Thanks everyone for the kind thoughts on Mom’s birthday.  Because of the impending storm we had to change up our plans a little,  Skip and Claire and I had supper with her Saturday evening instead of Sunday brunch.  And niece Denise and friend stopped by afterward for Asti and cheese cake.  Mom was in good spirits and seemed to enjoy the evening.   I ended up leaving late Saturday night rather than wait and see what the roads would be like in the morning.    As it turned out I probably would have been OK,  as things started later in the morning.   I went to 9 am mass here and when I got home from mass ,that’s when it started snowing, and kept coming hard after that.   We had a wet heavy snow.  By early afternoon I think we had 6 inches.   And late in the evening we had more than that again,  I measured 8 inches on our walk.  So they say Oshkosh had around a foot, I disagree!  Because I cleaned up another 4 inches or so this morning. and the damn snow is still falling.  I cleaned the driveway at 4 pm thinking it was over, and it started snowing harder.   So I will hit it in the morning for my morning exercise.      I worked from home today.  All the major highways were labeled icy or snow covered and slippery.  Since I can work from home; why kill myself getting in,  I spent too many years doing that.    So hopefully by morning we are done with the snow for the week.   Although they say some light snow Wednesday night.

I had the roofs all clean and the yard and drive were all clean.  Now there is more snow than before the melt!  Chris and Marie are having better weather,  and MJ has off of school this week and is in Florida.  All days this week will hit 80 there.   I can leave this behind!   MJ helped me out today.  We had our cabinets installed in Florida.  Looks like things went well.   Everything looks like expected and I can’t wait to get there to see it.   Our friends helped out by keeping an eye on the installer.  They sent me some pictures this week of when Chris and I were down for the new year.

Streaming some music while I write.  If you like some light jazz and a mix of mellow oldies and new songs,  try http://www.theavenue91.com/en-us/default.aspx  and click on listen live.   Good stuff.  They call it a non profit, trying to benefit and feature other local non-profits.  Jazz local Janet Planet is a DJ, and Steve March Torme, and David Caldwell.  So you will hear those artists fairly often.  Which is fine by me.  Stevie Wonder to Tony Bennett to….

So I was up early this morning exercising in the snow, and will be in the morning again.  So I think tonight will really be an early night.   Saturday and Sunday I thought I would sleep late, but that didn’t work.  I am not in the mode of some of my retired friends!

So can’t we play the Super Bowl again?   For 2 weeks Green Bay news stations had all Packer news for nightly news.   Now I just hear how well our lawmakers are working together for solutions – NOT.   Just trying to punish each other and political groups.  No sign of improvement.   So I guess I can skip tonights news AND weather.

Hope you all are fine.  Staying safe and warm.  Enjoy your week, life is short with no guarantees.

Mom’s birthday is Sunday.   It will be her 90th.  She is doing well, some hearing problems but at 90 I think she is doing great.  Living on her own, in her own apartment.  She has her moments, as we all do.  She enjoys her apartment,  and some time with gossip with the girls.  So we all take these good days, because as with all of us, we don’t know what tomorrow may bring.  Sunday we will celebrate!

Our weather was unbelievable this week.  Very warm, after 42 days below freezing.   Lot’s of snow melted this week.  Our road is going underwater.  All the top frost came out of our gravel driveway, so it’s a sloppy mess.   The sturgeon fisherman are still out on the lakes,  but the holes must be growing larger.  Almost a good thing that tomorrow things start to cool back down again.  We need to slow down the thaw,  as much as I hate the cold.  And I could take a pass on the possible snow storm starting Sunday night.

Music last weekend was great.   I spent a few hours at Kodiak Jacks listening to SNB.   And on Sunday there were great musicians at the fundraiser for Jim Lundstrom.  And a pretty good turn out.  And last night my homebrew club,  the SOB’s, had our annual beer dinner at Stone Cellar Brewpub in Appleton.  They always do a tremendous job for us.  Smoked Corn Jalapeno crab cake with avocado cream, paired with a members rye beer.   Wonderful!  Very moist with a light crab flavor, and a touch of spice.  And the avocado cream was a perfect compliment to the spice.  Then a hopped up gumbo.   Nice and spicy, chicken and sausage, a good tomato base, and some nice spice.  Then the duet entree.  A stone cellar alt braised short rib.   Marinated 3 days with alt beer, and I believe some garlic.  And a morel jus,  one of the members goes morel picking every spring.  And the other half of the duet a black sesame mahi mahi with Jonah crab butter.  A wonderful light flavor.  Served with some alt of course.  And a Chocolate Stout gourmet cupcake for dessert, with a members wonderful smoked coffee stout.   What a night.

So tonight I stuck to some veggies and a Yam.  Back to my diet tonight!  I have not been sticking to it,   but it helps me cleanse some days!  More exercise would help.  I have had trouble getting up early enough to stoke the fire and get a half hour on the treadmill in the morning.  So need to get on an evening routine.  Without Chris here I seem to keep busy each night and not get to bed early.  tonight another example.  So I guess I should stop boring you and get ready for the morning!    Marie continues to improve.  Chris plans to come home next Thursday night.  They will miss each other, and Chris will head back when the next surgery is set.  Which we hope is soon so Marie can put the surgeries behind her.

Take care,  have a great weekend.

Lot’s happened since my last update.   I have been to New Mexico, Florida, and back home.  The Packers won a super bowl.   The weather still sucks.

Marie sounds like she is making good progress and getting stronger.   And is having success dealing with the bags.  She did wonderfully through the funeral, now her and Chris are ‘bonding’.  Chris will stay until Marie is strong enough to get around on her own.   The massive surgery they did to her stomach is still painful.   Chris will also go back for the next surgery.

But the weather in New Mexico has been terrible like everywhere else.   When MJ and I left it was -5 that morning.  And the southwest has natural gas shortages due to the cold weather and demand.   Houses, businesses and towns have had their gas supplies shut off, in the cold,  due to the shortages.   Not a good situation.   But it looks like better weather is on the way,  they all deserve it.

Florida on the other hand was wonderful,  Temps in the 80’s was just what I needed.   Unfortunately I went down for the installation of our dining room cabinets,  but the installer had other ideas.  Suffice to say we are still working on getting that done.    But I did enjoy the weather and the Packer game.  Still trying to get caught up at work.   And at home.  I am looking for a break in the weather this weekend to get caught up at home at least, and maybe a few hours for work.   It should be a good chance to move some snow around,  and off some roofs before it melts and gets heavier than it is.  I took a heater down to the boathouse the other night and had to do some cable repairs to the plow on the ATV, and I think that is ready to go.   And I still have not been able to get to the main wood pile in the yard,  working my way through snow drifts.   But I will take care of that this weekend also.

A friend is playing with his band at Kodiak Jack’s this weekend,  so I will probably make a stop there.   And there is a benefit at O’marro’s on Sunday my homebrew club is helping out with.  Jim Lundstrom wrote for the local papers and now one of the entertainment papers,  and writes a lot about good beer.   He was on his bicycle in October and was hit by a truck.   Damaged pretty good, but survived.   But did not have health insurance.  So O’Marro is giving the space and some local bands are donating their time.  It should be fun.    I have keep busy without my wife around!

And I am getting a chance to know my new car.   I like it.   and more good news.  the heater warms up faster than any of the other vehicles.

So have a good weekend!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful wife Chris!  Wish I was with you!  But she is celebrating with her sister Marie,  just like Chris’s 21st birthday.   Mary Jane and I left Albuquerque.   Mary’s plane left ABQ ok,  but she had hours of waiting in Dallas before they could get a plane to fly out of there.  And I told her it was a good place to transfer because they would not have weather problems!   But she made the most of the airport stores available in Superbowl town.

My plane pulled out of the gate to get de-iced, it was -5 in Albuquerque.   But then they could not get both engines to start.  So playing around, then back to the gate.   An hour of blowing warm air on some valves and we were ready to go.   Luckily my connection from Atlanta was late arriving,  and the 2 hours between flights I had left,   and I was off to Florida.

The weather here is fantastic.   It barely got below 70 last night.  And a bright sunny day.   I was up early to get some work in and wait for my cabinet installer to show up.  When he didn’t I started on the phone.   You know the story.   So no cabinets installed, and they don’t look quite as I expected to see them tonight.

So I took a long walk on the beach to burn off some steam.   The walk was great,  but I have never seen so many man-of-wars.  There must have been thousands of them on the beach.  The strong south east wind blows in from the caribbean and keeps us warm,  but brings the man-of war up also.   So I walked carefully and enjoyed the weather.  The city beach was full, everyone enjoying paradise.

We are still in Albuquerque.   Our thanks to everyones’ thoughts and prayers.  Overall Marie is doing very well.   She did not want John to go on the way he was so there is some relief that he is in a better place.   The funeral home  viewing was very nice,  and good friend, make that family, Tom did a wonderful job with the rosary.   And the funeral home surprised Marie by having an accordian player come in to do a couple of songs after the rosary.

And the mass on Monday went very well also.  John would have liked the music and Father’s upbeat tone.   Marie has lot’s of good friends that were there, and we had a lunch in the church hall afterward.

Mary Jane moved her flight back from today to Thursday.  And I am thinking that should work fine for her.  I fly out tomorrow morning also.   Work has allowed me to work from here on Tuesday and Wednesday, which has been helpful.   I had already scheduled vacation for Thursday, Friday and Monday to be in Florida for the installation of our dining room cabinets.  And I don’t anticipate any problems getting in and out of Atlanta and into West Palm Beach.

And did I mention south Florida is around 80 degrees?  John I am sure is happy he left this life before New Mexico started experiencing the coldest weather in decades.    It is staying below 20 degrees today and will be below zero tonight.  Marie and John have never had weather like this here.   And I got to shovel a few times.    But the weather is worse south of Albuquerque, believe it or not.  The good news is it should be near 50 here this weekend.   Even today at 15 degrees, the sun was melting the roads.  Last night we were out and it was very icy.  The one snow plow for Rio Rancho could not cover the whole town.  Usually the snow melts a few hours after they get it,  but not if it can’t get to 32 degrees!

But we are doing better than a lot of the country,  so I hope you are getting through this weather safely.   Work was a little easier today since most of my contacts have closed offices today!  And trucks with my orders are not moving – we will pay for that later!  Sounds like Appleton did not get hit hard, although they said Oshkosh got it worse.   I can look forward to that when I get home Monday night.

take care

Well Sunday was good with the Packer game, even though it was a nail biter,   it was better that we had the lead and they needed to catch up.  Go Pack.

A tough week for Marie and Chris.  Although Marie has been getting stronger, she still has a ways to go and has some issues to work through.  John was going down hill quickly and it became apparent his time here on earth would come to an end soon.    It sounds like his body started shutting down a couple of days ago,  and he passed away this evening.    So no more pain,  no more confusion.

Marie had done a wonderful job of taking care of him for a number of years now.  It seems that John went quickly,  but only because Marie’s hard work with him for so long as his symptoms became worse.  And having seen what dementia did to Marie and Chris’s Mom,  I know it is a blessing that John can go home to the Lord and not linger on in a nursing home.

So please say a prayer for John, and for Marie to keep gaining her strength as she has to think of her life adjusting to John not being there.

Made it through another week.  Some good things this week.  I actually was caught up on most issues at work.    Chris’s flights to Albuquerque were smooth and she landed early.   Even though we lost Aunt Lottie the service and mass were very nice and it was a celebration of 95 years.  Up here in Green Bay area we heard very little bad news,  because every news cast begins and ends with the Packers.   We all have high hopes for the game!  Our ordered cabinets for the condo were delivered this week and are in the condo!  And we adjusted what we were looking for options on our next car, and in the midst of everything else going on Turn Key Auto called and said he had some options at the auction that might work for us.  And now we have another car!  2009 Malibu, I like the looks and the interior, and like the gas mileage compared to the truck I have been driving every day!

And best news is that Marie is home.  Chris and Marie are ‘bonding’ as Marie continues to get stronger.   So we hope there are no more hic ups in her recovery.   She has March to look forward to changing the colostomy and we will keep the prayers  going so that happens on schedule. Dealing with the bag is the biggest issue right now.  And we keep up the prayers for John whose Parkinsons and demetia have taken turns for the worse under nursing home care.  I could go on for awhile on what I think of most of the health systems and how they are managed, but I will spare you for now.  But sit down with me for a beer and look out…

And the Wisconsin weather, there’s a subject you don’t want to hear from me on either.   Thursday morning when I woke up it was -11, then -12,   and -15 when I left for work.    Yes it is the January’s as I remember them.   At 17 I was pumping gas, clean your windshield , check the oil for 50 cents worth of gas, at -20 but I was a lot younger then.  Now I know we don’t have to live like this!    When I woke up this morning it was snowing,  but now some sun is sneaking through and it is up to 5 degrees.   So I suppose I could put on a few layers and go clean the driveway and stock up some more firewood.  With the extreme cold and no Chris to accompany me I stayed in last night on my birthday,  and I love to go out on my birthday!

So I will likely update after the Packer Game,  but have yourself a great weekend leading up to it.  My tribute to Aunt Lottie and Muriel-mushrooms and all!  Both always loved to have some fun.

The start of another week.   Last week went pretty well,even with the snow that we got.  Mostly light and fluffy.  We had snow Thursday, and more on Friday night.  Saturday morning I cleaned up the driveway and then we took some time for ourselves.   We went to take a look at some cars, and we went up to Green Bay  to have a late lunch at Titletown Brewpub.  It is a great place.  In an old railroad depot at the start of the Nitchke bridge.  I had a good Scotch Ale and a Belgian Tripple.  Along with the jalepeno turkey melt.  It was relaxing.   Then we headed over to Onieda casino.  We decided to use one of the nights I bought on the channel 10 auction and stay at the Raddison.   I have always thought they did a nice job with the hotel and casino and I think so even more now.  The room was great and we were treated very well.

Oh and it might have been a better weekend because we also watched the Packer game in the sports bar there.  Wow,  what a game.   Did anyone guess it could be that good of a game against the top seed?   I kept waiting for things to tighten up.   Should I worry that I worried about that game but am not so worried about the Bears?   I think we can roll through Chicago.

So we enjoyed the weekend.   We won’t have that chance for a little while now.  Marie has improved and will get to go home on Wednesday.  So Chris flies out tomorrow morning from Green Bay to be with her when she comes home, finally.   And we will play it by ear on how long she stays.  But she is getting out just in time, after todays heavy snow (weather man said 3″ in Oshkosh,  bull) the temperature is supposed to start dropping tomorrow.  And we will get to the old fashioned Wisconsin below zero January.  Lot’s of accidents, and I left work a little early to miss the worst of traffic.    But the snow is stopping now so we should be fine in the morning.  And it will be great to get Marie home and recuperating.

More sad news yesterday.  Mom’s older sister, Aunt Lottie passed away.  Always sad,  but she had 95 great years, and is comfortable now.  Mom is the last left of her siblings now.

So have yourself a great week!

Another week underway. We were supposed to have some light snow today.   When I went downstairs this morning they said we had maybe an inch and we would have 1-3.  So I went out to quick clean off the driveway;  I like to get it clean before a bunch of cars drive on it during the day.   Well I took out the big scoop and was going to get some exercise,  and I walked a few feet and the scoop was full.   Quickly change of plans to the plow.  The weather man needs to get outside more.   and it snowed all day.   So I plowed again tonight.   It has stopped now.  so hopefully it is still clean in the morning.   We have gotten a reprieve from the extreme cold, for a few days.  Sounds like the weekend will be bringing it back.    But we are near the middle of January, so the end is in sight,  right?

Last week went quickly, as did the weekend.  I am still way behind at work,  despite extra hours,   but if I can get past the rest of the start of the year stuff maybe I can change that.   Friday we headed to Milwaukee early, for Muriel’s funeral.   And then Friday night there was Chris’s Holiday work party.  They had a casino night and great food and drink, so we had fun.   Saturday we spent time with Mom, ran a few errands, and took a tour of the Potawatomi Casino – I had promised Chris to finally take her there.   It is very nice, and is large.   And Chris won,  which made it even more fun!   And Saturday evening we had a nice dinner with John and Mary Koss on John’s birthday.   Sunday was brunch with Mom, and then to see Fran and Bob’s work at their house in Franksville.   And we need to stop eating for a few days!

Chris’s sister Marie is doing much better.   She has had some bumps,  but they figured our the antibiotic they were giving her was making her nauseous,  and once that was stopped things got better.  She is out of the hospital and in a nursing home for rehab.  After laying for a couple of weeks and two major surgeries she has some strength to regain.  Tomorrow we should find out more about the plan for how long she will be there, and will then book Chris a flight to New Mexico.  Right now it looks like early next week.

Received a new CD from my son-in-law.   Crystal Bowersox,  I have not heard of her but guess I missed a few seasons of American Idol.  At the start of the album I thought it was country, then blues, then not sure at all – or all of the above.  I really like it.  I will have to learn more.

Jan 11th,  would have been Dad’s birthday.  6 years next week that he is gone.    Mom continues to do well though, she will be 90 next month.

So Wednesday night is SOB exec board meeting night,  we will slave over the details of the upcoming meetings, and possibly try a few beers.   Hope your week goes smoothly!

Oh by the way,  we have 2 new refrigerators!

Wednesday night,  our first full day home.   Boy Florida was nice!    Time flew by and the weather was great.  The first 2 cold nights then things just kept getting better.   We left for the airport around 5 am Tuesday,  Al and Viv got up to drive us.  Al said it was above 70 degrees already.  And this morning it was -2 here!  Keep the fire going.     The trips home were good.  This time through Atlanta, and weather was good all the way through.  We had a couple of hours in Atlanta,  which I feel comfortable with.  I can cover the whole Atlanta airport in 15 minutes,  but there are so many delays these days you need enough time to easily make your connection.   And the 2nd flight had a little delay while they did some maintenance,  but they made good time in the air.

And just a dusting of snow when we landed in Milwaukee.   We then stopped by Mom,  we had left everything there the morning after Christmas when we left.   And she had some of her decorations to go down into storage.   But it was not long and we were on our way.  A nice drive up with some sunshine,  even though it was 20 degrees.    When we arrived home there was more snow here.   I planned to clean the drive as soon as we unloaded,  but we noticed a smell in the house, and soon found it.   The refrigerator upstairs stopped cooling and was generating warm air.  And probably had started to shortly after we left for Milwaukee before Christmas.   Everything was thawed, partially cooked, molding.   The bread dough in the freezer rose and burst.   So everything went in to bags and out to the garbage.  Once we sopped up the liquids we took the refrigerator outside.   Not going to repair an 8 year old refrigerator thats full of those smells.

So we got to go refrigerator shopping Tuesday night.   Funny thing,  we have had some problems with the refrigerator downstairs,  and ordered a new one from Lowes before Christmas.   And turned that one off so nothing would happen while we were gone.   So that one comes tomorrow.   We knew from previous shopping Lowes prices are pretty good, and I like their free delivery and take the old one.   So back we went.   We tried to get a 2 for one deal but no luck.   And they don’t have much in stock in white,  go figure.  Stainless steel and black would have been easier.    But the new one should come on Monday.    That was fun.

And we had a little snow today,  just enough to get the plow out and clean the driveway.   That should be it for awhile,  although it won’t warm up anytime soon.    So we will have to wait awhile to feel warm again,  other than standing in front of the fireplace.    Our cabinets for the dining room will come this month and are planned to install Feb 4,  and we will be there for that.

Chris’s sister is still recovering, although tonight she sounded the best she has in weeks.   So the last couple of days have improved and they are reducing the drugs they are giving her.  So hopefully out of the hospital early next week if things continue, and then a stay in a rehab facility to get stronger and be able to deal with her colostomy bag.  Chris will plan to head there when a date gets set to go home.

So that is the update.   Another full day of work to prepare for.  Friday a funeral in Milwaukee and Chris’s work holiday party in Milwaukee.  So another weekend away.

Take care, enjoy life.