The Fair opened today. I love the fair. I didn't use to love the fair, but I do now. I always thought our fair was tooo big. I missed my little country fair, but I've adjusted.
I love to walk the midway, smell the smells, watch the people, feel the electricity in the air. I see people I haven't seen since last fair, it's good to see them. I see people who I think I know, and who I can tell think they know me. Isn't that a funny look?
The smells are enticing, but I'm not a fair food trier. I ventured out of my box last year for a philly cheese sandwich. It was yummy. So I may try something out of the box this year too. But everything smells soooo goood. I can just stand there and close my eyes and try to figure out what I'm smelling. Yummmm!
I couldn't find Kettle Corn. It wasn't in it's usual space. That's what I wanted tonite. I couldn't find it. Could smell it tho.
I don't ride the rides. Heck, my life right now is roller coaster enough for me. Hormones (or lack thereof) are hell. Talk about a ride. I never know when it's rollin', but I know I want off! Let me just walk around and look at the animals. I'm not only talking about the ones in the barns.
The fun part of the fair is watching the freak parade. Where are these people all year long? Do they only come out during the fair??? They aren't even the carnies. They are the fair attendees. Where are their parents?? LOL!
I've met nice people there too. I'll have to blog about them tomorrow. Meantime, if you know how to stop the roller coaster let me know.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
And I Wondered If I Had Friends.
It was a fantastic weekend with the girls. They just need to move closer. Like Ocala would be a happy medium. Tallahassee would be ideal. That way they'd have to call before they visit, but they could visit often. I love the Hilltop girls. No friends are better. Except my Pcola BFFs. Well and my old SHS BFFs, well and my football BFFs.
Let's just say BFFs are the best no matter where they are. I've enjoyed my BFFs more the past few years than I ever have. I guess because all my BFFs aren't pretentious any more. They are what they are, and I love them that way. Just like I is what I is, and they love me that way.
I am in awe of them, but not for what they are, or what they do. But because of who they are. In awe of the roads we all took to get where we are. And who we are. I am in awe because we are all awesome. Unconditionally, we are accepting.
Where we've been makes us who we are. We've learned from our mistakes and grown on our sucesses. It makes BFFs what they are, the best women in the world. No airs, no impressions to make, we are.
We come together not to see each other's clean houses, finest wines, or weight loss sucesses. While we applaud that in each other, it's not what defines us. We come together to be us. To be fun, be happy, to laugh, to cry, to commiserate. We offer advice, old stories and laughter. Oh, the laughter!
I wouldn't trade any of my BFFs for anything in the world. Thanks YOU! All my BFFs. Those who read this, and those who won't. You know who you are. I love you! You may be 80 or 8! But you are awesome!
Let's just say BFFs are the best no matter where they are. I've enjoyed my BFFs more the past few years than I ever have. I guess because all my BFFs aren't pretentious any more. They are what they are, and I love them that way. Just like I is what I is, and they love me that way.
I am in awe of them, but not for what they are, or what they do. But because of who they are. In awe of the roads we all took to get where we are. And who we are. I am in awe because we are all awesome. Unconditionally, we are accepting.
Where we've been makes us who we are. We've learned from our mistakes and grown on our sucesses. It makes BFFs what they are, the best women in the world. No airs, no impressions to make, we are.
We come together not to see each other's clean houses, finest wines, or weight loss sucesses. While we applaud that in each other, it's not what defines us. We come together to be us. To be fun, be happy, to laugh, to cry, to commiserate. We offer advice, old stories and laughter. Oh, the laughter!
I wouldn't trade any of my BFFs for anything in the world. Thanks YOU! All my BFFs. Those who read this, and those who won't. You know who you are. I love you! You may be 80 or 8! But you are awesome!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Country Roads Take Me Home
One of my favorite parts of being in Wisconsin is when we take the "backroads" whereever we go. Usually Rick and I do this when we go back to Wisconsin after getting Manny's Pizza, I mean, visiting my brother in my hometown, about 4 hours from my In Laws. I love driving the meandering roads, up hills and down, around many curves.
Many of the roads follow the old stagecoach trails and if you know where and how to look you can see them in the hills next to the roads. I didn't find any too take pictures of on our route, but I know where some are. One of the "side trip" we made this trip was through Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo. It's one of my top five favorite state parks. It's roads go up and down and around the gulleys and valleys surrounding Devils Lake. The red sugar maple leaves had mostly fallen when we visited, but the yellow trees were beautiful and lit the forest like a hidden sunshine.
All week long I tried to get a picture of the trees along Witter's Lake, not to far from the house. The weather just would not cooperate, being either terribly rainy, or gloomily overcast. To show the leaves true, bright, beautiful color you need rays of sunshine to illuminate them. Finally, on our way to the airport, the sun shone through and I was able to get this.
Several times on our trip we came across fields just full of Wind Towers. One the Illinois/Wisconsin border near Nora (Wisconsin I think) we saw some in the distance and I told Rick, "just start going toward the towers, I'll find our way back!" So off we went through cornfields and potholed gravel roads, toward the "Towers". Sound like a scary movie in the making? We got pretty close, but it was a rainy day so the pictures didn't come out. We did feel the winds from the towers tho, powerful! I did get us back on track afterwards, finding a road named "Stagecoach Road" of all things. Only makes sense it would go to a town, right?
But driving back to Milwaukee on the interstate we found these towers. Many more than we'd seen a few days before, tho not as close up. All those "sticks" you see are Wind Towers. Amazing.
It won't be soon enough until we go back. I love a good drive on an old country road.
Many of the roads follow the old stagecoach trails and if you know where and how to look you can see them in the hills next to the roads. I didn't find any too take pictures of on our route, but I know where some are. One of the "side trip" we made this trip was through Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo. It's one of my top five favorite state parks. It's roads go up and down and around the gulleys and valleys surrounding Devils Lake. The red sugar maple leaves had mostly fallen when we visited, but the yellow trees were beautiful and lit the forest like a hidden sunshine.
All week long I tried to get a picture of the trees along Witter's Lake, not to far from the house. The weather just would not cooperate, being either terribly rainy, or gloomily overcast. To show the leaves true, bright, beautiful color you need rays of sunshine to illuminate them. Finally, on our way to the airport, the sun shone through and I was able to get this.
Several times on our trip we came across fields just full of Wind Towers. One the Illinois/Wisconsin border near Nora (Wisconsin I think) we saw some in the distance and I told Rick, "just start going toward the towers, I'll find our way back!" So off we went through cornfields and potholed gravel roads, toward the "Towers". Sound like a scary movie in the making? We got pretty close, but it was a rainy day so the pictures didn't come out. We did feel the winds from the towers tho, powerful! I did get us back on track afterwards, finding a road named "Stagecoach Road" of all things. Only makes sense it would go to a town, right?
But driving back to Milwaukee on the interstate we found these towers. Many more than we'd seen a few days before, tho not as close up. All those "sticks" you see are Wind Towers. Amazing.
It won't be soon enough until we go back. I love a good drive on an old country road.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Can Someone Stop This Rain?
We arrived in Wisconsin 6 days ago. I have 5 days left on my vacation here. Since we've gotten here it's rained 4 days. The 2 days it hasn't rained it's been cold and overcast. I know, I know, what did I expect Up North?
In the few moments of sunshine, I can see the beautiful colors of the fall leaves beginning to turn. I want pictures!!! But with grey overcast skies, fall leaves just aren't as pretty as when the sun is shining through them. Hopefully, in the next four days, I will have some sunshine. Even if it is, 30 degrees. I know, that's why I came to Wisconsin.
We spent yesterday's rainy day visiting my husband's great aunt Ruth in her assisted living facility. She's 95! What a hoot! She wouldn't let me take her picture because she hadn't had her hair done. She was a beautician, and always had her hair perfect. So since she thought her hair wasn't perfect (it was) no picture.
Ruth kept us entertained all afternoon with her antics and stories. The nurses (don't know what they are doing) the food (you would think they could give me some gravy), her "illusions".
Apparently her meds got a little mixed up and for a few days she had "illusions". She thought two men were in her room and each of them had a dog with them. One had a little black poodle, the other a little brown dog with a hairy face. She didn't mind the men, but those dogs just simply could not be in her room! But the nurses said their were no dogs or men, she was having "illusions". Too funny!
Auntie Ruth's mind was a sharp as a tack. She knew my husband and she hadn't seen him in a few years! When he tried to sneak out of the room without saying good bye (he hates nursing homes) she said, "where's Ricky? He didn't say good bye?" "make him come back and tell me good bye!" Too funny! I just love her.
I remember one of the first times I met Aunt Ruth, we were up here in Wisconsin visiting and decided to have pizza for supper. Aunt Ruth was in her late 60's and claimed to have never had pizza to eat. She declared it good, and wondered why she'd never eaten it. Now all she wants is gravy on her potatoes. I told her life's to short, eat her chocolate pie instead. She laughed.
In the few moments of sunshine, I can see the beautiful colors of the fall leaves beginning to turn. I want pictures!!! But with grey overcast skies, fall leaves just aren't as pretty as when the sun is shining through them. Hopefully, in the next four days, I will have some sunshine. Even if it is, 30 degrees. I know, that's why I came to Wisconsin.
We spent yesterday's rainy day visiting my husband's great aunt Ruth in her assisted living facility. She's 95! What a hoot! She wouldn't let me take her picture because she hadn't had her hair done. She was a beautician, and always had her hair perfect. So since she thought her hair wasn't perfect (it was) no picture.
Ruth kept us entertained all afternoon with her antics and stories. The nurses (don't know what they are doing) the food (you would think they could give me some gravy), her "illusions".
Apparently her meds got a little mixed up and for a few days she had "illusions". She thought two men were in her room and each of them had a dog with them. One had a little black poodle, the other a little brown dog with a hairy face. She didn't mind the men, but those dogs just simply could not be in her room! But the nurses said their were no dogs or men, she was having "illusions". Too funny!
Auntie Ruth's mind was a sharp as a tack. She knew my husband and she hadn't seen him in a few years! When he tried to sneak out of the room without saying good bye (he hates nursing homes) she said, "where's Ricky? He didn't say good bye?" "make him come back and tell me good bye!" Too funny! I just love her.
I remember one of the first times I met Aunt Ruth, we were up here in Wisconsin visiting and decided to have pizza for supper. Aunt Ruth was in her late 60's and claimed to have never had pizza to eat. She declared it good, and wondered why she'd never eaten it. Now all she wants is gravy on her potatoes. I told her life's to short, eat her chocolate pie instead. She laughed.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Wonderings from Wisconsin
The Lodge we're staying in is quaint. It's one of those old mom & pop places that have passed down through the years from family to family. It's remained pretty much the same and has endearing little nuances that make you love it none the less. I think we have the best view by far, only obstructed by a few trees.
Rick and I enjoyed the rainy, chilly day hanging in our room. We both brought books to read and we stayed updated by everyone's progress here by text message. It was the best of the old and new worlds. Once everyone arrived, we decided to find a small tavern to pass the early evening in. The guys and kids played pool, the girls chatted, catching up on the gossip. The beer was cheap, conversation good. And they had the cutest little beers, 7 ounces! Yes, we drank lots of those.
After a few hours and lots of memories, we returned to the lodge for dinner. The Silvercryst is well known for it's broasted chicken, and steak sandwiches. Yummy chicken! I need to get out of here before I weigh 400 pounds!
One of the great things about little taverns that dot the Wisconsin frozen tundra, is the microbrewerys they have.
You just can't come to Wisconsin without drinking a Spotted Cow. New Glarus Brewery is one of those little brewerys that is growing in popularity. I saw their Spotted Cow on the menu and knew it would be perfect to go with my broasted chicken. Tonite, I think I'll try an Oktoberfest from Steven's Point Brewery.
It's going to be a great vacation!
Rick and I enjoyed the rainy, chilly day hanging in our room. We both brought books to read and we stayed updated by everyone's progress here by text message. It was the best of the old and new worlds. Once everyone arrived, we decided to find a small tavern to pass the early evening in. The guys and kids played pool, the girls chatted, catching up on the gossip. The beer was cheap, conversation good. And they had the cutest little beers, 7 ounces! Yes, we drank lots of those.
After a few hours and lots of memories, we returned to the lodge for dinner. The Silvercryst is well known for it's broasted chicken, and steak sandwiches. Yummy chicken! I need to get out of here before I weigh 400 pounds!
One of the great things about little taverns that dot the Wisconsin frozen tundra, is the microbrewerys they have.
You just can't come to Wisconsin without drinking a Spotted Cow. New Glarus Brewery is one of those little brewerys that is growing in popularity. I saw their Spotted Cow on the menu and knew it would be perfect to go with my broasted chicken. Tonite, I think I'll try an Oktoberfest from Steven's Point Brewery.
It's going to be a great vacation!
Friday, October 02, 2009
Meanwhile, Here in the Frozen Tundra
Frozen is an overstatement. It's brisk, rainy and gloomy. The leaves are beginning to turn, so hopefully before we leave we'll see some good color.
We arrived here at the hotel about 7, just after Rick's parents left here after having dinner. Our worry was we'd run in to them. They aren't supposed to know we are here after all. It was a nice drive from the airport and my GPS on my blackberry worked like a charm. I was glad to have a chance to try it out, knowing where I was going, before I needed it to get where I didn't know I was going.
I was chilly when we got here, glad I brought my flannel jammies. But before you laugh at my Florida blood being to thin to be in the frozen tundra, I have to tell you it feels good to be a bit chilled. It's only cold when the wind is blowing, and they are having a rainstorm, so it's damp too. But I am loving it!
Can't wait for daylight. Our room has a great view of the lake. I'll have pictures in the morning. The boys arrive around noon, as should the rest of the family. My brother is driving up tomorrow night to surprise the boys. He'll go home Saturday. I know he's bringing my niece, and I think my nephew and his wife are going to try to come too. It will be good to have all of them here.
I'm going to unpack. Good thing we don't have to be anywhere in the morning and can sleep in. I did spy a few places that would look good for breakfast....
We arrived here at the hotel about 7, just after Rick's parents left here after having dinner. Our worry was we'd run in to them. They aren't supposed to know we are here after all. It was a nice drive from the airport and my GPS on my blackberry worked like a charm. I was glad to have a chance to try it out, knowing where I was going, before I needed it to get where I didn't know I was going.
I was chilly when we got here, glad I brought my flannel jammies. But before you laugh at my Florida blood being to thin to be in the frozen tundra, I have to tell you it feels good to be a bit chilled. It's only cold when the wind is blowing, and they are having a rainstorm, so it's damp too. But I am loving it!
Can't wait for daylight. Our room has a great view of the lake. I'll have pictures in the morning. The boys arrive around noon, as should the rest of the family. My brother is driving up tomorrow night to surprise the boys. He'll go home Saturday. I know he's bringing my niece, and I think my nephew and his wife are going to try to come too. It will be good to have all of them here.
I'm going to unpack. Good thing we don't have to be anywhere in the morning and can sleep in. I did spy a few places that would look good for breakfast....
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