Kudos

Smiley got this wonderful thank you from a table he served last night at work.  Great job!

(She wrote the note on a birthday card she'd received at the dinner)

My Third (maybe 4th? No, 3rd) Polar Bear Plunge

Let it be clearly known, that I did not decide to dunk myself in the freezing water of Lake Michigan until about forty five minutes before I did it.  Afterwards, it turned out that LuLu, in the days prior to New Years, had asked about doing it, and so I looked like a jerk when I proceeded without her. But this is not a retcon; up until midday I really didn't want to do the plunge. A lot of years I hem and haw and feel like a scrub for not completing the task, but this time, nope: I just didn't want to do it. 

And then I changed my mind. 

It was too late to participate in the official, public events (who can get up and ready and be somewhere by noon on New Years Day??), but the lake was still there, and we were about to reacquaint ourselves with one another. 

I picked a not-great day to do it, weather wise. It wasn't the worst weather Milwaukee can throw at you, but a brisk 29 degrees (F) did not make for comfort even on the walk from the car to the beach. 

I did succeed in getting Smiley to go with me and watch (and drag me out if need be). 

 But he claimed his phone was dead or at 4%, depending on the minute, and so couldn't be used to record the event. As I wanted both pics and video for different social media platforms, I needed two devices. So I called Yaya and she and Alex met us there. 

"There" not being the standard Bradford Beach, north of downtown, but the nearby South Shore, where a local , alternate version of the Polar Bear Plunge had taken place at noon. I didn't make it to the "x" on the map, instead going in at the boat launch. 

While we waited for YaYa, an elderly couple came, ignored the "don't feed the geese" sign, and dropped two big bottles of feed on the concrete. 
 

When it was time to go in the water, a shock, and not just from the bitter cold H20: Smiley had secretly decided to go in with me, and had his swim trunks on under his pants! Yay!

The water was brrrr and getting splashed didn't help any. 

Smiley went out to below hip height and declared, being a man of common sense, that he would go no further. He turned around and returned to shore. 

I continued on my own. 

I dunked myself to chin height but I did not dunk my head in, an act later criticized by Lisa, who, I might point out, has never done the plunge and if she did, would have hair on her head to keep her warmer. 

This pic is me in agony. Soaking wet, my feet pins and needles, desperately trying to get to the warmth of the car, and held hostage by the need for a final, positive pic for the post LOL 

Boxing Day 2024 pt 1

 Late Christmas night, Lisa, Junie, and me picked up Chinese food from Chopstix and enjoyed a late dinner together at the start of Boxing Day. 

Fast forward eight hours later, and Smiley woke me up to accompany him to Collectivo, a local coffee shop. He worked on an assignment, I wrote some blog posts and completed the kids' FAFSA's, and we both enjoyed coffee and a morning together. 

Christmas Day - Visiting My Folks

 For months now my Mom has been a resident of a local Jewish nursing home/rehab facility. She's Catholic, but of course the facility is open to all denominations, and honestly? It's the nicest appointed place, with the most attentive staff, of any place she's ever stayed. So I'm very happy with her placement there!

Smiley and Junie joined me on the visit. 

My Mom is a huge fan of Ned's Pizza, and since she's been in the facility for months, and they observe Jewish dietary laws, she's been without a decent pizza for all that time. Ned's was closed for the holiday, but I went the day before and bought one from them, parbaked, and cooked it right before we left. She loved it!

Smiley bought each Grandparent a "Tell Me Your Story" journal, full of questions about their life for them to answer in detail. 

A few hours later Junie and I went to visit my Dad and sister at their apartment. I woke him up with my arrival (I had called ahead, but didn't get an answer) but he was in a good mood and alert and coherent. I can't get over how tiny he is now, time having robbed him of the silhouette I grew up seeing.  

We brought another Ned's pizza over for them, this one half veggie for my sister, but didn't cook it (they obviously have an oven, my Mom doesn't.) I hope they enjoyed it!

It was very good to see my folks on Christmas, and I hope I get to say the same for the next 20 years!

Backyard Cleanup

After my nasty fall, the three youngest were sent out to finish winterizing and cleaning the backyard. I must admit, I was both happy and a little surprised that without any instructions from me (well, none that they followed) they did a formidable job. 

Thank you!

Smiley Starts Student Teaching!

Today Smiley began student teaching at a local Montessori school. He was very pleased with his first day, describing to me how he was assigned to help a special needs student, as well as surveying how well the children (1st though 3rd grade) understood vocabulary. 

We are very proud of you son!!

Recent Art

Recent art - Smiley

Sawyer at the Salon

Back on the 8th Smiley and I took the dogs to a salon on KK to have their nails trimmed. Alas, aside from the copious amounts of hair they left in my car, only one of the two behaved well enough to actually get their nails done. I'll let you guess which one (and it isn't this one). 

At any rate, here are some pics Smiley took. 

A few days later, Lulu took Sawyer to his usual salon where they successfully did the trimming. 

 

        

Smiley's First Day of Sophomore Year

We did NOT forget about him yesterday: I even left work early to get a pic of the boy before the 5:30 seminar that kicked off his new school year, but SOMEONE decided to go to campus early and go swimming. 

So this post is a day late, but filled with love and best wishes all the same. 

Have a great school year Smiley! We love you!

Today

A productive day.  First thing in the morning I went and got some blood work done, then returned and cut the lawn.  These are the rhubarb plants that opposed me:

Smiley attacked (most) of them while I did the lawn,  using a new-to-us mower Lulu got us from a gentleman on Facebook who repairs them and gives them away for free. 

After that,  a shower and a nap. I woke up and went to Mass, then headed to Cedarburg with Lisa. 

We had margaritas and chips at a Mexican restaurant we've been to before, but maaan this time was a miss. No taste,  no flavor,  no Bueno.

Afterwards we hopped across the street to the Rivoli where we caught a showing of The Blue Angels.

Not our normal fare, but the documentary,  while devoid of drama, was interesting enough. Lisa enjoyed it more that I did, and I still grade it a B.

A good and busy day for yours truly.

A Day of Dining

Early in the morning Lisa roasted a large pan of mushrooms, onions, and tomatoes to make a homemade tomato soup, then went out with her Mom. 

Among other errands, they had a slice of pie on the outdoor pie at Small Pie. 

They returned in time for an early dinner that Smiley had prepared at Lisa's suggestion. Thinly sliced and pounded chicken breast, breaded and fried to perfection, over a serving of Caesar salad, with the tomato soup on the side. 

Coincidence: We were told that this was actually the 100th birthday of the Caesar salad, or it's 100th plus a day, too!