One Minute to Say Goodbye, Before We Say Hello

It was a lovely New Year's Eve for us. My girls had asked us if we could go to Madison, since their cousin was back there for the holidays, and we thought, "What the heck".

Of course, the day before we were supposed to leave, we got 6 inches of snow and the temperatures plummeted, but what're you gonna do?

On Saturday morning, the roads were a lot better, so we headed to Wisconsin. We got into to town around lunchtime and went straight to Hopcat to eat.

My brother's family showed up and we watched the Iowa State game. As you can see, Coadster was excited to celebrate ISU's first win in a bowl game since 2009. Yea!

After that we checked in at our AirBnb and then met our friends who were coming up for the weekend as well. They were at a cool pool hall and we hung out with them until it was time to meet my brother's family again at a new restaurant that a guy my brother graduated from high school with owns.

It was a great place with good beer, and since I can't drink that much alcohol, they also had really good non-alcoholic beverages.

The food was amazing. The photo above? That was beer cheese soup. Family? What family? That soup is the kind of thing that keeps me coming back to Wisconsin.

Earlier in the day, my sister-in-law told us about a rooftop bar with a great view of the capital, so I asked our friends to meet us there.

My friend Dawn ordered us to make jazz hands.

The service was great and since I let myself have a drink, I ordered a margarita and it was the best one I've had since I was in New Mexico. Woot!

The Wisconsin bowl game was on and everyone in the bar was watching it.

The next day was New Year's Eve and I was so tired. It was one of those days that I felt exhausted after every activity I did. All I wanted to do was take a nap, but I never got a nap.

We did get to go to our favorite breakfast place in Madison. My girls had never been there before, and they seemed to love it too.

Afterward, we met my brother to cross country ski. Ironically, there was less snow and warmer temperatures in Madison than in Iowa City. It got all the way up to 9 degrees in Wisconsin that day. There is a park in Madison where they make their own snow. It's not a huge loop, but I hadn't skied in 2 years, so I wasn't looking for much of a challenge.

I worked on getting my courage up to even descend the smallest of hills. The first few slight downhills, I practically walked sideways down them, but I kept trying and got better braver and faster down them. Luckily, it was cold enough that the snow was pretty slow. If it had been icy, I would have been sucking my thumb and breathing into a bag as I tumbled down those hills.

We skied for about an hour and half before my hip flexors started feeling sore. I knew better than to push it too much, or John would be pushing me in a wheel chair the next day, so I pulled off and went into the shelter with John. While my brother was finishing his ski, we watched the other skiers, ice skaters and sledders. What a great little park. It's nice to see so many people playing outside, even in the very cold temperatures.

After our ski, we went back to the AirBnB and I showered. The girls got back from shopping with their cousin a few minutes later. They showed me their finds. Coadster basically bought her whole NYE outfit on her trip. Adorable.

We picked up our friends and headed to my brother's house for a little get together. It was his mother-in-law's 84th birthday, so we had some lovely cake and, because we're old, we toasted the New Year at 8 o'clock.

I was cranky and tired,  and I just wanted to go back to our place after we left my brother's house. Both Stinky and John were also not feeling up to going out. Poor Coadster. She wanted to go and play, so she met my brother's little brother (from the Big Brother/Big System program (he's now 38)) and our friends out. I was sad I missed the fun. They went to an old style steak house/bar that Coadster said looked like something out of "Mad Men".

We woke up pretty early on New Year's Day. I think the actual temperature was like 10 or 15 below zero. We all went out for breakfast before we headed back home. It was a great weekend, but I was ready to get home and check on the cats and hope our pipes hadn't frozen while we were gone.

We got back around 2 and John and I went out to Cross Country ski. It was really cold for it. We only skied for about an hour, before we froze our faces off. All that skiing and hanging out with friends and family was a great way to end 2017 and start 2018. As always, I hope I'm able to spend much of this new year that same way.

May all y'all have a great new year too!

Back in the High Life Again

Oh, kids. It was a jolly holiday here this year. Last year we were in DC for Christmas, which was lovely, but it was nice to be home...And also less stressful.

On Saturday John and I went to see Star Wars. It was very long. There were some things I really liked about it and a few things I could have done without. Now, you can thank me for not revealing any spoilers. You're welcome.

In the evening we went to a party at our friend Burne's house. It was fun at first. I bought myself some festive, non-alcoholic things to drink. Of course, most of those drinks had high sugar contents and by the end of the evening, either from too much sugar, or a weird virus or messed-up hormones (take your pick), I felt like holy hell. I was sick to my stomach and dizzy and I had the chills. John took my temperature when we got home and he said it was low. I went straight to bed and felt okay the next morning, so who the hell knows what was going on there.

The next day was Christmas Eve and when I woke up, it was snowing. Yea! I love running in the snow. I got ready and got out in it. I ran my 3.5 mile route and was happy, happy, happy.

Nice finger in the frame, isn't it?

When I got home, I realized I didn't have much time if I wanted to get to the gym, since it was closing at noon.

John and I drove over and got to swim some laps and hit the steam room before they kicked us out. It was perfect.

On the way out the door, I noticed they were playing "Miracle on 34th Street". It was all so very holiday'ish.

We stopped at the store on the way home and saw that Shakespeare's was open. I was just going to go  home and make grilled cheese and tomato soup, but we decided to say, "screw that" and headed over for lunch. Coadster met us there and she got her favorite, mini corn dog basket. She loves it, but EW.

Coadster came home with us and I started cleaning. I took care of the living room, the kitchen and the bathroom. I also went to our storage area upstairs and pulled out Christmas stockings, lights and garland. Since we didn't put up a tree this year, I had to decorate on the fly. It turned out well and I won't have to clean up pine needles for the next six months. Fine with me.

John made oyster stew to take over to his mom's place. After he cleaned up and took off, I baked some cookies and made fettuccine Alfredo from scratch. the kids all came over and we ate and watched a Christmas movie. It was such a nice, mellow, evening.

John got home around 8 o'clock. So, we did our book exchange. I found out about that Icelandic tradition where you buy each other books and chocolate and you all get to go to bed and read and eat chocolate until you fall asleep. So, we drew names and bought our person their favorite chocolate and a good book. John picked my name and I was very happy with my haul.

I tried to stay up and read a little, but fell fast asleep in about 15 minutes.

 I woke up on Christmas day and gave Archie the perfect cat Christmas present - I placed some items on the edge of the table so he could knock them off. He seemed quite pleased.

The kids came over at around 10:30 and checked out their stockings (yes, Santa will come until they're at lease in their 50's as long as I'm still alive).

We opened our gifts. Stinky painted a picture for her fiance and it turned out pretty cool. Homemade gifts are the best gifts.

The girls got me some cat socks.

And the cat's pajamas...

We did our traditional eating sushi for lunch. I doubt we'll ever give that up.

Stinky and her fiance' went to his dad's for the afternoon, John took a nap and finished the cleaning I started the day before. Coadster and I watched another Christmas movie and colored in their new coloring books, while Archie sat on top of my book. Jerk.

 In the evening, Stinky and her fiance brought their puppy over and Heidi exerted her dominance over him, Poor Jaxson. He only wants to play. All of the damn animals are big jerks.

John helped me get everything ready for the Christmas taco bar and it was all so delicious.

At about 7, all the kids and some of our friends showed up. We ate and drank and talked and then played some Cards Against Humanity and laughed, and laughed, and laughed.

Archie got all fancy and dressed himself in garland and wore some bunny ears.

John had to work the next day, so we kicked everyone out and cleaned up our mess and I finally got to bed after midnight. I was exhausted, but it was such a nice evening, that it was way worth it.

The next day, I got up at around 8 and Coadster and I headed to the movie theater for $5 Tuesday's to watch the "Disaster Artist". It was ridiculous and bizarre and I really liked it.

I dropped Coadster off and then went home and read in front of the fake fireplace for a while. I got up and made the last of the Christmas cookies, then headed to the Can Shed to get rid of our cans and bottles. 

At 5, I picked up the girls and we went to the gym. I had bought them some passes, so we could all go together and since it was awfully cold out, I thought I'd try the elliptical machine. I've never really worked out on a machine, except a bicycle, so it was a big learning experience for me and probably a bit of an embarrassment for my daughters. Oh well. They embarrassed me plenty when they were little, so I'm fine with evening that all out. Anyway, I did the machine thingy for a little over a half an hour and it was just fine. Of course, my calves have been killing me ever since, but I guess that just means it worked.

After we worked out, we got John and all headed to Eastside Shorts for dinner and a beer. I'm pretty sure we deserved it. I went back to work the next day, but we only had to work three days before we hit the next weekend. It was such a lovely holiday and I got to hang out with my girls every day and I make a big point to try and plan no-stress activities, because in the past, the holidays have been way too stressful. As we near the end of this year, I am happy to say that I am one lucky old lady.

Our Hearts Were Singing, It Felt Like Christmas Time

Welp, it looks like I didn't get around to blogging last or this week much, so this is from last weekend (Dec 9/10).

Last Saturday was colder around here, so we didn't ride outside. Instead, I did a little run and then jumped on the trainer for about an hour. I got some laundry done and tidied up, but didn't get any real work done on the house.

John and I planned a very early date night. Not just because we're old, (although, that is always part of it) but because we wanted to check out the new restaurant that is located on the top floor of a hotel and we wanted to be there for the sunset.

It was a damn good thing we were there so early too. There was some college football even going on and there were only a few tables left in the lounge part of the restaurant. I think we got the last available table. We had an excellent waiter and the food was really good too. I can't wait to go back in the Summer when we can hang out on the rooftop deck.

After we ate, we stepped outside and I noticed that we were right across the street from the new music building. The old music building got ruined in the flood of 2008. I asked John if he wanted to check it out and he was up for it.

It was pretty cool looking inside and I had fun taking weird/artsy photos of the place. It was a fun date night.

On that Sunday morning, we went mountain biking in Cedar Rapids with some friends. It was a little cooler than it had been, but we got warmed up after the first couple of miles.

We went to Shakepeare's for dinner and for some of our friends to watch their sportzball games. Stinky met us there and then She and I headed to Coralville to drive around their Christmas lights night. There were some crazy bright houses.

So, I will try to write about the last weekend's fun, before we get started on this long weekend's fun. If I don't get around to it, please every self a happy little holiday. If you don't celebrate anything, I hope you get to celebrate a long weekend. If you have to work this weekend, I hope you celebrate  yourself.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. Just Like the Ones I Used to Know.

A Christmas of yore.

I know I haven't written on here all week and I owe you all a longer post, but we are busy today at work. So, I'm just going to lament about how much I miss snow. It hasn't snowed any real accumulations for the last couple of years. It hasn't even snowed in Madison, Wisconsin yet. Soooo, it looks like we'll have to do without a white Christmas...Again. Maybe we'll be luckier in January or February. Sigh.

Stinkin' Up the Great Outdoors, But the Kids Don't Mind

Well, it's cold as hell now, but this past weekend was eerily warm for December in Iowa, so let's talk about that.

Saturday was the big hang-out with my girls and do fun, cheap Christmassy things day.

It started out with a free club dance work-out class at Big Grove Brewery. It was damn good (read: painful) work-out. There were some times where the ladies teaching the class tried to do some kind of sexy move, which gave my daughters a nice mix of embarrassment and hilarity watching me try to follow along with said moves. Overall, it was a fun time and it was good to hang-out with my daughters and friends...And did I mention that it was FREE?

After our class, we met John and our friend's Burne and Chelsea for lunch at Basta. That wasn't quite as affordable, but it was a really nice meal, so it was worth the cost.

Afterward, John decided to go home and get some yard work done, and the rest of us headed to the student union where they were having a holiday thieves market. I always buy the girls a Christmas ornament that they pick out every year. So, this year, they got to pick out a hand made ornament, and they got some cute ones.

There was also free beer and wine tasting. I couldn't drink, but I did try some ginger beer, since that's non-alcoholic.

After we exhausted the thieves market, we headed downtown where they had some pop-up stores.

We went into Raygun, which I loved and I came very close to buying this book about the Midwest being god's gift to planet earth, but apparently, I do have some restraint.

I thought it would be fun to get a photo of the girls with Santa, but a friend of mine said she saw him at the library and he looked pretty creepy. We chose a different festive theme, an adorable little sleigh it's one that wouldn't potentially cause the girls to use the metoo hashtag.

But fair is fair, they got me in a cat mask for a photo too. I hope they like their only Christmas gift...

Speaking of Christmas gifts...I bought this Iowa mug at the thieves market. I thought of using it as a present for someone, but in this season of not giving, I decided to keep it for myself. It's pretty cool, huh?

When we finally got home from our Christmas day, I saw that John had raked all of the leaves in our yard, just in time for the last days of city leaf pick-up. What a guy.

On Sunday, it was still soooopidly nice outside. It was also very windy, so we decided to ride mountain bikes where we were more protected from the wind, instead of riding on the road.

The normal place we ride mountain bikes is closed for the month of December for shotgun hunting season, so we headed to Cedar Rapids to a place called Beverly instead.

Beverly used to just be vacant woods and you can see where people dumped their old cars or the ruins of an old foundation.

We got some good riding in and had fun playing outside.

I know I always say this, but I am so happy to be married to someone who likes to play outside as much as I do.

After we got done riding, we headed to a place called Parlor City for taco pizza and beer. It was a perfect way to end our play day and our weekend, before it got Iowa cold again this week.