Back in Wisconsin for me.  I am thankful is has been a pretty good winter,  but I sure miss not being in Florida with the girls!   No shorts and sandals at home for me!  A couple of pictures of some manatee’s I saw in the intercoastal before I left.  A large group came through,  really neat to see.

Here we have had some light snow, and I was lucky enough to just miss some freezing rain.  Although the driveway has been a mess since I have been back.   But a couple of warm days coming up that hopefully helps to clean that up.   I have been doing some small projects here at home and staying out of trouble, honest!  And I am finally getting caught up at work, which feels good.   The bad news is our plant is slowing down which is not good overall,  but if I can catch my breath and then we pick up I will be happy.

My friends and I in our homebrew club are hoping the state legislature can pass some needed legislation to allow homebrews to legally be shared.   It is making some progress and even has both Democrat and Republican backing, which doesn’t happen often these days.  A number of articles in local papers including this one with some of my friends.  http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012201300354

And I have had some fun.  Saturday Central Waters Brewery near Steven’s Point had their 14th anniversary party. Friends Andy and Sandy let me know about it and we got a room in Steven’s Point and the Brewery ran bus’s from the brewery to the hotels,  Sweet deal.  Met some other friends and had some great beers,  I did not keep count!  They make some great dark beers and had some they tapped only for that night.

So take care, enjoy life!

Having lots of fun in paradise!  .  The weather in Florida this year is back to normal after the last couple of years being cooler.  So in the 80’s today, blue skies and tropical breezes.  I sure do love it.  Time is going quickly, in Thursday afternoon and I fly out Monday.  But Chris and Marie will be here to enjoy it until I come back.   We have been trying to give Marie a feel for the area, and she enjoys our pool and neighbors.   Today we went to the farmers market in Del Ray which Chris and I enjoy.  And they had Atlantic Ave, the main drag,  closed and an art fair going on.  So we walked along and saw many interesting and beautiful things.   No room in the condo right now though!  So we also found a favorite place of ours to have cocktails and lunch.   And stopped at my friends cigar store to introduce her to domino’s and buy some cigars for her priests back home.     Then some pool time and now relaxing before going out tonight.  Tomorrow church and a couple of projects I want to get to, and maybe a nice drive along the ocean and into West Palm Beach.   We will see how the spirit moves us.

We saw Mom before we left Milwaukee and she is doing well.  She says she is enjoying her new apartment and is happy to be there.  So life is good.  Skip took her to the doctor the other day and she got a clean bill, as good as it can be going on to 91.

So warm up Wisconsin before I get back, not looking forward to it!

Half way through January, and winter has started to assert it’s self.  But we are happy that it has given us this reprieve from the last couple of years early winters.    So things are white,  the snow storm was not terrible,  just messy.   And cold has settled in, sounds like later this week back around 0 degrees.  Not a lot of people on the ice yet,  a few adventurous ice fisherman on the bays.   And the Sturgeon fisherman are hoping for a big cold snap so they can get their shacks out for the season.   I could do without it!  Sorry Pete.  Well it can get cold whenever I leave the state!      Hopefully John, Mary and Judy and have finally gotten far enough South to find warm weather!  It sounds like they are learning a lot about the new motor home!    We have managed to keep busy while we have been home.   And last week was my executive board meeting on the day of the snow.  We managed to taste some more amazing beers!  Somehow there are always new ones to try, and a few favorites to go back to.   And Friday night we had some neighbors over for a relaxing evening.  I don’t stop to talk enough as I drive down the road,  and don’t get the chance to during the winter.  So it was nice to catch up.  And this weekend the Christmas tree and decorations came down.  Chris did not trust me to take them down while she is gone.   It is getting cold this week so we are heading to Florida!  I get a long weekend in,  and Chris’s sister Marie is joining us and her and Chris will stay a few weeks.   I am happy Chris gets to spend some time at the condo and enjoy the good weather.  I can’t wait until we can both!      We don’t have to keep Sunday open to watch the game, so it may be pool time!    Enjoy your week.

So are you used to writing 2012 yet?   We are into the New Year.  So far it has been a good one.  We had a great trip to Florida after Christmas.  The weather was wonderful.  It cooled off last week, but on the day we were leaving.    So now hoping for great weather again when we head down January 19th.   Marie will be joining us this time and Chris and Marie will be staying when I come home from the weekend.   It will be good that they get to enjoy time there.   I have told Chris that she could in the past but now she will have some company.    I will head home at the end of the weekend and head back down a few weeks later.      I have started a project on the kitchen, the goal is to update it now that we have the dining room done.   But this will likely be a several year project!     A little at a time on the weekends I get down.   Lot’s of prep work to start with.  So you will hear more for a long time!

We are enjoying the good weather this winter.  I certainly enjoy Florida more!   But it was nice not to come home to below zero and a driveway full of snow.   I am OK if it stays this way!  We had a good time at Chris’s work Christmas party this weekend in Milwaukee.  She does not get many chances to see the people she works with and it is always fun to see some of those that have been there a number of years.    We stayed over night at a nice hotel on Bluemound Road with a nice breakfast included.   And we got to spend some nice time with Mom and do a few things for her.   Then home on Saturday,  a nice sunny afternoon for a drive.  And home in time to do some things here.   This morning church and then afterwards met old friends Deb and John Ebel   It always seems so hard for us to get together but so enjoyable when we do.   A fun time catching up with family and plans.

So now the football games are over.  We know the Giants will be in Lambeau next Sunday.  And New Orleans and San Fran should be fun on Saturday.  Time to prepare for work.   I have to go in for 5 days this week,  that will be tough!

Chris and MJ Dec 2011

Christmas at Denise's condo, women at work