Ooooh, cheese curds!!!!

Baby, it's cold outside (again)

This morning Manitowoc and I woke to temperatures hovering just above zero, with it currently 'warmed' to 8 above. Downright balmly! My friends in north Florida woke to similarly chilly temps, some areas below freezing today and will be again overnight. Justin reported this to me via text message and I have asked him to please water the outside plants with warm to hot water when he gets home from work today. That method preserved my plants through last winter and will hopefully work again this year. Connie, the maintenance lady, reported my outdoor plants were among the only ones to survive the winter, which I attribute my using hot water before the freezes.


Despite the cold air, Mom, Lynn and I went to Perkins for breakfast. I needed one more taste of their potato pancakes before I leave Manty. If I absolutely HAD to have some in FL, I could drive the hour to Palm Coast to Perkins. How nice that I have family there to visit at the same time! Lynn's first real day of retirement was today so it was good for us to be out and about, to ease her adjustment to being not at work. I will have to advise her from afar, I guess, on how to keep one's self busy or not busy, each day. Baby steps, though, baby steps. 


Lynn made a lovely turkey dinner for us last night at her apartment, which is located on the second floor of a home. Yikes! Mom, Jill, and I managed to make our way up (it seems much more than a single flight somehow) to have baked potatoes, two veggies, and pineapple upside down cake with our turkey. She showed us her retirement gifts and thoughtful greeting cards, and I was so glad to see how much they thought of her there at LTC. Does my heart good!


Mom and I just hung out Monday during the day, watching first the Rose Bowl Parade, and some other daytime TV. Occasionally I watched the news for updates about tonight's caucus in Iowa. When the time came for the Badger game, we switched over to that and watched an exciting back and forth scoring game. Unfortunately, the mighty Ducks overcame the Badgers and took the prize at the Rose Bowl. At half time we left for Lynn's and watched some football there before the bird was ready. 

The festive bird on Lynn's table

Justin was planning a full day of football at his friend, Ron's, house, beginning with the parade yesterday morning. Before he left though he was going to make some muffins as he had a couple days ago. I think I will enjoy having someone so ambitious in the kitchen when I get home. My only concern is the clean-up as I like the kitchen to look as though nothing happened there. He plans to make steaks on the grille the night I get home from WI, having a portable gas grille to use in the courtyard. Sort of makes me nervous after the frying bacon incident but I must trust his skills. I sure do like a steak!


Speaking of steak, I enjoyed two thus far in Manty---one from the Charcoal Grille where I went with my family the Monday after CHRISTmas and the other from Harborside. I ate only half of that one, and it was on a sandwich! Huge portions at Harborside...it tasted wonderful reheated for breakfast the next morning. 


This late afternoon I am meeting my nephew, Uriah, at Applebee's in order to give him his gifts from Justin and me, and from his uncle in FL. He had to return to school already today (which is probably the right timing...just seems too soon to me) so will come when he gets out of classes. I look forward to seeing him again, the last time being in the spring at his cousin, Allie's, graduation party. He is a nice guy, a senior in high school this year. I am tempted to change the location to the Charcoal Grille for another of those delicious steak sandwiches but perhaps Applebee's has something as enticing! 

A birthday hang over

Today is the day after my birthday and I am still enjoying all the greetings and good wishes extended. My friend, Dolly, presented me with an extremely touching card and treated me to breakfast at Fork and Knife today. Loved our time together, but as I stated on Facebook, sadly, I had words left over. Two hours (slightly less) flew by for us, and even a few tears were shed. The mark of a good visit is shed tears!

My sister, Kerry, was expected this weekend but opted to wait until later in the week to manage a visit this direction. She might get an extra day or so, which will be her birthday. A cake for the two of us is in the air, so to speak! Jill and her son, Danny, are down-state this weekend to visit her other son and his family, which leaves me without a car to use. Lynn is our wheel-man for church and other outings until Jill returns. We are going to church this evening and again in the morning. Football tomorrow afternoon for which I am making the advertised recipe of Velveeta cheese-food and Ro-tell tomato dip for nachos. I am quite excited to try this, my first effort!

Back to the CHRISTmas Day celebration: Justin and I made the meatballs with sweet/sour sauce and two people made ham. There was cheese ‘n sausage as well, snacks, teeny hotdogs in bbq sauce, and a cookie/candy tray. Very nice selection! The boys enjoyed their gifts, except Gabe tossed one book I gave him off to the side. Humpf! Lori loves the book as well, suggesting it needs to be read to him in order to be appreciated. It is the story I used for the memoir writing class I held for the church ladies a couple summers ago—“When I Was Young on the Mountain”. Otherwise, they were happy, and we were, too!

The adults did our first ever white elephant gift exchange and it was a hoot. Some of the presents were goofy and some not, just unwanted or unneeded items. The one I got brought down the house, though, as it was a car magnet in the shape of an extremely muscular arm, like a body builder would have. If attached properly, it would appear that the driver of the car was a big hunky man instead of a short, chubby 56-year-old woman! Nice going, David! Justin’s donation was an ice scraper that fits over someone’s hand like a mitten, to keep it warm while scraping ice. We thought it was funny, but is actually quite practical.

On Monday, Justin and I went to visit my 90-year-old auntie, Marie, and my cousin, Barbie, who had stopped by. We had a very nice time with them, and my other cousin, Jon. Auntie gave me a framed photograph of the five Lahaie sisters, posing at a fireplace after Lynn’s surprise birthday party two years ago. Very nice and much appreciated! Auntie mentioned not having one single CHRISTmas cookie this season, “not a one!” As we drove off, Justin mentioned how sad he was about that and asked if we could go to the store for some cookies to bake. Sure! We bought a couple packages of break ‘n bake cookies, made them up, and were delivered the next day along with some leftover chow mein noodle chocolate candies Lori brought. She was thrilled and I hope she saved one or two for Barbie!

Justin was to be taken to the airport by Lynn and I (after she offered to drive instead of me alone in Mom’s car) on Tuesday, but then my sister and her husband offered to take him along as they were going back to Holmen. Nice! Justin and I talked it over and he was fine with it, although he had expressed the night before if they took him, he would not get to say good-bye at the airport. (I had not suggested this to anyone else, it was their choice to offer the ride) I left the decision, then, up to him, and said our farewells at Mom’s instead of me bawling at the airport. Lynn, Mom and I went to Sheboygan anyway as Lynn had a return to make at Boston Store. We went to the Christian bookstore next door to it and did a bit of shopping there. I was privileged to explain to the nice clerk in the store what Epiphany is, surprised that she did not already know.

The status of the young traveler, Justin, was updated via text message as he was extremely frustrated about delays leaving MKE. It seems the delay originated on the inbound flight from ATL and he feared missing his connection once there. It did all work out but far too close a time frame than he liked. His father picked him up at the airport and dropped him off at the condo. Justin had to work for his father the next two days and then for the landscaper on Friday.

After he was home, I enjoyed a great day having lunch with Linda, her sister, Georgia, and my sister, Lynn, at Harborside. What great food we had! I went with Linda across the street to the nail salon as the other two ladies went on their way. We had a great visit there, as usual when I am in town, and I even got a bottle of hand cream as a gift for making them laugh. Linda still cannot drive after her knee replacement so I took her home afterward. We sat and schnuddered for a couple hours and then the call came….

My upstairs neighbor/friend, Randy, called, hating to disturb me but, there is a leak! He had seen/heard Jessica out in her courtyard, upset because she had water coming into her place from above, and she knew I was not home. YIKES! Randy said he had met Justin down in the parking area 5 minutes earlier, so I called him to go back home and deal with it. Also, I called Hugh, my 2^nd floor neighbor, who would secure the key and get into my place before Justin got back. He had met Jeff (my downstairs neighbor) on the stairs so Hugh went to my place as Jeff went up to investigate the source of the leak. It seems the ice maker line let go in 504, leaked into their home, and then down into Jessica’s unit. But, their quick action seems to have prevented it from getting into mine. Thank heavens! Justin called to let me know it was okay and promised to check it again in the morning. This is getting to be too much already!

Once calmed again, I went to my in-law’s home for a family get-together with John, Mona, Sharon, Harv, Barb, and Allie and JR. Mona had all the standard holiday goodies, home-made, and I enjoyed it very much.

Since I had not gone home in between the day’s visits, I did not have the presents with me, so have made plans to distribute them next week. Mom would have to buzz me back into the building as she had the house keys so I left there at a reasonable hour in order to not keep Mom up late. Barb’s mom, Clara, had ended up in the hospital CHRISTmas Day evening so Justin and I were not able to see her before he left. I did see her in the hospital yesterday and today she is moving to my old place of employment, Shady Lane, to recuperate and get her strength back. She is in good hands there, as she worked next door at Park Lawn for 17 years herself!

Last night my family took me to Sheboygan to have my birthday dinner with Lisa and family at Shuff's Resort and Bakery. What a wonderful meal it was, and Lynn treated me. She also got me a small box of the hand-made chocolate covered cherries from Beernstein’s Confectionary. Talk about deliciousness! I am pacing myself on them to have them last a few days. She spoils me! Once home, I will include a photo taken with my camera phone, which is dark and unclear, but a photo nonetheless. It was excellent and want to go there again some time!

A sneak peak at what I am enjoying

This photo was taken at First German Ev. Lutheran Church on CHRISTmas Eve during the candlelight service. We were singing "Stille Nacht" as the church lights were dimmed, lit by the tree and our candles. It was glorious, just like I remember! Justin helped light his grandma's page so she could see better. Love it, love it, love it!

Trying to catch up this blog!

Finally, I get to sit down at the computer to write! What a rapid-fire visit it’s been having Justin here, but today, he returns to Florida so he can work tomorrow.

We have spent time with family and friends since we arrived on Thursday evening, beginning with Lynn collecting us from the airport. Our dinner was had at the Green Street Tavern, my first taste of perch! Friday we did some shopping at Copp’s, got my favorite sugar cookies plus some other unique to the upper Midwest baked goods. The evening brought a sacred concert presented by Manitowoc Lutheran High School at the Capital Civic Center. Awesome!

After the concert, Justin and I drove to see Linda, in a snowstorm! Yikes! At least it did not last very long and we made it safely home again. He was glad to see his friends, Linda and Tommy, and enjoy a delicious cherry cheese torte made by Georgia, Linda’s sister. Yum!

We went shopping at Kohl’s the next day as Justin needed to replace a couple items he returned for credit before we left FL. Two of my other sisters were there as well, doing last minute shopping. I saw a coat there that Justin would like, checked for the right size, but walked away. Later, with Lynn, I went back for it, but the right size was gone. Lynn said it was not meant to be, someone else needed the coat. Later, as I walked the aisles looking for Justin, he directed me to the coat section and I told him there was none in his size. He reached into the rack and pulled one out. It seems he had it with him in the dressing room when I went back to get it. Great minds think alike! I did get it for him, for no particular reason, on sale, mind you.

We went to church on CHRISTmas Eve at First German and it was glorious. The candlelight service was edifying and tears flowed from some in our row, for various reasons. I remembered Timmy not liking the ‘new’ version of “Away in the Manger” and how Miss Clara would let him sit on the bench with her as she played the original version for him. “Stille Nacht” always stirs tears, the candles and the pipe organ combination, evocative. Back home to bed and a good sleep after worship.

Justin and I enjoyed our time together here, got to eat the good food, shop at Copp’s, make our celebratory foods, and even have a visit from the fire department after setting off the smoke alarms in Mom’s building when frying bacon on Saturday morning. Such excitement! At least the bacon was crisp! And today, he leaves me to fend for myself---I think I will manage! 

Ready, set, GO!

Whew! I can now rest at just after 6:00 pm, almost entirely set to go for the trip tomorrow. All I need yet is for Justin to get home to stand on the scale with my suitcase to determine if I have indeed over packed. It would be awful to be told I am overweight! I can always pull some clothes out if it's too heavy and possibly replace them once in WI. Items needing to go, the presents and such, can stay, but if no one is concerned about me wearing the same outfits over and over, well, good!

For some reason, waking up so blame early to take Justin to work is making me tired! I don't think I sleep as well, fearing I will over sleep and cause him to be late. We had to leave earlier today as the boss asked them to begin about 15 earlier, for some reason. I dropped him off at the McDonald's as he was grabbing breakfast for Jesse and him, and his buddy would swing by with the truck to collect him there. 

When I got home again, I went right to my desk and got to work. I watched the rest of the news and was so drowsy, I wanted to put my head on the desk. What the heck? I will take a nap! My radio guy was on vacation so instead of listening to the radio, I found something to watch on TV during my rest. Imagine my joy of seeing "HOUSE" was on! I fell asleep about 30 minutes into the episode and slept through the other half and an entire next one! I was out like a light. And such dreams I had---oh my! One segment of the dream had a child getting his foot bitten by an alligator. It must be connected somehow with the HOUSE episode I slept through.

Plans had been made to meet my downstairs neighbors for lunch today at La Nopalera. Oh, it had been a long time since we ate there together and it felt so good. I enjoyed a strawberry margarita and half of my beef quesadilla. We discussed books and Tracy told some stories about a couple of her clients, young teens who made her laugh. Don't worry, she breached no confidentiality. Tracy is going to do a study on poverty, somewhat related to her class, and it sounds like it will be extremely interesting She is going to share the book with me when she is done. I had better get going on my own reading in that case. 

Tracy had to go back to work this afternoon and Cassidy was coming home to make cookies. She was making Justin's favorite, snickerdoodles, plus some others which are her dad's favorites. While I was in the restaurant, I got a phone call from a number I did not recognize so let it go to voice mail. Later when I checked it, the call was from my other neighbor who had a present for me. It seems she had been at a party with her lady friend, a chef for the Crown Plaza hotel, and won a drawing. She won a two night get-away at the C.P. hotel in Madison, WI. She has no use for such a thing but knew I was from WI, so she gave it to me! I have someone in mind for it once I get to Manitowoc. What a nice surprise it was. When I told Justin about it, he chuckled, saying it was like I live in a movie where people just come up and give me things for no reason!

I got the newsletter for church done as far as I could and e-mailed it to myself to finish when I get up north. I decided against taking my laptop along since the new battery I bought makes it quite heavy. The battery weighs as much as the laptop alone does, but holds a charge like it is supposed to do. I will have my phone to check e-mails and Facebook but will have to use Mom's computer to post my blog. My phone was not working properly so I got on-line with a technical person via a live chat. The first guy I had 'ended the chat' before we got anywhere so I tried again with a nice lady. The long and short of it was I had to shut off the phone and then she did a refresh from her end, which allowed once more for Internet connectivity. Yay! I kept chatting at her and she would send some pre-programmed answer to me. That only egged me on until she wrote her own sentences to me. Eventually I wrote, "I will shut up now so you can do your work". 


Justin was dropped off after work which freed me from running to get him. He sent me a text message saying I could take a nap before Trivia since he was getting a ride. Nice! We took 2nd place last night, but almost ended up being in 3rd. There was a new team playing across from us, a gaggle of young ladies who did not appear to be as wise as their score indicated. At one point toward the end of the game, Erica told us that one of the girls had her cell phone on under the edge of the table and was looking up answers. This happened once before where one of the teams was caught cheating so they quit coming. Anyway, this time, it turned out the guys sitting behind their booth turned them in. We moved up to 2nd place fair and square and had a ball doing it! It was nice having Erica, her friend, Chantey, and Erica's boyfriend, Justin, play with us. My Justin gave Stephanie a shopping bag full of DVDs for her to give Ed and Judy A. at church. They will then take them to the USO to be donated to the wounded warriors. A roundabout way of getting the DVDs where they need to be!

Since hearing the news about Justin's car troubles, I have gotten names and phone numbers of various places where we can take it for an estimate and possible repair. Just this evening I heard of two places including one where the cost would be less than a hundred dollars, if that is an accurate quote. Seeing is believing and we will take care of this once I am home. Thank the Lord for friends with connections and those with hope that the car is salvageable.

Tuesday was an action-packed day beginning with taking Justin to work in the wee hours of the morning. I got home again from there and worked on the newsletter until it was time for me to leave again. My first stop was the UPS store to mail my niece's camera to her in Palm Coast. She had accidentally left it at her uncle's wedding last September and the 'responsible one'---Justin---had collected all the abandoned items after the reception. Hers was the only item unclaimed and she wanted it back before CHRISTmas. Yes, I know, it was not my responsibility to get it back to her but she asked me as a favor, so I did. 

Once that was taken care of, I went toward the beauty shop for my grooming appointment. It felt so good to get this mop taken care of, I had delayed going due to being away when it's time for the next clipping. Plans had been made to meet Judy J. and Terri T. at a new place called Manny's Bistro, owned by the folks who formerly owned and ran Sarnelli's, around the corner from me. All the family was there and to a person they asked about Justin. I must take him in there some day, when I get back from WI so they can see him! We used to go there often when he was younger, and charmed the ladies. My friends treated me for my birthday and Terri gave me a lovely tea towel for my birthday. She said she looked my kitchen all over when she cleaned up after the Ladies' Group party and decided any color would work. So thoughtful! We all stunk of garlic and I tasted mine all the rest of the day!

From lunch I went to visit one of our members, Bonnie, who is undergoing chemo treatments at home. She went in to the Center for the initial treatment the day before and then has to wear a pouch of chemicals which continue to pump into her system for a couple days afterward. She looked good and was glad I came to visit as long as I did. I left her one of the books of prayers I like to use when calling on sick folks. I hope she finds some comfort in it. Only a couple months ago she lost her son and now all this...she can really use the prayers. Justin had let me know he would need a ride home from the DeBarry area but not for a while so I went back home to await his summons. As I mentioned before, he had a ride home so I could rest before Trivia. 
Once home from Trivia, we opened our gifts to each other. this was my idea because I wanted him to have his new outfits to wear to WI. A long day to be sure! No wonder I was tired last night!

We celebrated early!

 Justin 'presented' me with The Complete Trivial Pursuit book, about 1 1/2" thick, page upon page of trivia questions and answers. He snapped that up when in New York, 'totally on impulse'! He also got me a CD titled "Concerto" by Andrea Bocelli which was recorded at Central Park. He bought the CD in New York, as well, found while standing in line at the Starbucks on the corner (one on every corner!). When shopping recently with his friend, Sarah, she needed some lotion from Bath and Body Works. He went in with her, saw the bottles of hand sanitizer ("My mom loves hand sanitizer!" he told Sarah) and got me 5 little bottles for my purse, plus a larger one for the counter, in my favorite fragrance of Warm Vanilla Sugar. It not only cleans, but leaves the hands smelling nice and feeling soft!

Justin is now an official owner of the Green Bay Packers! He is holding his stock certificate with his name on it. We both got a bit teary-eyed, as expected. I loved getting it for him as much as he enjoys having it. Besides the stock, he got several new shirts, plus I am getting him new glasses, via a bargain through Groupon!

We celebrated 'early' as tomorrow we will be packing our bags for the trip north. Besides the stock certificate, I got him a mess of shirts he 'hinted' at on sale from Old Navy. He is going shopping Wednesday night so he can exchange a couple of them. I ordered as requested, but they fit a bit too snuggly and he wants them for the trip. Justin will exchange for a larger size so he can layer, which is wise. He was going shopping anyway to that same store, so it's no trouble for him to swap them out.