Adventure

 The Adventure has begun

after stopping for gas in Hutchinson --- it was go go go until we hit Sartell -- road construction, 60 mph winds, hail and flying road cones -- the dude ahead of me pulled under the bridge and stopped ... seemed like a wise move .. I followed.   45 minutes later is was raining less ... and back into single lane bumper to bumper traffic until the end of construction --- we proceeded on to Remer  -- non stop ... 

Stopped in Remer overnight and the Gansen's met up with us a 10:30 ...

I missed the morning wake up text .. but Mom and I were ready to roll in 20 minutes ... and I had a shower ... we stopped at Hardee's in International Falls for breakfast -- then Rachael needed coffee and there is a cool little coffee shop in downtown IF's.   

Made it the the border -- then WalMart in FF for groceries --- and on to the resort ... 

Here's the view from the screen porch on our cabin -- I'm now watching two dudes argue about how to load, unload and / or store their boat.  It is entertaining!

I left my sewing projects at home and brought work -- ya work work with me.  I'll be bonding with me laptop tomorrow.

storm shots

nothing like laying in bed and capturing storm shots from the ring camera ... there are several more on the iPad ..

I don't think it rained very much -- nor was it windy -- the kitchen rugs were still hanging on the back deck railing when I left this morning - and it was done raining ...

as long as it blew in less humid weather I'll be happy -- yesterday was sticky corker kind of day.  A good day to be inside and working .. not that anything actually got completed.  Today is a new day and hopefully less chaos (or less phone calls and emails)

Happy Tuesday ----

Happy Birthday Mom 

 

ah Sunday night ...

Friday Night Lights ... I needed a spot of cabin time so .. Friday night pizza, lawn mowing and lawn sprinkling with a sunset tossed in for good measure .. it is always spectacular 

I actually went to work on Saturday morning -- I had some projects to finish up and I was prepping for our server upgrade and did a spot of purging.  I am the queen of purging.  

Sunday was server upgrade day.  It did not go well the TR software did not want to morph over and the sql database connections were not connecting.  Not sure where we are at.  The old server is perking along in the closet -- for some reason I knew this was going to happen.  

I started prepping and packing for our weekend adventure.  The truck is in the garage - ready to load.  The tubs are out of storage and I've begun to load up things.  I have lists:

1.  food and snacks

2.  clothing and stuff

3.  technology and related accessories

4.  fun stuff

        I'm going to take the Bernina and projects 

        I just cannot decide which project -- because I have way to many !!!!!

        I think I'm going to toss in a bunch of precuts and just start piecing things 

        I don't know ...

5.  lawn chairs/sewing table/computer table/other stuff

The resort website says we have www at the cabin .. we'll see :)  stay tuned it is promising to be an adventure ... 

 

where did the week go ...

the parking lot -- post shrub, weed and fence removal 

it's pretty open

and people think it's a drivable alley 

argh

the grapple buck is one slick piece of equipment

I don't know where the week went -- seriously it's Friday and even though its Friday I've still got projects to finish .. projects the never ending projects ...so far

garages are swept out

lawn mower and SxS were power washed

all the wheels were vacuumed out

pickup truck got a wash

recycling got to recycling

crap got carried out of basement - to curb

truck box (inside of the box) got cleaned out and washed

kitchen floor got steam cleaned

porch got vacuumed

1/3 of the lawn got mowed (shaved/scalped - short mowing)

laundry laundry laundry

it's been constant phone calls at the office so nothing else seems to get done

NP Financial Statements Done

55 more MNPR's

cleaning lady arrived

landscaping project (we watched they worked)

ccard company called

and it was heavy payroll week ..

but

County Board Dept Heat/Workshop/EE picnic

Tri County Solid Waste

BNCHB Exec Meeting

toured part of the new road 

and I got to visit with Jan and Mrs H .

which was the best part of my week 

I have a list of things that need to be done before our mini vacation and I'm on track to get all of them done ... at least that's the plan 

 

old age / disease

check this out ... the domino's delivery dude is a gazelle ...

too bad he delivered to the wrong door

and I posted the wrong video

saved this one for insurance purposes ....

i went to urgent care/walk in clinic sunday morning -- pink eye .. because at 63 I need pink eye .. 

that is a $26 bottle of goodness 

goodness that is working

no vase -- sure, water bottle works

and surfing at the cabin 

until the internet crapped out (again)

self improvement goal #1 :  time management 

    less internet - more productive work time

time will tell.

 

still life(s)

cookie during my seminar last week ...

pix from a text I sent to cousin Gwynne

lazy rabbit at the happy place

kind of a weird day/weekend.

as usual 5:30am - wide awake and dark outside ... hate that damn darkness

2 more loads of laundry 

bed made, bedroom vac'd, clean clothes put away 

returns prepped ..

dropped one package off at the Fed Ex zone

returns at Kohls

returns at Old Navy -- wandered Old Navy

take out Chinese from HyVee

and off to the happy place ..

where I've managed to finish my book

surf the internet (a lot) 

watch the lake action

order more shit from Old Navy

found some cool fabric that I've been seeking

I can't seem to get enthused about anything important today .. watching the squirrels on the lake and the real squirrels on shore seems to be all the excitement I can generate ...

I'm pooped

I think I have pink-eye

or I have something else .. 

pooped seems to be my new normal 

after supper 

it's home to attempt to mow the grass - if it's not too wet

maybe urgent care for the pink-eye

or maybe just the recliner ..

who knows

 

lake, clouds, sunsets

Tuesday night at the cabin ... those sunsets out there never disappoint ...

it's been a week ... Board meeting, client meetings, Seminar, other meetings, Budget meetings with department heads (all day -- we powered thru all departments in one day) ... I actually came back to the office last night to -- 1) clean my office -- 2) clean my desk off and work ... 

seemed to be the appropriate action after a week of chaos ... I'm about to tackle the front room and the "green" room next .. just an old tired CPA and a Hoover Mighty Mouse vacuum.  

 

sigh

it's just a great view from my lake lawn chair 

the internet was down again .. so mom and I took supper out there and got it running.  sketchy, but running..she watched tv and I read my book, surfed the internet and took a bunch more sunset pictures 

took this picture with my laptop 

we have killer sunsets out there .. just the bomb

sitting thru my 8 hour Ag Tax / Accounting conference today ... in town, I had hoped to view it at the cabin but I don't trust the interest with a $600 webinar .. ya, $600 .. so far I'm 4 1/2 hours into it and 1 1/2 hours haven't lived up to the hype.

time will tell....

will flood the blog with sunset pictures tomorrow .. 

 

chasing

I went chasing the Northern Lights again last night ... the facebook wizards said just after sunset -- well -- 9:30, I drove out the field road and parked behind the house.  The hay crew had just picked up the bales ... so at least the grass was short .. the coyotes were yipping ... 

then I came back to the house ( sitting in my nightgown and barefoot next to a cornfield with yipping coyotes was a little weird - no coffee or snacks either :) ) and stood on the deck for this one ... I think it's more light reflection from the yard lights than the aura borealis but it's cool

we have a family trip planned to Canada - the Canadian side of Rainy Lake -- I'm hoping for clear nights and a lot of Northern Lights -- I'm not looking forward to the drive ....14 hours of driving -- 7 each way ... argh.

spied this quote this morning while reading the paper -- things to think about today on Primary Election Day .. although our primary races are rather one dimensional .. as in - no primary races .

 On Nov. 5, 1984, Reagan addressed the nation the night before the presidential election. He said:

“This election offers us the clearest choice in many years: whether we go forward together with courage, confidence and common sense, making America strong again, or turn back to policies that weakened our economy, diminished our leadership in the world and reversed America’s long-revered tradition of progress.”

Forty years later, I am making the clearest choice I’ve had in any election. I, too, choose to go forward together with courage, confidence and common sense.

I'm officially old

old moment #1 ... I was mowing lawn Friday afternoon/evening -- along the driveway .. like over the hill down the driveway ... and well, thought I should check on Jeannie, the neighbor -- so I drove the lawnmower up there ... ...  she wasn't home ... then I needed to go home ... well, down her driveway with the lawnmower might not have been the best move of the week ...

that driveway is like going over a cliff

old moment number 2 --- saw this wreath at the fair and thought "i can make that" .. what the hell ... seriously 

old moment number 3 -- Mom and I had a mini road trip to Mankato this morning -- we went to Barnes and Noble .. $14.99 for a magazine seemed a bit expensive ... well, $63 later it was 3 magazines, 1 crossword puzzle book and one pocket calendar ... ...  Culvers take out for lunch at the happy place ...

old moment #4 -- stopped in ML for milk .. $3.49 for a 1/2 gallon .. wth ... 1/2 gallon ... yikes .. gallon of gas was cheaper 

it is chilly out here -- leggings, sweatshirt, socks and I have a blanket on my lap -- some idiot just went past waterskiing .. appeared to be an upright ice cube.

 

wowzer weather

I have to admit -- I'm an ink pen snob.  Seriously, snob.  Regis gave me a pen like this a couple of years ago and then told me which weird internet site he purchased them from .. well, I re-ordered to get my stash ready.   

I prep for tax season NOW .. all the "things" we need to get thru April are discounted in the summer months -- paper W2 stock, paper 1099's, etc, software, and then I dropped a load off at Nelson Printing for the resupply of envelopes, etc.  They keep us in paper goods.  Copy paper is on a monthly shipment from Office Depot = 2 cases a month ... grateful for storage ...

okay that was too much info for cheep pens from China .. 

I got off the pitty party train and started getting up in the dark and coming to work (well -- for 2 days anyway) ... yesterday the inbound was very pretty .... 

and here we come -- me and Ruby ... I have to admit -- I'm really productive in those early am hours .. I've been knocking out stuff all week long -- next week is a corker .. lots of meetings, a seminar and hopefully nice summer weather ... 

 

tired

the cameras catch everything

I've been tired all summer -- I just didn't realize how tired until I saw this camera snap.  There is a good reason I'm tired.  I've been on the move all summer long .. all week long it's project after project (and they keep multiplying), grass maintenance, and weekends are even more projects.  

The Walz for Vice President thing is now real - not sure how I feel about it yet -- other than it is HISTORY -- we are living thru HISTORY -- I tried to soak it all in yesterday and then the phone started to ring ... it will be a fun 90 days to watch and live.  

Mom and I went out to the cabin yesterday .. the camera's were off after the Monday night storm -- I couldn't get the modem/router gizmo to work last night.  The power did go down out there -- I was more concerned about the "new to us but well used" fridge.  It was perking along -- food was cold and froze.  Beautiful night at the lake - 

I was blessed to have McD's for lunch and for supper.  Sometimes it is just easier.  

No I did not eat the same thing for each meal ... I really wish the served breakfast all day --- I'll be a really happy woman if that ever returns.

 

august

    August - the month of change.  We're losing daylight ... 

    Since Dad died - I've used early weekend mornings for a spot of quiet time.  I've always been an early riser -- but now early weekend mornings are Marie time.  4:30/5:00 starts are my normal workweek start times and now it's weekends too -- mind you on weekends -- I don't always work -- but laundry, putting away clean dishes, life planning -- all the things.  

    I've begun to use the early starts for reading both newspapers, dashing out the undone crossword puzzles, surfing the internet -- fun surfing, catching up on research reading.  The cheap laptop and I are generally sitting in the recliner watching to sunrise, the deer creeping under the apple trees and the hum of the washing machine.  

     And when I'm really tired -- I fall asleep in the recliner.  I aways have a cup of coffee and a treat.  It is truly me time. 

    I had hoped to be more "indoor productive" during last weeks heat wave.  Not sure if that goal was accomplished.  I spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday night mowing -- I went to the office yesterday morning -- things got done - I did finish piecing a quilt top too.  Hot weather and Olympics -- 

August is shaping up to be super busy so I work when there is work.  This week is multiple client meetings, doctor appointments, a full tour of the State Hospital Complex ( all day 3.5 walking miles all facilities) and the fair.  

    Time just seems to speed past me .... someday I'll truly feel caught up enough to stop and enjoy a few more little moments.

argh

the struggle is real

cheeters -- Amazon delivers 

the prescription ones go awol also 

TGIF