!
I had a 3-day weekend as I took Friday (the 13th! Yeehaw!) off to go see Stephie and Mike and Anna and Mason in WI. Left super early and had my Grandma along for company which was very nice. There was crazy lightning and rain but I still prefer that to a sunny drive (which is what I had on the way home, ugh), and it was pretty cool to see. Grandma seemed to enjoy it as well. We had a good visit and chatted about her childhood – including her taking the bus everywhere, following her friend home from school, taking dance lessons and ‘those STUPID guitar lessons’, hahahhahaha. She’s funny. We also stopped for coffee “at McDonald’s, because I can get the Senior discount.” Ha!
Dropped her off then headed to see the Ogbornes. The house was awash in crazy kiddos (Anna + Mason + their three adorable cousins) and market-following Mike. We had a chat about the economy and all of those things he loves and then I was summoned downstairs by Stephie and Anna so I could swim. Crazy times in the pool with four kids under age 5 ensued. Yikes! It was a ton of fun though, and they are reasonably safe in water.
Lunchtime “GIRL TIME!!!”, then watched cartoons/the crazy rain, and played. Mason got kicked in the chest by Lincoln and then went back for more. What a wacko – adorable nonetheless, of course. Then naps and chatted with Stephie and Mike while they packed everything up. It was wonderful to see the kids and to have some time without them to chat w/ Stephie/Mike.
They then had family photo time and I was due in Madison. Off I went. The plan to score a bit of golf with my pops was off due to the rain, though he was still diligently attempting to golf/hang at the bar in Baraboo in spite of the weather. Chatted with my mom for awhile and eventually Steve arrived. We were then off to Biaggi’s after he deleted emails from his Touch. That Touch! I declined Eno Vino as I’ve been there with them often and it never winds up cheap……then again, neither did Biaggi’s. Alas, they are paying, what can I do. Enjoyed fish and spinach and salad and lots of wine and bread and had a very long dinner conversation about family and raising smart kids (vs. less-than-smart ones). It was delightful.
Home to look at MISSING MISSY online and laugh at other bonehead internet sites. Love it. Barb and Steve then watched some TV series they are into while *I* passed out (not Dad)—whoops. I blame it on the total insomnia from the night before due to FLASHING LIGHTNING from 2AM on.
Early to bed, early to rise…..well, not really, I kind of slept in. Coffee and breakfast with my mom and I was off again. Did a little successful shopping at my most favorite outlet mall and drove home in the sun. Along the way I began to feel ill. (Luckily whatever it was seems to have subsided.) Home to an exhausted Jeff. As we were having his bro over this meant NAPTIME FOR ALL and no swim-bike for me (well, and the illness prevented that; there’s always next weekend!). Felt much better after a siesta and proceeded to Cook Out until the rain. 10% chance! WTH! Brought the food in and discussed online dating sites. The Internet.
I passed out around 11, sadly, but that was OK. Slept in again and thought I had slept off the illness….evidently not totally, but it helped. We finally got up to a most beautiful, glorious-weather day—sunny, breezy, cool, blue skies everywhere. Fantastic. Too tired for a bike ride but a walk was calling our name—a walk to brunch. Loved the lazy morning of meandering down to Turtle and resolve to do it again soon. I had chocolate French toast with raspberry preserves and Jeff had a terrific breakfast sandwich with perfect potatoes. Amazing.
Walk back home in the gorgeous day to do a little yardwork/computerwork/Target-shopping. Scored more cheap Greek yogurt (FAGE even) at Super Target. Thank You Target (excepting your horrible donation strategies….seriously, get it together or I may be forced away 🙁 ). I hate errands but at least I got something good out of it.
The best part of the day came next: I laid in the lawn chair with my book in the absolutely perfect weather—just warm enough, with a lovely breeze, totally beautiful. Ahhh. I literally laid my head back and closed my eyes in bliss several times (embarrassing but true).
Still feeling ill but desperate for a bike ride, I took a very short ride around Nokomis and back home to make dinner. Was not feeling Best Meal Ever, instead rice-chicken-peapods-lemon-celery dish and salads. Terrific. Mad Men was deemed too late, so Curb was on the menu. Always good stuff. Off to an early-ish bedtime for The Week Ahead. Indeed.
And there you have it folks.