Summer Vacation 2009

We had another fun-filled vacation to Wisconsin last week. We left last Sunday and spent the night in Mpls. We got to spend some time with Chris and Katie. Chris showed us where he worked, and they showed us the new apt that they moved into a few days later. We went out for a wonderful Italian dinner and topped it off with cheesecake from the Cheesecake factory, that was the start of my one week binge. Oh and it was all so good!
We spent the next night in Eau Claire Wi. , got to see Ron's 95 year old Grandma and his Aunt Sharlene, it was off the the local buffet for supper. We then went for drinks with Ron's step sister and brother, it was a nice day. The next day we headed to the Dells, on the way we stopped and test drove a Harley and then headed for the casino, won over 400$.
Ron's Mom lives in Baraboo, which is about 7 miles from the Dells, we went out for supper with her and then later that night Ron and I walked the downtown of the Dells. Stopped in some old fun bars and had a few Leinies and cheese curds, with a stop to the candy store to have some treats to eat in bed.
We have now arrived in Janesville on Wednesday, after a stop in Madison, where Ron's newest dream came true, we traded the Goldwing for a new 2009 Harley. He is like a little boy with a new toy, I love seeing his face when he starts it up. That evening we went to Rons son Dan's house, where he and his wife Brandi bbq'd supper for us, it was very good and a fun evening of visiting.
Thursday we headed to Milwaukee with Ron's sister Vicki and her husband Ken to the Harley Museum, a few hours there and a lunch at the Harley restaurant made for a nice day. That evening Dan and Brandi took us to a Japanese restaurant, where they prepare the food in front of you, that was a fun experience. Plus, I tried sushi for the first and probably last time.....thank you Dan.
Friday we went back to Madison and picked up the new bike, and came back and took a ride and then in the evening we went to supper with both Ron's sisters and brother in law.
Saturday was the big ride for MDA, there was about 1200 bikes and 1800 riders, it was a 80 mile ride in beautiful weather, it was great on the new bike.
The last evening Dan again made us supper on his grill, we enjoyed pork chop sandwiches, boy were they good, and then we topped it off with a trip to the local Tastee Freeze, mmm good...a wonderful way to end the week
Sunday was an 11 hour drive home, we were tired and ready to be home.
It's so true, there is no place like home!

My husband the Shriner!

It's official Ron is a Shriner!
He had an entire day of festivities yesterday. It all started with a Shriner Parade, and ended up last night with a dinner and dance that included the spouses.
It was a long day for Ron and also a long day for me, as I was at Whiteys Wonderbar by 9AM, for toast and a bloody mary for breakfast as we waited for the parade to come by.
Ron and all the other new members had to walk in the parade holding onto a rope.
They had a day full of ceremonial activities, where Ron was given his Fez during a the fezzing ceremony.
Ron is going to be a part of the cycle corp, you know, the guys that ride the motorcylces in crazy circles in the parades. He will have a blast! They include the wives in most of the activities outside the temple. Our first fund raising activity that we will be involved in, is the Shriners Bowl, which is a big fundraising football game with high school players from across the state.
A new phase in our lives, it should be a lot of fun and at the same time very rewarding!

Friday night and nowhere to go!

It's Friday night and nowhere to go, and actually thrilled about it. Ron and I always go for a few beers on most Friday nights, but he is out of town tonight. He is still in Baltimore, just got done talking to him, they went to a wonderful BBQ restaurant, good food, he's had plenty while he's been gone. I had my usual frozen meal and salad, I don't like to cook when I am home alone, and I really like lean cuisines. Laura was home, so I did offer to grill some chicken, but she was being moody when I said no to her request to go out for supper.
So of course she now has gone somewhere to get fast food instead of eating here. If it does not come in a paper bag, or if it's not served to you by someone other than Mom, it's just no good. I guess she just still has to much money to burn.
So here I sit, just excited that it's the weekend with nothing to do!

Husband left me!

Ron left this morning for Baltimore, MD for a work related conference. He was excited to go, he has never been there before, he will be back on Sunday evening.
You know how much you love someone when they leave for only a few days, and that even before they have left you know how much you are going to miss them. That is how I feel when Ron is gone.
I kept saying to Ron how busy I was going to be while he was gone, I have no idea with what though. I thought maybe I would redecorate our bedroom, and I am going to attempt to paint my first oil painting to hang on the wall at the head of our bed. I don't know if I have an artistic bone in my body, but I just have this urge to find a hobby to do that I could become passionate about, and who knows maybe it will be painting. Both Chris and Laura are very artistic, so lets see if some or any of that comes from me. I will hang this painting no matter what, so hope it looks good, I will know what Ron thinks when he walks into the bedroom on Sunday night when he returns, he is pretty honest with his opinion regardless of my feelings.( Except when it comes to my weight.....smart man!)
Well I better go get busy..........ya never know, this could be the start of something BIG.

Sunny Day in Minnesota

Because it has been such a long dreary winter here in Minnesota, I get so excited when we have a day like today. Now for some of you, a day like day today would not mean much weather wise, but there is not a cloud in the sky and the wind is not howling at 20mph. So even though it's only 45 degrees, it looks like a beautiful day to be outside. And we are expecting a high of 55, I think I will break out the capris (fat girls shorts!) and let the arms get some exposure. I did go to WW this morning and actually lost 2 pounds, now don't give me too much praise for doing this, this is the same 2 pounds I have gained and lost since January. BUT, it's actually a miracle after all the eating I had done over Mothers Day weekend.
Well like I said it's great outside and I am going to get off this damn computer and take a long walk with my hubby!
Have a great day where ever you are.

Is is spring yet?

I can't believe it's May 9th and this morning it was in the 30's, with a high of only 48 degrees expected today. It was the longest winter I can remember and so far this spring, only one day even close to 70 degrees. Oh well, I guess when we finally get one we will really appreciate it.
All the spring activities are happening in town today whether it feels like spring or not. Today is spring fest for all the UND students to celebrate the end of the school year, and its prom tonight for one of the high schools.
Ron is spending the day at the Masonic Temple becoming a Shriner and learning all the secrets of the order. We all know that it's also a good excuse to drink with the brothers a couple of times a month. While he is doing that I am just relaxing and playing on the computer, a lazy day once in awhile is a good thing. I was going to take my Mom for her Mothers Day lunch today, but she was not up to it, so we are going to go Tuesday night instead. I am going to take her to LBistro, it's a Greek eatery, I think she will enjoy it.
Tomorrow on Mom's day, Laura wants to take me to the Chinese restaurant, sounds great! Then I will wait to hear from Christopher to make my day complete.

Lazy Sundays

After a busy Saturday, we have decided today is a perfect day to be lazy.
Yesterday, Ron took his Grandson Josh, to the car and motorcycle show at the Alerus and then out to the Chinese buffet for lunch. While he did that I was going out to do some shopping when the NEW car acted up again, so I drove it right back to Rydells for the 3rd time, the other 2 visits they said they could not get a read on the problem, and it would have to be doing it at the time I drove it into the shop. As luck would have it, I was 2 blocks from Rydells, when it happened again, so I sped to their shop. So once again I had to leave it there, and they had to drive me home in the courtesy car. The worst part of that was, that sitting in the shop was my old car, the one we had traded in, looking like brand spanking new, waiting for it's new owner to DRIVE it away, as I was getting driven away in the courtesy car.
Finally at 4:30, Rydells called us back and told us they found the problem, a loose wire. Now tell me this, how could they have not seen that the other two times it was in there? Frustrating when you have not even made the 1st of 60 payments. Oh well, hopefully problem solved.
After all this, we got gussied up and went out to meet a group of friends, the first one of our Vegas group turned 50 yesterday, so we celebrated his birthday at the famous Whiteys Wonderbar. Ron and I then left there and went and checked out a new band that was playing elsewhere and danced to the Auctioneer song, it's a good old song where you really have to know how to kick up your heels, yee haw....good fun.
So needless to say, that is why today is going to be a lazy day, it's a gloomy cool day outside, and as the old saying goes, "there's no place like home!"