His Retirement Stinks - I broke a tooth

Social Security

Case applied for Social Security on line.  It was as easy as they advertised.  Thought we were done.  Wrong!  Social Security needs to physically see original documents, verify that they are originals, copy them, then return them.  Website said that we could mail them in and they would mail them back...uh, no, we won't be doing that.  After locating the nearest SS office, off we went to Superior, WI - about 90 minutes away.  We were in and out of the office in less than 10 minutes.  Why waste a visit to a city?  Stores everywhere...we were like sailors on shore leave.  We didn't buy anything exciting - brackets for shelves, throw rugs, Menards and Target kind of stuff.  In our home town we have a Walmart with groceries but not a Super Walmart!  We bought 6 of the brand of mandarin oranges that we like, 6 of the croutons that we like, and 6 of the salad dressing that, yes, is not at our Walmart.  This was a day well spent if you are retired.

Official Snow Reports

This is the official report for O'Hare Airport, Chicago.  No snow for the season thus far.  Click on this link if you want to play along at home. 
O'Hare Snow Report     Then click on monthly avgs/totals, Chicago O'Hare, snowfall, current year.

I found out that my plan to use the Hayward Airport was a bust.  They don't keep track...because it is too small and/or all the flights are private.  So on to Plan B.  The government NOAA station in Duluth, Minnesota covers where I live.  If you click on the link, you can see the entire area.  My house is near the "y" in the word Hayward.  The map estimates between 6.2 and 7 inches.     Snow Map of northwest Wisconsin      The website cleared the snow storm map of November 13-14 so you can't see it.

  Plan C:  Wait until April and compare the total winter snowfall. 

Snow - Part 2

We woke up to more snow overnight.  Snow outlines all the limbs and branches.  It is a beautiful sight.  However on the ground, it is wet and slushy and 33 degrees - definitely a waterproof  boots type of day.  At church the priest apologized because last Sunday, after the mass was over he jokingly asked us to pray for snow.  He said that snow was better for deer hunting.  This morning he said to be careful for what you pray for - continuing that he didn't specify how much snow and when.  He has a great sense of humor. 

S N O W !!!!!

Our first snowstorm of the season rolled in last night, continuing until Sunday evening.  Maybe not "rolled in" because one of the lighter weight chairs on the screened porch was knocked over.  It looks beautiful!  I have kept the ingredients on hand for chili for this occasion of the first snow.  Good supper tonight!

Snow was always a subject that loomed large in the minds of people I talked to.  With that thought I have decided to keep a running total of snow accumulation for the Hayward Airport and O'Hare Airport.  We are about 17 miles east of Hayward and were about 6 miles from O'Hare.  I want to keep a documented tally and not just my best guess so I am using the airports.  I will let you know the websites that I will be using.

It finally happened.

The adrenaline and excitement of moving has worn off.  Yesterday was quite a blue day.  We are not settled yet and that is exactly what I want.  I knew that a day like yesterday would come - just didn't know when. Change even wanted change can be difficult at times.

Today is a new day with the sun shining and picture postcard views from every window.  Making chocolate chip banana bread hasn't hurt either. 

There ARE places to eat lunch.

The last months before I left work, I kept telling everyone that I will never go out to lunch again once I am in the Northwoods.  In the northwest suburbs lunch is limitless:  Italian beef at Johnnie's, classic ham and cheese at Honey Baked Ham, etc.   I thought that lunch out would be a thing of my past.  So glad that I was wrong.  I have joined a group of women who hike, snowshoe or kayak (depending upon the season) every Tuesday morning.  The group travels Sawyer County and beyond the county for a particular trail followed by lunch at a local establishment.  Today was the Hayward Recreational Forest Trail with lunch at Crossroad's Coffee and Tea.  (I had the spinach tortilla veggie wrap. Yummy!) 

Yes, Virginia, there are places to eat in the Northwoods.