36 hours together!

Laura, my wonderful daughter and I got to spend 36 hours together this past weekend! I can't remember the last time we spent this much time together alone. We only got in one shouting match, this happened when I was trying to give her some advice about work, and for some reason my advice to her, comes across as nagging.
This one and only argument came in the first 2 hours of our trip, the rest of the time was really great.
The reason for the trip was to check out the Art Dept at UMD in Duluth, MN.
I have to say I was a bit nervous about driving to Duluth as I have not navigated in a bigger city in some time by myself....(I have become quite dependent on Ron to get us to places safely. Duluth is really not even a big city, but I am a little challenged when it comes to directions and reading maps.) Thank Goodness for the Christmas present I gave Ron last year, the Tom Tom, GPS. Without our little guide, I don't know where Laura and I would have ended, once we were in Duluth.
Laura and I went down to Canal St, and sat by the water on Sunday night, and then went and had supper at Old Chicago, it was really nice to spend time together.
The next day we were able to go downtown Duluth and do some shopping at some really cool little shops before we needed to at campus for her tour.
We had a private tour, and Laura seemed impressed by the department. She did find out that it would be advantageous for her to do her art courses here at UND and have her portfolio ready to be reviewed by UMD art dept for acceptance next fall. So I believe she is going to enroll back here at UND, hopefully it is not too late to get her ducks in a row for the fall semester. I think she now knows the path that she wants to take and will be succesful doing so.

Fair Food!!!!

Now is there anything better than the food at the fair?
Ron and I took the new bike and went down the road on Friday and went to the Polk County Fair in Fertile, MN. Now we did not go to ride any rides, we went with only one thing on our minds, what delicacies we could devour, and devour we did! Our first goal was to find a batter dipped corn dog, they were great!. Then Ron's other goal was a funnel cake, and as we were eating the funnel cake sitting next to the mini donut stand, I decided that was my next choice. We had to wash these wonderful items down, and what could be better than a big chocolate milkshake, and of course a DIET coke.
It was just a great way to spend a summer afternoon with each other, we sure do like the same great things in life!
Monday back to the same old grind and back to counting points!

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.