Al, the mailman

Here in the Northwoods you can still call the letter carrier a mailman.  There is a woman who delivers it on Saturday.  Everyone just calls her the "sub" or "late" because she isn't as quick as Al.  If there is an over-sized package, he drives the quarter mile lane and 1 big hill to deliver it to our door.  This happens often because we have taken to the internet to procure supplies:  special food for our birds, gifts from catalogs, car parts, etc.  Sometimes it comes by UPS, FEDEX or a shlock outfit called Speedy Delivery (Not).  Most of the time it is the United States Postal Service - in our case - Al.  He doesn't wear the uniform or drive the special truck with blue and red signage.  He sports a handlebar mustache that curls on the ends.  And he drives a Buick.  To manage in the Northwoods, the rest of us have trucks, or SUV's,  a 4 wheel drive of some kind - probably with bags of sand in the back for weight.  Not Al.   He drives a 1994 Buick sedan.  Never been stuck.  Always delivers on time.  Goes up and down some crazy lanes like ours.  A Buick.  I guess that is what I need to shop for next time.  

We Won!

Hayward was the "winner" in today's temperature contest in Wisconsin.  We were at -23 degrees this morning.  We beat out Tomahawk, which was just -20. 

It stopped the outdoor activities but not jumping in the truck and going to town for lunch!






















































it

Missing a Shelf

We realize we did buy a side by side refrigerator with water/ice in the door at the very low end of the range of prices...but missing a shelf?  I set up the inside the way I wanted it.  Wait a minute!  Where am I to put the eggs, short casserole pans and small left over containers?  This will never do.  I guess that is why it was so cheap...it can't be used!  So Case gets on the trusty internet and orders an additional shelf...at the tune of $96.  (He did shop around.  Some sites wanted $150.)  Now my low profile stuff have a spot. 

Missing a Stooge

The two Stooges arrived late Friday afternoon with a new white refrigerator in the back of their truck.  <We would not recommend any GE product at this point.  GE has repaired/replaced this frig 3 times for 5 years until it is now out of warranty so we had to buy a new one...not GE.>  Actually, it started out on a good note.  They came to the door and said they had a stove for us.  Laughter all around.  But I got him back.  When the frig was sitting smack in the middle of the kitchen, I say to Case,  "Honey, didn't we order a black one?"  Laughter all around. 

They unboxed and uncrated it in the snow-filled drive.  When they removed the old one and then brought in the new one, they kept saying to one another,  "You have to watch that side.  No, you have to watch that side."  We still have standing walls and doorjambs, I am happy to say.  For the installation and leveling, etc. the newer stooge kept taking tools back to the truck before the head stooge was done.

I am grateful that all 3 Stooges didn't show. 

Don't Usually Do This

I rarely forward jokes, stories, etc.  But this one was a fun quiz.  And you know how I enjoy maps, geography and that sort of thing...so if you are in the mood....

GuessTheSpot.com

Let's just say that I got a very good score!

Our New Year's Resolutions

Since New Year's Eve 1994 Case and I began developing a list of sorts.  Each of us write down a wish, a prediction, and a resolution for the coming year.  The resolution is the only one within our control.  It can be about ourselves, family members or national news items.  Of course, before we work on the coming year, I bring out last year's list to see how it turned out.  It is a quiet way of taking stock of things.  I think both children have continued the tradition. 

(I keep the list in our taxes file so I remember where it is.)

Git 'er Done!

I called our TV channel provider to change our package.  Kimberly says, "You're not the one listed on the account."  I reply, "We've been married 36 years.  Everything that is his is mine. But he is right here if you need to talk to him."  I yell in some kind of accent, "Sugarcakes! She don't believe me that we've been married 36 years!"   Case takes the phone and adds me as an authorized user for the account.  I know we had done that before.  Anyway, he hands the phone back.  I tell Kimberly, "I told you so.  You didn't believe me.  Change the package."  That felt great!

Bucket List

This fall I said to several people.  "The word bucket list is overused and I wish that people would stop saying it.  It is annoying."  With the year end list of banned words for 2012 published, I have been verified in print.  So, everyone, stop using bucket list. 

Happy New Year!

Go Badgers!