Small Town Living on a Sunday

After church we go grocery shopping together before heading the twenty miles home.  We chat with several friends we see in the store.  Only four stoplights in town.  Little traffic except for Minnesotans on their way back to the "Cities."  Peak fall colors are within a few days so our drive home is pleasant and sunny.  Then root on the Packers to a win over the Bills at Lambeau Field.  This is small town living at its best.

Wedding Donuts

Case and I attended a wedding recently where the dessert was donuts!  Yeast glazed; cake-type with chocolate frosting; blueberry with sugar coating.  Blueberry was the best!  (So, does that mean that I tried all three? That is correct.  But only part of them.  Someone at our table brought the three kinds back to the table to sample.)  The extra fun was how they were displayed.  There was a huge peg board - the kind that you have in your workshop to hang tools.  The peg board had the hooks to hang tools but each hook had a donut. 

I was a behind-the-scenes assistant to the women's dressing room which included 2 two-year-olds.  (I brought toys.)  When I saw the groom had arrived, I asked him if he had breakfast yet.  (I just got done forcing half a bagel in the bride.  No one is fainting on my watch!) Groom replied that he had donuts for breakfast.  And he was having donuts at the reception as well.  My reply, "Is this a great country or what?"

My skill set now includes spanx adjuster.  The two mothers wore them and needed smoothing out to make their dresses look right.  Now I know the moms real well.  Before the special dances one of the moms came to my table and asked if I were "still on the clock."  I knew what she meant and off to the ladies' room we went for additional smoothing before dancing with her son.

All weddings are unique!

Crimes within the Catholic Church

I want to go on the record about this issue. 

All allegations should be investigated by civil authorities.  Those charged and found guilty would go to prison whether a priest, bishop, cardinal or pope.  No exceptions.  Those found guilty of coverups would go to prison as well.  No exceptions. 

These are crimes that defy understanding.

The Catholic Church still contains clergy doing the work of Jesus.  The church will prevail.

Winter Olympic Review - South Korea

The best part of any Olympics is the opening ceremonies.  The size of it commands attention.  Thousands of adults and children involved.  The country is showing off.  I so enjoy it.  This year I especially liked the skiing outside the stadium and the drones creating the Olympic rings.  Plus the lighted pillars at every seat that was a part of the light show. 

Previous Olympics highlights:  Los Angeles in early 80's - when 100 grand pianos raised up from under the stadium playing a Gershwin song.  France - when the Olympic cauldron was lit by an archer shooting a flaming arrow.  Vancouver - 8 years ago - when Canadian William Shatner was one of the announcers.  This is all personal preference, you know.

Positives and Negatives
+Tara Lipinski - fun to see her again
-Jonny Weir - wore colors that didn't complement his complexion
+Shaun White - watching his strategy and performance winning Gold
-Lindsey Vonn - hope not to hear about her again - overexposure
+German Bodsled winning in prelims on its side
-Host Mike Trico (sp) - as exciting as watching paint dry
+Seeing the Korean landscape
-Curling - team from Duluth won gold.  They reminded me of the SNL skit about Da Bears with the guys sitting around a table eating ribs
+Jesse Diggins and Kikkan Randall winning gold in cross country ski - first US gold medal in X country ever - Jesse is from MN and used to ski the Birkebeiner in Hayward when growing up. 
-Luge and Skeleton - are these sports or suicide missions?
+Norway cross country skier Klaebo winning gold.  At 21 youngest x country gold winner.  He just toyed with the other skiers.  So much fun to watch.  They named the last hill after him - he is so good.  He is in a stratosphere of his own.  Wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crackers either.  

American Birkebeiner

The largest cross country ski race in North American is set for tomorrow from Cable to Hayward, WI.  Last year's was called off due to lack of snow.  This year is a go!  One of the women's gold medalists in cross country skied this race growing up - Jessie Diggins from Minnesota.  My part this year is to make rich desserts (Mississippi Mud) for the Spaghetti Feed (carb loading) tonight and bus tables.  My church usually serves 800 skiers and families at $8 a person.  All the food is donated.  Church members run it.  What I like is about this event is it is not in the church budget.  All the money is donated to local food pantries.  It is America at its finest.

Missing Muffin Tin

I decided to make muffins this morning to help warm the house (8 degrees below outside).  The muffin tin is kept in only one place.  Not there.  I continue to look in the cabinets and drawers even though I it won't be in any of them.  Confused and frustrated, I walk toward the office to ask Case - even though I KNOW he won't know - it's just something one does.  Partway to the office I see the tin.  I use it to sort puzzle pieces by color.  It is on the puzzle table which I sit at and put in a few pieces each day. 

In any situation that has gone awry and can be found, fixed, turned around, bought new or done without is not a problem any more in my opinion.  If no one has died because of the situation - it is all good!  Tin found.  Muffins made.  

And that goes for spinning the truck 3 times on ice.  I was able to drive away with a smile on my face.  It is all good. 

25 above zero means...

...it is cross country ski weather!  We got up this morning, suited up, and loaded the car.  It felt great to be outside in the sunshine.  Haven't skied in a few years for me so I only did one mile.  Case skied two.  It is now mid-afternoon after showers.  We are SORE.  What a wake-up call.  Both of us are determined to keep skiing on good days....left the skis and poles in the beater car for the next time.