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