Another long, wordy post. If you've already had enough of me lately then you may move on. Otherwise, enjoy the wit and charm that is me - now even older and wiser*!
Along with that
other occasion this week I was also on vacation, or call it a stay-cation - my favorite kind! I usually like to have a big project to accomplish, among my other to-do list items, but this time I only had a small to-do list and no real big project to complete. Not that that's a bad thing, I sure got more rest, but I also probably consumed more alcohol than necessary. A look back at the highlights of my vacation here. Did I waste my time? You tell me.
Saturday:
The Badgers won their home game against Florida Atlantic, their second win of the season against a team dealing with the hurricane back home at the time. They were unsure if the game would be played for a while but Wisconsin was more than accommodating for their extended stay in Madison.
Throughout the game and after was all party preparation. I wrote about the party briefly here, I'm still happy for all that celebrated with me - and my Mom created something special that still amazes me. Picture clippings of me from infancy to recent, and shaped in a big 5-0. This is the kind of thing only a stalker or someone who really loves you would put the time in to put together. I've only seen these kind of picture tributes at retirements and funerals. I told my wife we need to keep it for my funeral (in 6 years!), she can add in the later years afterward! Seriously though, I was very touched and impressed.
Overall, the party was a blast and I think all had a great time. The only downside for me was the back spasms I got well after midnight while standing in our kitchen after putting everything outside away. That was unfortunate and would affect my next several days.
Sunday:
Thankfully, the Packers started the season with a late afternoon game. That gave me time to sleep in and then try to re-hydrate myself after Saturday night's party. Even though I started the day with a few back spasms I was able to get everything in order in the garage and porch for the time being, but moving the big stuff would have to wait. I hit up some hair of the dog, put on my new favorite Packers shirt and enjoyed the game before calling it an early night.
Monday:
Much the same as Sunday, but no football games, just highlights and interviews to watch. My back was still questionable so I did some online surfing and shopping. I started my vacation week off very slowly but fully enjoyed the day of rest.
Tuesday:
My back was feeling strong enough that I got all the tables and chairs from the party squared away, just have some we borrowed to return yet. This meant I was able to park in the garage again, until I decided to get my bike down. It would stay down the rest of the week.
I was itching to get out on the bike so I chose a couple places nearby that I hadn't been to yet. First I headed north over the bike bridge, the one I've shown here before, but then I continued a little farther north to go see the next bike bridge, over highway 30. After two and a half weeks not on the bike I managed to make it up both bridges, but stopped at the top of the second knowing I would just have to come back up it and I still had to go up the other on the way back. Not the smartest plan for not having ridden in some time. I got back over the bridges to flat land and headed out northeast to a bike path nearby that I hadn't been on. Not a long path, but picturesque in a spot or two over the marshlands.
Wednesday:
My vacation was running out and I had yet to do the one 'big' project I had planned, resealing between the driveway and foundation. I got that done on this morning, mostly before the heat of the sun got to me, but crawling around the driveway and getting down and up what seemed like 50 times took it's toll on my knees and back. No bike rides this day. I spent time at Brothers Three for lunch and drinks. When I got home my new hard drive had arrived so I spent the rest of the day backing up files and relaxing.
Thursday:
With the seal by the foundation completed I was able to finish the sawbuck. The strip of wood I used as a brace is the strip of wood I used to pound down the old seal by the foundation. With that project completed I could reuse that wood as a brace on the sawbuck, I just had to cut a few inches off either end. I spent the next couple hours on a bike ride to the Tenney Lock, and finished up the afternoon with another few drinks at Brothers Three, waiting for notification of my new computer monitor being delivered. I didn't want it sitting out fearing it may get stolen. Conveniently, I get delivery notifications from Amazon on my phone so I could then come home straight away. And then, it arrived just after I got home a short time later.
Friday:
This is it. The last 'real' vacation day before the weekend. I spent my early morning hours sleeping in and taking my time getting anything done. Eventually I settled in and set up my new, 32 inch computer monitor. It is BIG. I went from a 24 inch to a 32 inch. A luxury, as the old monitor still works wonderfully, but I watch a lot of videos and concerts on the computer so bigger seems better.
Otherwise I made a trip to the store for gatherings this weekend. I dropped the ball, though, I had all week and forgot to shop for a birthday present. I'll have to figure out something by Sunday.
Saturday:
A slow morning around the house, but the Badgers played early afternoon and then we went to a friend's house for a rib cookout. This is the friend we went in on the cow with, the ribs weren't packaged to be split up easily so he kept them and invited all who went in on the cow over for a cookout. Then it turned out it wasn't racks of ribs but one rib roast, almost 15 pounds! It was still delicious and we had much fun, and the Badgers won handily.
Sunday, today:
We will be heading to
the new Olbrich Beer Garden on Lake Mendota** for a small gathering to celebrate another birthday. After that I expect quiet time at home until the Packer game tonight. Then I need to get as much sleep as I can before the dreadful alarm goes off early in the morning sending me back to work. Oh well, I had fun while it lasted!
* Well, older, anyway.
**Scratch that. Just got word it is moved to the Harmony. I think Olbrich would be more than just fine but the sun isn't shining. Oh well.
(Edit, 5:20 pm, we moved it from the Harmony to Dexter's Pub, we had a grand time with friends and the sun never did really come out.)
Speaking of, I need to get shopping, like now. We won't be traveling far this year so I need to get gifts chosen, ordered and shipped to where they need to be. I think we may scale it back a bit this year, not due to lack of funds but we're not going to see them opened and I'm, quite simply, running out of ideas. I've always tried to put much thought into what I get for presents, especially for the kids, but I just don't feel that inspiration this year. But who knows? We'll see what happens when I've been on Amazon for a while later today.
We don't have much planned this weekend except for the Packer game, so I am looking forward to plenty of rest, the aforementioned shopping, and there are several little things I can get done around the house. The Badger football team lost in the Big Ten Championship game and have a tough bowl game to finish their season in a few weeks. The basketball team is young this year and not quite as dynamic as the past several years. The Packers may get number 12 back soon but it may be too late to save the season. On the bright side, the Bucks are looking a lot better this year. Okay, that's it for sports talk.
Not knowing what to write and not having enough ideas for a This-And-Thats post I decided it was time to post some cat pictures. After all, we have a ton of them. They can be so adorable and we always have a camera with us, thus the phones fill up with cat pictures. I wish I could be so relaxed and content with all my needs taken care of.
